[Aslan's Forge] The Tale of the Lion and the Wolf (Fidelis, Masamune)

[Veleraen]

OOCLenara will be joining Veleraen on the mountainside to watch the battle from afar. Just so everyone knows :)

High Noon, 28th of Cryaxtum, Spring Era XV PF

Scholars have described the formation of a sword as a hardening of steel through the raging coals of a furnace, melting and burning; a molding of creativity, skill and an iron will. Thrust into the flames and left to ignite for all but a few brief moments, the heat emanates outwards to give new life, new energy to its refreshed host.

That heat now burned within Veleraen’s spirit, atop the high mountain peaks of Centripax…Atop the northern slopes of Aslan’s Forge.

Ashen clouds littered the heavens, staining the sky with their fury. A storm starting to brew on the horizon and thundered across the mountain valley as the Giant’s frame blended in amongst the rock and stone, unwavering, immobile as the mountain itself. It was not the thunder that rolled across the land that sent shivers up his spine and whispered in his ears to leave before it was too late. No…It was his love. Despite how much his soul yearned to be back at the Palace, safely in the arms of Lenara, he knew he could not leave now. The chains of romance would not hold him back even though he wanted them to, he would have to break them to roam free, to take his enemy by the throat and show him what it meant to threaten this world.

Rules had been broken and the laws of this world had been breached and it was now the Titan’s time to enforce them. Threats had been garnered, demands made and a challenge was now given with open arms. The time had come where it was now not merely just a battle of mortal men beset on destroying one another…No…They fought for much, much more than just pride and honour. An ageless conflict fought through the annals of time was now resurfacing, the festering wound caused between the plights of Aeternia and Aetheria now stung at every touch.

The Scion of Honour and the Wolf of Chaos now knocked at the Ancient gates. It was but a matter of time before they fell.

For three brightenings Veleraen had stayed upon the slope of the Forge, his mind forging new paths, his soul soaring to the skies. For three brightenings and three darkenings, the Knight had lent an ear to the voice of the heavens and even though silence encompassed him, the message delivered was quite clear.

His face was covered in ash and soot, his lips barren and dry but his spirit had not degraded; it had only gotten stronger. Glimmering mail and ruby breastplate cut into the rocky landscape, his chest high and proud as he stood upon a rocky precipice. Steady hands clenched inside their protective layers, his metallic boot shifting the dust from his place of prayer. A mighty weapon, shone brightly in the darkness, illuminated only by the faint rays that cut through the darkness above in the stormy summer skies.

The Titan had come this far now, his stone-like eyes piercing into the shadows afar. Thunder cracked against the mountainside once more as a streak of lightning passed over head. The beast was hungry, it craved a meal; a sacrifice. The billowing heat of the Forge overcame the slope like a constant feeling of hate, unnerving and merciless at best. It reminded him of the summers he spent during his childhood upon the familiar slopes of Centripax. Home was not far away and that was the reason why the battle was to occur here. He knew these lands, he could feel the stone’s presence within the ground, and his feet were steady upon the rocky ledges and their hilled counterparts. This was his land, his territory and now standing there upon the sacred ground of the Forge itself, Veleraen’s heart beat with tenacity unlike that of any other. The spirits of these lands called to him and as he closed his eyes and his breath settled….

He called back to them.

“Blessed is he, in the name of his God, should he shed his blood upon this holy ground. Fill thy soul with fear and cast it out, for it does not belong here this brightening…Only the hands of Gods and the souls of mortal men dwell here now. That which lingers in the shadows of the valley comes to bring eternal suffering but fear does not reside here within me. The light instills my heart with faith and love for my ancestors and my brothers in the hallowed halls of the ancients.

Take me upon swift wings of grace and deliver me to the righteous. Breathe unto me your life as I make my final stand upon this barren mountainside. I no longer fear that which tears at me in my dreams…I no longer hear the screams of His victims in the middle of the pitch black skies…I sense now only silence in a dead wind, a stale taste lingers and yet, here, I still stand with my back against the World.

I am your Shield of Suffering…I have been tempered in the holy fire and I am now stronger than any mortal steel. I am your Weapon of Righteousness…I have been forged through anguish and glory against the unpunished souls of your enemies…An enemy that now approaches, he comes upon black wings of chaos. No mercy resides within, only a concentrated dedication, a focus unlike that of which I have ever seen.

I pray to thee Aslan Immanuel, Lord of Honour, son of Justice, bringer of Light. Should the Walls fall and a new era arise, lift me upon your shoulders and deliver me to the Kingdom of Sonos. My life now means nothing more than a grain of ash in a gentle breeze. He has killed many of my brothers...His eyes pierce into my spirit and he tells me to die.

I say unto him now, I stand here ready and willing.

My face glares into the storm upon the horizon and all I can see is darkness. But I am the Light I say…I am here to offer hope and reason; justice and honour. I can bring balance to these lands, bring the light into the darkness; it will be difficult. He comes from lands influenced by the hands of Aeternia itself, its taint staining every inch, every soul, but here I stand still, my heart open for all of those to see. His name is simply, Wolf, and he comes upon this stale wind that lashes at my face but yet here…Here I still stand.

He tells me to surrender my soul…”

Two eyes slowly fluttered, opening their gaze to the horizon.

“And I say unto him..."

"Come face me now…and I will show you a new Aeternia.”

[Fidelis Meridius]

Songstamp"The Day that Never Comes." ~ Metallica.

Centripax; the heart of much more than a Kingdom.

It was a place not travelled enough by Fidelis. At least not these eras. So much of life lead back to these lands, so much of who he was lay decaying in the fields, in the cities, in the Dolwood, the Great Mountains... pieces of lost fragments of his former man, all abandoned for one purpose. Home was always home, but these lands held nothing for him now. His past ceased to exist, and what was left of the warrior was taken from him by the cruelty of the immortals.

But from the ashes of a destroyed life, his current form had risen to be a champion of his own fate, strong enough to defy a kingdom... even a god. But now, his will to crush all that opposed his righteous cause had led him back to his homelands... Back to remains of what once was.

It was this place that the battlefield had presented itself once more. He had made his demands, but they were answered only with a challenge. And the warrior, once more, accepted the call to arms... to precious victories.

Turbulent winds thrashed about the clouds as a storm brewed to its havoc-wreaking potential; stretching across the province. Thunder crackled across the sky as lightening raced about in a beautiful display of chaos. In between the bolts of lightning, nature ceased its display of power just enough for the thud of wings to become audile.

Rising up the slopes, Blackwind thrust his wings downward rythmically, carrying his master to its summit. Thump... thump... thump... Like a heart beating from its chest, the wings continued their dirge. In these moments, time seemed to slow, and its lonely tune carried on. The mind had plenty of time to tear the situation down and build it back up over and over again. Uncertainty loomed over everything, enough to make the most hardened warriors uneasy in the saddle. But Fidelis met it with dauntless composure and a will fueled by the memories of pain and hate. But there was no turning back now, not when everything he knew hung in such a fragile state... It was time to make a statement to all; to solidify his presence amongst the world, in spite all who opposed him.

But even the greatest of all swordsmen wouldn't shrug off such a moment in time. How could one so well educated in war, not respect the possibilities that lie ahead. othing was guaranteed... ever. He could very well perish here, but it was a possibilty that the warrior lived with every brightening. He had no choice but to come to terms with the life he led. But time snapped back to reality as lightning cracked the sky once more. The time for coming to terms with one's demons had expired.

As fire and molten rock spewed from the forge's mouth, Blackwind and his rider crested the mountain before the pair jet higher into the sky. Twisting hard to the left, the winged beast carried the Wolf of Jorel around the volcano like a buzzard over a rotting carcass.

"There he is..." Fidelis' eyes narrowed as they complemented the light smirk that cracked his face. Looking down to the flaming peak, his emeral gaze outlined the Giants form which loomed upon the slopes. There he was: Aslan's finest; another sheep led blindly to the slaughter of wolves.

"Go back to Havina when I release you. She knows what to do..." The warrior leaned forward and whispered his commands to the loyal beast. He would obey without question. Diving hard for Telath, the pair approached the soon to be battleground with awe inspiring speed.

"Your will is my strength, I will not fail." Fidelis promised Jorel as he plummeted towards his enemy. Just as the pair was about to slam into the side of Aslan's Forge, a violent fludder of wings halted their movement. Almost as if hovering for but a second. It was in the moment, the Jorelite released the reigns as he leaned over the side of the pegasus, dumping him to the ground like a cat from a tree.

Rising from his lowered position, the Jorelite dropped the cloak from his shoulders as he stood. Compliments of onyx leather and elvin steel riddled the swordsmans body. About his waist were the tools of his profession: The twin ardentium blades: Order and Choas.

Gazing up to Veleraen, the warrior's scared face was outlined by a neatly kept beard, but his cheeks still shown signs of the scars left by the acid Havina set upon the army in Sheria. Ripping his gladii from their sheaths in one fluid movement, the Wolf continued to stare down his foe.

"I am Fidelis Meridus, Wolf of Jorel, and I accept your challenge."

... Meanwhile, Blackwind descended from the mountainside, back the way he had come, back to the base of the mountain. There she awaited. Right where she was meant to be.

Standing where, only moments ago the Thorn watched as her Wolf ascended into battle, she waited as Blackwind descended once more to carry her up the mountain. But she knew the rules, she knew her Wolf. This was his fight, she was only meant to watch over him, only to interfere if a trap exposed itself.

[Veleraen]

SongstampJudas Kiss ~ Metallica

Like a fallen angel already bent and corrupt, Fidelis flew in the sky above him. The Giant raised his chin slightly as his eyes gazed to the darkened heavens and watched the figure circle him. A demon with wings, a vulture of the abyss, he cascaded down and the Knight had the pleasure of watching him descend upon his black wings of chaos to the rocky ground in front of him.

His exposed heart did not skip a beat, nor did his lips tremble at the sight of such a ferocious predator. His mental wall of steel was held high that brightening as his eyes gazed downwards towards the Wolf. He was now not just some mere sheep wandering into a den...no, the Sheperd had come to meet the Wolf bothering his flock. He desperately wanted to lash out and cast him down into the caldera of the Forge itself but steel nerves of patience and temperance held him in check. It would come full circle soon enough.

There was a sudden rush of excitement and adrenaline that pulsed through him but it suddenly was calmed as he met the eyes of the Wolf for the first time in the flesh. He'd seen them in his dreams, in his nightmares...but he was not afraid anymore. The Knight had pushed through that barrier in his dreams. He might have been ripped to shreds many times over in the blackened visions he possessed but he was determined to make sure that the same outcome did not happen that brightening.

Thunder and lightning rocked their universe, the air tingling with not just raw static but the energy infused between the two figures that stood upon the rocky precipice was intense. Their souls were stronger, furious with the power of their masters, their wills surpassing that of any normal mortal man. The aura that surrounded Fidelis was hideous and magnificent. Darker shades of greys, reds and black, interwoven with a thread of gold and darker blue, the strands of energy weaving around his figure in a deathly array of colour. It was a unique signature, a basis of emotions and perceptions that the Giant had to work with but in the end...The colours mattered not. The true danger lingered on the outer portion of the Wolf's aura, the ardentium blades and the hands that wielded them.

Calm tones addressed Veleraen's ears as the Wolf accepted his challenge. The Titan flinched not at the unsheathing of the man's weapons, the Knight standing rather still, his body tense but his mind open to the heated winds that whipped around their forms.

"There was little doubt that you would not, Mister Meridius." The Titan stated quite plainly in response to Fidelis's acceptance. There was too much at stake for either of them to back down now. They had come to the end of the World and back for their Lords and now they were at the top of it, upon this barren mountainside, ready and willing to fulfill that which their masters had set out for them.

Eyes never leaving the Wolf's gaze, the Giant tilted his head ever so slightly to the right as he became a bit curious in their heightened state of conflict. There was a raging desire for knowledge within his battle for supremacy, something that had to be quenched before he potentially met his own end.

"Before we throw the pleasantries out the door, Wolf; I am curious..." The Giant looked over towards and down the mountainside and then back up at Fidelis with a stone-like gaze. He needed to know.

"I have seen you, your face in my dreams...I cannot explain why or how. I have felt the terror you can provide and I have tasted the death you bring. I have also heard your blasphemous words against the Son of Honour...You have a unique talent Mister Meridius...You know not only how to fight but you fight with such passion that is lined with...with some sort of agenda. Mister Meridius..." Veleraen paused and looked directly at him as he gazed into the dark soul in front of him.

"Why is your hatred for me and my kind so great?" An eyebrow raised itself ever so slightly as Veleraen shifted in his armour. His eyes closed briefly as his head tilted downwards towards his chest.

"I have seen only but a glimpse of your horrors. I saw you run through that forest and I saw the destruction that it caused you..." His eyes furrowed slightly, his confusion mounting somewhat. The deep tones of his voice were that of concern, not simply pure hatred like the Wolf had expressed in his previous visions.

"You were....Once like me. All I wish to know is..."

The Giant raised his head once more and looked at Fidelis, his eyes never faltering, his gaze seeking nothing but truth.

"Why?"

[Fidelis Meridius]

The mountainside had become slopes of destiny for the pair of warriors. All the eras past, all the battles won; somehow they strangely had all led up to this very point: At what seemed like the pinnacle of the world... and their respective faith. One fought for honor, the other vengeance, but perhaps more was on the line than they would ever know. How many lives truly hung in the balance?

Onyx boots crushed the dark rock beneath Fidelis' feet as he stepped forward, issuing the Titan of Honor a sly smirk. That was a question he had heard countless times... "Why?" It had been uttered by nearly ever man who had the privilege of dying on his blades. Even when they could not speak, he could see it in their eyes. Yet he had never answered it before, for they would never understand.

Walking in a small circle, the swordsman twirled and spun one of his blades like a toy. His demeanor was almost playful as he did, but eventually Veleraen received a nod as a reply. Confident that Aslan had finally delivered Fidelis his finest, he would grant him some solace in knowing why he had to die. Halting his movements, the Dark Knight lowered his weapons to his side.

"I cannot deny that I your face isn't new to me either... Veleraen... I too have seen you in my dreams." the Jorelite paused almost as if he were punched in the jaw as the giant spoke of the horrors from the fateful darkening in the Dolwood. What did he truly know of what happened there? His words were enough to ignite Fidelis into a frenzy of hate that would rival the fires of the mountain. But not anymore. He was cold and calm, his hand steady as he remained stoic in the eyes of his adversary. "Tell me warrior... Have you ever lost anything close to you? Have you ever had that of which you love most ripped from your grasp?" The swordsman's visage became slightly more animated and gestures with his blades began to follow as he continued to talk.

"Or maybe you have devoted your life to something, given it everything you had, only to be forsaken by everything you stood for? No?" He assumed the reply as he continued. "Fear not... I will educate you on the subject for very soon, but first..." The wolf looked up to the mighty giant as he stepped forward even further. "Do you really want to know why I kill your brothers, why I hate everthing they stand for, why I wish to destroy every last one of you?" He pointed the blade towards the skull of the massive knight.

"I'll tell you why... Because, all the pain that you think you felt in your dreams, all the horrors you think you experienced... They are my nightmares, they all that I ever received from your god, our god. But no, that wasn't enough. After being so kind to give me such a gift..." The warrior retracted his weapon as he flexed his arm; tightening his grip as he looked to the reflection of his own eyes in the ardentium weapon. His face was riddled with disgust as he enlightened Vel of the truth. "...He thought it also necessary to take everything from me... EVERYTHING." The Jorelite shouted, "The scion of honor is nothing more than a hypocrite."

"I took a vow, that never from that darkening, would my will be taken away. That I shall not stop until my heart no longer beats, or until vengeance was served, until the wrong... righted. Until all is forgiven." He smiled once more, this time it was brighter and wider as more of his teeth were visible. "That is why you must die. Ironic isn't it... That a place blessed by his name will be where his mightiest is cast into the nether. Now tell me giant, are you ready for me to show you the true colors of your god?"

[Veleraen]

SongstampAll of Them - Hans Zimmer

The Devil had knocked on his door...And the Knight had answered it.

The beast that was to be unleashed upon the Forge was something that reveled in great power, skill...patience perhaps not, but fortitude and determination was licking at his face with a hot tongue. Fidelis's movements were timed and executed much like the predator that he was.

Had such a challenge that he issued been a mistake? Not in his eyes.

The fires that burned not far below churned and all the while there was another explosion waiting to happen atop the surface. Even with the jaws of Jalat waiting to swallow him whole, doubts about his decision did not linger in his mind. It had been a planned event, a meeting of wills by the Fates and a necessary confrontation to settle or extend the eternal battle that they both faced before them.

Much like the Titan had seen Fidelis amongst the shadows of his nightmares, he too had seen the Knight in his. Veleraen was not taken aback by such news. He had been told once that in the land of dreams, not all was fake nor were the connections between the people that had them. Such was the case with Fidelis and he. Their destinies had been intertwined and for the first time in Veleraen's life, the sneaking suspicion that lingered in the back of his mind was starting to fester and manifest itself into what the Titan had known all along; it was the beginning of an end.

The words thrown around by Fidelis were underlined with a hatred...a loathing malice towards everything wrong that had done wrong in his life. The Wolf had a grudge against the Scion of Honour, a chip on his shoulder that could not simply be repaired with a bit of plaster and a soft set of hands. A deep sensation of sadness could be felt within the warrior's eyes as Veleraen stared deep into the man's soul and he could see where the tear in the fabric of his life had been sheared away.

It appeared...he was too late.

Threats, realities, the dispicable truth, it was all said and stated. The Wolf wanted blood but it would not be had until the Titan was truly satisfied. It was a saddening thought to know that so much pain and suffering had happened to the man standing before him. It was not the human element or his the pure and innocent portion of the soul that used to exist within him that the Knight hated....It was what he had become and forsaken because of an either blinding ignorance...Or a foolish decision that had set him apart...and driven him away from the flock.

The Wolf had once been a Lion's brother...but he was no longer.

"It is a shame...." Veleraen rose his head, his eyes searching the scarred face of the Wolf for an ounce of purity; a moment of clarity.

"I once thought like you did...I blamed the Gods for my mistakes...for the awful things that had happened in my life. Unlike you, Mister Meridius, I did not make my God a scapegoat..." He watched as the Wolf approached him closer but he did not move. He knew there were rules...ethics...codes...The Knight could see that there would be no more betrayal upon such a holy ground, Aeternian or Aetherian alike.

"I too...know the nightmares that you have seen. I see them every darkening as well. They are a test...A test you have failed, so it seems, Mister Meridius. A test to the strength of your spirit...a test to determine whether you are worthy enough to hold the thoughts of a thousand dead warriors; their dreams and their sins alike. It is a shame..." Veleraen looked right at Fidelis, his large orbs piercing and filling with a slowly rising fire.

"...that you were not strong enough."

It was almost as if he had taunted a God into striking him down but it had been uttered and nothing could stop the words flowing from his lips to the Wolf's ears, for they were sharp, keen and sensitive to the Will of his master....and to the words of his enemies.

"Perhaps it was your.." Veleraen flicked his hand slightly into the air. "Lack of faith...dedication, but the Scion of Honour is no hypocrite. A warrior does what he can with what this World throws at him, no more!" Veleraen thrusted his hand towards the ground, a sharp finger extended. "You are a fool if you blame the Gods for your own failures, Wolf. I saw the strength of your soul...It was once high amongst the graces of His own. For you to believe otherwise has made you weak...There is a reason why Jorel preys on the minds of the weak Mister Meridius..."

The Knight's hand relaxed and he took a half step backwards, his weapon leaning ever so slightly.

"...It is because he cannot lure the strong willed over to his side...He whispers promises of power and greed, a fulfilling destiny I must say...but what will become of you in the end Mister Meridius? When you are nothing but ash and dust?" Veleraen raised his weapon and pointed to his right to the gusts of ash that were spewing forth from the Forge. "Hmmm? What will your vengeance be good for then? To cause all the suffering in the world and then to die in the service of a dark lord is nothing to revel at but then again, you do not hear my words...They are nothing but drivel to you..." The Knight sighed as he knew that the barrier that Jorel had erected after he corrupted the Wolf's mind was too hard to penetrate, even for the calm spirit of the Knight.

"Your quest for vengeance is in vain...You cannot surely hope to thrust your swords into the bleeding heart of an immortal. The Scion of Honour will rule long after you are dead and I will make sure that his name stands above the rest. Rest assured Wolf, I will die, if not this brightening, then one brightening when the suns set, my time will come and I will die knowing I stood here against you, Mister Meridius. I will know I fought here and protected the World from a predator that sought its destruction because of a childish grudge. No longer will this Kingdom be your playing field."

Veleraen took two more steps backwards and readied his weapon in front of him, his chest lifted slowly, his eyes blinked once...twice; inside the metallic prison of his helmet.

"I am ready Wolf." The Knight gave a slight nod of his helmet, erratic gusts of wind and gust brushing by his face as the belly of the Forge grew hotter and more ferocious. Veleraen had only seen but a glimpse of the man's raw power as he stared at him, only having been in but a fraction of the Wolf's dreams. He wanted to know more...

"Show me your hatred...Show me your vengeance. Show me why you are so feared; Wolf." His heart raced but his hands were steady...His face harder then steel. The Lion within roared. It was going to be a bloody finish.

[Fidelis Meridius]

Upon the top of the world they stood, two holy warriors ushered in by fate to fight an immortal war on a mortal battlefield. Like the champions they had become, both man and giant answered the call to arms. It was upon the pinnacle of the forge, that they would fight for everything they had known in their lives; whether it was vengeance or righteousness.

The scene was quickly growing restless as Veleraen questioned the Jorelite's motives and reasoning. Even though the over sized knight was potentially the greatest foe Fidelis would face in the span of his life, he still was as much a fool as the rest of his brethen. The man's lip curled as he responded to Vel's aggressive speech. "One cannot expect to see through another man's eyes if he cannot even see through the very shroud that hides his own vision from the true... You are correct to say that I was once like you. I too was once lost to the world, caught in the grip of the hypocrite..."

Fidelis waved his sword at the giant as he continued, [b]"... Perhaps you are right. Perhaps I will never even so much as annoy Aslan enough to shift his seat upon the throne of Sonos. Perhaps my life will end meaninglessly. But you cannot say you know a finite limit to infinite power that lies within the multi-verse. But one thing I can say with certainty, is that you will die before I do, and in death your soul will see the truth." Eyes, mad with power, stared down the giant one final time. The very bones of the Wolf screamed with a desire to kill the Aslanite. It was here his will would be done. His body was ready, his mind clear and focused in the absence of consternation... It was time.

"An eternity of regret and pain awaits giant. Let us not keep it waiting." The warrior's voice rose with a hearty laugh, but there was no humor to be found. The games were over, the time for talking was past. The only thing that was left was to bleed.

With a casual twirl of the wrist, Fidelis spun his gladii within his grasp as he adjusted his grip before diving headlong into battle. To start things off, fear would be the swordsmen's weapon of choice. Vel knew of the Wolf of Jorel's reputation, of his abilities, of the countless fallen to his will. It was not a thought that would be easily shaken from his mind, and the human wished to feed on that.

Speed and strength were both key. Fidelis' attack would be overwhelming, unrelentling, and merciless. It had to be, for the Giant's attacks could not just be blacked with a simple parry. Therefore the best defense was to never let Vel have the offensive.

Closing the gap between the holy warriors, the battle between the Lion and the Wolf was underway as Fidelis surged forth. From his left side, Fidelis offered a horizontal slash towards his towering opponent. It's only purpose was simply to get the giant's weapon moving to see how well he fought and how he moved. In a collosal crash the two weapons would collide, and from that moment forth neither of the knights' lives would be the same.

Taking the expected parry with a grunt, Fidelis threw himself into a volley of attacks as both blades swung in and out furiously to test Veleraen more. Most men lacked the salt to stand fast in front of such a force, and the few who had soon found themselves tired and overwhelmed a matter of moments later. How long would Aslan's Mightiest hold?

oocSorry about the delay, can't say that there won't be more delays any time soon, but I will try my best. Also, apologies about the post, I've gotten a little rusty, so I figured I'd keep it a lil simpler for a few posts.

[Masamune]

OOC: Ambiance Posting at the request of Veleraen.


As the Lion and the Wolf faced each other, the thick clouds that hung ominously in the sky had thickened noticeably. A crack of thunder sounded throughout the region, made horrendously louder as the noise reverberated around inside of Aslan's forge and was redirected outwards. The Forge, perhaps the only known active volcano of Aelyria, glowed with a molten fury reflected in the eyes of the Wolf, casting the iron gray of the clouds with a red tint. Similarly, the sadness at the Wolf's perversion from light within the Lion's soul was reflected as tiny droplets began to fall from the sky.

It was said that rain was the tears of the gods, falling upon mortal men. Some said it was in sorrow at the state of the world, others that it was in envy at living as freely as they did. Others that it was in joy at seeing what mortals were capable of. Everyone had a different answer. On this brightening, however, if asked, all would see the same thing. Tears of anger and sorrow, plummeting from the sky to drench the ground, as though to pre-emptively wash away the blood that they knew would soak the stones of Aslan's Forge.

It was nothing during the beginning of the conversation, but it slowly escalated into the pitter-pat of fat drops as they soaked the stone where the pair stood. The stone, baked dry from the heat of the forge, sucked at the sky's tears greedily, so that while it wasn't slippery at first, the stone itself seemed to darken with the moisture. As the conversation continued the rain came harder and harder, until at last it was pelting the pair that stood calling to each other. A terrifying hiss, reminiscent of a quiet, inhuman scream, erupted from the volcano as the heat of the core of the world combated the madly falling droplets of rain.

As conversation ceased and the Wolf threw himself at the Lion, as though ordained, lightning split the sky. As the blade of electricity arced to the highest point, it slammed into the peak of the volcano, and several shards of rocks exploded from the point, plummeting to slam into the molten rock that bubbled at the surface with it's angry red glow.

The die had been cast.

The first blow had been swung.

The battle betwix't champions was only beginning, and already the world around them seemed to be battling with them.

Who would win?

The Lion? Or the Wolf?