Once Ieros returned to its room, he created whispers, though these would be whispering a message of Ieros. Ieros then sent it to the First Prince, the First Queen and all of the nobles, whispering about the cons of a peace treaty and placing the idea of public assassination into their heads. Ieros gave them all the ingredients needed for war, sending more of the whisperers to plant the seed of doubt into the hearts of the citizens. They would not know that they hated peace until it was proclaimed to them.
But it did not stop there, he sent whisperers back even to Athera, preparing the tinder for the fires of hatred the nation would feel once its precious princess was killed. But, actually upon second thought, that would be harder to do. He had already proven that his golems were more than capable enough to fend off any attack. Perhaps an assassination attempt or just strong opposition to the peace. Hmm, killing her would be the best option, but he’d have to find a good excuse to have his golems dismissed.
But of course, killing such a useful pawn too early could also be disadvantageous in the future. After all, she was the next in line to the throne and if the King were to die in the war, which was rather likely, the war would come to an abrupt stop as the Atheran Royal family would fall apart, trying to take the throne. Of course, that would be rather interesting but Ieros had seen enough of this sort of thing happen to similar nations, it always ended up the same anyways, the said kingdom was dissolved and assimilated by other countries.
But war, war was something that was never exactly the same. There was always a different type of war, a different strategy and a different winner. Something that was so undefined as war was something that was of interest to the fragment, who had mostly known unchangeable facts all its life. It knew that its creator was all-powerful, that it and all other things were insignificant to it and all came to be because of its creator’s power. But, the concept of war, the concept of battle, these things were things that never stay the same. But, there was a rather strange anomaly, from its surprising lack of memories of Darkness’s past, it knew that Darkness knew what war was. But how was that possible?
If Darkness existed before Creation and therefore the concept of war, how did it know what war was? It then realized another fact, that it did not know all that much of Darkness itself. It seems that it had taken great care to deny it access to all of its most important memories. It grew very curious but in through will and loyalty alone, it crushed it. If Darkness had not wished for it to know something, then that was to be, it will merely accept his wish. It must now focus on its task here on Agleon, to learn all that it could.
But not as an observer but as a participant, it will live every conceivable sort of life known to man but it is best not to rush things, after all, it takes time to fully learn something, a lifetime even. Right now, it has begun its first lesson, learning the life of an archmage. Ieros then let his body rest, the fragment once more just watching, seeing the seeds that it had planted sprout and begin to grow.
Morning came and the tension was visible in the air, the people had begun to question just why was there a need for peace. Whispers turned into gossip and gossip into agreement. The nobles saw this through their network of spies and agreed that today was the day to strike. They brought this up to the First Prince and Queen who agreed that action must be taken. A plan was formed, to assassinate the Princess publicly and then announce why they had done so to the people. With the people’s support for war, the King would have no choice but go to war or give up the throne.
Ieros watched this, everything was going to plan. But, he supposed that he’d have to protect the Princess, after all, in order to participate in the war he’d have to show his loyalty to Athera and allowing the Princess to be killed would be rather detrimental. Whatever, as long as the Prince was able to make his declaration to the people, war will happen. Perhaps if he were to take the Princess hostage and then have his way with her… that could start a war, couldn’t it?
But then again, spoiled goods aren’t really useful in the long run. Oh well, it’ll just have to make things work. Sacrifices are necessary, perhaps the lives of the soldiers that escorted her. After all, if he were to make an escape with the Princess but was unable to bring the soldiers with them, the people would turn their wrath on the soldiers. The Atherans would be outraged and declare war in vengeance. After, they were good men, undeserving of the fate that befell them.
Really, emotions are a strange thing, dangerous was well. But might as well take advantage of them, after all, it wouldn’t be able to learn about war without it. But then it had another thought, did Darkness have emotions? After all, then why would it fight a war? But then again there were logical reasons to start a war, war is not necessarily started by emotions but the most fiery ones often are. Satisfied with this logical explanation, Ieros then left his room to meet the Princess, ready to see how the events of this day would unfold.
But when he came out, there was a small smile on his face, it was barely perceptible but it was there nonetheless. Of course, most people didn’t notice it but the Princess did, after all, one had to notice every single detail while in court.
Curious, she asked, “Why do you smile?”
Ieros looked at her and then returned his gaze back to the cityscape, saying, “Oh, I just feel that today will be… especially interesting.”
But that smile soon faded as company arrived, the First Prince and Queen.
Ieros bowed when he saw them, saying, “Today is a good day, is it not?”
The Queen nodded, “Yes, it is?”
Ieros added, “Yes, a good day for a great many things.”
Ieros then looked out the window again before following the Princess again, who after a quick greeting was on her way to the King. She met the King in the throne room and after expectant platitudes, they decided to officially sign the peace treaty and announce it to the people. Ieros followed, keeping an eye on the mercenary assassins that the Prince had hired. They were tailing her as they walked, keeping a good distance away for fear of detection but of course, he already knew that they were there.
But they did not have to fear, he would allow them to get as far as threatening her life but not further, after all, he had been ordered to keep her safe. Soon, soon all of his planning will come to fruition and war will burst into flame. As they stood on the grand pulpit, overlooking the citizens, Ieros’s glowed silver as he foresaw how their cheering faces would turn to that of jeers and calls for war.
Ieros then sensed the mercenaries heading closer, having taken the garb of the palace guards. They took strategic locations around the Princess and began to inch ever so closer. The King and the Princess did not notice a thing, until they were right on top of them. They grabbed the Princess and the King, the Prince then taking the pulpit and proclaiming,
“People of Seris! I come to you as a bringer of truth! We can never be at peace with the Atherans, think of the crimes that they have done to our people! In our previous wars with them, they showed no quarter for our soldiers who surrendered! Why should we make peace with these savages! Fellow Serisians, we must go to war and the first casualty of this war will be the Princess!”
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On that signal, the mercenaries drew daggers and attacked the Princess only to be stopped by Ieros’s magic. Chains of darkness immobilized them and all were killed without mercy. But more mercenaries arrived and to protect the Princess, Ieros opened a gate and directed her through, defending the gate from the mercenaries. Of course, he could have killed them all but then the war would have ended right there.
So the Princess was safe but the growing anger of the people turned on the Princess’s entourage, killing them all and then sending their heads to Athera. Of course, this only added fuel to the fire and Athera prepared for war. Of course, Ieros was thanked by the King for saving his daughter and asked him to take part in the war. Ieros accepted, though he was to display his magic and what he would be able to contribute to the war. So, Ieros headed to the city walls where there was a massive plain. With a wave of his hand, an army was created, a single legion, their black armor glinting in the sun.
There was a single giant, his figure towering over the others, his height barely reaching half of the wall’s which was a staggering hundred foot tall wall. The fifty foot giant was covered head to toe in plates of black metal, his gauntlets like metal boulders with a battlehammer that was only ten feet shorter than him. Its head was similar in size to that of a school bus, though obviously more hammer-shaped. One side of the head was just a simple large rectangular prism that was connected to a thinner one whose end was tipped with a pyramid, designed for puncturing while the blunt end was for smashing.
This formidable weapon could smash through walls with little effort and deform the land in a matter of seconds. But of course, the infantry was no less magnificent, possessing none of the weaknesses of a regular army such as fear or exhaustion, these golems would relentlessly slaughter the enemy until given the order to stop. Even though they numbered at a thousand units, this battalion could spearhead the turning point of a battle that was made up of millions.
But to keep up with appearances, Ieros paled his skin and pretended to lean on the parapet for support, sweat glistening on his skin. He breathed out, breathed in and then stood tall. Color returned and he seemed to have mostly recovered though he still leaned on the parapet.
Ieros then turned to the King and bowed, “This battalion will last for as long as the units are not destroyed or until I dismiss them. They are the same as my golems so they should be superior to any force on the battlefield. Now, I must rest. They will remain there without moving until commanded to so call upon me should you need them.”
Ieros then made a gate, making sure that there were no rips that End could get through, and stepped through. He ended up back in the floating garden, where Sentinel was keeping watch over Rose. She turned to look at him as he arrived, her eyes wary and hostile. Ieros said nothing but merely walked over to her, staring deep into her eyes, searching for any trace of naivety.
Finding none, he then said, “It seems you’ve grown.”
She just growled, “What do you care?”
Ieros continued to stare into her eyes, dead serious when he said, “You are a valuable specimen, you must reach your full potential to be of use.”
She snorted, “Yeah, that’s what you are. You even killed your brother.”
Ieros then thought on what she said, asking, “Do you mean Ieros?”
She nodded and Ieros explained, “He is not my brother, rather a copy. Exactly the same as me except for his mind. He was too perfect of a clone, so much so that he had become a completely different person and and as that is of no use to me, I terminated him.”
She looked at him with horror, backing away but unable to tear her eyes away from his.
Ieros made no attempt to close the distance, instead turning away, “I assume that you know how to use Magic, correct? Well, I suppose how to ask it.”
She was silent so Ieros said, “Well, a demonstration is better than an explanation so go ahead, tell Magic to answer your wish.”
At first, nothing seemed to happen but then, suddenly there was a disturbance in the air. A strange grey transparent dome lit temporarily around Ieros as if reacting to invisible blows, which it was. Rose had told Magic to kill Ieros so it complied, although its efforts were in vain. Ieros then sighed, though of course it was emotionless, he just decided that it was the most apt expression for the moment,
“Do not let your emotions control your actions. Keep your mind clear of those unnecessary things. Emotions will only get you killed faster.”
She argued, “No they don’t, they give you a reason to live!”
Ieros looked at her strangely, a reason to live. That was a strange concept to him, he was just a proxy of Darkness, a mere representation of his will, nothing more, nothing less. He was not an individual being, yet, he could be. He then ruthlessly crushed such useless thoughts. He was merely an extension of Darkness, he will serve and not rebel.
She then asked curiously, “Why do you stare so?”
Ieros recovered, saying, “It is just… I’ve never thought of having a reason to live. I am simply a proxy, a shard of something far greater. My purpose for living is to serve him, nothing more, nothing less. I cannot understand having a reason to live, for I am but a copy in the end.”
Rose was silent, she didn’t know what to say, the content of his words would evoke pity but in the emotionless and monotone manner in which he spoke was of one who was indifferent of his position. She couldn’t think of a response, she herself was new to this world and though she had a basic knowledge of it, she was still ignorant of many things. Something of this level of philosophy was far beyond her.
Ieros then walked into the cottage, the conversation over. He sat in the armchair and summoned a book, this one on the history of martial arts, something that had caught the fragment’s interest. Perhaps this would be a future branch of knowledge to study, but of course in a new life, this one was too busy with mage arts. But eventually, he stopped reading books and just looked out the window in to the vast sky which was purpling into the deep black of night. Seeing a particularly bright star appear, he decided to capture the moment, never turning his stare from the star as he began to create a black sphere with a replica of the star within. It shown like light within black glass, a mesmerising thing as the light within wasn’t still, rather it seemed to be a ball of white fire, always changing its form from one to the next.
The bauble, an inch in diameter, rested in his palm as he finally tore his gaze from the sky onto it, his left hand slowly reaching towards it as if to caress it. But before his fingers touched the surface, he hesitated, as if he wasn’t worthy to touch such beauty. The door then opened and Rose stepped in, her mind prepared for another conversation with Ieros only to stop when she saw the strange jewel.
Finally, she asked, “What is that?”
Ieros said, “It is a replica of a star, shining through the sea of darkness.”
Seeing as how she gazed at it and knowing that he had no practical use for it, he created an amulet with the jewel in the middle, silver chains attached to a silver disk with the jewel at its center. The disc and chains were covered in careful inscriptions in a language that Ieros only knew through its fragmented memories from Darkness. It did not know the meaning of the words but the inscriptions were elegant in appearance and though at first glance seemed simple, upon further observation one was drawn in as they realized just how complicated it was.
He then held it out, “Take it, it’s best that things go to people who appreciate their true worth.”
Rose hesitantly took it, asking, “What’s the catch?”
Ieros chuckled emotionlessly, “I’m not like humans, I will not deceive you. I genuinely think that it is best that something goes to someone because they’ll truly appreciate it, as you do for this gem. For me, such a thing is utterly useless as it has no use to me.”
She asked, “Then why did you create it?”
Ieros shrugged, “Well, I’m not entirely sure. I suppose that somehow, I just deemed that it would have been a shame not to have taken the chance when it presented itself.”