Doubt many people will read, but yeh.
The primordial essence of evil dwells within us all… Dormant, patiently waiting for the perfect moments to wreak havoc into
everyday life. Having no preference of form as long as it manifests itself. A perpetual lingering entity awaiting the birth of a single
human - one that would set into motion the downfall of creation...
Located just South-East of Falador in a lowly village seemed almost alive today. The local market was booming - merchants
from Falador have come shops set up to provide fresh produce for the village to make a simple living also to acquire seeds and
fish as they are not native resources of Falador. A consoling breeze had consumed Draynor, the setting was uplifting and gave
existential meaning to the poverty-ridden citizens of Draynor. Fisherman have lined up at the shoreline behind the willows with their
equipment spread out, firmly concentrated on the bobbers atop the subtle waves.
There are only two children of roughly the same age that reside in Draynor, Asteroth who was 9 years-old and his friend Aden
who was eight years-old, They had been playing a game of tag near the sluggish willows behind the bank, but a gleam of light
catches Asteroth's attention, drawing him near the water a bit further down the bank away from the fisherman, Aden runs off to
avoid getting tagged.
Asteroth kneels down to grab the coin and rinses off the in the water. He observes the mysterious coin with strange markings
with complete curiosity. Flipping from one side to another trying to identify the strange sigils etched into the coin.. It was like nothing
he has ever seen before - his friend finally notices that Asteroth is distracted with something else and runs over to him to see what
is so intriguing…
As he approaches, everything around Asteroth starts shaking vigorously - a loud screech is emitted and disrupts everybody in the
nearby area. Asteroth screams in pain as the space surrounding him heavily distorts and collapses into itself.
The screeching stops and everyone opens their eyes and releases their palms from over their ears, Aden now looking around for
Asteroth in the very spot he was standing, lacking the ability to comprehend the events that just took place.
Asteroth now curled into a ball covering his head releases his tensed pose and looks around the unfamiliar room. Rugged stone
walls now surround him, the room shows obvious signs of old age and have seen better days. A stained glass window decorated
with a mage holding up a staff on it illuminates the room with a light magenta hue.
"… And just who might you be?" A grizzly man in tattered blue robes gripping a leather-bound book gently inquires from the end of the room.
"Where.. Where am I?!" Asteroth responds anxiously ignoring the question. He looks at the coin in his hand and tosses the coin
on the floor, only to roll directly towards the wizard's foot and falls flat.
"Calm young one.. You are in the Tower of Truth(Wizard's Tower) - your being here is by no means an accident. Where are you from?"
Asteroth is perplexed at this incomprehensible situation he's gotten himself into, scanning the trinkets laying around, the stacks of
books spread out across several desks, he had never seen so much stuff to do in one room before. He finally turns his head back to
the wizard after moments of his distracted gaze.
"Oh.. I'm uhm… From Draynor, my name is Asteroth…"
The sorcerer bends over to pick up the coin near his foot. “My name is Merlin. Fortunately you’re not far from home, Asteroth. Just a bridge
away in fact. However you were able to activate an artifact that only class 2 sorcerers or above are capable of... How did you manage that?”
“I found it near the shore… I picked it up.” Asteroth looks down in shame as if he had done something wrong.
“If you would allow me to, I'd like to test your arcane potential. It's incredible you are able to channel that kind of mana… But as a sage
offering to bring you into the celestial circle I must forewarn you that this initiation trial is no easy task."
Asteroth stares blankly at the strange robed man as he sets the large book down on the desk and turns around, heading for the spiral
staircase leading to the main floor of the tower. Asteroth snaps out of his confusion and rushes to catch up with him. They make their
way down the spiral staircase near the front entrance to a ladder that leads to the basement below. Staring down it's dark, musty and
there's an odd buzzing sound coming from down there.
Asteroth summons a face of worry, the sage reminds him once more that he can simply go home and act as if none of this ever happened,
or dive further into an art limited to a small group of people. Asteroth stops for a moment only to smile at the wonders of his imagination after
the terrible part of the trials. He gathers enough courage, grabbing the first bar on the ladder and making his way down.
Merlin and Asteroth make their way into the next room emitting a red glow from inside the doorway. They enter the room full of dust and
cobwebs with a portal towards the back. Merlin gestures Asteroth to the crimson, abysmal looking portal.
"This portal contains horrors beyond mortal comprehension. If you wish to become a master sorcerer you must enter the abyss as pure
consciousness and pull yourself back out. Your journey will reveal your fate beyond the astral realm and allow you to embrace the newfound
power that you’ve unlocked. Fear not for the portal has runic sigils will veil and leash you so that you cannot be lost in oblivion, if you fail the
trials I can pull you out myself."
Asteroth glances at him uneasily and switches his focus on the ominous portal. The situation has pressured him now that is he is actually
staring off the edge of the unknown. He takes a few moments to think about it some more, once again impulsively convincing himself the
rewards are worth the risk. He takes a deep breath and jumps into the portal.
(To be continued)