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Official Lore seems to be going pretty well, curious to see how they will make the story unfold! Meanwhile, here goes my story to this week's contest. 

<center><h2>Dark times approaching</h2></center>

*I'm actually beginning to grow fond of this silly creature.*, though the paladin, as the goblin sorcerer appeared from the bushes with a freshly caught rabbit and a handfull of berries.

It was an improbable friendship, nevertheless; if the splinterlands hadn't been turned upside down with the latest events, the mighty paladin from Khymeria and the little lyverian would never had met. But fate had determined otherwise, and there they were, a paladin and a goblin, ready to share a meal by the small fire pit. 

Gumbly the goblin barely escaped alive to an ambush two weeks before. The paladin was riding back home, when he heard the sound of battle nearby; and as he turned his steed and  rode to the small clearing from where the sounds came, he found a little green creature covered in blood, sending energy bolts in every direction possible, as a pack of corpses tried to corner him. 

<div class=pull-left>(https://img.esteem.ws/0hcs62pfo1.png)
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Azor the paladin was sworn to protect the weak, khymians or not. And so the paladin jumped from his horse, and charged to coming horde. It was a hard fight, but paladins could withstand a lot of damage, and Azor even more than most. Paladin and goblin survived; the palladin's steed didn't had such luck.
***
For the last week, the double had been walking all day, sleeping and resting as little as needed. The palladin was a lone wolf, but was starting to enjoy the company of the clumsy sorcerer. Gumbly was incredible tough for his small size; he fully recovered only two days after the near death experience, and was proving to be quite the cook! 

“No need for vigilance tonight, right? We can sleep at will!” Said the goblin. 

The palladin made a loud grumpf.

“Lack of vigilance was what almost got you killed a few days ago! You haven't learned your lesson, did you?”

The goblin frowned, but he knew Azor was right. It was not a time to relax. 

“Ok... but I will sleep first, ok? Pretty please?”

“Sure. Just remember we leave at dawn, we're still 2 days away from the nearest outpost.”

The goblin was snoring 2 minutes later.

*No wonder he almost got killed. He snores louder than a screaming banshee!* Azor wasn't happy about it, but there was no way to muffle the sound, so he just kept vigilant during his shift. And halfway through the night, he finally stopped the snoring.

“Wake up, banshee. Your turn!”

And it was his time to rest.

Not for long, thow.

He woke up alarmed, the goblin's hands shaking him vigorously.

“What's going on?” Asked the palladin, the hand already reaching for the sword. Years of training made him quick, and in a split second he was on his feet.

The goblin was shaking.

“Something is approaching. And it's not from Lyveria.”

As the eyes of the palladin got used to the low light, he scouted the surroundings. But there was nothing to be seen. Yet...

The spineback wolf was lightning fast. He jumped from the bushes, and darted straight to the palladin's throat. Not fast enough to catch the palladin off guard, thow; Azor deflected the attack with the massive shield, but his blade didn't found its target, as the wolf dodged the attack, returning immediately to an attacking stance. He looked to the hazy blue color emanating from Gumbly's hands, signaling the imminent attack, and as fast as he had appeared, ran to the bushes and vanished from sight again.

***

Goblin and palladin stood motionless for moments, waiting for the next strike; but the wolf didn't returned.

“Grab your things. We leave now. Dawn will be here soon.” Azor commanded.

The goblin was still shaking.

“Where did he come from? Do you think there are more? Do you think he will strike again? Do...”

But the palladin was already moving, amazingly fast given his huge size.

“No time for questions now. MOVE!”

For the next minutes, goblin and palladin moved as swiftly as possibly, ready to battle at any moment. But no strike came. 

And yet, both had the feeling something was near, waiting.

<div class=pull-right> (https://img.esteem.ws/3gbr2z9qj4.png)
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It was moments before the sun started to rise on the horizon, when the giant silhouette appeared on the sky, passing over their heads.

They both exchanged looks. 

*A dragon? Here?*

They stepped up the pace, but not even a minute had passed, when the black dragon appeared again.

But this time, he landed in the passage, blocking the way.

*Dragons are not supposed to be enemies*, was their common thought. 

But neither palladin nor goblin had ever see a black dragon before. Nor a dragon that big. The beast stood there, motionless, staring at them with hollow eyes, his mouth slighty open.

And without a warning, he striked. 

A strange purple flame  flew from the dragon's mouth directly to the palladin. Azor rose his shield, but this was a strike he couldn't block. And as the flame surrounded the palladin, Gumbly stood in shock, as the life force seemed to abandon his new friend. 

The palladin's arms came down, unable to withstand the weight of both shield and sword. And moments after he was on his knees, unable to stand too.

The dragon striked again, before Gumbly could react. But the goblin was not as strong as the palladin; he lost his senses as soon as the flames reached him, falling to the ground.

Azor watched in disbelief, helpless, as the dragon slowly approached. The open jaws stopped inches from his face. 
***
“There are far worse things than wolves or corpses, palladin.”

The voice was in his head, but the dragon hadn't moved his mouth.

“What... what is the meaning of this? Who are you?” The palladin's voice was filled with fury.

“Who I am is not your concern, mere palladin. But my message is. In a fortnight, a messenger will arrive to your capital, with the terms of your surrender. He is to be unharmed, and his instructions followed. Resistance is futile.”

Azor opened his mouth, but before he could speak a word, the voice interrupted him.

“Save your strenghts, arguing is pointless. Do as you're told. And consider yourself lucky... next time you meet Korjack, it will be the last.”

And as the voice stopped, the huge dragon flapped his wings, and rose out of sight.

***

The palladin looked to his side. Gumbly was alive, but barely. And as he tried to recover, the words sinked in.

The prophecy was true. Dark times were coming. And Khymeria had to be warned... as soon as he could walk again.

***

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