How do you kill ๐๐๐๐ญ๐ก itself? That's what the War Powers thought after they slaughtered her for the third time. Again and again they felled her, again and again she rose. Seemingly becoming stronger with each death. The battle between the three Shepherds lasted an entire day, and destroyed nearly half the continent. Bodies stacked on top of each other by the millions, but they didn't matter. Their lives were inconsequential, their impact was unnoticeable. All of the souls that perished were meaningless in comparison to the death of a ๐ช๐ฎ๐ฟ ๐ฃ๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ. The Angels of Godkind could do nothing except bear witness to the fall of humanity from the heavens. The Primordial Shepherd of Elements, and the Abyssal Shepherd of the Void, were both corrupted by the Theurgy. The Deities watched as the two traitors massacred the lone War Power, who did not succumb to the demons' persuasion. The Elden Shepard of Death. She fought valiantly, but her defeat was inevitable, her Legacies were slain and her body was cast into the depths. The passing of such a powerful soul caused natural disasters of a global scale to shake the entire world. Mighty earthquakes split the lands, entire regions became flooded by the colossal waves the tremors produced, and the rest of her magian essence was forcefully expelled, the energy taking the form of a colossal magic pillar that split the skies.
But that wasn't good enough. She was, after all, ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐. He needed to make sure that this monster of a woman could never return. At least not to this life. Using every last remaining drop of his power, he called on the endless pools of fire that sat beneath the earth's surface. He could feel the plentiful magma, screaming to get out, the hellish embers naturally searching for any crevice, any crack, any opening to release its fury. And it did. The earthen ground opened its mouth, spitting out all of its flaming contents. The cascading wall of fire consumed all that was left of the Shepherd of Death, and everything else it touched. The blazing barrier reached the ends of the Earth, leaving a scorching trail that stretched across the nations.
The void maker smirked testingly at the apparent overkill, "Scared of her, are ya ๐จ๐๐๐๐?"
"๐๐ข๐ก'๐ง." Roared the Primordial Shepard. "Test my patience right now, ๐๐๐ง๐." The War Power with ashen white hair sat down on the floor where he stood. His chest pumped wildly as he heaved breaths of exhaustion, assassinating Adri was monumentally harder than he expected it to be. And to think they were even able to pick off her Legacies before fighting her. She was a true beast. It was a good thing they were able to put her down. Still, that fight took a lot out of him, he'd need a few months to recover at the least. "We caused quite the mess didn't we?" The Shepherd of the void sneered. "๐ป๐๐ ๐บ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฒ๐๐๐ will not take this kindly."
"You say that as if it is a good thing." Aziel barked. He was tired of Ward's arrogant remarks, they were quite unbearable to listen to. Especially after they nearly died fighting another War Power. And to make things worse, the Void Shepard was not any worse for wear, the conniving bastard made ๐ฉ๐ช๐ฎ do all the dirty work. Why did the Gods choose such a disgusting old rat to bestow their powers upon. The utter disdain he had for the man was clear in his voice. "Must I remind you, what happened last time you tried to provoke the Spartans?" His internal essence reserves were depleted, but a dangerous amount of energy leaked angrily out of his blazing red eyes.
"Watch your tone, boy." Ward snapped back. An explosion of fire bulleted Aziel towards the other Shepard, raging flames danced up his arm as he slammed his fist into the man's neck. The Celestial Shepard crumpled to his knees, gasping for air. "Do not think for a second, that just because we are on the same side." The rippling flames swirled down to his fist, its violent red wicks shifted into a hot white blaze. "That I would not hesitate, to burn your soul out of existence." His words were filled with malice and hatred.
Still gasping for air, the void maker summoned a blue portal that appeared beneath him, sucking him into the endless void, far away from Aziel. "Pathetic scum." From the day they met, he never hid his resentment for the old man. It was only due to their cooperation with the Theurgy that he was still alive. Louvel Ward, The Shepherd of the void was the first to awaken. And unsurprisingly, he was a piece of shit even before gaining his powers. Aziel was not exactly a good man either, yet even he despised him. What fools those Angels were, ๐บ๐๐' ๐น๐ was it? Did he truly think that he would throw away his life for the sake of their war? Outrageous. Good thing he made the decision to side with the demons instead. At least with them, he stood to gain something from this conflict. And now with The Elden Shepard of Death out of the way... all that was left, were his two siblings... on the other side of the sea.
"My people I command you to REMAIN in the townsquare! Do NOT return to your homes!" The Queen pleaded. Even as she spoke, she doubted that anyone was even listening to her. Of course they weren't, a monstrous tremor just destroyed their houses, and a ground splitting wall of fire that reached the clouds, bursted into the air, painting the sky in red orange. The path of the blazing firefall didn't cross their Kingdom directly, but it was close enough for them to feel like they had just descended into hell. The King's Elite were already busy with dampening the heat and gathering mages to rebuild the damage. Luckily they suffered no casualties, but she knew that many other kingdoms would not be as fortunate.
Sorcerers adept in wind magic produced strong gales to divert the waves of heat that scorched their nation, and Water Mages created springs to cool off the population, but even those began to evaporate. If nothing was going to be done to this firewall soon, then they would be forced to evacuate the Kingdom. A cold breezing sensation sent tingles down her spine, all of the King's guard felt it too. It was familiar to them now, the baleful presence that was their War Power, accompanied by an ominous aura of black mist. An undeniable darkness seemed to follow him wherever he went, it was as if the shadows were a portal that he could use as he pleased. Seamlessly he emerged from the void, "You! Where have you been? Do you have any idea the state Lambridge is in?!" Norvella pointed angrily at him, not as surprised at his sudden appearance as she should have been.
"You talk too much, woman." The man muttered bluntly as he brushed by. "How dare-" Kingston shot her a sharp glare, he didn't have the patience for her complaints right now. Time was of the essence, he needed to assess and absolve the current situation, and immediately head for the highlands of the north. Standing atop the newly repaired palace balcony, he looked down at his people. The villagers chaotically scampered around, scavenging for supplies as if it were the end times. Many of them, fearing the worst had already begun transporting their belongings onto a cart, attempting to flee away from the daunting inferno that threatened the kingdom. All things considered, it wasn't a complete overreaction. A few people stopped to look at their King whom they haven't seen since the day he claimed the throne. In the short time he was their ruler, the kingdom had been invaded twice, once by a God Blooded clan, once by the legendary Apostles, and now they were experiencing a catastrophic, kingdom ending event. It definitely was not an ideal first week of reign for the Shepherd.
Shifting his gaze to the fiery barricade, he knew without a doubt that it was the work of one of his siblings. Recalling his most recent encounter with the new angel, and the series of global catastrophes that occurred, he wondered who the other Shepards were fighting for them to produce such powerful attacks. Either way, he needed to do something about this heat. Had the War Power naturally manipulated the fire, and kept the flames pure. Then Kingston would have no way of stopping it. But the fire produced no smoke, it wasn't natural, it was being kept alive by his magian essence alone. So theoretically, there WAS a possible solution...
Gaius was passing by the castle's terrace, helping an old couple wheel their cart when he spotted Kingston. He was just about to approach him when suddenly, bursts of obsidian smoke exploded out from his runes. The black mist rose into the air, and the same inky substance filled his eyes. Then, in an instant he was gone. Remnants of his dark essence spiraled in the place he was just standing in.
The had begun to set, but the fire burned bright enough for the entire town to still be fiercely illuminated in its raging light. Kingston reappeared on top of the stone walls that protected their nation. He was like a mosquito flying into the bonfire when the people saw him. Was he going to try and extinguish the flames? Even with his power, the sheer volume of the fire was just too great. Of all the outrageous stunts they'd seen him pull off before, this one was the most impossible. It was a hopeless situation that dwarfed even their King. And they would be correct to think so. But he wasn't planning on smothering the entire fire, nor was he planning on dealing with it as a whole. As heartless as it may sound, whatever was happening in other parts of the continent were not of his concern. Just because he had the power, it didn't mean that the lives of everyone in Iota were his responsibility.
The inferno was still blazing just as brightly as when it first erupted. Its smoldering embers sparked off sporadically, melting the grass it landed on. Even with his exceptionally powerful durability runes, the heat stung his face. He could feel it, the sinister aura that powered the flaming wall, it was indeed another Shepherd's. Whoever it was, they were strong, maybe even stronger than he was. If they were to fight right now... he couldn't say with confidence that he would be able to beat them. That uncertainty was deadly, if he couldn't beat the traitorous Shepherd, then how could he even attempt to defend himself against the Theurgy. But that was a problem for the future.
In theory, all he had to do was remove the heat. The damage had already been done, so the fire itself was unable to do any more harm. The impure flames generated no smoke, therefore the only issue was the blistering temperatures. It was impossible for a naturally occurring flame to have this much volume, and be able to maintain it at full strength for this long. In other words, those hellish, red wicks were merely a shell. The true source of the fire was the caster's runic magic. All he had to do was break that shell, and strip the fire down to its bare properties. It may seem complicated, but just like any flame, once you take away the source, it can no longer burn.
On the far castle walls he stood, the King had been staring at the blazing inferno for a while now. What was he thinking? It was an odd feeling, to rely on such a distant stranger. Yet these past couple days, he had been the one thing that stood between them and total destruction. A blanket of smoke covered his legs as he leapt up into the air, then he pushed himself forward, towards the fire. Darkness crept out of every orifice on his face, and his arms emitted a lightless glow as he commanded his power, "๐๐ธ๐๐ผ๐." He punched through the fire and reached deep inside, "Disper-"
๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
Before he could finish the sequence, a ground shaking explosion propelled him backwards. The velocity of his ejection launched him right through the city walls, yet that wasn't even enough to slow his momentum. The propulsion sent him all the way back to the townsquare, the Legacy came barreling down, destroying the stone tiles as he skid across the floor. Dangerous amounts of smoke steamed off of his body, his face was blackened, and his entire top half had been burnt, his shirt was completely singed off. He wasn't sure why, but the core of the firewall reacted a lot stronger to his essence than he thought it would. And instead of the flames dying out, they began to flicker in a different color instead.
"Kingston!" Gaius rushed to his wounded ally. But the man stuck out his arm to stop him, he was clearly hurt, but he didn't seem to be in pain. His eyes were still looking forward as he slowly pointed towards the flames. Everyone else was staring at it too, the fire was still there, and the size of the flame didn't diminish even a little. But they no longer felt any heat, and the massive blaze did not burn in its natural, fiery red colour. It was now a black and white inferno. The base of the flames were white, and the outline of the fire was black. None of the people understood why this happened, but they did understand that Kingston had somehow quenched the devilish heat. Waves of relieved and joyful cheering erupted from the townspeople when their savior rose from the rubble. His burns were mostly already healed, his arms were a little shaky but he was otherwise okay. He had saved Lambridge from the colossal wall of fire, so why did he have such a grim expression on his face? "That should suffice for now." He stepped out of the pool sized crater that formed when he landed. "Gather the King's guard, and inform them that we are to leave. Immediately." Gaius questioningly looked around the kingdom in shambles. Not sure if this was the appropriate time to embark on another mission. At first he wanted to doubt his decision, but this time, he decided to trust him. Obediently he turned away to go retrieve his friends, before he left he asked to make sure, "We leave at first light?"
"No." Kingston's voice was stern and commanding. "We leave ๐ป๐ผ๐." The Legacy climbed the stairs into the Royal manor, Engeram, Norvella and their daughter Ismeina, had all spectated the entire situation, in awe from the top floor. "Who is he?" Their daughter asked. "A Deity. Sent by the Gods themselves." Engeram whispered unconsciously. Ignoring her husband's murmuring she gently touched Ismeina's shoulder, their daughter was still young, she had just turned eighteen last month, but they had been so busy that there wasn't a proper time for them to celebrate. Looking into her eyes, they were almost the exact same shade of grey as Norvella's. "There is much that you do not know, my child. The world is a forever changing, and it is full of wonders that you and I do not have the power to question." Her gaze was warm and her voice was endearing. She understood now, why Kingston had appeared and why Engeram relinquished his throne so easily. "You have been with me, and have seen your fair share of the world. But daughter, you have yet to witness the ungodly amounts of evil that this world has to offer." Perhaps it was because of her pride as a noble, to refuse to accept that such a young man had so much strength. His unwavering gaze, his compelling voice and godlike power. The rampant increase of magian energy in the world, brought progress and change to every single aspect of humanity. It bolstered mankind forward, unlocking an Era of great evolution. But just as it benefited humans, it also made way for acts of ๐๐ฏ๐ข๐ฅ, of an entirely different scale. She realized it now, the reason why a force like him existed, and why he appeared in their kingdom at this time, was simply because, "He is the only Mage in this world capable of defending us from that evil."
From where he drew this deep hatred for wickedness, he could not remember. But he despised them, the hypocrites, the disgusting evil, the heinous corruption, it seemed like the only thing that never changed. Was the amount of... sin, in the world. Nobody was exempt from these tendencies, no matter how much power or knowledge they possessed, not Acampora, not the Legacies, not even the Shepherds themselves. No matter how many chances humanity was given to right their wrongs, ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ ๐ณ๐ฎ๐ถ๐น๐ฒ๐ฑ. ๐ฟ๐ง๐๐๐๐๐ช๐ก๐ก๐ฎ. ๐๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐ฒ. ๐บ๐๐๐๐๐. Godforsaken time. Nothing was capable of making Kingston truly feel rage. But this fact angered him so. And now, because of the actions of a corrupted War Power, hundreds of thousands of lives have perished, and millions more would have to suffer. Before all this, he treated the Angel's requests as a secondary goal, an objective that he could complete along with his original desires. But now... the War took priority.
Melicent, the head of the maids who he learned was the old lady that was in his room that day, put together what she could for his sudden embarkment. A slight feeling of guilt bit his stomach, he was leaving the kingdom once again, after exterminating the Apostles and... a handful of conspiring nobles. It seemed like he was avoiding all the political strife, and royal drama, and the Queen would have to inevitably shoulder the weight of his actions. But he knew she was more than capable, still, he'll have to find a way to pay her back another time.
The King's Elite had gathered all their things in preparation for the long journey, and waited outside the palace. "Gaius. Gaius!" Rekken called in a hushed voice. "Why is he angry? It's scary." Ignoring her, his mind wandered to places elsewhere. Never before has Kingston ever exhibited any signs of emotion. Not in the slightest, so while this tiny sliver of a reaction shouldn't be that major. It was in his case. At least this time, the Legacy had a sense of urgency that he could see.
All four of the King's Elite exchanged perplexed glances when Kingston casually walked past them, without saying a word. He didn't intend on keeping them in the dark for long, but they really needed to get going. There was no telling how much time they had left to prepare for the impending doom. But to ease their confusion, he told them, "Follow me. I will explain on the way." And with that the King's image became blurred, disappearing behind a gust of black smoke. Still with much doubt in their hearts, Rekken, Gaius, Theodore and Isolda followed after him. The Royal family watched from atop the palatial staircase. Engeram nervously eyed his wife, the Queen was being uncharacteristically docile with their departure. She didn't seem as annoyed as she should have, after all Kingston didn't even bother to explain the situation to them before leaving. It seems like even Norvella was susceptible to change. Without noticing it, the Legacy's presence alone had impacted them. They could only hope, that trusting him would not turn out to be a mistake.
"As you all have seen. Something terrible is happening to the land." The four of them listened attentively as they traveled behind Kingston, thanks to the misty funnel of darkness powered by the Shepherd, the artificial slipstream it created helped them move faster than any other mode of transportation could have. It was hard to detect as well, the naked eye would only be able to see squalls of black smoke that dissipated just as quickly as it appeared. "I know you all have your doubts. About who I am, and where I came from. Everything I've told you before was the truth. But I have hidden a few details." He continued. "The Deities that you worship. I have spoken with them before, many times." Isolda's brows creased as the words left his mouth. To claim that he has spoken to the Gods above was not something one should reveal so casually, the group already had a million questions surrounding this enigma of a man, and now a million more just spawned into their heads. Rekken and Gaius both looked like they wanted to say something, but they decided to let Kingston finish explaining first. "What you all think is happening, every theory and idea you have speculated. I can assure you, that the truth is much more sinister. As the current situation stands, we are going up against forces far beyond our comprehension. Forces greater than even I." Theodore blinked, forces stronger than even Kingston? He decided to tag along in hopes of regaining some of what he'd lost, yet he already started to feel smaller, and their journey had only just started.
Without looking at her Kingston asked, "Isolda. What do you know about the Seer's eye?"
The priestess hesitated for a moment, but eventually answered, "It is a sacred visual ability that allows our 'True Sight' to evolve the power of premonition. How do you know about that?"
"An Angel told me. What else do you know about it? Explain it to me. All of it." Isolda blinked reluctantly, she was by no means loyal to the Riftwalkers, but at the same time she felt like revealing her bloods' ancient secrets was a sin. But in the end, she relented, "I do not know much, but I do know that this generation's Seer has not been manifested yet."
"Is there a set time frame for its appearance?" Gaius chimed in.
"Yes. Exactly one hundred years after its previous owner's death. When the Seer's eye emerges, the chosen person completely loses their regular mode of vision. I have only heard rumors, but it is said that they develop the ability to see the properties of magium so vividly, that a special blindfold must be worn around their eyes at all times, otherwise their mind would not be able to handle the sheer amount of information being processed." So a new Riftwalker inherits this power a century after its holder's death. So, "Why has it not emerged yet?" Theodore questioned.
"We do not know. I have not been to the strongholds in a very long time, but the Seer's eye is an incredibly sacred inheritance that my people value more than their own lives. This... problem has surely thrown much of their society into chaos." Kingston coughed, much of their society is dead he thought. Calmly she continued, "I also know that the selection process of the next wielder is unknown. Any Riftwalker, large or small, old or young, warrior or maiden is able to develop this ability."
Kingston questioned her further, "Aside from the Three Priesthoods, do your people exist elsewhere?" He paused for a moment, "Riftwalkers like yourself?" Isolda pondered on his words, "You are suggesting that the Seer's Eye may have manifested outside of the strongholds." Her voice sounded uncertain and doubtful. Shaking her head she reaffirmed, "Even if that were the case, our leaders would know. They would find it, and retrieve it."
"Perhaps they did find it." He thought aloud. Isolda glanced confusedly at him, not sure of what he was implying. "But the place where it was located, they simply could not reach." The girl considered that possibility for a second, thinking about how many places on this earth that the Divine blood could not reach. Little was known about the Priesthood of Prophecy that hailed from the other continent. So keeping her eyes on Iota strictly... there were little to no settings that would have posed a challenge to the Riftwalkers. "Kingston, while I fully respect your power, I fear you are heavily underestimating what our people are capable of."
"I know where it is." He shot back casually. The four of them all looked at each other, silently communicating behind his back. Theodore cautiously raised his voice to ask, "We have been traveling north for quite a while now..." He trailed off, afraid to finish his sentence.
"There is only one place in this continent that nobody would dare venture into. Including the Riftwalkers." Gaius' voice sounded like he had already figured out their destination.
"It is in Risea." Isolda realized.
"Oh Gods." Rekken breathed. "Really?" Her worried brown eyes looked around at all her friends, hoping that one of them would come out and say that it was a joke. "Kingston. It's dangerous. Even for you." Theodore stated in a warning tone. Once again, they all exchanged nervous glances, as if to ask 'He knows of what happened to the Ezurans right?' But of course he did, everyone has. The tale of the first people who weren't native to the land, to cross over into the dreadful tundra. And everyone knows that this tale... did not have a good ending. Whenever the Polar North was brought up, the vastly feared Vikings were always included in these discussions. Their gigantic size, bear-like strength, and barbaric ruthlessness were enough to keep the odd, adventurous tourist out of their lands. But the truly terrifying aspect of the barren winterland was not its inhabitants. But the unforgiving weather. Mighty snowstorms and colossal blizzards patrolled the snowscape constantly, still to this day, people aren't even sure of how the Riseans themselves, have been able to survive inside that arctic hell. Kingston knew all this, yet he did not seem to be afraid.
"Do not mistake my urgency for arrogance. Did I not tell you, that soon we will be fighting against beings more powerful than I?" The four King's Guard anxiously averted their eyes to the view below them, they had just passed the Kingdom of Otus. Which meant that they had flown over Dramera and Kerune some time ago. They were able to traverse across the God Bloods' territory without trouble, only because of this murky slipstream created by Kingston. Respecting his power was one thing, but trusting in him to continuously achieve the impossible... they simply did not have the resolve. He could tell, although they had paramount talent, they came from renowned houses and have never known a day of struggle. He needed them to fully commit to this task, not only for the fate of humanity, but for themselves. For what good is their power? If they lack the will to use it. What good is their strength? If they surrender whenever it is tested? And above all else, Kingston knew that, "If we cannot survive in Risea. We will not survive the war."
For the first time since becoming a Mage, they now genuinely had a reason to fear for their lives. For the first time since becoming a knight, their resolve would finally be challenged. They would never admit it, but there was a high chance that one... or maybe all of them, would not make it out of the northern highlands alive.
They had left Lambridge at around sunset, so it was well past midnight now. After passing Otus, the weather changed significantly. The cool polar winds dried their skin and turned their breaths into steam. An endless, cloudy overcast blanketed the sky for as far as they could see. A white desert stretched out below them, in all directions. The desolation of the empty frostland was already enough to make their stomachs drop, how much worse would Risea be? That helpless feeling of getting caught up in a monstrous, boreal storm, dropped their morale even further. Sensing their dejection, Kingston suggested that they make a brief stop. "It will be morning soon. We can spare a few hours of rest in Ezura." Rekken let out a subtle sigh of relief. But any consolation his words provided were immediately erased when he added, "By first light. We cross into Risea."
Isolda was right to say that Kingston's mode of travel was the closest thing there was to teleportation. At the speed they were moving, it would have been impossible for even the Ezura clan's sentries to spot them. Like ghosts they emerged from the darkness that his abyssal mist provided. Despite it being the dead of night, the streets were filled with so much snow, that the entire town was still clearly visible. Luckily, at this hour, nobody was around to witness the five mages' sudden appearance. The bitter winter air would make the townspeople appreciate the warm hearth of their homes a little more. The soft light that emanated from the uncovered windows of various taverns and... mature inns, dimly lit the snow covered roads. Rekken's eyes were glazing like a child's, marveling at the pure flakes of snow that fell from the steely grey skies. The five of them dressed accordingly to the temperatures. They could have easily gotten by with just their runes, but that would draw too much attention.
The two men were enjoying the frigid conditions a little less. Theodore shuddered slightly, rapidly rubbing his hands together in an attempt to generate some warmth. Gaius was sniffling constantly as he pleaded through chattering teeth, "Can we please go someplace that is not freezing cold?" Kingston monotonously looked back at Gaius and said almost sarcastically, "I did not think the defender of Lambridge would have such a trivial weakness." The large blonde male scoffed defensively in reply, "These cloaks are too thin." Stopping abruptly he split off from the group and walked towards a tavern. "I'm going in there." The others looked at each other and shrugged, they would have to find a place sooner or later anyways.
Ezura was never known to be a tourist destination, but hopefully they aren't one of those nationalistic villages that don't take very kindly to newcomers. Sounds of hearty laughter, loud chatter, and the banging of tables came from inside the large wooden cabin. The clamor grew louder as they crunched up the snow covered steps. As the five outsiders walked through the tavern doors, the noise instantly died down. Everyone stopped to observe the obvious strangers that had just entered the inn. While little was known about the Kingdoms that were located on the outskirts of the continent like Ezura, they knew that adventurers visiting the northern lands were not that uncommon. If they had stopped a couple towns back, then they may have been able to blend in better. But this was a border town that laid directly next to the polar north. The grass was a perpetual tundra and the weather was almost toxic. So the town would rarely see any new faces, especially those that were just "visiting". Aside from the dozens of eyes prying into their backs, the tavern was quite nice. A cozy fire crackled in a stone hearth by the wall, the entire inn was softly lit by the gentle glow of various, oil lit lamps. The atmosphere was still very much alive despite it being quite late. Almost all the tables were full, men and women alike, all staying up to enjoy the drinks and food with their comrades.
Gaius' slowed his pace to allow the rest of his group to catch up. They expected to draw some attention when they entered the building, but literally every eye in the room was blatantly scrutinizing them. Was it just the rural lifestyle that raised everyone who lived there to become so discourteous? They could have at least made their gawking a little more subtle. Of the Ten Pillars of Iota, Ezura was the most unique God blood. At first, they weren't even meant to be an official clan... and technically, they still aren't. They had no centralized system, no king or monarchy, hell they were barely a functioning nation. But in terms of sheer numbers and raw firepower, they were a force to be feared. Their clan was essentially just an alliance of powerful outliers. But as time went on, and communications with the other God Bloods increased, they gained a respectable reputation among the other Pillars.
Still, they were always seen as the more... wild dogs from up north. This was a small town, bordering the daunting arctic of Risea no less. A regular person would find it quite difficult to live here. How many primordial or apex sorcerers were among these people? He prayed internally that they would not have to end up in an all out brawl with these powerful mages. Damned are these moments where Kingston actually wished he possessed the social charisma to swiftly defuse this awkward tension.
What a bother, as a matter of fact, why was he wasting his time worrying about these trivial issues anyway? So what if they were outsiders, this was a tavern and he will do as he pleases. Anyone who feels obligated to assert dominance over the odd strangers are more than welcome to get vaporized. It was exhausting, the insufferable pride and insatiable entitlement of humans. It was a waste of time deciding on how to deal with them. It was easier to just kill them instead. After all, who was going to stop him?
The King's Elite silently followed his lead as he approached the innkeeper behind the counter. He was a large man, a little taller than Gaius and much, much bigger. A scruffy red beard reached down to his belly, but other than that, he had no hair on his head. "We do not get many visitors up in these parts." His voice was like a low, cascading rumble that broke the silence. The man wiped his abnormally thick and calloused hands with a towel and leaned forward. He didn't say anything, just looked at them. His face was uncomfortably close to Kingston's, close enough for him to see that his eyes were actually green. The shade was so dark that from a distance he thought they were black. Still, not saying a word, the man glared at the rest of his group, briefly holding his gaze when he saw Isolda. But when he recognized her peoples' eyes, he didn't even flinch one bit. Suddenly he pulled away, standing straight he bellowed, "BUT!" Flipping the towel over his shoulder he grabbed a drink and began pouring it into a glass. Smiling wide he cheered, "More bisiness iz always velcome eh?" The man tried his best to hide it, but his northern accent was extremely thick, making his speech a little more deliberate, almost as if he was speaking with pauses between every word.
"Some ale and some meat." Kingston ordered as he casually placed a gold coin on the wooden countertop. "And a room if any are available. Thank you." He nodded respectfully. He tried to be as courteous as he could, so why was everyone glaring at him so belligerently? "Oy." One of the Ezurans slammed his beer on the table. "Do yu haf any idea who you are talking to?"
"Disrespectful outsiders, zey always tsink zat they can just, come up here and do as zey pleaze." Another Ezuran growled. A couple chairs scraped backwards as some men stood up. The innkeeper shot a warning glare at all of them, stopping them from continuing any further. The thugs, despite their hotheadedness, respected his command for them to back off. "Why are you here boy?" His tone was low and serious, the smile disappearing from his face. "We do not plan on intruding for long." Kingston answered flatly. "We only ask for a meal and one night's stay." The people in the room were still standing, glowering angrily at the five visitors. It looked like they did not appreciate the Legacy's bluntness, unfortunately, his aloof personality was seen as disrespectful and arrogant to anyone who did not know him. Gaius, Theodore, Rekken and Isolda were all fully aware of this as they all shared a collective sigh. But it's not like Kingston himself didn't know, he just didn't care.
The floorboards creaked as one of the men, unable to contain his anger, lifted his foot to step towards the rude stranger. A small, irritated sigh escaped his lips, "You seem to have the peoples' respect. Old man." Kingston stated dully, ignoring the villager walking towards him. Gaius' hand hovered readily over his sword as the Ezuran quickly approached them. "Tell him to sit back down. If he touches me, I will take three fingers as penance." Theodore, Gaius, and Rekken all shared a mental facepalm. Once again his careless speech and impetuous personality has landed them into another boiling hot pot. For crying out loud he didn't even attempt to defuse the situation, immediately resorting to threats that only angered the hostile Ezurans even more. Several other men stood up in response to his intimidation. Theodore and Rekken nervously braced themselves, they were outnumbered and they had no idea how strong these men were. If they were lucky, they could just be common drunkards, but this was Ezura, and fate has not been so kind to them these past few days. Despite the approaching danger, Kingston never took his eyes off the innkeeper. The following standoff lasted for a brief moment, the large man had no problems with letting his comrades have at it with an arrogant outsider, but something about his gaze told him that this would not end well for them. But they were Ezurans, the only people to ever venture into the Frostland of the vikings, and the only clan to ever wage war against the barbaric race. Even among the Godbloods they were feared, who could this man possibly be? What weight could his threats possibly hold?
The enraged Ezurans stormed towards him, more people joining the mob as they passed by the tables. And just as he expected, the innkeeper didn't lift a finger to stop them. "Kingston." Gaius said in a pleading tone, "Peace." From the noble and aristocratic families near the capital, to the yeomanry in the north, they were all. So. Predictable. Did humbleness not exist among the powerful? Or did their strength just turn them all into blockheads? Well it is as they say, power corrupts. The King's Elite were all standing on Kingston's left, so he was the first to make contact with the Ezurans... which everyone knew was the worst possible scenario. One of the men reached out to grab his shoulder, Kingston remained completely still, his eyes boring into the innkeeper, warning him, as if he was telling him that he still had a chance to stop this. But they never learn the first time do they? No, humans were too stubborn for that, whenever they see a fire, they just HAVE to stick their finger into it. But this flame... would do a little more than just burn them. Seemingly in the last moment, the innkeeper had a change of heart, as if suddenly he had a premonition about what was about to happen, he lunged over the counter to stop the villager. But it was too late. Just as the tip of his middle finger scraped the very outside threads of the cloth that covered his shoulder, Kingston snatched his wrist, and tore off three fingers at once.
But the large old man was fast, faster than even Gaius could follow, he dashed in between Kingston and the Ezurans. "You animal!" He growled. The man that was now missing three fingers stumbled backwards, howling in pain. Half of the mob rushed to his aid, the other half surged forwards, raising their fists at the group of outsiders. But this time, the innkeeper stopped them. "I warned you." The Legacy said remorselessly, wiping a drop of blood off his face. Now he knew that Kingston was serious, and the other Ezurans, witnessing what would happen if they prodded the fire with their entitled arrogance, were a little less inclined to do it again. Even the most prideful mages know when to and when to not pick a fight. With much reluctance and indignation he swallowed his pride and calmed himself down. "Who are you?" The old man asked in a level tone. "And why are you here?" His voice was almost curious, but it was still laced with cautious hostility. One of the Ezurans pushed against his outstretched arms that barred them away from the outsiders. Feeling the resistance the innkeeper cautioned, "Oy Gudbrand. What God did you speak to that allowed you to question me?" The Ezuran angrily shot back, "Why are you talking to him?! He attacked Sindri! Let us kill him!" Still keeping himself between the two groups, he turned slightly and effortlessly picked up his comrade by his neck. "It does not matter what he did. You. Obey. Me. Yes?"
"Yyyy...yes." He choked. The innkeeper dropped him to the floor as he gasped for air. Their cover was pretty much blown, his eyes weren't the most advanced, but most of these men were no doubt, warriors. At least three quarters of them had to be of the Apex class or above. The list of people who would pick a fight in an Ezuran bordertown was very, very short. Who would hear first? The Riftwalkers? Or the Godbloods? The Priesthood of Apostles was out of the equation, but the Disciples would remain as an unknown variable in this situation. Either way, word will spread, as early as first dawn, which meant that they would have to leave before then. "I am the Eighth Legacy." The entire room remained silent. "And I wish for my group to rest for a few hours. Before we enter the arctic north." He revealed his identity and goal without care. There was no point in hiding anymore, in this case, using his status as opposed to concealing it would be more beneficial. Due to the nature of his introduction not being nearly as ceremonial or well known as the Legacies before him, his name was still quite unpopular. "He is mocking us!" One Ezuran yelled, doubting what he'd told them.
"Nobody willingly goes into the highlands!" Another added.
"He iz telling ze truth." The innkeeper rumbled. Warily he surveyed the group, the strong recognized the stronger, his demeanor and build were that of a brute's, but like most old people, his eyes had an elderly wiseness to them, that helped him recognize the situation. "We are very far." He gestured around the tavern. "We hear very... ahh... little news of the main lands." Without turning around he waved off the mob of Ezurans to return to their seats. His commands were met with an outburst of slurs and furious mumbling, but reluctantly they obeyed. "Allow me to apologize for our rudeness." The man was still taller than him when he bowed apologetically. "I took your comrade's fingers. Let us call it even." Kingston shrugged. So even in the frozen rural districts of the north, Legacies were still respected. That was good. "Come." The innkeeper hobbled around them, walking towards the door. "We will talk more in your rooms."
The back of the tavern was large, enough to house several accommodating rooms, with another floor above it. "My name is Magni Allison." The innkeeper introduced himself as he ambled down the dark, wooden corridor. "My people." He paused, "They are veryyyy...ehhโฆ passionate. Ze war." He explained, "It took many of our men. But it also bring us closer, see?" He clasped his hands together, to make the point of them being a unified village clear. "Riseans and Ezurans. Will never get along. No matter vat we try."
"You want to ask us what we plan to do in Risea. Get on with it." Kingston said a little more harshly than he meant to. Magni's eyes twinkled as he smiled at him, "You are smart. And powerful. Scary." The innkeeper stopped by one of the empty rooms and turned to face them. "The first expedition into the polar north. We sent many strong men to die. Maas Svensonn, our stormbringer. And my Godson, Adrius." His face became sullen when he mentioned the deceased. Kingston stood there quietly, silently telling him to just ask what he wanted to ask. "We never find his body." Magni explained. Hesitantly he opened his hand, in his palm was the gold coin that Kingston gave him earlier. "You may stay here for free. All I ask is that when you go into Risea. Please, find out vhat happened to Maas." From the unfitting meekness in his voice, he could tell that the large innkeeper had trouble asking for favors. Surely he knew that a journey into the polar highlands was no mundane task. They'd have little time to spare for a hopeless search in the midst of the colossal winter storms. They both knew that this was just an auspicious hope. But why not? Kingston retrieved the gold coin from his palm and nodded, "I will find out as much as I can wherever I go. You have my word." Magni grinned warmly and stepped aside so they could enter the room. The five of them filed inside, Gaius and Theodore immediately plopped onto the furniture, and the girls onto the bed. "A final ehโฆ word of caution, outsider." Magni said as he began to close the door behind him. "Alvays remember, tzat up there. Everything. Is a threat."
All five of them, including Kingston, were knocked out as soon as Magni left the room. The Legacy was unusually tired due to the series of events that took place this past week. And unexpectedly, they slept right through the crack of dawn. Isolda was the first to awaken to the sounds of cluttering hooves and the rattling of wooden carriages. Sitting up on the bed she gently prodded Rekken awake, the clumsy blonde groggily rubbed her eyes as she stirred. "Whaaaaat." She moaned. Then, several thumps followed by the huffing of horses sparked her consciousness. The window curtains were closed, but light was still able to seep through. The morning songbirds had long since finished their choir, and the sun had risen into the sky. They were late. And judging from the noise, "The Godbloods are here." Rekken breathed. "Everyone get up! We have to go. Now!" Her yelling woke up the rest of the group. They were all surprised by her suddenness but a glance out the window helped them quickly understand their situation. Little words were exchanged as they vacated the inn, and snuck out a backdoor. Kingston was frowning the entire time, it was unlike him to be caught so off guard, and be so late due to something as immature as sleeping in. But there was nothing they could do about it now. The group packed relatively light, so they were able to traverse across the waking town quickly.
It almost seemed impossible, but the tundra beneath their feet seemed to get even colder as they ran. The air grew bitter, snowy mountains peaked over the horizon and the sounds of nature faded as the town shrank in the distance behind them. "You do not intend on keeping your word with him, do you?" Gaius asked. "Why would I not?" Kingston replied. "Do you even know in which direction we are supposed to go?" He questioned him further. The Legacy paused for a second, then said, "Just keep going North."
"You have no idea do you?" Gaius repeated.
"He definitely doesn't." Rekken whispered to Isolda.
"I do not." Kingston confirmed.
"What." Theodore blinked.
"It is okay. If we get close to the Seer's eye, I will be able to sense it." Isolda reassured. "You can?" The other four said in unison. "Why didn't you tell me earlier?" Kingston frowned.
"You did not ask." The priestess responded mundanely. Was she really that much of an airhead or was she just making fun of him? Ignoring her empty headedness he decided on their course of action, "I see. Then we will continue north until Isolda feels something." So essentially, they were walking around with blindfolds on, in the most treacherous environment known to all of Iota, with just a few days worth of supplies on hand. How reassuring. Kingston led the group in the front, they had walked quite a ways away from Ezura, but there was no clear indication that they had crossed into Risea yet. In technical terms, they already did as soon as they left the town. And it DID get colder, but... the change was a little... underwhelming?
Then, without warning, a ridiculously powerful gust of wind pushed them back a few steps. The howling gales carried particles of frostbitten dust that stung their faces. The snowy peaks that were once just distant mountain ranges, were now visible alps. Straight ahead was a small little valley, created by the arctic bluffs. Any sign of greenery had disappeared long ago, now, there was nothing but snow, snow and more snow, in every direction. It was truly an arctic desert. The conditions exceeded all of their expectations, the vicious drafts of air made it impossible for them to communicate with each other. Gaius and Rekken occasionally yelled over the windstorm but that was it. As calculative as he was, even Kingston underestimated Risea's monstrosity.
Begrudgingly the group dragged themselves deeper into the wintry wasteland. Still, much to their disappointment, no signs of civilization. Hell, they might even be happy to spot a wolf or something. But there was nothing, just the sounds of deafening wind and snow. After a while, the storm began to pick up, Theodore pointed out an especially dark spot in the overcast sky above. A cluster of what looked like storm clouds that seemed to be traveling alongside them, far off to the west. They all prayed that the storm would stay that far. The snow was kicking up all around them now, each person wrapped a scarf around their face, to shield themselves from the stinging pellets of ice. No matter how far they traveled, everything seemed to remain the same, as if they were walking in place. In the popular myth of the first expedition, it was said that the Ezurans were being watched the moment they set foot into the land, and they were attacked not long after. But it had been a few hours since they entered Risea, and there were no signs of an impending attack. Though... even if there were, there was no way they'd be able to see it. Something about this weather... it wasn't enough to say that it was abnormally violent. Even if this was the polar north, there didn't seem to be a natural explanation for these... conditions. The entire land, the mountains, the storms, the clouds... it was almost as if... they were alive.
So aside from the daunting snow, ear piercing winds and ominous storms, they also had to watch out for the constant threat of an ambush from the hills. And they hadn't even begun to think about the wildlife here yet. Stories of colossal white bears, and lightning wolves were on a loop inside their heads. After hours of wandering the arctic desert, exhaustion began to set in. Kingston turned around and cupped his mouth to better project his voice, "I SEE A CAVE UP AHEAD." His voice was barely decipherable behind the storm. "WE WILL STOP TO MAKE CAMP." The group nodded in response. Desperate to rest their legs, they pushed forwards into the cave. The screaming wind cut into muted flapping around the cave opening as they entered the cavern, all four of the King's Elite sank to the stone floor, panting heavily. "It's." Rekken gasped, "Only been." She gasped once more. "A couple hours."
"Isolda." Gaius breathed heavily. "Do you sense anything?"
Even the unemotional Riftwalker seemed out of breath, "No." She shook her head solemnly. Kingston had prepared to spend weeks searching for the Seer's eye, but it looked like they would need to halve that time frame. Looking outside the entrance, the raging blizzard practically drew a cold, white curtain on them, completely blocking their vision of anything outside. The Godbloods can forget about wheeling in any carriages, as a matter of fact, they can forget about bringing in any horses at all. And if they were still determined enough to follow his group on foot, many of their men would surely die.
"This storm." Kingston pondered. "It isn't normal." Gaius frowned, unsure of what he was trying to say. "Everything that is known about Risean Vikings, suggests that they are aggressively territorial. The Ezurans were stalked as soon as they entered the land, and they were attacked not even half an hour after." He continued. "So this must be a uniquely powerful storm, even for the Riseans. Powerful enough for them to not be able to venture outside of their villages."
"So as long as these winds keep up, we won't have to worry about encountering a viking?" Rekken asked hopefully.
"Correct. But this storm will also increase our travel time tenfold." Kingston added.
"That aside..." Theodore kicked over an animal skull, causing it to roll from the back of the cave, to the entrance where they all sat. "I think this may be someone else's home." Rekken's eyes widened at the sight of the bone, "๐๐ก๐ ๐๐ซ๐๐๐ญ ๐๐ก๐ข๐ญ๐." Ancient beasts of the mountains that closely resembled bears, but were more ferocious than any bear mankind has ever seen. It is said that their plentiful white fur was thicker than a tree, and denser than iron. Their teeth were like serrated daggers, both in size and shape. In combination with their menacingly long claws and colossal size, they were the ultimate natural weapon. Even though all the information they had on these beasts were based on simple Legends, for some reason Kingston absolutely did not doubt their authenticity.
"Then we must leave." Gaius said sternly as he immediately stepped towards the entrance.
"We can't." Kingston stopped him. "There is no way of knowing if and when we will be able to find another haven such as this in that storm out there. We will rest here, at least until it dies down."
"And if the beast returns?"
"We kill it." It was just an animal after all, it was no more a threat than the Apostles whom they had just defeated. So what had him so afraid? Kingston could see the clear reluctance on his face, deciding if it was better to venture out into the shredding blizzard, or risk an encounter with a mythical beast. Choosing to trust in the Legacy, he hesitantly stepped away from the cave entrance and sat down against the rocky cavern wall.
With shivering hands, Gaius ignited a small flame in his right hand. The others, all seeking to generate some warmth, followed suit. The small blazes hovered mildly inside their palms. Everyone was able to use elemental magic to some degree. Some people were obviously more adept, but a simple fire was easy for any experienced Mage. That's why Theodore raised a brow at Kingston's empty hand despite the freezing conditions. "Are you not able to?" He questioned. "I've never used the elemental arts." The Legacy replied, to which each of the King's Elite exchanged inquisitive glances.
"I have been meaning to ask..." Rekken spoke up. "We know nothing of who you are, or where you come from." Her voice was timid, slightly cautious about how far she should pry. Carefully she pressed on, "You look younger than us, and you possess enough power to easily subdue a Legacy. Yet your name is unknown to all of us." Her tone became more confident as she continued, "I asked my father to pull some favors, to find out any information on you. But no academy, no village, no kingdom or orphanage had any record of you. We don't even know your family name I-" She paused, "I believe we deserve some answers." The other mages all sat in silent agreement, waiting for him to respond.
Where was he when he was granted these powers? Who was he before being chosen to become a Shepherd? Who were his parents? Siblings? What kind of life did he live? Why was he in Lambridge? Truthfullyโฆ he wasn't certain himself. Even on that day, his memory was foggy, it seemed as though the more he pondered on his past, the less he would be able to remember. Sometimes when he closed his eyes, he could see the rundown defensive outpost he used to live in. He remembered the feeling of his damp cot that he slept on in the barracks. He often saw people in his dreams, but their faces were blank. He knew his family name was Samuels, yet he knew no family members. It was as if the person he was before becoming a Shepherd, and who he was now, were entirely different people. But he was still him, the same personality, the same mind, the same body. So unfortunately, he wouldn't be able to give them a satisfying answer, but he could reveal everything that he himself knew. "My name is Kingston Samuels. Ever since I was granted these powers, my recollection of my life before has become... muddled. But what little remnants of my memories I have left suggest that I was a knight."
"Granted? What do you mean they were granted?" Theodore blurted.
"By Godkind." He answered bluntly.
"The... Deities? The Angels?" Rekken chimed in.
"Yes. According to them, I am the Shepherd of Annihilation. A holy weapon born to combat the demonic threat that has already manifested in the other continent." His tone remained steady and level as he revealed everything. The wind continued to howl relentlessly outside, he didn't want to stay and answer all of their questions, but it looked like they might be here for a while.
"I'm sorry I-" Rekken looked at the floor with wide eyes, still processing what Kingston just told her. "You're a holy weapon to... combat the demonic threat? Are you saying we are to fight in a war against... demons?" Theodore breathed shakily.
"That is correct." The Legacy looked at him blankly. "These... Angels." Isolda finally decided to speak. "What did they look like?"
Kingston shrugged, "They looked like Angels. They were bright, divine and had wings." That was a weird question to ask, but understandable coming from a priestess and a daughter of the divine blood. "I see." She said.
"Also-" Gaius pointed at his runes, "Your power. What is it?"
Right, he never explained it to them. Though, it wasn't all that clear to him either, but he did have an idea of what it was. "I am able to manipulate the weight and density of anything I so choose. I can feel other properties at work but... I am not sure what they are."
"Oh." Rekken said, looking slightly disappointed.
"And that's how you've been slaughtering the continent's strongest warriors?" Gaius asked, shocked at how simple his ability sounded. The only person who seemed to understand his potential was Theodore.
With an incredulous frown on his face the boy exclaimed, "That's... absurd! Are there any limits? By how much can you manipulate the weight?"
Pondering on the question for a moment Kingston surmised, "The only limit is my knowledge. As my understanding of my power grew, so did its capacity."
"That's how you are able to move so fast isn't it? You make yourself weightless, like a... drop of water." Theodore's bewildered eyes were like giant orbs, making it look like he had just discovered a brand new element. The others were a little less awestruck, none of them really understood the scientific implications his power had except for Theodore.
The storm raged on, outside of the cavern. A rushing current of snow and ice so thick, that they weren't even able to tell if it was night or day. The suspiciously unnatural blizzard seemed like it was trying to physically enter the cave. Blistering winds slashed at the rocky entrance, showing no signs of slowing down. Everyone was on their toes, Rekken would occasionally glance at the pile of bones that lay in the back of the cave, while the rest of the group sat on the floor, eyes peeled and ears wide, listening for any signs of this cavern's original owner returning. It was during this eerie solace, that an idea materialized in Kingston's mind. The reason for Risea's unnaturally violent weather, and murderous animals. The root of the unsettling suspicion in his gut that he'd felt ever since they stepped foot into the polar north. The presence of magium was far greater here, almost as if... as if it were infused into the very environment. Then, as if the land was answering him, a breeze so gentle that it felt like a cold, soft hand was caressing him, brushed along his face. Letting the wind guide him, his head turned towards the mouth of the cave. Then, he felt it. No...he saw it. A large runic signature, outside in the storm. How was this possible? How was he able to see magian essence?
"Kingston. What are you doing?" Gaius slowly rose from his crouched position.
Unsure of what his comrade was talking about he turned towards him, "What?"
"Your eyes..." Isolda stood up as well.
"They're... yellow." Theodore inched closer for a better look.
Rekken stared in astonishment, wondering the same thing as the rest of them. God Sight. He must be awakening it, there was no other explanation... is what a normal person would think. But then it became clear to him, the gentle push in the right direction and the divine vision that was borrowed to him. The Angels were showing him something. Looking back at the magian signature, he could tell that it wasn't too far. Sol' Ra was without a doubt paying the price for lending him assistance right this moment, so his borrowed sight could disappear at any given second. There was no time to spare, he could explain it to them later but he had to pursue this lead right now. It might just help them avoid the rest of Risea's treacherous landscape.
"Hey wait a second." Theodore pleaded as Kingston's runes lit up. "What are you doing?" No answer. The reverberating vibrance of his godlike eyes intensified, his trademark black ink began to flood into his runes before he blinked out of sight. All four of the King's Elite were on their feet now, each of them shuffling towards the entrance of the cave. "Where is he going?" Rekken asked worriedly. They all tried their best to follow his runic presence, but his energy was hidden behind the colossal blizzard that not even Isolda's eyes could pierce.