Chains of Vengeance

Chapter 8: The Prophecy of the Lamb

Narinder, immersed in his dream, returned to a distant time, during one of his early attempts to free himself. An ancient vessel, a hawk, soared through distant skies. It was centuries ago, perhaps more, but in the Veil, time was a diffuse and slippery concept. The hawk was not a strong bearer; it could barely handle the power of the red crown that Narinder had bestowed upon it. However, it was skilled at one thing: flying great distances. And thanks to this flight, Narinder heard for the first time the word that would change everything: "prophecy."The prophecy stated that one day, a lamb would rise, defeat the bishops of the Ancient Faith, and free "The One Who Waits." Narinder clung to that prophecy like a ray of hope in his endless captivity. That lamb would be his salvation, the key to escaping the Veil and avenging his brothers.With this knowledge, Narinder began to move the pieces of his plan. His subsequent vessels were not as useful as the hawk. He did not remember them clearly, as they did little more than wander and fail. The connection between Narinder and them was weak; the affinity with the red crown did not transfer well, and what little he could see through the red eye of the crown were shadows and vague shapes, as if trying to observe the world through a dense, opaque fog.Despite his limitations, Narinder tried to protect the sheep population as best he could. He knew the promised lamb would be born among them, and he had to ensure that the sheep survived long enough for the prophecy to be fulfilled. But he was not the only one who knew the prophecy. The four bishops, fearful of their potential destruction, also knew it.And they decided to act.The extinction of the sheep was a calculated plan by the bishops to thwart the prophecy. Narinder watched helplessly as his race was hunted and exterminated. His vessels were too weak to intervene, and his vision of the world was reduced to blurry shadows. All his efforts to keep hope alive seemed to crumble.Finally, Lambert, the last lamb, arrived. He was captured by the bishops, and at that moment, Narinder knew everything was about to be lost. But then, something unexpected happened: Lambert was brought to the Veil, directly before Narinder. A small, trembling lamb, dressed in tattered, old clothes, but in his eyes, there was a spark of determination.Before Narinder, in the humblest form possible, was the key to his chains."I will bring you back to life," Narinder said, his voice hoarse and heavy from millennia of confinement. "But in return, I ask you to create a cult in my name, defeat my brothers, and, in the end, free me from here."The small lamb stared at him, his fragile body tense with fear and uncertainty. However, despite his vulnerability, Lambert stood tall with unexpected strength and, without hesitation, said firmly:"I accept."Narinder smiled, a dark smile that extended beyond satisfaction, for in that moment, he knew his liberation was assured. The lamb was small, but his will was unbreakable, and with that spark of determination, Narinder saw a future where he would be freed and his brothers would pay for their betrayal.And with that last image, Narinder's dream faded away as he began to awaken in Lambert's bed, still clutching the soft pillow that brought him conflicting memories of comfort and loss.