The punch locked with my jaw, causing me to stagger backwards. I let out a grunt as the bottom side of my face began to ache, "Fuck." I said through gritted teeth, before facing Gunnar again, "Happy?" I muttered.
"Not at all." He spat, then shoved me into the wall. We stood in a narrow room, a hallway, decorated with expensive furniture and historical paintings. Ones that showed the faces of previous kings and queens in Chlodovech's lineage. Lights from above hung from metallic chandeliers, and the hall stretched on into a large opening that led way into the main room.
"That's enough." Avelina said aloud, putting a hand on Gunnar's shoulder.
"Enough?" He stifled a disdainful laugh, "Alaric disgraced us. The whole city knows about the magic, and now the king has given him an ultimatum." Gunnar turned to face Avelina, disregarding her authority, "It was bad enough that Bastian was punished, sent to the frontlines of war after what he--" He didn't continue, and instead his head went to the side, a red mark on his cheek. Avelina pulled her hand back.
A smile crept onto my face, and she at once wiped it away, "Say yes." Avelina stepped closer to me, her voice demanding, "If you don't, our family reputation will be in the gutters. Finally, be the boy you're meant to be, Alaric. Not this failure you've been." Before I could speak, the woman continued, her voice bittering, "Oh... what do I expect anymore? My birthed can't do anything right, how could you?"
With my cheek still in pain, I bit down hard, not responding for a moment, "If... I do... then Chlodovech--." I hesitated. Avelina, like most others, disdained Chlodovech's rule. However, there wasn't much anyone could do when a child had the reins on the oldest, and most influential kingdom to ever exist. If it would help her family, she'd probably sell me out without hesitation, "I just can't." I admitted.
"There it is." Gunnar snarled, "Weak, scared, and now alone."
Before he could continue, the door swung open. Even without turning around, I knew who it was just by seeing Avelina's expression widen.
"What are you doing here?" She demanded hastily, then pushed past me, leaving a trail of fruity scent—a blend that the wealthy favored. "Aldric," she muttered, her voice muffled by clenched fists. Taking a deep breath, I turned slightly to catch a glimpse of the man who had named me after him. Avelina's husband, a prestigious lawmaker, although they hadn't seen each other in over a year.
Aldric donned a leather vest over a crisp, white undershirt, his brown hair unusually short, his eyes sharp. Part of his left ear was missing, a scene I had witnessed firsthand. Two years earlier, less than a year before their separation—despite divorce being illegal—someone had attempted to assassinate him.
Remembering back to it, we stood on a stage facing a small crowd of affluent individuals under a perfectly clear sky. The sun blazed down, prompting beads of sweat to form on my forehead. Chlodovech had insisted on my presence, though he himself was absent.
"The Vistel family, the Alexander family, and the Barlowe family, I appreciate your attendance," Aldric began, his cloak draped around him. "Orerha has attacked a major city on our western frontier, near the Theosilic mountains." His voice resonated off the buildings, the streets having been cleared and blocked.
The crowd of fifteen listened intently. "They slaughtered our best generals. So, after conferring with Chlodovech, we have convened here today. Your sons, trained in strategy and warfare, will now be deployed to the city of Morsindore and then to a border outpost to serve as our new generals." Aldric let the words hang in the air. Whispers among the crowd grew into loud, angry exchanges. "Those who refuse will be—"
Suddenly, a man in his late twenties or early thirties vaulted onto the stage and lunged at Aldric, wrestling him to the ground. They grappled, struggled, while the crowd watched in silence. After a tense few seconds, the man found an opening, pinned Aldric to the wooden boards, and unsheathed a blade. "Down with Chlodovech!"
He snarled before plunging the knife downward. Aldric flipped him over with a leg sweep, but it was too late to dodge completely; the blade sliced off half his right ear. Aldric screamed in pain as he scrambled to his feet, his opponent disoriented. He kicked him repeatedly in the ribs, and when that wasn't enough, he smashed his foot down onto his opponent's face. Now a bloody mess, the man groaned and rolled off the platform, hitting the ground with a thud.
Aldric placed a hand on his head and shot a look at the guards. "Really? You just fucking stood there? Shit..." He cursed again as warm red liquid trickled down. The guards remained motionless and unresponsive. "Calm down..." he breathed to himself. "Calm." After adjusting his outfit, he turned back to the crowd. "Does anyone else have anything to say?" Without waiting for an answer, he continued, "Your sons will be collected two sun falls from now. If you have any objections, keep them to yourselves or take them up with the damn king." He smiled. "Good day and may our goddess Llythyrra grant you fortune."
After taking me back to the house, I could recall only brief and dramatic moments with Aldric; beyond that, I knew little about him. He often had to leave, attending to important tasks that Chlodovech assigned him. During his absences, the Fausts freely made my life miserable. However, their demeanor shifted when he was around; they became more cautious, almost kinder, as if they feared he might snap at any moment. Aldric himself remained mostly indifferent to me, something I didn't mind.
"Lydus," Aldric called out, snapping me back to reality. The three of them were now staring intently at me. "Well?"
"Uh—I missed..."
He cut me off sharply. "What's your decision?"
"Oh..." I murmured, unsettled by his strict expression and penetrating gaze. After a moment's hesitation, I spoke with conviction, "I'm not doing it." My gaze drifted over to Avelina, whose expression fell yet again, and then to Gunnar, who now rested his hand on his forehead, eyes closed. "It doesn't matter what you say. You can't threaten me, not if I'm going to be executed."
"If that's what you really want," Aldric responded as he paced around me, his hands moving animatedly. "March onto that stage, handcuffed, with your skin exposed for everyone to see. You'll be covered in thick, hot oil, making it hard to breathe, and your skin will irritate at its touch. Then, as if things couldn't get worse, they strike it, setting you aflame." He stopped pacing, his 'good' ear facing me. "It's a brave choice."
"Stop it," I muttered, feeling the weight of his words like a physical blow, "I know what you're doing."
"Dear boy, I'm simply telling you the truth, one you already know. Chlodovech wanted me to... try and convince you... but since you're so ready to brutally die--"
"Give me more time to think," I cut him off, not entirely on purpose.
His eyebrows upturned, "More time? Chlodovech won't settle for more than a day..."
"It's already been a day." My hands tightened. "Is that why you're here? To deliver the answer?"
"Not everyone is out to get you," Aldric cocked his head, skepticism in his tone. "Who knows if the stories are true, if you are what they say you are. I was never a believer in that sort of thing... but let's pretend it's all true. You didn't know about it. You do not know how to control it. If you did possess such power, it's useless, not without a way to harness it."
"Then why are you doing this?"
Aldric straightened his shirt, his eyes narrowing. "Leverage," he said in a lower voice. "Chlodovech is too fragile to stay in power. He can't run this nation, never could, and when he... passes..." His expression shifted subtly. "If he has a son by then, they'll rise to power. They'll know I've done everything their father asked of me, so I'll stay in among the elites." He stayed silent, taking a moment to organize his thoughts. "You're Chlodovech's last-ditch effort, another plan in case his others failed, and they've crashed and burned. I don't care what choice you make but be smart about this."
Avelina put a hand on his shoulder, then pushed Aldric toward the door. "You no longer belong here. This is my household, my children's household. I try too hard to make sure we don't fall from the elite, for you to show up and tell him this."
"Don't worry, hon. I'm only leaving." He brushed off his shoulder, then made his way to the door, swinging it open. "So, what will it be?" Aldric asked, facing away from me.
"More time," I replied hastily.
"Yes or no. 5, 4, 3..."
With shortness of breath, I swallowed. "No."
With a wave of his hand, he left, not before leaving one last remark, "May Llythyrra grant you fortune."
My eyes lingered on the doorway for a long time, taking in the intricate woodwork as it curled around itself. I noted the emblem-encrusted doorknob that gleamed as if brand new, and the elegant light fixture hanging above it. As I scrutinized these details, I pondered what he had said about Llythyrra—the goddess of light, the highest being of power, a myth. If she truly existed and aimed only to benefit humanity, why was I suffering like this? Disdain crept in. Anger surged through me—if she was real, then she was to blame for everything that had happened. Everything and everyone.
A hand grasped my shoulder, and I pushed it away at first, but it returned. "Leave me alone," I muttered, expecting Gunnar or Avelina to scold me.
"Alaric." Odessa's voice broke through. When I turned, her gaze fixed on the arrow wound in my stomach.
Her matted black hair and dirt-smeared face, now clean of debris, made me wonder how long she had been here. I thought back to the forest, the surroundings slowly fading from my focus. I wanted to blame her for running, but she had thought I was dead. Most likely, I would have done the same.
Another concern arose—Dunstan. Had he run after her? I couldn't remember. And what about Irmina, my horse? Was she still out there in the woods, suffering from the cold, cornered by a feral animal, or taken by someone else?
"Can we talk outside?" I asked quietly, my eyes shifting to Gunnar, Avelina had already departed.
"Yeah," she mouthed, her wide eyes locking with mine for a lingering moment. I had grown up with Odessa, and over the years we had taught each other many things. Despite being surrounded by the corrupting influence of the Fausts, who thrived in a world obsessed with wealth and power, she had managed to remain untainted—a rarity in our circle.
We found ourselves walking slowly towards the back of the building, where the tall wooden fence cast long shadows on the ground. The faint, rhythmic shuffling of armor sounded from beyond the barrier, a constant reminder that soldiers were stationed just out of sight, ensuring I couldn't simply walk away. She led me silently to the stables, a place that once buzzed with the presence of servants who cared for the horses. Those days were gone, the servants dismissed as a needless expense by a family tightening its grasp on every coin.
"What happened?" I asked, breaking the silence as soon as I noticed Odessa's back was to me, her posture tense.
She paused, her shoulders stiffening before she turned to face me. "I thought they had murdered you," she confessed, her voice thick with anger. "So, I ran to get help. I found your horses tied and took Irmina back... Dunstan caught up to me..."
"They didn't deserve that," I responded softly, my gaze drifting across the stable to where the horses stood in their stalls. My feet carried me toward Irmina, each step became heavier as I thought. "No one does."
Odessa exhaled sharply, "They almost killed you, so you acted in self-defense. It's not like you killed them out of nowhere." I reached Irmina's stall and unlatched the gate, stepping inside. My hand found the warm snout of the horse, her fur soft under my touch. As I stroked her, Odessa continued, "...why didn't you tell us? About the magic."
"I didn't know about it—and I didn't kill them. It was..." My voice faltered, the words heavy on my tongue. I paused, taking a deep breath to steady myself. "Something, someone else, killed them through me."
Odessa leaned against the door frame, her expression unreadable. "Or maybe whatever it was, was trying to help, hmm? It only happened when you were in danger."
I shook my head slowly, not even considering it, "No," I murmured, more to myself than to her. "It went too far then. Besides—Chlodovech mentioned a curse. I know that stuff is hard to believe in but....
"The thieves dying like that wasn't... isn't... your fault. You and Dunstan saved me out there. Your life over theirs. That's why it protected you, because it knows." Her words, meant to reassure, only led me hungry for more answers.
"Let's move on from this," I suggested, watching as Irmina closed her wide eyes and snorted gently. "How are you? I mean... you ran off."
Her eyes dropped. "Stupid reason, forget about it."
"Come on." I stepped over to the gate, trying to lighten the mood. "I almost died to get you." It was meant to be a joke, but her expression told me she didn't appreciate it.
"I said forget about it." Odessa pushed off from the door, frustrated in tone. "Dammit--- sorry."
I watched her for a moment, sensing the tension. Just as I opened my mouth to speak again, an interruption came. The door to the house swung open abruptly. It hit the wall with a loud thump, and with heavy strides, three soldiers descended the two steps into the yard, their boots sinking slightly into the dark green grass. "Alaric Faust," the one in the front announced, his helmet positioned tightly on his head, strands of black hair sticking out. The way he said my name, tacking 'Faust' onto the end, made my stomach turn. "Under the command of King Chlodovech, you are hereby sentenced to death, and will come with us."
Odessa cast a worried glance in my direction, her voice rising slightly as she urged, "Do something. Don't give up."
I hesitated, my gaze fixed on the soldiers as they closed in. Each step they took echoed ominously, the sound reverberating inside my skull like a relentless drumbeat. "Shit..." The word slipped from my lips, more to myself than to anyone else, as my knees buckled, and I sank to the ground.
The world around me seemed to mute and blur as if I were sinking underwater. I faintly heard Odessa's voice, her words muffled and indistinct, and felt the rough grasp of the guards on my arms, but it was as if I were detached from my own body.
Then, abruptly, everything went black. A complete, consuming darkness enveloped me. The only sensation that persisted was the distant, melancholic tolling of bells. Within the void, menacing swirls of darkness seemed to pulse around me, alive and intent. Time stretched on, each second feeling like an eternity, as a creeping panic took hold of me. I tried to scream, my voice initially strong and desperate, but it echoed back at me from the darkness, growing fainter and more distorted with each repetition.
Suddenly, a deep, resonant voice cut through the silence, speaking in an unfamiliar tongue. "Asaiovr moleue saou?" The voice seemed to emanate from the earth itself, deep and primal.
Startled, I managed to respond, "What do you want?" My own voice sounded strange and distant in my ears.
The voice repeated, slower and more deliberately, "Asaiovr moleue saou?"
Driven by an instinct I didn't fully understand, I demanded, "Send me back." I wasn't sure why I wasn't afraid—perhaps it was the urgency of the situation or the surreal nature of this encounter.
"You... are..." The voice struggled as if each word caused it pain, "...Mine."
Without warning, a brilliant burst of light shattered the darkness. It was so intense that I instinctively closed my eyes against the glare. A wave of warmth washed over me, engulfing every sense, and as the light receded, I found myself back in reality.
I opened my eyes as soldiers hoisted me to my feet. My vision blurred with red streaks, all sound muffled. They pushed me forward, saying something I couldn't make out, but my body refused to move. Instead, I felt my hands slowly tightening; I knew it was happening again. From the look on Odessa's face as she stared into my eyes, she somehow realized too.
One of the guards, Soldier One, taller and more muscular than his counterpart, pushed me again, and that was enough to trigger whatever took control of me. I yanked my arms forward, and the guards tumbled in front of me, as if I had gained abnormal strength from nowhere. Soldier Two's face planted into the mud, but Soldier One landed on his feet, his eyes snapping over to me. Unsheathing a dagger, he lunged towards me. I sidestepped, and as he went forward, my hand grasped his wrist and pulled him backward until his back touched my stomach. My arm wrapped around his neck, securing him in a chokehold. Squeezing tightly, he began to squirm, but no matter what he did—elbow my stomach, kick with his legs—my body wouldn't budge, when normally I wouldn't stand a chance.
Saliva started seeping from the man's mouth, and with a snarl, I squeezed it even tighter. Soldier Two flipped around on the ground, and stared at the unfolding event, deciding not to help his friend, but crawled backwards with heavy kicks. Eventually, he found his footing and began to run. I twisted my arms in opposite motions, snapping Soldier One's neck, and began towards Soldier Two. Stretching an arm out forward, my hand resonated with a dark crimson glow. He locked up, his body freezing where it stood, and slowly I made my way over. Closer and closer, I picked up the dagger dropped by the other, letting it shine in the torchlight.
I held the dagger high above my head, listening to his whimpering. I struggled against the force controlling me, desperate not to harm anyone else. Yet, the entity within was too powerful. My grip on the handle tightened as I stared at the back of his head.
"You have to, Alaric, just kill him!" Odessa called out, her voice steady despite the chaos, "Don't let them take you. Please." Her words seemed to change something, and with each passing second, I regained control over my muscles, my bones, my entire being.
"No..." I grunted, and with a yell, I pulled back, sparing the soldier's life and collapsing to the ground. "I won't do it, the curse can't make me."
"But Alaric—"
"No, Odessa!" I gasped through ragged breaths, my voice echoing around us, "I'd rather die than take another life."
The guard used the side of the house to stand and drew a sword, pressing it to my neck. "And you will," he spat, though fear still flickered in his eyes as he glanced at his fallen friend. "You will pay for this. What you did to a soldier, for defying Chlodovech, dishonoring the Faust's."
"You don't know anything," Odessa shouted from her position. "Alaric, this is your last chance to do something. Come on."
I hesitated, torn between action and restraint, but ultimately, I shook my head. More soldiers arrived, swiftly restraining me.
31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmMjumOV7iY
