Path to Power (Chapter 6) - A Pact with the Devil -

[TzenToku]

It was now sunrise and smoke from the burning mansion of the Flourite family could be seen from miles away. The whole mansion ground was filled with lifeless bodies and the masked men had long disappeared. Zhang, who was the only survivor of the massacre, was now filled with rage and the desire for vengeance.


Zhang walked out of the gates, holding only onto the bracelet Sophie had given him while dragging his feet. He slowly wandered further and further from the mansion with no idea where he was heading. The only thing he now desired was justice for the Flourite family and the mansion staffs whom he had loves as his own family. The only thought that filled his mind was the thought of avenging them through vengeance and blood.


Neighboring nobles whom have received news of the massacre, summoned their fastest mounts and rushed to the scene with dozens of bodyguards. The first to arrive at the already burned down mansion was Lord Ganth V. Bismarck. He and his men arrived on Pegasus and Hippogriffs within two hours after hearing the news. He ordered his men to search for survivors but he began to breakdown at the sight of his daughter’s lifeless body. Ganth cursed himself for not being at the dinner party when he was invited and for not sending more bodyguards to protect his daughter. Ganth was now holding onto his daughter’s lifeless body crying while his men continued to search for survivors.


Moments later, the neighboring lords and fathers to the guests also arrived on flying mounts which were the fastest way of getting to the scene. Each of the Lords cursed themselves at the sight of their children’s lifeless bodies and swore to bring justice to those involved. Lord Giovanni L. De Luca, father to Viviana C. De Luca, who was one of the fathers enraged with anger, began blasting his power at nearby trees.


Giovanni: This is absurd!! How could Lord Flourite let something like this happen on his own grounds!?! Where is he!?! I’m going to kill him!

Ganth: Giovanni!! Calm down!! We are all at lost here!! Focus on what is important here! We have to search for survivors and find out who had their hands in this massacre!


Just then, one of the bodyguards approached the five lords to report.


Bodyguard: My Lords!! We have found Lord Flourite’s body among the dead!! There appears to be no survivors!!


Ganth: Any clues to who was involved in this massacre?

Bodyguard: We have found some strange arrows around the place. They appear to bear the seal of Fanlarg.


Lord Raphael C. Salazar, father to Juanita H. Salazar, stands up while carrying his daughter’s body and gets onto his Hippogriff.


Raphael: I have no more business here, I will now return to my province. Please excuse me my fellow lords.


Captain Amir, Ganth’s head bodyguard who was present there at the scene tried to stop Raphael from leaving.


Amir: My Lord Salazar! Please! You can’t leave now! Let us think this through before taking any rash actions!

Raphael: (Glares at Amir) I said I have no business here anymore! Know your place Captain! (Looks at the other Lords) I will report this to the royal family and call for an emergency parliament meeting in two days. This time, I will support the war efforts and send every last military men from Valencia Province to the frontlines. This time I will join them in their assault against Fanlarg and show the enemy no mercy. I advise you all to do the same. (Looks at his bodyguards) Men!! We have no more business here!! Let’s go!!


Raphael quickly takes off on his Hippogriff and heads back towards his province while holding on tight to his daughter’s body.

Ganth: It’s fine Amir. We are all at lost here. (Looks at the other Lords) Lord Giovanni L. De Luca, Lord Louie F. Lambert, Lord Agwmar Al-Hassani, my men will take control of the situation here. You are more than welcome to assist them, but I will for the time being return to my province and send a messenger to the capital to call for an emergency parliament meeting.


Without a word, Louie carried his son, Pierre onto his Pegasus and took off back to his province with his men following behind him without saying a word.


Giovanni: I will return to my province for now, but my men will assist yours in the investigation here. I swear on my family’s name I will have the heads of those responsible for this! (Gets on his Pegasus while carrying onto his daughter’s body and takes off while leaving his men behind to investigate).

Agwmar: My men shall also assist yours in this investigation. I must excuse myself. Please let me know if there is any news regarding this incident. Salam. (Brings Jasmina onto his Pegasus and leaves trying to hold his tears back)


Ganth gets onto his Pegasus while carrying Eva. Before he leaves for Urundi Province, he calls for Amir and speak to him.


Ganth: Amir, I leave the situation here in your capable hands. I need you to look out for the Flourite family’s stable boy. Report to me immediately once you’ve found him.

Amir: Yes my lord!


As Ganth takes off and heads towards Urundi province, Zhang had already wandered miles away from the Flourite mansion. He was now walking without any specific destination and has no idea where he was, nor did he care. Rage had already consumed him and all he desired was vengeance. He walked on carrying nothing else but the clothes on his back and the bracelet given to him by Sophie just before she died.


As days passed, the noble Lords held their individual funerals for their children and each province grieved for the deceased noble child. The people of Jesselton province held their own funeral for the Fluorite family, who have been ruling over the land for more than 4 generations. Tens of thousands were present at “Gillian Hill,” a beautiful hillside located at the Jesselton – Urundi borders for the funeral. Others who were present included Ganth, his son, Young Master Rainald L. Bismarck, the Oracle, and the people of Urundi.


Ganth had requested that his daughter’s funeral be held together alongside with the Flourite family because of the strong relationship these two noble families have had for decades. It was tradition for the people of both Jesselton and Urundi to cremate the deceased. Close family and friends walked by the bodies and paid their last respect before a prayer was said by the priestesses from the temple of Selene. This was to ensure their souls would be guided safely to the afterworld where they would rest peacefully. Their bodies were laid on three separate stone tables surrounded by firewood. Before the Priestesses set the firewood on fire, the Oracle approached William’s body and whispered a few words.


Oracle: Great Lord of Jesselton, please forgive me for not seeing such an event beforehand. Your legacy for peace will live on in the hearts and minds of those who still believe in hope. It will be very difficult from now to achieve peace, but I swear that as long as I am still alive, I will strive for it. Do not worry, your stable boy is still alive and I will find him one day. Rest in peace old friend.


Just then, Rainald approached Eva and whispered to her.


Rainald: My dear baby sister. No matter where you are or how old you become, you will always be my baby sister. Please take care of mother in the other world. I leave that responsibility to you. (Kisses on the forehead)


As the Rainald steped back, the priestesses stepped forward with torches and set the firewood on fire. Ganth, Rainald and the Oracle stood about 20 meters from the burning table while the people of Jesselton and Urundi surrounded and were standing about 40 meters away from the table.


When the fire became large enough, the people who were there all kneeled on their knees and had their heads on the ground. William, Sophie and Eva were highly respected and loved by the people. Spell casters were also present to ensure the fire kept burning for hours and as nightfall approached, the people started to return back to their homes with heavy hearts.


Jesselton now had no heir to succeed William and were now without a leader. Ganth then took responsibility over Jesselton province until a worthy successor took over. William and Ganth had made a deal long ago that if an event was to occur where either province did not have a successor, the Lord of the other province would take over until a worthy successor arrived. The people of Jesselton welcomed the Bismarck family’s rule with open arms and without question.


Oracle: Lord Bismarck, I wish you good fate on taking over administration of Jesselton Province.

Ganth: I thank you for your kindness great Oracle. But Jesselton without a leader, the Royal family will try to appoint a successor whom they favor to rule Jesselton. They desire absolute loyalty and will try to overrule the deal me and William agreed on years ago.

Oracle: Such an action by the Royal family is illegal and unconstitutional. If there was no agreement set by William regarding who is to succeed him in such an event then the Royal family has jurisdiction to nominate a successor. But William and you have made an agreement and such an agreement was signed on paper long ago remember? I shall vouch for you if this agreement if questioned. Remember, no one else but you may choose the successor of Jesselton Province. That was the agreement between you and William which I was there to witness.

Rainald: Father, I will always be there to assist you in anything for the welfare of our people and our nation.

Ganth: I thank you both.

Oracle: (Bows) I shall now take my leave. Please excuse me.


Captain Bough was also there present for the funeral as the Oracle’s escort and to pay his condolences to William, who has played a big role in his life.


Bough: (Helps Oracle into chariot) Lord Flourite was a great man. I shall mourn for him, Sophie and Eva.

Oracle: We shall all mourn for them. May Selene guide their souls to the afterworld. (Gets onto the chariot and stick his head out of the window) Lord Bismarck!!

Ganth: (Approaches the Chariot) Yes? Is there something the matter?

Oracle: (Whispers into Ganth’s ear) Beware of the royal family, protect your closest allies and do not offend your enemies in parliament. The hope of reaching peace has faded but not destroyed completely. Stay silent for the time being. I shall see you again during the emergency parliament meeting in two days with an update of the situation. But until then, we should pay attention for any survivors from the Flourite Mansion. I heard the stable boy's body was not among the dead found.

Ganth: Yes great Oracle.


The oracle and his escort took off and were on their way to Beilang, the Capital city of Azerath, the Capital Province of Vanorse. Just before Captain Bough took off on his Wyvern, he directed the Wyvern to walk towards Ganth where it kneeled, lowering its head so Bough could speak to Ganth.


Bough: Things couldn’t gety any worse for the people of Vanorse and Fanlarg who desire peace now with Lord Flourite dead.

Ganth: The situation is going to be very complicated from now on. Protect the Oracle, Captain Bough. William had depended on his visions to achieve what he has for decades. I will also need his help from now on more than ever with my closest friend now dead. If William trusts the Oracle, then I will.

Bough: May Helios protect us all. (About to order Wyvern to take off)

Ganth: May Selene bless us all.


Funerals were held in the other provinces by the Lords for their child who were among the dead. At this moment, Zhang had wandered his way for miles until he was near the small town of Trigesville at the Guelmim Province. It has been days since the massacre and he has not taken any food, water or rest. His eyes were filled with emptiness and solitude, his face showed no emotions and he was now a lot thinner than how he was a few days ago.


Like many other towns, Trigesville had many merchants from different parts of the country and some from different countries selling their goods. Zhang walked along the street with merchants on both left and right side shouting to get customer’s attention. He had no idea where he was, nor did he care. He continued to walk until a merchant stopped him.


Merchant: Hey there kid! Interested in buying clay pots made of “Urlas Clay”? Extremely rare! Maybe you can trade that bracelet you got there? I’ll give you a really good deal!


The words from the merchant’s mouth asking him to trade the bracelet caught his attention. He looked at the merchant with a glare as though he was going to start a fight. It wouldn’t appear that Zhang would win if a fight started between a malnutritioned boy and a fat merchant who was three times the boy’s size. But the glare from Zhang’s eyes was enough to send a clear message that he did not want to be bothered and he would start a fight regardless of size so the merchant backed off.


The streets of the Trigesville were busy with businessmen and merchants carrying out their sales and attracting customers. Business went on as normal until a convoy entered the town and the patrol guards shouted an announcement which caused everyone to seize their actions and bowed on their knees.


Guard: All Hail Crown Prince Valtrana!!


Valtrana who just arrived from the frontlines was heading towards the capital for the emergency meeting called by Ganth, not as though the news came as a surprise to him. Business immediately paused as Valtrana’s convoy made their way through the crowd and towards an inn. They would be staying at the town for the night before continuing their journey to the capital.


Everyone was on their knees except Zhang and at the sight of Valtrana through the chariot window, it immediately woke Zhang up. Zhang’s eyes opened up very wide as he saw Valtrana’s face laughing in the chariot. His grip tightened and his teeth began to grind.


Zhang: (Monologue) That monster! How could he still be smiling after what he did!


After the convoy had passed the street, everyone stood up and resumed their business. Some merchants were planning how to approach Valtrana to sell their merchandise. Zhang was filled with thoughts of stabbing Valtrana in the heart to avenge the Flourite family. Just the thoughts was enough to calm him down for the moment, he couldn’t imagine the satisfaction he would get from actually killing Valtrana.


Zhang walked up to a merchant who was selling knives and placed the bracelet on the stall.


Zhang: Sir! I would like to have a knife for this bracelet!


He had no thought nor concern about trading the bracelet given to him by Sophie for a knife which he would use for his attempt for murder. The merchant took the bracelet and examined it.


Knife Merchant: Young sir, this bracelet is made of Ascentmite! This is one of the rare minerals in Ashura! Are you sure about trading this?

Zhang: Just give me a knife!

Knife Merchant: (Takes out a set of his finest knives) I won’t be able to give you a knife that comes close to value as the bracelet, but you are welcomed to choose from any knives I have here on display.


Zhang took a few seconds to look around the stall, found one that caught his attention and picked it. The knife had a pitch black wooden hilt and the blade was sharp on one side, jagged on the other. The looks of the knife itself screamed death, as if it was made for the purpose of reaping life. Zhang grabbed the knife, leaving the bracelet behind without any regret and made his way around the town to find where Valtrana was. He hid the knife under his sleeves as he walked around town until he found Valtrana’s convoy in front of an inn. Valtrana had rented the whole inn for him and his bodyguards due to security issue.


He slowly walked up to the chariot gripping tightly onto the knife and glared at the chariot door for when Valtrana would come out. Several of the bodyguards were inside the inn making sure it was safe before Valtrana entered, leaving the security around Valtrana weaker that how it should be. There was no better chance for an assassination other than this and Zhang knew this. He waited impatiently for Valtrana to exit the chariot for his chance to charge in and strike.


When one of the bodyguards came out of the inn to report the place was safe, the chariot door opened. Zhang did not wait for the passenger to exit and decided to just charge in. He shouted at the top of his lungs and he ran towards the chariot which alarmed the bodyguards. The bodyguards drew their swords and tried to stop Zhang, but because he was short, he easily evaded the bodyguards and there was now nothing between him and the chariot.


Adrenalin pumped through his veins as he got closer by each step. He was filled with excitement with no regret that he would be executed for this action. As the passenger set foot on the ground, Zhang leaped into the air, knocking the passenger onto the ground, pinning the passenger by the neck and raised his hand holding the knife high up ready to strike at the heart. In that split second before he moved for the stab, he realized the person he had just pinned on the ground was not Valtrana, but a young girl about his age.


Zhang and the girl both froze and did not utter a word. Both stared at each other in confusion at what was going on at the moment. Zhang was confused why the person before him was not Valtrana, but a young girl with brown hair and brown eyes, dressed with royalty. The girl starred at Zhang in confusion wondering why a young boy could have been capable of pointing a knife at her. She wondered at the moment not who the boy was, but what had she done to deserve that.


Valtrana jumped out of the chariot, kicking Zhang by the stomach knocking him several feet from where he was. The bodyguards quickly moved to disarm Zhang, grabbing the knife away and pinning him down on the ground facedown. Valtrana picked the young girl up and dusted the sands on her dress.


Valtrana: Anita! Are you hurt?! Are you alright?! (Hugs tightly onto Anita)

Anita: (Shivering) I’m fine big brother.


Zhang had realized the girl he had pinned the ground was actually Princess Anita, King Moriarty’s youngest daughter.


Valtrana: Men!! Take that boy away and have him hanged!!

Anita: Brother! The boy looks tired! Maybe it was a mistake. Please… Have mercy on him.


Valtrana hesitated a while at what his sister had requested from him. A few seconds ago, his sister was almost killed and now she desired mercy for the one who attempted to take her life.


Zhang: Valtrana!! You murderer!! Let me go!! Valtrana!! You will pay for the massacre of the Flourite family!! Valtrana!!

Valtrana: (Looks shocked) Men!! Take this boy outside of town and teach him some manners!! But do not kill him. That is an order!

Bodyguards: Yes your highness!!


Valtrana brought Anita into the inn as the bodyguards dragged Zhang miles out of the village and to a rocky hill. It was there the bodyguards started to beat Zhang up regardless he was just a kid and half the size of the others. They continued punching him in the face, chest and stomach. Even with all these beatings, Zhang still found the strength to mutter words to the bodyguards.


Zhang: H..h…how could… you s… serve a murderer… Ha..ve you.. no shame?


The guards did not respond to his words and continued beating him until finally, they threw him down the rocky hill, causing him to roll down to the valley. The bodyguards left Zhang knowing their job was done. Zhang who was now lying face up was already too tired and too weak to move. The injuries around were so severe and life threatening. He was bleeding out of his wounds and nose and had several broken bones. He lied there face up looking into the sky as it was about to rain.


An hour passed with no help nearby, it began to rain. The rain slowly turned to a thunderstorm but Zhang couldn’t move anywhere and all he could do was lie there and feel sorry for himself for he had lost the golden opportunity to kill Valtrana. As he laid there waiting for his own death, a man black hood carrying a cane approached. He looked down on Zhang and observed him for a while. Zhang could not see the hooded man’s face because of the rain that was falling into his eyes.


Hooded Man: Boy… What brings you here to this part of the land?

Zhang: (Deep Breathing) I… I… am here… in search… for jus… justice…

Hooded Man: You should return to your family boy. They are probably worried sick about you.

Zhang: I… have… no family… They… they’re all… dead…

Hooded Man: You have been consumed by grief caused by the death of your loved ones. Vengeance, fueled by rage has clouded your mind. It is because of your love for the things you care about most, that such dark thoughts are possessing you. (Kneels down closer to Zhang and the sound of thunder could be heard) I offer you a deal young master. I shall give you something more than vengeance. I offer you power. Power beyond what many Mage could only dream of having. Power for you to take your revenge upon those you see as unholy.

Zhang: Please… Please… give… me… po-wer

Hooded Man: But in return, I ask that you give me something in return. I ask that you give me what is causing you all your miseries. I ask that you give me your emotion to love. I ask that you surrender such an emotion, and become the most powerful mage this world has ever seen! Strive only to become stronger and have no other goal in life! Do we have a deal?!?! (Thunder strikes)

Zhang: We… have… a… deal…

Hooded Man: Do you swear to becoming a person so powerful that all!! Even royals will bow before you?!?!

Zhang: I… swear… on… my life!!


The hooded man gives an evil smile and stands up. He lifts both hands and begins chanting his spell. Zhang was levitated into midair and he could feel an excruciating pain surging through his entire body. He screamed in pain at the top of his lungs as his wound began to close up and broken boned began to heal. The pain of being healed was far more than it was being wounded. When he was finally healed, the hooded man continued to chant as Zhang was still levitated in midair. The hooded man placed both hands on Zhang’s face.


Hooded man: Now, I shall take away the cause of your pain. I shall take away your emotion to love.


The hooded man drained the emotion out of Zhang, making Zhang feel as though the air was being sucked out of his body. He felt he was being suffocated as the process continued but could not move due to the hooded man’s magic. When all of Zhang’s emotion for love was finally drained out, Zhang felt that if the process continued, he was going to die.


Hooded Man: In place of your missing emotion for love, let the lust for ambition take its place! Let this power worthy only of the Gods fuel the burning rage inside you! Let it be the tool for you to achieve your goals!


Just when Zhang felt everything being drained out of him, the hooded man pumped Zhang with power. Zhang screamed in pain as this time it felt as though there was an inferno burning inside him. It was at this time when he had a flashback, when an image of Flourite Mansion burning came to him. His could feel as though there was an active volcano inside him ready to erupt, trying to hold in and contain the high pressure caused by molten lava. It was no different from what Zhang was going through as the power being pumped into him was so much and strong that no regular person could live through the process.


As the power came close to an overflow, the grounds began to shake and lightning began to strike more violently, causing more thunderous noise. Boulders began to crack in two, the wind blew like a hurricane and the rain began to pour more heavily. The scenario alone was enough to describe the magnitude of power involved.


When the hooded man was finally done with Zhang, he set him back on the ground and disappeared. Zhang was so tired after the event and just fell asleep under the rain. The following day, he woke up and found himself completely healed. He wondered if the previous night was just a dream and remembered he was so close to Valtrana and the incident with the Princess. The thought of failure during such a golden opportunity sparked a flame within him. He stood up and tried to find his way back to Trigesville and search for Valtrana. While on his way searching his way, he walked through a small forest.


In this small forest lived some wild and dangerous animals and most of them were carnivores. As he wandered around searching for his way through the forest, a wild double headed cobra slithered down a tree and surrounded him. The snake was about 20 feet in length and the size of its head was about triple the size of human’s head when its hood opened up. It intimidated Zhang and looked as if it was about to strike at him at moment. Zhang thought in that moment his life would end without any achievement and fell onto the ground when taking his step back. When the double headed cobra moved to strike at Zhang, he raised his hand in attempt to protect himself and in that instant, the snake caught fire and was burned away as it wiggled around, struggling to put the fire out.


Zhang was surprised and wondered if that was his doing. He watched the snake die before him and then tried to test whether if it was his ability that killed the snake. He raised his hand and pointed at a nearby oak tree and waited for something to happen. Seconds happened but nothing happened. He fell, kneeling with his hands on the ground with disappointment at the thought that it was all just a dream when he met the hooded man. That moment, the ground began to shake and trees began to fell and one was falling towards him. Zhang again tried to protect himself by placing his hands between himself and the falling tree, and suddenly the center of the tree exploded, splitting the falling tree in half making the top half fall to pass him and the bottom half fall just short of him.


Zhang stood up again and tried testing his powers again. He pointed his hand towards a tree and this time concentrated very hard on trying to burn it. The tree instantly caught fire and burned to the ground. Without waiting, he stared at a nearby boulder and concentrated on trying to lift it. The boulder raised a few inches above the ground and vibrated violently before exploding. Zhang gave an evil grin and this time he tested his new found powers on a sparrow flying in the sky. He looked upon it and concentrated his power at the sparrow trying to bring it down. A few seconds passed and the sparrow suddenly fell towards the ground and into some bushes. Zhang ran towards where he presumed the sparrow fell and found a bird with its head crushed.


Zhang wondered at that moment why he felt neither guilt nor regret for killing the sparrow. It was the first time for the young stable boy, who would never hurt a fly, suddenly deciding to kill a bird and enjoying it. He laughed at the thought that vengeance was only a few steps away.


Zhang continued making his way through the forest and this time with his head held high with confidence he would succeed in vengeance. The thick forest was an obstacle for him so he decided to burn it down in an instance. Some of the wild animals quickly ran for their lives leaving their burning homes while the weaker ones were left behind to burn with the forest. Zhang showed no mercy to neither the animals nor the forest itself and made his way through the path created by the fire.


Farmers who were near the edge of the burning forest described the scene as hell on Ashura. Behind the burning forest slowly immerged a figure from the flames. It was Zhang walking out and destroying anything in his path. The farmers made a run for it towards the nearby town of Trigesville to inform the town guards of the danger. Zhang looked at the crop field before him and without thinking twice, he set the whole place on fire, burning all the crops and vegetation. Farmers and their families made a run towards Trigesville in search for refuge. There was a huge smoke rising into the air as though a volcano had just erupted. Zhang was now making his way towards Trigesville and was just a few hours away. He was now more than capable of destroying the entire town in almost an instance. The flames signified the birth of a new powerful mage.