Throne of Flames: Ashen Covenant

Act One - "At wits' end"

{Around 4000 years prior to the reawakening.}

A brave party of heroes, known as Tomorrow's Light, united to stop the Queen of the demon realm, Ainatsu from purging the realm known as Terra. Ainatsu was a powerful mage who wielded power which the world had never before witnessed. Though she faced many, only three heroes survived her devastating conquest: Zorvabro the Knight, Kazumi the Sorcerer, and Miyori the Shrine Maiden. Ainatsu's seemingly unstoppable power came from three ancient relics: her staff, the Veylthorn Scepter; her spellbook, commonly called the Codex Umbralis; and finally, her amulet-the Stablefire Talisman. The amulet alone boosted her power tenfold and made it to where she can never get tired. Ainatsu was already responsible for ending the lives of two of their fellow heroes, Maltherion the High Priest and Draelis the Paladin. The Tomorrow's Light party met at the city Ironspire to face Ainatsu for one final fight to dictate the future of all humanity, Ainatsu overwhelmed every hero who stood against her, Miyori summoned every remaining ounce of strength and energy to cast one final attack. Miyori created a seal and sealed away Ainatsu inside a Weighing scale never to be released upon this realm again. Each of the three heroes claimed one of her magical relics and concealed them deep within the realm's farthest reaches, In hope no mortal can ever possess the sheer power Ainatsu had. For four thousand years, silence and peace ruled the realm. Until one day, the Lich emerged.

{One day prior to the reawakening.}

The palace halls are dim and silent, the king makes his way down the halls in search of an ancient relic, their boots clack against the cold stone floor. Escorted by one of his loyal servants, the pair descended toward the treasure chamber.

[King]: "I've made my decision already, this is our last hope of defeating Kelvrax."

[Servant]: "But your highness, Arctavin. I once more urge you to reconsider your actions, by undoing the seal you risk compromising the realms further by unleashing two unstoppable powers."

Arctavin furrowed his brow, he knows what he's about to do is a huge gamble but as king it is His duty was to protect his kingdom by any means-even if doing so could doom humanity as they knew it. Arctavin suddenly halts his tracks and turns his head in order to look down at his servant.

[Arctavin]: "I understand your concern, however I reassure you, She no longer possesses her three relics and thus wouldn't be that difficult to stop if she were to turn on us."

The servant closes his eyes and sighs. He opens his eyes with a fretted resolve, he speaks with a soft voice.

[Servant]: "Even so, Ainatsu is still a Kitsune mage and possesses powerful raw magic, even without her relics. The probability of this course of action backfiring is-"

Arctavin can see the fear in the servant's eyes. He doesn't even know whether he should trust his own judgment, he cuts the servant off nonetheless and gives him a reassuring head pat.

[Arctavin]: "Do not fret, young one. Fetch me a Sorcerer, so that she may unbind the seal."

The servant reluctantly bows before turning around to walk away.

[Servant]: "Of course your highness. I will search for her at once, she should be ready in one day's time."

As the servant departed, silence settled over the room. Am I wrong for making this choice? he wondered. Perhaps I have miscalculated... Yet the verdict had been cast, and there was no turning back.

{10 minutes prior to the reawakening.}

Arctavin stood before the great circular window, his arms folded behind his back as rays of sunlight washed over him. Suddenly, he hears the clicking of heels against the marble floor. Arctavin turns around, before him a woman stands with orange fox ears and tail. She is a fox sorcerer clad in flowing black robes trimmed in crimson, her piercing eyes glowing with quiet, dangerous magic. Arcane magic flickers throughout her tail.

[Mysterious Sorceress]: "I heard you wish to reawaken Ainatsu? pretty bold your majesty."

[Arctavin]: "Sorceress Freya, I'm pleased you could make it. Regarding Ainatsu-I need you to undo the seal. She is the only one who can defeat Kelvrax."

Freya can't help but give Arctavin an uneasy glance, she snaps her fingers and suddenly a black and red staff appears in her hands,

[Freya]: "Why are you so confident Ainatsu would even side with you, or none the less even give you the light of day. She is a demon queen, she takes orders from no one.

Freya puts heavy emphasis on the last part.

[Arctavin]:You're right, she has no reason to. However I possess something she wants, and it's an offer she just can not refuse..

Freya wears a confused expression, she tilts her head slightly. Arctavin smirks and snaps his fingers. Freya shifts her focus onto a servant, he bows to Arctavin before walking toward a hanging brown cloth. The servant firmly grips the cloth.

[Freya]: "hanging cloth, quite dramatic wouldn't you say,"

She spoke in an unamused tone as the servant pulled down the brown cloth. Freya's eyes widened in absolute shock. Lost for words, she stood frozen-and Arctavin could not help but chuckle

A translucent blue staff sits atop a pedestal behind glass, its surface glowing with dormant magic, The staff shimmers with a faint inner light.

[Freya]: "Is that- Is that Ainatsu's staff, the Veylthorn Scepter... you do know with her staff alone she is already strong enough to solo most hero parties."

[Arctavin]: "Perhaps, however you must know, without her Codex Umbralis she can't use her staff to its fullest extent."

[Freya]: "Is this so your highness? how come?"

[Arctavin]: "Her Staff and Spell book are linked; without her Codex Umbralis she can only perform basic spells she has already fully mastered like arcane bolts or curse removal. but not complex spells from her spell book like Paradox Seal or Teleportation."

[Freya]: "I understand, Your Highness. Present the Weighing Scale, and I will begin the unsealing."

Arctavin gives the servant a nod, he retrieves the Weighing Scale and places it on a table,

Freya points her black and red staff towards the scale and shoots a magical orange bolt at it.

Suddenly the scale is no more, and a female white kitsune lies where the scale once was.

Her sharp red eyes widen as she sits up.

[Freya]: "I hope you know what you're doing, Arctavin..."