As I stepped into the room my eyes were drawn to the far wall. There was a mural of seven people. Four men and three women. The men all wore golden armor. One was adorned in full plate mail with a massive sword pointing at the ground. The next wore some kind of scale mail. I could almost see the scales would flex if he moved. He had a long slender sword with a deep curve in its blade. The next man wore lighter armor. I couldn't tell if it was leather or some other material. He had twin blades in an X sheath on his back. He was mid-laugh as if the mural was a single moment frozen in time. Next to them and no lesser in their majesty were three women in robes. Two of them were adorned in Golden white robes with staves as tall as they were. Each of the staves thrummed with power as if they were waiting all this time for someone to give them a command. The third woman stood above the other five. She was wearing blue and gold robes. In her hand was a wand made out of crystallized sunlight. The seventh man was the most majestic of all. He sat on a golden throne. His skin was a dark black color and his eyes shone with the radiance of the sun. Even through the painting, it made my soul hurt to stare at him. He held no weapon but seemed even more dangerous than the others.

I raised my hand wanting to touch the wall when the sound of rushing air filled the room. I whipped my head around the majesty of the moment gone. Both hands were raised and I began casting. When I saw what was waiting for me the words died on my lips. Floating in the air the coffin was the king from the mural. His beauty and majesty dulled compared to the image but it was him. He was adorned in jewelry, everything from rings to necklaces, earrings, and piercings. There were some differences between this man and the mural. He held a black and gold staff in his right hand and he wore a skirt-like lower-body garment with no shirt. Lastly, his eyes had changed, gone was the blinding radiance in its place was an oppressive darkness. Before I could do anything else the man's voice spoke with an authority that could shatter stone.

"Are you a child of the giants? Hmm no perhaps the Titans. Had some of them managed to survive?" The man paused a complex storm of emotions crossing his features before he settled on confusion. I had no idea what he was talking about. His curiosity and excitement grew as he spoke. "I do not sense a bloodline from you." The ghost waved his hand and I was pulled into the air. My body seized and my arms were forced out to my side into the strangest "T" pose of my life. The spectral king floated around me slowly as if examining a prized mare."The true oddity is your soul. Are you a necromantic experiment?

The Titans despised necromancy though. Perhaps an exile?" The man paused and then waved his hand a look of excitement spreading across his face. "No no not the Titans. An Altazian. If only you had been here when I was alive. So many things could have been different." Suddenly the magic ended and I was placed on the ground.

I took several steps back and tested my now free muscles. When I was sure that I had full control I leveled my gaze on the man. "Who are you? How are you here? What is an Altazian?" Curiosity and anger warred inside me as I considered what to do? I was pretty sure this guy could kill me but he also seemed oddly interested. He began speaking before I made up my mind.

"I am Semere."The ghost paused for a beat before waving his hand. Suddenly the tomb fell away and the pair of them were floating in the night sky. "The Altazian were a group of supreme beings. It was theorized that they gave birth to a myriad of worlds and planes but it could never be proven. They abandoned the planes millions of years ago until you that is. Tell me how did you come to be here? I should have felt it if someone forced their way into the world. Let alone when you entered the tomb?" I hesitated at that. I still couldn't be sure if telling people what happened would be safe but then again telling the ghost king of an ancient empire would probably not result in being burned at the stake. Then again it could end in any number of other bad things. I shook my head. This was the only chance I had at getting some answers which meant I needed to be willing to take some risks. "I came from a different world. A pair of beings sent me here after I died because of some cult. They repaired my soul by infusing it with Aether. It countered but couldn't get rid of the corruption caused by the cult's weapons.

As soon as the words left his lips the man's face twisted into a grimace of rage."That sounds like one of the cults to the Fallen." The ghost king began forming magical symbols in the air so fast that I had no time to read them. Suddenly several spots on the world glowed in white. A quick count told me there were five in total. "Are the Fallen, these cults your enemy?" I leveled a gaze on the man and nodded "Hell Yes."

Semere paused and stared at me for several seconds. The situation became a bit awkward and was about to clarify myself when the ghost shook his head. A moment later the ghost began to laugh. His laughter seemed to fill the night sky as if his voice came from everywhere at once. "What do you know about them child? What do you know about our shared enemy?" I let out a sigh at that and shook my head.

"Unfortunately very little. I know that their cults can deal damage to the soul and that they need to send power to their master but that is about it."You want to fight an enemy without knowing what that enemy is? Nor how many there are?" Semere asked with a raised eyebrow. The motion looked strange when his eyes were black voids. "I do, I will learn when I have the time and the chance. Right now I haven't been in this world a week yet but I died fighting them in my world and I don't plan on giving up." The spectral king listened contently and then paused as if considering something.

A few seconds later he made up his mind. The king waved his hand and we flew across the night sky before landing at a location in the desert. A sprawling city made out of a myriad of stones. The city was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. It left New York and Paris in the dust both in size and majesty. Strange trees reached toward the sky while people of all kinds ran through the streets. All of that was beautiful but the thing that took his breath away was the centerpiece of the city. A massive palace made out of stone and metal. The palace was a large square with an inner courtyard and a tall cathedral-like building. Its splendor left even modern buildings in the dust. It was made out of a golden stone that shone no matter how you looked at it. "This was my home. The seat of my empire. An empire that spread the length of the desert and could have reached the end of the known world." Semere's laughter was gone from his voice in its place was a hollow emptiness.

"What happened?" My voice came out as a whisper as if speaking too loud would somehow disturb the scene. I both wanted to hear the answer and dreaded it. The king waved his hand and it was as if someone pressed fast forward on a video. Day and night spread by in a blur until it happened a creature no a demon approached the city. It was as big as a sky scrapper, and five broken chains hung off of it, one for each of the creature's limbs with the final connected to its neck. My blood ran cold when an army charged the creature. At its head was Semere a staff held high in defiance, he was on the back of a lion the size of an elephant. I reached out as if I could warn them. There was no way they could fight that thing there was no way anyone could. I turned and looked at the present-day Semere and understood what happened.

The demon brought its hands together, and pure destructive power gathered. Dark red energy flew out from the creature's hands like the breath of a dragon. I wanted to turn away, to hide from the death that was sure to come but something inside him refused. It felt wrong to not bear witness to this battle. Semere waved his staff and the very sands answered his call. It was as if the fury of the desert was his to command. The two forces clashed and the world was torn apart. The battle was tough and even with my ability I had no idea how many of Semere's men died. The demon faced Semere and the last of his guards when the Ghost king ended the vision.

I started to cry at some point during the vision. I reached up and wiped my face while Semere began to explain. "We were able to seal it away. Though none of us survived the battle, This soul wisp is all that lasts of us."

"How? I don't understand how you managed to seal that thing away." Semere shook his head. Then the story on the stones came to mind. The power needed for that spell had stolen everything. The lives of all the men, women, children, and everyone else had died. The full weight of what I wanted to do settled in. I was going to fight that thing. I had no army. I was only level five. How was I going to stand a chance against that thing? Semere's voice interrupted the silence.

"I don't know. Only a small portion of my memory was placed here. Allow me to ask you something. You said you would fight the fallen. The forbidden one, that demonic being was only one of them. Will you raise a sword against them? Knowing what it cost us to seal one away?" My throat felt like sandpaper and I was forced to swallow several times before I could speak. I wanted to scream, scream to the heavens how it wasn't fair but I had chosen to come here. I had chosen to fight. I reached for the anger and hatred that led me to throw myself to my death the first time. It came so easily. The pained look on Alexandria's face. The blood on her clothes. That man's voice was as if I was reliving that moment in 4k. I had no idea how to stop such a monster but I would be damned if I ran away. I refuse to let the people who stole everything from me do so here. I refuse to let them ruin a whole world. I bawled my fist and leveled my gaze on the king.

"My answer hasn't changed. I will fight them and I will kill each and every one." Semere's gaze seemed to peer deep into his soul and I stared back defiantly, challenging him to test my resolve. After a long beat, Semere nodded and we were returned to the tomb. "In that case allow me to help you. I can give you a gift before I depart this world. I warn you that accepting this gift will make you a target. You will join the grand game. Be sure you are ready before accepting." Before he could answer a prompt came into view.

Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.

Notice! You have been offered ownership over a Place of Power. Due to the Place of Power having no current owner nor descended there is no to contest your ownership. Due to the fate of the last owner of this place of power, its name no longer exists. A new name will be selected based on the new owner.

Will you accept ownership?

Yes/No?

I had already made my choice so I accepted the prompt. I turned to ask Semere why this place had no name but before I could speak a searing pain erupted across my back. It felt like someone was carving into me with a burning hot knife. I screamed in agony and looked at Semere expecting to see him gloat in triumph as if he had somehow tricked me. The look of pity on his face sent a trill of fear deep into my bones. A moment later the darkness claimed me.

I woke up with a jolt. The room was completely dark. I instinctively began casting sphere of light and when the shining ball appeared I divided it into three smaller balls and spread them out. I ran my hand along my back expecting to find damaged or burned skin but it felt fine. Now that I thought about it I felt completely fine. I quick glance at my health bar told me that I had fully recovered. Semere wasn't around anymore either nor was his coffin or the mural. "I hope you find peace." I turned and began looking for a way out when I caught sight of a pile of clothes. I made my way over and pressed a hand on top of the item.

You have found: Novice Magician's Robes Details: Provides +3 defense(+5 against magic)

Durability: 20/20

Item Quality: Above Average

Item Rarity: Common

Weight: 7lbs

I also found a necklace and a gold ring both of which were magical. The necklace was made out of gold and was a palm sized circle with the image of a sun in the center. The sun had seven rays of light spreading out in seven different directions. The ring was simpler in design, a golden band with black trim.

You have found: Ring of Erudition Details: Increase Magic Points regeneration by 20%

Durability: 20/20

Item Quality: High

Item Rarity: Uncommon

Weight: .9oz

You have found: Semere's Amulet Details: Increases Magic, Health and Stamina by 30 points.

Durability: 30/30

Item Quality: High

Item Rarity: Rare

Weight: 20g

I pulled all three items on and felt a surge of power spread through me. A quick check of my status screen told me that my magic regen rate was now twelve. I was sitting at 230hp, 230mp, and 150sp. It looks like vitality would be next to twenty which would bring me up to a nice 230 for all the stats. "Alright, now you have had a conversation with the spirit of a dead king now you need to escape his tomb." I let out a humorless chuckle. "The only thing stopping this from being a scene straight out of a book is that the tomb wasn't collapsing. As soon as I finished the thought the ground began to tremble. "Oh come on!" Panic began to rise as parts of the ceiling fell in. I cursed and began running. I left the burial chamber and ran into the hall I fell through. The ceiling was mostly but there was a chance. Another tremble told me I didn't have much time. I began casting. Four rays of light shot forward and blasted a hole in the ceiling. I climbed up on an overturned pillar and began to make my way up the wall. My stamina rapidly depleted as I got closer and closer to the top. I had pulled myself up and into the chamber where the battle with the hytal took place when I started hearing voices.

"We have to go back and search for him." There was a pause and I scanned the darkness and falling debris. The chamber made it difficult to determine where the voice was coming from. A second voice joined the first. "We can't. The entire structure is falling and we have no idea where he is." A chunk of stone fell nearly nearby and I began to run. I started a second dual casting. A bolt of radiant light shot forward blasting a chunk of stone and clearing a path. I caught sight of a sliver of light through the black sand and ran toward it desperately. The ground beneath my feet gave way and I was forced to throw myself forward. I sailed through the air before slamming into a stone. The pain forced a scream of pain out of my lips. I scrambled for anything to hold onto just as my stamina bottomed out. The world began to swim and darkness threatened the edges of my vision. I began to fall and then hands were grabbing me. The world seemed to tumble over and over as if I were in a dryer and then I was staring up at a star-filled night. I gasped and coughed before rolling over onto my hands and knees.

"What happened." Zakia's voice sounded like a goddess in my ears. I turned and flashed her a smile. I glanced over and found Kita and Angalia looking a bit annoyed but healthy. I sighed and flopped down in the sand. "What happened?" There was a slight tinge of irritation in her question this time which prompted me to answer.

"I fell deeper into the tomb. I found the burial chamber. Had a conversation with the spirit of a dead king oh and then I got a Place of Power. That was a very unpleasant experience by the way. I then got a few magical items and found my way outside. Apparently thanks to you all? Thank you for that by the way." Watching their irritation bleed into confusion and then astonishment almost made the last few minutes worth it. Zakia was the first one to speak.

"What do you mean you "Got a Place of Power"?" The shock in her tone made me sit up. I glanced between the others but they all seemed just as confused.

"Yeah, I received it from the king. I assume it's the one he had in life." I was going to continue explaining but Zakia started speaking rapidly. "We have to get you back to the Matriarch. I didn't know that Places of Power could be passed on after death. Did he tell you where it was? Is it within the canyon?" I raised a hand as if to shield myself from her onslaught."

"Whoa whoa slow down." I paused and pulled up the blinking notification I had been ignoring.

Notice! You have taken control over a Place of Power. You possess the required magical affinities as a result you have become bonded to it. As it grows in power so do you. Places of Power have a myriad of abilities and secrets associated with them. You are the first new Suzerain of the current era. Due to the unique circumstances, the location of your Place of Power will be shrouded for one year. All other Suzerains have been alerted to your arrival. Welcome to the Game young Suzerain.

Congratulations! You have gained +1000 Renown for gaining control over a place of power. Your renown has increased from Level 1(Unknown) to Level 2(Curiosity). Total Renown: 1000

Notice! Because your Place of Power does not exist within a settlement a settlement has been created. Your settlement is considered level 1. As your settlement grows you may gain new options. The direction to your settlement has been revealed. Please travel to your Place of Power to learn more.

I felt a faint pull. It wasn't strong enough to make me do anything but it nagged at me as if to constantly remind me that I had a place I was supposed to be. I hadn't even noticed myself turning in that direction. It was to the northwest. I couldn't tell how far away it was only that it was there and it was waiting for me. "Whoa" I spoke softly and it wasn't until Zakia tapped me on the shoulder that I snapped back to it.

"Yeah, yeah I know where it is." I blinked and finally heard what she was saying. "We have to get back now! If any of the Hytal escaped this place will be crawling with them soon." I nodded and stood up. "Alright let's head out. Are we going back to your place or are we going to split up here?"

They stared at me for a second before marching off in the direction of the matriarch. I laughed and settled in behind them.