He sat upon the golden throne within the keep's grand hall Blood pooled beneath marble steps Shadows coiled around his bare feet trailing up the throne like silent serpents Beyond shattered arches the plains burned beneath morning sun Towers smoldered Smoke drifted into pale sky carrying the scent of iron and charred flesh
He looked down upon the corpses scattered across the throne room Nobles in velvet and gold lay twisted upon blood streaked marble Guards in silver plate were shattered against pillars Servants sprawled in silent heaps around fallen banners Shadows rippled across their bodies like a silent tide
He rose Shadows gathered around his shoulders draping down his back like living obsidian Each step down the dais echoed through silent halls He passed the corpses without pause Their wide open eyes reflected the morning sun
He walked out of the keep into the fortress courtyard Shadows flowed before him Soldiers lay in broken ranks Spears snapped Shields split Black tendrils coiled around crumbled towers swallowing war banners into silent oblivion
He walked through shattered gates into open plains Dawn burned hot across golden fields scorched black by his passage The city lay behind him silent and broken Towers burned under rising sun Smoke curled above fractured temples
He continued walking Shadows flowed after him like a living sea Beyond the plains lay the northern mountains Peaks rose sharp and jagged into pale sky Covered in frost and crowned with drifting clouds
He walked toward them Bare feet silent upon scorched earth Shadows rippled with each step whispering secrets in dead tongues Winds howled across barren fields stirring tattered banners from fallen armies
At the foothills of the mountains lay a monastery carved from granite cliffs Its towers rose like silent sentinels above pine forests Monks in white robes moved among stone courtyards ringing morning bells with trembling hands
Ruvan approached Shadows spreading before him like a black tide Monks froze as he entered courtyard gates Bowls fell from their hands Bells swung in silent arcs
He passed them without pause Shadows licked at their robes curling around sandaled feet Monks pressed their faces to cracked stone praying to silent gods
Inside the monastery halls candles flickered upon carved altars Golden icons cast pale light across stone floors Sacred verses etched into marble walls glowed in morning shadows
At the grand altar knelt an elder His hair white Robes embroidered with prayer scripts He raised tearful eyes as Ruvan approached Shadows curled around altar steps
Why Demon Why destroy all hope Why erase what makes us human
Ruvan tilted his head Shadows rippled across cold stone
Hope is the sweetest lie
He raised his hand Shadows exploded outward Wrapping around the elder Lifting him into air Bones cracked beneath silent coils Blood spilled upon sacred verses Shadows sank into carved prayers blackening them into silent void
He turned away walking down candlelit halls Shadows followed devouring prayers and sacred icons Flames guttered and died in silent dark
He exited into mountain winds Snow fell across his bloodstained skin Melting upon shadows rippling around his ankles
He climbed granite steps cut into cliffs Each step rose into pale sky Winds howled across jagged peaks Shadows climbed with him silent and endless
At the summit rose a temple carved into the mountain face Pillars of black stone lined its entrance Braziers burned with flickering blue flame Guarding the temple stood warriors clad in onyx plate Eyes hidden behind obsidian visors Blades etched with sacred verses flashed beneath dawn light
He stopped before them Shadows pooled at his feet Warriors lowered spears in silent defiance
He raised his hand Shadows surged forward Blades swung through darkness Sparks flared before shadows swallowed steel Warriors staggered Shadows coiled around their throats Bones cracked helms split Blood sprayed across black stone
He stepped over their bodies entering the temple Grand halls stretched into mountain darkness Blue flames flickered upon iron sconces Shadows rippled across carved obsidian pillars
At the far end upon a dais sat the High Oracle Her robes were woven from silver threads Crown of sapphire rested upon raven hair Her eyes glowed with pale blue fire
She watched him approach Shadows swirling around his feet
Your darkness is not eternal Shadow King I have seen the end
Ruvan tilted his head Shadows pulsed around him
Show me
She raised her hands Pale light flared Shadows recoiled before searing brilliance Images burned across black stone Cities rising Children laughing Kings kneeling before thrones of justice Dawn spreading upon silent plains unmarked by shadow
Ruvan watched Eyes unblinking Shadows slithered and writhed but did not strike
The Oracle lowered her hands Tears streamed down pale cheeks
This is your end Demon You will fall to hope
Ruvan stepped forward Shadows rippled across the dais He reached out placing his palm against her chest
Hope is a lie
Darkness exploded from his hand Shadows swallowed her light Sapphires cracked Robes blackened Blue flames snuffed into silent ash Her scream shattered stained glass windows High temple walls trembled Shadows pulsed sinking into carved prayers along stone pillars
She fell silent Shadows coiled around her corpse dragging it into silent dark
He turned away exiting into mountain winds Snow fell upon blood streaked steps Shadows flowed behind him like silent mountains
He looked down upon the empire spread beyond smoking plains Towers burned beneath rising sun Temples lay shattered Cities broken Armies crushed
He closed his eyes
Today I burned your gods Today I erased your knowledge Today I slaughtered your kings Today I became your silence
Tomorrow I will become despair etched into your bones
And beyond despair I will teach you oblivion
He opened his eyes Dawn burned across silent mountains Shadows rose behind him like endless walls of darkness The empire trembled below Black tides rippled through shattered cities carrying echoes of silent screams
And they would teach the world silence