Kaleb Ferndale had never run so fast in his life, which meant he was falling behind Emma and David as they sprinted in front of him. He didn’t have as much experience fleeing for his life as they had. They heard the explosion of magic and metal from the archway they bolted out of, the hairs on the back of their neck tingling as they now sensed a group of mages downstairs giving chase. “At least we know none of them are Sorcerers” David cried optimistically, his keen sense abl

Night fell over the capitol following the High-King’s departure. Everyone retired for the night with mixed emotions. Some were hopeful, others were downcast, each wondering how the absence of the High-King would once more impact the Realm, for good or for ill?

The next morning was full of anticipation for everyone. Nasir had pinpointed the approximate location of the third relic deep in the Unknown Region, as close an approximation as he could get without a reliable map of the area. Valerius had everyone make preparations for immediate departure, planning to leave before sunset. He told him Royal Guard to make the necessary preparations, acknowledging their numbers would be limited as many remained injured. “We’ll follow you my Kin

Emma was speechless at her father’s proposition. She stood frozen in shock against the balcony as he waited for an uncomfortable moment. “Well princess? Say something.”

The Captain of the Royal Guard could always be found at the training arena in the Barracks. She was a fierce warrior and kept herself in peak physical condition. What made her formidable was she never trained with a wand, she preferred to use her sword and shield. Physical weapons were always an option for enchanters when they joined the Guard, but most always dismissed them believing their wands were all they needed. Hanson himself was just as brash when he joined the order.

Valerius wasn’t surprised when Emma started asking all sorts of questions about his adventure. She wanted to know everything. She always was such a curious girl, took it from her mother. He did his best to answer many of her questions while they walked to his office, describing the jungles of the Forsaken Isle and the Temple in as much detail as he could recall. Her eyes lit up as he described them, a childlike wonder he almost forgot was possible. Recounting his adventure fe

The bells chimed in response to the sound of horns echoing over the hills, the sentries bringing the instruments to their lips warning of the imminent arrival. Men and women across the capitol lifted their heads to the ruckus as the Guard mobilised, clearing the streets in preparation. Nobody had expected this today. There had been no warning, no advance notice. The first sentry to be alerted got word from a runner who raced down the road to hail their approach. Word travelle

The two of them slip deeper into the Citadel together, keeping out of sight of the guard like naughty teenagers until they reach one of the deepest areas of the building. “Nobody will think to find us down here” she told her boyfriend, leading him by the hand down some steps into a stone crypt.

The young teenager sat cross legged in the dirt behind the shed, her gaze focused intently on the pebble in front of her as she scrunched up her face. “Don’t try and force it, just breath and concentrate on feeling the air around you” Shade advised, kneeling opposite her watching her face turn red from exertion. She stared at the tiny peddle in front of her until it wobbled before finally exhaling and kicking at the dirt in frustration. “Well, that’s one way to move it” Shade

A common misconception about America following the Event six years ago is that it devolved into absolute chaos. It was true, the government broke down and states were fractured by gangs and cults and outlaws who turned the country back into the Wild West with Mutants, but that’s not to say no law and order emerged. The UK could claim they established a network of communities rather quickly because they didn’t have as much land to cover as the US did, which meant it took the m

The council dissipated out of the chamber and separated to resume their day, everyone weaving through the tall halls of the Citadel mingling with the hundreds of other residents racing back and forth. It was funny, from here you’d never know the Realm was at war. But the undercurrent of tension was still felt even as they kept their heads down and focused on their destination.

The Oracle’s tower loomed over a private corner of the Citadel in a prime position to oversee every inch of the capitol. And the isolated occupant residing within could see much further. The Oracle had been a resident here for many years now, convincing the High-King of the time that her presence would ensure the survival of their kingdom. Nobody could prove whether her claim was true or false, but nobody was brave enough to argue with a being older and more powerful than any

The council chamber was constructed by some of the finest architects from across the realm to be the greatest auditorium, to seat several hundred people whose voices could be heard from even the slightest whisper. As a result, when the hundreds of councilmen argued, the noise was deafening. And unfortunately the council liked to argue more and more since this war broke out.

There was a flash of light as another crack of lightning shot across the window to the transport, illuminating the interior like a photo negative. The metal rang and creaked as the torrent of rain and hail pounded the exterior like a battering ram, practically deafening the occupants inside. The dozen or so men and women sat huddled together in the tight space, waiting nervously for the dull red light hovering over their heads to turn from red to green. Nobody said or did any

The walk was rather short, but Emma still took her time. Her pace was slow and heavy, pushed down by the weight of all the memories she had jumbling inside her mind. She hated walking this way, it reminded her of everything she’d lost last year. She kept seeing their faces as she brushed her fingers along the smooth walls, her footsteps echoing across the paved floor. Each sound holstered another she'd rather forget, creeping over her shoulder to whisper in her ear. Taunting

The horses raced across the dirt roads furiously, pulling the carriage behind them with the strength of a bull, but Hanson wasn’t in it. He was a few miles in front on a steed of his own, making short time back to the capital. He left the moment the outpost was secured, leaving Jennings behind to take care of his men. The carriage was set off to carry the remains of the Sorcerer, in case there was anything else lurking to surprise them. There had been cases where a handful of

He always did appreciate these quieter moments where he could sit back and gather his thoughts. So much has happened in the last few months, to him and to some of his most trusted allies and, more importantly, to the men under his command. This war has taken its toll in more ways than one. How much has he lost? How much has serving in the Realm’s Guard forced him to sacrifice?

Thirty Years Ago