Originally uploaded Oct 30, 2023
Lord Asclepius POV
I overlooked the beautiful sunset upon Ephetous. The sun cast a warm light across the horizon. A soft cool breeze ran through my orange hair as it fluttered in the wind.
It was rare for me to have such peace and quiet. Being the clan leader of one of the Great Eight was never easy. I also never particularly liked having to uphold the airs of a king or leader of a race. It was all too restrictive and suffocating. Being on troubling terms with the Indrath clan didn't make it any easier.
Nevertheless it was my son Mordain who had gained the favor of the king of asuras. It wasn't a match you would imagine that would work. Lord Indrath was already ancient even by asuran standards when he met Mordain. But my son makes it work somehow.
In the distance I could a large whale-like creature rise from just beyond the horizon. Its massive body glimmered blue like sapphires in the evening light. The leviathan hung in the air for a moment before diving back behind the horizon and disappeared.
Looking down for a moment I saw the ashen black soil of our home. Despite what looked like scorched earth green plants decorated the earth. While us phoenixes had an affinity for fire based mana arts, we were masters of death and rebirth. And cultivating plants and other life in such conditions were of no challenge to us.
I rested my hands on the balcony of the main tower located in the center of our clan. Overlooking the entire home of our clan. Situated near a dormant volcano the ash from previous eruptions gave the soil more nutrients for plant life than one would expect.
I could see small children running around, playing. Enjoying their childhood. Such a sight brought a small smile to my face. Despite all my efforts I was never a good king. I have failed my clan on many occasions yet they still stood by me. Was it perhaps a sense of duty? Or have they just not found a suitable replacement for me yet.
From where I stand now my son is shaping up to be a greater leader than I ever was. He was still young and stubborn sometimes but their were flames of ambition within him. He was charismatic yet wise for his age and would only grow into his future role with time.
I pondered the future of my son and my clan after I was gone. Phoenixes are a bit strange when it came to death. We could incarnate if we so chose to, and had the skills and strength to undergo it. But nobody was truly immortal. It wasn't a perfect processes that grew difficult with age. Time eventually brought an end to us all, even to asuras.
The Asclepius clan was always at odds with the Indrath clan. Even after the time of war and strife when living mountains roamed freely on Ephetous and battles between god-like beings were common place. It was indeed Kezess who brought an end to such times, and created the council of the Great Eight clans.
He kept us around despite our long and bloody history. Was it perhaps to keep a close eye on us? We both knew a full out war with the Indrath clan would only end in the complete erasure of our clan. Indeed that was the true for most of the other clans as well. While we still greatly respected Lord Indrath and his accomplishments it was the fear of his own power as well as his clans that kept all of us in line.
I checked my wrist to look at the time. It was getting late, evident by the falling sun. Mordain had left to have a personal meeting with Lord Indrath and by all accounts he should have been back by now. But it had been a while since they have formally spoken so I thought little of it.
They were always close. Even though both respective clans held an open hatred for each other Mordain was a close friend to the lord of dragons. They would go hours talking to each other, sharing grievances and speaking truly with one another. He was the one bridge between the clans that held it together, a friendship that I only wished for it to grow.
Ephetous was a peaceful land,the eras of war and blood long over. And I didn't want my clan to be the catalyst for a new age of warfare.
As I stood on my overhanging balcony staring up into the sky that was now growing dark with small pinpricks of light from distant stars I sensed a sudden change in pressure. I jolted up straight as I could feel the strong aura that was fast approaching.
Mana traveled up into my eyes as I augmented my sense to better see what it could be. In the distance I saw dark shadows moving in the sky, bloating out the stars as they moved across the darkened sky.
Before they arrived a strong gust of wind struck me. Like the winds of a hurricane, it almost knocked my off balance. I heard the surprised shrieks and screams from the children and civilians below.
And before I knew it the full might of a king's force was upon me. The air was pushed right out of my lungs as I struggled to gasp for air. The torrents of wind grew stronger as I could sense several strong mana signatures closing in all around me. And soon I heard the beating of massive wings as they came into vision. Illuminated from below by the city lights their gemstone-like scales glistened like the very stars they blocked.
Dragons. I thought in my mind as they began to encircle the main tower. All of them were high ranking veterans of the Indrath clan. Many had marking of gold across their flanks as each of them emitted a powerful aura. Then one particularly large dragon, its scales a vibrant green and eyes that looked more like amethyst than actual eyes moved forward to approach me.
The overwhelming force was coming from it. The same one that was currently slowly strangling me. No, I realized it was coming from the being upon its back.
Lord Indrath stood on the back of the dragon. Wearing the same clean white robes he always preferred with his silvery hair dancing in the wind. His eyes the color of violent purple lightning.
I staggered back for a moment. It was rare for Lord Indrath to ever leave his castle. Let alone personally visit another clan. It was far more common for each clans head to converge and met at the royal castle.
Regaining my strength I calmed myself. The city below must have been in utter shock and chaos. Having Lord Indrath accompanied by this many dragons never meant anything good. Taking a deep bow of respect I held that pose for a while before I regained myself.
Clearing my throat I began to speak. Trying to be cautiously friendly but respectful.
"Lord Indrath. What brings you here to our clan?"
Lord Indrath silently scanned the city that laid below him. His face never changing, the air around him never ceased. Then his stone cold eyes that could have cut steel with a mere gaze looked back into mine. And for the first time since I could remember I felt truly small.
He didn't speak, as one of the dragons stepped forward. His powerful wings kicking up dust as I could hear my people below begin to seek shelter.
"Lord Indrath has personally come due to his respect for your son and your clan." The dragon opened its mouth to speak. The word coming out of his mouth in a low yet audible bellow. Looking over the dragon's scaly shoulders I could see the distant horizon, the dying sunlight being blocked by even more dark shadows I could only assume were more dragons.
The mana carried me up towards Kezess Indrath. As we were now eye level. His eyes changed hues again, this time to a light violet, almost pink color.
"I'd rather not speak to some messenger." I said, putting force into my voice. I pushed back against Indrath mountain-like aura with my own, it wasn't enough to overpower his but it made breathing easier.
In the blink of an eye the lord of dragons was now in front of me as an arm's length. I couldn't see it but I could sense the tinge of aether he wielded as he teleported. And with a single fluid motion a parchment appeared in his hands. He unraveled it as he began to recite the passage that was inscribed upon it.
"For the crimes of prince Mordain, the Asclepius clan is to be exiled from Ephetous. Affected immediately." He said in a cold stern tone.
I was dumbstruck for a moment. "Wait, what?" I began to question as I reached for Kezess. But my hands were stopped by large hands. Turning my head I saw that two of the dragons had taken their humanoid forms and stood at either side. Wearing heavy armor that made me question how they were even flying in the first place.
Golden runes of Realmheart shined like the drop of morning sun on their skin. They may have been Kezess' elite guards but they were still his underlying. With a sharp flick of my wrists I released myself from their grasps as I approached Kezess. The other dragons began to move into position, trying to defend their kind but they halted when Indrath raised his hands, telling them to stop.
You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.
He stared back at me. His eyes a swirling whirlpool of power and wisdom. It was now, where I was face to face with the true lord of all asuras. The being who brought living mountains to heel, a being who ended a war where gods took to the field. Without his mask of indifference or benevolence I now understood the massive gulf between our abilities.
"The only reason you are alive is because of the respect I hold for you and your clan. Be thankful for my mercy." He said without a hint of remorse or regret in his voice. As if exiling an entire clan, a clan that was a part of the Great Eight was a small trivial matter. No wonder he could have ordered the extermination of an entire race.
Kezess turned to leave. But I was in denial. I clenched my fists as my nails dug into my skin and drew hot blood. The other dragons began to move towards me. Most likely to bind me and bring me before the official court to begin my clan's banishment. I stared back at the head of Kezess Indrath. His silvery white hair gently swayed with the wind. I wasn't sure what drove me, a mix of desperation and rage most likely.
My mana flared up like a bonfire. Bright orange and red flames illuminated my balcony as large wings made of feathers of fire and lava sprouted from my back. The other dragons reeled back as I unleashed my full form.
The overhanging balcony under us collapsed as I took to the air with one powerful beat of my large wings. Sending broken debris tumbling down to the ground below. Even from here I could sense the mana signatures of my guards flaring up in response to my own.
With a heavy slash of my wing I unleashed a arch of fire. Striking two of the dragons directly on their wings, making them roar in pain as flames danced on their body. As the two dragons who took on a humanoid appearance quickly discarded their human shape and returned to their full form. But even they were struck aside by a single breath of my flames.
My entire body was bathed with flames as I charged for Indrath. His was still turned away from me as I quickly dived for him. I knew it was suicide but what choice did I have. Being exiled from Ephetous brought shame and disgrace to the clan leader that was worse than death. And as a phoenix who lived longer than most through our natural rebirth process it dug deeper for us.
Before my claws could reach the lord of dragons a sudden electrifying pain shot up and down my entire body. It felt as though tiny knifes dipped in acid were stabbing my entire body all at once. Loosing control of my body I tumbled out of the sky as I crashed into the homes below. I roared in pain as I writhed on the ground, igniting nearby building as I did so.
As the pain subsided a looming shadow was cast over me and I stared up into the now night sky. The faint moonlight silhouetted the figure that hung over me. Like death itself. Lord Indrath's robes danced in the night breeze as his eyes now glowed an ominous deep purple.
He didn't move, nor did his face ever change. He merely reach out with one of his hands and I could feel the mana begin to abandon my body. I struggled to get back up when four dragons converged and pinned me to the ground. Each grabbing one of my limbs and planting me still. The flames of my body flared up once again in protest but I was loosing more mana than I could absorb.
And soon the fire on my body was snuffed out as I was forced out of my full form and back into my human form. I struggled for breath as I began to cough. Chains of aether and mana lunged for me like serpents as they violently locked around my arms and legs.
Kezess released his grasp of my mana before it would have killed me and gently floated down to the ground. He stared down at me a moment before he turned around. He issued one final order for his dragon warriors before he disappeared with a flash of aether and mana.
"Bring him."
***
I woke to harsh light shinning into my face. I squinted my eyes as they struggled to adjust to the bright beam of light that illuminated my face. My vision still blurry I tried to move my arms that were hanging in the air.
When I did I felt a strong tugging sensation as my arms didn't move. Suddenly a wave of electrifying pain washed over my body as I gasped sharply in pain. It felt as though my very nerves were being burned as the pain sobered me up.
When I had came to my sense I craned my neck back as I took in where I was. The Ephetous court room. Large stained windows made up the walls, each of them showcasing an important part of our land's history. With all large domed glass ceiling that illuminated the entire room with the sun's fresh light. With patterns of elaborate tapestries were carved into the floors with water glowing through them.
The entire room was full, which was not a common occurrence. Multiple stands of seats were filled with asuras, both young and old from all of the clans. Some I haven't seen in decades.
Upon an elevated platform sat all of the leaders of the Great Eight. Dressed in formal black attire they looked down upon me, some with pity, some with visible disgust and disdain. And just above them sat Lord Indrath upon a throne made of white marble, separated from the rest of the asuran council. He still wore his usual clean white robes, his face his usual cold careless stare.
I turned my head to look at the bindings that held me. Dark grey cuffs were shackled on my wrists and ankles, slowly draining me of my mana as they held me in place. I flexed my arms once again, only to be met by the same wave of pain that threatened to drive me out of my mind.
I had gone through rigorous training upon my father's request when I was younger. I had participated in the gruesome wars that shaped the very land I stood upon. I had gone through trials and tribulations I wouldn't hope on my worst enemy but this was something else. A tool or relic that seemed to plug directly into my brain and nerves system, sending pain that was unlike anything I have felt before.
I shut my eyes in a futile attempt to escape the pain, my entire body shook as tinges of red flames danced around my body. But I lacked the strength to break free. And even if I did I doubt I would even survive a second here with the Great Eight here.
"Lord Asclepius." A stern voice addressed me, one I was all too familiar with.
Raising me head once more I saw the lord of the Thyestes clan. Ademir wore deep black robes that hid his physique. But even from here I could see the outline of his tall and lean body of a well trained fighter.
His two central eyes that shined with a bright purple light looked back at mine and for a split second I could have sworn I saw the faintest hint of sadness within them.
"Lord Asclepius, as the speaking representative of the Great Eight we have brought you here to decree the council judgment upon your transgressions." He spoke in a well mannered fashion, like he had done this thousands of times before.
I knew what was to become of me and my clan. Even if I didn't let my emotions get ahead of me our collaborations with the Djinn were always a touchy subject. With only the most trusted members of our clan being in the know and even among them, only the most loyal were allowed to make contact with the near extinct race.
Lord Indrath must have know from the beginning. If not from the start he must have figured it out rather quickly. He always played up the airs of an uncaring ruler. One who sat upon the throne and didn't bother with the troubles and workings of lesser asuras. So we walked the border lightly. Never directly bringing the subject to light.
I thought back to my son, Mordain. He had grown a close connection with the Djinn. In face he seemed to spend more and more time with them than here on Ephetous. He went to Lord Indrath with the pretenses of catching up with an old friend.
'What a old fool I was.' I said in my head. I should have known from the look in his eyes. The look of wanting justice and vindication that burned like the sun. Yet I still let him go, I still trusted him to make the best decision for all of us, for our whole clan.
There wasn't a single doubt in my mind that he was the trigger for all of this. The truth behind massacre of the Djinn race was something the lord of dragons had tried very hard to cover up. I didn't put it past him to have already silenced many of his own ranks that disagreed with him. And a reasonable explanation as to why he would personally leave his castle with an army of his elite dragons to our clan.
Lord Ademir cleared his throat before he continued. He was clearly bothered by the events that were transpiring but he did not make them apparent. He did not desire the attention to be turned upon his own clan.
"The Asclepius clan is to be removed from the Great Eight and exiled from Ephetous. With Lord Asclepius sentenced to execution and forced rebirth for the clan's transgressions."
As he finished speaking the room grew deathly quiet. The Great Eight was established by Indrath himself after he ended the times of strive and war. A formal council of the notable asuras clans that represented their race. The removal of one of the clans and exile of them were unheard of.
Even in my weakened state I could feel the mana signatures and aura of the auras in the crowd changing. Some flared up in rage while others were snuffed out like candlelight. But none of them dared to question the council's decision.
Lord Indrath arose from his seat. And as he did so the entire room went on one knee as they deeply bowed in respect. He appeared before me, seemingly teleporting the short distance. He looked down upon me with his eyes that were now a light lavender of a summer flower. He studied my for a second before turning his back on me once again.
Gathering the little strength I had I mustered up both the energy and courage to speak out, shouting for the now departing king of asuras.
"Wait! My son, where is my son?" I questioned him and upon me asking he stopped in his tracks.
He turned his head, giving me a sideways glance. If he had gone to meet with Lord Indrath and sparked the flames that creating this whole conflict than-
"He shall met his judgement as will you." He coldly said, his dominating aura pressing down on me like a mountain. Before he released it and vanished before our very eyes. I felt my heart dropping to the bottom of my stomach. If I were to undergo execution by the most devastating method that was available to us phoenixes than that would mean my own son...
Two large and strong hands grabbed my shoulders. They lifted me up to my feet as they escorted me to my final resting place. I had hoped that Mordain would be the future of our clan. The one that would lead us to a brighter future, one where we could see eye-to-eye with the dragons of the Indrath clan but I suppose I wrong. Yet in my heart I couldn't place all of the blame on him.
He had done as I had taught him. To be what I couldn't, to be not just a better leader but a better person. And he was just that. Someone who would break through boundaries for what he believed in, for the people he cared about. I knew it was all in vain but I wished against all of fate that the Djinn had taught me a couple of tricks and he was still out there somewhere with them.
The two dragons lead me out of the room as they guided me to the execution grounds. I slowly closed my eyes as I let everything within my heart go. There was no need for it now, there was no point. I could still picture them. My family. Mordain still small enough to fit on my lap with his mother that he resembled. A time when I was truly happy and even the war couldn't dampen my spirits and hopes for the future of our clan.
'I will be finally joining you, dear.'