King's Word
Liora's perspective
I looked down at the boy named William, seeing him struggle. His eyes hinted at struggle—baffled, lost, and resistant. His muscles tensed as he struggled to break free of my magic.
I took note of the golden magic emanating from his body—no, not emanating, resonating within him, fused and molded to his body. It was odd. I have never seen anyone with such a perfect condition magically enhanced body. Markus and the boy's father have one, but theirs were artificially created.
But this boy, this child of prophecy's body, is perfect. He will grow in strength the longer he lives. Even his magic affinity is odd. If I let him live, he will undoubtedly become powerful in the following months, especially with the Dragon Riders and the King of Asgard.
A shiver of excitement went down my back. The idea of encountering and killing that King floods my mind. The vision of seeing his dead corpse lying before me was one that I couldn't help but imagine.
Years spent forging my Sigil to be an Eldril. I can see the Ether flow through the world. How it interacts, how it touches, how it influences everything. How it's bonded to our bodies, mind, and soul. Like a mother caressing their child. Holding them tightly, pouring all the love into them. In ways that can't be fathomed by logic or reason.
Looking at the two men behind the boy, the Ether within them tells me everything. I'm still trying to process such power. I can see the Ether within their body just as I see the world. It's already bad enough I can't actually see them. My eyes can't register color like my baby brother could. Instead, I see the Ether due to my Sigil, Sight of Magical Wisdom.
Looking back at William, I saw the golden Ether within his body. "Any last words?" My voice was blunt and lacking emotion. They don't deserve it.
They did this to me. They did this to my brother. They all need to pay.
I have ended prophecies before. I glimpsed how the world reacted violently to the act—or the Ether did—how it became unstable, trying to correct the atrocity of what transpired—like I cared.
Pain, hate, pain—it's all the same—an endless loop. People, particularly nobles, never change. Greed plagues their hearts, driving them to seek what they desire, discarding ethics and morals for power. The common folk suffer, soon to resist, until hatred blossoms in both hearts. Commoners retaliate with fierce might, and once the nobles find their match, their desire for greater power grows, perpetuating the cycle of suffering all over again.
With a flick of my hand, a metal vambrace materialized around my arm, cladding around my forearm and extending a trident-like spike past my hand.
A Vambra.
The boy, William, struggled against my magic. I could see my spell starting to crack. The Ether around him spasms, crunching as he tries to break free. I was startled at his strength, even if it wasn't magical.
No. It is magical. Magic is channeled into every part of his body, so much so that it becomes part of him. And then there is his bond. Him being a dragon rider, this only just makes him even more magical. If he is allowed to live, he could quickly develop a Kingdril. Even make it to godhood.
He would be on par with master and the King of sacrifice. Even Ryu himself. I must correct this now.
Gathering magic at the tip of my Vambra, a boiling blue orb formed, aimed directly at William's face. His eyes held defiance, persistent despite the disarray surrounding him.
"Then die," I spoke out. One of the individuals I restrained, William's father, Ether, surged outward as he tried to escape my binding spell. It was futile. William easily surpasses him, but I doubt he knew that.
More magic poured into my Vambra as it reached its peak. Watching the Ether bend to my will as it compressed into my spell. Feeling its presence filled me with relief and confidence. This was my magic.
My Eldril's power.
The moment I tried to fire my attack, I watched as a hand grabbed hold of mine and jerked it upward as the spell flew out of my palm and into the sky.
Looking to the side to see who dared interfere, I saw a young boy…. No, he was barely in his teens as he stood about 5 feet. His eyes glowed with magic in an orange light. His long black hair was pushed down to his sides, covering his eyes but never touching his shoulders. The front of his hair swayed down to the side, preventing loss of sight as it spiked back up near the top, almost looking like horns.
His clothes were familiar to me. He wore a simple cotton shirt, but his left side was covered in a silver spiked gauntlet, while his right arm was very lean as he held my hand. His shoulders had three large, odd-looking, transparent, ghostly claws that stretched down his back like a cape. He had black pants that were slightly baggy but covered by silver armor that clad around his knees, down to his shins, and over his boots.
I knew who he was. Just taking a glimpse at his Ether. It was unnatural. The Ether warped around him. Contorting all over as if it was waiting for him, yet disobeying natural law as it reorganizes to fit into something new. It wasn't just the physical plane either. Any other Ether that resides in other planes did just the same. That's all I had to know. He had a Kingdril.
I can see the boy's will alone taking form and warping the Ether. "It's you," I said aloud as my binding spell broke away, allowing the boy, his father, and the noble to move as they fell to the ground. I smirked as I stared into the man's orange eyes, magic emanating from them. "King Ryu."
Ryu, the King of Asgard.
"I should've known that you were near since Markus was around," I said as Ryu let go of my arm. He didn't seem to be hostile or have any source of malice. Does he really think that lowly of me? "Where's your other protege, the King of Sacrifice?"
He glares at me, his brows furrowing up with clear intent of combat. But not out of anger. "You and your fellow Prophecybreakers have caused enough problems. Who is your master? Where is he?" He demanded. His voice held authority in a way that can't be reasoned. It was as if the world itself was responding.
I took a few steps back as my Vambra dematerialized out of sight. I confidently walked a few steps away, my dress pressing against my legs with each step. My eyes gleamed with excitement. I've been waiting for this moment. I even made a spell just for this moment.
We strode away, making a decent ten feet distance from each other. "I'd rather not do this, Liora," Ryu said, pathetically trying to be sentimental.
"But I do," I answered with a vicious smile. My heart thumped in my chest with anticipation, and my hand shook with glee as I stared at Ryu's much smaller body.
"Killing me or any noble won't bring back your brother," Ryu said.
Time slows down at his words. The once excitement that flowed through me was contorted into rage. Images of my younger brother's body flashed into my head. His eyes ripped out, blood mixed into his tears, dripping down his innocent face. His voice trembles in fatigue and weakness as he cries out in fear. Saying he couldn't see anything, only darkness and pain as death took him in my arms.
I lost my patience. "You know nothing of what happened!" I yelled, furious at Ryu's arrogance. How dare he mention him! How dare he even think of it! Raising my arm up, the Vambra reappears on both of my arms. "Time to die."
Ryu sighed. "I really wish I was there to save him, Liora. If things were only different." The soft sympathy in his voice made me sick, and I gritted my teeth in anger. Ryu raised his own arms as we scowled at each other.
The world held its breath as we stood our ground. The tension grew as I took deep breaths to keep my composure. We didn't dare to move, waiting for the other to strike. The first person to cast a spell loses.
I know he can sense my magic but can't see Ether like I can. Sweat dripped down my brow as I waited. Staring at his Ether as it contorts and warps in and out of between the planes of reality. It scared me. Reminded me of my master.
Soon, Ether instantly rose into his arms as he cast a spell. He immediately pointed at me as a glowing yellow ring formed around his fingers. I couldn't read what it was, but it didn't matter.
My spell activated.
The world froze, casting a grey pall over the land. The wind stopped blowing, the clouds ceased moving, and the Ether stood still.
"Time magic," I chuckled as I walked͚͘ ȯ͍ver to Ryu, anger still residing in me. "Not even you can use such magic, Ryu. All the power in the world. The power to change fate itself. And you lost to me." I closed the distance, eyeing him up and down. It was much harder to see the Ether due to my spell, but I could easily tell that the rumors of him not being human were true.
Looking at his spell, I can't tell what it is or does, even with time frozen. I can see that it is creation magic. Impressive. Creation magic takes on only one form and is on par with Eldril's and occasionally Kingdril's, depending on the user. Knowing Ryu, it's something that would've killed me. Walking around the ring, ensuring I didn't touch it, I stood before Ryu. His eyes looked at where I last stood.
Appalling.
Channeling magic into my Vambra's tip, a magic blade formed in shimmering violet light. Raising it up to his neck. "Sorry, but you aren't winning this battle. Let's see if the rumors of you not being able to die are true." I said with confidence. A glistening smirk formed as I pushed the blade into Ryu's neck.
My eyes widened as I realized the blade didn't move. I tried pushing it into Ryu's neck even more but failed. It was indeed touching him, but it was cutting his skin. I figured it was due to him not being human. Gritting my teeth, I poured more magic into my blade, making it sharp.
It still didn't cut.
What the hell?
Glaring at Ryu again, I poured even more magic into the blade. So much so that the time spell I used was starting to waver. Soon, Ryu's skin split as my blade went straight through his neck. His head stayed on his body, but it would fall off when time resumed.
I won. I bested Ryu. Who knows? Maybe I could always defeat him in combat. But now is not the time. William must be dealt with.
Moving away from Ryu, I made my way over to William, still frozen in place as he lay on the ground. Placing my hand in front of his face, my magic blade ready to pierce him. It's time to end this once more.
Goodnight, Wil….
Blood spilled out of my mouth as I stumbled backward, buckling under immense pain. My face scrutinizes in disbelief and shock as my chest feels like it's being torn out. Slamming my hand to my chest, feeling for any missing parts only to feel that my body is fine.
Why does it feel like something is ripping me apart?
Vomiting up more blood, my control over time vanishes as time starts to flow again. The blood that spilled out of my mouth landed on William's face as I fell to my knees. William looked surprised and disgusted. Gritting my teeth, I tried to reach for him, my arm quivering as my body screamed at me to run. No, it didn't want me to kill him. Why?
As I slowly got closer to him once more, my chest radiated in pain as it felt like I was being ripped open from the inside. Warm liquid seeped out of my eyes and down my nose. Tasting it made me realize I was still bleeding. I clenched my teeth tightly as I felt more blood seeping out of my mouth as I tried not to scream.
It hurts. It hurts. Why does it hurt?
I immediately left William's side as I looked down my shirt. I knew this was magic, but I needed to be sure. Looking at myself, I saw a massive ring-like shape buried into my skin. Ether radiated from it. But it was not the same as regular Ether was. I couldn't interact with it.
What is this? Is this Ryu's magic? That spell from earlier. How did it hit me? I stopped time before it could… No. It's creation magic. It follows the law that is given to the spell that is created. It doesn't follow casualty the same way that most spells do. When I stopped time, it must've responded in kind, and since I didn't try to dodge it, it hit me anyway. Even if its physical form did stop.
Looking at William, I could feel my body tingling in concern.
The spell is a curse. So I can't get William. Damn you, Ryu.
Gritting my teeth in frustration, William attacked, swinging a sword at me. My body doubled over in pain as he approached, but I flicked him away with a simple wind magic. Pain surged from me, festering in my chest. The curse definitely was to keep me away and to harm William.
I have to fall back. I must regroup with the others. Ryu won't stay dead.
William's perspective
My ears ringed as I sat back up, sword still in hand. The wind magic that Liora sent at me was rough, sending me flying back. Looking towards Liora, I sensed something was up, but I couldn't put my hand on it.
Liora, moments ago, was ready to kill me. I could tell she held no fear or concern. She truly believed she had won until she was interrupted. Shaking my head as adrenaline continues to flood my veins, making my arms shake. I smirked at the sudden change of events. Whatever happened, she clearly was vulnerable now.
Lord Dimmal ran at her, his sword aimed at her head. She, however, was ready, moving out of the way in a quick sidestep. Lord Dimmal didn't stop as he kept up with her. My father went to the flank. But the moment their coordinated attack would land, Liora vanished into thin air.
Gone in an instant.
This wasn't the first time Liora did it. When she went over to fight that short guy, she ended up in front of me, vomiting blood.
Looking around to see if she was trying to sneak up, my thoughts raced as my heart pounded in my chest, trying to regain my composure as I clearly remember how close I was to death.
Angry at the idea of being helpless against Liora, gripping my sword tighter as I could hear the handle of my sword start to crack. I was still anxious as I looked over at the one called Ryu was at. His dead body lay there, and I could see the bone of his neck. Images of Heartglen flooded into my mind, seeing all those people.
The sudden memory of Hearthglen made me nauseous. Hating myself for being pathetic as my stomach flipped upside down. Gritting my teeth as I resisted the urge to empty my guts, I swallowed my worries and stepped away from the sight of Ryu's body. I needed to focus on the here and now.
That's what my father would tell me.
Looking away to distract myself, I settled the once-pounding heart back into my chest, no longer threatening to come out. Exhaling deeply, I was able to regain my breath. Whatever happened to Liora, she was gone. Sheathing my sword back into its scabbard, I looked around where we were.
I was able to take in the surroundings. The road we stood on was similar to that of Hearthglen but was kept nice and clean. There were no cracks anywhere to be seen. The buildings were all random. Some were made from stone, and others from wood. Each one was designed differently as if made by different groups of people.
Platinum-clad armored knights surrounded us before I could fully take in our surroundings. My father and Lord Dimmal moved closer as the knights circled us. I couldn't discern their appearance under their armor, but some didn't seem human. Some had lower legs resembling snakes or bent in different directions, while others had helmets of various shapes. Some had tails or wings.
I got nervous as they pointed guns and blades at us. "What now?" I blurted out in frustration.
"Easy, there. They're with me," a man yelled. I looked over past the guards to see Markus walking up.
My mind drifted to Aunt Sifle. Did he kill her? My heart clenched at the thought.
"Sir, the King has been killed! This is serious!" one of the knights yelled.
"Give him a few more minutes," Markus responded. Was he not concerned for his King? The knight was just as confused. "Are you guys alright?"
Markus pushed past the knights as Lord Dimmal stepped right up. "We are fine. We weren't expecting anyone to ask about our location or that Asgard took notice of us." Lord Dimmal was calm and collected, but a hint of confusion and anger mixed into his voice. He was hiding it very well. "We do appreciate your assistance."
Markus let out a loud chuckle as I relaxed. "Sorry. We got wind of a prophecy of someone coming from Hearthglen just a month ago." Markus smiled at us, leaving me utterly shocked. Maybe because I wasn't expecting him to be an ally. He finally turned towards where the so-called King Ryu's body was. "Master Ryu. You're uṕ̟ ̝̔yet?"
"Ya ya, I'm up." My disbelief turned to awe as Ryu stood whole again, the injury somehow undone, erasing all signs of harm. What the hell? His head was cut clean off. "Wasn't expecting that?"
What the fuck?
Markus walked over to Ryu. "What happened?" His voice was both concerned and confused.
"Couldn't even see what happened." Ryu responded as he sat back up. "next thing I knew, I was on the ground dead."
"It's not often someone can beat you. Any ways to counter what happened." Markus helped Ryu up off the ground. The cut that would've been on Ryu's neck is long gone. Not even a scar.
Ryu scoffed out playfully. "Only one way to find out. But we can discuss this later." Ryu walked over to me, making me worried as I held my sword tighter. "Welcome, I've been waiting for you…"
Ryu's words lingered as if he didn't know what to say next. "William," Markus mumbled to Ryu.
"William, thank you," Ryu said, sounding almost genuine with his thanks. You had me worried that the prophecy breakers got to you first," Ryu chuckled, leaving me confused.
"Prophecy breakers?" I asked.
"Later, let me take you to the guild first to discuss more," Ryu said. His voice was soft but firm as if what he said was the truth. Ryu turned away. "And you, my friend, can relax. If I wanted to kill you all, I would've done so already."
Looking over to Lord Dimmal, I noticed he kept his sword ready. His knuckles were white from gripping the handle tightly. His hand trembled, and his once sharp look was now a furious glare of unimaginable hatred.
"Why should we listen?" Lord Dimmal's voice was hostile, which was very unlike him. He was usually open-minded.
My father stepped between them, placing his hand on Lord Dimmal's chest. "Dimmal, we should listen. We can't talk our way out of this."
Lord Dimmal didn't like what was happening. Neither did I. I barely trusted this random guy. Lord Dimmal gave a profound sigh as he lowered his sword. "Very well."
We all made our way to the guild. I was reluctant at first, but my father convinced me otherwise. I didn't trust this Ryu guy, but we could not argue. My body ached with fatigue and soreness, and my heart was heavy. I wanted to go home.
Reaching into my pocket, I took out the photo of Mom. Looking at her and my father when they were younger eased my worries, but not the pain of betrayal from Sifle. We should be fighting the Blight, not each other, over some stupid prophecy.
We gathered around a large, gleaming oak table, the light reflecting off its polished surface. The walls were adorned with an elegant red and black striped banner, framed maps, and portraits of the King of Asgard. The table itself was imposing, clearly intended for important gatherings and discussions.
I sat next to my father as Lord Dimmal stood behind us. Markus and Ryu sat silently across us; the female head, Luna, was present on the table. It was as if they were waiting.
I felt so far away from the world I grew up. I wanted to be a dragon knight, fight the Blight, and avenge my mother. It all seemed so simple. How did it go so far off track? The memory of Lord Kevlar's trial played out in my head right next to the destruction of Hearthglen.
Mom. What would you tell me?
My stomach squeezed in anticipation as I felt Aurum's emotions flood into me, letting me know she was okay. With her well-being comforting me, I tucked the photo back into my pocket. Then the doors flew open, revealing Azrael and Thomas. Both looked displeased and angry as they made it over to the table, not bothering to sit down.
Ryu smiled at us, making me nervous. He said he wouldn't kill us, so that's good. "Good, we can start."
"We have no business with you," Thomas yelled. I looked at him, seeing the Azrael next to him taken back.
"I assumed you came to this place to access the guild to message the royal family, correct princess?" Ryu grinned at Azrael. I could see her hand shaking behind her.
She didn't answer.
"You have a lot of nerve coming here to my land." Ryu wasn't being friendly to Azrael at all. His voice was no longer soft. It had a wave of authority. As if he could kill with just a single syllable. "Especially with the war with Drakelene. One I didn't want."
Lord Dimmal interjected. "But one that is deserved since you created the Blight."
"The Blight originated during the second age, before our time," Luna said. "Since then, Drakelene has effectively kept the Blight contained without assistance. According to documentation, Asgard was never affiliated down south." Her face was serious, and words were spoken elegantly like the nobles I had heard of. "Drakelene has been at war with Asgard since the first Blight attack. Ever since, neither side has suffered any losses."
"Thank you, Luna," Ryu responded, bowing to her. "I have been trying to be peaceful with Drakelene for a long time. But currently, my hands are full." I didn't like where this was going. "'I have vampires in the far western continent. We are still dealing with the Isles of Carthan ever since the death of the Wolf King. Trying to keep the peace between the City of Narloca and its surrounding kingdoms, an elven country being discovered, a cultist group sacrificing innocents, demons running amok, and prophecy breakers." Ryu let out a big sigh. It seemed like he was under a lot of stress but was handling it well. "As much as I love to treat you all with great hospitality in hopes of fueling better relationships with Drakelene. My patients have run thin. So here's what's going to happen. A Bright nest has appeared twenty miles away from here. You're going to go there and remove it."
What?
My stomach knotted in my chest. I didn't trust Ryu before, but now I don't trust him at all. I wanted to yell at him. We have been through a lot, and he wants more from us.
"Like hell, we will!" Thomas yelled.
"Why should we just do as you say?" My father stood up.
"Cause if you don't, I'll kill each and every one of you where you stand." Ryu didn't stutter.
Everyone went quiet. I could hear my heart skip a beat. My body shook in a way I didn't know was possible. It wasn't fear but more like an instinct of preservation. He wasn't lying.
"No, you wouldn't," Azrael mumbled softly. Her voice was uncertain as if she didn't believe her words.
Azrael stumbled back as Thomas pushed her to the side. "You dare threaten to kill the next line to the throne? I should kill you where you stand!" Azrael looked at Thomas angrily but couldn't muster the strength to yell at him.
"Her family has prolonged an unnecessary war since the second age, and neither side has made progress on winning. Your armies can't get past our barriers and weaponry, and I never tried to push into your lands." I didn't want to believe in Ryu. Everything I knew of Drakelene told me we could win against Asgard during the Festival of Souls, where the Dragon Knights demonstrated that they could handle Asgardian weapons.
"Bullshit," I blurted out, furrowing my face in disbelief. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. "And didn't you say you wouldn't kill us?"
"Welcome to politics, kid," Markus said, shaking his head. "I hate it just as much."
Before I could yell, my father touched my shoulders, calming me down slightly. "Why do you want us to go in the first place?"
"The Blight has been growing stronger each and every passing day." Ryu tilted his head. "I need to know that the royal line hasn't lagged behind." He leans back in his chair as if he knows he will get what he wants. "So let me sweeten the deal. I sent two assets to that Blight nest to investigate. From what I understand, that nest appeared directly after Hearthglen's destruction. Go investigate the nest, and the princess can have those assets. One of them is my best tracker. Actually, the best tracker in all of Kalos. And once the task is done, I'll let you all go free of charge and bring the princess's father here."