The Stranger
Then—
The Child's body ignited.
Flames burst from his chest, reacting violently to the Stranger's dark aura. The suppression seal that had been etched into his skin was gone—shattered by Princess Layla's
Stranger:
The man recoiled in terror, his gloves smoking. He hurled the Child into the center of the hall to save himself.
Stranger:
He staggered back, frantically extinguishing the fire that clung to his cloak. Around him, figures in black robes emerged from the shadows, drawn by the magical disturbance.
One of them stepped forward, his voice cold.
Robed Figure:
From the spiral staircase, footsteps echoed—slow, deliberate, heavy.
A man descended. Tall. Confident. Measured.
Robed Figure:Reiz
The robed men bowed slightly.
Reiz:Redemption
Reiz approached, his gaze sharp as the Child stirred on the stone floor, the golden flames subsiding into a low hum.
Reiz:
Suddenly, a breathless messenger burst into the hall.
Messenger:Dais
Reiz's eyes narrowed.
Reiz:
Messenger:BatalosVaron
Reiz paused.
Reiz:
The messenger hesitated, voice trembling.
Messenger:Princess Layla
Reiz's expression darkened.
Reiz:
From the deepest shadows behind the pillars, a Sorcerer
Azalor:
Reiz turned to him.
Reiz:Azalor
Azalor sighed, flipping through a tattered tome bound in black leather.
Azalor:Black CalamityMacfredin
He struck the ground with his black staff.
Azalor:
Azalor:
He looked out through the broken archway at the bleeding horizon.
Azalor:
Reiz stared at him, unimpressed by the poetry.
Reiz:
Azalor smirked, his eyes gleaming with malice.
Azalor:
He closed the book with a snap.
Azalor:broke
Reiz's eyes narrowed.
Reiz:
Azalor interrupted, waving a hand dismissively.
Azalor:
He smiled, a twist of cruel satisfaction.
Azalor:
The Forsaken Fortress — The Puppet Master's Stage
The Child
Boy:FuadJabir
Azalor
Azalor:
He paused, tilting his head as a ripple of disturbance passed through his mana.
Azalor:
Reiz
Reiz:
Reiz:
Azalor's voice darkened, vibrating with irritation.
Azalor:Mage Guild
He looked down at the Child, whose aura now pulsed with erratic black energy, fighting the corruption.
Azalor:
Reiz sat on a worn throne in the center of the hall, lacing his fingers behind his head, unbothered.
Reiz:King Caesar
He smirked cruelly.
Reiz:Prince Asser
Reiz gestured toward the window, toward the city.
Reiz:
Azalor flipped through another page of his tome, standing near the Child.
Azalor:Luminous Tree Village
Suddenly, the air ripped open.
A dark portal swirled. Dais
stumbled through—blood trailing behind him. His black coat was scorched, and his skin steamed.
Azalor turned slowly. Reiz rushed to support him.
The room fell silent.
Azalor:
Dais leaned heavily on Reiz, gasping for air.
Dais:
Azalor nodded, placing a hand on his chin in thought.
Azalor:
He extended his hand. A thick, black aura enveloped Dais, sinking into his flesh to mend the Holy Burns.
Dais winced, gripping Reiz's arm until the armor creaked.
Dais:
Azalor:
Reiz steadied him.
Reiz:
Azalor turned toward Aurik's walls, his eyes glowing violet.
Azalor:
Dais watched his elite agents enter through the main gate below, battered but alive.
Dais:
Reiz:
Dais:
Reiz:
Dais nodded, breathing more steadily as the pain receded into a dull throb.
Dais:BatalosVaron
nearly had her. But Layla's phantom intervened... and someone else joined the fray after I withdrew."
Azalor began casting a dark spell, intricate geometric shapes forming in the air above the Child.
Azalor:
Reiz blinked.
Reiz:
Azalor smiled, a twist of pure malice.
Azalor:unhinged
Silva's guardian is likely carving through them now."
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
Dais stared at the distant walls of Aurik, then at the terrified Child on the floor.
Dais:
Dais:
He turned to Azalor.
Dais:
Azalor bowed low.
Azalor:
The violet light slammed down onto the Boy.
The Fortress of Shadows - Where Loyalty Is Tested
Jamih
Then—
He reached for his sword.
Without a word, he began fastening his heavy plate armor. Each buckle clicked, each plate echoed against the stone walls like a war drum. The hall grew tense.
Mowj
Mowj:
Jamih didn't answer. He strapped his gauntlets tight, drew his curved blade to check the edge, and turned toward the Great Hall.
Jamih:
His voice rang like thunder, shaking dust from the rafters.
Mowj chased after him, stumbling over his own robes.
Mowj:
Jamih didn't slow. He pointed to his five finest warriors—men scarred by a hundred battles.
Jamih:Qaws Rami, Tariq, Faiz,Lora.
Mowj grabbed the edge of Jamih's cloak, trembling.
Jamih stopped and turned.
Mowj's eyes welled with tears.
Mowj:
One of the Assassins gently pulled Mowj back. Jamih's gaze lingered on the boy—a look of pity he quickly masked with iron.
Then—
Ledra
Jamih's eyes narrowed.
Jamih:
Ledra met his gaze, her eyes burning with fever and defiance.
Ledra:
Jamih raised an eyebrow, sheathing his blade with a sharp .
Jamih:
Ledra turned to Mowj, placing a hand on his shoulder.
Ledra:you. She'll be proud."
Mowj wiped his eyes, nodding fast.
Jamih looked at Ledra again.
Jamih:
Ledra:
Jamih turned to his gathered men.
Jamih:
A subordinate ran to fetch a dusty jug. Jamih poured a cup and raised it high.
Jamih:
The men roared, slamming their fists against their breastplates.
Assassins:AAAAH!
Their faces were conflicted—grief for his departure, pride in his trust. In the Syndicate, the Commander rarely left the nest unless death was coming.
Jamih stepped through the fortress gates into the cool night air.
Jamih:
Some bowed. Some touched the hilts of their weapons in salute. Some wept without meaning to.
The Assassin named Amer
called out.
Amer:Fuad
Jamih nodded once, then marched forward.
Tariq:
Jamih:Luminous Tree Village
Suddenly—
Ledra:
Jamih turned, his eyes cold.
Jamih:
The five warriors froze, waiting for Jamih to snap.
Ledra stepped forward, defiant, though her legs shook.
Ledra:
She handed him three glowing scrolls bound in leather.
Jamih:
Ledra:
She stepped closer, touching his armored hand.
Ledra:
Jamih said nothing. He tucked the scrolls into his belt.
Ledra stepped back. She raised her bow and fired a single Violet Arrow
Jamih looked up, hand on his sword.
Jamih:
Ledra:
From the dark horizon, the ground began to tremble. Beasts approached.
Twisted, majestic forms—Chimera with the heads of bulls, the torsos of warhorses, and the legs of camels. They moved with unnatural speed.
The Assassins drew their blades in panic.
Ledra:
The beasts stopped in front of Jamih and knelt in the sand.
Ledra staggered, blood dripping from her nose and lips. The summon had cost her dearly.
Ledra:Guardians of Valley
Jamih's eyes widened. He saw the blood.
Jamih:Mowj!
Mowj rushed forward from the gate with two assassins.
Jamih:
Mowj:
He caught Ledra as she collapsed and carried her back into the fortress.
The Hidden Smile
Jamih mounted the lead beast. It was massive, its golden horns gleaming in the starlight. His men loaded supplies and weapons—more than horses could have carried.
As they rode out, Qaws
Qaws:
Rami added quietly:
Rami:Fuad's
Jamih stared straight ahead at the desert.
Jamih:
No one responded.
But under Silva's
Jamih smiled.
A smile no one had ever seen. A smile of hope.
---
Meanwhile...
At the edge of the assassin's fortress, the stranger returned.
He stood motionless.
The wind howled.
Sand swirled around him.
His sword gleamed—reflecting the stars of Silva.
And he waited.
The March to the Luminous Tree
The March to the Luminous Tree — The Oath of Sand
JamihBeasts of the valley
The sun hung low, casting long, bruised shadows across the dunes. On the horizon, the faint, green shimmer of the Luminous Tree
Jamih’s voice rang out over the wind, firm and resolute:
Jamih:
He pointed his curved sword toward the green glow.
Jamih:Silva
Tariq
Tariq:us for help?"
Jamih nodded, his gaze fixed ahead.
Jamih:Mowj
The Assassins exchanged glances—some confused, others wary. This mission was unlike anything they had trained for. They were killers, not guardians.
Tariq’s voice was edged with doubt.
Tariq:
Qaws
Qaws:
Jamih pulled his beast to a halt. Dust clouds swirled around them. The others stopped, the beasts huffing and pawing the ground.
Jamih turned to them, his face covered in dust, his eyes low and weary.
Jamih:
He sighed, shoulders slumping slightly under his heavy armor.
Jamih:you believe is right. If this path feels wrong, turn back. Go back to the fortress. Protect the girl."
He looked at them, eye to eye.
Jamih:
His voice cracked slightly—a rare show of vulnerability.
Jamih:
He turned his beast and kicked its sides.
Jamih:
He galloped off, a lone black figure against the vast, brightening sky.
The Assassins stood in silence, the wind howling around them.
Some hesitated, looking back toward the safety of the fortress. Some clenched their fists on their reins.
Rami
Rami:
Qaws
Qaws:
LoraTariqFaiz
Jamih had become a distant silhouette.
Rami:
Jamih slowed his mount, turning slightly as the thunder of hooves caught up to him.
Tariq pulled up beside him, breathless, his voice sharp and unwavering.
Tariq:
He closed his eyes, placing a gauntleted hand over his heart.
Tariq:
The others roared in unison, drawing their blades.
Assassins:HAAAAAA!
Jamih said nothing. He didn't smile, but his grip on the reins tightened.
He turned forward, continuing the march.
Then, quietly, he looked up at the sky.
Jamih:
The usual deep blue of the evening was stained with streaks of unnatural violet and green light.
One of the Assassins whispered, fear creeping into his voice.
Assassin:
Jamih:
The Siege of the Assassin's Fortress — Where Legends Awaken
Within the battered walls of the Assassin's stronghold, MowjLedra
Mowj:
Ledra said nothing. Her eyes were distant, unreadable, focused on the memory of Dais's
Outside, the air shifted. The wind died.
A figure approached the main gate—slow, deliberate, his steps echoing across the valley floor like a ticking clock. The Assassins, under Jamih's
Sentry:
Ledra rose instantly, ignoring the stiffness in her neck. She strapped on her gear—her enchanted bow, her gleaming short sword.
Ledra:
Mowj, pale and afraid, whispered:
Mowj:
Ledra:Othman's
Mowj hesitated, clutching his Green Gem.
Mowj:
Ledra:
The Fallen Hero
Outside, the Stranger'sSilva's
Ledra climbed the battlements, bow drawn, the string humming with tension.
Ledra:
She aimed down at the Stranger.
Ledra:
The Stranger smirked, his voice carrying effortlessly over the wind.
Stranger:
He raised both hands in a mocking gesture.
Stranger:
Ledra trembled, rage rising in her chest. She prepared to leap down and confront him directly.
But a trembling hand touched her shoulder.
She turned.
Mowj stood behind her, eyes brimming with tears. He had followed her up.
Mowj:
Ledra blinked, the red haze lifting.
Ledra:
The Stranger exhaled slowly, disappointed.
Stranger:
One of the Assassins on the wall shouted:
Assassin:
The Stranger's posture shifted. Stillness. Absolute, predatory stillness.
Mowj's eyes widened in recognition. He gripped the stone battlement.
Mowj:
Ledra:
He pointed, his finger trembling violently.
Mowj:Guardian of Silva
Ledra:
Mowj:
Ledra's eyes widened in horror.
Then—
The Guardian of Silva
The Clash of Beliefs
He moved like a blur. Ledra fired a green arrow straight up.
Ledra:Midnight Offering! Nature's Wrath!
The arrow split into stars—glowing constellations that bathed the valley in light, revealing the Guardian's true form amidst the shadows.
Assassins:
Arrows rained down. From the shadows of the gate, the Valley Beasts
Ledra turned to Mowj.
Ledra:
She looked him in the eye.
Ledra:
Mowj stammered.
Mowj:
Ledra didn't wait. She leaped from the battlements with four elite Assassins, blades drawn.
Ledra:
They clashed with the Guardian in a storm of steel and flame.
The Guardian laughed, parrying three blades at once.
Guardian:
Ledra snarled, ducking under a swing and preparing her strike.
Ledra:
The Guardian hesitated—his stance faltered for a fraction of a second.
Guardian:These Assassins? You expect me to defend thieves and defilers? They are the corruption of this land!"
Ledra stepped back, her voice calm amidst the chaos.
Ledra:
The Assassins paused. The fortress held its breath.
Ledra:
She fired another arrow skyward.
The Guardian lunged, his face twisted in a sneer.
Guardian:
Ledra closed her eyes, exhausted, unable to block the strike.
Then—
Steel met steel.
She opened her eyes.
One of the Assassins—Amer's
Assassin:
Two more Assassins joined the fray, locking blades to drive the Guardian back.
Then—
A radiant blue light burst in the sky above the fortress.
As newborn star. Shimmering. Celestial from Ledra spell".
Ledra:
The Assassins' weapons ignited with the blue light, empowered by Ledra's spell.
Ledra:
Assassins:HAAAAAA!
Mowj watched from the wall, closing his eyes, his hands buried in his hair, searching his memory for a spell his grandmother once taught him. A song for lost things.
Then—
He opened them. His eyes glowed green.
Mowj:
