After dark

He woke up A bit late into the morning, underneath smooth silk sheets on a soft down bed. He Got up slowly and dressed in some fine clothes. Today was his birthday, and his coming of age day, he was turning 60 today. He walked downstairs and walked to the kitchen. When the servents saw him, they started making breakfast. After a few minutes, a plate was set in front of him and he started eating. After a short while, he got up from the table and walked out the front door and around the grounds. He walked slowly around the cut lawn, the flower guardens, the ponds. And while it was all nice, it was boring. He was bored, simply waiting for the celebration to begin a little later.

After about an hour of walking around, he was bored. He decided to go out to the training area. He went to the magic range to practice a little. At his arrival, the others that were there stood back, either watching or leaving Calling upon his power, he summoned forth a hazy glowing ball in his hands. Launching it foward at the target, he struck it and left a deep wound in the wooden dummy. Then, focusing on combining his powers, he summoned a creature of darkness, about the size of a small dog, that lept foward, using claw and fang to rip and tear at the target, leaving many small wounds along its once- smooth surface. However, after only a few seconds, it vanished, his skill still low with summoning. A bit tired after that, he walked over to a nearby tree, and took a small nap.

He woke up about an hour later feeling refreshed. He looked at the sun and saw it was still early, several hours from sundown. He decided to walk to the library. He slowly walked and idlely scanned the shelves. After a little, he found an old tome that he didn't remember seeing before. He took it down and started reading it. It was a book about the use of magic. Alongside the many informative paragraphs were many detailed pictures. It stated that using magic is channeling energy from the ethreal world, from the plane of that element. Among the many chapters was one about the forming of illia.

Origionally, both light and dark came into this world from the ethrael world, and formed two great land masses. They then gathered Allies from other planes, who formed islands around their ally. These islands were connected by land bridges. It states that the different races are desendants of the elementals that first created illia, who have adapted to this world. Humans, it states, are mixes of the races. Then it shows a detailed picture of the great fissure. It states that the tension of the opposing elements was too great, and it ripped the land. Only a single, narrow piece remains.

Then it returns to the subject of magic. It goes on about a myriad of topics, including enchanting, summoning, and battling. He learns a great deal in just skimming over the huge tome, which is several thousand pages, and very tall and wide. he looks up after what seems only a few hours, and he sees that the sun is already starting to set. He hurriedly walks back to his room, and begins to clean himself up. Then he dresses himself in his nicest set of clothing. He has a black tunic with a sheen whenever he moves and with silver fur trim at the arms, neck, and waist , with a silver sash, A silver amulet of the full moon, leggings with silver trim at the waist and legs, and fine boots with silver fur trim. The entire outfit had sparsely placed silver studs in the shape of moons and stars. Then he walked out of his room and out to the Party Grounds in behind the house.

There, set up was a large area under the clear night sky. there was a few hundred people there, with another area set off to the side for the servents. usually they were not incited to such events, but he had insisted. In the main area, was most of the younger nobles and older children of nobles, those his age and a little older. There, he met his father, who greeted him with a warm smile. He promptly handed him a wraped package. He opened it immediately, and saw a cloak. It was pitch black, but had a sheen, almost like a glow, when it moved. On the inside was a beautifully done picture of the night sky sewn in with the fabric so that it didnt stick out. It was also very sturdy, and could be used as armor. He thanked his father, who told him to go enjoy the party. The night was young, and the crowd alive.

He mingled among the crowd for a little while, hearing many happy birthdays and being presented with many presents, both large and small, which he took and placed on a large empty table. There would be time to open those later. In the center of the area, there was entertainment going on. In a bit, the duels would open up, and that was the part he was interested in. He was idlely walking around when he saw his younger brother and a few of his friends walking towards him. He frowned, as only people he invited were supposed to come, and he did not invite his brothers lackeys. But he was in a good mood, and decided to let it go. He braced himself for what would shurly be an unplesant exchange filled with veiled threads and backhanded comments, as always. Oh well, it was unavoidable, he supposed. He greeted his brother and put his hand foward for a shake, which his brother pretended to not notice, at which the two following his brother around snickered at. He remained unpreterbed, even though they were both rather large and stronge looking. He was confident in himself and his abilitys. He used magic to make a vine appear around his brothers ankle and trip him, then helped him up graciously with a smile, asking if he was alright.

His brother thanked him for helping him up, but his eyes shot daggers. "Thank you brother, but be careful, when you're playing with fire." At this his brother winked at him. He had known that his brother wanted his place as the next head of the family for a while now, but he had never tried anything. "Now if you'll excuse me and my friends here, we have another engagement" and with that he and his two goons walked off. Odd, as he usually enjoyed listening to his own barbed speeches so much. Oh well then, he was getting hungry anyway. He walked over to the food table, and was handed a loaf of freshly baked bread, a choice cut of fine meat, and a honey cake. He walked over to a tree, sat down against it, and started eating. After a little, when he was finished, and the moon was high in the sky, he walked toward the center, for the entertainment.

He strode through the crowd and started to watch the fun. Volunteers from the crowd strode into the center, into a ring of stones. There, they battled magic to magic, sword to sword, whatever they wished to use. The stones had the dual properties of keeping in both the combatants, as well as any magic or projectiles, and healing any combatant that approached death, to enshure a friendly dual. After watching several good matches, he stepped into the ring himself. Then opposite him, he saw one of the goons his brother brought. And he was holding a flaming axe, that looked like it could kill. He saw his brother standing right on the sidelines. "Remember brother, be careful when you play with fire."

This was not good, he could die, and on the day he became a man. Then he noticed that the good was swaying, probably drunk. This might not be as bad as he first thought. He raised hands up and started talking. just long enough to distract the man from the elemental spirit he was creating behind him.

"Well, it is my honor to fight such a worth opponent. I'm shure that we'll have a fine match. Did you know that its an honor to fight someone on their birthday? you'll be the first person i fight as a man. well, shall you take the first move?"

With that, the man started moving foward. When he did, the water elemental jumped onto him. He took his free hand and started swating at it, but he didnt manage to hit it. it slithered up his arm, onto his weapon handle, making it slippery. then it crawled onto the blade of the weapon, extinguishing the fire, but evaporating. The man found it hard to hold onto his weapon, and was barely able to hold onto it.

The man charged at him, raising his weapon high. Suddenly, while the weapon was swinging, vines came out of xoias hands, and grabbed the axe from the man, it sliding easily while it was wet, and he flung it back behind him. He stood there, cloak and hair billowing in the wind, the axe hit the ground behind him. Then he strode foward purposefully at the man, holding up his hands. Out of them came a small blast of wind, that made him stumble back. Then a vine came out of the ground and slipped around his ankle, causing him to fall. Then xoia walked up to him, put his hand foward, and sent a blast of darkness at his face, breaking several bones in the process, and knocking him unconcious.

The crowd clapped and cheered, some shocked at the outcome. Xoia was standing there, the hood covering the top of his face, breathing heavily. Suddenly, he threw his head back and laughed, a sound filled with relief. He bowed for the crowd, then walked out of the circle. Then his brother walked over to him, a scowl on his face. Xoia grabbed two glasses off of a nearby table, one filled with wine, and one with juice. He handed the juice one to his brother, as he was not yet old enough to drink.

"Laugh brother, and be merry, it is a party after all. That was some nice work, enchanting that axe. But you should know that i'm better than that."

At this, the boy's scowl deepened, and he seemed angry.
"Careful brother, you're playing with fire again, and that is not a safe thing to do."
"Ah, but what fun it is. And besides, fire hasnt been able to hurt me yet." With this, he drained his entire glass.

"Brother, i challenge you to a duel, for the right of your inheritance."

At this, xoias smile dissapeared, to be replaced, with a stony expression.
"Very well brother, but if i win, you must follow one command of mine, whatever it may be."

"Very well, i agree to these terms. I will meet you as the moon sets."

He walked around the party, greeting his guests, and talking with his friends. He even flirted with some of the girls, who were quite impressed with his performance in the duel. Well, they'll have alot more to be impressed with after his next match. He was hungry and walked over to one of the food tables and grabbed somthing to eat. Then he walked over to the other party area, and mingled with some of the servants. He saw that they were fine and happy, and walked back to his party. He saw that he still had a few hours left, so he went back to his room and grabbed that book. He took it outside, and sat against a tree, reading up about fire magic, somthing that his brother seemed good in. After about an hour, he saw it was almost time for the moon to set, and he had one last thing to do. He had gotten the cloak from his father, and he knew that it was more than it appeared, it had to be. He felt along it, and it seemed to grow lighter, almost wispy. It was obviously magical, and he had to try it out. He hung it on a branch, and he fired a blast of water at it. The area seemed to grow a little darker for a few seconds, and the water seemed to glance off of the cloak, and a little seemed to be absorbed into it. He walked over and put the cloak on, and he seemed to gain some energy. This was amazing, and it would be an invaluable weapon in the coming duel. He looked up, and saw that the moon was about to set. He walked over, resolute and confident about the upcoming battle.

When Xoia walked up to the crowd around the duel ring, they all parted for him. He walked into the center of the ring, and stood waiting. After only a few seconds, his brother strode into the ring, holding a small battleaxe, which took two hands for him to weild. As soon as he was in the center, the shields went up, casting an erie dark glow on everything.

" I'm ready to do this, though i take no pleasure in it. Come, and we shall meet in battle, and one shall emerge the victor."

At that, they both assumed stances, ready. They circled one another, each wary of the other. The mood was tense, and the air felt heavy. Xoia felt as though he was moving in slow motion. Suddenly, his brother rushed foward, swinging his axe, which was now on fire. Xoia had a small root grow around his brothers ankle, tripping him. When he fell, he scrambled to get up. Xoia shot a ball of darkness at him, sending him rolling. Then a burst of wind, carrying debris, hit him and gave him many small cuts. Xoia them formed a stream of water between his hands. He sent it at his brother, binding him to the ground. his brother grunted, and struggled to get up. Suddenly, fire appeared around him, evaporating the water and covering the ring in steam. Xoia shot over a dozenl more balls of water at his brother, who evaporated them all, making the steam so thick that they could not even see each other, and the shield would keep it all in.

Xoia stood there, panting at the exertion. He was now blind, and every movement covered him in small droplets of water. This was not good, how was he supposed to fight blind? He had put alot of energy into those attacks, and knew he could not go on for much longer. Suddenly, he started to tingle. It was coming from the mist, and that was very odd. Suddenly, he saw blue flickers of electricity in the mist, and it hit him, making him fall to the ground. The mist was conducting the electricity. Then the cloak turned wispy, and a little transparent. The attack started hurting a little less, and he could feel the energy it was giving him. After a few seconds, the electricity had made most of the steam turn back to water. When xoia stood up, he saw his brother over him, with the axe. "Well, it looks like i win, you're too tired after that to use any more magic, and i still have this."

"You underestimate me brother," said xoia, standing up, to his brothers suprise" i'm tougher than i look." He put his hands up, and a cloud of darkness appeared around his brothers head. Marshalling his strength, his brother made a cloud of light around it. This was it then, a direct battle between their wills, and their strength of magic. They stood there for several minutes, both ready to collapse, but unwilling to give up. Suddenly, a large blast of fire shot from his brother at xoia. Xoia held out both of his hands, wind in one and water in the other, both swirling. He shot them both, and they collided in the middle, swirling and booming in a circle. It hit the fireball, they exploded, shooting hot, heavy, wet wind outward, blowing them both into the walls of the arena.

When the smoke and mist cleared, the were both on the ground, against the walls. They both stood and faced each other, the wind still swirling and blowing, shaking their hair and clothes. his brother held up his hand, and a red glow started form in his hand. before he could finish his spell, he fell foward, unconcious from exaustion. The walls lowered, and he walked out, collapsing against a nearby tree.

He woke up in his bed, not tired, but exausted. His room was dim, as if the sun was just setting. But he couldn't have slept all day. He looked outside, and shure enough, it was almost night. His stomach started rumbling, and he realised he hadn't eaten all day. He walked down to the kitchen. One of the servents saw him, and ran and made him a plate of food. Xoia noticed somthing new in the servents eyes. more than the respect that they had for his family. More even than the trust he had forged with them. Could it be... awe? No, he hadn't done anything, he just won a few duels. The servent asked if he needed anything else, and when he nodded no, the servent walked away, returning to his normal duties. Xoia ate quietly, thinking. He had one command that he could give his brother that must be followed. This was no small matter, as it could determine the outcome of an entire life.