Origin

Holding the Young Fallen within, his arm firmly. Zariel headed past the foyer of his mansion and down the hall, which seemed to span almost indefinitely, filled with more rooms than one would care to have.

Picking up on the distinctive scent of medical water, in the air, alongside the scent of blood Duke Blackwater's pace began to pick up. Till he entered an emerald room, bathing in the glow of the Medical Bath Anima had prepared.

Glancing at the three people in the room, Zariel shot a cold frown upon the crystalline goddess standing before the unconscious bodies of Ella and Sionn.

"Forgive my curiosity, Forsaken." The faint goddess whose appearance could not truly be seen nor appreciated remarked. "I had no intention to interfere, but. But Ella grabbed my attention, you see."

Holding his stare for not even a moment, Zariel entered past the threshold and approached the unconscious duo. Dropping Aurelia beside them, into her second medical bath.

"Isn't this against your rule? Or was the idea of one of your children being raced by me so repulsive, Seleiviea."

Casting her gaze upon the young Wood Elf, Seleiviea, Elven God of Harmony and Love, smiled warmly. Yet before Zariel's cold, menacing stare, the young Lord could see a trace of hesitation.

"I will not lie, Zariel. You are but a child yourself, raising three children. Then there is your crime." Seleiviea said, "You would not be anyone's first choice in creating a family or, in your case, warriors. But I have to say you are far more gentle than I would imagine."

"Your approval is touching," The Young Lord mock, with a downcasted sneer, "Ella is mine, just as the others."

Breathing a sigh that seemed to encompass many turbulent emotions, Seleiviea's gaze grew sharp, "Ella is no Wood Elf like I had thought, nor is she a high elf or dark elf. Her blood is different, almost as if twisted by some unknown force."

"Gods, Demons, Angels, all of you. How tired I have grown of your presence. I will ask you to leave my home now. Do not force my hand." Lord Zariel coldly remarked, glaring with a silver flame in his eyes.

"I meant no offense, nor was I accusing you, Forsaken." Seleiviea fearlessly carried on as if Zariels warning was hot air. "She carries them all, you see. Like me, her blood is that of origin. Such an important child, yet she is in--"

"My hands." Zariel interrupted with a chilling eye.

Seleiviea snorted, finding a smile on her crystalline figure, "Boy. That mouth of yours is truly as your mother had described it to be. But I would watch the attitude, The God of Order is a close friend, and I am not afraid of taking a stick to your ass in Yuki's place. Watch it."

Zariel's mouth grew wide as Seleiviea shook her head dismissively, "Your crime, Zariel. It was a horrid one. You killed many. Many of them were even my children. To say I trust you is a lie, but my hands are tied. Take care of Ella. She has awoken to her true name, Illya. Make sure she stays alive."

Shattering into a mist of ice, Duke Blackwater touched his chest. Feeling his heart thundering, he chuckled, "How many friends did you have, Mother. And where were they in the final hour?"

...

...

...

King Cyrus held his cold gaze upon Baron Aylmer, resting upon his golden throne that towered over his subjects.

"My Lord, I employ you! You must help me! My wife, my children, their children." Baron Aylmer cried with ashen hair. Appearing as he had aged over twenty years, he sat on both knees, "You must stop him!"

King Cyrus Ferrum, Blademaster of the Realm, scrunched his brow indifferently. "What is it you want?"

Slamming his fist down, Baron Aylmer shuttered, at the cold memory branded into his mind, "He placed them all on pikes, my Lord. My wife, my children, their children. I could still hear their screams as he let them die painfully with that damn pike piercing through from there rear, to their mouth.' It was a horrid sight, my Lord. Please, Please have mercy upon me."

'Bloody Hell, what in God's name!" Cyrus muttered, sending a glance to his right-hand man, who stared in horror.

"Yes, my Lord. It's as I say! I was bound and made to watch. I could still hear their screams, which echoed for days in my soul. The youngest was only five, my Lord! FIVE! An innocent!" Aylmer roared, covered in tears. He clenched his chest, feeling his heartbreaking the longer his words echoed.

"It was that Devil's fault! I know it! I know it to be true! Duke Blackwater! He is the one who hired that demon. I know it, I know it. I even have a letter he left behind!" Aylmer cried, lifting a bloody letter towards the King.

Shutting his eyes, Cyrus shuttered at the thought of such a cruel punishment.

"What is it you want me to do?" Cyrus exclaimed, not reaching for the letter that could implicate Lord Blackwater. "He is a duke. And you have offended him on more counts than I could count. Did you think a Duke has no rights? No privileges? You crossed the Devil of the North, knowing who he was."

'NO, NO, NO!" The Baron bellowed, slapping his head ruthlessly upon the throne room's marble floors. staining the ground red, a bloody gleam of betrayal rained over Aylmer's face. "Please. The man took them all. All of them, Your Grace. Their bodies still hang over my estate. It has been weeks, yet I can still hear the screams. Dear God, please! Please."

Holding an indifferent stare, Vincent's Solas approached, taking the letter from Aylmer's hands, "I will talk to the King, just... Just head to a hotel. Stay with a friend, and we will take care of this."

Gleaming with hope, Aylmer shuttered, dropping faint upon the ground. Silencing the throne room, Vincent shot the guards a knowing stare.

Carrying the body of Aylmer away, Vincent turned to the King upon his throne, "We need to kill him. Duke Blackwater showed his fangs," He uttered with a bit of heartbreak, "We cannot allow the Baron to tell others that we cannot handle Duke Blackwater."

"It always comes down to a matter of Face." Cyrus weakly explained, resting his handsome head lazily against his throne, "He needs to die."

Glancing around at the empty throne room, Cyrus frowned, "Aymler or the Duke?"

The King did not respond to his right hand's inquiry. Knowing better than to revile such matters. "How is the gathering of youth around the realm? I hear that the red priest appeared to tell us something."

Bitterly nodding, Vincent sighed, "Duke Blackwater will be a teacher, and Aurelia Morningstar will be joining him as students. No tryouts are needed. They have a free pass."

Clenching his fist, Cyrus' eyes grew like fire, "What! Damn it! What was the Order's response? Those damn fanatics must have done something."

Narrowing his gaze, Vincent shrugged, "Don't know. They have been quite silent since that Crimson Moon. Something is brewing, Cyrus. And I feel like our kingdom is going to be pawns at the end of this war."