Wetherden

The area surrounding the kingdom, or now the city, was mostly grassland. To the East was a thick forest of birch trees that covered a few miles. To the South a few miles down was Den Lake. The lake itself was very large. The North and West sides were all grassland and very flat. Wetherden was surrounded by a single wall with many gates. The size of the entire city is less than half of the capital. Poorly maintained farmlands are on the outside of the wall and some huts for the farmers as well. The King's Hall, and castle, was located in the center of the small city. It was a beautiful building with a gate made of pure silver and a marble-like finish. On top of the king's hall was a glass dome that gave it a mystical aura. Around it was the Royal Courtyard, where the king and his family would walk and converse with guests and citizens. The Royal Palace, where Blick and Kael resided, was on the side of the king's hall and facing North. Wetherden was known for its gorgeous landscape and unique architecture. It was also home to a temple of life, a temple of death, and a temple of darkness. These temples were very popular with pilgrims from other regions. Unfortunately, as time passed, these temples began to crumble and decay, as did the rest of the once beautiful city.

Now Wetherden was hurting, and smoke was rising from many different areas. Citizens armed themselves and rose against the military. The King's Hall was locked up and secured. Blick begged his father to call a meeting with the council, but a meeting never happened.

"What do you mean they are unavailable?" Blick asked.

"It's like how you said. They are not even here in Wetherden." Kael admitted.

"I can't believe that... Why? Where are they?" Blick asked.

"I don't know!" Kale shouted.

"You are pathetic as a father and a king." Blick said.

"Where are my other children?" Kael asked.

Blick shrugged as he walked out of the room. He met up with the commander, Marvin Holar. Marvin was middle aged but could hold his own. He had brown eyes and dark hair with stray grays. They walked into the war room, where a few knights were waiting for them. Blick looked at the map of Wetherden and noticed that they marked where all the fires are.

"I have news to share with you all." Blick said.

"Yes?" they said.

"I have sent word to King Johan about my father, your king. Kael has been conspiring against King Johan and I have warned him. In the letter, I said he has gathered an army and will be plotting to kill him." Blick said.

They all stared at Blick.

"Isn't that good?" a knight asked.

"That depends on what side you are on." Blick said.

"So, what you are saying is: King Johan is going to save this damned city?" Marvin said.

"We need to calm the people, but we cannot let my father know he is on his way." Blick said.

"Not all of the knights will side with King Johan. They might keep their loyalty to King Kael." Marvin said.

"He is no king, he has never been." Blick said.

"What do you suggest we do?" Marvin asked.

"We wait until King Johan is at our doorstep." Blick said.

"What about the young lords?" Marvin asked.

"I sent them away with a close friend. They are on their way to the capital as we speak." Blick said.

"Am I thinking what y'all are thinking?" a knight asked.

"What would that be?" Blick and Marvin asked.

"When his army arrives, we storm the hall." he said.

"I was thinking that too." Marvin said.

"No, only I will enter. I will slay my father." Blick said. 

The sun had peaked and in a field of grass, he was playing with his brother, Kian. They were laying in the grass and looking up at the clouds, laughing and smiling. Their mother walked over to them and laid in between them. The air was cool, and the wind calmly flew around. For a moment, Blick forgot about the city and his problems. But his peace was interrupted by the sound of men entering the room.

"Sir, the people have killed many knights and have started killing each other." a guard said.

"What has Wetherden become?" Blick asked, rubbing his temples.

"I'm afraid the city is lost." another guard said.

"This is what happens when the king doesn't take care of his people." Blick said.

"Is the plan the same?" Marvin asked.

"Yes, go now and try to calm them. Arrest some if you have to." Blick said.

"Yes sir." they said before rushing out of the room.

Blick stared at the table. He placed his hands on it and was lost in thought. He sat down on the chair and closed his eyes and let out a sigh. He opened his eyes and looked out the window, he saw what he thought was not even possible. He saw a ruined city fall into further ruin. The strange bird landed in front of him and out of anger and frustration, Blick began to shout at it.

"Why? Why did this happen? Who are you?" he yelled.

The bird remained silent.

"How can I fix this? Please, help me." Blick begged.

The bird remained still.

"Why are you here? Did you not hear me the other day? Or are you just an odd bird, birthed from a sick mother?" Blick asked.

The bird tilted its little head.

"I can't believe I'm talking to a bird." Blick said, chuckling to himself.

Suddenly the bird let out a shriek and its eyes glowed bright gold with a hint of silver and red mixed within. Blick stared in awe as he watched this bird make a transformation. Its feathers grew longer, and its wings merged into two. The bird spoke no words, but Blick could sense its thoughts. A deep dark voice echoed through Blick's mind as he conversed with the strange creature.

"What are you?" Blick asked.

"It matters not what I am, but what I can do." it said.

"And what is that?" Blick asked.

"Wonderous things." it said.

"Why are you here?" Blick asked.

"You called me. You didn't know it, but you did." the bird said.

"Please, help me save Wetherden." Blick said.

The bird frowned and continued to stare at him with its bright majestic eyes.

"I am sorry, but there is nothing I can do to save this city." the bird said.

"Wait, is it really that bad?" Blick asked.

"The only thing to do is let the young king flatten it, so that you can rebuild it." it said.

"Will you help me?" Blick asked.

"If I were to help, you would need to do something for me." it said.

"What would you have me do?" Blick asked.

"I am without a proper body, if you were to... let me use yours, then we could rebuild Wetherden. And with my power, you would be able to create something beautiful." it said.

"Use my body? On what terms?" Blick asked.

"Of course we would make a deal. One that binds us together." it said.

"What's your name?" Blick asked.

"My name Is Zorn Sverok" it said.

"Sverok? That sounds familiar." Blick said.

"An ancient name, one that hasn't been uttered since the rise of Dusk." Zorn said.

"Are you some kind of god? Your eyes are messing with my head." Blick said.

"A god? In a way. I was worshiped and praised once. I had a brother named Isaac and we were both weak and sickly. When the gods saw us, they gave us power. They did not regulate this power and made my brother stronger than Kryptonick himself. I only got half of the amount they gave him. But I am glad they did because they realized he was too strong, and they became afraid. They brought him down to Hell and chained him and bound him. He became their slave. I fled and hid for centuries. Until years ago, when I heard the universe cry. I realized something unnatural rose above and messed with the balance and the old gods have fallen." Zorn said.

"I heard a similar story from a woman at the Temple of Kayotic. She said it took all of the gods to hold him and control him. But a god freed him after making a deal with him." Blick said.

"Invictus is free?" Zorn said.

"I thought you said his name was Isaac?" Blick asked.

"It was. That... the... the power he received changed him... he umm... became hungry... not only for freedom but for power too." Zorn said.

"He was stronger than any god and he still wasn't satisfied?" Blick asked.

"No, the fact that multiple gods could control him, ruined his mind. He wants to be stronger so that not even a hundred gods could stop him. You knew my name, which means you know of history. You know how Titans became stronger?" Zon said.

"They ate humans and other Titans." Blick said.

"If they were lucky, they would eat gods too. If he is truly free, then he will try to take over a human and become the strongest." Zorn said.

"Wouldn't he have to make a deal with them?" Blick asked.

"Not if the human is an infant with no will power. I don't want to take over a child because then I would have to wait until they are older so my body would be strong." Zorn said.

"You're a bird..." Blick pointed out.

"No, I'm not a bird, you fool. This is my spirit. My old host died." Zorn said.

"Oh." Blick said.

"Now, about that deal. I do not wish for full control all of the time. Let me take your left eye so I can see, and you can use my power as much as you would like." Zorn proposed.

"What are your powers?" Blick asked.

"A fair question. Simply, reality bends to my will. Ever heard of Krimson or Lavernius?" Zorn asked.

"Of course. Krimson was the demi-god who disappeared. And Lavernius was the strongest man alive." Blick said.

"My powers are like theirs, but ten times stronger." Zorn said.

"That's all you want?" Blick asked.

"Are you dumb? I will take over your body at random times and do what I please." Zorn said.

"You didn't say that." Blick said.

"It was implied." Zorn said.

"Will we be able to hear each other?" Blick asked.

"Yes. I will be like another voice in your head. We will talk through our thoughts." Zorn said.

"I see." Blick said.

"Do we have a deal?" Zorn asked.

"On one condition." Blick said.

"And that is?" Zorn asked.

"You save Wetherden before King Johan arrives." Blick said.

"You do realize I can create anything out of nothing, right?" Zorn said.

"Is that a yes?" Blick asked.

"I will save your dead city." Zorn said.

"Now what?" Blick asked.

The bid began to move in a demonic way. Blood dripped down from the eyes and ears. The bird had died. Blick yelled in pain as his eye began to burn. After a few seconds, he lost the ability to see out of his left eye. He felt a surge of strength and power as Zorn merged with him. Zorn was now Blick and Blick was now Zorn. Blick looked in the mirror and saw that his left eye now looked like one of Zorn's eyes. It was terrifying and beautiful at the same time. He turned away and began to walk out of the room and into the burning city. He had a job to do. Even though he just got the powers, it felt as if he had them his whole life.

He walked around the city and found chaos everywhere he went. Bodies were stacked on top of each other, and fires were spreading fast. Zorn used his powers to calm the people and restore the city. Stacks of bread and fruit were created out of nothing. The houses and temples were restored to what they looked like when they were first built. As Blick walked through the city, it changed. He walked back to the hall and saw his father sleeping on the throne with guards watching over him.