The Revelation

Elfin dreamt.

The hand, that green omen in the sky, kept appearing. He couldn't understand why, but he knew something was going to happen, something bad. He saw that skeletal hand close again, for the fifth time that night, in his head. He saw it burning in the eerie green light. Finally, it exploded, and Elfin the mage jolted from his sleep.

Sweatdrops were slowly trickling down from his temple. He wiped them off with his sleeve. Looking up into the ceiling, he slowly sat up.

Their friend Greenothumbos, whom they had met again while on the road, had offered to give them some shelter in his very own inn. The Short Stalkers was situated in a small plain, devoid of towns. It was meant for travellers and wasn't very big. But one dared not be picky when roaming in the outbacks.

Elfin took up his staff and headed out of his room. The guest lounge was empty, and the roaring fire had dwindled to fading embers. Greeny was snoring behind the counter. Quietly, Elfin pushed open the front door, silencing the bell with a simple spell. The cool air of the plains were very refreshing.

Even in the outbacks, paradise was present. This was the other reason Elfin had agreed to join Jason on his quest. If Griephon were to take over, the small fields of wild flowers and fresh grass would be turned into breeding havens for his demons.

In the breeze of the cool night, Elfin clenched his fist, promising to vanquish Griephon and avenge his beloved Ayla.

*** *** ***

In the darkest reaches of the outbacks, a dark, spiral tower stood majestically. Winged demons hovered around its tip, roaring and shooting out different coloured bolts of energy.

In the uppermost floor of the spiral tower, a mutant demon sat on a grotesque throne. His wings were folded around him like a cape, and his clawed fingers were coated with metal that made his claws only more deadly. A dark shadown crept towards the throne silently, but nothing escaped Lord Griephon's ears.

"What is it, Black Magic?"

"Master..." came a voice raspy with weakness. "Master I have failed...failed to kill that elf. Have mercy master...he was with someone else, a boy..."

Griephon shifted his body, so that his metal claws could be seen in the dim light. He spoke in a deep voice, "You mean you lost to a meer boy?"

"No master!" squeaked Black Magic. No one could imagine his voice to hit such a note. It was pure fear that allowed it. "I didn't mean that master! That boy...he spoke of revenge against you! He wishes to defeat you!"

Griephon merely laughed. "Then let him come! Many have tried, and their efforts lie wasted as their bodies hang, rotting in my dungeons!"

The laughter echoed in the dark throne room, and Black Magic shuddered.

"As for you, puny shadown goblin. Defeat is not an option, I have no use for you now!" Griephon raised a claw. The goblin pleaded, but his soft squeaks were never heard. The claw dropped, and a scream echoed.

Moments later, a hunched imp entered the room. He whispered into Griephon's ear, as if the walls would overhear them.

Griephon dismissed the imp and pressed a knob on his throne. Four cylindrical tubes rose from the ground. In each was a Keltic, sleeping soundlessly in some green liquid.

"The Spellforce has been revived! Go my Keltics and destroy them!"

The glass cylinders shattered. Four Keltics sped down to Earth.

*** *** ***

Elfin followed the river course down into a small valley. He sat on the grass, stuck his staff into the earth and began to meditate. He felt himself rising off the ground as his thoughts cleared. Suddenly, a horrible picture emerged in his head. Elfin clutched his searing temple and began to scream into the night sky. No one could hear him.

He fell back onto the grass, his head burning. The pictures warped and changed, becoming like a mini movie in the mage's mind. Except this movie hurt.

He saw a group of children, each one of them fighting off demons of different kinds. He saw the once-great land of Spellophia, now rebuilt, going into war. He saw a girl, tossing in her sleep. He saw her lifeline cut in half, saw her die. Another girl, this one extremely striking, had a bolt of energy shot through her. Elfin saw her body dissolving, felt her spirit leaving. He saw the gates of New Spellophia opening. A dark face clouded this vision.

Then...blank.

Elfin staggered to his feet, still holding his throbbing head. He made it to the entrance of The Short Stalkers, but just as Greeny opened the door, he crumbled onto the floor.