The Rise (And Fall) Of An Empire

The fallen rise

The boy looks at the body in front of him, then back at the hooded stranger, his pocket heavy with coin, and only a fraction of the payment he is yet to receive for this.....unusual task. The stranger had approached him not a day before and told him the task. The boy is one of the few of his kind who can perform such a task. A fact the stranger is well aware of. The boy looks back at the body, it is unusual for such a task to be asked. But for such generous payment, especially in a time when coin and work is hard to find, he would be a fool to turn it down. Even if the stranger has withheld details that he would think are essential. The boy stretches, runs his clawed hands through his silvery hair, and begins his task. He begins to raise the fallen

After a few minutes the stranger speaks

"So tell me. Your kind. You're rare correct?" The boy nods

"Yeah. Warlocks aren't that unusual in this part of the world. But it's really rare to find one with the powers to affect death"

"How does such a power develop? Is it something given to you by parents?"

"No. It can't be given through blood and it can't be taught. The only way to have power over the dead is if the warlock crossed the line between life and death at a very young age and made it back. The younger they are the higher the chance that the process will result in the power passed on" The stranger nods

"So you crossed the line at a young age?"

"Yes. When I was first born I saw into the eyes of Nebrak himself, and I felt his cold touch. And ever since I've had power, the dead have come when I call" The stranger nods but stays silent, the boy continues to work, half an hour later he turns to the stranger. "It's done" The stranger stays silent, and when the boy looks back at him he realizes that the stranger has pulled back his hood. Revealing dark eyes, dark hair and a pale, angular face. The figure is smiling but his eyes are cold, though the boy would be lying if he said that there wasn't something in those eyes that draw him in.

The body rises, a black fire burning away it's flesh. Leaving a skeleton encased in it's armour, with black fire burning around it's ribs and eye sockets. The boy looks at it shocked

"I....that isn't....I didn't do that....I've never seen this happen before" The stranger chuckles

"No. Because that wasn't your doing. That was mine" The boy turns to him, shocked.

"But how....You're not a warlock....You don't have magic"

"You're right. I'm not a warlock. But you're wrong. I have magic. I've been blessed by The Blood Wolf. And he will see my path to the end" The boy's eyes widen in horror

"The....The Blood Wolf?....But...That's a...."

"Dark god? Correct. And I'm a dark man. So tell me....Malakai. Do you know who I am?" Malakai shakes his head, to scared to ask how he knows his name. "No? Well maybe you don't know the face" He takes off the long cloak he'd been wearing, which just happens to cover his entire body from view. Beneath the cloak he's wearing plated, pure black armour. It's like nothing Malakai has ever seen before. There are no visible gaps in the armour to allow for movement, and yet the man is capable of moving fluidly as if he is wearing nothing more then cloth. The strangest part of the armour is how it seems to suck what little light there is out of the air. No light from the moon or starts reflects from the armour. it's like looking into a void. "So. Do you recognize me yet?" Malakai shakes his head, the man laughs "Well maybe you'll recognize the name. I am known as The Black King. Bringer of death. Taker of life. And destroyer of empires" Malakai takes a step back

"I....I don't know who that is" The Black King laughs

"You lie. I can see it in your face. The terror. The recognition. You know who I am" Malakai turns to run, but before he can a hand grabs him, he looks up and sees the skeleton which he'd raised from the dead holding him in place, despite being a corpse it's grip is like iron. "Now Malakai. I offer you two choices. You can serve me in life, or in death. But either way you will serve me, there is no escaping that. You have seen my face and you have raised a fallen warrior for me. These are things that the world must not know until I am ready for it to know. Now. You are faced with a choice. But know this. If you choose to serve me in death it will be painless. Your soul will be preserved. You won't feel pain. And you will be reunited with your lover. But if you choose to live. If you serve by my side in life. It will be a dark path. You will never be reunited by your lover. And you will be shunned by society. Of course...It might not all be bad. You may find yourself falling for another. Who am I to say? But if you choose to serve with me. I want you to prove your loyalty to me. I want you to go to your home, to your town, and I want you to destroy it. Burn it down and kill every living being there. An once you've slain every man, woman and child I want you to raise them again. They will become part of The Fallen Legion.

Of course once you have done this you will need to swear allegiance to me, turn your back on whatever gods you follow and follow the ways of The Blood wolf. So. What is your choice?" Malakai looks at The Black King, then back at the town, it's lights shining in the darkness. He looks back at The Black King

"You...want me to kill all of them?"

"Yes. Of course. You can always take the other option if that is a problem" Malakai shakes his head and looks back at the town

"No...They've never done anything except hurt me and push me away. They took the one person I loved from me. Simply because of who we were. It would be an honour to see them burn" He looks at The Black King, an almost mad look in his eyes. "Will I do it alone? Or will I have help?"

"You will do it alone. I believe you have a gift for elemental magic?" Malakai nods and starts to walk towards the town. Half an hour later the first fires begin to spark into life, consuming the buildings. The Black King smiles to himself as the first screams reach his ears.