Brenna continues staring at the trees till finally, the crimson sun rises behind her back. She jumps down and continues looking. Her comrades gather around and look in the same direction. The elder of the village steps out of the entrance and with his old eyes he squints in the direction of the woods.
"He knows that your waiting for him, princess," the elder comments.
"Then we will take the hunt to him," Brenna says with a small smirk which gets many of her own to look at her. "We have no choice. Six of you stay and watch the village, the rest of us are going to hunt this thing."
"King Andor would not approve of you going out there. Not in your condition," one of her warriors says immediately, and Brenna smile.
"Good thing my father is not here to approve the situation," she says and already starts walking towards the woods.
Six of her colleagues follow behind her. All of them keep a tight formation when going into the woods. Brenna looks at the tracks the children made. Nothing's unusual about them. She comes across blood which makes her pull back on her bow. The sound of rustling in the branches makes her aim in different directions but nothing emerges.
They come to the old temple. There's a large puddle of blood and a pile of bones. She picks up the skull of one and examines it. Rubbing her finger on it, Brenna realizes the blood is still fresh. The growling of a beast makes Brenna and her warriors are on their guard. A black fog as thick as smoke begins to form all around them.
"Tighten up," Brenna orders.
Her six colleagues do as instructed. They couldn't see anything. The sound of something moving swiftly makes them aim in all directions. One of the warriors sees a figure in the darkness moving around them. She fires a few shots from her rifle. Nothing's heard hitting her target as the figure disappears. Three of her colleagues turn in the same direction, aiming their weapons, and begin firing.
When they stop Brenna holds up her fist and they stop. She advances, breaking formation. Her feet move slowly inch forward. When her toes feel nothing supporting them, she'd look down to see a steep drop. She kicks some small rocks and didn't hear them hit the rubble below for a few seconds.
Her attention turns around after sending an incredible power. A thicker and darker black smoke comes in from behind them. It comes in fast and from it a large black paw with crimson claws takes a single swipe, decanting one of the women. The others turn but find the mysterious figure so fast. It dodges most of what's fired at them.
One more fallss by the same circumstances. Another try dodging the attack but has her throat cut deep, she loses too much blood. One takes a spear and drives it into the black cloud. She couldn't pull it out. A second black paw emerges and drives both claws into her face and neck. The fifth victim runs out of ammunition and draws her sword. The black cloud consumes her and leaves a blood trail.
Brenna and her last surviving colleague stay tight as the scream of their comrade stop. The beast continues growling. Brenna's colleague continues looking before noticing a black patch in front of her face. She then sees eyes not belonging to life on Premderia. She aims her weapon but the claws of the beast swipe across her face even faster.
Brenna focuses her power on her last remaining arrow as fast as possible. She spins around firing off the arrow. It goes into the black cloud of smoke in front of her. It makes a large explosion of red energy. She hears the roar of the beast. Brenna's knocked back by the blast and fall of the edge of the cliff. Her body hit several branches and big rocks as she rolled down. One large rock stopped her from rolling back any further.
Brenna catches her breath after coughing several times. The first thing she does is place her hand on her belly. It glows strongly with crimson energy and she sighed in relief. Her left knee prevents her from getting up. She'd pop it back into place letting out a loud grunt. The strength it takes to do it makes her rest up against a rock catching her breath and resting her eyes.
Hearing Gormaur roar makes Brenna open her eyes faster than she shut them. She looks up to see Gormaur lurking over the edge of the cliff. Gormaur looks down for a moment and sees her body yet chooses not to pursue it. His attention turns towards the lit torches of the village. He sprints towards it with great haste letting out a roar while doing so.
Brenna gets back to her feet, having to use the rocks and trees to keep her balance. She limps on and makes her way back up the mountains. The evening sun begins to set with darkness growing. She continues working her way to the village. It takes her three times as long.
Screams echo through the woods as she gets closer to the village. Brenna sees wild flames and smoke rising in the dark. Through the bushes, she makes her way through. The wetness of the leaves brushing on her arms make Brenna look at them. Fresh warm blood stain her arms. She feels it on her face as well.
The screams come to a sudden stop. Brenna moves as fast as possible and comes to the outside edge of the village. Her legs give out from coming to a sudden stop and she drops to one knee in exhaustion. Her belly begins to glow more and more. She places her glowing hand on it calmly. She takes a moment's pause before continuing in. In the village, there are bloodstains everywhere. Yet there is no sign of the villagers or the comrades she left behind.
The creature let out a loud growl and she didn't move. Brenna watch as a black cloud comes around the corner. It slowly fades where she sees it's black paws first. The second thing's it reveal its head the same as a drazgov but black as the cloud which concealed him. The rest of its body reveals itself. A black drazgov that stands over eight feet in height on all fours and larger. One other unique skill the black drazgov didn't hesitate to show but didn't surprise Brenna.
"You saved me the trouble of hunting you down," He says to her, speaking with a deep dark voice. "Don't worry. I let them live. At least the ones that didn't oppose me." Brennan looks around at all those who did fight and die while Gormaur remains unchanged. "Do you remember who I am, Princess?"
"Only a simple-minded Premderian wouldn't know who you are. You're Gormaur, the legendary black Drazgov. A traitor to our people when you were once a protector."
"I am a traitor. Just as much as your father."
"My father is not a traitor."
"Turning his back to what the premderians truly are and joining a so-called peaceful government like the Federation, giving up the people's independence. I would say he is just as much a traitor as me."
She gets up and charges at Gormaur. The black drazgov is surprised and caught off guard. He moves quickly and dodged the swing of her blade. She feels his claws run across her back, cutting through her armor and deep in the flesh. She falls on her stomach and Gormaur backs away.
Brenna can't budge. Gormaur gets ready to charge. His legs start moving forward slowly. He savors the moment and approaches her slowly. Brenna feels something and looks down at her glowing stomach. It makes Gormaur stop. She let out a scream. Crimson energy is seen glowing from her stomach and to the palm of her right hand.
"You are too weak to do anything to me. Your last attack was nothing more than an itch, Princess."
Brenna lifts her right hand very fast and aims her glowing palm at Gormaur. She fires off a single beam of crimson energy. Gormaur feels it's immense power but find it too late to dodge. It strikes him on the right side of his face. Brenna looks shocked as Gormaur finds himself surprised.
The Black Drazgov stumbles back with a loud howl of pain as he feels the burn. A black cloud of smoke conceals him as he falls back, getting a distance from her. Brenna falls to her knees and her side. The attack leaves her exhausted and feels the eyes weighing heavy. Gormaur regains his composure and reveals the burnt right side of his face.
"What was that?" He questions as he collects himself.
"The power of someone who will have the strength to stop you."
Brenna didn't have the strength to counter. She still wondered how an attack in her condition's even possible in the first place. Gormaur paces back and forth as he watches her belly glow brighter and brighter. He does not attack. Her eyes widen as did Gormaurs as they sense something powerful. It's strong enough to make Gormaur halt halfway into his charge.
His eyes look to the bushes and see two of her warriors leap out of the bushes with a sword in hand, ready to strike. Gormaur blocks the strike with his hard furry skin, shattering the blade. Gormaur's claws extend and cut the flesh of one. From the mouth of the beast, he fires a single shot of black energy. Both let out a scream as they are scarred and their bodies fly back. They roll several times and stop in Brenna'a arms.
"A foolish attempt," Gormaur comments as he smiles. "Brave to say the very least. Far braver than the ones that leads you now. It is a shame you will not be around to see what..." Gormaur halts with his words as he senses something far stronger.
Crimson energy crashes down from the sky in between the two of them. Gormaur snarls but takes a couple of steps back as the shadow of a man standing within. The crimson energy continues ripping into the ground as he slowly floats down to the ground.
The energy disappears and reveals something that Gormaur shows no surprise in seeing King Andor. He is dressed in crimson-colored armor, but not just any kind. Ancient by the markings on the chest piece. It has the engraved emblem on the left chest plate of the Premderian star.
The armor itself has a unique design. It's made as mechanical but has an ancient demonic style about it. The shoulder guards are long enough if the one who wore the armor stretched out their arms it covers down just barely passed the forearm. They have small engravings in black all around the shoulder guards and have a couple of small spikes on them. That piece went down to the center of the chest piece where one can see the lines of the ab wall and chest lines etched in. The three parts were connected in the center by a golden gem.
The armor on the upper and lower arm and legs have a rough edge about it. The gauntlets have two round shields that extract. The tip of the fingers has sharp claws that extend out. It's not the only device equipped on the arms. It has a device resembling that of a dragon's head on both hands, with four large sharp golden teeth.
On its back, a weapon and a shield. Razor-sharp crimson wings that shine like crystal, and are shaped like that of angels wings. They're large enough they could blanket the one who wears the armor and sharp enough to cut through an enemy. The last of the physical features on the armor, the helmet. It has three golden points on the forehead that join together at the center. It did have a face cover, with two green lenses to shield the wielder's eyes.
"Father," she says before collapsing.
He looks over his shoulder at her daughter collapsed on the ground for a moment. Gormaur refuses to make a move and continues growling. Even with the back of the King open to attack, Gormaur refuses. The King's eyes look back to Gormaur. Andor sees Gormaur looking towards the grip he has on his sword. Andor didn't even have a firm grip but it's enough to keep Gormaur from making a move. He stops and regains his composure.
"King Andor," he says with an arrogant smirk. "You look like you are in good health," he tells him before turning his eyes in the direction of Brenna. "If I had known sooner of the child, they would not be an orphan," he adds before black smoke begins to conceal him. "Tread lightly."
"Are you threatening me, Gormaur?" The King of Premderia asks plainly.
"No. I am too honorable for that."
Gormaur disappears into the night. Andor turns his attention to his daughter and son in law. He looks towards her belly where he sees its glow of energy. The power coming from her womb, surprises Andor. There's something else he senses coming from the woods. Andor raises his sword and watches as there's a rustling in the woods. Over a dozen Premderian Honor Guards armed and ready for battle emerge getting their King to lower his blade. A medic rushes to her side and lifts her into his arms. The sight of her womb glowing more wild signals one thing.
"This child is coming very soon. We need to get her back to the castle."
"Get her back to the castle, now!" Andor shouts to them.
The soldiers did not waste time. They move back in the direction from which they came, leaving their King alone, not showing concern. Andor stand looking upon the stars. The words of Gormaur lurk in his mind.
"What are you planning, beast?" he questions before taking flight into the sky.
Gormaur lingers high in a clearing. He watches as the King take flight and head back towards his castle. The black Drazgov turn his back and proceed into the mountains. Deep within them, there are bones upon bones piled all around in an area where life is absent. The grass beneath his paws is grey and the trees are dead. Dark magic upon the place.
He journeys deep within a cave where fresher bodies are present, including those of the children. Inside there are several black-robed figures that keep themselves concealed by cloth and hoods. Not even their eyes are seen. They place the bodies on stone slabs and drain their blood into jars.
With the jars, they proceed to a wall where there are several stones implanted with markings. Many of them glow slightly but most are dim. They use the blood and pour them into the markings. Gormaur continues watching for a moment before proceeding further into the caves.
He finds a large cavern where there is a massive temple built deep within. Many black-robed figures move in and out while standing guard. Several stone seats are present. All of them still intact. Several stone torches light up with grey flames as Gormaur makes his way to the center. One of the stone seats takes shape in the shape of Brank from the armor. The only revealing thing about him is his is eyes. A Vendarion, once a Premderian but now consumed by darkness. The star and life marks on their body are now black just like the red in their eyes.
The one in the black-robes wearing a mask, going by the name of Steron, walks into the room as they do so. He briefly has his eyes glance at Gormaur who snarls but ignores it and takes a seat. Brank holds his hand up in front of him and he stops.
"Both of you stand down."
Gormaur is the first to responds. He changes back into his regular form. He shows what he is without hesitation. Like Brank, he's a Vendarion. He shows that he is as old as the king but has dirty blonde hair and a shaggy beard. When taking a breath his attention turns to Steron, who is not so quick but does what is asked. He removes the mask showing his dark grey skin which is quite wrinkly, along with his growing green eyes. All the traits of a Nethrol, a dark magic wielding species. Not the best of fighters but still are well known for their skills.
"Why have you summoned me?" Brank questions
"I have come across a powerful entity that has not been born yet. It resides in the belly of the King's daughter, " Gormaur explains and finds silence for a moment but Steron scoffs before giving his opinion.
"So? A mere infant is no threat to our plans."
"This infant is not born yet and is powerful enough to deliver a blow to damage me," he says and Steron laugh about it.
"One infant is no threat."
"Silence!" Brank shouts and focuses on Gormaur. "Do you believe this child is a threat?"
"I do," Gormaur says and there is a grumbling from Brank as he thinks about it.
"She could also be an ally," Brank suggests. "If we were to abduct her and bring her to our ways?"
"A child?" Steron questions and scoffs at the idea.
"A child can become stronger than even the mightiest of warriors when they are full-grown as we are all well aware of," Gormaur explains as he looks to Brank who comes up with a decision.
"Very well. The child will live but we must keep a sharp eye on them. Steron, dispatch two faithful to learn more about this child and have them report back immediately."
"As you wish," Steron says.
All the images disappear and Gormaur proceeds down one of the tunnels with Brank. One still lingers in the room. Steron snaps his fingers and two Premderians appear. Around their necks is a medallion with two black Nethrol symbol upon it. The first is faithful. Those that are known to be true loyalists to a Nethrol. In exchange for their services a Nethrol will teach them their dark arts. The second symbol is Steron's name.
"Get rid of that child."