The infamy of the Devils in the Empire weren’t unwarranted, excursions from the Devil World into their own were quite common in the past centuries. These Devils were said to take an ethereal form and would coax dispirited people of power or great talent and use them for their own purposes. For their unknown goals chaos would unleash as tyrant kings were born or great geniuses slaughtered people from their own generation, and for those possessed by the Devils there was only one ending for them, their souls taken for eternal suffering. As the stories and writings were preserved through the years the infamy of the Devils lived on, and there were numerous tell tale signs for a Devil as well. The young were usually the ones targeted the most, the ones with lost family members, the ones suffering emotional distress, and ones disconnected from the Gods themselves.
Viran was not, by his knowledge, possessed by any Devil, but he met every single criteria. The boy did not know why his family’s God would show such hostility towards the son of a high profile member of his religion, and even he began to question the origin of the Spirit held within his mind.
It was suffice to say, Virans new nickname had more backing to it and became more prevalent within the conversations of the Nobles.
“He really is the Devil!”
“Lord Gregory tried to warn us about his possession! Why aren’t they executing him?”
“How poor… The son of a Champion was possessed…”
The mutterings and spurred conversation of the crowd near to him only served to dampen Viran’s mood further. It was the truth though, his Father was the Champion of Craynor. The single most powerful magic user following Craynor’s religion, and a role that is still presumed to be taken up by his descendant. To still not be chosen despite the obvious advantages Viran possessed, it seemed to the crowd there was truly only one answer.
“DEVIL!”
The urgent harassment from the Noble crowd rang out from behind Viran, and he couldn’t stop his breath from becoming thin from the anxiety that rang out within him.
“Lord Viran, please don’t listen to him. I’m sure there is a… Reasonable answer to this.”
The white robed man led Viran away from the rest of the rituals. Yet the fury still remained at Craynor’s altar, as though the God himself was offended by the mere presence of Viran. Viran heard loud and clear the calming voice of the robed man and his attempts to ease the heart of Viran, yet Viran could tell that even he had his own reservations towards Viran
Although Viran knew what his path would entail, even he would begin to question how he had ended up where he was. Not even two years ago he would read a book alone in his room, and yet now he was cursed at for being a Devil.
No tears fell from the boy's eyes, despite the pain held within his heart.
----------------------------------------
Within the same ballroom as well, the hundreds of Nobles and their family members sat down silently as they awaited the news of their children. For the more observant members of the Nobility though, they noticed multiple things wrong. The Emperor sat high upon his throne within the ballroom, yet his childish grin would peak out from time to time. He was simply far too happy than usual. There was also the disappearance of Marquess Idicium, such a thing as showing up to these events on time were taken very seriously by the Nobility of the Empire. It simply made no sense for a Noble of the highest pedigree to still be absent despite the Day of Awakening ceremonies about to finish and the results told to them.
The observant Nobles could tell immediately something was wrong.
Even if the Nobles themselves couldn’t be said to be right one hundred percent of the time, in this case they were right. Something was terribly wrong as only a minute later a white robed man would walk in and kneel down beneath the Emperor. Due to the absurd silence, practically all the Nobles in the room could somehow hear some parts of the conversation.
“Your majesty there’s a problem… Viran Idicium was rejected by the God Craynor, and the children lining up for their Day of Awakening saw everything… They say he’s been possessed by a Devil.” The white robed individual whispered with clear concern lining his voice.
Emperor Clarus only smirked slightly, only he and the Gods knew the true identity of that so-called ‘Devil’ and he relished in that fact. In fact the Emperor believed this all had come at the perfect time, after all he was still wondering how he could turn this situation into his favor.
“Hmph.” Emperor Clarus chuckled lightly. “They’re only children, and it’s not the first time a God has rejected a child of the Idicium House. How can we ever hope to understand God's thoughts? Bring the child back to his room, and have him stay there.”
The white robed man looked nervously at the Noble crowd that sat there stunned still before making his exit.
This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.
“Y-yes, your majesty. By your will.”
As the servant scurried away in a hurry, Emperor Clarus tried with his entire might to stop the smile that threatened to grow on his face.
----------------------------------------
“It has been done Idicium. Gregory has learned the way to awaken his bloodline gift, and Viran was rejected.” Craynor said simply to Lord Idicium.
Lord Idicium’s face remained pale and shuddered underneath the pressure, though the pressure itself wasn’t the cause for his deathly appearance.
“Yes… Craynor, this was all for the good isn’t it?” Lord Idicium asked as he picked at his own nails, drawing out the blood within.
“If it wasn’t for your own good- nay, the world’s own good, I wouldn’t have asked you to go through such things. Everything you have done greatly, even if it was tough. Whether it was the Axrid’s mistress that I told you to entice or suppressing Viran’s talents. You have done wonderfully, Idicium.” Craynor said in a slightly emotional voice, the worry he had was obviously transmitted to Lord Idicium as a bright smile filled his haggard features.
“Lord Craynor!” The old Noble yelled out in reverence.
It was suffice to say that the past decade for Lord Idicium was harsh on him. With the constant need for politics in the Empire, his own realm, and the difficult requests his own God put forth upon him Lord Idicium was hungry for any kind of support. That support was the very God that caused his spiral down into depravity, and with that he threw his whole lot in.
“Please, Lord Idicium, we cannot let your son destroy House Idicium. Having that happen, would simply be too harsh.” Craynor said in a feigned emotional voice, though Lord Idicium was simply too blind to realize the deception and fake face his God had.
Craynor knew how much Lord Idicium trusted him, and with that the God took advantage with full impunity.
“If you hadn’t told me of the Devil that would possess my own son, I would likely be dead already wouldn’t I?” Lord Idicium asked in a downhearted voice. “When I leave Verita there is only one thing to do left…”
Craynor’s medallion hummed with life as the divine pressure began to recede, until finally his parting words were heard clearly by Lord Idicium.
“Yes, Viran must leave completely, and forever.”
Lord Idicium wept sorrowfully as he realizes what the next step is. The final sin he must push onto his son.
----------------------------------------
“Thank you for your participation this year, and I must say the amount of blessings this year was staggering!” Emperor Clarus cheered as he stood in front of the crowd of Noble children who had only just left the temple.
Truth be told the amount of blessings they had received from the Gods this year was a staggering amount, something that had never happened before. Naturally the Nobles there would be cheerful of such an occurrence, it felt as though a golden age was bound to descend upon the Empire. Living in such a time could only be called a blessing in and of itself.
“Lords and Ladies please sit with your families, and now it is time to discuss the matters to the East… Margrave Zora, would you please.” As Emperor Clarus swiftly left the floor, Margrave Elizabeth Zora happily moved into his place as her red hair swayed with every step.
“Thanks.” The Margrave simply, and improperly, said. “Our first war against the East resulted in the disintegration of the Averus Kingdom and into the three duchies. Our second war barely two decades ago resulted in a catastrophic defeat from their coalition. This war, will end it all.”
The amazingly grand words of Margrave Zora barely had any effect upon the children, yet the words themselves resonated with the veterans of that war, and those affected dearly. It was a terrible defeat at the hands of only three duchies, and the gateway to the world to the East.
Standing at the East of the Empire was the Highland mountain range and through those terrible mountains stood the only usable pathway with the East, a pathway that had been cut off for centuries. Going around the Highlands mountain range would be no mean feat, anyone willing almost never returned and the rest that survived never made the full way. With the Empire having no other choice to either conquer their last remaining enemy in the West or to colonize the lands to the North and South, there was only one option. Conquest.
“The duchies themselves have lost much of their will to fight, and their capability as well. With thirty thousand Knights and thousands more non-magic-users, their armies will be overpowered swiftly. We shall meet our sister in the East.” In the middle of her announcement Margrave Zora stopped and as she bared her fangs, she growled out her final words. “And to the East, we’ll meet with swords.”
It was only natural that her final words would only be met by a certain demographic, the warhawk Nobles to be specific, while the rest would simply only nod towards her words. However underneath the fervent cheers was an unsuppressable fear towards the East, the wars of the past could simply not be forgotten. Or the strength of their enemy.
As the Emperor walked forward once more, he felt as though his own heart was pulsating with excitement about what was to be said next.
It was a time he was waiting for for years after all, the end of the era was to be announced. A time that would either result in the complete destruction of Humanity, or the eternal flourishment. This would all naturally be put in his own words, and interpretations.
“The end of the era has descended upon the world once more. A thousand years ago the end of an era resulted in humanity’s thousands of years of work to be lost into time, the end of the golden age of humanity.” Emperor Clarus’ words left everyone in silence, yet he persisted.
“Within the end of an era there are only two options remaining for us. Life, or death. Just like the last era, disasters will break out that will shake the Empire to its very core. Unlike the defeat of the last era, the laws of the Gods have bestowed upon us a hope.”
Emperor Clarus raised his arms into the sky once more and as he did so, rays of light broke through the ceiling of the palace. As the light rained down upon the children of the Nobles present screams and yelps rang out in the entirety of the room, and to that Emperor Clarus could only wildly smile.
It was the birth of a new generation filled with prodigies.
----------------------------------------
“Just the same with your last era, only destruction or life awaits you. This time however is the last chance you have, and if your race fails the entirety of this plane will cease to exist.” Ry said simply towards Viran as they looked out the window of the servants house towards the lights that rained down from heaven.
“Why does this happen?” Viran couldn’t help but ask, expecting no answer at all.
“Truth be told, the Laws that rule over all beings are something even I don’t understand.” Ry said regretfully, shocking Viran.
The spirit looks towards Viran, he could tell the Spirit was looking at him despite the lack of a physical form.
“Your talent is considerable compared to everyone else in your age group, were it not for your Father and the ending of this era you would have been at the front of the pack.” Ry’s voice trailed off, and his voice sounded distant only a second later. “These generations are favored by the Laws of the Heavens that rule over even Gods and Primordial Spirits alike, they’ve received much more than you have ever gotten within your entire life, Viran.”
“Starting today, you are not blessed by the Gods nor favored by the Laws that govern the absolutes of all the planes within existence. You are only the host of a Primordial Spirit, a host hated by the Gods and shunned by the Heavens.”
Viran looks away from the window for only a moment, yet he feels compelled to look once more at the light once again. Something compelled him to, but he wasn’t sure what.
“Perhaps that much is for the better…”
Viran’s wistful whisper descends into the wind, never to be heard by anyone.