Legacy of Darkness

The Blue Falcon had just set down in Demi. Atlas, Syl and Helios were exiting the ship, the town was filled with smog, and the air was thick and hard to breathe.

"I had no idea Demi was like this" Syl coughed.

"It wasn't always this bad" Helios sighed, as he covered his mouth.

"The Empire?" Atlas asked. Helios nodded back, footsteps approached the airship. It was Abyssia, Atlas drew his Celestial Blade. "It's a trap!" Atlas shouted. Syl also drew his Celestial Warhammer and got ready for a fight.

"Settle down" Abyssia shrugged.

"After what happened last time we met? Not likely..." Syl growled.

"Yes, since the last time we met..." Abyssia frowned. "You destroyed Avadey" She sighed.

"We..." Syl began. "We didn't want it to go that far... we just wanted to hit you where it hurts, to distract you from Roisin" He explained.

"I do know the majority of the city was destroyed by the dragons" Abyssia replied. "But you were also there" She added.

"Pardon the interruption" Helios said as he stepped forward. "Why are you here, your Radiance?" He asked.

"There have been several developments, aside from the events in Disceath" Abyssia began. "Imperistia has fallen, neither side won. But Araneia has gone missing" She explained.

"Imperistia? What the hell were you doing getting involved over there?!" Atlas demanded to know.

"In an effort to let the past be the past, I will tell you the truth" Abyssia began.

"That'd be a change" Syl shrugged.

"We have evidence that an ancient Mystic, long thought to be dead has returned, and he is significantly stronger" Abyssia revealed. "He plans to destroy the Crystals completely, and slaughter all those who use the power of Crystalliam" She continued.

"Hmm, an ancient mystic... Trevela?" Atlas asked.

"You know of him?" Abyssia asked.

"We stumbled across a temple, he tried to sacrifice us so that he could live, or some bullshit" Syl explained.

"Where was this?" Abyssia asked.

"The Three Siblings, the southern island... I think" Atlas replied.

"I'll send someone to investigate" Abyssia nodded.

"So, you're not going to try and kidnap me and Syl...?" Atlas pondered.

"I have much more pressing matters to attend to, and also, you are a Headmaster now, Atlas. It would be highly controversial if I was to kidnap you" Abyssia smirked, as she turned and walked away.

Syl and Atlas' weapons faded away.

"Well, that went well" Helios shrugged.

"Yeah, considering what I did..." Syl sighed.

"Syl, don't be too hard on yourself for Avadey. Arranthian had his reasons for doing what he did. Abyssia wasn't completely innocent, especially with what she plans for Roisin" Atlas said as he patted Syl on the shoulder.

"Maybe Abyssia wasn't innocent, but the people who lived in that city were" Syl sighed and walked on ahead. Helios and Atlas followed behind.

As they walked inside the Airship terminal, they were handed breathing masks by an attendant.

"Please were these masks as often as possible, as the air in this city can be lethal at times" The attendant explained.

"Lethal?" Syl asked. "Why don't you do something about it?" He asked.

The attendant sighed and looked at Helios before looking away.

"Have a nice day, and enjoy Demi!" She said as she walked away. Helios frowned and walked on ahead.

"She looked afraid of Helios" Syl pondered.

"Demi is a province of the Araneian Empire, if she spoke up, there might have been consequences. Especially with a high up official such as Helios" Atlas explained.

"So we're in Araneian territory?" Syl asked.

"Did they not teach you anything at the Academy?" Atlas chuckled. "Yes, we are. That said, the Empire doesn't have much of a presence here, due to the number of assassination attempts when Araneian officials visit" Atlas explained, before looking around.

"What's up?" Syl asked, as he took looked around.

"Where did Helios go?!" Atlas panicked.

"Oh crap" Syl said, as he ran ahead, followed by Atlas. As the pair headed down an escalator, they saw Helios stood at the bottom waiting for them.

"Took your time" Helios chuckled. Atlas and Syl walked over to him.

"Don't run off ahead like that, we're in Demi now!" Atlas yelled.

"You don't think I'm capable of fighting off an assassin?" Helios asked.

"I'd rather we not encounter one at all" Atlas sighed.

"Fine, I'll stay with you two at all times, if it makes you happy" Helios shrugged reluctantly.

"Good" Atlas said, as the three of them walked off further into the Airship port. Outside the building the thick polluted air churned. High above the smog, floating above was the Gravatia Academy, the next destination in their journey.