The Withered Promise
Intro — Princess Vilyarin, Her task and decision 01.
Inside the Lightning Clan's Shrine in Mount Ma Eling, in a room — the pale beauty, Vilyarin is sitting in a chair. Hoping that her brother Raume would regain consciousness, she patiently waits for the time to come. Watching at him (in the bed) silently sleeping and slowly recovering on his ruptured skin, she hears the door creaking and someone footsteps — an indication of someone's entrance. She hears, the fat man speaks in a low voice,
"My highness, Madam Aminette allows us to borrow an empty chamber. I check the place, and we can secretly plan your vengeance against Altrass there."
"Let's proceed there now. Tell Sai Mea to relieve me here."
"I'll lead you first to the room, then I'll inform her."
Inside the said room, the fat man speaks, "Currently, Altrass is surrounded by his busy men. Worst, the queen, your sister is frequently visit him for the time being. She seems to be delivering him an important information."
"Why is she helping Altrass? That man is the reason that my brother is emotionally injured. Tell me."
In the fat man thoughts, My highness, you're still immature mentally, so I have to go into the flow. Considering I give every reason for you to stop, I have no choice but to have you witness and experience the true meaning of life. Rushing and telling you all about it well just ignite your hatred. I just hope the situation will favor my intention. "My highness, it's better that you hear it from the mouth of your sister instead.
"Here is the place, between the wide plain and the Deep Forest, Altrass and his men are camping here. This would be the last time that we could encounter him there. Since, we are located here in the northwest from their location. We can still reach them if we descend right now. Else, probably we might not be able to meet them again."
"And why can't we meet them again?"
"Because that place, despite how many times we used it as a quick shortcut, it was seen and estimated by the scholars as a huge place and to be traveled by three days or more. Yet, many people traveled it only in few hours to cross to the other side — from the wide plain to Aklaba village. It's a real peculiar place. And Altrass group will venture deeper to where no one has even reached yet."
"So, any idea, a two man teamwork to isolate him from his men?"
"It could be a bit suicide, but a multi-layered barriers would be the best to isolate him in a brief moment. Since, you are also a Treal and Sorse, you just need to create an elevating platform then escape from above, so no one would could track and chase you after the assassination." But, your status as a second princess will be revealed.
"A nice plan... But one thing is lacking. How can we meet him and make sure, no one would notice that I isolated him? Anything that we could use for a fish bait? "
"My highness, that is — your status. You are born a royalty. Altrass is the previous Marshal. Before you were born, the queen your mother and Altrass cooperated to dethrone the last cancerous king. That means, he was her only ally to save you away from the underworld."
"Are you telling me that he was a good man? He harmed my brother. He nearly died because of it. And what more, he insulted my sister many times! That's enough reason to eliminate him."
In the fat man thoughts, My highness, that was... "I'm not talking about that my highness. What I mean is you could tell him that you're the second princess, and need to talk to him. He would considerate a meeting to you as he knows, there is a second princess."
"I get it. Let's decent there now and perform my task."
I just hope someone could stop her.
—End of Intro.
While the blood rains down from the sky, the panicked people of Jelfyr cry out their help waiting for a merciful advice from their higher-ups which will tend their confused and doubtful thoughts and feeling of fear. Wanting to reach the prince to ask him about their current situation, people are barred by the guards. The worried councilor nearby is approached by few people. And the first prince gazes to where a pretentious prophet voices out his thoughts,
"This is the end to all of us. This is a sign of our doom. People! Jelfyr, Dandia, is no longer a safe place for us. The royalty can no longer protect us. We have been giving them our tax, our trust, and our support, but it seems they are all talk and can't provide us safety and protection. Jelfyr is no longer a better shelter on us.
"Let's find peace to another place. I have a vision that we can live happily there." His words give doubt to crowd.
And the voice of the first prince echoes to everyone's ears, "State your name, and your reasons to bestow confusion into the crowd."
The man turns around and looks to where the first prince. "Oh, the long missing and now return prince, is handling me like I am some kind of hypocrite. I am just a mere concern citizen. Look at us, these people, they have been waiting for your guidance. But time had passed, they never receive one. There is no response from you, the authority."
"Then state your name and tell us, why you're spouting things harmful to the unity of the people."
"My prince, you've been taken aback by my words?" He smirks. "People, we're bathing in the rain. Are we still blinded about what's happening? Can the prince explain this unnatural phenomenon that occurs right now? This is one of a sign of our end! Our doom in this place." The silence embodies into the crowd. As he turns to see the prince, he hears him replies,
"This rain, its activity is a bit harmless physically. But harmful mentally if some like you stirs the mind of the innocent people and those with nescient minds. The momentum of the rain are moderate. And while the sun is present, which means some of us will only suffer minor cold. And about its blood like color, not all place have the rainfall in red. Which only bring to conclusion that something is happening in the sky."
"Hypothesis!" has yelled by the man.
"Hypothesis? That's why I want the people to remain calm until my meeting with the council and the knowledgeable people can bring out conclusion. I beg all of you to cooperate and wait for the result. I beg of you to not confuse and give fear to everyone."
"Something is happening in the sky?" The man yells, "People, the signs of our doom, I shall reveal. First, the event that perished a village in many years gap. Second, the huge sea waves that ravaged the northwest part of Dandia. Third, the black creature that destroyed our home — the kingdom of Jelfyr. And now, this blood of rain that falls down from the sky. And what's going to come before us? That would be — the end of this land." He laughs a loud, giving fear to the crowd. Their murmur intensifies and it signifies agreement about those facts mentioned by the man. "So people, let's leave the kingdom, and journey outside Dandia. Our salvation is waiting beyond the fogs. Our royalties can no longer support us. They are just enjoying with the taxes and manpower that we provided. They leisurely live into the wealth that they stole from us. Whereas some of us were torture, slave, used for their personal gains. And us, nothing but rabbles toyed by them." The murmur of the crowd signifies agreement at him but it halts, as the heavy wind passes to them.
After that, the first prince voice echoes to everybody's ears, "Why won't you all listen to me?"
The man regains his composure and replies, "And why won't you put end to the calamities that ravage our land? You do know that our numbers are greatly declined!"
"Man, by your actions, I can only think that you lose someone closer to your heart. My condolence." Seeing the man grits his teeth, the first prince follows, "Everyone, listen for I shall reveal this once. The one that perished a village in many years gap, we called it, The Sky's Rejection. The case was ended by the cooperation of the Main Exceptional General and the previous Third Exceptional General. The operation was held in the now ruined Asteron Village. As a result, Pirmlinth village bloomed because of the well-educated evacuees settling in the place.
"About the huge see waves that ravages in the northwest area of Dandia — it was the caused of the submerging of an island. I mean, an impact after a certain object from the contaminated fogs collided to that island, and caused those huge sea-waves. That made it certain that outside Dandia is a dangerous place for all of us. My little brother is leading the operation to restore the survivors' — their home and livelihood, in a new village.
"Lastly, you all are witnesses, the Black Creature that destroyed the kingdom, we recently defeated it. This just means, that we are not incompetent. So long as we help each other.
"So, here I am. I ask you, People. Please, have faith on us. Please, cooperate with us. We of the royalty will do everything for all of us. For everyone. And don't give up. Don't lose hope. We are doing everything, for all of us. You are all my family. We are living in one roof — the kingdom of Jeflyr." The first prince gazes to the man, baffled by amazement. He then turns and speaks to the councilor, "I want a meeting to all of the authorities. And I want you to minimize the chaos and calm the people."
That councilor nods in reply. As they depart, the people clap their hand and the sound soon fills the place.
In a darkness place... Someone speaks, You finally awake, Eladin.
Who are you? Where am I? What is this place?
Have you forgotten about me? — Owner of the power that you had borrowed?
Black Dragon?
I haven't tell you what am I? But I fused with you. Yes, I am, the black dragon, slain by the divine one. My task from you has already been fulfilled. And the remaining spirit of your life, I want you to fulfill my objective.
Am I still alive? I remember now, I was in the throne about to kill the prince. While I mentioned about my grand daughter, a woman stepped into my head and... That's all I can remember... in that very moment...
Eladin, your remaining spirit is still intact because of my power. And I want you to not waste my power or else, it sends me back to my world, and your life will totally end.
What do you mean?
So, you haven't remember anything do you? Then I explain since I was watching at you from afar. I was watching at you as you attacked the kingdom of Jelfyr. After your head separated from your body, your body mutated to my previous form. And since you weren't conscious. That it means, your animal instinct takeover and you intellect disappears in the process while your body mutated to my previous form, the black dragon. It seems, that evolution bore to a new being, a child in my previous form. That time, it tried to destroy the kingdom of Jelfyr. And not just that, but, the whole island, Dandia.
Then, what's happened? I did failed miserably? No one did able to save the place? Did the prophecy not happened?
Ah, you were seeking about the strongest of your race. Remember, when I did parted at you as you arrived outside the portal leading to my world.
I could no longer hear you that time, why?
I traveled to your world to search for the people that you have been seeking, the strongest of your kind. And through my long search, I robbed the body of a person trying to commit suicide. And finally, I reached to a place. And found, the candidate of being a strongest of your kind. He's capable of controlling lightning and water. So I became his subordinate, his assistant and adviser. My knowledge I used it to captured his attention. But sadly, he died in their last operation. An operation to subdue a calamity. But, I didn't stop. I was expecting that the next leader would be far stronger than him. But years passed by, the disappointment surrounds allover my mind... However, those disappointment vanished after your body evolved and about to destroy everyone, and everything. I found him. My disappointment about him turns delight. My opinions about him had changed. Before he was a person who won't hesitate to kill those people needed to eliminate. And then, he turned to where it made me disappointed a lot about him. And finally, he became a man, not ideal for your kind, but ideal to end this worldly suffering. He might not be the strongest, but he is what you had been seeking.
What the, he's not the strongest? Then, my operation failed then.
You talk ahead, Eladin. In truth, there is no strongest above all. Winner takes it all. But time passes, they all fall. I can assure you, you won't be disappointed about him. In anyway, the remaining spirit of yours — before you will fade. Use it for me. I did finished my task for you after all.
For what? What I would do?
As it gives you privileges to watch the changes of the kingdom and the people, you cannot use my power. It will shatter our spirit inside this one body that I borrow. However, you can use your mind to think, your mouth to communicate, and your hands to instruct. I want you to... — you got it?
That's...
I believe, every plan may have an answer. And I want it to happen. Eladin, don't disappoint me.
So, where am I now?
Before I turn over this body to you. Before you open your eyes. You must forget your previous life and live to this new life. A plain norim, but intelligent. A life fitting for a sincere adviser, the adviser of the Craze Guild. And you should find away to fulfill my objective. I had high hope to you, Eladin.
Inside the bedroom, a part to the temporary shelter for the royalty, Jesifer is continuously crying. Three consecutive knocking sounds divert her attention, she watches the door opening and outside — Maritis bows at her.
Maritis gives way to Frehviesa who enters. Leaving Frehviesa and Jesifer inside the room, she then closes the door from the outside.
Jesifer begins to sit as she wipes her tears while she resists to cry. Frehviesa then sits beside her and holds her shoulders. She listens at her,
"You went through a lot. My dear. The only thing I could tell you is to be strong. Don't be sad in this hour. Your people need to see you in vigorous self."
"That would be useless. I decided not to present myself in the people. So, I can wander outside freely. It's just... It's just, I failed an important promise. A promise that I made to an important person. And now, and now, what should I do?" She cries.
"Jesifer, how about you open this to me? Tell me about this promise. And tell me about this important person. I am your adviser. Your second mother. It pains me to see you in this state."
"I can't... I did wrong to you. I'm actually afraid to face you.."
"If that was about Yaume, then you didn't mean to do it right? Then that wasn't your fault. It was my fault, my dear. I didn't listen to your warning. And then, I just recently discovered that you distanced yourself away from the throne so you won't put your Yaume and Raume to suffering, right?
"So, please, open to me. Listen Jesifer, if you want to be strong in heart and mind. Then you need to be open. Don't close yourself from us. Don't do everything alone. Because not everything can be done by one person alone." She holds Jesifer's hands. Then she smiles at her.
Surmising her words, Jesifer remembers Jaino's words,
"To clear your mind, you beat the monster, but without my support that would be impossible. That's what you are thinking right?" Seeing Jes nods, he follows, "I hope that the queen would realize—" his words sting to Jesifer's heart "—that everyone has their own flaw. What made someone to succeed or survive has back by someone's support and belief. This is what unity is. Being a stronger can't stand alone."
Feeling guilty, Jesifer thinks, Then what should I do. If I don't do something we all gonna die. Wanting to cry, she resists and endures the cold on her heart.
"I don't know why you're so down. I'm so grateful to meet you. Without you, we were all dead right now. So, thank you very much—" these words have lightened the heaviness of her shoulders and warming her heart. Still her face shows her troubled mind. "—if you ever meet the queen, tell her what she's looking was not the strongest person but the strongest unity to survive."
Jesifer then speaks to Frehviesa about every detail.
After that Frehviesa has stood. She speaks, "Jesifer, you may explain this to Altrass later — with bravery, with every details. He is not a child. Show him your dignity. Stiffen your will when you face him. He may considerate to forgive you."
"But—"
"I promise to you, he will listen at you.
"As for your way to reach the sky, I will have a meeting with the knowledgeable. We pray that you and Jaino gain success. You and him are our saviors after all."
"You believe me?"
"Jesifer, I have never doubt your decision since long ago. And you didn't cease to amaze me. You're doing everything for our sake after all. And all I could do, is to lend you a hand."
Altrass Expedition in Deep Forest 01, Preparation
In a small wooden room, the cloak man, Ramon, reports to Altrass, "Sire, I have finally gathered one-hundred people in the description given by the Third Exceptional General. Half of the group are ranges and half of the group are melees." He scratches his head. "And sire, he knows all about your ability. That's why he provided us an extra-hand of his choice. One of the Royal Squad, her name is Shaira Megus."
"It's impossible for him to task a Royal Squad."
"It seems, he's in acquaintance to the woman."
"Any detail about our opponents the we might encounter?"
"Maritis told me that the horror inside the forest was already killed. So the third has a theory — What lies from afar, doesn't exist in our arrival, a hour of shortcut than a three days of travel inside the huge place, and a place that cannot be reached. I don't know what he means."
"The Giant," has blurted by Altrass. "By the way, does the third really not cared for the people? It's raining of blood. Some part is raining with blood. This can cause chaos to the mind of the innocents. Still, he sent Criselia to me to deliver his message and to execute it in rush."
"Sire... that I don't know."
They hear footsteps and Lladamak has his entrance inside. "Altrass, after your operation, the queen wants to talk to you for something." He then gazes down.
"And what is it about?"
"About our army that disappeared when I clashed with her..."
"I have an idea that she was in the state on melancholic again. That's why a lady doesn't fitted for a leader."
"Altrass..."
"Very well. And tell her that I don't want to see tears on her face in the meeting. Else, I will never arrive."
Curiosity builds interest
Despite of warning, someone digs
Good or bad, there is a reason
.