The Magitrix: A Flame Awakens

Prologue

Nightstrider slid through the shadows, his small form easily blending in with the darkness. He pressed himself up against a wall, checking both directions for guards, and continued on when he saw didn't see any.

He was surprised at how extraordinarily easy it was to sneak in. The stronghold was extremely under-guarded. Maybe it was because of the Solstice Festival, a celebration that the Heliomagi loved. If so, then he definitely picked a good day to change the world.

There were a few guards here and there, but he could easily avoid them or take them out. It was like they didn't expect anyone to want to get their hands on it. Fools, he thought to himself as he crouched behind another wall. Who decided that they should be in charge of such a precious stone? He assumed that break-ins happened a lot, but, from the lack of security, that obviously wasn't the case.

He'd been searching the fortress for an hour, yet the Unity Stone was nowhere in sight. Anger rose up inside of him. The Heliomagi did something right- they designed the temple to be so labyrinthine that Nightstrider was having difficulty even remembering what path he took before.

He stood. Be patient, he chided himself. Even if it takes an eternity to find, it is worth the trouble.

Suddenly, Nightstrider noticed something that he hadn't before. A light. It was a faint green, a little lighter than grass. Just seeing it made him calmer, the hatred and anger inside of him raging a little slower. There was only one reason that he would hate the Heliomagi less, and that was that the Unity Stone was near.

He slid quickly down the hall, following the light. He must of been going in the right direction, he noted with satisfaction, for the green light kept on getting brighter and brighter until it could illuminate an entire room. Yes! His work over the past few years was finally coming into fruition. He flew through the shadows, Nightstrider's growing excitement replaced the need for caution. Left, right, right, straight, right, left...

BAM! Nightstrider collided with a hard metal surface. His face exploded with pain. He jerked himself back and felt his nose. Bleeding, maybe broken. He groaned. Just what he needed.

Nightstrider crossed his arms and let himself take in his surroundings. What he's run into the moment before was a door. A giant, ancient door that seemed to sigh with age. It was made from manolium, he realized, laced with silver and gold tendrils, to give the door more of an aesthetic appeal. A giant locking mechanism clutched to it, like a snake trailing down.

That's where the Unity Stone is, he thought, pleased. I'm sure of it. If this was really the famed Door of Unity, then he knew exactly how to open it. He allowed himself to smile.

This analysis only took a few seconds. When he took a step toward it, a sharp noise grated to his left, and he barely avoided being impaled by a Heliomag spear. "Hey!" Nightstrider protested, and whirled around. Two guards, with golden eyes and armor, were pointing spears at him. "You must not enter!"

Nightstrider inwardly groaned. He would berate himself for not noticing them later. Now, he had to deal with this situation.

"Let me pass." He narrowed his eyes at the guards. He knew that they weren't going to let him go, but at least he could try. "Do that, and I'll spare you."

He saw the guard on the left noticeable falter for a second as their eyes glittered with recognition. Then the spear in their grasp was propped father in his direction. "You know we can't do that," they said, tightening their grip. He could tell from the badge sown on their armor that they were female. "You've been named a dangerous criminal, Nightstrider. We can either do this peacefully, or you can put up a fight. Either way you will come with us. Dawn," they said to the other guard, who's badge that was also down onto their uniform indicated that they were genderfree, "seize him."