A thick fog hung heavily over the city of Serath, nestled deep within the Iron Mountains. The faint scent of brimstone filled the damp air, serving as a potent reminder of the city’s infamous volcano, Mount Keldenar – a delicate slumbering giant, nestled at its heart. Whispers of a long-forgotten prophecy, foretelling of a sorcerer who would one day wield the volcano’s unfathomable power to challenge the gods themselves, pierced the already uneasy silence.
In a deserted alleyway, hidden from prying eyes by the dense fog and the oppressive shadows of the towering buildings, a hooded figure emerged from the darkness. The Sorcerer Vaelrith was said to be more myth than man – his name spoken only in hushed whispers and shrouded in an air of enigma and dread. Yet here he stood in Serath’s darkest shadows, his ashen cloak parting to reveal powerful hands adorned with blood-red gems that seemed to pulse with an ancient power.
The iron doors guarding the entrance to Serath’s Great Library slammed shut behind Vaelrith, their thunderous echo now little more than a memory. Steeling himself for the task ahead, the sorcerer began scouring the revered collection of tomes, scrolls, and forbidden volumes, fervently seeking any information on the prophecy that had led him to this place.
Deep in the depths of this near endless compendium, he found it – a single scroll, worn-down parchment held together by fate itself, inscribed with runes that seemed to dance before his eyes. The Prophecy of Keldenar, whispered for centuries throughout the realm, now held within his grasp.
As Vaelrith studied the cryptic runes with greedy intensity, he became cognizant of an unfamiliar presence. He lifted his gaze from the scroll and, to his surprise, found a woman standing before him. Wrapped in a shroud of midnight sapphire, her raven-black hair cascading down her slender back, she embodied a beauty that was both alluring and haunting. Her eyes seemed to pierce through the darkness, two pale ovals set in a sea of shadow.
“My name is Nymeria,” she spoke with an eerie determination, “and I know why you seek the Prophecy of Keldenar.”
Vaelrith tensed but offered his begrudging reply, “You have my attention.”
“The prophecy speaks of the one who will shatter the gods’ dominion and end their tyranny,” Nymeria continued, a window of vulnerability revealing itself in her voice. “I have seen the world past those mountains, Vaelrith. I have lived a thousand lives and watched the gods tear apart nations in their petty rivalries. You must break the cycle and bring about their end.”
The sorcerer was taken aback by her conviction, and perhaps it was this unrelenting fervor that caused him to momentarily let down his guard. “Allying with you would make me the enemy of not only the gods but the countless who blindly serve them,” he countered, the weight of his words heavy upon him.
Nymeria took a step closer, her conviction unwavering, “Every age has its end, Vaelrith. If not by your hand, then who?”
The sorcerer considered her plea, the weight of the prophecy and his destiny bearing down upon him. As he gazed upon this unlikely ally who dared to stand against the gods, he realized that their fates were inexorably intertwined. And so, for the first time in his life, Vaelrith placed his trust in another.
Together, Sorcerer and Seer began the arduous process of deciphering the Prophecy of Keldenar. Their newfound bond serving to ignite the unraveling of countless mysteries, challenges, and even betrayals that would ultimately culminate in the twilight of the gods.
Over the ensuing months, the unlikely duo scoured Serath, uncovering lost secrets, mastering forbidden arts, and forging powerful alliances. As their power grew in tandem with their determination, the once-silent streets of Serath began to whisper their names in hushed awe.
Yet nothing could prepare them for the final confrontation awaiting atop Mount Keldenar. With the fire of defiance in their hearts, Vaelrith and Nymeria ascended the treacherous slopes, each step bringing them closer to fulfilling the prophecy that promised to reshuffle the balance of power in their world.
As they approached the summit, a darkness fell upon their world, an oppressive shroud that would herald the beginning of their final battle – a battle waged not for conquest or vanity, but for the heart and soul of their world.
And so it was that Vaelrith and Nymeria stood at the precipice of destiny. While neither knew what awaited them on this perilous path they tread, one thing was certain: together, they would face down the tyranny of the gods, or die trying. For every age has its end. And perhaps this one would end in fire.
Author: Opney. Illustrator: Dalli. Publisher: Cyber.
