Chapter 101: Fickle

Book 3 Prologue - Fickle

>>>Important: Okay, so some context because this prologue chapter of Book 3 might be confusing. In truth, I admit that this chapter alone is the one thing so far that feels slightly out of place compared to everything else I've written.

Context: This is volume 3. It will be added to volume 2 instead of a new volume due to bugs with new website at the moment. Volume 3 will be about the Male MC, Aaron. We met him briefly back in chapter 62 if I recall. It is not his book alone, but will follow 3 of his friends as well ( a shadow walker assassin, a half-breed vampire, and Eksa the pirate ), so there will be 4 main povs that dominate this book. Story will cover several years, following Aaron and friends from around the age of 8-10, through their teen years, and then early adulthood.

Timeline wise, this particular chapter takes place before Book 2. I'll have to check internal dates, but around this time, Elizia would be around 8-10 years old. This prologue won't make sense until around Chapter 10 of book 3, and is more directly related to one of Aaron's friends than it is him.

As for Book 3's synopsis, I will provide this in the next chapter's pre chapter author notes.

Thank you for your time.<<<

Year 4232 of the Second Calendar, 8th cycle of Elaina,

Odain exhaled, teeth clenched, breath coming out in a cloud. The northern regions just beneath Estraea was no better than Estraea herself. The winds were harsh and the roads laden with hard frost. Ahead loomed the ominous black peaks of the Kal'Kar Mountains. Mist shrouded their base despite the bright sky above. Crag Eaters circled the mountains like carrion birds over a deserted battlefield. Their shrill cries could be heard even this many miles away. They were docile birds in nature, their wings great and harder than the thickest of iron breastplates —a result of their exclusive consumption of minerals. Hence why they much preferred mountainous abodes to any other.

Odain cursed himself for having used his Gatestone too far south of his intended destination; a village whose blasphemous actions had induced in him a disgust too great to put into words. The Lord Sun . A name he felt he had no rights to now. He wasn't living up to the reputation he'd built for himself. It was a taint on all he'd built, a black spot on a monolithic spire of brilliant white.

The once isolationist Vampires had come down from the Kal'Kar Mountains and made contact with a human village. Made contact and had been communicating with, spreading Trillia knew what lies and perhaps oppressing the people as well. And this had been going on for over a decade . To the point where he now heard that the people had no issue with this?

Odain hated himself for not catching wind of this earlier. There should never again have been reconciliation between the two races. Not since that event many, many years ago. It seemed that more drastic measures would be required to maintain hate fueled feud between Vampires and humans. The former were darkspawn after all. A race too powerful to challenge haphazardly, but needing destruction all the same.

It'd taken much preparation and discreetly asked questions for Odain to feel fully prepared for the encounter he was about to walk into. Unlike the Papillion, Odain could not march an army and siege equipment halfway across Xenaria and Tarmia to besiege the Kal'Kar. It would never be allowed. The task of ending those blood sucking beasts once and for all would be his alone.

I can do it now. I have many Artifacts. It can be done . It must.

He reached the village which stood at the top of an incline a few short miles from the base of the Kal'Kar. His brilliant white robes with gold trilliums caught the attention of every backwater peasant folly enough to be outside in this weather. And his iron helm with a gold disc all but identified who he was. Odain drew the Thousand Sun Sword and held it above his head. “Hear me oh fair people of the north! Hear me, hear me and come! Hear my voice and be guided to the light. Return to the ways of Goddess Trillia. I bid you come and listen. Nay, I plead that you do, for you've fallen under a most heinous and dark spell!”

And come they did, for who would dare deny themselves an audience with the Lord Sun, the arbiter of justice, the herald of light, and the voice of the Goddess herself? So easily are the ill-educated swayed by the rattling chains of power.

“Hear me, oh misguided ones! The Vampires deceive you. For ten long years they have deceived you. They've come seeking to establish a mutual relationship, no doubt was their lie. But you mustn't believe them. There is no equality when there is a power hierarchy. See for yourselves! Think for yourselves! What have we to gain from such carnivorous animals? Nothing! They are vile. They are treacherous. They are cold blooded killers. And they seek to dominate all life on Illusterra, starting with you all in this very village!”

By now, more than two thirds of the village had gathered to listen to him.

“They would use you against your fellow humans to conquer. They care not for you, believe me in this. Any boons you may have experienced are troubles cured, no doubt, but where did these troubles come from, did you ask yourselves ever? Hear me, oh people! The Goddess will protect you yet, my being here is a testament to that. I have travelled far to save you from this evil. The night creatures think you nothing but livestock. They will control you and enslave and then slowly drink your blood till you're weak and dying. They will not spare your women. They will not spare your children, and they will not spare your elderly. I hear one from them has sired a child from one of you. Pray that the woman bearing such a child is not still among you, for she is certainly seeking the harm of you all! This is but a false love to lead you to false security. I would ask that you bring this woman and the half-breed child to me at once so that I may judge them with my blade!”

The villagers were muttering, spurred on by such a speech and nodding to their peers in agreement. Some questioned still, despite the presence of the Lord Sun, but their questions had little confidence or agreement from others.

“What madness is this,” a tall and rather striking man demanded. He pushed through the crowd to face Odain. “Who are you and why do you spread such lies?”

Ah, here is our main actor. Odain tensed. It'd been much too long since he'd battled the darkspawn of the Kal'Kar. But the memory of their terrifying strength was not something easily forgotten. This fight might very well lead to his own demise if he wasn't careful. But this task must be done, and it must be done now. Else all my efforts may yet be for naught.

“Answer me!” the darkspawn shouted. His shoulder length blond hair was split evenly down the middle. His coat of pure black was the embodiment of night itself. And the red in his eyes glowed with the malice of an Eternal Flame.

If it was night, this task would have been much harder. Vampires were already stronger than humans. Their physical strength only increased during the night. Odain raised the Thousand Sun Sword and reset his stance, white cloak billowing in the wind. “Where's the half-breed, King Drayca.”

Drayca's eyes narrowed. The red within them grew deeper in color. “Stay away from my son!” he seethed, lunging forth with blinding speed.

Odain was struck in the chest before he could react. He was sent flying back several feet. Village bystanders gasped. He coughed, spitting out blood. The damage healed itself within seconds thanks to the breastplate, the Artifact known as The Renewal , hidden beneath his clothes.

“I bear no ill will against humans,” Drayca said. “I don't know who you are, or how you came to possess that weapon, but sheath it and leave, and I will forget this ever happened. This village does not need you.”

Odain spat. “You expect me to buy the words of darkspawn?” More sullen mutters erupted as the brainwashed villagers began coming to. Vampires. The last of an entire race of darkspawn. They were just as strong, if not stronger than the witches of the Papillion Forest. They'd confined themselves to the Kal'Kar Mountains for centuries, coming down only to gather human blood —a vital part of their nutrition. Centuries of isolation since the fall of the Flame Bearers gave rise to ill rumors and anonymity among mankind. But of course, why would anyone want to be near those that needed human blood to survive?

Now, their king was trying to establish a relationship with a human village. Trying to spread the influence of the Tortured Throne through manipulation. Trying to undo all my long years of effort spent trying to keep the two races separate.

Worse for wear was that it was working. Drayca had taken a human lover and had a child with her, somehow using such utter blasphemy to convince the villagers of his kindred nature.

“Enough with the lies!” Drayca roared. “These villagers are my witness. I have not harmed a single person here. Rather, I have helped them.”

Odain laughed. “ Manipulated them you mean. Or would any villager here claim that I, The Lord Sun, the paragon of justice, am a liar? You would call this Blood Drinker a friend? You think because he's loved a human woman, he's your ally? There are darkspawn amongst humans also. His half-breed son is no different.”

More nods of approval. Odain smiled. He might not have been living up to his reputation, but his reputation did exist. It was strong enough to make these illiterate villagers doubt what they'd seen and known for years. And so comes undone ten long years of your work with a few paltry words, Drayca. Humans were so fickle. “Tell me where your son is, fiend! After I'm done with you, he's next.”

Drayca roared, charging in again, once more striking Odain's chest. This time, Odain was airborne, flying a dozen feet and landing on his back. The damage disappeared before he'd even landed. Some of the villagers talked without restraint.

“Is that really Lord Sun?”

“The hero of light, Lord Sun?”

“I heard he's a holy saint chosen by the Creator.”

“Didn't he destroy an entire forest of witches singlehandedly?”

“Has Drayca really been lying to us? If Lord Sun is opposing him…”

Odain smiled, picking himself up. The seeds of doubt were sown. Now, they but only needed to grow. “See the true nature of darkspawn!” he declared. “He calls himself your friend. A friend to us humans. Look how he strikes a holy servant. Look how he attacks me. I, who has fought and bled for the betterment of humanity.” He pointed the golden blade at Drayca. “This is their true nature. Violence and corruption. Fear not, oh people. I swear on my title as Lord Sun to liberate you from this evil today! From this villain and his darkspawn wife and child!”

“I told you to stay away from my family!” Drayca cried, charging again.

Odain allowed himself to be struck again. That's right. Show them your anger. Makes my job easier . He stood up again.

“How? How are you still alive?” Drayca asked.

“A servant of the Goddess is not so easily defeated by evil,” Odain said. “I couldn't be a hero of the people otherwise.” Some of the villagers nodded in agreement.

Drayca looked around, as if seeking some form of aid from the fickle humans. “When have I ever hurt anyone? Tally, did I not heal your son when he was sick? Gris, did I not save your husband from the fire? Did I not—”

“And how did the boy get sick?” Odain roared. “Who set the houses on fire? Did you villagers ever stop to ponder on the significant questions? Did it ever occur that your misfortunes were not the result of nature but of a guided hand!?”

“Stop spreading lies! If anyone's a darkspawn, it is you! You come here and claim to be a hero when—” Drayca was interrupted again. An apple core had been thrown at him. He glanced at the direction from where it came, eyes glowing red. “Who threw that,” he seethed.

More objects were thrown at him. At first, just food scraps people happened to be holding. Then it became pebbles picked off of the ground. “Get out darkspawn!” a little boy cried.

“Scorching pig. I can't believe you'd set my house on fire,” a middle aged woman cried.

More and more slander followed. Drayca was showered with insults and stones. Odain smirked. Illiteracy could be so useful at times. Illiterates were easy to manipulate. Odain marched forth with silent and measured steps. Drayca's look of defeat was slowly changing into a grimace of fury. His fingers flexed, long and sharp nails preparing to rip people apart. Blinded by his anger and deafened by the surrounding noise, a Vampire's superior senses and physical abilities were no threat. Odain's footsteps went unheard. He approached Drayca while the Vampire king's back was turned. And then plunged the Thousand Sun Sword through his heart.

The people cheered.

The Sun Sword's hilt grew hot as the blade turned flesh and blood into black. The stench of cooking meat escaped from where the impalement had been made. Any burns Odain's hand suffered were healed within an instant. The Renewal Artifact created a near invulnerable body. His heart rate increased. The sounds of cheers grew louder. Every individual word spoken, every individual stomping of feet, was heard by him. The burning smell intensified. Odain's vision cleared more than he was used to, allowing his gaze to pierce far beyond the horizon. His vicious smile widened as Drayca turned his head, baring fangs though near death. The Thousand Sun Sword was absorbing a Vampire's enhanced physical abilities. For whatever reason, the absorption powers hadn't worked when he'd slain Ny'Danis and her daughters. But it was working now.

“You,” Drayca croaked. “Undying. You can't… be. The one… from his…tory… Yl…ph…”

Odain hissed into Drayca's ear. Not only did he now possess numerous Artifacts, but so long as he held the Thousand Sun Sword, he would have the physical strength of a Vampire as well. He rent the blade out, letting Drayca fall to the ground, one half of his face pressed upon it. The hole within his chest smoldered as if he were a Heartless soldier. His hands twitched. The red in his eyes dimmed until no color remained. Odain knelt down and collected some of Drayca's blood to use in Chronary. It would be difficult to use since the owner was dead, but the Vampire king's blood was too valuable to pass up on.

The people were silent, all staring at the lifeless corpse of their past manipulator. Odain pressed the golden blade to the body, burning it in its entirety and turning both clothes and flesh into a mound of black dust. “Does anyone know where his wife and child are?”

A dozen villagers pointed away from the village and towards the Kal'Kar Mountains. He nodded, disappearing into a cluster of trees beyond the village borders and using a Gatestone to disappear from sight, not wanting to spend a single second more amongst illiterate imbeciles. They'd served their purpose. Now, they were nothing but a waste of space and resources. Well, they would help to spread his reputation further. The Lord Sun saved us! He killed the wicked Vampire king! Odain smirked as he came out the other side of the gate, now at the base of the Kal'Kar Mountains. He sank a foot into the snow ridden grounds. Pine forests cluttered the lands before him.

The black city of the Vampires was at the mountain range's center. An entire city built within the crater of a dead volcano. Odain had no interest in going there. He instead slit his own hand with a knife and let drops of his blood mingle with the vial of Drayca's blood. Using the Thousand Sun Sword, he melted away the snow around him and begun drawing Chronary runes upon the cold ground. All he had to do was seal the vampires within the mountain range using the ancient magic and they would be driven mad without any access to human blood.

The task had been too difficult before. Constructing an entire set of runes stretching dozens upon dozens of miles to surround the mountain range was impossible. Vampire scouts frequented the area often. But now, with the physical strength of their king himself, running around the mountains without being caught was hardly a difficulty.

A time consuming task, yes. But time was all Odain had. Not to mention of course the consistent supply of blood the scouts would provide him with when he killed them.

***

Several Days Later

Odain went down on one knee, hunger plaguing him. He stabbed the ground with the Sun Sword and rested against it, breath coming out in clouds. He closed his eyes and inhaled deeply, meditating upon the runes he'd crafted —the words he'd written to span the circumference of the entire mountain range. Much of the blood was not his own. But he'd written it all the same. Something tugged at his chest. It pulled harder the deeper he fell into meditation. Pulled to the point that it felt like his heart was being ripped out.

And then it ended.

Odain opened his eyes. Before him, a translucent wall of red stretched to the sky. The prison was complete. A wall to forever lock Vampires within the Kal'Kar. The last of the darkspawn races were taken care of. It might take a decade or two. But they would run out of their stored supply of blood and then kill each other.

Not quite the last of them… The half-breed child remained, living in a small house north of that village. But he was no threat. He would be shunned all his life and grow knowing only hate. Perhaps he'd kill himself out of grief. Or perhaps he'd grow into violent tendencies —only furthering the enmity between man and Vampire.

Mayhap I find him one day and make a heartless out of him.

Odain smiled. He opened another Gate and returned to his tower within the Sun City. Then, he laughed. Loud and clear. No one was there to hear.

No one was there to here.

NEXT CHAPTER REALEASING IN 2 DAYS!