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Children's laughter drifted across the playground at the park. A young woman smiled as she watched the children running, tagging, playing. So full of life. So carefree. She thought.

She didn't turn as a man sat down on the other end of the bench. "Things are getting heated."

"What word is going around?" She asked, nonchalant, her face still turned to the playground.

"War." The word startled her, causing her to turn to him.

"So he's serious?"

The man nodded. "You actually doubted that he was?" He chuckled. "I knew him personally. Had the pleasure to serve under him many years back."

She frowned. "Still, to think that he would go to such lengths...."

The chuckle came again. "You're young. Of course you wouldn't know." The man looked at her fully. "He wasn't always called the Ancient Soul. There was a time when he once went by a different title." He smiled at her. "The Burning Flame."

The woman blinked, her eyes wide. "What does he want us to do?"

The man shrugged. "For now we lie low. We keep to the current mission. When things go inferno, he will let us know." He raised an eyebrow. "Any objections?"

She turned back to the playground. "No. I have none. May the Creator shine His Light upon our efforts."
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I looked out at the valley spread out before me. Three years ago, this valley had been blackened, sickly. The waters had been black with filth. What greeted my eyes now was vastly different. I heard my mate, Arainya, come up beside me.

"It is pleasing to view the fruits of all our labor." She answered, nuzzling my shoulder.

I nuzzled her face in return. "These years haven't been easy." I turned my gaze beyond the far southern ridge. "And even more troubling times lie ahead."

I heard her sigh. "Why must it always be war?"

My expression was grim as I replied. "Because we lie in the Shadow of the Past. The trees whisper ceaselessly. The wind shouts continuously. And the earth trembles at what it hears." I looked down at her. "The Times of Old have not yet relinquished their hold on this world."

She leaned against me, burying her face in my wing. "The Necromancers will retaliate. They won't just go away."

"No." I shook my head. "No they won't."