The taste of ash and death surrounded the town of Soulguard, and a mere sniff to the air brought up the stench of smoldering suffocating sulfur. Fire blazed in all directions throughout the town as the sight of dead and dying was to all angles of the eye. A tall sinister creature took the lives of the brave men guarding the town with as much effort as squashing a bug, following him were short dwarven looking followers that flooded devastation behind him like a rush of water, setting the town a flame and ending battle cries and shouts of mercy to those still alive. Nature aided where she could, pouring down rain from the mixed cover of black smoke and dark cloud with no success, and as lightning flashed through the air vision to all saw the horrific nightmare of the unforeseen conflict not going well.

His boots sank into the mud, followed by his knees along up to his face as he fell to the deep puddle at the end of the dirt steps, his mud buried vision made out a figure approaching back at him with haste.

“Hurry Cloud keep up” the figure bolted and turned with two little ones cradled in his arms keeping pace with another.

“Right away father” the boy coughed sucking himself out from the mud increasing his pace to match. Into crowds of people, he slalomed through the dead and alive, crying and dying, but stopped to see a girl no older than him, covered in blood not from her own body was she clinched in a protective curl to a man half covered by her cape. It must have been her father by her protective actions to conceal him from the world, her face held a broken look of defeat and fear as she gazed around, terrorized by the sounds of pain and battle. Cloud realized that he must have been dead for a short while, he held out his arm, extended like a branch toward her. He looked at her and then to her arms that held cuts and scrapes from some attack earlier on, he noticed a dangling golden bracelet draped to her dainty wrist and held tightly to her palms was an elven bow that must have belonged to him. Cloud went close to her but she curled even tighter at his approach, “I won’t hurt you but we must go, come with me” Cloud replied but the girl shook her head, “I can’t leave him alone” she cried back half scared to speak

“You cannot help him now, he is past healing aid by herbs and what he requires is not capable in this town”

Staring to him the girl saw Cloud with a warm welcomed intension, she looked to Cloud and then to the man, Cloud knew it was hard for her to leave…he must have been someone very close to her. “I never knew him…but I know he would’ve wanted you to survive, to be something great…he will always be with you” Cloud said softly extending again his hand.

Lifting his arm to shed his finger of a ring, the young girl looked to the warrior’s eyes raining her fingers across his face and staring intently at his body. She recalled the final slashes to his chest that echoed in her mind as she remembered him telling her to stay hidden, and rehearsed his words “Don’t be afraid Alise, it’s going to be alright” were his final dying breaths, tears appeared to her eyes as she gripped his blood soaked chest starting to cry.

“Please come back to me I can’t live in this world alone…not yet”. Cloud came over at a slow pace and picking her up did he take her to the shade of a near by cabin, “Who was he? …Do you have any where to go?” he asked and looking at him with a glaze to her eyes did she grip him tight to a hug, not even noticing the shaded figure to his back approaching.

“It was her watcher boy and she now will be coming with me” a figure horsed deeply commanded, Cloud scanned quick to the cabin side and picking up a pitch fork leaning to the wall Cloud turned bolting “You’ll have to get through me first!” with his body put in front if the girls for protection.

Laughing quietly he moved his sword to his riding hand, lifting his hood to reveal his face.

“Duncan!” the girl sparked running to the horse, brightly in a soft deep voice she heard the words from his lips “It is good to see you alive Alisianna…riding here I saw the remains of your fallen guardian and feared the worst, are you all right, are you injured?” Duncan spoke worried looking at the blood clotted on her clothes, she shook her head “good” he replied, “Then to add some light to your dark world let me show you something” and he lifted his cape that was draped over the horse’s rear to reveal a boy clinched to his waist.

“Aries” she said happily at her brother’s sight and turning to Cloud with the farm fork still in his hands Alisianna explains, “This is Duncan, my brother’s watcher and this is my brother Aries”.

“Only one who is strong in skill would have the confidence to think he could unhorse a veteran knight” Duncan paused “you hold the look of him, and indeed the strength of his blood runs through you. You must be Dalamar’s son Cloud aren’t you?”

“I am” Cloud said lowering the weapon slowly

“Well, continue down this path of courage Cloud and I’ll be looking for you to take my place young knight”

Duncan takes the hilt of his sword and presses it to his forehead bowing slightly. Cloud returns with a nod and Duncan sheaths his sword, holding out his hand for Alisianna to grab, she reaches for it but pauses. Quickly she runs over to Cloud and kisses him on the cheek then runs back to take Duncan’s hand. Lifting her up to place her firmly to his back they ride past Cloud with her waving to him as they went. “I thank you for your kindness Cloud…I will never forget you” she yelled to him as she blows him a kiss, a small grin rises to his face as he watches them disappear to the darkness.

Shaking his head back to the present a striking thought beams to him again of his parents. Cloud leaps over logs and through fiery openings leading to his home, he can start to make out the sounds of blades clinging against each other and his pace quickens as he reaches the gates of his home. To his surprise was the gate bashed open as if it had been hit with a huge hammer, walking to the opening and putting his hand through the bent bars Cloud recoiled his hand, “The wards have been removed” Cloud said in wonderment to who could be more powerful than the combined strength of his parents who put them there. He hears the scream of a woman and runs to the back of the house following the clashing weapons, his feet take him to the open field in the back where Cloud watches a battle rages between his father and a sinister looking monster.

With a serious focus, his eyes pierced the mortals he fought, striking upon them with a dark sense that would reveal all skills they knew. The outer rim of the eyes beamed with an intense indigo aura and adding to his terror was the fine curved obsidian horns arched aggressively to his skull. A Minotuar he was as he held a thundering height of eight feet, all of his body was made of a normal human except his head that held the look of a bull. Brownish black coarse bristled fur landscaped to his body from head to feet, and with such a look held a muscular build that could bring down a giant without issue barehanded. His arms and legs held a circumference only a well-aged tree could match, and to his tight gripping palms were twin battle-axes that wielded like a pair supper forks. He held a form too dark to take from any known nightmare and such a sight topped off with a sinister smile that to any who held its look would agree his mind held massive intellect.

Turning with pride Cloud focused his vision to his father, clashing hard to a blade lock the Drow stood against him, two feet shorter but even with unbalanced height did the bull not hold sway in the power struggle. The Drow fought the beast even in strength and as he pressed, back in challenge his deep gray sweated hair sit half draped to his face. He glared back at the bull with his sharp sight with one eye holding a fireball style scar across it from previous battle. Cloud had seen many after made encounters, and such a scare never slowed his will or skill. A hooded cloak that was deep black in color embraced over his armor, a shinny silver toned scale-breasted plate mail with a tinged of blue light radiating from it. His gauntlet covered hands grasped firmly to a two-handed sword with a sparkling silver blade and a demon headed hilt.

Fixed on the battle that seemed to go on forever, Cloud focused his eyesight to a distant detail leaning against a tree base, his mother. Side legged to its thick base holding her right bat like wing did he marked out her physique into his mind. She had blood red permed hair curtained across one half of her face which to him could only be described as goddess like features, the resonance off her soft milky skin would start to hurt his own eyes if he looked to long and her deep amber eyes held any aggressive soul at bay. Her skin was a light olive color which was from the incased demonic curse laid upon her body she endured in the past, for a succubus she was in full sight. Baring the blood of a deadly demon that used lust and passion to kill male champions of good, but with her mother barring life before the curse was upon her body was her mind free to the hate of men, especially every time her eyes were touched by the sight of her children. She was wearing a corset shaped top that formed down across her hourglass figure and continued halfway past her thigh’s, which ended in a skirt made up of scales. Finally, around her neck hanging down in the cleavage of her breasts was a star sapphire jewel.

Lifting her head like an eagle she seen her son and in a blink of an eye she phased into a puff of smoke appearing beside him, hugging him like she hadn’t seen him in years she pulled away and checked him for injuries, and seeing no harm to him she smiled. Removing the jewel around her neck she then passed it to his while disappearing again into smoke with him away as well, appearing to the inner sight of their stables Cloud`s shown to a location where his younger brother Rain and infant sister Dawn reside. Placing Cloud near them she turns to the stable wall and with her demonic sight peers through to observe the battle, contently seeing her husband alive and sparing strong she turns again to Cloud

“Cloud, I need you to do something for your father and I ok can you do this” she says to Cloud whose face starts to fill with coldness as he nods his head “ I need you to look after your sister and brother until this threat is gone ok” she softly says

“But… But your coming right back right, who is that guy?” Cloud asks with an ill feeling.

“His name is of no concern. He just came for something your father and I weren’t going to part with” she reassured him smiling, Cloud grabs her to a hug and pulling himself close embeds his head to her chest “Don’t leave mother please” Cloud weeps out and closing her eyes does she stroke his head softly with a touch that calms him in an instant. Pulling his head up does she see the watery stare on his face, and fighting to be strong for wishing to do it herself does she hug him close again

“Hey... Hey it’s going to be ok, when has there been a challenge your father and I couldn’t beat huh” Cloud shrugs “This is just in case, but you promise to me what I told you ok” she replies with a cracked up voice as she wipes the tears from his face.

“I promise mother” Cloud strains from his hurting lungs

“That’s a good boy,” she says softly and no longer able to hold them back do the tears now run down her face,

“We love you so much and we’ll always be with you” she ended kissing him upon his head and lips, she goes to Rain and kissing him the same does she repeat it to the baby she only gave to the world months ago.

Turning one more time to Cloud she looks with a look of sadness and fear “If that man comes near you I want you to take that stone and throw it on the ground as hard as you can ok” Cloud nods and she rains her hand across his face as she phases from sight to again help her husband.

She appears out to see Dalamar pushed to the ground after being in a moment of a blade combat with the Minatare’s weapons. Conjuring a blue bolt to her hand she throws it at him, the attack blocked by a dark energy bolt that erupts from his hand bringing Laurona still shocked from the reaction.

“Surprise, I beat you didn’t think I had that in me did you, so how are the children, reassured they’re safety I hope; told them that mommy & daddy would beat this threat” He responds laughing

“Laurona go to the children, keep them safe and secure” Dalamar gasps as he clutches his side; “Only after you are” Laurona states coming to his side not taking her eyes off the beast, the bull fakes a weep “That’s just so touching, I think I’m going to cry” with a sniffle to his tone.

“Go to hell Griffon you’re not getting what you came here for” Laurona blasted to him and laughing loudly he looks to her “Oh I’m sorry you said Griffon, nope no Griffon here better TRY AGAIN!!” he ends with a demonical shudder change in his voice.

“It’s Colossus,” Dalamar suggests

“It can’t be he’s dead,” Laurona corrects

“Dismembered me from my physical form yes but killed, you weren’t even close to having enough power, and after I finish you off your hidden little maggots well be next” Colossus shouted then suddenly and calmly snapped “oh about that comment regarding hell, it is a lot harder to get to the top of that hole than you might think”

“Then allow me to send you on a one way barge right to the pit” Dalamar commanded hastily to his feet and lunged into battle, joining in without hesitation was he followed by his wife into a skirmish that seemed to yield no hope, every spell thrown by Laurona was blocked and every blade swing by Dalamar was countered. A pause in battle occurred as they tried to retrieve a solution from their minds to solving the mystery of his massive increased strength and power as well as the skills to use them so flawlessly.

Catching her breath Laurona quizzed “I see you have improved since our last encounter Colossus”, smiling Colossus replied as he gazed to her beautiful lushes figure.

“You merely needed to ask, you see after our first encounter I decided unwaveringly to adjust my tactics, to incorporate not only magical mastery but combat as well so I took over this illed willed cow leader, killed off his clan and used the brute to collect souls for the blood strength to maximize in magic and combat ability. To an end of finally over powering my rivals”

While Colossus spoke to the couple Laurona gripped the staff she had overloading it with energy, throwing it like a spear it hit Colossus’s chest plate and blasting as it hit did all his magical defenses leave at once while the concussive blast blew him into a tree that up rooted. Landing a distance in the field, his face grinds in the dirt to a descending stop. Laurona who was also blown some feet away spread out her wings to shield Dalamar from the blast as it erupted toward them, scalping herself from all hair to her head and melting the skin down to the very bone upon her face did Laurona land hard to the dirt from the potent impact. Getting to her feet Laurona saw Colossus through lidless sight already to his own, but held a shuddering stability.

Knowing he would recover quickly Laurona already felt her skin regenerating and hair, growing back, she was a succubus but as it came to knowledge well, she was an immortal as well with only one weapon in power to end her life. She got to the air and flew to Dalamar drawing her blade; her lidless sight that was almost fully-grown back took sight of Colossus teleporting back before she could reach him. Colossus appeared in front of Dalamar and dropping one axe Colossus picked Dalamar up by the throat, while boomeranging the other axe toward Laurona’s flying arrival. It slammed to her gut driving her to the ground, but in the toss, Colossus did not see the spell launched at him, which cracked across his neck to a gapping wound that did not seem to make him flinch. Forcing the blade from her gut the wound healed rapidly and gazing to Colossus Laurona changed her tactics. She released a dagger with a poison tip the held potency enough to end even him and with the sight of his skull to her eyes Laurona lunged to a low torpedo like flight.

Dalamar kicked Colossus in the gut and playing along Colossus leaned over as if injured, Dalamar reached for his sword lying beside him and taking it to his grasp thrusted straight at the bull. Colossus shifted his body to the right and Dalamar’s sword embedded into flesh but having her stop in mid flight Dalamar froze to a horrid look as his blade struck in to the torso of his beloved wife. Colossus lifted his head with a grin and shoved Laurona off the sword blade to the mud.

“NOOOOOOOOO!!!!” Dalamar screamed until his breath was gone and laughing intensely Colossus smirked

“I figured that the only blade capable of keeping her dead was yours, thanks for the assistance partner” and with haste to his motion Colossus tipped the sword from Dalamar’s hand into his own embedding it through Dalamar’s chest plate. Dalamar felt the cold steel run through him but all he could see was his love on the ground with the wound she now had that he knew wouldn’t close. Throwing him down next to Laurona Colossus turns around to stare at them both, bleeding to death they were, satisfied with the sight Colossus motioned a stretch, cracking his back.

“Now where are those children” Colossus thought half ignoring the presence of the two while rubbing his neck that now began to heal from his own magical power, thinking for a moment and baring a quick thought he walked to the house.

Hearing no more noise Cloud peaks his head around the stable door to the open field to view his parents on the ground, seeing them on the ground with blood all around Cloud bolts to the site and following him with shaking arms as he held their baby sister Rain followed.

“Mom … Dad” Cloud quivery spoke seeing them lying there barley moving, forcing themselves both parents arched to a upright posture, Laurona took Rain to her arms and with her wings wrapped them around him tightly crying as she looked to Dawn’s crying face. Dalamar took Cloud to his grasp and hugged him firm “Son, the task must fall on you to keep safe your siblings like your mother asked, can you do it.” Cloud nods with Dalamar smiling as a tear runs down his cheek “Good boy” he says patting Clouds cheek. The children switch spots hugging the other parent and as they did were the hands of the parents tightly gripped to each others love.

“Know that we lov-(cough…cough) love you very much, we have to part from you but I promise it won’t be forever. While we are gone always remember that everything you do in life will be right to you if you are true to you heart” Laurona says smiling to them all and then to Dalamar, passing along final kisses to them all, the loves look to one another. Laurona kisses Dalamar with a final breath in pledge to their love and slowly do they both fall to the ground blanketing there arms over their children. Cloud sees an explosion come from the house and the roof erupts in flames.

Colossus emerges from the fiery flames and in panic at seeing the bull appear Cloud shakes his fathers arm “Father he is still here and he’s burning the house” Rain looks at his father’s lifeless face and hears Dawn again starting to cry.

“Father he is still here you have to make him leave, Father! Please! Please get up” Cloud whispers kneeling over onto his father’s chest starting to cry. Rain crawls up to his mother’s side and wraps her arm around his body as if to hide from the dark giant approaching them. Cloud turns around and looks at Colossus who beams upon them his dreaded sight “Leave…Leave us alone” Cloud says coming to a stand with unseen courage

“On contraire my little one I made your parents a promise and I plan on keeping it” Colossus said in a dark voice as lighting erupted from his eyes.

“Get out of here, your evil” Cloud spattered at him

“Didn’t you learn never to talk to the unknown without permission?” Colossus grinned

“My father told me never to be afraid of anything that threatens me, that such a being is angry about me being alive and living better than they are, and jealous because of it”

“And so true are those words little one, for as long as you breathe the air I can be defeated or so the prophecy says, but as of this moment that issue is one that I can bring to a close”

Terrified beyond belief Cloud turns his head away and toward his mother, if he comes near you I want you to take that stone and throw it on the ground as hard as you can Cloud replays to his mind. Cloud takes the necklace off and throws in to the ground creating a blinding flash that makes Colossus shield his eyes. Colossus stops his casting and looks to the remnants of smoldering ground where they were and in a single thought of understanding what happened Colossus broke to a raging growl.

“A RECALL STONE! Damn that bitch of a witch!” Colossus snarled then gazed to the sky “Mark my words I will finish what I have started and no member of the Blackblade family will stop me!!” he shouts out raising his arms toward the sky as lightning flashes behind him casting a image of terror and fear from his unending evil and power.

Arriving from the bright flash to a stone chamber Cloud, Rain, and baby Dawn remorse over the loss of their parents that accompanied them, hearing voices coming from the corridor outside the room Cloud runs to his father’s side and grabs the sword. Unable to lift the hilt of the blade he calls Rain over to help him raise it into the air, whipping his eyes Rain complies as he places the bundle his sister was in tightly to Laurona’s arm.

The footsteps get louder and louder until they stop outside the door; Rain and Cloud hold perfectly still and wait only a moment as the door explodes open to the left side of the stone. Five men rush in, Drowish in characteristics and the lead figure comes to a stone stop, a metallic ring rings out from his sword as it hits hard to the ground, and following his blade in pursuit the leader dropped to his knees in front of the children. With wavy parted light grey hair his cape folded upon the ground, the man had a shoulder shield strapped to his left arm and it matched in color to his cape and armor that was black with silver trimming. His skin was dark like light colored coal and his eyes were narrow like an eagle’s; his jaw was broad and so was all of his features to his face and body, and for a dark elf was he a towering five foot nine inches in height. His physique bared the look of a veteran worrier and scares were upon his hands and face from long ago battles. Cloud holds strong to the hilt having the blade aimed to the man that bared no attack.

“Dalamar…Brother “the man says as his face turns white and sick, footmen to his back follow suit in a bow to the fallen Captain and his wife, and looking up through the show of respect did the lieutenant watch the leader crawling like a toddler up to the feet of the boys. With his arms open and limp the Captain raised them out ward like a beggar at the direction of Dalamar’s body; he was able to muster one word that came out only in a faint whisper “who”.

“C-Colossus” Cloud crackly pronounced

“Star” The leader says getting the attention of his lieutenant who jumped to his feet “Get me two soul stones from the cathedral, quickly!”

“But Lord Straud you need permission from high priest May…“

“Now” yells Straud with heat upon his words, “Y-Y-Yes sir” the footman says half startled and takes off running out the room

“The rest of you get these children some food and drink as well as blankets,” the Captain ordered and looking to the children again the Captain bowed in request to take the blade from their hands,

“My young gems, I am Straud…your uncle, it wasn’t to be long after this time that we were to be introduced as a family,” he said softly and looking to his fallen brother Straud closed his eyes

“I now bare the task of your safety”

“That job is mine, given to me by my father” Cloud said sternly and the Captain looked upon the boy with a bow “Forgive me young master, please permit me the task of it. To train you and your siblings to accomplish the act” Straud ends with pleading words; Cloud looks to Rain who through his tears nods in agreement.

“Alright” Cloud says still suspicious to the Captain’s actions and then bares a question “what is a soul stone?”

“It is a device that will house your parents’ spirits to keep them out of Colossus’s reach. For he wishes to use such energy to add to his own power and such an act to such good souls I can not allow”

Straud explains as he leans over to kiss the cheek of Laurona, Straud then whispers,” I will teach them wisdom, patience and love” kissing the forehead of Dalamar he whispers” I will teach them strength, courage and strong will”

Running back to the room returns the footman with the stones as well and a very angry priest in his wake. Holding the normal look to a Drow cleric the long yellow colored robes sweep just above his feet, the robe had no sleeves and down both of the priests’ arms were holy symbols adhered to his training and teachings like tattoos in similarity, accenting off his green eyes and jet-black hair. His skin was a burnt grey color. Matching it was his mood at the time which was less then pleasant, entering the room the high priest demanded to know what is going on but upon seeing the sight on the ground he changes his tone “Did he do this” Maylor questioned, the high priest who was titled Arbiter for his position of power in the clan.

“Yes” Straud replied putting to his arms the body of Laurona.

“Follow me “Maylor responded taking to his arms the enfant child Dawn and lead them to the cathedral, the lieutenant took hold of Dalamar’s body and the boys followed in their father’s trail.

Captain Straud and the elders of the Clan cremated the two bodies in a beautiful ceremony, and after the fire had gone out were the children taken to morn their loss in peace as well as protection. The elders had one last order of business to attend to which was to follow the final wishes of the children’s mother. Laurona had been working on a very powerful protection spell for the better part of her and Dalamar’s years but one ingredient was missing, there essences. Taken down to the fire forge they were equipping. The elders took the ashes of the parents and molded them into an amulet created by Laurona herself, after the magical words uttered, the amulet imbued itself with an emanating bluish white humming glow and divided using a magical hammer to three parts that from that moment on placed to the neck of each child.