Wars of Eredhar: The Dawn of Darkness

"Gone missing"

Michael grabbed Travis by his arm and rushed him out the door. He could see the pressure that the new task already put on the young boy, as he started mumbling to himself all sort of things.

"Relax, I will be with you the whole way", Michael smiled as they walked down the castle's corridors. They approached a massive staircase made of marble. As it went up, along the wall, there were different carvings made from red miriliam. They depicted several scenes, from a vast battle with shiny knights, to royal balls. There was one that caught Travis's attention, a scene from the old times. It was a Primordial, holding a glowing orb in his hand as he looked down at Eredhar. From it, rays of light shone down on a small castle, spreading across the land. It was carved right at the end of the stairs, as they reached a door which led into a hallway.

"I always wondered what that was", the child said as he pointed at it.

"You weren't taught about it?" Kled asked the boy as he opened the door.

"Nope, not that I can recall", Travis scratched the back of his head.

"The carving tells the tale of our Creator, Primordial Ibenyth Abigond", Michael took on a scholarly tone as he explained to the boy. "Elders say that by shining his orb down on us, Ibenyth Abigond actually transferred the power contained within into his descendants, into our proud kings and queens. It is said that it granted our leaders the power and wisdom to rule over the Kingdom of Eoland. The elders had this belief about what had transpired, but the people, nowadays, have a slightly different perception on the event. They say that the orb contained such power, that it was actually able to raise the city from the depths of the earth", he said, resting his hand on the boy's shoulder.

"Its power must have been unimaginable..." Travis looked at him, amazed.

"And that's not even the whole of it. Rumors are that it held magic that was even capable to give life. It gave life to our ancestors and to every being that roams our kingdom", he explained as he led Travis towards the prince's chambers.

Just then, Melis stormed out of a side door and cut their way.

"Kled, we really need to talk!"

"Not now, Melis, I don't have time for such things, I must attend to the king's request."

"But Michael, it really can't wa..."

"Whatever it is, it will have to wait. I need to see the prince!" he pushed him to the side, but as he did that, Melis grabbed him by the arm and pulled him around.

"You won't have any luck with that! He is nowhere to be found, the prince has gone missing!"

"What are you talking about?! Kled whispered to Melis as he looked around.

"Foul things are at play. It would be best for you two to come with me!" Melis urged them.

They walked a bit down a side corridor that had several wooden doors on each side of it. Near the end, Melis stopped in front of a dark wooden door, took a key from inside his coat and placed it in the small lock. Pushing the key all the way in, he rotated it slowly to the left, making a small click. He then pulled it out and tucked it back in his garment, as Travis reached for the door knob. He wrapped his hand around the knob and as he began to turn it, Melis grabbed his wrist.

"Don't!" he hissed through his teeth.

"But..." Travis looked up at him.

"If you do that now, you will get three arrows into your skull. So, don't!" he moved the boy's hand away from the knob and kneeled in front of the door. Melis reached inside a small pouch at his back, grabbing a small key with an unusual shape. The bow was shaped like a halfmoon and the pin ended in a pointy tip. He removed a small patch of wood from the corner of the door, revealing a small round hole. A subtle click was heard when he pushed the pin inside.