" How could I forget it ? " Sen said rushing past the village gates.
"I bet Mira and Neil are mad for bailing out on them. " He says as took a corner towards their house.
" U forget something ? , Sen. " miss Chin asked Sen as he runs past her.
" Yes , just a book , Miss Chin. " he said dashing past her.
" What happened now?" a grumpy voice said approaching Miss Chin in a slow pace.
" I tell you, this lad is nothing but trouble. He'll bring misfortune to the village if him and his grandfather continue living here. "
" Oh lighten up, Rusty. The boy is only fourteen. " Miss Chin responded to the old man standing besides her.
" Or is this spite because of the boy's grandfather "she said teasingly.
Rusty shifted his eyes a to the running boy, annoyed by her comeback.
Until seven years ago, Miss Chin and Rusty were the oldest people in Salur village. They were the guiding light for the village as many different cases : martial, business, labor , were directed to them seeking their years of experience for a solution. This changed after Sen and his grandfather moved into the neighborhood. Well things changed but for Rusty alone. Competition had arrived. Competition was steep.
Sen's Grandfather, Iliad, was still in peak condition looking like he was still in his thirties. He had wide shoulders, an athletic build , a well trimmed beard coupled with white long silky hair ,tied to form a ponytail. His stance majestic and firm as discipline aired from his every motion. To his side was a cute five year old boy ,with a bandage on his right arm. To Rusty this two were nothing but the spawns of the devil.
Since then he had became mortal enemies with Sen's grandfather. That's how Rusty saw it.
After a few years of defeat he moved out of the village and went to Laptove town .
On the other hand Miss Chin developed a good friendship with Sen's grandfather. She had welcomed them open heartedly as she guided them in their stay in the village. During times when Sen's grandfather had left for his errands Miss Chin babysat Sen until he returned. She was also the one who took Sen first to school, one year later after they moved in.
" Fine , Don't say I never warned you. " he said making his way to the village gates.
Miss Chin stared at the angry old man as he stumped his way past the corner that lead to the gates.
***
Sen bolted into their house then dashed to his room looking at where he had lastly seen his book.
" Yes ! " he said. His heart raced from the running, louder with every heavy breath he took.
Suddenly the air got heavy. An eerie feel raced around his body with a familiar sickening feeling. Breathing became hard and his vision doubled and blurry. A sinister hush fell over the village, as if itself had stopped breathing. The air , heavy, was charged with an unseen force that made his skin crawl.
The eerie feel worsened as he made his way , staggering, to the door. He felt a searing pain on his right hand followed by dizziness subjecting him to immense discomfort. Sen's body recognized this feeling, this familiar smell the familiar change in the Arcane nature , it all was still fresh in his mind, —— when Arcane went rogue.
A crimson veil bled across the heavens, staining the sky in unnatural hues. Dark Crimson clouds twisted and churned, pregnant with an ominous storm. Thunder crackled as a surge of energy flooded the land. A slow, eerie hum vibrated through the village, like the distant toll of a bell as the crimson veil engulfed the clear blue sky.
Then light dimmed unnaturally, shadows stretching longer than they should.
" What is this ? " a distant voice was heard.
" Clouds on the solstice celebration ?—— "
" this is not a good sign. " Another said .
Clouds on the day of the solstice celebrations was considered a bad sign. After surviving the cold the sun was highly revered due to its warmness and heat to ward of the frost beasts. But it being cloudy on the first day wasn't the best start. Let alone that the clouds themselves were red.
Worry spread like wildfire on dry autumn leaves engulfing any sense of hope it could find.
Suddenly the cawing of birds was heard. One man looked to the sky then screamed.
" Aren't those — Horco ravens !!" his tone rising in terror.
One black feathered bird settled at the apex of the village gates , staring down at the village in unsettling stillness.
" Get out of my way! … "a man said charging through the street. " am getting out of here!"
Then came the stampede. The crowd frantically raced through the streets not caring for who and what. It was every man for themselves and death to those who stood in their way.
Suddenly a piercing scream came from the gates. A lady , covered in scarlet , stood trembling at the sight. In front of her was a something like an energy barrier rising to the sky. On the other side of the barrier was a half man. The other half was inside the village been engulfed by the barrier.
" There is no way out!"a man said , his eyes glassy as though the light behind them had gone out.
Sen staggered his way to the street. On the other side he saw miss Chin staring into the sky baffled at the spectacle.
" Miss Chin are u ok ? " Sen asks approaching her ." let me help you …. " suddenly a sharp pain surged through Sen's right hand sending him to the ground gripped with anguish.
" Aaah!! " Sen cried his hand flaring with pain.
"Sen!" Miss Chin in a worried tone , said making her way to Sen who was on the ground battling pain.
As though simultaneous the ground beneath them pulsed, glowing with eerie runes that had not been there before. A low tremor rattled the earth, like something beneath was stirring from its slumber causing cracks on the houses. Sen, on the ground, coiled and twisted, with the pain flaring more and more as the tremors continued.
On the ground Sen muttered one thing as the brilliance engulfed the village.
" Not this again ——. "