Dawn of the Black Sun

The next few days come and go as everyone continues their training routines; hunting, sparring, and calisthenics. “Get up kid, it's time to move. You’ve been ruminating long enough. We already know what's going to happen, just LET IT GO!” Opening his eyes Joshua lets out a sigh. “You try letting something go when you’re getting plagued by nightmares.” Rolling his eyes Joshua’s gaze lands upon four runic cubes resting beside his bag.

“You know I have to deal with your nightmares too right, I feel ALL of your emotions.” Joshua shakes his head eyeing the carved blackwood. Each one with unique patterns and color schemes. The spiritual essences held within, resonating differently.

As he stands to his feet and makes his way over, he picks one up. Tracing its runes with his fingertips, his aura saturates its surface as thin blue lines light up before dimming. “Good, they’re still working.”

Pocketing the cube, its square shape forms an indention at the bottom of his coat pocket. His heart fills with doubt. “Draxis, am I even ready or strong enough for this?” His eyes, bags visible, are illuminated by red within their dark chamber.

“You’re as ready as you possibly can be. At least you’ve had some time to adjust your body to your third core opening. Could always be worse.”

”But it could always be better.” Joshua looks down shuddering as he carries the other three out in his arms as the sun shines its radiant light upon the peak of Shiraia, beaming down onto his skin.

Feeling its warmth, he calls out, waving his free hand greeting his squad mates., Vilhelm turns to him waving his right hand. “Good morning captain. You don’t look so good. ?”

“Just the nightmares, Vil. I’ll be fine.”

“So you say kid.” Snarling his nose Joshua growls.

Vilhelm eyes him mildly confused as Joshua shakes his head. “I just want to get this over with.” Facepalming, he takes a deep breath.

“I’m going to have to side with Vil on this one, you look miserable Joshua.” Joshua smiles weakly at her, grateful that she’s finally starting to speak again.

Distracting himself, he walks over to his quieter brother. “Wil, let’s spar hand to hand.”

“Okay captain, any reason in particular?”

“I just want to get my blood and body warmed up, gotta take my mind off things.” With a nod, the two make their way over to their sparring grounds as they drop their respective weapons to the ground.

Stepping out onto the solid terrain, both of Durand’s bloodline activate their aura. A viridescent glow flashes over Wilhelm as a scarlet red aura soaks Joshua's hair and outfit as it radiates his eyes.. The two of them take deep breaths getting into fighting stances as Susanna counts down. “Three, two, one, GO!”

Swinging her right arm down, the two immediately rush each other, Joshua’s feet digging into the soil. Ducking out of the way, Wilhelm throws a punch straight for Joshua's face as he counters, sending a jab at his solar plexus. Pulling his arm back, Wil blocks the strike whilst the earth underneath weakly rattles. They continue trading blows.

Dropping to the ground, Joshua sweeps his left leg out, tripping Wilhelm up. Refusing to be the only one dropping in this dog fight, he snags Joshua by his right arm, dragging both of them to the ground.

As the two of them roll about dirt stirs into the air coating their coat and pants, Vilhelm starts getting into it, his feet antsy as he cheers.“You got this Wil.”

Susanna shakes her head, chuckling to herself. “These guys…” as the bigger of two clamber back to their feet, Joshua lunges from below aiming for an uppercut as the earth underneath shakes once more, knocking him off balance. Stumbling over, grazes Wilhelm's chest.

Turning to face one another, they both start to chuckle, color coming back to Joshua’s face. “You felt that too, right?” Grinning like a loon. Wilhelm nods. “Yeah captain.” They stop and wait as a massive overcast rolls through. The once shining sky staining dark and dreary mess of gray and black.

The three look at each other in concern, then to Joshua. “Umm captain, is this a part of that Black Sun?

Shaking his head, Joshua shrugs his shoulders looking inside himself. “Draxis, It’s time.”

“I know!”

After speaking the last word, a bolt of lightning strikes from the heavens crackling against the barrier. Its electricity radiates through Joshua; clutching his head, everything starts to spin. As his vision blurs, he collapses head first into the ground.

In a panic, Susanna rushes over to his side screaming. “Joshua!” Wilhelm and Vilhelm rush on over themselves, as she starts lightly slapping his cheeks trying to bring him back to consciousness.

Turning to face the twins, she starts to bark orders. “Vil, go get some ice water, there should be some in our ‘refrigerator.’ Running off without question, he comes back shortly after with a small container. Passing it over to Susanna, her eyes close as she takes a deep breath, the world around her becomes crystalline.

Looking at her, the twins unanimously shout “Woah.” Her eyes glow like gemstones, as yellow and black tribal tattoos forming around her eyes trailing down the sides of her face, trailing from her neck down her chest. Turning towards Joshua, she places her hand on his head, Feeling for anything that could be amiss with the energies inside his body.

Moments later, she checks his pulse. Badum Badum, Badum. Taking some of the water she drizzles it across his face, the ice-cold water causing his face to tense up. “Damn it Joshua, this is not the time…” Rolling her eyes, shakes her head in frustration.

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Under a scarlet sky, Joshua stands before a strange spectacle. The very sun, moon, and stars float before him before rotating slowly, Twelve ‘portals’ make themselves visible as the sun starts its journey in the first month, rising from the fourth gate. Moving to the fifth, the sun's light grows brighter and brighter.

As it makes its way to the next gate, the space itself shakes. The sun’s light nearly blinding Joshua, as he covers his eyes, turning away. Passing through its precipice it rapidly begins to dim, slowly passing from the sixth gate back through the first gate.

“So this is how the sun and moon revolve around us. This is insane.” As this plethora of information is taken in, an eerily familiar golden set of eyes appear before him.

“This is what you wanted to know, is it not? A beautiful sight created by Serox… But you know inside your soul thats not why you're here.” the crackling voice echoes through the darkness.

Joshua’s form begins to tremble in both realities as the sun starts increasing in speed. Flying through the first, second, third, and all the way back to the sixth gate, the lesser luminary also speeds up following its set path.

A purple haze begins to bleed through as the sun keeps repeating its cycles over and over. The moon cracks down its center as it translates to the color of Joshua's eyes.

The two luminaries stop before the sixth gate as the sun which had been dimming slightly, completely goes out. A black void taking its place. Its malevolent energy stains the sky. Its purple haze, likewise fuses with its once vibrant corona.

“The Black Sun?"

“You are correct, young one. This is that pain that has plagued your mind for years.”

“Why?” Joshua shoulders droop, the bags and weariness rushing back.

“The world you live in is corrupted at its core. Something has slowly been perverting nature at its source. Weaving reality to fit his own desires.”

“How?” Joshua questions

“That’s up to you to figure out, I can’t say any more.” The crackling voices echo.

The world around him begins to crack into the likeness of shards of glass. Reaching his arm out towards the eyes, he too begins falling into the void.” WHO ARE YOU?”

As he falls, he feels his body collapsing in on itself as suddenly he’s wrapped up in a golden light. Laying his mind gently back into his own body, it fades into golden mist.

Launching up, a look of shock across his face, he shakes his face and hair off. Ice-cold water trailing down his chest and back causing him to shiver as he stands to his feet. Looking around he sees his squad mates worried faces.

Susanna punches him in his left arm. “Joshua, is there something wrong with you that you’re not telling us?”

Joshua shakes his head, placing his hand on her shoulder, “No, Anna. I’m not sure how to explain it, just please trust me.” Taking a deep breath, she steps back.

“What did you see Joshua?” Vilhelm leans in close. “The cycles of the sun and moon. It won’t be long until the black sun dawns.”

“Cycles?” Susanna stares at him, a mix of relief and confusion shining on her face.

“The sun and moon apparently move through portals and gates around us. Once it passes through the sixth and final portal, that’s it.” Joshua crosses his arms bluntly.

“Does that have to do with the tremors we’ve been feeling?” Wilhelm faintly rambles as he falls over. Moments later, a bigger quake shakes everything around them. Susanna’s feet slip, reaching out, Joshua wraps her in his arms as he pulls her in close.

“I gotcha, Anna. Please be careful.” Blushing profusely, her heart races as she hops from his grasp. Chuckling to himself, he looks down to his blade "She's probably alright.”

“If we could see the sun right now, it’d be clear. But right now, it's going through its cycles rapidly. Can you feel it? If not, use your senses and follow my lead.

Dropping to the ground on a knee, Joshua’s eyes peer out, reaching out over all of blackwood. The twins, not as adept vaguely feel some dark pressure from the sky around blackwood as Susanna feels the world itself shaking as her eyes return to normal, tattoos dissipating in the process.

The twins shout towards Joshua. “What the hell is that presence?” Susanna stays calm.

“That’s Andric starting to create Astaroth’s domain. He’s been playing the long game for years.” Sighing aloud, he reaches deep, pulling from his diaphragm, “WOLF SQUAD, ready yourselves.” Shocking everyone back in order, Vil and Wil all rush over to their tents as Joshua and Wil go to the sparring area. A massive sonic boom tears through the sky. As it starts to crack. Its once blue hue shatters into a cascade of red.

The clouds blow away in an instant as the sun starts to dim, slowly yet surely going out. Disturbing sounds descend from the heavens as everyone but Joshua trembles. “DAMN IT.” Forcing his eyes to stay open, he punches himself in the stomach, looking to his allies.

“What the hell kid, why are you beating yourself up?” Draxis screams.

“To stay conscious Draxis. I can’t lose my mind here, what we do when the world shifts will decide everything. I can feel my insides screaming for me to run away. I don’t want to be here.”

Facing towards the dimming sun with a gulp, it slowly turns gray. It’s once beautiful hue gets darker as another tremor knocks over the wood in their fire pit. Assorted rocks begin tumbling down the mountain gaining momentum as they crash into the ground. Steadying his feet, Wilhelm stands up straight as Vilhelm falls onto his side. Carefully stumbling towards him, he helps his brother back up.

Susanna lowering her center of gravity , crouches down. Lifting himself off of her lap, Joshua races up and over their ‘watchtower’. Looking down over Blackwood, panic ensues. His eyes catch two girls making their way up the mountain quickly. “Those must be Orthon’s squad mates. Why isn’t he with them?” Joshua’s eyebrows raise.

“Sometimes people like to play the hero, kid. He probably needs your help.” Draxis replies in a serious tone.

“If he is just as strong as I am, he should be fine for the time being. But I know you're right master.”

Multiple strikes of lightning crash down over the surrounding area trying to breach the barrier. But to no avail, the barrier Joshua established stands at full capacity. Carefully making his way down the watch tower he calls out to his companions. “Wilhelm, Vilhelm, you know what to do.” Rushes past Susanna, he throws two hexahedrons over to the twins as he makes his way for the front gate.

Wilhelm catches his with ease, as Vilhelm nearly drops . Beginning to run down the mountain, he sees it. The sun-stained jet black, that sickening purple miasma emanating from its corona.

Instinctively feeling another tremor, Joshua drops to the ground holding onto a nearby tree for stability as the final quake occurs. Its sheer magnitude tearing a fissure through the ground that splits blackwood wide open. A torrent of green rips through the ground launching itself up into the sky.

“Shouldn’t that be black and white?” Joshua stares down in up in awe. He can feel powerful energies unleashing with the campsite. A beacon of green, orange, blue and red. As Joshua continues rushing down the mountain, enhancing his speed with his Aura, he stops, questioning the two girls.

Mesym and Reyny look at him in panic, panting heavily. “Orthon. “Orthon.” One of the girls forces out through exhausted breaths. Reyny continues. “Gytha attacked us as we tried to leave, he chose to stay back and buy us time.”.

Turning his head from the two girls, he points them to the summit of Shiraia. “Dammit Orthon, why do you have to be just as stubborn as me?” Shaking his head, he starts running double-time. Waving at the girls as he continues his descent; red aura enveloping his feet.

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Back in camp, Susanna argues with Wilhelm. “What do you mean y’all have to leave the camp? What about me, shouldn’t I be helping?” Wilhelm looks on, unable to reply.

“Did you plan something without me again?” Her voice’s pitch starts to raise, her breaths becoming shallow.

“It’s not like that, Anna, the plan in place requires us to have aura. We just wanted to keep you safe. Someone has to stay back and help guide the other cadets inside.”

“Keep me safe! Aren’t we supposed to be a damn team, clearly you all just don’t trust me. I’m not some dead weight . What about Joshua, knowing him, he’s probably going to get himself killed.”

“Trust him Anna, this is what we’ve been preparing for.”

Trust him, for the past three nights, all I've heard is him gasping and screaming in his sleep. I’m going after him right now.” Aiming her bow at Wilhelm, a strong dominating presence towers behind her.

“WOLF SQUAD STAND DOWN.” Hearing a familiarly commanding voice, Susanna lowers her weapon. "Master." She turns to see Layrn standing before them.

“Joshua already informed me of his plan.”