The Land: Anarchy

Chapter 48: Zuno Erlikson

Selena and Wize discussed amongst themselves whether or not they should attend. It has been 20 years, he must've been fully turned to darkness.

"Should we?" Wize asked.

"Well, we're already here anyway. Might as well give it a try. I'm sure the others will come too, given that he wrote it "meeting of old friends". He must have meant all of us." Selena replied.

So they decided to go, but their advisors thought otherwise. They thought it was too dangerous and risky, assuming its a meeting of the realm's leaders. He could easily just kill everyone once the meeting starts. Well The King and Queen still decided to go anyway, since ultimately it was their decisions.

Their assumptions were true, two days later Grim arrived at the wall with Zyx followed by Eena and Jennifer. Arya was nowhere to be seen. They stayed at the headquarters behind the wall. A lot of guards protected the headquarters now, knowing that the realm's leaders have gathered besides Ravenrock's President that is.

Old friends laughed and told stories throughout the night, they have not seen each other in a very long time indeed. After Selena and Wize's wedding, they never saw each other again. They sat around the round table of the room which had a view of the beautiful night sky facing the other way from the wall.

"So how's life for the king and queen of Levenhood?" Eena asked as she sipped a drink of cold ale.

"Great and stressful actually. We are in charge of all the security details in the realm after all. How about you? Any news on Ande?" Wize replied as he placed his arm around Selena's shoulder.

Eena inhales deeply and continued, "No, no news of him. Not even a tweet or whispers about him. It almost seems like everyone had forgotten him. But I believe he is well, he will be back when he is ready."

"Anybody heard or seen Arya? I've never seen her since the end of the war. She simply just vanished." Grim wondered.

"I'm sure she's fine and she'll show up for the meeting. She wouldn't want to miss meeting him, if you know what I mean." Wize joked.

"Peace at last huh, after those long years." Selena mumbled.

Zyx got up and held his drink in front of him asking for a toast, "ladies and gentlemen let us toast for 20 years of peace! Enndorcsia!" He cheered. Others got up and toasted.

The night went on as they kept on telling stories and ideas.

"I do wonder however, why did Zuno invite us all of the sudden? Is it finally time?" Zyx wondered.

"On to the serious topics now eh? Alright. I think he is giving us a warning, a final warning. But do not fear, we all know that this day would come. We are very well prepared." Grim answered.

"I'm afraid it is, the peace will soon perish. War will rage on once more. All will be revealed tomorrow when he comes here." Jennifer said.

All of the sudden, the lights began to flicker then they all turned off. A shadow swooped the room and emerged on the edge of the room. Zuno was there. He was now completely different, his face can no longer be seen covered in a deep hood, his whole body was covered by a long robe.

The group was shocked, they jumped off their chair and huddled up together. They had no weapon with themselves and the guards did not hear or see the shadows.

"Long time it has been." He greeted. His voice was low and echoes followed as he spoke.

"Zuno? Well you look...ehm....different." Wize responded jokingly.

"I--- don't--- have--- much time." Zuno stuttered as if he was in extreme pain.

"What's wrong? What is it?" Jennifer quickly asked.

"I'm losing my consciousness, darkness will completely take over me soon. I figured out a way to keep my consciousness for the past 20 years but there is no stopping them after this. Darkness---" he struggled to speak, "darkness will try to take over the realm again. Your heir..." He pointed at Jennifer. "Your heir will possess the power to keep the balance. Be warry, for she will possess both light and dark, guide her to the right way you must. This is the last time we speak." Zuno vanished after delivering a puzzled message.

The group was speechless, they weren't given the chance to ask him about anything.

Wize inhaled deeply, "Well....I don't know what to say."

The door opened and a person said, "War, war will happen again." It was Arya, she arrived just after Zuno left, but was close enough to hear his last messages. "We best warn the military. We have been preparing for this day for over 20 years now, am I right?" She continued.

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Zuno went back to the dark domain, he sat on his throne for one last time before his consciousness disappears. He suddenly saw the previous shadow summoners all around him. They stood there as if they were comforting him for his leave.

"You will be one of us now Zuno. You shall possess the name of "Six" and you watch and perhaps guide the next shadow summoner." One said.

"There will be another?" Zuno wondered..

"Indeed, you were the last of your generation. The next generation however, will have a new one. We shall be guiding her way and providing her with the choice just like you were given back then. Now, join us as the demon shall take over your body." Two explained.

The demon king, the immortal one, takes on the body of the best shadow summoners. He cannot be killed or destroyed. He transfers himself from one body to another every generation. The reason for why he always chose shadow summoners to be his vessel is unknown. Zuno got up and looked back to see himself sitting, he saw the demon king, the immortal one, enter his body. Zuno then went to the dark forest with the rest of the fallen shadow summoners. He did not question about the demon king, he just simply followed the shadow summoners.

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The group warned the guards to sound the alarm. The horns from both edges of the wall were heard. Huge torches lit up the night. Soldiers readied themselves on the wall, artilleries were being prepared. Messenger birds were sent to each kingdom to request the sending of the armies.

The group put on their armors and took their weapons to prepare for another war.
"Here we go again." Wize mumbled.

They all stood on the wall as they looked at the dark domain. Ande then appeared in a hurry and warned them. "Demon king, the true evil is the demon king. Shadow summoners were just his pawns!"