Raelith - Paladin of Telaria
Raelith took a slow, steady breath, letting the weight of the moment settle into him. His gaze swept over the five thousand soldiers he had led into the ceremony fields. They stood in perfect formation, a sea of strength and resolve. A small, idle smile played on his lips. All the battles fought, all the lives lost and spared, had led to this very instant—the Pairing Ceremony.
He turned his head to the horizon where the grand ceremony awaited, his heart swelling with a quiet pride.
The leader of his class, standing tall and proud. Raelith had proven himself in the arena time and time again, defeating every single challenger in the tournaments that had come before. Raelith was first, and the soldiers followed him without hesitation.
A smile tugged at the corner of Raelith’s lips when his gaze fell upon Venus, standing like a vision at the end of the red carpet. Her hands were clasped neatly behind her back, her posture as graceful as it was commanding. The woman that has raised him his whole life. Trained him to be who he has become.
With practiced precision, Raelith refocused, turning his attention back to the recruits before him. “Forward March,” he commanded, his voice firm, yet carrying a reverence for the moment. His boots echoed on the ground as the company began to move toward the King.
As they reached the foot of the royal steps, Raelith gave the signal. “Company, halt!”
He turned and ascended the steps with quiet resolve, every movement measured. The King, Xanther, sat tall, draped in resplendent black and gold. He adjusted his crown, eyes flickering to Raelith with approval before rising to his feet.
“Raelith,” the King began, his voice rich with recognition, “Your achievements are beyond the scope of what anyone could have foreseen. Your father will be proud of you today. If you wish, he may step forward to place this honor upon your chest.”
Raelith’s heart clenched at the mention of his father. The air thickened around him as a wave of bittersweet sorrow washed over him. He fought to keep his composure, but the words came out with a choke.
“My father is… was…” Raelith struggled, the weight of him not being able to be here pressed down on him.
He cleared his throat and stood taller, looking first to Venus, who stood at the end of the aisle, her gaze steady and unwavering, and then to Xanther. “Sire, my father was not able to attend today.”
A flicker of sadness passed across the King’s face, genuine and unguarded. “That is a true shame,” he said softly, his voice filled with empathy. “Was there a good reason for his absence? If it were me, only Renaldo himself could have kept me from being here today.”
Raelith closed his eyes for a moment, the pain of his words lingering in the air between them, but he stood firm. He would carry this weight, just as he had carried every other burden in his life. It was not just his moment of glory.
Raelith chuckled at the reference. “If he could have been here he would have Sire.”
“Fair enough, do you have anyone who you would like to give you this award?”
A wicked smirk crossed his face. He turned to the right a tall skinny man stood there. He was adorned in blue and gold robes. Upon his face sat small spectacles that glimmered in the light.
“I choose Renaldo.”
Xanther’s expression of surprise could not be hidden. “But Renaldo does not ever give these out to any. He has no feelings attached to be able to grant this award. You do realize that this award is one of magic. It must be given to you by either me if none is available, or someone who is emotionally attached to you specifically or it will taint your soul.”
“I know, I stand by my choice.”
Renaldo’s smile curls into a wicked half moon. “I got this Xanther.” He walks over and takes the medallion from the shocked King. He turned to the boy.
“Raelith, I have watched you grow from afar. You have exceeded all my expectations. You hold a dear place to me in my heart and in my plans. I grant you this gift as well as a special armor.” He placed the medal on the boys chest. He then takes an obsidian bracelet out of his pocket.
“Aegis, he is strong willed. His soul is not of my normal creations. His soul was crafted by Telaria and myself. He will ensure that your missions are successful. You will not fail. And here forward you are to go and wait for your father. He is needed now and you are the key to his redemption.”
Xanther’s expression hardened. He did not like not understanding the words being said. Who was this boys father? How did he get attached to Renaldo? A fire in his expression he turned to his wife. Relana.
He whispers, “Who is his father?”
She turned to him and laughed. “Now Xanther what makes you think that I would have any clue? I do not know my king.”
Xanther growled he could tell she was lying to him. His expression turned cold. “You will suffer if you are lying to me.”
A cold laughter erupted from Relana. “I dare you to try my King. Now shut up and let the ceremony continue.”
Xanther growled. His expression was clearly bitter as he watched the blood oath be granted.
Raelith took the bracelet, he placed it upon his wrist. He grimaced in pain as thousands of needles pierced his skin. A swirl of black and gold metal spread through his veins. The armor surfaced and merged with his skin.
“Raelith, my name is Aegis. You and I are permanently fused. You cannot separate from me, and I am the key to your immortality. You cannot die. You can wear cloaks to cover your new skin. But it is forever fused with me.”
“Aegis, I submit to our fusion. We shall always work together.”
“Raelith, we shall be Paladin’s of the Light for our Goddess Telaria.”
“Agreed.” Raelith turned his attention back to the man in blue and gold. He bowed, “Renaldo, I accept your direction, I will fight in your name and yours alone.”
“What treachery is this?” Xanther stepped forward with anger flaring in his eyes.
Renaldo laughed cynically. He turned to Xanther. “Where is Talveran?”
“I.. uh….” The King of Nexus faltered.
“Exactly, you no longer control the army of ages. I am taking control. Of My creation, my army Until the True King is born.”
Xanther crossed his arms and growls.
Renaldo turned back to Raelith. He smiled. “This is your company. Any time you need reinforcement wherever you are. Use this whistle.” He hands him a golden horn around a chain.
Raelith smiled. His eyes fill with wickedness as he looks to Xanther.
“It seems My King that there is a change in the winds.” His hand goes to the hilt of his sword.
Xanther narrowed his eyes at the boy. It seems it has… I retract my previous offer.”
Raelith laughed. “That is good because it would have failed now anyways.”
“I see.” Xanther took a step back.
Raelith turns back to Renaldo. “May I go get my father now?”
“No, he is not ready yet. But you may go back to his world and pretend to be an 18-year-old simple boy in a beginner sword fighting class.”
Raelith deadpanned. “You’re kidding right?”
“No, now it is time,” he turned to the bracelets and spoke. “Find your hosts and let the paring begin.”
Simultaneously, five thousand bracelets hovered into the air and flew over to their appointed warrior.
Raelith stood in his bed chambers in the guest halls of Nexus. He stared out the window. He didn’t flinch or move when the doors opened.
“Welcome Renaldo. We see you.” Raelith turned his silver eyes meeting the vast sapphire hues of the man in blue and gold robes. “What can we do for you?”
Renaldo smirked. “You played that off well, I know you are not pleased with the fact that it makes it look like you are against your King. But it puts you into the perfect position to discover the information you need to know.”
Raelith rolled his eyes. “You know as well as I do, that you just love to toy with mortals.”
The alchemists’ eyes twinkled. “You have learned much in your time with me. I have come here to grant you insight into your father.”
The sarcasm dropped from his eyes and true interest replaced it. “Oh? I cannot wait to get to spend time with him. I… its all I have ever wanted was to be with him.” Sadness filled his eyes, “I can’t imagine having a son and never knowing he existed.”
Renaldo’s eyes darkened, “I broke him a little too effectively.”
Raelith’s eyes hardened. “So I have been told. Let me go and correct your mistake.”
Renaldo’s eyes let a curiosity glow in his eyes. “You think you can?”
Raelith scoffed. “Of course I can. He is my father. And I can feel the connection between him and I. If he just knew…” He turned back to the window. “He would love me the way I love him.”
Renaldo raised a brow. He walked over to the window. He placed a hand upon Raelith’s hand. “Love, it is an interesting thing. It is a force I always underestimate.”
He looked down at the people below. “I love Nexus Sir. I love my King. It pains me that he is choosing what he is. I know I can’t go, but goddess I just want my father to be proud of me.”
Renaldo’s sapphire eyes glowed with a low hum of energy. “You claim you love your King. But what if I told you, He isn’t who he used to be? He is another I have tainted beyond his ability to handle.”
Raelith turned to Renaldo. “But Sir, your tainting does not define who they are, how they handle it does.”
A surprise flickers across the alchemists’ eyes. “I do not know if you realize the depth of your statement.”
“I do. I mean. Renaldo? Just look at Xanther, he is slipping isn’t he? His calculated moves are losing their touch.” Raelith’s expression dropped. “He is not as careful who he puts his implants on.”
“I know, he tried to put one on Relana.” He adjusted his spectacles. “I am still trying to sort out how he is powering them. It is quite clever. But I find it infuriating.”
“I understand sir. I have a suspicion I know what his end goal is.” Raelith tightened the grip on his sword.
“Oh?”
“Yes, I think he has discovered an entry into the abyss.”
Renaldo’s eyes flare with anger. “What in the name of Nexus would give you that idea?”
“That is simple, he gave me a proposition. He knows my tendencies to desire control over others. He promised me three companies of his Nexus army in trade for me exploring the route into the abyss. He knew I would not survive it. Relana warned me of his nefarious plans.”
Renaldo’s expression turned to ice. “He seeks to let in a horror. He is angry because I took his power.”
Raelith nods. “I don’t think we have time to wait for him to ‘wake’ up. I need to go get him now Renaldo. You know as well as I do, he is the key to the abyss. You designed it that way and even you can’t enter on your own.”
Renaldo frowns. “You are not wrong, fine. We can expedite our timeline.”
Raelith lets a wicked light fill his eyes. “Please allow me to go?”
“Alright, I will allow you to go. First you must seek out Issac. We need to see if you can get him to tell you where merlin’s notebook is. This is what Xanther needed as well to even send you to the abyss. Merlin only knew because of his interactions with Apocalyptica. If you must tell Issac that Xanther is coming for it.”
“Fuck yes, Thank you so much Sir. You do not know what this means to me. I am beyond excited, this is going to be so fucking fun.”
Renaldo chuckled. “Alight boy, I will ensure you can get there.”
A wicked expression filled Raelith’s features.