Prologue

The Great War of Usurpers was nearing its end. All but one of the Four Kingdoms have been secured, the Land of Shadow's capital, Nightsvale, were barricading themselves. The Siege for Nightsvale was to begin at daybreak, ships captained by the Lady Nightingale prepared to bombard the city while the armies prepared to storm the capital. Its only inhabitance was the Tyrannous King, Malichai Ulgarra, his family, and those loyal to him.

The story which the History of Eirria taught was true and accurate, but not complete. While the Siege of Nightsvale took five days, it was nothing compared to the final battle. The Usurper Kings were all separated, forced to fight each of their former rulers. Their battles raged on for forty days and forty nights, the tore through Pocket Dimensions, wiped legions upon legions of soldiers, until the final blows were struck, and victory and peace were finally obtained. Or so they thought.

While the Usurper Kings celebrated the deaths of the tyrannous rulers, Lady Fate visited. Dress in a holy white robe, she walked through the Forgotten Valley, a seemingly endless pit filled with the dead. In it, she searched, and searched, and searched, until she found who she was looking for.

"Rise," Lady Fate commanded in a hush and soft voice, stopping in front of the now lifeless body of the once-proud King. Her voice was sweet, caring, it was to the dead body of King Malichai the Pestilent. "Rise, Malichai, rise... for you are needed, Future must be preserved." Lady Fate stretched her hand towards the body, bright sparkles of white light flowed from her hand, turning black as it entered Malichai's body, as if it were being corrupted. "You may come out now... Cyssicus. Claim your Herald of War." King Malichai's body slowly but surely breathed.

As if part of the shadows, a broken body emerged. "So? He is the one?" Cyssicus asked the White Lady before him. He wore plated armor which fumed of red energy, crude-looking it was, a fearsome warrior he portrayed. "Malichai the Pestilent. My harbinger you shall be, my Herald of War... arise and be born anew." His voice but a whisper, a faint symphony of the coming destruction. Cyssicus raised his hand, a red energy enveloped it as did Malichai's body. Rising from the ground, it stayed limp as the red energy swirled around his body. Lady Fate watched with an even expression, contempt as she saw Malichai's body being donning armor similar to that of Cyssicus'. Dropping his hand, Cyssicus also dropped Malichai who landing kneeling before the man covered by the shadows. Silence reigned the moment until the shadows consumed Cyssicus and his Herald, they disappeared leaving Lady Fate to herself.

The eerie silence and darkness that prevailed were filled but ever occurring screams and the light emitted from Lady Fate. "What?" Lady Fate said aloud.

"His soul was mine to claim." Death spoke with a hint of annoyance, it hated being robbed of a soul. "His time was up." A robbed figure appeared behind her, but Lady Fate paid it no mind.

"Yes. I know."  Lady Fate answered. "But to preserve Future, I must destroy Present." She said cryptically.

"Past, Present, and Future, all lives come to an end. Even Death's." Death said as a matter of fact. "Fate cannot change what is inevitable. Even if it is to preserve."

"But I can save what is changeable." Lady Fate said, her voice now firm and louder than her usual whisper. She turned to face Death with a smile. "I will bring the Eternal Night."

"Death knows, Death knows all, Death knew you would intervene on the Pestilent's life." Death answered smugly. Its cloaked swayed as if the wind was carrying it, but the was not even a draft in the Forgotten Valley. The was nothing and everything, the answers to all. "Death has counted on it, for Death knows you plan to birth Hope as the Deliverer for Eirria when Darkness has taken hold on man's heart. The War of the Eternal Night nears every day, and not even you can save those who shall die."

"I may try." Lady Fate responded sincerely.

"Death knows, Death knows you may, and that you will." The cloaked figure said before sinking into the darkness.

Lady Fate burst into light before disappearing like Death, allowing the Forgotten Valley to be consumed with Darkness once again.

And so, appearing before the drunken Usurper Kings, Lady Fate delivered her prophecy.

"On days of War,

Of fiery nights of the soul,

Consumed thy will,

Weapons of Gods,

Of Eternal Night.

Hope born to you as bright as day,

Deliverer of Eirria,

Of Revelation's End,

When Darkness reigns,

Redemption will mend.

Call onto Lady Fate,

Anew,

All to be made.  

Death to die.

War to rise.

Life to be born.

Thee made anew,

As others wait for two.

A Trinity to be brought before you.

A Promised Messiah,

Born to be your sacrifice,

Of a King's blood,

And one of love.

This to be fulfilled to save thy life,

A payment due,

of Life,

of Death,

and of War too,

of Blood and Flesh,

of Love and Sacrifice,

for all who wish to save Future,

look to Past and Present,

to pay thy price."