Author's Note: Hey, Just started this up and I've changed soooo many things already. Please leave some comments to what you like and dislike about my writing style and the story (though you don't know much about it right now). Unfortunately, due to my recent fascination with wuxia novels, japanese fine art and some random novels, the uploads will be a little slow (sorry). Though I will try to keep it at a good quality and hopefully not let you wait too long.
BTW if you read the prologue when I first released it.. there has been changes..
[[ - is the Historian talking to the reader
[ - is the MC (Rike Tor) talking to the reader
Indicates thoughts of character
Enjoy!
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Chapter 1
[[ The Notus library holds numerous different records and journals of people, present before, at the time and after. I have tried my best to correlate all the relevant information with Rike Tor's journal adjusting it slightly, hoping to help you understand the time and history of the setting. I will keep my adjustments to a minimum and let Rike Tor's work speak for itself, however as with the flow of time there must be changes. ]]
[ I was born, the year the ceasefire was signed. The events of my birth I was told was very bloody - to say the least. My mother had lost great amounts of blood giving birth to me and had unfortunately passed away shortly after my birth.
As such with all births I remember nothing of it. Therefore, I had to rely upon the whispers around the house whilst I grew up, or the more forthright people who shared their memories and retellings with me. ]
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7th day of Sextilis, 1088HA
Head Maid of the Tyraal House
Lady Adelia’s Chamber, Tyraal House, Tirine
"Breathe, my lady, breathe." I tightened my grip on her hand and recited the mantra whilst the physician prepared himself for the birth of the young master.
Lady Adelia looked nervous, tense and maybe even excited. I had never seen her such. However, even so her perfection never faltered. Straight black hair that draped down her back, snow white skin allowed us to see the faint red blush reflecting her nervousness or excitement. Her black eyes looked forward with fierce determination.
As the contractions increased and the lady started looking pale and her hands started shaking in my hand.
The lord stood outside. He was a stubborn man himself, and his appearance reflected as such. He had a solid build with a combed brunette hair. He almost always kept his hands behind him and stood with an imposing air.
Stubborn as he was, he kept peeking inside with a concerned glance watching slowly. His eyes met frequently with the physician's, as though he knew this was not right. His eyes spoke all he needed to know, whatever the tragedy, he would be strong.
The physician was a wryly man I had never seen before, nor did I ever see again. He moved like he was experienced though you would never guess from his skinny build and insect-like eyes. As much as he moved gripping my lady's wrists and feeling her abdomen he looked worried.
There was blood. Before pushing, this was bad. The contractions intensified, it wasn't suppose to happen this fast. My mistress started bleeding more as maids continuously kept bringing towels and water. He visibly steadied himself and took in a deep breath, "I'll be needing some towels and some more warm water, get ready... and push!”
Lady Adelia had just glanced up towards her husband, her hands shaking from pushing. Her grip was loosening, and she was no longer responding to my words. Her hands were sweating and she constantly murmured random prayers. I could feel her strength fading after each push.
The young master was born in a pool of blood, I quickly dashed to wrap him in blankets and towels. There was still so much blood as the physician gestured at me to give him to his mother.
As lady Adelia held her child, her face lit up with a warm and graceful smile, as if his cries was music to her ears. My lady stroked her child's cheek slowly until her strength faded and her hand fell by her side and eyes closed. The blood was slowly wiped off as she stroked his cheek and as the towels wrapped around his fragile body.
"Rike, yes, you shall be Rike Tor. My son." I heard her barely whispering, with the last, lonely, radiant smile.
I just stood by her side, numb from the thought of losing my beloved mistress. I stood and waited, to this day I'm not sure why, but it just seemed right to wait.
Lady Adelia held herself strong and only a single tear left her eye. When she took her last breath. I slowly approached. It would have been such a perfect picture of a mother and child, if not for such a tragedy.
I took Rike from my mistress and gazed at him. I will protect this child. A promise I had made myself that day for the life lost.
"She called him Rike, my lord." Lord Elriq stepped forward and took his child into his arms, he slowly started wiping off the dried blood on Rike.
As he wiped, he started from the top, however the red tinge did not come out of his black hair. As he moved down towards his arms he found, ever so faintly with what seemed like dragons circling around both arms. The jaws open at the back of his palms, a thin body coiling around his arms with the tail and his shoulder. The dragons themselves had a faint golden pulse against his slightly tan skin.
As Elriq stared down at them, realisation took hold and his arms slackened.
"A demon! I have birthed a demon!" he stared down at the fallen child and yelled. Everyone in the room was stunned into silence, frozen, unaware anything they should do.
"Call the priests. Now! I don't want this beast to be unsealed for a second longer! Move NOW!"
I stared down in shock at Rike. He was crying. From that moment I realised my resolve would be tested every moment. However, for my mistress, I would not falter and would do all that was necessary.
-Excerpt from the Memoirs of Tess
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7th day of Sextilis, 1088HA
Priest Quinn
Library, Tyraal House, Tirine
Priest Quinn was sitting casually reading a book. His thoughts strayed towards the unborn child, and he lamented at his powerlessness.
I am a man of healing yet unable to help with the birth of life. Such is our curse.
“Priest! My Lord is calling." Shouts came from all over the manor. "It is urgent! Quick"
Almost jumping out of his chair, tossing aside the book he was reading. Quinn made his way to Lady Adelia's chambers.
His eyes first landed on the lady, unmoving yet still a beautiful smile plastered her face. He noticed immediately the pale color of her face and lips, and the lady not breathing.
Ahh~ such a woman. To die so young and after receiving such joy. Truly a tragedy.
He continued to look around and found the head maid with the child in her arms. She was quietly rocking him, whispering sweet words he assumed.
"Priest! There you are. Quick you must help prepare a seal." Lord Elriq approached him from behind, trailed by two other priests.
A seal. Why on God’s Avalon would we need such a thing now of all times? The lady has just passed.
"The child is a demon. A demon! From my own blood! This cannot happen. You will seal him. He cannot be allowed to use his power."
A demon. Truly? So he would be able to use Ether - remarkable. Some can only dream.
"Yes, my lord. Let us move to my second room, there is a seal prepared which I was using for research."
"My lord. Must you seal the child? He has done no wrong and if you think about Lady Adelia... He .. He will be just as perfect as her.” The maid clutched the child close as she spoke. Protective. Tears had welled up in her eyes as she looked down on him.
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
"Listen Tess. And listen very closely. The only reason... The only reason why he is alive right now is because of Adelia. Nothing else. That demon has killed two people today, my wife and my son." It was a very chilling voice, that brokered no response.
"...Now take him to get sealed. I feel disgusted looking at him."
There was a brief pause as the maid looked down, swaying herself side to side to keep the young master from waking. "Yes, my Lord" a tearful whisper was all she could say.
Priest Quinn led the group around the manor to his research abode. There was uneasiness written all over his face.
There is only one way. And I can only pray it doesn't kill him.
When Quinn was outside his room he glanced back. "Please watch yourself here. There are a myriad of things I have been trying to achieve and many of them left halfway are still very dangerous."
Sliding the door to his left the door opened, and with it opened a view into the priest's mind - it was abysmal. There was not a single empty space on the floor, everything from books, papers and tools were dumped all around the room.
If you looked carefully you'd see that there was almost a structure to the chaos with clear circle divisions of books and papers around the floor. Quinn stepped forward without hesitation, however, the rest of the group remained at the entrance.
A pungent smell permeated throughout the room. In the corner you could see a pile of half eaten food piled above the waste basket. All green with mold.
Silently the maid passed Rike to Elriq, who stood in shock - taken aback at the state of the place. Then with an abnormal speed Tess quickly cleaned up any waste - food, scrunched up paper and any broken tools were quickly collected and thrown away.
Lord Elriq face was expressionless, now realising he was holding his child. A strong sense of unease could be felt from him, however he could not move.
Damn Tess. I can't pass him to anyone else or I'll look weak. And now I have my wife's murderer in my hands.
"My apologies for the mess, my Lord, please step inside. I have made it a slight more presentable." The head maid took back Rike after re entering the room and stood by Elriq, whilst the group waited for Quinn who seemed to be preoccupied with some papers at a corner of his room.
“Ah ha! This will do!” Quinn spun around on his heels, and weaved his way towards the group. “Please follow me, my lord… for your own safety” After speaking with a slight bow he turned back around and slowly walked around several different etched carving on the ground revealing a clear path for the others to walk around.
Quinn stopped at the far left corner of the room, his desk was placed against the wall an arms length away. Slowly he moved all the paper out the way and moved desk a bit further to fully reveal the sealing diagram. Referring back and forth between several papers, Quinn made added several different glyphs to the seal and after intently staring and each part of the circle he looked towards Lord Elriq.
“My Lord, before we start this I must say a few things about this sealing.
First. It is very dangerous, Rike is likely to die - he is a newborn and has no strength whatsoever.
Second. This seal if it doesn’t kill him, will weaken him considerably. He either has very little or no ki, and no ki center to practice any breathing or enhancement techniques from. Doing this seal will strip him of any potential strength he may had have.
Last. With my knowledge and talents, this seal cannot be undone. You cannot change your mind later and if you do there is nothing I can do. This will be seal will chain his power with no other recourse for him to grow stronger.
My lord, though I am bound to your service, I must advise you not to go through with this sealing. It is a severe constraint on a child who has done nothing wrong. Whose life will likely be destroyed by this very sealing.”
Without breaking eye contact, the Priest spoke deliberately, making sure he understood every word he spoke. Quinn himself did not wish to perform the sealing, but he was bound to service.
Momentary silence engulfed the room. There was a flash of indecision in Elriq’s eyes, “You will do the sealing. Now. Without delay. Whether he lives or dies, remains weak after this moment will be in the hands of fate.”
Fate? What fate? You are destroying any hope of strength in this child. Quinn wished to scream his thoughts but restrained himself. Taking a deep breath to steady himself. “Very well.”
Fear was displayed on the head maid's face as priest Quinn reached for Rike. She on reflex stepped back onto one of the following priests , only to find lord Elriq staring at her. Once in Quinn's hands, Rike was placed in the center of the circle.
There were various glyphs etched into the circle, divided into 5 parts. Quinn then took a needle, quickly cleaned it with some alcohol and flames and carefully pricked Rike on his finger. Extracting five drops and placing each on the edge of five parts of the seal, Quinn retreated out of the sealing circle.
“As this is a newborn sealing, three people will not be needed. Rather three people will kill him. One of you will activate only the glyphs whilst I control that power to seal him. This will give the greatest chance of success.”
Priest Quinn looked towards the two priests who had remained quiet and in the shadows. The smaller and skinnier built of the two stepped forward. He took off his robe and placed it on the desk and moved to the opposite side of Quinn outside the circle.
“Concentrate on the seal and just activate the glyphs. Relax and allow me to use the flow of power. Do not use too much power. I have added various glyphs to assist in limiting the amount of power, hopefully to not overpower the child.”
They both then stared down at Rike, he was sleeping quietly. Quinn took a deep breath, crouched down with both hands on the outer part of the circle. Signalling the priest to do the same, he gathered himself.
"Okay... Begin..." An emerald green light shone out the etches on the grown as both men activated the seal.
The emerald green light started to darken more on the smaller priest as he activated the glyphs. Several of the same glyphs from each of the five parts of the circle rose up. The green light now concentrated on the glyphs.
"Okay good... Now leave everything else to me..." Quinn was now sweating from his pores. Though he limited the power, it was redirected and controlled by him, and controlling both of their power was difficult.
Slowly the glyphs morphed altogether into chains above Rike's head. These emerald chains condensed themselves, concentrating their power. They then slowly started to descend down towards Rike.
As soon as the five chains touched Rike, on the center of his chest. He screamed. A painful and loud scream. Tears dropped down from his closed eyes and he tried moving around but was unable to.
Along with Rike's scream two cracks were heard. The first was the head maid running towards Rike, at the same time Lord Elriq intercepting her. Both leaving distinct cracks where they had once been.
The second 'crack' was Elriq intercepting the maid and forcing her to stay in one place with sheer strength. This created two clear indents as the maid feet was pushed down into the stone.
No words were spoken, but the tears in the maid's eyes spoke volumes. Her hate of her Master and of her powerlessness seeped out like a dark aura. Her clenched fists dropped blood as she stared at Rike.
Rike continued to scream as the chains slowly disappeared into his chest. When only a quarter remained he stopped screaming, and silence engulfed the room once more.
It was then the maid allowed herself to scream, "NOOO!!" reaching forward with her hands. Still she was stopped, and the cracks on the stone floor only grew.
Unnoticed to everyone in the room a single drop of blood from the maid's hand dropped onto one of the chains and disappeared as soon as it fell.
The last of the chains knotted themselves together before being absorbed into Rike's chest.
"It is done... And with God's blessing the child still lives."
I have done all I can for you Rike. My oath is strong, but not without loopholes. A long and treacherous journey awaits you, but you are strong.
As Quinn made a silent prayer to Rike. The maid leapt forwards towards him and held him in her arms.
"My Lord... I will now be in service to young master... and I shall no longer be the head. Please excuse me."
With a tear streaked face the maid looked towards Lord Elriq and defined her loyalty to Rike. Without waiting for a reply she left the room.
-Restructured from the recounting of priest Quinn and supplemented with the head maid and various guards.
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