[center][h1]Xenelith[/h1][/center]

[b]Time:[/b] Early Dawn
[b]Location:[/b] Somewhere in the outer edges of the Sun Kingdom
[b]Mentions:[/b] Nobody
[hr][hr]“What is happening? Someone tell me something!” Galius, the light elf officer, barked as he and his troops raced their horses across the dirt path. Solaris was starting to peak over the woodland canopy horizon in the east. But in the north they saw something else: a red glow and pillars of smoke rising.

“Dark elves!” One of the communicators said as he just finished up the holographic transmission. Tension grew in the group. The attack would have started mere minutes after the declaration. Had the dark elves been on Avalia already?

The officer grit his teeth. They weren’t supposed to get down here so fast. His beloved Aurius was still in the village. Why did the fool insist on gathering herbs here!? Gallius had to reach the village in time. He would not let his love get slaughtered by these animals. So he dug his spurs even deeper into his steed “Yah!”.

They came around the corner of the forest’s path. The officer could almost see the fires. The firelight’s glow could be seen in between the tree trunks and the smell of dirty smoke was thick in the air. They were close.

But a figure was waiting for him as they rounded the corner. A figure dressed in full metal armor, with his hands resting on the cross guard of his massive sword that stood with its tip on the ground. Though he looked ready for whoever was about to come around that bend. A shiver went down the officer’s spine. In the red firelight shadows seemed… longer.

[color=a187be]“I have been waiting for you.” [/color]

The figure said, his voice metallic from the helmet. What monster had the dark elves created? The officer stopped. A moment later his bodyguard stopped right behind him as well. Horses were restlessly walking around. Kicking up dust. The officer drew his ancestral sword. “I was taught to ask the name of whoever I fight.” He said as he pulled on his reigns to calm his horse down. For now the animal obeyed, though he could feel its frightful breaths underneath him.

[color=a187be]“Honorable.”[/color]

Gallius couldn’t figure out if the figure was mocking him or speaking truthfully. For a second it was quiet. The officer could hear the crackling of flames in the distance. No, this thing would not give his name. Maybe he didn’t have one. What did it matter? Only Aurius counted. He charged forward, sword down to the side, ready for an upwards swing. One fell sweep, that’s all he needed. Closer… closer… closer! Swing!

Something happened. He heard an animalistic scream. Then saw the twilight sky above. He felt weightless. Then the earth’s pulling force gripped him again as he fell down hard. Pain shot through his body. The officer blinked. He was on the ground. With a wet flop, the head of his horse fell beside him. Behind him he heard the sound of a sharp edge cutting the air. He rolled away. Something next to him kicked up dust.

He got up, just in time. The hulking blade slammed into where he was not even a second ago. Despite its size, it moved fast. The officer looked around. Shadows were growing longer for sure now. Another overhead swing came down for him. Too late! He moved his blade to block it. Better a chipped blade than spilled guts.

In one fell swoop the armored warrior cleaved down upon Gallius. The ancestral sword that had tasted dark elven blood a millennium ago was split in twain like it was but a twig. Its victor, the black hulking sword tore through the officer like he was made of butter. In a second his bisected corpse flopped as two pieces onto the ground.

The warrior looked over at the horses that grew more nervous than ever. The soldiers they carried looked wide-eyed. Then valor overtook them. They drew their blades. “For Solaris! For the king!” They shouted holding their swords and spears up high. The warrior raised his hand as they began to charge him. He let them get closer. Closer.

He clenched his fist. The horses whined. Soldiers went flying and falling off of their dying steeds. They barely got up, dazed from the crash. Then the second volley fell.