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Zeleos
I stood above the world, in a way.
With my bloodstone in hand, and the horned dragon Skollur lifting me into the air, as I held onto its reins, the assembly fortress began to crumble in chaos below.
Shrieks and explosions pierced the air. Unity insurgents as diverse as Midkyron's leaders held cannons, made of metal and strapped to each arm, infused with fire magic used to kill. The Drownei army rushed into the smoke and ash to eliminate any remaining survivors. Following my almighty command.
All I could hear was the faint noises of battle, among those still living.
It was all for the greater good. I didn't need to remind myself. The Chronicle Order was due for their repayment, after their years of instigating violence, under destiny.
Besides, I was finally performing better than my father Aeleric, or Kallei, ever could for Kyronia.
And yes, our overlord parent might have an emotional reaction for a while. If the power of the crown still allows him to be capable of that. But I could still bring back my brother's body. He's a Drownei like us, after all. He should've been able to endure the collapse.
With that careless heir out of the way, my work will pay off. I merely needed to find him.
There was only a mere smidge of empathy in me, if any. I barely knew Kallei aside from his past of incompetence; favouring to travel the world for example, while I was stuck training and studying endlessly, pushing myself each day. Aside from us talking every few weeks, the heir was always too busy governing to deal with even his own family member.
But now he calls himself the Black Knight, with the world Midkyron praising him.
He was too far gone for my mission to succeed efficiently.
I raised the dark gemstone, with its blotches of blood-red, in the palm towards my chest, gripping it to feel its power. Not only was it essential to the quest given to me, to track him down as the new right hand. It felt. . . alluring to have the inky mist surge through my veins. It was as if I was becoming less physically tired, and more powerful from the magic; more dangerously accustomed.
There was a sudden directional weight within my brain and lower torso. It seemed to point far north. Towards the far side of the foggy ambushed battlefield, still engulfed with the fumes of our weapons.
So, while readjusting the thin steel mask over my face, I pulled on the huge leashes of the guardian beast and took off into low clouds. The cape's end of my hood rustling behind me in the thick air.
Stone and marble debris continued to scatter onto the grounds. Sounds of whirring spells echoed. Silhouettes yelled on the surface that now buried many, clashing their blades in revenge.
So I scanned the area below, where everyone else stood.
A few scattered Chronicle Order members, with sooted faces and dented armour lined with gold, had removed their helmets. I saw one of the young humans point a gun at the other as I briefly passed by.
One of Eeldrin's spies. My mind stated. There's more of them around. Survivors will be taken out with ease.
The gunshots and blood-curdling battle cries slowly grew louder. Heavy-armoured Drownei forces and Unity members mercilessly chased down the surviving and wounded. Though some slipped past unseen, I knew it wouldn't be long until they were found.
Limbs of different kinds protruded from the pieces of grey construction, lifeless and pleading, as droplets of the darkest crimson spilled onto the dusty floorings.
The warranted sights gave me a sort of inspiration, if you will.
My bloodstone trembled within the palm as I opened to stare at it. It's aura was electrifying, begging me to feel its thirsty power once more. To use it for the unjustices dealt upon Kyronia.
Unlike my father, the Overlord Aeleric, I used its violence for good.
And so I raised the stone higher, lowering the Skollur closer to the floor, and felt the weight of the damaged grounds crack and tremble from mind's will.
From the wreckage, dozens of arms like shadows stretched out to materialize. Wings shook and fluttered through the concrete as the figures came into a distorted view. Scattered throughout the area and reanimated from death.
As I slowed down the guardian beast to behold my summoning,
The winged Flivians, with severed limbs, and bits of flesh falling off their skin to reveal bone, lowly whistled their ghastly aura with dead stares. The trails of blood on the surfaces near them rose as well, twisting together to create their dripping black skin. Once pale and fair like pearls, now fanged and lifeless like the monsters without soul they were.
Along with them, were corpses of the organization breaking free from under the destruction. Humans, Dwellvens, and Marines of all kinds. But the dozens were corrupted with the same color and soulless rotting look.
The combined army followed my command, without needing to even persuade or sway them.
'Kill the Chronicle Order. Bring me Kallei."
The undead growled, and flew away in opposite directions to follow orders.
I soared upwards with the Skollur once more, to remain fairly secret, and to cover up my tracks by directing the beast further straight.
And then I saw a Drownei's hand pulling himself over the remainders of the building.
The distant, unhelmeted individual glanced at me, and ran back into the smoke. My rock rumbled violent within my right palm again. Signalling the presence nearby. Only one other Drownei in this area would be immune to intense heat.
It was Kallei; the Black Knight.
I calmly yanked on the dragon's reins, telling it to stand down, and jumped off its back while landing with my feet on the ground. It would be better not to draw attention to myself. My brother was already caught in the crossfire, anyway.
So as the Skollur stood still and vanished from view, I walked forwards with the gem held in my pocket, which was all I needed against an experienced fighter.
Flames and ash were sprayed onto the blurry bits and concrete pieces, of what was once a stolen fortress meant for anarchy. I stepped further into the fog.
He's here, I knew.
Then a dark blade swung for my rearhead as the stone sensed one of my blood, and I pulled away instantly from the attack.
I stepped aside and turned around to see the scarred knight, bruised on his cheek, and sooted on his spiny armour with eyebags. Yet he had piercing stare of death; the same one he'd have during any battle or training. The one used whenever he held back a thousand ways to execute something or someone.
But now, it was towards me, and I knew I was his target.
". . .where are they, Zeleos?" He said in an unusual, dangerously low tone."What have you done?"
The brother I knew would've yelled and continue to attack, merciless. It's almost as if it wasn't him speaking.
"I don't even recognize you."
Black Knight said and walked directly to me, the tip of double-edged blade slicing the ground's surface as he postioned himself closer.
"A brother of mine wouldn't betray like this. Who are you, really?"
His eyes were wide, supposedly from shock, and glossy. His expression was one of confused but forced interrogation. Was he being genuine this entire time, instead of acting?
I kept my feet planted.
"I should be asking the same from you, Kal'."
Suddenly he froze in his tracks. And Kallei stared, more wide-eyed, like the old nickname almost made a realization inside him.
But he chose to give me another glare, dead serious with a flickering anger in those dark eyes, instantly shutting off the notion.
"Just answer the damn question!"
Black Knight charged forwards with his longsword like before. But I didn't even feel the need to move.
My hand rose up to perfectly block the cutting edge of the blade.
In a familiar fashion, we stood in a standstill for a few seconds. Staring directly at the other, not willing to avert our gazes, for one could easily catch the other off-guard.
Though his gaze softened every so slightly, for some reason.
He's been acting strange like days before. Something changed. Something, after he was sent to ease off those Unity and Chronicle Order attacks. Something was affecting him.
Suddenly, I had the realization myself within the brief moment.
It all made sense now. Why he would turn so quickly in the first place.
He truly didn't know his identity as Kallei. He had lost all his memories from the attacks.
From what I've analyzed, there was nothing but genuine confusion-
Then he let go of the mutual hold and side-kicked me forwards, as I fell to my back on the hard ground.
I had mastered the skill of suppressing the overfill of thoughts.
Except in this moment.
But instead of rushing towards me for a kill, while I quickly stood up and controlled the darkly glowing bloodstone, he stopped himself again in hesitation.
"You're beginning to remember, aren't you?"
I came to the conclusion. I took off my steel mask, revealing my skinner but related facial traits of a Drownei, with my slicked hair still organized.
Kallei stood silent as he watched me, and studied my appearance. Not backing down but not willing to get any closer.
"Here. . . allow me to aid you in rekindling those memories, brother." I promised him. "I'm sure you still want the answers."
Arms of the undead grabbed onto the Black Knight to seize his strength, those that I had just summoned behind his back. The different species of fallen men and women from this demolished assembly.
It was all for the greater good. My greater good.
And so I whistled for the Skollur to complete my quest.
"Let's head to our father, shall we?"