Isles of Scion

A slow metamorphosis formed on the beach as the water swayed up and down the sand. An old man squished he toes in the sand as it filled with water, chuckling as it solidified about his feet. The moon loomed overhead beaming down from the cloudless sky. A being completely concealed in dark leather and a full hooded robe approached from the darkness; the trespasser spoke softly.

“It was quite difficult to find you.” The old man looked over his shoulder up to the trespasser. “I’m on vacation you know. Couldn’t you of waited a few weeks?” The cloaked one approached and sat down beside him. The old man let out a deep sigh. “So how can I help you?”

A shimmer of light bounced out of the cloaked one’s open hand; a pair of dice lied motionless. “I would like to play a little game of chance with you.” The old man’s brows peaked. “Chance you say?” He looked over at the cloaked one. “What are you willing to bet.” The cloaked one smiled and clenched the dice. “Well it’s quite simple. I have a few things I’d like to do. But I have one thing stopping me.”

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“So this is it?” Prontera was not a very impressive sight to Athena. She was a world renowned hunter that had collected everything from ancient treasures to escaped criminals. But today she had a very special treasure on her list today. The Amulet of Scion, it is said that this otherwise boorish looking heirloom can harness the powers of Scion himself. The castle of Prontera was an odd place for such a powerful item to be held, considering the recent fall in regional power from the grave sickness that has stricken their king. However this sort of information was relatively unimportant to Athena, her target lie within the walls of the castle, and she would be taking it home with her before the night was over.

As she entered the city she was surprised by the silence that loomed in the streets. A thick fog was flowing in from the alleyways and consuming the streets, within minutes of her arrival she could barely see in front of her face. The moonlight reflected in beams off of the mist, dancing on the floor and walls like insects. The mumbling of the homeless occasionally broke the silence. “Someone is out there.” Another voice whispered back. “She must be crazy.” Athena marched to the bridge that crossed to the castle. “Cute” She remarked as she gazed over the side of the bridge. “A Moat?€?how quant.”

“It’s odd that they would have nobody guarding the entrance. The king is deathly ill, and nobody is guarding an easy kill. “Oh well.” She grasped onto her Golden Dagger. “I guess I shouldn’t complain about a good thing.” Athena edged into the king’s throne room and walked up to the vast open room that was devoid of life. A long red carpet lead up to a huge expanse, above the expanse a glorious chandelier hung, a tight circle of candles poking from the top of it. At the opposite side of the room was the throne, beside it a tiny glass case; Athena’s target lying within it. “Bingo.”

“You are just in time Athena.” A voice called out from nowhere, then almost as mysteriously a man walked out from behind the chair. Athena looked at the figure boggled, none of the photos she was shown of the castle staff and family resembled this figure. “So you are?” She walked forward slowly, inching towards the case. “You want the Amulet don’t you?” The mysterious figure raised his hand and held it over the top of the case “It’s Quite an alluring little item.” Athena stopped and looked at the man. “Alright. What are we going to do here. You obviously know a little too much about me and I have things I’d like to get done.”

The man clenched his hand and then lifted, the Amulet lifted by its long silver chain without halt or notice of the glass case, merely passing through it as if it were water. The amulet came to pause in midair; as it did the glass rippled back into motionlessness. Athena’s mouth returned to a closed position from the thoroughly dropped jaw she had just experienced. “Alright. So you are a magician. What do I need to do to get that wonderful little trinket in my hand?” Athena eyed the Amulet. “Oh my. That’s quite an open ended question.” The mysterious figure chuckled. “I think. Since you’ve offered your services that I’ll have you do me a big favor.” Athena placed her lucky dagger back into its sheath. “This favor is?” The figure sat down and unclasped the Amulet. “Oh you’ll see very soon.” A brilliant flash of light burst from the Amulet as he clasped it to his neck. It poured out through the castle bleaching every single flutter of color. The light poured out across the city and turned night into day.

Athena could no longer see, her world flipped from a brilliant white to complete darkness; as it did her body became completely weightless, it was if she had been put into a world of opposites. Day had turned to night, light had turned to dark, and maybe?€?just maybe?€?life had turned to death. Her words trailed off into nothingness “Is this i~?€?”

~~**~~