Rise of the Dark Ones (Book 1)

Chapter 1, Their Lord

A woman with long grey hair walked down a path in Bloopers, a small village by the ocean. She walked with purpose. As she continued down the path, she stopped at a small house next to the village blacksmith, she quietly knocked when a man with dark black hair and green eyes opened the door.
"Hello Nyan, what can I help you with?" He asked.
"It's time, Chiron," She spoke with a serious tone, "We need to get her back, before it's too late."
Chiron sighed, "I'll tell my brother, get some horses saddled. We ride in an hour."
Nyan gave a small node and Chiron closed the door. He leaned against it and rubbed his face, before he went back outside to retrieve his brother.

He walked down a path, past the Inn and to the library. Chiron walked inside to see an older gentleman sitting at an old oak table, surrounded by books and papers.
"Ryan," Chiron called.
"What is it, brother?" Ryan asked, not looking up from his studies.
"It's time," He said.

After days of not looking up from his papers, Ryan looked up and turned around to look at Chiron. He sighed, fixed all his papers and books into a neat pile, and left the library with Chiron.
The two met with Nyan who was tending to the horses, she gave a half smile to the two. Without another word, the three mounted their horses and started the trek to The Snowy Mountains, where the woman they needed resided.

Where the mountains were snowy every year, a woman who once ruled a village stayed with her two friends. She had short brown hair and blue eyes, she was young. She had forgotten the village she left behind after the most tragic loss she ever faced, her name is Melody Ann Rogue, former Lord of the village called Bloopers. Once ruled by her father, it was passed down to her hands, but she couldn't stay... Not after what happened.
"Melody," A man's voice called, "Are we expecting any visitors?"
"Who would visit the coldest mountain in Ru'an? If not to try and escape the bandits that reside in Ivywood's forest?" Melody questioned.
"I'm not sure, but I see three people with horses riding up the mountain," he said.
Melody sighed, "Thank you, Aaron. I will deal with this matter."
Aaron smiled, "You don't so formally, we're friends, remember?"
Melody smiled back at him, "Of course, you saved my life. Now, where is Paige?"
"She is with Sapphire and the other Wyverns," Aaron told, "Do you need me to get her?"
"Yes, thank you," Melody smiled.

Aaron exited Melody's office, where she sat nearly everyday, writing about the day's adventures that she, Aaron and Paige faced. She had hoped that one day, when she passed, someone would tell her story.
She left her desk and went to her front door, where Paige awaited her.
Paige looked over at her, "I don't want you to freak out, but I don't think you'll ever guess who is walking up our steps right now..."
Melody looked at her confused, until her attention was pulled away by a familiar voice calling her.
"Mel?" Nyan's voice called.
Melody's eyes widened, "Mom?"
Nyan smiled awkwardly, "You look beautiful, you've grown up."
She looked behind Nyan, to see Chiron and Ryan walking up the steps, "Hey Mel..." Ryan smiled.
Melody smiled back, "Hey Ryan..."
Her smile faded when she looked to Chiron, "Chiron.."
"Melody," He frowned.
Melody shook her head and looked back to them, "What are you guys doing here? Has Laurance finally given you more than you can take?"
"As much as we hate Laurance, we're here on a different matter," Nyan explained, "Can we come inside? It's freezing out here."
"Oh, yes of course," Melody opened her front door, allowing the three to come inside.

The five of them sat at a large oak table, while Aaron lit a fire before joining them. As the fire roared, Aaron sat next to Paige, who sat near Melody, who was looking to the three.
"So, what's this matter you traveled far to discuss?" Melody asked.
"I do hate to bring you into this, but I believe it to be your right to know," Nyan explained, "Ever since you locked Insane Jacobson on the island, myself, and the Lord of Kindling have kept close watch on it, to make sure he couldn't find a way to escape."
"It's impossible for him to escape on his own, the only ones who can take down the barrier is myself and Chiron, or an extremely powerful magicks user, which there aren't many known in Ru'an," Melody explained.
"Well, I received word from Kindling that Insane has indeed escaped the island, and for some reason, Whitewood has been making engagements towards smaller villages. They have deployed guards, established curfews... A lot of villages are afraid that Insane is behind this," Nyan explained.
Melody looked down, "This is my fault... I should've never left Bloopers."
"Mel, this is not your fault," Aaron grabbed her hand, "Obviously something is going on, we haven't exactly kept up with the other villages. We don't know how Insane escaped, so let's not place blame until we know what happened."
"Aaron's right, we don't know what happened, let's not jump to blaming yourself," Chiron agreed.
"That's new, Chiron agreeing with Aaron," Paige raised an eyebrow.
"I only agree with people when they're right," Chiron glared slightly.
Nyan looked to Chiron and glared, "Chiron... Don't make me regret bringing you here..."
"My apologies," Chiron looked to Melody, "Melody, I don't mean to be blunt or to rush you, but we need you to come back to Bloopers. We need you as our Lord again so we can finally defeat Insane, and return to our former status of being an alliance-worthy village."
Melody looked over at Chiron, her face softened, "Is that the only reason?"
"We miss you," Ryan interrupted, "All of you. After Laurance took over as Lord, our status as an alliance worthy village was erased, we only get help from Kindling and sometimes Heart River. But, I'm sure you know that we rarely get assistance from them, due to the fact that they're in the farthest corner of the region."
"I know," Melody sighed, she looked around at the others, "Okay, I'll go back with you. But, as soon as Insane is dealt with, I am returning to my home here in the mountains, and I will find an acceptable replacement for Bloopers. Laurance threw himself onto being Lord and I don't believe him worthy of the position."
Ryan smiled, "Trust us, we know."
The others smiled as well, knowing how Laurance was a bad person, and Lord.
"Let me deal with a few things and then we will leave tomorrow morning. I only have one extra room so two of you will have to sleep in front of the fireplace," Melody stood from the chair, "If you need to speak with me of anything else, let me know... I'll be with the Wyverns."

As she left, Aaron and Paige both turned to Chiron, Ryan and Nyan. They both glared at them, while Paige's fists tightened.
"How dare you come here after what you did..." Paige looked directly at Chiron.
"Me? What did I do?" Chiron asked, confused.
"You know what you did," Paige shook her head and shoved past him, she lowered her voice, "So help me, if you hurt Mel again, I will not hesitate to help you meet your end..."
Chiron swallowed hard, before Paige and Aaron left the three alone. While Paige handled her own things to pack, Aaron made his way to where the Wyverns were, where Melody sat on the ground, Sapphire, her Wyvern, by her side.
"Hey, Mel?" Aaron called out.
Melody turned slightly, her head following Aaron as he sat down next to her, "What's up?"
"Are you sure about this? What if the people of Bloopers aren't as accepting as everyone else?" Aaron asked.
Melody sighed and looked out upon her the Wyverns, "If you had asked me that years ago, I probably would've told you that I'd never return to Bloopers... Especially not after what happened. But, when I saw those three on my front steps, I'll admit, I was so happy to see them, seeing them made me forget about what happened, a memory that lives with me forever. Maybe going back to Bloopers will help me mend things, with myself and with the others."
Aaron looked at her and smiled, "Can I help you with anything?"
"You can help me set the Wyverns free," Melody smiled, standing up.
"Wait, what?" Aaron looked at her confused.
"The only reason the Wyverns stay here is because I saved them from being slaves, now that they know how to survive for themselves, the right thing to do is let them go, and hope they find their way," Melody explained.
Aaron smiled brightly at her, "Of course... Let's get to it."

As the two said their goodbyes to the Wyverns, Melody watched as the animals she cared for so much fly away in separate directions. All but one, Sapphire.
Melody turned to Sapphire and smiled at her. She set her hand on her face and spoke quietly, though she wasn't sure that Sapphire would even understand her.
"It's okay... You can go, we will meet again someday," Melody put her forehead against Sapphire's beak.
Sapphire rubbed her face against Melody's hand before turning around and flying away. Aaron walked back up next to Melody, all she did was smile, "We will find each other again, maybe when I need her the most..."
Aaron and Melody made their way back to the house, and went their separate ways to their rooms to sleep.
The next morning, the six of them helped Melody, Paige and Aaron pack their things on their horses. Nyan walked over to Melody and smiled, "Are you sure about this?"
Melody nodded, "I need to finish what I started..."

With that, the group mounted their horses and set their course to Bloopers, all Melody could do was hope that the people she once ruled... Will forgive her.

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Word Count: 1708