The Tragedy of The Fates

MEETING

Ren stepped through the rough woods, and he kept looking for the cabin he was told housed the man. It was dark, the clouds obscuring the moon, making it darker than it should be. Ren had another sword strapped to his side.

He had swam back to shore after Shuriken threw him over, and quickly found and took a ship, with no pause as he simply stated his royal title and headed to the UND.

He chided himself as he sailed there. He should have never listened to those words from Igneus' lips. He shouldn't have. Once Ren had gotten to the UND he just sailed down the coast, asking about a man with a throat that had been cut open, and was still alive.

He didn't make it far until he came to a town, most of the houses were damaged in some sort of way, and they pointed Ren to the cabin in the woods. Now he was a few miles in, following a newly worn trail.

He was beginning to have second thoughts when he saw the cabin. It was small, maybe only two rooms, and the cabin was in a state of heavy disrepair. Ren felt a sense of disgust as he saw smoke lifting from the chimney. People were living here.

He took a few more steps, until a wave of red light lit up the area behind him, and a voice filtered out of the darkness, "Who are you, and what are you doing here?"

Ren swallowed before answering, "I am prince Ren Li of the Laelan Dynasty. I was sent by a man named Shuriken, he wants me to pass on a message, Praza kronis."

The red light dimmed as Kain spun around the Prince, and Ren turned to see Kain. His flesh was a abnormal pale, lighter than Ren's own albinism. A thick red line filled the halfway point of his neck, and was the only source of color on his body. The skin sagged some, lingering downward.

Ren asked, "What happened there?"

Kain smiled, sheathing Vulneri, the gem dulling down to darkness, "Sister cut me open. Yours?" He indicated to the scar along his face, as he held his hand out to shake Ren's hand.

Ren smiled, grabbing Kain's hand and shook it, "A wound from war." The two of them nodded, and approached the cabin together. Kain's footsteps became absolutely silent, as he moved like he was hunting.

Kain said, in a low whisper, "Please be quiet. Everyone is sleeping." By everyone, Kain meant everyone. Owen has returned with a new set of armor and a new sword and shield. Elizabeth had practiced dagger practice with Ryan, the two of them learning how to use their small weapons more effectively.

With that, they were simply resting. Igneus would find them sooner or later, so they just sat there. Healing and preparing for the eventual battle. There was no doubt, in the fight that would come, there was going to be deaths on both ends.

Kain led Ren into the cabin, and poured a glass of water into a cup and handed it to the royalty. Kain nodded at the man, "You're a prince, huh?"

Ren nodded, "However, it may be many decades before the throne is mine."

Kain nodded, unsure of what to say. Kain finally asked, "So, are you prepared to fight?"

Ren took a swig, "Not really. I mean, if I had to, sure. I'm only here to pass on the message. I'm not one to be a messenger pigeon, but I have no interest in fighting the man-dragon."

Kain smiled, "Ah, Arthur."

Ren nodded before drinking some more, "However, I think I'll have no choice but to battle. The man who threw me overboard," he paused as he waited for Kain's name. When Kain provided no name Ren went on to say, "Had a crown in a shield on his chest piece."

Kain rolled up his shirt, and showed Ren the family crest tattooed on his shoulder, a dark black when compared to the colorless white of his skin, "This?"

With Ren's nod, Kain said, "That'll be Shuriken."

Ren held in a fit of laughter before asking, "So, wait, his name is Shuriken?"

Kain smiled, "Yeah, Kyl was a moron at naming his kids, and Jamie didn't care."

Ren smiled and the two of them laughed. Kain asked, "Shitty pops too?"

"You know it." With that the two of them erupted in laughter and quickly Kain shushed the two of them.

Ren finally finished his train of thought, "I felt like I needed to pass on his message. Speaking of which, what does the message even mean?"

Kain smiled faded a bit, "When we spared before he went off to his apprenticeship with Mathew, we used that as a way to call peace or truce. It's impossible to say accidentally, and pain didn't mean stop. We only used it when we had no more spirit to continue. He's on our side, and he's gonna help us kill that bastard I bore."

Ren nodded once, before he said, "Well, then it sounds like the battle is over. At least for me. I'm heading home. I'd prefer to not perish on the battlefield."

Kain nodded, clapped him on his back and said, "I'll see ya soon."

~~~~~

Igneus put the head back in his robe, the smell having contaminated the very essence of his robe. Arthur and Shuriken kept looking at Igneus as he stood at the wheel.

He hadn't moved since they headed off, and with four spells effortlessly cast from his wand, they were almost at their destination.

Igneus said, finally stepping down, "We'll kill them all. Tonight."

Arthur approached, "You sure? They are many and we are strong but even the titan falls eventually."

Igneus nodded, "Christy is with me. I'm unstoppable."

Arthur shrugged, what would happen next was entirely on him. Arthur had tried, and as always, it was a failure. With that, Arthur left, as the boat hit the dock, and the trio approached the town, with Arthur's circle of terror consuming the people once again.