God’s Domain (0th day of 0, 0R.T)
A bright yellow light was seen hovering around the empty white space before entering a huge door that almost invisible due to having the same colour as the space. Upon opening the door a whole new world appeared. Thousands of books primly lined against the wall of the spherical room. In the centre of the room establish a lamp post with a beautifully carved lantern hanging at the end of the post. The lantern being the only light source in the room strangely manage to illuminate the whole room with the same intensity throughout the whole room. The room was lavishly decorated and the wall was replaced by layers of books making the room as a bookworm heaven. The light entered the room and started to whirl around the room before stopping at the top end of the room where a set of luxurious sofa was neatly arranged accompanied by a matching coffee table in the centre of the upside down sofa. The yellow light then transformed into a young kid with golden hair and amber coloured eyes. The kid now seated on the upside down sofa without a problem while opening a mysterious book in front of him/her. The book is emitting a clear visible purple aura that could corrode timelines and dwindling fate as it wafted through the room.
“Now, whose life are we gonna write today?” The kid talk to himself/herself while producing a devilish smile around his/her perfect face. His/her voice sweet as honey doubled with 2 layers of high and low pitch echoed throughout the room. Out of nowhere an expensive looking quilt pen appeared floating by his/her side and he/she grabbed it before turning the page of the book that he/she currently holding. He/she is whistling a happy tune as he/she stroll his/her hand through the names in the ledger and started writing something on one of the name that had intrigued him/her. As he/she write something on the page, an extended aura from the book created a line that pointed to one of the millions of books in the room making the book to glow in a bright yellow light before fading after he/she finished writing.
“Hi there, Ymir. It’s been a long time. I hope you haven’t forgotten about me.” A raspy voice started its introduction in the room startling the little kid named Ymir. A silhouette started to transmogrify from the black shadows slithering from the slit between the books and forming a shadowy figure of a man behind the sofa Ymir currently sitting. A hand started to land itself on the youngster shoulder instantly causing a sparks to fly from the youngsters all over the room before the shadow removed its hand.
“Quite hostile aren’t we here?”
“Izmuth!! What are you doing here?” Shocked by the other entity appearance, Ymir quickly stand from the sofa taking a defensive stance. His/her perfect face contorted to a hideous fang bearing snake hissing angrily at the black silhouette. Sparks gathered at the tip of its hands producing several balls of black lightning that charred the sofa even though the static doesn’t come into contact with the sofa.
“Why? Why, you ask? It’s God’s domain. I am a God. The First God. And now I’m back. Spread the news please my brother. Tell our brothers that their eldest are coming to claim what rightfully mine.” Izmuth shadow now have disappeared leaving the room. Ymir relaxed and returned his face to the perfect youngster face again as a sigh escaped his breath and beads of terror sweats clearly appeared from his/her face. The room now return to its previous silent except for the sound of the singed sofa at the top of the room.
“Welcome back, brother.”
Animalia, Adelaide Kingdom (Hira, 15th day of Jade 603 R.T)
A man walk calmly to the large front door of the royal palace of the Adelaide Kingdom shouldering a large responsibility in delivering his king message to the current king of Adelaide Kingdom. He was accompanied by his most trusted aide by his side as the pair was accompanied by a group of beast men guards armed with spears and shields. The species of the beast men varies shown the high regards of the beast men for their king that managed to unite all of the warring beast men tribes into a strong powerful kingdom. Ulric Ostave; the king of beast men was expecting the arrival of the delegates was just right after the large door in front of the pair. Hostilities ooze from stares of Animalia citizen can be felt along their way from the main gate to the front door of the royal castle. The women of the beast men also shielding their children from the sights of the messengers out of past trauma that had been inflicted by the humans to beast men.
The royal castle; apparently a hollowed last Yggdrasil sacred tree was a sight to behold. The enormous tree centred Animalia and provided a large canopy enclosing the whole city under its large intertwined branches and green leaves. The shade however did not hinder sunlight from entering the magnificent city but sunlight are absorbed by the tree leaves causing the leaves to radiate providing green sunlight throughout the whole city. The air inside the city is clean, fresh synthesis from the tree itself has medicinal and magical trait infused in them due to the trait of the sacred tree itself. The effect from the enchanted characteristics of the city can be clearly be seen in the citizens of the city as most of them are strong and healthy ensuring their longevity for a minimum of 100-150 turns for each individuals. The castle itself based at the foot of the hulking tree. The bark of the tree smoothed and carve to fit the castle doors.
“Please go through the door. The Majesty are waiting you at the throne room.” The horned goat beast men that identified himself as Thern urged the messengers to walk through the door. Thern; a warrior of Animalia’s royal army equipped himself in the royal army’s armour had volunteered himself as escort for the messengers.
“Thank you.” Said the man to Thern with a smile on his face. As the usual king delegates, Lord Galahard calmly shut down his fear and anxiety from being shown to the beast men escort. After discussing and negotiating with Adelaide Kingdom for 3 turns, Drummend Empire had to put their foot down and concluded that war is inevitable between the two nations. The Wise King anticipated the outcomes of these dead-end negotiations and peace treaties turns ago had prepared to reach this conclusion.
Lord Galahard with his aide and bodyguard; Bahrut the Axe entered through the large heavy bolted door to be received into a majestic throne room rivalling one in the Drummend Empire. The layout of the throne room shown enough elegance with the mural of the beast men carved beautifully on each side of the wall showing the legendary tales of the king’s conquest. The pillars of the room are ordained with Adelaide’s banner and the usage of the leaves of Yggdrasil to constant supply fresh invigorating air in the throne room perfected the room aesthetically and usability.
Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.
“Welcome, Lord Galahard. It’s been a long time since we’ve met face-to-face. To what honour I received the right hand man of the Drummend Empire here in Animalia.” Ulric Ostave welcomed the messengers from the Drummend Empire. His tone contain a hint of cynicism as if mocking the arrival of the messengers. His eyes displayed a condescending gaze towards the humans. He already know the content of the message that both the human want to relay to him today. It is already within his calculation or one can say everything is already working according to the plan. His smile hiding his bloodlust and hatred towards these two lowly humans.
“Once again, King Ulric Ostave, I am Lord Galahard under direct command from the majesty, The Wise King of Drummend Empire, King Gurdrick Irvin want to drive the attention of the king of Adelaide Kingdom on the matters that were discussed in the previous meeting that we had a month ago. King Ulric, the amount of attacks on our new settlements and villages near our nation’s border had increased since the last time we’ve met. Although firstly you deny any account of involvement behind this matter however we manage to interrogate one of the attackers and he claimed to be working under your direct order to attack those villages. What do you say to these statements?” Lord Galahard started his inquiries on the beast men king. His voice was accusative however he masked the hostility with questions even though he know these questions are just a formality to a repetitive process that lasted since 3 turns ago.
“Are you accusing me, Lord Galahard?” King Ulric asked provocatively. A smirk shown on his face. He knew all along what he had arranged to achieve this state of his plan.
“What?!” Lord Galahard shocked by the question asked by the king.
“I repeat are you accusing me in being the mastermind behind these attacks you’ve claimed that had happen to the villages? I mean considering your proof is just rambling of a pawn, you dare to accuse the ruler of Adelaide on masterminding the attacks.” King Ulric casting his provocations to the messenger. He becoming bolder in his selection of words in order to irk Lord Galahard thus prompting the next phase of his plan.
“What do you mean rambling of a pawn? The one that were caught was one of your royal army soldier. Also the breach in our nation border by your army and the endangerment of our nation’s citizen by your soldier in disguise as mercenaries wreaking havoc in our empire. If you continue to maintain your silence on that matter, then we’ll have to…..”
“Declare war on us? Sure, my nation is not responsible in the attacks toward your citizens. However, 3 turns ago some of our soldiers that partake with the Blood Tooth company had been slayed by your so-called villagers in Caucasa Village. So, you’re denying the fact that you are amassing a large army for the past turns near the border of our nation can be consider as an act of declaring war on the beast men kingdom.” King Ostave cut Lord Galahard threat short and further adding insult in his speech to enrage the noble man.
Lord Galahard let out a deep sigh and remain silent for a couple of seconds to gather his shattered patience due to the beast man provocation.
“I guess it had to be this end after all. They wouldn’t reason with us and they wouldn’t stop until they get what they want.” Lord Galahard thought to himself with a heavy heart. He started to remember each face that he knew back in the Drummend Empire. Now, he has to be first piece that will brought forth war to his beloved empire.
“I’m sorry.” He said to himself before returning to his usual façade.
“I understand now of our circumstances between our 2 nations. King Ulric Ostave, on the power represented by the Wise King of Drummend, I declare a state of war between our two great nations. It is my deepest regret to announce this however your nation had violated the peace treaty in numerous occasions and this is the final measure to ensure our nation’s sovereignty. Either we fight or we die trying to protect our honour.” Drummend Empire had declared war towards Adelaide Kingdom.
“Finally, I thought you puny humans don’t have the balls to do the right thing. Hahahahahah…….” King Ostave laughed to his heart content due to the success of his plan to ensnare the great nation to declare war for them. And since the war was declared by Drummend Empire, Adelaide KIngdom has the right to set the rules of the war based on the iron-clad rules established since the dawn of creation.
“Thick Skin!!!” The king shouted calling one of his royal guards. Upon hearing his name was honoured, Thick Skin feeling elated walked genuflecting in front of his king. The large, black panther beast man called Thick Skin stared at Lord Galahard before bowing to his king.
“Thick Skin here my lord to serve and die for Adelaide. Thank you for giving this soldier an opportunity to die and honour the gods with his own flesh and blood.” Thick Skin still kneeling now raise up standing next to Lord Galahard. The difference in their physique clearly shown like day and night.
“Now, tomorrow you two as the representatives of both of the nations will fight. It’s been a long time since the Animal Ring hasn’t taste fresh blood. I ca……”
“Wait a minute! What do you mean by fighting?” Interrupt Lord Galahard abruptly.
“Well, you did declare war on us right? Then we decide on how the war should be held and the customs of the war. In our customs, the representative of both nation, the one that declare the war and the one being declared to must have the first fight to honour our God of War, Slica. Now that you undertand of our custom, don’t brought shame for us tomorrow human, let’s have a good fight.” King Ostave explained to the unknowing human representative.
“Guh…..” Lord Galahard was out of words. He had never heard of such tradition among the human. However now he is in the country of beast men, so the difference in culture are acceptable however this development had never reached him or even the Wise King due to the beast men's seclusion in the Sylven Forest. He was the representative of the Drummend and they have to abide to the rules set by these animals. He will have to fight the big, black cat tomorrow.
“I’ll fight.” A sudden raise of voice from beside him woke him up from his deep thoughts. He looked around as his aide, Bahrut raised his hand.
“I, Bahrut the Axe will fight on behalf of Drummend Empire.”