The next day lord Conrads Castle,My lord Claus said as Conrad descended from the carriage outstretching his hand to meet his was a gentle delicate hand that tangled itself around his the dusks suns orange light illuminating her gorgeous figure she wore a parted green and yellow dress with a fascinator cap with a pink flower like eccesory surrounding it and a meshed white veil it was lady liedia they had returned from the phoenix capital the sun going down a few moments later
At the end of a long table sat Conrad to his right was liedia to his left was Darian and at their sides were Matilda and Doulos with the main servants of the castle lining the table Conrad stood up as he thanked each member personally for their hard work and effort in the maintainence and safe keeping of the castle, after the clashing of glass wine cups and conversations when everyone had finished their food lady it ended with lady liedia offering to read Darian a bedtime story Darian wanting to practice more and recognizing his mothers tired gaze Darian refused and bid her a good night
Darians room ,amidst an orangish yellow light shadows cascading the light only covering a section of the room ,Darian sat legs crossed on the bed sheets infront of him was the nameless book opened to a certain page as he tried different configurations in an attempt to create an array that would produce fire although it was something he could create without the assistance of an array it was best to practice by creating simple things, the more complex the higher the risk and danger, after that he added words to the array which directed the flames sparks to organise itself into many orangish visuals of important events in his life
He was clearly fatigued but determined to carry on and practice his eyes getting heavier as he stumbled he had already given the book it's payment before beginning practice so their was not any worry that it would eat him if he suddenly took a nap knowing his body was at its limit Darian placed the book down on top of the desk closest to his bed where the lamp was located on he slowly stumbled towards his bed covered the blanket up to near his face Darian snapped his fingers using magic to take control of the lamp closing it his dreams started off calm as a sense of peace and tranquility could be inferred from his facial features eventually they began to rapidly contort throughout the night as Darian grit his teeth his head clearly shaking and swet protruded from his head as he grasped the white bed sheets harder like a thief being struck by whips on his back he was clearly in some kind of pain his eyes firmly closed
Next day early morning lord Conrads office,Conrad sat behind his office table both hands folded ,on the tables left was a man with a wrinkled triangular face wide forehead with chiseled facial features grey white like hair a slicked back hair style grey silver like eyes a pointy mustache and a round well groomed beard covering most of his chin he wore a normal butlers attire composed of a black suit, vest ,bowtie,pants,shoes and a white shirt on Conrads right hand side stood loyal Doulos he wore the same as Claus but his suit had a gold outline multiple gold colored buttons on his placket a ruffled shirt he had an ancient omnious but seductive feeling to him his skin was pale his face chiseled messy long black glistening hair that parted 3 ways near his forehead creating a fringe he had brown eyes that appeared black like an abyss unless one got close to see it shimmer
My lord Claus started how was your meeting with the king ,oh that I wasn't planning on meeting him when in the capital I only said that so liedia would let me accompany her although I later met him in person Conrad responded ,but I also had an unforseen incounter with Gilga, when he heard this Doulos mouth twitched what did he say he asked curiously something about keeping Darian away from the fire I enterpreted it as a warning to keep him away from current noble affairs, at the same time he could be talking literally or current ,eminent events the confusion and ambiguity is always the charlatan side of prophecy Claus added ,Doulos wondered in his thoughts as he stroked his chin I'll keep an eye on him if theirs anything more strange
IN Darians room memories began to fully surface as he clenched his bedsheets in his memories were his mother kissing him on the forehead as young child ,his mother holding his sister ,him cradling his sister,his father smiling with a layed back attitude,him and his friends wearing winter clothes as they took pictures playing in the ice making snowmen and throwing snowballs he was already awake his eyes heavy his face filled with tears he turned clawing at the bedsheets a visage of clear pain swet tears and snot poured out in full why ,why ,why!! I should of done something I could of done something mother ,Father ,Sophia he remembered the scenes from he was I the woods running and panting in clear distress as snow fell down an explosion rang from his side closed his eyes and continued running
I couldn't fight I could do anything!!!if I had covered her if I had coveted them with my own body maybe no it would of definitely given them time to escape its all my fault I I could of been a better son if I had stayed behind and held them back more they would have survived I don't deserve to be alive Darian gripped his hair his face and eyes contorting why am I Alive I should've been dead I don't deserve this he remembered walking his sister in the snow he remembered her crying asshe was worried holding tight to their mother's leg he told her everything was going to be fine that she would be safe and then he remembered his mother crying out shes dead long before a shot had been fired those words tore at him sunk into his cery being ripped out a portion of him he felt like a traitor he betrayed her trust he was a lier a no good scoundrel
His emotions turned towards the rioters we let them have their freedom protected them from the effects of the war were we unjust their people started the war they deserved much less his anger exploded he felt like all those smiles and the stable intermingling they had made was all a lie it was all a strategic chess game to him even his friends had betrayed him which made him sink further into Madness he hated himself he hated being born he understood why the envision had killed many soldiers who's family members were villagers no matter how good they treated the villagers they were still essentially captives looking out for their best interests no matter how selfish that sounded who was he to talk he felt to himself sun of an oppressor raised by war was it the cruelty of the world or the war itself for someone to gain another must lose his father was a hero to him and many others but to those people he may have a been a tyrant devil whose hands were soaked in innocent blood
He remembered the soldiers who would come by his their house their families they brought aswell what happened to them uncle Jeff and his family uncle Owen and David and their family he could imagine all he had burning at the sites and look at him he was evil deplorable he had forgotten them he had forgotten his mothers blood scattering near his face he had forgotten that day he was living a comfortable life he was living a life of luxury he enjoyed himself he had betrayed his old parents he was the scum of the Earth in the confusion of not knowing who to hate who to blame for his life's circumstances he had willingly chosen himself and the way to end his pain was simple I have to kill myself he thought nothing mattered everything was hopeless without them it was meaningless to continue on living he had to it was the only way to free himself he pulled back his hand a blade manifesting as he attempted to commit seppuku
Just then a snap of the finger could be heard as he lost all his senses his eyes becoming limpid then hand moved over his head leaving him in a state of sleep it was Doulos he scoffed luckily I sensed it before anything major happened in Conrads office as the suns rays were hidden by the Clouds rain pouring down ingraving itself on the closed glass doors leading to the balcony inside an angry Conrad used both hands to tightly hold Doulos shirt near the neck in anger Claus watching from the side What magic got into him is it posetion did you fix it Conrad had thrown himself into a rage when he had heard the news which was unlike him despite his years of wisdom and patience he had a soft spot for those he loves realizing this he let go of Doulos collar breathing in and out to calm himself as he held his chest
Doulos tidied himself up , at first I thought the exact same thing maybe he was possessed or influenced by mad ravings from another realm but from what I can tell theirs no such thing I tried to look into his memories and suppress them but a power greater than mine pushed me out ,CLaus eyes were agape Conrads eyes clearly panicked the fact that Doulos so casually mentioned a power greater than his showed this issue was serious, Doulos continued but being so utterly overwhelmed wasn't the most perculiar thing the memories themselves they weren't of this world I saw structures that are magically possible but scientifically are not compatible with our world the moon itself was different the people the style of clothes,what are you suggesting Claus said his voice clearly showing a hint of panic , lets not play dumb it's obvious Conrad smirked
"Other world Reincarnation "
Conrad scratched his chin Claus post some gaurds in Darians room we don't want anybody coming in changing his state even more Claus made a bow making a circle and a cross on his chest his tone rather solemn as if asking for a deity aid in this situation
In Darians dream all he could percieve was a formless pitch black as curled up somehow laying on it this was his deep subconscious in the void a voice could be heard it's whispered "those who cry for death attract death" Suddenly the void became illusory twisting and turning Darians senses returned as a blade manifested from his hand he grabbed it with his left hand plunging it into his abdomen he felt an initial jolt of pain a feeling of nausea taking over but he couldn't relent he had come this far he strengthened his resolve twisting the blade moving it to the right he could feel an agony blood bubbled in his mouth suffocating him his eyes limpid embracing death the seen distorted again in front of Darian a cup of water and next to it a flask of poison Darian was in a state similar to sleep walking unaware or more accurately being piloted by pure instinct he Immediately grabbed the flask and drank gulping down the water with it came intense swelling in the organs paralysis blood clotting intense mental pain and death in another scenario Darian had hanged himself on a tree the rope constricting his neck causing a loss of oxygen his neck snapping it felt like days had gone past his body rotting under the sun decomposing
Lady liedia seeing the gaurds stationed infront of her sons room was Curious her attempts to ask them Questions had no meaningful resolution she Quickly decided to ingage her husband for the truth of the matter
Darians dreams of death all stacked up onto each other a crescendo of pain as if he was ripping his own skin peeling off layers to transcend like a Butterfly leaving a cocoon he found himself in a white illusory space in the distance pillars could be scene that housed innumerable worlds in the sky it's floating clouds and book shelves moving back and forth interconnecting the ground was like a glass mirror or a rippling ocean on it was a man who wore scholarly red and white robes the outer layer leather the inner layer linen like fabric he had a handsome flawless face gentle eyes that pulled you in then sunk you into the abyss they looked apathetic to the Qualms of the world on his right hand was a jar of wine
Darian who had returned to Zagreus appearance wearing winter wear a scarf a leather jacket ,jeans ,boots,gloves and stocking cap he had red ginger hair and blue eyes he fell on his knees he remembered who this was it's you it's all your fault Darian shouted The man looked at him as if trash beneath his feats no movement of lips just his eyes and tilted head conveyed his standing on the food chain
" A sheep does not fear a wolf because it hides in sheep's clothing that implies the existence of a far scarier being in opposition to the predator, no the sheep fears the wolf because simply put it will eat it " In a world filled with unknowns you mortals seem to believe a wolf will hide and cower for your own amusement instead of knowing your place in this order
I gave you the opportunity to join me to push pain in all its many forms but you refused I promised you suffering and pain ofcourse that is the guilt of a mortal survivor and that is exactly what accord now you come to me with venom in your dirty tongue how foolish as if that could hurt me I've already been called many things and lived to tell the tale
Darian tried to use magic but it had failed the man continued "In this realm such concepts as magical ability no longer exists the upsard is the reality and it bends to my will and you are not capable of imposing such concepts on it "
It was all hopeless Darian said to himself I give up take me I don't care "I've given you more than you deserve a new loving family and the ability to grow in strength do you truly believe that's because of you hahaha no an anchor in certain worlds are very profitable and I for one I am intrigued in you beating me "Go kill yourself Darian replied
Think of it boy your letting another family down leading another mother to her despair the man benf down and laugh as he opened his arms wide have you gotten it out of your system did each death not help you he laughed go and entertain me more Darians head was down his eyes without light he had given up hope
I guess a human being requires much more stirring let's say this if you become strong enough to hurt me I will bring back the parents and those you've lost or you can grow strong enough to do it yourself are you going to fail them like you did before
And by the way as my anchor and representative I have imparted to you a gift my enemies ,they number in the many but thirteen imperticular are the most problematic they are God's worshipped in your worlds religious cults they call me a devil a demon imagine that saying things like I will usher in the apocalypse such lies all lies I say but what I can say is their plans are no better than mine and they seek to find you and once they do not even your soul or your existence can be recorded and even this family of yours will be lost
Darians eyes gained temporary hope a guiding light ,
" A bit of advice for the road its best to not hide ones emotions it only hurts more " the voice faded
In Conrads Castle lady liedia burst into lord Conrads office her eyes darting around the room until makeing direct eye contact with Conrad who had a solemn expression what's going on here her voice rang with conscern and anger at a high pitch, after a few moments of silence Conrad explained the situation lady liedias expression turned to shock then pain and remorse immediately gurning heading for Darians room Matilda following each of her footsteps moved with urgency as she broke part of her gown and held her skirt with both hands while removing her heels with kicks to increase speed
Doulos sighed it seems their was no way to stop such an event ,the churches initiation probably held back or eased the suppressed memories I believe if it wasn't for that it would of manifested earlier he scratched his chin it's truly inevitable