Time for the next installment of the story... Like I said I don't dream them in order so this one had a lot of development in my head by far from the last one.
We enter our story this time with Niro Sikari, the main protagonist in this tale. He looks almost completely human ... except for his tail and ears, which appear as that of a foxes. At first he appears to be in his mid to early twenties with silver hair and red tipped ears. However, he is in fact much older. Probably in his late sixties, but Fade don't age like normal people. No, The Fade aren't like others at all. They are a race composed of many races and species, or were at least. Over the years the Fade have withered and died from what they once were, a proud race of thousands maybe even tens of thousands down to a mere handful of maybe hundreds spread across vast distances. Niro belongs to a small concentration of this race though, where several Fade have gathered to try to prolong their existence in this world together rather than fight apart. They reside in a town called Ansken Rail. It was probably once a kingdom, but was abandoned long ago and repopulated by the Fade. The town itself is very large but only the center of it is filled with residence, its ourskirts remain dead and deserted. The entire town is surrounded by high black walls with two gates, one to the north facing a large dense forest and one to the west facing a desolate plain with a river off in the distance. The West wall is bordered not by a wall but the wall merges with a large black stone faced cliff that rises high above the city and the south wall is just a complete solid wall with no entrances or exits. This city was repopulated by mostly humans and only two or three of the Fade when it was reborn. However over time those few helped stabilize the government and economy of the town and were regarded as its Guardians and protectors. As years passed more and more Fade wandered in and stayed or were born into the town's population. For a while all was fine, the Wraiths rarely appeared and those that did were quickly dealt with. But in these days the Fade are few and the Wraiths just grow larger by the number each passing week. Ansken Rail... once a home to many is a prison to them now, safe from the outside world, but also trapped from it as well. In the center of this prison rises a tower made from the same black stone as the walls and cliff that surround the city. This tower, has been renamed the Tower of the Faded. On the fifth floor of this tower sits Niro at a desk near the window, staring out at the dark grey sky to the west, possibly daydreaming of what life is like on the outside of these walls. His room of the tower is a small one, with silver walls and ceiling and a dark ashen wood flooring. In the corner is a bed he rarely uses by the only window is his desk at which he writes and works. Laying in the corner next to his desk is a large wooden pole painted bright green with iron tipped ends cast in silver. It is his main form of defense and offense against whatever he must subdue or kill, be it Wraith or other. He wears a black cloak with the symbol of his race on its backside in bright tan. Besides that he wears simple clothing.
A knock comes at his door breaking his trance like stare out the window. Niro briefly sighs and then tells whomever it is they may enter. In steps a tall thin figure. Long jet black hair tops his head, his skin a pale purple and his ears human but drastically pointed. Instead of hands, claws extrude from his dark sleeved robes. Surprised Niro quickly rises in attention to the elder of his race and bows. "Good evening Sir Xenaphon." he says with a steady voice. Xenaphon waves his left arm with a mild annoyed look on his face, "I've told all of you before, none of that 'Sir' and all this over respectful business. I'm the same as you are even if I am a few centuries older."
"I understand...." Niro sighed raising his head "why is it you've come to visit me today? I thought you left the city weeks ago to search for others."
"I did, and we found none. Only empty towns and plenty of Wraiths. That is actually why I am here." His expression became a bit more tired looking as he closed his eyes and continued, "Claire was badly injured in an attack and we had to rush back here to treat her. She may not make it through tomorrow even so. That means the North wall will be short two guards now, and I need you to go help keep watch tonight." Niro nodded.
"When should my shift start?"
"Within the hour, Renx has been there for almost two days without sleep and refuses to abandon his post. You are going to have to convince him to get some rest and head back the tower."
With that Xenaphon left from the room leaving for more important matters Niro guessed. Niro gathered up his weapons and his pole staff and followed down the long spiral steps. His destination the North Gate....
I'll stop here and pick up tomorrow. Got a bit descriptive this time ... hope you enjoy and don't sleep through it.
