The sky above Arcandor shimmered with a perpetual twilight, a canvas of swirling purple and gold that gave the land its ethereal beauty. At the heart of this magical realm stood Eldrin's tower, a spiraling structure of crystal and stone. It rose high above the clouds, its surface reflecting the starlit skies. Within its walls, Eldrin, the guardian of Arcandor and protector of the balance of magic, paced with a furrowed brow.
A sudden shift in the fabric of magic had reached him like a ripple through still water. It was as if the land itself whispered of Malifax's treachery. Eldrin turned to his desk, where a silver orb rested on a pedestal. Waving his hand over it, he muttered an incantation. The orb glowed, revealing the image of a dark forest and five small, white shapes darting through its shadows.
Eldrin's eyes darkened. "Malifax," he murmured. "You've gone too far this time."
---
Keth, the Uninvited Advisor
The soft flapping of wings broke Eldrin's concentration. A sleek, black raven with gleaming feathers swooped into the room, landing on the edge of the desk. It cocked its head at Eldrin, its beady eyes glinting with mischief.
"Ah, Keth," Eldrin said, a weary smile tugging at his lips. "I assume you've come to offer your unsolicited opinions again?"
Keth fluffed his feathers, clearly offended. "Unsolicited? Really, Eldrin, where would you be without my sage advice?" He hopped closer, inspecting the glowing orb. "Hmm. Malifax, is it? That scoundrel is always up to no good. I told you we should've banished him years ago."
Eldrin shook his head, a faint chuckle escaping him despite the gravity of the situation. "And you think banishing a wizard with such powers would've been easy?"
Keth puffed up his chest. "Easy? No. Necessary? Absolutely."
The raven's sharp tone faded into a quieter concern as he remembered the image of the mouse family in the orb. "They're vulnerable, Eldrin. You know Malifax won't stop until he's crushed them."
Eldrin's expression hardened. "That's why we must act quickly."
---
The Decision to Intervene
Eldrin waved his hand over the orb, dispelling the image. He moved to a shelf lined with ancient tomes, pulling one down with practiced ease. Its leather-bound cover was embossed with the crest of the Celestial Crown. As he flipped through the pages, his voice grew grave.
"The Celestial Crown's power is not something that should be wielded by anyone, let alone Malifax. If he succeeds in mastering it…" Eldrin paused, his jaw tightening. "He could unravel the balance of Arcandor. The consequences would be catastrophic."
Keth hopped onto the edge of the book, peering at the illustrations. "And you're certain the Crown is involved in this? Malifax has been ambitious, but this is... extreme, even for him."
"I'm certain," Eldrin replied. "The ripple I felt wasn't just magic—it was a corruption, a distortion of the Crown's essence. Malifax has found a fragment of it, and he's using its power to fuel his dark spells."
Keth tilted his head. "So, what's the plan, oh wise and powerful guardian?" Eldrin closed the book with a decisive snap. "We find Galen and his family before Malifax does. They'll need protection if they're to survive."
"And Malifax?" Keth asked, his tone laced with curiosity.
Eldrin's eyes flickered with determination. "We'll deal with him when the time comes."
---
Eldrin reached for his staff, an elegant creation of silver and oak, its tip glowing with a soft, golden light. With a flick of his wrist, he summoned his cloak, its deep blue fabric embroidered with stars that seemed to twinkle as he moved.
"Ready, Keth?" he asked.
The raven perched on his shoulder, preening his feathers. "Always. Just try not to get us killed this time."
With a wry smile, Eldrin murmured a spell under his breath. The room filled with a swirling light as a portal began to form, its edges shimmering like the surface of a lake under moonlight.
---
A Dangerous Land
They stepped through the portal, emerging at the edge of the forest where Galen and his family had fled. The air here was thick with the residue of Malifax's dark magic. Eldrin raised his staff, its light piercing the gloom and revealing the path ahead.
"Stay alert," Eldrin warned. "Malifax may have left traps." Keth snorted. "Traps? Please. It's the enchanted owls, shadow wolves, and other nasty creatures I'm worried about."
Eldrin smirked. "A comforting thought, Keth. Thank you for that."
As they moved deeper into the woods, the oppressive atmosphere seemed to close in around them. The trees whispered, their branches clawing at the air like skeletal hands. Eldrin paused, sensing a disturbance. He knelt, examining a faint trail of paw prints in the soft earth.
"They were here," he said, his voice tinged with relief. "Not long ago."
Keth flapped his wings excitedly. "Well, that's good news! Let's just hope they're still in one piece."
---
Their relief was short-lived. A growl echoed through the trees, followed by the sound of rustling leaves. Eldrin turned around, his staff glowing brighter.
From the shadows emerged a creature unlike any Eldrin had ever seen. Its form was wolf-like, but its eyes burned with an unnatural green light, and its body seemed to ripple as if it were made of liquid shadow.
"A shadow wolf," Keth muttered. "Lovely. Just what we needed."
The wolf lunged, its claws slicing through the air. Eldrin raised his staff, summoning a barrier of light that deflected the attack. The creature snarled, circling them as if waiting for an opening.
"Keth, keep an eye out for more," Eldrin commanded. "These things rarely travel alone." "On it!" the raven squawked, taking to the air.
Eldrin focused on the wolf, his mind racing. He could destroy it, but doing so might alert Malifax to his presence. Instead, he opted for a binding spell. Chanting under his breath, he traced a sigil in the air with his staff. Golden chains materialized, wrapping around the wolf and pinning it to the ground.
The creature howled, its cries echoing through the forest. Eldrin wasted no time, turning to Keth. "We need to move. Now."
As they hurried deeper into the woods, the trees seemed to grow denser, their branches weaving together like a living barrier. Eldrin could feel the weight of Malifax's magic pressing down on them.
Suddenly, Keth swooped down, his voice urgent. "Eldrin, we've got company!"
Ahead of them, the path was blocked by a figure cloaked in shadow. Its face was obscured, but its voice was unmistakably Malifax's.
"You're too late, Eldrin," the figure said, its tone mocking. "The mice are mine."
Eldrin stepped forward, his staff glowing brightly. "You underestimate me, Malifax. I will protect them, no matter the cost." The figure laughed, a cold, hollow sound. "We'll see about that."
Before Eldrin could react, the figure dissolved into mist, disappearing into the night. The encounter left a chill in the air, and Eldrin knew they were running out of time.
---
As they pressed on, Eldrin's staff began to pulse with a soft light. He stopped, holding it high. In the distance, he saw a faint glow—a campfire, surrounded by five small shapes.
"They're alive," Eldrin whispered, relief washing over him.
But the moment was fleeting. Behind them, the forest came alive with the sounds of pursuit—growls, footsteps, and the rustle of unseen threats.
"Keth," Eldrin said, his voice firm. "Get to the mice. Protect them." "What about you?" Keth asked, his tone laced with concern.
"I'll hold them off," Eldrin replied, turning to face the approaching darkness. "Go!"
As Keth flew toward the fire, Eldrin planted his staff firmly in the ground. The light around him grew brighter, casting away the shadows. But the darkness pressed on, and Eldrin knew the battle had only just begun.