EPISODE 230: BURGEONING SOL

— GREAT EDRYAN, YEAR ???? SEASON: ????

Heavy is the head that wears the crown. My head felt heavy, far greater than at any other point in my life. My eyes drooped, my mind willed itself to sleep, but my soul resisted. My heart burns. My heart burns. My heart… yearns . For what exactly…? I do not know. This Path I'm taking, I'm not sure if I've mis-stepped, or perhaps it is simply the true grandeur of it that is registering within my mind. This world is powerful, far more powerful than I imagined originally. The prospect of becoming a God… I never truly thought about it. But, now… I had no choice but to. That Path was one I was destined for, not from an order from the Goddess or the hopes of my mother, but from my own desire to control my destiny.

…

Heavy is the head that wears the crown.

…

I always thought I understood that reference, that terminology that was spoken throughout the ages.

…

I know now that to be false.

…

There is a… certain… expectation I place upon myself. An expectation my mother does not know, the Goddess cannot calculate, and Madria cannot mediate. It is an illusion, one not cast by Kubrat. Margret holds no spell that can dissuade it, nor can Camilla's battle magic disintegrate it.

When I began this journey… forced into it by the Goddess, and accepting who I was to be later on. I had unknowingly set expectations for myself. I was… am… Prince Lawruthian Imperius Koltius Edryani — [Chosen of Madris]. My every need is catered to. My every want granted. With such a life, even the strongest-willed men would falter. I am a [Hero]… but I am no better. And… my head… it's grown heavy.

Warm liquid surrounded me, and a hand entwined with my own. Blood left my entwined hand, slowly, gently, while the liquid replaced what was lost. It was the same for Madria. Our blood entwined like twisting roots of two great trees. Together, those roots… they drifted to the eggs… Rasheed's children… our children.

…

Oh, how I understand now the depths of his madness.

…

To lose everything, everyone… burgeoning love illuminated by a thousand-thousand sols. Final friends dissuade you from death, for you are the last of a dying breed, a dying race. They graft their skin onto the world as you silently watch. Their bones into the earth, creating metals and blood into oceans, granting the prospect of life. Their disfigured bodies and ardon sols are the sole factor within your eyes, brightly burning sun and moons. Memories pierced their way into the depths of your heart, burned into them for an eternity. You cannot run away. You cannot run away, You Cannot Run , for wherever you shall look, they shall be there—smiling, watching, encouraging, but unable to speak, unable to stop the madness that creeps.

And you are left alone. Small creatures, Saphens, begin to sprout, but long ago, you were disconnected from their point of view. Grey skies and a heavy head left lonely and fighting oblivion. Eyes closing and rest granted.

…

Oh, heavy is the head that wears the crown.

…

My next awakening was within a room… an old room. One I could barely recall the minute details of it. It was my home for several years. The posters were blurry, their figures not forgotten, but their purpose gone.

"It's nice to see this place still in the depths of my sol," I whispered, my throat catching from the disuse of my voice. Weird, as I believed this to be my Sol—my Potential… an immaterial place shouldn't have had my voice like…

The doorbell rang… I paused, shrugged, and went to answer it. My eyes traced over to my desktop only to see its screen black. Minerva would not be joining me for this journey.

Madria curiously stood outside, her expression was one of curiosity and interest as she gazed around. A grassland of iridescent colors—flipping between ten different aspects, blazed like a raging flame. In the distance, I could see an intersection and another land, not one of my design but another's. And, further on… I could see six new burgeoning Sols, built from new material, while hints of my own silently integrated within them. Yet, I felt nothing, if anything, I felt my Sol was increasing in size, strength, and so much more.

…

Potential.

…

"Hi," Madria spoke, words simple as she cocked her head to the side.

She was beautiful, one of the most beautiful women I had ever seen in my life. She kept her black highlighted hair short, bob-like as usual, but it was growing near her shoulders. Usually, she kept it aligned with the ends of her head. She was short, at least shorter than me by a head or two.

I swallowed, Madria's eyes still on me with her head cocked to the side. Damn, she was beautiful… I think I already said that, but I couldn't help myself. Madria was just my type. Short, Thick with a capital T, and nurturing with a bit of spice.

"hi," I finally responded, voice quiet before I moved to the side to allow her entry.

Madria entered, her golden-brown eyes roamed with interest. She looked everywhere while I sheepishly rubbed the back of my head before explaining. "This was… my home… back when my name was Lawrence Brown… not Lawruthian. This is how it looked the day I died."

"That's…," Madria began, pausing.

"Traumatizing?" I answered, my voice in a questioning tone.

"I was going to say honorable," Madria responded, her eyes roaming with interest. "It's honorable, traumatizing, yes, but I think it's a beautiful-enshrined memory of your previous life."

Somehow, she always knew the right words to get to me. Somehow, Madria always found a way to worm herself deeper into my heart even when my intentions weren't present.

"I love you."

The words just blurted out of me. They were random, not something I was certain I should be saying. Madria was my type, from a previous life of Lawerence Brown to Lawruthian Imperius Koltius Edryani. She fit the mold nearly perfectly of my strike zone. But looks aren't the only attractor.

Madria was kind—kind in her mannerisms and outward and inward display. She was the type of woman, the type of priestess, to not pass and injured without healing them even if she didn't receive a reward. She was virtuous, strong-willed, and so much more. She was willing to correct me with my wrongs and praise me for my rights. Outside our mothers, she was my biggest supporter, and past that… she was one of my closest friends. Maybe it was due to her big forehead, perhaps it was due to her upbringing. Regardless, I couldn't help but fall in love with her over the years we grew to know one another.

She paused, her roaming eyes slowly turning toward me and away from the posters of superheroes, their faces forgotten but their symbols eternal. The silence extended, her turn slowed and slowed as she turned to face me.

Golden-brown eyes met mine, a hint of shyness within them, but very direct in their gaze. A smile danced on the edges of her lips, creeping upward no matter their attempts to stay neutral.

The words were loud, unmarred by any other sound save that of our movement. It was impossible for Madria to deny them.

My face grew hot, palms sweaty. My knees grew weak, and my arms felt heavy. I said it, partly to her, and partly to myself. I said it because I couldn't allow myself to deny these feelings anymore. I attempted to repress them, but… I'm tired.

Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.

I'm tired of the expectations the Edryans have forced upon my shoulders. I'm tired of the expectations the Goddess has allocated my way. The feeling of pressure, of Her overbearing Intent and connection to my sol. For once, for once, I couldn't feel Her…

…

I couldn't feel Her?

…

"I love you too, Lawruthian."

…

I couldn't feel the Goddess Madris.

…

Wait.

…

What was that?

…

My mind refocused on Madria, and the bashful look in her eyes remained. She gripped the hems of her dress, hands lightly kneading the fabric. Goddess, she was beautiful. In her actions, expressions… in her thoughts… sol.

…

What now?

…

My mind drew a blank. Goddess, it's been so long since I last courted a woman, not since… Celina. Courtship wasn't something that was easy. It was a skill learned through repetition and more. Madria seemed to sense my hesitation as she spoke again.

"We can… start slow… you are the Holy Prince of Great Edryan after all. I'm sure there's so much you're busy with and the children coming—" Madria's voice trailed off. The realization of what she said caught up to her.

Her voice was light, nervous, but her eyes were searching, hoping. I couldn't deny that hope. I'd seen those eyes all my life, but not like this.

The gazes of Edryans who peered at me with hope—eyes filled with faith and expressions searching for reassurance. To them, I was Her. I was Her messenger, Her prophet, I was a physical representation of Her in all aspects.

The gaze of Madria was filled with hope, but one of a different nature—nurtured by time spent with me, the real me. Not the [Chosen of Madris], not the man who was going to conquer the world.

…

Just Lawruthian. No gimmicks, no hidden metrics, just Lawruthian.

…

"We can start off slow," I affirmed, immediately speaking as some light in Madria's eyes deflated. "I mean start off with dating… going out on fun excursions… just the two of us… and my guards… disguised ."

"I'd like that," she responded, smiling. She gazed away, her eyes roaming once again through my apartment. "Can you show me around? I'd like to know… all of you."

I returned her smile and looked around. We entered the living room/kitchen. I lived in a one-bedroom, but far bigger than the common ones. I looked around, then back to Madria as I began my introductions.

"This is…"

An hour passed, and we found ourselves outside. We sat on a hilltop, its height allowed us a view of the entire realm we occupied.

Eight sols were present. Two belong to Madria and I, while the rest were the children of… our children. Madria cocked her head to the side, seemingly listening to the sounds of the wind as we rested. I shared with her stuff from my past and went more into depth about who I once was.

"What has Rasheed done to us," I questioned. "Why do I believe they're our children?"

Madria pursed her lips, quietly watching the six burgeoning sols. "They… are…," she whispered. "Our blood entwines into them, bringing them to life, altering their bodies, their genes—their very sols."

I frowned at her words. "How do you know?"

"They whisper it to me, don't you hear?"

My frown grew deeper, and Madria sensed my concern. She reached forward and placed a finger over my lips, gently talking as another hand reached and gently stroked my face before her fingers danced over my eyes to close them.

"Quiet your mind… listen… listen ."

I took a deep breath, following the words of Madria. My eyes remained shut and my mind began to clear, but my heart beat fast as the warmth of Madria's touch lingered.

Thump… thump.

The quiet whispers of grass shaking in the wind entered my ears.

Thump… thump.

The soft breathing of Madria flowed gently, calming me with every moment.

Thump… thump.

My heart yearns…

…

My heart yearns…

…

My heart… thump…

Thump.

My heart wasn't the one beating. I shifted, eyes nearly opening but pausing as Madria's hand snapped over mine.

"Listen," Madria whispered. "Listen."

Thump.

…

Thump.

)/@&$ fe3l th3.

Words transmitted their way into my head… in my heart. Ancient in their tongue but strangely familiar. I listened closer, struggling to understand exactly what was being said.

$&;:@ :)?& feel the beat of your wings, expand your lungs with magic, roar the dragons might. ROAR THE DRAGONS MIGHT.

Suddenly, it clicked like a light switch flipped on, giving power to a room. The voice was loud, unfamiliar, but continuous in its chanting. My body turned hot, blood flowing fast, and altercations I could not stop began.

BLOOD FLOWS, IGNITING THE DRAGONS, ANCIENT ANCESTORS ARE CALLED FORTH. THEIR GENES IGNITE A NEW RACE, A NEW BEGINNING.

COME FORTH, FEEL THE BEAT OF YOUR WINGS, EXPAND YOUR LUNGS WITH MAGIC, ROAR THE DRAGONS MIGHT, ROAR THE DRAGONS MIGHT!

Congratulations! You have activated (Ancestral Beginnings).

You have ignited your bloodline; atavism is initiating. ‎ Conflicting bloodlines: Saphen — Magi and Saphen — Semi-Divine Being are interfering. Would you like to establish a new bloodline? WARNING: Establishing a new bloodline will break away certain ties to the prior bloodline/s. This process is irreversible — You Will Be Come More. You Will Become an Ascendant Grade being, unique among oneself—first of its race. WARNING: All bloodline descendants will experience a change in their physiology and psychology. ‎ THIS PROCESS IS IRREVERSIBLE. ‎ THIS PROCESS IS IRREVERSIBLE. ‎ THIS PROCESS IS IRREVERSIBLE.

Yes.

No.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.