The Revenant

Excitement

SYLVAS

Joy filled each step as I walked away from the Emperor. Patience pays off. Oh it truly does.

I hastily made my way back to my estate,my carriage taking me back to my household on the double. Despite my old and frail body,I was able to move quite quickly, walking toward the steps, taking them and ascending up each one as if I were young again.

My son appeared at the peak of the staircase,rushing down to help me. He was my youngest, short chocolate hair and blue eye's made him one of the more handsome of my sons.

"Father,you're home!" He said as he rushed down,hooking his arm through my own as he helped me walk the steps. "What's the rush?"

"Hurry ,don't dally,we must get inside,call your brothers and your sisters as well as your mother, tell them to all come into the  dining hall at once."

He rushed inside, and I used all my might to make my way to the dining hall as quickly as possible. By the time my cane had allowed me to make it there,my entire house already stood waiting for me. Four sons, two daughters, one wife.

My youngest son, Darius, was the wimpiest of them all. Refusing to follow his heritage and learn the art of combat, rather taking to studying medicine and alchemy.

His brothers, Draric, Sean and Reavus, were all big,bulky and strong warriors. His sisters were fighters as well. Warriors all in their own right. Their hair cut short, thick thighs,muscular calfs, and powerful stances. They were nothing like him,weak and pitiful.

"Father. You summoned us?" Draric asked,his voice deep and powerful. He was the eldest of my children,my prized son who showed the most prowess in battle. He stood tall amongst the rest,his red hair grown out and let down against his shoulders.

"Yes. Our time for redemption has come. The Emperor has ordered us to pay a visit to the Mother of that wretched Commander Nova. We must find the woman."

"And that is all?"

"No...we are to...intimidate her. In such a way that it will affect Nova psychologically. Force him into a corner."

"You want us to hurt an innocent woman Father? That's not rig-"

"Be Quiet Darius!" Fiona said,silencing her younger sibling. "Have you forgotten what Nova has done?!"

"Your sister is someone you should listen to Darius. Nova has tarnished our family name for the past decade. We were once the proud Killiodūn Noble family, boasting the most powerful army units and military force the Empire had ever seen. Our family fought for Roman's father, and Roman himself before that fucking child came along. Our family name was tarnished by a fucking CHILD!" I yelled,smashing my fist to the table. "Now our men are considered jokes, used as human shields and just extra bodies for the 'Empire's Grim Reaper' to trample beneath his feet when he walks the field of battle. We have been given the oppurtunity to break the boy! Shatter his resolve. He will no longer wish to fight in the army, and our family may rise to power once more!"

"Our father is right. Even if this tactic to scare Nova does not work, he'll know that we know of a weakness that we can exploit."

"What exactly is this weakness father?" Reavus asked.

"The boys mother. The hag lay sick in a hospital bed in the noble district of the imperial city. We go there,pay her a visit, and leave Nova a message. Scare him."

"You want us to kill the woman?"

"No. No not kill her. Rough her up a bit, let her know that her son cannot save her, then force her to convince Nova to leave the army, leaving room for our family to rise in power once more."

"And serve the emperor once again." Reavus said.

I laughed at my son. "Oh no no my son. We will not serve the Empire, we will be the Empire. Once we are able to get Nova out from under our skin, and the Emperor trusts us,we can butcher him as well as his wife and daughter, then take the throne for ourselves. Our army shall be the strongest, we'll conquer Elysium with the iron fist of Killiodūn, and show the world that our house is still and forever will boast the strongest military force this world has ever seen."

I stood to my feet,pushing myself on my cane. "Get ready. Tomorrow,we visit an old lady in hospital."