The Wielder of Death Magic

Memories from another realm

‘Left, right, up and down,’ the grass felt heavy. The rain poured; the armor felt hefty. Spells blew away portions of people by the second. Up above, they flew, people veiled in a divine and demonic aura. Down below, one man; different from the others, fought with a sword that seemed familiar. The blade; demonic at times – felt correct. ‘Come on men, for the safety of our realm, the invaders shall be defeated,’ he yelled, behind him – the once tired and broken spirit rekindled. Everyone rushed forward, swords clashed, spells rained hell and explosions up high. As quick as a cheetah, the same man ran across the battlefield. At his feet, a shadowy mist manifested, his eyes burnt with the same passion as the void flame.

Heads fell in his wake, the losing fight now looked winnable. A pentagram, burnt on his right cheek was the last thing the enemy ever saw. “You, wielder of death magic, creation might have made you the most powerful – but you’re cursed to ruin.” Up above, a woman floating with weapons surrounding her back, her face was too blurry to distinguish. The wielder of death magic was exhausted, the fight had been drawn for one month now. “Don’t give in, us the gods will be here to help you,” a bolt of lightning blew past him and annihilated the opposing growing army of monsters.

“Don’t underestimate me, Zeus, you may be the supreme god but I’m still the one who controls death.” He fired back, the sword glowed – the aura around the battlefield changed. A skull fired out of his back, his body changed to complete darkness – white flame pulsed through the veins, the pentagram burnt even fiercer. [Death Element, Quietus,] ‘everyone, summon your portals and get out; this planet is going to be destroyed.’ One of the gods fighting above yelled – everyone listened and teleported outside. Their opponents heard everything; a high-pitched tone got followed by a dark-mist. Concentrated mana, it engulfed the whole planet.

“What is happening?” the enemy screamed out of disbelief, everything had turned pitch black. “Never underestimate the bearer of the death elements – we may be bound to failure and ruin, but we can always assist others to save something we like. Zeus, I’m sorry. I must destroy your realm to put a stop to this invasion; the god-slayer has to be stopped.”

“Stop spouting nonsense, you can be the strongest entity since creation but I’m just as powerful you fool,” the same lady dashed in front of him. “I’ve never been one to speak during a battle. Estelle, what have you turned into my friend?” He took a quick pause to stare at her face with a hint of compassion. “-all shall return to dust and none can contest me; not even you- the one who hails from another godly plain.”

*May the ones before I turn to dust. May they all end in ruin, may they all die without mercy. Anyone who dares go against me shall pay for I am the sole ruler of death and destruction. I command thy seal to be broken, rain down death and destroy all, Quietus.*

“We shall meet one another sometime in the future, the battle between our realms hasn’t begun yet – I’m but a stepping stone for the next death reaper and so are you, my friend, a stepping stone for the next god-slayer.” The black aura grew heavy, pentagram manifested everywhere, a roar from dragon shook everyone to their core. “I guess time has come?” she smirked, “Wrong,” using one of her blades, it pierced right through his chest. “You’ll never find an heir; I curse you to never be succeeded. Even if the death element is transferred to another being; my prodigy will immediately end its miserable life.” The dark circle shrunk. “-time has come for us to die, but I’ve won the war, old friend – you’ve always been too gullible.” She said in a childish tone, “always conniving and always scheming, you never change.” He added. The whole globe got swallowed, quietus was complete.

Silence, the planet was destroyed without making a sound, the god’s stared in awe. “Supreme God, are you doing alright?” of his servants, one flew to where he stood. “Worry not my friend, the invasion has been stopped yet again thanks to Lord Death. Today we shall feast in his honor – the battle has been won, let’s head back.”

.....

“lord death, Lord death, LORD DEATH,” Footsteps scurried into the room. Taken by surprise, he woke, all the books laid on him fell. “What is it, Jessica?” he asked in a monotonous tone. “Staxius is in big trouble,” she said worryingly. “No need to threat, he’s doing fine.” The tone remained monotonous and cavalier. “Have you no care for your heir?” Jessica’s tone increased. Hearing her use said tone with him for the first time; he stood briskly. “How dare you, Jessica, how dare you?” He walked down from the floating platform. “I care for my heir more than you know.” He replied with a tone of regret. “Sadly, I’m cursed… oh never mind you won’t understand it.” ?She felt his emotions for once, he regretted something, “fine, as you wish – I’ll drop the subject.” She wanted more answered but Lord Death’s entire personality changed. “Sorry to have bothered you,” She bowed her head. He tried approaching her but she ran away before he could speak again. Disappointed, he walked over to the middle of the room. A giant golden ball of a planet remained afloat. Below said planet, a blissful white and golden color – a portal.

He crouched and stared down said hole, it removed the feeling of restlessness. ‘I wish I could tell you my stories but they only bring around pain and regret. Staxius, my heir, you’re experiencing my memories at this very instant, aren’t you? The dreams you see aren’t yours but mine: they are my regrets, my fears, and my failures. Without any context; it’s all gibberish but I believe in you. Thou art the only whomst can decipher mine own past. In said past will you find the answer to get out of your current situation; nothing is lost – the wielders of death magic aren’t weak.’ He smiled reassured.

“My queen,” the door knocked, “who is it?” she replied. “It has grown rather late, you should head to your bedchambers, your maids await.” The old sage, after a few hours, came back to fetch her majesty. “As you wish,” she caressed his frozen cheeks, “be well, I await your return,” she whispered then left.

‘Daemonum Gladio, why am I wielding you now?’ Staxius relived the memories; though blurry and hazy at times – he felt as if he were alive once more. It all seemed unreal: people he didn’t recognize, names of ancient gods and heroes and a weird sensation of being overpowered by someone stronger. It felt nostalgic, everything went by fast and slow; all random and confusing. Trying to make head or tails about this was as if asking a drunk man where he lived, for the drunk man has a home but has forgotten the way; a labyrinth of his own doing. ‘So many bits and pieces, so many clues but most importantly – so many inconsequential events that relate to none. I’m stuck in someone’s memories but they are grumbled up. I can still call back anyone I’ve experienced but can’t seem to find the correct flow.’ He floated; free from everything, only his conscience traveled.

The memories felt like big pictures attached to an empty wall. Every time he touched certain images, the memories correlating to that picture would flood his mind. That didn’t come without a price; it left a headache and a feeling of helplessness and the emotions of whatever that depicted. For the past week, he touched and re-lived every memory. The strain was so much that he could only re-live two memories before he blacked out. The last day had finally come, he touched the last piece of the puzzle. ‘I’ve seen them all now. The first time I stepped into this chamber, I felt it. Mana, foreign and unforgiving, a curse. I can sort of visualize how this ever-looping prison of memories may trap an individual; however, don’t underestimate me.’

Bit by bit, he picked up the paintings and rearranged them in order. At times he cried, got angry, felt despair, tried to ruin everything and lastly a glimpse of hope. With each picture, came something new and unique, something indescribable. It felt like locks being unlocked, his dormant death element reacted to each one of those locks. A well-elaborated imprisonment spell to make the mage think their magical element has been destroyed. ‘The last piece of the puzzle,’ the canvas got hung. *Thump, Thump,* a door slightly opened. The death element beat once more; black and white flames flowed around his body.

The pale face seemed to get back its color, ‘Freedom, I see it, the time has come for I to leave this realm of memories.’ He pushed the door left ajar wide open. A dazzling light blinded him, “you’ve passed the test.” Someone mumbled right next to his ear. After checking where that sound came from, naught was found except the vast emptiness of where ever he was. The blinding white light subsided; his eyes regenerated. The injuries he previously sustained began to heal; the death element’s immortality started once more. All the talk about his blessing being nullified turned out to be a plain lie; the god-slayer wanted his victim to lose all hope.

The darkness lifted, the deafness changed back to normal, he awoke. Pain jolted back and forth around his body; the limbs were healed. Broken bones fixed; his mana reserves gradually filled. The life-force he once lost came back. ‘This smell, the aroma, am I in a forest?’ the eyes opened, ‘this place seems familiar,’ he sat upright and checked the surroundings. The room was filled with plants and flowers, he chuckled. ‘its nice to wake up in a place that reminds you of home for once. I’m glad I didn’t wake inside a cave filled with dead bodies that’s for sure.’ The death element felt strange; more mature in some way. Normally a person can draw out a portion of power from their elements, a good mage can go as far as using seventy-five percent of their full potential. There were cases where mages went above that limit to only end in tragedy.

It’s known to all that if a person drew out their full potential and ignored the limitations of their bodies. They could breakdown and implode or explode depending on the magic they used. The sight is horrid, death by using limit-breaker; it gave the user an enormous power boost but also drained out every single bit of mana. The said method was never advisable but people still used it when the odds were against them. Any single push that could lead to victory; a noble sacrifice.

‘I don’t feel powerful but I can sense something being build deep within. A foundation, something strong and rigid; I’ve always used brains over brawls. Is my will to fight using my strength alone evolving the element? It’s changing that’s for sure.’ He placed his hand near his heart and sighed, ‘only time will tell.’ The foreign memories weighed heavily on him. It spelled out catastrophe. He got a mental picture; not accurate, but close enough to what had happened millenniums ago. ‘I still don’t know who that person was. But If I’m to guess, it was one of the wielders of death.’

Time was night, Staxius thought long and hard about what happened. A quick peek outside revealed the prettiest starry sky he had ever seen. The chilly breeze filled the room. The feeling of weakness and loss of strength faded. Instead, it was replaced by a feeling of uneasiness. In no way was it malicious, rather, it felt refreshing. The peace and quiet rendered him sleepy, the body wasn’t fully recovered yet. ‘I’ll think about tomorrow when tomorrow comes; for now – let me enjoy a nice sleep.’ The eyes closed and he went straight into the world of dreams, for the first time, he held a grin while resting.