Shadows of the Light

Prologue

Kavsir stood there by the entrance to the aclove. The dark robe he wore melded him into the shadows of the deep shadows of the cave but he was anything but at ease. He stood there doing nothing but listening to the screams and the ragged cries of pain coming from the room. His morals dictated that he should go in there and blast the demons to shreds. But he couldn't, because of two things: first and foremost, the demons were virtually immortal and he doubted that he would be able to do much on his own. Secondly, his friend, Rynlik, the same one whose cries of pain haunted every second of his inaction, had instructed him specifically to wait until 'the time was right'. Rynlik had been continuously tortured for three days now. He heard the Abyssals, succubi, incubi, infernals, imps and the rest of the horde laugh in enjoyment. Kavsir peeked round the corner and realised his mistake. It wasn't a mere aclove, it was theatre; a theatre of pain. He saw far below the descending seats the rows and rows of demonic creatures, clapping their hands in pleasure or enraptured by the suffering Rynlik was going through. They fed on it and it made them strong. It fed Kavsir too but all it did was make him sick. In the centre of the stage was Rynlik, mutilated and bleeding profusely and the demon.....thing. He still had no idea what its gender was, even after almost ten years of fighting his/her/its forces. They said it could change itself, to the most seductive woman or the most alluring man.....or both at once; it was after all the pinnacle of peversion of the natural world. And now it spoke, its voice was feminine, soft and mellow, but had undertones of a deep and steady maculinity. It resounded throughout the theatre, mocking Kavsir's dear friend and teacher, "Oh dear dear Rynlik. Are you hurting? Where is the precious Light that has sustained you all this while?" and it laughed and the entire assembly squeeled in glee. "Pain makes us strong, just as it makes you weak. The Light is weak and now once you die, the Dark will reign!" and the entire theatre trembled at their roar of victory. "Shall we greet the armies who came expecting to see your triumph? Ah...," It licked its lips and trembled in ecstacy, "their despair will strengthen us even more... Come my minions, my children!" and whooping enthusiastically, they fell behind their leader's confident gait as Rynlik was forced to follow it in chains, leading the group. As they reached the exit, Kavsir drew on the abundant pain and cloaked himself in shadow but there was no need. Rynlik stumbled past his invisible form but said, "Kavsir.... Kavsir, my friend," and Kavsir rushed to him but he stopped as his friend shook his head, "No my friend, their arrogance may have made them blind and deaf but even they will be suspicious if they see me being supported by an invisible person and the illusion will be dispelled," and he gave Kavsir a smile, "Now come, walk with me," and they began walking the long trek back to the surface. It pained Kavsir to be unable to help his friend as he stumbled weakly. At last, when they were almost to the surface Rynlik spoke hoarsely, "My friend, the journey was hard and I don't think I could have made this sacrifice to people who rejected me without you. Listen," he said quickly as Kavsir made a motion to speak, "listen, my dear friend. Only you have any inkling of what I am about to do and I tell you the truth, your act of faith in moving your troops to their current place will result in your overwhelming victory. But my final message is for you and your kin. Be at peace my friend, for you have suffered much but truly, truly I say to you: you are not tainted though your magicks are like those the Abyssals use. For does not even the Light hide those it cares under the shadow of his wings? Again I say to you, be at peace, for this war would not have been won without you. You are Knights, the Knights that the Light can hide its people under: Shadow Knights!" and with a final beatific smile, Rynlik walked out and Kavsir wept as the entire entourage marched out. After a few minutes, he felt a stirring in the air and suddenly a great channeling began, an amount of force that was beyond what any human was capable of. He composed himself and said, "It is time!" and throughout the cave, a cave that the demons thought no one would ever dare enter, thousands of cloaked figures stepped out drawing weapons, "We have been called to serve the Pure Light. Shadow Knights, we are cast aside no longer! We fight, and die if need be, in the service of the One who extended His hand when no other would!" and with a roar, the Shadow Knights marched out into the battlefield as tremors rocked the ground and lightning crackled over.