Red sand, Lux Aurea bleeds, and Battle of Titans
Author notes:
I feel like the Neolandia civilization and army would look more like the Persians, since we don't know what they look like.
Few days ago
The capital of Neolandia
Walls of sandstone stood tall around the capital city and the palace of Neolandia. Statues of elephants stood tall, some holding buildings along with columns, some out on the streets as decorations, but two large behemoths stood before the palace as guardians. (Basically I see Neolandia as the Persian empire.)
Prince Kasef stormed into his father's study. "Father you can't do this! You can't just bow to the demands of a lowly commoner. Especially one that wants us to be equals with elfs, it's unacceptable!"
"That's enough prince Kasef! You have spoken your mind now, leave." Ahling looked at his son with pity for not seeing the big picture and the smaller ones.
"But why this man? Why do as he says? We can easily crush his armies."
He chuckled. "Then you are a fool my son." The king sat down on his chair. "He's no man."
"What do you mean?" The prince sat down across from his father listening with interest.
He looked out of the window and into the distance. "He was human but all that remains of him is a monster, and in that monster is a broken madman. Our family fought alongside him long ago. He wanted unity and equality for all. That's why I don't join the other kingdoms unless they get the others under their goals."
"I refuse to bow to a deadman." His father looked at him in the eyes.
"This conversation is over. I'm agreeing with the Counts demands."
"But-"
"You are free to leave Prince Kasef!" The king had his back towards him. Kasef never heard a tone from his father like this before, but he bowed.
"As my king commands." The son spoke with the same tone. Leaving his father to make a deal with the devil.
Later that evening outside the capital
"My Prince there better be a good reason why you called me here, cause I need to deliver this now before our kingdom is doomed."
"Of course my friend I just need you for a second."
"And that'll be-" He looked down and saw a blade in his abdomen. He looked up to see the prince holding the weapon. "Why?" The prince pulled the blade away from its victim. The messenger fell to his knees before the prince.
He grabbed the man's head by the hair forcing him to look up as he tilted his own head looking down at the bleeding man. "Neolandia will take all of Katolis and this continent, even if it must stand upon a pile of ashes."
"You're a madman!" The messenger tried to pull away but the prince had a strong grip on his head.
"My friend. You never should have taken the letter." He looked up at the palace. "I hope you understand, father: this is only the beginning." The man choked on his blood as his throat was sliced open, his blood painting the sand below. The prince handed the fake letter to another messenger. "You know what to do." The man nodded and took off. He looked towards the two guards. "Get rid of the body. Remember no witnesses."
Time skip
"Explain yourself Kasef!" The king stormed into the room.
The prince looked towards his father with amusement. "Whatever do you mean old man?"
"Everything! The troops and supplies from Del Bar. The declaration of war letter from Katolis!"
"Simple old man. Today, we show the world our true strength. Perhaps it will give you some as well, since you have a weak spine." He jested towards the king.
"You better watch your tone prince-"
"Or what? You're gonna kill me. What happens here today, will change the world forever. Nothing can stop this. Not even you nor I." He raised his arms in the air as a preacher as guards gathered around them.
"Kasef listen to me. There's still time for you to change and stop this madness." The king begged his son reaching out to him. "We can finally achieve peace."
"I see...this is what we are dealing with, brothers. A stubborn old man, hopelessly out of step with the changing world. You too, will change. Are you listening your highness? Join me, don't fight it." He walked towards the king. "Every choice you have made...has led you to this moment." He held out his hand towards his father.
He looked at the hand staring at it. *Smack* He smacked the hand away and the sound echoed around the room. "This is mutiny." He draws his blade. "I will do what I must."
The prince drew his as well. "My father. My king. My ally. My betrayer. History will see me as its savior. History will vindicate me! I challenge you from one great worrier to another, and only the strongest shall rule all of Neolandia!"
"Very well so be it. We all know the rules, if anyone interferes it's over. In honor of Neolandia." He throws his robes to the side.
"In honor of Neolandia." Both combatants circle one another waiting for the right moment.
Both charged at one another blades locking both pulled away. The prince slashed at the king with his bladder dragging along the floor. The king blocked the attack but was parried and backed away. Continuing with his momentum he moved his body 360 with his blade slashing at the king's legs. Seeing his next move the king jumped back to avoid the blade. The king brought his blade down at the prince, but the prince blocked the blow locking blades with his father.
Both combatants equals in their own swordsmanship but that equality was broken. The prince parried again before the king could recover the prince swept at his legs causing him to fall on his hands and knees. Before he could stand up he was kicked again causing him to roll over. He looked up and saw the prince going in for a downward strike.
The king while on his knees pulled himself back, the prince's blade missed and struck the ground before the prince pulled his blade back the king's own blade struck the prince's own blade holding it in place. He looked towards his father only to be headbutted enraged he headbutted back in retaliation. The king using the momentum of the headbutt he received twisted around to slash at his son's abdomen only for him to jump away. Both combatants stood before one another, both couldn't get one over the other.
"Everything I did, I did to make you proud! Tell me how proud you are FATHER! Tell me! TELL ME!"
Once again both charged at one another blades locking. With strike there was a dodge or parry. The prince pushed his assault against his father causing him to retreat. Age was catching up to the king as his momentum was slowing down. He pushed his own assault getting in close to the prince's defences and tried to knock him out. The prince unaffected by this grabbed the arm and shoved his father away and struck once again only for both blades locking again, until the king shoved the prince away.
The king continued his assault and knocked the boy's blade out of his hand. He tried to strike the boy down only for the boy to dodge and grab his arm and threw his father over his shoulder. He fell down onto the floor and his blade fell out of his hand. He looked up at his son.
"I have always been proud of you. From the first moment I've been... proud of you. And it was my pride that blinded me. I loved you too much to see what you were becoming. What I... was turning you into. I'm s... I'm sorry." He bowed his head.
"I don't want your apology!"
He looked up at the boy as he was stocked by him and backed away while still on the floor. He tried to get up only to be kicked back down. Kicked repeatedly in the face. His nose broke, blood staining his face and floor. The prince picked up the king's blade and walked around the king's beaten form. He stared at the blade with envy.
The king got on his hands and knees unable to fight as the prince now king raised his new blade. "As tradition says only the strongest shall rule." The blade was brought down and the former king was no more. He looked down at his beheaded father then looked at the guards that gathered around the room.
Today
The capital of Neolandia
Citizens of Neolandia gathered around wanting answers of Del Bar troops in the city, along with Katolis troops surrounding the capitol. The great leader of Neolandia prepared a speech for his people.
"Comrades! Citizens! Brothers and sisters! Men of our army! I am addressing you, my friends! The perfidious military attack on our Fatherland, begun a few days ago by Count Dracula, is continuing." People gasped saying the Count brought down the capital of Del Bar leaving nothing. "Silence!" The crowd began to quiet. "In spite of the heroic resistance of the Neolandia Army, and although the enemy's finest divisions and finest cavalry have already been smashed and have met their doom on the field of battle, the enemy continues to push forward, hurling fresh forces into the attack. Count's troops have succeeded in capturing the majority of the eastern parts of our great nation." The crowd stays silent. "A grave danger hangs over our country."
"How could it have happened that our glorious Army surrendered a number of our cities and districts to this monster? Is it really true that the Count's troops are invincible, as is ceaselessly trumpeted by the boastful propagandists? Of course not! History shows that there are no invincible armies and never have been."
"The same must be said of Callum's today. This army had not yet met with serious resistance on this side of the continent. Only in our kingdom has it met serious resistance. And if, as a result of this resistance, the finest divisions of the Count's army have been defeated by our Army, it means that this army too can be smashed and will be smashed as well as those elves." A round of applause was given from the crowd. "The Neolandia people must realize this and abandon all heedlessness, they must mobilize themselves and reorganize all their work on new, wartime bases, when there can be no mercy to the enemy. Further, there must be no room in our ranks for whimperers and cowards, for panic-mongers and deserters. Our people must know no fear in fight and must selflessly join our patriotic war of liberation, our war against these enslavers." The crowd cheered louder.
"The peoples of Neolandia must rise against the enemy and defend their rights and their land. The Neolandia Army, and all citizens of Neolandia must defend every inch of Neolandia soil, we must fight to the last drop of blood for our towns and villages, we must display the daring initiative and intelligence that are inherent in our people. We must organize all-round assistance for the Neolandia Army, ensure powerful reinforcements for its ranks and the supply of everything it requires, we must organize the rapid transport of troops and military freight and extensive aid to the wounded. We must strengthen the Neolandia Army's rear, subordinating all our work to this cause."
"We must wage a ruthless fight against all disorganizers of the rear, deserters, panic-mongers, rumor-mongers; we must exterminate spies, diversionists and anything in between."
"My brothers! My sisters! We are but a single beast. A behemoth that is unwavering, a true monster that has a might like no other! The Count knows better than to mess with a titan."
Time skip
The battle was long and hard, blood of both men and women stained the sands. An unstoppable force pushed against an immovable object. Blood caked the walls of limestone guarding the city. Fires and craters litter the capital. Temples, homes, and statues lay in ruins, yet the people continued to fight against the forces of darkness. Among the ruins we see a wagon of troops being pulled to the frontlines of the city. We see the battle in the eyes of a young man.
He looked at his captain. "Welcome to Neolandia. You are about to begin the greatest moment of your life. Katolis have lost hundreds of troops and supplies. The Count's brutalized hordes are now advancing towards the capital over mountains of their own dead bodies." They came closer to the walls of the city. "Our Party, our nation, our great country, has given us the task not to let the enemy reach the palace and defend the capital of Neolandia." The sound of sizzling filled the air around them. "Forward against the enemy!" (Explosion) "Up into the unremitting battle, comrades, for Neolandia, for our great country! Not one step back!" (Explosions) Two men jumped off the wagon and into the rubble, but before they got off arrows struck them down. "Cowards and traitors will be killed!" He looked back at the troops. "Do not count days, do not count miles, count only the number of monsters you have killed! Kill the monsters - this is your mother's prayer. Kill the monsters - this is the cry of your Neolandia earth." (Explosions in the distance) "Do not waver! Do not let up! Kill! Death to the Katolis invaders! Go, go, go!"
He got off the wagon and saw many men and women injured or dead. "We need men up on the walls, come on people let's go!" He moved along with the others up the wall and saw hell itself.
The earth is scarred with craters. Drenched in blood and flesh of man. Pools of blood were seen small but many across the field. Bonfires light up the night for all to see. Not only bodies of man litter the sand, but bodies of horses and elephants rotting away. Crows caw flying above the battlefield waiting for all of it to end.
The sounds of sizzling broke the man from his thoughts realizing that it was too late. Explosions litter the wall of the city. Throughout the battle the sandstone walls stood tall, until their limit was reached. The young man rose up along with others to await the next bombardment.
A trumpet sounded and filled the night. Soon another joined then another soon many more joined in. The trumpets were many but soon the sound grew louder and louder. The man's body vibrates and soon others were feeling the same as well. Soon the wall started to shake, the stones started to loosen up and fall apart. The trumpets continued the sound, deathining anyone. The walls of the capital fell before all to see bring down all that stood upon it.
We find our young fellow laying in the rubble of the wall. Most of his body underneath stone unable to move. The sound of metal boots broke him from his thoughts. He looked up and saw the devil himself. Green eyes piercing his soul as he stood above him. "Rest child this battle's over. We'll meet again soon my little toy soldier." He closed his eyes with sleep consuming him.
The throne room
The room was silent with the only light coming in was from the fires that were burning the capital around the palace. King Kasef looked out the window with intensity that he didn't notice that he wasn't alone. "I was expecting the old man not a spoiled brat." The king looked at the Count with hatred. "You must be prince Kasef."
"And you must be Count Dracula! The Impaler! Maker of windows!"
"Yes finally! Thank you! Hahaha!"
"They claim you're a monster but all I-"
"Ugh! Chitchat!"
"I see is-"
"Chitchat chitty chitty chat chat!" Turns his back at the king.
"Is a-"
Turns back to the king. "Chitchat."
"No more games!" Draws his blade.
"But I got the board all setup already." Sitting in front of the table with said game.
The king tossed the table out of the way, sending everything across the room, his blade striking out to pierce Callum's heart only for him to get kicked in the face by the Count doing a backflip. Recovered from the hit Kasef charged in trying to strike down Callum. "Oh yes that's the spirit! Thrust! Parried again. Now it's time for some old verbal abuse. You go first."
The king continued his assault repeatedly striking Callum's blade. "Aaaahhhh!"
"Ok? Look I don't know how to respond to that?"
The Count was shoved into the wall by the king, their blades locked and pressed against his chest. "This is for my father." With a flick of his wrist the king's blade reached Callum's neck. The blade digging deep into flesh blood covered the two royals and pooled on the floor. Callum looked up at Kasef with fear as he fell to his knees. "The great Count Callum Dracula is nothing but a mere mortal man! A peasant playing a monster! Hahaha! Don't worry about the kid he's in good hands, and for that elf that you're so fond of I'll take good care of her. Trust me she'll love it-"
A clawed hand clamped down on his throat, silencing him. "I keep on telling you people over and over again that I couldn't be killed by a mortal man. Why you may ask?" The sound of bones snapping and muscle ripping filled the room as the head holding Kasef tightened. "It's simple really I'm God! And you're a little itty bitty ant. Don't worry I'm not gonna kill you. I'm gonna hurt you, and you'll beg for it. Really. Really. Badly."
Outside the palace
The citizens of Neolandia could only watch as the king was punished and nailed on the cross. He pleaded for help from anyone, yet no one came. His body was marked by whips and claw marks, but the only mark that stood out was the one that Callum left across the king's chest. Parce mihi, quia peccavi. Each letter carved into his flesh, blood dripped from the wounds.
The next day
"Aaravos any news on my mistress?" He looked at his friend. As they left the city in ruins and under new management.
"Much but interesting news my lord. It seems we'll have a guest to entertain, last we receive was your mistress and both princes are heading out across the sea. Probably to travel faster with those two on their trail."
"What of Evenere?"
"You said that they'll watch after the battle for them to decide, but my insiders say otherwise. They set up a large blockade in the northern and eastern parts of the kingdom, as well as entrenching themselves along said coastal and marsh regions."
"Why they choose to fight I don't know why. Do you think it was what I did in Del Bar?" He turned to Aaravos to see him reading a message.
"Maybe but it seems that we'll have another guest but this one you'll find interesting." Callum raised a brow.
"How so?" Aaravos grinned at Callum's future annoyance.
Flashback yesterday
Rayla's group
"Greetin's! Th' name's Captain Villads th' d be silent." A middle-aged man with orange hair and a thick beard that is tied into three individual braids at its bottom. He didn't have any eyes, he wears two eye patches double-crossing over his nose, one being black and the other a shade of brown. He has a long, thin scar running down the side of his face, and a missing tooth. He is adorned in a classic pirate's uniform with brown gloves and a dark vest covering a white blouse, he also has a shoulder guard on his right side. A big, swooping hat sits on top of his messy nest of hair, and with a parrot perched atop his right shoulder.
"There's a d."
"Arr!"
"Wait there's a silent r?"
"Nar!"
"Oh. Ok just a silent d then."
"Aye."
"Ahh so there's a-" Jack interrupted before the conversation continued.
"Okay! Now that introductions are done. We like you to meet our regular human friend Rayla."
She turns to the captain. "Spelled just as it sounds."
"And her cute and unusual dogs. Zim and Bait." Bait hums while Zim yips.
"Ahoy Rayla! Ahoy doggos! 'n 'tis me first mate, Berto!"
The bird ruffled its feathers. "I'm a parrot."
"Me ship's this way." He leads the group to his ship. "I call her Th' Ruthless. Named aft me beauty who...sadly...doesn't like sailin' that much. Anywho we'll be leavin' tomorrow aft this storm passes
"But we have to get across as quickly as possible." Jack started to speak before Villads could speak.
"Now Rayla we have to make sure that the voyage is safe for all of-"
Later
"Why do I always bend the knee for y'all." Ezran looked up at the bird that was sitting on his hair.
"Because you love us." His eyes shine with innocence.
The crow through his wings in the air. "Sure let's go with that."
Rayla ignored the rest of the conversation and focused on the railing and not the water while holding in her stomach. "So Rayla. That's an unusual name haha."
"Oh ya, my parents have unusual taste in name Villads with a silent d."
"Ahh. Clever poppet ye be. So tell me wha''s botherin' ye." She decided to humor the pirate.
"Oh you know betraying my team. Abandoned by my parents, and now my village. Oh and some crazy idiot who can't take no for an answer. So ya I'm doing great." Sarcasm oozes from her words.
"I see. Well I dunno wha' t' tell ye but perhaps some words o' wisdom can help." She rolled her eyes and faced him.
"Aye why not could use some wisdom. Bring it!"
"Life….be like a river." She rolled her eyes and sat down.
"Oh great that's exactly what I was afraid of." She looked at Ezran playing tag with Zim.
"Ye can nah see too far ahead. I can nah see at all as I mentioned afore." He sat down beside her.
"You mentioned."
"Ye dunno where th' river o' life will bend 'n turn. Ye dunno where it'll go at all." She looked at him.
"How is that supposed help?"
"Don't try t' control where th' river goes. Thar's one thin' ye know 'n control yourself. Look at yourself. Who are ye Rayla? Wha' do ye stand fer? Once ye know that then wherever th' river loots ya ye'll be right where ye were always meant t' be."
She smiled at the man's words. "Villads, that's amazing." She looked out into the sea. "When you start to talk I was sure you were about to spout some complete nonsense, but what you said…...was beautiful." The sound of snoring broke her from what she was saying. She looked at the captain to see him holding his bird while his narcolepsy settled in.
The parrot looked at her. "Caw! I'll tell him later."
"Great. Just great." The sound of thunder filled the sky as dark clouds rolled above them.
"Wake up! Wake up! Wake up!" The captain's hand smacked the parrot.
"Wha'?! Where am I!? Looks like a storm's comin'. We needs t' viroff." He turned the wheel only for the sound of a horn stopped him. They looked out behind the ship to find another ship, an ancient warship (look up Caligula's Giant Ship or Nemi ships, a Roman ship that can cross the open ocean). The sound of drums filled the air and the dead ship started to pick up speed followed by another horn. (The rhythm/sound of the drums are the same as the For Honor Viking invasion cinematic ones, but I couldn't find any that matched the rhythm for it).
Team Soren earlier
"Row faster, put your backs into it." Undead moved as ordered by their mistress.
"Hey uhh Claudia."
"Not now Soren." She couldn't look at her brother. "We need to find the princes and his mistress."
"I think it's time for some big feelings time." He grabbed her hips and threw her over his shoulder.
"Hey put me down! Soren! I'm warning you!" He ignored her threats and beatings while walking towards their cabin. As soon as he walked into the room he tossed her on the bed and locked the door. "Alright we need to talk about what happened on the mountain."
"We kissed, that's it, nothing more. Can I leave now." He didn't move from the door.
"No."
"No? What do you mean no! There's nothing Soren, nothing! What do you want me to say!? That I liked the kiss?! That our father will be disappointed and disgusted by what we did? Or that society will see us the same as our father?" Tears spilled from her eyes as her hair covered her face from her brother. "Or is it that I want to do it again. That I love this taboo, this…..this sin!" A pair of arms wrapped around her.
"Hey shh it's alright. I don't care what people say or what dad says. I stopped trying to get dad's approval for so long, he didn't care about me." She was going to protest but Soren beat her to it. "You and I both know that he only cared about that throne and saw you as a successor that's all." He hugged her tightly. "Come on no more sad Claudia, where's happy good time Claudia?" She rested her head on his chest and mumbled. "What was that I can't hear you." He teased.
"She's not here right now, leave a note." She broke away from him and looked the other way, arms crossed. Unaware that he was sneaking up behind her until it was too late. "Eeep!" She was tossed back into the bed with Soren on top of her tickling her. "Hahaha Soren! Haha stop it! Okay! Okay! You win hahaha!"
He stopped his assault on her letting her breathe. "There she is." He blushed. "I mean what I said back on that mountain. That you're beautiful." He blushed bright red, staring into her eyes, leans in slowly.
She didn't know what to do or how to respond. Her eyes showed fear but her brother's eyes showed passion, love, and trust. Their lips less than an inch away. The horn of their ship broke their trance and moved away from each other. "We...We should get going." She began to walk towards the door.
"Ya...I'll be there in a sec." He rubbed the back of his neck while blushing, slowly following his sister out the room. Before she walked out the door she turned around and kissed him on the lips for a good moment. She stopped the lip lock, and rushed out with a blush on her face that was holding a smile. Soren stood there confused allowing the moment to knock him off his feet. His sister kissed him and he liked it. He rushed outside to be by her side.
On deck
The undead rowed sync as she walked by them, walking up to the undead captain. She looked ahead to see another ship. She looked through an old telescope and saw what they were searching for and looked at the captain. "More speed and don't stop for anything." The undead nodded.
"Don't worry I got this sis." Soon the sound of a large drum filled the air and the ship picked up speed. She looked over at Soren and saw him on a drum giving a beat for the rowers. Before she could say something the sound of thunder filled the air and the sky darkened.
Later on
Rayla's group
They said that if a wave is large enough that it'll roar like a monster. They said when you inter a storm you're facing God's wrath, they weren't wrong on both. "Brace yourselves, rogue wave port side!" Rayla held onto the railing for her life as the wave crashed against the ship. Ezran and the rest took cover below deck. "Rayla!" She looked at Villads. "Look I know ye're afeared, but ye needs t' focus 'n be me eyes 'n keep on th' lookout fer any surprises."
"Understood."
Team Soren
"Beat harder we're getting close."
"That's what she said-" A fish hit Soren across the face.
"Not now Soren this serious."
"All right, fine. Try to use a spell to slow them down or something besides yelling at me."
She raised her hands towards the other ship as her eyes turned purple. "ntav ró rggeV!"
Rayla's group
Big was what she could describe such a wave. "Villads turn back now!"
"Hahaha! Thar's no turnin' back now sprogs! Climb th' wave! Let th' water 'n wind carry us above it all! We be now at th' mercy o' th' sea! Today be a day t' ne'er forget!" Rayla looked in shock this wasn't the same man that she was talking to a few minutes ago.
As the ship approached the wave lightning struck behind the wave and illuminated what was in it. A beast, a dragon none matched for what it was. Large titans of old roamed the earth long ago everyone thought they were myth even elves and dragons thought the same, but here one was the mighty Leviathan. The most ancient and powerful sea dragon known to all. A loud bellow broke her from her thoughts. "Heavenly cap'n hear our prayer 'n spare me crew o' thar deaths 'n loot mine, so they can live t' see another day."
The wind picked up speed pulling the ship along the wave and climbing up. Until a harpoon struck the ship pulling the ship down soon more joined in. She looked behind to see the other ship launched the harpoons.
Team Soren
They didn't slow down no matter how tall the wave was. She didn't understand what was causing this, like some unknown force was stopping them. "Bring out the harpoons!" The ballistas were loaded. "Fire!" The shots hit the ship. "Prepare to board!" The undead climbed on the ropes that connected the two ships.
Rayla's group
"We need to cut the lines!" Villads ducked under a slash from an undead while steering the ship on course.
"No really, I thought it was-"
"Enough foolin' around sprog 'n jus' cut th' lines!"
Team Soren
"Hey sis I think we're running out of crew." She noticed that the ship was slowing down. She looked up and saw the last of the boarding party was finished off. "Never send the dead to do a girls job." Her body started to change.
Rayla's group
She cut all but one of the lines connecting both boats. She dashed towards it unaware of a large figure dashing towards her. The figure crashed into her, before she could get up a clawed foot pressed against her chest holding her in place. She looked up and saw another bat-like creature but this one has purple highlights in its fur, and purple eyes unlike Callum's green eyes. "Hey!" Both she and the bat looked at Ezran holding Bait in his arms. Seeing what the boy was about to do she closed her eyes as Bait began to glow.
The bat covered itself from the bright light. Before it lowered its wings Villads tackled the creature with Rayla using both her legs to shove the beast off of her. It was enough to knock the beast off its feet tumbling with Villads onto the other ship. "Villads!" She rushed toward the back of the ship to see him raising his blade and brought it down on the last line connecting the two.
As the ghost ship began to drop to the bottom of the wave as Rayla's group began to rise he looked up at her, and gave a two finger salute to her as the ship crashed and consumed by the water as the bellow of the beast filled the air.
The ship made it over the arch of the wave she saw lights of a port in the distance. Soon the ship began to pick up speed as they rode the back of the wave. She ran as fast as she could to the princes before they crashed. She reached them in time and held them tight as soon as they met the water.
Later
She awoke from a shock from Zim. "Ow! What was that for!" Ezran tackled her into a hug.
"I thought we almost lost you." The boy started to cry.
"Hey. Hey. It's ok Ezran I'm not going anywhere." She hugged the boy back.
"That was close for a minute there. I thought the Count would skin me alive." The crow ruffled its feathers. Rayla looked towards the bird.
"Hey Jack how did we survive that fall." The bird titled his head.
"I don't know your majesty."
Callum
"I didn't take y'all for fans of sea food." The Count smiled at the two. "Now let's address the elephant in the room. Where's Rayla and the princes?" The room was silent. "Well nobody knows." He walks behind the two.
"My-" The Count grabbed the back of Claudia's head and slammed her into the table.
"Shut up!" Soren stood up but Callum was faster as he knocked the boy down onto the ground. "I wanted results not excuses!" He walked back towards the roaring fire and grabbed a fire prod. "I only give two chances. Now I believe punishment is in order for a third chance. Now who to choose?" He walked between both siblings smiling wickedly at the boy. "Oh yes you'll do nicely." As the Count's eyes turned black.
(Torture warning)
Shackles of earth held Soren in place as Callum shackled Claudia to the chair that was placed in front of Soren. Once both were in place he stood in between the two. "When this is done I hope you learn your lessons." He grabbed the girl by the hair while Soren started to thrash.
"Let her go, it's my fault, punish me!" The boy pulled on his chains. Callum looked at the boy. "Please." He looked back at the girl and saw it in her eyes. He looked back at the boy.
"Ahhh. Love. Yes a powerful weapon, but also the greatest weakness." He grabbed the front of Claudia's outfit and started to pull on it. She looked at the Count pleading him to stop.
"No, no, no, please stop please!" Soren thrashed against his restraints. The sound of fabric being ripped stopped his movements. Her supple C-cup chest exposed to the cold air. Skin pure white unmarried by any mark or blemish.
"This is your punishment Soren remember." He brought the fire prod close to her face. The smell of flesh filled the room that'll make any man sick. Her screams buried in the boy's mind, it was unbearable for him. Soren looked away from it only to be forced to watch by Aaravos. The startouched elf cast a spell on the boy making him unable to look away nor blink. Skin once pure now marked by scars and blood. "These won't go away that easy, that's why I love blessed silver for punishments."
The screams became silent, her blood stained the floor and cooled the fire prod. When it finally ended it was all too much for him. The spell and chains fell, he rushed towards his sister holding her against himself whispering sweet words. "Is-is it over?" She begged.
The boy looked down at his sister's condition. Three Mark's on her right cheek, along with a long gash that came across the upper left side of her forehead down across the bridge of her nose. A scar ran deep on her left cheek to see teeth. The marks on her upper body were different, a large gash marked diagonally across her left breast making it look like cooked meat. Many tally marks small and large, short and long. The silver fire prod was planted in her chest where her undead heart rested.
(Gore warning over)
"Yes my dear. I'm glad you both learn your lessons. Now get cleaned up we'll be leaving soon." He left the two alone in the room.
"That was quite a performance."
The Count looked at the fallen star. "I aim to please myself. How are our two guests going along."
"It seems our captain pledges himself to you to help out with our Evenere problem." Callum nodded to the elf to continue. "But it seems like our little guardian refuses to cooperate. By the stars let's say you'll be needed for this."
"Any word from our black knight."
"Last I heard the siege of Lux Aurea begins today."
Lux Aurea
"Where's my sister?" A slim and imposing sunfire elf named Khessa, a elf with dark brown skin, yellow eyes and ash-blonde hair that fades into darker orange tips. She wore a large golden crown upon her head, robes colored white and gold, as well as a short golden cape.
"We haven't heard from her your majesty." Her patience was running thin.
"Prepare a search party-" A guard burst into the room.
"Your majesty your sister has been spotted outside the city with a human."
"Bring her to me."
"But your majesty-"
"But What!" Her temper reached its end, but the guard stood his ground.
"She….she's-" The sound of something large being dragged and thumping against the stairs filled the air. Each thump the tension around them grew, the guard became paler for each thump growing closer and louder something the queen saw. Something was amiss. Soon a figure made it the top and she wished her sister was missing or dead.
A dark knight walked towards the throne, her armor black as shadows except the golden crown that belonged to her sister rested on the head of her helmet. The jagged hole in her helmet only showed a lone red eye glaring at the queen. A whip in one hand and on the other hand she held a rope that was attached to the former golden knight her sister general Janai naked as the day she was born. Her palms nailed into the large cross. Her legs wobbled as they held her and the crosses weight together. Her skin riddled with scars from the whip, bruises from countless beatings, and blood rolling down her skin as sweat. She looked up at her sister, her eyes begging for release. "Sis-" The sound of whip meeting flesh silenced any words from her. Her screams filled the air as blood splattered on the floor. She fell on her knees begging for the whipping to stop. On the tenth strike the guards charged at the dark knight.
She pulled her hand back and moved to strike as any snake. The whip struck an elf across the bridge of his nose, he stumbled back and fell to the floor. With the same movement she moved with the whip as if it was a ballroom dance, and struck another elf across his bottom jaw. With a final strike the whip coiled around the Queen's neck, and with a slight tug the black knight pulled the Queen towards her claiming Khessa as her prisoner. The rest stood back unsure of what to do.
"I call for judgement." Confusing all in the room. Only the queen answered.
"Why?" Confused by these turn of events. Why would a human ask for judgement after enslaving her sister killed two of her guards and holding her as a hostage?
"For all to see who you really are elf. Just like me, except you take pleasure in it."
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Then let us begin our judgment for all to see."
In front of the palace
All within Lux Aurea stood before the palace to see the human's and the Queen's judgment. Both stood in front of one another, both with one hand holding the same orb of light. "Let judgement be your undoing." Unfazed by her words the black knight stared at her then towards the orb.
"Then you need to look into a mirror. Let us stare into the light and show all that we have nothing to hide your majesty."
Both starred as the brightness of the light as it grew. It was too much for everyone else that they closed their eyes only to hear the screaming of a woman. As the brightness dimmed they looked to see a pile of ashes where the queen once stood, and the black knight stood with the orb in her hand. She turned towards the crowd with a single red eye.
"People of Lux Aurea it seems that your people of government are not as pure as you were taught to believe, because of this the Muzigais Empire extends an olive branch to you for peace." She extends her hand towards the crowd.
"Why should we trust you?" The crowd parted ways and a little child stood before the knight. "What if you lie to us?"
"Then I wouldn't be speaking with you now would I, cause like you I have people who I care and love for." Clouds of smoke filled the sky blocking out the sun. "Please." A large shadow latched on to the golden statue of Aditi causing it to topple over. As the dust settled a large bat-like creature stood upon the fallen statue. The creature descended from its perch and stalked towards the little girl. As it slowly approached her the creature began to change into a man, into the Count.
He stood before the little girl with a grin plastered across his face. "I suggest you take her offer."
Aaravos
The smell of salt water was erased by the smell of smoke and blood. The water is no longer blue but red. Creatures from the land, air, and sea feasted upon the corpses of dead men. "The beauty of life never ceases to amaze me. This scene makes it look like we're in another world don't you agree, captain." He gestured to the black sky and red sea to the captain.
"I be sure 'tis worth a thousand words." He stopped reminding the elf that he was blind. "We should see if th' remainin' pockets o' resistance are finished."
He closed his eyes and breathed in and opened his eyes. "No I think we're done here, come along now."
"I've been meanin' t' ask but wha' do ye stand fer? Wha' makes ye Aaravos? Cause from th' way ye natter leads me t' believe that ye're up t' somethin' more." The elf in question stopped his movements letting the blind man walk a few steps in front of him. He started to chuckle which turned into laughter.
"Ah, forgive me my blind friend. It's just I'm a person looking for what's right, to do what is necessary for the path of humanity. I am a God making paradise, just chiseling out the final pieces of this world."
"Sounds t' me like ye wants t' play God. Ye can nah change th' way o' life. Thar's a reason why-" He lost his words as Aaravos grabbed his collar and lifted him up. The elf's lips ghosted near his ear.
"I don't give a damn! Why because there is no God! We are God! If he did then why has he forsaken us! We are the masters of our own destiny!" He released the man causing him to fall on the sandy ground, and started to chuckle again. "If he were real then we wouldn't be here now would we." He walked away from the captain and continued towards their destination.
Lux Aurea
Night
(Care for a lime first time writing one)
Pain that's all she could remember for the past few days. Her pride, city, sister, and her former life no longer exist. Her mistress, a monster in the form of a woman, at least that's what she tells herself day in and out. Caring for her troops as if she was human. The fools probably don't realize the real danger in the form of their general.
"Come my little blackbird your mistress needs you." She stood naked before her mistress waiting for her to begin to remove her uniform. "I'm waiting blackbird." She can tell that her mistress was grinning behind her helmet. She watched the red eye as she removed her helmet. First a waterfall of black hair fell out of her helmet, it was long enough to reach her shoulders. Soon pale white skin greeted her with that smug smile, not a single blemish all except for a single scar on her right cheek looks to be burned.
"You're doing well blackbird. Go on." She began to remove her uniform's straps and buttons. Soon the last strap was undone; she caught a glimpse of white skin in the opening of her shirt. Before she could remove the shirt her mistress grabbed her hands. "Remove the boots." She did as she was told on her knees pulling on the laces of her boots allowing her to pull her foot out slowly in front of her all while her heart was racing. Why was she feeling this way for her of all people? A human, the murder of her sister, and the one who destroyed her life is seducing her an elf!
As soon as she removed her mistress's socks she walked towards the bed. She looked over her shoulder and grinned. She removed her belt and began to pull her pants down. Janai could only stare as this temptress. Soon her pants slide down past her waist and she can see what most men would die for as she bends over. A round bubble butt, a pair of muscular thighs, and a pair of lips that she could see as her mistress bent more forward. She looked up and blushed realizing that her mistress was staring at her causing her to look away and blush, but she looked in the corner of her eye as the woman began to stand back up slowly. She walked towards the bed with a slow pace as her hips swayed and the undead knew she was watching. She stood before the bed and turned on her heels to the elf striking a pose. She turned her body a bit to the side and slightly arch her back, her legs appeared to be longer and her bum appeared to be more rounder, more plumper by the Gods her poor heart can't take much more. Next was her last piece of clothing, her loose shirt. Amaya locked eyes with the elf. "You know what to do." Janai's heart was beating against her chest as she walked towards her mistress.
She stood before her and with her bandaged hands she reached for her mistress's shirt and began to pull it away. Her B cup breast stood in the cold air, her nipel stood out hard, a sign that she was enjoying herself. Many scars littered her skin all from fights against elves, the marks of a worrier. When the task was finished she pulled away, but before she could her hands were seized. Her mistress began to undo the bandages until raw flesh was exposed.
She brought her lips to the wound and saw Amaya begin to sink a fang into the wound and drag it along to open the wound. Blood began to pool in Janai's palm and she started to lick the blood like a cat (if you don't get the reference oh well). A blush started to take a toll on the both of them. "More…" She shoved Janai into the bed she looked up at Amaya and saw her eyes glowing molten gold with black slits. "More…" She began to crawl over the elf and dragged her tongue across every scar that marked her skin, opening the wounds letting blood flow forth and stained the two and the bed.
Janai couldn't think straight, the burning sensation of her body clashing against the coldness of her mistress's tongue and body, by the Gods. She reached her neck and began to suck Janai moaned by the pleasure. "They'll never help you blackbird." She licks the jugular. "Because I'm your one and only Goddess." She licks again. "So stay with me. I could've killed you but here you are, but….you better choose carefully 'cause I'm capable." She growls. "Of anything and everything. Make me your one and only." She kisses her on the cheek. "But don't." She looks at her in the eyes. "Make me your enemy." She leans in close until their lips ghosted over one another. "It's a yes or a no no maybe. Cause once you're mine." Janai looked up and saw her mistress's eyes begin to glow gold. "There's no going back."
(Lime over)
Lux Aurea
Palace
"I hope you know what you're doing Aaravos." He questioned the startouched elf.
"Of course, have I ever doubted you, my lord?" They walked towards the source of the sunfire elves. He raised his hands to the orb of light and spoke the language of the ancients. Soon the light started to diminish leaving a black sphere in its place. The city darkened further as the clouds of smoke blocked what little sunlight was left.
Rayla's group
The Border
"Come on Ezran we're almost at the border!" She started to jog ahead of the group.
"Hold on Rayla running with Bait isn't easy you know." The boy tried to catch up with the elf. She stopped and waited for the boy to catch up.
"Oh sorry sometimes I forget that you're just a kid sometimes."
The boy pouted. "I'm gonna be ten years old."
She chuckled at his antics. "Oh course you are kid."
"You know you're like the big sister I've never had y'know."
"Aww, that's nice Ezran. Maybe I can make fun of you when you have a crush on a girl."
"No way girls are gross!"
"But I'm a girl."
"Well ya but your Rayla." Before she could say anything the sound of thunder filled the air.
"We should look for shelter. Come on."
Team Soren
"Hey Corvus, anything yet." The tracker looked at the blonde man.
"They're close."
"Finally let's get this over with." The tracker stopped the boy. "What?"
"Don't underestimate them again. The Count doesn't give a third chance without a price."
"I-I know." He nodded to Soren and took off leaving him alone with his sister.
"It's alright sorbear we'll get them."
He hugged her and kissed the top of her head. "I know." He looked at her marked face. "Does it hurt?" He reached for her wounded left cheek. The wound rotting away unable to heal, her teeth exposed to the world for all to see. She reached for his hand and pulled it away from her.
"I'm hideous aren't I. You don't have to lie to me Sor-Bear." The boy in question stared at his sister as she answered him.
"Shut up." This confused the girl.
"What?" She was afraid that she pushed him away over the edge.
"Even I know that I'm an idiot but now it looks like you're the idiot. Do you want to know why? Simple me. Why? Cause I don't care what you, dad, mom, or the world thinks about you. It doesn't take a mage to figure that out. I really do care about you. That's why I fell for you." She looked away hiding her blush. "See there's the Claudia I love so much, now come here and give your big bear a hug." He held out his arms waiting for her.
"I'm such an idiot." She walked towards him.
"But you're my idiot." She smacked his arm.
"That's my line, now come here." She wrapped her arms around his neck as he placed his on her hips. Their lips locked with one another moaning out the other's name. Their hands started to map out their bodys soon started to fumble with the buttons and belts only for a cough to break them from their heated moment. They turned and looked towards the sound of the interruption. Corvus stood afar with his arms crossed and a smug smile.
"Good you're done. I hope you two don't do that in front of the prince, now come along." The two blushing young adults followed the tracker into the night.
The next day
Rayla's group
"What are you doing?" The dragon leaned closer.
"Seeking passage, your majesty." Rayla hoped that Sol would let them pass through unharmed.
"I may be blind but I know how to count so tell me, where's your group and why have you brought a human here of all places."
"There have been some complications in the mission and-" Before she could finish explaining Sol Regem came close suddenly and sniffed the group.
"I smell death. No I smell...the undead. Now where's Dracula!" Smoke puffed from his nose, a sign that she knew he was at his limit.
"I-I don't know where he is-"
"Liiieeess!" He gathered some air and his scales started to glow.
She turned and ran towards Ezran and grabbed the boy. "We need to get away from here!" The sound of a roaring fire grew louder from behind them. She saw a creavess but it was too far. "Ezran go!" She tossed the two princes and Bait towards the creavess, while she threw herself in the opposite direction letting the fire miss her.
As the smoke cleared she looked around to see the four gone from her sight. A shadow loomed over her along with a growl that vibrated the ground. Even without his eyes she can tell he was staring at her soul. "Where. Is. He." Yet she remained silent, she didn't know why she was defending the Count. "The boy tainted your soul. Tell me and-"
"No." He leaned in closer. She could see the dragon's teeth and the heat of the fire building up in his throat.
"So be it." She saw it all happening as slow as time allowed her to see. His maw opening and the fire flowing as a river reaching out to her.
"Sntav islegnaf!" Water burst from the ground and consumed the two and only steam filled Sol Regem's jaws. The beast fought against the water that consumed him. Rayla swam towards the outskirts of the orb of water that trapped the two of them, but with Sol Regem throwing himself to and fro it was impossible. She tried but she was pulled back by the beast causing a current he was making by tossing himself, until the dragon's scales started to glow and the water started to steam, boil and bubble.
Before she could be boiled like a vegetable a metal chain wrapped around her waist and pulled her away from the water prison. She gasped when she was finally out of the water. "Easy there your highness."
"Corvus hurry up already!" They looked towards the blonde knight and saw Sol broke free from the water and blasted flames at him. "Anytime now!" The blonde knight called out to the tracker as he held off the flames that came from the sun dragon as Claudia prepared another spell of water.
"You'll all burn!" The dragon lunged at the siblings only to be yanked back by Corvus who had his chains wrapped around the dragon's neck slowly having his feet being dragged in the dirt. Sol grabbed the chains and pulled the tracker towards himself as his maw filled with light and unleashed it upon the former human. Corvus accepted death with open arms; he knew this was his job to defend the prince. He closed his eyes as the fire consumed him. The chains slacked and Sol turned towards the rest and started to circle around them like a serpent waiting to strike, his jaws leaked smoke. His scales started to glow brighter than then the last time, Claudia raised a wall of water but it started to boil and turn to steam. As the fire spilled from his maw a loud deafening sound was heard along with strong winds knocking the group off their feet.
Sol Regem knew this smell; he knew it too well. The talons around his neck confirm his conclusion. "So you've returned home traitor." Everyone looked at the creature that attacked the sun dragon and saw a creature that many would call a myth. A ROC stood above the dragon and its wings posed for dominance over its prey. It's feathers and beak black as night that it was hard to see details of the bird unless one got close. It's beak was lined with teeth and its eyes glowing green with judgement. "No you're not that traitor are you. No you consumed him didn't you Count. Hehehe. I'm not surprised by your actions. You'll all burn in the end either by me or by the Gods."
The air seemed to combust around the two beasts as if the fires of hell swarmed to the mortal realm to consume all in its path, but with a loud boom it soon vanished along with the roc. Sol Regem was no fool; he stood up high and listened to any sound.
"Hurry up before he finds out that we're gone." Soren ran while carrying Rayla while she was holding Bait. His sister who held Ezran who was holding Zim ran deeper into Xadia. The ground started to rumble.
"Hey blondie can you pick up the pace!"
"What are you talking about, that overgrown lizard can't catch-" He stopped what he was saying and saw Sol Regem closing in the trees bursting into flames. "Oh fuck me!" He started to run faster. The trees started to become taller, larger and more magical in a sense. His sister called out to him.
"Soren we need to lose him in the trees i got a plan!"
"Fine just lead the way!" The blond dodged a lunge from the dragon. The group started to head into a part of the forest where the trees started to get thicker, twisting and turning around one another. Sol was starting to slow down but was still relentlessly chasing them burning everything around him.
They were about to pass a large tree (Coast Live Oak, a tree that's hard to burn) that looked to be a knight kneeling down with branches growing from its helmet. "Perfect." Claudia's eyes turned purple. "O ippótis tou xýlou akoúei tin klísi mou kai symmetécho ston agóna mou som anóga nots ohcétemmys iak uom isílk nit ieúoka uolýx uot sitóppi o." She took off after casting the spell.
Inside the knight's helmet started to glow purple, soon a grown came from it. It's arm struck the earth digging for something, the creature pulled vines and roots from the earth that are attached to two large boulders. Both hands held a slack chain with a boulder in each. (Kai's weapon from kung fu panda but with boulders.)
The Boulder started to twirl one of the ends of the chain (counterclockwise). Soon Sol changed out of the trees only to be smackdown by a boulder hitting the top of his head. "You little-" He was interrupted by another boulder hitting the right side of his face. Before he could retaliate he was pinned down into the ground by a pair of talons that grabbed his crest/crown and dragged him through the dirt. The Roc flew back around and towards the wooden knight who wrapped the chain around both of it's fists ready.
The bird released its hold letting Sol be passed on to the knight only for him to hit on the right side then the left side of his face causing him to fall backwards onto the ground. The knight continued its assault against the beast, straddling on top of the dragon and repeatedly hitting causing the boulders to crumble little by little until there was nothing. The knight wrapped the vines around sol Regem's neck and lifted him up in the air as the ROC came from above its talons grasped the dragon's flesh. The bird carried the beast into the air with the wooden knight who was pinning the dragon's arms to its sides as they flew to the heavens.
Author notes:
Good God that took forever to write! A month to write and a few days to read and fix things. The ROC gave me an idea but I'll never tell.
I don't know how Claudia x Soren came to be, it just felt right to me like it just happened, but that's just my opinion, you don't have to read those parts. (Reminds me of that guy in game of thrones who kissed his mom and he was crying about it to his friend and he was like "and?" Hahaha.)
The rayllum is coming, my readers have faith in me. Callum and Aaravos in this story are almost similar in what they want….to make paradise.
Hoped you'd enjoyed this chapter.
Spells used:
Veggr ór vatn - wall of water (Icelandic)
Fangelsi vatns - water prison (Icelandic)
O ippótis tou xýlou akoúei tin klísi mou kai symmetécho ston agóna mou - knight of wood hear my call and join my fight (Greek)