What once contained beautiful mountain scenery and flying birds was now taken over by chaos. The temples of the gods were destroyed without any hesitation, and the retelling of swords and spears echoed through the battlefield.
The warriors' cries echoed like a desperate song.
"Do not let them approach!"
"Raise your shields!"
The warriors in metal armor raised their shields in formation, avoiding the rain of arrows that fell on them. The commander of the troop raised his eyes furiously to the woman standing in front of the enemy army.
"Why?!!! How dare you betray Keonna?!"
"You traitor!"
The cries did not hurt the woman's pride. Her cold and distant expression remained, even as she raised her hand silently. A new rain of arrows silenced the irritation. Some were struck, and others hid behind shields.
The woman extended her hand, and a bright butterfly came out of her palm. The butterfly flew over the whole bloody and violent battlefield, reaching the other side, where a men with reddish brown hair waited seated on a rock.
The butterfly rested on his forefinger, and he opened a smile.
"It seems that our Rosalyn has already finished her side". He looked over his shoulder, where his squad was waiting in position. "It's our turn, let's surround them."
The second squad took the formation in order, helping the allied warriors who were still on the front. The enemies were terrified to see the army increase and push them back, forcing them to cluster or be knocked down.
"Traitors!!! Keonna will never forgive you!"
Fires began to spread when the guy, still holding the butterfly, spread branches of a cold tree all over the scenery, freezing the ground and enemies on it.
The despair in trying to escape the freezing roots only increased when enemy soldiers brandished their swords and cut their throats without hesitation.
The men sitting under a rock, enjoying the butterfly, opened a thin smile.
"The gods of Keonna cannot condemn us... not when they cursed the one who should not be cursed."
The boy's colorful eyes rose, and his arm was extended releasing the butterfly to fly over the icy field into the chaos of the west side. The cold had not yet reached that side, because the fire that spread was constant and too hot.
Dragons flew over the ruins, spitting fire and creating a sea of lava. Their grunts echoed through the heavens to eternity, and their sharp claws plucked enemies from the ground to throw them into the sea of death.
Was that the end of the world?
"Are you happy with that, Aries?", asked the black-haired woman, still wielding her sword and pointing her blade at the blond-haired man who was watching the pandemonium. "Was this what he wanted? Do you think it is right to be done? Reap lives?"
The men continued to watch the war. It was not the first place to receive the anger of that person. Nor would it be the last. Without turning, he continued to watch the war from a distance.
"You, of all people, know why we're doing this, Alinys."
"Not that way!!! We should never have to spread the blood of innocents."
"He was also innocent and the gods of Keonna had no mercy in cursing him so cruelly", the men looked at her over his shoulder, dark and angry. "Do you think it would make a difference to kill only the most powerful gods of Keonna? Your followers are just as guilty."
"This is crazy. Stop it right now!!! Order the withdrawal of troops—"
"It's useless, Alinys."
The soft, calm voice prevented Alinys from speaking. Turning back, turns the other woman with white hair and starry eyes in a golden glow, holding a universe in hands. The stars shone around her, and chanted joyfully as if they told a secret.
"Yvaine...", she murmured defeated. "... please..."
"It is the fate of that person. The Voice of the Universe has decreed him as the new owner of the Throne of Ereghast."
Alinys's fingers clenched into the sword's hilt. Clenching her teeth, she wanted to reject fate.
"Why did he...??"
"There is no one better than him to purify our world. For there is no being in this world who loves the gods more than he."
Alinys' purple eyes filled with tears and guilt. She raised her head to see the war that continued under the command of the first shadow of that person, Aries, who kept watching everything coldly. The butterfly seemed to tell him everything about it on his shoulder, and Alinys could only imagine that victory had been declared.
"Join him... it is your blood. You're the one who felt his pain", Yvaine said calmly, reaching out to Alinys. "He loves you deeply, just as he loves all of us. Go back to his side and keep guiding him..."
Alinys observed the outstretched hand, as if it were the door to a future unknown to her. And indeed it was.
Looking over her shoulder again, Alinys stared at the bare back of Aries, covered only with a reddish cloth that had been embroidered with that person's patterns.
"I think there's someone better to support him than me right now..."
"Don't be foolish, Alinys", Aries replied calmly. "I may be his Theiodesmos, but I do not compare myself to you who share your blood."
"I know very well that you're not just the Theiodesmos", she turned to Yvaine again. "After all... love is a bond even stronger than you think."
Aries lowered his eyes and then finally moved away from the cliff top, abandoning the two women and the war.
No one was in favor of war. No one would like to have their life so brutally interrupted. However, Keonna asked for it when messed with the one who should not be disturbed.
With every step that Aries took, he could feel the ground vibrating thanks to the roars of the dragons. The smell of smoke and blood was already familiar.
He was sad... but did not regret. If guilt accompanied him, he accepted it as part of the burden to protect him.
Aries passed through the other battlefield, whose war had already been won. There remained only darkness and cold, accompanied by overwhelming silence. Statues of the gods of Keonna were broken, few stood still. Priests and faithful were lying lifeless on the ground, but in front of them was a group of people prostrate on the ground, revering the throne in the center of the temple.
Aries raised his green eyes to the throne, watching that person sitting holding his staff. His eyes of amethysts looked at the sky, illuminated by the moon as if it were an oracle.
"Oh great lord, guide us back on our way", One of the faithful prayed. "Cleanse us from the sins committed by the arrogant ones, and grant us the gift to hear the Voice of the Universe again."
Aries was not surprised to hear the prayers.
He followed the path in silent steps, passing by the prostrate faithful until he reached the throne. Staring at that person, he saw a fine smile appear on his lips.
"Tell me there's good news, Aries."
His voice was still soft and innocent. Yet those purple eyes contained a whole world of worries and fears. He could feel in his bond, a deep resonance that calmed him even in the midst of chaos, at the core of his being it was clear that his master still feared something.
"The temple of Krynt has been taken."
Sighing, he leaned against the throne.
"Finally... Now, only the one who rules the underworld remains."
Aries looked at him and reached out his hand touching his face delicately. Aries could feel its heat come up and frighten the frostiness. He felt that person lean against his palm, rubbing his cheek as if asking for more affection.
"Are you comforting me, Aries?"
"I just feel like you need it."
A fine smile appeared on the lips of that person, who held Aries' wrist and kissed his palm.
"May the whole world turn against me... May all the gods curse me again... But as long as you stay on my side, I feel like I can do anything."
"As long as I am by your side, no one will touch you. Your path is marked out, blessed by forces greater than their own. Who would dare to turn him from his destiny?"
The men stretched out his arms and hugged Aries tightly. The warrior bent between his legs, lying on his lap and grasping his waist as if it were the only thread of life.
Dipping his face into his neck, he smelled it and felt the connection between them strengthen once again.
Aries felt his long fingers touch his hair. He felt the attention fall on him. Aries rubbed his face into the men's belly and took a deep breath wishing for more than his touch. As he opened his eyes, he stared at the silver mark on his master's arm, a sign that aroused even more anger against Keonna.
"Tell me what you want. I will burn the world under your feet, curse everyone..."
"There is only one thing I wish for now."
When Aries looked up at his master, he realized that his attention was on the other side of the temple. Following his gaze, he found in a corner, surrounded by heavy blankets in a refined quilt, a dragon egg.
Aries' heart accelerated when he saw the first cracks.
As the gods fell and nations crumbled, the heart of the new world beat for the first time.