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Zeleos
A forgotten memory I only remembered later, for who was once considered the greatest quester alive.
I was a mere ten-year-old when the Crown of Infinity was given to our father, Aeleric. The newly appointed overlord went up the stage in front of thousands of people, of different backgrounds, and species of every kind. My brother stood beside me on the wide platform. Closer to father with his taller stature of age, despite our matching white robes and equally scaly skin.
The glistening head artifact wielded pure magic. I felt it radiating with the black-red stone placed at its golden center. I was told that it naturally formed when combining all the gems together. Father, who the first one to touch the rock of dark mist, felt it magically link to his bloodline and ours somehow. It was calling to me already.
He was stepping closer to the prophets holding the powerful item, as the crowds cheered, nearly to a deafening point. The entire world united under the Drownei who achieved the impossible. Collect all the gemstones hidden within the dangerous lands, seas, scorching terrain, and harsh winds of Midkyron. All the other questers with him had died.
That wasn't surprising, among other things. I expected an event of unity to happen under our species in one way or another. With our naturally strong build and adaptability, we've been able to conquer and cultivate the world, progressing further than even the 'intellectual' humans. Because of that, we were already leading civilizations and peoples beneath our name. Even if a good portion of people hated being under control.
So now, all we could do was watch as the inevitable happened. The Chronicle Order's coronation of Overlord Aeleric.
I looked up my older sibling Kallei, who had a curious but amazed face compared to my slightly worried one. Needless to say, I could tell he was excited, since I knew there was a chance he'd be crowned next despite himself. He was four years older than me, yet wasn't the brightest and didn't take studying as seriously as I did. But there was a more important doubt in my mind.
"What do you think of this, Kal'?"
He turned to face me, with his black hair elegantly tied up compared my short style, appearing brighter than he actually was. Still, I liked how he never regarded himself as higher than he actually was. Thought we both had the feeling we wouldn't be able to talk anymore, especially when politics would now be involved, and he'd be too busy with the duties of an heir.
"It feels right, doesn't it, Zel'?" Kallei asked me with his confident tone. "We'll get a whole palace to play knights in and everything!"
"Of course."
I smiled briefly. He always knew how to surface my lighter side. That is, until, my analytical thoughts started to seep in like usual.
"It happened too quick, though. I don't know if we'll be able to handle it."
"Why does that matter? Fate called us for the betterment of the people, brother. Imagine that."
Kallei put his arm around the back of my shoulders in a playful way, patting me once.
We were children, and knew nothing. Nobody did for the future.
Then Overlord Aeleric bowed down to the prophets with Midkyron as their approving witness. And the crown of power was placed on his head. Everyone chanted the name of whom they'd eventually call the Dark Lord.
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Everyone with us was dead, except for the Dark Lord and his Right Hand.
Those were merely titles. I couldn't picture us as a father and son anymore, if I ever did.
Instead, I put an arm to his back like a servent, assisting the beatened king hastily up the stairs of the palace tower.
It was the only place to escape to after the world completely surrounded our throne. While we killed an unfathomable amount of them easily with the Crown of Infinity, there was simply an endless amount of people compared to ourselves. There was no choice but to flee.
The crowned overlord was shot in every surface of his body. Holes had been punctured through his limbs and torso, without bleeding. The gemstones still gave him power, otherwise the common man would be dead. While his original mortal being was weakened, his pure, regenerating magic proved to protect him without fail. I wondered how long that could last.
And I wondered how long I would survive in his place.
"Father." I spoke to him, pausing to breath a little as I helped the limping leader up the spiral staircase. I knew that time was quickening its pace and running out. "Grant me usage of the crown. It's better if I hold them off now."
Father had used some of his energy to heal my injuries first, instead of focusing the crown's powers on himself. It was completely and utterly foolish. The entirety of what was left of Kyronia counted on him to stay alive. If he died with me involved, I would never live up to my name.
Along with that, it was too late for Father to care momentarily, if that's what occured through his mind. Ever since he became king of the world Midkyron, I naturally grew distant to him as he focused on Kallei. In my mind, he never thought of me over his uniting leadership. I never thought the constant usage of pure magic could slowly drive someone
"No. . ."
I finally heard him say with a hesitant directness. He turned to face me as we moved, with eyes glowing a fiery trickling white.
". . . I cannot allow that to happen. No matter what. You know this, son."
"Well, of course, father."
I refused to meet his exhausted gaze of fumes. After all this time, nothing had changed about overlord Aeleric, which had become the replacement for the once humble leader. I don't remember the last time he hadn't sounded robotic, stressed, enraged, and emotionless. Now, those were combining into the tone of his words.
It was unfair; how he was the chosen one to lead. His ego had driven him mad, and even if for one second, he refused to let go of the Crown of Infinity to anyone. He was pale, weakened but rejuvenated from the thousands he already killed. Yet it didn't faze him at all. Still, his tattered white robes, unkept hair, and baggy eyes made him appear all the more pathetic, despite the powerfulness he displayed.
This was Overlord Aeleric? The almighty 'Dark Lord'?
There are far better people who could keep union, instead of contributing to the cycle of chaos.
"If it happened to be the other son who asked, your answer would be different." I continued in response to his statement. "The Drownei need someone else to harness the power of the crown. I recall you praising my trustworthiness."
He let go of me, limping, as we reached the top of the palace tower. Stone battlements surrounded the edges like a balcony, as we stood under the roof pointing upwards. It was a place nobody but our family would go to. Perfect for temporary hiding, at least while we got our bearings on what to do next.
"Zeleos, look around you, son." He informed me loud and clear, as the bullet holes impaled through his entire being were still closing. "I'm bleeding. The armies are getting closing in. My bloodstone can sense them."
"Where are you getting at? You're healing." I asserted. "And letting someone stronger to wield the gems would allow us an escape."
"I am the only one who can handle this, Zeleos!"
He shouted out in a rage, in a demeanor I've never seen from him before. I felt his flaming white eyes scorch the surfaces of my face despite immunity. His filter and facade of a composed king was completely gone.
"The only one! Do you not understand? I cannot trust anybody!"
I tried speaking to the mad man. "No, father, you're wrong-"
"When your brother escaped our grasp within battle, I witnessed the Unity attempt to shoot at him. To kill Kallei."
Aelaric explained as his voice cracked in desperation. The crown caught my eye, shining in all its glory; ready for easy utilization.
"Even our allies no longer following our orders. There is no one else worthy enough for the crown! NO ONE!"
I couldn't stop staring at the bloodstone. The frustrations of the stranger in front of me began to muffle within my mind.
The dark stone spoke its tempting whispers to me once more. I couldn't hear the words, but I knew what it meant. It was always begging for someone of worth to be its host.
My heart pumped furiously. I don't know how much time passed with my gaze, or if the Dark Lord continued to yell, and I didn't care.
He wasn't worthy as I was. Nobody was. My entire life, I've worked for the people, a higher position; grasping for something, anything that I knew I deserved.
And I knew I deserved power. I knew I deserved it all. The bloodstone knew it too. I've been belittled and controlled for far too long.
For a while, I was breaking out of that barrier. But now we were dying. Our empire, in shambles divided by terrorists. Our people. . .
I could have done better than the ones who lead them.
Now, there was nothing left.
Nothing.
Nothing. . .
But only one, in front of my eyes, through the link we shared, as it glimmered its tantalizing darkness among the gemstones on the crown.
The overlord was still weakened. There was no use in keeping him here. A solution crossed my mind, and for a single time in my lifetime, I took it without thinking.
We would be better off if I-
My palms ripped the bloodstone from the crown, and in an instant I impaled it straight through the Dark Lord's chest, with my right hand.
Blood sprayed to the palace floors of marble, as his eyes pleaded mine before the fire died and he grew lifeless.
But my father had been dead long ago.
Then, my right hand was severed by a blade, off my arm, as another figure stole the world's power for themselves.