Thirty Years

Finally at the edge of the swamp, Dorin felt drained. His armor and weapon disintegrated, leaving only his ego. The two was now shining, another mystery that Dorin had yet to figure out. 

A vast hunger filled Dorin, and he felt his body shrivel up slightly. Looking around all he saw was the remnants of the beetles. They had consumed anything else that he might have chosen. 'Damnit.'

Eki huffed, seeming to laugh as Dorin popped some of the baby beetles into his mouth. Dorin swore that his skin turned green for a second as he held back his vomit. Sadly there was no other choice as he didn't want to risk venturing back into the swamp. 

. . .

Veri

"Have you come to your senses yet, Veri?"

"Yes, Spire." Veri kneeled on the floor in front of Tocho, a feeling of disgust filling his body.

"Good, good." Tocho looked out the stained glass window of his throne room. "This world will not survive for much longer, and I need you with me for these final steps."

Veri did not dare lift his head. The bruises all over his body screamed with every movement, and another miscommunication of disrespect would not end well. 

"When I became the Spire, I was told that I would be the last. That I must do whatever it takes to command this world in its last day."

'It seems like you've failed to me.' The only joy Veri could take was that it seemed his master was losing the battle for this world. He couldn't imagine anyone from Tur being able to stand up to the army of sparks in Liranel. Especially since Jerl had died and Ranell was missing. 

"Since you saw the city for yourself, what do you think are our chances against Liranel?

"None." Veri couldn't lie to a direct question, but he was happy to say something that went against his master's goal. 

Tocho laughed, surprising Veri. "Maybe before we had no chance, but that has all changed."

"How?"

"You've heard of sparks, flames, and virtues. But there are other titles in this world, and even if it ends in disaster I have created one."

"What have you done?"

"My duty."

Veri didn't understand, he barely knew the true extent of powers that a spark could control. 

"A spark is able to manifest the inanimate, simple weapons and various single items. A flame is able to create life through their desire, ego beasts. A virtue has overcome their desire, able to control it to an extent that amplifies all of their powers."

Veri felt a hand on his chin, lifting his face up. "But what if you sink into that desire, without the built up power that comes with being a spark?"

"You have created a demon."

"Not quite, a demon is an ephemeral being, with all the power that they have gained as a spark." Tocho grinned wickedly, showing off all of his completely yellowed teeth. "I have created sin."

"So you mean to fight the other Spires, hoping that this sin will be able to overcome Liranel's army?"

"I know it will, the citizens of this world do not know true war. The sin is beholden to me, created from my own flame. Soon there will be nothing left but our scourge of this world."

Veri felt terror grip his bones, as the friend he knew all his life was gone. He had seen Tocho's forging as a mere kid. They had gone on journeys together to each city, fighting together and promising each other a better future for their world. "What happened to our promise?"

"That ended the moment I was chosen as Spire. I have a greater duty than you could ever imagine, slave."

Something broke in Veri's mind, and he rushed at Tocho. 

"Impudent-" Veri pushed Tocho to the floor before he could finish, and he heard the crack of bone hitting stone. 

"THIRTY YEARS- THIRTY YEARS OF PROMISES" Veri smashed Tocho into the ground, getting a few hits in before Tocho managed to flip them around so he was on top. 

"You have no idea what we are even here for. Humanity itself is on the line, and you are merely a bug to be stepped on at any time." Veri saw Tocho take out his ego coin. The moonlight shone through the windows, glinting across its dark metal that showed a wing. 

Tocho flicked the coin towards Veri but instead of shooting out, it broke in two and fell to the floor. "What the-"

A large black bird with blue streaks emerged from the ground, filling up most of the room. It looked at Tocho and screeched, making Veri cover his ears as the windows cracked, shattering completely in some places.

"Get away fro-" Suddenly the bird charged Tocho, crunching his head with its beak as it broke through the window and flew into the night sky. Tocho's blood painted the stained glass shards a deep red as Veri watched the bird fly across the bright moon.