Prologue

They always came out on nights like these, the moon hanging low in the sky, full, with the faintest tinge of red around its edges, casting a tainted glow on the world below it. Creatures, as much shadow as form, a memory on the tapestry of the world, fast, brutal, and elusive. Creatures that they were here to hunt.

Fraser measured his breathing as they ran across the yard, cringing as his boot splashed in a puddle, spraying water all over him and making far too much noise. It was a quiet night. He’d be heard. But only by their prey. The wards had been in place for days around the complex. There’d be no one else here.

[“Tired, huh?”] Uriah’s voice crackled loudly through the ear piece, the hint of teasing present. Typical for him.

[“Hardly,”] Fraser murmured back. [“You’re the one who stayed up till dawn was threatening.”] And he didn’t look any worse for it either. Fraser had no idea how he managed that, and he was a little jealous.

[“Any signs?”]

Fraser stopped, looking around him. The buildings of this part of the complex were old and weathered, small affairs that had been built to house single families or double as classrooms. A purpose that they had fulfilled quite well until the larger monstrosities that lay further behind him had been built. The homes of the founding families, a far cry from what they would have been use to, and just as quickly abandoned. Now they just lay empty and forgotten about, a relic of that time. Some still stood proudly, but most of them would start collapsing in a few years, nature already doing its part as it tried to reclaim the area. They’d need to reinforce the border lines sometime soon, or it would continue to do so with a vengeance.

It was quiet though, still, not a breath of wind, the night sky cloudless. Shadows hung on the edges of the buildings, deep, entrancing, enticing, wanting to drag you in. Nothing good lay in that promise. But no movement. Not even of a rodent or moth. It was too still. Too silent. Fraser took a deep breath, closing his eyes, and then opened them again as he took another look. They were here, they always were. And they never were subtle. It wasn’t in their nature. But it seemed that this time, there weren’t any near him.

No, that wasn’t quite right. A movement at the edge of one of the buildings caught his eye, slinking around the shadow that hung there, looking directly at him. He’d indeed been spotted. It however was unaware of the reverse.

[“One. Small. No issue. You?”]

[“Clear and lifeless. Boringly so. Be careful.”] Typical Uriah. Fraser rolled his eyes, not that Uriah would be able to see, given that he was on the other side of the complex. It was rather large, after all. But they were both good at what they did. Otherwise they wouldn’t be here.

Fraser started walking towards said building, discreetly pulling the magic of the night to himself, trying to look like he was still unawares, just casually strolling. Still lost. Meandering, sometimes getting closer, sometimes not. He could feel its eyes on him. Watching. Waiting. And then his cloak was complete, the creature starting to panic as it realised that he was gone. Realising too late. Fraser sprinted across the gap, sword of flame forming in his hand as he reached it, plunging it deep. Everything hissed around him as its nature fought his magic, and then it was done, the creature evaporating into a fine mist and fading away. Leaving no evidence that it had ever existed. Perhaps it had not.

[“And dusted.”] It was a stupid term, but it did unfortunately fit. He took a quick look around him. No others. [“And clear.”]

[“Where are the others? This is rather unusual...”]

Fraser shrugged. Perhaps there weren’t, and he wouldn’t complain. But, Uriah was right. It was unusual. [“It’s a big area. We just need to keep looking.”]

[“Aye.”]

Fraser carefully worked his way between the buildings, making sure to watch his step. As it had rained the night before, there were more puddles and muddy patches, but also an assortment of loose debris, likely knocked off the buildings by the winds or by vandals who hadn’t realised that this was not the place for them. And small bushes that had managed to take hold, border notwithstanding. Plenty of hazards that he’d rather avoid, and he’d dropped the cloak. It was too draining to keep up for extended periods of time. Staying quiet and being careful, your wits about you, was always a better idea. Though it was the boring way. Safer, but boring. At least he didn’t have to check inside the buildings, the light of the moon having no effect on the shadows on the inside.

A growl alerted him to another one’s presence, as it stepped out from behind a building in front of him. A much larger one, stronger, more wolf-like, more of a hunter. Fraser didn’t hesitate, a bolt of lightning arcing out from his hand and into the creature, throwing it back. He didn’t pause, charging straight for it, sword materialising again, which he impaled deep into the creature as it tried to get up. The familiar hissing again, claws reaching for him as its magic fought his, and failing. Its body slumped, and turned to fine mist.

But he had used that element. And for all of its power, it had a strong drawback. A flash of light that had illuminated the area. That wasn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it would have repercussions. Nothing that he couldn’t deal with.

[“Another one sparked. A hunter grade.”]

He could hear Uriah’s chuckled response. [“I’m heading your way. They will be too. Don’t do anything silly.”]

Of course he wasn’t going to. At least not yet. He had no intention of endangering either of them, as he wouldn’t hear the end of it, and getting hurt wasn’t that fun. Been there, done that, many times, but not in a long while. Not that any of the creatures here could actually hurt them. They were all small fry. The conditions weren’t right for anything more powerful than what he’d just vaporised. Fraser stood there and waited, looking up at the moon and the stars twinkling around it. For all its eeriness, it seemed to have no effect on what was around it up there. Science must be right on that one at least, even if everything else that was accepted as indisputable was in fact not. The irony of what had happened back then.

He could sense them now. They were there, slowly getting closer. Cautious, angry, and feral. But his display had made them careless, and as always, they did not understand the true nature of the situation that they were in. They just saw him as prey, his magic tempting. Alluring. That they couldn’t leave, not with the wards up, didn’t seem to matter to them at all. A hunt, almost a sport, for both sides. It was a little bit cruel, reminding him of other things, but if they were let loose, and started preying within the city, it would be a lot messier. Especially if they found one of them.

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Another two creatures emerged from between the buildings, small ones again, stalking towards him. Fraser feigned ignorance as they crept closer, biding his time. More bolts of lighting arced from his hand as the creatures got too daring, attempting to lunge at him from behind, and meeting their end mid air. Not even a decent attempt.

[“Two more sparked. You’re just not tantalizing enough tonight, Uri?”]

Another chuckle. [“Oh, I’m plenty tantalizing. You’re just more so.”]

Fraser almost jumped in fright as the entire area shuddered, streaks of green arcing through the air towards him from one of the edges of the complex. He knew exactly what had happened as he started sprinting towards its source, caution thrown to the wind. The ward. Something had compromised the ward. That was not a good thing. That wasn’t meant to happen. Ever.

He skidded to a stop in confusion as he reached it. A young man, who couldn’t have been much older than they were, stood there, on the grass beside the border, arms wrapped around his chest, the dark forest framing his form. It didn’t seem like he’d noticed him, wrapped up as he was in his own pain. He’d been crying, tears staining his face, his eyes puffy and red. His appearance exuded wealth, lustrous long hair flowing down over his shoulders, with a fine braid on each side of his head. This was coupled with an expensive leather jacket, a pair of rather tight pants, and somewhat femme boots.

“What the hell are you doing in here? Leave!” Fraser growled. No one else should be in here. No one should have been able to get into here. That’s what the wards were for. Only those with magic could get through, but he had no marks on his hands. He wasn’t trained in its use.

Unless he was one of the scions.

A roar off from his side confirmed his suspicions, a predator-grade creature stalking its way towards them. Confident. Hungry. Fraser didn’t hesitate, scion or not, lightning streaking out of his hand and slamming into the creature. It screamed as it was sent tumbling, his magic burning into its side.

“LEAVE!” he screamed at the young man.

The man finally looked up at him, only just seeming to notice his presence. “Why...” he started, before tears started streaming down his face again. “Why are people always telling me what to do? To be. Why can't I just be left to be myself, to be who I want to be, who I am?”

Fraser stopped still, and stared at him. Something about him...

The creature roared again, picking itself up, eyes glowing red, something rather unpleasant dripping from its fangs as it resumed its advance. Yes, it was a big one, it would take more than that to kill. Not that that would be an issue. Fraser pulled his magic to himself again, sending another bolt of lightning towards it.

Except that nothing happened.

He tried again. Nothing. And again. Nothing.

Fear gripped Fraser as he stood there, paralysed. This had never happened before. Ever. It wasn’t a known thing. And without it...

The creature roared again, its tone suddenly confident as it started sprinting towards them. Towards the young man.

[“Uri... my magic...”] he managed, still rooted to the spot.

[“Fraser?”] There was genuine worry in Uriah’s voice.

He was going to die. They were both going to die. No. That couldn’t happen. Fraser tried his magic again. Still nothing. Growling to himself, he forced himself to move, pulling out his combat knife as he did so, running towards the young man and the creature. Something was better than nothing.

Except he’d hesitated for too long...