《Sever the Chains》 Dull Age, Part I Typically when one wakes up from a nightmare they panic quietly. They react this way due to the body sending signals to the brain because of the stress. That''s the normal response. Sadly, I''m not normal The sound of my terrified screams reverberated throughout the walls of the room. I sat up in my bed hoping to regain my bearings as sweat poured down my pale face. I couldn''t stop myself from lurching forward, doing everything in my power to keep the contents of my stomach.. ''Wha¡­ What the hell?'' I questioned internally. I could feel my muscles tighten in horror at some unknown factor. I had been sleeping fine and then, suddenly, my body writhed in pain. A feeling of panic overtook my body again. This wasn''t an anxiety attack was it? I continued to take deep breaths hoping that this abnormal panic attack would subside. When I felt like I was calm enough I set my feet over the edge of the bed. I sat there for a good minute gazing blankly into the floorboards. Brushing some of my hair out of the way, I noted that the usual sheen my blonde hair showed had disappeared. I was worried about it but for now all I could do was leave it be. There was no way for me to explain why such a reaction had occurred. A knock on the door interrupted my thought process. Jerking up slightly from where I sat, I gave the door an empty glance. It felt like an eternity before I realized I had been staring at the door before in silence. "It''s open!" I announced. The door opened to reveal a mature woman with greying hairs. Her mouth was set into a smile that seemed to light up the room. Although, that was my bias shining through. This is my grandmother, Ruth, but I call her "Mama". She had raised me since I was a baby. My mother had dropped me into her lap and left. "Esther," She began softly. "are you okay? I heard screaming." My grandmother was always quick to worry. She had a good reason to. We lived near the border. Emperias was the neighbor to three countries. Perete, Unu, and Junas. We were nere the border between Perete and Emperias. This was a terrible time to be living here. The queen had waged war against Perete for some unknown reason. I didn''t need to add anymore worries onto my grandmother by waking up like this. Forcing a smile, I nodded my head. "I''m fine Mama. Just a bad dream." She stares at me for a good few minutes. It''s almost as if she''s searching for something. Before I can ask her anything, she nods her head and turns to leave. "Be ready for breakfast, we''re eating Rurkan toast and sausage." She informs me on her way out. A breath I didn''t know I was holding escaped my lungs as the door closed. Pushing myself off of my bed, I decided to go through the typical routine of showering and getting dressed. I made sure to check my appearance in the mirror attached to my dresser. My hair was styled into a layered medium length, my bangs covered my crimson eyes to the point I had to move them apart. Looking into my eyes, I noticed strange lines in both but I couldn''t worry about that right now. I need to make sure I look as if nothing spooked me. I can''t have myself looking like a savage from Unu. I made my way down the stairs and entered the kitchen. A pleasant aroma filled my nostrils as soon as I passed through the open doorway to the kitchen. Rurkan toast was a unique type of toast due to the bread''s natural sweet taste. It''s usually eaten for dessert but can also be eaten for breakfast if you know how to cook it properly. I took my place at the table with excitement. Forgoing any of the normal table manners and behaviors, I was about to dig in. I felt extremely hungry. It was strange, I didn''t usually have this big of an appetite. The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement. "Hold it, mister." Mama''s voice rang out, her tone stern. I could feel her piercing a hole through my skull with just her stare. Hiding my face, I tried to shove down the feeling of embarrassment. I place my hands flat against each other. "Through the grace of the sun we grow, by the mercy of the moon we become nourished." After finishing my prayer, I finally began to devour my meal. I watched with a mouth full of food as my grandmother shook her head in exasperation. I often forgot to pray before eating. It wasn''t for any malicious reason. I just wasn''t that devoted to the religion my grandparents followed. Some of the other elders in town called that demonic¡­ I didn''t like remembering the reason why some of my town didn''t exactly like me. Blinking, I realized I had finished everything on my plate. "Mama, I''m headed into town." I intoned before hiding my face. My voice sounded way too excited! I rushed out of the door so that I wouldn''t have to deal with her teasing. Waving to the guards, I entered through the town gates in a rush. My destination was around the corner and up the stairs before me. Stopping before the door, my hand hovered over the rough wood. I don''t know why this always happens. Whenever visiting her I would always panic. "What are we waiting for?" A melodious voice rang out from behind me. I couldn''t stop the scream that followed. Behind me was the reason I had rushed into town towards this specific door. My childhood friend, Cecilia Hagenrader. She and I were as thick as thieves. I remember how we first met. I had been getting bullied by some of the other children for having such strange eyes, but she wasn''t having any of it. She scared off all of them by threatening to get a guard before coming up to me and introducing herself. She was my reason for fighting. I wanted to be strong enough to protect her. No matter the choice, I would always make sure she was my priority. "Cecilia, you almost gave me a heart attack. Give me a warning next time." I begged. She let out a giggle while hiding her mouth behind her hand before turning her back to me. "We both agreed to meet at the fountain. I saw you rushing here and couldn''t resist." Turning on her heels, she motioned for me to follow. I had forgotten we were supposed to meet at the fountain¡­ I really felt like an idiot now. My feet moved quickly to catch up with her before I slowed my pace to walk beside her. "Now that we''ve met anyway, what do you want to do today?" I questioned We hadn''t exactly planned out the day, so it would probably just be us winging it today. I did have enough money to buy us lunch later if she got hungry. The perks of having a farm was that my family made plenty. "I don''t really care what we do today. You choose!" That was Celia-speak. Whenever she said she wasn''t sure and offered me a choice, it was because she had two ideas and expected me to figure them out and pick one. "How about we check on our savings for leaving town in the future?" I suggested. When it came to savings, no did it better than Cecilia. So far we''ve saved over thirty thousand Nokt. Our plans involved leaving the town to complete a promise we made with a friend. Lorna had lived in Kenith for about nine years, until she had to leave with her mother who was related to a minister in the queens court. All three of us had made a promise to meet again when we were older. Cecelia and I were just trying to fulfill that promise. "Hm¡­ No, we checked yesterday." She responded while waving away the idea. "Then what do you want to do?" She was always indecisive but I found it cute. The way her face would scrunch up in concentration whilst trying to figure out what there was to do. She''d grab a lock of her brown hair and twirl it to help her in the thinking process before her emerald eyes would light up with an idea. She had done just that, after all. "I have an idea! Help me pick out a dress-" "No way!" I interjected quickly, stopping my stride. When it came to shopping, the woman before me was a demon. She had no mercy on her wallet and my wallet received the same treatment. There was no way I''d allow her to bleed me dry. Turning my back to Cecilia with my arms crossed, I shut my eyes in frustration. No matter how you looked at it, this town didn''t have much going for it. It''s in the middle of nowhere and all of the citizens were mundane. There was only one thing that I found fun. I guess something in my face had given me away because Cecilia was looking at me in disappointment. "Fine. Fine. I already know what you''re going to do." She started. "I''m going to head back home before my mother notices I didn''t finish my chores." Without another word, she turned and began to make her way home. I stood there for a bit to make sure she made it down the street before rushing in another direction. This path led to a special area in the woods that was my special getaway. ''It''s been a couple of days since I''ve done this.'' Dull Age, Part II This clearing in the woods was a sanctuary away from the monotonous life I had. It was where I practiced my hobbies and exercised. Going to the hollow tree stump near a line of bushes, I reached inside and pulled out a pair of worn out daggers. I always practiced with these daggers, my spear, and then my makeshift meteor hammer. I preferred my meteor hammer to these but the books I picked up from a famous adventurer, Nayeli Abel, said I need variety. Ms. Abel was kind enough to give these to me but I didn''t understand why. She said that I had already paid with something priceless. Reaching into the hollow stump again, I pulled out the book that focused on weapon combat. This book and the other two were special due to the way they linked up with the mind to teach the reader. I still feel like I was lucky when receiving them. Flipping through the book allowed me to find the page I was working on previously. I had perfected my stance, my breathing, and prediction. Now was the final task. I needed to perfect my speed. ''The perfect cut requires more than just precision.'' I repeated internally whilst reading. ''A dagger is only used at its best when the user utilizes their speed.'' I continued until I read the entire chapter before placing the book back into the hollow tree trunk. "I still feel uncomfortable when using these damn things." I grumbled under my breath. Shifting my left foot forward and my right foot backwards, I gripped both daggers tightly in my hands before rushing towards a tree marred in cuts and dents. I brought both of my daggers forward as I approached before trying my best to cut into the bark. No matter how much I tried, it felt uncomfortable and my cuts barely went deep. I thought that my physique would work in my favor but it seemed no amount of muscle would help in this task. I could possibly do better if I had better training equipment but that cost money I didn''t have. ''I could try and see if there''s any better spots to train.'' I contemplated. I had been using this area for years and never ventured any further. It would be good to have a new area to train, perhaps a change in scenery would even boost my mood. Turning towards the hollow trunk, I noticed that beyond the bushes behind it was a worn out path. Perhaps I had always noticed it and dismissed it but I doubt that. ''Then again¡­'' I couldn''t help but recall how I''m always so focused on those books, I never think to pay attention to my surroundings. Brushing that aside, I placed my worn out daggers back into the trunk. I walked through the bushes while making sure to look out for any snakes or bugs. Once through the little barrier made by the greenery, I followed the path until it brought me to another clearing. This one was larger than the one I trained in and there were ruined boulders all around. Some of them even looked like they were cut in half! "Wait. Is that¡­?" I muttered unconsciously. Something in the center of the field caught my attention. In the center of the training field, there was a large stone with a flat surface, embedded in that stone were two daggers connected by a golden chain. The daggers had a black outline whilst the center of the blades both had a gold finish and that chain looked enough to tie up two people. "Did someone leave it here and forget about it?" That wouldn''t make sense though. The place where they had been sitting looked old. The rock had moss growing over it which was going onto the blade. Hell, some parts of the blade looked stained, as if rust had tried to develop but failed. I checked around the stone to see if there was any clue about the daggers but all I could find was a strange ring with a blue gemstone in it. Taking the daggers out of the stone, I decided I would take them to the blacksmith tomorrow to see if I could learn anything about them. I decided I would head back home now. It had been an hour since I parted ways with Ceclia, after all. ''Perhaps, I can ask grandpa about this¡­'' I considered it for a moment. ''No. Grandpa would just say to throw them out. My best bet is Ryt.'' Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. Returning to the clearing I originally trained in, I decided to leave the daggers in the hollow tree until tomorrow. I''d come back for them tomorrow so I could get them analyzed. I managed to make him home a few minutes before the sun had completely set. Right as I entered the house, my nostrils twitched. I realized Mama was cooking dinner. I could smell it, the baked chicken. I thought I could also smell Uruan yams but I was unsure. Upon entering the dining room, I noticed the table had already been set. My mouth water at the spread. Even after living like this for so long, the taste of my grandmother''s food could never be beaten. Nothing else would ever be able to compare. "Esther, wash your hands before you even think about touching food I worked hard to cook!" My grandmother commanded once she caught sight of me near the table. I raised both of my hands in defeat while walking upstairs to wash my hands in the bathroom. By the time I had come back down, my grandfather was already at the table and seated. A fact about my grandfather Walter was that his love for my grandmother was immeasurable. He had served in the Emperian Army just to prove to Mama''s father that he would do anything to protect her. To me, he had done the coolest thing in the world. I wanted to do the same. I wanted to become a soldier. "What are you waiting for, boy, a divine signal?" Grandfather asked me, amusement lacing his tone. My grandmother''s shoulders shook in mirth while I rushed to my seat with red dusting my face. I took my seat before putting my hands together. My grandparents mimicked my actions as a strange silence took over the table. "Through the grace of the sun we grow, by the mercy of the moon we become nourished." I began. I was used to saying this prayer every night. "May the goddess Reina protect us eternally and may the lord, Nacht, repel all evil. Treu." "Treu." My grandparents added on after I finished. While I was no devout follower of the Sect of the Twin Gods, my grandparents believed that everything we have was due to their mercy. I wasn''t sure how true any of it was and plenty of texts I had read on it detailed Nacht as some absolute being. Seemed like nonsense to me. The last time gods had been seen in Emperias was when Dame, the goddess of hope, helped the fifteenth emperor reclaim his throne Halfway through my meal, I paused my eating. I turned to my grandfather and debated how to broach the topic. Grandfather had no love for the army. He had joined that army at fourteen. All for my grandmother''s hand in marriage. That was cool, in my opinion, but he always said that he could have tried anything else to earn Mama''s hand in marriage. That was one of the reasons my father wasn''t allowed here, besides the fact he abandoned me as a child, he had become a soldier even when his own father told him not to. And I was planning on doing one of those things too. "Grandpa¡­" I hesitated for a moment. "I¡­ I want to know what it takes to join the Emperian Army." It took a moment for my statement to sink in before two things happened. My grandmother''s cheerful expression fell. It started out as a blank mask before her eyes drooped and her mouth turned downward. I could tell a deep sadness had overtaken her. My grandfather had a different reaction. His face scrunched up, which made the already existing wrinkles look worse, and his grip on the butter knife tightened to the point it looked like he was crushing it. "I-I know that you don''t like the topic but¡­" Trailing off my sentence, I watched as he let out a grunt. He placed his utensils down before turning to me. His face was a mask of calmness but I could see the rage beneath his eyes. "Esther." He began by calling me by my name. He rarely does that. "There is nothing to be found in the army besides suffering and bloodshed. There is no glory. There is nothing glorious about taking a life. " It was the same statement every time. He always used that as his reasoning. Something within me felt offended. Almost like I personally disagreed with that statement. I often just accepted his statement. I would nod my head and agree. This feeling within me wouldn''t allow it. This rage at how isolated and unfulfilled my life was. I couldn''t continue living like this. "Why can''t I decide for myself if that''s true or not?!" I bellowed at him. "Why can''t you just help me and let me become my own person?" "Who do you think you''re yelling at?!" He demanded. "I am your guardian. I know what''s best for you! You won''t be able to do anything if you die!" "Maybe I want to die doing what my heart and soul call out for!" I countered, passion and rage coating my voice. "I didn''t ask you to take care of me! Maybe you should have just thrown me to the wolves because, obviously, your own son left for a reason!" Silence permeated throughout the room. My grandfather seemed hurt by my statement. A heavy feeling settled in my gut. It felt like an anvil had been placed directly on top of me. I wouldn''t back down, though. "I''ll be going to bed." My grandfather said. Mama and I sat at the table while grandfather retired for the night. I could still feel that boiling rage. It was calmer now, quieter even, due to how guilty I had felt for saying such a thing. "You know," Mama said. "Your father was the same way-" "I don''t want to know about a deadbeat who left me because he couldn''t handle the responsibility of his actions¡­" I replied. She didn''t look offended. It looked like she knew something I didn''t. Like there was some cosmic secret that only she had discovered and couldn''t share. She finished her food before placing the dishes in the sink. She looked tired so I assumed she wanted to leave them for tomorrow. I watched as she walked up the stairs. Once I heard a door shutting, I turned back to my food. I savored my food this time instead of eating it quickly like I did this morning. If anyone were to notice how the dishes were clean and the kitchen clean after I went upstairs, I wouldn''t say a thing. A Guide to the Sever-Verse [This chapter is a directory for terminology within the world of Sever the Chains. This is to serve as an informative reference. All information in this auxiliary chapter is going to be gradually revealed throughout the story and may contain minor spoilers.] [General Information]: Spiellefelle is a world blessed with Iks, a unique energy that allows for the use of mana. The world itself is so large that not everything has been explored. There are at least twenty discovered continents and vast oceans beyond the eye can see. The planet is so large that space exploration hasn''t even been considered due to the vast world and many mysteries. Melstor is the realm in which the divine dwell. It has many seperated realities and locations that make it unique. The most notable areas of the Melstor are where mortal souls go after they pass away. [True Gods]: Matka (Maht - kah) The mother of Nacht and Reina, she is unknown by all who exist besides her children. She is known for her favortism for Nacht, having reincarnated him into a True God upon his death in Spiellefelle. Reina was created upon noticing her son''s loneliness Nacht (Noh - t) The Lord of the Solitary Night, The Lord of Stories, Slayer of Outer Gods, Protector. Nacht is the patriarch of the world Spiellefelle. None have touched his world and none ever shall. He and his wife, Reina, are known for their contribution towards humans in the form of their 12 children. Reina (Rey - nuh) The Lady of the Embracing Day, The Queen of Light, Nurturer of Godlings, Wife. Reina is the matriarch of the world Spiellefelle. While her husband protects the world, she is nurturing their children and ensuring there is stabilty around the world. She and her husband, Nacht, are known for their contribution towards humans in the form of their 12 children. Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. F¨¹rs (Fue - ers) Nephew of Matka and King of Perete. F¨¹rs is not a kind individual. He is known for having over 300 children with countless women due to his promiscous ways. [Types of Iks (Eek-s)]: Ikas (Ee - kas) is the most potent form of energy. It can be used for various things and has endless possibilities. This is commonly used by Humans, Unuans, Elves, and High Elves Ikos (Ee - kohs) is a divine variants of Ikas and can be used by the gods and their chosen. Chosen mortals cannot handle the full use of Ikos, so they ar elimited to a small portion of it. Ikis (Ee - kihs) is a mix of divine and human energy. It is used by Numens/Ascendants. This helps build up an immunity to the side effects of being able to only use a singular variant. Thorugh this they can achive great feats. Often considered demi-gods, Numen/Ascendants are anything but that. [Currency]: Nokt (Noht) This currency was named in honor of the first god to be recognized, Nacht (Noht). All countries in Iridescia use it. Rena (Ree-nuh) This is the secondary currency of Iridescia. It works as a means to boost the value of Nokt through decimals. Note: 1 Nokt = 20 dollars 1 Rena = 40 cents [Races]: Unuans Humans Salean Huabeasts Elves/Dark Elves High Elves/Dark Elves Giants True Gods Ascendants [Realms]: [Spielfelle]: Arsea (Ar-see-uh) This continent is the second known largest in the world and is surrounded by water on all sides. A never-ending storm envelopes the surrounding oceans when you reach out by about 20-Falks [For reference, that''s about 300 miles or 482 km]. The continent is not very advanced technologically but makes up for it by utilizing Iks reliant utilities. Iridescia (Ear-ee-dehs- shuh)This is the largest known continent in the world but not much is known about it. Many of the countries are isolationist and avoid contact with any of their neighbors. Junith (Juhn-eth)This is the third largest continent in Spiellfelle. Not much is known about it due to its isolationist ways. The only notable thing about this continent is that even in the night, bright lights reaching the skies can be seen from a far distance. [Melstor]: Sacred Haven Sacred Haven is the land where pure souls go after death to mingle with the divine. Realm of the Night The Realm of the Night is Nacht''s personal realm in which his countless weapons and gateways to other realities are kept. The Lord''s Library This is Nacht''s personal library where he holds all of the reality''s knowledge. Nothing escapes his curious gaze.