In a few seconds, sparks lit the air, and the stone wings clashed with the blade, holding it back. Nora wasted no time as her hands moved, seemingly those were her weapons. Slamming her fist into the being's chest, making it stumble back.
"Ah.. Smart one, no way to get a weapon to harm us. So you made a weapon without materials..."
The shadow spoke, regaining its position in a few seconds. Giving a light chuckle as his eyes fell onto Tris, who still stood behind the angelic figure. – The fox simply gave a sigh under his hood, as the shadow stared right at it with an evil grin.
The army did not move, seemingly, just this one shadow moved forward. The leader. – Perhaps it wanted this to be a duel. Tris surely hopped, so it would be much easier on Nora. – So, what was his plan? Waiting until Nora was down. Not dead, Down.
His plan was dark, but he needed them to think they had won. Let their guards down so he'd have the opportunity to take them down in one strike... Or better said, get someone who could. – Dark, but hella effective if it works! And it should!
"Boy, stand back. I'll deal with this dirty one."
Nora spoke quite casually. – Tris's ears flickered. Did she actually think he would step in to attack THAT thing?! He was not. So he simply gave a nod, his hand clenching the relic as he stepped back. Giving them space for their little fight.
And just as he did, Nora once more wasted no time. She moved forward, her wings cutting the air as she slammed them right into the shadow! – The inky creature had no time to react to the sudden attack. The wings cut it as the lady grasped it with her hands, before kicking it away!
The shadow stumbled, seemingly having a hard time adapting to the fighting style she used. Simply being too slow to deal with the agile angel. – It moved its body, almost like it wasn't fully solid, dashing back forward as its hands raised, holding the blade as it attempted to lower it against her.
The wings raised themselves, attempting to deflect the incoming attack. – Tris didn't think such would happen, can she actually win this fight? – Just as that thought ran through his mind, as the blade hit the wings, the stone began shattering. – It was blocked, but some of the stone feathers were now lying on the ground.
One after the other, they were left on the ground as she was shoved back, creating a safe amount of space between them. – She gave a sharp cough as her eyes flicked to the ground, her shattered feathers were slowly remaking themselves, but not fast enough to be effective. She had to be faster.
The shadow did not let her think for too long, knowing how harmful a good mind can be, charging forward towards her, his foot hitting her right in the stomach, and she was kicked further onto the roof.
People began noticing the things on the roof, People leaving their homes and looking up to see the angelic figure being kicked by the shadow. Simply looking up with a slight panic. – People did not even know such existed, but it was known they couldn't hide forever; the shadows would have made themselves known in the end.
Tris looked down, and the people looked up, seeing the unmoved white figure. – What did they think of him? Was he useless? Was he not going to do anything? – He couldn't do anything was the problem... He was weak, weaker than her. But his mind was sharper.
They looked rather panicked, seeing an angel. Just be kicked by such an inky and dark thing. – Was this the fate of the Earth? They did not know, the angel could be acquainted with so many religions... Yet none would know the truth of Sol, Dawn, and Luna. Simple as that.
He took a deep breath as he saw Nora unable to get up. – The forceful kicks were something, not normal for sure... She was unable to get up at all, being cut slightly by her own wings in her fall. – She was down.
This called for his action, this was the moment where he was supposed to do something... But would he? He had an escape, he could. But he would really love to see the shadow shattered into pieces, destroyed.
His thoughts and lineage told him to do it, and kill everything that was of such ink. – His brain and Fuka told him to go and help. To be who he wants. – But such mindsets fighting? It was hard to declare a winner. – One was wise, and had kept Gods alive over eternity. – The other was... Himself. Agile, smart. But also one who knew what to do to win.
It was a hard decision, a risk with a reward, or no risk for a lesser reward. – But the people stared up at him. What did they think he was? Would they compare him to that thing? – To the inky and ebon creatures? – Truly... It made him ask himself... What was the difference? If such shadows could think as well...
The shadow didn't step forward, its head turning towards the boy. Giving a smile, followed by a chuckle... It was almost patient. – Knowing he hasn't made a decision. If he had, he would have either charged or left. Those were the only options he had. Nothing more, Nothing less... At least that's what it thought.
In the skies above, on a golden throne, stood a lady with white hair, her eyes of a golden hue, and holding a staff with a pearl floating in its centre. – And she simply stared into it, watching such a fight go down.
Her wings were of an ivory steel, no, not steel. Feathersteel. – She already knew what the child would choose. – What her son would choose. – So, Althea stood up, he hand moving through the air as she walked forward, in her hand appearing the mask of a Stag, made out of the same steel as her wings, its details golden, as her soul.
Step by step, she moved forward, towards the centre of the room. It was peculiar, white. Almost as if she walked on clouds. Yet these clouds were solid, flat, like ivory. – In the centre of the room, stood a small door-like arch. It's light sealed, empty. You could walk through, and nothing would happen. – As a chain of gold was wrapped around it.
She simply stood in front of it, holding her staff quite gently. Her armour looked like Nora's, with a hint of royalty, stone replaced by steel. Grey, replaced by gold. – She simply gave a smile as she stood still, waiting. – The guards watching had their eyes wide, almost out of breath.
Tris was still involved in his mental war, yet the shadow seemed to be silent. Just waiting, it didn't care what he chose, the result would be the same. – Yet in its pause, it spoke, almost formal, wanting his prey to know who he was.
"I am Soran, Guardian of the Lower Dawn Division. – Known as the Hunter of Dawn. – Perhaps you should introduce yourself as well. Boy?"
The voice was patient, almost giving him time to answer and think at the same time. Yet its tonality could tear through your chest, pierce your heart twenty times over before he finished a word. – It was horrifying, it could have probably killed a human with just words. – Caused them to jump off this roof at their own accord, to avoid whatever torture this creature would do to them.
Yet gladly, he was not a human, as he took a deep breath, standing his ground as he stared right at Soran, his mind still running as he analysed the man's response. If he could even call this thing a man. – He heavily doubted he could without wanting to put it down like it was a rabid dog.
"I go by many names... Call me the Vulpine."
He spoke blankly, not giving his answer much thought. His mind was stuck elsewhere. – And the shadow knew it. Its eyes fell back onto its army with a smile. – That was its army, right under its command. And it was proud.
Such guardians used to be humans, or elves or anything that could think and lived in either world. Corrupted and recruited. Now ruling over the Shards of Dawn. Using them like a mindless army. – They were like generals. – Horrifying generals at that. Simply scarier than any living creature or even the dead.
It didn't speak, simply letting him think with a chuckle, its blade dissipating into the air, with its hands free, Soran crossed them. Waiting blankly for the decision to be made. Not even bother to take down the angelic figure, which was simply breathing heavily and staring. Almost wished to scream for him to leave.
"Ah- You see... I haven't really met my parents! I've heard stories of them though..."
It sounded randomly pulled out of nowhere. Was he just trying to keep pulling on time? Who knew. But the shadow simply chuckled, allowing it. After all, it liked playing games, and time was not something it lacked.
"I see, young boy... How about I give you an offer? Join me. A little protected rune knight under me. Safe as sound..."
Soran offered, after all, knowing that he could imbue every weapon or claw with a rune. His army would grow in power exponentially if the boy were recruited. And the Dawn God would surely not mind.
"You see... All I know is that I have something in common with my mother... We hate, and I mean we really hate Dawn Shards"
Just as he spat out those words, the Shadow wanted to chuckle. – But it did not have the chance. As the world and the sky began shaking. – Tris was binding his soul to the relic.