8: Darken, The Fall of The Great Dragon

Chapter Eleven: A Dark Force Returns (Altheon)

I examined the map in Father's hands. There were more glowing lights on it than I had anticipated. "So, where should we begin?" I inquired, uncertain of our starting point.

"There are so many of us, it's difficult to make a choice," said Uncle Alexander as he took the map from Father, his expression a mix of agitation and concern. He peered intently at a specific region on the map, near the northern border of the Human Kingdom.

"There." He said, pointing at the glowing light near the top. "The Ruins of Drakonour. That is where we go first." 

He looked up at me, noticing the confusion on my face. "Uncle Alexander, I'm sorry to say this," I began, my voice filled with concern, "but even if that's the first place we should visit, it would take us too long to get there."

He could sense the disappointment in my voice. "Because I've never visited The Ruins of Drakonour before, I can't teleport us there," I explained. Uncle Alexander gave Father a look brimming with confidence.

It took him a moment, but Father eventually grasped what Uncle Alexander was hinting at. "Yes, Altheon," he said. "You have indeed been there, perhaps not directly, but you have." He continued to describe how, nestled deep within the ruins, lay a magical mirror that acted as a portal between The Ruins and the Castle.

I hastily drew a rough copy of the area we were heading to and gave the original map back to my father. "Keep it safe; we can't take it with us and risk mother finding it," I cautioned. Then, realizing the implication, I added, "You're suggesting that because I've lived in the castle, which contains this gateway, I should be able to teleport us to The Ruins, correct?" 

Uncle Alexander confirmed with a nod.

I nodded in agreement, then placed my hand on his shoulder. With my eyes closed, I concentrated on the castle dungeons, on the concealed office within. I succeeded in picturing the mirror situated at the office's rear.

Looking through it, my vision travelled pasted a large table, up a winding stone staircase, and through an open door leading to the outside, where I could finally see the ruined tower, at the edge of what looked like a dilapidated village. 

 At first, I'd thought I'd managed to do all of this on my own. But as it turned out, I was using Uncle Alexander's memories of the Ruins, and the office from when my Grandfather was in control of his body. His memories were influencing my chosen power, guiding me to where we needed to go. 

Upon opening my eyes once more, I realized we were standing before a dilapidated tower. It exuded a dark and threatening presence. If I had remained my eighteen-year-old self, it might have intimidated me.

"Thhhhe blood of a Darken approachhhhhes." A decrepit old looking man approached us, having walked out of the tower. "Thhhhe lasssst time a Darken came here, it wassss a pretender. Not my Masssster." 

 He approached Uncle Alexander. "You havvvve my Masssster's energy." He said, before turning towards the tower. "But you are not my Masssster. He hassss been dead for ssssome time." He opened the tower door. "What bringssss you here, Sssson and Grandsssson of Elkadar Darken?" 

"We're uncertain, Keeper," replied Uncle Alexander. "We're searching for the remaining members of our family, the ones my sister hasn't killed yet." He presented the map to the man, which appeared pointless as the old man wasn't paying attention to it. "We were directed here by this map. Are you able to assist us?"

"No one musssst dissssturb my Masssster's tomb." The old man turned back to face us, his rather hollow looking eyes seemingly filled with rage. "Leavvvve now, iffff you vvvvalue your livvvves!"