Fables of the Gods: The Knight of Misrule

Chapter •8• ~ Fotíaraco

I clung to the sword like it was the only thing keeping me grounded. Its warmth pulsed through me, steady and reassuring. It wasn’t just a weapon—it was mine, like it had always been meant for me. Even when it vanished, I could still feel it, like a part of me now. I knew, deep down, that I could call it whenever I needed it.

As the others rushed past to help Lennox and Knave, I stayed where I was, unnoticed. It didn’t surprise me. I’ve always been an outcast, and I had grown accustomed to that feeling, the weight of being overlooked. Part of me didn’t mind anymore. In some ways, it felt easier—being invisible.

The wall behind me supported most of my weight as I tried to catch my breath. Every inch of my body screamed in pain, but I forced myself up, ignoring it all. I was tired—so tired. All I wanted was to go home, back to my family. Each step was agonizing as I started limping away, using the wall for support.

I wasn’t even sure how I made it around the corner. Maybe sheer stubbornness or the desire to escape. The pain blurred everything together, but I kept moving. I had to.

Footsteps echoed behind me, but I ignored them, focusing on putting one foot in front of the other.

“Umm... excuse me,” a voice called out.

I turned my head slightly, wincing at the motion. A group of knights was behind me, carrying first-aid supplies. They looked at me with confusion.

“The generals are back there,” I said, pointing back the way I came. “Just go straight, you’ll find them.”

I turned back and kept limping forward, wanting to distance myself.

“Are you okay?” another knight asked, and I heard his teammate smack him.

“I’ll be fine,” I said, but even to my own ears, the words felt hollow. I just wanted to be left alone.

“I want to go home,” I whispered, barely audible even to myself, as I made my way toward the exit of Dracontine. Each step felt like a lifetime, and I could feel my energy slipping away.

Piece by piece, I stripped off what remained of my armor, letting it fall to the ground behind me. I didn’t need it anymore. I didn’t want it. By the time I reached the exit, only the barrier stood in my way. I knew what it was, what it was meant to protect, but at that moment, I didn’t care. I stepped through it without hesitation, the magic tingling across my skin as I passed.

The woods felt familiar, but distant, like something out of a memory. I didn’t have a plan anymore; I was just walking, letting my feet guide me. I couldn’t stop the tears that fell as everything began to crash down on me—the pain, the exhaustion, the loneliness.

My body gave out near the river, knees hitting the cold earth as I broke down. I couldn’t hold it in anymore.

“I can’t do this...” I sobbed, burying my face in my hands. The weight of everything was too much. I was scared—terrified, really. And I didn’t know what to do.

Through the fog of my own despair, I could hear the distant sound of knights shouting. Their voices were frantic, searching. An alarm blared from the city, loud and unmistakable.

“Ruination!” a knight screamed, and I heard them calling my name. Tieran’s voice reached me, filled with panic and fear.

But I couldn’t go back. I didn’t want to. I forced myself up, using every last bit of strength I had left. The fog was rolling in fast, the Ruination creeping toward us like a storm. I walked out into the open field, ignoring the chaos around me.

“Iccaris!” Tieran’s voice cut through the haze, and I turned to see him standing there, his eyes wide with horror.

I smiled at him, but it wasn’t the smile of someone who was coming back. It was a smile of release. Of surrender.