The Anger of Archmagus Lumos of the Keep

The lid clattered to the floor, and the young page screamed. Inside the gem-encrusted chest lay the remains of Aldo. Nothing but charred ashes and fragments of bone.

"Look at him," thundered Archmagus Lumos of the Keep. "Look at what happens when they tempt the flame alone with naught but air!"

"I know you grieve for your friend, Lumos. We all do."

"My friend?" Lumos and Aldo had been more than friends. They'd defended the keep for centuries. Fought the forces of the Red Capital together. And together, side-by-side, they'd walked through fire, more often than not coming out the other side victorious by combining their powers. A guardian light had been extinguished. "He was more than my friend."

The weary lines cracking Alessar's face said he understood. He understood the danger now.

Now, one less wizard defended the keep. Worse, The Sacred Flame had been taking more and more of them. It needed to be stopped.

"You know what I must do," whispered Lumos, glancing from face to face, his eyes meeting the eyes of every wizard at the table. Alessar had called the meeting, and every wizard in the keep had responded. Each of them filled with fear and crippling dread.

The Great Burning had arrived.

"The Sacred Flame must be guarded against, Lumos," Alessar responded. "We cannot conquer the..."

"No!" Lumos glared at the High Wizard of the keep. "I have defeated greater enemies. I have beaten back both goblin horde and pyromancer legion."

"Yes. We were there, too." But Alessar's eyes betrayed his coward's mind. "However, we are not strong enough for this."

"You may not be." Lumos slapped the tabletop and a wave of burning liquid burst from the spot and rolled across its length. Every candlestick, dish, and piece of cutlery melted, then washed away, scrubbing the surface of the table clean. "But, I am."

Lumos glared at the other wizards in the room. "Who among you has tamed the flame? Which of you have woven together both the water of life and the fire of destruction?"

The wizards at the table sat quiet. Alessar frowned.

"Do not do this, Lumos."

"I will," he growled back. "And you cannot stop me."

Lumos flung out his arm, a lone, blue finger pointing to where the flame burned in the basement. "As only I control the Rune of Fire with both water and will, I will conquer The Sacred Flame the same way."

Archmagus Lumos of the Keep stormed out of the room, and stalked down the passage.

Lumos hissed over his shoulder, "With water and will."

He headed toward the basement.

Entered by: 0x7c7d…69dF and preserved on chain (see transaction)