THREE - THE LOST ELDER
993 Words
The evening wind whispered through the great trees, scattering weak, dying leaves across the snow-crusted courtyard of Lord Oxinavil.
Yosuke stood shivering beside three other demigods. They had waited since dawn.
Finally, a guard appeared. “Lord Oxinavil requests your presence,” he said, leading them inside.
The heavy wooden doors creaked open to reveal a chamber of dazzling opulence. Silken drapes shimmered in the torchlight. Jewels glittered from golden statues one of a warrior with a diamond-encrusted blade while silver cups sat neatly upon an ornate wooden table.
But none of it drew their eyes for long.
At the far end, sitting upon a throne-like chair, was Lord Oxinavil.
The Low God of Water radiated a crushing presence, his body broad and armored, his skin faintly glowing with a shifting blue sheen. The air itself felt heavier in his presence.
The four demigods dropped to their knees.
“Zactire. Foxtriot. Azartenious. Yosuke.” Oxinavil’s voice boomed, echoing across the chamber. “You will travel to the Void Realm. There, you will collect a blade from Lord Kareivis. Deliver it to me at once.”
“You leave by sunrise. Dismissed.”
Yosuke hesitated, then blurted out before he could stop himself: “My Lord… what is the blade for?”
The temperature in the room plummeted.
Oxinavil’s face darkened. In an instant, the table between them exploded into splinters as his fist slammed down with monstrous strength.
“Do not question me, boy!”
The god raised his hand. Yosuke collapsed, screaming as every drop of water in his body seemed to wrench itself outward, vomiting water onto the floor. His veins bulged, his eyes bloodshot.
The other demigods stepped back in fear, bowing their heads lower, not daring to intervene.
Oxinavil’s fingers tightened, and Yosuke’s agony deepened.
Then, suddenly, he released his grip.
“Let this be your warning,” Oxinavil said coldly. “Next time, it will be your death.”
Yosuke crumpled to the floor, panting and shivering as his body slowly rehydrated itself.
“Get out of my sight.”
---
Outside, Zactire placed a hand on Yosuke’s shoulder, helping him up.
“Be careful with your tongue,” the demigod of constructs said grimly.
“You’re lucky you aren’t dead already,” added Foxtriot, his breath visible in the cold air.
“Meet us at the Realm Gate by dawn,” said Azartenious, the spear-wielder. “We depart together.”
Yosuke only nodded, still shaking.
---
The moonlight bathed the streets as Yosuke stumbled home, lanterns flickering in the wind.
“You look like a bag of smashed rocks,” his brother said flatly when Yosuke walked in.
“And you,” Yosuke groaned, collapsing on his bed, “are a piece of sh...”
Double-S smirked. “So… how’d it go with Oxinavil?”
“I’m going to the Void Realm with some veterans,” Yosuke muttered. “We’re retrieving a blade… forged by Lord Kareivis.”
Double-S whistled. “Sounds fun.”
“When I thought my day couldn’t get worse,” Yosuke added, staring at the ceiling.
“Oh? What happened to you?”
“I got trashed by Emaniel and Lord Tzenteech’s brats,” Double-S said.
They both laughed bitterly.
“Goodnight. Long day tomorrow.”
“Night.”
---
Dawn.
A sharp clang echoed through the prison a blade striking against the iron bars.
“You. Get up.”
Two guards hauled Xingho from his cell.
He turned back toward the corner where Lord Cacreed sat, still meditating. “It was… nice meeting you, my Lord,” Xingho said softly.
“Take care, young lad,” the old god whispered without opening his eyes.
Xingho was freed moments later. He didn’t stop to breathe... he ran.
---
“Idina!” Xingho called, spotting her along the road.
She stopped, confused by his urgency. “You? What do you want? Looking to fight Yosuke again?”
“I’m less concerned about that,” Xingho said, catching his breath. “I need to apologize… and ask him something important. Where is he?”
What’s gotten into him? she thought.
“Don’t really care,” Idina said. “But Double-S told me Yosuke left on a mission to the Void Realm. Something about retrieving a blade…”
“Why are you here?” Double-S interjected, appearing beside her, eyeing Xingho suspiciously.
“I need your help,” Xingho said earnestly.
“We’re training,” Idina replied bluntly.
“Yup. Busy. Maybe later… or never,” Double-S added with a smirk.
“I’m serious. Please. Hear me out.”
They exchanged glances, surprised by his tone.
“Fine,” Idina said at last. “Beat the two of us in a sword fight. Then we’ll listen.”
“Deal.” Xingho ran toward the arena.
“He’s dead,” Double-S chuckled as they followed.
---
Meanwhile…
Realm Gate, Dawn.
Metal clashed as Yosuke and his companions armed themselves.
“Pick your weapons,” Foxtriot said, strapping on his shield.
Azartenious hefted his spear. Zactire coiled his whip. Yosuke took a sword and a bow with a single quiver of arrows.
They donned hardened leather armor and mounted their horses.
---
The journey was long. Cold winds cut across the sandy shoreline as they rode.
A hundred miles passed. Then, suddenly
The sea erupted.
A massive beast burst from the dark waters, its scaled body glistening, jaws snapping as it lunged onto the shore.
The horses panicked.
The creature slammed into Azartenious’s steed, tearing it apart. The demigod fell to the sand, weaponless, as the beast coiled to strike again.
“Watch out!”
Yosuke’s voice cut through the chaos. He was already moving dashing forward, bow in hand. He leapt onto his horse, twisting midair, and loosed an arrow.
It buried itself deep into the monster’s glowing eye.
The beast shrieked, collapsing at Azartenious’s feet.
But its body twitched. And slowly… it began to rise again.
- Writer
