On a peaceful night when the air was slightly chilly and the moons radiance lit up the dark forest, the birthing ritual of an unborn boy began.

This was not a normal ritual infact it was forbidden.

In the middle of a blood sigil was a dead woman with a blouted belly surrounded by perfectly placed spirit guiding candles and dark black robed figures.

Each and everyone of them came here as a sacrifice because of reasons unknown.

But before they countinued with the finale step of whatever they were doing there was a odd moment of silence as their leader opened the womans belly with a small but sharp knife exposing the small body inside.

Even if all this will turn meaningless a chance for their race to rise above dirt was more then enough for their flesh and souls.

Abruptly the leader stood up, slowly he pulled back the hood covering his face.Two massive scars covered both sides of his hairless head but instead of fear the other robed ones pulled their hoods back as well.

They stared at those Mark's with respect and nostalgia, if any man deserved an unfated path it would be he.

But he more then aware of the reason for their profound gazes could not help but give a teary farewell.

" Thank you I will forever remember you all, not as subordinates but... brothers and sisters." Astree said emotionally firm in his words as he gestured for them to begin with a trembling hand.

He wanted to look away from this part but that would be a disgrace to their courage, even if he must shed tears he will watch them die...

For the last king they shouted unanimously as every signal one of them individually gutted themselves before jabing their foreheads letting lose their souls upon the world forever unable to return to the domain of rest.

Tears upon tears fell, this was truly the most horrific times of his life. Still he hardened his will remaining focused even so.

Crack*

In one swift motion he stabbed the babies forehead right before the soul could completely form. This incomplete soul would create the perfect vessel for the soulless spirits his friends now where.

With the help of the candles not even a moment passed before they were devoured.

In reaction to the spirits that now filled its vessel a strange phenomenon took place.

From within the baby started to glow like the moon, this marked the last preparatory step was finished, now all that remained was the simple action of suicide.

But not in the same way as his... friends

Astree said his farewells one last time right before he slit his wrists bathing the body he is to possess in his own blood.

While he drifted off into a cold sleep thoughts of the recent tragic events that forever changed his view of the world swirled around his mind.

The way they mocked his fellow humans natural weakness dishonoring their best warriors with gruesome deaths and rapeing their children right in front of them.

Even he the king was left unspared by such atrocities, chained to his throne he was forced to watch as his beloved wife was tainted by orks. It went on for what seemed like days until eventually she died.

Others would have bitten off their tongue's then to suffer such a slow death but she couldn't...

For she held in her belly Astree's unborn son

He had never felt such rage such helpless sadness, in a way he had gone mad. He couldn't protect his people who he devoted his life to and he couldn't protect his family.

The only thing he had left was the embrace of death so he simply gave up and slept through the cries and screams that surrounded him unable to do anything at all.

However when he awoke the orks vanished, for a second a smidgen of hope gathered in his heart maybe their were others alive as well.

He couldn't count the amount of times he called out only to be met with silence and the thick smell of blood. For awhile he thought this was his punishment as a failure. When suddenly he heard small taps on the stone floor.

No ork could could make such light steps so that could only mean one thing.

Human

He know not how they managed to survive and he never asked. Once they released him his usual smile that accompanied everyday of his life went unseen.

He gave desiceve orders to recuperate before sending them on a search party for any survivors while he thought of something that made him hesitate.

Passed down to every human king was forbidden knowledge of their race and...

A sigil of rebirth

He wasn't aware of it then but now he was sure his faith in the gods was broken if he must be a sinner then for the sake of everyone else he'll do it tamper with souls.

As the last bit of warmness left his body the sigil below him abruptly lit up beating like a vigorous heart thump* thump* thump* the more it pulsed the less vibrant the color of blood it was made up of became.

Until

BOOM*

His soul merged with his unborn son bringing forth a violent reaction that swept away the trees marking a mile wide crater into the very earth.

At the epicenter of the explosion caused by a merge of energy Astree layed asleep in his new body. Every moment that passed he would undergo changes, from his bones to his very brain all parts of him were being energized by the gathered spirits of his brethren.

By the looks of it he would remain in such a state for a long long time that is if he was left alone.

One hundred and thirty two miles away on top of a frozen mountain there sat a tower...

To be countinued