Drillohiem
"Talengar?" Drillohiem stared at the specter in astonishment. If what he said is true, then Drillohiem was a God, and not just any God, he was Talengar the God of War and Honor. The very same God whom his uncle worships.
The specters watched Drillohiem carefully, as though they were watching a dangerous animal who could pounce on them at any moment. Jason, the leader of sorts for the spectors, looked nervous, as if he just gave bad news to a family and was waiting for them to lash out.
"I…" Drillohiem began to laugh, which further unsettled the spectors, "I can't be Talengar. Wreag is, or at least was, Talengar and he has all of Talengars memories where I don't."
"You are Talengar, though." Jason spoke with a calm and decisive voice that did not match his appearance. "If you weren't the God of war and honor, then there would have been no way we would have allowed you to enter."
"I'm telling you," Drillohiem's laughter stopped as he spoke, "I can't be-"
"For God's sakes!" Another spector who went by the name of Daniel shouted. "You are Talengar, even if you do not have his memories yet. Wreag wasn't born with the memories in his mind, he had trained for years before he even found out he was Talengar. Even after that he spent many more years meditating and searching his mind before he discovered Talengars memories."
"That's enough Daniel." Jason exclaimed, slamming his fist against the wooden table, sending splinters flying through the air. "We are not meant to interfere with the lives of mortals. We are here to only provide the information that was asked of us."
Drillohiem sat in his seat, pondering what was said as the two spectors bickering back and forth. A God? But how? Grall had once thought himself a God only to find the source of his powers were much more sinister.
Is Drillohiem's "Godhood" also a source of such foul origins? Once the full power was unleashed, Grall couldn't control it. Will he end up the same as his father?
Drillohiem's mind raced and he was so deep in thought he hadn't noticed that the bickering had quieted down. When he had finally noticed that no one was speaking, he looked up to find the spectors watching him carefully.
"How do I control this ability?" Drillohiem asked, he had thought it to be a simple and small question. One of serious nature that the spectors would be able to provide an answer to. He did not, however, expect the spectors to burst into laughter.
"My boy," Jason said, wiping tears from his eyes, "being a God is not an ability. It is a part of you, just as your arm or legs are. As for controlling it, how would we be able to teach you something that we do not know."
Drillohiem was about to ask them how he might be able to learn and how he might be able to use such skills, but was interrupted by Jason, who held up his hand. "We do not know how to use such skills, however, there is one who does and he is closer than you think."
"Wreag." Drillohiem spoke his ancestors' name with respect and awe. He knew only of the greatest orc to have ever lived, but he did not know him. It was time to rectify this problem, but first, there was something he needed to do.
Grodak
Grodaks body began to fall suddenly and quickly. He hadn't time to catch himself and he cursed the damn halfling that claimed to be of his kin. Not even seconds before he had been thanking his lucky stars that his nephew had his back. Now though, Drillohiem, or whatever he called himself, had vanished along with Grodaks sword.
Grodak braced himself, ready for the snow covered pavement to collide painfully with his body. Seconds ticked by as Grodak sucked in a sharp breath and closed his eyes. Just when he was sure he would hit the ground, a strong arm caught him.
"Woah, Grodak." Drillohiem said, his voice panicked as the sound of thumping, as if a sword had been dropped, echoed in Grodaks ears. "That was close. If I hadn't arrived when I did, you would have had a nasty bruise."
Grodak opened his eyes to find Drillohiem holding him up. Drillohiem looked suspiciously healthy compared to seconds before.
"Why did you return, halfling?" Grodak growled, he felt oddly relieved to see his nephew and hated this feeling. "To take more from me? If you are a child of Grall, then he must have passed the gift of the Shadow World off to you."
"I didn't return to rob you nor do I have the abilities my father once had." Drillohiem stressed the last part, wanting to assure his uncle that there was no way he could have disappeared on his own. "I returned because the inhabitants of the sword allowed me to do so."
Grodak stifled a laughter that he knew would only bring him pain. "The swords inhabitants?" Grodak glared at Drillohiem furious. "You must be talking about the Green sword."
"It's called The Sword of Harbingers." Drillohiem reached behind his back and produced the sword. "It houses what is left of the Harbinger race."
Grodak scoffed, he had heard of the harbingers before, who hadn't. It was believed, in human culture, that if one were to capture a harbinger, they would attain immortality. Of course, these were just wives tales, meant to entertain children. This, however, did not stop Grok, an ancestor of Grodaks, from searching for one.
His ancestor had spent his whole life searching for the harbingers, only to end up being killed soon after his wife gave birth to their first born. Some good did come out of his ancestor's death, however, and that was his son. Grok's son had grown up defending his mother, thus he became a well known warrior at the tender age of ten.
Grodak didn't know who this ancestor might be. He had once asked Talengar if he knew of such a warrior in the Shadow World, his reasoning being that the boy's name was stricken out of history, but Talengar just laughed and walked away.
"You wish to make a fool of me, just as your father tried to do." Grodak glowered angrily. "I will not fall for such pity tricks."
Drillohiem didn't try to defend himself or protest against Grodak's accusations. He just lifted the sword and placed it in the palm of Grodaks right hand. Instantly, the minds of millions entered Grodak's, only to quickly fall into silence. A single voice spoke from the silence that surrounded Grodaks mind, the same voice from before.
"I am Jason," the voice introduced himself, "and this is The Sword of Harbingers. After a discussion with Drillohiem, we have decided to serve you, Grodak, Talengar's chosen."
Grodak stared at the sword incredulously, he had known the sword to have a voice of it's own, but that voice had only spoken to him once. He marveled over how the sword now spoke to him and hoped it would continue to do so.
"Turns out," Drillohiem said after a moment, a hint of sarcasm and disappointment echoed in his words, "if you come across a sentient weapon, it is only polite to ask before using it."
Grodak turned to Drillohiem, his eyes squinted in suspension for a moment before relaxing. "You are right, Drillohiem." Grodak spoke in the most polite tone he could manage, for fear that whatever spell he laid upon the blade would be removed. "I apologize for my previous actions, I meant nothing by them. I only fear that you may be just like your father."
Drillohiem shrugged nonchalantly, he hadn't given Grodaks actions much thought. Out of everyone his father knew, Grodak was the one who trusted Grall the least. Drillohiem could not understand, nor did he want to, why Grodak had such distrust for his father, but he knew he wasn't like him.
"There is one more thing," Drillohiem spoke slowly, pondering his words as he spoke them, "a favor if you will. I would like to meet Wreag, my fathers teacher and our ancestor."
Grodaks brows shot up into his hairline. He had known he had come from a long line of warriors, but nowhere in his long line was there a record of Wreag. He was sure that his ancestors would have added Talengar's first chosen to the records.
"And how are you related to Wreag, Talengar's first?" Grodak asked, ready to poke holes in whatever Drillohiem said.
Drillohiem hesitated for a brief moment, pondering how he would answer the question. He was sure that Grodak would have known about the connection since Grodak himself was one of Talengar's chosen. After a brief hesitation, Drillohiem finally came to a conclusion.
"It's not for me to tell." Drillohiem finally said with a sigh. "I only know of such since he was the one who told my father, who, in turn, told me."
Grodak scoffed, if the information came from Grall, he had the right to doubt the probability of it. Though he conceded to the fact that Grall usually did not speak of such until he knew it was true, he had already been made a fool by Grall once. Grall lied to him about the origins of his "God like abilities" and even proclaimed himself a God.
Grodak refused to believe anything else that came from his brother and would sooner dive into the pits of hell, what was left of them, before believing his words ever again. Grodak was about to say as much, but a thought crypt into his mind. There may be some truth as to what Grall had said, if this is the case then Grodak needed to go straight to the source and find out the truth.
"What is your reason for visiting Wreag?" Grodak asked, he knew there wasn't much Drillohiem could do in the Shadow World, save for training, but he did not wish to invite those who would defile the resting place for the souls of the mighty warriors who inhabit it.
"I wish to be trained by Wreag, as you and my father once was." Drillohiem had not lied, he truly intended to be trained just as his uncle and father had once been trained. However, Drillohiem had an odd feeling that his training would not be as easy.
Grodak grunted and reached for the horn that hung on his belt. He raised the horn towards the sky and a pathway appeared before them.
Drillohiem tried to glance into the pathway but found his sight impeded. Everything beyond this magically constructed pathway was hidden in magical darkness. Drillohiem sighed, he had noticed during Gralls last visit to the Shadow World, it was changing and Drillohiem had hoped he would be able to see the changes before entering.
Grodak glanced at Drillohiem and motioned for him to enter impatiently. Drillohiem, ignoring Grodak's obvious hurried glances, stepped into the dark pathway.
For a split second, fear gripped Drillohiem as he took in the Shadow World. He had feared that perhaps Grodak had sent him somewhere else, or maybe the Shadow World rejected his existence and tossed him into the Spirit Realm instead. These fears quickly subsided as a shadow in the form of an orc approached.
"So," the towering shadow orc said, "we meet at last, Talengar."
Grodak stared at the shadow orc questioningly. "Talengar?" Grodak asked, his voice sounding oddly loud in the silence. "Who do you speak to, Wreag?"
Wreag, Drillohiem latched onto the name and peered closer at the shadow. A thin veil that had covered the orcs face now lifted. In front of Drillohiem stood his predecessor, Talengar's second life.
Sakurako
Sakurako sat on the steps leading to the practice yard watching Cassandra. Every time Cassandra lunged forward attacking the dummy in front of her, Sakurako felt her heart lunge with her. It had already been several weeks since the death of that damned orc, Grall, who tortured Cassandra to the point that she refused to see anyone.
At first, Sakurako was, despite herself, glad that no one would bother Cassandra. She had wanted to spend that time with Cassandra, albeit, in her bed, but even she was refused entry into Cassandra's room. This was when Sakurako had first realized just how much Grall had terrified her.
Sakurako had only heard about what happened, not being present because Cassandra had ordered her to stay in the sky castle, and had thought it to be no more than a silly rumor. Cassandra had fought Grall before and she easily defeated him. At that time, Grall couldn't even stand up long enough to defend himself from her blows.
For Grall to suddenly gain the strength, speed, and power to not only render Cassandra defenseless, but to also make her terrified of him. Sakurako shook her head, mystified that anyone could gain that much power over anyone in such a short time.
Sakurako's thoughts lingered on the days she tried desperately to get Cassandra to eat. She had fought with Cass on several occasions to get so much as a spoon full of food into her mouth, which usually left Sakurako exhausted and worn out. Regardless, she stuck by Cassandra's side and did everything she could to get her to finally come out of her shell, though Sakurako suspected Cassandra hadn't realized she was present.
The worst part of all of this resided in how Cassandra looked at Sakurako now, or rather how she didn't. It was as if to Cassandra, Sakurako was not there. Cassandra wouldn't even look at Sakurako usually, and when she did, it was as though she stared through her without seeing.
Sakurako knew she didn't mean to, Grall must have done something to her that made Sakurako invisible to Cassandra. That's it. He must have cast a spell on Cassandra that made her unable to see Sakurako, or maybe he threatened Cassandra by telling her that if she ever acknowledged me again, he would return and kill everyone in the flying castle.
Sakurako's mind raced from one possibility to another, always coming to the same conclusion. This, all of it, was the fault of that damn orc.
Grodak
"I had always known one of my blood would inherit Talengar's soul." Wreag spoke loudly and with pride, the pride a father shows when he speaks of his sons. "I had once thought it to be you, Grodak, but at your age, you should have shown some sign years ago that you possessed Talengar's soul."
Grodak grunted, he had not wanted to speak for fear that his emotions would show. Even now, after his brother's death, he finds himself cursing Grall more than ever. Grodak found it frustrating that the God he revered most in the entire pantheon would choose a halfling over his chosen warrior to reincarnate into. The salt in the wound, as the saying goes, was the fact that the halfling was the son of his brother who was exiled from the orc tribes by the elders themselves.
Wreag took notice however and smiled sadly. "How long are you gonna look down your nose at your brother, Grodak?"
Grodak stared at Wreag without speaking. He did not do this out of fear, he knew he was as much of a match against Wreag as his brother was, but out of anger. He knew if he spoke now he would say things he would later come to regret. Things that the both of them would regret.
"We cast your brother out for going against our ways," Wreag said after a moment of silence, "yet, we do not cast you out for doing the same."
Grodak's eyes narrowed, to Grodak, everything he had done had not broken orc customs, he had just bent them. "What do you mean, Old Man?" He emphasized the last part, purposely showing disrespect towards his ancestor to show his dissatisfaction.
Wreag furrowed his brows in disapproval, he had once expected Grall to treat him as such, but where Grall had not, Grodak had. "Watch your tone, Grodak." Wreag glared at Grodak as a warning. "You may think that just because I trained you to be powerful means you are my equal, but trust me, you are far from it."
Wreag unfolded his arms from his chest and, as if the act was an attack with the intent to kill, Grodak flinched. Grodak instinctively took a step back, the hairs on the back of his neck stood up, and goosebumps formed on his skin.
"What makes you think that your actions are any better than Grall's?" Wreag asked as he took a step towards Grodak, forcing him back. "Is it possibly because you have yet to be exiled? The fact that no matter what you do, you receive praise? Or maybe it's because everything you do is for the orc kind?"
With every word Wreag spoke he took a step closer to Grodak, forcing the orc to take a step back out of fear. "It's because every action I take," Grodak shouted, his voice trembling with fears touch, "I take not just for the orc tribe, but for the world of Xeno-Movia. Grall never cared for the world, he even tried to destroy it."
Wreag stopped short of taking another step, his fists clenched and unclenched in irritation. "Do not speak of things you do not understand, Grodak." Wreag's voice came out calmer then he appeared. "Grall did not wish to destroy the world, that was all The Reaper's doing. If it was not for Grall, your last attack that seemed to kill your brother would have done nothing to him."
Grodak, still trembling from the manner Wreag held himself, was stunned. "What do you mean?" Grodak managed to say in a small voice, a voice that echoed back how he felt.
"Doesn't matter." Wreag turned his back on Grodak and looked to Drillohiem who appeared to be watching the interaction with interest. "What Grall did to be banished is nothing compared to you, Grodak."
Grodak stared at Wreag's back, unable to speak. A moment went by and Wreag, appearing to have calmed down, began to walk towards Drillohiem. It was at this moment that Grodak found his voice only to later wish he hadn't.
"What did I do?" Grodak shouted after Wreag, his voice sounded strained, his throat dry from the fear. Licking his lips, Grodak continued to shout after the retreating Wreag. "What did I do that was so horrible? Grall killed hundreds of innocent orcs where I have done nothing but protect the innocent."
"It is not what you did," Wreag yelled back over his shoulder, "but how you do it."
At that moment, a memory of a conversation Grodak had with Grall when he was exiled came to mind. "Why did you do it, Grall?" Grodak demanded, he had the misfortune of transporting Grall outside the scar.
"I did it because that was what the elders had wanted," Grall answered, his eyes were red rimmed from crying, "just not how they wanted."
Grodak had not understood what Grall had said that day, and he doubted Grall knew why it had happened. Now Grodak understood why his brother did what he did. He took no pleasure in killing that tribe of orcs, he had been ordered to do so and he did it in a way that would spare other lives.
Wreag placed a hand on Drillohiem's shoulder and smiled at him. He spoke softly to Drillohiem, so softly that no matter how much Grodak strained his ears he could not hear a single word spoken. Wreag then turned back to Grodak.
"Keep this in mind, Grodak," Wreag's words were kind, possibly the kindest words Grodak had ever heard from the orc, "we do not regret placing you as the head of the orc tribes. We do, however, regret banishing your brother from the tribes of orcs."
Grodak was dazed and confused. He thrashed about in his mind trying to find the reason for Wreag's disapproval but came up short. He had never directly broken any of the orcs customs, so why?
"What did I do?" Grodak asked himself in a pathetic tone.
"Magic is something that is frowned upon by orc's." Wreag said, he was speaking to Drillohiem yet the words still reached Grodaks ears as if he was the one being spoken to. "We do not allow any of our kind to use magic, for it is a coward's tactic, nor do we use anything that is of magic in nature, this includes weapons. Those that do, will not be able to see the splendor of our resting place."
Grodak starred after them as they walked further into the dark void. He had his answer, he had allowed Imp to imbue his weapon at the beginning of this campaign with magic. It was a small enchantment that would allow retrieving his weapon to be easier and that was his downfall. Grodaks mind extended to his collection of weapons, most of which are magic in nature and realized he hated his brother, not because he was a coward, but because Grodak himself was the coward.