• WARNING!!! THIS WORK HAS SOME VIOLENT CONTENT! IF YOU DO NOT LIKE VIOLENCE OR ARE VERY SENSITIVE, GO ON TO THE NEXT ENTRY NOW!!!

    Chapter 1: Prelude to Twilight
    "Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player
    That struts and frets its hour upon the stage,
    And then is heard no more."
    -Macbeth, Act 5, sc. v, lines 16-27


    Wínburg was once a lovely, peaceful village surrounded by a green countryside. Although its residents were not the most wealthy, they were content to live the enriching simple life with their families and neighbors. Unbeknownst to its denizens, the way of life as they knew it would forever be altered drastically.

    It all began with a prophecy foretold by the Council of Elders. Mina Bennett and her grandfather, Aldous, stood in the crowd that afternoon to hear what was predicted. The five elders sat in chairs on a wooden platform that overlooked the townspeople. The most ancient of the elders stood from his seat and the crowd immediately ceased all chatter. He was a short, stooped over old man with wrinkles and a scraggly beard. His eyes reminded Mina of a kind old uncle. Despite his meek appearance, the Chief Elder spoke with a booming voice.

    "Dear comrades, last night my fellow elders and I had a terrible vision—a vision predicting the destruction of our village!"

    Gasps and whispers voiced the fears of the crowd. A tall, bony hag, stood up from her seat. "Silence! Let the Chief Elder finish!" she hissed, and the townspeople immediately heeded the irritated elder.

    The Chief Elder began again. "A black cloud was seen overshadowing our village, and out of those clouds came knights clad in black. They brought fiery rain down upon our homes and slew all that stood in their way." He paused, letting his eyes drift over to Mina and Aldous. "But, there is hope. Aldous the Great! The council implores you and your granddaughter to go to Thorntyne Castle and plead our case to His Majesty, King Bryon. Wielders of the ancient arts, I am told, are his preferred counsels."

    Aldous bowed to the council leader. "Of course, Chief Elder," said he. "My granddaughter and I would be honored to do our part to avoid such a tragedy."

    "A fine answer," quipped the youngest of the five. His choppy hair bobbed as he nodded with approval.

    "Tomorrow at dawn, you are to leave for the castle. According to our vision, the black knights should not arrive until after ten moons pass."

    Tossing and turning, Mina could not sleep. Excitement bubbled up inside her at the exciting prospect of seeing the kingdom's capital for the first time. So many new sights and experiences awaited her, and all that stood between Mina and Thorntyne City was the far-off tomorrow's sunrise. "Why can't tomorrow hurry up and get here?" she silently whined. She looked over to her grandfather, who was fast asleep in his own bed. His chest rose and fell with each slumbering breath. "We are the defenders of this village. Business comes before pleasure," she could imagine him saying.

    An odd odor prodded her nostrils. Curious, Mina peeked out her window and met an alarming sight: the village was on fire! She frantically shook her grandfather awake. "Grandfather! Grandfather!" cried she, panic-stricken.

    Aldous awakened with a jolt. "What's wrong? Why do you shake me so?"

    "The village is burning!"

    His eyes were the size of grapefruits. Quickly, he leaped out of bed and put on his robe. "Mina, stay here! I'll handle this!" he ordered, and rushed out the door with sorcerer staff in hand.

    "Humph," said Mina with a huff. "Despite all my years of training, he's never let me do anything he deemed dangerous! Does he still think of me as a child?" She eyed her training staff in the corner. It leaned against the wall, seeming to beckon her to action. With a confident smile, she decided aloud, "Perhaps I should show him that I am worthy enough to be a full-fledged mage, no longer an apprentice!" She snatched up her own magic staff and ran outside.

    The scene before her was more horrible than she could have imagined. Numerous buildings were on fire, bodies lay in the streets, and screams could be heard coming from every direction. In all her fifteen years of existence, Mina had never seen an image more horrifying. She clutched her weapon tightly as she slowly made her way through what remained of her beloved village, searching for her grandfather.

    In the distance, Mina saw a cloaked figure who she believed to be her dear grandfather. She called out to him joyously, but that happiness became fear when the mystery man turned at her beckoning. He was a young blond-haired man clad in black armor. Immediately, the circumstances of the elders' prediction came flooding back to her. "It wasn't ten days from now," she realized. "The prophecy was ten days late!" A shadowy presence loomed over her from behind. Quickly, Mina spun around and came face to face with another dark-armored knight. As she stood in muted terror, the fiend lifted his axe high above his head and swung the edge down on her.

    A flash of silver glinted past the two. Without warning, the burly foe dropped his weapon. He collapsed, causing a slight tremor as he hit the ground. Mina continued to stand there, utterly astonished.

    You should be more careful, Bennett," said a chiding voice behind her. "I don't reckon these knights treat a lady too kindly."

    She spun around and retorted hotly, "I don't need a lowly thief like you to tell me that, Charon!"

    The mocking laughter of Charon Foreman brought her temper to a boil. "I'll take that as a 'Thank you,'" said he, wiping the blood from his knife. Charon approached his fallen victim and checked for any sign of life. Seeing no reason for overkill, he began to move away when he saw a peculiar insignia on the dead knight's shoulder guard. Unlike the rest of the armor, this piece had an etching in red which Charon guessed was a lunar eclipse. In the center of the symbol was what appeared to be a jet black stone. His eyes widening, the youth immediately drew back in alarm. "We have to get out of here," he said to his comrade. "Now!"