The Mark of Aether

The Academy~Part II

"Legends said that Dearcious was in a lost wood of Eziara's when he was taken. It was said that his screams were heard all the way to Arelesia as darkness engulfed him. The dark blood of the god merged with his, tearing his Ardorian body from inside. Descriptions say that hellfire took place in his guts, burning him from the insides until his body was nothing but a bunch of cinders. And from the same ashes, he rose.

"The demon emerged from the frail remains of his body, described as the lord of nightmares. Horns, wings and scales covered his skin. His eyes had turned the color of a cursed blood, glowing with a lust to kill. Razors replaced his teeth, an empty shell instead of his cadaver and a three edges tail that was told to bring towers down with a swift.

"When the threat grew wider as Dearcious destroyed temples, burnt forests, and killed citizens for the pleasure of it, the gods knew they had to move. Knowing that a god cannot immediately attack another, they also needed a warrior of their own.

"Researches were made, studies occurred and from above all crowds, Leander answered the call. Deciding to be the one who will liberate his brother, he took it upon his shoulder to end darkness. And this time, all the great five gave him their blood, yet Aether's ran stronger than any other. And while the godly blood retraced Leander's powers, it also changed Ardoria's geography.

"Oceans bursted and appeared, earth shook and moved. Wind howled and destroyed while fire reshaped everything, and it was when everything settled that Ardoria took the shape we are now aware of.

"A battle occurred, and light won over darkness. The demons fell back to the hell they belonged to as Leander's sword ended Dearcious's life. And as a recompense for his sacrifices, the gods crafted him his throne. By the blessing of the five, he was crowned High King above all Ardorian creatures. And as a happy ending, justice ruled. Or so we thought.

"At the time, little did we know that Dearcious had sired a child. A child that rose from the same wood that transformed the lord of nightmares, only to follow his father's steps.

"In a night where no moon light existed, the second in line killed Leander during one of his patrols over the continents. And as his son, Alider The First, ascended his father's throne, war officially began.

"And since then, it had been proved that in each generation, Dearcious's soul reincarnated in the core of his next heir. The heir that will fulfill what was once Apocalys' will.''

''Does this mean that Lysithea is the reincarnation of Dearcious?'' asked a girl, her voice shaking from fear.

''Based on the information we hold, she is not. It is most likely that the child she will choose to birth will be the reincarnation.''

''Is there no way to stop this from happening?''

"Only death. But it is an option that costs too much. As of now, take the entire chapter as work for tomorrow. Class dismissed.''

*****

The sound of the ticking horologe in the back of the room ticked on my nerves, ringing with every word I read. Politics and law followed shortly after Tornweather ushered us to leave. And despite being a major subject as I was the heiress of my parents' throne, I couldn't focus. Whatever note I missed, I would take it from Mayra again.

As I still had time before our excursion, I spent my free hour in the library, trying to catch on what I had lost the past semester.

And it was hard.

''If you continue glaring at this page, you might end burning the entire book,'' said Carter, much to my surprise. Pulling the chair next to me, he sat.