The sun beamed in the sky, its golden light stretching across the horizon as it slightly kissed its edge. The coral colored heavens encompassed over me and the city I sat above.
During this time of the year the days were long and scorching but all of it fell aside when the sun began its closing ceremony.
Both my shoulders and back ached from the day of being hunched over and constantly using precision care on my patients.
Despite my younger age my energy reserves were completely drained after this daily routine. I let the final rays warm me, closing my eyes to enjoy it I then see what looked like a million fire flies all moving with a purposeful intent, each one with a soft heartbeat that thumped inside of my head.
I would be lying if I said this didn't rival the sun's own light. I opened my eyes and looked back to the sky. There are always those moments in your life where it feels as if time was frozen and it'll seem that it will never end as you take in every detail. But of course, that isn't reality.
"Custos Rexas!"A voice called from below, tearing me away from my thoughts.
"Custos Rexas someone's been injured, we need you."The same voice called out.
Immediately, I threw myself down from the roof before landing besides the two men carrying the wounded figure.
Looking at the group, I quickly walk towards the entrance of my infirmary, I heard them both follow me, the sand crunching underneath their footsteps.
Inside was a warmly lit room, the main source of light coming from the hearth at the opposite end, as well as some touches I had set up previously.
Located nearest to me was an elevated stone slab was positioned adjacent to the cabinet where I had stored all of my medicinal supplies.
On the counter itself were basic medical materials from minor injuries to stab wounds. Gesturing for the two men to lay the patient down on the slab, I rolled up my sleeves and began my examination.
The first thing I noticed that the wounded in question was a woman, her skin was of a darker tone much like the majority of those who lived here.
Her hair reached below her shoulders but was tied into a tail, her arms legs and face were covered in cuts and bruises yet her expression was relaxed, almost peaceful.
I pressed two fingers against her throat, feeling for a pulse.
To my surprise her heart was steadily beating at an almost normal rate, if a bit slow.
The clothes she wore told me she was wasn't of the general populace that much was easily known.
The guards who brought her in were probably aware of that as well. Looking to her abdominal section I notice that her clothes were stained scarlet and that there was a hole in the middle of all of it.
I immediately begin to tear the shirt of the woman to see if my guess was correct. Her stomach was covered in semi-dried blood and in the center was the wound, looking nothing more than a thin sliver.
"Stabbed..?" I mumbled to myself as I grabbed the needed medical supplies with a million questions going through my mind at the same time.
Is she of noble blood? I thought to myself. Assassination? But who is she then? Why haven't I heard of her? If she is noble why was she only carried by two guards for help?
Shaking my head, I clear my thoughts and purely focus on my job.
It was fairly simple actually, the knife hadn't pierced her stomach or intestines or by now she would have been in a much more critical condition, all that was needed was to sterilize the wound before I set my equipment down and felt the familiar tingling sensation in my hand as I summoned the energy to heal my patient.
Placing my palm across the wound I felt the energy flow from my hand and onto the woman's stomach as the cut itself began to close and the new skin connected to together and heal properly so that there was no scarring.
Looking back up from my patient, I look over to where I last saw the two guards standing only to find that someone else took their place.
"Hello Aphra" I spoke to the figure as I had immediately recognized who it was.
She nodded before walking towards the table nearest the hearth.
"Hope I'm not interrupting anything." She replied in her usual monotone voice whenever she had a long shift or a particularly arduous task, while also placing her helmet to the side.
I shook my head as I reached over to a damp cloth.
"Actually no, I just finished. It's almost a miracle to be honest, whoever did this barely missed her internal organs, thank the sun." I replied as I began to wipe clean my patient's face, and stomach.
"Who is she?" I asked, but my friend only shook her head before quietly responding.
"No clue, we found her during our patrol she was like this so we neither had nor took the time to ask questions and brought her to you, once we saw the blood."
I glanced over to Aphra as she had made herself at home already, taking the kettle I usually have on the table and setting it over the fire.
She pulled off her helmet, letting her black hair fall down to her shoulders, her intimidating gaze quickly matching up to mine.
I lowered my eyes back down to my task and began cleaning off the dried blood across this woman's stomach.
"Anything else interesting happen today?" I ask, keeping my gaze down.
"Not. A. Thing." Aphra sighed before I could hear a slight thump as she set her face down onto the table.
"His Majesty is still demanding reports for every routine patrol with our group; it was a joy explaining in my report how we found a noble unconsciousness and dying in the corner of an alley way, I hope you don't mind, but I also wrote that we took her to you." She muttered.
"I don't mind…I'm not surprised he's ordered such a demand, bearing in mind that his majesty Azir is planned to reach ascendance, news like this will probably make him double the security." I replied, folding the cloth and tossing it aside.
I walk over to the corner of the room and opened the dresser located right next to the three cots I had in place for those who were in need of my aid but were clearly unable to move from here.
Inside of the dresser I pulled out a simple cotton pull over shirt that I kept in store for occasions like this; I looked at my medical and living area they both were rather crowded with the combination of cots, a table, and my medical section but mostly I went out to deal with injuries, sicknesses and other things so it was rare to have a patient stay nowadays.
Almost as if reading my thoughts Aphra had an analytical look in her eyes as she scanned me before turning back to the warming kettle.
"I honestly don't understand why you choose to stay here in the common area with us, hell I'm sure that the emperor himself will happily have you stay in his damn palace if you asked." Shaking my head, I draped the shirt over my arm before closing the cabinet drawer.
"It's too busy there, anyways if I were to move there I wouldn't be able to have you to talk to in the afternoon, I always need that dose of sarcasm at the end of my day or else it wouldn't be the same." She snorted at here this.
"Aww you're so sweet, I might even cry a little." Walking back to the table, I removed the upper portion the unknown woman's clothes and slip the cotton shirt over her head.
"Well if you do, make sure not to do it in front of your men, wouldn't want to ruin your image."
"Oh shut up." She snapped. At that moment the kettle started to boil over, Aphra as always quick to react grabbed it carefully away from the fire then dropping a handful of herbs into the boiling water and let them steep.
I picked up the woman and began to carry her over to the nearest cot, she was surprisingly heavy considering her lithe figure made her seem very fragile and maybe even dainty.
It was only then I felt her shift in my arms, I looked over to see two crazed eyes staring at me, the previous peaceful expression on her face was now replaced with one of absolute terror.
"LET GO OF ME!" She squirmed and struggled in my arms but couldn't seem to move all too well, that didn't stop her from pressing her hands against my face and my head away from her.
"Ma'am, you need to calm down!" I could hear Aphra's commanding voice say.
"CALM DOWN? CALM DOWN? YOU INSOLENT FOOL! DON'T YOU REALIZE WE'RE GOING TO DIE?" The woman screamed at the top of her lungs, pushing my face with unrealized strength.
She then rolled her body forward out of my hold and fell to the floor with a thump, however her legs lay in front of her unmoving as she struggled to get across the floor away from us.
I immediately got next to the woman on the floor and grabbed onto to her shoulders and turned her to face me.
"Ma'am. Stop yourself and calm down. You're not going anywhere since you have next to no control of your motor functions right now and unless you plan to incapacitate the both of us we're not going to let you crawl out of here."
She looked at me with, her face was contorted into one of a sneer, but that quickly changed once she weighed her options.
I stared at her until she looked back to me, defeat evident.
"Fine, but do not think I will let a peasant talk to a noble like this unpunished." With one problem solved I continued my stared and gave a simple command.
"Let me carry you." She looked surprised and disgusted with me.
"Excuse me!? How dare you!" My patience was no longer available, instead I scooped the "noblewoman" into my arms and got up to my feet.
"U-unhand me!" she yet again struggled but I kept my grasp firm as I carried her to the cot and dropped her onto it. Ignoring the woman's mutterings, I dragged a chair away from the table and set it at the foot of the bed before I plopped myself into it and returning my gaze back to the lady.
"First off, what is your name?" She glared me before stating in a clear and of course noble voice:
"Selena… Selena Deleon."
"Right Selena, we're doing good so far, second question: Why were you stabbed and left in an alley?" I questioned further.
Selena's glare quickly turned back to her look of fear.
"I-I don't know…" Instantly the hue that covered her entire being turned a darker black.
"You're lying, I can see it and we both know that I'm not going to stop asking until you answer with the truth."
Selena returned back to her look of distaste as she glared at me once again.
"If we were in any other situation, you would be executed on the spot." I smiled as yet again I removed another layer of falsehood from between us.
"I highly doubt that, so I believe you were going to tell us the truth?"
"….I think it's best if I show you, but I don't think your simple mind could handle my thoughts." She sneered.
Quirking an eye brow I opened my mouth to respond but before I could utter a word Selena hurled herself towards the foot of the bed grabbing a hold of my head and pressing her fore head against mine.
The world for me turned black as everything just seemed to shut off, I was plunged into darkness as nothing met my mind. And then like a growing flame the light met my eyes and a world came back into focus, yet I couldn't move. I stood still as someone else controlled my motions and turned my gaze elsewhere on their own accord. Was I looking through Selena? The rooms around us was dimly lit though well kept, the golden bricks having the shadows of the area being casted upon. The furniture was scarce as the only additions I had seen were two chairs and a table, I myself sitting in one of the chairs. We were waiting, almost as if for some late to a meeting or gathering. I felt Selena impatiently tap one of her crossed arms as the minutes ticked by. For what seemed like an hour nothing happened until-
"Miss Deleon…" A voice whispered behind her. The two of us didn't bother to turn around and face this unknown man, for the reason of….well because it's Selena.
"You're late." She snapped, her voice had an edge to it that was sharpened with impatience.
"My apologies…" The man spoke, his voice was deep and had a feeling of wisdom behind it.
"My situation grew….complicated as I had tried to arrive on time, being as I do have to sneak past the emperor himself in order to attend these." The man continued. Emperor? I asked myself.
"Well are you going to keep standing there or are you going to join me?" Selena spat.
"But of course…Miss Deleon." The figure spoke before I could hear the quiet footsteps sound behind me.
The man strode over to his side of the table and sat himself down.
One of the first things I notice about him is that he wore a cloak of the magus, and that his face was covered in an intricate mask.
The mask itself had no mouth only two holes positioned for sight and carved lines down from the eyes and down to where the mask would be.
On the forehead was the shape of that everyone knew as Shurima's symbol of power: The Sun Disc.
Behind the mask Selena and I could see a piercing gaze staring at the two of us, it had no sympathy, it had no emotion, and it had only one thing: Greed.
"You stride with such confidence, for a slave." Selena sneered, unphased by the man's demeanor.
Whoever this was seemed to be unaffected by the comment, only moving his hands together and interweaving his fingers while his gaze told everything and nothing at all.
"So, Miss Deleon, are your servants in position?" He questioned.
"But of course, what do you think me as? On the day of the brat's ascendance my slaves will be ready to shift the binds as you requested.
In exchange you will make my family the royal bloodline correct?" Selena spoke, her voice dragging out slaves as slow as she could, however the man yet again seemed to be unaffected by this obvious jab.
"On that day they will be waiting for your signal to divert the beat…then my part of our deal will be finished, the rest is yours to do."
The figure nodded his head.
"Yes, of course, just like we agreed, once I have reached ascendance Azir and his pitiful empire of lies and empty promises will be obliterated to dust like it should have been a long time ago… leaving you to rule." The man spat, pronouncing Azir's name almost as if he had spoken a word that was truly obscene.
"I will have those two savages busy at that time so they should not pose as a problem.
"Why do you wear that mask, we have been meeting for such a long time now, I'm frankly insulted that you won't share your face with me, especially of someone's stature like yours." Selena shot out to her apparent partner.
"Ahh yes…How foolish of me, of course I should show my face to my partner, after all we have nothing but trust for one another correct?" The figure spoke, reaching up to his mask and pulling it off to reveal his face.
Who I saw next sent a bolt of panic through my mind.
The one who was planning this was one that Azir revered and trusted more than anyone: Xerath…
He was smiling like the devil himself, his eyes only grew with the look of greed as he stood up from his chair and walked across to Selena's side of the table.
"Shall we shake to put a finalization on our agreement?" Xerath spoke, his voice was calm and authoritative.
I could feel Selena quirk an eyebrow but nonetheless get up onto her feet and reach for his hand.
In an instant Xerath grabbed onto Selena's arm and pull her towards him, out of the corner of my eye I could see the glint of metal reflecting off the dim light as pain shot through my stomach. Selena gasped as Xerath pulled the knife out of her stomach and we could both feel as the warm liquid spill out of the wound.
The man pushed Selena away from him as we fell backwards onto the floor, our breath growing shallow.
Xerath slipped his mask back on, but I could still feel his smile and his uncaring gaze.
"Once I reach ascendance, there will be no place for your kind of filth, those who have had to you will rise up and replace you as just citizens who truly do know what life is and not a despicable lie you like to feed yourself every day." His voice boomed as he then turned and called out to someone out of the room.
"Dispose of her, she is no longer of use as everything has now been put into position." Feeling my breaths grow short, I saw the darkness creep back into vision as the world went black again.
I opened my eyes to see Aphra's worried face calling my name.
"Rexas!?" Aphra almost screamed as she shook me.
"I-Is that a look of worry on your face?" I groaned, a dull pain thumped on the side of my head.
A look of relief melted the worry off of Aphra's face as soon as she heard my little quip.
After scanning me for another second she then steeled her expression and glared back to Selena.
With the pain beginning to sharpen, I prop myself onto my elbows and twist my neck to look over…Then it came back to me.
Xerath, Selena, their meeting, everything. Anger shot through my veins as I got back to my feet and stumble over to Selena's side who was now sitting up in her cot and rubbing her legs.
She looked up at me and opened her mouth.
"Do you see n-"Was all she could say before I brought the palm of my hand across her face.
The sound of the hit brought a sickening satisfaction as the rest of her head followed the direction of the hit.
"YOU INSOLENT PEASANT HOW D-"
"Shut. The. Fuck. Up." I growled, silencing her outrage. I could feel my blood boil as I restricted myself from just dragging the woman from the cot and throwing her into the street.
"Xerath approached you with the intent of sabotaging the ascendance ceremony, AND YOU AGREED TO IT?" Selena simply gaped at me as I continued, my voice growing louder by the second.
"NOT ONLY DID YOU AGREE TO IT BUT YOU DECIDED IN EXCHANGE FOR YOUR HELP THAT HE WOULD APPOINT YOU WITH HIS OH SO MAGICAL FUCKING POWERS AS THE ROYAL BLOODLINE."
Aphra now stepped in.
"W-wait what!? Time out for a second, Rexas, what are you talking about!?"
Without removing my gaze from the woman cowering back from me, I spoke-well mostly growled as slow as I could in my condition.
"Our friend here, decided to show me that the reason why she was stabbed was because she was betrayed by Xerath, the head magus, the kingdom's adviser no less."
Aphra stammered.
"Rexas…this is a serious accusation…this could put you-"
"I know where it could land me Aphra." I interrupted before turning my attention back to the traitor in front of me. I slowly bent down, supporting myself with my arms, and inched closer to the woman until we were almost touching noses.
"Give me a reason to not throw you into the sewers and leave you to drown, you still haven't gotten back your legs, I don't think anyone would miss putrid filth like yourself." I whispered.
Selena could only pull herself back away from me, that same cowardice in her eyes.
"Didn't think so." I immediately grabbed the traitor by the scruff of her neck and pulled her head down as I got up and started dragging her out of the bed and onto the floor.
"NO!" she screamed, flailing wildly as she tried to escape my grasp, like a fish floundering and gasping for breath.
Dragging her, I trudge my way to the door, eyes set forward until I saw Aphra step into my way.
"Out of the way." I growled, but she stood firm, giving me the same glare that she would normally give criminal caught by her patrol.
"Rexas, it's enough."
Betrayal and hurt flowed alongside the still burning fury I had inside me.
"You're protecting this trash? Aphra-LOOK AT HER! SHE IS A TRAITOR AND NOTHING MORE THAN THE SCUM OF THIS CITY." I howled.
She simply shook her head and continued glaring.
"You're right, she is a traitor and scum for what she has done but what you want to do isn't justice." She spoke, her voice calm and authoritative, damn her she was trying to take control.
"What justice is that she'll be brought before the council for treason and will give testimony for her crimes as well as Xerath's." She then turned her gaze to the woman being dragged behind me. "Right?"
Selena nodded frantically as she tried to pry herself away from me.
"Yes! Yes! I'll do it! Just get him away from me!" She screamed.
With that Aphra turned back to me.
"You heard her Rexas."
I knew I was defeated, as my fury began to resolve, I let go of the woman's scruff and walked away, not looking at either of them, and sitting myself down at the table.
It was then I felt the familiar claustrophobic sense, I felt enclosed, trapped, the air grew stale and I felt my breathing increase. No, not yet.
After a while, I felt a hand on my shoulder as Aphra had settled down the panicking Selena and had now returned to sit with me.
Scraping her chair across the floor so that she was sitting near me, she stared at me with a look of the same worry as before.
"You're scary as hell when you're like that." She said, checking the kettle that had long since grown cold. Ignoring her I simply stared at the hearth.
"Enough Rexas, I'm the one who is supposed to be pig headed, speak to me." Aphra commented, a hint of exasperation was mixed into her voice.
Again, I said nothing.
Already I could feel it sink in, its tendrils digging deep into my heart; Guilt.
I had let it take control again, and some part of me found it funny that the person whom an entire city relies upon, can easily turn into a rampaging monster. Other parts of me found it sick.
My companion simply sighed, reading my expression and kicked back into her chair.
"So when has a psychic ever been a part of the noble families?" She whispered.
"You're asking an individual with the ability to see souls and able to heal wounds with a simple summoning, in a city where those of higher power are able to become essentially gods... I'm not surprised that our 'friend' here has those capabilities…What makes me wonder though, why haven't we heard of her?" I asked.
Aphra seemed to ease a little the moment I responded.
"When she sprung herself towards you and when you collapsed to the floor, I didn't know what to think... I just thought that…" She spoke, her voice was quiet,her soul now shifted to a deep blue mixed in with orange.
I leaned over and held her hand in mine.
"Only then do I wake up and begin screaming bloody murder before trying to drag someone off to the sewers, I'm sorry..." I whispered, trying to desperately not to let the disappoint I had for myself bleed into my voice.
"Thank you for catching me again… I fell pretty far this time."
Aphra gently tightened her own grip against my hand.
"Please don't ever fall that far again." A lump grew in my throat as I tried to respond, but nothing could be said.
Instead, Aphra looked at me and pulled me into a hug.
Flabbergasted, it took me a second before I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her even closer.
I then rested my head on her shoulder and tried to stop my face from betraying my emotions.
I closed my eyes and attempted to stop the tears building underneath my eyelids, only to fail.
"I-I'm so sorry…"
Eventually, I pushed myself away from Aphra and got up from my chair.
She was silent as she stared up at me with an inquisitive look.
"I need to tell them about what happened, by myself; I was going to tell them sooner but…" I spoke, before cutting myself off.
Aphra simply sighed and leaned back in her chair.
"It's gotten dark out, are you sure you don't want me to go with you?" She questioned.
"Yes, I need you to make sure that our friend here doesn't escape or worse get carried off, she's the key to all of this." I finished before grabbing onto my cloak and sliding my arms through the sleeves.
Once I turned around, Aphra was right behind me before she yet again pulled me into another hug.
"Be safe, please." She whispered.
I quickly hugged her back before responding:
"I'll be fine, don't worry about me." Begrudgingly she let go of me and allowed me to begin my trek outside.
However, before I opened the door I quickly looked towards Selena who had fallen asleep clutching a pillow to her chest and a look of worry on her face, her soul also betrayed this by having now changed to what seemed like a squirming worm.
So much for nobility I thought to myself before opening the door and walking into the night fallen city of Shurima.
Even under the cover of darkness I could navigate the winding passage ways of the city with ease.
As I had taken many house calls I grew used to taking short cuts through the alleyways and streets to get to my destination.
At times I had even been called to the royal palace by Azir himself, whether it was to tend to an injured guard or cure a member of the family.
Since denying the emperor of Shurima's request isn't truly truly an option I had learned how to travel the path well.
Even without the experience I could have still found the place since it wasn't exactly hidden from plain sight.
No more than an hour had passed before I stood in front of the towering structure, its golden architecture shined from the moonlight.
Surprisingly, the city itself was abnormally quiet as I had encountered no one on my short journey, despite how usually crowded it is by day.
Just then I could hear the sound of boots clicking against the cobblestone as an orange glow casted the shadows of two guards.
Sparing no time I quickly make my way up the steps to the palace.
Once I finally had reached the top I was almost immediately confronted by two guards that monitored the entrance.
They both lowered their spears and pointed them towards me.
Their armor was golden and as to be expected were regal with the wing-like designs attached to each shoulder and the emblem of the sun disc was inscribed on the two's helmets.
The spears, while simple had a shining glow to them that sort of read: "This is going to hurt."
One of the guards spoke up as I continued to walk towards them.
"Halt, no one is allowed to enter during these hours and those who try are considered trespassers and will be treated accordingly." The man's voice was gruff however sounded bored like he was forced to read a scroll out loud.
"State your name and intention!" He continued.
Even in the darkness I could slightly see his scrutinizing gaze glare at me, I guess it was custom to all guards.
I could see both of their intentions warp and shift as my answered hadn't come after a few moments, obviously they were both suspicious yet curious at the same time.
I lowered my hood and kept my face emotionless and my voice solid as I addressed them both.
"I am of the title: Custos Rexas, I swore my oath to the kingdom and its people, I wish you no harm."
While I could sense a feeling of nervousness prickle down my neck the two guards quickly readjusted their spears and stood straight once seeing my face.
"Custos? Why are you here at such a late hour, surely none of the members of the royal family are in need of your services."The guard spoke, his soul twisting slightly as his curiosity increased.
"No, I haven't been called for my service but I do have very important information for his majesty, and please, this cannot wait."I explained.
"What information?"He responded.
"I'm sorry, but I can't say."I uttered, allowing a hint of an apology to slip through.
Yet again the guard straighten himself, but this time he nodded and turned towards his partner.
"Stay here, I'll take him up."He whispered as he waved his hand at me, signaling to follow him.
Together we continued towards the palace.
The between us silence was almost suffocating as I we both quietly walked.
Before long we were both inside the grand structure, the walls were decorated with expensive tapestry, the spoils of many trading contracts from the numerous vendors that traveled in and out of the city.
While it was the dead of night the combination of fire light and the walls made the interior of the house look like it was mid noon.
As my escort and I roamed to our destination I could feel many gazes from other guards and servants latch onto me, the souls of all of them speaking loud and clear:
"What is he doing here?"
Finally, at one point my escort stopped me and spoke in a quiet voice.
"Wait here, I will bring his majesty." Before walking down a hall way and disappearing from my sight.
In my time alone I analyzed the room carefully.
Much like the rest of the building the walls were lit with torches and the walls were dressed with tapestry, however one wall was completely replace with a terrace that had looked over the entire city.
I slowly walked forward and gripped onto the railing as I looked out to the shining city.
I jumped slight as I heard a voice announce behind me.
"Magnificent, isn't it?"I turned around only to see Azir himself standing tall, the staff he held in one hand glowed gently with power as the man walked forward.
The armor he always wore resembled that of a hawk, its helmet stretched and sharpened to a point resembling a beak, his chest plate was covered in intricate triangular designs as much like his underlings his armor at the shoulders were engraved with a wing like pattern.
The metal flowed away from him and pointed upwards slightly giving him an aura of superiority. I gave a slight bow as I removed my hood and spoke.
"My lord Azir…"
He stared at me, the hawk-like face giving away nothing as I felt his gaze upon me.
His soul shone brightly as it slowly but powerfully flowed through him.
"Custos Rexas…the boy who swore his life to the people of Shurima, I have great pride in you…"He spoke, his voice boomed through the room as he turned his gaze away from and walked to the edge of the terrace, his falcon like armor at the tips of his fingers digging into the railing.
"As I said, it is magnificent…"He declared.
"A city that has been built and stood tall above the sand dunes, a city that has stood strong against the ever powerful winds, a city that is eternal."
I stayed silent as Azir continued his speech, trying to avoid any possibility of irritating him.
"A city whose people stay strong against all foes that they face, people who willingly follow and accept their emperor and his capable hands. This is what makes a true empire; trust and the readiness to welcome the orders of their leader, is it not, Rexas?"
I pondered Azir's words as I begin to take apart their meaning.
It was true that yes acceptance and trust is key, but one could easily forget why they are leading and who the columns of an empire are truly.
This action alone is what defined a true leader, for he wasn't in charge for his own gain, but for the gain of everyone he is leading
. I opened my mouth to speak but before I could utter a syllable a voice shouted behind me that sent a cold chill down my spine.
"Very true words my lord, however I believe they have only fallen upon deaf ears."Xerath spoke as he strode towards both me and Azir, a legion of guards following his motions. How did he know?
My thoughts screamed in my head, only to have the sad ironic truth display itself before me.
The report.
"A-Azir, please you have to trust me X-"I stuttered but the Magus was quick drown out my words.
"That is enough Rexas! I will not have a traitor and a murderer lie to my emperor!"He yelled.
Murderer? No…he can't have…Were the only thoughts that crossed my mind as he continued.
"Guards, restrain him!"Xerath commanded, and in response two men came out of the line and moved to grab me.
I spared quick glance at Azir who had backed away from me, his mask only betrayed of what I had feared.
The hawk's eyes were judging and unfeeling towards what he thought was a killer.
"We've already dealt with your little friend, Rexas you have no other choice but to comply."
My blood froze, I could feel all feeling drain from my body as realization dawned upon me.
I thrashed violently against the guards, I would have strangle the life from his smug expression underneath that mask if I had the chance.
"Xerath! What have you done with Aphra! Tell me!"I screamed as the guards pulled my arms back and knocked my balance off of my feet.
"Your accomplice has been charged and given the punishment for the murder of Selena Deleon, you will in turn receive your own punishment."Xerath snarled.
"You snake! You are a lying treacherous fiend! I'll kill you for touching her!"I howled, as the guards only pulled me back further away from the true traitor.
"AZIR-PLEASE, DO NOT TRUST THIS MAN!"I pleaded as I was forced down to the floor, my head was forcibly pushed to face downward.
My heart beat in my throat and I could barely breathe, but I could still hear The Emperor's command as clear as day.
"Take him."
"NO, PLEASE, AZIR LISTEN TO ME!"I screamed as I was dragged away from the balcony to my awaiting fate. "XERATH WILL BETRA-"
The world went dark as I felt a sudden dull pain on the back of my head.
In that darkness it was only then did I finally truly open my eyes.
Though it truly didn't make a difference as darkness was the only thing that did and has been greeting my sight for what has felt for millennium.
The "air" around me felt shallow and stale as the feeling of suffocation enveloped me.
The feeling of claustrophobia sent my senses into a panic as the invisible walls seemed to close tighter and tighter around me, crushing me but never killing me.
This hell was never ending, I had been trapped inside this prison for eternity and there was no door.
My only escape were the memories I hopelessly replay inside of my own head.
But even then after all this meaningless time, I could still hear my own screams, pleading and begging for them to stop as my soul was torn from my body.
The disappointed and malicious glares both from the spectators and the one who held me down: Nasus, and Renekton.
However, what cut itself inside me and tore pair through every sense I had was the knowledge that I had killed Aphra, her death was because of me.
If I had been quicker, if I had been smarter, if I never got her included into the madness, she might have still lived on, but in the end I was a failure.
I could still remember what they had deemed me for my supposed "crimes" I was, of course stripped of my title of Custos and had been named a monster, I was given a name that was a curse to any who dared speak it: Inumbris.
Through the depths of my despair I could feel a spark of fury.
"This is what makes an empire; trust…" Azir, in the end you were a blind fool who ignored a warnings of destruction but couldn't see through his own "greatness" as a leader.
He was nothing, and soon would be reduced to it if he wasn't already.
His actions were nothing but a doll's, manipulated and pulled by invisible strings to chase the sun, it was time someone cut the strings.
Feeling my fury burn through whatever depression I had left I screamed into the darkness pushing against the walls that crushed me, kicking and clawing at my prison.
I hate him, I hated Azir, I hated Xerath and most of all I hated myself.
I cursed all of us to a condemned fate in whatever hell there may be, I was burning in one already why not invite the others to join me.
I continued my relentless attack against my invisible chains letting my anger control my actions, letting my hatred fuel my energy.
It was only then did a crack form in what was the seemingly endless darkness.
Everything I felt was shattered, my anger and hatred gone, instead what filled my mind as a small amount of light seeped through the grow fracture was hope.
My chains broke as I extended my arm and reached towards the small crevice, a cool breeze filled the air, replacing the stale emptiness that tortured me for eons.
I wrapped me fingers around the edge of the crack, pulling myself closer as the wound grew wider and wider. The light grew even brighter, it banished the darkness and blinded me as it had filled everything.
The walls were shattered, and I was free.
I opened my eyes and felt a surge of energy go through my body, I immediately sat up and got to my feet…
Before falling flat on my face into the sand.
The strength in my legs had abandoned me as my body had long since forgotten the sensation of standing.
I chuckled to myself as reality was dawning on me.
It was over, I was free, I was finally free from hell.
The eternity I spent in pain and torment equated to nothing.
Then I realized, how long was I trapped? How much had Shurima advanced?
Had Xerath even accomplished his plan?
I scrambled in the sand before feeling something bump against my leg.
I looking down I see a hand sword half buried in the ground.
The blade was a light purple and grew darker towards the edges.
In the center was a black, smooth, panel of what looked like onyx.
The handle was decorated in a familiar triangular design however at the point where the handle and blade meet was what seemed to be a black rose engraved into the metal.
Everything came back to me, my prison, my torture device was the very thing in my hands.
I skittered backwards away from the sword as if it were a rabid animal.
All sense of my joy was dissipated as I gazed at the object that made my existence hell.
My heart beat in my ears, and I could feel a familiar sense of dread build up in my stomach.
I slowly and wobbly got up to my feet, trying desperately to keep my balance.
I took a step forward and felt my foot bury itself slightly into the sand.
I continued this until I stood directly in front of the blade.
I nudge it with my toe and waited for the blade to react, yet nothing happened.
I bent forward and grabbed onto the hilt, using the strength in my back to pull the sword out of the ground.
Again, nothing happened.
As I felt the blade in my hand, I noticed its weight was almost perfectly balanced into my hand, as I tightened my grip the handle only seemed more comfortable against my palm.
Dropping the sword to my side I decided I had been in this cave for enough time.
I scanned the area for any entrances or holes that I could use to escape.
A small crevice in the top of the cave provide enough light for me to see what seemed like a stone door.
Wedging the blade in between the door and the wall I pull the sword towards me and crack open the entrance. More light flooded through the open hole which happily accepted as I ran up the steps.
The giddy feeling of hope yet again coursed through my veins as I reached the exit of the cave.
The sun blinded me with its rays as gazed up to the sky with an insane smile across my face.
Blinking away the light, I feel the warmth of the hot sands against my bare feet.
Feeling the high winds blast the sand across my face, I didn't care, the anything that wasn't the sensation of suffocation was gladly accepted by me.
I looked back towards the cave I had just exited only to have my heart stop.
It wasn't a cave…it was a vault.
The Shuriman symbols that were carved into the stone were faint, almost lost to the years of erosion, but it was undeniably still there.
I quickly turned around and scanned for anything else on the horizon.
Like a shadow the ruins of multiple structures appeared once my blind spots had faded away.
Everything I knew were now piles of rubble, being eaten up by the sands and winds.
My home was gone.
"No…" My voice was hoarse and my throat felt like I had eaten the dust that lied underneath my feet.
I fell to my knees, repeating the same word over and over.
"No…No….NO…..NO!" I screamed, clutching my head and voicing my agony towards the ground.
Anything I had hoped for was now gone, blown away and left as dust.
Shurima was dead.