The Wielder of Death Magic

“Xen, my friend,” the flushed noble rose from a pile of ladies in undergarments, some half and others fully naked. The immediate scent was sweat, perfume, and alcohol, “-glad to see you,” he stumbled onto the carpet, “-you won’t believe me.”

“Right, put And Junior away, then perhaps we can talk.” The morning had risen over the festivities – invited guests, the more influential, stayed within the palace premises, whereas the other, lesser influential, moved to the capital for hotels.

Across the ocean, whereby the roads carve into a land of groves, grass, and green – backdropped by mountain ranges in the far-away distance – an envoy marked by the Phantom insignia, carried supplies headed for Rotherham. The otherwise empty streets rattled under engine rumbles, pebbles to the side-swept into the massive land of weeds and rocks. Music played, driver and passenger sat patiently with guns to their side.

“Put the music down,” fired a voice at the back of the truck, “-call from the boss,” he yelled, the upbeat track lessened, “-hello boss, how can I help?”

“Good morning, I called to warn – there’s a checkpoint a few kilometers out. Show them the pass and all will be grand. Have the forces be readied in case of a battle.”

“Understood, sir,” the call ended. Lines of solemn soldiers gazed, “-new orders team,” fired the leader, “-there’s a checkpoint ahead,” mere mention had many reach for the weapons, “-as we know, law-enforcement for Erat isn’t responding to orders from Central. Therefore, we, the private army of Phantom, will be stepping on the battlefield to give a message.”

.....

Earlier, at a time where the night loomed, a briefing of the following events had the fighters on the edge of their seat. “We have reason to believe the Revolting faction has settlements scattered around Hidros. The continent is big and dangerous as is, monster trouble has evolved into a fear of expansion, villages grow, more villages, instead of settling farther away, create communities. Join and merge until growing into towns. One of said unknown settlements, Erat, was founded as a stopping point between Rotherham and Rosespire – here,” the leader pointed on a map, “-is the point where the roads link. Since the new coming of power, many towns and villages have disappeared, many fled to other provinces – monster trouble has been passed by the plague. Scout reports suggest Erat has been shunned as a dumping ground for the ill and weak. Today’s operation is solely to clear miscommunication, the checkpoint will be taken with or without force. Be at the ready – the area is prone to backstabbing – geographically, we stand at a disadvantage.”

éclair sat in his office; multiple reports headed his way. Files on files, the details filtered, per order of the council, a decision was made to secure Oxshield from slums and unknown settlements. Erat was first on the list, the place grew a hotspot for vagrants and ruffians – the latter both not being of much trouble if activities had remained low-key. Alas, there needed to change. Lost cargo during transit was tracked from said area to a little tavern known as The Monel.

‘Report points to it being a face for a bigger operation. I’ve confirmed with Lady Elvira, Phantom is not involved. This leaves the revolution, if the checkpoint lashes, we’ll have no option but to pull the trigger and officially send a notice,’ he dropped in the seat, ‘-let the operation begin.’

Trucks neared the checkpoint – the road suddenly inclined to climb a hill, thick groves gave the illusion of a haunted forest, a place truly distant from civilization, thus the impression till the summit. The land cleared, a magnificent view rose on the horizon, the road split towards the right. A uniformed man rose a baton, signaling the transit to stop. The driver halted, tenseness in the air didn’t bode well.

“Transit from Phantom, eh?” exclaimed a member of the checkpoint detail.

The officer with a baton in hand threw desolate regard into a thicket where laid a small building. On its porch sat an older man, he rose an eye over the newspaper and nodded.

“What’s the deal?” inquired the driver, “-we’re a dispatch from Phantom,” he narrowed, “-you know...”

“Tough luck pal,” shrugged the officer, “-tis in our judicial rights to investigate cargo coming in and out of our territory.”

“Since when is a no-name settlement counted as an entity to Hidros’ soil?” quipped the driver, “-Sorry pal, I don’t have time to waste. I’d rather die for being late than being searched.”

“Stop, stop,” an armed force of dozen shuffled from the left, “-get out the vehicle.”

In the inaudible distance, the man holding a newspaper breathed slowly, ‘-they’re carrying weapons,’ the lips pressed tightly around a pipe. ‘-Phantom is smart not to put armed guards with the traffic – moving weapons is easier done under the cover of normalcy.’

The confused guard sought answers, the man save but tipped his head and turned the page. Forces grew by the second – a circle round the parked truck, “-get out of the vehicle,” exclaimed from the outside, “-else we’ll have your head!”

“This isn’t going anywhere,” sighed a voice in the crowd, “-kill the driver.”

*Bang,* the half-risen window buckled and remained strong, “-Phantom has cash,” whistled another, “-bulletproof windows, those things cost a fortune,” bullets wailed at the empty seat, the driver ducked as did the passenger.

“Let’s go to war,” he smirked and gave the signal, the gunfire outside halted, footsteps approached the door.

“I think the driver’s dead,” seeing inside was hard between shattered glass and crimson tint.

“Don’t lower your guard,” they rose their guns at the front, “-check the back,” he ordered, majority of the guards muddled, “-it’s locked.”

“Key’s with the driver,” they shrugged, “-right, open the door,” the split between changing target, a moment of the lowered guard – the backdoor slammed open, armed fighters ran out whilst a few stayed to provide cover. Bullets flew, heads dropped – communication ruined – cacophony behind gave much-needed space for the driver and passenger to retaliate. Gun drawn, Phantom’s rifles thoroughly overpowered whatever they used, armor or whatnot, nothing mattered. The ordeal was over under five minutes, armed soldiers rose their weapons at the reading man, “-put the paper down.”

“No need for violence, I surrender,” hands in the air, “-we messed with the wrong crowd,” completion traveled to the capital where a busy éclair sat in a political meeting, ‘-Yui, move to the second phase of the conquest. Have Wendy’s squad infiltrate the town, I need information, best to learn their tactics before laying siege.’

‘As you wish, brother.’

The news didn’t only travel to Rosespire, it also made a long trip to Kreston to the summit of St. Lucie, a town built around the Cathedral in service to Lucifer, “-bad news,” whispered across the table, “-forces have been captured. Waging war this early will be our loss. We must reach out to the Empire for help.”

“No no, we can’t afford them entering Hidros. One wrong move and they could stand to take more than just Kreston.”

“So, what’s the problem. The only goal is to fight and win against the fake king,” the arduous voice of battle whistled to a bench directly laying on a statue dedicated to Lucifer. Queen Eia watched, hands bound in prayer – a crack shattered the face, ‘-what?’ she gulped, the eyelashes fluttered, ‘-the stature cracked,’ confusion forced her into wiping her eyes and recheck – there, the cracked face disappeared, ‘-did I imagine?’ A shadow moved into her peripheral, “-father?”

“Eia,” he smiled, “-I found you,” he rushed to her side and tightly gave an embrace, “-Eia, Eia,” he held her chin, “-I missed you, my daughter.”

“Why are you here, father?”

“Came to check on my daughter, why?”

“I-” she stopped, “-I was abandoned... rejected by everyone, why?”

“I don’t care about what happened,” he sat, “-what is done is done, I’m sure you had your reason. The continent’s divided, and for what?”

“I know, it’s wrong, they’ve wronged me.”

“Eia,” he grabbed her hands, “-are you pregnant?”

“Yes?”

“Who’s the father?”

“...”

“Who’s the father, Eia, tell me.”

“...”

“Eia?”

“Father, why are you here?”

“To find the answers. All I wanted was to have a happy family, it didn’t matter if you were with Igna or Nicola, my heart yearns for my family to be blissful. This,” he watched, “-you, in particular, there’s no hint of happiness. Misery,” the head shook, “-why force such an ordeal on thee...”

“Don’t take their part,” quipped strongly, “-I didn’t ask to be shunned. Igna ignored me, said I was free to do what I wanted, so I did.”

“-And my daughter decided to give her virtue to another, committed adultery, and bears the child of another. I can’t be angry,” he bent with an elbow to his thighs, “-your mother was the same, I don’t even know if you’re my child or not. She slept with her butlers, nobles, everyone... I couldn’t do anything, my trust betrayed time and time again – she did what she wanted until her father died. It was then she changed – Staxius came into our lives, the two knew each other as children or so I was told. I’m grateful to him and his family, for the shared bonds and loyalty gave us perspective. Your mother’s will to fulfill her father’s wishes led to a massive war against the church and Kreston. Throughout the ordeal – Staxius helped in battle, they fought until the church was ousted, tis then, the continent finally united.”

“I know...”

“We’re back to square one. The revolution is baseless, do you really want the throne?”

Her eyes wandered, “-I.”

“Father,” came a distant voice, “-I ran as fast I could when they said you arrived.”

“Nicola.”

“Go inside, Eia, the weather’s grown cold, I need a few words with your father.”

Worry filled her thought – sadly, inability to stand against her lover eventually carried her inside, leaving the two one on one. “-Why are you here, Piers?”

“A blunt jump.”

“Cut the shit, I know you’re here to sway Eia’s mind. Not going to happen,” he thrust forward and stared in Pier’s face, “-we granted passage because you’re her father. Don’t overstay the welcome...”

“Do what you want,” he returned, “-I don’t much care for the politics. All that matters is her happiness. I’ll leave, for now, carry my warm wishes to my daughter,” he turned his back.

“Not so fast,” echoed in the distance, a click sent chills down Piers’ spine, “-I can’t let you walk away, father-in-law. Too much is at risk, orders from the top,” gun rose, “-watch over her in the afterlife, dear father,” *bang,* the shot rattled inside, where an oblivious Eia sat.

*GASP,* dropped on all-fours, ‘I’m alive?’ he panted.

“Lord Piers,” grinned Alta, “-should have known how the battle would end.”

“What did you do?”

“Activated a remote teleportation spell,” she smiled, “-consider it a prototype from the University.”

“Where are we?”

“In Arda,” she stood overlooking the bustling town of Glenda, “-I have a meeting to attend with Blood-King’s faction. Care to join?”

“Are you sure?”

“Right I am,” she made for the stairs along the castle walls, “-firsthand experience, tell us what Kreston is like.”

A relieved exhale escaped, ‘-why bother fighting the tide,’ the expression firmed, ‘-you were right, Gallienne, the Haggard’s are truly worthy to rule Hidros. They answer to no one but themselves, ranging from commoners to nobles, the perspective is realist and idealist at the same time. They know what they’re doing, same can’t be said about the revolt.’

“Stand there in soliloquy or we head to the meeting?”

“Sorry, sorry,” he dashed, “-I was deep in thought.”

The battle of Erat was the first in a truly bloody war of kin against kin. The dirtiest Hidros would ever see. Queen Eia and her unborn child were stuck in the middle, between love and duty, the war was yet to fully erupt.