"Understanding is a three-edged sword. Your side....their side....and the truth." - Unknown
*Several years after the events surrounding the Eye of Terror*
"It is as we have feared isn't it?"
The large armored figure standing at the balcony, looking out over the city turns at the sound of the voice, his gaze coming to rest on a slender, winged woman a short distance away. The Seraphim nods grimly.
"Yes. Not only do the scouting reports clearly show an increase in the forces of Darkness all along their borders, as well as an escalation in raiding attacks...but I can even sense the growing strength of Darkness itself. He...is returning."
The woman moves closer, joining Jharm at the balcony as they both overlook the sprawling shining city.
"Yet still She has not returned. Your travels with those "Companions" failed to provide any leads as to her whereabouts, as well as weaken our forces when we joined in the assault upon that "Eye of Terror" hellscape."
Her words, while neither accusatory nor hostile do still bear a bit of a sting to them, demonstrated by the Seraphim looking off to the side and clenching a fist.
"Correct. I believe we made the right choice though. The Eye had to be dealt with, otherwise I'm sure eventually it would have spilt over into other universes. We stand against the Darkness, not only here in our own universe but I feel, elsewhere as well when necessary."
"You know we agree with your decision...but that does not change that not only are we weaker in strength now then if we had not participated in that attack...we also now face the very real likelihood of facing Darkness himself without Her direct aid. Never before has such a thing been done. What if we should fail? Darkness will no doubt overcome everything and then what? Invade other realms?"
"Correct once again. All is not lost. There are the Companions. All of them are powerful in their own ways, and I have no doubt that they would all offer their assistance to us should I ask."
"Even that psychotic...what did you call him? Ork?"
"Yes...Gulgrim. In truth Im sure if he is offered the possibility of untold carnage and violence...I don't think there would be any way to deny him from participating. Plus his army would be serve as a very suitable..."vanguard" for our own troops."
"Bloodthirsty psychotic monsters, that's what they are Seraphim."
"Yes...but given the dire threat...I see few other options. I should go speak with..."
Suddenly the doors of the room burst open and an armored Seraph rushes in.
"Seraphim! The General is in need. Something has happened to him!"
*Elsewhere in the Citadel*
An older looking Seraph sits cross-legged, candles burning in a circle around him. A pure white blindfold is wrapped around his head, his chest barely rising and falling as he seems to be deep in a meditative state. Two Seraphs stand a distance away, clad in simple white robes. Suddenly, the seated figure begins to spasm and shake before his head rolls back and suddenly light begins to glow from within the empty eye sockets covered by the blindfold. The priests look at each other before the one rushes towards the spasming figure and the other quickly slips through the doorway and dashes out of sight. After a few moments the blind Seraphs movements calm and he slumps against the attending priest, his breath ragged and tired.
"I....Im okay. I'm...alright. Help me up...I...I must speak with the Seraphim at once."
It is at that moment the other priest returns, followed by Jharm and the woman he was speaking with.
"Ah, I suppose I should have known you would show up without delay."
"Of course General Drayvon, your acolyte tells me you were meditating and then without warning started to spasm all about. Naturally this is concerning. Are you.."
"Alright? Yes of course, a bit tired perhaps but I am alright. That is not important though. What IS important is that I have had a vision."
Jharm takes a step back, slight shock on his face.
"A vision? Was it about.."
"Yes. A vision of what is to come...or what may be to come. I can not say for certain."
Drayvon turns and moves over to Jharm, placing a hand upon the larger Seraphs shoulder.
"As before, flashes of images and voices. I recognize some as your Companions thanks to our interactions with them previously...but there is one I do not recognize. Steady yourself and I will share it with you. I feel that we must move quickly."
Focusing, he lowers his head and squeezes the Seraphims shoulder as Jharms mind is suddenly overtaken by a barrage of images, sights, and sounds. They are gone in a flash though as he gives a shake of his head and rubs a head over his forehead.
"Y...yes. Those were certainly Lord Reaver and the others I saw. That woman though I have never seen before. I got a strange sense that she is important in some way, and that final image...it seems familiar in a way. I recognized some of the signs. I...I think it was the Imperial plane...where the Eye of Terror used to reside."
"You have never been there before though correct? There must be some reason it was in the vision though. You told me once before that you thought you felt the presence of the Light after the Eye closed, but that all of us had already returned home."
"Yes, it was very faint, as if it was either a great distance away or..."
"Concealed deep within someone."
"General, do you really think this woman could be somehow be connected to Her?."
"Seraphim, we know that during the last fight between herself and Darkness, she struck Him down while at the same time shattering her form and sending a fragment into the void. That is how we are able to once more travel to other universes. She said that she would return to us in our hour of need and I believe it is certainly safe to say that time is now. I think it is important that we have least seek out this individual and try to ascertain if there is something to her. The vision certainly has made it clear that the help of your Companions will be required in the battles ahead.
Jharm nods, looking between the General and the woman he was speaking to earlier.
"Drayvon, Nethanya...prepare our people for the End War. I will return to the Imperial universe and do what I can to try and find this woman and contact the Companions. There is little time to waste if we are to stand against the Darkness and obtain victory."
The two other Seraphs nod and move off, orders already being shouted as Jharm turns and manifests a portal in front of him and disappears.