Prologue - Burning Fire

"Icarus!" 

Heavy steps encroaches in from behind.

The blinding reflection of the sun meets his gaze scorching his eyes shut for a moment.

"We are leaving, commander Egress' orders." 

Blood-colored threads cascade down her back, iris dipped in cherry wax. All being held by her fair skinned hourglass canvas.

"Already? I thought commander Egress wanted to stay the night here?" 

The amber in his eyes glisten faintly.

Swaying her weight to the left side, her hand finding a spot on her hip.

"He fears the darkness would find its way here and suggested we keep moving." 

Sweet and Innocent faces sang with laughter in a joyous yet chaotic choir. Almost breaking her composure for a moment.

Air from his lungs join in her departure, the golden alloy meant to protect his body deflates with it.

"Wow...that's THE 'Iron Maiden!'" 

Awe is etched onto their faces as their mouth sing praises for his fellow Liberator

"She's so pretty!" A girl spoke. Grasping onto air as she swings her arm around.

"Unlike you." Another retorted. She attacked back with words laced in childish anger as the other fires back insults dipped in pettiness.

Icarus steps in this meaningless fight.

“First, no fighting between friends. Second, only fight when it’s the only thing left. Understood?” A command wrapped in the warmth of his voice.

"Yes, sir Icarus..." 
"I-I'm sorry, sir Icarus..."

Eyes were tucked away yet the embarrassment was palpable. Gently reaching atop their heads his palm pressing gently on them.

"It's alright you two." 

Their gazes finally meet yet the mask of sadness still cover their faces. Kneeling, he offers his hand, fingers together and straightened.

"You won't leave me hanging will you?" 

Looking at each other before giving his palm a small smack. A light show of flames suddenly burns to life on his fingertips.

The fire show evaporated their worries as more and more wanted to smack his hand.

Then sound pierces through the joy and laughter of the children.

"ICARUS!"

Piercing through the noise it cuts off their entertainment short.

"Apologies children but it's time for me to go." Straightening his figure he gave them was last wave before leaving.

Suddenly, something latched onto his right gauntlet. Their small yet tight grip held him in place.

"You will come back...right?" A sea of longing slowly build up on their eye.

Looking down he gives a smile.

"I Promise." his words are comforting like a campfire in the cold night.

The child gently squeezes one last time before finally letting go.

Walking back to the wooden cabin the top of his nose wrinkled, shoulder raised, and chest tightened. His mind weaved scenarios that plagues his thoughts. 

A starving dog.

A broken sword.

A shattered black glass.

and A lifeless candle.

Trying to free himself of his dream he exercises his brain to reality by listing the items in his bag.  

"Map.....Telescope.....Roasted chicken.......and a gourd of water, yep that's all of 'em."

His fingers tighten the lock on his bag and slings it over his shoulder making sag behind him.

"Thank you for letting us stay."

Handing a generous amount of gold to the owners before leaving.

Three figures wait for him at the end of the village. 

The Chimera, the polar opposite of The Iron Maiden. Covered in leather that exposes more skin than it protects. With chestnut skin and grass colored locks. 

The Iron Maiden, covered in silver plating that encases her body only leaving her red hair dripping from her pale face.

Lastly, The Shepard. Obsidian wraps and coils around his body, jagged edges that cuts the scenery around him. Wrinkles adorn his face fashioned with scars as his hair and beard carries the wisdom he gathered over the years.

"What's taking him so long?" The Maiden spoke with impatience.

Seeing her foot tap away the dirt beneath her feet Chimera decided to poker patience more.

"Already missing him?"

The swift yet snappy turn of her head caught Chimera off guard.

"Being a Liberator also means being punctual."

"That wasn't a denial~." Leaning forward a bit with a smirk.

"Do I need to lecture on keeping your mouth shut-"

"Kiara, Hope. Maintain proper communication etiquette." Egress' voice finally cascades over the two immediately stopping their banter.

All three suddenly notice a faint yellow speck running towards them.

"Took him long enough." 

Chimera presses her middle finger and thumb together into snap. 4 balls of light appear behind rapidly taking the shape of horses. The light slowly fades into the horses as they materialized.

Icarus arrives, panting slightly.

"Good of you to finally rejoin us, come we have no time to waste." 

Egress climbs atop the horse, his obsidian plated armor emits a low and rumbling noise as he adjust himself on the horse.

The others soon follow as each horse was climbed by one.

The hooves of their ride clack in rhythm on the ground. The Shepard took the north position. Then, The Iron Maiden and Chimera respectively took the West and East. Finally, Icarus rode the south.

Even then there's this aura of dread and unease over them.

"Commander Egress...Are you certain we'll make it in time."

"Your concern is understandable, Kiara. To be frank, I am not certain either but its better to move now than later."

CAW!

A homing pigeon flies above them. Upon descending on The Chimera's arm it let out a gently squawk upon being patted. 

"Talk to me."

The bird began to speak.

"Chirp Chirp....Chirp Chirp Chirp...."

"Huh..."

The bird tilts and twists its head slightly each chirp.

"Chirp Chirp Chirp....Chirp..."

"I see...thank you."

With that she flings her arms to the side right then the bird disappears into burst of green light.

"What did it say?" The Shepard asked.

"...We're late."

Silence looms all over the group as the weight of her words dawned upon them. 

The Iron Maiden's face remained still but the reigns of her horse rattle with her hands.

The Shepard lowers his head and closes his eyes for a prayer.

Icarus' body temperature rose, the heat from him is noticeable by everyone.

Stopping the end of the plateau they're met by the darkness consuming everything in its wake.

"We're here." The Shepard spoke.

Hi rides his horse in front of them and turns.

"Everyone! Prepare yourselves! This is the reason why we're here and the purpose of our mission!"

His voice rumbles the air around him with his obsidian armor dispersing the light of the sun.

"This Tyrant shall consume this land of his delusion no longer! We'll end the reach of this darkness and reel it back to where it all started! And by that time comes we'll strike at the heart of this void until we end its tyranny!"

Icarus and the others nod in unison as Hope conjures wings on the horses.

Egress conjures obsidian around his horse, not one rounded shape was made to its armor. The volcanic glass emits cracks as it forms jagged edges and sharp geometry. The material lays itself atop it creating a fierce yet majestic stallion.

Kiara wraps iron around her horse, alloy twisting and bending along its body to perfectly hide any weak spots. The metal plates clash against each other as it fulfills its final shape. Decorated now with sheets of metal the horse neigh in glee. 

Icarus douses his horse in flames as it shines nearly as bright as the sun. The blaze of armor disperses the shadow created from the light of the sun. The crackle of the flaming armor is faint yet soothing like a campfire lit in the darkness. Born in the sun the horse paws the ground beneath it, ready to charge into the darkness.

Hope modifies her horse, as horns begin to emerge out the side of its head and pointed towards the darkness, paws with sharp claws begin to take shape replacing its hooves, predatory eyes replaces the docile gaze of the animal and sharp elongated fangs emerged from the corner of its mouth dripping with poison. The sound of flesh and bone cracking can be heard from this transformation yet the horse didn't flinch one bit as it shakes it neck, dusting its mane.

 One by one the Pegasuses and Chimera flew into the air headed straight towards the darkness.