It was a bright and sunny day much to Aldons annoyances. It did little to him at this point in his life, it was more like a nagging mosquito hovering around him. Looking up at the blue sky above he thought it was odd how beautiful and peaceful it was as if it had no idea the storm that was brewing in the world. Lowering his face back down to guard it against the sun under the hat he wore. As he scanned his surroundings in the forest he could tell they were arriving closer to his destination.
After a short while longer he stepped out from the tree line and entered a clearing that was empty save for what looked to be the ruins of an ancient temple. “Hmm. Ironic really, a demon living in an old temple. You really are asking for it aren't you?” he had said out loud to himself. He didn't need to fear if anyone heard him considering he would have noticed them following him. As he approached the crumbled remains of some old forgotten god he began throwing massive chunks of stone out of the way as he searched for any kind of door or secret passage. As he continued to look he found what looked like a normal stone floor but with his sharp vision, he saw the slightest lines in between the stone slab and the rest of the floor. With a smirk on his face, Aldon brought down his foot with all his force shattering the stone floor as it gave way to a set of stairs that descended deep into the earth. As he continued down the steps he was engulfed in the dark as he could feel the irritation leave him. Finally, at the bottom of the steps, he rounded the corner and entered into a large room with a single bed in it. “You really are a sloth aren't you?” he said out loud as he drew closer to the bed that had a figure sleeping in it. Looking at the man that was sleeping in the bed his eyes narrowed. “I could kill you without the slightest sweat and you wouldn't realize it until you woke up in hell.” raising his hand slightly he smacked the sleeping man across the face with a force that would possibly kill a normal man. “Wake up Zakhul.”
The trading post had been fairly busy since the summer solstice, which had happened around two weeks ago. People of all kinds were passing through, coming from the south on their way to the North. With the rivers slowing down, a lot more crossings were available for the next few weeks. Throughout the trading post, a motley collection of sounds could be heard constantly. Dogs barked, horses whinnied and people shouted. Merchants comparing stock and deciding on prices for the coming months. There were even some purchases happening between the merchants themselves. Near the entrance, two figures could be seen in an animated argument.
“I don't care how hard it was to get that cask of ale, you can't just double the price!”
The other voice was relaxed and soothing as it spoke, “It is not merely the difficulty of obtaining the product, but the rarity of it as well that raises its price. This is one of the last casks from a very specific batch that was said to be much better than normal.”
“I know exactly what that is, but you are still charging a ridiculous amount for it. If you don't want to sell it, then I'll just buy it somewhere else.”
With the other merchant stomping away Zakhul let out a soft laugh. Every year they went through this same routine without fail. Turning back to his wares he placed the cask back into its original position on the cart. Humming a simple song while closing up the cart he felt a tug in his head. Immediately the world around him stopped moving and the light of the sun dim. Talking to no one, in particular, he looked up towards the sky. “It seems as if someone plans to wake me from my sleep.” The world around him collapsed as a single tunnel of light appeared around him. Reaching out a hand he pulled himself through the tunnel. As he opened his eyes he felt a strong force hit him across the face.
“Ow.”
“Please, I barely put any force behind that strike.” He said in an even and serious tone. “Come on, it's time for you to get up. You’ve been asleep for far too long.” He said as he turned around ready to leave when Zakhul was done getting ready. “And don’t take forever will you.”
Zakhul slowly stood up from the bed and stretched his limbs. Grabbing a sword that had lain beside the bed he strapped it to his side. He began to follow Aldon up the stairs while he pulled his shirt on. “What is it that you require me for? I can't imagine you woke me up to have a chat.”
Smirking slightly at his friend's sarcasm Aldon replied “of course not. There are some interesting things happening in the world now that I thought you would want to see.” Taking a moment to pause he continued “there’s talk of a large war breaking out that could be of interest.”
“What interest is there in the squabbling of children? Why are you so interested in this conflict, like so many others?”
“Because these sort of things always bring out the best and the worst of humanity and I want to see which takes precedence over the other. And I believe this world has done without us for far too long.”
“That just sounds like an excuse to go to war if you ask me, but what do I know.” As he said those words Zakhul took his first step into the sun in centuries. He felt the warmth on his skin and the light wash over him. Taking a pause to relish the feeling he just stood there for a few seconds. Glancing out of the corner of his eye Zakhul flashed a devilish grin, “Doesn't the sun just feel great?”
Making sure his hat was securely on Aldon looked forwards at Zakhul who was soaking in the sunlight. “Yeah, it’s fantastic.” He said with a deep sarcasm in his voice at the obvious. As he began to walk forwards he stopped as his ears twitched a bit. Scanning around he narrowed his vision at what looked like a normal tree line. “You can come out if that tree line now. I know you're there.” He yelled out as four armed personal made their way towards himself and Zakhul.
As the four made their way out towards the pair they spread out a bit until coming to a stop a “safe distance away. “How did you know we were standing there?” The leader of the men asked while place of a hand on his sword. “No man has that good of sight that I’ve heard of.”
“Come now you must have known what I am. After all, that is why you been watching. But if you're still confused, allow me to show you.” As soon as he finished Aldon looked straight at the man as he let out some of his Vampiric power. His once ice blue eyes became a deep blood red and his fangs began to show. Just the little bit of power he was showing was enough to frighten the younger members of the group but the man only drew his sword awaiting the fight. “I hope that answers your question.” He finished with a smirk that said he had already won. Turning to his friend he whispered, “you take the two on the right I’ll take the leader and the one on the left.” Before drawing his own sword and wright at the man to the far left in blinding speed.
Zakhul watched Aldon charge the man on the left with apathy. Turning to his “targets” he slowly began to walk towards them. Drawing his sword he suddenly dashed towards his enemies. He managed to get a good hit on the foe to his left before they reacted and began to fight back. Zakhul quickly swung at one foe as he ducked from the other’s blow. The fight only lasted about fifteen seconds, but for the combatants, it felt like hours. Zakhul stepped away from the fight with a hairline cut on his abdomen, but not much more. Finished with his fight he looked to see how Aldon did.
Aldon had flashed behind his opponents swinging his sword straight at them. They managed to barely dodge out of the way before they had their heads cut off. Aldon focused on the more expire fed of the two knowing it would be child’s play to finish off the youngster. As their swords locked Aldons smirked evilly as he pushed through with all his might as his opponent's sword broke along with his spirits. As the sword drove deep in his chest Aldon looked behind him to see the younger hunter running straight for him with a dagger. Aldon simple vanished and appeared right behind him as he grabbed the boys head snapping his neck in an instant. Aldon was pleased with his work as he began walking towards Zakhul who had also finished his fight in about the same time. Pointing to the slight cut on his chest “you losing touch with all that sleep?”
“I am not losing my touch, I am merely rusty from sleeping for a century. Not using your muscles for that long of a time tends to do that to a person.” Looking at the horizon where the sun was setting he could feel his heart beat a small bit faster. “So, where are we going first."
Turning towards around Aldon looked out to the distance thinking of where exactly he should begin to head. “Kron-nesis,” he said matter of factly. “They are attacking a small kingdom that once belonged to them. It's a decent trip but with our speed, we should make it there it time to see the troops moving.” he paused for a moment before adding. “They will be looking for warriors on their way I'm sure perhaps we can weasel our way in.” after finishing both Aldon and Zakhul vanished from sight as they made their way towards their destination.
After a short while longer he stepped out from the tree line and entered a clearing that was empty save for what looked to be the ruins of an ancient temple. “Hmm. Ironic really, a demon living in an old temple. You really are asking for it aren't you?” he had said out loud to himself. He didn't need to fear if anyone heard him considering he would have noticed them following him. As he approached the crumbled remains of some old forgotten god he began throwing massive chunks of stone out of the way as he searched for any kind of door or secret passage. As he continued to look he found what looked like a normal stone floor but with his sharp vision, he saw the slightest lines in between the stone slab and the rest of the floor. With a smirk on his face, Aldon brought down his foot with all his force shattering the stone floor as it gave way to a set of stairs that descended deep into the earth. As he continued down the steps he was engulfed in the dark as he could feel the irritation leave him. Finally, at the bottom of the steps, he rounded the corner and entered into a large room with a single bed in it. “You really are a sloth aren't you?” he said out loud as he drew closer to the bed that had a figure sleeping in it. Looking at the man that was sleeping in the bed his eyes narrowed. “I could kill you without the slightest sweat and you wouldn't realize it until you woke up in hell.” raising his hand slightly he smacked the sleeping man across the face with a force that would possibly kill a normal man. “Wake up Zakhul.”
The trading post had been fairly busy since the summer solstice, which had happened around two weeks ago. People of all kinds were passing through, coming from the south on their way to the North. With the rivers slowing down, a lot more crossings were available for the next few weeks. Throughout the trading post, a motley collection of sounds could be heard constantly. Dogs barked, horses whinnied and people shouted. Merchants comparing stock and deciding on prices for the coming months. There were even some purchases happening between the merchants themselves. Near the entrance, two figures could be seen in an animated argument.
“I don't care how hard it was to get that cask of ale, you can't just double the price!”
The other voice was relaxed and soothing as it spoke, “It is not merely the difficulty of obtaining the product, but the rarity of it as well that raises its price. This is one of the last casks from a very specific batch that was said to be much better than normal.”
“I know exactly what that is, but you are still charging a ridiculous amount for it. If you don't want to sell it, then I'll just buy it somewhere else.”
With the other merchant stomping away Zakhul let out a soft laugh. Every year they went through this same routine without fail. Turning back to his wares he placed the cask back into its original position on the cart. Humming a simple song while closing up the cart he felt a tug in his head. Immediately the world around him stopped moving and the light of the sun dim. Talking to no one, in particular, he looked up towards the sky. “It seems as if someone plans to wake me from my sleep.” The world around him collapsed as a single tunnel of light appeared around him. Reaching out a hand he pulled himself through the tunnel. As he opened his eyes he felt a strong force hit him across the face.
“Ow.”
“Please, I barely put any force behind that strike.” He said in an even and serious tone. “Come on, it's time for you to get up. You’ve been asleep for far too long.” He said as he turned around ready to leave when Zakhul was done getting ready. “And don’t take forever will you.”
Zakhul slowly stood up from the bed and stretched his limbs. Grabbing a sword that had lain beside the bed he strapped it to his side. He began to follow Aldon up the stairs while he pulled his shirt on. “What is it that you require me for? I can't imagine you woke me up to have a chat.”
Smirking slightly at his friend's sarcasm Aldon replied “of course not. There are some interesting things happening in the world now that I thought you would want to see.” Taking a moment to pause he continued “there’s talk of a large war breaking out that could be of interest.”
“What interest is there in the squabbling of children? Why are you so interested in this conflict, like so many others?”
“Because these sort of things always bring out the best and the worst of humanity and I want to see which takes precedence over the other. And I believe this world has done without us for far too long.”
“That just sounds like an excuse to go to war if you ask me, but what do I know.” As he said those words Zakhul took his first step into the sun in centuries. He felt the warmth on his skin and the light wash over him. Taking a pause to relish the feeling he just stood there for a few seconds. Glancing out of the corner of his eye Zakhul flashed a devilish grin, “Doesn't the sun just feel great?”
Making sure his hat was securely on Aldon looked forwards at Zakhul who was soaking in the sunlight. “Yeah, it’s fantastic.” He said with a deep sarcasm in his voice at the obvious. As he began to walk forwards he stopped as his ears twitched a bit. Scanning around he narrowed his vision at what looked like a normal tree line. “You can come out if that tree line now. I know you're there.” He yelled out as four armed personal made their way towards himself and Zakhul.
As the four made their way out towards the pair they spread out a bit until coming to a stop a “safe distance away. “How did you know we were standing there?” The leader of the men asked while place of a hand on his sword. “No man has that good of sight that I’ve heard of.”
“Come now you must have known what I am. After all, that is why you been watching. But if you're still confused, allow me to show you.” As soon as he finished Aldon looked straight at the man as he let out some of his Vampiric power. His once ice blue eyes became a deep blood red and his fangs began to show. Just the little bit of power he was showing was enough to frighten the younger members of the group but the man only drew his sword awaiting the fight. “I hope that answers your question.” He finished with a smirk that said he had already won. Turning to his friend he whispered, “you take the two on the right I’ll take the leader and the one on the left.” Before drawing his own sword and wright at the man to the far left in blinding speed.
Zakhul watched Aldon charge the man on the left with apathy. Turning to his “targets” he slowly began to walk towards them. Drawing his sword he suddenly dashed towards his enemies. He managed to get a good hit on the foe to his left before they reacted and began to fight back. Zakhul quickly swung at one foe as he ducked from the other’s blow. The fight only lasted about fifteen seconds, but for the combatants, it felt like hours. Zakhul stepped away from the fight with a hairline cut on his abdomen, but not much more. Finished with his fight he looked to see how Aldon did.
Aldon had flashed behind his opponents swinging his sword straight at them. They managed to barely dodge out of the way before they had their heads cut off. Aldon focused on the more expire fed of the two knowing it would be child’s play to finish off the youngster. As their swords locked Aldons smirked evilly as he pushed through with all his might as his opponent's sword broke along with his spirits. As the sword drove deep in his chest Aldon looked behind him to see the younger hunter running straight for him with a dagger. Aldon simple vanished and appeared right behind him as he grabbed the boys head snapping his neck in an instant. Aldon was pleased with his work as he began walking towards Zakhul who had also finished his fight in about the same time. Pointing to the slight cut on his chest “you losing touch with all that sleep?”
“I am not losing my touch, I am merely rusty from sleeping for a century. Not using your muscles for that long of a time tends to do that to a person.” Looking at the horizon where the sun was setting he could feel his heart beat a small bit faster. “So, where are we going first."
Turning towards around Aldon looked out to the distance thinking of where exactly he should begin to head. “Kron-nesis,” he said matter of factly. “They are attacking a small kingdom that once belonged to them. It's a decent trip but with our speed, we should make it there it time to see the troops moving.” he paused for a moment before adding. “They will be looking for warriors on their way I'm sure perhaps we can weasel our way in.” after finishing both Aldon and Zakhul vanished from sight as they made their way towards their destination.
