Phanes knew not how long he had been in this prison. The darkness and sensory deprivation would not only cause a loss of sense of time but would have even caused insanity. Fortunately, he had more than enough memories to keep him busy. He very rarely revisited any, save for one: the day he damaged the moon.
Phanes wandered the world not only self-pitying himself but loathing his queen for cursing him. Though she had passed to the spirit realm long before his wandering, the curse he bore was permanent. To wander the world eternally without the use of his abilities. Being a Tidewalker, his power was that over water. Everything he did and tried, the water never responded to him. He could feel it, the entirety of the world’s water at his beck and call, but when he raised his hands or thought to command it, nothing responded. The curse marks started on his back where Aura touched him in his sleep to curse him. Now the marks spread across his body, black and grey markings in the form of curving lines crisscrossed around his torso and limbs like tattooed scars.
He found himself in a mountainside city. Much like his own childhood village, this city celebrated a festival every year inviting a spirit to awaken their abilities. This one was not only a unique spirit but a powerful one. The only one, in fact. This village had given birth and supported the Spirit of the Moon, Nyxia. This city shared the name of the moon spirit as well.
During the festival, the Moonveil Inn would be where the spirit would come to awaken his worshippers. The main part of the inn was a large room decorated with the city’s history. Phanes found himself sitting among the patrons of the inn on the night of the festival. Nyxia strutted into the room with an air of insufferable arrogance, his ethereal form practically radiating superiority. Every movement seemed calculated to draw attention, a preening display of self-importance. His eyes, glittering with smug assurance, roamed the surroundings, seeking the next target for his silver-tongued flattery. Every festival he would even make the moon full and as bright as he could make it, almost like a spotlight on the inn.
His words dripped with honeyed charm, a well-practiced script of compliments that veiled a shallowness beneath. The spirit reveled in the attention of those who fell for his suave demeanor, his womanizing nature evident in the way he shamelessly played the game of hearts, collecting admirers like trinkets. Yet, beneath the façade of charm, there lingered a hollowness—an emptiness masked by the arrogance. His womanizing antics were a shield, protecting a fragile ego that craved constant validation. A spirit draped in vanity and deception, his presence left an unsettling aftertaste of superficial allure and concealed insecurity to those not familiar with him. To be honest, Phanes liked this spirit; he was just like the humans Phanes had always dealt with politically, so easy to please, so easy to get them to do what you want.
Before Phanes knew it, the festival was over, and the tab was due. And unfortunately, he had not a cent on him. The innkeeper seemed to have this happen often and offered to show Phanes a local group of merchants who hired people for odd jobs around the city.
Phanes, begrudgingly accepting the innkeeper's suggestion, found himself the next morning in the bustling heart of Nyxia City, seeking odd jobs from local merchants. The curse that bound him stripped away the grandeur he once possessed as a Tidewalker and King, reducing him to a humble laborer.
For a month, he toiled at odd jobs around the city. Phanes now scrubbed and cleaned public fountains, removing algae and grime. The sparkle of the fountain's water mirrored the distant memories of his own water manipulation abilities. Serving as a messenger and errand runner, Phanes traversed the city on foot, learning its ins and outs, delivering messages and packages.
The once regal stride was replaced by a more inconspicuous gait, blending into the city's diverse tapestry. Phanes found himself amidst scaffolding and construction materials, contributing to the city's expansion. The physicality of the work, the lifting and building, contrasted sharply with the times he ordered others to build for him.
With a broom in hand, Phanes took to the cobbled streets, sweeping away the remnants of the day's activities. Dust and debris became his companions as he moved through the bustling thoroughfares, pristine streets following in his wake. Embracing the role of a market porter, Phanes hauled crates of goods from one stall to another. The weight of produce and merchandise replaced the weight of his crown, each step a reminder of the mundane tasks that now occupied his days. This job led him to a local bakery where he would often smell the baked goods on offer.
Phanes, amidst the humdrum of his existence, discovered solace in the aroma of freshly baked goods wafting through the air. An odd job came as helping said baker in her daily routines. When he noticed it was the bakery he had worked around for so long, he jumped at the chance. To be frank, the air of the city was composed of human and animal waste, mixed with the aroma of every fish and cuisine stall in the market district. It was sickening to Phanes, as it reminded him of his childhood in the Village of Rothurd, a time in his life he wished to forget as it was when he was powerless.
Around the bakery was his favorite, as the smell of baking bread smothered the surrounding city smells. The notice led him to a quaint bakery adorned with baskets of bread, trays of pastries, and the heartwarming presence of Lila—the gifted baker with an infectious passion for her craft. She was not adorned in extravagant clothing or blessed with extraordinary beauty, but there was an unassuming charm about her that caught his eye. Her eyes held a kindness that seemed to pierce through the chaos of the marketplace district of the city.
Lila, with flour-dusted hands and a perpetual twinkle in her eye, greeted Phanes as he entered the bakery. The chime of the door echoed their shared connection, one that unfolded through conversations over warm loaves and delicate pastries. Their meetings were coincidental at first, but Phanes found himself drawn to her bakery whenever he was near the area. Eventually, he was hired by her to help in the bakery. Soon, in the moonlit evenings, as Phanes assisted Lila in closing her bakery, their conversations deepened. He learned of her dreams, aspirations, and the hurdles she faced in a world that sometimes overlooked the ordinary.
As Phanes assisted Lila in the bakery, kneading dough and shaping pastries, their bond deepened. The simplicity of flour and yeast became the alchemy that transformed their encounters into shared moments of joy. Lila's laughter echoed in the cozy space, a melody that resonated with the secret chords of Phanes' guarded heart. Days turned into months, and the aroma of freshly baked goods became a backdrop to their evolving connection. She, with her innate kindness and culinary prowess, unveiled the magic hidden in the daily routine of baking. Phanes, once burdened by the weight of his curse, found solace in the warmth of Lila's presence and the delicious creations they crafted together.
Despite the blossoming affection, Phanes remained haunted by the scars of betrayal. Lila, however, proved to be a steady force—a baker of not just bread but also of understanding and patience. She offered him the sweetness of friendship and the comfort of companionship, patiently waiting for the seeds of love to sprout. Two years passed, marked by the kneading of dough, the creation of delicate pastries, and the shared laughter within the walls of the bakery. Phanes, gradually softened by Lila's unwavering support, felt the walls around his heart crumbling.
One evening, under the golden hues of a setting sun, as they closed the bakery together, Phanes felt a warmth that surpassed the heat of the ovens. It was then, amidst the flour-dusted air and the scent of freshly baked bread, that he allowed himself to reciprocate the feelings that had taken root within him. Yet, a lingering bitterness from Phanes' past restrained him from giving his all to the feelings that began to blossom within Lila. His heart, scarred by the betrayal of a former queen, resisted the vulnerability of love. Lila, patient and understanding, continued to weave her way into his life.
Over the span of two years, Phanes witnessed the quiet strength in Lila, her resilience and unwavering kindness breaking through the walls he had built around himself. Slowly, the wounds of his heart began to heal in the gentle embrace of Lila's presence. One evening, as they strolled through the moonlit streets of Nyxia City, Phanes felt a shift within him. The bitterness that had held him captive started to wane, making space for a newfound warmth—a warmth that mirrored the affection growing in Lila's heart.
Their playful flirting blossomed into a profound connection, leading to a joyous union. The aroma of fresh bread and the warmth of their shared laughter became the foundation of their love story. Eventually, they made the decision to close the bakery in the bustling city and relocate closer to the base of the nearby mountain, creating a haven where they could nurture a family.
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However, as three years passed, the pitter-patter of little feet remained absent from their home. Phanes, grappling with the weight of his past and his inability to bring forth life, decided to lay bare the truth about his eternal curse. To his surprise, Lila responded not with judgment but with an unwavering acceptance of him, scars and all.
Their love story, marked by trials and understanding, endured. On their sixth year of marriage, during the enchanting festival at the Moonveil Inn, where spirits intertwined with mortal revelry, Nyxia, the ethereal moon spirit, cast his discerning gaze upon the couple. As Phanes went to fetch meals for the two of them, Nyxia seized the opportunity and approached Lila with an otherworldly charm.
In the soft glow of the moonlit inn, Nyxia expressed his desire for Lila's company for the night. However, Lila, true to the unwavering commitment she had shown to Phanes, refused the ethereal suitor. Unbeknownst to them, Phanes returned to witness the tense exchange. Anger welled within him, a storm of emotions threatening to break free. Yet, bound by the curse that rendered him powerless against all, he could do nothing but observe the unfolding scene.
Tension permeated the inn as Nyxia and Phanes exchanged locked gazes, and Phanes sensed the need for caution. He swiftly took hold of Lila, and the two hastily departed the premises.
“No matter where your exquisite wife wanders, my watchful gaze shall follow. I observe all beneath my luminous glow,” Nyxia's ominous threat echoed.
Lila and Phanes concealed themselves until daylight, evading the moon's direct scrutiny. They cautiously navigated their way home, mutually agreeing to undertake essential tasks during the day and confine themselves indoors during the night. Both were acutely aware that once Nyxia set his sights on them, their lives would be forever altered. Once his eyes were on someone, he would literally pursue them to the ends of the world.
After a year and a half, Lila and Phanes allowed themselves a sense of security, thinking they had successfully evaded Nyxia's watchful eye. However, their belief in safety crumbled one evening while tending to their garden. Daylight lingered, and the moon, an unwelcome omen, ascended into the sky. It was during these twilight hours that Nyxia materialized near their home at the mountain's base with a minor spirit that served him, revealing the deceptive illusion of their escape.
With an ethereal glow, Nyxia's presence darkened the evening, casting an eerie ambiance around their peaceful abode. Lila and Phanes exchanged anxious glances, sensing the looming threat that had found its way back to them.
Nyxia's voice resonated like a haunting melody, echoing with an unsettling confidence. "Did you truly believe you could escape my gaze? The world, under my moonlit rule, belongs to me, and what I desire, I shall possess."
The minor water spirit sat along the perimeter of their garden, waiting for its master to finish. A surge of anger and helplessness welled up within Phanes, his curse rendering him incapable of confronting the arrogant moon spirit directly. Lila, although frightened, stood by his side, her unwavering support a testament to the strength of their love.
Nyxia's gaze fixated on Lila, an unsettling hunger gleaming in his eyes. "You,
mortal, will be mine. Your defiance is but a fleeting resistance against the inevitable. Embrace your fate." In that moment, the tranquility of their simple life shattered, replaced by the encroaching darkness of Nyxia's obsession.
As Nyxia's ominous proclamation lingered in the air, a sudden gravitational force gripped Phanes, rendering his movements sluggish and heavy. The very air seemed to conspire against him, pressing him down as he attempted to resist the malevolent spirit's influence. Phanes strained against the invisible bonds that held him captive, his every attempt to break free met with relentless resistance. Nyxia, with a cruel smile echoing a crescent moon, reveled in his display of futility. The gravitational pressure intensified, making even drawing breath a laborious task for the Tidewalker.
In a desperate surge of defiance, Phanes tried to summon the remnants of his water kah, attempting to create a shield against Nyxia's onslaught, to no avail as nothing happened. Toyed with like a puppet on strings, Phanes felt the weight of his curse pressing upon him with unforgiving force. Nyxia's laughter echoed in the air as he cruelly manipulated the gravitational field around Phanes, sending him crashing against the unforgiving ground with bone-rattling force. Despite his resilience, Phanes's strength waned, and darkness closed in around the edges of his vision. A final, mocking chuckle from Nyxia was the last sound he heard before succumbing to unconsciousness.
When Phanes regained awareness, the world was a haze of blurred shapes and muted colors. The pain throbbed through every fiber of his being, a testament to the brutality he had endured. Panic seized him as he struggled to rise, his gaze darting frantically to find Lila. As his vision cleared, a gut-wrenching sight greeted him. Nyxia stood over Lila's crumpled form, a sadistic grin marring his ethereal features. Blood stained the ground beneath her, a stark contrast to the moonlit glow that bathed the scene in cold indifference.
Nyxia's sneer cut through the air like a blade. "Fighting me like that. She may not be mine in body, but her spirit will join my celestial realm." With a callous disregard for Phanes's anguish, Nyxia extended his hand, preparing to claim the essence of the mortal he had ruthlessly torn from her earthly vessel.
“I swear to you, vile spirit of the moon I will protect her!” Phanes yelled with every fiber of his being.
Lila slowly made her head towards phanes to look at hime, givening him a last look at her gentle sweet smile he loved. Though it was tarnished with blood, bruises and earth. “I love…”
Then Phanes felt something he hadn’t felt in a long time…it started as a drip, then a trickle. A surge of power like a tsunami crashing against a shore. It was his connection to his Kah and with it his hunger, a true hunger that could be insatiable. The grey and black curse marks sparked and glowed a pale golden glow. His ex-wife Serenity’s voice, the first queen of the Kingdom of Rothurd, the kingdom he had created, echoed one word over and over “Protect”. There was more, but it was not clear, more like whispers of someone while one was standing along a rocky shoreline.
The term Tidewalker came from Phanes as he was the most powerful water Soulbound user on the planet. So powerful that water spirits of the ocean and seas bent to his will. He would walk on the tides they created. But there was something about the way he used his abilities, it was like he would neutralize any ability that would strike him.
Phanes smiled at the spirit before him and then wondered aloud, “Have you ever actually felt pain? Most of the spirits I have met haven’t.” A mania-driven grin revealed itself on his face. “There’s always a first time for everything.”
Water jetted out from the bottom of his feet, propelling himself to close the distance between Nyxia and himself. He grabbed his wife while knocking the shocked spirit away and cradled her dying body. The spirit righted himself up staring at the mountain named in his honor, HIS mountain, and attached to it was HIS land and city. It was a disgrance that some human could stand up to him. He turned to see Phanes’ left hand extended out about fifteen meters away. Phanes still had that mania driven grin on his face in pure defiance of Nyxia, and water from the atmosphere coalesced into a tiny point in the palm of his hand. More and more water flowed into the point, but the point never grew from the spot on his extended hand.
I have no idea how long I can do this, but I’ll make it count, he thought to himself. He closed his hand, breaking the point he had focused on. Nyxia could feel the power building within that closed hand of Phanes, and every fiber of his being was screaming to run. However, the moon spirit had never felt fear before, and it gripped him tight, paralyzing him.
Phanes opened his hand and a torrent of condensed water shot out like a beam. Pressure was exerted in every direction around the beam, causing a trench to be dug out as the pressure fanned out. All but a third of Nyxia had been eradicated, and the entirety of the mountain behind him had ceased to exist. Had he been frozen a little more to the left, Nyxia would have been no more.
Then came the shockwave, not from the planet, but from its celestial partner.
Above them, the moon itself seemed to tremble. A blinding light erupted from the point of impact as it shared damage with Nyxia, and fissures spread across its surface like cracks in a giant egg. With a deafening roar, the moon shattered. Massive fragments, some the size of mountains, broke away, shattering into space and raining down upon Luminastra. The once-full moon was reduced to a broken crescent, its remnants casting eerie shadows across the land. The atmosphere that once surrounded it drifted and became a cloud the moon seemed to be trying to reach. The moon was never full again after that night and remains a cracked and broken crescent with its remnants scattered around it, tidally locked in a macabre dance with Luminastra.
Nyxia had just made the worst mistake in his entire existence. He stared at Phanes in disbelief, realizing that the wounds inflicted on him were not healing as they should, something had damaged the very core of his being.
The moon spirit felt a gnawing dread creeping into his heart—a fear he had never known. This mortal was not just a mere Tidewalker; he was something far more terrifying. The obsessive spirit faced an enemy whose power seemed boundless, and for the first time, Nyxia felt truly vulnerable. The one he saw standing before him, with pale golden glowing tattoos, was the creature of legends that roamed the world. The one who forged a nation with his bare hands and returned to it every couple hundred years. The one who could truly wear the pristine
crown of Rothurd, the Eternal King.
Phanes came out of his memories once more to a lightless prison, reminding himself it was the best place he could be given what he had done.