Chapter 1 - A Brand New World

“What is life? What is fate? Who are we? Who are you, Aurel? If you wanna succeed in life. You will need to know those things.” The old woman said. A short old lady, wearing a dress. Her amber eyes, and silver hair, showing the fire in her eyes, even through her old age. A rock necklace in a peculiar shape, almost diamond like. “Granny, if you are asking me all that, then you must already know who I am.” Aurel says. A young boy barely even 8 sitting in his grandma’s lap. His blonde hair, running against the seams of his grandmother's dress, as his amber eyes gleaming with passion through the shadows of the room. “I do know who you are. You are my grandson. My pride and joy with a heart of gold. When I look at your face, I see our legendary king smiling back at me.” she said, her eyes gleaming with pride.

“Sorry, but I'm not any of that.” Aurel says lightly, his voice monotone. The previous memories play in his mind as he sleeps through class. Aurel sits up, and looks outside. The necklace once worn by his grandmother, now on his neck. Aachen 2025. Aurel yawns as the bells rings, signaling to the class that it’s time to leave. Aurel stands up, grabs his bag, and walks out, dropping his wallet onto the ground. A girl noticed, and grabbed it, looking towards Aurel as he walked out unaware of his missing item.

As Aurel walked through the hall he noticed a shadow on a building to his left. He looked at and stared trance like trying to figure out what made it. “You dropped this.” The girl said, her voice calm, and friendly. She pressed the wallet against Aurel’s back. “What. Oh, thanks Clara.” Aurel said, grabbing his wallet and stuffing it into his pocket. Clara had white hair, and blue eyes, her stature smaller than those around her. Aurel continues walking, as Clara walks alongside him. “You going to say anything? Maybe a thank you?” Clara asks. “Thanks, I guess.” Aurel said. “You guess. How heartless.” Clara says. Clara leaned against the school doors, opening them up for her and Aurel. The two walk outside, and down the street. Crowded with people, those who were getting off work, and leaving school.

“Are you going to say anything? Come on, talk to me. I wanna know how things have been. Stop being so quiet.” Clara says. “Someone has to be quiet.” Aurel says. “Did you call me a loudmouth? Because if you did, I'll make you pay.” Clara said teasingly. “Too late for that.” Aurel said quietly. Clara's smile faded. “Still beating yourself up over that. You know that wasn’t your fault.” Clara said, grasping Aurel’s shoulder. “It doesn’t matter now, does it?” Aurel said. “You know what you need, a hobby.” Clara said. “I have a hobby. Sleeping.” Aurel said. “You always sleep.” Clara complains. “Yep, can’t stop me.” Aurel said. “I will.” Clara says. “Find someone worthy of annoying.” Aurel said, his melancholy tone changing to sheer annoyance. Clara stops dead in her tracks, unsure whether to continue with Aurel. She sighs defeatedly. “You know what fine, go home and sleep. I can’t stop you.” she said, turning away.

Aurel stops at his door, unlocking it. He tore a paper from the door, but didn't bother reading it. The paper was a caution, a sign detailing a gas leak. Aurel steps into his apartment. Small in size. It was bland, undecorated. Aurel threw his bag onto the floor, and flopped onto the couch, already snoozing. The sun fades, as the dark of night covers the sky. Aurel woke up the sound of a pan slamming against his glass stove.

Aurel stood up, and walked into his kitchen. He caught a shadow from the corner of his eye. He looked onto his stove, finding a woman sitting atop it. This woman had green eyes, glowing through the dark, her purple hair flowing behind her. “Do you believe in fate?” She asked, her voice low, but filled with excitement. “Yeah no. Unless you plan on paying rent, get out.” Aurel said, annoyed by the intruder. The woman laughed. “I know I'm funny, but go away, I want to go back to sleep.” Aurel said. “Really, you? Every single time it’s always been a light hearted fool eager to die saving the world, but you. You are different.” She said, her smile faded, as her face revealed disdain. “I got none of that.” Aurel said. The woman scooted off the oven, and turned it on. She walked to Aurel, and he backed away, pressing against the window behind him. “Get away, creepy woman.” Aurel said. “You are witty, I give you that. You wanna know why I am here?” she asked. “Not really.” Aurel said. She smiled. “Fate led me here. Long long ago. When the Twilight Of The Gods rang out through the realms. The Vanir and Æsir had worked together, and the Jötnar had waged war against them. My father said to stay out, but I couldn’t. Not when my brothers fought alongside them, and you, but what did you do, all four of you, betrayed him, my brother. Fate has it that when the worlds collided I ended up here. Where your grace has returned to.” she starts. “I’m not sure how that’s fate.” Aurel said. She walked to the stove placing her hand on the burner. “A few days ago a maintenance company came to fix a pipe. Helping the person who owns the apartment by giving them heating. He made a mistake, and broke the pipe. That apartment being directly under yours.” She said. “And fate being important how?” Aurel asked. “Fate chose this moment, to let me get revenge.” She said, grabbing the pan, and slamming it against the stove, destroying the glass, causing a tiny spark, igniting the room, and thrusting Aurel out the window onto the street below.

“Grandma, what’s that necklace around you?” 8 year old Aurel asked. The two walked down the crowded street. The Aachen streets bustling through the renaissance fair. “The Fire Eye. Legend has it that a mortal tore out the Fire King’s eye, and absorbed the power within.” she said. “Who is the Fire King?” young Aurel asked excitedly. “The king of the giants, Surtr.” she said. “Awesome. So that’s his actual eye then?” young Aurel asked. “No. This is a rock, one carved from the Nördlinger Ries Meteor.” she said. “Can I hold it?” Aurel asked. She took the necklace off, and placed it around him. “Now you look like the legendary hero, our great Fire King.” she said.

“Oh Woden, he is waking up.” A girl said, her voice high, and happy. “Will you calm yourself?” a guy asks, sounding annoyed from being there. Aurel stirs in his sleep, hearing the unfamiliar voices, waking up in a hall. He stares at the stranger. Both of them were around the same age. The girl sat in a chair next to the bed Aurel was on, and the guy stood behind her. The girl had brown hair in a relaxed fishtail style. Her green eyes showed nothing but eagerness. The guy’s hair was also brown, but darker. His eyes were a shade of blue, looking almost grey. “Nope.” Aurel said, grabbing the blanket, and throwing it over himself, lying back down, and pretending he isn’t there. “No you don’t.” the guy said, throwing the blanket off. Aurel noticed he was wearing a soldier's outfit. Light scale armour covering his neck, and wrists, underneath was thick red leather. He carried a short sword on his belt. “Why would you do that?” Aurel asked. “Don’t ignore me.” the guy said, hatefully. “Who are you two, and where am I? What happened to that woman?” Aurel asked. “I’m Elke. And this is Odo. Don’t worry about him, he grows on you. What woman?” the girl said, then asked. “The woman who blew me up.” Aurel said, standing up. Elke immediately stood as well. “There was no woman when we found you.” Elke said. “Where did you find me?” Aurel asked. “Naked, on the street, wearing only that necklace.” Odo said, pointing at the Fire Eye around Aurel’s neck. Aurel looked around, and at himself, he was wearing a white cloth outfit, thin, and easy to cut, akin to a patient's outfit. Upon looking around her noticed the room looked old. Wooden floors laid out in a particular pattern, stone walls, and a wooden ceiling, doing nothing to ease Aurel into his new surroundings.

“So who are you?” Elke asked. I’m Aurel, good to meet you at least.” Aurel said, shaking Elke’s hand. Aurel looked at Elke, who was wearing a Victorian style dress. Elke looks at her hand confused from the handshake. “You are in the castle’s hospital wing.” Odo said. Aurel almost dismissed what was said. “Wait castle?” Aurel said, looking out a window to his right seeing a sprawling city. The city was a clash of architectural styles, traditional medieval German, and industrial England. There were huge smoke towers off in the distance. Shops below used smoke, and air pressure to heat up foods, and deliver it to customers. “The hospital wing. It’s the only wing that hasn't had an upgrade to match Industrial styles. Most of the workers tend to be Luid’s, and with everything going on, they most likely won’t help. Leaving the Roul’s to do it themselves.” Elke said. “Where am I?” Aurel asked. “You are in the Empire of Rhoullant. Welcome to its capital, Roulle, and Reoda Castle.” Elke said. “Good to know. Too many R’s in that sentence.” Aurel said, quickly concerned. “I’m done here.” Odo said, walking away. “I wanna go home.” Aurel said. “Where do you live?” Elke asked. “Aachen, Deutschland. How do I get there?” Aurel asked. “I never heard of that. Is it a new kingdom?” Elke asked. “No, it's been around for centuries, I think.” Aurel responded. “We might have to ask the Great Seer then.” Elke said. Odo got to the door of the hall. “We absolutely cannot take him to go see the Great Seer!” Odo yelled out, turning to Elke. “Come on, he needs help.” Elke pleads. “Can I have a general direction?” Aurel asked. “No.” Odo said, shutting it down.

The daylight had been replaced with darkness once again. Aurel had laid on the bed, wondering what to do. His body wasn't even injured from the events from last night, a curious detail, but one that remains forgotten. “So tell me again about this Deutschland? What’s it like?” Elke asked. “Different.” Aurel says. “How so?” Elke continues to pry. “I’m leaving.” Aurel said, standing up, and walking through the hall. “Where?” Elke asked following him. “Away from you.” Aurel said. Elke stopped in her tracks. “Sorry, I was only trying to be nice.” Elke said loudly, insulted. Aurel looks at her, before ignoring her and walking away. “You jerk.” Elke said, grabbing a pillow, and throwing it at Aurel. “What is your problem?” Aurel asked. “What’s yours? I spent the last few hours trying to help, and cheer you up. But all you can do is ignore me, and treat me like I'm invisible. You are the one with a problem. Why don’t you seem to care?” Elke asked. “Because why would I? I don’t know who you even are. I have no reason to care for you.” Aurel says. “So what, I've been nice to you, treat me with the same courtesy.” Elke said. Aurel looks away, weighing his options, before walking away. Elke stands in the hall, defeatedly.

The halls looked newish, industrial. Aurel rubbed his hand against it, guilt running through him. Partially from leaving Elke, but because he couldn’t say anything to Clara. Elke’s words resonated with Aurel. Aurel continued walking, stepping on a stone, and tripping. Aurel stood up, and kicked the stone to the wall. The wall exploded, not from the stone, but from an outside force, throwing debris inside. Soldiers, different from Odo, entered the hole in the wall. The new soldiers wore an outfit that was chainmail with green heavy cloth under it. “Clovis what are we here for?” a man asked, wielding an axe. “We are here for LuidarÞa.” the group of men said in sync. “And how do we save LuidarÞa?” the leader asked. “By killing those who wish it harm.” the group says in sync. “Good, now go. Slaughter them all. Leave none remaining. Let these Northern pigs feel the rage of the Luid!” the leader yelled, before the group dispersed charging through the halls. Aurel stays on the ground, not moving hoping to blend in. “Ok, don’t run. You aren't any fun pig.” the leader said, walking to Aurel. “Sorry, but I'm not your mother.” Aurel said, before awkwardly smiling. Aurel scrambled to his feet, and ran away. “Please don’t chase me!” Aurel screamed out. The leader laughed before chasing. “One thing. I asked one thing.” Aurel said. The leader quickly caught up with Aurel and kicked him into the wall. The leader swung the axe at Aurel, only to be parried by a sword. Aurel fell to the ground, looking at Odo who saved him. “How lucky for you to be saved by me, and unlucky for this fool that I saved you. Come one you Clovis fool, let’s end this.” Odo said smiling. “Yeah, very lucky. Thanks, but I'm out.” Aurel said, standing up, and running. “Coward.” the leader and Odo said in sync. “I’m not going to die today.” Aurel said.

Aurel stopped and hid in a room. Breathless, confused, and full of panic he walks to a window, and sets his head against it. He looks through it, noticing someone get thrown through a window nearby. It was Elke. Her words echo in Aurel’s head for a second. A man from the group that attacked the castle, Odo called the group Clovis jumped down after her. The distance between them is not that far. Aurel took a few steps back, and deepened his breath. He charged at the window jumping through it landing on the concrete below. Aurel got onto his feet, and ran towards the Clovis grunt, and tackled him to the ground. Aurel wrestled the axe away from the grunt, before getting kicked off. Aurel scrambled to his feet with the axe in his hands. The grunt walked forward as Aurel swung. The grunt caught the axe and headbutted Aurel to the ground. He put his foot to Aurel’s throat.

“Aurel.” a ghost, a voice, a chill down the young boys back. Young Aurel held the necklace tight, as the room was lit with balloons, and candles. A cake memorializing his 9th birthday. “Come one grandma, where are you?” Aurel asked. “It's fine, things like this happen.” Aurel's father said, comforting his son. “It’s unusual though. She isn't usually late.” Aurel’s mother said. There was a sudden knock on the door. Aurel ran to it and opened it up. “Grandma, finally.” Aurel said, happily. But that happiness didn't last. At the door was a police officer. Aurel’s father ran to the door, pulling his son behind him. “Sir, is Clara Weis your mother?” the officer asked. “Yeah, why? What happened?” Aurel’s father asked. “There was an accident. Can we talk outside, or at the station?” The officer asked. Grandma, why? What happened? Why did you have to disappear? All of these thoughts ran through Aurel’s head. “Who are you?” his grandmother asked, the earlier memory replaying.

Elke got up and pushed the man off of Aurel. Aurel coughed as air filled his lungs, rolling onto his stomach. “Come one then, both of you Roul pigs.” the grunt said. “I’m not a Roul, I don’t even know who they are.” Aurel said, getting onto his feet. Aurel thinks to himself. “Grandma, you said I looked like our legendary king, and that one woman seemed convinced I was the king himself, so let's see. Flip a coin, let's see if I am who you think.” Aurel pulls a quarter from his pocket, and flicks it into the air. “I call head!” Aurel yelled, charging at the grunt. The quarter landed on heads, as Aurel dodged the grunts' attack and punched him in the face. The grunt retaliated with a swing, Aurel ducked the attack, grabbing the Axe’s handle, and headbutting the grunt. Aurel attacked the grunts elbow, pulling the axe away. Aurel gained balance and wielded the axe with both hands and swung it at the grunt, cleaving into his shoulder. The grunt grabbed Aurel's head, pulling his hair. “My name is Aurel, and I am The Legendary Hero, I am The Fire King!” Aurel yelled out, smiling through his own pain. Aurel pulled the axe out, as the grunt pushed Aurel away. “The Fire King is just a legend, a tall tale. If you were, then you would be with us.” the grunt said. “Sorry, but I don’t know you. And I refuse to let you hurt her, she is the only one here that has been nice to me.” Aurel said, wielding the one handed weapon with both hands. The grunt chuckled at Aurel's inexperience. “Don’t laugh. Just pray to whatever god you believe in, and hope for heaven.” Aurel said, walking toward the grunt. The grunt charged to Aurel, as Aurel lifted the axe above his head. Aurel swung first, and the grunt went to grab the handle, but he stepped on a pebble, losing balance. The axe found its way into the grunts' neck, as he collapsed onto the ground. Aurel laughs, drained from the day.