Blighted Edge

Blighted Edge: Prologue

"Beyond that which is made of Ash, there lies a land of darkness and despair, those who are called out, rarely return, and those who do- are said to be far from the same. Those who go to question this, seek out the answers to the wrong questions, and shall find that the questions will eat at them until nothing remains-"
Anonymous, on the nature of the Beyond.

"It all begins with a spark. A flash which would turn into a blinding- yet guiding beam of light. A hut turns to many, many turn towards a village, then a township, a city, a kingdom...an empire. Kingdoms rise and fall, and others take their places proclaiming better ideas, better ways to rule or govern...but who do they actually build for? Is it for the people? Is it for themselves, their satisfaction and ego? Their pride or greed? Or is it out of spite? Whatever it could be, I know one thing. I destroy, I well up with anger. My passion is not one of creation, but the destruction of anything in my way-"
The man would be sitting around a campfire, his monologue finished as he gazed at the starry night sky.

"You...speak of all this anger and hatred, but what caused it?" A calm voice called out, the tone of a woman. Somewhat light, somewhat deep. Sitting across from this man was an elegantly dressed woman, her hair pulled back in one long braid. Golden and silk-like it looked with the fire casting on her smooth skin with hazel eyes glancing deeply at the man. "Do you...rebuke me? I would find it hard to believe since you were the one who saved me" she continued, holding her hands in her lap while she sat on a tree stump. The man sat in the dirt, and his head turned towards her. A dirty helmet with a skull adorned to the front plate and a tattered cloak with a hood pulled over it. It was silent except the crackling of the fire, waiting for a response she would continue to stare.

"I want to see the good in others, but it is hard-" his deep tone would call out in a calm manner. "You begged, cried for help. All I did was carry the weapon, and the power to help" he continued before taking his axe he mentioned. With it in hand, he began poking the logs of the fire, then setting it back down.

"You didn't answer my question-"

"I do not rebuke you, but I will gladly cast anyone else aside" he cut her off, and huffed out, seemingly annoyed by her question. All was silent again, sitting in the woods as the two glossed over the fire.

"Sir-" she spoke timidly. "Can you tell me why you saved me, if you hate others? And you haven't given your name." She seemed to smile while giving an assortment of questions to this armor clad stranger.

"If I answer, will you be quiet?" He spoke in a low growl. She nodded swiftly, without hesitation. A sigh came out from him, as he slowly stood up. He waved his hands around in a strange gesture or way, his hands glowing a bright crimson as he began to write out his name in the air with a magical essence forming. "Vivex" spelled out and then contorted to strange characters the woman had never seen before. Her eyes widened with awe and she clapped.

"Vivex? What an interesting name. Mine is Riel" she commented and held out her hand after standing abruptly. Vivex looked down, and then backed up at her. She then slowly pulled it back in and sat on her stump once more.

"You wanted to know why I saved you? I suppose you should really stop asking obvious questions" he spoke in a spiteful manner, and shook his head.

"Then why do you hate? What makes you hate? It's such a strong feeling...are you sure you hate people?" She looked at him, confused at his nature. He really was confusing to her, he was vastly distant even if he had saved her. He looked at her and seated himself.

"You want to hear my tale? It's a long one..." he spoke and watched her as she nodded slowly. "So be it, you will come to regret it" he spoke and sat back thinking of the long forgotten past.

"It all happened long ago-"