Shadows of Alteria

I held Elara close as the dust settled around us, my shadows coiled protectively. The beast that had torn through Ravencross's defenses stood motionless now, its massive form blocking out the morning sun.

My eyes widened as I took in the sight. What I'd first thought was a normal horse was anything but - its body wreathed in black flames that didn't seem to burn, hooves that left scorched prints in the cobblestones. The creature stood twice the height of a normal warhorse, muscles rippling beneath its dark hide.

But it was the rider that drew my attention. His dragonic armor seemed to drink in the light, each scale perfectly crafted to form an impenetrable shell. The massive lance he held looked like it could skewer a dozen men at once, its tip gleaming with an otherworldly sheen.

I felt Zarthus stir next to me, his presence suddenly alert in a way I'd never felt before.

Before I could react, his ancient voice carrying an emotion I couldn't quite place.

"It has been a while, Darkious," Zarthus called out, his tone almost... familiar?

The Imperial guards around us shifted nervously, their weapons wavering between the newcomer and us. Elara remained still in my grasp, her eyes fixed on the scene unfolding before us.

I glanced at Zarthus, surprised by his reaction. The demon lord who had pledged himself to me, who had given me powers beyond imagination, was treating this armored figure with what almost seemed like respect.

The black flames from the horse cast dancing shadows across the square as we waited for the rider's response.

I watched as Darkious dismounted his nightmarish steed, his armor creaking with each deliberate movement. The black flames from his horse cast an eerie glow across his helm.

"Master Zarthus," Darkious's voice rumbled through his helm. "I felt your presence... after all these millennia. I had to see for myself."

"Indeed, old friend." Zarthus materialized fully beside me, his form towering over us all, expanding larger and larger with each word. "Though circumstances have changed."

I felt Darkious's gaze shift to me, the weight of his attention like a physical force. The temperature around us dropped several degrees.

"Changed?" Darkious's voice carried an edge sharper than any blade. "What do you mean?"

"I have pledged myself to young Cassian here," Zarthus stated matter-of-factly. "He freed me from my prison, and in return, I serve as his first lieutenant."

The silence that followed was deafening. Then, without warning, dark energy exploded from Darkious. The ground beneath our feet cracked and splintered. Buildings shook, their foundations groaning under the pressure of his rage. Windows shattered, raining glass onto the streets. Villagers screamed, fleeing in terror as the very air seemed to vibrate with his fury.

"YOU SERVE A MERE CHILD?" Darkious roared, his voice distorting with rage. The black flames around his mount intensified, spreading across the ground like liquid shadow.

I felt Elara tense beside me as the waves of power rolled over us. Even the Imperial guards had dropped their weapons, paralyzed by the sheer force of Darkious's anger.

But before the situation could escalate further, Zarthus spoke a single word in a language I didn't recognize. The sound cut through Darkious's display of power like a knife through butter.

Instantly, the oppressive energy vanished. Darkious's form went rigid, his armor creaking as he forcibly relaxed his stance. The black flames receded, and the ground stopped shaking.

"You forget yourself, Darkious," Zarthus said calmly. "You know well what I am capable of."

"I... apologize, Master Zarthus," Darkious responded, his voice now subdued but still carrying an undercurrent of barely contained emotion. "The shock overwhelmed me."

I stepped forward, keeping Elara close but loosening my protective hold. "Let me tell you how this came to be, Darkious."

The armored figure's helm tilted slightly, his attention fixed on me despite his obvious disdain. The black flames from his mount cast dancing shadows across his armor as I spoke.

"I found myself in a dark forest, drawn there by forces I didn't understand. At its heart stood an ancient tree, massive beyond belief, with a rope as thick as a man wound around its trunk." My voice carried across the silent square, the memory of that fateful day crystal clear in my mind. "That's where I first heard Zarthus's voice."

"The binding tree," Darkious interrupted, his tone sharp. "The gods' prison."

I nodded. "The very same. The pressure there was immense - I could barely breathe. But Zarthus spoke to me, offered me power when I had nothing left to lose."

I noticed Elara's subtle reaction beside me, her breath catching slightly at the mention of the void. Her eyes held a knowing look that made me wonder just how much she understood about these ancient powers.

"In the void," I continued, "my body changed. The darkness reshaped me, made me stronger. When I emerged, I commanded not just Zarthus's power, but his entire army. Tens of thousands of warriors, beasts, and sorcerers - all at my command."

Darkious's armored form went rigid. "Impossible. No human could contain such power without being consumed by it."

"Yet here I stand." I raised my hand, letting shadows dance between my fingers. "Zarthus kneels to me now, serves as my first lieutenant. The demon lord you once knew chose to pledge his loyalty to me."

"It's true, Darkious," Zarthus's voice rumbled. "I saw something in this boy - a potential that surpassed even my expectations. The choice was mine to make."

I watched Darkious struggle with this revelation, his massive frame tense with disbelief. Throughout my explanation, Elara remained silent, but I could feel her studying every word, every reaction. Her silence spoke volumes - she knew more than she let on, but chose to observe instead of speak.

"Show me," Darkious demanded suddenly. "Prove your command over his power."

I smiled, feeling Zarthus's energy surge through me. With a thought, I summoned a fraction of my army - dark warriors materializing from shadows, their forms solidifying in the square. They knelt as one, their collective presence making the air thick with power.

"Enough," Darkious growled, raising a hand. "I... understand now. Though I don't like it, I cannot deny what I see before me."

The demonstration seemed to satisfy him, though I could still sense his reluctance to accept this new reality. I dismissed the warriors, letting them melt back into shadow as quickly as they had appeared.

I watched as Darkious swung back onto his nightmare steed, the black flames intensifying around them both. His armor caught the light differently now, seeming to absorb even more of it than before. The very air grew thick with his barely contained rage.

"For now, I will leave you and these humans alive as you have Zarthus's protection." His voice rumbled like distant thunder, each word making the ground beneath our feet tremble. The buildings around us groaned under the pressure of his suppressed fury.

I kept my grip firm on Elara, feeling her pulse race against my palm. The Imperial guards had backed away, their weapons forgotten in the dirt. Even Zarthus remained unusually still beside me.

"But mark my words, boy." Darkious's helm turned toward me, those bottomless eye slits boring into my soul. "There will be no next time. When we meet again, one of us will die."

His mount reared up, those burning hooves striking sparks from the cobblestones. The darkness around them swirled and coalesced, becoming almost solid.

Just as they prepared to depart, a horn blast split the air - three sharp notes that cut through the tension like a knife. Darkious froze, his head snapping toward the sound. Even Zarthus seemed caught off guard.

Through the village gates, a new force approached. Their banners bore a symbol I'd never seen before - one that made both Zarthus and Darkious take immediate notice.

"Impossible," Darkious breathed, the first trace of fear I'd heard in his voice.