Written By: Epicstu Wyyvernwriter

Over a vast area of sand and runes, an archaeologist surveys his company as they scoured the ancient city being excavated. The sun beat down hard against his back, “can you fathom it used to snow year round here almost a millennia ago?”

“Just thinking about it staves off some of this heat,” the archaeologist’s apprentice replied. “Do you really believe that a Fennec Fox named Edward actually existed? That he was a god?”

“No, William,” the archaeologist replied. “I believe he still exists. I believe he is God.”

“Leon!” shouted an excavator. “Come quick, Leon! We’ve found something!”

“They’re calling your name,” William commented.

“Let’s go and see what Russ’s fuss is then, shall we?” Leon replied. “What is it Russ?”

They approached the workers who, all together, headed toward the big find, “this way. In here.” Russ lead them to a hole the team had dug. “Look,” he shined his flashlight over a door within the hole.

Quickly climbing down for a closer look,” Come on, William,” Leon shined his own flashlight upon the ancient doorway. He laid his hand upon the carving of Edward with Zesrial, blade first, in the ground before him in the door’s center. “In all my years, I never thought I’d live to see it. It’s cold.”

“The stories all say that every temple to Edward was destroyed by the rival god, Searl, and his men,” said William.

“One was rumored to survive the event,” Leon replied. “And I’m pretty sure this door means that it’s more than just a story.”

“We found an ancient door to an ancient place where people prayed to an ancient Fennec Fox in the sky…” William rebutted. “Could still just be a story. How are we gonna get this door open without damaging the find anyway?”

“Hold my torch,” Leon handed William his torch. “Now, according to the ancient texts the doors to any house of the Blizzard are never locked to a true believer. So…” He put his hands on either side of the seam running down the middle of the carving of Edward and pushed as hard as he could. Slowly the great stone doors moved scraping across the ground as Leon grunted them open. Cool air flowed gently through until he pushed the doors open all the way and fell onto a blanket of teal-hued snow covering the room. “Hahahahaha, yes! It doesn’t snow inside! Do you believe me now, William! Edward Michael Dimir is real!”

“I, this is incredible,” William could hardly believe what he saw. “Edward is God.”

Then the doors shut. Leon turned around just in time to watch William turn into a pile of teal-hued snow adding to the already thick layer before his flashlight shut off. “Leon Aventis,” said a voice from the darkness.

“Who’s there?” Leon questioned. “What have you done with William?”

“I have done nothing,” the voice replied. “You were the one who made him believe in my brother.”

“Your brother…” Leon shuttered. “Then you must be…” fire lit the room illuminating, “the End,” and he fell to his knees.

“Clever, just as I would expect from a Leon Aventis,” the End replied. “An archaeologist though, now that’s a new one. Usually you are all Assassins.”

“What do you want from me?” asked Leon.

“First off, stand up,” the End scoffed and Leon did. “A Leon Aventis does not bend before Fate. You are among one form every Realm whom I cannot touch, so utilize your privileges.”

“One from every Realm?” Leon Aventis questioned. “I’m not the only me?”

“Nope,” the End replied. “Now please listen, I will not repeat myself. I have been waiting for a Leon Aventis to find this place. Now your world will be the staging area for a turning point in Edward’s war against Searl.”

“Hold on, that war ended almost a millennia ago,” Leon rebutted.

“Here maybe,” the End explained. “After my brother transported all his believers to a safe Realm he had created for them he set about wiping Searl’s followers from the Multiverse. For your world the battle came and went, for others it still rages, and some have yet to receive a taste. Time works differently in every Realm, yours just happened to move faster than most. For you a millennia, for another mere moments.”

“Is that where William is,” Leon asked with hopeful excitement. “In the safe Realm?”

“Yes,” the End replied. “Can we move on ple…”

“Wait,” Leon interrupted. “What will happen when this war ends and everyone is sent back. Much of their loved ones will be dead or really old depending on where you are, I suppose. I’m not sure the plan was altogether thought through.”

“Look,” the End moved slowly and intimidatingly toward Leon. “Edward made that decision. This is his fight, I’m just watching. To be honest, I am looking forward to seeing how my brother will contend with that exact mistake, but for now.” He pressed the business end of his ax against Leon’s throat, “now, I need you to focus.” Pressing his forehead to Leon’s he looked him dead in the eyes. “Can you do that for me?” Leon got out his journal and a pen and started writing down what the End had already told him. “Good, as I was saying. Your world will be a turning point in my brother’s war, one that will determine whether he rises or falls. Find the Soothslayer and the Necromancer of your world. You will require their help.” Then the End began to vanish.

“Wait!” Leon reached out to stop him, but his hand passed right through the End as though he weren’t even there. “What are we to do?”

“Edward’s war will come to your world, ” said the End. “You can either have faith in Edward or you can do something about it.” 

With that, the End left the Realm and the door opened again. Russ ran in, “Leon? Are you alright, Leon? What happened? Where is William?”

“He is safer than us now,” Leon replied.

*          *

“So remind me again why we can’t help,” Mad questioned the End with Ilean having her back.

“This is his fight,” the End replied. “Besides, I have set the board so that if you or anyone else intervenes, who isn’t supposed to, he will lose. The only way you can help him now is by not helping.”

“You really are the worst, Aleister,” commented Sarah.