ã€ŠThe Sanctum of the Wardenã€‹


 Prologue 1.1 - The Very Beginning

    In a misty forest, covered in rain and winds and the howls of beasts, a golden-haired woman ran. Her blue eyes shedding tears, her clothes torn, frayed, and stained with mud. Chest thumping, struggling for breath, legs as heavy as lead and pain clouding her mind. Yet, she ran with all her might. She had to make it. She had to get to it.

    Looking behind her, the darkness chased after her, it clawed and tore itself into reality just to grab her. She struggled to keep her pace and the distance between them. She yelled, pushing past her limit, closing her eyes. Screaming to get as much out as possible, only to trip and fall. Her body skidded on the slick ground, it scrapped her fair white skin and--in the process--snagging her once beautiful blue and white dress on the exposed roots and thorns.

    But it was enough. She knew it was enough. Looking up, she saw it at the top of the hill. It glowed orange and dark purple, its light pulsing with majestic power from its wet petals of gold and white. It was beautiful, feeling like a part of her soul. She didn¡¯t know why she ran towards it or why it felt so important. It just was. Walking up the hill, she smelled the sweet aroma of nectar. It was so comforting and filled with a glorious ecstasy, the woman wished to forever bask in its touch.

    But, she had to move forward. The flower was waiting for her.

    With a roar, the darkness broke through, giving her a reason to make haste. She made it first, kneeling she covered the flower with her body, hoping her flesh and bones were enough to protect it from the endless hunger that chased after her.

    The darkness took them both.

    <hr>

    A thunderous noise broke Cecily out of her sleep. Looking around, she noticed that she had fallen blissfully asleep with her book open next to her. Yawning as she stretched out wide and got off her comfortable bed, making her way to her favorite perch. Her grogginess made way for the constant pitter-pattering noise coming from her window.

    Looking out, the day was stormy, rain pouring relentlessly. Cecily sat in front of the clear glass window looking out towards the woods between her home and the mountain. Closing her eyes, she imagined herself dancing in the falling waters, doused completely under the cold and wetness.

    She could smell the fresh scent of newly fallen rain, her sight made blurry by droplets clinging to her lashes. She sighed, aware that it would never be allowed. She had to act noble, as the daughter of the town¡¯s Reeve. Staring out the window again, she watched as two cats played together under the rain. They were the baker¡¯s wife¡¯s loved little ones. She couldn¡¯t help but sigh again. Even the cats had freedoms and privileges she only hoped to enjoy.

    That was until the lingering remains of her nightmare struck her without mercy. It was a jumbled mess to her, just stretching images of green and gray. Then a single point of orange and dark purple. It made her headache.

    A fist slammed onto the main door, echoing through-out the entire keep startling her. Cecily shook her head and got up in a hurry to see what could possibly be so important that someone would weather the rain to get up the hill. She rushed down the stairs. In the process, she caught glimpses of Father and a few guards, that was including the head guard.

    Reaching the bottom, her father had already opened the massive door letting in a cold draft, a flurry of rain, and the fresh smell of ozone. Cecily hid near the doorway of the stairs, her ears begging to get closer to the source of the talking. The rain kept pattering, dousing the voices with its insistent noise. The messenger did not enter, just said his piece¡ªa few short words in total¡ªin a tone she could not catch, to her father, then left as quickly as he arrived.

    Cecily did not hear much¡ªonly a single word to be truthful¡ªbut it was enough, just enough, to know what was said.

    Running up the stairs, a broad smile on her face. She almost ran head-first into the head-maid of the Keep, Ulera, near the top of the stairway. The old lady probably would have passed away if they had crashed into one another. Apologizing profusely, Cecily quickly backed away before the Head-Maid could question her¡ªher trademark frown was growing into dangerous heights¡ªthen took off towards her room near the end of the hallway.

    Reaching her door, she entered making sure to close it slowly lest she got caught again for slamming her door shut in excitement. She jumped onto her bed. Her smile never left her face, eyes glimmering in mischief. Cecily had triumphed, she knew exactly what was going to happen or so she believed.

    ¡°¡­nobles¡­¡±

    That was all she heard, but it was enough to paint an entire scene. Soon enough, the nobles of these lands would arrive and with them will come their magic. All nobles had magic, it¡¯s what made them¡­well, nobles¡ªspecial in their own unique way.

    Laughing to herself, she imagined all the tricks and powers they had. Floating objects, super-strength to match an ox, and even the rare case of elemental use¡ªthose were always the most entertaining.

    <hr>

    Cecily was jittery, unable to stay rooted in her spot next to her father. Her blood surged, and mind ran without stopping at what the nobles were going to bring this time around. Would it be magical swords? Tiny dragons? Or maybe even a griffin? She didn¡¯t know, but what she did know was a simple truth¡ªnobles never went anywhere without entertainment. It was the very essence of who they are, why else would they carry around jesters, bards, and even tamed beasts everywhere they went?

    ¡°Stay still, Cecily,¡± her father urged.

    ¡°How can I father? Nobles are coming,¡±

    Her voice sounded wistful and expectant. Turning her fathers resolve into nothing, he sighed. Cecily grabbed her father¡¯s hand¡ªgrizzled and calloused from years of hard work and the sword¡ªand squeezed tightly. She looked up into his eyes¡ªdeep and old gray¡ªand smiled lovingly. Her father was always significantly worried for her, though exceedingly irritating when she was in search of adventure, it had its charm.

    ¡°Cecily,¡± grandmother called, a hint of steel in her voice. ¡°You better stay still, girl, or you will find yourself on my lap with a broken oar in my hands.¡±

    ¡°Grandmother, I¡¯m almost as tall as Father, and he is much taller than you,¡± she said with a smirk. ¡°You can¡¯t spank me anymore.¡± This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

    The old woman simply glared at her.

    Her grandmother¡¯s stare caused goosebumps to crawl down her spine. She was scary, the scariest Cecily had seen. It made no difference who it was if she caught you within her sights you had better be prepared for a verbal thrashing. If old age made people turn like that, she hoped to never live long enough to experience it.

    Her grandmother harrumphed, and her wrinkled face turning into a wicked smile. ¡°You think I don¡¯t spank your father still?¡± Turning away, she tapped her cane on the hard stone floor of the road, grumbling under her breathe about the cloudy and dull sky and how her joints were killing her.

    Cecily stared at her for a few long seconds before looking back towards her father. Her mouth was open wide with disbelief. That couldn¡¯t be true, could it? Try as she might, she could not, for the life of her, get rid of the image of her father¡ªfully grown and suited in thick leathers and furs and a woolly cloak¡ªbent over Grandmother¡¯s knee as she spanked him deaf to his pleas. It was not a pretty sight, to say the least, especially considering her father had scars on his face making him look no-nonsense.

    ¡°Father,¡± she called experimentally.

    He wouldn¡¯t reply, face forward and stoic.

    Cecily called again this time elbowing him lightly, maybe he didn¡¯t hear her the first time. Still, that garnered no response. Again she tried to elbow him¡ªthis time with a bit more force than necessary¡ªall he did was grunt in response. Scoffing, she continued to stare at him, fully resolved to get an answer.

    ¡°Cecily, the nobles,¡± he suddenly said, ¡°They¡¯re here, look.¡±

    She knew he was trying to distract her, but god-damn it, it worked. Swiveling her head, she saw the gates to the city open slowly from the front of the Keep¡ªit was up to the hill near the back of the town. Its creaking hinges making enough noise for them to hear that far out. Once it was opened fully by the town guards, the procession began. The first to enter were lines of long-robed women with large baskets in their hands full of flowers. They covered the crowds, gathered behind soldiers and guards, as they moved along and towards the Keep.

    After them were the nobles, they were easily distinguishable with their lavish clothes and rare breeds of horses and beasts. The most ostentatious of them all was the one leading them, probably the head of a household. He rode on a massive golden lion with a magnificent mane around his head. It roared and stomped and growled at everything near it, even the other nobles¡¯ mounts. The man riding wore a golden suit of armor shining brighter than fire, placed next to him was a long spear of silver, green, blue, and gold.

    They were a spectacle without a doubt, beyond even Cecily¡¯s fevered dreams, but she couldn¡¯t focus on any of it longer then she had already. They were nothing but foggy images dancing about at the peripherals, unnoticed. Her eyes were locked staring, unable to look away from the piercing hazel eyes that shared her astonishment.

    She felt something elbow her, once then twice more. She responded with non-committal sound.

    Her father¡¯s voice called out to her in a harsh whisper. When she didn¡¯t respond, he pinched the back of her hand. Jumping in her spot, her eyes broke away, finally taking the situation in its entirety. The nobles were almost at the front of the Keep where they waited. She felt her stomach twist at the fear of not showing deference to them.

    Quickly following her father, she fell to her knees, and head lowered, staring at the solid stone under her. Large shadows loomed over her, the nobles¡¯ mounts were even large up close.

    ¡°Reeves Fallaghan, it is a great pleasure to see our distant lands thriving so,¡± a deep voice with a graceful accent called from above. It was filled with power and meaning.

    ¡°With great pleasure do I take this holy calling,¡± her father responded, his voice deeper, yet there was no power reverberating his very words like the noble.

    ¡°Excellent, lead us on to our temporary lodging. Though inadequate for our station¡­it is far better than I had expected,¡±

    ¡°We aim to please,¡± her father responded as he got up slowly without once looking the noble in the eye. He led them into the Keep, the entire convoy following him past the kneeling men and women without so much as a word.

    Except for one steed, stopping in front of Cecily. Her heart fluttered as she recognized the black horse¡¯s sturdy legs or more importantly, the person who rode on the horse. Looking up, her eyes witnessed two twinkling stars coated in honey stare back at her. His ocean of black hair cascaded down from his head in beautiful waves.

    For the longest seconds, but woefully the shortest, of her life it lasted until a radiant smile¡ªteeth white as alabaster¡ªgraced his face. Cecily felt herself swoon and face burn in the hottest flames.

    He too seemed to redden the longer it lasted, something she took great pride in. Someone as¡­angelic as he was blushed for her.

    ¡°Bhaltair! Hurry, the winds are picking up. I don¡¯t want to be caught in the rain again,¡± someone called with the same accent as the leader.

    Cecily didn¡¯t dare to look around lest she loses this moment forever. Bhaltair, it was fitting, to say the least. Powerful and elegant, it was a perfect name for the perfect person.

    He was the first to break eye contact, breaking the spell between them. He looked away towards the gate of the Keep and nodded.

    ¡°Yes, brother,¡± he said. Turning back towards Cecily, he smiled again. ¡°May I have the honor of hearing your name?¡± He was soft-spoken, accent not as thick as his brother¡¯s.

    ¡°Cecily,¡± she breathed out wistfully.

    ¡°A beautiful name for a beautiful moon,¡±

    With that, he rode off into the Keep with his brother, leaving Cecily to melt all alone. That was until her grandmother interrupted her fanciful dreams with a poke of her cane. Cecily groaned but kept her eyes on his retreating form. Sighing wistfully, she couldn¡¯t help but ask her Grandmother.

    ¡°Isn¡¯t he just wonderful?¡±

    ¡°No!¡± her grandmother screamed.

    Startled and afraid, Cecily looked at her as though she were a monster. Either that or she was just blind. You never knew with older people what could be going on, they were too stubborn and mule-headed to tell anyone anything. Her grandmother had a dark expression on her face, frown, and all.

    ¡°Listen here and listen good, granddaughter,¡±

    For the first time in what could have been years, her grandmother¡ªthe bane of the Keep¡ª called her granddaughter. Cecily¡¯s shock showed on her face causing the frown to deepen significantly. Unable to respond intelligently, she returned to her true and tried method of non-committal sounds. They¡¯ve kept her afloat so far.

    ¡°You stay away from that boy, do you hear me? Stay away from him. Nothing good comes from those nobles. Nothing good,¡± grandmother said as she tapped her cane on the solid stone floor, a habit that seemed unbreakable. ¡°He will eat you up. Once finished, he will spit you out. We¡¯re of common birth, granddaughter. We won¡¯t last around them, no one does.¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t understand, grandmother. There was love in his eyes as they were in mine. Times have changed for the better, your olden days have passed and with them the long tales of dragons and sea monsters,¡± Cecily said. Committing the last sight of Bhaltair as his figure disappeared into the Keep. Her grandmother¡¯s words were but an afterthought.

    ¡°Times may change, but people don¡¯t, Cecily. People never change,¡± grandmother said as she left her to stand there alone, helped by the servants to enter the Keep and towards her room.

    Cecily followed after them, her mind filled with fantasy.

 Prologue 1.2 - Whispers of the Desperate

    For the next three weeks, Cecily and Bhaltair indulged in their relationship. As all love birds in the first of their time, their hands could not be kept from each other. The first week, they secretly met in the gardens of the Keep, the woods behind town, and even in the town itself¡ªthough disguised in mask and cloak.

    In those hours alone, all they did was speak to each other, revealing secrets about themselves, all in hopes to learn who the other person truly was. The following weeks were the first step into a physical relationship, experimental for Cecily but not so much for Bhaltair. Gradually it developed into something both people could not do without.

    Cecily spoke to her lover about her struggles, her father¡¯s unwillingness to allow her to adventure and learn of the world¡ªthough she took swordsmanship behind his back, taught by the head guard¡ªhis extreme worry and love for her. Bhaltair spoke¡ªthough Cecily found it hard to understand she listened quietly¡ªabout his difficulties opening his well of power.

    How strong he would be once he¡¯d achieved that, he spoke of fantastical tales of his father and brother carrying boulders the size of a wagon and battling monsters through and about. That had Cecily imagining him carrying her around like a princess from the books.

    But, most importantly, to them both, they spoke of their desire for these moments to last an eternity. Moments like these, though far and few in between, were the happiest either had been in a long time.

    On one afternoon, Bhaltair sat in their usual spot with a worried face, looking almost lost and infirm. She asked again and again for him to speak to her, but try as she might, he would not open his mouth. That is until she denied him of herself until his lips loosened and heart softened. He spoke, how was he not to?

    Cecily learned on that eve how difficult their love would be, but she told him that patience and perseverance were virtues she took a calling too¡ªat least from that moment on she did.

    He smiled, happy for the first time that day. He hugged her hard and wouldn¡¯t let go.

    Their relationship could not be made public lest his father demand they separate. They had to wait, and he must propose as any virtuous noble would, they were its epitome after all. They scheduled for the day before the nobles caravan was planned to leave, giving him full control over the town and its neighboring hamlets and mines. It would be Bhaltair¡¯s to manage, and Cecily¡¯s to indulge in.

    As they separated to clean up for dinner, he reminded her again and again of how important it happened this way. Otherwise, what they had could not exist. But, Cecily took little heed in his words, men were always overly wary and worried. Their minds always seemed to find the worst scenarios as the most probable.

    Finished with her cleaning, she ran to her room, choosing a beautiful flowing dress of blue and white¡ªher father had, many times, said it made her amber eyes and golden hair to stand out¡ªand tied her hair back into a tail. Rushing out of her room, she found the head maid standing outside her door with a brush and a whole menagerie of strings and jewelry. She didn¡¯t say a word but instead, just smiled kindly at Cecily who in turn scowled.

    ¡°They hurt a lot, Ulera. And make me feel like I have a big head,¡± Cecily said in a mumbled groan.

    The head-maid, understanding her quiet words, nodded, her smile never faltering. Instead, she simply guided Cecily back into her room.

    It took a long and arduous thirty-seven minutes¡ªCecily counted every second ¡ªuntil the Ulera finished her ministrations. Leaving her with a beautifully braided set of hair, tied with ribbons and ties and even gems and rubies.

    ¡°Finally,¡± Cecily exclaimed.

    But before she could get away, Ulera grabbed hold of her arm at the elbow. In a sweet old voice, light of tone and filled with happiness, the head-maid spoke to Cecily.

    ¡°You¡¯ve forgotten again, Milady. We are going to the ball today with your lover¡¯s sisters and mother,¡±

    Cecily turned red at the mention of Bhaltair. She stuttered and stumbled her words, trying to convince Ulera that she had no such thing, especially not with a noble. Yet, in the end, she found herself begging the old maid not to tell anyone. Her father would be furious, and grandmother would eat her hide for a fortnight if not longer.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry much, Milady. Your secret is in an unending well. Oh, how beautiful you¡¯re going to look on the day you get married¡­I-I just hope to be alive to witness it,¡± Ulera said, finishing off in nothing more than a whisper.

    ¡°Will you be well in a few weeks?¡± Cecily said in a smile so wide her jaw began to ache.

    Ulera¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief, then a smile matching Cecily¡¯s graced her wrinkled face. Tears began to well up in her eyes. She sniffed and coughed, trying to hide them.

    ¡°Truly?¡±

    ¡°Yes, now it would not do well for us to keep my future mother-in-law waiting, would it,¡± With that, Cecily turned around with a flourish and led the way out until she remembered she didn¡¯t know where to head to exactly. Turning back towards Ulera, the head-maid had a patient smile on her face.Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.

    ¡°This way, Milady,¡±

    <hr>

    The ball was held in a theater her father had built just for these occasions. Unlike the Keep¡ªwhich was made to be a defensive juggernaut¡ªthis building was made to look lavish and elegant. It was shaped in beautiful arches and domes, covered in layers of bright colors, and even had clear glass windows to see out from. The Nobles¡¯ found it satisfactory, as were most things in the growing town her father had built for the Lord.

    For the first time, in the lives of those who lived here, they were in the same room as the owners of the lands they tilled their existences on¡ªeven if they never got the chance to actually see them up close. As for the nobles, it was a statement of power and strength as they showed off their magic, much to the delight of everyone else. They¡¯d show how easy it was for a female child¡ªthin, short, and young¡ªto pick stones ten men would struggle to budge or run faster than an arrow launched at the same time.

    Cecily saw it in another light, with every feat they committed she saw Bhaltair in their steed. He was the one carrying the boulder, showing off his strength to impress her. The one speeding to and fro to gather wild and unique flowers to please her. The day would have been perfect, another in a succession of weeks, but the heavens had other plans for her.

    ¡°Look who it is, the high and mighty Cecily,¡± a cruel voice said from behind her. ¡°Daydreaming in the middle of a ball,¡±

    ¡°She thinks she¡¯s better than us commoners to dance and join in the fun,¡± another said.

    The third just laughed like this was the funniest joke she¡¯d ever heard.

    Cecily sighed, shoulders slumping. Looking back without a smile, she studied the three before her. Melinda, Jaclyn, and Henna, the three idiots¡ªCecily had come to call them¡ªwere persistent in their stupidity. Always looking for some issue to cause or simply make her life hell. Cecily hoped they were actually naive enough to attack her, but with only words, they were always in safe standings.

    ¡°What is it now? I don¡¯t have time for your banter,¡± Cecily tried her best to channel her grandmother. From the way Melinda smiled¡ªher red hair dancing on her head and black dress matching her heart¡ªshe probably failed.

    ¡°Cecily,¡± Melinda said in a sickly sweet voice. ¡°I thought we were friends, don¡¯t you want to see me,¡± her large and supple lips pouted as the other two giggled like hyenas.

    ¡°No, we are not friends, Melinda,¡± she said her name with as much hate as she could put into her voice. Cecily saw her left eye twitch. ¡°Now, if you¡¯ll excuse me, I have better things to do with my life than waste it with any of you.¡±

    With that, Cecily turned around and began walking away. Leaving the three stooges to their own fumes.

    ¡°I heard you had a lover,¡± Melinda suddenly shouted.

    Cecily froze in her spot. Her heart skipped a beat. Stomach began to twist and turn into itself. How did they know? Did Ulera break her trust? No, not sweet Ulera, she would never¡­would she?

    ¡°I bet he is short, fat, and ugly,¡± Jacklyn said.

    ¡°A-and he doesn¡¯t have training in anything¡­¡± Henna added, ¡°That¡¯s a good one right,¡± she whispered to Melinda.

    Cecily didn¡¯t hear what Melinda replied with, but that wasn¡¯t important. They didn¡¯t know who, they only guessed based on rumor. With a smirk, she turned around to see Melinda with one to match, though her¡¯s faltered as Cecily faced them.

    ¡°He is tall, fit, and utterly handsome. Oh and Henna,¡±

    Henna answered with a raised eyebrow.

    ¡°That wasn¡¯t a good one, I¡¯d even say it was a terrible one,¡±

    All three faces darkened at the same time. Their symmetry was play like, of all the bad they had stuffed into their tiny bodies, they had that one thing going for them. Melinda¡¯s snarl was the worse of the three, though. Cecily knew her to hate being beat in anything, incredibly so. But that meant the worst of her was coming out, she did not want to be here to witness any of it. But, before she could escape, though, the tiny lady exploded.

    ¡°He may be the perfect man, but he is just using you like the wench you are,¡± Her voice was high pitched, painful on the ears. ¡°He doesn¡¯t love you and never will. What does he tell you? To let no one know? That he will marry you soon? Ha, lies! They¡¯re all lies! After he is done using you, he will throw you away like the dirty rag you are¡­¡± Melinda continued without end, attracting an audience.

    Cecily walked away in a hurry, biting her lips, she knew better but ¡­

    <hr>

    Cecily hugged him tightly in the market square. Nuzzled into him as they were wont to do alone¡ªthe way he loved it. She took a deep breath smelling the sweet aroma of nectar he happily doused himself in. She basked in his imposing figure. Looking up with a smile, her heart caught. It tinged with worry. The whispers of the bustling market all but forgotten at the moment.

    She knew this was wrong, but the constant whispering and gossips had finally made her cave in. Or at least that was what she told herself to be convinced of this course of action. In reality, it was her fear and insecurity that forced her to this.

    Her promise to not make this public was all but forgotten in her downward spiraling cycle of negative thoughts. The dread of being alone, thrown away by someone far above her station haunted her nightly since the incident at the ball. How could she not think about it? How could she not dwell over the fact that if he left her then and there, she could do nothing to change it.

    In the end, in her desperation, she committed herself to this.

    Bhaltair had a surprised face, eyes wide and mouth even more so. She felt his hands shake, tears blooming at the edges of his hazel eyes. The pain was evident in his being as he struggled to cope with what had just happened. He mouthed one word to her, and it broke her heart.

    ¡°Why?¡± he whispered again, only for her to hear. ¡°I love you, don¡¯t you feel the same?¡±

    Cecily stuttered, unable to put coherent words together. This wasn¡¯t supposed to happen, none of this was supposed to happen. How had it become like this? Why did she listen to the devil¡¯s raging cries of desperation and approval? She didn¡¯t need to prove anything to anyone, just to herself¡­yet, she had gone too far.

    ¡°I-I¡­please,¡± Cecily begged.

    For long seconds Bhaltair did not reply. His head lowered unlike ever before. He looked up. Eyes dull and dark. There was no forgiveness in them, none to be had or given. With a snarl, he pushed her away with incredible strength¡ªmore than she had witnessed from him till then. His lips quivered, but she knew he was set to what was coming next.

    ¡°No, please,¡± She begged again from the ground. Her beautiful blue and white dress stained in dirt and mud.

    ¡°Touch me not, commoner. Exalted, I am to be in your presence,¡± his tone was sharp and formal¡ªa lord speaking to his peasants¡ªas a light haze of orange settled around him. ¡°Touch me not again, or your wrists shall be severed from their mothers. It is only your due to your father¡¯s place do I give you this small mercy.¡± With those words, he turned away with a huff of wind, leaving her in the dirt to stew in her own stupidity. He closed the door to his wagon, crushing the metal door behind him.

    Cecily tried to shout for him to stop and listen, but his back felt too imposing to call. The streets were dead silent as she cried, then sobbed in her spot, the only sound was the cruel high pitched voice that led her to this.

 Chapter 1 - On The Run Part 1

    ¡°C¡¯ mon, Kaius. Put your back to it.¡±

    ¡°Yes, father.¡±

    Kaius stared down at the imposing monstrosity in front of him. A massive tree¡ªwider than what he could wrap his arms around and at least three times longer than himself¡ªhe and his father had cut it down hours ago. Father¡ªhis red hair and wild beard showing signs of old age¡ªwas already holding the back end, his muscles visibly bulging at the strain. A broad smile of only teeth showed on his pale-skinned face, left cheek twitching in effort.

    Wiggling his calloused fingers, built from the two years since he had been old enough to help his father in this difficult calling, under the massive thing they brushed against the hard and rigid outer bark. It gave him enough grip to hold tightly without having an entire hand under. Kaius understood that at the age of seventeen summers, he had yet to build a mass of muscles and power strong enough to easily heave the tree up even an inch.

    Luckily for him, and his waiting father¡ªtrying to hide his struggle, so he doesn¡¯t look any weaker¡ªhe had a little secret he liked to call his own.

    Kaius closed his eyes, imagining an ancient well of stone¡ªwider than any he had seen before, it was enough to fit him and many more his size¡ªfilled with orange water overflowing. There he found it as always waiting in the pitch-black darkness for another chance to see the light of day. He mentally grabbed at it, pulling a light tendril of the energy, but it bubbled in excitement and jumped at his connection. Giving him more than he really needed or wanted to draw.

    He grinned a massive one, hidden behind it was a struggle. To his father, it was a struggle of strength against the hulking tree before them, but to Kaius, it was a struggle not to pull too much. An orange haze coated around his body as a sign of his power being used. The color was very light and ethereal, making it difficult to see in the bright light of day.

    With a grunt, the tree budged then slowly rose off the ground. Kaius blew his cheeks out as he held his breath. It was challenging to pick up without a doubt, but he made sure to act a bit extra to make his struggle look more realistic. He didn¡¯t know of any other person his age or two years older than him who could lift this behemoth.

    Carefully guiding it onto the wagon, his father pushed from the back for it to balance between the two ends. Both fell to the ground after, exhausted from the task. His father tried to keep his breathing even and chest slow and steady but failed as it heaved with every deep breath he took.

    Kaius, on the other hand, severed his connection to the well of power. Letting it recede back to its well made him feel empty and alone. He shivered as an unnatural cold ran up his entire back. The warm touch of his power was always so inviting¡ªlike a drug he couldn¡¯t be without.

    ¡°G-get up, son. We got a long and slow ride towards the village,¡± father said. He struggled but was determined not to fail in front of his child. He walked up to the other side of the long wagon they had¡ªsix wheels made of iron, it would be impossible to fix if they broke during their return¡ªup to where two towering horses idled. Petting the first, a brown mountain of muscle named Bronny, it nuzzled into his embrace.

    Kaius stood up with a smile and hurried towards the other horse. It was a black and white mare¡ªsmaller than Bronny, but still far bigger than her riders¡ªhe had named her himself. Jasper. A name he had been infatuated with from a story about a prince and princess battling dragons in Mountain Gar. It was one of the many books he had convinced his parents to buy for him even though they were expensive. He reached the happy horse, petting it and rubbing its mane vigorously. It neighed in response, glad to see him in return.

    After a couple of minutes of enjoying his time, he joined his father on the wagon. It was time for them to move towards the village. It will take them until close to sunset to return, they did not want to be caught outside in the night. The dark was filled with malevolent beings and spirits waiting to lead men astray, or so the stories go. It had done well to scare him when his parents told him of them, the other race living in the abandoned forests, homes and lands. One we can¡¯t see or hear until it¡¯s too late. Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

    ¡°Want to speak about your nightmare?¡± Father said, breaking his musing.

    Kaius shut his eyes. His mind was unable to escape the images that flooded towards him. His hands tightened on his pants and teeth clamped on his lips.

    <hr>

    He stood frozen in a world of black and gray. Standing on top of a hill, he watched as a single thing held color. A flower with petals of gold and white. Surrounding it was an orange haze, and that covered even more so by a transparent dark purple. It was beautiful to behold, but his blood rage instead. He knew something was coming, it always did. Eating and destroying everything in its way. It always found him and his flower, devouring them in countless ways.

    Though this time was different, something had changed.

    Focusing on his surroundings, he watched as lightning peeled in the sky above and thunder following shortly after. The rain fell relentless, making his vision foggy. It was different, he didn¡¯t know why or how, but it was. He followed an urge, sitting down with his head perched on his knees. The flower was in between them, so he stared at it as the inevitable happened. A scream tore across the stormy forest around. The voice was so familiar, yet unrecognizable¡ªas was any feature from this point onward.

    In came sliding was a foggy ball of gold and white and blue, in the shape of a human. Kaius locked eyes with it, though the being had none, he felt it right. But just as quickly he looked down once more, staring at his flower and the orange and purple haze that surround them.

    He heard the human-shaped glow rustling and walking up the hill towards him. It stumbled up, unable to break its eyes away from him. And as every time since last night, it froze making signs of it sniffing, then turned into itself with what appeared to be great joy and ecstasy. It always stopped there, smelling something he never captured with his own senses. It would stay there for a long time enjoying itself until the darkness broke through the barrier that held it at bay.

    The darkness broke the forest, sending trees sprawling to the ground and crushing anything under it.

    The glow turned back in surprise like it had forgotten it was being chased. With hurry, it ran up the hill towards him. While the darkness crept ever closer, gaining on her. The glow always reached first, covering him. Hugging his body to itself, it radiated a never-ending desire to protect him.

    Then the darkness surged one last time, taking them both¡­

    Yet, unlike all other nightmares before this one, he woke to find himself again on the hill¡ªthe flower battered, with few petals, but still alive. He raised his head to the darkness, catching a glimpse of a torn dress of blue and white. That was the only thing left of the glow, it always was. Around him the darkness danced, covering the clearing in its entirety, believing it had won once again.

    This time was different, though. The dark purple that always stayed unmoving, uncaring in every instance, pulsed greedily. It ate at the darkness without it knowing, gave Kaius room to breathe to survive. All that he had needed to happen was the human-shaped glow of blue and white and gold to forever be lost in the night.

    <hr>

    ¡°No, not yet,¡± Kaius took a deep breath, steadying his hands. They still shook against his will.

    His father placed a hand on his shoulder. It was firm and strong, something he could rely on in his time of need. The act helped calm him down, gave him enough of a sense to focus on the clomping of hooves, the wind that blew past him as he rode on the wagon, and the bumpy road that shook his ride.

    Jasper whined then neighed to bring his spirits back up, she always was there to help elevate his mood. He let a small smile grace his face, and his hands steadied themselves without his ministrations.

    ¡°Your seventeen summers old now,¡± father said, bumping him with a laugh. ¡°It¡¯s time for you to join me at the tavern. I heard a certain barmaid has her eye on you.¡± Father¡¯s smile was enormous, ear to ear.

    Kaius turned red, his smile growing. He let his black hair fall forward to cover his face as the wind cooled him down. Father just laughed in response.

    ¡°Your mother spoke to her a few days ago,¡±

    ¡°What?!¡± That had Kaius sitting straight up in concern. His mother would eat her alive. Father¡¯s laugh just got louder.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Mother told me what the girl said all swoony.¡± In a high pitched voice, trying to mimic a girl¡¯s voice, he said, ¡°His honey-colored eyes and ocean of black hair cascading around them,¡± he sighed like a girl in love. Then burst out in a peal of boisterous laughter.

    Kaius, on the other hand, felt like he was in an oven, being burned alive¡ªthough a broad smile was on his face. Things were good, even if he had the occasional nightmare that made little sense.

    ¡°On to a more important topic. Now listen well, son,¡± father¡¯s happy expression turned stony. ¡°As a father, I have to explain these things to you. When a man and woman get together th-¡±

    ¡°Hrolf! Hrolf! Strangers¡­inn,¡±

 Chapter 2 - On The Run Part 2

    ¡°Hrolf! Hrolf! Strangers¡­inn,¡± a voice interrupted from down the road. A man was running towards them, stopping only next to his father. The man was wheezing as he took labored breaths. He had a light brown set of unkempt hair that matched the dirty browns almost every carpenter wore. Kaius vaguely remembered him from the times he had shown up with his father to one of the larger gatherings of loggers, carpenters, and city planners.

    ¡°Strangers?¡± Kaius asked.

    ¡°Strangers in Yalenhide doesn¡¯t bode well, son. It never does. What is it, Bajin?¡±

    He looked back at his father, his once bright face no longer showed jubilation and joy. Instead, it was darkened with lines of worry and a hint of fear. Having rested enough with his hands on his knees and sucking massive bouts of air time after time, Bajin rose back up. Extending his hand with a big smile, the man¡¯s intention was clear. Rumors and facts for coin, it was how he made much of his money. Father flicked him five copper coins. The man grumbled and complained, but he wouldn¡¯t budge¡ªfive copper coins were all he was going to get.

    ¡°Strangers. Armed to the teeth. Had so many sharps on them you¡¯d think they¡¯re goin to war sometime soon. That¡¯s what I think if you¡¯d ask me. No one ever does though,¡±

    He left with a bounce in his step, richer than he had arrived. With the occasional laugh, he kept on his way, having wholly forgotten them and onto his next unknown quarry. Once he was too far to hear, father looked at him.

    ¡°Push the tree off, do it in a hurry. We need to be gone before yesterday.¡± In a hurry, father jumped off the wagon and ran towards the horses.

    ¡°Push the tree?¡± Kaius knew he could, but his father did not, so he acted his role. ¡°It¡¯s far too large father. It would take a stronger person,¡±

    ¡°Kaius,¡± exasperation in his voice, jarring Kaius at the sudden edge of it. ¡°We don¡¯t have time for this. Use your power and get the thing off the wagon while I keep the horses calm.¡±

    Standing next to the horses he was petting them, rubbing their necks, and whispering to them. He looked back up, staring at him with a raised bushy, red eyebrow. He stood up gingerly, pulling from his well of power. He had yet to learn full control and ease the rushing river that raged through him, but that was enough for the task ahead. Standing in front of the giant wooden monstrosity, Kaius pushed with as much strength as he could. Slowly the tree began to slide off, picking up enough speed for it to fall with a deafening crash.

    The horses panicked¡ªas father said they would¡ªrising on their back legs crying in distress. Father held their reins down calling out to them by name. It took a while, but they finally calmed down, nuzzling themselves against him. Father had a way with animals Kaius never had, it was amazing to see how quickly he could get an enraged bull to cool down.

    ¡°Hurry, boy! Stop dawdling, we need to be gone! Help me free the horses, they are faster than us on open land,¡± Father said to him. He was already untying Bronny.

    Jumping off the wagon, he hurried to get Jasper ready¡ªfumbling more than he cared to explain to his father. But he eventually had it done, though his father had already sat on his horse without a saddle.

    ¡°Are we really riding the horses without a saddle? And what is going on? Why did we thro-¡± Kaius tried to ask but was interrupted by his father¡¯s burning eyes.

    ¡°You¡¯re being stubborn and hard-headed. Do exactly as you¡¯re told, or you won¡¯t be alive tomorrow morning. Now get on the horse!¡± Matching his irritation, Bronny stomped and huffed and shook his head.

    Kaius was left dazed for a few seconds but was jolted awake by Jasper rubbing against him. Getting on with little use of his powers¡ªtheir horses were too large to ride without a saddle or his power¡ªhe rode in silence with his father. They kept a blazing pace to cover distance quickly.

    Once they reached the path towards the village proper, Father led them off the road and around the farthest houses, wary and watching before going. They kept this speed until they reached their own home. It was placed at an unusual area in the village, almost hidden from casual sight. It was tucked neatly in between two stores with a path that had sharp cuts to get out and away. This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.

    Father jumped off his horse and hurried inside yelling mother¡¯s name. Whatever was going on had changed everything, Kaius could feel it in his bones. Just as he was trying to gingerly get off his horse¡ªhis backside and softer areas felt horrifically sore¡ªboth his parents ran out of the house with large leather packs in their hands held by a thick and sturdy rope. Mother¡ªwho had golden hair and deep blue eyes¡ªgave him his own. She was wearing a blue and white dress that felt oddly familiar, but he couldn¡¯t place.

    ¡°Hrolf! Get the other saddle!¡± mother said, putting the first one on Bronny.

    ¡°Mother?¡± he asked, still seated on Jasper.

    ¡°Yes, my sweet golden flower,¡± that was his nickname, something she had always called him. Why? She would never tell him, always changing the subject whenever he asked.

    ¡°What¡¯s going on? Who are those men Bajin spoke about? Why are we packed and ready to leave?¡±

    ¡°Soon, my flower,¡± Mother said as she placed a firm hand on his, reassuringly. ¡°I-I¡¯ll tell you everything soon, you¡¯re old enough to know now.¡±

    With those cryptic words, she ran back inside, yelling at father for taking too long. This time they came out with weapons, surprising him. Since when had they had weapons? Mother had a beautiful spear much taller than she was. The shaft was a white wood covered in designs of a golden flower¡ªKaius could only imagine how gorgeous the actual blade looked. Though the blade was covered in black cloth.

    Father, on the other hand, carried an axe and shield. The axe didn¡¯t look as long as his forearm but reflected off the sun with a silvery metal. The shield, on the other hand, was not remarkable in any way or form, just a large triangle curved inwards.

    ¡°Come off the horse,¡± father called as he brought the saddle towards them.

    Kaius carefully got off, his backside aching him. He wanted to ask so many questions, but he held off. Mother had promised him, and he was confident he would learn everything he needed to soon.

    Father put the saddle on with a practiced hand, taking him merely moments until the horse was ready to go. He gestured towards the horse, signaling Kaius to get on. This time Kaius didn¡¯t need his power to boost himself up. Grabbing the edge of the saddle, he got up by stepping and hoisting himself up. The saddle felt like a blessing compared to the back of Jasper.

    ¡°Let''s go,¡± Mother called.

    Following them¡ªparents chose to ride together¡ªthey made their way out of the little labyrinth and around the backs of the houses of the village. The village inn, The Hamlet, was built on the other far end of the settlement. It''s given them time to make it out undetected. Their horses sped towards the path he and his father had just come from with a fast pace, though not as fast as when they had come the other way. They passed the split road, then the large tree they had left on the side of the road. And finally past where they usually logged. By then, the sun was falling, and the sunset was close to arriving.

    The trees were sparse for a few miles down the road until the path itself came to an abrupt halt. Past it, the trees were close together¡ªuntouched by man, left to the darkness of the unknown¡ªthe ground littered with roots, bushes, and branches that had fallen down. His parents got off their horse¡ªfather first to hold his hand out for mother to put her weight on. They surveyed the dark path forward and the sky above. A bad storm was coming through, dark and brooding?

    Kaius followed. ¡°Why are we leaving Bronny and Jasper here? The wolves will feast on them.¡± he held tightly to Jaspers reigns trying to pull her along. The horse had been with him since childhood, growing with him as a calf.

    ¡°They know where to go. Come, were heading into the forest, we need to create as much distance as fast as we can,¡± father responded while his mother busied herself with unloading the packs from Bronny. The horse held still for the process to go smoothly.

    ¡°And where to? I am not going to leave Jasper to die, Father,¡± Kaius was adamant, in no condition was he going to leave Jasper to be eaten by wolves then left to rot on the forest ground.

    ¡°Flower? Do you trust me?¡± Mother said suddenly. She had finished unpacking father¡¯s and her stuff and walked over to get his.

    ¡°Mother,¡± Kaius grumbled, how was he supposed to respond to that? No? That would be an utter lie, he knew that himself. He trusted his mother with his life. ¡°You know I do, but-¡±

    ¡°She¡¯ll be fine. She knows the way to the next village. Believe in me,¡±

    Resigning to his fate, he let go of Jasper¡¯s reigns and let his father send them off galloping into the distance.

    ¡°Why couldn¡¯t we take them with us into the forest?¡± he said as their two figures slowly disappeared into the distance and over the hill, they had come down.

    ¡°Past this, the forest is too uneven and filled with roots and branches. They would find themselves with broken ankles and damaged hooves in no time,¡± father said. He placed a hand on Kaius¡¯s shoulder, a firm grip to hold together his emotions. ¡°Let¡¯s go, we¡¯ve wasted enough time here.¡± He patted him once and was on his way into the forest after Mother.

    Kaius followed, his mind creating scenes of horror as he stared into the gaping maw his parents had just walked through. It was dark in there, even darker as the sun began to set. And in that black world, a plethora of beasts and monsters undiscovered could exist. All waiting for him to step through. Releasing his breath¡ªunconsciously holding it as he neared the entrance¡ªhe set himself on this path, determined to continue. Hoping that his family and himself would find the other side as quickly and safely as possible.

 Chapter 3 - Darkness Surging Part 1

    ¡°Kaius,¡± Mother called from the other side of the campfire they sat around.

    It was the dead of night¡ªthe forest was darker then Kaius had expected¡ªwhen father called for them to stop. Kaius had trudged through the woods like a blind ogre, stepping on every snapping branch and crushing all crackling dry leaves the forest had to offer. How his mother and father glided through the forest, he could not tell, but they made little to no noise.

    After a while, father had found a camp for them to rest in. He and Mother worked together to set it up with evident experience. Kaius had tried to lend a hand but only got in the way. Even then, he decided to start a fire, thinking it was going to be easy. What he didn¡¯t know was how long it took, after many a broken stick and his father¡¯s constant chuckles, he was finally convinced to let his mother do it. She had it ready in minutes.

    Now they sat around a dancing fire¡ªflickering back and forth. Their only source of light and protection from the unnatural cool that warned of a storm. It surprised Kaius that the massive clouds had yet to pour out their gullets, dousing all those under its encompassing frame.

    Kaius sat on the opposite side of the fire, just staring at the flame and thinking about the barmaid he had forgotten to ask her name. But, his mother¡¯s call had woken him from his fancies.

    ¡°Come closer. I-It¡¯s time I explained everything to you.¡± Hesitantly, she added, ¡°Promise me you will wait until the end.¡±

    Kaius nodded, wondering why they had to leave everything they had in the village. Their home, their work, and even those they cared about. Everything was forgotten back there. He didn¡¯t even get to say a single proper goodbye. Father moved around them and sat next to him. Placing a heavy arm around his shoulder. His smile infectious smile had returned at last.

    ¡°Listen closely, son. Keep your mind open, you¡¯ve read enough for that, haven¡¯t you.¡±

    ¡°I¡­¡± Mother started. ¡°Long before your father and I ever met, I was the daughter of a commoner family given dominion over a growing city beyond the plains of grass and even further, neatly tucked into the shadow of a Mountain and a small woods behind our home.¡± She flourished her hands as though she could see the scenes play above the fire. ¡°I lived as close to what a Noble might experience, well as close as any person of our blood could. My father was the Reeve of the Keep of Halem, now a bustling city filled with bazaars and trade centers aplenty.¡±

    ¡°Why aren¡¯t we there now?¡± Kaius said.

    ¡°Patience,¡± Father squeezed his arm around him. ¡°She will get to it. Cecily needs time ¡­that¡¯s all. Isn¡¯t that right, dearest wife?¡±

    Mother smiled¡ªone of her large, all teeth smiles¡ªand nodded. Taking a deep breath, she looked up with distant eyes. ¡°In my youth, we were visited by the Lord Noble of the lands we administered. He stopped on an important journey towards the Far North, or at least that was what my father had told me. I had tried to learn more, but the Nobles never spoke about it.

    With him came an entire army of servants, entertainers, and even beasts. Some were caged and others they rode on as mounts. They towered over the other animals, somewhere bigger than Bronny if you could believe. It was a spectacle to behold.¡± Her smile had grown smaller and eyelids began to droop from the sides.

    ¡°Dragons?¡± His voice was filled with wonder. Many a book had featured the mystical beasts. Enormous creatures the size of a barn, and wings even larger. Not to mention they could breathe fire.

    ¡°No, not dragons,¡± mother chuckled.

    Kaius was clearly disappointed.

    ¡°But close enough. Drakes and mangy mutts the size of a wagon. The Lord himself rode on a lion even larger. It strutted towards us with majesty. With the Lord came his sons, the first I couldn¡¯t care to remember his name,¡± mother frowned, thinking deeply. ¡°Jalen Juouf¡­something of that nature.¡±

    Father laughed.

    She smiled in return, but it was a far cry from her earlier one. ¡°But the second son, that I will never forget. The love, the cloudy feeling¡­the pain.¡± She closed her eyes, hand shook in remembrance. ¡°For weeks on end, we were in love. Inseparable, willing to face the world together or so I had been naive enough to believe. It was my fault really, but he could have been kinder.¡±

    Kaius¡¯s mouth felt parched as a single thought ran wildly in his mind. ¡°Are you saying-¡±

    ¡°Till the end. Wait till the end,¡± fathers grip had become stronger and mouth was in a straight line.This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

    ¡°Thank you Hrolf,¡± mother said to father. ¡°Yes, Kaius, you¡¯re his and mine. My sweet golden flower.¡±

    Kaius felt the world spin. He would have found himself on his back if not for his father¡¯s steadying arm. It kept him afloat as he struggled to comprehend what he heard. For a few long seconds, his mind tried to wrap around it, but in the end, all he could think about was Father, his father Hrolf. Not the absent figure mother spoke of. He looked from mother to father and back again in a silent question.

    ¡°I met your father, my husband years later, after my own sent me away with his best guards for my protection. I had to escape before any of the Nobles found out. It would have been a scandal that would have ended everyone I knew, including you. But that opened us to another threat entirely. Mercenaries and elite warriors discovered us somehow. They were from a dark group of cruel slavers and pseudo nobles that sought to take you away from me.¡±

    The ending came out strained, mother¡¯s face was red and lips pursed. She gripped her dress tightly. ¡°I will never let them touch a hair on your head. Never.¡±

    It took her long seconds to collect herself. She closed her eyes again and took deep breaths. ¡°Years on the run, most of the guards had passed on in battle to protect me. The last of them, the head guard of my father, passed just a few years ago. She stayed strong to teach me everything she could about wielding the spear.¡±

    ¡°Hanna? Kind and frail Hanna, who baked me sweets was your head guard?¡±

    Mother nodded then continued, ¡°Your father, my big oaf, saved us when you were only four years old, he¡¯s been around since then. Always willing to help more than necessary.¡±

    ¡°Anything for you, dear.¡±

    They locked heated eyes. Then smiled at once.

    Kaius groaned. But eventually worked up his courage. ¡°What¡¯s his name?¡±

    A reserved smile grew on mother¡¯s face as she recalled his blood father¡¯s name. ¡°Bhalt-¡±

    Mother leaped to her feet. Her spear rang out in a melody of death, swirling and slashing. It flashed once, twice, then for a third time in arcs reflecting the dull, flickering light of the fire they had stoked. The distinct sound metal crashing echoed in the clearing they laid their beds. Her fine dress bellowed out as she danced around for long seconds.

    Kaius did not understand what had just happened until he saw the broken shafts of arrows clattering on the ground around her in a full circle. They were all split in half. His eyes subconsciously drifted onto his mothers imposing back as she stood with a broad base, crouched. He watched her sway the spear from side to side like a scorpions tail ready to lash out. Though his eyes surveyed the scene with a great deal of confusion. When had his mother been able to do¡­that?!

    As he continued to watch her, his eyes caught a bright orange gem on the dark blade of her spear. The cloth covering that hidden it was lost during the few seconds of action. It glowed brighter by the second, giving the darkness of the sharpened edge a dark purple tint. It was beautiful, worthy of the golden flowers that coated its shaft.

    Kaius jumped in his spot as two heavy thumps came from his right. Falling backward, his father¡¯s shadow covered him. With raised shield¡ªtwo arrows sticking out of it¡ªand axe ready for use, he made a frightening figure. Not to mention the low growling he made, which only added to that effect. He had shown Kaius injuries he had sustained in his line of work as a warning to stay more careful, yet now Kaius sincerely doubted they were accidental wounds.

    ¡°Stay behind me.¡± His words were barely more than a growl¡ªa snarl covered his face that scared him.

    Kaius nodded, scampering behind his father¡¯s broad shoulders. He felt his mother step back closer to him.

    ¡°Two archers.¡± Her eyes constantly surveyed the surroundings. She read more than he ever could from the darkness of the forest.

    ¡°I would¡¯ve been more comfortable if they sent more. So few,¡± father shook his head. ¡°I fear how strong the party after us is.¡± The creaking of his axe spoke volumes to how tense he was.

    ¡°Kaius,¡± mother said. ¡°When I say, I want you to run into the forest,¡±

    ¡°But-¡±

    ¡°No questions. Do as I tell you. W-we¡¯ll follow you in a bit.¡±

    The uncertainty in her voice shook Kaius. She wasn¡¯t sure they were going to make it out alive. They were going to sacrifice themselves for him.

    ¡°Mother, Father,¡± Kaius said, eyes becoming blurry.

    ¡°Now, now. You¡¯ve become an adult. Don¡¯t let your emotions take control,¡± father said with a smile, closer to that of a wolf.

    The brush surrounding the clearing shook. Kaius¡¯s eyes became laser focused on what might come out. It cracked and twisted until three men dressed in brown leathers walked in. Just from looking at them, Kaius saw at least three blades on their bodies. Not to mention the two who carried bows nocked and ready to fire. Their faces were covered in a black garb that wrapped around their hoods¡ªleaving only their eyes exposed to the world.  An insignia sat on the left side of their chest¡ªa sword and staff crossing each other.

    ¡°Hunters,¡± mother said with gritted teeth.

    Father¡¯s growl continued to get louder as a white foam started to coat the edges of his mouth. ¡°Kaius needs to go now, Cecily. It¡¯s a Hunters¡¯ Party, their Neifalite will arrive soon.¡±

    ¡°Mhm,¡± her face became resolved. Hardened from a life of struggle. ¡°Kaius, when I charge them, I want you to run in the other direction without looking back. We¡¯ll follow in a few minutes,¡±

    ¡°No, I-I can help. I have powers, I need to help,¡±

    ¡°Sweet, sweet flower. Go, we will be with you in a few minutes. Trust me,¡±

    Kaius rubbed his eyes and sniffed. His breath felt become shallow and his heart thumped loudly in his chest. But, in the end, he nodded.

 Chapter 4 - Darkness Surging Part 2

    Mother held the spear with the point forward. She lowered herself onto her front foot. With a roar, she charged at the three and was quickly followed by Father, letting himself go like a savage animal first out of its cage.

    Kaius turned, never seeing what happened next, only hearing the crash of metal. He ran with all his soul into the forest¡ªover the brush and into the darkness around him. The branches whipped him for his cowardice. The dry leaves and snapping branches jeered at him for his weakness¡ªfor not standing with his family. No matter how far he ran, crows and ravens seemed to follow, owls hooted in the distance, and wolves howled in outrage.

    How dare he? They roared in Kaius¡¯s mind. How could he? They begged as he ran. Return and fight. They demanded over and over again, whether it was the insects or the most sophisticated beasts of the forest, they spoke in unison in the den of darkness around him.

    Every path became blocked by an aged tree, every trail covered in thorned brush. The forest itself commanded he return.  Soon, the sky joined it in its accusations, barreling down with waves of heavy rain and bright flashes of lightning.

    His chest heaved and legs shook as he ran, the dry ground had become muddy during the storm. His tears kept rolling down his cheeks but were erased by the downpour of rain. Only his pained expression showed any of his suffering. His lungs begged him to stop¡ªthey burned and hacked at him¡ªand muscles grew heavy then heavier the longer he kept pushing his body along.

    Kaius had forgotten his powers deep within him where none but himself can ever find. He did not use them to strengthen himself, to become¡­beyond human. Beyond the limitations that inhibited his mortal body. All that filled his thoughts was the sacrifice his family had made for him.

    Questions scarred his mind, the why and who and many more. Yet, no matter how hard he tried, he could not find an answer to any of them. In a moment of inherent pride, his soul screamed, he thought of his mother¡¯s promise. She had yet to answer all his questions, far from it.

    Kaius tripped on a root that seemed to grow from the ground¡ªhis sight limited by the falling rain. He clutched at his ankle¡ªhands and body covered in mud¡ªwhere an unforgiving pain blossomed and an unnatural heat soon followed. His tears still hidden in the downfall, but his cries became audible as whimpers.

    A light appeared. It was a soft glow that blinded Kaius¡¯s unaccustomed eyes. He blinked a few times as he raised his hand to cover them. Seconds later he opened them, then gasped. Scrambled backward forgetting his pain and suffering. The white thing, image hazy and almost transparent reached out to him with clawed hands. Its was faceless¡ªwith only eyes, but even they were terrible¡ªand scarred by many a weapon.

    Its left eye was shut closed by a deep but healed wound. Its hands had trails going up beyond the elbow towards its back. Two crisscrossed on its chest, wide and furious. But that was not all, it stood on one leg, the other severed and the remains twisted and crushed.

    ¡°I can hel-¡± the monster whispered, but was cut off by Kaius¡¯s scream.

    Its voice was painful to his ears. He kept scrambling father away, giving it no chance to speak or do anything.

    ¡°Please, I ca-¡±

    ¡°No! No! Stay away! Stay away.¡± Kaius pushed himself to his feet and tried to run, but could only limp away. He looked back towards the alabaster creature, it just stood their extended arm shaking, wavering. It lowered, then its hazy visage slowly disappeared, putting Kaius back into the darkness he had been surrounded by.

    Longer, he pushed afraid it would come after him if he stopped again. Every few minutes he would look back hoping the darkness was left undisturbed. It was this fear that found him unawares.

    One moment he stood on solid, though wet and muddy, ground and the next he was tumbling down an incline. He flailed in hopes he could find his balance or catch a stray branch strong enough to hold him. There was none.

    By the end, he was left battered and hurt. Aching from a hundred different bruises and a hundred more scratches. It did no good for his broken ankle either. The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

    Kaius rose, his feet felt like strings. Looking up, he found himself at the bottom of a gully between two steep hills. The one behind him was covered in bushes and small trees, a trail was left in his wake. But that mattered little to him at the moment. In front of him was the other hill, its sides were covered in neat grass¡ªthough someone took care to make it perfect. In the center of it all, at the very top of the hill, was a single flower¡ªit glowed a light not utterly unlike the monster, but so much more beautiful¡ªthat beaconed him.

    It asked for him, whispered to his soul. Kaius¡¯s well reacted as it throbbed and shook, pushing him forward. One moment he was standing on shaky legs at the bottom and the next, he found himself sitting on his knees in front of its soft glow. It was purple, a very dark color with streaks of black across its petals.

    He caressed it, his first smile in what felt like ages. His power reacted once more, but with more force. His body gave off his distinct orange glow. It grew brighter and brighter, crawling around the flower as well.

    In a moment of pure ecstasy¡ªthe smell of nectar prominent in the air¡ªhe closed his eyes, letting it soak through him. He felt drugged and incredibly happy.

    His mind¡¯s eye created an image of a decrypt and destitute statue¡ªblack, gray, and dark hues of blue. A woman with a flowing dress was on her knees. Her image was distorted and face hidden behind a veil, but the viscous black tar that crept from her eyes made clear her expression. She was on her knees, praying, clutching at her chest. From between her hands, a ball of dark purple glimmered and arced.

    Kaius could feel it deep within his soul, a power much like his own, yet so unique and dark. He felt the absence of everything whenever he dared to look too deep. He was gone, and so was the world that surrounded him.

    With a gasp, he woke from the sudden reverie he had found himself in. He surveyed his surroundings, he had not moved and the rain had yet to abate. His chest throbbed, both ancient sources of power, letting him know they existed within him. The ability to strengthen his body, pushing it beyond the limits it had been chained too. And an absence he could not understand, except that nothing could exist in its field.

    Having noticed sooner, he was surprised to find the once black and purple flower clipped and in his right hand. As he stared, its petals lost the dark colors that covered it, turning into ones of gold and white. His powers throbbed. Doing as he had done before, he covered the flower with the orange. But this time, the tears of the statue flowed slowly from his body. Out of his hands, it appeared as a dark purple gas. It covered the flower around the orange haze that preceded it.

    Kaius took a deep breath, the smell of nectar still lingered. It put a smile onto his face.

    With the crashing and breaking of branches and bushes. A figure slid down the hill behind him. Its stark golden hair oddly placed in the darkness of the night. A familiar face covered in mud looked up.

    ¡°Mother?¡± he whispered his mind clearing. His thoughts and the images he had experienced derailed him, it held him captive.

    ¡°Mother!¡± he remembered. It hit him without remorse. The escape, the sacrifice, his ankle, the demon that had appeared, his family. How had he forgotten? How could he forget?

    Attempting to rise, his body locked up and all the accumulated pain struck at once. Kaius flopped uselessly on the ground, confused and lost. All he could do was stare at his mother struggling to rise.

    At the top of the other hill, a surge of darkness and shadows rumbled forward--tearing down the trees and brush. In its midst was a figure to indistinct to make out. The figure¡¯s black fog rolled out in waves as the person floated in the center of its enormous mass. The only distinct feature was red eyes that pierced into his.

    The being studied the surroundings, taking everything at once. But, as was inevitable, its eyes met his prone form. Then onto the flower that had lost its luster. It bristled in a subconscious fury.

    Mother had gotten up by this point and had already begun climbing the hill towards him. She held dearly to her spear, using it to support her weight. Blue watery eyes stared at his own¡ªa relief compared to the burning red that met his moments ago¡ªas her face distorted in struggle.

    Kaius tried getting up again, but that only caused his wounds to scream in distress and blackness to creep at the edges of his eyes. Gripping the flower with as much strength as his body could muster¡ªas though that would cause any change¡ªit struck him to attempt to use his power. Closing his eyes, he tried to pull from that familiar well of overflowing orange waters. But only got a lance of pain in his chest in return. The well was dry, only a few droplets remaining as he stared at it. Never before had he used it so openly and in such quantity.

    He looked up, his mother had reached him with a wavering smile and tears leaving marks in the mud that stained her pale white skin. She held onto him, hugging him and unwilling to let go. She sobbed, a quiet sound he was unaccustomed to. Whispering in a murmur, he could not hear. But stronger it became until the words were loud enough for him to make out.

    ¡°Mamas here now. She¡¯ll protect you,¡± over and over again she repeated those words. Unwilling, maybe even unable, to speak any other. A ting of insanity affected her words as she moved her body back and forth.

    Kaius had no time to understand as a roaring surge of darkness appeared in his sights¡ªbehind his mother, it covered everything he could see. It blanketed upon them both and the entire hill ending their struggle. The last thing Kaius saw were the red, hateful eyes before he too was lost in the darkness.

 Chapter 5 - The Ship

    Kaius opened his eyes with difficulty. They felt glued together and unbelievably heavy. He blearily looked around--the fog in his eyes coating everything--as the very ground, he was on swayed back and forth in a swaying motion. It was like sitting on a ship.

    He tried to raise his hand to wipe the mist that coated the world from his sight but found them too heavy to carry, so they uselessly flopped back to the floor. He was seated on his knees, cold, weary, and weak. He shook as a bone chilling current entered the darkness from behind him.

    His eyes became steady, the surroundings cleared for him to see--sunlight filtered from the opening behind him. A large room made of old, wet wood and many chains hanging down from the ceiling. Other than him and the constant clinking of metal, there was nothing else of note.

    Kaius tried to get up but found himself bound no matter how hard he pulled, he could not move. His mind was still waking up, it took him a good few minutes to look down at his arms. There he found chains bound tightly around his wrists.

    Thick slabs of metal wrapped around them and interlocking chains welded into position. Following the short leash, they were hooked into a metal ring on the ground. He tried pulling again, this time much harder, but they held steadfastly.

    Subconsciously, he pulled at his well of power--what were weak chains in comparison to his strength. With closed eyes, he delved into himself but found his well tied in uncountable chains, completely obscured from his sight. Confused, he reached for it but gasped as a piercing stab of pain erupted from his chest, and a fire scolded the skin of his neck.

    He took shaky breathes as the pain subsided, it¡¯s phantom ever present. He could have struggled and tried to break free or continued to attempt to pull from his well of orange waters, but he didn¡¯t. Instead, he slumped in his spot as his mind cleared and the memories within them came like a tidal wave.

    One by one, without pause, he remembered everything that happened within moments. His mouth became dry, hands shook, and his body felt heavier than ever before. Try as he might, he could not contain the raw emotions that ripped him apart. A broken sob escaped him, his eyes blurred as his tears ran down his cheeks.

    Huddling into himself, his body shook with every wracking cry that left his throat sore and damaged. For long hours, his body swayed with the wooden floor under him, the emotions wreaked havoc within his soul.

    A creak echoed in the room. Then another and another. Kaius did not look up, he could not care who stood before him. But his eyes did catch a glimpse of a blurry white image somehow walking with only a single leg in any usable state.

    The being stood their unmoving and silent. Letting Kaius cry and scream and whimper to himself. By the end, his cries were not audible, just his body shaking. But, it eventually ran out of patience.

    ¡°Here,¡± it said.

    Kaius looked up, the same scarred arm--clawed and ever so white--held the flower he had once huddled over in ecstasy. The flower had lost all color, just transparent petals, and a green stem. It was the last thing that reminded him of his mother.

    He reached out to grab it but found the chains were too short. Instead, he opened his palm, fearing that he may not get it. But, it was an unfounded thought, the demon placed it there with as much care and reverence as possible. As though this was too valuable to harm. This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

    Cupped in his hands, the flower visibly changed from the transparent color to the golden one that it had been when he woke from his reverie. It reminded him of his mother, her golden hair standing out in the darkness of that terrible night. He held it on his chest, he would never let it go.

    ¡°Why?¡± his voice was hoarse and scratchy. He stared into the unscarred eye of the demon--it was pitch-black with no other color. ¡°Why are you doing this? What do you gain from it all?¡±

    The demon looked away, eye glazed in memories. For a while, it did not move or react simply remembered. Then it shook its head, unwilling to say anything or open up to him.

    ¡°Stay silent then,¡± Kaius said. ¡°At least you could tell me why you kept the flower for me?¡± he pleaded, putting more emotion then he expected into those words.

    It was visibly conflicted and unsure whether it should speak. But it came to its decision moments later. In its harsh, whispering voice it spoke.

    ¡°You¡¯ve imbued this flower with meaning, so it is valuable. It carries memories, not only yours but your mothers as well,¡±

    ¡°Meaning?¡± Kaius said sardonically. ¡°What meaning? I¡¯ve lost everything and everyone.¡±

    ¡°You may not see it, but I do. I witnessed what your mother sacrificed and what it did to the flower. It is a symbol. Cherish it, human.¡±

    Kaius opened his hands and stared at the flower again. It swayed to an unseen wind within his grasp. Lightening the weight of the pain and guilt, he struggled to bear. It was beautiful, as beautiful as his mother was.

    ¡°I will,¡± he closed his eyes, his dry eyes and cheeks becoming tear-stained once again. ¡°I will,¡± he repeated hold the flower tightly to his chest.

    A creaking noise echoed within the room. Like an ancient door being swung open. Jumping in his spot, Kaius searched for the sound. The demon was gone, and from the darkness, in the room, three figures stepped in slowly. They were crouched and with weapons ready. Kaius hid the flower under his ragged shirt as they cautiously made there was towards him.

    ¡°You heard it too?¡± the first voice said from the shadows.

    ¡°It sounded like someone was here. Be on the watch,¡±

    ¡°Yes, Sir,¡±

    As they walked into the light, Kaius bit on his lower lip and hands shook. Black as midnight leathers, blades aplenty on their bodies. Masks of cloth around their face, only their eyes exposed to the world. Hunters.

    He didn¡¯t know if it was the same group that caused this to happen, but that mattered little. They were hunters, and that was all he needed to know.

    Screaming as a boiling fire exploded from within, he strained against the chains. He pulled from his locked well over and over again--the lancing pain bearable if he could get his hands on them. He would...do something, he had to do something.

    He struggled endlessly against his restraints, hoping something would break or just a droplet of power would reach him. No reprieve was forthcoming. Slowly, that boiling fire dimed as he kept trying to get out--frustration, guilt, and grief driving him forwards.

    One of the hunters stepped forward with quick, measured steps. Using the hilt, he smashed it across Kaius¡¯s temple, knocking him to the ground. Then kicked him in the chest.

    ¡°Mad dog,¡±

    Kaius wheezed, struggling to find up from down. The world spun around him without a stop. Patting the ground to reassure himself, he tried to get up but quickly found himself too disoriented to rise--though that did not stop his stubbornness from trying again and again.

    ¡°Idiot, why would he strike him?¡± one of the hunters said as they moved around Kaius. ¡°Hope no mark was left, the Warden will have your hide for that when we make landfall. And no, I won¡¯t be covering your ass either. I don¡¯t actively look for a death wish,¡±

    ¡°He¡¯ll heal, they always do. Freaks,¡±

    ¡°You say that only because you were born without it. Then again, some may say we were actually the lucky ones. Boy is going to be a Nefalite.¡±

    Finding nothing of note, they left as cautiously as they had come in. Shutting the door behind them, obscuring it in the shadows.

 Chapter 6 - The Dreamscape

    Kaius was able to push himself up onto his hands and knees by then still wheezing. He hit the floor with a fist, over and over again until his knuckles began to bleed.

    ¡°You wanted to help?¡± he said between his cries. ¡°Then why didn¡¯t you kill them? Why don¡¯t you help?¡±

    Appearing again in front of him, the being crouched on its single leg. Tilting its head, it tapped the floor with a claw.

    ¡°Above water is no place to make a daring escape. Out there lives things even I fear to encounter. Kin that I could only hope to match in millennia,¡±

    ¡°And how powerful can you be? Too afraid to strike,¡±

    The demon¡¯s face contorted in odd ways and single eye narrowed. It stepped forward coming face to face with Kaius. It stayed silent as it stared, unwilling to lessen the tension that held them in their spots.

    ¡°You humans are hideous when you let your emotions take control,¡± it ran a clawed finger along Kaius¡¯s jawline. ¡°You know nothing of the world you exist in, of the powers that exist. Living oblivious lives as wars greater than your worst nightmares begin and end. Countless of my Kin have died, regardless of their power, regardless of their rank. But I lived through it all. Every war, every battle, every day face to face with the reaper of souls. But I¡¯ve carried on!¡±

    It brought its hand to its own face, rubbing across the scar on its left eye. Back and forth, as its hand began to visibly shake.

    ¡°You ask how powerful I am...j-just strong enough to carry on with the scars of endless loss and suffering. Just enough to have survived against unbeatable odds,¡± it stopped knowing it had said too much. Then struggled with itself, coming to a decision its eyes were hardened.

    ¡°And you...you don¡¯t see it. You humans never truly see. But I do! You¡¯re cursed...like me. It will never be my place to intervene as fate weaves itself into your reality. My only chance was lost in the forest. now you must find your own path, and I will witness it whether you wish it to be or not!¡±

    The demon grabbed Kaius¡¯s head and squeezed. His eye began to glow an eerie gray color. Struggling to keep hold of something, it sagged as black tendrils ran along his arms and onto Kaius¡¯s head.

    Kaius tried to scream but found himself without a voice. He strained at his chains, trying to reach up and pry the claws that clamped around his head. But he couldn¡¯t. All he could do was futilely shake his head and mime words that may mean something without sound.

    Whether the demon noticed was unclear as he did not stop.

    The tendrils crawled across his skin peacefully, but with a sudden jagged movement, it dug into Kaius¡¯s neck. It rushed forward under his skin towards his chest.

    He screamed, without audible voice, as he felt his skin tear and stretch--as the tendrils ate at his innards. With more panic, he fought to escape cursing himself for trusting what must have been a demon.

    With a pop, Kaius lost all sight, though he knew he was still conscious. He could still feel the tendrils wriggle about within him, jubilant at finding what it searched for. Within the darkness, he could see a pinprick of mysterious lights. Floating in the endless scape of shadows--they fled from the light¡¯s touch.

    Taking a step forward, surprised to have his freedom, he gasps as the distance disappears with incredible speed. The light stretched as he moved from one place to the next.

    The light was a window into reality, images floating and passing. A beautiful woman with dark purple hair, dancing, singing, fighting with spear and sword. One by one, of the same woman, they kept coming. Her accomplishments and strengths, failures, and weaknesses. Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

    For a time he could not perceive, he stood there, learning about her. Becoming familiar with the woman, she soon became a figure he found security and reassurance in her presence. He felt he knew her as well as any could learn of another.

    She passed the time, became a warrior beyond scope. One of the few who were armies alone.

    Eventually, the images stilled at one scene. Two hills and a gulley between them, two armies stood in filled lines arrayed against each other. One of humans and the other of demonic creatures.

    Like a play, it began and played out--hazy characters playing roles given to them beforehand as the lights centered around her. It showed her standing on a battlefield, a commander of men and women alike. They all looked towards her with awe and respect. They were her people, and to them, she was their source of strength and reassurance--putting their hopes on her broad shoulders to keep them alive.

    Drums began to shake the surroundings as the army of demons began to march forward. Each step of the army reverberated within the ground. Red, blue, black, and green creatures of nightmares walked in tight lines and covered in armor towards them.

    She nodded to those around her, her lieutenants and advisors. With a wave of her hand, waves of arrows and fire and lightning rocked the world. The window shook and became blurred, but the voices became audible. Cries of pain and struggle then shouts of triumph echoed within the shadows Kaius stood in as he watched.

    But after long hours, the voices were silenced, and only a single one remained. Just a whimper and nothing more.

    The image cleared as a scene of death and destruction became clear. Countless bodies lay broken or torn apart. In the center of it all, surrounded by a mountain of demonic bodies, the woman stood on her knees. She was at the top of the hill clutching at her chest. She was fatally wounded, her armor dented and ripped apart.

    The woman clutched at her chest as a bright light of dark purple pulsed from her chest.

    Kaius standing alone wretched and heaved at the gore and blood that soaked into the ground. But even then he could notice an odd resemblance to an image he experienced. The image continued, the woman--as the last survivor of both armies--passed from blood loss.

    It gathered into a perfectly circular pool around her as light blue magic danced in the air then disappeared. Decades passed as no soul touched the remains, a forest had grown, and the hills were left to soak longer in the blood.

    On a night with a full moon, red shining brightly on the hill, the woman had met her end. The blue magic danced once more around a bud--a seed it had cultivated from the countless deaths surrounding it and that of the woman. Years later, a flower grew around a manicured hill--the bodies naturally buried as they decomposed--its petals were the color of the woman¡¯s hair and her power; dark purple with black highlights.

    Kaius reached with his shaking hand, it was a flower meant to die the moment it was touched. That he knew without conscious thought. What happened had given the images life once more.

    His finger touched the image, it rippled without end. With an explosion, the shadows receded, and the light disappeared.

    He gasped as he woke to the real world. Back to the chains that bound him and the demon that crouched before him. Taking the flower out from under his ragged shirt, he stared at it. It meant more now, he had seen too much--became too intimate with who this flower had belonged to.

    ¡°Did you see?¡± the demon asked in its harsh, whispering voice. ¡°Did you witness what I must suffer constantly. Whether it is a flower or a sword given a name and meaning, I See the life that brought it about. And now, I see yours flashing before me. I know who you are, Kaius Xaxis. Son of Cecily Javal and Bhaltair Eabha. Boy who knows not what he now holds.¡±

    As though the words caused him pain, the demon recoiled and fell backward. It covered its face with one of its massive hands. Taking a deep wheezing breath, it looked back at him.

    ¡°I will witness this tale that spins around you. I¡¯ve become too invested to do otherwise.¡±

    Finished, the demon disappeared once again, leaving Kaius alone to stew in what he had just learned. It was too much for him, too many things happening so quickly one after the other. Was he to grieve the death of his family? Sob at the condition he found himself in? Or maybe struggle to remember the lady who he felt so familiar with though her image was hazy already?

    Not able to find an answer or a decision, he huddled into himself and let the various emotions shake his body. This time he made no sound, kept quiet as his heart was wrenched from his soul. He had no other recourse then except to let them ravage his soul.

    Maybe, just maybe, he could find peace one day.

 Chapter 7 - Inner Depths Part 1

    In a blur, time passed without his notice. Laid down--the only position he could comfortably be in without the chains weighing him down--he watched as his shadow rose then fell many times. He could not care to focus on what existed within him.

    He stared again at the food he was given, six trays. One for each day he had been here. Only one had anything eaten from it, a desperate bite he needed before he found himself an emaciated husk.

    Even then, an old man would come in every two days. He would glow a light green color, nourishing him just enough for him to survive. The man--his long beard bobbing comically as he spoke--had spoken the entire time to Kaius. Never stopping even when he knew he was being ignored.

    He would talk about his experiences, previous ones he had to help, and how Kaius was just being stubborn.

    ¡°Learn and adapt, it¡¯s the only way to survive in this world, boy,¡± were his exact words.

    To that, Kaius glared, hoping to channel some of the fright-inducing stares the white demon had given him. It obviously did not work, the old man just smiled and patted his shoulder. Finished, he would leave never looking back once.

    The demon as well had visited him on multiple occasions. But, even he could not get Kaius out of his daydreaming and foggy eyes. Prodding him with harsh words and the sparse poke of the claw, nothing he did would garner a response. By the end, the demon was furious and simply disappeared, having not shown himself again for a long time.

    Unbeknownst to them all, Kaius had delved deep within himself. Trying to remember the images that had been so clear in that world of darkness, the demon sent him too. Yet, no matter how hard he tried or rather the harder he tried, the more difficult it became to remember who she was.

    It made him uneasy, if he could forget something that felt so close and intimate with who he was, would he also eventually forget his family? The very prospect of losing his memories of Father and Mother caused him an irrational fear.

    From his spot before the statue, just outside the rippling blackness that surrounded the statue like a fountain, he stared into the shadowed eyes of the statue. They flowed continuously with murky, viscous liquids, giving her an eerie image bolstered by the dark purple glow she held to her heart.

    It felt like ages, to him, before he decided to trek the black waters and touch the statue. His first step was the hardest and most blunt impact of them all. Falling backward, he was left reeling and gasping as he attempted to take back control of his extremities.

    An image, a memory had slammed into him. The woman, long black hair flowing in the wind, danced with her blades barred and glimmering in the moonlight. She wore lightly hued loose pants and shirt, over them was a cloak of bright purple. The cloak had an insignia in its center, taking up most of the free space.

    It was of three orbs intertwined as they circled a dark purple jewel.

    He only gave it a passing glance as his eyes were pulled back to the mesmerizing display of skill and beauty. Her wide smile and eyes filled with joy lightened his heart, chipping away at the insurmountable grief he carried. The blades left red after images when swung. Flowing a second after the original.

    Kaius tried to reach out, but his hands passed through the memory. It rippled then broke apart. Leaving shiny glitter falling down into the black waters. They sank within them disappearing.

    He sat there for a few seconds, savoring the moment lest it never returned. Then he stood, a firm thought in his mind. He would need to get to the statue. No matter what, he needed to feel the intimacy he had believed to be lost forever. Taking a deep breath, he readied his mind for the blow.This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

    Running through the water, he felt image after image followed closely by more than he could have imagined. He found images he never saw before, things done he could not find a hint of from before. A sweet voice called out to him, bewitching him as it attempted to lead him away.

    ¡°Stay with me,¡±

    The seducing voice latched onto him, guiding him away from his goal. Unprepared, he followed with joy. Only to find himself back where he started, standing just at the edge of the black waters. As though he had yet to move. He was surprised, a fog had covered his mind and guided him away. And worse, it had vanished. The second he made got out of the waters.

    He looked back towards the statue. It looked unmoved, unchanged. But the waters rippled and shook as it returned to cover the void that had appeared when he left. Frowning, he balled his fists as he ran into the waters, struggling to keep away the memories his mind begged to see.

    First came the echoes of perseverance, struggles she undertook to become who she was. After came the thrills of joy. Her successes and achievements piling one on top of the other. Then was when the suffering began, the heartaches of sadness. It brought phantom pains all over his body, pain he hoped to never feel again.

    They kept coming without pause an endless torrent that drowned his thoughts. But, through it, he fought to make it. Focusing only on the single steps he took rather than the goal he hoped to reach by the end. At some moment there were blanks he could not remember, only finding himself a few steps forward.

    It was only when he consciously stepped into the radius of the pulsing purple light did the voice appear again. It was feminine, husky, sweet, and ever so persuasive. Reminding him of the woman he had seen, fitting of the beauty she held.

    The voice stroked his soul, bringing his forward progress to a halt. It begged him to follow her, making promises his body craved to be the truth. Without knowing, he found himself turned around once more, taking steps after a gust of dust. That brought him to a dead stop.

    Dust? Voice? This was his inner world, what power can it have over him?

    ¡°Follow me,¡± the voice said once more. It wasn¡¯t the sweet voice anymore--it sounded ancient, older than Kaius could imagine.

    ¡°Chase me...love me...be with me...touch me¡­¡±

    The voice was not so beautiful, it sounded concerned. Like it would lose a vital prize otherwise. It was an odd tone, something he would not have without entirely focusing on the voice.

    His body took a single shaky step away from the statue, but he stopped before the next could come. Hands balled up into fists and teeth clamped tight, he fought with all his being to turn around.

    ¡°Let me lead you to pleasure...to love...follow me,¡±

    Kaius screamed, ¡°No!¡± as he turned away and took his first defiant step. It was heavy and impossibly difficult. But he did it, and that was all he needed.

    His muscles strained as he continued to move towards the statue. The liquid waters became water no more, turning into a viscous substance that clung to his clothes and skin. Step after step led him past it. Through great difficulty did he find himself in front of the statue.

    The voice was shrill now, a husk of its former glory. It no longer had a hint of the kindness and caring of before, it merely clawed at Kaius¡¯s mind doing its best to force him away.

    Taking a final step, he was only an arm away from his goal. There the ghost lost its voice becoming quiet--only a rustling signifying it still existed--the second he took that final step. Kaius could feel the unease and tension as the ghost stared. The eerie lack of sound was odd to him.

    Reaching out with a hand, the closer his fingers got, the more he could feel the cold radiating from the statue. It was something he could not sense unless he was super close. It bit at his hand, like tiny pinpricks on his skin. But he was too close now to give up. His hand was only a scant few inches away.

    The voices screamed, startling him.

    ¡°Stop! Don¡¯t give her freedom! She must stay! She must stay! That is the price she paid for the power she gained! Don¡¯t interfere!¡±

    Kaius had pulled his hand back in response, not knowing what to do, he listened. It was only then did he hear another voice separated from the ancient one. A soft-spoken one he did not recognize.

    ¡°Please,¡± it whispered over and over again, hoping he would hear at least once.

 Chapter 8 - Inner Depths Part 2

    Kaius extended his hand again, against the screeches and echoing screams of the ancient voice--it had become many, uncountable to his mind. He felt the cold brush against his skin, pricking every part of his hand. Time slowed in his sights. As though the moment would carry on forever.

    The longer the moment lasted, the stronger the soft voice became.

    He touched the statues face, making sure to not let the dark liquid touch his skin. It was then that he felt the cold invade his hand. It ran down his arm and into his body. Reaching every part of his body. He shivered as the cold ran down his spine and chest. Then to his legs almost erasing the heavy feeling he carried.

    A few seconds, nothing happened. The voices continued to scream, but the soft voice was quiet. Fog billowed from the statue, blowing past him and covering the entire surroundings. It spun around his body, coating him like a blanket. The only thing he could see was the slow pulse of the dark purple light.

    Then it flickered oddly. It lost its rhythm, flashing erratically. Sometimes it was a quick beat and others it would be gone for a few seconds.

    Pulling back his hand, he hoped for the invasive cold to disappear, but that did not happen. It stayed bolted into his body.

    As his hand left the statue, a sphere of surrounded him and it. The clearing pushed the fog away. Now he could clearly see the figure before him, the light no longer pulsing but a constant one.

    He felt a breeze run against his skin from behind. Turning around, he found her, a ghost. She was just as beautiful, just as strong as the images he witnessed for a time he did stay in track of. For long moments, he could not break himself out of gazing into her purple eyes, her beautiful smile.

    ¡°Thank you,¡± she said suddenly. Her soft voice fitting.

    It startled Kaius, breaking him out of his mindless stare. He cleared his throat and looked away, his cheeks burning.

    ¡°N-no problem at all,¡±

    ¡°But it was a hurdle not many would have succeeded.¡± Her ghost floated over the waters towards him. She held his hands with her own--physical, warm, soft. ¡°You¡¯ve taken away the cold, given me peace in my death. It was something I had given up on. A fate impossible to escape,¡±

    She had an enormous smile on her face as her eyes glimmered with held in tears. Unable to keep them in any longer, they streamed down her cheeks pausing at her chin for a second before falling.

    ¡°Thank you for saving my soul.¡± Letting go of his hand, she drifted away into the shadows that covered his dreamscape. Disappearing forever.

    He knew it to be the truth, he would never get this moment back. Yet, he was not sad. Rather content at unknowingly saving her from her prison.

    The ancient voice screeched again.

    Kaius jumped in his spot. Spinning around, he gasped as he saw an abomination with an untold amount of eyes and mouths and arms. They stretch to reach him but faced an invisible barrier they could not cross.

    ¡°Mortal! She had yet to pay the full price of the power we had gifted her! Bring her back!¡± they followed that with incoherent screams in another language.

    They froze, slowly turning every eye towards him. Its uncountable mouths smiled in an evil grin and hands stopped flailing wildly. The arms all rose at once beckoning him towards it. You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

    ¡°Mortal,¡± it said softly this time with the same mind-altering effect from before. ¡°Do you seek power? We have noticed your...predicament. We can offer you limitless power for a small price.¡±

    It hid some of its hands behind it. But, Kaius got a glimpse of its fading body as he fought the mental barrage. He knew it had little time, all he had to do was out last it.

    ¡°A price?¡± he said, trying to waste as much time as possible.

    ¡°Yes,¡± the sickly sweet voice returned in full force. ¡°A minuscule price you won¡¯t even notice gone.¡±

    ¡°And what might that be?¡±

    ¡°An ideal, nothing more. So cheap for so...so much power,¡±

    ¡°You want me to part with my morality?¡± he said disbelievingly.

    Its many mouths frowned, then it began to try to laugh it off. ¡°Too much? How about I make the deal better,¡± It waved him to come closer, but Kaius wouldn¡¯t budge. ¡°I will give you riches beyond your imagination with power. You¡¯ll be a king...no! A god if you want it to be, just for a minuscule ideal,¡±

    For a while, Kaius stood there, thinking. Why would it want him to make such a deal? Doesn¡¯t the devil ask for the soul? But then it clicked for him.

    ¡°You need someone,¡± his voice was quiet, barely a whisper.

    ¡°What did you say?!¡± It roared.

    ¡°Nothing, nothing at all. Tell me more about this deal.¡±

    ¡°Hmph, I will give you a final chance,¡± it said arrogantly. ¡°You have scant minutes to decide. For something so cheap, I will give you your greatest dreams, mortal. Just come closer,¡±

    Its voice became that much harder to deny. He felt his body shake as he fought against it. Yet, it was incredibly difficult. He took an unwilling step forward. But followed it with a few backward.

    ¡°Come closer, I won¡¯t hurt you.¡±

    ¡°No-¡±

    A slap shook the world and everything in between. The sharp pain on his cheek lingered as he found himself back in reality. The room he was chained in was dark. A cold draft and occasional splatters of water made it in--some hitting him. His body shook, and teeth chattered, his clothes were soaked, and so was he.

    ¡°You¡¯re finally awake,¡± said a familiar voice he couldn¡¯t place.

    He found the old man sitting on a stool in front of him with a smirk. He wore ragged brown clothes and a cloak even worse. With unkempt white hair and uneven stubble, he looked the part of a madman.

    The old man had to raise his voice above the cacophony the hanging chains caused in what appeared to be an enormous storm outside. ¡°You know, it¡¯s quite rude to ignore your elders.¡±

    Rubbing his neck, Kaius caught a glimpse of solid metal wrapped around the man. Just like him.

    ¡°Y-you¡¯re like me...a slave,¡±

    The man frowned, ¡°Not a slave, we haven¡¯t fallen that far yet. We are Neifalite, the greatest force any force could have to do battle.¡±

    ¡°A battle-slave. You take pride in being a slave meant to die in some unknown field?¡±

    ¡°Yes, I take pride!¡± he screamed as his face burned red and frown turned into a snarl. ¡°I, no, we, me and you...how else are we meant to survive? How else do we truly live?¡±

    Kaius felt his words catch within his throat. He had not expected the outburst. But, before he could say another word, the old man almost fell from his seat because of the swaying ship they were in--the storm must be horrible.

    ¡°Forget that now and listen good. For the next week, no one will provide you with water or food. And since you can¡¯t be set free, well, take these,¡± Kaius held out his hand, in it were six cylindrical pills that were a mix of red and blue. They seemed to be holding in fog.

    ¡°Why?¡± Kaius asked.

    The old man froze, his hands began to shake. Then he came back as though nothing happened ¡°Better for you not to know. Better for us all to never know.¡± He got up and walked away, muttering to himself the entire time. He even crashed into the opened door. Cursing, he closed it behind him.

    Kaius only watched the door confused. What had just happened? The man must be crazy, that was the only answer he could have come up with. Another splash of freezing water hit him, making him wet and cold.

    The old man¡¯s antics didn¡¯t matter, the six days with no one else did. It was a perfect time to escape. He just had to get rid of the chains.

    He stared at his wrists, the cold metal felt heavier than usual.

 Chapter 9 - A Titans Power

    The metal was dull and dark in the shadow filled room. They rubbed against Kaius¡¯s skin and scratched at his wrists. He pulled at the chains, hoping something would pop or maybe he could do anything to free himself.

    As he did so, an unnatural cold spread from his chest. Reminiscent of what he felt when he touched the statue. It only made his shivering wet body feel even worse. Yet, it called to him. The black liquid called to him in ways he could not understand.

    He closed his eyes again--a bit afraid he would find the monstrous being in his dreamscape--then reached out without wait. The constant rippling waters froze. The being itself was there, shadow-filled, and with so much rage, Kaius felt wetness rolling out of his ears.

    Touching his ears, he found the tips of his fingers coated in red. He gritted his teeth and delved again with more force than before. The same response happened again, the waters froze, and the creature cried in wrath. Trying its best to prevent him from reaching the statue. But this was his dreamscape, his world and no one else¡¯s.

    He screamed as he touched the statue. The fog that covered that world burst. Pushed away by an invisible and unfelt wind that originated from the statue.

    He felt an energy rip through his body, surging forward from his chest to every part of him. His eyes glowed an eerie dark purple and lines of the same color coated his entire body.

    For a moment, he could hear every movement the creature from horrors made. Every panicked flailing, swiveling eyes, and countless mouths screaming at once. At that moment, he felt what it experienced. The fear. The pain in losing its only source of power. It was an aged thing, living far beyond its time through unholy means.

    This was a power it had no sway over, yet it leached from it. Stole power that did not belong. And for that, the heavens did not take its soul kindly.

    Kaius felt its soul ripped slowly from each ligament. Torn away without concern for the pain and suffering--if anything whatever was doing this looked to cause it. He felt hooks sink and pull on its body as it lost its final hold onto the world of the living. Countless barbed weapons tearing at it.

    Just for that moment, he got a flash of what it tried to escape. The horrors that waited for eons to grab hold and never let go. To throw its soul into a burning eternal suffering for what it had done. The destruction, chaos, and tearing of the flimsy strings that held all of reality together.

    Kaius closed his eyes before he could see any more. Just a second of the shadowed glimpse he had seen was enough to shake him. He was in luck to not truly witness what had been there. Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

    Coming out of his dreamscape, he took shaky breaths as he struggled to get used to the dark purple light that highlighted everything around him. Even the darkest parts of the room, with no light capable of reaching it was left in the open for him, exposed.

    He looked down at his hands, found the chains and metal wrapped around him glowing lightly in blue. Inscribed in runes, he did not understand, in a language forgotten. They were filled with sharp corners, in half squares with swirls in them or three triangles within each other. Those were the simplest of them all.

    The purple light throbbed louder and louder, the longer he stared at the runes. It stretched and molded to reach them, begging for him to set it free. He did just that.

    He let go of the hold he kept on the power, allowing it to flow through him. It was not a careful rushing, but one of a raging river. Out of his hands came the same dark purple fog he remembered coated the flower that fateful day. It swarmed and wriggled in the air before finding its target.

    The metal chains and the collar were covered completely. Kaius saw the glowing runes flicker then begin to dim as the fog orbited around them. The magic was being forcefully stopped, delayed for a few seconds to break the circulation of power within. Making them useless.

    With a click and a loud clatter, they fell to the ground--for a moment as nothing more than ordinary metal. He struggled to get up as joy bubbled within him. He smiled, then chuckled, then broke out into a peal of stomach-churning laughter. He was free, finally free.

    He raised a hand as he pulled from his well of orange power. Groggily it coated his hand, the familiar orange glow a comfort he needed. His knuckles popped as he clamped his hands into a shaky fist.

    His first steps almost had him sprawling to the ground. But his ecstatic feeling kept him standing, unwilling to fall. They became less shaky and filled with a firm resolve. One after another he walked towards the last obstacle in his way--or so he believed--the door.

    Just as he reached it laying a heavy hand on the knob--it was large, fitting the ancient thing that dwarfed any other he had seen--he felt the white being that followed him appear. The power from the statue made him acutely aware of anything that felt like magic. Like a beacon that told him where it was exactly.

    ¡°Don¡¯t go out,¡± its whispering voice was as harsh as ever.

    Kaius turned back to the creature. He had a frown on his face. ¡°Why not?¡±

    ¡°There is a reason the other humans choose to hide behind closed windows and doors. Take wisdom in their actions,¡±

    ¡°This is my only chance at freedom. I would be an idiot to not take it.¡±

    ¡°And an even bigger fool if you attempt to leave now,¡± flashes of lightning and thunder following soon after aided his point. The storm was getting worse.

    ¡°You can¡¯t change my mind now. I am going to be free. There is no way in hell I will be a battle-slave for some random noble god-knows-where,¡±

    ¡°There will be chances aplenty. Do. Not. Go. Out,¡± It said vehemently.

    Kaius just turned around and pulled at the door in response. It was a heavy thing, but with a little use of his orange well, opened without issue.

 Chapter 10 - A Titans Power Part 2

    The first thing Kaius saw was a wall barely a few feet away--just enough for two people to walk through comfortably. It was a part of a long hallway that was dark and smelled of damp wood. The shadows covered everything, only a little light filtering from the farthest end to Kaius¡¯s right.

    Even then, using his power made seeing through the darkness a simple task.

    He studied the hallway for a while longer. Every few meters there was a door just as large as his, though some seemed to look smaller. For a while, he stood there, watching and waiting to see if anyone would suddenly appear. But that was for naught.

    Stepping over the doors bottom frame--quite large for one raising the door even more--he took a hesitant first step. Kaius winced as the floorboards creaked louder than the storm. Any form of stealth was an illusion to trick himself with.

    Frozen in his spot, he waited for the tell-tale sign of hunters and or battle slaves to appear. None did. It seemed the old man had spoken the truth. No one was willing to leave their rooms for some reasons Kaius could not perceive.

    He gained some courage and stood up straight. Looking back into the room, he couldn¡¯t see the white demon anywhere. It must have disappeared when he wouldn¡¯t listen to it.

    Shaking his head, he slowly made his way towards the filtered light far away. Keeping close to the right wall, he crouched as he made his way through. Though that did little to stop every single step from being a veritable bell letting everyone know where he was.

    Yet, no one came out to check or stop him from continuing. It struck him that this might be a trap of some kind, but why would they need to retrap him when he was already chained and locked down to the ground. It made little sense in his mind.

    He reformed his resolve and began to sneak forward towards the light. His right shoulder was firmly placed onto the wall as he continued. Only walking past the doorways not touching them. More than once, he heard shuffling from behind the doors and even a few muffled voices. But none came out.

    Kaius jumped as his shoulder bumped into something. He felt his heart fall out of his chest as a few things clattered on the ground. They sounded like metal. Slowly turning around, he let out a relieved sigh when he found no one there. Instead, all he saw were two rusty and battered axes that had been hanging crossed on large pins on the wall.

    Grabbing them, he noticed their edges were still very sharp. Roughly an inch up from the edge of the blade was clean and unaffected by age. As though it had just been made. That contrasted with the rest of the metal, they were reddish-brown from rust. Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    Someone must have lined them with something special. The longer Kaius stared at them, the more he could see a faint glow of magic on the newer parts. Touching the blade, he felt it prick his finger with the barest of touches. A droplet of blood ran down his finger. He rubbed it off on his wet pants, knowing that did little to stem the flow.

    Holding tightly onto them, he walked past where they were hanging and close enough to see what was contained within the light. It came from an ornate door on the top of a staircase up.

    He walked up to the stairs, but as he took his final labored step, he was almost thrown down by the ship swaying dangerously to the right. Flailing his arms and the axes in his hands with them, he barely found his balance. Embedding an axe into the wall did afford him that though.

    Releasing a breath, he waited for the ship to settle down enough for him to walk. Once it did, he took that final step and stood before the large door. The final door before his freedom. The last hurdle he expected to face after this.

    With a hesitant hand, he put one of the axes in the nook of his arm and grabbed the thin cold metal of the handle.

    A long hiss sounded out from behind the door. It gave Kaius a reason to turn around, but with a tight grip on the handle, he twisted it opening the door inwards. It creaked like no other one before. Like it had not been touched in a century. Louder than even the first he had opened.

    An eerie grayish-green light filtered in from the opening. He narrowed his eyes from the glare and grabbed the axe from the nook of his arm.

    Opening his eyes, he was introduced to a foggy deck. He could barely see more than a few feet away. The fog was a ghostly green that gave the area an unnatural stillness. A massive mast tore through the fog far above, it¡¯s shadow lingering. Tied to it was the ships main-sail.

    It bothered Kaius on multiple levels. His body ached to return as his mind cried to him, begging he turns around and heart thumped like thunderclaps. He feared the hunters would hear it pounding in his chest.

    Turning his powers up to full blast, he felt them surge through his body. The fog cleared a bit as a dark purple light flared stronger than before. Then an orange haze coated his body.

    With the orange, time seemed to slow down to a crawl. Only his body moved in real-time as he crept forward axes ready to strike.

    His wells of power beat with his heart. A comforting sensation.

    Surveying the deck, his eyes caught no traces of magic. Just a blank canvas surround the ship. He knew it to be true but wanted to believe otherwise. Something was wrong, so very wrong. An unnatural sensation invaded his body. The dark statue within him shook, trying to tell him something, but he could not understand for the life of him.

    It was then that he felt a bit of regret, maybe he should have listened to the old man. Or at the very least the white demon. It did bring him the flower and had yet to steer him wrong. He shook his head. Now was not the time to fall down this rabbit hole.

    A shadow burst out of the fog. Went straight for him. Acting on instinct, he swung his arm in front of him, forgetting completely he held an axe. With a wet thud, it sunk into flesh.

 Chapter 11 - A Titans Power Part 3

    One moment he was thinking and the next he stood next to a gorgeous woman with his axe deeply embedded into her skull. Her hair was a dark brown, her eyes the same color, skin a porcelain white.

    He let go of his weapon. The body fell to the ground with a thump, the lifeless eyes stared into his own. Glassed as they were, Kaius could not look away in his fright. It was only then, after long seconds of processing what had just happened, did his emotions kick in. Hitting him like a runaway wagon.

    ¡°No, no, no,¡±

    His hands shook, and heart began to beat wildly. But his emotions were for naught.

    Like water rippling, the woman¡¯s image changed. In place of the stunning vision she had been, it changed into a hideous creature reminiscent of a woman. With eyes too big for her head and a mouth filled with large protruding teeth, she looked more like a nightmare the longer he stared.

    Like a flitting dance of fireflies, flashes of mana showed around the creature. Though it was as if the pulses of mana was being covered by a blanket. Not knowing what that meant, Kaius filed it in the back of his mind.

    His hand still shook as he grabbed the fallen axe pulling it with a sickening squelch. A puke colored liquid dribbled down from the wound. It further made a point clear: This was no human, just a monster. His conscious could rest for just a bit longer.

    It struck him odd, to say the least, how the creature had clearly been using magic of sorts, yet he could not see it with his purple power. Was there a reason? Or was it simply he was not focusing hard. Though he felt the white demon without putting any effort before.

    Narrowing his eyes in an attempt to focus, he took further steps forward towards the mast. He was confident there would be more of the creature he had slain.

    The fog became denser the further from the door he walked. Even with his powers at full blast, he still found a bit of difficulty seeing through it. His legs ached from disuse even more so now in the cold. The ship swayed back and forth every few steps. But his orange well made it easier to trek such unexpected changes; time slowing was a significant factor.

    A flash of mana came from his right, he swung without thought. Hoping he would get lucky with another hit.

    The creature had shot towards him, meeting his axe head-on. It sank into its shoulder. The thing screamed, making his ears ring. The longer it did, the more hoarse it voice became and the image ripped away. Coming to its senses, it raised claw ridden hands searching for purchase on his skin.

    Kaius jumped back and away from the creatures swing. He knew he didn¡¯t need claws cutting him apart. No matter how inexperienced he was, he knew that instinctively.

    The creature moved in slow motion. Like it was in molasses. Its swings were delayed, bites always a second late. They danced together for a time that felt like an hour to Kaius, but was nothing more than a few seconds. The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

    All the while, it bled that sickening colored liquid from its wound. Slowing every few seconds.

    After overextending and losing balance, the creature stumbled forward. The axe gave it an extra weight it was not used to. Taking advantage, Kaius took his chances. His attack crushed the skull of the creature, cutting all the way down to its jaw, almost splitting the creature¡¯s head in half.

    Putrid gore crawled down the split sides.

    Feeling exhausted, he found himself on his hands and knees, emptying his stomach. It was mostly liquid, but his few bites of bread had found themselves on the ground.

    He felt another pulse of mana from in front of him. Startled, he got up to a sitting position with hands raised in front of his face. Thoughts of regret and guilt surged in his chest. He should have listened. Taken heed of those with more knowledge. It was only pride and arrogance that lead him to this doom.

    He shivered in his spot. Waiting for death to come to his exhausted body. But nothing happened. Opening his eyes, he looked past his raised arms. That only caused him to shake even more and heart to drop. In front of him hidden by the fog--only their eyes showed, glowing red and greens--was too many pairs of eyes to count.

    They stood in a semi-circle, their anticipation was palpable even to him. Hissing and shrieking from a few meters away, none dare to step forward. Though a few made feints to trick him.

    Reaching out for his axes, his hands fumbled for them. He dropped them a few times before finally getting a tight grip on them. His legs shook as he stood up and his vision flitted from one pair of eyes to another trying to watch them all at once.

    His sources of power thrummed stronger every second begging to be released. But, he did not get a chance to use them. The creatures all froze. They looked up to the sky above. Eyes focused on something he could not see. That was until the fog above began to clear.

    It was then that it clicked for him. It wasn¡¯t that there was no mana in the air, it was the exact opposite. There was so much that it blanketed the pitiful use of magic the creatures on the deck used.

    The axes clattered onto the ground. Kaius¡¯s legs gave up on keeping him up and mouth was left hanging. He tried to speak, but could not find any words as his mouth moved futilely. It was a being he could not have conceived. Its sheer size beyond anything he could have imagined.

    It was made of mana, a titan before him with a transparent body. Its eyes, so far away yet pierced into his soul from there, glowed blue. Its hands large enough to hold the entire ship on its palm.

    The creatures on the deck scattered back into the waters, but Kaius did not notice. His eyes locked onto the massive being.

    Slowly it cocked back its hand readying to back-hand him to oblivion. Coming slower than it had any right to, it streaked forward leaving trails of blue mana in the air it passed. It swung at him and the ship he was on.

    The fog cleared with its incoming attack. Running away from the inevitable end the being silently promised to all that stood before it. Within seconds the hand passed through him and the ship.

    A gust of wind greater than any he had experienced almost picked him up from his seated position. In its wake, a wave at least three times larger than the ship rose from the ocean around them. A coming watery death.

    With a deafening crash, the wave took everything on the deck that stood unfettered. Pulling Kaius to its depths. His sight blurred and body choked on the waters. A blackness crept from the edges of his sight, taking his consciousness.

    The last thing he saw was a streak of white rushing towards him.

 Chapter 12 - A Dream

    ¡°Having fun, aren¡¯t we?¡±

    Kaius looked up. A face shadowed by the sun¡¯s glare smiled down at him. He returned it with as much brightness as he could muster before returning back to his hands. The mud felt wet and the few pebbles in between stuck out like sore thumbs, islands around an ocean.

    ¡°Yes, Mama.¡±

    The figure sat next to him on a large boulder. She watched him from above. Her smile faded a bit but was always present. That was what mattered and nothing more. As long as her smile stayed, everything would be fine. That was her resolve.

    Kaius started playing with the mud again. This time, less messily than before lest she reprimand him. He shaped and molded it. It would hold its given form for a few seconds before breaking apart. He just giggled and remade the shapes over again. Never once thinking it to be futile.

    The world disappeared around him without warning. The mud in his hands dropped to the ground fading as they escaped his grasp. He was in a clearing eliminated only by a crackling fire. Mother no longer had a smile, instead a fierce determination he found alien on her features. She carried a long spear pointed at dark figures. He knew they were after him, trying to take him away from her.

    ¡°Mama?¡± he whispered as a piercing pain assaulted his head. He closed his eyes afraid and suffering from this unusual situation.

    ¡°Yes, my flower?¡± she responded. Her voice was distant--barely audible to him.

    ¡°Mama?¡± He said again. His head throbbed forcing him to close his eyes in a struggle. Opening them, he found himself back in front of the mud and his mother sitting behind him. She had a worried expression on her face.

    She reached out and hugged him and comforted him. Kept him sane and able to fight back. She rubbed his head slowly taking the pain away from him.

    Kaius was shaking in her embrace. Where had he gone? Why did his mother look so scary? Why wasn¡¯t she happy, she was always smiling. He looked up at her--tears at the edges of his eyes--the real her. The one with the wide caring smile and bright eyes.

    ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± she cooed. ¡°It¡¯s all going to be okay.¡±

    He let the tears fall from his eyes. Embraced the solace and warmth she provided. It was then he knew that this was a memory, how he understood that he did not know. It was supposed to end in a matter of moments, and with a smile, he waited for it to fade away. This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

    But it didn¡¯t.

    Time stretched longer and longer as they sat there. His smile faltered as he looked up at his mother¡¯s face. It was not the bright foggy face he expected rather shadows lined her wavering expression. Above her, clouds began to roll in from far away, promising a heavy storm and roaring thunder.

    ¡°Kaius,¡± she said suddenly, startling him. ¡°You know, change is inevitable. No matter how hard we try otherwise, it happens.¡±

    ¡°Mama?¡±

    ¡°Kaius, j-just listen, okay,¡± every second she spoke, her smile faded away, and the shadows crept closer around them. Grasping at their figures.

    ¡°What¡¯s going on? I-I¡¯m scared.¡±

    As though she didn¡¯t hear him, she continued to speak, ¡°Like change, death is also unavoidable.¡±

    Her grip on him tightened, painfully. Yet, that wasn¡¯t at the top of his mind. Kaius felt his head throb as flashes of the clearing showed. Of his mother swinging her spear back and forth. A foreboding sense of loss originated from his chest. He clutched at his shirt as though that would help relieve the pain.

    His heart missed a beat, then another. A weight he did not understand burdened his body, forcing him to slouch forward. His tears began to roll down with renewed vigor, though he did not know why.

    ¡°I will pass on as well, and so shall you when the time comes. So, don¡¯t lose hope, okay. I-I¡¯m rambling aren¡¯t I...point is, don¡¯t dwell on the bad days and look forward to the good.¡±

    His blurred eyes drifted towards his mother¡¯s face. She was fading, becoming transparent like a ghost. And yet, she continued to speak. Not caring whether her body would lose its physical nature.

    ¡°...hurts, it hurts a lot. But don¡¯t give up. Because I will always be with you. Maybe not physically, but always spiritually.¡±

    He reached out to hold her hands only to pass through them. He felt his body sink backward into her. Her body--it had held him up as he leaned against her--was not there to hold him any longer.

    She got up, passing through him. Floating in the air, rising upwards. Looking down, she smiled and waved a final goodbye before drifting into the sky above.

    Struggling to get up, his child-like body felt unnatural to him. He chased after her, her image slowly getting out of reach. Until finally, he was left alone in the darkness of his dreamscape running without purpose.

    The ground under him lost its ability to hold him. With a large splash, he sank into murky waters he could not see through. Only a light far above he could not recognize. The water was deeper than he expected, he splashed and flailed to find something to grab or something to find purchase on.

    There was nothing.

    Instead, the waters formed hands and limbs to grab him with. They wrapped around his body, ankles, and arms. Pulling him down into their endless depths.

    He struggled to get away but found them too strong. It was then he remembered he needed to breathe. That only made his fighting even more frantic.

    Darkness crept into his vision as his lungs burned without any air. In a few seconds, he lost his consciousness as he tried to grasp onto the light and maybe reach his mother.