THE ORPHAN

"Lord Blake! I swear, we've sent two groups of the highest ranks in the bounty hunter community! And they… they couldn't do anything…" the man insisted, kneeled on a pathetic position, regardless of his rank. The young man sitting on the throne, named Viktor, son of Orim Blake, just contemplated his guest. "Please, rise, lord Van, we are neighbors, equal in the eyes of our people, only in these thrones by the grace of our emperor," he said, just a formality, for both of them knew well who was superior. Suddenly the doors of the hall opened and a lonely figure entered. Dressed in white, her red wavy hair was outstanding, along with her emerald eyes and her porcelain skin.  She walked with elegance and confidence to the throne, ignoring the glance and reverence of the delighted crowd, and as she approached lord  Van forgot his situation and stood up trying to keep his dignity in front of her. She was one of the most important women in the elvish empire and the whole continent, a woman who defied the senseless laws of the patriarchy who ruled the elvish empire, the only woman who dared to marry a human; she was Viktor's wife: Alana Goldwing. And all the men and even women in the hall were trapped in her beauty for she was indeed beauty beyond comparison. "Sorry for my delay, my dear," she said with a melodious and lovely voice, kissing him and for one second, lord Blake got trapped on her neckline. "You… are forgiven, my darling" he managed to say. After lady Blake took her place sitting on the throne at the right of her husband, lord Blake spoke again: "I will assist you, lord Van… but my assistance has a price," as he mentioned so a creature materialized in front of lord Van. It was dressed like a butler, his muscular body was not dissimulated by the black and white of his clothes and unlike everyone on the hall, its skin was crimson, even more than lady Blake's hair and he had horns, two big horns like a sheep, a ram. With a gentle smile that revealed sharp teeth, the supernatural creature saluted lord  Van with elegance and offered him a piece of paper on a silver platter. Lord Van stepped back, just one step. He knew from tales, what that piece of paper was, but since he was desperate he needed the help of the human, the emperor had sent him there after all. He didn't trust the human, for no elf, except Alana, trusted him… and maybe the emperor too. The legends said that Viktor was said to be the hero, meant to be the doom of the elvish civilization and the savior of mankind, but at the last moment, he betrayed his own kind for no reason and became the hero of the elvish empire instead. Many elves had died because of him, so many that the empire was still weakened, but the war was over and no one dared to face the might of the new friend of the emperor, a man believed to be a demon lord on the human kingdoms; but well known in the empire, since he lived on his island, at only ten kilometers from the imperial capital. The man sitting on the throne, with his island as his kingdom, was a successful man, an inventor, a high magician, with a rare skill known as "summoner" and with a mind at the level of the emperor himself. Lord Van took the piece of paper and read it and when he did the whispers of the crowd started and three minutes later, with his laughter, they got silenced. His servants, two high casters of silver hair and dressed in silver robes got nervous and approached their master on guard, thinking his master was under a spell. "So that's the price to achieve it?" lord Van asked his host. "Once signed it can't be broken, it means no reincarnation for you; it means that you must be careful, your whole lineage must and the rewards are… well, the details are written in paragraph three," lady Goldwing said. "But… is that even possible?" lord Van asked. "Our city lost half of its population during the war and now we've doubled that number, and as you could see the island is ruled by culture and harmony," Alana added. "Well… that's true," lord Van said. "At first it was difficult for our population, but once they got adapted… there was no going back and the result is this," Viktor added, pointing at the many masterpieces painted on the walls, the statues, the golem guardians, and many other wonders. "We have an agreement then, lord Blake, but I want those creatures to be erased from my lands immediately," lord Van said. "I'll take care of them on the time specified on the contract. That is my word, my law and it won't be broken," lord Blake answered. Lord Van couldn't say a word, he just nodded in resignation as he felt the burning stare of the devil butler, who was disgusted because Van tried to demand something from his master. Van took the pen and signed on the paper and as soon as he did the invisible pressure he felt disappeared. "Raphael, you will be the new assistant of lord Van, for a while, please explain to him what we expect of his administration and if it's the case that lord Van is not who rules his domain, let the ruler know our new status. For the rest, you know what to do," Viktor said. The devilish butler made a reverence to his master and then to lord  Van. "I'll be at your service, my lord," the devil said to lord Van and Van nodded. That was on the deal, so no surprise. "Thank you so much, lord Blake, lady Goldwing! I'll be eternally grateful!" lord Van said, genuinely, and after he made a reverence to both his hosts, he left the hall with his servants and Raphael. The meetings of the day had ended. Later on the armory, Johan Ironhammer the blacksmith of the house showed his master his new weapon, a wheel gun, in words of the dwarfs: "a more civilized weapon". "What's gonna be this time kid?" Johan asked. He was old, his hair was completely grey, but he looked strong and he was, indeed, powerful. Johan knew his master, Viktor, since he was a kid. "Lesser demons, perhaps a devil lord, a master lich… an entire army," Viktor answered, admiring the wheel guns. "That explains why that elf looked that desperate…" Johan added. "Is his problem your minions?" "..." Viktor didn't answer but looked at the dwarf, disappointed. "What? I had to be completely sure!" Johan defended himself. "Alana said that you would say so… And now it seems that we will get a puppy because of that," Viktor continued. "Cho is not gonna be happy… I'm sorry, Viktor, but… he's a spoiled cat, the house needs a puppy, don't get offended Verdrew, rather than a dragon," Johan apologized. A roar was heard. "He got offended…" Viktor commented. "I told you not to get offended!" the dwarf shouted. "Insolent dwarf…" said a powerful voice. "If I weren't that busy…" "You lazy lizard! You sleep the whole day, every day!" the dwarf complained. "I'm... sleeping, I can't... hear you… flea," the dragon said. His lair was on a cave, on the highest peak on the island, just behind Viktor's castle. "How dare you!" the dwarf said, now he acted offended. Dwarfs couldn't stand dragons, and dragons, as powerful as they were, didn't mind about that… until they got annoyed, something so easy to achieve for a dwarf. But those two were close friends. Viktor just admired them, for in other circumstances their friendship wouldn't have been. "You are a good friend, Johan," Viktor added. "How do you know I'm not doing this because of the deal?"  Johan asked. "You know well why, my friend," Viktor said and left the dwarf and the dragon to work. As his friend left, Johan took his pipe, lit it, and started smoking, thinking about the past, about how he had ended at the service of the kid, of that admirable man, one of the most powerful men in the world, a man who had deals even with gods. The smoke, flew, up and up, as the memories of the old dwarf returned to the day they met, the tragic day when Viktor became an orphan. "Verdrew, let's build another flamethrower... A more durable one, with holy flares!" the enthusiastic dwarf said. Holy flares were Verdrew's weakness, but they also were of any demon and devil. Viktor admired the island from the tower on the highest peak, he saw Verdrew and Johan talking below, he saw everyone on the island, occupied on their pacific lives; not that needed to go there to do so, not that he liked to do so, but his new status required him to do it. Still, he really enjoyed his old ways so when he needed to see how was his kingdom, he went to his tower. It was peaceful there, enough for him to hear. His eyes, with a burning spark, nearly imperceptible, on his pupils, admired what he had created. "The high king is waiting for us," Alana said, behind him, intertwining her fingers with his. She was one of the few who could, still, surprise him. "It was a good tale to tell," he commented. "No, you are wrong! It's a good tale and it will continue! We'll make sure of that!" she said, he smiled and then they disappeared…  To High Heaven. The wind blew.