Somewhere inside the thick and dense Rotten Thicket, lay Staxius Haggard, defeated and gone. The rain-clouds who once helped him conceal his movement began to pour down. The gusts picked up in intensity, the forest seemed as if it were crying or rejoicing. The once bodied face slowly cleaned up with the help of water coming down from the heavens, the body was still warm. Feeling betrayed, Undrar, and Eira who's gaze wandering all round got closer to their companion.
"My body, it so warm and weightless I feel like I'm floating. My heart, it's beating, the heavy burden I once had feels as if it has been lifted. I hope everything can stay like this."
Staxius Haggard, beaten, was now floating inside a massive tunnel with countless other peoples and souls who had also died. It was the gateway which led to the hall of rebirth, a slow and peaceful journey as you reflected onto your past life, the decisions you made and regrets, everything was being played back. The one constant in those dreams were the familiar face of someone he knew for little but admired a lot, Sophie Mirabelle. The shortly lived days with her company was something he could not part even in death.
"My, my, how sad, my heir, my prodigy, what happened to you?"
The death reaper still dressed casually appeared from out of nowhere. Stunned, Staxius spoke,
"Greetings lord death, I apologize if I've cause unnecessary concern. As you see full well, I was defeated by the hands of a paladin whom strength I can't imagine surpassing. "
"No need for all that my dear, what is done can't be undone, so tell me, child, do you have any regrets?"
"Regrets, E-Eira…" A tear faded into dust the moment it flowed, instantly told what the god of death needed to know.
"Eira Haggard, a child who was destined to die on the day you took her in. You've effectively altered her life, sadly, without you by her side, she may die at any given point."
"I know that… But I-I had to, f-facing that paladin was the obvious choice, instead of thinking of myself I wanted to save her more than anything. THIS SUCKS." All the pent-up frustration finally let loose.
"Now, now, this isn't the time to blow a blood vessel. Look me in the eye and tell me who you really are." The god of death's tone intensified; he was serious for the first time since meeting his heir.
"That's obvious, I'm Staxius Haggard, wielder of the death element and next god of death." He shouted.
"That's the spirit, I might have forgotten to tell you this, but, you're immortal, oops." He pulled out his tongue.
"Unfathomable, this isn't time for your jests, lord death, I'm clearly dead. I mean, I'm floating with souls for gods' sake, look, an old geezer is even waving at me." He pointed behind the death reaper.
Witnessing something so stupid, he began to laugh loudly, the old geezer had the dumbest smile on his face, it was hilarious.
"Man, oh man, I haven't laughed this much since ages now, very well. Staxius Haggard, remember this well, death isn't an option for you, your soul has already passed the test for being called a divine entity. The journey in the mortal realm will last for centuries, you're going to train and get used to all the powers of a divine being until you've matched all adequate requirements for your ascension.
Therefore, go back there and live your life as recklessly as you want, the body will always repair itself. Also, when you die, the death element gets doubled, tripled and quadrupled so on and so forth its strength. Borderline is, the more you die, the stronger you get, exploit this if you want, that's up to you. In spite of that, I advise you to take life more seriously, being immortal doesn't give you the right to hurt the people closest to you. If you really want to gain power that badly, then go inside a secluded room and take your life for how many times you want. You're free to do whatever, Undrar isn't aware of that fact so pester her as much as you want. See you later, my prodigy."
"…" Confused, Staxius crossed his arms and blinked his eyes so many times it nearly cramped up. Realizing how much of a fool he had been up to this point, he laughed, the sad souls who died went through and around him. Everyone stared with envy in their eyes.
*Knock, Knock,* "Duke Sten Parcyvell, I apologize for my rudeness, but Commander Gareth has asked for your presence at once in the strategy room." A young squire shouted from the outside of the luxurious bedchamber.
"You may leave, your message has been received, I'll head down shortly." Duke Sten replied as a muffled moan made its way out of the room.
"Leaving so soon my dear," the lady lord Parcyvell was in bed with asked as she bit her lips while rocking back and forth. Angry, Sten tightened his grips around her gentle arms. *Slap,* "I care not if you're the princess of some fallen kingdom, no one has the right to call me my dear except for my wife who's currently tied up. Just look at her bloodied face, isn't she pretty."
The screams got louder and louder until it all stopped, the duke was done with his daily lustful and torturous desires. *Spit,* The big crimson-colored door closed behind his imposing figure, "Guards, throw that worthless piece of trash in the dungeon, get my dear wife some medical attention as well, a woman as resistant as her can't be found anywhere anymore." *Slurp*
The descent from the central tower, where both the study and alchemist lab as well as Duke Sten's personal chambers into the main hall was a long one. Garsley castle, a fortress which hasn't been breached since its construction was completed. It's one of the five guardians who protect the royal capital as anyone coming from Dorchester has to pass through a bridge next to it. The defenses are so tight even the smartest strategist in the last war couldn't complete their conquest into Oxshield.
"Gareth what is the matter, you've ruined my research."
"Research on how to make your next victim squirm even more?" He fired back instantly.
"Come on, old friend, this is for the sake of alchemy, now, what is the matter?"
"A question first, have you perhaps taken hostage a young girl with bright red hair and freckled cheeks?"
"Oh, you mean Suzanne, yes, I've just finished playing with her, what's the matter?"
"…" Gareth quietly gazed at Sten with disappointment.
"Don't stare at me like tha…"
"YOU FOOL, Suzanne, or so you call her your plaything, is the daughter of Duke Hawkin
Normannus, the one overseeing Kreston."
"So, what's the matter?"
"Idiot, Duke Hawkin is out for revenge, with the help of the holy army under the rule of Pope
Michael, they plan to conquer Dorchester and then march to Oxshield, this is a crusade because of your foolishness."
"Is that so, a crusade, what does the king have to say about this?"
"No answers have come back so far, sadly, we can't wait any longer, the paladin has been spotted wandering the border."
"King Blaine is but an old man now, he shan't do anything in fear of losing this fake peace presiding over Hidros."
"What's our next move? We can't launch an attack just yet, facing the paladin without any good excuse for our men to rally under is plainly inviting death to our doorsteps."
"If it is a good reason to fight, then leave that to me, I'll leave the battle for you to plan, old friend."
"What are you going to do?"
"What simpler way to get men's heart to flutter than an abused lady, especially if that is my wife."
"…" Confused, Gareth just stood around the circular table facing his lord.
"Guards, bring my lady wife," With the aid of two guardsmen, Millicent Parcyvell, once the prettiest lady in the whole kingdom stumbled inside the room. Her face was filled with scars, her arms were limp, her legs were barely moving, her whole body had lost weight.
"What is that poor thing going to accomplish, selling her body won't bring you anything now," Gareth spoke out, still confused.
"Guards, you may leave,"
"Now then, we're alone, what's the plan?"
"Simple, we'll ask l'ombre to take my lady wife into Kreston's territory. We'll send soldiers to go patrol around the border. The moment our soldiers will see a group of people wearing the holy army's armor, carrying my fair lady, they will fight. I'll instruct the actors to leave without getting involved, the magnificent Millicent, battered and beaten will be brought into our castle. She might get raped by our own men on the way here but who cares, once inside, we'll have the perfect reason to launch an attack." He smirked, with a quick glance at his pitiful looking wife, her eyes grew bigger, she tried to run away but her legs didn't allow such luxury.
"You wicked man, I'll ask the other nobles to attend a ceremony in the name of your birthday."
"That's right, you understood my intention pretty well, old friend, let's bring Kreston down." They both laughed and drank until midnight.
"The sound of rain hitting the ground, the wind blowing across the midnight sky, I'm cold, everything is so peaceful, am I back in Hidros? My body, it feels so heavy, why can't I move, tiny arms hugging me amidst this downpour, it can't be, EIRA."
Staxius woke, reincarnated, he woke once again, on top of him laid the freezing Eira Haggard, her skin felt tender, her face flushed, everything went south. Undrar was nowhere to be found, the rain kept on intensifying. With what little strength he had left, the young father dashed babe in hand for cover. The rigid looking backpack was still there, it was dry but empty, all the provision stored had been stolen. Deep inside, Staxius knew Eira was in trouble, no other options left, he slid the now naked Eira Haggard into the uncomfortable looking interior. She was sound asleep or past out, no one knew the answer.
For the next six hours, Staxius alternated between running and walking, the exit was in sight, the light at the end of a nightmarish tunnel, he made it, all the way out, without a care for his own safety, still bloodied and injured, he rushed into town as the sun slowly rose from its slumber.
"Sir, please help me, I've got a child who desperately needs medical attention,"
Ignored by the peasants, Staxius asked everyone until eventually, he reached a strange-looking cabin with skulls on sticks overlooking the village.
*Knock, Knock,* "Please hel..."
"Shut up already you loudmouth, you've disturbed everyone's early routine by shouting help me to their face. I know your desperate kid, but what's the matter." An old-sounding man asked.
"I'll apologize later, I need you to check on my daughter, she hasn't woken up for a long time now."
The elder finally came in sight, bald with spots of black, a grey beard as long as his hand, a body as frail as glass, he reached out to Staxius, "Show me the babe."
Without skipping a beat, he took Eira out of the backpack and laid her at the elder's feet. After closely examining her, the elder took his walking stick and, *BAM,*
"What's the problem?" He asked unfazed.
"This girl has been blessed with water and cold protection, she's completely fine, she only has a slight fever, nothing major."
"Phew, that's a relief, thanks Undra…" With Eira safe and secure, the life-threatening injuries Staxius sustained earlier still not fully healed, caught up with him, he fell soon after, blood began to flow onto the polished floor as he reopened his wounds.
"Sorry," With a smile, he passed out.