Koda stood in the dark cell at the bottom of his own palace. The roots of the Elder Tree wove between the heavy, gray stone walls and the freezing draft of the autumn rain chilled the dungeon floors.

Koda glared with his dark eyes at Tashna who curled in the corner, wrapped in a ragged wool blanket. He squatted down to eye level with the former Div'Rah and tightened his hands around the iron bars as he spat, “I would have you rot in this cell, beaten senseless every day had I had my way.”

Tashna grew a cruel smirk, her eyes flickered between brown and amber

“However, my lords wish for you to be hanged for your crimes. You don’t deserve a swift punishment.”

Tashna’s eyes continued to fade to the dark orange color of the harvest moon.

“Your father was killed in battle, your mother has abandoned you. She will be welcomed in no nation. I shall see to this. Natal will be branded as a rebel, and the bounty on her head will be so high that she’ll be on the run for the rest of her miserable life.”

“You know nothing of my mother… Do not pretend she fears you, little king,” Tashna spat. “Come into this cell if you fancy yourself so mighty.”

Koda snarled, “Your manipulations fall on deaf ears. I have learned much from you, Tashna Stine, and for that I thank you. I considered showing you mercy. I considered having you exiled, but you told me to not show a weak heart to enemies.”

Tashna bolted to Koda. She grabbed him by the shirt and pulled him close to the cell bars. Koda’s head bounced with a rough jerk. Tashna sunk her demonic gaze deep into Koda’s blue eyes. “You vill release me, Mage King!”

Koda’s eyes flared with purple Magi, breaking the spell. He chuckled and caught her by the throat. Tashna gagged and coughed as he curled his fingers tighter around her neck.

“Perhaps I snap your neck right now.” The violet Magi ran black as it flooded his eyes completely. He gritted his teeth. “You would respect me for that, wouldn’t you?”

“K-Kod-a…” Tashna gasped out.

Koda clenched his eyes shut, letting the dark magic flush from his mind. The elven king flung Tashna backwards. “This is what you’ve done to me. You showed me to embrace the darkness in my heart, let it make me stronger,” he growled.

Tashna stumbled to the ground. She rubbed her bruised neck and laughed as well as she could. “You really have changed, Koda. For the better too. Now no one vill valk over you.”

Koda sneered and stormed out of the cell. “You hang at dawn!” he called back.

“They vill remember you vhen you’ve conquered the vorld. They vill remember you!!!” Tashna shouted at the top of her lungs. Her words echoed down the halls, and penetrated deep into Koda’s mind.

They will remember you.

***

“So the seal broke and you were helpless to stop it?” Megan said. Koda’s vernal mage teacher leaned against her cherrywood desk. A large window let in the last of the day’s sunlight into Megan’s office.

Koda sat in a chair in front of Megan, relaying the last few months of his adventurous life, but was sure to omit certain details. “Yes. This ‘Dead of Winter’ took me from Tashna’s clutches to make me watch Dragon Realm Blight’s seal’s destruction.”

“Why, though? What is their endgame?” pondered Megan. The human woman circled back to her own seat. “Perhaps they wish to have a witness for their actions. To let all know we are powerless in the face of their organization.”

Koda could never tell her the truth. He could never tell anyone what really transpired in Sik J’dio Sahde Alanoon. No one would understand. He glanced at his slumbering wolf. No, not even Wildeye could know.

“So the Scorch and Blight seals have been broken. How many remain?” asked Megan.

Koda turned back to his teacher. “Three, I believe. My theory is that there is a seal per realm. I have my guesses where the Cypress one lies, but Stratus and Abyss remain a mystery.”

“What is your next move?” asked Megan. She steepled her fingers and leaned forward.

Koda rubbed the back of his shoulder and let out a long sigh. “Long Whisper enters a new era of peace, order has been restored. I can trust my seven elven lords to lead my nation while I am absent.”

Megan nodded. “I see where this is leading.”

Koda jumped to his feet. “I want to continue my journey as a mage. I want to earn my remaining colors and become a true master!”

Megan walked over to her student and held his shoulder with a firm grip. “Are you sure about this? It will be a hard quest to achieve. There are six more colors to gain, and they each will challenge you to your very core. Turn back now and lead by your throne.”

Koda shook his head.

“Then you must continue to earn your name as the Mage King!”

Inle and Strife knelt before their master, Wraslyn. The vampire lifted Inle’s chin to meet his gaze.

“You have learned much in these last few years, now you serve as an accomplished hydro shroud to Strife,” Wraslyn said.

“Yes, Master. I am ready to guard him, but if I may ask… why am I needed as a shroud instead of the Silent Master?”

Wraslyn gave Inle a kind smile. “Because you will not just watch over my blue mage, but my soon-to-be apprentice as well.”

“Apprentice, Master?”

“Koda,” hissed Strife.

“Yes, I shall send you and Strife to guide him through his new journey to become a Master Mage.”

“But…” Inle paused in confusion, “Will he not recognize me?”

Wraslyn pulled a pendant from his pocket and draped it over Inle’s neck. Once adorned, the pendant gave a faint glow and transformed Inle’s skin into a peach color and his hair went from a deep purple to black.

A shadowy tendril pulled a hand mirror from the smokey floor. Inle grabbed it in astonishment, grazing his face. “How—how could this be?”

“A glamor charm, Inle. You will take the appearance of a forest elf, but you will still be a shadow elf. No one shall be the wiser lest you lose that pendant,” Wraslyn explained. Sable and Calsoon approached from behind. “Now go, prepare yourselves for your journey and bring me Koda when the time comes.”

“As you say, Master Wraslyn,” Strife whispered.

They both sank into the ground leaving the vampire alone with Sable and Calsoon.

Wraslyn took his seat at a throne behind him. Dressed in a fine black jacket garnished with crimson rubies and golden buttons. His platinum wavy hair was slicked back and his pale, cream-colored face looked down upon his two servants. He narrowed his golden eyes with interest. “You have done as I asked,” he said with his satin smooth voice.

Sable looked up. “Yes, Lord Wraslyn. The Blight seal is no more and Koda shall seek you out for guidance.”

Wraslyn flashed a wicked smile. “Excellent. Rise, the both of you.” Wraslyn waited for his two servants to stand. “I have another task for you, Sable.”

Sable bowed. “Anything for you, my master.”

“I need you to seek out the Celestial Seal of Dragon Realm Abyss,” Wraslyn said.

“It shall be done,” repsoned Sable. She bowed once more and vanished into the wall of darkness.

Calsoon watched as Sable’s form disappeared before turning back to Wraslyn. “Koda knows my truth, but has told others that I perished at the hands of Tashna. I think he can be trusted.”

Wraslyn placed his hand on Calsoon’s shoulder. “You have done well, my demon spy. You have brought me Ryjin, you have brought me Inle, and now you bring me Koda.”

Calsoon nodded with a smile. “I owe you this much, Master.”

Wraslyn held out his hand. “But you have brought me something else?”

Calsoon’s eyes lit up. “Ah yes, the library! I have the parchment you sent me to find.” He pulled out a small scroll from his belt. “The it is titled ‘Sik Odek Dalm’na’.”

Wraslyn accepted the scroll with a gleeful smile. “And do you know what that translates to, my dear Calsoon?”

“The Coming of Destruction.”

Wraslyn nodded. “Wintertide.”