From the high stone outlook of the Black Lotus Temple, Raen stood with his arms folded behind his back, his eyes narrowed and focused against the harsh mountain winds. Green lightning danced faintly along his fingers flickering off at his fingertips, he hadn't yet learned how to supress these elemental reflexes properly. His sword "Stormvein" was sheathed at his side, hidden under his dark green cloak, humming with silent charge. His blade pulsed in rhythm to each and every fading though crossing his mind.

Below him the temples courtyard was a flurry of different colours and scattering movements. Dozens of Black Lotus warriors moved around, each clad in the cloak of their elemental powers, Stone, Water, Fire, and Lightning. The rythmic clash of different training and sword techniques filled the rainless air. Yet Raen's gaze didnt fixate upon them.

His attention was fixed on the six members returning from their mission through the main temple gate. 

Their cloaks were stained with soot, 3 of them dragging their swords across the ground, barely able to hold onto them. The story was written in their weary posture. They had been in a battle, and it had cost them.

"Can you see it, Raen" came a voice behind him

Master Veyren stepped forward, hands clasped behind his grey and brown stone toned robes, his boots clicking against the polished stone floors. He was tall, broad shouldered, and as calm as a mountain. Veyrens very presence seemed as if it could calm the wind. His long brown hair striped with grey locks fluttered the very slightest, but only at the edges. His skin wore the quiet toughness of a stone wielder, small scars mapped his body. He was hardened from the inside out,

Raen looked down focusfully 

"They're hiding something." Raen said eyes locked on the arriving members 

"Good, youre learning to read what is hidden." Veyren moved becide him, arms still clasped behind him.

"Six went out to eliminate a Crimson Dawn outpost in Pyrak'Tor, Look again."

Raen scanned them again. 2 of the returning members wore the Green crest of lightning on their backs, 2 more wore water blue crest's, and 1 wore the fire red crest, but the 6th.......

"..one is missing."

Veyren nodded.

Raen felt all the hairs on his arms and neck rise. "the report said it was a minor outpost, nothing to worry about."

Veyren replied "Thats what the high circle believed,  but clearly they were wrong"

They watched in silence as the members entered the courtyard, greeted with bowed heads and saddened nods. The silence spread through the courtyard. Training slowed, conversations hushed. The lotus could sense death when it returned through their gates.

Raen turned solemly to his master. "The Crimson Dawn...... theyre getting stronger."

That afternoon raen followed Veyren through the long inner corridors of the temple, past meditation chambers and different armories, and through passageways lined with statues carved in the likeness of past lotus councilmen. 

They entered the grand-hall a dome of seamless stone walls and white stained windows stretching from the roof to the floor. At the centre knealt the returning members, their faces still covered in ash. One held a sealed scroll, his hands trembling. 

A darb blue robed man from the water faction stepted forward to take it.

a councilmen spoke. "This account will be judged and entered into archives....Tell us what you faced."

the lead member looked up his eyes once burning with a passionate flame, now flickered with mere sparks of fear.

"They were too quick.... most escaped... but the one who stayed back to face us... wielded flames... they were blood red flames."

"Blood red flames?" the councilman frowned.

the member nodded slowly 

"They were flames but.... they were red"

A hush fell throughout the great hall.

Veyrons face darkened next to raen's The recounting stirred in his expression.

Raen whispered "They're getting close, arent they?"

Veyron did not answer. But the silence confirmed everything.

Later that night Raen stood alone in the lotus archives 

The ancient books and scrolls stretched the endless rows. He held a single volume "The Fifth Veil: Forbidden Elements Forged in The Dark Age" he flipped through the pages, catching glimpses of war illustrations, people wielding grotesque weapons, different rituals. He stopped on one page his heart sinking into a pit in his stomach, 

the page was ripped in half, barely legible, what was visible seemed to make out the shape of a groteque dragon with 2 head's reaching up to the heavens above.

Raen flipped the page once moore to see another drawing.

A sword made of bone and blood. Veins coileing from its hilt and its edge jagged and rough. Below it read

"A Blood Elemental Blade"

Raen closed the book trying to slow his breath.

Suddenly a voice cut through the dark.

"Youll find no comfort within those pages."

 

Raen spun around to see Veyren emerge from the shadows. His expression was completely unreadable.

"I had to know Veyren." Raen said "The Crimson Dawn.... Theyre not just a cult anymore are they?"

"No." Veyren stated "Tonight they were officially declared enemy of the lands."

"Their members are growing by the day and today we saw that they have become quite a formidible force. They see our order not as keepers of balance.... but as tyrants of human limitation."

"And you..." Raen asked "What do you see?"

Veyren looked away.

"I see a war."