Celestial Storm: Blazing Eye

Prologue

A large group of people marched in formation toward the city called Kasodral. Three figures walked in front of the small army. One was a muscular young man who looked as though he had spent his entire life lifting heavy objects. He had short cropped blond hair, tanned skin and bright blue eyes. He was dressed in loose, white breeches, black, leather shoes and a vest that he had left unbuttoned showing off his muscular chest. Walking next to him was a tall slender man with long blonde hair that was braided. His features hinted at an elfin ancestry, for his face was angular and smooth. His eyes were the color of red wine, and they seemed unnaturally bright in the pre-dawn light. He wore long robes that were white and held closed with a yellow sash. A woman marched next to him. She had a body shaped like an hour-glass with long legs and beautiful features. Her hair was a dark auburn color, and her hair was wavy and thick. Her bright hazel eyes were large and round. She was wearing a pleated black short skirt and a close fitting halter top. Simple black sandals were on her feet.

"Remember, Agamemnon, the former guild master has been replaced by a woman called Hebikage. She is his granddaughter," the man with braided hair said, "Defeating her will not be easy. Your best chance will be to take her quickly and by surprise. Her magical abilities are formidable."

"Hebikage is a stiff," the woman added, "She probably spends all her time training and studying. The one I'm worried about is Sreldes."

"My dear Silantha, you offend me. I told you that I am perfectly capable of dealing with Sreldes. We have such history together. I know how to defeat him," the man with the long braid said.

"Don't worry, Namaezen," Agamemnon said, "I can handle Hebikage. Ah, that reminds me. There is a new member that uses celestial spirits. We should watch out for her."

"I know. I have sensed her presence," Namaezen said calmly, "She has an interesting and formidable collection of signets. I'm sure that we have a couple of members who can handle her although they'll be hard pressed. She can summon Kagutsuchi the Magma Lord now."

"The Magma Lord? Isn't that a hard spirit to control?" Silantha asked.

"Also called the Fire God and Demon Slayer. Only a handful of mages in the history of the world have been able to control him," Namaezen said with a nod.

"I'll take care of the new girl! I'll rip her heart out!" someone called from within the ranks.

"I thought that you might volunteer, Kiftu," Namaezen said, "You've slain a demi-god, so your level of power can compete with her spirits. Don't be cocky though. Kagutsuchi is more powerful than a demi-god could ever dream of being."

Kiftu cackled. The man had a horrible scar that ran down his forehead and along the left side of his nose and face, which was supposedly how he had gotten his name. Kiftu apparently meant something about a scar given to a powerful warrior in some faerie dialect. Kiftu reached out and clapped another man on the shoulder.

"I've got Nemafrien with me," Kiftu cackled, "The two of us can defeat the girl with her celestial spirits. No one can banish spirits like Nemafrien can!"

"Don't underestimate her. Even from this distance, her aura is overwhelming," Namaezen said in a serene voice.

"I can't wait to rip out that pyromancer's heart. There can only be one flame!" a woman with flame colored hair said from Namaezen's left.

"How sad. I was hoping to punch that pyromancer after what he did to me last time. That was embarrassing, that was," said a rather gloomy looking man with unkempt black hair.

"If you can't keep your footing and end up ripping the crotch seam of your pants because you did the splits unexpectedly, then you don't deserve to fight my rival!" the woman snarled.

Several people snickered.

"Oh? Is that what happened to you last time, Orfilk?" Namaezen asked in mild surprise.

The man reddened slight, but nodded. Several people howled with laughter. Silantha hushed them almost immediately.

"Shut up, idiots!" she snapped, "There is an elf in Celestial Storm called Nilfrasi who likes leaving the city. The last thing we need is to have him running off and squealing to them."

"No one is near us right now," an elf maid with a streak of blue in her hair said near the back of the ranks, "My magic allows me to see through anything that I want. Nilfrasi is not here."

"He isn't right now," Silantha said pointedly.

"Forget that pitiful elf! I will defeat the Bladed Demon Mistress!" a muscular woman with her black hair coiled around her head said.

"Hehe! Kriantha has been upset ever since Ethiza tricked her into getting stuck in the marsh that one time," Kiftu cackled.

"Shut up!" Kriantha snapped.

"Enough banter," Namaezen said lazily, "Stay alert. The dawn has come, and the darkness will no longer hide us from the eyes of Celestial Storm."

As he spoke, the first light of the sun lit up the land. The darkness around them seemed to part almost like a curtain being drawn on a stage. The cold morning light bathed them all in golden hues.

"Celestial mage," Namaezenwhispered to the sky, "I will soon know the truth of your power... I amcoming for you."