The World of Emns 4: The sons of Clipium

Chapter 1: Shattered mind

The hallways in the castle of Fynlone had often felt quiet, silent, and eery. At least, that is what Fredrick Clipium believed when he first roamed through them after he was miraculously freed from the soul stone and given a new body. This new body looked a lot like his old one. Purple eyes, short blonde hair, and a sharp enough jawline akin to his brother's. For this body, he had the Fynlone mage squad to thank. Specifically their boss, who preferred to only be called "Highness," "Queen," or "My lady." Though her general attitude and raw magical power made Fredrick believe she was something more. Her looks were unnerving as well. Someone who looked human, yet the size of an elf. With glowing purple eyes, long pink hair, and white feathery wings sprouting from her back. Not even to mention the necklace with the symbol of Titara, the goddess of magic, that she carried everywhere with her.

Regardless, these days the castle was not silent if you were to traverse the dungeons. Every day, for at least an hour, the screams of Fredrick's younger brother, Steven Clipium-Kaynes, could be heard echoing through the cold empty rooms. Yet the surface would not know of any of this, as the dungeons were deep underground. The only ones to hear the screams were the mage squad members who came down there, her lady, Steven himself, and a ginger haired woman who was allegedly close to Steven.

Fredrick could recall the conversation he had tried to have with his brother a few times after he was taken into custody by the Fynlone mage squad. Yet every single one ended with his brother in tears.

"You and that asshole group of yours," Steven had cried. "You killed the love of my life! I will never forgive you! One day I'll get loose and I'll kill you all with my bare hands!"

Fredrick could never get a word in. Nor could he ever really see his brother in it. The young ten year old Steven that he knew had always been a very timid and calm boy. He was not the complete opposite. It made Fredrick question what his brother had really been through. The mage squad had told him after he woke up that his brother went out and killed his father after his own death. Then killed his mother and sent himself forward in time to dodge any blame for the magic purge that happened after. With the lies that Fredrick had already discovered, like why exactly her lady wanted Steven to be captured, he started to believe other stories might not be so true either.

As the screams died out through the halls, Fredrick finally dared to approach the room in the dungeons Steven was being held in. As he entered, it was a sight that was not for young eyes. The lightning mage hung defeated in chains that kept his arms and hands held high. His eyes did not contain any idea that his mind was present, as they felt empty and stared ahead towards nothingness. They used to be bright and green. The large scar over his left eye used to be new for Fredrick, but allegedly he got it from their father. His brown messy hair was the only recognizable feature that Steven kept in his current condition. His body, which besides pants was unclothed, had gained many new scars on his chest and arms in the few months that he had been kept locked up.

Her lady, also referred to in secret by some of the mage squad members as Tyranny, was also present in the room, together with commander Ruby.

Tyranny bit her lip and sighed as she threw a whip to the ground. "Why will he not submit to me, Brander? What am I doing wrong with this child?"

"My lady, if I may," the old grey commander started, his tired brown eyes not leaving the lightning mage. "Back when he still spoke to us, the only words he could mutter were hate and resentment. You ordered the general to kill everyone in his village, including the woman he said he loved. Since then the daily tortures have taken so much out of the boy that I fear his mind might have almost shattered completely."

"I did not kill everyone," Tyranny said with a high and mighty tone. "This one Adria, she still lives. I assumed he would obey me to keep her safe."

Ruby shook his head. "Your highness, you never gave him any proof of this. And he by no reason had to trust the word on it."