The shadow cast by the connection to the gods hulls the entire plain in black. Endless in to the sky, it makes the earth seem black, unworthy of the grace of the sunlight. Adorned with gold, adorned with orange, adorned with paintings of the suns, it, like the many others of its kind, are worthy of the burden it has to carry, and the image it has to keep.
From the ground, you can barely make out the it piercing the clouds, and a swarm of sky eaters, but for a young Solis, this sight is not something awe inspiring, no, for Kailius, who whose mind is busy with more important matters, this sight, only brings slight pride. Too occupied is he, with the rattling of the chains.
The cattle finally arrived. But that doesn’t make Kailus Tralamin, as he gazes upon the cages, happy. In the opposite. The cattle should have arrived shortly after the sun has risen. Not when the sun is almost going down again. Of course, delays were natural. Humans are an outrageous and hard to control beasts. The 20 years it took for his kin and the others to enslave them although they didn't have magic is the proof for that. Even with magic collars for the hard cattle the weaker will form together and begin another rebellion.
But a trained and famous merchant like Kailu bought them from, should have made the preparations. Kailu won't leave this at this. It's even to an extent his duty. If Kalius would just let this go, he would appear weak, pathetic before the blessed council. They will spout rumours about him, and more importantly the Solis royal family and even the Solis Empire, pouncing on this opportunity to undermine the rightful place as the supreme power in the council and the world.
He will later ask his father for punishment for them. Breach of contract can be easily punished with time in slavery. The thought of the slave merchant being so committed to his trade that he gladly adds himself to the stock causes Kailu to smirk. But not now.
Now Kailu doesn't have the time. Nobody does at the tower. The next invasion is about to begin now that the cattle finally came. Without they couldn't begin it. It's after all the first line of attack. It's magic fodder and a deep-rooted part of modern military tactics.
Scouting? Instead of wasting valuable mana and energy just send slaves. Nothing shows more that what lies before is dangerous than death itself.
A distraction? Send slaves. Food crisis? Slaves. Boredom? Slaves!
And even though Kailu never learned tactics and strategy, just like nearly every bright born, those simple ways are easy to understand even for Kailu or other royalty, whose minds are above military related things.
It’s a curse. A curse he can't break. Not yet.
The portal will open, and the humans will be sent to scout. After that Kailu`s mighty warriors will take the portals land in a honourable fight. Together with the lords of the earth and stones, the Archni and the riders of the air, the aer who the Solis are in an alliance with.
Nearly Every blessed race stand gathered on these grounds, only the lords and spreader of the seas are missing. And if Kailu is honest, he is glad that this is the case.
Kailus looks to the lines of male humans building a line between the groups of mages preparing the portal. The females, those who are young and for a human at least easy to look at walk to his royal and the noble's tent.
Their faces empty, screaming, with both the adults and the children of either gender riddled with despair, confusion, and hopelessness. Only few of them truly know what awaits them, only few truly know the horrors that awaits them.
Even though Solis are much more beautiful, humans are still loved as bed servants for the nobles and commoners. Even in the other blessed races. Only Kailus is forbidden to have some, and instead uses them as normal servants. He often complained about that to his father and close aides. He understood the reason his father said of course, “To ensure that his royal bloodline stays pure.”, but it nonetheless made enduring the screams, on one side of pleasure from the nobles, and on side from the pitiful humans through or even in the day, unbearable.
Just like with nearly all matters, it was forbidden by someone, just like nearly everything else he had no control. Kailus teeth squinch. And with sudden movement he smashes onto the table.
Why do some mere nobles, not chosen like him from the gods deserve the naturally mortal pleasure of flesh, and he not? Why is he the only virgin in the entire Solis court?! Why is he, the only heir treated like this?! He is the only heir! He is the person going to be King soon! And then he is treated like a human?! No! Even a human has more freedom over his life than he does!
Kailus`s pores begin sprouting small drops of flames, the tent heats up, and if it wasn’t fire resistant like nearly everything the Solis built, it would have burned to the ground already. Seemingly nothing can calm him, not even his aides in here, nobody tries to nobody, dares to, the entire tent would have been filled into a brim fire, endlessly his rage would have ravaged, frustrations all over his years unloading until they are literally burned away, if it wasn’t for quiet, hurried voice behind him.
He turns around, the fire slowly dimming down, the young face of one of his female human servants facing him. Only this, this one face and voice could calm Kailus down. And as much as it did calm, as much did it build frustration.
He snorts, tired and exhausted of the glances of everyone in the tent. Tired of their silent mocking. Exhausted by the scared face of hers. He should focus more on the upcoming battle, yes, this is important right now, yes, this will keep his mind of aggravating things like that he tells himself as he leaves the tent.
Kailus observes the humans. They are dirty. Their bones are visible from hunger. And everyone looks close to dying. He feels a bit sympathy for them. Of course, not as he would do to his kin. But as the same as dying animals.
He hears boots hitting the ground running fast to his tent. It's a messanger boy.
“Your highness.”
He deeply bows on both knees while pouring little, tiny fire out of every of his pores. A deep sign of respect reserved only for those above a person. It’s intended is to show its submissiveness by comparing those tiny flames to the supposed sun this gesture is addressed to. A prayer for the sun.
Their voice is shaky, and yet excited and awed as his eyes give short, shy glances to Kailus from below.
“The mages are saying they are ready at you're command.”
Kailu gives a last sympathetic look to the humans. Before grabbing his pet speaker. A small animal, just as big as Kailus`s mouth, born with multiple mouths in form of trunks.
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Kailus gives out a small, and for him embarrassing tone of pain as he connects one of the trunks to one of his pores. Not even seconds and he can feel the connection, energy flowing through them, as if they are one. Although trained since he was a child by his father it didn’t change the unease and strangeness every time he used one.
All of the trunks expand, growing in size and size before Kailus voice, powerful and deep instead of the yet to mature of his normal rupture through the
“Warriors of the Elven Empire! Like the realms from before we will conquer this new world! So that our children and their children will continue to see our shining empire! Open the portal!”
“For the brightness of the Empire! For our Suns!”
The other leader also begins their speeches. The Archi connecting themselves into a unity one last time, before returning to their construct, the aer expanding their air filters in the middle of their bodies and whistling a, for Kailus, disgusting Tune.
Lastly, after the Solis finish their prayers of the sun, the mages instantly begin. Chanting the language of Gods that they trained for their entire life. A slow humming tune, adorned by the air playing of the aer and rattling of the Archnie, ominous as it is beautiful lets the ground vibrate.
The Solis pores fire with all intensity, the smell of burned plants and coaled stone reaches Kailus`s nose. First only a small blue spot appears. Before slowly expanding in size. Blue sparks hit some of the humans. Burning them in an instant. Panic rises in them as the fire spreads. But nobody runs. They know that they will be slaughtered if they do.
The mages on the other hand don't react at all. They casted shields of pure fire, not only for them but also for their allies. Although costly in mana and energy, meaning that they usually can only be casted by one person per day without killing the user.
The portal reaches its full size with blue and a black mix in its middle. It stays only for a second. Humans, Solis, Archi and Aer warriors alike gasp at the sight as the image warps. In the middle of a desert, filled with yellow instead of black sand, stands a wall, towers and even buildings completely made of metal. Metal beasts, with one weird, metal arm are placed on top of these tower. Next to it stand..no, this cant be.
Kailus widen. He can't believe this. On top of the towers. Stand no blessed race, no dragon or other race of the legends. As only they could have something like this. No, there stand mere humans. On towers and next to metal beasts. Strange humans. With armor with the same colour as the sands. But still humans.
It can't be! Kailus looks to the Solis messenger boy to check if Kailus is going crazy. But he also stares like he has seen the sun gods. Humans are all enslaved. And they certainly don't have any castles anymore. And definitely one out of pure metal, the most holy of elements only to be used by the blessed races.
Kailus questions himself. Should he really attack? Is this a ploy? A hallucination? A bait to a trap? His face gets overrun by sweat. He-he needs to act fast. The humans could already noticed this portal.
He decides to appreciate the world for a bit longer in search for an answer. For he is fully aware that there is a chance that in the future he won't be able to anymore. He turns around, inspecting every detail he previously As his eyes fall on to the direction of the capital towers of the Solis, a wet sounds and splash can be heard, as Kailus bends forward and stares into the ground.
Its his last meal. A worm, coaled black.
“Your brightness!”
He cant resist anymore. His strengh leaves him and he falls onto the ground. With all his strengh he decides to look at the same place again. A foolish thing, but needed. What was that? He couldn’t see anything! There was nothing! His entire body shivers, and when he finally raised his head again, his eyes are closed. He takes deep breaths and opens again seeing and feeling...nothing. Not a thing. Did-did he imagine it?
His worshippers help him up, their questions are hurried, and timid, and with the most honeyed concern they can show. He waves them away in quick motion, and tries to order his thoughts as quick as possible. And he still needs to find a solution to his answer? Should he attack? Even with the unknown ahead of them? Should he maybe ask his fat-
The thought of what transpired seconds ago enters his mind. He now has his decision.
With like magic concurred energy everything becomes clear for him. No imaginations can portray the chaos that would ensue in the blessed races. Yes, he needs to act fast! If the population finds out that there are still such amounts of humans not only running free, but also armed with a castle, they will lose their faith. The already record high of heresy could throw billions into death. Everything will be ruined. He needs to act fast. He needs to save the empire, and the other races.
And in addition, if they could find out how these humans made this, completely without the help with magic. They would be undefeatable. The Connections to the sun, connections to the gods, the towers, wouldn’t not need a daily sacrifice anymore. Such a technique would give the Solis an indescribable edge over the other races, and finally regain its power in the council. Kailus father and his Empire would be incredibly proud. He would be praised as a hero! He will remembered forever in history!
Maybe then, if he presents this castle as a prize, maybe if he finally proves himself to not only his father, but the entire Empire, then maybe he can achieve his goal and change things. The image of his maid appears in his mind, as he takes a last deep breath, while emitting a low frequency fire through his pores. He hopes that is making the right decision.
“Attack!” He blasts into his pet. His warriors and the humans look confused for a second. With unsure looks they stare at metal beasts, for their danger is yet to be known. Seeing this Kailus blasts again, even more powerful, the trunks nearly explode.
The army makes a nearly silent prayers, before finally giving in running screaming, blood lust overriding fear. The warriors at least. The humans first needed some of them killed before also running.
The other leaders also follow after moment. Sending their troops. All except the Archnie are surprised at the heat of the desert as they enter the portal. But that’s only the case because they don’t care. The blessed races of course know deserts. They of course know unbearable heats, Solis flourished in them after all, But to find one in another world with these heats was surprising.
The strange humans seem to instantly react. A surprising feat without a spell in this distance. Kailus only noticed it now, but these metal beats, slightly resembling a lying golem with one arm on the back already begun to move as soon as they entered through the portal. Their arm following every of their steps. And that without riders. They must be bonded to them Kalius thinks. And the rest of the humans begin to draw what seem to be a metal swords without sharpness.
That they couldn't make really weapons and didn't give ones for their beasts let Kalius smirk while taking a deep breath. Humans are always the same. Hard in spirit but still primitive.
Kalius and the other army's march in haste. Always killing one or two humans so they won't run. Soon they come down a hill. The enemy castle looks even more impressive so near.
A voice startles him and their armies. Kaluis recognized its belonger and freezes. Even the humans look around confused. It's a human voice. But the language is foreign. But why? How? They don't have magic! They most have stolen it!! It gives in a bit of panic. What if they have more stolen magic?
He needs to end this fast. He begins ordering an attack out of fear. All the warriors run. The humans first, Archnie second, aer third and the Solis as the last. The Solis look particularly happy. Looking at the strange humans with a hungry smile as they run.
The humans didn't even come near as it happened. Just as the mages wanted to cast their last shields, thunder and fire erupts everywhere. Kalius cant hear anything for a second. Only a peeps, before slowly transitioning into screams. Screams not from the strange humans. But from his army.
The aer warriors scream as they burn. The Archnie can't even scream as their whole colonies are gone. And even the constructs they control. With shattered limbs give low crumbles. Only the cattle humans don't seem to be hit.
And it gets only worse. Smaller thunder erupts. Fire from the strange humans spear launches. Their army gets completely slaughtered. The Solis and aer mages cast shields as quickly as they can. But they seem to instantly shatter. Not even the heat, fueled by the power of the gods, can stop the humans weapons. Not even the power of the air can save them from their fate. They send waves of waves of fireballs and airblasts against the metal beasts responsible for the most death. Their one arm stronger than thousands. Some sacrificing themselves in the process. But they don't do anything. Not even a scream. Not even a loud, not one human runs, not one of the metal beasts.
As a blast throws him deep into the sand, as he can feel the blood sprouting from where his hand should be, as he can almost feel the desperation, the pain, the despair that his whole army feels, Kailus realizes that his name will indeed stand forever in history. In history for dooming the empire and the other races.