Chapter 48: The Gates Of Fate

Vociferous, shrill, and piercing-the first cry of the newborn infant signals that a new and separate life has begun. Such loud joyous noises were heard. It was the day that Lyzelle's heart was filled with happiness and contentment. The same goes for the man who was beside her, who was smiling from ear to ear.

But, it wasn't the same for Ambroz. It was far from happiness nor sadness. It was the start of his predicament, a predicament right after images flash through his eyes.

The infant had its eyes close but when he opened his eyes. Ambroz was just standing from afar as he was invited to join with them too. After all, these people treat him as their family now. When the baby stared at him, it stopped whining and met his vermillion eyes.

He was unaware of what went through his head but the eyes of the newborn child led him to see images.

It was a man, he saw a man who was looking at him with such affection. He panted and his heart beats as fast as the horse gallops. And that man had such pale skin, he was facing this man and it may sound odd but their distance was as close as when lovers make love.

Then he heard murmurs. That murmurs slowly but steadily became loud and clear. Turn out it was Elena calling him out.

"Ambroz! Ambroz!" It echoed inside his head and the images stopped flashing.

He chased for air and gaze at Elena's face. She was holding his face worried and bothered by the sudden behaviour. He roamed his eyes just to see Lyzelle and Ganord staring at him with concern.

"Are you alright?" Elena asked.

"I-I'm alright... I-I just need some air." He exclaimed, still panting and distracted. He removed Elena's hands from his face and headed outside.

Elena looked at her daughter before following Ambroz. She caught Ambroz who looked as if his stomach was aching. She knows what is going on with his head. She went on her way, stood beside the man who still was in shock.

"Tell me, what did you see?" She asked.

The atmosphere froze for a second. He was caught off guard, he almost has forgotten about it but Elena is a white witch fresh in the flesh. Her crew of mystical spells or sorcery is put to work almost every single day. She might know what it was.

"I don't know. When I saw that kid's eyes, I saw a man. A man whose face is unfamiliar and a stranger to my memory. Remembering it makes it harder for me to breathe. I feel suffocated, I should head back to my cave." He panicked, his eyes were hazy and it was shaking.

Elena furrowed her brows, she asked herself what help could that image be. Her plan to cure Ambroz was yet to be done, she had tested it on him multiple times. But everything was still lacking. Something's missing and she can not seem to be picking up on what it is.

"I think you should rest. You can stay in one of our huts but if the forest calms you down the most. Then, you should proceed on it." She advised and tapped his shoulder.

Ambroz nodded ad was about to leave when,

"Theon Bartleby-Everson." She introduces.

"What?"

"It's the child's name."

Ambroz gulped and nodded. "I will try to remember it."

Ambroz then left and went inside the deep forest. Elena watched as his back faded over the tall and slender trees loitering from the ground.

"Don't worry, Ambroz. I have already dedicated my life to helping lift up your case. No matter what it takes." She whispered to herself.

Somehow, she felt a presence staring behind her and so she gaze at him and her husband Bergen was waiting for her in the hut. Leaning his shoulders on the wooden walls, crossed arms, and blank expression. She puffed up some air before walking toward him.

"What is this sudden panic in my chest? Creator, tell me your thoughts."

—

(Sometime after the daughters met their lovers from the other side)

Across the vast ocean, down in the depths of the sea, blues of waves and bubbles conquered in. It was a peaceful day, just like any other. The same ol' breeze blowing through the tides. The reefs were expanding and the sea-land was quiet. Not even the unusual creatures threw a tantrum.

But, on this day was another start. A reborn. The so-called resurrection of the evil. The rise of the forsaken kind.

Aranyani failed to check the oceans and there locates the frozen body of the witch Ravyn. When everyone thought that their kind who are flawed has already been extinct, here she was being floated by an evil conqueror. A conqueror who undertakes massive land for his own good. He was not from any other dimension as the border has already been completely sealed by the goddess's strength.

He was a conqueror of the same world as theirs and he carries on the history of the "Immortal Conqueror", named Novak. He is terror, merciless, and the fearsome conqueror there has ever been in this world. The only land that he failed to embark on right up to this day was because he knows about the cursed being and the undeniably powerful goddess living in the same land. He has heard of the legend before, the legend among the witches and the goddess.

And he needs an alibi who knows how to make evil doings work more efficient. And for years of lying low, now was the right time to collect his alibi.

"You have slept for so long and now I will pick you up." He exclaimed, with his hands on his back, his hair who's long but laid back, he stood on the ship watching his men bringing the frozen corpse of the witch.

"Master," a follower called out to him.

He strode and head towards the witch, she was already on the ship and they had dropped down a fabric.

Men started covering their noises as an obscure and atrocious smell lingered. The smell was too foul that even their pride was shattered.

"Get me my sword." He demanded to his right hand, Ludovic.

Ludovic ran over to the cabin and grabbed his silver sword. It was not just any sword. It was the sword to run over a flawed being and revive them. Indeed, he knows the crevices of the creator's mistake.

Ludovic gave him his sword, he took it in one hand and instantly stabbed it onto the corpse's chest. Where the blade crashed and pierced her darkened heart. Once again, the coldness of her body faded and her pale skin was shown. Her skin creases were revealed but her face was still clear to them, it is THAT witch.

Ravyn opened her eyes and harshly took a breath. She stepped back and made a fuss. Ravyn's chest went up and down as she roamed her eyes around and what caught her sight was the man holding a sword. Strangely enough, she stood up and immediately went up and clung on to Novak. Novak made a disgusted face but he never pushed her over

"Master—"

"Let her, Ludovic. After all, I have risen her from the depths of the sea, brought her back to the surface, and now she is under my control." With strong confidence, he exclaimed. He gripped Ravyn's chin with one hand and gave her his deadly stare. "You shall know my name. Novak, and we shall make a deal."

A strong force hit Ravyn's mind and she called him, "My love, you saved me. I will grant you any deal you wish to seal."

The men looked at each other and each one of them did not catch up on what was happening between the two.

"Very well," he plastered on a brutal smirk and raised his head to look upon a far land. "Do you remember this land? This is the land where you ravage the innocent lives of many and created a wreck, cursing a human being and turning him into a vicious creature, a Dragon."

Ravyn faced the land and for a few seconds of staring at it, her eyes widened in excitement and her sane was not concealed. She went and walk her way on the edges of the ship and devilishly laugh. She smeared horribly and Novak knows what was coming.

"I can feel it, that dragon is still alive. That goddess who did this to me and there are people living in it." She said breathlessly and her awful look, scrunch the men's faces. "How long has it been?" She raised a question.

Novak cleared his throat. "If the tales and legends were true. I suppose it has been over five centuries now."

Ravyn was stunned to her bones but instead of shock, she was filled with wrath and hatred. She gripped the grills of the ship and veins bulged through her skin.

"Five centuries ago and I was frozen to death? I have not done what I was supposed to and dominate every single living there is. And now I have awakened to only go under this man? Who does he think he is?" She mumbled which no one heard.

"What are you mumbling about?"

She flinched and faked her smile before turning her gaze at the man. "Nothing, what is the deal?" She asked.

Novak let his right hand hold his sword and headed towards Ravyn's stand.

"I suppose you do not know who I am, still," he began his introduction. "Despite knowing my name, your ability to read through humans' past and memories, have they gone rusty or did I pick the wrong witch?"

Ravyn was pissed and was about to throw hands but she stopped herself. She remembered that even after all this, this man is not just her saviour but is something else. "You're no human, I can feel it." She asserted and narrowed her eyes.

Novak avoided her gaze and look up into the sky. "You're right, my flesh is in no way considered as human. I also do not contain any treacherous magic just like you. You can not sort me in any way. You shall only know my name and that is enough." He demanded.

What a manipulative, b*stard.' Elena thought.

"The deal is, I wish to conquer this land. But, within my power alone is no match for that serpent and that goddess there. Now, you may say that the goddess is put to sleep but she won't let her guard down if she knew there are evil trespassers within her land. That's why, I have used my left power to revive you and that is now your purpose, to serve me. I don't care whatever you do with that serpent, whether you will take control of its curse, but as long as I can control this land and slaughter as many lives as I can." He stated his wants.

"Well, I can not guarantee you that you can control this land, slaughtering the people may not be too impossible. However, it appears you know about the legends before? Then, you should also know how it killed my mother Gwydion. She is weak but not as weak as you. I agree, in terms of handling the dragon but I would need time to get a hang of its curse. After all, it was not me who cast this to him." She explained.

"What's your plan?"

"I say, we should put the dragon to our side and that will give you more power to conquer whichever land you wish to take. A serpent by your side is enough, isn't it? Besides, your slaughtering kink will be filled with this many people here, right? Not to mention, white witches." She smirked while her eyes had no expression on them.

It took Novak a while to agree with her. The tension between them was intense that even the people around started to become anxious just by looking at them.

"Very well. I assume you know what you are doing."

He turned his back to her and asked his people to set position.

"I know very well what I am doing, my love." She walked towards him and while she did, she held one man from Novak's people.

This man panicked. "M-master! W-w-what is she doing?" Shaking and whining, his voice trembled upon the witch's grasp on his neck. He was losing air.

Novak turn around and his brows furrowed. "What do you think you're doing?"

Ravyn smirked. "I need a soul to fix my obnoxious state. I can not be with you, who's such a handsome being when I smell like this don't I? One soul won't hurt, don't they?"

First and foremost, this is just the start of their unity and this is her welcoming thanks. Ravyn knows what she can and can't do, but knowing how desperate the man is with her. This will be a test of whether she can use this man or not.

The man that she was gripping, shook his hand multiple times to Novak, begging him to disagree with the witch's wants.

Novak gave them a hard stare. "One soul and that's enough, Ravyn." Said Novak and proceed to walk towards the steering wheel as nothing happened.

Ravyn faced the man.

"P-please no! Not me! Master, why— ghk—"

Ravyn hurriedly sticks her lips on the struggling man and with that, she sipped his slow out of his body and swallowed it making her eyes glimmer their true colours. While the man was being swallowed, his skin creased, crumpled, and dried up. He was rotten and Ravyn dropped him on the ground with no mercy. Her conscience was nonexistent.

The men who were watching widened their eyes but refused to talk. They saw how powerful the witch was and how unwavering their master was with this happening. He cared for this witch more than anybody on this ship. It appears that they are both just using each other for their own benefit.

Ravyn looked as if she filled up her thirst. "Ha!"

The seaweeds faded, her creased face lessen, and the wretched smell disappeared. She was brought to her life once again. But, she can't retrieve her flawless skin and irresistible beauty. Her mother died and the magnificence came along with her. She was mad but what was more important was the power she still has.

"I thought I'd said that I needed more time to study this? What do you think you are doing attacking without any plan?" She asked and traced Novak's steps.

Novak looked at her. "No, we're heading back to my dominion."

Just as he said, they did sail the other way around. And what place they come in to, made the witch's glorious days. She did not expect to see the picture-perfect place she once lived in. Although, the volcano here was much bigger and angrier, and the tower was built differently. Nevertheless, the surface had the same tinge to it. It all spelt darkness and evil.

"Have you created this knowing that you will save me, my love?" She smiled, it wasn't pretentious.

Novak glared at her. "Who do you think you are getting your hopes up the hunch? The way I create my domain has nothing to deal with your existence. The lapse in our time overlaps each other, this happening is to be expected, don't you think?" He explained it loud and clear.

But, Ravyn ignored him. "That's so sweet of you!"

Even the men made a disturbing look. This witch was getting on their nerves.

"She has guts even after just reviving, what'ya think mate?" Whispered by one of the men to the other.

The other agreed. "I think so too. Murdering our troop just like that for her selfish wants. What an arrogant beast."

Eventually, Ravyn heard them and hissed. The men walked away with fright in their eyes.

These men thinking I can not hear them? What a bunch of brats.' She thought and rolled her eyes.

Later on, Novak gave her the roundabouts of his dominion. The land below had broke structures which were his workplace, creating metal weapons and silver points, which is called as bullets. Ravyn has never seen such a thing before. All she knows was swords and shields. Now that a time like this has come, this era has added to her strength. Silently, she thought of many ways to use them.

After that, they went inside the tower and Ravyn was impressed. She was awestruck at how huge was it inside. A bunch of blank books, there were potion bottles around. And even a round-shaped crystal.

"This crystal," she went and run her hands on it.

"I'm not certain if it will be put to use. But see if you can settle with it." Novak walked close to the table.

"Where did you get this from?" Ravyn got curious and asked.

She was sure only powerful beings can create such a thing. Her mother created a crystal-like this and it was hard enough for them to find one.

"I have my ways." Novak then exclaimed.

She did not mean to pry any further. From then on, she was tasked to do explosions and cacophony of the terror stuff. Everything was new and yet she was pleased to know that it will be the purpose to slaughter. Even the guards were stunned at how her spells were anger raging.

Before Novak left the tower, she stopped him. "I know what you are." With her seducing tone, she said.

Novak had his back faced to her but his head turned slightly. "Oh, you do?"

She smirked. "Oh yes, I do. Judging from you just reviving me. You are no wizard of some sort. Either was you a god. You had no powers within your hands but you do not age nor die as easy as human beings do. I reckon even these men of yours won't understand just which kind are you. But," she walks slowly. "With my strength and vision, I realized that you are indeed a fallen disciple from above."

Novak widened his eyes in shock. He was found out. "How?"

"I have lived longer than you do in this land. I have read books about our creator and why we have existed. It was my mother's book but I'm a persistent one, you see. There are white witches, the ones that were flawless creations. And us, evil witches who were called flawed. And you, are the ones who are the right hand of his God. But, turns out you have been thrown away from your kind."

"I wasn't thrown away, you nosy witch!" Novak shouted.

"If not then what is it?"

Novak looked at her, and if looks could kill, she'd be dead.

"I- I was..." He stuttered but gulped. "The other of my fellow kind betrayed me. That's it."

He left her in the tower alone and she was quite disappointed to hear so few from such a mysterious story.

"What could have happened then?"

This was the start of her awakening and this is the time she shall reign. Knowing the title of the greatest witch is still on, she shall forge and execute her plan, well done. Until she could get her hands on that dragon, she see no problems in getting on with this plan.

"Just you wait, Ambroz. Just you wait."

-

(Back to the same day when Lyzelle's son was born)

He felt sick inside, Ambroz started to feel the flames and heat rosing up from his inner to his throat. He was wobbling as he slumped himself inside the cave. It was almost night and the moon was peeking through the edges of the sky.

When he thought it was just a day when Lyzelle's son will be born, it was more than that. After those vague images, he was back to his gore state. Where he himself entitled it as his disgusting phase.

It was the truth, he thinks. It was disgusting and inhumane.

He was a monster.

Ambroz's lower half started to beg and he couldn't ignore it. He could never.

One then led to another, a few people came to his cave and most of them were women. Their purpose was to share a meal with this man. They followed him inside the deep forest as they know that Elena would soon after be there. But, she was too late.

The women saw his state. He was out of his mind and tried attacking them. The women shouted and feared him just like the first time they did. Well, he was once again the distrustful one.

"Aahh!"

Shouts and squeals, then they ran outside. They were afraid and was frightened by the horns and scales on his face. He was losing it. Unlike before, his heat was stronger and more penetrated. He can feel it as if someone was controlling it.

When the women told Elena about this, it was that exact moment when Ambroz, no longer has the same in himself.

It was back. Someone was back.

———————

ABYSSCESS