Читать книгу The Seals Of The Altior - Gabriele Pratesi - Страница 6

Dream of a hundred years ago ...

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ehind me the great door of the red city of Ignis, capital of the kingdom of the Magicians of the Circle of Fire was moving away.

I had been instructed by my brother to go to the city of Hombros, the capital of the Princedom of mankind, to buy some handicrafts in iron and steel.

I travelled around by Orius, a thoroughbred black mantle, and my cart.

My brother was older than me and he used to give me duties like these. I always believed he did it to empower me, rather, he did it to keep me away from him and his business. I was barely sixteen-years-old, and each month I had to face a ten-day trip.

Honestly, I was happy to travel too. Life in the city was boring and the history classes… were even worse.

I had reached the plateau on the southern border. From that point I could see the city in all its greatness.

…

An Echo of an explosion and a cloud of black smoke rose from the southern walls of the city.

The sound of Drums was keeping the time to the march of an army occupying the whole area of the Red Valley. I had never seen such a large army, nor had I read any in the history books, if I ever had the chance to read them!

I could not distinguish the colors of the banners and the coats of arms. The armour was dark green but I didn't recognise who it belonged to.

More explosions and more smoke rose from the city.

I couldn't stand there and watch.

I wished to come back to the city, trembling with fear of not knowing what I should have done, rather I wished to be there with my friends and alongside my brother to fight the enemy.

The enchantment of the circle of Fire had been summoned to defend the city. I could have seen it very well. A fiery red dome was protecting the council tower and the fortified city. I couldn't see anything else.

I tied Orius to the roots of a tree, releasing him from the cart and walking back. While I was approaching I noticed that the army had already passed the valley. The whole city was under siege. My magic was weak and I didn't know spells powerful enough to take on even a soldier. From that side I couldn't see much, so I gave up and went back to Orius. I felt useless, helpless.

I stood staring at the city through the darkness of the night. Flames of black fire rained down from the sky and dented the shield of fire.

Immediately after ... the darkness, the silence and everything else seemed motionless.

I hugged Orius. And I fell asleep full of sadness and fear and foremost unable to intervene.

The first rays of dawn reminded me to get up. I looked out to see what had happened to the city. The council tower was still there. The fire shield was nearly destroyed.

I start hearing new explosions. Flashes of light were almost subtle with the presence of the new sun. I was not able to continue my journey to Hombros, I had to find a way to return to Ignis to fight. I secured Orius to the root of the tree and walked back towards the valley. I had to be careful. There might have been soldiers left on patrol. I deliberately avoided the path and walked through the small wooded areas around the plain. Bypassing the plain took a good part of the day. The grove in the east extended out on the rise of a hill from which the south gate could be seen. At the entrance to the gate there were enemy hordes trying to take down the shield of fire.

Below me, a patrol of soldiers were sitting on a fire. There were at least eight. I couldn't see anything that could help me figure out who they were. The sounds of explosions and battle were distinct. The screams of the fighters could also have been heard. I stood hidden until sunset.

The patrol was still on guard. I was only armed with my wand. It was my training weapon. It couldn't generate powerful spells to knock out an opponent, especially if they were a soldier in heavy armor, but I knew some stun spells and someone I could use as a diversion.

I took a breath as I was about to launch against the first enemy who was separated from the group; an immense explosion blocked me. I looked up. From the council tower,a purple lightning flashed skyward. The shield of fire was dissolved. The patrol soldiers left the outpost and started fighting against the walls. Lightning disappeared in the sky. The earth was shaking. The council tower swayed. A rumble. collapsed in on itself. Red dust rose. The night and the dust blocked the view.

Suddenly a hum came from the sky. A strong purple glow from the sun was spreading over the city. It Blew up. A magical veil grew from the sky, launched towards the ground, where the Red Tower stood. The veil ran in all directions at great speed. The soldiers were escaping from the walls trampling each other. Those who were captured by the veil were dragged into the city.

I realized I wasn't safe. So I left the grove. I ran as fast as I could. I entered the valley to reach Orius as soon as possible and escape. The valley was filled with fleeing soldiers. I was able to hear them behind me. I passed the rocks south of the valley, some soldiers were about to join me. I turned around ready to fight with my wand in hand. But the magical veil sparkled behind them. I stared at them, and I recognized them. They were dark elves.

I swirled my wand and pointed it under my footsteps, a levitation magic. I lifted myself off the ground away from the elves and the magical veil that was sucking them in. Their faces were changing. They were deformed. :Wrinkled, crippled and full of lumps. They were swelled and hunched. To others, the muscles seemed to come out of the body and the slender shoulders were grown larger, transforming them into powerful beings. The magic veil disappeared with them.

I jumped on Orius and galloped non-stop towards Hombros.

Old man! Stop fidgeting and screaming. You disturb the other inmates. "- Ordered the guard from the crack in the cell door.