2 The Day of Ascension

Alexander sat in the carriage framed by his mother and father. The pair peppered him with questions about which path he thought might be bestowed upon him. Due to his intellect his father often thought his second son might follow his footsteps as a Merchant or even better earn the right to take the Imperial Scholar path, his mother however thought his wildness would more follow their first son in taking the Generals path or maybe with his intellect become a Mage path.

Alexander chuckled and shook his head, denying his parents. "Nope none of those. Me, I'm taking the highest path."

Janice blinked, with the recent activity of her son she couldn't help but ask, "Surely my dear you don't mean the Paladin or Clergy paths? After poor Ingrid I fear the heavens will deny you the high paths."

Alexander shook his head folding his arms across his chest, "Higher."

His father blinked then stared at his son with a frown, higher than the faith paths? What was higher than the church? Surely his son wasn't deluded into thinking he had the Royal path, to even think such was high treason! If the little wretch even whispered such thoughts, he fully intended to beat the little shit bloody.

Normally Michael doted on his son believing the kid could do no wrong, but this issue touched on an imperial taboo. To even suggest you had the bloodline was cause for an inquiry and if proven false the offender and his family for five generations would be purged for besmirching the imperial path. One has to realize this world saw youths follow a path for most of their lives, during the Day of Ascension, usually people were bestowed a general path like warrior, priest, mage, merchant, and so forth, it was later in life that these paths were given the chance to advance. Take the much sought Paladin path, if followed religiously a Paladin might advance to Holy Knight or Martial Pontiff, the former being a divine defender of the church while the latter guided the Holy Knights, depending on whether one followed a leader role or maintained the servants posture.

Very rarely did paths get abandoned as they were literal decrees from the gods, only a select few legends ever broke ways with their path to assume a loftier path, in normal society it just wasn't done. You might dream of being a Paladin but if you got a serf path there was no helping it, manual labor jobs were your future.

Still Alexander's head shook, while this gave his father some relief from the fear he had to curb a rebellious offspring it still left him confused, the paths had a strict hierarchy. The imperial, religious and studious paths occupied the peak of the path pyramid so what else was there?

"You both will never guess it, just wait to be pleasantly surprised, rest assured I shall bring glory and power to the Cavens. And rest assured father, I shall not step on the imperical taboo." The young master remarked casually resting back on his seat thinking to himself, 'Hero after all is a specialty path, even the Royal path must bow before the heavens chosen.'

The statement only soothed his parents briefly, both looked into each others eyes in wonder. It was certainly true their son was a genius, maybe there was something higher than clergy but below royalty. The carriage slipped into silence as it bounced along the familiar road to the city. Ascension Day was almost a festival, one shared by all the local families. The empire sent out a Seer to over see the ceremony and announce to the public the results, as the carriage rattled along it joined the throng of travellers attending, Michael had always been a gentle lord, unlike his second son, he respected his people greatly and never abused his status, except to pull Alexander's ass out of trouble. He had to protect his boy.

The guards swiftly helped guide the Lord and his family to the viewing stands above the square when their carriage finally made it into the city. People from all over the city and fiefdom swarmed the occasion like ants, Alexander couldn't hide the look of disgust watching the common rabble crammed together. He did smile and exchanged pleasantries with his fellow noble youths, some were part of his gang of miscreants who abused their nobility others stood in a party opposite the troublemakers.

"So our future little Bandit Lord finally crawled out of bed, decided to grace the universe with your presence hm? Should we bow and grovel for the privledge?" an almost angelic voice spoke up from the opposing nobles, a few parted to expose a young lady in what Alex could only guess was a squire outfit, an odd choice for a girl until he took into consideration who the girl was, Thersea Klein, otherwise known as the Little Warrior Queen, leader of the opposing noble youth faction. Most believed she was destined for Paladinhood, from her ties to the church to her martial tomboyish upbringing few could see any other path welcoming her.

She and Alexander had been at odds for years, he and his cronies tried to bully her and she soundly thrashed him and his two buddies. Ever since the fight the two have sniped, undermined and outright blocked the other whenever possible. In truth, when Alex had claimed Ingrid last night it had been Thersea's face he was lusting over. Like Ingrid, his foe was a fiery redhead who truly embodied the concept of a firecracker. Call it renued youthful stupidity but his attempts to bully her were a mask for the outright desire he had for her, sad thing for him was she hated him with a passion. He stood for everything she stood against not to mention he really had taken the bullying too far.

"Bandit Lord... has a nice ring to it my dear Lady Thersea. Hrm, I wonder if my first act of banditry shall involve stealing you away to warm my bed... Though in your case finding my bed encased in ice might be the more likely result oh Little Ice Queen." Alexander yawned back much to the sniggering delight of his cronies. How at that moment he wished he could swat the pair of leeches, their presence always escalated these sparring matches as he could not lose face in front of his people.

Theresa's face flushed red at the implied act behind Alexander's insult, her fists on her hips she glared daggers at the foppish youth and puffed out her chest. "Try it. We all know your bark is worse than your bite. Steal me? You'd have to beat me first and THAT, you can not do." She proclaimed haughtily, reaching for the practice blade at her hip. "Shall we see if your sword is as sharp as that loose tongue of yours?"

Sighing Alexander held up his hands and shook his head, "Sadly my dear Thersea, we are here for a ceremony not a brawl. Already our families glare at us, how would that affect your precious paladin path if you were scolded for fighting before such an occasion? Rest assured when our paths are picked I shall gladly accept your challenge. Satisfied?"

Thersea blinked and squinted at Alexander. For as long as they had known each other, outmatched in the sword as he was, he had never delayed a challenge. Solemn ceremony? He once brawled with her young cousin during an imperical inspection, not answer the call to battle for as little an excuse as this? She did not believe for a second. The little rat was planning something. Her brown eyes narrowed, "I know you are up to something. Spit it out, what disaster are you plotting now?"

Alexander chuckled and shrugged helplessly, "No plot Lady Thersea, I have merely come of age and wish to let our paths battle for us, no more childish brawling. No plots and schemes. Just who has the superior path. Agreed?"

Thersea frowned glancing from the raised stand to the square, the seer was already there and the line up of youths was already being guided. Turning to Alexander she nodded, "Very well let's end our feud this way."

Alexander smiled and nodded, "Though I warn you my path is special, even if you get your Path of the Paladin, you cannot match mine."

She glared at the arrogance in his tone, he seemed to know which path he would get but how? Train as one would the gods had final say and the little rat of old was about as religious as a brick in a brothel. Ultimately she nodded, "We'll do as you say but I'm keeping my eye on you, I don't believe for a moment you've turned a new leaf."

Saying nothing more the pair watched the line up move, many they had grown up with were ascending today, some were over joyed getting the path they strove for, others were sorely disappointed as the path revealed was not what they desired. Those that got what they wanted celebrated, the others fell into a gloomy silence. There were exceptions no one would have believed as well, one of Alexander's bully boy buddies actually managed the Knight path, while one of Therseas band of sisters was dubbed to find the Path of Shadow, a rather sketchy path that many rogues, thieves or assassins walked. As the sun set, the pair were the last to ascend the stairs, both bowed to the aged seer with Thersea piping up, "Honored seer, forgive us coming together. Since years past we've fought each other and wish to use our ascension to settle our feud, may we be tested together?"

The old man looked over the respectful young lass then sized up the still smug Alexander, his eyes sparkling as he motioned to the crystal orb, "Lay your hands on opposite sides, reveal your paths and indeed leave the wars of childhood behind."

Alexander and Thersea stood on opposite sides, looking at each other intently, nodding they reached out to touch the crystal, a slow warmth radiating from the smooth surface as it began glowing, the originally empty interior swirling with energy. With a bright flash the crystal orb was divided down the middle by a wall of mist, neither could see the others but the eyes of the seer widened.

Alexander looked at his side with a smirk, a great gated keep stood before his gaze, was this the mark of a hero? The books he'd read had never stated exactly how variant paths appeared, just that they existed. Thersea stood slack jawed opposite him, was her result so bad? He glanced to the seer but was taken aback as he saw the old man slump to his knees and bow, not to himself but to Thersea!

"Path of the Hero! I never thought I'd live to see it! A heroine is born this age !" the old man's words struck Alexander to his core. Thersea was a hero? How was that possible!? That path was his! Glaring at the bowing seer he frowned, trying to compose himself, while his might not be hero it was still a variant perhaps hero wasn't as high as he deserved...

"What of mine old man? If she is the Hero path, what is this a symbol of?" Alexander interjected looking with disdain at the old seer losing composure. The seer frowned, spitting at Alexander's feet, which brought a cry from the crowd most notable his parents, since when did any path cause the seers displeasure, one had to know even the paths of Shadow, Pleasure or Blood did not warrant such a response and they were the more dark paths one could walk...

"Vile child you dare to soil this solemn moment of recognizing the birth of a true hero? Fine. Your path is a variant, you accursed child will walk the path of the Dungeon Lord, the bane of humanity. I'd congratulate you on your luck but you deserve it naught. Even the dark paths shun this variant for it is a demonic path. Now begone and make peace with whatever you hold dear." the seer spat, the aged eyes narrowing as he memorized Alexander's face.

A demon path?! Dammit Death you cheated me!

Stumbling from the raised stage half in anger, half in disbelief he found himself being hustled away by his parents through a restless mob. He had glanced back at Thersea briefly and saw a remorse in her eyes that seemed to speak of pity. His parents had quickly ushered their son to the carriage and fled the city, returning home at a speed that spoke volumes to Alexander, whatever this path was it did not do him any favor, in fact, it might very likely claim his little life.

His father was quick ordering the servants to start packing their valuables as his mother guided him back to his room, "Mother what is the Path of the Dungeon Lord? What are Paths of the Demon? I learned of variant paths from Fathers library but I've not come across these paths."

She looked at Alexander with tear filled eyes, "The Path of the Demon is a taboo path, it is what the clergy guard against. They are usually the vilest of humanity, those that consort with horrors, few survive their Acsension Day, we managed to flee the city before the Orders could convene. With your path announced you are to be purged by fire to prevent a future calamity. The fact little Thersea is also a hero means the heavens were already determining your future executioner should you escape as we let you."

His mother cried softly slumping into a cushioned chair by his hearth. "We must flee. By not handing you over we've implicated ourselves, by now the clergy has likely rallied the city guards and militia and will march on House Caven. So we must go and hide, change our names but we will keep our son safe."

Alexander frowned, this wasn't how things were suppose to be. All the old stories from Earth spoke of reincarnations as bringing great power to the individual. Why was he singled out as some sort of monster? Darting around the room, he collected what he could. After a few minutes there was a knock upon his door, his mother lifting her head rushed from the chair to get the door, "Dear, are you read..."

Before she could finish, the door had been thrown open and her questioned ended in a gasp of pain. From behind Alexander could see a trio of sharp iron prongs, bloodied through their implement of his mother's belly emerging from her lower back. She gasped, sobbing in pain, "Run....Alexander...."

Alexander froze as a group of servants pushed into the room, Ingrid, shoving his mother off her bloodied pitchfork and staring with rage at the former young master. "We should have known long before now you were not human, a damn demon in human flesh! Now the good lord and his wife must pay for their sins of birthing a beast like you."

Snarling the maid raised the pitchfork and stabbed down, ending his mother's suffering. Alexander could see his father's head atop a pike carried by the head butler. His family dead at the hands of these servants. He sighed feeling a tear roll down his cheek, "So this is my reward Death, well I'll just have to make do." Hurling his stuff at the maddened servants, he threw his own body out the large window in his room, the fall to the grounds hurt but he knew if he stopped he'd join his mother and father.

Glancing about he ran for the woods, in the distance he could see the column of torch lights marching towards the Caven House, his mother had been right, the army was coming. Now with his protectors murdered, servants raging and pillaging his home as Ingrid lead those with personal issue against the young master in a hunt for his life. Breaking through the trees, he glanced back, watching a large flame erupt from his bedroom window, a frown crossing his face, they wouldnt even let the house free of their holy mission.

Shaking his head Alexander ran into the wilds, for now he'd survive, there was time for grief and revenge once his own neck was out of the noose.