"Chaos shall touch the earth like lightning from black clouds. It is necessary. For the sake of what we believe. To finally live in a world free of this ever-growing black stain. It is necessary."
Khaelis Kaiwen. Kneeling, eyes closed, head bowed. A room of absolute darkness and confinement, overtaken by a mist, black and dense. He gripped the hilt of death, ShadowStorm. Extinguished and moribund, a star that had ceased to burn. The soul of the noble blade found itself lifeless, utterly subjugated by the null and non-existent force of the Black Flame.
An image repeated in his mind: the sigil of House Kaiwen. His honor, being rendered utterly useless. Just like him. A stain spread across his soul and his heart. The world as he knew it was changing. But the noble Khaelis did not yearn for adaptation; he sought understanding. Conspiracies and lies. This time, it was so dense that he could not see through that thick mass of evil.
Yet, for the sake of his heart, he had to move forward. The wheel continued to turn; the world was changing, moving ahead. And he had to follow as well. For now, there were duties to be concluded. Khaelis squeezed the hilt of the blade with all his strength, subsequently relaxing his muscles. Still kneeling, and with eyes still shut, his voice sounded serene:
— Oh, Noble ShadowStorm. Come to me and protect me from the tempestuous bolt that cleaves your black clouds. Oh, Noble ShadowStorm, let me guide you and finally destroy every torment. Oh, Noble ShadowStorm, depart and cut through the chaos, alongside the storm. I shall be the lightning to purify all evil.
The chant was intoned; from his mouth, the words made the air shimmer, growing heavier by the second. The darkness seemed to flee from his words, which bore the weight of his heart's anguish. A firm, silver light leaked from ShadowStorm, dissipating any and all darkness. A serene Khaelis continued to hold the blade emitting that silver glow. In an instant, it dissipated, bringing forth the dark void that surrounded him.
— It is done...
Khaelis rose calmly, still holding ShadowStorm, which was gradually losing that intense brilliance. Khaelis stared at it. His eyes... overflowed with something different. For the first time, he questioned the reason he was now fighting. What occupied his mind now was doubt and uncertainty. For it was not for his crusade, or his House. No, now it was different. But to reach his brother... he would have to do whatever was necessary.
Still watching the blade lose its glow, he sheathed it with a swift movement. He closed his eyes. Even with the anguish of traveling a path he did not see as correct, and knowing it was the only possible way, he nodded.
— It is done... Rodalight. ShadowStorm is alive. We must proceed.
Treck! Fwah!
The doors of the black room swung open. Light flooded it completely, revealing Khaelis's erect figure amidst the darkness. And on the other side of the door, the man with black hair awaited him.
— Ah... are you ready, Khaelis?
He slowly entered the room, staring at him.
— This is wonderful! Ha, I didn't remember the chant being quite so long.
Anexzander Rodalight. The last heir of the royal family. Kept alive in secret for years since the onslaught of the RottenFlesh cult. All by the hands of the ultimate authority, the Grand Counselor. The one who inherited the Black Flame. The null, the void. The reasons were murky, or perhaps as clear as water.
Quietly, Khaelis stared at him, sensing the truth in his words, but all this conspiracy was not to be ignored.
— You don't trust me, do you?
Anexzander questioned him while staring, looking deep into Khaelis's eyes, who remained silent.
— Don't be mistaken, Khaelis... I understand, and I give you every possible reason. The world is different now, and all this is for a higher purpose. The times are changing. And I yearn for your restlessness to be fleeting.
Anexzander raised his hand toward Khaelis, a clean gesture, aiming for a handshake.
— The world will change forever. We are creating something new... something that will leave no room for these hells to repeat! Something perfect... and you, Khaelis Kaiwen, are necessary for this! We shall have justice.
Anexzander closed the fist he had raised to Khaelis. There was no handshake; Khaelis merely listened to his words. And in his fist, he saw what he most admired: conviction.
— So, for the sake of what we believe, and for the souls left behind, follow us, Khaelis! We've firm our deal... you, as a noble figure of the high echelon, cannot be left out. So, for what we believe, we—
— We must move forward... and honor those left behind... and for them, create a world where this infinite torment does not restart its cycle!
Khaelis completed his sentence, interrupting him. Feeling every flash of his conviction, seeing his soul burn with motivation and purpose. A soul—something that went entirely against the cursed Igyiris. The fact that Khaelis most admired in Anexzander Rodalight was that he saw someone who had reasons. And that made him erase his uncertainty, for now.
— We shall move forward... for what we believe for now... even if under dark wings... we shall follow.
Khaelis was the one who raised his hand this time. Anexzander stared at him. Without smiling, but affirming with his heart.
— Yes... we will follow what we believe in!
Anexzander shook his hand. This time it was not a contract, but mutual respect, a recognition of the alliance formed there.
Soon the grip loosened, and the two turned;
Khaelis returned to the darkness of the room, while Anexzander turned toward the light coming from outside.
— Well... we must follow now. Do you already have an idea of our duties at the right time?
Anexzander asked Khaelis, who nodded.
— Yes... the Grand Counselor gave direct orders to you, since you are leading our unit. We must go to the territory of the RyzisX and obtain a formal alliance for this war. Or else, force them...
— Yes... since the event that caused the Rotten Flesh. My death was spread as a lie, and... the Simiriam of this generation was killed. The Simirians... the primary heirs of the RyzisX, the youngest daughters of the House that had the most influence and power right behind the royal family. The Simirians were responsible for purifying the six children of the Rotten Flesh from the purification ritual... but... argh... that time... Lyza Simiriam RyzisX ended up being killed... along with all the members of the cult... this... thanks to the stray cursed one named Igyris! House RyzisX fell almost completely after the occurrence. This destroyed nearly everything related to the RyzisX. They distanced themselves, lost power, influence... and everything they built through the loss of Lyza Simiriam RyzisX... argh... they are isolated and haven't been involved in political matters for years... but the Grand Counselor sees them as a fundamental piece and an alliance that cannot be lost... even in their situation, they are the most important for our imminent state of war. That is why we cannot lose this alliance for anything! Not even if we need to use force!
— Yes, I know... but why are you communicating this to me again?
Khaelis questioned him.
— It's simple... for this, we are going to need an ambassador. I am the voice of the Grand Counselor in his absence... but for such political matters, I am not qualified. So, the Grand Counselor personally indicated someone to represent him in this case... someone you know well. The figure of authority that grows most amidst the Noble Houses... someone you repudiate greatly... the current provisional leader of the House with the most influence today.
Khaelis trembled, his stomach turned to ice, his eyes locked on the two shadows that formed in the light coming from the door; he recognized them and felt nausea.
— Please, enter... Lord Hiro Homi's Reixys! Provisional leader in the absence of the current Rameliel... and also, Kameliel Reixys...
Khaelis's heart beat as loud as a drum being beaten with hatred. He heard the footsteps.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Those two figures who slowly entered the room. A horrible sensation swallowed his body. Before him. Hungry wolves. He did not fear for himself, but for something greater.
— My... young Kaiwen, I am always flattered by your spirit whenever you see me.
Hiro and his hypnotized eyes stared deep at a Khaelis swallowed by the shadows of the dark room, and of his own heart. Meanwhile, Kameliel remained in silence.
— Argh... why would I expect anything more, after all... you are the Grand Counselor's lapdog, aren't you, Reixys? Of course it would be you... a filthy demon of your kind wouldn't miss the chance to stay out of this.
VUSH!!!
A blur crossed the entire room in seconds. It dissipated and reformed in front of Khaelis. The blur possessed hollow, large eyes, as if they were made of glass. And with that horrible scar that crossed his face. There, a wolf stood before Khaelis.
— More respect, Kaiwen...
He touched Khaelis's chest with his palm.
— Don't you see you are before the maximum authority of your unit? The ambassador of the Grand Counselor does not allow you to lack respect... I only ask for more cordiality from your part.
Khaelis, now nearly consumed by hatred, squeezed the hilt of ShadowStorm.
— Oh, is that so? Kameliel Reixys... being your father's little dog suits you... it doesn't matter if you hide behind political loopholes or not, you remain a filthy Reixys! One who depends only on power to stay stable...
Khaelis and Kameliel stared at each other deeply; the tension rose violently, dense and somber. As if two dogs loaded with tension and hatred stood before one another. The growing hatred, two wolves about to die for each other.
— Once again the warning will be given, Kaiwen... I admit your conviction... but your ways and manners transcend the ridiculous! If once more you lack respect before the—
Khaelis cut him off abruptly, increasing the tension.
— What will happen, Reixys? Tell me, what will happen if I lack respect for your daddy?
The hatred growing.
— I will...
Bombs about to explode.
— That's enough, Kameliel!
Until.
— I've already told you, my boy, acting in a violent and abrupt way doesn't suit us. Leave that to the rats of the High Guard. The kind that only knows how to bark... we simply housebreak them.
The voice of Hiro. Once again in Khaelis's ears, it sounded as hateful as hell itself.
— What did you say?!!
Silence fell. Anexzander observed, tense: Khaelis, Kameliel, and Hiro. Once again, the air grew dense; their bodies exhaled a giant mass of arcane particles into the air. This left Anexzander nauseated, as the Black Flame of his lineage did not belong to the arcane realm. And along with his nausea, it was clear that a conflict, within the walls of the EndGarden, could explode at any moment.
— Humph... a thousand pardons for my abrupt action, Kaiwen.
Kameliel closed his eyes and, surprisingly, lowered his head before Khaelis, who observed him confused, loosening his grip on ShadowStorm.
— I believe that on account of the recent occurrences in the Glass Crimson, you are not in your best stage. I apologize for my irrational action, and for not having measured your possible reaction to acting abruptly.
Everyone remained in silence; a drop of sweat rolled down Anexzander's chin and hit the ground. Hiro, upon observing, could not contain himself and released his smile.
— Ha!... hahah!!! Ah... my dear Kameliel, my boy. Even before a threat, you remain cordial and fluid as water, I love that!
Kameliel, with his head down, continued.
— I hope we can continue our activities in favor of the direct orders of the Grand Counselor... I also apologize for my clear distress... Mana... the deserter has been bringing problems to our House and to the Rameliel... I hope we can ignore the misunderstanding and move forward, with the alliance or possible conflict with the RyzisX. And as soon as we achieve the probable alliance, we join the front line together with the High Guard.
— Humph...
Khaelis sighed. Once again carried away emotionally by what he had been feeling all this time, and by the weight of his own body. He saw again the repetition of letting himself be carried away emotionally in a way that could prevent or delay what he sought.
Something that, now reconsidered, was unthinkable.
— Argh... of course, I ask pardon for the lack of respect for the ambassador... I fear the misunderstanding delayed the possible alliance. Which goes against the Grand Counselor's plans. We should join Vidraes and move forward with the primary orders... but now... I need to think for a moment.
— Humph... of course, Khaelis, your time will be given! We will have to take advantage of the little time we have before the journey. I and Lord Reixys will contact Vidraes and update the Grand Counselor... as for Kameliel Reixys, before joining us, he must contact the High Guard. And after that... go to the LiGodght... the Grand Counselor yearns for the presence of Gythin and the... the Arcann-El in future events. We will have time... well, proceed with your matters. We must resume the main mission as soon as possible.
While Anexzander finished giving his last commands, Kameliel and Hiro withdrew from the absolute darkness of the room, heading toward the light of the door.
Kameliel, without saying a word, prepared to contact the High Guard and the LiGodght. As for Hiro, he had finished what he had to do there in that room of the EndGarden; soon he only needed to wait for Anexzander's next step. However, Khaelis continued there, watching him. Without stopping. Not trapped, but stopped purposefully and nearly alone in that absolute darkness.
— Rodalight... why do you keep calling me by my first name... in a formal way, given the positions you and I hold. You should refer to me as Kaiwen... I don't understand your choice of words.
Anexzander stared at him, giving a slight smirk, natural. In a light manner, he simply said what he thought about it to Khaelis.
— Well... I know we aren't intimate or anything... but I spent a long time of my life referring to people by their first names, it's natural for me... anyway, I thought you wouldn't mind. However, if you want... I'll stop right now, Noble Kaiwen.
Khaelis lowered his head, once again turning back to the darkness.
— No... it's fine.
— Ha... okay... think it over well, will you? Very calmly... Khaelis.
Treck!
Anexzander withdrew from the room. Immediately after, closing the door. The little light that had invaded the room had vanished. Leaving Khaelis there alone, standing, shrouded in darkness.