Category : Books-Fiction

Sub Category : Fantasy

Chapter 4 The Ghost of the past

As the Lich walked with Illia as he brought them to the Sepulcher, He told them the story of what transpired.

Lich* Many years after the events of the cult of Baphor... Many sought for power. Humans, Undine, Gurkha, Warden and the Morphers. They discovered more Styxian relics that granted them immense control and power. And so what happened, they wanted more control of Styx than the designated lands given to them by Styxian law. So they started this mess.

(The Lich tells the story as Illia and Xyphas follows him passed the castle corridors)

(Candles would lit up and nearby corpses rose up as Illia treads)

Lich* The Castle misses its heir master... So it has fallen into ruin.

Illia* Where are we going Lich?

Lich* We will take a shortcut from the throne room.

(Xyphas carefully observes as the risen dead slowly follows them)

Xyphas* Is this normal?

Illia* The dead follows the Sepulcher.

(The Lich points towards the end of the hall where 2 huge wooden doors tower)

Lich* At the end of this corridor... Lays the masters quarters.

Xyphas* Demis' throne room... I remember when I had one, it was quite the life

(The silence in the corridors broke when a massive horde of zombies, ghouls and skeletons followed, Their cries and shrieks makes the listener shiver in fear)

Lich* Your mere presence princess, gives them life.

Illia* Let's not take long... I don't feel comfortable.

(Xyphas laughs as he flies around)

Xyphas* You are not a family person aren't you Illia?

(The Lich stomps his Bone rod and flames erupted from the shockwave knocking some of the undead down)

Lich* Dare not mock the princess in our presence!

(Illia was silent throughout the long walk)

Xyphas* Illia is my student. I can criticize her as I see fit.

Illia* Enough... I don't need this right now. 

(Looking at the massive doors)

Lich* Here we are.

(Lich Casted a powerful spell that blasted the doors open)

Lich* Behold... The throne of the Sepulcher!

(Xyphas and Illia took a closer look)

Illia* I remember the mischiefs I've done to this room.

Xyphas* The very special throne of the king of the undead... Blood veins hanging on the ceiling, Skulls decorate the walls... A blood fountain on the corner... A throne made of obsidian bones. And a beating heart on its crown to top it off... Like a cherry on top of a cake.

(The Lich walks straight to the throne and taps it)

Lich* Open the way...

(The throne started to shake... And slowly moved backwards revealing a staircase that descends into the darkness)

Lich* Follow me...

Xyphas* I feel like this will be the end of me when I go down there.

Lich* It will be your end whether you go down there or not.

(The Undeads slowly flood the room)

Illia* Let's go it will be crowded soon.

(The trio traversed the dark underground reservoir, Purple worms and feral Beasts roam the darkened cave beneath the castle)

Lich* This used to be a Crypt, But when the Humans attacked they bombarded us with world killer cannons. The castle waves off the attack... But the underground caverns collapsed and caused the underwater reservoir to fill the crypt... Purple worms ate the corpses and only water remains.

Illia* Do purple worms heed the Sepulcher?

Lich* No... Purple worms are wild animals.

(Xyphas got stuck in an icky goop in water)

Xyphas* As curious I may get but what are purple worms?

Illia* They are distant relatives of the Deathworm. Not so huge worms, but still large. They are able to eat through anything. This cavern was probably dug by one of them.

(Xyphas unsticks to the goop)

Xyphas* What a dreadful liquid...

Illia* Deathworm and Purple worm may not be the same. But they have one thing in common. Both their stomach acids will melt anything.

(A green liquid drops to the floor and sizzles, The trio looks up to see a group of Purple worms burrowing in the Soil above them)

Illia* Did I also mention they are blind?

Xyphas* No... I think you left that on purpose.

(The Lich kneels and picks up a rock an tosses it across, it makes a huge ripple in the water)

(The Purple worms swarmed the noise and vomited deadly acid)

Lich* So you should be quiet when traversing this place... We are almost out. Its just ahead.

(The trio arrives at the exit without a fuzz, They ascended the stairs that leads to an encampment of Praetorian Soldiers)

Lich* We are here.

(Illia drew her weapons and took a cautious stance)

Xyphas* Let's see.

(A group of Praetorian Soldiers saw them, with the group a praetor wearing a red armored suit standing in the front)

(The Praetor took off his helmet as it stopped infront of the Lich)

Praetor* Who have you brought here Lich?

Xyphas* You are Renue!

Renue* What of it?

Lich* Illia lower your weapon. This is Princess Sylvan Illia Melle, Daughter of Amodeus Mirabilis Demi.

(The Praetorian soldiers began to murmur and chatter)

Renue* The Child of Demi...

(Renue Bows before the princess)

Illia* Enough Pleasantries, take me to father.

Renue* As you wish your Highness.

(Renue leads the trio and his soldiers into a small blue building, inside was filled with white light and a glass that holds an undead surrounded by shadows)

Illia* Father...

(Illia rushes towards the Glass chamber where her father is)

Demi* Illia? Illia! Where have you been? I've been looking all over for you.

Illia* I'm sorry...

(Xyphas and the Lich Approached Demi)

Xyphas* Quite the reunion if I must say.

Lich* Master how do you fare?

(Demi stops walking and goes near the glass to confront Xyphas)

Demi* What brings you here Devil?

(Xyphas Began sniffing the glass)

Xyphas* I'm here to take over the world. Also I smell it... Why don't you show them.

Illia* Show us what father?

(Demi took off his dreaded black cloak and revealed a hulking mass of beating flex nearly has taken control of his body)

Illia* What is this father?!

Renue* We don't know what it is... Even the Lich doesn't know.

Lich* I've not seen this kind in texts.

(Xyphas giggles)

Xyphas* Should I be the one to tell them hmm?

(Illia looks at Xyphas and demanded him to tell them)

Illia* TELL US!

Xyphas* This is... Xurgan infection.

(Everyone in the room gasped and began to panic)

Renue* What... The Xurgan infection? But they are gone.

Illia* What is going to happen to you dad?

Lich* What is this?

Xyphas* The Praetors must have known what a Xurgan is, but haven't seen one. As they were killed by the Styxians.

Renue* Their reputation preceded them... And the fear of being touched by one is dreadful.

Illia* How did they still infect father? I thought they were gone?

Demi* King Aramat found a dormant Xurgan spore and infected the Praetorians and the Undead, You cannot touch a Xurgan. Or doom befalls you. 

Renue* That's why I had to use the "orb of annihilation" To make sure everything that got infected were cleanly killed.

(Demi started to bang the glass)

Demi* Its taking over slowly... Soon I won't be in control anymore.

Illia* Father... I'm sorry.

Xyphas* In that case, it was King Aramat who harbored vengeance on the Undead... And used the Xurgan spores to infect several other races to force the use of the Orb... Since using the orb violates every rule in the pax codex, King Aramat will be able to rally every race to his banner and he shall rule Styx. With the people enraged thinking the Praetorians are starting a coup. It will be easy to manipulate everyone into joining the Order empire.


Demi* Correct... So I had Renue call his people, With me weakening. The undeads won't be able to help to their full potential. So it falls to you Illia to lead everyone once I'm gone.

Illia* I-i cannot.

(Illia runs out)

Renue* Wait!

(Renue was about to follow her but the Lich stopped him with his bone rod)

Lich* Its best if you leave her alone. She's suffering from a lot.

Xyphas* Let me talk to her... Perhaps I could ease what she's thinking.

Demi* Why are you helping her Xyphas?

(Xyphas stopped moving and looked at Demi)

Xyphas* Because there is so much more she could do that I can't. And that amazes me. I would like to see more of her growth.

Demi* Thank you.

(Xyphas vanishes and follows Illia)