Tempest of War

Chapter 6: Fading Hope

          With the world plunged into darkness and crimson lightning cracking the once beautiful sky, the remaining lords evacuate to the only haven they have - Char.  Char was the only place on the continent with sufficient light for vision; however, it was anti-vegetation wasteland.  The lords had ordered convoys to venture out into the darkness to gather what resources they could to survive.  In Earth Fury Castle, Emperor Dragneel is furious.
"I will not stand for this mutiny.  The dark one will burn in the pits of hell for what he has done!  I will ensure of that!  Darkness or no darkness we will fight through this."  He declared in an exhausted breathy voice.  His exhaustion was a result of him having to cast a kingdom wide flame immunity spell for the refugees of the other kingdoms, so that they may survive in his amazingly fiery domain.  Men, women, and children took shelter near the castle and other warm pockets where they would not come in contact with lava.  King Gajeel, Emperor Dragneel, Lord Erik, and Lord Thestalos sat in a circle around a table made of pumice.  Their weapons were being reforged in the mountain areas below.  The roaring of volanic eruptions echoed across the region.
"We need to figure out how to combat the darkness.  It gives Lord Cheney's warriors practically infinite strength.  His warriors can dart around the battlefield and freeze you where you sta-....wait..." Lord Erik stopped as a bright idea formed within his mind.  The other lords looked at him with curiosity; all they could hope for was brilliant ideas right now.
"What is it Lord Erik?" Emperor Dragneel looked the most curious out of all of them, for he wanted to pound the dark one's face in painfully for his mutiny.  Lord Erik had the widest grin on his face.
"If it's completely dark, we basically have no shadow. They can't freeze our shadow if we don't cast one.  I'm well aware that we can't see, but what if we had some sort of night vision magic?"  Lord Erik elaborated brilliantly to the other lords with confidence.  The other lords let out a prideful "Ah" and savored the idea.  This was a brilliant idea indeed; however, the Shadowrath's can not be easily destroyed.
"Emperor Dragneel, what became of Lord Eucliffe of Surgeros?  Didn't he launch a full scale assault on Slayn?" Lord Thestalos commented blankly.  His concern guided the tone of his voice to a semi-low pitch.  Emperor Dragneel hung his head in disappointment and shame.
"He was captured by the dark one, according to the refugees who managed to escape.  They locked him away in the Dark Citadel.  As for the sky, I would presume he got to Queen Wendy too.  The poor child." Emperor Dragneel clenched his fist, expressing his desire for retaliation.  Lord Erik stood with his armed crossed against the wall.  Once again, he grinned in brilliance.
"Perhaps, we don't need to see.  Lord Cheney knows that the girl can not see in the darkness and neither can we; however, I can lend you my power." Lord Erik laughed a bit before opening his free eye.
"What is this power you speak of? Why have you not told us of it until now?" King Gajeel uttered with a hint of offense for keeping him and the others waiting.  It was slightly unsettling.  The other lords seemed to care little and were anxious to hear of this power he spoke of.
"The reason I never mentioned it is because it is not of use to you until now.  It was never necessary until the dark one started wreaking havoc across the land.  I shall lend you the power of reptilian senses." Lord Erik, also known as King Cobra, spoke of the power to feel your enemy's presence even if one were to lose their eyesight temporarily or permanently.
"What exactly is this reptilian sense? You better not be speaking of turning us into snakes or something of that nature." King Gajeel said as if it were a joke of some sort.  Lord Erik shook his head slightly still grinning away because of his own brilliance.  The others just laughed at the comment King Gajeel had made.
"That's not what I intend to do, despite how hilarious that would be.  I mean that you wouldn't have to see your enemies because, like some reptiles can, you will be able to feel your enemies.  Feel their presence if you will." Lord Erik sighed and sat back down with a amused expression on his face.
"That's brilliant!  Those dark cretins would not know we have an advantage over them.  Is this reptilian sense a spell or magic of some sort?"  Emperor Dragneel replied with an impressed tone.  Lord Erik nodded and formed a magic circle with his hands; then a jolt of magic rushed into all of them. The other lords felt strange as the jolt was rather quick.  Soon, they were able to tell how something was different.  King Gajeel got up and walked to the far end of the room with his eyes closed tightly.
"I can still tell exactly where you all are! Even the citizens below! I can feel their movement!" King Gajeel bellowed with glee and hope as the power quickly faded away; then the King of Kratus returned to his seat at the table.  All of the other lords felt the power leave as well.
"Now you know the true and only advantage that we have over the dark ones. Darkness will become their greatest enemy."  Lord Erik concluded and sat down.  The other lords were more hopeful and content.  With what militant forces they had left, they formed different regiments and began to flank different parts of Slayn.  The bitter cold darkness ate away at their nerves, yet they still endured brilliantly.  It was only a matter of time before they would reach the border of Slayn.  The dark one, still celebrating his "victory," was in his citadel unaware of the new strategy that the other lords have just devised.  Crimson lightning struck different parts of the land in an unstable rate.  The dark mist had reached the perimeter of Aviona; after careful planning, the lords stopped and took time to honor the holy warriors who were felled in battle.