Rebirth of a Fey Lord

A tall man with silver hair moved effortlessly through an overgrown forest, his steps measured and silent despite the dense underbrush. He wore a simple, dark emerald robe that brushed the earth with each stride. Above him, the canopy was thick, blocking out any trace of moonlight, casting the forest in an eerie, starlit shadow.

He stopped at the edge of a clearing, his eyes scanning the night. His voice was low and smooth, a rich whisper in the darkness. "Cronan. Wake up."

At his words, the air seemed to shudder with raw power. A massive surge of magic exploded from the center of the clearing, sending ripples through the stillness. The air shimmered as a towering beast materialized from the magic circle. It was a creature of nightmare—its thick white fur gleaming faintly in the moonless night. Standing on two muscular legs, the beast's arms reached down to its knees, its antler-like horns crowned atop its head like a terrifying crown. Its size dwarfed the man who had summoned it, its presence sending a menacing chill through the forest.

The beast grunted, clearly displeased by the abrupt wake-up call, its glowing eyes narrowed in annoyance.

"I apologize for waking you, Cronan," the man said, his chuckle rich with amusement. "But I need you to assist Leanan with a task. She's located the kingdom of Naglasra's supply depot for the upcoming war, but it seems she's having trouble destroying it alone."

The creature's grin widened, its sharp teeth glinting in the low light. Leanan, now a tiny but determined figure, flew beneath the man's cloak, landing atop Cronan's head with a playful bounce.

"Hey, big guy, long time no see!" Leanan grinned, her eyes gleaming with mischief. "For this mission, we'll charge straight in from the front. Those humans don't stand a chance against the two of us working together."

Fergus Mor, the man, smiled darkly. "Leanan, report back once you've finished the task."

Leanan's wings fluttered in excitement. "Yes, Master Fergus Mor! We won't disappoint you!"

Cronan lumbered away, each heavy step sending tremors through the earth. The trees quivered as the beast's power rippled through the forest.

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Later, Fergus Mor stood alone on a cliff high above the forest. He gazed into the distance, a dark grin curling on his lips. Cronan's roars echoed in the night below, a sign of the destruction already unfolding. His eyes gleamed with satisfaction, and he knew the war was only beginning.

"Siorai, take me to the hero," he commanded, his voice colder now.

A rift opened before him with a tear in the fabric of reality. Fergus stepped into it, his sinister smirk never fading. The world around him twisted and reshaped, and moments later, he found himself standing in a small, dimly lit inn room.

He looked down at the hero lying unconscious on the bed, a black-haired figure unaware of the world around him. "He looks so different when he sleeps," Fergus mused, a malicious glint in his eyes. "Like he's actually competent."

Fergus's gaze shifted to a bottle of wine on the table beside the bed. He picked it up, took a swig, and grimaced at the taste. "Ugh, this tastes awful. This bastard doesn't know what good wine is."

With a sneer, he walked to the side of the bed and, without warning, tipped the entire bottle over the hero's face.

"Ppfyurgh!" The hero sputtered awake, gasping as he wiped the wine from his face. His eyes flew open, and his body stiffened when he saw the Lord of Monsters standing over him.

"Good evening, Cian!" Fergus said with cruel amusement, his voice dripping with mockery. "It's a pleasure to see you carefree while your kingdom is attacked. Pity you can't do anything about it from the opposite side of the world."

Fergus's laugh echoed through the room as he turned to leave, already stepping through the rift in space.

But Cian, now fully awake and furious, reached for his sword, his resolve firm. "Nah, nah, not today," Fergus called over his shoulder, his voice dripping with disdain. "Bye!"

The tear closed behind him, and Cian's furious shout rang out as the rift vanished.

"You darn fey lord! What did you do?!"

The shout woke the other patrons in the inn, setting the stage for another battle. The forces of darkness and light were already moving toward inevitable conflict.