CHAPTER 4: Havocc, The Underworld Kingdom

KING MALIK

The King's Study, Kingdom of Howard

Back at the Palace, King Malik was still perplexed at what he had witnessed. How could Colter, who barely attended his training, beat Gian? Given that they have both used elemental powers to each of their advantage, Gian clearly was more experienced in combat.

But the way Colter retaliated with precise blows and exceptional speed and form, left Gian in the dust. And what really left King Malik in awe was when Colter unleashed the power of Fotiá. It was as beautiful as he had imagined.

As King Malik gazed through the window, he saw birds circling atop the treelines in the distance. He wondered what would have happened if he had not intervened. “Colter does not realize how powerful he can be." The King mused to himself. "If he only knew what his full potential was, he'd be the most powerful king Howard will ever have."

His contemplation was cut short when a loud knock rang through the room.

"Enter," King Malik said.

The tall double doors opened and Deity Flora, one of Howard's most valued assets, the King's messenger and Oracle, floated in. "Your Highness,"

The King cleared his throat and composed himself. "Deity Flora, what brings you in today?"

"I come bearing news about the recent visions I have seen." Deity Flora said, her soft voice resonating a lilt like the wind chimes on a summer breeze.

The King nodded as he took his seat and gestured toward the high-back chair by the Deity. "Do proceed."

Deity Flora curtsied and accepted. "I'm afraid that I bring no good fortune this time, My Lord."

King Malik leaned back and rested his chin on his palm. "Nevertheless, a vision, no matter good or bad, is still a vision. The warnings that your predictions bring ought to be enough to help us prepare for what's to come."

"I understand," the Deity folded her hands gently on her lap and continued. "Things are not great, My Great King. I foresee chaos and disruption in the peace of Howard. It may happen sooner than we have anticipated. I fear that it is upon us. I saw dark clouds over Howard, thickest among them was over the Palace."

"But have you seen what chaos would happen?" the King inquired.

"Sadly, no. My Lord, my visions are vague as the future is constantly changing. I can only see and provide exact information if things are already set in motion. If you must remember, during our previous meeting, I gave a warning that danger was approaching. Now, it has descended upon the Kingdom and I fear that it may already be brewing." the Deity's face and voice was void of emotion but her words carried the weight of worry. "There are a lot of elements I see in this vision, Your Highness. I see unending darkness, creatures of the night that had never walked in the daylight are now roaming the land, our civilization will be upended, I see bloodshed and the destruction of the Ecanus."

Silence ensued in the room as Deity Flora's words resonated through the King's mind. The Deity's prophecy this time was disturbing as the last one. However, Howard had never been more at peace in that time, so King Malik did not know how to approach these threatening predictions.

"My dear King, keep in mind that the future is fickle. It is shaky and thus, we must not entirely rely on them as things are always shifting in the cosmos. It should be noted nonetheless that whatever we do at the present, will greatly affect the unknown." Deity Flora said.

King Malik stood up and walked toward the windows. "You must understand that the Kingdom of Howard is dear to me. These people matter to me like they're my own blood and kin."

"And the people honor you for your dedication, Your Majesty. We are indebted to your benevolence. The Kingdom of Howard would not be where it is today if it weren't for your reign."

The King faced the Deity and said, "Such kind words, Deity Flora. Know that the Kingdom appreciates your service to the people."

Deity Flora thought this as a sign of dismissal, so she stood up and graciously gave a curtsy. But before she left the room, she turned back and said, "Fret not, My King, for my visions are not all darkness and sorrow. I see a bright future for the heir- apparent of Howard."

With that, Deity Flora floated away, leaving behind a soft trail of light and the strong smell of jasmine.

King Malik brought his gaze back toward the windows and gave it some thought. Deity Flora has never failed when it comes to her prophecies.

If Howard was indeed in imminent danger, there was no harm in preparing the troops to be on high alert. Before he could call upon Aimon, his Army General, he noticed something peculiar in the tree line.

The birds he saw earlier were now a little closer to see clearly and King Malik suddenly felt dread. These weren't birds at all but rather vultures. They were huge and had scary red eyes and they were menacingly flying toward the Palace grounds.

As King Howard observed a little longer, these birds of prey perched on the stone columns of the Palace's curtain walls, as if on the lookout for something. The King noted that their beady eyes were scanning the area, as if scouting the vicinity. This is another first for the King as vultures were not local birds of Howard.

After quite some time, the vultures flew away and King Malik did not leave his sight on them. King Malik swore under his breath as he moved to call Aimon, like he initially planned to do. Seeing vultures here in Howard was not a good omen.

This can only mean one thing: danger was indeed coming to Howard.

KING DYRON

Kingdom of Havocc, somewhere underground

"How pathetic." King Dyron spat as he separated from his animus projection.

The Kingdom of Howard was as normal as it can be and it delighted King Dyron. He relished the fact that the King of Howard, Malik, was as clueless and as a new-born baby.

"What have you seen, My Liege?" Besnik, his right hand servant, asked.

"That was the first time I have been as close to Howard as I could." King Dyron spun around and walked towards the dais of his throne, his footsteps echoing in the large, dark cavern. "And I have all the information I needed."

"So does it mean that we can strike against Howard any day now?" Besnik asked.

"Now, don't be in such a rush." King Dyron said. "After all, I've waited for centuries for this moment and I'd rather not botch it."

Long ago, back when Havocc and Howard were merely kingdoms, Dyron's ancestors valiantly fought for power during the Great War. After many years of fighting and enduring casualties in Havocc, they had to retreat underneath the surface to recuperate their losses. Dyron's father was one of the soldiers that fought the long and hard war.

When Dyron's father returned from the War, he established what is now Havocc, a kingdom built in the shadows. For years, his father yearned to seek revenge on Howard and take back what was rightfully theirs. When Dyron's father took his last remaining breath, he took an oath to continue his father's legacy and vowed to avenge their family.

Over the years, Havocc has been quietly observing and gathering intel to their advantage. Dyron witnessed how Howard flourished and fueled Dyron's hatred towards Howard even more. That should have been theirs. His father would not have died waiting and hiding in a cave like a dog licking its wounds.

Now that King Dyron has amassed followers and expanded his empire all throughout the darkest corners of the realm, he is ready to take Howard and make it his own.

"There is yet to be done, Besnik." King Dyron said. He gestured towards the scrying bowl nearby and sat down on his throne. "Take a look at what I saw yesterday."

Besnik approached the bowl and took a look at what was projecting in the waters. There were two men standing in what seemed to be a forest. One was trapped in what appeared to be tree roots as the other was walking around him. Besnik looked up at King Dyron and asked, "Who are these, My Lord?"

King Dyron waved his hand and said, "Watch."

Besnik returned to the bowl and saw something phenomenal. The man trapped in tree roots suddenly burst into flames and conjured a sword made purely out of fire. He then attacked the other man with exceptional speed and power until the other man stumbled on his feet and was down on the forest floor.

"That was..." Besnik could not find the words to describe what he had seen. 

"That is another vital piece of information that we need to look into, Besnik." The stood up and walked towards his servant. "The men you saw were Malik's sons."

Besnik met King Dyron's eye and he saw nothing but malevolence. He knew what was brewing in King Dyron's wicked mind.

"It is easier to wreak havoc in a place where dissent has already begun. All the more easier if it is between the two most important people in Howard."

Besnik smiled at the King. His Majesty was devilishly too good for his own. "Howard will crumble from within."

"Soon the great Kingdom of Howard will fall as it should have centuries ago." King Dyron exclaimed. "Soon we will all be freed from this eternal damnation and reclaim the power that has been wrongfully stolen from us. Havocc will rise again!"

The King's voice reverberated across the entire cavern and Besnik was sure that it carried all throughout the Kingdom as distant howls and cheers could be heard in the distance.