The World of Vesfalya: Errezire
i.
Errezire wasn’t always underground. It used to be just like every kingdom – on land, surrounded by vast fields of grass, and proudly shining under the sun. But, monsters happened.
An army of Orcs attacked Errezire in the middle of a quiet night, catching the kingdom off-guard. The atrocious creatures slaughtered the citizens especially men and children, stole all the gold and weapons, and kidnapped every woman they saw; including my mother – our Queen, the Luvia.
Our kingdom believed in peace and loathed violence. But when my father, the Summa, lost his queen, the amity our land had long preserved vanished. I was in my chamber, locked up as my father commanded, when all hell broke loose. My only view to the outside was from a small window but, god, I could see everything. The chaos, the anger, the blood. Soldiers were chest-to-chest with the monsters, swords stabbing through flesh may it be of human or of Orcs. I could see my father screaming murder, blood covering his coat which was once snow white, attacking every Orc that dares to come close to him.
I saw it– the leader of the Orcs, creeping behind my clueless father. I saw it – the repulsive beast brandishing his sword then piercing it through my father’s back, right into his heart. I saw it – my father falling down, clutching his chest, cradling his lost hope to save his wife and his kingdom from the hands of those fiends. I saw it and all I could do is scream.
Time passed, I lived and learned. I re-established Errezire which is now underground, in the middle of deep forests and veiled by mist. I’ve taken different kinds of species under my regime – the Araqwans, tree people; the Zihreas, violent ghosts that sometimes take the form of humans; the Gishtezes, headless cannibals with faces on their chest; the Kviestas, cunning black eyed beings; and the Sulms, flying brutes with long lethal tails. All of which I have disciplined and ruled fairly upon.
And, the greatest thing I have discovered, the identity of my land – Blood Magic, something I’ve unearthed during my journey towards a new life after the war. Although I am the only one naturally attuned to it, I’ve conceived Viraser – a concoction that allows Cruors, the inhabitants of my land, to possess the ability to perform blood magic. Just one sip of this liquid could make someone extremely powerful. This is why we keep it in The Axis, a heavily secured tower in the middle of the kingdom, accessed only by the leaders of every creature, or what we call Verania, and I.
While our magic makes us vigorous, my kingdom chooses not to engage in violence. Maybe my father’s way of ruling has influenced me more than I realize or maybe the scars of the war that destroyed all I’ve ever known still haven’t healed. Whatever it is, it made me shy away from confrontations, hiding Errezire with me. But now, even if it means facing my fear, I will not just watch while this wave of monsters attack the kingdom I have strived to build on blood and integrity. I have grown, not only in power but in wisdom. I shall not be a coward; I will fight with Errezire for Errezire.
ii.
“Bludsumma, you have arrived! The kingdom is in danger; dragons, necromancers and the nekros, they’re approaching,” Yizuan, my war chief, a Zihrea, informed me, his red eyes a stark contrast to his pale skin, showing the panic he’s failing to conceal.
“Yes, I know. I just fought a myriad of hideous Orcs in the Crux of Treaties alongside the other rulers.” I took a deep breath as I sat on my throne, trying to come up with a plan. I could feel the anxious eyes of the Veranias upon me, waiting for something – a signal or maybe reassurance that we will be okay yet I can’t give them that. Guarantee is as far as peace is in this moment.
“Yizuan,” I addressed him, “What else should I know? What’s the current state of Errezire?”
“Fortunately, the creatures haven’t crossed the borders yet but they soon will if no action is done. As for the Cruors, everyone is preparing themselves, stacking supplies and readying medical kits. Some of the Zefekiels are guarding The Axis while the others are gearing up for whatever may happen. However, we are yet to know where the creatures came from and what they’re fighting for.”
“Angelus; this is all from him. He’s trying to revive Oerba so that’ll Nothing will return and fill the Universe with Void. We’ll be damned if we let him succeed in doing so. Hence, we’re going to engage in battle.”
“But, Bludsumma. We don’t have-”
“Yizuan, I know this is the first war of our land and our inexperience and fear makes us vulnerable. But, the bloodshed is imminent. And, so is the fall of Errezire if we don’t brave this struggle. Are you really going to risk the lives of Cruors just because of the apprehension you’re feeling?”
The tension in the room thickens. Decisions have never been hard to make in the castle hall. It has always been a case of a simple yes or no. Then again, only now were we compelled to choose between life and death, self or realm. Black, gray, red and brown eyes exchange hesitant glances; we need to come to a conclusion and we need it soon.
“Bludsumma,” A firm voice cut the strained silence – Reixiqua, the Kviesta Verania, “you have imparted countless teachings to us ever since the recreation of this empire but if there’s one thing that has been engraved into our hearts, it’s that Errezire is our home and we shall protect it from any harm. Your Majesty, my people and I are ready to fight for our beloved land even if it causes our demise.”
“So will we,” the Veranias of Araqwans, Gishtezes and Zihreas declared.
All eyes fall upon the war chief standing in the middle of the hall. Another second passes by and his eyes meet mine. I see blood and resolution; I see my answer. A malevolent smile makes it way upon my face.
“Yizuan, I’ll need you to take this down. Here’s our plan.”
iii.
Two days. That’s how long it took for the aggressors to enter my kingdom.
It was the middle of an eerily silent night. The mist was thicker than usual; the moonlight peeking through the trees, a little dull. The hums the Velenases would make in their slumber weren’t enough to lull me into my own. There was something wrong and the air whispered of it.
A portal opened beside me at the castle’s balcony. Out of it came Yizuan clad in his silver armour, no longer in human form but in his real one – snow white skin, long razor-sharp claws and fangs that could pierce and kill. His red eyes screaming murder.
“Bludsumma, they have crossed the borders. In no time they’ll be entering the mainland and we’ll be under attack. I have commanded all the Zefekiels to drink their Virasers so they’ll be ready to fight any second. I’ve also informed all the Veranias to bring their factions into their hiding places to avoid casualties,” he informed me as I walk back inside the castle, summoning my own armour from my servants.
Before I could reply a familiar loud blow of horns broke the stillness of the night.
“It’s time.” I sneered, looking out the glass of the castle. “Do you remember our plan?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. Go mad as a hatter.”
I hummed and closed my eyes, whispering, “Levizem feroinni.”
iv.
When I opened my eyes, I was in the mainland. A gruesome sight greeted me. Blood was everywhere – green, black, red, different colors on different surfaces. Creatures were fighting here and there. I see the terrifying long-limbed Gishteze Zefekiels, no longer docile, attacking and eating every enemy in their vicinity. The meat of their victims spilling all over the ground and on the other creatures near. Alongside them were the Kviesta Zefekiels in all their black-eyed glory, feeding on the souls of the necromancers. The number of the attackers continued to decrease as every second passes by. I could feel my fingers tingle – of wrath, of excitement, of magic.
A bellow of rage made everyone stop for a second – the Araqwans, who were usually just four feet tall, stood like skyscrapers among us, crashing and devouring the dragons that dare to try burn them down. I see their extensive arms made from vines and branches snatch up our opponents only to hurl them away from our land. With them were the Sulms, flying all over the land and mercilessly spitting venom that burned the skin of the nekros and necromancers like acid.
From my side, I saw a group of nekros running towards me. Their rotting skin and incomprehensible growls coming closer every second, vicious claws and fangs threatening to harm me. But, before they could, I raised my hand towards them.
“Sui Devorandum.” The eyes of the nekros turn blood red; they halt. And, within a second, they’re eating themselves – biting relentlessly on their own limbs and all over their body like starving imbeciles. I couldn’t help but chuckle at the poor creatures suffering in pain. However, my glee was short-lived.
“Bludsumma, the Virasers! They stole some Virasers! They’re going to use our magic against us!” A Zihrea Zefekiel shouted.
“What happened?!” I yelled, fury radiating from me. “I thought you were guarding The Axis! How did this happen?”
“W-we did. The Axis was heavily guarded but one of my fellow Zefekiels saw someone steal some Virasers. He appeared to be one of us. But, before we could stop him, we were attacked by the nekros and dragons. Most of us were killed. I was lucky enough to survive the ambush and inform you of this,” he explained.
“A traitor. When I lay my hands on him, he will regret this.” I could feel the rage and blood boil under my skin. “Go on! Inform the others of this especially Yizuan and continue to fight. We will not stop.” The Zihrea nodded and was about to transport when he suddenly fell on his knees, gasping for air. His white skin became even paler; his red eyes draining of colour until it became a sea of black. Someone laughed behind me.
“Thaga,” I breathed when my eyes met that of the suspect’s.
“My beloved Bludsumma, fancy meeting you here,” the Zihrea Verania sarcastically bowed.
“Thaga, are you the traitor? Why? You’re one o my most trusted officials,” I asked, confusion clouding my mind but never off-guard. My hands in front of me, ready to unleash magic any second.
“Yes, Your Highness. Surprising, ain’t it? You see, I’ve been planning this for a long time. Angelus Mortis, bless his soul, talked to me ages ago. He made me realize how weak this kingdom is, especially its ruler. Hiding her land underground and fooling some of the most dangerous creatures so that she would have someone to defend her.
“I have to admit – that is very cowardly of you, Ozella. Why? Are you afraid that if you stay up there, you’re past is going to repeat itself? That, now, you’ll be the one dying in the hands of your enemies? You must be very terrified, then, that you even discovered Blood Magic. But, you know what, this magic is weak; it’s useless. The other kingdoms can easily outpower you. Hell, look around. Your Cruors are dying because your magic is not strong enough to defend them.”
I let my gaze wander around the mainland. My Cruors continue to fight against the nekros, necromancers and dragons. However, as I continue to look, I see my creatures facing their demise. Dragons spit fire, burning the vines and leaves of the Araqwans and making the Sulms fall from such heights. Necromancers, who have drank the Virasers, used their newly acquired magic to weaken the different kinds of Zefekiels. They couldn’t even utter a spell back before they fall to the ground as the nekros gnawed at their flesh and slaughtered them. Unnerved, my hands fell from their place – a bad decision.
I felt my limbs lose control over themselves. My knees as weak as paper, I fell to the ground, gasping, choking for air that my throat couldn’t seem to grasp and bring inside my body. My vision started to become blurry as my system ran out of oxygen.
“Look at you in your natural state – weak and helpless. Ha, your father would be so disappointed to know that you let his beloved kingdom fall once again just because of your frailty,” Thaga sniggered.
My father. The moment of his death flashed before my eyes – the way he fell to the ground, the way he looked at the castle one last time before letting out his last breath, the way all I could do was scream because I had no choice. And, I remembered: That was then and this is now. I can do something; I can save my kingdom, my people, and I will. I will.
I see red, the moment of weakness suddenly gone. My limbs started to regain its power again and the air never felt fresher in my lungs. Thaga’s face turn into that of shock and fear as I stand up. Scarlet mist started to surround the whole land of Errezire, making even the other creatures pause their battles. Blood seeped through the cracks of the soil like flowers blooming during spring. But, this is not the start of life – this is death.
The traitor’s hands flew in front of him like a shield. He began to shout various spells at me.
“Weak. Who uses hands and spells?” I laugh as I walked closer to him. With every step forward I took, he went one back – until he couldn’t because his legs are no use. He fell face first into the blood pooling on the ground.
I elevated my gaze and his body followed, levitating from the soil. “What were you saying earlier? Blood Magic was weak? You’re wrong. You just don’t know how to use it.”
“And, you know what else you don’t know? Who I am. You seemed to have forgotten my identity, my dear Thaga. I am Ozella Vue, the first ruler of Cruors, the founder of Blood Magic; I am the Bludsumma.”
Every nekros, dragons and necromancers suddenly levitated. They tried to struggle and break free from the invisible hand holding them in the air but it was no use.
“And, those who question my power and dare to harm Errezire shall pay for it.”
A collective gasp echoed throughout the kingdom before blood started to gush out from the fiends and traitor through every hole possible – their eyes, their noses, their ears, everywhere. Their red liquid pooling at their feet as they weakly spluttered. And, when all their bodies were drained from blood, they vanished like smoke into the rose-pink mist of dawn. It was done.
The Aqwans let out a thunderous victory cry. Every other Cruos followed suit after until the whole kingdom was shouting, celebrating.
“Victory is ours! We did it – with Errezire for Errezire!” I declared into the new day.
“With Errezire for Errezire!”