Chapter IV: Fabrication or Fact
In the part of the land where the Kashir, the foul beings that do not associate with the other elemental beings of Gaea, resided the atmosphere had always been blood red for as long as anyone could remember. It was an unexplained phenomenon since only on the southern side of the world was the sky red. To those who had never been there before, if they were of a weak spirit, upon their first time beholding it they would be overcome with a feeling of dread and possibly consumed by a murderous rage.
It was as if the blood from an endless number of massacred warriors had evaporated and stained the sky that color. The other beings said this was why the Kashir had made the southern lands their territory and the large island off the southern coast their capital city of Zaibach, enjoying the bloody coloring. Even the very clouds were a lighter shade of red. All of the precipitation they created was always tinted red from the reflection of the sky, making it even seem like it rained blood. During the daytime in the Lost Lands, as the other beings of the Gaea called it due to the Kashir being their enemies most of the time, the sky glowed brightly as the sun made its way across the sky. Only during the night could you escape the red, for the twin moons gave off a blue silvery glow making the night sky a brilliant bluish purple when the sun took its leave.
The Mystic moon was always visible in the sky during both day and night, this moon not only served as a source of light during the nightly hours, but it was also the fabled realm of humans. It was said that sometimes when a collection of ethereal energy built up in the upper atmosphere, a beam of light would pierce the sky and serve as a means of teleportation to the mortal world. However, this mysterious occurrence happened rarely and was nearly impossible to predict when and where the next pillar would occur. Many races, mostly the Kashir, tried desperately to learn how to harness the ability of the pillars of light. Mortals were weak and could easily be taken control of. Also if a demon were to eat the flesh of a mortal, the demon's life span would increase 200 years. Nevertheless, eating mortals was not the main motive of discovering the secret of the pillars, although it would be a nice afterthought once their other ambitions were achieved. After several years of research and study the Kashir had indeed managed to invent a means of creating a portal to the mortal realm utilizing the ethereal energy that created the natural pillars of light. Unfortunately the technology used to create these portals was highly unstable and only two portals could be made each year, opening for only three minutes.
The cities of the Kashir ranged from uncivilized to technologically advanced. As of now the High Kashir of Zaibach were considered one of the most technologically advanced groups. Their seemingly immortal Emperor Dornkirk still ruling over the many Kashir clans of the south contributed most of what was needed to achieve such advances with his vast inventive intelligence. The capital city of Zaibach was a dark place, the sun rarely being able to pierce the heavy barrier of storm clouds that overhung the island. The city had many impressive architectural designs. The buildings themselves were all constructed from durable dark materials. The energy lights of the city made a permanent yellow glow that enveloped the entire area. Zaibach was a dangerous place to outsiders, the city itself unwelcoming and intimidating. Huge black spires with various spike looking protrusions surrounded the entire premises of the island, serving as lightning rods for the never ceasing lightning storms. The Kashir there were all high class, a few lower class Kashir and other races were kept as slaves and laborers. In the center of the island was the huge towering capital building where the Emperor Dornkirk and his minions and forces resided, three of the six floating fortresses docked there. It was indeed an ominous looking place from afar with its yellow glow and the visible cackling lightning bolts that continuously struck the rods nonstop minute to minute.
The Zaibach Empire of the Kashir was only a portion of what made up the world of higher beings, Gaea. Although the various races of Kashir occupied the southern lands, great empires of vast power existed elsewhere. Each elemental race occupied a part of Gaea as great nations. These were the mystical beings born at the dawn of time, this was the realm beneath the realm of the Gods. Gaea was a place of magic and things far beyond the concepts of any human. It is due to the pillars and Gaeans sometimes being transported to Earth that mythological creatures were etched into human legend.
However…occupying the center of the vast main continent Valaz was a sacred area. A circular ocean known as the Sea of Ages, and right smack in the middle of the Sea of Ages was a small continent called The Eye of the Gods that no one could get to. Any who tried were killed by an unknown force. The large island could not be seen from the shores of Valaz due to a thick misty collection of unique ethereal energy, a transparent energy shimmering with a silvery blue radiance. It was said that the island was the last remaining ancient land made by the Gods and Goddesses who had created Gaea and Earth. Surrounding this sacred land was an ancient prophecy written by the hands of the Gods, but this prophecy was protected by a small race called the Cloud people, the oldest and secluded of all the races with the ability to see the past, present, and future.
One week before present…
…A high demon stared dully from a large balcony attached to the Capital building. He gazed beyond the city of Zaibach and towards the Sethis Ocean, able to see the lights from a distant coastal city. A powerful gust blew by, sending spiky pale blue green bangs across his face as the wind carried his long ponytail. Cold red eyes narrowed as the tortured screams of a woman could be heard from the room on the other side of nearby doors. He sighed distastefully as he turned and faced the tall double doors, each one possessing immense weight and carved with various intricate designs. Even the heavy wrought iron handles were in the shapes of serpentine wyrms. With steps as graceful as a feline's he approached them, his black cape bellowing behind him as he proceeded, revealing the outfit underneath. He wore a combination of black robes with a tight black trench coat like top, the collar reaching just below his neck and black straps with silver buckles across his mid section. He was wearing light black armor on his shoulders and dark silver form-fitting gauntlets covered the entirety of both arms. The parts that covered his hands formed lethal claws. The only part of him left uncovered was his head. His face was almost white, as was the color of the rest of his lithe yet muscular body. His expression was emotionless and his red eyes were piercing and keen. His ears were slightly pointed and on both he wore six silver hoops. He looked like he was wearing black eye shadow and eyeliner, but what looked like makeup was actually natural designs on his skin. Under his right eye were black detailed designs forming the shape of a teardrop. Tall and powerful, Folken made his way into the room, the doors before him opening and granting him access by force of his will. He continued in a bit more before stopping as the echo of the doors closing shut reverberated throughout the darkened room.
He could hear the rasping breaths of the woman more clearly now, obviously this session had proved more difficult for her to resist. The room was large, the walls and floor a highly polished black marble. In each of the six corners were carved columns portraying a demonic God and Goddess, made from various power enhancing materials, including minerals, bones, and other talismans. The only source of light was the skylight which shone down from the middle of the room, illuminating a hunched over young woman in the middle of a large circular design on the floor which was pulsating purple, the symbols within the circle were pulsating a darker purple. Four elders, two male and two female, were sitting Indian style around the glowing circle and the woman within it. All four of them from a race of powerful demon psychics called the Jareed, which was a species of demon whose mystic and psychic capabilities rivaled that of the Cloud Tribe. Folken continued walking again until he was standing right behind one of the psychic demonesses, observing their progress.
All of the demon psychics wore gray and dark gold robes draped over their small hunched frames. The hair of the old women was up in high braided ponytails that, should they have been standing up, would end at their ankles. Their skin was naturally a dark tan and very wrinkled with passage of the centuries. Various curly fuchsia markings covered their gaunt faces and withered arms, extending to their long ears. Their hands were clasped together in a prayer like position as their three eyes glowed purple. On their ears they wore large bone earrings, from the smell Folken could tell they were made from a rare sort of bird called the Talaraca whose bones enhanced psychic powers. The men were the same only their demon markings were a maroon and their eyes glowed a rustic purple. Their heads were bald as well. All four of them wore large Talaraca bone amulets around their necks and jaderis bands, a gem which increased foresight and clarity, around their wrists and ankles. All were currently chanting.
Folken observed as the woman in the circle writhed in pain as the four elders started to chant faster. Her name was Sora, a young high priestess of the Cloud tribe. The Kashir had captured her in order to learn more about the fabled prophecy, and they succeeded at doing so. Although her mental powers were astounding, she could not defend the secrets of her mind against the four older and experienced Jareed, and thus ended up revealing bits of the prophecy the more they weakened her. For weeks they had been at it, as of now they knew most of it, but still needed the rest. So again Sora's mind was to be invaded and assaulted until her mental defenses failed and she revealed everything they needed to know.
Sora cried out again, her fair skin covered in sweat as she tried to keep her mind closed off to the vicious assault of the four Kashir attempting to pry into the deepest and most well protected portions of her mind. For about a month they had been weakening her, making it easier to break her strong resistance. Their power circle was not only used as a prison, it also was used to make it easier to invade her mind as two of the psychics attacked her defenses while the other two extracted the information. She managed to open her eyes and spotted Folken observing her torture. For the length of her imprisonment in the city she soon discovered that Lord Folken could be merciful, but just as quickly cruel. He gave her the chance to simply tell them what they wanted to know, but she told him that she could do no such thing. He was always courteous but cold, and when she again refused to tell what she knew by her own free will, he told her what would happen. She knew she couldn't trust anyone here, but she could not help but feel herself being allured by him. She knew although he might show a bit of kindness, behind his entrancing voice was the heart of a demon, a demon who would do whatever was necessary to get what he wanted. As was evident of her current situation.
She groaned and pushed herself to her knees, looking up into his eyes; he did not look away. His voice was deliciously silky and comforting to hear as pain coursed through her body.
"Sora, why must you be so difficult? Yield the little information that we ask and we can end this painful experience. All you have to do is give us the rest of the prophecy, tell us how to find the key Sora."
She could feel his power starting to take hold of her. She did her best to resist and shook her head, "F-Folken, I will not fall under your spell… You must understand, I cannot betray my clan's secret. By doing so I will have failed and be exiled. But no one fully understands the nature of what the prophecy tells, you don't know what havoc you could be unleashing!" She screamed as the psychics took advantage of her distraction and pushed harder into her mind.
One of the female demon psychics stopped chanting momentarily, her voice hoarse and snake like, "My lord, her defenses are about to crumble…."
Sora cried out and fought as hard as she could to protect herself, but her exhaustion was making itself known as her endurance was giving out. Tears started to fall from her eyes as she knew that this was it, she could no longer fight off their assaults and they would soon be able to take from her the information they desired. Failure to defend the clan's secret was exile. Soon she would be broken and homeless; soon she would give the Kashir information that would lead to bloodshed and death. She rose to her knees and threw back her head as her mental strength caved in and their presence infiltrated her mind and all it knew.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Sora's scream boomed throughout the room as she fell back, eyes wide and dilated, tears cascading down her cheeks. She had failed, but perhaps not all was lost…for she knew the night before this session of torture that her strength would be drained within a few more days of prying, and she would no longer be able to protect the prophecy. So instead of prolonging the inevitable, she used what little power she had left and sent forth a powerful mental wave to those who could be trusted, summoning beings capable of protecting the key.
As the four psychics absorbed all they needed to know, one of the male's eyes returned to normal when he read over her recollection of her recent memory, "My lord, she has summoned someone, to
who or what we do not know. We can only assume she has informed them of what she knows of our plan…"
Folken's eyes narrowed, "So you know not who she connected to, but you do figure they will eventually interfere…?"
The male nodded which caused Folken to grin and kneel by her head, "Now now, I must admire your cleverness, but whoever you just contacted will die at our hands if they interfere. Do you like sending people to their deaths? Nothing will stop us, we will find the key."
Sora rolled over onto her stomach and pushed herself onto all fours, looking up through her snowy bangs as blood seeped from her nose, "M-my clan will have sensed my failure…they…have already released the Kuminjinek…to go and destroy the key as a failsafe…"
Folken brushed her bangs behind her elvin ears, "Then why did you bother to summon would be guardians for the key?"
She looked up at the light above her, "Because…this land has been bathed in the blood of war for centuries…I am tired…of the bloodshed and death…if I can spare but one poor innocent life who was born into something they could not choose to decline or accept, then I…will have managed to somewhat repent for what I have just unleashed upon that poor innocent…you will now hunt for the key…won't you?" Her gaze returned to Folken.
Folken stood again and looked to the four Psychics, "You four, go tell the Emperor what you've just learned, do not forget to inform him that our little shamaness has summoned for help to protect the key…I shall deal with Lady Sora."
The four nodded and disappeared into the shadows, light pouring into the room as they left through another set of doors. As soon as the doors closed, Folken returned his attention to Sora, who simply sat back on her heels with her arms limp at her sides. Her robes were pooled around her, the neckline now stained with the blood from her still bleeding nose. Folken continued to watch her for a few moments, her eyes dull and still dilated as her lips quivered from shock.
He sighed and waved a hand through the air, immediately the power circle dissolved, "Are you able to walk?"
She looked up at him incredulously, "Walk? I have been exiled by my clan, where am I to walk to? I have no home; I hope that it is to my death I shall walk Folken. You and your kind will bring devastation, I can sense it. I have no more reason to be here, I have failed my purpose."
Folken smiled and extended a hand from under the folds of his cape, "I believe you will be very useful to us Sora, come join me, you have no more reason to resist. The Kashir will give you a place here among us. You are under my rule now Sora, come and aid the future of the worlds."
Sora started to shake as she regarded his offered hand, knowing that by taking it she would take his offer. Could she really do that? Her clan would kill her on sight if she tried to return to them. Perhaps now this high demon before her was the only one who thought her existence meant something. She closed her eyes and frowned solemnly; no, perhaps she did have a chance to right what she had done and repent…but for now she would have to remain loyal to Lord Folken until she could figure out what to do…and for some reason she was glad she got to stay with him. She had always been warned that Demons were seductive creatures, no matter.
Folken smiled as he watched Sora reach out a trembling hand to take his. He grasped hers in his and pulled her to her feet, about to collapse, he scooped her into his arms.
She couldn't help but look into his eyes once more before falling into unconsciousness, "Lord…Folken…I will stay and serve you…for sparing my life…" With that her eyes closed and her head lolled back. Folken closed his eyes and turned as a swirling black mist spiraled around him; soon they disappeared from sight.
--Meanwhile on Earth--
Dallet moaned and sat up rubbing his eyes. Yawning, he looked around at his surrounding trying to figure out where he was, "…The…school?…Fuck I fell asleep!"
Realization hit him and he jumped to his feet. He looked up at the sky trying to get a bearing on how late it was. It looked to him like the sun had just gone down so he was going to assume somewhere around 7 o clock. Grabbing his backpack he started to jog in the direction of his house.
"What the FUCK was I thinking saying I'll just walk home. Dallet you dumbass why'd you say that when you know your house is a good few miles away? It'll be around 8 when I get home and mom's probably freaking out! Shit I can't believe this, whatever possessed me to even think about walking home, and way to go on my part for falling asleep too!" He growled and jogged faster, not realizing he was being followed.
After a few minutes of jogging, he ran out of breath and gave up. He made it to the forest which he had used more than once as a short cut to get to his house, problem was it was now getting darker out and he wasn't sure if he could navigate his way through the fairly large woods…and he was scaredy cat. He looked back down the main street; if he took the road instead of the forest he would be home an hour later. But if he made quick pace through the woods he could make it home by 7:30. Making up his mind, he headed towards the forest line walking at a quickened speed.
