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Alaric

I am not surprised that the Sorceress finds me before I reach her tower. When I entered the borders of Nocturna, I felt myself being watched. The sound of wings and the harsh cawing of the spy birds she uses to patrol her lands were ever in my ears.

It is jarring to ride from blinding daylight into blackest night all in the space of a single horse’s stride, but I crossed the border a while ago. I have been riding through what feels like endless night for ages now.

Though I confess, the darkness of Nocturna is different from that of the nighttime in Solaris.

The plants here all glow with unholy magic.

It is not uncommon to ride through a forest lit with softly glowing green, blue, pink, and yellow lights.

It makes me think of a fairy village and it is quite beautiful—in an evil way, of course.

The animals often have glowing eyes, the better I suppose, to help them see in the endless darkness. They scamper away from my horse well before his hooves might find them. And always the full moon rides above me, pouring silver luminescence that is, thankfully, enough to find my way by.

I had to ask the villagers who live on the edge of the Demarcation—the line between Solaris and Nocturna—where the tower of the Sorceress lies.

Some were reluctant to speak—apparently they trade with the NightBorn, though such commerce has been outlawed by the GodKing—and they did not wish to offend their Nocturna neighbors.

However, gold on their palms loosened some lips and now I am sure of my path.

I begin to grow weary just a few hours from my destination. So weary, in fact, that I fear I might start slipping from my saddle. It’s natural to be tired, I tell myself. After all, I’ve been riding for days with very little rest.

I decide to stop a while. I need to be fresh for the battle ahead. I ride until I find shelter—the overgrown and crumbled remains of an ancient abandoned temple to the Old Gods. We worshipped them until the GodKing rose to power.

Up until then, we DayBorn of Solaris didn’t understand the threat that was posed to us by the wicked NightBorn of Nocturna.

But the GodKing opened our eyes—he made us see how evil they are with their dark arts and Shadow Magic.

After he took the throne, we went to war with them and we’ve never let up since.

It’s one reason I am proud to serve him.

I dismount and give my horse his head. Destrider won’t go far from me—I’ve had him since he was a colt. I’m so weary now I can barely stand. I find a stream and bathe myself—I always feel better going into battle if I’m clean—and then lay out my cloak and take a nap.

I have no idea I am being watched.