The Dread Knight's Rage

-Ilim

The elven realm was a jewel for the eyes.

Dense, vibrant greenery was strung together in tight bunches as far as the eye could see. Through breaks in the leaves, one could glimpse a sky that was streaked with uncanny rays of cyan, red, and golden lights; all swirling around the great hole in the sky.

An entire forest was knit as one great community. With trees as thick as buildings and nearly as tall as mountains, the sights were nothing short of a testament to how long-lived and unproblematic elven society had been.

Homes were built along the treetops. They took the shape of dome-like huts that, despite their rudimentary appearance, were well insulated, practical, and beautiful.

From tree to tree, bridges of vine and wood connected different homes, families, and markets. At night, the vines produced their own bioluminescence, turning the world into something impossibly grand.

The rift arrival platform was heavily guarded. It had been that way for twenty years.

For the first five years after the elves declared their lands off limits to travelers, they would occasionally get a few stragglers seeking to test their word.

They were never seen again.

Despite the senses of the elves, they never noticed the moment a shadow flew over their heads and shot in a straight line toward the north.

The elves do not necessarily have a capital like human nations and cities. However, there is a place where they frequently congregate that holds cultural significance.

Muria, The Great Tree, is the very fabric of elven society.

Over a mile wide and a whopping five hundred meters tall, the tree is supernaturally beautiful and majestic. The ancient, grey bark courses with a teal inner light that fluctuates similar to a heartbeat.

For that reason, many believe the tree is alive in more than just the usual sense. She is akin to a living goddess. The heart and soul of the realm, as well as the divine mother of the entire elven race.

Muria’s grounds are treated as sacred. Aside from those who come as a coupling to conceive, others visit simply to pay their respects or seek guidance.

That was how things used to be.

Around twenty years ago, a new Elven King arose.

He claimed that he could hear the voice of Muria in his ear. That she spoke to him of her visions for their people and their future.

After that... there came some changes.

It was usually forbidden to take up any kind of residence near or around the great tree.

However, due to the close relationship between the great tree and the new king, such traditions were overlooked. As a result, a sprawling palace was built halfway up the great tree.

Elven structures typically did not display many signs of wealth disparity. But no home in Ilim was as grand as the royal castle. Such was by design.

Combining high archways with sharp spires and hand-chiseled statues, the palace was the envy of the realm, and a symbol of something bigger than the collective.

Inside of the towering white cathedral, a man in white kneels on the floor, trembling.

His skin was a deep coffee color. It contrasted well with his stark white hair and the golden tattoos lining his angular face.

His vivid, gold-flecked eyes darted across the floor nervously. Blood pools around his hands, allowing him to see his reflection within.

Around him, no less than a dozen servants lie dead. Some of their bodies were torn apart, while others appeared to have died without realizing anything was wrong at all.

His voice came out as a forced stutter.

"My master... I am thrilled to see you, but... I wonder if u have displeased you in some way."

There was a clinking sound in front of him.

An older man cut into a particularly rare piece of meat with one hand as he swirled around wine with the other.

"...No. You haven’t displeased me, Toussaint."

Raidis put down his goblet and wiped his mouth with an already bloody rag. "Though I fear I am unable to say the same for your sister."

Toussaint became glassy-eyed for a moment. Even his balance started to seem slightly off.

"My... sister..."

Raidis observed him out of the corner of his eye as he chewed. "Don’t start thinking now. I am already in quite the destructive mood as you may have already seen."

The elven king blinked until clarity returned to his eyes. "Forgive me, master... My mind fled me for a moment."

"...Does that happen often?"

"No, master. It makes my blunder just now all the more embarrassing. I sincerely apologize."

Perhaps ordinarily Raidis would have dismissed Toussaint’s lapse in faculties just then.

But after Yari’s little act of rebellion... he was unwilling to take any more risks with his pawns.

"Look here."

Toussaint’s eyes fell upon a fist-sized rock in Raidis’ palm. His irises momentarily became rimmed with an amethyst shine.

"Obey."

Toussaint lowered his head until his temple touched the blood-soaked floor. He became uncaring of staining himself or the luxurious white robes that shrouded his broad-shouldered figure.

"I live to serve, master. Make your desires known to your servant, and they shall be carried out without failure."

Raidis put his stone away and returned to eating.

"Your sister believes that she can hide from me due to the existence of one very irksome little knight. I should never have allowed them to become close in the first place. Curse my soft heart..."

Raidis tapped his goblet twice. In response to his simple gesture, Toussaint stood up and searched for the pitcher with more wine.

"She has fled, believing she has found her salvation under the wing of that monstrosity... Give orders to the Le Ombres Profondes. I want them sweeping the city, and that woman’s home before sunup."

"It will be done, master." Toussaint obediently poured more wine into the goblet with trembling hands.

Raidis brought a hand to his chin as he stared out the open window.

"So many... inconveniences have been showing up one after another. I can feel my control being wrested from me by some unseen force, and I... loathe that with every fiber of my being."

"The realm will fall back into your control quickly, master. It is the natural order of things. Even the deathless pale in the face of your intellect."

"Do not mention those bumbling old fanatics to me right now... That church of theirs is growing all too popular. The potential ramifications of such a thing make me anxious. I detest feeling anxious."

Raidis turned back to Toussaint, his hands clasped in front of his face.

"It... May be time to make a more forceful play sooner than previously estimated." 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

Toussaint blinked, clearly surprised.

"But master... I thought that plan of yours was still four years away."

"It was... and I usually try to avoid alternating my schedule. Such a thing is how mistakes happen... And yet, I fear that if we do not do something drastic soon, we will lose the opportunity to do so."

Raidis stood up, goblet in hand, moving towards the window. His gaze seemed to travel far beyond the horizon to the next realm.

Toussaint set down the chalice and clasped his fist over his chest in a gesture of loyalty.

"My men are ready to move at any time, master. They have prepared so well, the change in time will make no difference."

"Rushing things always makes a difference, my doddering servant... We must simply hope that the preparations you have made thus far will bridge the gap between our enemy’s strength and our lack of time."

Toussaint nodded slowly. "Forgive my shortsightedness. I only meant that, with the power you have given me, I will surely triumph over any obstacle."

"You have never faced the Ruler of Black and Gold. He will try you like none other." Raidis made a small humming noise as he thought. "...Perhaps it is time to use that card after all."

"Master?"

"...It is nothing. Make the aforementioned preparations. Then, prepare for war on my word."

"It will be done."

Toussaint looked toward all of the bodies on the floor. "And... these?"

Raidis began to float off his feet. He didn’t even give the bodies a second look.

"... Tell the people it was an attack by the Amazons. That you’re lucky to still be alive."

"Will that work?"

"Humans certainly do not care about the truth. Maybe elves will not either... I’ll be taking more seeds before I depart."

"Of course."

With that final, sinister exchange, Raidis was gone.