"I think I really miss this." Viktor said to himself as he watched the towns people scurry and run like ants, or mice would.
Viktor turned his attention to what remained of the guard who had thrown the spear. The man lay unconscious, thrown back by the force of Viktor's power. He looked pitiful lying there on the dusty ground, his once fearsome appearance now reduced to a heap of armored mass.
Walking over to him, Viktor crouched down and picked up the spear that had nearly pierced his chest. He held it up, studying it closely. His gaze shifted back down to the unconscious guard. A cruel smile spread across his face as he moved the tip of the spear closer to the man's throat.
"Peace comes at a cost," Viktor said lowly, his voice barely above a whisper. There was no response from the injured guard — not that he expected one anyway.
As he stood there, holding a life in his hands, Viktor could not help but marvel at how easily things could change. Yesterday he had been just a village boy, today he was feared and revered. With a simple flick of his wrist, he could end this man's life — it was intoxicating.
"This is power," he mused aloud, dropping the spear and standing up straight again. Leaving the unconscious guard where he lay, Viktor made his way towards what once was their humble town hall. His heart thudded wildly in his chest as he approached the compact ball of wood which had once been a symbol of their unity and camaraderie.
Picking up the tiny ball, he felt the magnitude of his actions sinking in. He'd destroyed the hall, the heart of their village, in a fit of defensive rage. The faces of his people flashed before his eyes — shocked, terrified, awe-struck. And he realized something that made him want to throw up everything he had eaten that day.
He enjoyed seeing those faces, he enjoyed people being afraid of him, angry at him, hating him, wanting to kill him… Viktor Kirchner was a truly sick individual.
And as if on que a pebble was launched right at his temple. He turned and saw it was a girl, no older than him. She was with her mother, in fact she was with many people. A crowd had formed and he had simply not noticed as he had been in his head.
The girl's face was filled with determination and anger. Her mother tried to pull her back, tears streaming down her face, but the girl stood firm. She lifted another pebble, her small hand shaking with the effort of holding back her fear.
Viktor watched her, his face impassive. He felt the stone hit him and bounce off harmlessly. His gaze softened ever so slightly. He could see himself in this girl - young, angry, and holding onto the tiniest shred of bravery in the face of adversity.
He stepped forward, closing the distance between himself and the crowd who backed away as he approached. The fearful whispers that had filled the air moments ago now turned into terrified silence.
Stopping a few steps away from the girl, he crouched down to be at eye level with her. She held his gaze defiantly, fighting back the urge to run away. Viktor extended a hand towards her.
"I'm sorry for what I've done," he said quietly.
The girl looked at his outstretched hand and then back at his face. She looked unsure for a moment before she took a step back, her gaze still fixed on Viktor.
"No!" she shouted. "You're not sorry!
Viktor's face twisted for just a split second. "You're right." He said with a chuckle. He pointed his finger at her mother, and locked eyes with her.
The older woman seemed to mouth something along the lines of "I apologize." But Viktor however just shrugged as he adjusting his finger right over her chest.
"Bang…"
The only thing left of the woman was a pair of severed legs, once cradling her child. The rest of her body had been violently destroyed and scattered in pieces across the ground. Blood stained the surrounding area, mixing with dirt and debris. It was a horrifying sight to behold, one that would stay with anyone who witnessed it for a long time. As if trying to protect her child until the very end, the mother's legs remained outstretched in a protective embrace. A haunting reminder of the tragedy that had occurred.
The crowd let out a horrified gasp as they looked at the legs that were all that remained of the woman. The girl screamed, her face contorted in terror and disbelief. Tears streamed down her face, but she held Viktor's gaze. There was nothing but pure hatred in her eyes.
"Happy now?" Viktor asked, his voice carrying a tinge of sadistic satisfaction. He turned around, leaving the grieving girl behind him and started to walk away from the crowd. His heart was pounding in his chest, not from fear or from regret but from the thrill of it all.
The townspeople watched on in stunned silence as Viktor strolled through the center of town, towards what had once been their beloved town hall. Whispers began to fill the air once more, echoing into the night like a chorus of lost souls.
"You're a monster!" A voice shouted out from somewhere in the crowd.
Viktor paused mid-step and slowly turned, a grin stretching across his face. "Yea," he replied simply, his voice resonating with chilling certainty. "I probably am."
He began to walk again as a realization dawned on him. With Alyssa going to Hoff it was a given his identity would be revealed, but he truly had no plans on going back to the palace. He wanted to stay in Hoff with Eric and Rose. But, if word got out that he had killed someone in this village no doubt they would look at him different.
So he needed to make sure nothing ever came out of this village-ever again.
He turned back to the towns people who were still frozen in their spots. The horror and disbelief had not yet faded from their faces as they stared at the monster that Viktor had become.
As he met their eyes, he saw the fear in them. He could see the images of their nightmares coming alive, their worst fears taking form in his very being. He reveled in this fear, the power it gave him was unlike anything he had ever felt before.
He raised his hand, his fingers splayed outwards as if reaching for the sun that hung high in the sky above them. He pulled on the raw energy that filled him, drawing it out from deep within his soul. The air around him began to crackle with magical energy, causing the hairs on the back of his neck to stand on end.
"You should have left when you had the chance," Viktor called out, addressing them as a whole. His voice echoed through the empty streets, cradling a menacing overtone. "I offered you peace," he continued, "and you threw it back at me."
A hush fell over the town as everyone held their breath, waiting for whatever was to come next. Viktor's eyes glowed ominously in the dim evening light, burning with an unnatural intensity that seemed to set the very air around him aflame.
"Very well…" He began, his voice dropping to a deadly whisper. A chilling wind swept through the town square, rustling leaves and causing makeshift shelters to tremble.
"Then accept your fate!"
With a sudden upward motion of his hand a violent force erupted from Viktor - a wave of sheer power that spread outward in all directions like a ripple in a pond, engulfing everything in its path. The villagers watched in mute terror as the wave of magic raced towards them. Some tried to run, others simply stood still, frozen in fear. But it was too late.
The energy wave hit the crowd with the force of a hurricane. Buildings crumbled, trees toppled, and people were flung about like rag dolls. A wall of dust and debris rose into the air, blocking out the sun and casting an eerie darkness over the village.
Panic ensued as the townspeople scrambled for safety, but Viktor's magic made no concessions. It swept through every nook and cranny, leaving only devastation in its wake. Bodies littered the ground where they had been flung. Mothers cried out for their children, men called out for their wives, but all was lost beneath the deafening roar of Viktor's wrath.
The girl who had thrown the pebble was swept off her feet and hurled towards a crumbling building. She screamed, closing her eyes and bracing for impact - but it never came. Opening her eyes slowly, she found herself floating in mid-air, suspended by an invisible force.
Viktor stood before her, his hand outstretched as though holding an invisible thread connected to the girl. He looked at her with a strange expression - was it pity? Regret? Or just indifference?
Viktor met her gaze evenly. There was no remorse to be seen in his eyes. He was beyond mercy now, and with a flick of his wrist, he sent the girl flying into the rubble behind him.
The wave of power subsided gradually, leaving behind a wake of destruction and despair. The once lively village was now nothing more than a graveyard of memories.
A smirk played on his lips, dark satisfaction settling deep within him. He felt a sense of accomplishment like never before. It was as if all his anger, all his frustration had been vented out onto this small insignificant village and its equally insignificant inhabitants.
With slow deliberate steps Viktor walked away from the wreckage that used to be a thriving village. As he strode past the lifeless bodies of the villagers, his shirt billowed and twirled in the breeze, adding an eerie touch to his departing silhouette. A chilling silence enveloped the village as the echoes of his wrath dulled down.
The girl who had once held hopes of a hero in Viktor was now buried under the ruins, her dreams shattered along with her innocent heart. The callousness of Viktor's act seemed to hang heavy in the air, a stark contrast to the warm-hearted man they once knew him to be.
As he reached the outskirts of the village, he glanced back one last time. His eyes, now devoid of any emotion, took in the lifeless panorama. It was as if he was memorizing this scene, a trophy for his victory against humanity. The wind whistled through the ruins and carried away the stifled cries and whispers of despair from the survivors huddled in far corners.
As he disappeared into the night, leaving behind a trail of fear and devastation, little remained to indicate that this desolate place was once home to vibrant lives and echoing laughter.
Unbeknownst to him though, hidden amidst the rubble and ruin, a single pair of eyes watched Viktor leave. The girl who'd survived stared after him defiantly. Despite her loss and helplessness, she had clung onto life with an iron will.
And as if she were being reworded a small flame came down to her. It was a shinning golden orb of fire.
Her body was beyond repair as she felt the debris come in contact with exposed flesh , jagged edges gnawing into her with relentless cruelty. But there was something about this golden flame that called out to her. It danced before her, the light flickering over her face with an otherworldly glow.
Reaching out with a shaking hand, heart pounding in her chest, she watched as her fingers passed through the flame. The golden fire enveloped her hand but didn't burn; instead, it felt warm and soothing against her skin.
With widened eyes and bated breath, she pulled the flame towards herself. The shining orb began to grow larger, brighter. Suddenly, it rushed towards her, bathing her entire being in its golden radiance.
A gasp escaped her lips as warmth spread through her body from the point of contact. It was like being submerged in a pool of sunlight. The pain that had gnawed at her began to fade away slowly as the golden fire healed her wounds, regrowing flesh where there was only open wound moments ago.
This magic was nothing like Viktor's raw destructive power; it was more refined and gentle, reviving what had been lost rather than obliterating it entirely. It brought hope where there had been despair - a beacon of light standing against the backdrop of death and destruction.
As the last hint of pain left her body, she could feel newfound strength fill her veins. She staggered to her feet with difficulty, taking a moment to steady herself before moving forward.
The orb began to shake and soon it revealed a figure. It was a woman, with dazzling golden hair and matching eyes, in fact her skin was gold as well.
She looked down at the girl with a warm smile on her face as she asked. "Do you wish for power young one?"
Next Chapter: 37-Trust