Becoming the Sorcerer

Step 13: Return

Corthus stood triumphant above the portal, his smirk a testament to his victory. He had once again outmatched the sorcerer, his claim to divinity unchallenged. The time for the ritual had come; the sacrifices were to be placed around the gaping pit. He waved his hand over the portal and dispersed it as he turned away. He walked back over to the pit and ordered Not Melissa to set everyone up around it.

Luna, her tears falling on the stone beneath her, couldn't tear her eyes away from where Aldin had vanished. She had only just discovered he was her brother, a truth that had filled an emptiness she hadn't realized she carried. Now, that sense of completeness was torn from her, leaving an aching void. Bound by the same chains that Aldin had shattered, they were helpless. And with Aldin gone, despair anchored Luna in place, even as she was magically lifted and arranged around the pit with the other children and Melissa.

Melissa struggled against her bonds fruitlessly. She knew what would happen next and had little enough time as it was she had to think of some way to at least get Luna free.

"Stay strong, love," she murmured, her gaze lingering on the place of Aldin's disappearance.

Yet, hope seemed a distant dream.

Above the pit of fire, Corthus's chants echoed, unheard by Luna, who was lost in the memory of Aldin's desperate fall.

The tattoos on Corthus's chest came alive, forming a glowing circle of malevolent symbols. Their magic was being drained, drawn into Corthus who greedily consumed their power. His form shifted in and out of reality, a shadow then corporeal over and over. A thick invisible cloud of mana began to fill the chamber as he continued to chant.

Defeated, Luna knelt, her spirit broken. With Aldin's fall, hope had descended into the abyss. Her heart slowed, her body grew cold, and the room seemed to spin uncontrollably.

Suddenly, the ground shook. Luna looked up, her body empty of strength.

A loud crack sounded behind her. Corthus spun, his eyes searching for the source of the disturbance. In an instant, he was sent flying into the wall.

"What the—" His exclamation was cut off by a voice filled with authority.

"Didn't see that coming, did you, Corthus? I thought gods knew everything."

Aldin? Impossible...

"Thought I wouldn't come back? Or did your godly powers fail you?" Aldin's voice resonated throughout the chamber.

He descended, a changed being. Dressed in a robe that melded the night sky with the hue of precious stones, he held a sphere that glowed like a captured star. His hair, now neatly braided, added to his majestic appearance. A small iridescent dragon was perched on his left shoulder.

"How? How did you return?" Corthus demanded.

"Why I'm here is what matters. I've come to put an end to your tyranny because there's a future out there worth fighting for," Aldin proclaimed, a sphere of light forming in his hand.

"You can't defeat me! I AM GOD!"

"You're no god to me," Aldin declared, launching the sphere at Corthus.

Corthus tried to smack it away, but the light adhered to him, burning into his skin. He screamed, struggling to remove it, but it only intensified, consuming him.

"Light will always find a way to pierce the darkness," Aldin stated, as Corthus was engulfed by the radiant force.

Corthus writhed, each twist bringing him perilously close to the pit's fiery jaws. Colleen, jolted from her daze, made a desperate leap to save him, but overestimated the distance and knocked them both into the fiery chasm. A luminous mist rose from where they fell, wrapping the children, Luna, and Melissa in a gentle radiance.

Suddenly, they stood outside Copper Mountain, bewildered. Aldin reached out to Luna, urgency in his eyes.

"How...?" she began, voice trembling.

"Later, sister. We've got bigger problems," he said, nodding towards Rainier.

A monstrous shadow unfurled from the volcano, its fiery gaze and towering horns a nightmare come to life. The small dragon perched on his shoulder let out a fierce roar in its direction as they both stared at it.

"My revenge is nigh, Aldin the sorcerer!" it roared.

Luna gasped, "What's happening?"

"It's an ancient prophecy," Aldin said, his voice low. "That creature is Corthus's legacy. I've seen this moment in dreams, never truly believing... until now."

"How do we stop it?" Luna's voice cracked.

"This one's on me," Aldin said, determination steeling his features.

"You can't go alone!"

He cracked a smile at his sister "It's my responsibility to protect this world. If I don't stand up to him, who will?"

Luna's plea was lost as Aldin took flight, confronting the beast.

"Coming for your end?" Corthus's voice boomed.

Aldin didn't reply cutting through the air.

Corthus's mocking laughter filled the sky as he tried to crush Aldin, who nimbly avoided his grasp. But then, with a swift blow, Aldin was pinned beneath his massive hand.

"The Mighty Sorcerer defeated!" Corthus bellowed.

But a radiant explosion illuminated the scene as Aldin used his magic to force the hand away. He stood once more, unharmed.

"You've underestimated us, Corthus. Sorcerers aren't so easily broken."

Aldin charged, his speed leaving Corthus staggering. With a light-forged sword in hand, Aldin struck true, cleaving the dark giant's head.

The behemoth fell, its impact resonating worldwide. Aldin landed softly, victorious, beside the vanquished foe, ready for the next challenge.

"Impossible!" The shout ripped through the chaos, a mix of shock and rage.

A monstrous growth pulsed and exploded from the beast's chest, unleashing a cloud of dark energy. Corthus stood revealed, his essence a dark mirror of hatred.

"I won't be beaten..." he faltered, "...not by some child!" He charged at Aldin, fury propelling his fist, but Aldin, with a flick of his wrist, slowed the blow.

Aldin was sent flying, slamming into the shattered remains of Rainier. The ground vibrated, sending out waves of energy. Corthus was right behind, pummeling Aldin with a storm of blows fueled by his fury.

Aldin, tapping into a deep well of strength, launched Corthus into the sky with a punch of his own and chased after him. They exchanged a flurry of hits in midair. Corthus was strong, but Aldin was unyielding. With a powerful kick, Aldin sent Corthus crashing back to earth.

Corthus's glare was full of unspoken threats. "You think... you can... beat ME?" he spat out, gathering a swirling mass of dark magic in his hand.

Aldin countered with a glowing sphere of light in his own palm. They stared each other down as their attacks built power. They released their power at the same time, the two attacks shot towards each other, a cataclysmic meeting of darkness and light. They fought back and forth for a moment before the light overpowered the darkness, flaring up so intensely it seemed to blind the world for a moment.

All Luna and Melissa and the children could see was a burnt form lying on the ground while Aldin stood over it. He turned towards them and said something then collapsed as well.

The other body dissolved into black smoke carried away by the wind.