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Dusk: The Return of Caligo Nox.
History is now a myth. A bedtime story that mothers tell their children. But soon it would return to being a reality…
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~One month ago~
“Chrystella Loitsu! Chrystella! Ella! Open the door!” The incessant voice was joined by thundering knocks upon the front door all of which echoed up to the top most room of the tower. Chrystella knew exactly who it was at the door, her young cousin Chryston who was a mix of Rune Wizard and Changed Werewolf. He had been coming over every week for the past few years and spouting on about wanting to find a way to break her immortal rune. But it was impossible and she had come to terms with that. The only thing her cousin was accomplishing was reopening old wounds and pouring salt on them. He thought he was doing her a favour but he was only hurting her. Today she drew a line, enough was enough and it was high time she set things straight. She did not want to hear another word about her cursed immortal rune.
Chrystella took her sweet time in getting to the front door, stopping to straighten crooked paintings and opening closed windows. Not once did she bother saying that she was almost there to let him in and so the knocking and yelling persisted. In what could have very likely been fifteen minutes, Chrystella finally opened the door and watched with a smile as he fell onto the floor by her feet.
“Oh good. I thought you couldn’t hear me. Perhaps you should invest in a door bell?” He suggested as he stood up, dusting away the invisible dirt on his pants. He moved in for a hug but Chrystella was already heading to the living room so he closed the door and followed after her.
“I think I found the answer this time Ella! I found out that Chrystoph Loitsu, your great, great, great, great, great grandfather and founder of the Rune Witch and Wizard line, had a secret study over on the human side of the barrier. If I can find it I am positive that I can also find the way to remove the immortal rune that the old hag gave you.” He exclaimed happily, too excited to sit down on the couch where Chrystella sat, a frown on her face. She gave him a moment to calm down before responding.
“Chryston, I know you mean well, but, I want you to stop this nonsense! There is absolutely nothing that I, you or anyone else can do to remove it. I have accepted this fact, why can’t you? You are my little cousin and I do not want you wasting your life on this stupid-“
“Exactly! I am your little cousin; I am eight years younger than you and already look older than you!” He exploded and grabbed hold of her arms, lifting her up from the couch. Momentarily forgetting his stronger than average strength caused by his half Changed blood. “Everyone else in our family is ignoring you like the plague. They think they are doing you a favour by not coming to visit! Have you even heard from your mother?” He dared to ask, it was a cruel thing to do, but he felt it was necessary. Until he caught sight of her tears and mentally kicked himself. He gently set her back down onto the couch and knelt in front of her.
“Oh Ella… I am sor-“
“… out…”
“What?”
“Get out!” She repeated louder and moved away from him. She didn’t think he could sink to that level, but he just did and it greatly upset her.
“They are doing me a favour! They know how it will break my heart to see them age right before my eyes! But you! You don’t even seem to care that it seems like only yesterday that you barely reached my shoulders and now tower over me! And who knows maybe tomorrow your hair will be greying and you’ll bring along your kids to visit me! You want to go over to the human side? Fine! But do not think that I will let you back! Now show yourself to the door!” She yelled through her tears and ran out of the living room, to the staircase which led to the tower.
Chryston was absolutely ashamed with himself. He had never seen her that upset before and he was the sole cause of it. He clenched his fists and made a decision. He was going to find the secret study and a way to break Chrystella’s immortal rune, even if it was the last thing he did. However before leaving he wrote a letter and placed it on the living room table.
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~Present time~
Chrystella safely placed the letter from Chryston into an inner pocket of her dark navy blue cape as she stood on the towers balcony, ready to leave on her daily barrier maintenance run. From her over-the-shoulder Space Rune bag, she pulled out her handmade Antigravity Flight Rune broom. Once comfortably settled, the broom rose from the balcony and took to the air. The air was cold as it usually was during this early hour but it had a biting chill and carried a dark intent. Something was stirring. Something dangerous.
Still awhile away Chrystella could hear the booming sounds of collision upon the barrier, but even from her vantage point above the tree tops, she could only see the resulting flashes of light as the barrier deterred and not what was making the impact. She wasn’t sure how long it had been going on for but once she returned home she would probably have inquiring guests. As she drew nearer to the barrier whatever it was causing the disturbance seemed to just vanish, that was until further along the barrier the disturbances began to reoccur. Heading over, whatever it was once again vanished only to reappear further along. The process repeated until Chrystella had finally had enough and directed her broom to lower back to the ground. The moment her feet touched the ground she hopped off the broom and carried it over with her to the barrier and pulled her crystal wand from her sleeves. Crouching down right before the barrier she infused the wand with her power, her eyes flashing different colours for each of the elemental runes she wrote onto the barriers surface. Next she wrote a command rune which caused the barrier to release a wave of repelling energy all the way along its length
Over on the other side of the barrier a humanoid form covered in writhing shadows approached. It seemed to be struggling with itself, one part wanting to go forward and the other wanting to go back to way it had come, yet it ever slowly continued forward. Chrystella rose from her crouch and stared curiously at it, her heart thumping loudly in her chest when it raised its hand in her direction as if reaching for her. No, not for her, but the very barrier itself, her eyes widened. Didn’t it know that it would be repelled back? No one or thing could enter the barrier unless they had an Entry Rune and only she provided them. Well, for a price, just as it had always been done by the barrier protectors before her. The Vampires were her biggest buyers and often always got the more expensive, 10 turn pass runes.
She jumped back just as the shadow covered hand touched the barrier. Instantly a light display began in response to a touch without an Entry Rune and tried repelling the intrusion. The shocks which would undoubtedly have been coursing through its form seemingly went unnoticed as its hand stayed flat against the barrier. Amazingly, the longer the hand remained more and more of the shadow was blown back and revealed what was underneath. A young man and as more shadows were removed the man became increasingly familiar.
“Chyston…” She whispered breathlessly and once the name left her lips his eyes darted to her. From sunken, sleep deprived eyes, tears began to form. His skin was chalky white and he looked severally malnourished, it was like the shadows had been draining his very life force. Suddenly things made sense. He did indeed know that the barrier would repel him without an Entry Rune, but it would also repel the shadows and that was what he had been counting on.
When the shadows were completely removed from his body, Chryston finally allowed himself to be blasted away from the barrier in a final flash of light. Chrystella ran after him, right through the barrier and to his side. Checking for injuries she only found a singed palm.
“I Found it… I-it exists and… and the answer is there. B-But, it’s my fault… My fault!” His weak body began to spasm from the strain and grabbing onto Chrystella’s arms he whispered, “He is back… And angry, very angry. With only a taste of my blood he saw my memories. H-he saw… you.” His words sent a shiver down her spine; however she ignored it and tried to calm him down.
“Shh it is alright now. It’s okay. I am here.” She cooed softly and pulled him into her lap, stroking his hair just like she use to when he was much younger. Sleepily he stared up at her and raised a bony, ice cold hand to her cheek.
“At least I didn’t fail my promise. Find the way to break the immortal rune, even if it is the last thing I do, so that Ella doesn’t have to be lonely. I just wish I could be there… to see you happy.” His whispers were getting increasingly harder to hear and his eyes stared at her unseeingly. Another tremor shook his body, yet he continued to speak.
“Flee… Hide... Just try... But your life…” The words faded and with an exhale of breath so too did his life. His arm falling limp. Hugging his body close, tears trailed down her cheeks. The next second she was watching in horror as his body began to blow away into the wind, like ash, catching the particles was futile as it only slipped right through her fingers. Not knowing what else to do, Chrystella threw her head back and screamed.
“Chryston!” She never got the chance to say sorry. Never got the chance to let him know just how much she loved it when he came over and how much he meant to her. And now she would never get the chance. She wouldn’t even get to give him a proper burial and his friends and family wouldn’t get to say their farewells.
Lost in her grief, three disfigured creatures approached from the bushes behind Chrystella. A crack of a branch under a sharply taloned paw finally alerted her to their presence. Looking back she jumped up in shock at what she saw. The creatures were definitely hybrids, but they slowly stalked forward like hungry mindless animals. They were no more than mere beasts and she was their pray. The closest one lashed out at her, its sharp claws slashing three wounds on her upper left arm. Gasping, she spun around and sprinted back to the barrier, hurriedly giving herself the Entry Rune on her palm. She passed though just before the three creatures pounced, their bodies colliding with the barrier and suddenly being thrown back. The shock did not deter them and they continued to throw themselves at the barrier. Wasting no more time she hopped on her broom and took flight back to her home. Her wound seeping blood through her fingers.
History is now a myth. A bedtime story that mothers tell their children. But soon it would return to being a reality…
“Chrystella Loitsu! Chrystella! Ella! Open the door!” The incessant voice was joined by thundering knocks upon the front door all of which echoed up to the top most room of the tower. Chrystella knew exactly who it was at the door, her young cousin Chryston who was a mix of Rune Wizard and Changed Werewolf. He had been coming over every week for the past few years and spouting on about wanting to find a way to break her immortal rune. But it was impossible and she had come to terms with that. The only thing her cousin was accomplishing was reopening old wounds and pouring salt on them. He thought he was doing her a favour but he was only hurting her. Today she drew a line, enough was enough and it was high time she set things straight. She did not want to hear another word about her cursed immortal rune.
Chrystella took her sweet time in getting to the front door, stopping to straighten crooked paintings and opening closed windows. Not once did she bother saying that she was almost there to let him in and so the knocking and yelling persisted. In what could have very likely been fifteen minutes, Chrystella finally opened the door and watched with a smile as he fell onto the floor by her feet.
“Oh good. I thought you couldn’t hear me. Perhaps you should invest in a door bell?” He suggested as he stood up, dusting away the invisible dirt on his pants. He moved in for a hug but Chrystella was already heading to the living room so he closed the door and followed after her.
“I think I found the answer this time Ella! I found out that Chrystoph Loitsu, your great, great, great, great, great grandfather and founder of the Rune Witch and Wizard line, had a secret study over on the human side of the barrier. If I can find it I am positive that I can also find the way to remove the immortal rune that the old hag gave you.” He exclaimed happily, too excited to sit down on the couch where Chrystella sat, a frown on her face. She gave him a moment to calm down before responding.
“Chryston, I know you mean well, but, I want you to stop this nonsense! There is absolutely nothing that I, you or anyone else can do to remove it. I have accepted this fact, why can’t you? You are my little cousin and I do not want you wasting your life on this stupid-“
“Exactly! I am your little cousin; I am eight years younger than you and already look older than you!” He exploded and grabbed hold of her arms, lifting her up from the couch. Momentarily forgetting his stronger than average strength caused by his half Changed blood. “Everyone else in our family is ignoring you like the plague. They think they are doing you a favour by not coming to visit! Have you even heard from your mother?” He dared to ask, it was a cruel thing to do, but he felt it was necessary. Until he caught sight of her tears and mentally kicked himself. He gently set her back down onto the couch and knelt in front of her.
“Oh Ella… I am sor-“
“… out…”
“What?”
“Get out!” She repeated louder and moved away from him. She didn’t think he could sink to that level, but he just did and it greatly upset her.
“They are doing me a favour! They know how it will break my heart to see them age right before my eyes! But you! You don’t even seem to care that it seems like only yesterday that you barely reached my shoulders and now tower over me! And who knows maybe tomorrow your hair will be greying and you’ll bring along your kids to visit me! You want to go over to the human side? Fine! But do not think that I will let you back! Now show yourself to the door!” She yelled through her tears and ran out of the living room, to the staircase which led to the tower.
Chryston was absolutely ashamed with himself. He had never seen her that upset before and he was the sole cause of it. He clenched his fists and made a decision. He was going to find the secret study and a way to break Chrystella’s immortal rune, even if it was the last thing he did. However before leaving he wrote a letter and placed it on the living room table.
Chrystella safely placed the letter from Chryston into an inner pocket of her dark navy blue cape as she stood on the towers balcony, ready to leave on her daily barrier maintenance run. From her over-the-shoulder Space Rune bag, she pulled out her handmade Antigravity Flight Rune broom. Once comfortably settled, the broom rose from the balcony and took to the air. The air was cold as it usually was during this early hour but it had a biting chill and carried a dark intent. Something was stirring. Something dangerous.
Still awhile away Chrystella could hear the booming sounds of collision upon the barrier, but even from her vantage point above the tree tops, she could only see the resulting flashes of light as the barrier deterred and not what was making the impact. She wasn’t sure how long it had been going on for but once she returned home she would probably have inquiring guests. As she drew nearer to the barrier whatever it was causing the disturbance seemed to just vanish, that was until further along the barrier the disturbances began to reoccur. Heading over, whatever it was once again vanished only to reappear further along. The process repeated until Chrystella had finally had enough and directed her broom to lower back to the ground. The moment her feet touched the ground she hopped off the broom and carried it over with her to the barrier and pulled her crystal wand from her sleeves. Crouching down right before the barrier she infused the wand with her power, her eyes flashing different colours for each of the elemental runes she wrote onto the barriers surface. Next she wrote a command rune which caused the barrier to release a wave of repelling energy all the way along its length
Over on the other side of the barrier a humanoid form covered in writhing shadows approached. It seemed to be struggling with itself, one part wanting to go forward and the other wanting to go back to way it had come, yet it ever slowly continued forward. Chrystella rose from her crouch and stared curiously at it, her heart thumping loudly in her chest when it raised its hand in her direction as if reaching for her. No, not for her, but the very barrier itself, her eyes widened. Didn’t it know that it would be repelled back? No one or thing could enter the barrier unless they had an Entry Rune and only she provided them. Well, for a price, just as it had always been done by the barrier protectors before her. The Vampires were her biggest buyers and often always got the more expensive, 10 turn pass runes.
She jumped back just as the shadow covered hand touched the barrier. Instantly a light display began in response to a touch without an Entry Rune and tried repelling the intrusion. The shocks which would undoubtedly have been coursing through its form seemingly went unnoticed as its hand stayed flat against the barrier. Amazingly, the longer the hand remained more and more of the shadow was blown back and revealed what was underneath. A young man and as more shadows were removed the man became increasingly familiar.
“Chyston…” She whispered breathlessly and once the name left her lips his eyes darted to her. From sunken, sleep deprived eyes, tears began to form. His skin was chalky white and he looked severally malnourished, it was like the shadows had been draining his very life force. Suddenly things made sense. He did indeed know that the barrier would repel him without an Entry Rune, but it would also repel the shadows and that was what he had been counting on.
When the shadows were completely removed from his body, Chryston finally allowed himself to be blasted away from the barrier in a final flash of light. Chrystella ran after him, right through the barrier and to his side. Checking for injuries she only found a singed palm.
“I Found it… I-it exists and… and the answer is there. B-But, it’s my fault… My fault!” His weak body began to spasm from the strain and grabbing onto Chrystella’s arms he whispered, “He is back… And angry, very angry. With only a taste of my blood he saw my memories. H-he saw… you.” His words sent a shiver down her spine; however she ignored it and tried to calm him down.
“Shh it is alright now. It’s okay. I am here.” She cooed softly and pulled him into her lap, stroking his hair just like she use to when he was much younger. Sleepily he stared up at her and raised a bony, ice cold hand to her cheek.
“At least I didn’t fail my promise. Find the way to break the immortal rune, even if it is the last thing I do, so that Ella doesn’t have to be lonely. I just wish I could be there… to see you happy.” His whispers were getting increasingly harder to hear and his eyes stared at her unseeingly. Another tremor shook his body, yet he continued to speak.
“Flee… Hide... Just try... But your life…” The words faded and with an exhale of breath so too did his life. His arm falling limp. Hugging his body close, tears trailed down her cheeks. The next second she was watching in horror as his body began to blow away into the wind, like ash, catching the particles was futile as it only slipped right through her fingers. Not knowing what else to do, Chrystella threw her head back and screamed.
“Chryston!” She never got the chance to say sorry. Never got the chance to let him know just how much she loved it when he came over and how much he meant to her. And now she would never get the chance. She wouldn’t even get to give him a proper burial and his friends and family wouldn’t get to say their farewells.
Lost in her grief, three disfigured creatures approached from the bushes behind Chrystella. A crack of a branch under a sharply taloned paw finally alerted her to their presence. Looking back she jumped up in shock at what she saw. The creatures were definitely hybrids, but they slowly stalked forward like hungry mindless animals. They were no more than mere beasts and she was their pray. The closest one lashed out at her, its sharp claws slashing three wounds on her upper left arm. Gasping, she spun around and sprinted back to the barrier, hurriedly giving herself the Entry Rune on her palm. She passed though just before the three creatures pounced, their bodies colliding with the barrier and suddenly being thrown back. The shock did not deter them and they continued to throw themselves at the barrier. Wasting no more time she hopped on her broom and took flight back to her home. Her wound seeping blood through her fingers.