The Kiros Chronicles: Into Shadow

Prologue

Dimly lit torches were hung on the damp dungeon walls. The cold, still air was silent. Puddles of ice-cold water settled on the stone floor.
Then it stirred. At first, it was soft ripples in the water. But as the echoes of heavy footsteps grew closer, the ripples turned to shaking.
Splash! A boot landed in the small puddle and continued onward.
The owner of the boot was a tall, cloaked figure. His arms were concealed beneath his dark black cape, his pale face hidden 'neath a long hood. He stepped with such ferocity, such briskness, that whatever he seemed to be doing was of the utmost importance.
Before long, the cloaked figure stood before two men clad in knightly armor.
"You'd do well to leave this place, stranger," one of the knights uttered, clutching his spear tightly. "For this is no place belonging to a simple man such as yourself."
"You misunderstand," the cloaked figure replied. "I am no ordinary man here without reason."
"Then what be the reason for your appearance here?" The second knight wondered.
"I," began the cloaked man, "am here to preserve the Academy; for I fear that a darkness is upon us."
"A darkness?" The second knight chuckled. "Why," he inhaled through his metal helmet, "there has been no darkness at the Academy for many a lifetime!"
"That is widely understood, sir, but I fear that-"
"If this darkness you speak of is planning to destroy the Academy, then, sir, why are you here?" The first knight spoke up, taking a step forward.
"I believe that there is an item in the Vault that could assist with dispersing the darkness." The man answered respectfully.
"And what would that 'item' be?" Asked the second knight.
"The Crystal Blade."
"The Crystal Blade?" The first knight restated. "That item is never to see the light of day, nor any light at all- for it is the most cursed artifact lying within the Vault!"
"My reasoning for needing such an item is for a good cause, sir knight-"
"You have spoken enough, young sir," the first knight bellowed in reply, "you will not be granted passage into the Soulless Vault as of today; nor will you ever be!"
"Then it is your demise which you choose." Speaking softly, small knives flew out of the man's cloak, stabbing the two knights in the necks between the slits in their armor. Both fell to the ground, lifeless. The cloaked man continued forward after blessing the knights' bodies.
The long, dark hallway grew darker as the torches dimmed. Before long, the man stood before a great set of dual doors, engraved with enchantments and sigils to ward off any evil.
But the man was not evil. He slipped between the doors, gazing at the pedestal in the center of the room. Sitting atop the pedestal, was a great steel sword broken in two.
"How many will die, Raiden?" A soft voice asked from the corner of the room. "Before you accomplish your goal?" The man stepped out of the shadows. He had long golden hair that stretched down to his shoulders. He was dressed in elegant white robes, resting his hands on a large staff.
The cloaked man threw down his hood, looking over at the long-haired man. "No more shall die, brother." Raiden stated. He had short black hair and deep red eyes. "I promise my reasons are sound."
"I've heard you speak of this 'darkness' long enough." The long-haired man backfired with gritted teeth. "If anything, you have succumbed to it. Your submission to evil will not go unpunished."
"Diag, my only brother, at least hear me-"
"No- I am done hearing your lies! You have succumbed to evil, and now you shall be punished." The long-haired man gripped his staff.
"I don't want to fight you, brother." Raiden stated, shuffling his feet into a defensive posture.
"I am no brother to a warlock such as you! I am the Headmaster now." Diag leapt forward with inhuman force, striking Raiden with his staff and smiting him to the ground easily.
In response, Raiden took a small knife, hidden in his cloak, and held it toward Diag. "My statement still stands. I don't want to fight you." Raiden rolled away from Diag, still clutching the knife.
"There is no option for you! You must fight me, traitor!" Diag bellowed. His staff glowed with an unordinary light. Raiden dropped to the ground just as a bolt of blinding light barreled towards him from the staff.
"So be it." He muttered. With a wave of his hand, swords came flying around him. With another wave, Raiden sent them spinning towards Diag, who shot bolts of light from his staff and shattered each sword with ease.
But Raiden still had a trick up his sleeve; one he never told his peers of. Raising his hands above his head, he connected with the chains above, dragging them down and wrapping around Diag's limbs, forcing him to let go of the staff.
"No!" Diag seethed. Raiden turned towards the pedestal.
"It didn't have to come to this." Raiden stated as he began to walk. "We could have saved the Academy together." He reached the pedestal, reaching out to grasp the sword.
A bright light enveloped the room. Raiden fell back, tumbling to the floor with lifeless eyes. There was a black hole in the middle of his chest.
The chains dropped Diag, who knelt beside his fallen brother. A voiceless whisper escaped Raiden's mouth.
"What have I done...?" Diag asked himself, looking down solemnly.
He had killed his own brother, a savior.