It had been two weeks since Adder took his oath, five days after Adder's and Abner's eighteen birthdays. And two horrible hours since Erdush started to die. It was already late when the old man's breathing started to slow, his body going through states of being totally limp or spasming uncontrollably.
It was pouring outside since Erdush's condition worsened, Adder held his grandfather's left arm with both hands, pressing his forehead against his grandfather's hand. This was a tradition that originated in the empire, its meaning was to allow the one who was passing know that they were not alone. It was the imperial symbol of undying love, and Adder felt miserably hollow as he did it, knowing that it was at best an empty gesture.
Abner had been wailing since Erdush's condition worsened, the lion's mournful cries seemingly silenced the sky shaking thunder. Abner had his face buried within his grandfather's chest, only leaving his grandfather's embrace when Erdush would finally reawaken only for him to once again be lost with the tides of unconsciousness.
Finally after hours of trying and failing to stir from his death like slumber, Erdush stirred and this time he stayed awake. Abner babbled, trying his hardest to beg for more time or asking what he could do to save his grandfather. But Adder continued to hold his position, still as a statue and just as silent.
Erdush took a deep breath before turning his weary eyes toward the grandson on his right, Abner still babbled broken hymns, begging for more time, while pulsing with divine light.
"You will be tested Abner, when you go to claim Salem's throne. You will never know peace, the Seraphim will try everything to snuff out the first kingdom. It will be up to you to stand vigilant and steadfast against those false monstrosities that have the gall to call themselves divine."
Abner silenced himself the moment Erdush started speaking, his grandfather's voice weary and broken. Erdush cupped Abner's face, trying his best to dry his grandson's tears. Using the last of his strength to smile as speak.
"You are the one that the Seraphim have been dreading all this time, heir to Sardoll and inheritor of his will. I know that you will lead my homeland into a new golden age, I saw my boy grow into a King with my own two eyes. It is thanks to you Abner I can rest knowing that Salem will be in good hands."
Erdush turned his eyes to Adder who still not stirred an inch, Erdush moved his hand patting the great and mighty Serpent King on the head.
"Now you, how could I ever describe you? The first Herald of Judgment, the Venomous Calamity, Heir to the Immortal Hydra, and the Serpent King. You have endured much in your short life, barely an adult and you had to rebuild your own mind and reclaim your sanity from the maw of yesterday's monsters."
Erdush rustled Adder's platinum blonde hair, his smile still there but his energy still waning. And lifted off Adder's glasses, his crimson eyes holding some Erdush instantly recognized. Pain pure in its form, and an emotion that the old man knew too well.
"Salem and her children have been waiting for the return of Sardell, and the Seraphim had been dreading Abner's birth. But you, you've slipped right under our noses you snake! You my boy are our trump card, an unnoticed spear that will do what needs to be done while the Seraphim will be fully distracted by the returned lion."
Erdush managed to laugh at the absurdity that finally hit him, a serpent in the grass on the divine scale. The overlooked beast finally returning, with his slaughterers none the wiser.
"I can't start to imagine your journey after this, for you Adder the sky is the limit!"
Erdush's energy started to finally reach his limits, his head slowly drifting down back to the pillow, his eyes resting upon the ceiling. Trying pushing his already failing heart to finish his final talk with his grandsons.
"You two will shake the realm no matter what you will do, but please know this. You both made this old man's life better every minute you two were in it."
Erdush took a breath, the one that would be his last.
"Know that I leave this realm proud of you, this old man has lived a long and fulfilling life and I have no regrets."
With his last words spoken, Erdush laid there his hands resting on his two grandchildren. Slowly and silently dying, his hands still trying to comfort Adder and Abner even after he finally passed on. The two heralds stood there seemingly trapped in place, trying to make this final moment last even if it was already long over.
Adder took a deep pain ridden breath, before carefully laying his grandfather's arm back on the bed. Before leaving the room entirely, Abner didn't even notice. His entire focus was spent trying to keep his emotions in check.
That ended in failure when Adder returned to the room Erdush had spent his final moments in, with a coffin. Adder had put back on his glasses, the red lenses hid any emotion he was feeling. Adder gestured outside the cabin before saying.
"Come on, it's almost time to go."
…
Abner had no idea what was going on in his brother's mind, his brother had took the incentive of handling their grandfather's corpse, something that Abner greatly appreciated. Abner had left before Adder started, knowing that he could not handle this responsibility.
Adder exited the cabin with the now filled coffin, Adder motioned to sit near where the road to Cromb ended. The two brothers sat next to each other, Abner couldn't help but to take a better look at his grandfather's coffin.
Abner recognized the wood of the coffin as oak, six-sided in design. But the most eyecatching feature of the coffin were the many carvings that decorated the coffin's exterior. The lid bore thousands of hymns and holy symbols, all of the symbols were incredibly important to their grandfather. The symbol of his eradicated order the Black Guard, the Spear longinus place in the middle of two rampant lions Erdush's own heraldry from when he was the holy lancer, and in the center of the lid was the symbol of the church of Salem, the four pointed star circled around a burning halo.
But the sides of the coffin were the most grand. Each side of the coffin bore a scene of Erdush's life. A scene of his childhood, his revelation of the power that dwelled within himself. His rise as the champion of Salem with Longinus within his grip. The third was of the last crusade, the battle that their grandfather spoke little of. The fourth was of an older Erdush holding a swaddled baby who was crowned with a burning halo. The next was of an elderly Erdush meeting with a boy crowned with a halo made up of serpents. And the last was of the Spear Longinus itself, flanked by a serpent and a winged lion.
'Beautiful.'
Abner thought to himself, as he turned to the wide fields that had been the fours home for almost five years. The autumn winds blow through the long grasses of the glade, granting the lion a semblance of peace.
"Do you have a spot in mind?"
Adder shifted his head to where his brother sat, but Abner knew even with his brother's eyes hidden beneath those crimson glasses. Adder had his eyes locked onto the road, as if waiting for something. Abner mistook his brother's actions as him being absentminded due to grief, so he decided to reframe his question.
"Do you know where grandfather should or wanted to be buried?"
Adder silently shook his head, motioning to the spot he pushed all of his attention too. The moment he did, Abner felt a large ripple in the space in front of them, Abner rose summoning Lions Fury ready to meet this threat head on but his brother the serpent stayed seated as if knowing what this mysterious force was.
Soon a fierce light erupted at the end of that road, and when it left there were four figures standing in front of the two heralds. The four stood in rows of two with the two behind holding banners that the two heralds instantly recognized. A snow white winged lion's head on a sea of gold silk, the flag of the holy kingdom herself, Salem.
"Go."
Adder spoke with no room for any discussion, of course Abner turned to his sitting brother obviously wanting answers. Instead the two who stood in front of the banner bearers, an elderly man dressed in priestly robes and a young woman wearing the heraldry of the Seers.
The old man spoke first, already informed of what and who he was dealing with. High priest Daladen couldn't help taking a look at the extravagant coffin. Before taking a deep breath and preparing himself to speak with the Second Herald of Justice.
"Child destined to inherit the throne of the first kingdom, we have to you during a great time of pain and trial and on behalf of the Church and Salem, I am so sorry young Lion."
Daladen's voice was deep and powerful, and the emotion behind those words held love, adoration, and despair. Just by hearing him speak once was enough for one to recognize the high priest's talent for preaching and wordcraft.
But Abner paid no attention to the priest or his words, the Lion's full attention focused on his despondent brother. He stabbed Lions Fury into the ground, his eyes chained to his serpentine brother.
The woman started to talk but once more the Lion refused to even try to pay attention, Adder sighed at his brother's hard headedness when it came to things like this. Now and always will the beast of justice refuse to accept that problems on this level required sacrifices.
"Salem needs you, Joan has passed away and she has not named her successor. Because it's you Abner. Her death will soon be no longer a secret and with her gone and no apparent heir, the holy kingdom will face the same strife as it did after Sardoll's passing."
Abner's face went through every emotion at once, trying to process all this world shaking information. Not even noticing that the four behind him were shocked by this massive information leak, which did not help when the seer discovered the identity of the young man who was sitting before the Herald of Justice himself.
"The Herald of Judgement…"
The four people from Salem erupted into quiet conversation and arguments, still the Lion never looked at any of them. His eyes no longer held the fight they once did. But Abner still had not fully conceded his brother's point.
"Then why not come with me to Salem? I know that you will one day take charge of the refugees of Lerna, they will be welcomed with open arms in Salem. The fury's will be brought back to their former glory within the walls of Lionrüst, and gain new heights of glory while side with the hallowed brotherhoods of Salem."
Adder smiled as his Judgment showed him that future, the Lerneans welcomed in with great ceremony, him and Abner fighting side by side against future foes, and then nothing. That bright path branching endlessly with most endings either being ill warnings at best or ending with blackness which only meant one thing, The Seraphim.
Adder's smile faltered as he shook his head to Abner's beautiful and warm offer. Abner was going to say something, wanting to fight against his brother's refusal. But Adder raised his hand and stopped him, Adder then made his point.
"Salem needs one herald not two, if we both want to proclaim our duty. Those who only wish to rise through the ranks would use this chance to cause chaos with their being to heirs apparent. And that is leaving out our Greatest Foe, and what they could do in those times of instability."
Adder rose to meet his brother eye to eye, as Abner face fell as he despaired his and his brother's situation. Tears once again burned in the Lion's eyes, as he tried to put his words together for what would be another unwanted goodbye.
"Adder, you are using Judgement again…"
Abner started to cry, at his brother's seemingly endless and relentless hardships that Adder had faced again and again. No rest always vigilant, just like before, before Nalice or Salem. When Ladon who had been born with the divine power of sight, and was stationed upon the World Tree living the life of forever being vigilant.
"Why must you allways do all of this alone?"
Adder grabbed onto his brother, wide smile holding both warmth and fang. The Lion meekly reciprocated the hug, the Serpent KIng chuckled at his brother's uncharacteristic behavior. And spoke in a tone that betrayed his serpentine nature.
"I'll never be alone, not after you, mom, and grandfather showed me what a true family was. All of it will stay with me forever, always there allowing me to endure anything. You may leave, and we won't see each other for a time. But we will always be together, playing in the fields of the forest with our grandfather smiling while watching us play.
Abner took a deep breath before leaving his brother's embrace and carefully picking up the Ornate coffin. And turning to join the people from Salem, Daladen gave a resolute nod to the Serpent King. Before the five of them disappeared in a large flash of light leaving Adder all alone.
…
Adder slept in the empty cabin, Nira entered their home quietly knowing what had happened while she was away hunting. Both Erdush and Abner were long gone and soon the Fury would be gone too. For she too had a responsibility she had to uphold, the survivors of Lerna.
She had successfully found and raised the Hydra's heir, and now it was time for her to leave her son's side and return to Adder with the refugees of Lerna. Delivering her people a new golden age since the death of their first divine guardian. Adder sat at the kitchen table his head held down, Nira took a breath and ruffled her son's hair.
The Serpent King rose from his slumber, pain and sadness painted on his face. Grabbing his glasses to help him hide his tearstained face. Adder stretched as he turned to face his mother, already knowing the conversation that was soon to come.
"It is time."
Nira said, hurting but stalwart in her conviction. Adder sighed but he had known this was a long time coming. So instead he decided to ask his mother, a question he had been dreading since the first time he knew what he was truly inheriting from the original Hydra.
"Will they listen?"
Nira cocked her head at Adder's question, not knowing how to respond. The Serpent King decided to rephrase his question.
"The Lernean's, your people. Do you believe that they will accept me? I very much doubt that when they thought of a new Hydra, something like me would ever come to their minds. Not even in their wildest fantasies, could anyone ever imagine me."
Nira grabbed a chair and moved to be right next to Adder before sitting down herself. The Fury then brought her child into a one armed hug, before saying her piece on the matter.
"The people of Lerna have been waiting for you for almost thirty years, some may even think that I have either given up or died. But that is what makes us different from others, the Children of the swamps of Lerna are a people of deep and unbreaking faith.
Nira smiled then, for the first time she spoke of her people with warmth and hope. Adder took off his glasses then wanting to experience this moment in its entirety.
"It was our faith in Alecto that brought us to the Hydra, it was faith in the Hydra that allowed us to thrive in those damn swamps, and it was faith in my mother and her words that made me venture out into the harsh unknown for twenty years. And now it is because of the faith I have in you, my child, that I will venture back and bring my people to their new home. And their new Guardian, the herald of judgment, the Serpent King himself."
"Tha tous kathodigíseis." [you shall lead them]
Adder fought back a smile, but his emotions were obvious to Nira. Adder had always loved the tongue of Lerna, taking incredible interest and time learning his Mother's native language. Which is why Nira had made her parting gift, Nira got up from her seat and grabbed her farewell gift for her child.
She threw it to Adder, which he caught with ease. Adder recognized it as a pendant, it was made of copper and was made after the image of the original hydra, a two headed cobra. Nira motioned Adder to look at the back of the pendant.
Adder looked at the back of the pendant realizing there was an inscription on the back. Written in the language of Lerna, the inscription read.
Tha perásei aftó
Adder smiled as he spoke it out in Tallic, the common tongue of Nalice and Salem.
"This too shall pass."
Nira nodded as started to grab her things, putting on the scale armor she hadn't worn since the death of her mother. She explained the saying to her son as finished packing.
"It was a saying that my mother taught me, it means that all things never last. Meaning that our time apart will be temporary, that the pain that haunts you will pass, and this feeling of loneliness will one day pass."
Nira, with her travel bag slung over her shoulder, watched Adder place his pendant around his neck. The two of them leave the cabin, Adder stopping at the town of Cromb, and Nira leaving to bring her people to their Hydra.
…
Samuel had not felt this useless since the appearance of the manticore, him and the rest of the town guard easily taken out by the armed thugs. They had attacked in the dead of night with practiced grace and masterful speed.
Samuel instantly recognized their symbol that they had vandalized their armor. The Army of Vermus an armed force made up of mercenaries and ex soldiers that had grown disillusioned with the current Emperor in the past few years.
And Samuel sadly knew exactly why they had come, it was almost winter days before the first snow at best. Those hateful bastards were here for their grain storage, knowing by the time they left with all of Cromb's emergency food. It would be too late for anyone to do anything.
A fact that their leader, a large brute by the name of Igash happily told the rest of Cromb's populace. Samuel looked at the terrified crowd of onlookers, and saw his daughter and was filled with shame.
Igash stood before the frightened people of Cromb, enjoying the power of being the one in power. His men took care of loading the grain stalls as their leader brandished his sword and whip, making sure no one would dare feel brave.
It is then that Igash heard that ungodly sound, a roar like no other. That shook Cromb to its very foundations, Igash and his men turned to where the roar had come from. Only to be met a towering figure with piercing crimson eyes, that burned with hatred and madness. The creature spoke to the little tyrant as he was now frozen in terror. His sibilant voice dripped with equal parts hatred and venom.
"This evil shall pass."