Anthera Chapter 5 "Fate"
Chapter 5
"Fate"
As the sun sunk behind the earth Gerald slumped down in his bed and turned in the lantern that hung beside his bed post. He pulled the dusty book from his counter top and opened it up. It looked old alright, some of the pages were torn and the pictures that covered every few pages were starting to wear. It didn't matter though, as long as he could read the words he would be fine.
It started off talking about the beginning, from the ground rose eight beings. Four made of all parts of man, but the others was made of parts man and beast. Of each group two sexes were formed. As the world expanded all eight explored together, like one race, not caring of each others differences. It wasn't until both humans fell in love with each other that the population started to grow, it was the same with the antheras. The population grew and grew until both races were contained equally in the world. They both lived together in harmony for many, many, many years. It wasn't long before the gods blessed them with two with more and more humans and antheras. The world was a peaceful place, but every good thing had a negative side.
As the years passed one human started to grow tired of the antheras controlling the forest, he wanted to control everything. His name was Adino. In order to run the antheras out he would need a power far beyond developing technology, he needed power from a much darker source. He called upon the devil himself and after asking for his power the beast made him a proposition. He would give him the power he so richly desired, but in exchange in wanted a sacrifice every three months for eternity. With those final words the deal was set and both humanity and anthera kind dived into darkness.
He would laugh on his throne as his demon minions tore people apart. He would throw their body parts into the fire as a sacrifice to the beast down below, watching him. So much blood stained the walls and floors of the castle that he had created that it became known as the Bloodlust Fortress. No one dared to try and attack without magic of their own, unless they could fight back all hope was lost. Both king and queens of both races watched as their people were taken and killed and their towns destroyed. They needed something to destroy the darkness, but it wasn't until the king of the antheras stepped forward that they figured it out. It was the power of light.
What Adino did not know was while he was killing Fate, the king of antheras, was working on something secretive. A pair of gloves with special crystals centered in the palms of them. He fought valiantly against the minions. Others began to join him, both human and anthera, even though they didn't knew they would fall. In the end it was Fate versus Adino in the final showdown. Adino showed no mercy in Fate as he sliced and diced his flesh. With his wounds his blood would completely drain, so with one attack he finished it. His called out all the power he had within him, even his own life force, and unleashed it on the traitor.
He never returned home to his loving queen, and after years of rebuilding the antheras thought it was time for them to depart. They didn't want to cause anything like what happened before, so they retreated to another world were they could live peacefully for eternity.
He turned the page and saw that one picture still looked well for being in an old book. As he looked closer he saw that the queen looked a lot like Arina. His eyes started to get heavy as he slouched back in his bed, book continued to lay across his chest. That night he had terrible dreams, screams, fire, and a man with a blood lust look in his eyes. He then saw his town in flames, people were scattered across the street as he looked up and saw the same guy towering over them.
"From the light comes the dark!" he yelled as he threw his spear at him.
He awoke in a cold sweat, the suns rays were pouring in through his window and he saw that it was day. He wiped the sweat from his face and jumped out of bed, it wasn't a working day so he had the entire day to himself. The dream still bothered him a bit, it felt so real, the fire and the spear that struck his heart, but it was just a dream right?
"Gerald, how are you doing today? Hope you had a good nights rest." Bres said as Gerald helped put up the alcohol he had just traded for from a traveling tradesmen.
"I slept alright, could have been better if it wasn't for the night time heat."
"I know, it's so dreadful this time of year. Luckily winter is not far off."
The sun beat down on them as they sat some of the drinks outside. They both sweat like pigs as they continued to carry what they could into the tavern.
"By the way, were did you go yesterday. You said you were going to go sketch, but when I saw you walking home it was night."
That's right, it was night time by the time he returned to his house.
"Well you see I went to a local trading post to find materials to craft some new axes that the royal guard sent money for. It took forever, but alas I never found them."
Bres raised a brow at him, searching for the truth.
"Something seems different about you, your changing."
"You have no idea." he replied with a nervous laugh.
"Hahaha good point!"
As soon as they finished storing all the wine and beverages they locked the pantry and walked out onto the front porch.
"Look Gerald, if anything is happening I want you to tell me. Your dad and I were both great friends and I want you to tell me if anything is going on like he would to me."
Before he could answer he felt someone tap his shoulder.
"Gerald?"
The voice sounded so familiar, it sounded commanding but gentle. He turned around and saw a blonde woman in a brown cloak with the hood pulled over her head standing behind him.
"N~Nika?!