the return

somewhere in the world, in a ranch overlooking a vast green field, a horse gives birth. a foal is born, with pale white coat and a little stubble on its crown. the stable keep mutters to his wife, "what is that?". he leans closer for a better look, cleans it, and realizes, "its a little horn!"

somewhere else in the world, deep in the ocean, a slumbering master awakes after a decade of millennia. it slowly stirs the lifeless floor bed, dislodging rocks and boulders on the nearby incline as it uncoils its scaly serpentine body. it stretches its teeth filled maw, huge lungs taking in the ocean and it coughs out a ball of fire. claws dig into the ground, it thrusts itself upward in a single powerful motion and glides away like a giant eel.

somewhere else in the world, a man experiences a sudden blinding pain on his shoulder blades. his hair turns pale as he writhes on the floor of his apartment. his back is on fire, there is blood on his shirt and then on the carpet. his hair turns a luminous golden hue, its glow casts moving shadows on the walls. the man screams, and his back tears, and folds of skin on bone bursts out. the pain has subsided but he is exhausted, his halo lights up the room, and feathers start to sprout on his wings.

ten years ago, i would have thought this was amazing and beautiful. if it were not for the faceless man who spoke to me through my screen one night, i would have remained naive. my computer was not even turned on but there he was, a silhouette against a bright white backdrop on my screen. there was no introduction, just a jarring urgent message.

"the world as you know it will not be the same, you have been selected to join a cadre of agents that champions our cause for order, reason and technology.
there are dark times ahead, a war is brewing, the age of chaos is upon us. magic has returned to our world..."

but i'm a little busy right now, i'll have to tell you the rest some other time. its time i showed this stinking gargoyle who is the boss... -P