Chapter 11 // Leokin Uther

22 stood there lost in his thoughts. Missing how loud & boisterous the environment was, he looked around his hometown.

The Orphanage itself was settled not too far from the center of the city, one of the most popular spots. The surrounding streets filled with stalls & shops, merchants selling services & items- to passerby in the vicinity. The sun brightly shining on the rustic shops and smaller homes.

A beautiful sight. He felt at peace in that moment.

And right after...His eyes became hazy.

Blinding pain shot into his brain, his perception clouded- he couldn't see. Darkness clouded him and his judgment. His mind succumbing to a wave of mana.

22 gasped. Searing pain.

Visions of fire, civilizations collapsing, were they from the past or future... it didn't make sense. People all around him were running away- the dark night had managed to hide a terrifying presence within it. But 22 could feel it. The eyes. The presence. Staring right at HIM.

---

"Take a look at you kid - ain't too smart, just standing there looking like an idiot, Cerra forbid that someone could just run you over... please let someone run you over" a voice startled Cain out of his vision.

What exactly did he see?

The light of the sun invaded his eyes...wasn't it night time just a moment ago? His eyes widened.

A quick turn showed a looming figure dressed in a purple mage robe. A skeleton wearing a purple mage room...

"Ah..." Cain looked above, staring at the black eyes of the skeleton. "Sorry"

"Hm??" The skeleton figure, tilted its head to the side- staring right back at 22.

"Ya see me kid?"

"You're a bloody skeleton, of course I can see you" 22 couldn't really disregard the magical undead being right in front of him.

"I hope you're not trying to steal children "

The undead stared at the boy. " You're not supposed to see me..." He paused and looked deeper at the child in front of him.

"Did you just accuse me of trying to steal children?"

He burst with laughter.

"He can see me. Someone young as you... how old are ya"

"7.. nearly 8" the boy stood, stuck his chest out, pushing the visions to the back of his mind, he wanted to present himself. In the present. Although his soul was the age of a middle aged man. His appearance presented himself as a young child. Cute.

The undead being stood there, staring at the child in front of him- the empty spaces where eyes used to be.

--

I stood there dumbfounded. I never saw a lich before- not at this age, my mana hand't developed yet- so why now? The only conclusion I could reach right now would have be the Schism... void energy? I turned my gaze back to the lich, he was a skeleton, so no facial features. I could tell, he was very interested. His head.. skull, tilted slightly.

"Well, as intriguing as this is kiddo- I'm going to have to run some errands. Your eyes are quite the thing. What're you doing out here wondering? You stay with the Orphanage?"

22 nodded, the Lich had no facial expressions, so it was hard to interpret what the undead being was thinking.

"Hmm well I might come around some time- it's very rare for someone your age to be able to see me at all. Consider yourself lucky kid- well, I'll be heading off now, make sure to stay safe. Uther's trial is going to held soon and the streets will most likely be full."

"Ah, okay Sir- I'll be heading back too... thank you for the heads up."

The Lich nodded, and headed down the road. He turned around.

"You're calling me sir now?... Brat" The lich cackled, shaking its head and continued walking.

To the palace gates...

22 stood, shocked. One was that this lich, this undead being was heading into one of the most secure and guarded places in the continent. Secondly, how did he end up near the palace?

He was just outside the Orphanage moments ago...

22 looked around, people bustling.

The Palace itself just behind him, guarded by Centurions- a defensive line surrounding. More correctly, the Palace was above him. Way up in the sky. What was behind him would be the Forum. The only place one could get access into the Palace itself.

The Forum stood center, the front façade of the building was adorned with a row of columns, forming a portico. These columns supported a triangular pediment at the top, which were decorated with reliefs depicting the foundation of Stormhold. Elevated on a platform or a set of steps, emphasizing their significance and creating a sense of grandeur.

The steps led up to the entrance of the building, just where moments ago, the undead being had entered.

The city center was structured around the forum a circular grid-like pattern of streets and avenues that radiate outward from the historic center.

22 sighed, he couldn't make sense of the sudden jump from the Orphanage to the center, nor did he care to. His eyes started throbbing and the noise of the center started getting on his nerves. As he was about to leave the center; he stopped dead in his tracks.

The lich mention Uther... Leokin Uther??

His face turned grim. Heading towards the Orphange, 22 tried to recall all about the Trial of Leokin Uther...