Orphaned
I was born 380 years ago in the outskirts of Aesteria as the oldest of 3 brothers. 30 years after I was born my brother Cratus was born and 27 years after that my brother Phobos was born. My mother and father had a good marriage and liked to play dice games with us. But one eventful night our mother got the news that my father was murdered while trying to arrest a criminal because he worked as a high ranking inquisitor in the ranks of the steward. Our mother got depressed and locked herself away in her room. One time I walked in and she was holding a floating stone in her hand and she was staring at the wall with a loving smile. I asked her “mother what is that?” She turned her head and saw me standing in the opening of her door. “Soon you shall know Deimos…. soon”. Few months went by and one day me and my brothers went to visit the market to get some food and wine. There I encountered a young man called Sades Hex. We bonded quickly and started to talk about life and our goals. After spending a couple of weeks together I started to grow feelings for him but I dare not to show it. One day when we came back from the market we came home we couldn’t believe our eyes. Our mother was hanging from a rope in the stairwell. She had written a note for us.
“My dear children, I am so sorry you have to witness this but I hope you can understand my reasons. Your father was the love of my life and I just can’t live without him. To Deimos I will leave the stone of heart's desire. I think this will lead you on the path of life.
Much love
Mom”
I needed to keep my strength for my brothers because they weren’t ready to accept it. I already saw it coming. I needed to start working so I pursued the path my father took and started to work as an inquisitor. Few months passed and I started to invite Sades over more often because his Father was a cruel man and I did not want him to be home alone with him. One day I was at work and we got the news that a young man named Sades had killed his father by pushing him out of the window. I quickly went over to his house but he was nowhere to be found. “There is one other place he could be,” I thought to myself. I quickly ran home. There he was exhausted as he flew into my arms. He quickly told me he didn’t mean to but I told him that it doesn’t matter but we need to go. I told my brothers to pack their bags and we left Aesteria for good.
The mountain
Months passed by and I grew closer and closer to Sades. He just had a way of understanding me and my problems. Our flame burned brighter by the day. After we fought 12 hungry wolves I flew in his arms and we kissed under the full moon. Our travels continued until one deceitful day we encountered a dark haired man and a blond haired man fighting at the top of a mountain. Sades insisted we needed to help but I was hesitant. Sades leaped over the rock we were hiding behind and faced the blond haired man and got knocked back as fast as he leaped over the rock. My brothers and I also stood up to face him but before we could do anything Sades rose up again and his eyes started to burn like fire. He spoke in a tongue I’ve never heard and from his hand he summoned a flaming chain and shot it at the blond haired man binding and burning him. The dark haired man summoned a portal and Sades took me and my brothers with him. We walked into a big throne room with statues of big demons and fiends on the side of the room. At the end of the room there was a big statue of a six armed godlike being with tusks on his face and in each hand a different weapon. in front of that statue was a throne and there sat the dark haired man. “ Come forward my children” he said with a dark tone as we walked forward 5 chairs were conjured in front of the dark haired man. “Sit down,” said the dark haired man. My brothers and I were hesitant to sit down but Sades gave us a look to sit down and I trusted him so I signald my brothers to sit down. As we sat down Cratus asked boldly “Who are you strange man?” The dark haired man frowned as he stood up, the floor began to tremble and the dark haired man began to transform as the room filled with smoke screams of tortured souls. Before us we saw that the dark haired man had transformed into the likeness of the statue behind him as he sat down on the throne of smoke that had formed behind him. “MY NAME IS HextorTHE GREAT YOU MORTAL AND YOU SHALL RESPECT ME OR YOU REGRET BEING BORN YOU FOOL” he spoke with a commanding tone.Phobos became scared to the point of no return and Cratus watched in horror, I looked worried at Sades thinking “we need to go now” but Sades started to comfort me and told me It will be okay. “You have proven me a big favor, young elf, what is your name?” Hextor asked Sades intrigued. “My name is Sades and these are my friends, my greatness” I looked at him shocked. Hextor didn’t react to him and looked superior to me and my brothers. “So who are you weaklings?” he said with a deep and commanding voice. Cratus was the first to answer “Cratus o great mighty Hextor, but who do you call weak didn’t you beg for our help just a few minutes ago” he said sarcastically. Hextor smirked evil as he pointed his finger to Cratus and he got transported to another plane for a few seconds. When he returned he was not the same anymore his grey skin had burn wounds and he could only mumble the word ‘fire’ as he sat down back in his chair. I was shocked as was Sades and Phobos just kept looking straight down to the ground. quickly after that my brother and I mumbled our names. “You are brave but foolish, if you can let me see that you're worth keeping you win a place among my ranks. A young gold dragon is being raised by my brother. That blond haired fool you met at the top of the mountain is named Heironeous. The dragon goes by the name of Thar, slay him and bring me his head. Everyone of you shall receive an Item you can use to slay that beast. Sades you shall have a magic flail imbued with the primordial fire, Deimos you shall have the greatest longsword I know made in the pits of hell and also imbued with primordial fire, Cratus you shall receive the darkness bane imbued with the power of Ûr and at last the scared one you shall receive talisman to conjure elementals. Now go!” When he finished his monologue we were transported to a far unknown region. and set camp on a ledge because it was getting late.
Fire in him
Sades was looking into the valley when I left the tent. I sat next to me as I had woken up from the noise he made while leaving the tent. I sighed “what a day” he smirked for a while we held hands. He responded “It was a lot, but I think it is for the greater good that we found Hextor. He could bring us purpose” “I don't know Cratus has a bad temper and doesn’t know when to shut but he has completely lost mind and I don't think that was very moral” I looked deep in Deimos eyes “He justs needs to know when to shut up, Hextor can bring us further in life then we have something live for” I was thinking to myself “maybe he is right but I won’t lose another one dear to me” so I agreed reluctantly. “Lets go to bed tomorrow we need to slay a dragon," he said with a funny smile. I looked worried at him as he walked back to the tent. The next morning we stood up early because there was a long road ahead of us. We finally found the cave where Thar was resting. At the front of the cave was a big steel door with a big lightning bolt in the middle. Six soldiers stood in front of the gate protecting it. We hid behind a few bushes. “Okay let's make a plan” Sades said “Phobos summon one elemental to fight against the soldiers and I will part them into two groups, Deimos and I will take on the left group and you and Cratus will attack the right” everyone agrees and Cratus yelled “FIRE!” At that moment a big fire elemental was summoned and Sades parted the group in two by summoning a wall of fire in the middle. We took them down pretty easily. When the wall of fire came down Cratus was chopping a soldier up screaming “FIRE FIRE FIRE!” he looked at us and smiled “Fire”. The gate had no lock but we couldn’t open it. “Stand back” Sades said to rest. He aimed his hand forward as his eyes began to burn again and a big ball of fire flew out my hand and melted the door. We looked in amazement and Cratus shouted happily “FIRE!” In front of them the young dragon woke up from the noise and stood up ready to fight and came at us but Cratus ran toward Thar with his axe high in the air and was slammed against the wall. At that moment I saw Sades, his eyes burning again as he transformed into a red dragon. I quickly hopped on his back as he charged Thar and Phobos summoned a water elemental.We defeated the dragon easily and brought his head back to Hextor. “Well well i'm not disappointed but you need to prove my sons” Hextor said with an evil smirk on his face. when we headed back to our rooms. I started to play with the stone my mother gave me and the image of Sades appeared but it was not as clear as it was before. Maybe I was just tired so I put the stone away and got to bed.
Many years passed by we have joined Hextors cult and we have climbed in his ranks if it weren’t for Sades I would've left already. But the power that comes with Hextor and what he gives us is really powerful and with this power I can protect the people I care about. One day we were summoned to a arena were Hextor spoke to us. “My children you have come far but I see some doubt in your souls, Prove to me you are worthy to become one of my arms. Fight or suffer the wrath of Hextor the great” Everyone looked hesitant except Cratus he grew a big grin on his face and yelled “FIRE!”And ran towards Phobos before he could react his face was met with the axe blade of Cratus as blood spat on his face he violently started hacking in on Phobos, he has fallen. Hextor was amused. Sades and I were shocked. I felt a rage boil in me I’ve never felt before the only thing I saw was Cratus his evil grin on his face. My own brother killed one of our blood. “How could he” I questioned myself. He needs to pay but I don't want to lose another brother. And Sades, why doesn’t he do anything? I grabbed my sword, ignited it and ran towards Cratus but I couldn’t hit him. Cratus' fighting skills and bloodlust grew over the years and we were evenly matched. But Cratus seemed to have the upperhand. I need to end this quickly but he was too strong, as he hit the blade of my sword I fell back on the ground. Sades teleported in front of me and knocked Cratus back on one knee. I heard him yell violently “YOU SHALL RECEIVE YOUR PAYMENT ROTTEN SOUL” then he slowly started to hover above the ground. He reached his hand forward and he showered Cratus in a primordial fire. He turned into ashen flames. I watched in horror. “No this can’t be true not him not Sades no” I thought to myself. “Sorry but there was no saving him he was too far gone he would’ve killed us both” Sades said comforting.I was too shocked so I agreed reluctantly and he pulled me in for a kiss “KILL” Hextor screamed annoyed. “There is only one place in my ranks,” he said, annoyed. I flinched quick and looked into Sades eyes. “No”we both said as we dropped our weapons. Hextor looked at the both of us, his mind drowned in thoughts. He summoned one of his arms, he looked at him with a cold stare and ripped him in two pieces “I guess there is space for two now my children” he said commandingly, with a subtle smirk on his face.
The Ballad of Ashen Flames
After this moment I started to question Sades at times. Is this power getting to his head or did he really act for the greater good. I love him so much. What does the stone say? What do I think. But there is no time for that. We are fighting a war that we must win because he is the last thing I’ve got. For the greater good…….. right?