Fallen asleep in the cage, overtaken by toil and grief, Ariel is awakened by the touch of Lucius on her shoulder. Speaking to her softly, unwilling to awaken her from any dream and rest she could be in.
-Ariel. You must get up. Please!-
-Ariel is helped up by his strong hands. She's still confused by her toil.
The new place is somehow familiar.....
The dragon has landed on the cliff of a mountain: the land is as black as coil, a very strong wind surrounds the place. The mountain is surrounded by ocean, no land could be seen at the horizon.
The water of the ocean is so dark and almost black, one cannot see the bottom.
Taken out of the cage, Ariel and Lucius stand at the entrance of a palace. The cave of the mountain is carved into splendid statues supporting a marvellous arch made of marble. Inside this cave, the crystals in the mountain spread the light into the depth of the place. A palace made of crystals and marble. The cave has a river, its crystal waters flow into two fountains at the sides of the corridor, carved out of the mountain itself. The fountains have the shape of dragons; the water is flowing freely out of their gigantic fangs.
Deep in the cave, they get rudely pushed by trolls, ordered by the first commander who's walking a few steps ahead. They arrive at some sort of throne room.
A throne made of black marble, several steps higher than the floor. Two cauldrons are lit on the sides of the room. The reflection of the fire on the walls creates spectral images, looking like someone is hiding behind the throne. The walls of the cave seem wanting to swallow the throne. In that small place air is so thin Ariel feels almost suffocating.
Kneeling at the bottom of the throne, the first commander spoke an ancient tongue Ariel never heard, even in the language of magic.
The air is somehow taken away from the room, Ariel and Lucius feel the scariest silence, as the air itself is afraid of moving.
From the smoke of the cauldrons, clouds of ashes twist around the throne, faster and faster, sparks of fire, until it becomes a shell of pure fire. Then it stops. The fire changes shape: bust, limbs, head, wings.
The figure of fire slowly descends on the ground, spreading its wings of ashes. His eyes as red as the fire of a volcano, his hair long and white, wearing a black armour, black wings folded on his back changing into a cape. His red eyes with deep bags are fixed upon Ariel and Lucius. Never averting his eyes, slowly walking towards them. His cape sweeps the cold floor. His hands wear metal gloves; the black armour covers his whole body. As he approaches, the commander and the trolls kneel as low as the floor. He stops in front of his commander.
-Arise, my loyal servant. - His voice is a whisper hidden into the ashes.
Slowly raising his hand on his servant, the commander stands up, never gazing upon his master.
-What news have you brought, Valkan?-
-My Lord, the lands of the North have surrendered, the kingdom of powerful Feldor could not match your army, my Lord. The masters Feldor and Celandra have perished. They could not bear your power. I have brought you what's left of the loyalty of them. The last of their commanders and the daughter of Celandra. The most powerful of all the witches and the last loyal soldier. Persuading them to join our cause has proven.... difficult, my Lord.
-I see. Your attempt of persuasion has fallen. I wonder if persuasion was what you tried with this beauty, Valkan. Your lack of skills has proven weaker than a woman's will?-
Valkan swallowed, fearful of the anger of his master. Slowly walking away from him, every step of his master is a faster heart beat of his heart.
Walking past Valkan, he draws closer to Ariel.
Staring into her eyes. She does not lower her gaze, but feels entranced by those red eyes, as old as the time.
-What do you fear, mortal child? Death or pain?-
Lucius is frozen, his body refuses to move no matter how strong the will.
Ariel stands frozen as well. Unable to answer.
-What is more beautiful than Death? Destruction brings Life. Life brings Death. My kingdom will rise from the ashes of the dead and it will be a perfect one. No monsters to fight, no friends to lose, nothing else but Peace in my perfect world of no dark creatures. Ariel, child of Celandra, give me your gifts. Help me to make this world a safe and peaceful one. No vampires, no monsters. Only our beauty. You don't understand my wishes because you're young. I wish to destroy those creatures that stain our lands. We, together, shall make a new world. Your magic is the oldest one, the most powerful one. You can help me to create this world. As your mother before you, pass your gifts to me and I shall create this new world, for you.-
Slowly moving on the side of Lucius, he looks into the eyes of the soldier, Lucius feels fear and power.
-What do you fear, soldier? War or suffering? How many loyal soldiers have abandoned you? How many are left on your side? How much Death have you seen? How much do you still wish to see? I can stop this suffering. I can bring peace through war. I can end the pain you carry in your heart. With your loyalty.-
He now stands in front of both of them.
-Choose your destiny. Loyalty or suffering. This is the choice. The choice that will decide your world to be restored.-
-Who are you? - Words trembling from Ariel's mouth.
-I am a Magus. I carry the gift of Life and Death in my hands. I decide the faith of the people who have defied me. I have been given powers beyond your comprehension. I am the Power that will restore this world to his old shine. I decide who lives or dies. My loyal servants will live, my enemies will die in pain. I am as old as the time of Man. I was created when man was only a vague thought in the mind of the gods of Light and Dark. I have slept for millennia. I have risen again to restore the world. My work of destruction will create new life. I need powerful magic to accomplish my mission. I have raised the dragons and the creatures within the depth of the forgotten worlds. I offer you the chance to serve me loyally, or to suffer as enemies. Your powers, Ariel, are beyond your own comprehension. The magic you speak is the magic that I need to help this wounded land to heal. Give me your knowledge and I shall make you Queen of this world. The most powerful Queen and the most powerful witch if this world can rule and command. You can help me to destroy those who are thirsty of blood, who hunt humans, who stain our lands.
Ariel, be my Queen and I shall end your suffering.
Be my loyal servant, Lucius, and I shall grant you my army to create this world.-
These words, whispers among ashes, echoes into their brain, as nails deep in the brain. Is this the man behind all the destruction? Is this only man able to summon ancient creatures and raise Death at his will? If this man is what he is, what is there left to fight for.......
-I shall show you what we dream and what you will understand.-
With swift movements of his hands, the cave disappears and they are surrounded by mist, slowly dissipating and changing into a green land. All is beautiful, all is peaceful. There's no suffering. There's no pain. There's a throne room. A beautiful woman kneels before the throne. There's a man holding a marvellous crown and gently puts it on her head. She wears the most beautiful dress, adorned of gold and jewels.
The woman turns to look at the crowd.
Ariel sees herself as Queen of the lands and Lucius is the honoured guard giving her the crown.
Being queen? Ruler of the world? Giving the ancient magic to this man to destroy what she just fought for?
Peace. No killing. No war. No Mefistofel.
His name echoed in her heart like a storm. He was not in her future. No more. Being Queen means nothing without him. There will be no Queen, no ruling. No surrendering.
Living without him was already Death.
Lucius sees his army advancing against armies of vampires. Victorious, taking the heads as trophies. Those were not the vampires he fought. He fought the worst monsters who didn't hunt for blood. He stood by the side of his Queen, Ariel. Always loyal, always at her side. No more vampires to fight. Those were not the vampires he knew. He met good ones and bad ones. He fought humans who are murderers and was friends with vampires who fight for Peace. That was not his future. Not at the cost of his world and his honour.
The mist wraps the visions again. It disappears. They're back in the cave.
-What say you? Will you help me to create a new world? Or will you rather suffer in eternity?
Choose your destiny: loyalty or pain.-
Standing at the sight of such a wonderful future, at the same time a lie, neither could obey the prospect of living a future and throwing away all those who have fought and died for the Masters and for the world that Magus wanted to "create".
-I will not!-
-I will not! You ask us to create a world that is nothing but a lie. You ask us to deny all we lived and fought for. You ask us to deny what we have seen growing and die. We have fought against humans that revealed themselves as murderers and vampires who seek Peace. For what? For a crown? I do not wish for yours. I choose pain rather than being your Queen in a world that is but a shadow of what it was. What the Masters and my mother have taught me shall die with me. I will not be your servant. Not now, nor ever!-
Ariel's words are heavy as steel, still trembling at the presence of that creature. He was not a man, he was a monster far worse than those she fought before.
Lucius looks at her, smiling in his heart, says nothing and stands next to her. Her most loyal soldier yet.
Then it's Lucius' words to be as heavy as steel.
-I will not be your loyal servant. I will not be the servant of a liar who preaches peace and destroys my world. I will choose pain rather than being the servant of a monster!
The Magus stares at them, not moving a muscle, his red eyes getting brighter. His body is as rigid as his own armour. His cape has risen and has taken the shape of his wings made of ashes.
His voice is a whisper among ashes.
-You have chosen your destiny. You have chosen Pain. What a pity. You have made your own cage forever! And you will suffer forever! This is the faith of man!-
Turning into a cloud of ashes, swirling faster and faster. All they can see is a cloud of fire and thunder. All is surrounded by ashes and fire.
Everything is burning.
Their eyes are burning.
They cannot breath.
Cold wind makes them shiver.
The fire has wrapped the cave and the light of fire and thunder has blinded them.
They are shielding their eyes.
Their souls are screaming.
Pain arises.
Sorrows awake.
Despair reigns.
All is Pain. All is silence. The silence of Death.
