[ WP ] `` What a shame . Out of all the decisions you could have made today , you chose to die ... ''

Ash rained from the sky in burning clumps, swept high into the clouds by mighty wings of fiery death. A roar echoed from far above, its call muffled and distant in the soot-filled air. Once a bustling town, the battleground was now a ruin of blackened structures, rocked by explosive bolts of magic and dotted with craters burning shades of purple and green. 
 
 
 
 In the epicenter of one such crater, the archmage Gabriel coughed blood weakly onto his chest. His once shining armor lay crumpled and split in four crimson gashes across his chest, exposing torn flesh beneath. Weakly, he reached behind his now-useless breastplate and undid a buckle, shrugging the constricting metal and leather off into the dirt. True rain began to mix with the ash, washing the mage's face and causing the mystic fires to sputter and hiss. With a skyward smile, Gabriel closed his eyes and was at peace. 
 
 
 `` What a shame. Out of all the decisions you could have made today, you chose to die.'' 
 
 
 Gabriel started and tried to sit up, causing him to wince in pain. 
 
 
 `` Who's there?'' he called out, his voice straining against his injured chest. 
 
 
 At first, the only answer was the quiet whisper of rain. Then the voice spoke again right behind the crown of his head, just too far away to see. 
 
 
 `` A shame, I said. Mighty Gabriel, lying fallen and dying in the mud. Oh, how your mother would cry!'' 
 
 
 A dark figure stepped from the shadows, face leering darkly from within a shadowy hood. 
 
 
 `` Greycloak'' Gabriel spat, sitting up. `` Leave me to die, curse you. Ca n't you see you've already won?'' 
 
 
 A grim sneer lit up the figure's hood with malice. `` Oh yes. My victory here is assured. But I really do hate loose ends, you see. And you have indeed been a worthy foe. If you had hidden your face and true name, as I have, you may have even been able to win. But alas, with your true name and my magics, *Gabriel*, I know you better than you know yourself.'' 
 
 
 Greycloak laughed to himself. `` Oh, spare me your final excuses. I know your arguments well enough.'The people need a face to rally behind!''What kind of hero has to use a mask?' HA! The pitiful reasoning of a soft-hearted fool!'' 
 
 
 `` Better a soft heart than none at all!'' Gabriel's eyes grew dim and grey, and he slid back onto the ground. 
 
 
 `` Hush, hush, dear archmage. Your suffering need not last any longer.'' Greycloak raised his hand, now lit with baleful magefire. 
 
 
 `` Goodnight, sweet prince. May your rest be long and dark.'' 
 
 
 Gabriel closed his eyes, and the world faded to black. 
 
 
 TO BE CONTINUED BELOW
