The blackness of night gave way to the brightening horizon;evidence of the early hours of twilight. A man clad in black armor walked the outskirts of the forest, awaiting the signal.
"Xaug," came a voice at the man's side. "Does it really have to be here?"
"The prophecy can only be fulfilled exactly nine hundred and ninety-nine years after the last bloody battle that formed the land of Hegasha. The other requirement is what brings us here, Syvix. The exact location in which the battle ended— the highest tower of the Devil's Fortress—is close by. When the dawn breaks I will have the power to rule this world with an iron fist."
"I don't like this place" said Syvix. "Its energy reeks of him."
A man in purple and black armor appeared beside the pair."No sign of King Faus's army, Xaug."
"Of course not, General Galof, the Atlantean console wishes for him to stay out of this matter and it is best for the king not to anger the console."
"Why would they want you to go through with this?" asked Syvix.
"They don't," replied Galof, "but they would much prefer to discredit Arda than to stop us. They expect the 'Chosen One' to deal with us."
"Leave it to the bureaucrats to risk the safety of innocent lives just to further their image," said Xaug, lips twisting into a cynical smile.Galof grunted noncommittally. "Dawn is fast approaching,"he announced. "I'll lead the way and Syvix will cover the rear."
They walked single file as instructed. Galof headed the group, his keen eyes darting to all sides, and Syvix, a skilled wizard,readied himself for any ambush from behind. They arrived at the Fortress and began to scale the highest tower. Each turned corner brought new sights of decaying bones amid scraps of rusted armor.
"To think that such a horrendous battle was fought here," the general observed solemnly.
"You can still taste the hate and blood lust in the air, among other things..." agreed Syvix, inhaling deeply.
They arrived at the peak of the Fortress to see a single golden pedestal standing atop the tower. Xaug slipped a bony hand into his pocket, felt around briefly, and removed a small orb the size of his own fist. He placed the orb on the pedestal and watched for a moment as its swirls of gold and black gleamed in the starlight.
Sensing a slight change in the energy that surrounded him, Xaug smiled and looked to the sky."About time you showed up, Saje," he remarked coolly, eyes still fixed upward.
Galof and Syvix turned to see the man occupying the same doorway through which they had just passed. His emerald robematched the orb that headed his scepter. As he stepped from the shadows, electric purple ropes shot from the ground, enveloping him. Saje struggled against the glowing tendrils, his panicked expression illuminated by the tightening restraints.
"You can stay there for a minute," growled Xaug. "It is time for me to fulfill my destiny."
"Please don't do this," pleaded Saje. "This isn't you!"
"I'm sorry I didn't meet your perfect expectations as a pupil."
"I just didn't want you to-"
"To fulfill my destiny" finished Xaug. He spoke icily,calculating, but a white hot passion burned in his eyes.
An arc of sunlight peeked over the mountain, illuminating the already iridescent golden orb. Xaug raised his scepter over his head and, in a fast and fluid motion, struck the orb with earthshaking force. Its glasses facade shattered and evaporated into a thin smoke.Two swirling beams of light emerged from its center, circling one another in a hypnotic dance. At once, the purple light dipped beneath the gold and broke outward into Xaug's staff enriching his body with a purple glow. The gold light flew off into the forests to the southeast.
"So much power," said Xaug, inhaling deeply. Finally, he turned to face Saje for the first time. "Let's finish this."
He approached Saje and aimed his scepter at him. It started to glow purple, He turned around and shot the spell at a woman who appeared behind him. The spell impacted a blue barrier that she threw up in front of her. She drew two swords and threw one behind Xaug, slicing the ropes that bound Saje. Saje got up and grabbed the sword and tossed it to the woman. They both jumped to the ground below.
"Go find the Chosen One" Screamed the woman.
"What about you, Kendra" Asked Saje.
"Don't worry about me," she assured. "I will stand my ground, the Chosen One is our hope now. It's up to you to find them!"
Saje ran off into the woods as Xaug looked on. Syvix was locked in combat with Kendra soon to be overpowered. General Galof was about to give chase to Saje.
"General Galof, Deal with Kendra. Syvix I want you to follow Saje," Xaug took a dagger out and waved his hand over it making it glow black. He tossed it to Syvix."Let's see who got the honor of being the Chosen One!"
YOU ARE READING
Spring of Discovery (Celestia Chronicles Book 1/Seasons Arc: Book 1)
AventuraJade of Cresalda has been marked as the "Chosen One"Over the next year Jade must learn each of the five elements to combat an evil named Xaug. Along her journey she will team up with friends and family as she prepares for The Day of Destiny at the s...
