Return to Diagonal Falls

Five hundred years ago, deep within the ancient forest of Diagonal Falls, a woman ran breathlessly through the trees. Her heart pounded in her chest as she glanced back into the darkness, fearing the presence that chased her. The dense forest had fallen eerily silent, with only the sound of her panting breaking the stillness. Ahead, a wooden building loomed in a clearing. She paused for a brief moment, her eyes scanning the shadows behind her, searching for any signs of pursuit. Calypso looked ethereal in the moonlight. Her pale skin seemed to glow, contrasting sharply with her long, dark hair. The pendant hanging from her neck swung with each step, a raven intricately carved in onyx. Her hands were delicate, yet each fingertip was blackened, a mark of the powerful magic she wielded. Barefoot, her steps were silent on the forest floor. Suddenly, a figure emerged from the darkness, creeping up behind her. She spun around, swiftly subduing the intruder. As she looked down, she realized it was Thomas, the master servant. He had a baby face, appearing young and innocent, dressed in simple medieval farmer's clothes. "Calypso," he gasped, "I'm sorry to scare you, but it's almost time." Calypso glanced up at the sky, her eyes widening as she saw another moon beginning to take form. "Then we must hurry, Thomas," she said urgently. Just as Thomas turned to head back to the barn in the clearing, she noticed a tattoo on his arm—a crest of dragons with two swords. Her heart sank. It was the mark of the men she was running from, and more specifically, it was Belazar's tattoo. In a moment of intuition, Calypso did not confront Thomas about the crest she had seen. She knew Belazar had the power to change his appearance, and her heart clenched with the knowledge that Thomas was no longer himself. With a heavy heart, she cast a binding spell, her words resonating with ancient power that slowly peeled away the facade Thomas had worn. Thomas, now revealed as Belazar, smirked with malicious satisfaction. "You cannot stop what is coming, Calypso," he taunted, his voice laced with triumph and venom. A devastated scream tore from Calypso's throat as she realized the man she loved was gone. She pulled off her raven necklace, muttering a quick spell as the raven, Ramille, animated and took flight. The imposter, now revealed as Belazar, lunged to grab the bird, but Calypso blew a strong gust of wind, lifting Ramille higher into the sky. Belazar, now fully revealed, was dressed in all black, blending into the shadows. His long, dark hair framed a face marred by a scar that ran from his eye to his chin. His eyes, cold and calculating, watched Calypso with a mixture of contempt and amusement. "Go, Ramille," she whispered, "deliver the message." Ramille knew his mission. He circled back once, seeing Calypso surrounded by men in hooded cloaks. She let out a series of spells, vibrant colors of green illuminating the dark forest. Calypso hoped Ramille had enough time to reach the master. As the duel raged on beneath the canopy of ancient trees, Calypso's thoughts remained fixed on Ramille—her last hope to reach the master in time, to deliver the stone and warn of the impending threat. The ancient forest, once a sanctuary of magic and tranquility, now echoed with the promise of conflict and the looming shadow of a darkness that threatened to consume everything she held dear. Flying swiftly, Ramille spotted the barn and dove inside. The master, an ancient figure who had lived more lives than a man should have, stood slowly, his body burdened by age. Despite his appearance as an elderly man, his true age spanned over a thousand years. He wore a long white sleep gown, his hair and beard, white and grey, cascaded to the ground when he stood. Ramille landed and delivered the urgent message. "The time has come," the master said, holding his talisman to the sky just as the second moon fully formed. A surge of energy coursed through him. He looked down at Ramille, who had reverted to his pendant form. The realization struck him like a thunderbolt—Calypso, his apprentice and ally, was gone. The master recited his final spell, his voice strong despite his frailty. As the men who had killed Calypso rushed toward the barn, he transformed, embedding his new form with the magic bestowed by the second moon. Belazar, now standing in the barn, saw the second moon disappear and the master gone. "You may have escaped," Belazar growled, "but I will have what should have been mine." His maniacal laughter echoed through the empty barn, a vow of revenge that would span generations.