Fated Demise: Quenderian Wars

The well swamped the place, covering the dry land and all of its forests with a strong current of water. The flood was so high that it almost reached the clouds and the sky. And suddenly I heard the sound of critters unleashed from the well. There I saw come cold and scaly leviathans, eager to devour me with their titanic teeth. My mind teetered for I didn't expect such monstrousity. I never prepared for this. I could never fight without breathing, and the water made it even more difficult for me to move. The leviathans were swimming rashly with their tails following their bodies to where I was as fright almost took over me. Mixed emotions bloomed until I noticed an empty spear bag attached to my back. Finally, a certain emotion outshone all there was - the feeling of hope. "What's this?" the question I asked myself wondering how that thing went there. I had recalled my preparations before I started my journey realizing I hadn't brought any. As I spoke, the bubbles captured the sound and the water raised it above. I held my breath. Not minding this and knowing it was empty, I inserted my hand inside the bag with no hesitation. What other action could have been there to do? I was shocked as I drew a spear as charged as lightning that seemed to be made of mud and rocks. Water, as we know it, attracts electricity yet the weapon happened to be designed to take effect only when inside a body. I couldn't stay any longer for I was running out of air in my lungs so, quickly, I threw it to a leviathan. I had seen the spear as it slowly hit the leviathan's guts but the power was too high for its body to handle so it burnt and exploded while the ashes slowly settled. As I saw it happen so carefully, hope revealed itself more. I also swam toward the leviathans throwing spears consecutively through their heads. They received each of my thrown spears and like the first hit, they were burnt to ashes. Moment by moment, that hope evolved and became the assurance of my victory. I became complacent, given that I had the weapon I needed to feel my reign. I looked at each of them - feeling a bit sense of pride until my focus slipped out of me. I missed to watch out for the largest leviathan which swam toward me. The size of 5 men combined. But wait. How did this happen? How did I end up here, again? I tried to recall. Things were different. The sun shone the brightest for me on that one afternoon. It was almost sunset so it bore this unique shade of the orange hue. The non-existent clouds couldn't filter its scorching heat delivered for us down below. I sauntered in the pathway to our chambers as I paid attention to the knocks of the horseshoes from the carriage I saw. The paths are stone bricks placed so fix between the houses - having only short intervals. Surrounding me was the laughter made out of joy from the citizens of my kingdom. It seemed like everyone and everything was doing well and even greater than they were before. It was good to be back. "Prince Ethan Artem, of House Dilton - Prince of the Elektians!" a soldier's declamation. It was the second day of Mreval and having finished the recent adventure, I was determined to face another. None stood still after hearing that honorable statement for all was riding through their knees showing great respect. "You may all rise!" I spoke. I continued taking my small steps and the next thing I saw was an establishment being built by our workers. It was tranquil quiet when the people returned to their houses after receiving me with great honor except for the clanking sound of each nail pushed by the hammers of the eager workers. The Elders must have been responsible for this yet another building. It has no corners for it is a closed circle, like a cylinder dome. Its roof was currently being built so the bell placed above was somehow exposed for me to observe. I reckon that it's another place of worship. The birds sang as I tasted the delectably fresh air made by the trees they were at. A hammer noised the loudest bang and they all hovered over my head and some, beside me. I got to my last 10 steps, I thought. One! Two! I heard the ballads of the bells hung on the doorcases, clanging unto each other, accompanied by the wind. Three! The water of the falls behind the castle was dropping rapidly from its source, into the rocks they fell. Four! Five! "Garrythian Scythes and foreign blades!" the continuous shout of persuasions I heard from the market of weapons and armors. Suddenly, she held my arm tight, an old woman. Her hair was all white just like both her eyes. She did not lose her grip even as I tried to escape from it. For an old woman, she was surely strong. Maybe she was a Chira. She looked at me straight. "Holy is the Artem, a gift from the gods", she spoke to me. Her eyes showed its blacks again and she did not know what happened. "The one that lights the path", a guard with white eyes spoke too. He stood straight and did not do anything else but spoke. "Back off", I told him. He seemed to have also not known what had happened to him. Were they under someone's spell? The guards pulled him away from me. "Forgive him, Your Highness. He must be drunk", a guard apologized on behalf of his friend. "On his duty?" I smirked but let it pass. Six! My ears caught a hiss from the mysterious and distant cave hidden by the falls. I dreamt of that place a thousand times yet I never tried to enter. Seven! Eight! "Scouts have surveyed the cave yesterday. They claim to have seen demonic entities and tools", I listened to my brother's voice as he walked beside me. "Yes, I've heard. Rumors scattered saying that it's a Warlock altar. How foolish, right?", I replied. "Are there even Warlocks these days?" Factor, my brother, stopped. He waited for me to walk first. "The one who kills the bride", he said. I looked back and he gestured as if he was lost at the moment. "What's wrong with all of you?" I spoke. "What do you mean?" he was still confused. "Are you drunk?" "What?" he asked. "Nothing. I thought I heard something." He continued to look confused. Nine! Thieves and murderers had lined and received the punishment of the law through the long silvery paddles made of pure metals. Their knees, so closely pressed to the concrete and elevated area. They would be freed after their blood flowed from their wounded and battered skins because only drops of it are the key to their redemption. At least, that's what I knew. Their faces implied a massive need for extrication. The murderers, after the hitting, would be sentenced to death. Hung? Beheaded? That I didn't know. I saw misery in their eyes that reached for me as well as for everyone who passed by. I lost sight of the punishment and made the last step facing the blue gates as the guards opened them for us. We had our ways to our bed-chambers. To mine, I removed my shirt, leaned against the wall, and glanced at my reflection quite long enough to see my face covered in oil and sweat through the mirror. Drops of sweat slid from my chest down to the tip of my clothing. Thoughts about cruelty inhabited my mind. What had they done to deserve such pain? Who is responsible for the crimes they have committed? Was it themselves? Their families? The people around them? This realm? Awful enough that they are locked up in this cruel world. Molested. Extruded from the sight of peace and life. It would not be enough, would it? How can one truly be at peace knowing that he is turning a blind eye to the sufferings that this world has brought upon itself? I refuse to believe that not a single soul notices this. They have. Oh, people understand how the system works they just... they just fear how that knowledge corrupts their mind. They hate the guilt. They hate shame. They hate the idea of an imperfect world. But just to add the right amount of distress, the words of the people, including Factor, that I passed by as I returned home went on my mind over and over. "Holy is the artem, a gift from the gods. The one that lights the path. The one who kills the bride." What could have all of it mean? Was it something I should be worried about? I neglected the disturbances and had my path to the bed-chamber. Walked inside and laid my weight on the bed to rest. As I tried to close my eyes, a woman knocked on my door. "Who is it?" "It's Veronica, Your Highness. Someone left a book at your doorstep." "Who?" "I do not know, Your Highness." I opened the door and the raven-haired woman handed me the book. I recognized her, she was a Green, a healer, in Elekti. But why barely? Maybe it's the Chronicler that left the metal-covered book. "The Beast of Quendere", there, it was written. It had dust in all of its areas so I wiped it firstly with a piece of white cloth dipped in oil. I opened the book and suddenly, a light came out from it and the zap of light hit my eyes and vanished like smoke. On the first of its page, I read the passage "The Purging", the writing looks old and primordial, and I queried what that meant. The wind coming from the windows blew the thick pages to an image on page 357 - labeled "Stones of Perfection". In the said image were hideous beasts protecting a well the stones were at. I continued to pore over the next page; on the following pages, I saw a map leading to it. The well was behind The Eastern Mountains of Atur and somewhere near Sehisco. The book suddenly changed the pages displaying images unstoppably. Macabre beasts, leviathans, there were demons, there were humans offered, there were a lot of things. Yet one even more horrifying was the left carcasses of the devoured souls. I was frightened of what I'd witnessed, got the map, and quickly closed the book. It was shaking as I tried to contain it tight. I studied the map for about half an hour, mastering its trails before I placed the book on one of my shelves. The map slowly burnt as I laid it on the table. Only because of it, I remembered something. So deep and dark. I remembered how the priests torched the Warlocks they found on Slumberwest Village. As each page was burnt, I saw each Warlock scream for the unbearable burning from the divine fire. They said that it was what the god of justice - Haiakran - wished for them to fulfill. I saw not only this but more from the flames' lips. I saw a naked man, surrounded by hundreds of chanting people. Almost baked by the fire underneath him yet they continued to chant. He screamed in great pain and suffering. He looked at me. I looked away and as my focus returned, it had all turned to ashes. Nothing left after the combustion but I could taste the ashes that came to my mouth. It was such an amazing yet confusing return. I needed to start my next quest, I thought to myself. Although, I needed to rest. I saw the outset of the night through the window facing my bed so I got ready and slept after another hour. What happened the next morning?