As he entered the room, he doubted he had found what he was looking for. The room had been hidden, the energy it gave off was certainly evil. Still, could he have really found what he, and so many others had been searching for their entire lives? He had spent weeks just trying to find the entrance under the ruins, coming back each day. Then he found the heavy iron door.

As the door creaked open a swell of dust blew in his face. Coughing, he patted himself off and looked into the room. It was definitely what he was looking for, he

grinned. The smirk quickly left his face as he saw the book. It was covered in dust, a single candle was lit by it, and left a gloomy aura in the room. Of course the evil did that by its self.

He took soft, quiet steps toward the book. The light slowly met his face, making his skin glow in the darkness. The book was open to a page, and dozens of ribbons laid limply, book-marking spells. Only one other had seen those pages, and that person was determined not to let anyone else. Of course, they didn't expect a mortal like Lix to show up.

" The Book of Souls" was originally owned by an evil sorcerer named Stractis. He was the most powerful on Earth for a long time. One witch had been strong enough to bind him to his own book. Many had come searching for it, for its power. That's exactly what Lix wanted. He was already a strong witch, very strong in fact. He had searched most of his life for it, and now he was finally here. Stractis, was still in the book, bound to the page of the spell he had last used. The others who tried were weaklings, none could fight him, and he took their souls, locked them in with him.

As Lix advanced closer to the book, he could feel the energy pulling him in. As he reached it, the book began to swirl with color and dust flew everywhere. The single ebony candle blew out and darkness reigned supreme for a single terror filled instant. The other candles around the room lit, one after another, forming a circle around Lix and the book.

A figure rose from the book, a cloak round him, with faces of people's souls screaming in the background. Lix was ready for this, and grabbed his staff from underneath his cloak. The book faded, as did the lost souls. Only Lix and Stractis were left surrounded by the ring of candles.

" You think you can beat me? Many others have tried, and died for it."

" I'm not like many others, now start fighting and stop jabbering!"

"Are you threatening me?"

" Yes!" Lix yelled and shot an energy ball at him. White hot flames engulfed the air, as the firebolt screamed toward Stractis. He dodged easily and began fighting.

The fight went on for maybe an hour. Energy balls flew through the air and spells were cast. Stractis could not take anymore, the one who challenged him was stronger then he had anticipated.

" You die, now!" He yelled at him in anger. Lix shrugged and replied with a sarcastic grin.

"This is only the beginning, old man." he replied mildly. This infuriated the sorcerer. ‘Good,' thought Lix, ‘ give me all you've got, I want this to be a worthy fight.'

Reading his mind Stractis grimaced. " Ah, I see, you want to work for your prize. Let's see how well you do with a sword." He snickered as two swords fell into the middle of the room. Using only their minds, the swords were brought to the magick bearers. The swords began glowing as the two channeled their energy into them. Lix's a fiery amber, and Stractis' a glowing emerald.

They circled each other for unending minutes, waiting for the other to begin. Also trying to read the next move of their opponent. The real battle began when flames entered Lix's azure eyes. With every swing of the sword the amber and emerald lights were left lingering like a smoky aura around the rivals. As the swords collided, small explosions of energy erupted. Lix sliced Stactis' arm three of four times, making him cry out in angiush, and in fury.

Suddenly, Lix began laughing. His mouth open wide showing his teeth, his head tilted backward. " This is so pointless!" he laughed. Stractis, knowing Lix had seemed to be struggling in the fight, used this opportunity to defeat him. He charged an energy ball, and flung it across towards Lix. He easily knocked it away.

" You foolish man." Lix grinned, but his expression soon turned somber. " You really don't get it, do you?"

" How?" Stractis asked. His eyes were wide open and his mouth hanging in disbelief.

" How?" Lix mimicked. "Listen, you may have been the most powerful in your time, but we have evolved. I have fought many stronger then you. I actually thought you

were holding back power on me."

" You were holding back power? No, it cannot be true. If there are others as strong, or stronger then me, why have I not been defeated by now?"

" This place is hidden, no one knows where it is. People have searched their entire lives and found nothing. Barely anyone knows about it, but I was the only one smart

enough to find it."

" No!" It echoed off the walls as he screamed.

" Now that you know the truth, " Lix dropped the sword he was holding and grabbed his staff. " I'll be taking that book." He moved to fast for a mortal to see, he was even a blur to Stractis. His face stopped inches away from the sorcerer. It hovered, transparent for a few seconds, smirking. Then it was as if he weren't there at all. Stractis blinked and glanced around the room.

An energy was behind Stractis. Lix was in the air using all the energy he had to bring his staff crashing into Stractis' heart, and the amber energy entered him. He landed with a soft click of his boots and stared at the once powerful sorcerer. His eyes were wide open, and blood started running down from them, blood came from every where, it excited through his eyes, his nose, his mouth, and fingernails. He was being torn apart from the inside out. Soon there was nothing but dust in the room.

The book appeared and dropped where the table used to be. Lix reached down and picked it up, feeling the power. Now the power was his, and he could do anything he wanted with it. He walked out of the ruins with death on his mind. Maybe someday, someone will be stronger than him. maybe one day, the Earth will be saved; or maybe not.