Act 1 - Chapter 9

Chapter 14: Alexander; Shauran 20th 344SR; 20:00

"Jack!" Alexander lunged forward frantically.

The panicking noble was met with the sight of fresh green grass, lit by the setting sun behind him. The wooden rocking chair he sat on creaked, he gasped at the armrests as he huffed in and out frantically. There was a shovel stabbed into the ground in front of him and sweat dripped down his face. A gentle breeze washed over a field of vibrant flowers, it cooled his skin while the intense sun smothered it. Alexander listened to the sounds of his breathing, recalling the battle he had lost.

"Raun?" he heard a soft feminine voice behind him.

Alexander jumped out of the seat and turned around, 'Huh...' As the seat rocked back and forth, he was fixated on the woman before him. He felt something inside him, he recognized the feeling, but it had been so long since he last felt it. 'What is this... What is this place... Am I dreaming?'

The woman walked forward quickly, Alexander's heart beat quickly, 'Who are- Agh!!' Alexander's head throbbed, it was so painful he struggled to lift his head. He could only look down at her her toes in the grass under her lime green dress. Her frail bare feet quickly stepped forward, but Alexander could barely focus on her as it felt like his head would split in two. Her white shirt came into view. When Alexander saw her stomach, he felt something click in his head, and the pain drifted away. 'She's... Pregnant...' The woman carelessly descended down the steep hill into his arms, the five-foot woman suddenly entered his plain of sight and put her gentle hand on his chest as he wrapped his arms around her gently.

"Dear? Is everything okay?"

Her expression showed her worry, she had smooth pink lips, bright blue eyes, thin eyebrows, and a big forehead. Her bright blue locks swayed in the wind. The gentle breeze returned. She closed one eye as the wind blew strands of hair in front of her face. 'Lavera, that was her name...'

"What's wrong? You look pale? Do you feel ill?" Lavera asked.

"I'm- I'm fine... Just... I feel like I woke up from a long dream," Alexander sighed.

"Oh... What was the dream about?" she smiled.

Alexander looked up at the clear blue sky, there was a cabin made from logs in the middle of five tall trees, all around the field of grass were multiple stumps. Directly southwest from where they stood, down the hill at the base of the mountain they stood upon was a sight that Alexander perplexed Alexander. 'Where am I...' A massive kingdom stood made of white stone bathed in the light with a majesty like none other. A Celestial towered over it at the bottom of the massive valley it stood open. 'That isn't Helios...'

"I was... Trying to..." Alexander explained with a confused tone as he looked at the Celestial, still trying to piece together everything he was seeing. "Where is Helios? Lavera where is Helios?"

"Helios?" she curiously replied.

"Over there, don't you see it?" Alexander pointed up at the kingdom.

"That's... The Kingdom of Logos? What's Helios? Are you sure you're feeling okay?"

"Kingdom of- of Logos?!" Alexander's eyes suddenly lit up.

"Yeah? The Kingdom of Logos? That one over there," Lavera pointed towards the kingdom seated directly in front of the Celestial.

Alexander looked at the majestic castle once more, it's size was surreal. 'Kingdom of Logos? What... what's- wait... where am I... I was fighting that... Off-worlder... Ajal... But, what is that castle, where did it come from?! It dwarfs Helios in size?!' The massive citadel had a circular outer wall surrounded by a town, the circular outer wall was divided by four massive overpasses that stretched between the inner citadel and the outer wall. At the other end of the city was a forest of tall trees and to its left the vast ocean of Grelt. To the right, and between the mountains and the forest was another city nestled into a valley. In the opposite direction of the kingdom, a sea of white clouds surrounded all of the mountains. Alexander stared at the kingdom in awe, then let go of Lavera to sprint along the path down the mountain.

"Raun? Where are you going?!" Lavera called for him.

'That overpass looks like the quickest way to the citadel! I have to find out what's going on, is this a dream?' Alexander looked down, his brown boots were hard to run in. As he looked up he was shocked to see the citadel right before him. 'What?!' He turned around and looked back at Lavera, but instead he saw the mountain he stood on in the distance. He now stood on the overpass he looked at earlier. Alexander walked over to the stone rail patterned with carvings of skulls. Down below the overpass was a city of stone houses with green rooves, the people in the city all stood still with their hands outstretched for some reason.

"What are those people doing?" Alexander pondered, but stopped and turned back to the mountain.

'Who is Raun...' Something about that name didn't feel right to Alexander. 'Who was that woman... What was I doing... I came here... To- To find out how the fuck Logos became a castle!' Alexander conjured his greatsword in his right hand. He turned back to the citadel beyond a gate of stone at least three stories high. He started to run and gripped his blade with both hands, flame engulfed the sword and he jumped towards the gate, swinging the greatsword through it effortlessly. The metal cracked and jeered as he cleaved through it effortlessly. He broke through the gate and landed in front of a staircase into the citadel. Along both sides were the statues of robed women, however, each lacked a face. 'How long was I out... Did that off-worlder do this?!'

"Who is the lord of this castle!" Alexander screamed. "Where is the king of this land!"

He ran towards the first step, as he walked up the first few steps, he didn't notice that the next few steps were the last and he was already at the top. 'Again?! What is that... I know I didn't just climb these stairs?!' Alexander peered down the flight of stairs, he was at the bottom merely seconds ago. He stood in front of a massive door, at both sides of the gate was a cross made of sticks with a sack tied at the top, it seemed to be stuck into the ground. Alexander walked straight towards the door and put his hands against it, he pushed the heavy slabs and shoved the entrance open, the sun lit a path straight into the palace.

"King!" Alexander grunted as he opened the doors.

The inside of the citadel appeared to be a staircase to another large room. As Alexander walked in he noticed the light from the sun disappear. 'Who closed the...' He turned, only to discover that the door was gone. Alexander shook his head as he faced forward.

He proceeded through the large hall. To his left and right were pillars evenly spaced out with much space between each other, and at the other end of the hall was a throne. Alexander squinted at the throne, one of those strange cross-shaped sticks seemed to be there. He continued underneath an archway, the base of the archway was a strange shape and carved of material Alexander didn't recognize. Above the throne was a dark green banner, it had the symbol of a skull and a triangular pattern along the borders.

As Alexander got closer to the throne he noticed something about the stick figure that bothered him. The silence was broken by the sound of his breathing and his footsteps. A golden tiara sat on the sack at the top of the cross-shaped stick figure, it had a single green gem embedded into its center. 'The people in the town... The guards... Are these things supposed to be people?' Alexander turned around and was startled to see the massive hall filled with these stick figures.

"What! When did..."

"My subjects!" a woman called with fierce discipline, her voice echoed around the room.

Alexander turned around and looked up to see a woman seated on the throne, wearing the crown that was originally on the stick figure. The throne was at the top of a short set of steps. Alexander was dumbfounded, he couldn't comprehend what was happening anymore.

"Release your righteous will!" she commanded.

"Rah!" a crowd behind Alexander exploded with excitement.

He turned to see the room full of sticks now full of skinny, ghoulish soldiers with pale skin. They were dressed in dull metal armor or dark green robes. Alexander looked across the vivid faces of the soldiers, one lacked an arm, another an eye, he glanced in the other direction only to see a soldier in gold without a head. Alexander turned back to the throne as he started to hyperventilate. 'Who... Ah! Aaagh!' Alexander fell to his knees as a random jolt of pain caused his head to throb again.

Alexander couldn't see a single piece of her body, she was clad from head to toe in armor. What was the strangest of everything he had seen, was the white mask with no details on it. She was dressed in silver leggings and gauntlets, and a breastplate with the design of a tree pressed into it. A long white skirt reached past her knees. Alexander could see some small roots slip out of the cracks in her armor.

"Druids! Rise! Those below the mountain seek to usurp our providence! We, the ammonians who were blessed with Xenia's Strength, we who brought unity to the purebloods and the druids. We, the druids! We protect the land from the Hydronian waves. We are who blessed the filthy Lithonians by bringing order to their race of savages! We will give cause to their envy!" Her last word was filled with intent, she stood and walked toward the crowd.

The woman was at least six feet tall, on the raised platform she towered over everyone else in the room. Alexander curled up even more, every time she spoke it made the pain in his head worse. 'Ah! Stop! What's... Happening?!' Alexander writhed in pain, it hurt far worse than anything he had ever felt.

"The bite of our noble steel will split their skulls!" She shouted at the crowd.

"The bite of our noble steel will split their skulls!" The crowd repeated together.

"Repenting fickle envy on hands and knees, their sight shall not be blessed and mercy will not save them!"

"Repenting fickle envy on hands and knees, their sight shall not be blessed and mercy will not save them!"

"With the strength of the Oaraun, on the graves of our fallen,"

"With the strength of the Oaraun, on the graves of our fallen,"

"My subjects! Release your will upon the faithless! For not even the Celestial will save them from us!"

The crown shouted even louder than before, Alexander turned and looked at the army that seemed oblivious to his presence. 'What the hell is going on!' His heart beat rapidly, but something caught his eye he hadn't originally seen. The archway he had walked under earlier shifted in place, just enough that Alexander knew he saw the pillar move.

The noble couldn't move or even think as he looked up at what he thought was an archway this whole time. Only to discover they were two giant legs. He looked up to see a creature seated on top of the entryway. It had long arms that hung down to its knees, a skinny upper body, and its face was too hard to see from that distance. It resembled a person, as Alexander looked up to its eyes, and he realized the towering giant was looking back at him.

***

Alexander's eyes shot open as he gasped, he lifted his face from the dirt, breathing heavily as he regained consciousness. He tried to raise his head and felt strands of blood on his cheek drop into the dirt. He looked up at multiple angels clad in white, running frantically around the field assisting anyone injured. He rolled himself onto his back and looked up, the sky was pitch black, and the Celestial stretched high above the clouds.

"He's awake!" Alexander heard someone in the distance, he tried to sit upright but felt something strange under his chest. 'Huh?' He didn't feel pain, but something felt off, he touched his stomach and felt a smooth texture, dragging his hand on it until he felt his skin. 'Huh?' Alexander looked at his stomach and noticed a green crystal had filled the wound. A black coat slid off of his back, he hadn't noticed it.

"Sir!" Vivian ran forward and dropped to her knees in tears.

The lieutenant only wore a white shirt and black pants despite the chill in the air. She rushed to Alexander and hugged him tightly. 'What the... That really was just a dream...' The sun had gone down, and most of the flames within Logos had dissipated over the ashes of what were once houses.

"I thought you were dead!" she cried with a worried look on her face, Alexander stared at her blankly before he pushed her away.

"Vivian... What is this?" Alexander asked as he looked down at his stomach.

"Huh?" she looked at the green crystal. "I'm not sure... Should I request a doctor from House Pendragon to analyze-"

"No," Alexander immediately declined as he got to his feet.

"Wait! Are you alright sir?! Should you be moving?" Vivian tried to caution him.

"Yeah... I'm fine..." Alexander squinted at the gem in his chest.

'Why do I feel lighter... What was that dream about... That felt so... Real...' Alexander grasped his head to Vivian's confusion. He rubbed his short green hair as his expression turned to confusion. 'What was I dreaming about... I just had it... I can't remember anything now...'

"Alexander," a stern voice addressed him, and a pair of footsteps approached.

Arid Lightbringer approached in his blue robes, it was the robes belonging to Helios's school of magic. He had short stubble in place of a beard, discipline emanated from his expression. All of the House Lightbringer had arrived on the scene to assist. Alexander looked around, but Arthur was nowhere to be seen.

"Arid, what's the situation-" Alexander was cut off as Arid handed him a clean white shirt. "Thanks..."

Alexander pulled the white shirt over his shoulders, threaded his arms into the sleeves, and buttoned it up halfway.

"Alexander Rael, I only gave Logos back to you yesterday, and I arrived to see green flames burn the site to the ground," Alexander's heart skipped a beat as he heard that voice.

Alexander immediately bowed and put one hand over his chest.

"My lord. I deeply apologize," He could only look at Lucifer's feet as he bowed his head.

"I heard from Arthur that you had gone on a rampage to stop the mysterious being. Is this true Alexander?" he questioned.

Alexander's teeth clenched before he took a deep breath and looked up at the king of the angels. He wore long robes that covered his legs, it made him look wider than he was. At his waist was the legendary sword known as the Lightbringer. The brooch on his right shoulder was a golden two-leaf clover, one of the leaves was hollow, the other solid. The braids on his head acted like a hair band for the lord's long blonde hair. His clean-shaven face was devoid of imperfections.

"That fool Arthur is behind this... I know it... Before this entire attack, he was desperate to delay us from finding the off-worlder. And even when we all fought he didn't move a muscle, the pansy should have his status ripped from him!" Alexander vented.

"House Pendragon has been loyal to the Lightbringers for generations, Arthur is no different-"

"Sorry Lord Lightbringer, I have to stop you there..." Rolo walked into the conversation with his hands in his pocket, and his clothes slightly torn.

"Arthur didn't do anything... He watched us all get defeated if he helped... Logos would be in a very different shape right now," Rolo explained.

"Don't you dare disrespect the noble houses you filth," Arid interjected.

"Huh? Unfortunately, the noble of the said house had his thumb up his ass for that entire battle," Rolo spat.

"You'd know, wouldn't you? Your entire clan is experienced in being filthy savages who practice it all the same. Don't let Vala's kindness get to your head brat, one wrong word and your entire race may starve for another year," Arid mocked.

Rolo gritted his teeth and took his hands out of his pocket. Arid raised his hand. The two of them glared at each other, Rolo's focus was broken when a hand slapped him on the back of the head.

"What is it, Avery..." Rolo turned and gave her an unamused look.

"I'm telling Vala you fought with angels," she snickered.

"What? Hold- hold on I didn't even start fighting yet?!"

Riva was a short distance away on her knees, she was focused on the destroyed houses all around, and her expression made it apparent she felt guilty.

"We need to get back to Andurill and report what happened here to the queen," Avery spoke to Rolo and Riva.

"Noble clan leaders, please allow Angela and Arid to assist your pursuit of this so-called... Divine being," Lucifer uttered the title with contempt. "Who was this man, do you know? Did he say anything during your fight?" Lucifer asked Alexander.

"Yeah... They called him Ajal... He said he was from a different planet," Alexander explained.

Lucifer's expression suddenly turned to shock.

"Do you know anything about that? Our texts state nothing regarding the existence of planets other than Grelt. He stated he was from the planet Imperion," Alexander explained.

Lucifer's expression remained concerned and speechless, he looked down in thought as he contemplated something.

"An off-worlder..." Lucifer uttered and Alexander nodded.

"This... This is... An unprecedented opportunity..." Lucifer's whispered to himself as his expression changed to a grin.

'What...'

"An opportunity... yes..." Lucifer continued to consider something.

'An opportunity? Is he insane?'

"Why did this... Why did Ajal engage in combat?" Lucifer asked.

"Lord Lightbringer... With all due respect-"

"With all due respect, answer the question Noble Rael," Lucifer demanded to know.

Alexander looked down in thought, 'That's right...' He recalled seeing Jack before and after his fight with Ajal, and the words they exchanged.

"He was working with the non-unified slave discussed at the meeting. Jack Eldritch," Alexander confirmed.

"What... This Jack, he was here? And you're sure, he worked with the off-worlder?" Arid asked in disbelief.

"He was the slave in Logos responsible for sealing the mines, his parents before that. Now he has the assistance of a truly powerful ally, Murdok's words may mean more than we thought!" Alexander warned.

Lucifer looked up in thought.

"We must capture this divine being- this off-worlder... Ajal," Lucifer ordered.

Alexander felt a dread within him grow.

"My lord, he defeated two of the hybrid clan leaders and me... This man is a threat to the Celestial itself. Forget capturing, he needs to be eradicated!" Alexander tried to reason.

Lucifer turned and looked up at the Celestial.

"When Abaddon marches his armies down the streets of Helios, they will be a threat to the Celestial itself. This off-worlder, he holds knowledge beyond this planet's reach, and if he truly is that powerful, he'd make a magnificent spearhead to plunge into Abaddon's heart," Lucifer explained.

Alexander knelt down on one knee.

"I understand, I apologize for my foolishness. I will not fail you, my lord... I will make haste for the off-worlder and capture him immediately-"

"No, not you," Lucifer declined. "Those orders we're for Arid."

Alexander turned and saw the black-haired man on his knee.

"Relay this information to Angela, and try to convince this Ajal to our cause, I trust in your skills Arid"

'But...'

"Please Lord Lightbringer, allow me to join the-"

"You are in no condition to pursue the off-worlder, you burned Logos to the ground, and now you seek to go to Andurill to do the same? House Rael should be ashamed," Lucifer interjected Alexander once more.

'What...'

"You will remain on the continent of Kamino, and rebuild Logos from the ground up," Lucifer ordered.

"What..." Alexander uttered.

"Now, Arid. Inform me about the anomaly Arthur told you about," Lucifer turned around.

"Yes, it has to do with the report I received from Freiya at the meeting," Arid mentioned, the two of them walked off as they continued to discuss the so-called important matter.

"Stay... On Kamino?" Alexander repeated to himself.

Alexander's mind filled with rage, and he conjured his greatsword in hand. 'Huh...' Alexander looked down at his hand, his fingers tightly gripping the greatswords handle.

"Noble of House Rael," Lucifer called. "What is the meaning of drawing your weapon?"

Alexander looked at Lucifer with a blank expression, he stared back at his hand to see the blade he gripped tightly. He loosened his grip and the blade vanished from his hand.

"I apologize, my lord, I harbor no ill will or intent," said Alexander.

Lucifer stared at him for several seconds, he took his hand off his sword. "Good," he turned around and continued, "I want Logos rebuilt before the chill of Hemhir falls."

Vivian approached while Lucifer walked away, she'd been too nervous to earlier.

"Sir, Bruno had a report ready for you in regards to what happened during the night, I believe the individual we encountered was this Ajal-"

"Shut up," Alexander ordered.

"Sir-"

"I don't want to hear it right now..." Alexander put one hand over his face.

'Arthur... This is your fault... You fucking bastard... You delayed me from killing Jack for an entire year... And now you've delayed me once more!'

Alexander looked around at the rubble and debris of Logos. 'And this excuse of a Lord... Dares to delay me for who knows how long by rebuilding Logos. He was chummy that whole time for information and he threw me away like a rag the moment I gave everything up. And then to discuss important matters with his loyal dog right after without me... What are they not telling me...'

Alexander clenched his fist and wisps of green flame released from it 'What the?' Alexander looked down at his fist, he had conjured the flame without his sword. The green flames he produced were much more vibrant and wild than before. Alexander looked down at the gemstone embedded in his stomach. 'What the hell is this thing? Is this the Celestial's work? What is this strength I feel...'