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It had been a couple of days since the two of them, Shadowmancers, had defeated the Maiden of Torment, En'radial. The Greater Demon of Hell that one resided over the depriving and screaming domain of Torment was now locked within the Crimson Jewel, her soul kept hidden. There were still discussions of where the jewel should be kept from now on, the High Guild observing and deciding whether it be within the shadowy clutches of the Circle, or that of the purely protected walls of Skyfall. Just this morning, Claudia and Nyru had met with the Queen - Declasia. They were praised for their efforts, even in such short notice, and had been briefed in a matter that was more understandable than that of the confusing Circle could do. And better yet, they have been given permission to do as they please on one condition - to find information of the Wanderer and the Black Jewel.

Walking away from the main palace and through he cascading streets of the City of Crows, Nyru had his helm replaced for what could be described as a crown. At the front of his forehead it had what seemed a very similar front to his helmet, a beak tip almost, with the areas above his ears having whats seamed pointed ears to the crown itself. It was as a reward of their efforts, an example of pure Delorius'tatem ingenuity. Claudia even got rewarded too. This crown of Nyru's showed that he was one of the best Royal Guards the queen had. With just a thought, a flicker of his own shadow, the crown was unfold and shift into a fully defensive helmet just like his own before. As for his blade, it was upgraded to a Snake Sword, where the blade would divide into separate smaller blades to form a sharp whip, with his control over darkness he can cause it to follow his command.

The city was kind of medieval, but conclave engineering and magic caused it to have its own mysterious vibe to it. Though dark and almost secret, the city would indulge in splashes of purple, may it be like or lightning between archs, of perhaps shadows themselves were moving. But all in all, it was a simple city, showing its most mysterious devices in the darkest corners where one would least expect it. All the buildings outside the center where the palace stood were mainly cottage-like, the paths were stone paved and fountains of dark water met between most main pathways to create small crossing areas. Walking down these roads were Nyru and Claudia, breathing in the familiar air and taking i the familiar surroundings.

"Well, i certainly wasn't expecting such a warm welcome"

Looking over Claudia's new armour, dress and weapons, he quickly ran some thoughts through his mind. The Black Jewel and the Wanderer hey... it was almost like an old folk tale. "Well..." he began, almost sighing as they both continued walking down the old paths. "Everyone knows the Black Jewel was one of the three to be discovered. And that the Wanderer was the one to supposedly have it and take it to Bornheiniculate, causing our guild's collapse...." and he was slowly becoming distasteful towards the subject, but then he perked up. With a small smile he looked down to Claudia as he took each step and added "my thoughts are that the Wanderer is dead... because Merlin was meant to have deactivated all the Jewels, so... i doubt he found a way to grant immortality. Queen Declasia is the only one to have ever done that... aside from the Circle... So..." he paused for thought. This was a hard subject to pull apart. There were so many untold sides to the book here, it is literally a dead end. The Wanderer takes the Black Jewel to the Bone City, the Conclave is judged for being in league with Demons and dark witches and warlocks and BAM, the end.

"I honestly have no idea"

Claudia snuffed at the fact that all the stories and the history itself sounded like a lie. Her thoughts were clear, and she needed to voice them even if they were a bit unethical. "I don't know about you, but I bet the Wander's still out there. Don't you find it strange that Delasia sent on this "mission" just like our last?" Her voice lowered to more of a whisper as she pulled Nyru to the side, and off the streets. She didn't realize that they were standing not to far from a gypsy girl dance for her daily bread."I have that uneasy feeling in my gut ever since we left the Land of Crows. Why did we need to join a seemingly pointless battle? Our unexpected encounter was a holder of one of the Jewels, and now where on a guest to unveil secrets long forgotten. I want to assume the worst, but I have evidence to prove my assumptions." She was referring to the queen, however, she knew she was throwing this endeavor out of portions.

Nyru knew better, and maybe she just wanted to make a big deal out of something she could care less about because it's not about her. Still it could be possible that the answer to the Legend of the Wander was right in front of their noses. Claudia brushed her blonde bangs out of face and shook her head. What kind of childhood nonsense had her brain conjured up? "Sorry, I guess I'm on edge. The battle really did a number on me."

Trying to brush the matter aside like useless dust on the kitchen floor, he tried to take in what the gypsie was doing. It was strange, the Gypsies had their own kind of magic, it was something unlike any other in Magic Earth, they had styled it to their own unique mastery. Though you could say those of the Injustira Syndicate fashion their magic to light, but that's a mere use of light magic, same with himself and shadow magic. The Circle used nature and the Sovereignty simply augmented arcane arts. But Gypsies, they took it apart and made it into something new.

Suddenly the sky was alight with flaming birds, a wonderful spectacle as they turned to harmless sparks. The young man she took earlier still dazed by her charm, Nyru could only think what he would have done if she had chosen him. Good thing she didn't. Arms crossed he continued watching, though the vibe seemed to slow as the crowd began to dissipate. Then he clicked that Claudia wasn't by his side, gazing around at the dull streets he found her staring into a shop window, almost typical of her. Nyru then wondered how often this woman would perform to get herself enough money to live on, and judging by the crowds, not too much. It was like she had most of the men at her finger tips.

Suddenly there was a chill about the streets, something Nyru dismissed as normal for the Land of Crows, and the however dull sky began to dull further, something else he almost dismissed until he heard a rumble, it was very faint and from the clouds above, they were getting darker and darker as they almost began to spiral. Trying to ignore it he wanted to believe it just something of the winter weather. Looking back down to the Gypsie he saw her finished now, and looking over her goods. Everyone else had gone now, but Nyru mysteriously kept staring at her general direction. His shredded cloth hanging from his waist and shoulders gliding in the gathering wind. And then there it was again! That rumbled was louder, and caused him to shoot his sight back above him once more. But this time he wasn't greeted so nicely, the spiraling black clouds were now funneling downwards.

Nyru took some small steps back as he continued staring up, raising his voice as he slowly shouted "Claudia..." emphasizing the past part of her name. Everyone else around them simple got out umbrellas or magical black feather shields above their heads... but then some of them saw the oncoming clouds.

"Mummy! Its like the bedtime story!" shouted one excited young girl, pointing it out to her mother who then replied "Yes, yes it does Nalia, we have to leave now okay?" her voice was shaky, it was like disbelief. The stories that the population of the Land of Crows always told their children to make them behave spoke of black clouds. Some other old begger man was almost hysterically laughing as he looked to Nyru stating "The darkness is coming Royal Guard" almost as if to mock him. "Claudia!!!" he then shouted as the clouds funneled down further, nearing the higher building roofs. His circlet upon his head them unfolded into a fully defensive helmet, hiding his skin, eyes and hair.

He feared for the Gypsies safety, and hoped she would leave quickly. But then again when did anything these days ever go to plan, she would most likely stick around only to surprise them like everyone else does in the modern world.But even at the same time he could only repeat one line from the poem he was taught as a child "When the Darkness Comes". It was a silly poem, it was years and years old, it didn't even rhyme or make sense for the most part, it just taught young children i the Land of Crows to never be evil or invite the death to everyone around them. But of coarse, what most children didn't know until their later years was that there is far more to it. That poem is nothing but a mere sliver of the bigger picture, the legend. In the oldest of texts loony scholars talk about how an impending doomsday of darkness, will find its way to Magic Earth, using man's evil as a lit pathway to bring nothing but death and misery. And throughout this legend, it talks of a stone that is key, but that is all.

Claudia may have not been interested in the Gypsie, but the light that was fading from the area held her attention. While everyone distracted by the mistress, the blonde was keeping her focus on more important matters. Through the window's reflection, she could see the clouds in the sky swirling and darkening in shade. Birds of all kinds of different species bellowed their warnings of danger before flying out of sight in the opposite direction. The first rumble was dismissed by the folks below, but the second rumble was acknowledged and chaos spread. Nyru called her name and she could hear the urgency in his voice, but she simple ignored it. Why? Because fear would over take his logic, he needed to be calm and think straight.

A child and her mother walked by pointing out their impending doom, however, the child didn't grasp how direr the situation was. Her mother must have never shared the poem about how the darkness is coming. An old homeless man mocked Nyru, but even in his delusional state he had better understanding than Nyru. Her companion beckoned her once more, and she quickly turned on her heels walking over to him.

His helmet was covering his face, but the protect from it wasn't necessary. He just needed it for comfort and security at the moment. She placed her hand gently on his shoulder turning him towards her. The female then began to step away with her arm still reached out to him. "Remember, keep moving or the darkness will over take you." Claudia quoted a part of the poem hoping the male would get the idea. If people were wise like them they would walk away with calm clear cautious minds instead of running around like chickens with their heads cut off.