The land split up into segments, settled, unsettled, and the badlands. All technically under the jurisdiction of the Three Kingdoms, but some have other masters.
As the two started to get tired they climbed up into a tree, settled into nooks, and slept for the rest of the night to the sounds of howls. When the sunlight started to filter through the leaves Arin shifted a bit to bask in the sunlight before slowly waking up.
“I need to be more careful of how much I use,” he thought while flexing his hands “Beyond how much I can hurt other people it feels like I’m on fire if I let too much in.”
As he was contemplating Az started to wake up, almost falling from his branch when he rolled over.
“God we slept all night out here? We need to get back before everyone goes out for the day.”
“It’s fine, today’s our day off. Do you wanna go see your mom?”
“I don’t care one way or another, though she might chew me out for staying the night in the forest,” Az said as he dropped down, landing with a thud but steadied himself.
“Puny mortal, bow before the might of your god!” Arin jokes, “pinnae!” As his light starts to form wings appear on his back, flapping slightly to lift him off the ground. Az prostrates himself, bowing up and down.
“I’m not worthy, I’m not worthy!”
Arin steps down, the wings flapping once to almost stop his fall. The glow and wings slowly disappear as Arin and Az start the walk back to Angloria. A slightly elderly woman rushes out of the village towards them, pulling off one sandal as she runs.
“Where were you two troublemakers? Do you know how worried I was? If you do that again I’ll make you both black and blue!” The woman yells while whacking Az with the sandal.
“Mom please we are perfectly fine!” Az tries to say in between the sandal attack.
“Please Ms. Elway, it wasn’t his fault, he just followed me,” Arin pleaded.
“Oh Arin it’s ok don’t you worry about it, by the way, I just made some stew, would you like some?” She responded, beaming at him before shooting another glare at Az. Arin threw his arm around Az’s shoulders, pulling him inside and away from his mom as he called over his shoulder “That would be amazing Ms. Elway!”
As the two boys stepped into the thatched hut the smell of meat immediately hit them.
“Mom, how the hell did you get meat?” Az says in complete disbelief.
“Language young man, and your mother has her ways,” she says with a wink.
The boys sat down at the low table, sitting on layered rugs and waiting, slightly impatiently, for the rare treat of meat. Meat is scarce in the wildlands, game has been overhunted or scared out by other… wildlife. Az’s mom finally returned with three bowls of meat stew that everyone hungrily dug into, the meat was tough and dry but it was still the best thing the boys had ever tasted. Everything felt right, everyone felt happy. Is this perfection? Smiles lit the room as people started to get full, but they kept eating.
Arin leaned back on his hands, sighing heavily. “Thank you for the meal Ms. Elway, it was the best thing I’ve ever tasted, I’m exhausted though.”
“Well of course you are dear, there’s no way you can get a good sleep in the woods,” she chastised.
“I know, I know, mind if I crash here tonight?”
“Of course not, you’re basically my son! You know you always have a room here,” Ms. Elway said with a smile, everyone standing up and heading off to their respective rooms.
Arin’s room was just as he remembered it, small, and comfortable, but it didn’t feel like his. None of them do. Ever since that time… no. It's best not to think of that at all. He laid down in the straw bed, covering himself with the fur blanket before lying awake for hours. Memories flashed through his head, some good, some bad, all disruptive. The breaths outside his door slowed, and the assorted sounds of the village outside started to die down, but he couldn’t sleep.
“Damn this, I won’t sleep all night at this rate,” he said as he stood up, sitting down on the floor in a cross-legged stance. Slowly, like a trickling stream, a light started to roll off of him. As more and more started to form the tattoo on his side started to heat up, imperceptible to him but causing smoke to waft off of his shirt. The light pouring off of him started to reach blinding levels, making a bright red imprint on his closed eyes. Brighter, stronger. His rough cloth shirt falls off of his shoulder as the tattoo burns right through it. White-hot flames burst into existence on Arin’s right side, hair, and eyes, heating the room significantly. I can’t let it happen again.
“Not strong enough, but getting closer,” he stated as he opened his eyes, the flames and light extinguishing. Sweat beaded on his exposed skin, dripping off his hair and chin.
Suddenly a loud explosion went off, shaking the entire hut. Az slammed open Arin’s door.
“What the fuck was that? What’s happening?” Az almost screamed, the gears on his face turning.
“I have no clue, why would I know? Is your mom ok?” Arin said worriedly as he pushed past him, a slight glow coming off of him again.
“She’s fine, but she won’t be if we don’t figure out what that was. I’m going outside.”
“I’ll come with you, don’t get so ahead of yourself.”
A warzone is the best way to describe what they saw when they walked out of the hut, dead bodies littered the streets, and Aether was blasting left and right. An icicle took the door off its hinges right beside them, causing them both to duck.
“On a scale of one to ten, this is a solid not ok,” Az said calmly, shooting a bolt of lightning back in the direction of the icicle.
“Yeah, keep your mom safe. I’m gonna go see what is happening and what I can do,” Arin said, the intensity of the light rolling off him increased tenfold, but as it did his heart twinged slightly, “Stupid bastard training the night we get attacked, I’m almost at my limit.”
“You want me to come with you then?”
“No, your mom is more important,” Arin said as he dashed off into the fire and smoke.
It was even worse than he thought previously, the villagers were getting slaughtered by a force in white cloaks and armor, finely crafted and stronger than the villagers could deal with.
“Tsk, Dalldar’s soldiers. This is all bullshit. Telum!” A bolt of light shot out of Arin’s hand as he raised it, aiming at a soldier’s chest, but it didn’t connect. The bolt fizzled out of existence just before it hit him, not even fazing him as he turned toward the almost identical one next to him, tapping him on the shoulder and saying something inaudible over the battleground’s noise.
“Really? They’ve sent at the very least knights against us? This might be too much for me, especially in this state. Pinnae, cel-” Two was too much. Before he could finish the word he started hacking and coughing, blood flying out of his mouth as he fell to one knee. Heavy footsteps stomped towards him as a pair of metal boots appeared at the edge of his vision. One lifted, then faster than he could see Arin felt it hit his face. The metallic taste of blood, the feeling of weightlessness as he flew, it all felt surreal. The feeling of his back and head slamming into a wall now felt very real. The pain was the last thing Arin felt as the inky blackness consumed him.
Light filtered through Arin’s eyelids, harsh and almost blinding even through the thin cover. He raised his hand over his face, slowly opening his eyes. Then the pain hit, full-body pain and a very acute stabbing in his side that could be attributed to the wooden wall stabbing into him.
“Where the hell am I? What’s going on?” He croaked out, almost throwing up when he tried to turn his head.
“You came close enough, this is the closest to hell you’ll ever get,” an unfamiliar voice boomed from above him, and a very familiar set of boots came into view under Arin’s hand.
“Fu-” Another familiar feeling hit Arin as the metal boot struck his side, slamming him clean through the wall.
“You have no business being alive after this, what even are you?” The armored man questioned as he squatted down, removing his helmet to show a shock of brown hair and a coarse face.
“Why are you here? What’d we do to you?”
“Tut tut, I’m asking the questions here. What are you?” This was only answered with Arin spitting blood in the man’s face. “Gross, fucking peasants are all the same,” the man spat back as he raised his fist, his eyes glowing for a second before he slammed it into Arin’s jaw, knocking him out again. Or so he thought. As Arin’s head flopped down, his tattoos started to glow ever so slightly.
“If I can’t use two, I’ll just use one at a time. Celeritas!” He murmured as what looked like liquid light started to pour off his tattoos and eyes before he disappeared.
“What speed! You do have too much strength for your good you know, I’ll just have to show you what true strength is! Roboro!” The armored man yelled as his eyes suddenly turned a deep blue like the depths of the ocean, swirling in an endless pattern. Arin stopped moving behind him and they turned to face each other. The armored man pushed himself to his feet into a steady boxer stance, hands up in front of his face and feet spread slightly while Arin held his hands out to either side at waist height, bouncing slightly on his feet.
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“Why are you doing this to our village?” Arin said as he spat more blood out onto the ground between them
“Because we’re looking for a godling, and it seems like I’ve found it, kid.”
This wasn’t satisfactory to Arin and he launched himself forwards. He spun in the air as he kicked out, firmly striking the chest plate and denting it slightly but all his movement came to a stop as his foot hit the soldier’s chest.
“You are strong, denting imperial iron like this. Not strong enough though!” The man roared as he grabbed Arin’s leg, throwing him down to the ground hard enough to leave a crater. As strong as Arin may be this was too much for him, and he felt his ribs shatter before he lost consciousness for the third time.
When Arin finally regained consciousness all he could feel was a throbbing throughout his entire body, a stabbing pain that ebbed and flowed with his breaths. He was almost too focused on that to take in the rest of his surroundings, fire licking barely inches away from his leg. He tried to roll over to escape but the second he attempted to move his leg a splitting pain brought black spots to his eyes and wrenched a scream from his split and bloodied lips.
"Arin? You're alive?" A familiar voice whisper-shouted from somewhere behind him.
"Az? God I'm glad to hear your voice but sad to hear it here. What happened?"
A heavy sigh responded, before Az spoke again with a shaky voice, "Everyone is dead Arin, they came and they slaughtered us. I killed one of them and they beat me half to death before leaving me here to die, I thought I was the last of us they didn't kill."
"Why did they hurt us?"
"Do I look like a prophet to you? All these questions, I'm getting interrogated!" He paused for a moment before starting again. "We're probably the only two that fought back in any serious regard, no one else is a fighter."
"That can't be right, there were loads of people stronger than us! Old man Bertholdt put me in my place plenty of times, Father Cornelius was strong enough to stop a bull without any sermos, hell your mom could even beat you if she wanted to!"
That last comment brought a shaky breath from Az, "My mom is dead Arin, and I saw Father Cornelius's body. God Arin they killed my mom right in front of me, they killed her and they smiled. They're monsters, living breathing monsters and we can't even touch them!"
Footsteps cut the boys' reunion short, a very familiar rhythmic thudding of boots. Through the fire a few shadowy figures could be picked out, walking closer at a leisurely gait talking amongst themselves. The fire seemed to part before them as three of the armored men walked through, one nonchalantly waving his hand to keep the fires at bay. Az tried to push himself to his knees but crumpled, and Arin didn't even need to try to know it was futile.
"Did you miss me? I brought some friends this time!" The center figure boomed out, striding over and stepping on Az's stomach, causing him to cry out.
"Stop, please, we didn't do anything to you!" Arin pleaded, reaching out with one hand.
"Oh, but it's so much fun! Isn't that right?" He asked Az as he ground his toe deeper into his side.
"Bastard! Telum!" A bolt of light came out of Arin's outstretched hand, noticeably weaker than before. It fizzled out before it even reached him, much to the amusement of all three armored figures.
"Boss, this kid managed to dent your armor?" The first armored figure choked out through his laughs.
"He can't even get off a single bolt properly!" The second added
"Oh shut up you two, I went easy on him for a little bit. Look at him now though, can't even protect his friend!" The boss said as he moved his foot from Az's stomach to his head.
Az reached up, vainly clawing at the armored boot as pressure was applied to the side of his skull. His marks started to glow and turn as his hands let off weak electrical pulses that were little more than static shocks. He started to scream as he grabbed and futilely tried to push the boot off but the man above him just kept pushing. The armored man's eyes started to glow the deep blue again and suddenly he smiled, stepping down hard. Az's head exploded, blood and grey matter spraying in every direction as the armored men cackled. Arin couldn't believe it.
"YOU BASTARDS! I'LL KILL YOU ALL!" He screamed out, his marks and eyes glowing a hot white light, brighter than anything he'd ever felt before. Then it clicked. It's like the whole world slowed for him. That section of his power that he couldn't touch was ripped open and a torrent of energy, unlike anything he had felt before rushed into him. Where the light was warm and bright, this was the opposite. A darkness so black no light could escape, and so cold it felt like his skin was freezing solid. His blinding white light turned black, his eyes pools so deep it seemed like you could fall in and never get out. His marks turned to ice, so dark it looked like half of him disappeared.
"What-what is this? It feels gross, and slimy, like it's eating me alive. But it's strong, strong enough to kill them. I need it." Arin thought, his emotions running wild.
"Oh, so the dumb dog learned a new trick? Let's see what you can do!" The second figure said, fire shooting out through the holes in their helmet.
Without even thinking Arin flung his hand forward and pure energy shot out of him. Instead of a bolt like his light, it was more like a wave of darkness that spread from his whole body. When it hit the armored figure there wasn't any immediately noticeable change, except that the fires died.
"What did you do to me?" The figure said, patting around their entire body. Patting around their body until their arm fell off, that was. They screamed, staring at the arm and socket that were rapidly decaying, dying as everyone watched. "What is this? What are you? You had light and now it's death, this freak has two powers!"
"Oh, it's not like he's any stronger, now he's just got some dark to go with his light. We're still royal knights, the best of the best. Hal, kill him." The boss said while trying to wipe the gore off of his boot.
"Yes sir," the third armored figure stated calmly as a whirlwind started to form around them.
Arin fired off the same blast again, but as it clashed with the wind it was blown away like a feather in a hurricane. He tried again and again, each blast stronger than the last and each getting closer to hitting the figure in the hurricane but not close enough. As the figure took their last step, their boots right in front of Arin's face he thought of one last thing.
"Clear your mind and focus. Like the meditations," he thought, closing his eyes and emptying his mind. His light felt like an old friend coming home, this darkness felt like a thousand enemies crashing against his mind like a river. He let it take control this time, and as his mind was filled with an almost overwhelming pressure, almost like another entity pressing against his very soul, his aura got stronger. Darkness encompassed him, flicking against the wind like the fire that licked against his leg earlier but unlike the blasts, this darkness held its ground. As more of his mind was filled more of his aura spilled out until he was just a watcher in his own body, detached from reality as the darkness spilling out of him pushed against the wind. Arin and the armored figure watched as his body stood up, calmly watching as the hurricane was overwhelmed. The figure tried to turn and run, almost tripping over their heavy boots in their haste but it was futile. The darkness wrapped around them, encompassing them fully and blocking them from view. Those on the outside saw and heard nothing, but Arin suddenly felt an intrusion in his mind. In front of him stood a muscled woman, staring in confusion at the swirling vortex of chaos.
"Ah, so is this my mind now? Why is there someone else here though? Can I make a body?" Arin thought, trying to take a step. It felt like walking through molasses, but it worked. He stepped forward, his body in pristine condition but hazy.
As soon as he took the step the woman turned toward him, dropping down into a ready stance.
"Who are you? Where am I?" She called out, still looking around.
"Oh ho ho, if this is my mind I might be able to have some fun," Arin thought before saying out loud "Both will be answered in due time as long as you cooperate. Why are you here?"
"I'm not going to tell you you dumb peasant," she sneered.
"Why did you kill everyone?" Arin continued calmly.
"Because it's fun, have you ever killed anyone? The rush you get, the tingling throughout your body, it's electric!"
"Who are you?"
"We're a detachment of the Royal Knights, you should recognize that name."
Yes, Arin did recognize that name, but it didn't explain anything. The Royal Knights were supposed to protect the people from monsters and crime, not murder helpless towns of no-name peasants. Arin stretched his hand up and to the left and closed his fist. Instead of closing his fist on air though, it felt like he had closed it on something mostly solid. He wrenched his hand down, releasing it like he was throwing a ball and he felt it fly out. Suddenly, the swirling torrent of chaos tore itself off of the mass and encompassed the woman. When it tore itself off it was easier to see what it was, a mass of skeletons and souls fighting for a spot in the front, tearing each other apart every second. When it collided with the woman a single scream made it out before she was ripped to shreds.
"Visceral, but effective. How does this world affect the real world though?" Arin thought out loud. Before he could finish his thought though the torrent of souls finished battering where the woman was and melded back to the dome of chaos, leaving behind a perfect skeleton. It stood at attention, the same stature as the woman but without any of the malice or fear she carried. Arin cautiously stepped towards it, but it had no response. He got close enough to touch it and it was still stationary.
"Hellooooooo, anyone in there?" He asked, waving his hand in front of it. Maybe he should try the same trick again. He pointed his hand at the skeleton and closed it, and like the first time, he felt something that wasn't there in his hand. This time though, when he pulled his hand back the skeleton took a step forward.
"You're like a puppet, and I hold your strings. This is… interesting," he puzzled aloud.
Unbeknownst to him, time wasn’t frozen, and he felt something yank him back into the real world. He was hovering slightly above the ground, with a black-and-white storm swirling around him. When his hearing came back he heard shouting, the first soldier calling out orders to retreat, and that there was some kind of monster fighting them. The sound of crunching bones was next, and screams of men and women around him. He looked left and saw a small group of soldiers cowering in the corner, their swords slashing at an army of skeletons. His hands seemed to be moving independently, puppeteering the skeletons to strike, block, dodge, and move as if they were a poorly made peasant army, but that didn’t matter. The wave of skeletons never seemed to stop, as they kept pouring into the door and rising out of the ground. To his right, he saw the captain throwing punches left and right, decimating skeletons with every strike, but he was moving noticeably slower, and is that a gash in his leg?
“He’s the one we’re after! Keep fighting men, we’ll be paid handsomely for his capture!” The captain cried out, finally reaching a sword one of his soldiers had dropped, but as he reached down for it Arin naturally raised one finger and the closest skeleton snapped out a front kick, connecting with the soldier’s chin. His head snapped back and he crumpled to the ground.
“So this is the power of a godling,” Arin thought. He had heard whispers of them, people able to do near-impossible feats of strength, one-man armies that threatened even the great empire. They were constantly being hunted to near extinction since they were deemed too dangerous to keep around.
“To think I’m one of them… but at what cost? No, I can’t think of that now, there is still one last thing to do.” Again, as if he was being puppeteered himself he brought his hands together, a small black ball forming between them with strings reaching out to his fingertips. Where it touched his hand it burned, a grimace forming on Arin’s face. “More, more, more!” As it got smaller and smaller the burning got worse and worse, until he couldn’t take it anymore. Arin flung his hands out to his side, and the ball exploded outward, bringing everything back to that shadowy world he brought the woman to. The soldiers all looked around confused, before their eyes widened and they started fighting towards him with a new fury. It seemed like they were walking through infinity, as they got closer and further at the same speed. Arin raised his hand, grabbing whatever it was he grabbed before, and tossed it at the first group of soldiers. The same torrent of skulls and bones ripped through them, tearing them apart almost instantly; their screams and shouts getting cut short by the rattling of bones and the cries of the damned. To the second group, he lifted his hand again, but instead of closing it on the ball that he knew was there light filled his palm, a new ball forming, this one blindly bright. Arin grabbed hold of it and tossed it towards them, watching as it seemed to bounce on nothingness before it exploded, incinerating everything it came into contact with. Even the armor the knights were wearing was destroyed completely, ash covering the floor as everything returned to the house that is now almost completely destroyed, holes filling the roof and bodies covering the floor. As he floated back down toward the ground a splitting pain racked Arin’s body and he fell to his knees, his skin burning a black and white flame, twisting and turning on his arms and chest, but as he opened his mouth to scream nothing came out.
“Am I dying? I thought it was supposed to be painless,” he thought, as the last of his strength left his body and he slumped forward.
