Kingdom From The Ashes

Birds scattered from the fields just a few acres from outside the ruins of a shattered stone fortress. The abandoned carcass of a once great regional pillar for the land it ruled over and the people it sheltered, now lay as nothing more than a monolith. A concrete slab holding rubble and ash. Within it is nothing more than bones of the enemies who raided its foundations and a mere servant of its once great purpose. Beyond the great fields and meadows where the winds follow the grassy hills, overlooked by an iridescent atmosphere, a day’s end crept by. The shadow of the night fell over the lands like a blanket and as the light fell behind the horizon the shadows edge chased away what left over fluorescence reflected from the fields, the trees, the ash, and bricks. With the night comes its creatures. A woman wearing a brown shawl around her shoulders and back hunched over a fresh fire as she stoked it with a large walking stick. The fire illuminated a fading stone path partially overtaken by dying weeds. Three pillars, one on the left and two on the right, though cracked and crumbled still stood along the ruined stones. Further out from the pillars and beyond the light of the fire there waited only the night, the shadows, and a spirit. Into the light peered a mask with five small spikes protruding from the bottom along the chin and five slightly larger spikes erected along the top. The middle spike on both ends of the mask were slightly longer than the others. The eyes of the mask were by far the most noticeable. Staring into them it is hard to notice that the two small holes have no eyes peering through them. A red ring outlines the holes, followed by a larger ring of black and then of white. Gold outlined the outer edges of the mask and a dark blue finished the chin and up to where the nose would go if it were a part of the design. The mask itself was more rounded though it fit the shape of a natural face. A white tribal design of five open triangles formed a flower like design with the points of the triangles facing each other. Inside of each point was a symbol marked in white and thinly outlined in gold. The symbols appeared as angled lines that crossed in different patterns. The complete makeup of the mask was then accented with the upper half design where the mask was finished with red but no distinctive marks aside from the large markers of the eyes. “You cannot claim these lands yet spirit!” The woman commanded with her back turned to the masked figured appearing from the shadows of the night. The woman turned to face the spirit. What she examined was an entity completely covered in crimson bandages from fingertip to toe. She narrowed her soft blue eyes and locked her gaze on the mask. Her white hair had a moonlight glow despite the sky being blocked by the entity’s presence. “My name is Aida spirit and I am a servant to these grounds.” She firmly stated. The masked spirit made no gesture and quietly maintained its posture along the edge of the light. Aida patiently waited for reply. “Reveal your identity!” she demanded. The shadows around them shifted and slightly closed in from all sides. The lights edge was quickly consumed into the darkness. Daring not to flinch Aida kept her sights on the mask even as the shadows nearly removed it from sight. I’ll have to be more careful with this one. She thought to herself. Aida started again. “Move further into the light if my statements are true and if they are wrong you may retreat into the night.” The space between them remained silent. The spirit in the mask waited. “You died here during the assault from the outsiders seven years ago.” Aida boldly guessed. A moment passed while both Aida and the spirit stood silent.  She knew the best approached would be to get the mask, then she might know more from examining the symbols displayed on the mask. There was only one problem; she needed the spirit to come forward out of the darkness and get close enough to see the markings. The fire crackled in the background. At this point it crossed Aida’s mind that the spirit may just be waiting for the fire to go out. If she were to get wrapped up into the darkness it could be difficult to get out even with her experienced craft in magic and embrace with the realm of spirits. Usually once the type of spirit is discovered communication gets easier and the resolve isn’t far behind. This time was different. This one was powerful and if Aida had to guess it, this spirit was a high-class magic user before death. “Choose your next move wisely spirit I am old but not to be trifled with.” Aida sternly advised, attempting to taunt the entity. In an instant the spirits body moved forwarded into the light several paces without ever taking a step. Aida maintained composure knowing that it was attempting to break her focus. “One step at a time spirit.” Aida commanded. “You were a personal guard of the previous king.” She continued. The darkness around the fire’s aura shifted again and from all sides consumed a chunk of the light. Aida quickly realized that the spirit, though willing to play the game was not willing to play the rules by retreat. In this case, every time she is wrong the spirit commands the darkness to move in. Eventually it would completely overtake the fires light and consume her as well. “You were tasked with protecting the current heir to the throne.” The spirit lifted its right leg and slowly moved one full step forward. The pair continued to stare each other down. Aida was able to clearly see the markings on the mask at this point which provided insight into the identity of the spirit. More information was needed still. “You’re here to protect the land until the heir can reclaim the throne.” Aida quickly realized her next guess was incorrect as the darkness shifted and closed in once again. At the same time the fire began to weaken. “You are claiming the throne for yourself.” She guessed wrong again allowing the darkness to continue and consume the fires light further. Between guesses Aida noticed the entities shadows would subtly close in as well. This was a clear indication that the fire was dimming and would not last much longer. Aida paused a moment to gather her thoughts. She knew all of the Royal Guard but had never seen this mask before. She realized that the context of the mask’s symbols was the key to the spirits origins. They represent elements whereas the tringles represented connectivity of those elements. Given that the mask was tribe specific the individual must have been a user of elemental magic while also foreign to these lands. Aida changed her approach from targeting the spirits purpose to its identity. “Your name is Kalynn.” The spirit stepped forward one step and a sadden look fell upon her face. Though she was correct she didn’t really want to be. “You were the only one in the guard related to the tribe that your mask originates from.” Aida explained. “You were so young and yet so powerful.” Aida added as sorrow filled her voice. “One of few to carry the title mage of elements.” The spirit of Kalynn stepped forward again. Golden eyes ignited behind the eyes of the mask as complete signification of identity and ability. Aida could sense the power from Kalynn but appeared more confused than impressed. Aida confronted the spirit. “Why are you still here Kalynn I have revealed your identity and now the lands know of your sacrifice.” But the darkness just set in further. “Do not give in to vengeance!” Aida attempted to plead with Kalynn, however, the shadows continued closing in and stopping with just a small bubble of light. There was just mere feet between herself and the spirit. “You must be an Agne spirit.” Aida added. “You are here as a guide to put things on a proper path.” She further revealed allowing Kalynn to move forward one last time. “Now remove your mask and reveal your intent!”  Aida’s hand reached up and gripped the mask of the spirit. A bright glow of blue rounded the iris of Aida’s eyes as she then removed the mask. Aida let out a gasp. “What!” She exclaimed. “Why?” A whisper came from behind her and the voice wrapped around her body like a cold chill. “Only one can see my true identity.” In her shock, Aida had not realized that the shadows had gripped her ankles. The darkness collapsed in, consuming the fire and the light. Everything was now lost in the darkness of the spirits resolve. Even from above, the grounds were completely black.