Chapter 1: Prologue

From the top of the spiral, the witch observed the gathered armies below. What once had been a lush, verdant forest, was now a desolated swamp, corrupted by the influence of her magic. The armies had cut down the tortuous and deformed trees on their way to the spire while fighting all of her defenses.

The might of the combined nations on this continent was a sight to behold. Shining knights on their white mounts. Mages, of every stripe, surrounded by their cadres. The thrum of magical resonance as they linked their magics together, battering the shields that protected the spire.

Even from her position on high, the witch's enhanced senses could see their fervor and rage and disdain. They all knew, once the shield failed, they would win.

Hordes of summoned demons and eldrich things had not stopped their crusade. The witch sighed. She was proud of what this continent had become. They proved that faced with extermination, they could put their differences aside and move for a common cause. It did not matter that this common cause was to kill her. That didn’t diminish her pride. She sighed again. It was a shame their efforts just added to her chances.

Between one heartbeat and another, the entity appeared behind her.

Maybe it was the utter surprise that prevented her from flinching. The top of the spiral had been enchanted with all manner of detection and analysis spells she could muster. Long lost secrets she had uncovered that if the mass of nobles down there only knew, they'd have already broken her barrier long ago. But there was nothing. The only thing she could perceive was the nothingness the entity represented. To all of her senses, the thing behind her didn’t exist. It was impossible for all she knew, but there it was.

“What a quaint little place you found for yourself. I like it.” The jovial voice sounded from behind and this time, the witch shuddered in revulsion and fear.

If only the common folk could see her now. The Black Witch, Calamity of the West, Kinslayer, Kingslayer, Oathbreaker. Trembling in fear like a peasant dragged to be hanged.

The man walked to her side and made appreciative noises as he looked at the gathered armies below. He was a tall man, slender and fair. His long dark hair would put any court lady to shame with its luster. He was wearing a type of robe that was unfamiliar to her, white with purple and golden details. With long billowing sleeves.

“So you’ve finally arrived. Old thing.” The witch spat to her side and then cackled. “If only they could see you. Who is the madwoman now? Heh.”

The man turned to her, one immaculate eyebrow raised in question. His piercing green eyes and smirk made her stomach churn in disgust.

“I’d ask what that was about.” The man said when the witch didn’t respond to his gesture. “But it is rather pointless when in a few moments I’ll know everything you’ve been up to this time anyway.”

The man turned to look at the armies arranged downstairs battering the shield. “I have to admit, this is novel even to me. It’s the first time I’ve seen you doing something like this.” He pointed at the arranged mass of people. ”Oh what kind of things you did to garner such a response. I wonder.”

The witch cackled again. Despair and relief warring against her emotions. It was good to finally know all of this wasn’t for nothing. On the other hand, the thought of what came next…

“Well, this is nice and all, but after doing this so many times, there’s only so much enjoyment one can get from the same act. I have places to be, things to do, and secrets to extract.” The thing said and in a blink of an eye, he was in front of her, a finger touching her forehead.

The witch would have cackled again if she could, but her body refused to move, only the maniacal glint in her eye proof of her efforts.

Darkness embraced the witch, and in her last fading moments the echoes of strangled cries of rage and surprise were all the confirmation she needed that the old thing had underestimated her enough. It was a shame she had to sacrifice the entire army surrounding her tower to gather enough energy for her ritual. But that’s how things always were. Forbidden soul rituals always demanded a heavy price, but none ever said she was the one that had to pay it.

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