• • • SEASON OF THE DARK MOON • • •
Deep inside the most secure fortress on the face of Menidiath, a large screen lit up with a hundred alarms and started blaring. The sound of oncoming disaster. An attendant, a little worm-like creature encased in a suit that gave it extra limbs, jolted awake. Desperately it tried to make sense of the sudden calamity as a towering figure clad in robes and an elaborate breathing mask strode up behind it.“What is happening?“ the tall figure boomed as the little creature hacked away at the control panel before them.
“I-I’m sorry Master,” the little attendant chirped, “It seems…it seems like some large stellar body is approaching fast. It’s orbit-”
“Oh no…” the tall figure pushed the attendant aside, and brought up a view of the approaching guest. “It is much too soon… This will ruin everything.”
Like all disasters, it came without warning.
It happened on a bright summer day, when the wind was peaceful and the sun was bright. All of a sudden, a dark ripple spread across the clear blue sky, like black oil across the surface of a pond. And then, with an unearthly howl, it came. Out of nowhere a massive, dark moon appeared, a sombre giant clad in black and violet, its surface streaked with colourful scars. It blotted out the sun with its dark haze, covering the world in a gloomy, unnatural night. The world came to a standstill as the gazed upon this dark visitor, fearful of what might come next. That’s when the changes started.
If those had been the only changes, things might have been more manageable. But there was more to come.
The Javenian cities, built and maintained completely by sorcery, now were completely paralyzed, their citizens suddenly deprived of the powers that had kept them safe and comfortable. In one fell swoop, the Javenian-Rakkhari war took a drastic turn.
And amidst all this, as the people of the world cowered and tried to make sense of it all, there were those that saw more clearly what was coming. To some, it was a crisis that had to be averted. To others, it was an opportunity. A chance to take control.
The old order of things was due for a massive change. The season of the dark moon had begun.
“M-Master Ruun… What does this mean?” the little attendant asked, its voice filled with fear.
The tall figure didn’t speak for a while, only contemplating what lay ahead as the sound of its breathing apparatus filled the silence.
“It means that we are out of time. That blast of sorcery that those lunatics let loose when they started their war destabilised the weave. And now, this will only worsen things.” The tall creature let out a roar of frustration, a roar that had been building for hundreds of years. “This damn thing was not meant to show until nearly two hundred years from now. It’s too soon.”
An uneasy silence fell. The echoes of personnel scurrying around the facility to deal with the impending calamity was increasing every second. And there was no one else to tell them what to do than this one, lone creature who was beginning to run out of answers.
“What… what do we do Master Ruun?” the attendant finally asked carefully.
The tall creature pondered for a moment. Then, it tapped at the control panel, bringing up a series of images. Individuals from very different parts of this troubled world.
“It is time to get them. Now or never.”
“...All of them? Do we start with the girl as planned?” the attendant asked, mustering a bit of courage as it seemed like its Master had a plan.
“Yes. She has to be the first one.” The tall creature pressed a button, causing announcements to ring out throughout the facility. “It’s time to finally gather the children home.”
