《Of Life and Light》Chapter 22 [Ageless]
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"Report, Brutus," my voice rumbled softly, dispelling the joyous occasion of my return as my desire to return to the work at hand. This, in turn, scattered those under my person, causing quite a few to scratch their heads as to what they had just witnessed. For the Undying under my person rarely showed emotion to those they worked with, and after this? Well, such was a rarity amongst them all, to say the least.
"Yes, f- my Lord God," he caught himself just as he was about to speak about something which was forbidden to do so. To which my eyes flashed a glare of emerald flames in his direction, as he began to speak of what had occurred during my rest.
Upon returning to the village, there was an uproar as I laid there in his arms. One in which sparked many of my Undying to wage war against the neighbouring Humans that have been spotted at the base of the mountain we had occupied. From his standing, they were wiped out, but unfortunately, our village was found out and removed of all inhabitants therein.
In this, I felt some anger form into a seething ball of loathing for the Humans, as they were to blame for everything. However, my Lich went on to explain of an exodus from such a place, and inwards towards the mountain range. All of which spanned in the last fortnight, until several scouts came back with news of a cavern. Which led to those that survived both the attack and defense against the Humans to become excited, journeying forth with renewed vigour until reaching this promised land.
As to my body and where it was in all of this? Being guarded by my servants, who each wore a look of loathing, if they could, for all before and behind their persons. Even after coming to this unknown area, and shaping the stone and wood found within to erect a fortress, did they not let up in their attitudes. Which caused even the children to become frightened by their actions and features. So much so, they turned towards those who saw them as nothing more than another food source for comfort.
No. The children were not devoured by such creatures. Instead, they themselves were transformed into their offspring by way of Rojaahn. Of whom noted the lack of empathy coming from my female Undying, and gave the children something which they could latch onto fully. A family. Therefore, the monstrous creatures gained that which confused them greatly, offspring of which they felt nothing for, but were bound to them nonetheless.
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Quite confusing, to be sure, but it occurred nonetheless and created less of a burden to those who were once in charge of their welfare.
In the meantime, my body was placed upon the bed of skinned Humans with great care. Here, I was tended to by everyone, even going so far as to have them watch my stilled body. For it glowed with an intense and brilliant light in the beginning, but towards my awakening they noted that such light was dimming. Therefore, they prepared for the worst, believing I was at my end.
Fortunately for their persons, I awoke, but without any memories as to what had occurred after sending Brutus away to attack the outpost full of Elves, Orcs, and Goliaths. This was then explained to my person, as we all made our way back inside the shaped castle, where I was directed into a throne room ahead of the entrance. Yes. I did miss such a thing, as I desiring to exit the structure, and did not pay much in the way of attention towards what was around my person.
However, after being seated upon a throne of gold, jewels, and satin, was I fully given the explanation of what had occurred after my Lich left my side. Or rather, what was seen by his sapphire flames.
This, and this alone caused my person to rage as I my voice thundered and echoed throughout the castle and cavernous space without, "THEY DID WHAT?!" Rage and the Madness within erupted forth, spilling outwards the shadowed loathing of all things living from every pore and orifice of my body. Of which came out with the same force and appearance of a wave crashing against the mountainous peaks which denied its continuous journey.
The shadowed energy which poured from my being, swam throughout the castle proper, devouring all of which were not under my rule. Yes. This included those who were of monstrous origins, and it did not matter their age. For all who were within its walls were devoured by my dark wraths, and were only given a minute moment to scream before their forms were gone.
From babes in swaddling clothes carried forth by their mothers as they clean, to the elders who decided to make do with the vacant rooms in order to hold council, were they devoured by my shadowed Madness. No. I would not apologise for their deaths, nor would any repercussions come my way. For what could they demand a Fallen God, especially one who raged in his home, beyond forgiveness for having their people there?
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Certainly, such beings would be missed, but they could do nothing for them. For all actions against my person, and those under my care, would be met with deadly force. Therefore, they would simply forget such a thing had occurred, and move on with their livelihoods.
And afterwards? Afterwards, my energy retreated back inside my being, still hungry, but satisfied with the lives it had taken moments before. Yes. My past self did note the lives in which it had taken, but paid little heed to it. For the Madness had also retreated, forever in the back of my own mind, even to this turn is it still there.
In any case, my body stood tall as I contemplated such words given by Brutus whilst they each knelt low to the ground. There, I paced before my new throne with only the sounds of my robe shuffling against my legs, and the clicks of my clawed feet upon stone and wood. These two were the only sounds keeping us company, as my Undying kept their bodies still.
"Has there been any sign of any Humans since coming to this cavern?" my voice rumbled softly as I paused to inquire such a thought.
"No, Master," spoke aloud Amira, her three tails flicking towards my person, "Only at the village did we see the last of them."
"Hmm," my voice hummed as I nodded towards her person. Of whom grinned as her ears twitched with some enjoyment. "Rojaahn," I turned towards the Undying male Bear Beastman, of whom stood up straight with a bow, "The Humans who left with Brutus and I were transported in by way of a minour God. We shall be needing protections set in place if they try to return again."
His eyes widened at this, as did those who still had their eyelids, whilst the rest flared the lights in their sockets with rage and loathing for those who dared to harm my person. "You expect them to return?"
"I do," my own head nodded once, "and if the Humans appear once again, they are to be brought to my person alive, understand?" This was met with outrage, as they desired to slay them outright and not following my orders. To which I held up my right clawed hand until they settled down and waited for my person to continue, albeit with some disgust, but this soon faded away once it became clear as to what I desire.
"Capturing them does not mean they must be whole and well," a few, Brutus, Rojaahn, and Annata, were able to immediately piece together what it was that I desired. However, the rest needed a little more of an explanation, "Maim their bodies, carve out their tongues, break their bones until their consciousness fades to darkness. Do all this and more, but make sure they still live, understand?"
"Yes, my Lord God," they shouted as one, saluting my person with a closed fist over the area which contained their heart, and began to shuffle out.
However, "Brutus, Amira, Sisstra," I called out to these three, and bade them to stay whilst the rest shuffled out in order to resume their duties, or perform new ones. Once I felt the rest leave, did I sit back down upon the gilded throne with a huff, and leaned back as a slight groan escaped my throat.
"Is something the matter, my Lord God?" Brutus hurried to my side, determined to relieve my body of whatever ached, but was denied as I raised up my right clawed hand.
"Nothing is wrong, my Lich, only that it is quite tiring, but that is not why you three have been told to remain," my body erected upon the back of the throne, as I continued in voicing my desires, "I wish to resume trekking across the multitude of worlds in search of another home, if we cannot return to our world of Terra."
"Which means?" hissed Sisstra as she flicked her pinkish, metallic tongue at my person.
"Which means, my dear, is that I shall be requiring you three to journey on with my person, understand?"
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