The Shadow Lord's battle roar shattered the momentary silence, a sound of such primal malevolence that even the bravest warriors felt their courage waver. The broken barrier, its protective magic now dissipating into wisps of fading light, stood as a grim testament to their failure. Through the jagged breach, shadow creatures poured like a black tide—writhing, shapeless forms gradually solidifying into nightmarish beasts with glowing yellow eyes and razor-sharp claws.
"To your positions!" Baba's voice carried across the village square, somehow cutting through the cacophony of panicked shouts and the eerie hissing of the shadow beings. "Archers to the walls! Shield bearers forward!"
The confused and panicked defenders scrambled into formation.
Goblins who have gone unconscious again scurried up posts and trees, poison-tipped arrows already nocked.
Paralyzed Dwarven warriors pushed and locked their shields together, forming an unyielding wall of metal and determination, blocking the more stronger raid of shadows.
The few remaining elves, their faces ashen from expending so much energy on the initial barrier, frantically worked to cast smaller protective spells and buffs around key structures and defenses.
Amidst the chaos, Kaal as he rushed towards the Lord found himself at Veer's side, both racing toward the eastern gate where the shadows seemed to be concentrating their assault.
"We need to hold them here," Veer said, his voice steady despite the dire circumstances. The Guardian's amber eyes glowed with an intensity Kaal had never witnessed before, his white hair whipping in the wind that had suddenly picked up around them. "If they breach this gate, they'll have a direct path to the Eternal Flame."
Kaal nodded, his crimson eyes scanning the approaching horde. Despite his small stature, he felt the tactical mind of his past life awakening within him, analyzing weaknesses, plotting counter-strategies.
"I'll take the all the lower ranks," Kaal shouted, his unnerving voice causing nearby defenders to glance nervously in his direction. "You focus on the larger ones at the back."
Veer nocked an arrow, the tip already beginning to glow with concentrated flame. "Ready?"
The Second wave of shadows crashed against the outer defenses. Kaal's eyes met Veer's, a silent understanding passing between them. Despite the overwhelming odds, despite the fear that gripped the village, they would stand their ground.
"Ready."
---
The battle erupted in a symphony of chaos. From their elevated positions, goblin archers released a deadly rain of poison-tipped arrows, each projectile finding its mark with uncanny precision. The poison seemed effective, causing shadow creatures to writhe and temporarily lose cohesion—but they recovered—faster this time.
Below, the orcs charged forward with battle cries that shook the earth beneath their feet. Their massive axes cleaved through the shadowy forms, creating momentary gaps in the endless tide. But for each shadow dispersed, two more seemed to take its place, regenerating from the mist that clung to the ground.
The dwarven shield wall held firm at the center of the defense, their disciplined formation creating a bulwark against which waves of shadows crashed and recoiled. Their short statures belied their strength, and their hammers struck with devastating force, sending ripples through the shadowy masses.
Kaal darted between the legs of larger defenders, a blur of black fur and glowing crimson eyes which instill fear inside enemies.
He noticed the roar of Lord earlier dispersed the shadows, and made their forms unstable.
Grrrr...."krrraaaaaa...." like a sonic Boom,He roared.He moved with the precision of a veteran warrior, striking at vulnerable points where shadows connected to the ground, temporarily dispersing them.
He moved solely in ahead while other's followed behind him.
But the exertion was taking its toll. After dispatching a particularly large shadow beast, Kaal felt his legs trembling with fatigue. His breaths came in ragged gasps, and the glow of his eyes had dimmed noticeably. He had never pushed himself this hard in his new form, and he was discovering its limitations at the worst possible time.
"Kaal" Veer's voice cut through the din of battle. "Fall back and recover!"
Kaal glanced up to see Veer standing atop a wooden platform, his bow singing as he released arrow after arrow into the horde. Each flaming projectile struck with explosive force, creating momentary clearings in the shadow ranks. The display of archery was nothing short of miraculous—each shot perfectly placed, each explosion calculated to maximum effect.
Yet even as Kaal watched in admiration, he noticed the shadows beginning to reform after each explosion. What had initially scattered them was becoming less effective. The creatures were adapting, learning, becoming more resilient with each assault.
"They're regenerating too quickly!" a dwarven captain shouted, echoing Kaal's own realization. "We can't keep this pace forever!"
The horrible truth settled over the defenders like a shroud: they were fighting an enemy that didn't tire, didn't bleed, and couldn't be permanently destroyed by conventional means. For the first time since the battle began, Kaal felt a chill of doubt creep into his heart.
---
The Shadow Lord moved through the battlefield like a phantom, its massive form seeming to both absorb and emit darkness simultaneously. Standing nearly three times the height of an orc, its body was a swirling vortex of shadows, occasionally solidifying into a vaguely humanoid shape before dissolving again into writhing tendrils of darkness.
Its mere presence caused the air to grow cold, and plants withered as it passed. With each step, the ground beneath its feet blackened and cracked, as if the very life was being leached from the earth.
The dwarven shield wall, which had held admirably against the lesser shadows, crumbled under the Shadow Lord's assault. With a single sweep of its arm—if the writhing mass of darkness could be called an arm—it sent dwarven warriors flying in all directions, their armor crumpling like paper against the impact.
Kaal, having recovered some of his strength, saw an opportunity as the Shadow Lord turned its attention to a group of goblin archers. Alone Darting forward with all the speed he could muster, he aimed for the creature's legs, hoping to disrupt whatever served as its balance.
His sonic roar tore through the air as he struck, and for a moment, the Shadow Lord's lower form wavered. But the victory was short-lived. Almost casually, the creature flicked a tendril of darkness, catching Kaal mid-leap and sending him tumbling across the battlefield.
He crashed into a wooden cart, the impact driving the breath from his lungs and sending stars dancing across his vision.
From his position, dazed and struggling to rise, Kaal saw Veer draw back his bow, a special arrow nocked—one tipped with what appeared to be a shard of crystallized flame. The arrow flew true, striking the Shadow Lord directly in what might have been its chest, erupting in a magnificent explosion of fire and light.
The creature staggered, actually taking a step backward as flames briefly spread across its form. But then, to the horror of all watching, the flames were simply absorbed into its mass, and the Shadow Lord continued its advance, seemingly unaffected.
Veer's face, illuminated by the glow of his next arrow, showed the first signs of despair. "Nothing's working," he muttered, though Kaal's sensitive ears caught the words despite the distance. "We can't stop it."
All around them, the village was beginning to fall. Houses at the perimeter had already been engulfed in shadow, their occupants fleeing toward the center of the settlement. The defensive line had been pushed back to within a hundred paces of the village square, where the Eternal Flame still burned. How much longer they could maintain even this position was uncertain.
Kaal, finally regaining his feet, felt a deep, cold certainty settle over him: they were not going to survive this night.
---
The first pulse was subtle—a brief flaring of the Eternal Flame that might have been dismissed as a trick of the eye. The second pulse, however, was unmistakable. The orange-red flames suddenly blazed blue, casting an eerie light across the village square. The third pulse sent a shockwave of energy outward, causing both defenders and shadow creatures to momentarily pause in their combat.
Kaal felt it as a wave of warmth washing over him, instantly revitalizing his exhausted body. Around him, other defenders straightened, wounds temporarily forgotten as they too experienced the sudden surge of energy.
At the heart of the village, the Eternal Flame now burned with an intensity never before witnessed. The blue fire reached skyward, far higher than should have been possible, its light penetrating the darkness that had settled over Agnidwar.
And then Kaal saw something that made his breath catch: From the Raging piller of fire, a ball of blue fire shoted at Veer crushingon whole.
"Veer..!" Kaal called out, but his voice was lost in the sudden howling of wind that circled the village square.
Until Kaal could respond the flame has already covered Veer, But Veer didn't show any struggle. Instead of burning him, the blue fire seemed to reach out in return, tendrils of energy wrapping around his fingers, his wrist, his arm.
For a moment, Veer's entire form was outlined in brilliant blue light Embraced by the flame. Then, with a sound like thunder cracking overhead, the energy surged inward, and Veer absorbed the divine fire into himself.
The transformation was immediate and awe-inspiring. Veer's white hair began to float around his head as if underwater, each strand glowing with inner light. His eyes, once amber, now burned with the same blue fire as the Eternal Flame. His skin took on a luminous quality, as if light itself resided just beneath the surface.
Even from a distance, Kaal could feel the power radiating from him—ancient, primal, divine. This was the true power of the Guardian, a potential that had lain dormant until this moment of greatest need.
" Divine skill : Guardian's pride "
SkillActivated.
(Grants invincibility when near the Flame of Life and control over any flame. Flames will became inexhaustible untill user intends. Physical stats will reduce 30% after usage. )
Across the battlefield, the Shadow Lord paused in its relentless advance. For the first time, the creature exhibited something akin to hesitation, perhaps even fear, as it sensed the awakening of a power that could truly challenge its own.
Veer turned away from the Eternal Flame, which continued to burn blue but at a more normal height. His gaze swept across the battlefield until it locked with Kaal's. In that moment of connection, Kaal knew with absolute certainty: the tide was about to turn.
---
Veer nocked an arrow, and the transformation was immediate. What had once been a simple shaft of wood with a metal tip now glowed white-hot, trailing streamers of blue fire as he drew back the string. When he released, the arrow moved with impossible speed, leaving a streak of light in its wake multiplying into many dozens.
It struck a cluster of shadow creatures and erupted not in fire, but in pure light. The shadows didn't just disperse—they vaporized, completely and utterly destroyed. Where there had been a dozen writhing forms, there was now only scorched earth and wisps of rapidly dissipating darkness.
A cheer went up from the defenders, a sound of renewed hope breaking through the despair that had gripped them. Kaal felt his own spirits soar as he witnessed Veer's newfound power.
"Forward!" Kaal shouted, his unnerving voice for once inspiring rather than frightening those around him. "Push them back!"
The defensive line surged forward with renewed vigor. Dwarves who had moments ago been on the verge of collapse now swung their hammers with fresh strength. Goblin archers, their quivers nearly empty, found their remaining arrows flying with greater accuracy and effect. Even the exhausted elves managed to cast new spells, their magic somehow amplified by the presence of the divine energy flowing through Veer.
Kaal, too, felt his strength return. His sonic roars now carried greater impact, causing shadow creatures to not just recoil but completely lose cohesion. He darted through the battlefield, a small black blur leaving dissolved shadows in his wake.
But the true devastation came from Veer. Arrow after arrow of divine light cut through the shadow horde, each shot destroying dozens of creatures. He moved with inhuman grace, never staying in one position long enough for the shadows to target him, appearing wherever the defense was weakest and turning the tide with his presence alone.
The Shadow Lord, sensing the destruction of its forces, let out a roar that shook the very foundations of the village. It began to move with purpose now, not just destroying everything in its path but heading directly toward Veer. Tendrils of darkness lashed out, attempting to entangle or impale the Guardian from a distance.
"Movement skill: Blazing steps"
Skill Activated
(Enhanced Speed and agility, Every step will leave behind embers to ignite the path.)
Veer dodged each attack with fluid ease leaving mirages behind, returning fire with arrows that actually caused the Shadow Lord to recoil in pain. For the first time since the battle began, the creature showed signs of vulnerability.
The moment had come. Veer took up position on a rooftop, directly in the Shadow Lord's path. He reached back to his quiver and withdrew not one arrow, but seven—each glowing with a different color of divine flame. Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet—the colors of the seven chakras, the seven gods of ancient lore.
"Combat skill : Sunfire Archer"
Skill Activated
(Seven Arrows of different aspects can be made from fire, Grants homing abilities and AoE affect uppon collision.)
(+)
"Ultimate skill: The Last Arrow"
Skill Activated
(Unleash all the urza or Life to a final shot. Damage - 10 times and penetration - 200%
Penalty- unable to use urza for 48 hours.)
As the Shadow Lord charged toward him, Veer nocked all seven arrows simultaneously, a feat that should have been physically impossible. He drew back the string, the multi-colored light growing so intense that many had to shield their eyes.
"For Agnidwar, For my Home" Veer whispered, and released.
---
The Shadow Lord's retreats in desperate flight. The seven divine arrows had torn through its form, leaving gaping wounds in its shadowy mass that refused to close. It fled toward the forest, its remaining forces dispersed as the thousands of homing arrows rained down with accurate precision.
—————————————————
In their wake, they left a scene of devastation. The eastern gate was completely destroyed, reduced to splinters and twisted metal. Many of the outer dwellings had been crushed or burned, their occupants either evacuated or among the casualties. The defensive walls, once the pride of Agnidwar, now stood breached in multiple locations.
And the cost in lives had been severe. A dozen dwarves lay motionless, their armor crushed by the Shadow Lord's attack. Several goblins had fallen from their high perches, their small bodies broken on impact. Even a few elves had succumbed, their life force completely drained by their desperate attempts to maintain barriers against the shadows.
As the last of the shadow creatures disappeared into the forest, an eerie quiet fell over the village. The survivors stood in shock, the sudden transition from desperate battle to uncertain victory leaving them disoriented.
The Sun rose..
Civilians and childrens came out to find their Loved ones, lying crushed and cold. Those who survived left with the scars of lifetime.
[Arghhh.....ahhhhhhh][mic...el...][Mom?!][gr₹@%][My Arm!!!][W-water!! please...]
All you can hear is screames and Caos.
Kaal broken and beat-up found himself scanning the battlefield for Veer, finally spotting him atop a partially collapsed wall. The Guardian's glow had dimmed somewhat, but his eyes still burned with blue fire. He was surveying the damage with a grim expression, the weight of leadership heavy on his young shoulders.
Before Kaal could make his way to his friend, exhaustion finally claimed him. His small body, pushed far beyond its limits, simply shut down. His legs buckled, the world tilted, and darkness claimed him.
His last conscious thought was a simple realization: they had survived, but at what cost?
---
Time passed in strange fragments for Kaal. Brief moments of semi-consciousness, voices speaking nearby, the sensation of being moved, cool water against his fur. But mostly darkness, deep and complete.
When he finally awoke fully, the sunlight streaming through an unfamiliar window told him it was midday. He found himself on a small cushion in what appeared to be the Village healer's hut. This place was familiar to him as he already woke up once before few years ago. The smell of herbs and poultices hung heavy in the air.
"Twelve days," a gentle voice said from nearby. Kaal turned to see an elderly goblin woman stirring something in a small pot. "You've been unconscious for twelve days."
"Twelve..." Kaal's voice came out as a croak, his throat dry from disuse. "The village?"
"Still standing," the healer replied, bringing a small bowl of water to him. "Though much has been lost. Drink."
Kaal lapped at the water gratefully, his mind racing with questions. "Veer?"
The healer's expression softened. "The Guardian has been tending to the wounded and helping with rebuilding. Though i can't say about his mental health. He lost the most. you....know!" She shook her head in wonder. "Without him, our losses would have been far greater."
"I need to see him," Kaal said, attempting to stand. His legs trembled with weakness, and he nearly collapsed again.
"Rest," the healer insisted with worried eyes. "There will be time for reunions later."
But Kaal's instincts told him otherwise. Something in the healer's tone, a careful avoidance in her eyes, suggested there was more she wasn't telling him. However, his body betrayed him, and darkness claimed him once more before he could press the issue.
---
By the time Kaal regained enough strength to leave the healer's hut, another five days had passed. The village that greeted him was both familiar and strange—Agnidwar, but wounded, like a fighter bearing the scars of a brutal match.
Reconstruction was well underway. Dwarven craftsmen directed teams of workers repairing the walls. Elven mages were casting new protective enchantments, their spells visibly weaker than before but still effective. Goblins scurried across rooftops, replacing damaged thatch and tiles.
But there was a somber quality to the activity, a quiet that hung over the village like a shroud. Too many faces were missing from the crowd.
Kaal made his way toward the village square, his small form drawing little attention from the busy workers. The Eternal Flame burned in its stone hearth, back to its normal orange-red hue but seemingly smaller than before, as if it too had been depleted by the battle.
"Kaal?" a small voice called out. He turned to see Mira, the young girl who had been one of the few villagers to accept him without fear. "You're awake!"
She rushed to him, dropping to her knees to look him in the eyes. Her face, once carefree, now carried a seriousness that no child should know. "We were worried about you."
"I'm fine," Kaal assured her, though his body still ached with each movement. "Where is Veer? I need to speak with him."
Mira's expression fell. "Oh... you don't know."
"Know what?" A cold dread began to form in Kaal's chest.
"He's been helping everyone. Healing, rebuilding, keeping watch at night." She hesitated. "But he's been different. Quiet. And he's been asking to leave.."
"Leave?! Whe—"
Before Kaal could respond, a commotion near the newly reconstructed main gate caught their attention. A group of travelers had arrived—merchants, by the look of their laden carts.
"The Academy caravan," Mira explained. "They come through once a year on their way back from the northern settlements. Veer's been waiting for them."
Kaal's dread deepened. Without another word to Mira, he set off toward the gate, moving as quickly as his recovering body would allow.
---
The next days passed in a blur of activity. Kaal searched for Veer but always seemed to just miss him—the Guardian was constantly moving, helping where needed, speaking briefly with villagers before moving on to the next task. At night, he disappeared entirely, presumably to rest, though no one seemed to know where.
Kaal learned more from observing and listening. The Academy caravan would be departing in two days, heading back to the central provinces where the Arcane Academy was located. Several of the village youth had applied for admission, though few expected to be accepted. The Academy was known for its strict standards and traditional views on who qualified for higher magical education.
It wasn't until the night before the caravan's departure that Kaal finally accepted the truth he had been avoiding: Veer was planning to leave with them.
The realization struck him as he lay on his cushion in the small storage room he had been assigned as quarters. Despite his exhaustion, sleep refused to come. With a sigh, he rose and made his way outside, hoping some fresh air might clear his mind.
The night was clear, stars shining brightly overhead. Kaal wandered toward the village square, drawn almost unconsciously to the Eternal Flame. As he approached, he noticed a figure sitting beside the flame—tall, white-haired, unmistakable.
Veer looked up as Kaal approached, his amber eyes—no longer glowing blue—reflecting the firelight. "I wondered when you'd come find me," he said softly.
"You've been avoiding me," Kaal replied, moving to sit beside his friend.
"Not avoiding. Just..." Veer sighed. "Preparing."
They sat in silence for a long moment, watching the flames dance in the stone hearth.
"You're leaving," Kaal finally said. It wasn't a question.
Veer nodded. "With the caravan tomorrow. I've arranged passage."
"The Academy?"
"Yes." Veer's gaze remained fixed on the flame. "What happened during the battle... the power that flowed through me... I need to understand it. Control it. The Academy is the only place where I might find answers."
"And what about Agnidwar? Your duties as Guardian?"
"Baba will assume temporary guardianship of the flame. He was Guardian before my father." Veer finally turned to look at Kaal directly. "It won't be forever. Just long enough to learn what I need to know."
Kaal wanted to argue, to point out all the reasons why this plan was flawed, why the village still needed Veer, why *he* still needed Veer. But the words died in his throat as he saw the determination in his friend's eyes. This decision hadn't been made lightly.
"When will you tell everyone else?" Kaal asked instead.
"I won't," Veer replied quietly. "It's better this way. No lengthy goodbyes, no opportunities for them to try to convince me to stay." He reached into his pocket and withdrew a folded piece of parchment. "This explains everything. I was going to leave it for everyone."
Kaal stared at the letter but made no move to take it. "So you were just going to disappear? After everything we've been through?"
"It's not like that," Veer insisted. "This isn't about abandoning anyone. It's about becoming what I need to be to protect everyone properly." He hesitated. "And..."
"And?"
"And I think you'll be fine without me." Veer's voice softened. "You're stronger than you realize, Kaal. This village is going to need that strength in the days ahead."
Kaal wanted to protest, to tell Veer how wrong he was. But deep down, he understood. The battle had changed something fundamental in both of them. Their paths, once so closely aligned, were now diverging.
They talked through the night, reminiscing about their adventures, speculating about the future. As dawn approached, Veer stood and placed the letter in Kaal's paw.
"Promise me you won't open this until tomorrow," he said.
Kaal nodded, unable to trust his voice.
Veer knelt down, placing a hand on Kaal's small, furry head. "You'll be fine without me, little one," he whispered, echoing his words from earlier. Then he stood and walked away, never looking back.
Kaal watched him go, the letter clutched tightly in his paw, dawn's first light painting the sky in shades of pink and gold.
---
*Five Years Later*
Kaal stood on the hill overlooking Agnidwar, watching as the village came alive with morning activity. Five years had changed much. The walls, once broken by the Shadow Lord's assault, now stood taller and stronger than before. New dwellings had sprung up to replace those lost, and the population had grown as survivors from smaller settlements sought the protection offered by the village with the Eternal Flame.
Five years since he had opened Veer's letter and cried for the first time in this life. Five years of waiting, hoping for news, for some sign that his friend remembered him.
It had not been easy. The villagers had initially resisted the idea of a small black furball monster taking on responsibilities once held by their beloved Guardian. But Kaal had persisted, proving his worth through actions rather than words. He had helped organize new defenses, trained younger villagers in combat tactics, even learned to channel a small amount of the Eternal Flame's energy to help with healing.
And then, last night, everything had changed again.
The pain had been indescribable—every bone breaking and reforming, his fur receding as skin took its place, his entire body stretching and growing in ways that should have been impossible. The transformation had taken hours, leaving him gasping on the floor of his small hut, disoriented and confused.
When he had finally managed to stand and look at his reflection in a bucket of water, a stranger had stared back at him. A human form, tall and lean, with features reminiscent of Veer but distinctively different. Where Veer's hair had been white, his was black as night. And his eyes—those at least remained the same: crimson red, glowing slightly in the dim light.
He had no explanation for the transformation. Nothing in Veer's letter had mentioned this possibility. Yet somehow, Kaal knew it was connected to the Guardian, to the Eternal Flame, to some aspect of his reincarnation that was only now manifesting.
Now, standing on the hillside in his new form, dressed in clothes borrowed from the village stores, Kaal made his decision. Agnidwar was stable, its defenses strong, its people resilient. They could manage without him, at least for a time.
Turning away from the village, he looked eastward, toward the distant mountains where the Arcane Academy stood. Somewhere there, perhaps, he would find Veer. Somewhere there, he might find answers about his transformation, about his purpose in this strange second life.
With a final glance back at the village that had become his home, Kaal set out on the road eastward, a new determination burning in his crimson eyes.
Forest and winds swinging as if saying goodbye, animals of forest came to see him off for his new journey
The adventure, it seemed, was just beginning.
Arc 1: The Prologue
has ended.