Disclaimer: I do not own World of Warcraft. The environment and many of the characters found here in are property of Blizzard Entertainment.
Light Demon
Chapter One – No Escaping Your Fate
Goya shone like pure gold before all of Cathedral Square. Callidus blinked in wonder, as his older sister stood ensconced in the most wonderful light he had ever seen. He was full of pride as his father walked over, and handed her the two handed sword that had been specially crafted for her. Signaling the ceremony was almost complete. Goya was going to be a Paladin, just like their father, Cadwin Tenebrie.
She knelt down and lowered her head. Reaching up with open hands awaiting the gift. So eager for the glory and responsibility it entailed.
"Rise now, Goya of the Order of Light, and join your brothers and sisters in arms. May the Light grant you it's favor and keep you safe as you defend Stormwind and Azeroth from those who would corrupt and destroy." Cadwin smiled down with love.
Callidus watched with large blue eyes as the other members of the Order of Light welcomed his sister with open arms. Their father turning to seeing him standing just inside the courtyard. He refused to run away. Although he knew skipping school would be frowned on my his sire.
Instead of an emotion of disapproval, Cadwin tossed a grin at his only son. A hand signaled Callidus over, as he knelt down and opened his arms. There was no stopping Callidus from rushing into his father's arms after that. The man holding his son close. "Could not stay away could you, Puppy?"
Callidus scowled at the nickname. They had dubbed him with it long ago, and he was forever unable to escape it. He had always followed his Paladin father, and now Paladin sister. Even now the powder blue eyes drifted over to his sister swinging her new sword. So expertly testing it's weight in her hands.
"So who is this little man?" One of the Paladin trainers, Arthur the Faithful, came forward to pat Calldius on the head.
"This is my son, Callidus." Cadwin stood back up, but his eyes remained on his boy. "I am sure you could tell."
"Clearly. The Light pours from your very genes, Cadwin. He is just as golden and bright as Goya. There is no denying either of them. Both their father through and through." Arthur put his hands on his hips. "So Callidus, do you want to be a Paladin too?"
"Yes, Sir!" Excitement causing him to shake.
"How old are you, boy?" The Paladin trainer winked over at Cadwin.
Callidus puffed up. "I am ten."
Arthur faked shock as he looked Callidus over. "Surely not! You are a very big ten."
"And I am getting bigger!"
Cadwin roared in laughter. "Now you have him started, Arthur. You know I have to take him home with me, and listen to how he should be starting his training right away."
"Goya started early too." Callidus puffed out his lower lip.
"Your sister was just shy of her fifteenth birthday. I had to pull strings to get her a showing then." Cadwin reminded the boy.
"Everyone is here now. Maybe Callidus would like to show the Order what he knows." Arthur looked over at Cadwin. "What can it hurt? He tries to recite some spells, and plays with a wooden sword. We all know five years from now he will be back as a Hopeful anyway."
"I want to do it!" Callidus turned to his father. The eyes were large and sparkling with hope.
Cadwin shook his head at Arthur. "You do not know what you ask. The boy has a determination that could bend titanium."
"Please!" Callidus bunched his hands together as if in prayer. The little feet hopping him up and down "By the Light, father, give me this one chance."
"He has invoked the power of the Light, Cadwin. You are being outmaneuvered." Arthur started to chuckle.
"Very well, get him a training sword." Cadwin shook his head and sighed, as he waved them off. "But if the boy gains any interest by the higher ups, you are going to be explaining it."
Arthur placed his hand on Callidus's back and led him over to the wooden swords used by the Hopefuls. "These are a little big for you, but remember, it does not matter what weapon you use to channel the power of Light. It's the blessing that is granted to you we find favor in here."
Callidus took the sword and flipped it in a smooth figure eight. The weapon at home in his young hand.
"I see your father has been teaching you melee combat already." Arthur said approvingly.
"I watched my sister, and sparred with her a little bit too. Don't tell. She would get in trouble." Callidus whispered.
"Then what more do you know?" Arthur encouraged the boy. "Don't hold back. Because it looks like you gained the attention of High Lord Bolvar Fordragon with that last move."
Callidus looked up and saw that it was true. "Could you move back a bit for me?"
"Why ever for, Callidus?"
"Because I mean to be very impressive right now." Callidus caught the amused twinkle in Arthur's eyes. It was amusement doomed to fade. This was his chance. He might be young, but he knew he was blessed by the Light.
Moving further away Callidus jumped and spun. His invisible enemy being driven back. Then twirling and dipping out of the way of various attacks. He danced with his wooden sword making perfect parry moves.
More attention was starting to gather from the Paladins in attendance. Arthur could see the boy had talent in swordsman ship. There was no doubt he could make a fine Warrior, if he so desired.
"What of the Light?" Arthur called out to the boy. "Can you bring it to your call."
Callidus nodded, and was quickly surrounded in a mystical shield of a Paladin's bubble.
"By the Light!" The sound of Fordragon's voice as he stepped closer To see a child this young using such skill was unheard of.
Knowing he had the attention of the High Lord, Callidus channeled his power. Wings stretching out from his back, as his body became one great ethereal glow the likes no one had seen before. He spun and slammed his wooden sword into the ground. The Light crackling through the cobblestone causing many to step back, and shield their eyes from the Light Blessed child's attack.
Arthur blinked from the blinding light, and moved his hand down to see a vision of the weapon in Callidus's hands. He gasped in shock, as the light wavered and took the form of a fabled weapon of great Paladin power. It could not be possible, but for a mere moment, Arthur could have sworn he saw the image of the purified Ashbringer in Callidus's little hands, before it faded into a mere wooden sword.
Callidus stood proudly as High Lord Fordragon made his way to stand over him. An assessing gleam in the High Lord's eye "Whose boy is this?"
Cadwin lifted his hand slowly. "That would be my son, High Lord. I apologize for his exuberance."
"No apologies needed. The child is blessed. Surely the Light has great plans for him." Bolvar knelt down. The forest green eyes meeting Callidus's blue ones. "Tell me, boy, how did you do that?"
"I called on the Light, and asked it to make me impressive." Callidus drove the tip of his sword down to the cobblestone, and leaned heavily on it. "I take it I succeeded?"
Bolvar reached out and messed the boy's golden hair. "Scamp, you give me hope for the next generation. You surely do. We will expect great things from you."
Zepporah held her squirming "puppy" to her chest. The group of women looked over at her from time to time. Always with disapproval in their eyes, and a firm curtness in their tone. As a child, she had no idea what she had done that was so wrong. If the swiftness of their actions were to be taken into account, Zepporah had great reason to worry. The little arms tightened around her pet awaiting the punishment that was sure to come.
"The hope of Lord Fordring that the girl will grow to be a proper Priestess is now firmly put to rest." The Head Mistress shook her head. A nervous glance passed toward the girl. "I know it is a shame, but we have to stick with the facts."
"Lord Ghale Hopemender was a reputed Paladin, and his wife Lady Mara a devoted Priestess. They were both of unquestionable Noble birth and renowned for their skills. It's such a shame that family has been brought so low for the crime of aiding Azeroth against the might of the Burning Legion." One of the Priestess instructors looked with pity in Zepphorah's direction.
The Head Mistress pressed her lips tightly together for a moment. The look as if she was sucking on a lemon before saying, "Try to make me feel guilty all you want, but we know what that child is. There can be no doubt when the little Warlock summons her first demon at such a young age. We suspected it from the first. The shadow is just to strong with her."
One of the other women broke down in a sobbing cry. "It's just so tragic. Hopemender was trying to destroy the Dreadlord. How did it come to possess his wife and kill him?"
"No one will ever know, besides Lady Mara, Light rest her soul. She could not contain the demon, and did what she must." The Head Mistress placed a hand to her forehead. " Mara was my friend, and we even studied together for a time. It could have been anyone of us. She was as powerful with the Light as any I had ever seen. It was that power that enabled her to take her own life to stop the creature, but little Zepphorah is doomed from the curse it cast. The Light will not aid her now, or ever. We need to be rid of her soon."
"Doesn't look good for us, Kid." The imp squirmed some more. It wanted to break free."Let me roast the lot of them. We can take their gold and go on a killing spree around the countryside."
"Hush you. Puppies don't talk." Zepporah tapped her finger on his ugly nose. "I don't want to leave. I want to stay here and play with the other kids and make pretty dresses."
"A tailor in the making? Great. Someone kill me now." Pagyap growled out in demonic. Knowing that his new little mistress was the only one who could understand him.
Zepporah patted the top of his head. "You just say that because your naked. Once I get the chance I will make you a nice suit." She paused and looked him over. "With pants. You really need pants."
"Zippy?" Priestess Lillium moved over next to her. Careful not to look the imp in the eyes. "I know this will be hard for you to hear, but you can't stay at the Chapel anymore. This is a place for the Priesthood, and today's events have shown you are not one of us."
"What did I do so badly?" The lime green eyes blinked back tears. She had been expecting it.
"Nothing. It's not your fault being what you are." The woman shook her head. "But the powers that be here say the Light can not condone a Warlock on our Holy Grounds. Plans are being made to find a suitable placement for you. Your family left you plenty of resources to draw from, so you will not be homeless or hungry. We are also sending a runner to your father's old Lord, and caretaker of your estate. Unfortunately, your God Father, Tirion Fordring has not been heard from since his expulsion from the Alliance, and even if we locate him there is a chance he will not be in a position to handle you and the estate your father left to you."
"Fordring is a Paladin like my father was, isn't he?" Zepporah felt her lower lip tremble. "If the Light can not accept me, then will Lord Fordring?'
"He must, he is the only one you have any connection to. You are a smart child. One of the brightest I have ever met, Lady Hopemender. I am sure you will be fine." The Priestess stood up and smoothed her robes. "In the meantime, there is talk that Northshire Abby has a reputable Warlock trainer that can help curb your powers and teach you how to use them."
"Then what of the Darkness? Can they make the Darkness go away?" Zepporah placed her hands together over her heart and prayed. It was her fondest hope.
Priestess Lillium looked around wildly to make sure no one could hear. "The dreams still come to you?"
"It swears to take and destroy all I love. I have no mommy or daddy anymore, and now I am losing the initiate training to be a Priestess like my mom. I am afraid the Darkness is right, and I will never have any good in my life." Zepporah felt fat tears sliding down her face.
"You are far to young to be this old. I wish I could help you, but sadly the Light has not shown me the way. You must trust in the Light, Zepporah. Someday it will make it's way through to you. I am sure of it."
"But the Light forsakes me at every turn." The sobs starting to come in earnest. The little shoulders shaking as they escaped her. "I fear the Darkness will come like it promises."
"Then you must command the Darkness, make it serve you. As a Warlock, you do have that ability, Zepphorah."
The child simply shook her head, because she knew more of that power then this woman of Light could ever know, even at her young age. The Darkness had already taken her parents and her dream of being a respectable Priestess. Now she had been officially branded a Warlock. A servant of the same Darkness threatening to destroy any happiness she may ever possess. What chance would she ever have against it? Zepphora tightened a choking hold on Pagyap in complete misery.
Author Note: The Latin Word Callidushas many meanings, mainly: clever, dextrous, experienced, skilful/cunning, sly. He will be my main character and most of the story is from his prospective. This chapter was to establish the background so that it is easier to relate to what is happening with these two. Next chapter will be swing the story into action. Hope to see you there! Remember to Fan and Fav for updates!