Tyrant of the Ruined Sun

Kaduk Theos, meaning descendant of the divine or child of the Gods; is a title as archaic as the most ancient of written words, as even the oldest historical artifacts we have of those bygone days reference these two immemorial words.

It is a title whose history can only ever be matched by it's radiant glory and the venerated status it bestows upon those mad enough to posses it, as these two words were no mere fabrication of mortal minds, made to describe the position and flatter the ego of their leaders, such as lord, king or emperor, but it was in fact the first title given to the progenitors of all the royal families, the founders of today's nations, the original masters of humanity, as ordained by the Gods. The first born generation of demigods to ever grace this earth.

Such was the weight carried by these two seemingly unconcerning alien words.

Yet as all things are in this tainted world, nothing could ever remain so pure forever. And so was this revered title of old, as it became corrupted by greed and marred by tragedy so great that the world had all but abandoned it, too afraid to rile up the horrid memories that had become all to associated with it's once honored visage.

Which is precisely why the silent fallout of Adam's words was so long and awkward, permeated only by the rhythmic sound of our own racing hearts echoing deafeningly in our disbelieving ears.

"Why?" My voice slashed through the thickening silence, with a single clear note, as I simply asked with weary vigilance in my now sharpened tone, while my experienced eyes began trying to pierce through the mask of his veiled intentions.

"Because I believe it to be for the best." He answered with no hesitation, wearing the same gentle smile on his face.

"Best? Best for whom exactly?!" I exclaimed in pure perplexity, before continuing with an added edge of restrained rage, as I quietly held back the deluge of murderous insanity the awakening demon in my mind began flooding my senses with "We here are all too well aware that that title was forsaken for a reason, and if I, the man already hailed as the Bloody Emperor were to also take the title of Kaduk Theos in addition, then I might as well proclaim myself as the world's pariah and be done with it!"

Silence returned to the room after my words, one that was far more suffocating than the last.

Yet this one was far shorter lived, as my mother's words echoed out "Though my son's words are harsh, they are also true."

My mother had fully donned the armor I referred to as her empress mode, while her voice became proud, cold and measured, and her once reverent eyes became detached and calculating as she gazed upon the old archpriest.

"If my son were to take on such a provocative title, then the other world powers would not stand idly by and allow it. They would undoubtedly invade. The chief of whom would be the Luminous Empire, who's been itching to repay us for their latest shame in the Melting Mist Plains. While the Yue Dynasty with it's avaricious monarch at it's helm would be sure to follow soon after, more than happy to devour our eastern lands, which in return would undoubtedly embolden the other minor powers such as the Astrapi and Mercenary Kingdoms, as well as the western nations." My mother explained.

"We'd be lucky having emerged from such a war having only lost all our northern, western and eastern provinces!" I remarked through gritted teeth, before continuing "But all that would hardly matter anyways, considering the empire would tear itself apart far before we succumb to our foreign conquerors."

"... True." My mother agreed, before further clarifying "Those among our people who worship the lord of the underworld would be overjoyed, but those who do not would immediately rise in rebellion. The first of whom will unquestioningly be the lands and cities still governed by the long vanquished demigods, such Qayan and Lahtesh, whose people still to this day predominately worship the god of the forge and the god of fire respectively." Stay updated via My Virtual Library Empire

Hearing this I couldn't help but remember the hulking giant by the name of Valdour, who I had gone through so much trouble to recruit. Just the thought of all that effort rendered into not only waste, but instead a blade targeted at my throat, while also having to discard all my future plans that relied one way or another on Valdour of or his city. The headache alone would drive me mad!

"And it won't take long for the other cities who hold a great many believers of different gods, such as Bethisma, where many worship the hod of the sea, or Thalab and Epethus, where a majority of them pray to the god of commerce and prosperity to also raise the banners of independence." I added, before refocusing my gaze back on Adam, as I asked with a tone of finality.

"Though you despise politics, you are no fool Archpriest. Even if you couldn't perfectly predict the coming events, you must have at least had a general idea of them. So tell me, why would suggest such a proposition?"

Adam remained motionless for but a moment, when his gentle smile began to stretch upwards rapidly, before he suddenly erupted in a roaring laughter so vigorous that tears almost instantly formed in his glowing, aged eyes.

We all sat there stunned seeing this, as it was such an odd reaction from the usually calm and restrained archpriest.

Eventually he calmed back down, and then instantly he bowed his head as far as he could, saying "Forgive me sire. I meant no harm or insult by my earlier actions."

Becoming more and more confused by these utterly absurd turns of events, I reply "You are forgiven Archpriest, so please rise and explain what is the meaning of all this."

Straightening his back with his iconic gentle smile once again gracing his features, he says while fishing through his robes for something "It was a test, my liege."

"A test?" I echo.

"Indeed. One designed by your great grandfather." He says as he takes out an old looking metal tablet, with an unmistakable look of nostalgia in his eyes.

"My great grand... You can't possibly mean?!" I ask in absolute incredulity.

"Azrael the second, the Beloved of Battle. One of the founders of the Age of Tarnished Steal." He confidently affirmed, as he offered me the small tablet.

Accepting it from his hands, I, along with my mother who leaned over began to inspect the palm sized, rectangular object, which had no stand out features, except for the four emblems craved into it.

The first and most obvious one, was that of an eclipsing sun, the symbol of the Eclipse Empire. The second was a falcon holding three thunderbolts in it's right talon and the world in the other, as it soared above five mountain peaks, the sigil of the Astrapi Kingdom. The third was the eight lunar phases in a circular formation, superimposed over the design of a snake like dragon biting it's own tale, the mark of the Yue Dynasty. And the last was an open book laying on top of a sword, the crest of Sophientia, the city of knowledge and home to the descendants of the Goddess of wisdom.

Turning back to the Archpriest with expectant eyes, I ask "What does this mean?"

"I have absolutely no idea." He replied nonchalantly, without a single change in his facial expressions, before continuing "When I accepted your ancestors keepsake, I was only told to give it to the one who passed his test. The one who was not only wise enough to look past the sweetness of the honey before him, and able to see the bitter poison concealed within; but also the one with the strength of character to immediately and without hesitation reject such greatness and glory for the sake of the bigger picture."

He momentarily paused as his eyes took on a more tender look, before he continued "Thrice I have asked your great grandfather's test, but only twice was I disappointed, and for that I am most thankful to you, your majesty. You have taken a load that has been weighing heavily on me for a long while now." He ended with the most relaxed smile any of us had ever seen grace his lips.

But I had little concern for that right now, as I stared fixatedly on the small tablet in my hand, as one thought kept repeating incessantly in my mind "How come I never knew of this in my last life?!"