I plan to write several stories from the founding of Ravenna to, well… Calvus’ assassination at the hands of the Player. This is the second of… what, six stories? And there might be a short story going further into the fight between Nero and Kessler at Munera Garden, as well.
Previous [Short Story] Delusions of Godhood
Current: Aspirations of Hegemony
Next: Conspiracies of Treason
General Zaix entered the room, ushered in by two Centurions. The heavy metal door swung shut behind him.
“Welcome,” the familiar voice of Nero Caesar rang out. The despot of Ravenna stood in front of a large cube of pulsating blue energy, back to the general.
Zaix knelt, his cloak brushing the floor.
“Your highness,” he answered, head bowed. “How may I serve you?”
Nero did not answer for a while, but finally turned, his blue eyes sparkling with teal energy.
“The Winterveilians all died. I razed their city, tore their castle apart and sent their navy to the ocean floor. But, you see… the Queen told me something rather odd before I killed her.”
He paused.
“They had a second sea curse hidden away in their basement, and had the location of a third. You, General Zaix, as my most trusted officer… you shall have the honor of claiming the Wave Curse.”
Zaix swallowed, as the realization of what his liege had just proclaimed hit him fully.
Was it worth it? To see his wife and children die while he lived on, as the King’s lapdog?
Deep down, the blue-haired general already knew. He had no choice but to graciously accept the curse.
“Thank you from the bottom of my heart, your highness,” he muttered, getting on both knees and lying prostrate. “I am honored to take on a role as protector of Ravenna.”
Nero didn’t smile, but approached the noble, eyes cold.
“Touch the curse.”
Zaix extended a gauntleted hand, and tentatively touched the curse. The second his fingertip made contact with it, the entire cube was sucked into his hand. A split-second later, a colossal pulse of Wave magic erupted out and blasted across the room.
“Very good…” Nero smirked. “Now follow me.”
Confused, Zaix obliged and followed the tyrant to one of the rocky platforms left by the destruction of Winterveil. A tattered banner hung loosely from it.
Then, before he could react, Nero seized him by the shoulders and held him above the water.
“If I drop you in,” the king muttered, voice cold and merciless. “You’ll sink. Now let me make something clear; if you want your wife, daughter and son to live long lives, you will obey every order I give you at a moment’s notice. You will lay down your life for Ravenna. And you will unquestioningly get down and lick the dirt off of the ground if I order you to. Do you understand?”
Zaix looked down at the frothing waters. Charred bodies and debris still floated on the surface, which was slick with grime and oil. A tattered child’s doll drifted past, with a mangled hand still clutching on to it, much to his disgust and horror.
“Yes, your highness,” he wheezed, as Nero’s hold grew tighter. “I- ack! I am at your service…”
Nero released him back onto the ground.
“Good. And don’t think you can kill me with that pathetic curse of yours,” he drawled, and turned to the remnants of last week’s massacre below.
“Now, the Glass Curse,” he continued. “Either I keep it in a vault after finding it, or General Festus will receive it. Either way, Zaix. Your first assignment- go to the Northern Jaws. There’s a Winterveilian refugee camp there. Your job is to exterminate them all. Make sure the children are disposed of as well, so that their repulsive kind will not have a future.”
The words again hit Zaix like a shockwave. Every inch of him wanted to protest and refuse, but Nero’s threats had weight to them.
“Y-yes, your highness. I will go there immediately.”
Without another word, Zaix practically sprinted to the end of the rocky platform and took off rather awkwardly, turning into a cloud of pure wave energy.
Nero Caesar smiled.
“And I… I will personally make sure the Boreas family is found and exterminated.”
(A bit of a shorter story, but… ye)