She had cut off the scrying on the Hero once she saw him enter the VILLAGE (though she suppose now she should be referring to it as the ruins) Honestly though, she can’t believe The Hero tried to run back into that inferno.
It was fitting for a Hero but also insanely stupid. Like what did he hope to accomplish? Dying with them? Thankfully she decided to play the mentor role so she can get that suicidal bravery out of him before something bad happens.
She was also thankful that the forsaken guy was there. They seemed to have a history too which just goes to show she picked a great person as the Hero. He recognized and was on good terms with him and clearly didn’t have the stupid bias towards the forsaken group.
She sat on her carpet practically fidgeting in anticipation. She really REALLY wanted to go down there right now but she needed to be patient. She wanted to really let the despair permeate. Make him feel like all hope is lost before she shows up and offers a path towards vengeance and salvation.
She was practically squirming in delight at this and started to run through the various lines she would open with. She wanted to go with caring, wise, a hint of sympathy but a sense of urgency with cryptic words that spoke to a larger plot all together.
Ah! She couldn’t take it anymore! She stored the carpet she had been sitting on away and let gravity plummet her down towards the ground somewhere in the city. Only stopping a foot from the ground to keep herself from forming a crater and touched down with feminine grace of her character.
Sure she didn’t actually need to do that but she was getting back into character. She hadn’t been playing her role for several months now and she kind of missed it.
She quickly took out her full length mirror and made sure her appearance was perfect before bringing out her carriage and climbed into it. She wanted to give him a sense of the razzle dazzle when she showed up and the carriage was great at doing that if her time as the capital had shown her.
She was pretty sure The Hero was heading towards his home. It would make sense that he had some faint foolish hope his family would live so she ordered her carriage to drive towards there and off it went.
She took that brief moment to look outside and see the charred remains of the now ruins. Eh, perhaps she went a tad overboard with everything. She had always intended to let some people live in the initial prologue of her story but there was no use crying about it now. It was extremely cathartic after all. Plus it was their own fault for fighting off two waves of the monsters.
Speaking of. Once she got everything settled and in order she was going to pay The Failure Of A Demon Lord a visit and punish him for failing twice. Seriously, how does one fail twice like that?
She felt the carriage stop bringing her thoughts back to the present and quickly scurried to the other side of the Carriage and peeked through the window where she saw her Hero knelt down facing the charred remains of his once home.
He hadn’t reacted to the carriage pulling up but that was fine. The Razzle Dazzle was largely just her trying to show off and she could do that any time during their time together.
Now was the time to be the sympathetic woman who would became his mentor before facing her tragic end to the enemy. Oh she was so excited!
She opened the carriage door with poise and began to calmly walk towards the Hero as he knelt there facing away from her.
“I am sorry, young one. It would appear that I was too late to stop this tragedy. I am thankful that I had at least found someone alive” She was pretending she didn’t actually know he was going to be the Hero just yet.
She stepped forward and placed a hand on his somewhat cold shoulder. “If you would like, I will be heading back to the capital soon to report this event to the queen. I can offer you a ride to come with me”
She stated and The Hero did not respond. It was at this point she happened to notice a pool of blood surrounding The Hero, dampening the ash and soot that floated around them.
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
There was no way there should be blood. She had burned everything so hot that any blood would long be gone unless.. She then noticed the knife slick with blood laying beside The Hero
“He didn’t!” She grabbed a fistful of his hair and yanked his head back to see the vacant glassy eyes and a large slash across The Heros throat.
“WHY DID YOU KILL YOURSELF?!?”
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Jacob felt like he was sort of floating aimlessly in a sea of nothingness. His thoughts felt fuzzy, he couldn’t quite remember how he got here or what he was doing or even if he was supposed to be doing anything.
It actually felt somewhat peaceful all things considered. Like he felt like he could finally rest. Rest and be at peace. No anger, no sadness, no rage, no despair. It was nice.
A sudden digging pain shot through his side and the fog that was clouding his mind dissipated and he felt himself being forcibly dragged away from where he was in agony before snapping himself back into what could only be described as a black void.
Well not quite a black void as there were two things that seemed to be there other than him.
He stared at the massive blue glowing orb that illuminated everything around like a lighthouse. It almost seemed to burn but he felt no heat. He had trouble tearing his eyes away but something else almost seemed to demand his attention. Or perhaps someone
His attention slowly turned to the towering figure bathed in golden light that was as bright if not brighter than the massive burning orb despite the mans size being only 20 feet tall.
His features could only be described as perfect. It was as if the most talented sculptors got together and designed the most perfect being in every way shape or form. And this mans golden glowing eyes were focused solely on him as for the second time in the short time span Jacob stared at a being far more powerful and strong then he would ever be.
“Pitiful human!” His deep voice seemed to rattle his very being as he spoke “I have deemed you as the lucky chosen to help me enact my vengeance. Bow, weep and praise my name for all that is holy, all that is good, all comes back to me!”
Jacob trembled. He didn’t know what was happening but he knew that the being before him was a god. A being of divine power. And he was nothing but a small ant.
The being stared down at Jacob, the burning armor that surrounded him seemed to flare and Jacob felt the demand to speak what was on his mind. A strong compulsion that overpowered his being.
“Mighty god” His voice almost felt alien, not part of who he was but the words almost felt natural on his tongue “I do not know your name but you wish me to praise it. Please. Please inform me of the name so that I may fulfill your desire!”
The words weren’t his but a part of his brain demanded that they become his. That the words he spoke and the thoughts that accompanied them were all that he needed.
The god's body seemed to glow as it basked in his words and he spoke again “I am Ultam! The being who stands against evil and the abomination! I am the first and final bastion against all who seek to disrupt the greater good!
Jacob trembled and his voice once again came out without him willing it. “Praise to you Ultam! But how may this lowly servant fulfill your wishes!”
The god nodded, pleased with Jacobs response “An Abomination. One that I have chased across the very void itself has sought refuge in your world. Yet for all of my divine power the gods of your meager world seek to bar entry to me!
But now I have a way in. You will be pulled back to life by this abomination. And I will come with you. Your body will serve as the vessel for a god that stands above all gods! Rejoice and praise my brilliance!”
Jacob wanted to ask what he meant but then he remembered the creature he saw floating above Haven laughing with malicious and ill intent. This.. Thing. Was going to bring him back to life. To torment him?
He looked back at Ultam and asked “Can you help me if I agree to this?” This time it was his voice that spoke. But then the gods fiery armor flared once more as if enraged by his response.
“Foolish Mortal. I am not giving you an option” And then his entire being turned into golden fire, flying into jacobs and he screamed as he felt himself meld and burn.