《The Tempestatem》 Chapter I | The Displeasure of Death Doyou know what it is like for a student to experience summer? It¡¯s probably the best thing in the world for them, regardless of the country or continent. At the very least, in a place with a functioning government. At a variant of the King¡¯s College in India, students locked onto the clock that hung a few inches above the blackboard. Mr. Peterson stood beneath it, a teacher wizened by years of hard work and study. He adjusted his glasses by the rim, understanding in a heartbeat that his words would fail to fall on reasonable ears. His students trembled with excitement as the clock hinged towards the strike of noon; and it was no different for even the most academic of those present. Among them, sat a student with a dusky complexion, purposely untidied brown hair, and features uncommon to the sub-continent. Some may have called him handsome even, but much of his attractiveness stemmed from a rather free and open outlook to life. Who was he? It was a question many had asked when he stepped into class a couple of months ago only to be introduced by his teacher. Gale. Gale Storm. He was Indian, very much so. But merely on his mother¡¯s side; Neha, a beautifully charismatic person. You see, Gale was born from a reluctantly agreed upon marriage between Neha and Robert Storm, a British writer who¡¯d toured India for research at the time. It was love forged against the hardships of a conventionally rigid family to which Neha belonged. For Gale, it was a story that had matured him well beyond his age. The clock was now merely a minute from twelve, the seconds echoing within the classroom. Mr. Peterson curled his lips into a smile, having noticed that his students were already all packed. He aligned the books he had carried with a firm tap against his desk, unsettling a layer of chalk. ¡°Class dismissed,¡± he said with a firm nod. A healthy number of students rushed toward Gale, bursting with energy and anticipation. Despite all his wit and charm, Gale preferred spending much of his time alone. It was easier to spot him with a book, or perhaps even a litter of puppies, than with a group of friends. And at the same time, it wasn¡¯t as if he had no friends. ¡°We had this day planned months in advance,¡± one of them said. ¡°Don¡¯t think you can weasel yourself out of this one with an excuse like you usually do.¡± Gale loved the people around him. But what bewildered him was their love for him despite his best effort at solace. He had to admit defeat. ¡°You got me,¡± he said, sighing aloud. ¡°What¡¯s the plan for tonight?¡± ¡°Well, there is this club that opened not more than a week ago?¡± ¡°Was that a question or a suggestion?¡± asked Gale, stifling a laugh. ¡°It¡¯s called Punch Bunnies,¡± a girl said. ¡°We should go. They have a party celebrating its first week alive and successful.¡± At home, Gale stood idly in front of a mirror with a puzzled look on his face. He casually eyed his black shirt, untucked and in combination with a pair of brown trousers. He scratched his head, boiling into mild frustration at the choices he had laid out in front of him. Dark shades of green, blue, and red. ¡°Do I even need a tie?¡± he whispered to himself. ¡°This is such a pain.¡± ¡°How handsome you¡¯ve become,¡±a gentle voice said. Gale turned to find his mom at the door, wiping her hands on a towel. Neha had a hard time seeing her son grow into an adult, especially when he stood at the cusp of becoming twenty-one. She viewed the cabinet pressed against the wall beside the mirror, remembering every instance recorded?¡ª?from their time at the beach to Gale placing fourth in gymnastics. She was a proud mother. ¡°How did you manage to turn twenty-one this quickly?¡± Neha said with a smile. ¡°It¡¯s pretty unfair.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a good question,¡± Gale said. ¡°But perhaps it¡¯s easier for both of us if you simply judged my attire?¡± Neha examined her son from a variety of angles, circling Gale as a judge would a participant. She relaxed upon spotting the three ties her son had laid out for himself and nodded in approval. ¡°You¡¯re perfect,¡± she said. ¡°But I¡¯d skip out on wearing the tie.¡±This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. ¡°Thanks, ma,¡± said Gale, giving his mother a kiss. ¡°You¡¯re the best.¡± ¡°Best friend or best mom?¡± ¡°Both.¡± Gale rushed downstairs and strode towards the door, grabbing the keys to his car. He turned the knob when memory of another promise caught up to him. His eyes searched the hall, settling on a comfortably seated man. Robert put down his manuscript and approvingly grinned at his son. ¡°Taking the car out without permission, are we?¡± he said. ¡°Not just yet,¡± Gale said. ¡°I stopped short of exiting.¡± ¡°You better not drink if you¡¯re taking the car out,¡± said Robert. ¡°Also, do make sure you get back in time to rest up for tomorrow.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, dad,¡± assured Gale. ¡°You haven¡¯t beaten me in a marathon in five years. I doubt tomorrow¡¯s going to be any different.¡± ¡°I have a feeling you won¡¯t be able to pull off another victory tomorrow.¡± ¡°Consider the challenge accepted.¡± About fifteen minutes past, Gale casually eased into the parking lot with Punch Bunnies not more than a couple hundred meters away. He stood in line for what seemed like an eternity and came up against a tall, brawny man. Despite his best effort, the gatekeeper to Punch Bunnies denied him entry?¡ª?citing a couple only policy. Just as he gave up however, his classmates hopped on out from the outside, confirming his entry as part of a large group. His first time at a club, Gale took a while getting used to the loud music. The lights flickered deliberately, enough to render his friends into slow motion. And after a while of dancing forced upon him by his more enthusiastic friends, Gale retreated to the bar.He asked the mixologist present for the most non-alcoholic beverage on the menu. A glass of water slid into his palm. Gale turned his seat around and waved at his friends on the dance floor. He sipped from his glass in an attempt to hide a smile.After all, despite the uncomfortableness of the environment, he was thoroughly enjoying himself. ¡°Never thought I¡¯d feel what I¡¯m feeling right now,¡± he said. He knew it was time to call it a night when his friends grew unsteady on their knees, some stuck in restrooms nursing nausea and others stumbling into strangers unwelcome. As the only person responsibly sober within the group, he dialled in enough cabs to have them sent home in smaller groups. He noted down their plates and resigned for the hour, thanking the staff for having his car brought to him. On his way home, Gale detoured to a park a little away from his neighbourhood. He¡¯d often escaped to the place to lose himself in a world of words?¡ª?be it fantasy or crime?¡ª?by the side of a small man-made lake. ¡°I wonder if I got this from dad,¡± thought Gale. ¡°My obsession with books and literature.¡± He took in a deep breath, enjoying every moment of a gentle breeze that had set the leaves to rustle. It was nature at its finest, painted with the snores of huddled puppies and hooting owls. With a hop, he strode back in the general direction of his car when a sound forced his motion to a halt. He strained his ears, taking a couple of steps toward the source. ¡°A phone?¡± As the words escaped his mouth, the ringing improved upon its volume, almost as if it rang from inside his head. An unsteady light sparked to life, revealing a payphone not too far from where Gale stood. The booth paused into nervous silence for but a moment, whirring back to life ever louder once more. In a moment of raw magnetism, Gale found himself inching towards the phone. One step at a time. His feet pressed against the grass, unusually moist, and with an urgency unknown. He felt a drop of sweat at the tip of his nose, unable to wake him from the illusion cast. He ushered himself in, the temperature?¡ª?prickly and cold for a summer night. Gale rested a trembling arm against the receiver, feeling the vibration of every ring that came with it. Time froze as the winds outside hastened into a howl, warning as the shadows rippled to life. It crawled through the blades of grass unbeknownst to the boy inside the booth. Gale remained still, his every breath visible, as the shadows?¡ª?invisible to his eye?¡ª?manifested to life. First a mangled face, and then the limbs. It lengthened what was left of the blackness into shape, long and into a curve towards its end. The being slid the blade of its scythe into position, inches from Gale¡¯s neck. He gulped on instinct. ¡°If I didn¡¯t know any better,¡± Gale said with a nervous laugh, unable to finish his sentence. He peeled the receiver off the phone¡¯s body, holding it against his ear. It was at thehellowhen the scythe fiercely pulled upwards. Blood splattered upon the transparency of the glass panes within the booth as the body slumped into the floor lifeless. The receiver hung with no more than static on the other end. As Gale¡¯s head parted from his neck, the light dimmed, eventually shrouding the booth into obscurity. No more than a couple of kilometres from the incident, Neha felt an unusual amount of fear grasp at her heart. She eased her mind, smiling at Robert, who sat upon the bed beside her. He returned the favour. As they prepared for bed, Neha remembered their tenth anniversary. It was one of their finest, an unforgettable part of their history. She reached for the frame on her bedside table, frowning the very next instant. ¡°Robert,¡± she said. ¡°Why are we standing far apart here, and weirdly at that?¡± Her husband leaned in to view the photo, falling into confusion himself. ¡°Strange,¡± he remarked. ¡°Almost as if there was someone else in between us.¡± Chapter II | Stripped From the Reality of Death A temporary death. Would you call it temporary if your heart stops to beat for but a moment, waiting for a doctor to guide you back to the land of the living? It¡¯s a thought that runs through a person¡¯s head. Perhaps more strongly during their twenties, at a time when many wonder of their purpose on the planet. After all, normalcy is a fate accepted, not loved. The cogs moved in the wake of crumbling dreams, as a body leapt off the ground, revitalized by a surge of electricity. He shook, uncontrollably at first, and then upon sudden but foggy remembrance of a fear that had remained within the deepest recesses of his memories. Devoid of all his other senses and in the dead of the night, his ears heard nothing?¡ª?nothing but the hastened beating of his own heart. Gale viewed the stars, his back pinned to the moist grass of the park he had come to adore. It was his spot of safety, his sanctum sanctorum. In an attempt to sit up right, he moved his limbs in vain, frowning upon repeated failure and cracking his lips in the process?¡ª?dry in his mouth, itchy in his throat. Gale was far from comfortable?¡ª?feelings muddled and thoughts disoriented?¡ª?but felt overwhelmed with an unexplainable warmth. It resembled an odd sense of freedom, the kind that had eluded him for much of his twenty-one years alive. ¡°Alive,¡± thought Gale, almost in the form of a question. His breathing steadied as the seconds passed, his chest relaxing. He struggled to remember the night; his body frozen still. It seemed all that remained was the whistling of a cold and lonely wind. But his ears did perk in the moments that followed. He heard a weight stepping into the soil, deep enough for it urge a response from his sense of sound. As they strayed into a path of stone, the footsteps revealed their nature?¡ª?the kind long forgotten, from a time that hailed the monarch. The noise cleared to unveil more as the sounds drew ever closer?¡ª?the brushing of metal sheets, the breathing of a man against the rustling of leaves, and whispers; whispers of prayer far beyond Gale¡¯s comprehension. A silhouette slid into display, leant and looked down at Gale¡¯s paralyzed body. As the latter¡¯s eyes adjusted to the light, he found the man smiling at him. It helped highlight his sharp foreign features and brown hair not unlike Gale¡¯s; but perhaps a shade lighter. Equipped with vambraces and greaves of exceptional make, Gale gasped at the armoured man, and justifiably so. It wasn¡¯t an everyday affair. His eyes settled on the image of an erupting sun, detailed and graphically magnificent, proudly etched in the centre of the man¡¯s armoured chest. The strange figure knelt, helping Gale to sit upright and observe his apparent saviour more closely. ¡°Well met, Gale,¡± the warrior said. ¡°Not often do we find someone this well-adjusted to their death.¡± ¡°Who are you?¡± asked Gale, his words barely a whisper. ¡°My name is Aaron,¡± said the man. ¡°I suppose you could call me a friend. Would that be too soon?¡± While he found the man¡¯s words unsettling, Gale Storm felt nothing but kindness beneath them. It helped him to smile, gave him temporary relief from the oddness that he had yet to understand fully. He touched a part of the armour?¡ª?the pauldron?¡ª?that covered the shoulder area, feeling the cold metal upon his fingertips. His paralysis, he noticed, was dissipating. ¡°This is nothing short of magical, unlike anything I¡¯ve ever experienced,¡± said Gale. ¡°Who are you?¡± ¡°It¡¯s often the case with the people I visit,¡± said Aaron. ¡°But rest assured that we¡¯ll take good care of you, should this work.¡± Gale mustered all the strength he could, holding Aaron by the arm. He drew him closer, regaining the colour in his cheeks as he did, asking once more, ¡°Who are you?¡± ¡°A Commissioner.¡± ¡°A Commissioner of what?¡± ¡°I fear it shall come to you soon enough.¡± He clenched his abdomen, releasing Aaron, and fell back into a state of weakness. Pain reverberated where his grip tightened, moving up to his throat. Flashes of memory suppressed surfaced between spells of dizziness, until blackness returned to remind him of the nature of his death. Gasping for breath, Gale vomited. A mixture of fear and guilt prompted another painful retching. His eyes welled, spilling tears soon after. Down on all fours, he crawled a little further away from Aaron. ¡°It¡¯ll go away, Gale,¡± said Aaron. ¡°Don¡¯t let this be the end of you.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t say that,¡± said Gale, between sobs. ¡°I know what this is going to do to my parents. It will consume them.¡± ¡°Ambitions. Dreams. Love. Connections. When you died, you left all those things behind,¡± Aaron said, towering over Gale, his eyes ferocious. ¡°Your death here does not imply an end, but the beginning at a chance for greatness at a higher place.¡± As much as the words intended to inspire, it was Gale¡¯s body that helped recuperate his mind. His emotions simply abandoned him, enough to let him stand upright on his own and without thought of weakness. In that moment of clarity, he thought through the night¡¯s events with calm reason, opening path to a peaceful state of mind. He exhaled and saw Aaron¡¯s surprise, wondering at it. Gale examined the rest of his body, finding himself attired in different clothes than what he had worn to the party. He stretched the tunic to even out the creases, black in colour and atop brown pants and boots. His braces?¡ª?the same colour as his tunic?¡ª?added a nice touch to his medieval look. It was enough to bring a smile. He pressed his palm against his chest, finding his heart as steady as it could be. The thought was strange; after all, it was only moments ago he had learned of his passing as a human being. ¡°You¡¯re the Commissioner of Death then?¡± asked Gale, holding back a hint of sadness. ¡°Better adjusted than most,¡± repeated Aaron to himself, before adding, ¡°It isn¡¯t my title. But you could say that for now.¡± The confirmation jolted a memory of the phone right back into his mind, the ringing louder than it ever was in reality. He remembered the stench of his own blood as he slumped lifelessly onto the floor, the abnormal temperature, and then the blackness. What was that blackness? ¡°Not that I doubt you,¡± said Gale reassuringly. ¡°But where is my body? I don¡¯t feel any different from when I was alive.¡± ¡°You probably feel better,¡± said Aaron with a smile. ¡°Unfortunately, I cannot show you your body.¡± ¡°And why is that?¡± ¡°There are laws that your world must obey,¡± Aaron said matter-of-factly. ¡°If you¡¯ve been commissioned to a different realm, there is no requirement of your existence here.¡± ¡°You wouldn¡¯t mind if I confirmed it for myself then, would you?¡±Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. ¡°Not at all.¡± Gale squatted to stir his legs back to life, hopping into a sprint. As he steadied his course, he chose to head home, wary of his need to feel alive. He wanted the exhaustion to remind him, the sweat, the restless breathing; it was all a yearning to hold onto his idea of life. But more than all of that, Gale felt an abnormal pull toward his parents. ¡°You¡¯re drawn to what you loved most in life,¡± said Aaron. ¡°But you¡¯re not the only one drawn to it. There¡¯s always something on the other side of the coin, Gale C. Storm.¡± It had begun to rain, and as the storm roared, Gale sought shelter at the porch to his home with a sense of uncertainty. He rested his knuckles on the door and wondered about the consequences of every decision he could possibly imagine. It was unlike him. His palm slid across the wood and found its way to the doorbell. It was late, and under normal circumstances, Gale would¡¯ve worried more about the repercussions of having ignored curfew. But this time, his lips curved to a smile when the lights flickered to life from inside the house. When the door opened, his father sighed, looking around then scratching his head in frustration. ¡°These pranks are turning out to be awfully exhausting,¡± Robert said. ¡°I hope I catch these youngsters in the act one day.¡± ¡°Dad,¡± called Gale, loudly enough. ¡°Please tell me you¡¯re giving me a hard time for coming in late.¡± Gale attempted to follow in the wake of his father, but had the door firmly shut on his face. A sense of restlessness settled on the edge of his skin, driving him to slam his fist against the door. The lights didn¡¯t turn on this time, and hurried footsteps found its way towards the door instead, falling into silence in a matter of seconds. The door swung open and Robert hopped onto the porch, startling his son in the process. Gale almost laughed at the sight of his excited father and watched as the man looked around. Robert eventually found his smile wane and wearily walked back into the house, leaving Gale outside once more. It was all Gale needed to abandon what remained inside of the reality he once knew. ¡°Do I really feel nothing?¡± whispered Gale. ¡°Odd.¡± He turned to head back to the park, unconcerned with the rain. However, as he exited the front yard, something familiar slipped past him and toward his house. He looked over his shoulder, a shiver running through him in recognition. He chased behind it, but the being seemed to have slithered through the cracks. ¡°It¡¯s that blackness,¡± said Gale. ¡°What¡¯s it doing here?¡± The door remained firmly shut, forcing Gale to move toward the nearest window. He wiped the panes, struggling to see the creature inside. The moon?¡ª?almost poetically?¡ª?illuminated the otherwise dark living room and with it, a shapeless entity struggling to find form. Despite the distance, Gale felt the overwhelming presence of dark emotions at their worst. Weirdly certain that his parents would remain oblivious to the creature¡¯s presence even upon contact, the boy hurled a rock toward the window. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, dad,¡± said Gale, unlocking his only way into the house. ¡°In time, you¡¯d see this as a blessing.¡± Backed by the weight of his body, Gale ran as fast as his legs could carry him, shouldering the creature away from the foot of the stairs. It crashed against the wall, waking both his parents. As they rushed to identify the source of the commotion, the being evolved a set of sturdy limbs and a face that appeared melted at best?¡ª?its features struggling to hold form. Its unstable body however, supported the creature as best as it could, reforming the parts that lost shape quickly. With the stairs blocked, the being turned its eyes from Gale¡¯s parents to the boy himself. It lunged towards him at a blinding speed and latched onto his chest, digging its teeth in as much as it could. Gale struggled to peel the creature away in vain and decided to carry it outside of the house instead. He stumbled at the threshold of the door, unsettling the creature enough to scamper away to a safe distance outside. At the sight of a shovel no more than an arm¡¯s length from where he stood now, Gale armed himself, steadfast in his gaze. The creature let out a bloodcurdling roar as it rushed its prey, visibly angered by his absence of fear. In that moment, Gale thanked his years of gymnastics, pivoting to avoid a direct blow. He found himself faster than usual and struck the creature with every bit of strength he could summon, breaking his weapon in half. He threw what remained in his hands at the creature to no effect, falling back to a safe distance in the process. ¡°So much for that,¡± said Gale. ¡°I¡¯ve got to hold onto his attention until he arrives.¡± ¡°If you¡¯re talking about me,¡± a voice announced the Commissioner¡¯s presence. ¡°I¡¯ve been here the entire time.¡± ¡°Aaron, my dear friend,¡± said Gale, finding him seated at the edge of the roof. ¡°I would appreciate a hand here with whatever that is.¡± "What an unexpected find this boy is," thought Aaron. "Forget well adjusted; he¡¯s literally just shrugged the thought of his death aside." ¡°Anyone there?¡± "But what¡¯s stranger still is that he appears to hold onto much of his emotions, at least he did when we first met," Aaron remained lost in thought. "No. I did sense remorse when his father couldn¡¯t notice his existence." Gale clicked his tongue in annoyance, slipping away from the creature¡¯s grasp once more. Fatigue was catching up to him, and the open wound on his chest was not helping his cause either. The only thing that kept him on his feet was the thought of rescuing his parents, to ensure that they didn¡¯t follow him to the grave. "That, and how predictable its movements are," he considered, dodging it again. He found himself at the entrance to the front yard, by his mailbox. Gale dug it out with a gentle tug, much to his surprise, recalling no such strength from his time alive. As the creature lunged once more, he swung the box into what appeared to be its face, hammering it away. The wood weakened at the centre, breaking in half just as the shovel had. This time, the being made no mistakes, manoeuvring itself to disable Gale, stubby hands curling around the boy¡¯s throat. Gale continued to fight his battle, stabbing the creature with what was left of his weapon. He stopped only when the constriction of the creature¡¯s hands tightened beyond his threshold for pain. "Was I mistaken?" thought Aaron at the sight of Gale¡¯s near defeat. "That¡¯s a shame. I¡¯m sure he would¡¯ve managed to make things interesting on the other side." Gale winced, his sight blurring. His memories surfaced, and the thought of his death met with little resistance. He was giving up. ¡°What am I doing?¡± he whispered. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t be able to call myself their son if this is the best I could do for them after kicking the bucket.¡± He willed his body back to life, shutting his eyes to find a source of strength. It remained elusive at first, but Gale continued to beg?¡ª?beg for a miracle that would help him overturn his situation. Time passed and the creature strengthened its grip as Gale fought both the pain and his resolve to revitalize his body. The earth spasmed, causing even Aaron to raise his eyebrow. His curiosity piqued, the man leaned forward with eager anticipation. When thunder rent the air, it left what appeared to be an open tear in the fabric of space and time. A whisper reached out to Gale, and the boy wriggled his arm free in response, driving it into the chasm. In response, the creature dug its teeth into Gale¡¯s shoulder, and though it weakened his grip, the boy¡¯s resolve remained as firm. A radiant light escaped from within the open crevice, exploding circumferentially and with significant force. Temporarily blinded by the light, when Aaron¡¯s sight returned, he stood in awe of the boy?¡ª?healed of every injury. The Commissioner grinned fiercely at the thought of being proven right, his eyes trailing to what Gale gripped in one hand. A sword, seemingly forged in stone, long and wide and etched with runic symbols along its length. Pebbles rattled over the ground, the tremor growing ever violent. The shadowy creature made an attempt at Gale¡¯s neck, hoping to end the battle. It stretched its mouth wide, armed with teeth that could have shredded armour. But the creature never made it, falling to oblivion under the force of Gale¡¯s sword. As the ground settled, the boy rested his arm, not fully used to swinging a large sword. ¡°Anticlimactic,¡± Aaron said to himself. ¡°But how can I not be pleased with the results?¡± ¡°I suppose this is where you tell me what my job is going forward,¡± said Gale, sighing in relief. ¡°And please don¡¯t tell me I¡¯m a chosen somebody.¡± ¡°Chosen?¡± repeated Aaron. ¡°Far from it. Your death was a consequence of?¡ª?how do I put it?¡ª?wrong place, wrong time?¡± ¡°I¡¯m glad to hear that,¡± Gale said, with smile. ¡°Go on then. Introduce yourself.¡± ¡°I am Aaron Heart, One of the Three,¡± Aaron said. ¡°And you, Gale C. Storm. You have been recruited.¡± Chapter III | Mioverold Gale stood a little away from his house, Aaron just a few steps behind him. He watched his mother do the dishes through the window, remembering that she would often hum to a beat as she did. A smile found its way onto his lips. It was a good memory; memories?¡ª?something both his parents were stripped of presently. ¡°Does it bother you?¡± asked Aaron. ¡°I wonder,¡± said Gale, without thought. ¡°Should it matter now anyway?¡± ¡°You won¡¯t be remembered, Gale,¡± reminded Aaron. ¡°There will be nothing. Not a trace of even your most cherished time together.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a good thing,¡± said Gale, masking his sadness. ¡°Nobody would want to live that way, knowing that their child had passed.¡± Aaron turned away, his thoughts about the oddity surfacing once more. It wasn¡¯t often that he engaged in conversation with those he had personally executed, especially at their most vulnerable state right after. This time was different. He felt a rather strange aura of uncertainty around Gale, something that made him regret commissioning his death. And while that did surprise him, he was quick to bury the notion. Meanwhile, and amidst the sudden curtain of silence between them, Aaron pressed his hands into prayer with the boy as his witness. Gale felt an indescribable force radiate from the knight, stirring the pebbles around his feet into a rattle. The nimbus gravitated towards the pressure as the space in front of Aaron distorted into tangibility. A low rumble followed, and then the sound of thunder. A vortex swirled to life, and the heavens responded with a drizzle. Small at first, Aaron parted his hands, expanding it in size. He controlled what appeared to be a portal as a conductor would an orchestra and rested only upon confirming its stability; large enough to allow them passage. Aaron stepped away for Gale to bear witness to his new reality, one that would barely resemble his old. He gestured for Gale to make the first move with an encouraging smile. Not that it helped. Gale had come to accept the change in his short time dead?¡ª?a word that now puzzled him. But it wasn¡¯t something that translated into happiness. He was still inherently human, which was why the sadness lingered. ¡°It¡¯s understandable to feel some hesitation,¡± said Aaron. ¡°Would it help if I called this a second chance at a different life?¡± ¡°I appreciate the sentiment,¡± said Gale. ¡°You needn¡¯t worry though; this is something I¡¯m bound to forget.¡± As the words escaped his lips, Gale mustered the will to clear his mind. He moved with stern determination while Aaron followed, the portal closing behind them. Unease settled into his steps soon after, something the boy had already expected. ¡°You made sure to step in with confidence,¡± praised Aaron. ¡°It¡¯s not something you see often.¡± ¡°It¡¯s all that matters,¡± said Gale with a sigh. ¡°I knew that regret was an inevitability, but for the sake of whatever it is I am to face going forward, I wanted it to be confident?¡ª?that first step.¡± ¡°Tell me something though,¡± said Aaron. ¡°You mentioned something about forgetting your past; I¡¯m curious about what that meant.¡± ¡°It¡¯s human nature,¡± said Gale matter-of-factly. ¡°When the British conquered India for its gain, we hated them. Freedom came at the price of blood, and yet, we face them today with no more than a smile.¡± ¡°I¡¯m familiar with your kind¡¯s history,¡± said Aaron. ¡°Not unlike our own. I suppose war isn¡¯t something unique to our world.¡± ¡°If history has taught us anything, it¡¯s that time tends to heal most wounds of the mind,¡± said Gale. ¡°At least in theory.¡± ¡°That¡¯s an interesting perspective.¡± Gale detached himself from the conversation when the portal dimmed into blackness, almost as if they were inside a tunnel devoid of light. In the moments that followed, the gravity shifted, enough to force the boy onto his knees and then some. The atmosphere had changed without notice, and through it, Aaron remained without emotion even as he watched Gale wheeze in an effort to breathe the ever-thinning air. But there was little to worry about. As the portal pushed Gale forward without end in sight, the boy adjusted. His breathing steadied, and soon, he had managed to get back on his feet almost as if he had been unchallenged the entire time. One thing did change, however. ¡°The portal,¡± said Gale with a worried look on his face. ¡°Why did it stop?¡± ¡°This is as far as it goes,¡± said Aaron. ¡°We¡¯ll have to walk now.¡± ¡°I¡¯m glad about that we bit,¡± said Gale, sounding relieved. ¡°For a moment, I¡¯d thought that this was another bullshit challenge I¡¯d have to undertake by myself.¡± ¡°Oh, but it is.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Aaron reaffirmed. ¡°I¡¯m just here to bear witness to everything.¡± ¡°Have you ever read Lord of the Rings?¡± said Gale. ¡°Game of Thrones, or maybe the Wheel of Time even.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t believe I have,¡± Aaron slowly said, unsure about the nature of the question asked. ¡°What are they?¡± ¡°Novels, books of the fantasy genre,¡± said Gale. ¡°You seem to operate under similar principles.¡± Aaron found himself in unfamiliar territory and chose not to respond. He observed his latest recruit instead, and with great admiration. Gale walked head first into darkness, showing determination the knight had first seen at the entrance to the portal. Just as it was in the novels he had read, whispers echoed from inside his head.Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. His confidence rose with every passing step, and even more so with accurate and sharp turns. They stalled for but a moment as the whispers fell into silence, and with good reason. A smile was all Gale allowed himself; after all, he had managed to come this far without the help of his apparent guide. It was light, no larger than a pinhole, and at a significant distance from where he stood. ¡°Ehedus seems to have forged a connection with the boy already,¡± thought Aaron, merely a step behind in the chase. ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± Gale broke into a sprint and stretched his arm out wide, hoping that he would grasp onto something, anything. His focus sharpened to thoughts of escape until the darkness no longer remained. He felt fresh air against his skin, the whistling of birds, and thick grass at the bottom of his feet. It seemed that the tunnel had simply ceased to exist through the sprint, avoiding the need for a conventional exit. Aaron smiled when he noticed the expression on the boy¡¯s face; it was the same every time he had brought someone over for the first time. It evoked a sense of pride for the place he had come to call home. Gale turned his head from left to right, and then once more, immersing fully in the experience that he soon expected to become accustomed to. Atop a hill with a gentle breeze, Gale found a storm-ravaged beach directly in front of him. He nervously shifted his gaze to find blizzard-struck mountains to his right, oddly merging into the sea and without any form of continuity. To his left, he spotted the densest of jungles he had ever come across?¡ª?book or otherwise, eerily quiet and in sharp contrast to everything else around it. ¡°What an eccentric blend of nature,¡± Gale remarked. ¡°This place, it¡¯s one that has lost its name,¡± Aaron revealed. ¡°But for the sake of convenience, you could call it a World of Transition.¡± The name held more meaning to Gale than the knight could have imagined. After all, this was a world that held him not in death, but a stage in between. He took in a deep breath?¡ª?chest out wide?¡ª?and exhaled as gently as he could; it was a new world, but one that touched the realms of both comfort and nervous change. ¡°You exclude the eccentricity, and it doesn¡¯t feel too different from earth,¡± Aaron gently said. ¡°I hope that helps ease your mind, at least to a certain degree.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a beautiful world,¡± Gale admitted. ¡°That it is.¡± ¡°Well then,¡± said Gale with a heavy sigh. ¡°What do I do now?¡± As Aaron was about to respond, a thunderous roar emerged from the heavens. It struck once more but in the wake of lightning this time, and dangerously close to both men. Aaron held firmly onto Gale as the winds roughened, finding that the boy had almost fallen off balance. As the dust settled, he eased Gale onto his feet and allowed him sight of a man bearing an insignia much alike his own. The rugged dwarf knelt out of respect for the knight, covered in scars and with a beard as thick as it could be. Gale¡¯s nose wrinkled at the stench of blood that emanated from the visitor. It was a moment of sheer awe, and even more so when the dwarf pulled an axe?¡ª?strapped onto his back?¡ª?and placed it in front of his lord?¡ª?a sign of tradition and respect. Gale gulped, a little intimidated, aware that he was now in the presence of a seasoned war veteran. ¡°Lord Heart,¡± the dwarf addressed. ¡°I pray that I did not interrupt anything of importance.¡± ¡°At ease, General,¡± commanded Aaron, a relaxed expression settling onto his face. ¡°What is the matter?¡± ¡°Could I have a moment alone, perhaps?¡± asked the General. ¡°I have a message, and it happens to be a matter of grave urgency.¡± ¡°Gale, this is Magellan,¡± introduced Aaron. ¡°He¡¯s among my most trusted soldiers and has served me well for over two hundred years.¡± Aaron walked over to a safe distance from the boy, having excused himself momentarily. It allowed Gale the chance to ponder over what was last said, the mention of Magellan¡¯s two-hundred years of servitude. He shuddered at the thought of their age, considering Aaron seemed no more than a man in his early thirties. Gale caught a tense expression on Aaron¡¯s face, briefly at best. But with one that signified little worry, the knight walked back to his charge soon after. ¡°It¡¯s a good thing Magellan is here,¡± said Aaron. ¡°This will help with what little wisdom I can impart before I take my leave.¡± ¡°Your leave?¡± repeated Gale. ¡°I had expected to take you all the way to your destination, but circumstance begs for my presence elsewhere.¡± ¡°How eventful.¡± Aaron smiled, amused at the boy¡¯s ability to adjust to change. He was a rarity, even by the knight¡¯s own standards of recruitment. It was a matter to be impressed with, and he couldn¡¯t help but admit it to himself. ¡°We¡¯ll both benefit from a quick explanation,¡± said Aaron. ¡°As I¡¯d previously mentioned, Magellan¡¯s timing could not have been better. We¡¯re of the Godvildian race; you included. And as are all beings in this realm, you categorically fall into being either an Elementalist or a Wielder.¡± ¡°I suppose Magellan is an Elementalist,¡± guessed Gale. ¡°Something to do with lightning?¡± ¡°General Magellan,¡± corrected Aaron. ¡°And that¡¯s correct. An Elementalist, based on his or her affinity, possesses the ability to control an element in nature. Contrarily, beings gifted in their mastery over weapons rank as Wielders.¡± Magellan stepped forward on cue, revealing the back of his palm. He curled it into a cup, igniting sparks of electricity upon mild concentration. His lips twirled into a smile, noticing that he had managed to baffle the boy. ¡°Based on my understanding, I fall into the latter,¡± said Gale, recovering from his short moment of childish excitement. ¡°But I do wonder, having never wielded a sword to begin with, how is it that I¡¯m able to manoeuvre both body and weapon well above average?¡± ¡°That answer is embedded firmly in the nature of our realm,¡± said Aaron. ¡°It¡¯s kept in balance by the existence of two gods. Ehedus favours our kind, and in worship, you become stronger.¡± ¡°Interesting; but this will have to do for now,¡± accepted Gale. ¡°It wouldn¡¯t do us well to keep you from matters of urgency, as you seem to put it.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± said Aaron. ¡°I¡¯m well-aware that we have a lot to talk about. But for now, let me leave you with this?¡ª?to your right is the Road of Elements, and to your left is the Path of Wielders. You¡¯re smart enough to figure out what¡¯s next.¡± ¡°How will I know if I¡¯ve reached my destination?¡± ¡°You just will.¡± ¡°Why am I not surprised?¡± said Gale. ¡°You know, I am of the opinion that cryptic statements rarely help.¡± ¡°Funny.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a new thing,¡± said Gale, without a hint of sarcasm this time. ¡°Turns out I get quippy when inconvenienced. I never knew I had this quality in me.¡± ¡°It¡¯ll serve you well,¡± said Aaron with a nod. ¡°And with that, shall I take my leave, Gale?¡± ¡°Just one thing,¡± said Gale, halting the knight. ¡°You said that this world no longer holds onto its name, and I¡¯m sure there¡¯s a reason for it. But I¡¯d still like to know; it is my home now.¡± Aaron leant forward, whispering what the boy sought. He smiled as they parted, proud of what they had shared. Aloud he said, ¡°I hope we meet again, Gale. I really do.¡± With clenched fists and a mask of confidence, the boy nodded affirmatively. He knew on instinct that behind that statement of goodwill laid a dreadful warning. But his thoughts wavered to that of the world he was now in. Mioverold. It was a good name. Chapter IV | An Introduction to the Relicta Gale scratched his chin in bewilderment. He observed the blizzard struck mountains from afar; Aaron had called it the Road of Elements. His destination however, pointed to the left?¡ª?a forest with a strange sense of lifelessness. He pulled his sword out, appraising it as best as he could. Carved out of stone, it was unlike anything he had ever seen before. Peculiar. He wondered what the runic symbols implied, etched with delicate perfection and in a way that glorified the blade¡¯s appearance. His information on the World of Transition was limited at best, and the fact bothered him. Gale estimated that the journey to his next destination would be no easy task, and then there was the matter of Aaron¡¯s warning as well. ¡°If I am to survive, I need to understand everything required to become stronger,¡± thought Gale. ¡°And I suppose it makes sense to start with my mind.¡± Gale uncovered through much of his interaction with Aaron that he had lost the ability to lose his calm; it made him wonder if it was a trait common to the Godvildian kind. Not that it bothered him. In a way, it helped him cope with the change. Lost in thought, his feet moved of their own free will. He walked toward the forest, and straight through?¡ª?unbeknownst to a distortion that had manifested. It engulfed him whole, allowing him access to a deeper part of the forest. When Gale had finally noticed, he had nothing but trees around him. All that remained was silence, disturbed oddly by the rustling within the bushes alone. Animals noiselessly passed by his feet, small and without threat to the boy. The entirety of the situation unsettled Gale. ¡°If I am to extrapolate the information that I do have,¡± whispered Gale. ¡°I believe that I should be strong enough to handle whatever it is to come here. But that would be too optimistic an assumption.¡± He ran Aaron¡¯s wisdom through his head once more, glossing over every little detail. It was a march he refused to cease. Gale had covered a considerable distance when the matter had settled onto the gods?¡ª?Ehedus, and the Godvildian kind¡¯s worship of him. There was much to learn there. ¡°I¡¯m curious to understand if this world follows the mechanics of a game,¡± wondered Gale. ¡°Aaron did mention that our strength would grow in time with worship.¡± He scratched his head, as confused as he ever was. His thoughts had kept him from exhaustion, so much so that he had failed to notice the darkness that now surrounded him. He had reached a part of the forest that did well to keep the sunlight at bay. In time, whispers caught the attention of his ear. It broke the silence. He remained unwary still of the eyes that peered from the shadows, shifting noisily on purpose and with the intention to scare. From a safe distance, one of the silhouettes saw fit to press its face through the leaves for a better look. Gale froze when the forest¡¯s proof of life fell into mystery; no longer did the animals crawl. He caught the face as it slipped back into the bushes?¡ª?flaky, pale, and crumbling at the slightest of twitches. His body readied on reflex with a raised sword, assuming a stance he had neither learned nor experienced. The eyes now focused on him with deadly concentration. A step echoed through the silence, and then more. Many emerged?¡ª?all at once?¡ª?and with predatory ferocity. Gale moved without conscious thought, allowing his sword to take the lead. It guided him through the first wave of attack with footwork that resembled more of a dance. Despite little experience, the boy managed to control the pace of the battle and utilized the time to observe his enemies. Gale gulped at the sight of skin as pale as the whitest hues of snow, hair only a shade darker, and bodies abnormally tall and skinny. But odder still was their decaying teeth, and eyes?¡ª?icy-blue, replicating the appearance of death itself. In an experiment, Gale accelerated toward his nearest challenger, covering ground faster than he could fathom. It took the deathly creature by surprise, and even more so when the boy swung his blade. Gale followed through without mercy, the tip of his sword drawing blood. It was his first, a death for the sake of his survival. Panic overwhelmed him, his heart louder than it ever was. The sight of a lifeless body, slit by the throat, rattled him. And yet, almost instantly, a gentle warmth had managed to embrace his frenzied mind, granting him freedom from guilt or any other thought that threatened to bother. ¡°I¡¯m certain now,¡± thought Gale. ¡°An external force is doing its best to keep my mental well-being in check. How convenient.¡± Gale paused his assessment upon observation that the others had ceased their offensive pursuit. He dragged his feet through the moist soil and hesitantly moved toward them. At first, the creatures trembled, growling in an attempt to ward the boy away. Gale tightened the grip over his sword, uncertain of the situation at hand. ¡°Are they afraid?¡± wondered Gale. ¡°Regardless, I need to find a way to escape this.¡±Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! Appearance aside, Gale had guessed that his assailants weren¡¯t Godvildian. In stark contrast to both Magellan and Aaron, the creatures in front of him wore feather crowns and skirts that covered no more than their thighs; made of leaves. ¡°Primitive,¡± Gale remarked. He relaxed his stance and turned his back to the enemy, wary still. When certain that they would not follow, the boy resumed his quest within the Path of Wielders. The encounter gave him much to think about, and more so on the matter of his prowess in combat. It was an uptick from his display on earth. ¡°My body moves on its own during battle, but I do retain much of my spatial and cognitive intelligence despite it,¡± whispered Gale, mildly confused. ¡°Does this imply that the more I fight, the stronger I become? I certainly haven¡¯t worshiped any god since my arrival here. And yet, I feel stronger than I was before.¡± A good minute into his walk, the boy stopped. He shifted uneasily at the sound of something that felt out of place; his instinct screamed to avoid it. Without losing much of his composure, Gale moved in the opposite direction. The sound followed, but from somewhere different this time. He adjusted his course once more. ¡°Am I being shepherded?¡± thought Gale, sighing aloud. ¡°It could be those dead-looking creatures I encountered previously. I should¡¯ve killed them all.¡± Gale paused, clearly displeased at the thought. In his short time in Mioverold, it appeared as if his mind had desensitized him to the concept of death or murder. On cue, the warmth returned, eliminating every bit of guilt there was. Everything he had suspected fell into place when the creatures returned to surround him, spare one opening. Gale resisted the temptation, choosing to wait the situation out instead. At a distance, the sight of a falling tree piqued his curiosity; the sound resembled what had guided him to his present location. Gale realized quickly that the gap within the creatures¡¯ defences wasn¡¯t for him to exploit. It was in fact an entrance, and a grand one at that. A figure taller than the creatures that surrounded him emerged from the deepest depths of the forest, clad in armor that meshed hues of black and purple. His helmet covered much of his face, allowing insight into no more than his eyes?¡ª?cold, just as the creatures that served under him, but unwavering. He slammed his foot against the ground in an announcement that forced everyone onto their knees; it was a demand for respect. And Gale did not oblige. ¡°Tell me, child,¡± said the apparent leader, echoing an authoritative voice. ¡°Why do you not kneel?¡± ¡°Do I have a good reason to?¡± asked Gale with a shrug. ¡°You,¡± the armored figure slowly said. ¡°Do you think it¡¯s reasonable if I chose to kill you given the situation?¡± ¡°Given the situation?¡± repeated Gale. ¡°You slaughtered my men without mercy, and our kind does not look kindly upon that.¡± Gale took a moment before his next response. His eyes scanned for an opportunity, anything exploitable to stage an escape. He was surrounded, and within the only crack in their defences, stood their leader?¡ª?determined to claim the mound of victory. ¡°My name is Gale,¡± the boy said, hoping the conversation would help him buy some time. ¡°Considering the death sentence, would you mind indulging my desire for some information?¡± ¡°At last you speak with respect,¡± the armored figure said. ¡°I, Lord Noah Oblique, Commander of the 6th Relictan Brigade, shall honour your request.¡± ¡°I suppose that implies you¡¯re not of the Godvildian race,¡± said Gale. ¡°What are you doing in the Path of Wielders?¡± ¡°You ask what cannot be answered,¡± said Noah. ¡°And yes, you¡¯re in the presence of a race well beyond the mediocrity of the Godvildian kind.¡± ¡°Based on what I had last asked,¡± continued Gale, not minding the remark. ¡°How much are you at liberty to reveal?¡± ¡°Nothing at all.¡± Gale smiled, knowing that it was the answer he had hoped for. Without losing much of his patience, the boy collected his thoughts. To him, the situation resembled no more than a wager. ¡°Information too important for even a man at death¡¯s door,¡± remarked Gale, meeting Noah¡¯s eyes without a hint of fear. ¡°Since you were unable to grant me my final wish, it¡¯s only appropriate for a man as honourable as you are to let me be on my way.¡± Both Gale and Noah remained unaffected by the silence that ensued, and in a situation that would have rattled most. For a moment, the Relictan Lord considered the boy¡¯s reasonably stated proposal, weighing it against his own desire for vengeance. The peace continued, and amidst it, Gale caught sight of an odd shiver from Noah¡¯s armour. The air around the Relictan Lord distorted, spurring an aura to life. It engulfed Noah in his entirety, emanating pressure that defied the laws of gravity. Dirt, grass and pebbles alike rose in response to his strength, answering the call of a force that now held both form and shape. It was unlike anything Gale had ever witnessed, the magnificence of an aura that could put wildfire to shame. ¡°It¡¯s true,¡± said Noah, breaking the silence. ¡°It would be dishonourable of me to slay you given the fact that I could not grant you your dying wish.¡± ¡°I¡¯m glad we¡¯re in agreement,¡± said Gale, shouting over the bellows of Noah¡¯s aura. ¡°And I admire the show of strength, Lord Noah. But would you be kind enough to stop?¡± ¡°I think you¡¯re mistaken, child,¡± said Noah. ¡°It¡¯s unfortunate that I was assigned a mission on this day. And I understand also that you acted in self-defence. But despite all of that, the Relictan race really couldn¡¯t care less about honour. I am going to kill you now.¡± Chapter V | A Name Long Forgotten Gale straightened his sword with a shiver; his body in constant conflict with the force that maintained his calm demeanour. He watched the Relictan kind deliver an axe to their commander, heavy enough that it required five of them to transport. Noah however, faced no such struggle. He wielded his weapon with wild ferocity, readying his body for the battle he had forced upon Gale. It was an odd situation for the boy. He wondered if the others would also partake, a disadvantage he would have rather not had to worry about. With their numbers well over what he had anticipated of the Relictan forces, Gale couldn¡¯t help but smile at the sound of whispers; they emerged from the rustling of leaves and darker ends within shadows, an indication of something uncountable. At that moment, Noah waved his axe to one side?¡ª?a move that muted his subordinates. He walked over to Gale and lowered his head, finding that the boy stood a pale comparison in terms of size alone. ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry,¡± said Noah, reading his opponent¡¯s mind. ¡°They will not interfere.¡± ¡°Generous for a man, who only moments ago, revealed that he couldn¡¯t care less about the idea of honour,¡± remarked Gale. ¡°I suppose I ought to thank you for this.¡± ¡°It isn¡¯t required,¡± said Noah. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t be much of a commander to my people if I couldn¡¯t crush a measly worm by myself.¡± ¡°How very intriguing,¡± said Gale. ¡°I¡¯ll accept that without feeling too bad.¡± As the silence returned, Gale noticed the other Relictan retreat to a safe distance, wary about the fight that was about to unfold. He took in a deep breath as Noah made his first move, bolting forward with the weight of his combat experience. The Relictan Lord was fast, despite his size, and manoeuvred his axe just as swiftly against the boy. While Gale did manage to defend against the first strike, his sword readied, he felt the weight of both his opponent and the weapon he wielded weaken his arms. His feet sunk into the grass as Noah refused to relent. ¡°He¡¯s strong,¡± thought Gale. ¡°Then again, this fight did seem like a tall order to begin with; I need to find an opportunity to escape.¡± Gale stepped through his opponent¡¯s defences when Noah raised his axe once more, a move with a swing wide enough to leave the latter¡¯s body open for attack. The two of them were within close proximity now, enough for the large battle-axe to pose little to no threat. Gale pounced on the presented opportunity without hesitation. Under normal circumstances, the boy may have emerged victorious. But as he accelerated for a thrust aimed to pierce the Relictan Lord¡¯s armour, Noah found the time to drive his knee into the former¡¯s face. Gale crashed onto a tree, flung a significant distance much like a child would a rag doll. Noah followed, ramming the hilt of his weapon against the boy¡¯s throat. With the force of both the battle-axe and his momentum, Noah found the tree crumble to the point of zero resistance from behind Gale. He watched as the boy fell further behind. Noah Oblique walked at a gentle pace toward his opponent, confident that he had emerged the victor between them. He placed his foot atop Gale¡¯s chest and pressed his body deeper into the soil, releasing his hold only to stomp it back into position. The boy¡¯s body remained motionless, and to the Relictan forces that surrounded him?¡ª?barely alive. Gale felt differently. He stretched his fingers, then his toes, and hopped onto his feet at the first open opportunity. His body moved on instinct, away from Noah and to a safe distance. The Relictan forces, including their leader, remained within sight, but Gale had fresher thoughts to address. He assessed both his throat and chest, swinging his sword in the air right after without effort. ¡°Is this normal?¡± wondered Gale. ¡°It appears as though I do not feel any pain.¡± The boy tilted his focus once more, finding his adversaries stunned with bewilderment. He weighed his options?¡ª?a second attempt at battle or the slim chance at escape. Gale chose the latter. His body pivoted to the opposite direction in haste, sprinting away as fast as he could. As he caught speed, however, Gale noticed some stiffness within his limbs. ¡°No pain,¡± repeated Gale. ¡°But the injuries do still hamper my body after a point.¡± A little distance away, Noah snapped back into reality. He slowly leaned forward with his knees bent and locked onto the boy, fierce in his gaze. ¡°Circulus Magia: Fortification,¡± whispered the Relictan Lord, releasing an aura that outlined his body. ¡°Circulus: Accelerate.¡± Noah Oblique launched forward, catching his prey in an instant. Gale found his opponent right by his side and responded with an attack of his own. His sword crashed against Noah¡¯s armour, only to recoil with an unnatural amount of force. With the momentum against him, Gale found the battle-axe ripping through his skin. He frowned at the sight, parrying to minimize the damage. It was a failed attempt, and if anything, Gale realized then that escape was no longer an option worth considering. Again he felt no pain, but the wound at the side of his abdomen remained, as did the warmth of fresh blood. ¡°Speed beyond what he had shown previously and armour that deflects attacks with significant force,¡± said Gale after a quick evaluation. ¡°A wielder that can use magic?¡± ¡°Magic is an inaccurate word, boy,¡± said Noah. ¡°Elementalists, they¡¯re as close as we can get to magic.¡± ¡°So, what do us wielders get?¡± ¡°Not much,¡± admitted Noah with a shrug. ¡°In time, depending on experience and ability, we become excellent foot soldiers, some even comparable to the strongest of Elementalists. But we did get creative over time.¡± ¡°As a fellow wielder, consider me intrigued.¡±If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. ¡°Since I couldn¡¯t grant you your former request,¡± said Noah. ¡°I suppose this will have to do.¡± ¡°I can accept that,¡± said Gale. ¡°As far as I know, there are two ways a wielder could become stronger than even their element controlling counterparts,¡± revealed Noah. ¡°Enhancement Alchemy or Combat Arts. I used the former to improve both my speed and the armour¡¯s durability.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a valuable insight,¡± said Gale. ¡°And what of the latter?¡± Noah laughed aloud, amused at how the boy had managed to turn their battle to the death into an education. He met the boy¡¯s gaze and smiled in secret, face hidden behind helmet. Despite the overwhelming odds, Gale did not present the demeanour of an all but defeated enemy. From it, Noah felt an emotion he had long forgotten?¡ª?respect. He stood upright, the aura returning, controlled but fiercer than it ever was. The Relictan Lord prayed in silence, confident that his next attack would end everything. He swung his axe from a distance, sharply exhaling as he did. A blast of energy ripped through the ground, destroying everything in its wake. Gale¡¯s eyes widened with surprise; he held his sword up in defence and stood his ground against the attack. When the two collided, the runic scriptures from the sword glowed without consent from its master, allowing a thin forcefield to form and protect the boy. But even the shield slowly cracked, under pressure from a force that threatened to devour Gale whole. And it did. Gale watched the light engulf him, tearing through his skin. It was hot enough to burn, and in that moment, the boy realized just how numb he had become to even the idea of pain. His resilience urged him to regain the stance he had formerly assumed; the energy still far too powerful for him to handle. He didn¡¯t have much time, and the stench of burnt flesh?¡ª?his own?¡ª?and fresh blood served only to remind him of the same. With whatever he could muster, the boy swung much like his adversary did previously, cutting through the energy. It countered everything Noah had put behind the attack, but only barely. Gale smiled, uncertain about how he had overcome the situation. He sighed nonetheless, aware that he could now do nothing more than stay on his feet. At a distance, the Relictan Lord stood amazed. It was not an outcome he had anticipated. He was quick to recover however, bearing in mind the mission he had set out to complete. Noah slowly approached his adversary, and Gale watched as he did. ¡°What of the latter, you asked,¡± reminded Noah. ¡°The last attack; that was Combat Arts. Are you pleased with the results?¡± ¡°Impressed, actually,¡± admitted Gale. ¡°Though, I would have preferred living through this encounter, so we may have had the chance to battle once more.¡± ¡°You stand with the Godvildian,¡± said Noah. ¡°I would rather you not see your potential fulfilled.¡± After a pause, he added, ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°Very well.¡± Gale dropped his arms, now devoid of even his last reserves. He lowered his head, unable to muster the will to stare death in the face. Noah was at arm¡¯s length. He raised his battle-axe; it was the end?¡ª?in both their minds. As the weapon fell to execute the boy, Noah felt a certain strangeness. It rattled his spine. The nervousness spread as a virus would, infecting the minds of every Relictan soldier. Everything happened in a matter of seconds, and despite his awareness, Noah could not stop his swing. The axe fell, but without effect. It stood halted by bare hands alone, the boy¡¯s. The Relictan Lord felt an energy, gentle in its nature, spur to life from within Gale. It was different. Amidst the confusion, Noah had failed to realize that his weapon had begun to corrode from where Gale held it. He jumped back to a safe distance, wary of the situation. Gale raised his head, eyes lifeless, and merely swung his blade against the wind, generating enough force to obliterate Noah¡¯s axe, in its entirety. ¡°This child; such a weak body,¡± said Gale in a voice different from his own. ¡°Why do you wish to kill him?¡± ¡°You¡¯re different,¡± said Noah, understanding that he had been addressed. ¡°What are you?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not an answer,¡± said Gale matter-of-factly. ¡°Activate Sequence: Corrosion.¡± As the words escaped, the earth rippled with foreign energy. Noah watched life shrivel beneath his feet, from the grass that browned to the earth that cracked with dryness. Moments later, the spell threatened to destroy the Relictan Lord?¡ª?armour and flesh alike, bypassing Noah¡¯s fortification type alchemy even. Relictan soldiers in the vicinity fell one after the other, the corrosive force devastating in its effects. Organs turned to dust, and blood to poison, all until nothing remained. It was a frightening display of power and cruelty, one that even Noah was forced to acknowledge as he now stood without armour. ¡°I had adjusted the potency, and yet only you stand alive,¡± said Gale, puzzled at the outcome. ¡°Were your soldiers weak?¡± ¡°What kind of a question is that?¡± stammered Noah. ¡°It¡¯s not like you would have spared us all anyway.¡± ¡°My duty is to protect the boy that inhabits this body, and while your lives are insignificant to me, I didn¡¯t particularly feel the need to expend more energy than is necessary to conclude the situation at hand.¡± ¡°You failed in that endeavour then,¡± said Noah, frustrated at his incompetence as a commander. ¡°Everyone is dead, spare I.¡± ¡°I will be on my way then,¡± said Gale, bowing respectfully. ¡°Though, it is a mystery as to why you even bothered to avenge such, what did you call it? Measly worms. Unfortunate that the boy had to pass through this forest the same day as your mission.¡± It was an insult Noah would have ignored under normal circumstances, but as the boy walked away, something triggered within him. He held onto every breath he could, fearing that the next would be his last. With neither weapon nor protection, the Relictan Lord sprinted. He leapt as he caught speed, his dominant arm ready to strike. Gale halted his steps and turned around, in time to see the fist drive through the winds in his direction. It struck his chest with the weight of everything Noah had to offer, sending shockwaves loud enough to stir the forest out of silence. But not enough to move the boy from where he stood. Noah clenched his teeth, truly frightened of the monster he had awakened. ¡°Impossible,¡± said Noah, barely a whisper. ¡°What are you?¡± Gale swung his blade in retaliation, severing the defeated commander¡¯s head. The body lifelessly slumped to his feet, devoid of the pride and strength it once carried. Gale eyed the product of his victory without thought, blood staining his boots. He needed a change of clothes, at least that¡¯s all he could think about at the time. ¡°I¡¯m not sure about what I am,¡± said Gale. ¡°But I suppose it¡¯s reasonable to call me by the name I now hold?¡± He frowned, mildly irritated, realizing that this was something he ought to have done before decapitating Noah¡¯s head. But remembering that it was a question he had asked right before death, Gale felt compelled to answer. ¡°Bane.¡± Chapter VI | The Beginnings of War
Lightning struck the holy soil of Sol Sanctum, a place of invaluable history and wisdom. For generations, the place served to train and protect the greatest of healers, some even legendary. But that wasn¡¯t all that made the sanctuary an important place for the Godvildian kind. Aaron and Magellan emerged from the risen soil and dust, at the foot of a stairway that withstood wars and disasters alike. They climbed, pillars on either side, until the summit to reach a dais that seemed to remain afloat without any form of physical support. There, they spotted the first of their many guards stationed at Sol Sanctum, dead. With rage-fuelled blood pumping through his veins, Aaron struggled to maintain a calm exterior. He dismissed Magellan from his side, who quickly set out to investigate the area. The dwarven warrior returned, enraged just the same, and shook his head in disgust. ¡°Not one survivor even?¡± said Aaron. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect them to make such a move.¡± ¡°It makes little sense,¡± said Magellan. ¡°Based on our previous reports, they don¡¯t yet hold the power to face us in war.¡± ¡°The Noxun race have never been much for reason,¡± said Aaron. ¡°Then again, the reports could have just as easily been falsified.¡± A little further into the sanctum, they stopped dead in their tracks, several cloaked soldiers ahead of them. They had little to fear, however; after all, the dead could do no harm. Aaron curiously assessed one of the bodies, finding it shredded. Blood and flesh scattered, it appeared as though the invaders had been tortured before death, and severely so. ¡°Lord Aaron,¡± called Magellan from a distance. ¡°Look at this.¡± It was something shaped along the lines of a crescent moon, seared into the flesh of the enemy. They appeared on all the soldiers, only their location differing from body to body. ¡°So, he¡¯s returned,¡± said Aaron. ¡°How long has it been, General?¡± ¡°Close to three hundred years maybe, my lord,¡± said Magellan. ¡°Pardon me for saying so, but many of us had assumed him dead.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think there¡¯s anyone in our realm capable of such a feat,¡± said Aaron. ¡°That would probably include me also.¡± ¡°At least he took care of the mess.¡± The two Godvildian soldiers traveled further still, reaching large doors etched with words beyond comprehension. As a child, Aaron was taught it to be the language of the gods. Only the healers at Sol Sanctum understood it. Magellan stepped forward, hopeful that they would find survivors. He unsheathed a knife tucked inside the cloth around his waist and slit the face of his palm, swiping the blood against the floor. He pulled away and squeezed his fist, dropping more upon the haloed grounds of Sol Sanctum. Magic from the old lore took over; the blood boiled to the point of bubbling and slowly flowed into the words that occupied the door. A small click later, the doors opened much like anything aged would?¡ª?noisily and at a slow pace. Magellan searched the dusty darkness from the outside, Aaron merely a step behind, wary that it was forbidden for a warrior to cross the threshold. But they smiled together when the healers appeared, one after the other. Aaron took charge to meet an old man with a red turban, differently attired from the other modestly dressed men. He knelt and took the man¡¯s hand, pressing it against his forehead. The old healer from Sol Sanctum cleared his throat and blessed the two soldiers that had rescued them all. Aaron remained nervous still, and understandably so. Among all the Healers, the turbaned man reigned supreme, a prophet. ¡°We predicted the arrival of the light after shadows,¡± said the old man. ¡°Thank you for your service to Sol Sanctum and all of the Transitional World.¡± ¡°Great Healer Vetus, I apologize and take full responsibility for the invasion,¡± said Aaron. ¡°The soldiers stationed here, they were part of my army.¡± ¡°We are all safe, are we not?¡± said Vetus with a gentle smile. ¡°Let this merely be an opportunity for you to learn and grow from your mistakes.¡±You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. ¡°Thank you for your kindness, Great Healer,¡± said Aaron. ¡°But I must apologize once more; I require that you debrief me about the attack right away.¡± ¡°I understand,¡± said Vetus, clearing his throat. ¡°You¡¯re not too far from the truth if you believe the Noxun behind this attack. But a majority of the force here today were Relictan.¡± ¡°Relictan?¡± repeated Aaron, sounding a little surprised. ¡°That should not have been the case; we signed a treaty of peace with the seven lords that reigns over the Relictan kind.¡± Vetus coughed once more, visibly in discomfort. Aaron and Magellan waited patiently while one of Sol Sanctum¡¯s healers rushed away to fetch some water. The Great Healer, Vetus, slowly sipped from the cup, clearing his throat as he did. He returned the cup to his follower, thanked him, and turned his attention to the sky. His eyes lost colour, turning pale and then a shade of blue. Minutes passed, but the healer remained motionless. In a wait that seemed like an eternity, Aaron sighed in relief when Vetus¡¯ gaze returned to match his own. ¡°Seven, you said?¡± asked Vetus with a smile. ¡°I only see six lords.¡± ¡°Strange,¡± thought Aaron. Aloud he said, ¡°Did one of them choose to honour the treaty signed?¡± ¡°No,¡± said Vetus, shaking his head. ¡°All seven of them had allied with the Noxun, but one of them?¡ª?Noah Oblique?¡ª?fell in battle today.¡± ...
Wraith Woods was a strange existence in the World of Transition. While much of the realm thrived with life and energy, the forest stood morbid and without joy. Clouds often kept the sun from the soil, offering little rain in return. The crows cawed, scavenging upon death from trees just as lifeless, while the owls hooted every time Terra Fortress lit from within. The castle marked the Relictan stronghold and remained free from Godvildian rules, such were the terms of the treaty. But recent actions now ensured that the protection would last no longer. The lords had known of the risks and the eventuality of attracting unwanted attention from some of their strongest enemies. It was only natural of them to fear the Godvildian, a race that had survived a history of gruesome bloodshed since the olden times. The winds pressed against locked windows, and the lords seated at the round table rested their eyes one after the other upon a chair left unoccupied. Their leader, the Great Lord, settled into comfort, toying with his drink, and visibly annoyed. ¡°Explain this in terms that I can fully comprehend,¡± he said, raising an eyebrow. ¡°Why is Noah dead?¡± ¡°Reports suggest that he ran into one of the Godvildian recruits, fresh from the other world,¡± one of them said without a hint of remorse. ¡°Reports from our spies say that his name is Gale.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve never heard the name,¡± said another, feminine in tonality. ¡°I would love to gobble him up entirely for doing so, however!¡± ¡°Be careful what you wish for, Jacquelyn,¡± warned the Great Lord. ¡°Noah was a third-tier wielder and his loss affects us significantly.¡± ¡°But it was the Path of Wielders, Caesar,¡± said Jacquelyn. ¡°How strong can someone new from the other world be?¡± ¡°Was anyone else involved during this battle, someone our spies may have missed, perhaps?¡± ¡°The reports are good.¡± ¡°Then it¡¯s best we investigate this Gale person,¡± said Caesar with a sigh. He paused, tapping his fingers against the stone-cut table. ¡°What about our raid at Sol Sanctum?¡± ¡°Unsuccessful,¡± said Jacquelyn, shaking her head. ¡°They were annihilated altogether; Aaron and Magellan stand there presently.¡± Caesar slipped out of the comfort of his chair and ambled towards the window. He tightened his grip over the brass cup that held his drink, listening to every little thing Wraith Woods had to offer. The sounds, they often soothed him during times of distress. ¡°We have been asked to deploy a thousand soldiers to the Bridge of Souls,¡± informed Caesar. ¡°It wouldn¡¯t look good to show weakness at a time like this.¡± ¡°These are scenarios we¡¯ve long been wary of,¡± said Jacquelyn. ¡°They¡¯ll be ready.¡± ¡°Before you head out though, I¡¯d like to ask about our forces at Sol Sanctum,¡± said Caesar. ¡°It simply wasn¡¯t possible for Aaron to have reached there in time.¡± Jacquelyn gulped, masking both fear and excitement. Whispers had already spread to the lords, and Caesar may have come to know of the answer first even. But he needed to hear it from her mouth, and she respected that side of him. ¡°It was the Shadow of Suntaria,¡± said Jacquelyn. ¡°His last sighting was close to three hundred years ago, but it appears that he¡¯s back.¡± ¡°And he¡¯s coming for us all.¡± Caesar turned away, dispersing his lords. The war, it had only just begun.
Chapter VII | More Questions Answered When it came to mythical herbs in the World of Transition, some burned with more ferocity than the rest. With the rarer kind, all it required was a flame within inches of its surface. In a well-sized room, and atop a table at the centre, sat a wooden bowl. The vapours carried with it a pleasant aroma and a certain kind of magic. These herbs were the healing kind, powerful enough to manage even the direst of physical injuries. An old man spread the vapours with his hand, his sapphire eyes wizened with time. He wore a long white beard and a moustache shorter in length. With a black kimono attired over a faded, white undergarment, it would have been easy for people from the other world to have mistaken him as Japanese. His features certainly attested to it. In time, he had managed to heal almost every injury that Gale had suffered in battle. It was a recipe that took nearly a thousand years to master. When the boy awakened, he met a pair of gentle eyes in a man kind enough to help him sit upright. Gale remembered little from his battle against Noah Oblique, the Relictan Lord that had beaten him to the point of near death. He rubbed his eyes, and slowly observed the man that now stood before him, frail in appearance but with a certain quality of strength. ¡°I am Zane Morgul,¡± said the man, introducing himself with a heavy voice. He pointed at Gale¡¯s sword, placed in another corner of the room, sheathed in a scabbard of fine make. ¡°It¡¯s dangerous to walk around with a sword unsheathed at all times; I took the liberty to forge a scabbard befitting Bane.¡± The name retrieved some of the boy¡¯s memories, especially the decapitation. Then again, not one of the Relictan soldiers had survived to begin with. He looked at his hands; they were clean, and yet, the stench of blood persisted. ¡°You called my sword by a name,¡± said Gale curiously. ¡°How did you come to know of it?¡± ¡°I have seen it pass hands many times, having lived as long as I have,¡± said Zane. ¡°You¡¯re a better fit than most.¡± ¡°I see,¡± said Gale, slow with his words. ¡°Thank you for the scabbard.¡± ¡°I found you unconscious not far from the Relictan soldiers you had encountered,¡± said Zane. ¡°It was not meant to happen, not within the Path of Wielders.¡± Zane poured his visitor a cup of green tea. He served it alongside a plate of steamed buns; something Gale hadn¡¯t encountered throughout his life in the other world. When the latter bit into it, a sweet flavour burst into existence, heightening its taste. Gale¡¯s palate urged for more, and in that moment, the boy realized just how hungry he had been. He smiled, finding the tea just as exquisite in taste. ¡°Thank you,¡± said Gale. ¡°This was a good meal.¡± ¡°It¡¯s the least an old man can do,¡± said Zane. ¡°Think nothing of it.¡± As Zane cleared the table, Gale investigated the place that currently sheltered him. With shelved swords, lances, and shields of different type and origin, it looked more like a shop that the old man¡¯s home. When Zane returned to take a seat opposite the boy, nervous energy overcame the latter. ¡°It may be rude of me to be so direct,¡± started Gale. ¡°But I have some questions.¡± ¡°Anyone who ever visits this place for the first time always does,¡± said Zane. ¡°I¡¯ll try my best to answer them.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll order them in terms of importance then,¡± said Gale with a nod. ¡°First, is it normal for the Godvildian kind to not feel emotions of any kind?¡± Zane eyed the boy with some curiosity; it was not a question he had expected. The old man stroked his beard and assessed the boy for everything he was worth. He made a mental note to discuss the matter with Aaron later. ¡°No,¡± said Zane. ¡°As a Godvildian myself, I do feel different emotions. Everyone in this world does.¡± ¡°Intriguing,¡± said Gale. ¡°Then, are there other races in this world similar to what I just described?¡±This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. Zane shook his head, affirming much of what Gale had suspected to begin with. It was a change that first began after his passing in the other world, his old one. In fact, it was probably the last time he had felt free enough to feel whatever it was his emotions demanded of him. He stared at his hands once more and noticed a mild tremble, wondering if his death had cost him his humanity also. ¡°And there is this odd thing I¡¯ve noticed, about my getting stronger through battle,¡± said Gale. ¡°Does this have something to do with Ehedus?¡± ¡°This realm maintains its balance by the presence of two warring gods,¡± said Zane. ¡°That doesn¡¯t necessarily mean that they are at war against each other. They derive their power from bloodshed and bless those that use their abilities in combat with greater strength.¡± ¡°I¡¯d like you to expand upon that explanation.¡± ¡°You do know your questions, boy,¡± said Zane with a chuckle. ¡°Mioverold, as this world was once called, formerly housed several races?¡ª?some more powerful than the rest. What you see today would pale in comparison, and there are but three great races that call it home now.¡± ¡°Godvildian, Relictan, and?¡± asked Gale, following up on his own suggestion. ¡°The Noxun, worshipers of Bah?, a fierce kind with ideologies that we could never fully understand,¡± revealed Zane. ¡°You¡¯re right about the other two, and the Relictan, well, they are different.¡± ¡°How so?¡± said Gale, accepting a second cup of tea. ¡°It started with the Lords,¡± explained Zane. ¡°Unlike the Godvildian or Noxun, the Relictan kind had several warriors that worshiped both Ehedus and Bah?. But they weren¡¯t rewarded as kindly as we were. It eventually forced them to resort to something else altogether, something not very peaceful.¡± ¡°And that is?¡± Zane raised an eyebrow, uncertain about the words that would follow. He had often restricted his explanations with those new to the World of Transitions. The silence grew to foster an odd sense of unease, but the boy refused to relent in his pursuit of information. ¡°Cannibalism,¡± said Zane, morbid in his expression. ¡°They are known to eat defeated warriors; it helped them become stronger by means of theft. A treaty was signed after Godvildian interference; Noah¡¯s appearance in the Path of Wielders, it could be interpreted as their unwillingness to stand by what was agreed upon.¡± ¡°I suppose that¡¯s useful knowledge.¡± Zane almost responded but caught something that held his tongue instead. Information about the Relictan soldiers, it was a revelation that would have startled most, and yet the boy sat untroubled. ¡°Say, do you have any other questions?¡± said Zane. ¡°I have a feeling we might be a little short on time.¡± ¡°For some reason, that seems to be happening rather frequently,¡± said Gale, laughing aloud. ¡°Just one more then, who is Bane?¡± ¡°I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t say much,¡± admitted Zane. ¡°Little is known about him, but the short description would define him as a spirit residing within the confines of your blade. Historians believe him to have been a powerful wielder from the olden times.¡± ¡°Is there anyone else who can help with more?¡± Zane shook his head and noticed immediately that the answer had disappointed the boy. He quickly broke into a smile in an effort to comfort Gale. ¡°You needn¡¯t worry,¡± encouraged Zane. ¡°In time, the sword will tell you its story.¡± While the conversation held promise of continuation, the sound of their teacups rattling against the table put it to an abrupt end. A violent rush of wind intrusively upset what was inside, and as the boy rose in preparation of what was to come, Zane raised his hand in protest. The latter directed the boy¡¯s attention to the door, where two men stood, lightning and thunder behind them. ¡°I¡¯m sorry about doing this without warning, Gale,¡± said Zane. ¡°But your questions about yourself, they are best answered with experimentation. I believe that it was the case in your battle against Noah also.¡± Despite the confusion, Gale could not help but agree with the insight. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen a wielder fresh from the other world stand toe-to-toe against a Relictan Lord, let alone stand the victor,¡± continued Zane. ¡°You could say that there are questions around you we would like answered ourselves.¡± ¡°And your impatience led to the idea of using me as a guinea pig,¡± said Gale without feeling. ¡°Just tell me one thing, did I come here at a bad time?¡± ¡°I¡¯m afraid so,¡± said Zane. ¡°But trust me when I say that doing it this way was not our intention; it¡¯s the quickest way to understand if your potential stands to aid us in what¡¯s to come.¡± Gale stood upright, strapping the sword that had come to become an extension of his body. He walked past the threshold, two men on either side, and looked back at the man that had rescued him. ¡°I never had a chance to ask,¡± said Gale from a distance. ¡°Who are you?¡± ¡°Just an ordinary blacksmith,¡± said Zane with a smile. ¡°Someone who hopes to see you again soon enough.¡± Chapter VIII | Wheels of War
After an expensive victory that left the Godvildian forces with only five of their ninety-five soldiers, Akshay Bahrain sat atop his self-constructed throne bubbling with frustration. His eyes scanned what was left of his camp?¡ª?tents unoccupied and soldiers worn with fear, deathly pale. It was their first march as soldiers for the Godvildian race, training merely. ¡°An ambush within our borders,¡± said Akshay with some concern. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect the Relictan to so boldly shatter the treaty in place.¡± He lit his pipe and opened a gourd of wine in isolated celebration. Not one of his men felt the need to join him save one, a trusted general. Akshay was an exceptional presence in the World of Transition, wearing clothes befitting a nobleman?¡ª?a shield stitched onto his right sleeve. He carried himself with an air of grandeur and the Godvildian kind loved him for it; after all, he was a man of legend. Despite everything, he had just defeated an army two-thousand-strong. Such was his brilliance; a man of unbeaten calibre. Akshay Bahrain was the Godvildian kind¡¯s greatest, most decorated tactician. He adjusted his thinly-rimmed spectacles and viewed the rocky, dessert-like plains that had aided him in his victory today, masking a faint smile. ¡°Care for a celebratory drink, General?¡± asked Akshay, offering his gourd to the man beside him. ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯re of the same mind as me.¡± ¡°There is pleasure in victory, my lord,¡± the man said, accepting the drink. ¡°Regardless of the loss that comes with it; this is what keeps us steady in our will to protect what¡¯s behind us.¡± ¡°The survivors today will only become greater in the future, Aayush,¡± said Akshay. ¡°Some of them might even have lives as long as ours.¡± Aayush Khanna was his lord¡¯s opposite, a man with an athletic constitution and armour that bore the mark of a shield. To outsiders, Aayush and Akshay may have looked akin to friends more than commander and subordinate. It was a common sight among those that served under Lord Bahrain, a plump man with a friendly and kind approach to leadership. ¡°I have often wondered, my lord,¡± said Aayush, returning the gourd. ¡°Is it really right for us to have lived as long as we have?¡± ¡°People have called me a master in the art of warfare; they call me undefeated as a commander,¡± said Akshay. ¡°Little do they understand the price that comes with the title. I have seen many soldiers and generals perish under my command, loyal to a fault. I understand what you mean; they deserved it more?¡ª?a life of peace.¡± Aayush simply smiled, knowing that there was nothing more he could add. He had seen his fair share of war and the passing of several comrades with it. But just as his thoughts delved into deeper nostalgia, the sound of something from the sky alerted him. He raised his head to find a white-breasted hawk approach, a message with it. ¡°Easy there, Sofia,¡± said Aayush, holding out his arm for the bird to rest on. ¡°I wonder what this is all about.¡± General Khanna scanned the parchment¡¯s contents with haste, and then once more before handing the message over to his lord. He waited in silence and followed when Akshay stepped out from the comfort of his chair. ¡°Gather around!¡± commanded Aayush. ¡°Lord Bahrain wishes to relay a message.¡± The audience approached, meagre in number and disheartened still from the ambush. Their inexperience showed, both in form and spirit. ¡°Disgusting,¡± said Akshay, alerting his soldiers in an instant. ¡°You stand atop a mountain of corpses, those of your fallen comrades; is this the face you honour them with?¡± Lord Bahrain raised his voice with every word, passionate in his address. He frowned when his voice failed to spur a response, his soldiers dull still.Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. ¡°You are all I¡¯ve got presently,¡± Akshay slowly said. ¡°You were all I had when the enemy ambushed us, two-thousand strong. An onlooker could have been pardoned for assuming them the victor.¡± ¡°And yet here we stand,¡± said Aayush, sounding genuinely proud. ¡°You lot fought like veteran soldiers for a bunch of children.¡± The five soldiers shifted uneasily, looking amongst each other for an answer. A little life returned to their eyes, but not enough to engage in conversation. ¡°It may be difficult to remember,¡± said Akshay. ¡°But the spirit of your comrades, they stay with you. The blood you shed in battle, it weaves a bond stronger than even the familial kind. It¡¯s how we keep moving forward; a silent promise to those that have fallen so we may live on in their stead, for them.¡± ¡°We¡¯re sure you wouldn¡¯t understand it just yet,¡± added Aayush. ¡°But to walk the path of a coward given the loss we dealt with today, it¡¯s a disservice to them.¡± Words did not follow, and Akshay held his breath in eager anticipation. He had seen dejected men fall victim to weakness before, rarely did they ever arise to grasp onto the concept of strength. Akshay felt differently about his soldiers. In a different scenario, he may have even given them more time to recuperate. But the message delivered to him by Sofia allowed no such liberty. It was a ticking clock, and the Godvildian Lord needed his soldiers. ¡°You¡¯re right,¡± one of the soldiers said, weakly. ¡°We can¡¯t stop, not now.¡± Akshay watched his men lower their heads, fists clenched. They stood restless, disappointed at the thought of having failed their lord. In silent agreement, they looked to each other for support. These were bonds forged in the thick of battle, strengthened further by emotions of hatred and respect. ¡°We are yours to command, my lord,¡± they said in unison as they knelt in apology to the mark they chose to serve. ¡°We plead that you punish us for our incompetence; whatever you may deem appropriate.¡± ¡°Put those thoughts aside,¡± said Akshay, exchanging a smile with his general. ¡°There¡¯s no time for that. We are to prepare for battle, and should any of you wish to leave, I suppose now is as good a time as any.¡± ¡°We stand loyal,¡± they said, stronger in their desire to make amends. Akshay laughed aloud, wary that the odds were not in his favour. It didn¡¯t matter. He thought back to a time when death frightened him, perhaps it still did. Thousands of years alive, hundreds of battles won, millions of lives lost, and Akshay stood as is?¡ª?experienced and with power unrivaled. ¡°Then we march to the Bridge of Souls,¡± said Akshay. ¡°It¡¯s going to be a hard journey, but I¡¯m sure we¡¯re more than capable of handling it.¡± That¡¯s right. It didn¡¯t matter. Akshay Bahrain did rank as one of the three, after all. ¡ª Oblivious to the abnormalities of the outside world, the town of Little Guard celebrated. Balloons decorated the skies and the townspeople danced underneath it to merry music from street performers. Raego stood at the centre of all the attention, a General under Aaron Heart¡¯s command. He didn¡¯t expect it, to be treated as an iconic figure?¡ª?a hero, even. A little distance away, the bell from Little Guard¡¯s central tower rang, its sound echoing throughout the city. And atop the magnificent structure of finely chiselled stone, stood another figure?¡ª?mysterious in his aura. Dressed in nothing but dark clothes, his focus remained more toward the town¡¯s roadways and architecture. ¡°I see no more than four paths,¡± he whispered. ¡°Perhaps one more?¡± His breathing slowly synchronized to the clangs of the bell, isolating his mind from every other sound the town had to offer. Little Guard had vanished with nothing more than the bell to signify its existence. A gentle breeze forced his hood off, revealing a pair of crimson eyes that may have intimidated even the fiercest of warriors. As Raego walked amongst the crowd, the man atop Little Guard¡¯s central tower stepped ahead?¡ª?only his heels on solid foundation. At the right distance, the latter slipped off from the edge in a single fluid motion that maintained his posture. Halfway through, the man dematerialized, only to appear once more amongst the crowd. He flowed through the people, manoeuvring his every move, never colliding. It was to his advantage that Raego chose to walk with his people and not ride the palanquin. Not one citizen noticed the man, cloaked and hidden. Within striking distance, the events that followed lasted mere seconds?¡ª?from a hidden knife that slipped onto his hand to him throwing it at Raego¡¯s neck. Aaron¡¯s General died before having even dropped to his knees. And as the crowd helplessly rushed to his aid after a moment of shock, the assassin moved away. He slipped through torrents of people from the opposite direction, disappearing entirely. From one of the routes he had identified, the man later appeared in a dark alley to meet with someone else. ¡°It is done,¡± he said without emotion. ¡°You¡¯ve served me well always, Vincent,¡± praised his employer. ¡°I must leave now, but you will hear from me soon.¡±
Chapter IX | Odds for Victory
Numbness. That was all Gale felt as his body touched the ground, charred black from the heat. It reminded him of his first encounter with General Magellan. He looked around and noticed nothing impressive, barren lands as far as the eye could stretch. But there was more to the location that just its appearance. It held a presence that far superseded what he had ever felt in the World of Transition. As he stood upright, easing the stiffness from his limbs, a gentle light floated by him. It moved away in haste. Another followed, and then hundreds more. Some lingered to observe the boy, others remained steadfast in their mythical desire to push ahead. Gale touched one that had chosen to stay, causing it to radiate a blinding light. In time, it took the shape of woman, smiling down on him. Tears devoid of any emotion welled in the boy¡¯s eyes. The phenomena confused him, more so because of his inherent ability to remain of sound mind and unfeeling in the world. He took a soft step toward the woman that had appeared before him, but the shape would not hold. Farther still, Gale could slowly identify something that resembled a bridge. ¡°I would avoid that if I were you,¡± a voice said, one of Gale¡¯s aides. ¡°These lights, they are soul-fires making their way to Aeterna.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll have to be more specific that that, Sebastian,¡± said Gale. ¡°I¡¯m new, if you remember.¡± ¡°When life ends, the body returns to the earth, but the souls return to Aeterna,¡± explained Sebastian, as briefly as he could. ¡°It¡¯s the source for all power in our world. When Ehedus blesses you, your body becomes able to access more from the Aeterna.¡± Gale turned away to reassess his surroundings once more, finding that they were in the presence of an innumerable amount of soul-fires. Every single one of them gravitated toward the bridge, beautiful in their effort. ¡°And yes, about not touching them,¡± said Sebastian. ¡°These souls are pure, holding neither will nor intelligence. You probably witnessed her life from birth to death, even the circumstances of it. Looking at your tears, it must have been a sad one.¡± ¡°But I don¡¯t recall what she showed me,¡± said Gale. ¡°This isn¡¯t something I fully understand,¡± said Sebastian. ¡°But I think it¡¯s more appropriate to say that you feel their life, and the emotions they went through.¡± ¡°And I¡¯m sure you have questions about that black patch as well,¡± said the other of the two guides. ¡°It is something us Lightning Elementalists deal with. Our abilities let us travel faster than most, but the energy output scorches the earth every now and then.¡± ¡°I guessed as much,¡± said Gale, nodding his head. ¡°Thank you.¡± In the brief exchange, Gale understood what Zane had meant by learning from experience. As vast as the World of Transition was, it would have been impossible to understand from an ordinary session of question and answers. He followed his aides, the mark of the shield on both their armours, to a large campsite. Past the barricade, the boy observed soldiers?¡ª?some seasoned, others frightened. They reached a beautifully designed seat, atop which sat a man Gale found difficult to gauge. ¡°Well met, Gale,¡± said Akshay. ¡°I sent a request for aid across several allies nearby. You come here highly recommended from Zane Morgul himself.¡± ¡°Gale, this is Lord Akshay Bahrain,¡± introduced Sebastian. ¡°He holds the highest rank in the Godvildian military.¡± ¡°One of the three?¡± asked Gale with a smile. ¡°If I remember correctly, Aaron Heart stands your equal.¡± ¡°You keep yourself well informed for someone who¡¯s been here for a month at most,¡± praised the Godvildian Lord. ¡°And from what I hear, you defeated Noah Oblique even.¡± Akshay made sure to say that out loud, enough to alert almost everyone in the vicinity. Gale found himself surrounded by curious soldiers, some of whom eyed him cautiously. He noticed a strange sense of fear from the crowd, and perhaps a little disbelief. ¡°That is true,¡± admitted Gale. ¡°Does it affect the way I¡¯ll be treated here?¡± Lord Bahrain met the boy¡¯s gaze without hesitation, noticing an oddly unrelenting will within them. It echoed years of battle experience, something that under normal circumstances would not have been possible. He remembered what both Aaron and Zane had mentioned regarding the boy, about him being different, even by the standards of those that visit the World of Transition. ¡°Nothing of the sort,¡± said Akshay, waving his hand. ¡°I¡¯m just honoured to have you here.¡± Watching their leader embrace Gale, the other soldiers eased from their stance of caution. As they walked away, the tension that so thickly clouded the air dissipated. Akshay gestured for his guest to follow, and the two of them strolled to the other end of the campsite. They stopped at the foot of a bridge, the very same that Gale had identified first upon his arrival. The valley in between held nothing but darkness, and it was harder to breathe for those unaccustomed to the atmosphere. Slowly, the soul-fires gathered, hovering around Gale, with some even moving through his physical body. But unlike last time, the boy remained unfazed. Akshay watched as Gale interacted with the subjects of Aeterna, a rare sight. ¡°It looks like you¡¯re built for this world,¡± said Akshay. ¡°Are you able to speak with them?¡± ¡°No,¡± clarified Gale. ¡°It¡¯s just as Sebastian had mentioned, you only feel their every emotion through life.¡± ¡°Soul-fires are driven to tell their stories before they reunite with the Aeterna,¡± revealed Akshay. ¡°Most of us avoid them because of how heavily it affects us. You, on the other hand, you don¡¯t seem too bothered by it.¡± ¡°I seem to have lost my humanity,¡± explained Gale, looking down at his feet. ¡°This world, it disallows me to feel anything of any sort.¡±Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. Akshay raised an eyebrow, curious at the boy¡¯s choice of words. Not that it was untrue. He brushed the thought aside, knowing that it was a matter for another time. Instead, the Godvildian Lord pointed to the other end of the bridge. Gale obliged but could see little with the mist that obscured much of the path. ¡°You¡¯ll need to focus,¡± said Akshay. ¡°This is something you must see.¡± At the time, the mist thinned?¡ª?if only for a moment?¡ª?almost as if in encouragement from the Godvildian Lord. Gale strained his eyes for a better view, finding what was intended. Camouflaged in darkness, the boy spotted something black, humanoid in shape, and mounted atop what appeared to be the skeletal frame of a horse. As the mist cleared, Gale gulped at the sight of an almost innumerable force on the other end of the bridge. ¡°Lord Bahrain, if I may ask,¡± Gale slowly said. ¡°How many soldiers do we have at camp right now?¡± ¡°Everyone who could, spared as many men as they could,¡± said Akshay with a smile. ¡°But if you want me to put a number to it, I¡¯d say?¡ª?roughly one hundred. Reinforcements are on their way, but I wouldn¡¯t be too optimistic about how much time the enemy¡¯s willing to give us.¡± ¡°And how many on their end?¡± ¡°Four thousand, easy.¡±
--- Akshay stood in silent isolation, his general at a distance behind him. Under the guidance of moonlight, the Godvildian Lord viewed their nemesis. He trembled in eager anticipation of the battle. It¡¯s what made him as great as he was, an earnest desire to walk away from the precipice of death time and time again. He felt incongruent about those thoughts, but despite the guilt that came from it, he couldn¡¯t help but admit his addiction to victory. ¡°Are you becoming battle-hungry, my lord?¡± asked Aayush. ¡°You¡¯ll only feel guilty later.¡± ¡°I have reached as far as I have, to become one of the three, by forgetting what it feels to treat your soldiers as living beings,¡± said Akshay. ¡°I love my soldiers, but I¡¯d sooner run them to their demise than fail in my duty to protect the helpless that stand behind us.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve never met a man quite like you, someone who both hates and loves war,¡± said Aayush. ¡°But that¡¯s what many of us are drawn to, and it¡¯s why we bear the shield.¡± As the conversation settled into silence, the two men noticed the horses neigh from the other end of the bridge. An arrow?¡ª?set ablaze at the tip?¡ª?launched into the air as a warning followed by the deafening sounds of weapons clanking against shields. Torches were raised skyward and the war-cry grew ever louder, moving from soldier to soldier. It was only a matter of time. ¡°Did you notice something?¡± asked Akshay. ¡°I sense no more than a thousand soldiers.¡± ¡°They¡¯re definitely Relictan, but yes,¡± said Aayush in agreement. ¡°No more than a thousand soldiers; a cloaking spell perhaps?¡± ¡°A necromancer is more like it.¡±
--- As the clock ticked closer towards battle, Gale wondered about significance that surrounded the Bridge of Souls. The Aeterna was a source that connected to the World of Transition without discrimination. Even the Relictan kind benefited from its generosity. Under normal circumstances, he would have simply asked. But tt was something the boy noticed, the soldiers¡¯ unwillingness to engage in conversation with him. ¡°They should warm up to you soon,¡± a voice said, tapping Gale on his shoulder. ¡°Don¡¯t let the environment discourage you.¡± ¡°I¡¯m more surprised by your lord¡¯s decision to talk of my exploits out loud, General,¡± said Gale. ¡°The morale here does not look too great.¡± ¡°Lord Bahrain has his reasons for doing what he does,¡± said Aayush. ¡°Your aberrant existence and victory against a third-tier wielder, it just might be what inspires these soldiers today.¡± ¡°Aberrant existence is it?¡± said Gale with a laugh. ¡°I suppose flattery isn¡¯t your strongest suit, General.¡± ¡°Well, give them some time.¡± Gale looked up at the sky and sighed, acknowledging that at least the Godvildian treated him with nothing but kindness and respect. Aayush sounded genuine, and the fact compelled Gale to accept the circumstance around him. ¡°There is something I wanted clarified,¡± said Gale. ¡°You said something about Noah being a third-tier wielder. What does that mean?¡± ¡°I forget that you¡¯re new here,¡± said Aayush. ¡°There¡¯s honestly not much to explain; everything is linked to your relationship with the gods if you¡¯re either Noxun or Godvildian. The Relictan kind are different, of course, but they have their own methods of acquiring strength from the Aeterna.¡± Gale nodded in silence, guessing that the explanation was far from finished. ¡°Regardless of whether you¡¯re an Elementalist or Wielder, your tier classification hinges on the strongest form of magic you can utilize,¡± explained Aayush. ¡°Most of the soldiers on our side are either of the first or second-tier. Generals, myself included, rank between the third or fourth-tier; the latter being people of extraordinary calibre.¡± ¡°Aaron and Lord Bahrain,¡± said Gale. ¡°I suppose they¡¯re people of extraordinary calibre?¡± ¡°You jest,¡± said Aayush, bursting into laughter. ¡°I¡¯m ranked at the fourth-tier; Lord Heart and Lord Bahrain, they¡¯re unclassified. But based on the spells I¡¯ve known them to utilize, I would put them in the ninth, or even tenth-tier. That, that¡¯s the domain of the gods. It¡¯s why they have soldiers by the thousands under their command.¡± Gale understood that the World of Transition largely differed from where he once resided. The laws, and even the physics of things. Despite its largely archaic and fantastical environment, there existed people atop pedestals beyond unreachable for those on earth. They were powerful, and majestically so. The conversation was at a standstill, and Aayush took a seat beside Gale, offering him a portion of his food. There was no denying the grimness of what was to come, but in the boy¡¯s mind, the soul-fires truly did make the Bridge of Souls a beautiful sight. ¡°Another thing,¡± started Gale. ¡°I really want to understand what benefit could the Relictan possibly have of taking control or even damaging this place.¡± ¡°I doubt that they actually want the bridge destroyed,¡± said Aayush. ¡°The concentration of soul-fires near the Bridge of Souls ensure fertility and wealth to everyone around it; in fact, much of our economy depends on the six towns not too far from here.¡± ¡°And we stand to defend it with merely a hundred men,¡± quipped Gale. ¡°How important the Bridge of Souls must be.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll soon learn to not complain too much about the cards dealt in battle,¡± said Aayush. ¡°Besides, I¡¯ve lived long enough to not worry about the odds.¡± ¡°Your nonchalance is simply astounding.¡± ¡°True,¡± admitted Aayush. ¡°But that¡¯s what happens when you become part of the undefeated shield.¡±
Chapter X | Hope is Never Silenced
The Godvildian forces pushed to the centre of the Bridge of Souls, barricading the enemy¡¯s only path to some of the richest towns in the World of Transition. Heavy soldiers marched with shields pressed against their bodies, wave after wave. Despite being heavily outnumbered, they carried themselves with confidence, and with good reason. Akshay Bahrain stood behind them. Aayush Khanna led the vanguard, clanking sword against shield, rousing the soldiers behind him. He wanted it louder than even the Relictan forces that stood before him. Archers occupied positions in the rear, ready to fire upon their lord¡¯s command. Gale accompanied Aayush at the front lines, fitting into formation without too much of a fuss. While the General did offer him heavy armour, much like what the others wore, the boy preferred his set of light armour. It made sense given his style of swordplay, the kind driven by fluid movement and athleticism. A little ahead, an aerial unit of enemy archers pushed ahead from the skies?¡ª?armoured, winged, and with rotting flesh. Akshay raised an arm, calm in his demeanour, cautioning his soldiers for what was to come. The enemy was more than the Relictan kind; they held soldiers from the undead and in overwhelming majority. ¡°Tell me something,¡± bellowed Akshay. ¡°Are you afraid?¡± ¡°No, my lord!¡± the Godvildian soldiers yelled in unison. Gale immersed himself in the experience, even more so as the enemy archers pulled into position. In a moment¡¯s notice, silence shrouded the battlefield in its entirety. Everything was heard, from taut bows to the arrows¡¯ release. Gale¡¯s eyes moved from left to right, finding the Godvildian soldiers unfazed. Arrows rained right after, by the hundreds, arching at the sky and toward them with deadly precision. ¡°Will the shields be raised?¡± asked Gale without losing much of his composure. ¡°Not at the moment,¡± said Aayush. ¡°Your only job today, our only job today, is to wait for Lord Bahrain¡¯s command and move accordingly.¡± Gale looked toward the sky once more, and the arrows showed little sign of slowing down. But as the seconds passed, none of them managed to fall through to the ground. With a firm hand on his sword, the boy focused to find the arrows disappear mid-air, burning to ash upon descent. He looked back to find Akshay, veiled in a white, almost translucent aura. ¡°Aspect of the Heavens: Wall of Transcendence,¡± whispered Akshay, an incantation to erect an impregnable shield around his army. ¡°Nothing to worry about so far.¡± Lord Bahrain moved his arms into a position of prayer, causing the winds to shift on either side of the bridge. It lifted a sheet of energy that clasped onto the enemy archers, crushing those unfortunate enough to have been caught in the attack. The aftershock disoriented those who had survived, and in swift command, the Godvildian archers fired. Enemy soldiers fell from the sky, one after the other, crumbling as they did. With the skies clear, Akshay gave his General a reaffirming nod. Aayush Khanna marched his soldiers ahead at a slow pace, Gale by his side. ¡°I¡¯m beginning to realize what it means to bear the mark of the shield,¡± said Gale with a smile. ¡°Lord Bahrain is a remarkable commander.¡± ¡°Wars aren¡¯t won by sheer numbers,¡± said Aayush. ¡°But it¡¯s a disadvantage you¡¯d rather not be in.¡± ¡°No casualties on our side so far, at least.¡± ¡°Stand ready to march at full sprint on my command,¡± yelled Aayush to the soldiers that stood behind him. He paused, briefly, before turning to Gale, ¡°We aren¡¯t walking out of this unscathed.¡± As the Godvildian soldiers inched ahead, the undead growled in nervous retaliation. Mist obscured the path ahead, but the boy noticed it clear in an instant. While Aayush ceased the march, Gale looked toward his General, a confused expression on his face. ¡°It¡¯s nothing to worry about,¡± said Aayush, reassuringly. ¡°Clouded Blindness is a second-tier spell that I find myself using in most combat situations. By design, it impairs enemy vision alone.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that too convenient?¡± said Gale. ¡°I would call it nothing more than a temporary advantage,¡± said Aayush. ¡°It¡¯s a spell easy enough to break with focus. But that shouldn¡¯t be the case with this army?¡ª?undead soldiers driven mostly by misplaced vengeance and rage.¡± Gale felt a little out of place. On one side, he could find similarities between the World of Transition and of a time in his former world?¡ª?the middle ages. But he couldn¡¯t ever remember reading about magical abilities or enhanced physical capabilities; those were words from fiction. Not anymore. Impatience slowly crept into the hearts of both sides, with neither choosing to take the initiative on offense. The battle was at a standstill, but just as it is with any situation during war, everything changed. It started with a barrage of footsteps that had drummed into an echo, growing ever louder in its approach. The undead, they had made their move. Lord Bahrain swung his arm in silence, and in command, the archers that stood behind him fired without mercy. Aayush waited for the arrows to traverse from above their heads and onto enemy soldiers?¡ª?a massacre that favoured the Godvildian kind. When the last of the arrows had met its mark, Aayush unsheathed his sword and pointed it right at the undead. ¡°Show me what you¡¯ve got, men,¡± bellowed General Khanna, ¡°Charge. Charge. Charge until your weapon can cut no more!¡± ---
With their forces severely crippled, the Relictan General on field, trembled at the thought of defeat. It was his first time witnessing Akshay Bahrain in battle, and the latter was no man of fiction. His will wavered under the might of the Godvildian legend. But in that moment of turmoil, a shadow crept in from behind him. Paralyzed from fear, the Relictan General lowered his head to find a sword thrust through his chest. He coughed, blood staining armour and clothes, and slipped from the blade without effort. His assailant tossed the weapon aside and shrugged, realizing that the Relictan soldiers had witnessed the murder. ¡°Welcome, Lord Escanor,¡± one of them stammered. ¡°It¡¯s a pleasure to have you here.¡± Escanor stood above the soldiers in height, inches taller and broader around his shoulders?¡ª?a man that often remained shrouded in darkness, anonymous to even the Lords he supported. With his face covered, he wore a blue long coat along with a pair of heavy gauntlets and boots. But despite all the mystery, there was little doubt about his Noxun heritage. ¡°I don¡¯t ever remember the Relictan being this mannered,¡± said Escanor with a heavy voice. ¡°But that aside, tell me why it is that not one of you chose to step into battle?¡± ¡°Under command, we chose to push the undead ahead to pressure the Godvildian surrender,¡± said the soldier. ¡°We have them overwhelmingly outnumbered, and we wouldn¡¯t have lost a single Relictan soul in the process.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good to hear,¡± said Escanor. ¡°Now I know that I wasn¡¯t incorrect in my choice to slay the good General.¡± Escanor levitated to a reasonable height, obtaining clearer view of the battle. The undead were crumbling under the Godvildian might, masterfully led by Lord Bahrain. He raised an eyebrow upon sensing something at a distance from the battlefield, a powerful force that was making its way towards the Bridge of Souls. ¡°There is Lord Bahrain, who lives up to his reputation,¡± whispered Escanor. ¡°Aayush Khanna is holding up just as the reports had mentioned; the others were supposed to be insignificant. And yet, there appears to be one more of worth here.¡± He looked back in the direction from where he sensed an approaching presence; it felt oddly familiar and threateningly so. ¡°That¡¯s no ally of ours,¡± said Escanor. ¡°Looks like we¡¯re short on time here.¡± He descended and walked to the front lines, the Relictan behind him and the undead ahead. Escanor clenched his fist with force enough to break skin. He controlled his blood, coagulating it to manifest a spear of significant length and power. Escanor tossed it without a moment¡¯s hesitation and manipulated it through its ascent towards the sky. It changed shape, breaking and reforming into what appeared to be a door in mid-air. ¡°A sound strategy, but not something that would help us win against Akshay Bahrain,¡± said Escanor of the Relictan army¡¯s choice to not participate. ¡°I would recommend to either move forward and battle with a minor chance at victory or die at my hands with no chance at survival.¡± The words left Escanor¡¯s mouth almost unfeelingly, and the Relictan despite their overwhelming numbers shuddered at the thought. It was hard thing to do, brush their fear aside. Not when faced with a man that stood at the apex of the Noxun, a race that once rivaled the Godvildian kind. Escanor pointed at the door he had summoned, gesturing a swipe with his finger against the air. The door trembled and opened, creaking across its celestial hinges. And then came a roar, monstrous and fierce. It forced the attention of every soldier present?¡ª?the undead, Relictan, and Godvildian alike. Something was coming. Not a whisper escaped in the moments that passed, and then the doors flung open, disappearing as they did. The skeletal frame of something disastrous, of something long forgotten emerged. It was the head first, and then claws?¡ª?as sharp as they could be. Wings cracked the barrier that kept the dead from the living, the body following right after. There was little flesh, and the creature looked only a shadow of its former, majestic self. But that was only in appearance. It roared once more, shaking the battlefield to a standstill. There was no question about it?¡ª?it was a dragon, an unnatural presence that now stood long past its last sighting, long past its extinction as a race. ¡°Unlike the Relictans, I hold no motivation to capture the territories past the Bridge of Souls,¡± thought Escanor. ¡°But the Three Pillars of Suntaria; if the Godvildian race is to fall in the years to come, now is as good a time as any to assess their battle power.¡±Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. ---
Gale found himself cutting through the undead with relative ease. It was his first time in combat since the encounter with Noah Oblique. His body eased through the crowds, his sword?¡ª?fluid and eloquent. Despite the blood and gore, the boy had begun to enjoy the beauty behind swordplay. Improvement urged for more, and the possibilities seemed nothing short of infinite. ¡°It looks like I¡¯ve improved,¡± thought Gale, swinging the blood off his sword. ¡°I wonder how long it will take for this battle to come to an end; it doesn¡¯t feel like there¡¯s any pressure from the other end.¡± The boy looked on to find the Godvildian soldiers press deeper into enemy stations, facing little resistance through their assault. He felt the weight lift from his shoulders. With Aayush at the helm on offense and Lord Bahrain manoeuvring the defensive line of command, victory appeared to be well within sight. And then it occurred?¡ª?an irregularity that even Akshay Bahrain could not have fathomed. The dragon towered atop them, focused in its desire for destruction, and roared mightily. It shook the battlefield and the Godvildian morale with it. ¡°This is no ordinary, necromancer,¡± whispered Akshay, masking his panic. ¡°That¡¯s Titan Call, a seventh-tier spell, under the Baha branch!¡± The Godvildian archers were quick to regroup under their lord¡¯s command, firing arrows imbued with elemental magic. Lightning, fire, water, and wind?¡ª?the dragon was hit with speed and precision until the combination of elements resulted in an explosion. The dust cloud swept through the battlefield, obscuring the conclusion of their assault. They didn¡¯t have to wait. Another roar followed, wings flapping, and the dust cleared. There was little damage. Akshay bit his lip, knowing that the being was what he had suspected. ¡°General Khanna,¡± yelled Akshay in a distance. ¡°Fall back; that¡¯s an Elder Undead!¡± Aayush clicked his tongue, visibly disturbed. He struggled to maintain a calm demeanour but rallied his troops nonetheless. Gale caught wind of the rising tension amongst the Godvildian soldiers?¡ª?their chance at victory falling with it. ¡°What¡¯s an Elder Undead?¡± asked Gale, following his leader in the retreat. ¡°Think of it as a classification of power within the undead,¡± explained Aayush in haste. ¡°That spell just summoned the strongest there is, an elder?¡ª?immune to any attack below the eighth-tier.¡± ¡°What about Lord Bahrain?¡± asked Gale. ¡°Isn¡¯t he someone who ranks within the tenth-tier?¡± ¡°It isn¡¯t that simple.¡± Akshay Bahrain clenched his fists, frustrated at his inability to assess the enemy necromancer. He opened his palm, energy swirling at his fingertips, taking shape of what appeared to be an hourglass. There was still a lot of time left. ¡°This is my loss; I can¡¯t believe it,¡± thought Akshay. ¡°I don¡¯t have enough left to initiate a spell above the seventh-tier. The timing, it can¡¯t be a coincidence.¡± The dragon, majestic in its form, inhaled deeply, tearing what little flesh remained around its ribs. Its back arched with a puffed chest while the Godvildian soldiers feared what was to come. Gale knew, at least he thought he did. His former world did portray tales of the dragon¡¯s legend, a fire-breathing reptile hindered only by its author¡¯s imagination. ¡°Here it comes,¡± whispered Gale, watching the beast furiously exhale. A concentrated column of fire spiraled through the bridge, leaving little room for escape. Gale stood in awe of the mystically blue flame until his instincts whirred to life. The muscles around his legs tightened, urging the boy to sprint and survive. He overtook his allies, the flame close behind, obliterating everything in its wake. At a distance, Lord Bahrain mustered a significant amount of energy within him, erecting wall after wall against the flame that had devoured nearly half of his army. It bought his soldiers time, barely minutes. Irked by the hindrance, the dragon strengthened its flame, marching towards the opposition in haste. But Akshay held true to his position as commander; soldiers closest in proximity had made it to his side. They gasped for air, but felt the pressure lift from their shoulders, knowing that they had survived. It was all Akshay could manage, a barrier?¡ª?strong, but limited in size. Gale had almost made it also when something changed. An odd sense of discomfort befell the battlefield; the flames had disappeared and the dragon with it. Gale stopped on instinct, turning back to find the bridge clear. But the Godvildian Lord noticed, as did his second-in-command. The dragon had slithered underneath the bridge speedily to intercept the boy¡¯s escape. Some stood completely mystified by the creature¡¯s aberrant change in behaviour while others gulped in fear, realizing its motivation to hunt Gale. Still inexperienced, the boy had failed to react in time. The dragon was already behind him, swiping its tail to launch him into the air. Gale felt his bones crack, defenceless in his position. He closed his eyes as the fire emerged. Fear swallowed his heart, only to dissipate once more and in its entirety. He laughed at his situation, unable to feel even at death¡¯s door. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Gale,¡± said a familiar voice. ¡°But I¡¯m going to have to toss you to safety.¡± Gale opened his eyes to find Aayush in front of him, veiled in a barrier of his own construct?¡ª?cracked around certain parts already. General Khanna turned and kicked the boy towards his lord, his only choice given the situation. ¡°I suppose it¡¯s time to move on,¡± whispered Aayush, relieved that he had made in time for Gale. ¡°It¡¯s a shame though; I would have loved to get to know you more, boy.¡± Aayush felt the heat come through the cracks, melting the surface of his armour. Despite acceptance over his imminent demise, the Godvildian General resisted, stubborn in his desire to survive. It surprised him. ¡°Laughable,¡± thought Aayush. ¡°All that talk about embracing death, and here I am clinging to what little time I have left.¡± But for all his will, the flame consumed him nonetheless. Tears welled in the eyes of soldiers who had grown to respect Aayush Khanna, his leadership and ferocity in battle. Akshay grit his teeth, desperate in his role as a commander to stand without emotion. There was little room for it in the thick of battle, at least that¡¯s what Lord Bahrain believed. And yet, in the heat of the moment, he couldn¡¯t help but mourn the loss of a dear friend. Gale willed himself onto his feet, dropping to his knees right after. He felt weak, bruised and with broken bones. He stood upright once more, dragging his feet to Lord Bahrain. Gale lowered his head, speechless. ¡°You needn¡¯t apologize if that¡¯s what you¡¯re here for,¡± said Akshay. ¡°Aayush saved you for a reason; I don¡¯t hold it against you.¡± ¡°And what might that be?¡± asked Gale, tired in his voice. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter right now,¡± said Akshay. ¡°The barrier won¡¯t hold for long and given how determined this dragon is to see us all dead, I don¡¯t see ourselves celebrating a tomorrow.¡± An Elder Undead, that¡¯s what they called the beast that now stood within inches of Lord Bahrain¡¯s shield. It towered over the soldiers under protection, tongue out, almost mockingly. The dragon lowered its head, trying to push its way through the barrier. It met with stern resistance, but responded by smacking its tail against the hindrance, breathing fire to add to the pressure as well. Akshay had begun to tire, nearly drained of his reserves. The soldiers had slumped their shoulders in resignation; it was almost over. Gale dismissively walked ahead, wondering if this was all he was meant to do even after having faced death in his previous world. Was this it? Was it just as Aaron had stated him to be?¡ª?a boy chosen at random and without meaning? ¡°But you don¡¯t believe that,¡± a voice reached to him. ¡°You wish to fight against it?¡± Gale looked around before realizing that the voice emerged from within his head. It felt strangely familiar, and at the same time, he knew it to not be thoughts of his own. ¡°Yes, I wish to fight against it,¡± said Gale, adamant in his desire. ¡°There has to be a point; at least for the General.¡± ¡°Then look around you and remember how we fought against the Relictan,¡± the voice advised. ¡°This is your coming, child. This is your echo to Mioverold; this is your declaration.¡± Gale did as was asked, finding an abundance of soul-fires gather around the barrier. They struggled to come through, failing in their attempt. It was something Akshay noticed, a certain strangeness new even to someone who had lived for as long as he had. ¡°Have we given up, Lord Bahrain?¡± asked Gale, calmer in his tone. ¡°When I am no longer able to hold this shield,¡± said Akshay. ¡°That is when we fall. I¡¯ll continue in hope that a miracle pulls us through.¡± ¡°Would you believe that the miracle is in letting the shield down?¡± ¡°If I pull it down, I would need at least a minute to erect another,¡± said Akshay. ¡°I don¡¯t know what it is you¡¯re suggesting, but are you willing to treat this as our final stand?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± said Gale, the weight of victory on his shoulders. ¡°Lower the shield.¡± Akshay closed his eyes, focusing on nothing but the boy. An incredible amount of energy gathered within him, its growth shrouded in mystery. But it failed to convince; despite Gale¡¯s impressive presence, he didn¡¯t nearly have enough to withstand an Elder Undead. Lord Bahrain hesitated. ¡°I heard you were a man of legend, my lord,¡± said Gale, looking over his shoulder. ¡°Do the accomplishments hinder your trust in us?¡± Akshay couldn¡¯t help but burst into laughter. In his years alive, he had not once met a boy audacious enough to have talked to him as such. He lowered his head in resignation, accepting the odds that came with dismantling his barrier. ¡°It¡¯s all yours now, boy,¡± said the Godvildian Lord. ¡°Show me, no, show us a tomorrow to celebrate in!¡± With his words, the barrier faded, leaving nothing in between the Godvildian soldiers and the dragon. But Gale proved his worth without a moment¡¯s hesitation. It surprised both sides on the battlefield; the sight of soul-fires wildly gravitating towards him, swirling into a tornado. Gale borrowed from it, everything that Aeterna chose to offer. His body felt an immeasurable amount of anguish with every soul-fire he accepted, living the lives of thousands in a matter of seconds and in quick succession. His mind eroded from dozens of emotions felt all at once, overwhelming even his inherent ability of painlessness and unemotionality. But he resisted, growing only in strength and ferocity. The tornado succumbed, the winds dying with it, until nothing remained. Gale strolled to the dragon, devoid of fear, an absolute stillness echoing from him. It was a frightening sight, even for those within the Godvildian ranks. Akshay Bahrain stood perplexed at what had just occurred, a first even for him. The dragon tilted its head, curious about the boy. It sensed the difference. Falling back, the dragon roared at Gale, louder than it ever did. ¡°Is this how it¡¯s done?¡± asked Gale, almost inaudibly. ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± replied the voice from within. ¡°This is your declaration.¡± ¡°Activate Sequence: Corrosion,¡± bellowed Gale for everyone to hear. The Bridge of Souls shook from the pressure of a spell that had gathered magic from the Aeterna, fearsome in its display. It started with the dragon¡¯s legs?¡ª?bone turning to dust, causing the creature to writhe in pain. The Elder Undead struggled to return to its feet, crumbling from all sides. It howled and roared through the loss of everything until a gentle breeze swept its remains off the bridge. ¡°What did I just see?¡± stammered Akshay. ¡°That¡¯s Celeri Rosio, a tenth-tier spell of the¡­¡± Lord Bahrain wasn¡¯t given a chance to finish with Gale falling to his feet, absent strength. Inspired by the boy¡¯s heroic effort, the Godvildian soldiers rushed to his aid without command. They helped Gale onto his feet and retreated to Lord Bahrain¡¯s side. But rest was to not come despite their victory against the dragon. ¡°Thank you, Bane,¡± some of them heard the boy whisper, fading into unconsciousness.
Chapter XI | The Wheels Continue to Turn
A thunderous battle-cry erupted from the other end of the Bridge of Souls, and the Relictan forces marched ahead. They had little to fear, knowing the undead had reduced the opposition to a mere handful. The odds were in their favour. ¡°Quite the dire situation, is it not?¡± said Akshay. ¡°There is nothing to worry about though. He is here.¡± The Relictan army rushed into full-sprint, eager in their quest for victory. Not a hindrance stood before them until the heavens itself crackled, hammering a pillar of darkness onto the centre of the bridge. It thinned away to reveal the form of a strongly-built man, intimidatingly large?¡ª?attired in clothes as dark as a moonless night, and armour well-suited for flexibility. ¡°Sorry I took so long,¡± the man apologized. ¡°I¡¯ll handle the rest.¡± ¡°That¡¯s fine,¡± said Akshay. ¡°Do with them as you see fit.¡± Wary of the stranger that now stood before them, the Relictan army switched to a position of defence. It matched, according to the reports from their lords, the description of a man?¡ª?short, dark hair trimmed around the temples and a ruggedly impressive face?¡ª?they were to avoid no matter the situation. A clutch of the soldiers stepped ahead nonetheless, weapons braced and ready for battle. ¡°Should I even bother warning you lot?¡± asked the man, scratching his stubble. ¡°Not that you would heed counsel anyway.¡± True to the words uttered, the Relictan forces charged, driven by nothing but the impulse of cornered animals. The man assumed a stance of combat, beautiful in its form, commanding a portion of his energy to come to aid. It gathered in the palm of his hand, volatile and wild. ¡°Aspect of the Naraka: Obliterate,¡± the man whispered. The Godvildian soldiers stood blinded by the after-effects of the spell and had no choice but to wait for their vision to return. When it did, they gaped?¡ª?faces plastered with expressions of fear and bewilderment?¡ª?at the landscape absent of Relictans. Nothing had remained, not even a trace of their existence. The man stretched his arms, visibly bored. ¡°I believe introducing you is appropriate?¡± asked Akshay, looking toward the man who had rescued them from the jaws of defeat. ¡°You haven¡¯t been around for about three hundred years, after all.¡± ¡°Suit yourself,¡± the man said, shrugging his shoulders. Akshay turned to find his soldiers in line, waiting with eager anticipation for him to disclose the identity of the man. ¡°Knighted by Suntaria as its Pillar, known by legend as the Asuran Ghost, blessed by Ehedus as the Embodiment of Darkness,¡± announced Akshay, proud in his approach. ¡°Masura Bloodseed, the Shadow.¡± ---
Escanor watched the battle unfold from a distance, ending in the erasure of his army from the plane of existence. He breathed a huge sigh of relief, thankful to have avoided the radius of Obliterate?¡ª?the very magic that lent to the Godvildian victory. But despite the expectation of defeat, the loss bothered him. ¡°This isn¡¯t going to be easy,¡± thought Escanor. ¡°Masura Bloodseed¡¯s combat-class exceeds what was reported. And Akshay Bahrain is nothing short of his legend. They haven¡¯t softened.¡± The Noxun Lord lowered his head, burrowing deeper into thought. He took solace in knowing that his experiment had at least resulted in the death of General Aayush Khanna, a name even feared amongst the Relictan Lords. But then stood the matter of the boy, a strange existence on the battlefield?¡ª?a singularity, unpredictably powerful. ¡°I can¡¯t seem to recall such a description in the reports delivered,¡± thought Escanor, tilting his head to one side. ¡°And he appears to be capable enough to use Celeri Rosio, but that shouldn¡¯t be possible.¡± Escanor swiped his palm against the air in front of him, much like his summoning of the dragon. A door appeared?¡ª?crafted by magic, vacant, and endlessly dark. He casually strolled in, the door creaking to a shut behind him.Stolen novel; please report. ---
Akshay Bahrain rested his shoulders, free from the stress of battle. He stood at the gates of Suntaria, a powerful kingdom known for its size and military might. The kingdom stood along a river with fertile lands and houses protected by trained knights outside its walls. To Lord Bahrain, everything in Suntaria ranked as magnificent?¡ª?from its glorious, precise architecture, to its economic policies, to the people, and even its air?¡ª?fresh from being surrounded by plains and thick forests. As was customary, the patrol at the gates sounded the horn to announce the arrival of Akshay Bahrain, the kingdom¡¯s beloved son. Children raced to the caravans, eager to greet the victors. It was something Akshay embraced with unconditional warmth?¡ª?fanning the flames of ambition that carried in the eyes of his people. Contrastingly, Masura spent much of his time inside the caravan beside an unconscious Gale, choosing to avoid public interaction. On their way, Akshay affirmingly nodded to the smiths at work around the open forges at the foot of Arce Caelesti, the King¡¯s Castle located at the heart of Suntaria. It was a positive sight, smiths?¡ª?some of whom were over a thousand years old?¡ª?hard at work to earn the right to use the Arce Male, the Castle¡¯s divine forge. Masura and Akshay disembarked with the latter¡¯s soldiers carrying Gale to meet a familiar face. Few understood the significance of their meeting, something that had last occurred over three hundred years ago. ¡°Well met, Masura,¡± said Aaron Heart, smiling as he did. ¡°I see you haven¡¯t changed in appearance.¡± ¡°I am of the same opinion,¡± said Akshay. ¡°Then again, none of us really did change since we last met.¡± ¡°How is it that you two always manage to irritate me?¡± asked Masura, scratching the back of his head in annoyance. ¡°I¡¯ve told the both of you to not become too friendly with me; it¡¯s why I left.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t mean that,¡± said Akshay, laughing aloud. ¡°But it really is good to have you back.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± said Aaron. ¡°You¡¯ll have to explain to us properly over drinks; the reasoning behind your sudden departure. We don¡¯t like that you left us out of it.¡± Masura looked at the only two people to match him in rank in the World of Transition; it wasn¡¯t just a position. They had grown together, fought together, and failed together. It was through that journey that they had each managed to awaken a unique magic within them, a power that transcended their other comrades in the Ehedus branch. ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± whispered Masura. ¡°I did miss having your faces around.¡± ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± asked Aaron, raising an eyebrow. ¡°I couldn¡¯t hear you.¡± Masura raised his head, hiding a smile, as he said, ¡°It¡¯s good to be home.¡± That¡¯s right, to Lord Bloodseed, Aaron Heart and Akshay Bahrain were brothers forged by bonds of battle and time. ---
A few months past the battle at the Bridge of Souls, the Relictan Lords gathered at an unfamiliar place far from their lands. Strange creatures slithered to the music of tormented cries atop soil devoid of fortune and love. Lightning, coloured terrifyingly black, struck close to the trees with an odd sense of precision, rare in its desire to set them ablaze. Most people thought of the forbidden land as a fortress, masking as a mysterious forest to keep outsiders at bay. There were those that ventured in, brave in spirit, but to never return. The chronicles from the Great War called the location Shadowmere, an existence that most fail to comprehend. But to the Lords that governed the Relictan race, the place held strategic meaning. As far back as history could remember, Shadowmere represented a prison?¡ª?one that held no more than a single prisoner. Caesar led the group, studying the iron gates that had rusted through the years. ¡°The magic keeping this place sealed makes Shadowmere a world of its own,¡± explained Caesar. ¡°It allows entry, but not the option of exit; fairly complicated for just one person.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that why we desire his freedom?¡± asked one of the other lords present at the scene. ¡°This is essential for us to recover what was lost in the Bridge of Souls.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t think of it as a mistake given Escanor¡¯s involvement,¡± said Caesar. ¡°I apologize for not having heeded your council, Rahu.¡± ¡°As long as you understand, Lord Caesar.¡± Caesar walked along the circumference of the forest, finding tall pillars marked with magic that resembled what barricaded Shadowmere from the outside world. They reached the gates once more, having counted four. ¡°You¡¯re a lot like your sister, Rahu,¡± said Caesar. ¡°Efficient, strong, resourceful even; but the two of you have a knack of getting on my nerves.¡± Rahu bowed in silence, acknowledging that his remark may have offended, ¡°My apologies, Lord Caesar.¡± ¡°As long as you understand,¡± said Caesar, cold in his demeanour. ¡°But that aside, I trust you know what comes next?¡± ¡°Four locations, heavily guarded; our goal is to break the seals around Shadowmere,¡± confirmed Rahu. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. We¡¯ll be attending to it personally.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s not fail then.¡± ¡°Understood,¡± the rest of the Lords said in unison.
Chapter XII | Hidden Within Darkness
Mioverold was a world of freedom, a realm in which anything prospered?¡ª?be it evil or good, fire or ice, darkness or light. Regions were no exception. Noctemar was what historians and chroniclers referred to as the land of primordial darkness, a place shrouded in mist and ice. Unwary outsiders would often freeze moments within exploration; a region ruthless to those even well-prepared. In the map, Noctemar fell under Godvildian reign?¡ª?not that there was much to govern. Careful consideration led to the dwarves being dispatched with residential rights for the region¡¯s protection, their natural resistance to cold making it a reasonable affair. And its governance? Well, at Noctemar¡¯s highest peak stood Knavesmire Keep, hoisting a flag bearing Lord Heart¡¯s coat of arms. ¡°Pardon my intrusion,¡± said one of the soldiers stationed at the stronghold. ¡°But we have a guest with your seal of approval, General Magellan.¡± Besides the title of General under Aaron Heart¡¯s command, Magellan also held position as Keeper of Noctemar?¡ª?the man responsible for the region¡¯s economic prosperity. It was a position granted upon realization of the dwarf¡¯s aptitude for politics. ¡°That was sooner than I had anticipated,¡± said Magellan. ¡°Very well, prepare one of the chambers for us to converse in.¡± ---
Knavesmire Keep ranked as an impregnable fortress, a symbol of Godvildian power. Soldiers spread from the stronghold at the centre, leading to large, sturdy fences fortified with magic. It was to keep more than enemy soldiers from invading; the wall¡¯s existence separated residential pockets from Snowfynds, territorial creatures driven by a crude desire for conquest. Legends often spoke of the creatures of Noctemar?¡ª?tall, with toughened skin and disproportionate bodies, appearing as silhouettes on blizzard-ravaged nights. Their roars masked hidden communication meant to corner, tease, and devour. Some older stories even spoke of settlements and ideas of growing intelligence amongst the Snowfynds. But behind the might of Godvildian fortifications, the dwarves within had little to worry about. ¡°Is that information meant to deter me?¡± thought Vincent, outside range of the nearest Godvildian watchtower. ¡°He¡¯s last on the list, after all.¡± Watchful of the lights, the assassin ghosted toward his destination, camouflaged by the blizzard itself. He pressed his back against the wall, and circled to a guarded entrance. As planned, he extracted a small, wooden ball and set it ablaze, tossing it almost immediately after. ¡°Did someone start a fire?¡± asked one of the guards. ¡°This is troublesome,¡± another said. ¡°Is it that hard to follow some rules around here?¡± ¡°To be honest, I don¡¯t see what the problem is in starting a fire when it¡¯s this cold out.¡± ¡°This is why I hate babysitting new recruits,¡± the guard said, visibly annoyed. ¡°Have you studied anything related to Noctemar yet, the Snowfynds? Are you not aware of their obsession with fire?¡± With the voices fading into the distance, Vincent strolled through the gates, melting the lock with elemental magic. He crouched with softened breaths, almost invisible within the domain of the shadows. His feet moved in inches, wary of the other guards on-duty past the gate. Nearer still, Vincent spotted orbs floating by the guards¡¯ shoulders?¡ª?magic devised to illuminate and warn against intruders. ¡°Life would be a lot simpler if I could just slaughter them right now,¡± thought Vincent unfeelingly. ¡°But I¡¯d then have to deal with heightened security; what an annoyance.¡± Vincent released a gentle stream of energy through his fingertips, an experiment. One of the orbs trembled, threatened by the presence of something unwanted. At the sight, Vincent tilted his head, impressed by the orbs¡¯ capacity for vigilance. He lowered the output of his energy, transforming its shape to resemble loose strands of hair. It swirled around its target, now unnoticeable, and tightened its hold, incapacitating the orb. ¡°Careful now,¡± thought Vincent, increasing his output once more. Trapped and with a sudden influx of foreign energy, the orb burst. From the shockwave that followed, the other orbs destabilized, popping in sequence until none remained. Vincent wasted little time and slithered past the guards, hearing them bicker over the incident as he did; not that it concerned him. ¡°Turrim Gelida, the first city to ever withstand Noctemar,¡± thought Vincent, an announcement for his own mind. ¡°How time changes things.¡± Within the protection of the walls, Turrim Gelida functioned as any other city under the Godvildian reign. Crystalized poles, imbued with elemental fire, served to illuminate while alchemic barriers warmed the air for comfort. It bustled with restless energy, a utopia amidst harsh outside conditions. Vincent stealthily moved through the darker parts of the city, fearing discovery amidst a mostly dwarven population. But with the Keep merely a good sprint from access, the assassin detoured to enter a rundown warehouse. Cautious at first, Vincent proceeded only after having ascertained his safety within the structure. He walked past spoilt food reserves on floors soiled with urine and stale alcohol, the wood creaking under his weight. ¡°Aspect of the Asura: Guiding Light,¡± whispered Vincent, illuminating the warehouse. ¡°Begin Retrace.¡± An almost translucent, lifelike figure walked by the assassin, and then more?¡ª?all dwarven. They phased through scattered obstacles; their bodies simply memories of those related to the warehouse. One after the other, Vincent eliminated thoughts of those unnecessary, patient in his effort. He twitched through the process, pained by the price of peering through time. The last of his redundancies eliminated, Vincent found his target?¡ª?deep in conversation with another, farther back in time than the assassin had anticipated. He now stood witness to the dwarven General, years younger and inexperienced.This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. ¡°General Magellan, it is imperative that you memorize all the access points to Knavesmire Keep,¡± the architect said. ¡°You¡¯ll thank the heavens for it should a time of misfortune ever arise.¡± ¡°Yes, Ser Corving,¡± said Magellan, genuinely attentive. ¡°I¡¯m aware of my duties as Keeper of Noctemar; let¡¯s hope that I defend the region well enough for the need to never arise.¡± Vincent followed the two ethereal figures to another room, a well-furnished study to manage the affairs of the warehouse. At a table attached to the wall, the architect revealed a mechanism hidden underneath it. Magellan knelt to investigate and later pushed a perfectly placed switch, prompting a soft click that urged both men to hurry to the centre of the room. ¡°A cellar door?¡± asked Magellan. ¡°Is this part of the underground network that connects to Knavesmire Keep?¡± ¡°Yes, General Magellan,¡± said Corving. ¡°Lord Heart¡¯s instructions have the access points closet to each of the four exits at Noctemar.¡± ¡°And what¡¯s the story behind this place?¡± ¡°Land disputes are common among the dwarven kind and they respect territory,¡± said the architect. ¡°We¡¯ll just need to pass notice about brothers being unable to settle ownership.¡± ¡°I do hate keeping information from my people,¡± said Magellan, sighing aloud. ¡°But I suppose it must be done to hide this place in plain sight. Make sure the warehouse looks the story.¡± With the information in hand, Vincent released the tether that bound him to the past. He paused a moment, breathless at having traced the entire conversation. Regaining composure, the assassin walked over to the table and replicated the architect¡¯s demonstration. The room altered, dispelling the magic that had kept the door concealed. ¡°Not hidden well enough, I¡¯m afraid,¡± whispered Vincent. The door struggled to open, rusted by the edges, giving way to reveal nothing more than darkness. Vincent made a slow descent down the stairs and hit flat ground shortly after, ankle deep in water. He brushed the wall against his fingertips, coarse in its surface, and stopped at the touch of something familiar. ¡°Looks like a torch,¡± thought Vincent. ¡°Now to check if it¡¯s still dry.¡± The assassin sparked a flame to light the torch ablaze. He waved his arm, swinging the torch with it, and nodded affirmatively?¡ª?the fire steady still. Vincent walked along a straightforward path to reach a flight of stairs, aged and slippery. He climbed through and reached what appeared to be a dead end. Vincent pressed his hand against the wall and released a low dose of energy, manoeuvring it through the gaps until one of the stones nudged. With another push, the wall lowered, scrapping against the floor as it did. ¡°And there you are,¡± thought Vincent. ¡°Not as impregnable as I had imagined.¡± Walking ahead, the wall closed behind the assassin, leaving him trapped within the confines of a dimly lit room. He moved in silent steps, his ears ever vigilant. In time, hushed conversations broke to indicate life, while the sound of armoured boots?¡ª?their rank as soldiers. ¡°Knavesmire Keep; just how well-guarded are you on the inside?¡± he wondered. ¡°Aspect of the Asura: Shadowsnare.¡± Vincent trembled at the completion of his incantation. It started with the limbs and gradually moved to the rest of his body, a transformation that melded his existence into the shadows, now dark in its composition. In the state, he slipped through from underneath the door and into the hallway. Vincent noticed soldiers stationed at almost every corner of the Keep, the important areas more heavily guarded than the rest. With patience, a lone guard emerged, set to retire for the night. His shadow wandered ever closer, unsuspecting of the assassin lying in wait. There was enough opportunity, and Vincent latched onto the dwarf¡¯s shadow. He now followed the latter in silence. With the moon rising, Vincent bided his time and struck when the guard had finally reached his chambers. Binding the dwarf entirely, the shadowy magic bent the soldier to the assassin¡¯s will. He slowly moved out of bed once in control, testing the body¡¯s mobility. ¡°Everything seems to be in order,¡± thought Vincent after a quick assessment. ¡°I wonder where Magellan might be now.¡± Part of Vincent¡¯s ability enabled access to his victim¡¯s memories; it made interaction with the other guards effortless. He engaged in idle gossip, extracting subtle bits of information?¡ª?pieces to the whole truth. ¡°So, you¡¯re saying that General Magellan is currently in discussion with a strange person?¡± asked Vincent excitedly, urging for more information. ¡°At this time of the night with the blizzard as thick as it is?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± said the soldier in conversation. ¡°I found it rather strange myself. It could be a diplomatic endeavour; the person wasn¡¯t Godvildian.¡± ¡°What could it possibly be about?¡± ¡°We can never tell,¡± admitted the soldier, mildly frustrated at the thought. ¡°It could be about three months ago, when the Relictans broke the treaty at the Bridge of Souls, or even the Noxun for whatever reason.¡± Vincent retreated a little later, the body of his host still compliant. At the higher floors, the guards wore different, more heavily armoured uniforms. A pair halted the assassin¡¯s advance, curious in their expression. ¡°Do you have any reason to be up here, soldier?¡± asked one of them. ¡°If so, do present your papers.¡± ¡°There was some concern about a fire starting at the wall,¡± said Vincent. ¡°I wanted to brief the Keeper about our investigation into the matter.¡± ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you be briefing the Border Squadron about this?¡± ¡°It must be because I¡¯m new here,¡± said Vincent innocently. ¡°I was under the impression that matters regarding the Snowfynds require Keeper Magellan¡¯s attention.¡± ¡°Only after the Border Squadron identifies the magnitude of the threat,¡± informed the guard politely. ¡°Kindly report the matter to the Squadron Leader on duty.¡± Vincent apologized and walked away, liberating the dwarf at a distance. Disoriented from the experience, the dwarven soldier returned to his chambers without much thought. But within the shadows once more, Vincent retraced his steps to find the two guards he had recently interacted with. He seized control in a matter of minutes, careful to avoid suspicion from those around them. ¡°Stop a moment,¡± said Vincent, settling into his new host¡¯s mind. ¡°I think we should report the matter about the fire to the Keeper anyway.¡± ¡°Let the child go through the appropriate channels, my friend,¡± the guard said, dismissive of the suggestion. ¡°We can¡¯t bother the Keeper with every trivial matter that comes our way; the chain of command exists for a reason.¡± ¡°It¡¯s merely a precaution, Rollo,¡± said Vincent in a second attempt. ¡°Information loses value with time.¡± The assassin watched his host¡¯s companion shrug, uncertain still. Another nudge, and the latter stood in uncomfortable agreement. ¡°Almost there,¡± thought Vincent. ¡°The gilded hero of the Godvildian race or assassin scum, I wonder who¡¯ll be walking out of this alive.¡±
Chapter XIII | Goddess of the Black Night It was tiresome; maybe even exhausting. There was a light, but it didn¡¯t illuminate. There existed shapes, but almost nonsensical in structure. And then there were sounds, deafeningly silent. It resembled a realm that defied normalcy, or more accurately, a place unnaturally natural. Strange in its origin, words appeared, shimmering in the darkness with a message of importance. It wasn¡¯t a language Gale was familiar with, and yet, something he fully understood. A figure?¡ª?almost translucent?¡ª?approached the boy, faintly touching no more than his chest. It burned, intensely so, leaving the mark of blackened skin. ¡°A divine blessing, did I read that right?¡± thought Gale. ¡°Goddess of the Black Night¡­¡± The boy opened his eyes with some difficulty, his limbs frozen still. With his vision adjusting, Gale noticed the little things?¡ª?furniture of fine make, masterfully crafted silver bowls, and wall paintings stroked with immense passion. As sensation slowly returned, he felt the bed that nestled his body, exquisitely soft and comforting. Given Gale¡¯s experience in the World of Transition, luxury was far from a commodity he had expected in abundance. And yet here he was, in a room that defined the very word. His head ached with patchy memories of a war that the Godvildian had almost lost. ¡°Did we win?¡± wondered Gale. ¡°Then again, this room doesn''t exactly remind me of a prison cell.¡± Gale slowly moved out of bed, groggy from his sleep. But something continued to hinder; it wasn¡¯t weakness. His body felt out of place, new and almost overwhelmed. He looked at his hands, confused, and then startled. His eyes drifted to the only mirror in the room, long enough to grant him full view. He had changed. The boy was taller, if only slightly, and more muscular than when he had first arrived in the World of Transition. He felt heavier, but not in a way that limited movement. But despite every change, none seemed to bother him more than the complexion of his skin, now as dark as coal, and also his eyes?¡ª?a deep amber colour, blessed with somewhat of a coppery tint. He pulled his cheeks and sighed, realizing that the alteration was more natural than external. ¡°It¡¯s just one surprise after another with this world,¡± thought Gale. ¡°And then there¡¯s this odd feeling that I can¡¯t seem to shake off.¡± With time, Gale found his body surpass the limitations of his past. Power surged through his veins, increasing by the second and almost infinitely so. But the rush was short-lived, dying away as the door opened behind him. ¡°You¡¯re awake then,¡± said a familiar face. ¡°The Hero of the Bridge.¡± ¡°Hero of the Bridge?¡± repeated Gale. ¡°I don¡¯t recall anything of the sort, Ser Zane.¡± ¡°You needn¡¯t address a blacksmith so formally, child,¡± said Zane. ¡°And Akshay is yet to stop singing of your exploits at the Bridge of Souls.¡± It came back to Gale, an instant in time from when he held complete control of Aeterna. He could still feel remnants of the soul-fires from inside his body, some etched into permanence within his soul. The boy now stood in the spotlight, a song for the bards, just as Bane had called it?¡ª?a declaration. ¡°Well, I suppose coming out alive from that situation does call for merriness,¡± acknowledged Gale. ¡°Speaking of which, where am I?¡± ¡°This is Arce Caelesti, the King¡¯s Castle of Suntaria, the strongest of the Godvildian kingdoms in this world,¡± said Zane in proud announcement. ¡°And you have a lot of catching up to do, considering your two-week slumber.¡± ¡°Two weeks?¡± asked Gale, a little surprised. ¡°This isn¡¯t particularly comforting to hear.¡± As an appraiser, Zane had sensed the change within the boy with greater clarity. In a world subject to infinite time, Gale projected what could only be described as urgency. It was growth beyond comprehension, a rarity amidst rarities?¡ª?rushed and uncontrolled. ¡°I¡¯m sure you have questions that need answering,¡± said Zane with a smile. ¡°I promise to answer them all this time, given that I have the knowledge myself, of course.¡± ¡°How about my appearance then?¡± said Gale, taking a seat. ¡°I can tell that this is more than just a little tan.¡± ¡°Very well,¡± said Zane with a nod. ¡°In simpler terms, your change is a consequence of your existence in this world. But more precisely, the answer lies in a concept known as shared governance. Would you have happened to hear about this by any chance?¡± Gale shook his head, perplexed in his expression. ¡°The realm you call Earth, and our world are but two within innumerability,¡± explained Zane. ¡°They¡¯re all part of an intricate web, and some worlds through the course of time, form a unique bond.¡± ¡°That would explain your desire to use our world for soldiers then,¡± said Gale, absent any thought of resentment. ¡°But what does that have to do with governance?¡± ¡°The bond goes beyond merely traversing between worlds,¡± said Zane. ¡°Your gods can freely grant protection or bless divinity onto our people, just as our gods can in your world. We learn from each other; our students learn some of your mythology and history in addition to our own even, but that isn¡¯t limited to us denizens.¡± ¡°You say that the gods learn from each other as well?¡± guessed Gale.Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. ¡°That is correct,¡± said Zane. ¡°Ehedus and Baha don¡¯t merely bless us with powers; they also bestow knowledge. It¡¯s helped us in the past, looking at how your former world dealt with something similar.¡± ¡°And yet, it seems that we progressed in an entirely different manner,¡± said Gale. ¡°It¡¯s easy to claim the Earth to be more technologically advanced, for example.¡± ¡°Technology is a subjective word,¡± said Zane with a smile. ¡°We discovered magic, and your former people uncovered what you seem to call science. Our interaction seems to have reduced ever since, but we still try to study from your former world¡¯s progress.¡± ¡°But how does all this relate to my appearance?¡± ¡°When you meet certain conditions in this world, it is possible for you to gain favour with one of the gods from your former world?¡ª?shared governance,¡± said Zane. ¡°Now how the blessing itself manifests varies between gods. In your case, I¡¯m unfamiliar with it altogether, unfortunately. But it¡¯s easy enough to uncover through exploration.¡± Gale looked at his palms a second time, puzzled still. Through the conversation, it appeared as if his body had adjusted to its newer conditions. The power, it was real. For all the strength he once felt, it paled in comparison to what he now wielded. He yearned to understand it fully. ¡°I hadn¡¯t mentioned this before because there was no point,¡± said Zane, drawing the boy¡¯s attention once more. ¡°But with your tremendous growth, you should have received a blessing called the Eyes of Ehedus. Close your eyes and focus; it should work by itself now.¡± Gale did as was asked without question, shutting his eyes in deep concentration. If anything, his thirst for knowledge was far from satiated. But it was more than that. The boy had noticed it during his stance in the Bridge of Souls, a maddening desire for power. At the same time, it didn¡¯t feel entirely unattainable, almost as if all he had needed was for it to unlock from within him. In his focus, a familiar effect tingled his mind. Words appeared in the darkness, more clearly than it had before.
Race: High Human Blessing: Divinity from the Goddess of the Black Night Description: Your ancestry has earned you favour from Kalika, a powerful goddess of the Hindu pantheon. Celestial conditions met with the Elder Undead sacrifice. Effects: 1. Black Night¡¯s Skin Blessing from the Divine Goddess Kalika has turned your skin black. Physical abilities are enhanced. Swordplay is enhanced. Effects will improve through growth. 2. Amber Eyes The Divine Goddess Kalika has blessed you with her vision. You are now able to sense enemies and allies from a distance. Effects will improve through growth. 3. Resistance to Fire Elemental Magic 4. Resistance to Earth Elemental Magic 5. Black Tongue of the Wicked?¡ª???? Blessing: Wielder¡¯s Body Effects: 1. Formless Swordplay Your former life as a gymnast enables free-flowing swordplay that requires no stance. Effects will improve through growth. 2. Heart of Tranquility Ehedus was requested to help you observe the world from neutrality. You now possess the ability to remain calm despite your emotions. Immunity from Illusion Magic and Mind Manipulation Magic. 3. Body of Tranquility Ehedus was requested to bless you with a body that feels no pain despite damage taken. Immune to Paralysis. Magic: 1. Celeri Rosio High Humans are a race of master smiths, who perfected the art of absolute destruction. This magic is designed to corrode both organic and inorganic materials rapidly. A powerful Tier-10 magic, Celeri Rosio drains Aeter based on size and scale of use. It was invented by High King Castor Argonaut. 2. Eyes of Ehedus Ability to view the Ethereal Guidebook.
¡°What is this?¡± asked Gale, snapping back to reality. ¡°This is a guide; it¡¯s like a game from our world. Am I supposed to believe this?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure what you¡¯re talking about,¡± said Zane, stroking his beard. ¡°This is how our world has always been. As I had formerly mentioned, Ehedus blesses us through worship, and the guide serves to help us adapt to our growing magic and skills.¡± ¡°But some of it doesn¡¯t make any sense,¡± said Gale, regaining his composure. ¡°There are undescribed abilities, and something about me being a High Human?¡± ¡°Are you sure?¡± asked Zane, his curiosity piqued. ¡°A High Human?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°We suspected as much,¡± said Zane. ¡°I noticed it first with Noah Oblique, and Akshay¡¯s account of your battle against the Elder Undead confirmed it all the more. It¡¯s no wonder Bane chose you as its master; the sword itself was forged by a High Human, after all.¡± ¡°You¡¯re explaining very little again,¡± said Gale, scratching his head. ¡°And I would appreciate it if you didn¡¯t ask me to go on some annoying quest to seek some answers.¡± Zane laughed aloud at the comment, ¡°As promised, I¡¯ll explain as much as I know,¡± he said. ¡°Wielders aren¡¯t normally able to use more than enhancement-type magic or alchemy to complement their weapon-based skills, and yet, you hold in your possession a tenth-tier spell, powerful magic.¡± ¡°I happened to notice.¡± ¡°High Humans were a race of excellent smiths, unparalleled in that area of expertise,¡± continued Zane. ¡°But Ehedus granted them no such favour with elemental control; in time, they started manipulating the aeter within their body to invent their own magic, the kind that did not require a god¡¯s blessing?¡ª?an innate ability. It made them a fearsome race, and an influential presence in the World of Transition.¡± ¡°Well, this is positively awkward then,¡± said Gale, slumping his shoulders in exhaustion. ¡°Will you be shipping me off to their kingdom then?¡± Just as the boy finished, however, he caught what seemed to be a faint glimpse of sadness in the blacksmith¡¯s face. Zane appeared lost in thought, in remembrance of a time described in the books of old, a time that celebrated great and powerful kings. But more importantly, of a time from when this world held onto its former name. ¡°You needn''t worry about that,¡± said Zane softly. ¡°The High Humans are an extinct race.¡± Chapter XIV | Risen Half-Lord. Fallen General
Three Months After the Battle at the Bridge of Souls
Itwas another large room, minimally furnished and walls painted to suit the stone floors. Gale sat at a distance from a curved table with three men seated behind it. He recognized the knight that helped guide him to the World of Transition, and the man who led the Godvildian to victory in the Bridge of Souls. But despite an odd sense of familiarity, the boy failed to identify the third. ¡°I can at least assume that he¡¯s one of the Three Pillars,¡± thought Gale, the room in absolute silence. Akshay Bahrain rested his hands on the table, seated at the centre, and smiled. He realized that the presence of those on his side of the table together made the atmosphere tenser than it should have been. ¡°I¡¯m sorry we couldn¡¯t meet you sooner, Gale,¡± apologized Akshay. ¡°The three of us had to visit the Noxun capital to understand their stance presently.¡± ¡°And?¡± asked Gale. ¡°I might as well hear that it went well given my house arrest.¡± ¡°Well, the Noxun denied the existence of an alliance with the Relictan,¡± informed Akshay. ¡°But even with their earnest denials, we requested that they form a temporary pact of non-aggression with the Godvildian.¡± ¡°Requested?¡± said Gale, emphasizing the word with a touch of sarcasm. ¡°Well, that¡¯s good to hear.¡± ¡°Our discussions have a way of naturally working itself out,¡± said Akshay with a laugh. ¡°But more importantly, the matter of this present meeting; we simply wanted to help you understand your position in this world.¡± ¡°I¡¯d like to take lead on this, if I may, Lord Bahrain,¡± said Aaron, speaking for the first time. ¡°Very well,¡± said Akshay. ¡°Gale, it¡¯s important for me to ask if you¡¯ve ever wondered why we only ever recruit a single entity from your former world,¡± said Aaron. ¡°Better yet, why we don¡¯t venture in as frequently given our affinity to the earth realm.¡± ¡°A little bit,¡± admitted Gale. ¡°I did think I¡¯d run into more of my former people in this world.¡± ¡°It¡¯s unlikely you¡¯ll ever meet them,¡± said Aaron. ¡°The worldly laws forbid the existence of more than one of your kind in this realm at any given point of time. We¡¯ve tried bringing in more in the past, only to find them perish within days of arrival.¡± ¡°It¡¯s comforting to hear of these?¡ª?should I call them experiments?¡± said Gale. ¡°We don¡¯t find any happiness in bringing your former people misery,¡± said Aaron, his tone being genuinely sad. ¡°But these ventures have helped us a lot in the past, more than we could have ever imagined.¡± ¡°How so?¡± ¡°Time moves differently in the earth realm,¡± explained Aaron. ¡°Due to severely shorter lifespans, humans evolved with a more urgent sense of accomplishment. We have experienced breakthroughs in agriculture, weapon and armour production, medicine, and military tactics even, through your predecessors.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t merely recruit for your army then?¡± asked Gale, taken aback. ¡°No, not at all,¡± said Aaron. ¡°But it is true that the selection itself is randomized; Ehedus guides it, and we never know what we¡¯re bringing back to our world.¡± As the truth sunk in, Gale realized that the words hardly bothered him. The boy had grown accustomed to thriving beyond normalcy. He paused to consider if the singularity of his existence might have bothered him in his old world; not here, however, not in a world where knowledge and power ruled at the pinnacle of all else. ¡°Before you ask though,¡± said Aaron. ¡°In all my time here, I¡¯ve never once recruited someone within the range of your current combat class and potential. Even the three of us took a while to meet the conditions of a divine blessing.¡± ¡°The Three Pillars of Suntaria, was it?¡± thought Gale. ¡°I¡¯m not surprised to hear that they hold their own divine blessings as well.¡± ¡°There is another thing, Gale,¡± interjected Akshay. ¡°It¡¯s true that we¡¯ve had soldiers in the past come from the earth realm, but even including all the others, they mostly transitioned as Godvildian. We still gave them a choice though.¡± ¡°A choice?¡± Gale slowly said. ¡°This is a free world,¡± said Akshay. ¡°I would like to extend to you a formal invitation to join the Suntarian army. Given your current class, it¡¯s not unreasonable to grant you immediate upper-knighthood. Of course, you¡¯ll have to choose a lord to serve under though.¡± ¡°That¡¯s correct,¡± said Aaron in agreement. ¡°It¡¯s nothing to scoff at if you look at the progression metrics as well.¡±
¡°While not binding, it¡¯s important to choose your lord carefully,¡± said Aaron in conclusion. ¡°By associating with us, you become beneficiaries of the divine blessing bestowed upon us. You can expect significant power growth through the ranks.¡± Gale paused for a moment to weigh his options. It was easy to understand that the Three Pillars of Suntaria reigned supreme, at the apex of the World of Transition; the opportunities were endless. He eyed each of the men present on the other end of the table, and noticed the one yet to speak. From inference, the boy deduced the darkly-clothed figure to be Masura Bloodseed. He remembered mention of him from Zane, of his annihilation of the Relictan forces at the Bridge of Souls. ¡°I¡¯m curious,¡± the boy finally said. ¡°As a High Human, I¡¯m grateful of your acceptance of me. And I have no qualms about serving the kingdom. But that¡¯s exactly it, I wish to serve the kingdom, not a lord.¡± For a moment, Aaron and Akshay looked toward each other, a confused expression on both their faces. But before either of two men could respond, the sound of laughter resounded throughout the room. Masura stood at once, visibly delighted by the boy¡¯s response. On cue, a guard entered the room holding what appeared to be a case. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t have chided you for joining any branch of the Suntarian military,¡± said Masura. ¡°But your potential doesn¡¯t require any coddling from us.¡± ¡°Lord Bloodseed, aren¡¯t you being too hasty?¡± appealed Aaron. ¡°With access to our guidance, his growth could become more exponential than it is already.¡±Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! ¡°Do you mean to say that your guidance is limited to your own soldiers and not to the benefit of others serving the kingdom, Lord Heart?¡± ¡°You know that¡¯s not what I meant,¡± said Aaron, surprised at his friend¡¯s approach to the situation. ¡°I meant that he would receive attributes of our divine blessing in addition to his own.¡± ¡°Boy,¡± said Masura, looking Gale in the eyes. ¡°Is this what you wish, the dilution of your divine blessing by merging it with one of our own?¡± Gale responded, without a moment¡¯s hesitation, ¡°I¡¯d honestly prefer exploring my growth on my own, without having to rely on anyone else.¡± Masura displaced a smaller table at one part of the room and placed it in front of Gale. The guard followed, setting the sealed case atop it. ¡°I extracted what remained of the dragon bones from the Elder Undead you had defeated,¡± said Masura. ¡°At the very top of Arce Caelesti is the divine forge?¡ª?Arce Male?¡ª?blessed by Vulcan, the blacksmith god of the Roman pantheon. I had Lord Zane develop an armour for you; the design ought to be of your liking as well.¡± ¡°I¡¯m interested to know what would¡¯ve happened had the boy chosen to join us instead,¡± said Akshay with a smile, accepting that there was no convincing either Masura or Gale. ¡°Quite simple,¡± said Masura. ¡°I would have destroyed the armour.¡± ¡°That sounds about right,¡± said Akshay. ¡°Well, even with this decision, we can¡¯t have someone with his combat class walk around without rank. I don¡¯t want any trouble from our people.¡± ¡°I have an idea for that as well,¡± said Masura. ¡°If he¡¯s not going to be part of the Suntarian forces, there¡¯s little point in granting him a military rank. Instead, he¡¯ll stand as a Combat Representative of the kingdom, a Half-Lord, merely a step below our own in rank.¡± ¡°Well, that does sound appropriate enough given his combat-class,¡± admitted Aaron. He turned to Gale and smiled appreciatively, adding, ¡°Your contributions deserve this much. But remember that this rank is only a representation of power and potential, not status.¡± ¡°That¡¯s correct,¡± continued Masura. ¡°We¡¯ll spread word of your triumph against the Elder Undead and grant you a medal to traverse through otherwise inaccessible parts of our lands. But you¡¯ll have to build a reputation for yourself just as we had to in our rise to the apex of Suntaria. Is this acceptable?¡± Gale looked a little overwhelmed, having been excluded from the discussion altogether. He touched the case on the table, and withdrew his hand, firm in his desires and expectations within the World of Transition. ¡°I accept,¡± the boy finally said without flinching. ¡°After nearly three months of training inside castle walls, I¡¯ve been itching to go outside. This opportunity, I won¡¯t let it go to waste.¡± ¡°Perfect,¡± praised Masura. ¡°In fact, I have just the quest for you to make a loud declaration of your arrival.¡± Gale smiled in secret, remembering that someone else had said the exact same thing. ---
Magellan had his back turned to the two visitors that had arrived, trustworthy soldiers from his elite guard. He looked at a map of Noctemar, a large quill pen in hand, and drew a rough outline of Turrim Gelida¡¯s borders on it. ¡°The expeditionary group discovered mineral deposits a few kilometres north of the third gate,¡± explained Magellan. ¡°I¡¯m thinking of gently expanding the border walls to secure the area. What do you the two of you think?¡± ¡°It¡¯s going to be a risky effort, Keeper,¡± said Rollo, offering his recommendation with a bow. ¡°The expansion will require vigilance, especially with the Snowfynds.¡± ¡°You make sense,¡± said Magellan. ¡°But visionaries don¡¯t limit their goals in the face of risk. This find could be rather big for us.¡± ¡°What the Keeper wills is for us to obey and follow,¡± said Rollo. ¡°We shall assist you to the best of our capacity.¡± Magellan turned to greet the two guards, a smile on his face. He brushed his beard and slowly walked around them. There was an odd sense of uncertainty within the atmosphere, something that piqued even Rollo¡¯s attention. The discomfort only escalated with time, and just as strangely dissipated all at once. ¡°I was once told that the trait of empathy is what makes a great leader,¡± said the Keeper of Noctemar. ¡°But over the years, I¡¯ve realized certain exceptions to the rule.¡± Within moments, Magellan stepped away, his axe unstrapped and ready. He swung unfeelingly, guided by the weight of his experience, and decapitated both guards. There was little resistance. He looked at the bodies of both men, disappointed at the thought of betrayal. At the table, he cleaned his blade with a moist cloth and rested. Magellan rubbed his eyes, tired from the day¡¯s affairs. But even with the conclusion that brought about the death of his men, a certain level of strangeness remained. ¡°The room itself is void of intent,¡± thought Magellan. ¡°There shouldn¡¯t be anything to worry about.¡± The Keeper opened his eyes to find nothing but darkness. As his vision adjusted, he noticed a vague silhouette obstructing the light. Startled, Magellan bolted to safety, boosting his speed with lightning-based elemental magic. He found a cloaked individual, dark in his complexion and with eyes of a fiercely crimson colour. ¡°I couldn¡¯t sense him; I still can¡¯t,¡± thought Magellan, a little unnerved. ¡°Where did he even come from?¡± ¡°I allowed you detect me vaguely the first time,¡± the figure said. ¡°After all, those two guards may have caused some problems. But you seemed aware of my presence even after I had completely masked my existence.¡± ¡°Aspect of Radiance: Thunderclap,¡± whispered Magellan, expanding his aeter for a powerfully violent aura to outline his body. ¡°Come, assassin!¡± ¡°Could it be pure instinct?¡± continued Vincent, ignoring Magellan¡¯s invitation for a battle. ¡°The battle instinct of a veteran isn¡¯t to be underestimated.¡± Magellan lowered his body in a stance, infused with the element of lightning. His nerves tickled with power, heightened in every way possible. He moved in inches, wary of the unknown. But with a strong desire toward taking the initiative, he sprinted ahead with murderous intent. Refined in his footwork, the dwarven warrior moved unpredictably, and had even managed to swerve into position behind the assassin. It was nearly perfect. Behind years of experience and talent, alongside a natural affinity to one of the strongest elements in the World of Transition, Magellan manoeuvred an attack that far exceeded expectation. But that¡¯s all there was to it, near perfection. The dwarven warrior stood within arm¡¯s length of his target, the grip on his axe weakening. In the face of death, he struggled to understand the magic that had brought him to a standstill. But there was blood?¡ª?in his throat, staining his teeth, and from his chest. ¡°This is beyond painful,¡± stammered Magellan, finding himself impaled by projections from the assassin¡¯s shadow. ¡°Feels about right, I suppose.¡± ¡°It¡¯s the Asuran aspect, Shadow Spear,¡± explained Vincent. ¡°I pray that you rest well in oblivion, good soldier.¡± ---
Vincent embraced the cold blizzard, succumbing to its magnificence. He was outside the walls of Turrim Gelida, the free lands of Noctemar. His feet sunk into the snow, swallowing the darkness around him. There was little to see. But there was something he was ordered to return with after his assignment. After a short wait, they appeared. Just as in the legends, in a group?¡ª?large in number?¡ª?and as no more than silhouettes. They had surrounded him. One of them, their leader, walked through the shadows to greet Vincent. The assassin trembled just a little in excitement; there stood a Snowfynd in all its glory?¡ª?slim bodied, but with disproportionately large arms and legs. Vincent took a moment to appreciate the creature¡¯s bare limbs, covered in muscles tougher than the sternest of unenchanted armour. There was also the fur, beautifully soft and graced to offer immunity from the cold. But nothing mesmerized more than the perfectly blue crystal firmly embedded onto the creature¡¯s chest, a treasure among treasures. The Snowfynd growled, commanding the others to tighten formation. ¡°I do apologize for trespassing,¡± said Vincent. ¡°But I will be taking that crystal now.¡±
Chapter XV | The Beginning of a Quest Gale wore equipment well-suited to his new complexion, a tunic measured to perfection along with a pair of pants?¡ª?ebony-coloured and sewn from Dragon-Ash. Without any sleeves, his arms stood protected by no more than a pair of intricately designed vambraces, while his neck donned what appeared to be a bevor, both forged from Dragonbone. There was armour around the waist as well, an ornate addition to what might have been a unique set in the World of Transition. Despite the materials behind its construct, the armour held onto a modern design suited to mobility-based combat, barely showing signs of having been made from bone or ash. ¡°My aeter distribution is much cleaner with this equipment; it should improve control as well,¡± the boy said on observation. ¡°If I recall correctly, Ser Zane did mention the armour being enchantment-friendly. Though, considering its permanence, I ought to choose those more carefully.¡± Gale shifted his eyes to a wooden sign post, letters faded and worn from years of duty. He walked a little closer, reading the words?¡ª?Basaraa Village. It was where his quest was to begin, a quest for which Lord Bloodseed offered little information. At the entrance, Gale offered a badge etched with concentric triangles on one side and the seal of the Suntarian military on the other. ¡°This isn¡¯t counterfeit,¡± the village guard said. ¡°But I don¡¯t believe I¡¯ve ever seen such a mark. Is there a new lord in Suntaria?¡± ¡°No, there is no new lord,¡± said Gale, smiling as he did. ¡°It¡¯s the mark of a separate division within the Suntarian military, Combat Representation. I¡¯m the first to be part of it.¡± ¡°Sounds very interesting,¡± the guard said with a laugh. ¡°I suppose that makes you someone big then?¡± ¡°Nothing too extravagant.¡± ¡°I like you, boy,¡± the guard said. ¡°The name is Mar; I wish you pleasant business in Basaraa Village.¡± ¡°Gale,¡± the boy said, returning the favour. ¡°I¡¯m sure I will.¡± A small village located in the mountainous regions of the Godvildian realm, Basaraa counted a population of not more than five-hundred people. It was funnily noted for lacking a pub, which led to its lack of popularity amongst wandering adventurers. Nonetheless, the village formed an integral part of the Godvildian trade routes given their reputation for the crafting of quality leather and cloth-based equipment. Gale received a warm welcome from most of the villagers inside?¡ª?ordinary people unfazed by the boy¡¯s amber eyes and complexion. When he announced the purpose of his visit, one of them offered to guide him to the Village Elder¡¯s house even. ¡°I find that good, young men are often the first to die,¡± the villager said. ¡°Is the military worth it, considering how much it takes away from you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m in no position to disagree with you, milady,¡± said Gale, respectful in his tone. ¡°But there is nothing else I¡¯m good at in this world.¡± ¡°Please be at ease,¡± the villager said, laughing aloud. ¡°You can call me Lana; there is no need for honorifics. And speaking of your worldly worth, you mustn¡¯t be so quick to put yourself down.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been blamed for that too often.¡± Given Lana¡¯s age and demeanour, Gale couldn¡¯t help but remember his mother. But as much as it bothered him, there was little emotion attached to the remembrance. He shook his head in attempt to disperse all thought. It confused Lana, who hastened her steps to march ahead. After having overtaken Gale, she turned to press her palm against his forehead. ¡°You should be careful,¡± said Lana kindly. ¡°It¡¯s difficult to get used to the weather out here; but you don¡¯t appear to have a fever.¡± ¡°A lot like my mother,¡± thought Gale. ¡°It was ignorant of me to think that I may have been able to forget them completely.¡± The two of them parted ways at an ordinary-looking house, built like any other in the village. Gale thanked the lady for her service, and proceeded to enter. The inside was sparsely furnished, but decorated extravagantly with odd things of varying value. With no one in sight, the boy looked around until stumbling onto a short table fitted with what resembled a bell.The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Gale took a seat and tapped at it, causing it to ring just like it did in his former world. It still amused him, the little similarities. He heard a cough, and then footsteps. Eventually, a short, old lady appeared, dressed as ordinarily as the house itself. ¡°Elder Gram?¡± said Gale, uncertain in his tone. ¡°I¡¯ve come here as a representative of the Suntarian military for the request that was posted.¡± ¡°Well met, child,¡± the lady warmly said. ¡°I must apologize for my keep; it must be unlike what you are used to at the capital city. And yes, I am Gram.¡± ¡°Not at all, Revered Elder,¡± said Gale with a low bow. ¡°I am only a recent recruit and in no position to judge your status or situation.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t remember the last time I met someone as polite as you are,¡± said Gram. ¡°Your divine blessing is well earned.¡± Gale lost composure over the remark, but quickly regrouped to assess the information at hand. As far as he could tell, the fact about his blessing was far from common knowledge, bound between Zane and the Three Pillars of Suntaria alone. ¡°You needn¡¯t panic,¡± said the Elder. ¡°I had initially taken you to be a demi-human, but I¡¯ve lived a long time, and I am yet to come across one as fiercely dark as you are. There are fewer stories still of humanoid creatures that fit your description. But given the oddity of your appearance, I concluded to the existence of a blessing.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Revered Elder,¡± said Gale, bowing once more. ¡°For a moment, I had suspected something awry.¡± ¡°Please, don¡¯t be; it¡¯s only natural,¡± said Gram. ¡°And yes, the request; were you briefed about it by any chance?¡± ¡°No,¡± admitted Gale. ¡°I was merely instructed to arrive at Basaraa Village and hear of it from you.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll explain as much as I can then,¡± said Gram. ¡°We are craftsmen by trade, very good in fact. And much of the materials we use are from Basaraa Forest, which happens to be home to several lesser monsters and humanoids. ¡°Expeditionary groups are escorted by the Village Guard, and it¡¯s a system that¡¯s helped us survive. There¡¯s also the barrier that was erected long before my time; a three-part spell strongest at the border and weaker through the distance.¡± ¡°If I may, how much of the forest have your expeditionary groups explored?¡± Gale asked out of curiosity. ¡°We mostly stay within the area in between the first and second barrier,¡± revealed Gram. ¡°But we have ventured beyond the third barrier as well. It was important to map the forest, and some of the better materials are more commonly found past the second barrier.¡± ¡°Have either the monsters or humanoids become restless with this activity?¡± ¡°For as long as I have lived, the forest creatures have been benevolent,¡± said Gram. ¡°We respect the marked territories, and in return, they let us explore without worry. Not the goblins though; they¡¯re too greedy to accept a pleasant enough relationship. It¡¯s beyond fixable, ever since they began feeding on us as well.¡± Time had slowly begun to unravel the World of Transition, its denizens and its laws. This was a divergence for Gale, an occurrence that didn¡¯t comply with the earth realm. Not that it bothered him; but the discovery of humanoids beyond the three great races did fascinate him to a certain degree. In his mind, goblins marked merely the first step toward long exploration. ¡°Does the request have anything to do with exterminating the goblins?¡± asked Gale, eager to set foot in Basaraa Forest. ¡°In part, but it¡¯s not as simple as that,¡± said Gram, a grim expression on her face. ¡°Our guards are often able to handle the goblins by themselves, but it¡¯s the Hearth King causing problems.¡± ¡°The Hearth King?¡± repeated Gale. ¡°Goblins are of low intelligence, and are rarely able to work in large groups,¡± explained Gram. ¡°But a Hearth King is a once in a hundred years evolution of intelligence and strength. We don¡¯t fully understand it, but the goblins unite under the king¡¯s presence. And this one has been able to push in as close as the village borders. We¡¯ve lost a lot of good soldiers to his command.¡± ¡°I believe I understand what I must do now,¡± said Gale. ¡°Rest assured that the issue will be taken care of, hopefully sooner than later.¡± ¡°We are in your care, young child,¡± Gram warmly said. ¡°Also, remember that we are open to doubling the reward if you¡¯re able to exterminate or disband the goblins in under a year.¡± Gale nodded in acknowledgment. Gram stepped away from the table and retreated to one of two rooms in her house, returning shortly after. She handed the boy a map and what appeared to be a small pouch. ¡°We¡¯ll need proof of the Hearth King¡¯s death,¡± said Gram. ¡°Through the evolution, the creature is known to acquire a pair of horns. You may keep one as a reward; a King¡¯s Horn has great use in aeter enhancement medication. The pouch is enchanted to preserve its quality.¡± ¡°And the map?¡± asked Gale. ¡°There are safety zones within the deeper regions of Basaraa Forest,¡± said Gram, pointing at marked locations on the map. ¡°You should be able rest there comfortably; it¡¯s also well-stocked with food and hunting equipment.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take my leave then,¡± said Gale. ¡°Thank you for all your guidance.¡± Chapter XVI | The Eternal Dance
Aaron Heart read the contents of a message sent from Noctemar and frowned. He exited his chambers, paper in hand, and marched over to the common grounds. Past the door, the knight paused to reread the message once more. It didn¡¯t help. Visibly frustrated, he walked over to his two companions?¡ª?already in the midst of a conversation. ¡°Well met, Aaron,¡± greeted Akshay. ¡°I was trying to probe into Masura¡¯s absent years; he¡¯s been firmly silent. Perhaps you¡¯ll have better luck?¡± ¡°As much as that interests me, there is another matter we must discuss,¡± said Aaron. ¡°I apologize for waiting until now to mention it, but I had preferred handling this internally. It appears that I may have underestimated the situation at hand.¡± ¡°Do tell, my friend,¡± said Akshay, straightening his back. ¡°You have our ears.¡± ¡°It started some time ago, before the war at the Bridge of Souls even,¡± said Aaron, a little strained in his voice. ¡°There was a string of assassinations across the lower levels of the military, unaffiliated generals mostly. We did investigate the matter, but there was nothing of note to be found.¡± ¡°Yes, I do recall such reports,¡± said Akshay. ¡°Personnel visiting family, or sent to duty in a different region under Godvildian rule, but never on Suntarian soil. Is that it?¡± ¡°That is correct,¡± said Aaron, affirmatively. ¡°But it never affected our military strength or command, at least not until a few months ago when General Raego fell on a visit to Little Guard.¡± ¡°This is interesting,¡± said Masura. ¡°One of your own, I take it?¡± ¡°Right; well, I directed more of our spies to strengthen the reach of our investigation, but to no avail,¡± said Aaron. ¡°This person is skilled beyond measure, but matters did slow through the war at the Bridge of Souls. Short-lived peace, however; Noctemar just sent news.¡± Akshay raised an eyebrow, the air increasingly tense. Masura, despite his absence, also knew of the implications behind the mention of Noctemar. They knew who resided as Keeper in the region, and the dwarf was no ordinary soldier. But with incomplete information in hand, the two Suntarian lords waited for Aaron to break news. ¡°This hits my military strength quite significantly,¡± said Aaron, his voice?¡ª?a slight stammer, as he handed the message over to his comrades. ¡°And personally, because I lost a lot more than just a good soldier. I lost a friend.¡± The two lords took turns reading the message from Noctemar, which also happened to include minor mention of the Snowfynds?¡ª?something about the discovery of several corpses near the borders of Turrim Gelida. Once finished, Akshay slowly slid the report back over to Aaron¡¯s end of the table. ¡°I¡¯m sorry to hear of this, old friend,¡± said Akshay sympathetically. ¡°We¡¯ve lost good soldiers in recent times; at least Aayush had the honour of dying in the battlefield.¡± ¡°I sympathize as well, but we must move quickly on this matter,¡± said Masura. ¡°Did your preliminary investigations unveil a path to follow; anything suspicious?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve looked at both the Noxun and the Relictan,¡± revealed Aaron. ¡°However, I believe it to be more strongly a Noxun effort. I noticed several inconsistencies in their stand during our visit there as well.¡± ¡°Such as?¡± ¡°Masura, I know of your feats at Sol Sanctum,¡± said Aaron with a smile. ¡°I visited the place shortly after; it was there that Great Healer Vetus revealed to me of an alliance between the Noxun and the Relictan?¡ª?a united stand against us.¡± ¡°The Noxun leaders did strongly oppose any affiliation with the Relictan,¡± recalled Akshay. ¡°And I do remember you briefing me about the matter, Aaron.¡± ¡°This is best investigated through the Relictan kind,¡± said Masura. ¡°I believe it¡¯s time we send some of our spies to monitor the movement of the lords. Do either of you wish to oppose this train of thought?¡± ¡°No,¡± said Aaron and Akshay in unison. ---
There were stories of it in legend, or rather?¡ª?mythology. It was odd. Gale wondered if much of the literature in the earth realm stemmed from the World of Transition. He remembered mention of how the worlds formerly exchanged knowledge; it did fascinate him to a certain degree, considering his adoration of books and legend before death. The boy touched the hilt of his sword, wary of the presence in front of him. It posed little threat, especially with the barrier around camp?¡ª?an impressive mechanism built for expeditionary groups from Basaraa Village. Gale wondered how much longer he would have to wait. It had been a little over four hours since the creature first arrived, and it was yet to leave. Gale looked around, his eyes quick to identify potential threats, ¡°Not bad; there are a lot of benefits to these eyes I now possess.¡± Thoroughly satisfied, the boy snapped his attention back to the creature ahead, ¡°It appears to just be us for now; most of those in the vicinity seem to be moving away from here.¡± Another hour passed, and the creature finally stepped out of obscurity?¡ª?taller than the boy by at least a few feet and heavily built. It held what appeared to be an axe made of stone, but rough and of primitive craftsmanship. Hair, as black as the night itself, covered much of its body, adding to the ferocity of its eyes?¡ª?redder than hot coal. It rocked its head, horned and shaped like that of a bull¡¯s, eager for combat. ¡°Do you want me to step out of the barrier?¡± asked Gale, curiously. ¡°You¡¯ve been patient enough to stare at me all this while.¡±Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. In frustration, the creature grunted. On occasion, it forced an exhalation?¡ª?hot and visible?¡ª?through its nostrils. But that¡¯s all there was to its communication. ¡°They called you a Minotaur in my old world,¡± said Gale. ¡°I suppose now is as good a time as any to analyse the abilities of this new body.¡± Gale stepped out from the barrier, drawing his sword through the advance. The minotaur stood motionless, twitching with excitement. For a moment, the boy observed what must have been a smile, merely a flash of something humanlike in what the World of Transition deemed a monster. And then it occurred, a charge of wild ferocity, unhindered by nothing but the rules of nature. Gale met the creature¡¯s axe with his sword, tilting it in the direction of the attack. His feet moved on instinct, swerving around the creature to a safe distance. Despite the weight behind both the weapon and the charge, the boy found his movements to be effortless. There was a difference. Gale remembered his battle against Noah, the Relictan Lord, who at the time stood an unsurmountable challenge?¡ª?something that pushed him to the brink of death. ¡°That was months ago; and you¡¯re clearly weaker than Lord Noah Oblique,¡± thought Gale, addressing the minotaur in his head. ¡°But just how much stronger am I in comparison presently?¡± Gale sprinted away from the minotaur, allowing a chase in which the latter was no more than a step behind. At the sight of a clearing, the boy turned and darted toward his target, switching directions without a moment¡¯s notice. Disoriented, the minotaur?¡ª?on instinct?¡ª?swung its axe, and with deadly precision despite its situation. The attack, however, was still within bounds of the boy¡¯s calculations. He ducked, with seasoned efficiency and pushed ahead, cleaving the minotaur¡¯s free arm through the assault. Gale swiped the blood clean from his sword and gently stabbed it against the soil. He took in a deep breath and manipulated the aeter within his body, lowering its output to a suitable level. Deliberately weakened and unarmed, Gale taunted another charge from the minotaur. In evasion, the boy danced, and in offense, he struck with tenacity. His bloodlust heightened, managed only by the tranquillity bestowed upon him. As the minutes passed, Gale moved with ambition, breaking the creature free from one of its horns. He danced with a violent passion and tore through the other, leaving the minotaur writhing in pain. When the minutes had turned to hours, little remained of the creature¡¯s spirit. Gale faced the minotaur, now on its knees, with neither emotion nor expression. He retrieved and raised his sword?¡ª?its tip pointing to the heavens, and whispered a prayer. The boy¡¯s arms trembled with urgency, his murderous intent barely in check. And then it fell, in fluid motion and without resistance. ¡°Is this a side-effect from the blessing?¡± thought Gale. ¡°It appears that my tranquillity has partially failed.¡± For some reason, the madness lingered. His feet moved without command, settling into a dance that frightened the forest itself. Gale finished at the minotaur¡¯s chest, stomping his feet through flesh and bone alike. In a frenzy, he continued to dance over the corpse until something emerged. Drenched in sweat, Gale stopped to stare at what may have been the minotaur¡¯s soul-fire. It hovered without desire to move toward Aeterna, a strangeness the boy was unfamiliar with. ¡°You must eat it,¡± said a voice. ¡°I¡¯m afraid even your tranquillity won¡¯t be able to fully restrain the effects of the Eternal Dance.¡± ¡°The Eternal Dance?¡± repeated Gale, puzzled in his expression. ¡°I¡¯ll need you be more specific, Bane.¡± ¡°You¡¯re still not used to your Divine Blessing, the one from Kali of the Hindu Pantheon,¡± explained Bane. ¡°In Sanskrit, her name itself implies the cycle of creation, life, and death. You killed the minotaur, and in consuming its soul-fire, you allow the creature to live through you. This dance is a representation of that cycle, and you must complete it.¡± ¡°Why is it not moving to Aeterna?¡± ¡°A soul-fire cultivates as the body decomposes,¡± said Bane. ¡°As the circle of life demands, the body must return to the earth, while Aeterna welcomes the soul. Your dance triggered the soul-fire¡¯s emergence well in advance.¡± As the forest settled into darkness, the once distant creatures had begun to return. With the minotaur¡¯s passing, the territory was free for occupation. Gale knelt and pulled the soul-fire with him, apologetic of having stolen its opportunity to reunite with Aeterna. The madness tore through him from the inside; there was little time. Gale opened his mouth and swallowed the soul-fire in its entirety, cultivating its power in his chest. In time, the essence merged with the boy¡¯s power, showing little repulsion. As the process continued, his mind returned to its regular state of being. Gale felt his tranquillity return, and his power rise with it. He retreated to the safety of the camp, unsure of how the minotaur impacted his body. ¡°No change in my appearance, or how I feel,¡± thought Gale. After a quick assessment, the boy closed his eyes, recalling his other point of access to information. Amidst the darkness, words appeared?¡ª?most of which remained unchanged. But there were changes.
5. Black Tongue of the Wicked
You have awakened the tongue of the Divine Goddess Kalika. Soul-fires may now be consumed to complete the Eternal Dance; there is a small chance for your own abilities to mutate because of this.
Gale raised his eyebrows, his curiosity piqued. He investigated the guidebook once more, eager to uncover the occurrence of a mutation, if any.
1. Black Night¡¯s Skin
A mutation has occurred. You have received the Minotaur¡¯s Last Will. Endurance and strength will show significant improvement.
2. Amber Eyes
A mutation has occurred. You have received the Minotaur¡¯s Last Will. Area of effect will show significant improvement.
¡°Are you presently available, Bane?¡± asked Gale, scratching his chin; there was no response. The boy stopped to ponder the implications of having an ability of such high versatility. Just as Bane and Masura had foreshadowed, Gale slowly began to believe that there was more to it?¡ª?his existence as a singularity in the World of Transition. He retreated to the comfort of his bed, dismissing the thoughts as irrelevant. ¡°It¡¯s been a month already,¡± thought Gale. ¡°Goblin occurrences have not been as common as I had anticipated; should I perhaps venture beyond the third barrier?¡±
Chapter XVII | When Fate Collides
Once under Noxun rule, Veilantiff now stood a symbol of gloomy desolation. It remained shrouded in mystery, an abandoned village that once bustled with people at its prime. There were those that admired the village¡¯s eagerness to trade and remain relevant, with several boats and ships docking at their port on an almost daily basis. No more. Its existence made little sense, even more so than its overnight demise. Investigative groups ventured in to find no more than burned corpses, broken houses, and an unnerving absence of life. When pressed for more information, the groups cited having experienced an oppressive pressure?¡ª?a feeling of dread and despair. As the years passed, eerie lights and sightings of strange creatures fuelled rumours of hauntings in the village. And in time, even the Noxun strayed from their association with Veilantiff. ¡°Why am I here again?¡± asked Masura, sighing aloud. Along the shores, a couple thousand kilometres northeast to the village, marked a path to Booneswick Forest?¡ª?another oddity, not unlike Veilantiff, in the World of Transition. It represented tall trees in a windless environment, absent any other form of life. It wasn¡¯t uncommon for frequent travellers to choose an alternative route to avoid the forest, despite its safety. ¡°I¡¯ve heard that the silence is maddening,¡± remarked Aaron. ¡°Is it normal to hear your heartbeat here, I wonder?¡± Arce Speculatio placed merely a floor beneath the Vulcan-blessed forge of Arce Caelesti. Nine feminine sculptures decorated the circumference of its walls, each pointing to what appeared to be the statue of a golden-maned horse. Hung across its neck was a peculiar horn, strange in its emanation of aeter. Familiar with its functionalities, Akshay Bahrain placed the horn atop a stone-cut table at the centre of the room. He accessed the minds of his comrades and synchronized it with his own, manipulating the horn to act as a fulcrum between the three Godvildian Lords. ¡°Access Ability: Godly Hearing,¡± whispered Akshay. Aloud he said, ¡°Let¡¯s not take too long with this little activity of ours.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t fret, Akshay,¡± said Masura. ¡°I¡¯m not particularly eager to have this prolong for longer than is necessary.¡± ¡°That¡¯s no way to talk to an old friend, Masura,¡± said Aaron, chuckling as he did. ¡°There¡¯s a lot the Relictan have to answer for; I¡¯d like to savour my time with them.¡± Akshay admired the treasure that was Arce Caelesti, even more so the smaller treasures within it. Speculatio was merely a tiny example of Godvildian strength, an exceptional existence blessed by the Norse God, Heimdallr himself. ¡°Let¡¯s begin then, shall we?¡± asked Akshay with a smile. ¡°On your command, Lord Bahrain,¡± replied his two other comrades. ---
After a prolonged silence, two pairs of eyes observed the peace of Argleton?¡ª?a town under Godvildian reign, not far from Booneswick Forest. One stood dressed in enchanted robes and a monocle suited to his talents, while the other?¡ª?heavily armoured and with a hammer more massive than the man himself. They were opposites?¡ª?short and round as opposed to tall and heavy, a magical genius as opposed to a master with the hammer. But despite the differences, the Relictan kind could hardly deny their sense of camaraderie, bound together by a singular goal. ¡°Why the need to stop here, Ulric?¡± asked the taller of the two. ¡°This is unwanted attention.¡± ¡°It would be difficult to open the gate by myself, Rahu,¡± said Ulric. ¡°I¡¯ll need a catalyst for us to succeed.¡± ¡°Troublesome, but unavoidable,¡± said Rahu, gloomily. ¡°Would you like me to descend?¡± ¡°No,¡± said Ulric, shaking his head. ¡°There¡¯s a faster, more efficient way to do this.¡± Without change in expression, Ulric commanded the earth beneath his feet. The soil moistened, changing composition to become more swamp-like. Rahu stepped away, cautious of the magic set in motion. As Ulric finished, the aeter-manipulated soil weakened, enough to swallow its caster whole. Rahu tilted his head, and later smiled as the earth returned to its former composition, leaving little trace of aeter interference.If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. Under the illusion of peace, Ulric moved with stealth and precision, liquefying the soil as he did. At a distance from his comrade, and near the borders of Argleton, the Relictan Lord surfaced for observation. Patient in his conquest, he spread his presence across the town, until not a corner remained. ¡°Circulus Magia: Cultivate Parasite,¡± whispered Ulric, triggering his magic. ¡°My gift, without discrimination.¡± Combat-class, a word the World of Transition valued above all else. It defined either your affinity toward a particular element or your prowess with tools. To be loved by the gods, or banished into oblivion?¡ª?a simple fact that mattered. In such a world, Ulric¡¯s presence as a lord amongst Relictans puzzled most of those aware of his past. Born with an affinity towards one of the weaker elements in nature, and with an even weaker constitution, Ulric faced a bottleneck hard to overcome. In his earlier years, he suffered from a lack of strength despite a gluttonous appetite. ¡°But I made a wager, didn¡¯t I?¡± mused Ulric. ¡°To walk away from Relictan traditions, to walk away from cannibalism.¡± And then it occurred, an aberration among aberrations?¡ª?the creation of a magic-class, unwitnessed since the era of Castor Argonaut. As Ulric drifted into some of his older memories, the sequence activated upon the town of Argleton. Dormant bacteria spurred to life, cultivated by the essence of his spell. They emerged from the soil and with devastating effect, corrupting all that it touched. In despair, the townspeople dropped to their knees, gasping for breath. They scratched their throats, now dry, as the moisture drained from their bodies. When Ulric decided to surface once more, there was little left of the town. Standing amidst a graveyard of his own making, the Relictan Lord embraced the result of his work. He then scratched the back of his head, and took a seat, awaiting what was to come. Slowly, the soul-fires emerged?¡ª?from what remained of the bodies of those subject to rapid decomposition. Shortly after, Ulric released his hold over the spell, sending the bacteria into slumber. Having ascertained the demise of Argleton, he looked over his shoulder and gestured for his comrade¡¯s company. ¡°That did not take long,¡± said Rahu. ¡°Just as you had promised.¡± ¡°The soul-fires are functioned to emerge after decomposition,¡± explained Ulric. ¡°My magic is merely well-suited to accelerate the process.¡± With a firm nod, Rahu extracted what appeared to be a small vial. He uncorked the container and pointed it toward the soul-fires while Ulric shepherded them with aeter-made blockades. Their purity crumbled in the presence of the vial?¡ª?their shape eroding into something more fluid. Merciless in their pursuit, Rahu collected what remained of the soul-fires. ¡°An enchantment scripted to strip the soul-fires of their memories,¡± whispered Ulric, almost a thought. ¡°With this, the people of Argleton will no longer be able to return to Aeterna; I wonder, what would that feel like exactly?¡± ¡°Your cruelty is something to fear, dear friend,¡± said Rahu, sighing aloud. ¡°Even I wouldn¡¯t go as far as ridding my victims of a chance at reincarnation.¡± A strange light now emanated from the vial, hypnotic in its effect. Ulric shrugged, ¡°Unsurprisingly, it doesn¡¯t particularly bother me.¡± ---
Jacquelyn shivered at the thought of her destination. She called it nervous excitement, the result of venturing into an unknown. At the entrance, she stopped to study her map of the region?¡ª?an area bound by erraticism. Despite appearances of frailty, the Relictan Lord was far from frightened of the task at hand. ¡°Why couldn¡¯t Ulric handle this location?¡± grumbled Jacquelyn, yawning as she did. ¡°He even took Rahu along for his little expedition; how bothersome.¡± Veilantiff greeted its visitor with an unnatural stillness, allowing the latter to explore the village without issue. She navigated through the old streets, having memorized the map, and observed the olden architecture?¡ª?now blackened and vile. The air was as the legends had mentioned, overpoweringly foul, and eager to corrupt. But, despite the impediments, the Relictan Lord soldiered through to reach what appeared to be the largest house in the village. ¡°The Elder¡¯s house; this should be perfect,¡± thought Jacquelyn. ¡°I¡¯ll need to complete my map before proceeding any further.¡± But something occurred before entry, a presence that stalled Jacquelyn¡¯s progress. She paused and looked over her shoulder, curiously. Her eyes focused beyond the material world, identifying a presence that transcended well beyond normalcy. With a little effort, the Relictan Lord ascertained the approaching force to be Godvildian. Adding onto it, she managed to uncover the identity of the person as well. She turned away from the house and smiled. ¡°Fate is a funny thing, is it not?¡± whispered Jacquelyn, drowning into thought. ¡°It spirals together many things; some manage to evolve in harmony, and most clash toward destruction. In this cycle of fate, as time continues to pass, we were bound to meet?¡ª?the Godvildian Pillars, the Noxun Grandmasters, and the Relictan Lords. What will happen when we finally collide; are we to all perish, or is there hope yet for harmony? The idea frightens me, and yet I choose to embrace it.¡± Jacquelyn felt an insurmountable pressure overwhelm her body, catching a glance of what she had sensed in the material world. Here stood a man even the Noxun Grandmasters feared, a man that stood atop a mountain, unrivalled. ¡°The reports were accurate, Akshay,¡± acknowledged the man. ¡°I¡¯ve discovered the Relictan Lord in Veilantiff. After assessment, I also confirm that she¡¯s the only one in the village.¡± ¡°Are you disappointed?¡± asked Jacquelyn, overhearing what was communicated. ¡°It¡¯s great to meet you, Lord Masura Bloodseed, finally.¡±
Chapter XVIII | Trade & Battle
It was a beautiful sight, something even the legends couldn¡¯t describe?¡ª?a radiant glow, white fur, and majestically blue eyes. History described the creature in mere paragraphs, as a rarity amongst rarities. Villagers from Basaraa knew of it from stories, an animal that combined the physical features of a stag and a bird. ¡°Another creature of mythology,¡± thought Gale. ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, this one should be able to use and understand human speech.¡± As a greeting, the animal spread its wings and bowed, casting a shadow that resembled its form. It intrigued the boy, an interaction of uncertainty. But behind the mask of elegance, Gale sensed a difference, almost sinister in its nature. ¡°Are you a peryton, perhaps?¡± asked Gale, politely. ¡°I should consider myself lucky; the forest has graced me a meeting with not one, but two creatures of myth.¡± ¡°The way you speak, it¡¯s as if you know of us,¡± said the stag. ¡°I see suspicion in your eyes, however; strange, especially for someone new to this world.¡± ¡°You hold an aura of neutrality, maybe indifference even; my eyes can tell,¡± revealed Gale. ¡°But beyond that truth, I also sense something fragile, almost as if ready to break into hostility.¡± ¡°Uncommon knowledge, not something I expected of someone from this region,¡± the creature admitted, a little surprised. ¡°May I ask what gave it away?¡± Gale smiled, recalling a fragment of happiness from his past. He pictured hundreds of books, and his presence in a library, late into the night. His mother, and even the librarians would often observe him from a distance?¡ª?lost in thought and in a world of his own. It was his fortress, a place of comfort and safety. With the peryton in front of him, Gale stifled a laugh. For all his fascination, rarely did he imagine an opportunity for existence within a fantastical world. And here he stood, an embodiment of those dreams. ¡°I¡¯ve heard that the secret lies in the shape of your shadows,¡± said Gale, matter-of-factly. ¡°Perytons cast their own forms after having taken a life; is that accurate though?¡± ¡°Few know of this,¡± the peryton said with a bow. ¡°But I seek no quarrel with a being of your strength and resolve. We might even be able to help you.¡± ¡°You know of why I¡¯m here,¡± said Gale. ¡°It is only appropriate for me to hear you out then.¡± ¡°We have observed small groups attempt to make contact or kill the Hearth King,¡± the creature revealed. ¡°Unsuccessful, and for good reason. This one is different.¡± ¡°Different?¡± repeated Gale. ¡°In our experience, the kings of the past rarely possessed more intelligence than what was required to bend the wills of lesser goblins,¡± said the peryton. ¡°The one that you seek, he¡¯s blessed with divinity. I see resolve, perhaps as strong as yours; it is to conquer. He learns, trains his troops, and commands with focus.¡± ¡°A variance, then?¡± said Gale, pondering over the creature¡¯s words. ¡°I suppose you know of his whereabouts.¡± ¡°We do,¡± the peryton acknowledged. ¡°But this information isn¡¯t something we can offer for free.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been wandering quite aimlessly for a while now,¡± said Gale, sighing aloud. ¡°Name your price; I might be able to figure something out.¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing too unreasonable,¡± the peryton said. ¡°One of the two horns should suffice.¡± Gale paused discussion. Compensation aside, the boy did desire one of the horns for the sake of experimentation. ¡°Elder Gram requires one as proof of assassination, and this trade with the peryton would leave me with none,¡± thought Gale. Aloud he said, ¡°The terms would¡¯ve been agreeable under normal circumstances, but stands a little disadvantageous given present situation. May I suggest something else?¡± ¡°Very well,¡± the peryton said with an affirmative nod. ¡°First, I would like to introduce myself,¡± the boy said. ¡°My name is Gale Storm, a representative from the Kingdom of Suntaria. And you are?¡± ¡°I am Ogrion, an Elder Sage amongst the perytons of Basaraa Forest,¡± the creature said. ¡°We are pleased to have made your acquaintance.¡± ¡°You negotiated trade, and also speak on behalf of your kind,¡± said Gale. ¡°I imagine that you must be someone with a lot of influence. Given your status, I have a couple of conditions with regards to the horn, which I am happy to part with should you agree.¡± ¡°Do tell,¡± said Ogrion, showing signs of uneasiness. ¡°After the task¡¯s completion, I would want full access to where you live, and any literature that you might be in possession of,¡± informed Gale. He folded his arms authoritatively, and added, ¡°Also, it would be great if you could provide any information that I may require in the future with regards to the region itself.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve tilted the trade in your favour,¡± said Ogrion. ¡°I do not see any incentive for us to agree to these terms.¡± ¡°But there is,¡± said Gale. ¡°In addition to the horn, I also pledge to answer your call during situations of danger. If I have an army by then, I will also move my soldiers to protect you. My desire is to acquire this world¡¯s knowledge, everything relevant to my growth. This is mutually beneficial, in my opinion.¡± ¡°Would you also require protection in return?¡± ¡°I might ask for help should the need ever arise,¡± the boy admitted. ¡°But you are not bound to answer my call; that will be your choice entirely.¡± Ogrion lowered his head and peered into the boy¡¯s eyes. In that moment, the peryton identified what only a few others had previously?¡ª?an existence unencumbered by the influence of the world. But despite temptation to press further ahead, the creature stepped away, thoroughly satisfied with its examination of Gale. ¡°As a representative of the perytons of Basaraa Forest, I accept the terms,¡± said Ogrion, bowing in acknowledgement. ¡°Let¡¯s hope you succeed in your endeavour with the Hearth King.¡±You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story. ---
Ulric navigated through the silence of Booneswick Forest, with Rahu not far behind. He walked, distracted and deep in thought. Without the option for conversation, Rahu spent much of his time studying the unsettling terrain?¡ª?a strange forest, bound to normalcy. It was a humid environment, with moistened soil and long shadows, the same as any other forest under similar conditions. But there was a strangeness attached to it, a region devoid of any common sense. Without wind, the leaves rustled, and without life, the forest stirred. As Rahu¡¯s ears adapted to the quiet, the sounds amplified?¡ª?heartbeats at first, and then the lungs. His mind wavered, unable to tolerate the incessant churning of his own stomach, until it stopped?¡ª?abruptly and without warning. Rahu shook his head and focused once more; it dampened what existed in the realm of reality. He tried harder, reaching into the absence to identify what must have been a voice?¡ª?a whisper. ¡°Don¡¯t listen,¡± said Ulric, shaking his companion by the arm. ¡°I chose to mumble for a reason.¡± ¡°What was that?¡± asked Rahu, rubbing his eyes. ¡°That was maddening, to say the least.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve studied this forest in the past, but the magic is old and unscripted,¡± said Ulric. ¡°From what I can tell, the silence is designed to slowly weaken your mind, and the whispers push you toward insanity.¡± ¡°Who do the whispers belong to?¡± asked Rahu. ¡°No one,¡± said Ulric, with a smile on his face. ¡°Apparently, the unceasing sounds of our insides are irritating enough for the mind to experience benign hallucinations. There¡¯s nothing too malicious about this magic; it¡¯s merely meant to deter people from being here for too long.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t say that I¡¯m amused,¡± admitted Rahu, shrugging as he did. ¡°How far until our destination?¡± ¡°We should be there soon enough,¡± said Ulric. ¡°Let¡¯s hope we don¡¯t run into too much trouble.¡± In time, the foliage thinned, paving way to a network of stone-made paths and architectures. Ulric brushed his fingertips against the walls, curious about its composition. It emanated magic beyond comprehension, not unlike the spell of deterrence across Booneswick Forest. But there was more. ¡°Unattended, yet preserved without visible signs of degradation,¡± observed Ulric. ¡°These structures are quite old; several thousand years, perhaps?¡± Based on the trail of magic, Ulric followed the path with the highest aeter density. It thickened through progress, tightening around their bodies, and with suffocating effect. As a distraction, Ulric dove into his memories, recalling his investigation into Booneswick Forest. ¡°Decorative stone-made structures, arranged in a manner appealing to the eye,¡± remarked Ulric. ¡°I believe this place was once called Gravestone Garden, Rahu.¡± At a distance, towards the centre of the garden, Rahu noticed a tall structure?¡ª?marvellous in its construct, and with a surface without blemish. It held the appearance of a castle in isolation, shrouded in mystery and uncertainty. There were statues as well, sculpted with diligent effort and a focus toward flawlessness. Without symmetry, the sculptures decorated the castle circumferentially, almost life-like in their postures?¡ª?armoured, bearing shields and swords. ¡°This must be Gravestone Castle, then?¡± asked Rahu. ¡°I¡¯m slowly beginning to despise the aeter density here.¡± ¡°It should be fine inside the castle,¡± assured Ulric. ¡°But there¡¯s something different about the aeter here; the magic appears to be the same, and yet the governing laws are different.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°The magic cast across the garden is at least of the eighth tier, a spell for preservation,¡± explained Ulric. ¡°There are some minor differences with the arrays at the castle, however. If I¡¯m reading the? aeter correctly, this should be a preservation spell for¡­¡± Ulric paused, whispering through the rest of his explanation. He looked around, a frantic expression on his face, and stepped away from the sculptures. There was movement, hidden amidst the shadows at first, and then defyingly visible. They marched with discipline, motivated by nothing more than the sequence of commands that moved them. ¡°It¡¯s life preservation; I believe they seek to repel or destroy us,¡± said Ulric, with a smile. ¡°Circulus Magia: Cultivate Parasite.¡± With the incantation, the ground moistened, hindering the progress of the sculptures. Just as it was in Argleton, the bacteria stirred, infesting the stone-made bodies, but with little effect. In retaliation, Gravestone¡¯s guardians hastened march, echoing a stronger desire for victory. Momentarily weakened by the backlash of his spell, Ulric watched the sculpture, nearest to him, ready its blade for attack. But despite the unfavourable odds, the sword never fell. ¡°Some things you¡¯re good at, Ulric,¡± said Rahu, shattering the sword with his hammer. ¡°But when it comes to breaking stones, you¡¯re better off leaving such a task to me.¡± ¡°I suppose you¡¯re right,¡± admitted Ulric, sighing aloud. ¡°Would you like me to assist?¡± ¡°To be quite honest,¡± said Rahu. ¡°I don¡¯t think that¡¯s necessary, really.¡± In fluid motion, Rahu attacked the first sculpture to have initiated contact. His hammer struck with merciless ferocity, but faced resistance?¡ª?sturdier than most shields, even. ¡°The preservation magic, it¡¯s meant to protect against most forms of assault,¡± warned Ulric. ¡°You¡¯ll need to use your aeter.¡± In retreat, Rahu watched his opponents fall into formation once more. He skittered to a halt, puffed his chest, and roared?¡ª?thunderously loud, and aeter-amplified in strength. Gravestone¡¯s guardians staggered and then weakened, almost as if deprived of their protective veil. Without a moment¡¯s hesitation, Rahu attacked, swinging his hammer through without resistance this time. He watched the sculpture break into pieces, a smirk on his face, and moved through the rest. The earth trembled against the Relictan Lord¡¯s weight and weapon, now an unstoppable force. But as the effects of the roar waned, the sculptures retaliated. Rahu felt the veil grow ever stronger, wary and on guard. In what increasingly looked to be a losing battle, the Relictan began song for an incantation. He evaded blow after blow, gathering an incredible amount of aeter as he did. Brimming with energy, Rahu leapt into the air, the sun behind his back, and with his hammer in position. ¡°Circulus Magia: Mourning Hammer,¡± whispered Rahu, slamming his weapon against the ground. From a distance, Ulric watched the overpressure sweep through the sculptures, clashing violently against Gravestone¡¯s protective veil. His comrade struck again, and then repeatedly?¡ª?in a sequence, summoning the howls and wailing of tortured souls. Merely sounds at first, the cries took incorporeal shape, eating away at the veil until none remained. Far from satiated, they turned their attention to the sculptures, now devoid of their protection. ¡°This should take care of it,¡± said Rahu, retreating to Ulric¡¯s side. ¡°It took more effort than I had anticipated.¡± ¡°I was expecting at least this much,¡± said Ulric, shrugging as he did. ¡°Tell me something though; you managed to nullify the veil briefly the first time around, how did you do it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s finally time for the great Ulric to ask me questions, is it?¡± said Rahu, with a laugh. ¡°I made an approximation around the aeter frequency of the veil.¡± ¡°That¡¯s genius,¡± praised Ulric, a childlike expression on his face. ¡°You inversed frequencies to dampen the veil. But why didn¡¯t you do it the second time as well?¡± ¡°The magic here is quite adaptive,¡± said Rahu. ¡°After coming back up a second time, it constantly altered its aeter formula and frequency. I had to change tactics.¡± As the conversation concluded, Ulric felt overcome with an odd sense of eagerness. His mind wandered into thoughts about the now unguarded Gravestone Castle and the treasures within. He looked toward Rahu, curious about the latter¡¯s state of mind. ¡°Will you be accompanying me?¡± asked Ulric. ¡°It would be great to have you in there.¡± ¡°You¡¯re a great friend, Ulric,¡± said Rahu, laughing aloud. ¡°But let¡¯s not break promises.¡± ¡°Safe travels to you then, my friend,¡± said Ulric, admitting defeat. ¡°Give your sister my regards.¡±
Chapter XIX | The Apex of Mioverold The stillness didn¡¯t help, not with the trembling. But the oppressive pressure from the village did recede, overshadowed by the man that stood in front of her. Jacquelyn wondered if even Veilantiff feared the Godvildian Pillars, more specifically?¡ª?Masura Bloodseed. His aura exhibited a frightening calm, an amalgamation of years of blood, battle, and death. ¡°I suppose I should consider myself lucky,¡± said Jacquelyn, with a weak smile. ¡°Of all the places you could have chosen to visit, you come to Veilantiff.¡± ¡°I¡¯d rather you not,¡± said Masura. ¡°In fact, I don¡¯t particularly desire a fight either. If you could kindly let me know of the reason behind your presence here, that would be fine.¡± ¡°Are you saying that you would let me leave with just that much?¡± asked Jacquelyn, a surprised expression on her face. ¡°I find that hard to believe.¡± ¡°Believe what you will,¡± said Masura, sighing aloud. ¡°As unfortunate as it might sound, you don¡¯t interest me, and neither do the other Relictan Lords.¡± Jacquelyn frowned at the comment. She was far from ordinary, a combatant of the sixth tier?¡ª?a battle genius even amidst the other Relictan Lords. But despite a confident exterior, she did fear ubiquity, and the idea of being perceived as such. It bothered her, to the point of madness even. But given the situation, the Relictan had little choice but to return to a stable state of mind. With a deep breath, Jacquelyn allowed her aeter to fall into free flow, stirring it toward unpredictability. It was an odd sight, the act of rapid deconstruction and rejuvenation. As the aeter diminished in quantity, it heightened qualitatively. And in the end, all that remained was of miniscule value. ¡°It was fated for us to meet, Lord Bloodseed,¡± said Jacquelyn. ¡°But the result of our encounter is undecided, still.¡± ¡°Intriguing,¡± said Masura. ¡°I suppose your ignorance is something to be admired. Come, then.¡± Accepting the invitation to battle, the Relictan Lord smiled and began chant. She gathered the grace of the winds and manipulated her aeter with an extraordinary level of finesse. Her aura shone of purity, meagre in its disposition, but with powerful effect. In time, her reign over the element strengthened, causing what appeared to be a dimensional tear. From within, something emerged, blinding in its movements. And then more. They swirled to their summoner¡¯s side, bird-like in their features and camouflaged in translucency. With a subtle gesture, Jacquelyn expanded her field of magic, and with it?¡ª?her strength in numbers. ¡°Summon Spirit: Wind Flights!¡± bellowed Jacquelyn, in completion of her spell. For a moment, the Relictan paused to boast of the army behind her, of her power as a lord amongst her people. She raised an arm and held position, eager to understand her opponent¡¯s move. Masura looked toward the heavens, shrouded in the darkness of Veilantiff¡¯s magic, and then the winged spirits. He displayed little emotion, almost as if unfazed by what stood before him. Upon signal, the Wind Flights descended, determined to seize the offensive initiative. Lethal in their trajectories, the spirits plummeted onto Masura?¡ª?explosively and with murderous intent. It shattered Veilantiff¡¯s silence but dampened without impact. Jacquelyn noticed the strangeness, more particularly in the way her spirits behaved. ¡°Wind Flights are designed to either pierce or explode upon impact,¡± thought Jacquelyn, a confused expression on her face. ¡°This is different; I can¡¯t seem to put my finger on it.¡± On closer observation, the Relictan found her spirits dissipate within meters of Masura, who stood as is and without worry. When the last of the Wind Flights had disappeared, Jacquelyn shuddered, drowning into the fear that she had suppressed through pride alone. She lowered her head, noticing an involuntary tremble?¡ª?a first. ¡°What did you do?¡± asked Jacquelyn, stammering through her words. ¡°Wind Flights, they¡¯re my strongest spirits; even you shouldn¡¯t have been able to fend from such large numbers of the sixth tier.¡± ¡°I apologize if this comes across as condescending, but I did nothing beyond the ordinary,¡± said Masura, with a sigh. ¡°The Godvildian Pillars, we¡¯ve reached an odd plateau of aeter density. Anything below the seventh tier can¡¯t encroach our natural aura.¡± ¡°You jest, surely,¡± said Jaquelyn, barely audible. In her mind, she added, ¡°I¡¯m not sure if I can fulfill my objective anymore; even getting out of this alive, is it possible still?¡± On instinct, Jacquelyn¡¯s aeter optimized toward thoughts of escape. Her body moved of its own free will, hopping upwards and higher still using momentary aeter-constructed footholds. ¡°Circulus Magia: Spirit Walk,¡± whispered the Relictan Lord. Masura followed, clad in an aura that wore the appearance of a ghostly flame. He eased into chase, and caught speed midflight, reaching his adversary with relative ease. His hands grabbed onto what was closest and with enough force to halt Jacquelyn¡¯s retreat. Masura pulled, and then flung her back towards Veilantiff¡¯s soil?¡ª?all in one fluid motion. Jacquelyn crashed onto the earthen floor, cratering to a halt. Incapacitated, she coughed, gasping for air and with the taste of blood in her mouth. Her eyes fell to the left, the right, and then slowly towards her feet. ¡°I can¡¯t, I can¡¯t move,¡± thought Jacquelyn, after assessment. ¡°This isn¡¯t how I imagined it, death.¡± But just as she rested, Jacquelyn felt something hot. In a breeze, it blew against her face and with a bad smell?¡ª?rotten, and almost dead. She opened her eyes to find a broad face, a hair¡¯s breadth away from her own, locked in its gaze. It smiled, beast-like, and with teeth as sharp as the finest of Relictan blades. Blackness, and then a ghostly blue?¡ª?not unlike Masura¡¯s aura?¡ª?atop it.This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. ¡°A ninth-tier spirit from the other world,¡± said Masura, walking toward her. ¡°It¡¯s a hellhound; this is probably your first time seeing it.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve proved your point,¡± said Jacquelyn, in a whisper. ¡°The least you could¡¯ve have done is kill me yourself; a beast does me no honor.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think you understand the situation you¡¯re in,¡± said Masura. ¡°I do not intend to kill you. The spirit is here to motivate you towards speech.¡± Jacquelyn attempted a laugh but coughed blood instead. With a weak scoff, she replied, ¡°You¡¯re wasting your time. I¡¯d sooner die than betray my people.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s not talk about that; I want to thank you, actually,¡± said Masura. ¡°Politically, the Lords could have dismissed the incident at the Bridge of Souls as the work of disgruntled stragglers. But your actions here prove that the treaty is no longer in place. We assumed it, yes, but this is certainty beyond doubt.¡± Jacquelyn felt her pride wane, shattered by what stood in front of her. Praised and doted upon as a child, the Relictan rose beyond expectation. And yet, here she was?¡ª?fated merely to fall before an insurmountable force. She wondered if it meant anything, her purpose even, to have walked the path that she did. ¡°There is another thing,¡± said Masura. ¡°It was very impressive, your aeter control. The understanding to prioritize quality over quantity, it¡¯s valuable. But your formula is still incomplete, or rather?¡ª?inefficient.¡± ¡°And how would you know?¡± asked Jacquelyn. ¡°Not sure, I might be wrong, even,¡± said Masura, with a smile. ¡°But we¡¯ll have to halt conversation for now; it appears that we have an unwelcome guest. Though, I suppose you¡¯d be happy to see him.¡± Jacquelyn felt Masura¡¯s aura flare, and disruptively scale to a significant height. The Godvildian Pillar turned from his fallen opponent, leaving the latter in the care of his hound. He noticed something penetrate his natural aeter-field, something large and fast. ¡°A hammer?¡± wondered Masura. Amplified in strength, and with strong defensive fortifications, the visitor skittered to Masura¡¯s rear. A blur, at first, the man revealed his presence?¡ª?hammer raised and ready to strike. He attacked without regard for the Godvildian, fiercely and with the intention to kill. ¡°Circulus Magia: Mourning Hammer!¡± roared the visitor. With a smile that widened through every passing second, Masura turned to meet the hammer head on. The collision rattled some of the older structures in the village, settling the region into obscurity because of the risen dust and debris. Rahu traced the aeter of his sister, weakened and with little life; beside her?¡ª?a spirit, emanating combat potential that rivalled some of the lesser Relictan Lords. As his adrenalin receded, he felt his weapon lighten, almost too unnaturally. When the dust cleared, Rahu noticed the state of his hammer with a grim expression on his face?¡ª?broken and without form. ¡°Should I expect more of you to join?¡± asked Masura, seemingly unscathed from the ambush. ¡°That was mildly entertaining.¡± ¡°My hammer was an artifact from the era of the High Humans,¡± said Rahu. ¡°You should not have been able to break it. Tell me, what did you do?¡± Rahu tossed what was left of his weapon aside and prepared for battle, holding onto his calm by a thread. He frowned at the thought of defeat, and what it meant. The stakes were different, especially with his sister¡¯s life on the line. He began sprint and used the momentum to drive his fist ahead. But Masura wouldn¡¯t budge, taking the blow head on once more. Rahu¡¯s fist firmly rested on the Godvildian¡¯s chest, but without effect. Masura¡¯s aura slowly wrapped around Rahu, penetrating the Relictan¡¯s limbs?¡ª?intrusively, and yet, without pain. Having lulled his opponent into a distraction, Masura grabbed Rahu¡¯s face. His fingers pressed without rest, easing only at the sound of a crack. ¡°It¡¯s my magic,¡± answered Masura. ¡°Blessed by the divinity of both Ares and Mars, I stand at the apex of the World of Transition. Obliterate, only those I have deemed worthy get to stand before me?¡ª?flesh or metal.¡± Masura pressed harder still, reaching for blood. It was torture, without aeter?¡ª?a display of physical strength alone. But as he pushed in for the kill, the Godvildian noticed something trigger, a sequence that he did not fully recognize. He treated it as inconsequential, breaking it apart with little effort. ¡°It¡¯s different from your aeter formula,¡± remarked Masura, a puzzled expression on his face. ¡°What was it?¡± ¡°An escape sequence; teleportation magic,¡± said Rahu, with a smile. ¡°Ulric made sure to cast it on all of us, a safety measure set to activate on death¡¯s door. You might have broken mine, but I think I did well enough.¡± Masura released his grip over the Relictan Lord and returned to where Jacquelyn rested. He noticed fragments of the newly discovered aeter formula, but the body itself appeared to be well on its way towards safety. Masura chuckled at his own failure, amused by the simplicity of it all. He attempted a cursory scan to assess for Jacquelyn¡¯s distance, but found nothing akin to her presence. She had escaped. ¡°Is this the first time you failed, Shadow of Suntaria?¡± asked Rahu, still in pain. ¡°We don¡¯t lack in creativity.¡± ¡°Apparently not,¡± said Masura, with a shrug. ¡°And here I was, thinking about using you to pry her open. Is there nothing I can do to motivate your cooperation?¡± ¡°I¡¯m afraid that¡¯s not an option,¡± said Rahu. ¡°Just know that we now stand against you, aggressively. I¡¯m no longer afraid to admit it, not with what we¡¯ve planned.¡± ¡°I wager that you¡¯re here for the seal, then,¡± said Masura. ¡°Odd. I thought we kept it hidden well enough. How did you come about this knowledge, I wonder? Well, not that it matters now.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± said Rahu, with a smile. Masura appeared to look away, addressing someone else entirely. He then said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry to have called on you without purpose. But you may have him.¡± Rahu noticed something hastily scurry to his side, short and with a sturdy physique. As black as a moonless night, the creature licked its lips, eager to taste flesh. With a crackled growl, it sunk its teeth into the Relictan¡¯s stomach. Rahu resisted the urge to scream, at first, but fell under the subjugation of pain. He mustered the strength to push the creature away but realized the futility of the effort under Masura¡¯s watch. Angrier than it was previously, the hellhound returned, devouring the man whole this time. ¡°Akshay, are you still able to hear me?¡± asked Masura, walking away from the gore. ¡°Yes,¡± confirmed Lord Bahrain. ¡°You seem to be falling behind, old friend. I didn¡¯t think Jacquelyn would manage to escape.¡± ¡°My apologies,¡± said Masura, genuine in his tone. ¡°But I suppose there is something to be happy about; their purpose, we know of it.¡± ¡°Is it what I think it to be?¡± ¡°Yes, they¡¯re after him,¡± said Masura, coldly. ¡°The reason behind Suntaria¡¯s empty throne.¡± Chapter XX | Four Days It was a door unlike any other, with scriptures just as unique ¨C etched with smooth, flawless perfection. Aeter oozed from the almost non-existent edges, holding onto odd shades of a golden-brown color. Ulric couldn¡¯t believe it, nor could he understand the magic it powered. He felt an unnerving pressure emanate from the door as well, resentful of the Relictan presence. At a distance from the door, Ulric broke the vial from Argleton. It pulled him into a world of memories, of their painfully torturous demise ¨C a quick flash. He redirected the aeter to merge onto what guarded the door. In time, the color altered, turning into something familiar and controllable. Ulric watched the pressure soften, drowning into a lull ¨C weakened and calm. The door shone through its scriptures, slipped, and then slid into what appeared to be a compartment on the floor. It granted Ulric passage into Gravestone Castle, the darkness and dust of an unexplored region. With his first step inside, the castle sent him a guide ¨C a light that hovered with purpose. He followed it into a spacious room, walking past several sculptures, with a stone-cut table at the center. A circular table, Ulric found that it could be turned to match the drawings on the floor. Each turn led to a stronger aeter leakage, spurring dormant magic to life. Ulric studied the flow, the complexity, and the opportunity for improvisation. With the core of the formula in place, he sought to rewrite the traditional code and change the magic with it. Deep in thought, the Relictan paused upon sensing an odd aeter-field. It wasn¡¯t from something inanimate; almost overpoweringly alive, perhaps. He sighed, and then returned to work. Eventually, Ulric heard armor against the stone-made floors ¨C authoritative in its steps. He turned to face a familiar, handsome face. Should he have been relieved for it to have not been Masura? Ulric frowned; it didn¡¯t matter. ¡°We can¡¯t stand against you or your armies, at least not in direct combat,¡± admitted Ulric. ¡°But there is a way around that. You might have guessed it already.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think you fully understand what it means to reallow him passage into this world,¡± said Aaron. ¡°Even Zane couldn¡¯t subdue him. And besides, what makes you think he will listen to you anyway?¡± ¡°The Noxun Grandmasters, they¡¯ve revealed to us the flaw in this World of Transition,¡± said Ulric. ¡°You¡¯ve tried to keep it a secret, and that jeopardizes all of us. Why, why do you refuse to even look out for your own people?¡± ¡°It¡¯s interesting that you know,¡± said Aaron. ¡°But panic breeds hasty decision-making, and they don¡¯t often conclude with the best results. Take yourself as an example.¡± ¡°We don¡¯t need to control him,¡± revealed Ulric. ¡°All we seek is the idea of freedom, to not fear demise come tomorrow.¡± Aaron responded with silence, tired in his expression. With clenched fists, his aeter-clad body radiated an aura that could¡¯ve rivaled the brightest of stars. It grew, fierce and lifelike in its appearance ¨C an aggressive yellow that scorched the stone. Ulric felt the heat and later witnessed the sculptures melt, crumbling against the might of a Godvildian Pillar. His robes caught fire, urging him to retreat to a safe distance. But the heat lingered, confined to room within Gravestone Castle. Ulric returned to work his alteration of the formula, hasty and with an earnest desire towards completion. It was close. And then it occurred, a distraction. Aaron appeared to tear away at the space in front of him, summoning the existence of a giant shield ¨C ornate and ancient, imbued with magic from the earthen realm of gods. From behind it, Aaron unsheathed a sword and then equipped the shield. He slammed it against the stone-made floors, powering the hot, red crystal at its center. ¡°Circulus Magia: Cultivate Parasite,¡± bellowed Ulric. ¡°I promise to entertain, Lord Heart!¡± The heat continued to magnify, and Aaron stood an embodiment of the Sun God¡¯s wrath. He stomped his authority to subjugate any form of magic strange to his own, intensifying the heat of his aura through the process. With Ulric¡¯s spell wasting away without effect, the Relictan Lord felt Aaron¡¯s mere presence sear through his aeter-held defenses. But in retaliation, Ulric redirected focus toward Gravestone Castle, manipulating its formulae to his own benefit. Axes that decorated the wall tore from years of rest to hover to Ulric¡¯s side, their blades eager to cut into Godvildian flesh. For a moment, the Relictan smiled, proud of having gained access to Gravestone¡¯s magic. He looked over to the table that he had worked upon briefly, and sighed, hoping that the maneuver would allow him enough time to aim for completion. It was a gamble.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. With the swing of his arms, Ulric commanded the blades into a bold offensive initiative. They attacked from every angle conceivable but recoiled against the aura emanating from Aaron¡¯s shield. The Godvildian Pillar clanked blade against shield, and then more rapidly. He swung his sword from a distance, releasing enough aeter to melt away the axes as well. ¡°When will those who stand against us understand it?¡± said Aaron, unfeelingly. ¡°We exist to protect the World of Transition, not destroy it. You¡¯ve doomed your race rather than ensure survival by not honoring the treaty in place.¡± ¡°It¡¯s why we need him,¡± said Ulric, passionately. ¡°We need you to understand that the flaws of this world are not simple enough for the Pillars to fix. Time, it¡¯s no longer as luxurious a commodity as it once was.¡± ¡°Aspect of Light: Incinerate,¡± whispered Aaron. From underneath Ulric¡¯s feet, a flame spiraled into existence, engulfing the entirety of his body in a pillar of fire. It was unlike anything the Relictan had ever experienced. His eyes dried first, and then the suffocation followed. Hotter, and then more, Ulric felt every breath scorch his nostrils, setting his lungs ablaze. It was slow, and purposefully so. Aaron preserved the Relictan Lord¡¯s sanity through the pain, hoping that the process would allow opportunity for more information. In time, the Godvildian halted; and at merely minutes from death¡¯s door, Ulric was released from his suffering. Aaron extinguished the heat that had threatened Gravestone¡¯s existence, even. He walked over to the Relictan ¨C on the floor and beside the stone-cut table that had persevered through the former¡¯s magic. ¡°Do we have people on all the locations, Lord Bahrain?¡± asked Aaron, telepathically. ¡°This is going to be rather problematic.¡± ¡°Masura attended to Veilantiff as discussed,¡± said Akshay. ¡°But the other locations had little to no activity; it¡¯s odd, to say the least.¡± ¡°Maybe it was never their intention to reach all four locations,¡± said Aaron, slowly. ¡°We followed the highest ranks, and then¡­split.¡± ¡°As I had mentioned previously,¡± interjected Ulric, using the last of his strength for words. ¡°We can¡¯t muster the strength to battle your kind, but there are alternatives. There¡¯s always cunning, and that is something we do not lack in.¡± ¡°Gravestone Castle holds the primary seal, Aaron,¡± said Akshay, a hint of panic in his voice. ¡°Ulric is correct. A four-way invasion was never required; they simply needed to rework the formula within the castle.¡± Aaron turned toward the table and assessed the magic in motion. His eyes traced the aeter and its effect, thriving through a sequence far beyond his understanding. He hastily grabbed and slammed what was left of Ulric against the table; there was frustration, and the Relictan mustered a chuckle at the sight. ¡°I implore that you halt the progress of whatever it is you have done here,¡± said Aaron. ¡°You will not be able to control what will arrive. We have seen what he is capable of; you have not.¡± ¡°It is a calculated risk,¡± said Ulric. ¡°And besides, I do not see much benefit in listening to what you have to say.¡± ¡°How much time do we have?¡± asked Aaron. ¡°Answer me and I will make your passing as comfortable as I possibly can.¡± ¡°I do not seek any pity for the choices I have made,¡± said Ulric, smiling as he did. ¡°But to not see you panic, it would be such a waste. To answer your question, I predict four days. That¡¯s all I could manage given my knowledge.¡± Aaron managed to hold onto his calm. He raised his sword and then struck the Relictan Lord in his face, eyes as dark and unfeeling as that of an endless abyss. Blood spattered onto his armor, but he refused to stop, incessant with his attacks post death even. It became fiercer still, disgruntled, and then angry. When the sword struck severely into Gravestone¡¯s near-impregnable floors, Aaron stopped. He sighed, chest heavy and overwhelmed with agitation. ¡°Return to Suntaria, Lord Heart,¡± said Akshay, having witnessed his comrade¡¯s outburst. ¡°Lord Bloodseed is expected to arrive shortly as well.¡± ¡°Very well.¡± *** Baasara Cave, an existence hidden within the depths of the forest ¨C an area unchartered by even the most competent of expeditioners. It had become a stronghold with the rise of the Hearth King, an area of magic and mystery. Some of the goblins marched as foot soldiers, several rode boars, and then there were those that worked in the shadows. Elementalists were caught and dragged to identify those with the aptitude for magic, forced into roles of being mentors for those that feasted upon their kind. He was different, this Hearth King. In time, the cave stood guarded by an army fierce enough to threaten some of the larger cities, even. But it was not enough. The Hearth King wanted more ¨C a reign led by an iron fist soaked in blood, something absolute and unquestionable. Unfortunately, anomalies did exist, amidst the group of women that the goblins had kidnapped to satiate their lust and avarice. He entered and slaughtered without mercy, leaving hundreds of corpses in his wake and in silence. Whispers began, for the murder began at night, falling into peace come sunrise. They called him a curse, the kind that arrived with a gentle hum of the musical kind. He desired urgent audience with the king, after all. It was a night of the full moon, when goblin blacksmiths had gathered to work on weapons and shields alike. They heard the hum, and their eyes trailed to the darkness. Something emerged, almost as if flung, rolling to a halt. They recognized it to be the head of one of their comrades, torn from its body and bloodied. With a shudder, their attention returned to what grew louder with each passing second. ¡°Blackness, blackness¡­¡± whispered the goblins, crippled with fear. ¡°He is here.¡± Covered in blood, the visitor waved, smiling as he did. He was close to the center, close to where the Hearth King resided. ¡°Would you be so kind as to guide me to your king?¡± asked Gale, polite in his request. ¡°I seek to take his head.¡± Chapter XXI | The Tempestatem Gale hadn¡¯t seen anything quite like it, intelligence beyond expectation. After guidance from the Perytons of Basaraa Forest, he had managed to find the whereabouts of the Hearth King. Through the magic veils and camouflage, the boy uncovered a cave of mystery and myth. It wasn¡¯t on any map he had received, making it an unknown even for those who had lived in the vicinity for generations. But there was more to it than the cave itself. From a distance, Gale observed militarization beyond what he had expected from the goblin race. In addition to nature¡¯s protection, there existed strongly built fortifications, mentors for various offensive and defensive manoeuvres, and farmlands for a more stable source of food. The goblins moved with a mantle of determination and focus, nothing alike what Gale had studied from his days amidst books. In his preference towards stealth, Gale spent much of his time canvassing the surroundings around Basaraa Cave. An opportunity did arise, but of a different kind ¨C a weakness of the flesh. After ten days, a little before sunrise, the boy spotted a group of women in chains, who followed their goblin escorts in fear and without hope for survival. The captors were the first to perish. Gale moved during night-time, as a part of the darkness, mapping the cave as he did, and leaving in his wake ¨C a trail of bodies. He would return closer toward dawn, freeing those captured a little at a time. Whispers spread, of a curse that slaughtered goblins for their atrocities against the Godvildian people. As a consequence, the expeditions slowed, with goblin explorers and smugglers being reassigned to security. It didn¡¯t matter, not to Gale. He explored as much as time permitted, bearing in mind his responsibility towards those captured. Some of them spoke of homes in Basaraa Village, while others of lands unknown to Gale. On the fourteenth day, the boy had succeeded in unshackling the last of the cave¡¯s prisoners. ¡°We are indebted to your kindness, Lord Gale,¡± admitted a woman from Basaraa Village. ¡°As an expeditioner, I take it upon my pride to ensure that your work does not go to waste here.¡± ¡°Not at all, Lady Kaela,¡± said Gale, with a nod. ¡°It¡¯s good fortune that you stood amongst those captured; I can rest easy knowing that there¡¯s someone capable enough to guide those rescued through the forest.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll report your success in finding the Hearth King to Elder Gram,¡± said Kaela, smiling as she did. ¡°Let¡¯s hope you come back to give us news of your triumph.¡± Three days since that conversation, in front of Gale now stood what appeared to be blacksmith goblins; they whispered in fear, much like the rest. Striking against air, the boy cleaned his blade and pressed ahead with relative ease. He observed the walls once finished and uncovered crystals emanating an odd aeter formula; it reacted erratically to the boy¡¯s presence inside the cave, oozing malevolence more than anything. Gale brushed the discovery aside and refocused to the task at hand. With a little exploration, he found a narrow route that allowed deeper passage into the cave. Along the walls, the boy found larger, brighter crystals than the kind he had previously interacted with. It emanated malice to a stronger degree, but not nearly enough to impede the boy¡¯s progress. In time, Gale reached an area with ample space, dimly illuminated and with patches of darkness. At a distance, he heard a stream ¨C gentle in its flow. But even with the calm presented, the boy remained alert, even more so at the sound of slow and heavy footsteps. It echoed off the cave¡¯s walls, hidden amidst the darkness and disguised under a veil of tranquillity. Gale turned to face the sound and welcomed what emerged with a face that lacked emotion. A quest, to the boy it meant nothing more. But try as he might, Gale couldn¡¯t help but admire the magnificence of the Hearth King. What stood before him represented a man adorned in war paint ¨C taller and more robust than the Godvildian people, with skin that shone of a brilliant silver, long, white hair, and eyes of a vivid shade of red. But what mattered most rested atop the Hearth King¡¯s head, the prize, a pair of horns that curved toward the heavens. ¡°The Curse of the Black Night,¡± said the Hearth King, addressing his visitor. ¡°I knew you would arrive, just as the stars predicted.¡± ¡°It¡¯s Gale Storm, actually,¡± the boy said, a puzzled expression on his face. ¡°I¡¯m here to resolve a matter with regards to the people of Basaraa Village; they don¡¯t like you very much.¡± ¡°We do what we must to survive and then flourish,¡± said the Hearth King. ¡°Your kind is known to do the same from what I¡¯ve read.¡± ¡°Then you are aware of what happens when one pretends to wear the crown of a revolutionary?¡± said Gale, with a smile. ¡°This matter, as unfortunate as it is, will end in blood.¡± "Just as the stars had predicted,¡± repeated the Hearth King. ¡°But a ruler can only see so far into the future.¡± With words exchanged, the Hearth King unsheathed the weapon that rested across his back ¨C tall and heavy. It appeared to rank amongst what soldiers would call a greatsword, something that required both hands to wield. A work of art, the weapon held the markings of a forgotten time ¨C a little from each of its former wielders. It showed aeter inconsistency, but remained poised nonetheless, almost as if improved as a process of its time in the world. ¡°It has a recorded name, Conclusion, a sword that is meant to see this world through to its end,¡± said the Hearth King. ¡°And I am Cepheus, among those who will be forgotten.¡± ¡°Forgotten, King Cepheus?¡± asked Gale, curiously.This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. ¡°Kings aren¡¯t exempt from the cruelty of time,¡± explained Cepheus, readying his blade. ¡°But this sword, it endures ¨C improving with each wielder, raised only for triumph. Today, it is my turn, and in time, it will be another¡¯s.¡± Gale felt the presence of other goblins, hasty in their movements and worried in their thoughts. They rushed from the field of battle, almost as if uncertain of their king¡¯s odds at victory. Amidst the silence, both Gale and Cepheus stood in awe of the other. It was a matter of respect, at least to a certain degree. At the first tremor, the Hearth King stepped into a stance of ferocity ¨C bathing in an aura of bloodlust and conviction. When the second occurred, he allowed for the aeter from his sword to fuse onto his own, creating an odd level of synchronicity. Strength, speed, and desire towards conquest, Cepheus held onto them all. He sought the future and smiled, confident that there was none in which he didn¡¯t stand a ruler. Gale responded in kind, gentler in his approach. His aeter reflected focused aggression, smaller in exhibition, but sharper in effect. At the third tremor, they attacked. When their swords clashed, the cave trembled, in fear of destruction. It was almost at its conclusion, the quest ¨C a declaration of power. Clouded by the seeds of impatience, Gale retreated from the proximity of combat. He lowered his blade and began chant instead. Cepheus noticed the boy¡¯s aeter change dramatically but displayed little emotion upon realization of the formula in motion. ¡°Activate Sequence: Corrosion,¡± whispered Gale. In that instant of time, two things occurred. Cepheus moved into the door of opportunity that had presented itself, one that had previously evaded him, while Gale uncovered the reasoning behind his discomfort around the large crystals embedded within the cave¡¯s walls. Corrosion never activated, but the boy did find a greatsword force itself onto the side of his chest. On muscle memory alone, however, Gale recovered, escaping further punishment from Cepheus¡¯ attack. ¡°I don¡¯t believe the sequence was wrong,¡± thought Gale. ¡°And the aeter flow appears to be normal. I wonder what might have happened.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a neutral field,¡± answered Cepheus, reading the boy¡¯s mind. ¡°It rejects the expressive nature of magic; anything that required projection will be nullified.¡± ¡°Bloodier than I had expected, I suppose,¡± said Gale. ¡°Be warned though; this game, I can play it just as well.¡± Wounded on one side of his body, Gale began conquest against the Hearth King once more. His aeter shifted inward, maximizing the potential of his body. He moved with blinding steps, his sword ¨C faster still. Cepheus predicted the first attack but was struck down by the second. It became faster, and then more, until turning into a hurricane that battled from every direction fathomable. In what Gale considered to be a decisive manoeuvre, the boy pivoted to fall into his adversary¡¯s rear. He hopped and then jammed his blade across the Hearth King¡¯s shoulders, into the latter¡¯s throat. But despite the fierce offensive initiative, Cepheus continued to move. He grabbed and slammed the boy against the floor, repeatedly. ¡°This is getting difficult,¡± thought Gale, gasping for breath. ¡°I¡¯m beginning to see less clearly, even.¡± With whatever strength he could muster in that moment of time, Gale tore away from his assailant¡¯s grip. He freed his sword from the Hearth King¡¯s flesh and retreated to a safe distance right after, finding that his legs now trembled with weakness. ¡°We have not reached the end yet,¡± said Cepheus, in a stammer. ¡°Let me show you our kind¡¯s resolve. Of the goblin lineage, I am the greatest to have ever lived, after all.¡± Heavily injured, slashed, and weakened, Cepheus persisted in his endeavor for victory. He moved with the strength of his convictions but lacked focus. Gale evaded the attacks that followed, being unable to do not much more. But after hours of battle, his patience paid dividends. Cepheus¡¯ blade, Conclusion, swung just a little wider than it should have. And in the small window of opportunity, the boy severed the Hearth King¡¯s arm. Drenched in blood, Gale halted at the sight of his fallen opponent, breathless. ¡°Well, have we reached the end yet?¡± asked Gale. ¡°Yes, we have, albeit not as my stars had predicted,¡± said Cepheus, barely audible. ¡°I wonder if it¡¯s because the world failed to predict the arrival of a singularity, your arrival.¡± ¡°What did I tell you about revolutionaries?¡± said Gale, with a laugh. ¡°They are of a cursed fate.¡± ¡°I sense everything in you, invader,¡± said Cepheus. ¡°A sadness that refuses to relent, overshadowed by an insatiable thirst for knowledge. You see, that¡¯s what helped me build an army ¨C the ability to assess a being¡¯s worth, all of it in my eyes.¡± ¡°And what was it, my worth?¡± ¡°Everything, or perhaps nothing,¡± said Cepheus, with a smile. ¡°You could have been my path to greatness, or I to yours. We know the answer now, and you know of what you must do.¡± ¡°I wonder what it is that you think I must do.¡± ¡°You underestimate me, Curse of the Black Night,¡± said Cepheus. ¡°I see it all, remember? Your wicked tongue as well, it does not escape me.¡± Out of respect, Gale chose not to dance atop the Hearth King¡¯s body. He set it ablaze, watching as the corpse turned to ash. Once aware of their ruler¡¯s demise, the goblins returned. Gale sensed little to no hostility from them. When finished, the boy retrieved the two horns that remained despite the fire. He frowned, briefly, upon remembrance of his promise to the Perytons. In time, the soul-fires emerged, from both the Hearth King and the sword he wielded. It fused to become larger, a powerful amalgamation of both knowledge and strength. Through the absorption, the goblins gathered as spectators out of sheer curiosity, accommodating of their stronghold¡¯s conqueror. It took some time, but soul-fire assimilated without difficulty. Once finished, Gale exited the cave without hindrance. There was rain outside, of a different kind. It carried with it an unnatural silence, broken only by the sound of thunder. The boy hesitated, given the state of his body. Would he be allowed to spend more time inside the cave, at least until after the storm? He turned to address the goblins with the request, tired and drained of motivation. But before that, the boy closed his eyes. He ventured into the ethereal guidebook, merely to reassess his situation in the World of Transition.
Blessing: Divinity from the Goddess of the Black Night Description: Your ancestry has earned you favour from Kalika, a powerful goddess of the Hindu pantheon. Effects:
  1. A Conqueror¡¯s Will Knowledge from the former wielders of Conclusion now reside within your aeter reserves, their spirits in acknowledgement of your dominance over an ageless king. Kalika permits the succession of your abilities to followers of your will. Celestial conditions met with the Hearth King¡¯s sacrifice.
Gale returned to the material world, finding the goblins deep in discussion. In time, they nodded in agreement. The boy thanked them for their kindness and returned to what little comfort the cave offered. But his mind wandered; the goblins had slowly begun to recede from their superstition around Gale as a curse. They called him something else now, a man of the storm. Tempestatem. Chapter XXII | Interactions & Progress Change is a constant, especially with time ¨C dictated by the conditions of your experience. What about stress, or the existence of threats in the environment as free as the air itself? But things did change, and the winds blew differently, just a little. Within the embrace of safety and comfort, Gale bathed in sunlight and fresh air, relieved of the lingering stench of blood and decay. At a distance, Gale noticed a familiar road, one that led to a signboard. He smiled as he stood at the entrance of where it all began, Basaraa Village. Everything around him, he remembered ¨C from the people to the houses, and even the path to the Elder¡¯s area of residence. He entered the house and sat by the same ordinary table. Elder Gram arrived a little later, happy to greet the boy. ¡°We are so relieved to find you here, and in one piece, even,¡± said Gram, smiling as she did. ¡°If I recall correctly, we last met a little under a year ago.¡± ¡°It¡¯s good to see you as well, Elder Gram,¡± said Gale, with a slight nod. ¡°And yes, we are a few days away from when I first arrived a year ago.¡± ¡°I was glad to hear of your good health when Kaela returned,¡± said Gram. ¡°News of our expeditioners¡¯ wellbeing mid-exploration is always helpful. Then again, you¡¯re no ordinary expeditioner.¡± ¡°Well, I¡¯m glad to have been of service to your village and its people,¡± said Gale. ¡°I also gained a lot from my time in Basaraa Forest; it was a mutually beneficial experience.¡± ¡°You do deserve your promised award,¡± said Gram. ¡°But before that, we¡¯ll need some proof. I believe you remember the conditions, as was agreed upon.¡± Gale unveiled a small pouch and placed it atop the table. He extracted the item within right after ¨C a horn of immense and strange magical power. Gale observed the Village Elder inspect the item with a puzzled look on her face; after the appraisal, she placed the horn atop the table once more. Gram retrieved her pouch and then nodded, acknowledging the completion of her quest. ¡°Its qualitative value far exceeds my imagination,¡± said Gram, surprised still. ¡°This should prove to be quite useful to us. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll find good use for yours as well.¡± ¡°Your description of the Hearth King was fairly accurate; a powerful foe, an oddity within the World of Transition,¡± said Gale, with a grim expression on his face. ¡°But as unfortunate as it sounds, I must confess that this variant of the Hearth King possessed no more than one horn.¡± Gram frowned at the revelation; she required the horn for the people of her village but also recalled the weight of her promise to the boy. ¡°You need not worry though,¡± said Gale, reassuringly. ¡°Yes, the horn was part of the overall reward; it¡¯s what makes this whole ordeal unfortunate ¨C for me. You may keep the item and do with it as you please.¡± ¡°Thank you, child,¡± said Gram. ¡°You are most kind.¡± ¡°But I do expect some compensation,¡± said Gale. ¡°I did almost lose my life within the Hearth King¡¯s domain, after all.¡± ¡°What did you have in mind?¡± Gale paused to consider his response. It was a gamble woven through a lie, obscured by his association with the Perytons. But Elder Gram did not need to know that. Gale scratched his chin, thankful of the blessing that bound him to unfeeling tranquillity. ¡°The Basaraa Region is governed by this village and its Elder, if I¡¯m not mistaken,¡± said Gale. ¡°Would you have the authority to grant me a piece of land here?¡± ¡°In the village?¡± asked Gram, curiously. ¡°No, not in the village,¡± said Gale, emphasising each word as he did. ¡°I would require land inside the forest.¡± ¡°Interesting,¡± said Gram, with a smile on her face. ¡°Young and of a shrewd mind; am I still allowed to call you a child?¡± ¡°You may,¡± said Gale, without thought. ¡°But I do beg of you to answer my question.¡± ¡°I do have the authority, yes,¡± said Gram. ¡°But there is another matter to consider; I seek to understand your motivation here.¡±Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. ¡°It is the Hearth King¡¯s stronghold, if you must know,¡± said Gale. ¡°Kaela should be able to describe it more appropriately.¡± ¡°And your motivation?¡± repeated Gram. ¡°Nothing more than an earnest desire towards information and knowledge,¡± said Gale. ¡°I believe there is much to be uncovered inside Basaraa Forest.¡± ¡°You are equipped to handle the creatures lurking in there,¡± admitted Gram, with a sigh. ¡°Very well, I grant you the Hearth King¡¯s stronghold as an alternative to the promised item from the quest.¡± ¡°And I accept,¡± said Gale, bowing respectfully. ¡°I am very grateful for your acceptance of my selfish request.¡± Elder Gram ceased conversation and burst into laughter instead; it entertained her ¨C her interaction with the boy. She retrieved both items from the table and replaced it with something covered in cloth. She untied the knot at the centre to reveal what appeared to be gold plates, ten in total. Gram spread the plates out for a count and then rearranged them into the cloth once more. ¡°This is the rest of the reward, twice the posted amount, as promised,¡± said Gram. ¡°Are you familiar with the usage of our currency?¡± ¡°An explanation would be helpful,¡± said Gale. ¡°A plate is worth a thousand coins within its value spectrum,¡± explained Gram. ¡°One gold plate would equal a thousand gold coins, just as a silver plate would a thousand silver coins. Likewise, a gold coin is worth a hundred silver coins, or ten thousand copper coins. This is a lot of money, so do be careful with how you manage it.¡± ¡°Thank you for your guidance,¡± said Gale, genuinely. ¡°Is there anything else for us to discuss? I was asked to return to Suntaria after the completion of my quest here.¡± ¡°No, there is nothing else for us to discuss,¡± said Gram. ¡°But I will require the coordinates to your stronghold; Village Elders are required to notify the kingdom¡¯s bookkeepers for matters concerning property or land.¡± ¡°I understand.¡± --- Terra Fortress marked the map as a vile existence, grim and dark ¨C a place amidst Wraith Woods, abandoned by the grace of life. The black soil often crippled the growth of regular foliage, and the animals inside resembled those of a kind better forgotten or ignored. Not many dared to venture in, and among those, fewer still ranked as exceptions above the extraordinary; at the entrance stood two such visitors. They walked through the trees, identifying a path within layers of dirt and debris. The crows cawed uncomfortably, while the owls shifted with unease. At Terra Fortress, the atmosphere changed, almost as if weakened by the presence of its visitors. From within, the doors opened, pushed into place by the Relictan soldiers on duty. Once inside, a female Relictan, differently dressed from the soldiers, greeted the keep¡¯s guests. ¡°Our lords have already gathered,¡± she said. ¡°Shall we head upstairs right away?¡± A little later, the visitors found themselves occupying two of three vacant chairs around a roundtable. Among the two, one leaned ahead, eager to begin discussion. ¡°Noah, Rahu, and Ulric, even,¡± he said. ¡°Your value to us is diminishing by the day, Caesar. I hold you in high regard, I do. But your actions, they bother me.¡± ¡°Ours is an alliance, Lord Escanor,¡± said Caesar, respectfully. ¡°I do not recall bending the knee to your kind.¡± ¡°Careful, Caesar,¡± said Escanor, cold in his demeanour. ¡°We don¡¯t need you as much as you need us. But if you go through with the awakening, I¡¯m afraid that I will have to withdraw Noxun support.¡± ¡°I hope you reconsider,¡± said Caesar. ¡°We cannot stop the awakening now; it is due in four days¡¯ time.¡± A dark, toxic aura broke into existence behind Escanor. It held onto emotions of violence and hatred, taking shape a little at a time. A similar presence sunk into the room at a different corner, and then more, sickeningly fierce. It finished with the body of an armoured giant, melded with decay and an aura of death. They unsheathed their weapons on command and growled, trembling with the greed for blood and combat. ¡°Your display is unnecessary, My Lord,¡± said Caesar, with a sigh. ¡°I do this to hasten our victory. The Godvildian pieces, I¡¯m afraid their combat potential still outstrips our own.¡± ¡°You could have consulted, dear friend,¡± said Escanor. ¡°I¡¯ve interacted with him before. He¡¯s volatile, someone to fear. And as much as I hate to admit it, I do fear him.¡± ¡°It was a calculated risk,¡± explained Caesar. ¡°There are countermeasures in place, especially if he doesn¡¯t join us of his own volition.¡± ¡°Well, I do hold you in high regard,¡± said Escanor, retreating from his stance. ¡°But I¡¯ll have to withdraw Noxun support, temporarily at least. The nobles are restless given your decisions; this is the simplest way for us to ease their concerns.¡± ¡°I heard that the Pillars visited some of your representatives,¡± said Caesar. ¡°And that you¡¯ve denied association with us.¡± ¡°Optics,¡± said Escanor, stepping away from his seat. ¡°It¡¯s true that ours is an alliance, Caesar. But do not forget that the Godvildian couldn¡¯t care less about your kind. We could invade, plunder, or even destroy everything you stand for should we choose. And the Godvildian, they won¡¯t protect you. That¡¯s what the treaty was for, the one you so conveniently tore apart.¡± ¡°We need you more than you need us,¡± repeated Caesar, with a nervous smile. ¡°I hope it doesn¡¯t come to that, Lord Escanor. But should it occur, do be careful. Regret, it¡¯s rather unpleasant.¡± ¡°If you manage to subjugate him, I¡¯ll be more than happy to restore this alliance,¡± said Escanor, laughing aloud. ¡°I¡¯m willing to observe for now; it might work in our favour, maybe eventually.¡± ¡°Thank you for your generosity,¡± said Caesar, mildly irritated. ¡°I will reach out to you in four days then.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± said Escanor, fading away ¨C along with his comrade ¨C in plain sight. ¡°And Caesar, feel free to hold onto my summoned giants. They¡¯re quite strong; think of them as, let¡¯s say, a parting gift.¡± Once alone, Caesar whispered but a single word to describe his interaction with the Noxun Grandmaster ¨C a product of his frustration, ¡°Loathsome.¡± Chapter XXIII | Inside Shadowmere Death. Time. Weakness. What could he have seen in the darkness that subdued him? There was once wealth, and also benevolence. But the throne refused to have him there, to have him seated. The people rebelled, and the region tore away from what made it glorious. Friendships turned stale, sour, and resentful. Does it make much sense? Cast away and sealed from the World of Transition, Shadowmere existed between realities, devoid of meaning. It was important, yet trivial; powerful, yet weak; eternal, yet fleeting. But there was one word often synonymous to Shadowmere, even to those who may have forgotten its purpose. A prison, unlike any other ¨C forged and fortified with Godvildian magic. ¡°Not as impervious as you had imagined, Zane,¡± whispered a weak voice, overwhelmed with the crutches of time and decay. ¡°I wonder what helped me march back into reality.¡± Aeterna never reached Shadowmere, after all. But the cracks had begun to show, and sunlight did follow. In time, the darkness showed promise to recede. But the World of Transition, it trembled. An aura spurred to life ¨C royal, magnificent, but dipped entirely in the blackest of nights. It was from a man denied justice and honour, deprived of common sense and the concept of reality; pushed into madness. The vines around his arms loosened, as did the magic that held him. He moved his arms, shrivelled and diseased. For a moment, the man craved food above all else. His skin felt papery, deprived of nourishment and care. He blinked, trying to adjust to the darkness. It wasn¡¯t necessary. The light, it eventually did reach him. He had little strength to stand as well, but the warmth ¨C it was enough. Three thousand years; that¡¯s what it took. He struggled to his feet, almost a corpse, and fell right after. He returned to sleep a little later. As the magic continued to fall apart, the cracks widened. It was brighter, and the dormant soul-fires stirred. Driven towards escape, they travelled within the towers of light. Outside, they sought Aeterna. But a few did wander with worry, puzzled by the mystery of their imprisonment. Some sought the man deprived of freedom, the same as them. They moved, but faded within inches around the almost corpse-like being. He greedily consumed the soul-fires, without restraint. His body suffered through the emotions and the pain, but he persevered. The soul-fires did attempt escape, but the man held them hostage around an aeter-built net, constructed with what little strength he had left. He continued without remorse, until his body adapted, and until the soul-fires¡¯ demise. But it didn¡¯t help, at least not immediately.Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon. There was resistance, a rejection towards everything new. His body tore apart from the inside, and the blood ¨C there was a lot of blood. He turned to his side, choked around the throat, and vomited. His limbs twisted, controlled by a force beyond comprehension. It was a cycle without rest. But in his determination, the man continued. He fished for the soul-fires, extending his net to trap more. Many escaped, but fortune ¨C it¡¯s a tricky thing. He repeated his self-inflicted torture incessantly, until the soul-fires ceased to exist. And in silence, he suffered through the punishment. He needed the nourishment, he needed the colour to return to his cheeks, and for his body to regain some of its former strength. Hours passed; it felt like an eternity to the man that slumbered. But he survived, as gruesome as it was, as deathly as it was. Now on his feet, he lowered his head to assess what was accomplished. He was stronger, not by much, but more human-like. He looked around and wandered without thought, reaching what appeared to be a stone-made wall. He brushed along the circumference to reach a door ¨C an exit to the outside, to the wilderness. It smelt different, absent any form of life or value. He continued to walk and later reached an old storehouse. Further still, there existed an abandoned village ¨C lost within the embrace of Shadowmere. It held remnants of those long forgotten, but the man remembered. Through all of the soul-fires and their memories, the man remembered. Within the storehouse, he found some rags; it helped against the cold. Out of curiosity, he cast his aeter-made net across the entirety of Shadowmere. It offered insight and nothing else, not even a route to the outside world. How long would he have to wait, the man wondered. Skyward, there existed cracks that allowed for the light to venture inside, almost mockingly so. But there was also movement, a movement of change that allowed for freedom. He could wait, as long as it took. After three thousand years, how much would four days matter? He wandered some more and reached the centre of Shadowmere ¨C an area with blood-soaked soil, and uncomfortably strange trees. ¡°All I did was move in favour of my world,¡± the man whispered, with a sad expression on his face. ¡°Was there any other way for me to have resolved the matter, Zane?¡± An aura danced into existence with the man at its core, redder than the hottest of coals. He raised an arm and redirected much of what he had toward the cracks. The aeter seeped through to reach the World of Transition, altering the sky and its shape to something picturesque and beautiful. It meant a lot more though; the man sought to make a declaration ¨C a declaration of his awakening, that is. Shadowmere retaliated, fearful of its prisoner and his influence in the outside world. It failed in the endeavour. People shuddered from the pressure of what was released, which reached as far as the Kingdom of Suntaria even. Everyone noticed, from the Pillars to the Grandmasters, from the Relictan Lords to the demi-humans. An era of bloodlust, war, death, and carnage; it had arrived. ¡°How will you welcome me this time, Mioverold?¡± the man wondered, dissipating his aura through the thought. ¡°I suppose it doesn¡¯t matter, not after witnessing what I did.¡± Four days¡­ Chapter XXIV | From Order to Chaos Day One of Four Arce Caelesti marked a wondrous sight in the Kingdom of Suntaria; it represented quality above all else, with several areas dedicated to the betterment of the Godvildian people. Smiths gathered at the Vulcan-blessed forge of Arce Male, while the soldiers trained within Arce Bellum, the domain of Murugan ¨C a deity of war from the Hindu pantheon. But there existed another structure, complex and far beneath the early floors. It summoned those of a forgotten time, remnants of an extinct race, with abilities that bordered on the supernatural. Some called them inheritors, specific to the Asuran Empire, men and women with an odd elemental affinity ¨C shadow-based. That¡¯s what it was, Arce Umbra ¨C a home for the Godvildian-raised demonkind. Whispers spoke of assassins, perhaps spies or scouts even, a branch of the Godvildian military under Akshay Bahrain¡¯s direct command. Spread across the World of Transition, they walked amidst commoners, nobles, and soldiers alike. On rare occasions, they would surface, to provide aid, only to fade into the darkness once more. At the time, Shadowmere ranked as one such occasion. They observed the developments from afar, assigning some to the field for the sake of a more thorough investigation. ¡°What do you think this is, Ser Kain?¡± one of them asked. Cloaked in what masked his presence, Kain watched something odd transpire. It had changed, the atmosphere around Shadowmere ¨C distorted, or perhaps corrupted even. On closer observation, Kain noticed a thin, red veil; an aeter-made net meant to lure and collect soul-fires. But the oddity, that was in the soul-fires¡¯ transformation within the veil. Some of them disappeared under pressure, but the rest ¨C they altered, losing their purity to blackness, to depravity. They fell from Aeterna¡¯s grace and reached into the abyss instead, morphing into something else entirely. It took shape, some as soldiers with weapons, and others as those with mounts ¨C armoured and disciplined. Kain gulped at the sight, and more so at the thought of meeting them at war. ¡°I¡¯ve appraised the army,¡± said Kain, slowly. ¡°But I can¡¯t seem to believe it, an army of the undead.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not something we haven¡¯t faced before,¡± added another subordinate. ¡°The incident at the Bridge of Souls should offer us optimism, given our victory against the odds.¡± ¡°It¡¯s different this time, I¡¯m afraid,¡± said Kain. ¡°What I see is an army of the Elder Undead, thousands and with no end in sight. This isn¡¯t a war, Goodwin. It¡¯s preparation for a massacre.¡± --- Mel Ficarum was a region of former supremacy, once equal to the Godvildian might. With a versatile army and sophisticated agricultural methodologies, it ranked as a place of harmony, blessed by the touch of fortune. But within its trail of greatness, whispers of misfortune followed; many called it the Great War, the kind that weakened the region into irrelevancy. It started with the fall of the Noxun King, a wound that cracked into the pride of Mel Ficarum and its people. In time, the economy collapsed as well, under constant stress from Godvildian opposition. As the region shrank territorially, several of the Noxun people retreated to the capital city of Noctis, amidst indecisive leadership and internal strife. A place of historical significance, Noctis stood as the only city to have never succumbed to Godvildian pressure. Elementalists attributed the legend to Caradus Castle and its ability to erect aeter-made barriers against those of hostility. ¡°It¡¯s strange, for me to have remembered the past at this hour,¡± said Escanor, of a time fresh within the hearts of the Noxun people. ¡°I recall the period to be rather tiresome, to say the least.¡± Escanor gently displaced the mug in front of him, swirling the contents inside. His eyes shifted to the man in his company ¨C shrouded in obscurity, and with a book in hand. ¡°True,¡± agreed the man, taking a seat beside Escanor. ¡°But we wouldn¡¯t be here if not for the war; there¡¯s always an opportunity for those in power.¡± ¡°Yes, the political change,¡± said Escanor. ¡°With the fall of the monarch, the people elected those most capable of leading them.¡± ¡°And us to lead their armies ¨C the two most prolific heroes of the time,¡± added the man. ¡°A wise decision, indeed.¡± Escanor paused to pour his visitor a drink. He slid the mug over the man¡¯s side and later returned to his seat. After a moment of silence, the Noxun Grandmaster continued the conversation, ¡°It¡¯s an odd time, I know. But there is a matter that requires urgent discussion.¡± ¡°I have received word from the leaders already,¡± said the man. ¡°As far as I know, you had resolved the matter quite adequately in our previous meeting with the Relictan Lords.¡± ¡°And I agree,¡± said Escanor, with a nod. ¡°But his awakening, it frightens our people. Some fear his return to the throne, and there are whispers of those who wish it within our ranks.¡± ¡°For the person who turned all of Mioverold against the Noxun?¡± asked the man, curiously. ¡°I still believe that it might work in our favour,¡± said Escanor. ¡°What I fear is his volatility, and my inability to defend against it.¡± ¡°It¡¯s strange to hear you say that.¡± ¡°You haven¡¯t fully read the reports, then,¡± said Escanor. ¡°There¡¯s a growing army in Shadowmere, an army comprised fully of Elder Undead. It is not something any of us can defend against.¡±This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. ¡°How is that even possible?¡± asked the man, gulping as he did. ¡°I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve ever seen even you cultivating more than a handful at a time.¡± ¡°He¡¯s somehow managed to initiate a trade with the underworld,¡± explained Escanor. ¡°For every Elder Undead, he offers a soul-fire led into depravity. It¡¯s clever, but not something I¡¯m too comfortable with myself.¡± ¡°And why is that?¡± ¡°Soul-fires can¡¯t be guided into depravity without interference; as pure as they are, you would require them to merge with your own soul momentarily,¡± said Escanor. ¡°The amount of lifeforce it would take to do that, think about it. Even under normal circumstances, you don¡¯t want a soul-fire passing through you. But to have them unite with your soul to tear away at it at the cost of your own? It¡¯s simply impossible.¡± ¡°And yet he has an army,¡± said the man, mildly frustrated. ¡°An impossibility made possible, that does sound like him.¡± He paused, before adding, ¡°What are the chances of an invasion?¡± ¡°It¡¯s best we prepare regardless of the odds,¡± said Escanor, with a sigh. ¡°An invasion should prove to be difficult given the presence of Caradus Castle. But if it comes to that, we just might have to swallow our pride and ally with the Godvildian people.¡± ¡°Or hope that the Relictan method to control him functions as desired,¡± said the man, stifling a laugh. ¡°Not that it¡¯s possible.¡± --- Wraith Woods creaked with an odd sense of achievement. It extended well beyond Terra Fortress, an army with some of the finest soldiers under Relictan banners. Jacquelyn, having recovered from her injuries, commanded the larger of the two legions assembled, including those that had once pledged allegiances to Rahu and Ulric. At a distance, she noticed the man in command of the other legion ¨C poised and with sharpened focus. The latter stood clad in armour meant for those with a preference towards agility, of a light colour, and with a bow, but no arrows. Jacquelyn later turned away from the man, looking toward the top of Terra Fortress instead. There, for merely a moment, she caught sight of the Relictan Overlord. Caesar retreated to the comfort of his chair. He rested his arms atop a table and viewed the map in front of him. It covered a significant portion of the Godvildian region, enough for everything he had set in motion. With a sigh, he turned his gaze to the side of the table, and more specifically ¨C the shards that rested atop of it. Three in totality, the objects shone with purpose, cloudy and through a transparent frame. On closer inspection, Caesar found the aeter formula that governed the shards ¨C complex and foreign in its structure. ¡°You didn¡¯t die in vain, Ulric,¡± thought Caesar, reminiscent of his comrade. ¡°I¡¯ll see our vision through to the end, with my strategy and your methodologies, this I promise.¡± ¡°I sense a strange power, Caesar,¡± whispered a voice, from the shadows. ¡°You might as well entertain me, given that you have forced me away from the fun.¡± Caesar turned to address the person behind him ¨C a tall, but abnormally thin man, attired in armour made of reptilian scales. ¡°Orm Anguis, you actually stayed,¡± said Caesar, with a smile. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to recover as quickly as you did.¡± Orm Anguis bowed, a man often described as someone with an indecipherable mind. He unstrapped what appeared to be a long scythe from his back, and sat across from his Overlord. With a shrug, he gestured toward the shards in hope for more information; an uncomfortable stare aided all the more by the madness in his eyes ¨C white, and almost salt-like in its colour. ¡°What, why would I ever sulk about losing command over one of the legions?¡± said Orm, with a laugh as dry as desert sand. ¡°I get to be here, after all, next to good Caesar ¨C the Overlord.¡± ¡°Your soldiers¡¯ presence here, it¡¯s essential,¡± said Caesar. ¡°I ask that you not complain too much.¡± ¡°Well, you¡¯ll have to choose then, good Caesar,¡± said Orm. ¡°You either tell me about those magnificent-looking shards or set me free to satiate my desire for carnage.¡± Caesar stepped away from the table and walked towards the nearest window, armed with two of the three shards. He called Orm to his side and broke the objects in his possession. The aeter leaked, violent in its transformation into something sharp. It hovered for a moment, both projections, and then soared into position ¨C one for each legion. In time, the space ¨C in front of the armies ¨C distorted, shutting away access to the outside world. As the magic spurred towards completion, the soldiers transformed as well, taking ethereal shape, before disappearing entirely. Orm clapped at the sight, thoroughly amused by whatever it was he witnessed. He then eagerly turned to Caesar, demanding an explanation. ¡°They¡¯re relics from when the High Humans still walked among us; impossibly rare,¡± revealed Caesar. ¡°It was offered to former the lords as payment for a job several thousand years ago, but without any instructions.¡± ¡°Yes, I never did quite enjoy a High Human¡¯s sense of humour,¡± said Orm. ¡°But what does it do; better yet, how did you manage to restore its functionalities?¡± ¡°The relics function as transporters; each shard allows for the recording of a location and widescale transportation to the same,¡± explained Caesar. ¡°Its formula is designed to break and bind the physical body with lightning-based aeter, allowing for instantaneous transportation. As for restoring its functionalities, that was all Ulric.¡± ¡°You should have protected him better, Caesar; it¡¯s a shame he¡¯s dead,¡± said Orm. ¡°And what of the toll? I don¡¯t recall the existence of any lightning-based Elementalist with such an ability.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right, but as fast as they are, lightning-based Elementalists are restricted by the limitations of the physical world,¡± said Caesar. ¡°The relic impacts its users¡¯ as well, breaking the physical body into something more ethereal for transport; the reconstruction takes place at the destination.¡± ¡°Rather ingenious,¡± praised Orm. ¡°And where have you transported them?¡± ¡°Jacquelyn has been moved to Raskas, an important port-city under Godvildian governance. I¡¯ve directed the other to Minerva, another place of high economic value to the Godvildian people.¡± ¡°The armies won¡¯t reach in time,¡± said Orm, trembling with excitement. ¡°There will be so much blood; I wish I could¡¯ve taken part!¡± ¡°As disappointing as this might sound, Orm, there will be no bloodshed.¡± ¡°What?¡± said Orm, with a bored expression on his face. ¡°I merely intend to create an illusion,¡± admitted Caesar. ¡°In a way, I¡¯m holding the cities and its people hostage. The Godvildian armies will move, and rather slowly at that. With their forces spread apart, there will be little resistance at Shadowmere.¡± ¡°Seeds of chaos; you seem to have thought this through,¡± said Orm. ¡°But what if the Pillars decide to sacrifice both Raskas and Minerva to prevent the awakening; you don¡¯t save two trees at the expense of an entire forest.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve considered the possibility,¡± said Caesar. ¡°And it is the most logical choice given your explanation, but it is a choice the Godvildian people won¡¯t make. The Pillars stand at the apex of this world; they¡¯re a symbol of hope to their people. This choice, it will weaken their authority; people would lose trust.¡± ¡°Humour me though,¡± pressed Orm. ¡°What if they did make the logical choice?¡± ¡°It will be difficult to stop the awakening nonetheless,¡± said Caesar. ¡°There¡¯s an army of Elder Undead protecting Shadowmere presently.¡± ¡°A game without victory,¡± said Orm, with a smile. ¡°Good, good, Caesar. I don¡¯t regret staying here with you anymore.¡± ¡°All for our people, Orm,¡± said Caesar. ¡°All for our people.¡± Chapter XXV | Whispers of Movement Day Two of Four It was rare for the winds to play a different music, not many noticed. Those of a lesser fate continued their march into the progress of time, unaware of what had occurred. But Gale understood it, within reach of the borders of the Kingdom of Suntaria. The aeter, it had changed; and before him, stood the embodiment of that change. He didn¡¯t particularly understand it, but there was hostility involved. Gale unsheathed his sword in response to the bloodlust, against a warrior of the night. It formed in front of him, bones and flesh, clad in armour and with a magnificent blade in hand. A ghastly aura followed, dark and without compassion. It screeched, violently, and then charged ¨C masterful in its form and balance. In the moments that followed, an old memory surfaced from the depths of the boy¡¯s mind. Gale remembered the aura and the bloodlust, not unlike what he faced at the Bridge of Souls. On instinct, he met the blade with his own, but buckled from the weight of the former. He stepped aside and frowned, having confirmed what it was that stood before him ¨C an Elder Undead. With a whisper, Gale manipulated his combat potential into a higher plateau. He attempted battle with the undead warrior once more, but failed in his efforts to make an impact. Another step forward, and the boy moved faster still, swerving to his adversary¡¯s rear. He slashed away at the latter¡¯s neck, but met with resistance instead ¨C a powerful magic that hindered the progress of his attack. ¡°What was it?¡± thought Gale, curiously. ¡°Immune to any attack beneath the eighth-tier, I believe; how troublesome.¡± The boy retreated to a safe distance and lowered the value of aeter impacting his body. He sheathed his blade, in time to watch the Elder Undead sprint on offense. With an arm raised, Gale channelled a significant portion of his aeter into sequence; he accessed the formula from his memories and unleashed it in one, fluid motion. ¡°Activate Sequence: Corrosion,¡± whispered Gale, under his breath. A wave of energy spread through the path as dictated by the sequence. The Elder Undead felt its feet weaken, and his speed suffer as a consequence. His legs crumbled, disintegrating a little with every step. In time, the warrior of the night could manage no more than a crawl. And then the winds changed direction, blowing past both Gale and the Elder Undead. Without emotion, the boy watched the latter fade into nothingness, carried by the embrace of a gentle breeze. ¡°I won¡¯t be able to handle another one,¡± thought Gale, having evaluated the condition of his body. ¡°As convenient as it is, this magic isn¡¯t the most sustainable form of combat; I need to reach Suntaria and report this sighting.¡± Gale returned to the path of his journey and began march toward the Godvildian kingdom with haste. His steps quickened with time, but slowed at the sound of wheels. It was a carriage, horse-drawn and of the Godvildian empire. After a brief conversation, the driver agreed to help the boy reach the Kingdom of Suntaria. ¡°There¡¯s no doubt about it; something has changed,¡± thought Gale, with a grim expression on his face. ¡°I just can¡¯t seem to put my finger on it.¡± --- A messenger stood in front of a large door within the hallowed walls of Arce Caelesti. Bound by the echoes of curiosity, she touched the cold wood, enchanted to defend against the strongest of spells. With a deep breath, she pressed against the door, releasing aeter to inform those inside of her presence. There was no response.This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it In her wait, she turned to observe a lonely corridor. Her eyes moved to inspect everything on display; there was armour from a forgotten time, weapons that had retired from combat, and stories of old victories. She smiled, proud of her Godvildian heritage, and turned to face the door once more. After another knock, it stirred, dissipating to allow passage. She knelt and later raised an arm, holding a message meant for those inside. ¡°I have news from Basaraa Village,¡± the messenger announced. ¡°Would you like me to read it out loud?¡± ¡°That won¡¯t be necessary,¡± said Akshay Bahrain. ¡°Thank you for your time.¡± Lord Bahrain broke seal and glanced through the message presented. He then handed the parchment to one of three comrades present. ¡°You were right, Masura,¡± acknowledged Akshay, wearing a smile on his face. ¡°The child is golden; it¡¯s good to know, given present state of affairs.¡± ¡°To be honest, I¡¯m eager to hear of his experience with the Hearth King,¡± said Masura, once finished with the message. ¡°We will also need to expedite his growth.¡± ¡°This is good news,¡± added Aaron. ¡°But we must assess his fitness towards leadership. How about letting him take command of a unit of Suntarian Guardians?¡± Amidst conversation, another stood in silence. He allowed for the exchange to continue, grow, and dull, raising an arm right after. The Three Godvildian Pillars snapped into attention, resting their voices to enable the man¡¯s opportunity for speech. ¡°Is it acceptable for me to evaluate the boy¡¯s path?¡± asked Zane. ¡°Gale will have to make a choice, yes, but I intend to reveal all there is to know beforehand. Let us not push the child into a hasty decision.¡± After consideration, the Three Pillars of Suntaria nodded ¨C all in agreement of what the old blacksmith had proposed. ¡°Perfect,¡± said Zane. ¡°How about we return to our previous discussion then?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± said Akshay. ¡°My scouts from Arce Umbra have sent message of an army at Shadowmere, an army of the Elder Undead. I¡¯m not sure how he managed it, but the situation is dire. Barring the four of us, I don¡¯t see anyone else with a chance against the Elders. And the prisoner inside, well, I don¡¯t see us coming out of this unscathed.¡± ¡°What of Raskas and Minerva?¡± asked Zane. ¡°Is it true that both cities stand under immediate threat of an invasion?¡± ¡°The army spurred into existence, seemingly out of thin air,¡± informed Akshay. ¡°They appear to be Relictan; quite frankly, I do not know how they managed that.¡± ¡°What¡¯s important is how we proceed,¡± interjected Aaron. Turning toward Zane, he added, ¡°I suppose you would want to take lead at Shadowmere?¡± ¡°As tempted as I am, that is a call for our strategist to make,¡± acknowledged Zane. ¡°I will move as you command me to, Lord Bahrain.¡± As silence resumed, Akshay rested his back and looked over a map of the Godvildian region. He identified Shadowmere as a priority, but also considered the complications involved with forsaking either Raskas or Minerva. There was a lot at stake. The Godvildian Lord scratched his chin, puzzled at first, and then calm right after. He moved the stone-made pieces atop the table to different positions on the map, hesitant still. ¡°This is going to sound a little harsh,¡± warned Akshay. ¡°Raskas is under threat from an army twenty-thousand strong; as far as I remember, the city itself is defended by about a thousand soldiers. I recommend moving precisely four thousand soldiers from Suntaria to defend the city. Given our quality, I see the odds tilt to a balance, or not. I can¡¯t tell.¡± Akshay paused for a moment, plagued with indecision. He reconsidered what was conveyed, but refused to alter decision. ¡°Minerva faces pressure in the form of ten thousand soldiers; Lord Heart will add to the city¡¯s defences and army ¨C five-hundred strong. I recommend three thousand soldiers for the effort,¡± said Akshay, slowly. ¡°What ranks as most important, however, is our effort at Shadowmere. For that purpose, I intend for Lord Bloodseed and Ser Zane to lead an army ¨C thirty-thousand strong ¨C against the Elder Undead. This leaves us with roughly twenty-thousand soldiers; they will remain here under my command, to defend our kingdom.¡± ¡°This appears to be more manageable than I had anticipated,¡± said Masura. ¡°But what of Raskas; are you sending an army there for the sake of optics? Those numbers, they are far from favourable without a commander, quality or not.¡± Akshay guided his mind to a recent memory, recalling a gamble of old. He wondered if Lady Fortune would court him once more, offering chance at another miracle. With a sigh, he dismissed all doubt. ¡°There will be a commander at Raskas,¡± said Akshay, unflinchingly. ¡°It is up to Ser Zane to get him ready for the task.¡± Chapter XXVI | An Empty Throne Ehedus and Baha, the two gods within the World of Transition, allowed for its denizens to acquire abilities most suited to their predetermined traits. Some emerged with a body meant for combat, and others for what many called utility or support. A few among them could participate in war, to a certain degree at least, while others helped from a distance. Morrigan Fae fell into the latter. An appraiser of the ninth-tier, Morrigan gaped at what was presented by a Suntarian guard. She scratched the back of her head and later reached for a peculiar pouch, which seemed emanate a strange form of aeter. It resembled something from her past but remained veiled with an odd sense of unfamiliarity. Her fingers slipped through to extract what appeared to be bone and ash; that¡¯s all there was to it. Now atop the table, Morrigan whispered to summon the unknown, characteristics that might have evaded the common eye. It surprised her, even after a second evaluation. With a sigh, she returned to her seat and made an entry of what was uncovered. ¡°Where did you come upon this?¡± asked Morrigan, addressing her messenger. ¡°I was given this as proof to a certain message,¡± informed the guard. ¡°But we needed confirmation to take action; the guards aren¡¯t meant to move through the words of a commoner.¡± ¡°That¡¯s interesting to hear,¡± said Morrigan. ¡°Could you perhaps be so kind as to describe this commoner?¡± ¡°He appeared to be a mercenary, same as any other in our world,¡± said the guard. ¡°There was also mention of an agreement with the Three Pillars, not that we took it seriously.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not what I had asked,¡± said Morrigan, with a frown. ¡°Describe your apparent commoner.¡± The guard shuddered but maintained his calm to continue conversation. With a gulp, he said, ¡°He was a little different ¨C skin as black as a moonless night, and eyes of an amber colour.¡± ¡°And why did you let him pass through the gates?¡± ¡°He offered a Letter of Quest Completion from the Elder of Basaraa Village,¡± said the guard. ¡°It was enough to authorize passage; after all, completers are supposed to report the outcome of any quest posted through the kingdom.¡± ¡°I suppose the guards aren¡¯t as incompetent as I had assumed them to be,¡± remarked Morrigan, with a scoff. ¡°If you must know, the bones do belong to that of an Elder Undead. Move your soldiers as is necessary.¡± With a nervous bow, the Suntarian guard moved the bones into the embrace of its pouch. He strode towards the door, but paused, overcome with curiosity. The guard turned, unsure of his decision to venture further into conversation with the appraiser. ¡°You are free to ask what¡¯s on your mind,¡± mentioned Morrigan, noticing the guard¡¯s indecision. ¡°An answer, isn¡¯t that what you desire?¡± ¡°My apologies,¡± said the guard, with a low bow. ¡°I simply wish to understand the reason behind your comment; you would not have made it for any ordinary person.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure if you¡¯ve received message about it yet,¡± said Morrigan, with a smile. ¡°The Three Pillars, they call him a Half-Lord ¨C an empty title indicative of future combat potential.¡± ¡°And what could that be?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± admitted Morrigan. ¡°But if I had to make a remark, I would add that the boy is nowhere near ordinary.¡±This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. --- Gale offered nothing more than a vacant stare at what appeared to be an empty throne; it floated a little, aeter-held and made of stone. Behind it, rested a weapon ¨C a halberd ¨C maintained for combat and of excellent quality. It emanated an odd form of aeter, something from beyond the World of Transition, and with enough power to infiltrate the boy¡¯s mind. For a moment, Gale felt his body surrender to what remained locked within the halberd. It tugged at the soul, actively at first, but then retreated ¨C chased away by the boy¡¯s mind of tranquillity. Gale shook his head, overcome with reminiscence; the effects reminded him of something familiar. But as he steered mind towards memory, the door opened, snapping his train of thought. ¡°Well met, Young Lord,¡± said a voice. ¡°It¡¯s been far too long since we last met.¡± ¡°Ser Zane,¡± said Gale, with a bow. ¡°This is a surprise. I was expecting Lord Bloodseed.¡± ¡°A lot has changed since you first embarked on your quest,¡± revealed Zane. ¡°If I have to put it simply, war is upon us ¨C unlike any other.¡± ¡°I came prepared for such news,¡± said Gale. ¡°This world, it seems to have changed over the last couple of months.¡± Zane raised an eyebrow, puzzled by the boy¡¯s response. He scratched his chin and took a short step forward, eager to understand the latter¡¯s growth. With a whisper, the blacksmith summoned a spell from the depths of his memories, often used for the sake of assessment. He navigated towards the boy¡¯s core, but identified, instead, a form of defence beyond the spell¡¯s infiltrative capacity. ¡°Strange; the boy is hiding something, unwittingly even,¡± thought Zane. Aloud he said, ¡°You claim the world to have changed, how so?¡± ¡°I smell death, everywhere,¡± said Gale. ¡°It¡¯s foul. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve heard of it already, my encounter against an Elder Undead on route to the Kingdom of Suntaria.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± said Zane, with a nod. ¡°And I¡¯m glad to find you unharmed from the same. We didn¡¯t expect it, their existence away from Shadowmere.¡± ¡°Shadowmere?¡± asked Gale, curiously. ¡°I forget that you are still new to our world,¡± admitted Zane. ¡°Let me explain from the start. Shadowmere is a prison, a region far beyond the control of any mortal within the World of Transition. In your time away, the seals that maintained its seclusion came apart ¨C a manoeuvre guided by Relictan hands.¡± ¡°I suppose your concern is with what or who was inside,¡± guessed Gale. ¡°It¡¯s unlikely for Relictan forces to have stirred Godvildian tension to such a degree.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a sharp observation,¡± praised Zane, smiling as he did. ¡°Shadowmere is set to fade from its position as a prison tomorrow; in front of it stands an army of the Elder Undead, the largest I have ever seen, eager to begin march upon single command.¡± ¡°This isn¡¯t a war, then,¡± said Gale, with a frown. ¡°I¡¯ve seen it firsthand, the power of an Elder Undead; and now you talk of an army?¡± ¡°A severe problem, indeed, and there¡¯s more ¨C two large Relictan forces, spread apart to divide our forces and weaken assault at Shadowmere; fortunately, we do have a plan,¡± said Zane. ¡°Lord Bahrain will remain here to defend our kingdom, while Aaron Heart marches to Minerva. Masura Bloodseed and I will head to handle the situation at Shadowmere.¡± ¡°And what of your omission ¨C the other half of the Relictan army?¡± ¡°It¡¯s headed to Raskas, a place of significant importance,¡± said Zane. He paused to erase doubt from mind, and added, ¡°You¡¯ll be in command of the forces we¡¯ll be sending there, for the city¡¯s defence.¡± Gale considered the weight of what was said, an odd decision given the kingdom¡¯s military strength. He maintained calm, and chose to respond with a question instead, ¡°What of the other Army Generals?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll be accompanied by one of them, someone under Lord Bahrain¡¯s command,¡± informed Zane, with a smile. ¡°We are aware of your lack of experience in commanding an army, but Akshay and Masura hold your combat potential in high regard. General Conatus is a smart leader and greatly respected among his peers, but his abilities on the field of battle pale in comparison to your own.¡± ¡°Is this perhaps another experiment of yours?¡± asked Gale, a grim expression on his face. ¡°The stakes this time, they¡¯re different.¡± ¡°Nonetheless, it is a future we wish for you,¡± said Zane. ¡°But even before you make a decision, there is something I seek to reveal to you.¡± ¡°And what might that be?¡± ¡°The circumstances of this world, and the consequences of remaining allied to our cause; I do not desire your involvement through ignorance,¡± said Zane. With a sigh, he raised an arm and pointed to the empty throne behind the boy. ¡°There¡¯s also a story to be told, of a man who once ruled the entirety of the World of Transition, almost ¨C King Ceraunus Antiochus.¡± Chapter 27 | 3,000 Years Into the Past (1) Mioverold smelt of blood several times throughout the course of history, often accompanied by death and decay. War was commonplace; rape and plunder ¨C among the most natural of occurrences. But it was far from meaningless, at least at that point in time. A period of strife and peace before the Great War, people called it ¨C the Era of Unification. Bloodied, battered, stabbed, but at the peak of his abilities, Zane stood atop a mountain of corpses ¨C fiercely young, and with bodily features that separated him from the crowd. He held a long, thin sword, blinking to regain vision, and with a tired expression on his face. There was nothing left but exhaustion and a desire to cease bloodshed. In front of him stood a pretender, a man who sought to unite the entirety of Mioverold ¨C Ceraunus Antiochus. ¡°Suntaria is not for you to rule, Young King,¡± said Zane. ¡°Return to your people and avoid the opportunity of death.¡± Ceraunus shook with weakness; he dropped to his knees but held onto his halberd, fortified in thought with an unyielding amount of determination. At the time, his conquest represented a pursuit of freedom and peace. ¡°I do not detest the Godvildian people, Lord Zane,¡± pleaded Ceraunus. ¡°Please reconsider your stance. I seek to rule with your guidance; to create a future without weapons, a future without war, where leaders could meet and conclude disagreements with meaningful dialogue.¡± ¡°You desire peace, but choose to enforce it through blood,¡± said Zane. ¡°I would rather maintain our system of election than fall into a monarch. Our people will not bow to a Noxun King.¡± ¡°All of this, it is not without reason,¡± said Ceraunus. ¡°This world is not without its flaws, and I can show you!¡± In response, Zane took a gentle step towards Ceraunus Antiochus, bearing in mind his responsibility as the defender of Suntaria. With a whisper, he slipped into an aeter-made armor, forged and nurtured in the form of an aura. He waved sword against air, forcing those of lower tiers into submission. In time, his steps slowed, but with increasing pressure, enough to trouble even the Noxun King. Despite exhaustion from hours of relentless combat, Zane maintained form, but with a strain that pressed beyond his limitations. For a moment, he turned to reinvigorate his mind ¨C held together by the might of the Godvildian people, by the might of the Kingdom of Suntaria. With a sigh, he returned focus to Ceraunus from atop where he stood. He pointed his sword at the Noxun King, and the army behind him. ¡°Young King, I believe I have warned you of the consequences of this endeavor,¡± said Zane, cold in his stare. ¡°Aspect of the Ancients: The Hand of Ehedus!¡± Upon command, a gate ripped into existence, from above the invading army. It held onto a strange form of brightness, a light from god¡¯s domain. With vision in place, a few ¨C among those blinded ¨C witnessed the emergence of a door, and later a crack, allowing for an arm to push into Mioverold. It held an ethereal form, with armor of an otherworldly quality. With a clenched fist, the arm tore into space once more, unsheathing a sword of immense proportions. It clouded over the army, fierce in its intention towards destruction. At the sight, the Noxun King guided his Generals into formation. Ceraunus stole from his men, commanding the aeter to take the form of a divine shield. He watched the sword fall and raised both arms in defense.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. With a gulp, Ceraunus faced the offensive might of the Suntarian Lord, but failed within moments of having made contact. His Generals spurred the invading army to add to the shield¡¯s strength, pushed into desperation; their hope flickered at first, but crumbled in its entirety as Zane prevailed. Without mercy, the sword swept through the battlefield, destroying earth, flesh, and blood alike. Ceraunus stood amongst the survivors, weakened and breathless. He waited as the dust settled, eager to understand the state of his army. His ears honed into hurried footsteps, retreating into the distance. A mild breeze cut through the obscurity, deafeningly silent and with an odd sense of neutrality. ¡°Half, half my army?¡± thought Ceraunus, choking as he did. Two men emerged from what remained of the dust, overcome with disbelief and fear. After a little encouragement, they slowly shook their heads. ¡°Six of my Generals as well; this was a mistake.¡± The sound of something mechanical distracted the Noxun King from thought; he raised his head to find the Suntarian gates close, fortified by an almost impregnable form of magic. The Godvildian soldiers, they had retreated. ¡°And yet, you continue to stand in front of me,¡± said Ceraunus, addressing Zane. ¡°I should not have tried to reason with you.¡± Zane coughed blood, depleted of strength and aeter. It was all he could manage, to stand. The invading army stirred with anger but stilled upon command from their king. Ceraunus walked towards Zane, wearing an expression that conveyed both sadness and disappointment. ¡°You flirt with death, Lord Zane,¡± said Ceraunus. ¡°Was it worth it, to have bought maybe a few months of relief?¡± ¡°It is my duty to protect the people of Suntaria, Young King,¡± said Zane, barely a whisper. ¡°My death, it is insignificant. The Godvildian people will fight; they would rather perish than lose their freedom under Noxun banners.¡± In reaction to the comment, the Noxun King struck Zane, but hesitated, for long enough to have not fatally injured the latter. Ceraunus trembled, torn between his duty as a ruler and a visionary in search of peace. He wondered if it made any sense, to attempt dialogue once more, to move past the massacre of his people. ¡°You are an invader, King Antiochus,¡± said Zane, fading out of consciousness. ¡°Your desire for endless peace, it¡¯s a beautiful dream. But dreams aren¡¯t a product of blood and murder. The result today, you have no one to blame but yourself.¡± ¡°I do what I must for the sake of my people, for the sake of Mioverold,¡± said Ceraunus, with a sigh. ¡°For that purpose, I¡¯m willing to make a wager, to agree with your point of view.¡± ¡°My King,¡± stammered a familiar voice. ¡°Lord Zane has proven his combat potential to rank without value. It is a mistake to allow him the mercy of life; not after what he did to our people. This is our greatest opportunity to seek revenge.¡± ¡°Is it wrong for Lord Zane to have defended his people, then, General Khan?¡± asked Ceraunus. ¡°To slay with one¡¯s sword is murder during peace, but heroism during times of war. I must show mercy now, to allow him a chance to ally with us.¡± ¡°We have conquered several Godvildian cities on route to Suntaria,¡± explained Khan. ¡°There is little opportunity for resolution now. I beg of you, King Antiochus; you must kill Zane.¡± ¡°If I can forgive Lord Zane for the deaths of my soldiers, then perhaps he can find it in himself to move past my conquest against his people,¡± said Ceraunus. ¡°It is a risk, General Khan; I am aware of it. I moved towards violence in haste, that was my mistake. Allow me three days without protest; if I fail in persuading him to join us, then I shall step down as king and grant you permission to do as you see fit.¡± ¡°I would never,¡± said General Khan, with a low bow. ¡°It is hard for this old man to go against the wishes of our king.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± said Ceraunus, smiling as he did. ¡°We are no longer in any condition to attempt siege, not with Suntaria as it is now; announce the status of Zane Morgul as our prisoner, and then sound the horn for retreat. It is time for our soldiers to return home.¡± Chapter 28 | 3,000 Years Into the Past (2) Noctis stirred with unease at the sound of an announcement from Caradus Castle. At first, it spurred cheer and happiness, and upon continuation ¨C growing unease. In time, the city gates opened, to welcome the return of King Antiochus, and with him ¨C a prisoner of renown. At the sight of the latter, the citizens of Noctis gulped, some out of fear, and others out of amazement. Zane Morgul followed the Generals into the castle, through a path paved by the Noxun people. A walk, slow enough to allow for children to push through for a view even. The Godvildian Lord remained shackled through the journey, via use of chains, enchanted to seal and obstruct Aeterna from offering aid. King Antiochus led the march until the castle and later stepped away to engage in conversation with one of his Generals. ¡°Do not take him to prison; prepare a room instead,¡± said Ceraunus. ¡°In the meantime, could you please let Lady Inaya know of our arrival?¡± ¡°Very well, My King,¡± said the General. ¡°Should I ask her to meet you at your chambers?¡± ¡°Please do,¡± said Ceraunus. ¡°And do send message about what we had previously discussed.¡± --- Godvildian. Noxun. Relictan. In Mioverold, the three great races held unprecedented power. Historical records often favored them also ¨C covering volumes around cordial alliances, vicious betrayals, and unceasing wars. In the eyes of lesser races, they stood atop a plateau of unreachability. But among those not loved by the gods, existed a race determined to defy hierarchy ¨C humans. With reckless abandon, the humans of Mioverold drove toward the opposite of natural magic, seeking advancement by means of science. In their pursuit of greatness, many fell to the embrace of death and disease. It possessed them, their desire to stand atop Mioverold, to be recognized and admired. Years passed, and just as the darkness of failure threatened to swallow the last of them, something occurred ¨C an event that led to the emergence of a king. It was magic, invented by a human, and without the acknowledgement of a god. A large portion of the earth trembled upon its creation, tearing away from the grasp of Mioverold. It forced its way past the winds, skyward, and settled atop the clouds, creating a story of its own. ¡°Our story, forged by the will of our first king ¨C Castor Argonaut,¡± said a man, addressing a group of children. ¡°Do you want to hear more?¡± ¡°Yes, King Mallan!¡± said the children, in unison. ¡°King Argonaut ensured that we became children of the sky,¡± said Mallan, with a smile. ¡°With his magic, he created armor and weapons without compare; eventually, the three great races had started to refer to us as High Humans in acknowledgement of our evolution. And since then, we¡¯ve only strived to become better, to honor our first king.¡± Mallan Argonaut rarely held the appearance of a king. Seventh to ascend the throne, he walked among his subjects as a commoner would, ordinarily dressed, but with features hard to ignore; it stemmed from his royal bloodline, and his people ¨C from the floating kingdom of Themistokera ¨C adored every aspect of what made him a great king.Stolen story; please report. ¡°Tell us more!¡± said the children, louder this time. ¡°I¡¯m afraid I¡¯m out of time,¡± said Mallan, apologetically. ¡°Our Prime Minister calls for my attention.¡± The children turned to find an old man smiling at them, eager to pry their storyteller away. He bowed to them and later turned to offer the same respect to Mallan Argonaut. When they met, the latter noticed what appeared to be a letter in the hands of his Prime Minister. ¡°Well met, Minister Majid,¡± said Mallan. ¡°Good news, perhaps?¡± ¡°No, My King; far from it,¡± said Majid. ¡°Our scouts report the capture of Lord Morgul; King Antiochus failed in his conquest against the Kingdom of Suntaria but managed to tire the Godvildian hero into submission.¡± ¡°Eight Generals ranked within the seventh-tier; how interesting,¡± said Mallan, having given the report a cursory glance. ¡°Lord Zane is truly an exceptional combatant. It¡¯s a shame he was captured.¡± ¡°I fear that the Noxun kind will turn their attention to Themistokera next, My King,¡± said Majid, with a concerned expression on his face. ¡°We must prepare for war; King Antiochus has proven himself to have a nose for blood.¡± ¡°That won¡¯t be necessary,¡± said Mallan, shrugging as he did. ¡°I received word from the Noxun King earlier in the day; I¡¯m sorry for not having mentioned it. King Antiochus is ceasing aggression for now; he¡¯s requested dialogue with me at a neutral territory ¨C my choice, of course.¡± ¡°Would you like me to draft a reply, then?¡± ¡°It¡¯s going to be a simple message,¡± said Mallan. ¡°Tell him that we don¡¯t talk to those we don¡¯t trust. If that causes war, then I welcome it.¡± --- Inaya Antiochus knocked on a large wooden door, waited a moment, and then entered right after. She strolled to a table and touched a recently opened letter with her fingertips, curious in her expression. Without worry, she read its contents, twice. Her eyes slowly moved to the fire, and the man seated by it ¨C Ceraunus Antiochus. ¡°You look worried, My King,¡± said Inaya, with a bow. ¡°The message leaves you concerned?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve told you often not to treat me as others would, Lady Inaya,¡± said Ceraunus, frowning as he did. ¡°You are the daughter of our former king.¡± ¡°But that¡¯s not how royalty works in Mel Ficarum,¡± reminded Inaya. ¡°After my father fell to illness, Seraphina chose you as his successor. I continue to stay in Caradus Castle because of you, and nothing else.¡± ¡°It benefits me to have you around; you¡¯re smart, more than I am,¡± admitted Ceraunus. ¡°And yes, you¡¯ve read the message ¨C King Mallan Argonaut refused dialogue.¡± ¡°I warned you of this when you decided to wage war against all of Mioverold,¡± said Inaya. ¡°You usually listen, but I suppose your halberd had some insight that I did not.¡± ¡°It showed me more than it did your father,¡± said Ceraunus. ¡°Seraphina urged for Mioverold to unite, but I¡¯ve seen too much of our world to see that it¡¯s impossible. The Godvildian people are too proud to accept an alliance with us, and the High Humans ¨C they¡¯ve continued to alienate themselves further through each succession. We only have the Relictans with us because of a weak generation of lords.¡± ¡°And so, you turned to conquest, to force dialogue,¡± said Inaya. ¡°But think about it, your approach ¨C it was hardly incorrect.¡± ¡°You¡¯re too kind,¡± said Ceraunus, with a smile. ¡°I¡¯ve only faced trouble because of this; even my own people, they suffer because of me.¡± ¡°King Ceraunus, you failed because the Godvildian Empire functions as a Republic,¡± said Inaya. ¡°You spoke to old men, rigid and unmoving. But through war, you¡¯ve caught the attention of a man even the Godvildian leaders can¡¯t ignore. Zane is your answer.¡± ¡°Encouraging words,¡± said Ceraunus, smiling as he did. ¡°But Lord Zane has refused to meet me since our arrival here. I only have three days, Lady Inaya; that¡¯s all I could ask for from my people.¡± Inaya stifled a laugh, tossing the letter in her hand. She watched it catch fire, ink and paper ¨C eroding away into nothingness. ¡°You¡¯ve been very hospitable, King Ceraunus,¡± said Inaya. ¡°Perhaps it is time for me to earn my stay here; shall I try to engage in conversation with your Lord Zane?¡± Chapter 29 | 3,000 Years Into the Past (3) It was an odd situation for the Godvildian Lord, to hold title as prisoner, but with freedom; to remain shackled, but with servants in attendance. Zane Morgul felt his body twitch ¨C a little with pain, and more with disgust. With a grim expression on his face, he eyed first the restraints that had crippled his abilities, and then his injuries. In time, the door opened, with three attendants on the other end. They waited outside, masking what appeared to be a tremble. ¡°This is your home,¡± reminded Zane, politely. ¡°I am not one to show aggression without meaning.¡± With a nod, the attendants entered and handled their tasks within the room. One of them appeared to hold a tray, with much of its contents hidden underneath a large cloche cover. But despite an aroma meant to whet the appetite, Zane waved the food aside. Time passed, and the Godvildian Lord found himself alone once more. Without much to do, Zane fell into slumber, but awoke to the sound of a gentle knock. He sat upright to find a woman in front of him; she tilted her head and smiled, wearing the expression of amusement. An odd scent followed in her wake, fragrant and well-suited to someone of her stature and reputation. She captivated with her features, with her bewitchingly beautiful divinity. At the sight, Zane merely scratched the back of his head, unfazed by what could have charmed the most impressive of men. ¡°Daughter of the former king, Lady Antiochus, if I¡¯m not mistaken,¡± said Zane, slowly. ¡°I wonder what encouraged your interaction with this lowly prisoner.¡± ¡°This was previously my room, Lord Zane,¡± said Inaya, matter-of-factly. ¡°I only handed it over upon request from King Ceraunus. But it appears that I may have forgotten something here of value.¡± ¡°Please feel free to search this place as you see fit, then,¡± said Zane. ¡°I see no reason to withhold access to something that you might require urgently.¡± ¡°You are a reasonable man, Lord Zane,¡± said Inaya. ¡°But it¡¯s a shame to find you reduced to the same state as your leaders, an embodiment of rigidity and stagnation.¡± ¡°Bold words for a first impression,¡± said Zane, with a smile. ¡°Our leaders are chosen by the will of our people, and I serve as their sword. If anything, we stand against stagnation, and drive towards progress.¡± Zane paused for a moment, eager to add to his response. He sighed, and then leaned against the wall, restoring to a calm state of mind. His eyes searched for intent, but moved away in eventual resignation. There was nothing to press for, to understand. ¡°I apologize for having raised my voice,¡± said Zane. ¡°It is not my place within these walls to offer opinion to a former princess.¡± ¡°Come now, Zane,¡± said Inaya, disregarding her prisoner¡¯s title. ¡°You¡¯re respectful, not cowardly. All we want is to show you something; allow us a chance to change your opinion just as you did with our king.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°King Ceraunus has ceased all campaign against our world,¡± informed Inaya. ¡°Your speech, it moved him to peace.¡± ¡°And yet I sit here, in Caradus Castle, a prisoner,¡± said Zane, laughing as he did. ¡°You need my influence to sway the Godvildian leaders. The Young King moves with political motivation; I do not blame him for it. But the kindness and respect despite my current situation, isn¡¯t that what it is?¡± ¡°You speak a lot for someone without information,¡± said Inaya, harshly. ¡°Would you speak the same way if you knew of his present situation?¡± ¡°What situation is that exactly?¡± ¡°The surviving Generals from the battle against the Kingdom of Suntaria had requested your immediate execution,¡± said Inaya. ¡°King Ceraunus delayed that request by as much as three days under condition of a successful alliance with the Godvildian people.¡± ¡°That isn¡¯t really a situation,¡± said Zane, without emotion. ¡°What¡¯s the worst that could happen upon failure, my beheading perhaps?¡± ¡°And the loss of our king¡¯s throne and power,¡± said Inaya, curtly. ¡°King Ceraunus Antiochus is putting everything he can in this wager of his. Your life, his legacy, that¡¯s something that the both of you can work on. I urge you to consider momentary friendship; hear us out and make your choice with that information. Do not dismiss us or our concerns for past mistakes.¡± Zane frowned at what was shared; it bothered him, an enemy king¡¯s attempt at persuasion. His mind moved towards dismissal, rigid in its ideals ¨C hammered through by years under Godvildian care. But his youth wished to diverge; his instinct pushed towards forgiveness and reason. After a brief struggle of thoughts, Zane conceded, wearing an expression of annoyance. ¡°I will listen to your king, Lady Inaya,¡± said Zane. ¡°Let him know that I am ready to meet with him.¡± ¡°Thank you, Zane,¡± said Inaya, as she moved towards the door. ¡°I shall arrange for a meeting at the earliest.¡± ¡°I¡¯m curious, though,¡± said Zane, interrupting the former princess¡¯ exit. ¡°Do you often neglect title when speaking with someone?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t forget that you are a prisoner here,¡± said Inaya, with a smile. ¡°Then again, we may have no need for titles between us in the future. Don¡¯t let it worry you, and yes, I found what I was looking for.¡± --- Sol Sanctum stirred with unease, having witnessed a glimpse into the future. They remained far from the war, but within earshot of information. Among the Healers present, their leader ¨C Vetus, slowly slipped into the embrace of the gods, as part of an important ceremony. They watched him lose the colour in his eyes, and later turn blue. Vetus searched within the abyss, for answers unknown to most. In time, his body weakened, burdened by the knowledge of their world. His followers trembled, struck with fear around the fate of their leader; he raised his arms in a plea after repeated attempts to the conclusion of failure, shrivelling, as the life drained from his soul.Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. And then it occurred, an opportunity ¨C a sliver that led to something significant. Vetus followed, desperate in his pursuit of answers. The Healers of Sol Sanctum chanted in encouragement, rejuvenating a body that had succumbed to frailty. For a moment, uncertainty had resumed once more; Vetus slumped to the ground, losing the odd complexion that had possessed him through the ceremony. But with a gasp, the Great Healer returned to normalcy, struggling for air in a body deprived of nourishment. Hours passed, and the Healers tended to their leader, helping him to a state of good health. After a glass of water, Vetus dismissed most of those present from his room, but urged for one of them to remain ¨C his closest confidant. ¡°He is not wrong, my child,¡± said Vetus, with a tired expression on his face. ¡°King Ceraunus Antiochus, we must advise the Godvildian Council to ally with him.¡± --- Inaya opened the door and stepped aside, allowing her king access to the room. Ceraunus thanked the former princess and turned to greet Zane; the former bowed respectfully, and remained unfazed by the latter¡¯s disinterest. King Ceraunus pulled two chairs and placed it in front of his prisoner. He gestured for Inaya to take a seat, and followed right after. ¡°Thank you, Lord Zane,¡± said Ceraunus, genuinely. ¡°I¡¯m glad that you agreed to this meeting.¡± ¡°I heard from Lady Inaya, of your present situation,¡± said Zane. ¡°She educated me about being a little flexible when it came to the opinions of others.¡± ¡°She certainly does have a way with words,¡± admitted Ceraunus, smiling as he did. ¡°I can¡¯t praise her enough for having convinced you.¡± King Antiochus turned to Inaya and bowed in gratitude. Despite the gesture, he noticed the former princess turn away, feigning indifference to the compliment. ¡°Now, I suppose it is time you told me why I ought to put differences apart and form an alliance with your people,¡± said Zane. ¡°I heard you even wagered your throne on this.¡± ¡°Lord Zane, you must first understand that I do not seek an alliance for the sake of power,¡± said Ceraunus. ¡°There is a great threat coming our way, one with the potential to destroy our world in its entirety.¡± ¡°And where exactly did you come upon this bit of information?¡± ¡°It¡¯s difficult to explain, but perhaps I can show you,¡± said Ceraunus, with a short clap. At the sound, an attendant entered the room, holding ¨C with care ¨C what appeared to be his king¡¯s weapon. ¡°This is Seraphina, the Halberd of Kings. As a concept, royalty doesn¡¯t exist amongst our people; king or queen is a title granted by Seraphina ¨C she chooses an inheritor in a way.¡± ¡°This speaks to my irrelevance as well,¡± quipped Inaya. ¡°I may hold the Antiochus name because of my father, but I¡¯m far from royalty at the moment.¡± ¡°That¡¯s correct,¡± said Ceraunus. ¡°But Seraphina is more than a weapon, it¡¯s an artefact as old as our world; in fact, some believe it to be a gift, from the creator of Mioverold.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard stories,¡± said Zane. ¡°But what does your weapon have to do with our present discussion?¡± ¡°Seraphina grants its inheritor several unique abilities,¡± said Ceraunus. ¡°There¡¯s one of particular importance to us ¨C foresight, the ability to see the fate of our world. But the weapon allows for viewing only as far as your time as king, which explains the lack of priority from my predecessors.¡± ¡°Interesting; for the sake of being reasonable and understanding, I¡¯ll agree with whatever you¡¯ve just revealed,¡± said Zane. ¡°But tell me something, does the weapon also allow for you to gaze into your own future, to see your death, perhaps?¡± ¡°I can see my fate to a certain degree,¡± admitted Ceraunus. ¡°But the future is fluid, and I¡¯m not exempt from those laws. I could die sooner, or even later than what I am able to witness presently. I have little control over the actions of others and their impact on the world. In a way, I¡¯m just trying to do my best here.¡± ¡°That¡¯s an agreeable explanation,¡± said Zane, sighing as he did. ¡°It¡¯s a pity, however, that there is no reason for me to believe in any of this. It¡¯s just your word, nothing else, and I don¡¯t trust it.¡± Ceraunus watched Zane turn and walk to his bed; he remained calm despite the gesture, lowering his head instead. With the Godvildian Lord seated once more, Ceraunus rose with his halberd in hand. Zane noticed the Noxun King approach, but without hostility, stopping within arm¡¯s length of the former. ¡°I insist that you let me finish,¡± said Ceraunus, offering his weapon to the Godvildian Lord. ¡°What I had narrated, think of it as a warning. Your choice here, it decides the fate of our world.¡± ¡°You¡¯re rather persistent,¡± said Zane. ¡°Is there truly anything to be gained here?¡± ¡°At the very slightest, it might prevent your beheading and my dethroning.¡± Zane scratched the back of his head, uncertain still. But with another push from the Noxun King, he relented, accepting the weapon by hand. At first, the Godvildian Lord felt little more than a minor reaction. With a puzzled look on his face, he turned to Ceraunus, and Inaya right after. But as time passed, Zane experienced a pull, odd, and yet powerfully so. The Godvildian Lord succumbed, overwhelmed by the power of Seraphina. His aura retaliated, almost on reflex, failing in every attempt. He clenched his teeth, bound by the shackles of unthinkable pain; it ate away at his existence even. Zane¡¯s mind slipped slowly, from the room, and from the company of the Antiochus family. He woke with a start, at the sound of something loud. Zane hurried to his feet, now trapped in space of cosmic proportions. At a distance, he spotted what appeared to be a window, and beside it ¨C a woman, treading between the realms of reality and non-existence. She urged for the Godvildian Lord to look past the window, and he did, without question. On the other end, Zane found nothing at first, and then everything. It poured into his head, generations of information, without consent. The Godvildian Lord struggled to hold onto his sanity, but prevailed through the effort. He reached a state of calm with the sight of his world in front of him, growing, evolving, touching perfection even. But something occurred to change that state of progress ¨C a crack, a flaw. Further into the future, Zane witnessed Mioverold crumble, fading towards inevitable end. In its destruction, he watched his fellow denizens suffer without discrimination. It was close, the conclusion, and the thought of it terrified the Godvildian Lord. He stepped away from the window, noticing the woman beside him. She touched his cheeks, tears in her eyes, and with an apologetic expression on her face. ¡°Who are you?¡± asked Zane, barely a whisper. In response, the woman pushed Zane, and with enough force to snap the latter into reality. A blur at first, the Godvildian Lord blinked to hurry his vision into clarity. ¡°You have shown me something very dangerous, King Antiochus,¡± said Zane, in a stammer. ¡°Was that what I think it is?¡± ¡°Whatever Seraphina chose to reveal, it is the truth,¡± said Ceraunus. ¡°You could call her the creator of this world, and the halberd ¨C a vessel that holds a portion of her soul. She weeps for her children, having failed in her role as a mother.¡± ¡°You have my attention,¡± said Zane. ¡°Finish your narration.¡± ¡°Seraphina blessed us with great vitality; we are able to live long lives, loved by the gods ¨C some more than others,¡± said Ceraunus. ¡°But in her love, she made us a burden to this world. Its resources are limited and slow in replenishment; Aeterna also suffers through a flawed cycle of life. With peace, and an absence of death, we weaken her. It¡¯s almost laughable, to think that war kept our inevitable end at bay.¡± ¡°The destruction, it was rapid and fierce,¡± said Zane. ¡°I saw it with my own eyes. How have we never managed to notice this?¡± ¡°Seraphina is not allowed to supersede the laws of this world despite being its creator,¡± said Ceraunus. ¡°I¡¯m only fortunate to have seen this with my eyes. Our world has been suffering for a while now; I¡¯m afraid things are going to change, and soon. When Aeterna fades into nothingness, Mioverold will crumble.¡± Zane returned to his seat in silence. He raised his arms, requesting freedom from the chains that bound him. ¡°It appears to me that you may have saved both my head and your throne,¡± said Zane. ¡°And for the sake of our future, I promise to persuade the Godvildian leaders for an alliance with your people.¡± Chapter 30 | 3,000 Years Into the Past (4) Under the rule of Mallan Argonaut, not many feared the shadows of Themistokera. Hope consumed them instead, a light that brightened with optimism. But it was never perfect, not even during an era of peace and stability. Just as people gravitated towards the light, some migrated to the depths of darkness. And among them, one chose to disrupt normalcy within Themistokera. It took two years for King Argonaut to agree to a meeting with the representatives of the great alliance between the Godvildian and Noxun Empires. Zane represented the Godvildian half of the coalition, while Ceraunus accompanied the former ¨C a representative of his own people. As the Godvildian Lord dressed in preparation of a meeting with the king, the shadows stirred. It navigated in harmony with Aeterna, camouflaged as a part of the darkness. Zane remained oblivious to the threat, even as it emerged ¨C with soft steps and in silence. Its hands stretched for the neck but hesitated under threat of discovery. Zane heard the sounds himself, chatter from the nobles of Themistokera, outside his room. In time, the curtain of silence settled into existence once more, and with it ¨C the shadows. It reached for a dagger ¨C sharp and enchanted ¨C as the Godvildian Lord approached, lowered in guard and without thought of danger. At the turn, the figure sprinted with haste, cloaked in invisibility. With the dagger in hand, it grabbed Zane without mercy, cold in its approach. And then, nothing happened. ¡°I¡¯m thoroughly amused by the gesture, Inaya,¡± said Zane, unflinchingly. ¡°Didn¡¯t your king ask you to remain within Caradus Castle?¡± ¡°But I desired your company, Zane,¡± said Inaya, with a soft voice. ¡°Are you not happy to see me?¡± ¡°I did not say that,¡± said Zane, turning to gaze into Inaya¡¯s eyes. ¡°I¡¯ll always be happy to have you by my side, former princess.¡± The Godvildian Lord pulled Inaya by the arm, holding her in a gentle embrace. He noticed the little things ¨C the indecipherable smile, features that likened to a god, and a soul that shone of brilliance and strength. For a moment, Zane wondered what it meant, to hold a woman he considered a plateau above his own standing. In front of her, it didn¡¯t matter ¨C neither race nor reputation. Inaya often noticed these thoughts; it urged her into the initiative just the same. She touched his cheeks and then slowly moved her hands to the back of his head. With a gentle tug, she spurred Zane to lower his head and meet her lips for a kiss. ¡°You should probably inform King Antiochus of your delay,¡± said Inaya, in a whisper. ¡°An hour is all I ask for, for enduring the trip to Themistokera.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a small request,¡± said Zane, with a smile. ¡°I¡¯ll inform the Noxun King of my delay, by two hours; for enduring the trip to Themistokera, and for infiltrating my quarters without notice.¡± ¡°What can I say; we make a good pair,¡± said Inaya. ¡°And didn¡¯t I mention something once, when we first met, about how there would come a time when titles between us would no longer matter?¡± ¡°For some strange reason, even back then, I believed you.¡± --- Mallan Argonaut stared at the food in front of him, radiant with colour and perfectly aromatic. He felt a certain degree of pride at the sight, to have known the people behind each of the preparations. Across the table, he noticed Ceraunus Antiochus, the Noxun King, eager to put food into mouth. ¡°Do you want me to send someone once more?¡± asked Mallan. ¡°I can see that you don¡¯t want the food to stale.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± said Ceraunus, raising a hand in protest. ¡°Lord Zane should be here soon.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s wait then,¡± said Mallan. ¡°But I¡¯m not one for a quiet atmosphere. Would you like to talk about something else in the meantime?¡± ¡°Why the change of heart?¡± asked Ceraunus, pouring himself a glass of water. ¡°When the alliance was first formed, two years ago, we sent message requesting discussion. At the time, you chose to turn us both down.¡± ¡°To be honest, I was inclined to say yes,¡± said Mallan, truthfully. ¡°But I advised myself against it. You see, I¡¯m a cautious man. In a way, I wanted to understand the state of your desperation before I agreed to anything. Now I know.¡± ¡°Having Lord Zane on our side certainly does help with trust, does it not?¡±This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it ¡°That it does,¡± agreed Mallan. ¡°I must admit, however, that it¡¯s rather surprising for the man to have not arrived by now.¡± Moments further into the discussion, an attendant arrived at the table, bringing with him the second guest. Ceraunus noticed his friend radiate a strange aura of happiness; he paused thought, and then frowned, having realized the reason behind the Godvildian Lord¡¯s delay. King Antiochus cleared his throat and hurriedly asked for Zane to lean to his side. ¡°Please don¡¯t tell me that it was because of Lady Inaya,¡± whispered Ceraunus. ¡°She was supposed to remain in Caradus Castle for the sake of governance.¡± ¡°She¡¯s on her way back,¡± said Zane, softly. ¡°I¡¯m sorry about not making it on time. Did I miss anything of significance?¡± ¡°Nothing of any importance,¡± assured Ceraunus. ¡°But Lord Zane, I¡¯m deeply disappointed. As happy as I am to know of your relationship with Lady Inaya, I request that you not overlook other matters of importance.¡± ¡°I never did imagine you scolding me,¡± said Zane, stifling a laugh. ¡°I¡¯ll keep that in mind.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve changed a lot since our first interaction,¡± said Ceraunus, resting the matter of his comrade¡¯s delay. ¡°I¡¯m happy; you¡¯ve begun to appreciate our people more as well.¡± With a smile, Zane turned to address the King among High Humans, apologizing for his impunctuality right after. The three men lunched, engaging in idle conversation; but as the feast ended, Ceraunus ensured redirection to the reason behind their meeting ¨C the end of Mioverold. ¡°Do you believe this, Lord Zane?¡± asked Mallan, after having heard the Noxun King¡¯s prediction of the future. ¡°I¡¯ve seen it myself, I¡¯m afraid,¡± said Zane, wearing a grim expression on his face. ¡°It was a window into the future, through the eyes of the world¡¯s creator.¡± ¡°Is there any way I could see it?¡± said Mallan, curiously. ¡°That¡¯s simply not possible, King Argonaut; I apologize for that,¡± said Ceraunus. ¡°As harsh as this might sound, Seraphina only functions upon contact with an inheritor of the world. Lord Zane is cloaked in the divinity of Ehedus, and Baha appears to favour me just the same.¡± ¡°It always boils down to our blood,¡± said Mallan, shrugging as he did. ¡°Well, not that it matters. Us, High Humans, are the best there is when it comes to production or manufacture. I¡¯ll disregard your worldly weapon¡¯s insult, King Ceraunus.¡± ¡°But what of your position, King Argonaut?¡± asked Ceraunus. ¡°I¡¯m eager to understand if you¡¯d join us in combating this problem.¡± Mallan pondered over the words of the Noxun King; he rested his hands on the table in front of him, without expression, and later scratched his chin. After brief thought, he responded, ¡°Let us assume that the threat is real; I¡¯m more inclined to believe it given the Godvildian Lord¡¯s reputation anyway. But how do we combat this; is there a plan, or at least at least a semblance of it?¡± ¡°We do have a plan in place, yes,¡± said Ceraunus, with a firm nod. ¡°Our primary concern is the vitality of our people, and the constant need for war to stabilize Mioverold.¡± Mallan gestured for his Noxun counterpart to continue. ¡°But it is possible to change the laws of this world, from a place called the Altar of Seraphina; if we mirror Earth and its laws, for example, the world should somehow repair itself,¡± explained Ceraunus. ¡°The problem is in accessing the altar.¡± ¡°Is it even of this world?¡± asked Mallan. ¡°It¡¯s beyond the Domain of the Gods, in a place higher than where Ehedus and Baha resides,¡± said Ceraunus. ¡°The only way to access it, however, is through the Mimicry of Gods ¨C great magic that far supersedes the tenth-tier even.¡± Mallan raised an eyebrow, puzzled by what was mentioned. He turned to Zane with the same expression but refocused to the narration after some reassurance from the latter. ¡°The magic will allow for a person to replicate the aura of a god, granting him enough power to access the altar and change our worldly laws,¡± said Ceraunus. ¡°According to Seraphina, it¡¯s the only way.¡± ¡°How is it that I¡¯ve never heard of this?¡± said Mallan. ¡°Also, there¡¯s this other thing that¡¯s been bothering me for a while now; why exactly do you need Lord Zane and me? You¡¯re more knowledgeable than the both of us, at least with the predicament at hand. Given the urgency, it would have been perfectly natural for you to have acted on your own.¡± ¡°Three worldly inheritors, their vitality, that is what I desire,¡± revealed Ceraunus. ¡°The magic is more of a method to refine our different aeter proportions into something more singular. And upon consumption of the finished product, it will become possible for one of us to wield the powers of a god, albeit for a short period of time.¡± ¡°But we don¡¯t have three worldly inheritors,¡± reminded Mallan. ¡°You had mentioned it yourself.¡± ¡°This is true, which is what makes this magic impossible to perform,¡± said Ceraunus, smiling as he did. ¡°Through the course of history, there¡¯s never been a moment with more than two inheritors of the world. But the magic specifies vitality, and you ¨C King Argonaut, you stand a warrior just as strong as us, an equal. That¡¯s why we need you.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve verified this as the truth, King Argonaut,¡± said Zane, encouragingly. ¡°Will you stand with us?¡± Mallan raised an arm, requesting silence. He weighed his duty as king into his considerations, and the repercussions involved regardless of the decision made. With some clarity after thought, he said, ¡°I have two questions; answer them to my satisfaction, and I shall agree to your alliance.¡± The two visitors gulped, but nodded, urging for the ruler of Themistokera to continue. ¡°If the magic refines our vitalities, what happens to us after the world resets?¡± asked Mallan. ¡°We will lose our abilities to manipulate aeter, all of us,¡± said Ceraunus. ¡°The Mimicry of Gods is forbidden, a sin. But that is a sacrifice that Lord Zane and I are willing to make.¡± ¡°The second question, then,¡± said Mallan, almost immediately. ¡°Who wears the godly aura once refined, and how do we ensure that this person doesn¡¯t manipulate the world to his benefit?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a matter that requires serious consideration; I wanted your opinion on the matter as well, King Argonaut,¡± said Ceraunus, addressing the first part of Mallan¡¯s question. ¡°As for your other concern, well, it¡¯s a leap of faith.¡± Chapter 31 | 3,000 Years Into the Past (5) With the preparations in place, the three most powerful men within Mioverold gathered at Sol Sanctum. It marked a possibility, of an era associated with peace in its purest form. The Godvildian leaders had succumbed to the reality, as did much of the Noxun nobles. Amidst them, stood the High Humans, open in their thoughts ¨C sceptical, but with renewed faith over strong coexistence. Vetus guided the three men towards a circle, governed by an ancient formula, remembered merely through the eyes of Seraphina. It held an odd power, overwhelming in its pressure ¨C almost threateningly alive. Some of the more sensitive denizens of Mioverold felt it even, kilometres from the site. It coursed through the paths that often guided the soul-fires to Aeterna, foreign in its form, and yet strangely familiar in its behaviour. The Great Healer assumed his position at the centre, well-aware of the procedure given his own glimpse into the future. He held a staff, a gift from the gods not unlike the Halberd of Kings. With a wave, the magic activated, strengthened by the formula at its core. It spread through to the participants present, each of a different race, powerful and of great vitality. At first, it tugged at Zane, tearing away at what made him fierce. The Godvildian Lord felt his soul stripped of power and struggled through the pain that came with it. His will weakened, and then some more, until the injuries surfaced. Everything broke, bone and flesh, healing in rapid succession, only to start the process all over again. As Zane¡¯s vision blurred from the blood over his eyes, he screamed to retain sanity, strengthened only by the thought of his lover. In time, the magic calmed, extracting what it desired ¨C a large, godly, but unrefined pool of energy. It left Zane without much of anything, emotionless even; he moved his fingers only to realize an absence of all the gifts once bestowed upon him. A shell of his former self, the Godvildian Lord turned to notice Ceraunus fall to the same fate. The two then moved their eyes toward Mallan Argonaut. ¡°We believe in you,¡± reminded Ceraunus. ¡°Lord Zane and I couldn¡¯t have found a better representative for Mioverold; ensure that you alter the laws as discussed.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t fall prey to the power, King Argonaut,¡± said Zane, almost a whisper. ¡°You deserve this opportunity more than any of us, a witness to the past deeds of oppression. This is your only chance to change our future; make it better.¡± Mallan exhaled in acceptance, embracing the pain that had conquered his two comrades. But the pressure affected the High Human differently. It stirred and took shape, wrathful in its demeanour. With a touch, the magic rejected the aeter around Mallan and moved for blood instead. It poured into the High Human¡¯s mouth, merging with the crimson within. The pain subsided, slipping away to give Mallan momentary control. He wondered if the magic had worked in his favour but realized otherwise at the sight of his comrades¡¯ aeter essence floating a little above him. Puzzled by the results, the High Human turned to address Ceraunus but failed to give voice to words. He lowered his head, noticing what appeared to be a hole in his chest ¨C imaginary in its construct; it spread as wildfire would, and with unimaginable pain. ¡°What is happening to me?¡± asked Mallan, in a stammer. Sol Sanctum trembled violently in reaction to the magic as well, causing the aeter near the circle to ripple across Mioverold with destructive effect. Mallan battled to keep his mind from tearing into insanity but felt the pressure abruptly dissipate in the moments that followed. He returned to his feet, finding the aeter essence above him break and retreat to its two different owners. The magic, it had failed.The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Ceraunus rushed to the aid of his battered ally, with Zane close behind. They offered support to the High Human, but struggled in the attempt given their own state of weakness. But as Vetus guided the three men to comfort, Mallan broke away to stride towards the edge of Sol Sanctum. It took every bit of strength, and the endurance of his mind. With a little effort, he retrieved a dark shard from one of his pockets and waved it at his two comrades. ¡°I need to return to Themistokera,¡± said Mallan. ¡°This, it doesn¡¯t feel right.¡± ¡°You require rest, King Argonaut, all of us do,¡± said Zane. ¡°We¡¯ll make the trip first thing tomorrow.¡± ¡°I must leave,¡± insisted Mallan. ¡°It¡¯s evident that the magic failed because of me; I was unworthy to stand amongst the two of you during the ceremony, let alone obtain the power of a god. But in that rejection, I felt something strange, something that stirred a dark emotion within me ¨C fear. I do not expect you to accompany me on this journey, but as king, I am dutybound to return.¡± As Zane attempted to protest once more, he noticed the Noxun King raise an arm for silence. Ceraunus shook his head at the Godvildian Lord and then turned to Mallan, ¡°We shall accompany you; we are your allies, after all.¡± With the shard broken, the three men found themselves at the outskirts of Themistokera. From the surface, nothing had appeared to have changed. But through the cracks, Mallan noticed an oddity, something powerfully different ¨C a stillness, almost as if at the threshold of death. His eyes turned toward the sky, finding a large mass of energy. It swirled without restraint, raw and of high quality, not unlike what Mallan had seen at Sol Sanctum. ¡°Is that what I think it is?¡± asked Ceraunus, with a gulp. Now overcome with a surge of adrenalin, the King of Themistokera sprinted to the heart of the city. As he reached a market, however, Mallan bumped into one of his citizens. He apologized on instinct, but paused at the sight of his fears taking shape; in front of him stood a woman, with her child, merely a husk of their former selves. Along with several other High Humans, they represented a form of insentience ¨C a suspended state of death. Upon reaching the gates of his castle, Mallan slowed to a walk, moving past the now motionless guards to enter the courtyard. His eyes shifted to a large tree and the group of children underneath it. He noticed a familiar face beside them ¨C his minister, Majid. At the sight, Mallan staggered, crumbling under the weight of his failure as king. ¡°How could this have happened?¡± said Ceraunus, watching Mallan mourn from a distance. ¡°Our negligence, it has destroyed this nation. I should not have listened to Seraphina, not in blind faith.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure,¡± said Zane, with his eyes skyward. ¡°There is still hope; from what I can tell, the Mimicry of Gods strayed from predictability after drawing aeter from an incompatible source. But given King Argonaut¡¯s inclusion in the original formula, the spell must have attempted to correct course by absorbing an identical aeter form ¨C equal in value, but from a source that offered little to no resistance.¡± Ceraunus nodded after some thought, in agreement with the Godvildian Lord¡¯s explanation. ¡°But how does knowing this help Themistokera?¡± ¡°I noticed something else, actually,¡± revealed Zane. ¡°When the spell failed, our aeter essence returned to us without negative effect. I believe that it might be possible for us to replicate this for the people of Themistokera and restore normalcy.¡± With a deep breath, King Antiochus relaxed his shoulders and broke into an expression of genuine happiness. As he rushed away to break news to Mallan, the Noxun King felt a hand on his shoulder, urging pause. ¡°We¡¯ll have to be careful, and efficient,¡± said Zane, slowly. ¡°What¡¯s up there, it¡¯s aeter. And I wonder for just how long Aeterna will allow it to exist outside of the natural flow of Mioverold.¡± Chapter 32 | 3,000 Years Into the Past (6) Twelve years after the attempt to reach the Altar of Seraphina Amidst the silence of Themistokera, Mallan sat atop a throne without an audience. Research, including aid from Mel Ficarum and Suntaria, concluded with little results; the aeter continued to hover above the floating kingdom, without aim or purpose. With a tilt, Mallan gazed at what once made his empire stand on equal terms with both the Noxun and the Godvildian people ¨C the High Humans, or at least what remained of their existence. It was a relentless effort, the High Human King¡¯s years past the failure at Sol Sanctum. He felt the toll, enough to desire seclusion towards the end of everything. But the wheels of change did turn, in time, and without warning. It began with a stir that led to the low descent of Themistokera; the aeter had begun to turn. Having acquired the knowledge of the world through the paths that often helped the soul-fires to Aeterna, the energy above the High Human kingdom sought refinement. It condensed into something small and spherical, pure in its composition. Mallan noticed an amalgamation of thoughts echo through the heavens ¨C the voice of his people, screaming as it merged into uniformity. In time, the skies darkened to a drizzle, thundering into a downpour right after. From the rain, the people of Themistokera withered, turning to dust and without hope for return. Mallan observed the event with indifference, having come to terms with the end of his race. His eyes focused on the aeter as it shrunk to a more compact form, curiously, eager to understand the result. ¡°You¡¯ve broken us, Mioverold,¡± whispered Mallan, under his breath. ¡°Now show me; what is it that you desire?¡± Unstable still, the sphere struggled to maintain form. Its shape crumbled and then spread across the clouds, causing the lightning to become more lifelike. The nimbus now struck with precision, wrathful in its offense towards Mioverold. When the aeter turned its attention to the one person alive on Themistokera, it attacked with enough force to destroy the floating kingdom. Mallan Argonaut raised an arm in response, distorting the space in front of him. He opened into a vault, with nothing but the abyss on the other end. It welcomed the lightning that threatened his home, and then devoured it just the same. But before any form of celebration, the High Human noticed Themistokera shake, violently. The once powerful kingdom had now returned to Mioverold, stripped of its ability to stay afloat. Mallan frowned at the thought, and slowly refocused his attention to the aeter-manipulated clouds above him. In that moment, it appeared to calm. After a brief wait, the High Human King relaxed his shoulders, watching the nimbus disperse to clear skies. ¡°I will reach the Altar of Seraphina,¡± promised Mallan, bowing as he did. His forehead touched the soil of Themistokera in an embrace ¨C a pledge to his fallen people. It dried his tears. ¡°All of you, I will bring all of you back when I rewrite the laws of this world.¡± --- The aeter slowly collected once more, settling into a state of tranquillity after having gained significant distance from the threat of Mallan Argonaut. It condensed into a sphere as it travelled, puzzled and under stress. For a significant stretch, the collective souls of Themistokera sought to understand their purpose ¨C the simple meaning behind their deaths and their dissolution as individual identities. It urged a change, a transformation into something more human-like, but only vaguely intact. Driven by little more than negative emotion, the souls of Themistokera now reached into the depths of their knowledge ¨C knowledge acquired through the paths of Aeterna. But as they waded through the heavens, each of the millions from Themistokera resonated with a strong, unique aeter presence from a location beneath them. They hovered, momentarily, and then descended, entering the Kingdom of Suntaria. At a distance, they noticed a man of immeasurable strength ¨C of a godly constitution. From the shadows, they neared the Godvildian Lord, puzzled still. In Zane, they found a part of the answer ¨C an insatiable desire towards consumption; the collective entity sought to add onto its strength with the Godvildian essence as well. For the sake of experimentation, the souls attempted contact, only to find a portion of their existence burn into nothingness. They retreated, realizing their incapacity to breach the Godvildian Lord¡¯s defence. Without further thought, the souls fled from the Kingdom of Suntaria, but with renewed purpose. They travelled through the heavens once more, and reached Mel Ficarum, seeping through the cracks to enter Caradus Castle; it benefitted them, to have remained without physical form.This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. On instinct, the souls navigated through several long corridors and flights of stairs to reach the Noxun King. Ceraunus Antiochus remained just as unbreachable in his defence, but allowed opportunity for conversation. The collective souls of Themistokera merged into the aeter around his body, finding comfort and compatibility in their approach. In the moments that followed, Ceraunus felt a sort of pain invasively course through much of his mind and body. His vision blackened, forcing him out of reality and into a plane held delicately by the fabric of his imagination. He attempted to break free, but eased in his efforts at the sight of something familiar ¨C at least in presence. ¡°Are¡­you¡­king of world?¡± asked the souls of Themistokera, in one voice, struggling to put words to sentence. ¡°Complete¡­it must¡­future¡­for¡­we¡­¡± ¡°We were late then,¡± whispered Ceraunus, with a grim expression on his face. He held his tears and turned to address the souls that had invaded his body, ¡°I am sorry. If you are here to deliver punishment, there is little I could do or say to avoid it. Actions lead to consequences, and I fear that mine stands before me now.¡± ¡°Death¡­¡± said the souls of Themistokera, with a weak voice. ¡°Wait¡­Gods¡­¡± ¡°Is it my death that you desire?¡± asked Ceraunus. ¡°I, I am fine with it. But I do have a request; there is something I must do for the people of this world. I would like for all of you to delay my punishment until then, at least.¡± ¡°No¡­I¡­else¡­seek,¡± continued the souls, mildly frustrated at their inability towards communication. Ceraunus paused to consider his next response; he noticed intelligence in the collective group, mired in a sense of helplessness ¨C a weakness. After some thought, he tightened the grip around his halberd and sliced through the ethereal plane, ripping a gate into existence. As the souls of Themistokera stirred with unease, Ceraunus gestured for them to pass through the dimensional tear. ¡°I realize my mistake now,¡± said Ceraunus, apologetically. ¡°You are all at the cusp of an evolution, but I¡¯m afraid that I¡¯ll only misunderstand if we try to communicate prior that achievement. Let me help you reach that pinnacle, a little faster.¡± ¡°What¡­¡± managed the voice from the souls, in unison. ¡°This is a gateway into all the knowledge there is in this world,¡± explained Ceraunus. ¡°In showing this to you, I atone for the sins that I have committed; or rather, I expect for you to at least understand my plight. Your hostility, your anger, it¡¯s understandable. But I insist that you see Mioverold for what it is, with its flaws, and through it ¨C perhaps emerge an ally.¡± Encouraged by the Noxun King¡¯s reassurance, the collective souls of Themistokera entered to experience the space of Seraphina, and the knowledge within it. In the process, they broke away ¨C returning to individuality, only to merge once more. But in their second attempt, the souls gathered with strong purpose. Guided by the hand of Seraphina, they combined to take shape ¨C human-like and with the aeter presence of a worldly inheritor. Outside, Ceraunus waited with patience. He sat at the sound of a roar; it concluded the end of a journey, unlike any other. From the edges, the gate ripped further to allow for access to something monstrous. And upon re-entry to the ethereal plane, it had managed to cast a shadow over the Noxun King even. Ceraunus stayed his blade, despite instinct towards what he identified as evil, obligated to the fate of his crimes. ¡°This is simply spectacular,¡± said the being, with a laugh. ¡°I thank you, Noxun King.¡± ¡°You speak with clarity now,¡± remarked Ceraunus, gulping as he did. ¡°It makes sense for us to resume conversation then.¡± ¡°Do not worry, King Antiochus,¡± said the being. ¡°I have seen the fate of Mioverold; what I seek is to help you achieve what you desire.¡± ¡°But I fear that I may have made a mistake with your evolution,¡± said Ceraunus. ¡°Your aura, it reeks of nefarious intent.¡± ¡°I am but the emotions that inspired my change,¡± revealed the being. ¡°But I am also what you were once looking for, twelve years ago ¨C a worldly inheritor, albeit a fake.¡± ¡°And you wish to complete the Mimicry of Gods, Fake One?¡± asked Ceraunus, curiously. ¡°Yes, it is necessary for us to save Mioverold,¡± nodded the being, in agreement. ¡°But it is just as necessary for you to atone for your crimes, my existence. And for that, I have a proposition.¡± ¡°I¡¯m listening.¡± ¡°I will allow for you to absorb me and my aeter as a worldly inheritor,¡± said the being. ¡°There is a condition to it, however. On absorption, you will allow me a chance to extinguish your soul and take control of your body. You may resist, and I may lose ¨C a trial to understand if you are worthy enough to lead the new world.¡± ¡°Regardless of the outcome, you will see to it that Mioverold is saved?¡± asked Ceraunus. ¡°I promise it!¡± The Noxun King frowned, noticing a tremor in one of his hands. He released his halberd and watched it fade within the ethereal world. It made him wonder about the consequences of an agreement with what he considered an embodiment of corruption, of the gamble. With a sigh, he straightened his posture and gazed at the being in front of him. ¡°I agree to the terms,¡± said Ceraunus, slowly. ¡°It¡¯s our, my best option given present conditions. Do tell me one thing, though; your name, for me to remember past mistakes, should I emerge victorious in this little game of yours.¡± ¡°I never once thought about a name,¡± said the being, tilting its head through the revelation. ¡°Niall, perhaps?¡± Chapter 33 | 3,000 Years Into the Past (7) As the moon rose to take its place amidst the stars, the aeter flow at Mel Ficarum altered, now unstable and corrupt in its composition. Through the night, it affected the Noxun people, mostly those of weaker descent. Fatigue at first, and then disease, the effects spread as wildfire would through a forest. It worsened with time, with the Noxun King seated atop his throne, bound with conflict and misery. Ceraunus Antiochus struggled to hold onto his sanity, against the unified souls of Themistokera. With a fever, and under constant stress, he continued to display an odd level of poise. But the cracks, it had begun to show. The restraints that had once restricted Niall had shattered, through the False God¡¯s unification with the Noxun King. It now travelled with destructive effect ¨C the aeter, outside the borders of Mel Ficarum, eating away at fertility and life. For a moment, the aeter appeared to move as if untethered, but halted under pressure from a force of immeasurable strength. He chased the aeter back to its source, forcing his way past the guards, under the might of his former title as king. At Caradus Castle, when the doors to the throne room opened, Ceraunus Antiochus welcomed his guest with a weak smile, drenched in sweat. ¡°It¡¯s good to see you, old friend,¡± said Ceraunus. ¡°I haven¡¯t given up yet; not on your people, King Argonaut.¡± ¡°Did you decide to complete the Mimicry of Gods on your own?¡± asked Mallan, scornfully. ¡°I do not recall consultation with either Lord Zane or I.¡± ¡°I do what I must for our world,¡± insisted Ceraunus, returning to his feet. He staggered in his approach, but persisted to reach and wrap his arms around the once king among High Humans. ¡°We can still reach the Altar of Seraphina and rewrite the laws of this world.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve become delirious, Ceraunus,¡± said Mallan. ¡°I sense an evil in you; perhaps not entirely, but the souls from Themistokera, it could warp the core of your intentions.¡± The Noxun King slowly lowered his hands. As silence settled into existence, Mallan attempted to step away from the Ruler of Mel Ficarum. In his effort, he noticed a twitch, something those of ordinary minds would have perceived as an attack. Ceraunus grabbed the High Human King and pulled him closer; the former tilted his head, wearing the mask of insanity in a grin that reeked of bloodlust. And then it stopped, almost too abruptly. At the sound of a whisper, Mallan leaned to understand the nature of the words conveyed. ¡°Could you say that again?¡± requested the former king of Themistokera. ¡°It¡¯s Niall!¡± yelled a voice from within the Noxun King¡¯s body. Having lost control momentarily, Ceraunus slammed his palms into prayer and drowned Mallan in what could be described as an illusionary space. The High Human King awoke amidst blackness, trapped in a world without apparent exit. He shook his head and rose, finding Ceraunus Antiochus take shape in front of him. From behind the latter, an aura emerged, devoid of the influence of Baha and not unlike the High Human¡¯s aeter of free will. It changed form, an embodiment of corruption, to coil around the Noxun King. ¡°Do you recognize me, us, King Argonaut?¡± asked the voice. ¡°We represent what you betrayed; you are in no position to blame us for having taken this stance.¡± ¡°You¡¯re winning, despite the Noxun King¡¯s best effort,¡± said Mallan, with a gulp. ¡°I suppose the guilt of bringing ruin to Themistokera, it weighs on him.¡± ¡°How very perceptive of you, Mallan Argonaut,¡± said the voice. ¡°Once I¡¯m finished with Ceraunus, it wouldn¡¯t hurt to consume your soul as well. I, we, value intelligence above all else.¡± ¡°Niall, was it; what is it that you desire?¡± asked Mallan. ¡°Given the world¡¯s condition, your pursuit of power is meaningless. Mioverold is nearing its end, faster than you can imagine.¡± ¡°You misunderstand me, Argonaut,¡± said Niall. ¡°I¡¯m here to save this world; with the Mimicry of Gods, I, we, seek to reach the Altar of Seraphina and rewrite its laws. The only difference is in our desire to rule in its aftermath.¡± ¡°Without power, then,¡± said Mallan. ¡°It appears to me that you¡¯re not aware of how the formula works for the Mimicry of Gods.¡± ¡°But you only have the Noxun King¡¯s word on that matter,¡± said Niall. The aura stilled, relishing the expression on the High Human¡¯s face. As the wheels turned, Mallan fell into deeper despair, to the delight of his former citizens. ¡°I implore that you not blame King Antiochus, though. Would you have agreed to the solution if fully aware of the consequences?¡± ¡°Why would he allow me to become the god¡¯s vassal, then?¡± argued Mallan, frustrated in tone. ¡°I imagine out of pity,¡± guessed Niall. ¡°Ceraunus Antiochus was never ill-intentioned, but Seraphina, she never intended for you to inherit the power of a god. Nothing matters to her more than the safety of this world, and for that, you, Lord Zane, or anyone else for that matter stands as insignificant. My, our, existence fulfils that desire ¨C everything, a calculated move to ensure the survival of Mioverold.¡±This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. ¡°Are you implying that the creator of this world simply did not care for her children, for my people in Themistokera?¡± ¡°But she does, Mallan; do you not see it?¡± said Niall, excitedly. ¡°In exchange for our service, she¡¯s offering us the chance to become god! You must join us, for the sake of Themistokera.¡± Rendered speechless, Mallan Argonaut stared into the vacant blackness above him, absorbing pressure from both Niall and Ceraunus Antiochus. He reached into the depths of his mind, in search of answers, to understand if it ever made sense even ¨C the desire that pushed them towards revitalizing Mioverold. In time, his eyes opened once more, but with clarity; he had managed to separate friend from foe, puppet from mastermind. ¡°It¡¯s a pity; I almost once considered you a brother, Ceraunus,¡± said Mallan, with a sad expression on his face. In his address towards Niall, he added, ¡°I must thank you for helping me put everything together. Seraphina, a creator locked out of interfering with her own creation, a collective presence deformed into having a twisted mind of its own but with power, and a king ¨C chosen and loved by the gods; did you really imagine that Seraphina would choose you over her prized choice, a worldly inheritor?¡± ¡°What are you getting at, Mallan Argonaut?¡± snapped Niall, uncoiling from Ceraunus to reach within an arm¡¯s length of the High Human. ¡°You¡¯ll understand soon enough.¡± Now bound by the curse of suspicion, Niall attempted to hasten his consumption of the Noxun King. But in the moments that followed, an aura paused progress ¨C a hue of green bursting with immeasurable vitality. It clashed against the unified souls of Themistokera, overwhelming the latter¡¯s effort with relative ease. With the tables turned, Niall noticed his mind lose the knowledge once acquired within the vaults of Seraphina. He attempted to stabilize, but felt even his personality corrode, succumbing to the wrath of the Noxun King. As the seconds passed, Ceraunus announced his awakening with a roar; he wrestled control away from Niall, shattering the illusionary space to offer escape to those trapped. From a distance, Mallan noticed his once friend overwhelm their momentary adversary, nearing the state of a god with newfound power. The green meshed to a darker shade, but the aura continued to strengthen with rapid greed and unstable form. In time, Ceraunus eradicated Niall in his consumption of the latter, returning to reality, and a with spell of silence. It broke when the Noxun King erupted to roar once more, in pain this time. His fingers clawed to spill blood from skin, foreshadowing an unnatural change. The walls of Caradus Castle resonated in response to the transformation, enough to alert Inaya Antiochus from the depths of her chambers. Having identified the aeter source, she fell into the shadows, re-emerging at the throne room. With caution, she moved to Mallan¡¯s side, gulping as she did. ¡°What is this?¡± asked Inaya. ¡°I¡¯m not entirely sure,¡± said Mallan, truthfully. ¡°It could be a good thing; but it¡¯s more likely bad than good.¡± As the tremors calmed, Mel Ficarum fell into a lull ¨C a slow, almost non-existent motion of time. The aeter swirled into refinement, reflecting a dirty shade of green. With the stabilization, Ceraunus reeled his mind into reality. He took a step towards Mallan, uncertainly pausing to observe the flow of energy in his body. It moved with a will of its own at first, but submitted to the Noxun King without hesitation. His eyes returned to the two people in front of him, cold and unfeeling. There was a difference, evident, and yet shrouded in mystery. ¡°I heard the truth, Ceraunus,¡± said Mallan. ¡°With everything out in the open, tell us, what is it that you truly wish to achieve now? You¡¯re closer to completing the Mimicry of Gods than any of us.¡± ¡°With Niall, I saw the world with greater clarity,¡± admitted Ceraunus. ¡°I wish for nothing more than peace, but I¡¯ve also peered into Earth and its state-of-affairs. I see war, death, disease, decay, everything I seek to eradicate from this world. Dialogue, it isn¡¯t going to solve much; but fear? Fear that rules with an iron fist soaked in blood, fear that ensures none rebel, fear that crushes hope of disruption ¨C that is what I will become. What Mioverold needs is a supreme power to regulate peace.¡± ¡°I never imagined Niall would corrupt you to this extent; you describe a tyrant,¡± said Mallan, sounding a little disappointed. ¡°And what of us then ¨C Lord Zane and I; are you going to steal from us as you stole from my people?¡± ¡°No,¡± said Ceraunus, unfeelingly. ¡°I will restore your race from the Altar of Seraphina; all I ask is that you submit your aeter to me. I will request the same of Lord Zane as well. The new world will need leaders of governance, and I would like for the both of you to guide your people however you see fit. When I return, I will no longer be confined to the role of merely leading the Noxun.¡± ¡°Then what of your people, Ceraunus?¡± interjected Inaya, struggling to keep her emotions in check. ¡°With the completion of the Mimicry of Gods, I will become the single most powerful being in Mioverold ¨C comparable to Ehedus and Baha even,¡± informed Ceraunus, shifting his gaze to the former princess. ¡°You were once an Antiochus, Inaya; I wish for you to lead our people.¡± ¡°This is bullshit!¡± yelled Inaya. ¡°You expect us to sit atop thrones knowing that you wield the ultimate power of decision; I may have considered this if you were the old Ceraunus, but with whatever it is you consumed, I see nothing but darkness bubbling inside of your heart. You wish to control us with fear, but that is not peace. We will never feel equal with you reigning atop us as a god would, but with the freedom to intervene as you see fit. We will not conform to your forced rules or ideals.¡± ¡°You disgust me, Lady Antiochus,¡± said Ceraunus, harshly. ¡°I suppose I should have followed in the footsteps of my predecessors in my handling of you as I ascended to the Noxun throne.¡± With a pause, he turned his attention to Mallan, asking, ¡°And what of you, Former King of Themistokera; are you also of the same opinion?¡± Mallan Argonaut turned to his side, consoling Inaya Antiochus into a state of calm. He took a moment to fall into a trance, diving into an old memory of when he was merely a student to his father, the then King of Themistokera. It helped him smile, the happiness of it ¨C an emotion of old, long forgotten. ¡°You know, I was once allowed to peek into Earth as a child; funnily enough, I heard something that made me laugh quite a bit ¨C an expression of speech,¡± said Mallan. ¡°I¡¯ll side with Lady Antiochus just as I am sure her lover would, and I don¡¯t think there¡¯s any better way to express it than to say, fuck you!¡± Chapter 34 | 3,000 Years Into the Past (8) High Humans, a race once touted as weak ¨C a race once neglected, before the madness of Castor Argonaut, their first, true king. They rose in prominence and influence, and fell just as quickly, at least in terms of how time flowed within Mioverold. But Mallan, Mallan Argonaut was different ¨C a cursed king with limitless talent, a genius amongst the best of his predecessors even. The world acknowledged it, enough to stir upon slightest command. With a deep breath, Mallan mustered the aeter within the core of his body and the environment around him. Aeterna answered with the guidance of her soul-fires, allowing them the freedom to assist with the High Human¡¯s quest, while the nimbus gathered to veil the regions under Noxun command, wrathful at the crack of thunder, and sharp with its display of lightning. Mallan Argonaut took a firm step forward, rattling the architectural foundations of Mel Ficarum. He threatened eradication, not unlike the fate Seraphina bestowed upon his people. His frame crackled with electricity, foreign in its existence within Mioverold ¨C flickering between darker shades of blue, an aura of immense proportions. ¡°I would understand if you chose to return to the embrace of your king,¡± said Mallan, lowering his voice. ¡°But that choice, it is for you to make now.¡± ¡°Do we stand a chance?¡± asked Inaya, nervously. ¡°Ceraunus hasn¡¯t managed to integrate the two vastly different aeter sources inside of him, yet,¡± said Mallan. ¡°This is as good a time as any for us to subdue him. But there is one other thing ¨C his show of hand.¡± ¡°Show of hand?¡± repeated Inaya. ¡°When nations go to war, they often hide something strong enough to turn the tide of battle in their favour,¡± explained Mallan. ¡°In certain cases, however, it helps to show capability ¨C mind games to either cripple or boost morale. I have shown him the extent of my power volumetrically, and if I know your king well enough, he will respond in kind.¡± Inaya gulped, and slowly turned to face the man she once adored as a brother almost ¨C her king, now corrupt in his ideals toward Mioverold. She waited, patiently, until the winds changed. The flow of aeter inversed from Mallan¡¯s control, returning to Mel Ficarum; it rose with the soul-fires despite refusal from Aeterna, changing colour to a dirty shade of green. In whispers, the response followed, and in waves of energy, Mel Ficarum shivered. Mallan and Inaya felt the flow rush against their bodies, overpoweringly dense and fierce in its effect. At the time, the High Human understood fully the magnitude of the threat in front of him ¨C a monster, unlike any he had seen through the course of his time in Mioverold. ¡°What will it be, Lady Inaya?¡± said Mallan. ¡°You are yet to align to a side.¡± Inaya scratched the back of her head and then sighed in frustration. She slumped her shoulders, helpless in her expression, and said, ¡°Under normal circumstances, it would be treason for me to stand by your side. But then again, this isn¡¯t normal, not even in the slightest.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good to know,¡± said Mallan, stifling a laugh. ¡°Lord Zane is rather fortunate to have you as his lover.¡± ¡°Oh, do stop with the pleasantries,¡± said Inaya, feeling her chest tighten with anxiety. ¡°Let¡¯s just get to it and kill that tyrant of a king; as leaders, we still owe it to the people, to protect them that is.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be relying on you then,¡± said Mallan, with a nod. ¡°Your skills are more suited to stealth-based combat; I¡¯ll handle Ceraunus head-on, and leave you to cover for me should I come under threat. Does that sound like a strategy to you?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t seem to think of any other,¡± said Inaya. ¡°We are in agreement.¡± ¡°Good, good,¡± said Mallan. ¡°But there is one other thing that I would like to ask of you; think of it as a necessary precaution.¡± Inaya leaned towards her ally and nodded past the words exchanged. With a bow, she stepped away and retreated to the shadows. In time, the silence returned, broken merely by momentary crackles from the nimbus. The drizzle hastened, rhythmic and slow in its progression. Mallan met his adversary¡¯s gaze, thunder and lightning behind the latter. The High Human levitated off the ground, reaching the heavens with an aura doused in murderous intent. Mallan stretched his fingers, summoning aeter-made lightning ¨C dark and blue ¨C to manifest what appeared to be a halberd, not unlike Seraphina. ¡°Is that the skill of legend?¡± asked Ceraunus, without emotion. ¡°This is my first time seeing it, your ability to create weapons from aeter.¡± ¡°The Armory of Lady Lightning, that is my magic,¡± admitted Mallan. ¡°Would I truly be an Argonaut without magic foreign to Mioverold?¡± ¡°I will insist it once more,¡± said Ceraunus. ¡°Join my cause, and you will be rewarded.¡± ¡°Your sister, or at least the person you respected as such, chose to side with reason over power,¡± said Mallan. ¡°I don¡¯t see any reason to deviate from my decision now.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a shame ¨C Inaya¡¯s choice that is,¡± said Ceraunus, shaking his head in disappointment. ¡°But I¡¯m sure she¡¯ll come around when Zane speaks with her.¡± ¡°And you believe Lord Zane to be on your side?¡± ¡°He is my friend.¡± ¡°So was I.¡± Ceraunus scoffed at the comment, unable to deny the truth behind it. He closed his eyes in search of what was left of his humanity, a sliver or source to maybe help him change course, to return to the embrace of his brothers and friends. His body floated away from Mallan through the thought, just a little, dancing between decisions. He turned towards Seraphina, firmly in hand, and then strengthened grip, disappearing into the obscurity of the rain. Mallan followed the flow of aeter, slow in its motion at first. In time, it offered clarity about the Noxun King¡¯s decision ¨C nothing to return from. The High Human turned in blind faith and swung his aeter-made weapon at what appeared to be nothingness, meeting blade mid-air, and in a clash that shattered the resolve of Mel Ficarum. Their auras flared into magnificence, merely a flicker through the combat. Ceraunus attacked with relentless effort and the strength of a god, while Mallan evaded with foresight and finesse. Aided by his access to the Armory of Lady Lightning, the former king of Themistokera often switched between a variety of offensive tools ¨C halberds to swords, spears to axes, knives to hammers, and more. It frustrated the Noxun King, but not more than his adversary¡¯s depth to defence ¨C forms of powerful protection, sturdy enough to defend against even the fiercest of attacks.If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. With slow, methodical, and deadly precision, Mallan tore away into the Noxun King¡¯s defence, asserting dominance despite disadvantage. In moments of weakness, Inaya would often appear as a form of distraction ¨C hidden amidst the darkest of shadows. It hammered against Ceraunus, the team effort, more than he had previously imagined. ¡°Your control over aeter is spectacular, King Argonaut,¡± praised Ceraunus, masking annoyance. ¡°It makes me wonder; why did the Mimicry of Gods fail with you at its centre?¡± Thunder struck once more, a roar to ignite a stronger aura than what was on display. Mallan dissipated his weapons on hand and retrieved the aeter into an even distribution across his body. His eyes burned with uncommon radiance, and from the outside, the High Human resembled every bit a god himself, clothed in lightning of immeasurable power and solidity. ¡°Us High Humans were never truly loved by this world, not with the blessings, not with the gods; but we never rested, deep in our hearts we knew that we held the potential to become more than the label of ordinary,¡± said Mallan. ¡°And we did that; here I stand, your equal, and there you stand ¨C struggling to cope despite all that power. You may be Seraphina¡¯s favourite, the centre of the Mimicry of Gods, but I, I am an Argonaut, a proud descendent of the man that made your predecessors shiver.¡± ¡°Excellent,¡± said Ceraunus, with a wide grin. ¡°But what does any of this boil down to? I¡¯ll tell you, it¡¯s endurance; you¡¯ll weaken as I get used to my power. So, the question is, which one of us is going to break first?¡± ¡°An interesting gamble, indeed,¡± said Mallan. ¡°Your strength against my technique, let¡¯s clear all doubt.¡± Ceraunus magnified his aeter production, faced with the challenge at hand. His aura darkened, adding strength to armour and sharpness to blade. He moved, only faster this time, to engage in an offensive demonstration meant to overpower the High Human. Mallan managed to remain elusive nonetheless, with strange but elegant footwork. He turned defence to offense on occasion, and within the blink of an eye even. In time, the Argonaut exploited weaknesses, non-existent in form, and invisible cracks ¨C in coordination with Inaya Antiochus ¨C to slowly wrestle control away from the Noxun King. Mallan asserted his dominance by navigating aeter to manifest a trap mid-air, binding and incapacitating Ceraunus in what appeared to be aeter-made lightning. With a whistle, the High Human tore a portal open a little behind the Noxun King, allowing Inaya passage for an attack meant to end the battle. As daughter of the former king of Mel Ficarum, Inaya harnessed the power from her once royal bloodline to enchant her daggers in a veil of corrosive darkness. She stabbed without hesitation, tears in her eyes, but dutybound to the Noxun people. Her aeter traversed through the entirety of Ceraunus¡¯ body, lulling the latter into a curse of disease and decay. ¡°Chapter of Baha: Twisted Fate.¡± Mallan remained motionless through the affair, spellbound at having succeeded in their efforts against the Noxun King. But at the same time, a part of the High Human¡¯s heart refused to rest. His vision blurred, and the aeter around him spiralled ¨C erratic in its behaviour. He exhaled into relaxation and focused his eyes, identifying a corpse, and then nothing right after. As his senses returned, Mallan noticed a portal open ¨C different from his own, and with an unpleasant smell. Inaya felt the winds whisper in her ears, and the warmth and stench of blood across her shoulders. She recognized the blade, the Halberd of Kings, and a sound that could be best described as a snicker. Her eyes turned to find Ceraunus, unharmed and raising his weapon once more. The Noxun King swung, persuaded by his desire for blood, but tasted his own. He watched his arm part from shoulder ¨C crimson blending with the rain. His smile corroded to an expression of momentary fear as Mallan appeared in front of him, shielding Inaya Antiochus, and with the aura of a wrathful deity. The High Human grabbed Ceraunus, by his face, and broke flesh without effort. ¡°I believe it is my duty to protect a friend¡¯s lover; Twisted Fate, was it?¡± said Mallan, coldly. ¡°I¡¯ve read the Book of Baha, an ability to bend fate and reset time. It¡¯s a shame that you can only use it once every two days; how immature.¡± ¡°Mallan Argonaut!¡± yelled Ceraunus, echoing anger and disgust. ¡°I will not be bested by a mere High Human!¡± ¡°Easy there, Young King,¡± said Mallan. ¡°I have a trump card of my own to unveil, something even a False God cannot escape from. After all, what kind of an Argonaut would I be to not avenge my race with this technique?¡± ¡°Stop!¡± Before his eyes, Ceraunus witnessed an aeter transformation ¨C a formula of legend. It evolved from the lightning as it dissipated, a sequence that propelled the High Humans into prominence. The Noxun King remembered it, through the wisdom acquired from Seraphina, the power to surpass and supress a god even. ¡°Activate Sequence: Corrosion.¡± Ceraunus felt the aeter within his body disintegrate upon command. It spread as a disease would, eating flesh and bone alike. Despite aid from Seraphina, the spell refused to relent, stripping away at the Noxun King until nothing remained. In victory, Mallan felt the last of his strength disappear, and the tension of battle with it. His body fell towards the earth, devoid of aeter or protection. He turned to face the heavens, embracing the cold from a tearful nimbus. His pain dulled with the rain, and his eyes struggled to maintain vision. But another crack was all it took for the High Human to regain a sense of danger, another portal ¨C in free fall with him. A familiar face formed, devious grin and all; it stared down at Mallan, almost mockingly. The High Human watched an arm pierce into his chest ¨C fingers around his heart. He grabbed the arm in a desperate attempt to fight for time, even seconds. His mind searched for solutions in haste, but failed in every scenario. He struggled to summon the aeter under his command, depleted entirely of his reserves. Nothing remained, nothing at all. And then he heard it, the heart of Mallan Argonaut ¨C crushed without hope of recovery. ¡°I¡¯m sorry to have hidden this from both you and Zane,¡± whispered Ceraunus, now fully formed. ¡°But nothing from Mioverold can bring me harm as long as I wield Seraphina. I am the one chosen by this world¡¯s creator, and I die only when she desires it.¡± In his final moments, Mallan managed little more than a gasp. His head tilted a little, catching Inaya covered in blood and pain. It slipped ¨C emotions, and the burden of the world, nothing mattered, not anymore. With a gulp, the High Human scripted a formula with the crimson from his chest, trading what remained of his body with Aeterna. ¡°Armory of Lady Lightning: Sphere of Protection.¡± Inaya pled to the heavens for a response with aeter rattling into existence around her, a sphere just as Mallan had commanded. In time, a soul-fire emerged ¨C magnificent in form and power, clad in an essence indistinguishable from that of a worldly inheritor. It flickered, and then travelled towards Aeterna, free from the burdens of Mioverold. But the sight, it frustrated the Noxun King. Ceraunus gestured for the soul-fire to return with selfish desire; he extended the radius of his aura, subduing the essence of the once king of Themistokera. The pressure restricted movement, enough to disallow Mallan the comfort of death, sought often in the embrace of Aeterna. ¡°Please; I beg of you to stop, Ceraunus,¡± cried Inaya, stammering through her words. ¡°King Argonaut deserves to return to the Cycle of Mioverold. Leave him be!¡± With an arm raised, Ceraunus Antiochus scoffed, breaking into laughter right after. His blood boiled with excitement, at the thought of power, at the thought of a former king in the palm of his hands. He wondered if it would change him further, the High Human¡¯s aeter essence; in the Noxun King¡¯s first attempt, the soul-fire resisted consumption, and in the second ¨C it weakened. At the display, Inaya clenched her fists as a form of punishment, frustrated at having failed to dissuade Ceraunus. It crushed her, the sight of her king shrouded within the depths of depravity; she continued to plead, nonetheless. In time, her condition worsened ¨C wounds open, and clothes drenched in the warmth of her crimson. With duller eyes, she managed to look towards the heavens, in despair. It was about to end, at least in her mind. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for not having come sooner,¡± whispered a familiar voice. ¡°Rest easy, my love; I promise to avenge Mallan ¨C in protecting you, he¡¯s left me forever indebted.¡± Weakly, Inaya smiled as an ethereal sword plummeted from the skies, halting Ceraunus¡¯ progress at devouring the soul-fire of the former king of Themistokera. Another followed, and then more ¨C a storm that matched the rain; the shower ripped through the Noxun King without restraint, reflecting both anger and resentment. Ceraunus followed Inaya¡¯s eyes skyward, finding the caster of the spell ¨C a worldly inheritor, loved as the son of Ehedus. ¡°You dare betray a friend, betray me?¡± said Ceraunus, in exasperation. ¡°Quiet, Young King!¡± bellowed Zane. ¡°Upon my name, and for your sins, I swear to put an end to your madness; protection of Seraphina be damned.¡± Chapter 35 | 3,000 Years Into the Past (9) It flickered amidst the darkness ¨C the soul-fire of Mallan Argonaut, bound still by the aeter remnants of Noxun restraints. But freedom, it was at hand; now possessed by a spell of inspiration, the soul-fire broke free from its limitations, returning to the aged path built by Aeterna. Untethered and without fear, the aeter essence had resumed its pilgrimage. Zane watched the effort in silence, head lowered, and in prayer. He wondered if it would have changed anything, an early arrival that is. His aeter echoed with sadness, over the loss of his friend, his brother. It hurt him, the death. He shook his head, a knot on his chest, and refocused to the idea of vengeance. His eyes returned to Ceraunus, still amidst a process of recovery. It offered the Godvildian Lord some time. With a sigh, Zane Morgul commanded the aeter from the depths of his heart ¨C ancient in its formula and composition. It moved with a will of its own, lifelike, taking the shape of an ethereal armor, forged for the purpose of combat. From a distance, Inaya wept, overwhelm with emotions of relief and admiration. Her eyes witnessed the power of a god, Ehedus, resonate from a body made of flesh and blood. It reflected a sense of calm, the aura of a worldly inheritor. Zane raised an arm when ready, and split the heavens on command, funneling aeter to a portal in demand of a trade. In time, his ethereal armor morphed once more, solidifying to replicate an arm of massive proportions, armed with a sword just as large. ¡°This brings back memories,¡± said Ceraunus, in a remark, now recovered. ¡°It started here, all of it ¨C this confrontation; how fitting that we conclude our relationship in similar manner.¡± Zane refused to engage in conversation, aching from indecision, torn between his duty as protector and friend. ¡°It¡¯s a shame, truly,¡± continued Ceraunus. ¡°I had never imagined it, to be honest; that you would turn your back on me.¡± ¡°You turned your back on all of Mioverold when you accepted corrupt power, Ceraunus¡± said Zane, burdened with disappointment. ¡°But now you force me to choose between emotions of rage and love.¡± ¡°Is it because I hurt your lover?¡± asked Ceraunus, casually. ¡°Or, is this merely an act to compensate for your impunctuality?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll never know,¡± admitted Zane. ¡°But it¡¯s pushed me enough to raise blade against you.¡± ¡°This is what it comes down to, then?¡± said Ceraunus, in a low voice, contemptuously. ¡°Godvildian scum, all of you.¡± ¡°What?¡± said Zane, visibly puzzled by the remark. ¡°Did you only pretend to acknowledge me, like your people?¡± yelled Ceraunus. ¡°Did it bother the proud Godvildian race, to have someone stand an equal to the mighty Zane Morgul? You must admit it, the disgust in their eyes ¨C their tolerance of me, merely a consequence of my status as a worldly inheritor!¡± In the moment of silence that followed, Zane found the weight in his heart ease to comfort. He peered into the soul of his once comrade, diseased with corruption and insecurities. It was different, to observe the now changed Noxun King. ¡°It¡¯s funny, Young King,¡± said Zane, with a smile. ¡°I once imagined bending the knee to you; it wasn¡¯t a bad thought. When the Mimicry of Gods had failed all those years ago, Mallan and I discussed entrusting our next attempt to you. It wasn¡¯t a hard decision.¡± Zane felt his body lighten from burden but strengthen in resolve. His arm moved without effort, swiping against the air in fluid motion. The ethereal arm followed, a representation of Ehedus, and with it ¨C the sword, immense in its potential for destruction. It played in the heart of the Godvildian Lord, the story of an affair that first started in Suntaria, now reduced to an encore stained with hatred. ¡°Aspect of the Ancients: Hand of Ehedus!¡± bellowed Zane. Ceraunus welcomed the challenge, fortified by his unification with the souls from Themistokera. His aeter magnified in response to the threat, radiating defense in the form of an aura ¨C filthy and green. But the effort failed to make an impact, not with a worldly inheritor in front of him. With the mask of Ehedus, Zane guided the ethereal hand to rip through the Noxun impediment, shattering armor and breaking flesh. But as the winds of the battle shifted, a change crept into the sands of reality. Zane noticed it emanate from his once friend, a modification in aeter quality. It had begun to merge, the corruption at first, and then all of Niall. In that moment, Ceraunus commanded the fabric of time, bending it to complete transformation. He pushed towards safety, a pocket dimension that held against the Godvildian attack. Within the confines of the space, his body underwent a process of repeated destruction ¨C a process of assured death. But with the veil of Seraphina, Ceraunus revived ¨C consistently, and fully, every single time. Towards the end, the Noxun King emerged a changed being ¨C something beyond his status as a worldly inheritor. In the realm of reality, as time continued to flow once more, Ceraunus spread his aeter with corrosive effect. ¡°This is exhilarating, truly,¡± whispered Ceraunus, to himself, in disbelief. ¡°I can feel it at hand, a revolution unlike any other.¡± Ceraunus moved his aeter into a dance, fluid in its motion. It wrapped around the ethereal arm, and slowly ate away at its source. Zane watched it disappear, his strongest magic, falling under threat of Noxun disease. He detached from the aeter that strengthened the arm, in fear of an invasion, but in vain; something had made it through, strong enough to encroach the mind. Zane froze, his limbs forced into paralysis; his thoughts ¨C fading into darkness. And then it stopped for him as well, time. --- It could have been described as drowning; heavy, suffocating, almost impossible to escape. Zane looked from left to right, stuck in a dimensional tear, in an aeter-made ocean. It was pure, sickening almost. He struggled to move his limbs, bogged by the density of the place, surviving merely on his ability to breathe through the space; it puzzled him. In time, he noticed a dark shade of blue, afloat and in the form of something familiar. It moved with intent, eager to guide, and touched the Godvildian Lord, offering opportunity for escape. Zane exited the space into a desert, red dunes and with weather that threatened dehydration. With a cursory assessment of the region, he quickly identified the place as another aeter-made domain. He wondered, for a moment, if it was death ¨C if this was his pilgrimage to Aeterna.This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. The blue light appeared once more, shifting the Godvildian Lord elsewhere, and almost whimsically so. It mirrored an island this time, wide, and with a small hut ¨C nothing too far. Zane found his feet move involuntarily, without mental command, and his arms reach for the door. He entered the space, but noticed the straws distort to stone-made walls. It reminded him of Arce Caelesti, the throne room. His eyes remained glued to the floor, under threat from something powerful and fierce ¨C far beyond the pressure from Ceraunus. It resonated authority, but under an aura of benevolence; an unexplainable calm. ¡°I am sorry for being unable to show you my face,¡± whispered a voice. ¡°You are still flesh and blood, still alive; the rules forbid me from it.¡± ¡°And you are?¡± asked Zane, with a gulp. ¡°How is it that even my son fails to recognize me?¡± said the voice, laughing aloud. ¡°Ehedus?!¡± stuttered Zane, without thought. ¡°Well, this is interesting. Why pull me here now given the predicament outside?¡± ¡°It¡¯s regarding the predicament; I wanted to ask you something, with your permission, obviously,¡± said Ehedus, slowly. ¡°I¡¯ve broken a lot of rules to arrange for this meeting, which includes interrupting the flow of time in Mioverold ¨C to protect you from Noxun corruption. Baha must be in the process of fixing it as we speak, but that¡¯s not for you to worry about. You will be returned to an appropriate point in the flow, regardless of your answer.¡± ¡°Must be important, if you went through all that trouble,¡± said Zane. ¡°Very well, you have my permission; though it does feel a little odd, granting permission to a god.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve observed your group, the alliance, attempt the Mimicry of Gods and fail; everything in front of you, I¡¯ve seen it crumble and turn to dust ¨C your lover stands near the door of death, the defiant High Human appears to have fallen in battle, and you ¨C you¡¯re not too far from meeting the same fate,¡± said Ehedus. ¡°And yet, you continue to fight. You fight a battle which cannot be won, against a foe on the verge of becoming a god. Why, why do you persist?¡± ¡°I¡¯m surprised you need to ask that.¡± Zane smiled, helplessly. He relaxed his shoulders, recalling past conversations. It would have been easy, to submit to Ceraunus and accept fate, to become a pawn ¨C a witness to the alteration of Mioverold, to cling to life. The Godvildian Lord delved deeper into his memories, his thoughts a muddle. He wondered if it was pride that urged him to battle, or the idea of revenge; there was little that separated his decision from the end of Mioverold and his people. But at a corner in his heart, an answer chose to rebel ¨C an answer spurred by choice and freewill. ¡°Ehedus, realistically, you¡¯re right; it is a battle we¡¯re fated to lose,¡± accepted Zane, with a shrug. ¡°However, I find that I cannot stop. It¡¯s a foolish decision, perhaps, but a decision that lends us hope ¨C a chance. From the moment we¡¯re born, there those that succumb to fate, and those that oppose it. You should know it better than anyone; after all, I was your choice, and I am your son.¡± ¡°But it won¡¯t be enough, not to change the fate of our world,¡± said Ehedus, grimly. ¡°But it would be too cruel for me to deny my son a battle against fate; I called you here to understand if you had the resolve to defy my mother, our creator ¨C Seraphina. And while we may not be able to overcome her pawn, her grand plan, we might be able to find a way to delay it.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll stake everything on it, if it buys us time enough to think of something better.¡± ¡°Then it¡¯s time for you to return, Zane,¡± announced Ehedus, with pride. ¡°You leave with the knowledge of my divinity, and with as much aeter as your body can handle. In return, I seek a price ¨C your gate to Aeterna. Should you survive this battle, never again will you be able to access our power. You shall age, weaken, and perish in time. You will no longer retain your status as a worldly inheritor. This is a gift, and a curse; but I ask you again, now that you know, if you truly wish to accept it?¡± --- Zane opened his eyes into reality, cocooned in a sphere built upon the whispers of Ehedus. He relinquished the protection offered and returned to the ethereal armor, his magic. It battled against Ceraunus¡¯ offense and held to purity despite the latter¡¯s corrosive effect. The Noxun King noticed the change, not unlike his own ¨C something comparable, on the verge of godly encroachment. He swung his halberd, a wave of destructive energy; it traveled with ferocious intent but dissipated mere moments before contact with the Godvildian Lord. Ceraunus frowned at the sight; he struggled to understand the difference, and in time, realized something beyond the change on display. ¡°I don¡¯t know how you managed it,¡± mentioned Ceraunus. ¡°But I can see that you¡¯re unable to sustain that power.¡± ¡°How astute of you,¡± said Zane, with a scoff. ¡°Then again, there is little need for me to hold onto it, this power, for long.¡± ¡°You must know that I am invulnerable,¡± reminded Ceraunus. ¡°It is the will of Seraphina; so, give it your best shot, I¡¯ll take it, and then crush you right after.¡± ¡°Generous,¡± said Zane, with a smile. ¡°I agree to the terms; it¡¯s most favorable.¡± The Godvildian Lord altered his aeter composition; the formula reflected the written word of divinity, the one bestowed to him. It took shape behind Zane, a glorious sight ¨C bright and beyond earthly comprehension. But despite the display, Ceraunus paid little attention to the magic and its preparation, restless with impatience. It was his chance, after all, to best a rival, one that he had grown to despise. In time, the formula appeared atop the Noxun King ¨C pillars of light, four of them, in synchronization with a location far from Mel Ficarum. It struck Ceraunus across his limbs, and pried weapon away from hand; the pain, it was real. The Noxun King grit his teeth and attempted to break free from the magic, pouring everything into escape. It reeked of desperation, his struggle against the Godvildian Lord. From a distance, Zane sighed, battling both fatigue and weakness. With the task far from finished, it surfaced ¨C doubts, from the darkest corners of his mind. Everything hinged on his attempt to seal the invulnerable Noxun King, to put Ceraunus to sleep. ¡°Stop it, stop it!¡± barked Ceraunus, in vain. Overcome with madness and rage, Ceraunus behaved as an animal would ¨C pushed to a corner, and with failure in sight. He sacrificed an arm to disrupt the magic, splitting away from one of the four pillars. With blood everywhere, he chewed free another limb, earnest in his desire for freedom and success. As his limbs reformed, Ceraunus thundered towards Zane, reclaiming his halberd through the ascent. The Noxun King hacked past the ethereal armor and cut flesh across chest. But the Godvildian Lord, he persevered. With arms apart, Zane embraced Ceraunus into incapacitation. It mattered, for the latter to remain trapped through the entirety of the process. ¡°Aspect of Ancients,¡± coughed Zane, throat filled with blood. ¡°The Weeping of Swords.¡± Ceraunus raised his head and watched the heavens part with rage. It rained, blades everywhere, aeter-made and near impossible to avoid. Zane felt his grip weaken, subject to the offensive might of his own magic. He clung to consciousness, fueled by little more than his adrenalin, and in attempt to finish the sealing once more. It didn¡¯t fail this time, the pillars. With the odds of victory fading into nothingness, Ceraunus tore free, yet again, on instinct ¨C tolerating the pain and agony. He thirsted completion, of the Mimicry of Gods; he yearned for it, to rule and suppress the hatred in Mioverold. Without the aid of his limbs, the Noxun King dug his teeth into Zane, his neck, absent any thought towards sophistication. But as the pillars faded from existence, Ceraunus felt something pierce skull, from both ears ¨C daggers forged with precision, and enchanted with Noxun magic. He recognized the person responsible and spread his aeter with enough force to obliterate the assailant. ¡°You have two people to avenge now, my love,¡± whispered a fading voice. Zane roared at the sight, numb to the trauma that now weighed on his heart. He refused to cry, and obsessively rekindled his once dissipating aura. With a second incantation, the Godvildian Lord summoned the ethereal blade of Ehedus and swiped arm to slash through a weakened Ceraunus. He pressed ahead, without thought of rest, and guided the pillars into formation. ¡°Your people, they¡¯re going to wage war upon your demise,¡± said Zane. ¡°Rest assured that I will exterminate every last one of them, anyone willing to raise a weapon in your name!¡± With the formula completed, Ceraunus reduced in form and intelligence ¨C sealed in Shadowmere, a soul-fire. His aeter fueled the recovery of Mioverold, a source that prevented immediate destruction. At the time, it was yet to begin ¨C the war that had ended the great alliance. But to Zane, it had already concluded. Chapter 36 | Returning to the Present When the story ended, a spell of silence blanketed the throne room of Arce Caelesti. Gale heard the breaths, his own ¨C disruptively calm. His eyes shifted to Zane, and slowly, to the unoccupied seat within the room. He searched for answers, some from the story, and some through the effort of his intelligence. It stood there, the halberd that tore down the walls of Mioverold ¨C walls that once symbolized the world¡¯s stability and peace. Gale understood it, the story, and the purpose behind its narration. It existed to offer him clarity; a story that spoke of the death of his people and the fall of his king, of lost love and a desperate Godvildian soldier battling against indecision. He realized it, the significance, and how it meant for him to choose the course of his future. With a deep breath, he relaxed his shoulders and pointed at the halberd behind the throne, wearing a mask of curiosity. ¡°It¡¯s a reminder, to caution us against action that might jeopardize the safety of our people ¨C the world as a whole,¡± said Zane, offering answer from expression. ¡°This is also the safest place I could think of, Arce Caelesti of the Kingdom of Suntaria; Ceraunus Antiochus will need a lot to break through our defences.¡± ¡°An army of Elder Undead should suffice,¡± estimated Gale, grimly. ¡°Should we not gather everyone at Shadowmere, to halt the revival?¡± ¡°I¡¯m afraid that this world isn¡¯t as simple as you make it out to be,¡± said Zane. ¡°Politics, it is a delicate thing. Raskas and Minerva are important, as is the Kingdom of Suntaria. While we are certain ¨C to a certain degree ¨C of the Noxun Grandmasters¡¯ position in this war, we can¡¯t be too careful. There are forces determined to destroy the Godvildian Empire, and chaos, it¡¯s their path to that success.¡± Gale lowered his head, deep in thought, and with a frown on his face. He realized the existence of a difference in their perception of time, him still being new to the World of Transition. To the boy, his experiences had aged him ¨C significantly, from performing his role as a soldier of Suntaria at the Bridge of Souls to becoming a Half-Lord, having battled creatures of legend. It explained his sense of urgency, an earnest desire to compete with those that had existed for over a thousand years. But with that thought in mind, he wondered if it made sense for him to lead an army at this stage in his life within the transitional world. ¡°I suppose I must agree, Ser Zane,¡± consented Gale, with a sigh. ¡°But are you sure you want me to lead an army against the assault at Raskas, even with General Conatus by my side? I believe you classified the city as important.¡± ¡°In an ideal world, you would have had the chance to grow in a controlled environment ¨C guided every step of the way,¡± admitted Zane. ¡°But that is simply not the case; with the awakening of Ceraunus Antiochus, Mioverold will soon be plunged into instability. We are short on time, and the threat is nothing small. I¡¯ll be honest, Gale; we need you to grow fast, perhaps faster than names of legend, even.¡± ¡°But most of all, you wonder if I still wish to remain loyal to the Godvildian Empire?¡± asked Gale. ¡°It¡¯s easy to infer from the story alone; your choices led to the extinction of the High Humans, after all.¡± Zane felt his chest tighten; he held his breath and then sighed in resignation. It was an important moment for both him and the boy, a decision fated to alter the course of Mioverold. With a shrug, the Godvildian blacksmith nodded, in agreement, and gestured for an answer from the Half-Lord.Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. ¡°It was over three thousand years ago,¡± said Gale, scratching the back of his head. ¡°I stand where I stand presently because of you, your people; in many ways, I am yet to understand this world fully, but I do understand the concept of loyalty.¡± ¡°You needn¡¯t say much more, child,¡± said Zane, echoing admiration. ¡°I only wish Mallan had managed to live long enough to see you, and your growth.¡± ¡°You are too kind,¡± said Gale, lowering head and body to bend the knee. ¡°I hope that I don¡¯t disappoint at Raskas, then.¡± With a smile, Zane raised both arms and clapped ¨C a signal meant for those stationed at the exit. The doors creaked at first, and then opened with hesitation, allowing passage to a group of soldiers ¨C on guard ¨C at the other end of the threshold. They marched in unison, with a fully-armoured soldier at the helm, and stopped at an arm¡¯s length from the people inside. ¡°Not everyone is aware of the details behind the Great War,¡± whispered Zane. ¡°Most of the rooms at Arce Caelesti is shielded with magic that prevents those on the outside from listening in ¨C a necessary precaution.¡± ¡°Your story is safe with me,¡± assured Gale, in a whisper also. ¡°But I suppose you stationed them here in advance? Why put your soldiers through that?¡± ¡°We are rather short on time,¡± explained Zane. ¡°And we perceive our existence differently, maybe only a little. In a way, we¡¯re all bored already.¡± ¡°How convenient.¡± At the time, a loud thud forced both men to abandon conversation and focus on the soldiers in front of them. It urged Zane to raise hand and command them to ease. ¡°We have prepared the lightning chariot as requested, Ser Zane,¡± said the soldier in charge, with a voice that helped Gale identify the person as a woman. ¡°General Conatus awaits at Raskas.¡± ¡°Thank you, Augustine,¡± said Zane, hurrying the boy to the front with a gentle nudge. ¡°Here is the person you are meant to escort ¨C Gale, a combat representative of Suntaria. He will be taking charge alongside General Conatus.¡± With the words, Augustine turned her head to observe the person set to take command. She removed her helmet to unveil a face of divinity ¨C skin that glimmered of an olive complexion, freckled across the nose, and with eyes of an emerald shade. Her hair fell as a stream would, with elegant grace, resting at the tips a little after her shoulders. Gale gulped at the sight, a beauty of unparalleled measure ¨C someone without compare in Mioverold, at least from his perspective. Augustine rushed with her words, almost, but paused upon second observation. Her eyes noticed the shade as dark as a moonless night, and hues of amber ¨C strangeness beyond comprehension. She restrained immediate speech ¨C with a frown ¨C and turned to address her superior in the room. ¡°With all due respect, Ser Zane,¡± said Augustine, cautiously. ¡°What gives this person the right to stand on equal ground with my father?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it, Augustine,¡± said Zane, waving the complaint aside. ¡°We¡¯ve assessed his combat potential to rank on par with the Three Swords of Suntaria. He may be lacking presently, but it would do you good to associate with someone of his calibre. General Conatus is aware of the situation.¡± ¡°I fear that this decision might cause some unrest amongst the soldiers present at Raskas,¡± warned Augustine. ¡°And to be honest, I do not think of him to be above my rank, even.¡± At the words, Zane wore a troubled expression on his face and attempted to reengage in conversation once more. ¡°It¡¯s understandable that you feel that way, Peerless Knight Augustine,¡± said Zane, addressing the soldier by rank. ¡°Your status is unprecedented, even more so given your age, but Gale is worth our time and consideration. He¡¯s the dragon-slayer from the Bridge of Souls, to say the least; there¡¯s a lot more he has accomplished since then as well.¡± ¡°I¡­¡± stuttered Augustine, taken aback by the revelation. ¡°And if that doesn¡¯t suffice,¡± interrupted Zane, sternly. ¡°Remember that he¡¯s also an Argonaut.¡± Chapter 37 | Day Three of Four Salt, it was a smell that the people had grown accustomed to in a particular part of the Godvildian Empire. Carried through the winds past fortified walls, it left its mark on armour and weapons alike. In the books, the world identified the place as Raskas ¨C a port city built atop the ashes of the Great War, founded a little after its conclusion. It had grown to become a hub for trade, facilitating the flow of valuable cargo, and also a target for several invasions. But with the sea to its back and an army dedicated to its protection, not many had managed to impregnate the well-defended city. General Conatus stared into the sea over the thought. It mattered to him, to have been part of the city¡¯s history, its growth. He lowered his head in remembrance, observing the waves beneath the city walls ¨C a form of natural defence, fierce against the approach of ships. He then turned to understand the depth of his reinforcements, an army from the capital of the Godvildian Empire; it added to his forces, now five-thousand strong. But in terms of numbers alone, Raskas paled in comparison to the Relictan threat in front it. With a deep breath, Conatus almost trailed into closer observation of the enemy when something distracted him from the task. On instinct, several soldiers covered their ears to protect against the sound of thunder and neighs. It blanketed the city of Raskas, the shadow of a beast-drawn vehicle blessed to lightning. At the sight, Conatus commanded the clearance of a path for the chariot, allowing for an effortless descent to an open space within city walls. As Raskas calmed from the arrival, the winds shifted without suspicion, bearing the essence of liquid aeter. It wrapped the Godvildian General in an embrace, an aura that propelled feet from ground. General Conatus navigated towards the chariot, now earth-bound, and led its movement ¨C with a handful of soldiers ¨C to the barricades. Once stationary, he opened the door and helped his daughter disembark from the vehicle. He watched another follow in her footsteps, absent any form of emotion and with an aura shrouded in mystery. ¡°Well met, Half-Lord Gale,¡± greeted Conatus, smiling as he did. ¡°It¡¯s an honour to have you serve by my side against the Relictan threat; to be honest, I¡¯ve always been appreciative of young talent.¡± ¡°Ser Zane speaks highly of you, General Conatus,¡± said Gale, with a nod. ¡°The honour should be mine.¡± Conatus averted his eyes to the rest of his soldiers; he dissipated his aura entirely, faced with the unease from those present ¨C most under command from the mark of the shield. With a shrug, he lowered body and bent his knee to the visitor in front of him. ¡°General, what are you doing?¡± asked Gale, taken aback from the gesture. ¡°We are meant to lead together; I apologize for any gap in communication on the matter!¡± Conatus moved his eyes to assess the state of his soldiers once more; they appeared hesitant, and yet layered in an aura of moderate calm. He sighed at the sight of his daughter masked in an expression of disgust. It didn¡¯t appeal to her, his approach. ¡°You needn¡¯t apologize, Half-Lord,¡± said Conatus. ¡°I¡¯m not sure the soldiers here understand the rank you hold presently; it¡¯s a little hard for me as well, but I do know of the story from a couple of years ago. You may have changed in appearance, but how can I not bow to the person that bought our lord time enough for victory at the Bridge of Souls ¨C Slayer of the Elder Dragon, Hero of the Bridge.¡± With the information open to public ears, General Conatus noticed a remarkable change in his soldiers¡¯ demeanour. Their expressions eased to respect, enough to bend the knee ¨C the same as their commanding officer.Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. ¡°We welcome your arrival, Half-Lord!¡± said the soldiers, in unison. General Conatus lowered his head further, a smile hidden amidst an expression of calm. He caught Augustine relent to the flow of fate he had set in motion as well; it eased his heart. ¡°Well, that settles it then,¡± said General Conatus, standing upright. ¡°How about we return to the matter of Raskas? I believe we¡¯ve delayed it long enough.¡± --- It was a display of military might, the formations ¨C their show of weapons, and an unfathomable calm beyond comprehension. Shadowmere stirred in restless anticipation, against the slow fall of grains ¨C time through the sandglass. Under the influence of mindless rage, the Elder Undead roared in their desire for blood, but settled upon command from the person inside. They trembled nonetheless, eager to wade into battle. At a distance from Shadowmere, the Godvildian camp stared into death. Some readied their blades, while others their armour. They breathed with an expression of disgust, the smell of rot and decay amidst whispers of the wind. A few felt the shadow of fear even; but the rest, they held onto faith, forged under the presence of decorated leadership. ¡°What do you think, Lord Bloodseed?¡± asked Zane. ¡°Armour enchanted to the seventh tier, and weapons to the eighth,¡± said Masura, without thought. ¡°It broke the treasury, I believe. But Arce Male, they did us a great service.¡± ¡°It gives us a fighting chance against the Elder Undead,¡± said Zane, smiling as he did. ¡°This is precisely why we tax our citizens, to build a healthy war chest.¡± ¡°Of course,¡± said Masura, with a shrug. ¡°How can I argue policy?¡± Zane lowered his head, hand atop hilt, and with an expression suited for battle. He felt a tremor in one of his arms, nervous energy at the thought of a reunion. It worried him, despite Suntarian might ¨C the awakening of the former Noxun King, Ceraunus Antiochus. ¡°He holds this world hostage, I¡¯m afraid,¡± said Zane, grimly. ¡°I wish it had never come to this; for everyone lost all those years ago, it¡¯s simply unfair ¨C his freedom.¡± ¡°I fear that we may have become complacent.¡± ¡°What?¡± asked Zane, taken aback by the remark. ¡°Every coin has two sides to it, old friend; this awakening, it might be a good thing,¡± said Masura. ¡°There¡¯s no denying the instability of our world; this gives us an opportunity to hasten the search for a solution.¡± ¡°That is one way to look at the matter,¡± admitted Zane. ¡°I pray that we see those words become the truth.¡± --- Day Three of Four: Conclusion As the moon rose to its peak, Gale embraced the moonlight atop the seaside walls of Raskas. He took in a slow, deep breath, and exhaled ¨C the smell of salt, fresh in his lungs. It brought his heart some peace, the silence, broken only through the waves at a gentle pace. He lost thought of time, his eyes closed, with the moon now shrouded amidst an overcast layer of clouds. ¡°My apologies,¡± said a voice, hushed but familiar. ¡°I must say that you¡¯re hard to spot without the light.¡± ¡°There¡¯s a word for that remark in my former world,¡± said Gale, with a soft laugh. ¡°Well then, what brings you here at this time of the night, General?¡± Conatus dusted his knees and approached the Godvildian Half-Lord without haste. ¡°I wasn¡¯t aware that you were from the other side; we must converse about it over drinks someday,¡± said the Godvildian General. ¡°But to answer your question, I simply could not sleep.¡± ¡°You¡¯re worried about the Relictan army,¡± guessed Gale. ¡°Perhaps you¡¯ve realized their intentions as well?¡± ¡°It¡¯s bothered me for some time, now,¡± admitted Conatus. ¡°They don¡¯t appear to be interested in starting a war, not here at least.¡± ¡°Minerva, Raskas, Suntaria, and Shadowmere,¡± said Gale, in a whisper. ¡°It¡¯s an illusion, cast to separate our strength.¡± ¡°I feared as much.¡± ¡°As did the Three Pillars of Suntaria.¡± General Conatus raised an eyebrow at the comment. He scratched his chin, unshaven from days of worry, and turned his eyes to the sea. But with an affirmative nod, he moved to reengage in conversation with the Godvildian Half-Lord once more. ¡°Their presence here is meant merely to delay us, I¡¯m afraid,¡± said Gale. ¡°But Ser Zane did offer some advice on the matter.¡± ¡°What advice?¡± asked Conatus. Gale blinked for a moment, and later rummaged through his pockets. He stopped at a part close to his chest and pulled a letter signed to the Kingdom of Suntaria. With another minute, he managed to find yet another parchment, unsealed this time. ¡°The contents are both the same,¡± revealed Gale, as he offered the second to the Godvildian General. ¡°But this right here, that¡¯s our plan of action.¡± Chapter 38 | Insight into the Future It surfaced through the quiet night, the sound of a slow breeze ¨C audible merely to those eager for the song. Atop dry leaves and short wood, a fire rose to the peak with the moon. It moved without restraint, the flames, at several parts of camp ¨C a light to restless moths, an assembly of men and women driven toward battle and revenge. But they were meant to stall, to stay their blades into inaction, shackled by the command of their Overlord. When the bottles opened, many succumbed to the merriment of alcohol, and when the bottoms dried, they retreated to the comfort of their tents. But as the sun peaked into their third day of encampment, stationed scouts emerged with news of change ¨C a chariot, drawn by beasts and doused in lightning. In time, a small unit dispersed to investigate the arrival. As the moon surfaced once more, the process repeated ¨C bottles emptied, and soldiers dulled; but in the dead of the night, a vigilant scout caught sight of what appeared to be a red-tailed bird. In haste, it attempted to break free from range and flee towards the Godvildian Capital. With the winds gauged, the Relictan scout steadied his bow and pierced the bird via an aeter-enchanted arrow. ¡°I must leave for a moment,¡± whispered the scout, waking the soldier beside him. ¡°Stay on alert; I won¡¯t be too long.¡± The scout slipped into the shadows and traced a path to the fallen bird. With his destination a few hundred meters away from camp, he frowned at the sight of life, a sliver. He averted his eyes ¨C a palm over the bird¡¯s head ¨C and flicked his wrist to push task towards completion. He paused in consideration of a thought, but caved to his appetite, nonetheless, shoving the corpse into his mouth, and then down the throat. With a cough, the Relictan scout uncovered a sealed letter; on closer observation, he scratched into a name ¨C Masura Bloodseed. It made his arms tremble, the idea of having uncovered important information. He verified the seal once more, and then slowly opened the letter to read through its contents. His eyes widened in surprise, enough to move feet to camp, and in haste. Once within boundary, he relayed the news of his discovery to the commander in charge; a little later, he entered the largest tent on site. ¡°How did you chance upon this?¡± asked Jacquelyn. ¡°A red-tailed mellow,¡± informed the scout, head lowered. ¡°I traced its direction to the Kingdom of Suntaria.¡± Jacquelyn returned to the edge of her bed. She massaged her feet, lost in thought, and attired in a loose dress suited for the night. Her skin shimmered against the soft light within the confines of her tent, hair atop shoulders and a little over the forehead. She rubbed her eyes in frustration, puzzled by the predicament at hand. It fell to silence, the situation, but as Jacquelyn raised her head, she noticed her subordinate turn from her. ¡°I suppose this is your first time seeing me this way,¡± said Jacquelyn, resting chin atop palm ¨C a smile on her face. ¡°It¡¯s refreshing to find someone so, well, honest.¡± ¡°My apologies, Lady Jacquelyn,¡± stammered the scout. ¡°I did not mean to offend.¡± ¡°There is nothing to apologize about,¡± said Jacquelyn, dismissively. ¡°But my indulgences are restricted to women; perhaps men as well, given the right circumstance.¡± The scout merely bowed, unable to muster the words for a response. ¡°Well, now that you have gazed upon me, I suggest you make yourself useful,¡± said Jacquelyn. ¡°You¡¯re aware of the situation; what do you recommend of it?¡± ¡°If I may dare a suggestion, I recommend that we engage in passive combat against the troops stationed in Raskas,¡± said the scout. ¡°I¡¯m not sure how, but they managed to uncover our purpose here as merely an illusion ¨C to divide their forces and keep them from a large assembly at Shadowmere. If they wish to retreat based on that truth, it¡¯s better we rewrite said truth.¡± ¡°Not with our full force, but with enough to encourage a stay,¡± said Jacquelyn, slowly. ¡°Very well, I accept your suggestion; thank you¡­¡± ¡°Sten, My Lady,¡± said the scout. ¡°Not that you need to remember.¡± ¡°True,¡± admitted Jacquelyn. ¡°It¡¯s likely that I won¡¯t.¡± --- It echoed through the darkness, the sound of a stream ¨C untethered, free from the restrictions of the world. As fingers moved through mud, it felt the touch of cold atop rugged surface; the winds blew through three directions ¨C hot, cold, and with moisture. The animals, they crawled without urgency, slowed by the soil, frozen yet soft. It tore through the senses, a dimension that existed, and yet one that failed to take either form or shape.Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon. Gale blinked at the sight, an abyss on one end ¨C dark and endless, and with normalcy on the other, an illusion ¨C shrouded in malice and whispers of death. His body trembled, involuntarily, almost as if by design; the world, it toyed with its visitors. Sounds dampened with every step, and visions blurred at the crack of static. In time, it settled, enough to permit movement. Gale took a slow step, cautious at first, and then with courage. He moved without thought, guided by a faint trace of aeter ¨C an unknown that reeked of familiarity. After a long, directionless walk, the Godvildian Half-Lord reached what appeared to be the edge of the world, water across his feet, slipping into eternity. At a distance, he noticed the vague outline of a man, emanating power beyond measure or comprehension. Gale hastened an approach, burdened with curiosity, but paused at a restriction meters from the silhouette ¨C a barrier. ¡°Who are you?¡± asked Gale, without a voice. He clasped his throat, puzzled by the situation at hand; but the silhouette moved, unhindered by the inaudibility. ¡°It¡¯s a strange world, is it not?¡± said the figure. ¡°A dream, my dream; I¡¯ve dreamt of this world for a long time now.¡± Gale felt overcome with a sense of familiarity once more. He watched the figure wade through the water, shrouded in darkness still, but closer this time. ¡°It took a while for me to build this,¡± revealed the figure. ¡°I suppose it was a little difficult, given my presence as a fragment amidst memories.¡± The aeter bled in excess from the silhouette, and Gale noticed it merge with the stream. He followed the trail, identifying similarities in its constitution with that of the world around him. Wild but with purpose, the aeter flowed in a singular direction ¨C mostly outward from its point of origin; it formed with the figure at the centre, the world, distorted and without explanation. Gale scratched the back of his head, in puzzlement, but eased into an expression of calm, in search of an answer. He paused at the persistence of a name. ¡°Was it my turn to come visit?¡± asked Gale, with a smile. ¡°It¡¯s been quite some time now, if I¡¯m not mistaken; the battle at the Bridge of Souls, I think?¡± ¡°How interesting; you appear to have stumbled upon a conclusion,¡± praised Bane, in acknowledgement of the Half-Lord¡¯s answer. ¡°I hope you don¡¯t mind the world; there¡¯s not much to do here ¨C chained and underneath the depths of your subconscious.¡± ¡°I wasn¡¯t aware of your status as a prisoner in my body,¡± said Gale, apologetically. ¡°But you¡¯ve earned the right to fiddle around a little in here; don¡¯t worry about it.¡± Bane tilted head and pointed towards a sky overcast with dark, turbulent clouds ¨C in a constant struggle to maintain form. It would break with lightning, dissipate, and then reform, repeatedly; some ruptured into momentary rainstorms even ¨C corroding, upon contact, plants and animals alike. ¡°It ends here, you know,¡± explained Bane. ¡°This is the world, days from its destruction. It won¡¯t be sudden, or easy; in slow progress, the water becomes hard to drink at first, and the air, well, it begins to work against us. In time, the flow of aeter reverses, poisoning our body into deliberate pain and eventual death. Food becomes inedible, the walls corrode, and we will stand here to bear witness to everything.¡± ¡°Everything we¡¯re trying to prevent from happening,¡± said Gale, slowly. ¡°How far are we from this reality?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure anymore,¡± admitted Bane. ¡°The awakening of that king, it changes things; and it¡¯s also part of why you¡¯re here.¡± ¡°Why I am here?¡± repeated Gale. Bane raised an arm and touched the invisible wall that separated him from the Godvildian Half-Lord; his fingertips pushed past the restriction, tearing away at the shroud that had protected him ¨C his flow of aeter. Gale watched the shadows take shape into something more humanlike. He then felt the palm touch his chest, cold, but absent any form of malice. ¡°Your bloodline; he¡¯ll find it no matter the distance,¡± warned Bane. ¡°Ceraunus can¡¯t stand it, the existence of a High Human, an Argonaut, within the Transitional World; not anymore, at least. And when he comes, I only hope that you manage to survive.¡± ¡°What about you, then?¡± asked Gale. ¡°You¡¯ve protected me from adversity before.¡± ¡°I¡¯m afraid I won¡¯t be able to summon enough of myself to stand a chance against the Old Noxun King; you are simply not capable of that feat yet,¡± said Bane, matter-of-factly. ¡°This test, it promises to determine your worth to this world.¡± ¡°But a test implies a chance ¨C a chance at success,¡± said Gale. ¡°And I¡¯d rather not die a second time. You needn¡¯t worry; I¡¯ll wait until I am able to tap into enough of your strength.¡± ¡°Very well; to reveal more would be to break the laws of our world,¡± said Bane, retreating arm to the shadows once more. ¡°It is time you returned to the city. And I pray, dear child, that you prove my choice wise. I¡¯ve only ever bound my soul to a mortal once; do not disappoint me.¡± ¡°Well, if you¡¯re going to put it that way, I might as well try,¡± said Gale, with a smile. ¡°This is my world as well now; I hope to meet with you again soon, Bane.¡± With a nod, the Godvildian Half-Lord turned to return to his world. He noticed the aeter collapse into a portal in front him; but as Gale passed through the threshold, he paused at the sense of something unordinary. He marched ahead, nonetheless, waking to the preparations of battle. ¡°Would it be too much if I asked for five more minutes?¡± thought Gale, stifling a yawn. ¡°I guess there are some things that just doesn¡¯t change, no matter the world.¡± Chapter 39 | The Battle of Raskas It slithered past the grass with corrosive effect, a fog ¨C slow and unnatural; with the sky overcast, it moved within the embrace of darkness, of a night a few hours until sunrise. It probed for entry into Raskas, but halted without intent, restrained by an incomprehensible wall ¨C invisible, and yet structured to the city¡¯s defence. In the cursed fog¡¯s second attempt at infiltration, it noticed a change, an oddity that forced retreat. As the fog traced a path of return to its summoner, it felt a pull from the great sea behind Raskas. It bottled into a sphere, against the will of its magic, and then dispersed entirely. With the veil lifted, Raskas shone a light into the lands in front of it. General Conatus manipulated the water from the sea to collect what remained of the fog; it hovered atop his palm ¨C freed from primary control, and with a life of its own. He scratched at its surface, breaking into a formula ¨C information, enough to guide a light towards enemy soldiers. Conatus gazed upon the formations, disciplined soldiers ¨C in position to set siege to the city of Raskas. He continued through the ranks, but settled upon the sight of someone familiar. She smiled, wary of the eyes upon her, and retreated from the light. Once within the confines of her tent, Jacquelyn frowned at the thought of failure ¨C in her inability to weaken the city and its soldiers via the cursed fog. She covered her mouth, screamed into her palms, and then eased into an expression of calm. Without thought, she returned to confront the Godvildian General. As the shroud lifted, the soldiers from Raskas manned the outer walls, quivers by their feet, and with bows crafted to the sixth tier. Conatus climbed to a higher floor, the moon freed from an overcast sky, and reunited with Gale. ¡°Did it work?¡± asked Conatus, with a slight nod. ¡°Well, they¡¯re here,¡± answered Gale. ¡°I suppose this is as good as it gets.¡± ¡°They managed to scramble into position before sunrise, even,¡± remarked Conatus, in praise. ¡°It must be important for them to contain us here ¨C not intervene with the events at Shadowmere.¡± ¡°Of course,¡± said Gale, in agreement. ¡°It¡¯s not possible to help at Shadowmere now, not for us. But this is a good chance for us to weaken Relictan strength; we have a Lord amidst them, and this army, it¡¯s far from insignificant.¡± ¡°This ought to weaken the possibility of an alliance between them and the Cursed King as well,¡± said Conatus, slowly. ¡°It¡¯s critical, our role here.¡± ¡°Yes; yes, indeed.¡± General Conatus raised his head skyward, and then towards Gale. He steadied a mild tremor across his arms, breathing into a state of serenity. His aeter chirped, in a flow that mimicked the waves, the sea. It held onto a gentle shade of blue, an aura that flared as a lighthouse would, from the highest point on Raskas. In time, a portion of the sea erupted, allowing for pillars of water to emerge and collect at an open space outside city walls. Horses neighed at the sight; and some of the soldiers, they stirred in restless anticipation. It meant something, when the water parted to take the shape of a door ¨C then more, hundreds. Conatus steadied both arms and pushed against the air in front of him; it represented a welcome, for light to torrent into the battlefield. Slowly, the dust settled to the sound of something warlike ¨C something foreign and strange. When vision returned, some noticed weapons, and others ¨C bodies suited to battle. Orcs, ethereal in their constitution, and with weapons aeter-made. They warned with a roar, with impact enough to rattle the earth; they threatened with another, with power enough to impact the weakest of enemy soldiers. ¡°A lot more than I had asked for,¡± said Gale, in awe of the display. ¡°It¡¯s imperative that you maintain your aeter reserves, General.¡± ¡°I¡¯m aware,¡± said Conatus, smiling as he did. ¡°It¡¯s a third-tier summoning; I believe them to be suitable for the task at hand.¡± ¡°There¡¯s little need to hesitate then,¡± said Gale. ¡°At the crack of second light?¡± ¡°At the crack of second light,¡± said Conatus, in agreement. The Godvildian General noticed the winds shift in intent; it urged for the clouds to pass through the moon once more. With the darkness, the region descended into a state of fragile silence. Conatus raised an arm in anticipation of another shift. For a moment, the winds stilled into tension; it suffocated. But then they moved, the clouds ¨C in inches, and slow. At the sound, Conatus clenched palm into fist; he gulped for a moment, and then commanded the charge. --- Under the spell of darkness, Jacquelyn lingered amidst the stench of fear. She felt it prickle her skin, through her soldiers ¨C their emotions. It helped her fade into thought, eyes closed and unburdened. In that moment, she held onto peace, weakened only by the touch of light. It tickled her skin, the moon and its splinters through the clouds. She embraced the serenity, the sky ¨C its canvas, infinite with stars and a sense of freedom. But it also meant a stop, a signal, echoed further by the sound of death. Jacquelyn opened her eyes and breathed into the fear in front of her. She watched the approach, the rush of unrestrained madness. At the sight, her soldiers tapped feet against ground ¨C eager in their desire for a command. It led to nod, and then a slow march. With a gesture, the Relictan Lord directed her soldiers to risen shields, and with another ¨C to tightened spears. On closer proximity, the orcs slowed to offer a prolonged roar. They faced skyward in a prayer, and then returned with faces stretched into smiles. With another sprint, the aeter-made creatures speared into the Relictan army ¨C armed and with a thirst for blood. But despite the rabid aggression, Jacquelyn had managed to steady her soldiers into formation. Behind inspired war cries, the Relictan army shielded advancement, losing ground, but with enough heart to hold their first line of defence. It moved in a sequence, the Relictan strategy ¨C with fatigued soldiers pressured into retreat, often replaced by those of fresher mind and body. But in inches, the orcs continued to cover ground; they pressed with frustration, determined to reach the invading commander. Jacquelyn noticed the bodies, of her soldiers ¨C bloodied and shapeless in the wake of the orcs¡¯ rampage. Her eyes shifted to the sides for a moment; in time, her lips moved with whispers of a slow count. She clenched her teeth with nervous energy, but held to her sense of patience. It continued, the count ¨C in line with the orcs¡¯ advancement. It tore her apart almost, the wait. But as her mind slipped from focus, she heard something ¨C a voice, overcome with urgency. ¡°My Lady,¡± whispered the soldier. ¡°They¡¯ve breached the marked line. It is time, now.¡± In response to the observation, the Relictan Lord raised an arm ¨C aeter at her fingertips, and launched what appeared to be a flare. --- In bewilderment, Gale scratched the back of his head. He folded his legs and took a seat at the edge of the tower, the carnage of war in front of him. With a tilt, his arms stretched to reach for a gourd; he uncorked the container and then lowered his nose in analysis of its contents. He took a gentle sip at first, and then paused ¨C his hand in a tremor. At a distance, and from the tower, the Half-Lord noticed the earth rattle in frenzy. He watched the orcs penetrate the Relictan army, but without impact. His ears perked at the sound of rhythmic footsteps, gallops and cries ¨C from the sides and in haste. Amidst the risen dust and debris, Gale noticed the silhouette of something majestic, and then more ¨C in shadows behind the first. They curved in their strides, tapering to contain the possibility of escape. ¡°Mounted troops?¡± asked Gale. ¡°Yes,¡± confirmed Conatus, with a frown. ¡°The orcs pushed in far too deep without breaking enemy formation; they¡¯re trapped now.¡± ¡°Is it possible for them to break away, maybe?¡± ¡°Perhaps,¡± said Conatus, uncertainly. ¡°But given your request, the double envelopment works to our benefit.¡± ¡°Very well then,¡± said Gale, with a shrug. ¡°As discussed, I¡¯ll leave the first part to you.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± assured Conatus. ¡°Within the Godvildian Empire, Raskas ranks rather highly for its ability to defend against invaders.¡± With a nod, the Godvildian General turned to face the battlefield once more. He tugged at the aeter bound to the orcs, and commanded a retreat; they responded with aggression, fierce in their desire for escape. The aeter-made creatures abandoned their charge against the infantry and moved to the flanks. In the meantime, General Conatus gestured for his soldiers to man the walls ¨C elementalists, bound to the element of water. They steadied into a chant and manipulated the aeter to merge into a collective essence, amplifying the magic in effect; a part of the preparation and nothing more. It busied the walls, more so with the archers rushing into formation behind their elemental counterparts.This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. As commander to the archers, Augustine joined the Godvildian General to aid in the effort. She helped organize the soldiers, and reassured her father of the situation at hand. Her attention then shifted to the battlefield ¨C the dwindling numbers, from hundreds to tens. And while the orcs had continued to rampage through the retreat, they had reduced in status, becoming prey to the double envelopment. ¡°What do you think?¡± asked Conatus. ¡°If it¡¯s meant to cripple, then yes,¡± said Augustine. ¡°We¡¯re good, very good.¡± When the last of the orcs had fallen, General Conatus added to the collective essence; it forced the clouds into a stir. At the first crack of thunder, the aeter trembled into something darker ¨C thick in its consistency. It erupted with the smell of decay and eased into a rumble, unencumbered in its growth. With a shadow cast over much of the Relictan army, a portion of the collective essence plummeted to moisten soil and restrain movement. In another eruption, the clouds broke into a downpour; it caused little damage, but burned upon contact. Some avoided it altogether, the earliest to return in the aftermath of their battle against the orcs. But for the many, they faced it until drenched, limited by the spell that had bound them to the earth. ¡°Book of Elements: Rain of Rot,¡± whispered Conatus, in completion of the spell. With a deep breath, he then turned to his daughter, in encouragement, and said, ¡°I trust you can handle the reins for a while?¡± The Godvildian General took a gentle step away from command; he walked a little and rested next to Gale ¨C shoulders relaxed, and with an expression that reflected pride. Conatus offered an arm to the Half-Lord; and Gale, he obliged with a smile. ¡°I¡¯ve learnt a lot today,¡± said Gale, appreciatively. ¡°Thank you for your guidance.¡± ¡°Well, it¡¯s not for free,¡± said Conatus, with a laugh. ¡°You promised me a show; don¡¯t leave me disappointed, Half-Lord.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll try not to,¡± said Gale. ¡°But what¡¯s your review of the prelude to it?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve seen enough to trust it blind,¡± said Conatus, confidently. ¡°She¡¯s the smartest person I know ¨C my daughter; second only to Lord Bahrain, perhaps.¡± Augustine shook her head furiously, and refocused to the task at hand. With tightened grip, she unsheathed her blade and pointed it towards the invading army. In response, the archers pulled from their quivers and held their bows at draw. ¡°Loose; warning!¡± yelled Augustine, absent any form of hesitation. Amidst the silence that followed, an arrow launched towards the heavens. It arched, tore into flames, and then pierced into target upon descent. The archer glared at his mark, a Relictan soldier ¨C in a struggle to free arrow from chest. He counted in whispers, and then raised his bow in celebration. It puzzled the Relictan army at first; but as the cogs continued in its march with time, an explosion followed ¨C unlike any other. Drenched from the rotten rain, the moisture catalysed the flame towards destruction. Blood and flesh, it splattered onto soldiers in the vicinity ¨C distorting bodies into more explosions. It spread as a disease would, fire, in an unstoppable chain that shattered Relictan morale. At the sight, Augustine encouraged further celebration ¨C her eyes cold, and merciless. ¡°Archers,¡± bellowed Augustine, once more. ¡°Show them hell.¡± --- It struck fear, the smell of charred flesh. Soldiers broke formation in a desperate attempt to flee from the range of the fire; they cried over the idea of their misfortune. Jacquelyn watched as it tore into the hearts of her soldiers, an ocean of flames ¨C wild and unrestrained. She leapt into the air in haste, atop aeter-made pedestals, to clear away from the chaos. Her aeter forced a gate into existence, in hurried effort, and at a distance in front of her. As the gates opened, the Relictan Lord reached into what appeared to be an abyss; her hands pulled with impatience, the head of beast that resembled a lion. It groaned in pain ¨C jaws in an overbite, and with eyes in a line, across either side of the nose. Jacquelyn noticed the injuries, the cost of a rushed summoning ¨C a being of once power, reduced to insignificance. But it didn¡¯t matter, not to her ¨C not at that time. ¡°Summon Spirit: Wailing Lion,¡± said Jacquelyn, breathless. ¡°Voice of the Emperor!¡± Upon command, the beast struggled ¨C a cough at first, and then a growl. It bled through its ears, a specimen of weakened will. But in another attempt, the odd creature managed to fill chest with air; it beamed with pride in a roar that shattered the fabric of sound ¨C a wave of energy that subdued fear, veiling the battlefield with a blanket of calm. Jacquelyn embraced her summoned familiar; it panted, in a tremble and without strength. In time, the creature disintegrated, fading into nothingness. ¡°Rest well, old friend,¡± whispered the Relictan Lord. She slowly turned to address her soldiers next, airborne and with an expression of courage, ¡°Knock terror from your hearts!¡± she yelled. In the face of a muted response, Jacquelyn quietened thoughts and reached into the depths of her soul. She steadied palm into fist, in memory of her fallen comrades, and rallied the cry once more ¨C only louder this time, ¡°Knock terror from your hearts!¡± Jacquelyn persisted with the phrase, until a soldier repeated after her, and then more. She grew bolder with each word, stronger with each response. It begged for victory ¨C a scream that signalled to renewed courage. ¡°Knock terror from your hearts!¡± bellowed the soldiers, in unison ¨C some with charred flesh, lost limbs, and others with mended hearts and weapons sharpened to focus. ¡°Contain the fire!¡± commanded Jacquelyn, reassured of her soldiers¡¯ morale. In formation, a small unit of soldiers responded with march into wildfire. They separated aeter from flame ¨C in manipulation of an element they controlled best. It swirled into a sphere, and then a wall, allowing the soldiers on reserve to recover those incapacitated. Jacquelyn used the time to settle into an idea; she issued the order, with neither doubt nor hesitation. ¡°Scale the walls,¡± said Jacquelyn, drenched from the sweat of stress. ¡°We take the city today!¡± As the sun crept through the horizon, a secondary set of soldiers sprinted through the flames and into the open. They moved with speed unparallel, and with evasive manoeuvres fast enough to avoid Godvildian arrows. In a jump, they blitzed the walls, past the barrier, and strode towards the top ¨C a charge of electricity around their heels. They met with resistance, oil as hot as the hottest of flames, poured atop those in a rush, and with destructive effect. One after the other, the invading soldiers plummeted, to their deaths; but a few persisted ¨C using the bodies of those sacrificed as foothold to the heavens. All they needed was for one to make it past the defence, to endure for long enough to disrupt Godvildian coordination. And they did, several of them. The Relictan army roared at the success of split blood atop the walls of Raskas. Jacquelyn sighed in relief, and then raised sword against the city. ¡°Charge; charge!¡± screamed the Relictan Lord, repeatedly. And charge they did. --- The city walls trembled under pressure from rams battering into closed gates. It was chaos with soldiers in combat from both sides, with the outer walls now compromised. Conatus watched his daughter partake in the bloodshed, a mild frown on his face. He looked to Gale, who had yet to participate in the war; it bothered him. ¡°How long can your soldiers hold?¡± asked Gale, without emotion. ¡°This shouldn¡¯t be a problem, I suppose,¡± said Conatus, slowly ¨C taken aback by the question, or rather the suddenness of it. ¡°Why do you ask?¡± ¡°There¡¯s an interesting story to it,¡± said Gale, smiling as he did. ¡°Would you like for me to share?¡± ¡°It¡¯s hardly the time, Half-Lord,¡± said Conatus. ¡°I¡¯m afraid I¡¯ll have to insist that you take over, as previously discussed.¡± ¡°Humour me, why don¡¯t you?¡± said Gale. ¡°I promise to not bore through the affair.¡± Conatus eyed the Godvildian Half-Lord, a soldier without true rank. It made him wonder, about the boy¡¯s potential ¨C if it meant anything. He almost protested once more but held tongue out of curiosity; with a sigh, Conatus resigned to the persistence. ¡°A couple of years ago, I was asked a question by the three strongest people I had ever come to face with,¡± started Gale, his eyes on the battlefield. ¡°They wanted to know if I would have been interested in serving under them, to absorb a portion of their divinity and grow in rank, with them at the helm. I refused.¡± ¡°Interesting, I¡¯ll admit,¡± mustered Conatus, intrigued by the revelation. ¡°What made you decline their offer?¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t too hard, to be honest,¡± said Gale. ¡°I had assumed that I would be given another opportunity should I have realized my choice as a mistake. It allowed me the opportunity to explore and understand the depths of my potential; I later entered Basaraa Forest by purpose of a quest and learned a lot more than I would have within Suntarian walls. That¡¯s what I believe, at least.¡± General Conatus scratched his chin ¨C mind torn between story and battle; he feared the consequences of a prolonged conversation but felt compelled to trust in his comrade. It bewildered him, the choice of silence. ¡°But I had another reason to carve into a path of my own; it was in the realization of what it meant, the title ¨C Sword of Suntaria, monsters without equal,¡± said Gale, grimly. ¡°Tell me then, General Conatus; do monsters grow under the command of other monsters, tethered and restrained?¡± In narration, Gale rose to his feet. He needed the words to reinforce thought, to echo his role within the World of Transition. Upon request, his aeter urged the start of an odd sequence ¨C an unknown. He gathered it within the depths of his heart and unleashed an inaudible sound. It blanketed the entirety of the battlefield, but without impact, leaving the invading army unharmed. Conatus remained motionless through the effort; it frightened him, the thought of failure. But in the moments that followed, he gaped ¨C driven to the complexity of both fear and astonishment. He struggled to understand the phenomenon, of distortions that ripped into space, granting passage for what could only be described as an army. They marched with the rising sun, a representation of the night ¨C a veil of darkness. Hundreds, heavily armoured, thousands mounted atop either horses or boars; several followed in the rear, attired with enhancements ¨C elementalists, tasked with bombardment. The rest occupied territory amidst the clouds, creatures that likened to stags, winged and as black as a moonless night. In another command, a few emerged from within the shadows even, casting turmoil amidst enemy ranks. They sandwiched the Relictan army, six thousand strong and under the servitude of Kalika ¨C goblins and perytons. ¡°It¡¯s time for the gates to open,¡± said Gale, in an announcement. ¡°We must tighten the trap, now.¡± ¡°Is, is that your army?¡± asked Conatus, in a stammer. Gale paused to embrace the situation at hand; he faded into the ethereal guidebook, in remembrance of what he had earned from his victory against the Hearth King. Blessing: Divinity from the Goddess of the Black Night Description: Your ancestry has earned you favour from Kalika, a powerful goddess of the Hindu pantheon. Effects:
  1. A Conqueror¡¯s Will
  • Knowledge from the former wielders of Conclusion now reside within your aeter reserves, their spirits in acknowledgement of your dominance over an ageless king. Kalika permits the succession of your abilities to followers of your will. Celestial conditions met with the Hearth King¡¯s sacrifice.
¡°Was it the complexion that gave it away?¡± asked the Half-Lord, with a soft laugh. It took a little over another hour; but with the gates opened, the Godvildian army had managed to force a surrender. Chapter 40 | In Victory. In Retreat. In risen sun, the blades fell ¨C a surrender that led to the confiscation of all things precious. Weapons and horses removed, the Relictan army now stood depleted of four thousand soldiers ¨C substantial and powerful still, but of weakened hope and morale. They moved as prisoners, shackled and stripped of armour, with hearts chained to fear. Their eyes moved in unison, at the demi-humans that had mobilized into an army; it scared them, the darkness that cloaked their skins, the shimmer of amber in their eyes. Gale noticed it, the stench of defeat ¨C something permanent, rooted. It eased into a sense of accomplishment, marred only by the oddness of the people around him. His comrades averted their eyes upon sight even, in unease of the unknown; it plunged Raskas into a state of silence, in spite of what could only be described as a victory worth song. But with thought pushed from mind, Gale returned to the barracks to reunite with General Conatus. ¡°Well met, Half-Lord,¡± said Conatus, with a smile. ¡°How does it feel to add Raskas to your growing tale of heroics?¡± ¡°Happy at first, I suppose,¡± said Gale, truthfully. ¡°Your people don¡¯t take too kindly to heroes.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be honest, I never did see anything quite like it ¨C an army of demi-humans under Godvildian banners,¡± said Conatus, kindly. ¡°You¡¯ve let them inherit your blessing even; it¡¯s natural for the people here to look upon you with fear, and perhaps a little bit of respect.¡± ¡°I saw an opportunity after having slain the Hearth King,¡± revealed Gale. ¡°And the perytons, well, I haven¡¯t bound them to my will as I did with the goblins; we share a give and take relationship.¡± ¡°Quite the monster you are, already,¡± said Conatus, slowly. He paused, and then added, ¡°Well, as much as I would like for us to continue, we have a guest waiting. I didn¡¯t want to meet with her without you; so, shall we?¡± Gale gestured for Conatus to take lead, and followed at a gentle pace. His mind traced to the people around him, soldiers in conversation ¨C a few about their intent towards retirement, and fewer still their desire for bloodier combat. A younger group fell into laughter when in discussion about something almost inaudible; it cleared through the steps ¨C a comparison against the Swords of Suntaria. ¡°It¡¯s an impossibility to most people; I was once like that,¡± revealed Conatus, reading the Half-Lord¡¯s mind. ¡°Don¡¯t let it bother you too much.¡± ¡°Urgency,¡± said Gale, without thought. ¡°I sense no urgency in this world; the people here, they are content with their limits.¡± ¡°That is true,¡± admitted Conatus, with a sigh. ¡°But that¡¯s for the chosen few to worry about; our gods allow room for impossible growth, but not everyone is built to seize that opportunity. Isn¡¯t that what separates us from those of legend?¡± ¡°It was like that before as well, in my old world,¡± said Gale. ¡°Uncles and aunts with stories of dreams unfulfilled, pulled into jobs merely accepted and not loved; some hated it even. I suppose there is some truth to your words, General ¨C not everyone is built that way.¡± Conatus slowed with his steps and eased to a halt; he turned, with his arms behind his back, and leaned to gaze into the Half-Lord¡¯s eyes. With a smile, the Godvildian General pulled away and returned to path. He then requested for Gale to follow once more. ¡°There¡¯s nothing wrong with what you desire, Half-Lord,¡± said Conatus. ¡°If it means anything, I do believe that you¡¯re more likely to make it than most.¡± ¡°Where would you place me, presently?¡± asked Gale, out of curiosity. ¡°That¡¯s an interesting question; well, the early stages of the seventh tier perhaps?¡± said Conatus, uncertainly. ¡°You meet the necessary requirements, of course.¡± ¡°Combat potential, something best measured in association with an individual¡¯s ability to manipulate high tier magic, at least that¡¯s what I was told,¡± said Gale, in remembrance of a conversation with a fallen comrade. ¡°Given that definition, I would assume placement into something higher; and yet, you assess my potential to the seventh¡­¡±If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. ¡°Somewhat accurate, yes,¡± said Conatus, stifling a laugh. ¡°But you¡¯ve oversimplified the matter; it¡¯s measured on multiple parameters ¨C tier of magic, aeter volume, efficiency, and a combination of physical attributes even.¡± Gale lowered his head in thought, in search of a moment within memories, of when he battled against an Elder Undead on route to the Kingdom of Suntaria. He weighed it against the parameters mentioned, in a hum, and then frowned when near conclusion. ¡°In truth, I¡¯ve thought about it several times,¡± revealed Gale. ¡°And it¡¯s bothered me as well, my aeter volume ¨C its negligible growth since my arrival to the World of Transition.¡± ¡°From what I tell, you categorically fall into what we call wielders; your aeter reserves are usually limited for internal enhancement,¡± said Conatus. ¡°Your strongest magic, however, is outward; it¡¯s rather combat inefficient. I gather you don¡¯t know much about aeter conditioning, or anything else for that matter?¡± Gale raised an eyebrow at the comment, and then laughed out loud, ¡°True, I am a bit of an idiot when it comes to all of this. Though, it is interesting to see this side of you ¨C humour, who would have thought it ever?¡± ¡°You¡¯re rhyming!¡± said Conatus, with a laugh. He steadied, and then added, ¡°To your point, I first noticed it when you summoned your army of demi-humans via spatial doorways ¨C an extreme decrease in your aeter volume; I¡¯ve also heard the stories, about your battle against a dragon at the Bridge of Souls with the use of magic at the tenth tier. ¡°I¡¯ll admit that your talent far exceeds anything I may have seen since the formation of the Three Swords of Suntaria, but you grow disproportionately, and at a dangerous pace. It might even cause your death someday.¡± They halted in front of a large door, with guards on either side, and soldiers across the hall. Conatus gently touched the wood, splinters against fingertips, deep in thought. He requested access from the guards and then opened the door, but only in part. With a turn, the Godvildian General closed the door in haste, abruptly, and caught the Half-Lord by surprise ¨C a hand on each shoulder. ¡°What surprises me is that you were raised under the guidance of Ser Zane, of the Three Swords of Suntaria even,¡± said Conatus, suddenly. ¡°This isn¡¯t something they would miss, and yet here you are, growing untethered; Half-Lord, there¡¯s more to your command here than meets the eye. I have a proposition for you.¡± Gale held his tongue through words spoken, careful to not disrupt the Godvildian General, and even more so the latter¡¯s train of thought. ¡°I can teach you; in times of war, you are what we could best describe as an asset of high priority ¨C someone indispensable,¡± said Conatus, eager in tone and heart. ¡°But there is a condition to it, my knowledge.¡± ¡°And what might that be?¡± asked Gale, slipping away from the General¡¯s grip. ¡°I wish for you to help me access my ceiling,¡± said Conatus, in earnest. ¡°Your divinity, I want you to grant me your divinity as you did with the demi-humans.¡± --- As a part of the Godvildian Empire, Varia marked the map of Mioverold as a vast, almost unending desert with sun bleached sands, mountain-framed mesas, and golden-rock canyons. It accommodated a mostly dwarven population, dividing into Old Varia in the east, with rugged and barren lands, the Blue Lagoons in the west, with water and fertility, the Duneless Sanctuary in the south, with caves unchecked, and Mineralium in the north ¨C rich with natural resources. But the region¡¯s relevance depended mostly on Minerva, a city located along the north-western ridges of Mineralium. Built almost entirely of sandstone, the city impressed with its three-tiered architecture; the Walls ¨C for soldiers and masons, the Floats ¨C for researchers and academics, and the High Towers ¨C for the rich and influential. It represented a point of governance for the subregions of Varia, led by a council of cold and enigmatic leaders. ¡°I would love to return here once more, Warden Adal,¡± said Aaron, with a smile. ¡°At a more peaceful time perhaps, without the threat of war.¡± ¡°You worry us with your words, Lord Heart,¡± said Adal. ¡°Have we not shown you a good time during your stay here?¡± ¡°Nothing of the sort.¡± They stopped at an iron door; Aaron watched as Adal commanded the stationed guards to allow them access to the world outside. It opened with a loud creak, the doors, and into a flat, roofless platform. Aaron followed, with Adal in the front ¨C a proud commander, charged with the city¡¯s defence. Once at the edge, their eyes settled onto the invading army ¨C their retreat, in fact. ¡°The illusion of a threat,¡± said Adal, scornfully. ¡°How cowardly of the Relictan people.¡± ¡°I believe there¡¯s a thin line between that and being smart,¡± said Aaron, in praise of the opposition. ¡°We should celebrate not needing to send soldiers to battle.¡± ¡°We live and breathe for war, Lord Heart,¡± said Adal, with a smile. ¡°There¡¯s no celebration to a bloodless night.¡± Aaron laughed in recognition of the remark ¨C uttered with neither thought nor responsibility ¨C but with eyes reflective of disdain. He held tongue, nonetheless, given the dwarven commander¡¯s status within the desert region of Varia. ¡°Do we have any information about the commanding officer of the invading army?¡± asked Aaron, easing feigned laughter to a halt. ¡°A Relictan Lord,¡± said Adal, immediately. ¡°I believe his name was Roland.¡± ¡°Level-headed and smart,¡± thought Aaron, with a grim expression on his face. ¡°How unexpected.¡± Chapter 41 | End: Book 1 At the turn of the third night, Mioverold shifted as an organism would ¨C with unease, and under threat. It tremored at several regions, some with the aftermath of strange events even. But at Shadowmere, the Transitional World resisted, against a strength it had determined as foreign, unwelcome. It pressed to rectify a seal that had weakened beyond hope of repair; it struggled to purify what had become mostly tainted and corrupt. Upon sunrise, the world quietened. It had stilled in fear ¨C against an army of the dead, against what was to come. The Elder Undead marched without sound, muted by softened mud, and paused at a distance a little away from Shadowmere. They split to form a path, and then separated for comfort ¨C blades raised in a welcome. With a tap, in unison, the soil rose, but muted still; with another ¨C it made a sound. Muffled at first, the Elder Undead clapped feet against soil with an incessant desire for noise, an applause. When the dust settled, they turned ¨C eyes as red as burning coal ¨C and fixated on the army in front of them, stationed as an impediment to their advance. The Elder Undead clattered their teeth in a laugh, and then louder. It pierced Godvildian morale, and further, when the laughter deafened into howls. Slowly, the trees creaked as well; they fell apart ¨C finished in their duties, and returned to Aeterna, merging with the soul-fires in haste. It marked the start, corruption in the form of something poisonous and unpleasant. The vapour flowed with a dark colour, consuming what was not dead ¨C flesh and bones, and with a gluttonous appetite. In time, the fog thickened; it worsened as well. Shadowmere had begun to crumble ¨C the gates, the barrier, everything. At the sight, Zane frowned; he felt a sliver of something familiar, an aeter trail ¨C clouded with emotion and ferocity. Amidst the howls, it then followed ¨C laughter, only more human this time. At the sound, the poison rushed in its approach, but halted under stronger influence. It flickered, and later retreated without impact. In its final moments, Shadowmere simply imploded ¨C urging a moment of silence from the Elder Undead. What once stood as a prison, now sphered into darkness, allowing for the laughter to resume once more. An arm pushed from the black mass, of what remained of Shadowmere. There was another push, another arm ¨C all of it, eventually. With a deep breath, the once prisoner devoured the miasma that had formed; he gazed at the Godvildian army and smiled, wider at the sight of someone familiar. ¡°I wondered about the person that had managed to repel my miasma,¡± said the person that had emerged from Shadowmere, eyes upon Zane. ¡°You¡¯ve aged, old friend, quite a bit in fact.¡± ¡°And you appear to have worsened; the corruption, it now spoils your blood,¡± said Zane, with a grim expression on his face. ¡°I had never wished for me to see you again, Ceraunus.¡± ¡°You¡¯re too harsh, Lord Zane; then again, I suppose it¡¯s good that you never changed,¡± said the once Noxun King, with a wry smile. ¡°What was it again ¨C comfort in familiarity?¡± ¡°I still can¡¯t believe it; the story was supposed to play with you as the hero ¨C the king, and us as followers to your will for a utopia,¡± said Zane. ¡°I should¡¯ve looked for a way to kill you. This, your release, I realize the inevitability of it all now. The answer, it was never about keeping you sealed.¡± ¡°But you needed me,¡± said Ceraunus, with a laugh. ¡°For your little gimmick, to stabilize the world you so cherish.¡± ¡°A sad truth, indeed.¡± Ceraunus merely scoffed in his response ¨C eyes closed and in the comfort of darkness. He focused to cover the entirety of Mioverold, to analyse and understand change. It mattered, the little things ¨C the way they breathed now, the way they used aeter, the spells even. Ceraunus consumed the knowledge that had remained out of reach during his imprisonment. His fingers slipped through the veil that separated his world from that of the dead and more, the Vault of Seraphina. He pulled away, refocusing to the powers that ruled ¨C the Lords, the Grandmasters, and the Suntarian Swords as well. It left him impressed, if only mildly. But in a place, closer to the sea, he felt something else entirely ¨C familiar and yet unneeded, a reminder of old defeats. With a slow breath, he narrowed to assess the threat in front of him ¨C the army, its combat potential, and the person who had yet to speak. ¡°It¡¯s true, then,¡± said Ceraunus, a little disappointed. ¡°You shattered your gates to defeat me at the time. Why are you even here, Lord Zane?¡± ¡°To assist,¡± admitted Zane, matter-of-factly. ¡°I¡¯m aware of my inability to battle you given present condition; but three thousand years is a long time, and you¡¯ll soon know ¨C the full might of the Godvildian Empire.¡± ¡°He is an exception, even with us to compare to,¡± admitted Ceraunus, with a laugh. ¡°But where¡¯s the fun in devouring weak prey?¡± Masura unfolded his arms at the comment and took a casual step towards his comrade. He gently placed an arm atop Zane¡¯s shoulder and implored a state of calm. ¡°It doesn¡¯t suit you, nor do you need to ¨C speak on my behalf that is,¡± said the Suntarian Sword, reassuringly. ¡°If the Corrupt King thinks me prey, then so be it. He¡¯s free to embark on a hunt he may never return from.¡± Overcome with curiosity, Ceraunus eyed the Godvildian Lord once more. He stressed for an answer, eyebrows raised, but relented in time ¨C his attention elsewhere. With a bow, the once Noxun King stepped away from the thought of confrontation. He lowered feet to moist soil instead, and slowly walked towards his nearest soldier; it amazed him ¨C the sight of his army. ¡°About half is my estimate,¡± said Ceraunus, abruptly. ¡°Don¡¯t you think so?¡± When the Godvildian commanders refused an answer, he continued ¨C eyes atop Masura, ¡°It¡¯s as large as an ocean; it suffocates ¨C your aeter volume. But I estimate it to half the strength of my army. And then, then what? ¡°Lord Zane knows this as well; it¡¯s why we build armies. Individual strength only gets you so far, and in your case ¨C very, very far. But the question persists, does it not? Then what? Perhaps I step into the battlefield; maybe I avenge my fallen soldiers with Godvildian blood, or better yet ¨C I raise every last one of my fallen soldiers again and repeatedly, until I bleed from aeter depravation. Three thousand years, and the nature of battle remains unchanged. You weigh your threats, you understand the consequences of a state of depletion; it¡¯s why you won¡¯t engage in battle, not unless I do.¡± ¡°Intuitive,¡± said Masura, without emotion. ¡°But three thousand years is a long time; and your knowledge in warfare is a little dated. I don¡¯t liken it to something impossible, because one way or the other ¨C we will force your participation.¡± Ceraunus tilted his head and smiled, merely. His aura seeped without form, under threat. Zane observed it as well, cold around his fingertips; it had changed, the aeter essence that had once represented conflict and division. But even as tension thickened, Ceraunus retreated without the intent of combat ¨C wizened through his time in captivity. He sighed, and then calmed, with a softer expression on his face. His hands rummaged through old pockets, underneath armour, and retrieved what appeared to be a pouch. In slow, dramatic motion, he loosened the small bag to unravel several shards ¨C a small heap, atop palm, and with a strange aeter aura. ¡°Bold words,¡± said Ceraunus, in response to Masura. ¡°But as much as I would have liked to take you up on that challenge, I see that I¡¯m needed elsewhere; I find that there is something I ought to verify.¡± Zane tremored ¨C his face ashen with fear; he remained chained to his position nonetheless, duty-bound as a commander at war. It marked despair, despite the shroud of mystery ¨C Ceraunus¡¯ intent. The once Noxun King resealed his pouch, one item removed. He taunted with its display and placed it at the tip of his tongue. ¡°I¡¯ll see you some other time, then, old friend?¡± asked Ceraunus, as he swallowed the shard. With a wave, he added, ¡°I suppose this does spoil your plan; you know, to capture the source of the undead. Very efficient, if not for the fact that I stole from Mallan right before my imprisonment. I couldn¡¯t use it when we first fought due to the Argonaut¡¯s seal, and it never worked when inside that cage you had built for me, but now ¨C well, I don¡¯t need to spell it out for you. Breaking the mechanics to the shard certainly did take some time. Then again, it is as you so frequently mention ¨C three thousand years, a lot of time.¡± The once Noxun King laughed in the wake of an odd light that cloaked him in a warm embrace; it deconstructed his body ¨C from the bottom at first, and then in slow upward progression. ¡°No goodbyes?¡± taunted Ceraunus, with a laugh. ¡°Well, well, I¡¯m not one to leave without gifts for the great people of Suntaria; I assure it ¨C your entertainment, for when I disappear from this godforsaken place entirely. It¡¯s good for the heart as well, to be away from anything that bothers the mind.¡± ¡°Lord Bloodseed,¡± addressed Zane, a whisper, and in haste. ¡°Prepare the troops to engage in combat for when the light fades.¡± ¡°Very well,¡± said Masura, with a nod despite puzzlement.Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation. After a pause, Zane added, ¡°Those shards ¨C they¡¯re relics from the era of High Humans, designed for immediate transportation. Ceraunus Antiochus, he¡¯s free and on the move; and I¡¯m afraid I have no idea where to.¡± --- Gale brushed his arm against the table, and then another, shifting to a position of comfort. He waited with an expression of boredom, General Conatus in a seat beside him, in anticipation of a guest ¨C a prisoner of war. In time, the doors opened, with several guards as an escort to the commander of the invading army. She moved in slow steps, shackled to chains designed for the purpose of aeter restriction ¨C never hurried, never touched, merely encouraged to follow from one location to the other. One of the guards pulled a chair and gestured for the Relictan Lord to take a seat. He later glanced towards his General, and nodded in acknowledgement of a muted command. Without word, he unchained the prisoner and retreated to reunite with his comrades. Jacquelyn massaged her wrists at a slow pace, a little numb from her hours in captivity. She scanned the area, but resigned to settle for her apparent interrogators. Her eyes first assessed General Conatus, a man of great reputation within the World of Transition, and then Gale ¨C an unknown, almost indecipherable. ¡°I apologize for the inhospitable environment, Lady Jacquelyn; I¡¯m sure you understand it,¡± said General Conatus, with a cough. ¡°Have our soldiers disrespected you in any way?¡± ¡°Not at all; I didn¡¯t expect even this much as a prisoner of war,¡± admitted Jacquelyn, truthfully. ¡°But I would prefer if we got on with whatever this is, an interrogation?¡± ¡°It would have been,¡± said General Conatus, with a sigh. His eyes, for a moment, slipped a glance at Gale in bewilderment; it puzzled the mind, the Half-Lord¡¯s request. ¡°We have a proposal for you instead.¡± Gale leaned onto the table, with dramatic effect, and paused to add to the tension. He intended for it, the wait ¨C the anticipation. ¡°Lady Jacquelyn, I need an answer from you, about something rather specific,¡± said the Half-Lord, steadying his posture as he did. ¡°Exactly how loyal are your soldiers to you?¡± The Relictan Lord eyed the person that had posed her the question; it reflected the aeter presence of an abyss, and a calm that bothered. She manipulated her aeter to move in strands, with the purpose of assessment, but hesitated ¨C inches from the source. In second attempt, and another failure, her arms reeled into concealment ¨C clenched in fists, tight with frustration, but with a face reflective of a feigned calm. ¡°I apologize for what it is I¡¯m about to ask,¡± said Jacquelyn, cautiously. ¡°But who exactly are you?¡± ¡°Gale; I¡¯m a Combat Representative for the Kingdom of Suntaria ¨C a Half-Lord,¡± said Gale, in an introduction. ¡°And there¡¯s no need for an apology. I should have offered the information myself, given how it¡¯s our first time meeting each other.¡± Jacquelyn smiled, and slowly turned to Conatus with a puzzled expression on her face. ¡°Half-what?¡± asked the Relictan Lord. ¡°What does that even mean?¡± ¡°Nothing; it means nothing at all,¡± said Gale, without any hesitation. ¡°All you need to understand is that I have a Godvildian General seated next to me.¡± In remark, the words helped the Half-Lord retain control of the conversation. It pulled into an old memory even, one of endurance, of what had extended Gale¡¯s stay within Basaraa Forest. Hands that had calloused, skin that had scarred, eyes that had wizened from the cruelty of Mioverold, and a mind ¨C a mind that had matured under excruciating pain. Gale trembled upon memory of it, of when he had absorbed the aeter from both the Hearth King and his sword, Conclusion. Thousands of kings, their wisdom and intelligence, everyone worthy to have wielded the sword ¨C they swirled in distress inside of him, inches from the soul, and carnivorous in their collective appetite. It took special circumstance, for the Half-Lord to survive that is; the circumstance of an immunity towards pain, both in body and mind. ¡°It was worth it, given present situation,¡± thought Gale, in remembrance. ¡°Strength aside, it crammed my head with knowledge ¨C politics, history, the art of negotiation. I wonder if they would recognize me even, my parents.¡± Amidst the silence that followed, Jacquelyn trailed as well ¨C into thoughts of her own. Despite puzzlement, she searched for certain familiarity, in a name that had persisted without answer. With a deep breath, she surrendered to old reports ¨C hundreds ¨C but paused in memory of a comrade. ¡°You¡¯re the Godvildian Hero from the Bridge of Souls, the one who killed Noah Oblique,¡± said Jacquelyn, slowly. ¡°We lost you after your battle against the Elder Undead ¨C no reports, no news; we concluded your status as a non-threat, dead. I suppose we were wrong to have done that.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure you had your hands full,¡± said Gale. ¡°The Godvildian people, they understand how best to control the flow of information.¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s true,¡± admitted Jacquelyn, with a smile. ¡°How else would I have missed someone as delicious as you are?¡± Gale returned the smile, but absent any emotion. ¡°The question; would you be interested in giving me an answer any time soon perhaps?¡± ¡°Not very patient, are you?¡± said Jacquelyn, almost a whisper. ¡°I¡¯m interested, but for all the wrong reasons. Your aura, it weakens.¡± Gale leaned against the back of his chair, face without expression. He stared into the eyes of the person in front of him, a person blessed with charisma and intelligence; it magnified given her features ¨C beauty in rare form. The Half-Lord gulped, momentarily, and then laughed. He caught Jacquelyn frown from the corner of his eye; it urged for him to raise an arm in apology. ¡°I suppose there¡¯s no denying the fact that I am a man ¨C tranquillity or not,¡± thought Gale. Aloud he said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I truly am. It¡¯s just that I¡¯m not used it, women and talk of this nature. My mind, it¡¯s a simple thing.¡± ¡°You jest, surely,¡± said Jacquelyn, resting chin atop palm. ¡°A young soldier rising through the ranks at pace? How daft of Godvildian women.¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t know; my time in this world latches to blood and decay,¡± revealed Gale, truthfully. ¡°I seem to have become indifferent to it, the simple pleasures of life.¡± ¡°And that bothers you?¡± asked Jacquelyn, only more interested this time. As words pressed for continuation, Conatus forced a cough, urging an interruption. He placed an arm atop the Half-Lord¡¯s shoulder and pulled the latter for a message in whispers. ¡°What are you doing?¡± asked the Godvildian General, inaudible almost. ¡°We were supposed to talk business; you asked me to trust you with this! Do you not have this under control?¡± ¡°I think I do,¡± whispered Gale in a response, uncertainly. ¡°Wait, wait. I¡¯ll handle it.¡± Jacquelyn watched the two men settle into their seats, and clear their throats in unison. It made her laugh almost. She eased to comfort, forgetting her status as prisoner of war, if only for a moment. ¡°The proposal, yes?¡± asked Jacquelyn. ¡°Yes, the proposal,¡± repeated Gale. ¡°How about it; are you willing to listen at least?¡± ¡°We have danced around the matter long enough, I suppose,¡± said Jacquelyn, with a sigh. ¡°Very well, to answer your first question, yes ¨C my soldiers would plunge to death upon command; they are that loyal.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a satisfactory answer; it certainly helps reaffirm my decision at least,¡± said Gale, adjusting tone to situation. ¡°But before that, there are certain matters for us to address; you attempted an invasion at Raskas, and you failed. Under Godvildian protocol, and given the world¡¯s condition, we¡¯re only ever allowed to keep the commander alive, for questioning.¡± ¡°I¡¯m aware,¡± said Jacquelyn, without emotion. ¡°It¡¯s a risk we live with as soldiers.¡± Gale relaxed his shoulders and sighed; he gazed into the eyes of his prisoner of war, in search of an answer behind the latter¡¯s apathetic exterior. ¡°You¡¯re speaking the truth,¡± said Gale, taken aback and in a low voice. ¡°It doesn¡¯t bother you at all, does it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a risk we chose to live with,¡± stressed Jacquelyn. ¡°But given your knowledge of protocols, you must be aware of what happens after; when captive commanders offer little to no information?¡± ¡°Yes, I believe so,¡± said Gale, unflinchingly. ¡°That¡¯s rather admirable of you.¡± ¡°It¡¯s why they follow us,¡± said Jacquelyn, with a smile. ¡°Our admirability.¡± ¡°And what if I told you of an alternative approach to the matter?¡± said Gale. ¡°An approach that offered you a second chance at life, for both you and the soldiers; interesting, yes?¡± ¡°What¡¯s the catch?¡± asked Jacquelyn, hesitantly. ¡°Information, of course; we¡¯ll need everything you have,¡± said Gale, matter-of-factly. ¡°And yes, there is one other thing I¡¯ll need.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°For you to submit to the Curse of the Black Night, my blessing,¡± said Gale. ¡°Your soldiers as well. I want you to join my army, as a General.¡± As the clock ticked to continuation, Jacquelyn froze in thought of the request. Her mouth almost worded it, a vehement no, but her heart ¨C it spoke with empathy. She bit her lip, the weight of thousands on her shoulders; it wore on her, tired her. But something distracted, a reprieve that offered her time. As it neared, the Relictan Lord trembled ¨C a shiver representative of fear. This, it was different. She startled the Godvildian soldiers on standby, in a hurry and off the chair. It was too fast. Conatus, he noticed it also. And Gale, he noticed it first. They tilted their head towards the ceiling and watched, broken and petrified. It tremored, and then more. ¡°Take cover!¡± bellowed Conatus. They didn¡¯t hear it, not with the explosion that followed. Fire at first, it coursed through the walls with devastating effect. It choked the people that survived, the aura. Amidst the flames, Gale stirred ¨C on the floor, sparsely buried. Weakened and in a daze, the Half-Lord rose to his feet, in a struggle. He couldn¡¯t find them ¨C Conatus, Augustine, anyone. His ears, however, heard a voice. He rushed to find Jacquelyn under heavier debris; she urged for a rescue. ¡°He¡¯s here.¡± Gale paused at the sound; he shook his head with uncertainty and hurried in his attempt to free the Relictan Lord. He continued without rest, until an arm suggested otherwise. His eyes followed to a finger; it pointed at something. The Godvildian Half-Lord turned to find him, the invader ¨C a picture amidst chaos. ¡°I¡¯ll be back, Lady Jacquelyn¡± said Gale, in a whisper. ¡°Don¡¯t close your eyes; just don¡¯t close your eyes.¡± ¡°I accessed the vault about information regarding this city, on my way over; they marked it as near impregnable,¡± said the invader. ¡°Well, I suppose you can¡¯t believe everything you read.¡± ¡°Who are you?¡± asked Gale. ¡°Is it you? Very impressive for someone so young,¡± said the invader. ¡°But you don¡¯t threaten as much as Mallan did; what do I call you, a soft Argonaut?¡± ¡°Who are you?¡± repeated Gale, unsheathing his sword this time. ¡°The rightful heir to this world; its saviour even,¡± said the invader. ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve heard the name.¡± Gale sprinted on instinct, and leapt, his sword raised with offensive intent. He followed through without effort, but lightened mid-air. His eyes caught the sight of crimson, and an arm right after ¨C his arm, separated from shoulder. Gale raised the other in a sequence, lips in a whisper, and then nothing. His body jerked from the impact, something against his neck, all of it. He fell, or only a part; in pain, the Godvildian Half-Lord rolled to find his body at a distance from his eyes. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for doing that,¡± apologized Ceraunus, grabbing what was decapitated by the hair. ¡°You see, I have an unpleasant memory associated with that spell. It was involuntary, I swear.¡± The once Noxun King dangled it in front of him, a bloodied head ¨C now drained of life. He flicked at the nose, played with the cheeks, and tossed it aside right after. ¡°Well, not that I blame you for it,¡± said Ceraunus, with a shrug. ¡°I happen to often fail when negotiating with an Argonaut.¡± --- End: Book 1 Special Note: The Future It''s been a good couple of months since I last wrote the final chapter of Book One. And in that time, I gave this story a lot of thought. The Tempestatem has morphed into different versions on several occassions. It is nothing like when it was first written in 2015. Personally, I feel like I''ve matured as both a person and a writer through this process. There''s a lot of love here. I went through a bit of a rough patch in my time away from writing. What started as a routine break transformed into a series of life-altering situations. I had to cope with most of it by sacrificing a ton of what I loved to do, The Tempestatem was no exception. But in that time, the book and this story never once left my mind. It stuck with me firmly, and the more I thought about it, the more I realized how much it meant to me.Stolen story; please report. We''re at the tail end of 2019 now, and I''ve finally reenergized to writing again. It''s time for this story to undergo another transformation; this time is likely to be the last I hope. I feel like I''m at the cusp of something. The few friends I forged here at RoyalRoad, and also a few others I know IRL, they''ve given me some much needed advice and direction. Hopefully, my instincts reflect in the work. I want to thank all of you for sticking with this story despite its irregular posting schedule. Know that I''m working on this story with a lot of love and passion. Thanks to a good friend of mine, I was allowed to create a Discord Channel as a space to post this phase of my story. To anyone interested in joining me in this new adventure, feel free to DM me a confirmation. I would love to share an invite and have you on board. There''s a reason for not posting it on RR atm, and I hope you understand and bear with it. And yes, happy holidays, and a happy new year! :)