--
Scene: A battlefield under a darkened sky, many years later
The once-vibrant kingdom of Valendar lay in ruins. The skies, permanently darkened, crackled with the remnants of powerful magic. Mordryn stood alone at the edge of a scorched battlefield, his staff in hand. His once sharp and commanding presence was now dulled by exhaustion and grief. Years of war had taken their toll, and the endless battle between him and the Council of Arcanists had reduced the kingdom to ash.
Mordryn (thinking):
"How did it come to this?"
He scanned the desolation around him. The ground was littered with remnants of magical battles—cracked earth, destroyed buildings, and the eerie, shimmering traces of powerful spells gone wrong. The people of Valendar had long since fled, leaving the land to rot under the weight of a war that seemed like it would never end.
---
Flashback: Years ago, Shadowspire
---
Caldris's face hovered in Mordryn's mind, still cold and unyielding even after so many years. The betrayal of the council had never left him. From that moment on, they had been relentless, sending wave after wave of mages and soldiers against him, blaming him for the darkness they themselves had caused.
Mordryn:
gritting his teeth
"They thought they could control magic they barely understood..."
He had fought to protect the people. His magic, though feared, had been the only thing keeping the Shadowrealm's creatures at bay. But now, he was at war with both the council and the dark forces creeping ever closer.
The creatures had grown stronger, more vicious, feeding off the chaos of the war. They were no longer confined to the Shadowrealm; they roamed freely through Valendar, unchecked.
---
Scene: The Present, a crumbled fortress in Valendar
---
The latest battle had been the worst. Mordryn stood, barely able to hold himself upright, staring out at the destruction caused by both his magic and the council's. His once-glorious spells were now instruments of devastation. He no longer recognized himself.
Mordryn (thinking):
"Is this what I've become? A bringer of ruin, just as they said?"
The sky crackled with dark energy. He could sense them—the council was regrouping, preparing to strike again. Even after all this time, they still believed they could overpower him. He sighed, his chest tight with the weight of years of conflict.
He couldn't keep this up. Not anymore.
Mordryn:
to himself
"It has to end."
---
Scene: The Cave of the Lost, Deep in the Mountains
---
Weeks later, after one final, devastating battle with the council, Mordryn made his way to a place only he knew about—an ancient cave, hidden deep within the mountains. It was a place of forgotten magic, a sanctuary untouched by the corruption of war.
The entrance was sealed with powerful wards, ancient runes glowing faintly in the dim light. Mordryn stood at the threshold, his staff glowing softly as he began to speak an incantation under his breath. His voice was weary, his words echoing with the finality of his decision.
Mordryn:
whispering the spell
"Let time forget me… let this power be locked away, until it is needed once more."
The runes on the cave walls responded, flaring to life as the spell took hold. Slowly, Mordryn stepped inside, allowing the magic to envelop him. The cave's walls shimmered with a soft light as the air around him thickened, sealing him in a cocoon of time. His body became weightless, suspended in a timeless void.
Mordryn (thinking):
"This will be my penance... my peace."
He felt his consciousness slipping away as the spell completed. The war would end, and he would fade into legend, forgotten by the world he once tried to save.
---
Scene: The Year 2023, Modern Day
---
Suddenly, his eyes snapped open.
Mordryn (thinking):
"What is this...?"
He found himself lying on the floor of a small, dark space. His staff was still in his hand, but everything felt different—lighter, unfamiliar. The air was strange, filled with new smells and sounds. He sat up, his head spinning.
When he finally stood, he realized that the cave walls were gone. The runes had disappeared, their magic long faded. In their place was metal and stone, a small underground chamber that looked nothing like the ancient world he remembered.
Mordryn (thinking):
"Where... am I?"
He stumbled forward, confused, his staff tapping against the strange flooring beneath him. The sound echoed unnaturally, unlike anything he had ever heard. Reaching the edge of the chamber, he pushed open a heavy metal door.
The light blinded him momentarily as he stepped outside.
What he saw left him speechless.
Tall structures made of glass and steel towered over him, glowing with bright lights. Strange, horseless carriages raced down paved roads. People walked by, tapping on glowing rectangles in their hands, seemingly unaware of the world around them.
Mordryn:
staring at the city in shock
"This... this can't be Valendar."
His heart raced as he tried to comprehend what had happened. Everything was alien—nothing was as it had been. He had slept for far longer than he had intended. This was no longer the world he had fought to protect.
Mordryn (thinking):
"How much time has passed?"
As he stood there, overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of this new world, something stirred inside him—an ancient force, a whisper from the forgotten magic that had sealed him away. He could feel it—the darkness, still lurking, still waiting. It had followed him, even here.
Mordryn (thinking):
"The war is not over."
With a deep breath, he straightened himself, tightening his grip on his staff. Whatever this world was, it was now his to protect.
---
End of Chapter 3