《Third Death》Prologue
Advertisement
Irida stood on the balcony that had once been hers. It still was hers, but it no longer felt so; and very soon, it would belong to someone else. She gazed up at the sky. Awnn, Apera’s capitol, was always the most beautiful in these moments, after the moon had fallen from the sky but before the sun bled crimson over the horizon. The world was cast an enchanting silver-grey, scattered with clouds that swirled like curls of molten ore. Normally, she found moments like these peaceful. This particular morning, the grey seemed only to mirror the Ether above, the force that had created all there was, and the force that would presently welcome Irida back. She mused, as she watched the sun rise, watched the grey give way to morning reds. She had always held that the Ether was insentient. Powerful, yes, but much more like a hurricane, or an earthquake than like the gods of old. Nevertheless, now that she was faced with re-joining it, she found herself unnerved… uncertain. If there was indeed judgement to be had, as some held, what fate was there to await her?
History had already begun to immortalise her. She’d heard the stories of the bards, the ones that floated from perfumed courtyards. She’d also heard the derisive tales that flowed freely in dive taverns. Saviour, destroyer, healer, killer, very little was truly objective; and even less was accurate. The bard song never made mention of the cost of her achievements. She had invented a new magical discipline, it was true. That it had ended a bloody war was also true, much as the tales of the commonfolk would claim that no good at all had come from her deeds. Even so, the bards’ tales didn’t account for the death and the horror that even necromancy, the weapon of her creation, could not balm. Certainly, the fractured, impoverished state of Apera now at least was partly due to her interventions.
Advertisement
Bryant was indisputably her fault. She had unleashed a mad king on her country, and then armed him with the means to be more dangerous than any tyrant before him. Usually, tyrants eventually died. Her fingers brushed against her collarbone, finding bare skin where her silver pendant normally hung. Her lips quirked in grim amusement. After a lifetime spent foiling death, she felt unnerved without her necklace as it finally caught her. She had given it to her daughter. She hoped that Tynan might wear it and think of her mother, but the girl was very young. It was likelier that to her, Irida may as well never have existed, never have loved her. She brushed her tears away crossly with the back of her hand. She’d said goodbye to both of her children, and she’d already cried. Everything was taken care of, there was no mourning left to do and no tasks left to complete… save her final one.
She turned and sat inside at the desk she’d lost so many hours of sleep to. Taking a quill in hand for the final time, she took her time to write the letter.
Dearest Bryant,
When I finished the stone, I did not confide the true nature of its workings. It is capable of keeping you alive indefinitely, and making you nigh impossible to slay. To do so, of course, it must be activated. As you are aware, my blood and its inherent magical properties, act as the switch.
Tonight, I have deactivated the stone.
I have left your service. I am sure you will look for me, but my love, I’d advise you not to waste your resources. You will not find me.
I created the stone under duress, for a king I have grown to loathe.
I have taken it away for the sake of the boy I once loved, and whom I will always regret having a hand in killing.
Advertisement
For the sake of your children, your subjects, and all who might look to you as an example, I beseech you – forget this obsession of yours, and be that boy again. He would have been a kind king.
Yours Always,
Irida
P.S Abrianna died long ago. Helping you to behave as if that were not so was the greatest disservice I ever did either of you. Make it right.
She set down the quill and looked once more to the sky, now aflame with the sunrise. Closing her eyes, she stood, held her arms out to the day and cast her spell. When the maid came hours later and discovered Irida and her children missing, she was alarmed. When she discovered the note, she took it immediately to the king. There had long been whispers about the state of Irida’s mental wellbeing, but for her to disappear was unthinkable. Frantic, King Bryant Arsyde combed the castle for her. After that, he combed the rest of the city. There was no trace of her, for Irida Amaya had never left the room. After weeks had passed without a trace, the king finally admitted defeat. He posted a reward for any whisper of his mage, or either of her two children but he held out little hope. Eventually, a maid went into Irida’s chambers and, grumbling under her breath, scrubbed a stubborn ash stain from the floor.
Advertisement
- In Serial63 Chapters
I Have A Martial Arts Panel
In a world entrenched by monsters filled with myriad factions, state disputes run wild. Amid these troubling times, martial arts have come to prominence and prosper.Xu Ning transmigrates to this world with a Martial Arts Panel and becomes an ordinary villager. He only has one goal in mind: to become a master of martial arts.Spend three energy points to level up Gale Knife Technique? Yes/noYes! Hell yes!
8 1372 - In Serial86 Chapters
Yin the nobody in Hunter X Hunters World
''Thank you for reading
8 98 - In Serial13 Chapters
Legend of Aerolite
A war without end has grasped two rival nations who bleed without making progress. Two souls clash on the battlfield: a dragon rider, and a lowly officer straight out of the academy. This legend spans the journey of two lost souls marred by strife, war and love. An adventure into the great beyond, where the final key lies to ending this blood-feud. The price of any progress remains high... What kind of future will our heroes invoke? What will the price be? And how can they finally find peace.
8 186 - In Serial17 Chapters
The Rebirth of a Emperor
An Emperor reaches the end of his days, exiled and living in misery in a faraway land together with his entire dynasty and some friends from his time of rule. He regrets never being able to return to his beloved country and wonders if he made the right choice by leaving his throne to avoid a massive conflict but tries to comfort himself knowing many lives were spared. As he dies however, visions of a strange future appear as if to answer his doubt, making him shed tears of remorse, for his country's fate is not a good one after him, making his end truly a miserable one. However unexpectedly, his eyes open again to a place never seen before to a people he had no recollection of, in the embrace of a woman he at first has no idea of who it was. This strange, absurd situation quickly makes him realise what just happened, he does not know how he came to grasp the situation, but something made him understand this: This isnt his world and there is no turning back, no way to see his homeland again nor his family. In this horrible realisation, he cried, much like the infant he was now, marking his rebirth to this new world, which he saw as a punishment from God for his actions. ----------- Note from author: this story is the first i ever published, so please, to anyone who takes an interest in it, have a bit of patience with me and if you can, give me a bit of good old criticism. For now i will publish small chapters for i am not very confident in this, but as i write more and gain some experience i will release longer and better ones. Also English isn't my mother language so any advice or correction is welcomed.
8 87 - In Serial9 Chapters
Tᴀᴋᴇɴ {A Dimentio X Reader}
You're a newly obsessed fan of Super Paper Mario. What drew you to it? Well, you found a jester attractive and now want to marry him. Although new, you know just about everything possible about the game. That's what drew him to you---at first, that is. But even he can't resist everything.
8 268 - In Serial26 Chapters
After the kissing booth
Noah comes back from College with upsetting news. Elle is determined to move on while Lee is dead set on making my sure Noah stays away from Elle forever. And Noah is desperate to reconcile with Elle All rights go to Beth reckles I hold e I spelled her name right
8 111