The White city burns, black smoke plumed from the inferno. The pale stoned towers engulfed and charred. The cries of people dying can be heard in the distance, creating a soundscape of hell.

I am too late. I fell to my knees and pulled at my hair, choking out a desperate scream.

The click of footsteps behind me echo against the pale stone. I raised my head, eyes red and swollen.

He stood there with destructive grace. The one they called the Gray elf, Blackened one, Mrithun.

His eyes were soft and mellow, like a calm sea. His sallow skin deathly looking compared to his black hair.

I stood wobbly, my hand ripped out my sword and I charged. His expression didn’t change as I ran at him. He sidestepped my lunge, my blade hitting the stone floor with a clank.

“How could you!” I panted as i spun and swung again.

He grabbed my blade with his gantleted hand and tore it from my grasp. “For change, chaos must sacrifice.” He rasped before flipping it around and slicing clean through my stomach.

I lurched over, holding my insides in as I screamed out. Blood seeped through my fingers like thick wine. I dropped down to my knees, my breath quickened and shallow.

He kneeled down infront of me, his head cocked to the side like a dog. I flinched as he trailed a pale hand against my blood covered fingers. He leaned in, his eyes staring intensely.

“But in all chaos, there is calculation…” He whispered against my ear, his breath cold.

He pressed his hand harder against my stomach, I grit my teeth and groaned at the painful pressure.

“I could save you.” His tone honeyed.

I glared up at him, wincing at his touch.

“Join me,” His eyes lit up and his other hand raised to my chin. “Our bloodlines together could make a better future.”

“You’re insane.” I coughed, blood gurgling in my throat.

He cocked his head again and stood. “I know you’ll make the right choice.”

He turned and began to walk away, the room echoed with his footsteps once more.

I quivered on the floor as my own blood spilled out around me. I watched it fill the cracks in the pale stone, like veins, like bloodlines.

“I-I’ll-“ My voice cracked, my mouth dry all of a sudden. “I’ll do it..”

He stopped and looked back at me, a small smirk pulled at his lips.