Strike A Deal

Nobos looked up at him with his dull eyes and remained quiet. He didn't show any sign of wanting to help him. He had no interest in assisting Iris.

They stared at each other for what seemed a fucking eternity to Ian. Nobos hadn't given him answers. Now he wondered if Nobos, just like the other Lords, was waiting for the right moment to take his place. It seemed that his position was much coveted. Ian hissed, his hand flew to his shoulder, and Nobos finally moved from his chair and walked outside.

" If I help you," Nobos took a deep breath ", I need something from you!" Nobos bargained.

" State your price!" Ian followed Nobos and stood next to him, looking over the expanse of his domain.

" When the time comes ", Nobos turn to look at him ", I need you to let me do it!" Nobos spoke in riddles. Do what?

" Do what?" Ian voiced out his thoughts.

" What you can't!" Nobos said, leaning against the wall.

" And that is?" Ian pressed for more.

"Whatever needs to be done to protect this realm. As you can see, your presence isn't doing the realm any good because you're still tethered in the living world. One of you must die sooner or later to preserve our home." Nobos reasoned.

Ian rubbed the back of his neck and peered at Nobos. It was a tricky deal. He didn't want to die or seal Iris's fate. The Hollow Lords were quite ruthless when it came to protecting the realm.

" This realm must exist, no matter the cost. It has a purpose, and without it, the natural order will fall into chaos." Nobos worriedly informed.

Ian nodded. He already knew that all this trouble came to be because of some greedy bastard that now lay in the belly of the Hollow, chained to a rock, screaming. If he would open his cursed mouth and speak, it would be much easier.

" Then it shall be me!" Ian glumly decided on his fate.

Iris had suffered enough as it was. She deserved the right to live an unburdened life. She deserved to be happy. Even if that meant he wouldn't be in it.

" You're not to touch her or anyone in the Hollow! Inform the Hollow Lords and all of the realm. Iris is not to be touched. Do you understand?" Ian barked.

This was within his power to do. Now he had sealed his own fate. He had to find a way to make peace with it. When the time comes, he must surrender before Nobos and the other Lords.

Nobos reluctantly nodded " It will be done! Remember, when the time comes, I will be the one coming for you." Nobos warned and disappeared.

It wasn't an easy decision, but he needed her to be alive. She had earned that right more than anyone else, he knew.

Ian returned to his throne room and plopped himself in his seat, grumbling and grunting.

The pain had finally eased a little, and it was bearable. He felt that he could finally breathe. Ian leaned in his chair and waved his hand at the obsidian wall, and Iris appeared before him.

Ian narrowed his eyes and blinked a few times. She wore servant's clothing and looked like she was on the run. Now it was a good time for Nobos to do his part.

Ian flicked his hand and appeared in what looked like someone's house. He walked around for a bit, but it seemed empty. He didn't know whose house it was.

The voices echoed in a chamber nearby, and Ian felt compelled to push the door open.

" We have two choices. We either end them. And for some reason, he is untouchable at the moment. So I will have to go for her. She is the weak link. We don't know what will happen with the realm if he stays bound to the living!" he heard one of the Lord's bark.

" When the time will come, Ian said he will not stop us from doing whatever it takes to protect the realm." Nobos relayed their earlier conversation from his seat, seemingly unbothered by the Lord's uprising.

" There is no guarantee that he will keep his word. Ettrick has been a tyrant in his pursuit to regain his soul. He had locked us up so we wouldn't stand in his way. We need reassurance that he won't do the same." he heard another lord speak.

" He will have to agree to bind his powers. It is for our protection and the realms." another lord proposed.

" If he binds his powers, can you guarantee you won't go after him?" Nobos asked.

The Lords began speaking amongst each other. All he heard was the murmur of voices. Ian had heard enough. The Lords were after him. They wanted his head on a spike, no matter what he did—another bunch of greedy bastards, power-hungry, just like everyone else.

Ian pushed the door open and made his presence known. He was pretty surprised that they hadn't sensed his presence. Or, they did but wanted him to hear what was spoken during their gatherings.

The Lords looked at him, all fell silent, and Nobos was the only one that bowed to him.

Ian walked to the table and plopped himself on a chair, clasping his hands under his chin.

Ian looked at each lord " I understand your concerns ", he finally spoke, " There is no need for you to connive behind my back. As I said to Nobos, when the time comes, I will not resist any of you. Whoever wishes to take my place as the Hollow Guardian is welcome. I know you want to take my place. So I will make things easier for everyone. There will be combat trials. You must earn your right to put a blade through my chest!" Ian stood up and looked at Nobos.

" It is time to do your part," Ian informed, and Nobos nodded.

Ian flicked his hand and found himself in a cavernous chamber where flames blazed in the darkness. Screams echoed, and cries and pleas for mercy resounded everywhere around him.

A creature approached with big black eyes, dark reddish skin, and beastie ears. His hands looked like claws, knees bent backwards and bowed to him.

" Welcome, Hollow Guardian!" the creature spoke distortedly.

Ian measured him from head to toe " What is this?" Ian curiously asked, looking around the cavern.

" This is the place where people come to suffer for their misdeeds! It's called Narthorn, the pit of the Hollow!" the creature informed with his head bowed.

" Right! It's a nice place!" Ian said as he looked around the cavernous room.

" How do I get out of here?" Ian asked no one in particular as his eyes roamed everywhere.

" You have to think where you want to go, and the darkness will take you there!" the creature answered his question.

Ian shrugged and clapped his hands again, and disappeared from the pit.