1st day of the Month of War, 1105 A.F.F
The cold wind prickled Vallich’s face, leaving behind a bitter sting as he trotted through the village on horseback. With each step forward ice shattered beneath the hoofs of his grey steed. He had nearly fulfilled his mission.
A gust of wind funnelled between the decrepit village huts once again. The sting was worse this time, but Vallich didn’t mind. He liked the cold. It reminded him that he was far away from Azul. It reminded Vallich that he was far away from him. Vallich’s boyish face distorted into a scowl at the thought of him. Vallich clicked his heels back, encouraging the horse to press onward.
The village was desolate, completely void of anything living. The United Azanthean Army had laid waste to this town months ago. It was apparent that none of the Northerners had decided to return once the United Azanthean Army had retreated back to the Southern front. So the village remained uninhabited, or so the soldiers had though.
Vallich remembered the moment he was called upon, it was just two days ago. Azanthean intelligence who had infiltrated the northern country of Burrath had heard rumblings. They believed that the Grand-Leader Elect of Burrath was running his strategic operations from here.
They King could have sent his armies, instead he sent one boy. Vallich.
Unfortunately, the United Azanthean Army intelligence had been right. Vallich pulled on the horse’s reins, pausing for a moment. The sounds of the wind hurling through the town only amplifying the dread Vallich felt. He lay the reins down on the back of his horse and looked down at his bloodied hands and clothes, growling. He hated what the King made him do, but he had no choice. He could not disobey the King. Nobody could.
Vallich had run into several Northerns guarding the outskirts of the village. He had assumed they were probably elite soldiers, or trusted advisors, of the Northerner Grand-Leader. He had made quick work of them.
Vallich’s blood boiled at the memory, these had not been the first men he killed. He had been made to kill countless times before, all at the orders of the King. What made him most angry was that with each kill, it mattered less. The first time he had taken a life, he was distraught. He quickly learnt that that attitude would not be tolerated in Azul. So he learnt to hide his emotions. Now, he feared, there were none.
And that made him furious.
Vallich picked up the reins and gently clicked his heels on the horse. They trotted forwards. His sights were set on one of the few remaining intact huts at the end of the row. The faintest stream of smoke was spurting from the chimney, as if a fire had just been extinguished.
As he approached, Vallich swung his leg over and hopped off the horse before they had come to a stop. He walked next to his charcoal steed.
“Shh, Arion,” he said, placing the palm of his hand on the horses long face, “Stay here.”
The horse stood, his black eyes locked on Vallich. Vallich inhaled deeply, it was time. He marched towards the door, his bloodied hands grabbing at the leather pouch fastened tightly to his belt. He released his breath as he pulled out a small stone. A feeling of calm chaos rushed over him, like the tall waves at the Redcliffs of Sable. He clutched it tightly in his hand.
Vallich’s entire body became increasingly tense as he neared the door and his senses increasingly heightened. The sound of snow squelching under his boots broke the eery silence of the village. He paused his brigade forward, nose to nose with the wooden door. Vallich grunted, the noise an animalistic growl from the depth of his gut, readying himself for what could be his final fight.
This might be his greatest challenger yet.
And no matter how much it angered him that he was here on Apollyon’s bidding, Vallich did love a challenge.
And with one long roar, he barged through the door.
#
The door blasted open, slamming against the rickety wooden walls. A young, angry looking boy charged through. He was covered in blood.
It had not been what Wolfmere had expected. He was caught off guard.
The boy was tall, maybe even his height, but his face was young. He could have barely been much older than his own daughter. Wolfmere watched as the boy drew his blade with one hand. The other hand was clutching something in his palm.
The boy stormed across the room, and less than a couple of feet away, the war-child stopped and pointed the tip of his sword directly at Wolfmere’s chest.
“Are you Wolfmere?” the boy asked.
“I am,” Wolfmere said.
“I am Vallich and by order of King Apollyon, you are to return with me to Azul, Capital of Azanthea, the last refuge, the angel’s city, to await execution at the hand of the King himself.”
Wolfmere hesitated. This was Vallich? Wolfmere had heard stories of Vallich, whispers of the power he could wield. He had heard stories of the terror Vallich instilled on the frontlines, soldiers who faced him in battle and lived to tell the tale were petrified. Wolfmere had also heard that Vallich was young. But he never had expected that King Apollyon’s prodigy was a mere boy.
This changed things.
“There is no need for that here,” Wolfmere said, calming brushing the tip of the sword aside with his hand.
Before Wolfmere had even finished moving the sword, Vallich’s grey eyes glossed over white. He watched as Vallich swiftly raised his clenched hand in the air.
As soon as Vallich’s hand was up, Wolfmere felt a steering pain in the centre of his back. The familiar feeling of blood trickling followed. He could taste the metal stench of it in his mouth. Wolfmere grunted in pain as he took a step forward and whipped around to face the source of the pain.
“A Diamond Wielder?” Wolfmere said, face to face with a thin diamond spear Vallich had conjured out of the air. It was hovering right at the height of the centre of his chest. “The rumours are true.”
Vallich didn’t answer.
“How did you get your Godstone?” Wolfmere asked.
Another seeing pain came from his back, this time though, Wolfmere knew what it was. The feeling of Vallich’s steel blade edging around his fresh wound made him squirm.
“Turn around,” Vallich said, “Face me.”
Wolfmere felt Vallich pull the sword away. He obeyed the boy. Wolfmere turned to look directly into Vallich’s eyes.
“Now listen closely,” Vallich said, pressing the tip of his sword on Wolfmere’s chest. The boy’s eyes were still glossed over. Vallich moved his other hand, the one clenching the Godstone, backwards and Wolfmere could feel the diamond spear press into his back again. “Because I hate repeating myself, King Apollyon…”
“He is not my King.” Wolfmere said. “Burrath is not a part of Azanthea, nor will it even be.”
Wolfmere watched as Vallich’s demeanour changed. The boy’s brow furrowed and his face became even more tense. To Wolfmere’s dismay though, Vallich was smirking, perhaps even smiling. Perhaps there was no saving this monster.
“You’re not really in a position to say otherwise right now,” Vallich said. Wolfmere’s eye widened at Vallich’s vicious smile. This child was teasing him.
“You do not want to play with me, boy.”
“Fine,” Vallich said, “I really was hoping I wouldn’t have to do this…”
Wolfmere felt both the sword and the diamond start to pierce into him. No matter how monsterous this boy was, he had never wanted to hurt a child. But the fate of Burrath rested on him, he had to get away.
Wolfmere reached out with his mind to his Godstone channeling its power.
He was ready to fight.
#
Two thick chunks blasted up from the ground, sending Vallich stumbling backwards in shock. The first shot up behind Wolfmere, sending his diamond spear hurling towards the ceiling. The second flew up directly between the two of them. Wolfmere was able to conjure the ice so quickly that the sheer speed of it sent his own sword flying from his hand.
Vallich’s heart began to race in anticipation, he was hardly ever caught off guard. He hadn’t even see Wolfmere reach for his Godstone, had he had it in his hand the whole time? Vallich scolded himself for not seeing it, it was an amateur mistake.
More pillars of ice began to shoot up from the ground, completely surrounding him. He skirted towards a space in the ice, only to have another ice pillar shoot up inches from his face. Vallich spun around, the spaces to escape quickly closing in with more ice. He pivoted across the small space, hoping to reach an exit from the ice-enclosure but he was too late, another pillar of ice was conjured, this time from the ceiling down, closing him into the small space.
Vallich stood in the middle of the circle of pillars, eyeing his options. His breathing was fast and heavy. He had never crossed paths with anyone who could conjure up their Godstone element so effortlessly, and so much of it. Most Wielders could not even conjure to begin with, they could only control what was already there. But this ice was appearing out of nowhere.
Another pillar went up. Sweat beat down Vallich’s brow. Even just conjuring a few diamonds at once was enough to exhaust him. How was Wolfmere doing this?
“I don’t want to hurt you,” Wolfmere said.
Vallich could only see the shadow of his enemy circling his ice-cage. He grit his teeth. There were only three small openings left. He had to get out.
“You’ll have to kill me!” Vallich shouted.
“I know this isn’t you,” Wolfmere said, Vallich watched his distorted figure through the ice. Wolfmere was slowly pacing, coming up on an opening. “This is what Apollyon made you.”
“You don’t know me.”
“You’re right,” Wolfmere said, “I don’t. However, I do know Apollyon. I know how he manipulates people into doing his bidding, I know the power he has over people.”
“Then you know it would be smart of you to submit now and face a painless death at his hands,” Vallich shouted. Wolfmere was nearing an opening.
“I cannot do that,” Wolfmere said through the ice, “I will not submit my people to his rule.”
Vallich saw his opportunity. Wolfmere’s distorted shadow nearing one of the openings. He clutched his Godstone tightly and conjured another diamond spear, sending it blasting through the opening.
Vallich heard Wolfmere cry out in pain. The spear had caught him on the back of his calf. He sprinted towards the injured man.
Vallich grabbed by his vest and, with all his strength, hurled the muscular man inside the small enclosure of his own creation. Wolfmere fell to the ground in the centre of the circle.
Vallich heaved, catching his breath, and then lunged at Wolfmere, slamming down on top him. Vallich straddled his chest and began to unleash a storm of punches onto Wolfmere’s face. There was a loud crack, and blood began to stream out of Wolfmere’s nose. Vallich continued his bombardment, he would not be bested. The dry smell of blood began filling the cold air.
Wolfmere’s tense body slowly started to become limp, Vallich knew he should end it. With his remaining energy he focused on the Godstone clutched in his hand, preparing to deliver the final blow. Right as he was about to launch his attack, he noticed a small bump on Wolfmere’s chest. It was ever so faintly glowing through the Northerner’s shirt. The glow drew him in.
Vallich ripped open the top of Wolfmere’s shirt to reveal a misshapen lump of flesh. The pale blue glow was emanating from underneath the patchwork of tissue. Vallich’s eyes widened and his grip on Wolfmere loosened ever so slightly. Wolfmere’s had implanted his Godstone deep into his chest.
Vallich’s hesitation was too long.
Wolfmere shot open his eyes, completely glossed-over. Vallich’s pushed himself away, knowing that Wolfmere was calling upon his Godstone.
A loud crack rang out from beside him. Vallich reared his head around, just in time to see a large piece of an ice-pillar flying at him from across the circle. The pillar hit him at full speed.
The force of the hit sent Vallich sliding across the floor, head first into one of the solid ice pillars on the other side. His entire vision went dark on impact.
Vallich groaned in pain, his entire body feeling the stress of the blow. He opened his eyes, but his vision was blotchy, patches still black when he made his stumbling attempt to get up. It was futile. He crumbled back to the ground.
Through his patch vision Vallich could see Wolfmere standing in the middle of the ice-circle. Vallich instinctually clenched his hand, but he could feel nothing. The Godstone he had been gripping so tightly was gone.
A stabbing pain shot through Vallich head. He roared, bringing his hands to his head and his knees up to his chest. He could feel blood on the back of his skull.
"Wolfmere," Vallich growled, grabbing fistfuls of his hair, furious he had been reduced to nothing but a groaning, balled up failure on the ground. He needed to find his Godstone, or it would be the death of him.
Vallich scanned the dirt floor for his Godstone, but his vision was still useless. All he could see were flashes of light and a distorted perception of his surroundings. And it all looked like ice.
Vallich rolled onto his stomach and pulled himself onto his elbows. He towed himself across the floor on a mission to find his Godstone. His hands fumbled in the dirt desperately.
“Give up."
A boot appeared in front of Vallich’s face. Wolfmere was hovering right over him. The flashes blinding Vallich’s vision were slowing down.
“I… can’t,” Vallich whispered, pulling himself higher onto his elbows. Apollyon would hunt him to the end of the earth if he did.
“You can!” Wolfmere said, crouching down so their faces were close. Vallich caught a glimpse of the wrinkles around Wolfmere’s eyes were crinkling, and a flash of a brilliant smile. Wolfmere reached out his hand.
Vallich scoffed. Wolfmere was a fool to believe their to be a way out. Vallich turned his head away, and as he did, he caught sight of the distinct shine of his Godstone, emanating from Wolfmere’s other hand.
Vallich’s chest burned with anger. Nobody touched his Godstone, especially not another Wielder.
“Come with me,” Wolfmere said, hand still extended, “we can show you the way.”
Vallich didn’t understand this man. Why would he want to help someone who had killed countless Northerners? Why hadn’t Wolfmere killed him yet? Perhaps this is what the world was like in the Burrath; naive. It is what was going to get them all killed.
Vallich knew what he had to do. His vision was almost back, but he was still too dizzy to stand.
“How?” he asked, “Apollyon will find me, wherever I go.”
“We will defeat his armies and restore peace in the North.”
“How?” Vallich said, buying time to steady himself.
“You may have the numbers, but we are actually fighting for something,” Wolfmere said, “our freedom. So long as we have a just cause, we will prevail.”
Wolfmere extended his hand further. Vallich was still dizzy, but he knew this was the moment. Wolfmere seemed to have let his guard down, his grip on the Godstone had gotten looser.
In one swift motion Vallich leaned the weight of his body on his palms and pushed his feet off the ice-pillar behind him. He quickly swung his feet around, crashing his legs into Wolfmere’s calf. Wolfmere fell to the ground and the Godstone tumbled from his hands. Vallich nearly lost his footing as he leapt up, turning his back on his enemy, his eyes trailing the Godstone.
The Godstone was tumbling across the dirt. Vallich lunged to get it, the air getting knocked out of him as he landed chest-first on the frozen soil. He felt it fumble against his fingers, but his perception was off and his reach was not far enough. His face sunk as he realized, in his attempt to catch it, he had knocked the Godstone further across the enclosure.
Watching his Godstone tumble away felt like hours to Vallich, it was his last chance at surviving. He turned on to his back to look at Wolfmere, who was picking himself up from the ground, his eyes glazed over white. Wolfmere was about to wield.
Vallich turned back toward his Godstone on the ground, crawling for it as quick as he could. It was not quick enough. He turned his head back towards Wolfmere, whose demeanour had darkened. With all his remaining strength, Vallich lunged from his crouch, flinging himself across the enclosure.
As he flew through the air, Wolfmere was quickly forming a giant block of ice in front of him. Vallich stretched out one of his arms towards Wolfmere, praying to the Stars that his other hand would find the Godstone in the dirt.
And it did.
As Vallich felt the very tip of his finger graze the top of his diamond Godstone. He let the cosmic connection flow through him. In that brief moment, Vallich lets the Godstone completely engulf him, surrendering all control to his weapon. And for the first time in his life, for that brief second of contact, he felt the full breadth of a Godstone’s immense power.
He twisted his other hand.
And before Wolfmere could even gauge what was happening, Vallich sent a diamond spear hurling through his chest.