Jax words about me being a hand of this First King, makes Isaac look at me with curious wonder in his eyes. If I had eyes that is, then they would have seen the stunned expression on my face, too. Maybe the First King and the voice that summoned me here are the same. That seems unlikely, why not send other skeletons to look for me then? I will have to gather more information before I can make such assumptions.
The boy looks away from me quickly, I think he found me not worthy of such high praise. Or perhaps he too now thinks that I am someone great. I am beginning to see that Isaac can be easily influenced, which is normal for a child his age.
“Well, he did save me, twice. “Isaac said. Which made Jax begin a story about the First King, he seemed quite happy being able to share his religion with Isaac, who after the story, begins to pepper Jax with questions about the First King.
Jax takes the rabbit off of the fire. He moves next to Thea on the log, rips off a strip of the cooked rabbit for himself and hands the stick to Thea. She broke off piece of the meat before passing the stick to Isaac who looks at it with resent.
“Eat up Isaac you don’t get stronger if you don’t eat, and you'll keep losing to a girl.” Thea said, teasing Isaac as she bites into the piece of meat. I watch as Isaac repeatedly bites and strip the meat off the rabbit. He quickly takes a liking to the rabbit meat, maybe I did not roast the rabbit I made, two days back, properly.
“Not too fast, we don't want you to choke. “Jax said, a smile on his face.
Nia has taken an interest in a batch of wild flowers near the campfire, she dances between the stems of the flowers, which I thought looks a bit funny without music. I have recently diagnosed her with a severe case of ADHD, her attention could change like the wind. I think it sometimes interest me by the odd and unexpected things she does. I think her fascination with fire is the same as those of a moth. However, no one really knows why moths are attracted to fire or light.
“You noticed any odd behaviour in our new companions Nia? “I spoke in my mind. The fairy didn't shift, or even stop her game of flicking the flowers back and forth. I got a reply from her shortly after.
“No, humans are generally so odd,” She paused for a second as if to think, “In the morning, before Isaac wakes you up, they pray. “
“They pray?” I inquired.
“Yeah, they pray for almost, uhm, one hour. “Nia replies she floats up in the air, only to have her attention caught by a firefly.
They could not be priest, I check, and they had blue glows. Priest do not have a glow around them, at least not the priest I have come into contact with so far. Maybe they are telling the truth, they really do believe I am a prophet. The first king must mean a lot to Thea and Jax. Well, I can pretend to be this prophet of theirs, at the very least it gives me some purpose. I try to imagine myself as a prophet, I did not know the first thing about this First King. Thankfully, they did not ask any questions.
Sometimes I wish I am back on Earth. Maybe I could find a way to return there, if it is possible for me to come here, then it is possible to leave. I am starting to remember the people in my life. I remember my parents and my friends. I remember going to high-school and large pieces of my time in college. I know that I taught astrophysics, but from there it becomes foggy and eventually I find myself against a wall. A wall that causes my head to ring with pain whenever I try to pass it.
“How did you and Jax find Laoch?” Isaac asked. Thea looks towards Jax as she tore off what must be the last piece of rabbit meat after Isaac returned the stick. It is a good question, I too, want to know how they found me. I have only been here for a little over a week at best, so wherever they came from must be nearby. Jax gave Thea a nod, confirmation that it is okay to answer the question.
“Hmm, well, Jax just followed the direction he sensed the prophet in.” Thea said.
That only made me more confused, so I had a tracker on me? I glanced over my body, pulling open the cloak to peer down at my ribs. Would the tracker even be visible to me? Could there be some sort of tracker spell? That would be something interesting to learn. Jax began to speak, continuing for Thea.
“You see, many thousands of years ago, The First King, was lost to us. The oracle of that time prophesied his return. The First King ruled Albion, the empire was so vast and so wide that it was said a single man could not explore the entire empire in his lifetime. Today Albion is but a small village. The world has forgotten the kingdom, but those who remember remain strong and we uphold the way of life set by the First King. We have kept our vigil; each generation must always have a seeker and an oracle. However, we grow smaller as the years pass.”
“Woah, that’s really amazing. I’ve never heard about Albion before. So Jax is the seeker, is he like a military commander? And who is the Oracle, what does she do?" Isaac inquired.
“Well, he is something like a commander. The current Oracle is my mother, Oracle Amrita. The oracle gives guidance in spiritual matters, and governs the village until the First King returns. she also has a deep, spiritual and physical connection to the First King. Three years ago, she felt a powerful link, Jax did as well, but his connection is not as strong as my mother. The Oracle sent Jax and myself to search for you, so you could lead us to The First King. “Thea said, her words directed now to both Isaac and me.
For three years? I have been here for maybe a week at most at most, how did that time change to three years? Was I here longer than I thought? Did that battle happen so long ago? No I am sure it happened last week, the dried blood on my hands when I woke up was evidence enough.
I think Thea is looking for an answer. She believes my duty is to lead them so-called First King. I gave her a nod, if I am going to pretend to be their prophet, at least for now, then I will have to make them believe I am their prophet. Thea gives me a smile, looks relieved as if a heavy burden was removed. If found her smile to be alluring, at least my taste in women has not changed.
Jax took out the lute on his back. I noticed something that I didn’t before as he placed his hands over the strings of the lute. The man has two fingers. Could you play an instrument like a lute or a guitar when you were missing fingers?
Jax threw the rabbit bone behind him and began to play. It is a soft, yet fast tune. Calming and soothing. I could almost feel the vibrations through my bones. It reminded me even more of earth. How could music bring back memories. My eyes began to trace the hand movements. He used fast finger movements to compensate for his two missing fingers. Jax is more skilled than I first thought.
“So, Isaac tell us about your past. You may not be a servant of the First King yet, but you are a friend, and friends don’t keep secret, right?” Jax said to Isaac as he plays the flute, I am still mesmerized by sound of the strings.
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
“Uhm, not sure where to start “Isaac answered.
“Wherever you feel comfortable.” Thea replied.
“Alright, uhm, my parents were Kaltoc nobility. I don’t remember much of being a noble, though. I was told that my parents were killed by a rival family. I don’t know about much of my parents either, they never seemed to have much time for me. I was mostly raised by my teachers.” Isaac bows his head, and uses the tip of his boots to make lines in the dirt. I can that remembering his past is having an emotional effect on him. He continues, after raising his head back up.
“I was put into an orphanage after my parents died, but the other kids didn’t like me. I think it was because I was nobility and I would often get into fights, with them. So, I left the orphanage and just became a street urchin. It wasn’t so bad, if you looked in the garbage of the baker at the correct time, before the other boys could, you’ll find some stale bread. “Isaac went on but Jax interrupted.
“Kaltoc nobility? They are well known for their savage political strategies. The blood wars that nobles have can leave entire villages destroyed. You have strong heritage.” Jax said, to which Isaac only nodded and continued.
“Anyway, uhm, I managed to pick up enough dropped coins to visit the local fortune teller. I asked her what I should do, I didn’t want to be a street urchin my whole life. She took about two silver and told me to go to the Spires of Vatra to become a mage. It went really good at first. I left the city of Ento, which is the capital of Kalt, by boat to a port town west of the Badlands. Then from there I planned to travel to Almeria, where the Spires of Vatra is. I got a ride with this lady and her husband, the man was really nice, he gave me new clothes. It’s also when I met Nia, though, she was just a voice talking to me while I was on the cart. They hired four guards, and I think the lady killed her husband, because he just vanished one night, I’m not sure. The next night the guards turned on us when we set camp. The lady ran and one of the guards chased after her. They spent the time she was gone beating me. It didn’t last long Lao-the Prophet came.”
"That’s quite a story Isaac, you are a very resourceful young man” “Jax said. No one said anything for some time, and Jax plays the lute for us to enjoy the music.
” I’m sorry boy, but not everyone can become a mage. I think the fortune teller played you.” Jax said, which caused Isaac’s eye brows to move up. I think the thought of being lied to did not cross his mind. He is exceptionally capable for his age, but it is like he is now learning how cruel people can be.
“Yeah, fortune tellers are the worst” Thea said, backing up Jax’s claim.
“So I can’t be a mage?” Isaac asked, seeking a straight answer.
My focus on the lute in Jax hands is becoming more and more surreal. I cannot move my eyes off it, and the sound echoes and reverberates through every fibre in my bones. The world began to slow and darken until all I can see is the lute.
The lute lit up bright blue. It is not just glowing blue, it is blue, like mana. It is like watching a weaving. It looks as though the lute is weaving its own spells. Every time Jax lets go of a string, mana ripples from the lute. The mana then turns into threads, which spreads out over the clearing. The lute is casting spells? That does not make any sense. This must be another form of my mana vision.
I am confused. Is the lute alive? Or, is it just some sort of intricate spell. The spells that the lute is casting is sound, I hear the sound of a string, each time the ripple passes over me. I could see the mana as it turns into threads.
I focus on the threads, and a strange idea comes to my mind. Sound is just vibrations, right? If I am correct, then what I am looking at is the sound thread. I focus on the weaving of the spell. It is actually very simple. Simple enough to be copied. I began to copy and memorize the simple threads, each of the thread has different sub threads, but the structure is basically the same. My head began to hurt, but I hold on.
My sight finally fades, and the lute once again is just a piece of wood. Time once again resumes its normal speed. I began to make a weave. I combined several sub-threads that I remember from the lute, so I can form two sound threads. I hope this works. I visualize the weaving by my mouth. It would appear odd if it came from my hand. I let go of the mana I am currently using, casting the spell.
“Hee Caan” I said, casting the spell successfully. It went on for way too long, leaving a sort of echo in the air. I probably made the threads for the spell with too much mana. I did not even use that much. However, it was only two words, so that may be why. Everyone turns towards me, finally some recognition around here.
“As you saw prophet, so it shall be” Jax said, as he bowed his head, my words caused him to stop playing, shame that.
[http://www.liquidlegends.net/staff/JonGalt/IMG/divider.png]
The skeleton lord sucks the mana out of another fragile human being. He threw the corpse of the man onto the ground, after sucking it dry. With a strong command from his aura, two skeletons move to drag the corpse away. He has been constantly charging his reservoir for almost a week now with the mana from the human villages. He only needs a couple more now to begin the next phase of his plans. The battle in plains was quite successful in gathering him mana. He could eventually replace all the skeletons he lost, because there is never a shortage of human skeletons around. He laughs to himself. Never a shortage of skeletons, The Skeleton lord thhought.
Two skeletons enter his throne room, dragging another human towards him. The man is crying his eyes out, but soon enough he would cry no more. The Skeleton lord uses his mana like a tentacle, latching onto the legs of the man and drags him before his throne. He grabs the man’s head, and sucks the man's mana dry, increasing his reservoir. This should be enough, the skeleton lord though.
Ah, finally, I can begin my plans.
I am coming for you Princess Niamh, I shall have what I want.
He stands up and moves towards the door to exit the throne room. His heavy, red armour clanks on the floor as he walks. A black cape trails the floor behind him. He passes the three dozen skeleton guards standing near the wall. They are just for show, to please him. No one would dare march on his castle in the Badlands. Things are starting to progress fast. The Skeleton lord could feel the presence of the First King in the world.
Naturally the demi-god would aim to foil his plans, but that is of little concern. He is weak, and most likely he will never remember.
Of all times for the First King to return, why now? He should have been cast off into the pool of souls, forever reincarnating without his memories. The cruel faith caused the skeleton lord to laugh as he pushes open the doors.
He walks out into the balcony and watches down at the legions upon legions of skeleton warriors. The Skeleton lord raises his arms into the air. In response, thirty thousand skeletons raise their sword, spears, shields, and axes. The sound of their weapons clanking against each other is like a ripple of thunder.
“I shall be the one to end you this time, FIRST KING LAOCH!”