Note of author, skip if not interested:
Hello, firstly this is my first fanfic and certainly the first time posting it, so I already had to edit a few things. (Like the this comment/announcement, don't know what to call it. And I thought the title would appear automatically above the chapter.)
Secondly english isn't my mother language, so I will apologize beforehand for it and kindly ask the readers to point out any grammar mistakes, typo's or words that aren't correctly used and don't make any sense in the story. I did reread my chapter before posting it so the majority of them should have been removed, so I hope there aren't too many of them anymore *prays*. But it if you look for your own mistakes, you sadly enough don't find all of them. Lastly, is it just me or is this editor quite unhandy? Either way I use notepad++ to write in and copy it here. (That is way some of the intents were bad and I had to edit it). Well, I hope you will enjoy reaing this.
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Prologue: The fall of an emperor
"Bam!...Bam!" The rhythmical sounds of the battering ram hitting the iron door are resounding through the room. "How, did it come to this..." does a middle aged man on a chair in the centre of the room mutter as he listens to the sounds as they signal the end of him.
The man has short blonde hair and would have had a very normal appearance if it weren't for his piercing blue eyes that seem to look through everything. He wears expensive black clothes embroidered with gold decorations, a signet ring on his right hand and a necklace with a beautiful red crystal, the symbol of his power and authority.
He is emperor Zarach Asherenar and the only rightful ruler of the Assyrum empire, or at least that is what he should have been. Now he only has an empty title and a handful of loyal servants that followed him when he had to flee into this fortified room.
"Those filthy traitors! How dare they! Your majesty we will stay at your side until the very end." Does a old man with long grey hair on the right of Zarach say. He is Zarach's teacher and great advisor Rorarth, the only advisor that kept being loyal.
A few imperial guards near the door with drawn swords, three personal servants and the head maid, these people are the only people that together with the great advisor chose to stay with their emperor until the end.
'Such a waste for such good people to die along with their failure of a master.' does Zarach think, it would be a meaningless death. "My loyal subjects there is no reason for you to perish with me, leave me, it is my last command as an emperor to you."
For a moment it is completely quiet in the room, even the battering ram seems to have stopped for a moment and then everybody begins to speak at the same time.
"Never my lord! This old man's life will lose its purpose when your lordship dies and I have absolutely no wish to live such an empty life." yells Rorarth resolutely.
"I am afraid that I can't follow such an order, your majesty." says the head maid while she voices the opinion of the other servants as well.
"Your majesty is giving us such an unreasonable order. I will stay and fight." laughs one of the imperial guards.
"Oh, don't worry I will stay, besides this is quite an exiting event!"
I don't deserve such loyalty does Zarach think, deeply moved when he hears the reactions of his subordinates. Until that last one, it came from the person Zarach had almost forgotten, the grand imperial court magister Orcus, seer of the unseen, sage of the spiritual realm and master of the arcane.
'Although 'first class lunatic' would be a more fitting term.' does Zarach think when he looks at the old man in ceremonial robes. Orcus has always done however he pleases and never once in his lifetime has Zarach seen something impressive from the man.
As a child Zarach had admired this man greatly because he was under the impression that the court magister had surpassed normal people. But he soon learned that this man couldn't do anything a normal person couldn't, no even worse his visions where vague and never became reality and his advise always consisted out of pure nonsense.
Zarach soon realised that this man was an impostor and multiple times did he try to expose the man, but to no avail. It turned out that it was hard to prove that he didn't held those titles. How could you prove that he can't see things other could not?
How can you prove that what he says is not long forgotten knowledge? How can you prove he hasn't any spiritual power when others can't see spirits? He simply claimed Zarach interpreted his advise and visions wrongly and had dull senses for the supernatural. Zarach even employed other specialists on the subject but they where even worse charlatans than Orcus, with as only result that Orcus even seemed more believable in the eyes of his father and the other people.
In the end he had to give up and accept the man's presence, he couldn't chase him out either because his voice held too much influence over the commoners. But he feels no need to give the impostor any attention and tries to ignore or forget him, what almost succeeded until that last comment.
"Can you tell me what so 'exiting' is about this??" does Zarach react angry at the lunatics remark.
"Well the fall of an emperor isn't an everyday occurrence, so I am glad that I got a front row seat. But I wasn't referring to the current situation, I meant these stones, this room, do you realise how wonderful they are?" does Orcus say, without a care in the world speaking to his emperor with a casual 'you'.
Zarach doesn't even have the energy to correct Orcus now and says sarcastic "Well I am glad that at least somebody his having fun." When they retreated to this ancient and fortified room, Orcus immediately ran off yelling things like "Oh what a wonderful magic circle, the form is so unique!" and "And there! Are that spiritual stones??"
While Zarach was simply glad that the lunatic went to play in the corner of the room and didn't bother anyone, sadly he already came back.
But Orcus doesn't seem to notice his sovereign's irritation and with an exited smile he says "This is the best day in my life! look at this ancient formation! They must have been constructed by the gods!"
"Or by our ancestors who build the imperial palace and this fortified room..." does Zarach begin to say in an attempt to correct the nonsense that comes out of the mouth of the imperial magister. But talking to Orcus was like talking to a wall, he simply ignores what you say and continues.
"Why would the gods draw such a powerful magic circle on the floor, most intriguing. Lets see hmm... with those spiritual stones acting as a catalyst then... hmm I see..." does Orcus mutter more against himself than against his conversation partner.
"They where either bored, found the floor ugly or still had some paint left..." does Zarach sarcastically suggest, but Orcus, who seems to be in his own world, completely ignores him until he suddenly begins to yell.
"Yes, that must be it, there can't be any mistake, ha ha truly amazing!" laughs Orcus exuberantly while he stands there with his hands up in the air and faces the ceiling, like he has gotten some kind of revelation.
"Great he finally completely lost it,... well it was bound to happen sooner or later." does Zarach mutter when he looks at the greatest madman in the world.
"A portal! It is a portal, the way the ancient ones travelled across the world!" does Orcus yell while looking at Zarach expecting him to fall from his chair in surprise, what obviously doesn't happen. Zarach just keeps sitting on his chair trying his hardest to be patient with the clown before him.
"Transportation you say? Then our lord can escape!" does Rorarth hopefully say, the thought that Zarach can get away out of this predicament makes him forget that it is an idea of the worlds greatest lunatic Orcus.
So Zarach pulls his advisor back to earth, "Forget it, we don't even know if it still works and where will arrive in the odd chance you get this portal activated before our enemies storm this room." and the small hope the people in the room had disappears, except for one person, Orcus.
"Don't underestimate me, I am going to activate it now!" does Orcus yell confident and turns sits down on the magic circle and begins to mutter against himself.
"Let him continue." does Zarach command irritated when his gaze meets Rorarth, while thinking in himself 'at least he doesn't bother anyone now'. Then a loud bang on the iron door, that makes everybody stiffen, resounds through the room. They all know that the door, however strong it may be, is beginning to give in.
'Where? Where did it went wrong?' does Zarach wonder as he closes his eyes and begins to over think the events, that finally led to this disastrous result.
He was born as the second son of the emperor, normally his older brother would have been emperor, but when Zarach was fourteen his brother was assassinated together with his father. The emperor's brother, Zarach's uncle, Iminred was the one responsible, he tried to take the throne for himself. Zarach the only remaining heir was an eyesore, to his new reign, and had to be removed.
As the empire fell into chaos, Zarach had no choice but to flee for his life and stop his childish attempts to expose Orcus. Back then Zarach thought that he had to flee out of the country while his uncle became emperor.
But unexpectedly the nobles opposed the usurper and wanted the young Zarach, the true heir to the throne, instead as emperor. With the support of the nobles Zarach's throne was reconquered and Iminred the traitor executed.
In those days, Zarach was still young and naive so he believed that the nobles supported him because he was more fit for the throne and that they wanted to bring Iminred to justice. The illusion didn't last long, soon Zarach realised that the nobles didn't want an emperor, but a puppet that was easy to control.
Zarach, young and inexperienced would make for a good puppet ruler. While his uncle on the other hand, wanted to limit the power and privileges of the nobles, who had gained far too much influence under the reign of the previous emperor. So while Zarach learned how to run the empire form Rorarth, the nobles kept expanding their power.
Soon the power of the empire began to deteriorate, not surprising when the empire was being ruled by a large group of corrupt nobles that only cared to continue their extravagant lifestyles on the back of the people. When the strength of the country falls it becomes an easy prey for others and so the neighbouring countries invaded, pushing the empire further on the road of destruction.
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It was during the invasion that Zarach, in his early twenties, began to understand what was happening and led his armies to war. The war lasted for a long ten years, ten years of constant bloodshed, was the enemy driven back on the western border then the eastern was invaded and so on.
During the war the support of the nobles was nowhere to be found, so when Zarach returned triumphant he finally truly understood how grave the situation was. Then began the long years of intrigues to stop the nobles from expanding their power and to stop the oppression of the people.
But is was too late, the position of the nobles had grown too strong and they realised that Zarach slowly became a threat to them. You can say much about the nobles, but when it comes to scheming in the shadows they have no equals.
A rebellion started in the capital and before Zarach realised it, he was surrounded with enemies. With the majority of his loyal troops stationed near the borders, to defend the empire, he had no choice but to retreat to the inner sanctuary of the imperial palace, the ancient room.
This heavy fortified room was build in order to protect the emperor until reinforcements arrived. The room was constructed in the innermost centre of the palace beneath the throne room and around 10 meter wide, 20 metres long and 5 metres high. On the floor was a large magic circle, but there is nobody that knows why this circle was there in the first place. Normally this room is sealed and not used, maybe that is why this is the first time Orcus has entered this room. Zarach knew that the troops at the border can never reach the capital in time, so why did he choose to make his last stand here?
Part of it was the instinctive desire to stay alive as long as possible, but for the most part, he couldn't stomach being killed by one of the nobles he despised so much.
Then a loud bang accompanied by the high sound of iron being destroyed pulls Zarach back to the present. "Whaha, here you're hiding, you foolish emperor!" yells a fat man in expensive clothes while looking at him with his little pig eyes full of scorn.
There are a few nobles accompanying the fat noble and a lot of soldiers, twenty? Thirty? No it must be even more, they simply can't enter the room with so many. Then a noble with a beard on the right of the fat noble yells "Gold! I promise gold for the head of emperor Zarach!" while another one simply yells "Kill them all!!".
The soldiers immediately charge into the room and the guards meet them head on while yelling "Death to the traitors!", "viva the emperor!", "For honour and glory!". The imperial guards are elite soldiers, but the enemies outnumber them one to ten, it is utterly hopeless.
'So this is where I die, so be it...' does Zarach think while feeling strangely calm now that dead is only a moment away.
Then a loud cheer echoes through the room, "I did it, I am a genius! Oh I love myself!". Guess who makes such a cheer in the middle of this life and dead struggle? It is obviously Orcus. As his cheer stops the fight and everybody, including Zarach, looks in Orcus's direction the magic circle begins to shine.
"W-What? What is happening!?" does the fat noble voice everybody's opinion while he steps backwards, the soldiers go pale and begin to retreat as well. Zarach doesn't know whether to be surprised by the shining magic circle or the fact that this is the first time Orcus did something. He tries to stand up, but notices that his body won't move and he yells, "Hey, Orcus! Why can I not move?", at the surprised Orcus.
"Well.., hm.. Your being transported,...I think or I hope..." does Orcus say, "Either way I think this is going to be fun!".
Cold sweat drips from Zarach's forehead when he realises that Orcus has no clue what he is doing. Before he has the chance to order Orcus to stop this madness, the light intensifies and Rorarth together with the other servants nearby are blown out of the magic circle. The light beams from the floor to the ceiling of the room, forming a giant pillar of light on the magic circle, with Zarach in the centre. His body feels like it is on fire and being crushed at the same time. Then his conscious suddenly fades away.
It is dark, there is no ground, no walls, no ceiling but neither is there a sky, just endless darkness. That is what Zarach sees when he wakes up... No not what he sees, but what he senses, because he has no eyes nor does he have a body.
Merely a presence and a conscious floating in the darkness, that is all that is left of him. "What is this place? Am I a ghost? So did I die? What in the world happened there?", does Zarach wonder.
"You're in the void, the endless emptiness between worlds. And yes, it is your soul that is here, but technically you're not dead." does a high and melodious voice answer Zarach's questions. Before Zarach can say anything, "Ah how rude of me, let me introduce myself. I am a spiritual being that wanders the void and protects the barriers between the worlds. And before you ask, I don't have a name. A name serves no purpose here, where nothing exists."
"I am Zarach emperor of Assyrum,... or more accurately was.. I was brought here by a magic circle that functions as a portal, activated by my court magister Orcus when..." Zarach begins to explain his situation but the spirit interrupts him.
"Yes I know, as soon as I felt the energy gathering, I carefully watched the events take place. You might not like to hear it, but you should probably fire your court magician. Not only doesn't he posses any magic, he mistook the circle as well.
To put it simply, that was no portal that transports the objects inside to another portal, but a gate that connects with the void." does the spirit explain to Zarach.
'Well, finally a confirmation that Orcus was a crazy idiot.', does Zarach think, then a sudden thought crosses his mind, "And what happened to my body and my subordinates?".
"The gate can only be used by spiritual things, and that fool tried to use it as a portal. So either your body was disintegrated by the energy stream or it perished in the void. All physical things that enter the void disappear, the darkness swallows everything."
'What!! so I did die??', "You said that I wasn't dead, didn't you?" says Zarach in panic. Well he was resolved to die, but this is rather sudden and moreover he was killed because of a mistake made by Orcus. What kind of pathetic death is that?
"I said technically not dead, practically... I would say that your close enough to being dead... Ah you don't get it..., well let me explain. When the soul leaves the body on its own or when it is unable to stay in the body and can't return any more, then you're dead. But in your case, your soul was unnaturally forced out of the body. So you're a spirit with quite an unique case,... hm this has not happened in... the last hundred thousand years? Ah well either way, you can be happy because you got to experience a thing almost no one can."
'Why should that make me happy, there isn't anything good about it, it hurt as hell!' is what Zarach thinks of his unique out of body experience, "And the others with me? What happened to them while I disappeared?".
"Uhm, I have good news and bad news, which of the two do you want to hear first?"
"Just tell me!" does Zarach yell angry while thinking, 'I don't have time for games! I need to now whether Rorarth and the others are fine, except Orcus, don't care about that one.'
"Fine, misusing the gate like that caused a vortex of energy when you transported. The things in the circle that didn't get transported to the void, parts of your body, clothes, the chair for example, where converted into energy and released.
Simply put, there was a huge explosion and the whole palace was blown to smithereens. The good news is that all your enemies are dead and the bad news is that your subordinates died along with them."
With these words every hope Zarach still had is gone, everybody is dead, there is nothing any more. All is lost, now he can only drown in his despair.
"Cheer up! You still have me, the best company that there is, in the void!... Because I am the only one here, ha ha ha.."
"I am finally rid of Orcus and now I am stuck with another lunatic!" does Zarach shout in frustration, assuming that the spirit probably totally crazy is.
"I am just entertaining myself,... Oh on a side note I never even once got a complaint... guess why? There is nobody to complain bwha ha..."
"Totally bonkers." sighs Zarach. Is this his fate? Spending all eternally in the emptiness and slowly go crazy just like that spirit? Until the next words of the spirit pull Zarach out of his despair.
"Don't get so depressed, at the end of one thing is the beginning of something new. Don't forget that technically you didn't die, mister irregular."
"What do you mean? Can you revive me?" does Zarach wonder, something like that should be impossible right?
"I can't revive the dead, but in your case I can do something similar. I will transport your soul to the body of a stillborn and protect you against the cause of death of the previous owner."
"So I will be revived in Assyrum?" does Zarach ask the spirit while he begins to over think all the things he still has to do.
"No, that won't be possible, the spiritual gate was the only somewhat magical thing in your world. I will have to transport you to a world where magic can be used more freely."
"Fine, no other choice I guess." does Zarach agree. 'I hope that my parents are somewhat important, I don't want to be born as commoner that is being oppressed by nobles.' does Zarach think when he asks, "Just wondering, but what was the cause of death?".
"The previous one froze to death before he could be born."
'Ah, he froze to death... What?? How in the world did he freeze to death in his mother's belly?' But before Zarach can ask how such a thing is possible, the spirit sends him off. The spirit creates a large whirlpool of energy and the whirlpool swallows Zarach. Slowly he feels his senses grow hazy and his mind go blank.
"The egg has been frozen for a few hundred years, but the contents are still as fresh as ever! So have fun!" yells the spirit to the disappearing Zarach.
'What?? egg?? Wait!!' are the last thoughts Zarach has before he loses conscious for a second time.