2025-01-21 19:38:19The five set out to find leverage against Sly and his goons but little did they know it was under their nose the whole time. The group still sat in the War Room late into the night with candle light around the room.
Losing hope and as exhaustion overtook their bodies, they sat down around the table with sighs of defeat. Vardy glanced at his staff and felt for the light within. It was dim, more than it had been in recent days. "The light.....seems to be more dim than usual...." Tracy observed. Inside Vardy was in a panic with no idea what to do but outside, he held his face and body in the same loose, confident and poised manner. He nodded. "It is. I don't know how to fix it." His voice came out even as he spoke. Tracy sat there, thinking and mentally Flipping through books she had been reading for research purposes and remembered a particular spell book that had caught her fancy just earlier that day.
Scrolls and ancient diaries sat open and scattered across the table making it harder for her to remember which book it had been. She saw a dark brown leather bound cover sticking out under the scrolls and a grin spread on her face as she scrambled to grab it and flip it open. Looking for the information on his staff was harder than she thought. Flipping to the right page, she starts reading it out loud getting everyone's attention.
"The light in the staff gets dimmer as the handler of the staff loses the strength in his will power. The joining of two or the repairing of the Handlers will, can resurrect the light and restore it to its usual brightness." Tracey's voice trailed off.
"So.....all we have to do is repair Vardy’s will or get him a gf?" Jesse asked. Tracy nodded as she stayed on Vardy. He didn't seem thrilled about finding a gf.
A sigh escaped his mouth as he leaned against the bookshelf and suddenly a very loud click could be heard in the room. The sound had everyone on high alert in seconds as Vardy sprung away from the books and leaned against the table, his staff in hand. Magic sparked the air as the group of friends saw the bookcase swing open without making a single noise. Ferah used a spell to make a glowing ball of light as a touch for everyone. Vardy stood straight and turned to his team mates with a nod of his head and the ball of light went in the tunnel.
Luthor and Jesse brought up the rear and closed the door before following the others deeper into the tunnel. After what had felt like ages to Vardy, he stumbled across a large ancient door that was decorated with designs. His hand went out and everyone held their breaths as the door swung inward and revealed a room full of Warlocks and Witches that seemed to be holding a meeting of sorts. The silence was deafening, the stares piercing.....everyone frozen in place. Till a Warlock stepped forth. He had on a large dark purple robe over what appeared to be his stealth gear. The robe signified leadership. His face pale, the shadow of a beard but yet he looked to be around Verdy's age.
"Vardy, welcome. It is about time you found our home. We'll....our new home anyway." He said with a warm smile.
"How do you know his name?" Questioned Ferah as she used her body as a barrier between Vardy and the man.
"We have a common enemy. So, we have been following you and your dear Verdy here seems to be quite the strong leader." A hint of amusement and admiration laced his voice.
"Who are you?" Vardy demanded, his voice steady, calm but authoritative. The man smiled a kind smile.
"My! Where are my manners!? Leader Devon, and this is my crew." He said, his hand gesturing to the room. Vardy felt in his gut that these people could be trusted and held some answers but just to be sure, his eyes shot to those of his friend with a silent question to which they nodded in confirmation. Although, Tracy seemed to be far more in tune with her intuition and gut then the others so he turned to her. When she gave her nod, only then did Vardy relax and step around Ferah who seemed to be a bit on edge.
"You said you had been following us....why? And why haven't you approached us before or come to our aid?" Vardy asked.
"Ah, well, there is a simple answer for that one, Young Master. Some battles are meant to be fought without assistance and you sir, had quite a few of those. It pained me dearly to sit by and not do anything but my council decided it was best to sit back and see what you were capable of. This Sly character seems to hate you a lot." He commented.
"And....what have you learned of us so far? How long have you been following us?" Vardy asked, curiosity in his voice.
"Not as long as you imagine. I used a cloaking spell to hide myself and that drained me quite a bit for a while before I got used to it. As for what we learned....let's discuss that a little later shall we?" He asked kindly. Vardy nodded, feeling like it was a reasonable request. Slowly walking into the table, the room started to thin out. Secret doors slid open among the walls and people started slipping away till only three people remained.
By the looks of it, they were the leaders of this coven. The large wooden table in the centre of the room was covered with scrolls, maps and books. The dialect seemed to be older and more ancient and it was all new, of places they had never heard of. Vardy stood across from the three elders and his friends, ever the support, fanned out behind him in protective stances. His heart swelled with pride and admiration to their loyalty and caution.
"Where are we?" Vardy asked, leaning his staff against the table. "We are underground. The tunnel you followed started in the academy and led you under the academy to here. They are ancient passageways that were built as escape routes and emergency exits. This, the room we stand in now is the conference room or the War Room as you might know better. We have been using them for years." Devon said.
"Why has no one else ever heard of it before? Does the Headmaster know of this? Of you?" Tracy asked.
"No. He does not. We....have our suspicions of your headmaster. We are still investigating and aren't sure yet but no. He knows nothing and we would like to keep it that way." Devon explained. Vardy nodded, he understood the need for caution. "What exactly are you and your companions?"
"We, Young Master Vardy, are descendants of the older and ancient Witches and Warlocks. The ones that haven't gone all bad as Sly and his fellow people have gone. We used Dark Magic but we do not manipulate it or use it in a bad way." He explained. "You Master Vardy, it seems your staff is low."
"Yes. I'm aware. I'm trying to sort out why and how to change it. I tapped into it when I faced Sly earlier and he doesn't seem to appreciate that I have it." Verdy said tiredly.
"Would you like to know why?" Devon asked. Vardy nodded.
"You are both Light and Dark. They flow in your blood and that makes you a threat. You defeat the Dark by using Light magic but pure Light Magic. Not fake. Right now, you have too much Dark Magic and you need to be more in touch with the Light." Devon said. Verdy seemed to understand it. Tracy stepped forward and glanced at Vardy who nodded.
"I read that he can do it by having a partner or he strengthens his willpower. Is this true?" She asked. Devon nodded.
"Yes. It's true. But Vardy's will power is strong. Stronger than ever so he needs to find a partner who is a Light Warlock or Witch. He needs to have a deep bond. Usually,it would be a sibling but....in this case we must find him someone he can connect with and fast. Sly will be gathering and coming at you harder than ever. If he is scared of this then that means things will speed up. But know this, he has someone higher than him. He is not the leader. He is only following orders. Who's orders, we do not know but we know that he is following orders and now that he has been almost bested he will not go light on you, Young Master Vardy. You need to train more, be more vigilant and get more in touch with your Magic and you four must help him. He will need all the help he can get."Devon said with determination in his voice.
"Who are they?"Ferah asked, nodding towards the other two leaders in the room. Devon walked to them and smiled.
"This is Aregorn and this is Arlena. They are both leaders."Devon said. Tracy frowned slightly.
"Aregorn? Dragon? Arlena....Elf." She whispered. Devon nodded with the biggest smile on his face.
"Yes. You, young Tracy, are a bright one." He said, chuckling. Vardy's eyes widened. Elves and Dragons were real.....leaders....which means there is a group of Elves and a pack of Dragons with them.
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The Dark Warlock's Game Chapter 4: Fragments of Purpose
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The Dark Warlock's Game Chapter 5: The Dark Awakening
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The Dark Warlock's Game Chapter 8: Vengeance Made Flesh
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The five set out to find leverage against Sly and his goons but little did they know it was under their nose the whole time. The group still sat in the War Room late into the night with candle light around the room. Losing hope and as exhaustion overtook their bodies, they sat down around the table with sighs of defeat. Vardy glanced at his staff and felt for the light within. It was dim, more than it had been in recent days. "The light.....seems to be more dim than usual...." Tracy observed. Inside Vardy was in a panic with no idea what to do but outside, he held his face and body in the same loose, confident and poised manner. He nodded. "It is. I don't know how to fix it." His voice came out even as he spoke. Tracy sat there, thinking and mentally Flipping through books she had been reading for research purposes and remembered a particular spell book that had caught her fancy just earlier that day. Scrolls and ancient diaries sat open and scattered across the table making it hard
Chapter 26: Shadows Rising
The calm in Oak Academy was deceptive. Though the city was beginning to rebuild, the team couldn’t ignore the growing tension in the air. The darkness that lingered wasn’t just Sly’s presence,it was something deeper, an under flow of unease that warned them of what was to come, Vardy, Ferah, Luthor, Tracy, and Jesse gathered in the academy’s war room, still looking at the map searching over one maps and ancient texts in the rom. The flickering candlelight danced across their faces, their expressions stood with determination.Jesse leaned over the table, tracing his finger across a map of the region. "Sly’s words weren’t just bravado. He’s not working alone. The Dark Warlocks have been rebuilding their forces in the shadows. If we’re going to stop them, we need to find their stronghold."Luthor crossed his arms, his brow furrowed. "We can’t just charge in blind. Sly’s been one step ahead of us every time. If we’re not careful, we’ll walk straight into a trap."Tracy nodded, her fing
Chapter 25: The Unbelievable Return
Days have passed since Aziel’s fall, and the city began its slow recovery. The people were freed from the darkness that had shadowed them, they all started to rebuild, unite, and see each other once again, and the air was lighter than it had been in years. But Vardy and his team knew better than to think the war was over. The presence of the Dark Warlocks lingered like a shadow on the horizon. Despite Aziel’s defeat, there were whispers of power far greater, a force that had been pulling the strings from the shadows for age's.One evening, as the team gathered in their makeshift headquarters at Oak Academy, the familiar figure of Sly appeared on the horizon. His silhouette was unmistakable,tall, confident, and exuding an aura of pure malevolence. His face was partially concealed by a hood, but his eyes gleamed with the same unyielding determination that had marked his every step since the beginning of this journey up till the moment."Sly," Vardy commanded, his voice filled with a m
Chapter 24: The Light against the Dark
The citadel, once a monument to Aziel’s reign of terror, stood silent in the wake of his fall. Sunlight filtered through the cracks in the stone, casting long beams across the ruin. The oppressive darkness that had once hung heavy over the city was gone, but the cost of victory weighed heavily on the survivors. Vardy, Ferah, Tracy, Jesse and Luthor stood at the heart of the shattered citadel, the echoes of the battle still roaming through the air.Vardy’s chest rose and fell in labored breaths, the toll of the final confrontation taking its toll on him. The light within him had faded, leaving a hollow emptiness in its wake. He had given everything to defeat Aziel, but in doing so, he felt the last of his strength slip away.Ferah knelt beside him, her gaze soft but unwavering. "You did it, Vardy. We did it. The city is safe because of you."Vardy’s eyes met hers, filled with both gratitude and sorrow. "It doesn’t feel like we are done yet," he admitted, his voice soothing the situatio
Chapter 23: The Confrontation of Vardy against the Dark
Vardy kept on pushing in, giving all he could to stop all of this, he knew. He was no match for what was ahead of him, but should he just. Give in, after all, No he can't do that, not if it was him alone in this,, but for the precious sake of, the one around him, I'll rather die by my hand than give in to this forsaken darkness lurking inside, I won't accept defeat not so soon,His heart was still pounding, it looked more like the dark could listen to everything he was saying, and with every step they took towards the citadel, the depth would always yawn to park them in, but was not a match for the three skills and what they had encountered so far..The air inside the citadel was thick with the weight of dark power, pressing down on them like an invisible hand. The walls seemed to pulse with energy, their surfaces slick with shadow, as though the very structure of the citadel was alive. The distant echoes of Aziel’s laughter vibrate through the halls, mocking and sticking, but Vardy
Chapter 22: The Heart of Darkness
The air was alive with crackling energy, and the very earth beneath Vardy's feet seemed to hold with a dark, unyielding power. Tendrils of shadow reached out from the cracks in the ground, twisting and writhing like serpents with a mind of their own. Each movement sent a shiver through the city, as though the streets themselves were groaning under the weight of an ancient, forgotten force.Aziel’s figure loomed above them, the faint glow of his eyes illuminating the darkness. He stood unaffected, unrestricted, not to be destroyed, his confidence over shadowing him, his hands raised in a commanding gesture. The dark energy swirled around him like an obedient pet, bending to his will. His smile, cruel and knowing, sent a shiver down Vardy’s spine."You still don’t understand, do you?" Vardy. Aziel’s voice was soft, almost coaxing. "This power, and this darkness,is your inheritance, Vardy. It has been waiting for you. All this time, waiting for your presence just to embrace, you’ve fough
Chapter 21: Eyes of the Dark Storm
Now, dark and cold, tired and weary, the city loomed ahead like a dark stain on the earth surface, its towering spires reaching up to the sky like cracking teeth, sharp and unforgiving. Vardy could feel the oppressive weight of its presence pressing on him, the air thick with a sense of looming danger that seemed to emanate from the very streets.Ferah, Luthor, and Vardy walked in silence, their footsteps muffled by the dirt road beneath them. The wind had picked up, circling dust and debris around them, as if the very world was preparing for something monumental."We’re getting close," Luthor said, his voice low, almost as if speaking too loudly might provoke something hidden in the shadows. "This place… it feels wrong.""I can feel it too," Ferah agreed, her expression tense. "Something's off about this city. It’s like it’s been waiting for us."Vardy said nothing, his mind consumed by the storm of thoughts swirling in him. The darkness within him, the pull of Aziel’s words, the ch
Chapter 20: The Daring Choice
The reality is now and here, a way forward is all I can only think of, I don't care about myself, but for those who have journeyed with me up till now, Vardy spoke to himself in silence, I can't put them down, I can't give up on them, he said to himself.Vardy’s heart raced, the weight of Aziel’s words pressing down on him like a thousand stones. The very idea that the darkness, something he had fought so desperately to escape, was a part of him was too much to comprehend. His mind reeled, struggling to understand how he could possibly be connected to the very force he had always seen as an enemy.Aziel’s gaze held steady, watching him closely, almost as if he were savoring Vardy’s internal conflict. "You’re torn, I can see it. You want to deny it, push it away, but you can’t. You’ll come to understand, eventually. We all do."Vardy shook his head, trying to clear the fog clouding his thoughts. "You’re lying. I’m not like you."Aziel’s lips twisted into a cruel smile. "You think you’r
Chapter 19: The Depth Unraveling Threads
The Oracle’s words continued striking Vardy as he and his companions began their journey from the mountain. The cold, thin air had stung their limbs, but the weight of the Oracle’s prophecy hung heavily on their hearts. He had expected guidance, a path to follow, but what he had received was a riddle, a cryptic warning that left more questions than answers.Ferah, ever monitoring, noticed Vardy’s troubled expression as they walked. "You’re still thinking about what she said, aren’t you?" she asked, her voice low and steady.Vardy glanced at her, then nodded. "She’s right. It’s all tied together. The darkness... it’s not just some evil force. It’s alive. It grows. And it has a price. But what does that mean? What exactly is the cost?"Luthor, who had been walking ahead, turned to face them, his eyes seen in thought. "The Oracle speaks in riddles. The truth isn't always easy to see, especially when it’s buried in layers of metaphors, unknown words and heart-pounding questions.""True,"
