The Forsaken King

Two orcs loomed over the bound Natalia, spears ready to stab her if she bothered to move. She doubted the ropes binding her could really hold her, but her two guards were practically pressing the spears into her back, making it nearly impossible to do anything. Her captor atop the gray dragon had disappeared, leaving her in what looked liked the main chamber of the Old Keep. It was overgrown with the same spindly white trees, which grew up towards what had once been the roof of the keep. Instead of the stone ceiling, there was just an opening that exposed the gray, sunless sky. Other than her guards, a few orcs and goblins milled about, either taking glances at her or doing other seemingly innocuous tasks. To the very front of the chamber was a throne. Natalia was laying face down at the foot of it. It was a stone chair, simple in design, marked by the tell-tale signs of age, with cracks running down the back of it. A few spindly tree shrubs grew at the sides of it, adding to the neglect of this place.

“First time I’ve seen monsters working together like this,” Natalia let out. “I knew orcs and goblins hunted in packs, but taking prisoners is new.”

The orcs responded by pressing the spears deeper into her back, cutting through her tunic and drawing some blood. Natalia didn’t give the satisfaction of a response.

A shadow loomed overhead, followed by the sound of flapping wings. Dust and debris stirred as the dragon landed in the chamber somewhere behind Natalia. She heard someone whispering something, before hearing the dragon take off again. The sound of footsteps echoed as the rider approached. She watched as the tapping toes of her captor circled around in front her.

“Get her up,” A thick, raspy voice commanded.

The orcs responded, lifting her and placing her on her knees, allowing her to get a good look at her captor for the first time. He wore a thick black cloak that obscured most of his form, save for an arm and his face. His skin was a sickly gray color, almost like it was stained in ash. His eyes, though an unnatural red, weren’t the eyes of an orc or any monster that Natalia had ever encountered. There was intelligence in them, cunning even. Long, wavy white hair covered the rider’s head, falling behind him as he looked down on Natalia.

“Ah,” he rasped. “Kin, I see. His descendants.”

“Who are you?” Natalia questioned. “You’re not a monster.”

“No,” the rider shook his head, before turning and walking towards the throne. “Despite what others want you to believe, I’m not one of these creatures. These instruments of the dungeon.”

The rider sat on the throne, leaning and placing his head on his knuckles, an almost amused look on his face.

“Then, who are you?” Natalia pressed another question.

“I am one forsaken, by both the gods and man,” he answered. “The Forsaken King, if you may.”

“And you command these creatures?” Natalia looked to her left and right. They had pulled back a little, but kept their spears pointed at her. It was their mistake, she had enough room to break free and escape, once she had the answers she was seeking.

“Yes,” the Forsaken King nodded. “It is my skill, Monster Taming. It allows me complete control over monsters weaker than me.”

“Skill? So you’re an adventurer,” Natalia said.

“I was,” he shrugged. “A long time ago, I called myself that.”

“So, why are you holding me captive? What are you doing in this fortress? What are all these monsters for?” Natalia bombarded him with questions.

The Forsaken King just laughed. It was a dry, raspy laugh that echoed against the ancient walls of the keep. It made Natalia very uncomfortable.

“I despise you adventurers,” He began, standing up from his throne. “You foolish pawns of those evil gods that draw nothing more than entertainment from your deaths. Those very gods that made this dungeon purely to watch you fools suffer.”

“What are you talking about?” Natalia gasped. She already determined in her mind these questions were going nowhere. She would wait for an opening and run.

“Of course you wouldn’t understand,” The king sighed. “You’re one of his children, after all.”

Natalia gave him a look.

“And despite all that, your goddess has abandoned you,” He chuckled. “Just like before.”

“What do you mean?”

“Your skill,” He smiled. “It stopped working, didn’t it?”

Natalia’s face fell.

“Gwendolyne was always a fickle goddess,” He explained. “It starts with this. Tell me, are you truly the Crestfall child, or has it happened already?”

Natalia gave him another look.

“Perhaps she hasn’t found a replacement yet,” the Forsaken King shrugged. “A pity, for you at least.”

Natalia moved, easily snapping her binds. With lightning speed, she struck the two orcs, knocking them aside before dashing upwards towards the roof. She leapt into the sky, scanning the distance for the cave entrance.

“That wasn’t very smart,” The Forsaken King stood on a nearby cloud. “Should have stayed put.”

With a flash, he unveiled a concealed blade from under his cloak, gashing Natalia across the stomach, easily cutting through her steel plate and drawing forth blood. She yelped, twisting and falling into the water below. The girl scrambled out of the shallows, emerging at on the beach head in front of the keep.

“Not so tough without your Attack Anticipation,” The Forsaken King hovered downwards, standing atop of the water like a kelpie. “How easily you Kin fall without it. A handicap really.”

Natalia dashed, kicking up a storm of sand as she sprinted down the beach.

“Ah,” The Forsaken King spoke, running along the water and keeping step with Natalia. “At least you trained your mana flow. Keeps you from being completely useless.”

“Blade Ballet!” Natalia cast, summoning forth several floating swords.

“The one thing Gwendolyne cannot take from you,” He commented. “The innate ability of her blessing, conformed to the shape of your soul.”

Natalia launched a dozen blades at the Forsaken King. Most missed, seeming to curve around him, plunging into the waters behind him. A few he parried, utilizing the blade hidden under his cloak.

“Missile Evasion, a skill that causes most projectiles to miss,” The Forsaken King said.

The Forsaken King leapt, upwards, slamming down in front of her. She grabbed one of her swords, slicing in an arc, intent on beheading him. The king reacted, easily parrying the attack with his weapon.

“An of course,” he pressed his sword against hers, bringing his face close to hers. “Attack Anticipation, allowing me to see every attack you make.”

“That’s impossible!” She yelled back. “There aren’t any skills that give you all those abilities!”

Most S rank skills actually did consist of multiple skills, but generally they were all related to each other. There were none as wide-reaching as the Forsaken King’s abilities.

The Forsaken King just laughed, exchanging a few sword blows with Natalia, before backing off. Natalia finally got a good look at his weapon. It was ugly and brutal looking, more like a jagged piece of twisted metal than a blade. And yet that weapon easily cut through solid steel. Natalia wagered that if she was wielding a sword not made of magic, that weapon would have sliced through it.

“Stop running now, Kin,” The Forsaken King said. “I am intent on sparring your life.”

“How sweet of you,” Natalia smiled, closing her eyes. “But I refuse.”

She charged her mana, letting it flow into her weapon. Energy surged forth from it, sand swirling as she lifted the weapon overhead. With a yell, she slammed her sword down. The shockwave split the beach, soaring towards the king.

“How dull,” he sighed, side stepping parrying the attack. The entire shockwave of energy shifted abruptly, diverting into the sea.

“Royal counter,” he smirked. “Allows me to divert any attack to a target of my choosing.”

Natalia’s legs began to shake. What was this feeling? This is the first time she ever felt anything like this. With Will, it was intense anger and frustration, but this feeling was different. Her mouth felt dry, and her grip on her sword began to weaken. The weapon slipped from her hands, shattering like glass right as it hit the sand. She turned, and ran.

“Not so fast,” the king stepped in front of her, kicking her down.

With a yelp, she tumbled down a sand dune. She sat up, only to come face to face with the tip of the Forsaken King’s weapon.

“A shame,” he sighed, crouching down.

Natalia cowered backwards, her teeth clattering as her eyes darted from side to side, looking for an escape.

“You’ve never truly faced a foe stronger than you,” he said, a sad look in his eyes. “Have you?”

“Somebody…” Natalia whimpered. “Please help me.”

“Without your skill, you’re nothing more than a scared little girl,” He shook his head. “You see now the cruelty of the gods? Forcing weak willed people like you into their slaughterhouse? Absolute hubris.”

Natalia tried to scrabble away on her hands and knees, only for the king to backhand her, sending her tumbling again down towards the water. The girl covered her face, cowering against the ground.

“I suppose this is a mercy,” The Forsaken King raised his weapon above his head. “Do not worry any longer. I’ll free you from the gods.”

“Please,” Natalia cried. “Shisa. Daddy. Someone help me.”

An icicle flew at the Forsaken King’s head. Missile Evasion activated, causing it to divert right, missing its target.

“Get away from her!” Shisa roared.