Tale of the Great Dark

The King's Call

It was a miserable day in the capital city of Umbra. Snow fell slowly to the streets and a harsh wind blew through the air. In the distance black clouds roared with thunder as they crept towards the city. People were sheltering in their home, and the few people and cars out and about were making their way to shelter. Umbra's blizzards were no joke. The wind howled, rattling windows and shaking trees.

A train hauling a single abnormally tall and long coach arrived at the empty station. When the doors opened, out stepped two people. One was an inhumanly tall figure in a hooded black cloak. The shadows of the hood concealed his face, so all that was visible were his purple eyes. The other person had grey skin, white hair, and emerald green eyes. He was a more normal height and wearing a red sweater, grey sweatpants, and a black longcoat. 

Wordlessly the two stepped out of the station and into the cold of the city. Where the tall figure stepped, snow melted. A pleasant warmth radiated from him. His dark cloak whipped and snapped around him but no matter how strong the wind blew, it never revealed any of what lied beneath the cloak. The smaller male stayed close to the taller one, staying in the aura of warmth. Slowly the two made their way to the King of Umbra's Palace.

The Palace was the tallest building in the city, and the building the city had been built around. At the very top of the colossal structure was the Council Chamber and the Throne Room. It was quite the sight to behold. A fortress to he taken by only the strongest army. Many had tried and many had failed. That is how Umbra ended up the only Kingdom on the Continent, and the strongest in the world

It took a long time but the two finally arrived at the Palace. The guards at the grand doors raised their weapons, pointing them at the two. The tall figure reached a black gloved hand into his cloak and withdrew a letter. When at the doors, he handed the letter to the guards. One read it while the other three kept their guns trained on the two. Eventually the guard reading the letter looked at the other three and gestured to the door.

The four guards opened the massive doors and the two stepped into the Palace. The smaller male had to speed-walk to keep up with the taller one's long strides. Soon they made it to the elevators and the taller one pressed the call button. After a minute or two an elevator arrived. The tall figure went in first, having to sit to fit. The smaller one was able to stand comfortably. He pressed the Throne Room floor button. 

The doors closed and the elevator ascended. No stops were made between the first floor and top floor. At the top floor the doors opened with a small ding. This time the smaller one exited first, followed by the taller figure. The Palace door guards had radioed the Throne Room Guards, so they were expecting them. The guards did not stop them. A few seemed to be in awe of the unnaturally tall one. The Throne Room doors were hauled open by two guards, and the two stepped in.

The king sat on a gold throne with a red leather seat, back, and armrests. Gold and Red banners with the Kingdom's insignia hung to either side of him from the ceiling. The insignia was of hands raising a sword. The king smiled at the two, lounging in his golden armor. A crown of platinum and ruby rested upon his head. "Welcome, my friends. It is good to see you again." 

The two knelt before the king. The King smiled. "There is no need to kneel before me friends. Ziroikabi. Samuel. It is good that you two have gotten here so quickly." He said, motioning for the two to stand. Ziro, the tall one stood tall and spoke. "Yes, why have you called us here? Your message was brief and vague." He said. His voice was cold and controlled. A flat tone with every word calculated.

"I have a job for you two, and it may hit close to home. A month ago we lost contact with the Kingdom of Andrigus. They would not answer any message. So we sent an expeditionary force of thirty of our finest soldiers to investigate. Only one returned. When he recovered enough to recount his story, it was horrifying. A corrupted land with no concept of time to be had. In the center of the corrupt land was a towering Citadel surrounded by a fleet of orbiting warships. Powerful monsters roamed the land. As more of the group died, the longer it took for the monsters to find them. They took photos which will be given to you when you leave. Your goal would be to sneak aboard the fleet's Flagship and place a beacon for our fleet to jump in. We can't get a lock on them. Then you must go into the Citadel and destroy it." The King explained, looking at them.

Samuel, the shorter one, seemed a bit nervous about this. "And we won't have any backup?" He asked, raising an eyebrow. Ziro looked down at Sam and then back at the King. "From what you said, smaller numbers go unnoticed longer by the beasts. Correct?" He asked, staring at the King. The King couldn't help but shudder a bit. No matter how many times he met with the 'Mercenary Lord', he always got this feeling of a chill.

"Yes, that is correct. You will take the train north through the Desert, Fungal Forest, and Arctic to reach the Cold Loch Shipyards. There the Battlecruiser Monumental Corona will take you to Andrigus. From there you will be on your own until you plant the beacon." The King said, looking up at Ziro. The Mercenary Lord thought about it for only a few seconds.

"We will do it. I know the landscape like the back of my hand. If the corruption has not warped the landscape, it will make things easier." Ziro said, looking at the king before him. The king nodded. "Yes. When you leave the throne room, you will be handed the photos. You are free to go. Good luck and be safe." He said.

Ziro nodded and turned to leave. Sam followed close behind the taller man, nervous about the mission they had been given. As soon as they left the Throne Room, a guard handed them a folder of photos. Ziro opened the folder and froze at the pictures of the monsters. It was only for a second as he regained his composure. He began walking again, making sure Sam could keep up

"This is going to be a long job."