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Chapter 1: The Dark Envoy, Part 1
Last Updated:
2024-10-29 19:42:56Related chapters
The Darkest Hour Chapter 2
Phae stood wide-eyed and trembling as all around her young apprentices ran for their lives. She searched around desperately for means of escape, but the fire was everywhere. Searing flames leapt across bookshelves and between timber roof supports, stoked by burning texts that exploded like fire-crackers as their magically-imbued pages caught alight and combusted, adding their material to the raging heat of the inferno. Across the room Master Kulgrim was furiously attempting to organise some of the more experienced magic users into fire-fighting teams to try and quench the blaze. It was no good. One by one their exits were cut off, leaving only a single doorway out into the streets. Kulgrim called out to her. "Phae, run! We need to get out of here now!"Phae flinched as she watched the chaotic scene unfold about her, her hands still ablaze with the fierce fire magic that she had been so desperately trying to control. She couldn't move. Her whole body was paralysed with fear.Kul
Last Updated : 2024-10-29The Darkest Hour Chapter 3
The night was dark; far darker than it had been for many months now. Even the great pole star Illustus shone dimly, and the old world's moons were but two faded smudges in an overcast canvas of grey. As the night drew on, a cold easterly breeze swept across the island, bringing with it a rolling bank of dense fog that settled on the city streets and enveloped the Magical Isle in a cold, damp, impenetrable mist. Even from his position high atop the tallest tower of the Wizards' Citadel, Callum could only faintly make out the shapes of a few towers and rooftops tall enough to pierce the fog. Not even the street-lanterns of the wizards could penetrate the mist; their bright lights reduced to nothing more than faint, eerie glows as the greatest city in the realm of men was reduced to nothing more than a panorama of dull grey.Callum pulled his cloak tightly around him as the cold easterly wind bit into his skin, bringing with it another rolling bank of fog to shroud the streets in mist.
Last Updated : 2024-10-29The Darkest Hour Chapter 4
In her bedroom, Phae paced restlessly.She couldn't sleep. Truth be told, she hadn't been sleeping well for over a week now as her body changed and she sought to control the raging fire that grew within her. This night though, this night was different.Though she hadn't heard the news directly, she knew that poor Master Kulgrim had died in the night, just as she predicted he would the first victim of her frightening power. She had wept bitterly when she felt his passing from the mortal plain, though by now her tears had long dried up. Now all she felt was anger: anger at herself; anger at her parents; anger at her mother for not being there; anger at her life. Why couldn't she just be normal?Phae sighed as she paced her way across her cluttered bed chamber, working her way carefully around the piles of books and trinkets that she had thrown from her desk in an earlier moment of despair. She glanced across the room. In the far corner sat her pack. Ever since her first "accident"
Last Updated : 2024-10-29The Darkest Hour Chapter 5
Half an hour later, with two small packages of food clutched tightly in her invisible hands, Phae hurried through the lower hallways of the Citadel. Though for now at least she remained concealed under a veil of magic, she stuck to the shadows as best she could. She could sense already it was only a few hours until dawn, and if she wasn't quick, she might miss her chance to escape through the portal. She arrived at the council chamber and looked down the stone staircase revealed at its centre. Discovered by her parents long before she was born, the stairway led into a secret sanctum that had once been used by the 'Isle's previous rulers, a corrupt group of mages known as the Inner Circle. Though they had for the most part now been defeated, and their few surviving members scattered across the land, their sanctum still remained, and in it, her planned means of escape.When they had first opened up the hidden sanctum, her parents had discovered, among other curiosities, an ancient por
Last Updated : 2024-10-29The Darkest Hour Chapter 6
The night was still dark and the city streets still thick with fog by the time Callum descended from his tower to hurry to the far side of the city, right by the city wall, to the small place his two dear friends called home.In any other city in the whole Kingdom, to walk the streets alone at this hour would be asking for trouble, but here in Asturia, things weren't quite the same as they were on the mainland. People came to the Magical Isle voluntarily of their own free will and in so doing, agreed to abide by the charter that had been set in place in order to keep the city streets safe. Of course, after all that had happened with the treachery of the Inner Circle, Callum had had to have the charter amended somewhat from its old, authoritarian style, but the principle was still the same; Asturia would be a safe-haven for all who wanted to keep it that way, and if you didn't like it, you were asked to leave. Naturally, there were still patrols that watched the streets and patroll
Last Updated : 2024-10-29The Darkest Hour Chapter 7
With the coming of dawn, the fog that enveloped the city finally began to fade, and the streets gradually warm to the light of the new day. As the hour approached something like respectable, Callum and his two friends ate a quick breakfast and headed out to the Citadel where they knew the Seer would already be hard at work. Crossing the wide stone bridge that led up to the Citadel's entrance they hurried on through reception to the spacious chamber that the Seer had turned into his personal office. As they arrived they found their old friend standing outside waiting patiently for them. "Ah there you are, I've been waiting long enough for the three of you. Good morning Callum, Lena Aaron."The three companions greeted the Seer warmly, though Aaron slightly less so as he watched for sign of reproach from the Seer for their previous falling out. Even after the many years they had known Elidor, none of them could quite get used to his unnatural ability to know when they wanted to see hi
Last Updated : 2024-10-29The Darkest Hour Chapter 8
Phae ran for her life. She didn't even know if any mages had followed her through the portal, but a deep, primal force told her to keep on running.She followed a path heading roughly eastwards before it came to an end and she continued her journey cross-country. Every so often a sharp pain would take her by surprise and she would find herself disappearing, or perhaps running twice as fast, or even at times not even running at all but floating in the direction she wished to head. Her magics were out of control and there was no knowing when they might change again and increase the chances of her capture. At least she wasn't a shining beacon of light anymore. Reaching a small copse of trees, Phae stopped at the first tree she reach and leaned against it, panting hard. Far in the distance to the east she could just make out the first rays of dawn breaking on the horizon which meant it wouldn't be long before her father learnt of her disappearance and started on her trail. She looked
Last Updated : 2024-10-29The Darkest Hour Chapter 9
In the land of her dreams, Phae screamed.Every way she turned fire blazed around her, encircling her and keeping her pinned to the spot. In the distance she could hear a faint voice crying from somewhere amidst the flame. She wanted to help but she couldn't. The fire just wouldn't let her.Voices swirled around her, faces forming in the thick smoke that billowed from the flames and tried to choke her."It's all your fault!" Master Kulgrim spat at her. "I am dead because of you!""It's all your fault Phae." The face of her mother took form now, circling her alongside Kulgrim taunting her, urging her to throw herself upon the flames."I didn't mean to hurt anyone!" she cried."You never do though do you." The face of her father now materialised in the smoke. The heat of the flames was getting intense now. She could barely muster the strength to stand. "Admit it child: you're a failure!""Yes child a failure!" her mother agreed. "All you do is bring pain and suffering wherever y
Last Updated : 2024-10-29
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The Darkest Hour Chapter 50: Epilogue
It was over the demons were gone. An eerie silence fell upon the city. No one knew what to do. Some of the survivors broke down and wept while others embraced companions, or offered up a silent prayer for the departed. At some point during the battle he had lost sight of Lukas and they'd been separated. Though his mind was clouded he was sure he remembered seeing his friend wade into the thickest fighting, throwing himself mercilessly at the demon creatures during what they felt would surely be their final moments on the earth.Suddenly Edwin's eyes widened. As he started to sift through his memories, one image in particular stuck in his mind. Lukas had fallen!Edwin's heart started to race. He searched round desperately but couldn't recognise his friend's face amidst the countless bodies that filled the city streets. Just then a faint voice reached his ears."Edwin."Edwin looked round, anxiously scanning the bodies that lay on the floor. There amidst a pile of demon corpses
The Darkest Hour Chapter 49
Phae opened her eyes to find herself standing alone atop a cold stony precipice floating adrift in the dark desolate void. The realm she had entered was a mirror of the star-god's psyche a sort of "in between" where she knew their final confrontation would take place. Though there was no obvious sign of life she knew that somewhere amidst the darkness the evil one prepared for his final act. On this one rocky outcrop would be decided the fate of the world. For better or for worse she held the fate of everything dearest to her in her small, fragile hands. She inhaled deeply and felt the warmth of her new powers surge inside her. At that moment, something started to stir. Though she could not see it at first, a world was forming around her. From her rocky outcrop a bleak, barren plain surged into existence and stretched out as far as her eyes could see. She looked to the heavens as high above her stars burst into being and clouds swirled into life. Another moment later and the sta
The Darkest Hour Chapter 48
The moment had come. There, buried beneath a thick blanket of snow, the Heart called to her. She could already feel the subtle changes in the world around her as she approached. All she had to do was reach out and touch it... She had survived death and travelled hundreds of miles without food, water or barest idea of what her final task would be, or even who or what she was. It was all now so clear.She was unique in the world born of union between the two great forces of nature. If the earth were the body then magic was the blood; neither could exist without the other. It seemed fitting then that she should be the one to save them all seemed fitting that she should be the one to breathe life back into the old world and so right the wrongs of the past.She knew what she must do.Slowly, serenely, Phae floated to the ground, her bare, naked feet sinking into the soft white snow. She barely registered the cold her innate power kept her safe from harm.The earth called to her.
The Darkest Hour Chapter 47
Phae shivered. Strangely, it wasn't the cold that made her tremble; it was the chill of magic pulling at her soul. She had been travelling for over a week, floating as naked as the day she had been born, pulled by some strange force that whispered to her in her dreams comforted her and told her everything would be alright.Given all her experiences it seemed strange that she should trust the force now guiding her, but something about it just felt "right". Somewhere deep inside her soul, she recognised the voice that spoke to her. Some small seed, planted there by her mother's blood had given her a direct link to the strange power that had saved her.No, the power wasn't strange it was perfectly natural. Phae shivered again as the pieces of the puzzle started to fit together. She had undoubtedly gained her magical talents from her father, and from her mother she had gained... the link. The earth was calling her, and it was a voice too powerful to resist. She travelled, she knew,
The Darkest Hour Chapter 46
High above the misery and destruction, Varrus, the dark envoy, appeared amidst a cloud of thick black smoke. His mount Death snorted furiously as he held position above the Magical Isle and surveyed the carnage his forces had wrought."Curses! What has he done to my beautiful army!"Even from a distance the dark mage could sense the tremendous power being wielded so very far below. Every so often a flash of pure brilliant light would shine up from the 'Isle and cause him to flinch away in pain. Despite the cold, despite the dark, despite everything, somehow Callum had managed to find a way to thwart his plans.Varrus could feel the lurking presence of the star-god at the back of his mind. He was now entering a critical phase of the plan. Failure now wouldn't just mean death it would mean an eternity of damnation at the whim of his omnipotent master.Varrus gripped the reins of his dark Pegasus tightly and brought his mount lower over the island. At his presence, swarms of furies a
The Darkest Hour Chapter 45
Callum floated on the crest of a wave. The power he had unleashed surged through his veins, illuminating the twilight sky in flashes of dazzling light followed by equally dazzling dark light the stuff of the malevolent powers the stuff from which Varrus' armies seemed to be built. He floated a few yards from the ground, a shining beacon of hope to the men and women who fought valiantly alongside him.This, Callum realised, must have been part of Varrus' plan all along strike at the heart of magic and stop any chance the old world might have of saving itself.Below him, following as closely as they dared, Kiera, Lena and Aaron stuck in close formation and fought desperately to keep the hordes of winged furies at bay. Callum knew now that he was the key that he had been the key all along. By destroying him and all those dearest to him, Varrus would effectively win the day.But Varrus' plan would be his undoing. Phae was gone, and Kiera had nearly died. Such had been the effectiven
The Darkest Hour Chapter 44
The fighting was bloody. They had only been on the island for a few hours and already they had seen enough death to last a lifetime. Edwin stepped gingerly past the bloodied corpse of their sergeant who lay face down alongside three more of their former squad-mates. The four men had been cut down within the space of a minute by a particularly bloodthirsty pack of the smaller creatures that had forced them away from the harbour, into the city streets. If it hadn't been for Lukas and a couple of the braver members of their squad, he too might have fallen to their savage claws. By all rights he shouldn't even have been alive, but somehow he had survived where other braver, stronger men had failed. He was just one of the lucky ones, though he wasn't sure if "luck" was the right word for it.As the adrenaline of their latest encounter started to fade, one trooper started to vomit onto the side of the street. Edwin patted the young man on the back as he stepped past him to find Lukas starin
The Darkest Hour Chapter 43
The fighting on the western wall was intense. Soldiers banded together to try and stave off the furies' attacks as every so often one of the larger beasts would swoop down and send the defenders scattering in all directions. The Magical Isle hadn't seen such bloodshed in many long centuries, and still the dark mage was yet to make himself known.Callum allowed himself the briefest glance up at the sky as all around him men and women fought and died against a foe he couldn't even begin to describe. The fate of the world was balanced on a knife-edge and the furies were just the first move. Though his sword was covered in the blood of at least a dozen victims, the creatures continued to swell in number and swarm the walls in greater and greater numbers. Just then his thoughts were brought crashing back down to earth as beside him, Lena let out a scream. A large creature, quite unlike any demon Callum had seen landed in front of them and let out a blood curdling cry. Aaron swore as the
The Darkest Hour Chapter 42
The boarding planks thumped against the dock. Edwin stumbled forward amidst the press of troopers surging towards the shore. Lukas grabbed him by the arm as he felt his feet begin to slip beneath him. He hadn't even stepped onto dry land and already he owed Lukas his life. At the Captain's orders they edged their way along the packed pier towards the shelter of the city. It was then that the first shrieks pierced the air."Get down!"Edwin leapt to the ground and covered his head with both his hands as six dark shapes flashed past them, shrieking and slashing. Edwin rolled onto his back just in time to see Captain Bridgemore locked in combat with the first of the monsters, sword flashing as the creature clawed and swiped. As soldiers rushed to the Captain's aid the creature beat its leathery wings and drew itself high into the air. Edwin watched in horror as the beasts made another diving run. Lukas held out his hand and Edwin allowed himself to be dragged to his feet. "We need to
