Lux Aeterna (Keldon, Private)

[Bahamut]

Chapter 1: Invictus Clypeus

Dreams were a way to see things potentially, the dreamscape did hold a great many secrets. As Keldon lied within his bed that night in his fortress, he would dream a great many dreams, but one of them in particular stood out, by way of perhaps nightmare. He'd hear the screams and torment of men, and the dead, would see the zombie like faces of the men that had died in the Battle of Narim. Not alive, but not wholly dead, and coated in ice, these men's bodies were still scattered around the city, their bones chilled to the core by an archelemenentalist whom had given his life to try and win this battle. He'd see two familiar faces in the dark of the city as his boots trailed the ground before it, one was of a certain man, a certain archmystic, Duncan Sythe, the other was of a giant, champion of Aslan, Veleraen. The power of a planetar and god combined caused the dead to be undead, and Agar to have his vengeance.

But as he wandered through that dark dank city of Narim, the contamination heavy, he'd see something in a building that had been reduced to rubble by an airship bombdrop. It was a shield of some sort, glowing with contamination around it. And it was buried deep beneath the rubble of the building, though Keldon could see it so clearly. It's white hued color with the crest of a wolf upon it may have reminded him of something that his nephew Gye'ron might have carried at one point in his holy inquisition against the dark races. But as quickly as the dream had come, everything swirled away in a glow of light as Keldon awoke in a cold sweat with Agar's laughter ringing in the back of his head. If he looked down beside him, he'd see the enchanted wood he'd already given the Ancient Aelyrian feather to happened to be sitting next to him, randomly appearing, it thrummed with energy, as if saying, "It's time..."

 

[Keldon Elsdragon]

Nightmares were something that the elf-lord could rarely escape, for the era’s now, the memories of the Battle of Narim lingered in his mind at least once. So this time was no different, yet it was… this one seemed even more real. With everything going on around him, Keldon could still hear and almost feel the crunching sensation as his feet stepped through the frosted snow, blanketing the city. In the distance, he saw Duncan and Veleraen.

Frustration crept through the elves skin, and there was a man who put his tinkering above everything—yet compartmentalized the justification for so-called good—tampering with the minds, will and beliefs of others. In truth, had Eyvind ever had the intelligence to play his cards like Duncan, the rebellion would have likely ended very differently. But unfortunately, brute force was rarely the best way to shift the power of an empire like Aelyira.

Then the pair disappeared into the darkness of his mind or perhaps the shadow of Narim itself? Here we go again… Keldon looked around the city. Death would stalk everyone around here again… and with that thought, Keldon’s feet moved faster as he wandered through the rubble looking for Duncan, looking for the giant whose temper could fall cities and nations if left unchecked. Yet in the distance, the glowing shield cast light upon the shadows around it, perhaps pulling gently at the strings within Keldon’s mind reminding him that even in this shithole of a ruined light could still remain. But death almost always followed, the wolf? Gye’ron, he thought… perhaps he managed to cast something to protect himself.

Clasping the longsword, he began to move towards it hastily, and as the glow got more robust through the rubble, his heart started to beat harder. Thump, thump, thump in tune with his steps, and finally, his eyes opened.

He sat up, a bead of sweat rolling down his head and in a brief moment of confusion, he reached out for the sword of sages. His hand touched wood and pulled back. His eyes locked on the staff. It had been quite some time since he had infused the feather Arianne had given him; her direction was simple. Rebirth of his arm and ensuring that it protects those who cannot, forget not the light that guides us. Even those who are dark of hearts.

The elf could feel the energy pulsating off it, much like his own heartbeat. But he didn’t know why it had finally responded to him. Yet here it was, as the elf rose out of bed looking around to see if something was amiss. Then, Keldon reached out slowly to wrap his hand gently around the wood to feel the pulse and try to understand better what was to come.

 

[Bahamut]

As Keldon wrapped his hand around the enchanted wood, he could hear the energy of the wood humming, and feel a slight tingling within his fingers. The wood seemed to want something, it seemed to yearn for it, and by making contact with the enchanted wood, Keldon could see glimpses of the glowing shield within his mind, also deep within the ruined city of Narim, somewhere there, just waiting to be plucked from the snowy death ridden lands. He could almost smell the stench of death in his nostrils, but strangely could not see any undead within the area. Just cold desolate crisp snow upon the ground.

As the images flooded his mind, he knew somewhere deep inside that Narim would be where he'd have to go if he wanted to find out exactly what the staff was yearning for. It seemed it was the shield, but one never knew when it came to these things, whether he should trust the staff that now contained Aerienne's ancient aelyrian feather, the staff that was bound to him, or his mind, knowing what a cold desolate place Narim was, heaving with necromantic and elemental contamination, from the battles he once had there many eras ago...

 

[Keldon Elsdragon]

Perhaps the elf should not have reached out and embraced the piece of wood, leaving the touch of sorcery in his past. He would have avoided the pains of memories he had tried to bury in the tombs of history, yet this brightening perhaps was one he had no choice and would need to deal with the pains. Like steel, pain and suffering flow through the veins of history.

The smell of that catastrophic event still touched the back of his sinus, the memories ignoring the fresh flowers that lined the lavish room. Their scents were masked by the burning memory of charred flesh, rotting companions, sweat mixed with steel and the sensation pulsating not only in his hand but his arm as he recalled the instability of the giant, which unleashed his own trauma upon the elf lord.

Slowly lifting up his hand from the textured wooden fragment Keldon took a heavy, deep, slow breath and sighed outward. His mind lost in the depths of history as he thought of how many things had changed since that brightening and now. He had never walked away from someone or something calling him. Perhaps it was his debating on just exactly what lay ahead and if the master sorcerer was prepared to face the fields and long ripped effects of something he blamed himself for.

For a brief moment, he dismissed the idea; stepping towards the bannister of the balcony looking out into the darkness and ocean, he let out another sigh. That shield captured in his mind, he wondered. Did he miss something? Someone? Fuck, fuck these bullshit signs. The elf questioned how much of the nation and deaths had been caused by people having outcasted thoughts.

But nevertheless, the elf took another deep breath and made the preparations to head south once more over the lands from one ocean to another. This time no armies, no politics, no sovereign hiding under a crown, no false gods, no one but himself and something tugging at him, pulling him forward. Keldon would fly south towards Narim and search for the image in his mind.

 

[Bahamut]

As Keldon flew south, he could continuously feel the staff pulling him in the direction of Narim. Flying southbound was easy enough, and though it took him quite a while with a few stops to make camp for the darkenings, he finally arrived on the outskirts of Narim. And a scene unfolded that he might not have expected. It had been eras since he had been to Narim anyway. He could see the wintry mix of a storm whipping all over the place, and the snow falling at an ever-greater rate. He could still feel the contamination as he had felt it back during the Battle of Narim where an archmage had frozen the city, sacrificing his life as Veleraen's flaming fist burst through his chest. Memories of that day were still etched hard in his brain, memories he could not forget.

But one thing was different now. The frozen corpses and zombies that had been around Narim... were nowhere to be seen or found. They had been obliterated by a newly made arch-necromancer, one that actually had a good soul of sorts, and that didn't believe in the nefarious deeds most necromancers seemed to be into. As he flew downwards through the storm, he could feel the wind whipping within his hair, and in his heart, he knew he was going within the right direction.

The ruins of the city still seeped through the blustering winds, as he would be able to start making them out even as his visibility was hampered by the torrential snowfall. Large walls with parts of them blown out, and crumbling, ruins from a once proud city, pummeled by airship fire, and sorcery. It seemed that all was silent here except the howling of the wind, and even that was at a din no one could barely recognize...

 

[Keldon Elsdragon]

The countryside beneath him both looks similar and vastly different at the same time. As he passed the northern border of Sherian he noticed the odd source of light, but mostly nothing but darkness. He had only ventured briefly into the province prior and had mainly no desire to see the waste that had become the province that he intended to bring back into the Empire.

The darkened and shadowy walls of Narim slowly rose on the horizon as the elf-lord approached. His eyes scanned the countryside for signs of movement. Yet, to his surprise, nothing appeared to stir. He presumed the bodies of thousands laid under the blanket of snow throughout as he started his descent down to the ground.

As Tathar hooves touched the ground stirring the snow a gust of wind ruffled the scruffy elf’s hair, a glint of chill moving through his frame as he dismounted only a short distance from the city gates. Keldon felt so empty, so alone. Tathars beauty overshadowed by the storm, and the harrowing sight of the city behind could not help but make the elf feel a feeling of deep sorrow for the lives, dreams, and reputation lost that fateful darkening.

That gentle yet strong pulsating sensation coming from the long-forgotten piece from his past that has seemly drawn him to a pivotal point of the young elfs history. Glancing at Tathar the Pegasus knew this was a path he wanted to take long. No one would die here at his expense again…

Taking several steps into the depths of the city, Keldon started to grasp the strains of sorcery around him to wrap a small shield around his skin to provide some shielding against the fierceness of the howling wind against him. The elf did not draw the sword of sages, when he left the city last, he was armed. This time he would respect the mistakes of the past and venture into the ruins, fully aware but not brandishing his steel. He sought out the shield, that sensation of something just around the corner. Perhaps because in this desolate place, he felt so alone, yet felt like he belonged.

 

[Bahamut]

Loneliness was a trait that many had, but few desired. It was what Keldon was feeling as he entered the city proper, which was entirely uninhabited. Not a soul in sight, not even an animal or two. The city was for all intents and purposes, entirely dead. No undead to speak of nothing within the city to bother him it seemed. It almost echoed the feelings that he happened to be feeling and enhanced them as he walked through the snow-ridden landscape. The only noises he could hear were the din of the howling wind, and the snow crunching underneath his boots.

Wrapping himself in a cocoon of force energy, the shield surrounded him, and snapped into place about his personal, protecting him from some of the wind's chill, but not all of it. Though how necessary the shielding was for combat purposes remained to be seen, but as Keldon had thought, there was no initial need to draw his steel. The hallowed ground that he walked upon was ridden of anything alive, and the necromantic and elemental contamination could be felt in the ever-colder snowstorm that he was heading through.

Upon entering the city proper, he'd get a view of the desolate buildings, and could feel the staff of arcana's mental tug on him, urging him onwards to look for this apparent shield that happened to be within this city. A beacon of light the shield was, he'd more than likely know it when he saw it, but for now, all he could see amid the snowstorm were the wrecked buildings that had barely survived on onslaught of airship fire from the previous battle that had been held here so many eras ago...

 

[Keldon Elsdragon]

With each crunch of the snow beneath him, Keldon continued to scan the area, it was a strange sensation to be in such a massive landscape that was completely void of life. Even when Paxia had been levelled after the siege from Avanthar, the ruins were filled with survivors following the aftermath as they moved around scrounging the ruins. Jeadaxia was perhaps the closest thing as entirely abandoned streets during the Everwinter, buildings, rivers and people froze as they huddled together to gain warmth.

Faint echoes remained in Keldon’s mind as he stepped through the walls, for brief moments, he could still see the cohorts of soldiers moving organized through the streets approaching the battlements that were now ripped apart. The cannons he carefully had moved from unutilized fortresses to be brought to bare in Narim and Dragons Cliff to brace for the onslaught that was likely to follow those cold decisions. It was at that moment the bitterness of the snow perhaps touched him more in his heart then on his skin as the shield wrapped around him. The Elf-lord could not of predicted the meddling of the lunatic Sycthe and the interference of arcanic forces as it happened; had he known, perhaps he would have done things differently. Perhaps he would have summarily executed Duncan and Eyvind era’s ago when the opportunity presented itself.

Glancing towards the ruined buildings ahead, Keldon could feel a gentle sensation from the wood. The elf wouldn’t describe it as a tug, but also not a direction. Almost as if the wood wanted to find something or sensed something even more than the elf could. It was such a unique sensation. With each step, he would pay close attention to the feeling within him if the step felt off, he would change course and look for not only the shield he saw in his dream but that same feeling he had. That feeling of purpose and belonging, perhaps.

 

[Bahamut]

As Keldon drifted through the snow, one crunchy footprint at a time, he could feel the enchanted wood giving off some form of a throbbing, hastening quicker when he was seemingly close to what he was looking for, and then slowing down when he distanced himself from it, almost as if to play a game of hot and cold with him. Was it closer going this way or that? North or south, East or West. As Keldon seemingly approached was seemed to be his final destination as the throbbing of the enchanted wood within the back of his mind began to beat so quickly that he could barely think of anything other than the throbbing beat of the enchanted wood's strum.

And just when he seemed to be entirely enthralled in it, it stopped. The throbbing stopped, and if Keldon looked down, he'd see a glistening of light coming from the ground, it seemed to be coming from deep underneath the snow, a light not unlike those that a thaumaturge might produce.

Even as he was looking down towards the light, his elf ears picked up something near in perceptible. Perhaps it had been all of hardened years of training. Perhaps it was his enhanced sight, but in the dint and dark of the night he could feel something almost in perceivable coming his way.

And it was coming fast. Nigh imperceptible, he'd see a blade, small, only about three inchest long heading straight towards his eye, at blinding speeds. With no time to react, he was lucky he had placed the force shield upon his personal, otherwise he'd be completely blind. The blade hit the force shield, and then stopped, dropping down to the ground below.

If his eyes trailed forward, he'd see something emerging from the blackness beyond, clad in black, with slivers of sliver flashing from around it's body, before three more of the tiny black blades flew forth, hitting Keldon's force shield, dropping to the ground as well...

 

[Keldon Elsdragon]

The tugging sensation was something that had drawn the elf-lord forward throughout time. It had pulled him forward on the battlefield, through death, and through bitter snow of the everwinter. It was a combination of curiosity and confusion. Sorcery tugged at him this time; power pulled at him. The elf had come to detest power, it brought nothing but pain and suffering as far to often it corrupted others who refused to give up power once they attained it. Yet, the sensation as that tugging pulsating feeling came to a stop the elf looked around wondering what was about to happen. Half expecting the undead to come crawling up from the snow and attempt to reclaim him into the land of the dead which he had helped to create.

Keldon was about to kneel down slightly and reached for the strange light which was almost seemed to be calling him. Was this the shield and vision he had seen on the other side of the Empire? Yet, there it was. That chilling sensation that ran from the tips of his ear through his spine as he suddenly became aware of something coming right at him. His eye looking upwards into the darkness as he felt the energy ripping in front of him. For a brief moment he had welcomed what was to come, utter silence and darkness in a world filled with corruption. Yet, the energy ripping as the steel came to an abrupt stop. The elf simply blinking letting out a sigh as steam escaped him lips.

The elf's hand slipped towards his blade within a moment. It was simply instinct at this point, eras on the battlefield and expectation of carnage in even the simplest and safest of places. His eye focused forward looking into the darkness as a figure began to appear. Yet, the elf-lord kept his sword in his scabbard as he heard the metal collide with the energy encasing him. "I mean you no qural," he stated firmly as he made no immediate movement. The elf was the foreigner in this forgotten land while he looked for the source that called him forward. Who was he to draw steel and engage with someone who perhaps was simply protecting what was their last morsel in this world. "I do not want to engage with you if it can be avoided." he said the sound of the dagger hitting the snow. His mind started to gather more force energy to infuse into the shield encasing him. Yet, the elf was no fool as he looked over the darked figured as his foot turned ever so slightly in a defensive stance as like a thousand times before he touched the supreme and hoped he was not going to need to spill blood at first arrival to his cold and destitute land.

 

[Bahamut]

As Keldon reinforced the force shield around him, the black clad figure would come out of the shadows. Having his face covered, so that Keldon could only see a square slit that showed his eyes, Keldon could see that the man had two different colored eyes. One was glowing red, the other was glowing blue. The silver streaks that Keldon had seen became clearer when the man stepped out of the shadows, the ninja knives about two feet long, gripped in both hands. "Quarrel?" Keldon heard the voice ask, it being a bit of a rough voice, coming from the black clad man.

"The only quarrel any of us have is with you... you think we haven't been waiting here in the shadows for your return?" the man asked, his eyes narrowing as he looked on towards Keldon. "I recognized you the moment your boots hit the snow on the ground, Keldon Elsdragon..."

And then if by on cue, Keldon could sense it was neither just him nor the black clad man any longer. There were more of them. At least three others appearing out of the shadows, two flanking Keldon on either side, and one behind him.

"We've been waiting here for your return..." he stated bluntly. "There will be no saving yourself this time..."

And with that, he launched himself forward, flashes of steel within his hands, aiming towards Keldon's face. As such the other three ninjas launched forward as well, the steel in their hands baring down upon the elven man as well...

 

[Keldon Elsdragon]

Passage of time had a way of causing damage to others, and not only yourself. They had been waiting caught the elf's attention as he let out a sigh. He understood the chaos and death that had been unleashed on the battlefields of the city, although he knew full well it had little to do with him. He himself accepted responsibility, and many did not see the truth and passed the blame to him anyways.

"You believed I was saved?" he said, almost sad and curious at the same time, before the group moved in closer. In truth, Keldon wished he fell that day, and not had to deal with the events that followed in so many different ways. But he lived and was forced to deal with the consequences of not only his choices but others and in the eras that followed which changed his trajectory and thought process.

With the group getting closer, Keldon remained with his hand on the hilt of the sword of sages. He was not ready to draw steel, he knew that perhaps he might fall in this moment but he would do so on his own terms. "I do not wish to harm you..." he said, hoping perhaps in those brief moments their emotions would subside and allow them to talk. But he knew it would be unlikely, and if they continued to approach, he would release the shield. Expanding it outwards rapidly in a burst. Its intention to use the shield as a catalyst to push anything and everything around him outwards a dozen meters or so. A protective and defensive spell to push back aggressors and give perhaps a few more moments of calm the chance to settle in.

This time, however, if they persisted, steel would be drawn as the elf-lord embraced the supreme with decades of experience ready to hold and defend the point above the light.

 

[Bahamut]

As the force shield expanded outwards, it took three of the ninja's a bit by surprise, hitting them, and knocking them over, pushing them back into the snowdrifts. The fourth ninja, the one whom had already tossed a few daggers towards Keldon managed to see his other comrades bowled over by the forcefield, and jumped back, placing his hands out before him, almost as if to grab the force shield. Keldon could easily see though with his eras of experience that the ninja was using his hands as a fulcrum to keep himself balanced and from getting knocked over, even as his feet slid back in the snow, the farther the shield expanded outwards. Even as Keldon said he did not wish to harm them, the ninjas began to get up, and through their eyes, they glared at him with murderous intent.

"Then you shouldn't have harmed -him-..." said the first Ninja who seemed to be the leader of the small group. Pacing outside of the shield, placing his hand against it every few moments to see if it was still up, he said, "Do you know who it was that died that day under your charge... that i've been plotting and waiting to take revenge upon you for..." It seemed an awful long time to hold a grudge, but this ninja was apparently not kidding when he said he wanted revenge for someone who died under Keldon's charge that fateful day back in Narim, so many eras ago...

 

[Keldon Elsdragon]

"Thousands died needlessly under my protection because I trusted the wrong person," Keldon said, his voice slightly trailing off with regret thinking about the misplaced trust in Duncan all that time ago. His hand slightly tightened against the grip of his sword, ready to draw it. "Killing me might bring a moment of satisfaction, but it would change nothing. Neither would killing all of you..." he remarked, taking in a breath of cool air. "The only debts we owe are to ourselves and ensuring mistakes do not repeat." looking back down towards his feet. "I was called back for this..." he murmured for a moment. "Perhaps it was your revenge that beckoned me here, perhaps more."

Taking in another cool breath Keldon would withdraw the shield from its emboldened state. The purpose of the change in spell was to push away and give a moment of protection for himself to regain a moment to react and seek clarity. Leaving the increased energy present in the shield, his mind would bring the spell back to its wrapped state around himself.

 

[Bahamut]

As Keldon withdrew the shield from its emboldened state, it would shrink back down to wrap around his form once more. "You blame others, but take no part in the blame yourself? War has more than one side... I'm sure you of all people should know this. He wouldn't have been there had it not been for you leading him to this forsaken place..." said the lead ninja glaring at Keldon. "Killing you would prevent so many other deaths in the future... Other's you may lead to their deaths in the future..." He then nodded towards the other ninjas who were recovering their balance and preparing to advance upon Keldon once more.

"Your blood will soak the pure white snow that we tread on, and I will not be satiated until it does..." he scowled, his feet repositioning themselves to begin his advance forward towards Keldon once more.

As the four of them began their advance towards the man, their pace would quicken, and they'd be upon Keldon in no time, blades flashing outwards to assail the shield that he wrapped himself within...

 

[Keldon Elsdragon]

Keldon shook his head slightly; it pity the man didn't understand that he fully accepted the blame squarely on his shoulders by trusting someone else. Though in truth, the elf didn't even know who these men were seeking revenge for. For what seemed like the billionth time, Keldon drew steel, the sound echoed through his heart as he took a knee, bracing for the gathering of blades. His hand would bring the sword of sages upwards to meet the nearest metal, and he would turn to allow the group to get close. His other hand clasped the pulsating wood.

In truth, Keldon felt he did not desire to spill blood in this hallowed area. It had seen so much death and pain to last several lifetimes over; Keldon was not the soldier he once was. Life was not simply black and white. What was typical for the spider was chaos for the fly, and the elf learned through much pain that right was right and wrong was wrong. "Satisfaction in death in the name of Justice only brings you and others more pain and suffering..." Keldon said, almost as if from a place of experience.

The moment steel contacted Keldon would feel the hym of the wood and expand the shield rapidly outwards. This time, as a means to expel everything around him. The shield would have no end point and focus on moving force energy from the shield outwards in a defensive measure pushing anything and everything around him outwards as the spell disappointed. The goal was to create not only a physical barrier which would throw it injure the group but also launch several meters of snow in all directions around him into the air creating a snowy fog of the area. Honing his senses, Keldon would move quickly towards the closest target and bring the sword's pommel against the back of these unknown foes with the intention of knocking one or more unconscious.

 

[Bahamut]

As the nearest ninja's steel blade connected with the sword of sages, and Keldon allowed the others to close in on him, he would utilize his sorcery to expand the shield once more, this time much more rapidly, utilizing the force essence to expel everything away from him. And once again, three of the ninja's were knocked flying, but the fourth one, the only one whom had spoken until now, seemingly stepped right through the force essence, even as the snow flew up in flurries around them, distorting the ninja's and Keldon's visages from one another. As the snow wrapped around him, Keldon could suddenly hear a wooshing sound, and saw the flurries of snow coalescing into what looked like three shards of ice, each about a foot long.

And then they zoomed forwards towards Keldon, following up behind them, the only truly capable warrior amongst the ninja's that might actually stand a chance against Keldon. It seemed he had honed his craft in elementalism, and perhaps some form of sorcery, a hedgemage, given the fact he nullifed Keldon's force shield and stepped right through it.

As the ice shards flew through the air and barreled down towards Keldon, flashes of lightning boiled across the dark cloudy skies, almost as if a storm was brewing as well, that could further hamper both sides views of each other...

 

[Keldon Elsdragon]

Keldon knew that during combat, it was not always possible to avoid fatalities, despite his intentions. As he stood before the trio of attackers, he couldn't help but feel a sense of sadness for them. They were consumed by anger and a desire for revenge, and Keldon knew that this path would only lead to more pain and suffering. He couldn't understand why they couldn't see that and it made him feel a deep sense of disappointment. He couldn't help but feel a sense of sorrow for the attackers. He knew that they were not evil, but rather misguided. Keldon couldn't help but think that maybe, just maybe, he could bring an end to the cycle of violence and death that had plagued this sacred place for too long.

As the unknown leader stepped through Keldon's force essence, the elf-lord noticed the two attackers flying backwards. It was likely that their leader was a hedgemage of sorts, able to manipulate the force essence himself, given his ability to utilize more than one sphere. In any other situation, Keldon might have shown respect for the man.
The area around them was sacred to Keldon, and he did not want to further disturb the final resting place of so many who had lost their lives due to senseless decisions by those seeking to manipulate fate to their advantage. He brought the sword of sages up in a defensive posture, attempting to move swiftly like the snow around him to dodge the ice shards flying towards him and swat them away with his sword. As he moved, he felt a sense of determination, knowing that he had to protect this sacred place and the memory of those who had passed. He did not want to add further senseless sorrow to these lands.

"You are wasting your talents in anger and revenge!" Keldon called out to the hedgemage, trying to reason with him. "Help me pay homage and respect to your former master, please!" Keldon knew that the attackers were likely seeking revenge for the death of their master, and he wanted to help them find closure and peace. But as the fight continued, he felt a sense of frustration, knowing that his words were falling on deaf ears.

With that final statement, Keldon began to manipulate the force energy around them, moving it even faster in a circle around him. His intent was to increase the speed of the snow moving around them, making visibility even harder for everyone involved. Keldon would have no choice but to rely on intuition and his senses should the fight continue.
Perhaps if the wind increased, Keldon could sense the attackers struggling to keep their footing. If so he would use this opportunity to move in closer, and with a swift strike, would disarme one of the attackers and knocked the other unconscious with a strike to the head. The hedgemage, however, was still a formidable opponent, and Keldon knew that he would have to be careful. He felt a sense of intense focus as he fought, knowing that one mistake could mean the end for him.
With the snowstorm seemingly now at its peak, Keldon's vision was becoming mre limited, but his senses were heightened. He could likely hear the hedgemage's every move in the snow and anticipate his attacks.

 

[Bahamut]

The ninja didn't care what Keldon said at this point. He was all consumed by vengeance, and wrath. Ain'lar would have been proud of him. "He was -not- my master... he was my little brother... and I will crush you much like your airships crushed him when they fell from the sky..." the man said, even as the wind howled under Keldon's grips on the force essence that began to spin faster and faster around them. The other two Ninja's Keldon managed to take down and knock out with relative ease, his plan unfolding seamlessly, but for the leader of the group, Keldon would have a much more difficult time.

Even as Keldon disarmed and knocked out the second of the ninja's, the leader was already on top of him, flashes of steel flying through the air to connect with Keldon's sword of sages. And even as he did, Keldon could see through his limited vision, sometime dark overhead was heading directly towards the two of them from the sky. As it got closer, he could see it was a large chunk of earth. The ninja pushed Keldon backwards, and hopping backwards out of the path of the boulder, Keldon would only have seconds to react before it crushed him...

 

[Keldon Elsdragon]

In the heart of the relentless snowstorm, Keldon stood as a solitary figure, and his single piercing eye focused on his vengeful attacker. With each gust of wind that whipped through the desolate city, the snowflakes danced around them, reflecting the cold moonlight that pierced through the heavy clouds. The frigid air bit at their exposed skin, sending shivers down their spines. It was in this frozen, desolate landscape that the final confrontation unfolded.

Decades of combat experience had shaped Keldon into a formidable warrior, a master of the blade. His body moved with the fluidity of a seasoned dancer; his reflexes honed to a razor's edge. The snow, biting at their heels, seemed to whisper the echoes of battles fought long ago. Memories flooded Keldon's mind, the weight of the past bearing down on him as he faced the consequences of his choices.

Through his one piercing eye, Keldon could see the raw anger and pain etched on his attacker's face. He understood that he bore a heavy burden of responsibility for the suffering that had brought them to this point. It was his actions, his decisions, that had fueled the flames of revenge burning within his foe's heart. The realization stung, a bitter reminder of the consequences of his past mistakes.

But Keldon was driven by a higher purpose, a desire to break the chains of violence and seek redemption for both himself and those he had unintentionally wronged. With every clash of steel, he fought not only to defend himself but also to demonstrate an alternative path—a path of compassion, forgiveness, and healing.

Amidst the storm, Keldon drew upon the wellspring of his sorcery, tapping into the very fabric of force energy that surrounded them. With a focused mind and skilled manipulation, he wove a spell to create a barrier at the edge of the descending boulder. The swirling snowflakes seemed to respond to his command, shaping the force of the falling earth, diverting it away from their immediate vicinity.

Simultaneously, Keldon's swordplay reached its zenith. His blade moved with lightning speed, a dance of steel that deflected each strike from his relentless opponent. The clash of their weapons resonated through the night, their battle an intricate tapestry of skill and determination. Keldon's heightened senses allowed him to anticipate his attacker's every move, turning their aggression against them with calculated precision.

The storm intensified, its fury matching the intensity of their conflict. The wind howled with a haunting melody, carrying the echoes of countless lives lost to war and despair. But amidst this maelstrom, Keldon remained resolute, his focus unwavering. He fought not only to protect himself but also to prove that there was another way—a path of redemption and growth.

With each parry, each strike, Keldon sought to convey his message of hope through the language of combat. His defensive maneuvers were imbued with an unwavering commitment to shield not only himself but also his attacker from the crushing weight of their shared past. In the depths of his soul, Keldon believed that even the most tormented souls could find solace and healing through understanding and forgiveness.

As the battle raged on, Keldon's body moved with a grace born of decades of combat experience. The dance of their conflict intertwined with the swirling snowflakes, painting a portrait of resilience and determination against the backdrop of a frozen wasteland. Each movement was deliberate, every strike infused with purpose—a testament to Keldon's unwavering dedication to his craft and his unwavering commitment to defend those in need.

In the chaos of the snowstorm, Keldon stood as a guardian, a beacon of hope amidst the swirling darkness. His sword, an extension of his will, became an instrument of protection, parrying the blows aimed at him with masterful precision. Through his defensive prowess, he sought to shatter the cycle of violence and forge a path of healing and reconciliation.

As the snowflakes continued to fall, Keldon's spirit burned brighter, his resolve unyielding. He carried the weight of the lives lost and the pain he had inadvertently caused in his heart. But in his every movement, he channelled that burden into a profound sense of duty—to protect, to defend, and to extend a hand of redemption to all those touched by the turbulent tides of fate.

In the frozen depths of that desolate city, Keldon's battle raged on, a testament to his unyielding spirit and his unwavering belief that even in the darkest of times, the power of compassion and forgiveness could light the way towards a brighter future.