Tale of the Twilight Warriors

Chapter 24: Lost in the frozen beauty

Following the events in the town where the musician had appeared the two warriors Gabriel and Shadow vigorously and swiftly made haste to the north, it wasn't long before they'd managed to find themselves lost in the beautiful snowy tundra. They still pressed forward, wandering north being sure to monitor what appeared to be a structure in the direction they wandered, as they wandered the sight of the wildlife in the distance was spectacular, watching young wolves play and scamper around in the snow, large turtle-like creatures, they believed were used as war beasts were visible in the distance, they were enormous and both Shadow and Gabriel agreed it may not be the best of choices to engage them at any distance. Before long the ice elementals roamed around, large orb-like creatures floated around a beautiful cyan light radiated from their very cores, far to what appeared to be the east one elemental battled the turtle like foe in a Valliant battle. Ice spears exploded from the earth around the beast as magic cast from the elemental destroyed the beasts equilibrium, however, the beast recovered swiftly and slammed its front feet downwards at the elemental crushing it and causing the ground to crack and collapse around it forcing it into what may have been a lake hidden under the ice.

Shadow and Gabriel stared in awe as they watched the combat between the clearly two strongest foes to be seen so far in the wasteland of a tundra they now ventured on, not far in the distance silhouettes were visible as was the arch-shaped rock, Thaddious and Issac were talking blades drawn, Shadow and Gabriel started running furiously ahead to aid Issac, but by the time they approached Issac lay in the snow bleeding vigorously from his stomach.

"Issac, are you ok?!" They shouted in sync, "Stand back.." Issac replied.

They looked over to see Thaddious holding his blade over a frozen chalice that sat on a pedestal in the middle of the arched shape rock, the blood of Issac ran from his blade dripping into the chalice, which then ran down through the cracks into the rivets in the ground forming an odd shape.

"It simply wasn't enough, bring the girl" Thaddious shouted, from the caravan that rested a tad west of the area a girl was drug across the tundra with a potato sack over her head, her hands were bound, she was pregnant. 

"no.." Gabriel grunted

"Stop, Gabriel" Issac spattered

Before anyone had any time to say anything Shadow had vanished and intercepted the man dragging her, before the girl lay the man his stomach torn in two from Shadows strikes.

Shadow removed the bag, it was indeed Saria. 

Issac spat blood on the ice, Gabriels blade rest deep in the back of Thaddious, but Gabriel bled as well.

"Gabriel, I told you.." Issac chuckled.

"Twisted, to laugh at a time like this" Gabriel laughed back.

"Good, Good, this is exactly what I'd needed, the souls of one pure heart one of balance and one of negative virtue" Thaddious laughed, Gabriel and Thaddious's blood poured downwards into the rivets causing a deep shining light to explode from the stone arc, it froze over and from the ground erupted ice and snow. Shadow rushed towards Gabriel and Issac.

"Worry not, of what is to come Gabriel, just take Issac and go as far away as possible until the quake subsides" Shadow bellowed, his voice was barely heard as Gabriel tore upward on his blade shredding Thaddious's flesh, he ripped backwards and his blood poured violently from Thaddious's blade.

Shadow quickly recovered Saria and rushed them back as far as possible, snow poured out violently, the mist that exploded around the area covered the air preventing visiblity along with the snow. 

Saria and Issac, both recovered but injured lay side by side in the snow, Gabriel lay against Shadows knee his wound deep and blood ran thick down his shirt.

"Keep them safe..." Shadow could barely talk as tears rolled down his face, he removed a red liquid from his bag and separated it into a separate vial, "I forgot I had this.. haha" he chuckled, he lay the end of the bottle on Gabriels lips and forced him to drink it. "It's only half a dose, so don't expect a miracle, give the other half to Issac"

Shadow lay Issac next to Gabriel and Issac shouted out to Shadow as he walked alone towards the cyclone of now settling mist.

"Don't.. you can't stop this on your own!"

Shadow chuckled back and stopped.

"I know old man, but I sure can try"

Shadow rushed towards the now ever looming tower, Gabriels vision faded in and out as he muttered "Idiot" out before leaning forward and tossing the vial to Issac. 

Issac sipped and chuckled, "Though it will not heal my wounds all the way I can definitely work around it to fix yours..."

The tower loomed high over Shadow, at the arc the chalice was gone, and behind the stone arc lay a door. The exterior was decorated with ice and beautiful designs drawings it appeared of a greater being, and winged creatures.

Shadow analyzed the ice on the ground and noticed the blood trail led to the door, it was opened just wide enough for Thaddious to fit through.

"persistant" Shadow grumbled, and wandered into the tower.