The First Sigil Knights

Chapter One

"To draw your blade in vengeance is to invite defeat even to the most skilled master." The old man knelt before the alter that held the blades that had been the final resting place of ten blades forged by the old masters, blades forged to be superior to all other blades that would come into existence after their creation. They had been sealed away in the great temple since the induction of those known as Sigil Knights. "To draw your blade in anger is to invite death to the master of said blade." The old man dipped his hands into the spring that the grand alter was built around allowing the soothing waters to wash away the pains that age had brought him. "These two tenets were held as the ultimate truth to the Ancients who were the predecessors to the first order of Sigil Knights so many lifetimes ago." He raised his hands from the water allowing it to drip from his aged fingers back into the pool that had offered him a reprieve from the pains that his long life had brought him.

He forced himself from the kneeling position he had taken before the altar looking at the swords that were held securely to stands before him, each bearing the ten principle sigils that governed the ruling of all magic of the world. He turned to look at the two who he had requested accompany him on the journey to the great temple. He smiled at each in turn seeing them not as they were now, but as the young children that they once were. Children who were adept in all forms of magic from a young age, the eldest of twins a self-proclaimed brigand and cutthroat who had many times met death and rebuked her advances, and the younger a murderess by proclamation but whose heart was so pure she would have given her life in the place of another if the need had ever arose. He had watched them grow and master all ten of the principle sigils taking onto themselves a power which many thought would corrupt them but had only made their bond grow stronger with each passing day.

"You did not ask us here for a history lesson grand master," The young woman smirked as she bowed her head in respect her, the dimly lit room the torches lining the walls made her eyes glistening like emerald jewels.

The old man chuckled as he shook his head looking to the more stoic of the twins, his hands were secured behind his back his eyes were scanning the room looking for the security measures that had been disabled to reach the center of the room as they had done without challenge. They had been warned that the security had been disabled before they were invited to accompany the old master on this journey.

"That is true my dear Cyprus, I have brought you two the most accomplished Sigil Knights of the First order here to offer you mastery of the blades that have been laid to rest years ago." His age began to show in his voice as he took a step away from the altar; catching himself, before he fell with a cane he had secured to his belt where long ago a sword of his own had claimed a home. Quickly the male of the duo moved forward to assist the aging master stand upright once more. The grand master patted the young man on his exposed forearm feeling the power that pulsed from the sigils that were embedded beneath his flesh.

The young man took a step back to stand next to his sister his eyes scanning the room once more his breathing steady and calm although his left hand now rest on the tonfa secured to his left hip. "Master..." the young man began to speak but the grand master held up his hand to silence him.

"You both have seen the destruction that can come when those who have mastered the power of the principle sigils is misused." He turned to kneel before the altar once more placing his cane upon the altar as he did so. "You both have been tasked with bringing to justice brothers and sisters of the First Order who have strayed, and attempted to use the power in which they held to commit crimes against the greater balance in which we are charged with upholding." He took a deep breath allowing the twins to understand what he had said before he attempted to continue but he did not get a chance it was the elder of the twins who spoke his voice filled with a fury only one other had heard and lived to speak of the power that fury held.