The Forsaken Arts

Chapter 1: Old Friend, New Foe

In the dead of night, deep within the dense woods made of pine, a small clearing opened to reveal two shadows. Trailing the outline of the shadows cast by the flicker of a small fire, a sympathetic breeze gently cascaded through the trees attempting to console the battered bodies of two fallen warriors.

Dai and Osyrus were the last surviving members of a renowned group of fighters known as the Legion. Sitting hunched over on a tree stump, Osyrus seemed mesmerized by the campfire's dancing flames.

Being a young man of not so flattering height or size, he slightly rose from the stump and picked up a small branch that was partially being concealed by a shrub. Through the reflection of his deep brown eyes, flames erupted in small bursts as they illuminated his caramel skin while he stoked the fire.

Sitting back down, his eyes left the campfire and became focused on his friend Dai, who unconsciously sat to his left leaning against a tree. His tattered and blood soaked uniform draped from his body.

The bruising was surreal and difficult to look at, the swelling and dis-figuration made him barely recognizable and even harder to stomach if you were someone who knew him.

Though bandaged, blood still flowed from his left leg and torso; the patches of dried blood on his face were chipped due to the painful expressions that surfaced during his slumber. With one eye swollen shut, it was clear that this individual had seen far better days.

Osyrus noticed Dai gently turning his head towards him. With an agonizing expression, Dai strained to open his right eye only to find Osyrus intently staring back at him.

"Ah, finally awake I see. That's good, I was starting to worry." he said with a relieved tone.

"Huh, what are you talking about?" Dai replied with a look of pain and confusion.

As he became aware of his surroundings, the missing pieces from earlier in the day began rushing back to him. The bruises on his body, the torn clothing and blood that had not yet dried still ran from his wounds as a child would run from their worst fear.

In a voice that barely had life left in it, "I still can't believe this happened. I mean seriously, what the hell was he thinking...?"

Unable to give his friend a truthful answer, Osyrus lowered his head in defeat while turning away and replaying the recent events in his mind.

A strong gust weaved its way across an open plain as rays from the sun painted the land it touched. In the distance, a disturbance in the scenery, the air was thick and filled with desperation as a fatigued man unwillingly fell to his knees.

Perspiration dripped steadily as he gasped for air while placing one hand on the ground and holding his chest with the other. Slowly raising his head, a cloaked individual came into view.

Dominantly standing over him, the hooded figure revelled with amusement. His informat Ni'lerh wasn't exaggerating when he said the Legion would come to challenge him.

"My old friend Dai, my former pupil JinX and my own brother Osyrus, well half-brother that is. Have come to stand before me offering their meager lives."

JinX, the average built man with mesmerizing emerald colored eyes, mustered what was left of his pride and pushed himself off the ground.

As he rose his black hair that fell shoulder length swung away from his face, allowing his eyes to fixate on his mentor's face for the first time in what felt like an eternity.

Trying to find any remnants of humanity, he peered into his hood while stepping back to put distance between the two.

As he regrouped with Dai on one side and Osyrus on the other. All he could see were red auras emanating from underneath the hood that shaded his former mentor.

Four men brought together and connected through tragedy now stood before one another in conflict.

Osyrus - The half-brother of Krinx and the youngest of the four fighters, could hold back no longer as he pleaded desperately for his brother to put an end to the war.

Irritated by Osyrus' words, the noir cloak outlined with brilliant ruby shaded trims and embroidered with steel embellishments lashed intensely to the right as Krinx abruptly directed his attention towards him with a menacing glare.

No one but JinX was able to trace his movements as Osyrus was shot into the air but just as quickly, gravity took over and rammed him into the earth.

The young warrior gasped for air as the pain from the impact quickly caught up to him, leaving him favoring his ribs while coughing fervently.

Dai began moving to check on his comrade but became distracted by the faint trail of purple mist along the ground. Following with his eyes, he discovered that it originated from Krinx.

A reminiscent grin formed on JinX's face as he thought. You always were quick on your feet, glad you didn't lose your touch.

Intrigued yet delighted with his swift attack, Krinx calmly clasped his hands behind his back, continuing to study Osyrus' pain-filled expressions.

"An end to it, why would I end it?" his voice grew louder and more disturbed as he continued, "I created it, I relish in it! What you fail to realize my delusional heroes, is that the only thing that will be ending here today is the existence of you three."

Finally able to manage the pain, Osyrus picked himself back up while thinking that they must stop him here and now.

"Krinx, surely you didn't." Dai said standing in disbelief at what he just heard.

As a cold steady silence loomed with Krinx staring through him as if he weren't there, JinX knew it was pointless trying to reason with him.

Dai had had enough, locked on his target, he charged in with his larger stature that was mostly made of muscle.

"Let's end this while we still have the chance!"