Adonis Chronicles

The Dark Elves

The dark forest was filled with its eery silence as usual, an owl could be heard hooting in the distance. Dark elves patrolled these woods, dressed in black armour they were as silent and invisible as shadows.

Disturbing the silence Ares and Dominic appeared on the main path in the forest, as soon as they materialised Dominic asked, “ Why in the blazing infernos do you want to come here? What possible use do we have coming to my people?”

Ares who was enjoying his newly restored eye sight was looking over the forest, “ I will only discuss further details when we meet your King, we are surrounded by dark elves right now, I can see them hidden in the trees and by the rocks.”

As if on cue a circle of torches lit around them, Dominic looked around and said, “ I hope they woke up on the right side of bed this morning.” Out of the darkness emerged ten very intimidating dark elves. Unlike normal elves they had dark skin, covered with dark paint to blend into the forest.

The lead guard spoke, “ Dominic, for long you have been absent from us, we hoped you had succumbed to Mr Grim Reaper, but here you are. Who is this you bring with you however, we do not recognize this yellow eyed stranger.”

Dominic had anticipated this, “ This is Ares, he is a powerful necromonger although it is no longer evident. He uste to have the palest skin one had ever seen, but he changed. We’re here to see King Okrinus on urgent business”

Before they could reply Ares added, “ And yes, in case your wondering I am indeed cursed. I have reached the third phase of the curse, you can trust me however, the urge to kill is still at a maintainable level.”

The lead dark elf hesitated, then he knelt to the ground and began to murmur something as he touched the pole of fire. Suddenly the entire circle was overcome by flames, swirling like a vortex they left just as quickly, leaving Adonis and Dominic standing in the middle of the dark elf city.

It was a very dark place, unlike the elf city the buildings were not of beautiful design or materials. They were simple dome houses built of black steel, there was no stores or market place, no dark elf could be seen roaming the torch lit streets of the city.

Ares said, “ Charming set up you dark elves got, I see why you never invited me over to play when we were younger, I like it do, I like its simplicity and darkness.” Ignoring his statement they turned to the dark castle where King Okrinus awaited them.

Walking at the castle entrance there stood two heavily armoured dark elves, the bridge leading inside the castle was raised and upon sight of Dominic they turned and began to turn the mechanisms, lowering the bridge Ares and Dominic entered the castle.

Like the city it was barely illuminated, nothing but the natural light glow of the torches. Their steps echoed in the hall like the loud noise of shattering plates. Dominic led the way through the many passages until they reached a large set of steel doors.

Without even touching them they swung open inwardly, a loud voice coming from inside, “ Come in Ares and Dominic, come and discuss your business as announced.” They walked into the throne room, it was a large room.

Leading to the throne was a small path that acted like bridge for other than the small square reserved for the throne the entire room was filled with water rising just below the bridge.

In the water floated multiple candles, each candle representing the life of a dark elf within the forest, the extinguished candles represented the dark elves that had died. Walking to the throne they kneeled in respect, Dominic began, “ Okrinus, its been such a long time, I would not have returned if not for a request made by my friend here, he is the one you want to speak with.”

The King who was dressed in the same dark armour than the guards at the bridge, with the added black crown on his head. His face was like that of a sten statue, his eyes unwavering as he had a permanent look of anger on his face.

Ares announced his intentions, “ King Okrinus, it is an honour to meet you in person. But to get right down to business, we are on a dangerous quest and are in need of the dark oracle for it is imperative to our plans that we find Loki the vampire, but we do not know where he is.”

Okrinus, face not changing in the least replied with a powerful voice to equal his face,“ Divulge to me your plans and I will consider summoning the dark oracle.” Dominic kept quiet, this was a test the King did very often, and very often people failed.

Ares however was very cunning, “ My plans are my own, if you would summon the dark oracle we would find the location of Loki and be on our way.” Dominic did not show it but was glad Ares had passed the test, so many times people gave their plan away showing they had no real integrity.

The King’s statue like face changed as he grinned largely, laughing out loud his laugh resonated throughout the entire city. As his mood changed the lights got brighter, until the whole chamber was filled with light.

The entire city was lit up, Dominic was shocked at what was happening, this hadn’t occurred since the birth of the King’s daughter. Dark elves began to come out of their homes, the King got to his feet and padded Ares on the shoulder, “ My boy you just made my day, you will indeed be granted access to the dark oracle. But first, accept my gifts.”

Turning to his throne he pushed a switch on the arm, a large chest materialising from the water as a hidden platform rose to the surface with a bridge leading to it. Walking to get it the King dropped it on the throne and opened it up.

From inside he pulled an entire dark elf elf armour set, beginning with a normal dark elf shirt it was followed by black mithril chain mail, and all topped off by some dark elf armour made of some metal known only as titanium, it had been found by an explorer who’d found another world. Upon it were inscriptions that gave it great power, this was the very same armour the first dark elf King wore.

Ares recognized them immediately as the legendary rings of power, a set of rings that if all worn at the same time multiplied the wearer’s power tenfold. Extending his hands forward the King placed one ring at a time, once they were all on he felt his power increase even more.

Ever since he’d lost his demon he’d grown greatly in power, closing the chest Dominic was amazed at what he had just witnessed, what had driven him into that action he could not even begin to fathom. That done the King said, “ Now, to the dark oracle we go.”

Walking around them they followed as he walked out of the room, they found a winding stairwell and climbed down underground. They found themselves at a small circular door with the door knob dead in the centre.

Knocking on the door the dark oracle came out, no one had ever seen the dark oracle before this day other than the King himself, they were shocked at the dark oracle’s appearance. Rather than a female dark elf like Dominic had expected it was a small male Hobbit.

He wore a purple vest with purple pants, seeing Ares he said immediately, “ Solnapro, do not teleport, travel by foot.” and closed the door as quickly as he opened it.

The King turned to them and said, “ You heard the oracle, you must leave now. Take our best horses, do not use magic to get there however, you can use magic to battle but do not teleport there or enchant your horses in any ways.”

With that the King clapped his hands and they stood in the middle of the lanterns once more, two black stallions standing in the circle with them the torches went out. Getting on their horses Dominic said as they began to ride out of the forest, “ We need to stop at the nearest town, you may have no need for substance but I am starving.”