by Aeon Solo
“Don’t,” he begged. The solution was filled with nanobots used to torture subjects, they travel in and around the body causing intense, debilitating pain. The Archon approached him, grabbing what remained of his torn mask he ripped it away. It shattered into multiple shards.
“I hate you,” Viden whimpered, close to where the ear of the Archon would be without the mask.
“I know,” he gleamed with pleasure. The Archon held his head and injected the solution into his neck. It was quickly followed by the debilitating screams. The screams echoed with such intensity, that the Anuai guards outside the throne room could hear it, they did not react. The cries lasted for what felt like a lifetime to him, he can feel the nanites scratching his brain, they were tearing individual neurons away, he could feel everything. His body was burning inside. The Archon observed the torture, stone-faced, unphased by it. Ten minutes later it stopped, the electricity faded, he fell to the ground exhausted, his face contorted with pain, sweat dripping profusely from his face, his body still spasmed. He lay on the ground face down, the Archon leant beside him.
“Don’t fail me again. You have so much potential, you just need to use it,” the Archon’s anger faded, he exited the throne room leaving the fallen Knight on the floor. It took a few moments for Viden to compose himself, he crouched by his broken mask and punched the largest shard into oblivion. His expression said more than any word or scream could.
He stumbled out of the throne room and dragged himself to his quarters where he stayed till the following day, recovering from the injuries dealt by Sonje and the inner torture from the Archon.
The next day…
Composed and somewhat recovered he visited the Archon in the throne room. He entered and knelt. “We will be continuing our conquest shortly, it’s now time to take Artsul, can I trust you in command?” Anu-Krai raised his head, still infuriated from the day previous.
“I will stop at nothing to succeed, that kingdom will be ours my lord, I can promise you that,” his voice firm with the lust for redemption. The Archon was pleased with his response. “Good, I will send word to prepare our forces, we will use our new-found recruits from Ragmana to assist.”
Anu-Krai looked to his master. “My mask?” he murmured, looking like a beaten, run-down dog.
“You will receive a new one when you prove you are worthy,” the Archon responded sternly. Anu-Krai looked to the side displeased, gritting his teeth slightly.
“But I need it!” he retorted in an elevated tone.
The Archon stood. “Krai!” he barked ferociously. Anu-Krai quivered with the unexpected yell from the Archon. “Don’t make me repeat myself. Return to me victorious and I will gift you what you desire.” Anu-Krai nodded reluctantly and left the throne room.
“Charia, prepare our forces for an assault on Artsul, we attack in seven days,” the Archon said through an audio device on his wrist. Charia acknowledged the command.
Anu-Krai departed the pyramid and travelled to his spot in the nearby woodland, he seated himself on one of the logs that scattered the clearing. Unmasked, he could see the true beauty of his surroundings, but he felt exposed. He avoided the people of the marketplace on the way to the forest, using secret paths. He analysed the previous days in his mind, he kicked a loose piece of wood on the ground in disappointment.
“Why is the most powerful warrior in all the lands pouting?” an inquisitive female voice projected from behind, he turned his head with a slight smile in his eye.
“You again?” Mara approached him from the pathway and seated herself beside him on the same log. “Where’s that stupid mask of yours?” she posed playfully.
“Hey!” the Knight responded, slightly hurt by her comment, “It’s not a stupid mask, it’s…” he struggled for words, she laughed in response.
“Oh, come on you need to lighten up, have fun, you are human right?” she asked rhetorically. “Stop trying to be one of them.” She offered a look of sympathy, she touched his arm.
“They are all I have,” he responded, sadness in his voice whilst his eyes were locked to the ground.
“No, come with me to the saloon, wear something normal, come and have fun with us,” she asked merrily.
“I can’t,” he said sombrely.
“They don’t have to know who you are. No one knows what you look like but me.” She tried to persuade him further, a smile exuded across his face.
“Fine,” he remarked, caving to her demands. He can’t say no to this angel. They stand and strolled down the path.
“What is your actual name?” she pondered inquisitively. He struggled to keep track with her eyes.
“Viden,” he replied, “I think my name was Viden.” He didn’t remember much of the time before the Archon, he couldn’t even remember the faces of his parents in his mind, the torture and manipulation had taken its toll.
He returned to the pyramid unseen and changed into regular attire in his chambers. He emerged as a normal, 24-year-old man, for the first time in his life, he had a blank slate, he didn’t have to worry about his duties. He joined Mara in the marketplace; she was pleased to see him.
“Come,” she said gleefully, “I will show around the market, we can grab some food and have some fun at the saloon.” Viden twisted his head slightly.
“I don’t eat food I don’t know, I’m not one for dancing and being in crowds either.” She paused for a moment and looked at him with slight surprise.
“Really? The dark warrior of the gods doesn’t like crowds or celebrations, you are something unique, aren’t you,” she said, analysing him with her gaze. She was puzzled by his personality, so different to what he should be. But there was something else, he reminded her of someone. They reached the local saloon, alcohol was being served to patrons, there was a lady singing and people were dancing inside. Viden was visibly anxious as they entered the stone structure.
Mara approached a small group of four people, three women and a man, all a similar age to Viden, they hugged and shared pleasantries. Viden was standing near the doorway examining his surroundings tentatively. Mara looked back toward him and gestured for him to come over. He waved his head and left the building. He was sitting outside grasping his head. Mara came out, sitting beside him.
“I’m sorry, I’ve never done this before,” he said to her. “I’ve never had a friend like you, a female like you, actually are we friends?” he asked puzzled. He even often wondered whether Zvest was still his friend, he never understood friendship. What constituted a friend? When can you definitely state that a particular person was your friend?
“It’s alright. I can’t imagine what you’ve been through, you’ve missed out on so much in life, it’s a real shame,” she responded kindly. “And yes, we are friends,” she eased with a smile. Viden rubbed his head in thought.
“But when did we become friends? I don’t understand,” he questioned.
“There isn’t really a definitive moment, I saw something in you when you approached me in the market, you didn’t act like how you should, I found that very interesting,” she responded.
“Really?” he pondered, bemused.
“Yes, there’s something about you,” she said, looking deep into his innocent eyes. She couldn’t quite put her finger on it, but there was something between them. He felt it too. They didn’t know if it was good or bad, but it was there.
“But what? I’m a terrible person, the worst,” he began to leave with guilt.
“That wasn’t you, that wasn’t Viden!” she shouted to him. He stopped and turned his body to face her, sadness in his eyes.
“I didn’t stop it,” he responded. He continued his return to the pyramid.
“Wait!” she shouted, he halted. “Walk with me, we can leave this place, if you like,” she said as he thought deeply on her inquisition.
“Ok, yes that would be nice,” he said, a glint of happiness restored.
The three remaining Knights hovered by a blade smiths, approximately one
-hundred meters away from the saloon. Anu-Hask observed onwards and saw Viden conversing with Mara, despite him never seeing his face, his scar was all too familiar.
“Scherzo!” he shouted to his brethren nearby, “Is that Krai? Look at the scar on his face,” he asked curiously. Anu-Scherzo evaluated the man in question, eye squinted beneath the mask.
“Yes, it does look like him, with the scar,” he responded.
“Wait, is he with that woman?” Anu-Hask enquired.
“I believe so,” Anu-Scherzo responded, very displeased. They tailed Anu-Krai’s interaction with Mara and watched him leave the scene.
“We are going to have to keep an eye on him, make sure he’s not getting distracted from our duty,” Anu-Scherzo stated to both Knights beside him.
“Yes, we will,” Anu-Novo responded. Anu-Hask nodded in agreement with both of his brethren.
Both of them strolled through the dark, narrowing path.
“It’s eerie down these parts at night,” she said, unnerved.
“Yes, I sense it too,” he responded similarly. A howl radiated through the woodland nearby. It startled them both, they giggled slightly at one another.
“Can I ask you something?” he questioned.
“Sure,” she said.
“Do you ever wonder about the universe?” he asked.
“Yeah,” she said, intrigued by his line of inquiry.
“Do you think that there are others out there, on worlds like this one?” he posed as they walked.
“I know there are,” she said enticingly; her response grabbed his attention.
“Really, how?” he enquired, hoping she had some secret or hidden knowledge.
“There are at least 100 billion stars in this galaxy, you would think there will be at least one which has a planet with life,” she said with an irresistible smile.
“That’s my view too. I was told that I was wrong, that gods created this world and this world only with life, so stupid if that was the case,” he said.
“Seems like an awful waste of space,” she said giggling, he reciprocated the humorous statement to his ears.
“I like you,” he said.
“Well I like you too.” The two continued to stroll through Naprador, talking for hours deep into the night.
Chapter 9
Six days before the march on Artsul; Anu-Krai was practising and tuning his skill with a blade. He was specifically training to defend against the attacks dealt on him by Sonje, gaining the mind-muscle connection required to defend against such attacks. He initiated a spar with an Anuai warrior as he usually did when training. Monstah watched, arms folded, stood beside a pillar. He was in the arena which was in a large room within the pyramid. Warriors would go there to spar with one-another, there are occasional tournaments with some lethal and non-lethal events. For pleasure, the Anuai will have humans fight to the death in the pit. Anu-Krai was forced to engage in this when he was younger as an initiation formality, to prove his ability to the Archon.
Anu-Krai and the Anuai warrior clashed with wooden mocks of a sword, he was typically overpowered with ease, because the Anuai have the strength of 10-15 men. He must use his smaller stature as an advantage to evade attacks, he had improved this aspect greatly. He dodged multiple attacks and tried to jab his opponent but failed. They clashed weapons multiple times and Anu-Krai was kicked in the abdomen, hurtling him to the ground with a lot of force.
Monstah laughed, Anu-Krai turned to him with distain in his eye. He rose and launched an assault, offering a variety of blows which were matched, then he targeted the Anuai warriors’ knee and dealt a hit. He jabbed him in the abdomen and the warrior fell to ground with pain and shame. Monstah jerked off the pillar abruptly, his mouth contorted with rage beneath the mask. The warrior lay shocked at his defeat, for the first time a human had defeated an Anuai in a sparring session. Anu-Krai was as shocked as it was and, in his triumph, turned to face Monstah. He gestured arrogantly for him to come into the Arena, with a mocking smile. Still unmasked, his emotions were visible.
Monstah leapt into the Arena, grabbing and hurling his defeated brother out of the battle area. Monstah leapt toward him dealing a heavy blow which Anu-Krai matched, their heads close to one-another Monstah snarled.
“We can all get lucky once human, but you’ll never defeat me.” Anu-Krai smiled in response.
“Guess we’ll see about that,” he remarked with confidence. They traded a few blows, but Monstah grabbed the arm holding the weapon and twisted. Anu-Krai dropped his weapon and his face began to contort painfully. Monstah forced him to the ground and aimed to punch him in the face. Anu-Krai, pinned and unable to move, closed his eyes expecting to meet death. The blow would kill him, but as Monstah began to throw it the Archon emerged behind.
“Monstah!” he bellowed, Anu-Krai’s eyes opened when he felt the thump beside his face.
“This is a sparring session, you know you would have killed him!” he shouted, supremely displeased with his ally. Monstah stood before him disgruntled.
“We don’t need this insignificant human, why you do you continue to protect him?” Monstah roared to the Archon. The Archon enraged, leapt into the Arena. The several Anuai warriors scattered throughout the area stopped what they were doing and watched curiously. Anu-Krai still lay on the floor, glancing up toward the Archon, like a beaten dog, exposed and the only one unmasked. He felt extra vulnerable around the monsters.
Monstah trickled back with a slight tremble, seeds of fear growing within. The Archon domineered above him two feet taller.
“My lord,” he murmured anxiously. Anu-Krai dragged himself out of the Arena.
“You continue to disappoint me my friend, having petty squabbles with the human,” the Archon said. “Now you will know what it’s like to lose.” The Archon engaged in hand-to-hand combat with Monstah, no mock blades required. The Anuai often engaged in martial arts with one-another. Monstah held his ground and they traded punches. Anu-Krai observed, along with the other Anuai. The Archon began to overpower Monstah quickly. The Knight analysed the fight to determine weaknesses in both their fighting style, he could not see much wrong. The Archon punched Monstah in the lower abdomen where his large liver is, winding him. He then uppercut him beneath the jaw and he fell heavily to the ground. He then punched him in the face, causing Monstah’s mask to crack slightly, the blow knocked the beast unconscious. The Archon faced the crowd and roared, he then exited the Arena to continue his tasks.
The crowd bellowed joyfully in support for their master, some of them also disliked Monstah due to his arrogance. Because of that, they were thrilled he’d been put in his place. The crowd dispersed, leaving Anu-Krai alone overseeing an unconscious Monstah. The beast awoke disorientated moments later. Anu-Krai offered a helping hand. Monstah analysed him for a moment, he grabbed his hand and dragged him to the ground whilst he stood.
Anu-Krai turned over shaking his head and shouted, “Why do you hate me?” To Monstah who was walking away. He stopped and turned back.
“It was your species that almost led to the death of ours, our homeland was destroyed because of you!” he snarled at the Knight. Anu-Krai was back on his feet, shocked at the statement he had just heard.
“So, you are an alien,” he responded softly. Monstah realised what he had just said, with their cover at risk he left the Knight immediately. Anu-Krai remained in thought, pondering on the implications of the statement. He always suspected they weren’t gods, but now he was certain.
A while later he travelled to the throne room to confront the Archon with the new-found revelation. He entered, pushing the massive doors himself with great effort.
“Yes, he is here now,” the Archon replied to the voice in the communication link. Anu-Krai approached him.
“I know what you are!” he said strongly. The Archon stood.
“Monstah told as me as much,” the Archon responded.
“I knew you weren’t gods,” he answered firmly.
; “I know you did, that was another reason why I liked you Krai, you’re not like the others,” the Archon said. He grabbed his mask, revealing a reptilian face, Anu-Krai slipped back in amazement and fear. The Archon roared ferociously. Anu-Krai fell to the floor in shock and from the sheer force of the roar. The Archon re-equipped the guise, so he could continue to communicate freely. “Now you know,” he laughed. “It was critical that the people see us as gods Krai, they cannot handle the fact that extra-terrestrial life exists, you know that,” the Archon described.
“Monstah said that humans destroyed your world, how was that possible?” he asked sternly.
“The Alliance of Planets are mostly led by humans. It is an evil empire created to supress the lives of everyone in the galaxy. We fought them to defend our freedom, there are other humanoid species in the alliance,” the Archon said deceptively. “Krai, continue to serve me and I will offer you everything you desire and more. Ever since I found you, you have searched for a life greater than that of an ordinary human, a life of prosperity, truth and knowledge…I can give you that,” he said enticingly to the Knight whose mouth dropped when he heard those words.
“Krai,” he approached the Knight, grasping his head gently, “I can make you the most powerful human. Not only on this rock, but of all,” he said softly.
Anu-Krai fell to his knees in submission. “I will do as you ask, my lord, please teach me the secrets of this universe and I will let nothing stand in our way.” He begged the Archon for this knowledge, offering his continued support in the Archon’s conquest.
“Of course, now go and prepare for the coming conflict. Succeed, only then will I give you what you seek,” he responded. Anu-Krai bowed his head in appreciation and returned to training. The Archon smiled, his deception and suggestions successful. Anu-Krai soon entered his chambers to change into regular attire.
He left the pyramid via a secret passage and found Mara’s stall. He approached her tentatively.