Mackenzie’s Stone
Golden Gate Bridge Settlement
Dark grey, cloudy skies, choppy waters, and high winds a man named Allistair rows a rickety row boat. The waves thrash him around but he maintains his composure. He approaches a small, rocky cliff surrounded by ocean; the meeting point. Allistair beaches the boat and climbs up, the sun nearly set, him and the cliffside soaked in the heavy rain. In the distance he sees another cloaked figure, he approaches but quickly realizes this isn’t who he is looking for.
“Have you seen a young man by the name of Mackenzie?”
The cloaked figure appears to be a young woman. She reveals her hand, fingernails painted black like Allistair’s.
“He arrived before us. He didn’t feel like waiting so he set out two days prior. I’m assuming you’re his friend?”
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Allistair and the young woman have now been riding the choppy waters for a couple of hours, the Golden Gate Bridge Settlement’s silhouette visible in the distance. The young woman introduces herself after an implied long silence,
“You seem surprised to see me, I’m Avril. Did Mackenzie not tell you I was coming?”
“He might have mentioned it. The more of us the better, I suppose.”
They are friendly with one another, but stay reserved.
The waves become intense and the boat rocks violently back and forth; they both maintain their composures. Allistair begins Casting to push the waves back and keep the boat steady. Casting is a poorly understood genetically inherited trait that allows those who use it enhanced senses and abilities, being able to levitate and manipulate matter in a telekinetic nature, Casters are also granted with enhanced physical abilities they can use to jump higher, run faster, or strike with more force.
“Careful, you might overexert yourself.”
Avril joins in to help Allistair as they both Cast the waves back. The waves continue to batter the boat until it rocks uncontrollably. One after another, intense waves slam into them.
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A rickety rowboat is beached on a sandy cliffside with two sets of barefoot prints trailing off towards the Golden Gate Bridge Settlement, now towering in the view. Just outside the Settlement Allistair and Avril stand facing the massive and mossy bridge. Allistair maintains his gaze upon the bridge and says,
“Mackenzie said he was looking for a book and a building with some ancient hieroglyphics, why don’t you look for Mackenzie while I ask around?”
“Got it. Though if Mackenzie has been here for two days he’s probably already found everything out.”
“You’re probably right, hell he’s probably not even here anymore.”
They both laugh to themselves and go on their way.
Allistair walks around the settlement observing its intriguing features. The towering pillars are red and faded, covered in moss and leaves. Leaves spill off and on simultaneously into and out of the settlement through massive pillars on its sides that hold the bridge up into place. Grass covers the ancient bridge but some of the concrete remains, once a street to the previous civilization. Huts and tents are scattered throughout the bridge, the settlement is in the midst of its calm and vibrant midday bustle. A chill place.
Allistair asks all sorts of people about the book and the building; a mother, some teenagers, shop owners, some warrior types. No luck. He asks a bearded man with one eye, he’s in luck.
“What book are you looking for?”
“A book about the mythology of this region, I’m looking for Mackenzie’s Stone.”
The man laughs eccentrically,
“Not even I would believe in something like that, friend. Libraries here mostly have academic books. You know, about the land or whatever. You’d have difficulty finding a book about that anywhere.”
The man pauses,
“There is a city maybe two days north from here called Norþfæl (north-fal). It contains a library, absolutely massive, with a waterfall in the middle of it. You could probably find any book in there.”
“Okay, Norþfæl. Thank you for your help.”
The man walks away. Avril approaches Allistair with no luck finding Mackenzie. Allistair tells her what he just learned. She asks him about the building with the ancient hieroglyphics to which Allistair realizes he forgot to ask. He shouts to the one eyed man asking him if he knows about it, the man shakes his head no from a distance.
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The partly cloudy sky serves as the backdrop to their ascent of the bridge. The red mossy pillars are even more massive up close. Allistair and Avril gracefully pull themselves up to the top of the Golden Gate Bridge Settlement with their new position up off the ground offering a view of the landscape surrounding the settlement. They see cliffs, ocean, and sky. The tents and shops below look so small from this high vantage point. They see half of a similarly sized bridge toppled over in the distance. Allistair and Avril also catch the slightest view of an abandoned building in the distance not too far away from them. Mackenzie is probably there, it is the only abandoned building they can see.
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Tall grass leads to stone. The two approach the entrance of the mid-sized structure. Weathered and ancient hieroglyphics of light blue, red, yellow, black, and white all form to make individual and indecipherable pieces of art, they look like ancient letters but it is difficult to determine. The roof has holes allowing for the sun to peer through giving an aesthetic and visually pleasing display of this ancient structure.
One beam of sunlight shines though softly on a pink flower, which grows in the center of the open room. Allistair gently pulls it out of the ground for himself when he notices a figure standing in a darker corner of the abandoned structure, separated by a broken wall presumably from weathering. All three of them become aware of each other as Allistair and Avril prepare for a potential confrontation. Allistair says to the figure, who is also cloaked,
“We come in peace and mean no harm, friend.”
The figure walks out of the shadows and says,
“So do I.”
The figure is Mackenzie, at last they’ve found him. Mackenzie is happy to see his friends, he greets Allistair and Avril. Mackenzie and Avril are a little nervous around each other but try not to let it show. Allistair puts the pink flower he found on his ear and asks Mackenzie what he has learned of the ancient hieroglyphics.
“Not much if I’m honest. I’ve sketched it all down in my book but these things seem impossible to read. It’s not a problem though, I learned from a local about a massive library in a city called Norþfæl, it probably contains books on anything we would need.”
“Yeah, we heard the same thing.”
Allistair adds.
“Everyone is so dismissive about Mackenzie’s Stone, won’t they feel stupid when we actually find it.”
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The three walk in a green field littered with boulders. The city of Norþfæl comes into view as the sun disappears behind rain clouds. As a light rain begins to fall, the group exchange friendly glances. Mackenzie, Allistair, and Avril feel good and they are eager to find the massive library in the city of Norþfæl.
The City of Norþfæl
Mackenzie, Allistair, and Avril enjoy a much needed rest after having journeyed for two days. Mackenzie is sat against a tree, Avril beside him, taking in the calm afternoon breeze under the shade of a tree while Allistair picks pink flowers in the distance. The group is not far from Norþfæl now and they know it.
“Mackenzie, I’m so excited to see the city. Moments like these are my favorite parts of these journeys, new sights are incredibly uplifting.”
Mackenzie is delighted by Avril’s enthusiasm as he looks over at her, he is just as excited but he only lets it show a little bit.
Allistair approaches with three flowers in his hand, Avril asks who they are for. Mackenzie grimaces and says on Allistair’s behalf that it is a sensitive topic. Avril apologizes but Allistair is understanding and offers an explanation,
“It’s quiet alright. There is a woman in my life, my lover and my best friend. She, like many Casters, crossed the threshold. She didn’t overexert herself, it just started happening. She is suffering and she is sick but these flowers ease her pain.”
“I’m so sorry to hear this.”
Not knowing what else to say Avril asks,
“What is her name?”
“Faye.”
“A beautiful name.”
“Yes, it is.”
The view of Norþfæl is visible from behind the tree line, the three are not more than a half an hour away.
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Mackenzie, Allistair, and Avril stand at the entrance to the city of Norþfæl. Giant sculptures of beautiful scholars tower in the view, foliage grows around them and leads into an impressive courtyard with more sculptures and aesthetic roman inspired architecture. Life is beautiful in this grand city.
They explore Norþfæl and all of its many sights, there is a scenic river with young people enjoying the afternoon. Mackenzie asks two young women about the library and they tell him it is in the middle of the city, their responses are very flirty and Avril is temporarily jealous. The group sees an assortment of people; friendly, shady, scholars and warriors, children playing, sword fights in the streets for entertainment, the city of Norþfæl is a truly lovely and vibrant place. The library apparently being as massive as it is, the group is ironically having difficulty finding it.
Allistair sees a pink flower hanging from some foliage that lines the outside of a structure. He reaches his hand out and gently pulls it from its place in the leaves when he hears a young boy say to him,
“Whoa, are you a Caster? I’ve heard Casters can do amazing things.”
The young boy has noticed Allistair’s fingernails are painted black as he reached for the flower. Allistair responds,
“Casting. It is a curse.”
Mackenzie, Avril, and Allistair befriend a group of two twenty-somethings as they navigate the city in search of the massive library. They are shown by their new friends a secret way to a scenic and impressive view of Norþfæl from the rooftops of people’s homes. Jumping from one rooftop to another, they own this city and are having the time of their lives. From the rooftops the group can see the library in the center of the city and they are now properly oriented.
The sun is setting between the clouds and the horizon. Mackenzie, Allistair, and Avril relax at the two twenty-somethings home.
“So tell me, Mackenzie, what are you looking for again?”
He puts his drink down on a small table that they are gathered around.
“Mackenzie’s Stone, my friend!”
“Mackenzie’s Stone? That’s not even a real thing!”
The other one laughs and says,
“You don’t know that!”
“Mackenzie’s Stone is real, we intend to find it. We’ve been- or at least I’ve been searching for 3 years now.”
Avril chimes in,
“Mackenzie’s Stone is responsible for the abilities Casters like us have, its rhythms extend out into the land and vibrate in a way that allows people who are born with Casting capabilities to harness the stones energy.”
Mackenzie lifts his hand and reveals his black fingernails and adds,
“By finding Mackenzie’s Stone we can better understand ourselves. Not much is known about Casting even by Casters, there is so much that can be learned by finding the stone and so many secrets to be understood. All Casters are believed to be descended from the Mackenzie Bloodline, whom they are believed to be the first to harness the energy of Mackenzie’s Stone. There are a group of sages in the McIntyre Bloodline who protect Mackenzie’s Stone and its secrets. The McIntyre Bloodline is a cousin offshoot of the Mackenzie Bloodline making them, like most other Casters, cousins of the Mackenzie’s. I believe I am descendant of the Mackenzie’s, it is my name after all. Most Mackenzie’s deny their heritage, but not me. My and friends and I will find Mackenzie’s Stone and we will help people learn.”
The twenty-somethings are slightly drunk but genuinely impressed. One of them says,
“That must be so incredible to have abilities like that, being a Caster sounds like a lot of fun.”
Avril sighs and mentions a key point,
“It has its benefits but Casters are susceptible to overexerting themselves. If you push yourself to hard you risk crossing the threshold. When this happens you become terminally ill, there is no cure and it is fatal. Its difficult to determine your own personal threshold and it is different for everyone.”
Mackenzie also mentions,
“Sometimes you get sick without even overexerting yourself and you die just the same as if you crossed the threshold, but you didn’t. It happens all the time and all Casters are at risk.
Avril concludes,
“Mackenzie and I are fortunate enough to be on this journey for fun. But for some people, finding Mackenzie’s Stone and understanding how it relates to our bodies is a necessity, like for our friend Allistair. We will be helping a lot of people by finding it.”
The group stay in the twenty-somethings home and chat late into the night.
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The library of Norþfæl is massive. A giant gradual staircase leads to an entrance, there are no doors, only an opening that extends to the entrances ends being supported by towering pillars that extend up the length of the library. White stone makes the majority of the libraries composition and the center of the staircase is decorated in a red carpet, as is foliage that decorates the rest of the city. People gather all around going about their lives.
Inside there is a waterfall almost as tall as the ceiling, spiraling bookshelves cover nearly every wall; the library of Norþfæl is a city in its own right. Allistair sits at a table near the waterfall with a hot cup of tea, he isn’t there and his eyes are lifeless and dull. Mackenzie and Avril approach him and they snap him out of his trance. Allistair asks them what they’ve found out about the book Mackenzie was looking for since they have arrived. Mackenzie tells him they have still have yet to find anything even after two days of being in the library. Mackenzie mentions that he did find a book on the hieroglyphics of the past civilization that can probably help them decipher what they mean. Mackenzie notices Allistair is more distant than usual, even for Allistair. Allistair informs the group that he must return to Faye so he can give her the flowers he has collected. Mackenzie and Avril are understanding. Allistair tells them that he will be gone for a month and that he will meet at the libraries massive staircase leading to the entrance when he returns.
With Allistair gone Mackenzie turns to Avril,
“Well, I intended to ask Allistair to go back to the abandoned building near the Golden Gate Bridge Settlement to decipher the hieroglyphics but.”
Avril takes the book from Mackenzie’s hand,
“I’ll return in a week with some deciphered hieroglyphics if you find the book on Mackenzie’s Stone you’ve been looking for.”
She winks at Mackenzie,
“Deal.”
Avril walks into the crowd towards the library’s exit and out of the city. Mackenzie faces the waterfall towering before him and all the surrounding bookshelves and realizes how daunting his task is.
There and Back Again
Mackenzie is sat at the waterfall enjoying the view before decides to start looking for the book he came for.
He searches.
And he searches.
And he searches again.
Hours have passed and he is not having any luck, he asks a librarian for help,
“You’re probably having difficulty because you are searching in the factual history sections; you’d do better to look in the mythology sections.”
Mackenzie is annoyed by the librarian’s response. He tries to locate the mythology section by walking in the direction the librarian told him to head towards but he keeps getting disoriented. Norþfæl’s massive library has so many bookshelves and paths that make the library a giant maze. He keeps finding himself unintentionally circling around the same areas and has lost track of how many times he has ended up back at the waterfall, Mackenzie is starting to become agitated.
Night falls and the library is illuminated by firelight now. A peaceful stillness envelops the once bustling library but there are still some people around. Mackenzie has become completely lost and is now unaware of where he is in relation to the waterfall at the libraries center. Mackenzie continues searching in these dark and forgotten corners of the library but his search is limited because the shelves in this part of the library do not have many books, many times there are none at all. Mackenzie searches for awhile until he is too tired to keep going. He decides to sleep against the shelves of this quiet hall, the low rumble of the waterfall in the distance puts him to sleep. The same sound introduces him to the new day as he awakens the next morning in the library, confused as to how he will find his way back. Mackenzie observes the book-less shelves once more until he notices that the sound of the waterfall bounces off in the emptiness of this deep sector within the library allowing its sound to echo. Mackenzie begins to follow the sound towards its source. The sound of the waterfall guides him through the hallways, the once empty bookshelves slowly become more filled out. He turns a corner and sees someone, the books are getting more plentiful still and the halls become brighter as the morning goes into day. Mackenzie can hear echoes of the busy courtyard and he feels as though he must be getting close.
A few dead ends follow lot of walking until he reaches the center at last, Mackenzie is relieved to be out of the confined maze that made up his last night. As he gathers himself Mackenzie spots the mythology sections right across from where he was, he had just missed it. Wide eyed and a half smile in disbelief, Mackenzie has already had enough. Searching in the mythology sections Mackenzie finds himself a similar problem. From one bookshelf to another bookshelf, over and over again, day into night into day into night, Mackenzie cannot find the book he is looking for anywhere.
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Grey skies, fog, and a light rain cast a backdrop to grass, stone, and a young woman with a book held in her hands. After two days of backtracking from Norþfæl, Avril has returned to the Bay Area. Almost near the abandoned building, she has studied the book in her hands and is ready to uncover the secrets of the hieroglyphic texts housed within.
She jumps through a window onto the ground inside, the building is empty. The pink flower that once stood in the middle is gone from their last time here. Avril observes the ancient paintings and opens her book. It takes her a while but the book is informative and reasonably effective at helping her determine the letters. As Avril gains a better understanding of how to read these thousands of years old works of art, what she finds is confusing. The words that these paintings spell are either made up or mean nothing. Many of the less detailed hieroglyphics are profane and the more detailed works are often made up words with no context. Avril looks at the book again and realizes something.
She did not read the first page,
“The ancient art of graffiti is often times mistaken to be more than it truly is. Done purely for entertainment, and often times in jest, most graffiti art pieces are gibberish at best. Not intended to say anything, graffiti was sometimes used to mark territory. There are exceptions but most graffiti pieces are completely ineffective when referring to understanding the secrets of the past.”
Avril cannot believe her mistake. She leaves the structure disappointed and empty handed.
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Avril can see the city of Norþfæl in the distance. As she walks, she says to herself,
“Oh how embarrassing! I’ve been gone for a whole week and I have nothing to show for it, Mackenzie has probably been researching the book he was looking for this whole time.”
Mackenzie sits at a table in the library courtyard, waterfall in view, with no books. Avril approaches Mackenzie and they make eye contact. Neither are sure how they will explain their failure to each other in contrast to the others assumed success. Avril notices there are not any books on the table and asks Mackenzie if he found what he was looking for to which he responds by explaining how he kept getting lost, and when he wasn’t lost, his searches yielded no results. Avril explains how the hieroglyphics are probably all nonsense and shows Mackenzie the first page. Mackenzie lowkey scolds Avril,
“I cannot believe you walked all the way over to the abandoned structure for two days without even reading the first page.”
“I cannot believe you have yet to find the book after an entire week.”
If the book is not in the library of Norþfæl, it does not exist. Avril and Mackenzie decide to continue the search once again, both pairs of eyes can scan more efficiently. After an hour their search still yields no results, the situation begins to look hopeless. Mackenzie hears a book slide into a nearby shelf behind him. He turns around but he sees nobody there. Something is different from before, Mackenzie notices a book in the corner of the bookshelf he has not seen before. With book in hand he almost cannot believe what he sees. Entitled,
“History of the Mackenzie Bloodline, McIntyre Bloodline, and Mackenzie’s Stone”
with the subtext,
“Blue the Fool, Red the Passion”
Mackenzie is enthralled, he opens the book and hears a voice right beside him,
“A peculiar choice.”
Mackenzie looks to his side and sees a cloaked man leaning on the shelf right next to him, nails painted black holding a torn page, hair covers half of his face and his voice is monotone. The cloaked man continues,
“Very few know this book even exists.”
He moves off the shelf and out of the hall, Avril catches a glimpse of the cloaked man as he walks away.
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Allistair approaches his home, flowers in hand. He opens the door and sees Faye in a white dress laying in bed. Allistair gently helps her sit up and they share a long awaited embrace. Faye mentions how she used to run into Allistair’s arms, he tells her she is okay. There is no where else in all the lands that Allistair would rather be than with Faye in his arms, these moments are everything to him. Black sclera and veins are indicitave of how close one is to dying from crossing the threshold. Both of Faye’s eyes are completely black and her veins are visible, Allistair acts like he does not notice.
“I don’t know the last time you were happy. Even so, you do so much, I’m grateful for you, Allistair.”
“Happy or not, Faye, all is right when I’m with you.”
There are pressure points in the body that all Casters are sensitive to; they are located in the knees, the shoulders, the heart, and the forehead. Allistair applies the pink pedals on these pressure points and gently Casts them into her. The pedals illuminate in a fluorescent display, this helps Faye.
Allistair looks at the garden behind his home, it is doing well. Allistair stares, then he begins to cry. He breaks down out of sight from Faye. Tears roll down Allistair’s cheek, he gets on his knees, places his palm on his forehead and he suffers. Allistair’s eyes are red and filled with tears.
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He walks towards the city of Norþfæl which is not too far from him. Allistair’s eyes are lifeless and dull, fixated on the path in front of him. The man Allistair has seen walking in his direction for a few minutes now is close enough to be distinguishable. He immediately stops. So does the man.
The man stares at Allistair, cloaked with a pink flower tucked behind his ear. Allistair stares at the man, cloaked with fingernails painted black holding a torn page, long hair covers half of his face. Allistair recognizes who stands in front of him, he tenses up and prepares for a confrontation,
“Nathair.”
“Allistair.”
It grows quiet and tense, they continue to stare. Allistare asks,
“Is it true you have been traveling with Cyren?”
“Is it any business of yours?”
Nathair’s voice is calm and monotone. He tells Allistair,
“I saw your friend in Norþfæl, we both seek Mackenzie’s Stone. If you see him tell him he should stop looking.”
He continues walking past Allistair, who continues once Nathair has passed.
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The McIntyres are a group of sages descended from the McIntyre Bloodline; a cousin offshoot of the Mackenzie Bloodline, they protect the secrets of the Mackenzie’s and Mackenzie’s Stone. While mostly peaceful, the McIntyres are extremely skilled Casters, potentially learning from the ways of the Mackenzie’s themselves. They have numerous temples located in remote parts of the lands that none can find without the right directions, ranging from lands past the Mountains of Wind, across oceans, forests, great deserts and endless plains. All of the secrets of the Mackenzie’s are detailed on what is called McIntyre’s Scroll, including the location of Mackenzie’s Stone.
Mackenzie offers this explanation to Allistair on the bustling steps outside the colossal library in Norþfæl. He and Avril explain to Allistair that McIntyre’s Scroll is the key to finding Mackenzie’s Stone. Mackenzie makes note of the fact that the book they’ve found,
“The History of the Mackenzie Bloodline, the McIntyre Bloodline, and Mackenzie’s Stone”
once had a map that was torn out from its binding. It will not be detrimental to their journey because one other map exists in one of the McIntyre’s temples, according to the book. Allistair recalls the torn page in Nathair’s hand from their encounter outside Norþfæl and is alarmed,
“So it’s true. You did see Nathair.”
Mackenzie and Avril recall the torn page from their encounter as well and determine that he must’ve stolen the map since he was the last person to have the book before them. Allistair extends Nathair’s warning to Mackenzie, he replies,
“There is no way we are stopping. This is far too important.”
Allistair agrees but informs Mackenzie and Avril,
“Nathair is not to be taken lightly. He is dangerous and I’ve heard he has been traveling with Cyren. These two are not to be crossed.”
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Somewhere deep in a dense forest Nathair approaches a small campsite. A cloaked man with a pierced tongue and a wild look in his eyes calmly shifts his gaze towards Nathair’s approach,
“Ah, Nathair.”
“Cyren, I have found the location of McIntyre’s Scroll.”
He hands the map to Cyren and picks up a dull blade shaped like a rod that was sitting on a tree stump beside Cyren. The blade is blunt, made of a dark, rocky material, and lacks shine. A light rain begins to trickle through the canopy of the the dense forest. Nathair and Cyren decide to wait for the rain to pass before they head out in search of McIntyre’s Scroll.
Ghosts
Teal-green gemstones lay ordained on a wall inside of a mossy stone temple, parts of the wall are covered in leaves, other parts are covered in more ancient graffiti art painted before its architects laid the gems and irrelevant to the temple. The sun shines though a section of the building that has caved in where two walls and the ceiling meet, turning the teal-green gemstones that happen to be in its beam to red. A peculiar phenomenon, Mackenzie, Avril, and Allistair have been to a few temples by now and have become accustomed to the gems and their changing colors as they walk through the make shift entrance. Avril stops to observe the beauty in these gemstones. Like the others, this temple is small and its purpose is unclear. Pillars decorated in foliage with an opening nearly the size of the wall serve as the buildings intended entrance, opposite to this is a smaller door leading to the outside, tall grass as high as a person peers through the doorway and surrounds the view outside of it. Underneath the grass are small hand placed rocks making a crude path through the outside plains. The grass was not this tall when the stones were placed. Mackenzie and Allistair follow the path through the grass. Avril observes as a cloud covers the sun turning the red gemstones into teal-green once again. She leaves the structure and catches up with Mackenzie and Allistair, the first drops of a light rain begin to fall.
Rolling hills and gentle slopes make up the path allowing for a chill stroll though an unknown plain. There is nothing in sight except for grass and sky and clouds, no one is anywhere even close. These plains have been left untouched for thousands of years. A temple of a similar design to the other lays partially buried into the earth. The building is completely covered in foliage and could be easily missed.
Mackenzie, Avril, and Allistair walk though the entrance that is beginning to become blocked by dirt and grass. Once inside they realize this structure is much larger than the other. Running water calmly runs though the side lining the walls in an intentional and simple path through the temple, the waters source pours out from two holes in the wall at the ceiling on each side powered by an unknown source. Statues of robed women hold candles in opposite symmetry to each other on either side of the building next to its walls directly facing the entrance. Candles line the walls upon a small ledge close to the ceiling. The candles are not lit and only the light from outside shines in.
The statues hold flowers on the other hand with stone pedals that are carved falling into the wall that frames a manuscript. It reads,
“Water to fire, darkness to sight”
Mackenzie, Avril, and Allistair stand in the center of this ancient building pondering the meaning of this message. Mackenzie mentions to the group,
“This is the most elaborate temple we have seen so far, there must be something to this, otherwise, the McIntyre’s wouldn’t leave all of this here.”
They are stumped. The group continues observing the inside in hopes of finding clues until Avril notices a pattern,
“Everything in this temple is opposite and symmetrical. The symmetry represents how these opposites are a part of the same system. Contained in this temple are both water and fire, which must mean darkness and sight are in here too. Water brings darkness, its opposite brings sight, Something must illuminate the reason this temple is here.
“But what would be the light source?”
Allistair asks.
They pause. Mackenzie’s eyes widen and he realizes,
“The candles! Allistair, stop the water flow.”
Allistair lifts both of his hands with opened palms pointed towards the two water systems and focuses. He breathes in and then slowly exhales, Casting the water flow to a halt. Red and blue flower pedals create ripples in the water as they fall from the ceiling. Two sages emerge from opposite sides on their respective ledges. They do not acknowledge the group as they light each candle by placing their index finger and thumb on the thousand year old wicks and Cast its ends into a small flame through a snap; they make their way towards the statues from the entrance, stopping to light each candle individually. How these sages are on these ledges and where they came from is completely illogical. The sages finish lighting the candles and stand at the ledge above the two statues on either side of a doorway that is revealed in the wall by orange firelight flickering from the other side. Mackenzie and Avril jump up to the ledge and are now right beside the two sages, the sages still do not acknowledge them. Allistair remains below keeping the water flow still, pedals now cover the entirety of the temple.
Mackenzie places his hand on the doorway and pushes it in leaving just enough room for them to squeeze through the sides. The small room is rounded and lit by torches hanging on its walls, these stone walls contrast the dark and mossy walls outside; these walls are well lit and very clean. The room houses a pedestal in its center that presumably held a gemstone long ago. Underneath the pedestal is a scroll. Mackenzie knows that this is certainly not McIntyre’s Scroll but cannot help but think what if. Mackenzie opens the scroll, it reads,
“Blue the Fool, Red the Passion”
Mackenzie and Avril recognize this phrase from the subtext of the book they found in the library of Norþfæl but are unsure of its meaning and with nothing else inside the temple, they decide to leave scroll in hand. Mackenzie worries the sages might try to take the scroll from them but the sages look forward, continuing to not acknowledge Mackenzie and Avril as they jump down to Allistair.
Allistair lowers his hands. The water begins to flow and the candles go out. The sages disappear into thin air. They notice the doorway has been closed shut without making a sound and all of the pedals are gone. The group questions if what has happened actually happened.
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Allistair sits on the edge of a narrow staircase covered in grass, his eyes are lifeless and dull, he is not there. Up high in the mountains the group has found another elaborate temple. Mackenzie and Avril are inside learning its secrets, they enjoy being productive together. Week to week, temple to temple, Mackenzie, Avril and Allistair are led by the book they found in Norþfæl to numerous temples in remote parts of the land, learning their secrets. They have yet to come across any McIntyre sages besides the two in the overgrown temple, the temples they arrive at seem to have been abandoned for millennia.
Weeks later the group discovers a temple deep in a dense jungle, covered in moss as they usually are, there are two bowls in this temple that have just recently been used; a group of sages were just here. They are unable to find these sages and decide to move onto the next temple.
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A giant boulder stands taller than any tree; one boulder stands as the tallest of three others which become gradually smaller down the line, presumably erected by the ancients. Atop this boulder sits Nathair and Cyren. Nathair says,
“If Allistair’s friend is looking for Mackenzie’s Stone, Allistair has certainly joined them. Their presence is annoying.”
“Shall we kill them?”
asks Cyren.
“No, Cyren. I would rather not. We should find them before we search for the scroll. I have an idea that makes this more efficient for us.”
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Deep in an unknown forest there is a mountain range tucked away behind trees. Littered with temples, only sages walk these mountains as they travel from temple to temple. A sage by the name of Cædmon (cade-mun) has spent most of his youth in these mountains in solitude. Having not seen anyone in nearly a year, Cædmon is startled when he sees three weary travelers walk into his temple. These travelers introduce themselves as Mackenzie, Allistair, and Avril. Cædmon is delighted to see some new faces but remains on guard. Mackenzie tells Cædmon of their journey,
“We seek Mackenzie’s Stone; we want to learn of how the Stone works in relation to our bodies, that we might educate and better ourselves.”
Cædmon is delighted once more to meet someone of the Mackenzie Bloodline and loosens up as he converses with Mackenzie, Allistair, and Avril. He begins to open up to them,
“I am Cædmon of the McIntyre Bloodline. I, like the other sages, protect the secrets of the Mackenzie’s and Mackenzie’s Stone. It is a pleasure to meet you, I haven’t seen anyone in a long time. If what you say is true, I would be happy to help you on your journey.”
Cædmon explains how the map to McIntyres Scroll is in the Temple of Beorg, beyond the Mountains of Wind.
“Most Casters are aware that as time goes on the abilities of Casters weaken. People during the time of the ancients were much more capable than Casters are now. The ancients harnessed the abilities of Mackenzie’s Stone in ways that even manipulated time itself. The McIntyres often appear as ‘ghosts’ in these temples.”
“Like in the temple we visited weeks back, with the red and blue flower pedals.”
Mackenzie makes the connection. Cædmon continues,
“When you arrive at the temple of Beorg you will be greeted by two sages of the McIntyre Bloodline from long ago, they will judge. If you are righteous, you are free to explore the temple; if you are not, they will attack you. You will not win.”
With a new destination the group decides to head out towards the Mountains of Wind. An old friend of Allistair’s knows a way through the mountain range and they intend to go though with his help. Mackenzie, Allistair, and Avril thank Cædmon and are about to leave when Cædmon stops them.
“I've grown tired of my life in solitude, I am not satisfied with how I have lived my youth so far, high in the mountains away from everyone and everything. I cannot help but feel pulled towards the lands and their incredible sights and its people. I feel like I waste time with each passing day. Can I join you three on your adventure? It would do me well to see some new sights. At least until the Temple of Beorg.”
Mackenzie has taken a liking to Cædmon and laughs,
“Are you kidding? Of course!”
Avril smiles at Cædmon and Allistair gives a nod of approval. Cædmon joins the group in their search for Mackenzie’s Stone.
Blue the Fool
A man and a woman sit in a dimly lit cafe and enjoy a warm drink, stone walls with open windows, leaves spilling in, and candles on the wall make for an inviting ambience. Across from them sits Mackenzie who is explaining to them the details of his journey to find Mackenzie’s Stone, Avril and Cædmon are at his side. After a long winded explanation the woman coyly says to Mackenzie,
“Now I don’t know why anyone would want to look for something like that but I wish you the best of luck.”
Allistair has just finished picking flowers outside the cafe and ushers the rest of the group outside as Mackenzie disapproves of the couple’s response. Allistair explains that his friend Estmere lives nearby outside of the small settlement they are currently in. He gives a basic description of Estmere’s appearance and suggests that they all split up to be more efficient.
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Allistair and Cædmon have remained inside the settlement for their search but are yet to have any luck. Allistair and Cædmon stop in a busy market and deliberate their next move when Cædmon notices someone in the crowd staring at them from a distance. A pierced tongue and a wild look in his eyes, the man’s presence is unnerving and his stare is menacing. Allistair sees him too and he has become worried, he knows who this is but he maintains his composure. He and Cædmon lose sight of the man in the crowd when someone walks in front of them and blocks their view.
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Mackenzie and Avril spot a man in the distance walking towards them in the woods outside of the settlement who matches the description Allistair gave of Estmere’s appearance. The man stops a ways in front of them, imposing a lowkey stand off. Mackenzie senses this,
“We come in peace and mean no harm, friend.”
The man does not respond, instead opting to stare at them with a cold look in his eyes, scar on one eye, sunhat tilted on his head.
“We seek Mackenzie’s Stone, passage through the Mountains of Wind. Will you help us on our journey?”
After a long pause the man replies,
“Leave.”
Mackenzie and Avril begin to feel threatened.
“Do you know a man named Estmere?”
The man’s face still cold as before, he replies again,
“The Mountains of Wind are no joke, there is only death for you there. I will not ask again. Leave.”
The setting becomes still as tension rises in the air, no one is making the first move and every movement is being watched by the other, each making little reflexive micro-movements in reaction to the others.
The tension has reached a boiling point and is about to blow.
“Estmere.”
The man turns around and sees his old friend Allistair, Cædmon at his side. Estmere and Allistair exchange smiles.
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Two of Estmere’s friends are relaxing at his campsite, a campfire cooks vegetables in the midday sun while they take in a view of one gigantic lake; four sets of footprints trail towards the water. The lake has countless diamonds, jewels, and gemstones like the ones in the McIntyre temples scattered throughout its floor, dreamy and ethereal the lake is teeming with life. The sun reflecting off the many gems in the clear water makes for a truly remarkable sight.
Estmere sits with his arm extended, open palmed, he gently Casts the water and pushes a small boat through the lake. The boat is about halfway through the lake, the distant lake shore being a marker of progress, they are headed towards the looming mountains ahead.
“Here, Allistair.”
Estmere gives Allistair a pink flower for Faye. Allistair thanks his friend and takes it.
“What happened earlier, Estmere?”
Mackenzie asks. Estmere explains how the many diamonds and jewels that lay in the lake’s depths attract people who disrespect its beauty, these people rob the lake, taking what is not theres to take. Some people are rude, others are dangerous, certain gems in the lake are essential to its ecosystem. Estmere tells the group that he wants to protect the lake and preserve its natural beauty, intimidating others has proven to be the most effective way of doing so.
“Estmere, I saw Nathair not long ago on my way back from Faye.”
Estmere is alarmed,
“Nathair?”
He pauses,
“Shit.”
Allistair adds,
“There is someone else too.”
There is pause,
“Cædmon and I saw Cyren in that small settlement near here.”
“Seeing both in a short period of time like that must not be a coincidence. The rumors are probably true.”
“Nathair seeks Mackenzie’s Stone as well”
Estmere is even more alarmed than before,
“This will definitely hinder your journey.”
“How so?”
Mackenzie asks.
Allistair explains what is known about Nathair:
Nathair was born into royalty in the city of Aldfriþ (ald-frith). The people of Aldfriþ did not want a Caster, especially one one as capable as Nathair, to become king and so they revolted. His family went into hiding but Nathair refused to concede. The people of Aldfriþ threatened him, he did not listen. Nathair was determined to show the people of Aldfriþ he would make for a peaceful reign as king. Only a handful of people showed to his wedding amidst the tensions. He was to marry a woman named Esthreal whom he had known for a long time. Rioters found Nathair and Esthreal’s wedding as it was happening and caused mayhem; Nathair refused to Cast against his people. The rioters ended up killing Esthreal in the chaos, Nathair was distraught. He fled, only to return to Aldfriþ three days later where he destroyed the entire place in one swift movement, casting devastation to the city from his two hands without ever even setting foot inside. Nathair killed everyone, hardly any of the city of Aldfriþ remains even in ruin.
Allistair concludes,
“As for Cyren, nothing is really known about him. He was present at the wedding but anything before that is just here-say. No one who has challenged Cyren has done so unscathed. Most do not survive.”
Estmere, nails painted black, points to the scar on his eye,
“I was very fortunate, avoid them at all costs.”
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Allistair, Avril, Cædmon, and Estmere begin the ascent of the narrow staircase carved into the land. Mackenzie lags behind as he takes a small crystal from the lakeshore, he thinks about how angry Estmere would probably be. Mackenzie catches up, the group travels up the rocky steps, feet on the ground one step at a time.
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“In these lands the mountains reign supreme, towering over all. But in the Mountains of Wind, the winds are so strong even the mountains intrude upon them.”
This was Estmere’s warning to the group before they set out towards the Mountains of Wind.
The stairs have been eroded by the wind and all that remains is a vague path through the jagged mountainside. The wind is constant and turbulent. Estmere stops, he has to shout because the wind is so loud,
“No one has survived past this point in a thousand years or so. This is where I turn back. Best of luck to you all.”
They nod and part ways.
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Mackenzie, Avril, Allistair, and Cædmon are on their hands and knees grabbing onto anything they can to prevent themselves from blowing away and off the mountainside in the wind’s current. Gusts of wind slam them all into the ground, pick them up, and then slam them into the ground again repeatedly. Mackenzie almost loses grip of his handhold but he catches himself at the last second.
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The turbulent currents of the Mountains of Wind begin to take its toll. Bruised and battered, the group clings onto the smallest crevices in the rocks, they continue at a crawl.
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A cave slowly grows larger in the distance as the four approach. The jagged grey and red rocks are all anyone has seen for a long time, there is nothing that is capable of surviving here. A powerful gust of wind disperses the group into the air. Allistair slams into the jagged wall just above the cave’s entrance, the wind blows and pins him against it vertically. Cædmon is struck in the head by a rock flying at the speeds of the wind; he is knocked unconscious just outside the cave and begins to bleed from his head. Avril has managed to get half her body inside the cave, the other half rests outside as she grasps Mackenzie by the forearm, Mackenzie dangles off the mountain’s edge. Allistair Casts himself down into the cave and he slams into its wall. He drags Cædmon in, almost losing his footing and blowing away. He then grabs Avril by the ankle, they both pull. Mackenzie feels the book in his cloak catch the wind. It flies out from under him and he catches it. The book is bent open as pages violently rip from its binding until it is blown from his hands.
“The History of the Mackenzie Bloodline, McIntyre Bloodline, and Mackenzie’s Stone”
flies out of sight in the wind to be lost to time.
Allistair and Avril continue pulling until they have dragged Mackenzie into the cave, Mackenzie narrowly avoids death. The winds current still hits the small cave but not nearly enough to blow them away. With only enough space for the four of them, they decide this cave seems like a good place to rest.
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Cædmon lays against the cave’s rocky wall with an improvised bandage made of Avril’s cloak. He has remained unconscious for a while and the group is starting to worry. They stay in the cave to rest.
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Night falls, the winds have not abated. There are no decipherable patters in its gusts and should any of them decide to leave the cave, they will be blown off the mountainside. The group finds that it is difficult to get any sleep in the confines of the cave, its walls are jagged and the constant howling and blowing of the winds make for a miserable setting.
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Well into the next day and Cædmon remains unconscious. The situation feels dire.
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Night falls once more.
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Daybreak.
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Nightfall.
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Daybreak. Cædmon has a steady heart beat but he has not moved in days. Water is running low and everyone is hungry. Mackenzie pours water into Cædmon’s mouth.
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Nightfall.
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Daybreak. Mackenzie has an idea,
“There is nothing up here. All blows away in the wind except for one thing. The mountain. We must move through the mountain itself.”
“We risk overexerting ourselves.”
Avril warns. Allistair says,
“It is our only choice.”
Starting from the cave, the group slowly makes their way through the mountain Casting strikes at the rocks to explosively push small bits of the mountainside at a time. They each take turns holding Cædmon on their backs. The light of the cave begins to fade as the group slopes down gradually.
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Mackenzie and Avril strike the rocks and Allsitair carries Cædmon on his back, their surroundings are enveloped in the darkness of the mountain’s depths. They all feel the strain of this much casting, literally moving mountains. Time slips their mind, they are unable to determine how long they’ve been going and the sun’s light cannot reach them at their current depth. One after another, they move the rock strike by strike.
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They have all grown fatigued, it feels like half a day has been spent in total darkness striking away at rocks.
Absolute darkness.
Then blinding light.
Avril strikes and creates an opening in front of them. A canyon separates the group from the other side of the mountain. They can see in the distance where the mountain ends. The group is unsure of how to continue, the sheer drop below them makes this canyon impossible to pass. Not much time is spent observing as the strong current swiftly fills the opening and sends them all into the canyon. Allistair grabs Mackenzie, Mackenzie grabs Avril, Avril grabs Cædmon; they hang onto each other as the wind sends them wildly hurdling though the air miles above the canyon. As the wind carries them in one direction, a significantly stronger gust hits them in another direction, changing their course through the air. They are carried across the canyon and to the other side, a tree flies by them as they are hurdling, the end of the mountain range is near. The momentum from the gust still has them flying through the air at high speeds.
Avril hits the ground first, followed by the others. The trajectory of the slope keeps the impact from seriously injuring the group, but also does nothing to immediately slow them down. They slide down the side of the mountain, narrowly avoiding trees and rocks. Avril sees a boulder she cannot dodge; she Casts a strike into the ground and her momentum upwards just missing the top of the boulder by going up and over. One narrow miss after another, the slope of the mountainside levels out and the group slams into the ground coming to a halt.
Heavy breathing follows a long pause, they lay in place. Avril, still out of breath, breaks the silence and asks if everyone is okay. She gets no response at first. Then they all laugh. Birds fly over their view of the sky and trees as they process what has just happened.
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A familiar light rain compliments the vast plains of this untouched landscape. Tall grass and boulders, one can feel in the air how far removed this land is. Mackenzie, Avril, and Allistair, with Cædmon on his back face the entrance of this imposing temple. A large staircase the width of the structure surrounds the entrance. Grass grows upon the steps, foliage covers everything. Once inside an impressive display of ancient art and architecture reveals itself. In opposite symmetry, as is usual with McIntyre temples, running water runs along a complex path, trees grow in unkept gardens having been left unattended for millennia, two sages look down from above. Sat upon the arms on the largest of the many statues across from each other in opposite symmetry, the sages jump down from a considerable height and remain unfazed.
“Hello travelers, welcome. You have ventured a long way; no one arrives here by accident. Why have you come to the Temple of Beorg?”
“I am a descendant of the Mackenzie Bloodline. My friends and I seek the map to McIntyre’s Scroll so that we may be able to find where Mackenzie’s Stone lays. By finding Mackenzie’s Stone we hope to study it and better ourselves.”
The sage on the right replies,
“Only those who have been judged can enter the catacombs where the map you seek lies.”
The sage on the left says,
“Only two are permitted at one time, who do you choose?”
Avril stays behind to watch over Cædmon, Mackenzie and Allistair stand beside each other at the center of the temples courtyard for judgement. Both of them remember what Cædmon said, they are nervous. The sages extend two fingers, one hand placed on their hearts, the other placed upon their heads in opposite symmetry. The sages take over Mackenzie and Allistair’s minds, they begin to see flashes of their lives with the sages in each frame observing in the distance from places they do not remember seeing them. The flashes become quick and more intense, the points of contact between Mackenzie, Allistair, and the sages glows in a luminous white light. Then blackness.
Mackenzie and Allistair open their eyes and notice that the sages are gone. Two doors are now opened, they each go through one. The hall extends all the way to the other side of the temple in opposite symmetry, Mackenzie and Allistair can see one another in their respective hallways through a small window that lines the halls entirety. The halls end after a long walk where Mackenzie and Allistair join, now oriented towards Avril.
The sky is blocked by a canopy giving natural light to these outdoor catacombs. Skeletons carefully placed along its walls, the catacombs form an elaborate maze. Mackenzie and Allistair begin to walk, they observe the skeletons as they walk by, turning from one corner after another. They happen upon a tree which has begun to grow in the middle of the path. They climb the ancient tree with little difficulty and move on. The Catacombs of Beorg are confusing and they find it difficult to navigate but the two remain vigilant.
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Mackenzie and Allistair turn a corner they have not seen yet and their vigilance pays off. A well lit room is ordained with red and blue gemstones above a series of many doors. There is a note carefully placed next to one of the doors. Its contents imply that the note is thousands of years old. It reads,
“My name is Isakar of the Mackenzie Bloodline, I have found this temple while on my journey in an effort to learn of my heritage. I write this note to inform whomever may come here after me what I have learned of this room. The doors are based on the Mackenzie riddle,
‘Blue the fool, red the passion.’
As is congruent with the riddle, avoid blue and only open doors ordained with a red gemstone above it. My friend has walked through two doors, upon entering the second he has yet to return. I have entered one door and I am about to enter my second. If you see this note, I made the wrong choice.”
Allistair and Mackenzie determine that there are only 4 choices possible. They find that the note is only minimally helpful since the majority of the doors in this room are ordained with red gemstones and they have trouble making certain of anything. Mackenzie decides to choose a doorway ordained with a blue gemstone at random in hopes that the other side will give them clues. Allistair awaits Mackenzie’s return and stays in the room.
On the other side of the door Mackenzie finds himself facing the Temple of Beorg’s entrance in the courtyard. The foliage is even more intense than before, the inside looks nearly the same as the outside. Avril and Cædmon are not there, it is quiet. Mackenzie notices he can no longer Cast here. He observes the plains that were once outside now as a dense forest. Mackenzie looks around but there is nothing here so he returns through the doorway and back into the room to meet Allistair. Allistair chooses a door this time. On the other side he sees the same view, facing the temple entrance in the courtyard. Allistair sees significantly less foliage, the leaves and plants visible are intentionally placed. The many candles in the temple have all been lit, he hears voices echoing throughout its walls. Allistair notices his Casting feels significantly more intense than usual in this version of the temple. He walks out to the staircase and sees two cloaked men. They look up and are immediately ready to confront him. Allistair is startled and does not want a confrontation, the two cloaked men begin to run towards Allistair and he runs back towards the door. The two cloaked men are fast and have nearly caught up to him. Allistair is in full sprint, he reaches the door and narrowly slips through, closing it on the two men in their pursuit.
Mackenzie opens another door. There is no temple. There are no trees. Only sand and a sky of grey and red. Wind blows unpredictably. Mackenzie stands in an endless desert, only a fragment of the temple’s floor remains holding the door way up and in place. He has trouble breathing and feels the intense heat of this desert. The sun is massive in the sky, burning his eyes in its intense red glow. Life is no longer hosted in the lands that surround Mackenzie. He collapses. Mackenzie rolls over and tries to crawl towards the doorway. His breathing is heavy and labored, the heat is melting him. With his last breaths, he pulls himself through the doorway.
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Allistair and Mackenzie have used three of their assumed four choices. There are too many doors ordained in a red gemstone in contrast to doors with a blue gemstone to risk taking another chance. They sit for a while until Allistair asks Mackenzie to recall the riddle in its entirety.
“‘Blue the fool
Red the passion
Blue the unwise
Red the changed
Red through blue
Neutral and worthy’
A fool will look to a blue sky and think it will never rain again. The passionate warmth of the sun brings life to the lands. With life comes change, changing a fool to someone sensible.”
They ponder the riddle, its meaning, and its relevance to the temple. Allistair notices something in his peripheral vision; a door that was once decorated with a blue gemstone is now red in the sunlight.
“Mackenzie, some of the gemstones above the doors change in the sun’s light.”
Tucked away and almost hidden in plain sight is a door more ornate than the rest decorated with a blue gemstone, Mackenzie and Allistair decide to wait for the sun to hit this door.
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The sun has shone through on all parts of this room at some point and has reached the most ornate door, it shines red on the once blue gemstone. Reluctantly, Allistair and Mackenzie have no other option but to go through. Allistair goes through the door first. On the other side he stands in the courtyard facing the entrance once gain, Avril and Cædmon, who remains unconscious, are there waiting. Mackenzie and Allistair are relieved. A pedestal lifts itself from the ground in the center of the ancient courtyard holding a rolled up document. Mackenzie takes the document and opens it, he holds in his hand the map to McIntyre’s Scroll.
McIntyre’s Scroll
A cobblestone path lines the familiar grassy plains of this land. The Temple of Beorg is a couple of days behind them, the group heads towards the sound of a distant settlement. They stop and ask where they can receive medical help for Cædmon, who is still unconscious. A well kept man tells them of a hospital in the settlement of Hæl (hal).
Hæl is a mid-sized settlement, calm and with many flowers growing on the ground within its boundaries, perfect for Allistair. A Caster by the name of Eftbót (eft-boe) greets three weary travelers as they walk in through the entrance of her small hospital and takes Cædmon in her care. Cædmon’s condition is stable, and it improves over the course of the next few days.
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Cædmon regains consciousness under Eftót’s care and makes a full recovery. Once Cædmon is able to leave, Mackenzie, Allistair, Avril, and Cædmon thank Eftbót for her help, everyone is visibly glad to make a healthy return to their journeying as they set out of Hæl in search of McIntyre’s Scroll.
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A grassy cliff sits high above an endless valley. Great boulders, some natural, some erected by the ancients in a peculiar manner decorate the landscape. In the distance an old woman works in front of a small dwelling perched high above the opposite cliffside far across on the other side. Mackenzie proudly extends his arm, his hand holds the map to McIntyre’s Scroll. The four exchange glances as they take in the view, Mackenzie says,
“No one even thinks this actually exists. And here we are, after having visited so many temples, we hold the map to McIntyre’s Scroll.”
The group observes Cyren beside the dwelling in the distant cliffside as he gives a menacing stare. Nathair emerges from inside the dwelling, peering out of the small front doorway, the woman continues working without acknowledging either of them. The two groups make eye contact, separated by the vast landscape.
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The journey to McIntyre’s Scroll takes the group to numerous settlements and sights throughout all the land, Mackenzie, Allistair, Avril, and Cædmon are enjoying their journey. The group rests in a large settlement, a local tells Avril and Mackenzie of the folklore in the area. He tells wild stories of great warriors and fictitious beasts that have all shaped the valleys and cliffs through extraordinary tales, he tells the stories vividly and with enthusiasm, the excitement can be felt in the air and everyone is invested in the local’s stories. In the distance Nathair and Cyren watch from a cafe, drinks resting on their table.
The same local shows the group an ancient building, of no significance to their journey, littered with graffiti art that has sat upon its walls for millennia, they all enjoy themselves as they observe the structure’s abandoned charm.
Sometime later on another week in their journey, the group swims in a lake, enjoying the sun as it peers through the usually cloudy skies of the land. Mackenzie notices Avril come up from the water, he cannot help but stare at her beauty. Avril acts like she does not notice.
The sun sets on another day. The group runs across an ancient colosseum, broken pieces are all that remain of some walls, held up by decaying pillars. As they run towards the sunset, they share an enthusiasm for all the places they have been and the sights they have seen.
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Allistair stands in an open field, a starry night illuminates the land. He sees Faye standing before him with no black sclera or veins. They enjoy each other’s company as they play and chat and create memories together. Allistair and Faye share a kiss, they are happy they have met one another. Allistair and Faye lay at each other’s side and stare at the stars of this late night sky, Allistair’s eyes are dull but he feels content.
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Allistair sits inside an abandoned building from the previous civilization which towers over everything, known to the people of this long ago time as a skyscraper. He sits at a campfire, eyes lifeless and dull, his memories are all that he has for entertainment. Cædmon sleeps a few feet from Allistair, Mackenzie and Avril sit on the ledge of a window high above the ground, their feet dangle off the edge, conversing with one another and taking in the view. A few other travelers camp out on lower floors, their campfires can be seen in windows scattered throughout the building. Mackenzie and Avril look to the night sky, most stars are visible and it is a near clear night save for one or two clouds. They talk about their journey so far, they are both excited to find McIntyre’s Scroll and can hardly contain their enthusiasm in each other’s presence. Avril tells Mackenzie,
“I’m glad I came, we’ve seen so many amazing places on this journey.”
Mackenzie responds,
“I’m glad you came too.”
Avril rests her head on Mackenzie’s shoulders.
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Grass turns to sand, Mackenzie, Avril, Allistair, and Cædmon find themselves in a busy desert town just outside a vast sandy expanse. The map leads to the heart of the desert, the group knows this will be tasking and gather supplies before venturing out. As the four make their way through a crowded market, Nathair and Cyren walk right in front of them. Everyone stops and tensions begin to build. Cyren stares with his usual wild look, his tongue sticks out and reveals his piercing, Nathair stares blankly. The group grows nervous but do not let it show, a confrontation with Nathair and Cyren would be dramatic. Allistair asks the two of them,
“What do you want? Why do you follow us?”
A long pause. Mackenzie shouts,
“Speak!”
Allistair gestures for Mackenzie to shut the fuck up lol. Mackenzie continues in a calmer voice,
“We seek Mackenzie’s Stone. My friends and I intend to study it so we can learn–”
Nathair cuts him off,
“I’m sure we all have our reasons in searching for Mackenzie’s Stone.”
There is a pause, tensions continue to rise. Nathair continues, monotone as he speaks,
“You four are an opposing force. But, there is a way we can work together.”
Avril asks,
“How?”
Nathair does not respond. Cyren laughs quietly to himself; they walk away and disappear into the crowd.
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A busy desert town rests in the distance, four weary travelers trek into the surrounding sands further from the only settlement in the desert. It is a grueling journey. The hot sand burns their bare feet with every step, leaving the soles of their feet red and scalded, the unforgiving desert sun scorches the land. Where there are boulders, there are snakes and birds, until there is not and the boulders become void of life as the desert.
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A green arm protrudes the desert sand holding a torch. Based on the size of the arm, a colossal statue of the previous civilization is presumably buried in the land, Mackenzie, Avril, Allistair, and Cædmon observe the weathered statue arm as they continue their journey. There is nothing in this desert but the endless sands, occasionally they see boulders or abandoned ancient skyscrapers that once towered the landscapes of their time buried so far into the land that they are skyscrapers no more.
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The group spends the evening in a cave. In the cave is an old man, he does not say much other than that he intends to die in the desert; the old man does not give a reason as to why. He lets them stay the night under the condition that they will leave early the next morning.
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The tops of skyscrapers litter this desolate part of the desert sands, like the previous ones they would see occasionally, these rooftops would have reached far into the sky in the times of the previous civilization. They are now not much larger in height than a home. Mackenzie, Avril, Allistair, and Cædmon take refuge from the sun under the shade in what would have been the top floor, mostly buried into the ground, the land at their feet is sand. They drink the last of their water and hope McIntyre’s Scroll is near, it has already been a few days.
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They continue their trek through the unforgiving desert, there are no longer any landmarks as there is nothing but sand and sun in these far off and inhospitable lands. Avril collapses momentarily, Cædmon helps her up. The group is beginning to suffer from exhaustion.
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Night has fallen and the group continues to walk, using the cool nights to their advantage to cover more ground. A full moon illuminates this desert nightfall, a blanket of stars over the blankets of sand that make up the land. It is a scenic desert night. After a while they decide to rest, backs to the sand and with no shelter, they rest under the stars.
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A small pedestal with nothing at its top stands isolated in these untouched sands, rectangular mounds rest in the ground and serve as windows to an enormous underground structure. Two sets of foot prints trail away from the subtle landmark. In the distance four weary travelers approach, relieved to see something other than endless stretches of sand.
“I think this is it.”
Mackenzie says as he looks to the map.
Mackenzie places his hand on the pedestal and pushes towards the sand. Nothing happens.
Avril suggests that he Casts the pedestal downward instead. This works.
The pedestal sinks halfway into the ground and a narrow staircase opens into the land, splitting the sands and leading underground; sand spills into the sides of the staircase. Mackenzie, Avril, Allistair, and Cædmon descend the steps of this dark stairway and find themselves inside a massive underground structure. It is dark with only the light from the windows at the structures ceiling shining in, illuminating another pedestal of similar size to the one outside. A scroll would have presumably rested at its top but lays instead opened and on the ground. Someone has just been here. The group is alarmed but they cannot find any trace of who it could be except for a few sandy barefoot prints. Mackenzie retrieves the scroll from the ground. He holds in his hand McIntyre’s Scroll; contained in its binding is all of the secrets of the Mackenzie Bloodline and Mackenzie’s Stone, which is detailed in a distant mountain range.
Sacrifice
A blizzard envelops a snowy mountain in a forgotten mountain range. High in the mountains, two hooded figures march their way through the snow, struggling in the frigid winds. Snow blows everywhere, the two figures are having difficulty seeing where they are oriented. The person in front looks up, he faintly makes out the silhouette of a structure in the distance nearly at the top of the mountain’s peak. They are close and the two figures press on, their black cloaks contrasting the white of the blizzard.
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A pink flower sits suspended in the air in a grey expanse, its luminosity is dulled, color is less vibrant here. Faye is in a white dress, she grasps the flower and takes it from its mid air suspension and brings it to her chest, she turns to Allistair. She looks healthy, Allistair stares at her. Faye’s eyes begin to darken, the blackness extends out from her, bending reality. They maintain their stares. The luminosity of the blackness also suffers in the dullness of this grey expanse, Allistair begins to drift.
He awakens tucked away behind boxes in a dark carriage, everything is rustling around. Mackenzie and Cædmon have also just awakened and they are still groggy. Mackenzie puts his hand on Avril’s shoulder and gently wakes her as well. A vase rolls off of a box and knocks Cædmon in the head.
“That’s twice now.”
Mackenzie jokes, referring to what happened in the Mountains of Wind. The carriage suddenly comes to a halt in a jerk and the group decides to climb out. The driver is startled when he sees four people climbing out the back of his carriage but he is relieved they awoke on their own. He grabs some fruit from the back of the carriage and begins to explain to them that he found all four of them unconscious and laying in the sand, he notes that they were not too far from the desert settlement. The man begins to feed fruit to the horses which drive the carriage. Mackenzie asks what he was doing in the desert, the man replies,
“I was looking for an old man that apparently lives in a cave somewhere far in the desert. I knew it was unlikely that I would find him, but I had to try. I wish he would come home.”
Mackenzie mentions that they might have seen the old man he was looking for but the carriage driver has given up on the idea. He gives the four some water and after thanking the man, the two parties part ways.
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Sat in a nearby market are Mackenzie, Avril, Allistair, and Cædmon who’s eyes are fixated on the table in front of them, McIntyre’s Scroll rests on top. The scroll contains all that there is to know of the Mackenzie Bloodline. Part of an excerpt reads,
“High above the lands the stars become landscapes of their own, surrounded by endless darkness and space. Deep within this outer layer of existence a rock was sent towards our lands. This rock journeyed through the infinite and dark expanse until it approached and struck the lands of the past and destroyed the previous civilization before us. The lands were never the same and the survivors of this catastrophe had to live in the wake of the rock’s collision, the rock laid dormant within a crater for decades. Survivors found the rock and with its discovery they harnessed the rock’s energy and became the first Casters. Humanity, like the lands, was never the same. These survivors were ancestors of the Mackenzie Bloodline, the rock came to be known as Mackenzie’s Stone.”
McIntyre’s Scroll reveals the location of Mackenzie’s Stone to be in a valley behind a mountain range next to a settlement known as Sacrifice, which did not exist in the time of the Mackenzie and McIntyre Bloodlines. The specifics are difficult to determine, the texts being thousands of years old refer to the lands by different names. The group decides going to the settlement of Sacrifice and studying its geography will help them reveal the location of Mackenzie’s Stone. Also detailed on the scroll is the location of a temple and a structure used my the Mackenzie’s nearby the settlement.
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Sunlight beams through a break in the clouds on a cobblestone path that travels through a grassy field lined by trees. Mackenzie, Avril, and Cædmon are stood in the middle of the path, Allistair is further up the path and observes wild horses grazing in the distance through a gap in the trees. Mackenzie asks,
“Cædmon, you’re a sage of the McIntyres. Do you know why the sages from the past disappear?”
Cædmon replies,
“Skilled Casters can make projections of their past selves that last for a few seconds, long enough to briefly fool someone into thinking you’re present from somewhere else than you actually are. The Mackenzie’s and McIntyre’s of ancient times were able to make projections of themselves that last for hours at a time, being able to project through the fabric of time itself. Though these people died long ago, flashes of them remain in times far after their deaths; when you see them you are actually seeing real living people through the energy of these projections they have made. These people did not have memories of the future while they were alive because the things they do as projections had yet to have happened during their lifetimes.
Every projection, however, is limited. Whether it is 5 seconds or 5 hours, the energy of the projection eventually dissipates, the projections end as the flashes in time become impossible. It is for this reason the sages of the past only appear sometimes, and disappear as soon as possible. One day, every projection of the Mackenzie’s and McIntyre’s will appear for its last time, disappearing never to be seen again until there are no more. When this happens, all of the ancient temples will be rendered inaccessible. The secrets of the Mackenzie and McIntyre Bloodlines will be locked away forever.”
A wild horse jumps over a small ledge that separates the cobblestone path from the grass. Allistair sits upon the horse’s back, the horse is tense but Allistair has control.
“I have been gone for far too long. I ride back towards my home to visit Faye. We have come so far together, I hope Mackenzie’s Stone offers the answers we all seek. I will not return for a while, I will meet you in the settlement of Sacrifice in the future. Best of luck, my friends!”
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A cliff separates water from the valley below forming a natural dam, the water pools into the depths of the rock forming an elevated lake. Water trickles down through holes in the rock, forming a river which leads into a small settlement known as Sacrifice. The river divides the settlement and is the town’s defining feature alongside the bridge that crosses it. Mountains surround the valley on almost all sides.
A small dwelling is lit by candlelight as the sun sets in the valley, the residents of this home have allowed Mackenzie, Avril, and Cædmon to stay with them during the length of their time in Sacrifice. Fearing ridicule and riding their luck, the group decides to refrain from telling the members of this household, a mother with a teenaged daughter and son, about their true expedition to find Mackenzie’s Stone, instead adopting the alias of cartographers who intend to make detailed maps of the area. The mother explains their lives to the group over dinner. She tells of her husband, who died by overexerting himself and crossing the threshold, leaving the family heartbroken. Her son and daughter are both Casters but refrain from using their capabilities after what happened. The family is very kind but it is obvious they are all hurting.
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Deep in the first of a nearby mountain range Mackenzie, Avril, and Cædmon find the temple that was detailed on McIntyre’s Scroll. The temple, like most others, is covered in dense foliage. Vines run up and down along the walls of this quaint temple, a mossy staircase leads to the inside where they find two sages who are sat on the ground at a table enjoying a meal. The sages stand up and greet them, introducing themselves as Siþ (sith) and Aldor; Cædmon and the sages are familiar with each other. Siþ and Aldor are surprised to learn the group has obtained McIntyre’s Scroll, Cædmon explains how Mackenzie and Allistair were judged at the Temple of Beorg and successfully navigated its catacombs, Siþ and Aldor are very impressed. The sages are unsure of where exactly Mackenzie’s Stone lays but they offer their assistance to the group, the sages tell them that they can help determine the location of the stone with a little time to study. Siþ and Aldor also give the group directions to the Mackenzie structure that was detailed in McIntyre’s Scroll, it is not far from the temple and the sages lead the way.
The walls of this structure are black with a slight shine, mostly untouched except for moss and graffiti, the grassy floor and large entrances frame this ancient room. Being inside of a structure the Mackenzie’s used during their time is a first for the group, it’s purpose is not clear even to the sages. Simply designed, this Mackenzie structure contains nothing in its walls, high ceilings make for a tall structure. From here on Mackenzie, Avril, and Cædmon spend their days venturing between Sacrifice, the temple, and the Mackenzie structure to study and gain clues regarding where Mackenzie’s Stone lays.
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Two hooded figures ascend an ancient staircase covered in snow amidst a blizzard. The temple sits at the top of a peak on a snowcapped mountain, the two figures enter the structure. A simplistic temple, art pieces all indicate a thief stealing from others. There is a switch in a wall near the entrance of the temple, one of the hooded figures places their palm upon it and Casts the switch into the wall. A bearded sage with shoulder length hair emerges, the sage greets the two hooded figures before him,
“Hello travelers. I am Silas of the Mackenzie Bloodline. Why have you come to this forgotten temple?”
The figures remove their hoods and reveal themselves, one of them responds,
“I am Nathair, this is Cyren. McIntyre’s Scroll indicates you were the last person to be resurrected by Mackenzie’s Stone. We seek confirmation.”
Silas replies,
“You speak of McIntyre’s Scroll but I do not see it on you.”
“We left if for someone else to find.”
“Well, what do you want to know of my resurrection?”
“Everything.”
“For a resurrection using Mackenzie’s Stone you need three items: Mackenzie’s sword, a dull blade made of Mackenzie’s Stone itself, it is shaped like a rod. Mackenzie’s Flask which contains the Waters of Moment, water from every time imaginable rests inside of it, and the Passion Gem, a red gemstone that all the gems ordained in the temples across the land originate from.
You take the remains of someone who has died and lay them next to Mackenzie’s Stone. Place the Passion Gem where the heart rests in the body, sprinkle the Waters of Moment over the remains, and stab the Passion Gem with Mackenzie’s Sword. The Waters of Moment bear life, the Passion Gem consciousness, Mackenzie’s Stone combines the two to make life anew. The Passion Gem and Mackenzie’s Sword slowly recede out of the body, if one should take it out too soon the resurrection is negated, and only one person can be resurrected at a time. I am proof that Mackenzie’s Stone can resurrect the dead, it will never happen again. I am the last.”
Nathair replies,
“Why?”
“Mackenzie’s Flask and the Passion Gem were stolen. As I lay there next to Mackenzie’s Stone starting the first moments of my new life, I can see my family, friends, and Mackenzie brothers and sisters in front of me. To my side were Mackenzie’s Flask and the Passion Gem. Someone appeared out of thin air and stole Mackenzie’s Flask and the Passion Gem from beside me, we were unable to get a proper look at the person, as he ran away he vanished into thin air as he came. Mackenzie’s Flask and the Passion Gem have not been seen since.”
Nathair is not satisfied with this realization. He probes Silas for more details but Silas has none to give. Silas notices a dull blade at Nathair’s side. He asks,
“Where did you get that sword?”
“I found it.”
“Shaped as a rod, you hold Mackenzie’s Sword.”
“I know.”
The sage grows tense,
“Only those who have been judged can wield Mackenzie’s Sword, traveler.”
Nathair has an idea,
“Shall you judge me, then?”
Nathair hands Cyren Mackenzie’s Sword. Silas extends two fingers, placing each hand on Nathair’s heart and hand respectively. He scans Nathair’s memories.
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Nathair is a young child, he sees another little boy alone in an alley with his head down. In contrast to Nathair who is clean and well kept, the child in the alley is homeless and dirty. The boy looks over to Nathair with a wild look in his eyes, he sticks his tongue out at Nathair and they both laugh. A friendship is born.
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A young Nathair walks along a riverbank with young girl he refers to as Esthreal. They both share an apple and take a bite at the same time, their noses touch. They stare nose to nose for a second, Nathair kisses her forehead and they both blush.
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Nathair and Esthreal are a few years older, they sit on a bench hanging from two trees and romantically rock in the breeze, enjoying a view of the city of Aldfriþ in its time. Cyren approaches them and appreciates the view, he looks to them and reveals his tongue piercing. They all laugh together.
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Nathair holds Estrhreal’s dead body in his arms. Chaos surrounds him, his wedding is ruined and he is crying.
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With a jump Nathair Casts himself into the air. He lifts his hands up and destroys the city of Aldfriþ. Every building is demolished and there are no survivors, Aldfriþ is left to rock and ruin. Nathair stands at the center with his head down.
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Blackness encompasses the view. Silas tries to navigate Nathair’s mind but he is struggling against Nathair’s resistance. Silas loses hold of his grip on Nathair’s mind, he is unable to move both physically and mentally as he attempts to regain control. Neutral for a moment, Nathair takes control of the connection between their minds and invades Silas’ psyche. Nathair learns inside of Silas’ mind that to travel through someones memories is to travel through time itself, the memories serve as a doorway for which one enters. When viewing one’s memories, you are on observer to an event that is actually occurring in front of you. Silas was present in every memory of Nathair’s that he saw, even if no one noticed him there at the time. The Mackenzie’s and McIntyre’s are careful so as to only observe memories, Nathair has no obligation to do the same.
Nathair sees in front of him Mackenzie’s Stone. Silas lays on the ground having just been resurrected. A group of people surround Silas and none notice Nathair standing behind them. Beside Silas rests Mackenzie’s Flask and the Passion Gem, Nathair sees an opportunity and bolts towards the two objects, picking them up in each hand, and taking them. He runs from the group as the others take notice. Silas regains control of his own psyche and ends the memory as Nathair makes his escape. He removes his fingers from Nathair and they are both sent out onto their backs. Nathair lays beside Cyren; he holds Mackenzie’s Flask in one hand and the Passion Gem in the other. Silas stands to his feet and stares in disbelief at Nathair as he gets up. He says to himself repeatedly,
“Oh what have I done, oh what have I done, what have I done, what have I done?”
He continues repeating himself as he jumps to the top of the temple’s room to a small ledge near the ceiling, a pedestal rests on top. Atop the pedestal is a candle, Silas lights the candle with his finger tips, lighting the candles wick with a flame that burns white. Silas shifts his gaze to Nathair and Cyren who are standing at the temple’s floor,
“You cannot leave this place.”
He jumps down and prepares for a confrontation.
Silas lunges towards Nathair and Cyren who hardly dodge his blow, the Casting force behind Silas’ strike destroys the wall near the temple’s entrance leaving a hole. Nathair and Cyren look to one another; Silas is a formidable opponent. Battles between Casters are more of a test in wits and reflexes than brute strength. Taking a hit like one Silas has just dealt would prove to be problematic for whomever is on the receiving end. Dodging and evading is a staple of a Caster’s abilities. Silas strikes again, followed by more consecutively without stopping, switching between Nathair and Cyren. He is unforgiving, hammering each in continuous succession, he narrowly misses his targets. Silas swings a kick to Cyren’s head, Cyren dodges it as his hair grazes Silas’ foot. Silas uses the momentum of his missed kick to launch himself off the temple wall towards Nathair and hurdles towards him Casting an open palmed strike. Nathair uses his full strength to deflect the blow, the sages arm is redirected but he is unfazed, the temple around them being almost entirely destroyed. Nathair and Cyren see an opening and attack Silas simultaneously, he blocks both of their attacks, Nathair attempting a kick and Cyren a punch, he grabs their ankle and wrist respectively. Silas casts them both into the surviving temple wall, they stop their momentum with their hands and the wall cracks. Frigid winds and excess snow enter the temple as the roof collapses. The confrontation continues in a close quarters battle of rapid deflects, dodges, and near misses. Nathair mentions to Cyren,
“Every projection will not last forever. He is more capable than us but we can hold our own until he runs out of time.”
They continue their struggle, in the flurry of dodges and deflects, Silas knocks Nathair and Cyren in opposite directions. Nathair cartwheels his momentum to his feet, Cyren slides his feet in the snow, stops, and immediately lunges towards Silas. He catches Silas off guard and grasps his skull, Cyren drives him into the snow with an impact felt through the mountain, Silas strikes Cyren in the chest followed by a knee to his abdomen. The force behind his Casted strikes sends Cyren into the air, where he remains until he crashes into the distant mountainside. Nathair reaches for a powerful strike from behind Silas, Silas attempts a round house kick and narrowly misses Nathair, Nathair connects his strike right to Silas’ face. His head is moved but he is not sent flying back, instead grabbing Nathair’s arm and pulling it down, orienting them both with feet on the ground. Silas lunges and returns the blow with a powerful strike to Nathair’s jaw, Nathair is sent back crashing into the ground, he slides in the snow as the momentum carries him further away from Silas until the friction of the snow against his back stops him.
The confrontation has lasted longer than Silas expected, he begins to feel himself grow weaker. His projection is ending, Silas is fading into space. With no more time and Nathair and Cyren being too resilient, Silas Casts himself into the air where he hovers. He extends his arms out; the whole mountain range begins to rumble. The mountain’s slopes begin to break and the mountainside Cyren struck into falls off into the abyss below, snow begins to bury the land in a massive avalanche as the mountain crumbles, snow piles with the weight of the falling mountain. As snow pummels Nathair, he sees Silas fade into the winds as his projection ends never to be seen again. All goes black, the snow buries Nathair under its crushing weight.
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A mountain range collapsed, snow has settled at the base of what were once mountains. Nathair’s head emerges from the snow, he is buried from the neck down. The blizzard winds blow no longer at this lower elevation, the sun is shining. To his side is Mackenzie’s Sword just out of arm’s reach. Nathair struggles but he manages to break free from the compact snow. He crawls through the snow and grabs Mackenzie’s Sword where he notices a red glimmer shining brightly further back. Nathair slowly comes to a stand and limps towards the distant shine. The snow makes for an even more difficult hike; he reaches the shimmer and finds the Passion Gem resting in the snow, he retrieves it and looks out to the landscape, its hue turning to green as it extends away from the mountain range.
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Nathair limps along the bank of a river, his vision blurs and he is becoming delirious. With each step he finds it more difficult to keep moving, Nathair almost drops the Passion Gem. He breathes slowly and heavily, his legs shake under his own weight and he collapses to the ground. A man picks Nathair up off the ground as he slips in and out of consciousness.
Nathair regains consciousness, he looks over and sees that he is resting on someone’s side as they carry both of their weight along the riverbank. Nathair looks over and sees Cyren, he holds Mackenzie’s Flask in his other hand. Nathair notices Cyren is limping too with the addition of a gash on his neck from which he is bleeding.
“Set me down Cyren, you are in no position to carry me as you are.”
“Hmph.”
Cyren ignores Nathair’s request.
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Eftbót sees two wounded men in her doorway. She is alarmed to see they are Nathair and Cyren. They stare at one another, Eftót is aware of their reputation and is reluctant to help them. She gives the two some medicinal herbs and asks them to leave.
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In a forest not far from the settlement of Hæl, Cyren and Nathair drink tea made from the medicinal herbs Eftbót lent them, they plan to rest and recover in these woods.
A blizzard rages in the higher elevations of rock and snow that was recently a mountain range. Precariously resting upon a pedestal in the snow, a candle burns with a white flame.
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Foliage covers a temple deep in the forests of a mountain range near the settlement of Sacrifice, inside it a candle burns with a white flame. Siþ observes its glow and prepares for what is next. Joined by Aldor, the two descend the stairs, running down its steps. Cædmon is walking up the steps towards the entrance of the temple he, as well as Mackenzie and Avril, frequent at this point in their search for Mackenzie’s Stone when he comes across the two sages running down. Cædmon is confused as to why they are running, Siþ tells him,
“The candle burns white with the Flames of Time, a temple has been compromised.”
Cædmon is shocked. He runs up the temple stairs and through its entrance. He sees for himself a candle on a pedestal in the corner of the temple burning white with flame.
A candle burns white with flame in the Temple of Beorg, an in every temple throughout the lands. The sages answer its call.
The ancient structure used by the Mackenzie’s near the settlement of Sacrifice sits nestled in the forest as nature reclaims its walls. Cædmon bursts through its entrance but he sees no one is there. Cædmon heads towards Sacrifice to continue his search. At the dwelling they have been staying at he finds the widowed mother and her two children, they are not who Cædmon is looking for so he leaves in a hurry and decides to check the settlement’s bustling market. He finds no one here either. Mackenzie and Avril are walking across the bridge that connects the two halves of Sacrifice over the river and in the distance they can see Cædmon running towards them shouting their names. Now on the bridge, Cædmon tells Mackenzie and Avril,
“The sages are searching for you, we must leave!”
Avril and Mackenzie are worried. Avril asks Cædmon,
“Why? What has happened?”
He ushers Mackenzie and Avril to follow him and he explains as they run through Sacrifice,
“In every McIntyre temple sits a candle. The candle serves as a beacon to signal if a temple is robbed or destroyed. It burns white with the Flames of Time, a flame that burns through the fabric of time itself allowing it to illuminate all the temples simultaneously. When this fire burns, all temples are locked away and made inaccessible by the sages, all artifacts relating to the Mackenzie and McIntyre Bloodlines are collected, the Flames of Time act as a a safety measure to keep their secrets from falling into the wrong hands. They will try to take McIntyre’s Scroll from you. We must leave this place and go into hiding.”
The group sprints though Sacrifice in hopes that they will leave unnoticed by the sages. They are too late, Siþ and Aldor await Cædmon, Mackenzie, and Avril as they run out of the settlement’s entrance. Aldor says to them,
“Return McIntyre’s Scroll.”
They stare. The sage repeats,
“The Flames of Time burn white, McIntyre’s Scroll must be returned to us immediately.”
Mackenzie responds,
“We cannot do that.”
“This is unwise. We seek peace, should you hinder us we will Cast death. Will you please return McIntyre’s Scroll?”
More sages, some projections, others not arrive at the settlement’s entrance.
“So be it.”
The sages attack. Mackenzie, Avril, and Cædmon are outnumbered, they try to hold their own but the odds are not in their favor. Sages lunge at Mackenzie, he deflects two but he is struck by another and is sent back, he catches himself and dodges another sage’s strike from above, Mackenzie strikes another sending them flying but he takes a powerful blow to the chest by a new sage. Mackenzie struggles to stand. The sage sends a strike nearly missing Mackenzie’s face, the Casting force behind the strike blows a hole into the walls of Sacrifice. Avril fends off multiple sages, deflecting and dodging, she cannot keep up with her opponents’ pace. She takes a strike Casted to her face and she is sent back but quickly regains her balance, fortunate it was not a full strength hit. She deflects a few more attacks by two other sages and is struck again, this time she hits the ground hard. Local warriors armed with swords and spears spill out of the hole in Sacrifice’s wall, they join the fight but make little difference, the sages far outclass everyone. Siþ has struck Avril but she grabbed his hand immediately before it would have connected to her face, she is pinned against Sacrifice’s wall, they are in a power struggle as Siþ’s arm is extended out towards Avril, he pushes into her and she attempts to push him away. Cædmon can see them and he is conflicted. The ways of the McIntyre sages are all he has ever known, he contemplates if this journey is worth revoking his identity as a sage of the McIntyre Bloodline. He runs towards the two, both are unaware of his approach as they are locked in their struggle, he strikes. Cædmon Casts a fatal blow to Siþ’s temple, he slams to the ground and does not get up. Even with the addition of the warriors they are still losing, the sages Cast deadly blows to the warriors of Sacrifice as they dodge their swords and spears.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Inside a small dwelling within Sacrifice a windowed mother sits with her teenaged children, they are huddled in the center of their home as the fight outside wages on. The daughter stands to her feet,
“This isn’t right! So many warriors are out there fighting while we sit here and do nothing. I can Cast the might of a warrior from the palms of my hands, why do I not go out and–”
Her mother cuts her off.
“Have you so easily forgotten what happened to your father? Your Casting is a curse!”
“It is not! Casting is a blessing and Sacrifice needs it at this very moment. Will you go with me?”
She looks to her brother, he stares at her giving no response. She realizes he isn’t going and, against her mother’s wishes, she leaves the small dwelling to join the battle.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Mackenzie is overwhelmed by a group of 5 sages, dodging and deflecting then taking a hit only to repeat the process once more. He cannot keep up with the sage’s speed and each strike he is dealt hurts Mackenzie more than the previous. Mackenzie takes a blow to his abdomen, McIntyre’s Scroll flies away from him and into the air. Mackenzie is struck to hard to try and take it back, he can only watch as the scroll hurdles towards the group of sages. A sage extends his arm and reaches his hand out, Estmere appears before them from above, catching McIntyre’s Scroll just in time. Mackenzie, Avril, and Cædmon are surprised to see Estmere. With no time to explain he throws the scroll to Mackenzie and tells him to run into the forest and away form the sages. Mackenzie runs off the battlefield but not before a few sages try to prevent his escape, Estmere intervenes by Casting near misses, distracting the sages as Mackenzie runs off into the wood line. Estmere fares no better against the sages, a series of dodges and deflects follow a strike, he takes more hits than he lands. Estmere, Cædmon, and Avril are hardly able to defend themselves against the superior abilties of the McIntyre sages, then in unison all the sages cease their offense. A sage whom no one recognizes tells the battlefield,
“The McIntyre’s seek peace, you have what is not yours to keep. We thrive in secrecy and by allowing this battle to continue we risk all the lands, distant and near, learning of our existence. We give you this warning: The natural dam will blow, our sages will flood this valley. McIntyre’s Scroll will be lost but it will also remain a secret. All of you will drown.”
The sages begin to retreat.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Two sages stand atop a cliff that separates water from the valley below, water pools into the depths of the natural dam creating an elevated lake. The two sages stomp their feet into the ground, the rock breaks, trickling water forms to a raging waterfall, they extend their hands out and water pours on top of the all ready rapid downward flow following the path of the sage’s hands; the flooding of the valley begins.
Mackenzie is running along the wood line when he hears a low boom in the distance, he sees a waterfall nearly the size of the cliffside that makes the natural dam, water wildly extends from past the rock. Mackenzie changes course and runs in the cliff’s direction. At the center of the valley he can see the river is flooding far past its former banks, two sages stand atop the cliff in his view. He makes the connection and understands what they intend. Endless and massive, the stream of water violently pours from the top of the cliff as Mackenzie contemplates. He places both of his feet firmly onto the ground and lifts his hands up. The waters raging down the cliff begin to slow. The sages Cast with more force, Mackenzie compensates and the water’s momentum shifts up and down the cliffside until it comes to a halt, suspended in the air. Mackenzie and the two sages are gridlocked and have now reached an impasse, a struggle for control of the water flow ensues.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Water has begun to flood far into the valley’s plains. Already ankle deep, the people of Sacrifice are in a panic, everyone runs in all direction amidst the chaos, Cædmon sees Aldor kneeled in the rising waters as he holds the fallen Siþ in his arms, Siþ has not moved since being struck by Cædmon. Aldor looks up and says to Cædmon,
“Your betrayal will be known amongst all of the McIntyre Bloodline, you are wicked.”
Aldor is fighting back tears, Cædmon feels wicked. People begin to notice the water is suspended mid air out in the distance, the people of Sacrifice use this to their advantage as they evacuate. Feeling partially responsible, Cædmon and Estmere help in the evacuation efforts, Avril runs towards the suspended water.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Mackenzie and the sages maintain their respective holds of the enormous waterfall, the water remains in suspension. Both sides are exerting all they can towards the water, Mackenzie sweats as he remains focused on its immense weight. The sages weaken, Mackenzie begins to lift the water back up, but only momentarily as the sages push down with even more force. This process of shifting momentum to suspension makes for a brutal struggle.
The sun takes it’s position in the late afternoon sky, clouds surround its place as the stalemate continues for hours. Mackenzie can feel that he is beginning to strain himself and he is not sure how much longer he will last. He breathes audibly, he has never pushed himself this far before, veins pop out of his head and arms, being clearly visible as every muscle in his body tenses. The downward force of the water’s fall begins to dissipate, Mackenzie is relieved to see the sages fading into thin air until they vanish; their projections have ended. Mackenzie feels a surge of adrenaline as he nears victory, he focuses all of his remaining energy on lifting the waterfall back over the cliffside. Two new sages fade into existence and take the previous’ place. They push the water down, Mackenzie screams as he feels his mind break and his body snap. Mackenzie Casts with all of his might, screaming with every breath, he is in pain, he observes the veins in his arms turning to black. Mackenzie screams once more as he tenses; the whites of his eyes begin to darken, Mackenzie is crossing the threshold. He is too weak to carry on, broken and fatigued he collapses into the shallow water on his knees. The water’s downward flow is no longer inhibited, it pours down in a violent stream and a low rumble at the force of the sage’s Casting. Mackenzie stares at his reflection on the surface of the rising waters, panting and shaking, Mackenzie is scared.
In his reflection he sees one eye completely black.
Avril calls for Mackenzie from behind, he does not want to look over at her as she approaches. She grabs Mackenzie by the shoulder and lifts him to his feet, she looks to Mackenzie and sees one eye, sclera darkened to black. Avril is petrified.
Mackenzie has overexerted himself and crossed the threshold.
Collaborating
An enormous waterfall pours. The valley below is violently flooded, the Settlement of Sacrifice is swept away and all the land below becomes submerged in the destruction of the rapid current. Sitting on a piece of driftwood, Mackenzie breathes heavy and Avril stares worriedly, one of Mackenzie’s eyes remains black. They do not say anything to each other, all that can be heard is the distant rumble of the raging waterfall as they drift in silence letting the severity of what has happened sink in. There is just enough space for the two of them, they drift towards a mountain range.
High in a mountain range the survivors of Sacrifice hike in the woods to a small clearing where everyone gathers. This is their settlement for now. The scene is quiet, everyone is visibly exhausted and shaken. Cædmon and Estmere sit near a tree observing the people of Sacrifice as they move through the camp. Cædmon asks Estmere,
“How did you find us?”
“Allistair stopped by my camp on his way back to Faye, he asked me to check on you three at least once while he was away. Perhaps I should have come sooner.”
Estmere looks to his side and sees Avril, with Mackenzie being supported on her side, approaching them. They are a little soaked but so too is everyone else. As they meet together Mackenzie looks up and reveals his black sclera, Estmere and Cædmon are shocked. They all stare at one another as the reality of the situation sets in all over again, there is nothing to say as Avril, Mackenzie, Cædmon and Estmere share this unfortunate moment. A small group of people from Sacrifice approach them, the widowed mother is with them and she is crying uncontrollably as she and her daughter sorrowfully embrace. The assumed leader of the group says to them,
“You have brought suffering to the people of Sacrifice and the whole of the valley, you are no longer welcome with us. Leave now and never return.”
Cædmon contests but he is cut off by the crying mother as she shouts,
“Leave now!”
In her arms her daughter cries too, one eye with sclera dark as black. She and Mackenzie make eye contact. Estmere says,
“These people should be heralding Mackenzie as a hero, it it because of him we even had enough time to get out. This is not how you treat a savior.”
The group decides to take refuge in the abandoned Mackenzie structure deep in the mountains on the other side. Mackenzie sits in a window with his back leaning on its side, the group gathers their things in the entrance. He stares at his hand with its darkened veins and says to himself,
“How ironic.”
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Allistair rides his horse on a quiet path in a field, pink flowers in hand. Allistair and the horse have become acquainted with each other during their journey. He sees a familiar landmark and knows that he is close, he passes by a couple of nearby dwellings as the horse calmly walks, the people living in these homes are familiar with Aliistair but do not converse with him as he travels towards his home.
Allistair has arrived. He dismounts the horse and approaches the door, standing in front for a second with his eyes closed, he opens his eyes and goes through the doorway. Faye lays in her bed, both of her eyes are completely black. Allistair walks to the bed and gently sits her up, they share a long embrace. Allistair says,
“I’ve missed you.”
“I’ve missed you too.”
“When was the last time you stood?”
Faye does not give an answer. Allistair continues,
“I have something outside that I want to show you, I know you will love it.”
Faye is a little hesitant, only because of how much work it will be, but Allistair insists and she wants to see. He gently grasps her arms and slowly pulls her out of bed, even more slowly she stands. He holds her hand for hand support; Faye takes two steps before collapsing, Allistair catches her but it hurts her to even move. Faye is unable to walk outside the door so Allistiar decides to carry her, they go outside and Allistair shows her the horse he rode in on, Faye is ecstatic. She loves the horse, Allistair enjoys seeing her this happy, he carries her over and Faye pets the horse as they both laugh.
Inside their home Allsitair lays Faye back on the bed, they look into each other’s eyes. Allistair notices Faye’s eyes becoming darker with every visit, his eyes begin to tear up and Faye’s eyes do the same. Allistair grabs her hand tightly and they begin to cry, maintaining eye contact. In the midst of their tears, Allistair manages to say,
“To what end do we suffer like this, to what end is this allowed to exist? At what point is reconciliation no longer possible? I’m so sorry, Faye.”
“I’m grateful for you, Allistair.”
They continue to cry as Allistair places the pedals from the flowers he has collected on Faye’s body. Their crying ceases a little with each pedal, each pedal becomes more sensual, this process being a way the two lovers can bond with each other in the face of their situation. Faye lets out an exhale as the flower’s healing capabilities ease her pain, Allistair and Faye lay together and share a passionate kiss.
Night falls and Faye lays in bed as Allistair lights a candle, he looks over to her and says,
“My friends are in a settlement known as Sacrifice. With luck, they have found Mackenzie’s Stone by now and with it, a way to actually help us. I will meet with them there sometime in the future but I intend to stay with you for a little while longer.”
Allistair spends his days with Faye as they enjoy each other’s company, eventually it is time for Allistair to head back and meet the others. Allistair and Faye say their goodbyes even though neither want their time together to end. Allistair mounts his horse and looks back at Faye, he observes her worsening condition. He rides off towards the settlement of Sacrifice.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Nathair and Cyren chill in a forest just outside of Hæl, they feel well rested and it is time to move on. Nathair says,
“Allistair and his friends are likely close to finding the stone by now. I think it is time we set out.”
Cyren nods his head.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Avril hands Mackenzie water as they both study McIntyre’s Scroll, Cædmon and Estmere are joined with them. Mackenzie is fatigued, everyone is worried and it is quiet. The scroll indicates a landmark that can help them discern beyond which mountain range Mackenzie’s Stone lays. Cædmon and Estmere head out to find it, Mackenzie wishes to join them but he is unable to, Avril stays with him, she looks on as Mackenzie seems restless. They continue to study McIntyre’s Scroll together and after a while they come to a peculiar realization.
Estmere and Cædmon have been hiking for a third of the day, as they venture upwards, Cædmon worries about Mackenzie, similar to everyone else, and asks Estmere what he knows of crossing the threshold. Estmere tells Cædmon,
“I have come close once when I fought with Cyren. It’s indescribable, it feels as though your whole being breaks, that is the best way I can describe it. I have had a number of friends cross the threshold, it is not good. By the end of their lives they could not even stand. Cædmon.”
He pauses.
“Cædmon, I’m sorry but.”
He pauses again,
“I’m sorry but this really isn’t good. Mackenzie will most likely not survive this.”
Cædmon already knows this but hearing it said aloud makes things more final. Cædmon reflects on his journey so far,
“Mackenzie has been nothing but good to me, same as everyone else. His intentions are noble and he is worthy of the utmost respect, him and the rest of the group allowing me to join them on their journey has changed my life and I’ve been able to see so many incredible sights and meet such interesting people that I would never have had I remained in isolation as a McIntyre sage. I will do everything I can to aid Mackenzie in his time of need. We all should, it is the least we can do for one such as him.”
Estmere agrees. Cædmon reflects once more on this idea,
“It is a shame that this started out with learning and adventure in mind, now finding Mackenzie’s Stone is a necessity.”
They reach a mountain peak, from its view they can see the whole of the flooded valley. They scan the surrounding area for the landmark indicated on McIntyre’s Scroll, with little luck at first, they decide to change their position. An ancient staircase leads to nowhere atop this peak, the staircase’s surrounding structure having crumbled down long ago, Cædmon and Estmere ascend. At the top they have a better view of the surrounding landscape, Estmere spots the landmark in the distance, a mossy tree hangs over a further peak with three branches sloping off the mountain pointing downwards, its roots stick out of the ground, exactly as McIntyre’s Scroll indicated. Behind this peak should be another mountain range but all there appears to be is the flooded valley extending to a plain far out into the horizon. Mackenzie and Avril study the scroll, Cædmon and Estmere observe the landscape, and they both come to the realization that the mountain range they are looking for does not exist.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
A few days have passed and Cædmon and Estmere have returned from their hike. It is night with only the moon’s light illuminating the Mackenzie structure. Avril is surprised to see Mackenzie studying McIntyre’s Scroll this late. She tells him,
“Mackenzie, you should get some sleep.”
“Not yet, Avril, I’ve found something.”
His eyes, one black, scans an excerpt from McIntyre’s Scroll, part of it which reads,
“With enough Casting force, one can Cast through the fabric of time itself. Similar to projections that travel into the observers time, ripping into time’s fabric can send the observer through to another time long before or after the time of the individual who ripped through, allowing one to view lands they cannot perceive otherwise. Should landmarks change overtime, the Mackenzie’s have placed these rips in time’s fabric for travel in numerous places throughout the land, allowing those of the future to glimpse the landscapes the Mackenzie and McIntyre Bloodlines knew.”
One of the many locations listed on the scroll is located in a cave near the Mackenzie structure. Mackenzie and Avril collaboratively discuss where exactly the cave is, as the conversation continues their eyes meet and do not leave each other’s view. They determine the location of the cave and have become excited. Avril, unsure of what to do with all of this nervous-excited energy, embraces Mackenzie. She and Mackenzie lock eyes once more; Mackenzie leans in towards Avril. Before their lips meet both Mackenzie’s eyes darken, his second eye momentarily turning to black, pain surges through his entire body. He screams and hits the ground. Cædmon and Estmere are awakened by Mackenzie’s scream and come to check on him. Avril, Cædmon, and Estmere try to comfort their friend, Mackenzie’s condition is worsening.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
A bird sits on a rock in front of a cave in the mountainside, its entrance being enveloped my moss and grass hanging from its walls. Clouds pass over as a familiar light rain falls. The bird hears a peculiar noise and flies away, in the air it can see four travelers approaching the cave. No one has been seen here for thousands of years. Mackenzie, Avril, Cædmon, and Estmere are at the cave’s entrance. As they walk in they observe the grass hanging into the entrance, the cave is in a completely natural state except for a stone wall located at its end. Dirt near entirely covers it but enough remains to determine that this is man made. Centered on the wall is a switch similar to the ones found in the McIntyre temples, Cædmon places his hand upon the switch but nothing happens, he then tries Casting but it does not move. Avril and Estmere place their hands alongside Cædmon’s, Mackenzie observes out of necessity. They Cast the switch with force and it budges but they are struggling to push the switch far enough for it to activate, they begin to push so hard they consider stopping in case of overexertion, two sets of hands join them in their effort. They look to see who these new hands belong to and find Nathair and Cyren at their side, much to everyones surprise. With Nathair and Cyren’s help the switch activates, a small white orb illuminates at the switch’s center. It expands with a flash and extends out into the land. As the brightness fades, they see the stone wall more clearly and the cave’s entrance is no longer over grown with grass spilling into, the grass instead neatly lining its outside. The six walk out of the cave and observe the view of the land, Mackenzie, Avril, Cædmon, and Estmere are uncomfortable with Nathair and Cyren’s presence. As the orbs expansion envelopes the land they see small changes in its landscape, it reaches the distant valley and the floodwaters disappear, a mountain range emerges. Having studied McIntyre’s Scroll intensely, the group knows that this must be where Mackenzie’s Stone lays. The expansion stops and allows the view of the landscape to stabilize. Nathair says,
“I presume in that mountain range lays Mackenzie’s Stone.”
At first he gets no response. Estmere asks him,
“What are you doing here?”
Nathair looks to the group,
“Collaborating.”
The orbs expanse begins to recede back towards the cave where it returns, ending the projection of the ancient landscape.
The lands return to its previous and present state, flooded and with no mountain range; in its place floodwaters that stop at a vast plain extending far out into the distance. Down below the flooded waters are at the groups feet. Traveling across the flooded valley is the only viable way through the plains where Mackenzie’s Stone lays. Nathair lifts his arm up in a swift motion and water rises into the air, he parts the sea of the flooded valley, splitting it in two, leaving a path just wide enough for the 6 of them. Towering walls of water line the path as they walk the parted sea, the sound of water being Casted upwards fills the air, the ground soaks.
Once everyone has crossed the valley, Nathair lowers his hand and the parted sea is parted no more, the two water walls converge in a dramatic collision bringing the two sides of the flood together once again. Silence fills the air as they continue through the succeeding plains, they walk through the ancient land until they find a small abandoned tower at the edge of a cliff that goes towards the horizon on both sides overlooking a canyon, the distant flooded valley is now almost out of sight. On the canyon’s walls is a narrow and mossy staircase that crosses side to side down the grassy cliff wall and to the canyons floor. Mackenzie, Avril, Estmere, Nathair, and Cyren descend its steps until they reach the bottom and head towards the cliff wall on the other side. A switch sits firmly in the grassy wall, all besides Mackenzie Cast the switch into the cliff and another white orb illuminates the switch’s center. It expands like the last one but only large enough to make a narrow path through the canyon wall in front of them, flowers and grass grow on the paths ground. The group has to line up behind one another as they step through this small rip in time’s fabric towards another plain, a boulder lays dormant in the center of a new valley on the other side of the canyons wall. The group reaches the path’s end and steps out of the rip in time, the projection of the past ends, leaving only rock and grass behind the path they have just traveled. This new valley has been dormant for millennia, in the distance are rocky grass walls on all sides, Nathair recognizes this place from Silas’ memories. This valley is no valley at all, it is a massive crater, the canyon making its walls. The distant boulder has grown larger, the sheer size of the crater is deceiving. In the center of the crater lays Mackenzie’s Stone.
Conflict of Interest
Mackenzie, Avril, Cædmon, and Estmere alongside Nathair and Cyren gaze upon Mackenzie’s Stone in the distance, separated by a vast crater valley, there is a long hike ahead of them. The six begjn their trek though the plains surrounding Mackenzie’s Stone, the most untouched of all the lands, no one has set foot here in thousands upon thousands of years and it shows, grassy and expansive underneath a partly cloudy sky. Parts of the land are scarred with indents and abnormalities from battles long ago, these ancient plains have existed for an incomprehensible length of time. There are rocks and boulders littered throughout peering out of the grass, all varying in size but none as immense as Mackenzie’s Stone, now growing in size as the group moves closer. Aside from massive stones erected by the ancients and the stone itself, the land remains in an entirely natural state, no temples or structures of any kind in sight, tensions rise with every step they take.
The stone’s shadow imposes upon the ground around it looming over the view, Mackenzie, Avril, Cædmon, Estmere, Nathair, and Cyren have arrived and stand before Mackenzie’s Stone, they stare in awe. Comprised of dark rock, old and ancient, the millennia that the stone has sat dormant is clearly visible in its weathered exterior and many scratches and indents. A pattern can almost be made out in the stone’s artifacts but not quite, in its features it has a slight shine, sleek like the walls of the Mackenzie structure deep in the mountains near the flooded valley. The group separates and they take their sides, Mackenzie, Avril, Cædmon, and Estmere on one side, Nathair and Cyren on the other.
“Why are you here?”
Mackenzie asks. At first there is no response as silence follows, a slight breeze blows as the mood intensifies. Nathair and Cyren reveal that they are carrying Mackenzie’s Sword, Mackenzie’s Flask, and the Passion Gem. Mackenzie and Avril have studied McIntyre’s Scroll more than anyone, they know what these objects are. Nathair speaks,
“I intend to perform a resurrection. All of the steps necessary have been taken, all that remains is to take action. I do not care why you are here, once I’ve finished what I have set out to do here I will leave.”
Avril asks Nathair,
“Who do you plan on resurrecting?”
“It is none of your business. Though, I suppose you will see soon enough.”
Mackenzie speaks,
“I’m sorry, Nathair, but we cannot let you do this.”
Nathair’s voice is cold, his response is simply,
“What?”
Avril explains,
“We’ve read the scrolls contents on resurrection. Resurrection, like all the stone’s extraordinary features, cause Mackenzie’s Stone’s Cast enabling cycles and rhythms to become imbalanced, those far away from the stone won’t notice but those who are closer will, making it uncomfortable for anyone within a close proximity to the stone. On top of that, McIntyre’s Scroll indicates that the most optimal time to study Mackenzie’s Stone is when it has laid dormant for at least one hundred years. Your resurrection would imbalance the stone for many years ahead, time is of the essence for us.”
“I am not asking for your permission.”
Both sides are becoming frustrated. Avril tries to explain to Nathair,
“Nathair please, it may take a while but–”
Nathair cuts her off,
“I did not know you are still in possession of the scroll, this changes things.You have apparently studied McIntyre’s Scroll with such intent and yet you still no know nothing of its contents and its true purpose. Cyren and I have read it once and understand its meaning. Your studies hinder my resurrection, leave now or I will kill you all.”
Cyren’s eyes widen and his tongue shows, revealing its piercing. Nathair and Cyren tense up and are ready to engage.
“This cannot wait.”
Avril says, anger in her voice.
Cyren begins laughing hysterically, he wants a confrontation. A battle is about to start between the groups of Casters when a horse jumps in between them. With a gallant stride, the horse makes a grand entrance, its rider rears the horse as it steps into a slide. Allistair has arrived to the Mackenzie Stone crater valley. There is no time for an introduction or explanation, Nathair and Cyren bolt forwards, a destructive battle begins. The struggle is chaotic, everyone attacks one another simultaneously often switching between each other. Nathair attacks Allistair who is on horseback, Allistair stands on the horse as he and Nathair exchange blows, each attacking at the same time, their palms continuously collide with the other’s, the land around them breaks, an audible low boom with every strike and visible wind from the force of their Casting. At the speed of the galloping horse, their battle continues, Avril joins in the struggle, Nathair attacks them both, Allistair remains steady upon the horses back. The horse leaps over a boulder, the three-way battle enters the air. Horse mid air, Allistair launches off and dismounts the horse, all remain suspended as they continue exchanging blows, no one connects a strike. They land on the ground, a battle between Estmere, Cædmon, and Cyren has begun and Cyren slides in between Avril and Allistair as he deflects his opponents attacks. Naithair sees an opening and shifts his focus to Estmere whom he connects a powerful blow, sending him back into the crater valley. Nathair turns around and swiflty strikes Allistair, Allistair blocks the impact but the momentum sends him hurdling into the air, Nathair pursues. They exchange more blows as the momentum of Nathair’s strike sends them on their mid air course though the valley. In there flurry of attacks they pass by Mackenzie’s Stone, nearly colliding with it. Cædmon slams into Nathair as he is sent back by a strike from Cyren, Allistair slams into the crater valley wall but he uses his momentum to launch him forward, Nathair, now heading in a new direction, exchanges blows with Cædmon in the air. Cædmon lands a jab, Nathair counters with a more powerful strike, the Casting force behind the every strike destroys the land around them once more.
They hit the ground and continue their struggle. Allistair slams into the crater valley wall he just launched from with destructive force by Cyren. Rocks eject outward, Allistair is pinned in the cliffside and Cyren stands before him. Avril catches him off guard and kicks Cyren right in the side of the face, her barefoot Casting force to his skull, his head is moved but he remains unfazed. Allistair uses this opportunity to remove himself from the valley wall as he jumps away from Cyren, Avril follows suit and Cyren pursues. Their course takes them into the middle of Cædmon and Nathair’s fight, exchanging deadly blows consecutively, narrowly missing each. They all stop momentarily, Estmere appears in front of Cyren and Casts an uppercut to him, he flies back catches and himself, Cyen’s nose begins to bleed. He counters with a powerful strike to Estmere’s stomach, Estmere counters but Cyren dodges. Nathair strikes Avril, sending her into Estmere and Cyren’s battle, she and Estmere exchange blows with Cyren. Cædmon and Nathair continue their fight with the addition of Allistair. Dodges deflects and strikes, their respective battles wage on.
Mackenzie stands at Mackenzie’s Stone and watches the distant battles, his fists are clenched and he is restless. He resents being unable to be of any use, he feels incapable. Both sides connect more and more strikes, they are becoming battered. Cyren has taken numerous hits and his cloak has ripped apart leaving him shirtless, despite the strikes he has taken he remains fully capable. Avril reaches for a strike to Cyren, he counters and Casts a powerful blow to her sending her flying. Estmere and Cyren face each other, he says to Cyren,
“It will be different this time.”
Estmrere and Cyren hammer the other with consecutive potentially fatal strikes, Cædmon is knocked into the battle from Nathair and joins in Estmere’s aid. Allistair, joined by Avril, continue their fight with Nathair, he deflects a simultaneous attack and sends them both back. Avril is out of breath but she manages to say,
“He is very strong, I’m not sure how long we could could continue this.”
Allistair, also out of breath, reminds Avril,
“There is no such thing as strength between Casters. Every Caster has the same maximum capabilities, the only thing that holds one back is their personal threshold, there really is no limit otherwise.”
“Exactly.”
Mackenzie says from behind Nathair,
“And I have no threshold to consider anymore, my capabilities are unlimited.”
“Mackenzie, no!”
Avril contests but Mackenzie engages Nathair and he is superior to Nathair in his reckless state, Nathair still has a personal threshold to consider. A black aura faintly surrounds Mackenzie, his one eye completely black, the other beginning to darken at the edges. Nathair manages to knock Mackenzie into Cyren, he shifts his focus to Mackenzie and Nathair and Cyren engage Mackenzie simultaneously, he deflects all of their strikes. The others cannot believe Mackenzie’s superior abilities, they worry how long he can maintain this as well as how it will adversely affect his condition afterwards. Mackenzie strikes Nathair in the face and he begins to bleed from his forehead, shortly after the others join in and a four on two battle ensues, everyone switches from one person to another, gradually forming in two groups: Avril, Allistair, and Nathair; Cædmon, Estmere, and Cyren, Mackenzie switches between the two. Estmere strikes, Cyren deflects and strikes Cædmon, Estmere strikes Cyren but he dodges. He lunges to Cædmon and connects a powerful punch to Cædmon’s shoulder, he tears through his shoulder and disconnects his arm. Cædmon falls to the ground and he does not get up, the battle pauses just long enough for everyone to see what has happened until Cyren attacks Estmere.
Nathair Casts a strike to Avril and Allistair and they are both sent back. Mackenzie attacks Nathair but he is deflected, using Mackenzie’s momentum to throw him into the ground beside Allistair and Avril. Allistair maintains his gaze towards Nathair and tells the group,
“I have an idea. There are certain pressure points in the body that can block one’s Casting if struck. I do this with Faye during my visits, in her case it eases her pain. I apply pressure gently on her but with enough force you can block someone’s Casting capabilities for at least a few years, sometimes for life. Mackenzie, Avril and I will pin him, could you strike Nathair’s pressure points with as much force as possible?”
“Yeah, where are they located?”
“One on each knee, each shoulder, on the heart and upon the head.”
“I understand.”
Allistair and Avril lunge towards Nathair and they exchange more blows, Nathair counters a blow from Avril, knocking her back, Allistair lunges forward and grabs Nathair’s shoulders, knocking him off of his feet. Backs to the ground, they are in mid air and flip over back onto their feet, Allistair grasps Nathair’s arm and attempts to put it behind his back. Avril grabs his other arm and they lock both of his arms back behind him. Mackenzie stands facing Nathair, he launches forwards and strikes his knees, Nathair breaks one arm free, Mackenzie strikes his free arm’s shoulder immediately, repeating the same for the other arm. Mackenzie strikes Nathair’s heart and he slides back, Mackenzie lunges forward and strikes Nathair’s forehead, he slams into the ground and slides into the distance leaving a trail in the ground. Estmere slams into the ground near Mackenzie, Allistair, and Avril, he is badly wounded. Cyren appears behind Mackenzie, he attempts to turn around but he is struck with pain all over his body and cannot move. Mackenzie’s eyes darken, both turning black in contrast to the usual single eye, he screams as his veins darken and become visible all the way though his neck. Cyren approaches from behind as Mackenzie suffers from overexertion, he is unable to defend himself while Cyren prepares for a strike. Cyren strikes Mackenzie in his back with a powerful blow, he is sent sliding into the ground in the distance, he slides right beside Nathair as they both lay unconscious. With no time to take in all that has happened, Allistair and Avril evade more of Cyren’s attacks as he leaps forward. One strike after another, Avril, Allistair, and Cyren’s struggle continues, all the fighting begins take its toll as Allistair and Avril take more hits. Estmere joins in and saves Allistair from an intense strike by deflecting it, making this into a three on one struggle. Cyren is just as formidable even against all three of them.
The battle continues on for a time, Mackenzie awakens. He looks to his side and sees Nathair as he observes his hands, Mackenzie slowly stands to his feet. While still gazing upon his hand, Nathair calmly asks Mackenzie,
“What have you done to me?”
“Hmph. Good luck Casting again–”
Mackenzie winces, then he continues,
“I struck your pressure points vital to Casting. It will be years before you can Cast again, if you are fortunate.”
Mackenzie winces once more. Mackenzie sees Cædmon laying far out in the plains, he attempts walking to him but he falls on his knees as he can hardly manage to stand. Nathair and Mackenzie are both incapable of fighting and decide to watch the distant struggle unfold from where they are, they stand beside each other.
Avril Casts a strike into Cyren’s abdomen, Estmere lands one to his face, Cyren grabs Estmere and throws him into Avril. Allistair Casts a strike and nearly misses, a series of deflected blows leads to a series of dodges into a series of strikes. Cyren grasps Allistair’s head and slams him into the ground, being vulnerable at his side, Estmere Casts a kick, Cyren releases Allistair to deflect Estmere’s blow giving Allistair an opening of his own, he Casts a strike to Cyren’s chest sending him upwards, Cyren is hardly fazed and slams his foot down into the land, narrowly missing Allistair as he dodges out of the way. He exchanges more blows with Avril who approaches from behind. They both strike one another at the same time, their hands make contact and Avril is sent back. She regains her composure and Casts more strikes as Estmere and Allistair join once more. Cyren Casts himself into the air and the fight takes to the sky as the others follow suit.
Mackenzie and Nathair observe the mid air battle unfold from a distance. Mackenzie asks Nathair,
“What’s in it for Cyren. Why does he follow you?”
“Cyren is pure. His Casting stems from something pure, he is wild and violent, but his purity remains. People are afraid of him for this reason. I’m the only one who sees this, even from the first time I met Cyren, no one else wanted anything to do with him. Where others saw danger, I saw a worthwhile friend. Only Cyren can tell you why he remains at my side but my guess is because I am the only person who has ever given him a chance.”
Nathair looks over to Mackenzie,
“Have you yet to realize? All of us here are motivated by the same thing. You are not the only one so righteous in your struggle through this life.”
Cyren Casts a powerful blow to the side of Avril’s leg, despite being well off the ground, the land beneath them breaks and she is sent flying into the distance where she slams into the ground far away from the battle near Mackenzie’s Stone. She begins to bleed from where she was struck. Avril lays for a few minutes as she gathers her strength. She slowly comes to a standing position, struggling under her own weight, she takes a step, she collapses and does not get up. Allistair and Estmere are beginning to overexert themselves, Cyren feels strained but it does not show. The three way struggle continues; Cyren Casts a kick nearly missing Allistair who tries to counter, he dodges and Estmere strikes but is deflected by Cyren, Estmere uses the momentum of the defection to power a kick, he misses. Allistair grabs Cyren’s ankle from below and throws him down, Cyren immediately catches himself and launches up towards Allistair who is already headed down towards him, they both nearly miss one another with potentially fatal blows. Estmere sees an opportunity and Casts a strike towards Cyren, Cyren dodges and Estmere is completely vulnerable; Cyren Casts a deadly strike into Estmere’s sternum from point blank range. Estmere can feel his body near shatter as he is sent flying into the ground, when he collides he leaves an imprint in the land. Estmere is unable to move a muscle and he does not get up.
“I think I know who you intend to resurrect.”
Mackenzie tells Nathair. He continues,
“I wish things could have been different, Nathair. I am sorry things have worked out the way they have.”
Nathair responds by calmly saying,
“You will be sorry when you’re dead.”
Allistair is the only one left capable to defend himself against Cyren, they engage in a one on one conflict, continuing to Cast powerful strikes to one another, they are too fatigued to dodge, deflects or hits are all that occur. Their fighting is labored, contrasting the grace and agility they started with. Allistair reaches to Cast a strike, it is deflected, Cyren to Allistair, deflected the same, this continues on until Cyren connects a hit, Allistair slides back, Cyren follows with a near miss to Allistair who counters with a strike to Cyren’s side. He follows that by Casting a strike to Allistair’s abdomen, Allistair counters this with a strike to the face, Cyren the same. Both are sent back by their respective strikes, Allistair and Cyren gather themselves and lunge towards each other. They repeat this series events over again repeatedly, the struggle lingers on and it is brutal, Allistair’s cloak begins to rip apart, they both bleed from various cuts.
Allistair is sent back as Cyren Casts a kick to his chest, he pauses for a moment as he gathers himself and catches his breath. Cyren braces for an attack as Allistair lunges towards him, he is about to connect his strike but he disappears. A projection, like the ones by the McIntyre’s but much shorter. Cyren is unable to find Allistair until he turns around, he sees Allistair hurdling towards him at a high speed, too fast for Cyren to dodge or deflect. Allistair Casts an enourmous strike into and directly thorough Cyren’s abdomen, his hand sticks out of Cyren’s back. Cyren looks down to Allistair’s arm going through his body in disbelief. They maintain their position for a few seconds as everything settles. Allistair removes his hand from Cyren’s body revealing the hole in his center left by his strike. Cyren falls to the ground and dies. Allistair stands victorious but in poor condition. Nathair takes in the situation with a calm disbelief and Mackenzie collapses from overexertion as his condition worsens. Allistair collapses shortly after. Mackenzie’s Stone has seen the conclusion of another battle.
Aftermath
In a tucked away land is a crater, in its valley lays five warriors at the conclusion of a destructive battle. Allistair lays on his back, staring at the sky taking in his victory, Cyren lays dead not far from him with a hole in his stomach. Allsitair lays for a little while longer until he slowly comes to a stand, even in his bruised and battered and injured state, he is the lucky one of the group. He limps over towards Avril in the distance who is sitting up and resting on a tree trunk close to Mackenzie’s Stone, observing the fallen Cyren as he passes by. Once he arrives to Avril she tells him,
“What are you doing? Go to Cædmon, I’m fine for now.”
She tries to stand but is unsuccessful, Allistair quietly nods his head and slowly makes his way to Cædmon; it does not look good. Cædmon lies unconscious with only one arm, being lost when Cyren Casted a strike to his shoulder leaving it disconnected. Cædmon looks to have managed to stop excessive bleeding by Casting the wound shut moments before he went unconscious, his heart beats faintly, still. Allistair struggles to pick Cædmon up but evetually manages, he limps over to Avril where he sets him down near her and heads to Estmere on the other side.
Mackenzie awakens, the blackness in his second eye remains at its edges, he is in pain and cannot move. He looks over and sees Nathair, along with Mackenzie’s Sword, Mackenzie’s Flask, and the Passion Gem nowhere to be found.
After a long walk, Allistair reaches Estmere, who’s eyes are wide open. He tells Allistair that he is unable to move, barely managing as his mouth struggles to form the words, Allistair picks him up and limps over to Avril once again, setting him down near her and Cædmon. He limps over to Mackenzie and does the same. All of them together, Allistair collapses again but manages to sit up, they all sit in silence until Allistair says,
“We need to find shelter in our weakened states. Let’s head head back to the Mackenzie structure in the mountains, I’ll ride for Hæl seeking Eftbót so she can treat Cædmon’s arm.”
“Allistair, you can hardly walk as it is.”
Avril says.
“It must be done.”
He whistles and Allistair’s horse walks to them. He places Cædmon, Mackenzie, and Estmere on its back, he reaches his hand out to Avril but she does not take it,
“The horse will struggle holding the weight of 4 people, leave me for now.”
Mackenzie contests but Avril adamantly insists. Allistair walks the horse with the wounded three on its back, towards the crater valley wall in the far off distance. She watches on as they ride off, she looks around her and observes the grass gently blowing in the breeze, in her view is Cyren’s body in the distance and the many indentations that have just recently destroyed the landscape surrounding Mackenzie’s Stone. The scene is somehow calming.
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Allistair walks the horse with Mackenzie, Cædmon, and Estmere on its back through the crater valley, he struggles to walk and almost falls to the ground but catches himself, Mackenzie observes and wants to help but he is unable. Their trek leads them to the valley wall that separates the crater from the canyon on the other side. Allistair sits to rest for a while and gather his energy, Mackenzie continues to observe. After finishing his rest, Allistair presses a switch in the grassy wall as they did upon their entrance on the other side, a path through time reveals itself allowing Allistair to walk the horse through the wall.
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A staircase crosses side to side the canyon wall on the other end, at its base stands Allistair and the horse. The stairs are too steep for the horse to traverse with anyone on its back, Allistair helps Mackenzie, Cædmon, and Estmere dismount and lays them down. He picks up Cædmon, looks to the stairs, and begins climbing while holding him, the horse has already begun to walk its mossy steps. He struggles to climb the stairs in his weakened state. One grueling step after another, Allistair is greeted by his horse standing beside a small abandoned watch tower that over looks the canyon at the cliffs edge. He sets Cædmon down next to the tower and temporarily collapses, slowly standing immediately after. Allistair scales the steps once more, limping all the way down. At its bottom is Mackenzie and Estmere where Allistair left them; he picks up Estmere and climbs again. He continues to struggle on the narrow staircase, his legs begin shaking and he can no longer stand, he collapses once more sending Estmere over the edge. Allistair narrowly catches him, grabbing Estmere’s forearms, he lays upon the ancient steps on his stomach as his hand reaches over and holds on to Estmere dangling off the edge, Estmere is unable to move a muscle and looks to Allistair with his eyes only. He hardly manages to hoist Estmere over the side onto the staircase, Allistair lays for a while until he stands and continues his slow ascent with Estmere on his back. Greeted once again by the abandoned tower, he reaches the top and sets Estmere down, he descends. Mackenzie looks to his side and watches as Allistair misses a step and comes sliding down the last quarter of the staircase, he can only watch as Allistair lays in pain at its base. Allistair slowly picks himself up and carries Mackenzie to the top. At the top once more, Allistair mounts the three upon the horse’s back, he looks behind him to the abandoned tower; he decides it is too small and decrepit and would make an ineffective shelter. He continues to walk the horse towards the distant flooded valley.
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Avril sits in silence within the stillness of the Mackenzie Stone crater valley, blades of grass dance in the winds, she listens to its calm breeze and observes the days passing. A butterfly lands on her nose and she let’s it stay.
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Allistair and the horse stand at the bank of the flooded valley. He raises both of his hands and parts the sea in front of them; they walk through, Allistair keeps his hands up for the duration of their walk. Halfway through, Allistair feels himself weakening, the water walls begin to wobble, he kicks the horse and sends it into a gallop across the narrow path with the wounded three on its back, Allistair stands in place and struggles to prevent the water walls from crashing down. He is too fatigued, the water comes pouring and the two walls collide together as they merge into one body of water once again, the water slams into Allistair and he is submerged. In an adrenaline induced swim, Allistair lifts his head above the water’s surface moments before blacking out. He slowly crosses to the other side of the valley.
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Mackenzie, Cædmon, and Estmere have fallen off the horse and lay in awkward positions just on the bank of the other side, the tide of the new formed lake pushes into where they rest. In the distance, Allistair wades towards them. When he reaches the lake’s bank, he falls to his hands and knees in the water, Mackenzie observes once more. Allistair picks himself up, mounts the others, and continues into the mountain range.
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Night has fallen, remnants of the sunset fading in the distance. Avril sits in the Mackenzie Stone crater valley where she waits. She has managed to start a small campfire, the firelight illuminates her view of the butterfly, having moved from her face to her hand, the butterfly rests. Avril finds the butterfly comforting until it flies away, she tracks its travel though the air and then sees someone approaching in the distance. Avril tries to recognize who it may be as the figure comes closer, her eyes widen as she realizes who approaches her from the darkness. Now at the campfire, its flame illuminates Nathair’s face. They stare at each other in silence saying nothing to one another. Nathair walks away towards Cyren’s body and looks at him. He contemplates his view in silence, Avril watches. Nathair lowers to his knees and begins to dig a hole with his bare hands. Once it is deep enough, he places Cyren inside and buries him. Nathair walks away, stopping once to make eye contact with Avril and vanishing into the darkness.
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Moonlight peers through the Mackenzie structure as Allistair, his horse, and the wounded three pile into its entrance. He dismounts them all from the horse’s back and collapses.
He awakens a few hours later, the sunrise just beginning, the sky is still night. Allistair stares at the first flecks of sunlight hitting the darkness of the dense clouds, his eyes are lifeless and dull. He slowly manages himself up and begins to climb onto his horse. Mackenzie asks him where he is going and Allistair struggles to mount his horse as he says,
“I ride towards Hæl to find Eftbót. She can best treat Cædmon’s arm and the rest of our wounds, it is half a days journey and I will not return until late this night or the next morning.”
Allistair rides off in a gallop, Mackenzie is becoming agitated with his inability to do anything.
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Allistair gallops through the sunrise, he struggles to stay upon the horses back.
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Midday after sunrise, Allistair gallops into Hæl towards Eftbót’s hospital. He stumbles in though the entrance, Eftbót recognizes him. Allistair says,
“Please, you must help my friends. We take refuge near Sacrifice, please come.”
“Why don’t you stay for a little? You are in need of care yourself.”
“Please, Eftbót, there is no time.”
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Late the next morning, Eftbót looks to Cædmon’s severed arm. She observes his wound, all she can do is better stitch what he has already done, Cædmon saved his own life by sealing his arm as soon as he did. Eftbót remarks that it is remarkable that he is alive and that he should wake up in a few days. She goes to Estmere,
“You took a hard strike, Estmere. You will probably be unable to move for a long time, you are very fortunate to have survived as well.”
“How long, Eftbót?”
“Your complete paralysis should subside in about sixth months. You will probably remain unable to walk for about a year.”
Estmere and Allistair sit in a shocked silence. Eftbót continues,
“That is not all. I’m afraid the impact was sent through your pressure points vital to Casting. You will remain unable to Cast for at least five years, if you are fortunate. If when you begin to walk you have yet to make any progress Casting, I am sorry to say but that means you will likely never Cast again.”
Everyone sits in a heavy silence. Eftbót looks over to Mackenzie sympathetically, Mackenzie had not crossed the threshold the last time she saw him.
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Avril awakens from a night spent under the stars in the Mackenzie Stone crater valley, she notices someone approaching in the distance. She remains unable to move, tensing up as the figure draws near. Fearing another encounter with Nathair, she is relieved to see it is Allistair on horseback. He mounts Avril behind him and they both ride towards the flooded valley.
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In the ancient Mackenzie structure, Eftbót examines Avril’s leg.
“You have badly broken your leg. Rest if for a few months and you will be fine, it is just going to take a while.”
She tells Allistair that his injuries are relatively minor, relative being of importance in comparison to his companions’ wounds, but he should still rest for around a month’s time. Eftbót leaves some medicinal herbs and sets off to Hæl.
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Small pink pedals sprout out of the ground beside a busy cobblestone path. From a juvenile sprout it grows to a small stem with a pink end, into a mature pink flower that blows gently in the winds. 3 months pass, its growth being a marker of the passage of time.
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3 months since the battle at the Mackenzie Stone crater valley.
Cædmon has awakened in the months that have passed, he sips a cup of water and stands to his feet, he walks into an opening in the Mackenzie structure and leans outside, his movements are slow and labored. Estmere is able to move his head and his feet but remains completely unable to move otherwise. Avril has made a near full recovery and joins Allistair in caring for their friends. Mackenzie’s condition has worsened, half the time he is unable to walk without aid.
Avril hands Mackenzie a warm drink, he takes it without saying anything and does not drink it. Avril asks Mackenzie if he is okay; Mackenzie says everything is fine. Avril walks outside and finds Allistair, he asks her if she can handle taking care of the three on her own. She tells him yes, much to Allistair’s relief. He tells Avril he is leaving to visit Faye once more, the combination of his injuries and caring for everyone has kept him from seeing her for months. This is the longest he has gone without a visit. Allistiar says his goodbyes and rides off, leaving Avril to care for Mackenzie, Cædmon, and Estmere on her own.
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A pink flower stands tall in the ground aside a busy cobblestone path. A hand gently pulls it from the ground, Allistair has collected a handful of flowers by now and adds this one to the bunch. He passes familiar landmarks as he rides towards Faye. He dismounts the horse and heads towards the doorway of his home, Allistair looks up and drops his flowers in disbelief. Faye stands in front of him on her own, her eyes white and veins normal, she appears healthy. A projection stands before him. She places her hands on Allistair’s shoulders and gently says to him,
“Allistair.”
She pauses.
“Were it not for you my life would have been infinitely less worthwhile and I would have died long ago. Every moment I have spent with you has been worth everything. I spent my days without you awaiting your return, reminiscing the times we’d share. Seeing you walk in the doorway with your pink flowers in your hand made my life. Allistair, I am so grateful for you. I love you.”
Faye leans in and kisses Allistair before she disappears into thin air. Allistair stands for a moment. He walks into the doorway and sees Faye laying in bed with her eyes closed. Allistair falls to his knees. Faye has died while he was away. In the middle of the floor, Allistair cries and he does not stop.
Sorrow and Suffering
Atop a hill with a with a view of the surrounding landscape, the sun shines vibrantly on a nice day. An unmarked grave has just recently been placed, nearby Allistair sits, curled against a tree, he cries with his head down, his hands shake as does the rest of his body. Allistair has become familiar with the blurry view obstructed by tears falling from his eyes as they run down his face, his suffering is audible as he breathes heavily and occasionally whimpers. He looks up to the sky, momentarily stabilizing. After a few seconds he lets out a scream and continues to cry while maintaining his view of the sky. Allistair cries and he does not stop, often remaining atop the hill for days at a time.
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Allistair lays at the center of the floor inside his home in the fetal position, he is shaking. It is night and there are no candles lit.
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Daylight shows first light and Allistair sits in the same position, he is completely still.
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Midday shines into the house, Allistiar is not there. He sits at a small shop with a warm drink he has not taken a sip of, someone is speaking to Allistair but he does not notice them. They are trying to get his attention but he is staring off, his eyes are lifeless and dull. They grab his shoulder and he snaps out of his trance, a young woman tells Allistair that she likes his nails painted black. He does not have the energy to respond.
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Allistair has lost track of time as he stands in a field littered with pink flowers, slowly walking through lost in pain.
Night falls, Allistair has been in the field for the entirety of the day. He lays in the field and looks up to the sky. He feels completely alone in the silence of the night, the view of the stars give him no comfort. It is not the same without Faye.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Allistair sits aside a giant stone erected by the ancients, it tower over all as pink pedals fall from the sky. He lifts his hand out and an entire pink flower falls into his palm, he stares at it. Emotion wells up within him, Allistair tightly closes his fist, he squeezes the life out of the flower in anger, the flowers shape contorts in his hand becoming almost unrecognizable, his face runs red with rage as his whole body shakes. Anger turns to sadness as he cries once more.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
6 months since the battle at the Mackenzie Stone crater valley.
Avril has continued taking care of everyone for months, studying McIntyre’s Scroll in her spare time. Cædmon has recovered and he does what he can to help. Estmere can now sit up but he is still paralyzed from the waist down, Mackenzie’s condition has worsened.
“Mackenzie, will you please stop trying to move and speak to me!”
Avril shouts. Mackenzie hasn’t spoken to anyone in weeks, he rests on his knees in the middle of the floor after having just collapsed. She puts her hand on his shoulder, he gets up and tries to walk but stumbles and slams into the wall of the Mackenzie structure. Mackenzie yells in pain and collapses to the floor once again, his veins are black and clearly visible. Avril lifts Mackenzie and lays him on a makeshift bed. Estmere asks Avril to move him to a window so he can take in the outside’s fresh air. Sat leaning against the window, he slowly lifts his hand up and tries to Cast a pebble into levitating.
“Have you made any progress?”
Cædmon asks him.
“No. I have not.”
As the day passes, Avril studies McIntyre’s Scroll, she begins to notice a pattern she was unaware of before.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
A scar on the land rests in rubble and rock and decay, the remains of what was once a populous city. Atop a hill overlooking the view is a rickety bench barely hanging in its own weight by two trees. Nathair stands beside it and gazes upon the unrecognizable ruins of the city of Aldfriþ, remaining atop the hill for a time, he thinks about his past. Down in the ruins Nathair walks, he looks to the rubble of what was once his home; there is nothing left. He looks to the sky and watches the parting clouds.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Mackenzie struggles to lift a bowl as he eats. He shakes, unable to stabilize himself and lift the bowl towards him, Avril tries to help him but Mackenzie pulls away causing the bowl to fall on the ground and shatter. Avril cleans up the bowl and hands Mackenzie a new one, he does not take it. She sets the bowl down next to him,
“Mackenzie, please tell me what is wrong. I am only trying to help.”
He does not respond. No one can remember the last time Mackenzie spoke.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
One year since the battle at the Mackenzie Stone crater valley.
Mackenzie’s eyes are both completely black, he stares into nothingness out of a window sill in the Mackenzie structure. Estmere has movement in his legs but remains unable to walk. Cædmon has made a full recovery.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
One year and three months since the battle at the Mackenzie Stone crater valley.
Estmere takes his first steps but he cannot go far. Mackenzie’s condition has worsened and Avril is hurt by how cold he has been.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
One year and eight months since the battle at the Mackenzie Stone crater valley.
Estmere is now able to fully walk on his own, he joins Cædmon and Avril in aiding Mackenzie. Mackenzie’s condition worsens still.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Two years and six months since the battle at the Mackenzie Stone crater valley.
Mackenzie’s eyes, dark as black, stare into nothingness as he looks through the same window sill he always does. He has one arm through his cloak, halfway on his body he must put the other through. He sweats as his arm trembles, he is struggling to move and it is irrelevant how hard he tries, he is unable to lift his arm until Avril guides it, he jerks away. Avril tries again but he jerks away even harder. Avril is frustrated,
“Mackenzie, I–“
Mackenzie cuts her off,
“I can do it myself!”
He shouts. This is the first he has spoken in two years.
“I can put on my cloak! I can eat my own food! I can drink my own water! I can stand! I can walk! I can bathe! I can move! I do not need your help!”
Avril’s back is turned to Mackenzie, a single tear runs down her face.
“I am fine!”
Mackenzie violently coughs as Cædmon and Estmere watch. Avril turns around and faces Mackenzie, she is crying. She is unable to get any words out until she manages to say,
“I am just trying to help :( Mackenzie it hurts to see you like this. I just want to–”
Mackenzie cuts her off,
“I do not need your help!”
He screams as pain enters his body and he begins to collapse. Avril catches him in an embrace, she is still crying. Mackenzie starts to cry as well,
“I feel so useless. Everyone does so much, I have done nothing in years. I hold you all back, burdening you with my utter helplessness, you deserve better than me. I am worthless to you all in this state.”
Avril holds him tighter.
“Mackenzie, you are so much more than this. You are not worthless and you are not a burden. This is not about the stone anymore. You mean so much to me and I just want to help you. Please. Let me help you.”
Silence fills the air as they maintain their tight embrace. Cædmon breaks the silence,
“Remember that skyscraper in the plains? Allistair built a fire and we all spent the evening in each other’s company. The sky was so beautiful that night.”
Cædmon begins to tear up,
“I miss those days. Our adventures were so much fun.”
“I’m sorry.”
Mackenzie quietly says. Avril holds him tighter. It is silent and they all share this moment together.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Allistair sits beside an enormous stone erected by the ancients, he has been here many times in the years that have passed since the battle at the crater valley. His eyes are lifeless and dull, fixated on nothing.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Allistair sits at a table in a nearby home with a warm drink he has not taken a sip of. Across the table is a young woman, she compliments his nail once more. They have become well acquainted with each other since meeting in the small shop two years ago, often spending afternoons together. She tells Allistair about her life and her family. She wants to take him to a field she knows of where fireflies illuminate the landscape. The young woman notices Allistair has yet to take a sip; she insists that he should, remarking that he always does this. Allistair takes a sip and smiles at her.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Allistair sits on the floor of his home. It is night and there are no candles lit, he does not a thing. He stays there for hours staring into nothingness.
Fireflies
Estmere extends his hand out, he tries to Cast a pebble into levitating but he has no luck. He can walk now and has made a full recovery; he knows what his means. He enters the Mackenzie structure to break the news. Mackenzie is sitting in a makeshift bed, Avril and Cædmon are on either side, they gaze up to Estmere and acknowledge him. He tells them,
“It’s looking like I will never Cast again. I walk these days with no difficulty, my body is as healthy as it has ever been. I have made a full recovery and yet I retain none of my abilities. My days of Casting are over, my friends.”
Avril, Cædmon, and Mackenzie try to comfort Estmere who, in the wake of this realization, decides he needs to move on.
“I think I need to leave this place. The past two years have been difficult for all of us and I’ve grown tired of these walls and this flooded valley. Thank you, Avril and Cædmon, for taking care of me while I was unable to walk. Mackenzie, I wish you nothing but good, you are noble and I should see to it that everyone knows this. I set out towards Allistair’s home, it’s been so long since we have seen him.”
“I hope he is doing well.”
Avril adds. They say their goodbyes to Estmere and he leaves the Mackenzie structure.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Night falls on the Mackenzie structure, Cædmon and Mackenzie sleep while Avril studies McIntyre’s Scroll. She has noticed a pattern for years now and is beginning to come to a conclusion. She recalls what Nathair said two years ago.
“How could we have been so foolish!”
Avril laments,
“We spent all of our time trying to find the location of Mackenzie’s Stone and ignored McIntyre’s Scroll’s true intentions.”
All of McIntyre’s Scroll’s contents point to one particular excerpt at the scroll’s bottom. She reads it again and then again once more, sets it down, and walks outside to view the night sky and process what she has discovered. Mackenzie watches as she leaves. Slowly, Mackenzie stands and staggers towards the scroll. He falls once but manages to make it. Left visible, it reads,
“The presence of Mackenzie’s Stone upon the land brings with it unnatural phenomena. So long as Mackenzie’s Stone exists, its effects upon the human body and landscape remain. Initially sent from deep in the sky, where the stars become landscapes of their own, Mackenzie’s Stone was sent to the lands in an attempt to destroy us all. Mackenzie’s Stone and its affects are a curse. To rid ourselves of this burden we call Casting, we must look within ourselves and let go. Destroy Mackenzie’s Stone and all its affects will be lifted; humanity, and all the lands, can return to a natural state and be free from this curse of the sky. The contents of this scroll exist in the detail that it does in hopes the reader of its binding will be wise enough to do right by us all and do what the Mackenzie and McIntyre Bloodlines could not.”
Avril comes back from her break and is surprised to see Mackenzie at her makeshift desk reading the scroll. His back is turned and without turning to face her, Mackenzie struggles but manages to say,
“We must destroy Mackenzie’s Stone.”
He falls over, Avril runs to him. She sits Mackenzie up and they stare at each other as this realization sets in.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Allistair sits with his back against the wall of his home staring at his garden. His eyes are lifeless and dull, he does not move. He is startled when someone approaches him, it is the young woman. She apologizes but Alistair tells her there is no need. She tells Allistair to come with her, he hesitates but he gets up and joins. He is lead to a field, flowers of all color are blooming as she twirls in its spectrum, the young woman has an enthusiasm that Allistair finds refreshing. They sit together in the grass as the sun sets,
“I absolutely cannot wait to show you what this field looks like at night!”
As the sun sets the show begins. One by one fireflies begin to light the sky. The sun sets yet the field remains bright, illuminated in the pleasant glow of hundreds of fireflies, they fly though the air creating beautiful patterns in the night sky. Allistair is in awe, the young woman is enthused. Allistair and the young woman share the night in a spectacular display of natural beauty. He looks over to her. He says,
“I’m really glad you showed me this.”
He smiles at her, they look into each other’s eyes. The young woman has grown fond of Allistair.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Clouds roll though the sky as the passing of the next day. An unmarked grave grows pink flowers atop a hill with a view of the surrounding landscape. At the hills edge, Allistair stands taking in the view. He inhales deeply. He points two fingers out and extends his arm. Allistair swiftly Casts a strike to his own heart, the Casting force centered at his fingertips. The strike stops his heart. Allistair falls to the ground and dies.
A familiar light rain begins to fall.
Not long after, Estmere finds his old friend lying on the ground and solemnly looks down. He looks to his side and sees a young woman, shocked at what she can see. She begins to cry.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The Mackenzie structure has housed three weary travels for two years, it remains nestled deep in the mountains as it always has. Estmere arrives at the Mackenzie structure, everyone is surprised to see him return so soon. He tells Mackenzie, Avril, and Cædmon that Allistair has died. They are all in complete disbelief.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Estmere finds Nathair standing in the ruins of Aldfriþ. He tells Nathair what has happened. Nathair is also in disbelief,
“I see.”
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The group mourns the loss of their friend.
Mackenzie and Avril sit against a wall in the Mackenzie structure. They hold each other tightly, Mackenzie’s head in Avril’s shoulders. They cry and they do not stop.
Cædmon sits on a staircase that leads to nowhere high in the mountains, its surrounding structure having crumbled long ago. Towering above all, Cædmon cries and he does not stop.
The young woman lays in an open field illuminated by fireflies in the night. She cries and she does not stop.
Estmere stands in the middle on a grassy expanse, rolling hills and giant boulders in the distance. He stands with his head down, a single tear runs down his face.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Three years since the battle at the Mackenzie Stone crater valley.
Six months after Allistair’s passing.
Time moves on as their mourning continues.
Avril, Cædmon, and Mackenzie have moved from the ancient Mackenzie structure and into a small settlement nearby known as Glass, Mackenzie’s worsening condition requires a better shelter, the walls of their previous home have become too solemn. Mackenzie’s condition is near critical and he is in need of constant care at all times, making it impossible for Avril and Cædmon to go to the crater valley and destroy Mackenzie’s Stone. Avril and Cædmon hope to somehow stabilize Mackenzie’s condition so that they may have enough time to complete their task. They spend months in the settlement of Glass caring for Makenzie at all times as he becomes deathly ill.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
A small abandoned tower over looks a canyon, its grassy wall covered in the side to side crossing of mossy steps carved down its face; Nathair descends. A switch in the canyon wall on the other side opens a path though time leading into the Mackenzie Stone crater valley. He hikes through its valley plains. He observes a giant boulder, one of many, erected by the ancients. Nathair extends his hand out open palmed, he gathers his energy and tightly closes his fist. The ancient boulder implodes in a low boom, towering no longer in the distance, its neighboring stones being toppled over. Nathair happens upon the remnants of a campfire near Mackenzie’s Stone, he recalls Avril using it years ago. He starts the small campfire once more and sits down, waiting.
Mackenzie’s Stone
Three years and three months since the battle at the Mackenzie Stone crater valley.
Nine months after Allistair’s passing.
Inside the settlement of Glass Mackenzie lays in a bed inside a small dwelling, Avril at his side helping him drink a cup of water. Both of Mackenzie’s eyes are completely black, his veins are visibly darkened, he has grown thin and looks unwell. He shakes profusely, Avril tries to help Mackenzie but nothing is working, Mackenzie does not stop shaking. Avril realizes that Mackenzie is dying, she must destroy Mackenzie’s Stone now. She lifts Mackenzie out of bed and rushes out towards the door. Allistair’s horse stands in front of their dwelling as Cædmon returns from the market of Glass. Avril bursts through the door, Mackenzie at her side.
“Cædmon! We’ve run out of time, I must return to the crater valley and destroy Mackenzie’s Stone, Mackenzie will not survive to tomorrow.”
Cædmon’s eyes widen as the inevitable future begins. Avril continues,
“Cædmon, take Mackenzie to Eftbót in Hæl, she may help him–”
Mackenzie cuts her off, hardly managing to speak, his voice is shaking,
“No! Take me to the crater valley. I want to ride with you.”
Avril contests,
“Mackenzie, that is not a good–”
“Avril! Cædmon!”
Mackenzie violently coughs blood.
“I want to see this journey through. What would going to Hæl actually accomplish? Eftbót cannot help me. Shut up, please. I am going with you.”
No convincing Mackenzie otherwise, Cædmon helps mount Mackenzie on the horse behind Avril. He mentions,
“Nathair probably knows you intend to destroy the stone by now. He will most likely try to stop you.”
Avril responds,
“So he will.”
She rides off in a gallop with Mackenzie behind her. In the plains surrounding Glass they ride across the landscape as the horse moves at full speed, Mackenzie struggles to keep his head up.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The flooded valley splits into two, Avril and Mackenzie gallop though the parted sea, Avril’s one arm extended Casting the water walls into the air. Riding though the plains on the other side, they are greeted by a familiar abandoned tower over looking a canyon, a staircase descends its wall. She dismounts and helps Mackenzie down. Avril pets the horse and looks deeply into its eyes. She smacks the horse on its back, Allistair’s horse runs away into the distant plains to roam free and be wild once more.
Pressing the switch in the canyon wall across its other side, Avril and Mackenzie walk the narrow path through time into the Mackenzie Stone crater valley, Avril continues to aid Mackenzie as he is hardly able to move. Once through, the two walk across the massive plains that make the crater valley toward Mackenzie’s Stone. As they draw near, they see Nathair at a small campfire near the stone; he has been waiting for them. They stare at each other as Avril and Mackenzie arrive at Mackenzie’s Stone. Nathair looks towards the campfire, still seated, he Casts a gentle breeze towards the flame and it goes out. Mackenzie begins to cough blood once again. Avril sets him down and tries to comfort him. Nathair maintains his gaze upon the burnt out campfire, Mackenzie’s Sword, Mackenzie’s Flask, and the Passion Gem lay to the side opposite to him in addition to something new. A soft sheet wraps around itself, covering its contents and protecting it from the elements. After a long silence, Avril stands and says,
“I understand now what you said years ago when we last fought. I know McIntyre’s Scroll’s true purpose and what we as Casters are obligated to do. I intend to destroy Mackenzie’s Stone.”
“This is problematic.”
Nathair says coldly. Avril insists,
“It must be done.”
After a long pause, Nathair tells Avril,
“You are not so righteous, you are not here out of obligation.”
He pauses.
“I intend to resurrect my dear Esthreal. She is all that motivates me, nothing will keep me from this. You should reconsider.”
“I have made my choice.”
Nathair looks over to Avril,
“Then you will die.”
Nathair stands and faces Avril in a standoff. He then motions to Avril that they go atop the crater wall in the distance. He Casts himself into the air towards the crater wall and Avril follows, she leaves Mackenzie against a massive boulder. The top of the crater valley wall sits high in the air, on one side is the Mackenzie Stone crater valley, on the other is a canyon that leads into endless plains. Atop this high place, Avril and Nathair continue their stand off. It is quiet, the calm before the storm.
“I will destroy Mackenzie’s Stone.”
“I will resurrect Esthreal.”
Nathair and Avril stand for a few moment more before springing towards each other.
Their battle begins.
They swiftly Cast colliding strikes, a series of deflects follows as they circle around one another, the Casting force visible with every strike, the ground cracks as they continue on. Avril deflects a strike from Nathair downward, sending his hand to the ground and his head level with her knees, she Casts a kick to his face. She narrowly misses. He flips back, Casting two deflected blows mid flip, Nathair lands on his feet and lunges towards Avril with a powerful strike, she blocks with her forearms crossed, the land behind her visibly shockwaves. She grabs one of Nathair’s arms and Casts a strike, he underestimates its strength but still manages to catch it in his hand, she goes for a kick. Nathair kicks up and blocks her strike, he and Avril simultaneously launch away from one another, on their feet they immediately lunge towards one another once more. A series of deflects and dodges follow as they continue to circle around the other. Nathair deflects a blow and Casts a strike to Avril, she dodges and goes for a strike to his side, he uses his legs to catch her arm in between his shins. He is suspended in the air horizantally, Nathair twists and knocks Avril off her feet, she uses it momentum to land and roll back to a stand. They continue with deflects that grow stronger in intensity, the ground atop the Mackenzie Stone wall is beginning to become noticeably destroyed.
In the distance, Cædmon sits on a small hill in the middle of the endless grassy plain, giant stones erected by the ancients rest far off behind him. Before him is the Mackenzie Stone crater valley, far away as he is it still encompasses the majority of his view, he sees shockwaves of the struggle between Avril and Nathair as he watches from afar. Estmere appears from behind Cædmon, they have not seen each other in nearly a year and Cædmon is a little surprised. Esmere sits beside Cædmon and they watch the distant fight in silence. Cædmon muses that he would like to join her. Estmere tells him he would too, he follows by saying the would both likely get in Avril’s way.
Both Avril and Nathair have grazed each and they are becoming visibly scratched and bruised. They continue their circle of deflects and dodges, both manage small jabs to the other, there is not enough Casting force in these to do any significant damage. They swiftly move along the crumbling surface of the crater wall and maintain their struggle. Their deflects become faster, they rapidly move their arms at full speed. Nathair kicks, Avril jumps and Casts her elbow towards him, he blocks with one arm and Casts a strike to her with another, she narrowly dodges and with feet on the ground, she launches towards him once more. Nathair bends backwards as her strike misses him, her whole body goes over him. She turns around but Nathair is not where she thought he would be. Nathair approaches from behind Avril and Casts a strike into her back, sending her back briefly before she catches her self almost immediately. Avril begins to slightly bleed from her mouth. Nathair lunges towards her, she deflects two blows and he is completely open. Avril Casts a powerful kick into Nathair’s temple, he flies away from her and slides into the ground. She stops to catch her breath as he slowly gets up to his knees, Nathair pauses momentarily to catch his breath as well. He gathers himself and stands to his feet, Avril is still out of breath. Nathair tells her,
“You cannot win. This ends here.”
He launches towards Avril faster than she can brace for and Casts a strike towards her face, her palms taking the brunt of the impact as she lifts them in front of her moments before it connects. Remaining on her feet, she slides to the edge of the crater valley wall towards the endless plains on the other side. Nathair lunges once more and grabs her head, he sends them both over the edge of the wall, driving Avril’s head towards the ground. She breaks free from his grasp but still slams into the land at the bottom. She comes to a stand as quickly as she can manage, Nathair has already lunged towards her. A series of deflects occur as Nathair’s offensive sends them both back into the endless plains away from the Mackenzie Stone crater valley, the struggle continues far out in the middle of this ancient landscape. Nathair Casts a powerful strike into Avril’s stomach, she does not move until moments later when she grabs Nathair’s forearm and swiftly Casts a strike to his chest, he is sent sliding back. Avril begins to feel she is straining herself, she has no other choice but to continue even at the risk of overexertion. They continue their battle once more, opting to full strength, every strike booms in an audible low rumble, craters form with each collision of their arm. Their cloaks are torn and they are battered.
Inside the Mackenzie Stone crater valley, Mackenzie sits against a boulder and looks up to the sky. Clouds reflect in his completely blackened eyes, he coughs blood and falls to his side. He can hear the distant booms of Avril and Nathair’s strikes. Slowly, he manages to sit up, this time he sits on his own and is no longer supported by the boulder.
Now in mid air, Avril and Nathair exchange blows, deflect to near miss, they hurdle though the air and onto the ground. Without stopping, they continue to attack one another, Nathair Casts a kick to Avril’s chin sending her into the air, she kicks him in the chest as she goes. The land breaks at the force of their strikes, Nathair slides leaving a trail then he lunges up to her. They engage in mid air and change deflects, dodges, and occasional strikes. They go between mid air and land repeatedly. On the ground, Avril Casts a kick, Nathair ducks below and counters with a strike to her stomach, it connects but she Casts a strike of her own into Nathair’s arm, nearly breaking it. Avril Casts rapid strikes towards Nathair, he gracefully dodges every one and counters with a kick that Avril manages to block.
His kick is followed by another.
And another.
And another once more.
Avril is unable to keep up. Nathair Casts a kick directly to her side, she drops to the ground and Nathair follows with a swift strike to her chest, sending her slamming into the ground. Avril cannot get up and Nathair stands over her as he stares and builds up his strength. Avril knows this strike will kill her, she braces herself. Nathair Casts a deadly strike to Avril, moments before it connects, it is deflected with powerful force, he is not sent back with the shockwave because his arm is grabbed holding him in place. Standing between Nathair and Avril is Mackenzie. He coughs blood and then Casts a strike to Nathair’s stomach sending him far back, an intense shockwave follows.
“Mackenzie!”
This is all Avril can say.
“Avril.”
Mackenzie pauses.
“You have more to lose than I do, I am already dying. I have no limit to my Casting because there is no threshold to cross. I’m not–”
Mackenzie winces.
“I’m not sure if I can destroy the stone, but I am sure I can give you time while you do. Go and destroy Mackenzie’s Stone while I hold off Nathair. This needs to end.”
“This isn’t like last time. Mackenzie, you’ll die!”
Mackenzie laughs,
“I’m practically already there.”
“Mackenzie.”
Mackenzie says nothing. He slowly walks into the endless plains, Avril sits in place. Mackenzie approaches Nathair in the distance, he stops a little ways from him. He coughs blood.
“Whatever you think this is, it is pathetic. You will die with your friend.”
Mackenzie responds,
“Come then. I will fucking take you with me, Nathair.”
They lunge at each other as an explosive battle ensues. Mackenzie’s capabilities are near limitless having crossed the threshold already, every strike he Casts sends shockwaves far out into the horizon. Mackenzie Casts a strike to Nathair’s face, he slams into the ground and does not get up. Mackenzie grabs Nathair’s ankle and casts him into the air, he launches up and follows with an explosive strike Nathair hardly manages to block. They engage, going from land and sky, deflects and strikes. A black aura visibly surrounds Mackenzie. Nathair Casts a strike that sends Mackenzie to the ground. He quickly regains his composure and deflects a series of rapid attacks by Nathair. Mackenzie kicks Nathair’s ankles sending him horizontally in the air, he strikes Nathair in the stomach, he slams into the ground and Mackenzie follows with a series of near misses. Nathair strikes Mackenzie in the face, orients himself, and goes on the offensive. Despite being absolutely battered they maintain their grace through this struggle. Nathair strikes Mackenzie to the face once more and he is sent back. Mackenzie prepares to counter but begins violently coughing. He coughs blood as Nathair gathers himself for a powerful attack; in the distance, he sees Avril running towards the Macknenzie Stone crater valley. Nathair inhales and charges towards Mackenzie, Mackenzie still remains unable to block this strike. He does whatever he can to brace in the short time he has as Nathair hurdles towards him, he misses. Mackenzie realizes this is intentional as Nathair races past him and towards Avril with a deadly blow. Avril turns around as Nathair connects his attack, Casting a powerfully charged strike to Avril’s chest, Mackenzie grabs Nathair moments before. Had he not, this strike would have killed Avril. Damage is still done, Avril is sent flying back though the endless plane towards the crater valley wall. She collides with the grassy, rock face and smashes entirely though it, slamming into the ground at a high speed near Mackenzie’s Stone. Avril does not get up.
Nathair jerks his leg from Mackenzie’s grasp, he Casts a strike into his shoulder and connects. He catches himself against its momentum in time to dodge another attack from Nathair. Mackenzie Casts a strike to him in a near miss, he follows with another and it is deflected, following once more where he connects with a blow to his chest. He continues by Casting an uppercut that sends Nathair upwards, Nathair uses its momentum and flips onto his feet, lunging towards Mackenzie with a strike Casted to his stomach. With Nathair’s fist at Mackenzie’s abdomen, Mackenzie elbows Nathair into his back sending him to the ground. He quickly comes to a stand and launches away from Mackenzie. There is a moments pause before they run towards each other at full speed. Both Cast deadly strikes to one another, their open palms collide and a struggle ensues. They push into each other with all of their might, a small crater forms in the land below them as the Casting force swells around them, centered at the point of contact between their two strikes. They remain gridlocked with neither side budging.
The day’s passing is congruent with their visible fatigue.
Nathair’s veins begin to blacken. He is struck with pain though his entire body and he screams; a surge of pain follows another, continuing in succession, Nathair yells in pain as he is enveloped in its sensation. The sclera on one of his eyes begins to darken, Nathair is crossing the threshold but he still maintains his own. Mackenzie begins to cough blood, his strength weakens, despite Nathair’s pain, he wins the struggle. Gridlocked no longer, the momentum of his strike sends them both hurdling towards the Mackenzie Stone crater valley. Both fly though the endless plains; Nathair collides with the crater wall, he slams through to the other side where he crashes into the ground and slides into the land until he comes to a halt. Mackenzie is sent simultaneously through the hole left by Avril when she collided with the crater wall, he slams into the massive boulder he sat at earlier and is sent directly through, completely obliterating it. He collides with the ground and slides to a stop. Mackenzie and Nathair lay across from each other, Avril is off to the side near them. She lays awake near Mackenzie’s Stone, unable to move. All three rest still in silence as the days passing continues evermore.
Nathair lays awake with his eyes open, one is completely black and he is wheezing. He slowly gets to his knees to try and stand but a wave of pain radiates through his body, his veins become visibly black as he screams in pain and falls to his knees, returning to his previous position. He continues to scream in pain repeatedly as the effects of overexertion take its course. Nathair has crossed the threshold.
As his screams carry on, Mackenzie slowly rises up. He is shaking. Nathair’s screaming subsides as Mackenzie comes to his feet. Nathair wheezes more and looks up towards Mackenzie, he stands to his feet slowly. Nathair and Mackenzie sprint towards each other, their arms extended out, they Cast three strikes which collide repeatedly, littering the ground with small craters. The final strike sends them sliding in opposite directions, they stabilize and spring to one another once more. Two more colliding strikes, they are sent back again. They stand, pausing to gather themselves. Mackenzie looks over to Avril. He tells her,
“Avril.”
With a pause, he continues,
“There is not a thing I would change so far. This has been an incredible journey and I am grateful you were a part of it. From the Golden Gate Bridge Settlement, to the city of Norþfæl. Then, the Mountains of Wind. Do you remember the Mountains of Wind?”
Avril’s eyes tear up. Mackenzie continues,
“We hardly made it out of that one. That night in the skyscraper. All of the forests and plains, the ancient buildings. It was all so beautiful. I mean, look where it is we stand. We have actually found Mackenzie’s Stone. This isn’t even supposed to be real. All of the people I’ve met and the places I’ve seen. It has been a wonderful journey.”
“Shut the fuck up, Mackenzie! I will kill you! I will kill you both! Lets finish this!”
Nathair shouts. He is losing his grip. Mackenzie maintains his gaze to Avril and smiles,
“Avril. You, Cædmon, Allistair, Estmere. It was all worthwhile. You were all worthwhile. Thank you for joining me on this adventure.”
He shifts his gaze, Mackenzie and Nathair look into each other’s eyes. Charged with a continues shout, they sprint towards one another. Their fists are clenched, they Cast punches at full power; another struggle ensues. Their shouts continue. The rocks around them are lifted to the air, another crater forms at their feet. The Casting force visibly tears though the land, rips in time’s fabric form above, the shockwave jolts everything back. The force builds in the center of two opposing momentums. It can no longer be contained, Mackenzie and Nathair are sent away from each other in a violent explosion. All is white as the explosion expands, their strikes canceled the other’s out. The land shakes as the explosion settles, small pieces of the landscape fall from the sky.
In time it all subsides. Everything grows calm.
Across from one another, Mackenzie and Nathair lay once more. They remain in the days passing until they begin to slowly move, simultaneously coming to their knees. Both tremble as they rise to a stand. They stagger towards the other. Now within a fighting distance, Mackenzie and Nathair engage in a fist fight, too weak to Cast any longer. Their movement are slow and labored. Mackenzie punches Nathair, Nathair punches Mackenzie back, they repeat this as the last of their energy dwindles. Avril slowly stands to her feet, she heads to Mackenzie’s Stone. The slow fight continues, one punch after another punch, they are at their wits end. Mackenzie throws a weak punch and strikes Nathair in the face, they both fall to the ground. Avril tries to carry on to Mackenzie’s Stone but she stops, then collapses.
The day’s passing is congruent with which where they remain.
Nathair slowly moves once more. Trembling, he comes to a stand. Mackenzie and Avril do not get up. Nathair limps towards Mackenzie’s Stone. When he stands before Mackenzie’s Stone he looks to his feet and finds Mackenzie’s Sword, Mackenzie’s Flask, the Passion Gem, and a soft sheet which wraps its contents in its cloth. Nathair kneels down and unwraps the sheet, before him rests a skeleton laid out flat on the blanket. He lays out the skeletal remains in front of Mackenzie’s Stone. He staggers to the Passion Gem and places it where the heart would rest in the ribcage. He takes Mackenzie’s Flask and sprinkles the Waters of Moment over the bones. With what is left of Nathair’s strength, he takes Mackenzie’s Sword and stabs the Passion Gem. The gem and the skeleton glow white, the light becomes blinding, all is obscured by its superior luminosity and remains. Gradually the white subsides. Mackenzie’s Stone has given life to these remains. Esthreal stands naked before Nathair. Mackenzie’s sword protrudes out of her as the resurrection finalizes.
“Esthreal.”
“Nathair?”
“Oh, Esthreal. It is so good to see your face again.”
Esthreal stands, confused as to what she is experiencing.
“What has happened?”
Nathair explains,
“Do you remember our wedding? How the rioters found us, the mayhem they caused? You have been dead for many years, my love. I have resurrected you, our story does not have to end as it did. This is our chance for a new beginning, together.”
“Who are these people?”
Esthreal observes Avril watching them and Mackenzie laying against the ground as he wheezes; Mackenzie is dying.
“You cannot survive without Mackenzie’s Stone which rests behind you, Esthreal. It is what has allowed this to happen. These two here seek to destroy it. I will kill them to prevent this.”
“Kill them?”
Esthreal is unsure of this. Nathair responds,
“They are nothing. It would be nothing. I have killed many on this journey to you, I will do whatever it takes to keep you here with me.”
“What of Aldfriþ?”
“Aldfriþ is gone, it lays in ruin. I destroyed the entire city! Nothing remains. I killed–”
A surge of pain runs though Nathair’s body and he screams, falling to his knees. He regains his composure but remains on kneeled,
“I killed them all. Not a single wretched person remains in the whole of the land that was once Aldfriþ.”
He screams once more as overexertion sets in.
“You eye, it is black. Have you overexerted yourself?”
Nathair responds,
“It is nothing. I am so glad to see you again, Esthreal.”
Esthreal says nothing. Nathair takes notice,
“What’s wrong, Esthreal? Why don’t you say anything?”
“Oh, Nathair. I know your voice and I remember your face and yet somehow I do not recognize the man that stands before me.”
“Esthreal. Esthreal, what do you mean?”
“The Nathair I once knew would never kill, not even a bug. I knew you were always an exceptional Caster but I never saw you Cast even once. I fell in love with your compassion and empathy. Nathair, what has happened to you?”
Nathair is stunned. Esthreal continues,
“The entirety of Aldfriþ gone. These two people before me, all the others that I cannot see. Even you Nathair, your eye is black. Why should everyone die for me to live again. These people did nothing. All this death. The guilt, oh the guilt! I could not bare living such a life. I fell in love with your kindness, Nathair.”
“Esthreal.”
“Before me is a life of selfishness, filled with nothing but the unwilling sacrifice of others. You will not even remain to see this, I will be alone in my guilt. You are not the man I knew, Nathair. I cannot take all of this death and live as if everything is fine.”
Esthreal takes Mackenzie’s Sword and pulls it out of her body. Her whole body illuminates in a luminescent white glow, she walks towards Nathair. She kneels down and grabs his hands, staring into his eyes. She tells him,
“You have done for me what no one else would. I am happy to have spent our lives together as we did. Thank you, Nathair. Goodbye.”
Esthreal disintegrates into the air in a spectacular display of luminescent white light.
All is silent now. Nathair rests on his knees and stares. He is completely fucked.
Avril slowly walks towards Mackenzie’s Stone. As she approaches, she collapses. On her knees she glances at Mackenzie who is wheezing on the ground. She picks herself back up and walks until she reaches the stone. Avril places her hand upon the stone’s ancient surface, it has been millennia since someone has felt this rocky face under their palms. With the last remaining energy she has left, Avril Casts all her might into the stone through the palm of her hand. Debris ejects in all directions as the explosion separates the ancient rock from itself.
Mackenzie’s Stone is destroyed.
The debris disintegrates in the air. On the land lies the handle of Mackenzie’s Sword, the blade disintegrates. Mackenzie’s Flask is empty as the Waters of Moment evaporates. The Passion Gem shimmers red no more, in its place lays a grey rock. So too, the rock disintegrates.
Aldor watches along side the other sages in the Temple of Beorg as the white Flame of Time goes out, as it does within every McIntyre temple. Casters across all the lands observe as they Cast no more. With the destruction of Mackenzie’s Stone, all its affects are no longer possible, ending thousands of years of its phenomenon as Casting meets its quiet end.
Mackenzie lays on his back, he is breathing heavy and wheezes, still, with every breath. Avril walks to him from the stone’s former place. She kneels down beside Mackenzie and grabs his hand, her eyes tear up. Mackenzie manages to whisper,
“It was all worth it.”
His grip begins to weaken, Mackenzie’s hand slides away from Avril’s; then it does not. His grip tightens, Mackenzie’s veins fade until they are no longer darkened. The blackness that made Mackenzie’s eyes recedes from his sclera until it is no more. The whites of Mackenzie’s eyes have returned.
Far off in a tucked away land, a battle scarred valley rests within a giant crater, in its center lays nothing. Atop a hill overlooking the endless plains, Cædmon and Estmere stand as they see Avril and Mackenzie walking towards them, Mackenzie being supported at her side. Cædmon and Estmere run to help them, Mackenzie looks up and reveals his white sclera. Avril stands proudly, a single tear runs down her cheek. With the destruction of Mackenzie’s Stone, the era of the Mackenzie Bloodline, McIntyre Bloodline, and Casting has ended. Humanity and the lands return to a natural state.
Epilogue
Six years since the battle first battle at the Mackenzie Stone crater valley.
Three years and six months after Allistair’s passing.
Three years since the destruction of Mackenzie’s Stone.
Norþfæl sits in its vibrant midday bustle. A giant waterfall towers over all in the library of Norþfæl, a city in its own right. Scholars and travelers and locals all converge in the busy library courtyard at the day’s passing. Nathair sets a book in a bookshelf and intends to leave, he is looking for someone but he cannot find them. As he searches in the library courtyard, a young man asks Nathair,
“Excuse me, friend! I’m trying to find a book on the city of Aldfriþ, perhaps you’ve heard of it? I need to write an impressive report on something not many know of, I think this will do good. Do you know anything about Aldfriþ?”
Nathair answers,
“I do not.”
The young man is visibly disappointed,
“I’m going to have some explaining to do. I cannot find anything to write about and I need to write a report that is due tomorrow! We are a city of scholars and yet I consistently struggle.”
“I’m sorry.”
Nathair responds. The young man is understanding and he begins to walk away.
“Wait.”
Nathair gets his attention,
“Do you want to write a really impressive report?”
“Of course I do, I really need this.”
“Search for information on Mackenzie’s Stone. It is a legend that has thousands of years of content to write on.”
The young man is enthusiastic.
“Wow, thank you! Do you know where I can find any books on this Mackenzie Stone?”
“Try the mythology sections.”
The young man thanks Nathair once more and they part ways. Nathair walks out onto the massive steps at the libraries entrance in search of his companion. He spots him in the middle of the crowd and walks towards him,
“Cyren, what are you doing here? We need to set out, we have spent too much time in this city.”
Cyren responds with a bark. The dog sticks its tongue out and looks to Nathair.
“These lands prevent me from moving on, Cyren. All of these places, they remind me of a time that has long since passed. I wish to live my life in the present, here I cannot help but stay in the past. We set off to distant lands far away from here for a fresh start.”
Nathair pauses,
“Can you even understand me?”
Cyren responds with another bark. He gives a gentle smile and pets Cyren on his head. Someone asks if they can pet Cyren, Nathair invites them to do so. He and Cyren set out of Norþfæl and towards distant plains.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Far away from the city of Norþfæl sits an abandoned skyscraper in the middle of vast plains. Nathair sits with Cyren out of a window high above the ground, his feet dangle off the edge. The remnants of a campfire from many years ago remain. Nathair looks to the sky and takes in the view. He reaches to his side and pulls out the handle of Mackenzie’s Sword, there is no blade. He gazes upon it for a short time then drops it, leaving it to fall down the height of the skyscraper where it will be lost to time. Nathair looks to Cyren and then to the sky once more.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
A field is about to be illuminated, a group of people gather as they follow a young woman to its center. She has become accustomed to what is required in guiding people to this spot, she spends most of her evenings giving people tours of the landscape. In this group, a widowed mother, with her adult son and daughter, await the coming night. The sun slowly sets, fireflies light up individually until night arrives, sending them into a flurry. The landscape glows in the pleasant light these creatures give, illuminating the lands in a wonderful display of natural beauty. The group is in awe, as they always are, the young woman remains amazed every time she views this natural light show. Her life is busy, she has met new people, and yet she still looks to the lights and occasionally remembers someone from long ago.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Atop a hill, Mackenzie and Avril stand facing each other. They slowly walk towards one another, smiling. They reach each other and embrace, their embrace is followed by a passionate kiss. They embrace once more and look into each other’s eyes. Estmere arrives at the hill with some friends, Cædmon with his wife and child shortly after. They are happy to see each other once again, a reunion was long overdue for these good friends. The group smiles and laughs and converses and takes in the view of the parting clouds. Mackenzie, Avril, Cædmon, and Estmere gather together in a circle and stick their hands out, fingernails painted black. One by one they use a wet cloth to remove the paint. Once completed, their fingernails are a natural hue. They say there goodbyes as their visit comes to its end. Mackenzie and Avril walk away, shortly followed by Estmere and the others, not long after Cædmon leaves with his wife and child. Behind them atop a hill, two unmarked graves rest with a view of the surrounding landscape. Flowers stand tall above their soil, pink as they bloom.