| QUOTE |
| Prologue: The Shrine of Darkness It was a brisk, autumn night. Wind bellowed, trees swayed playfully and crickets sang their ever so monotonous tunes. A sea of orange, yellow, and red leaves blanketed the ground, but since the wind was always blowing, most remained in the air, creating whirlwinds of vibrant color. Animals were jubilantly chatting amongst themselves and hurrying home to their nests and dens. Owls scanned the ground, searching for the slightest movement, which would be accompanied a tiny, scrumptious mouse. A cloaked figure was walking surreptitiously down a forested path, clutching its robes tightly around its body so its tall and slender torso was clearly pronounced. No light penetrated the shadows cast by the figure’s hood, but two bright, red eyes shone eerily where a face should have been. The path formed into a cross roads and the shadowy figure slowed to a stop. A hand reached out from beneath the cloak and slowly pulled back the hood, revealing the face of a man. The man’s face was a ghostly shade of white and there were a few scars scattered across it. His most prominent was a slash, which ran from his left temple to his chin in a slight curve. His nose was short and pointed and his lips curled in an unsightly manner. All of the man’s features were crude, giving him the look of someone who could kill a child and feel no remorse; someone who could burn an entire village and walk away laughing cruelly; or someone who was in a forest for reasons other than to enjoy a relaxing, evening saunter. The man turned his head from left to right, contemplating which path he should take. After a few seconds of excruciating judgment, he chose the left path, returned his hood to its previous resting place, and continued. Wherever the man walked, an ominous silence followed him. Once animals sensed his presence they would freeze to the spot, not daring to move for fear of – a crack sounded to the man’s right. He leapt to face the noise; his arm outstretched, and recited harshly, “Sisca revera!” |