The Executioner

This world is divided into three known realms. The mystics, or for a lack of words, the mystical creatures, they consisted of all manners of mystical beings one could imagine. They exist in harmony and peace in their own realm; Archane: The world tree. The realm coexisting with the mystics was the widely avoided one, Valhalla: the Devil's nest. Unlike it's angelic name, Valhalla was the home to the devils and the demons.

Coexisting with the supernaturals were the humans. However, separated by a thin veil from the other kingdoms, there was another kingdom. It was called Gehenna but to the mystics and the demons, it was more commonly known as the soul's cave. What made Gehenna different from other human kingdoms? It was the fact that humans outside of Gehenna were unaware of its existence. Per chance if another human were to come across Gehenna, they would forget about it right in that passing moment. That was what the humans of Gehenna were cursed with. Separated from the outside world by a thin veil of magical essence, while they could freely travel to the other two realms, they were cursed to an eternity of being unknown, undiscovered and non-existent for the rest of the humans.

That is what Gehenna was, a cave of souls. A cave that none could escape. And that is where Noah was called upon. As a tiger mystic with golden eyes, Noah was born with unmeasurable powers. And as a Tiger, it was his duty to be the guardian of those who were helpless and weak. Being the weakest beings on the food chain, humans had always needed the help of the mystics. It did not matter to the young tiger if his identity as their protector brought fear amongst them. However, this was not about just the humans. The monarchy of the three realms had collectively called for Noah.

“At least, that was what her majesty had told me.” Noah mumbled to the little pixie sitting on his shoulder. He stared at the well articulated architecture before. The Palace of Barbara. The palace was where the monarch of Gehenna resides. Pristine walls of cream shade, crimson flag of the human kingdom waved high and mighty on the head of the palace. A symbol of the crescent moon and feline resting on the edge of the moon was imprinted on it. This was not the first time Noah had visited the human realm. Humans were vastly different from mystics, living in houses made of muds and stones when they could simply carve rooms inside the trees, drinking strange rotted liquid when they could simply partake in natural fruits for pleasurable drunkenness.

Bell tapped his cheek again and pointed at the guards staring at the duo. Two human knights tasked with guarding the gates of Barbara. The knights stared Noah up and down and then whispered to each other. Noah could tell by the way their brows scrunched together and they scoffed, Noah was not liked. However, it was not a rare reaction to seeing Noah. Mystics and humans have that in common, they sneered and displayed hostility at the sight of him. The only thing keeping them from attacking him and kicking him out was Noah's status and his sheer visible strength.

Noah was a white tiger, the heir to his clan and a mystic with golden eyes. The golden eyes was the symbol of strength, much like the queen of mystics, Titania. The one and only  mother of all mystics. Noah shrugged it off while Bell on his shoulder hurled curses at them. To them however, it only sounded like a small bell ringing. Noah extend his permit towards the guards, a golden leaf with a symbol of mystics- A giant tree was drawn on it, symbolizing the great guardian tree of Archane. Reluctantly so, the humans opened the gates for the young tiger and let him in.

A butler- Noah would like to assume that he was, he led the young tiger further inside. Strange whispers and stares were thrown at his way, causing his ears on top of his head to fall in discomfort. To distract himself Noah scanned his surroundings, the humans had built the castle with delicate details, golden carvings on the cream shade walls, velvet curtains of crimson and royal blue shades, every working person in the palace seemed to be in a healthy shape. If anything, Noah was certain that the recently ascended human king was doing what the previous ones did not. Gehenna’s people used to suffer under the strict tyranny of the previous king. Since the ascension of the new king, the humans living here have become happier.

Before Noah knew it, he was standing before the door of the audience room. The butler bid his goodbye to Noah with utmost respect and left, the door opened and the man holding the door announced Noah.

“Representing the mystics from Archane. Noah, The fang has arrived.”

Noah's dropped ears stood up straight in alert. With much confidence, Noah entered. To his surprise the curtains were drawn and the room was illuminated with glowing magic crystals. The throne was empty, the human king was nowhere to be found. The doors behind him closed, leaving Noah by himself.

“Don't be startled.” Noah's ears perked forward, the voice had come from behind the throne. With soundless steps like the tiger he was, Noah crossed the room in few strides and peeked behind the golden throne. A surprise to the young tiger, an entire hallway was behind it. There he stood, the Monarch of Gehenna. He didn't need a crown on his head for Noah to figure that out, his entire being oozed with the authority of a king and yet, he smiled ever-so-gently at him.

The king had a slender frame, a white waist and a lavender cape on his shoulders. The King had silvery hair with a lavender hue to them, his rosy eyes smiled, welcoming the young tiger. The king was one of the palest human Noah had seen, a mole under his eye caught his eyes. The king was a man with beauty like no other, a delicate charm and yet, Noah felt his palms sweat. “Emerson di Callestian, the monarch of Gehenna. It is quite the pleasure to finally meet Titania's beloved son.” Emerson spoke softly, offering another friendly smile.

Noah nodded his head. “Noah, The fang. Her majesty is too kind. I'm simply one of her loyal subjects. It is an honor to meet the human her majesty considers a friend.” Noah exchanged pleasantries with a neutral display of respect. Bell flapped her wings and flew towards Emerson. Emerson smiled at the small fae and reached out his hand to caress her cheek. “Aren't you a beautiful little thing?” Emerson complimented, a delighted smile on his lips. As if bewitched, the pixie kissed the cheek of the young king and sat on his shoulders.

“Bell!” Noah called out to the fae with visible panic in his eyes, he may just be a human but Emerson was still a monarch. Noah cannot do anything that could disrespect him and put a stain on his queen's reputation. Emerson waved his hand in the air. “It's alright. She's just a friendly pixie. I know she is simply expressing her happiness.” Emerson dismissed casually. He gestured to Noah to follow him as he walked down in the hallway.

Soundless steps carried the golden eyed tiger towards the end of the path. The monarch of Gehenna stood before the giant stone tablet that hung itself on the wall like a portrait of priceless value. The illuminated sapphire crystals worked as a source of light. Noah's eyes dilated as if he had reunited with a lost love. The crimson carving on the stone tablet spread an odd warmth across his chest, the blood coursing through his veins felt oddly excited. Noah's ears fell flat, he felt drawn towards the bleeding letters.

When the final moon finishes cracking and crumbles down, Damselette would feel every crack and awaken.

Damselette watches the one with care of a draught. The loveable hero shall fall.

The curse of veil shall prevail, for the loveable hero would not be able to rip it off.

The sorcery of the moon would close all wounds and open all doors to hell.

The amaurotic would see what the heroes would not but not tell, the depart would stall what the hero could not.

The loveable hero shall fall to the ashes of hell bestowed by the mighty God.

The hero shall not save the world, people but the crying Damselette.

“This is..” Noah discerned, bewitched by the mysterious allure of the written script. “The forgotten prophecy. Aside from the monarchy of the three realms, no longer anyone is aware of it's existence.” Emerson informed in his softest voice, as if he was telling a love story. He tickled the pixie on his shoulder, causing her to laugh and turned to the young tiger. “Do you know why you are here, Noah?” With intent in his rosy eyes, the King questioned. Noah's hand formed a fist full of determination. “Of course, to obey my queen’s command.” Noah nodded.

Emerson di Callestian smiled with his eyes but the happiness in them was not present. Bell flapped her translucent wings and flew back to Noah as though the cold authority seeped through Emerson’s skin to Bell. She sat down on Noah's head, hiding behind his standing ear. “The final moon has begun cracking. If the loveable hero arrives, we would not be able to stop the curse of veil.” Emerson explained with a visible dread in his smiling eyes. His voice did not crack, it was soft but flat, flat cold.

Confused by the sudden barrage of information, Noah's tail wrapped itself around his thigh with increasing stress. “Ignore my impudence but while I will follow any command my queen gives me, I still do not understand why you have specifically called for me? The queen told me that you had asked for me in particular for this favor. I don't know if you are aware of this or not, I do not have the best history of reputation.” Noah forewarned his concerns. Bell however did not appreciate Noah badmouthing himself and bit his ear with her small teeth.

“Ow-! Hey! That hurts, Bell!” Noah warned with a growl in his voice, swatting the pixie off his head with his hand. “Chime chime!” Bell retorted in her inaudible voice. She crossed her arms across her chest and stomped her foot in the air. Emerson let out a chortle, amused by the tiger and pixie’s relationship. “I think she is trying to tell you to not talk about yourself in that way.” Emerson added, his hand behind his back. Noah simply shrugged. “It's not like it's wrong.” He averted his eyes, discomfort settling in his chest.

“You're right, it's not. That's precisely why we chose you.” The monarch affirmed, his hand pointed at the prophecy tablet beside him. “Noah, you cannot be a loveable hero. For you have killed your own parents, the members of your clan and the other existing mystics that were infected by the curse of the veil. The world is unaware of its curse, they simply assume the veil exists as a protection given by the moon goddess. For that is what the previous kings had drilled in their head. That was the agreement the human monarchy had made with the other realms as well. But as the queen's most trusted, you know that those who are losing their minds and bodies are afflicted by a disease, right?" Emerson spat out the truth as though it was a walk in the park, as if he hadn't just called Noah a killer, someone tasked with the duty to kill anyone and everyone with signs of this 'disease', humans and mystic alike. Such was the reason why Noah was hated by humans and mystics alike. As though that was a good thing.

Emerson's fist tightened. “We do not need a loveable hero that cannot break the curse. We need a hero so loathsome that the world hates him. We need a hero that can break this curse and defy the prophecy saving the people instead of the Damselette. No one fits the roll more than you, Noah.” Emerson declared confidently, taking a step forward. “Only you can do this, defy this curse and save us all.”

Oh dear, O’ moon goddess…

It was a responsibility too big for a man who was a mere executioner of his queen. Noah's tail dropped with unspoken dread. However, a challenge was not something Noah had ever backed down from. His lips curved up in a confident grin, his canine fang peeking out. A pat on his chest and Noah swore.

“There's nothing in this world that Noah, The fang cannot destroy. I will cut that veil in half and break this curse. Count on it.”

Chime chime!