The Tower of Green Flame
Ahead of the wizards by three days the Ebony Knight arrives at the broken bridge. Moss and vines consume it. Large broken pieces are home to hand size spiders. Beneath the bridge, giant spiders wait for their pray. Across the bridge was the ruin tower, only the top was visible.
Towering cypress and mangroves surrounded the tower. Giant tree trunks covered the area as well. The Knight noticed the largest amongst them was a white eucalyptus that was once over three hundred feet. It now laid broken on the forest floor. After seeing it the Knight could feel a loss of spirituality. The world was now lesser for it and the red wizard had done it intentionally. The Knight walked closer feeling the emptiness in the air around him. Thick moss and vines covered the old ruin before him. At the towers top was the green flame dancing between the broken stones.
Back in the thick jungle the two wizards closed in on their destination. They traveled over marshes and old hanging moss covered trees. Akora put her hand over dark water and she could feel the sickness spreading outward from the towers location. Anior used his magic to purify the infected waters and trees. Together they purified the infection with frost and water as they neared the tower. Anior also used his magic to make a more direct path to the tower. Destroying the most corrupted parts of the forest in the process.
The Ebony Knight finds the tower unguarded and enters the ruin. The tower is quiet and damp. The central room is open, three doors lead to different parts of the tower. A spiraling stairway leads up to the top of the tower. In front of the Knight, at the center of the room is a book hovering in unstable green and red magic. The Knight draws his sword of meteorite and stardust. He leaves the central room and goes through the doorway behind the book, it opens into a broken part of the tower. One side remains covered and three cells have caged skeletons that have been experimented on. The other side is open with a large meranti tree growing from the floor. It's exposed roots strangle the old tower stone. Beneath the steps to the central room he walked down through anther opening. The Knight entered and descended a narrow tunnel of moss covered steps. The tunnel opened into a gigantic chamber underneath the tower. Below revealed a massive cave mouth. Stone and stairs meshed into cave rock. In the side of the cave walls had cells carved into them. There were dozens of skeletons and monsters caged within them. Villagers and pillagers were also in nearby cages. Many had been transformed into hybrids or other kinds of abominations. At the center, a stone causeway branched out over the cave mouth. On it, the red wizard stood with green flaming candles all around him. He read from another large book. Before the Knight could act, a thundering voice spoke and all the lights dimmed. "The Ebony Knight, the Victor of a hundred battles and the greatest swordsmen of Labyrinthia. You are a fool to test me alone. Your armies are scattered, the northern desert kingdom is mine. The princess will bey bride."
The wizard turned slowly as the candles grew bright again. The light revealed the wizards half skeletal face. He raised his left hand and it too was skeletal. "The power of immortality is mine. Kneel Knight and you will rise as my greatest general. The gift of eternal life will be yours. I will gift you a kingdom and castle of your own. Together not even the nine will be able to withstand us."
The Knight tightened his grip on his great sword. It's golden hilt shined in the light. "I know nor what you have become, but you have forgotten your path. Eternal life is already mine. It's a birthright for all our kind. This world is only temporary. To try to avoid death is to avoid life. You have become the darkness you once fought to eradicate. I am the light ready to do what must be done. Surrender Azar, fifth wizard of the Tower of Knowledge. The red, keeper of purifying frame. Free the princess and let the other wizards fix you." The wizards body began to shake rapidly, until it suddenly stopped. Vallada the dark power within Azar spoke, "Enough, I am the eternal flame. This one is mine. We our one, you will join my eternal army and serve me as my second or you will die. Only to rise again as my puppet. Perhaps I will unleash you against Labyrinthia." The green flame within Azar smiled and laughed. The Knight got ready to fight and looked deep into the burning eyes of the wizard. "Azar, only with your purifying flame can you and the other wizards cure this realm. You are not yourself, the same infection has taken hold of you. This green flame is not eternal life, the power was already bestowed upon the wizards. You our this realms guardians and have been for centuries."
Azar yelled and it cussed stone to fall and the cave walls to crack. He duplicated himself and used his speed to attack the Ebony Knight. The Knight defended himself as he walked backwards into the narrow path. Unable to use his tricks the wizard fought with two double sided blades. The fought back into the broken room. Azar casted a green fire ball but the Knight dogged it. When the flames cleared the wizard stood still not knowing where the Knight was. From behind the Knight jumped off the stone steps and cut downward. Azar was to late and his right hand was cur off. The blade in that hand also broke in half and the Knight cut deep into Azar's collarbone. As the Knight lifted to behead the wizard, he casted a small fire ball to block the attack. Azar know ran from the Ebony Knight. Casting flames at the Knight did nothing to slow him. The Knight had a holy aura of light around him. His sword took the majority of the attack, while the Knights spell keep him unharmed. In the central room the wizard stood. Just as the Knight swung his sword to cut the wizard in half, flames from above consumed the wizard in green fire. The Knight saw as Azar's injuries grew back in a skeletal form. The flames dissipated and returned to the top of the tower. Azar used both hands to flood the Knight in flames of green and red.
When the flames were done the Knight charged and cut down across the wizards face. Azar stepped back and used flames again but the Ebony Knight continued to fight on. Azar drew his blade and fought with both flame and dagger. Hearing the duel below, the princess screams echoed down the tower. The Knight went on the defensive as he stepped backwards onto the stairway, in hope of reaching the top. Azar continued to use his tricks and dagger to keep the Knight on the defensive. The princess called for help, the Knight looked back to see how much further he had to go. Azar cut the Knights under arm where the armor was weakest. At the same time he duplicated himself and the other red wizard appeared behind the Knight, stabbing him in the back of the neck. The Knight felt the blade break through his spine as the other blade found its wat under his breastplate and into his heart. The Ebony Knight fell to the right and crashed onto the floor of the central chamber.
