Up until that point, it had all been going so well. Perfect, even. Rowyn began to freeze up - his throat felt tense. The smoke, my god.. the smoke. Black and choking. No ordinary fire. Nothing like that existed in the ordinary world. Nothing could burn his city like that.. it was magic. The shadow must have known. It must have known what he'd been researching. What he'd come so close to perfecting. All of which, had been in there. In his study. All of it.. on fire and gone.
Rowyn began to sprint. Panicked. Unable to do anything - feeling helpless. He ran like his life depended on it, screaming.
" Help! You MUST help! Holme is on fire! Sanctuary burns! " Rowyn would shout, sweat on his face trickled down his porcelain and usually well-kept skin.
The people of bray began to turn, heads - curiosity sparked in their faces. They knew of him. His position in the city. The call for buckets and heroes ringing out.
" Malidorne is burning! MY CITY IS BURNING! " He bellowed, too panicked to answer the calls to calm down from those close. It was happening too fast. He couldn't wait. He had to run. He had to save his life's work -- his only last remnant of all those who had left him. Who had died. His city. HIS home.
He turned, running from the gates -- damn it all, if only he'd prepared the right spells. Spells that had more use.. the only thoughts trailing through his head as his frame pelted through drowse forest. he heat and smoke growing thicker -- his chest screaming out to him to stop, a stitch hitting him hard - yet he pressed on.
Now he saw people. Some had come to help - but the fire blocked them. He had no time to trace faces. He had to save Malidorne. Thamior. Strife -- oh gods, the druids -- All of it now. He heard the screaming.
Scenes of utter chaos as magic fire spread mercilessly, people running the grounds at every turn in frighted panic -- In the tree-tops he heard shouting, as rangers and druids both combated what they could of the flames - whilst arrows let fly with the occasional sound of magic discharge further away still.
Rowyn clenched a fist, the other drawing his wand - letting loose all hell as he summoned a large sphere of ice. Just in time, as he quenched the fire before him -- allowing him time to move. No time for a victory dance - he jolted to the relics vault, . Several fledgling druids accompanied by Thamior, the leader of Siannoden stood guard as he approached.
" Thamior, you must leave this place! Holme is lost, and I will not loose you all to this damnable fire! I will retrieve it. Do not delay! You must flee! " Rowyn shouted, Thamior did naught but stay fast, looking at him stern.
" Rowyn, grab the sapling! Our lives are forfeit if not for this. The fledglings have sworn it. You must escape with it - Malidorne wished it as her frame burned! " Thamior would reply, turning quickly to stomp down her gnarled and ancient staff - The shadow himself had found his attention on the group, but Thamior had entangled it with a group of protruding vines. She turned to the fledglings ordering them to escape - the last thing Rowyn would see as he dashed up the carved stairs, towards the highest chamber.
It was there - thank the GODS it was there! Rowyn thought, quickly and carefully grabbing the sapling - it's delicate golden leaves and white oak were a sight to behold to any. It was all that mattered. It mattered more than Rowyn. It was the only hope for his people now.
A scream could be heard from below, as well as a discharge of lightning - followed by a dark and decrepit voice. Rowyn listened intently, peering over the stairs to see a armored and masked figure, it's blade steadfast within the lifeless corpse of Thamior.
" No.. Gods no.. " Rowyn would whisper, turning pale. The shadow himself was here. The shadow himself..
Rowyn had little choice, or the clarity to think of the weight of what he did next - charging out and muttering his most powerful spell.
" Meteor swarm! " He bellowed, wand outstretched as he caught the shadow off-guard, sending the creature back - not even scratching it still. It was an escape tactic - and one that had worked! thought rowyn, as he began to run past him.
" You dare try? You are nothing - foolish elf. This place is lost - and this is just the beginning. " The shadow hissed, his speed unmatched as he suddenly came upon Rowyn, swooping him upwards as he would go flying - his frame hitting several branches before it fell - a circle of fire around him. The force was too much.. Rowyn began to strain his conscience.
So many had died today. Women. Children. Friends.. Teachers.. they all died on his watch. In a city he had sworn to protect -- after all this time he was nothing. One attack from the shadow, enough to defeat him.
Rowyn crawled - he saw faces.. Ileleste.. Phyyra.. Was he to die? No - he must deliver the sapling. Not until this was given to them, would he die..
A sharp pain pierced the back of his robes and neck - strong hands picked him up. Voices - the shadows -- he was saying something. He could barely focus.. but it was then he knew. His end was soon.
Thinking his end close, violent images of all his ties began to play -- his last memories powerful. Meaningful.
Briona.. be strong.
Faldor.. protect her. I'm sorry I could not protect you.
Ileleste.. my friend.
Eira..
Jhulia..
Strife--
All the pained memories. The mortal aspects of his life flashing around him. He knew this was his end. He knew he wouldn't come back from this. That all of it meant nothing now. That everything he fought for could in the end be taken away..
Curse you shadow..
curse.. you..
And then he was thrust into the flames, the pain unbearable.. the burning both magic and physical.
He screamed -- The pain - so bad he would have rather died.. the pain was like nothing he'd ever experienced.. a white hot pain in his head - stinging away all consciousness - until there was nothing.
it all faded..
it all went to black..
Rowyn held the sapling in upon his chest, gripping it tightly over heart.
As the shadow dissipated, the last thing he would hear was the screaming of those who had watched the scene, and the bright magical flames violent hiss would fade to silence..