Divine Inheritance: Chaos

The Commonplace of the castle was filled to the brim with merchants, and Lilith Newgate loved purchasing trinkets and doodads from them whenever she could. Towering over everyone around her, the daughter of the current emperor had a huge smile on her face as she traversed the many stalls the commonplace had to offer. Most greeted her with an equal smile, but some just looked away and scowled. Regardless, she was happy, and she enjoyed the peace, though she knew it wouldn't last. The Death Games to decide her father's successor would be starting soon, and she was the people's favorite. She didn't want to kill anyone, she just wanted to maintain the peace forever... A childish dream, but one Lilith believed she could one day make a reality.

After shopping for a while, Lilith noticed that it was past noon, which confused her. JaXx should've met up with her by now to begin training. JaXx was her rival, and her crush, though she'd never admit to the latter. They trained together because they brought out the best in each other, though their duels typically caused quite a bit of destruction throughout the grounds. 'I wonder where she is...'

 

When Lilith saw JaXx and Atticus she smiled and waved, "There you are! I was wondering where you were, you're always so punctual, it was strange to see you not here when I arrived." She approached the younger girl and her smile widened, "I always look forward to training with you. I know Marcus isn't here yet, but did you want to perhaps go a round while we wait for him?" She gestured to her bisento which was pierced into the ground a few feet away before looking back at JaXx, awaiting a response.

 

Lilith hummed, "Of course not. Being positive is a good quality in a person. Besides, if I don't smile for this world, who will?" A softer smile crossed her face as she gazed at JaXx. She liked to imagine that JaXx's attitude was her way of showing affection, and though they were rivals Lilith wanted to be her friend, and if that meant appealing to the girl's warrior side despite hating fighting herself, so be it. She believed in everybody, JaXx too, she believed everybody had the ability to live happy.

"Come on, grumpy. Let's duel. You know you want to."

 

Lilith smiled and pulled her own weapon from the ground, 20 feet in length, nearly twice her own impressive size of 10'1'', the mighty bisento was slammed bottom first into the ground, cracking it. "There's a beautiful smile, if I've ever seen one." Lilith exclaimed happily as she lifted her weapon with both hands, not quite able to wield it with just one yet, and took on a battle stance. The older girl knew JaXx would not make the first move, so she would have to. Strengthening her weapon with one of her boons was natural now, it was instinctive and could be identified by the black steam coming from the blade of the weapon.

With a smile on her face, Lilith swung the weapon in a rising arc, cutting straight through the ground and launching mounds of dirt at JaXx, that soon formed a large cloud of dust, concealing even Lilith's giant body. The next move was made quickly after, bringing her weapon down on JaXx from within the cloud, and, while still quite out of reach of JaXx's own sword.

 

Uh-oh. Lilith was clearly at a disadvantage weaponwise at the moment, but she had a new trick up her sleeve she'd been dying to try out. Leaving her weapon in the ground where it was, Lilith focused her power to her hand which began glowing until it was completely engulfed by a white bubble.

Listening intently, Lilith waited for the loud crash that signalled JaXx's teleportation... And then... Behind me! Just as JaXx reappeared, Lilith turned on her, and as she rose to strike upwards, Lilith slammed her glowing fist into the weapon with a smile. "Gotcha." The air cracked loudly as Lilith's powers activated, pulsing right through JaXx's sword and, unless she abandoned her weapon, straight into her.

 

Lilith hissed in pain but shook it off, nothing she couldn't handle. It was painfully obvious that JaXx was toying with her, so hell, why not play back. She had learned a few things since they last fought and JaXx would not get off so easily.

Both of her fists became engulfed by the glowing white bubble, and she slammed both fists against the air on both sides, visibly cracking the atmosphere around them. The ground trembled beneath them as the tremors Lilith sent out passed through a multitude of objects, sending them crashing to the ground below, and creating a straight narrow path between Lilith and JaXx.

Lilith stood with her back against the wall, so JaXx would be unable to get behind. She had sealed off any sort of maneuverability to the sides for both of them, and now, her glowing hands were pulled back once again as she slammed them into the air in front of her, again visibly cracking the atmosphere, and sending tremors straight towards JaXx at high speeds.

 

As per the norm, the training grounds were in complete ruin, Lilith breathed heavily, using her tremor powers at such an enhanced magnitude had been taxing on her, but still, a smile was plastered on her face following the explosion, despite how much it hurt, though her natural armor from one of her boons softened the blow enough that it didn't severely wound. "That was awesome. Can you imagine if we ever teamed up? We'd be unstoppable. I know what you're going to say 'We're enemies, why would we ever team up' but JaXx... I want..."

She fell to a knee and looked up at the sky, "I want to end the Death Games. I don't want us to kill each other, I just want us to be happy. I want this world to be happy. My father knows of my plan, and called a council meeting to discuss ending them among other things. Look at us, if we teamed up, who could stop us from attaining any goal we wanted. I know you hate me, and that it will never happen, but... Just imagine being able to live happily for the rest of your life, free of the burden of having to kill. Imagine it." Taking a breath she rose to her feet and picked up her bisento from the ground. Entering a defensive stance and enhancing her natural armor in case JaXx attempted to strike.

 

"You're wrong JaXx. I'm more fit to lead then anybody. What does this constant fighting bring us? Nothing but pain and sadness. A world without the Death Games, a world of peace. Children can grow up with both parents alive and well unlike us. Not having to worry about killing 8, 9, 10 other people to sit on a chair and tell people what to do. I know this land needs peace, not war, and I know that if you follow in your father's footsteps, this land will be in chaos. That is why my father is in charge, he may have had to fight for it, but he has no intention of making us kill each other. He will stop this and we can be friends, JaXx. We can be friends..."

Lilith stood strong, "With my strength, I will bring peace to this world. I swear my life on it."

 

Lilith smiled at JaXx and shook her head, "Tell me JaXx, would those who would insight war stand a chance against my might? Those who insight war, to pillage and steal, those who would punish people for what they believe in, they are unfit to lead. Half the council is full of people unfit to lead, including Atticus, and as you are now, so are you. To stand for the people, by the side of the people, that is a true ruler. A land of peace, without war. I am strong enough to make what you would call a childish dream a reality. I will not have to sacrifice anyone, I can single handedly stop anyone who would instigate war. I despise fighting, but you are wrong to believe sacrificing lives is necessary. While those who would instigate war must be punished, the innocents need not be involved. When I take my father's place, without having to kill anyone, I will bring peace and you will see just how wrong your beliefs truly are."

 

~Outskirts of the City of Sax, Aezureth, Midday~​

Following a long journey on horseback, Marcus Maximus, Prince of the Amazons and son of Mars, could see clearly the visage of the imperial capitol. The travel had been quite extensive, on account of the Prince’s insistence that he travel by land rather than sea. He surmised that he might arrived sooner, had it not been for his Mother’s counter to his stubbornness, that he be accompanied by both the traditional Imperial escort and a contingent of Amazon warriors. “It’s quite customary for those selected to travel to the capitol with an official guard,” she had claimed. The imperial troops had been all well and good, but Marcus knew well that he would have arrive at least a day sooner had he not had his mother’s own warriors in tow as well; smaller numbers often did ride more smoothly, after all.

But it was what it was. Though Marcus didn’t take excitedly to the circumstance, he tolerated it for the short time it lasted. Now, albeit a day later than expected, the high walls of the empire’s most powerful center were rising before him as he and his company rode their way up the gentle hill that overlooked the city. As they reached the peak of the hill, he raised his right hand, the long spear it brandished rose above the wave of cavalry at his back, signaling all in his wake to halt. In staggered fashion, all behind him obeyed, and those closest to him in his advisory chain took their rightful places at his side.

“Remarkable,” he spoke, addressing no man or woman in particular. He peered over the city, taking in its walls, its towers and battlements. “Even in such times its upkeep has not been neglected.”

“They’ve men such as yourself to thank for that, m’Lord,” replied a Lieutenant to his left. “While the empire may be struggling, the efforts of the armies and navies have nonetheless kept the capitol free of significant harm.”

“Then I should think it a shame that I’ve been called away from the front lines for something so trite as a succession ritual.” The young prince let out a chuckle to his own remark, retracting it only amid the gasps of disapproval from his party.

“M’Lord, I know you don’t carry much interest in Kings and Successions, but this is the very future of the Empire. Please, do show some respect for the process.”

“Yes.” Marcus bowed his head, acknowledging the respect that the ceremony would command. “You’re right. I’ve no concern for seeing the throne beneath me. Indeed, this saddle is more a throne to me than any seat in any court could possibly be. But I shall not dismay those who have called upon me to be here either. I will… do the best I can.”

He raised his spear into the air once more, and he and the company rode down towards the city gates.


The procession that followed was much unlike what other nobility might have engaged in. It was less a show of royal authority; more a show of military grandeur and strength. Marcus rode at the head of his parade, leading his escorts along the city’s main street, as a general bringing his army home form a victorious battle. He himself had given no time to adorning fine linens, jewels or crowns. Instead he was clad in his best of armor, which, as it was, was also the one that had seen the brunt of his early combat career; the only ornamentation to this ensemble was a red cape, accenting the black hue of his armor, which he had only worn upon request of a general.

At that, he still bore his weapons upon him. The obvious, a spear clasped in his right hand, propped comfortably and conservatively within a space built into his horse’s saddle. Slung onto his back was his ellipsoidal shield, specially crafted to fit his size, color matched to his armor and bearing, in red, the emblem of his father. Tucked beneath the shield he carried a bow and quicker of arrows. At his side was the custom forged imperial sword, which, as his shield and spear had been suited specifically to match his size and proportions.

While his march did indeed capture the attentions of the citizens, it was much unlike what others might have received. To the people of the capitol, he was still an unknown, a nobody. Where the might have known his name, few had had the opportunity to see him in person. As far as any of the citizens were concerned, Marcus Maximus was just another fighter, a brute from the eastern fringe of the Empire who had no business contending for the throne, much less so, at least, than those who had lived in or frequented the capitol through their youth. These people met his arrival with skeptical gazed at the best, and disproving glares at the worst.

But those such people were of no consequence to Marcus at that moment; if not taking the throne for himself, he would, regardless, prove their nay-saying minds wrong with his performance in the trials to come.

The reception from the military, however, was much different, far more positive, as they had heard better of the Amazon Prince’s deeds, and saw more clearly his potential. It was these such men that greeted him as he approached the castle at the end of the main street.

“Prince Maximus of Amazon,” a Captain called, approaching the escort company.

Marcus brought his troop to a halt, and dismounted his steed. He passed his spear to one of his lieutenants and removed his helm. “That would be me, Captain. I see the defenses of the city are good order for the occasion.”

“Oh… yes,” the Captain said, surprisingly shocked at the comment. “We’ve been in preparation for this event for well over a year now. We’re all confident that our efforts will have been enough; it’s unlikely that the city will be breeched.”

“One can only hope and pray, at this point,” Marcus said. “Now, I believe there is a training ground that I am to report to?”

“Yes, Prince Maximus, it’s out behind the main keep. But… wouldn’t you prefer to see to your lodging first?”

“No thank you.” Marcus reclaimed his spear and donned his helm, and mounted his horse. “My escort may take to their lodging if they so wish. I will report to the training grounds and meet with the other Chosen.” He clicked the stirrups of his saddle and his horse galloped through a clearing in the captain’s ranks. ​