From all directions, an all-consuming darkness veiled everything, save for white specks that laid scattered in all all directions. It was cold and disturbing for Kane, who laid within in a fetal position, drifting away in the sea of black where nobody and nothing entered nor left.
Kane slowly opened his eyes upon hearing muffled murmurs, meeting with the abyss that held him in its tender embrace, like a mother cradling her child. His eyelids carried a burdening weight, allowing him only to see through half open eyes, though that was all that was needed to witness the vast emptiness—an infinite expanse of detachment from the world he once knew.
The murmuring remained quiet, teasing at his curiosity with their fleeting, rising volume, quickly running off before he could understand the full string of words. "Die", "suffer", "pain", and "hate", such were a few of the many that he caught wind of. Truly a beckon to malice... or was it someone bringing about such unfettered malice?
Whatever it was, Kane extended a weary arm into the abyss, grasping the darkness that spilled through the small gaps in his fingers, wanting to enlighten himself further.
"Go and die... Now you suffer... Feel the pain... I hate you!" said the voice, growing just a bit louder and clearer as he reached out.
With a sharp and quick movement, he retracted his hand, watching as a smoky, white light peered over a shadow of a distant towering being, embroidered in black veils that covered its broad shoulders, draping from a crown. The crown, a jagged and piercing one, reached high into the darkness. Between it and the shoulders, a black veil, deeper than the abyss itself, covered a head entirely, as though it were meant to cover the face of a man long departed from reality, looking directly at him.
The being reached out, letting the white light trace the shape of a six-finger hand—neither a left hand nor a right hand—quickly closing the distance until it blocked out, disappearing into the darkness once again.
He felt a touch on his shoulder, finding himself back under the roof of the Sage's abode, wrapped in the gentle and warm, white blankets. To his left stood Bauer, tapping his shoulder, weaved between heavy and loud strikes of the Bell of Peril.
Kane groaned. "Fucking speak," he uttered, his voice heavy with fatigue and croaky, annoyed that he couldn't get any more time to rest.
"Get the hell up!" yelled Bauer, backing away as he watched Kane sit upright and rub his eyes. "Do you not hear the fucking bell?"
Kane froze as he listened to the muffled sound of the bell echoing in the distance. His heart dropped as he held his breath, looking from one corner of his eyes to the other, before he quickly lifted the cover and hopped out of the bed.
"What's going on?" he asked, rushing past Bauer to the other room, opening the door to reveal a sky painted in a thousand hues of yellow, red, and purple. At least I got to fucking rest for a bit.
"I don't know," replied Bauer, standing behind Kane as he watched guards racing through the streets, while the many citizens rushed to their homes, extinguishing the lamps around their homes and slamming the doors shut. "The bell only started ringing about thirty seconds ago... We should go check it out."
"Alright," said Kane, setting one foot onto the paved path outside, "let's go and—"
"Hold it right there," said Bauer, firmly gripping Kane's shoulder as he pulled him back inside, followed by Kane slapping his hand away and a glare. "Maleagant told me to let open the chest and take whatever was in it."
Kane raised a brow as he stared back at Bauer, slowly panning his head from side to side, scanning the room with its floor and many tables lined with chests. He sighed, returning his gaze to Bauer. "Okay, which one?"
Bauer also quickly scanned the room, crossing his arms as he walked off and observed them, opening random ones to find different tools, books, and ingredients neatly stored within. "I don't fucking know... He said you'd know."
Kane scratched his chin as frowned, wandering around the room, getting a better feel for the plank floors and fur carpets that adorned them. A lightbulb lit in his head as his jaw hung, before he quickly ran off to the left, taking notice of the solitary chest that rested in the corner. He flipped the latch and heaved the heavy lid open, letting it slam against the wall of logs.
"Is that it?" asked Bauer, rushing over with raised brows as he peered over Kane's shoulder. "What's in..."
They both stood in silence, staring at an assortment of black clothing, potions of all colours, a pouch of all the silver a man could need, tomes, various herbs stored in the brown bags Kane had collected across the years, and a set of silver armour that shook their souls.
It was the exact same armour that they knew to be the bishop's. Getting a better look at it, Kane realized details about the armour that he hadn't before, like how the bracers were fashioned out of jagged scales that looked like a dragon's, sharply riveted all around. Attached to the bracers were gloves of silver plating, sharp and pointy at the tips of the fingers, made for rending flesh.
The back of the helm had solid, white strands of what they could only assume was a chromium plate, exuding a touch of elegance entwined with the rest of the menacing design. The front side bore a sharp, angular design with a tall blade-like crest that swayed back, suggesting a predatory image made to strike fear into the hearts of anyone.
Quickly, they both removed the contents, tossing it all on the floor, finding more and more items buried underneath what was merely the tip of the iceberg. And beneath it all, a singular brown pouch, fastened by a tightly knotted thread of string.
While Bauer continued studying the armour and the other clothing, Kane focused on unravelling the knot, wondering just what was hidden deep within, letting the silence be filled by the Bell of Peril's constant ringing.
Surely I'm not going to find more beans in here... right? he wondered, finally loosening the knot after many attempts.
He reached into the pouch, finding that it was deceptively deeper than he imagine. In fact... too deep. What should've been a pouch that he could only fit his fingers into turned out to be one that he could reach into with his whole arm, finally pulling out a piece of rolled parchment. He quickly opened it and read through its contents, his heart tugged by the words.
Kane, if you are reading this, then it is because I am gone. I am sorry that I hid all of this from you, and that I will no longer be there to be someone you can rely on.
"No," mumbled Kane, crushing the parchment in his grasp as goosebumps travelled through his arms, wanting to ignore the rest of the black ink that extended down the entire page, though he forced himself to keep reading.
There is much that I have hidden from you about myself that I could not reveal, and you will learn about it here... I was once a nefandis bishop. I ravaged against humanity time and time again, relentlessly performing rituals and sacrifices under the ideals of Nefandyr. All changed when the only woman in history among the nefandite ranks brought forth a feeble child. This woman was one of my two apprentices; one of the only two people I could truly trust. When I saw this child, I was reminded of something that I'd once forgotten: innocence. A soul that knew no evil nor good. This woman was your mother. No one knows who your father is, and I fear that it shall remain that way.
Kane's hands trembled as he tightly squeezed the parchment between his grasp, ignoring Bauer who was inquiring about what he was taking a look at. Never in a million years would he have thought that his mother was not just a nefandite, but also that she was the first and last female one. He felt as though his life was a lie, having been told that his parents abandoned him to chase after a more comfortable and desirable life, and now he wanted to know more. He wanted the truth, and he wanted to learn who his father was, despite it perhaps being knowledge long lost in the annals of time.
Your coming to this world, alone, was the reason I realized that Nefandyr was not where I belonged; that there was no glory, nor honour, in leading such a despicable life, for there was life to be cherished and enjoyed. It was not in our hands to deliver death indiscriminate. It was simply fate's task, and we dirtied our hands by playing as "the truth of this world". Your mother convinced me to keep you safe from Nefandyr's reach, and she later was sacrificed after the other nefandites discovered that she forsook her oath. Ever since then, I defected from Nefandyr, and took it upon myself to oversee your growth.
I know I could have made your life much easier. I could have let you stay with me and live like the other children, sparing you of the Teivel's harshness... But I chose to have you grow like this, so that when I'd be gone, you'd be able to manage on your own, without any attachment to anyone; without anything to lose. What you choose to do with your life now is solely your choice. You may choose to live a peaceful life with the silver and herbs I've been saving for this moment. You may choose to fight against the nefandites with Bauer... or you may choose to exact your vengeance upon this world, destroying it all as a nefandite.
Whatever you may choose, know that what you do in your life lies in your hands alone. Never feel compelled to do anything for anyone else, for you would have lost yourself. I leave behind all my belongings, the contents of the chest, and my abode. Now, enough from me... I've finally let go of my regret. Now is the right time, young one. Choose your last name.
Kane drew a deep and ragged breath, letting it all out as more questions plagued his mind now than ever before. Based on the mention of Bauer, it was clear to him that Maleagant knew he would be risking his life in order to save them from becoming sacrifices. Maleagant knew that he would likely not return, and even so, he gave his life willingly so that he could finish his life's mission: making sure that he took care of his apprentice's.
"Kane, Kane!" yelled Bauer, having called upon him for about a minute now, wondering just what was so compelling within that parchment. "What's going on?"
Kane blinked a few times, staring blankly at the parchment, slowly lifting his head to look back at Bauer with raised brows. "My mother was a fucking psychopath."
Bauer quickly shook his head, looking at Kane with squinted eyes. "What the fuck are you talking about?"
Kane looked back at the parchment, standing up as he tightly held it explained, "This letter I explained that my mom was a nefandite, then I was born, and then all of the sudden she forsook her oath, and that caused Maleagant to also defect from Nefandyr in order to take care of me after she died."
"So he was a bishop," mumbled Bauer, rubbing his chin as he looked down. "Well, what else did it say?"
"Maleagant wrote that he leaves all of his belongings behind for me to inherit." Kane looked back, now feeling overwhelmed by the countless books, potions, and tools that filled the room. Before, it never felt like much to him, since it wasn't his, but now that it was, he had no idea what he was going to do with all of it. "And he wrote that now was the right time for me to choose a last name."
"Oh yeah," said Bauer, his voice raising a few notes. "You're just Kane."
"Yeah." Kane slowly looked back, peering at Bauer from the corner of his eye. "Just Kane," he emphasized 'just'.
"Well you better pick quick because we need to go and check out what's going on." Bauer remained silent for a few moments, noticing that the bell had stopped ringing for a while now.
Kane nodded with pursed lips, not sure how to go about picking one. "Kane Maleagant," he said full of confidence as he looked back at the silver armour.
Bauer stared at him with a blank expression, only revealing his confusion through awkward blinking. "Maleagant? Kane Maleagant? How original."
"Shut up, Bauer... or should I say it like that one nefandite said it? Bawa?"
"Hey! At least I don't have two fucking first names."
Kane rolled his eyes. "Wah, wah, wah, stop fucking crying, bitch. I've chosen my name and that's final. Now," he walked over to a black coat, trousers, and boots, excited to finally wear some proper attire, placing the parchment back in the seemingly bottomless brown bag, "I can finally switch out of this shitty clothing."
"Alright," said Bauer, making his way over to the door, pulling it open as he watched the sun beginning to set into the roofs. "Change quick. I'll go and check out the situation in the meantime."
Kane waved a hand without sparing a look back. "Yeah, yeah, get out of my house. I'll see you later."
"Shut up, piss stain," retorted Bauer, gently closing the door before running off.
Kane sighed as he shook his head. He thought back to the note, specifically regarding what he would do with his life now. He would love nothing more than to settle down and live peacefully, perhaps continuing Maleagant's legacy, as someone who'd create potions and tend to those who needed medical attention.
But then again, now that he was made aware of the nefandites and bore witness to their heinous acts of savagery and nefarious plots, he felt like there was a calling he needed to heed. It was especially because Maleagant changed his ways to tend to him that he felt then need to fight back; to give others the chance at life that Maleagant gave him.
He sighed as he changed his clothing. "What a fucking crazy world I live in."