The Forgotten Land: The Return of the Giants

No Longer Green

The great beast that once ruled the skies swooped high above lonely green lands and rugged plains. Its eyes, like fiery beacons of nobility, gazed down at its troubled home which used to be a land of magic, magestries. Its red shiny scales reflected on the calm ocean like diamonds. The calm seas grew restless as the mighty dragon’s wings rushed and lightly brushed the waves. Ever majestic by nature, and what a sight to see.

The wind roared through the mountains and valleys, high above the disturbed lands. Every moment of quiet calm seemed to be subsequently shattered by screams and the ‘fallen ones’ spells echoing through the air. The rock of the unmovable mountains cascaded towards soft earth and grass scratched at flesh and fur, as if it hungered for life. 

Little by little the land that used to host the three pillars was decaying. Neglected and discarded. It was now known as the Forgotten Land. 

But the land of the forgotten isn’t as blotted out of everyone’s memory after all. 

There on the shore of the land of Nettorgrof stood an old giant whose name was sung in legends, for he was the greatest of them all. 

Kult was his name. And he stood there tall and proud, awaiting for his dragon to arrive and rest on his shoulder. 

Tranquil waters kissed his ankles and the sand cradled his humongous feet. Around the shallow pearl bright ocean converged haunting trees and wrecked castles and fortresses. He looked up at the gray sky and wondered why the sun had faded then gone so suddenly given that it was a full hour since sunrise. 

It was as if the father and the forefathers of the giants appeared, the god named Titan, a giant of extraordinary stature, had reached into the heavens and snatched it away....

Almost in his dying years now, he was eager to wait for this day. For the day that the chains that bind their promise of peace to diminish and they’ll have their revenge. To prove that the giants were wronged, were shunned and would rule the world. 

Not as one of the pillars. No. But Kings, as they were meant to be. 

“Took you long enough to come back, my old friend.” Kult’s mighty voice reverberated as he spoke. And as he walked he looked at the dragon on his shoulder. “How I’ve been waiting for your arrival.” 

The dragon’s wings fluttered, happy to be reunited with his master. 

And just before darkness covered the skies, Kult walked towards the volt that used to hold the magestries and told his pet dragon his final wish. 

“My old friend, I have one wish I want you to fulfill before I die.”

The dragon, understanding his master, looked around, curious of what the wish was. 

Then Kult pointed at the land of the Sorcerers. The place where the council lies. The place where the ruby they offered was taken from them after they giants slaughtered hundreds — thousand of witches a long time ago. 

“Long ago my son was killed by a mad witch who thought she had found love. They promised justice, but instead followed a faulty doctrine. And so I sold my soul to the darkness, and vowed to bathe the world of blood. The blood of those who had wronged me and my family.  The land will come under the hand of darkness, dwell on the unseen hell and my foul legions await.”

Kult uttered. This was the giant’s promise to the demon he bargained with. His prayer of evil. A potent verse which was spoken on the he sacrificed thousands of innocent lives to please the demon lord named Seliath. 

And now a mark was made on the back of his neck. A deep cut in his flesh as if he was wounded by a knife. But this was his promise, his will to rally and take his vengeance. To give warning of things to come, which only few knew, and to remind all living creatures that peace never lasts.

Kult screamed, forgetting his past, forgetting his name that used to be Kultengreen. For names are important you see. Names are what witches mention whenever they create a curse or a hex. Names are what sorcerer's mention whenever they cast a cruel spell. Demons are vanquished whenever their names are uttered with a prayer. 

And a giant’s name is given by their god, the titans… which makes them who they are. 

Kult hastily placed his black cotton tunic back on his shoulders and immediately his dragon began to fly. They began to journey towards the Kingdom of Titans where the other giants slept. 

Once he arrives at his Kingdom his army will rise. And the world will tremble at their feet. 

"Once I have the heart shaped Ruby in my hands the world will no longer know dreams. Know happiness. They will feel what if feels like to lose their only child. They will cry every night thinking of what they have done to go through such great sorrow..." Kult said before foisting something from his back pocket and smiled. "...but for now, this will do."

He grabbed an bottle from his back pocket, and it was almost the size of his fingernail. A bottle which was supposed to be part of the Magestries from long ago, but was deemed to be too dangerous if landed on the hands of an evil man. A magestry that was crafted by the white witches. A bottle that could fulfil one wish. Any wish, any desire. But they was a consequence. A catch. There always was.

"And I desire for a world cloaked with darkness..." Kult hissed as he pulled the cap off the bottle and slowly poured down the bottle. 

============

“The demons come at night. Hope they don't freeze you in fright!” A young man named Pip sang the song over and over as he smiled. He stood behind a counter as he let out a grin. Instead of teeth, he had sharp fangs, but it was normal for someone who was part wolf. "The demons come as you sleep. They'll give you nightmares and make you weep!"

His eyes slightly glowed as he sang, and even the noises he made can be called violence against the code of nature, it didn't stop him from singing. Nor did it stop him from stepping outside and living his life. Pipper Wolfe was half human, half demon dog. An unnatural chill had hung in the air whenever half breeds like him hosted the shop, but others found it charming, and thus they became regular customers of the shop. 

Horror films had been really booming these days, and his presence on the shop inspires customer to opt for the old fashioned CD's, DVD's and External harddrives to save and keep their movies instead of watching and subscribing at Meetflix.

Pip enjoys the job. Especially during 'Shifter's Sunday', 'Full Moon Bonanza', and 'Freaky Friday'. It's the time when he transforms randomly into a demon dog and customers loved it.

Especially those who are into ---

"Hello, Pip! Glad to see that you’re on duty!” Lunora’s voice shattered his inner peace and musings when the perky woman in her forties entered the shop. Still, Pip smiled. It was part of the job after all. 

"I'm glad to see you too, Lunora." He said with a smile, showing his fangs. "How can I help you?"

Lunora bit her lips. She always had a thing for Pip. She believed that she could have him one day. Patience was all she needed. "Hm, how about you choose for me?"

Pip shrugged, "all right. Come with me?"

And Lunora did.

But then moon slowly moved over the sun. Its curve forming a dark silhouette that crept across the sun, moment by moment darkening the sky. The light shop slowly began to darken and the two gasped and was frozen in place as they watched light disappear and darkness replaced the landscape. 

"Wha --- what's going on?!" Lunora said as she begins to look around, and she lets out a startled gasp when Pip dragged her outside of the shop. The buildings, skyscapers and the trees around them seemed to sharpen as they drifted into this odd darkness.

The stark edges of the surroundings became more distinct without the blinding glare of daylight or the fuzzy softness of night.

"An eclipse, I think." Pip answered.

"But aren't eclipses a sign of bad luck?"

Pip lets out a smile, pretending to be brave. "Well, my mother says it's good luck."

"God, I hope so."

Not long after that, the others stepped out of their homes, their work places and wondered why the world became so dark. Afraid to look up, and receive bad luck, the people all walked with their heads down. The darkness crept over the landscape as it crept over them, invariably seeping one by one into their hearts.

Ancient memories rose in them, the darkness brought a foreboding that absorbed their spirit. A time when the ancient war between the great Pillars happened. The war between the giants and the witches and man.