Chapter One: The Betrayal

Sunsets over the mountains were particularly beautiful over the Northern regions of the continent of Vita. I don't know how else to say it but there's something about a blazing beacon descending over a frozen tundra that pulls at the souls strings. I would probably miss that the most.

I was currently standing in perhaps my favourite spot in this whole world. A large plateau that had been formed by my friend Drogna, a rather spirited young dwarf.

The plateau had been carved into the side of one of the great Cold Shear mountains. Large steps had been hewn into the rock with a practised ease, allowing easy access to the dizzying view that the plateau presented. As I looked over the world below I couldn't help but gasp at the sight. So familiar, but so foreign.

The large valley that we, The Rebel Court, had found so long ago when in need of a home, had been transformed by loving hands while still keeping it's natural beauty. Tree's swelled in number below, reaching cast heights as they seemed to push ever upwards towards the sun, A verdant green that was touched by the frost and snow of the icy conditions.

If one listened hard enough they could hear the various streams that flowed like veins through the raging wild below and the many creatures that called this valley their home.

Due to the vast mountains ringing the huge forest, the world outside knew little of the lives of those who lived within. There was only one passable way through the Cold Shears, and it was controlled by my people, always alert and ready for action.

As I turned my head over to the right I saw, in all it's glory, a dream that it had taken me years to create: Ellai, The City of Magic.

The silver city some called it. Huge towers of silvery metal climbed high into the sky, walls built to repel all forms of war and keep it's citizens safe stood stalwart and proud. The city of Ellai was a place that all could come and be treated as equal, where one could be accepted and taught the secrets of magic, taught that it wasn't something cursed. The city itself was built almost entirely by magical power and yet that only added to it's majestic beauty.

How could magic be as evil as the Church said it was?

A smile formed on my face. I would've enjoyed the sight a lot more if it wasn't for my current predicament.

The blade that had pierced my heart was slowly embedding itself further, seeming to have a will of its own and I suppose it did. A weapon that could sap my strength so easily was hard to come by, so for it to have semi-sentience certainly explained it's power.

Weapons that have their own personality, their own souls, were incredibly rare. They had to have had a history that spanned centuries, so old that they began to absorb the thoughts and feelings of their wielders and came to form their own thoughts in turn.

I suppose it was beautiful in a way. For something that was made of cold metal, built to destroy and take life, to develop it's own mind. To choose to take a path. It reminded me of myself, how I had chosen my own path. A path that brought me to this point, just outside the city I helped create. Centuries of struggle and hardship, I savoured those moments, savoured them all.

I felt a smile begin to crawl across my face, not one of joy but resignation. I knew that the dagger in my chest spelt my end. I could feel it drain me of my mana, my means to draw magic. Without that I might as well be a normal human.

The comparison made me chuckle and then draw in a sharp breath as my brief moment of enjoyment brought about one of intense pain.

“I'm sorry, but it must be done”

The words were lost on me. How can you say sorry when you have literally ran a dagger into my heart. It's not like you slipped.

Another chuckle left me at my attempt at a morbid joke at my own expense. Just as the bout of laughter and pain passed, a woman stepped into view, blocking my sight of the beautiful sunset. Perhaps this was better, her beauty was at least its equal.

My companion for the past six hundred years, my childhood friend, the woman I had loved since we were young but never had the courage to tell her. Marwenna, first daughter of the Elven Empire. A princess in every sense of the word, her movements were graceful and poised, As if she was attending a grand ball instead of my surprise execution. Her soft features and sad smile almost broke my heart. Tears began to freely run down my face as I began to understand the situation. Marwen had killed me. My best friend had killed me.

Marwen wore the armour I had made for her centuries before, silver that fitted her form perfectly. she had wanted to 'show her assets' if I remember the term correctly and I had done as she had commanded. Besides the shimmering armour, a long royal blue cloak floated behind her in the harsh cold air and in her hand was that legendary blade, The Angelis.

She looked like some kind of warrior goddess and to many they had met her in battle, she was just that. She was one of my Generals after all. One of the six Knights of the Rebel Court. Six of the most powerful warriors in the entirety of the continent. She was the first and most favoured, the greatest of my champions, known for her undying loyalty to the cause we had built together.

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Questions formed in my mind, how could they not. Why had the woman who had stood by my side for years turned on me. Why had she chosen now, of all times, to do it. Just when we were so close to getting the equality we had dreamed about. A world where all races could exist together and magic that was not controlled by the church of Vitriss could be shared and celebrated.

“You did the right thing Marwen, you're free now”

The voice that came from behind me sent me into hysterics once again. Valant. Of course it was Valant. The champion of Vitriss, The Goddess of the True Flame. My laughter reached a crescendo as he appeared from the corner of my eye and took a place at Marwen's side, placing a hand on her narrow shoulder.

Like Marwen, he too was an elf, his pointed ears were a rarity among the ranks of the faithful. Rumour had it that the only reason he had reached such a high posting in the church was due to his high affinity for magical ability. He was their sword and shield, a man of faith that would never abandon the church or defy their commands.

A true zealot.

To my surprise Marwen did not flinch away from his touch and instead turned and wrapped her arms around him, her near silent sobbing would have been hard to hear for any creature, but to someone like me, each sound was as clear was crystal and each filled me with a boundless pain.

Yet I continued to laugh, masking my hatred and sadness.

Valant and myself had been at this game for a long time, at least thirty years, ever since he had become their new champion. The previous three had all challenged me to single combat. Because they were idiots. Why would you challenge someone who is clearly your superior in combat? I never found out the answer, they all died much to fast.

Valant was different though. Behind his love of Vitriss was a man who was calculating and intelligent. Ask anyone in the world what is to be most feared and he or she would say a tornado, a tsunami, a plague. Something that could not be stopped or vanquished by mortal men. But I would say a man of faith. Not just any man of faith, but one who thinks and acts clearly. One who is not bound enough that he has stopped thinking for himself. It was what made Valant such a frightful enemy. Not because of his skill in combat, I was sure I could defeat him with ease. But he knew that also, which made him think of very interesting ways to bring me down. Poison, a rebellion among my ranks and now this. The manipulation of one I thought was beyond his control.

Marwenna, what have you done?

Valant gently disengaged himself from Marwen with a gentle smile and began to make his way over to me, the Princess following behind him with her head bowed.

“It has been a long time coming Rebel King.” Valant spoke clearly as he reached for the sword at his waist. Corravai I believe the sword was called. A blade that was bestowed upon him as it was on every man or woman who took up the title of Champion of Vitriss. As he pulled the sword from it's sheath, it was suddenly wreathed in ethereal white flames.

“The Goddess has spoken to both the lady Marwen and myself. She has said that your death was decided, and that it would come at the hand of the one whom you love.” His words were laced with malice, he truly hated me to his core.

“And so it shall be. For what you have done to Lady Marwen, you shall be expelled from this world and will stand before the Goddess in judgement.” He finished with a sombre tone, even as he lifted his mighty sword to cast me down.

Me on the other hand, I had no idea what to think. Marwen had spoken to the Goddess? The bitch in charge of the church? What was this bullshit, Valant is lying, he had to be. He had used some kind of magic on her, their was no way Marwen would ever betray me. Even if some Goddess had commanded it.

“MARWENNA!” I roared at the elf. But she merely moved back further into Valant's shadow.

“She is not commanded by you any more Corus! Vitriss in her divine wisdom revealed the magic you cast on her, the magic you cast on all of the Knights of the Rebel Court! You're mind warping power will not work on her, she has the protection of the divine.” Valant was yelling at me now, he seemed to believe the words he was saying. Believe me, I can tell, it was a neat trick I picked up. Not magic, it was just a way of reading people. With everything I know about Valant, there was no way he was lying. He genuinely thought I was a monster who enslaved the people who followed me.

What madness is this?

“How could you”

The words were so quiet that I almost missed them. Valant seemed to hesitate for a moment before bowing to Marwen and standing aside, letting her say her piece. For a moment she continued to stare at the ground, her eyes hidden behind her dark hair, her grip on The Angelis trembling.

“Me I understand, perhaps even Drogna and Heilvol I can understand” Her eyes raised to meet mine and in their depths was such fury that I never seen before.

“But Cinder! YOU USED MAGIC TO CONTROL A LITTLE GIRL, TO FORCE HER TO KILL!” Before I could react, The Angelis whipped through the air as sharp and fast as lightning, slicing a wound across my chest from shoulder to hip.

The pain was intense, Angelis was a sentient weapon, capable of thought and feeling. It responded to the emotions of it's wielder. The pain I felt was intensified a thousand fold with the power of Marwen's emotions being released by the blade. I could only scream as the wound cauterised as soon as the blade finished it's path. The agony continued to grow, beyond imagining, beyond even the black dagger still digging into my chest. Another of The Angelis' perks. Every cut with it's blade would immediately burn shut. It had been helpful in the past but when it happens to you it's another story. I continued to scream as the wound finished sealing and then I began to dry heave onto the ground, tears rolling down my face still as the pain began to subside.

With effort I pushed myself to my feet, the snow breaking slightly beneath me. The cut had ripped my shirt open, revealing the multitude of scars and muscle that covered my body. My new addition snaked across my chest, leaving an angry red wound that was perhaps the largest of my still growing collection. Well done to me.

“Marwenna, Cin is the way she is, you can't change her, she's a vampire” I whispered, one hand held against my new scar, my own light green eyes finding her dark blue ones. “I never used mind magic on her, you or any of the others. Why would you believe that. You who know me best, you who know me better than I know myself-”

“I KNOW BECAUSE THE GODDESS SHOWED ME!” roared Marwen as she brought The Angelis up again, this time with the clear intention to kill.

I watched the blade descend and moved to stop it, but found I couldn't, the pain and exertion of both Marwen's wound and the dagger were too much for me to handle.

I smiled at her as I took one step. My magic was gone, my power all but spent. But I would convince her, before I died, I would convince her.

She hesitated as I stepped forward.

That hesitation was all I needed.

I pushed forward with the last of my strength, raised both hands and placed them gently on each of her cheeks. Her eyes opened wide, fear evident within them.

“I didn't do this”

Marwen's eyes continued to stare unblinkingly, a sea of emotion surged through them. Fear, anger, love... but they settled on hate.

The princess roared in anguish as she pushed me back and brought The Angelis up and down in one blinding attack.

With that, my best friend killed me.