Prologue
Great shadows spread across the ground as broad wings blocked out the sun. The ground shook as Balrog’s hoof-like feet landed, cracking and buckling the ground. High above him, Balrog’s old master hovered, resurrecting the others who, in the distant past, terrorized Ossyria. Pink Bean, Horn Tail, Papulatus, and Ergoth all stood below the Black Mage, awaiting orders or giving thanks for their new life. Descending from the skies above The Sleeping Wood, he drove his palms down with an ethereal growl. Black power burrowed through the water, churning it violently. Dark colors flashed as explosions erupted from far below the surface. Waves crashed against the beach as the giant fish Pianus surfaced.
Even from the distant continent of Ossyria, the ancient warrior Aran watched with a conquered sigh. The power permeating the air made him feel sick. Behind him, the Empress Cygnus and her knights stood watching the horrifying sight unfold with defeat in their eyes.
“I’ve failed us all. I could not stop the Black Wings. I was unable to prevent the occupation of Edelstein or Victoria. And now this.” Cygnus whimpered, tucking a part of her mass of golden hair behind her ear. The Chief Knight Mihile set his gauntlet on her shoulder.
“You did everything possible, Empress. Don’t blame yourself,” he soothed. Chief Knight Hawkeye chuckled with a sneer and shook his head, leaning against a tree.
“Yeah, like you could do any better, sunshine.” Mihile reached for his sword, stopped by the elegant archer Chief Knight Irena. The youngest of them, Chief Knight Oz, brushed back the hood of her blazing red cloak and glared at Hawkeye.
“If you weren’t so busy playing around all the time, Hawkeye, we might have stopped Eleanor sooner.” She shouted, instantly making Hawkeye pick up his weight and stand with his shoulders drawn back.
“’Scuse me? You’re blaming all’o this on me? What about you? You’re the one always complaining that your powers are too weak to do anything!”
“Enough! Calm yourself,” Irena scolded, stepping between them.
“Fighting amongst ourselves will accomplish nothing. The Black Mage has risen, yes. We all failed to prevent it, yes. For now, we must return to Herb Town and ensure that everyone is safe. We may have put down a scouting party of Skelegon, but who is to say The Black Mage or the Wings haven’t accounted for it?” Aran listened to the angry words of the Knights; many hundreds of years ago, he and the other Heroes had argued in the very same manner once they learned of Minerva’s death. When something moved within his peripheral vision, Aran turned to see his daughter Lillianne and Chief Knight Eckhart. When Cygnus caught sight of her knight, she called to him.
“Eckhart, report.” As he turned around, he took the mask from his face and pinched the bridge of his nose. A cool breeze weaved through the trees, playing with her light blue-and-white dress.
“There is no end to his power. I couldn’t get a close enough look to see who had freed him.” Eckhart said, watching in shame the events unfolding before them.
“You did what you could, Eckhart. ” Cygnus assured as the other knights came over and watched a dark light pulsing from the center of Victoria Island. Aran hung his head.
"Was our sacrifice after all this time for nothing?" he thought to himself, leaning against a nearby tree and resting his forehead against his arm. As the thought dampened his spirit, a long-forgotten memory came to him.
“There is still one hope for this world,” Aran announced.
“What do you mean? There is no more hope for this world.” Cygnus asked. Still, she let herself feel some hope at the prospect of some salvation.
“Yes, there is. The Five Masters of Ossyria. Don’t you remember? We sent them to another world to keep four of the five Crystals away from the Black Wings. We could bring them back, and they could use the power of the crystals to defeat him.” Aran explained, speaking faster with each word. At the mention of the masters, Cygnus’s shoulders dropped as the hope in her heart died away.
“Aran, we sent them to that world almost twenty years ago. Grendal himself even said that living there is far less hazardous than here in Ossyria. They might all need retraining, or started families. Time may move differently in that world. It may have been a century or more for all we know.” Cygnus argued, but Aran still insisted.
“Yes, it may have been many years ago, but we have to try. Otherwise, we truly will be without all hope. Once we return to Herb Town, I will go and retrieve them.” He said. Cygnus pursed her lips and lowered her brow, wanting to believe that Aran was right. Reluctantly, she nodded in agreement.
“I hope you’re not wrong, Aran.”
