Death always brought with it a silence that stretched on with no end. The dead do not speak. The dead do not stir. The dead lie still. Leba Vigon loathed silence, he knew the irony of his propriety provided what he sought after was as synonymous to death as anything has ever been. Still, the silence gnawed at his insides, he thought about whistling to keep the silence at bay but fear of what he might summon forth before it was time prevented him from doing so.
He could hear the old Kolotian's feet shuffle as he came to stand next to him at the entrance of the large cave that was curved deep into an inconspicuous mountain that was some distance from the fortress of the Highlord of the South Local. The cave was once a hideout for smugglers, thieves, murderers and runaway slaves. In a way it partially painted a perfect picture of what Leba had become. The depths of the cave were dark and at its end was a large chasm that as far as Leba could tell, had no end.
Torches held by servants in grey silk offered the only light within the cave. The servants owed Leba their lives, he'd found all two hundred of them at the brink of death due to various reasons ranging from extreme poverty to disease, he'd nurtured them and offered them positions in various charity organizations that he ran and the servants were all too eager to repay their debt to him. He'd taken advantage of that, he'd made them swear a blood oath to him and had then revealed his plan.
The plan. Leba referred to it as the Limitless purpose for there is no limit once one embraced the void. He'd planted seeds of fanaticism in the hearts of his servants as he preached to them of what was to come once he'd attained his goal. Leba had elevated them above the rest of those who worked for the Royal family, ensuring they earned more and their families were better catered for. On top of it all he'd coalesced their greed by painting vivid images of the power they shall all share once he'd achieved what he wanted. He'd made a blood oath to them, cursing Meena who'd forgotten them and praising the bringer of endless night who'd used him to give them purpose. He'd sworn that he shall not forget them once it was all said and done. The servants in turn had made it clear that they would march into a roaring furnace if it meant Leba would be pleased by them.
The most disconcerting thing Leba had experienced had come when he'd pointed out the sacrifices that had to be done. He'd feared they'd turn on him, he'd feared they would run to his father proclaiming his animosity. Instead the opposite had occurred, the servants had made it clear that they were loyal to him and would help him no matter the cost and had been true to their word. Their organization had flourished as they worked in tandem and every moment that passed drew them closer to their goal.
"Here, eat this as I tell you of the grand purpose of you being here, remember I told you I'm ushering you to something great? You're going to make Binoria proud." A servant scurried past with a peasant child judging by his rugged attire in tow. The child was probably a street urchin who won't be missed, he reached out greedily for the piece of meat that Leba knew had been laced with wangi. It was clear that the innocent could only be accepted into the void if they went willingly, otherwise they might end up in Tabiramas or reincarnated which would be a loss. The servant led the child further into the cave where more children crowded with servants of their own, servants who spoke sweetly and urged each unsuspecting child towards the Limitless purpose as the children ate laced food.
"How long did it take you to set this all up?" The Kolotian asked while staring at the same green landscape Leba was looking at that bordered the cave. It had been easy for him to smuggle the old man out of the dungeons. He'd been wrapped in grey silk and ushered out of Binoria under the cover of night as the whole Kingdom had been distracted by the young Kolotian channeling the God of chaos. Chaos indeed. Binoria had suffered a major blow under the wake of the boy and his tamed Telinete Rhino.
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"Seven years since I found out that there was something more powerful than the Goddess Meena." Leba replied. He wore grey silk himself, his presence south of Binoria wasn't something he wanted known. He was glad of the myths surrounding the cave, residents of the south Local together with the slaves stayed clear of the cave for people who wandered close to the mountain had a tendency to not return. "I realized how inadequate Binorian kings were. They were weak for death always claimed them in the
end. I could build something better, something brighter for the whole realm if my life had no end." He turned to the old Kolotian, observing the wrinkles on his face." That is where true strength lies."
"Mmph." The old Kolotian answered, not meeting his eyes. "How many prisons do you think hold Locha?" It was the question that had irked him the most. If Leba's instincts were right they had only scaled an inch of the mountain of sacrifices they had to make. There was simply no way they could complete the requirements of sacrifices in order to unlock the seven prisons without getting noticed.
"I thought the sacrifices don't bother you." Leba answered.
"They don't, they excite me."
"Expound." Leba used a commanding voice.
"Your ancestors did not spare the lives of Kolotian children, they butchered them as they clung to their mothers' corpses." The old man turned to Leba, meeting his blue eyes with his violets. "You've only killed seven thousand Binorian children, spilling their blood into that chasm your servants are leading them to and sending their bodies to the Remu shores where Alietsi's guard on the dark sea depths may falter due to the lifeless bodies of the innocent floating upon her waves. Seven thousand is but a fraction compared to the number of Kolotian children whose lives your ancestors took away. Still, it brings me joy to see Binoria experience the pain they caused us. Pain dished out by one of their own."
Leba curled his hands into fists. "I haven't killed them, I've urged them into killing themselves. There is a difference." The Kolotian laughed at his words and for a split second Leba wondered if he really needed the old man. The incantation, he's the only one who can figure it out. Leba uncurled his fists. He exhaled loudly and gathered himself. "I promise you old man, I shall restore Kolotia to its former glory once I achieve my goal. The realm shall flourish and we shall all be united under one banner."
"That is what your grandfather said to me when he took me into the dungeons as a child, he wanted to preserve a piece of Kolotia incase he decided to rebuild it." The old man said and followed through with a laugh. "He even left my hands intact and promised he would let me go soon. I'm an old man now, that's the word of a Vigon for you."
"I am not like them." Leba replied, the old man of late had been testing the limits of his tolerance. He'd become more free with his speech as if freedom from the dungeons had heightened his importance before his own eyes. The Kolotian knew he was valuable and he sought to emphasize that thin line. Behind Leba a child screamed. "I have to return to Binoria, the Kolotian's distraction won't last long. I trust you'll be well catered for here."
"I'll be okay." The old man answered. "Do you mind telling me of the events of the Nula Anyl once more?" It was the third time the old man had asked him to do so. The tale of the young Kolotian channeling a God and taming the Telinete Rhino had stirred something within the old man. Leba felt like telling him to fuck off but he decided against such an action. He needed the old man for another seven hundred and seventy seven sacrifices, the last one would be held beneath the full moon to ensure the fourth prison was unlocked. Four unlocked prisons might be enough for him to step into the void and after that he'd have no need of the old man. Leba started retelling of the Nula Anyl. Behind him the occasional child screamed.