http://browse.minitokyo.net/gallery/?aid=779
Gallery link to soul reaver.

CHAPTER 3: A MYTH OF MY OWN

Azriel stood in silence.
below his feet is a grave, his parents grave.
he dug them with his bare hands, leaving scars across his arms, feet and his tired torso full of mud and grass.
he no longer sheds his tears, they are dry once more, the hollow eyes of his, seeing the engravement on the stone.
"Norren, and his beloved wife and Mother of an unfillial son,Lyndreaton" and below it a phrase "Lest we forget to remember the unknown truth of their deaths"

In this desolated range, where the souls of hundreds floated around, Azriel closed his eyes, praying to an unfair God, one he would have trusted him his life, but he has failed. he has decended into the oblivion, the oblivion of truth, and there is no saviour who will come to save him.

He is the evil that plagued himself. He is the murderer of his own parents. There is no more to be said.

He has nothing now, no more that he can lose, his best friend is dead, he killed his parents, he other friends would most definitely treat him as a monster.

He opened his eyes to the silence of the trees that surrounded him, he looked here and there, at the trees, recalling what happen since last night.

****
Last Night,

Azriel was standing at the kitchen, now barely lit, he has switched off the lights as he could not continue to bear the sight of the lifeless bodies of his parents that lay on the floor, unmoving...

His ears heard the neighbours standing out their house, discussing at the small unlit house, now silent in extreme contrast to the earlier scream that would have driven the dead mad and awake from their eternal sleep.

He could only so much as hope that someone will come to save them, but he knows, they are dead, no technology, whatever will save his two parents, for their soul is taken.

He wished there was a manual of usage, for this body, like all equipments come with a booklet, at least he would look for the part where he must consume souls. At least, he could have prevented this. His tears are dried after half an hour of crying as he sobbed in silence for he no longer breaths, even his tears don't seem to be wet, but just droplets of his liquid from his half dead body.

He wiped his eyes again, he feels that he is calm now, but this is no faithful calm, it is the calmness experienced by a murderer, one who takes lives and swallow them whole.

He knew now what he must do, though he wished so much to die, he knew it was a selfish way out, he must live.

In his heart he knew, he must live to see the day, he must do one more thing, search for the answers to his mystery. But first, he must find a proper burial place for his parents.

He stood up and headed to the curtains, he knew his mother must have replaced them, she said so some three days ago, just before he went out with Simon. He teared at the cloth, making a hankerchief sized cut.

Kneeling down again beside the lifeless bodies, he used the cloth to cover their faces, and with the towels he picked from the cabinet afterwards, he sealed their faces away from his eyes, and away from the world's eyes.

"Mom, Dad....I am sorry, but this is the least I can do...." Azriel whispered to himself, and the bodies.

With his strong arms, he lifted both of them and carried them over his shoulders, he could not think of a better way, but he knew, he is stronger than when he was human, he could do this easily.

He slowly opened the door, careful not to make any more noise, he sneaked out with the bodies in hand. Careful to make sure they are held tight, he jumped onto the roof silently with his newly gained powers of stealth. He ran, and ran as fast as he could, getting onto the dark alleyways of the city, careful not to leave a trace of his movements for all to see, but he knew, he can be seen, the homeless of the alleyways are looking his way, but he is careful and continued going without a care. He must not make them suspicious.

He ran for three hours, longer than any human being could, he still could hardly feel tired, though his legs are slightly used, he knows if he wants to, there is no stopping him, a part of his abilities he is cartainly proud of, but the price of it, he loathes.

He thought to himself silently as he lay down his parents on the ground, on a wide field before him, clearly empty, nothing but grass and stones formed naturally lay before him. He knows not where this place is, he has simply ran, but he knew he is far away from the city now.

He chose a rock, and with his undead fingers, dug at the surface, carving the words that he wished to be used on his parents' grave.
He must be sure that they are marked here, so that they will eternally know that they are remembered and him in return will know that he must never lose his way for they pay the price for him, he must repay them with his every bit of strength that he can have.

****
The grave is 6 feet deep, deep enough to cover his body whole, Azriel has spent the last 2 hours digging it, making sure he is in it to the full before his stops, how he wished he is the one dead.

He layered them with the soil he has dugged up. He gives a silent prayer, clasping his hands as he would in church, and prayed for his parents' deliverance to His Kingdom. But he knew, they can't, he has taken them.

He picked up his shirt, where he hanged by the trees, and looked back at the silent grave, before he turned his back, with a vow he made before the grave, that he will find his true path and return to who he was, or at least, trade himself for his parents' eternal rest.

He feels the breath of fresh winds without the smell of polution washed his dead skin, he is eager for another bath now, but he knew, he must not return to that house that he called home.

*****

The clock ticked loudly, driving Daniel awake from his dreadful sleep, still holding close to his daughter's hands as he moved his head to look at the sterile rooms of the hospital. He must not awake her, but he wanted to take a walk around, before his legs give in to the numbness for sitting so long.

He silently let go of his daughter's hand, still asleep now, after she took her meal, he knew there is something that might be plaguing her, but he shrugged that off as being post incidental fear. He knew at least for now, she is safe within his care, he hopes this will last.

He walked out to the garden at the front of his daughter's room, open-air place where he looked at the stars above him. Lighting a cigarette, he took a deep puff, and exhaled with the smoke twirling around in front of him. He wondered where did the nice boy that he knew went to, that Norren boy that he thought would have been better than that Simon, who is a disrespectful kid, he wished Ryna would have gone out with this one instead.

"First thing in the morning, i must call to check....i hope the kiddo is still alive..."

****

Silence was his only partner as Azriel walked into the night, there was only the sound of wind billowing. He is calm now, but confused at where should he start to look for answers.

He walked back into the city, approaching in the back direction, careful not to make any attention. His blue skin is carefully concealed under the night and his scarf, which he picked up somewhere before he knew it, probably from the house, but he could not remember when.

There were sounds everywhere now, people talking and chatting, none aware that yet again, a monster walks amongst them.

he continued silently, concealing his hands in his pockets.

There in front of him, as he walked into an alleyway, trying to avoid the main road is a man, or at least shaped like one, dressed in a raincoat, covered as well as the night itself.

"must be a homeless, if only i got some change...." cursing himself for not able to help as he passed the man, weirdly still standing behind him unmoving.
Azriel wondered what he was doing as he continued ingnoring him, threading into the dark alleyways further.

"You are the Reaver?" the voice came from Azriel's back.

Surprised, Azriel turned his head to the man, who still did not turn behind to face him, a meekly "what....?" escaped the empty jaws of Azriel behind the closed scarf.

"Are you the one who carries the mark of the Reaver. The soul of the sword?"
sounded the man in commanding order and voice.

"Are you talking to me, old man?" asked Azriel, confused and beginning to wonder who is this man who speaks of a Reaver....?

"Then you know, that the time has arrived again, as phropezised." said the old man still standing there.

"What are you talking about old man....?"
"You...obviously, the walking corpse...."
Azriel knew this old man may be the answer to his questions, he felt it...
"then you know me...what i am now...why?"
"Simple, you are reincarnated....or should i say you were the chosen vessel."
"what? what are you saying...?"
"follow me....we shall talk where no eyes shall pierce our conversations..."

And thus, faster than Azriel could see, the old man moved swiftly to his back in the blink of an eye, now already a 100 meters in front of him, Azriel was thinking to himself, this is no ordinary man.

He promptly followed, trying to keep up and keep his head cool, questions are poring into his mind like a stream of question marks, who is he, or rather why does he know...?

****

They arrived 15 minutes later on the top of a building, though this old man has climbed 50 floors of stairs, he is visibly not tired, not to mention how fast he was. Azriel was having problems even with his newly gained speed of which he discovered as he ran up the stairs, silent and faster than he thought.

"Now, tell me, who are you, who sent you and why has all this happen?" Asked Azriel demandingly while trying to look around for any suspicious figure, he felt that there may be people up here.

"Easy now, young one, allow me to take my cloak off."

Slowly, he took away his raincoat, uncovering his eyes, bloodshot with white pupils from underneath, he is indeed no human being as his skin is white, whiter than the purest porcelain, smooth and untouched by the years. Azriel thought he was an old man because of the deep voice.

"Greetings....I am Devos Fevnor, last chosen survivor of the "Order of Nosgoth", I am 1785 years older than you...."
"You are not human...." replied Azriel, unsure of what to say.
"Obviously, any human would have died climbing that many stairs...., now, i have come to show you the reason, and a choice of paths, which inevitably leads to same outcome, but you can change that, it is a matter of choice."
"......" looking at him with his white eyes, he took off his scarf that covered the lost jaw.

"You are the reaver. One of many kind of vampires...the soul eating kind that has a unique way of creation, you are born with the essence."
"go on....."
"your life is piece of lie, made to believe that you are human, simply because the wheel and hands that decide the fate of the reaver have not been decided."
"My life is a lie...?" Azriel felt some anger at this point, knowing that he has murdered his true parents, which this Devos undoubtedy knows.
"Of course i do....your parents are consumed by your "first hunger" I am sure you must few the second one coming now..."

True to his words, Azriel felt the same thing, that feeling is back...and he dreads that he may kill more people.

"You are foolish...you should have never went back to that house, where the only two possible sources of "food" is your parents...you should stayed away and perhaps you may have something less to regret with...but i guess its good, gives you a one way ticket to see what you are in reality..."

"What the hell is all this, why....? You have not answered my question!" Asked Azriel in an impatient tone, clearly raising his voice now as he harbored hostile thoughts.

"thinking of killing me won't help very much...don't you agree, i am far stronger than you, and you will be nothing but a bug because you are only a newborn..."

"want to try....?" Azriel challenged him without an ounce of fear as he realized too late that this person can read his thoughts.

"that was late....i thought you knew i could read your mind...all the more reason why you must not fight me..."

"I itch to get the answers out of you before i lose my patience....!"

"then do so....come on, kill me if you can..." Devos' face of confidence did not change, so sure of himself. He lifted his hands at Azriel, waiting for him to come.

Azriel did not hesistate and lunged at him, keeping in mind his former studies in karate and hoping to give this fellow a nice beat-up. He has never felt as violent as this before.

Azriel with inhuman speed raised his right leg to swipe at him before Devos could move, or rather not move...

With two fingers, he caught hold of Azriel's toes, and with a breath of silence, twisted and flung him with mighty force into a wall, breaking Azriel into the wall, a big hole remained in that wall as Azriel, bewildered by that move, looked at Devos from his defeated position.

"How the hell....?"

"I told you it was futile...I am perhaps the oldest vampire since the dawn of the New Nosgoth, when Kain decided to stay in eternal sleep for he has raised this world to his standards. That is after he defeated the Hylden and conquered his destiny..."

"Kain?....Hylden? What is this nonsense...?"

"Kain is the father of this world, the pillars at the Nosgoth Mall, they are the very original artifacts from 2000 years or more ago, they are the artifacts left down from the dawn of vampirism."

"Father...? He created the earth?"

"No....he built his kingdom here, a kingdom where vampires ruled surpreme and humans slaves to the world which when he retired, he left to rot, he is sure he is no longer interested."

"And...what part do i play in this grandiose story?"

" You are a reaver as i have said. Your kind, exists only to serve one purpose, as a weapon, a soul for a weapon that you will come to see. I will show you the weapon when its time."

"me as a weapon....?" Azriel asked as he confuses himself.

"Your kind is not bloodsuckers, your kind directly consumes the soul of all beings, demons, vampires, humans, little wasted ethereal beasts around you when you are dead...you can physically absorb their souls to nourish yours, hence, your body is dead, the only thing moving it is the engine within, which is your rotten soul..."

"Continue...."

"Your kind comes every 2 millenia as decided and cursed with to establish a balance to the pillars of Nosgoth, you must unite the spirits within them and channel your power and continue the balance of time and the unity within this world..."

"This world....? You mean earth's time is not balanced...?"

"According to human science, yes, but not to the astral date set by our first vampiric ancestors, the winger ones who are now long dead and extinct."

"Then what is it that i do...can i choose not to?"

"Listen slowly and you will know...I am a messenger, i came to deliver this message to you, the one i speak now. Your fate as a reaver is to embrace the said weapon, and merge with it, you must then as the weapon, sacrifice your soul to the pillars, where your being will no longer exists and then becoming a piece of the balance..."

taking a breath and continued, Devos eyes stared into the eyes of Azriel.

"The balance i talked about is simple: this world goes by everyday in this realm of existence, and as you already know, there is many alternate realms with two being the most important, the world as we know it now, and the one from which all life originates..."The Spectral World" from which your soul comes from...."

"Alright....so what of them....?"

"There is a balance, a clock that must be set to coordinate all life as an aspect of continuity. Your existence is to forge that clock. There will be many "people" who will stop you, and they will inevidently try all ways to prevent the clock from being reset."

"why must i do it?"

"This clock is the central of time, and space, imagine if you will what happens when you break an egg, the yolk and the white will flow out am i correct?"

"yeah...."

"Now, the clock is that time, in order to coordinate how many lives are here in this realm and the other, there must be a system, every two millenia or so, the system needs new "batteries" to function, and so the wheel of fate will not dispense too many unused souls onto this world and cause an unbalance which could flux space and time, and also the world will suffer earthquakes, freak weather from this and over a period of a week if left that way, will inevidently wipe out humankind as we know it."

"That sounds far fetch...."

"What isn't...? You think i was believing in Vampirism when i was born? I was a poor peasant who was chosen because i had the minds of a scientist...or philosopher in my time..."

"Continue....what is it that i must do....?"

"As i have said, when the blade is shown to you, you must merge with it, as the phropecy have said so, then you will become the key to reset the clock, of which Kain, the legendary one will use to defeat the ultimate force that goes against this system. And then, you will receive the a new life after this has been done..."

"So all i had to do is too make some kind of merge with a blade....?"

"Not that simple, in order to meet the blade you must go deep, you must go and search out the rune that is lost to your kind, thanks to relentless exposure human kind have, we now have an issue that we must hide ourselves from humans...which was never the case before."

"I thought Vampires always do that...."

"No...eons ago, we were the superior species and humans are only our slaves worthy of being pawns...nothing more than stray dogs acting all smart."

"Alright....I guess now i have to ask...how do i get this hunger out of me...i don't want to kill anymore..."

"You can't....it is your nature, as with why humans must sleep and vampires must suck blood, although i no longer needed too...i have grown out of sucking blood, nowadays i only drink blood from ready available packets from my hospital..."

"You own a hospital?"

"Of course...how else did you think they found the vaccine for Polio? I was doing the work....! I credited someone else so that i may receive the privacy to keep away from people knowing what vampires really are."

"Why...?" Azriel only wanted to ask about himself, but slowly, he develops an interest for this person...

"If humans, in the worst case, die out of pathetic diseases like this, it will be a headache for the vampires, we have our own underground society, i am sure you will know that it is not the first time you heard of people abducted and never found...."

"I see...now, back to my hunger...if i can't get rid of it, what can i do...?"

"look around you, what do you see...?"

"people and buildings...."

"look closer, like when you opened your mouth the last time, now open your cloth and seal..."

Azriel did so without thinking twice, eager to see what happens if he could just drive away this hunger.
Instantly, his eyes could see again, the spectral beings that floated in the air, plainly with human features. All seemed in peace, making no move, wandering in confusion and a harmony of their own.

Azriel asked in confusion," What are these....?"

"Souls....lost beings of humankind, those who have forgotten the path to the wheel of fate, and left to wander for all eternity until you come to become the being of which to restore balance...."

"So that makes me....?" A soul jumped into Azriel's mouth as he absorbed, he knew at least these are lost souls now, he would take them just as he picks up coins on the streets.

"A vacuum cleaner of sorts....plainly said, your work is simple, harvest as many souls as you can, eat them and consume them, turn them into nothingness and when the time arrives, you will reset the clock and all those who are still in loss will be guided back to the wheel, where the eternal spin shall begin again, and thus, a new beginning for all."

A point hearing this, Azriel felt a sudden jolt of fear, he asked," So....i will never be able to release my parents again...?"

"Unfortunately, i do not have that answer...i can only tell you that you have taken forcibly from them, that would make you the destroyer of their souls, perhaps when the time comes, they will meet you again in the next life...but you probably will not remember it..."

"No....I have taken them away...."

"No, you simply do what you must...now, finish up and i will show you how to turn spectral for your kind."

****

Azriel pondered alone now as he stared down the busy streets with his new found friend, the old man sounding vampire, who looks no older than 23 years of age, impossibly white hair covered his head with blood red eyes and whiter than white pupils and fair skin.

"something plaguing your mind, Reaver?"

"call me Az...most of my friends call me that..."

"well then "Az", i suppose you have resisted my goodwill to help you for a reason....?"

"Yes....i will find out what i am by myself, this spectral thing seems a whole lot more painful than i thought...."

"funny thoughts....you should embrace the pain...it is the only thing that proves you are not dead yet..."

"What do i do now...i have no place to stay....i want to do something else...i no longer feel the urge to sleep as well..." Azriel rubbed his eyes.

"You shouldn't need to worry, humans spend one half of their lives sleeping, now you should embrace life to the fullest..."

"easy for you to say, at least you retained human form and i such a form of montrosity..." Azriel looked at his blue hands as he said this.

"you are only lonely now...one day...you will understand that only eternal loneliness in the key to happiness, but i guess you won't that long would you...i am guessing that you want to finish this as soon as possible...?"

"Yes...where can i see this sword, how, when, i wish you will tell me now..."

"No, not yet....too soon, you must first fight and defeat those who oppose you, they will come, and you must learn to accept first who you are, cause this merge is no easy task...Your ancestor, Raziel never gave up on himself, his identity as a Seraphan Knight, and he became both friend, foe with Kain and in the end, together as one merged with the sword, they slayed the tyrant lord of the Wheel of Fate. At least, legends say it took Kain 5 centuries to do that."

"wonder why all this history is deleted...?"

"simple, you think humans would even believe they are once owned by a society of vampires?"

"No....i guess not....but i guess i will never know the truth will i...?"

"Slowly but surely it will be revealed to you in detail..."

They stood there, letting the strong winds blow at them, looking below at those "pawns" that they so much owned them. The humans, who make the society, those who have power and those who don't.

Azriel felt that he must do this, perhaps not from this imposed obligation, but a drive to do something with all this power he has, he asked Devos:

"Why aren't you reading my mind any longer?"

"There is no need to, spoils the fun of having a conversation don't you agree?"

"I must do this....this merging and the reset...but i wonder, why me...?"

"Az...i want you to stop pondering over this and follow me, we will go to my mansion on my private helicopter..."

"Your mansion?" Azriel is surprised by his sudden gesture of friendliness.

Devos lifted his phone earlier, perhaps he already did the arrangements.
the helicopter already stealthily arrived in front of them as Azriel was caught of guard. Devos invited him up the craft before he stepped in and sealed the door shut as they ride high into the night.

****
The flight was euphoric, Azriel felt like a kid with candy and he pondered over what he should do, while the amused Devos laughed to himself at the new Reaver, who in the heart is nothing more than a kid, much less to say the fierce being he once worshipped when he was young, the first Reaver, Raziel, who by fate perhaps, shares the same name as the new one, just a matter of words arranged differently.

They landed smoothly in an outlying mansion, the garden huge beyond words, beyond anything an ego maniac millionaire would have had, there was enough space for an entire international football field and more.

On the circle where they landed, more vampires, certainly younger than Devos, came out to greet him, perhaps he owns them, Azriel wondered as he followed closely, careful not to make any sudden moves.

"Don't worry, these are my disciples, some of them my servants, they would not hurt you, and they can't, they must serve you until you are ready to fulfill the prophecy..." Devos answered as he felt the anxiety in Azriel's mind.

The walkway was well lit, with the blast caused by the helicopter dying down, Azriel followed closely and being led into the mansion, a 18th century English building, with statues that graced the top of the pillars, each with the similiar designs he saw at the mall, he knew there must be something here.

"Yes, they are fabricated to match my agenda here, they are the same ones in design, but carries no power of such, but i have invested into them the power to manipulate the elements if there is ever a need to use them."

"manipulate elements?" asked Azriel.

"the sword has many powers, each with a different power, once you have opened your sword from your hands, you will realize that it can change the powers within. Good for you, those elements have been collected and gathered here, all you have to do is accept them when you are ready..."

"so....." unable to understand what Devos said, Azriel declined to question further, but is very sure that he wanted to know, but for now, all he wants is a quiet and peace.

****
Inside, there is a grand hall, bigger than an arena with tall ceilings carved with wonderful sculpting technique, all around them, murals of great winged beings conquered other beings in some sort of battle, perhaps the vampires Devos mentioned earlier.

Azriel mind is focused on the platinum layered staircase that lay infront of him, with other servants, all vampires who stay close to Devos lay their knees down, each one kneeling by the sides that lead to the grand staircase as Devos walked uncaring for his servants, each one bowing their heads to the floor.

Azriel could feel the pressure of the respect shown, perhaps he is the oldest vampire here, undoubtedly the most respected.

"Yes...I am indeed, since the silencing of Kain, i was to become his successor, he passed me the Soul Reaver and i was to be the keeper." Reading his mind once again, Devos answered swiftly and proudly.

Azriel could only hope he does not do that all the time, he is still not used to it yet. Azriel still walked behind him, climbing the grand stairs and entered into a room on the top.

"Welcome to my mansion's most grand guestroom, the Rihalla Suite, i made this using nothing but the best materials available to humans..."

Azriel was surprised again, there is nothing but truth to what he says, the floor is thick most polished marble made from the finest of stones, on the counters are thick redwood made surfaces, pictures of great work of art lay hanged by the walls, nothing that he could describe because of his lack of exposure to the world of the rich.

Azriel looked in awe and Devos tapped his shoulders, making him aware there is another presence in the room as the vampiric servant retreated out to the hallways.

"This is James, my most trusted butler, you should know that he is human."
devos gestured to the man, in his 50's or so as he stepped up, bowing before Azriel, signalling his position.

"Human? How does he stay alive in here...?"

"My servants cannot touch him, or else i will kill them personally, and he is protected by the talisman of Vorador, the ring of one of the oldest and first blood vampires who lived many eons before at the time of Kain."

James lifted his ring, carved in gold, with carvings of words of unknown language on the sides, Azriel could feel the ring has powers vested in it, there is a sense of protection for this man.

"Yes, very true, with this ring, no vampire, not even you will find an easy way to kill him or touch him in anyway, he is my most trusted butler and as of today, he will serve your needs here in this mansion."

"I see....erm....thanks i think...." Azriel is still in awe that he will stay in this place.

"Sir Azriel Norren, Lord Reaver which shall i adress you, My lord?" asked James in a more than formal matter.

"just call me....Az....that is more than enough..." Azriel was again unable to answer.

"My lord, you know i can't do that, i am to serve you, please allow me to adress you as the Lord Reaver at least." replied again the humble butler.

"Alright, whatever...."

Devos looked at Azriel and spoke to him as he handed him a piece of paper, on top a number, " Azriel, meet me here in the morning, James will show you where..."

"Morning...i thought vampires only awake at night...?"

"Again, foolish human perceptions and comical misconceptions. Tomorrow at 10 am. I will be waiting."

Devos left the room, closing the door is his servant who bowed to Azriel before he did so.

Azriel walked to the balcony, looking below at the grand gardens as James said to him, "Lord Reaver, the bath is ready, if you wish to have anything else, please do not hesistate to summon me, telepathically, or otherwise with this device." he handed Azriel a remote control like thing.

Azriel simply nodded as James turned around and entered a small room by the side of the grand room he is in. He simply looked back down again at the beautiful gardens, relaxing his mind.

He thought to himself, perhaps he can have something good out of this as well, he felt relieved as he went to the bathroom, eager to wash his dirt from the fight and the digging earlier.

****____________________

chapter 3 is finished, what you think pls speak your comments!

THIS CHAPTER WILL CONTAIN SPOILERS FOR THE GAME!

Wow, I guess the plot's coming out now. Devos is the blood-sucking type of vampire, right? And what game spoilers are you talking about?

phew your chapters are always so long....! but at least we're getting some answers now... it's a pity his parents are sacrificed... i do hope somewhere along.. maybe when he meet the big boss or something he might get his parents back..

whoa...a soul reaver...such burden he has...is his parents really his parents?

yeah....at least for now....anyway...Devis told him that it was a lie, so we will see....

here's the post for the song (dedicated to this fanfic)^^
http://forum.minitokyo.net/thread/39587/song-driftedaway/

thank you so much! I really liked the song!

the chapter is very good, interesting to read
i noticed that you are very quick at writing all this, good for us, we won't have to wait for that long^^

http://browse.minitokyo.net/gallery/?aid=779
Gallery link to soul reaver.

wow !a really imppresive lecture, it's so long , this going to take me a little time , actually my english is not good as i want but i can understand more o less , well don't give up my dear friend , cheer up *

lecture...?
erm...i thought it is a fan fiction, as in a novel type story written by fans of a certain series...?

You are a man of many talents.

CHAPTER 4: PAST AND BEGINNING

The alley is dark, there is nobody there, he could sense them, but there are sounds, and they are not from his head, it is surrounding him one by one.

It is only noise, but inside each sentence, a pause, a word and then another pause. it is saying something, something that he finds dread in hearing. Azriel was beginning to feel the panic, he wanted to ask why, and what.

"Killer...murderer...parents...." he could only make out these...but he knew more than enough what the message wants him to hear...every word is filled with pain and agony.

he wanted to run, as far away as he could, he knew it is wrong, but only if it wasn't. The walls closed in, he is alone, he screamed to the emptiness as the noises gathered, becoming in a form of white noise. The sound clamoring in his head, a writhing pain and agony spread through his body, as if wounds are being broken open after they are sealed by merciless hands.

"No....." his small and faint voice could only be heard as a whisper...the walls close in and sealed him, marking his fate...

****

Azriel awoke in fear. His pure white eyes stared at the beautiful English cupboard of his dresser at the front of his suite. He no longer sweats, but how he wishes he can, the fear still plaguing from his nightmare. He could feel a sense of disorganization in him. He calmed himself as he stood up from the bed, a luxurious bed made of the finest cotton, so fine that the moment one lays his head down, there is a chance that one will die in sleep, too comfortable.

He walked in a wobbly way to the washroom, as he laid his blue hands to the counter, looking at his deformed face in the mirror. A corpse looking at himself, who would have looked like that given a chance in a lifetime.

the dream is almost carved into his head, the fear is real cause he knew it was real. there is only pain and agony. The first night on a proper bed, and he couldn't even sleep, he cursed at himself.

Washing his face with warm water, he felt cooled down, there was a moment of silence and peace, he felt a sense of calm now as the silence around him calmed down his fear, making him feel comforted by the sights of the warm lights.

"Lord Reaver is everything alright?" asked James as he walked in, startled Azriel as he asked.

"Oh...you startled me there...yeah, I am alright....just a nightmare..."

"Your parents...?" asked in firmness as he handed him a towel made of white wool and cotton, engraved on top D in capital old English text for the master's name.

"Yeah...how did you know...?" Azriel wiped his face with the towel, no longer hiding his lost jaw.

"The master has spoken to all of us, regarding your recent grievance...as for being a Soul Reaver, most vampires will know of this legend except the young ones who are made carelessly accepting the dark fate...."

"Devos said you have been serving him very long, why doesn't he make you his vampire servant...?"

"The master sees no need to, and he loves me too much to curse me with eternity...as least he has not yet done that, but i would have wished to serve his side for all times, one can hardly find a master and a close friend."

"Friends...huh....sounds like such a word is long missing from me...i killed them..."

"No...My lord, you did not, they die as the consequence of the quake, and you have no responsibility in that..."

"Who touched the green tile then? it was me!" the angered Azriel raised his tone.

"No...it is meant to happen, there fate is the only thing you can't change, you have been chosen, and some will die, some will live, the girl never died didn't she...?" untouched by the voice.

"She....you mean Ryna?" asked as he cooled himself down.

"yes...the girl is alive, sources have confirmed that, her father is taking care of her now, clearly she knew about you, but the smart child has not yet revealed you, should she do, there will be a mess, and vampires will hunt you down if not humans beginning their own stupid quests to find this mysterious being..."

"do you think she will speak of me...? And did you think those humans would even bother with this farce?"

"No...But no doubt one such as the Tyrenor Society will unveil you..."

"Who are they?"

"a renegade gang of humans who have massive hold over certain myths and legends, they are the main supporter behind the move to eliminate vampires, and they are said to be descendants of the Seraphan which lose their original cause, but they see no fear in vampires, already many young ones have fallen because of them..."

"I see...why would they do that....?"

"As i said, my lord, they are renegades, not taking sides, not judging, and will be extreme in making choices to kill vampires unhesitant of their kind; they will bring an end to all of us with their weapons. Plus...consider how well they have mastered the art of killing vampires; I suggest you look out for yourself as well."

"I will...." said Azriel as he handed over the towel.

"Do you need to eat my lord?"

"And if I do, I would have swallowed you...won't i...?"

"No, by now, the master has prepared some transport for you that works twenty four seven, we ca take you to the nearest graveyard, where all lost souls usually gather...."

"No...Not now...i should go back and read a book perhaps..."

"Then at least let me take you to the library, you will find the most important things there in the ancient texts, they will answer your origin, i will show you to the scroll left by the first Reaver..."

Feeling interested, Azriel nodded his head in agreement as he could not sleep anyway. He followed James to the library. For the first time, he noticed how this human being can be so well loved by his master, perhaps the most responsible person and mature one he has ever met.

The library is full of books, mostly ancient, some are relatively new, but most of them texts of describing vampirism, some fiction, some are more realistic in depth investigation and researches. Azriel was amazed to find that there is such a collection of books into this field.

James showed him the ancient scroll as he headed to a room, separated from the rest of the large library the size of the opera house made for hundreds of people, only difference is it is seated by books, of various depths. The room they went into is something like a small study, a shack as compared to elegant layout of the library in fashion, with only a reading desk and cupboard full of scrolls, ancient as Azriel looked at how much of a poor shape they are.

"some of these texts can be dated up to a few hundred years, from the time before the deletion of the history of the vampires. My lord, this is the one you must read..."

Azriel picked out from where he pointed at a scroll, colored with maroon, a kind of wooden skin, carefully crafted to maintain the shape and well stored as well to prevent the damage of time. The text, as he unveiled the cover to see, is written in white ink, a rare type of ink made from the purified amber of trees, colored by the most crafted men in arts, much like the canvas paint of white used nowadays, but much different in texture. Azriel could tell how much there is a difference, this writing ink is no technology or innovation from its time, but the texts and writing is, the ink is created by a specialist of its time, perhaps some other vampire, obviously smart and well versed in the art of science. The title on top scribbled with care says, ..."The Misery of Eternity"which sounds like a song to Azriel, as he looked at it.

"My lord, please sit there, there is more light there, and I shall depart you and allow your reading, I shall remind you when its time to meet the master." Said James as he left the room, carefully closing the door and bowing before he left.

Azriel sat down and looked at the scroll he now holds, carefully examining its texture, still amazed by it, he was surprised by how well its kept, considering this must have been a few hundred years old. He read it, the first part as he silenced himself, letting the atmosphere of the small study encompass him into a moment of peace and serenity, to be surrounded by the books of ancient times, carefully eating up every word written by his ancestor, the first Reaver.

****

I am Raziel, the knight of the Seraphan, order that is the only stand between the vampires and humans, who have long been oppressed by the vampires, living as shadows of slavery under the defiling beasts, eternal in life perhaps, yet a disease that spreads through time and ages past, a foul species that is unpure, disgusting and relies on the species of the living, those that thrive in the light.

By the time I have completed this writing, I am already dead as the knight once known as the light of the scorned darkness, the god among humans that fear the darkness, I have been defiled by the beast, Kain, the once nobleman of a rich family, one of those who embraced the path of darkness, and the one to bring chaos into the world, yet is the fulcrum of balance.

I have long seem to lose my path perhaps, but by this time, as a Reaver, I write in order to record my legacy, an eternal length of no order will never destroy this text, and may the one who shall keep this piece be thanked for his or her kindness, for keeping me and my existence alive once more through every time in history and the future to come.

The Reaver, is an accursed being, I am the only, the one among perhaps my kind, the rarest of vampires, cursed from death and only by selected blood. I was touched by the curse of Kain, the deadly being who defiled my grave because of his fancy for me. His fearless and regardless behavior has taken my peace of eternal slumber, and raped me of my mind, into becoming another part of the pillars.

In the years of 216-217, there was a great war, which razed the land, where there rose the strongest of the Seraphan ever to come, long after our lord, the legendary Seraphan lord, some say to be human, but I know through my journeys that he is not as well, have died or should I say sent to another dimension through the use of demon magic used by Janos Audron, the last of the most powerful and true blood vampires, and the master of my most defiled enemy, Vorador, the first blood vampire known as the father of the defiled species. I know not to make the person who may read this scroll be annoyed by my words, but if you kindness may perceive, I am only explaining my role on this world, and those that caused me my life, as a Seraphan knight.

The times were dark, war raged as the first among many revolts that is the largest ever recorded once again led the defeating of the vampire forces, carefully slaughtering every last and vile creature made to harm the light. There powers no longer were a fear for us, as our powers finally matched theirs, blessed by light and protection, using the magic against them, and finally we pushed them into suppression.

Indeed, they are strong, many have died, many more sacrificed valiantly, among them my friends of the Seraphan Knighthood, a hood of knights of twelve riders of the elite, blessed with wings of faith, more skilled, influenced by the magic of protection, we are invincible to vampires, in our leadership and reign, we drove Nosgoth to the direction of the light, in my time alone, 300 or more vampires have died and disappeared, mostly the powerful ones, those that passed the test of time, and endured eternity under darkness, in our wars, we drove them to hell from where they come from.

I wished to thank my comrades here for giving me hope, and enduring my pride and letting me join the knighthood, and for making the change of the path to a powerful one, one that will be recorded here. May your souls be rested, in eternal silence, even though I must slain you once again for your ugly transformations, Turel, my closest friend, I regret now as I mentioned your name, that I must yet once again carry your corpse to the grave from which you should have rightfully stayed, to be defiled by vampires once more. You could have been like me, I guess we did not share the same fate, instead you were transformed into an ugly beast, something like me only in essence, but though you have been, I have slain you once and again, just like that time when you were trying to protect me in the last war, your body is pierced with the sword, and with your soul be released.

Your transformation to Turel, the damned has since bee revered, but I have ended your eternal pain and agony. May your soul rest forever.

Now, let me continue, I was dead on year 217, day of eternal light, when the vampires finally subdued our forces, with a major die out of our forces as the Seraphan Knighthood, one by one slain by the massing army of darkness, still stronger in their form even though we have the power of the light, but they of course, did not win, the war was stopped, but we have won over with great force, only the Seraphan has lost their guides, the Knights have all died including me and my eleven other comrades.

The Seraphan order was still strong, and they endured the pain of losing and gathered more and more power, soon, we have won, and the powers of the vampire army lost the war, and paid the price of approaching extinction. Only the father, Vorador, Kain the Noble, certain smaller figures, some of the few scattered forces remain, the Seraphan did not let loose these few and soon, we drove them into a corner, begging for death. I would have pitied them, but I did not, and thus, I was laid to rest when my heart was pierced in my arrogance against these vile beasts, and thus I have finally died on that day, it was never recorded in the date, but I was given a grave, the Seraphan Circle of Pride, and I laid there, with my corpse standing, facing the rest of my Knighthood comrades, died and praised for their deeds. I was in eternal sleep but never noticing the danger that appeared and what fate has in store for me.

On that fateful day, months passed perhaps I have died, Kain, the vile one among them all, gave the Knighthood a visit, and defiled all with his blood, carefully slaying all in the castle along with his partner, Vorador making the slay and making all the Seraphan die out in the castle that held our corpses.

He injected his blood, carefully with his unique ability he chopped off his fingers and pushed into the corpses, each he pulled out from our sarcophagus made of pure stone.

He carried me away, injecting me with a new life, and by the time I was awake and revealed to my new life, I was angered and almost killed him, but he subdued me and pastored me, allowing me to finally gain a new life, and he named me a Reaver, why he chose me, I know not, but it was after when I realized the terror of time to come, when the most unexpected things to come, that of Janos, the last of the true blood has come back, and thus breaking a balance of all things arranged in fate.

What role he plays I know not as well, but he was the only vampire who only was later revealed to me as the fulcrum of the Soul Reaver, a sword bestowed upon Kain, and only he is able to use it. Of which eons ago, he killed the Seraphan lord, and sent him back to his place. Kain slain him with pride and thus earned the ownership of Nosgoth, before the war eventually drove the vampires to extinction.

I have only learned that I was the soul of the sword, which is the key to restore the balance of life. What was true is this, though the Seraphan was made to destroy vampires, of which I valiantly joined, has another agenda, that is to kill all vampires and instate their ruling, one of the most vile which is just as bad.

According to Janos, ages and ages before, when his god-like vampires species walked the earth, those with wings just as he and those who are not afraid of the light and the sun, there was a species that was equal in power, and they are bent on destroying the vampires in the fight to destroy the power that held Nosgoth.

The species, known as the Hylden, a magnificent other worldly species that have just as much powers soon erased the true bloods, leaving only the last Janos Audron, the last and oldest vampire alive and well. The Hylden are merciless, and with a strike, they have won over many vampires, even those who are of the pure and powerful. I have only met them in controlled amounts in my time, manisfesting as little demons with powerful souls.

But undoubtedly, they are powerful, these Hylden beasts are perhaps almost just as strong, I dread to know how strong they must have been in the war that Kain fought against. This I must respect him for bringing the end to this species once more in the second war eons after they have been sealed.

Now, I proceed to the sealed part. In the midst of war, a powerful magic power was built, with more than enough power to seal the entire species to another place. I know not the details, but it was Janos, and the few of the last of the more powerful true bloods made a pact of their lives and sealed them to the ends of another dimension. Most probably like the ethereal realm from which I cam from, a place where the wheel of fate and time cannot touch, and forever is only a term, where forever has no meaning because time does not happen in that world.

But before that, the Hylden has cursed the vampires to fear the light and sterile. They have cursed them to never be able to have any children and forever wander in the darkness. This is perhaps the most angering curse, and thus, perhaps what drove Janos and the others to use the last straw to eliminate them.

Very long after, The Seraphan rose to power, unbeknownst to the vampires, it was them who came back, bend on taking revenge. They used the first chance and made the Seraphan powerful, the tool is of course the widely abundant and rebellious humans, who were pawns and they offered them a way out, which is giving them the power to fight vampires. And very soon, the Seraphan, destroyed the first rulership, bringing an incredible war.

Since the vampires of this age was made, they are night creatures, and had a potential weakness, soon after, they are defeated.

This is the time that Kain came into play, a nobleman, and a sword master, was given the curse some time before the Seraphan rose, and he made a name as the rebel, the vampire who slays vampires for his own rule. In his leadership, he gathered a force of powerful vampires and again, another war.

In this war, he was defeated for the first time, and being the only one to carry the Soul Reaver, he fought the Seraphan Lord hand to hand, and was defeated. This defeat is of course no mistake, he was a leader that I knew him to be, he did all was right, but his reputation only made it worse for him as many envy what he does and betrayed him. The army he took was an army of such people. Mostly were fools, who followed him blindly, but his closest comrades and advisors arranged for him to be killed and defeated by the Seraphan lord.

This defeat landed him in eternal silence for a while, after 200 years he awoke once more and finally landed his rule, with the Seraphan lord defeated this time, he made me.

This is my story from here on, the Knighthood was born long after 50 years have passed and in the war, after I have died, he came and gave me the gift, which changed me into this.

The Reaver he named me, and he used me as his closest foe and friend, he loved me, like a friend, and through all the hardships, he came to let me understand the hands of fate and the cruelty of it. I was appalled, knowing that vampires are supposed to be vile and sadistic beasts bent on destroying human kind. I never knew that there was one as him.

Soon, I followed him, and became his most treasured soldier. I willingly sacrificed my powers to help him. I was soon driven with a desire to worship him. For once in my new life, I feel that I also wanted to serve him forever.

This lasted a good many years, until my powers grew immensely, he betrayed me for the fear that I will take over his crown. Of which, I defended myself, but was no match, and thus, he stabbed me, and he sent me to the Ethereal world, where I first knew of my existence as I served a new lord. The tyrant lord of the Wheel of Fate.

The ethereal world is not visible to the eye, but I came to realize I have a bigger purpose. I was supposed to restore balance, which was told to me by a prophet who is a servant of this master that I served. Of course, in order to do so, Kain's sword, the Soul Reaver must be injected with my soul, once the power of all elements are gathered, it will become complete, and I was not the first to come, but there was no such need for my existence before until the time and age.

Long before, it was the true blood vampires who handled this task, what has happened since there was no more of them; I was chosen and made with the task in hand. I came then to realize, that the tyrant lord wanted me not to do the task. He wishes to hold the wheel of fate and feed upon the endless souls until the end of time. And from there, build his own empire.

I was not the least bit wanting to serve him, but I had limited abilities.

Soon, in my journeys I have met Kain again, this time to have him defeated, I gathered many powers along the way, and I was finally able to kill him, making sure he was dead. I tear out his heart, and keeping it with me as his death embraced me with a sense of satisfaction.

I was glad that perhaps I did then, but then I realized that I could not escape the fate as everything has already planned for me. Kain did not die, he was a true blood for one reason, Janos used his heart to create him, which was a time difference, I first so thought.

What was later revealed to me was that before Janos ever lay to sleep, he gave his most precious thing to his child, Vorador and ask him to make Kain into a vampire. Then, Kain was not even born yet, the confused Vorador only followed his instructions and hid his lord's lifeless vampire body in a place he chosen as his home deep inside the forests near to the pillars of Nosgoth.

When the nobleman Kain became a vampire, he was replaced with a heart, one that meant he is a different being with different powers, hence why only he could give the dark fate of vampirism to a corpse which is me.

It was then, when I realized my fate, I once again began my journey, and searched for an alternative path, through many times, I have failed, and again, and yet again, I failed. The time then came, when at last after I realized I could not defeat what Fate repeated plans for me, I went back to the ethereal world, and told the tyrant master once more that one day I will defeat him. And then, I came back here, into the real world, and wrote this.

I know that this scroll is nothing more than my lamentations, of all the things, nothing but a poor story written by a thing that was no more vampire nor man, just a story. Perhaps when the time comes, one may realize that what a pathetic person I am as I now again, lay down this scroll here, and I shall begin my journey once more.

Then again, perhaps whoever may read this when I am finally dead, or perhaps somewhere else in the ethereal world, treat this as no more than a story, written poorly by a man who has spent his life fighting for all the wrong things, trusting all the wrong sides, and loved all the wrong people.

A man who is mad, no more logical than a wanderer, who writes fictions of himself as an alter ego, or perhaps just a poor read, something to past time, or perhaps a lovely chapter of a story that has never ended nor began.

Raziel.

It was already morning by the time Azriel has finished reading the scroll, 5 hours must have passed, with him reading by every word, and finally summarizing the scroll, carefully not missing a detail.

This Raziel is no poet obviously, Azriel thought to himself, he is almost an idiot perhaps, leaving out all the details when what he wished to transcribe is his life, instead, he explains the history of the times, perhaps he is not such a great person after all, assuming he is not a person of words, he has written poorly in laymen terms as well.

Azriel lifted himself from his seat, knowing it must be time to meet Devos, he lay the scroll on the table, wondering still how much he could have known that such things are meant to happen. He wondered how little has he uncovered, beside the fact that somehow, he was dead and infected with true vampire blood in order to rise from his death, he knows he has skipped that, how did he became this he wonders still.

He opened the door, and out he went out the corridor, James already awaiting him outside, ready to take him to the place said by Devos.

****

The room is brightly lit by sunlight, almost blinding, cutleries lay across the table, made of the finest metal, carved with insignias and full of value it seemed, reflecting the light with its metal surfaces, making the room full of shining reflections from them. Devos was at the far end, his side of the table empty, obviously not eating, the master chair he sat was elegantly decorated with stones of sapphire, beautiful without a doubt, with enough value to perhaps make his family look poor as Azriel admired the beauty of the craftsmanship put unto a chair.

Devos welcomed him with a gesture asking him to sit in front of him; Azriel was beginning to wonder if he should be up to standard as least by wearing something more presentable than a plain buttoned shirt to hide his disgraceful body and a pair of long pants. Devos did not mind as he poured water into the glass, carefully cleaning the tip with a napkin on the table after he did so. He must have felt honored having me as his guest; normally this is something for the workers to do. But, Azriel cannot drink; at least he does not do so anymore.

"Have you had a good sleep? I suppose the dreams have already started...the dream of your parents..."

"How did you know...?" asked the bewildered Azriel, who knows that he could read minds.

"I sense disturbance in you as you walked into the room, it is a disturbance I have not found yesterday, you are troubled, I can tell..."

"Yes....it has begun, I dreamt that I was being shut away in an alley, and my screams were not heard no matter how hard, the sounds of people whispering I have killed my parents drove me to the brink of insanity..."

"Pity you...but don't fear...it is only temporary, once your mind is occupied with more important things, I am sure you will begin to understand. I assume that James has already shown you the scroll by Raziel? I sense as well that you were up early and had some fun in my library of ancient books....?

"As again, you are right, at least now I found out that he was no more poet than anyone great, in fact, aside from the fact that we both share the same outlook, I am sure I even write better than him..."

'You must understand, he is born to a world of poor, where he was only human, educated to respect and worship vampires when in heart, they are taught to hate them, you must admire his courage though, one daring to defend themselves is not something usual nor easy...."

"So it seems. I suppose he did do a lot to get through all this, compare to my relatively easy life as another college student, no more than another ordinary man born to society."

"You, are different, you are born to a lucky world, vampires no longer exist, the Hylden are left as little demons that cannot even harm vampires on a major level, Kain is no longer ruling Nosgoth, humans own the world and live in the fake history the created....what more could you have wanted?"

"Nothing, aside from perhaps, normality...? Though, I have always wished for something extra, like maybe become some hero, or whatever, but I sure as hell didn't wish to become a beast of this form....? answered Azriel as he studied the works invested onto the silver platter that lay in front of him.

"Like my place? It is built by the human hands, much represented by my wealth, I just had to spend it somewhere, so I invested in this place, though I do not eat, you will never know when a guest might decide to drop in."

"As if you have any...?"

"Oh yes, you will be surprised how many reporters and TV show hosts would come along and investigate this place, how vast it is, I must have had them here for several times, some of them even know the owner, which I put James as the one, is a very rich man."

"You put your butler as the owner? Why?"

"Simple isn't it, just imagine if they found out one of the top richest tycoon is a non-human, what would happen...? Anyway,onto more important things, I call you here for one thing, are you ready to accept the explanation I am about to provide?"

"I suppose I am, what more can I expect from the unexpected?"

"you ask the question...and you can expect this, that very soon, your life will take a turn for you to train very hard with your newly gained speed and stamina, you will be expected to perform that sacrifice I have told you, and like what Raziel has done, you are expected to do the same."

"I have read something called the Seraphan....will they hinder what I do?"

"Out of the topic but yes, they are now the Tyrennor Society, owned by perhaps the last few Seraphan people, I have my reason to believe they are behind the times, but last I heard, they have grown quite well as a business organization, but they channel a major lot into the paranormal investigation area, which I am more than sure you know where it goes....also, I suspect a Hylden is running the show..."

"What? I thought that Janos guy has sealed them into some kind of wormhole....or whatever modern science call it..."

"True....but it doesn't mean they have die out, right before Raziel has last encountered his ultimate fight against the possessed Janos Audron, he called him the Vessel...nobody ever knew why....but I myself have uncovered some facts, it is them, they have used the heartless true blood vampire, and spreaded slowly into many places. They are still struggling to comeback, but once you have restored the balance, they will be casted out....?"

"Explains why they have grown so big.....I suppose I am the enemy they must hunt and kill?"

"Quite precisely yes, you will encounter them, and they will stop you, also the reason why you must train now, at least to a point where you can match me in equal....?"

"Isn't this Janos unbeatable then, is he still alive?"

"No...last I heard, he is dead....truly extinct now, making Kain the only true blood vampire left. Our species has been left in the dark nowadays, we are so oppressed in a sense, but I guess every empire must fall someday, though true we have fallen numerous times before, but one day, even the strongest must fall completely..."

"I suppose I must find this Kain and merge with his sword?"

"No....I have explained very wrongly last night, what you must do now is to go to the sword, Kain is asleep....you must do the job on your own....?"

"What? Wake him up then!"

"Lord Kain would maim us all....and he would install his empire with rage and fury and vengeance once he is awaken....we cannot risk the balance of the world....at least not now...."

"You are all so afraid of this vampire....? How strong can he be....?"

"Very strong mind you....he has defeated me easily....with just a stroke of his blade, he can slay a hundred man, vampires will be hindered by his authority, there are the old ones who worship him and will bear the costs to support him in awakening for a new empire....counting by his stubbornness as well, your former species would die off into slavery in a few given years once he had conquered the strongest countries...."

"That powerful seemed far fetch....but I guess it means something as well..."

"I suppose you have already read about the Wheel of Fate...?"

"Yes....something about a tyrant lord as well and how he is the master of Raziel...?"

"Old news....that was many eons ago, Raziel and Kain together as the blade and wielder defeated him...and thus, why we have this peace for a good 2000 years...."

"It said of the year 217, a war happened....how it could be so long ago....?"asked the confused Azriel as he looked at his host.

"It is simple....the times recorded in the scroll was the dark era. A time when the Seraphan was at its height, they recorded the days of the moon that passed the earth, stars as their guide, they chartered the years that passed with that with 217 recorded passes of the same stars, a therefore, not recorded once the new world has came to be..."

"One other thing....why are you not afraid of the light...?"

"I am a Cevianthor, a league of vampires that are made with magic....I was born in the most timed conditions, monitored by the most advent scientists of the vampire race and magicians together, cast a spell onto the birth circle upon the 11 month of my birth and given an injection of some liquid that protects my skin against sunlight, hence, you see, I am whiter than most of my servants, the spell was a powerful one that limits the toughness of the spell laid by the Hylden. I am still easily defeated if I am exposed to the sun for long hours...."

"I see....are there more like you...?"

"Yes...5 more....those who held the last keys of the pillars and pieces of Janos's heart of darkness, once feared by the Seraphan...'

"Let me guess...I am to go and get them and return here...."

"No...they will be delivered here once the time is done, once the time is right, you will fight for it however, to prove your worthiness..."

"Now that you mentioned, it appears that all your servants are gone...sleeping I assume...."

"Yes....that is why it is the best time of the day...later I will show you the training room, there I will show you how to battle...and in turn, how to battle in the modern era...."

"I have more questions....am I to fight the Tyrennor Society as well...? I mean, yeah I should but who are they...?where can I find them...?"

"Don't worry....they will come when they know...for now, this mansion is protected, they won't dare to come without too much preparation, lest they wished to die meaninglessly and face against the real me....who is bounded by magic as well...to prevent the ultimate power from using it too often and killing meaninglessly....''

At this point, Azriel has uncovered the fact that his host is no fool, he is well prepared for him, perhaps that is why he is chosen by the Kain that is so feared upon, he must be someone of a whole different level compared to the others, plus he seemed so old, maybe that enhances his abilities.

"Are you perhaps the strongest among all vampires now...?"

"Yes...in a sense....aside from the 5 Cevianthors, who all have different abilities and transformations at the most heightened levels..."

"Then...one more question....you mentioned a sword on my hand....where....?"

"Call its name.....you will see....Soul Reaver....call out Reaver...or think of it as your hand, think of how you want a weapon now...and you will see..."

James backed away several meters, as Azriel stood from his seat and aimed at the wall, carefully not to be pointing the hands at anyone. He did what he was told, and then slowly but faintly, he feels a force of energy surrounding his arms.

The energy is visible by the eyes, it can be seen, like a seep of light that travels through the skin and above it, snaking down his arms like energy, like an aura of sorts. This energy condensed slowly at the tip of his hands, shaping into a sharp end, slowly but surely becoming longer, he held that thought and invested his attention, and soon the sword was full, the energy bursting from it across the room, like radiation would, he could feel....it is alive

"That is the soul form of the Reaver, exactly what is lethal to souls, normal beings would be consumed by it, exactly why if you use it against humans, their soul would not last half a second, before being consumed by the blade..."

"So it seems, strangely, I am feeling a hunger as I operate this weapon..."

"That is because it needs souls to function, otherwise it will feed on yours, consider how you haven't been eating yesterday...you will be tired if this goes on, summon it away...we shall go to the cemetery for a visit. I believe you must be fed soon, before you unleash a rage at my people..."

"Very well..."

Azriel summoned his blade of energy into his arms, it disappeared, but slowly dissipating as the hunger he feels begins to make him feel edgy. He followed Devos out to the door, as they now proceeded to the front of the great hall that is the entry.

The surrounding beauty now more than visible under the great light, he is sure that the world is a more beautiful place now under this roof where all the beautiful things seemed to gather.

Awaiting in the front, is a black long car, covered head to toe in black, like those for the funeral, perhaps better hide the beings within to avoid suspicion, James took onto the driver's seat as the another man steps out of the car, easily recognizable as human, but obviously another servant here. James greeted him as he closed the door, and the man left with a bow to Devos and entered the house, closing the door behind him.

Devos sat himself elegantly, opening the refrigerator and taking out a bottle of wine, uncorked and ready to drink, he poured the wine, flowing into him, easily drinking like water. Once again, Azriel is amazed by how many things human know wrong about vampires, as he sees that Devos can drink things other than wine.

Slowly, they drove off to the cemetery, along the way, Azriel looks out onto the streets, once again amazed by the human traffic as they entered the city, looking at humans who are not aware of the car, who are simply wondering if it may be another rich man in the car, not a monster in truth.

****

Chapter 4 has finished here, tell me your comments as usual, this chapter is a little off, as I really have to explain somethin...well, you might find this again, a little more than boring, as there is nothing but conversation...repeated again and again, just to describe how much of a naive human that Azriel is in compared to the smartness of Devos.

Comments are welcome.!

also...if this chapter is seemingly off, please tell me...cause the topic may be a little derived as i must explain the history...

wahaha gomen ne devil-san! i'm still at the thrid chap XP XP lol
wahhh! it's getting more and more exciting! lol

KANBATE YOOO~! Q(^^ Q) *bishi!* *salutes*

arigatou....really liked your new sig...so cute KAMINEKO....thanks for the support!

ahhhhhh! this is really really really long! but yeah i see some history... not easy to write i supposed... one suggestion maybe you could split up long chapters like these into half.. that might be an easier read...

Legacy of Kain: Defiance - Raziel by Kane

merged: 11-16-2005 ~ 11:40am

credit to respective owners, please view them to get how the character looks like.

ahh..i managed to catch up to chap four today hehehe..
it's wonderful how u come up with those historical names and councils LOL
arghh! ur so multi-talented devil-san!

one question thou..i'm kinda confused with the cevianthor and seraphan lol..are they of different race?

Quote by akazookinahh..i managed to catch up to chap four today hehehe..
it's wonderful how u come up with those historical names and councils LOL
arghh! ur so multi-talented devil-san!

one question thou..i'm kinda confused with the cevianthor and seraphan lol..are they of different race?

THANX SO MUCH FOR READING! *HUGS*

the Cevianthor is a league of vampires (5 of them in total), born human under the supervision and arrangement according to certain dates by Vampire scientists and magicians. They have the ability to stay awake at day and they are not afraid of the sunlight, they can also go on not eating and drinking for years unlike normal vampires.

Currently, as to the chapter, the Cevianthor are vampires with responsibilities to renew the balance of life and are the oldest since the the beginning of 2 milleniums ago.

The Seraphan Order is a order founded by a otherworldly race called Hylden, in the chapter, i have shown that they are ancient enemies of the first kind of the vampires.

The Hylden are sealed out into another place with demonic magic by the first kind True Blood Vampires, which made them unable to return to the world, or so the vampires thought so until the Seraphan Order came to be.

The Seraphan recruits humans to fight vampires using their rebellion against them. Raziel(The first Reaver) was among those humans who were once recruited into the Seraphan to serve them.

However, the Seraphan order and its founder has two different sides, one is the order's agenda to kill all vampires and make a place of freedom for humans (they were slaves under the vampire government). The other is the agenda of the Hylden founder who is interested in eliminating all vampires to instate their own rulership, which makes them no better than enslaving all the humans once they have become successful.

Currently, the Seraphan order is no more, utterly destroyed by Kain the nobleman vampire, after many attempts that is. Instead, once again, they made another attempt to come back, (Hyldens) by making the Tyrennor Society which is the modern version of the Seraphan Order.

The Tyrennor Society is made to investigate paranormal researches, and also business tradings of various categories, but behind the scenes, it is something else as explained by Devos.

Is this good enough...i try to say if i give anymore explanation...there will be spoilers for the ending...

well the histoy was a bit borring but hey, it's good to know it.

whoa....*mind spinning*
as if my history exam wasn't enough..lol
really nice, the history of the characters looks well shaped..hey, why don't u publish it? lol..
if u become more famous than j.k.rowling, don't forget to give me your autograph..lol XP

joking right...me publish this stuff...i will be oxford english laughing stock...

I finished reading! Such long chapters...

Why is Kain alseep? And what's with the sword merging thing? Is Kain evil?

Personally I like glaives and sythers better, they're sharper, longer and so wickedly cool. Just some random thinking.

I just finished reading the part four, a lot were explained there, I don't really think it's off... I like details about everything in a story! Keep up the good work! I love to read!