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Chapter 13
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2022-06-22 14:05:33Related chapters
The Darkest Hour Chapter 14
Callum's eyes snapped open. Something was wrong: very wrong.He had been dozing fitfully by the embers of their small campfire. Just as he thought he might be getting off to sleep a strange feeling of emptiness roused him from his slumber.Across the camp, Lena sat bolt upright. She glanced round the camp until her eyes finally settled on Callum."What on earth was that?""I don't know." Callum's face was etched with concern. "How do you feel?""Strange" Lena replied, "It almost feels as if I'm floating outside of my body, but I'm not I know I'm not. Does that seem strange to you?""It would if I didn't feel the same way myself," Callum said with a frown. "It's almost like a part of me is missing. I can think of no better way to explain it."At the sound of his friends' voices, Aaron strode over from where he had been sitting on watch. "What's all this commotion then you two? What's up?""Well we're not sure," Lena said as he sat down next to her. She reached for his hand. "Yo
Last Updated : 2022-06-22The Darkest Hour Chapter 15
It didn't take long for them to eat their makeshift breakfast. As soon as they'd gathered their few possessions they set off at pace on towards the Lake, pushing hard despite the protests of their aching legs. While Aaron's sight had been rather worryingly hampered by the recent turn of events, knowing where Phae was headed made things somewhat easier.They continued on for much of the morning until their path brought them to the edge of the forest that marked the Lake's surrounds. As they drew nearer, they saw the first of the withered trees. Lena gasped. "Oh my goodness!""What is it?" Aaron asked."That tree: it's dead!""It's worse than dead," Callum added. "It's like it's had every last ounce of life sucked out of it.""And there's another one behind it look," Lena pointed, "And another. It's a trail!" She gasped and turned to face Callum. "You don't think Phae's responsible for this do you?"Callum struggled to keep a neutral expression. "I don't know," he said. The cold
Last Updated : 2022-06-22The Darkest Hour Chapter 16
In the long dark of her endless half-sleep, Phae drifted helplessly on her way.The countryside rushed past beneath her feet. Up ahead the dark mage rode swiftly onwards, a long thick piece of rope trailing from his horse back to where she floated behind him, the rope tied with a thick knot round her waist. Wherever it was the dark mage planned to take her next, he sure was in a hurry."Don't look so miserable girl you should count yourself lucky I'm not making you walk!"Phae remained silent. She didn't know what to say. She never knew what to say anymore. She had already learnt that the mage knew her father. Of course, she knew the stories of how her parents had met and had defeated the evil schemes of the dark mage Varrus, but this couldn't beHer thoughts trailed off as up ahead the dark mage allowed his horse to slow and she found herself drifting closer towards him.The dark mage drew to a halt. As he did so, Phae floated past him only to be jerked back by the strong rope.
Last Updated : 2022-06-22The Darkest Hour Chapter 17
The weeks passed slowly. With each day Phae slipped further from their grasp. They travelled further than they'd ever travelled together as a group before from the first rays of dawn through each day and then well into the night. Fortune favoured them slightly at least on their journey south they made a brief detour back to Keln where Callum borrowed a cart and a pair of horses from the generous village folk. But however hard they pushed, and however far they travelled, Phae still seemed to be slipping away. Her trail was now almost impossible to follow, and with each passing day Aaron found his task that much harder than the day before. They barely spoke as they travelled each member of the party lost in his or her own thoughts as high above them a black spot stained the sky, masking a small part of the sun. They made camp that night just as they always did; Callum wandered off in search of firewood while Aaron arranged their meal and Lena tended to their horses. All of a sudden,
Last Updated : 2022-06-22The Darkest Hour Chapter 18
Through the long dark of the abyss, the voice of the star-god rushed into the dark emissary's mind."It is time Varrus.""Time for what my Lord?""It is time for you to pave the way for my release; time for you to begin to reap the rewards of your loyal service to me."Varrus felt a surge of power rush through him. Sparks flickered between his fingertips. He could feel the magic inside him begin to grow. But it wasn't a magic of the mortal realm it was a magic far more captivating than that: it was the magic of the void.Varrus sucked in a deep breath."Savour this moment my servant. Become one with the magic I have given you. The final tasks will require every ounce of your being as I ready my escape."Varrus quivered with excitement. "What would you have me do my Lord?"The star-god paused a moment. Varrus waited in eager anticipation for the star-god's final commands."Prepare for battle my servant," the booming voice said at last. "Sow fear among the people of this land.
Last Updated : 2022-06-22The Darkest Hour Chapter 19
She woke she knew not how many hours or even days later, to find the dark mage not leering over her as he was so often want to do, but instead peering ahead into the distance. The length of rope that bound her waist was clutched tightly in his grip. She followed the direction of his gaze. There, no more than a mile or so from where they stopped, a small village sat atop the crest of a large hill. "This I suppose will be as good a place to start as any," he said finally, turning to examine his prisoner. "Come along my girl there's killing to be done."Phae resisted as best she could but the dark mage was too strong. In a matter of moments, the mage was looking her directly in the eye. "Now my child," he said slowly, "now you must search deep within yourself for that fountain of power your parents knew nothing about. Open yourself to the spring of magic coursing within you. Take it my child take it and mould it. Seize it my child, for today we will reap our revenge upon the old wor
Last Updated : 2022-06-22The Darkest Hour Chapter 20
Callum stared into the distance through tired, half-closed eyes. He hadn't slept properly for weeks and as their cart trundled tediously on its way he would find his head sagging forward and his eyes threatening to close. But each time they did so, a bump or a jolt would snap him awake and so the cycle would continue. The cold certainly didn't help matters either. Why was it so cold in the middle of summer?He raised his head and stared long and hard at the dark blotch that continued to grow in the sky. It was almost like it was sucking up the energy of the world itself the weather was so strange. He couldn't help but think this all had something to do with PhaeIn the back of the cart, Aaron dozed fitfully. Seated beside him, Lena too stared at the sky. Callum shivered as a particularly biting wind swept across the valley they were driving through. Lena reached behind her and produced a blanket. She put it round him."You really should try and get some rest you know," she sai
Last Updated : 2022-06-22The Darkest Hour Chapter 21
The morning came, and with it a brief respite from the biting cold that had swept over them in the night. Callum was sure it was getting colder just as he was sure the blotch covering the sun was getting bigger but right now all he could think about were the sparks he was creating between his fingers.Lena watched with fascination as he absently clicked his fingers while they prepared breakfast. Since the second source had closed she hadn't even the slightest trace of water-magic at her disposal. Finally, Callum stopped what he was doing and looked up to meet her gaze. Silent communion passed between them."So, what do you think?" he asked.Lena frowned. "I don't know. I mean they certainly appear to be sparks of magic but just why you have access to them while the rest of us don't...""But that's the thing: I don't have access to my powers or at least I don't think I do. I feel different somehow, but I just can't figure out what it is inside me that's causing the magic to flo
Last Updated : 2022-06-22
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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
