章節 125: Yesteryear

One year and six months ago....

In a white ornaments temple with white curtains covering ceiling-high windows, the place was silent without a single sound despite the numbers of gowned servants moving to and fro barefooted doing one thing or the other.

The black jade floor was spotless that it could easily reflect the image of those standing on it perfectly. Surprisingly everyone in the long corridor were young maidens. It was only at a end or curve inside the temple would one see one or two knight armours. They shined in glamorous splendor that people would tempted to touch it.

No one knew who was standing inside the suit of armour yet anyone could feel a very powerful aura being emitted from within the suit of armour. However, despite the aura within was powerful it was also pure and holy, asides being tempted to touch the sacred armour one would feel a soothing felling when passing.

Deeper inside the temple was an alter. Behind this alter was a faceless statue adorned in white and golden silk robe. It also had three pairs of wings spread out majestically. The whole statue stood high and above majestically. Whoever sees it would feel an indescribable urge to simply go on their knees and worship the statue. An embodiment of holiness.

At the alter, countless priests in white priestly robes were with their heads down, bowing to the faceless statue having the bodily structure of a man. The alter exuded holy light ever so softly, shuddering the entire temple in pure holiness.

It has been days, weeks even months that these priests has been coming here day in and day out to pray to their god. However, over the years their god have been silent and have refused to speak to its people. Nevertheless they never come back every day to offer prayers to the statue.

Suddenly, the statue that has been quite for many, many years burst out in a bright radiance, momentarily blinding the old priests. It was a good thing they were all affiliated with the Light element which greatly reduced the blinding light's effect on their eyes. If not, they might have become permanently blind.

Out of shock those kneeling priests all stood up as they looked towards the alter where the light was coming from. As they all just stood there not knowing what to do, they were completely confused. They suddenly heard a murmur, yet this murmur could heard everywhere in the alter. Even though it isn't thunderous it was still deafening.

"It seems someone managed to revive the power buried deep in the depths of that curser place after being in such a state for close to a millennium? I wonder who this new and last Q'yel will be. Hmm..." The voice stooped as though remembering something. "Kneel!"

The voice coming from the statue boomed into the ears of every person, be they servants, acolytes, priestess, priests, Holy knights. They all went to their knees without a single hesitation. To them it felt like waiting a single second to heed to the command is enough to sentence you to death.

"The central continent still obeys. Good." The voice said to itself where no one else can hear it.

Yes! In the central continent, every temple, every church, every home under the doctrine of the Magic God of Light fell under this very scenario. After the voice stopped the pressure, the blinding light, they all disappeared at once almost as though nothing had even happened at all. The priest hastily went bowing and offering prayers saying that their God has finally awoken and have spoken to them.

****

"You must be kidding me?! Don't tell me someone was able to lend that giant lizard strength to awaken it! That bulk of scales is on its last breath, how is that possible?" A thin frail looking man with long white beard and a bald head erupted in anger.

"Master! So it is true. That energy we felt is the same type that spread throughout the lands almost a millennial ago, isn't it?" A more bulky middle-aged man with spiky red hair asked asked in concern.

"I wouldn't be so sure until we are certain." The old man said after some thoughts.

"But, what if it is? Are we going prepare for another war?" A rather skinny looking man wit blue hair and black eyes asked in return.

"Then we have to be certain and do as we must... What are were made to do many centuries ago. Find out who it was that unlocked the place called the Badlands and the present Q'yel the last and protect him at all cost. We mustn't fail this time."

****

In a lavishly built castle made with BlackMourning stone, it stood proudly under the scorching hot summit. The environment on its own was spectacular. The ocean breeze down the high cliff blew up hundreds of metres. The great forestry at the front of the giant black castle towered with magnificent trees that could tell of time past.

However, despite the fancy ocean scenery, within the castle bring the chill down anyone's spine that hears of the place. Despite the beauty of the forest, within the castle makes every man and woman who knows of the place to be brought brought their knees in tremor. The place could be known to be the hell of the living.

From time to time occasional screams and cries of agony could be heard within the black castle. A red lush carpet ran down from one end of the corridor to another. The touches on the walls flickering with eery Morton red flame which hardly serves its purpose. Well, the owner of the place hardly cared.

"...Please...!"

Behind a slightly ajar large double door at the second floor of the black castle.

"...No more..."

The screams of agony and pain filled the both the floor beneath and above.

"...please..."

Along the corridor, cells were at both sides of the walls.

"...I beg you..."

Naked men and women can be seen in every cell being bound to the walls by chains. Cuts and bruises all over their bodies could hardly heal without external help. It could be said that even with help it will still be difficult especially with their overly malnourished physique.

For hours long the cry for help deep inside the black castle was not answered, in fact it can never be answered. Yet, there is no one to tell him that. Finally, at the eleventh hour the crying stopped, heavy panting was heard followed by sobs of a grown man. Thereafter, a maniacal burst of laughter broke the silence.

Behind the door was a fairly wide room with a man tied on a round spinning wheel hung upsidedown. Blood trickled down the floor mixed with tears, swear and snot. Before the bound man stood a woman.

Waist length hair, an oval face, her eyes were on the darker shades of red. Her small lips were coated with heavy red lipstick. She wore an entirely revealing two piece clothe which barely covered her lascivious body, leaving nothing much to the imagination. She held in her hands a whip two fingers thick, at the tip of the whip was a blade. This, she called her pet.

"Oh my! Looks like more people to torture and they are even from that sexy Badlands. I just can't wait for them. I need to get my hands on them!" She screeched like a little girl who got a new dress.

She blew a high pitched whistle where two people immediately appeared into the room. These two were girls barely twenty years old, they stood there completely naked. If it was in any other circumstance the tied up man might have most certainly pounced on these two lolita's and pinned them to the ground. However, as the case may be with him, that was exactly what brought him to where he is now. The castle of Blood.

If a few prominent individuals were to see the man right now they will be in great doubt, this is because the very same man is somewhere else running a kingdom. That is is say only offenders who hold cities counties, duchies, kingdom and empires in their hands can be imprisoned here.

After the woman sang some orders to the girls they left.

****

In a prosperous small city people bustled and hustled to make ends meet. The place was lively as people waved to those they knew. There was a small ally at the the side of town, there, a not-so-small smithy of two storeys stood. The sound of metal striking against each other could be heard from a far distance. People kept pouring in and out either with smiles or sour faces.

On the second floor a tall bulky bloke stood shirtless before an anvil. A giant hammer rested in his hand as he smashed it on the hot red piece of metal. He did this repeatedly bringing the hot metal to the shape of a sword.

Suddenly in an abrupt stop he closed his eyes, after a few seconds he sprung his eyes open. Golden divine splendor burst out from within.

"Willy boy, why not give me some room at the moment."

The bloke of a man said to the only other person allowed into this room. He first best apprentice. Willy left the room to Mr. Grant as asked. With nothing left to do he went down to handle the boys down below.

"Hahaha! My, my, I didn't expect this. I wonder what the world would throw at you mi'boy. Grow strong boy, I'll await your return." Mr. Grant laughed looking into space as though remembering a distant memory.