[ WP ] The sun . She walks among us . She lights the unlighted places ( fear them ) . But the gloam-walkers engorge themselves on her light ; our champions have grown weak in the sun .

She walked among us, or so the old tales say. She shone a light in the dark, chased away the shadows. Her light nurtured, provided hope to all the hopeless. She was the joy in the darkness, but with the Lady of Light came the hounds of darkness. The Gloam-Walkers they were called, sticking to the shadows and consuming the light, the hope, the joy. With them, came disease, despair and hatred. 
 
 The champions fed on the power of the Lady, growing stronger and more powerful the more light they consumed. The gloam-walkers were no match for their even our weakest light fed champions. The gloam-walkers were forced back to the pits that spawned them. Not even the shadows could play host to them anymore. The Lady of Light reigned supreme and her champions scourged the despair and hatred, purged the disease. 
 
 The champions grew as they fed, gorged themselves on the light of our Lady. They fed too much, grew weak as they consumed the light in a frenzy to harness more power. The gloam-walkers came back, this time in strength and number. Our champions stood no chance. Gorged on the light they were the perfect target for the beasts of the shadows. One by one, champion after champion stood against the waves of gloam-walkers and one by one, champion after champion fell. Feasting on the power of the champions the gloam-walkers grew in power and strength and number until there was nothing that stood against them bar the Lady herself. 
 
 The world plunged into darkness. The Lady was gone, disappeared and with her all hope, joy and light had disappeared as well. No-one knew where she had gone, only that we were alone now. The darkness was all that remained, the gloam-walkers and worse ruled from the shadows. Terrorizing everyone across the land consuming any and all sources of light they could find. Disease and despair ruled, man fought against man, beast against beast. 
 
 There were a few that stood against the tide of darkness. Nothing like the champions of old but they stood as rocks against the ocean. Protecting the last remnants of humanity against the gloam-walkers and the darkness. The last few for whom hope still exists, hope that one day the Lady would return. Hope that the light would one day shine bright once again. This hope was the greatest weapon in the fight against the shadows. 
 
 There was hope for others as well now that she had been found. The Firewitch. Some say she was the Lady reincarnate. Others said she was the fire that would burn the world before it was reborn. 
 
 Now, as she walked across the room people could n't help but notice. Dressed in a simple white robe, her red hair seemed aflame and her pale skin glowing. She radiated warmth as she delicately padded her way barefoot across the bunker. Bringing smiles to faces that had long been devoid of joy. Bringing tears to eyes that had long forgotten the feeling of hope. She threaded her way across the underground bunker towards a Knight kneeling in the corner, sword stood in front of him, head bowed in prayer. 
 
 Coming to a stop in front of Adaer she waited patiently for him to finish his prayer. Gently reaching down she grasped his chin and pulled his head upwards until their eyes met. Adaer saw the flames in her orange eyes, felt the warmth from her hand on his chin, felt the last strands of hope inside him swell and soar to new heights. Reaching down, she grasped the pommel of his sword and Adaer flinched as she poured her warmth and power into it. 
 
 Lifting Adaer to his feet, she placed a gentle kiss on his lips as he sheathed his sword, keeping his gloved hand over the pommel, hiding the faint glow. With a simple nod, he fastened the straps on his leather armor and climbed the ladder to exit the bunker, taking one last look at the graceful Firewitch as she hummed gently to the gathered people. 
 
 Adaer quietly stalked his walk among the ruins above the bunker. Darkness was king and he strained his eyes to catch any glimpses of the gloam-walkers. His hand never straying from the pommel of his sword. The gloam-walkers would be instantly attracted to the light. 
 
 A gust of wind here, a brick falling there was proof that the gloam-walkers were here. He did not let that distract him, he was a Knight of the Lady. One of the chosen the few enlightened by the Firewitch herself. The first of many who would lead the fight back against the darkness. The first of many who would purge the world of the gloam-walkers. 
 
 Suddenly there they were. Surrounding him. Towering over him, snarling and snapping, feeling his hope and the residual warmth from when the Firewitch touched him and held his gaze. Eager to consume him, desperate to devour him and feeding their insatiable lust and hunger. 
 
 Adaer smiled for the first time in a long time as his dwindling hope was renewed. Eyes closed as tears rolled down his cheeks and joy soared inside him as he pictured the Firewitch, she was standing before him a warm smile on her face and surrounded by a halo of light. 
 
 Opening his eyes, he took a deep breath and drew his sword with a loud shing that echoed around the ruins. Flames burst forth from his blade as he held it aloft and the power of the Firewitch flowed from the pommel into the blade. 
 
 Shirking back momentarily from the burst of light the gloam-walkers rushed back towards Adaer as he swung his sword in one last fight. 
 
 The fight was over, Adaer lay broken and shattered. Surrounded by scorched earth as small fires lit up the ruins, casting the shadows back. The door to the bunker creaked open and she quietly stole across the burnt earth towards his body. Kneeling down the Firewitch gently rested her hand on his shoulder and wept quietly over his sacrifice. 
 
 There would be many more in the days to come, but she vowed to never forget him, her first. He would shine brighter than anyone. 
 
 
 The Champion of the Sun
