1 Prologue
Soul splitting.
The art and act of dividing your soul into two parts.
It is only practiced by those of royal blood.
It has only been accomplished by royals of tremendous power.
It was said that when a soul was split, it would find its way back together by way of lovers in the future, expectedly or unexpectedly. When this were to happen, these lovers would not find themselves just as lovers but they would find themselves as partners and each other's half. Their love would fortify their strength and their ability to move mountains and part sea's thus removing any obstacle in their way.
That's what happened the last time when the uprising occurred and left the realms in a standstill, tearing the fabric of time and space apart.
Now, we "Powers" are only myth and legend to the humans that are here walking among us; if only they knew that we were here, standing in front of them as the rulers we once were.
History has dictated that it will always repeat itself and it seems that this history is about to spill itself into the world of the humans in the worst way possible.
**********
The First Uprising
Queen Regalia stood at the forehead of her council ready to make decisions about the uprising; a nasty, blood hungry war stood potentially before them and here they conferring as though it wouldn't affect them. She sat down in the high-backed chair, drumming her fingers on the marble table where she sighed as the councilors spoke.
War brought nothing but bad tidings and an unrest that could never let a heart be settled. She grew agitated more and more, listening to a bunch of old fools list the laws of the old ways.
"The law states we must negotiate peace!" One shouted.
"We must buy out our peace from under Raymond." Another trying to join the fray.
"We must have a sacrifice." Another said so calmly.
"We must man our battle stations; the fight is coming to us!" All these people with such old styles.
If they had made the decision to stick to the old ways with Raymond, they would not have been in this predicament. Raymond planned his coup de 'tat but had failed miserably when Regalia had found out; his views opposed hers, bringing in new law and trying to get out the old was her plan to create a new haven that was fair and not bound by the laws of the previous elders.
She'd had enough.
"SILENCE." Regalia's voice boomed over the council and reverberated through the room, shaking the very integrity of the people and contents in it. She had made sure as much that she established herself as a formidable opponent, not just a woman whom was named queen because she was beautiful.
"I've had enough of your nonstop ramblings. There is an uprising among my people because against all of my advices and my knowledge, you let a man that was once a councillor live. Tradition dictated he was flogged and hanged. He is now seeking my throne and my head." The council quieted down, knowing full well that their actions had led to this unsightly scene.
Regalia stood with her back straight and head high. She was a no-nonsense queen and she immediately put down naysayers in her sight. She always walked with poise and confidence that suited her. She began to circle her council of elders; her piercing eyes looking at each of them and her tongue laced with deadly venom. Her sheer gold-brown dress swept the floor as she walked, examining each person to see who would test her.
Before she could say anything more, the heavy wooden double doors opened and there walked in a young man. With gold piercing eyes, a diplomatic nose and sharp as knives cheekbones; he could be mistaken as an Adonis rather than the messenger he was bringing news apparently to the queen.
"Regis, do you bring good news for us?" Councilor Vincente spoke, hoping to quell his queen of her temper just a bit.
"I bring news my liege but it is not good news." Regis hung his head, knowing that Regalia would not be pleased to hear it.
"Go ahead Regis, I'm sure that your news won't be something I'm unprepared for." Regalia turned to properly face her messenger to get the full details of his message.
"Our battalion leader had sent out scouts to get more information about the uprising. It seems the enemies we have made in other countries has joined forces with Raymond." Regis stopped, looking up to assess her face only to see it void of any emotion or surprise.
"We should expect a full-scale invasion within three day your majesty." Regis swallowed slowly, beads of sweat forming at his brow showing his nervousness.
"We have three days until Raymond gets here, right? Then let's not dilly-dally, we're wasting sunlight; prepare the army and have my best men get ready for a war." Her soft voice didn't take away from the striking features that she had inherited from her mother, you'd never those pretty eyes could hold such strength and force in them. A deadly combination by far her greatest weapon.
**********
Weapons were forged by Powers for Powers; every man and woman would be taking part in this war. No one was excluded, even the queen herself had made sure she was preparing herself to fight at the front lines.
"You know you're as stubborn as they get." Declan peaked into the weapons chamber, assuming he'd find her in there.
"I know but I'm standing for my people and I will fight alongside them until I can't." She smiled, turning to see her battalion leader.
"I know that far too well. I remember we used to sneak in here, steal some weapons and go out to practice in the night." He reminisced about the days that were simpler.
"Yes, and my father often caught us clashing swords in the flower gardens; he'd say 'Your mother will have your heads if you touch her roses!'" A small smile gracing her lips.
"I miss him and your mother so much." Declan knew Regalia missed far more than he did.
"I miss them too." She walked over and slid her arms around his waist, pulling him closer to her.
"We used to make love among these weapons at times if you remember correctly." Declan tilted her chin, brushing his lips against hers before giving her a feverish kiss that would've left anyone seeing stars.
"Comman---" Declan's oldest friend and right-hand man walked in to catch them in the act.
"Hunter, can I help you?" Regalia spoke, letting go of Declan before walking over to him. He smiled and gave her peck on the cheek.
"I was looking to borrow Declan but it seems like you have him occupied." Hunter was one of the select few that knew about them and the only one that could give her a kiss on the cheek in front of Declan.
"You can have him back, I'm sure you need him crucially." Regalia gave him a slap on the arm and walked out of the armory.
*********
It was quiet.
Far too quiet.
The battle plans had been, the people evacuated and wait for them was placed at priority.
The air was thick with tension and heated with anticipation.
The temperature had become unbearable.
The stench of impatience had begun to diffuse around them.
There was nothing coming.
There was no one there.
Even the wind seemed noisier than usual.
"Your majesty, what do we do now?" Regalia was at a standstill; she hadn't expected for it to be so calm.
"Have half the people fall back closer to the castle. We'll take shifts rotating back and forth." She couldn't believe it had come down to the wait but she would stay with the first shift and protect her people no matter what.
"Yes milady." Hunter had taken back some of the women and men that were comfortable going back to the castle. Taking care of the survivors had been her main concern.
Minutes later, her heart dropped when she heard the first set of screams coming from her beloved castle. She turned around only to see that the people she had direly wanted to protect were now trapped in a flame engulfed tower.
She could hear it.
The screams of her people.
She could smell the burning flesh.
She couldn't do anything but watch.
Then she moved, her superhuman jumps moving across rooftops only be stopped by Hunter himself. He collided into her, making it sound like rock against rock; the thud shook the air but didn't slow down Regalia.
"I have to go Hunter!" Regalia was held back before she could make her jump.
"No, they're coming on the frontlines now; we need to go back. Declan is back there doing his best." Hunter pulled her in the other direction, taking her away from the unsightly scene.
Declan.
That's all she could think about. Was he fighting? Was he winning? Was he okay? Her heart beat profusive, making her wonder what was happening to the love of her life.
She finally made it the front lines in time to wreak havoc.
She placed her hands in front of her as if she were going pray then summoning her long sword blade from her palms, pulling it from her left hand.
It was her specialty, close quarter swordplay. She wanted there to be a slaughtering and by Gods, she would have one.
She flitted though the multitude, tearing down everything in her path that was enemy but as they fell, they came and she was to oblige the fall.
**********
Seconds passed.
Minutes passed.
Hours passed.
Days passed.
Waves came at intervals.
And each time they came, her army tore them down.
She checked in on Declan every so often that was allowed and hunter had taken too many hits to count. Her people looked tired but refused to give up; the way she was feeling at that very moment.
"Hunter, deliver a message for me to Declan." Regalia knew that it would have to be short and to the point.
"Sure, no problem." Hunter watched as she wrote something on a sheet of paper no bigger than his palm.
"Thanks Hunter, I trust you." Regalia folded it and handed it over with great care.
"Nothing I wouldn't do for you my queen." Hunter phased off into wind and disappeared.
Not long after he returned looking like a bloody mess.
"Hunter, what happened?" Regalia rushed to him.
"Don't trust him. Don't trust him." He murmured softly before spitting up blood.
"Medics! Medics!" She cried out desperately before having someone assist.
What did he mean by that? Don't trust who? The questions reverberating through her mind made her flint across the war grounds trying to make her way to Declan making her remember that her kingdom was no small land. The sight she saw was too heart breaking for words.
"What are you doing?" Regalia asked, her voice breaking.
"Regalia, this is not what it seems to be." Declan stood in front of Raymond defensively.
"You're betraying us?" Regalia was too stunned for words.
"Raymond has presented a better option. To be on the winning side of this war." He spoke as if this were a casual encounter between friends.
Her heart burned, it broke, it shattered, it tore and its love withered.
Then it raged.
Her body went numb.
Her vision went black.
Then it was done and gone.
Hell, hath no fury like a woman scorned.
**********
"Elizabeth!"
"Elizabeth!"
"Elizabeth!"
She had come down from her day dreaming only to get into her Power lessons.
"Are you with us Elizabeth?" Her afterschool lessons had always seemed like a bother but it couldn't be helped according to her mother, our lineage was to be preserved.
"Yes ma'am." Elizabeth sat up straight, hoping it would make her focus.
"Thank you, Elizabeth, back to lessons." Her teacher had been from the lineage of scholars that had documented the entire war and now it was their turn to learn about it. She peered over her shoulder, getting glimpse of the most asinine person she knew out of all Powers. She'd kick his ass first, until then she would just behave.
