War Within
Once upon a dream in the land between Dusk and Dim, there waged a war.
We have been fighting this war for a long time now, the people of Light against the people of Dark. What humans call magic we use on a daily basis. Some are naturally gifted with the true power of Light or Dark. For them, simple tasks are done with a word or flick of the wrist. These are most excellent in combat as they wield their power with authority. Most are not naturally gifted, but still have power to some extent. The ones closest to human in appearance usually have an intensified ability, such as speed or the like. Others have human qualities, but with an added trait, such as wings or fins. I myself have wings. Dusty black fae wings far too delicate for my liking. Many, many different people live in the land between Dusk and Dim.
For a very long time, the land between Dusk and Dim was at peace. The people of Dark ruled the night and gave way to the people of Light when day began. However, the magic used to rule Dark became poisoned with jealousy, anger, and hatred. The people of Dark eventually tried to use their power to gain control over day. The war wages on even to this day. Just as Light is about to succeed, darkness creeps into the hearts and minds of our allies and Dark gains yet another victory. There have been a few who saw Light for what it truly is: truth, honor, and love. I have been part of this battle a long time. I fight for Light, but it was not always that way. Enough time has passed that most have forgotten my days in Dark. I left that past behind. I am now the second captain in the army of Light, recently tasked with defending a sanctuary of Light. An old fortress really, but it is the holding place for one of Light’s powerful treasures, the Key Wand.
Last night, I received a message that one of our allies had information regarding a new weapon the enemy was crafting and that perchance the enemy would seek to take the fortress with this new evil, as this fortress is the closest to the border. To utilize utmost secrecy, I was to meet the ally in secret this very night. I knew the ally who would deliver this information, a friend of mine. One who had been there when I first came to Light, when I needed a friend most. In the long years of war, I had fallen out of contact with most of the first friends I made. War does that. In any case, the time came and I set out into the shadows toward the rendezvous point. I do not fear the night, as some warriors of Light. I know better. Being from Dark myself, I know night and shadows are harmless. It is the creatures of darkness and their corrupt power that must be feared.
I flew to the meeting place and saw my friend waiting. I called his name and he slowly turned to me. I could tell something was odd. He greeted me not with salutation or news, but started talking about how someone so insignificant can have so much power. Confused, I asked what he meant. By this time, he had fully turned to me. He did not seem himself. His appearance was overly confident from what I remembered and his stance almost menacing. He dressed in black and red. I had never seen such colors on him that I could recall. He had always been one of the Light folk and they do not wear such colors. The person standing before me today was different from the friend I had all those years. Had he changed into this person recently or was the change gradual? Was it the war changed him or something else? To be honest, I couldn’t tell you. I didn’t know. He continued talking about how insignificant he must be, to be ignored by me all this time. He counted off the number of people and things I spent time with and asked if I had ever once given him a second thought. I hadn’t. He claimed everyone treated him as though he didn’t exist. He was ignored, unheard, and unseen. His voice steadily grew louder and he became angrier.
“Please,” I interrupted, “ There is a war going on. You know that. Now is not the time for this. Can’t we talk about it later? You mentioned you had news of an enemy weapon.”
At that point, he stepped back and took a breath. “You’re right,” he said. “The enemy does have a new weapon. Its capacity is sure to break the barrier between kingdoms. With this weapon, the enemy will take the Key Wand and destroy the other artifacts from there.” He spoke with a calmness that alarmed me almost as much as the news itself.
“What is this weapon?”
“Me”
In an instant, I was surrounded with dark clouds that swirled around and concealed him from my view. I backed up in bewilderment. The clouds dissipated to reveal a creature I had never seen before. The creature was at least 4 times bigger than me. It had the hulking body of a troll with skin as black as coal. Massive bat-wings protruded from its back. Its orange hair looked like thin wisps of glowing embers on a dying fire, as though someone has set strands of straw aflame. Its eyes were the worst part yet. The body was black, yes, but the eyes were darker still. Genuine ebony wherein was no light at all. Thin yellow slits were all that could be made of where the irises should have been. Long, thin white teeth projected from the mouth, which was now pulled into a sneering smirk. Where once stood a friend now stood a monster. I tried to run. I tried to scream, but all I could do was stand and stare.
The creature glared at me and spoke in a deep, raspy voice, “Not what you expected is it?” Terror clung to my heart, invading my lungs with every shallow breath. The creature changed its voice and spoke again. The voice still sounded deep, but it was less menacing, almost smooth. “You see,” it began slowly. “I grew tired of being ignored. Tired of being overlooked.” As the creature continued to speak, it walked around me with more fluidity than I would have guessed that bulky body to be capable of. Its voice was calm with an edge of conceit. “I was fed up with being the invisible weakling others can’t stand to be around. I had enough of the coward I was. So I changed.”
Finally able to regain my voice, I sucked in a deep breath. “Giving in to darkness is only proof of cowardice. If you seek protection and recognition of courage, you will never find it in this evil power.”
At this, the creature’s harsh and threatening voice returned. “You would know about recognition, wouldn’t you? You acknowledge those of superior rank who come your way and ignore the ones who cannot give you a higher position. Including the ones you call your friends. The Dark powers are far superior to anything Light has. I will take the Key Wand and you cannot stop me!” The creature suddenly took off into the air with its massive wings and I swiftly followed. I had to get to the fortress before it did. I had to. My wings were far smaller than the creature’s, but I was faster. I can turn sooner and stop earlier, but there is no stopping for this mission. I wove my way past him and just out of reach as he made a swipe for me with his large hands. I was still faster. I came to the fortress and went straight to the guardians, the Light-gifted. “You must protect the Key! Darkness is coming to take it!”
The fortress lies in tiers upon an incline and the Key is in the very heart of the sanctuary. This is because the Key acts as a channel for light and it is through this channel that a field of energy surrounds the fortress. Smaller structures shaped like keys ground the field in certain locations, but it was the Key Wand itself that gave power to the field and to those who bear Light magic. The guardians, in their elegant robes of white began rushing around the fortress and the Key immediately after I sounded the warning, but it was already too late.
In a moment, I saw the creature above the Light field before it disappeared behind the curtain of surrounding night sky. Soon after, a dark figure emerged in the fortress from the direction I last saw the creature. The enemy, my friend, was now inside the city in human form and walking toward the Key. How he got in, I cannot tell, as the Light field is supposed to keep creatures of darkness out. Where were the guardians? I looked around and saw them dashing to and fro, but they made no effort to stop the man from approaching. Was he invisible to them? I don’t know. All I know is that he must be stopped. If I have to stop him alone, so be it. He continued walking down the sloping steps to the Key, seemingly as oblivious to the frantic guardians as they were to him. I flew between two pillars he was about to walk through. “I will not let you take the Key!” I said and stood defiantly in his way.
“Try and stop me,” he coolly replied. I pulled my sword from its sheath and moved in for a strike. Before impact, he changed into the monster again and grabbed me with an enormous hand. The hand smashed me into a sidewall and let me crumple to the ground, crushed and hardly able to breathe. I looked up in time to see him bridge the gap between him and the Key. I desperately cried out for him to stop. He never looked back. As the creature raised a hand to grasp the prize, a flash of light burst from the Key and all the guardians saw him for what he truly was.
I tried to stop him. I knew such power could not be turned. I knew it would destroy him. When he grabbed the Key Wand and the blinding light burst forth, the monstrous visage disintegrated and there was left my friend suspended above the ground. He hung midair only seconds before crashing to the cobblestone below. The guardians were upon him in an instant with their magic. “NO!” I cried, stumbling to my feet and hobbling toward him. When I got there, it was too late. The spells had done their work and the power of the Key didn’t help. He was bruised and battered, lying helpless on the ground. Quite a turnaround from just a few moments ago. I knelt next to him only for a moment before he faded.
A small part of me tried to tell myself this was my fault. That the death of my friend was my own doing, but I knew better. I knew in my heart that his envy and anger led him to this. He had done this himself and no one could save him. I could not save him, but in his last moments something else occurred to me. He was right about something: I hadn’t paid much attention to those helping me along. Every battle I won and victory I gained gave me more responsibilities and respect from those around me, but I hadn’t done it alone. When did I forget that? I can see now why he would assume I only used my friends as stepping-stones. That was never my intent, but I had been so focused on my own internal struggle that I had forgotten one thing. Every day, every single person has an inward battle to face. The result of that battle will determine the entire war. When my comrade falls, who is there to help him up? This is war. I have been fighting this war for a long time now. I am a warrior of Light against the enemies of Dark, but I am not alone.
~ SMS ~
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