I. Spiral into Pandemonium
|------------------------------------------------------------------|
From the perspective of he who no longer exists
A whisper of cold wind, invited by the careless windows with their mouths agape, swept through the chamber. The bolts and thin azure curtains rattled feebly in protest but the wind proceeded with its course. It slithered through the room and tapped the youth’s shoulder tentatively, awaiting a response. He flinched and froze upon the unexpected contact. After a moment had passed, he turned his head slowly. When nothing reciprocated his steely glare, he returned to his study. But he could not focus. Before he knew it, the sliver of silvery moonlight streaming through the stained glass above his study had retreated. Soon, the flickering crimson embers within the brassy lantern had followed suit and ceased their midnight waltz.
The youth etched the sigil of a phoenix in the air with his quill. The embers reemerged in the latern but with less vigor and color. With a sigh, the youth dropped his quill and gazed intently at the tauntingly pristine beige parchment. It should have been filled out with all sorts of flowery propositions and proposals long ago and embroidered with the infamous wax seal.
He couldn’t bring himself to do it. Although he had been raised all his life for this role, something didn’t feel right.
As if he wasn’t meant to...
No. Thinking about that was preposterous. He knew that this was the path that fate had carved out for him long ago. Numerous seers had told him so.
However, that didn’t necessarily mean it was the path he desired to take.
The phantoms that visited him each night had been too much to bear. Whenever he closed his eyes, he received visions of various sorts, ranging from an innocent walk through the academy halls to being shackled in the lairs of otherworldly horrors. They did not speak but their ever burning gaze pleaded with him to not do it.
In the beginning, he would find himself petrified, helpless to the events of dysfunctional dystopia that he had wandered into. They were all present, circling around him eagerly, as he sat there like a lamb to the slaughter. When he would awaken, a cold chill would seize his body as beads of sweat streamed down his clammy face.
But then, they talked to him.
Well, not exactly talked. The creatures were silent but somehow, he could understand everything they conveyed. Their eyes spoke louder than words could project.
Soon, he had confided into them. About how he couldn’t do it. But how he had to, lest the world detest him.
It wasn’t right they showed him.
It wasn’t what he wanted to do, they made him realize.
And he agreed.
Despite being subjected to the infernal depths of their realm and the untamed ferocity that brimmed within their eerie, iridescent irises.....
He agreed.
He nearly succumbed to them before remembering that his task was to restore balance to the world and vanquish the horrid beings that threatened to disrupt the delicate, tranquil state of the world.
It was a rather cruel irony.
The supposed beasts that everybody abhorred were the only ones who listened to him, and the people he was tasked with defending were deaf to his presence.
His only sympathizers were the beings of darkness that threatened to consume the world.
“You still haven’t gotten to it, have you?” A low chuckle boomed from behind him.
He wordlessly nodded, not realizing that someone, or rather, something was addressing him. It merely felt as if his thoughts had come to life and taken on the form of a voice.
The chill came back as one sudden, yet silent, gust stormed into the chamber and knocked the windows shut.
The youth stumbled backwards from the impact and his trembling, rheumy eyes widened in horror.
A lithe, leathery humanoid with a blue smile was perched at his window. His jarringly large amethyst irises were an unnerving sight to behold and yet, his presence still managed to make the room seem darker. Within his bony grasp was a piece of parchment that was creased from pressure.
It couldn’t be.
The alabaster creature leapt onto the youth’s chest and climbed on the adjacent seat by. He curled curled into a ball and let out an unnerving cackle. The gremlin bent a long finger and ran a chipped, crooked nail over the smooth surface in circles.
“Genuine dragon leather, eh? I should get myself some soon,” The monster rambled once he ceased his maniacal laughter. “I rather adore this particular shade of blue and white. Tell me boy, isn’t this hue and pattern exclusive to your master’s dragon? ”
The mage didn’t respond. He was tucked into fetal position in a futile attempt to relieve himself of the searing pain that pulsated through his torso. His cloak had been torn and two unsightly indigo bruises had emerged onto his chest.
“It’s a shame that there’s only one left.” The gremlin continued as his fingernail pierced through the leather.
“N-no...” The mage had managed to sputter out before coughing out a stream of blood.
Abysmally shrill laughter arose as the creature slid off the cushion.
“You have access to the most expansive library in the land, yet this is what you read? Pathetic,” The humanoid scowled as he forcibly hurled the tome at the mage. “Foreign diplomacy? Lux doesn't do diplomacy. They certainly don't need to."
“I didn’t get that book on my own accord. I have no interest in being involved with the Council’s frivolous affairs.” The mage said throatily as he wiped his bloodied mouth with the back of his bare hand. "And I am well aware of everything my nation has done."
“Good.” The voice said. “So you’ve finally listened to me.”
“I never agreed to anything!” He declared but his protests escaped as a soft, raspy whine.
The humanoid clenched the parchment within his hands and it was immediately engulfed in bold indigo flames. As the flames flickered and faded into a faint lavendar hue, ashes began to trickle around his feet. Shortly after, the wind threw it into the mage's face.
“You pitiful child,” The creature crackled. “It’s about time I relieve you of your ignorance.”
“That prophecy is a lie. You are merely a pawn in the greater scheme of things.” The creature doled. “And I intend to move you to our side.”
The mage shook his head fervently.
You lied to me.
All of you did.
Even you did. I would’ve given you the world. Was the truth too much to ask for?
His vision grew fainter and storm clouds began to seep into his peripherals.
The haunting lullaby of midnight birds and the rustle of parchment paper were the last things he ever heard in the land of Lux.
_____________________________________________________________________
________
A youth
Of no noble lineage
Born on the eve
Of the full moon
Shall fulfill this task
----------------------------
He’ll bring nations
Together
With his innate
Ability
Of
Harnessing
The Quintessence
Of the World
----------------------------
Once his descent starts,
the world shall
Spiral
Into
Continuous
Pandemonium
---------------------------
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
Disclaimer: I do not own any pictures used in this story