Chapter 1
1930 Words
The world was a dark void for those who lived in fear… of creatures whose origins were unknown, beings not of God's creation. A glimmer of hope appeared with the birth of a child they called "The Chosen One," the savior destined to deliver them from darkness. A child blessed by the heavens, born under the brightest star in the sky.
He was the son of the general imperial guard, born in 1023. His name was Cassius Donatello (Cassius meaning hollow and empty, Donatello meaning gift). His father molded him into a valiant and feared warrior.
**Cassius' POV**
I am a warrior whom others look up to, a warrior who brings light and hope. Everyone admires my strength and courage in battling the creatures that plague the mortal realm. But this fame came at the cost of my freedom.
They claim I was chosen by God to save mankind, all because of the dazzling star that shone the night I was born… I know it's merely the desperate hope of people seeking an end to their fear. But this fabricated story has become the cage of my life.
My father forced me to be a warrior, against my will. I'm trapped by a burden placed upon my shoulders, unable to escape. My hands are stained with blood, a mark that no amount of washing can erase. It's etched into my heart and mind, making me feel worse than the monsters I've slain.
My actions are seen as righteous, yet I can't shake this heavy feeling. Should I feel guilt? Or was my slaughter justified because of their folly?
But… the woman before me now, her gentle face stops me. Her gaze… I feel the sorrow in her eyes. I’m frozen. What is this? Her look seems to tame my wild heart.
I clutch my chest, feeling a sharp pain. Her effect on me… it feels like my heart is being squeezed.
"Who are you? W-what are you doing to me?" I stammer.
She slowly approaches…
"Cassius! Kill her!" I hear my father's roar.
But I can't move. When she gets close, she gently touches my cheek.
"Our hearts are connected… for we are destined for each other," her voice, soft and gentle, is like music.
I snap back to reality at my father's scream, "Don't listen to her, son! Don't be fooled by her gentle face! She's a monster! Kill her!!"
Her soft hands, rosy lips, and angelic face… so far from a monster.
She shakes her head slightly, bringing her face closer until her breath touches my skin. "You are the twin of my flame… and we were destined to meet—"
"Cassius! If you don't kill her, she'll kill us!" my father adds, snapping me out of it.
"I won't hurt you," she whispers softly.
"Son!"
I grip my sword's hilt. Without a word, I stab the woman, as my father commanded. "I was only deceived," I say firmly.
She clutches my shoulder, losing her balance. To my shock, she coughs up blood! I freeze.
"W-what… how did that happen?" I look at my father, who's equally stunned.
Her blood… unlike the black ink-like blood of the monsters… is red, like human blood.
My hand trembles as it's stained with her blood. My mind is in chaos. Is she human? But she displayed inexplicable power. I saw her blaze like a fire, dazzling like the sun.
Her body falls to the grass; I remain frozen, my mind a whirlwind. My father is behind me, placing a hand on my shoulder. "Let's go, son."
"D-did I kill a p-person? F-father?" I stammer, dropping my sword.
"No… your decision was right. She was a monster. You knew that," my father replies.
"But she didn't hurt us?!"
"Wake up, Cassius! We wouldn't be here if she wasn't causing trouble! You did the right thing!" My father picks up my sword and pulls me away from her body.
As I leave my room, I hear the people's screams. I know what it means… I grab my weapon.
My gaze is as sharp as my blade as I navigate the dark corridor. It feels like someone's watching me, tightening my grip on my sword.
"I know you're there, so show yourself!" I shout, a threat to whoever dares to block my path.
I hear a shrill laugh echoing through the halls, along with screams— screams I now realize aren't human.
I search for the source of the voice.
"Come out! I know you're no ordinary creature—I feel the power of your strength."
"And I feel your fear—Chosen Warrior," it replies, its location still unknown.
"Am I the one who's afraid, or are you, too cowardly to show yourself?!" I add.
It doesn't answer. I feel its presence behind me, preparing to attack. But when I swing my blade, it's gone.
"Come out, coward!! You're wasting my time!"
"I am only in your dreams—the dream monster. Once you see me, you'll never wake again!" It replies, alarming me.
"If you wanted to kill me, you would have shown yourself already. What do you want from me—a fool who despises someone like me?" I yell, but it only laughs, creating a deafening roar.
I cover my ears, but I still hear the voice, threatening to shatter my hearing. "Ahhh!!—Stop!"
It stops, revealing a shadow. "I wanted to kill you, but I prefer you live a long life, suffering for killing my companions."
"When the next red moon rises, you will face your punishment—a punishment that will make you beg for death." As it speaks, the surroundings darken, as if I'm in a small box, suffocating.
I bolt upright, gasping for breath. I loosen my collar to breathe easier. My skin prickles; I'm freezing.
"Was that a nightmare or a threat?" I whisper.
"A threat where?" My father enters my room.
"Nothing, Father. Just a bad dream," I reply, pouring myself a drink.
"Why are you here?" I ask my father.
"The day after tomorrow, we'll travel west. A royal report came from the Alba Empire about a creature causing havoc—the king requests you to end the people's fear."
"Is this a request or a command I can't refuse?" I ask coldly.
"A royal request, son," he adds.
"And my punishment—"
"Son?!"
"I can't sleep properly because of your orders—aren't you worried that it will lead to my downfall? To losing your son?"
"Is that how you feel?… You could stop and let your own people fend for themselves. Refuse what the heavens gave you."
"Father, you're the only one who believes I'm a messenger of the heavens, just because of the meaningless light in the sky when Mother gave birth to me. I live a life forced upon me by you."
"You've become a valiant warrior and hero—"
"Warrior… and your son who fights unnatural battles that may prevent my return… these hands are stained with the black blood of the monsters I've slain—but in my violence, they're also stained with red blood." he says with grief.
"She wasn't human—" my father insists, but it's not enough to wash away his guilt.
I remain silent; I can't win against my father. I'll only worsen my mood if I insist.
The day of our departure to Alba arrives.
It's getting dark; I prepare with my father's soldiers for our journey to Alba's remote mountains.
"We're ready, sir," one soldier reports.
"Then let's go," I reply. My father enters my tent.
"Be careful, son, and make sure you return to us," my father cautions.
"I will," I reply, my mind troubled by what might happen tonight, especially with the red moon.
As we reach the foot of the mountains, my skin prickles… the most terrifying presence I've ever felt from any monster.
We cautiously proceed into the forest, the path winding deeper into darkness.
I don't know what kind of monster we'll face. I pray God, who chose me, won't abandon me.
We see a light in the distance and hurry towards it.
We stop as a woman appears before us.
She has orange hair matching her eyes. Her face is gentle, her skin as white as snow. Her beauty is deceptive, and I sense danger. "You're the woman with red blood," I exclaim. "But you're dead? I killed you."
"Leave this place… this is your last chance," she says, vanishing.
"She's not human," I whisper, proceeding towards the hut.
My fellow soldiers surround the area as we see an old man with dark, watchful eyes, as if awaiting our arrival. Behind him is the woman with orange eyes.
"You're the ones my father spoke of," I say firmly.
"You're bold, sir," the old man says. "To enter my territory."
"You're not a monster," I say, sensing… I have the ability to detect monsters based on their energy. It only failed with the orange-eyed woman; I feel no energy from her.
"That's true, for I am a sorcerer," the old man replies, causing my soldiers to retreat. People fear sorcerers more; they possess god-like powers but demonic hearts.
I point my weapon at the old sorcerer. "Then it's not our God you worship…" I shout, attacking swiftly, but the orange-eyed woman blocks my blade. A blazing weapon suddenly appears in her hand, like a lightning bolt.
"Captain!!" the soldiers yell, attacking to help me.
In an instant, the sorcerer knocks down all the soldiers with his unique black power.
"I warned you; that's the last chance I'll give," the woman says.
I don't understand her. Her tone suggests she's not an enemy… but I can't be swayed; she might be deceiving me.
I attack again; she catches my hand, quickly taking my sword and plunging it into my back, along with her fiery blade.
"Well done, Amaya, I never doubted you," the sorcerer grins.
The stabbing deepens, piercing my heart. "Ahhh," I cry out in pain, falling to my knees, coughing up blood.
The woman's eyes speak volumes. "I didn't expect that an angelic face would end my life," I say weakly.
"You were destined for me… you have the twin of my flame, and now I reclaim it." After saying this, she embraces me without hesitation. The sword in my heart pierces hers as she hugs me.
"No! Son!!" the old sorcerer screams.
"T-this is the only way to save you from the monsters you slaughtered, who will haunt your soul when you're reborn," Amaya stammers.
As both die, the yellowish moon turns blood red.
A red light emanates from Amaya, a blue light from Cassius.
The twin flames briefly merge, then the red flame moves to Cassius' body, and Cassius' soul transfers to Amaya's, along with the blue flame. Her orange hair turns black.
"Son!!" the old sorcerer screams, separating Amaya's body from Cassius'. He grieves for his only daughter. "Why did you do that!" he cries, embracing her lifeless body.
In his rage, a dark cloud covers the red moon, and a violent storm erupts. "I curse you!!! In my daughter's name… I curse the new phoenix! Every hundred years, your body will blaze with fire, a mark of my wrath, and you'll be reborn from your ashes!! And I curse you to an eternal life of suffering until you beg for death."
The sorcerer's rage brings devastation to the land. His vengeful heart ends the lives of Cassius' family and the people of Alba that very night.
- Writer
