Birth of a Shadow: The Story of Viren

by TemerityClias

Viren, a dark mage of Katolis, he uses his cunning and dark magic to fuel his quest for power. Learn the story of this cunning dark mage through his own eyes and memories.

1. Birth of a Mage

Katolis Capital, 43 years before the events of the Dragon Prince

A moment of quiet, then a labored cry, the folk around the bed waited with baited breath. They waited on me. Waited on me to emerge, and open my eyes for the first time to see me whilst I saw them. Two large, rough hands lifted me up and the people cried, "It's a boy!" My mother was barely conscious, exhausted in all respects from the strain of her labors and only glanced upon me once before going limp in fatigue.

That's the way my father told me the story the one time I asked about my mother and birth. He told me never to ask of it again. She was never spoken of and pictures of her were hidden away to be garnered in dust. I never learned her name. Never remembered her face. Only her voice, speaking it's final locution, whispered to the family and doctors gathered around her a word.

That word is my only connection to her. The women who showed through herself that she loved me more than life itself. The gentle, kind women I used to dream that she had been while twisting the word through my mind. I always compared my rough, crown guard father to my dream of the mother I though had been. Wishing, dreaming, she could return to me and show me the love I never received. Father was always away, leaving me to my thoughts for weeks at a time. When he was there, I was just another one of his soldier's, not a loved one, and certainly not his son. I was not as strong or fast as he wanted so I was left to myself with my only myself for most of my earliest years. I lost a mother's love, and perhaps lost a father's compassion.

I wish I could have heard and remembered on that evening what she whispered. To hear what her final intonation to a vanishing world was with my own ears. That day 43 years ago, I drew first life as my mother drew last. Her final breath before succumbing to her pains was a name. What was to be my name. Viren.

This is an introduction almost to the pre-show days of Viren hence the seemingly brief passage. The date is guessed to my best ability from the information available in the first three season of The Dragon Prince which are all that are out at the moment. I hope to be well on the way in this account of Viren's early life before the upcoming 4th season releases.