《The World King Chronicles》 Origin: Prologue The snow fell around Grud, quickly obscuring his footprints and making it more difficult to find his bearings. Luckily the Uruyuld Mountain shouted its challenge openly to all those below. For Grud to find his destination he just needed to look at the tallest point and keep walking in that direction. So he continued on his path. Many people had told Grud that being so stubborn would be his death, but many people were cowards. Grud paid them no heed. Instead, the orc trudged ever forwards, one step at a time. Those same people would call Grud simple, to insult him. They would laugh and point as he walked by like he was some grand joke to gawk at. Little did they know that Grud actually enjoyed being called simple. The simple things were usually best after all, be it the warmth of a hearth after a day in the cold, or a plate of hot food after missing a meal. Yes, simple was the best, and Grud was going to be the best of them. That¡¯s what today was about. Proving himself, and coming back to the village with a drake egg unlike any other. Many minutes of trudging later, Grud reached a crest in the range. Not the highest point, not by any stretch, but it was still a spot worth noting. It was the highest point allowed by the elders for egg searching or arak¡¯vayan. They deemed that going past this point risked the Emui¡¯Darak¡¯s attention and fury. Of course, noting this spot didn¡¯t mean waiting around as Grud pushed through the crest and onto the next with no hesitation, knowing that he would be reported if the other half dozen fresh men, who were here to announce their independence and bravery with a drake egg of their own. The drake eggs were the cast offs, however. The drake eggs others would bring back likely had been frozen for hundreds of years Grud respected them enough to spare them dishonor by association. They wouldn¡¯t be looking for him, but Grud wouldn¡¯t give fate a chance to intervene against him. No he would simply go unnoticed as he trudged his way into the dragon¡¯s lair, and to accomplish that he would need his magic. After all, going unnoticed was Grud¡¯s specialty, the one thing he was truly the best at. No one ever noticed him his whole life, until the World Well had noticed that was what he was best at. Being unnoticeable. It had stung, until Grud realized he would just have to work with what he was given. In a way, it was just like everything else he had tolerated up until this point. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn¡¯t surpass the best of his age by working from the front. He needed to hang around as they blazed the path, and follow quietly until he could leap forwards into the lead. And today was the day, so Grud quickly wove his Ice Formation over his body, the Cold Cloak. Ice Affinity mana flowed over his body like a storm, and suddenly Grud no longer appeared as a young Ork, wrapped in warm furs and climbing harnesses and gear. Instead, anyone watching him would simply have seen a particularly thick gust of wind and snow, moving steadily across the snowscape. It didn¡¯t do anything to blunt the cold and it got harder and harder to breathe as the temperature and oxygen dropped in relation to the altitude, but the Cold Cloak was easy enough to maintain in his Form Space that Grud didn¡¯t need to focus on it. He just kept moving forwards, because the hurt he was experiencing now wasn¡¯t worse than what he was accustomed to. The aching was familiar, and the sting of his silent companion helped keep Grud¡¯s wits sharp. Moving forwards on the mountain was always hard, after all. It was always a challenge to the strong, to push up the slopes and make it to the top where Emui¡¯Darak, the Mountainmother, would wait. A seconds distraction could be death Supposedly there was some ancient contract between his people and the queen of the peak, but Grud had seen drakes, and they were just big lizards. They could follow directions and use mana, but only through training, and only with the one they bonded to when they hatched. They didn¡¯t notice Grud either. The elders must be senile if they thought just because the Mountainmother was bigger and stronger she was any smarter. Grud doubted she would notice him either. In fact, he was banking on it. And if the Emui¡¯Darak did, well then¡­ Grud would likely be dead. But before that, he had to make it to the top of the Uruyuld. In front of Grud, a sheer face of ice stood towering over him and in his way. He was paying for his simplicity, but Grud had known he would. Of course, he would have to pay, because he always did. There was no point in avoiding it, so the young Ork had simply factored it into his plans. Readying his climbing gear, Grud paid his dues. Grud placed piton after piton into the ice, making sure movements and steady progress. Instead of using his cold weak fingers, Grud focused on his palms and wrists for leverage, and was pushing himself up at a good pace. He was sure someone like Jarl could have scaled it in half the time. It didn¡¯t matter. Jarl would never consider going beyond what the Elders said. Grud had, so he would go at the pace he was able to. He tried to exclude the outside world as he reached for more handholds, but halfway up the iceface a strong gust whistled down the mountain just as Grud extended his left arm. The force blasted the Ork¡¯s side from the cliff, and Grud lost his left foothold as well. Grud compensated and moved all of his weight over to his right foot as he desperately held onto the final piton against the relentless wind. Then, as suddenly as it started the wind died down, and Grud went to resecure his handholds. Just as he reached across the sheerface, the piton under his right foot collapsed. Making a desperate lurch, Grud snagged the other piton and held himself suspended with just his upper body. The weight of his six stride frame pulled on him, trying to bring the young Ork to an early grave. Instead, Grud pulled himself up again, and found the piton for his left leg. A quick sigh of relief came from his lips, then a small prayer. ¡°Ancestors watch over me.¡± Grud quietly intoned while taking a second to collect himself. However, instead of waiting for strength that would not be returning, Grud dragged himself to his feet and continued on. He was panting through his tusks and sweating despite the cold as he managed to pull himself the last of the way up the iceface. By now, Grud was far enough up the slopes that he could hear a distant ruckus, barely audible after being muffled by the snow. It was a good sign that Grud was close, and he let excitement aid his speed as he kept ascending. It was still at least another bell before Grud made it to the top of the crest, of endless treacherously deep snow banks and smaller sheer faces to shimmy up while still saving his gear in case another cliff appeared. Of course it was hard. Hard was good, because it meant the task was possible.Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon. Grud could do possible. * * * * * The young Ork reached under the peak trying to climb further, only to immediately get battered back almost to the edge by the sounds of fighting ahead. The snow and open air must have been dampening the noise more than Grud had accounted for, as something was fighting right in front of him. Fighting this close to the peak was sure to attract the Mountainmother. Unless, of course¡­ Knowing he shouldn¡¯t, Grud braced himself and peaked over the edge once more. Down below, the entire valley was covered in easily over 250 yards of white scaled beast, long and graceful with her enormous wings tucked in. The Mountainmother was here in all her resplendence, but Wayne wasn¡¯t sure he could call what she was doing fighting. The Great Dragon was writhing around the valley circling around its center. Light reflected off the white dragon and the white snow, making a brilliant river of diamonds. It was such a surreal sight that Grud almost didn¡¯t realize what the true cause of the noise was, because even though the Mountainmother was enormous, her passage was unnaturally silent. Instead, the noise was coming from a much smaller creature that was frantically ricocheting around the middle of the curled up form of the white giant. It was the one raising a ruckus and attacking the Mountainmother, battering against her sides with a reckless abandon. It was savage and relentless as it bounded from attack to attack, clawing and biting with no regards to composure, making it hard for Grud to discern its form, but it must have been a drake. However, what was clear was that painfully few of the creatures'' attacks were landing. As it went to reach out with its claws, Grud felt the wind gust and push the creature back from the Mountainmother. For long minutes Grud clung to the edge and watched the creatures'' desperate struggle for survival. It thrashed and whipped its body, but it never managed to scratch the Mountainmother. Instead, all it accomplished was wearing out the attacking creature, as its movements began to slow. Then, the Mountainmother shook her head, and with what sounded like a sigh, she casually batted the other creature to the ground with her tail. Its frantic defense shattered in an instant, the creature lay in a crater of snow, unmoving. Only then could Grud see what it truly was, and when he did a small gasp escaped his lips. The Mountainmother hadn¡¯t been fighting a drake. No, it had been fighting a young dragon. Grud ducked his head down for several minutes, waiting for the living disaster to retreat to her den. Huge wing beats signaled her retreat, and Grud peaked his head over the crest once again. Through the snow storm, he saw a great shadow growing ever smaller, and so Grud thought the valley would be safe to explore. Well, safe enough. There was still a dragon around, after all. Boosting himself, Grud scaled the crest and began carefully descending deeper into the valley, questing towards the downed body in the snow. As it took him minutes to transverse the distance, Grud gained an even greater respect for the Mountain Mother¡¯s preposterous size. That she was larger than the valley boggled the young orc¡¯s mind in a way that he struggled to believe even after witnessing the sight. Then, there was a new sight to take in. Grud was probably the only living member of his clan to see a dragon from such a close distance without it moving and fighting. It was majestic, white-scaled and lithe, with long and powerful appendages. Large leathery wings were tucked around its sides, but its chest still rose and fell so Grud knew it still lived. It was simply unconscious as Wayne stood over it. Dragons had been one of the most consistent struggles the Orcs of Trada¡¯Mund had faced. Every generation or two, another of the brood would reach adulthood, and terrorize the rest of the mountain range. The sight of a dragon was an omen of hardship, and death. Currently, there had been a dragon roving the northern slopes for the last decade, and now there was a second who would soon mature. Two dragons at once would be catastrophic for the Tribes. Only after watching its rhythmic breathing for a time, did Grud realize that he was upset. He just didn¡¯t know why. Orcs who brought back a dragon head were promoted to Clan Despato. From the blood staining the snow around the dragon''s body, it may be the easiest kill ever on a dragon. Grud may not even have to do anything but watch. Any orc was supposed to sacrifice their life to slay a dragon. But still, he was upset. He hadn¡¯t come here to kill a dragon, but to prove himself and find a partner to fight with, to watch his back. ¡°This isn¡¯t right¡­¡± ¡°Oh, and you could do better for him then, Grud?¡± A chilling voice whispered in Grud¡¯s ear. He spun around, but saw no one. A cold laugh rang out over the valley, and the snow rippled eerily along with it. ¡°How interesting I didn¡¯t notice you climb my summit. What peculiar magic you possess. Still, have the arak¡¯vayan not taught you what fate awaits you among the clouds?¡± Grud felt his tusks quivering in the wind. Against all of his training, his Cold Cloak, and his preparation, Grud had done the unthinkable. He had called the Mountain Mother¡¯s attention to him, and now Grud would die. So he may as well speak his mind before the end. Straightening up, the young orc tried to meet his death with dignity. ¡°Someone as¡­ proud as him shouldn¡¯t have such a tragic fate, before he can even grow up. So yes, I do think I could do better. I would at least try.¡± ¡°Mmm, yes, well, at least try to survive this. Then, if you do, I give you permission to raise Dura¡¯Mon to the best of your abilities.¡± Then, the world went white. The storm surrounding Grud intensified beyond an incredible degree, everything being encompassed by the falling snow. He felt the flurry rain down on his skin, pressing against him, pushing against his strength. The cold began to seep further into his body, Grud¡¯s layers of furs and the Cold Cloak doing nothing to insulate him against a wind like this. It cut deep, and then wrapped him in an overbearing hold. Grud thought he felt something else though, something past the snow and cold. An intent powerful enough to force the snow into action. Even now, he faintly felt it manipulating the storm, just as Grud felt something else distinctly. The cold did not want to hurt Grud. It was simply being made to do it. The pain was building, but it was a comfort to know his oldest friend had not abandoned him. It helped Grud to endure. It was cold. The cold was his friend. His friend would do its best to keep him safe. Grud extended all these feelings outwards like a hand to grasp. A smile took his face when his friend grasped back. He felt the mana around him shift, and then it started working with him. Suddenly, Grud was pulled through the storm into a stumbling step on freshly fallen snow. The storm had miraculously faded, and sunlight shone down through the clouds of his panted breath to reveal the similarly breathing body of Dura¡¯Mon laying there. ¡°Impressive, Grud of Clan Rec¡¯Lyn. Most impressive. I look forward to seeing you again in the future.¡± Then the intent faded from the air, and the tension released from Grud¡¯s shoulders. At least until he realized he would need to find a way to transport a fully hatched young dragon down the mountainside. Grud sighed and got to work. * * * * * Luminos watched the lizard in the hills finally make her move. It was too little, too late, as the God retreated to his Domain. His preparations had been completed years ago, and today they would come to fruition. He absently plucked thoughts from his priest''s minds, making sure the ceremony was ready to proceed smoothly. Orwell was usually competent, but the man¡¯s inability to adapt to new challenges showed his limits. Still, it seemed the Grand Priest had everything in place on this occasion. If the God could smile, he would. Instead, he shifted his view of the physical world to his soon-to-be Champion. The girl was so small, but she would suffice. With perfectly bronzed skin, and hair just a shade lighter, she gave off the impression of a rich beam of sunlight. Of course, the pure golden irises that adorned her face only completed the look. Ainne. The God declared her name, and his intention, to the realm. She would be his Champion, his avatar on the physical plane, and eventually his puppet Empress. She was the beautiful finale after years of careful plotting and planning. Yes, she was the prize, and everything else was just the unwanted remnants. * * * * * As the pieces were finally arrayed in their starting positions, the King of Nothing gave a wistful smile. Picking up the bishop and looking out over the Expanse, he muttered to himself from beneath his thick robes. ¡°I suppose it¡¯s time.¡± Leaving the board behind, he set out on his own path. Chapter 1 Staring up at the domed ceiling, Wayne attempted to take in details from the intricately styled grand mosaic of stained glass through strands of his longer black hair. The longer he gazed upwards, the more he couldn¡¯t help but feel that it was incomplete. The artwork¡¯s edges were wrought with small and brilliant green and yellow shards before transitioning to wider blue glass panes. The total effect had been used to make a series of what looked like wheat fields and forests under a wide sky, but the center at the top of the dome was curiously blank. It was clearly representing some religious ideology based on where Wayne was currently, but if it held some meaning beyond just decoration he couldn¡¯t make sense of it. Letting his head drop, Wayne saw more wealth adorning the walls than he had seen in his life before a week ago. Gold and silver were used to decorate in an abundance that would have been blasphemous if it wasn¡¯t serving a holy purpose. As his gaze dropped further Wayne quickly and purposely avoided looking at the caged Monsters snapping viciously at their restraints around the perimeter of the room. Instead, he listened to the garish priest directing the ceremony as he struggled not to get lost in the grandeur of his surroundings. An Awakening was an important day in anyone¡¯s life, so Wayne ought to do his best to stay focused. It was hard, especially when the priest used so many words that didn¡¯t mean anything. ¡°...and we thank Luminos for consecrating this holy ground on which we now stand. Our Lord and Giver of Light we thank thee for the light of your glorious System and this momentous occasion in which we bestow it upon the next generation. All those now gathered before you¡­¡± Wayne looked out over the crowd of young initiates around him. They stood in lines, but spread out enough that he could see everyone with little effort. It also helped that Wayne had three years of additional growth on everyone else participating, letting him stand head and shoulders above them with a few notable exceptions. One was another boy that towered above his peers at the front of the lines, causing Wayne to believe he may not be the only older participant here, the difference was so extreme. His black hair matched Wayne¡¯s own in shade, although the other boy¡¯s was cut short and neat. In that same front row was a young woman who stood above the crowd as well, although she didn''t tower to the same extent that Wayne or the other boy did. Instead she appeared willowy, and proud. In between them, was a girl who was almost a head shorter than the rest of the collected children, much less the other impressively tall thirteen year olds. With long golden hair that extended the length of her body and warm, bronze skin she was the last of the people standing at the front of lines, everyone else was standing behind them. It appeared Wayne wasn¡¯t the only one looking at them, as the priest in charge of the ceremony was almost exclusively speaking for them, and only occasionally glancing at the rest of the assembly. ¡°...Lord, thank you for the Blessing of the Sun, and the Warmth of the Light. Our Empire was built in service to you, so that we may spread the healing and warmth of your Form, Function, and Formations to all those who would accept their savior. Today we move ever closer to unity, by welcoming those worthy into the ranks of the Awakened, who would serve in Luminos'' name. May he watch over and favor you all. Come now, children. Commence with and connect your nascent souls to our glorious God.¡± With that, the priest''s endless speech was over, and the purpose of today¡¯s congregation began to take place. Wayne felt his breath catch, as a life spent waiting was about to be realized. It was finally time for him to enter the realm of the gods and become a Shaper. Every young child in the Luminous Empire dreamed of this day all their lives, though most only got the opportunity when they came of age at eighteen, and even fewer had the honor to do so here in the capital, at the Grand Cathedral of Elwin. An Awakening here was a right usually reserved for the highest of nobles, and Wayne had lacked such qualifications. Until recently, that is. A week ago, a letter arrived at the Saint Lewiana¡¯s orphanage along with an unmarked carriage to the capitol. The letter had only said that he would be allowed to attend the Awakening ceremony here by order of his birth father, with no mention of a name. Then at a hidden cue, most of the golden priests ringing the chamber began chanting together, words of supplication followed by action as they descended to their knees in unison, they called out to the Empire¡¯s god in harmony. The few priests who remained standing began to wheel the cages around the room. There were exactly as many desperately thrashing Monsters, as there were young Humans waiting to slay them. This time, Wayne had no choice but to look at their horrible forms, twisted and scaled unholy abominations that would kill endlessly if given a choice. Leathery wings sprouted from their hunched backs, turning them into enormous threats in the cover of darkness or in open air. Finally, the priest with Wayne¡¯s cage arrived, also handing him a weighted spear with a long steel tip. The sanded wood was heavy in his hands, and Wayne hefted it to a ready position. Around him, the others were doing the same. The head priest garnered their attention to the front of the chamber once more, his hands raised high into the air before he paused. Then the priest¡¯s arms fell, and with them so too did the collection of spears. Ripping sounds and splattered blood erupted all over the tiled flooring. The gargoyles¡¯ tortured cries echoed along the marble, making several of the assembled children flinch. Light began streaming in from the multitude of stained glass windows, bathing the cathedral in an ethereal glow. Suddenly, the air seemed to taste¡­ sharper, and suffocating in a way that Wayne struggled to describe, other than it felt like being stared at, uncomfortably. The otherworldly light bent, forming a large eye with a golden iris suspended centrally in the dome. The beautifully worked glass shards gained sudden, intimate meaning to everyone in the room, showing the whole of the peaceful Empire, with Luminos watching over it all However, soon the sight of the dome vanished behind the continually intensifying rays. The glaring colors melted together into a searing white, and suddenly Wayne felt naked. The god¡¯s presence scoured him down to his soul, almost causing Wayne to topple. Then the feeling of falling reversed and Wayne found his feet again. Only this time when he opened his eyes, Wayne was no longer in the Grand Cathedral. No, he was in Luminos¡¯ Realm now, gilded ground as far as the eyes could see, and a sky full of fading ethereal hues. * * * * * Wayne was alone. The other participants were nowhere to be found even though Wayne hadn¡¯t taken a step. Wayne was alone. The only other movement was a strange golden smoke, that sometimes gleamed like metal as it billowed and twisted. For a while he stood there, simply taking in the strange and unusual sights of a God¡¯s Realm. Then his perception shifted, and Wayne was face to face with himself. He saw his body stand on the hardened sunlight of the God¡¯s Domain, from a different perspective. Long black hair covered his slightly gaunt face, sweat visibly beading on his chest and arms. For some reason, his normally pale gray eyes were blurred out, their shape indistinct. Looking downwards, Wayne was forced to confront a hard truth. He didn¡¯t consider himself weak, but looking at his arms and legs from the outside was an awakening. Wayne still looked like a boy, not a man.Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. Then, the smoke separated into small strands, the tendrils beginning to quest about the landscape. Wayne knew they were hunting for him instinctively. It was like the certainty of a blade against his throat, cold and merciless. He tried to resist, to push the gaseous forms away from him but couldn¡¯t move his limbs, his mind disconnected from his body. The tendrils slowly converged on his location, and although he couldn¡¯t move, Wayne distantly felt as they began to tear through his skin. Quickly the smoke had burrowed deep inside of him, burning passageways through the fabric of Wayne¡¯s being. Distantly he felt his feet leave the floor. Things inside of Wayne twisted, and then suddenly the light he felt inside of his soul pulled its way back out, not following the same tunnels but shooting straight to the closest exit point. As the last of it ravaged through his spirit, it left a whisper on the wind. ¡®Fortune has favored you today.¡¯ It pierced him, and it was all Wayne could do to keep conscious as he snapped back to himself, falling to his knees. Barely aware, he vaguely sensed the light leaving him. Distantly, he heard several grunts and, but he was too focused on his spirit to notice. For the first time in his life Wayne was aware of his soul, the pain¡¯s source made abundantly clear by the misery it was being subject to. Then, a glowing script appeared in Wayne¡¯s sight, stabbing into his consciousness directly.
Luminos welcomes your subservience, and graces you with his power.
Name: Wayne Clive Aouris
Tier: Mortal Tier (0)
Affinities: Light, Fire
Open Statistics and Skills? (Yes/No)
No¡­ dread crept over Wayne even as he recovered from his scouring. Here was the infamous Order, the blessing that Luminos gave the citizens that made the Empire the strongest nation on the continent. But it had to be wrong in Wayne¡¯s case. He knew that most people remained tierless even after their awakening, but this last week had made Wayne think that wouldn¡¯t be his fate. Suddenly, the hope that had been keeping him running since his mother¡¯s death flickered under reality. I¡¯m tierless. I¡¯m¡­ Before he could dwell on it, a surge of energy flooded the room, this one thankfully not bringing any pain with it. Wayne forced his eyes to focus, so he could look for the pulse¡¯s source. What he saw took his breath away again. All the other participants were still suspended above the ground, coated in a golden glimmer that seemed to shift with his movements. It was a mesmerizing sight, almost as brilliant as when Luminos himself had been descending. Then, another pulse burst forth, and most of the participants fell to the ground and their knees, similarly to Wayne. Still, some of the participants remained suspended, the light surrounding those who remained brightening by several degrees. They were like glittering stars, fallen from the sky amongst the unworthy. As another pulse of the God¡¯s energy washed out through the throng while Wayne admired the beauty of the moment. The rest of the participants floated more gently to the floor than the others had, another boon offered to the greatest among them. All of them stood on their own two feet. Except for one person. At the front of the procession, the smaller girl ascended further into the air amongst brilliant beams of light that began to overwhelm the eyes. She alone exuded another pulse of the energy, although it easily matched all the other¡¯s for intensity. Still, she ascended higher, rising upwards into the dome above. The girl took the space Luminos had just held a few minutes ago, gleaming like the God himself had returned to conclude the ceremony. One, final wave of energy washed over the room, forcing those bearing witness to their knees. The girl gradually descended to the floor, clearly exhausted but still radiating off a faint inner glow. The sound of her heels clicking against the marble echoed in the silence of the Grand Cathedral. For long moments, no one dared to intrude upon the sacred nature of the moment. Then, the priests collectively burst into supplication, as the rest of the participants staggered back to their feet, staring and mouths agape. ¡°By the Blessing of Luminos and your own grace, your highness Holy Princess Ainne, your humble servant thanks you deeply for the chance to witness such an event. Be thankful all, for you have witnessed the birth of Luminos¡¯ newest Champion! May his glory shine upon us all, as the Holy Princess leads us to a new age of glory for the Empire!¡± Wayne was still in shock. Champions were a thing of myth and legend, the appointed Avatar of a god that walked amongst men. The caretaker had often told him and the others stories of Champions and Legionnaires of the past, and no small part of him had secretly hoped to walk out of the cathedral today as the Luminous Empire¡¯s newest hero. But I¡¯m the opposite of a Champion. A nobody. At that thought, Wayne¡¯s situation began to truly sink in. Not only was he not a legendary hero, he hadn¡¯t even awakened to being an Acolyte. All of Wayne¡¯s childish fantasies had been shattered, and the awe in his gut turned sour, leaving him only with poisonous thoughts of the future. As he stared at the girl across the room from him, Wayne wondered what it would be like to have things go his way for once. * * * * * Wayne barely noticed as he followed the group out of the Grand Temple of Elwin to the marbled paving of the Divine Pavilion. On any other time he would likely have been gawking like a country bumpkin, like he had been minutes ago. Now it was hard to enjoy the once in a lifetime sight. Even though the notification box had long since disappeared from his vision, it was still all he could see. With an effort of will, Wayne forced himself to live in the moment, if only so he wouldn¡¯t appear rude to those before him. The Empress herself had attended the event, and as a result the other Nobles in attendance had worked themselves into a tizzy trying to cozy up to her. However, the ruler of the Empire didn¡¯t deign to respond, instead remaining silent from inside her palanquin floating amongst a collection of mystic clouds, as the Nobles circled around her like a horde of gnats. However, as the front of the participants'' procession reached them, the swarm parted, and the new Champion of Luminos made her way to the Empress. When she was ten feet away, the short girl dipped into a respectful curtsy, and began quietly speaking. Wayne was too far away to recognize what she was saying, but he was still close enough to see when a familiar man walked from behind the palanquin, and embraced the Champion in a firm hug. Even at a distance, upon seeing the man, Wayne knew. Even as he noted the similar hair textures and eye shape, Wayne felt his confidence drop further still. If he could, the young man would stop time just so he didn¡¯t have to experience what he was now sure was coming. However, as the pit in his stomach lost its bottom, the Empress emerged from her shaded box and looked out over the assembled Nobles and Priests. And of course, her eyes crossed over Wayne, as well. He could have sworn that she smiled slightly as it happened, but she started speaking too quickly for Wayne to believe it was more than just his imagination. ¡°I hope today will become a pleasant memory for all that have participated. I know that I, Ariane Elia Lumina, will always remember, and celebrate this day. As such, I have decided to host an official Royal Banquet, to commemorate my daughter¡¯s ascension to Champion, one week from this day. I hope all of you here will be able to attend the event. That is all.¡± With her short speech, the Empress once again retreated into her shaded palanquin, leaving the crowd to slowly disperse as the participants reunited with their families, successfully integrated with Luminos¡¯ light. The dread Wayne felt only built, as he saw a man begin treading towards him. The man wore finely made state attire, complete with a sash and epaulets. This was the man that had just hugged the short Champion. He was also, without a doubt, Wayne¡¯s father. Eventually, the distance between them closed, and brought the two men face to face. From this close, Wayne could see that he had inherited his eyes from this man, as the cold gray color was unique enough that Wayne had never met someone else who shared it, before now. Wayne¡¯s black hair and thin face were mirrored across from him, only the difference of a couple fingers between their height, before Wayne bowed his head. ¡°I can¡¯t see her in you¡­¡± Wayne wanted to meet the man¡¯s eyes, to ask about his family, but he did not take the chance. ¡°You are still Mortal.¡± The Emperor Regent finally said. There was a strange tone in the man¡¯s voice that made Wayne uncomfortable, and suddenly the dread wasn¡¯t content to sink to the bottom of his stomach, the emotion flaring out and trying to rip through his abdomen. ¡°Yes¡­ your Highness. I am sorry I have failed you.¡± Wayne responded as he stared down at his worn shoes, trying to fight the emotions out of his voice. It was because of this, that he did not see the second man who joined them, until his boots joined the other¡¯s in Wayne¡¯s field of vision. ¡°Your Highness, my lady has sent me to fulfill your bargain.¡± At the newcomer¡¯s words, Wayne managed to find the courage to look up once again. The new man was dressed in ridiculously garish clothing, so colorful that it almost made the churning feeling in Wayne¡¯s gut erupt, but he didn¡¯t say or do anything. Instead, he watched as the Empress¡¯s servant held steady eye contact with his father, before the man gave a slight nod. ¡°You will take the boy to Jaemeson, and enlist him with the first Century. I¡¯m also trusting you to remain there until relieved by the man I appoint to replace you in your duties.¡± ¡°Yes, your highness.¡± With that, his father looked back to Wayne. His face was tense, stern, but the corners of his mouth curled up into a smile. ¡°Good. You have not failed me yet. Make it back alive.¡± With those few parting words the Emperor Regent of the Luminos Empire turned and left his only son behind, confused. Chapter 2 It was a blur of harsh lights as he was ushered out of the Shining Capitol City, Lamelia. Countless nameless faces passed in succession as his father¡¯s guard led him through the brilliantly reflective streets. The famed ¡®bejeweled¡¯ roads, each of the glazed cobblestones gleaming like a gem in the setting sunlight. Hours ago he had almost tripped over himself, Wayne had been so glued to the majestic thoroughfare. Now, he barely paid it any mind as he methodically plodded over it. Wayne passed countless famed works of art, and historical sites that would normally inspire awe. If this was any other time, Wayne would have been gawking around at the sights of steel and stained glass. Right now, the shining lights in his eyes were simply an annoyance as they interrupted his thinking. ¡°Don¡¯t blame the Regent, kid. He¡¯s doing his best to keep you alive, and give you a better life. Right now I¡¯ll be able to keep you alive but¡­ it would be best for your health to have you in Light¡¯s Reach, under the watch of the Legion.¡± His chaperone said. ¡°Yes sir. I understand.¡± Wayne replied back absentmindedly. The other man let out a short sigh. ¡°You will, eventually.¡± At that, the man grabbed Wayne¡¯s arm and dragged him through the crowds. Wayne didn¡¯t know what the man meant by that, but he was in no mood to ask. Thankfully, the conversation trailed off there, and they just drifted through the crowds of well dressed residents of the capitol. He felt out of place, like he didn¡¯t belong here. When he had been an orphan at Saint Lewiana¡¯s orphanage, they were told to be good and pray daily so that they could have a sponsor. If they could just have a sponsor, then they too could pursue an honest trade or craft. Once they went through their Awakening at eighteen and gained their Shaping, they could learn a Form for baking, smithing, or tailoring. Even a farmer could learn enough Shapings to live an easy life with their partner as they grew old together. Wayne had always thought that had sounded nice, a peaceful place with just him and the people he cared about. Not that he didn¡¯t care for the others before¡­ It had just been hard to have so many people around, new people joining and others leaving. Always leaving. If they didn¡¯t find a sponsor by adulthood, they would be forced to set out on their own, to scrounge up whatever they could on the streets or in a remote village. It wasn¡¯t usually a great option, but some of the girls and boys over the years had wound up as wealthy spouses, or successful merchants. The other option was to join the Legion as a volunteer, when they were too old to remain under the orphanage¡¯s care. Everyone knew that the volunteers were given little equipment, little training, and little chance of survival. Any Monster that reached a high enough tier could and would tear through the low ranks regularly. Only a similarly high tier Shaper could hope to contest them. And those were the only fates Wayne had ever even dreamed of. That his father would be the Emperor of the Empire, that he would see the capitol, all of this was out of the bounds of his imagination. Wayne felt numb, his sense overwhelmed. So it was no surprise that when his chaperone finally stopped, Wayne stumbled into the man¡¯s back. Casting a quick glance around, Wayne realized they had stopped in front of a fancy stable house, gates large enough for a stately carriage shut ahead of them. ¡°Is this where we are going?¡± Wayne asked. The other man just grunted in response. ¡°Alright then, let me-¡± Wayne was interrupted as his chaperone¡¯s extended arm now blocked his path. ¡°Open the gate and face us. We know you are there, assassins.¡± What?! After a moment the gate swung slowly open, revealing an armed man and woman waiting for them, savage grins on their dirty faces. ¡°Should¡¯a take the chance to run, corpse. Now you¡¯ra get it.¡± The woman spoke, the greed and desire for violence heavy in her voice. The two attackers unsheathed chipped swords from the sheathes at their waists. His chaperone let out another sigh. An awkward silence stretched out for several seconds. ¡°Do you even know who I am?¡± The man his father entrusted to him finally asked. ¡°O¡¯course we ain¡¯t care abo-¡± The man answered, before suddenly looking down. His severed head fell to the ground, an incredulous look still on the man¡¯s face. The woman looked shocked for a moment, her exclamation loud and confused. ¡°Anton-¡± Her head slipped from her shoulders, and bounced over next to her partners. No blood oozed from the clean cuts, as if the bodies didn¡¯t yet realize they had been decapitated. The man hadn¡¯t made a single motion Wayne could see to kill the both of them. Wayne¡¯s chaperone stepped over the separated heads, opening the door of an ornate carriage that waited in the courtyard, two horses already strapped in. Suddenly, his words from earlier came back to Wayne. ¡®...It would be best for your health to have you in Light¡¯s Reach, under the watch of the Legion.¡¯ Swallowing audibly, Wayne carefully stepped around the corpses, and climbed into the vehicle. His journey had begun, whether Wayne was ready or not. * * * * * Several days later, Wayne rode in the back of a carriage, doing his best to find a position that would minimize the soreness that was inevitably waiting for him come the day''s end. Although he had initially been thankful that he wouldn¡¯t have to walk all the way to the country¡¯s border, the firm wooden cart he found himself in was in some ways a worse fate. As the cart went over another root that had overgrown to the center of their path, Wayne let out a silent curse. Having already been riding for several days without recovery time, his legs felt like someone had drained all the blood from them, leaving sensation from them blurry between the painful jostling, which of course wasn¡¯t muted at all. Absently, Wayne pulled up the Order again. Although he was still Mortal, he still had access to the complicated Divine gift that would allow Wayne to have an overview of his abilities condensed into numerical statistics.
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Name: Wayne Clive Aouris
Tier: Mortal Tier (0)
Element(s): Light, Fire
Open Statistics and Skills? (Yes/No)
Mentally selecting [Yes], Wayne once again pulled up his Status Sheet.
Statistics:-
Strength: 1
Speed: 1
Spirit: 1
Skills:-
N/A
It still rankled Wayne that he was so deficient in every area, days after finding out. As far as he knew, it wasn¡¯t possible to get a 0, so his own total of 1 was the worst possible result for his Statistics. And in Spirit as well¡­ Wayne may not have always paid attention to all the sermons and scriptures much while at church, but he knew that the Spirit Attribute came with some connotations. Mostly, in that it represented an individual''s faith in Luminos¡¯, so having a ¡®1¡¯ in that statistic might not be received well by some of the more fervorous people. As such, Wayne had decided it wouldn¡¯t be ideal to inform others too much of his situation. If word of his predicament got out. He had certainly seen people burned as heretics for less. Especially with where Wayne was headed¡­ Well, the reputation the Legion had was legendary in numerous regards. About a day ago, his supervisor had finally informed Wayne he would be arriving at Light¡¯s Reach upon his journey¡¯s conclusion. It was a mythical location, as not only was it believed to be the Prophet Elwin¡¯s birthplace and the furthest point of civilization towards the center of the continent, it was also the Legion¡¯s main stronghold and base of operations. It would also be where he would enter basic training now that he was enlisted. Probably as soon as tomorrow he would be out on the parade grounds being tested and honed to Legion standards. Wayne sighed, and wondered when his life had become so complicated, even though he knew the answer. ¡°Young lord, we¡¯ll reach Light¡¯s Reach promptly. Prepare yourself.¡± The older guard spoke to Wayne from his driver¡¯s seat, not turning around but speaking firmly through a small window. ¡°Thank you for the warning¡­ I appreciate it sir.¡± Wayne replied, though the other man had not responded to his charge previously. ¡°The people that gather in Light¡¯s Reach all have power to wield and all of them can be dangerous if given the opportunity, while many will not need a reason to strike. Be cautious and careful who you trust during your stay.¡± Wayne was slightly stunned, as his nameless steward spoke more in the last minute than the previous three days. Still, he managed to stammer out his appreciation again for the advice before the two of them once again fell into a silence marred only by the noises of horses clopping along, occasional birdsong, and the rolling of carriage wheels. * * * * * For miles now, the foliage had been growing thicker and thicker as the carriage rolled westward. Trees that had been similar to the ones by the orphanage gradually gave way to twisted and stringy trees that seemingly could grow at any angle. They extended from the ground like the grasping hands of the dead that never found their way out from the depths of the jungle. At some points, the trees were growing so thickly together that a second layer of the trees were growing up from the ground layer¡¯s canopy. When Wayne saw that he shivered, because he knew they must be close to Light¡¯s Reach. And close to the Western Wildes. The Wildes were a lawless jungle that everyone in the Empire heard horror stories about. Part of the reason the Holy Prophet Elwin¡¯s word of Luminos spread so fast here was because the Light and Fire the God offered could protect Humans from the rapidly growing jungles. Inside its dark tangles, even the bravest and strongest Legionnaires could fail and die. Monsters of all varieties were lurking in the depths, waiting for their next meals. As Wayne stared out into the endless sea of brown and green, he tried not to imagine himself finding such a fate. It wasn¡¯t long later that the carriage crested a small hill, Wayne finally got sight of the city. It had taken until they were almost at the location for it to be visible, because of the density of the surrounding greenery and the city¡¯s overall compacted design. Other than a massive tree with its branches extending almost to the wall¡¯s perimeter and its trunk rising from the center of Light¡¯s Reach. And that wasn¡¯t to say the city walls were unimpressive. Circular, slate colored stone walls of easily thirty feet surrounded the city, with periodic towers dotting its exterior. The smooth hewn towers extended higher than the rest of the walls, and had bridges built between them and the branches that reached out that far. But comparing the towering height of the central tree to any man made structure made the latter seem insignificant. Gazing out his window, Wayne still struggled to comprehend the size of the tree even as their carriage pulled up the eastern gate. Within a minute of seeing the city, they had arrived at their destination. As Wayne dismounted, he got a chance to take in Light¡¯s Reach¡¯s towering walls from up close. The fortifications stretched beyond his vision from so close, forcing him to crane his neck backwards as he gazed upon the crenelations the guards manned. The Legion¡¯s influence was obvious as their signature gold trimmed armor reflected in the sunlight from above, almost blinding him if he looked too directly. As Wayne went to raise his hand to try and get a better look, he heard someone clear their throat behind him. His steward, who Wayne was starting to feel consciously uncomfortable for not knowing his name, was standing towards the gate. The man had been handing off the carriage to another guard who had been waiting to collect it. When Wayne looked over, he gestured for his charge to follow and proceeded onwards into the fortress city. Trailing behind him, Wayne passed between the guards manning the gate without being accosted. Instead, they each shallowly bowed to his steward and moved onto ascertaining the business of the next people in line. And then, Wayne was in Light¡¯s Reach. Wayne lost control of his face. He had heard that it was a city built from a single building, but before that moment he had never quite considered what that meant. He would never have expected the entirety of the city to have a roof, though. Every structure in Light¡¯s Reach was as tall as the Wall outside, and acted as supporting beams. In fact, Wayne saw several locations where the wall was simply a side of a building, maybe even someone''s house. However, the awe Wayne felt didn¡¯t come from the ceiling, but what was on the ceiling. Or more accurately, what was growing through the stonework above. Giant roots from the trees Wayne had seen on his approach grew through the construction and wove into grand Mana Sigils that cast multiple colors of ethereal light from their arches above. Great friezes covered the areas between, creating a tapestry of human and natural artistry that seemed to surpass the sky for beauty. The ceiling visually melded with the buildings supporting it, leaving Wayne to feel like he was in some sort of dreamscape. When he roused from his stupor, the sudden noise of the crowd that had been suppressed hit him. Wayne could have sworn he heard his steward chuckle at his slack jaw, but by the time he turned to check, the man was too distant for Wayne to see his face. The young man rushed to catch up, not eager to risk getting lost in the crowds. And the crowds were heavy, with throngs of people pushing in every which way with no seeming order. As Wayne finally caught up to his steward, they managed to push through the chaos for a few minutes, as the crowds continued to stream past them. A few shops caught his interests, as shouters out front hawked some of their lighter wares. Wayne was semi interested, but he didn¡¯t have enough time to examine the goods, nor money to buy them if he was so inclined. So instead, he studied the people in the crowds as they pushed further and further into the castle city. Most were paler than he would have originally assumed considering the warmer climate, but he now obviously understood why. Beyond that, a larger portion of the people he witnessed were dressed in armor and traveling gear than he might have expected, but they weren¡¯t wearing anything to identify them with an organization. Wayne wasn¡¯t sure, but it was likely that they were adventurers, Empire contractors that investigated the less explored regions of the empire and beyond to deal with local level threats that would be too expensive for the Legion to respond to. Wayne heard they also found most of the confirmed Rifts, but information on the magical scars in the world was kept hard to find for an orphan. He tried to listen to some of the conversations as he followed through the crowd, but most of the words were lost to the commotion. Still, Wayne heard small snippets of random lives as he continued to follow his guard. ¡°Did you hear about the Prin¡­¡± ¡°...haven¡¯t got any fish to cook¡­¡± ¡°...stained. No use keeping it any longer.¡± ¡°-and Praetor just returned, my cousin Ted¡­¡± Wayne heard all of that and a dozen other conversations just while walking by a single building that seemed to be a tavern. He wasn¡¯t quite sure because people were receiving beverages through a window as they walked by, but enough customers were letting delicious food scents out through the open door for Wayne to believe he was likely right. Wayne¡¯s steward never stopped moving, the whole time knowing exactly where to go in the city. Soon enough, they were past the worst of the crowds, and now Wayne started to notice more and more Legionnaires among the fewer and fewer people they passed. Apparently they were in the right part of town. Then, they turned one more corner and Wayne stumbled to a stop. In front of him was the base of the enormous tree visible from a league outside the city. Its trunk extended down from the roof of the city, before opening up into a great many large tendrils of bark and wood leading down to the soil below. Somehow, whoever had built the city had created a building from the tree¡¯s base, entangling the root system with elaborate construction to create an awe inspiring fusion of nature and culture, untouched wood and worked stone. It was a monument that deserved to last ages, and Wayne struggled to imagine Human hands fashioning something so majestic. His chaperone didn¡¯t say anything, just waiting for a solid moment before gesturing the young man towards a gate. Together they walked down the suddenly barren street towards what was obviously the Legion¡¯s headquarters. Again, the guards flanking inside didn¡¯t say a word as the two of them strolled in, bowing even more deeply than the guards at the gate. And for some reason, Wayne didn¡¯t think they knew or cared that he was the Emperor Regent¡¯s son. Who is this man my father sent me with? The two of them continued to walk through the winding halls of the building, guards bowing and allowing them through checkpoints continuously. Wayne was starting to get nervous now. He hadn¡¯t said anything too rude during the trip, had he?