The defining moment in Renzel Mock's life roared into existence two years before our tale begins, in the furthest southern edge of the badlands, in crobolt. Where and when the young, one hundred and eight year old mage, cut down his own father. That day silence fell over the Toren order. A group of black Magi, who backed their Shadow Master's slaughter and vile acts. During the fight between Renzel and Gurvon, no one interfered, as is custom in a family honor match. But when Renzel Mock plunged an ivory blade into his father's heart, though it was to avenge the village of healers who the Toren had destroyed, under Gurvon's direct order, he consigned himself to a grim judgement. For a conundrum presented itself. Though an honor match allows the victor to deliver death, Gurvon was Toren's and Renzel's Shadow Master. Renzel, already shunned for being of mixed origin. (Possessing the rare abilities of a white mage as well as his abyssal powers, the two affinities heresy when existing in one being.) Forced to drift from hold to hold, as a sell sword. Now faced the very possible reality that he would be sentenced to death by the Order above all Orders, the Shadow Council. For slaying a master, regardless of the reason. The Reavers would be sent to collect his life. He had wiped all memory of those who were present with a blast charm, causing an entire days worth of memory loss, but somehow, The council had learned of the ordeal all the same. Renzel knew this to be true, for one reason, two occasions had surfaced where Renzel mock had to slay assassins in bedchambers. Baring the insignia of the master court. The five Magi who ran all black magi orders, descendants of Thanious Lazarus himself. Yet the Shadow Council hadn't issued anything for his arrest. For the moment he was wanted in questioning and nothing more, the council guards would soon be after him now that he was home, in the Holy city of Thanious. But he knew his Order. The black magi were ruthless, even to their own. He was certain the wickedness travelled even higher through the ranks than just his father. So he remained hidden, in the shadows. And that's where we begin, here in the shadows.

'It just doesn't make sense, I watched Gurvon die. I took his force into my own and fed my spark with it. Everyone present was affected by the blast charm. It was the most powerful I know of. Surely there is more to this.'

The Mage pulled his black hood further down to his eyes, the rain and thunder beat heavy on the city of Thanious. Bobbing through the crowded muddy streets, dodging dirty vagrants and pedaling merchants. He slipped passed a man's cart that displayed sapphire and amethyst, accompanied by the eager merchant's shouts to the crowd. With the promises of enchanments and wonderous effects.

Renzel ducked into a dark alleyway where he kept his stealth away from the city street.

'Surely, the council knows I have entered the city.'

His panting slowed as he ducked under a reaver ward he had conjured earlier in his arrival to protect him from any nosey battle Magi who decided to pursue him in full Abyssal form. The Mage glanced around him to make sure the alleyway was clear of unwanted eyes. "Rish frazzha." The bricks began to creak and moan, shifting and spitting clay dust, creating a crevice in the left wall.

Ducking inside, Renzel waved a hand back toward the entrance; 'If I leave the ward up no mortal can see the entrance. I just wish I could close it while I was inside.' Emerging inside his small outpost, Renzel enabled the cloaking just in time to hear unison footsteps stomp march by.

"Still causing trouble?" Alverna said as she stewed her wooden spoon through the soup at Renzel's fireplace.

"This city's council also knows of the death of my father."

Renzel sat by the fire as he began to undress and dry.

"Of course they do Ren, you did kill the Tyrant of

Cobold after all."

Renzel's face twisted.

"Don't call him that. I'm a Shadow too. I took the oath. I have mastered dark magic remember? I was an Arch-Assassin for the SC. But because of my affinity for white magic they ordered me to drift so I couldn't turn and cleanse the order."

Alverna turned around and put her hands on her hips. "Didn't you do just that when you killed your father? That must be some white magic; to make you want to rid the world of your own blood. Also, isn't drifting the worst punishment for a Shadow? You're basically a sell-sword for the council, your power is has been limited and you can only become as powerful as they let you. an outcast."

"No, the match between me and my father was personal, you know that. It had nothing to do with my combining of Magi practices. Also, I'm the strongest I have ever been. The council just prevented any further advancement through means of Abyssal training. My natural power still flows."

Renzel kneeled next to the small fire place and smelled the hearty and lustrous Squirrel stew bubbling merrily.

"I cant believe I've been so busy these past few days that I've forgotten to eat."

His stomach lurched for nourishment at the thought. Verna stood a few steps behind and watched as he flickered a small black and white flame from his finger and watched it strain to stay alight.

"You know that your Mana strains under humanly ailments. Eat, I can gather that you're starving Ren."

Alverna sat a big loaf of salted bread next to a chair a few feet to Renzel's left, grinning happily as she turned and shuffled her way back to the kettle to stir her soup. Renzel stared at the long blonde-haired girl for awhile, lost in her.

'She's so cheerful and sweet.. Even after everything the Council of Shadows took from her. First they took her brother, just as they do many recruits.. Was it nine or ten Moons ago? He was just a boy too.. Considerably younger than most who the SC take for training. Then they took her father when he tried to get Andrew back. The way they scorched him... his eyes melted right out of their sockets.'

Alverna turned around with a smile, "You sticking around for awhile? I'm getting anxious sitting in your musty den while you run your war games out there."

Renzel scoffed and leaned back in his chair. "They are not war games. It's just surveillance, I need to be absolutely certain of the shadows that lurk here in Thanious. I only have you here to protect you. You would have been an easy target for Calprey if they sent him to collect my life."

"Calprey?! Ha" Alverna rolled her eyes. "That old man is as fragile as he is inept!"

"Don't be so hasty to judge, Calprey was my cloaking trainer when I was taken by the council. He's over three hundred years old now. Full Black Magi in him. If Calprey lets someone best him. Its because he has a bigger plan in mind."

Before Alverna could respond, shouts erupted in the alley outside the den. "Stay here!" Renzel threw his cloak over his torso and peeked through the crevice. A crowd had gathered at the opening of the alley. As he approached the opening the shouting became more audible. "Kill him!" "He's one of those bastard white lighters! Magi scum! Look at the brand!" Renzel pushed through the crowd to find a beaten and bruised young man lying in the middle of the street. The boy's hand had the branding of the white magi.

'The spirit order.. What are they doing in Thanious?'

Alverna stepped through the crowd from where Renzel had come. "Oh my, is he?" Renzel picked the boy up and stepped out of the crowd toward the alley. "No, it takes more than a beating to destroy a Mage's spark."

Just then a stampede of horses rounded the other end of the alleyway. When Calprey and Renzel's eyes met, all the world's hells had broken loose and Renzel's heart sank. He tossed the boy back at Alverna and destroyed the reaver ward he had placed with the wave of a hand. Bursting into his Abyssal form. With his dark armor summoned and his cloak ablaze with the black embued flame of his order, his once manly face turned toward Alverna with the demonic horned scorn of the underworld in it. Renzel screeched from the depths of this demon as the steeds drew in closer. "Run!"