The wind roared through the trees in the endless dark of the night. Two men stood waiting, dressed in robes as black as the sky above. The first, a strong-looking man with white hair making him look far past his years, stood rigid in the powerful storm. The other, a tall man with long black hair, seemed to flow with it. Lightning struck a mile away, lighting a fire quickly put out by the heavy rain. “It seems the Seer didn’t lie.” Spoke the taller man in a voice as deep as the rumbling thunder. “And this weather may explain her words about the world itself shaking at the deed... though I doubt she’d ever say anything so literal.” He continued, shaking his head. “Please see that it’s done, Joseph. My presence is needed elsewhere, and even I don’t feel the need to watch my brother die.”

“Of course, sir.” Replied the second man. With a whoosh of air, he was left standing alone. But can I kill my former friend and his son? The child wouldn’t even have seen nine summers yet. He would just have to do the deed and deal with the guilt another time. He took a step forward before shaking his head and suddenly shooting forward faster than a horse, yet he didn’t move a limb.

Before long he was standing in front of the door where he had hidden with Naberus and Lily as a child. Of all places, they had to come back here.

He opened the door with a wave of his hand and entered the dark house. He saw Naberus and Lily lying on a small mat on the floor. They looked peaceful for the first time in years. Naberus the Raven, king of Althesia and as good a man as anyone had met. Lilith, The King’s wife and the love of Joseph’s life. “I am sorry my old friends, but it must be done.”

—————————————————

You can stop here. After this is pretty much a battle with some weird character development

He reached into his pocket and spoke into a crystal. “I am dispelling the enchantments now. I want Gareth, Malgana, End, and Micah here immediately. Desino.”

He stilled his mind for a moment in preparation, the defensive enchantments placed by the two warlocks were unlikely to be anything short of perfect. He was lucky they had allowed him to pass freely in the mistaken faith they still put in him.

“Resolvo clypeus” He said, eyes closed and moving his arms as if plucking at strings no one else could see. After what seemed like hours he opened his eyes and looked at the sleeping pair. Good, I was able to dispel the enchantment without awakening them.

He stepped back outside of the house and saw the four wizards he had called standing apart from each other, each getting ready for the upcoming battle in their own way. Malgana and Gareth sat meditating. The first was an advanced water caster, a far cry from the mastery reached in the graceful element by Lileth and Joseph himself, but a fearsome enemy in her own right. Gareth, a master nature warlock just like the Raven.

The other two warlocks were much younger. They were full of energy but lacking in patience, something Joseph was trying to alleviate as their mentor. Micah with his flowing blond hair and thin build was an advanced wind warlock and was always at the top of his generation. He was one of the fastest progressing wizards Joseph had ever seen. He was beloved by adults and adored by those younger than him, but his arcane excellence had always brought great envy from those his own age. He was bouncing up and down on his feet and was dressed all in white flowing robes and had a smirk on his handsome face.

The last warlock was End. Similar to Micah in his incredible wizarding ability but different in almost every way. An athletic redhead with piercing green eyes, his look was a combo almost as rare as his near mastery of the fire element. According to technicality he was still just an advanced caster, though that was sure to be remedied soon enough. He was the single fastest learner Joseph had ever met, and if End’s arcane stamina was anything near what the academy suspected, he might just end up as the strongest warlock in Althesia. However, he was very different from Micah. He was not well liked, which was fine by him seeing as he preferred to be alone. He was dressed in all black and stood perfectly still, warming up both physically and magically by holding a constant glow of electricity around his body.

Of the four, Joseph was the most worried about End. He rarely did what he was told, though his mentor was used to that fact by this point. But in these circumstances, one slip up or miscommunication could be deadly. The king and his wife were two of the strongest warlocks alive.

Everything is set up to work. I know I can beat the queen and Gareth and Micah together should easily match the old king. The math worked, everything was in place to give them an advantage. Joseph’s childhood friends were asleep with no one to come to their aid stuck fighting against 5 of the world’s top warlocks. It was over and there was nowhere left to run.

In his mind he passed the message to the four wizards. We go in silently. I got rid of the enchantments protecting the house that would have warned the king and queen of anyone’s presence. I will take on Lileth, End you are to help me try and defeat her. Malgana and Micah, you are to defeat the Raven. It is disadvantageous that neither of you are masters, but his nature arcanery will be put at a disadvantage by your water and wind. Gareth, you heal us and support from the back, but focus your efforts primarily on Micah and Malgana. Above all, be careful. These two are the highest-level warlocks you will ever go up against if you are lucky. Let’s go.

Joseph took the lead with Malgana by his side. Micah and End fell in behind them and Gareth followed at the back, calm as ever. As a precaution, just in case the two had somehow woke up, Joseph had them cast a full armor to protect themselves. The months of training to cast spells without using the spark-word showed and not a sound was made.

When they re-entered the room where the king and queen lay sleeping they spread out around this. Are we doing this? That was End. It was unlike him to have any hesitation or second thoughts about anything which worried Joseph, but he responded with We must.

He sent the plan to the entire group. We will all start out with our most powerful strikes. Micah, hit with a simultaneous Extreme Fear and Ghosts of the Past spell. End, you strike with a max power Piercing Lightning strike and then wait until we all finish our spells. After that, you teleport us all out into the open, don’t bring the child in the other room with us. Malgana, I expect a high-level Ice strike along with a powerful blood attack that will hold them in place. We have time on our side with sleeping enemies, make sure you all get this right. Gareth, I leave you to do what you see fit. I will be setting up for an Extreme Stormfall that I will unleash once we have teleported outside. I expect you all to be able to dodge this as it won’t be directed at you directly. Time to go. Desino.

Immediately the four warlocks began casting their spells. The first one to be finished was End’s lightning attack, taking less than half a second for the near master to complete. However, the powerful blast was stopped by the instinctual reactions of the two royal masters. They were both wide awake and casting defensive spells in a heartbeat, a skill learned from many months being on the run. End’s powerful spell did its job. It got the pair focused on physical defense and weakened their mental walls. Now it was Micah’s turn.

“Bruta timore” he said out loud casting the advanced spell of Extreme Fear, at the same time he was spellcasting in his head to cast the moderate spell Ghosts of the Past. This combo of spells would put even an incredibly strong caster in a dangerous spot. Unless able to defend perfectly, you will be hit by a complete, overwhelming sense of terror. At the same time, you are visited by those you have lost and, if you have ended a life, those slain by your hand.

Due to the distraction caused by End, the king and queen were weakened in their mental defenses. They were able to mostly shake off the effects, but both seemed to be seeing shadows where there weren’t any.

All of this happened in just a few seconds, it was looking undeniably good for the five warlocks. However, before Malgana was able to get off either of her powerful attacks, Lilith got off a quick spell of her own. It was a low power ice spell, but that meant it could be cast almost instantly and without words. Milliseconds before Malgana finished her deadly blood spell, a knife of ice shot at her neck, forcing her to bring up her arm and cast a defensive shield, however this forced her to end her own magical attack.

Joseph had planned for this, however. He knew it wouldn’t be easy, and that was why he had End already casting a group teleport.

“Ubi non est statim.” End said quietly. Joseph paused in his casting for a second. End’s gotten stronger. He used to have to scream that spell out to make it work. Soon he may be able to cast it without speaking.

In an instant the entire group was outside, five-hundred feet from the cabin. End had nailed the spell. Immediately, Malgana cast a powerful blood spell that immobilized the king and queen. Had they not been on the run for months, they might have been able to fight it, but as it was, they were trapped.

It was time for the final moment. “Ne ipso caelo ceciderit super hostibus meis” Joseph yelled out into the night. He knew the king and queen would recognize the spell, but there was nothing they could do about it without using up the rest of their arcane energy. End prepared for another group teleport, he didn’t have long until Joseph’s magic took its toll on the area, as well as the man who cast it.

Just before End yelled the words to get out of there, the Raven king cast one final spell. He knew it was over, but he had one last job to do.

Putting all his remaining power into it, the king casted a spell using raw magical energy. It was a feat that would have been talked about by future generations had he survived.

Raw energy doesn’t need ancient words to cast, but as he shoved his arms at Joseph he spat one final word. “Remember.”

The next second, they all disappeared, and the King and Queen were left staring up at the coming Stormfall. “I hope it worked. Eli doesn’t even have arcanery to work with. How did we lose Joseph and Zuriel this much?” The Raven said, standing proud despite his warn garb and the looming sky. “Goodbye Lily, I’ll see you in the next life.”

“Goodbye, Nabu-- and you better not be late.” She replied, smirking in rebellion to her situation.

A huge explosion racked the Earth. From half a mile away, four warlocks watched as the sky itself seemed to fall. But the fifth, who had cast the spell in the first place was on his knees, looking far away as if in a different world. After his spell, his magical defenses were brought to the ground and the King’s powerful spell hit him at full force.

Memories of his life kept playing in his mind. Lily, Zuriel, Naberus, and himself running and hiding from their parents in the small wooden cabin in the woods. Naberus becoming king. His subsequent marriage to Lily. Eligor being born. All the times Joseph had stood in as father for him when Naberus was busy with the kingdom. Zuriel’s separation from the king and queen. They were all repeating in his head. Most prominent were the memories of Eligor, the King and Queen’s only son. Soon those were all he could see. Going fishing in Lake Stone. Running through the fields. Testing to see if he had magic every year, each year growing more hopeful of his power until each year becoming more worried he would have none.

After an agonizing hour spent replaying memories of his past, the spell began to fade. He became aware of the four wizards meditating around him. He saw the destruction his spell had done. For almost a mile in every direction from the location of the spell, the trees of the forest were destroyed and the ground barren.

“Is it done?” Joseph said, finally breaking himself out of the trance.

“Yes mentor, are you okay?” Micah said.

Before Joseph could reply End said “Of course he’s okay. He’s a master water caster.”

“No matter how powerful you are, any Raw casting is an extreme danger. Luckily for me, the King still didn’t want to kill me, though his spell was extremely powerful.””

“So that was what a Raw casting looks like. I have great respect for the Raven and carry a heavy heart with our deed.” Gareth, who had yet to say a word the entire mission, spoke in a deep, quiet voice.

“Speaking like that is treasonous Gareth.” Micah spat.

“You would do well to respect your elder, Micah.” Joseph said, stepping in.

Who knows about the full mission? End suddenly said in Joseph’s mind.

Just Gareth and myself. And apparently you. Joseph replied telepathically, though he wasn’t surprised End figured out the rest.

Are you going to do it?

“Micah and Malgana, the primary mission is over. You both performed admirably. Micah, I recommend that you continue practicing and take the test for mastery soon within the next two years. Malgana, you have caught both the new king’s eye and my own. I will not forget your skill. You are both dismissed. The three of us must stay to clean up and tie up loose ends.”

With that, the two saluted and flew away.

“Now we can speak somewhat freely. Gareth, you know about the full mission. End, what have you figured out?” Joseph said quietly, secretly expecting someone to show up and eavesdrop.

“I know you were ordered to kill the only son of the old king and queen, Eligor. I also know he was like a nephew to you and that he is only eight years old.” End replied, not skipping a beat.

“That is pretty much it, yes. Gareth how do you feel about this mission.”

“I refuse to go through with it.” He replied, not bothering to keep up appearances. End quickly seconded the sentiment.

“There you have it. We will have to find some other way. Let’s go back to the cabin.”

In less than half a minute they were there, yet again standing outside that door. The destruction of the Stormfall reached just to the door but went no farther, making the cabin seem even more lonely, looking out at a completely desolate area. The trio walked in to the sound of crying.

“Uncle Joseph? Where are they? Where did my mommy go?” A small voice said. The aging master water warlock couldn’t bring his heart to say it.

“Child, your mother and father have moved on to another world. They are together there, and one day we will all join them.” Gareth had a way with words.

“Why did they leave me? Can I go with them? Please, I don’t want to be alone.”

Gareth bent down and said “It is not your time yet. And you are not alone, you will always have them with you. It is the way of our world.”

Joseph was readying for the only spell he could think of that could save Eligor without them all being punished for treason. It was a powerful spell outside of the usual limitations of his water element. In theory, it was a blood spell, but in action it affected the mind in a way more common to wind wielders.

“Oblivisci quod scis, vivet vita sine scientia tua praeterita, amen dico vobis non credunt vera” Joseph spoke, arms and hands whirling in a series of complex movements. Gareth and End stood watching. When he finished, Eligor stopped crying and stared blankly in the distance. It was a memory-erasing spell.

“Child, your name is Eli, short for Eligor. Your parents passed to the next life in a fight with a deadly disease. You will be taken in by a family in a small town of Althesia, and you will do what they say and act like a son. Do not draw attention to yourself.”

Quickly, End added “Eli, your parents loved you very much.”

And then the spell ended. Eli fell asleep immediately and landed on the ground, not waking up. Joseph gave a quick nod to End.

“He will awaken in several hours. He will remember some things, he will still know how to speak, what land he is in, and many of the ideas and morals taught by his parents. We need to make sure he goes somewhere isolated, as memories tend to have a way of slipping into minds at inopportune moments.”

Gareth responded saying “I might know a place. It’s in the south, and the people know little about arcanery. Most people there have quite little power and almost no one progresses past the basic level. He could fit in well without any power whatsoever.”

“Bring him there if you know it is safe. We won’t be able to check on him easily, not without arousing suspicion.” Joseph responded.

“Yes, sir.” Gareth quietly walked over and picked up the sleeping child before shooting off into the sky.

Joseph turned to the fire mage beside him. “You did well today, End. However, I need your word that you will never speak of this to anyone.”

End immediately placed his hand on his heart, infusing it with fire energy. “I make here an arcane promise that I will never speak of the events of tonight after Micah and Malgana’s departure without you, your descendants, or Eligor’s permission.”

“Thank you, End. If all goes well, the child will live on and no one will know what happened here.”