A single candle flickered in the vast, dark chamber beneath the ruins of the Obsidian Keep. Malifax stood before an ancient, crumbling pedestal, his long fingers hovering over a brittle scroll. Dust rose in tiny spirals as he unrolled it, revealing faded ink that showed secrets of forgotten power. His golden eyes burned with a cold fire as he read.
"The Celestial Crown... incomplete?" he muttered, a slow smirk curling on his lips.
He had spent years believing that the crown, once in his possession, would grant him dominion over life and death. He had performed the ritual, held the crown high, and yet—nothing. No surge of power, no divine energy bending to his will. Only silence. Now, at last, the answer lay before him.
The crown was not completely useful without all its fragments.
Malifax's jaw clenched. He had underestimated the ancient enchanters who had sealed away its true power. But if they thought scattering the pieces would keep it from him, they were fools. He would find them, one by one, and reforge the greatest artifact in history.
His grip tightened on the scroll, nearly tearing it. But before his anger could boil over, a memory surfaced—one he had long tried to bury.
---
Years ago, before he had taken the name Malifax, he had been simply Marcellus, a young mage with talent that rivaled even the elders of the magical council. He had trained tirelessly, striving for their approval, eager to prove himself worthy of greatness.
And then came the day of reckoning.
The Grand Hall of Eldara had been packed with spectators—mages, nobles, and scholars—waiting to witness the ascension of the next generation of council wizards. Marcellus stood proudly among the candidates, his heart pounding with anticipation. But when the names were called, his was not among them. Instead, Galen's name was mentioned. He was recognized as a noble.
Galen—the one who had never struggled, never fought for recognition. The one who had stood beside him for years, claiming to be his friend, only to steal everything he had ever wanted.
The council had praised Galen for his balance of wisdom and humility, while Marcellus had been deemed too ambitious, too reckless. His talent, they said, was undeniable, but his heart was not suited for their sacred order.
That was the day Marcellus died. And Malifax was born.
---
A New Purpose
Malifax clenched his fists as the memory faded. He had spent too long watching others bask in the light of fortune while he remained in the shadows—no more.
Now, he would take what he deserved. He turned away from the pedestal and crossed the chamber, his robes trailing over the stone floor. The air pulsed with magic as he approached a large, ornate mirror—a relic stolen from the ruins of an old kingdom. The glass shimmered with an eerie glow as he whispered an incantation.
A vision swirled into view: a gnarled tree, its bark blackened by time. Beneath its roots, buried deep within the soil, lay one of the missing fragments of the Celestial Crown. A slow, satisfied grin spread across Malifax's face.
"Found you."
But even as he prepared to leave, a faint ripple passed through the mirror. Another vision emerged—one that sent a spark of fury through his veins.
Eldrin.
The old wizard was moving closer, tracking the cursed mice, unraveling his plans piece by piece. Worse, he had found an ally—Nyssa, the enchanted fox.
Malifax's smirk faded. He could not allow Eldrin to interfere. Not when he was so close. He turned sharply and strode toward a heavy wooden table littered with potion bottles, spell books, and glowing crystals. With a flick of his wrist, he conjured a map, its surface glowing with tiny lights marking the locations of his spies.
"They will slow him down," he mused. "But it may not be enough."
He needed something stronger. Something lethal. Then his gaze fell upon a dark amulet resting on a silk cloth. A relic from the Shadow Wars, imbued with the essence of nightmares. With a mere touch, he could summon creatures from the void—beasts that thrived on fear and could not be easily defeated.
A wicked grin spread across his face as he picked up the amulet. "Eldrin," he muttered, "let's see how long you last against true terror."
---
Far from Malifax's lair, the sky darkened over the enchanted forest where Eldrin and Nyssa traveled. A sudden chill crept into the air, unnatural and foreboding. The trees, once alive with rustling leaves, fell creepily silent. Even the wind seemed to hold its breath. Nyssa's fur bristled. She stopped mid-step, ears twitching. "Something's wrong," she said.
Eldrin frowned, gripping his staff. The air felt thick and heavy with unseen danger. Then a low growl echoed through the trees. And another. From the shadows, glowing eyes emerged—dozens of them. Creatures of mist and darkness, their forms shifting like smoke, slithered toward them. Their hollow, gaping mouths let out whispering voices—words that clawed at the mind, filling it with despair.
Eldrin's grip tightened. He recognized these horrors; nightmares made flesh.
Nyssa bared her teeth. "We need to move. Now." But the creatures surged forward, surrounding them in a circle of shadows. Eldrin raised his staff. With a sharp incantation, a burst of golden light erupted, pushing the creatures back—but only for a moment. They reformed almost instantly, creeping forward again.
"They're feeding on our fear," Nyssa realized, her voice tense. "Then we give them nothing to feed on," Eldrin replied, his voice steady despite the rising tension. But Malifax's creatures did not rely on fear alone.
One of them lunged at Nyssa, its smoky form wrapping around her like a serpent. She thrashed, but its touch seeped into her skin, dragging her into a waking nightmare. Her eyes widened in horror as unseen terrors played out in her mind.
Eldrin acted fast. He slammed his staff against the ground, releasing a wave of magic that shattered the creature's hold. Nyssa gasped, stumbling back, her breath ragged. "They almost had me," she whispered.
"We need to end this," Eldrin said. He turned his staff in a slow arc, drawing a rune in the air. Light flickered, pulsing stronger with each symbol he traced.
The creatures hissed, sensing the danger, and rushed forward in a final, desperate attack.
But Eldrin was ready. With a powerful thrust of his staff, he unleashed a blinding explosion of magic. The golden light erupted outward, burning through the creatures like fire consuming paper. Their screams echoed into the night as they dissolved into nothingness.
Everywhere became silent. Nyssa exhaled, shaking off the last remnants of the nightmare's grip. "That was too close." Eldrin nodded, his expression grim. "Malifax knows we're coming." Nyssa's eyes narrowed. "Then we'll make sure he regrets it."
As they pressed forward, the wind carried a distant, hollow laughter—a chilling sound that frightened them both.
Malifax was watching. And he was far from finished.
---
With Malifax now aware of Eldrin's interference, the stakes have risen. As Eldrin and Nyssa continue their journey, Malifax sets his next move into action, preparing deadlier traps and summoning darker forces. Meanwhile, Galen and the other mice face their own challenges, their path growing ever more perilous.
What awaits them next?
The battle for the Celestial Crown has truly begun.