Legend of Altair

Element 3 - Confrontation with Darkness

A couple of miles north of Surallah exists a small town that goes by the name of Laguna. The population is reputed to be less crowded having only houses and a few shopping strips erected by traders and merchants. Yet, Khalil speculates why no single living soul can be seen. 

As he continues to wander the unfamiliar streets, something menacing from the distance catches his attention - the Undead! Beings that are regarded unholy by the Basilica for they are soulless fiends that primarily feast on the flesh of people. One bite, if untreated within very few minutes, can make any living creature join their ranks. The Nightcrawler sees myriads of infected humans with skins slowly turning green yet lacking vile and putrid stenches. This hunch had him think that their infection may just have been recent.

The perilous sight astonishes Khalil. He remembers Clerics telling him that the Undead is but already a fairy tale, mythic, for they perished together with The Adversary a long time ago. Anyone capable of commanding or summoning the Undead is a practitioner of Chthonian crafts which has long been prohibited from being practiced in the entire world. 

Not long, he hears a scream. One of the doors of the houses approximal to him bursts open, and a child is seen running away from it. Appearing from inside the house are two infected people of old age - the parents. The commotion surprises the other Undead beings and they too unhurriedly walk over to where the frightened youngster is. 

The child loses his balance from running and falls down against the pavement. At a slow pace, he tries to get up and panics as he watches the Undead come closer and closer. Without hesitation, Khalil dives forward, slashing the Undead with his Twin Daggers, the signature weapon of the Nightcrawlers since time immemorial. In a blink of an eye, he grabs the child by the hand, carries him, and speedily sprints to a location devoid of abominations. 

***

Justin and Rykel unmount from their respective horses and together scan the ravaged edifice before them.

"This must be the place," Justin utters. "It's very dark inside don't you think?" 

Rykel sighs and breathes, "Cleric Craft: Lux Dominus!!" A dazzling white light suddenly illuminates powerfully from Rykel's Staff, piercing the darkness and bringing the unseen into full view. 

"Let's go inside and get this over with," Justin happily suggests moving confidently towards the entrance. "I can't wait to head back to Windhof to be with Ellen... and maybe with you as well." 

The Cleric emits an extremely disappointing facial expression at the giggling Paladin. Since they were kids, Justin, Ellen, and Rykel had been best of friends. They know each other's personality and attitude, the likes and dislikes, and all their favorites. It's no surprise that whenever the situation gets serious, Justin always cracks that one joke. Ellen responds positively but Rykel on the other hand always finds it not entertaining at all. But there is one thing that's keeping the friendship together, their contrasting personalities. While Justin may be cheerful and optimistic and Ellen being intelligent and perfectionistic, Rykel is short-tempered and melancholic. Justin finds it strange that he took the Cleric class albeit having a personality like that. 

A cold wind sweeps through Rykel. The chill brings a feeling of uncertainty, emitting something that's pure evil, making its presence significantly felt. "Who's there?" Rykel exclaims catching Justin off-guard.

Out of nowhere, a burst of ominous deep-toned laughter of unknown origin reverberates throughout. Then, a shimmering portal with an inverted star with goat horns symbol, similar to that of the cultists, materializes in front of the two young men. Out of the portal emerges a strange creature, one that's never been seen before by any living thing.