Draconic Testament (41 page)

“Of course. Both of our enemies, fighting each other, weakened. I say, close the Dominion portal, and take Zolka for ourselves.” Laer said. Zaxxarius thought about that.
“It’s not ALL the Domini’s fault, is it?” Zaxxarius said. “There are some here, trying to live out their lives normally.”
“And the ones stuck on the shithole planet of Dominion are the rapists and killers that are attacking Zolka as we speak.” Laer said. “Though, I’m happy they are. Zolka had it coming.”
“That’s awful.” Tyria said. “We have had bad blood with Zolka, but they do not deserve such treatment.”
“That would be dishonourable, taking their land.” Sacrum said. “Arcana were not made for spilling Cazrian blood.” They all paused on that word.
“Ah... Arcanas.” Abaddon said.
“I can’t use one?” Zaxxarius asked.
“Well... You ARE an overlord. It’s just that, usually when Halflings pick up an Arcana, some radical patriots or zealots get sort of angry. It’s usually just too intimidating for them.” Laer said.
“I don’t care what people think of me.” Zaxxarius said.
“Oh, I do like this boy.” Laer giggled.
“The council will be your advisors.” Abaddon said. “They specialise in different areas. Laer for war tactics, Sacrum for economy, Tyria for foreign relations with Cazrians, and Pali for alien relations.”
“At your service.” Tyria said, smiling.
“Oh, it will be fun to work with you.” Pali said.
“Yes... Yes, indeed.” Sacrum grumbled.
“It will be VERY fun to be in your presence.” Laer giggled.
“Now, we’re going to go to the Coronation Monolith.” Abaddon said.
“I’ll accompany you.” Tyria said.
“So shall I.” Laer said, standing up.
“I don’t think...” Tyria began, but Laer had already made her way around the table, and placed her arm around Zaxxarius. “You don’t mind, do you?” Laer whispered.
“Erm... no...” Zaxxarius said, a little flushed. Tyria sighed.
“Let’s go then.” Abaddon said.
“Looks like it’s going to be the opposite here as to what it was on earth.” Vander said. “Zaxxarius will get all the chicks, and I’ll be the one in the corner, reading books...”
Chapter Fifteen – Coronation
Zaxxarius Elric
The five were on the roof of the Tower of Xelphan, up in the sky. The battleships could be seen clearly from here. They were huge, and intimidating, and they boasted all sort of guns and armour. It looks like they were guarding both the monolith and the Council members. Also, the whole of trinity could be seen from up here. Blocks and blocks of houses and buildings, as far as the eye can see, all in some sort of massive pattern. Lights lit up in the distance, and he could see the grasslands start with an incredible waterfall. The Monolith was huge, about three times as big as Zaxxarius, with ancient writing in Cazrian on the monolith’s sides. It looked as if it meant something, but Zaxxarius could not read Cazrian. Something he’s going to have to learn in the near future. “What’s the writing about?” Zaxxarius asked.
“It’s passages from the Draconic Testament.” Tyria said. “In the name of Horizon, Dusk, and Dawn, thee who looketh unto the Monolith shall see naught but sorrow, pride, pain and power. We bequeath the magic of the Overlord to thou who protects thy brethren, leader of the followers of your House and the Draconic Testament. Breathe the furious fires and magic unto your foes, and bask in the undying power of the Dragons.”
“A bunch of nonsense, since the undying power of the dragons did not save them from the Domini.” Laer huffed. “I have told you to watch your words.” Tyria hissed, angrily. “Wrath will await you in your near future if your words are not well thought.” Tyria looked at her with furious eyes, but Laer just chuckled and waved away her threats, not in the least bothered. “As you say, old woman. I quiver just thinking about It.”
“The Monolith doesn’t say anything about granting you memories of the past Overlords because Ultimali had altered the Monolith after the Holy Book was written.” Abaddon said.
“Prince Zaxxarius.” Abaddon said. “The Monolith awaits you. In the Monolith, you will actually meet the souls of the Overlords trapped there. There are 5 successful Overlords in total. Xelphan, Duty, Xita, Voltrin, and Sancterus. You’ll need the votes of the majority of them, 3 out of 5, to become Overlord. Do not act, be yourself.”
“When you place your hand on the Monolith, you will enter the auras of all the Overlords stored inside. You will talk to them. All of them.” Vander said. “They cannot harm you, and you cannot harm them. It’s just a communication between souls. You’ll learn things they learned along the way.”
“What do you mean?” Zaxxarius asked. “It doesn’t just grant me power?”
“It boosts your learning efficiency in the form of memories.” Abaddon said. “They are not exactly memories, per say. They are just... forms of recollection. When you’re fighting, you’ll usually fight with some of the skills of your ancestors, just automatically. This won’t make you as good as Xelphan with an Arcana, it would just allow you to adapt and learn faster.”
“I don’t understand.” Zaxxarius says.
“Neither do I.” Abaddon said. “Each Overlord has given a riddle as to how the Coronation affects you. That was Voltrin’s version, as Sancterus didn’t really give one. From what I saw, it didn’t seem to bother or impede on Sancterus’ progress.”
“You can ask him when you’re in there, though, you’ll probably speak to him second-to-last. You speak to the Overlords in order of their power.” Laer said.
“Don't judge them based on their skill in combat and Magic, though.” Tyria says. “Leading through brute force, like Laer likes to, is not the only way to value strength.” Laer huffed.
“We’ll keep you safe, as will the battleships up there.” Vander says.
“Not that anyone could possibly have the required level of stupidity to attack us.” Laer huffed.
“You never know.” Vander says.
“Whenever you’re ready.” Abaddon says to Zaxxarius.
“Yeah, I’ll do it now. I’ll be fine.” Zaxxarius says. He approaches the Monolith. As he got closer, faint Auras appeared from within the Aura. They were faint, but they were unlike any other Aura that he had seen so far. The Auras still, and fragile. Almost like they were at peace. The Monolith welcomed his hand as he touched the surface. “Infuse your Magic into it, Prince Zaxxarius.” Tyria said. Zaxxarius let his Magic flow into the Monolith, and the Monolith hummed in his ears. The Magic flowed up the monolith, and inside every orifice on it’s surface. Then, he felt as if he was going unconscious, but he knew where he was going. Slowly, he entered a new world.
He fell into an Abyss of fire and calm anger. He falls, and then crashes into sand. He looks around, feeling as if he knows this place from somewhere. He had never been there, but he had seen it and heard about it... Rubble, sunken buildings, a single, flaming temple, burnt bodies, distant screams of the damned. Then, he looks around at the high walls of the area. Just barely past the wall is a whirlwind of fire, circling the walls in a perfect circle. Sometimes, he could make out a face of anger and fury inside it, yelling at him, or, perhaps screaming in pain? He didn’t like this place. It was as if he had been dropped into a circle of hell. “Is this place not to your expectation?” A voice says. “Do you not like it?”
“How could I?” Zaxxarius asked, looking around for the voice’s owner.
“I suppose nobody could like it the way I do.” The voice says. “I suppose this feels like... justice to me. Or perhaps I just like fire. Or dislike Ultimali and his kingdom.” The mention of Ultimali’s kingdom made Zaxxarius realise where he was. “This is... Blight’s claim, isn’t it?” Zaxxarius asked.
“Yes.” The voice says. “Yes, it is.”
“Why?” Zaxxarius asked. “Why have you chosen here as the appearance of your Magic Pool?”
“WHY?” The voice raged, and fire exploded in front of Zaxxarius. He covered his face with his arms, to shield him from the blast, but no harm came of the fire. An angry figure appeared in front of him. He had incredibly long, blonde hair, with a huge scar down his face, not like the semi-invisible one across Zaxxarius’ nose. No, this one was deep, and unmissable. It stretched from the top of his right eye, where half an insignia was, and stretched down across his nose in a diagonal line. The wound looked familiar, it was an Arcana wound. Zaxxarius had witnessed many of those on his journey here. “What happened to your face?” Zaxxarius asked. The figure laughed.
“Hahaha!” The man laughed. “You’re an odd child. There is destruction all around you, and you care about what happened to my face?”
“It’s just an odd scar, is all. It’s hard to believe anybody could survive that.” Zaxxarius said. “If, that wasn’t the thing that killed you.”
“Haha! A scar like this is a badge of honour!” The figure laughed. “It was nothing. By nothing, I mean it was Ultimali, that dog! That conspiring fool! That contemptible bastard!”
“Who are you?” Zaxxarius asked. “What happened?”
“I... Am Duty Elric, Overlord of Metholi, conqueror of Ultima.” Duty gloats. “Ultima was my greatest achievement... and my grave.”
“You invaded Ultima?” Zaxxarius asked. “Why?”
“Ultimali... killed my father.” Duty hissed. “He dragged him to Zolka, and made him open the Portal to Dominion, and then killed him! He let the Domini in here, against the Dragon’s command!”
“You’re Xelphan’s son...” Zaxxarius said. “But, what you said can’t be right. Xelphan asked Ultimali to take him to Zolka, so he could open the portal himself. He was his best friend, the only one that supported the idea. Sure, it may have been the wrong call, but-“
“Lies!” Duty roared. He shot towards Zaxxarius and placed his hands round his neck. Zaxxarius could feel no pain, but Duty was gripping. The laws of physics don’t apply in a Magic Pool. Zaxxarius was not breathing, so no discomfort was being caused to him, but he was mildly annoyed. “You all say the same thing! You know nothing! You’re all part of the same conspiracy! You all want me dead, and want my place as part of the Elrics! I’ll kill you, like I killed the residents of Ultima! I will rend you asunder!”
“Let me go.” Zaxxarius hissed. Duty didn’t move. Zaxxarius batted both his arms away, and head butted Duty. No pain was caused, of course, but it did knock Duty to the floor. Duty looked up, with evil eyes... then his eyes calmed, and he looked away. “You all want me dead... because you all wanted more from me.” Duty whimpered.
“I don’t understand what you’re saying.” Zaxxarius said.
“Xelphan was strong. He rose above all the houses, and became Overlord of Metholi. He killed many people to get there, and was a master of the Arcana. Nobody could beat his swordsmanship, and everyone was jealous. They grew to love his strength, and his leadership, and they would all follow him to the death.” Duty said. “But me? I... I was nothing. I couldn’t take down platoons by myself, nor could I inspire anybody like he did. I was a failure, and I was told all my life that I would carry on in Xelphan’s name. I was scared at the prospect... When I went to him at the Monolith, I asked him why he opened the Portal for the Domini, and he responded that ‘Everyone deserves a chance at life and glory, whoever they may be. You cannot judge them all the same. Even you deserve a chance, and whatever you do, make sure you do the right thing. Being remembered is not important... Live up to your name’.”
“He sounds like a reasonable man.” Zaxxarius said. “But, I don’t think he was talking about living up to the Elric name. I’d wager he meant your given name. Duty. And you tried to kill his best friend.”
“...Yes.” Duty said. “People saw right away that I was paranoid, that I was a fool. I killed everybody, maids, servants, council members. Anyone that made any criticism. I... thought I was doing the right thing.”
“I...” Zaxxarius began. He didn’t know what to say. For some reason, he couldn’t hate Duty. It was probably because they were family. He didn’t know if he had any children, but if he did, it was likely due to those children that he was here. This allowed him to forgive anything that Duty had done... even if it did seem like even though they were centuries apart, Zaxxarius felt like the adult here.
“That was who I was when I became Overlord. I was a mad maniac who thought he was invincible. A god who would have no critics... I... It wasn’t my fault!” Duty yelled. “They told me I would be a great Overlord! That everything I did would be remembered, as I carried the name of my father on my back! It wasn’t my fault!”
“It was your fault.” Zaxxarius said. “You grew up among warriors and a great Overlord. You should have seen that Xelphan did not become great simply because of his heritage. He didn’t become great because he was following his father’s ideals, he had a mind of his own. Why wouldn’t he want you to have one for yourself?” Duty paused. The flames seemed to dim around him.
“I kill him every day.” Duty said. “Ultimali. A reason a Overlord is so envied is that he could have any Afterlife he pleases. He could re-live his life, and indulge in whatever pleasures he wants! As long as he does what the Monolith was intended... In my Afterlife, I raze Ultima, and kill everyone. Including him. I fight him till the death, and smash his skull with a rock! Every day... Constantly...”
“A waste.” Zaxxarius said. “You’re practically still alive. You can’t amend for what you’ve done now, but to continue it in your own private fantasy world is rather pathetic.”
“And what Overlord would you be?” Duty asked. “What would you aspire to do?” Zaxxarius dwelled on the thought for the moment. “I wouldn’t kill my own people.” Zaxxarius said. “I’d do what I thought was right, not in my father’s view, but my own. I’d defend my people, and lead us to a better future. I’d make sure justice is kept within my Kingdom. I don’t care about being famous, I hate celebrities, but I’d make sure that when I die, I die happy, knowing that I did my best, knowing that I died loved, whether it be by the people I fight for, or my friends and family... And I’d teach my kids how not to be an asshole.”