Chaosbound: Elarith Chronicles

The Awakening

As he opened his eyes, Aurel was met with the soft, warm glow of an unknown room. A profound wave of weakness washed over him, a deep fatigue that settled in his bones. His very essence felt… different, a subtle hum beneath his skin he couldn't recall having before. He turned his head to the right, his neck feeling stiff, and the first face he saw was a familiar one: Eryn, who stood by the bed, his expression a mix of relief and nervous energy.

"Oh, master, you're finally awake!" Eryn exclaimed, his voice cracking with emotion. He quickly signaled to a servant. "Get him some water, now!" He then turned back to Aurel, wringing his hands. "You had me worried sick."

Aurel's voice was a dry croak. "Ah, Eryn, it's just you. I don't feel good. The last thing I remember... I battled that Lumiel, defeated him, and then..."

"Yes, master, you collapsed," Eryn said, his words softening. "Nephra explained that you were just adjusting to your awakened core. Something about a 'synchronicity thingy'—I'm not sure what word he used, but it sounded serious."

Aurel's mind struggled to catch up. "And how long was I out?"

"A month," Eryn replied, watching his master closely.

Aurel's eyes widened. "A month?" The shock hit him, then he sighed. "That battle must have taken a greater toll than I thought. Anyway, where am I, Eryn?"

Eryn's grin returned. "Oh, we're at your territory, master."

Right. We're still building it, Aurel thought. He had envisioned a simple wooden fortress, with a few of his chaos beings running wild and Rindel training them. He felt a pang of gratitude for Luci, to whom he had entrusted the development. "So, how is the progress?"

Eryn's excitement was palpable. He couldn't help the smirk that spread across his face. "Master, you have to see it for yourself."

"Sure thing," Aurel said, pushing himself up. With Eryn's assistance, he managed to stand, his legs feeling unsteady. A servant arrived with water, and Aurel took a long, satisfying drink. "Ah, that felt better."

Eryn led him through a richly decorated hall—a far cry from the simple building Aurel had imagined—and out onto a magnificent terrace. The cool air hit his face.

And then he saw it.

Aurel's eyes bulged. He let out a strangled cough, a sharp, choked gasp of disbelief. "What is this place, Eryn? Why are we at Arkhanis?"

Eryn's shoulders shook with silent laughter. "No, master, this isn't Arkhanis."

Aurel took a second look, his mind scrambling. "You're right. It doesn't quite... look like it... but... are you fooling me? Where are we?"

Eryn finally burst out laughing. "I knew you would be surprised! But really, this is your territory. Luci said to call it 'Aurel's Territory' until you properly give it a name."

For real? Aurel's mind reeled. The simple wooden fence he had envisioned was nowhere to be seen. A vast, sprawling territory stretched out below, centered around a colossal castle that was far bigger than Arkhanis and any other territory he had ever known. What did Luci do? Is she really that good? I don't understand how this is even possible.

"Eryn," Aurel said, his voice now a low growl of astonishment. "I need to meet Luci. Now."

"Well, master, not until we fix you first," Eryn said. "You need a shower. You smell terrible. I've prepared attire suitable for a mighty ruler."

"Whatever. Let's just do it," Aurel replied.

The Hall of Proposals

Eryn made the arrangements and informed Luci of Aurel's awakening. Soon, the news spread, and his loyal followers became excited to meet him. After he was washed and dressed, Aurel was ready to meet Luci and the others.

He stepped out of his room, prepared to meet the others, only to find the hall looking far more magnificent than he could have imagined. Gleaming suits of armor stood on display, while elegant weapons were mounted on the walls. The rich carpet felt expensive beneath his feet. He could only think, How is any of this possible?

Two guards greeted him at the end of the hall, their stances rigid and respectful. Eryn and Rindel stood by, ready to escort him. "They are waiting, master," Eryn said.

When Aurel entered the vast hall, he found a formidable group waiting for him: Luci, Nephra, Vyran, Lysara, the Athenaris Valtherus, and Karthas. Other underlings he didn't recognize stood nearby, all dressed in formal attire.

Luci stepped forward, her elegant dress rustling softly, and greeted him with a deep curtsy. "Master, welcome back from your long slumber."

Aurel took her by the arm and pulled her aside, away from the prying ears of the others. He lowered his voice to a fierce whisper. "What in the world is going on here? Why are the Abyssals and the Athenaris here? And who are all those other people?" He glanced back, seeing Nephra's knowing smile. "They're giving me the creeps," he muttered.

Luci's voice was a conspiratorial whisper in return. "Ah, master, they all came with different intentions and proposals."

"I can understand the Abyssals," Aurel said, his eyes narrowed, "but the Athenaris?"

Luci cleared her throat a little louder, a signal that their private conversation was over. "Ahem. Okay, master, follow me. We need to talk in a different room."

Aurel readily agreed. Luci led him into a private chamber, where Eryn followed without needing an instruction, taking a seat to observe the conversation.

"Aurel, a lot has happened since you were... indisposed," Luci began.

"Yeah, I can see that," Aurel said dryly, gesturing around the lavish room.

"Let's start with the Abyssals," Luci continued. "They were the ones who took charge of developing your territory. It looks so advanced because they came to us with a proposal."

"And what's that?" Aurel asked.

"You'll have to talk to them yourself." Luci then signaled to Eryn, who immediately brought in Nephra, Vyran, and Lysara.

The Abyssals' Offer

Nephra's face lit up. "Ah, Aurel, Aurel, it's a great pleasure to see you again!"

"Drop the pleasantries, Nephra," Aurel said, offering a curt nod to Vyran and Lysara.

"We are all aware you don't like us, but we have nowhere else to go now," Nephra said, narrating his story with an almost theatrical, comedic flair, as if he were a poor lamb. "You see, our home, Arkhanis, was destroyed during the war with Lumiel. And poor brother Vyran wanted to see you, and sister Lysara..." Lysara gave Nephra an intimidating look. "...Well, Lysara is just Lysara," Nephra finished, before turning serious. "To business, then."

Aurel sat down and gestured for the others to do the same. Luci and Eryn stood behind him. "Let me hear it," Aurel said.

"Dominate us," Nephra said. "The three of us. Give us the honor of serving you, Lord Aurel. You fear the chaos beings will bring danger to your world, right? If you dominate us, you will control us. No more wild chaos beings."

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"I don't know what you're proposing. 'Dominate'? What does that even mean?" Aurel asked.

"Make us all your familiars, the same way you control Eryn and Rindel," Nephra clarified.

Aurel immediately rebutted, "They're not under my control; they have their own free will." He then paused, thinking. Well, I guess you could say they're somehow under my control. "You mean you want me to link with all of you the way I linked with them? 'Domination,' huh? Well, I suppose that's a good word for it. But I don't take away free will, so 'domination' doesn't seem to go well with me."

"Then consider it a pact, the same pact you made with Luci," Nephra said. "We will serve you wholeheartedly. The three of us, even Sybris and Whiz, are willing."

Aurel thought about Sybris and Whiz and asked Nephra, "Why?"

"For our salvation," Nephra replied.

Aurel sank into deep thought, a sudden realization dawning on him. Salvation? Am I even capable of that? Wait... if I dominate them, I can let them dominate other chaos beings, the same way Rindel and Eryn can control the chaos army under my command. That way, all other chaos beings will no longer be a threat to humanity.

Nephra smiled, as if he knew exactly what Aurel was thinking.

Aurel, as if having a eureka moment, declared, "Fine, let's do it. I'm not sure how we're going to do it, but we'll start. If you're sure about this, then we'll proceed. How about I give you three days to think about it?"

"No, Aurel," Nephra said. "We've thought about it for a month now. We're ready and very much willing. How about now?"

"Do you even know what you're asking of me?" Aurel asked. The three of them nodded, their expressions unwavering.

"Fine!" Aurel said. "Don't regret this." He summoned his chaos field, but it wasn't the usual one. It was a chaos domain, creating a link between the three Abyssals and himself. "Very well, let's begin."

The room seemed to transform into a different world, isolating the four of them. The three Abyssals closed their eyes, ready to accept Aurel's will. A spiritual link made of chaos energy slowly crawled from Aurel's core to each of them. The three Abyssals felt a transformation; their cores were changing into a purer version.

The link with Nephra felt different. Aurel could sense his true identity: he wasn't an Abyssal but a Steward of God. What? You're not an Abyssal? Aurel browsed through their memories, seeing the changes within them. He felt Nephra's immense power. What are you? Are you like Sybris? A Steward? Damn, that's a surprise. He continued the "domination" process.

The three felt a profound change. While Nephra remained the same, Vyran and Lysara's features were altered. Vyran, who had looked like a 16-year-old boy, now looked like a 24-year-old man with incredibly handsome features. Lysara looked even more beautiful than before, like a goddess of beauty.

"Open your eyes," Aurel said, a touch of worry in his voice. He wondered if he had made a mistake and altered their memories or personalities. "Well, tell me. How do you feel?"

Nephra felt the change and smiled. "It's a success, master." The others looked at their new features, the changes evident on Vyran and Lysara.

"I feel like a proper adult now," Vyran said. "Thank you, Master Aurel."

Lysara, who had always exuded an intimidating aura, now blossomed like a flower, exuding an elegant aura almost on par with Luci's.

Nephra, bursting with excitement, headed for the door. "Master Aurel, I'll begin now! I know what to do. I felt your will and order just as you dominated me."

"It's not an order, Nephra, and stop calling me 'master.' Just Aurel," Aurel said.

Aurel's eyes welled up with tears, as if he were remembering the Chaos God's exact words: "It's not an order. Do what you will."

"Okay, guys, we'll talk later," Aurel said. Eryn and Luci had witnessed everything and were filled with a silent pride and reverence for their master.

The Athenaris's Offer

"Luci, the Athenaris," Aurel said. Eryn led the two Athenaris into the room.

Luci knelt before Aurel, ready to speak on their behalf. "Oh, Master Aurel, please forgive them. Their link with Lumiel is now gone. Starting now, they are willing to submit to your orders. But please, hear me out..."

"Stop, Luci," Aurel interrupted. "I saw it clearly inside Nephra's mind. You two, are you sure about this?"

Valtherus and Karthas, the proud Athenaris, had never bent the knee to anyone before, but Valtherus spoke humbly. "Nephra's counsel is wise. The world now sees you as a threat, the destroyer of their savior, the God of Light. The continent is in fear, in chaos."

"Your proposition?" Aurel asked.

Valtherus cleared his throat, trying to speak as elegantly as possible, avoiding his usual imposing tone. "Embrace the image of the Dark Lord. Your name has already struck fear among the people of Elarith. This will make them united; they will not dare to..."

Aurel didn't hear the rest of what Valtherus was saying. Instead, he was deep in thought, recalling the Chaos God's creation of the Malice Bloom. Its purpose and methods were pure chaos. The Malice Bloom had forced humanity's evolution, forcing them to unite against a greater threat. Aurel saw himself embodying that same purpose.

A Dark Lord, huh? So people will live in fear just by hearing my name. I can live with that. He had an idea. He could be the Dark Lord everyone wanted him to be, but simply living in fear wouldn't bring them true peace.

Valtherus, still talking, stopped when Aurel waved his hand, signaling him to stop.

"I can be that Dark Lord," Aurel said, "but I also have an offer. Establish a holy pact with Luci. Think of it as a leash. You will adhere to her command."

Valtherus and Karthas willingly accepted. "Yes, Aurel, we will..." Valtherus started.

Aurel interrupted him again. "The world needs hope, not just fear. And you will be that beacon of hope. You will tell the world you have succeeded in defeating me, the evil Dark Lord. I will stay here in my territory, waiting for my chance to strike again and spread my evil. All the chaos beings will stay here. You will assist in making that happen, and you will not harm any of them. I'll make sure none of them harm anyone else."

"You will be responsible for rebuilding this continent."

Luci, upon hearing this, couldn't help but cry. It was as if all her faith in Aurel and all her hard work had finally paid off. She was so proud of him that she openly wept, though in an elegant way. She hugged Valtherus, the Athenari she considered a father. Valtherus seemed to like the idea.

Karthas hadn't expected to hear this from Aurel, but he actually thought it was a brilliant narrative. "And what of you?" he asked. "Do you not wish to rule this continent?"

"Absolutely not," Aurel replied. "I will create a haven for all chaos beings. I will not rule; I am not fit to be a ruler. Just let me enjoy my peace here in my territory, will you?"

Valtherus, Karthas, and Luci bowed before Aurel. "Then we will do as you wish, master," Luci said.

"Oh, please," Aurel said once more. "Drop the 'master.' It's just Aurel."

The New Dawn

And so, the new order was born. The Abyssals began dominating other chaos beings, ensuring they were all contained within Aurel's domain. The world called him the Dark Lord, and his territory was branded as the Dark Domain—a place that should not be provoked, a place where the world's most feared beings were kept at bay.

The Athenaris created a new narrative for the world. They told of their great victory over the Dark Lord, a tale that would continue to unite the people. This time, however, it was within the foresight of Luci and Aurel. They respected Aurel's will and made sure to never anger the so-called Dark Lord, for they were the only ones who knew the truth.

Under the guidance of the Luminary Orders, the people of Elarith now experienced a newfound peace, rebuilding their world and their lives.

The Royal Vanguard still focused on research and development, but no longer to create weapons against chaos beings, but for the overall development of humanity. The Shadowblades continued to assist them, working from the shadows, their names and deeds a secret to all but a few.

Kirin met with Aurel and decided to walk a different path, assisting the nomad healers and helping others.

Within the Dark Domain, the Abyssals served Aurel loyally. Under the guidance of Vyran and Nephra, the domain continued to flourish. The two worked tirelessly, advancing their technology and carrying out new experiments, all in the service of their lord. Lysara became their bridge to the outside world, maintaining her vast information network to keep the Dark Domain informed of all that transpired.

Aurel created a special chaos field so no uninvited beings could ever enter his domain. Here, in his private world, he was truly at peace. Luci, his highest council, remained by his side. Their bond, forged through chaos and war, had evolved into something more profound. Soon, Aurel asked her to marry him, a simple proposal that sealed their fate together.

Aurel let Vyran rule the Dark Domain, leaving its daily affairs to him. He was still the ultimate authority, but Vyran acted as his prime minister, allowing Aurel to finally enjoy the peace he had yearned for.

He would regularly visit the tomb of his friend, Ron. Seated there, under the tranquil sky, he would talk to him, sharing stories and updates about Elarith. Aric, who had since retired and taken up residence near Ron's tomb, would often sit with him. Aric taught the local children the warrior's arts, and together, he and Aurel would enjoy drinks—sweet juice for Aurel and hard liquor for Aric. It was a quiet, simple life, the perfect ending to a tumultuous tale.

And so, in a world that saw him as a myth of darkness, Aurel, the Dark Lord, finally found his light.

A Note from the Author

Dearest readers,

And just like that, the final page is turned. It's hard to believe we've reached the end of this journey together. Thank you for your incredible support and for making it all the way to this conclusion. Writing this story has been a genuine joy, and my greatest hope is that you found as much pleasure in reading it as I did in creating it.

As my first novel, this story is a reflection of my growth as a writer. I'm well aware of its flaws, and I apologize for any missteps along the way—I'm a work in progress, but I poured my heart into every word. It was an adventure I wouldn't trade for anything. A special note of gratitude goes to the AI that assisted me with the editing, formatting, and brainstorming. It proved to be a remarkable partner in this creative process, and I'm grateful for its help.

If you loved the story, I have a small favor to ask. A review on the platform where you found this book would be the greatest tip a writer could receive. It's not too much to ask, I hope, but it would truly motivate me to keep writing.

I can't wait to share the next world with you. I hope you'll be there for the stories yet to be told.

Sincerely,

Joe Lance