The Dreaming Land

Chapter 24: The Monarch Slayer's Oath

Orius shot up from his bed, his heart was racing, and he was covered in sweat. It took a moment for him to figure out he was still in the ruins. He'd awoken from a nightmare, but as his mind started to wake up, he began to forget what it was about. Misha and Quintir lay sleeping in their beds around what was once a campfire, but was now just a pile of smouldering ashes. Imara's bed was empty, which meant she'd likely gone back to the pool to bathe before everyone else woke up.

It was likely morning, though Orius had no way of knowing from within the buried atrium. Groggily he pulled himself up and wandered back through the hallways to where they'd entered the ruins. He could hear the fierce winds as he approached, which wasn't a good sign. Climbing the stairs, Orius could see outside. The torrential downpour had ended, thankfully, but the gale force winds remained, creating a raging sand storm. They'd be stuck in the ruins for another day, at least.

"Great." He mumbled, wandering back down the steps.

Deciding he had nothing better to do, Orius began to wander through the halls, taking the opportunity to have a better look around. The long, dark halls twisted and turned, but he made sure he didn't get lost by drawing an impromptu map in his notebook. In some parts, the hallways had collapsed under the weight of the dunes above, filling them with sand and broken stones. After some time of wandering around, Orius had a decent, partial map.

Eventually Orius found himself standing before a pair of very tall wooden doors, which seemed to him to be locked when he tried to open them and they wouldn't budge. He fiddled with the door's lock for a while, and eventually got it open. The ancient lock wasn't unlike the locks they used now. Orius pushed the door open, revealing what looked like a throne room.

On the far end of the room, there was an ornate throne, and in it sat the remains of a person. Though, all that was left of them now were was the skeleton and the tattered remains of their clothes around them. Sticking out of the chest of the skeleton was a long sword, driven though him and wedged into the back of the throne's seat. On the skull of the remains was a crown, indicating that this person must have been a king.

Hanging on each wall were intricate tapestries, depicting the battles fought and triumphs made in the name of this unknown king. Golden artifacts, inlaid with gemstones, were piled all around the room, covered in a thick layer of dust. Orius hadn't noticed them before, but next to the throne, half buried in sand, were three other skeletal figures. These people had likely died with him, maybe trying to protect him, but he could feel there was something more to it than that.

This king had everything; wealth, a palace, a kingdom to command, and even loved ones, it seemed. He ruled over these lands, and his people worked hard in his name. When he waged war, his armies fought valiantly under his banner. But in the coming destruction of his home, when the moon shards first started to rain down on this place, tearing apart, his people betrayed him. No one truly loved a king.

The authority placed in him was out of necessity or right. His blood named him king, and the law of the land forced all to obey this. It didn't matter if he made the right decision, or the wrong one, people were innately jealous of the king, and this clouded their minds. King Harrier the eighth of Gigas City, lord of the Western Front, was likely no different than this dead king before Orius. He likely had loved ones, just as this man did, and yet people like Orius still hated him. He had the power, the wealth, and the freedom he desired.

Orius knew, deep down, that if he were to become ruler of Veonys by the will of Tephim's powers, nothing would be any different. He would be placed in a position of authority, decided by whatever laws the dreaming moon's magic followed. The world would be forced to obey, and it wouldn't break the cycle. People would hate him, just because of his place above them. Seeing the dead king in front of him only helped this understanding surface in his mind.