Chapter 1: Signs of chaos
Pushing his thick spectacles up to the bridge of his nose, Lux scanned the ancient scroll, murmuring to himself under his breath as he read over Bastian Bluemonger’s journal entry for the thousandth time. He was sure he was missing something – that there was some hidden meaning within the text…
With a huff of exasperation he slammed his quill down on the desk, startling Lunor, who gave a squawk and flapped up into the rafters, from where he cawed indignantly at the wizard. Lux shrugged apologetically up at the crow, then turned from the scroll to a heavy, brass-bound book. Embossed on the leather cover in thick golden lettering were the words Kronikells of the Sevin Relms.
Lux grunted as he heaved the book open; the front half slammed down onto the desk in an explosion of dust. Lux spluttered, wafting the dust away from his face, and stared at the artist’s illustration of the Character #1. The beast of legend had a form that defied belief: a mighty lion’s body sprouting a goat’s head from between its shoulder blades, dragon wings, and a scaly tail ending in a dragon’s fire-breathing head. In the painting, this bizarre yet terrifying creature reared up above a rainbow-banded figure, its leathery wings spread wide in defiance. Wizard #777 held his golden key aloft, pointing directly up at the maw of the beast. From the key flowed an Infinity Rune that wound its way around the Chimera’s body. The Ancient Sphinx was going for the jugular of the dragon, as the Chimera’s tail recoiled.
The scholar traced his finger along the text as he read. ...and so with the helpe o’ the aynshint sphinxx, Saykrid KeeMahster hath bannished the Kymeera, herling backe the deemon unto the Sevinth Relm from whense it cayme. He hath entwyned the beeste within his Roon o' Infinit Vytalitee – bownd and subdjugayted to the wille o’ the KeeMahster. And within thayre unmadgikal homes and hummdrumme townes, the Roodimentuls doth sleep eezee, and doth duck and kower no more, for the beeste hath been vankwished. Yet sleep yee not too well, for the returne o’ the Kymeera will heralde a tyme o’ grayte destrukshin and terribill sorrow, and agayne the Gaytekeeper shall be kawlled upon as sheeld and protektor o’ this mortill worlde…
Lux tapped a forefinger thoughtfully against his pursed lips, turning back to the scroll. Could this be the scourge threatened in the prophecy? The Chimera's return? He scanned the text once more and pieces suddenly began to fall into place.
Of course! Red stars descending the mountain slopes… A fiery mane… How could I have missed it!
There had been whispers of stirring discontent at the Temple of the Falling Stars. The prophecy seemed to point to impending bloodshed tied to the Chimera’s return. The old scholar grabbed a sheet of parchment to write a warning to his old friend Isaac, the head cleric at the Temple. He touched quill to parchment, but was startled as Lunor swooped past him with an alarmed caw. Lux grumbled over the stained parchment, shoved back his chair and moved over to join the crow at the window to see what had so ruffled his familiar's feathers.
Looking out over the landscape, the wizened scholar sputtered, white knuckles gripping the stone sill.
The scoundrel dares show his face here again?
Well… face was perhaps a bit generous. The smooth, naked skull of the Pyromancer was certainly eye-catching, even when not surrounded by a halo of flames. The wizard was making his way through the lower passes. It appeared he came alone, save for his amphibious familiar. “Theodus never was very good at making friends,” muttered Lux, glowering fiercely out of the window, as though he could vanquish the Pyromancer by sheer force of will. Alas, his powers did not extend to compulsion. His talents lay elsewhere. Which was probably why Theodus was crawling back here after all these years.
Well, after all he had done, the Pyromancer better have a good reason for returning. Nevertheless, Lux resolved to show his former apprentice how to be the bigger man. He absent-mindedly withdrew his Isaac’s Apple from his pocket and polished it on his green cloak, enjoying the sensation of the stored knowledge vibrating on the surface of his palm as he turned away from the window.
Lunor eyed the approaching figure with the detached disdain typical of his kind. The crow swivelled his head to watch Lux disappear down the spiral staircase, hopped out of the tower’s window and spread his wings, flapping towards the ground far below to find a good spot from which to watch the wizards’ reunion.
Chapter 2: An uneasy peace
“Forget that, Lux!” spat the Pyromancer. “This threat transcends worldly quarrels!”
Lux arched an eyebrow. “Even though you are no longer my apprentice, you will still address me as Scrollmaster Lux.” Despite his promise to himself, Lux had not been able to resist this jibe at his former pupil. Now, he stood arms folded in front of the entrance to the tower, where the heavy wooden door stood ajar allowing light to filter into the dark recesses beyond the threshold. Lux watched the younger wizard silently from under bushy white eyebrows, allowing him to carry on. “The Runiverse needs your knowledge; even I would not dare to deny that you are the greatest scholar of our age. Once we are done, we can see our dispute through to its conclusion, if that is what you wish. But let us not argue over spilled potion while it burns through our floorboards! Strooth and runes old man, if I am right, the Sacred Flames are transforming wizards into agents of the Void!”
Lux let him come to the end of his tirade, then cleared his throat. “You make a compelling argument, Theodus. As it happens, my research has touched upon this subject. Come, join me in my study. We have a long night ahead of us.”
Stepping aside, Lux motioned for him to enter the rookery tower. The Pyromancer hesitated, then strode purposefully forward. He stopped abreast of the older man, however, and muttered darkly, “You are correct, I am no longer your apprentice; the man Theodus is no more. My name is Pyromancer Burnside of the Wood. Call me by my name, and I will do the same, Scrollmaster Lux.” Lux inclined his head in a slightly exaggerated parody of deference, then followed Burnside as he stalked up the spiralling stone staircase of the tower. Chapter 3: Picking up the scent
Lux looked up as Burnside called over to him, waving a piece of parchment excitedly in the air. They had been studying all manner of written sources for the best part of a week now, uncovering slivers of information here and there, but this time his former pupil seemed to be onto something big. Lux stretched his spine, hearing the bones clicking as they realigned, then shuffled over to the desk where Burnside had several different letters and reports laid out in front of him.
“Look, there’s a Necromancer using the energy flux in the Quantum Shadow to turn forces in his favour. I have not been able to corroborate all my sources with certitude, but it seems that this Voidoth is a former student at Bluemonger’s Academy of Science and Wizardry, under the tutelage of Scryer Apollo of the Villa. It is written in these reports from the academic archives that he was a troublesome student who harboured grand designs, dreaming of becoming the youngest wizard to ascend to the Council.
“You see? I was correct after all! The idea that the Sacred Flames automatically grant great powers is a myth.” Burnside paused as he rifled through some papers, pulling out a well-creased map and spreading it over the other papers. “Look here, there is a Secret Tower somewhere inland from The Salt, between here and the Weird House, bordered on all sides by unscalable peaks and sheer cliff faces. This is where wizards have been using the Flames… According to the writings of a Shaman Celah, Voidoth is manipulating wizards to seek power in the Flames, but he knows that it is far more likely that a Flame will harvest the soul of its victim. The Shaman believes Voidoth has ideas of revenge against the Bastion… Scrollmaster, he is using the Sacred Flames to accumulate an army of transmuted souls in the Void!”
Lux nodded thoughtfully for a moment before replying. “I have not heard of this Shaman Celah, but I do know someone who might be able to track him down. They should be able to help us if I am able to contact them. Necromancer Zeromus of Elysium has an intimate relationship with the Void, but they are not enamoured by other wizards and they have always proved elusive in the past. Come, there is not a moment to waste. The Elysian Sages may give us a clue of where to start looking for Zeromus.”
Story Arc Index:
Prologue: Soul #7186
Part 1: Wizard #314
Part 2: Wizard #2398
Part 3: Wizard #134
Part 4: Wizard #3920
Part 5: Wizard #7935
Epilogue: Wizard #291
Entered by: 0x24D7…e52b and preserved on chain (see transaction)
