In an old tavern along the round roads within the drunk streets of Meredith, a man had gotten too much to drink for himself."Fuck the king! Fuck his daughter! That little bitch has put us in war, and yet she sits behind that beautiful mansion as we march forth to fight!""Seeing that you're right in here drinking away your life, I can guess you didn't volunteer to fight for the king." Replied the woman who traded them their drinks from behind the bar where she stood.She had short hair and fast working hands. And as her daughter poured more wine for the rambling man, she cautioned. "That is enough, Brienne. Georje has had too much already. If he loses his head for his words, his blood would be on you."But Georje was not ready to quit his wine. "Hey woman! So what if I don't march to war? My brother has gone to fight! And he is a fine warrior! In my case, war is not my talent. I fare better when I sit around and drink away my life. Now pour me some more wine, child!"But the woman wo
"I have to go warn them! I cannot stay here!"Percival stumbled to his feet. He could still feel a little pain somewhere around his neck and at his back, but he paid all that very little attention."I will not sit back and watch evil befall my entire family.""You still have a mother." Ircane uttered in a tone that depicted sarcasm. "And she loves you a lot.""You seem to think this is fun, old hag!" Percival shrieked in the old witch's direction. And she only giggled in reply."Be careful, Percival." Agnos warned. "You have her portion in your body, she can control every bone of your body. If she wishes, she can squash every single vessel that pumps blood into your stubborn heart."Percival only shunned his warnings. "I have no fear of her." He turned to the witch again. "Where were you when your kind were being hunted and killed by the king. You could not do a thing. Now, my family is riding towards doom and you expect me to be still? Just like you were? Never!"With that, he moved
"Join us, Ul Thera. And we shall rewrite the ways of this world. Segregations shall be cast away like little leaves under a fearsome wind by the reign of the red king! He shall replace order to the realm of men, a feat none of the four kings shall ever achieve!"As Soatio raised his cracked voice to the hearing of all, his people made noises to echo his words. At every pause he made, they screamed into the night."Who best reign as king over the wizards? Over the witches? The night singers? The mortal men? Who best unite the world of magic with the fold of the ordinary folk? None I tell you! None! But Zathryon! The red king! The king of demons! He has return to save us all from the lust of mortal kings!"As he said those things, his people howling in return, Ul Thera struggled to fight against himself.There before him was a chance to reclaim all he had lost, an alliance that would forge the return of his abandoned hope. The fulfillment of a dream he had nurtured since his youthful da
Once upon a long time ago when men were boys, when the old was young and when the wise was foolish, Soatio the great chief of the night fell in love with Ircane the undying witch.She came to him as a priestess, eyes dazzling like the shine of the evening stars. Hers was the most beautiful face he had ever beheld. He could not help but think that all his motives in life were encompassed in her life with him.He thought that her white face was all that the blackness of his skin required. That her balls of light would balance his whorls of darkness. That her love was all he needed and all his dreams would be fulfilled.This he believed to his heart, but she was no goddess to make true his wishes. She never bore the same affection that he endured. In the end, she was only a witch who had come to him to learn a secret that can only be found in Ghosti'dor. He gave her everything she asked for and the ones she could not mention. She used him so much, and she used the secrets she stole from
Over the cold waters on the isle of the witches, the trees mourned for the death of the undying witch.The witches felt a force like never before, rushing against their heart and telling them that they had just lost one of their own. They knew what had happened, but they could not help but be suprised."I know I am supposed to hate her, but isn't she an epitome of witchery? Who knew Ircane never left this world until now? Such a powerful witch she was! The heavens shall sing her name!". Teresa exclaimed in awe or respect. Marina was by her side as she said these things and to the witch mother, Teresa's words were far from truth.The witch mother had always known that the undying witch still lived. That Ircane was always alive within the walls of Meredith which in perfect irony was the worst place for a witch to hide her face. She could always feel her powerful presence anytime she used the power of the isle. Whenever she commanded the waters or used the plants. Ircane's aura always fo
The princess woke up from another nightmare. She had kept awake all night, falling into a dreamy land of despair each time she fell asleep. At this point, she could no longer keep count of how many dreams she had had tonight.Sitting up on her bed, she checked around for her dear maid but then she remembered. Cynthy would have been by her side the moment she jumped off from bed. She missed her so much at this point.To make matters worse, her last nightmare was all about the maid herself. In her dream, she saw her friend in Hayden, struggling with the pains of death. Bitten by a particularly powerful red demon, she only escaped by the breadth of a needle string. And as she stumbled around the city, unaware of her destination, night robbers got in her way, carting away with the gold the prince had given to her.No one helped her, and she was lying behind an old tavern, dying slowly.It was at this point that Daella woke up. She had no idea why she had seen so many things in her dreams
In Hayden, Cynthy had almost lost her dear life. She barely escaped from the magical grips of the tall and powerful man who tried to prevent her from entering her new life of freedom.He had appeared from nowhere and offered her revenge."The king of Meredith is neither just nor grateful," he had said. "Is he not deserving of punishment?"A question to which she could not find a voice to reply since her strength was numb and her tongue seemed tied by whatever magical powers this man possessed."Oh! Do you want to decline my offer? I know that the desire for revenge still dominates your heart from within. Why must you deprive yourself of such justice?"She struggled to look in his eyes. His magic had a stronger hold than the thickest chains.And she mumbled, forcefully but audibly. "L-o-v-e".Zathryon chuckled. "Oh love, our excuse for being weak. You know, I also believe in love. In truth, I have a lover among your kind. But at the same time, I know of some good ways through which lov
While the witches paid their last respect to Ircane, her body laid within her cave of flowers. Her son Agnos sat beside it in tears while Percival stood by his side, consoling his loss.Her body now lay beside the little stream of water that flowed in the cave, adorned by the flowers she had nurtured for all her years. There she would stay for years to come without decay.Ircane's body had vanished mysteriously from Ghosti'dor the moment she breathed her last. Anyone would have thought it was the work of Ul Thera, but the wizard was no where to be found.Agnos had thought that his mother would return with the wizard who was his father by her side for he did not know his name nor could he recognize his face. But what he got was only disappointment. His mother, who was supposed to have learnt the art of immortality, dead before him. No wizard, no father. He was now completely alone in his world of mystery. Not completely alone anyway. Percival put a hand on his shoulder."I'm sorry th