The Throne of Bones.

1. Tale of the Demon King.

Wolfberry: A vast expansion accommodating thousands of minor species of life, it was littered with hundreds of small villages that sought shelter from the large towns and cities on the outside, a forest full of outcasts and refugees that rested near the heart of the kingdom Magmus. 

They lived in peace from the mock, scorn, and persecution of the other species who meant them harm. 

The forest existed for thousands of years isolated from the rest of the world, self-sufficient and walled away by great Wolfberry trees that spanned its vast magnificence, thus giving it its name. 

Wolfberry trees were mammoths of the botany species, growing hundreds of feet tall within years and living far longer than any species could compare, with furry blue leaves growing from their black bark that grew no branches.  

Juicy melon-sized purple fruit would bear every hundred years at their very peaks, but very few without wings dared venture to the top. 

Inside of Wolfberry forest, you were shielded, protected, Safe. Because it was the only one of its kind, a treasure to all the world. 

As the twin suns journeyed beneath the far-flung horizon, the blue night star brought the forest to life with the light it cast that made the leaves of the trees glow like the fur of northern silver wolves. The tall lime-grass contrasted the trees with a slight yellow glow that illuminated the entire forest's paths for as far as one's eyes would allow. 

It was a sight to behold as Wolfberry forest was brought to life by the night. 

In the deep of Wolfberry, just outside of a minor town called Sarlone, stood a solitary house built several metres high on the side of a Wolfberry tree. It was in prime condition standing proudly with stairs embedded into the tree.  

Outside of that small home on the platform which held the house above ground sat three figures, their laughter could be heard through the dense forest as they made merry with their meal at the edge of the platform with their feet dangling freely off the side. 

The youngest of the three, a boy, wearing only pants made of Wolfberry fur had neck-length white hair that turned purple at the tips, slightly elongated ears and bright grey eyes. 

On his forehead were two black stubs just at the sides all highlighted by his slightly reddish skin. 

To his right was a woman with maroon coloured skin, red eyes, black hair, and purple horns stretching from the top of her head and curling just above her pointy ears on each side, she had a small pair of bat-like wings that fluttered every time she laughed. 

And to the boy's left was a blonde shirtless male with yellowish skin and large white wings that thundered behind him, his green eyes glistened with life in reflection of the rich forest around him as the other two took turns sharing the tales of their day.  

Already half-drunk, he laughed without abandon slapping his hand against the platform. 

After their dinner, the woman took their bowls and mugs and went down the staircase toward a small spring beneath the house, the others looked at the blue star that illuminated the forest.  

"Father," The youngling called, "do you have any tales you haven't told me yet?"  

"Aye, I've lived many years upon this land, and I've heard tales from near and far, from every species imaginable under the twin suns lad."  He replied with a stroke of his hairless jawline.  

"Will you tell me a good one then?" The youngling asked with eyes full of wonder, the kind of eyes one can never ignore. 

"Aye son, I will tell you a tale as old as this tree, from a time when the world of Titon was a United body, ruled by a single king." He took one last gulp of his drink before setting it aside to get his son's undivided attention. 

"Long ago, in a time before times, there was a struggle for power across the lands, that time, this country was not called Idgiá, but instead it was called Alta, it was named so by the Demon King, a monster of monsters descended from the high mountains from the lands of Néthark.."  

"The land of Demons and Dragons!?" The boy yelped excitedly; sure, this would be his father's best tale yet. 

"Aye, the land of Devils," The proud father raised his hands for silence.  

He beckoned his son closer and then without a chant or gesture, summoned magical golden light from his palms, bidding it to do his will. 

The light danced and whispered enchantingly around the boy, expanding and encompassing them both in a dome and creating the illusion of a faraway place. 

"The unnamed Demon king was greedy and wanted the entire world to do his bidding, he had unfathomable power at his disposal that could never be rivalled by any one race, his control over the weak was absolute." He raised his voice and hands, creating the image and sounds of entire countries being rampaged by the armies that served the Demon King.  

The boy could only open his mouth wide in awe and horror as the lands went up in flames one after another. 

"This was a time of great suffering for the lands, famines ravaged entire countries, and sickness was a blessing for those who sought to end their own lives but we're too spineless to do so, the King was an evil tyrant whose power could not be toppled, or so he had thought." 

The illusions went rapidly to the silhouettes of several thousands of creatures from different races marching alongside each other. 

"Nations adjoined and created the greatest army Titon had ever seen, and together, they marched toward the dark dwelling of the Demon King, together with the Dragons, they defeated him. 

"If he was so strong, how was he taken from power, how could they defeat him, A lord of unfa-thom-a-ble power?" The boy asked as the images showed him the King losing his white throne to a figure clad in Golden armour from head to toe with glowing wings and a white crown of light atop his head. 

"Good question Minto." Came a soft voice from behind him, he turned his head to witness his mother walk into the illusion and sit behind him, wrapping her hand around his waist and stretching out her other hand upward.  

Violet translucent energy raced from her hand to create an entity of darkness that stood beside the illusion of the Demon King, a figure of a woman with ashen wings. "The Demon King was betrayed by his love, a deity, she alone faced him." Minto's mother added. 

"So, he was beaten by a woman?" Minto scrunched up his nose and tilted his head. 

"Not just any woman son, this was a goddess, she was his one weakness." His mother corrected. "And when the king was betrayed, he was driven to madness, his power became so wild and chaotic that he destroyed his own body."  

"The results of this sudden cataclysm caused his entire army to vanish from the face of Titon, only his bones remained, sitting atop his throne with the hands cradling the skull, many believe that even after death he still mourns from a broken heart." His father nodded. "It is said, that whoever places the crown of the Demon King on their head will be granted his power; the power to rule over Land, Sky, and Ocean, over all off the land of Devils." 

As the story came to a close, the lingering illusions scattered in a red and yellow spectrum of light in every direction. 

"Power to rule the world." Minto mused, leaning against his mother's breasts and looking up into the blue night.  "Father, can I have such power?" Minto jumped excitedly from his seat and clenched his fists with a grand smile. "I want to rule the world!" He exclaimed on the top of his lungs. "I want to be Minto; The strongest halfling to ever exist, I'll travel the lands and nobody will ever shame you or mother again, we can live here or wherever we want to, even in the capital kingdom of Idgiá."  

"Many have tried Minto, but none have succeeded, the Throne of Bones is guarded by Dragons, the most powerful beings on Titon, to go after their most precious treasure is to court death." His mother held her palm to her cheek with a complicated smile. "Even some of my long-lost friends fell to their might." 

His father stood and glided down from the house to the bright grassy floor of Wolfberry. 

"Come strongest halfling," his father laughed from below. "Tonight, I will show you something new!" 

"Be careful Minto-" his mother tried warning him as he jumped from the platform. 

A second later, a large pair of scaly-feathered wings grew from his back and he clumsily glided down toward his father. 

"Don't worry over the lad so much Sitri, he's a growing man!" Minto's father waved from below, "Wouldn't you join us this once?"  

"I can't be bothered with your nightly antics Mithos." Sitri called back from the platform. "I'll watch you two make asses of yourselves without joining the fray."  

"Aye-Aye." Mithos pouted before turning his attention to his amused son. 

"Father, will you teach me to fight this time?" Minto pleaded as his wings folded behind him. "All you teach me are the powers of healing and light."  

"You are fourteen, Minto," Mithos folded his arms over his broad chest. "When you are ready, I will teach you all the arts I know, but until such a time, we are doctors here in Wolfberry, so you must properly learn how to tend to the ill."  

"The others do not appreciate us." Minto frowned, causing his wings to jitter in agitation. "They speak bad things of mother behind our backs, and they look at me like a monster." 

He was about to continue, but Mithos dropped his hands heavily on each shoulder and shook him. "Regardless, Minto, we earn a living by healing the many ill and injured who come to us, we are doctors, it is our livelihood." 

Minto turned his gaze with an angry frown. "It changes nothing, the world hates us because we exist, I can't forgive them."  

"You don't need to forgive them lad, but we can't live by ourselves, so you must co-exist." Mithos opened his wings wide and fanned them, causing tiny glowing insects to rise in the thousands. "A Fae only resorts to violence if it is necessary, so I will teach you a defensive skill you can use to evade and deter anyone who would seek to harm you." 

Minto's mood changed instantly, and he was suddenly smiling again. "I am only the son of a Fae." 

Mithos stood back and held his hands a foot apart before rapidly bringing them together, causing a thunderous wave of wind to explode from his hands blowing the boy off his feet and causing him to force his wings open and steady himself in the air as the howling winds quieted. "This, I learnt from my Pa, before I left the mountains of Magmus." Mithos bragged loudly. 

'What did you do?" Minto landed and ran back to him. "That was amazing!" He exclaimed excitedly. 

"It is complex, but very effective lad, by extending your magic outside of your body you can take control of the very air that surrounds you, I forced the atmosphere open, then slammed it back together." 

Minto stood there silent and motionless for several seconds before he raised his eyes and looked at his father with a complex expression.  

"How did you open up the atmosphere?" He queried. 

"Magic makes all possible," Mithos scratched his nose. "Should you learn this one skill you will never be in need of weapons." He held up a teaching finger. "Come closer, I will teach you the secrets of this skill." 

"Mithos!" Came Sitri's cry from above and they both watched her jump from the platform and flutter down with her small wings. 

"What has you troubled wife?" Mithos straightened his posture with a worried frown. 

"Across the western end of the forest, there is a dragon approaching!" She hissed before her wings suddenly enlarged into two large limbs and she took off again back toward the house.