Rah-ven was a unique individual. Unlike Victor, who was born without any special feature, Rah-ven was born with a beautiful set of wings. He inherited them their mother. They were beautiful, yet it was not common for humans to be born with them. Their mother wasn't human though, she was a Valkyrie, an ancient race that battled against the Old gods along side their queen Radiance.
This is unimportant though. What is important is that all things die. Flowers wither, animals die, even Valkyries die. And no matter how powerful you are, you can't stop the cold hand of death from taking away those, who you love the most.
It was a very sad day. The whole capital of Laxoria grieved over the loss of their queen. None more than her family. Victor and Kealer mourned the loss of their mother, Velaeran was shaken, but sort of relieved, because he too didn't have much time left. Rah-ven on the other hand was devastated. He left the capital to find peace. Victor and Kealer tried to stop him, but it was to no avail. Rah-ven flew away, and he would only return months later.
Where did he go? He went north. There was this mountain, where ravens, crows and nevermores would go, when they needed guidance. Armed with nothing than his scythe he traveled there. He arrived at the peak of the mountain. It was cold, even colder for a Laxorian, but Rah-ven just sat there, grieving and mourning. Then, a raven landed on his scythe. Raven looked at the bird and asked: "What is it, little one? Are you here to mourn too?"
"No." answered the bird to Ravens shock.
"Wha-"
"Come." Beckoned the bird. It flew into a crack in the mountain. It was big enough for Rah-ven to squeeze through, but it was still very uncomfortable.
When his eyes adjusted to the darkness, he realized there was a room. A giant room with a throne and a person there. It was a very old man with white hair and coal black eyes. He looked, tired.
The bird landed between Raven and this man and bowed his head towards the old man.
"My king, I have brought the Mourning one." Said the bird.
"Ah. Very good Lazarine. You may go now." Replied the old man.
Raven was more confused than he was sad. He was surrounded by a whole army of birds. Ravens, crows, Nevermores, they all looked at him with eyes that were filled with judgement.
"You…come closer, my eyes aren't what they used to be." Said the old man.
Raven was quiet, but he complied.
"Ah…very good. What's your name boy?"
"My name is Rah-ven."
"What a unique name. You…you are mourning?"
What an odd question. Why was this important? Mourning? Of-course he was mourning. He was in pain due to the loss of his own mother.
"You are…how sad. I too was mourning." Said the old man, he rose up from his seat and moved towards Rah-ven. It was at this moment, when he realized that the person before him also had wings. They were pitch black, but some feathers were silver, or iron. Shining like little stars in the night sky.
"Who are you?" asked Rah-ven after all this time.
"Oh. My apologies. When you live alone, you forget the courtesies of a normal conversation. My name isn't necessary, however. What is important is what am I."
"Is this supposed to be a riddle? If so, I am in no mood for them."
"Ohohoho. You sure are full of emotions. They are swirling in you, like a storm. I would expect nothing from the son of the Storm Guardian."
This shocked Rah-ven. If he knew his father, then he must have known him. There was no need for him to say his name.
"I am what your people called the Great Raven. Does that ring any bells?"
"…" Rah-ven was starting to get annoyed with this old man and his games.
"Doesn't matter. You, you are important. You will become the new King of Ravens."
There was a dead silence in the room.
"Excuse me?" said Rah-ven.
"You are mourning. You are confused. But you needed time to be alone. I understand. But listen, there are many souls, that need to go to the other side. Who do you think guides them?"
Rah-ven remembered his mother. Her kind voice, her warm embrace, her eyes that were filled with love. He was feeling even more horrible now.
"Your mother was a good woman."
Rah-ven raised his head.
"Why do you think you were born with those wings? Was it because you are half-valkyrie? No. It's because you are to be the new King. Much like me."
"I don't want to. I just want to mourn. Leave me be." And Rah-ven began to leave.
"Your mother wouldn't want this." Said the old man. This stopped Rah-ven. Now, this old man was really getting on his nerves.
"Grieving won't bring her back. Nothing will. All you can do, is to preserve what she wanted to protect. This world, she helped defend this world and she won. Do you think it was her choice, or mine, to make you the new King? No. It was your own nature. You always believe that people die because they lived. That death is something of an end to a good story. A final respite. Yet now you grieve over one death? Your mother would want you to be happy, to find purpose." The old man touched Rah-vens shoulder. "I know that it is sad. But you must move on. All you can do, is to honor her legacy." He then looked Rah-ven dead in the eye. His eyes were shining with tears.
"What must I do?" asked Rah-ven with broken voice.
"Take my hand." Said the old man.
Rah-ven complied. "I didn't choose you, she didn't choose you, and you didn't ask for this. They did. All these ravens, crows, nevermores and so on. They chose you, because they believed you will rule over them. Because you know the true nature of death. You are not afraid of it, you do not flee from it, you accept it. All these birds guide the souls of those who once died to their final respite. Now, it is my turn. Let me give this to you. This kingdom, these subjects, they are yours, Rah-ven. Do you accept it?"
Rah-ven was silent. What would his brothers do, what would his father do...what would his mothe-No. She is dead, and she would want him to move forward.
"I accept."
The man seemed…happy? He looked at the birds that have gathered and sighed. He held up his hand and one bird landed on it. The man hugged the bird and disappeared in a cloud of black fathers. There were no tears, no sound. He died happy. He lived a long live, and in his final moments, he gave the torch to the new generation.
"My king, what are your orders?"
Rah-ven looked at the throne. It was cold, fit for a ruler of these subjects. But not for him.
"There is an abandoned tower in Laxoria. It is the biggest tower there ever was, it can hold up to ten thousand knights in full armor and there would still be room for their horses. You will go there. That is your home from now on."
"And what about you, my lord?
"I will return home. There are people who need to grieve more than me." Said Rah-ven as he flew back.
And from that day, birds would sometimes fly over the night sky of Laxoria. The children would play with little nevermores, that were the same size as them. Many citizens didn't know from where these birds came from. And perhaps they never will.