Severely injured by his encounter with the rain, the disorientated Raziel crawled into a shadowy, dank cavern: one he was relieved he’d stumbled into by accident. No longer able to hold himself up even inches from the ground, he collapsed. His trusty scythe clattered somewhere out of reach. He could recover faster with a much-needed supply of fresh blood but there was no one there to give him a drop of it. With great effort, he rolled to his back, his chest heaving from laboured breathing. The cave walls whirled around him as his blurred vision faded to black.
Raziel sat up in alarm. Unsure how long he had been out for, he glanced at the mouth of the cave to find that the storm still raged on. Although relieved, he was baffled by how quickly he had recovered. His eyes darting around the cavern in search for his weapon widened in surprise to see it carefully laid out beside him. Mystified, he picked it up and dusted himself clean.
Unable to venture beyond the cave’s protection, Raziel began exploring the inner rooms of the cavern. To his surprise, the cave was not of nature’s making. It had been carved out, he discovered as he followed its long straight hall to a large set of double doors. He tried pushing against them, but they wouldn’t budge. Looking around, he discovered a leaver. As he gave it a labored tug, two enormous blocks tumbled down from above, almost crushing him. He leaped out of the way just in time. As the dust settled and the thunderous echoes disbanded, the two blocks stood on either side of him. There were illustrations on each of them, matching the carvings on the walls each side of the door. I wonder… Raziel thrust his claws into one of the blocks and with great difficulty, started pulling it towards the matching carvings on the wall. He then pushed it against the wall, not knowing the outcome. The block slotted perfectly into a hole as the wall moved back. He heard a click like an unlocking door and so he did the same for the other block. CLICK. Silence. There was nothing! Frustrated he strode towards the double doors about to give it a forceful kick. But he stopped as an azure glow began to emanate from the middle of the double doors. It was in the shape of a vampiric hand he noted. Entranced by its resonating light, he placed his right palm over it. He flinched as he heard another click. Suddenly the whole cavern trembled. Deafening echoes filled the claustrophobic air as a staircase began to unfold in front him. As the last tread unfolded far above, Raziel set foot on the first, eager to see what lay beyond them. Whilst he ascended up the stairs, mirrored carvings on either side caught his attention. Though the carvings on the wall lacked greatly in detail, I was able to decipher that it told of the establishment of this now derelict place…
…The first carving declared that a great alliance was forged between two races, one gifted with flight and the other with mystic energies. It was because of this alliance that they built Ishcar’s foundation. It would explain why this castle ended up at such great heights yet still flourished.
…The second showed that offspring were born as a result of unions between the two races. These offspring it seemed, were endowed with varying gifts from their parents. Most were gifted with both flight and mystic energies combined, some were with one or the other, whilst the unfortunate few were with none at all.
…In the third carving however, the history of peace and harmony took a dark turn. For a third race also gifted with flight became at war with another winged race. It was because of this war that the offspring gifted with both flight and mystic energies raised the pillars. Raziel draws back as the realization hits him: The history of this place is older than that of the pillars themselves!
As he neared the top of the staircase, Raziel observed the last carving with apprehension, unsure whether he could contain what forbidden knowledge it may divulge…the last carving told that upon the raising of the pillars, both races gifted with flight fell. One imprisoned in the nether realms, the other inflicted with an unknown ailment that brought death upon them. The race of the mystics and the rest of their offspring were somehow able to escape the fate that over took the winged races. They continued to live on, the ungifted offspring eventually outnumbering the mystics by millions. Then…he shook his head at the tragedy…treachery destroyed them from within…
CHAPTER III
Family Ties
Crossing the threshold beyond the stairs Raziel was confronted by yet another imagery: A woman dancing under the eerie glow of a skillfully crafted stained-glass window. Above her towers two larger statues that hold a window, detailed with animals, plants and trees in place. One, a female with wings, her hands and feet like that of Raziel’s, the other, a man – their faces veiled in darkness. Captivated by her smile, Raziel wanders in for a closer look. I felt as if I was gliding on air as I caught a glimpse of her face. Unaware of the absurdity of his actions, he positions himself as her dance partner and gracefully waltzes the statue in a circle. At that moment, all coherent thoughts left me as I stood before this wingless angel. Together we danced, two lifeless beings, one inert, and the other undead. Having finished the dance, he bows and notices an inscription on the floor at the foot of the statue. The turning of the statue revealed it:
Love uttered yet unspoken.
End the curse given in spite;
Ice shall shatter and furies ignite.
A quest to which the end is nearing,
Herein receive a love endearing.”
Their loyal subjects must have built this memorial at a later time for their writings were not archaic. He traced a claw around the letters that began the sentences of each line. But what does this inscription entail? As he pondered, the letters he had traced began glowing, once again in azure light. “Aleiah…” He read, his voice just above a whisper. Blinding light suddenly filled the room. Raziel threw his arms up to shield himself. He stumbled backwards but recovering quickly he took up his scythe to fight. To his shock the room had been altered. The enchanting sculpture that stood before him was gone and so were the two colossal ones. In their stead was a large balcony, it’s alcove as high as the window that once covered it. Deadly rays of the twilight sun poured through it and the surrounding archways. He leaped behind a column of shadows to avoid the lethal light. What just happened? He asked himself as he apprehensively surveyed his surroundings. Then, there, seated behind a desk near a large fireplace was a winged being. His great white wings spread slightly to accommodate his seating posture. Patches of his blue skin showed through what looked like a ceremonial robe. Around his neck was a golden auroboros. His right palm placed over his forehead supported his stern countenance while his left wrote feverishly over scrolls with a quill. “…He will come when the moon is full…and learn to call death from the sky…” he muttered. The lightning spell! Raziel gasped. Remembering the stories that his master had shared. Though the master was now far too strong to even bother with such a spell, I was not and such knowledge was too invaluable for me to simply let slip by. Raziel cautiously approached to see what else the striking creature is writing. He stealthily climbs up the wall, using the decorative figures carved on them for footing and handles. Much to my disappointment, however, the writings were archaic. I could not decipher them. Just as he glides back down to the ground, the double doors to the front left of the creature burst open. He ducks just in time to avoid being seen. “Nilathalk, you must hurry – ” the visitor’s voice was hushed and urgent “– they’re coming!” “It’s alright.” Nilathalk said rising to his feet. His voice was surprisingly calm. “I knew this day would come.” Raziel rolled out of the way to avoid touching Nilathalk’s wings and with his back pressed hard against the side of the fireplace, he silently slid to his feet and proceeded to listen in. “All of what you need is in here.” Rolling up the scrolls, Nilathalk took the auroboros from his neck, and handed them to his dark winged visitor. “Take care of yourself little brother.” He said embracing him. “No matter what, you must hold on and wait for the prophecies’ fulfillment.” His companion slipped out of sight as the doors burst open once again. But this time, his visitors weren’t so forthcoming; they were accompanied by others bearing weapons. They stood in attention beside the doors, their dark wings touching tip to tip to form an archway as the rest of the group proceeded inside. Then as the last of the group in robes entered, their weapons thud to the ground and their wings fold in unison. “Nilathalk Audron,” the scroll bearer read, “you are hereby charged with treason against our kind.” The white winged ancient relented without a fight and stepped into the energy ball that was conjured up for him. “You will be detained until the council decides your fate.” the scroll bearer added “– I am sorry, Nilathalk. There was nothing I could do.” As they took him away, Nilathalk turned to catch Raziel’s gaze. Their eyes lock for a brief moment that seemed uncomfortably long for Raziel. There was something in Nilathalk’s crystal clear eyes that chilled him. Of all the eyes that were upon him in this room, it seemed he searched out mine! What did this creature know of me that I did not? Though I questioned it, I feared the answer…
