BOOK 2/71 - A King's Hope II

Universe - Star Rings
Sphere - 3rd
Location - Lunar Castle

Fate is a bitch, many say. The Primordials would disagree with this. The Forces of existence themselves would disagree. While Forces like Time and Reality would say that yes, they absolutely controlled all, Destiny, Karma and Fate were three that were decided by the actions of people themselves.

Aargish’s words were not the catalyst to their fallback, or as humans would say, jinx. If Fate were to answer on her own, she would say that, in all truthfulness, every living and breathing being on SOL were doomed the moment Zeus stomped a hoof.

Of course, some might wonder if the Primordial Behemoth had weaved the strings of fate to bring about such a cataclysm. The truth was actually more simple. While the Primordials could indeed weave and guide the strings of those they choose in a certain direction, the wheel of fate or the circlet of fate spins on its own. Guided and led as individuals acted.

And beings like Primordials were not exempt to this rule. An annoyed kick while weak to the Primordials, was, in the standards of the Realm Dwellers, catastrophic. Sending every creature fleeing for their lives.

Of course the Realm Dwellers would curse and vent, asking why a single kick would have the entire wildlife and even the Realm Touched creatures fly towards them. The answer was as easy as it was jarring.

Humans would know it as PTSD and the Realm Dwellers remembered it as the Great Dance. The battle that reforged the very surface of SOL in ways that had not been done before or sinc.

None but a few knew that when the dance happened, only a single spot remained unharmed. The Eye of Sol. For monsters, beasts and creatures that had lived thousands of Aeuses or simply passed down an instinct, the Eye of Sol was the only safe ground in another Dance.

The Realm Dwellers, suffering the result of this, would complain saying that there was another Dance. But the truth remained. A beast will be a beast and a single stomp of a hoof is enough for instinct to override wisdom or cunning.

A mindless drive to flee and seek safety meant a mindless horde of beings killed, and destroyed on their path to supposed safety.

The Giant sighed as he refrained from giving Zeus a glare. Any more attention to the Behemoth would lead to more movement which would cause more trouble.

Haero knew the Behemoth was not to be blamed though. If anyone, it was his fault. The decision to put the Titans together is still causing problems till now.

He zoomed out of the scene he was watching and to the center of the realm. ‘Ah, they're almost done.’

Listening in, he liked the idea that Hellion had come up with. “His sight is certainly helping."

He slid away and back to the fight but this time he looked to the other kingdoms. It was the same everywhere. None were faring well.

The Cinderii and Aihtyngi had it the toughest due to their weaker forms. If these two races were built like their enemy the Urathians then Haero could see them holding out longer like the Urat Kingdom. Even worse, the Urathians didn't have a concept of weak people. Everyone in the kingdom came to the battle and their numerical might was showing.

Of course the Cinderii and Aihtyngi were holding their section of the tide in place. But it was only a matter of time before the beasts decided to just climb.

Elyrion’s plan was working for now, but Haero could see the impatient members of the hordes going round and climbing the mountain side. The King wouldn't know what hit him or his people. Fortunately, the Iralos people had not expected their plans to go completely well.

The Pyrsions had things the easiest. Raining down arrows from the safety of their walls and letting the tide of creatures drown in their moat. Of course the moat wasn't so deep it reached the realm's core. It would soon overfill and then trouble would reach their gates.

He waved his fingers over the table scrolling through the realm like a screen and stopping it at a very different location.

Haero had a tight lipped expression. His gaze carried more turbulence than the pools of white energy conveyed. His expression was quite calm compared to the thoughts racing through his head.

Aeuses of watching the mortals and then the Realm Dwellers had changed the Primordials in ways that, honestly, was both as funny as it was concerning to watch.

Void mist escaped his lips with a sigh. Leaning back he kept an eye on his source of speculation while tapping a finger against the table’s side.

“If anyone had asked which of us would do this, not once, but twice, we'd definitely be pointing at Freyr." His voice was low. Even if he was the only one in the Castle it didn't mean the halls lacked their ears.

Haero thought to his siblings. Ozai was doing what he did best. Running the dungeons. Freyja had been in the nothingness testing out some new magic since she returned from wherever with their mother. Tora was still planning and plotting, his anger over the kid who'd Slain his siblings still tainting the air.

Freyr, the only one who should have been here with him, had gone off somewhere. From the lack of view on the table he could hazard a guess.

Haero held back his scoff. “It doesn't help that my mother has been quite busy recently.” If she had been around, Haero knew they would have stayed in place.

The Giant froze as a memory slipped into his head bringing with it a thought. "Not like it matters. She would still know and I would still have gone through with this. She will understand. She knows the need to watch after our children."

Keeping the hope that whatever punishment came from this was mild and focused on him Haero exhaled and waved at the table.

“If Mother asks, then I was simply answering a prayer." Cupping his hands together Haero formed a tiny flame. Unlike most fires the tongue of flame stood straight, barely dancing in place. Then it split into five and floated off his palm.

Keeping his eyes on the flames he drew on a piece of his mind and with a thought merged it into the flames. Each flame shifted, warping into forms that brought a smile to his lips.

“Go!" With a soft breeze blown on the flame petals now shaped into different forms, he watched them get flung from his palms and to the table. Each flame vanished into the table with a shimmer.

“You know the punishment is going to be an increase in whatever difficulty those kids face, right?"


The voice washed through his hearing. Nodding he kept his eyes on the table as he replied. “I know."

“And you know this current difficulty is due to your first blunder? Well not exactly but you get the point." The voice asked again as the body of his brother came into view next to him.

Ozai looked down at him with deep pools of gold, curiosity shining in his gaze.

“I know.”

"And yet you still act.”

"Wouldn't you?”

"My children are not endangered. Neither are those of my Realm. But I see your point. Still, my children or yours in this war are safe and they have enough power to survive?. So, why do you still do this?"

Haero kept silent. His mind leapt from one thought to the next considering everything. Ozai was right. His children could turn the tides in this war. With their link to him secured they could get it done.

Haero waved a finger, the view blurred and returned to the fight. His palms tightened into a fist. It was like he'd feared. Their advantages had been lost.

Leaving out his Little Judge, and the Rising Sun, none of the others would get there in time. “And when they do, they'll need to end it fast to save as many lives as possible."

Ozai seemed to understand him even without hearing half of the conversation. His head tilted to the side and his eyes moved to the table. “They die even now. Are these lives not as important?”

Haero really didn't have an answer. Sighing he shook his head. “I think we've stayed out of things enough."

Ozai raised a brow. “Disobeying mom?"

Haero frowned. “No. I'll convince her."

“Better do. I've been dying to meet the latest generation of Argonnen."

Haero said nothing as Ozai turned away and began walking off. His face stayed stiff as he watched the deaths rising.

“Word of advice. Interfering is a broad word. It doesn't cover everything." Haero turned and stared in confusion. “I mean there's a certain way to help without actually helping and if Mom hasn't stopped me yet…" He shrugged.

Haero tightened his fists on his armchair. His mind raced. Ozai turned and reached for the door. His perception blurred. It was so slow, like a creeping darkness. His lips tugged to one side in a smile as he found himself back at the table grabbing a now standing Haero's hand. The Giant grew, not to his true size but to just several feet higher and broader.

It was enough though. Ozai glared at the palm with envy as it swallowed his entire arm and held him in place.

“WHAT. DO YOU. KNOW? Growling the words out, Haero glared.

"Well…."

As Haero listened he shrunk slowly, his face mirroring his shock and disbelief.

Once Ozai was done, the Father of Titans let go and collapsed into his chair staring at the view of SOL through his table.

“Don't beat yourself up about it. You couldn't have known."

“I should have!" His fists banged the table. “Mother never does anything without a reason."

Ozai rolled his eyes. He was glad he'd learned this lesson earlier in their life. He knew that if Haero had the same amount of care as he did for those in his purview then he was beating himself up more for his lack of care throughout the Aeuses past than due to his own lack of intellect.

‘Especially now with all these lives lost.’

Resurrecting them was a no no. Ozai paused, then tilted his head. Slowly he turned to his brother.

“Why are you aggrieved over the lives lost here when your Little Judge could just bring them …oh. It's all back to Time.”

Haero didn't say a word for a few more moments before he sighed and shook his head. “Thank you for discovering this brother."

Raising his left hand over the table, a strand of golden and purple flowed from his palm and connected to the table, vanishing with a shimmer into the image.

Ozai watched as the thread hit SOL’s ground. He couldn't see it, neither did Haero. If they could go through SOL’s Akashic Records they would have found a new entry.

The two Primordials didn't have that thought though. Their minds both ticked with the simple curiosity of their mother's plans.

Haero could see how this moment could have been set up to lead him to this discovery. But he couldn't see how the numerous deaths would help the Realm Dwellers.

The fact that his Little Judge might not be fast enough to bring back a lot of them Increased his doubt.


****

Ring - 1st
Realm - SOL

Watching their last arrow fly, covering the distance between the wall and the moat before finding flesh to sink into, filled the Pyrsions of the Pyr Kingdom with dread for what would come next.

The Tide threw themselves behind those in front and into the moat. Whether drowned or burned to ashes inside there, the Pyrsions hoped it would be enough. The silence on the ramparts as they watched was deafening. Eyes following the countless creatures.

Valthy noticed the moment the moat lost its effect. A body failing to drown as the others had drowned. Then another monster stepped on it and stayed afloat, not even shaking or losing balance. “To your positions.” Valthy commanded with a yell. The order echoed along the rampart, carried by the soldiers around her. Her thick serpentine tail slapped the ground in tension. Soldiers raced up and down taking positions along the wall. Valthy kept her eyes on the Tide now crossing the moat over the floating corpses of the fallen.

“Is this to be our end?” Her grip tightened on the blade strapped to her torso. Slowly she drew it free from its hold. All around her, soldiers set themselves with spears, swords and shields facing outwards. The Tide reached the walls faster than she expected. Those capable of climbing took the city walls with grace.

“It really is our end.” She whispered.

Taking a deep breath Valthy pondered what her people could do to survive. What plans to use. The answer came in the form of a crawler climbing over the wall and receiving the sharp end of a spear through its neck.

Against such a tide there was nothing to do but swing and stab, defend and dodge. Pray and hope that she and as much of her people as possible survived this.

More of the creatures filled up the walls, pushing and pouncing into the soldiers. More and more joined till there was nothing but a wall of flesh.

The Pyrsion Queen raised her sword joining the battle.

_

Elyrion couldn't keep the frown off his face. He was meant to be a strong front for the soldiers around him but he couldn't help it.

The plan had worked, been working. Suddenly it wasn't anymore. White eyes that lacked pupils moved from the Dragon Fang where his soldiers kept the tide in disarray with their attacks.

Turning to a guard standing to his right, his long white hair like all the other Ralosians fluttered with the sharp wind from his movement. It stood out from their red skin making it easy to both pinpoint them and also for them to blend in with the environment.

“Flanks!"

The guard didn't hesitate. She understood her King’s words and hurried off to obey them. Elyrion didn't take his eyes off her, nor the soldiers that followed her. The Ralosian monarch felt his chest tighten. There was no denying the situation. His plans would work or they wouldn't. Either way, people, his people, would die.

Slowly he turned to his left. The guard already had his gaze on him. His stance looked ready and he had a smile on his cheeks.

“Myrol, you know what to do.”

The Ralosian nodded and dashed off. Like the first group of soldiers, he kept his eyes on them. Imprinting their faces into his memory.

Once they were out of sight he turned back to watch the Dragon Fang. “Please hold." Fighting on two fronts was one thing, doing it on three was another story.

His eyes reflected the large explosions sprouting from the Tide.

_

The Urathians had one emotion as they stemmed their own Tide. Glee. Large two handed axes, maces, clubs, all made from metal or red hot stone.

The beasts hit their line of bodies and became paste.Their weapons moved in a blur eviscerating bodies. Durmoss in the thick of things bellowed in pure joy. The seven foot club he held was drenched in blood and dripping with the excess. Durmoss glared at it. Despite his great care, the blood still rolled to his hand. ‘Slippery.’ Shrugging he tightened his grip, earning a cracking sound from the weapon. ‘Problems like this are why I prefer wooden weapons.’

With a grunt he stumbled back as another creature pounced on him. Durmoss was sure this one was from the far rear. There was no way it had seen what he did to its allies. With a grin he grabbed its hind feet trying to claw up his torso. Like a whip he tugged and lashed it out before raising and smashing it to the ground. The damage was negligible though. The corpses Dumoss stood on hindered the blow.

Durmoss grinned and with a fast move that should have been impossible for his size, he struck. Blood splashed, parts followed and Durmoss was already moving. The Urathians were in uproar and their morale climbed as they watched their king dive into the tides again. As one, they pushed forward, weapons reaping lives of the beasts like farmers harvesting grain. When the swarm arrived, the Urathians braced for the additional load. When the swarm passed overhead without a glance at them, all while raining evry ranged attack in their arsenal, the Urathians realized their mistake.

“Fall back!” Durmoss bellowed. With powerful and fast strides he shouldered through the monsters and back to the city. The Urathians, even while running, knew they’d made a second mistake. The first Urathians to be brought down was the warning they needed. With it came confusion, none knew who would hold the line, and none knew who would head back.

More Urathians fell and Durmoss found himself leaping around guarding his people’s backs. It was not enough. Cursing at himself as he realized a major flaw to the Urathian might was their lack of training.

-

Solyr wanted to run free again like he’d been doing earlier. A glance at the large four legged beast heading their way was enough to settle his mind and calm his body. The realm shook with its lumbered steps. ‘This creature will be hard to fell.’ He frowned as he watched it draw nearer. He couldn’t envision how his blade would cutthrough those scales, and even if they did, just how deep the blade would need to cut to end it or reach something vital.

One of his guard captains yelled out something that made most of the fighters on his side raise their shields to the creature. The thing must have taken it as some form of challenge as it parted its jaw and let loose a mind numbing roar.

Solyr knew right then that things had taken an abrupt turn.

The monster or beast rammed head first into the line of fighters and sent most flying or others scattering and crushed.

-

Location - Unknown

Its large head snapped up, reptilian slits narrowing. It could feel something, hear something. The sensation was strong and drawing it in a certain direction. It knew what lay there.

Trying to resist this sensation was possible, but it was curious. With a roar to announce its emergence it shattered the mountain around it. Scales shook in a hypnotic ripple as sand, dust, and debris fell off its body.

It cut off its roar and with a mighty flap, shot into the red skies.

-

A mountainside exploded outwards. An oppressive heat poured out of the hole while the rocks that had been blown out rained down as magma. Light could be seen approaching the exit from inside, a creature of bright golden light that looked like liquid shot out. In a blur of gold it reached the skies and the twisting it shot in another direction. North.

-

The earth shook, rippling like liquid in a straight line. A line pointing in one direction. North.