⚔️ The Shattering of Nexus ⚔️
Xanther's Burden
Does one decide to be evil? Or is it simply a series of choices that leads you down a path that has no redemption arc?
Most dark things bring a sense of thrill or rush. It can be "empowering" to feel that you can do something you should not without getting caught.
Is someone "evil" or do they make "evil" choices? Is there a point of no return?
Perhaps it is when the energy coefficient to overcome the level of mistrust you put off is too steep to pay. In more simple words: Your soul is not worth the effort because no one cares enough about you to save you.
How then would you recover from such a thing? Do you yield to the darkness inside? Do you continue to fight for what is right even if it may seem evil to your friends?
Are your actions justified if you only kill 5 million people to save 10 trillion?
But the most interesting question of all: Do the means justify the end result?
Sometimes we must do evil things for good results. No one with "good intentions" would say that it was "evil" to kill Hitler, would they?
The Wedding
Xanther stood at the altar waiting for his new wife to walk down the aisle. His palms were sweaty as fuck. He was afraid she would not want him.
In these long moments waiting for her, he recalled something that made him smile. A few moons ago, she had laced her fingers in his and looked him in the eyes.
Her silver eyes always made his heart stop. It was the first time she told him, "I love you." It made his heart swell. But here in these moments of silence he began to wonder—was she coming?
He turned and looked into the intense sapphire eyes of the man who was performing the ceremony. The man had on blue and gold robes with intricate designs. He held an unusual book in his hands, one Xanther had never seen.
Xanther: "Renaldo, is she coming?"
Renaldo: (smirking) "Relax, Xanther. She is coming."
Just as he said this, the whole room stood up and a woman with jet black hair entered. She wore a beautiful white dress with a hood, made of the finest materials. Xanther's breath caught in his throat. His heart was the only sound he could hear as he watched her approach.
His best man stood next to him, unable to stop his comment: "Fuck, Xanther, you are lucky. She is just... wow. She will be an amazing wife."
Xanther could not take his eyes off his wife-to-be. Her silver eyes fixed on him as she walked slowly down the line between the rows and rows of Nexus citizens.
Renaldo's eyes gleamed with mischief. He turned to a woman wearing a soft lime green dress to his right.
Renaldo: "Lyra, do you have the bracers?"
Lyra: (a wicked expression dancing in her eyes) "I do, sir."
Relana came to a stop at the altar. Xanther's heart was wild and racing. She was all he could see right now.
Renaldo interrupted his thoughts.
Renaldo: "Relana, Xanther. We are here for two reasons. One, to sanctify your marriage. Second, to grant you the crowns of Nexus."
Shock came over Xanther's expression.
Xanther: "Wait, what?"
Relana just chuckled.
Relana: "Oh Xanther, do not pretend to be coy. It is unbecoming of you. Who is it that guides our people when they are lost? Who helps them when they are sick? Who stands by their sides when external forces threaten our safety? But most of all, who gives out the judgment when justice is needed? You do. This crown belongs to you."
Xanther: (taking a step back) "But! I have flaws. I make mistakes. I do not deserve to be their King!"
The Pendant
The people in attendance were still standing. They balled their right hands into fists and cheered. Their chants filled the air:
"ALL HAIL KING WAVELANDER!"
Sharro walked over to Xanther. He took a small box out of his pocket. He didn't even try to speak, as he knew he could not be heard over the other nobles.
He handed it to Xanther with a mischievous grin. The new King took the box but again did not try to speak over the chanting.
Tears began to form in Xanther's eyes. He opened it. Inside was a pendant—a gold dragon wrapped around a small glowing orb.
Sharro smiled and picked it up. He placed it around Xanther's neck. After clasping it, Sharro took three steps back and knelt before Xanther. His knees hit the ground, then his nose. His hands palm down on the ground before his new King.
The crowd stopped their chanting and followed suit. A solemn silence filled the air.
Xanther was not expecting this, but his heart filled with pride. The pendant—acceptance into the immortal order. He was at a loss for words. He only knew of two others that owned such an amulet. He could not stop a fresh set of tears from falling.
He stepped down the stairs and stood in shock in front of his nobles. He knelt in front of them.
Xanther: "I will accept being your leader, but I am nothing without all of you."
He bowed his head and they all shared a moment of silent solitude.
He stood up and looked at Renaldo.
Xanther: "Has the King accepted?"
Renaldo: (smiling) "He has. Hold out your hand to accept your union with Talveran."
The Binding
Xanther did as he was told. He walked up the three steps back to the altar. He held out his right hand, exposing the vulnerable side of his wrist.
Renaldo took the bracer from Lyra. He opened the clasp and placed it around Xanther's wrist.
Renaldo: "I cannot close the bracer, Xanther. You must do it."
Renaldo's eyes glowed with cosmic power as a chuckle crossed his lips.
Xanther took a deep breath. He closed his eyes.
Xanther: "Talveran, I come humbly before you to be your host and your servant. Our only goal is to keep Nexus safe. We dedicate all that we are to this end. We promise to always walk under your guiding eye."
Xanther's eyes flashed with green cosmic light as he clasped it closed. Pain shot through his system and he was standing on an empty plane of existence.
The White Space
TALVERAN: (voice echoing from everywhere) "Xanther, I will accept you as my temporary host. As my true bonded is not yet born. I shall stay with you as long as you keep your promise. If you fail, you will no longer be King, regardless of what your followers will say. You will lose control of the Army of Ages."
Xanther heard the voice but only saw darkness in the pocket dimension the bracer brought his mind to.
Xanther: "I do not know where you are, Talveran. May I see you?"
A light in the pocket dimension made a stunning set of armor and a horse with matching plated protection become visible to Xanther's eye.
TALVERAN: "We shall travel a time together, Xanther, but beware. There will be a point in time that our paths will diverge and you will find yourself with my blade pressed to your throat demanding your submission. You will die if you do not grant it. Do you accept these terms?"
The Test
Xanther: "I accept. I understand that at some point our paths will not be the same. At that point I will willingly submit to your wrath for having wronged you and Nexus."
Xanther knelt before the armor. He bowed his head reverently.
The armor chuckled.
TALVERAN: "Xanther, that is undecided. Do you already have plans against Nexus that I should know about? You should not be so easily led astray. Perhaps you are not ready to be King. If you are able to willingly accept such pathetic terms, you do not love Nexus."
Xanther stood and growled with anger. He walked up to the armor. He stared into the glowing green orbs.
XANTHER: (voice filled with fury) "You listen to me, Talveran. NEVER question my loyalty to Nexus. My Goddess Lumina created us with blood from the Elder Dragons for a reason. There is a fire that burns so bright in my veins that perhaps you are not worthy enough to be King or bond with me. I will never betray my kingdom with ill intent. The actions that need to be taken sometimes may make it appear as if that is the case, but NEXUS IS MY HEART."
TALVERAN: (the green eyes flashing) "That is better."
The Return
Xanther's consciousness returned to his body. His attire was now the armor. Xanther looked down and saw the gold and black armor of the King of Nexus. It hung perfectly from his shoulders. The weight of it clear and daunting.
He turned to his nobles. He knelt before them.
"All Hail King Wavelander!"
Xanther stood, and the true weight of the burden placed upon him made him faint. The bonding process took over his conscious thought.
Angelo stepped forward and caught him just in time before he fell.
Renaldo let an idle but wicked expression cross his lips. He looked to Relana.
Renaldo: (smirking) "And it begins."
The Vigil
Angelo: "I shall take him to his room. It will take a few days for the bonding to be final. I will stay with him until it is complete. I will not allow any harm to come to him."
Renaldo: (smiling) "You may all rise. Your King will have his first dinner with you in four days' time."
Angelo walked first through the crowd of people. They all filed out after him. Angelo took the King to his quarters. He laid him in his bed and pulled up a chair, sitting and watching the rise and fall of his new King's chest.
His emerald green eyes danced with a wicked light.
ANGELO: (whisper) "This is going to be fun, Xanther."
The Tainting of Xanther's Soul
Explore Alternate Perspectives
Discover hidden truths during the hundred years...