I could never find the strength to stand up.
While my broken limbs were begging for respite, my suffocated lungs cried for help.
*Heavily breathing noise*
(Save me!) is what conquered the fog of my thoughts.
I glanced at my environment. I saw scattered human parts and a red jam curtain.
Although the image was misty because of my fully blood covered eyes, only my nose was in its perfect state.
This strong smell is no odd to me. It brought back my moments of agony and tragedy, the memories of despair and misfortune, helped me recall how neurotic my life is.
I was worried as I had someone in mind.
(Come on! Just this one.)
My body was indifferent and never listened to my call.
(Please. I beg you, stand up! The person needs our help.)
My muscles reprieved me at last. My heart bestowed upon me courage that pushed my body to obey my command.
Before I can crawl, I heard clamors from outside.
I had to retaliate against the reinforcements, so I looked for a sword rushingly.
I knew it was pointless as the flames had swallowed up everything and all that remained were ashes but still, I couldn't lose hope, not today. That person needs my help. I need to find him.
This situation is weird. How am I not trembling in fear as I usually do? Is this what we call maturing. Yes, it is. To become mature means to have a reason for living, to have someone dear to protect. My someone needs saving right now.
It seems the gods are on my side today.
Luckily, with their benediction, I found a dark longsword. It was glowing bizarrely.
A deep voice called me to pick the sword up but, I hesitated. I had a strange feeling that it wasn't just an ordinary sword.
"You want the power to save the people you care about."
Yes. I crave power. I mean, who doesn't.
The voice added:
"You don't want to repeat the same mistakes."
I remembered my errors. The people I lost just because I was pathetic and helpless.
"With great power comes great sacrifice as sacrifice entails giving up what is closest to your heart. Are you ready to bear that burden?"
My answer was obvious. A big yes! I always knew I was unique to the gods somehow. Is this my chance to become a hero?
Suddenly the sword charged at me and pierced through my head.
I could see its edge on my forehead. Only there wasn't any blood.
Then without notice, it disappeared.
I felt my head spinning. All my veins were gleaming, and I was at the edge of exploding.
Am I dying?
I heard the voice laughing at me:
" You will have the chance to save your dearest friends only tears of darkness will rip your heart apart from humanity, then you shall be one with the true God and serve his divine cause! "
The voice multiplied into voices:
" We are Chosen by God,
the Word is our living hope,
our timeless foundation.
Let our scars tell the story of our salvation.
By God's grace,
we light the way whenever the darkness descends.
God is the teacher,
we are the students wishing to ascend.
So though this world is shivery,
our faith shall not be frozen.
We aren't just called,
we want to be Chosen. "
Suddenly I had the sensation of rising above the place.
However, my body remained on the floor.
I guess this is it. I will become an angel.
~End of prologue.
The story began on a rainy night in Akaji village, a beautiful and small town in the south of Landnor. It is quiet and peaceful as it is a place for only peasants working for the nobles. Yet behind this eternal peace, there was a very dark secret. The nobles are the landowners who give yearly peasants to the duke as a sort of taxes. Their income relies on the quality of their harvests. As for the peasants, they must serve their lord and work for eating and sleeping. It is all due to Landnor's corrupted hierarchy. Farming is like breathing for them.
The town consists of one big road that separates it into two identical parts: multiple farmhouses and, behind them, there are great farming fields. At the edge of the road, there is one small fortress that belongs to the peelers.
The peelers are a police force. Their task is to enforce the laws of the pontifex*, to investigate crimes, and to grant protection to the lords' lands.
However, this rainy night was unusual. A little boy was running terrified as a platoon of peelers was chasing him across the sea of flowers. The sky was turning grey, as drops of rain drizzled on his shoulder. Holding on to a flask of elixir, of great importance, He struggled through the sea of flowers in the meadow, hoping for the soldiers behind him to lose their footing. His legs, tired from running on a rough landscape, he shut his eyes firmly and forced himself to run with all his willpower until he felt stepping on something soft. Then the world around him turned upside-down, and he felt the ground meeting his back, which was bruising from the heavy impact.
The boy punched the ground and shouted angrily with a taste of despair and anguish:
" Why?! A little more, and I could have succeeded! "
And when he regained his senses he found that it was too late, the peelers were already surrounding him.
" Well well well, look what do we have here. Nice catch boys! "
The chief of Akaji is well known for being an asshole, cruel and selfish. His pants were begging for help because of his large belly.
" Please, my sister will die of fever. I have to get her this medicine "
The kid asked for forgiveness as he wasn't able to buy his sister's medicine. Sadly, those monsters had no feelings.
" There are no excuses for stealing! Committing larceny's penance according to the Pontifex* is cutting hands. "
" Mercy my lord, mercy! " the kid answered with gloom.
" However there is a way so you can pay up your crime. "
The boy's eyes glittered as he regained hope:
" I will do anything, my lord. Please just don't cut my hands. I can get you money. "
The chief patted on his belly and grabbed the boy's hands by force while having a perverted look:
" See kid, my men don't need money but you have to give us something else, something enjoyable. "
The boy replied innocently:
" I do have some toys my mom left before she passed away. I can share them with you, my lord. "
" You dare mock me you fucking peasant! "
The chief angrily slapped the boy and tried to tear apart his clothes while the others were waiting impatiently for their prey to be served.
" No, please! Someone help me! Please! "
The people heard the screamings of the little boy and came to check on him. Yet they just kept still and watched the tragic scene calmly, none of them tried to defend him.
The peelers laughing and decided to take turns on his little body. He found himself helpless, his eyes lost hope and all he saw was darkness. This is the ugly secret behind this peaceful town, the untold truth of this corrupted land: Landnor aka the land of dreams.
☆Rush class: Rush attack!☆
Suddenly in a very brief moment and before he could take off his pants, the chief's arm was chopped.
" My arm, my arm! "
The chief screamed with agony while his blood was flowing endlessly. The guards stood terrified at the scene as they saw a young man emerging from the darkness and heading towards them! He had a very scary presence that struck fear in everyone. The chief had a look at the culprit. He saw him! He had a big smile on his face: a blood lust! He was wearing a peasant uniform and had a very dark and shiny hair, standing calmly waiting for them to take action. However one of the peelers spoke:
" This man, this presence. There is no mistaking. He's a soldier of the circle. "
Just saying their name is capable of sending shivers through everyone's nerves from peasants to peelers.
" What the fuck are you doing pussies? Get your ass up and kill that peasant. Stop believing this nonsense! "
Still, the peelers couldn't take that gamble.
The chief with a piece of his grey uniform stopped the bleeding on his right arm. He then took his sword and thrust it into the peeler who spoke.
" Attack the prick unless you wanna join him -He pointed at the peeler whom he killed- "
The peelers charged at the unknown man. However, they were no match for him. He was quick as lightning, had sharp reflexes like an eagle, evading all the swords attacks and never missing a shot with his crimson stone dagger. His attacks were perfectly landed and sliced the throats of the peelers.
He managed to kill the whole platoon with only using his dagger.
The dagger was like some antic weapon and had a strange word inscribed in it.
The arrogant chief is now getting away afraid, pushing all the peasants who were watching the scene. Feeling helpless like the kid he decided to violate earlier. He hid inside the fortress and called the remaining peelers.
" Raise the alarm! "
Reinforcements appeared from the fortress: swordsmen, archers.
The young man enchanted his weapon:
☆Rush class: Rush slash!☆
He slashed the wind and cut the ropes of the drawbridge.
The bridge fell on the swordsmen while the archers remained at the watchtowers.
" Hold your arrows! Now Loose! "
Dozens of arrows appeared in the air, this way, not only the stranger will get attacked but also the people.
" *sigh*What a pain! "
The young man charged a full strike.
☆Rush class: Rush slash!☆
The arrows were destroyed as for the archers, they were defeated with a single blow while the coward chief remained hidden.
The young man threw his dagger that rotated in a spectacular way spun around the crowd while avoiding all the people, reaching the half-destroyed fortress, and striking the chief's left leg. The chief lost his balance and fell to the ground. he couldn't stand or walk and his sword was too far away from him.
The strange man walked calmly through the crowd while the chief was crawling in terror, trying to reach his sword and before he can grab it, in a blink of an eye he found his remaining hand crushed and the stranger appeared before him.
" Please don't kill me! Just tell me what do you wish for. I can grant you everything: money, fame, whores." he begged for his life while shrieking. The stranger's foot was crushing his left hand.
The dark-haired man grinned maliciously.
" Yes, that's what you want right? You want to be rich and have whores all by your side. is that why you're smiling? "
The young man replied:
" I'm smiling because you can't give me the thing I want. "
The chief was relieved:
" Is that so? Then try me. "
" The thing I want is your life. "
" Why? "
" People like you simply don't have the right to live. "
The young man unleashed his blood lust and the chief losing every argument to maintain his life shouted angrily.
" You are doing a terrible mistake kid. You have no idea about who I truly am. My cousins will not rest until you're dead. Don't make a choice you'll regret-"
With a swing of his dagger, the chief died immediately.
" Not only you were terrible at bargaining, but also at choosing your last words. " said the young man with despise.
The kid so glad his life was saved gazed at his savior, admired all of his angles, he had very dazzling dark hair, shimmering emerald eyes he's never seen before. He was with no doubt a foreigner.
The foreigner indifferently walked away.
" Sir, please sir wait ! " the kid tried to stop the man by pulling his hand and suddenly his fake peeler's uniform was cut.
The crowd was astounded when they saw the mark on his left arm, it was the same word that was carved in his stone dagger:
<< μεράκι >>
" What do you want ? " said the young man while pushing the kid away.
" Please let me thank you at least, you saved my life. I'm begging you, take this necklace as a token of gratitude even though is not enough. It's everything I have. "
The young man took the necklace, looked at it, and gave it back to the kid:
" Don't thank me, kid. I wasn't doing it for you. "
" But you saved me and my sister. You took revenge for those people. "
" So what? I don't care. Go on kid, save your sister. You were destined to be saved. " the stranger left and walked towards the destroyed portcullis*.
" At least tell me your name, sir ! " shouted the kid while the stranger was leaving.
Everyone who witnessed the scene remained astounded. Many questions started to pop up: Who was that man? He just brought down the peelers with a dagger!
~Writer's note: The next scene is a mature content +18. In case you do not want to read very descriptive sexual scenes.
The news quickly spread all around the land, reaching the nobles and the duke's palace in Torial city: the city of lights.
The palace was a majestic building, whoever built it was a total genius, its walls were made of Saphir and Ruby, and its roofs were silver and gold. The beauty and elegance of the palace remind you of how powerful and rich the owner is: Eldric Twin, the duke of Landnor.
In the bathing room, a middle-aged good looking man was laying in a golden bathtub. Two gorgeous women were sitting by his sides naked.
" Honey, bring me my glass of wine! " said the man to his girls.
One of them left. He then began to slip his hands up and down the remaining girl's legs. His hands found her ass, he started massaging it.
" Mmmmm, yes ." The girl moaned.
" Like that babe? " He whispered in her ears.
" Yes! Yes! " she slipped her hands up and racked her fingers down his back.
The duke growled.
" Like that my lord ? " she teased.
" Mmm, Let's get even now," he whispered while nibbling her neck and ear.
He cupped both of her breasts and kneaded them with his hands. Then lowered his head to one breast and sucked it while playing with the second one. Sucked the other one and played with the remaining one. He repeated the process.
The girl moaned :
" Ah! My lord, my lovely lord mmm "
" Do you want to taste heaven, my love? "
" Ah! Aaaah yes please my lord, yes! "
He then picked the girl up and placed her on top of his legs.
" Are you ready sweetheart? "
" Yes, yes please cum in, cum inside *she cried* Oh yeah, oh yeah, my lord, faster, FASTER !! " she began screaming.
He picked up speed and erupted inside of her, as she cummed all over him. Still, he wasn't satisfied.
" Ah my lord I love you, I truly love you! You're awesome." She whispered into his ear and kissed his neck.
His expressions changed:
" You were so bad. Fuck off ! "
She was shocked. He pushed her away from the bathtub, then she left crying.
" I still don't know why you are so bad at sex, it's as easy as breathing. "
He added :
" Screw you, Robert! Can't you find me better whores. "
The second girl came while carrying a luxury red wine.
Her tanned body was glowing as her cherry red nipples glimmered.
" Here's my lord's favorite wine. "
" Owww. You sound charming, my love. I hope you're charming with cocks as well. "
" You have to taste a culture to understand it, my lord. "
" Oh, you're wise too, come here and help me. "
She helped him wear his silk robe.
" Let's taste what you're made of. "
" Ah! *moans*I'll color my lips with your skin love. "
She starts kissing him aggressively, grabbing his hands and pulling them into her slender legs, well-shaped thighs, soft young breasts slowly, very slowly, feeling her pink nipples like ripe cherries, he was overwhelmed by the need to taste her, to draw those rosy sweet nipples deep into his mouth. He truly loved that. She wasn't fast yet she wasn't slow. He is a perfectionist and this girl was every definition of perfection. She then stopped and pulled his hands away. He wanted more and more of that heavenly, angelic well-sculpted body and those holy bosoms like she was the statue of Ubraura*
" Shall we celebrate first my lord! "
She took the glass of wine and served it to her lord.
" Oh. It will be very rude of me after all the amazingness you've shown me. Here, I give you the honor to drink the first darling ! " he grabbed her ass and fondle it.
" But my lord it will be inappropriate of me! A slave must not drink before her master. "
" I am the master and I make the rules. You deserve to drink first. "
" I have a sweet idea. Let's spice up things my lord! "
" Oh! I'm all ears love. "
" I shall pour the wine from my lips on the top of my chest while drinking. Don't you want to taste your favorite cherries with your favorite wine my lord? "
The man chuckled:
" I adore the idea. Let's begin. "
She poured the wine while he was chewing her sweet cherries.
Suddenly the girl began trembling. She had liquids coming from her mouth and while she was falling to the ground she saw the evil grin coming from the man's face.
" You are wondering how am I still alive my love. Well, you've missed one thing. "
The girl is dying while gazing at the man with a raged look embedded with feelings of hatred and enmity towards him.
The man added with a wicked laugh:
" I have trained my body to sixty-nine types of poison. Do you think that weak shit will harm me."
He then sat next to her fresh corpse and admired it for one last time:
" Too bad. You wasted your whoring talents. Fuck! She was very good. They must've trained her very well "
Suddenly he heard knocking on his bedroom door.
" You may enter! "
A young man wearing the noble's guards uniform entered the room and bowed for him.
" My apologies, my lord! I have important news from Akaji town."
" Alright tell me. "
" The peelers have fallen as for the peasants, they launched a revolt and burned the farming fields. "
" And what did you do? "
" We captured the adults and punished the rest. "
" Akaji town. That's my cousin's territory. "
" Our soldiers have found him dead. "
" What? How? That fortress was built to be one of the strongest of Landnor. Who was responsible for this? Was it the south land's army? They signed the papers they can't do that. Was it another army?"
" It was a young man, my lord. "
" What the fuck? Those were some of the strongest peelers we had. What kind of sword was he using? He's clearly a former knight, I thought we got rid of them all."
" He was using a stone dagger. "
" What?" The man shouted surprisingly.
The guard with a cracking voice added:
" He was a soldier for the circle. "
They both shook with fear and terror. The circle is targeting the palace so soon or later, they will be all murdered.
The nobleman held himself at last:
" Don't panic. I have everything under control. Tell me what does this man look like? "
" He had very dark hair, inhumanly bright emerald eyes, and a strange mark on his left arm. "
" I am the greatest duke of all Nuabya, the left hand of the king, Who dares send the circle against me! " raged the duke.
He added:
" And they sent only one man! He must be an elite one. You must capture him. "
" We are doing our very best in order to find him. "
" I'm assuming you do. That mark what was it? "
" It was an ancient word. The people couldn't understand it. "
" What was the mark? Can someone draw it? "
" The peasants won't obey, my lord. "
" Bring them to me! "
The guards brought three of the farmers. However, they didn't want to say a word.
" Shall I torture them, my lord? "
" No don't! " He suddenly approached one of them. The noble man pulled off his shirt and then wiped the peasant's face from blood and patted his shoulder.
" My sincere apologies my dear people. My guards clearly have no idea of how to treat you. You are the working part of our hierarchy, the majority of our citizens, the robust pillar of our economical system, the essence of our society. You won't trust me if I say you are my favorite people and I would do anything just so you live in prosperity. There is no such thing as social discrimination against my people, everyone has his role. As for me, my role is to make sure you're living peacefully in my land. If you have any issues with anyone please tell me, gentlemen. I'm all ears for your complaints. "
The farmers were afraid to speak fearing the most genius man of the whole nation, the war hero: Eldric Sum.
" Prepare a feast and a bath for my guests! "
The guards stood perplexed about the situation, the peasants were the despised part of the land. How is the duke making the prestigious noble guards work for them?
" In the next three seconds, whoever disobeys me will be removed from his title. "
The guards rushed and served the guests, the maids prepared a massive feast for all the captured men.
After they took a warm bath and wear new clothes, they were prepared to eat. They never had this joy before and they wished if they could've brought their families with them, to see how generous and kind the duke of Landnor was.
The feast began, two large grilled sheep were cut to pieces and served to the guests on silver plates, they drank a warm soup of the southern rabbit: a rare type of rabbits that appear only on the high hills of the south. As for the dessert,
" My dear people! Tonight I gathered you because I already know what the rumors are, that I am a cruel man and don't care about my people which is wrong. Do you see Landnor? It is the most flourishing land of all Nuabya. How can I take care of my land while not caring about my own people?
Also, I want to state the fact that we are all equals, I'm just like you. As long as we all share that same thing, which is death. Everyone shall die, noble, worker, me. We all are participants in this same race: Life!
Now that you've enjoyed yourself gentlemen, I would like to hear about your complaints. "
One of the farmers bowed at the duke and started speaking:
" My lord! The nobles are making us work morning and night while they keep the money for themselves and live a luxurious life. "
The duke answered his guests:
" I totally agree with you gentlemen that's why from today, you will be prohibited from work during the night.*happy exhaling noises* However, if you do, and some of you will do, you will get 20 bronze coins per night straight from the palace as a token of gratitude. That makes it one silver coin for every week*. There's more, for every child you have you'll be added 5 bronze coins to that amount. This will help you properly raise your children. "
Everyone exhaled from happiness, they were thrilled. Before the speech, they were complaining about excessive work hours and now they want to work even more.
The duke added:
" I have to add one thing. I will send one of my council members once per week, he will be noting your complaints and sending them to me. But, if one of you decied to revolt against the palace, you will all lose this offer so make sure you obey your Lord because he knows your benefit and will make sure you all live in prosperity. "
" We truly thank you, my lord! Words can't describe our joy. Hail Eldirc Sum, the lord of the great Landnor! "
The farmers decided to leave but Eldric stopped them.
" My people! This is not the only reason I gathered you. As you saw the circle is trying to destroy my reign and your lord will be murdered. "
" We want our lord alive! He is very kind to us! "
" I need you to hold my hands as we both will defeat our enemies. "
" How can we help you our lord? "
" My men told me that you saw that guy and that he had a mark on his left arm. Can one of you draw me that mark? "
One of the men volunteered he wrote down the word:
<< μεράκι >>
The duke's face sweated, he learned the ancient language and knew the meaning of the word.
" Thank you gentlemen for your big assist. My men will bring you back to your homes and assure you safety through the whole journey. Also, I have prepared some gifts in the carriages. You can now dismiss. "
" Hail Lord Eldric, Hail Lord Eldric! " The farmers kept shouting at his name.
A beautiful young lady wearing only a skirt, a bra, and a veil hiding her nose and mouth approached the duke. Her eyes were hazel and sharp. Also, she had very long dark hair reaching her tights.
" Clever as usual my lord. I'm always affected by how you control every situation, you didn't earn your title: the left hand of the king for nothing. "
" Esperanza. This can be one of my toughest periods. " said the duke with a serious tone.
The pretty lady felt the fear in her lord's heart, she fondled his arm and then clasped it to her.
" What made you say that my lord? "
" That guy who took down a whole town, he has an Auroreal. "
" How are you so sure my lord? " said the lady while caressing his brown-peanut-colored beard.
" That mark, it's an ancient seal, it goes to the great era. The word written is Meràki. "
" I'm afraid I don't know its meaning my lord. "
" It means love, passion, and dedication to do something. "
" It can't be! This is the second strongest of all the holy signs.
The element of Flair "
The lady at first didn't think of the severity of the situation but right after knowing that the culprit had the second strongest of the ten existing Auroreals, she realized this is a serious threat.
" That's why I'm giving you this task. You will assist my brother in his raid on finding that man. "
" Am I worthy of this mission my lord? "
" You're ability is the most terrifying ability I've seen so far. "
The lady was moved by the duke's saying.
" I will make sure to rise at your expectations my lord. "
" I'm sure you will! "
" My apologies my lord. I have one thing to ask. "
" What is it, Esperanza? "
" Why entrusting sir Baldric with this mission? You can just send the Ashflayers. "
" Although I hate my bother's way of doing things. Still, he is the best at finding people. "
" If it's my lord's command then I shall obey. I will assist sir Bladric and will find this enemy."
Lord Eldirc called his elder brother, the army's commander Baldric Sum.
" Did you need me, brother? "
Baldric was tall and strong, he was bald and had no facial hair at all, no eyebrows, no beard, no eyelashes. He looked like a ghost with pale skin. He was one of the few knights who remained after the rebel. He earned his title: The strongest swordsman of Landnor.
" Listen Baldric! You shall find the man who killed our cousin. Esperanza will be assisting you. "
" But brother, I can handle this on my own. "
" You will need her orb for intel. "
" But- "
" This is an order, Baldric! "
" Roger that, my lord. "
Eldric held his brother's hand before he can leave.
" Listen, brother, this is a family matter. We can't tolerate that man. "
Baldric pulled away from his hand and left. Clearly, he wasn't satisfied with his little bother's act. As for Eldric, he was smiling. It was like he found something interesting. Esperanza on the other hand noticed him:
" You know he won't make it, my lord. "
" We all share the right of death."
At the top of a hill, the young man with the mark was watching the moon. This moment of peace was interrupted by a knife aimed at him. He evaded it with ease.
" Sharp reflexes like usual Marbas. "
A female voice spoke from behind the trees.
" Just show yourself, Emma. "
" Well, here I am. No hiding. "
A red-haired lady wearing a black cape jumped in front of him.
" Did they send you to babysit me? "
" The circle doesn't trust you anymore, Marbas. "
" I don't care about the circle anymore. I already said this will be my last mission. "
" First, your mission was to capture the duke's cousin while not being spotted. You took down the whole fortress for what? Saving a kid's ass. "
" The circle mustn't judge my way of doing things as long as I complete the mission so now piss off. "
" Why are you so savage. It makes it harder for me to get over you handsome. " She playfully teased him but he never cared.
" Anyways, you know the rules Marbas. Don't screw this up. "
Marbas showed a sign of disapproval. The strange lady vanished in the obscurity of the silent night.
What is he thinking? And why did he save that boy? These questions will be answered in the next chapters.
*The pontifex: the law code made by Phenis the great ( The first human's leader ) in the great era.
*Portcullis: a heavy vertically-closing gate typically found in medieval fortifications, consisting of a latticed grille made of wood, metal, or a combination of the two, which slides down grooves inset within each jamb of the gateway. ( The Wikipedia's definition )
*Ubraura: The diety of youth and beauty in Nuabya's mythology.
*A week in this world is five days while the day has 48 hours.
You can check the political system of Nuabya in Volume 0.