The young boy struggles against the hand holding him down in the grave of blood. Desperately hitting the chained sleeves as he continues to only bruise his own hands. The thick red liquid mixed with mud and insects completely surrounded his body. His desperation for breath grows harsher and more fervent every second he's denied of it.
"I used to study rituals somewhere you wouldn't know. My blood magic proved to be incredibly complementary since it seems blood holds an unusual power. Perhaps even more important than the arcane capabilities of any man or women." Secessus continues to hold the child down in the blood as he continues to speak, his words not reaching the struggling child. "And later I had to deal with someone precious to me. She was experiencing some health issues of unnatural nature. I tried something and it worked. My blood was able to heal, to rebuild her."
The boy's swaying arms and legs slow down, their movements becoming sluggish and heavy.
"Later someone explained to me that it only worked because she shared… similarities to myself. That I would be unable to do so again. To fix others… At least without risk. So I didn't try it anymore." The child named Isaac's body has now gone completely limp, Secessus letting go of the body as he notices it.
"But that's not its only use. I'm no saint, I read all the runes. Knowledge is key to survive. I know that Its purpose was never to heal. It was to change, to rebuild. Quite the striking similarity to reincarnation. The world rejects the weaker one and creates a stronger vessel, ignoring ethics and morality during its creation. Sometimes even just to abandon it later." The dark cloaked figure with emerald eyes says as he walks around the grave of blood, summoning his blood-bound spear. Scraping the weapon through the mud and fallen leaves. The point of the spear is a crimson red. Leaving behind a trail of bloodlike aura. Having made another rune, he wipes out the name spelled "Isaac" on the ground. "I won't be here if you reawaken, I've got other matters to attend to." Secessus says before snapping his fingers, wielding his aura to light all the runes. The mixture of blood now merging with the violets forms coming out of the slain creatures. Far echoing animalistic screams fuse with the sound of the thick liquid swirling around. "I hope you get your vengeance, boy." Secessus says before walking off leaving the ritual to do its course.
***
When thrown into the grave, Isaac could feel his body freeze. Immediately realizing that death was inevitable, still the boy struggled. His survival instinct once again hinders his rest. Perhaps the man he followed was simply a psycho, looming on the weak and vulnerable. To fulfill his own sick desires. But would that truly be so bad? Either way dead was more tempting than being given hope again just to end up deceived. If Asariel was not willing to take him away then it was better to get murdered by some freak. If only suicide wasn't a sin, the boy would have ended his life that day. But the wish to rejoin his family was stronger at that moment. When the days passed, and he survived the fever, another desire came forth. One far more primal and far more destructive, vengeance.
'If I cannot join them, then at least let me kill them.' The child thought as his hungry stomach overwhelmed even the sound of the other families still grieving. When he voiced that thought to the elder priestess she nearly cried. Praying to Asariel to forgive him for his wandering thoughts.
'What wandering thoughts? Why should you pray to her? To some goddess who allowed this to happen?' Infuriated the child stopped going to the temple. The prayers made him nearly go mad.
And then another day passed, Isaac prayed again. His options were slim anyway, so he prayed to Asariel. Not for a better life or to ask about his family's afterlife. This time he prayed with a poisoned hearth, nearly begging the sun goddess to grant him vengeance. To give him the strength to kill all the scoundrels. To grant him his right. He continued to do so for whoever knows how long.
His prayers were not answered by the woman of an everlasting blazing inferno but by a man as dark as the night sky and with jewel-like eyes resembling some of the rarest stars. Maybe he was sent by Asariel, maybe he helped of his own accord.
It didn't matter.
…
It all stopped mattering some days ago.
Now the boy lies in a concoction of blood, unable to do anything to change his fate. Yet again. Darkness starts to overwhelm him as his senses began to fade. Blood and mud forcefully made their way down his throat. The pain was surprisingly short before relief took over.
Finally.
It's finally over. No more struggling. No more pain. No more being hurt.
The darkness was all that remained...
'How long has it been? Why is still dark? Where is the bright gate? Where are the angels? I have done nothing wrong, right?' The boy thinks whilst seeing nothing, unable to command anything of his body. Only the fleeting sense of nothingness seemed to linger.
'Right? I was just a young boy. Confused at the end… But who wouldn't? That was no test, where any young child wouldn't stray!' The child continues to think unable to move, unable to do anything.
'Is this fair? Truly?'
'…'
'This isn't fair. THIS ISN'T FAIR!' He screeches in his head, over and over again. Tired of the injustice given to him even in death.
Unlike before when he was simply accepting death. Now there was a chance. His poisoned heart and mind are the driving parts of the boy's vengeance. The boy instead of solely darkness began to feel pain, anguish, and rage. Not solely in his mind but even in his arms, his legs, his entire body. Continuing to screech as loudly as he can, a familiar iron taste streams within him. The boy now out of the darkness, yet again in the grave crawls his way out of his resting place. Reaching out of the grave with his long and strong blue arms, his small antler-like horns weighing his head down.
Tired, he rests his face next to the earth where his name used to be. The wind gusts slightly as the blood streams downward. Forming a new word as the transformed boy closes his eyes.
"Venche"