Tyrant of the Ruined Sun

The day of our departure quickly arrived, and as soon as the sun peeked it's golden tendrils from behind the horizon to take grip of the sky on this fateful day, the great doors of Eklepsus unlocked, like the spillways of a dam opening to relieve the unsustainable pressure of what laid behind, and unleashed an unending tide of military might.

Tens of thousands of black armored men and beasts emerged from within the confines of the capital from the northern, southern and eastern gates and began forming in three colossus lines heading east, with none other than my uncle Haytham at the helm.

Meanwhile, Nizam, Cyrus and I were still in the palace; being smothered by our mother's final farewells.

"Listen carefully to whatever your brother tells you, and don't cause him or anyone else any trouble, am I clear?" She instructed as she held them close in each arm.

"Yes mother." They filially replied.

"Listen and learn all you can in this campaign. You will be privy to all of your brother's high level meetings and discussions between him and his generals', so don't take this opportunity that others would have killed for for granted." She instructed again.

"Yes mother." And they again agreed.

"And don't you dare skip your meals or ignore your sleep schedules, or I'll be very angry with you." The strong and tough front she had been maintaining till now had suddenly begun to collapse as two crystalline tears slipped past her defenses.

"...Understood mother." The two replied yet again, hugging her harder as Cyrus fought his own tears, while even the usually stoic Nizam began to slightly falter before quickly regaining his composure.

Finally releasing them, she turned to me, held me close and gently whispered "Come back unharmed. All of you."

"I promise." I replied, embracing her back.

"And don't overly concern yourself with your uncle. I've already spoken to him. He just needs a few days to sort out his own thoughts and emotions and then he'll be right back to normal." She assured me.

I merely nodded in return and began to let go when Abraham's call sounded out "It's time, sire."

Hearing this, I give my mother I final look of assurance, before quickly turning around, mounting my horse as my brothers did the same, as I yell out "Are you finished Leonid?"

"Yes, sire." He awkwardly replied, as he gave his sister a final hug goodbye, before instantly coming to my side as we exited the Imperial Palace together, flanked from all sides by the shimmering armor and gleaming blades of the Palace Guard, who escorted us through the oddly silent crowds of the capital.

"For the glory of the empire!" It began with a single patriot's holler.

"Your majesty, show those bastards the price of treachery!" Then another.

"May the Gods bless you with swift victory, sire!" And another.

"For the emperor and the empire!" Until it became a raging typhoon, drowning out the city in it's sheer oppressive, thunderous roar.

I was donned in master work armor of black and silver etchings, while a long cape with the empire's standard flapped in the wind behind me, and as always Dark Majesty was stuck to my waste. Nizam was dressed in the traditional long and wide black robes of the mage's acolytes, with an added touch of the finest emeralds beautifully woven into it, and a single beautifully crafted straight silver dagger with a jeweled hilt hanging loosely on his hip. And finally Cyrus was encased in a tailor made suit of armor, as a long sword clung to his back, that had been both wreathed in a brilliant a coat of gold to match his own golden locks; an esthetic decision made by my mother, as even now when we were off to war she couldn't help herself from dressing up her children.

I took it all in stride, barely bothering with the deafening clamor, while my brothers seemed to be dazed by it, overwhelmed with what to do at this moment, yet I offered them no aid at this moment, as I knew that they could handle it. And right I was, since they soon calmed down, as Nizam focused forward and returned to his stoic persona, while Cyrus did the opposite and began to smile and even occasionally wave back, seemingly enjoying himself.

And so our journey to the east began. Swiftly the days passing by in a blur of marching, eating and sleeping with little else. Until the ninth day of our trek that is, when Cyrus loudly sighed as he lazily laid on his bed mattress in the temporary tent that had been set up for the night.

Looking up from the documents I was reviewing, I knowingly asked "Bored?"

He didn't even try denying it, exclaiming loudly "YES! This is so boooorrriiiiinngggg! When are we going to do something?"

Bursting in laughter for a moment, I replied "That's how war is. Marching is more often than not nine tenths of any conflict."

Flopping back on the mattress, he said poutingly "It wasn't like this in the books I read."

"Of course not. Do you think anyone would waste the ink on just saying they marched all day again?" Nizam, who was working as my scribe these past few days, replied as he raised his head from the messages he was writing by my side.

"Did you finish?" I asked.

"I just did." He replied proudly, before showing me them for me to inspect.

Quickly reading through them, I honestly replied "Excellent." Much to his immense joy, as I handed him a new report, saying "This is a report from Rhett on the state of the nation's projected trade situation for the next few months. Tell him to calm down, as the shrinking profits can't be helped during a civil war. Instead order him to refocus his efforts on making sure that any foreign traders that do arrive don't start jacking up their grain, ore and weapon prices."

"Right away brother." Nizam replied enthusiastically, as he quickly sat back down and began writing furiously.

Seeing this, Cyrus could only sigh. Unlike Nizam he despised everything that had to do with such work, he could barely even withstand the lessons he liked let alone this absolutely tedious bureaucratic nonsense that he barely even understood.

He suddenly remembered something and asked "Brother I heard some soldiers say that we were close by to a city called Qayan. Isn't that the city you two went to a few months ago?"

"Yes. It should be only a day's march away." I answered.

"Can we go there?" He asked, excited to see the city.

Smiling devilishly, as the madness hidden in my eyes mixed with a cunning light, I replied "No we can't. We're going to march right through tomorrow. But on the march home... we might have to."

But before he could ask what I meant, Isaac opened the curtain doors of the tent, saying "Sire, Forge Lord Valdour along three Brimstone Knights from Qayan, have sent an encrypted message, saying that they are close by and asking for an audience."

"What?" I exclaimed in confusion, before asking "Are you certain?"

"Absolutely, sire. I have confirmed it myself." He confidently replied, though even he also seemed bewildered by this turn of events.

Frowning, I command "Very well, tell him he may come. But secretly, we can't have anyone suspecting us before our plan is finished."

Bowing in return, Isaac swiftly left before returning a few minutes later with not only four cloaked giant men in tow, the largest of whom undoubtedly being Valdour, but also Leonid, Abraham and Horus, while the three behind them were each carrying a large wooden crate on their back.

Turning to Abraham, I raise an eyebrow asking 'I get why Abraham and Horus are here, but why Leonid as well?'

Understanding my subtle gesture, he replied with only his eyes shifting to the colossal figure of Valdour meaning 'He asked me to.'

Turning my attention back to the four giants, who were already on their knees, quickly saluting as they removed their hoods "Greetings to the emperor."

Simply nodding in reply, I ask "Why are you here Valdour? Didn't I instruct you to avoid any unnecessary contact between us for the time being for the sake of the plan."

"Indeed you did, sire. But this meeting is not one born of extravagance or disobedience, but out of necessity." He explained, before adding with a sly grin "Besides, I made sure to remain undetected by those of unsavory nature. Only those in this tent know of my presence here tonight." Something quickly agreed upon by Isaac as well, as he nodded his head in assurance.

Sighing, I reply "So, what brings you here so urgently?"

Half turning his head to his men and nodding, they swiftly took off the crates on their backs, the men carefully laying them out on the floor, before opening them to reveal five weapons embraced by dried hay held within.

"I had hoped to deliver all the weapons you requested in one batch, but circumstances forced my hand." Valdour explained.

"This is more than enough." I assured, staring wide eyed at the exquisite weapons before me.

The first crate held an intimidating golden glaive with obsidian streaks inlayed upon it's shaft and blade, as well as a sleek silver spear with sapphire gems adorning it. The second contained an intricately designed blood red lance and a deathly pale scythe with black and crimson markings across it's razor sharp edge and all the way down it's long handle. And finally the last held a bone white halberd, possessing no decorations, etchings or elaborate patterns; designed elegantly yet crudely, embodying both authority and savagery in it's brutal form.

Without any further fanfare, Valdour picked up the golden glaive first and presented it to Abraham, introducing it like one would do an acquaintance, saying "This is the Indomitable Warden. He will prove to be a loyal and steadfast ally in your coming battles lord Abraham."

Immediately afterward he took up the silver spear, offering it to Horus saying "This is the Iridescent Ideal. Treat her with respect and she will be your loyal battle partner young hero of the empire."

Then he handed the scythe to Leonid, saying "This is Requiem. your foes' final serenade."

Finally he reached for the lone halberd, simply saying "This is Fallen Nemesis. My finest masterpiece."