Velaria a vast majestic land that had once bathed in the sun's radiance, and was full of life, has now been engulfed in a cloud of darkness and its majestic architecture has been reduced to a pile of rubble. The beautiful lush green valleys that had transcended into the wonderful rolling hills that seemingly kiss the horizon have now been churned into a thick, muddy mire slick with blood and vomit.
Once strong and gallant men had walked these lands with bodies that made maidens stare with both lust and admiration, but these have been brought lower than the mountains that used to surround this place. Their bodies a fraction of what they used to be, now covered in gaping wounds, where swords, axes, or spears tore through flesh and bones were now on full display twisting their victims in unnatural angles, as they lay about in what seemed to be nothing more than a vast wasteland.
A feeling of terror engulfed those who had miraculously survived the onslaught, and dread began to set in as they slowly began to understand the gravity of their situation.
Groans and wailing of agony could be heard as far as the senses would allow and fear gripped the surviving inhabitants of the land, as the lips of the wind told tales of pain and anguish of the war that had ripped their land to shreds. Yet Suddenly, the whispers slowly vanished, and the once noisy and chaotic battlefield of death and destruction became eerily silent. This was the price a great nation paid to further the ever-growing ambition of the Fenrir empire.
Duskwater Forest 22 years later within the region of Port Royal is a wealthy slave trading port town in the southern county of the Fenrir empire. The sound of metal clashing against each other can be heard in the distance. Young women parade themselves up and down the busy thoroughfare with the hope of attracting some well-to-do travelers who may be interested in having a good time; for a price of course.
"You're getting slow old man if this is the best you can do!"
The rasping voice of Lucian, a young man with long flowing black hair that calls to mind the darkness of midnight and large golden brown eyes that catch the light like autumn leaves in sunlight, rang out like a trumpet. He stood firm gripping his sword with both hands, the blade angled slightly upwards poised to receive the strike from his attacker. Being a survivor of the great purge that was carried out by the Fenrir empire, Lucain now lived as a ward in the land of his captors.
"Shut up!" Another male voice retorted shakily."
"I just didn't sleep well last night."
Klaus, a middle-aged-looking man having mostly brown hair except for the gray patches, a scruffy beard, and a dark circle under his eyes.
"Lame excuses won't help you here Uncle." Lucan fired back mischievously...
Klaus charged in a fit, swinging with all his might, trying to overwhelm Lucian to break his posture, yet before his attack could meet its intended target, Lucian switched his grip while his sword was angled to meet Klaus's attack
"Clang!" A sharp ringing impact vibrates through the air…sparks flicker momentarily where the edges collide, the sheer unexpected shock of the young man's maneuver caught Klaus off guard, and threw him off balance, hurling him downwards to the side.
In a last act of desperation, Klaus clenched his teeth, twisted his body, and planted his heel firmly into the ground in a bid to summon his last shred of strength. He wrenched his sword upward in a savage arc, but a looming and overwhelming presence stopped his momentum mid-swing. Lucian's blade at his throat had already declared the battle over.
Klaus's countenance sank to the floor and after a deep breath, he scratched the back of his head, then looked upward beyond the trees into the vast unending blue sky.
"Shit!"I haven't been able to beat you once in five years."
Lucian laughed haughtily and shrugged his shoulders then Sheathing his sword
"I learned from the best, so this much shouldn't be a surprise."
"Well, this is our final training session seeing as there's nothing left for me to teach you."
Lucian pauses without saying a word, looking at the man who had raised him from an abandoned slave into the man he is today, an overwhelming sense of gratitude rushes forth, and gracefully smiles.
"You have been all over this continent, lived many lives, seen and experienced many things, I have so much to look forward to learning from you my dear uncle."
Hearing those words Klaus felt a sense of ease, then both men agreed not to tell Hannah, the baroness of Port Royal and Klaus's wife, about Lucian's progress. In Fenrir, a slave trained in swordsmanship is mandated to join the empire's armies under the banner of their master's household, once they turn the age of 18.
All glory and accolades earned by their sacrifices are awarded to their masters making this, a sure-proof way for noble houses to never get their hands dirty, yet experience a bountiful growth in status, wealth, and authority. This was Lucian's sole purpose in this empire, and his ever-daunting future was rapidly approaching.
Suddenly the haunting yet resounding ring of the port's chapel bell sent waves across the landscape signaling the evening time and the arrival of the setting sun. With a look of reluctance and immediate disappointment, both men knew it was time to make their way home. They hurried and retrieved the body of a deer they had hunted before their duel, hoisting it on Lucian's shoulders before swiftly departing for the journey home.
Traveling through the woodlands, they were shadowed by a vast endless field of countless red hibiscus flowers in full bloom to their right. Their petals, delicate yet bold, and their intoxicating sweet aroma mingled and entwined with that of the earthy soil creating a blanket of utter bliss.
On the left behind the towering trees which seemed as huge as the cedars of Lebanon, the glorious glare of the setting sun descended as its warm glow spilled across the ocean's surface and engulfed the crystal clear streams turning them into a shimmering path of melted gold.
A little over an hour had passed since they had begun their journey. Reaching a clearing a white house stood in the distance. To Lucian for a brief moment, time stood still, not peaceful; just unnervingly still, as if the world itself had taken a deep breath and had forgotten to exhale.
A sense of intense and nervous unease curled in his stomach with each step he took on the pearly white stones that lined the pathway through two massive iron gates adorned with the family's crest and flanked by two stone pillars wrapped in thick ivy.
A majestic Victorian house, tall and proud now stood before them.
The huge front door swung open revealing a slender pale woman draped in a scarlet dress, looking as if she had just stepped out of a painting on a museum wall...
Slowly she approached moving effortlessly, Klaus stood in front shielding Lucian who had now bowed his head in obedience to her piercing gaze. She kissed Klaus on the cheek, turned to walk back into the house then stopped.
With a most astute voice, she hissed.
"Humans are greedy and selfish creatures, for as much as you put on an act of pretending to shield him, you have never once asked me to set him free, because you too are afraid of losing the wealth, comfort, and power that our status as slave merchants provides."
Her gaze shifted to Lucian...
"If I order for you to be mercilessly beaten within an inch of your life again boy, do you think this time will be different from the last?"
Lucian stood silent, clenching his fist behind him, knowing that Klaus had never stepped in to help him before.
She resumed her walk to the house.
"Leave that thing to its thoughts and get cleaned up for dinner dear."
Klaus cowered and followed behind her like he had just been whipped into submission by his master.
Dinner was now in full swing. Lucian who had roasted deer meat, sat outside under a night sky abandoned by its moon. Klaus, Hannah, and their two children, Abigail a younger and more modest version of Hannah, their oldest, and Desmond an average-looking brown-haired, brown-eyed boy having nothing unique to speak of, enjoyed high ceilings, walls covered with intricate geometric designs in deep reds and gold. Artworks that told countless tales as a crystal chandelier above provided the ambience.
"Father! Why do you always have to take that slave on your hunts instead of your own son? Am I not qualified enough or are you implying that this slave is better than me?"
This was the question of the spoiled aristocrat who thought it too much to take a stroll in the garden, much less show interest in the affairs of the outdoors.
Klaus, taken back by the question, choked on the food in his mouth, composed himself, and took a sip of wine.
"Your interest has always been in books and politics so he never knew you were interested in hunting."
Desmond grunted.
"I'm not but just the thought of that filthy animal doing something that I can't feels somewhat insulting father!."
Klaus shifted in his seat and said nothing in response hoping the direction of the conversation would change.
Abigail then sat up in her seat
"That was a huge deer I saw you brought back, tell us the story of how you hunted it."
Klaus gave Abigail a wry reluctant look but then gave in to her persistence., Hesitantly he described how he and Lucian stalked their prey for over an hour, then with the confusion of sound, separating it from its herd, but in his excitement, he forgot where he was and began to praise lucian for an amazing 150 meters shot upwind to finish their prey. The room became silent, the utter disdain of his statements filled the air room. not one sound or word was uttered again as everyone finished their meal in utter silence….
The darkness of the night passed and a new day broke forth, Lucian still asleep by the fireside was woken up by Hannah's maidservant instructing him to get ready to accompany Abigail into town. He nodded in agreement with a confused look, for In his many years on the estate, this was his escort task and would be his first time entering a town.
Never before had he been assigned such a task, and the thought of it made him both curious and uneasy
Maybe I'm just overthink it.
"Abigail is not so bad; Lucian thought to himself. 'She was the only one apart from Klaus who had shown me an ounce of kindness, Maybe it will be ok.'
And he really didn't have a choice in the matter, so He hastily got up and scurried to get ready for his first trip into town.
Shortly after they were on their way to town; no guard or other escort, just Lucian having the reins of the carriage and Abigail sitting comfortably inside. As they traveled along the countryside, Lucian thought he heard a faint chuckle coming from inside the carriage, but quickly dismissed it as him hearing things, or maybe it was just his anxiety getting the best of him.
The bustling port town was nestled between rugged cliffs and a calm, glistening bay, broad streets, and buildings made of weathered limestones that had truly withstood the test of time.
Upscale boutiques, gourmet restaurants, and refurbished inns were all opened for business But its greatest attraction is its slave harbor, a place that echoed the sufferings of many, with its murky waters, a repugnant smell, and the remnants of old rusted chains corroded by time and salt all lingered. This is the place where many of the sins of Fenrir are committed; the place where human lives are the commodity.
Upon reaching the entrance of the town, the carriage came to a full stop, Abigail flung the veil open, sticking her head out with a questioning look on her face.
"Why have we stopped?"
Lucian sighed.
"I don't know what our goal is here or which direction to go."
Abigail responded with a smile that made Lucian feel somewhat uneasy.
"We are going straight! No turns, no detours, I'll let you know when we get there."
Lucian agreed rolling his eyes and whistled the horse's command As the journey resumed.
Cobbled streets bustling with merchants as they called out their wares and townsfolk meandered between stalls. The scent of fresh bread and damp earth lingered in the crisp morning air, yet amidst the usual clatter of hooves and chatter, what should have just been a usual sight drew much attention, Lucian and his horse-drawn carriage.
He could feel their eyes on him—shopkeepers pausing mid-sale, an old woman halting her knitting, a group of children ceasing their game to stare, all added fuel to his unease.Girls on the street corners shooting looks of disgust and perhaps even jealousy.
'I know that I'm good-looking but this is a bit much.'
The clear skies began to darken, as huge dark clouds crept into the previously clear sky. A subtle rumbling could be heard while the temperature of the air suddenly began to drop.
"Stop!"
Lucian aggressively pulled the reins, and the carriage came to a screeching halt.
"Stay here until I return!" Abigail commanded.
She quickly exited the carriage and hurried into a store. Some time had elapsed and the rain had begun. His mistress, who entered the store earlier, had yet to return but suddenly, a woman's scream of distress could be heard coming from inside the store.
Lucian without a second thought vaulted from his seat splashing in the puddles below, while in a streak of motion dashed through the rain-soaked streets kicking the heavy wooden store door off its hinges.
Lucian stood in the doorway, a silhouette against the dim light of the room beyond, his eyes not yet fully adjusted to the dark, swept over as he noticed four men lying in wait. Their muscles tense, fists clenched, ready to pounce at a moment's notice.
'Well, Shit! He thought; rolling his eyes in annoyance.
'This is not how I expected my first town visit to go.'
All the while he was scouring the room for his mistress, whom he had come to rescue.
The first one lunged. Lucian gracefully sidestepped, catching his wrist then twisted it sharply. A deafening crack followed as the goon howled in anguish. By this time the second goon had already closed the distance swinging a short blade in various arcs.
Lucian ducked the blade as it whistled past his head, but before the attacker could recover, he drove his elbow into his ribs, followed by a sharp knee to the jaw crumbling effortlessly to the floor.
The utter menacing and dreadful bloodlust of Lucian made the other two goons quake in their boots yet with speed that seemed like a blur, Lucian instantly appeared before one using his palm to strike one in the throat sending him stumbling and gasping for air.
The other overtaken by fear swung wildly towards Lucian, desperately hoping a hit would find its target.
Lucian weaved through the onslaught effortlessly before kicking the goon's leg, bowing him to his knees then delivering a left hook that shattered his jaw before he collapsed.
"I heard that you were good, but this is beyond my wildest expectation!"
An unknown voice from a dark area of the room stated Lucian could hear footsteps getting closer until they truly revealed what Lucian had feared.
A tall man well-built man with a big braided beard adorned with colourful beads emerged from the dark with Abigail.Her hands were bound behind her back and a trail of makeup beneath each eye where her tears ran.The man looked at Lucian with a menacing grin for he knew that with Abigail as his hostage, Lucian had to comply.
"Get on your knees boy, or the pretty little lady gets it!"
Lucian immediately complied and got down on his knees while staring at the man who had Abigail, however, before he could utter a word something heavy slammed into the back of his head. A sharp crushing pain exploded through his skull, his vision turning blurry instantly.
In that moment he lost complete control of his arms as he sank to the floor. Someone else drove a boot into his stomach again and again. Lucian coughed and gasped as all the air left his lungs, another grabbed his hair and yanked his head up.
"Enough!" a familiar voice said.
It was Abigail.
The fear and terror had vanished from her expression; she walked forward shaking her hands free as they had never really been tied at all. The goons that now filled the room all stepped back straightening their posture in reverence and respect of Abigail.
The reality of the betrayal dawned on Lucian like a heavy suffocating vice tightening around his chest. Abigail, while she was his master, had always treated him like a human being.
Every conversation, moment, and encounter had now become a twisted and sinister memory.
"It Was convincing wasn't it, the girl that was nice to you, the damsel in distress waiting for the big strong Lucian to rescue her."
With blood now gushing down his face, Lucian's eyelids felt as heavy as lead, as his vision became progressively worse.
"Why!".....
Abigail crouched beside him with her lips close to his ear.
"A dog that doesn't recognize its owner should be put down, upstaging Desmond and even conspiring with father to lie to my mother."
Lucian could hardly react to her revelation as his consciousness was fading making it harder to hear.
"How do you think I knew that 4 soldiers were not enough to defeat you?"
"While father hid the truth of your progress from mother, he didn't hide anything from his harmless little princess. So when Mother made this masterful plan to put down our favorite pet, I jumped at the opportunity to play the starring role?"
To Lucian, Everything suddenly became dark and still before he briefly awoke to someone dragging him by his hair in the pouring rain as a trail of blood followed.
The Darkness crept in from every corner of his vision, swallowing all colors and shapes until only shadows remained.
'Am I dying, or maybe I am already dead.'
He could barely decipher what was real and what was not at this point.; a certain darkness had engulfed him in a way he could not comprehend.
Yet while in the depths of the abyss, another familiar voice could be heard, telling someone to put him in the boat. He tried to hold on for a bit longer to make out what was happening but ultimately found himself in the quiet embrace of unconsciousness.