He was floating in a vast oblivion, a pool of nothingness. This was how four centuries of war had ended. Four centuries of horror and death. Four centuries of uprising had led to this. His defeat. His eldest brother had given his eternal life, his immortal soul to stop him, the youngest of the eldest. His brother was gone from this world, but not from his people's memories.
The defeated wanted to scream in rage, but instead he reached inside for that string that had once been golden, but now was in inky black. He had given up that golden, that goodness for this possibility. The possibility that one day, even should the ultimate sacrifice be made. As long as his realm existed, as long as he was tied to it, he would survive. So, he did.
He grasped the string and heaved himself along, until his realm was in sight, until his feet were on the ground of his ruined, fallen realm. Four centuries of planning... For this.
He turned to see movement in the shadows, an incubus and succubus pair creeping out. They saluted him, and he saluted them. "So, not all of mine are dead?"
They shook their heads. The incubus stepped forwards, slightly, hesitantly. "What now?"
"Now," he said. "Now, we wait, we rebuild, we grow stronger, until we are ready to declare war, and this time, this time we'll win it."
He was floating in a vast oblivion, a pool of nothingness. This was how four centuries of war had ended. Four centuries of horror and death. Four centuries of uprising had led to this. His defeat. His eldest brother had given his eternal life, his immortal soul to stop him, the youngest of the eldest. His brother was gone from this world, but not from his people's memories.
The defeated wanted to scream in rage, but instead he reached inside for that string that had once been golden, but now was in inky black. He had given up that golden, that goodness, for this possibility. The possibility that one day, even should the ultimate sacrifice be made. As long as his realm existed, as long as he was tied to it, he would survive. So, he did.
He grasped the string and heaved himself along, until his realm was in sight, until his feet were on the ground of his ruined, fallen realm. Four centuries of planning... For this.
He turned to see movement in the shadows, an incubus and succubus pair creeping out. They saluted him, and he acknowledged them. "So, not all of mine are dead?"
They shook their heads. The incubus stepped forward, slightly, hesitantly. "What now?"
"Now," he said. "Now, we wait, we rebuild, we grow stronger, until we are ready to declare war, and this time, this time we'll win it."
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