ARC 1 - ZEDDICUS

Zeddicus looked at the young soul that appeared in front of him.

It was shrouded in darkness and tight golden chains binded it.

It reminded him of one he once knew about.

The darkness and chains signified a soul under punishment .

The soul itself can't see the darkness and the chains that binds it, but he can, blessed with the eye that sees the secrets of the Gods.

Sometimes he wondered if what he had was a curse that others referred to as a blessing, but maybe it was a blessing indeed because he might have just been stuck in sorrow and confusion for a long time not knowing what to do.

Zeddicus pushed the thoughts off his mind before he adjusted his mood and smiled then said

"Hello Rhaia!"

Rhaia opened her eyes and found herself in a bare room filled with darkness. The darkness was so thick she couldn't see anything around her.

"Where am I?" she whispered in confusion. Wasn't she supposed to be dead?

The death of the soul is the death of an immortal. Rhaia felt her soul dissipate and was sure she died so how was she still alive?

"Rhaia, I am Zeddicus, ancient mage, wizard of the first order, I brought you here and you are welcome to my domain "

A tired voice sounded as an old man suddenly appeared before her.

Immediately she saw him, Rhaia was shocked at his sudden appearance before she realized he was a soul, and she was able to see him clearly despite the thick darkness around.

The next surprise came at the introduction he gave about himself.

Zeddicus was the name of the first wizard and he lived a very long time ago. He was the wizard who had created the magic of soul projection and he was worshipped by other mages as the greatest mage of all.

"Sigh..."

Zeddicus could read the confusion on Rhaia's face. He took a deep breath before his tired voice rang again this time however with a tinge of reminiscence in them.

"Yes, I am who you think I am. Hmm... But I am not all glamour like the stories have told you."

"Wh..."

Zeddicus looked blankly in the distance and his voice sounded again interrupting Rhaia

"You see a long time ago, when there was war in the land and Kings battled over the slightest misunderstandings, there was nothing the common people could do but suffer.

They cried out, they begged everyone they could, even the Gods they begged to save them from the misery of wars and bloodshed, but there was nothing anyone did about it.

Amidst all these confusion and tragedy, I was born in a common family, to peasant parents. Blessed with the eye to peep into the secrets of the Gods.

Maybe I was their prayers that was answered, you never know

Hmmm now that I think about it, it could be true"

"Uhh Zeddicus??"

Rhaia tried to draw his attention back to the story cause she still wanted to know what she was doing here.

"Oh! I am sorry Rhaia. I am a bit old now, you know I lived alone for so many years and I developed that habit.

Now back to our discussion

I created magic that blessed the common people, magic that provided for and magic that put the people at rest.

Magic that made the nobles and Kings satisfied and made them realize there was more to life than wars and bloodshed.

Magic was exalted, it was seen as sacred and there was peace everywhere for everyone.

I was loved by all, praised by many and some even worshipped me. I was the closest to the Gods and they blessed me with a very long life.

But humans would always be humans, unsatisfied beings they are.

Many kings, after finding the peace and wealth they wanted began to get greedy.

You see I lived for many years, while many died I was still young, at forty I still looked like I was a young man of the age of seventeen he he he...

Then the rumours began and it spread far and wide that magic could make one live forever.

I mean everyone would die, even Gods can die you know"

Rhaia just nodded her head to his words and decided not to speak anymore till he was done

"Hmmm....The kings and nobles having heard this believed magic could make them live forever since magic was all powerful.

They chased after me and tried to pry the secrets from my mouth.

He he he... I played them so well and I made them feel I had been caught before I, then like an eel always slipped from between their fingers.

This enraged them and caused them so much frustration when they realized that I could not be caught.

Then 'sigh' they turned towards the people closest to me, my parents.

My old mother was finally pregnant with another child after her problematic son of hers who was me.

My parents were expecting the birth of that child and wished she was a gentle, lovely girl not another troublesome son to chase after.

I also awaited her arrival, because I wanted a soft, little sister who would call me brother even if I was already old enough to be her grandfather at that time he he he...

Hmmm..the kings tried to capture my family and my parents put up a fight but it wasn't enough for the skilled soldiers of the enemy.

When I got the news and rushed home, my house had been burnt down into ashes, my father? Dead!

I was devastated and sad but..

but then I heard the groans of pain.

My mother badly injured was lying under the burnt wooden beams of the house.

I ran towards her and held her hand to see if I could save her, to see if I could even heal her injuries.

But my mother shook her head and let out another hard groan of pain, her hand squeezed mine tight for the last time before the fingers laid limply around my hand.

I was shocked! The pain felt like it began climbing up from the depths of nowhere filling my heart.

I was about to let the shout out of my throat when then I heard that weak cry, he..he it was the soft cry of a baby.

My mother had used her life to birth my little sister. The sister I had always wanted even before I knew what envy was and had begun to feel jealous of my neighbours who had sisters.

She was small, soft and looked very weak. I held her in my hands and looked at her little wrinkled self before I wrapped her small body in my coat and held her to my chest as tears fell from my eyes.

That moment I didn't know if I should be sad my parents died or happy that at least they had left me a companion.

I buried my parents that night and walked away in the dark.

My sister was breathing weakly like she was restless. I smiled and tried to console her and I looked closely at the little ball in my hands.

He..he Rhaia, you should have seen me that moment. I was enraged, I am sure I have never been that angry in my entire life not even when my parents died cause all I felt was sadness then.

My sister's soul was clouded in darkness and it was bound with chains.

I knew that moment she was being punished for some kind of sin.

I knew she would die, that she would not accompany me in my long life.

Why would they give me long life and bless me with this eye if they are going to take everything from me?!"

Zeddicus tried to calm his breath and remind himself that it was all in the past and all he needed to do right now was right all wrongs

'Do not dwell in the past Zeddicus' began playing in his head all over and over again like a Heart calming mantra.

Rhaia looked at him, and walked towards him, trying to console him

"Are you alright? but who are they?"

Zeddicus took a deep breath and finally adjusted his mood before his voice said again

"I am fine, do not worry yourself about that. You would know when the time is right"

He looked towards Rhaia and took a deep breath before continuing his story and Rhaia kept her mouth shut not saying anything more

"I began finding a way out. I must save my sister. I pushed the bottom line of the Gods over and over again, peeping into their secrets.

Then I found something!

He he he...I could transfer my sister's soul into another body, binding the darkness and leaving the chains with the body she was born with.

Because the sorrow and evil karma she was to be subjected to was tied to that body and all she needed to escape was to find a new suitable body.

I researched and discovered the spell of soul projection and I used it.

'Sigh' however, that spell was not strong enough and I was too hasty.

My sister's weak soul became unstable and this alerted the Gods, her soul was captured and taken away from me.

I was devastated and I swore I would not let the Gods know peace. Every of their secrets will I tell to the mortal man.

He he he.. those I did, I made the mortals like Gods.

The Gods were enraged and I was punished.

Since then I had been in this prison for as long as I can remember.

However, all I want is to see my sister again."