This wordless journey to Eldrith could have been. Both were too obtuse to find words when stuck with an unsettling silence, marked only by the rustling of leaves beneath their feet and an odd call now and then from some distance by some bird. Rufus and Lyra walked side by side; yet their swords rested quite at their sides.
We did it, Lyra finally said, breaking her long silence. But what is the cost? What if dark mage has some hidden forces from our side waiting to unleash on us?
Rufus nodded, speaking in a voice of concern. "I know, we have to prepare for whatever will occur. Darkness is not going to just back down because we have won this one battle.".
They could see this town, in all its coziness as well as all its discomfort crawl into their hearts as they drew closer to the outskirts of Eldrith. It was their sanctuary, but it is also a place vulnerable to the evil in those woods.
They enter the town square, looking quite different amidst the chanting and worried faces. The villagers collect all their concerned eyes full of hope because these returning adventurers are the very ones they've been waiting to see.
Rufus! Lyra! You're back! Mira exclaimed, running forward. We heard the commotion and feared the worst.
Everyone's alive, Rufus declared, holding up a hand to halt them. "We fought the dark mages; they lost. This battle, however hasn't finished. We need to prepare for something much bigger."
Garrick stood up, covered in sweat on his brow. "I have had some of the villagers speak to me. They are willing to help. We can fortify the town as well as prepare for a siege if it comes our way.".
Good, said Rufus with his chest aglow with determination. Shall we gather our things, prepare for us some defensive stronghold. Cannot let them catch us off guard once more.
As the people started to filter off to their work, a feeling of pride for their stubbornness began to swell up inside of Rufus's chest. They were clumping together now, binding themselves as one against the peril that threatened to darken their lives. Into this pride, though was a sense of fear. He couldn't help but feel the dark mage still watched and waited for the right moment to strike.
They walked to the tavern that night, the yellow glow of the lanterns flickering on the walls with all of them huddled about one table: Rufus, Lyra, Garrick, Elara, Mira-all sipping drinks, nursing what to do next.
"We have to know more about the dark mage and his schemes," said Elara, furrowed brow. "We've fought one of his minions, but we have to know the bigger picture."
"I can touch some old acquaintances," Mira ventured. "There are whispers in the adventurer circuits that may give us leads about the dark mage's movements."
"That is a good start," Rufus said. "We should also check up on the historical background of this place. Maybe there are clues within the ancient legends or stories about old wars and battles."
Lyra's eyes grow grave. "Rufus, do you think the dark mage has some connection to your past? The one who banished you?"
He freezes, images spilling back into his mind-shadows whispering his name, dark hallways thick with dread. "I don't know," he says slowly, "but if he's who I think he is, then this isn't about Elysara alone. This is personal."
And now the clique stood in silent thought, each of the members thinking for himself what the other silently tried to say: the ghost of Rufus, who belonged to his past and was seeking revenge or power at any price to himself.
"We can't help but define ourselves by that past," Garrick said aloud, breaking the silence. "You are stronger now, Rufus. You've faced worse and come out the other side."
"True," said Rufus, although this instilled into him a well of uncertainty. "But we need to know all his vulnerabilities and strengths if we are to win."
With the plan now more detailed, they decided to split the next day into two. One would scout around for information, while the others would further strengthen the defenses of the town. Rufus felt the weight of their mission heavy on his shoulders; every spare moment was a moment the dark mage could use against them.
He lay in bed that night wrestling his thoughts, he told himself. Shadows danced before his mind as memories of days past interwove with battles as yet unwon. Sleep would not come to Rufus as all possibility ran amok in his head.
The next morning, the sun rays crawling over Eldrith found Rufus in the town square gathering his friends. A new resolve seemed to emanate from each of them: an ability to find purpose in the darkness that they would meet together.
Today, he said, we collect knowledge. We have to see where that evil sorcerer will strike next and how to respond. We have to know more about him and his army.
Rufus and Lyra went to the woods where dark mages were last spotted. The air was thick with tension as they wandered about, retracing their steps for leftovers of the last skirmish.
"Do you think he's coming back?" Lyra asked, as hard as she could to keep her voice level, though the air itself was heavy with unease.
"If he does, we'll be ready," Rufus said with undiminished determination. "But I want to know what's making him do this. There has to be some reason that he's singling us out, that he's singling Elysara out."
And so they walked out to the clearing beside the old castle, and Rufus felt somehow there was an aura about them: this was beginning to grow unattractive - the cold feeling creeping along his skin making goose bumps rise. "It feels different," he said, turning about the clearing. "As if darkness just hangs here still.".
They came in step, though not quite steady, for the battle still marked them: snapped boughs, scorched earth, and the faint tang of magic drifting through the air. Rufus drops to his hands and knees to really take a closer look at the ground.
"Well, well, look here," Lyra said, pointing at a dark robe caught on a thorny bush. "This might be from one of the dark mages."
This is showing allegiance to a great dark power. Whoever wore this was part of something bigger.
As they swept the area over, Rufus noticed something glinting in the bushes. Down he dropped and drew out an amulet of no larger than a fist, his surface covered with runes etched into its surface-all of which pulsed with a faint, ominous power.
"What's that?" asked Lyra, peering closer.
"I don't know," he said, holding up the amulet for inspection by the light. Turning it over in his hand, he met Serilda's eyes. "But something about this feels connected to that dark mage. We should take it back and study it closer."
With their find safely stowed in Rufus's pocket, they turned carefully back to Eldrith. When there, they called the others in to discuss what they'd found.
The flickering candlelight on his table mixed with whispers of curiosity from the tavern-goers lit up Rufus as he placed the amulet before them. "We found this among the ruins. Must have belonged to one of the dark mages," he concluded.
Mira stooped forward to look at the runes on the object. "This is ancient magic," she said. "This is a focus. It is for dark energy-to make their power stronger."
"Stronger?" Elara repeated in a voice of expanding possibilities. "Then they must be planning something big."
A feeling of urgency began rising within Rufus. "We have to counter the power of this thing. If we could weaken the connection of the dark mage with this energy, then it is our only advantage."
"I can work on figuring out the runes," Mira said. "It'll take some time but, maybe we can understand what its purpose was. Then we might find a way to disrupt their magic."
Good, Rufus said gratefully, acknowledging her energy. Bolster our guard and get the townspeople ready in the meantime; I want everyone, town, soldiers, all, trained and prepared to fight.
As they kept on talking, a creeping sense of unease began to settle over Rufus. He knew the darkness was closing in, but he could feel the power of their unity, a unity born of battle and of purpose.
He had little freedom outside, only much later that night, when cool night air swept against his skin and gusty gusts hit his body, while stars twinkled before him above the raging storm of his heart.
He could return into the mind of the dark mage and try to wonder what it was that he would want, or to what game Rufus played unwittingly. It was a battle in which he could be only a pawn-or perhaps this was becoming a grudge against Rufus on a personal level. The shadows of his past loomed large and whispered secrets that he hardly understood.
"Rufus?" Lyra's voice cut through the revery, and he turned towards her.
"Just thinking," he admitted, as if unburdening himself of something heavy on his back.
"About the dark mage?" she asked, a single thread of concern showing. "You don't have to face this alone, you know."
"Yes, I know," he replied, his face grimacing into a smile. "It feels as though I have to confront him, all things told. This isn't just about Elysara; this is about my past."
Lyra moved closer, her face fierce. "We're in this together. However large or dark the shadows you carry, you will not walk through them alone.
With that said, warmth spread throughout Rufus. "Thanks, Lyra," he said, his voice quivering; his eyes were fighting tears. "I won't let the darkness consume me."
Standing together, looking up at that starry night sky, the galvanized determination in his heart. While standing there and thinking about it, the shadows may whisper but not tell his fate.
As the wind changed and the sun painted its colors on the horizon, he knew that this fight was by no means over yet. He and his heroes would see through the darkness because together they now became a storm threatening to engulf all of them.