The Raven: Prince of Iron and Blood.

Numeris vienas

The battlefield was awash with the cacophony of clashing steel and the thunderous hooves of charging warhorses. The air was thick with the acrid smoke of burning pitch and the stench of blood and sweat. As Kael swooped down upon the battlefield, he was met with a rich smell that assaulted his senses: Blood. Something that made the magic in his veins go wild, to crave and feed off of it.

His leathery wings snapped out in the wind. His talons unfurled with a quiver. His clawed hands grasped at the air as if he were already tearing the flesh from his enemies. His eyes darted around, searching for the source of the blood, the source of the magic. Suddenly, he spotted it: A figure lying on the ground, clutching at a wound in their side. It was human, but not just any human. There was something different about them, something otherworldly. As Kael drew closer, he realized that the figure was wearing a tattered cloak, its hood thrown back to reveal long, flowing silver hair. The hair shimmered in the light, almost as if it were alive.

The figure looked up at Kael, their eyes meeting. There was an intensity to their gaze that sent a shiver down the human's spine. The primal hunger in the Raven's eyes. They spoke, their voice low and commanding. "You're not here to save me, are you?"

Kael's lips spread in a cruel smile, not taken aback by the question. "No," he replied, "I'm not." The figure smiled, blood staining their teeth. "Then take what you came for," they said, gesturing weakly at the wound in their side.

The Raven felt a surge of power course through him. The magic in his veins seemed to sing in harmony with the blood of the figure. He tore out a fistful of flesh, feeling it resist at first, then yield to his strength. Blood gushed over his talons, dripping onto the battlefield below. Before the human sagged, emptying of life, he watched the monster with a mixture of horror and fascination. "You're one of them, aren't you?" he whispered. "You're one of the Blood-Bound."

The Raven laughed bitterly. "The Blood-Bound are not creatures to be admired. We are monsters, driven by our hunger for power and the desire to control those around us." He licked his talons. The taste was oh-so-sweet and with a touch of copper. He looked down at the figure, feeling a strange mix of pity and revulsion. Blood bubbled from the human's mouth as agony lanced through his body like a white-hot poker. With the underside of his talons, he ripped out the Mortal's throat. Pink tendrils stuck to his nails as he gripped the human's stomach, just above the hip.

"You are but a spawn of the Raven King," a king shouted, his voice carrying across the battlefield. "You shall not harm me or my people!"

Kael's ears turned in the direction of the voice.

Oh. You are wrong, foolish king. Kael laughed mockingly

His icy blue eyes scanned the scene before him: An army of humans led by their king. He stood atop a hill, surrounded by his guards, their armour glistening with gold and jewels. The Mirtinas' eyes flashed with arrogance and disdain. Kael's eyes burned like hot coals with hatred at the sight of it, for he knew that this king had no idea what it was to be a true warrior. Him and his whole damn kind!

Kael bared his teeth and let out a primal roar, summoning the strength of the underworld within him. No knife or sword would suit him. As Kael charged forward, his long, muscular arms seemed to stretch on forever, ending in razor-sharp claws that gleamed like polished onyx in the sunlight. His chest was a mesh of dark leather and silver plates, adorned with the emblem of the Raven King - a symbol of power and death. The very air around him seemed to ripple with malevolent energy as if the very presence of this dark warrior could curdle blood.

WHHHHHOOOOSSHHHH!

His massive wings beat a steady rhythm as he dodged and weaved through the deadly barrage, his talons rising to a death blow. Let me teach you a lesson, old man!

His claws struck out with deadly precision, raking across the Mortal king's armour with a sickening crunch. The Mortal king winced in pain as his armour shattered beneath the attack, but he refused to yield. He drew his sword and parried Kael's next blow, sending sparks flying as steel and keratin clashed. The air around Kael seemed to distort and writhe as he moved as if reality itself was bending to his will.

The human's eyes were a deep, soulful brown, like the rich earth from which all life springs. The wrinkles at the corners, the tiny lines that spoke of experience and wisdom, only served to make them more captivating.

"To the King! To the King!" The humans' voices were like weak songbirds, ready to preen with feathers and fluff.

Balls of sloppy mud splattered the air of blood as Kael's ears pricked at the sound of hooves. But Kael was not to be deterred. He pressed on, his eyes blazing with fury. With a swift and deadly motion, he struck out again and again, each blow aimed at the Mortal's face. He tried to defend himself, but Kael's claws were too quick, too deadly. One swipe struck true, raking across the human king's cheek and ripping out one of his eyeballs.

The king let out a scream of agony as Kael's claws tore through his socket, sending blood and vitreous humor spilling down his face. The horse beneath him reared up in terror, its hooves flailing wildly as it sensed its rider's pain. Kael extended his claws again, aiming for the horse's legs, and with a powerful thrust, knocked the king off his horse, sending him crashing to the ground.

"To me, RAVENS!" The lone raven cawed from atop the Mortal King, his piercing cry echoing across the battlefield.

Monsters emerged from the ranks of the Raven King's army. Eyes burning with inner fire, faces twisted in rage and hatred. They were warriors forged in the depths of the underworld, tempered by the fires of battle and honed to a deadly precision. With a fierce cry, they launched themselves at the king's guard, claws snapping wildly as they sought to tear into the human flesh.

Kael did not stop there. The king's screams echoed across the battlefield as Kael loomed over him, his claws still extended. "You dare to meddle in our lives," Kael spat at the king, his voice like a rusty gate creaking in the wind. "You think you can dictate what we do with our own lives?"

The king tried to crawl away, but Kael was too fast. He pinned him down with one clawed hand, holding him around the throat as he spoke. "You have made a grave mistake," Kael hissed. "You have awakened the wrath of the Raven King's army. And now you will pay the price."

All hope seemed lost for the human king, a group of brave warriors charged forward to save him. Kael whipped back, his head snapping back, avoiding a beheading blow. His wings reared up and he sprang as the weapon plunged for his abdomen. His eyes widened as he met the Mortal's. A peculiar and fascinating thing. It was like a shiny, round stone that glows with a soft, warm light. Colours of blue and clear, but with hints of yellow and brown around the edges. The light from within the eye seems to shift and dance, making it look almost alive. The shape of their eye was unique, unlike any part of an animal's body I've ever seen. It's long and curvy, like a leaf or a tendril of a vine. The edges are thin and fragile-looking, but they seem strong enough to hold all the light and thoughts inside. When the human blinks, it's like a tiny door opening and closing in front of me. The eye closes for just a moment, then opens again to reveal more secrets and stories. It's mesmerizing to watch!

Something shot through him, lancing him to the core. He couldn't breathe. He couldn't breathe! Something was sticking out of him. The pleasure on the human's was wiped away as Kael gripped the hilt of his sword, and lunged his face forward, ripping out the Mortal's mouth.

The screaming sounded like a wailing child, refusing to be silenced, jarring like a bell. He spat out the flesh and gripped his chest, just above the ribs, refusing for his legs to buckle. He stumbled backward, his vision blurring from the pain. "KAEL!!" roared a voice. Talons locked around his wrists and two Ravens swooped down, their dark silhouettes stark against the sun. They encircled him, their mouths snapping softly as they surveyed the battlefield. With a fierce cry, they flapped their wings, their powerful talons wrapping around Kael's arms and legs and he found himself lifted into the air. The wind rushed past his face as they flew over the carnage below, the sounds of battle growing fainter with each passing moment.