A Tale of Gods, Mages and Werewolves.

The sound of the crowd echoed through the Corviiscus Arena, their chants of “ KILL HIM … KILL HIM…KILL HIM” reverberating off the walls. As I faced the persecutor, the executioner, and the royal family seated in the throne room, their collective disdain, anger, and hunger for blood stared back at me, my head already sentenced to the executioner's platter. Tears welled in my eyes as I stood at death's door. My name is Marcus Merlin, I am a 6th tier mage who served dutifully as the previous head magician for the royal family household of Ardgaroth for a total of 50 years. I started serving the royal family after me and my best friend Marcellus Ardgaroth who was the former king of our noble kingdom vanquished the being known as Fenrir, a werewolf, who together with his army of werewolves threatened the existence of humanity for over 500 years. After our victory of a bloody war between the Werewolves and the humans, we decided to found our own kingdom and rule over the surviving humans of the continent with a peaceful hand. For over 60 years after the BATTLE OF ALBION, as the people call it. King Marcellus Ardgaroth of the royal bloodline of Ardgaroth founded and ruled the New City of Paladin, a country created with prosperity and development of magic and humans in mind, until his unfortunate demise 5 years ago. His first son and only child, Marcellus Ardgaroth Junior II, being the rightful heir to the throne now rules in his father's stead, but unlike his father who was a noble and upright man, he is the very definition of a spoilt brat who thinks he can do whatever rotten thing he wants with his money and power. In his insatiable pride and greed, he harbors intentions to shatter the sacred treaty binding humans and werewolves, seeking to seize their lands and treasures for his own gain. Fueling his reckless ambition are his ill-advising wife, perpetually steering him astray, and the Council of Elders, mere pawns in the manipulative hands of his mother, Queen Kathrine Kathra Ardgaroth. She was once a close friend of mine, but fell prey to the corrupting influences of wealth and authority after her union with my dear friend Marcellus. Their collective ambition knows no bounds as they conspire to rule the continent, destroying any who dares to oppose mercilessly. They stand ready to thrust anyone daring to defy them into the clutches of death, as they now prepare to do to me. Their lust for power has transformed them into orchestrators of tyranny, manipulating the strings of governance to serve their self-serving ends. “ For the crimes of colluding with the enemy against the kingdom and the poisoning of the late king Marcellus Ardgaroth I, this traitor, the mage Marcus Merlin, shall be killed by the executioner's blade.” The shouts of approval from the brainwashed crowd, who once sang songs of praises to me and the king for saving their lives further pushed me into despair. “ Let this serve as an example to everyone who dares to go against the king, the royal family and the kingdom, that no matter who you are, what you are planning, or with whom you collude with. Justice shall always prevail.” The persecutor concludes his condemning speech as the executioner prepares to chop my head off with his executioner's Axe and I kneel in front of the executioner block. Uncontrollable tears stream down my eyes as I wonder where I had gone wrong. Amidst the chaos, I reflected on my past. I have always been known to be a peaceful and rather introverted person, I am almost always usually couped up in my tower, performing research on different forms of magic and overseeing the affairs of my Academy for The Gifted, which was a school that teaches Arts of Warfare and magic of all forms and types to all races, both human and werewolves alike. I noticed the drastic change in Kathrine behavior before anyone did. When I confronted her about it in front of the late king, she turned the tables and made it seem like I was accusing her of witchery, this made Marcellus angry and caused a little strife between us. Ever since then, I stayed away from anything that involves the kingdom and issues of royals. Maybe I am indeed to be blamed for the present state of the kingdom because I could have done better. After Marcellus' death, I tried to get a little more involved and gave council and advice to the new king but the whole kingdom has already become puppets for Kathrine, and I was too late. Now, she has devised this little plot to silence me and put an end to my intrusions in her plans. In a desperate attempt to defend myself, I cried; “ Treason? You accuse me of killing my best friend, of colluding with enemies to destroy the kingdom… What proof do you have?”. The people began to murmur and demand for proof on the matter too. “ SILENCE… YOUR KING IS BEFORE YOU.” bellowed Sir Henry. The chatter and murmurs of the crowd were silenced by the shout of the King's Head Guard, Sir Henry. The present King, Marcellus Ardgaroth Junior II pointed at me, and said; “ You… a traitor of your caliber… you want proof? Then we shall give you proof.” With a wave of his hand, he said; “ Bring me the witness, let him see the proof he seeks and die.” What I saw next, I was never expecting, the shock was more than enough to kill me even without the executioner's blade decapitating me, right there… standing before my eyes… between the king and the king's guard as a witness and proof to my crimes, was my one and only apprentice, Draven Diablos. This level of betrayal was astonishing, but the words that came out of his mouth, I was definitely not prepared to hear. “ My name is Draven Diablos, former apprentice of Marcus Merlin and has been so for over 50 years. After the marriage of the late king to our beloved queen Kathrine, he has been envious and wanted her for himself.” He said pointing at me, “ He has devised different ways to make her his, he even went as far as making love potions and spells, but has never been successful, his jealousy over took him and he decided to kill the king and take the kingdom for himself with the aid of the werewolves, but now, justice would be served.” This was too much for me to bear, I don't know what I did to deserve this, it was way too much for me to handle. With a broken heart, I said “ Mark my words, I WILL RETURN, AND WHEN I DO, I SHALL BRING CALAMITY UPON YOU ALL.” The King gave the signal to have me decapitated, and with my last moments alive, I cast a forbidden spell that only I have devised after my long hours of research and trial to understand the 7th Tier of World Principles. It was a reincarnation spell, I was to possess another body that was suitable for my immense power and strength. I must exact revenge, I must make them suffer for their greed just as they wasted my life, I shall return for my vengeance. With that, I was decapitated, my head rolling on the floor as blood splatter spread all over my once elegant and authoritative garb. The darkness enveloped me as the executioner's blade fell, severing my connection to the physical realm. In that surreal detachment, panic initially consumed me, but a glimmer of awareness pierced through, flooding my consciousness with memories. Lost in the abyss, a faint glimmer emerged, beckoning me toward an ethereal light. It felt like a call to a new purpose, a destiny beyond the mortal coil. As I drifted towards that spectral glow, a resolve surged within me—an unyielding determination fueled by my thirst for vengeance. The memories of a corrupted kingdom, a tyrant ruler, and the betrayal of my apprentice fueled the fire within me. Revenge became my resolve, an oath echoing through the darkness. Despite the unimaginable circumstances of my decapitation, a newfound purpose crystallized—to destroy from the shadows, to be the rebellion, to take back all I have lost and more, and to unravel Queen Kathrine’s manipulative hold on the realm. In that eerie void, amidst uncertainty and the spectral light, I clung to this resolve. Revenge became not just a desire but an unwavering determination, propelling me forward through the unknown, a spectral echo poised for justice. I hoped to make this work, I prayed for a second chance to do better, and at that moment, I was sucked into the Light.