The short paragraph that I posted earlier, in my opinion, left a little bit more to be desired, so, I want to try this again. First of all, my apologies as I am new to forum posting, and second of all for posting a tale which had not tied into the given title. So, in order to correct this, I have posted a section of a much larger story which I have, for the moment omitted from the manuscript. This is more complete as it was a section of a chapter that I have since rewritten. I have entitled this segment "The Wizard's Task" for the sake of this post. I hope you enjoy this more complete story. Thanks again. Azuril paced the floor of his study, carefully examining the summoning circle at his feet. Sweat beaded his brow as his eyes scanned the magical seal for even the minutest defect in its design. Decades of experience had taught him, all too well, that the art of summoning was dangerous at best, especially when it came to summoning fiends from the infernal realms of Baalkor. Even the slightest mistake in the formation of the magic seal could prove disastrous to the summoner and anyone in the vicinity; though, in truth, he cared little for what happened to the latter of the two. Once he was satisfied with his inspection, Azuril went to his podium and opened a tome that seemed altogether too large for his frail form to support. He moved a towering candelabrum closer, so that he could see the arcane inscriptions better as he sought further insight on the upcoming ritual. After moments of poring through page after page, the he paused and began to read. His eyes filled with malign glee as he scanned over the contents of the page. Taking a torn piece of parchment, he scribbled down a quick list of supplies. With a final, more reassuring glance between the book on his podium and his list, Azuril set to gathering the necessary components for his spell. The dark mage moved patiently but with a sense of purpose as he descended the steps of his tower-like keep. His laboratory contained nearly everything that he would need, save for one or two small items; however, even those components that he would have to procure would cost him little to no effort in retrieving. Azuril stopped before a reinforced door of curly ash and stretched his hand out before him. He spoke the words of a quick enchantment as his fingers wagged, weaving the necessary gestures that seemed to gather the ambient energy from the air around him. With a sharp hiss of command, the empty space before the door shimmered like moonlight on a watery surface. Within seconds, the protective seals which guarded his experimental chambers faded away, allowing him to open the heavy wooden door. A cracked yawn echoed through the empty stairwell, announcing his presence as the ancient hinges protested the sudden disturbance. The sharp smell of sulfur mingled with the pungent stench of various herbs and other foul ingredients filled his nostrils, invigorating the wizard as he walked into his laboratory. An ornate desk, engraved with mystical arcane runes and symbols of power dominated the center of the floor, lit on each side by thick candles which gave off more of a silvery-white light than their more common brethren. The walls were lined with tall shelves, most of which contained various vials of arcane or alchemical ingredients. Other shelves held tomes of ancient arcana, and spell books, as well as any number of odd experimental supplies. Azuril wasted no time as he gathered the necessary items that he needed for the summoning ritual; however he nearly stumbled over his stepladder when he turned to see a ghastly hand reach out to claw at him. The black wizard quickly regained his footing for a man of his frail appearance, shooting the luminescent figure a baleful glare for nearly costing him his supplies. The dark expression soon became one of amusement as he recognized the skeletal form that had appeared before him. “Still defiant, even in death, Lord Eadwig,” Azuril said mockingly. You always were an idealistic fool. The phantasmal noble glared at the dark sorcerer, vengeance burning in the translucent figure’s hollow eyes. The once proud Lord of Kar-Razal was just one of the many spectral inhabitants forced to suffer their eternity, enslaved to guard the dark tower of Barak-Tor. Even in death Lord Jeremiah Eadwig still held a regal composure about himself. Unlike the countless other inhabitants that wandered Barak-Tor’s darkened halls, he had not lost contact with who he was, and this fact amused Azuril, allowing him to taunt and torment the keep’s former ruler. “That is why all of this,” he gestured to imply the tower, and its grounds, “is mine; as are you.” With a swirl of his free hand, he gathered a small amount of arcane energy. “Itztli,” he spoke the command word calmly, coldly. The swirling energy leapt from Azuril’s fingers, forming the image of a crackling knife as it sped toward its target. Lord Eadwig’s spirit reeled from the magical attack, as waves of crippling pain wracked his incorporeal form. With a glare of both sorrow and hatred at the black hearted wizard, Lord Eadwig faded away, fleeing to another part of the keep that was once his home. Azuril smirked as the last luminescent traces of Lord Eadwig winked out of existence. It was always entertaining to see the defiant noble striving to exact his vengeance from across the void. The dark mage of Barak-Tor knew that, were he not the master of the tower-like keep, Eadwig might have succeeded on many occasions. The grimace of disappointment that dominated Lord Eadwig’s face every time he failed to bring harm to Azuril brought a dry, callous chuckle from the frail mage. Azuril hurried back up the spiraling stairs that led to his study, not even taking time to replace the protective seals on his laboratory. His encounter with Lord Eadwig had almost distracted him for too long. Lunarias had just begun to peer over the distant horizon, and he had to complete the summoning ritual before it reached its apex. He entered his study, depositing the magical components on his writing desk, careful not to damage his phoenix quill. With another look at his list, he found that, as he had figured, he was three items short of having what he needed to perform the summoning ritual. The first two items he could acquire with no problem, the last, however, would prove most impossible had he not had one of the three Looking Glasses of Ethedhrun in the back of his study. He turned to where it sat by a narrow window; its ornate frame barely hidden beneath a silken tapestry that had been draped over its shimmering surface until it was needed, and tonight it would be needed. “Might as well get this one first,” he muttered as he made his way to the ancient artifact. Dust swirled violently as he removed the silken cover from the Looking Glass, revealing what appeared to be a large, well polished, freestanding mirror. Every so often the smooth window-like surface would shimmer, as a faint ripple, barely noticeable to the untrained eye would form in the center and travel its entirety until it reached the edge. Azuril looked at the component, “Ash from the bones of a dead god” and knew where he had to go. As he pictured the desolate landscape in his mind, the Looking Glass of Ethedhrun shimmered, and with a more profound ripple, like a rock cast into a still pond, the mystical window began to reflect his thoughts. Azuril gazed into the Looking Glass until the surface became calm once more. Beyond the surface of the Looking Glass, he saw a desolate landscape, ravaged by the erupting volcanoes that reddened the sky. A great cloud of ash and soot blotted out the sun though it was only nearing mid-day. Even half a world away, the black wizard of Gamigar, recognized the dark mountains of legend. “The Demon Spine Mountains,” he uttered with a trace of awe. He reached onto a nearby shelf, retrieving a small pouch which he used to gather such rare spell components, and with no further hesitation, he stepped into the portal. I hope that you have enjoyed this exerpt, Thank you and I'll talk to you again soon.

That was very enjoyable indeed. Thank you for sharing it with us!

Thank you for reading, and I appreciate your kind words. I hope to have more soon.

great job!