TWENTY-SIX: HAVEN (The story of the original Yizak Brothers. This isn't exactly a story about any of the Rebellion members, although it offers glimpses of a young Grayzee and an even younger Tedius. It explains the core parts of Eltar's origins and introduces the true anarchists of Eltar, the Coalition, whose actions greatly impacted the Rebellion and how its original members were treated. Heavily featuring Windzor, Levi, Dovizan, Jotez, and Amoz, with an important plot twist about a quirky character from the Chosen Universe and his true origins. Also featuring Rinton, Rygano, Maira Farmell, Moriazan Martenz, Grayza, Mayor Freyst, and several others.)
Fifteen millennia ago, a brutal war tore apart two planets. The first, Nozann, was home to the Yizaks and the Farmells. The other, B'Deston, was home to the Treygan and Vretiz families. It was these four families who would go on to found Eltar, a new planet which was meant to be a peaceful sanctuary from war, chaos, and destruction.
Captain Zekiah Yizak was a highly decorated officer in the Nozann Army. His wife, Camella, was a Military nurse. Their eldest son, Camdell, followed in his father's footsteps, enlisting in the Army at just fifteen years old. The Army was his life. He had a sharp mind for tactics and was a soldier to his very core.
The second Yizak son was Windzor. Although a brilliant man, Windzor did not have a fondness for battle. He focused instead on caring for the wounded beside his mother and got involved with the people hoping to arrive at a peaceful resolution to the war which had been going for well over a century.
Levi was two years younger than Windzor. He was headstrong, passionate, and loved a good fight. He enlisted in the Army at fifteen, following Camdell. He romanticized the idea of battle and wanted to be a hero like his father and eldest brother. Despite being very different from one another, Windzor and Levi were incredibly close.
Dovizan was two years younger than Levi. Dovi was the light of the family. He was exceptionally happy and brought joy to everyone he met. He tried to find laughter even in the most painful of circumstances. The entire planet adored the boy. No one expected him to become a soldier. If anything, they expected him to become a healer like Windzor and their mother.
Jotez followed two years after Dovizan. He was a gentle boy with a strong heart. He was bright and clever, and enjoyed helping others from a young age. His empathy for others was one of his defining traits.
The youngest Yizak boy came along later. Camella was abducted by soldiers from B'Deston and brought to Earth as they rested before planning to return to their planet. Twenty Nozann women were abducted in total. Most were tortured and killed, while others were traded to horrible people for goods. Camella was given to a man who called himself a Mystic. He used her in some sort of ritual before violating her. The horrible man kept her as a slave for three months before deciding he would kill her. When he tried, however, a powerful force knocked him back. He grew enraged and tried again. The same force attacked once more. This time, he was severely injured. He tried a final time. He was knocked unconscious. Camella escaped. He was the Chief of his Tribe, but many of the other members were good people. Two of them helped Camella return to Nozann safely, promising to hide her energy from the Chief.
Soon after being reunited with Zekiah, Camella learned she was pregnant. Zekiah vowed to raise the monster's son as his own child, promising that because the child was part of Camella, he would love it despite how it was conceived. Camella later gave birth to a healthy baby boy she called Amoz. By the time he was born, Jotez was eleven. His older brothers had not expected a new sibling, especially not one with dark tan skin as opposed to their blue pigments, but they loved him just the same. Only Camdell and Windzor knew the boy was not their father's son, but they did not let that change how they felt about him.
When Jotez was thirteen, B'Deston soldiers abducted him and his neighbors. They killed the three adults in the family almost immediately, but kept those under fifteen alive at first. They tortured the four children for three days in the most brutal, horrific ways they could think of. The youngest was six and perished from the abuse after a day and a half. The ten-year-old held on for a day longer. The eldest was the fourteen-year-old son, who was exceptionally close to Jotez. Their captors forced Jotez to watch as they cut off the boy's head. Then, they slashed his throat and left him for dead. Jotez was discovered and rescued by Maira Farmell, who had healing abilities and was able to save his life. He changed after that, sinking into a deep depression from survivor's guilt and trauma.
Windzor became even more passionate about bringing peace to the war-torn planet after Jotez was tortured. He firmly believed children should not be made to suffer in such ways because of a war they had no part in. Seeing the things happening around them on the battlefield and how brutally soldiers on both sides were behaving, Levi began to change his views of war. He could not condone treating other living beings in such horrific ways.
Windzor was barely twenty when Zekiah and Camdell were killed in battle mere minutes apart. Levi, at just eighteen, watched helplessly as they died. He saw innocent bystanders perish as well, and witnessed their beloved mother get caught in the crossfire while trying to help the wounded. He managed to escape with his life despite taking several bullets while protecting a four-year-old boy who had followed his father out of a nearby house into the middle of the battle. His father perished, but the boy survived uninjured. Levi vowed never again to engage in senseless slaughters and decided he would find a way to help protect the innocent instead.
Devastated by all that was happening, Windzor decided they had to find another way of life. He asked Telzos Farmell, Maira's older brother, to help him. He also chose to give people from B'Deston the chance to prove this was their ancestor's war and not theirs. He put out an offer to work with two representatives from that planet to find a neutral land where those who sought peace could find a safe haven. Rinton Treygan and Moriazan Martenz Vretiz accepted the offer. Together, the four young men journeyed in search of a place where they might be able to accomplish this goal.
It took two months for them to find a planet that was full of plants and animals, but not people. The planet was beautiful and thriving, and it was full of magic unlike any they'd touched before. They named the planet Eltar and decided to build a new world for the survivors of the war. Their families became the four Founding Families of Eltar, the original ruling body of government on the new planet. The boys returned to their previous homes to bring their families and anyone else who was looking for peace to the safe haven. Windzor proudly led the way with his brothers, carrying three-year-old Amoz in his arms as they traveled to their new home.
The first Eltarians pledged loyalty to the principals of peace and harmony the new planet was founded upon. The people of Eltar elected Windzor to lead them because he'd shown he was worthy and because he was not hungry for power in any way. He was named the first Prime Minister, and it was decided only members of the four Founding Families could hold that position.
Together with the other Founding Families, Windzor created the original governing body of Eltar. This included Senators, Junior Senators, Advisors, and a Mayor. Telzos was elected as the first Senator of the planet. Rinton and his twin brother Rygano served as Advisors, as did Moriazan Martenz.
The Mayor who was elected was a man from B'Deston named Captain Vrenris Freyst. He was one of the oldest citizens to migrate to Eltar at thirty-two years old. He'd proven himself to be a force of nature when it came to getting things done and had an honorable record in the B'Deston Military. Unlike most of the Eltarians who chose to all but drop their surnames and mainly identify as their first name "of Eltar," Freyst clung to his heritage, preferring to be addressed by his surname. The popular belief was that being addressed as Captain Freyst for so long meant it was easier to transition to being called Mayor Freyst rather than Mayor Venris. Only those who managed to get close to him, such as Rinton, were allowed to call him Vrenris. He was a harsh man at times, but he proved time and again that he was willing to make hard choices for the good of Eltar. He clashed with Windzor often, but they maintained a professional relationship and worked well together when necessary.
For a time, all was well in their peaceful new land. Then, slowly, hostilities began to grow. Several people disliked the fact that the Founding Families held most of the power on Eltar. They came from all walks of life but shared a common goal... They wanted power for themselves. They were dangerous anarchists who insisted the government took their freedom and was trying to control them. They called themselves the Coalition. Unlike the Rebellion of Eltar, who would later be labeled as dangerous anarchists because of this group's history, the Coalition was genuinely full of threats to the safety of good people. They engaged in terrorism, targeting the most innocent people they could just to make their enemies suffer.
Recognizing that they needed some form of law enforcement but not wanting to risk building a Military on Eltar, Levi came up with an idea. He created the Peacekeepers, Eltar's police force. Their mission was to keep the peace and resolve conflicts without violence. The original Peacekeepers swore an oath to protect the citizens of Eltar while respectfully hearing the complaints of all regardless of status or background. Although trained to defend others physically in an emergency, their goal was to deescalate tense situations with honor and fairness for all who were involved. The drawing of weapons was an absolute last resort.
Dovizan was beloved by all of Eltar. The gentle, kindhearted boy played with light and uplifted the spirits of those around him. He helped keep Jotez from losing himself completely in his trauma, using his powerful magic to bring peace to his brother when he was in his darkest places. He also used this gift to help others who had been left traumatized by the war.
Dovi did not possess a violent bone in his body. This made it especially shocking when the Coalition named him as their target with the highest priority. "If we slaughter the boy, the rest of the members of the Founding Families will know what it is to be powerless," Klaggo, the Coalition's co-founder, proclaimed.
"Klaggo, I despise your entire line, however, you are truly brilliant!" Brezzos, his partner, declared. "The best way to destroy them is through their most vulnerable."
Dovi was sitting with unicorns early in the morning on his twenty-second birthday when he heard the terrified screams of a child. He stood, but the unicorns blocked his path.
"What's wrong, Friends? Someone needs assistance," Dovi said in confusion.
The unicorns refused to move. Looking into the eyes of the eldest, Dovi knew something was very wrong. He hesitated, sensing he was in danger.
"Stop! Please, do not harm me! I have done nothing!" The little girl begged. She screamed again in obvious pain.
Dovizan looked at the unicorns. "I'm sorry, my friends... Danger or not, I cannot leave a child to suffer." He stroked the mane of the eldest unicorn soothingly before running toward the screaming child.
She could not have been more than six. She was covered in blood and trembling when Dovi found her, seemingly alone. He rushed to her side. "Shhh, Little One," he said soothingly. "All is well." He tried to heal her but quickly realized she had no obvious wounds. In fact, he sensed no injuries whatsoever. "What on all of Eltar...?" He wondered.
The little girl began to giggle. "We fooled you!" She declared triumphantly.
Dovi was understandably confused, but quickly realized he'd walked into a trap. He looked up and saw that he was surrounded. He considered reaching out to the unicorns, but he was terrified these people would harm the peaceful creatures who trusted very few. Instead, he offered the child a patient smile. "Yes, it seems that you did," he said. "Why don't you run along now? I think your grownup friends wish to have a discussion."
The little girl looked at a man Dovi sensed was her father. "Go on," the man said. "You did well." He kissed her forehead before sending her off with another of the adults.
"What's this about, Friends?" Dovi asked. He kept his tone calm. Surely, they could resolve this peacefully.
"It is about your kind, Dovizan Yizak of Eltar," the father said. "We are tired of your reign on this planet."
"My kind?" Dovi asked in confusion.
"Founding Families," he clarified. "It is nothing personal against you, Boy. We are simply here to send a message to the others."
"Please, Friend... Let's talk about this. There must be something I can do to help you feel respected and heard."
"It is too late for that." With that, another man restrained Dovi. "Go on, Klaggo. Get this over with," he added to the father.
"Care to put up a fight and keep your dignity, Boy?" A third man asked.
"I shall not engage in violence," Dovi said. "No matter what you do to me, I refuse to change my core beliefs. I shall do no harm to any living creature."
"Have it your way... Less work for us," a fourth said, causing the rest to laugh.
The one restraining him pushed him to his knees. Klaggo came toward Dovi with a sword. Dovi was terrified, but he still couldn't bring himself to harm another. He closed his eyes as he thought, I love you, Brothers...
He was decapitated seconds later. It was Levi who found him, hours later, surrounded by unicorns. Levi had seen death so often before on the battlefield, but this was different. Dovi's head had been left crudely on a pike, his body beside it on his stomach.
Levi sank to his knees in grief. "Dovi... Sweet, gentle Dovi, who could have done this to you?" He whispered in horror. He began to weep. The unicorns left him there to watch over his brother's body and grieve in private.
Windzor sensed Levi's distress and was worried that he could no longer sense Dovi. He followed Levi's energy and was horrified by what he found. Seeing his brother in tears, however, Windzor held himself together. He quickly pulled Dovi's head off of the pike, placing it gently beside his body and trying not to scream.
"Levi... I am here, Brother," he said soothingly. He wrapped Levi in his arms, doing his best to comfort him in the unthinkable situation. It took a few minutes, but Levi pulled himself together.
The brothers stood united as the other Founding Families, Mayor Freyst, and the Peacekeepers were called to the scene. Everyone was horrified, even the unshakable Rinton and the infamously cold Mayor.
"Senseless..." Freyst mumbled, shaking his head. "That boy would not harm an insect."
"He was the gentlest amongst us," Moriazan Martenz agreed. "Truly the epitome of what an Eltarian is meant to be. I am so terribly sorry for your loss, Windzor... Levi..."
"Justice must be served swiftly," Rinton said. "It was clearly an assassination... Those terrorists, the Coalition, are behind this."
"They are out of control," Rygano said softly. He couldn't stop staring at Dovi's head. Tears were in his eyes.
"We'll find them, Windzor," Telzos said soothingly. "We'll see that they never harm another."
"Thank you, my friends," Windzor said softly. "I trust you to investigate and bring the guilty parties to face justice." He looked at Levi. "We must inform Jotez and Amoz of what has happened," he added sadly.
"Of course, my friend," Telzos said. "Go be with your brothers."
Jotez seemed to already know something was wrong when they arrived. "Jotez, Amoz, we must speak," Windzor began.
Nine-year-old Amoz seemed to sense something in Windzor's tone. The smiling boy immediately turned serious. "What has happened, Brothers?" He asked nervously.
"There has been an attack..." Windzor felt his chest tighten as he saw fear in the eyes of his two youngest brothers. How could he tell them what had happened? At just twenty years of age, Jotez was already so traumatized, and Amoz was still so young and innocent. Windzor's heart was breaking as he looked at them.
"Dovizan has perished," Levi said, taking control as Windzor clearly needed support.
"Not Dovi..." Jotez whispered. He shook his head. "No... No, it is impossible... Please, no..."
"Perished?" Amoz repeated very softly. He sounded every bit like the little boy he still was.
"You are wrong... No one would attack Dovi..." Jotez insisted. He ran from the house.
"Jotez! Jo, come back!" Windzor shouted after him.
"You mean... You mean Dovi is never to return to us?" Amoz asked. "Like Mother, Father, and Camdell?" He had tears in his eyes.
"I'll go after Jotez. Comfort Amoz," Levi said. He hurried after their other brother.
Windzor sat down before pulling Amoz down beside him. "I am sorry, Amoz, but yes... Dovi is with Mother, Father, and Camdell now. We shall honor his memory as we do theirs."
"I do not remember them," Amoz confessed sadly. "Do you think me horrible?"
"Never, Baby Brother," Windzor reassured him. "You were only three when we lost them. You were simply too young to remember."
"I shall remember Dovi, always. Every year, on this day, I shall honor him. I vow!"
Windzor smiled sadly. "That is the best thing we can do for him, Amoz. He shall never be forgotten, for love is eternal."
Levi found Jotez in the woods, sobbing. He said nothing as Levi wrapped his coat around the trembling boy. Jotez looked at him with grief in his eyes. Levi held him, allowing him to cry, and did his best to soothe him.
Hours later, Levi carried an exhausted Jotez home. He stayed in his bed with him through the night so he could calm him when nightmares woke him up.
Jotez did not speak for three weeks. The first time he did was a relief to his family. He approached Windzor first. "Windzor... Brother... I wanted to thank you for all you do for this family... Without you, we would never have survived this long," he said. "You are incredibly strong, and I greatly admire you."
"You are strong as well, Jotez," Windzor said kindly. "Never doubt that."
Jotez nodded, but he did not look convinced. He gave Windzor a hug before he allowed him to leave for work.
He approached Levi a short time later. "Brother... I must thank you for standing by me even in my darkest hour," he said. "I know it cannot be easy to tolerate my fits."
"You are my brother, Jo. I love you. There is no need to thank me for being here for you. It is my duty, and my honor," Levi replied.
Jotez hugged him tightly. "I love you, too," he said.
Levi was concerned, but wasn't entirely sure why, as Jotez seemed perfectly fine. "Jotez... Are you well? Would you like me to remain home today?" He asked.
"All is well, Levi. Do not be concerned," Jotez said with a reassuring smile.
The smile was convincing. Levi told himself he was overreacting. "Very well... You know how to reach me in an emergency."
"I do. Go on, Brother. I know you must report to work. I shall see Amoz off to school."
Levi nodded and, after another slight hesitation, he headed off.
Finally, Jotez faced Amoz. "Come, Little Brother," he said. "I shall walk you to school."
"You need not trouble yourself. I am old enough to walk alone," Amoz said in confusion.
"I would like to walk with you, Amoz... For a time..."
Amoz seemed to sense the urgency of the request. "Of course. Company is nice," he agreed.
They walked in silence for a bit before Jotez said, "Amoz... I want you to know something."
"What is it?" Amoz asked curiously.
"I love you very, very much, Little Brother. No matter what, you bring joy to this family. Like Dovi, you are our light. Never lose that pure love of life. Never take the small things for granted... Always find the joy in things, Amoz. Remain pure and strong."
"Jotez, is something troubling you?"
"No... Today, I am very much at peace. I just want you to know that, no matter what may happen in life, I shall always love you." He hugged Amoz tightly.
Sensing things he couldn't quite understand, Amoz hugged Jotez back as tightly as he could. He had the desperate urge not to let him go. "Jo... Let me remain with you today. I can miss a day of school."
"You need to be in class, Amoz. Learning is important. All is well." He ruffled the younger boy's long black hair affectionately, messing it up a bit. "Go on."
Left with no choice but to obey his brother, Amoz walked into the school. Thirty minutes later, he faked a stomach ache. "Can you contact Windzor?" He asked his teacher.
"The Prime Minister is quite busy, Amoz," she replied.
"Please... I must go home," he insisted.
"I shall find someone to take you. Rest until I return." She walked away.
There was no time. Amoz did not know how he knew that, but he was certain it was the truth. As soon as the teacher left him, he fled the building, running as fast as he could back home.
Jotez sat in his bedroom, a knife in his hands. "I'm sorry, Brothers... I simply am not strong enough," he said softly. "You are better without me. You are strong together. I weaken the family." He looked at the knife. "They spilled my blood before... I should have perished then. In many ways, I did, however no one told my body that, and it continues on... I seek to rectify that. I do not belong here anymore. It should have been me, not my beloved neighbors... And not Dovi... Never Dovi... I was meant to perish! This time, I shall shed enough blood."
He cut his wrists swiftly, not giving himself time to reconsider his actions. The guilt of surviving had been too much for him for the last six years, and now he had lost Dovizan. It was impossible to carry such pain. He finally felt at peace as he bled out.
Amoz burst into the house minutes after Jotez perished. He found him lying on his bed. He hit the alarm that Levi had installed after Dovi's death which would immediately alert the Peacekeepers to trouble before he ran to his brother's side.
"Jotez...Jotez, no! Wake up..." He cried. He shook him a bit, but there was no response. He'd discovered recently that he could heal others, and he tried with all that he had, but Jotez was already gone.
"Jo, please don't leave me..." Amoz sobbed. He buried his face in his brother's chest, desperately wishing it would start to rise and fall as it was meant to. "Breathe, Brother... Breathe!" He begged. "Come back..."
The Peacekeepers arrived, led by Levi, but others were with them. It was Rinton who said, "Levi, stand down... This is your home. Let an outsider see things first, in case."
Amoz was still sobbing over Jotez when Rinton opened the door. Seeing the scene, he looked at Amoz and said, "Come, Boy. Your brother is outside of the room."
Amoz didn't want to leave Jotez, but he knew he wasn't allowed to defy that order. He left the room and ran straight into Levi's arms, sobbing. "Apologies, Brother... I... I tried to fix him, but I could not," he said as he cried.
Levi understood then that his worst fear had come true. He remained strong for his baby brother, but inside, he was screaming. He'd failed Jotez... He'd lost another brother...
Rinton examined the body. He knew from the amount of blood that the boy was dead, clearly at his own hands, but he still did his duty and checked him thoroughly. To his great surprise, he felt the slightest hint of a pulse. He also noticed as Jotez slowly began to breathe again.
"Impossible..." Rinton whispered. He realized the cuts on the boy's wrists were rapidly healing.
"Amoz..." Jotez groaned.
"What, Boy?" Rinton asked.
"I... Heard him... In the Underworld. He... He pulled me back... I perished, but he revived me." He opened his eyes, clearly still out of it. "He was never meant to find me... But he did, and I cannot do this to him. He needs me. I did not consider what my actions would do to him."
Rinton was stunned. The youngest Yizak had actually resurrected someone? No one had such a power, and yet, it was clearly the truth.
"The boy is only nine... His power shall only grow," Rinton realized aloud. He considered killing Jotez again to keep the boy from realizing what he was capable of, but reconsidered. If he held Jotez hostage and kept him hidden, he would have one hell of a weapon against Windzor and Levi when the time came.
Knocking Jotez unconscious, he used fresh blood to create a powerful tulpa. It looked exactly as the boy had and anointing it with his blood meant even his brothers would not sense it was not his true vessel. He sent Jotez into a pocket realm to be retrieved later, when the time was right.
By the time he left the room, Windzor had arrived. "Rinton... Tell me it is not true," he said softly.
"Apologies, my friend... The boy has perished. He cut his wrists. There was nothing anyone could have done," Rinton said with fake sympathy.
"My God..." Rygano said as he heard this comment. "I am sorry for your loss, Windzor... Once more."
"Come, Rygano. Let us gather the Peacekeepers. No crime was committed. The family should be allowed to grieve in private," Rinton said.
Soon, only Windzor, Levi, and Amoz remained. "He was acting strangely this morning. I should have defied him sooner. I should have remained at his side," Amoz cried in grief. "I was too late. I tried to save him..."
"Amoz... This is not anyone's fault, least of all yours," Windzor said. He hugged his youngest brother tightly. "Jotez was in pain for a long time... Losing Dovi proved to be too much for him."
Amoz remained silent, still feeling responsible as he cried in his brother's arms. The funeral was three days later. They buried their brother and grieved together once more. None of them ever sensed that Jotez had been locked away in a pocket realm, or that Rinton intended to make him into a weapon.
Two years later, Amoz was sitting by a river when a dozen men appeared. Amoz recognized the insignia of the Coalition tattooed on a few of their arms. He tensed, wondering what to do. His magic continued to grow, but he certainly wasn't prepared to challenge a dozen men. Strong or not, he was still only eleven years old.
"He needed a dozen of us for one little boy?" One of the men asked with a laugh.
"This will be the easiest money we've ever made," another said.
Someone hired these men to hurt me, Amoz realized. What on all of Eltar is happening?
The first man knocked Amoz to the ground with a powerful kick to his side. It hurt, but he still managed to get back to his feet. When the man tried to kick him again, Amoz caught his leg in midair... Without touching it. As he stared at the man's leg, it hovered, trapped by an invisible force. The second man tried to attack and found himself frozen mid-punch. The other men exchanged glances.
"Oh, good," one said with a sadistic smirk. "A challenge."
Suddenly, the other ten men flew into action. They came at him from all sides. Amoz was terrified, but he tried to defend himself anyway. Unfortunately, he was massively outnumbered. The men soon had him on the ground, desperately trying to guard his injured side as they kicked him over and over again.
The beating he endured was beyond savage. The men used their fists, heavy sticks, and even a pipe to beat the young boy. Every inch of his body hurt in ways he never had before. He was bloody, bruised, and broken, but he still clung to life.
Suddenly, a new man arrived. Amoz looked at him through the one eye that had not swollen shut yet and weakly cried out, "Rinton... Rinton, help me... Please..."
"Apologies, my boy," Rinton said. "You have simply become too strong, and your power shall only grow. You are a threat that must be eliminated."
Amoz was stunned as he realized the truth. "You sent these men after me?" He asked. He was hurt, confused, and terrified. Rinton had been his last hope. He knew he couldn't hold on much longer.
"I shall offer my deepest condolences to your brothers," Rinton said with a cruel laugh. He raised his foot into the air before bringing it down with impossible force against the side of Amoz's head. That was the last thing Amoz saw.
Rinton tossed Amoz into the sea, expecting him to perish. Instead, he was discovered by Moriazan Martenz two days after he went missing. He pulled the boy out of the water, stunned he was still alive, and rushed him to healers. The Coalition proudly claimed responsibility for the attack.
Amoz should have been dead. It was a miracle he had survived. Somehow, the water had kept him alive, but he did not respond to healing attempts. "This is strange magic..." Moriazan Martenz said. "Something is blocking us from healing him."
"This boy is not your full sibling, is he?" Maira Farmell asked Windzor and Levi. She was one of the strongest Healers on Eltar now, and she had been called in to help.
"He is our brother," Levi said firmly.
"Of course he is," Maira said soothingly. "But he has the blood of another line as well... Is this boy of Earth?"
"The father who sired him was a monster," Windzor admitted. "Our mother was abducted and kept on Earth. He violated her."
"I am truly sorry for the pain in your history..." She touched his arm gently, soothing him. "I know a bit of Earth's Mystics. They must journey through unspeakably difficult paths to reach their true power. I believe your brother is on such a journey. We cannot heal him. He must find the strength to do it himself."
"He is just a child!" Windzor said in frustration.
"Windzor... I am deeply sorry for your pain, however, we must respect your brother's journey. We shall do our best to care for him, and if he is meant to find his way back to us, he shall."
Looking into Maira's eyes, Windzor found a small amount of peace. "Forgive me," he said. "I brought that boy to Eltar in my arms... I have raised him for the past eight years as though he is my own child. I love him dearly."
"And that love shall be your strength, Windzor. Be his life line. Do not give up hope."
Amoz found himself in the Underworld. There was darkness all around him. He was frightened. "Windzor? Levi? Brothers, can you hear me? Where am I?" He asked aloud.
Someone appeared, but it was not Windzor or Levi. Instead, a beautiful woman stood before him. "Amoz... My sweet boy..." She said.
"Mother?" Amoz asked as he realized who she must be. "Have I... Have I perished?" He added in a trembling voice.
"Not yet, sweet Amoz... Your body still clings to the slightest bit of life. You refuse to let go."
"How do I return to it?"
"You must find your way on your own... This is a Mystic's Journey, Amoz. One day, you shall be stronger than any Mystic Earth has ever seen, however, you must prove you are worthy of the power."
"I do not want power... I desire only to return to my brothers. They need me."
"Indeed they do... However, the universe needs you more."
"The universe? Mother, I am confused..."
"A great destiny awaits you, my darling son... One that is more important than anything. I am sorry, Amoz. This journey shall be difficult... It is necessary, but if I could spare you from it, I would."
"You are frightening me, Mother."
"Windzor is going to stray down the wrong path, my darling boy... And he shall corrupt a great power which is meant to be pure. This will set off a series of events that shall most likely lead to the end of Eltar, and possibly everything else, unless you become involved."
Amoz stared at her. "Windzor would never harm anyone," he said.
"In his right mind, no, he would not. However, he shall be driven mad by this power. It is not his fault, and were all of you together, you could have saved him from this path. Unfortunately, the moment Camdell perished, that possibility grew much slimmer... And when my poor, sweet Dovizan joined us, the rest was set in motion."
"If he needs us, then I must return to him, Mother. I must save him."
"You have a different path to walk, Amoz. The longer you are here, the more you shall understand. I'm sorry, sweet child... I must let you leave now."
"Leave?"
"This path must be walked alone. Remain strong, my son. I love you." With that, his mother vanished. Alone and more confused than ever, Amoz began to walk. He continued this for quite some time before the trouble began. Amoz would spend the next seven years being pursued, tortured, and literally fighting for his life. He held onto his love for Windzor and Levi, knowing if he did not survive, they would be doomed.
The more time he spent in the Underworld, the stronger his powers became. He learned to defend himself and other spirits he encountered. He sent many souls back to their bodies, but he could not seem to free himself from the Underworld.
One day, he encountered an intangible. This was not especially odd in the Underworld, where evil beings existed in their purest forms. The energy was overwhelming, but also familiar.
"You have been keeping me here," Amoz realized. "You are the force refusing to let me return!"
You cannot ruin my fun before it begins. The thought echoed in his mind in his own voice. The intangible had no form, so the desires of the energy should not have been able to be understood... Yet, somehow, Amoz knew exactly what it wanted... Destruction, chaos, and to see what would happen when the great power became corrupted.
Amoz ran as more creatures attacked him. He knew the intangible had no intention of allowing him to survive. He felt his body flying into distress.
I'm dying... I'm dying! I can't! He thought desperately. And then, somehow, he understood his options.
"Forgive me, Brothers," he whispered. He closed his eyes and stopped fighting. He felt his heart stop. He felt heat as his body burst into flames, an effect of the evil which had attacked him. He forced himself not to be afraid as he let go of his life. Amoz of Eltar perished... And the intangible was too pleased with that to realize that he had a backup plan.
Back on Eltar, no one could explain the mysterious fire that had finally claimed the life of the youngest Yizak brother and burned his remains to nothing but ash. "He felt nothing," Maira said to Windzor soothingly. "Amoz was gone long before now. He is at peace now, Windzor. He is free."
Windzor wept in her arms, unable to be strong for once in his life. "Amoz... My baby brother..." He sobbed. Maira held him tightly, doing her best to soothe him in his unthinkable grief. They'd grown quite close over the last seven years. If Windzor was being honest with himself, he was falling for her more every day. In all his grief and darkness, Maira was the light.
She remained by his side through the funeral, and she never left it again. That night, Windzor kissed her, shocking them both a bit. Ultimately, four years later, the two would marry.
Levi threw himself into running the Peacekeepers, more determined than ever to keep violence from spreading across Eltar. Rygano had joined them, and Levi found comfort in his company. Unlike his twin brother, Rygano was gentle. He was also funny, and he could make Levi laugh when no one else could. Their bond was powerful.
Rinton was not pleased to see his brother spending so much time with a Yizak. He despised them because of all the Founding Families, they held the most power. Rinton felt he deserved that power over any of them. Now here one of them was, trying to steal his brother from him as well. He was determined to put a stop to that.
Meanwhile, the youngest Yizak's journey continued. Amoz awoke on a strange new planet surrounded by trees. A concerned man looked down at him. He spoke in a language Amoz did not understand. Sensing the boy's distress, the man projected his intentions into his mind. Somehow, they translated into Eltarian for him.
Where did you come from? Who are you? He asked.
I am Amoz, of Eltar, he replied.
Your aura is unique, but you are of our tribe. In fact, I believe you are the son of our former Chief, who perished three years ago... You have a Mystic's spirit, and I see the journey has been incredibly hard, but you survived. Come with me. You will be safe. And one day, you shall be the Chief.
Left with no other choice, Amoz followed the man. He would remain on that land for a long time, learning the native language, and soon, he would learn many other things. He was told his name was too different and he needed to blend in on Earth for his own safety. Not wanting to completely disregard his past, Amoz changed only one letter of his first name. He began to be called Amos from that day on. It was a shock to realize he'd been in a coma for seven years and was now eighteen... A man by Earth's standards, but still very much a child. He'd spent the teen years most used to find themselves trying to escape from the intangible that wanted to keep him trapped in the Underworld forever.
Although he was physically mature, in many ways, Amos had the mind of a child. His playful nature remained despite the trauma of what he'd experienced. He tried to follow the rules, but had the enthusiasm of a boy for each new thing he encountered. This endeared him to some members of the Tribe, but the Elders frowned upon it.
"Your destiny is too important," his main teacher told him. "The time for play has ended."
Amos studied around the clock, trying to master his powers and growing stronger each day. He healed others and helped them as a Mystic was meant to, but he was never allowed time to relax and be with friends. In fact, Amos was not allowed to have friends, only teachers.
He began working with a girl named Nita who was only a year younger than him. Right away, he formed an attachment to her. Nita was powerful and clever, but she didn't take training too seriously. She laughed and enjoyed herself and had the best smile Amos had ever seen.
One day, they were left to train while their teachers held a meeting. As Nita began to work, Amos asked, "Nita... Did you ever consider doing something other than training for once?"
"I do engage in other activities, Amos," she said with the laugh that always made his insides feel fluttery like the wings of flutterfize. "I dance, and I help out in the community, and I spend time with friends." She paused. "Why do you remain secluded?"
"I must. They tell me it is my destined path."
"You are a mystery here. I know your father was the Chief, but you are nothing like him. He was wise, but he could be very cruel. You are gentle and kind. Where were you before you came to us?"
"I am from a planet called Eltar," he admitted for the first time since right after he'd revived his body on the sacred land.
"You are not of Earth?" Nita asked in surprise.
"I am now... But when I lived under my true name, no, I was not."
"What is your true name?"
"Amoz," he whispered. He hadn't dared to speak that name since right after he had arrived. "My name is Amoz... Similar in spelling to Amos, but pronounced Uh-mahz," he emphasized.
"Why did you change it?"
"Because Amoz perished on Eltar, and so it must remain. I am meant to be here so I can ultimately follow my destiny, or so they keep telling me... Sometimes, I grow frustrated with all of this. I desire to simply return home to my brothers and be gentle, happy Amoz again, a naive eleven-year-old boy."
"Eleven?"
"I spent seven years in a coma... I only woke when I came here."
"So... You are really about fourteen years of age?"
"I suppose..."
"Then it would be terribly inappropriate to-" She hesitated, looking a bit embarrassed.
Amos realized what she had started to say. He felt himself blushing, but managed to say, "Not so inappropriate... I am a grown man, after all."
Nita's eyes fell to his physique. Although he'd been far taller when he woke than when he was attacked, he'd been scrawny and sickly in appearance. The coma had caused him to waste away slowly. The Tribe's warriors had trained him to become strong. He was now as muscular as any warrior should be, although his build was still rather thin.
Amos blushed again as Nita looked at him, unable to meet her eyes. She's right. I am fourteen, he thought in embarrassment. He forced himself to meet her gaze as she smiled at him. She proceeded to give him a shy kiss on his lips.
He liked feeling her lips there, so he kissed her back. As was true of most things in his life, he figured it out quickly, and soon he didn't feel like a lost little boy kissing a girl for the first time.
After a little while, Amos took her hand and led her away to a secret sanctuary he'd discovered deep in the woods. Nita's eyes lit up as she took in the scenery. "It's beautiful here," she said.
Amos was still watching her as he said, "Yes... Beautiful."
She realized that he wasn't talking about the scenery and smiled shyly. Then, she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him again.
They stole kisses whenever the could after that. Every day, Amos fell for her deeper. He finally felt happy for the first time since the attack that had changed everything. They kept up their secret romance for nearly six months. Then, everything changed.
One moment, they were sitting peacefully, wrapped in each other's arms. The next, Nita was pulled up by her hair by one of their teachers.
"Nita!" Amos cried in horror as she struggled against the teacher. "Let go of her!"
The teacher shrugged. He released Nita before shoving a spear through her chest and swiftly removing it. Nita's eyes went wide as Amos screamed. Within seconds, she was dead.
"Nita! No! What have you done?" Amos demanded.
"What was necessary," the teacher said as another member of the Tribe restrained Amos. "She is a distraction, Amos... One you cannot afford."
"I love her!" Amos cried.
"Precisely! You are a High Mystic, Amos! You will one day be Chief! Your destiny is much more important than dalliances with pretty girls."
"She's not a dalliance! I am in love with her. One day, I wish to make her my wife."
"You cannot marry. That is not the path you are destined for. There must be no distractions from your true purpose."
"Why can't I marry? Most Chiefs take a wife eventually."
"This is not about becoming our Chief, Amos. It is about stopping the evil your brother shall unleash upon the universe. You must prevent the corrupted Eltarian power from tainting Earth. A long time from now, two boys shall be born with the destiny of inheriting those powers. You must kill them before they can awaken." The teacher slammed his hand against the center of his forehead, sending Amos into a vision.
Two boys sat on a boat. A storm moved in too rapidly to be natural. The younger one frantically screamed for the other, who was clearly his brother. They both fell into the sea. Then, things changed. The boys were reunited after what seemed to be years apart. As their powers joined, the elder brother fell into complete darkness.
Then, a town was burning. Innocents screamed. The elder boy stood in the center of the carnage, laughing maniacally as he radiated with power.
"When the time comes, you must kill the younger boy," his teacher said again. "If the brothers are reunited, all shall be lost. Eliminate the younger of the two before the elder can do it himself and steal his half of the powers."
"Kill him? He's a child!"
"It is the only way. Those who cause the storm will eliminate the older boy, and all will be saved."
"No! I'm not killing a little boy! And I'm not leaving Nita in the Underworld. I can save her!"
"We won't allow that, Amos... Unless you vow by sacred oath to never see her again. If you do that, we will let you revive her, have you take her memories, and we will send her to our sister Tribe. She shall be safe and happy, and you shall resume your destined path."
"To murder a child? I do not accept that destiny!"
"That is only a small part of it... A necessary part you shall understand in time. For now, do not concern yourself with it. As for the girl... Either let her go to our sister Tribe and stay away from her, or leave her in the Underworld. The choice is yours."
Looking at Nita with tears in his eyes, Amos accepted he had only one option. "I swear... I shall stay away... Just let me save her. Please," he begged.
The teacher nodded. The one restraining Amos released him. Amos immediately pulled Nita into his arms. "I love you," he whispered. "I shall fix this."
He journeyed into the Underworld, where he found Nita unharmed but confused. He pulled her soul into his astral arms. "Amos? What happened?" She asked.
"I am sorry, Nita. This is my fault, however, I shall set it right," he replied. He kissed her deeply, using the energy to heal her body. "I love you, Nita," he said. "I always shall. Forgive me." And then, because he knew he must in order to protect her, Amos took Nita's memories of him away from her.
She was in a trance when he said, "I shall remember for the both of us... And you shall be safe and happy." With that, he sent her soul back to her body, knowing she'd remain in the trance until she was in her new home with their sister Tribe.
"You did the right thing," his teacher said.
Damn the right thing, Amos thought. Damn it to the Underworld and burn it to the ground. He nodded numbly, keeping his emotions to himself and knowing he would never see the girl he loved again.
He would watch over her from a distance from then on while continuing to carry out his duties. His magic became even stronger, and after a few decades on Earth, he was named as the Tribe's Chief. Some time after, he became immortal. He was fifty, and allowed his body to look the part, but beneath his glamour, Amos looked like any other Eltarian fifty-year-old... That meant he appeared to be about twenty at most.
Slowly but surely, Amos changed how things were done. His father had encouraged unethical behavior, but Amos would not stand for it. The more destructive members of the Tribe were punished for any crimes they committed. Anyone who was a serious threat, such as those who harmed children or women, were kept in an enchanted building that served as a prison. Depending on the severity, they were either rehabilitated or, if it was truly necessary, executed. If Amos had to be in charge, he decided to use his power for good.
After almost a decade of this, Amos retired as the Chief. "But you have no heir!" One of his teachers protested.
"You told me I could never marry," Amos reminded him. "How, exactly, am I meant to have an heir if I cannot fall in love?"
"Reproduction and love are not the same. Your bloodline has run this Tribe for centuries."
Amos looked at him with mock horror. "Do you take me for some sort of harlot?" He asked, holding his hand dramatically to his heart as he gasped.
"O-of course not," the teacher stuttered.
Amos laughed. The teacher stared at him in confusion. "I am an Elder of the Tribe now... I am retired. That is all there is to it."
"Who shall replace you if you have no heir?"
Amos looked around. He spotted an eighteen-year-old Mystic with strong ideals, great power, and little ambition to abuse it. "You! Do you want to be Chief?" He asked.
The young Mystic blinked at him. "Me?" He repeated.
"Yes. Congratulations!" He handed him the Chief's staff before calmly saying, "I am going on vacation." With that, Amos left the sacred land for the first time since he'd awakened from the coma a few decades earlier. He spent a year and a day exploring the rest of the planet before deciding to return. From that day on, he served as an Elder, making sure the Tribe did not stray onto a dark path.
Back on Eltar, Levi and Rygano could no longer deny their bond went beyond friendship when Rygano gave in and finally kissed Levi after decades of longing. It was not a shy kiss, but one filled with hunger, and Levi responded in kind.
If any other Eltarians had fallen for members of the same gender, they had never admitted it publicly. Being from Founding Families, Rygano and Levi knew they would be judged harshly, but they could no longer stand to deny their feelings.
Levi cautiously approached Windzor one day. "Brother... I find myself facing a... situation," he stated nervously.
"What sort of situation?" Windzor asked with concern.
"I fear I am in love."
"Love? That is nothing to fear! It is wonderful news. Who is the lucky girl?"
Levi hesitated before clearing his throat and awkwardly saying, "Rygano."
Windzor paused, clearly surprised. Then, he asked, "Well... Does he feel the same way?"
"Yes. We have even kissed... In secret."
"Does he truly make your heart happy, Levi?"
"He does... More than anyone ever has before."
Windzor nodded and offered his younger brother a reassuring smile. "Then I am pleased to hear you have one another."
"Truly?" Levi asked, genuinely surprised Windzor accepted his love.
"Love is the greatest gift in this life, Brother. Why should I reject yours simply because it is different? Every love story is unique. I am just pleased you have a story to tell." Windzor patted Levi's back affectionately.
Rinton was not nearly so accepting. "You are a Treygan, Rygano! This family has expectations," he said.
"And I have met each and every thing you have asked of me, Brother..." Rygano said humbly. "Please, allow me to have this one thing for myself."
"I cannot do that, Rygano. You must produce heirs. Our family cannot count on me alone, and no descendants can come from the union of two men. It is unnatural."
"Rinton, I love him. Please understand."
"He has corrupted your mind. You will stop seeing him."
"We work together."
"You will resign from the Peacekeepers. I'll secure you a position at the Counsel Building."
"Please do not do this. I have never asked you for anything, Rinton. I am begging you to accept my love."
"I cannot. You will marry the woman of my choosing, and you will be a proper member of this family. It is as our parents would have wanted, Rygano. Do you dare to dishonor them?"
Rygano's heart was breaking. He stopped protesting, but he could not stand to give up Levi. He was forced into an arranged marriage mere weeks later. B'Beeda was a lovely young woman, and Rygano greatly respected her, but he knew he would never love her the way he loved Levi. They continued to meet in secret, and although his wife bore him several children, she knew he loved another. B'Beeda accepted this because Rygano was always exceptionally kind to her, and he was honest with her from the start. Only Windzor and B'Beeda ever knew that Levi and Rygano were lovers.
A few years later, when the lovers snuck away one day, they discovered Grayza Vretiz in distress. She'd been attacked and left to perish in the woods. Shockingly, despite excessive blood loss, she seemed to be healing.
"There is a child!" Levi realized in surprise. He knelt beside the newborn who was radiating with light. "He is healing his mother..."
Sure enough, the baby's healing magic was already powerful enough that he saved his mother's life. Grayza wept as she held the boy.
"Dear, sweet Grayza... Who has done this to you?" Rygano asked.
"I never saw his face," Grayza said through tears. "He proclaimed he was part of the Coalition, and he was claiming my body for himself as a show of power... He forced himself upon me." She kept her tone surprisingly even as she revealed this horrifying fact. Grayza was nothing if not strong.
"My dear friend... How can we assist you?" Levi asked gently.
"He progressed my pregnancy with strange magic... There were two children. He took the first son, who screamed powerfully and spawned a thunderstorm. He said the first boy was a force of destruction and belonged with his father. He realized the other boy, who barely made any sound at all, was pure light and left him here to perish with me."
"Well, the little one had other plans," Levi said with a soft laugh. He smiled at the infant, who studied him curiously as his mother held him close.
"If his father realizes he survived, he shall destroy him. I must hide him." She cried a bit more as she said, "It is the only way he shall be safe."
"Grayza, are you certain?" Rygano asked.
"Their father is a monster, but I could never hold that against infants... The children are mine, but one has been stolen and the other shall never be safe in my arms... I already love him... I want him to survive."
Rygano nodded. "Where shall we hide him?" He asked.
"I will bring him to the Peacekeepers and claim his mother perished. We will find a loving home for him," Levi promised.
Grayza never told anyone, not even her beloved brother Moriazan Martenz, what had happened. She knew she must take the secret to her grave if she wanted to keep her son safe. She never stopped looking for his twin, but unfortunately, his father kept him very well-hidden.
The younger twin was adopted by a kind family who named the boy Tedius. His extraordinary healing power would only grow as he matured. While Tedius was loved and nurtured, the elder twin was not so lucky.
His father, Klaggo, was cruel and sadistic. He beat the boy over every small instance and tried to raise him to embrace darkness. When the boy showed kindness, he was tortured for it. He was forced to help the Coalition harm others from a young age. He hated it, but knew if he refused, the victims would face even worse things at the hands of the older Coalition members.
To mock the child's heritage as a descendant of the Vretiz family, Klaggo named him Grayzee in tribute to his mother, although he never told the boy who she was. Unlike the twin he never knew he had, Grayzee had dark skin like his father and never suspected his mother could be someone who had a lighter complexion.
When Grayzee turned sixteen, he finally had enough. Using the ruthless techniques his father had trained him in, Grayzee slaughtered the monster. He left Klaggo's head on a pike in front of the Coalition's headquarters and cast a rainbow in the sky over his corpse so they'd know exactly who had killed their leader. The Coalition members understood that was Grayzee's way of declaring he quit and they were too terrified to so much as consider retaliating.
Grayzee did not know he was a Vretiz. He knew only of his father and older sister, who was just as cruel and sadistic as Klaggo had been. Her name was Eris, and she would one day take on a new identity which was even deadlier than the chaotic Goddess she was named for.
Grayzee lived peacefully after that, using his powers to charm women and small children instead of torturing innocents as he'd been trained to do. He would continue this aimless but pleasant existence until the Circle eventually recruited him centuries later.
One day, Windzor had a vision of a catastrophe. He found himself drawn to a great power meant to be wielded by two brothers. Knowing it was the only thing strong enough to save thousands of innocent lives, Windzor took the power into himself. He intended to release it after he stopped the catastrophe.
The storm which came was so severe, it would have ended most life on Eltar. Windzor knew it was not meant to occur, but something had set it in motion. The dark force was still an intangible, but it influenced things just enough that Windzor had no choice but to act.
He had never felt such power before. He stopped the catastrophe, saving everyone who would have perished. He returned to the source, ready to release the power, but it clung to him. The power had flown into chaos. It seemed to speak to him. He could do so much good with this power... If he just became strong enough to wield it permanently.
"Windzor... Something is wrong with you," Levi said the next day in concern. "I sense your energy has become frantic."
"I can calm it," Windzor replied. "I have come into a new power."
"How can I help, Brother?" Levi asked.
"Leave me... I must gather more strength."
"How do you intend to do that?"
"It matters not... I simply need more energy..." He began muttering to himself.
"Brother, you are unwell. Let me assist you-"
"Leave me! I must do this on my own!"
Windzor almost never raised his voice. Levi stared at him in surprise. "Windzor... This power is not meant for you. Please, it is affecting you... You need help, Brother." He tried to calm him with a gentle touch.
Windzor flung Levi back with a burst of power. Levi was seriously injured. "Windzor... Stop..." He said weakly.
"I need to gain more power... To protect Eltar! I must become worthy... I must be strong enough..." Windzor insisted.
"Brother... You are unwell," Levi insisted. "We must get you help. Please... I love you, Windzor. Let me help."
"I do not need help! I need to learn to control this alone!" Flames burst from the ground, surrounding him. The ground began to shake. A heavy branch broke off of a tree and landed on top of Levi. It crushed him, killing him instantly.
Suddenly, Windzor dropped to his knees as he realized what he'd done. He screamed in anguish, flinging the branch off of his brother and trying in vain to save him, but it was already too late. Overwhelmed with grief, he wept as he clung to Levi's body.
"What have I done?" He asked in horror. He sobbed as he repeated the question over and over, flying into shock.
"Windzor?" Rinton asked in surprise. He spotted Levi and was even more stunned. "Windzor, what happened here?"
"My brother... My beloved brother... I did this!" Windzor cried in anguish.
"You killed him?" Rinton asked in disbelief. He sensed the great power flowing through Windzor's veins and knew it would only become more destructive the longer it remained.
"It was an accident... I lost control... Oh, Levi... How could I do such a thing?" He wept harder, becoming hysterical.
"Hush, my friend," Rinton said, putting a hand on Windzor's back. He quickly caught the grieving, heartbroken Prime Minister by surprise and put him into a trance. "An accident, Windzor. Levi perished in a tragic accident. You discovered him here, beneath a branch that had been struck by lightning. You know nothing else except how deeply you grieve his loss. Continue to lead with dignity. Forget these events."
Levi was buried the following day. The Peacekeepers grieved his loss. Rygano was inconsolable. Rinton insisted he take his wife and children on a trip to distract himself. It did not stop his grief, but it gave Rygano time to pull himself together so no one would suspect he was grieving the man he loved. He was never quite the same after that. Rygano vanished two centuries later without a trace.
Windzor wept openly at the funeral, then forced himself to continue with life as usual. The last of his brothers had perished, but he still had a planet to lead. He clung to his beloved Maira to cope with the loss, and to their children, L'Telgo, Jenzelle, and Treygott. That helped, but he never stopped feeling like part of him was missing.
Unknown to Windzor, Rinton went to Warlocks to do something unspeakable. "Resurrect him and wipe his mind. I shall pay a pretty fortune for your efforts," he promised.
The Warlocks were happy to help. Levi rose from the dead, his mind groggy. "You are the soldier, Azzian," Rinton told him. "Your mission is to protect Eltar from those who seek to destroy it. You will follow my commands. Do you understand, Soldier?"
"Yes," Levi, now Azzian, replied. "I am a soldier. I must protect Eltar by following your commands."
"You were killed by a horrible monster called Windzor. Remember that." Rinton used a spell to call up Levi's death in his mind. He only showed him what suited him. "He murdered you, Azzian. You must destroy him... One day, when the time is right. Until then, you shall train."
From that day on, Rinton trained Azzian as a soldier. If the smallest flashes of Levi's life peaked through, he'd start to question Rinton or even fight him, causing Rinton to electrocute and torture him until he was a mindless puppet again. After a few decades of this, Azzian stopped remembering Levi's life at all. He followed commands, unable to process emotions or think for himself.
Windzor ultimately lost his mind because of the powers. After killing the first Shapeshifter in a fit of madness, he begged the first Sorceress to kill him. She fried him instead, draining the magic from him and ensuring he could never hold it again. He stepped down as the Prime Minister, naming Kelzo Farmell, son of one of the younger brothers of Telzos, Miltan, to replace him.
Kelzo was a good man and the people of Eltar embraced this decision. For eight years, he ruled Eltar with kindness and compassion. Rinton, however, decided to put a stop to that. He was furious Windzor had chosen a Farmell to replace him. He'd wanted the position for himself, but failing that, he had hoped to see his eldest son, Aphell, fill the role. Because of this, Rinton arranged a freak accident for Kelzo. The unsuspecting man agreed to meet Rinton at a cave when Rinton claimed he sensed a child trapped inside in terrible peril. Once he had Kelzo inside, Rinton caused part of the cave to collapse, killing the gentle Prime Minister instantly. He then led the efforts to recover his body for the closure of the people of Eltar.
Certain he or his son would be chosen to lead next, Rinton waited for the people to select Kelzo's replacement. To his great displeasure, they selected Moriazan Moriarty, grandson of Moriazan Martenz, instead. Moriarty was still quite young. In fact, he was only about thirty-five years old, still a teenager by Eltarian standards, but the people adored him and already considered him to be a great man who was an asset to the planet. He seemed like the logical choice to lead them.
Mere months after Moriazan Moriarty became the Prime Minister, a horrific fire broke out in his family's village. Every man, woman, and child perished except Moriazan and his younger brother, Karlton. Moriazan was working at the Counsel Building at the time of the fire. Karlton had gone to the city for supplies. He returned to find everything burned to the ground with no survivors. No one ever suspected that Aphell had ordered the assassination of the Vretiz family with his father's blessing.
It nearly caused his chosen assassin, Azzian, to rebel against him and his father. "There were children, Aphell! Children and women... They were surely innocent," he protested. He hadn't known that when he burned the village down. He'd been told dangerous members of the Coalition had set up their headquarters there.
"They were a danger to Eltar, Azzian," Aphell insisted.
"How could children be a danger to the planet?" He argued.
"You shall understand one day." With that, Aphell began electrocuting him. Azzian fought harder than he ever had before, his guilt and grief for what he had done fueling his will to fight, but eventually, the torture wiped his memories of the event entirely and he became compliant again.
Windzor would eventually perish. On record, he took his own life, but his grandson, Zell, actually traveled back in time and murdered him. With that, the supposed last Yizak brother fell, never knowing that three of his beloved younger brothers had survived after all.
Levi continued to live as Azzian, forever trapped in his new role as a soldier and assassin for the Treygan family. Jotez was kept hidden away in a pocket realm, suspended outside of time, existing and alive, but not quite living. He remained in a trance, kept nourished and healthy by Rinton's magic but never allowed to see anyone and never brought out of the shadows he'd been banished to.
Amoz continued to live as Amos, Elder of the powerful Tribe. Nita had long-since perished, leaving behind her family line which grew stronger with each generation. He watched over them when he could, and several notable descendants caught his attention. There was Rose, who gave her life to save her beloved Caius. Then, much later, there was Casey, who took over the Underworld. Eventually, there was Sage, who broke rules in ways Amos was impressed by, and her son Troy. Both were Power Rangers, and Amos was excited when he was allowed to meet them. Connecting with Nita's kin gave him the tiniest piece of her back, but he never told them he had loved their ancestor.
Six years before he met Sage and Troy, Amos was meant to fulfill the destiny he'd seen millennia before. "Where are you going?" One of the other Tribe members asked.
"I'm going fishing," Amos replied with a grin. He took his hunting knife and went to the sea. The storm that rolled in came too quickly to be natural.
"Frankie!" A child screamed.
The boy, Amos realized. He sighed. This was it. He watched as the younger boy struggled to survive and to find his older brother. A wave knocked the child beneath the surface of the water again.
Amos reached in and grabbed the boy. He pulled him out of the water, holding him close. The boy shivered. He was weak and terrified and incredibly vulnerable. This is it. You are meant to kill this child, Amos thought. Kill the boy, stop his evil brother, save the universe from the curse Windzor unleashed. Simple.
Looking into the child's face, Amos knew that wasn't the right answer. "Rest now," he said soothingly.
"My brother..." The boy said weakly as he coughed up water.
"Shhh, young warrior. You must rest now," Amos insisted.
"Where is my brother?" The boy demanded.
"Your brother is lost. You must keep fighting. Help will arrive soon." Amos took off one of his necklaces, a turquoise stone on a black rope chain, and put it around the boy's neck to protect him and lend him strength. "Do not give up. Never surrender. Your journey begins now."
The boy blacked out in his arms. Amos stayed with him until he sensed help coming, then let them find the boy. He would keep an eye on his "Little Fish" from that day on, protecting him when he could until the time came for him to guide him directly once he became a Power Ranger. Pierce was the closest thing Amos had to a son and he cared deeply for the boy. He was the only "family" he allowed himself to have.
Amos kept his identity a secret even as the Eltarians began coming to Earth to rise up against his great-nephew, Zell. He did not allow himself to think of his family much, but he never stopped missing them. One day, he knew he would reveal his true history, and it looked like that day was coming soon.