Adriel's eyes slowly open, his surroundings dark. He pushed himself off the ground, but his hands seeped into the ground as he was pulled into the liquidy black below him.
He tries to swim up, but he's unable to see as he feels his lungs fill. He chokes and yells for help, but everything is drowned out from the emptiness around him.
He panics and begins to flail his arms, trying to paddle his way upward. He looks down as he feels something wrap around his leg preventing him from moving upward. All he was able to see from the pitch black water was a hand, as it slowly worked its way up his body.
Another hand soon grabbed his other leg as the being began to climb up his body. Adriel was frozen, unknowing of the correct action to commit too.
Adriel closed his eyes as he felt the creature climb ever closer, feeling its hands on his face. He could feel himself begin to succumb to the water in his lungs; yet it was as if he could not drown. The burning sensation was too much for him to focus as he opened his eyes.
Adriel yelled in fear as he saw the face staring into his eyes.
It was him.
The man Adriel killed, his very first heart.
The innocent man stood there, his wounds still visible. The man's face was bloody, his neck still had the gaping wound Adriel had inflicted onto him as blood continuously gushed out and dispersed throughout the black water.
Adriel could feel something wet rubbing on his stomach. He looked down and saw the intestines of the man. He remembered how he grossly disemboweled him to reach the heart.
The water then drains as he can feel the water in his body be forcefully pulled out by an unknown force as he lands on solid ground, the area still pitch black, the ground unable to be seen.
The body of the man laid on top of him as he grabbed Adriel by the shoulders, and began to scream, each word he said spewing droplets of scarlet red onto Adriel's face.
"Why! Why did you kill me you bastard!" The man yelled as he shook Adriel violently. Adriel's head constantly slammed onto the ground as he began to feel the back of his head become wet from his blood.
Adriel began to cry as the man continued to scream and belittle him.
He closed his eyes and began to beg. He didn't want this anymore. It was never his intention to hurt the man, yet he still did.
He killed someone innocent; shattering the entire reason for him to become a knight. For what? A little bit of power he could have taken from someone more deserving of death?
"Please," Adriel managed to choke up as he continued to sob, the pain from his head coming and going as his body rapidly began to heal the wounds inflicted onto him from the man's constant shaking, "Please I'm sorry. I'm so sorry! Please stop!" He kept pleading as the man stopped shaking him, his eyes staring at him like that of an insane man.
The man got off Adriel, his eyes continuously wide as he stared at Adriel, "You're an asshole." The man said bluntly, pointing a finger at him.
Adriel stumbled trying to pick himself up and make distance between him and the man.
He looked at the man as whispers began to envelope his mind.
"He's here…" The man said before his body began to flake into ash.
Before he completely disappeared he said something to Adriel and then he was gone.
Adriel pondered the man's words and began to tear up.
He wiped his eyes and mumbled to himself, "I promise I will. To make it right for you, may our soul rest now."
Adriel turned around as he placed a hand on his chest. He could feel his heart beating. It wasn't just his though.
He could have sworn, in the deepest part of his heart could feel a second beat. One he knew wasn't his own, but of the man whom he killed, or so he thought.
Adriel kept walking down through the darkness as whispers gradually grew louder. Each step the unintelligible ramblings grew louder and louder.
It felt as if the space around him grew more dense as he struggled to step forward until he finally heard it. A voice through the whispers; clear enough to make out.
"Adriel," said the voice into his ears, "Adriel we are one."
Adriel kept walking ignoring it as they continued, "Keep walking you'll find me soon Adriel. You're perfect.
Everything I ever needed, ever wanted, and ever will want." Adriel couldn't help but feel nervous by the voice's remarks.
He kept walking slowly as the whispers became louder and louder to yells. He couldn't make out any of it before they just stopped.
He felt something cold on his shoulder. He slowly turned his head to see a hand; the hand was made of black and purple tendrils and fluid that kept flowing and squirming.
Adriel turned his entire body alarmed when he saw a naked figure made of the same substance his hand was formed of. On his face was a pure white mask with no eye holes.
The creature towered over Adriel as he shook in fear, he could have sworn he could feel it smiling behind the mask as it spoke, "Why are you scared? Do you not know who I am, Adriel?" He leaned its tall lanky body down to him, its mask inches away from his face, "Well I know you Adriel, I know how you always feel. I know how you hate yourself for who you are, how you hate being labeled by that one word that haunts you, Dévourer."
The creature let out a wet cackle that echoed through the void.
Adriel took a step back but the creature inched even closer, "going somewhere so soon?" The creature said as tendrils sprouted from its feet, wrapping around Adriel's body, "I know you're scared, but more than anything you're angry aren't you? You want to be a knight, but feel conflicted about killing."
The white masked being reaches out its lanky fluid like claw towards Ariel's cheek, "My sweet little Adriel… I'll make you understand everything soon enough. I'll help you, don't worry."
"Who the hell are you!" Adriel yelled, finally able to muster up the strength to speak.
The creature raised his hand to grab his mask. The long tendrils clamped onto the sides as he began to pull it off, "I am…" The world around Adriel began to warp and shift as he fell backwards.
The world spun as a bright light appeared in front of him, blinding him. When he opened his eyes he saw Horv looking at him oddly.
Horv looked down at Adriel who was on his knees, "I'm Horv Hauster you freak. Who the hell were you talking to? I swear you were acting like someone on prism flower."
Horv grabbed Adriel and picked him up.
"What the," Adriel looked around him. He was still in the empty dungeon, the body of the man laid limp on the floor, fresh wet blood still dripping from his wounds, "Did you not see him? The man. With the mask?"
He motions with his hand as if he was putting on a mask. Horv looked at him weirdly.
"You're one odd guy. Get the hell out of here. I'm too busy to deal with you." Horv glares at Adriel with contempt.
Adriel quickly scurried to the dead man's body patting down his clothes as Horv watched him in confusion.
Adriel stuffed an item into his pocket and quickly left the dungeon, climbing up the long winding stairs as fast as possible.
Horv watched him leave shaking his head, "The idiot forgot to change his clothes."
Adriel continued running with his only goal in mind to meet his brother at the banquet hall.
He ran down the many halls of the castle as many servants and knights looked at him in confusion and shock.
The wetness from his blood soaked shoes and clothes squished and squirmed with each raging step he took toward the hall. He eventually gave up in his confusing navigation of the castle; unsure truly where he was going as he had never stepped foot into the palace.
He looked over at a young lady; who was dressed as a maid, dusting many of the precious treasures displayed in the hall. He approached her and cleared his throat.
"Hey um where is the banquet hall ma'am?" Adriel asked her sheepishly.
The lady looked at him in disgust and confusion, but not startled at his state. As when she saw his grey eyes, she knew that he was a dévourer.
She was very aware of the situation at hand since she, and many of the other maids, have been set down to the dungeon to clean the aftermath of the ritualistic dévourer initiation Horv held.
She pointed down the hall at a door before continuing her work.
Adriel ran towards the door opening it.
Many of the knights enjoying their food turned their attention to him as the doors had remained closed for an exceedingly long time.
Many of them looked at him in confusion of his bloodied state. Lykos was one of the many who saw Adriel, and quickly left his table. He grabbed Adriel and dragged him out the hall, his wolf tail flicking in annoyance, but his face showed his worry.
"The hell is this?" Lykos said his voice harsh and stern as he looked down at his brother, "Why the fuck are you covered in blood?"
Adriel raised his hands up in submission, "I- I," He began to choke and stuttered as he looked at Lykos with distress before he sighed trying to calm himself down, "I did it. I ate a heart."
"What? When?" Lykos said surprised at Adriel's confession.
"When Horv took me down he had someone tied to a chair. A- and I… I killed him," Adriel managed to say; his voice shaky, "It was like something possessed me. I don't know. I didn't want to do it, but it was as if an unknown force made me eat it."
Adriel began to shake in fear of his brother's possible reprimand, but Lykos just sighed, holding him by the shoulder before letting go.
"It was inevitable wasn't it? I mean you had to. If not later down the road you'd die from the lack of power. I gotta say Adriel, I do not envy you at all." Lykos said as he began to walk back to the hall, "Get yourself washed up, I'll see you at home." Lykos continued walking, his wolf tail swishing.
His home.
They hadn't been at home in a while. His family were the lords of a small town a short walk away from the capital. His mother was the only one who lived in the manor.
She was loved by the town. He had left four years ago when he was 18 to become a knight with Lykos.
Adriel stood there dumbfounded. He was unsure how to react although he couldn't say he was surprised.
He was a knight after all, and everything he did was allowed by law. Should he really feel bad for what he did?
It was a choice he would have had to make later down the road either way, but he couldn't help but feel dirty with himself.
He knew it could have been different, but his actions had already been decided; he had no reason to dwell on it now.
Adriel stuck his hand in his pocket feeling the trinket tucked inside. He knew what he must do. He'd give the man his wish, so at least he could rest eternally in peace.
It was the minimum payment he could make for his transgression against him.
Adriel walked out of the castle. He had no clothes, but he had a bag of gold pieces his mother gave him before leaving for camp. He walked through the castle's main gate and went towards the street.
The bustling street was more relaxed as it was getting late and the sun was setting. He entered a small clothing store, tucked away from many others, and bought a simple tunic and pants.
To his surprise it was of quality equal to that of his clothes back at his manor. The tunic he wore was of a soft blue dyed wool with golden lace trimming the sleeves.
Adriel pulled out the bag and dropped 5 golden pieces before walking out; paying more than ten times the price.
He kept walking down the street thinking about what the man told him.
It was late now, the party was over by now so he had no reason to go back. He continued walking down the street as the sun began to set. He walked down towards the exit of the capital walls.
They let him pass without struggle as he continued to walk. And walk. And walk. Pondering everything up until then.
He eventually made it to a small cottage on the outskirts of the capital's walls.
He stood in front of the door slowly raising his arm to knock before moving his arm back hesitantly. He took a deep breath and knocked.
The door opened and he saw no one before hearing a voice of a little girl at his feet.
"Daddy?" The little girl said, looking up at Adriel with wide eyes. His heart stung as he looked down seeing the innocent sweet girl in front of him.
He looked at her strawberry blonde hair and the same striking eyes her father had.
Adriel bent down and placed a hand on her head smiling, "No sorry I'm a friend of your father. Where is your mother dear?" He said softly to her his voice quivering slightly in disgust with his own lies and actions.
Another voice was heard that of an older woman no older than Adriel, "Kylie I told you not to open the door!" The woman's voice scolded before she looked up at Adriel, "Oh and you a- wait those eyes.. A devourer? You must be a knight!"
She grabbed his hands looking into Adriel's eyes pleadingly, "My husband? Proctus? Have you brought news about him?"
Adriel looked into her bright pink eyes as his eyes began to water, but he held firm only his voice shaking and cracking, "H- he won't be coming back. I'm sorry."
The woman's eyes widened from shock as she began to shake, holding in her tears, "Kylie go to your room." The little girl nodded confused and went deeper into the house.
The woman looked back at Adriel, tears streaming down her face, "Please, Please tell me this isn't true." She said quietly weeping.
Adriel looked away as he sniffled a bit holding back his own tears, "I'm sorry ma'am. He's gone… but," Adriel took a deep breath and took out the trinket from his pocket.
A golden ring with a diamond carved in the shape of a rose sat in the center, "He wanted you to have this. He said," Adriel stopped and took another deep breath gaining his composure looking at her eyes, "He said, 'Don't cry for it will wilt the rose I have created you. Keep your head up for me and Kylie. Live your life and forever let this be the token of our love. If you ever find yourself in the winter lay dormant, for the sun will soon rise to melt the snow that has wilted your petals. And when time has come, and the ravens crow at your door, we will meet again. We will dance and sing in heaven, where we will have a night that will fluster the angels, and a wedding that will make them envy our mortal love.'"
Adriel placed the ring on her finger. She looked up at him, her tears still streaming, but a small smile on her face.
"He was always bad at flirting," She laughed weakly before wiping her tears, "He was such a fool, but he always tried his hardest." She sighed, still sobbing a little trying to hold it in, "I don't want Kylie to see me like this. It's going to be hard, but I'll manage."
She smiled sadly, her husband was dead, but she knew that he didn't want her to be sad. She'd do anything to respect his wishes. She would stay strong and one day be reunited with her love.
Adriel nods, smiling, "I hope you do… and for my condolences please move into my family's town with your daughter. The people will surely welcome you with open arms and help you, and as heir to the Fiducia household, I promise you that you will not have to worry about anything, not even money."
The woman smiled and shook her head, "That's very kind of you, but we're happy here."
Adriel nodded before turning his back towards the house and began walking. He walked through the empty grassy plains seeing a small town in the distance.
He stopped in his tracks feeling a presence watching him.
He turned around to see the man. He was in the clothes he was in before Adriel had killed him, but they were fixed and perfect; as if nothing had happened to him. A smile was plastered on the man's face as he looked into Adriel's eyes.
Adriel looked up smirking, "I'm I going crazy?"
The man laughed, "Maybe soon, but not yet." The man stopped laughing after a while, his face serious but calm, "Thank you Adriel. I appreciate you respecting my wish, although I'd be lying if I said I forgave you for killing me."
Adriel nodded his face neutral, "Fair enough. I'm sorry I did it, but I can't take it back now." Adriel walked closer to the man, his image translucent, "So now what?"
The man shrugged, "You did what I asked. I guess all I can ask now is to use my power for good."
Adriel nodded, putting his hand on his heart and bowing, "You have my word. I promise I'll never hurt an innocent life. It was never my intention."
"Good." said the man, before disappearing from Adriel's vision.
Adriel kept walking, thinking about the family, until a few minutes later he made it to a small town.
It was night now and Adriel walked down the road, reminiscing about how he used to play on these streets as a kid. It seemed like everyone in the town was asleep, but he saw a few houses with candles lit still. He walked by the bakery he used to visit frequently with his family.
He looked through the glass window thinking about the many cakes he ate there.
He kept walking, he couldn't help but notice the many wooden houses decaying with age.
Yet he knew everyone here enjoyed their homes.
He walked until he reached a gate at the back of the town. He tugged on it. It was locked. Adriel couldn't help but be annoyed. He then easily jumped over the fence with a single hop.
Adriel began walking down a winding dirt path before arriving in front of a massive stone and wooden building behind the tree.
In front of the house stood a statue of his father, engraved on the stone it read In memory of Eythra Fiducia "The heartless dévourer", a loving father, husband, and friend.
Adriel stood staring at the statue. His father had died when he was ten when he was forced to go on a mission by the king.
He never came back and the other knights refused to give Adriel and his family answers. He was an elite knight. Adriel knew there was no way he could have died by accident, but he had no proof.
Maybe he really did just fight a powerful demon or monster, maybe a rogue articant.
Adriel brushed his hand on the statue, he remembered how the town had all pitched in to hire a sculptor to create it.
He was a beloved man by all.
He looked it up and down taking in and noticing the intricate detail put into it. He couldn't help but notice how much he looked like his father.
Adriel walked up to the door and knocked.
He stood there for a while before the door opened, seeing Dania in front of him in a gown looking at him annoyed.
Adriel noticed her disheveled hair and seemingly rushed appearance.
"Seems like I ruined your time with Lykos huh?" Ariel said teasingly as he walked in.
Dania hit him on the chest as Adriel rubbed it in slight pain as she spoke, "You asshole. Your mom has been up waiting for you."
Adriel nodded and looked around.
In front of him stood the common area with two doors on either side. In the center sat two couches on their velvet carpet. He walked in and looked through the many bookshelves and paintings.
He opened the door closest to him and began making his way down the massive hall to a room at the very end.
He was careful to be quiet in respect to the servants who slept behind the doors he walked past. He opened the door at the end of the hall and walked in.
The room was dark except for an oil lamp that sat on a small table next to the bed. On the bed laid his mother looking at a book.
His mother had been struck with a disease many years ago that had left her bedridden.
A healing magic user that lived in the town would visit her frequently to make sure she stayed alive and relatively healthy, but she was never able to leave the house due to the risk the diseases posed to her.
She spent the majority of her time on her bed reading.
On occasions she'd go down to the local school and read for the children but not without the healer at her side at all times.
She looked up at Adriel and smiled, "Honey, welcome home." Her voice was sweet and soft. Adriel couldn't help but be hooked to his mothers voice.
She may have been old, but her youthfulness was only tarnished by the few wrinkles on her face. Her hair was long and brown with many grey hairs visible.
Her eyes were grey as well just like his. She was a devourer afterall. Her lips were thin and her nose small. She was shorter than Adriel by a few inches.
Adriel walked over to his mom and gave her a hug.
His mother hugged him back as he broke down in tears. He couldn't help but let his emotions be free. He was back with his mother and all he could think about was being a little boy again.
No problems, and no blood on his hands.
His mother stroked his hair and shushed him, her voice was gentle and calming, "I know. I know. Lykos told me what happened. How you ate a heart. It's ok darling." she continued to touch his hair gently as Adriel sobbed.
"You don't understand mom. It was more than just that," He pondered for a moment thinking if he should tell her about the masked creature and the ghost of the man, but decided against it.
He wiped his tears and broke away from the hug as he huffed trying to calm down, "What would dad think? The man who became an elite knight as a Dévourer without eating a single holder's heart? I failed him mother."
She shook her head sighing, "Oh Adriel, not everyone is like your father. Not you. Not me. Not Lykos. No one. He was a special man, a one out of a million," She places her hand on Adriel chest, "And you son are a one out of a billion. We must all behave like ourselves, not like a copy of someone else. That's what makes us all unique. You don't need to be like your father to be a good man. Dévourers eat to become stronger. And if you have to do that to protect those who need it then so be it. Just eat the hearts of those who deserve it."
Adriel wiped his tears as he calmed down, "You're right mom," He hugged her and kissed her cheek, "Good night mom, it was nice seeing you again. See you in the morning."
Adriel left his mother's room.
He walked back into the common room and made his way to his old room from when he was a child.
From the door next to him he could hear heavy breathing and creaking of wood. It was Lyko's old room, and he could assume what his beastman brother was up to in there.
For how serious he was, he was always weak for Dania.
Adriel opened his bedroom door and walked in. He closed it and looked at his small yet cozy room. He was always so simple with nothing but his drawer, his bed, and a small table.
He went and rested his head on the pillow. He was happy. He was home. A nice break before he'd start his first day as a knight.
A break he knew he'd never be able to have again.