The stench of blood was thick in the air, caustic and bitter. Dozens of beast corpses lay scattered across the chamber floor, their bodies still twitching from mourning of death. A silver-blue haze clung to Duryan's mortal form, his scales slowly retracting as he exhaled a breath that fogged the air.
He cut off a beasts hand that he recently killed off and dragged that beasts clawed hand over his jaw, flicking off a splatter of a beast black blood. "Tch, damn ugly monsters," he muttered, as stepped on a crushed ribcage.
At the far end of the chamber, a lone figure sat in wait for Duryan.
As Duryan walked through the chamber, the lone figure got more and more visible.
Her long, pinkish hair draped like a veil going all the way to cover her back, the colour of the hair was so bright it could even be visible from a far mile away. She wore a flowing white gown embroidered with silver runes, it's regal design exuding both grace and quiet authority which trailed to the ground in elegant folds. Perched atop her forehead was a 'Sigil' a mark given to all soldiers of Valeria, this mark used to represent loyalty towards Vragor. Her complexion was soft- almost perfect. She was glowing with otherworldly beauty and fairness. Her eyes, however, were anything besides soft.
"Why don't you clean up your chamber and get rid of all these bodies for once. That's why I don't prefer coming over to this place," She said coolly, waving her hand to dismiss the stench.
Duryan raised his head to meet her eyes as he approached towards her. "Carlise. You are as judgemental as ever. Don't you know these are like trophies of mine."
"That's why you always stink, you overgrown Leviathan."
"You should be thankful. Because of this stench, Vragor doesn't visit here much,otherwise our plan would have been foiled a long time ago," Duryan sat on the chair as he protested to Carlise comments.
Carlise studied him, as he poured himself a drink from the obsidian table nearby.
"Want a drink?"
"No thanks. Not interested in drinking a mana beast blood mixed with booze," Carlise got up from her seat as the stench got unbearable for her.
"I assume that you had that long awaited chat with your successor?"
"Briefly. He still got a long way to go if he wants to master my power. Though, I am glad I had that chat with him. I feel like I got rid of a burden."
Duryan got lost in his own thoughts, noticing him Carlise broke the silence.
"Good. It looks like everything is going according to plan for now."
Duryan took a sip, letting the liquid burn down his throat. "So, what are you doing here?"
"While you were having your sweet time with that boy, a returned emerged and was sealed by Vragor." Carlise updated him, her voice losing all its casual tone.
Duryan paused mid-drink. "So? What's that have to do anything with me? I've seen more returnees than I can ever count from the dimension I come from."
Duryan let out a disappointed sigh as he got reminded of all the times he had fought with a returned.
"Some cry before they die. Some piss themselves after seeing my true form. Not even one lasted a full minute before me."
"That's because you are scary. But anyway, normally I would agree with you but I think you need to meet this one." Carlise said walking towards the exit of the chamber.
He set the glass down with a soft clink. "No matter what people say about them, at the end they are still human beings and all humans have a limit. It doesn't matter how much power they have. Once they die, it's all over for them."
Carlise stepping forward, her eyes scanning Duryan. "Either way, you need to meet this one."
"And why the hell would I do that?" Duryan asked, leaning back on his chair.
"Because he has the Pegasus Beast Core."
Silence fell. The atmosphere suddenly changed as Duryan got up from his chair with a jolt and panic in his eyes.
"You sure?" he asked quietly.
She nodded. "Saw him myself. Even though it was brief I could sense the enormous power of the Pegasus. Even Vragor sensed it, perhaps that's why he chose to seal him rather than kill him."
Carlise continued, "Let's go. We can't let him go through the same fate as Kaldor and let him become a monster who only Vragor can control."
Duryan voice rose instantly, his blue veins flexing over his scaled neck,"Where is he?"
Carlise allowed herself a small smile. With a graceful motion, she sliced the air before her with two fingers. Reality shattered as an illusion parted and a spiraling entrance bloomed open like an eye.
"I thought that bastard Vragor sealed him, how can you open the seal?" Duryan asked, gulping his neck as he grew more anxious.
"Must I always tell you who I am?" Carlise red lips grew into a smirk.
"But I must say, even I didn't expect Vragor to use the Ethereal seal. Although, I succeeded in interfering with Vragor's seal without him noticing, the returned is still trapped in Rift cell. His Pegasus power and his magic getting stripped off at an increasing rate."
She turned towards the seal, "Follow me," She said. "He's sealed in Chains of Absorption beneath the western glaciers."
As they both entered the western glaciers, their body was getting freezed at a steady speed, as they both felt their powers leaving them the longer they stayed.
The cold was biting, even for Duryan's toughened body. Crystalline frost coated the prison walls, each crack in the ice humming with suppressed power.
At the center of the room was the Returnee.
He was restrained in Chains of Absorption, also known as Ethereal Chains. He floated mid-air, his body bruised all over and frostbite. His clothes torn, and his body pierced with something sharp revealed his old wounds across his chest.
But what stood out the most was the flickering light buried in his chest- a glowing silver core, faintly shaped like wings spiraling upward.
The Pegasus Beast Core.
Duryan levitated in mid-air as he went close to the returnee, folding his arms. "You look pathetic for someone who has a beast core of Pegasus." Duryan let out a scoff, as he mocked him.
The returned coughed blood as he tried to speak, "Y-You don't…look s-so great either...you damn..fish head."
*Cough*
"Good. The fact that you can still speak means you haven't completely lost your mind yet." Duryan felt relieved after the wave of anxiety hit him knowing he wasn't too late just yet.
"What's your name, returned?" Duryan asked.
"Don't you know it's proper manners to introduce yourself first before asking for someone's name?" the returnee, coughed blood again as he grew weaker with every passing second.
"Don't try to act tough. You barely have any strength to even keep up the conversation. I'll help you escape." Duryan kept levitating around the returnee, as part of the ritual to help him escape.
"Do you believe I'll believe a scums words who is working under that Horned bastard?" The returnee voice was furious, it was as if he had used all his strength just to say those words.
"Who said am working under him? Anyway, the magic circle is done, you are free to go now, Returnee boy." Duryan made distance with the desperate boy.
"What do you want?"
"Now you are asking the right question. I want you to grow strong. Stronger than you ever were. As you grow stronger, you will master that beast core given to you by the Legendary Pegasus." Duryan answered hastily, as the time for their departure was coming closer.
"Join the Academy of Essos. That place will help you grow stronger and reclaim your lost power eventually." Carlise finally opened her mouth, walking towards them.
"Grow stronger, Returnee boy. In order to protect this world from the catastrophe."
"I don't have anyone left to protect. He already killed everyone." The returnee boy answered, tears dropping.
"There are many innocent lives that need to be protected. Your families massacre doesn't mean end of the line for you. This world needs a hero." Carlise comforted, her small framed hand going over the returnees head.
Lucien remained silent for a moment, his eyes looking downward.
"By the way, have you ever heard about the Dragon and Phoenix beast core?" Duryan asked, his face not giving off any emotions.
The returnee tilted his head in confusion.
"I got my answer. Soon, you will meet the successor of Sylphira and Cindros." Duryan replied, walking towards the returnee.
"My name is Duryan and she is Carlise. Thats our introduction. Duryan continued, as the time for their separation came to a close.
"Lucien." The returnee voice shaky, "Just Lucien."
"Lucien, huh? I see," Duryan answered with a smirk.
"Won't Vragor be aware that I have gone missing when I leave this place?" Lucien asked as he got free from the chains.
"Don't worry about that. We have the most deceiving woman with us." Duryan replied, his voice of teasing.
"Did a lizard from the sewer say something about me?" Carlise asked, her smile radiating fury.
"Well in any case, our meeting ends here. But don't worry, I believe someday on the future we'll meet again."
Just with a flick of his hand, Duryan created a hole from inside the seal, placing a hand on Lucien's chest.
"I have given you enough power to use the Pegasus beast core one last time before you regain your strength."
Duryan gave him a firm push- which sent him phasing through the hole in the seal.
"Duryan, Carlise….Thank you for helping me!" Lucien shouted as he fell from the sky.
"Don't shout, Idiot!" Duryan yelled after him.
Lucien vanished from their field of view.
"Carlise, where is he going off to?"
Carlise replied, "Towards Arcia forest. Since, he is wounded… I assumed it's safe if we teleport him somewhere near the capital."
"I see."
Duryan replied, as he and Carlise made their way back from the Ethereal seal.
"Yes, my Majesty. Your hunch was correct. Sovereign Carlise and Sovereign Duryan have turned their back on you. Awaiting for your orders."
A voice echoed throughout the world inside the seal, waiting to ambush Carlise and Duryan.