1 Marked By Fate
Greetings!
Welcome to the World of Lair — a place where dreams and nightmares come true!
This is Au, your virtual tour guide~
Do you have questions in mind with no answers yet? Something that keeps you awake at night and even after trying your best to sleep for a few hours, you still think about the same thing in the morning or noon when waking up.
If the answer is YES, then I have a suggestion. Keep reading ahead…
In this world, a powerful being descended from above could be found—the Faterer. Nobody knew what she was before landing on land. All that we know so far is that she could grant your wish.
Any wish...
However, beware! She might ask you something in return. Still interested?
The Faterer was last sighted in the Southern part of the Khortel Empire. If you want to make a wish, you must catch her and take at least a strand of her red hair. She will grant any wish you have if you're willing to pay the price.
Remember, the Faterer only appears when she senses your strong will and determination to seek her power.
Quest!
Explore the Khortel Kingdom and find the Faterer.
NOTE: Below is an entry from my journal with the information I've gathered after diving into this world. Use it as a guide to explore.
Au's Journal
Year 99, 24th Drizleae, Central Continent
Dear Adventurer,
Well, congratulations! You got an exclusive ticket tour to this world from yours truly.
If you're reading this, I'm probably lying in bed while thinking if I made the right decision to tell you about this particular world—the Lair.
You see, this is not a safe place for ordinary humans, so you make sure to read everything. But if you have this journal in your hands right now, that only means one thing… You are NOT an ordinary HUMAN.
(*whispers* What are you?)
I'm actually in a hurry right now while writing this entry so I'll keep it short, otherwise, the Faterer might find and punish me for telling the secrets of this world. There are a few things you must remember once you step into this new world—different from ours. I'll break down some details about the beings you might encounter when you're here.
The Celestials are the blessed ones and the leaders of this world…Well, not really. But be careful when you meet one. Better avoid them at all costs if you want a peaceful journey. Take note that even Werewolves and Vampires are avoiding them.
And don't mess with werewolves and vampires! They will tear your flesh and suck your blood dry!
*scared*
Next, you should NEVER make a deal with a Witch—Oh, gosh! A witch is coming for me now. I have to go and hide—omgphmrn!
PS. If you find the Faterer, please ask her to help me!
PPS. A pack of wolves joins the chase! SEND HELP!
Running for her life,
Au
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Twenty years ago in a Kingdom somewhere in the Western Continent…
The rumbling of thunders along a heavy storm turned day to night in a blink. Dead bodies floated on the flooded street, and the shadow of death lurked in the empty alleys. There was no sign of life left, not even for a man in black standing on top of the bell tower. His coat tainted in red glistened in the dark.
A sinister smile flashed on his face as he watched everything be ruined. He was the epitome of a beautiful disaster—with his crimson eyes peeking through his golden hair blown by the wind.
"Milord, the lady is ready."
The smile on the man's face widened as he jumped off the tower, head first. In the next second, he landed on the firm ground and stood in front of an altar surrounded by lit candles. The warmth from the flames in the candles filled the hall as the pungent smell of blood pervaded the whole place.
He clapped his hands in glee as he appreciated the gloomy atmosphere.
"Hello there, little lamb. How do you feel about being the only one left in the kingdom, hmm?" The man asked the lady dressed in white, with her hands and feet spread across the altar, chained.
"Grr!" She growled, unable to speak as her mouth was covered by a piece of cloth. Her face screamed with anger as she scowled at him.
"Hush now, little lamb. You'll see the others in a bit," the man responded, filling the halls with his deep and ominous laugh. However, his expression changed in the next second, and he glared at her. And before she could make another sound in protest, his hand pierced through her flesh.
"Urkk!"
She groaned deeply when he pulled his hand out, leaving a huge wound on her stomach.
"There's no need to hurry, princess. It will be your turn in a bit," he added, tracing her pale skin with his bloody fingertips. "I hate disobedient lambs, you know?"
He combed his hair up with the same hands he used to bore a hole in her body. His eyes turned blue for a moment before returning to crimson when he caught a whiff of fresh blood awakening his desire.
"Alright!" The man clicked his tongue. "Now, shall we begin the best part of tonight's show?" He flashed her a toothy grin and leaned close to her face.
The lady's body shivered when his tongue found her nape, licking it. Just when she was getting used to the sensation, a pair of sharp canine teeth sank into her skin.
Deep.
Her world seemed to stop as she slowly lost her strength. She felt her blood getting sucked through the holes in her neck and couldn't do anything about it.
After quenching his thirst, the man gasped for air and continued to drain her blood to every last drop.
It didn't take her longer before she drew her last breath while her eyes remained wide open in desperation and shock.
"Ugh! She doesn't taste nice at all. A hare's blood was way sweeter," the man complained. "What a letdown," he added, wiping his lips with the back of his hand as he pulled away from the lady's cold body.
His eyebrows met when he realized something was amiss. "Are you sure she's of royal blood? Because she got the most undelectable blood I ever had!"
"Milord, this lady here was the third princess of the kingdom. We've confirmed her identity after seeing the royal mark on her brooch," one of his subordinates informed.
The man scoffed. "There were only two princesses in this damned kingdom! Who even told you there were three?" He grabbed his hair and pulled it in annoyance when he remembered to ask something. "Where's Princess Lissa then? Everything will be useless if it's not her lying in this damn altar!"
"We... We don't have any idea of her whereabouts," his subordinate replied.
His rage reached his eyes as they turned redder than usual. In a split second, his subordinate fell to the floor with a twisted neck. "I hate incompetent fools," he mumbled. "If I knew this would happen, I shouldn't have skewered the first princess to death!"
The man took a couple of minutes for himself to calm down.
"So, now I know why she wasn't turning and died instead. What a waste of time," he said, picking up the candle next to him.
His crimson eyes squinted as he stared into the flame. "Wait, what's that?" He asked no one in particular when he heard a faint heartbeat from afar.
"Oho! Is someone still alive? Is it our dear Princess Lissy?" The man's morbid face glowed with excitement. He was certain his plan would work somehow.
"What a good princess she is," he stated, throwing the candle at the dead lady's body in front of him.
The lady's clothes caught fire almost immediately, and the burning corpse pleased him.
"Too bad," the man said in a mocking tone while staring at the body turning into ashes. "You ain't the lamb I'm looking for," he added before leaving the building on fire.
Dry leaves rustled as the man walked through the woods, where he ended up after following the faint sound of the mysterious heartbeat.
"Yoo-hoo! Is anybody here? I came to help," he said, holding back his laughter after spouting a lie. "I came to help! Well, yeah. I'm going to end your misery by killing you, and that's helping, no? "
The woods went quiet for a moment until a gust of wind blew.
"Stop hiding and show yourself, 'lil lamb," the man said nonchalantly. "Let's not waste each other's time, alright?"
The man halted and closed his eyes to heighten his senses. His eyebrows met when he could no longer hear the sound he sought after.
"I warned you," a familiar yet cryptic voice said from behind him.
The man's body froze when the words he heard penetrated his ears. He couldn't win against it and for the first time in a long while, he felt scared.
"You're a traitor to our kind. Removing your existence in this world is not enough to pay for what you've done," the voice continued. "You will be punished by serving the next ruler of the clan you loathe the most, as long as you live!"
The Lair trembled. The sky roared with thunders and flickered with lightnings as the curse took effect.
"N-No! You can't do this to me! I rather die than serve your kind!" the man screamed in his mind.
"My poor child," the voice whispered in the man's ear. "Keep this mark as the symbol of your fealty to the clan."
The man who couldn't move suddenly felt a burning sensation on his face, making him writhe in pain. "Just kill me!"
"It was the plan, my child. You, of all people, knew why you should have been executed. The moment you refused your fate, the Lair had prepared you a gift."
"No, please. Anything but serving the clan," the man begged, as blood fell from his eyes instead of tears.
"It's too late," the voice echoed through his head. "The new ruler is born."
With the voice's last words, the Lair was divided into two. Immortals took over the dark side and the mortals remained in the light.
In between this grandiose phenomenon which caused the world's uproar, a humble entity, born between a mortal and a celestial slave, stood by the borders of light and darkness.
Growing up with nothing but a beautiful face, the mark of his sin robbed him of everything that he had.
