THE ELDERIEN CHRONICLES: Aftermath Of Darkness

The Attack

Alastair stirred intently at the cube as he tried to figure out what it was exactly. He had been there in that same position for over Seven hours, and he was not getting anything. Alastair was gradually getting frustrated by the lack of knowledge, and for a day that seemed to begin so well, he was not having it easy.

"For god's sake!"

He cursed as he felt a sharp headache. He had even forgotten to eat due to the stress. He knew he needed to figure out the answers to the questions. If he had any hope of thwarting Corvius and his plans, it had to begin from the cube.

But, how could the cube serve as a gateway, and how was Corvius absorbing them? It was his first time hearing of such a skill. He felt so weak at that moment.

Alastair took a deep breath. Perhaps he was overthinking again. He slowly stretched out his hand towards the cube and as the white light from his hand shone on the cube, he tried to feel for any other forms of energy which he could capitalize on. But nothing came.

"Come on. Open, glow, do whatever it is you do, and let me see!" He said but the cube continued to thrum. A frustrated Alastair groaned and stopped. He hit the table and groaned again.

"It will not work that way." Someone said to him and Alastair turned. It was Drax. He slowly approached Alastair and kept his distance from the high mage.

"How so?" Alastair asked him

"I just know. As I said earlier, we did not really understand how it works in Venjar. We only guessed and when it seemed to have an affinity for me, they told me to take it and run." Drax stated.

"An affinity for you? I don't understand." Alastair said.

Drax stretched out his hand towards the cube and the cube suddenly flew towards him. He caught it and looked Alastair in the eye.

"It seems like it recognizes what is within me. That way, I can almost communicate with it like it's an actual person." Drax added.

"What is within you?" Alastair asked.

"A dragon. At least, his spirit. The soul of a dragon is present within me. It is the source of my magic. It's how I can communicate with the cube. But when it mattered, all I could do was run. I could not even save my mother. I felt worthless." Drax stated and bowed his head in shame.

"I understand how you feel. It is never easy to lose people. But you did not let them down. You fulfilled your purpose. You brought the cube to me, as instructed by your mother. Speaking of which, why did she ask you to bring the cube to me? I have no contacts in Venjar." Alastair said to Drax.

"Well, my mother wasn't always a resident in Venjar. She once lived in Elderien, even before I was born. This is where she met my biological father. She told me nothing about him other than the fact that he was a very important man at the time.

Maybe she heard of you while she was here. She did state that you are arguably the most powerful mage in the world. You are a dragon lord. That is unusual." Drax added and Alastair felt his chest tighten.

He took a closer look at the boy and he could see the resemblance even more. But it wasn't possible. She told him she aborted it. Did she keep the baby? Did she live in silence all this while? 

"But you are a dragon lord. The cube is supposed to detect your status and obey you as well. Why isn't it?" Drax was pulled into confusion. 

Alastair just watched him and the truth was getting even clearer. He was his son. He just knew it. But how did he get a dragon's soul inside him?

"How did you get a dragon's soul inside you?" Alastair asked but as Drax was about to answer, the door to the study opened.

Three mages walked inside, with the one in front holding a large box in his hand.

It was Reynold, the one who had sparred with Cara. 

"High mage, we have the sun sphere," Reynold said and settled the box on the table. He shot a quick glance at Drax who stepped back.

"Good. Open the box." Alastair commanded and stood up. Reynold opened the box and revealed a molten red sphere whose heat immediately began to spread across the room. Drax was amazed by what he saw.

"This might be our final defense against the northerners. We must be ready. Reynold."

Alastair said and Reynold bowed. He then closed his eyes and began to draw a rune with his hand. As soon as he was done, several other copies of the sun sphere were made. 

Alastair stretched his hand towards the copies and invoked a spell which heated them all up as well. Soon, the room was getting uncomfortably hot. Alastair quickly boxed the other spheres.

"Take these to other villages and provinces within Elderien. Be quick. You know what to do." Alastair commanded and Reynold left with the replicas.

"I need to be alone," Alastair said to Drax who nodded and walked away from the room as Alastair stared at the sun sphere.

As soon as Drax closed the door, he took a deep breath. Alastair had a suffocating aura. Now he understood what the fuss was all about.

"Did he give you a hard time?" Cara, who was standing by the side asked him. Drax looked at her.

"No. He was very accommodating." Drax responded and Cara arched a brow.

"That does not sound like Alastair. But I'll allow it. My name is Cara." She said and stretched her hand for a handshake. He took it.

"I'm Drax. But you probably already knew. Are you his daughter? He seemed very fond of you." Drax asked but Cara shook her head.

"He's my guardian. He's also my master. Do you know why your mother asked you to come here?" She asked him.

"No. But I have a feeling that they knew each other, you know? My mother was very secretive about her past. It surprised me when she told me to come here."

Cara just nodded. She could see more of the resemblance. He was definitely Alastair's son or at least a relative.

"I sense great magic within you. You are a very powerful Mage." He said to her.

She was about to say something when they heard a loud explosion from the distance. Both of them exchanged glances and next came another explosion which shook the foundations of the palace itself. 

And then came the creeping cold. The ground and the walls began to freeze and when Alastair dashed out of his study, he knew what was going on.

Corvius was back!