Pyre Academy
The Battle of Pitch Valley

Arranthian had dropped Syl and Seb off just north of the wall bordering the forests of the Southern Pole. Blizzards were near constant in this part of Crystalla. Syl and Seb made their way through the thick snow storm. The dark clouds kept the whole continent shrouded in darkness, not much was visible ahead, luckily Syl had come equipped with a compass to guide the way.

As the trudged through the deep snow, the heard the roar of Arranthian in the distance behind them. The pair forged on ahead for what seemed like an eternity, before finally reaching the bridges linking Avadey Docks, and Avadey city itself. The docks were located on the eastern coast of the island, and Avadey itself was hidden away in flanked to the west by a huge mountain range.

When they reached the bridge, two police officers approached.

“Halt!” The female office commanded.

“Our car broke down on the road from the docks” Syl said, Seb had his lower face hidden with a scarf in case he was recognized, luckily for him the snowstorm provided the perfect excuse.

“Hmm, we can offer you a lift to the city I guess, but you will have to make your own arrangements to get the car brought to you” The male officer said.

Syl nodded. The officers motioned for the two to follow them to their nearby van. Once inside it was a short journey into the city itself. The officers let the two out and then drove away. The city was almost silent, but given its location, it was understandable.

The two found themselves on the main square of the city, it was a huge circular park, with a town hall in the middle and was surrounded on the outside by dozens of shops.

“Right... do you remember the way in?” Syl asked. “I was kinda snook in last time I was here” He chuckled.

“Hmm, I think so... it was an alleyway near the main square, which is around where we are now...” Seb said, thinking to himself. “Now if I recall it was across the road from a Coffee Shop” He added, as he scanned the square.

“Is that it over there?” Syl asked, pointing at a familiar looking coffee shop.

“Looks like it, let’s go!” Seb nodded, and the two quickly made their way to the alleyway across from the shop. They made their way to the end and... nothing. No teleportation.

“Damn...” Seb grunted. Suddenly a loud alarm rang out from across the city, and red lights flashed. The two ran out into the street expecting to be surrounded by guards... but the streets were empty.

“I thought that was us?” Syl shrugged looking around.

“If it’s not us...” Seb began, but was interrupted by a large explosion that rang out across the city, followed by loud roars. Arranthian flew over the city, torching the buildings as he went, he was followed by a small army of dragons and Wyverns.

“Holy Harbinger” Syl uttered as he looked to the skies. Arranthian spotted Syl and Seb on the street below, and flew toward the main square.

“Stand back!” Arranthian roared, Syl and Seb ran further down a side street. Arranthian hovered above the main square and powered up his breath. When he was ready, he unleashed a torrent of ice shards at the town hall, the town hall crumbled under the strain. Several more dragons arrived and joined in, slowly the ground below the main square began to crumble.

Several airships flew toward the dragons, but were quickly overwhelmed by wyverns and crashed into the city below, flames roared up across the whole cities, turning the sky even darker.

The main square eventually crumbled away, exposing Abysial Academy below. As soon as the ground had crumbled, students of the Academy began unleashing attacks on the dragons, Arranthain turned to Syl and Seb.

“Go, now!” He boomed, the two nodded and ran toward the chasm, the jumped down onto the first balcony. The were quickly accosted by two students.

“Sebastien?! You traitor!” One of them shouted.

“Abyssia isn’t as she makes herself out to be. Trust me” Seb shouted back, the students ignored him and charge at both Syl and Seb. Syl deflected the attack from his opponent’s Celestial Weapon, and punched them square in the face. Knocking them out.

Seb dodged the attack from his opponent and kicked the weapon from their hand, he shot a ball of darkness at the student, who had their back to the balcony, the flew into the dark chasm below.

“No!” Seb shouted as he ran over to the balcony, but he was too late.

“My, my, developed a conscience have we?” A familiar female's voice chuckled. Syl and Seb turned around to see they were face to face with Ember.

"Ember! Don't do this..." Seb frowned.

"I am the one who stayed loyal to our cause, I should have known you wouldn't" She sighed, as she pulled her red gloves tight around her hands.

"You bastards should have just left me and my sister alone..." Syl growled.

"Ah, the stray bloodhound has returned, free from both the Harbinger's influence" Ember grinned.

Syl charged at Ember, as he did, she summoned Celestial Fists and punched him against the railing, knocking him out of the battle.

"Just you and me now, Sebastien" Ember smirked.

"It's Seb" Seb sighed. He cast several balls of dark energy and fired them at Ember. She dodged each and every one and cast a wave of dark energy at Seb, knocking both him and Syl into the chasm below.

As they were both about to hit the floor, a familiar male and female voice cast a gravity spell, suspending both Syl and Seb momentarily, out of the shadows stepped Amanda and Atlas, the other student who fell was unconscious on the floor next to them.

"I guess you are the rescue party?" Atlas smiled. Syl groaned and stood up, to see Atlas and Amanda stood before him.

"We're more like the demolition team" Seb shrugged.

"Uncle Atlas?" Syl groaned.

"How're you holding up, my apprentice hero in training?" He smiled.

"Ugh... a little beaten up, but I'm still better than I've been in a while" Syl responded, he looked at Amanda and frowned.

"What's she doing here?" Syl growled.

"We were imprisoned together..." Atlas sighed, Syl charged at Amanda with his Celestial Weapon drawn, but he was deflected by Atlas.

"Now's not the time, Ember is likely on her way down here to finish you off!" Atlas shouted.

"She killed my Mum!" Syl roared, his eyes glowing red, once again charging at Amanda, Amanda put up a barrier of energy to block Syl's attack.

"Syl! We can deal with this later!" Seb shouted, Syl relented and walked up to Amanda.

"I will kill you..." Syl growled.

"I'll let you, but first we have to save your sister and my daughter" She nodded. Syl backed away, surprised, Atlas gave Amanda a nod and a smile. "I need to know they're safe before I face my death" She added.

"Fine" Syl sighed.

Ember made her way into the room, which suddenly was lit up as a flaming piece of debris fell from the fight above. The room was a huge circle surrounded by several pillars, and in the center sat the Dark Crystal.

"Let's end this" Ember grinned.