Chapter 2: Strings of Fate

Within moments of stepping through the warp gate, the two had been surrounded. The final knight fell to his knees, his brothers were gone. Another lost to the Blackfist. One by one knight after knight surrounded Rudra. A camp of blades pointed at his neck.

"Theyre all gone, Rayloth he....they got him..."The knight said. You couldn't mistake the bloodlust in the air, they wanted him dead. The rebellion had been filled with those wronged by Yjarl and its Grand Magus specifically.

"Craftsman for the people...just herken merchants even with a blade to their neck. They couldnt just give me the damn carriage." A voice said through ragged breaths. The last 10 minutes or so of ranting had woken Rudra from his spell induced coma.

His artifacts and protection garments had been stripped of him. He felt barren, his people the Terrakaiyins wore fashioned arm jewelry that bragged their power to the world. His wooden and golden armbands, stripped of him. He sat up listening to the wind and mountain side race in his ears. Hed been in deep thought for hours it seemed now

. "Those men seemed....desperate." He mumbled, the gale calmed his mind. While it hadn't been the first group of assassins sent to the palace, they had been the first to succeed. The first blemish on the Destroyers' impossible history.

He no longer wore his apprentice robes either being stripped down to his undergarments. "You can stop pretending I know youre awake." His kidnapper called. The mask over the Princes head had been magic. You could easily read the wearers expressions and thoughts.

"Stand, yes stand. Now walk." The voice called. In an act of defiance Rudra planted his feet and flexed his bond arms, although they were behind his back.

"Wrong choice. I'd expect this much at least from this son of the tyrant." The voice called out. He unsheathed his dual ended iron staff and lightly laid it upon Rudras cheek. Of course he couldn't feel any of this. "Look up." He said, guiding his head with the bar. Strike after strike beat into his bound spasming body. The boys laughed in unison with every beating. Being sure to miss his face and back as he wanted his alive. With every strike his muffled body jerked and spasmed trying to fight back. It was pointless.

With a simple wave of his iron staff Rudra began levitating his bloodied body hanging. "Are you serious James? The boss is gonna kill us. Hes so bloody..... you... " Another voice trailed off.

"Is it true he really has markings..." Another voice called out. Once again Rudra blacked out.

[The next morning within the Palace.]

"Young Master Kentworthy you must awaken his majesty the Grand Magus is summoning you and your father." The two maids cried out in unison. She bowed then scurried out of the door, closing the door with a satisfying click.

"10....No just...no more than 5 minutes please." He cried out from beneath the covers. "Kalfu Whitehorn-Kentworthy get out of bed." His father demanded casting a minor implosion spell sending the crashing into itself. Instantly he jumped up narrowly dodging the large statue in his room before it came cracking his bedframe.

"Im up im up." He cried falling into his wall. With a small chant the room reversed itself into its previous position.

"Hurry boy get ready. The Magus call for us. It must be because that boy, your friends with. If you know anything you need to tell me now before we get to his throne room

"What? Prince Rudra? He dosent tell me anything about the books he takes from his dads study." Kalfu replied magically, cleansing his face and hair.

"Do you truly think wed be standing here if his son was involved? No, other one. The son of Greao Bearclo. The entire Courtyards talking.... Last nights 'attempt'...." Master Kentworthy replied. Kalfu had never seen his father like this, the nervous pacing and twitching. Quickly Kalfu readied his Academy Robe sliding it over his head smoothly.

Just then the head servant emerged trembling, falling over her own feet twice as she she struggled to get her words out. "The Grand Magus....hes...." She gasped falling to her back sliding down the wall. Her hands filled with blood she gasped losing control of her breathing. "He's...here."

Immortal hig-wolf pelt across both shoulders. The elegance could be no other than The Grand Magus.

"Fredrick, I must speak with your son." The Magus said, glancing to the door.

"With all due respect your Majesty, anything to be said before my son can be said before me. And another thing I don't appreciate you~" The Commander was cut off.

"Be GONE." The Magus commanded. Hed never say the same thing twice, youd be lucky to hear it once.

"Thank you Helga. Escort The Commander to his study. "His majesty said looking at the frightened woman.

Master Kentowrthy bowed, biting his tongue. He'd be sure to show his respect. She replied hand across her chest bowing once more. He slipped into the slacks then overshirt plucking his boots on and quickly left with the Grand Magus.

"I have a nation to run so ill be quick. I'm giving you another task. Track last night intruders, they stole useless treasures and I want them back." The Magus commanded.

"Yes sir. But....how am I supposed to track them better than the Black Hand? Surely you have more competent trackers than a painter." Kalfu responded, fixing his apprentice robes, hed put his uniform on backwards.

"Just a painter? You've always been my best. And I need your magic. Not to mention the ability to create whatever you draw. So figure it out." He replied loading into a carriage.

[Back with rebels]

Rudra had made his way to the brontos.They could pull 3 carriages at once if they chose to, but most kept to themselves unless being bothered. They kept a close eye on their new captive. It had been several days since they 'liberated' the Prince from his home.

"I never thought wed get this far honestly. We have him now, what?" A rebel asked.

"Yea this dosent feel right. Why don't we just gut the runt and throw him to the birds." Another rebel asked."

They were restless. They needed their next move from their leader Samson the Brave. Most new im as the Mountain, massive jade glaive with a golden dragon hilt. Rudra would never mistake a Langston. He stepped off the steps of bronto gate and staring at the thick chested warrior. Even from across the camp he could feel the contempt looking at his back.

"Midas guide your blade safely in battle." A booming voice called out rising. He stood at least a chest over the other men. "Those are the words spoken before any Dreacon Raanger draws his blade. Do you know those are the last words of most of my fallen brothers and sisters?" Samson said, raising Kulshan his glaive.

"Huh? What does that have to do with me? Youre pretending like Raangers dont fight like rats in a field?" He replied confused. For centuries the Dreacon Raangers had been roaming warriors who believed in one thing. Do whatever it takes to survive. All of them living up to their names.

Instantly several soldiers shot the feet defending their fallens honor. With a raised hand he stopped the bickering instantly.

"Tell me my Prince, do you know who the Blackfist is? The real Blackfist? The Destroyer? The Beast? The Tyrant of the West?" Samson asked, planting his glaive

Rudras eyebrow furled and his lip twitched. Of course he knew who his father was. He opened his mouth slowly, thinking of each word as he spoke it.

"Yes. I know my father and all his names well. I know how he conquered Merenthrall with nothing but fire. I know he hunted the Cykern to extinction and nearly killed the World Tree. I know it all."

Samson walked slowly to the young prince. Even with his size hed shrink before the Grand Magus.

"No, everyone knows how he came to be. I mean the warlock. Soros itself is connected with the dark arts, as you know. Yjarl was founded on the establishment of soros. Unlike most bloodlines that become polluted with time they've only grown stronger." He replied, sending the camp back to work. They begun walking.

"I apologize for Raanger James. He can be a bit rabid at times. Ive punished him accordingly. Over the course of our journey I want you to think on something. 'Why would the entire world want my fathers head?'."

"I know why. Everyone wants to be him." He replied looking at his reflection in the river. The full-ironed knight sighed, looking to the skies admiring the crimson sunset.

"My Master, would know what to say. He was always better with words. I'M just saying kid give it a real thought, ehh? The Knight captain asked, turning back to camp.

Just then they heard faint yelps from across the forest. The closer they returned the louder the voices got. Instantly he bolted off in full sprint forgetting the hand bound prince. He couldn't mistake the coming retribution.It was already clear the Magus wanted things to go away quietly or else he would have sent an army.

Samson reached for his back grabbing for his glaive. Hed forgotten he planted it before leaving. TO his horror the camp was overrun with toad-hound chrimeras. There had been a massive toad the size of a bull. ON its back were dozens of small oozing holes. Through them several hounds climbing from its back croaking and breaking apart and reforming into almost a liquid feel. Around every inch of the camp their acid burned anything it touched turning it to ash in but a few moments.

"Gnurs! Leorio! Charles?!" The Captain screeched seeking cover within his camp. Their family torn to little but shreds. Many of them were half eaten. he had the face of an elf with long auburn hair.

"Ah my prince its me! Hurry, we need to escape from here. Go run!" He commanded. He raised his paintbrush and created a skeleton key, unlocking the mythril cuffs almost instantly.

" Kentworthy? What are you doing here? Did father send you?" He asked, holding his cut wrists.

"The BeastMaster Phelio hes insane. I think hes working with the kidnappers we need to go." Before getting his response he took off in the opposite direction. The Prince had a choice to make. Go back and fight or run to safety.

"Hey wait up im coming!" He yelled running through several branches and bogged water.

"May I join you on this trip up the mountain?" Another voice called out. He froze in his tracks. With the sun setting it was getting harder to see by the moment.

"No dont run child. I only wish to speak with you." It said through its fake merchant smile forgetting to sound humble. Slowly he approached Rudra from the front, somehow in the commotion hed gotten to the one person he shouldnt have. Phelio the BeastMaster. Rudra didn't respond; he just kept running.

"Ah yes, refuse my hand as your father did. We see how that turned out." He sneered from behind an oversized sleeve. Rudra turned around instantly. In the darkness something reached out striking him face first, then ribs.

A crowd of mutated toads had gathered. He had been receiving martial arcanist training since he was a boy. He preferred fighting close in hand to hand brawls. But these were byrentian pit-toads.

Rudra hadn't screamed out like Phelio thought he would. Instead he jumped back gaining range, cracking the ground with a spell. Rudra had already begun strengthening his body with soros, strengthening his back the most and distributing the rest to his legs. Phelio sicked his hounds on the lord. Slowly they circled him, always being cautious. Some of the more feral began eating away at boulders and tree bark into gravel and dust.

Rudra let his palms be flooded with soros and took a squatting stance. With each swipe of his hands he knocked he blasted the horde away of course with no time to spare theyd surround him again. No matter how many he killed they just kept coming.

The moment the horde slowed Rudra started sprinting full at The Beastmaster using soros to strengthen his forearms.

" That's enough. You both are impressive for mages of your age. Yes I can sense you Sir Kentworthy." Phelio said, drawing his bow. A distant voice yelled jumping from tree line to tree line. Just then a glowing stake appeared hovering above the broodmother hybrid. Instantly the Beastmaster turned, breaking into full sprint. "No. LEAVE MISHA OUT OF THIS!" he commanded, firing blindly into darkened tree tops.

"Ahhh. Fuck ME!" Kalfu screamed, plummeting to the ground. As he fell, so did his stake. Drop anything from high enough and it becomes deadly. With an explosion of acidic fire and furred skin thrown in every direction. With each drop of acidic fire, smoke sparked. Instantly the forest was up in flames once more.

"Don't forget about me!" Rudra exclaimed using shatter palm on the back of Phelios head. He hasn't budged, slowly he turned his head.

"Thats it? A 4 star shatter palm? You must not know who I am." He dropped his bow and suddenly appeared from within thin air." In 46 years no one has ever dared to kill Misha. Youll see an early grave for that." 5 decades of hunting proved just how adept Phelio was. Still none knew where he found such a mutated hybrid of the abyss.

He was secretive like that. Immediately the entire field swarmed every animal in a 10 mile radius. His magical flute summoned them. His long dirt washed ashen hair told you he was old.

"Rudra if you're going to rely on hand to hand combat you need to learn how to control the battlefield. That stance wont work against skilled appointments." He said in his stern and broken voice. He had been right of course.

Even full of arrows, Kalfu was still useful. He grabbed his paintbrush and created a giant stone barrier around the three of them.

"I see why the Magus called for you now." He said, touching the ground once more. Rudra solidified the wind in his hand forming jagged gale gauntlents. Phelio was stunned. His posture changed, he recalled his bow to his hands and let off a volley of zeal arrows filled with intent. "Wait....he can already wield the elements?" Phelio thought, trying to wrap his head around it. Rudra managed to make the next move first. Right cross to left jab. Right hook to left overhead heel kick. Finally ending with a spinning back elbow.

Stunned and pushed back, The BeastMaster pulled dual daggers from his back sheathes.It makes sense when you think about it. They were teaching hundreds of talented mages at Moon-Spirit and Rudra ranked number one in soros manipulation and application.

The bowman reached his hand out removing a sphere It had golden lining all over the inside like a gold trimmed toy. He had heating marbles, he threw a hand full. The first exploded sending the prince backwards. Between every marble thrown he'd managed to weave in several bow shots, knocking 3 arrows at a time. FWIP FWIP FWIP. Numerous arrows pierced his shoulder narrowly missing his heart,

The young Prince began dry heaving each arrow felt like a spear piercing his flesh. In his final moments he thought about his mother being the head Priestess. He thought about the time hed spent with his father copying everything he does. Just then his body glowed dimly. His veins ignited light blue lightning being pumped from his heart.

Zeal is a type of energy that comes from a person's soul. While soros is the manipulation of telekinetic forces. In a moment of despair zeal martial arcanists had been known to overcome the limits of their flesh and fight at their full potential. The further you develop your zeal the more you stifle your soros progression. And vice versa.

The Beastmaster quickly made his way around the large stones. There Rudra laid bloody and blowing. " From the gods to you." He pulled his dagged from his sheathe, getting low to confirm the boys death.

Rudra rolled over grabbing the knife by the hilt. With the other hand he began throwing his fist into the old hunters face. He was unphased. The hunter pinned him down once more, this time being sure to lock him down with his knee. Rudra still struggled, bucking his body. He reached and reached looking for anything. "Oh god hes gonna kill me. COME ON! COME ON!." He thought panicking.

The hunter perched his lips together letting his mouth fill with saliva and mucus. THWO. He spit in the boys eye and most of it happened to get in his mouth. His body instinctively paused, but only for a moment. Thats all it took. SHHING. The dagger pierced the boys heart. Slowly his gasps and flailing stopping.

He began falling through his mind. Seeing the memories of his life and the life of a mysterious being. A powerful being with no equal, he controlled cyclones itself. The man walked from his own memories meeting the young mage shrouded in darkness. "Yes.This will do." The disembodied voice said, laying an ethereal hand upon his forehead. "You've developed your zea lto this point without even knowing how to use it? Impressive." The voice said.

Rudra shot awake from his dream out of breath and disoriented. The dagger that lay in his heart had mow been in his hand. And there Phelio sat in his own pool of blood. By the time Rudra came to hed already stabbed the hunter over 30 times. Each strike exact and precise.

"By Midas's hand!?" He screamed trying to move his body. It felt like a mountain was on top of him restricting every movement.

He had something else coursing through his veins now, it felt like fire trapped in a bottle clawing for oxygen. He struggled there for 20 minutes more, unable to move.

[8 years later. Siege of the Temple of Tyrra]

He hadn't had time to properly rest in months and fighting Commander Rayloth would be no simple task.

"Wait, just how had you been tucked away so perfectly? Better yet how did that entire day go by with nothing more than a blur?" The wind prince asked. He stumbled from one fuck up to the next..

"Are we fighting or what? Are you awake? Fine if you wont make the first move I will." Rayloth said, and off he went. Dozens of wind lances formed behind his spear, echoing his every moment.

One by one they came down. And one by one Rudra countered and consumed the energy of the winded soros. "Do you think they call me the Wind Prince for nothing?" He said, jumping back.He slowly regained the ability to move. He snapped from his daze.

Kalfu looked worried since watching his long-time brother fight with a dead man.That and he couldn't sit still anymore. Being told to sneak around and cast spells, had always ended up as his job. The irony that his flashy power had always been used for stealth. He rose out of the chair quickly heading for the door.

Rudra used his spare time to work his muscles. Although he was listed as a wind mage he had the body of a seasoned warrior. His body reacted on its on. It closed the distance. Getting right in Rayloths chest. With a snap his eyes opened, his bishi summoned to his hand,

"I can't believe its been 8 years, and here I thought you died. As my father would say "It reeks of eldar magic..."' He asked between blade clashes. Each of their blows blew golden coins like cannon fire. Behind him Rayloth and a sea of soldiers chasing watching their every move.

As he entered the large triple-tera door he felt the soros and zeal drain from his body. He stopped deep within the chamber only feet from the statue of Tyrra. He came strolling into the fountain

As the last soldier entered the massive doors clicked behind them. Sealing the last of their power. A battle of the old days, no magic or zeal simply blades and the owners.

Unlucky for them their opponent had been the WindBreaker. Quickly he turned from Rayloth attacking his subordinates. The first three men stood their ground. With his gauntlet he banged his bishi creating a vibration. Instantly he harness the sound wrapping it around his blade. With one slash he cut through all three heavy plated knighted. With0ut their magic wards they may as well have been naked before him. He planted his blade.

"My name is Rudra Langston. ON my fathers name lay your weapons down and ill spare you.."

They began clamouring once more. This wart had already been over. THey broke the gates and sieged the citadel. They dropped their weapons one by one knowing theyd been had,

"Just like that? YOU SURRENDER JUST LIKE DOGS! No wonder your gods dead. Rayloth said, sprinting full speed at the Rudra.

Finding an open spot under a large iron bark shield Klafu cast his signature spell. 'Rainig Stakes'

Just then flaming stone stakes came raining from the ceiling. They dropped lie flies, The surrendered soldiers were peirced. Without their shields and swords they had no defense.

Rudra grimaced. This had been the standard plan they used, he'd use his fathers honor and Kalfu would sneak attack them when they had their guard down.

He started to think how he was no different than his Father, he understood why everyone wanted them dead, Every since his father lost to the Pendragon rebellion sparked across every prefecture

Rayloth stopped in his tracks, falling to his knee. It was hapeneing again, His brothers were being cut down in front of him and he was powerless to stop them, no not this time, He raised his blade to his chest whispering something to it then plunging into his chest.

"By the GOLDEN light...he detonated his heart seal." Rudra said blocking his face. The white light blindding him. Rayloth exploded. The mountains of gold turning to molten rock. Hed used the Key of Yjarl as the detonator.

A blue shield of vibrating's lighting appeared, his golden band sparkling, the parasites' was soul bound. He had just been blank about the entire situation. Again he was distracted, and on the battlefield distractions get you killed.

"I'm no demon boy. BUt I curse you. I curse youre fucking father and the swine he calls his children.I hope....no I PRAY you die his arms and he cant save you." The voice replied inside of his mind. Rudra had ta.