The Ruler of Westeria

TROW 36| Lies & Deception

THIRD PERSON

Closing his eyes for the barest seconds, Alexius drowned himself with alcohol. Every year, he pays respects to the death of his family and friends and spends his days mourning for them. "Should I have died with you. . .I wouldn't have to suffer like this." He whispered, leaning against the aspen tree while looking at his mother's tombstone. 

Throughout the years, the memories he had gave him nothing but misery and agony. On the day he was sealed, he vowed to avenge the death of his family. He swore on his life to get even with the people who committed genocide in his kingdom. Those people who betrayed them will receive his wrath tenfold. 

Thousands of years ago, Zahartha was a home of ostracized people with no magical prowess. They were treated as enslaved people in charge of hard labor in the kingdom. They were discriminated against, stripped of their rights, and labeled as lowly people. However, a lone God was fascinated by them. 

Evtyx, the God of Void. He was a supreme being possessing the power that transcends the natural law by directly bending and manipulating reality. It was called Arcane Magic, a power that was considered to be malignant and evil just because it was different for everyone. 

He secretly taught the people his magic to protect themselves. He gave them enough knowledge to make their lives easier and aid them. He only warned them one thing: that the moment he heard someone using their power to hurt and bully the weak, he would nullify everyone's ability and turn them back into powerless beings. 

The Zaharthan people were thankful enough for teaching them how to wield different elements, discover their unique abilities, and hone them into skills. So, no one tried to go against Evtyx's condition. Until then, the news that the people who were once powerless gained power reached the ears of the Gods and Goddesses. 

Evtyx was judged by his purpose, but he stood on his ground and kept his stand firm because he believed that every being in the world deserved magic. He then put his life on the line and promised to take responsibility for whatever the people of Zahartha may do. And that's how Zahartha found its first ruler. 

As years passed by, Evtyx appointed a king. The rest of the regions have their rulers chosen by the  Ancient Goddess Esmeralda—she called them Archons. To keep the peace in each region, she also appointed a Westerian Czar. 

Due to Esmeralda's blessing and guidance, the kingdom was in peace—but it didn't last for long. The Archons became wary of the talented people of Zahartha. They were jealous of their agricultural intelligence, excellent weapon forging and machinery inventions, and advanced military tactics. Seeing how people who used to gravel on their knees as slaves work together and prosper gives them an ick. They couldn't accept that their way of living was better than theirs. 

So, the Archons created different incidents and anomalies and blamed them on the people of Zahartha. It caused the people of Westeria to be prejudiced against them. Until one day, the Archons' lies and deception bared its fruit. A battalion of armies attacked the city with Zahartha's insignia. They instigated a war and blamed it on the Zaharthan people, claiming they wanted to rule Westeria. 

Esmeralda, thinking Evtyx had gone insane and wanted to covet her land,  revealed his mana was from a forbidden magic, the Arcane. Therefore, the Gods and Goddesses shattered his soul and cursed his land and people. They are known as Dark Mages, who practice the Black Magic of the Arcane.

During that time, the king and queen of Zahartha were Alexius' birth parents. He was but a young child who knew nothing about waging wars that caused hundreds and thousands of lives to be killed. All he remembers is the withering of the flowers and trees, the death of their animals, and the barren land. He witnessed the sun's setting and never saw it rising again as their land plunged into eternal darkness.