In this world, Magic is Everything. All people, all races, are granted with the power to perform mystical and magical feats via grimories, mystical tomes granted to each and every child on their 15th birthday. Those blessed by the mana can have their names written down in legend.
Shattered Grimoires is the work of the mind(s) of Ardere & Shattered Grimoire's staff. All characters and content are copyright their creators, and may not be replicated without their creators' permission. Black Clover is owned by Yuki Tabata and published by Viz Shonen Jump. All images belong to their original owners. The theme you are currently viewing was made by Eliza of ElizaCodes exclusively for Shattered Grimoires.
The end of one adventure is merely the beginning of another.
Winds effortlessly blow sand across the desert once formed of only mirages and beasts, but now bows to the will of a new King. Dragons rule this land as they once did a thousand years ago--for this is the place Ardere and Salamander met. At the far end of the Fringe waits a desert--a desert wielding more secrets than most Kingdoms. One only needs to reach a hand out into the endless sandstorms to seek them out. There is where you will find your dreams and nightmares, your pride and insecurities lurking in the dunes.
Removing the tan good concealing his face, Ardere pulled down the goggles that served as protection for his eyes. Draped across his sand duster was a crimson dragon comparable to an Iguana in side--Salamander. This is it buddy. This is the place we met. Good to be home? The red beast grumbled happily as steam was exhaled into the already scorching air. Ground hot to the touch and moisture completely vacant, this was a heat none in Clover had the displeasure of experiencing. Throwing the hood and goggles back on, the Crimson King dug his feet into the depths of the molten sand. Catching his bearing the hulking man stomped through the sand storm that now plagued these lands. His goal was close but ever so far away; The Tower of Mirages. Hidden within this desert was a place that few mortals had ever lived to see. This was a place where dragons dwelled, guarded by a warrior older than the Clover Kingdom. The Crimson Lion Captain had once set foot in this place and forever changed his life. The partner than now clenched onto his shoulders recalled the time they met, the fire in Ardere's heart. Ultimately flames had drawn them together, but conviction and pain brought them closer.
Duster fluttering in the wind, the force of the storm was beginning to move even the strong Kasai. Channeling mana through his veins and muscles as they began to pulsate, it was the only way to prevent himself from falling over. There was still kilometers to go--how long could he keep this up? As the sky bore down upon him and the dust crept into every crevice of his attire, the fire mage found himself lost in thought for a moment. For a second it was just him and the desert, nothing else. As his feet dug into the sand and he trudged along, his only thoughts were of moving forward. This was what kept him alive these days. 'Think only of ahead.' He told himself. After all the loss and pain, other men (not lesser by any means) would have taken their own lives. Ardere once may have called them cowards, but now he understood and chose to keep living anyways. For those he had lost, he had to press on. As long as he drew breath, none of his loved ones would ever be forgotten or gone from this world. He did not know what awaited him in the afterlife, but he did know that it was the burden of the living to carry the dead with them. He held quite the weight on his shoulders, but that was what had made him so strong after all of these years. What was a few more pounds?
The storm began to settle and as he broke through the wind he saw the canyon he once laid eyes on all that time ago. Burrowed into the clay and rock were crevices that stretched on and on for kilometers, the sounds of wolves howling echoed against the coarse walls. He remembered what manner of monster laid in wait here, but none would dare attack him. The crimson lizard draped across his shoulders was quite the deterrent for would-be attackers. They remembered who ruled these lands, the winged dragons beneath the earth. This was the law of the desert after all. But as he entered the canyon, he felt the magical power within it begin to grow. Something had changed here since last he visited. There was a paradigm shift and it was obvious by the stench of dark mana here. What was wrong?
Sliding into a small cave within the canyon, he sought refuge for a bit. It was nice and cool here, a good spot for him to rest. Salamander re-entered his body to rest inside him, the small flame burrowing into his chest. As Ardere leaned against the wall, he exhaled softly. Removing his goggles and hood the sun was still scorching outside. Removing a leather pouch from his side bag, it was full of water. The water was a bit hot, but after some time cooling down in the shade he managed to drink it. Coughing and leaning back against the rock, this journey had been far more treacherous than anticipated. But broom travel was nearly impossible with the sand storms, and Salamander needed to reserve his strength for what was to come. So it all came down to the sheer resilience of the fire mage. This was a battle with the desert now--one he aimed to win. Unbuttoning his duster for a moment, he let the breeze that bounced around in the cave flow through his clothes a bit.
That was when he felt the rumbling. The echoes of rumbling bounded off the walls of the canyon, bellowing with a deep avarice like a demon in the dark. Ardere cocked an eyebrow as he felt ominous mana surge throughout the area. Something was indeed lurking out there, something dark and powerful. Had the Daemon reached this far out into the Fringe? There was only one way to find out; he was going to have to pursue it. Had the Dragon King not dealt with this himself? It seemed odd but there must be an explanation. For now he would rest until the sun began to set. Traveling at night was much more wise. Even if it got cold, he was a fire mage after all. WC: 1,021
Last Edit: Sept 6, 2021 18:06:20 GMT -5 by Ardere✧
Abruptly waking up from his slumber, Ardere could not catch his breath for a moment. Inhaling sharply then exhaling slowly, the Kasai calmed himself down. Had he overslept far past his original intentions? Looking out into the vastness of the canyon, he gazed upon the stars. They were glistening in the night, high above what little clouds remained. He had not overslept, but his dreams during the night were strange. Wrapping up his things and stuffing them into his bag--it was time to carry on. The dark mana he sensed before still lingered on the wind, but it had grown feint. Taking another deep breath, he noticed Salamander lay dormant inside him. Rest up my friend. You will need your strength for our training. Leaping out into the canyon once more, he continued his journey through the desert. Keeping his Ki sensory active, the mage clutched his mother's charm for good luck.
The howling in the night had grown far more than anticipated. Crimson eyes lurked in the night, watching his every move. Whatever dark force was at work here had affected the wildlife. If the wolf-like mana beasts dared attack him then they were in for a rude awakening. Normally they would not dare challenge Salamander, but much had changed in this endless desert of mirages. Too much has changed. Letting a sigh escape his maw, Ardere continued along his path through the canyon. Eyes continued to linger on his form, watching his movements. He was not afraid of them. They were merely an obstacle to be overcome in this journey into the past and on to the future. So as the wolves began to descend down the rock and clay, he did not need to light a flame to see them. What he did next was more for dramatic flare. Holding a hand out, a flame burst forth from it to light up the canyon. Dozens of red eyes now become dark furry forms. Baring their fangs as saliva dripped onto the sand beneath their feet, this enemy was ready to pounce. Perhaps in a way, not much has changed at all.
As the wolves leaped and attacked him, Ardere beat them all down with his bare fists. Throwing strike after strike, his strength shook the ground beneath his feet. Mana was now flowing through his veins, enhancing his physical capabilities. As the ground shattered and blood splattered, he felled each enemy relentlessly and ruthlessly. All the while, Salamander still lay dormant within his torso. The crimson dragon was in the depths of slumber now, only to awaken when he was ready. The Crimson King had to fight this without his partner and that was okay. Twirling through the air, his kicks shattered ribs and crushed femurs as his maneuvers knocked enemies back into the hard rock. There was a battle under the night sky, one the Gods were surely watching now. Unfortunately it was no drawn out combat, there was no blood trickling down the Captain's face. He had swiftly and decisively defeated these enemies, leaving a trail of beaten and battered mana beasts behind him. Spitting onto the ground he held his head high and took in a deep breath, focusing on the world around him for a moment. His Ki did not sense anything nearby, but that dark mana still lingered on the winds. It was almost as if he was following a trail left just for him.
Keeping his hood down and goggle atop his head, the weary Knight trudged through the sand. This was a cool night in the desert and now none dared to antagonize him further--or so he hoped. His goal was ahead, deep in the desert. There a Tower awaited his arrival, filled with those he intended to meet. After all this time, he and Salamander had still not mastered their Spirit Dive technique. It seemed that no matter how well they bonded, they could not overcome an unknown obstacle. Ardere pondered the reasons for this, but he knew there was a dragon out there who could provide an answer. If not then there was perhaps an enemy that could unlock this potential. If he was going to the Cloud Giant Coliseum to fight Aamon, it was imperative he mastered this ability. Admittedly there was a great shame and embarrassment that he had not already, but now was not a time to dwell on pride. That was simply a weakness he could not afford. Now was the time to remember his confidence and the partner inside him that reminded the mage he was never alone. This was not a fight he had to wage without friends. So many stood behind them, if only he could remember that when he needed it most.
Breaking through the canyon and back into the desert, the world was so calm here. There was no wind or storms to blind him, just a cold desert waiting to be explored. Yet somehow this dark feeling had begun to well up inside of him. Beneath these sands were monsters, yet he could not sense any under his feet. This area had gone completely quiet, almost as if its inhabitants had been driven out. What could possibly frighten the beasts in the depths of the sands? There was an answer, but he was afraid to hear it. Nonetheless he continued on, no tower in sight yet. Ardere recalled his adventure here with his friends; Zaven and Forrest. Here they had fought for their lives and eventually gained riches beyond imagining, but tonight he was not with them. It was just Salamander and the Crimson King tonight. There was something both nostalgic about being here, the place he had regained his strength after Silas passed on. Even after all this time, he still felt that scared little boy deep in his soul. But things were different than back then, now he held a strength he lacked before; hope.
Darkness has sunk into the Desert of Mirages, Crimson One. You cannot save it. Leaping up from his slumber, Ardere's fist collided with rock. A massive crater was formed inside the cave he had chosen to take refuge in, shaking the ground. Stumbling backwards, his hand ran up his pale face. How long was I out? The Captain did not recall the journey to the Tower taking this long last time, but it was a Desert of Mirages after all. The old man was no longer here to guide him through the mirages, so perhaps the Tower had changed locations after all. Letting out a heavy breath, the mage placed a hand upon his chest to feel the warmth from Salamander. He was still dormant. Quite the slumber you've fallen into, my friend. I trust when you awaken, it will be for a good reason. Mustering his strength and gathering his things, the Knight exited this cave to travel back into the next night. Stars shined brightly, glistening high above. Where have you gone? Calling out to the tower, he closed his eyes a moment. Would it ever appear again?
A cool breeze rolled past his feet, far cooler than anything he had felt here before. It was almost icy cold now, fluttering past his coat. What the hell? Walking over to one of the nearby caves, he could smell rotten eggs? No. It couldn't be. Descending down into the cave, the dark mana he sensed before began to grow. A chill ran across his spine, making the hair on his arms stand up for a moment. Snapping a finger to provide light in this cave, he soon wouldn't need it as there was a feint glow coming from deep within the cave--a purple glow. As Ardere entered the next part of this expansive cavern, he spotted it; crystals. These were no ordinary crystals, they were corrupt mana crystals used to create Daemon. The scourge had spread into the Fringe just as he had feared. He did not know which Daemon was behind it, if a specific one even was. Their blight had infected much of the Forsaken Region, but that was being cleared out by Knights. The Fringe settlements were unprotected by any specific Kingdom. This must be why the Tower changed locations, to avoid this darkness and corruption. He could only hope it had not spread its roots deep into this Desert yet. He did know it was having an affect on the mana beasts--that would explain his earlier encounter and the lack of sand wyrms here.
Turning to shine a light on the back of the cave, his eyes widened. The corruption here had sunk into the walls, purple pulsing roots from the crystals spreading into the Desert. No. Grinding his teeth, these had to be destroyed. Hyah! Summoning forth his Siegfried's Arsenal, the blazing swords began to connect at the hilt and spin like a fan. Spiraling throughout the cave, he sliced through each of them with ease. The corruption was spreading fast, but it was not at the point that he could not destroy them with Grand spells in a single blow. Slashing and hacking at them, he shattered dozens of crystals. The roots began to pulsate and almost screech with anger. Something was angry. There had to be more corruption further into the cave. After destroying all of the crystals, he entered an even deeper part of the cavern. Following these "roots" he was now traveling under the Desert itself. This direction felt almost familiar, as he sensed a familiar mana once more. Running his hands along the walls, he felt stone and bronze--they were underneath the Tower. Odin help me. Attempting to find entry to the castle, he ran for what felt like hours. Running like a madman, he kept going in circles until finally he found a hole in the wall that seemed to lead into one of the side rooms near the Court. This hole seemed like it had almost been burrowed through by some sort of beast, or Daemon. That's not good. Salamander was still dormant, but Ardere knew even he could feel this darkness here.
No light was needed now as torches lined the walls. Yet as he entered this titanic Tower, he did not sense the dragons or their minotaur guard. He felt mana and Ki from the Tower itself, as well as a darker force. It was as if the inhabitants were gone from this place. Ardere prayed that he did not find any bodies. As he walked through the halls and ran his fingers along the stone, he did not. Perhaps they had evacuated? What darkness could drive out the dragons from this place? That had to be impossible. He remembered the strength of their guard alone. He should have been able to handle any Daemon that came their way, yet here the fire mage was all alone except for Salamander. I'm going to regret this. He whispered to himself. Is anyone out there?! He called, his voice echoing throughout the vast halls and rooms of the Tower. There was no response. Dammit. Turning the corner, there it was; the gargantuan doors to the place where he met salamander. He could still feel the heat from the magma inside. Taking a deep breath, he opened the doors to....nothing. There was no heat. The magma had been turned to rock and the stone to rubble. The room was broken into pieces. This was a place where monstrous dragons once stood now reduced to rubble. Ardere had to sit down for a moment. Where have you all gone? Then he noticed the veins began to pulse throughout the room. This is where they had been leading. Dark mana emanated from every corner and crevice in the hall. Tendrils of darkness began to creep out from the rock. They were protecting the corruption here...
Leaping backwards, Ardere was forced to summon a wall of blazing swords to protect himself from what was defending the throne room. Sliding across the dark stone, his feet left skid marks across it. What the hell? Crawling from the depths was a horde of minor Daemon. No Master to guide them, they would run rampant across these parts with no fear or hesitation. Their decrepit talons and claws scraped across the chairs where dragons once sat, screeching with avarice. I don't know where the rightful rulers of this place are but I will kill you in their stead. Ripping the duster off himself to reveal his Crimson Lion uniform, Ardere grinned at the enemies standing before him. There must have been at least fifty of them, crawling like chaos across the pillars and tables. This was a battle destined to happen but he did not intend to lose.
Dashing towards the enemies, he engaged in ruthless combat. Ripping Daemon to pieces with his bare hands and slashing their parts with flaming sword, he swiftly ran through their numbers with no resistance--yet more kept coming. Slamming his hands down into the ground, flames began to erupt from within. Ragnarok! Decimating dozens of them, they just kept coming. Scattered ashen corpses lay across the room in piles of cinders and smoke as the Crimson King slaughtered his way through the Daemon. The corruption here was so deep that they began to spawn as he killed them. Tendrils slapped him into the pillars, shattering stone and shaking the tower. Spitting out blood across the room, he coughed. Standing up as blazing mana flowed through his veins, his ribs were broken. You sons of bitches. There were too many even for a mage of his caliber to handle so easily. His only choice was to destroy them all in a white flame. Fire crawling across his skin, he activated Amaterasu's Blessing. The entire tower began to shake and rumble as his power filled the room. Melting the stone and incinerating them in groups, he screamed at the top of his lungs. Every punch he throw left a crater in the throne room. I'm sorry Dragons, but you are going to come home to quite the mess. Tendrils wrapped around his form, attempting to subdue him. He was causing far too much damage to the roots and crystals embedded into the walls. Screaming as wounds were dealt to him and instantly healed, he burst forth and ripped apart the tendrils. Black blood splattered across the ground as he dished out a punch powerful enough to shatter the entire floor.
For a moment it appeared as if he had won. The rumbling stopped and the mana quelled, but it was only the beginning. From the darkness more Daemon began to spawn as the tendrils covered the entire hall. Gripping into the rock and stone with enough strength to cause cracks in it, the enemy summoned countless crimson eyes to stare at him. Ardere was surrounded by eyes that stayed fixed onto his position. Spitting onto the ground, he lifted his hands up and beckoned for them to come to him. Come on. Let's go. Meanwhile Salamander lay dormant inside him, dreaming of the olden days. Dreaming of a time when he roamed the molten lands in the spirit world, Salamander was at peace there. Once he was the King of Dragons, standing above all of them. As one of the four main spirits, he held power in the spirit world that was unparalleled. But everything changed during the Daemon War. The spirit world poured into the mortal one as the realm of Devils threatened them all. Salamander was forced to side with the mortals against this Daemon threat. They fought as countless lives were lost. His memories echoed throughout the halls of his mind, remembering all of the spirits that were destroyed. Now they were one with the energy of all worlds, floating throughout time and space. Here he was. For the first time in a long time he had found someone who he could bond with. It had been so many years he had forgotten what the soul of a Human was like. So many were filled with greed and hatred, but here was a man filled only with love and conviction. Deep inside Ardere's soul was not anger or lust for vengeance. There was a kindness that even he himself was not entirely aware of. In the fires of this man's spirit was peace.
Salamander's eyes began to flutter as he felt the darkness creep in. His partner was being consumed by it, to the point that he now could feel it on his scales. This was a Daemon infection beyond the likes of what they had seen in the Forsaken Realm. The Fringe was filled with powerful enemies, so the Daemon had created something special just for them. No doubt the work of Asmodeus or Lilith. This was too underhanded to be Aamon. Nonetheless this illness had consumed the hall of his comrades. The Dragons had likely abandoned this post to protect their own. He had no doubt they were fighting hordes of Daemon on all fronts as well. Ardere and Salamander were their only hope to have a Tower to return home to. For this the red dragon would need to awaken. For so long had the two thought their resonance was perfect, but in this moment was true perfection. Standing in the place they had met, there was a power in their bond. After so long, they had finally become one. Salamander began to awaken after his long rest, crimson flames mingling with his comrade's white ones. True power was finally showing itself. This was their destiny; to become the greatest warriors they could possibly be. Their strength was needed to defeat Aamon, therefore they could not perish here. Not now.
Full Spirit Dive; the true resonance between a Human and Spirit. In this form the two were truly one. Ardere's human form was coated in a blazing armor, two wings sprouting from his back. Horn protruding out of his skull and red scales consuming his skin, this was their final form. The tower was engulfed in powerful fiery mana as the Dragon and the Lion intertwined. Letting out the loudest battle cry he possibly could, the Lion burst into the air. Unleashing enough flames to destroy everything around him, the Knight destroyed the tendrils sinking into his flesh. The minor Daemon were turned to ash and every root that sunk into the tower was incinerated. All it took was for his flames to consume everything. Unloading spell after spell he finished them off. He did this until all that was left was stone and rock. Not a trace of Daemon or dark mana remained within the tower. Standing there with steam exiting his body, Ardere looked to the ceiling. Sunlight had begun to pierce through the holes in the roof as rubble fell to the ground. The Tower was severely damaged, but it still stood. They could rebuild it.
Falling to the ground, steam poured out of him like a boiling pot. Even though they had unlocked this new form, he had used up far too much mana. Ardere fell into a deep slumber after this fight, taking a nap on the floor. Salamander emerged from his body and began to curl around him, red tail wrapping around his side. The dragon had slept long enough. It was time for him to watch over his companion now--so he would. The dragon remembered his time in this place, where he had taken refuge for all of these years. After his last partner perished, he could not bear to bond with another mortal. He feared all that was left for him was to fade away. So here among his people he waited. He had no idea a man would come walking through those doors like the Crimson King had. Filled with so much sadness and loss, the Human fought anyways. Salamander watched how this man had grown and his spirit transformed. He was proud of his friend. They both had lost so much but now they battled it together. And together they would face Aamon. Long had the Dragon King longed to fight that Daemon, the "Champion" as they called him.
When Ardere arose from his slumber, Salamander was waiting there for him. Together the two stood up and dusted themselves off. A light has returned to the Desert. He could tell in the absence of this darkness, the natives would return. Unfortunately he could not stay and defend them as much as he wanted. There was business to attend to. While he much wished to speak with Lord Tchazzar once more, it was okay. The two had accomplished what they had come here to. So he wrote a note for the Lord here.
"Hey Old Man.
It's been a long time. I just wanted to thank you for what you showed me back then. Salamander and I have formed a bond stronger than I ever imagined.
I hope this note finds you well. Apologies on trashing the place but you had a bit of a Daemon problem. I miss the Desert sometimes. Here was where I found myself, but with Salamander and my family is where I feel at home.
The Daemon will be coming for you again. Wherever you are. Fight. We will take out their Masters. Just hold on as long as you can. I know you were hoping for one more adventure. I just hope this one isn't the last. Next time I return to this place, I trust you will be here.
Please take care of yourself. Oh and Salamander says Hi as well.
-Your old friend, Ardere."
Placing the note on the doors of the hall, he pinned it up with a metal spike. Taking a deep breath, he had quite the walk home. I think we'll fly this time, eh Salamander? You've built up some strength this time. Just steer clear of the sandstorms please. Putting on his duster and goggles, the two took to the sky once more. This was hopefully not the last time they gazed upon the Tower of Mirages. They had Daemon to fight. Finally they had unlocked their true potential, but deep down Ardere still worried. Aamon was the strongest enemy he'd likely ever have to face. The Cloud Giant Coliseum was sure to be filled with tons of enemies and traps for him and his team. He was just lucky he wouldn't have to do it alone. Charles, Griswold, and Cyrus were strong allies. But it would take his will and leadership to get them through. There was no time to lose confidence now. Besides, he had gained so much strength now. Alongside Salamander, the two were a flame unlike any other. He just wished Lysander was here to see it. His old Mentor would tell him to hold his head high. A Lion never backs down from a fight anyhow. Ardere was not Lysander, but he carried his strength on into the world now. Running fingers across the ruby ring he once wore, he could not help but remember when he was just a Vice Captain. He had spent so much time fighting and running, he forgot what it was like to just stand and take in everything the world had to offer. He was so focused on running towards his goals that he never stopped to appreciate all he had in the present. He had great friends and a family to count on. The entire squad and perhaps the Kingdom looked to him to fight this fight. There was no letting them down. The final battle was just on the horizon. They only needed to bare their fists and take it head on.
WC: 5,013
-Using Salamander's Blessing on the WC
Last Edit: Sept 8, 2021 14:38:21 GMT -5 by Ardere✧
