@Dad 76 Darkness settled over the city like a heavy blanket, shrouding the light in its heavy embrace and casting all but the brightest of lights into shadow. The streets were bare and deserted, nary a rodent daring to set foot outside their homes. Doors were locked and bolted, curtains drawn in fear of the night, those without the luxury of drapes making do with planks of wood and sheets of ply.
Fear. It surrounded the city, choking it in a tight noose that could not be escaped. It's cold hands had closed about the end of that rope, pulling hard and leaving the people to hang. None knew from whence the darkness came, the eternal night settled over Essryn for days. Any could enter, passing through the invisible wall thrown about the city in a perfect circle, but any who tried to leave were punished by a fate worse than death.
The screams still echoed throughout the dead city, tormenting those who hide within its walls, waiting for help, preying for a rescue. There was little they could do but prey, their last hope gone with the city guard's mangled corpses, thrown about the city in a freakish display of morbid pleasure. Essryn was dying, a slow painful death none could prevent. There was a dark magic and play in the desert city, a powerful entity playing a sadistic game with the powerless people.
What, then, would that power do, facing one who could negate its abilities?
Ignis Snow stood firmly in the middle of the deserted road leading into Essryn, one hand planted on his hip, the other resting on the dagger at his thigh. He stood just within the barrier, the invisible wall shimmering at his back, trying to push him the last few steps inside its hold. He refused to budge though, feet placed stolidly and back pushing against the wall. A slight flick of his hand towards the wall extended his negative ability, making the constant force at his back leave off, if only for a little while.
Crunching loudly on the nut he had been rolling between his teeth for the past few minutes, he strode forwards, unnaturally bright blue eyes taking in every detail of the streets around him, sharp ears catching the haunted wails that floated through the city like ghosts. "A real mess you've made of this city, whatever you are."
