A gorgeous forest with the heavy beating sun and from the edge showed an endless landscape of the world. What lay there was cruel, unforgiving, and something that should never be seen.
Before meeting at the forest, one must past treacherous heights, blooming death of brown plains, and horrifying bottomless void. These must be explored to reach the unknown. Yet, why does it still ponder my mind?
This god forsaken world was once ruled by the fear of death where monsters laid lurking far and wide lead by a single entity. Yet, against such an insurmountable foe. How did humanity fight against it? Nevertheless, they managed to do it and from it. Progress and innovation brought prosperity. Tales told by many but didn't impact the rest as the two's journeys.
Religion can have a powerful control over people faithful towards it and given the right situation is just as deadly.
Far away towards the eastern side of the world, beyond long plains and rough terrain from a city that's being built, might even have taverns in the future. A small city in desperation and willingness to do anything to survive. Hope from a traveler gives promises that a higher being will save them from calamity; in order to save oneself they must follow him.
Something new was born from a malicious intent. Children were taught to follow order and execute them to perfection. She who only goes by Ehzra, rose beyond the ranks. A perfect paladin ready to fight and die for a lie.
Far from the corruption of power, near a forest lies a small village of five hundred, unlike those arrogant and greedy people who survived the competition by luck.
The village grew into a mighty kingdom from the efforts of three factions of families. The human desire for selfishness grew and two of the families plotted against the stronger Anatole family. They had fallen out of nobility into ruin. Arazen Anatole, a fallen noble, left to fix the broken truth of thriving kingdom.
Despair and tragedy ruled over the eastern side of the continent. Corruption played its curse. Arazen Anatole wrists chained to wall left hanging with a collar on his neck. Beaten till the skin turned purple. Crimson red dyed the stone underground. Screams of agonizing pain from the cruel torture made a sickening melody.
Once more, Arazen gained consciousness again. The single candle lit rotten cell. The walls and bars aged with time came with their putrid odor making anyone nauseous.
Arazen barley even 14, forced to endure mind numbing suffering. By then the Anatole family crumbled down to ruin and all were executed except the prodigy Arazen with useless skill of archery. Only to be caught after trying to run away.
Arazen's memory was hazy and fractured. Being bound to a wall wasn't the least of his worries currently. Footsteps could be heard and more voices.
"You insolent bastard, how dare you do this to me!" Arazen lashed out as he tried to shake free. "Who are all of you?"
"How sad, how could you forget little ol' me." the masked man asked. "Struggling is futile, since I'm here." The outline of a grin could be seen from the sack mask. The tormentor was reasonable built and tall
Arazen thought "This is just a dream; everything will be fine when I wake up." He could only muster up was a laugh.
The brazenness of Arazen baffled the tormentor. It only made the tormentor more excited.
"Ready, are you? Then let's move the brander awaits." Whispered the tormentor and lifted Arazen's chin to his face. Then the tormentor whistled. Multiple people walked in with the same mask. Detaching Arazen from the wall mount chained him up on both hand and neck. Roughly walked him towards the brander.
Walking through the dungeon was disgusting. Men tortured and women given something much worse. Gut wrenching events were hard for anyone to see.
Arazen's breathing started to be labored and the supposed dream seemed far too real. Since the adrenaline hasn't worn off, that high kept Arazen in an off state.
Within a few seconds of walking the drugs and adrenaline wore off. Which released the dormant memories of betrayal to capture and the pain of getting beaten. Arazen's breath got heavier with the passing seconds. Until anxiety got the better of him as he tried to run away to no avail.
"now! Now! NOW! Trying to get there faster, how sweet of you~" Teasingly said by the tormentor. With that he grabbed Arazen and threw him over the shoulder then ran outside. Leaped out the door and thrown Arazen to the dirt. What greeted Arazen was the rough hard ground and bitter breeze of the moonlight.
Arazen's body ached more from the harsh handling. A smoke cloud billowed the serene night sky. Once a simple serenity forgotten, the next second now a new blissful joy. The tormentor gripped at the chain on Arazen's neck, dragging him along the ground.
"Let's have our fun!" exclaimed the tormentor. Placed Arazen in contraption keeping him from moving. His mind went numb and blocked out all sound.
SMACK!
"Where did your emotion go?" gasped the tormentor after punching Arazen. Again, with smiling "Let's get started."
He pulled a long rod from the brick furnace with a flat bit at the end with symbol of a flower-colored bright red from the heat.
"Wait, no we can talk this out!" begged out Arazen. "Please don't go with this…!" Continued to plead for a hopeless chance.
"HA! There you go! That's the face I want!" laughed the tormentor with a face of pleasure under the mask. "Get ready don't faint on me!"
Two of his underlings got a rod as well. They got ready as both underlings went to the side of the shoulder. The boss aimed for the left of the chest.
"We're ready, boss." Both men said simultaneously.
"READY! GO!" Shouted The Boss.
"STOP!!!" screamed Arazen.
Excruciating pain spoke for Arazen. The burning of his flesh sizzled in the moonlight. The repulsive smell filled the open air. With the screams of the naïve and foolish enveloped the surrounding area. Right then, Arazen didn't see a human, but a deplorable monster. The burning metal melted the skin to the symbol. A grim reminder of slavery. Only at the end did Arazens eyes rolled back and fainted.
That sadistic monster ruled over a small castle in the northern eastern part that is secluded from most people. Which turned captured people into slaves forced to obey. Either they are used or sold
Just 1–2-month cart ride leads back to hideous breeding place of malicious paladins. Connective network of Kingdom, Religion, and insufferable monsters.
Cruel clergy playing God with the lives of others. A life not worth remembering. Thus, a deal was struck once more.
From the mind games and selfish parents who gave their children to this so-called God for a chance. Cesspool of the rotten hearted priest preyed on victims. For what could a kid do with absolutely nothing but to follow orders.
An exceptional kid by the name of Ehzra, sold to church for money. The kid had a blank expression; cold lifeless eye.
"Continue praising and giving us strength for our God will give us the power to change the world." Announced Clergy ******.
Numbed mind of citizens loved the religion and preached to one's content. Unaware of the threats but to only follow wholeheartedly. As for Ehzra, a beautiful young girl around the age of 14 condemned to cruelty of a dammed world. Guided through brutal tasks and used as doll for the clergy.
During free times, hope of rebellion brewed in the background. Ezer was once a wandering child who saw the freedom of life and saw beauty in a godforsaken world. Being captured but never giving in to its shameful system. Near the trees of the training area a fateful encounter started.
"How can you keep smiling?" Ehzra asked, staring blankly down at Ezer who is around 16 and has brownish blonde hair like Ehzra. "Don't you get tired of it?" She continued.
"What's with the questions?" replied Ezer. "Oh? Are you interested in me?" Ezer snarky smirked.
"What do you mean?" Puzzled Ehzra asked.
"Huh? You're like a doll..." Ezer said, intrigued.
"Because in face of despair one must smile since who else going to." Ezer finally answered.
"Despair..." As perplexed as she was, her face never changed.
"Agh! You truly don't know anything." sighed Ezer.
"I'll teach you." told Ezer as he was standing up from the trees. He then flicked Ehzra on the forehead. Then grabbed his spear and swung it around his back.
"What was that for?" asked Ehzra. Ezer replied with a cheeky grin and motioned Ehzra to follow him.
"Enough of the formalities, aren't we the like the same age? Also, my name is Ezer what's yours?" Ezer babbled with a bright smile.
"My name is Ehzra. Part of the Paladin training regime, trainee 1."
"Again, stop with the formalities I'm only few years older I think, but our name is quite similar." Ezer chuckled after he spoke.
Ehzra who is ignorant and unaware, couldn't understand Ezer's easy going personality including the feeling in her chest.
"Don't you have anyone else to talk to? "Asked Ezer.
Ehzra stayed silent until the topic changed.