Chapter 2: CHAPTER 1
FOUR DAYS AGO
Kill them or bless them with some curse.
He looked from the cloud and hissed. The morning sun was just bathing the earth with its grace and the wind was still struggling to fulfil its routine. Even though the cloud tried to obstruct his view, he could still see the many feet as they hurried about their business, making merry and celebrating, oblivious of the disaster that was about to befall them.
"Foolish humans,"
He muttered and walked away from the Orector. The foreboding in his stomach made him sick. He had held light in his arms before. He had walked in its path and grace. He knows how it feels. The sensation was always overwhelming. Perhaps, that's the reason why he was feeling this way for this pathetic human's that would stop at nothing but to destroy themselves.
He turned to the orector again and snapped his fingers. Despite the feeling in his stomach, a little smile smeared his white face when the morning cloud started turning dark. A thunder clapped, following its harmony with a rumble. That was the exciting part. He could see the angry looks which the wind was shooting towards his direction, but he decided not to pay any attention.
"So, that's how it would be?" Lord Inferno said in his blazing breath. His crown was made of fire and his eyes was as golden as the scepter in his hands.
"My champion will make my will known. That's how it will be, that's how it has always been."
The high Lord did not lift his head from the scroll as he said those words. Those empty eyes continued to study the blue pages as he flipped from one side to another. He had only been made high Lord about some moments ago, yet the ego that was beginning to hurdle on his shoulders, was like the mighty wings of an eagle. Nobody had given him the Saddos, of course, but he had ascended to the throne of holies to claim the Saddos for himself. The same arrogance that had made them become departed. The same path which the father of lies had walked in.
"Why not send me?" Lord Malady asked. He sat at the right side of the high Lord, not minding to hide the longing in his face or voice.
"No," High Lord Ruin shook his windy head, "These humans have devised a means to withstand your attack. Anyway, like they would always say, let's hit the bull by the horn, shall we?"
Thunder scowled as the four creatures laughed at the high Lord's dry joke. They were always compelled to pleasing Lord Ruin, another show of endless unfaithfulness and waving trust. Well, it was hard to tell. Since the departed. Nothing has ever been the same or will ever be. Not while the father of lies is trying to colonize everything in the multiverse. The universe itself is groaning with fear. But the multiverse? Well…
"I want a champion." High Lord Ruin said and the court quieted down. "It's 120 human years. Just the perfect time."
Silence passed through for a while.
"Permission to speak, great one." Lord Malady said, shifting his empty eyes away from the high lord. His glottis rouse and fell in his transparent throat and that longing seemed to remain. Lust, that's the word. Lord Malady was one of the many puppets in Lord Ruin's court. He was power hungry and evil. Evil? They were all evil. That's why they are called, the departed. There root was evil itself.
"Pardon my words, but the way you said it, sir. It's as if you've made your choice."
"Same old, Lord Malady. Your spirit of discernment hasn't left you in ages. I give you the credit. And yes," Lord Ruin lifted his head from the scroll, for the first time, "Yes, I have my ultimate weapon. He will bring to light the will of the gods and would destroy every human that fails to obey the right order of life."
"That is good news, my Lord." Malady continued. His transparent face was cringing with a frown that looked like sadness, and thunder could see the vexation that lined the corner of his eyes. Even though the creature had tried to smolder the anger by concealing them with a smile, he had failed to hide them in his words.
"Who is this, ultimate weapon of yours, if I may ask, sir?"
"You are angry?" High Lord Ruin pointed to the chalice which Lord Malady had crushed under his fist, "It's okay to be angry. Because you failed me twice in the last 200 human years." He chuckled and picked his cup, but disappointment spread across his face when he noticed the empty jar "Hey, you over there"
Thunder bowed his head from the corner where he had been standing all these while, listening. He was the only servant in the room. Wind and storm had been sent to the human's world to bless them with rain. He was the lowliest in the room. The one sent to do the serving. The Lowliest of the five departed.
"Why is the table empty?" The high lord continued "Get us something to warm our palate, will you."
"Yes, my High Lord."
Thunder bowed and picked the jug into the tray. He was about to walk away when something grabbed his wrist. It was the High Lord's firm grip. And a forbidden one. Before the fall, it was forbidden for a high Lord to touch anything directly. His touch was labeled as disaster. A curse to both humans and the departed.
"My…Lord" Thunder swallowed, trying to break his gaze from the high Lord's. Even though the court seemed to have grown silence, he could still hear the words that the others were whispering. The horror in their faces also made Thunder wonder if his time as a sky creature was over. The High Lord's touch was…so cold. Just as the stories had described them to be. The last creature the High Lord had touched had faded away, some centuries ago. And now, it was his turn.
"What do you know about the departed?"
The high Lord's question was as cold as his grip. And even though thunder knew the answer, he fumbled for a while for the right thing to say. Why would anyone in the multi-realm ask such. Let alone a high Lord in the making. And why now? What does he care. Even though the father of Lies had brought them into his service, Thunder and his three brother's, storm, wind and rain, were not directly involved in the fall. They were servants. Something called the Lowliest among the departed. Nobody considers them, at least, for anything tangible though.
"I know everything the Sandos say about the departed."
That was the correct and perfect answer. The right answer to always give whenever you were asked about the departed. At least, to keep the anger and the guilt away. Most creatures that had followed the Lord of Lies into his schemes had claimed they were fighting a good course. They hated being reminded of the wealth and positions they once had. They hated that they were once servants of the Holies.
"Good," High Lord Ruin nodded and released Thunder's grip.
"What…" Thunder wanted to say, but the branding on his right arm seemed to take every words away. He had not seen such markings before, but even without being told, he knew what it meant. He knew what his new job would be. But why choose him? He was among the Lowliest. He was not even a departed.
"You wanted to see my champion?" The High Lord smiled and returned his back to the chair. "Well, here it is"
Silence returned to the room. Everyone was stunned, Departed and Lowliest alike. It had never been done. It has never been heard. But here it was. For the first time in the story of the Departed, a creature from among the Lowliest will become a weapon of destruction.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone