Aelianus
It was a beautiful day, the leaves were rustling gently as the branches swayed in the wind. The sun was high in the sky now, reaching it's zenith, spilling down its glorious rays onto those below who graciously accepted the generous gift of life and the warmth it brought. A young man made his way down a large dirt road, his boots crunching along the gravel with each step. He was dressed in a simple tunic style shirt that draped down to his knees, with a wild, spontaneous look in his eyes; his hair matched perfectly the personality and aura he seemed to give off, as it was free and wind-blown. Glancing around, Aelianus took in the many sights and smells of the world and knew there was still more to be discovered. He'd been traveling for quite some time and intended to go until he had managed to see it all, or until old age overtook him.
The boy's eyes swiveled around, catching sight of a gorgeous blue and red painted bird, it's feathers a sleek glossy color that made it sparkle as it moved. It took flight now as he approached, as most animals did, fleeing to safer distances from the unknown creature that continued on down the path. He smiled as he watched it go, then looked now to a squirrel, curled up along a branch, its attention fully on the pine cone it held in it's tiny grasp. A snake slithered by, a miniature brown one with a single green stripe down its scaly back, the creature drawing a thin line in the dirt that marked its progression.
Nature, it was all so interesting. The creatures, living together harmoniously in a delicate cycle, the colors and sights, blended together in a manner that made everything compliment all else in ways no person could possibly replicate on canvas. Truly this was wondrous, Aelianus thought to himself.
Suddenly though, up ahead something caught his attention. Something that didn't belong; a figure, slouched down beneath a tree, a sickly red smeared across the bark that showed clearly the body's descent. A sword lay idly by, the steel stained like the tree that held up the cloaked person. The boy ignored the weapon for now as he came up onto whoever it was he'd found. Being closer now, he could just make out the gentle rise and fall, ragged though it was, of the man's breath. He wore his hood up, but Aelianus could just make out the lower portion of his face, bruised and bloodied with a thin trail of the crimson liquid dropping down onto his chest. A mustache lined the upper lip, but that was all he could tell of his facial features as he knelt down and placed his hand on the man's shoulder.
He wasn't expecting it. The suddenness of it all, the sharp pain that came with the blade lodged in his chest. The man's head slowly moved up now, and though it had sustained damage, it still bore a cold, heartless intent to kill. He could see now the white hair, combed neatly back and the eyes that seemed to be a blade of themselves, stabbing into whoever they fell upon and injecting fear straight to a person's core. Aelianus coughed once as he collapsed sideways, holding his chest as the blade unsheathed itself from his being. It was as he hit the ground now and was able to see past the tree that he finally saw what had caused all of this. Obscured by the dense forest and large tree, down the curve in the path, his gaze fell upon the remnants of the battle.
Three men lay strewn around, their weapons still clenched tight in their grips even in death, the jewels in their weapons still glowing bright. Of all three, one caught Aelianus's attention right off the bat. He was a large man a mere two meters from where the boy lay, collapsed face down with his fingers wrapped around the shaft of a massive scythe. Looking back to the man against the tree, Aelianus was surprised to find his eyes shut. He wasn't dead, that much he could tell, but he was close to it.
Aelianus shot up in bed now as a disturbance pulled him from his dreams. Raiyn was shaking him, urging him to wake and he glanced around suddenly, forgetting for a moment where he was before calming and listening as the boy told him they would have company. Company... What Company? Suddenly he realization dawned on him that the shades must've become impatient and sent their first wave of attackers. His eyes grew wide for a moment as he looked to the scythe leaning against the wall in the corner, a perfect replica of the one he had seen in his dreams. His dream. That shook him still, it haunted him, that day, but he had to forget it now.
Spinning off the bed he quickly gathered his equipment and followed Raiyn out the door, waiting just a moment as he tapped on the door to the girl's room before stating simply, "Protect her." Aelianus continued after Raiyn as he made his way to the steps and waited for the first of their opponents. Fighting the shades wouldn't be easy, and he really didn't like the idea, but he knew he had to.
Talazar
Talazar's smile widened at Nira's words. Oh how he'd enjoy tearing apart that boy, especially once he had his scythe back. "Oh don't worry," he said cruelly, "When I'm done with that boy, he'll be unrecognizable, even to the almighty lord." His smile grew on his face as he licked his lips, then found himself standing in the little valley. This was where the boy was to be brought, this is where the boy was to die. Talazar would make sure, one way or another, he'd pay.
The man's grip tightened on the large shaft of the warhammer he held, the jewel glowing an ominous black like the night. Sweet dreams he'd wish to the boy, then his skull would crack.