One
Umbra, The Southern Townships
Years ago in Brie, a small hamlet nestled in the foothills of the southern townships a young man named Umbra lived with his small family.
A modest village, Brie was a tight-knit community of farmers and devoted parishioners.
Every seventh day, a day set aside for worship and weekly sermons in the chapel, the townspeople would assemble to sing hymns in worship of the light and creation. The religion of this town along with much of the southern townships was a conservative faith named Purism. The entire town followed the virtues instilled by this holy order.
Umbra's family however, remained secular in this religious town. A reclusive scribe named Seth, his chatty bubbly wife, Tessa and their preteen son.
It was no secret to the town that Seth studied the arcane, but he kept to himself so the town paid no heed to him, he would often leave for what he called 'business trips' never providing any explanation when he returned.
Umbra's mother, Tessa was very active in the community outside of the Purist gatherings and was the sort to never raise any ire.
Umbra however, was not one to get along so well with the children of the town. He was a snide young ruffian, with thick black hair.
He did not have much in the way of social skills. He dressed darkly and didn't socialize much; he took after his father in that regard. His only friend was a young blonde girl named Marin Miller.
Marin's parents ran the town watermill and were fortunately very lax about their only daughter's choice of friends. Marin and Umbra were inseparable, much to the envy of the other village boys.
The pair spent most of their waking hours together, even chores and labor.
Umbra loved Marin's flowing blonde locks and carefree attitude; they really complimented each other's personalities. She could make a mundane task like fetching water from the well cheerful.
Marin had learned water dousing from her late grandmother and would search fallow fields with Umbra for amusement.
Umbra in turn taught her simple little spells he had picked up from his father; such as making leaves dance or stirring spoons with his mind. As they grew older their friendship blossomed into a deep affection both were shy to admit.
This harmony was broken one stormy night when Umbra awoke to the creaking footsteps of his father downstairs. He crept to the top of the stairs, trying not to be seen. His father was carrying a suitcase and donning his beige trench coat at the door.
Umbra had called out to him, but only got a sullen gaze from his mysterious father. That night his father departed into the night never to return.
Umbra's mother endured weeks of loneliness as Seth remained absent, her heart was broken. Her gleaming black hair and sparkling optimism were gone, replaced by matted, unkempt hair and a deep depression. She stayed in her room, barely eating as Umbra was left to himself.
Umbra handled things differently. He felt a deep anger and resentment for his wayward father and withdrew from spending time with his friend Marin.
For months this went on, the townspeople barely noticing it.
One night, which would forever be known as The Night of Flames the simple lives of the people of Brie, were destroyed forever.
As the sun was falling and the moon peered over the horizon, a horde of mysterious creatures descended on the town. They were shrouded, withered creatures, floating above the ground and clutching rusted weapons, led by a dark hooded Sorcerer. They tore through every living thing in sight, butchering villagers, mutilating animals, torching buildings- their wrath was merciless.
Umbra, by fate's chance was sulking in the nearby woods as he had become prone to do. The screams rang out into the night and the fires roared- like tongues lashing at the heavens.
Umbra was late to the scene and could only wander through the gruesome war zone. His neighbors littered the streets, most buildings were ablaze and only a terrified handful of survivors cowered in storm cellars.
Umbra's head was spinning; he couldn't believe how this could suddenly happen to a town where the theft of an apple from the market was the most serious crime in recent memory.
Before he could react, a monstrous fiend blocked his path. He was frozen in fear, completely at the mercy of this savage being. The monster stood still, feet levitating inches from the ground and planted its rusted halberd. Its black veil fluttered as it leaned in towards Umbra.
Umbra could feel the invisible eyes of a skeletal face sizing him up, all he could do was shut his eyes and wait for the axe to drop.
He waited for a tense moment and when he finally mustered the courage to open his eyes, he saw the creature leaving the scene to cause destruction elsewhere.
What just happened?
He couldn't believe his luck; the remorseless monster had spared him!
He finally reached his house, hoping to see it unaffected by the destruction. To his relief there wasn't a single scratch on the simple thatched cottage.
This relief was short lived when he saw a woman lying in the street, her black hair rustling in the wind and a knife piercing her heart.
Mother!
The town was ripped to pieces that night; the sorcerer strolled casually through the destruction his legions were committing. He finally called his minions to the town square where he stood in a luminous purple spell circle.
Once his minions were gathered, he powered up the teleporting array, vanishing without a trace, leaving Brie shattered in his wake.
Umbra was too late to save his mother. All he could do was hold her lifeless body and cry out in distress into the roaring fires of the night.
The survivors raced to douse the fires while others wailed loudly over the bodies of their loved ones. It was plainly obvious magic was involved in this brutal attack and Umbra knew the grieving survivors would be looking for retribution.
So that night Umbra gathered his belongings, his father's books and fled the town. Marin was likely dead; his mother was dead and the town would count him among the burned victims if he stayed away.
One Year Later...
For a year Umbra wandered, just another vagrant living on wild berries and herbs.
After all the aimless drifting he found himself at the edge of The Heartless Swamp midst the rotting wilderness, enslimed trees and foul stench. He was about to turn to leave when he heard a voice.
"Life doesn't have to end with death," a croaking voice rang out from the putrid canopy.
Umbra's thoughts wandered to a future with his mother alive and his life restored to his serene past. It was as if the snake-like man above was reading his mind. "And what of it?" Umbra spat back.
The snake-man flailed a forked tongue through tiny teeth. "My master can give you what you seek if you are brave enough," he gestured to an overgrown trail just up ahead. "Follow that road and seek out the malefica known as Lady Crow."
Umbra's natural curiosity peaked. He hoped the minuscule amount of magic he had picked up from his father would be enough to merit training from this witch.
If there was even a chance to live his old life again any sacrifice would be worth it.
So, the destined young wanderer set out to meet his new master.
Umbra's steps felt heavier as he ventured further into The Heartless Swamp. The trail the shapeshifter had given was little more than a muddy narrow track.
He could feel the eyes of the tainted creatures lurking in this den of evil sizing him up as he walked. The air was thick with a sense of dark foreboding, dark magic residue hung in the air, it seemed to be soaked into the enslimed trees.
Umbra's heart was racing as he ventured further down the trail, the mangroves and bogs stunk of rot and stagnancy, and the smell was growing more nauseating.
Who could live in this cesspool?
He wasn't paying heed to his steps when he tripped over an unearthed root and took a tumble into the mud.
He tried to reach out to push himself up but instead had put his hand in a small patch of sharp thistle, drawing blood.
The land seemed to drink it in with great relish.
He had just arrived in this putrid mire and he already hated the place.
"To your feet, wretch!" a grating voice ordered.
The malefica Lady Crow stood over him. She was wrapped in tattered black rags with a purple shawl draped over her shoulders and a thick black garnet hanging around her neck, a matching ring and a crooked cane in her hand. Her skin sagged and eyes were sunken, as if she had been alive for centuries.
She made no effort to help Umbra to his feet; instead, she stood over him with her arms crossed indignantly.
"Don't rush to help me," Umbra groaned.
"We help ourselves or we fail," Lady Crow replied coldly.
"I suppose that's lesson one, Lady Crow," he griped.
The old hag waited impatiently for Umbra to steady himself and wipe himself off. Umbra knew little of magic and even he could feel the dark essence surrounding Lady Crow.
"I assume Cassius sent you here and told you I take pupils by simply being asked, hmm?" She assumed.
Should I be so lucky? Umbra sported a fake smile, hoping to curry any leniency. "I can prove myself!" he insisted.
He had no intention of relenting until she acquiesced.
The old witch leaned on her cane and pondered. She could feel mountains of potential in this arrogant young man, but she needed to see just how far he is willing to go to succeed. "Very well, wretch."
Umbra taut his face and forced a smile.
Lady Crow gestured with one hand, a tangled thicket behind her responded to her silent command and the briar parted forth to reveal a narrow path in the tangle. "In there. Your challenge is at the end. Don't return if you fail."
She peered up at the withered canopy to where a gray snake spied. "Cassius! make your worthless hide useful and watch the boy."
The snake leapt from the tree morphing into a sickly greenish man, the same being Umbra had encountered on the road. Cassius prostrated himself to his grimacing master. As her familiar he was compelled to follow her every command. "Yesss master," he hissed beckoning Umbra towards the thorny pathway.
A short hike Later...
Lady Crow's familiar and Umbra walked in silence for ten minutes until finally reaching a clearing in the wall of thorns.
In the center of a sinister grove stood an ancient husk of a tree; just as twisted and foul as the rest of the swamp. The tree towered over Umbra, blotting out what little light filtered into the mire.
Umbra stepped forward as Cassius waited at the edge of the clearing. As he approached the tree, he could feel a deep breath emanating from within. He noticed a number of strange symbols carved into the trunk.
Cassius watched Umbra carefully as he brushed his fingers across the carvings.
"This one says blood, and this one heart..." he murmured. "And consume, then heart again."
Cassius was impressed by Umbra's knowledge- even he could not read demonic script. Lady Crow didn't even teach him how to read common tongue.
Umbra took a deep breath and reached into a hollow. His stomach turned as he felt the unmistakable beating of a living heart. He carefully drew out the disembodied organ.
The strange gray heart pulsed calmly, the demonic rune for 'consume' was branded all over it.
You can't be serious!
Umbra looked frantically at Cassius who replied only with a devilish grin.
He took a deep breath and held the heart to his mouth; he could feel the pulse on his lips. He took a nervous bite out of it, the fatty flesh turned into ash in his mouth and the remaining organ likewise dissolved.
Suddenly his mind exploded with strange new images, conjuring rituals, theories of alchemy and magic, necromancy, divination, crafting effigies. All this knowledge and more poured into his brain.
The images came faster and faster.
Demonology, blood magic, pyromancy, ritual sacrifices. The information kept coming, faster each time.
He felt weak at the knees and doubled over; the influx of magic didn't ease up.
He began frothing at the mouth and his eyes rolled back.
Finally, Umbra passed out from the mental strain.
Cassius threw him over his shoulder and set out to Lady Crow's cabin to present her new apprentice.