“DING, DONG, DING, DONG.” The piercing chime of a rusty tin bell beckoned through the valley, and for the first time, the Elders's cheerful character had finally broken.

“What but we just had an attack the other night, they shouldn't be back for weeks,” said Ezra. “Silence boys, continue with the procedure, Everett you're with me.”

The twins scurried off to the wall without a moment's hesitation leaving me utterly confused. “Elder what's going on,” I questioned. Turning her back to me the elder ignored my question and instead began walking towards the base of the tower. Following her lead, I swallowed my impatience in the hopes that she would soon tell me what was happening.

We continued up the smooth staircase which spiralled the inside of the tower without a word being spoken. The higher we climbed I slowly began to feel completely engulfed by an overwhelming chill. “What do you know about the great Maldi that isolates Ravaryn from the rest of the world young man.”

I rushed to break the chilling silence my tongue swirling with words. “I know that a long time ago the people of Aragarth our former sovereign used all their strength to create a spell that would cease a 1000-year war and separate us from the monsters that lay beyond,” I rambled, unsure where the knowledge was coming from.

“Accurate indeed, although I'm rather surprised that no further whispers made it across the tides of Omorphia,” she praised. “Then again we still don't know if that's actually where you're from,” the elder pondered. After yet another brief silence, the elder's tone shifted. This time her voice almost matched the air’s coldness which continued to weave its way through my clothes. 

“The people of the first kingdom, our sovereign, sacrificed many lives in order to create that barrier however, their only blunder was the decision to use the Arcane to fuel it,” she began. “What but the Arcane is the strongest Etherium crystal in the world,” I called out. “Let me finish boy,” she halted as her voice became both earnest and sombre.

“It was also the first crystal this world has ever seen,” she picked off, proceeding up the stairs once more. “Time and time again people have continually consumed its power,” and now after 500 years since the great Maldi was created the Arcane is beginning to falter.”

‘That's impossible,’ I thought, not daring to speak out once more. “Do not mistake me Everett, this is not common knowledge. If you were to share this information with the wrong people the Monarchy will not just have your head but also that of everyone that has so much as seen your face to ensure its secrecy,” she warned as we neared the top of the watchtower.

“However, every evening, our world becomes almost completely connected to the spirit realm,” the elder came to a stop atop the tower, her back shrouded by a bright purple aura.  

“The twilight,” I answered as I clasped my way up the stairs behind her. “Yes, although like our once simple village, that name has also changed.”

Walking up next to the elder my jaw dropped. It took all the strength in my body just to stay standing under the sheer density of energy that flowed through the air. The once grasslands beyond the wall had become a lifeless grey, even the distant sea had lost its blue. And most of all in the distant horizon where the sky's purple light met the mountain caps were gigantic slashes of bright yellow light taking the form of cracks in what seemed like the very fabric of our world.

“There are many names that have replaced the term twilight, but one name is known throughout all of Ravaryn.”

 “We call it The Withering.”

Elder Dragomir

I peered down towards Cayden, where he had perched atop the wall as he glanced back giving me an assertive nod. “Arms ready… Draw,” Cayden screamed out.

“What's going to happen, Elder,” Everett Frowned. “Did you not listen to a word I said, boy? The barrier’s cracking don't you know what that means,” I sighed, irritated by the boys ignorance even if it was simply due to his amnesia.

Holding out my arm to Cayden as a sign to hold fire, I began scanning the mountainside ahead. Focusing on where the trees met the grasslands I waited. And waited. And waited, until finally I spotted something. My eyes froze as I locked in on a single patch where the night's purple gaze bled through the trees beyond.

For only a single second the light began to flicker until one by one the leaves and gaps in the trees no longer reflected the stars and all that remained was an endless sea of black that expanded like a ssurgingtide. 

Lowering my arm, Cayden prepared his attack once more.  “LOOSE,” he bellowed as a barrage of arrows soared over the wall whistling through the air. Soon later all that could be heard was a series of thumping sounds akin to hail on a tiled roof, temporarily halting the shadow's expanse. 

Without a moment's notice, a piercing screech beckoned through the night as elongated hands clasped out from the shadows, followed by decrepit near humanoid bodies, only much taller, and thanks to their stature, much faster as well.

Everett stepped back. Dread had slowly begun to consume his expression. ‘He may not remember it but his body can still feel the terror,’ I realised. 

“The Abaddon,” he expressed. His eyes were wide as if reliving a terrible dream.  “correct,” I nodded in agreement. “But if they’ve returned then why…” “Then why isn't there an army supporting us,” I cut him off. “Because the Abaddon don't exist. At least as far as the general public is concerned.”

“So the crown is denying their existence to ensure control over the people,” Everett pieced together. Much to my surprise the boy began to seem like more than just a pretty face. If it wasn't for how smart my grandson Cayden is one might even go so far as to call him intelligent. 

“Bastards,” Everett called out. “All just to stop people from panicking,” he gritted.

After sharing his wry look I focused back on the battle at hand, the wall of shadow had already begun to expand once more. Cayden taking the initiative signalled for another round of arrows to be fired. And then another. And another. And another.

Until we realised.

Our arrows had become completely ineffective. I shared a distasteful look with Cayden as he rallied the men to fight handing out Ether crystals before scaling down the wall. 

“They can’t possibly think they can win right they outnumber us almost 10 to 1,” Everett debated. “What choice do we have,” I returned. “besides some of our men are rather talented with the sword. At least compared to those lanky shadow dogs,” I cursed. 

Moments later a series of glowing flashes erupted on the battlefield making even the shadowy form of the Abaddon glint with colour. Etherium stones were shattered into the bodies and swords of our soldiers releasing the potent Zoi energy within them. 

The villager's swords slashed with the power of the spirits and their fists struck with ten times the power that humans are otherwise capable of. Between our skilled warriors and the Abaddon, it was clear that we were stronger perhaps strong enough to take down six Abaddon for every person present. However, as Everett said. We are outmatched by a number far larger than just six to one, and it wouldn't be long before we were wiped out.

As the realisation hit my knees began to falter, unable to bear the thought of losing both my son and now grandkids too. 

“Elder,” Everett soothed his face now stone cold. “Even without my memories I already know. This itch. This feeling. My body remembers it well,” the boy continued.

As his hair flowed back in the breeze his bright emerald eyes didn’t waver, and his expression had become completely gelid.

“Elder, please let me fight.”