The Spire
The boat ride was long but as the black tower in the distances got bigger the power I could sense in it was stronger than I thought it would be. We soon landed in the docks a man with blond hair in dreadlock began to talk.
"Just look at this place. We done well with casting in the lot for Drago." he said.
"Yeah it's something." I said.
"Well whatever Drago's planning, me and Ruffnut will be set for life." he said. The guards behind us began yelled.
"Get moving!" he yelled as we moved.
"You're married?" I asked.
"No. She's my sister. My twin sister actually. We both look the same." he said.
"What's she like?" I asked.
"She's mad. Daring but a good sister. Names Tuffnut by the way." he said. I can't use my real name here with Drago around. I have to come up with a different name.
"I'm Sven." I said thinking of the first name at the top of my head. I then out of nowhere could hear and feel a vibration under my feet.
"What is that noise? I don't just hear it... it can feel it. This places feels wrong." Tuff said. As we walked forward more I can see a man standing just ahead of us. Its him. The man that haunted my nightmares for ten years. He stood before me and looked completely different.
His hair still black but now longer. And it was braided. He also had a beard which was also braided. His face looked slightly wider. He stood powerfully before us.
"The world outside these marvels walls is a corrupt rotting husk. Reason is absent. Instead of order there's only chaos. Chaos does not punish evil, nor rewards righteousness. Chaos cuts down innocent lives short - we except this as fate. I beg to differ. You stand in the center of a great instrument of change. With it I will remake this world. And my creation shall be unrecognizable in its perfection. But my will alone in not sufficient for such a momentous task. It is only through your toil, through your labors threw your convictions that Albion will be transformed. Do not fear the sounds you hear or the throbbing beneath your feet. These sensations will soon be familiar as your own heartbeat. And so along as your heart continues to beat, all that I require is obedience. Now sleep." Drago said. Suddenly a white light came down and I fell into darkness..
Week 1
When I awoke I realised that I was asleep. I looked down to see that I was sleeping in the sleeping barracks on a matt when a spire guard came in. I awoke quickly and got to my feet.
"Morning maggot, welcome to the Spire. Hope you like it because you're never leaving." he said.
'That's what you think.' I thought.
"Right now you're in the barracks. You'll eat and sleep here and the rest of the time you will work where ever the Commandant assigns you. Your job is to keep the scum building this place in line and otherwise doing whatever the Commandant tells you without question. When you receive an order you will obey it immediately. Which brings me to that new piece of jewelry you got." he said. I looked down and saw the collar around my neck.
"The collar is a part of Lord Drago's obedient program. The Commandant will explain it to you." he said. "Main thing is do as you're told, and don't try taking the collar off because you can't. The penalty for even trying is death. And not the quick and painless kind either." he said.
"Now report to the Commandant." he said. I began to make my way out of the barracks and went along the path till I reach the prisoner area where I saw Tuff who wore exactly the same as me. I then noticed that his head had been shaved.
"Hey it's you, we arrived together remember?" he asked.
"Yeah I remember. Tuff right?" I said. He nodded
"How are you settling in?" he asked.
"It ok." I said as we began to past the rows of cages and starving slaves.
"Can you believe they put me on guard duty and on the first day too, I must have really impressed someone." he said.
"Lucky you." I said.
"If only Ruff could see me now. She always would make fun of me when wearing something funny like this. It looks really intimidating and I can hardly breathe in that thing." he said. We soon passed as cage with a standing shirtless Eret.
I then felt Eret invade my mind as we had a silent conversation.
"I don't know how you got here, but I know what you are. It doesn't matter. Your power will do you no good as long as you wear that collar. Be patient." he said. I then started to hear Tuff talking.
"But he doesn't give me any trouble, do you?" he said directly at Eret who didn't respond. "Keeps nice and quiet. Anyway I can't wait to write to sis, tell her all about it. Maybe I'll do that tomorrow." he said.
"I would really like to stay and chat but the Commandant wants to see me. I'll see you later Tuff." I said making my way a large door. I felt something very powerful coming from the other side. I entered it to see he very man who kidnapped Eret. His back was turned to me and held a sword in his hand. He then turned around.
"I am the Commandant, Viggo. You are recruit 273. That number is not random. It was assigned to you because I have broken 272 recruits before you. You are nothing more than the next link in the chain. You have been brought here to oversee the reconstruction of the Tattered Spire, and to serve Drago as he see fits. My job is to ensure the obedience of guards like you. You will do everything I say without question, failure to obey will cause the device around your neck to activate. This is not a pleasant experience. You will lose your Will power and your memories and your experiences will be drained away. This will continue until you submit. Perhaps you believe that you will resist. Some do at first. A misguided sense of personal honor. You must decide, is your honor really that important to you?" he said walking to the window and looked to me.
"Now come here, obey me." he said. I knew I had to obey him for now. I did as I was told and I approached him.
"Good now look over there." he said. I looked out the window to see a ship bring in new recruits.
"The Spire has taken ten years to complete so far and will take many more till it's complete. This project ambitions goes beyond your wildest imaginations. Yet our progress is not a miracle. It is a product of obedience let us see how well you have learned. I'm going to hit you and you are going to thank me, because I tell you to." he said before hitting me painfully at my side leaving a gash in my arm. I grunted in pain.
"Now thank me, obey!" he yelled.
"Thank you sir." I said threw gritted teeth as he hit me again creating another gash.
"Thank me for your pain, obey!" He said as it got harder to control myself.
"Thank you for my pain." I said a little louder.
He then hit me one more time. "Now once more thank me obey!" He said.
"Thank you sir." I said.
"Excellent, now beg, beg me to show mercy. You do understand the concept don't you?" he said.
"Please show me mercy sir." I said. I really wish I had my sword and Will powers right now.
"You learn quickly, that will be all." the Commandant said as I left the chambers and went to dress my wounds.
Week 38
Over the weeks I would look out to the tower where I first arrived. The Spire had grown taller. I could only imagine what it's going to look like when it is complete.
"The Commandant made me torture a new recruit this morning. He overheard the poor bastard say he missed his family. I'm glad I don't have a family." Tuff said as his eyes went slightly wide.
"What is it Tuff?" I asked.
"I just had a strange...maybe it's the collar it's hard to think with these things on. You know I hardly notice it anymore it is familiar as my own heartbeat." he said starting to sound like a brainwashed soldier. Another guard approached us. Tuff saluted.
"You have orders to report to the barracks." he said to Tuff.
"On my way sir." Tuff said as he began to walk away. The head guard then turned to me.
"Recruit 273 report to the Detention Center." he said.
"Yes sir." I said making my way to the guard in charge of the Detention Center but stopped in front of Eret's cage.
"Be patient. Time has no meaning here. Stay strong." he said. I soon reached the head guard who was yelling at a begging slave who was begging for food.
"Shut it! Oh there you are. Stand here and guard these maggots till I get back. There aren't allowed any food though, so don't touch the control or you'll be sorry." he said.
"Yes sir." I said as the guard turned to the slave.
"I'm going to grab a quick bit, tasty food, yum, yum." he said mocking the poor slaves. He left and I was alone with slaves who were begging for food.
The goodness in me was to overwhelming and I flipped the switch on the first cage the minute they began to begged me. The food dropped into the cage my collar activated and Drago's voice entered my head.
"Obey, they are to go without food." he said. I panted and went over to the next cage and flipped the switch as the collar went off again.
"Obey, let them starve." Drago said. Everything then started to go blurry as I flipped another switch as the collar went off again.
"Obey, do as you were told," he said. I couldn't hold out any longer collapsed on the ground.
Week 137
Tuff had not showed up today. This is strange as he never misses a day. Something was wrong. I then saw a head guard approached.
"The Commandant wants to see you." he said.
"On my way sir." I said walking past him. I made my way past the prison section and passed Eret cage. We linked minds again.
"I don't know when I might see you again. Viggo is threatening to move me. Just stay strong and don't let them break your Will." Eret said. I headed to Viggo's chambers where I saw Bob in the corner mumbling as Viggo turned to me.
"I will make you obey!" he said walking down the steps as he approached Bob.
"I believe you know this man, Guard 268. I order you to be quite." Viggo said as Tuff kept mumbling. It sounds like he was mumbling the words Drago said when we first arrived.
"Guard 268 shut your mouth!" Viggo yelled as Bob continued to mumble. "Those who do not obey can be made to. But those who cannot obey are useless. Take this sword." he said holding a Master Cutlass in his hands. I took it.
"Now I order you to kill him." Viggo said. Tuff looked up at me with fear.
"No don't I'll work harder." he said as I hit the Commandant with the weapon. My collar went off.
"Obey, kill him!" Drago said as I panted and held onto the sword.
"This halfwit is beyond care but you I will salvage. Ten seconds." Viggo said. I hit him again, and my collar went off again.
"Obey, this man must die." Drago said.
"Everyone has their breaking points and I will find yours." Viggo said as my collar went off again. I fell to my knees hit the ground, dropping the sword at this point as well. As I stood up Viggo took the sword and swung it my my left foot. The sword cut through my flesh and I fell to the floor in pain. My leg began to bleed out. I could feel the blood leaving my body. As I laid their, about to pass out, Viggo hit Tuff with Shock killing him instantly. I passed out.
Years later
As Drago and his army grew stronger, day by day as did I. I took the pain and suffering. The injury of my leg cause it to be taken off. I now only had 1 whole leg. I now had to walk around with a wooden foot. I got used to it over the years but it still was annoying. I spent most of my days not speaking to anyone unless spoken to and only caring for myself till the time came. It came to the point where any freedom for the outside world had faded away from me.
"Officer 273 report to the Commandant." a guard said to me.
"Yes sir." I said heading in the direction of the Commandant. I passed the cage Eret used to be in but was now gone taken somewhere in this dark place.
Once I entered the room Viggo turned to me and spoke. "Investigate the construction site and find the guard on duty and bring him to me. Consider this a chance to redeem yourself." Viggo said.
"Yes sir." I said before leaving his chambers.
I soon arrived at the construction side and I began to search for the guard. As I looked round a corner I found the guard dead on the floor. He had with him a gun a sword and a few potions. I turned to see Eret suddenly. He then hit my collar with the Shock spell as I feel to my knees from the force of his spell.
"We meet again hero. You came to rescue me. But you're no good to either of us with that collar on." he said as the thing fell from my neck and my full powers returned as my veins glowed blue again.
"There I've removed it. It took me years to focus enough Will to destroy our collars and that guard. I've got nothing left so when trouble comes it's up to you." Eret said as I ross to my feet.
"Lets get out of this damn place!" I said. Eret chuckled.
"The only way is through the Commandant Chamber. So ready yourself, and lets move." he said I got up from the floor and we began to run back to the Chambers. As we came to the stairs we turned the corner and two Spire guards saw us.
"What in...that's the Will user! And he's not wearing a collar! Get him!" one yelled. I used ultimate Force Push to send them flying off the edge of the construction site. I began to fight my way past guards while trying protecting Eret. We drew closer to the Commandant chamber, which was empty when we arrived. Eret and I made our way to the window.
"Were not leaving till Viggo is dead." Eret said as he looked over at me. "I know what your think but it's not revenge I'm after. Revenge is just a fortunate by-product." Eret said as I looked out the window. "A new load of recruits are being brought in, take a look." Eret said as I saw the men leaving the ship.
"Now what?" I asked.
"Now we need to find Viggo." Eret said. Suddenly a Shock spell hit him and he fell to the floor. I turned around to see Viggo and a few Spire Guards.
"You! I should have known that you would betray me. Lord Drago will kill me for failing to keep order. But I am obedient, So before he does, I will eliminate you!" he said.
"You'll have to stop me first!" I yelled.
"If Viggo is killed I'll regain my strength." Eret told me.
"Well in that case, I'll make this as quick as possible." I said. I was soon able to kill off the Spire Guards. I hit Viggo a couple of times as he kept on teleporting. Finally after using Shock on Viggo, he fell dead to the floor. A magic energy formed around Eret as he was lifted into the air by a bright white light. He yelled and landed on the ground with his eyes and veins glowing blue again.
"At last. I think it's safe to say you don't need to protect me anymore." Eret said as he used Shock to activate two Cullis gates. "We can use this to reach the docks now come on." he said. We ran over to the Cullis gate and activated it.
When I arrived I saw Eret use flame to set all but one boat on fire. Spire Guards began to attack.
"Let go Eret!" I said as we both started to fight our way to the last boat that had the new recruits still standing by it. Once we had taken all of the guards down we ran over to the new recruits, who looked scared.
"If you wish to live I suggest you all get back on the ship with us!" Eret yelled. We jumped onto the ship and sailed back to home and day light.
Once we landed on the docks in Oakfield Eret and I watched the ship sail away. I then heard the familiar noise of a dog back. I turned to see Theresa and Toothless coming down the hill.
"I thought I'd never see land again. I thank you for your help." Eret said, who was now back in his normal clothes.
"It was no problem. If you would excuse me for a second." I said walking up to Toothless. He came running into me and began he licked my face and I petted his little head. "Hey bud! Oh Toothless. I missed you." I said as I ruffled his head and petted him. Toothless then looked down at my missing foot. He sniffed it and let out a little whimpering noise. "Ah, I'm okay bud."
"Another friend of yours?" he asked.
"Yep this is Toothless. Been with me since I was a kid." I said as Theresa approached us.
"Your furry friend has been coming here every day for a week. He'd knew you would return victorious even before I did. Ten years welcome back my friend." she said.
"Can't even describe how happy I am to be back." I said.
"You have done the impossible. And Eret I welcome you too" she said unaware that Eret was trying to get past her.
"Welcome me? You're in my way, so please step aside." he said.
"Listen to what she has to say Eret." I said.
"You know much about the Old Kingdom enough to know that you cannot destroy the Spire alone. We share a common aim. All I ask is that you listen to what we can offer you." she said.
"Alright. I'll listen. But I promise nothing." he said. Theresa turned to me.
"I will go with Erey. Astrid is at the Inn in Rookridge. You should see her before we talk again. She will be overjoyed to know your back. Oh and here you'll want this." she said handing me a bag of my stuff and my weapons. She then turned back to Eret. "Take my hand Eret, we have a great deal to discuss." Theresa said.
"Do I have any choice?" Eret said taking her hand as they both disappeared. Toothless and I made our way to Oakfield to get some new equipment and clothes. Anything to get rid of this hideous uniform.