“My beauty, oh, my magnum opus, complete at last; Dyosius, the sole device of my eternal power. The device of God, of Azafel, of Evra… The last remnant of my dying species—by my own hand, I might add. Yes, The Kinslayer, they’ve called me. The Eternal, they shall. I’ve come closer—no, I am putrid holocaust, and the lich unto my phylactery, Dyosius.

It’s all up to you now, Llestren’vatis. The Watcher. The Outsider. Very ambitious, what you have planned for me. Naive, though; before Serkukan’s empty body hits the cold tiles of my palace floor, both of your souls will be mine. And once I reap that energy, and I become the supernova, the universe, and god undying, Dyosius will serve its ultimate purpose. Azafel’s Ring, the court of our Red King… The court of King Algirak. Two birds killed with a single stone, as the multiverse whispers unto me… My multiverse, after tonight…”

-King Algirak, The Kinslayer

Five Hours before The Collapse

×××

A suit of curving ivory armor marched down the center of an iridescent marble palace, blue banners flowed from his rounded pauldrons and white chainmail cuirass. Two wrinkled eyes poked through the front of his draconic helm, with shimmering, eight-pointed stars upon their azure pupils.

“Llestren’vatis.” a growl caught his attention from behind.

He sighed before he turned to face a more jagged suit of crimson crystal armor. His face, sure to be locked in eternal scowl, lay hidden away behind a sharpened, dagger-like helmet. “Yes, Serkukan?”

“Where is Vekzul?” he hissed. His balled fists pulsated with burning energy.

“Vekzul is dead. He was captured by Algirak’s pawns during the last eclipse.”

“Captured? He wasn’t that weak. A red especially is not killed, or captured, by pawns.”

Llestren’vatis held his tongue, then continued down the hall. Serkukan stormed after him.

“And from Elesia no less? Captured right here, is that what you’d have me believe?”

“You can believe what you wish, Serkukan, but Vekzul’s fate does not change, and nor does his change our own.”

“No, but I can.” His armor flared with fiery light that matched his flaring emotion. “Fuse with me. We’ll open a gateway; we can slip into his palace undetected and incinerate him.”

“Even Azar’kara could detect such gateways. No doubt Algirak is monitoring his leylines for such an attack.”

The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

“Azar’kara?”

Llestren’vatis hesitated, finally turning to one of the many ornate doors lining the hall. He knocked, then turned back to Serkukan. “Azar’kara is one of Caloria’s many fortresses—”

Serkukan shuffled in irritation.

“—If they have the means to detect intruders, and Elesia does as well, then there is no question that Algirak would witness our entry and retain the upper hand. Even just peering in would surely alert him to our position here, and incite our own destruction.”

“Upper hand or not, it would barely take us a second—”

“To destroy his palace, perhaps, and most of his mortal pawns. But once that’s done, do you think killing him will be just as simple? He who pairs himself up with Azafel?”

“His strength is no greater than our own. So long as he doesn't use Dyosius—”

“And what if he does?” His eyes turned red. “Then we expect to die? Because he will, once he has us within that range. The last two obstacles stopping him from wandering the multiverse; we’d be dead sooner than you could fathom, perhaps even as we opened the portal…”

The door finally rattled open. Two hollow suits of silver plate marched out, followed by the potent aroma of lavender.

Serkukan growled, “Who’s hiding in there?”

“Your business is not to ask questions. Return to your quarters and bide your time. You’ll be useful soon enough. And if you heed what I've said, we just might have a chance.” He punctuated by slamming the door behind himself.

“Serky!” A small child in a suit of similar cobalt armor dashed up the hall to him. “Albion has an idea! We can—”

“Not now, worm. Not ever.” he growled, turning away.

The girl frowned. A tall, azure-plated boy placed a hand on her shoulder, his golden eyes glistening. “Don’t worry, Tir. All in due time, just as Llestren said..."

Llestren’vatis sighed and pulled his helmet free to reveal the long white braid and curling beard upon his aged face. His eyes turned gold when he looked to the woman laying on the violet bed before him.

“If your… visiting my bedchamber alone is part of an attempt to coerce me, I must admit; it’s working.” Her teeth gleamed as she chuckled.

He shifted his lips with bemusement. “Jokes aside, you know my plea.”

“Of course, Llestren, darling…” she snickered. “So long as you and Serkukan are willing to meet the… demands that I’ve set forth.”

He took a very long moment to consider her words.

{{Damn Etherians… can’t think about anything but themselves…}}

“Fine, then. It’s done.” He held out his steel gauntlet.

She laughed heartily. “I just knew you’d come around...”

*