It was known as The Shattering.
A shockwave engulfs the lands between, emitted by a giant tree in the middle of a golden city.
Its power sweeps through every corner of the land. Winds howl without restraint. Seas beckon waves that reach for the sky. The earth shakes as melted rock bleeds through a volcano.
It was a signal to all that lives in the region, that the end has occurred and chaos will follow.
It reaches the regions of Caelid, Liurnia, Mt. Gelmir, the Hailigtree, and some parts of the world beyond the lands borders.
Beckoning the Demigods to the Erdtree, to claim their birthright. And calling upon the Tarnished Legions, to challenge the demigods themselves to take the mantle.
LEYNDELL, SUBTERRANEAN SHUNNING-GROUNDS
The earth beneath the sewers shakes like never before. Bits of debris fall from the ceiling, ranging from big to small chunks of rock.
Within a larger portion of the sewers sits Morgott, awakened from his slumber in a sitting position from the earthquakes. He opens his eyes and looks around the room he currently resides in to see that his shackles have fully crumpled into pieces. Soon the earthquakes stop after a few minutes, returning the grounds to their static state.
He gets to his feet and tests the magical bindings, feeling that they were no longer effective in bounding him both physically and mentally.
Before, Morgott was able to leave the sewers to a certain degree in the form of a physical projection that mimics the feel and looks of a real body, while he remains imprisoned. He had used this ability to act as both regent and enforcer for the Golden Order during Queen Marika's absence ever since entering the Erdtree with Lord Radagon, leaving the Kingdom without a ruler for almost ten years.
The illusion only last for several hours though, a limitation that he had to work with over the years. He had been training himself to make them last longer, increasing his time of projection from a mere two hours to a lofty twelve. He could now even create two projections at once if required.
But now, the shackles were gone. The very bindings created to hold him in place had simply crumbled as if they were never even effective in the first place. He stands with his cane and moves to exit the room to confirm that he was free to leave, with no restraints that will hurt him as part of the measure to keep him imprisoned.
Morgott looks to the room one last time before leaving, looking at the broken seals created for him and his twin, one that escaped long ago by force while he stayed willingly as requested by his father.
"Finally... At longeth lasteth..." Morgott sighs in a tone of relief from the long time he waited for this day to come, the day when he would finally be free to serve the Greater Will without restraints, as his father did out of love for his mother, one that she did not return to either of them.
He did not blame her, for he was born an Omen like his twin. His very birth was a stain to the Greater Will's sight, unworthy of acknowledgment or recognition.
Cease these foolish thoughts... He stops himself from giving in to the self-lofting he often did when thinking about his existence. He had a duty to fulfill, now more than ever.
Morgott makes his way out of the sewers and up to the surface. He sticks the shadows with the use of an incantation that conceals his form from prying eyes and makes his way up to the throne room outside Erdtree.
Upon reaching the outdoor room, Morgott removes the spell as he was now out of sight from the citizens below. He makes his way to the edge of the platform and observes the sight of the city below him as dawn begins to rise.
The people of Leyndell were thrust into a state of confusion and panic. Civilians were praying frantically to the Erdtree out on the streets, with some going as far as to offer sacrifices out in the open areas. It was truly a chaotic sight, the city of the Golden Order fallen out of order.
Morgott sighs due to the frustration from the events that occur below, his first order of business would be to curb the people of Leyndell and restore order with the City's guard garrison, finding the ones that seek to sully the Golden Order's name and putting them to the sword.
He move away from the edge and walks towards the stairway to the Erdtree itself, where a gate that leads into the tree itself will be found, allowing one to gain a direct audience with the Greater Will itself. A walk that he never thought he would never to able to take.
Morgott reaches to the front of the gate to see it sealed by thorns, thorns that form in the patterns of Radagon's rune, the second Elden Lord himself was barring entrance to the tree.
Morgott grunts with a bit of anger in his tone due to the second Elden Lord overstepping his bounds. He was simply a consort to the Queen, he had no right to dictate her will or the will of their outer god.
Perhaps this was his plan all along? Marry the Queen and usurp the right of Godhood? Putting his children into power as the new rulers of the lands? As revenge for the witch Rennala?
Radagon and Radegan. Two men of similar names and purposes that have both been graced by the Queen Marika's favor, Both repaid her with betrayal. Radegan was the worst offender of the two as he broke her both emotionally and spiritually.
But it matters not at the moment. Morgott's path was clear now. No entry was to be granted to the Erdtree due to Radagon's seal, a seal that may be lifted should his children appear to claim their supposed birthright.
Radahn, Rykard, and Ranni. Even Malenia and Miquella share Marika's blood but favor their father. Five demigods who could claim the right of godhood in Radagon's name. None of them can be allowed to succeed.
Treasonous snakes... ALL OF THEM.
Morgott returns to the throne room and stopped just in front of the main thrones, the thrones that once seated the queen and her Elden Lord. He looks to the right throne and takes out an item from a pocket of the ragged robes he wore.
It was a sliver steel crown, belonging to the first Elden Lord. He places the crown gently on the throne's seat, slightly rubbing it with appreciation before letting it go.
Godfrey... Grant me strength at this moment of crisis.
Morgott walks away from the thrones and soon faces a group of soldiers approaching, one side chad in gold armor and the other in black. They kneel before him as a sign of respect, they were the only group of commanders who knew of Morgott's existence and identity, swearing their service to him during the queen's absence.
"Riseth. Loyal soldiers of the order." The soldiers rise to their feet and remain at attention. "Report. Everything."
The commander in gold steps forward and bows before starting his report. "My king. Our men have started gathering at the walls, archers at the top, and infantry on the ground are building reinforcements. Siege equipment has also been build in the locations you pointed out. We are ready for the invasions you spoke of and what remains are making sure the population is under control as we speak."
"Good... That is good..." Morgott was pleased with the development of the army's movements. "Triple thy efforts. The city must be ready for the assault of four armies. Five, if that the feeble Godrick decides to pitch in."
"Yes, my king." The command steps back and allows the second one to come forward, this one was the commander of the Night's Cavalry, a unit created by Morgott to hunt heretics that the order requires gone.
"My king. Our scouts have confirmed the formation of armies from Caelid and the Haligtree. Radahn and Malenia are gathering their forces. We have also located the great caravan that travels through the snow fields, their numbers are great but very disorganized."
Morgott nods at the reports provided. "Gather your horses and purge those heretics. They cannot be allowed to travel any further." The cavalry commander bows and steps back in line.
Morgott soon remembers an extra task he had assigned his men to do, he hoped they had made progress on it. "And the queen's ward? What of the kindling Maiden? Hast the lady been hath found"
The commanders look around each other to see which one will speak out first, the one most to the back of the group act on it. "My king... We... Did not find her. Evidence suggests she has left the capital and is heading south to the lower lands."
Another potential problem... Morgott ponders on the disappearance of the queen's ward, she was a possible threat due to her true lineage. But it was not a concern he could deal with now. "Very well. We will abandon the search, for now. As there art more important things to cometh." Morgott slams his crane's tip to the ground and makes his speech.
"Men. Soldiers of the Golden Order. In the coming days, we visage a most wondrous dare. For the children of Radagon The Red have shown their true colors, as traitorous usurpers who seek to claimeth what doest not belongeth to them. In the name of that usurper they call a father."
"But we will not alloweth that. For it is Lord Godfrey who remained true to our queen. NOT Radagon The Red, NOT Radegan The Black."
"The Golden Order will STANDETH! Leyndell will STANDETH!"
"NONE SHALT SULLY OUR GARDENS OF EDEN!"
"HAIL GODFREY!"
"HAIL GODFREY!" The soldiers yell in unison to declare their oaths in the name of the first Elden Lord. They proceed to leave their king to carry out his commands with haste.
Morgott was now left in the throne room alone and slowly makes his way out to join the Night's Cavalry in their hunt. He ponders his next moves and thinks of the looming threat that he suspects will arrive once the lands are thrown into chaos.
The Dread Wolf. The monster that will come to the Lands between to herald The Godless Age, to bring upon another Ragnarok. The foretold end of everything.
But the question remains in Morgott's mind. Which of the three wolves will appear?
The Black? The White? Or The Grey?
MOUNT GELMIR, VOLCANO MANOR
"My lord, what are your commands?!"
"My lord, you must tell us what to do!"
"You are supposed to lead us through this! My lord, please!"
"You promised, Lord! You promised!"
The shouts and questions of several knights can be heard through the door of the room, where Rykard currently resides. He was sitting in front of the fireplace with a goblet in his hand that was filled with wine, admiring the painting of his brother that hangs above.
He continued looking at the painting while his knights continued to bang on his door, their discontent becoming louder with each passing second.
Fools... All of them... Selfish and narrow-minded. As all the uneducated are.
The noises from the door soon cease and were replaced with the footsteps of a plated Knight. Eventually, more footsteps were heard walking away from the door. The door soon opens to reveal a crimson armored Knight that towered over most men, a Knight that was the most loyal to Rykard.
Finally. Some peace from those wrenches... Rykard thought as the Knight move closer to his side, bowing upon when within his view which he dismissed with a hand wave.
"My lord. It seems that the fighting is about to start as you predicted. Radahn and Malenia's forces are mustering for a march to the capital. Both intend to claim the throne for themselves."
Rykard downs the drink to its last sip, placing the goblet on a table near his chair. He takes a deep breath and lets it out to speak. "So it would seem... My brother intends to take the throne, no doubt for the honor of our mother. And my step-sister will fight to claim it for Miquella, to herald a new age of his making." Rykard rubs his bearded chin in thought, wondering what the outcome of a battle between the two strongest beings of the current time would yield.
The Knight wait for a moment while his lord was deep in thought, he decided to speak up as he was here to relay a piece of important information. "A letter came for you, my lord. From your sister, Lunar Princess Ranni." He takes out a sealed letter with the stamp of the Carian Royals, the seal of Rykard's original house that came from his mother.
"Oh? From Ranni? It's been a while." He takes the letter and breaks the seal to read the folded letter. He takes some time to read and process to words of his sister and lets out a short and brief laugh at the message due to its information. He had never expected that outcome from his sister of all people.
"So... You and Godwyn planned this all along... No doubt to spite our father. I suppose rivals with benefits do have benefits after all, besides the pleasures of the flesh." Rykard tears the letter in half and tosses it into the fireplace having known the contents of the letter. He was now clear on his role to play in the coming war to come. "What was the queen thinking? Making you Godwyn's betrothed... Allowing the two of you to conspire on such a twisted plan."
"Shall we send our forces to join your brother in Battle? Or send them to secure the lands of your mother and sister?" The Knight suggested two of the most logical options that Rykard could take.
Rykard takes a moment to decide and settles for a third option. "Either. Summon all of our forces that are still loyal, and have them enforce the path to the mountain. And sent a collection of scouts to all the regions to recruit anyone who does not follow the golden path."
The Knight nods and remembers a detail in his lord's words. "And those who are not loyal?"
"Hang them up by their legs and slit their throats, along the path to the mountain. Let their blood that spills the ground be a reminder of the cost of cowardice and treason." Rykard gives his command. He would tolerate no form of weakness from his men, any who show it to him so openly would need to pay as a sacrifice.
The Knight bows and leaves to follow his commands. He reaches the door and stops at the exit as a masked woman dressed in a consort's dress arrives at the scene. The Knight bows to the woman and greets her with respect. "Good evening, my lady."
"Good evening, ser. please. Do not let interrupt you, good knight." The woman bows back and allows the Knight to leave. She moves over to the side of Rykard and kneels down to his level and places her hands on his, her eyes full of devotion and love for him. "My lord... What troubles you, my love?"
Rykard sighs as he grips her hands back, still not looking away from the fireplace. "The world, Tanith... It's collapsing in on itself. And we are not in a position to control it. Not at the moment." He worries about the current power he held in the pantheon of the demigods, he was by far the last in terms of ability and power as compared to his siblings.
And he needed to rectify that, even if it cost him his soul. All his respect and political power will mean nothing if he faces one of them in direct battle, regardless of their close relation.
That is why he was going to embrace the ancient power that lies beneath the mountain, a power so old it predates the land itself.
"Is the ritual ready?" Rykard asks Tanith about the status of the ritual she oversees. One that will allow him to ascend further in power.
Tanith takes a moment as hesitation mounts in her mind, knowing that her lord would never be the same after the ritual. She eventually relents as she remembered her vow to help him in all his endeavors, even the ones she felt were dangerous. "Yes... My lord. It is time. For you to take your place above the rest. As it was always meant to be."
Rykard finally looks at Tanith and raises the mask she wears to reveal her face. He moves forward to kiss her and she returns it gladly. They separated after a few moments as he gets to his feet and reaches his decision to embrace the power he found. "Very well. Until I return as I am, you will rule the Manor and all our subjects. Kross will keep you safe as your sworn Knight."
Tanith bows at his appointment of her as his regent. "Thank you, I shall not fail you, my lord."
Rykard nods at her affirmation and starts to move on. "I know, love. You never do." He places another kiss on her cheek and places her mask back on.
Rykard moves to one of the guest rooms and pulls down one of the wall candlesticks to open a hidden path that was built in the wall. It leads to a tunnel to routes all the way to the direct underground of the Manor, built long ago by the original inhabitants of the mountain.
He reaches the chamber where his power awaits. He stopped just at the edge of the opening to the chamber and rethinks his choice, wondering if he was making a mistake.
What is my hesitation? I have already gone this far. It cannot be all for naught.
He clenched his fist and let out a breath, stepping into the chamber of a large open space.
In the middle of the chamber lies a giant serpent with many heads conjoined together, it was slumbering with its breath loud and foul.
It was said that the serpent was the direct offspring of a fallen outer god that took the form of a wolf, cast out by the others when it attempted to attack them. The serpent was born in an attempt to create a weapon that would devour the gods that resided in the physical world.
Rykard approached to the serpent and stops at a distance from it. The serpent soon awakes from its slumber and raises its main head to face Rykard, watching him carefully as the serpent waits for him to make his choice.
Rykard stands firm and looks up at the serpent, knowing that he has come too far to back out now. He raises his arms in the form of an embrace to show the serpent his decision.
"O'great serpent... You who live before the gods... You who birthed from the Great Hunger... I offer my flesh. The flesh of a demigod."
"Ahhhhh... Grant me your strength to rend them whole. Grant your immortal will. Grant me your eyes! THE EYES THAT SAW AN OUTER ONE IN THE FLESH!"
"TAKE ME NOW! AND TOGETHER WE WILL DEVOUR THE VERY GODS THEMS-"
Rykard did not finish his words as the serpent simply rush its head down and swallow him whole in one swift motion, eating him fully. It returns to its slumbering state as mutations occur in its body from the demigod it just devoured.
The serpent would soon create a new persona that uses the voice and face of Rykard, with not a single aspect of the original Rykard remaining.
As Rykard died that night at the Jaws of the serpent, the world falsely believed that he became the serpent.
ELPHAEL, BRACE OF THE HALIGTREE
Maleina sits upon a simple throne made of wood and was housed near the root of the Haligtree, in the domain of her brother, who was currently undergoing a metamorphosis cycle within the cocoon of the roots.
She waits patiently for the time her brother would return from his transformation that would break his curse of eternal childhood, a curse that would not allow him to take forth his true form and power. The power that he promised to use in curing the rot that festered within her.
I promise, dearest sister. I will accomplish what mother and father could and would not.
She remembers his childlike voice that echoes the wisdom of a visionary man, a man trapped within the body of a child. For even with all of Miquella's talent and gifts, they were considered failures due to their accused state, even if they were declared as Empyreans upon birth.
Failures to their mother, Queen Marika. The woman who birthed them and showered them with love, only to slowly take it all away, the moment their curses were found. In the end, none of them lived up to her measure, not her father, not Godfrey, not even Marika's own shadow.
For only one man lived up to her measure, a man that disappeared almost two thousand years ago. And yet to this day, they were still being compared to him. As if Marika was obsessed with the man.
It was this fact about her mother that made Maleina resent her as she grew older. And this resentment only grew when the declaration of another Empyrean was made in the form of Lunar Princess Ranni, her father's first daughter, and her half-sister. She was even given a shadow, an honor not presented to either one of them.
Thus, siblings chose to follow their own paths. Far from their parents. The creation of the Haligtree was proof of that, the workings of Miquella's new age of his own design, with Malena by his side.
My brother will keep his promise. He possesses the wisdom, the allure, of a god... He is the most fearsome Empyrean of all...
She continues to sit and wait, guarding his body against any harm. Her crippled state from the rot meant that she was hindered by the lack of sight and the usage of several limps.
But her skill in the blade was unmatched in all the lands, as her master intended after years of vigorous training tailored to counterbalance her afflictions.
And so Maleina trained, and trained, and trained. Replacing her lost limps with prosthetics, replacing her sight with enhanced hearing, replacing her weakness with strength. Becoming equal to only Radahn, her half-brother who got her back on her feet after the rot started to eat away her prowess.
He was the only one who cared to fight her without restraint during their friendly duels out of respect, knowing her true potential as his match or greater.
I hope you are well, brother...
Her thoughts were suddenly interrupted as she hears footsteps coming from the chamber. She readies her senses and prepares for a possible encounter, her mind shifted into combat sense.
The footsteps stop and a voice speaks. "My lady? Are you all right?" The voice asked with concern and familiarity. It was one of her commanders.
Maleina sighs in small relief as she recognized the voice. "I am well... Finlay. Just... Resting. At the moment." She assured her commander and wondered how the female Knight looked like in the flesh, a sight she would have liked to see.
Finlay takes a moment to respond and moves closer to Maleina, not caring for the rot that might infect her. She gets to a knee and reports the news. "My Lady. The Cleanrot Knights and our soldiers, and Miquella's followers stand ready to march. By your command."
Maleina nods at the report and stands to her feet, taking a moment to adjust to her prostatic legs as usual. "And what of the armies that march to Leyndell? What of the city itself?"
"The city is being reinforced as we speak, headed by the regent, King Morgott. While two armies have been spotted to be on the move. Godrick's and Radahn's."
The mention of Radahn gave her pause, a part of her feeling uneasy from the prospect of fighting him. She decides to focus on the other potential threats. "And what of the Carians and the Recusants? What are their intentions?"
"Our scouts report no activities of an invasion force from the forces of Ranni and Rykard. They have taken to secure their borders instead."
On the defensive? How unusual of them... Malenia thought of the actions of her two other half-siblings from her father's side, noting that they were not following the efforts of their brother, choosing to go on the defensive.
She takes steps towards the exit and stops midway as she worries about Miquella in his slumber. "Finlay... Have you chosen the ones to guard my brother?"
More footsteps can be heard as Finlay confirms her orders. "Yes, my lady. Twenty of our best knights will guard this chamber at all times." She announced as a group of Cleanrot Knights marched into the chamber and stood at attention.
"Good... Good..." Her worries were eased at the number of knights assigned for the task, for the Cleanrot knights were formidable with great numbers.
She takes her golden-winged helmet and wears it, the last gift from her mother before they left. She also draws her blade to test its lethality, performing a flurry of fast slashes and a strong thrust that is enforced by her prostatic arm's gear.
With herself ready, Malenia prepared to leave and lead her forces to the capital. Finlay suddenly remembered something and passes it to her leader. "My lady. There is also a message for you, from General Radahn."
Malenia stops from the words, not expecting Radahn to even send word to her. "What does it say?"
Finlay opens the message and relays the words in simplified form. "He requests you for a parley, a talk before any fight between you and him happens."
Malenia processes the words for a while and makes her decision. "Send a reply to my brother, with the terms of his surrender."
"The terms being?"
"We will draft the details on the way." She continues her walk without pause to join the rest of her forces in the march ahead.
Malenia reaches the front of her gathered forces, they stand at attention to greet their leader, awaiting her order to march.
Malenia mounts the steed that was specifically catered to her due to its resistance to rot, a gift from Radahn many years ago on one of her name days. She spoke no words and only raised a hand to bring it down swiftly, starting their great march through the snow fields that lie ahead.
Malenia leads the vanguard of the army in the front, with Miquella's banner as her flag. She thinks of her times with her other siblings as well, Radahn, in particular, being the fondest of their sparing sessions.
Radahn... Whatever comes next... know that I am sorry. All I do... I do for Miquella.
CAELID, REDMANE CASTLE
"Ahhh... isn't that better Leonard? You are all cleaned up now!" Radahn brushes the mane of his steed with great care, ensuring every last part of his body was cleaned to perfection. He kneels on one leg to reach down to his scrawny steed, a limitation he lived with due to his towering height.
He gives Leonard a few pats on his neck and feeds it some berries, a reward for making the cleaning up process easy. He gets to his feet and wipes the sweat off his forehead.
Radahn soon leads Leonard back to the stables to fit him for riding. It was now time to march to Leyndell with the bulk of his army, to claim the right of godhood for the honor of his house, the honor of his family, his mother, and father.
He looks at the other activities around the stables, all of the men and women currently there were preparing their horses for battle in quick succession with no delay or hesitation. The sight made him proud of his army, one that he had spent centuries of his life building to mimic the armies of Godfrey in his prime.
Radahn begins the fitting process and was soon joined by his advisor and Warmaster, Jerren. The older man moved closer and cleared his throat to get Radahn's attention. "General. We are almost ready. In about an hour, we can march in full force."
"Good. Very good. Much faster than our practice runs." Radahn mentioned upon remembering the training he and his soldiers did to train up their speed to get ready for a full-fledged march if the time of war was to once again occur in the lands. It turns out that those sessions paid off, he just did not expect the war he waited for would be within the regions themselves.
Jerren sees Radahn struggling with a strap on Leonard's saddle due to his bigger hands and steps in to help, earning him a nod and pat on the back from the general. He soon takes out two letters from his pocket, one from each of his sisters. "General. I have received two correspondences, one from Lunar Princess Ranni. And the other from... Princess Malenia."
The last letter catches Radahn's attention and he takes both letters. He starts with the letter from Ranni and looks through the contents that share the same details as the one she send Rykard, a sigh escapes him as he was not so approving of the actions his sister had taken.
Ranni... Do you have any idea what you have done? As if your feud with our father and his queen was not enough... Now a cold war with the Greater Will itself? Why must you walk on the path of foolishness? For our mother?
He keeps the letter and focuses on the other one from Malenia, reading the words that were written with great care by Malenia's advisers. He remains silent for a time while displaying a disappointed look on his face, resigned to the decision his half-sister made.
Jerren notices the distress and asks for the outcome, as he usually does bluntly as Radahn's war councilor. "She intends to fight for the mantle as well? On behalf of her brother doesn't she?"
Radahn nods to confirm his assumption, another sigh leaves his mouth as he was now sure that they would be in direct conflict with each other, regardless of their shared father. "These are her terms for our surrender. We are to stand down from the conquest for Leyndell and join her forces under her command and hers alone." Radahn keeps the letter and lets out another frustrated sigh. "Why would she think we would ever agree to that?"
"Perhaps she does not want to fight you directly? Or perhaps it is a taunt meant to bait you? Forcing the two of you into battle? " Jerren offers possibilities on the meaning of Malenia's words. Both were plausible with the latter being more likely due to her constant need to prove her mettle against Radahn which often ended in a draw.
Radahn rubs his forehead from the conflicting thoughts that plague his mind. But his choice had already been made, honour would not allow him to back out now. "If she is insistent on her path, then I shall not back down either. I will put her within her place." He stops for a moment before fully committing to his choice. "If Malenia... My sister must fall for us to succeed. Then, it shall be done. I will not falter on this."
Jerren nods in agreement but carefully as he could tell that his general was not happy with the idea of a battle with his sister. He thinks of something that will lighten his mood, an idea comes out of his head due to the fact that they were now marching to war for the first time under Radahn's banner. "General. Perhaps now would be a time for one of those speeches you always wanted to do before battle?"
Radahn's face change upon the mention of a speech to his men, as if he has forgotten about the trouble of Malenia's challenge. He displayed a small smirk and patted Leonard one more time before moving beside Jerren. "Aye! Well said, old friend. Gather the men and women who are ready in the main courtyard. The time has come! And so have I!" He displays his usual enthusiasm for action once again as he was finally about to deliver his first war speech.
Jerren nods and leaves Radahn in a different direction. Radahn then makes his way to the courtyard'S upper platform, looking down to see hundreds of his soldiers waiting for him to deliver words of war for their coming march.
He dons his golden lion helm, one inspired by Godfrey's image, and shouts out to bring them all to attention.
"MEN! WOMEN! MY SWORDS AND SHIELDS! MY LIONS! WHO ARE WE?!"
"THE REDMANES!" His soldiers shout out from his words, raising their weapons with each cry.
"AND WHERE ARE WE GOING?!"
"TO WAR! TO WAR!"
"AND WHAT THE FUCK DO WE WANT?!"
"VICTORY! VICTORY! VICTORY!""HAHAHA! THIS I LIKE!"
His army shouts out louder than ever before, awaiting their first taste of War. Radahn look on at the sight below him, his heart filled with pride and joy from the men and women who would follow him to battle to the death.
But behind Radahn's confident and heroic visage contained a sense of dread built up in the back of his head.
A thousand possibilities on how a death match between him and Malenia would play out flash through his mind, all of them he considered unpleasant. No draw would be possible when none of them holds back, and he knows Malenia never holds back in any of their fights even the practice ones.
It bothered him greatly, the idea of killing his sister in battle. He had hoped that they would be allied due to the shared blood and friendship they once had growing up. But alas, Malenia was only loyal to a fault to her twin, not even he could change her mind.
So he keeps up his brave appearance, not wanting his soldiers to know that he was fighting a battle of morals within his own mind. He would have to master his thoughts for the sake of them, for the sake of victory.
Malenia. Please don't make me regret this.
LIURNIA OF THE LAKES, RANNI'S RISE
The tower was quiet with only the sounds of stitching present that came from a room that was the princess's private quarters.
Ranni holds a circular piece of silk and carefully creates the embroidery design she had thought of, her four hands work in sync with one pair sewing and the other holding the silk. She uses a golden needle and sliver trend for the piece
Each stitch was smooth and calculated, highlighting her skill in the art of embroidery. A skill that she had learn as a child and briefly abandoned until recently after she inhabited her doll body. What was once a pastime for her become a way for her to test the usage of the new body she resides.
It was a skill her father had taught her. She had destroyed all the pieces of embroidery in the collection they made together after he left her mother to marry Queen Marika. It was done out of spite and she had refused to keep any reminder of him in her presence. Even her new body was crafted to erase all instances of her former appearance that resembles him, especially his flaming red hair.
But in truth, she had regretted the decision.
Ranni focused on the finishing touches of the embroidery with a few more strokes. She accidentally pricks her finger on one of her hands that held the silk but felt no pain due to her doll body lacking pain nerves. She removed the needle to see the damage to her hand, a tiny dot with no blood was seen.
She sighs as she knows that it will be permanent, it was one of the drawbacks of the doll body as it was not able to repair itself. She ignored the damage and resumed her work on the piece.
Ranni finally finished the silk embroidery and looks upon it to examine its details. It was an embroidery of the Royal Carian banner, with details of blue and gold within.
It was a design she made for her father, Radagon. It was meant to be a name day gift for him, in the year he left. A banner to honor both her parents and the joining of their house. A golden champion who found a home under the moonlight.
It was a recreation of one of the pieces she destroyed long ago. She spent time sewing again in her doll form to recreate all the embroidery pieces in the collection. She had remembered every detail of each design to the tiniest of details, and thus she set out to remake what she had broken.
To recreate all seven years of embroidery works with her father was her aim, and she was already halfway done.
Ranni keeps the silk piece in a small container and stores it away in one of her drawers. She moves to leave the room and takes a stairway to reach the lower level of the tower. She enters a war room with projections of a giant, a half-wolf in armor, a man wearing a mask, and a Carian Knight. They bow in her presence and she takes her seat to address them.
"Thanketh thee, all. For staying 'alongside me till this pointeth. I am did please to say our efforts art, not in vain. Now that all of our barriers are removed, the timeth for our real plans art to begin."
She looks to Iji, her giant war advisor for the first of her commands. "Iji, sendeth the remaining black knives to eliminate all baleful shadows that prowl the region. Ensure that none remains."
Iji mods in his sitting position. "It shall be done, Lady Ranni." his projection disappeared and she turns her attention to the half-wolf man.
"Blaidd, muster our all of the Cuckoo and Carian knights and to have them secureth the region and our borders. Liurnia must be prepared for an invasion from Leyndell." She orders him and he bows to acknowledge her.
"Aye. I will have done well, sister. I won't fail you."
"You never have and never will." He nods and smirks at her compliment and his projection disappears. She then looked at the masked man with contempt, she had been unsatisfied with his performance of work so far but only kept him around to use his knowledge, she had intended to be rid of him once he had served his purpose. "Seluvis... Report thy current results of study on the movement of the stars."
Seluvis shifts his posture straight and delivers his nonanswer, as he usually does. "The results of my studies are the same, my lady. The stars are not yet aligned to bring forth the age you seek. Perhaps my talents could be used for... Other tasks?" He makes his suggestion known to her again.
Fool. She thinks to herself about his lack of progress, wondering why she even allowed him to her service in the first place. "Fine. Cease thy current researcheth and presenteth to me the tasks thee speaketh of. Proveth thy worth in mine own service or begone. Thou art anon lacking did compare to the rest, and I will tolerate no weakness in mine own ranks." Ranni speaks with a hint of venom in her voice as she issues her threat.
Seluvis keeps a neutral state behind his mask, but she could tell that he was shaken by her words. He takes a bow and his projection disappears. She turns her attention to the last remaining man, the Knight that was dressed in her house's colors and crest. "Knight-Captain Moongrum, take a small force of the best of your men and march to the academy, where my mother is imprisoned. Slay the scholars who placed her in isolation and bring the loyal ones into our service. I expecteth nay quarter to be given to those that harmed her, spare none of them."
Moongrum bowed and acknowledged her command. "It will be done, princess." His projection disappeared, leaving Ranni alone in her war room. She looks upon the table where a map of the Lands Between is laid to see their current strategy and plans for the coming days, or centuries to be more accurate.
She steps out of her seat and moves on to the study room, where hundreds of books and clutter were placed. Ranni's attention shifted to a painting that was placed to the side. She takes the painting with her four hands with great care to view it once again.
It was a painting of her father, with an infant version of herself on his lap. He had hired the best painter of the lands to capture their likeness in the best light. It was the last painting she had kept of him.
Ranni... Daughter... Please... Look at me.
His words echo in her mind that happened during one of their conversations centuries after he married Queen Marika and had twins with her. They had a private moment in the night that he requested during one of her visits to the capital, visits that she hated but made toleratable by Godwyn.
Ranni takes the painting along and moves to her quarters. she looks for a place among her walls to hang it on, eventually finding a spot after removing one of the other paintings that she considered not important.
I am sorry...
I am so... So sorry...
More of his words echoes as she moved to place the painting on the wall. She started to clear out some clutter around the area to ensure the painting would be displayed properly.
What I did to you... Your brothers... Your... Your mother... Rennala...
It was vile, cruel... And unforgivable...
And I have... Always regretted it...
She takes the painting and carefully places it on the wall, making sure that it was straight and displayed well. She then steps back and looks to it while remembering more of the words.
Its... Unfair you know...
It's only after... I made the mistake, and hide from it for years... That I realized...
I could have chosen to do what is difficult... But right...
Rather than what is easy... And justifiable...
As Radegan would have... The man I was named after...
Ranni stares at the portrait for some time, remembering the time in her childhood with her father, the days he would tell her the story of how he met her mother on the battlefield repeatedly at her request, and the days they spent sewing together to create embroidery as gifts to her mother.
She misses him, dearly. And hated how things ended up between them. She wished for the days of her childhood to return, with him by her side to watch her grow up.
But I suppose it's too late now...
I can only... Think of the what-ifs...
And make best of... The damage I have done...
She closes her eyes and grief starts to build up within her. She had promised herself never to feel sadness because of him, for he does not deserve it and she would never allow herself to be broken by him.
For she was Lunar Princess Ranni, daughter to Queen Rennela Of the Full Moon.
But please... Know this...
Please... Believe me...
Believe me... Please...
Ranni tried her best to hold on but could not, she breaks her vow and allows herself a moment of weakness. A stray tear from her opened eye drips down her face, confirming that her doll body could create tears.
I have always loved you...
She remembered the last of his words and finally breaks. Sobbing at the hurt they both caused each other. Knowing that she could never make amends and speak to him again.
For Radagon believed Ranni died with Godwyn during the night of the Black knives, in the form of suicide. She remembered observing him in her spectral form, clutching her body and screaming in grief and rage, unaware that her spirit had survived. An unintentional hurt she caused him, for she did not plan for him to find her on top of her divine tower.
It was the last time they saw each other before Radagon went into the Erdtree and never returned.
After centuries of anger and hatred that turned into regret, Ranni had failed to make peace with her father.
"I love you too... Father."
LEYNDELL, THE GARDEN OF SWORDS
Flowers bloomed all around thousands of swords staked into the ground that overlooked the capital city up on a large field located above a mountain. It had been a memorial created during the end of the great war with the Dragon Order, for the warriors who fell by the millions over the course of the centuries of conflict.
What many do not know was that all the swords placed here were all forged by Radegan The Black himself, each one of them was a restored version of the swords his soldiers used and died in the war as a way to honor their service to him. Radegan had spent decades on this project once peace in the lands was established, doing it all on his own, despite Queen Marika's offer to help him.
Overlooking the entire field was a statue of Radegan himself build to scale his size, Chad in his black jagged armor and wearing his wolf helm that covered half his face with only his jaw exposed. It also depicted him holding his Dragonkiller sword on one hand downwards that was taller than him, its size was as outrageous and unusable as the real one.
It was said that Radegan's spirit watches over the garden of swords for trespassers who seek to dishonor the site. The statue was also looking towards the city of Leyndell, for even if Radegan's ultimate fate was unknown, he still watches over the city of his Queen.
The statue was made of simple stone and painted black with hints of gold on its armor, as Radegan requested when he was told statues of him would be made, he did not fancy himself depicted as some holy figure to be worshipped by the masses.
But that did not stop people from doing just that, worshipping him as a god or a demon. Clearly, his own words had fallen on deaf ears or were interpreted wrongly.
Some prayed to the statue believing he was a war god, that would help them crush their enemies in battle. Some prayed to him as a demon that would protect them from the wicked, appearing in the form of a wolf to deliver retribution to all that seek to harm the innocent. Some even believed him to be the second coming of Artorias himself, causing an entire group of religious warriors called the Abyss Walkers to model their armor and weapons after him, much to his annoyance.
None of these facts were true, however. As Radegan was just a mere man, forced to become the strongest of all with the power of runes, to protect his Queen by any means necessary.
If only they knew the dark truth that made him a legend.
The site however had been an important place for Queen Marika herself, for she prayed to the statue as well. It was a surreal sight, for a living goddess to pray to a man that had left her, twice.
Queen Marika made the trip to this site every year for almost the past two thousand years, on the seventh day of the seventh month. A small escort of her knights would follow her and stay a distance outside the field while she kneeled in front of Radegan's statue, praying for an entire day with no rest or interruptions.
Her knights that look from afar often see her performing different actions to the statue such as speaking to it, saying a prayer in silence, or just simply staring at it blankly with a depressed and longing look in her eyes. On some occasions, the Queen had even broken down in tears at the statue's base, crying and apologizing to Radegan's statue for her mistakes that no one was aware of but herself.
And today was the seventh day of the year. Queen Marika did not show up as the Shattering had occurred. Instead, another being appeared in the form of a giant beastman dressed in white rags and bandages with an amulet in his hand.
The beastman makes his way slowly through the field, avoiding the swords staked to the ground with respect to the dead. He finally reaches the statue of Radegan and kneels on all four limbs, clearly in distress.
He clutches his head and whimpers, thoughts of despair radiate his mind from the mistake he had made. A mistake that cost Queen Marika two of her children, her firstborn and stepdaughter, two demigods with one being an empyrean. This was graver than the first one he made.
"Radegan... What must I do? What must I do... To FIX THIS?" The beastman asks in desperation, hoping for an answer. He looks to the statue and waits for a response.
Radegan's statue remains silent.
He dives further into his despair, not knowing how to mend his error. The Shattering had occurred as an indirect consequence of his failure. He would never be able to make up for this, it would be his greatest sin.
"How? HOW? HOW?!" He looks up again to the statue and speaks. "How will Marika forgive me?! HOW?! HOW DOES SHE FORGIVE ME FOR THIS?! PLEASE TELL ME! HOW?!"
Radegan's statue remains silent again.
The beastman was now in great distress as he was not getting an answer. His trip had been a foolish endeavor, for Radegan would never be able to speak from his statue.
"TELL ME! TELL ME! HOW COULD WE EVER LIVE UP TO YOUR MEASURE?!" He grows more desperate for a response. "HOW COULD ANY OF US?! NOT GODFREY! NOT RADAGON! NOT EVEN ME! HER OWN SHADOW!"
Radegan's statue remains silent once again.
The beastman was now breaking down. For he had failed in his duties as Queen Marika's shadow. His entire purpose was now void.
"RADEGAN..."
Radegan's statue remains silent. No response would ever come.
"RADEGAN!"
The beastman becomes enraged from his lack of answers and roars out a cry of hopelessness that echos through the region.
"RADEGANNNNNN!"THE BADLANDS
Pain flows through Godfrey's body which was badly wounded from the endless fights he had gone through today. He was tied up to a tree by his remaining men to help him continue standing as his legs were currently unable to stand.
Their enemies surrounded them by the thousands and attacked to no end. All of Godfrey's men were eventually killed to the last man, leaving only himself left to fight.
And fight he does, even while stuck to the tree for support. Enemies appear to him on all sides, clipping away at his health with hits in between.
Even while bound to a tree, Godfrey was still formidable fighter. Using his great axe to crush and swipe those who approached him, decapitating them in a single strike due to his endless strength.
His axe eventually breaks from all the damage it inflicted, and he switched to his bare hands. He kills his enemies with punches and throws of their weapons or body and even crushes some of their heads bare-handed.
Soon his fight while being bound to the tree lasted days, weeks, months, years, decades, and finally centuries. This leads to the moment now, where Godfrey stood bounded for a lifetime against a rotting tree with millions of corpses around him.
His enemies had left him there after seeing no way to kill him in a fair fight. And so they fought dirty, using ranged weaponry and spears for a longer reach. They left him to die in agony by impaling him with a few spears in his abdomen while securing his hands to the branches of the tree to ensure he would not be able to remove them, he had already been in a severely weakened state when it happened.
But through sheer willpower and tolerance, Godfrey survives. His wounds fester with maggots and infections, his bones broken and healed in the wrong positions to make them out of place, and his blood had constantly leaked through his opened wounds. He should have been a dead man by now.
But he was no mere man. He was Godfrey, First Elden Lord. He would be so easily felled by the antics of weak men looking for glory in an easy kill on a legend. He would endure this pain to the end of time if necessary, for the sake of his Queen.
Queen Marika. His wife and goddess. The woman he served during the Great War with the Dragon Order. The honor of marriage was only then bestowed upon him when she required an Elden Lord by her side. But the truth is, he was only her second choice, there had been another she would have chosen that existed over a thousand years ago.
But soon, his failures started to show.
First was in the form of twins that were born omens, his seed had been corrupted to allow Marika to birth such monstrous beings. He remembered her grief when the Greater Will commanded their imprisonment below the city, it was one of the first times he felt helpless as he brought his newborn twin sons to the subterranean shunning-grounds and left them there to be abandoned.
The second was his uncontrolled lust. Sex with Marika was a divine experience as neither of them would be tired that easily, allowing their love-making sessions to last for half a day with no rest in between, with Godfrey spilling his seed within her womb and all over her body for at least a dozen times per session.
But their sessions lack just that, love. It was only lust that made them spend their nights together. With Godfrey and Marika, their marriage was a logical political choice. The strongest warrior of the known land with the Queen made the perfect sense. But there was no love displayed from Marika towards him, even as he devoted himself to her. The romance that history wrote about them was in truth a one-sided affair.
This left him cold and unsatisfied with her. And so he begin sleeping around with women who found themselves attracted to him. From courtesans, female soldiers in his service, maidens in service to Erdtree, noblewomen with some that were married, maids in the castle, and even mimic tears that he had his mages made to resemble her. For their affection provided him a measure of warmth that even a goddess could not provide.
Then a day came when Marika caught him in the act, having sex with three women at once, in her own bedchamber of all places. It was her reaction that left him disgruntled.
For Marika had no reaction to him sleeping with other women, her face remained stoic at the sight of his affairs. She had simply turned around and walked away from her bedchamber, completely devoid of any care or emotion. It was that event that left him even more bitter and unsatisfied.
And then came his third failure. For Godfrey had fought the last of the dragons in what remains of Farum Azula and the giants in the northern mountains. Finally securing peace in the Lands between.
And thus, his purpose was fulfilled. No more enemies to fight in the name of his Queen. And grace was taken away from his sight by the Greater Will.
So Marika gave him and his warriors their final command from her. To partake in a long march to wage war outside the lands, until the time comes for them to return when she calls upon them.
His last conversation with Queen Marika had been short and direct. She simply issued her will to him and left after striping him of lordship. No farewells and embraces happened between them.
For Godfrey had already been replaced. He knew this face the moment he saw Radagon by Marika's side on the day he was exiled. Only two weeks later that Godfrey learned Radagon was crowned the Second Elden Lord.
And now here he is, on the brink of death among his men an age after his exile. No grace will save him from death should he fall to his wounds.
Pain in his body started to fade away and was replaced with cold. He supposed it was time to finally die. He had been holding on for almost a century upon this tree. But he was ultimately not invincible.
Goodbye, my sons... May your reigns be long...
He thinks a final time before darkness starts to overwhelm his vision. Death had finally come to claim him.
And then he saw light.
Slowly, his strength begins to return, his wounds fully heal, and set his bones all back in place. He gasps for air as his lungs once again breathed properly.
Using his hands that were bounded by chains to the tree, Godfrey pulls himself free effortlessly and tears off the remaining chains that bound him, he then pulls out the spears lodged in his abdomen and snaps them with his fingers as the wounds heal.
Godfrey was finally free from his bindings after a few centuries of awaiting a death that nearly claimed him. He looks around and started seeing the trail of light that pointed west and knew full well what it means.
Grace was returned to him, Queen Marika was calling upon him to return to the lands between.
"At last. At long last. I am to be returned." Godfrey moves around and started noticing movements around him. He prepared himself for another battle.
His attention was soon captured by a roar nearby. He turns to see his lion returning to life from grace as well. He moves to the beast and embraces it in a hug. "Serosh... I will gladly have you by my side and back again." The lion leans into his embrace so it too missed him since its death.
He let's go and see his warriors rising from their long-dead slumber. Grace had also called upon them to return. A hand grabs his leg and looks down to see one of his warriors who was the last to fall grabbing his leg.
"Chief Loux?" The warrior was confused by his resurrection and Godfrey helps him to his feet. He moves around to help others who were rising as well.
Soon all the warriors that returned to life gathered around, all waiting to see what he had planned for this revelation.
"Chieftain... What should we do now?" One of the warriors asked bluntly and all of them looked to him for his answer.
Godfrey looks in the direction where the trail of grace pointed. His path was clear, returned to the lands and reclaim his title as Elden Lord.
Once more, he will gain Markia's favor. To become her husband again. To finally receive her love.
Godfrey moves past his warriors and stands above a pile of corpses that were comprised of his enemies' bodies. He begins to speak and give his men and women their new purpose.
"Brothers! Sister! Arise from this pit! We are to return to our lands! The Queen has called upon us once again!"
"Gather your weapons! Gather your bravery! We march!"
"TO WAR!"They all echo out after him and shared his battle cry that booms all over the battlefield. For once again the warriors of the badlands will fight for glory. As they once did an age ago.
Godfrey looks forth in the direction of the lands between. Eager to reach his prize. To reunite with his sons, and once again be at Marika's side.
I am worthy, my queen. I shall prove it. Once again!
BOLETARIA, THE COUNTY SIDE
"Inferiora!"
CLANG!
"Superius!"
CLANG!
"Rectus!"
CLANG!
"Averto!"
CLANG!
"Halt!" The man speaks out to the child to stop their practice, they lower their sparring swords and step back from each other. Their session was currently taking place near a river, where the pair have set up camp for the day.
The child breathes hard from the practice that has been ongoing for at least three hours now, his entire body sweating to soak his light leather gambeson. His arms were sore from the constant strikes he blocked and deliver to his master.
The man on the other hand was the direct opposite of his current condition. He was not showing any signs of wearing out or faituge. He wasn't even breaking a sweat.
The man sighs as he twirls his sword around, a bit let down by the performance he was seeing.
"Sloppy, Lordan. Very sloppy." He points out the flaws in Lordan's performance. "You are not moving enough, your strikes are getting weaker, and you are barely able to withstand my attacks."
"I'm sorry, Master Vargram. I just-"
"You are getting tired?" Vargram finishes his sentence for him. He shakes his head at the excuse Lordan gives. "That is the purpose of this practice, to test your endurance, and make you last longer. And for you to succeed, you must endure this. Understand?"
Lordan offered no response and simply nods. Vargram takes it as a sign for him to continue and twirls his sparring sword a few times to prepare himself. He takes a battle stance and watches Lordan getting into one as well, gripping his sword with two hands compared to Vargram that only uses one hand.
"Again." Vargram speaks and restarts his training. The man and boy circle each other and Vargram issue his first command.
"Medietas!"
CLANG! Their sparing swords clash as Lordan delivers a center strike which Vargram blocks easily.
"Averto!"
CLANG! Lordan parries an attack from Vargram and stumbles back from the force.
Vargram readies his next command but notices a small glimmer of gold forming in the air.
"Inferiora!"
CLANG! He ignored the glimmer and continued his training, the glimmer becomes clearer, and starts making a trail.
"Rectus...!"
CLANG! His next command was softer than usual. The trail of gold light becomes clearer and was leading southeast. Vargram knew exactly what he was seeing.
The light of grace. Calling him back to the lands between.
The Shattering has occurred. As Renna predicted.
"Rectus... "
Vargram issues his command absent-minded and Lordan delivers a thrusting attack that he fails to respond to, allowing the thrust to hit him in the chest. The blunt tip of the sword does not hurt Vargram, it only snaps him back to attention.
"Oh! I'm sorry, master!" Lordan apologized for his attack that was not meant to hit. He observed Vargram that was currently staring blanking at the empty space in front of him, leaving Lordan confused.
"Master? What's wrong?"
Vargram continues looking at the trail of grace that points to the direction he must go. A sense of dread builds up within him as he knows what this means for Lordan.
"Master Vargram?"
He finally looks upon Lordan and all his fears reached the surface of his mind. Lordan, who was currently only seven years of age was now to walk the path causality had planned for him, as he was told about him from the beginning.
For Vargram had taken Lordan as a newborn to keep him safe from those who seek to take his life. And Vargram ensured none would follow him, as he trespassed the flow of time to escape from all their enemies.
But in the end, it was all for naught.
For even in the future, far from the lands between and in a further point of time.
Lordan cannot escape his fate.
Vargram keeps his sword and paces himself to calm down. "That's all for today, boy." He ends their practice early, leaving Lordan a bit surprised by the decision.
Lordan keeps his sword as well and observed Vargram, thinking of what to say after his master's sudden change in mood. "Was I... Was I doing well today?" He asks about his performance and anticipated another lecture.
Vargram looks at him for a while and speaks with hesitation. "You are... Getting better. But we need to practice more." A small praise was within his words that made Lordan happy for the day.
Lordan lightly punches his fist into the air with joy, happy from Vargram's approval. "OK! I will get better and better, master! You will see!"
"We shall see. For now, go and wash yourself up and prepare to make yourself dinner. Then we move on tomorrow, to the docks to find a ship."
The mention of finding a ship makes Lordan excited for their next destination. "Where are we going? New Lothric? Vingland? Cvstodia? Or far south to the Great pyramids in the Dune seas?" Lordan brings up a few places Vargram mentioned before to travel, he hopes it was the last option he listed.
Vargram thinks for a moment and decides not to give an answer for now. "Wherever we please, boy. But for now, get some rest. There is much work for us to do."
With that, Lordan sets off to enjoy his free time, completely unaware of Vargram's troubles. Vargram's watches Lordan move off to the side of the river to clean himself up, while he stayed and observed the trail of grace that led him to the lands between.
Conflict builds within him as he remembered the instruction he was given, bringing Lordan to the lands between once grace appears to lead them back.
But how could he do that? How could he bring a seven-year-old boy to fight demigods? The boy he promised to keep safe from harm?
He's not ready... He is not READY. Vargram moves to his horse and reaches to take his enchanted bag, one that Lordan does not know he has. He reaches in and thinks of the weapon he wants and feels the hilt of the sword he was looking for, he grabs the hilt and pulled it out a little to keep it concealed.
The Godslayer Greatsword, or at least a copy of one. It was given to him by the Witch Renna, to ease the burden of the coming journey. He has not used it yet but knows that the time to wield it will be soon. It has been a while since Vargram had used a colossal greatsword as his own mentor did many years ago.
It was a sword that many could not use properly due to its size. Especially not Lordan at this time.
So Vargram makes a decision about what to do at this time.
He will not bring Lordan to the lands between, yet. And if they are forced to do so, Vargram will take Lordan's place and fight on his behalf, only bringing him over once victory was achieved.
He was Lordan's shadow after all.
But for now, his path remained the same, train Lordan to become a warrior in his own right. He looks at the boy and sees him playing in the water stream, as any child would do at his age. A part of him feels relieved that Lordan was able to enjoy some semblance of childhood despite being raised to fight.
Vargram looks away and stares up at the sky. Angry and bitter at the outer gods for forcing a cruel fate on the boy. A cruel fate that he cannot change or avoid, all because of a mistake they made hundreds of ages ago.
He clenched his fists hard and made himself vow, once again.
For Lordan to become the strongest of them all. Strong enough to tear the very heavens apart if he wishes and make the outer gods pay for their sins that cost so many so much.
And he, Vargram, The Raging White Wolf will ensure it.
I'm so fucking sick of gods.
FIN
