The Fall of the Four Great Temples of Asterra – The Beginning
Night had fallen deeply. The moon hung solemnly in the sky, while storm clouds, heavy with lightning, rolled down from the north. Asterra City lay beneath a blanket of silence. All were asleep, save for the sentries keeping watch.
"Why are we even on guard duty tonight? It's so quiet..." one soldier grumbled.
"Exactly. We're like 150 kilometers from the frontlines. Who would even think of attacking here?"
"Who knows? It's our job. No patrol means no pay—and no pay means no food."
"Yeah, I get it," the other sighed. "But sometimes, on a peaceful night like this, I just want to sleep like everyone else."
The two leaned on their spears, exchanging words softly in the night. But then—a sound that didn't belong shattered the stillness.
A low metallic scrape. Heavy armor.
A dark silhouette slowly emerged from the treeline. The sound wasn't just someone walking—it carried weight, menace.
"Halt! Who goes there?" one of the sentries called out sharply.
No answer. The shadow kept moving forward.
"I said stop! Identify yourself! Or I'll place you under arrest!"
The shadow gave no reply. It began to run.
"You mad bastard—ALARM! INTRUDER!"
The black-armored figure broke into a sprint, increasing speed with every step. As it rushed forward like a midnight tempest, the two sentries froze, fear flickering in their eyes.
"STOP!" one of them shouted, but the command vanished into the night air.
The armored figure didn't stop. As he neared them, he spoke with a deep, echoing voice:
"Move if you want to live. I didn't come to kill the innocent."
The voice hit like a war drum, and before the guards could even react—
He was already past them.
In the blink of an eye, the black knight stormed through the main gate of Asterra, shattering it like paper, and vanished into the heart of the city.
"H-how did he break through?!" one of the stunned guards fell to the ground, gasping. "If I hadn't stepped back... I'd be dead."
The Dark Knight breached the fortress.
Alarms blared. Bells rang through the stone halls.
"Intruder alert! Kill him—kill him!"
Soldiers swarmed from every direction.
But the black knight stood firm. Calm. Unshaken.
"Hmph… Half the garrison is already here, I see. Not that it matters to me."
He raised his sword, eyes flashing.
"Come, little insects—try to stop me."
Just then, a voice echoed from the darkened corridor:
"Casmir, go ahead. This isn't the right hall... but who cares. As long as we've made it inside the central chamber, it'll do."
He paused for a moment, recognizing the speaker.
"Hey, Sophia! Blast it open!"
From the shadows, a young woman grumbled:
"Ugh... Why do I always get the dirty jobs?"
"Because you're the only one with a useful explosion spell," Casmir teased.
Sophia took a deep breath.
"Step back, all of you."
She clenched her fists. Magic circuits flared across her arms, swirling into layered waves of energy.
Casmir chuckled and shook his head.
"Oi, great mage... don't you usually chant your spells?"
"I don't need any of that dramatic mumbo-jumbo," she sighed. "I'm not some fancy academy sorceress."
And with that, she punched the floor.
BOOM! CRACK! THRUMMMM!
An explosion tore through the western wing of the temple. The marble floor caved in, and from the smoke and rubble, three figures emerged—all clad in dark armor.
One woman, two men.
Casmir twirled his spear:
"Yo, Kraan! Looks like you brought the dust of darkness with you!"
Kraan stepped forth, face smudged with soot but eyes burning clear and sharp.
He scanned the hall—it was filled with soldiers, holy archers, mages, and even the temple leaders themselves.
"Quite the welcoming party... and with a host, too." he said mockingly.