Dreams haunted me that night. Images of what was yet to be, the fall of the human race, the destruction of the Xen and world suffering. I saw myself in the center of all of it, not able to do anything about it. There was something else haunting my dreams too, a shadow. A figure in the darkness that I could distinguish to have a humanoid shape laughed at me. Then there was a voice, �Darkin�it is time�Darkin!�
Suddenly I awoke to find Blaze over my bed shaking me awake. �Darkin! Get up, there is much for us to do.� He said in a cool voice.
I rubbed my eyes and yawned. I slowly sat up and stretched as I grabbed my staff and looked around until I finally nodded at Blaze as I said, �I am ready.�
We walked outside and once I got the blood flowing to my legs Blaze tossed me a pack filled with the supplies and other necessities for adventuring. There was rope, torches, a tinderbox and other various things. After much rummaging and taking of inventory I retied up the pack and smiled, signaling that I was ready.
�Although Valmar is dead, there is one more thing concerning him that we must do, Darkin.� Blaze said.
I raised an eyebrow inquiring what he meant.
He sighed and looked to the west. After several moments he spoke, �He had taken many people prisoner in his castle and if we do not rescue them, they will surely die.�
I scratched my head and said, �We can�t have that happen now can we?� Trying to lighten the mood of Blaze.
Blaze frowned and said, �Even with out a master, the wizards castle is still dangerous. I can imagine many traps and monsters that would impede the release of the prisoners inside.�
I hefted my pack on one of my shoulders and nodded. �I agree, first we will deal with the dangers, and then rescue the prisoners as quickly as possible.� I said in a decisive tone. �First stop, Valmar�s Castle!�
There was no great ceremony as we left the village to go start our journey to save the world. In fact, there were very few people who actually witnessed us leave. Among them was Merin who did wish us luck on our journey as we left the village. We headed westward towards Valmar�s Castle. It took us about three days walking to finally reach the evil wizard�s borders.
There was an obvious boundary line where it marked the beginning of Valmar�s territory; all the plants inside were either dead or withering, struggling to survive. It was apparent to me that there used to be a strong magical barrier used to keep trespassers out of his lands. However, with the death of the wizard was the end of his magical barrier. All that was left of desolated and violated lands for about two miles from the boundary starting point.
Blaze walked on wards, intent on freeing the hapless prisoners in the evil wizard�s castle. I followed closely behind because I didn�t want to become separated from him, although it would seem hard to, in a desolate wasteland. However, one may never be too careful. We slowly made out way to the castle. The only petty goblins that were randomly roaming around the land attack us. I was amazed at Blaze�s fighting ability and the skill in which he used to slay each of the pitiful creatures was truly clean and masterful. He knew exactly where to strike, where the vitals were and what areas would cause the most amount of damage. I didn�t expend any of my energy on cannon fodder like these. After all, we did not know what to expect once we arrived at the castle.
Once past the goblins we found ourselves staring at a set of giant doors. I turned to Blaze and said in a half humorous manner, �I guess we don�t need to knock, huh?� My pitiful attempt to make a joke didn�t even bring a half-smile to this warrior as he pushed the giant doors open.
The creaking of the doors was as loud as claws on a slab of slate. I winced at the sound we were making, definitely if Valmar had any remaining minions in his keep, they definitely knew we were here now. It seemed as if Blaze didn't even give it a second thought as we started down a torch-lit corridor. The torches were spread out about twenty feet apart from each other. I looked into the shadows on the look out for anything lurking in them. However the only movement of shadows I saw was the flickering of the torch light. I got a better and firmer grip on my staff as we proceeded deeper in to the dark wizard�s lair.
Finally we arrived at another great door. About at head level was a skull of a giant eagle and in its beak was a green gem. Blaze gave the door a strong push and then a pull, to make sure he wasn�t applying force the wrong way. But when the door didn�t even budge to his mighty strength did I examine the door more closely. I noticed a special spell of warding cast on the door.
�It seems this gem is the lock for this door.� I said in a resolute matter, �Now hopefully this spell will do the trick�� I softly began chanting the words of a spell that unlocks such magical wards.
There was a soft glow of light as the gem�s color changed from green to blue. I gave a nod to Blaze as he opened the door. I walked in, proud of my magic working and did not notice the obvious draw string trap as I tripped and fell down the stairs. Suddenly the door slammed shut and with Blaze on one side and me on the other, and all the way down the stairs, I heard groins all around me. I looked around and saw red eyes staring at me. There was also the most horrible smell one could ever imagine, the smell of rotting human flesh.
�Oh gods.� I said to myself. I was really hoping that these creatures were not what I thought they were.
I heard bashing on the door above as Blaze was slamming himself against the door to try to get it open from the other side. I heard a voice cackle as I spun around and saw a short man, hunched over with the most hideous face one would ever see. One of his eyes seemed to be bulging from the socket, and the other shrunken back. His nose was twisted and he had the biggest mole on his cheek. His teeth were yellow and broken down and his skin seemed to be grayish.
The man slowly approached me and cackled again, �Dear boy, have you come to join us?� he said in a raspy voice.
I responded in a nervous tone, �No, not at all.� I took a moment to calm myself down a bit, �Um, what are you?� I inquired.
The gross looking man was taken back and said, �Why�we are master Valmar�s greatest creations! Perfected and released from our mortal lives, he made us into beings that would live on forever. Join us boy, I am sure you will be quite happy.�
I was beginning to feel nervous again and said, �No, I like my life the way it is thank you very much, um, are you all like this?�
The man seemed hurt at my refusal but shrugged it off and replied, �More or less, yes. Still one more though, waiting for master to return so that he may begin the procedure.� He nodded as he finished his sentence.
I looked at the small man-creature-thing as I asked, �May I see this one person?�
The thing stared at me for a while and then said, �I see no harm in it, master never told us that visitors were not allowed to see the little girl, pretty one at that, pity that such prettiness. Alas such is the sacrifice for eternal life.�
I noticed that the banging on the door up top had ceased. I continued to walk as I wondered if Blaze was okay. I concluded he was probably exhausted and was resting. As the creature guided me further into the dark chamber, I passed several tables that had mutilated bodies on it.
My face twisted in disgust as the creature shook his head and commented that these were the bodies of those who had �failed� to achieve immortality, which I interpreted as the science experiments that failed. What human could possible do such horrible and cruel things to others? The more I thought about it, the more I was glad I had ended the career of the evil wizard.
Eventually I started to hear soft sobbing. The sound got louder as we came closer to one room. The door was a typical dungeon door with iron bars and a key hole. Inside was a girl, probably no more than sixteen years old, judging by her development. Her hair was a mess and her face was very dirty. Her outfit was torn and mud spots covered it everywhere. It looked from it that she had tried to escape once and was recaptured by the patrolling goblins.
The man�s voice broke as he softly said, �No not cry child, the torment of a mortal life is soon at an end, you will be one of us soon. Be patient child��
The child shouted back between sobs, �I don�t want to become like you! I like to be who I am!�
I saw her hold something in her hand, a pendent of sorts but I could barely tell what it was from where I stood.
The man hissed and said, �The choice is not yours to make. The master decided that you would make one of the most excellent of abominations. We may look ugly but at least we will out live all the other fragile mortals.� He then looked at me and said, �No offense.�
A quick judge of his character was that this creature was no fool, he knew a dangerous person when he sees him or her. A smiled crossed my face as I said, �None taken, however I regret to inform you that I will be taking this child from here. She will not become an abomination.� It was when I spoke the young girl noticed my presents. She seemed afraid at first but when I mentioned my intentions of saving her, the fear in her eyes lifted.
The mans red eyes flashed at me dangerously and said, �Oh, I cannot let you do that. Although the master said nothing of letting visitors see the soon to be abomination, he did tell us to prevent her from leaving not matter what.�
I rubbed my chin as if I had a beard and said, �Well, what if I told you that your master is no longer around to enforce this.�
The man looked at me and said, �What do you mean by that? The master will not return? Where has he gone?�
I smirked and said, �He raided a village I was staying in and challenged me and I won. So sufficed to say, I will now claim his position as master here and I demand that this girl be released!�
The man�s eyes narrowed as he spoke, �And what proof of this do you have? How do I know this is not a trick?�
I had to think quickly since I did not have any proof on hand of my late opponent�s demise. I had to come up with something quickly. Suddenly I had an idea and I spoke, �How else do you explain my presence here? Didn�t your master have a magical barrier around his lands, protecting it from outsiders traveling inside?�
The abomination�s eyes widened at this realization. He then spoke, �So then, the master is dead? The one who gave us eternal life in exchange for eternal servitude, is dead?�
I nodded grimly and spoke, �Once more, I demand that this girl be release at once!�
The abomination stood in place for several moments trying to take in the sudden news. He suddenly came back to reality and said, �Oh, yes of course�one moment please.� He shuffled into the darkness to what I guessed was the search for the keys to the door.
The girl who was caught prisoner slowly stood up and walked over to the jail door where I stood and she said to me in a strange accent, �Who are you? Is it true that the evil Valmar is dead?�
I nodded and said, �My name is Darkin and yes it is true the evil wizard is dead, slain in combat by my magic. I arrived here with my companion, who is stuck on the other side of the locked door and his name is Blaze. We came here to free the prisoners held her, but it seems we came all to late, except for you of course.�
The girl�s eyes gleams in the light of the torches, they seemed to be very green and deep. She looked up at me and then said, �My name is Elodee Choisent. I was taken by surprise one night after I had made camp near here. I was brought here about a week ago but tried to escape a few days ago and I would have made it too if it weren�t for those crummy goblins.�
She lowered her head as she had accidentally dropped her pendent. I got a good look at it, it was shaped like a star that was outlined by a circle but has a unicorn head vaguely engraved in the circle. I had seen that before some where, but I couldn�t quite place it yet.
My thoughts were broken with Elodee suddenly shouting out, �Look out Mr. Darkin!� I swung around and saw at least fifty abominations approaching me with random metal objects in their hands. It was obvious to me that they weren�t going to play nice with those things.
The one that had led me here before was in font and said in his raspy voice, �I am terribly sorry about this, but you know how it is, we have to avenge the death of our masters. Can�t have you learn the secrets he has you know, I am sure you understand.�
I muttered, �Yea, sure I do.�
The first one leaped out at me and I jabbed forward with my staff, barely hitting it in the gut, well what I assumed was the gut. The creature hit the ground and began to get up. I tried to kick it away but the next one pounced up but before it could strike me, it hit an invisible barrier. There was a faint glowing behind me and I turned around to see what it was. Elodee was clutching her pendent and whispering words of magic. This caught me by surprise, but then it suddenly hit me on how she was able to escape. Her use of magic must have even surprised the evil Valmar and had put her in a place where she could have easily escaped from with some magic. However, when he had learned of his folly he made sure she couldn�t do it again by setting the abominations to guard her. But in any case I was glad I had some protection but I soon noticed that the girl was giving the barrier everything she had. I knew I had to act quickly.
I silently began chanting the words of magic as I stamped my staff to the ground. My own barrier appearing in place as her fell. I then whispered a few more magical words and my staff stood in place, warding off the mob of abominations. I shifted closer to the door and, with out turning my back to my barrier and the mob, I began whispering another spell that would melt bars on the door. I quickly motioned to Elodee to back up as I cast my spell. As she backed up I felt my barrier weakening from the blows of the angry mob. I had to work fast. I chanted my spell and my hands began to glow emerald green. As I touched each of the bars of her cell, the bars began to slowly melt away. Once enough of them had melted I turned around and then reinforced my barrier again. Elodee slipped out and now all we had to do was deal with the angry mob of abominations. This wasn�t going to be easy.