1 A Ruler's Tale, A Father's End

A century ago. A 14-year-old boy walked into a room and saw his grandfather sitting on a rocking chair near the fireplace. The man was old and wrinkled, but not as wise as one would think.

However, in the eyes of his young grandson, he may as well be the wisest man in the world.

"Grandfather, I have to leave for the Great Illuminary School today." The boy said, both eager and sad, for joining a sect was a great opportunity for anyone, but for commoners like them it was also a sure sign that they would likely never see each other again.

And so the boy stood there, waiting for his honored grandfather's response. The boy trembled for a few moments as he remembered the many friends he would leave behind today. He shook it off. 'This is for my future,' he reassured himself, 'I can't back down now.'

The grandfather finally spoke. "Telios ..." he called his grandson's name.

"Yes, grandfather." The boy kneeled before him.

"I may have never gotten the privilege to enter the world of magic as you have now, and I could not be prouder of you for that, but you must always remember, the world of mages is large and treacherous. In the future, you may earn the jealousy of another. Be careful, for they will try to drag you down, to control you, to take what is your one way or another. Many will act as your friends only to pull out daggers when you least expect it. As a sorcerer, you can only rely on yourself to surpass all others. Do not trust anyone else."

The young boy closed his eyes. " I understand Grandfather. I will take your words to heart."

"Telios," the old man spoke once more.

"Yes, Grandfather,"

"Promise me, vow an oath to me here and now, that you will never rely on others, that you will forge your own path without falling for the traitorous hands of those who may one day oppose you."

The boy looked up at his grandfather. Then, with a trembling lip, said to him. "I swear, here and now, that I will rely only on myself to pave my way to the future."

The grandfather's shoulder's lowered and he laid back further on his chair as if a great burden had been lifted off his shoulders. "Now, my heart can rest in peace, knowing you will do just fine. Who knows, maybe one day you will become a great and powerful lord."

The young boy smiled. He knew he would make his grandfather proud.

A shout came from outside their small cabin. "Telios, hurry up, the school's mythic beast has arrived, and the teachers are waiting for you."

"Ahh, coming! Sorry grandfather, I would love to speak with you more, but I must hurry." Telios said as he jumped up and hurried out the door.

"Do not worry about this old man. Now go and live your life." The old man said.

"Of course. And by the way. Thank you, for everything you've done for me." Telios looked back one last time to speak, then left to attain his destiny.

Meanwhile, the old man looked at his only living family with a kind smile. "What a good boy." the man said, pleased. He had finally seen the boy off. His work was done. He could rest at last.

The old man breathed his last with a smile on his face. He remembered the promise his grandson made and felt that all would be alright, that he had made the best possible choice.

How unfortunately wrong he was.

...

Several millennia later. Telios, a man now, stood atop a large and mighty castle he had built with his own hands at a field in the far distance.

He knew he would fight for his life in that field. He knew he would fight for his people in that field. He knew he would be alone in that field ...

He knew he would likely die in that field.

In his long life, Telios had made 6 oaths.

The first was to his father, when he was just 10 years old, to never under any circumstances go back on his word. This oath was made before the man died.

The second was to his grandfather, who raised him afterward. He swore to never rely on the help of others, lest they betray him as so many heroes had been betrayed in ancient legends.

The third was to his school. He must never reveal the sect's secrets or the penalty was his life. The school was gone now, but he remained, and while the school was but a ripple in the sea, he had become the Kraken that ruled over that very sea. Still, he had never taught anyone the school's secrets, not that he ever needed to. He had much greater things to guard now.

The fourth was to his teacher. A man he had long surpassed but still greatly respected. He had met this man in a set of ruins he had hidden in after his sect fell and studied under him for several years. Telios promised to carry on and spread his teachings, to preserve the fruits of his study and labor. He had done so by taking over the world.

The fifth was to the people of his empire. He swore to protect them against those who would seek to harm and manipulate them.

The sixth was to his wife. No matter what happened, he had to do everything in his power to ensure their children's safety. He made this oath, which he would have followed regardless, for her as she slowly withered away from an incurable illness.

He had lived his life following these oaths. Now that life was about to come to an end.

But there was something he had to do first.

"Father, what can we do to help." A young boy said while clutching a sword that was just small enough for him to use. Standing next to the boy was a younger girl, and an even younger pair of twins, one boy, and one girl. The twins held onto the hems of the girl's dress. These were Telios' four children. Aaron, Sylvia, and the twins; Ellias and Maria.

"Ah, you are here. Don't worry, none of you will be fighting. No, you have a much more important task ..." with a thought, Telios opened his storage space and brought out three small boxes.

What were these boxes? They were interdimensional storage boxes of the highest class, the only 3 of their kind ever made.

The first box was painted light blue and decorated with carvings of qilins. The second box was painted dark red and decorated with carvings of phoenixes. The last box was the most special. It was a rich golden color and decorated with carvings of dragons and gods.

These three boxes, each capable of fitting within the palm of one's hands, contained almost all of Telios's efforts and hard work. Whether it be the knowledge and wisdom of a thousand empires or the might and riches of a thousand more.

Telios continued to speak again after revealing the boxes. "... See these boxes. I want you to take them with you ..." Telios said as he handed the miraculous items to his eldest son, Aaron. "You, and your siblings, must protect these boxes no matter what. Especially the gold one. Is that understood?"

"Yes, father," Aaron responded distractedly as he, and his siblings, gazed at the boxes within his arms with wonder and excitement.

"Where will we be going?" Aaron asked, suddenly realizing he still didn't know of the most important detail.

"You will be going to a faraway land," Telios responded as he placed his arms on his son's shoulder and gathered the other 3 children, who had been silently gazing at the boxes with intense curiosity the entire time. Upon hearing those words the 4 children looked up at their father in utter confusion.

"But which fara-" Sylvia attempted to ask.

"Now then, come with me," Telios said, interrupting Sylvia. He then guided the children to a usually untouched portion of the castle. As they walked, Aaron put the boxes in his pouch, while Sylvia realized something and her expression began to grow darker and darker.

Then they stood in front of a door.

Choosing to temporarily ignore his children's endless questions, Telios opened the door to reveal the contents of the room. A highly compact array that served as a portal, not to a secret or minor realm, but to a completely different world.

A world called Earth.

One that Telios only discovered because of the foundation given to him by the research of his Master. A combined 280,000 years of study. A one-of-a-kind portal that no one else would be able to replicate for at least another hundred thousand years. No one else except for those who held the golden box that is.

Activating the array, a massive amount of energy gathered around two equally tall pillars completely covered with inscriptions within the center of the formation. The pillars were spaced five feet apart, and in the space between them, a circle made of what looked like blue fire appeared and slowly expanded, while the moving image of a small modern house appeared on the other side.

The portal was fully opened.

Somewhat startled by the portal's strange appearance, the 3 younger children stepped back slightly, while Aaron, the eldest, just stared in awe. Telios noticed this and tried to comfort them.

"Do not be scared, my children. There is nothing to fear. Once you go through this gate, you will find where you need to go. Remember, always stick together, always protect the 3 boxes, and do whatever you can to blend in. I would go in with you, but I have other matters to attend to that I cannot ignore. Your aunt is on the other side of the gate. They'll inform you of what you have to do next."

"Ok. So we just step through this thing, and we'll be there?" Aaron asked, looking for confirmation.

"Yes" Telios responded.

And so the children stepped through the portal. First Aaron, who was then followed by the overly excited twins. But Sylvia stayed for a while longer. An expression of sad realization on her youthful face.

Before Telios could ask his daughter what was wrong, she said, "We'll never see you again will we."

Her voice was gloomy, her head lowered down as she struggled to hold back her tears.

Telios was surprised, but then again it made sense. Sylvia had always been better at reading the intentions of others than any of her siblings.

"I'm sorry. But it must be done."

Telios would not allow his children to be in the castle, to be in danger, when his enemies arrived. He had already found a safe place for them to hide in the other world and sent his sister-in-law, the children's aunt, several months ago to Earth in order to prepare for their arrival and guard them once they arrived.

"Do not fear, you will not be alone. Your siblings will still be with you." Telios told her.

Sylvia just stayed silent, teetering on the verge of tears. She managed to nod her head.

"Good girl. Now go. Your siblings will notice your absence soon."

Sylvia smiled slightly at the compliment, but only grew sadder when she realized that it may be the last one she got from him.

With tears streaming down her eyes, she walked through the gate and into the lawn of her new home. She looked back to see her father smiling at her. She smiled back a little.

Then Telios commanded the gate to close and, with a heavy heart, drew his sword and slashed the array apart.

It was done. It was time to face his destiny. His cruel, cruel destiny.