I''ve never felt so alive.


    Alive and powerful, the feelings that many crave. When he put the crown upon his head, the gems glowed a luminescent blue upon the coiling body of the golden snake. It fit snugly like it was forged specifically for him and the power that surged through his body was astronomical. Something far larger than he thought he could ever be capable of. Even without the entire six gems slotted in the grooves that sat between the body of the snake, two was enough for him to feel like he could do anything. He couldn''t even imagine what power he''d hold once the crown was completed.


    Zeke glazed his eyes over the lines of troops that gathered below the stairs of the castle, their armor glistening in the morning sun. They looked like statues with stone-hard expressions on their faces. Expressions that still held conviction and purpose, he could see it in their eyes. It was something they had been lacking for far too long. Rows upon rows of men and women who were ready to fight for their right to dominate the land they had once ruled.


    In front of the soldiers were the battlemages, warrior wizards who held a small amount of magical affinity. Enough to raze a town with a flick of a wrist but still nowhere near his level of power. They wore the white-gold armor of the soldiers but with a hooded cape wrapped around the pauldrons and carried daggers instead of broadswords. They were the lieutenant commanders of each platoon, capable of giving orders and fighting on the battlefield.


    Behind him stood Farion and the other generals who remained silent and waiting for his words before the emergence. The time that was dawning upon his people and that time was near. The rest of the townsfolk would stay behind, the elderly mostly. Most of the young would be conscripted into the armies and would fight for their land and with so many gone, the threat of over-population would subside for a time. Once the coming war had ended, they''d be transported to Sciolyn where a new age would begin.


    The return of the elves.


    He opened his arms wide and smiled, looking upon the marvelous grand army in total awe.


    It is time.


    "The time has come, my comrades. Where the men and women of Farweyn will emerge from the star-rifts in droves to take back what is ours and conquer the humans once again like our great ancestors once did. The White-Gold Dominion will break the rulers of Sciolyn to their knees and we will not conclude our campaign until they''re face down beneath our boots. We are strong and we are many; On this day they will taste the steel of our blades and we will soak the land in their own blood!" He paused and listened as a loud crunch of gauntlets slapped in salute and watched as it echoed across the courtyard, "Now witness the power of The White-Gold Dominion!"


    With his arms still spread open, he closed his eyes and felt the warmth of the gems pulsating in the crown as the magic flowed from them and to his head, then his arms. He felt like he''d ascended far beyond a mortal, he felt like a god. The warming surge within his arms made him feel as if he could lift anything - break anything - And the smile on his face didn''t cease.


    He balled his hands into fists and tensed his arms, letting the flow build up like the wall of a dam, and at a moment''s notice, he spread his hand wide and made a large cross-motion with his arms. When he opened his eyes, he watched a giant blue portal begin to open behind the soldiers. The entire castle and the city was engulfed in a great blue light as the doorway spread wider and wider. The sky had turned dark and a great wind suddenly appeared.


    He felt Farion come up beside him and Zeke placed a finger on the nape of his neck, amplifying his voice through magic.


    "Now turn!" Farion shouted.


    And with a loud metallic thump, the soldiers turned all at once; now gazing into the greatness that was his power. Zeke turned his head to Farion and smiled, this was it. The moment they''d all been waiting for and the anticipation within him spiraled out of control, coming to a point where he thought that maybe his heart would leap from his chest. The feeling of power was exhilarating and addictive, he needed more and he knew that soon he would get it. He just had to be patient.


    With a will to dominate, to overturn the world I will gain power and everyone will kneel before me; even Taren. I can no longer be controlled and I will bend and break anyone who ever tries again.


    <hr>


    "I fucking hate mountains," Sylaina groaned as both she and Tycon trudged through shin-deep snow.


    "Y''know, I''m right there with you," Tycon replied between breaths.


    They had spent several days in the town before the mountains and each moment that passed they dreaded the coming journey; And here they were, trudging through deep snow as the howling winds wrapped themselves around the mountains leaving trails of light snowflakes in their wake. Tycon expected it to be cold but not this cold, having nothing on Winter''s Peak in terms of the frigid air. The snow reminded him of Ambre and the last time he''d seen her, his thought''s lingered on her for a long time and it kept the cold from getting to him. Warming his heart enough to barely notice his numbed gauntleted fingers and feet.


    Tycon walked ahead, taking the brunt of the harsh weather with Sylaina following close behind. Both of their arms locked within their armpits in a desperate attempt to bring back an inkling of feeling within their hands. He longed for their descent from the mountain and he could tell that she did too, the winding and warm tropical coast of the southern isles would be a far cry from the immense cold they now endured. He couldn''t wait for the warm sun to lick his skin, casting a feeling of relief upon his tired and frigid form.


    "I''m starting to regret coming back for you," Sylaina shouted over the wind. Not even the cold could freeze her charm and sarcasm.


    Tycon forced a laugh to emerge from his pale lips, "It''s not too late to turn back," He replied.


    "Not a chance," She smiled, "I like your company too much."


    "Even when I''m being dramatic?" He joked.


    "Especially."


    They paused as they made their way to the summit of the mountain trail. Tycon shielded his eyes with great effort against the strong wind as he emerged, trying to gaze upon the sands that lay on the other side but saw nothing. Nothing but a blinding snowstorm of white and the grey of the mountain rocks that lay ahead. He sighed to himself, knowing that there was still a long way to go.


    "So we''re doing all this because of something you saw in a dream?" Sylaina spoke over his shoulder, the warmth of her breath on his neck quickly falling to mist, "I know that I should believe you after what I saw in the forest but still. It seems to be little to go on."


    "Then why do you follow me?" Tycon asked continuing to descend from the summit.


    "Because I''ve seen enough to trust your word on all this. Remember what I said, I don''t think you''d go through that much trouble for a single gemstone. Plus, I don''t think this is something you can do on your own, and heck, maybe I''ll learn some ancient secrets left forgotten."


    "You''d be surprised what''s out there. The things I''ve seen and fought, you''d go insane at the sight of them."Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    Sylaina was silent for a moment, "What things have you seen?"


    "You''ve seen the monsters, I know that. But when I went to retrieve another gemstone in the Zinlyn desert there was a creature in the tomb. It was there long before the return of monsters, it acted as a guardian. A creature of great strength, large with long blackened claws. Strong enough to tear a man in half in one light swipe. This place we''re meant to find, I''m guessing it''s another tomb."


    Sylaina''s expression sharpened, "You think so?"


    "There''s no other reason I can muster that explains why the place was lost for so long or why no one has bothered to enter in all these years. They''re either afraid or they never return once they enter."


    "Sounds ominous. I think we should be prepared, then. We can''t rush anything if it means we''ll have to fight something like that."


    Tycon agreed, "Sharpen your blades as much as possible, that things skin is hard to pierce, believe me."


    "Oh, I believe you," Sylaina nodded, "You''ve come through so far, I don''t see why else I''d doubt you now but a part of me doesn''t want to believe it. That things like this are real; That they once existed."


    "We can stop it," Tycon said with absolute conviction, "And we''ll find a way to locate Ren while we''re at it. I won''t abandon him."


    They were almost there, just single decent from the mountain and they''d achieve their goal. They continued to move slowly down the treacherous mountain, cautiously taking each step as it could be their last. One slip and they''d be sent plummeting down a great chasm into the valley below, left broken and preserved on the frozen rocks. Tycon took a glance down into the valley by their side, he couldn''t see the bottom through the sailing snow but he knew it was a long fall if one of them slipped.


    "Take my hand," He said to Sylaina, reaching his arm out towards her.


    He felt her frigid hand grasp his own and they interlocked fingers as they continued down the mountain. They only made it three steps before Tycon heard a crunch and a crack, he gazed up above and saw it. The loose snow that was capped over the grey rocks was coming loose on top of them. The wind was too strong and he didn''t have time to turn back before it would fall.


    "Shit," He swore, "Sylaina, brace!"


    He locked his legs onto the ground below him and put himself in a slight crouch, tensing all of his strength on his calves. He lowered his head and waited, grasping Sylaina''s hand tightly, though he could barely feel her hand on his frozen fingers. He held on for dear life if she fell then he wouldn''t be able to live with himself. He had friends now and he couldn''t lose another.


    The weight fell on him like a heavy wet blanket, feeling the cold envelop them both in the hard powdery snow. The force almost caused him to lose his stance, hitting him hard enough to dig himself deeper into the dirt that lay beneath. He heard a muffled cry beyond the snow and he clenched his hand but couldn''t feel Sylaina''s.


    Oh, no!


    His heart suddenly leapt to his throat and he felt his stomach turn. He dug into the snow frantically looking for her but each time he reached, he grabbed onto nothing. His heart began racing like a thumping drum in his chest and his arms moved without thought as he dug. It wasn''t long before he elt the chill of the frigid air seep into the hole he dug and he knew he was getting close. Above the howling wind, he heard Sylaina''s heavy breathing and the crunch of falling rocks.


    He pulled himself from the snow pile and saw her frantically holding onto the jagged rocks that sat on the cliff edge, her face red from cold and fear. She clung for as long as she could as she hung from the cliffside, her feet dangling at the abyss of the valley below.


    "Hang on!" Tycon cried, "I''m coming."


    "Please... Hurry!"


    He rushed over to her and grabbed her arm firmly, there wasn''t a chance that he was going to let her fall. Luckily for him, she was slender and light, even with all the gear she carried. Although so was he and it was still a challenge to pull her up. She let go of the rocks and grasped his coated arm with both hands and Tycon pressed his knees and pulled her up slowly and he sighed in relief.


    He hadn''t realized it but he was sweating and as quickly as the droplets came, they all but froze on his skin that left an intense coldness on certain parts of his face. He fell back onto the mound of snow and Sylaina fell on top of him, breathing heavily, the mist from each breath disappearing quickly in wind.


    He wrapped his arms around her and held her tight, taking a short moment to rest and warm up as much as they could. In any other circumstance, he''d have blushed but the close call left nothing but an intense relief within him.


    "I thought caravans came through here," She said when they let go.


    "I think we may have taken a wrong turn," Tycon replied after the tension began to dissipate.


    Sylaina rose to her feet and brushed some snow from her shoulder, shifting her gaze to the trail ahead that lead down the mountain. She looked back at Tycon and offered her hand which he graciously took.


    "We better get off this thing before we both end up at the bottom of the valley."


    Tycon nodded, "I couldn''t agree more."


    The climb down was just as treacherous as the journey to the peak and both elves took extra caution with their descent. The long way down was filled with more chilled winds and treacherous snow and when Tycon''s boots finally hit solid ground, he sighed in relief and smiled knowing that the hardest part of the trip had been conquered.


    The sun was setting behind the horizon by the time they made it down and he took a moment to gaze at the distant tropical beaches and ocean ahead. The view reminded him of Selenicar and the beautiful sunsets he''d seen there. The echoing sound of seagulls and the chirping of crickets all but consumed him and he was surprised at the sudden change of environment. It almost felt as if the journey across the mountain was some kind of fever dream. His soaked clothes and still frosted hair reminded him that it wasn''t.


    They decided to set up camp some distance from the base of the mountain and by some palm trees, hoping to escape the frigid air and dry their clothes. Tycon collected some twigs and sticks while Sylaina tried her best to get the flint dry to make a spark. He could hear her swearing to herself as he worked and let himself laugh loud enough for her to hear. He watched her turn with a frustrated scowl but he didn''t let his smile falter and soon she relented and smiled back.


    They were close to their goal, although, Tycon still questioned what exactly they were looking for. He had a feeling that if anything strange was to happen there, then he''d be confident that they''d be close to whatever they were supposed to find. He reached into his pocket and studied the gem, letting the blue shine take him over once again as he gazed at the moving spirals within.


    Whatever they were here to find, it had to have something to do with the gems. Why else would the woman point him this way?


    When Sylaina finally managed to get the fire going, Tycon began to strip off his damp clothes, oblivious to Sylaina who frowned and looked away. He didn''t see it as anything weird, but a necessity. There wasn''t a chance he was going to remain in his frozen and soaked clothes.


    "Do you really have to do that in front of me?" Sylaina said, turning her head away from him.


    Even in the firelight, he could tell she was blushing.


    "If you want to get warm and dry, I think you should do the same."


    "Not a chance," She blurted immediately, the stubbornness in her voice was incredibly strong.


    Tycon rolled his eyes, he knew what she was thinking, "If you keep them on, you''ll get frostbite and I don''t want to have to saw your arms or legs off."


    She hesitated and shivered, shifting her eyes from Tycon to the fire and back again, then with a sigh she relented, "Fine," She said, "Just... Look away, okay?"


    "Of course," He obliged.


    Once he was done stripping to his briefs and had placed his clothes by the fire, he sat and gazed towards the ocean, and then the stars as darkness crept upon them. He heard Sylaina struggling with her clothes beside him as he let the beaming warmth of the fire wash away the cold from his feet and chest.


    "How long do you think it''ll be before we reach the nearest town?" Tycon asked, turning to face her.


    His jaw locked up and his eyes widened as he saw Sylaina, who was practically nude staring back at him with a fiery rage in her eyes. He tried his best not to look at her exposed breasts that were quickly hidden by her thin pale arms. He didn''t know what to say so he said nothing and quickly shifted his gaze back towards the ocean.


    "I-I''m sorry, I forgo-"


    "Quiet! You perv," She snapped and Tycon locked his jaw again.


    He waited for the moment to pass before asking his question a second time.


    "How long before we reach the nearest town?"


    "I saw some torches in the distance," She replied, now calm, "I''d estimate about half a day. What exactly do we look for once we get there?"


    "I don''t know," He admitted, "I guess we''ll have to wait and see."


    He wondered if he''d see the woman in his dreams again, in fact, he hoped for it. He needed something - another clue as to what they''re looking for. He silently begged that she''d appear because he was beginning to worry that they''d waste too much time and get nowhere. And he didn''t have any time to waste.


    Not anymore. A sinking feeling followed him, something was about to happen. Could Sylaina feel it too? Was it an elven thing? He went to look to her but hesitated. Choosing instead to look at the stars to clear his head of the clouded fog of thoughts that lingered. Actions would speak louder and he needed to complete his objective. The fate of the world was at stake.


    Hang in there, Ren.