It's been awhile.

The door creaked open slowly, daylight shining into the dark room. He stood, scanning the room silently. Dust and cobwebs lay everywhere, as if the room hadn't been disturbed in years. He entered, small clouds of dust billowing into the air around his feet as he walked.

He stopped just before a cluttered desk, wiping a gloved hand over a large tome. No title was revealed, but a leathery cover and yellowed pages. He lifted the book, weighed it in his hand. He remembered it's importance, he remembered what it could do.

Turning slowly, his gaze settled on a bundle leaning against a bookshelf. He took a few steps and lifted the bundle in his free hand. It was a couple meters long, and wrapped in canvas. He set the book down on the shelf before unwrapping it. Within the canvas was an ornate staff, strange carvings along it's body, with a sapphire the size of a man's fist set on the top. A smile graced his grizzled features as he admired it.

He took the book once more before moving towards the doorway. He stopped just outside the door, the bright light blinding him for a moment. As his eyes adjusted, he saw the sunlight glaring in from the destroyed wall opposite the room. The structure, and those around it, were in ruins. On the horizon he saw large, snow covered mountains, fresh snow covering whatever it could.

He took a deep breath of the fresh air and smiled. His hood falling back to reveal long, blue hair, and sapphire eyes. He adjusted his glasses with an index finger, admiring the view.

"It has been awhile..."