Originally uploaded Jun 28, 2024

Vago Pov

The whole fortress was in an uproar. Well, to call it a fortress would be an insult to decent architecture. It was more of a half destroyed cityhall that was forcefully connected to underground caverns and pathways.

Families ran along as they hugged their children, all scrambling to reach the teleportation gates to take them far away to safety. I couldn't help but look at them with a mix of disgust, disappointment, and pity.

To see our race reduced to such panicking animals running for their lives. We once held this world in our hands, but now we were abandoning it.

Even in my old age I still stood strong. The runes and aetheric techniques our glorious Emperor has shown us has allowed us to stand for so far.

Even now I could hear the fierce battle that raged outside, I could hear our warriors shouting orders as the bellows and roars of dragons shook the very ground, knocking dust and pebbles free from the ceiling.

Still, my footsteps and tapping of my staff seemed to echo through the fortress' dark interior. In truth I was pacing back and forth for quiet a while now. The Emperor had deemed it important enough for him to lead and guide the few survivors to what many of them have dubbed the Great Work.

An apt name I suppose. It was the last thing our race truly accomplish as an unified race. After the dragons filled the skies, the bets were off as many elected leaders tried to wrangle the panicking populous.

Perhaps that was why the Emperor showed himself when he did. During all the unrest and slaughter. He was a breath of fresh air and a beacon of hope in our last hours. Yet, despite his outward appearance of a fierce warrior he showed great compassion for any member of our race.

Even the obvious disdain both sides of our own divided civilization held for each other he had always ordered us to protect our people. And the reason why the older nobles and officials even agreed to have him as a collaborator in this whole project and last ditch attempt of evacuation.

It was his own decision to head off himself to attempt to force shut the rift that connected Ephetous to our world. On paper it seemed more like a suicide mission than anything. While our Great Work and the rift do share some similarities in nature, they were fundamentally different and on a completely different scale.

Not to mention the area around the rift being heavily guarded by only the most trusted Indrath clan dogs. But if any of us was going to do it, it was him. We didn't even have time to gather an assault force. The custodians were already fighting for days on end outside, keeping the dragons at bay.

And from what little communication they could spare their numbers were cut to only ten now. Oh how long it would take to replenish those numbers. Each custodians was a personal endeavor of the Emperor. A blend of his mastery with mana, aether, and biomancy. They were mortal in all but name. They were the closest we could artificial create to asuras. It was the Emperor's dream and hope to eventually have our entire race evolve to such heights.

No, the Emperor deemed this an important enough task to set off himself. Taking his own personal flagship with a handful of legions we could spare. And it had been hours since we have last heard of him.

By now even the custodians would have heard of his decision. They were probably bee-lining it straight for him now probably. They all carried a burning fire of loyalty to their king. An unwavering pledge to defend their creator and master that bordered on inhuman. It even made me ponder if they would slaughter our own people if it meant it safeguarded their king.

Well, everything that had to do with the Emperor was unnatural to begin with. I tried to drown myself in old memories as I paced back and forth, awaiting for any word from the Emperor.

I was a chronomancer, I was no real war general. There were already fighters within our ranks that specialized aevum. And even my seer abilities were inconsistent with the sheer chaos of aetheric forces outside. And I doubt I would even be able to focus to see anything meaningful in my state.

My thoughts drifted back to the Emperor. When I had first met him he was rather unassuming. He took the form of a tall gentleman, dark tan skin framed by flowing black hair. His eyes were darker than all of his other features. Like great pits of the void that took in all the information that surrounded him. He wore formal clothing that didn't stand out.

At his side was his son. He was quiet small then. Coming up to only his father's thigh. Most of his features mirrored his gene sire's. All but his eyes, which were a deep lavender. He didn't speak much, and stayed close to his father when we first met.

During our fist meeting he spoke to me as a scientist would do to another of his kin. Speaking about my published work on theories of aevum and seers. He showed great interest in my area of study, while also lamenting that we didn't take them to their logical conclusion.

He always thought on a grander scale. Never speaking as an individual, but our whole world united as one. And the things that would be possible if we were all united for a singular goal.

In truth he wasn't all that remarkable or memorable during that time. Yes, he did seem intelligent and knowledgeable on mana and aetheric studies. But nothing you wouldn't find from our academies. Although many of his ideals and theories were far from the norm. Sometimes he would just gaze up at the stars late at night and stand there for hours in silence.

He did pay me a hefty sum to personally educate his child. Not that the child really needed it. While he wasn't that much of a talker he picked up things very quicker. He would fail at one thing at first. But would quickly adapt or adjust at a rate that seemed almost machine-like.

When the boy was in his teenage years I doubt there was a professor or scholar that could rival him. The boy did enjoy playing boardgames however. Which was the singular trait he had that seemed to show his age.

He would nag at me for hours begging me to play with him. And when I relented and thoroughly crushed him. He would come back in a few hours and try again. You could never use the same tactic against that boy twice. He would analyze and learn and turn your plan against you.

It got to the part where I had to use my aevum abilities to keep up with him, when he was using none of his own gifts.

In retrospect I never did see his mother. I suppose it wouldn't surprise me to learn that he was another one of the Emperor's projects and that he never had a mother to begin with.

The Emperor was always strange. He seemed friendly on the surface, but you could just tell there was something going on behind those eyes.

When the asuras finally came upon our world and soon set it ablaze was when he truly seemed to show his true face.

I didn't recognize him at first. His gold and black armor reflecting the sunlight as a purple corona of raw aetheric might haloed over his head. He seemed like an angel of ancient legend, sent down from the heavens to strike down the demons asuras.

He wielded mana and aether that could only have been dreamed of. Even managing to drive back the initial wave of dragons that breached into our realm. Pretty soon after that, many of our own began to join his ranks.

Many were furious or drive by grief. Seeing their homes, friends, and families destroyed were too much for even the once peaceful Djinn. Many joined him in hopes of driving back the asuras and retaking what was once ours. To reclaim a live they had burned away from us.

But I suppose now all of that was wishful thinking. After we drove off the first wave it only got harder from there. That tyrant Indrath probably saw the threat we posed and seemed set on completely erasing us from history. As they began scorching the two continents and cleansing it with their fire.

Now only small patches of resistance remain. They most of them will soon all hide within our Great Work. Deep within the space they carved out within the aetheric sea.

Great shame, weighed down all of us. To have stood so high and so close to uncovering the workings of our universe, only to be shunted down the mountain.

"Out of the way!" A roar echoed throughout the halls. Turning all of our heads.

In the distance were the ten custodians. Their gleaming gold and black armor that matched the Emperor's were scorched and dented and they were dyed red with blood. They all looked exhausted, some on the verge of collapse. Many of them carried grievous wounds that would have killed any normal man.

They bulldozed through the man and woman that stood in their way. Not giving them time to move out of the way, they were swatted aside like insects or trampled beneath their boots.

The crowd soon dispersed as they screamed in horror. And in that moment I saw what the custodians truly were. They were warriors. Creatures forged in the flames of war for one singular purpose. Nothing more and nothing less. They were machines molded into the shape of man, but they were machines of killing.

Beings wrought to bring about the dawn of a race, or the end of it.

But the sight of them was not what made my heart sink to the bottom of my feet. On the metal stretcher they carried laid the master of our race.

The Djinn Emperor, laid a bloodied mess. The back half of his skull was missing as blood and brain matter matted his black hair. The custodians marched towards me. As the captain strode forward.

"What happened?" I asked in a whisper as I laid my eyes on our once glorious leader. Up close I could see the damage he had suffered. A large hole in his chest with a massive portion of his right shoulder ripped clean off. His masterfully crafted armor that outmatched any of our own was in tatters. It's blackstone surface was marred with burn marks as large crack ran through its entirety.

"Where is Varactor!" Bellerophon roared at such volumes that caused my eardrums to burst. I could feel warm blood trickling down the side of my face as I turned to answer the custodian.

Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

But before I could speak the tell-tell sign of metal clicking announced the Highlord's presence.

The mechanical abomination of a Djinn carried himself forward. His large crimson robes hide most of his immense body as he craned his neck downwards as his sensors took in all the data.

After a few short minutes he vocalizers muttered. "He will not survive."

"Save him!" This time Helios commanded.

Varactor turned to face the custodian. "You are ordering me to do the impossible. Even our greatest healers won't be enough. While my understanding of vivum is lacking. I can tell that the damage isn't merely physical."

"What do you mean?" I chimed in.

"There has been damage to his soul."

"His soul?" Bellerophon questioned.

"I lack the words or vivum abilities to properly describe it. But he won't survive, not like this."

The Emperor stir. He groaned in pain as he opened his eyes. Both of them bloodshot.

"Vago." He beckoned and I answered as I knelt before him.

"Yes, my lord?"

"Take them. Take them all." He said with great pain as he pointed to the teleportation portal leading to our Great Work.

"Take them. There we shall await for our next opportunity to strike. Take them deep within the void and allow them to slumber. For when I return it will mark a new beginning."

"Return, my lord? What do you mean?"

The Emperor slowly rose from the stretcher. The other custodians tried to stop him but it was no use. In carefully measured movements he got to his feet. A soft aura of hazy purple surrounded him as his wounds slowly began to heal. But we could tell that it wouldn't be enough, the damage had already been done.

"My lord, we must get you to-" Bellerophon tried to speak but was interrupted.

"The pathways that have led me in this desert are lost. But I shall still wander into the night. Bellerophon, choose three of your men to accompany me."

"Accompany you where, my lord?" Bellerophon questioned, sounding more like a lost child than a warrior.

"Into exile. A king who has failed his people has no right for comforts."

The Emperor than turned to his people. The pain and fatigue seemingly vanishing like a mirage as he did so. All of that was replaced by a warm and calm power, like that of a summer sun.

"This world has many horrors that it has yet to throw at us. This is not the end of our struggle. This is just the beginning of our battle to save our race. Be faithful! Be strong! We shall rise once again and reclaim what was ours!" The Emperor proclaimed as many of his soldiers and warriors roared in agreement.

The Emperor than turned to us. His ten loyal custodians and I. He didn't speak any words, for they would not have been enough. He merely gave a stare of understanding, regret, pain, and sorrow.

This was the end of this war. And our time will soon set as newer younger races fostered by the tyrants above will grow to take our place.

Perhaps this was the end. And we will all be forgotten, every single trace of our existence burned away.

But yet there was something else in the Emperor's eyes. His dark void-like eyes that seemed to convey unparalleled wisdom and time.

A possible pathway.

A way for our race's survival.

A small glimmer of hope.

And that was all I needed. And the reason why I sided with him. If the alternative is our demise than why not take that gamble.

We shall rebel against our own Fate. Even if the end is inevitable.

***

Caera Pov

I stared out into the cloudy horizon. Having to have the window closed due to the high altitude was a bother. I wanted to feel the rush of fresh cool air tossing my hair around as I stare out into the sky.

Although, having returned to the Dicathen castle after so long is a comforting feeling. Being placed as a noble within Dicathen I had no real obligation to fight in the war. Not that my handlers would have allowed any real harm to befall me. And I didn't necessarily want to fight battles against my own people.

I did have to nag them constantly to let me attend Xyrus academy after all. But convincing them that it was important for our mission to better understand Dicathen society by observing its education system seemed to have been enough.

But fat load that did. Now most of the class held at the academy were canceled. Many of the professors being able mages were now aiding in the war.

And now my target in this whole operation was now the king of Dicathen. It sill seemed crazy to think about. From all the files I have read about him to seeing him in person, he was a talented mage.

Perhaps even a once in a generation genius, and the air he carried around him made him more akin to an adult with years of experience than a mere young teen. But now he sat upon the throne of a entire continent.

The rumor was the he forced the other members of the Dicathen council to bend to his will using raw force using commander Virion as a way into the political side of Dicathen. Seeing as how he completely negated the Lances and their mana arts during the attack on Xyrus it didn't seem impossible. And perhaps the most likely outcome.

But a person as smart as Grey should know that holding power like that can only last for so long. Especially without killing off any competition like the remaining royal families, when the nobles get upset with any of his reforms or changes a small spark is all its needed to start a fire.

I couldn't help but sigh as I leaned back in my bed. Staring up at the ceiling where the lighting artifact hung and swayed slightly.

Now that Grey is king getting close to him wasn't the easiest thing to do. When we were at Xyrus I tried to grow closer to him. But he would always seemed to keep a professional distance from all of his students. Maybe it was due to his position as assistant director. And I concluded any physical coercion would be ineffective against a man like him.

It did make me wonder what kind of life he had lived up to that point to be like that. Even children from Highbloods who have seen their fair share of death, battle, and politcal backstabbing don't come close to Grey.

I rolled around in my head, letting my head hang off the edge as my long navy hair touched the ground.

His family was another thing. He seems to have cut direct contact with them entirely. Only keeping an guard around them through more discrete methods. In fact it had made gathering any new information about his family a chore for my people.

Still, I think I am seeing a bit as to why Highlord Agrona took such an interest in him. How could you not? A boy hailing from an unremarkable family rising all the way to the throne in a couple of years? Was this some kind of fantasy novel? It was no wonder why the Highlord initially wanted to bring him over to his side. But also leaving the door open for assassination if he were to grow to be any larger threat to the Highlord's plans.

Some small part of me even wondered if Grey was some Vritra agent from the beginning. Perhaps he was some kind of asuran-human hybrid the Highlord created and planted in Dicathen to taken over from the inside.

Of course Scythe Seris has slightly differing intentions for the boy. Although she still hasn't revealed her full intention and plans, even to me. But I still had to keep up my act. I am more than sure there are multiple sets of eyes here that rely anything that I do.

With another deep sigh I rose from my bed. I had to go cool my head with a small walk or something.

Before heading out I took a glance at the mirror. Simply dress shirt with black pants. My long hair was a bit messier than usual, something my personal maid back at Denoir estate would kill me for. But they were an ocean away from me, so you could call this my little rebellion against them.

The glint of light from my pendant at my neck caught my eye as my finger rose to touch it. With a swift finger motion the relic deactivated, revealing the long curling Vritra horns that grew from my head.

I stared back at the true me in the mirror. Dark horns and red eyes, all the signs of a Vritra-blooded human. I had to be even more careful with my true identity here. I am sure there are plenty of people who would do more than just kill me if they knew what I really was.

With another swift motion the horns were gone again. Brushing my hair down with only my fingers I opened the door in my room and stepped outside.

Pretty soon I began pacing through the castle. Exchanging pleasantries with any passerby.

Most of my days were spent hopping to and from the castle and Xyrus city. Being of a noble family here on Dicathen I was given more freedom than most. So most of my time were spent mostly lounging around to be honest.

I did have contacts being made in dwarven city of Vildorial, which is were Grey has set up shop if what I have heard was correct. In fact the dwarves seems to be where Grey's conquest started. After the ousting and execution of the dwarven royals Grey seemed to have capitalized on the opportunity to swoop up power.

It was only when Grey properly revealed himself to the public that trade between Darv reopened.

And it seems to be the dwarves who support their new king the most. And while information was still tight and hard to get a hard of, it would seem Grey has done much to please the people of Darv.

As I walked without thinking I soon ended up at one of the many training areas the castle provided for its residences.

It was common for many noble families to have their children trained here by private tutors. On rarer occasion one could even catch a glimpse of the Lances sparring with each other.

On this day however I was treated to no such sights. As I poked my head to see if any were present.

It was mostly empty, all but for a single figure that stood at the far end of the training area. I didn't need to walk up to her to see who it was. The way her grey hair caught the light, as well as the unique type of plant mana arts she used gave it away.

Tessia Eralith. Princess of Elenoir. If I recall correctly she recently had been recalled from deployment near the town of Slore, after a Retainer revealed herself.

Retainers. They were the main forces in this war, at least for now. Despite being underlings to Scythes they were nothing to be scoffed at. I have heard a great deal of things about the Retainers, especially during the many wars each Dominion waged against each other.

And I have seen recording of them at the Victoriad. Even recalling the memory was enough to make my skin crawl. But for the Dicathen to have actually killed one, it made me fear how Agrona would respond. Now that one of his key players in this war was taken out.

Still, I deemed it would be rude to not say hello. And Tessia was a childhood friend of Grey's. Perhaps she could be the key to getting closer to that boy.

As I drew closer I paid careful attention to her movements and combat techniques.

While this training facility was usually reserved for lessons with actual tutors, the castle did provide mechanized automatons fueled by mana crystals that acted as sparring partners.

Tessia deal a silver rapier in her hands. It thin blade reflected the light as the handle was wrapped in a dark forest green grip with a handguard design that emulated that of complex tree branches or roots.

The sparring automaton swung the sword it had in its hand forward. With enough power to cleave a thick tree into two, it swung for Tessia's midsection.

Yet before it could make contact the automaton's body lurched to a stop as heavy vines sprouted from the ground and coiled its way around its body.

Tessia moved in quick to capitalize the small opening. I could sense the mana flooding into your legs as she shot forward like an arrow. A faint shimmer of mana blurred her as it encompassed her body. The wind howled as it drove her faster and faster.

Until, she ended up at the other side of the room. The sparring machine cut cleanly into two pieces.

I walked over to Tessia as she slumped forward, leaning on her rapier for balance.

Despite being a caster, no, a conjurer. She still trained in sword fighting. Quiet a commendable effort I might add. While most mages in Dicathen would focus on one it would seem she has the raw talent to split her focus.

Of course whether or not her strategy was effective in the long was to be seen. But it would seem from observing the Lances and Retainers that at higher core levels the lines between conjurers and augmenters were blurred.

Swiftly taking out a satchel of water from my dimensional storage ring I handed it to her. Tessia looked up at me with surprise. She had obviously presumed she was alone.

"Oh, Caera." She exclaimed and she nodded thanks as she took the water.

'Light yellow, on the verge of silver.' I noted, without having any visible runes to mark a mage's power I had grown the habit of judging them by their core levels. And while it wasn't the most effective it did tell me just how much raw mana they had access to.

"I see you are working hard, I wish I could aid you in battle alas-"

"No no. It's fine. Believe me, it was hard enough for me to convince my parents to let me out there. Even then-" She stopped mid-sentence. And from her facial expressions I could tell I had stepped on some barbed wires.

Quickly trying to change the subject I walked over to the control panel at the right side of the room. While it was a far cry from the training facilities we had at Alacrya it will do for now. I adjusted the room's setting to match our strengths. Hopefully we wouldn't get too carried away but it was better to be safe than sorry.

After doing so I took out my own sword from my storage ring. Its bright crimson blade glistened like freshly drawn blood.

"If you are able why don't you indulge me in a spar princess?" I joked. During our time as students at Xyrus I would often tease her about being a princess, which she would find great distaste in. But hopefully it would bring about memories about simpler times now.

Tessia laughed as she got back up to her feet. While she was showing signs of fatigue she was far from tired.

"I told you not to call me that." She joked back with a smile as she raised her own rapier to match my stance.

'Let's see what you are made of, Tessia Eralith.'