Lucas Pov
I was awoken by a loud shaking. I groaned as my eyelids sluggishly opened. My entire body ached from the constant training Grey and Cynthia put me through. Many long days and nights I had spent little more than a splatter of blood and organs within the aetheric training orb Grey provided.
So much in fact that most pains and discomfort became little more than trivial annoyances. Although sleep and by extension mindless rest was something I longed for.
"I know war is supposed to be loud but can't a man get some rest." I groaned as I dragged my body off the bed and onto my feet.
The small living quarters I have been given were a far cry from the larger suites of Grey's fortress in Darv but it was sufficient. Walking over to the mirror I stood and took a look at myself.
I had grown a few inches since I had attended Xyrus academy. My long blonde hair was now cut short in order to not get in my way when fighting. My skin was still very pale, bordering on unhealthy with bright green eyes that stared back at me.
I felt inward for my mana. It was warm and reassuring as it thrummed with power. My core burned with a bright silvery light as it pumped mana throughout my body.
Despite being a conjurer Grey had hammered the importance of infusing mana with my body as a form of defense. And eventually it just became a habit. I suppose after having your entire body turned into a pulp you grow used to trying to shield yourself.
My entire body shuddered as my mind drew back to my training. I have felt a myriad of emotions during my time with Grey. Most of them negative or traumatizing in one way or another.
I have been killed in more ways than I could remember, experience pain that no other would ever feel or know. But I could feel it within my body and mind now that it had helped me grow stronger.
Despite being stuck at silver my core brimmed with mana, I just wish I could test it on someone of similar caliber, instead of that demon who wears the skin of a human.
Perhaps that is why Grey had finally deemed me sufficient enough to take to the field and dispatched me to the wall. But so far the day-to-day was boring.
At first it was a nice stress reliever, finally being able to throw my own weight around. And with Grey's usage of his king status I didn't have to waste time squabbling with other nobles. I was practically the highest ranking individual stationed here for now with the two Lances originally here being moved elsewhere.
It was quiet a liberating feeling. Although I knew I was still underneath Grey's finger I had more space to move and act on my own. And it was refreshing, being able to command these insects around me and unleashing my own built-up powers.
I even contemplated leading the soldiers here in open rebellion against Grey. But even I knew that was merely a dumb idea that courted suicide.
No, I shall hold my tongue for now. I have seen what that monster can do and I am afraid there wasn't a force on this planet that could hold him at bay for long.
I heard a small knock on the door. Snapping out of my thoughts I addressed the knock.
"What?" I said, sounding more annoyed that I intended.
"General? Did I awake you?" The solider on the other side of the door replied in a fearful tone.
'At least the soliders here are afraid of me.' And rightfully so, I didn't have the chance to prove it but I was confident enough in my abilities to at the very least match most of the Lances in raw strength.
Choosing to ignore the man I quickly got dress in deep maroon red robes that bordered on black with a long emerald green hooded cloak over it. And just as I was about to leave my eyes turned to the white mask that rested on the wooden table.
A similar mask to what Grey used to wear when he was an adventurer. He insisted I wear it while out in public to make sure my identity wasn't leaked.
I hesitated as I reached out a hand to grab it off the table. Why could I hide? Am I not one of the strongest mages in Dicathen? What reasons do I have to hide. While I didn't want to attempt it, I was under the direct protection of the current reigning king. What fool could mess with Lucas Wykes, a trusted mage of King Grey.
But on the other hand Grey must have reasons himself on why he believes keeping my identity unknown for now was important. He did reassure me that he will reveal my true self in due time and to trust him on this.
I didn't necessary want to cause anymore unneeded trouble, especially and possible attention of Grey so I elected to slip it on.
Opening the door I saw the soldier that knocked being startled as he took a small step back.
"Have you rested well sir?" He stuttered.
I waved him away, I didn't need a babysitter of all things. If I required something I'd much rather get it myself than relying on these cretins.
I took a deep breath of the morning dew. The sounds of beasts and battle still rang in my ears. The battle along the wall and the Beast Glades was almost constant. Forcing us to take shifts and rotate positions.
But the fighting seemed to have calmed down to bearable amounts for now. It made me wonder if the Alacryans had some sort of breeding farm for these mana beasts they were using.
Imbuing mana into my cloak tiny golden runes that ran down its edge glowed as a updraft of wind carried my body into the sky.
If I could only break into white core I wouldn't have to rely on such tricks. But my core seemed to stagnate at high silver, I could feel that I was close. I just need something more. One final big push to aid me.
Grey had said that it had even taken him several years to break into white with outside interference. And that I shouldn't be so down on myself.
I wasn't quiet sure what to feel honestly. All my life I was second to everything next to my brother. Even at the same core level my raw strength with mana manipulation far outstripped even veteran mages and adventurers. So to be stuck in one place for so long now was a frustrating experience.
It also made me question just how old Grey was. From the way he acts to the way he talks about himself it was obvious he is not the talented child I once saw him as. Sometimes he would talk about his past like it all was some distant memory that happened decades ago.
I lightly shook my head as I focused on the landscape that stretched ahead of me. The vast dense forest of the Beast Glades laid before me. Despite being early morning with the sun casting a warm yellow glow to everything the deep shadows of the trees gave off a sinister feeling even from this distance.
Even up here I could see the tiny specks that were mana beasts that charged towards our defense only to be blasted to pieces or picked off by our mages. The outer barrier of the Wall were lined with new projectile weapons Grey had his mad scientist Gideon cook up called cannons.
While their rate of fire wasn't exactly the fastest with multiple lines and layers of them they were more than sufficient with continuous volleys of fire to subdue to waves of mana beasts. The constant booming sounds they created were annoying but I grew used to them for now.
I took a deep breath, feeling the mana around me as it reacted to my presence. Being in a place with an abundance of ambient mana was a liberating feeling. As if I had lived my life half blind this whole time as my sense were all dialed up.
"Might as well blow of some steam." I said to myself as mana rushed out from my core and into my staff. The large mana crystal atop the long shaft began glowing bright red/orange.
The mana continued to condense, soon taking on a pale blue color as it did.
A slight flick of my wrist was all it took as a massive blue fireball erupted out of my staff and onto the mana beasts below.
Even before my spell reached the ground I could see trees and other greenery erupt into flames and reduced to cinders from the heat.
The entire forest floor exploded with the impact of my spell. Casting a brilliant pale blue light over everything. The ground shook and rumbled as trees were vaporized into dust. The shockwave of the spell carried on for miles as it toppled century-old trees.
I basked in the warm glory of my work. I could see the mana beasts that managed to evade my attack all whimper as they turned back to their pitiful forest they call home.
It felt good, wielding my power once again. With no constraints or limits. And this was only the tip of the iceberg. All that torturous training Grey and Cythina had put me through, I will show the world what Lucas Wykes has become.
No, I will show my family what I have become. What I have grown beyond. My elder brother was a Lance. So what? The king who appointed him to such a position doesn't even hold power. And I will soon eclipse him in all feats.
When I was laying in my own pool of blood in the aetheric orb. Wishing to any deity or being that might hear me to end my suffering. Oh how I longed for the sweet release of death.
But through death comes rebirth. I have been tested like a sword in the furnaces of death and pain. Growing sharper and more deadly with every passing moment I was beaten down. And now I am finally here. Fully unleashed upon the world with my talents and powers magnified tenfold.
I shall deal with Grey in due time. But for now, I am reborn as a instrument born of fire. And I will release my pent up rage against these creatures that dare invade my continent.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.
I took a short glance down at the wall. Many faces were held captive by my presence. Some showed awe and joy. While others, must likely the smarter ones showed fear. Yes, they would know me as one of Grey's lackeys. Let them believe that for now. I shall reveal my true self in due time.
I raised my staff high above my head. The soldiers down below did the same with their own weapons as they began chanting cries of battle.
Even still doubt lingers in my heart, like a festering diseases you can't quite get rid of. I still am a tool to a certain extent. The only reason I was alive at all was due to the fact Grey deemed me useful for his purposes. And I would suppose it wasn't that much of a difference to my positions when I was still with my family.
A tool to be made use of. Only kept around until its expiration date. I've heard that my family didn't even hold a proper funeral for me when I supposedly died.
At that though anger bubbled up like lava. After all that my father had done and put me through. He doesn't even respect me in death.
'That bastard. When I get the chance I will tear him limb from limb. I will show him a true Wykes!'
Arthur Pov
Each small sound I made as I readjusted in my seat sent echoes throughout the large cavernous throne room.
The entire room was massive, with high ceiling that reached up all the way into the sky with massive chandeliers of crystal and gold dangling from them. Casting refracted light across the room.
The entire room was a secondary throne room the Custodians insisted they needed to fashion for their new regent and bearer of the title, Emperor.
While the true Emperor upon the life support system was still alive, in his decayed state he was in no true state to govern. And it would seem my last meeting with the dying king I was given his blessing and authority to act in his stead. Making me the acting-Emperor of the Djinn empire.
I was still growing used to the title. It was a funny thought however, I had gone from adventurer to instructor to king to Emperor in a less than a decade. Quite the social ladder climber aren't I?
I continued to allow my mind to slowly drift around. As the very few remaining Djinn officials and nobles who still had all of their mental faculties were all present to swear their allegiance to me. But I still had apprehensions about using my prescient abilities I was gifted by the Djinn Emperor.
Whenever I opened that eye I was bombarded with visions. Frantic pathways that stretched far across the desert-like expanse of the future. Some I could clear see as daylight, while others were murky and obscured.
The infinite futures laid before me. And no matter what sort of Godrunes or thought process I tried to us they were all drowned and killed by infinity.
Knowing the future seemed more suffocating than not knowing it at all. To be made aware of possible pathways into the great beyond also meant being trapped by it like a small mind prison.
And the horrors that are in my future. I could feel a cold shiver travel up my spin as I locked those memories out of my brain. Perhaps is also was a trick of Fate. Giving me this prescience ability in order to herd me to a future where I fulfill my destiny.
Yes, the one who usurps natural order and destroys this reality.
Neoth stood just left of me. Reading off from a long scroll the names and full titles of the Djinn as they came up just a few steps from the throne to kneel and bow their head.
I didn't even need to directly stare at me to tell that he hated this whole thing as much as me. I wasn't quite sure how much time had passed in the outside world. But it had to be several days at least. Hopefully the pieces I had placed were enough in keeping my whole continent from toppling like a house of cards.
We both understood that this was a show of formality and respect of the Djinn empire's culture. But that didn't mean we had to enjoy it.
My mind continued to wonder off as another Djinn representative knelt before me. Vago and Oliurk were a few paces behind to the left. Vago was hunched over with his large hood obscuring his face while Oliurk stood tall and proud with his glaive in hand like a true warrior.
Only two Custodians flanked me with their own halberds in their hands. Only two visible at least. I knew there were the full unit of ten of them, all hidden with their invisibility scattered around the throne room.
They seemed far more paranoid than I would have expected from the highest level of Djinn within the empire. Perhaps it was rather justified with having their last leader now being a rotting corpse barely hanging onto life.
My thoughts then drifted back to the Emperor. When I had conversed with him somehow within the main throne room that held him. It felt unnatural to say the least. As if I was ripped out of my own time and space and brought before him.
'If he possessed such power and mastery over aether than why couldn't he have healed himself?' I've already had Vago educate me about the empire's history, especially focusing on the Emperor. But even the Djinn themselves held very little concert information about their ruler.
He supposedly was acting within the shadows of Djinn society. Raising a son of his own and training him while he gathered supporters and connections within society. And only fully revealing himself as a beacon of hope when the dragons unleashed their fire upon the mortal world.
Fairly smart on his part. Playing upon the desperation that plagued the people as death descended upon them. And while a large portion of the Djinn population never fully trusted him or followed him. There was enough supporters that came over to his side to fend of the dragons for a while.
Yet that still didn't explain why or how such a being fluent in aetheric manipulation had come to be and gone undetected. If the recorded history of the battles he had participated in and things he had done were to be believed than I am afraid that this Djinn Emperor even eclipsed my own current abilities.
Was he perhaps a being like me? Another incarnate from another more advanced world? That would somewhat explain how easily he could grasp aetheric concepts. But still if he was born into a lesser body than he would have been limited by it. Perhaps he reincarnated into an asuran body?
Seems unlikely, as asuras possessed more potent souls than lessers if Neoth was correct. But it wasn't entirely impossible.
My attention was drawn back to the real world when a figure that was completely cloaked came up to the throne. He did not kneel nor bow. He merely stood there, seemingly judging me.
The entire room feel silent as the hooded man and I exchanged glances. You could physically feel the tension in the air as everybody stopped to mediate this exchange.
I could tell this one was different. From the way the mana reeked off of him like a great odor to how the aether seemed natural drawn to him without channeling any of his runes and spellforms.
Several silent seconds pasted before the man spoke.
"So this is who my father deems is worthy to rule our people."
My father? I questioned in my head.
The man reached upward and dropped his hood. Revealing a heavily scarred face. Much of scars that ran across this face seemed faded and healed. But a singular prominent one that ran from the side of his jaw to his eye still seemed freshly sealed. Piercing lavender eyes stared into mine.
Some deep implanted memory within my subconscious gave this face a name. Demeptah. The biological son of the Emperor.
The two custodians at my side each sprang into action as they jumped into defensive positions in front of me. Four more custodians shimmered back into our reality as they pointed their weapons at the man.
Demeptah raised both his arms in a surrendering position.
"Relax. I am only hear to see our glorious new ruler." His every word dripped with sarcasm and a deep seated hatred. He was clearly judging me for my draconic body. I couldn't really blame him however. Seeing that a draconic human had taken over his own father's kingdom.
He met my eyes and we stared at each for a couple seconds. I could feel his aura growing in silent rage. Manifesting as sinister black flames that bordered his person.
Demeptah spat on the floor as his gaze fell on Vago.
"Well old man. This is some century long plan your decrepted mind came up with?"
I peered back towards Vago. Yet he stood still.
Not getting an answer from the chronomancer Demeptah sneered.
"How pathetic. Perhaps we were better off all burning in my father's ambitions."
"Why are you here." Bellerophon demanded. His deep voice booming across the throneroom.
"Didn't I say? To cast my eyes upon your new leader." Demeptah retorted.
"Than I believe your quest is quite complete." Neoth chimed in and Demeptah instantly snapped at him.
"Shut your mouth you kleptomaniac. Don't play pretend when you never even earned your position!"
Neoth took a step back as if he was struck at his remarks.
"Don't kid with me. That thing on your life support is not my father."
"You dare!" Vago hissed as the custodians closest to him moved to strike.
Their halberds came crashing down like bolts of lightning, the spearheads crackled with aetheric might as they cleaved.
Demeptah didn't even flinch as he blocked both strike with his two arms. The custodian's blade and Demeptah's armor clashed, sending sparks flying as the two forces cancelled each other out. The armor he wore, it was unlike any I have seen before. Less of an armor and more akin to a second layer of skin that hugged his body. Any normal blackstone armor would have been cut clean through by the custodian's weapons.
"The custodian's dare attack a mere visitor?" Demeptah yelled in a mocking tone.
"And you dare disrespect our creator?!" Helios bellowed as he brought his spear back to strike again.
+STOP+
My voice echoed through the minds of all present. As if a command was forcibily implanted in their minds they all obeyed, with the custodians instantly falling to their knees and bowing to me.
Demeptah staggered backwards dazed. He shook his head lightly trying to eject my voice command from his brain.
"At least you sound like him." He hissed as he took another step back.
Using my arms to rise from my throne I gently pushed the custodians away as I walked down the short flight of stairs to stand face to face with Demeptah.
Yes, up close I could see the family resemblance. Dark tanned skin with even darker hair, with a robust square jaw. The only thing that didn't quite fully resemble the murals and depictions of the Emperor were his eyes. Very light lavender that seemed to change hues slightly.
I suppose I should inquire about his relations with his father and why he holds such disdain for him. As well as him not being a part of this empire.
"If you purpose here is done then leave." I said, returning to my normal voice.
Demeptah stared back at me for a few moments. Each of us locked into a standstill. I couldn't be confident of his strength or experience but the air he gave off made me question if I could take him on.
Demeptah then finally turned his back on me.
"Yes, I believe I have confirmed it. My father's empire is dead. Replaced by an unsightly corpse like his physical body." Then he disappeared in a flash of purple light.
Without saying a word I walked back and sat back on my throne. What he perhaps trying to undermine my hold upon the Djinn? There were still many portions of the population that did not like me being of draconic genetics. As well as being a newcomer in their conflict that stretches for thousands of years.
It was normal to be cautious in such circumstances. I shot a glance back at Vago. He stood still but his eyes darted to above mine. I'll probably have to try to force any information he has about Demeptah later on. But in the mean time I wanted to return to Dicathen. As well as check up on my old friend since Neoth says the memory recollection process was nearing completion.
If I could convince him then that would be another useful asset at my disposal. And unlike Agrona I will make full use of his intellect and engineering skills.
But at least for now with the Djinn empire and their resources under my command my plans have been going along smoothly. Sometimes I would think that it was all going a bit too smoothly, as if someone behind the curtains were pushing the buttons.
Was perhaps that other Arthur I had met in the past have something to do with all of this? He clearly had the knowledge and power to do so if he wanted. But if he truly wanted something wouldn't he be doing it himself?
It just felt as if there were bigger forces at play here. Too many moving pieces on multiple opposing sides. Even my own mind felt like it was tampered with. Whatever the Emperor had given to me had altered me in some way. There were memories, visions of things I know I have never seen or weren't even born to have seen. But they danced in my unconscious mind as clear as day.
I knew I could possibly try to dig up answers by peering into the future but every time I did I was haunted by terrible visions of the future if I were able to make out anything concrete in that ocean of infinite possibilities. My future, the future I will bring upon my continent and people. I suppose despite everything I had been through that still showed I was still part human.
I possessed hopes and fears of any normal human. Perhaps my abilities only helped in bringing out my more vulnerable human features.
Nevertheless my goals were certain at least for now. Gather more information on Demeptah and his own goals. While also slowly integrating the Djinn under my control into Dicathen. Fate has given me these pieces to play with, and I will not pass up on such a opportunity.
Still the end goal of my plans still loomed over me like the sword of Damocles. Ever present above all of my actions. The singular lens in which I judge my actions. But as the present shifted as did the future. Even now my plans were slowly evolving, aided by my prescient abilities the future I desire was solidifying into a clear shape.
The golden path for humanity's future. A pathway that was not without its own horrors and pains. But one which will ensure the survival of the race. A goalpost that is far larger than any one of us.