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The Everlasting Existence
Chapter 1 - The beginning

Chapter 1 - The beginning

Greetings! Although this is my first novel, I have created its main character many years ago as well as his history and adventures. It's one of those stories, although the most recent one.

Anyway, I'm not a native speaker and I thought that writing story in English might be a good way to improve myself as I have problem with describing things and the like.

Oh, yes. I'm using British English so things like “armour” or “colour” ARE correct. Thank for feedback.

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At last, my revenge has become fulfilled.

It took me eight years to hunt them all down, but now I can finally rest, not caring about this world anymore.

I look at my bloodied hands and then at a mayhem I have created. They were soldiers of my last prey, one of lesser barons with too high ambitions. It's a shame that so many innocents people had to die but... I do not regret anything.

One may say that I'm simply a monster in a human body, after all I have annihilated so many beings, many of them didn't regret their terrible deeds but other were simply doing their work. So, am I still a human?

No, as I lost my “humanity” long time ago, even before all of this has happened.

I can't say that I'm proud of my doing but, once again, I don't regret them. They deserved it and even more. I should have crushed them, they deserved to be torn apart, to have their souls tormented until...

[SIERGIEJ*! Calm. Down.]

I... yes. You are right Aurelius, thank you. This life is not worth losing myself for, and yet... No, these thoughts are of no use, it is time to act.

But what I am going to do now?

My sons subjects most likely think that I am already dead, as well as my sons wife. Ah Aleksander, I can only hope your mothers, Eleanor, and mine teaching will be sufficient and you will lead your people to a new bright future.

Huh, my abdications happened only a week ago and I already think about them as Aleksander's people and not mine. I guess it is better this way, they will become mine later anyway.

[It's not like they were yours to begin with my friend.]

Hearing chuckle in his voice for some reason made me smile slightly. Although I was a king of a kingdom they lived in, my wife was their rightful ruler.

But she was murdered with our unborn child.

I should have expected that, her enemies never have showed a sign of stopping not even one of hesitation about killing their queen. But they paid the price for their arrogance.

They tried before, first by killing Eleanor's father and blaming for his death elves. Why them?

Because they're valuable slaves, that no one will care about as they're “prisoners of war”.

Enemy of my enemy is my friend, as they say. True to this proverb, Eleanor have found a refuge in an elven kingdom, where plans to take back her throne came to exist. Not that those elves were purely altruistic, after all having a puppet on another throne is quite useful isn't it?

It didn't work that well though, and Stornheil Kingdom gained a new, strong ruler as well as a new king.

Story of our love at first sight consist of unexpected meeting by a lake, fireflies flying in the air, sealing magic not allowing us to escape and bunch of assassins.

It was truly best first date one could wish for.

I reminisce our past while walking to my camp, 200 meters or so from this place. After returning, first thing I do is taking of my armour as its... new colour simply doesn't suit me. It took me some time cleaning it, but conveniently a river was not far from the camp. Well, it's my turn.

I take of my all of my clothes and wash myself in the river from all the sweat and blood from before.

Seeing my reflections in water makes me frown a little. After all those years my body changed to much and now it bears almost no resemblance to my appearance before Awakening.

I stand 190 cm tall, with lightly tanned athletic body. I look a little over thirty, with diamond shaped face, high but not defined cheekbones and aquiline nose. Other than those,  I also have slightly pointed ears, hips length braided white hair and almond shaped cat-like emerald eyes with golden rim around pupils. White hairs, eyes and ears were features distinguishing  aristovovič** race from others. There were others both inside and outside the body like growing back teeth, no nipples for man and... internal testicles. Not that I complain about those changes, it's simply a matter habit. Ah, no matter, it always happens.

[What will you do now Siergiej? You have completed your revenge, abdicated, people most likely think you're dead. And now what?]

That... is a question I didn't give much thought to. I sight and finish washing myself, answer to this question will come later, no matter if I want it or not. Such is my luck...

I hear Aurelius laugh, it really wouldn't be surprising if he already have thought about some kind of plan.

“So, what are you hiding Aurelius?”

I haven't talked for a while... Although talking with Aurelius in my mind might be easier, talking for real is pleasant change, especially after such long time.

[You don't want to live in this world anymore, right?]

“...I think I know what you're getting at.” He chuckles.

[Nope, you don't. What about getting summoned to different world?]

“Okay, you got me now. The sole idea is both weird and interesting. After all, to think that someone would even try to summon me? Ha!” Yes, it's pretty much impossible as no one have enough spiritual power, mana, ki or whatever they use in their world. Depending on energy type they could, for example, become exhausted from power depletion or die for the same reason. Outcomes really vary.

[Of course they won't, but we may help them in a way.]

“I see, it certainly seems more and more interesting. There's one tiny problem, my friend. You do know why people summon beings from other world, yes?

[...So they could become heroes. Come one, it's not like anyone would threaten you to do so. And if they do, we both can guess the outcome.]

I winced at his reply. Aurelius sometimes is... a bit too straightforward for some delicate matters. It doesn't always happen but when someone oppose me, his first reply is to either scare them to death or simply kill them.

Not that I don't understand him, it certainly would make my life easier if to eliminate society's undesirable elements.

This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

But what then? I'm summoned and what? “Oh great Hero, please help us defeat Demon Lord!” I chuckle thinking about how cliché it would be. Hell, it would be even better if true summoned “heroes” were Japanese high school students! This time I can't hold back my laugh, it's bad enough to become funny. Aurelius only sighs at this sight.

Humanoid being of not-so-well known race suddenly starts laughing, alone in the forest. Naked not to mention. Good that only he's here.

[Well?]

Yeah, I think I'll go with this plan. Found anyone?

[Aye. She almost finished the summoning. For now I'll suck her energy so it'll look like she spends it on one more summon.]

“Good.” I closed my eyes and after a moment, new clothes materialized on me. White, cotton baggy trousers – sirwal, on top of which was a thawb. It's ankle-length, long sleeved garment, similar to a robe, which colour and material were the same as those of pants. Unlike them, thawb was embroidered around edges of material and in the middle front of the tunic with a golden thread. This embroidery consisted mostly of curved lines, creating floral, geometrical and more abstract patterns. Again, on top of thawb was a bisht, black woollen cloak with long sleeves. I too was embroidered on the edges, but on the back was also  the cross of Jerusalem. On my head is white keffiyeh and gold circlet with jewels, replacing agal and keeping keffiyeh in one place.***

Near my waist silvery scabbard in which is black, single edged and slightly curved sword, similar to a so called mameluke sword. Overall it's length reaches 90 cm with 13 cm long handle and one can see some kind of letters on the blade.

[So, Jerusalem style, eh?]

He sounds amused, which isn't surprising. My eyes are now open and a smile can be found of my face. It really brings back memories, fortunately good ones.  I exhale deeply, preparing myself for a new world.

Not that it's possible in such a short time.

“I'm ready my friend”

[Good, you're already being summoned. Eh, I can only hope it won't be a boring world...]

You know our luck friend... As I think those words, in my field of view some magic circles are appearing. In the next moment I'm in, what I presume is, a throne room, in front of me kneels a young woman, still a girl one may say, in a light blue dress, supporting herself with both her hands. Of course it wasn't some kind of obeisance, the woman was simply exhausted from pouring her energy in order to summon me.

Unfortunately I can't see her face as she keeps it down, breathing heavily. Probably seventeen or eighteen years old, with long blonde hair and petite body.   Abound 5 meters behind her stand a worried looking man, presumably a ruler of the land I'm currently in. A little under forty, shoulder-length curly dark blonde hair, square face and a beard. His outfit looks like the one of a stereotypical king, which is slightly amusing but who knows, maybe it isn't so normal here? Did I appear out of thin air? Either this or he's too worried about a summoner, as his focus is still on a her and it doesn't seem like he noticed me.  Is she his daughter or maybe a subject? Well, no matter. He's truly worried about the woman, so it's very unlikely he thinks about her as something expendable. Good.

As I look to my right, three people come into my view, the “heroes”, judging by their clothes consisting of jeans, shirts and leather jacket. One male and two females they're...

[Oh Ancestors, why is it always like that?]

I chuckle. It could have been worse, only one of them looks Japanese! One of the girls, to be exact. Long dark hair tied in a ponytail and similarly coloured eyes with athletic body, most likely result of some training. Marshal arts? Well, wouldn't that be a bit cliché?

...what am I saying, it already is.

The other two are Caucasians with fairly fair skin colour. Huh, when I think about it, both Summoner and the King(?) have such complexion. Both “heroes” have dark blonde hair and delicate face features. Boy have short hair and light blue eyes, the girl shoulder-length hair and blue eyes too but of darker shade. Overall, they look like a family, siblings or maybe cousins.

Japanese woman is pretty tall, she stands around 175 cm, the man is higher only by a few cm, while the other girl's height is 165 cm or so. Judging by their appearance I would say they age vary from sixteen to nineteen, with the boy being the youngest and the dark-haired girl the oldest.

The smaller of the girls flinched with a wide open eyes, while looking in my direction, at my face to be exact. Hoh, the boys reaction is similar, while the other girl's...

Never mind, she's staring at the ceiling.

[She's wary of her surroundings, unlike someone certain.]

Veeery funny Aurelius. But he's right, now when I think about it. A king without any guards? It seems they're using the energy of this world to camouflage themselves. But how did she found them?

[Hmm... I don't think the girl knows there are other people in here. It's more of an instinct I think.]

Probably you're right.

“Wha... What are you?” Asked a both anxious and curious voice in front of me. It was the Summoner. Although she still kneeled, this time her face was directed my way her face showing the same emotions voice did.

She's... beautiful I must admit that. Giving the vibe of innocent and helpless creature and at the same time her eyes have strong, confident feeling.

[You want her, don't you?]

I only sigh at this thought. I offer her my hand so she could finally stand up, which she hesitantly accepts.

“I may answer your question, but first you will have to answer mine. Why did you summon me?” She frowns at that and glance in the Kings direction, who gives her a quick nod. Even if he was surprised with my look, I was unable to see this, focusing on others.  After a moment I hear the Summoners answer.

“Please, help us defend our country from demon invasion.” She says in a stern manner. Normally one would say something like [Send me back home, I don't want to help you], [We will help you and destroy demon army!] or so. Me?

I laugh.

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* Also Sergey, pronounced syer-GYAY.

** Letter č you should read similarly to ch, as in chocolate.

***Basically Arabic clothing.

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