In a secret land known to only a few stands a flame issued from within a solid pillar but waist high. The flame spouts forth equally in black and white, though the white is truly made of many colors giving it a strength unlike that of the black so that it can sometimes appear to be less in volume and still remain equal. So long as there is a vestige of white flame, the black is supported for without the white, the black would cease to exist. When that day comes, magic will no longer fill the air. Until then, this flame remains the fount of magic, the source of power for every witch, sorcerer, and wizard, be they good or evil.
Tarack paused before the flame as he sensed that he was not alone. He turned slowly to glance around. Without his abilities, he would not have seen the quietly moving blur. He nodded to himself in understanding, then turned back to the flame, content with the understanding that he stood upon neutral territory.
Campion stepped out of the fold of invisibility to stand beside Tarack. "I see that we're opposing each other once more."
"It was bound to happen," Tarack said as he placed one hand inside the flame and absorbed power.
Campion thrust one hand into the same flame so he could similarly absorb power. His body changed colors as the white flame fed him. "I will defeat you once more, you realize."
"Perhaps and perhaps not. Even I am capable of learning from my mistakes. If nothing else, I'll choose better evil henchmen this time."
Campion chuckled. "Yes, that last batch was exceedingly terrible. They were fine so long as the situation remained static."
"They simply didn't have a thorough concept of the overall situation. I shall see to it that my next batch of men understands how to deal properly with intruders. They'll know that they should immediately execute any intruders they catch rather than compromise my security by bringing prisoners into the secret keep. As well, I intend to institute a profit sharing plan so that my evil henchmen will have less reason to succumb to bribes in the future."
"Well, that is a start. Even so, my forces will still defeat yours. After all, your henchmen didn't make all the mistakes. As I recall, you seemed to make a few yourself in our last encounter."
"True words, Campion. True words that I cannot deny. However, even I am better than I once was. I've been taking lessons on how to improve my evil ways."
"From who? You're the most evil being I know of," Campion exclaimed.
"Why from children, of course. They might not be evil, but they're very perceptive. After I swallowed a little of my pride, I realized that some of the five-year olds I spoke with were right in their analysis of what I did wrong before. From now on, you won't catch me insisting that my men save the honor of dispatching your designated hero to me alone. Now I'm content to let whoever kills the hero get the credit and a bonus from me for doing so."
"Doesn't matter, my champion will still get to you."
"Then he'll be all the more tired and that much easier to defeat. As well, he'll have no one to save by then. If I find a virgin princess worthy of my attentions, I intend to marry her immediately rather than schedule an elaborate ceremony."
"Immediately?"
"There's no rule against it. Besides, I'm evil. I get to break any rules," Tarack said.
"Well, that's true. You do get to break most of the rules. I guess you're allowed to break that one about marriage."
"You're damned right I can break that rule. By the time your hero breaks into the castle, if that's at all possible the next time, he'll be too late. I'll have already taken care of the wham, bam, thank you, ma'am part. Just fulfilling that act will erode his confidence, not to mention how it will increase mine. He'll be rather easy to defeat then, I imagine."
"My, my, you really have changed. Maybe this is going to be more of a contest between the two of us this time."
"You better believe it. I intend to win this time and establish a dominion over the Earth that will last for many millennia."
Campion turned his head to watch Tarack disappear into a fold of air and walk away as a mere blur before disappearing completely. Campion then withdrew his hand from the flame, his powers at a peak, and stood pensively staring at the flame for a moment.
So he expects a swashbuckling male hero swaggering about with sword in hand rescuing the damsel, huh? Well, I guess it's time for me to mess with his mind once more, Campion thought as he stepped into a fold of air to head for Earth so he could portray another seemingly mortal magician.
}|{ the end }|{
Eternal Flame
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