Prologue
In the secretive chasms of an obscure dwelling lived a dark sorcerer. For many years he hid in these caves, building up his army and preparing for war. Not a creature who lived on Earth knew of his whereabouts, nor did they know of his fancying of the great sceptre. A sceptre that could rule all, or destroy all.
He thought of himself as a highly righteous man; someone who never lost a fight and who was above everyone else. He detested the thought of losing or being defeated and always denied any suggestion of failure, the result being the death of the person who brought it up. If someone was to pose against his decisions, they’d be disposed of.
It was in these caves and their network of tunnels that he waited with his servants and slaves, who obeyed his every command. He had occupied the minds of several thousand creatures of different planets, and each one submitted without question. And after five-hundred years of hiding and secrecy, he knew it was time. The sorcerer could sense it now, the tension of war; it was inevitable.
But even for a dark overlord of incredible power, not all luck went his way. Sometimes, the will of good can change the course of the future and make amends.
‘You are telling me that you have no idea of the whereabouts of the great sceptre? Can you even comprehend how much power is at just the surface of it?’
‘They managed… to f-find it, sir… I-I mean my L-Lord…’ the helpless minion stuttered.
‘So where is it?’ he cried out in anger at his quivering minions.
‘We’re so sorry… b-but it was… taken from us… by G-Gillian.’
‘TAKEN?!’ Lord Claudié screeched. ‘WHAT DO YOU MEAN TAKEN? I trusted all of you with such a valuable item of power. I thought you understood the importance of it. But I have been mistaken –’
‘My Lord, we understand the importance –’ another minion spoke up. To even speak whilst Lord Claudié is speaking is an act of pure ignorance and disgust. The servant knew instantly that it was a mistake as soon as it had slipped from his mouth.
‘DO NOT INTERUPT ME WHEN I AM SPEAKING!’ he paused, and waited for the submissive responses from the three minions before him. The corners of his mouth curled up as he began speaking. ‘I think you have misconstrued its power, and I think that is mostly my fault. So, as recompense for my bad demeanour, let me demonstrate.’ He walked slowly towards the underlings, who looked no different from a human. Of course, he knew that the loss of the sceptre was not entirely their fault, and he was sure to punish those guilty for the misdeeds later, but his anger was uncontrollable and he needed to take it out on someone.
His footsteps echoed eerily as he glided down the steps from his gold throne encrypted with unknown symbols and meanings engraved onto it. What they meant was unknown to the servants of Claudié. He had only told them that it was a message of certain important; a one that he must follow, regardless of the consequences. After that, they asked him no more.
Seeing the Lord almost float towards them, they backed away subtly.
‘There is no need to be afraid,’ he said, his smile growing larger at the mention of such a belittling emotion, something that he had never felt before. He thought that he needn’t fear anything, as everything else feared him. ‘Trust me.’
All of the minions stopped moving, but didn’t stop feeling so afraid, nor did they bother to stop trembling in their boots. The Lord could have died from laughter right on the spot, because to him, the sight of others backing away from him, being afraid of him, and doing everything that he tells him, was something so joyous. He would jump for joy if it were not for the dark appearance he had to upkeep.
