Through the evening glow of the sun setting, ran Elora. She watched as the lunar glow of the four moons took the sun's place in illuminating the world. One might say that it was a sign from the gods signifying their love for humanity, for it was a truly beautiful sight.
But to Elora, it only meant one thing; her mission was nearing its end. She watched without awe as the moon's light glimmered off the metal walls of New Tokensville and pooled onto a giant gem encrusted into the biggest building of all the city.
"You may pass, I hope you find joy in the waking world." Hailed the guard as he bowed down low.
"You as well." Recited Elora while walking through the ivory gate layed in front of her.
The streets were bustling, rich people littered the roads and heavily clad people trailed. Certainly a change from the once quiet town, of which for a time, was in its stead.
"Praise the stars, good folk, if we show them the care and love of humanity, another sun will appear in the sky; just like at the Lunar Festival." Preached an old man standing on a barrel as he held his arms out to the night sky.
"Shut it grandpa, lunar practices were outlawed years ago." Snarled a denizen while he knocked the grandpa off his barrel.
The sound of a neck snapping could be heard as the old man struck the pavement, but no one so much as batted an eye. The rich citizens just walked by without a shred of remorse, their eyes empty and uncaring.
But in the crowd, a rich couple could be seen stopping at the body; they kneeled down and performed his final rights. When they were done, they moved his body into a more comfortable position so he could reach the Spirit World without any troubles.
Such a thing is uncommonly seen by such people, but not impossible; the art of common courtesy will always find ways to show in people of all sorts.
While Elora walked by, she looked down at the body with a semblance of shame, she realized that she didn't know herself anymore and it pained her. The shame Elora felt was great, so as she walked; she thought about how she could change. But in the end she decided that it was too late for her to change and pushed the thought out of her head to continue her tread.
~~~
"Luther Hardish, I've heeded your request and have brought before you the creature you've deemed my target." Announced Elora as she stood in front of the baron.
"Very good Elora, for this I thank you; you've done marvelously this time." Greeted Luther.
"Much more useful than that whore stain of a father you once called family, I still can't believe I had dealt with him for thirty seven years; never once accomplished anything useful." Laughed the baron whilst he sipped from a golden chalice, and looked at Elora obliviously.
"Luther... don't you dare talk about my father like that, I don't care if you're mad or not, I'll leave; and take this creature with me." Growled Elora as she gritted her teeth.
"Come now Elora, he's dead; his ears won't be able to hear the truth." Grinned the baron while pulling a toothpick out of his mouth.
"That's not the problem, what matters is that your soiling his name; do you have any respect for the dead." Snarled Elora as she slowly moved her hand to the untarnished sheath that hung loosely at her side.
"Fine fine, let's just get this familiar meeting over with." Sighed the baron while handing his empty platter to a pristinely clothed servant.
"Let's." Agreed Elora as she dropped Imogen to the floor.
"Ugh, my head hurts... I think... I hope every waking moment of your life is felt with great pain Elora." Groaned Imogen while rubbing her head slowly.
"Oh quit your yapping, it's making my ears hurt." Snapped Elora as she glared at Imogen with disinterest.
"Oh believe me, I won't be the one moaning later..." Snickered Imogen while dogging an apparent stray foot.
"You're such a bitch, could you just shut up for one fucking moment." Hissed Elora, clearly annoyed.
"It's not my fault that I'm good at pissing people off, you should be ashamed of yourself." Sneered Imogen while flipping the baron off.
"Oh sorry, wrong person; your face just looks so much like dog crap that I mistook it for Elora's." Chortled Imogen as she pointed her finger at the baron's face.
"Listen here you goat fucking whore, this is my castle you're in; I could have you killed at any moment I wish!" Raged the baron while slamming his foot into the ground.
"Castle?" "This looks more like a sheep seducer's hut, I could have made something better blindfolded." Taunted Imogen as she looked around at the shiny blue walls that seemed to be getting duller by the second.
"That's it!" "Take that bad mouthing bitch back where you found her and cut out that fucking tongue while you're at it!" Boomed the baron while accidently smashing his goblet through a servant's head.
"What?" "I thought you said she could be used to clear your head of madness, isn't that worth your patience?" Inquired Elora as she looked straight into the barren eyes of the baren.
"I lied, I just wanted to torture the bitch who burned down some good buildings; it costed me a lot of money to replace them!" Shouted the baren while throwing platters at the tapestries hanging on the walls.
"I wouldn't of even cared if she had just murdered the people, they were due to be replaced anyways; but she burned down good architecture and that was a guaranteed death sentence for her!" Thundered the baron as he punched a servant in the head, snapping his neck.
"Guaranteed?" "It looks like you botched that about as much as your mother did when she mangled your face with a hammer and to think that she thought you were ugly before." Cackled Imogen while rolling back and forth on the floor.
"Oh shut the fuck up already, your personality is quite frankly infuriating; and somehow really gets under my skin!" Shrieked Elora as she picked Imogen up by the neck.
"Now time to deal with you Luther, this relationship I've had with you is done, I shall no longer think of you as a second father; but as a common thug." Fumed Elora while slumping Imogen over her shoulder.
"But as a show of common decency, I'll take this insufferable pest with me; may life be charitable on your soul Luther." Nodded Elora as she turned to leave.
"Hah, you're screwed mate; may your wife cuckold you for eternity Luthor." Sniggered Imogen while swaying up and down over and over time again.
~~~
"I'm so- huf- tired, why did I have to- cough- chase after them." Panted Clarence as he spotted a giant owl swoop down and pick him up.
"Are you lost? If you are I can help you find your way to my stew pot; your life will not go wasted." Stated Anastasia while looking at him hungrily.
"What!?" "You don't want to eat me, I'm naught but skin and bones!" Pleaded Clarence as he tried to escape from Anastasia's clutches.
"Perfect, I love it when I can easily peel the skin off the bone; it makes for great filets." Giggled Anastasia with amusement in her eyes.
"My skin is fragile, it'll turn into dust before you can cook it." Panicked Clarence as he was tossed into the sky.
"Oh I'm just messing with you, deary, I love it when nestlings like you plead for their lives." Claimed Anastasia while watching Clarence fall though the clouds.
"Could you catch me please... I don't really want to die today." Frowned Clarence as he watched Anastasia grab him with her talons just before he hit the rocky bottom below.
"You didn't even scream... you're no fun; everyone else I've tossed up into the sky have screamed their lungs out." Pouted Anastasia while landing softly on the ground.
"I'm not afeared of heights, that's the most likely answer to you wonderings; it's been like that ever since I was little." Answered Clarence as he watched Anastasia's playful eyes sparkle in the night sky.
"That's cheating, you were born to counter my tricks." Whined Anastasia while tackling Clarence.
"Get off me, you're crushing my sternum; it hurts like hell." Coughed Clarence as he tried to crawl out.
"No, I want to have meat paste for supper today so that is what you're going to be." Assured Anastasia while snuggling down on top of him.
"For real, get off me; I'm going to suffocate." Begged Clarence as he tried to push off Anastasia.
"Nope, I'm sleeping here; you'll live." Declared Anastasia while shutting her eyes for the night.
"Anastasia, this isn't cool, ANASTASIA!" Yelled Clarence as he struggled for breath.
~~~
The night was black, the prophecy was about to be proven true; or at least partly. The Crimson Ones beached their boat upon a small island to rest for the night, they were all dead tired; the trip was exhausting without the use of magic and they still had a long way to go before they reached Nodgein.
At least they had somewhat lost their followers by abstaining from magic for the boat ride, they assumed that the Ancient Ones couldn't track them without the use of magic. But In reality, the Ancient Ones lurked in the shadows, waiting for them to reach Nodgein before they struck.
The Crimson Ones, oblivious, continued with their life as normal.