Patron of the End

Maiguh listened to the girls words but made no reaction. The three girls seemed to disappear after that. Onicent had a strange look on his face as he regarded his brothers. He composed himself carefully before addressing Maiguh.

"A leader will need his own space, don't you think?"

Maiguh considered this carefully. He suspected a trap, but deep down he was trusting, he believed that his brother must have listened to his mother's warning and taken it to heart.

"I suppose."

Onicent grinned at him in a warm and friendly way. "I know just the place for you then."

Perhaps Maiguh was a fool to trust him. He allowed himself to be lead deeper and deeper into the cave, but the constant stream of endorsement from Onicent kept him trusting his brother. Dauntice followed silently. Onicent lead him to a portal, that reminded Maiguh of the void where his mother lived. Somehow it felt like home.

"Step in and then come back."

"Aren't you going to come with me?" Maiguh felt a small amount of suspicion now. But Onicent sensed this.

His next words were crafted carefully, "I'll be right behind you, but it would be rude of me to go first."

Maiguh wanted to insist he went first, but also didn't want to seem afraid. Onicent sounded reasonable to Maiguh for just long enough for him to step into the portal. Then he was spinning through darkness. He found himself on a barren island in the middle of the void with no way back. It was then he realized he'd been tricked.

"Mother?" He called into the darkness.

From far below something stirred. Then he felt her come.

"My poor, poor child," she crowed, "how could your brothers do this."

He sat on the edge and contemplated jumping in to join her. But she cautioned him not too.

"I have a gift for you," she said. He felt an odd feeling in his body, he watched himself darken till he was deep purple like the void its self. Power ran through him as well.

"What have you done to me mother?" he asked.

"I have made you patron of the End," she said, her voice was sad.

"Thank you mother," he said.

"I have a second gift, you will find it on the other end of this island, go now."

Maiguh turned away from his mothers voice and walked the length of the island to discover his next gift. Already he felt different, if Onicent had challenged him again he would have fought back. When he reached the end he was surprised to find the three girls who had sprung forth from the lava. Each bowed deeply to him.

He was perplexed by the action and implored them to tell him who they were.

"We are your daughter's born from your very blood. When it contacted the lava, grandmother made us." Each girl had a shade of purple in her skin and hair, the lightest of the three spoke next.

"My name is Dinetee, these are my sisters Endra and Nevlin." She motioned to each girl in turn.

Maiguh was perhaps a bit shocked to learn he was now a father, but instantly he felt a strong love for each of his children. They were pretty, yet he could tell they were powerful, and ready to aid him. He silently promised himself he'd keep them safe from his own fate.

He turned to the void, "thank you mother."