Chapter 2: The Night of Dread

Far away in a distant world in the dead of night, a guard of the Kingdom of Ronayah rushed through the downpour of Endlost Forest as he rode on horseback.

While looking frantically from side to side through the dense foliage, he noticed a faint red glow shimmering to his right, hidden behind a thicket and the drooping branches of a towering tree.

As he began to come to a halt, he could hear the sound of the soaked leaves squelching under the horse’s hooves. The two other guards following behind began to slow down, too, behind Alten, the head guard.

He turned, peering through the dense foliage as rain dripped down his neck, to confirm he wasn't mistaken in what he suspected he saw. “Yes, a light, this might be it,” he whispered under his breath.

Hours earlier, a kidnapper had taken the newborn children of his dear old friend Solan, patriarch of the noble Kazantria house, snatching them from their home while they were unsupervised.

When Alten was conversing with the parents back at the manor they all concluded that the perpetrator must've been the infamous Crone of souls, Veldra Deadwood. But why would she do this, especially to one of the most well-connected families in the country? Who knows? That wasn't something he was keen on finding the answer to. He dreaded the thought of what horrors might befall those defenseless babies.

Alten recalled some of the folklore he'd learned throughout his time working in the area; it was said that she was a sort of witch who had been living somewhere in the depths of the forest for the past 500 years.

Even though this villain could very well be dangerous, especially if she knew the ancient forgotten magic techniques, he was going to fulfill his mission no matter the cost. It is his duty as the head patrol guard to carry out justice and aid the people of the region.

With determination set in his eyes, Alten dismounted his horse and tread towards the thicket. He gestured to his men, signaling to them to join him.

As he stepped closer to the shrubs at the side of the path. He turned to wave over his men so they could join him.

Alten drew his sword from the sheath at his side and slashed at the thicket, and they stepped through one behind the other.

This area of the woods would have been pitch-dark if it weren't for the red glow of light in the distance, as they kept walking slowly through,

What appeared to be a cottage had come into view, red light glowing through the windows.

Inside the hut at the center of the room, on top of a circular table, lay the week-old twins, wide-eyed and wrapped in white blankets.

In the corner of the room, the old Crone, draped in a dark cloak, took a glass jar from the shelf and glanced into it. Inside was a sparkly black powder made from crushed magic crystals.

She spread the dust all over the table and around the babies, forming a magic circle.

In her raspy croaky voice, Veldra cackled:

“ha ha ha! Now that I have these children in my hands, I can finally commence the soul sacrifice spell to rejuvenate myself and regain my strength and youthfulness.

Finally, after months, I'll be able to reboost my magic potential and manage to continue keeping my whereabouts concealed before any infuriating wretches stumble across this place.”

The old Crone needed a fresh, pure soul to initiate an ancient, forgotten ritual using the age-old magic techniques so that she could extend her own lifespan in exchange for these innocent lives.

Almost no one in this world can use this power these days since the majority of the knowledge has been lost to time, or people can't use it now either due to a lack of magic potential or understanding.

Veldra lifted the cloak covering her head and slammed her hands face down on the table. Then started chanting the spell's incantation. The circle began to glow red, swirling all around until the entire thing was lit up. As this happened, the babies let out a cry.

“I command thy power of our ancient fallen God Memphis, take these untainted souls as an offering and renew me with the blessing of new life Soul relinquish!”

As she exclaimed, she raised her arms and took a knife from beside her and, without hesitation, sliced at her hand, dripping blood on the table.

A white cylinder of light proceeded to rise from within the magic circle engulfing the infants and raising them about 30cm into the air above the table.

“Yes, yes! I feel it, my skin unwrinkling, the strength returning to my limbs.” She gasped a sigh of relief as she felt her face smoothing and skin rejuvenated.

At the same time, just as the spell had completed, the children dropped back down to the table, eyes closed, and not making a sound.

Outside, the guards would see a beam of white light coming from the center of the hut shooting straight into the sky, as they rushed ahead, Alten readied his blade and kicked the door open with the base of his right foot.

Startled, the witch turned to see him aiming his sword at her with speed.“Blade burn!” Alten yelled as his sword turned a fiery combination of orange and red. Flames grew at the sides, and the blade pierced right through the middle of Veldra’s chest. “Now die miscreant.” He said with a disgusted expression

Blood sputtered from her mouth while falling to her knees. She scowled, ”Too late, soldier.” She smirked. “The sunborns will never forgive you.”

He pulled the blood-coated blade from her body, giving it a swift flick to shake off the crimson droplets before sliding it back into its sheath.

He turned to join the other guards, boots creaking against the wooden floorboards as he stepped toward the table.

“They’re unconscious, sir… but their blood still flows.”

Alten gave a short nod, breathing a sigh of relief as some calmness briefly flashed across his face. The search was over.