Chapter 2: Chapter 2

“What do you mean you were a Dragon? The last Dragon went extinct ten million years ago?” Varin was surprisingly more frustrated that I was once a Dragon than the fact The Emperor of Sidra had a secret bounty on her head for Hunters to execute, but hey—you do you, Nymph.

“I was young, a little over two thousand years old. I wasn’t allowed to leave the nest that often, but yeah, I was a Dragon.” I tried to say it as a matter of fact as I could, hoping to teeter the conversation elsewhere but Kai decided she should also become curious.

“Is that why they invented zero for you instead of making you Number One?” Kai asked.

“You call yourself Zero because that was your Knight rank? Wow, you are arrogant.” Varin chimed in, turning away from me slightly, almost like she was offended.

“For what it’s worth Varin, I didn’t grow up human, so I didn’t have a human name and I can’t go around using a Dragon name.” Varin turned back to me, her anxious look was all I needed to see to know what she was about to ask next. “It’s Xayddryrth, Varin, my Dragon name, it’s Xayddryrth.” There was silence for the first time since we had stowed ourselves away. I waited a moment longer before speaking, hoping Kai would help change the subject, but she was just as in shock as Varin. I let out a small sigh. “It’s called The Burned Cosmos.” Varin and Kai both changed their expressions, leaning closer as their curiosity got the better of them. “I figured that would grab ya, it’s above Arrithia, far beyond the clouds, beyond the limits of her grasp—and it was beautiful.”

*

The Burned Cosmos is the home of not just Dragons, but The Highers—the Gods and Goddesses of Arrithia. While The Highers stay in The Fragmented Palace, Dragons secure themselves in what we call The Surrendered Cores, five Dragon Clans separated by vast cosmic distances. They are connected to one another by the branches of The All Tree and thus connected to Arrithia through its trunk. I had only heard tales from Arrithia, I never ventured further than the start of its boundaries—I was surprised to see that it was so small when I awoke on Sidra. I was also surprised to find that not a single person here had heard of The All Tree.

*

“So that’s why you were always set on getting out, there’s a chance you can learn what happened to your kind.” Kai usually didn’t talk this much, nor did she ever seem this interested in anything I ever had to say beyond orders. Kai was known as Number Four in The Order and if it hadn’t disbanded when it did, she would have easily removed Eugene from his spot at three.

Kai was more muscular than any of the other twelve Knights and because of that, she was given one of the mightiest of Artifacts—Cyrene’s Bow. It was a powerful weapon but it came with a cost—every use of the bow would turn a piece of her into ash and once her entire body was used up, she would become one with the bow. She still had a ways to go but her blonde hair had long faded to gray and her green eyes had all but lost their color.

“Thank you, by the way,” I looked at Kai. “For earlier, I knew they would be coming for Varin, but this soon was interesting.”

“Should I head out?”

I nodded in response and she made her way to the steps. She looked at me one last time and nodded before heading up to the deck—within a few moments her steps completely disappeared, leaving Varin and me alone.

“She took that well,” I said. “How are you feeling?”

Varin’s head turned to me like she was possessed. “How. Am. I. Feeling?” Her tone of voice was stoic and the pause after every word was my warning of her incoming explosion. “ON THE FIRST DAY WE MET, I SHOWED YOU I WAS A NYMPH AND FOR THE LAST TWO MONTHS I HAVE TOLD YOU SO MUCH AND YOU HAVE BEEN A DRAGON THIS ENTIRE TIME?!”

I waited a moment to make sure she was done and not just catching her breath for another round. “For what it is worth Varin, I can’t transform back into a Dragon, I’m not hiding my form, I’m stuck in this one,” I stood up. “Also, I don’t remember how I got to Sidra, I woke up in that forest behind the association and that was that.”

Varin’s eyes wandered around the ship, seemingly passing over me as she turned away. “Well, I, you, yes–.”

“Varin.” My words grabbed her attention. “You can still be frustrated, I don’t expect you to just undo all of your frustrations because I gave you new information, that wouldn’t be right, but I’m going out, I have something I need to do.” I knew she was going to give chase—so I picked up my pace as I dashed around her and made my way up the steps.

“ZERO!” She called out.

There it is. I quickly teleported from the ship and across the road to buildings. I tucked myself behind the chimney of one, waiting another moment before teleporting to the bell tower a few yards to my right. 

I tucked myself behind one of the pillars, watching as Varin made it up onto the deck. She looked around in all directions, passing her gaze along the road and buildings for a moment before a frustrated stomp took her back down. I looked over to my left. “Watch her,” Kai was sitting on the floor, her back up against the pillar. She nodded at me and went back to eating her food. “Thanks.” I replied and teleported away.

*

The Emperor of Sidra believes that he rules an empire of humans, and if we are judging based on looks alone, then he is correct. The Four Kingdoms all look human but only about 17% of the population is human. Most of that 17% is divided between the Kingdoms of Aegru and Centalará, but some do reside in Hier and Wylop.

Wylop is considered the Capital Kingdom of Sidra, all because of how well it produces Hunters. It wasn’t surprising, considering most of the population are werewolves. Werewolves are some of the top predators in all of Arrithia and with their ridiculous lifespan, they have perfected the art of the kill.

My home Kingdom, Hier, is home to masters of magic and alchemy. It was the first Kingdom to be established in Sidra and it was claimed by a group of Elves who had taken refuge away from their original clan. They were the ones who had originally created the border around Sidra and at the time they were more than happy to follow The Emperor’s orders. It would keep everyone in, but it would also keep The High Elves that would eventually come for them, out.

My favorite Kingdom and our destination, Centelará, is responsible for almost all of the structures that reside on Sidra. They have seen countless millennia of history unfold before them, even more than that of the Elves and that’s because Centelará is the Kingdom of Vampires. Vampires have no written history, it’s all word of mouth, and these folks, here in the Village of Kaktovik—they’re some of the oldest there are.

“Hey, guys.” I waved at the table below me. I had teleported myself into the rafters through an open window. “Sorry to intrude.” I watched as one of them quickly stood up—there were nine of them in total, four on each side of the table, with the ninth, placed at the head. “Please don’t.” I lifted my hand and the dinner guest froze in place. “Lord Salk taught me this back during that little war of yours,” I lowered my hand, dropping down from the rafters into the room. “Now, sit.” The guest lowered himself back down into the chair and placed his hand back on the table—his face visibly frustrated.

I looked around the room. The walls were made of dark wood and the floor looked to be made of the same. There was a surprising amount of torches set up along the walls, and a chandelier even hung from the ceiling. The table they sat at was long and made of much lighter wood with a long black cover thrown over it. They all were staring at me, none of them moving but I could feel the intent to kill lingering in the room—before long it would seep from the building, drawing the attention of the rest of the village.

“I know it’s been a while, but I need a favor.” I slowly moved my gaze to those at the table. I thought I recognized most of them, but there were two that I for sure didn’t—the one who stood up and the one at the end of the table.

“Who are you?” The vampire at the end of the table was frail, he looked like he hadn’t had blood in decades, not even the synthetic version from the Elves. His eyes were sunken and his skin had lost all its dark complexion, looking ghostly over ashy. What color was left in his lips had faded to purple and his clothes were more than passed their disposal date. “What favor do you speak of?”

“Is this not the Harlyt Family home?” I was lying through my teeth, this was indeed the Harlyt Family home but that was not the head of the Harlyt Family, so I’m hoping he will tell me who he is first, then we can plan accordingly.

The head vampire stood up, his eyes fixating on my left hand. I looked down at it and then at him. “Oh, don’t worry, I won’t use that unless I need to.” He nodded at me and then pulled down on his shirt, causing it to suddenly change from tattered robes to a long black cloak.

It stretched onto the ground, swaying slightly against the wood. The collar wrapped around his head, folding upward to reveal the red that lined the inside. The cape was wrapped over a soft white shirt and matching pants, giving him an interesting look.

“You say we owe you a favor?”

There went my plan of him telling me who he is and I have two more stops after this, four if we hustle, sorry pal. I lifted my hand—freezing the head vampire in place. The others went to move, but I lifted my other hand, halting all of them. “Look, I was trained by Salk and have fought alongside Sidra’s Warlord and none of you are them, so please, tell me who you are, then we will speak of the favor.”

The head vampire lifted his index finger snapping the spell around them, allowing them all to move freely.

“Oh,” I exclaimed. I stepped back, dodging a slash from two of the vampires closest to me. I teleported behind the head vampire, my sword held within my grasp. I held the blade to his back, the tip placed to the left over his heart. “I know this won’t kill you, I know it’s a whole process, but please, unless you want a four Kingdom war, I suggest you all, SIT.” My voice carried slightly, causing all the other vampires in the room to collapse onto the ground, but the head vampire still stood tall. 

He moved his head back to me, just enough for me to see his expression. “Lower your sword and come with me, Zero, father told me one day you would come.”

*

“WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU FAILED?!” The Emperor’s voice echoed through the room. Roland was standing at the bottom of the stairs leading up to the throne. A red rug ran from the front of the door to the base of the stairs—it had the same gold pattern down the sides as the banners that hang from the rafters. The ceiling was held by large rounded pillars and the white marble floor looked like it hadn’t been stepped on in decades.

“It wasn’t our fault, you know as well as I do that Zero is—.”

“DO NOT TRY TO DEFLECT THE SITUATION!” Dysixix stood up from the throne his bulky red coat falling onto it. His muscular body was usually hidden beneath his armor, but today he had chosen to fit himself with a button-up blouse that had been tucked into his trousers. “YOU, YOU, you, you live because of me, and yet you defy me, tell me, Roland, why did I disband The Order,” Dysixix sat back on the throne, rubbing his palms against the rests. “I disbanded The Order to save you and your fellow Knights from a senseless slaughter, you think I disbanded it to save Zero, but be honest with yourself Roland, you had every advantage today, and yet you still failed, do you believe you could have actually killed him?” He moved his hand to his head, resting his palm against his cheek as he slid his elbow upward. He leaned over, resting himself to the right of the throne, allowing the torches along the wall to illuminate his face—brown eyes were taunting Roland as he smiled.

Roland looked down at the floor, disgusted with The Emperor’s words and with himself. He looked to the Emperor. “It is true, Zero is far beyond myself, today showed me that, but I believe if we change our plan and—.” Roland stopped, he listened behind him to the door. 

“What is it, Roland?” Dysixix leaned up, looking toward the door as it swung open. “Who dares burst into my—.” He stopped, his mouth becoming dry as his eyes locked on the culprits.

“Hey Emp, oh, look who's here, Number Ten!” Roland turned around to face me, drawing his sword so quickly that I think even he was surprised at his speed.

“Zero, you dare speak to The Emperor with such brazen disrespect?!” He paused, I think he just realized I wasn’t alone and those I am with—weren’t hiding their appearance.

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Ta’ock, the host of the dinner I interrupted and Vampire King of Centalará. Conri, King of Wylop and Head of The House of Wolves. Queen Máire of Hier, Tribe Leader of The Uth’Northol Elves.

Ta’ock still had his cloak, but his eyes had glazed over with a white mist and his fangs had extended out just a tad bit further. Conri had transitioned into his Lycan form. His stature had grown to around three meters in height with his skin turning into a coat of white and black fur. His human form was all but gone with his face now that of a canine. Máire had removed the hood of her gown, displaying her pale white skin and long blonde hair. She had braided it into a crown around her head, revealing the moon shaped earrings beneath it.

I left the others by the door and began walking forward. I had only made it a few meters into the room before Roland repositioned his sword and called out to me.

“Don’t take another step or I—.”

“You’ll be forced to cut me down in the name of The Emperor, yeah I know the speech. Did you find new strength in the last few hours?” I lowered my right hand to my left side, wrapping it around the air. I raised my brow. “Something that will let you take on a Vampire King, a Lycan Warrior, and a Queen of Elves?” I pulled out my sword, keeping the flames holstered within the hilt. “Show me.”

The Emperor began to laugh, lifting his hand outward—he waved it down at the ground. “Lower your sword, Roland, this isn’t your fight, and if I didn’t enjoy the power this throne gave me so much, it wouldn’t be anyone’s,” he stood up, pulling his neck from side to side. “But today it would seem like it is mine,” he continued to stretch himself as he stepped down the stairs. “How long has it been, two thousand, four thousand, no, it’s been at least five thousand years since I’ve had to truly assert myself as The Emperor.” He stopped at the bottom of the stairs, looking at me and the others. “Zero, we have a long history, but you three, I don’t believe I know, who are your friends Zero, I would very much like to know their names before I kill them.” The Emperor’s demeanor completely changed and with it, a strange aura manifested around him. 

I had only heard of this type of Magic, I hadn’t gotten the chance to see it in person until today. It was an earthy green when it first presented itself but after a few short moments, it changed into a mix of grays.

“Dark Magic, and by the looks of it, a lot, what is it, two, three centuries worth?” I pulled my sword back as I spoke, positioning the blade to the right of my mask, the tip pointed at The Emperor.

He laughed at me, lifting both his hands in front of him, palms pointed to the ceiling—he began to chant. “Iruop et ik ana iruhat e agnuh et auihw.” The grays turned pitch black and funneled into his hands. “You have been a thorn in my side for far too long, but I would be lying if I said I didn’t appreciate how well you could get a job done.” The aura from his hand disappeared and an enormous black sphere appeared just above his head. “Goodbye, Zero and friends.”

A series of spikes began protruding from the sphere, driving themselves through Roland’s back and into the tiles. His eyes widened as the spikes pulled his body back, swallowing him into itself. The Emperor stretched his chest while power coursed through his body as Roland was absorbed into the sphere.

“Well, I was going to give you a chance, but that was a bit uncalled for.” I released the hold I had over my flames, allowing them to breathe their way out of the hilt. “I know Roland was a tool, but dang.” The flames wrapped around the blade of my sword, tangling themselves around one another until they completely covered the metal.

The Emperor lowered his hands, more spikes began to poke themselves from the sphere, aiming at me and the others. “You were a fool to come here.” The spikes lunged forward, all of them funneling toward me. They quickly made their way across the room toward me, only to collide with an invisible barrier. The tips that hit first disintegrated into specks of dust, revealing green magical circles where they had attacked. 

“Neat huh?” I asked. “Elvish magic.” I lowered my sword and flicked my finger against the barrier, revealing a plethora of magical circles hovering in front of us. “You know, I always thought of you as a senile old man, but I see now that you are a senile old man sorcerer, plus you attacked first if you want to get technical about it all so, should we get started?” And with those words, Conri and Ta’ock sprinted forward with intense speed.

Conri was the first to attempt a strike on The Emperor, but he quickly realized that the sphere was not only attacking—it was also defending. It would propel spikes downward in front of his strikes, then it would expand into a rounded shape, forming a shield to block. I looked back at Máire. “Can you still do that speed thing?” I looked back to the battle. “I think they are gonna need it.”

“Oh, yes, with pleasure.” Máire put her hands together and whispered an enchantment under her breath. 

Both Conri and Ta’ock were coated in a green aura for the briefest of moments.

“NOW IS WHERE THE FUN BEGINS KING TA’OCK!”

“YES MASTER CONRI, IT VERY MUCH IS!”

Without a second wasted, both of them began moving at intense speeds—impossible to track by the normal eye, and yet, the spikes continued to keep up. The sphere was blocking every single one of their attacks, no matter the direction, or the speed.

“Hey Máire?”

“Yes?”

I paused for a moment, admiring how The Emperor’s eyes never once broke their lock on me. “I can’t expect them to give it their all since their life isn’t really on their line right?”

Máire shook her head.

I nodded, keeping myself locked in my staring contest with The Emperor. “So you would agree that it would be okay to just remove his head myself?” 

The Emperor broke his gaze, commanding the sphere to attack me—again, he was thwarted by Máire’s barriers. I tapped my finger against them and for the first time, I regret making wearing a mask my persona—because my smirk is seething to get out.

Máire turned her gaze on me briefly, her expression told me nothing, and just as she looked at me, she looked at The Emperor. “Your family, The Uth’Northol Tribe will take care of them, and The House of Wolves will ensure the good you did is remembered and upheld.” Her words stirred inside Conri and Ta’ock, causing them to retreat behind me. Máire kept her gaze on The Emperor and as she continued to speak, I could begin to feel the enchantment that was tied within her words. 

Máire took a step forward as she spoke, attempting to take another, but I put out my hand, stopping her from pushing beyond me. “You were once human, so I understand your fallacy when it came to the desire for power. I want you to know that I am sorry.” As the ‘Y’ expelled from her lips, dozens of relentless attacks from the sphere barreled forward. All of them repeatedly turned themselves to dust against the barrier. “Emperor Dysixix, your Empire has never been under your rule but because of the unrest that it would cause, we let you ruin many aspects of this long-forgotten beautiful land.”

“SILENCE WRETCH!” The Emperor’s words were accompanied by an increase in his dark magic aura and wave of attacks from the sphere.

“You are without love because you are only filled with sorrow, may The Highers come for you, in the far times, not as a fallen Emperor, but as a changed man.” 

Máire’s words fell on deaf ears, The Emperor lifted both his hands into the air and with them, the sphere lowered onto him. It consumed his head, slowly moving down the rest of his body. As it moved over his knees, his head began to remerge—revealing its newly taken form. Máire stopped her sentence mid-word and turned to me. 

“Zero…”

“I understand.”

I swung my sword horizontally, cutting through air with wicked speed. I rotated my sword through the air, pulling it back around to sheath it. “I’d have teleported behind ya, but I saw an opening between the sphere’s recharge rate, nothing personal gramps.”

The Emperor’s head slid from his shoulders with his newly formed horns echoing across the throne room as they collided with the floor. The sphere had frozen in place over his headless body.

“Think that did’er?” I asked.

Ta’ock walked up to me, placing a hand on my shoulder. “My father told me that it was you who almost had the title of Warlord over him, but he wouldn’t speak to how he got it over you, did he beat you in combat, or did you just give him the title.” He released his grip on my shoulder and walked forward to The Emperor. He dropped to the floor, lifting the severed head. “I am now starting to see why he never answered me.” He looked back at me, his fangs retracting back to their normal form. “He wasn’t sure himself, was he?”

Warlords are the top-ranked Hunter from each island and Warlord Orpheus, out of the few that I’ve met, is by far the strongest and from what Ta’ock told me—he and the others are currently somewhere in Arrithia together.

Ta’ock was still holding the head when a spike jolted out at him from the sphere. It pierced the head just as he dropped it, lunging back as it attempted to impale his chest. He stumbled back to us, hiding back behind the barrier.

“It would seem he wasn’t dead,” Ta’ock stated.

“No, The Emperor’s dead,” I replied, watching as the sphere expanded, completely consuming The Emperor’s body. “But his magic is not.”

The sphere expanded until it hit the barrier, freezing the second it rounded against it.

“Any ideas Zero?” Conri asked.

I didn’t reply, I was in awe as the sphere retracted, molding over what it had created inside itself. It was small at first, unrecognizable to most, but it doubled in size with every passing moment. 

“Zero is that a–.”

“Yeah,” I interrupted Márie. I resummoned my sword to my side as the beast continued to grow, knocking into the pillars, causing the entire room to shake. “That’s a Dark Magic Demon.”

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