Legacy of Chaos

by Jackson Bale

  As---we---enter---the---building,---the---centaur---named---Arther---stops---and---turns---to---look---at---us---contemplatively,---specifically---focusing---most---of---his---attention---on---Thoric.

  “The---mee-”

  “I---know,”---Thoric---exclaims---quickly---with---a---cocky---smile---on---his---face---as---he---waves---his---hand,---“As---soon---as---your---[Scout]---saw---that---my---army---was---approaching---the---city---you---sent---the---order---for---the---council---of---herds---to---assemble.---I---imagine---that---somewhere---deeper---into---this---building---the---[Herdmasters]---are---already---in---position,---awaiting---my---arrival---so---that---it---can---begin---immediately.”

  “I-”

  “But,”---Thoric---continues,---“They---have---also---ordered---to---make---sure---that---when---we---enter---for---the---meeting,---our---weapons---would---be---temporarily---confiscated.---Unfortunately---for---you,---the---Patriarch---of---the---Kitsune---has---a---class---which---doesn’t---focus---on---utilizing---physical---weapons,---but---instead---on---the---use---of---magic,---which---can---of---course---be---an---even---more---potent---weapon.---Thus,---you---are---in---the---predicament---of---not---being---sure---how---to---disarm---such---an---individual.”

  Thoric’s---smile---widens,---his---posture---straightens.---Then---he---flicks---his---coat---out,---seemingly---airing---it,---“Thus,---allow---me---to---help---you---ease---that---decision.”

  His---hands---travel---behind---his---back---when---the---sound---of---an---explosion---startles---me.---I---turn---to---look---in---the---direction---of---the---sound.

  Nooooooooo!---I---just---sewed---on---a---new---cloak---for---mule---last---week!

  I---watch---as---several---dozens---of---bone---discs---slice---up---all---my---hard---work,---and---then---proceed---to---float---up---into---the---air.---The---discs---start---spinning---everywhere---around---us,---creating---a---seemingly---impenetrable---protective---barrier---around---our---group.

  And---then,---as---though---that---wasn't---impressive---enough,---I---watch---in---utter---amazement---as---lightning---begins---to---jump---from---bone---disc---to---bone---disc,---creating---continuous---flashes---of---light---around---us.

  I---look---around,---watching---as---every---[Guard]---in---the---area---unsheathes---or---unlatches---their---weapons,---only---to---point---them---at---our---group.---It---is---clear---though---that---they---are---extremely---confused---about---what---is---happening,---and---unsure---how---exactly---they---should---respond---to---this.---Even---more---so---since---Arther---is---located---within---the---vortex---that---Thoric---has---created.

  What---is---he---up---to?

  My---thoughts,---seemingly---always---relaxing---when---facing---danger,---start---to---wander.---I---turn---away---from---the---flickers---of---light,---and---instead---look---towards---Arther,---who---seems---to---be---very---uncomfortable---after---suddenly---being---surrounded---by---this---spinning---maelstrom.---He---is---frantically---looking---around,---his---weapons---at---the---ready,---unsure---about---what---to---do---or---how---to---react.

  “Now---Arther,---I---will---be---blunt---with---you.---Me---and---my---group---will---be---keeping---our---weapons---and---belongings---on---us.---We---will---enter---and---join---this---meeting---as---we---are---now.---If---you---deny---my---demands,---then---I---will---order---my---minion---outside---the---city---to---bust---down---your---walls---and---have---it---rampage---its---way---towards---my---location.---During---that---time,---I---will---defend---myself---against---your---paltry---defensive---forces---you---have---stationed---here---for---security.”

  And---then,---as---though---to---make---a---point,---Lightning---flashes---brightly---from---the---vortex---while---simultaneously---creating---an---excessively---loud---bang.---When---I---slowly---regain---my---vision---after---being---blinded---for---a---couple---of---seconds---by---the---flash,---I---see---that---the---discs---are---still---spinning---and---discharging---small---bolts---of---lightning.---But---the---floor---and---ceiling---inside---the---spinning---domain---is---completely---scorched.---The---smell---of---burnt---wood---is---hanging---in---the---air.

  Thoric---leans---forward,---his---face---coming---close---to---Arthur’s,---who---looks---extremely---frightened.---His---eyes---have---become---wide---as---saucers.

  “Well?---What---will---it---be?”

  ******************************************************************

  “Why---can't---you---just---make---some---other---undead---carry---your---stupid---discs?---Why---does---it---have---to---be---Mule?---Do---you---have---any---Idea---how---much---work---I---put---into---making---that---cloak---for---him?”

  Why---is---it---that---I---always---find---myself---in---the---weirdest---predicaments?---Like---really.---I---am---about---to---enter---a---room---filled---with---arrogant,---idiotic---[Herdmasters]---with---various---stupid---personal---agenda’s,---but---before---that,---I---for---some---reason---have---to---get---yelled---at---by---Janie---over---a---stupid---cloak---that---she---made---for---an---undead!

  Like---seriously,---how---am---I---supposed---to---get---into---the---demanding---overprepared---political---mood---if---I---am---getting---yelled---at---by---what---most---people---would---immediately---think---is---my---wife---or---something.

  Heck,---even---Arther---who---almost---pissed---himself---at---the---earlier---display---is---regaining---his---confidence---as---I---get---lectured---about---putting---things---into---her---undead.

  I---am---the---one---supplying---Mule---with---mana!---Mule---is---my---undead!

  Gahhhhhhh

  “Ok,---ok,---I---will---ask---next---time---before---doing---anything---to---Mule.---Just,---please,---let---me---focus,”---I---say,---pointing---at---the---door---leading---into---the---stupid---meeting---hall.

  Janie---frowns---and---folds---her---arms,---but---thankfully---seems---to---have---finally---decided---to---stay---quiet.

  Finally.---I---was---beginning---to---think---whether---I---should---gag---her---like---I---did---the---three---other---[Herdmasters].

  I---turn---and---take---a---look,---staring---at---the---three---bound---[Herdmasters]---who---have---all---beenl---tied---together---with---a---rope.---Doreson---is---the---one---pulling---the---rope.

  “Alright,---lets---have---some---fun,”---I---say---as---I---turn---towards---the---door---and---kick---it---open.

  *Bang!*

  The---sound---reverberates---through---the---chambers,---loudly---announcing---my---presence---to---all---those---waiting.

  I---stroll---in---with---my---head---held---high---and---my---back---straight,---all---while---giving---a---lazy---look---towards---those---present.

  The---[Herdmasters]---are---gathered---in---a---semicircle---in---a---fashion---resembling---that---of---an---auditorium.---They---look---at---me---with---various---different---expressions;---curiosity,---annoyance,---surprise,---and---of---course,---contempt.

  Each---[Herdmaster]---in---the---room---has---armed---bodyguards---standing---behind---them.---These---bodyguards---are---centaurs---of---a---high---level,---many---of---them---even---have---a---second-tier---class.---It---is---obvious---that---their---only---purpose---here---is---to---protect---their---respective---[Herdmaster].

  And---these---fuckers---thought---they---could---disarm---me.

  My---feet---quickly---take---me---to---the---platform---where---the---[Speaker]---awaits---with---a---fervent---frown---on---his---face.---His---eyes---are---however---not---gazing---at---me,---but---at---Arther.

  The---[Speaker],---a---rather---large---centaur,---steps---forward,---“Welcome,---patriarch---Thoric,”---he---begins---while---placing---a---fist---on---his---chest,---a---gesture---equivalent---to---humans---shaking---hands.

  Normally,---it---would---be---customary---for---the---other---party---to---do---the---same---back.

  Normally…

  Without---slowing---or---even---moving---my---head,---I---walk---past---the---speaker,---ignoring---him---comple
tely.---Gasps---are---heard---from---the---audience,---but---I---ignore---those---as---well.---I---walk---up---to---the---podium---and---turn---my---head---towards---the---audience---of---[Herdmasters],---many---of---whom---are---looking---confused.

  With---a---mental---command,---a---little---bird---the---size---of---a---hummingbird---flies---down---from---the---ceiling---and---lands---on---my---shoulder.---Its---eyes---quickly---start---glowing---with---a---strong---purple---light,---signifying---its---undead---nature.

  I---take---a---quick---peak---in---the---direction---of---the---[Speaker],---who---is---quickly---talking---with---Arther---and---pointing---in---my---direction.---By---reading---their---lips---I---can---make---out---that---they---are---talking---about---why---I---am---still---armed.

  [Loud---Voice]

  “I---have---to---admit,---you---all---have---balls.---Big---horse---balls---considering---what---you---tried---to---pull---on---me.---I---mean---really?---Disarm---me?---Even---though---you---all---are---armed---yourselves?”

  My---words---echo---rather---loudly---around---the---room---thanks---to---my---skill,---quickly---silencing---the---whispers---from---the---[Herdmasters]---and---gaining---the---[Speakers]---attention.

  “Get---off---my---podium,---only---I---may---direct---the---council!”---he---says,---looking---rather---insulted---now.

  I---look---down---at---the---[speaker].

  “Direct---the---council?”---I---start---before---pointing---at---Arther,---“you---mean---how---you---insultingly---directed---your---[Watch---Captain]---to---attempt---to---disarm---me---before---I---entered---into---a---meeting---filled---with---armed---bodyguards?”

  My---smile---widens---as---I---hear---whispers---coming---from---the---crowd.---Many---were---not---informed.

  “Please,---explain---to---the---council---why---you---would---order---such---an---insultful---thing---to---be---done---to---someone---who---can---single---handedly---destroy---this---city---and---slaughter---all---its---inhabitants?”

  The---whispers---from---the---[Herdmasters]---rise---in---volume---as---my---words---direct---their---eyes---towards---the---[Speaker].---The---himself---[Speaker]---is---turning---pale.

  Ahhh,---yes,---politics---and---greed.---Several---dozen---[Herdmasters],---probably---friends---of---the---three---I---have---captured,---promised---benefits---to---the---[Speaker]---in---exchange---for---disarming---me.

  And---the---[Speaker],---a---class---and---a---person---who---should---be---above---bribery,---had---accepted---the---bribe.---From---what---Dragken---had---explained---to---me,---it---is---the---duty---of---the---[Speaker]---to---treat---all---equally.

  Questioning---eyes---turn---to---the---now---slowly---panicking---[Speaker].

  “He---is---dangerous.---It---is---for---the---councils---safety!”

  “Councils---safety?---Really---now.---Is---their---safety---not---to---be---directed---by---the---council's---decisions?---Is---it---not---the---[Speakers]---job---to---inform---the---council---beforehand---of---what---you---will---be---doing---to---enforce---their---safety?”

  My---words---strike---hard---and---deep.---They---resonate---with---an---emotion---that---is---felt---by---most.

  The---speaker---turns---to---me,---eyes---wide---in---panic.---He---opens---his---mouth.

  “[Silencing---Glare]”

  Status---Effect---Mute---Resisted.

  “Really---now?---Trying---to---silence---me---after---your---little---blunder?”---I---turn---to---the---[Herdmasters]---now,---most---of---them---are---looking---quite---peeved.---They---saw---what---just---happened---and---the---skil---the---[Speaker]l---used.---Though---they---also---look---rather---surprised---that---the---skill---did---not---work---on---me.

  “Tell---me,---[Herdmasters],---do---you---want---to---have---this---council---directed---by---someone---who---accepts---bribes?---Who---speaks---for---only---a---select---few---and---not---all---of---the---members---of---the---council?”

  A---loud---chorus---of---‘No’---is---heard---from---most---of---the---[Herdmasters],---with---the---exception---of---a---few---who---are---looking---peeved.---Those---few---are---of---the---highest---level---here---in---the---council.---I---mentally---remember---them---and---their---names---for---later---use.

  “Then,”---I---turn---to---the---[Speaker],---“[Watch---Captain]---Arther,---Please---remove---[Speaker]---Arturius---from---this---meeting.---His---presence---is---no---longer---required.”

  It---takes---a---moment,---not---a---long---one,---before---Arther---nods---slowly---and---grabs---Arturius---by---the---collar.

  “No,---Arther,---you---work---for---me!---Stop,---I---am---the---[Speaker]!”

  “I---work---for---the---council,”---his---words---escape---from---his---lips---with---unhidden---venom---as---he---drags---the---[Speaker]---from---the---room.

  Ahhh,---politics.---So---much---fun---messing---with---people.---Now---that---the---[Speaker]---is---gone---and---no---longer---in---the---pockets---of---a---few,---Doresons’---job---will---be---much---easier.

  As---the---door---closes---and---shuts---out---the---pleading---voice---of---the---[Speaker],---I---look---back---towards---the---[Herdmasters]---who---are---all---looking---towards---me---with---curiosity.---In---mere---moments---after---entering---I---had---removed---the---[Speaker],---and---now---they---are---curious---of---what---I---will---do---next.

  “Now---then,---as---many---of---you---may---already---know.---I---am---the---Patriarch---of---the---Kitsune,---and---I---have---come---here---for---many---reasons,”---I---pause,---taking---a---moment---to---assess---the---crowd,---“Which---I---will---allow---one---of---your---kind---to---explain.”

  Whispers---start---to---form---from---the---crowd---but---I---raise---my---hand,---stopping---them---momentarily.

  “Please---do---not---take---this---as---an---insult.---As---I---have---only---recently---arrived---to---your---floor,---my---knowledge---of---your---political---factions,---leadership,---and---proper---etiquette---are---sorely---lacking.---So---to---avoid---any---accidental---insults,---I---would---like---to---have---Doreson,---a---[Tactician---Captain],---to---speak---on---my---behalf.”

  Well,---I---wouldn't---say---that---my---understanding---is---lacking.---I---already---understand---the---gist---of---their---politics---and---I---am---sure---I---could---do---a---far---better---job---explaining---than---Doreson.---Unfortunately,---I---will---be---leaving---the---floor---soon,---and---it---would---be---best---to---already---give---the---[Herdmasters]---the---idea---that---Doreson---speaks---for---me.

  My---words---are---greeted---with---nods---from---most---while---I---turn---and---signal---Doreson---to---come---up---to---the---podium.

  Doreson,---seeing---my---preplanned---signal,---starts---to---trot---towards---the---podium---with---the---three---bound---[Herdmasters]---following---behind---him,---his---facial---expression---hides---the---unease---that---I---know---he---actually---feels.

  I---start---to---walk---down---the---podium,---passing---Doreson.---But---right---before---I---reach---the---bottom,---my---head---turns---towards---the---council---members.

  “Oh,---I---almost---forgot.---Please---be---civil---with---this---meeting,---because---I---will---know,”---I---say---slowly.

  The---room---immediately---starts---glowing---purple,---causing---all---eyes---to---look---upward.---There---they---find---several---hundred---small---birds---on---the---ceiling,---their---glowing---purple---eyes---being---the---reason---behind---the---sudden---illumination---of---the---room.

  Gasps---are---heard---throughout---the---entire---audience,---their---eyes---locked---at---the---uniform---undead---gazes---of---the---birds.---As---they---look---away---from---the---birds---and---towards---me,---they---find---my---eyes---glowing---brightly---with---the---same---light,---but---with---a---much---stronger---intensity---than---the---bird's.

  I---smirk.

  “I---will---always---know,”

  The---light---disappears---as---fast---as---it---had---appeared,---and---I---continue---my---way---to---the-
--door,---leaving---the---auditorium---in---complete---silence---behind---me.

  __________________________________________________________________

  Chapter---Fifty---Five:---Domain

  “Artyom,---keep---that---form---still---and---avoid---moving.---Concentrate---your---emotions---and---fight---the---feeling.”

  Artyom---groans---internally,---wishing---he---could---do---some---‘Proper’---training---instead---of---gymnastics.

  He---takes---a---moment,---moving---his---arms---slowly,---balancing---two---barrels---of---water---on---his---hands---while---simultaneously---having---one---foot---stand---on---a---very---thin---rod.

  It---is---difficult,---not---physically---as---the---barrels---of---water---do---not---hinder---his---strength,---but---more---so---his---dexterity.---Keeping---the---barrels---on---the---center---of---his---palm---while---making---sure---that---they---do---not---spill---is---not---easy.