Chapter 5. False Expectations

back to square one

I wake to the rhythmic sound of waves slapping against the wharf at the lake of waves. I stare blankly at the clouds above as the harsh summer sun beat down on my face. I still couldn't process what just happened.' I had everything planned out this time...just how...'

I lay there motionless, incredulous as to what happened in that throne room. For what seemed like an eternity I simply just laid there. There was peace at this moment.' If I could drift away, and stay like this forever...and just forget everything.'

" With the way you're lying there, I would assume you've vanquished that great evil and brought peace to the realm. But it can't be, seeing as you are back here. And only a failure would be back here." I scowl and pick my head up.

Before me, sat that wretched navy blue old man who enters my vision. Covered in pure white robes and sitting in his rocking chair and lazily dangling his fishing rod over the edge of the dock of our clan lake. That same old tune he loves to whistle devastates my ears for the thousandth time.

He reels in his line and meticulously puts a charred hunk of meat from his bait box that was indistinguishable from charcoal on his hook with the experience of a thousand lifetimes." Hey boy the bait I'm using this time around is enchanted, I'm expecting a big catch." With a throw, it instantly sank beneath the waves.

The water begins to boil and his line begins to shake violently. As if he had all the time in the world, he slowly starts reeling in his line, unbothered by whatever violent beast that was struggling under the water.

though he was facing away from me I could sense a smirk crosses that decrepit and wrinkled face. "how many attempts does this make?". I grit my teeth in an effort not to drown the old man in the boiling waves. "how many times are you going to watch your loved ones suffer hmm? how many gallons of innocent blood has been shed because of your inadequacies? how many more heads will roll for your failures BOY?"

The waves violently smash against the wharf. Water splashes my face, my body shakes with shame and guilt. Facing away from me the old man's long hoary locks of hair fluttering in the wind, despite being closest to the lake, the old man's white robes remained clean and dry, and not a droplet defiled him.

Searing anger and shame filled my lungs. Not once had he turned to face me "You have lied to me Elder Spiorad! I've tried EVERYTHING!" He finally turns to face me, his golden viper-like eyes cast a condescending gaze "EVERYTHING?" I fall to my knees Pounding the wooden planks beneath me. "Every path you have given ends in failure!" The elder was unfazed by my harsh words, his hand never stopped reeling in his catch.

He turns back to face his catch. " Then is as I feared...there's only one path to success left that I know of...but... it requires a great sacrifice, more than anything you can imagine." My chest puffs up with confidence." Do you not know who I am Elder Spiorad? A hero knows how to sacrifice! I'm willing to do whatever it takes!" The elder laughed at my newfound hope. suddenly he violently yanked his fishing rod, sending a 25ft silver-scaled shark smashing into the wharf. One look at its foaming mouth and I could tell it died before it left the water.

"Who said you had the hero to save the world?"

Those words threw me off balance, almost landing me in the lake.

"What?"

The old man's carefree expression vanished from his face. His blue wrinkled face assumed the proper look of a clan elder." Since all the other paths have failed the luxury of playing hero is no more boy. If you can't beat them join them." the sound of his ridiculous words causes a storm in my mind. "You want me to join them?"

I crouched over, clutching my head in an effort to rain in the torrent of emotions assaulting my mind." He... they...took...EVERYTHING FROM ME!" A pop sounded off in my head, I felt an ache where the demon king priced my heart. "And you want me...to do WHAT!?" The old man noticed blood flowing from my orifices. He flashed by my side, his glowing green hand laid on my forehead healing my ruptured blood vessels and calming my mind.

" I'm not asking. You will become a demon lord. Controlled opposition is the best opposition. I'll drop you off at the clan compound. You must be tired after such a long journey, so take a week's rest. I'll talk to your father." Elder Spiorad slung me over his shoulder and swiped his hand over the shark, storing it in his storage ring, and headed off into the forest.

"Boy!"

"What?"

"This time failure is not an option."

darkness began to encroach my mind that helplessness I felt in that throne room appeared once again in my heart.

'Dammit...'