Short Stories & One Shots [Fanfiction ver.]

The First Vessel Part 1

    Time had moved on and the more Kallamar had grown closer to Shu, the more Narinder was being driven mad by his jealousy. Narinder had never seen his subjects more than objects, something you can easily replace once they are no longer of use. But, to him, Shu was his trophy since she was a one-of-a-kind. A special object that couldn't be replaced. And yet, since she was going to die soon anyway, he was going to show her off one last time before sacrificing her like his past subjects. But Kallamar had to get in the way and ruin it. That stupid squid had to take away his trophy and claim it for himself instead. All because he was scared of moving on.

    Either way, Shu grew closer to Kallamar, soon gaining a crown and a part of Anchordeep as her own. Her people loved her, but Kallamar loved her more. The two were often seen holding hands, giving each other gifts, and often visiting each other's lands to chat or help each other out. It was a wholesome relationship that disgusted Narinder to no end. How could his brother fall in love with his trophy? How could Shu be something that Kallamar would be confident with? How long would it take before Kallamar realizes his true power and starts to stand for himself? It simply can't happen...

    And so, The Bishop of death's mind was infected with thoughts of betrayal. Those thoughts then grew and bloomed of greed and selfishness. Shu was once his, but if he can't have her...

No one will...

    Midnight struck one cold winter night. Narinder had taken Shu to his temple one last time before casting a spell behind her back. She was the first to lose sight of her original intent, her eyes had overflowed with black fluid as a mouth had ripped open on her face to choke and cough on more of the fluid. Her crown had fallen and was crushed into pieces before he had been brought her eternal rest. He dragged her body across the five lands soon after, eventually taking it back to the very temple where she was supposed to be sacrificed in and buried her deep below. Never to be seen again.

    The next morning was when Kallamar were supposed to propose to her. But, alas, Shu wasn't there to take his hand in marriage. Knowing something was wrong, he ran over to his brother, bursting into Narinder's temple to find her wings, the map of the world, hanging silently just above the preaching stand. The Bishop of Pestilence stood there in shock. How could this be? Why? Why did his brother take Shu away? What was Narinder thinking by betraying the family in such a way?

    Before Kallamar could turn around and face his brother, he screamed as the world around him turned silent from his ears getting cut off while getting infected by the curse of death. Losing his way as well, but unlike Shu, he was spared, thrown out of the temple and hearing nothing but his own infectious thoughts of fear and grief.

    "Hear No Evil." Fell upon deaf ears of Anchordeep. The land was engulfed in water, sickness spread while everyone could barely comprehend what had happened. The sense of drowning was left behind and soon the other three lands would be infected too as the curse kept spreading.

    "See No Evil." Leshy, the youngest of the family, was next. Kallamar had tried to run home, but Leshy had found him. He tried to stop the cowardly squid, but was in vain as his eyes were stripped away from him.

    "Speak No Evil." Heket was quick to warn Shamura before going to help her brothers. Her throat was slit before she could say a word upon seeing them. For the next fearful days it felt like the curse would only grow stronger. But, Shamura was able to banish Narinder and have him locked away before his skull was split down the middle. Through the confusion, the four had managed to come back together and strengthened the lock by sending more chains to keep Narinder restrained. Shu's wings were returned to the temple she was buried in, not realizing she was six feet below them. The next night those wings would disappear into the soil, but no one noticed a thing.

    since then, Narinder's name faded from memory, being called The One Who Waits instead as time went on. With the Vessels of The Red Crown arising from the depths of his eternal prison, Shu had been long forgotten. Even Kallamar had lost why he was frightened about being betrayed or murdered that he had to be dragged out of his temple from how cowardly he had become...

    Unfortunately his cowardness wasn't enough for he was eventually slain like his siblings by the Lamb. Narinder's new prized possession. Even the deaths of the Bishops felt so long ago. Now, the Lamb had evolved into a Ram, taking control on leading a new faith where they are the new God. They had beaten Narinder and converted him to be a follower of this newer, kinder cult. They even took his hand in marriage, living happily ever after.

    But, that wasn't enough, the Red Crown could sense it. Shu was never dead, only resting. The ground under the Ram's temple shook and rumbled, but there was nothing, Or so it seemed...

    See No Evil. The first follower was from Darkwood, they were killed on the strike of midnight. Their home was torn apart as flowers bloomed from the bloody soil.

    Speak No Evil. The second follower was from Anura, they were also killed in the dead of night. Mushrooms had engulfed them and their home. Anyone that got near the house would be caught and consumed in the hive as well. The Ram would have to cut them free from this cruel fate if any were still alive.

    Hear No Evil. The third follower was from Anchordeep, they drowned while everyone was asleep too. Their home had sunken into a hole full of water. If anyone fell into the hole, something in the water would drag them deeper, never to be seen again...

    Narinder was quick to remember who was behind this and told the Ram, knowing that the followers of Silk Cradle were in danger. And ultimately he knew he was next if this continued. The Ram had left him in charge of the Cult as they had left to crusade in the lands of the Old Faith once more, knowing where the culprit was put to rest. The very place where they and their entire species was slaughtered in a failed effort to stop a prophecy.

    Upon reaching the temple, there she was, Shu. Her chest was cut up already as if grubs and other decomposers tried to take her heart or harvest her meat, but failed. Her wings were large, blocking out the sun and moon when spread out. Her shattered crown was on her head, barely keeping itself together from sheer spite, flowers and moss had been growing on the pieces. Both pairs of claws were massive as well, using the last of the crown's magic to use as weapons. Her robes were torn up and eaten away from centuries of rotting away in her dirt tomb. She looked angry as her round, compound eyes had red slit pupils in the blackened void from the age old Curse of Death.

    "You, Ram, I've heard of what you– No, what your HUSBAND has made you do..." Shu spoke for the first time, growling as her mouth was leaking black liquid, "He took everything from me, not once, but TWICE! For shame on his soul!" The Ram only listened to the original Vessel's rant, not much for conversation, "I would tear you apart if you were him, but you are not, so heed to my request, Ram." Shu points at them as she continued, "Bring me the corpse of my beloved and your husband. His sins cannot continue unpunished, he must apologize to me or your cult will pay for him." She warns, they only nod in response, running off as told.

    The Ram did check on their Cult once more before heading into Anchordeep to retrieve Kallamar's remains. It felt strange, the place was lifted of one evil, but heavy with another. One that was restless, waiting for centuries just like Narinder did when he was casted away in his prison deep below. They paused, thinking to themself before wrapping up the corpse with soft, silky bandages, picking up the body, and heading back to their Cult. When returning, they went over to Narinder with him looking at them back. Both knowing what has to be done...