Emptiness

by Viktor Zólyomi

  So, I proceeded to the leader's tent. By then, the storm had vanished, and night had fallen. To my surprise, the leader's tent was not empty. Not at all.

  Every bandit of the camp was gathered in there. They were all either dead, or dying. There were signs of a massive battle, lots of blood all over the place. There were around two dozen bandits lying there, and there were three other figures, who obviously were not with the bandits.

  All three were men, all three wore black, and all three were rather pale skinned.

  Each figure was kneeling beside a fallen bandit, leaning over the neck of the fallen man. I slowly crept forward, staying in the shadows. The nearest figure slowly stood up and turned towards me.

  Blood was dripping from his mouth. His eyes were filled with hunger. He looked directly at me. He saw me. In that dark corner, where no mere man could see me, he saw me.

  `My brethren!' he called out to the others. `There is one more...'

  The other two arose as well, and turned to me. I stood up and stepped out of the shadows, slowly, with my sword still sheathed. The three men stopped advancing, and one of them, the tallest one, opened his mouth to speak. His razor sharp teeth were covered in blood.

  `You don't look like one of these men.'

  `I'm not.' I told them.

  `So, why are you here?'

  `I came to fight them. To kill them.'

  `You? Alone? Ha!'

  They laughed. All three, in a crude, insulting manner.

  `You're a little too late with that, young one! As you can see, we beat you to them!'

  `I see it.'

  Once again, I surveyed the room. Most of the corpses had puncture-like wounds on the neck. I saw a bandit dressed better than the others in the center of the tent. He was probably the leader. I slowly realized what had happened. These creatures came to the camp, entered the leader's tent, they fought him, and he called for his men to aid him. The creatures killed them all.

  `Just why did you come to slay these men?' asked the tallest one.

  `Why did you?' I asked.

  `Surely you realize what we are, young one.'

  `You are vampires.'

  `Indeed. We have come to this place to feed. These brigands gave us quite the satisfaction.'

  `Why them?'

  `Why not? They're a loathsome bunch. Greedy, pathetic... No purpose in life... But you didn't reply. Why have you come?'

  `To test myself.'

  `Test yourself?'

  `In battle.'

  `Alone, against such odds? Do you wish to die? Lucky for you that we are so full now, otherwise we might feed on you.' said the tallest one with a smile now.

  `Wait a second. Maybe you are full, but I'm not!' said the nearest one.

  `Very well, but do it fast, I wish to leave this filthy place! It sickens me...'

  He attacked me. He came so fast I barely saw him coming. Fortunately I was able to draw my sword fast enough that I could block his first attack. After that, I quickly cast a defensive spell, and then waited for him to strike again. He attacked fast, and dealt strong, devastating blows. I felt my heart beating fast, and I felt how the demon inside me was telling me that it was his turn to fight. But I didn't want to let it come to that just yet.

  A vampire...

  I never expected to find a vampire there. But how could I not? And how could I have not met any of them earlier? For seven years I didn't meet a single one of them. Yet this was Kh'Tal, a world of eternal darkness, where vampires are rulers of night and day. It was to be expected that I'd find them here sooner or later.

  I knew of their powers. I knew that they were fast and strong, and that their wounds could regenerate. I knew that besides sunlight, the only thing that can destroy them is decapitation. I also knew that the stronger ones have shapeshifting powers, able to assume the form of bat and the form of mist. In mist form, they are invulnerable, but are also unable to fight. I knew that this battle was not about killing them. It was about surviving them. Weakening them, forcing them to shapechange, to flee. Yet I fought with the intention of killing them. I felt, that aiming for anything less would only lead to my defeat.

  I knew how slim my chances were, yet I hoped to fight them off without the demon's aid.

  Compared to my fighting skills, the vampire that charged me was immensely powerful. I knew that I had only one chance: magic.

  My natural speed and strength couldn't match his, but I knew spells that could increase my own speed, even if not my strength. So, I magically hasted myself, and waited for the right moment to strike. I was able to cast the spell without him noticing it, uttering the words silently, and making the hand gestures behind my back. I waited until he came in for another blow, and pretended to stand prone to his attack. Then, just a split second before his claws could slash into my chest, I slipped aside with a speed rivaling his. He was shocked at that, he did not expect it. I did not hesitate. I struck with my sword towards his unprotected neck.

  I was certain he would block, or move away. But alas, he was so surprised at my sudden move, that he did not manage to properly defend himself. My blade cut straight into his flesh, then the bone, then the flesh again, and severed his head from his neck.

  He fell without a word, and I turned towards the other two. They were feeding.

  The tallest one slowly stood up. Upon hearing that the fight was over, he exclaimed:

  `About time that you finished him! Let's get out of here!'

  I moved close as fast as I could, and struck with my sword, against the tall one's neck. He turned around fast and tried to block my blow with his left arm. My sword cut through him just below the elbow, severing his left forearm.

  He fell, screaming in pain and disbelief. He called to the other vampire.

  `Kill him!'

  So, the third one attacked me. As we fought, I could see from the corner of my eye that the tall one had returned to feeding, and I saw how his arm started to heal. I knew that if he fed enough, the severed forearm would grow back.

  I fought the other vampire for long, I could not tell how long. Only that I had to renew my spells several times. Finally, he fell to my blade, decapitated, just like the first one.

  Then I walked towards the tallest vampire, who slowly stood up and stared at me. His hand had partly grown back, but he seemed distressed.

  `Who are you? What are you?' he asked.

  `My name is Jason Vogan.'

  His face became confused then, and finally he asked.

  `Is that your real name?'

  `The name I was given at birth. In another world.'

  `Strange coincidence, perhaps, that you would be given such a... remarkable name. Tell me, do you ride a black horse, by chance?'

  I stared at him for a long time, thinking of all the bandits I had killed in the past years during the tests Doorn told me to put myself through, and thought of the innocents that had died at the hands of the demon before that time. Then I looked at his fallen brethren, and finally turned back to him.

  `I don't know. I really don't...'

  He slowly nodded.

  `If one day we meet again, Jason Vogan, then perhaps we shall see.'

  He then stepped back, and jumped backwards into the air. He turned into a bat, and flew out of the tent.

  *

  `You did what?!' Doorn asked me as I returned and told him what had happened.

  `I fought three vampires, killing two of them. The third one decided to retreat.'

  `You killed... two vampires? Two? And you made a third one flee?'

  `Yes.'

  `What about the demon?'

  `Didn't surface.' I told him, shaking my head slightly.

  He smiled widely.

  `This is... this is unbelievable. You have surpassed my wildest expectations! Killing a small pack of werewolves would have been a challenge, but fighting off three vampires, killing two of them... This is a much more difficult challenge.'

  `Perhaps they were young.'

  `Rega
rdless, you have outdone yourself. Well done, my student! Now go take a rest. Tomorrow... tomorrow you will prove to me that you are ready!'

  `So, this was not proof enough?'

  `Not just yet, Jason. There is only one way you can truly conquer the demon inside you, and this is what you have been preparing yourself for in the past seven years. It is this, which must begin tomorrow. I shall explain everything in the morning. Now go, rest! You need it...'

  I did as he asked, and went to rest. I didn't sleep however. I couldn't. All I could think of were the words of the tall vampire. He had recognized my name as the Rider, he was familiar with that ancient language Doorn had told me of earlier. His words made me think back, look back at the past years. Just how many people did I kill during these tests? Bandits, who deserved to die, but still... How many did I slay?

  I didn't dare to try counting. I just knew I wanted this to end. I could only hope that soon, after this last test Doorn would make me face, the need for all this killing would be over. I hoped it.

  Hope was all I had...

  The burden of leadership

  The study of Supreme Councilor Sewareld Worriil, City of Re'Cas, present day (2 years, 3 months, and 6 days before Twilightfall)

  Looking down at the people walking in the streets of Re'Cas from the window of my tower is always a pleasure. It reminds me of how numerous we are now. After the war, this city was so empty, you could barely see anyone in the streets during the day. The city has prospered since then. The survivors had brought many young mages here, who in time learned the arts very well, and helped to once again make Re'Cas into the great metropolis it should be. And here we are, we count over five thousand now. No city is greater now anywhere in Arghard in terms of power, glory, and riches. No-one can rival this place now, and once again we rightfully call Re'Cas the City of Mages.

  We made this possible. I and the rest of the Supreme Council. The governing power of Ess'yer. The hand that holds the Alliance together. At least, in the glory days, that's what we were...

  The Council is no longer what it used to be. I've been a part of it since the very beginning, and I've seen it change. I've seen it crumble, seen it weaken, seen it wane. I alone hold the Council together today. The burden of leadership is mine alone now. The others...

  They are worthless. All of them.

  Achmor Dahnir, the Dwarven Councilor... A fine warrior, I'll readily admit that. But he cares more about his stomach than enforcing the laws in his own lands. Arudden has never been more chaotic than under his so-called guidance. My Supreme Guard are the only force of law even in his territory.

  Lyour, the Councilor of the trolls is even worse. He's nothing but a big brute who would solve every problem with excessive force. Then again, he's nothing more than a typical specimen of his kind. He'd make an excellent slave in a mine or a quarry, but nothing more.

  Then there's Khargun, the Orcish Councilor. Yes, he's a smart one. He even has a decent knowledge of magic, for which I could even admire a fighter like him. But he is too prejudiced towards the humans to care for anything other than trying to undermine Jenathar's agendas at every turn, and it is his own people who suffer for that. All he's doing is growing the ancient tension between orcs and humans, the fool! Even if the humans do deserve all his scorn...

  And then Jenathar, my good friend Jenathar... The people of Delamar would be better off if he died soon! The sooner the better.

  His power is immense, but he's growing weaker day by day. Nine hundred years of life have taken a toll in him. His magic will not sustain him for much longer, and the weaker he gets, the less he can keep things under control in Delamar. That little incident fifteen years ago shows this well. One of his apprentices turned against his fellows and killed them. Three young, promising mages, died just like that. Two of them were elves... Jenathar failed miserably, and the old fool has still not managed to capture the culprit. What was his name...

  Jason. Jason Vogan. Yes, that's him. The only child of Elaine Vogan. She was supposed to succeed Jenathar in the Council. She died as she gave birth to her son. Suspicious circumstances, but whatever. It's not my problem. In fact, this situation has turned all the better for me...

  Since Elaine died, Jenathar hasn't named a new successor to his position. What a fool! If he were to die suddenly, it would take ages for someone to take his place, what with all the bickering these humans are capable of when it comes to refilling a hole in a powerful position. With no successor named, the Barons of Delamar will decide who takes his place, just like they did when he was named Councilor. And they won't come to any agreement anytime soon... That will, of course, serve me well. A little unexpected incident to plunge that chaotic land into war is all it takes for me to be able to pose as their savior. I would have to send my Supreme Guard in larger number to Delamar to help them enforce law and order. That would, of course, require that I recruit many, many more warriors to the Supreme Guard... Without suspicion...

  Once my army grows large enough...

  But that is still the music of the future. The time has not yet come to remove Jenathar from the equation. It is still early, but soon... Very soon...

  *

  The sound of knocking interrupts my thoughts. It sounds like Eric, he always knocks like that.

  `Come in, Eric!'

  He steps inside and greets me.

  `Lord Worriil!'

  `Eric... What news do you bring?'

  He opens a small bag he carries with him, and pulls out its contents. He hands it to me.

  It is a freshly cleaned and polished human skull. The one and only particularity about it is... a glowing rune on its forehead...

  `Ildardque!' I exclaim.

  `Yes, Lord Worriil. This is his skull.'

  `The skull of Ildardque... Excellent work, Eric! You've outdone yourself, as usual...'

  `I am here to serve, Lord Worriil.'

  `Where did you find him?'

  `We traced him to the town of Awyn. We locked down the town a few days ago, and yesterday we were able to locate him in one of the taverns.'

  `I suppose he didn't want to come willingly?'

  `No.'

  `I thought as much. Typical of his kind, they care little for the greater good, or for what we hope to accomplish.'

  `He lived among the filthy humans all his life, so I didn't expect anything less from him. Regardless, we didn't need him alive.'

  `True, true...' I tell him. `However, executing him publicly here, or even in Gatestown, could have served us more than killing him in a small town. News of his demise will travel, but many will not be concerned that much, for they did not see the execution themselves. A pity. No matter, we have his head, you may now begin work.'

  `Is the skeleton prepared?'

  `It should be. If not, see to it that the fools responsible for the delay are duly punished.'

  `Of course, Lord Worriil. They will not live to regret their mistake.'

  `Good. But focus on the rite, Eric. I want Ildardque in my service as soon as possible. How much time do you think it will take?'

  `About a week, if there are no complications. Two weeks in the worst case.'

  `Good. Go then, and get to work.'

  `Yes, Lord Worriil!'

  He bows his head, and leaves.

  Eric Shyrn... The greatest of my Supreme Guard, the brightest hope for the cause of our kind. Once again, Eric, you have performed a great service.

  Yes, Eric, you are truly the finest of my servants. Your infatuation with black magic is a risk to us, but for now that risk is acceptable. A pity that eventually I will probably be forced to take drastic measures about you... But that will not be in the next few centuries, fortunately. For now, your skills are invaluable to our cause. To think, that your black magic will make the mighty Ildardque into a mindless skeleton warrior in my service...

  And what a servant he will make! With his heritage evidenced by the rune on his forehead, he will be immensely powerful. More than a mere skeleton
warrior. He will be a Death Knight! He shall command our legion of undead, when the time comes.

  Yes, Eric... Your skills are invaluable to our cause...

  The trial of the warrior

  Doorn's retreat, Kh'Tal, eight years ago (10 years, 5 months, and 17 days before Twilightfall)

  When the time came for the test Doorn had promised, I was still troubled. Worst of all, I was unrested. I hadn't slept all night, and I knew Doorn would have a tough test prepared for me. I was thinking of backing out, asking for a day of rest, but the bigger part of me wanted to pass that test as soon as possible, so in the end I didn't back out. I waited for him by the lake, and it was past noon when he came. He, too, looked like he hadn't slept. But not because he couldn't fall asleep. No, more like he was preparing for the test all night. When he told me what he had in mind for me, I understood that he was practicing all night.

  `Are you prepared for the Trial of the warrior?'

  `Trial of the warrior?'

  `Yes.' he nodded. `It is the final test I have for you. Pass this, and you will be ready to make the final step toward the goal you came to accomplish.'

  `The final step? Is this not the final test?'

  `You must understand that I cannot give you what you desire, nor can anyone else. That which you want, you must take for yourself. All I can do, is help you find the way to your goal.'

  `This trial will lead me there?'

  `The trial will test whether you are ready to walk the path that you must. The path itself you already know.'

  `Do I?'

  `Yes. We shall speak of it after the trial. Are you prepared?'

  `Yes. I am ready.'

  `Good. Wait here.'