《The Demon of Shadows (Hiatus)》Chapter 16
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A silence permeated the room. At its center, a group of 5 people of Human origin lay standing, confused, and perturbed, by the cause of events taking place. Surrounding them, a large group of men and women, cloaked from head to toe in golden cardinal rose robes, were prostated on the ground. Chanting incantations in murmurs as they held their hands in a prayer, eyes sealed.
The room they were set in was contrived from materials of great value, equivalent to a farmers annual income for a decade. The walls painted in a great rufescent vermillion as it persisted along the walls into the ceiling, where a great chandelier took place. Lighting the room with such luminosity and luster that seemed to be on par with the sun. The rest of the room was fitted with furniture that only some could dream of! Great tables and chairs made from the woods founded in the Eastern region, whilst the swords, shields, and armours decorating the room in display cases were evidently crafted by the greatest of craftsman found within the Western region. Their runes, engraved and embedded into the great materials such as Adamantium and Mithril for instance.
The 5 people who stood in the very epicenter of the room, began to take action. Standing up as they looked around in both awe and puzzlement at the surrounding extent of the room. Questions came in one ear and out the other as some studied or scrutinized the environment, whilst others just gaped in complete admiration and wonderment.
Then, as suddenly as they appeared. A voice aged and ancient, boomed out from behind them. Seated on a throne of grandiosity and opulence, an elderly man was clothed in clothes enunciating ‘nobility’. They diverged their heads towards him, staring at him in admiration. But it was not the man himself that caught the small groups attention. It was the crown embedded with rubies and gems of all kinds. A great radiance being emitted from the spectacle before them as he sat, high and mighty, upon his throne. Guards lined his sides as he beamed at them from above, a smile plastering his face.
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“Welcome arrivals! We have summoned you in order to aid this world! And with your help, rid us of those who have tainted this blessed world!”, the decrepit and benevolent voice that came from the living fossils mouth, entered through the ears of the youths who were referred to as arrivals. As perplexed as the rest of the group, stood a lone man, Hunter. He had hazel copper hair, and a chiseled and defined jawline, sporting his well built appearance. His eyes a lustrous verdant green and blue, as he was shielded behind the safety of his armour. Having came from a war ridden world between insurgents and aliens known as covenant, he couldn’t help but be irritated and agitated at the fact that this living fossil thought they would even think about, nor have the obligation to do what that decrepit old man spoke of!
The only memories he bore of his world were ones coated in misery and despair. War, ongoing war. Bloodshed, battle, death. It was an endless cycle and one he would rather not participate in. The only few memories that provided him with comfort were the ones of his friend who had departed from him in pursuit of a method to cure his illness. An illness he was rather not fond of. It induced the victim into a state in which the nervous system began to shut down, affecting his body as a whole. The cure for this illness being not too far from a fortune.
But somehow, just somehow. A few days after his departure, a group of people bearing the UNSC insignia arrived, outside the orphanage, guns in hand, as they seized him from the group. No one daring to resist, he was taken elsewhere to whatever fate they had in store for him.
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But too Hunter’s surprise, he was alleviated of the curse that had bounded him but seconds away from death. Skeptical as to why they would even administer such treatment that was for him but a fortune. He memorized the sight of his friend, leaving, to scour the town in hopes of help. He was flustered that he could even accomplish such a feat being the clutz he was. But as he was musing more around the subject, he was sedated, and taken to a research lab where he underwent augmentation, not meant for a person of 6 years old but still, it was executed thoroughly.
*15 years later*
15 years had passed, after having been positioned at an outpost which name he paid no heed, he had been trained, educated, and supported. His outpost was one of many, but the spartans that inhabited it, were not. He overlooked the interior of the outpost, it was finally time to leave this isolated hell. As he left with the other 50 or so spartans, he was welcomed by the sight of a ‘Condor’. A high classed military vehicle that was suspended barely off the ground with the support of it’s engines, as it awaited their presence. An overall total of 10 spartans per a Condor, left in pursuance of reaching the UNSC Frigate laying so ever high in the titian orange sky.
It’s great size and shape, emitting such majesty and eminence as the collosal of a ship awaited them in pursuit of the Covenant that were distributed among the cosmos.
*Present Day*
Hunter, gritted his teeth. He would never undertake servitude under someone's jurisdiction again, this time, he would have a say. His MJOLNIR Mark 1 Spartan armour, glistened, from the radiance that the chandeleur and candles positioned around the room exuded. In his hand, an Assault Rifle, bearing no ammo, as he proceeded to take out the combat knife in his sheath. But before he became more murderous and battle crazed, he decided he would go for a more passive approach regarding how they were summoned and why, it could be interesting to say the least.
The other 4 in his group, consisted of 2 young women and another 2 men. Both of each side wearing clothes of a foreign descent, not one of his world he knew clearly. They looked up to him, astonished and stunned, instinctively backing away as they saw the grandeur and uneasiness emanate from the battle hardened soldier. The king also now was bewildered as he now began to perceive the area in front of him with the rugged pebbles which were his eyes, and like the rest, he was astonished.
As they awaited in silence, the king spoke once more as the Soldier listened and observed, as focused as one could be after having transcended the limits of a human.
“Welcome to Azrathe! Housed in the great Northern Region on the world of Arcanis!”
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