"Tell me about yourself, Mel," Alrid asked the eleven foot tall demon one night while on watch. "Tell me of your life before the Great War. Back when the continent was still whole. I am curious to know who you were then and how you came to be who you are today. If you will indulge me, of course."76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtHXV45p1dy
Melganoth placed a thumb and forefinger to his chin as he thought of Alrid's suggestion and where he might begin. "What do you know of demons, Alrid?" he asked curiously.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHq5v1jgbtu
"I can not say that I know for much. Your kind was eradicated before I was old enough to even know my own name. My father taught me some but not in detail." Alrid responded in kind.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYQxBhU9CQi
"I see," Melganoth said quickly. "Well then I guess I should start at the beginning. You see, demons, like elves, are immune to the passing of time, pure-blood demons that is. Mixed demons do not retain their immortality and much is the same for elves, I assume this of course. I am not elven after all. But for demons of mixed blood, their lives are only extended but not to the length of one such as I."76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCbDQ9aHnFO
Alrid spoke up at this then, "Would you tell me how long you have existed?"76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq4JxYSWfKm
Melganoth's gaze dropped to the snow a bit at the question. He thought about it but he was having a difficult time recalling how long he had been around. 76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCKKX6UF4ZW
His expression must have given him away because Alrid jokingly questioned, "Has it been that long?"76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRWOkJle1xI
Melganoth smirked, "It has been some years since I last kept track, yes. It mattered not to me after I lost my family."76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJCpyOI7iFQ
"You had mentioned you had sons when we were down in the dungeon. I am sorry you lost them."76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIrRbdoLz9o
Melganoth exhaled sharply, "I lost my mate as well. I guess 'lost' is not the right term for what happened. They were taken from me without warning. Taken like the rest of my kind." He paused for a breath, "I watched them change right before my eyes and it ripped me apart. I was never the same. Demons mate for life, you see. I had been with my mate for over three thousand years and my sons were each just over a thousand years old. They were barely mature demons when they were turned."76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzptZjO7HGP
Alrid waited for a minute before asking, "How did it happen?" He didn't want to stir up more feelings for his new friend but he was curious.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvJLsiHAKbp
"We had been farmers for as long as I can remember. We had our own land and fields and we grew wheat for the town, you see. It was used for bread and ale and the like." His words grew quiet, "We had been out tending to the fields when it happened. I felt a tinge of pain in my heart like a hot knife in my chest. I looked up to my family for help but they too were clutching their chests in pain. Only for them it looked much more severe. They dropped to the ground and I rushed over to my mate. She had looked up to me then with tears in her eyes as they slowly darkened to pitch black. 76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcuRqKEsFwP
"Her face contorted and she writhed in pain and my sons suffered the same fate. I tried to help them, to get them to fight and resist whatever had taken hold of them. I fought my pain and resisted with all my strength and it was just barely enough but it was too strong for them...they turned on me. They had lost their wings and were corrupted into creatures of the abyss. There was nothing I could do." He looked up to Alrid, "So I ran. I flew away with the pain of the abyss and the sadness of my family being taken from me. At the time I didn't know what had happened or who was behind it all but I had an idea who it might have been.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfvuJkY26pT
"I fled to the caves in the northern mountains and I remained there in hiding. Hiding from whoever had done this to me. I had been unaware at the time that it had also effected the rest of demon-kind as well." He paused briefly then, "How long has it been since the war?"76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkFmJ52niZy
"Twenty one years is what my father told me," Alrid answered as he wondered if Melganoth had been hiding away in the caves all this time.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8657YhF9cF
"If it has not been that long then I suppose I am somewhere around fifty three hundred years," Melganoth thought a moment longer to verify his age then nodded approvingly to himself.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVDo0aRrGHo
Alrid was only slightly surprised considering that demons were immortal and age was just a number to them. "Then you must have been around since the beginning of the continent."76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoaDaL0e1Nw
Melganoth nodded, "Indeed I have. I remember when it was mostly forest and grasslands. The Collapsing Highlands had not yet formed and the elves had not yet arrived although men and dwarves had been there. The dwarves kept to themselves in their iron mountains and men were just beginning to explore the world as they still lived in caves, you see. I have been here well before there were any kingdoms to name. Mankind was still in tribes and had not yet formed communities.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwXrRLYbDdP
"And I have seen many kingdoms rise and fall since then and I have seen and fought in many wars that saw to their ends. This land was not always as peaceful as it had been before the Great War. The four kings of this land have created a well-established trade agreement that benefits all who live here. 76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8xd4NuWLel
"But demons had been here for millennia. There were many demons older than I during that time, but they have all since perished during the many wars that followed or were corrupted. Though I still do hold onto hope that there is at least one of my kind left in the world."76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYgHbYkQQoU
Alrid was speechless for a long while as he thought about the very beginning. What it must have been like to be some of the first humans to discover all of this land. What it must have been like to have it all to yourself.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYko3WE53X9
"When did you learn alchemy," the elf finally asked. He was intrigued by the history that the old demon knew. He had to know more about it all. He had to know more about Melganoth.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2UOD91SpfD
"Oh that is a good question," Melganoth said. "See, I learned alchemy from my father a few thousand years ago. It was a passion of mine then and it still is today. Of course now I do it out of necessity to keep my heart from falling into the abyss." Melganoth smiled at the memory of his father teaching him the ways of the natural world and how to manipulate it.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAJcoDhjqe5
The night wore on as they spoke and as light snow began to settle upon the ground Alrid looked out over the castle grounds and the homes that settled there. They had been mostly rebuilt by this point since the attack had been a couple weeks prior. The townsfolk seemed to be getting back to their lives and a sense of normalcy.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgthAOJSmS3
"Might I ask, since you have been alive for so long, what does it feel like? Do you feel your years drag on or does the time make no difference?" Alrid wondered what it might be like for him in the years to come. 76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlgkE8uAbMP
"Well, it feels as it did when I was a child, just alive. I feel no different than I did then. Only difference now is all of the knowledge I have acquired over the great many years. I watched as the mortals grew old and slow over time and to me it never felt that way. The older I became, however, the stronger I felt. Now with the abyss within my heart I do tend to feel stretched thin from time to time. But as for the simple sake of years, I feel no weariness."76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡevsyoFFbky
"My father believes me immortal," Alrid said plainly.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPCUH1CBdjh
"And you very well may be. Your blood is mixed but that does not dictate whether or not you have certain abilities."76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxBlkKC5PHg
Alrid's mood changed some, "I do not know if I want to be immortal. A life without my father is one I cannot see myself in."76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMmy1BnMEEg
"I too felt that way when I was a demonling, young Alrid. But after a while, and by which I do mean a long while, you learn how to deal. It eventually becomes a part of you. You will meet people and they will become your friends, perhaps even a mate if you are to be so fortunate. But given time they will fade from your eyes. At first it will feel as though everyone around you perished and it may seem fruitless to pursue relationships, but eventually that feeling too will fade. 76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSqOgz8dWvL
"One day you will come to realize that it no longer bothers you in such ways it had before." Melganoth smiled, "I have met thousands of people from all walks of life and thousands of people have faded from me. It will become a part of you as unnoticeable as breathing.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHZobxnP8pN
"But alas, there will be the ones that shall never leave you no matter how many thousands of years that you live. There is not a day that goes by where I do not think of my mate and my sons."76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgdROXffCGW
"What about your mother and father? Did you have any siblings?" Alrid was appreciative of the insight of one so old.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVEeJy52Wn7
"My mother and father faded from me many years ago from a war long past and before the four kingdoms claimed lordship over these lands. As for my sister, she too fell to the abyss. A cruel fate for one so fair and kind. My long years have been wrought with bloodshed. My hope for you, young Alrid, is that your years are better but I know in my heart that that hope is fleeting."76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0hAf9WGEnN
"Do you mean if Varamont prevails?" Alrid deeply feared a world in which that wretched demon ruled.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL4mMDHENOz
"If he wins and you live to see those days, I hope you find death swiftly lest he enslave you for all of time."76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5O4SFtkq9K
Alrid considered the demon's words as he gazed out over the snow. He wished the world could stay the way it was. Where he and his father could hunt in peace. Where he could sleep without the worry of tomorrow. He missed his sleep. It had been far too long since he had gotten a restful night.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgNkLrhRL3j
"Who was he?" Alrid asked, "Before all of this blood and death, I mean. Before he turned to malice." He had always wondered who the blood wizard used to be and with Melganoth having been alive since the beginning, who better to ask?76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYXiqFxY2xf
Melganoth considered the question for a moment, "That is an interesting story to say the least." He sat quiet while he thought of where to begin. "In our world there are those who can wield magic. You may not have ever met one who has such ability as they are rare and they are few. I am unaware of any alive to this day save Varamont and there is good reason for it. Having the ability to wield magic effectively does not come free, there is a heavy price to pay. The lives of magic-wielders are cursed. They live half lives as the magic draws from the essence of the wielder. 76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxZwny82cTt
"Now Varamont is a special breed. No demon in the known history of our world has ever been born a wizard. That was until Xellmoth was born."76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLaaZSzWP44
Alrid gave Melganoth a puzzled look.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjRpcmhhk9C
The demon caught himself and explained further, "My apologies. Xellmoth is Varamont's real name. His demon-given name. The name his mother gave him. Now when he was born, it shocked all demon-kind. A demon wizard was never seen before and a male wizard at that."76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNCkwYDmJ9F
"Why is Xellmoth being a male wizard anything special?" Alrid was very curious now.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmHQeqOyOd4
"Wizard's were, at least up until that point, only ever female. A male wizard had never been born at any point in time nor by any race. So the first ever male wizard being born a demon was something even the eldest of my kind had not seen. It was a day that would never be forgotten."76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwwG2m0rsW9
"What happened then?"76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpYzCQb6S3p
"We had to have the difficult discussion of whether we let him live or do we kill him before he had a chance to do evil." Melganoth sighed regretfully, "We should have killed him."76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjwizqpZYFf
"Killed him?" Alrid was shocked by this. "But he was just a child then."76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnyAmoGs3Yi
Melganoth shook his head, "Demonling or not, we knew not what the ramifications of a male demon wizard would be. It was a difficult choice to make." He paused before continuing, "And we let him live. Xellmoth grew up without incident for a couple thousand years until seemingly out of nowhere, he drained the blood from his entire family and fled the Under Realm. 76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVGcTRqkNdn
"We knew not where he fled but I found out when it was far too late. He had hidden away underground, beneath the most concentrated demon city and over the next five hundred years he slowly poisoned the hearts of them all. 76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwokpnvfsOs
"His corruption was subtle enough to remain hidden from prying eyes but potent enough to cause irreversible damage. Then on the day my kind was taken was the day he had unleashed the full power of his blood magic. Since then, he has desired nothing more than complete control over everything that lived."76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRrvvmTEpYg
Alrid was quiet for a long while as he gazed out over the grounds beset with fresh snow. His mind buzzed with questions about everything that he had been told. 76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKm5bFh3wPs
One question stuck out to him above all the others, "Is there anyway to stop him? To stop all of this from happening?"76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz8ZYOhy5I4
Melganoth sighed a heavy breath, "The only way to stop him is the one thing that seems impossible. His body is frail and weak from the centuries of blood magic and his only strength is in the magic itself and the armies he creates. We would have to get close enough to him to take him out. Many have tried during the War of the Lost and all have failed. Once one gets close enough to strike, he makes them bleed out all of the blood in their bodies. Or he sets flame to the oxygen within the blood, combusting them on the spot. 76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡblI57y5IdS
"The Great War was only won because of the Monmarolin Alliance. The combined firepower of all races was required to end Varamont's reign. It was a narrow victory. A victory paid for by the blood of many."76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡruKONfGagX
Melganoth suddenly twitched painfully and he groaned with the sudden twinge in his chest. He quickly reached for a vial of his potion from his belt. Uncorking it, he swallowed the green liquid down. 76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7zjWjqH4RZ
To a human, the vial would be larger than two pints of ale but to the eleven-foot demon it was that of a small bottle and it emptied swiftly.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ02WEMJ4E4v
After a few minutes of heavy breathing and closed eyes, Melganoth returned. "And because of that bastard I am cursed for the rest of my years."76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzJB1wqrDqM
"Do you think you will find a cure?" Alrid asked gently.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLALyaelJMe
"I sure do hope so. This has gotten old and I am ready to be rid of it."76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ZmfWRDmfT
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A shadowed figure had been watching the young elven boy and the ancient demon as they sat on the steps of the keep intently from the depths of the southern treeline. His hood and cloak hid him in darkness. He sat along a large branch of a tree with his back resting against the trunk.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFrELOQ0xAT
Smoke rose into the frigid air from the wooden pipe that he held loosely between his lips. He supported it with one hand as he rested his elbow on his knee while the other leg dangled from the tree branch casually.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ55vjCrFXkX
His pitch black eyes reflected the moonlight as he puffed his pipe methodically. A small smile danced across his lips as he watched from miles away as if he were sitting there with them. 76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4zFBOzuTCW
"Well, well," the figure muttered. "What have we here? A son perhaps? And an elven one at that. What have you been up to?" he chuckled softly to himself.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMilW1wlJbJ
