A lone wizard stands at the end of the world. His feet steady on a large platform made of polished stone floating along a vast, unyielding void. Carved into this stone are a sequence of complex runes that give off an eerie glow. At the center of the platform lies a pedestal with three powerful magic artifacts. The world that once held this is now completely engulfed by the void. The magic of the elements was sealed away for fear of its influence on people. Four elemental cores were created to hold this power. What the old sages did not predict was that magic was all that kept this hungering void at bay. This wizard was able to find three of the four cores. Sadly, when the last one was found, the area around it collapsed into the void. As a last resort, the wizard used the power of the cores he held to create the platform. It worked much like a lifeboat, keeping the void away. Perhaps, by some miracle, the final core could be found.

The fall of the world into the void was not immediate. At first the void was a small opening in the middle of the ocean. Small islands nearby began to crumble and fall. The sea drained into the void. Water became very scarce. Soon entire continents broke apart. Their pieces devoured by an insatiable darkness.

The cores helped to slow the void’s progress. With all four cores the world could be put back together. The powers of earth, fire and wind were held by the wizard. Only the water core eluded him, but its fall into the void made his task nearly impossible. For his failure, the wizard was banished from every kingdom. People blamed him, though the world’s impending doom was not his doing. So, without much choice he set his goal on the faint hope that the water core could still be found. He toiled in a field constructing the stone platform he now uses. The runes so painstakingly carved were meant to permanently channel the power of the cores. Earth magic to keep the stone intact. Fire magic to warm his spirit. Wind magic to continue breathing.

From this perch the wizard stood moving to and fro. He scanned the depths and sky until neither were recognizable. He knew he would not last long, so he tapped into the vast power of the earth core to sustain his lifeforce. Aging much slower would give him precious time to continue his search. The wizard bore witness as the last pieces of soil crumbled away from the stone he had wrought. He despaired momentarily. Everyone else was now dead. Consumed by the void.

One day the wizard, weary of his lonely vigil, saw a faint blue glow in the distance. His eyes widened and he jumped from where he was sitting. Conjuring a makeshift spyglass he saw what the glow was. Finally, the water core appeared, as if calling out to its counterparts like a beacon. Using the power from the cores he moved the platform closer to the water core. Then a sudden stop. The platform would not move further. Just outside his protective bubble was the water core. He could reach out and take it with his hand, but he knew that touching the void could very well forfeit his life. Without putting too much thought into it he reached out, grabbed the core and pulled it into the bubble. Pain shot through him as his hand quickly decayed. Some healing magic helped with the pain. He saw as his hand changed from flesh, to bone and finally to ash. Using his other hand he levitated the water core and joined it with the others. Once all the cores were together again their power burst forth. The land that had crumbled away started to reappear. Water began to flow from its elemental core and a rush of air expanded the bubble.

The world started to take a more familiar shape. Distant mountains rose. The sky gained its familiar blue. Rivers began to flow anew. In the midst of all this a hidden force was pushing back, holding off the rebirth of the world. A myriad of eyes glared at the wizard and a voice rumbled, “How dare you take away what I have already consumed. You will pay the ultimate price!”. This entity emanated from the void. Its power was felt by the wizard and sent shivers down his spine. Ultimately, he could not give up now after finally achieving what he set out to do. A great battle began to rage between them. Rays of magic rained down while the wizard conjured lightning and fire. His desperation grew as his only remaining hand kept him from being able to use his most advanced spells. Slowly, he was pushed to the edge of an abyss where the void entity awaited. “Give up! There is nothing you can do anymore, this world is mine and was mine the moment your people gave up on it. They even exiled you for your failure. Oh yes, I have been watching for a long time. This was meant to be. This will satiate my hunger for a thousand years and then I shall feast again on the hopelessness of people.”, said the void creature.

Exhausted and looking down at the edge of the abyss he was pushed towards, the wizard had but one thing left to try. He took the cores with him. They orbited around him. He cast a glance at the eyes within the abyss and said, “If my actions can restore their hope, then you will starve. Find someone else to prey upon, for I shall never give up!”. A great power surrounded the wizard. All four cores glowed with a great blinding light. The wizard flung himself into the abyss while channeling his magic into the cores. His wishes, hopes and dreams mixed together to form a projectile that banished the void.