• Prologue

    “What the -”The necromancer stopped in his tracks, and almost stepped on a homeless child in an alleyway. It was night, as it always was in the city. But something was different tonight. There was a powerful presence that could be felt by anyone in the city that wielded magic. And this necromancer was very lucky, for he had found the aura that may help the Empire of Darkness win the war.
    Where is it coming from? He asked himself. Closing his eyes, the necromancer concentrated on the presence. It was coming from – the ground? He opened his eyes and looked below him. He didn’t see anything except for the quivering child he had almost stepped on. The child! He thought. The child must not fall into another Empire’s hands. It seems I must take care of the child until it is old enough. I shall teach it dark magics, and then it will win the war for the Darkness! And with that, he picked up the child carefully, and carried it toward his house on the graveyard.


    Chapter One

    Renlei stared out the window, watching the raindrops roll off the glass. Tomorrow was the Sutrae Novaryu, or Day of the Sun. The one day of the year that the sun shone, and one day only. Many inhabitants of the City of Eternal Night slept the whole day, for they despised the sun - but not Renlei. She longed for this day, although she didn’t mind the darkness. She was just tired of everyday being so dark.
    “Be careful what you wish for. If everyday was in sunlight, you’d long for darkness.” Renlei jumped when she heard the voice. She whipped around and glared at the ghost behind her.
    “Do you have to be so nosy and read my mind all the time?” she asked. The ghost just smirked, and pretended to examine its fingernails. “Did you just come here to pester me or do you have something to tell me?” Renlei asked impatiently.
    “Actually, I do have something to tell you. It’s time for dinner. Hurry up.” The ghost said as he left the room.
    “He’s such a bother…” Renlei muttered.
    “I heard that!” He called.


    Renlei was greeted by the warm scent of roast beef and snap peas when she entered the dining room area. She sat down, and a few minutes later Tairuku, the necromancer, entered the room. He set down a plate of bread rolls as he sat down. Renlei started eating immediately.
    “Renlei, as you are aware, tomorrow is Sutrae Novaryu.” Tairuku said. “It’s the perfect day to practice dark magic.” He continued. Renlei groaned. She could tell where this was going. “You will be practicing drawing the shadows to you for stealth. This will be harder than usual, for it will be daylight. Get up at six o’clock. That is when the sun will begin to rise.”
    “I don’t want to be practicing all day. It’s the only day the sun will be out. I think it should be a sort of holiday.” Renlei complained.
    Tairuku gave her a stern look. “You are 17 – you know that. Stop acting like a six year old!” Then he added quietly, “You know what happened on the day I found you. I want you to be prepared to fight.”
    Renlei let out a hiss of rage. “I don’t care! I don’t want to fight in the war! That’s all you talk about! Admit it, you’re using me to become a hero!” She yelled as she stood up, knocking her plate off the table. It shattered loudly. Tairuku stared at her impatiently. Renlei growled and ran off to her room, slamming the door.
    How could he think I wouldn’t know? And bring up that day when he found me? He knows I don’t like to remember that! She thought angrily. I’m not even born of the element of darkness. But, no, he still expects me to fight on his side.
    “I’ll show him,” Renlei muttered to herself. “He probably doesn’t even care about me. If I’m so special and important to the war, why does he treat me like crap?”


    “Don’t you think you’re maybe a bit hard on her?” The ghost said to Tairuku.
    “I don’t care. She needs to be trained and prepared to win the war for us.”
    The ghost scowled. “Haven’t you taken the hint yet? She doesn’t want to fight in the war!” Tairuku sighed and slouched back in his chair. The ghost growled. “You are so oblivious! She’s going to rebel if you keep treating her like this. And if she rebels –” The ghost was cut off.
    “Go back to the graveyard! I’m sick of your nagging.” Tairuku said angrily. He chanted a spell, and the ghost’s face twisted in agony as if he was dying again. He faded until there was nothing left. Tairuku sighed and went to his bedroom to think.


    Renlei waited in her room until she heard Tairuku snoring. The necromancer only slept a couple of hours every night, so Renlei only had that much time until he noticed she was gone. She had to move fast. Opening her window quietly, she grabbed her pack of supplies and stood on her windowsill, braced herself, and jumped. Her room was on the second story, but luckily, was also above bushes so she wouldn’t land on hard rocks.
    Renlei landed on her feet, but it took her a few seconds to recover from the shock of the landing. She crept quietly through the graveyard – even the Raised were sleeping – until she reached the gate. She took one last look back, then jumped the gate and ran off into the night.