The Crown of Midnight

The Brethren of Sacred Arts had gathered in the pillared halls of the commencement building. The 12 metre tall vaulted ceiling painted with otherworldly images of the night sky loomed over the assembly. The pews were packed with senior members of the fellowship.

On the stage at the front of the room stood the Arch Magister; an imposing woman draped in purple robes, back straight as a ruler despite her age. In front of her kneeled young mages ranging in age from 16 to 21. They were to all be officially inducted into the Brethren of Sacred Arts after completing a quest granted by her hand.

She made each group of four mages rise in turn so she could give them their mission. Eventually she reached a group made up of two humans, a half-elf and a faun; all of whom were 19. They rose to meet her, the human girl, Faustina, stepping forward as their leader. She was tall, ginger hair tied back in a tight braid.

"Your excellence," She bowed slightly. "I am grateful for the opportunity to lead my comrades on a quest from you."

"What do you four excel at?" The Arch Magister asked. "I shall send you on a quest you are best suited for."

"In that case," Faustina grinned and turned away from the Arch Magister, towards the rest of the Brethren, "I am confident in my ability to complete any task given to me! Anything, no matter how impossible, can be completed by yours truly!"

"Faustina!" Her second in command, the faun boy Lief, hissed. "This isn't what you agreed to say."

"Child," the Arch Magister frowned , "I will give you one chance to apologise for your insolence."

Faustina spun back around, "I have no intention of apologising."

"Then you have sealed your fate. We have endured 40 years of unending sunlight. You will lead your guild to retrieve the Crown of Midnight."

***

The company of four rode in sullen silence. The tension between them palpable, only enhanced by the hours they had spent on the road. The Crown of Midnight's location was well known but it was far from any civilisation. The land for a mile around had been subject to a blight that had rendered it worthless and fear had pushed any people even further from it. They were alone, on a suicide mission that all but one of them was nervous about. When the spires of the ruined Autusard Castle the half-elf, Selene, spoke up.

"While I do love a challenge, I'm beginning to feel a little nervous. Rather than die we could run away?"

"The Brethren would send assassins after us," Byrn sighed. "But maybe if we decided to stage a mutiny against our fearless leader they'd give us a different quest!"

Faustina looked over her shoulder, jovial as ever. "Come now, we'll succeed."

"Confidence can only get us so far," Lief said. "I appreciate wanting to make a big first impression but we can't do the impossible. I couldn't gather much information on the creature guarding the Crown other than that it couldn't be defeated and was sealed in the area."

"Looks like we're dead. At least I'll get some rest then," Byrn groaned and leaned forward to rest his head against his horse's neck.

"If we're going to die anyway I'll at least go out fighting a tough opponent!" Selene  announced.

"You changed your opinion quickly," Lief muttered. "I wish I could be so simpleminded."

"Now, now, everyone," Faustina interrupted. "We've arrived."

They stood below the crumbling stone gates of Autusard Castle, giant statues of long forgotten kings flanking them. They dismounted and tied their horses up before carefully walking inside the castle. Shattered glass and debris littered the once beautiful marble floors, weeds grew uncontrollably and faint sunlight filtered through holes and windows. The mages stayed together, careful never to stray more than arms reach from their companions.