Quantum Rip: Welcome to Ethos

The others (Continued - Part 3 - Broken Promise)

Ghakarhi woke with his entire body burning, as has become his new normal over the past few weeks. The mage never let up and as a result neither did the pain. While he didn't physically torture Ghakarhi, that would have been far easier to accept and fight.

As the creak of a rusty door opening echoed in the room, Ghakarhi shivered as he knew what was to come again. Staring at the mage with pure hatred he waited for him to speak in that foreign language again. Teasing him as he always does.

{"Well now, don't look at me like that. I simply want to know where you are from."} The mage laughed as he said this, moving forward and getting ready to attempt the experiment again.

{"I know! Let's try strengthening your mind before anything."} The mage said, running his hand over Ghakarhi cheeks as one would do with a lover. The act sent shivers of pure hate through him.

The mage did not need to do this, but he so loved seeing his victims squirm. Once he felt satisfied he finally cast the spell. It was a simple spell that was normally used on soldiers reading for battle. Though the use of the spell had long since been lost in time to most.

Magic was, after all, a lost profession. Specifically the magic this mage practiced.

Ghakarhi's vision blurred for a moment. When it recovered, it felt like the world was moving slower.

His senses were greatly enhanced, he could see every small detail of the mage before him. As well as the dripping water on the moss-covered walls, and hear the whimpers of other prisoners past the old oak doors separating them.

He could hear the clanking of their chains as some of them tried to move or escape. Today there were two new arrivals.

Along with all this, the howling of the cold wind through the prison's windows added to the horror feeling Ghakarhi knew this dungeon lived up to.

For the first time, he wasn't overwhelmed by the sounds and sights filling his head. Ghakarhi focused on the mage with pure hatred.

Saving every detail of his overly worked on artificial face. Many surgeries had clearly been done to preserve the mage's once handsome face, yet, age was not something one could hide so easily. Now, now he looked like a doll.

The mage's purple noble attire was stained with dark dried blood, at his side hung a small dagger. 'The dagger...'

Unfortunately, while his mind worked far faster than normal, his body was still beaten and without energy.

{"Oh, seems like it worked. I have not seen that glint in your eyes for a while."} The mage smirked as he gripped Ghakarhi's forehead with both his hands. The latter shivered as he waited for the pain.

This time he did not faint in seconds. As the pain grew he wished for death. Yet, something was keeping him wide awake. Making him take in every bit of this terrible feeling and allowing him to recall his past.

Recalling when he lost his parents. Especially when he realized his mother had chosen to abandon him and Amahle.

He focused in on this painful memory where he hugged Amahle and the two cried till they had no tears left. He focused in on the promise he had made on that day.

Recalling how he always did his utmost to keep to his promise, Ghakarhi felt himself filled with strength. As he recalled fighting their bullies, getting his ass handed to him yet protecting his sister. He became filled with strength.

Recalling how he had gone to find a job at a young age to help get them both through school. Of how he made sure her first boyfriend had no ill intentions. His body filled with strength.

'Oh isn't she cute…' A voice rang in his head, the cause of which invoked so much pain and anger that Ghakarhi lost control of his emotions. His mind filled with hatred and wanting vengeance. Along with the suffocating feeling of loss and grief.

'Wait, what's this?' The voice shouted in panic and tried to pull out of Ghakarhi's mind.

"No, you don't!" Ghakarhi shouted both in his mind and reality. Moving his body without knowing how. Focusing on the energy he felt inside of him.

'Wait, wait wait wait! Don't recklessly pull Aether into yourself!' The mage shouted in panic, his panic exciting Ghakarhi and causing him to pull more energy into himself.

'What are you doing, do you want to die!?' The voice shouted, and Ghakarhi replied.

"As long as you do too!" With this shout all the energy he held in him, he let out.

The explosion could be seen from afar. Flames sprang to the heavens as a massive crater stood where once an old wizard town had stood. The shockwave caused massive damage to the nature around, as flames burned the entire forest to ashes.

…

"That," Ilvisar turned to the source of this gripping fear that blossomed in him. That blossomed in all the strong beings of this planet. They all turned to the source, unable to accept that something like this has been born again.

"Ignore it!" A female voice echoed in the air, the voice of his dear mother. The Empress of the Vespes.

Like her son she had silver hair, though, it was unknown if this was her natural color or due to aging. Her face was still one of a beauty, without blemishes. But her body was frail, beneath her clothing a dying body stood.

"No, I gave my word I would help if I detect one of his kind needing help!" Ilvisar countered in anger, wishing that his mother would ack like one, and not just a ruler.

"Ilvisar! Do you think I do not know what you did? Why did you let the human go? You yourself admitted that the knowledge he held was unfathomable."

"Because we have no right to keep him or any as slaves. It is the thing we are most adamant about! How can you now doubt our core beliefs, Mother?"

"Because I have to think for not just myself, but our entire race! Soon you will know what that means…"

"What good is that if I can no longer be true to myself!?"

"Leave it be, let the humans deal with their making."

Gritting his teeth Ilvisar wanted to fight, but he knew he couldn't. While everyone felt that the Empress was at the end of her life, she seemed stronger and colder than ever.

After confirming that he understood, Veletha turned and left. Ilvisar waited just for that, once he confirmed she was outside he quickly grabbed a nearby crystal.

"Uncle! Please answer, it is urgent!"

"What is it Ilvisar?" Came a tired voice in reply.

"You must have felt that disturbance, please go and investigate."

"Why should I, you are more than capable."

"Mother has forbidden me, yet I gave my word! Uncle, please! You know what giving my word means to me!"

A sigh came over the crystal, "Yes, you are much like your father in that regard. Alright, what do you want me to do?"

"Find if it is a woman or man, if it is the former do your best to protect them. While if it is the latter, give them some help and let them go. Making a good impression on a coming daemon would do us good."

"Daemon? You're kidding?" The tired voice suddenly sprang to life.

"I am not. A disturbance this large can only be caused by the birth of a daemon. And what I know of these people... The changes he will bring to this world cannot be imagined." Ilvisar was actually scared himself as he said this.

Whether this person would manage to keep their sanity was unknown. Ilvisar didn't even know which would be better; that this person became mad, or that they remain sane.

The other voice did not reply for a long time, finally, he asked. "Do you not want me to end it?"

"No, as mother said let the humans rue their creation. However, I hope you will ensure the person can survive."

"Alright... I will see what I can do." The voice faded and the crystal cracked. Long-distance communication was not easy and especially not cheap. But that mattered little to Ilvisar, he stared at the crystal and hoped that this would be enough.

AN: The use of the old spelling 'daemon' is of significance and not an error.