---------------------------------------------
Zeleos
The Overlord, our father, needed his firstborn to return. As his current right hand, I wanted to take my brother's place just to show him.
But now, as the Drownei sent me to retrieve the heir to the Kyronian throne, all I stood upon were the remnants of another civilian battle. The village of Valean joined the rest before it.
Piles of building rubble, weapons of magic steel beginning to bury under the soil of war, and bodies of different kinds. The dead wearing armour and representing their beliefs.
I could tell this was another attack against the Chronicle Order.
Their soldiers were approaching from the distance, presumably to gather more of the deceased within the now empty village. I wondered if they took my brother Kallei too. He was sent, as a knight, to calm the attacks.
Maybe he's alive under the organization. But then I remembered their current hate and riots against us. Escalations have began since last week. They won't quit until we fall under.
And for what? Control for themselves? Despite the snake-like tongues of the Drownei, Kyronia was stable, unifying the world. There was no honest reason.
With that in mind, and with my brother nowhere to be seen, I whistled out to the guardian beast.
The Skollur flew over by my command, with its long piercing horns like a goat, sharp protruding fangs like a dragon, and its bulky stature comparable to that of a royal horse carrier. Its misty, grey aura whistled around its inky skin.
The guardian beast bowed its neck and body down to allow me to ride on top.
Its appearance started to dissipate slowly after this long while, being linked but too far apart from the crown of infinity at the moment.
Usually, the Skollur stays within the Kyronian palace walls. To guard its master and his crown. At least, that's what my overlord father desires to use it for, even if its useless that way.
But it's the only Skollur left, just as all the other mythical dragons and beasts went extinct.
In the name of fate, the questers say.
As I controlled the beast with huge reins and seating on its back, we blew quickly through the wind with the village settlements of Midkyron below. The territories of Kyronia.
The winds rustled the cape and hood of my armour. I took off the steel mask and took a breath, whistling air hitting my face and the top of my scaly neck. My dark hair, slicked back, was slowly unraveling in the wind.
We glided past the seas, once filled with various creatures plundered upon. The Skollur growled deep and sniffed out where the palace and father was. I already knew our home was at the far edge of world.
It took approximately half an hour of flying above everything we owned, until a piece of land in the distant seas began coming into view, from the greyish fog subtly surrounding it. Weaponized ships circled the orderly city of Kyrone of the Drownei, stone walls higher than watch towers. And the white royal palace itself still stood taller than any building before it.
I decided to land upon the shores of the island, so that the Skollur can rest, and heal by nearing closer to the crown.
Other armed and patrolling Drownei saw me from afar, waving and anticipating my arrival. A group of fishermen and townspeople of any kind gathered around them. They uncommonly looked up at me in expectation.
"Zeleos returns, everybody!" Said the voice of one of the dark steel-armoured guards, as they kept people behind them to give me space to settle the Skollur down.
"Surely Prince Kallei will, too!"
Surely, that's all they can really care about. If only I was firstborn like him, and save myself from becoming the forgotten other son until now.
The guardian beast treaded past the crowd with myself atop. They shouted out their questions about my brother, and potential praises. I could've ordered the Skollur to stop in its place so I could speak.
But for now, I didn't have anything pleasing to deliver, perhaps until I spoke with father. So after clearing off the soot from my slicked black hair, I put my helmet back on for now.
The multiple guards opened the city entrance quicker than usual. This revealed the organized town buildings of strong foundation and clean, paved roads.
"Long live the Overlord." A helmeted guard stated to me formally. Or perhaps a little unthusiastically."Speaking of. Overlord Aelaric has been waiting for your arrival, prince."
Suppose I needed to act quicker to get this over with.
I stared above the walls impatiently. I remembered how anyone under Kyronia could only enter the palace by going through its gates.
And then I remembered that I wasn't just anyone.
So I flew with the beast over the intense security measures, and over the drawbridges with rows of lava deep underneath for extra defense, which only a Drownei can barely withstand.
It was scorching enough to melt a stone.
I eventually made my way to the front of the palace building itself. A towering fortress with the color of dark steel, with dozens upon dozens of Drownei troops merely noticing me. I commanded some of the armoured and weaponized men to return the guardian beast back to its deep, unlit cave, which was guarded on the surface.
Then I entered, as the doors taller than the Skollur itself were opened.
Immediately, there was the sight of father leaning far back on his lengthy white and shining throne.
He was up a few red-carpeted stairs, speaking to another light robed high-ranking Drownei bowing down to him, below in front.
The Crown of Infinity, with all the Gemstones, was worn on father's head, and all the magic within them. Including the bloodstone front and center, he held the ultimate power that the world gave him. Along with the ability to never age, as long as father wears the crown.
Yet his eyes were baggy, his posture slouched, and his paleness could be seen through his distracted face.
This man was apparently considered the Dark Lord.
Even more soldiers surrounded the weary king of the world with their magic rings, staffs, and scepters prepared for anything to occur.
". . .very well, then. Those filthly rumors would be true at this point."
I overheard father say as I neared the throne, sitting above the Drownei discussing with him.
"If they desire to cut off all projects with Kyronia, and anything with us for that matter, so be it. They'd be making a fool out of themselves."
His eyes flickered with a brief fiery glow of anger, from the power of the Gems. "Continuing to make their Drownei their enemy."
I kept to the center of the massive throne room and continued approaching from a distance.
"Then shall we keep a close eye on the Chronicle Order without retaliating, Lord Aeleric?" The white-robed high official suggested formally, remaining in a bowing position.
"That will not do." The overlord spoke, his voice turning deeper and the smoke in his eyes flashing, as power continued to seep into his thoughts.
"Continue the plan discussed about. Reinforce every main outpost near the hostile villages and organization bases. More soldiers, weapons and supplies. We require more strict and efficient methods, so don't go easy on them."
He then slowly turned his head up. With his bright glowing eyes slowly fading, adjusting to his mood, father stared off into the wide deep-tinted windows to the outside. I wasn't in the room to him yet.
"Once the rioters see it all, it'll keep them in line." He finished, staring back the the man.
The royal official stood back up and bowed his head to the Overlord. "I shall deliver the plans to the rest of the council, my lord."
"No need. See to it that all head of divisions execute this at once."
"At your command, my lord."
Then the council member walked briskly away to the guarded doors, and left the throne room.
I took off the confined spiked helmet of mine.
At last, my powerful father noticed me standing before him, without performing all the rituals of the common man. "Ah, you're back, Zeleos."
"If I may, father." I said instantly after him. "That plan will not work."
"Straight to this, I see." He mused with a fanged smile. "Alright, then. Why might you think so?"
"Displaying more authority by putting the territories into stricter watch will only cause further conflict." I continued. "In short; when you show the rioters your desire to control them more, the further they will revolt."
Father laid back on his tall throne, entertaining the idea. "So you expect that we sit back and not interfere. Especially when Kalle is still alive, and it appears you've come back empty handed."
For approximately a second, I stood hesitated and silent. There was no noise but my breath in the spotless whitish room. Though I didn't let my composed face waver.
"I've searched through the human settlements where the battles took place." I straightened my posture, putting both hands behind my back at ease. "If Kalle is surely alive, he is nowhere to be seen at any of them."
"He is, Zeleos. The bloodstone senses him. Just as it would for anybody of our blood."
I found myself staring at the strange gemstone of pitch black, placed within the middle of his crown. Created from all the magical stones surrounding it. Yet unusual from the rest of them.
I stood again in thought. Maybe it could help us.
The gem was difficult to understand, however. I've used quite a bit of exhausting magic before. But all I knew was that the bloodstone held the power of life and death.
And it could also assist with the mission everyone was counting on me for.
"Allow me usage of the bloodstone." I declared, resurfacing from my mind. "I can use it, effectively, to retrieve Kallei."
Or at least see what he's up to. I noted to myself. In case he's a traitor.
The Overlord's hand instinctively rose up to clutch his crown. For the longest time since everyone united under him, the crown, and Kyronia, there was nothing else to conquer.
There was nothing else to achieve but to hold on to everything.
Forever. The Crown of Infinity allows him to.
The only person allowed to use his power was himself, along with the one to potentially share the potential danger, to the wrong hands. But all father knew was that I always the obedient son. I knew he could trust my hands.
"As you said, father." I referenced. "It's worthless to not interfere. I can finish the mission effectively."
His hands eventually let go after the initial reaction, and he narrowed his eyes at me slightly.
It was like he was studying my intentions. But he adjusted his face and posture, realizing that my intentions benefited himself anyways.
"Well by my command, call it a quest at this point. If there'd be anyone who would risk for the Drownei, my son, perhaps it is you."
"Very well, father." I gave a useless mandatory bow.
From the Crown of Infinity worn on his head, father used the tips of his fingers, barely moving, to detach the misty bloodstone and float it over to me. I stretched out my hand, reaching for it, until I held the power within my palm.
"I still sense him. It should be quick and easy."
I continued staring at the fitted gemstone in my hands for analysis. "To use?"
"No. To find Kallei." He concluded.
"And do not bring attention to yourself with the gem unless necessary. We can always retrieve the bloodstone safely; it cannot be destroyed. You, however. . ."
Supposedly, he was trying to say I could die. Or maybe he was ignoring how much I could do.
I gave the king a nod in return. "I understand. I'll be on my way, now."
Just like that, the conversation ended. And I turned around from the overlord, walking long and straight towards the exit of the dull, pearly throne room.
It was a moment like any other in my life. Usually, I'd be exiting to try leading in the background. Making sure workers outside are put to use. Attending meetings of the overlord without having the say. Training myself in combat and waiting for nothing.
What was even my reason for following?
I walked down the stairs of the entrance of the palace, where I called my home.
I was twenty years living now. And I worked to achieve a high place all that time, yet it was given to my older brother. And he almost hadn't worked for anything.
In other words, Kallei was as self-centered as he was heralded as the next overlord.
There was no need for him to prove he was the greatest. He was born first. Whatever misdeed he did in the background, the people glorified his achievements above it.
I remember him before it all went down. We were inseperable siblings. Us and father, who was apparently a quester decades upon decades ago.
Until years ago parallel to my lifetime, right before I was born, our father succeeded in his mission of finding all the gemstones of Midkyron.
And the world gave him a crown. Turning him into an empty shell of his former self.
At least, that's what I was told.
Yet, I was still expecting for something to change, as I finally found my way to the bottom of the stairs, on the same level as everybody else. I hid the bloodstone into my belt bag.
But the civilians of the Drownei noticed me again. They started gathering around the clean streets of pavement and town buildings once more to ask me the same question.
Where the heir was.
I was walking further towards the end of the city island. The sounds of worry became louder and the people demanded answers. They needed their figure back.
But now, as they surrounded in crisis, someone else needed to step up.
I realized this was my moment.
So I stopped in my tracks with the villagers all around my vicnity, nearer now to the docks where I initially landed. And I whistled to the Skollur.
The guardian beast's lofty wings were heard as loud as thunder in the distance. The Kyronian civilians shook under their feet and looked over suddenly. The horned scaly monster eventually landed right beside me, vibrating the ground in one pulse.
It bowed itself by my command, and I climbed atop the beast to every person watching. Then the monster rose back up, and I stood tall, letting the cape of my dark armour flow to the wind. My face of deep green feeling the wind without a helmet to cover it.
Then I held out the powerful misty bloodstone to the bright sky, and to everyone's attention.
"Overlord Aeleric has given me the power of the bloodstone." I declared loud enough for my audience to hear, who have now stayed in near silence in anticipation. "For my brother, Prince Kallei, has gone missing and has not been retrieved."
The crowd erupted into chaos again. The townspeople were even more confused than before. I stood my ground, for I had to deliver.
"Yet the overlord has entrusted me." I announced louder and clearer for all to hear, until the mass quieted down again. "Right hand of the kingdom, Prince Zeleos. To track him down using the stone tied to our blood."
I slightly lowered my palm displaying the bloodstone, and looked at the multitude before me. They were watching me now, curious on the brother who never had an opportunity to speak. Here was my chance to let it all out to the masses. I cleared my throat.
"We will take matters into our own hands. And not just for Kallei." I continued, not letting down.
"I know, and I've seen, the hatred of the world against us. All we have ever done is help all of Midkyron. And we are treated nowadays like minions of a Dark Lord."
The herd of individuals below cheered in agreement, as if acknowledgement to themselves was a goldmine. Words sprayed out of my mouth like a natural instinct. If only my father and brother ever knew, that I was the one born to do it. I felt on fire.
"Now that I'm standing up here, I promise you that we will prove them wrong. That we, are a unionized people. And we, will continue to stand our ground for a superior Midkyron."
The crowd erupted in a new way. Shouting, cheering for our kind and country. I knew I had spoken out the words they've wanted to hear for years since the revolts.
Now was a return to form. And a new age for myself. There was only one thing left for me to say in the centre of the rally.
"Long live Kyronia!"
"Long live Kyronia! Long live the Right Hand!"
The Drownei chanted the words behind me, in a revolution of our own, as I soared off with the guardian beast. Not only to retrieve my alive brother.
But to retrieve the life I was owed.