The Four Brothers
Updated: Apr 15
God’s Council is the story of eleven Creators, the forms of life created by the Eternal Energy worshipped as God. Many centuries after their inception, these Creators create life in the form of humans, fairies and many more life forms.
“The Four Brothers” by R. S. Chintalapati is the story that begins after the Kulas made humans and are still creating fairies. However, before all the fairies are made, the Kulas are attacked. Though they win, the portal that connects them to the rest of the universe is sealed.
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Dedicated to
Lakshmi, Manjusha, Sravanthi, Aadhya & Parvati Chintalapati.
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Credits
This contribution is reviewed by Harsha Modukuri & Rajiv R Nair, edited by Ahna Sahi, R. K. Chamarla, Sree Raj & Tarun Chintam & illustrated by Nisha Yadav.
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This novel will soon be available as paperback & ebook.
Introduction
The Kulas
It said that the Eternal Energy, which many creatures call God, created only eleven forms, and these forms were children with extraordinary powers who were also gifted a paradise to live in for eternity.
These eleven forms or Creators were called Omas, Arios, Irma, Irmiti, Pathra, Pathri, Authur, Elrik, Orunkula, Irunkula and Vernakula. Among them, there were multiple families & one of them was the Kulas, to which Orunkula, Irunkula & Vernakula belonged.
The Kulas were blessed with beauty & soul twigs [1] that they could only use. After the Creators Pact [2], they were offered three planets where they could create a habitat if they wished & the eldest of them, Creator Orunkula, did not create life. The other two, Vernakula and Irunkula, lacked the vision to conceive their own creations for many centuries. However, not giving up, Vernakula sought Omas’s help to create humans and following her, Irunkula created fairies.
Footnotes
Creators Pact: Signed by all families in God’s Council. This pact comprises all the laws of creation written by Creator Omas.
Soul twig: A weapon like a spear but is embedded with a soul or a gemstone.
Chapter I
Vernakula’s Order
As the sun’s rays adorned Creator Vernakula’s hall, making the floor’s gemstones glitter, the young child with ebony skin focused on listening to thousands of souls longing for rebirths with her eyes closed even though she loved the panorama.
Trying to help as many as possible by giving them a second chance, Creator Vernakula noticed that she had a visitor. She opened her green eyes and saw Aelius appear on the teleporting platform in the hall’s centre.
A five feet tall man in his twenties with broad shoulders, black curly hair and glorious green eyes walked in for the first time with a feeling of reverence, darting at the hall’s grandeur. The King of Verni [1], adorned in armour & silk, kneeled before his Creator without saying a word.
Waving her hand, implying him to rise, Creator Vernakula said, “Welcome, Aelius! After all these years, I’m hoping you might live up to your responsibility.”
Looking at the young King feeling guilty, Vernakula continued, “For years, you walked away from your responsibilities to fulfil your desires, and if it weren’t for your father, you would not be here. Before anything, I want you to know that as much as I despise your infidelity, I haven’t got many illirens [2] to spare.”
Realising why the Creator invited him, Aelius replied, “I apologise for what has happened, Mother. I promise to carry out your command as much as I can.”
Smiling as she heard him, Vernakula said, “My command is that I want you to unite my world & become its first World Emperor.”
As soon as Aelius heard it, his mind raced, “Conquering the entire world? Can my forces even win against the Raiders? What would be the fate of my people after I march to war and lose?”
Understanding that he needed time, Vernakula waited patiently. Thinking twice about what he wished to say, Aelius whispered, “Forgive me, mother! I cannot.”
Standing up from her throne and walking down the steps, Vernakula gently created a cup of milk and passed it to Aelius. While he sipped, Vernakula said, “When I set out to create Velators, I never anticipated the desire to corrupt them so much. But now, I see innocents burnt alive and the weak sold like cattle. Kings slay the innocents & let the crooked walk away. Your mission is to reestablish the order that’s quickly fading into darkness.”
Sipping his drink, Aelius thought about it, but deep inside, he didn’t believe that neither he nor his men could win. Troubled with insecurity, he asked, “Mother, I am pleased with your intention, but I am no more than a mortal, and I would like to know why have I been chosen to complete this quest?”
Vernakula knew it wasn’t easy for any king to accept such a quest, and she knew Aelius would hesitate. So she patiently replied, “We as Creators have a few souls that we believe would serve a great purpose in our creations. These souls filled with knowledge from their previous births are called illierns, and every Creator uses them to accomplish their quests. Aelius, you are one of the noble souls who just lost your way until now.”
Realising that if it wasn’t in his capability, Creator Vernakula might not ask him, Aelius said, “Mother, with your gracious blessing, I would take up this quest, and I promise till my last breath, I shall serve to complete it. However, I want you to promise me something in return.”
Vernakula laughed, and her voice echoed. She knew how they all have materialistic needs, and without further ado, “I promise you that I shall bless you with a child as a descendant as you desire.”
Bowing in happiness, Aelius walked back to the teleporting platform and just before he disappeared, Vernakula said, “Remember, everything I promised would go in vain the moment you commit or act misguided. Powerful men like yourself do not have the privilege of learning from their mistakes.”
Footnotes
Verni Kingdom: Located in the Vernakulan world, the Verni kingdom is mighty province in the central part of the world along with Raiders.
Illierns: They are blessed souls used by the Creators to serve a purpose.
Chapter II
Gelrik’s Plea
Sitting on his chair in the topmost chamber of Tri Tower, built on the black sky, Commander Gelrik read history as he did every evening. He was a stone creation with a lean face, sharp eyes and ears, brown skin, and transparent eyes and was, perhaps, one of the few Jertins who had travelled a lot.
Historically, Creator Irma created Jertins to serve one purpose, which was to protect the portals that helped creations travel across the universe, and Gelrik was the commander of the Jertins guarding the Kulas portal. Based on their training & experience, each Jertin sword is enriched, with the best of them carrying a snow-white coloured sword made of gemstones.
Resting beside the fire, Gelrik read, “Creator Omas did not just gift his children with magic but also blessed them love and empathy as he knew that emotions will define his children more than their powers ever will.”
With a smile on his face, Gelrik thought how untrue it was, and he turned to the warmth before the chamber doors opened all of a sudden, and a Jertin rushed in. On seeing his lavender wings, Gelrik recognised him to be from the first line of defence managed by Chief Jertin himself. Following him were two guards who were trying to stop him entered. Placing his book on the table, Gelrik asked, “What is it? What brings you here?”
Closing his broad wings, Jertin said, “I bring grave news, commander. The first line of defence is destroyed, and an army of nearly ten thousand soldiers with crimson swords is marching ahead. Their generals were so powerful that their charms destroyed the walls within a moment. I’m here to warn you of the impending danger.”
Gelrik stood from his chair, shocked and asked helplessly, “Chief Jertin is deceased?”
The Jertin bowed his head in silence, and Gelrik stood dumbfounded. He thought, “Crimson swords? There isn’t any race that uses such weapons.”
Over the years, Gelrik was one of the few commanders who requested to build more communication rather than utilise messengers, but the Chiefs proudly refused. They kept boasting that there hasn’t been and never will be a force that could defeat even their first line of defence.
Reaching the Jertin, Gelrik ordered, “I want you to visit Creator Orunkula and inform his highness about the peril and request his help. We would be doomed before long without him. Now, leave at once!”
Bowing, the Jertin walked out and jumped off the corridor into the darkness. A moment later, as he fell, he spread open his lavender wings that illuminated in the dark. The guards who entered behind the messenger waited for orders, and Gelrik instructed them to plead for help from Creator Irunkula and Vernakula.
Exiting, the guards at once opened their broad ivory-coloured wings and jumped off the fort, and Commander Gelrik walked out of his chamber and bellowed, “Prepare for battle!”
Soon enough, a few Jertins started playing the drums, and soldiers on the third line of the wall began to open their ivory white and sapphire blue wings.
Chapter III
Xelria’s Desire
Sitting on his throne with eyes closed, Orunkula, the Soul Master and eldest of all the three Kulas, talked to Omas and Irma in the Septon’s Hall [1] of God’s Council through his cosmic form. With four thrones empty, the council was nowhere close to what it used to be. After a long talk about farming new souls, Irma said, “My brother Creator Pathra is delighted as they have created their children, but my beloved wife Irmiti has always been worried about him.”
While Omas smirked, Orunkula replied, glancing at the elegant Irma, “I believe Creator Irmiti worries for no reason. Let us not forget how powerful Creator Patra is and how he helped us from Creator Authur. I strongly believe Creator Patra knows what he is doing.”
While Irma stayed silent, Omas curiously asked Orunkula, “Haven’t you yet come up with any notions for your creations? Since I believe you see humans as disgraceful, may I suggest you can create one of the races of Creator Irma? He has a few magnificent creations too.”
Orunkula did not say a word as usual, and Irma ended the silence by saying, “If that is all for now, it has been a pleasure.”
Noticing the others after finishing his words for a moment, Irma disappeared, and Omas followed him. Looking at the empty hall filled with different gemstones, Orunkula opened his eyes to see his empty hall filled with golden colour gemstones with azure blue gems in the centre.
He stood up, thinking, “Creations? Why should I waste my power on filthy creations which would not even consider me worthy?”
Meanwhile, Xelria, the only human creation Orunkula has ever created to fulfil his lust walked towards him from one of the chambers to his right. He crafted her physically with all of what he desired from a woman.
Walking down the stairs with molten gold pouring down till the last step, Ourunkula embraced her to ask, “What is it? You seem to be worried?”
Placing her head on his chest, she replied, “I sometimes feel I was created only to fulfil your pleasures, my lord. As days pass by, I worry my mortality will get me replaced by another. A desire like lust is unquenchable, and for an immortal Creator like you, love is a danger than pleasure.”
Raising her head and kissing her carmine lips while she closed her eyes, Orunkula whispered, “Fear not, my love, I always have and will love you alone forever.”
After a moment of silence, Xelria requested, “Then promise me, my lord, that you shall bless me with children. Nothing can make me happier, and nothing is more beautiful and precious than children to me.”
Orunkula knew her desire. Being a Creator, he knew how humans were. First comes love and then pleasure. When they are satisfied with both, they seek offspring. While Xelria still rested on his chest, placing her head and waiting for an answer, Orunkula took a deep breath and put it straight forward, “My love, you have always given me the utmost pleasure and fulfilled my desires, but to have children isn’t simple. However, I promise that I will fulfil your wish in the years to come if everything happens as expected, but until then, you must be patient.”
Xelria raised her head and smiled in happiness. Looking back into her innocent eyes, Orunkula thought, “I must find a way to destroy her desire. Children with her would lead to my banishment from the God’s Council.”
Footnotes
Septon’s Hall: Built in Paradise, this hall is the landmark for all the Soul Masters to meet.
Chapter IV
Irunkula’s Intent
Orunkula and Xelria spent some time in their private chamber, and as soon as she fell asleep, he walked to the main hall. As he entered, he saw many tiny orange colour dots joining before him. Observing them keenly, Orunkula smiled and a few moments later, all the dots connected, and his younger brother Irunkula, the most attractive amongst all the Kulas, appeared in the centre of the hall above the azure blue gemstones.
He had pale white skin, sharp black eyebrows which covered his precious sandstone hue eyes, silky black hair till his shoulders and a white armour covering his chest.
After both stared at each other for a moment, Irunkula asked, “Trying to enjoy the Sun’s warmth, brother? Perhaps, it can never surpass the warmth your creation is giving you, could it?”
Orunkula smiled while both sat on golden chairs that formed beneath them and a round table filled with two cups of sweet milk. Sipping the drink, Orunkula curiously asked, “So brother, did you finally make up your mind for your creations? Because the last time, you promised to meet me only after you sorted it out.”
Irunkula looked at the hall after a long time, and nothing had changed. The lonely hall, which he called the golden graveyard, was filled with a strange atmosphere. Though he heard his brother, he initially wanted to ask, “The last time I came here, I warned you that having a creation to satisfy your sexual desire is a sin. Haven’t you promised me to destroy her? Haven’t you promised never to repeat such a mistake?”
Orunkula was fed up and wasn’t in the mood to talk about Xelria. So he impatiently replied, “I wish your visit does have a reason apart from pointing out my weakness, I suppose.”
Knowing that Orunkula would get furious if asked more, Irunkula closed his eyes and said, “So brother, I have finally made up my mind to create a race, and I wish to call them fairies. They will have wings, be born with magical powers, and many other boons.”
While Irunkula spoke about fairies, Orunkula wondered why he was being told all about it because if his younger brother did make up his mind, he would have created them by now, as the Soul Core [1] for creation was already given to him long ago. Still, Irunkula said, “I wish to tell you this because I need your help to create the fairies.”
Orunkula placed his cup on the table and asked, “Help? What exactly do you want me to do?”
Irunkula hesitated for a moment before saying, “I wish that my creations have two souls instead of one, and as you know, without the approval of the Soul Master, I cannot create such a race. So here I am requesting your help.”
Now it made sense to Orunkula. Standing up from his chair, he walked toward his brother and said, “I cannot defy the rules of creation by gifting your fairies to possess two souls to fulfil your desire to create a supreme race, brother. I am very sorry.”
Looking at his brother politely refusing made Irunkula furious, and he shouted, “You created a woman to satisfy your desire but cannot approve this because it is against the rules? You are a disgrace, brother!”
Hearing Irunkula shout, as his voice echoed in the sky castle, Xelria woke up, and while she still lay on the bed, she heard Orunkula furiously shout, “If you wish, I will create as many beautiful women as you want to fulfil your desire but what you have asked shall not be granted!”
Footnotes
Soul Core: A ball of souls covered by Orinum cut by Soul Masters.
Chapter V
Aelius’s Decision
All generals assembled in Chief General Alian’s chamber beside the royal quarters for the third time, King Aelius along with them. In the first meeting, Aelius ordered his generals to suggest their notions to him after he revealed his desire to become the World Emperor. Most generals were awestruck as they always believed their King to be a strong supporter of peace.
Their kingdom Verni, located in the centre of the Vernakulan world, was self-sustainable with a lot of wealth. Until now, they even had a king who looked after his subjects as his children. They believed in him, and no matter how difficult situations turned, they knew that King Aelius would take good care of them, but with this ambition, most generals believed, King Aelius might not only lose the faith of the people but might also kill young men for his greed of power.
However, as commanded, Generals started proposing their ideas after they failed to persuade their King to let go of his foolish ambition. Two of the six generals proposed that they begin to conquer from the west in the second meeting as they regarded uniting the weakest and small kingdoms would give them more power than conquering a vast empire because even victory would cost them many lives.
In their third meeting, the generals settled down to pick their cups to sip. As soon as they sat on either side of the long rectangular table, most looked at their King, waiting for him to speak. However, to their surprise, Chief General Alian, a lean old man with pale white skin and poisonous green eyes, stated, “Generals, as suggested in the last meeting that we annex the small kingdoms, King Aelius did not agree to it. Instead, we would like to strike the first blow on Raiders.”
All generals looked at Alian, shocked. Raider kingdom is the most powerful kingdom in the central world and was arguably even the most powerful in the entire Vernakulan world. Most wondered how Alian, the master who trained many in that chamber, including the King himself, had accepted this.
Meanwhile, Alian continued, “Nothing is more powerful than instilling fear, and our king believes that by destroying one huge kingdom, he can instil fear into the hearts of all the other kings.”
Before any general objected to the madness, Aelius firmly said, “War against the Raiders is definitive, and every word spoken should only help us fight them.”
The chamber was silent as a crypt for a moment while Aelius concluded, saying, “Prepare for battle!”
While they walked out, generals rushed to Alian and Jerin, the second most powerful general in the ranks. One of them asked, “Master Alian, it is madness to march against Raiders. We would get killed, and no matter how we plan, we would be digging our graves if this war happens.”
Alian looked at all the other generals for a moment. He could see their tensed faces, and to comfort them, he said, “There is more at play here than that which meets our eye. We have to stand behind our King.”
Though generals hoped for more assurance, Alian walked to his room without another word.
Chapter VI
Orunkula’s Secret
As Vernakula sat on her throne meditating, her castle doors opened, and Irunkula walked in furiously, disturbing her. She opened her eyes and saw her brother closing his orange wings and shouting, “He says it is against the nature of creations!”
Vernakula smiled, looking at her angry brother and asked, “I presaged you that the pursuit is futile, didn’t I? Don’t we know that Orunkula would refuse to disobey God’s Council’s rules?”
Standing up from her throne, Vernakula walked towards her brother and while both of them reached the centre of the hall, standing on the azure hue stones while the cold winds swirled around them. They sat on the chairs that formed beneath them.
Vernakula created a cup of warm milk and passed it to her brother before asking, “So, anything else that has changed in Orunkula’s Hall?”
Sipping the drink, Irunkula hastily replied, “You know our brother. Everything is just the same. The silent hall, darkness and the woman’s warm...” and he abruptly stopped cursing himself deep down.
Hearing him say a woman, Vernakula curiously asked, “Woman? I did not lend any of my creations to serve him. Which woman?”
Fearing that his brother would obliterate him if he spoke about Xelria, Irunkula stayed silent, contemplating. At that moment, two Jertins from the third line of defence with ivory white wings walked in, closing their wings after Vernakula acknowledged their request by opening her castle doors.
Even after they entered, Vernakula glanced at them for a moment and turned to look back at her brother for an answer. Meantime, Irunkula gawked at the Jertins and asked, “What brings you here, Guardians?”
Both Jertins bowed, and then one of them answered, “Creator Irunkula and Vernakula, we bring you news from commander Gelrik in the third line of defence. A few days ago, an army holding crimson swords destroyed the first line of defence, followed by the second line. As of now, the third line is under attack. We were sent to seek your help in defending the portal.”
Vernakula trembled as she heard crimson and could not believe it. Meanwhile, Irunkula said in disbelief, “Crimson swords? Their Creator has long fallen.”
Looking at the Jertin, Vernakula ordered, “We will do all we can to defend the portal. However, we would need Creator Orunkula, as his strength will make all the difference.”
The second Jertin informed, “A messenger has been sent, Creator Vernakula.”
Chapter VII
Alian’s Proposal
Unlike any kingdom in Vernakulan, Raiders were ruled by three chief generals born to the same king. Located north of Verni, nearly at the central part of the Vernakulan world, Raiders, named after their massive army of raiders, have been invincible since their beginning. Still, even the strongest can be corrupted through their intimate desires & Alian of all knew this.
Eric, the third chief general of Raiders, arrived after an evening ride along the sea coast to his fort, and while his guards took his horse, a general came to him and whispered, “My lord, General Alian from Verni awaits your presence. As instructed, I took him to your private chamber in secrecy.”
Eric walked towards his chamber as soldiers on either side of the corridors bowed, and a maid holding drinks approached him as he walked. General Eric, a tall man with a broad chest, big jade green eyes and a poison green horse symbol on his breastplate, took a cup of drink before he reached his chamber to see General Alian sitting in the only chair.
Standing up to greet Eric, General Alian lovingly said, “I am glad you accepted my proposal. Nothing pleases me more, given our situation.”
With nothing to say, Eric smiled back, and Alian looking at his smug face, continued, “You might have learnt that King Aelius plans to invade your kingdom to mark the dawn of his quest to conquer our entire world. However, it doesn’t take a wise man to spell out the fact that a gigantic province like Raiders ruled by three assertive generals is invincible, and it has come to my knowledge that you wish to adorn yourself with a crown, and here we are.”
Putting down his cup, Eric walked to the chair and, sitting in it, firmly asked, “What would my support lend me? Betrayal is a stain for a lifetime, and I wish there is something that you can offer to persuade me to complete this endeavour for you.”
Alian smirked, and after a moment of silence, he said, “As I promised in my letter, if we win the war, I would ensure that King Aelius would crown you and ensure your betrayal is forgotten. Later, I would also make King Aelius personally gift you a portion of the taxes to your private treasury, making you one of the richest men alive.”
“You think you are actually gifting me great things, but the fact is I can get all of them if I defeat your kingdom. Perhaps, your proposal isn’t as convincing as you wrote it, and your king doesn’t accept these terms yet”, said Eric bluntly, looking at General Alian, who stood before him.
Alian knew he made his point and, for one last time, asked, “General Eric, you know what I am offering you is perhaps your dream, and you very well know my power in Verni. If you would support us, perhaps, we can ensure that you do not need to share anything with your brothers again. So, I ask you for the last time, will you support us?”
Eric looked at Alian sternly for a moment and smiled. Standing up, he replied, “Indeed I will. If a bow can make me a king and my entire lineage rich, perhaps it is worth it.”
Alian firmly stated, “So when the drums are played during the war, your men must fight for us, and I promise you that your dreams shall come true. One last thing, next time, treat your guests with the respect they deserve.”
Looking at Alian’s black face, Eric just smiled again.
Chapter VIII
Authur’s Son
When Vernakula and Irunkula appeared on the third wall of defence, they could see thousands of soldiers holding crimson swords fighting against the Jertins. Noticing Jertins killed every passing moment and a small part of the wall broken, the Kulas tried to make a plan. Meanwhile, a creation with its body covered fully with armour walked towards them. As they turned towards him, they could notice Gelrik’s head on his spear while the body lay dead behind him.
Covered with crimson, the Creation, who was as lean as a stick, hit the wall with his spear so hard that the wall beneath them collapsed, killing many Jertins and his soldiers alike. The Kulas and the Creation opened their wings, and Irunkula shouted, “Before I liberate you, care to mention where you acquired these weapons?”
The crimson colour was of the fallen Creator, and according to the law of Creation, when a Creator fell, their creations could no longer possess their gifted powers. However, thousands of soldiers with the fallen Creators aura stood before the Kulas.
The Creation held furiously, “I am a son of Creator Authur, and I have come to avenge my father’s death. Your dishonesty and injustice have killed his form; however, he continues to live through us.”
Without a moment of delay, Vernakula flew towards him, creating a spear trying to kill the Creation. Defending himself, the Creation made the second sword in his other hand to fight back. He tried attacking Vernakula, but Irunkula stopped him with his spear, and the Creation cast a spell, and both the Kulas fell far away from him.
While Vernakula thought, “He certainly is his son as no one else can throw off Creators.”
Irunkula cast a spell of blindness, but the Creation stood without flinching. Both the Kulas tried attacking him with different charms for a long time, but the Creation stood least affected, and his attack would throw them away.
Realising he needed more protection, the Creation drew a purple ring of death [1] around him while the Kulas wondered what he had just made.
As they kept wondering, Orunkula appeared on the almost broken wall. Opening his golden wings, he flew and stood in between his siblings. Looking at the Creation, he wondered how to kill him while Irunkula looked at his elder brother and said, “Brother, he is the son of Authur!”
As soon as he heard the name, Orunkula created a golden spear and flew towards the Creation to strike him so hard that the Creation couldn’t defend himself even after casting three different spells. A massive ball of light formed around the Creation, and his minions retreated, seeing their master fail. For a moment, everyone else closed their eyes, unable to see the light, while Orunkula heard the creation whisper, “You have made a grave mistake, and now you shall destroy the Kulas yourself. Hail Authur!”
A moment later, when the Creation fell on the ground dead, Orunkula shouted in pain. Vernakula and Irunkula rushed towards their brother to see what happened and as they reached him, Orunkula regaining his strength, looked at the Kulas portal turning black. He assured his kin, “I’m well. I felt soul-wrenching pain for a moment, but now I’m well.”
All three Kulas entered the closing portal to reach the other side, and the remaining few alive Jertins stayed back while the portal closed completely. Along with the Kulas, a beam of light entered the portal but disappeared into the darkness quickly.
“This attack has destroyed everything, hasn’t it? The portal has been closed, and most of our Jertins slayed,” exclaimed Irunkula while all three Kulas stood behind the portal, which was now wholly black but translucent.
Vernakula struck the portal with her spear, and her weapon shattered into a thousand pieces. Looking at the doorway, Orunkula said, “Worry not. I will find a way to open it again.”
Footnotes
Purple ring of death: Before creation is destroyed or dead, they can use their magic to create a circle of life where they can decide the future course of their soul.
Chapter IX
Arins’ Help
Xelria stood before the throne, staring at it in the lonely castle. She imagined a young boy sitting on it but soon recalled Orunkula’s words, and her hope faded. Her eyes filled with tears as she felt betrayed for being used by a man who just loved her for pleasure. While she pitied herself, Orunkula appeared in the castle hall, and as soon as he arrived, he shouted, “My love, I am back!”
Hearing him, Xelria wiped her tears and rushed with her loose black hair and her white gown sweeping away the floor to hug him. Embracing her back, Orunkula whispered, “Sorry, my love. I am in a hurry as I have to leave for the moon and learn something significant, but before I do anything else, I have come to you to fulfil your long-lasting dream of having children.”
After completing his sentence, Orunkula created a golden cup filled with a light blue potion, which he called the enchanted drink. He sprinkled five souls into it through a charm, and looking at it, Xelria was shocked. Moments later, her happiness knew no bounds as her everlasting desire was about to come true. He passed on the cup and instructed, “Drink this, and in thirty days, we will have beautiful children to raise, and I promise to return by then to see them.”
Xelria kissed Orunkula, filled with joy, and moments before he left, he said, “You would need help and here are four maids who will always be with you to serve you.” As he concluded, he clapped, and four maids short in height with pale white skin, unusually long noses and bob hair adorned in black robes appeared above the azure stones and walked towards Xelria.
Before Xelria spoke, Orunkula disappeared while one of the four maids said, “My lady, all of us shall serve you from this very moment, and we will take care of everything you need. Please let us serve you to our very best.”
Xelria looked at the four maids curiously. She wondered about their Creator. Unable to figure it out, she asked, “You don’t seem like any creations I have ever seen. Who are you, and where have you come from?”
While the first three maids got tensed, the fourth maid replied without hesitation, “We have come from the third world of Crimson. We are called Arins, and our kind serves their masters called Auins. We have accepted the gracious request from Creator Orunkula to take care of you in this moment of need.”
Xelria walked to her room, wondering where the third world of Crimson was. The head of all Arins, who just replied to her mistress, immediately instructed, “I hope the three of you remember what Creator Orunkula has told us. One of us should talk about how dreams define any creations, the second one should talk about ego, the third should talk about how strongly our emotions define any creation, and the fourth should talk about learning internal desires. By the time the babies are born, they shall be the greatest masters in the universe.”
Chapter X
Orunkula’s Blessing
Irunkula sat on his throne, listening to hymns sung by the souls in the Soul Core [1] that floated in his hall’s centre. He wondered about the war and thought he might settle to create humans as his sister did, as the Kulas more than ever needed creations now. Until the invasion, he never believed there was an enemy seeking vengeance, but now he did.
Even though he disliked humans for their shortcomings and wanted to create fairies to whom he planned to gift the power to conquer their desire, it wasn’t possible without his brother’s consent. His creations needed two souls, with the second soul called the magical, comprising all evil desires.
Being a Creator, he wished his creations not to waste their existence seeking desires. Satisfaction and happiness filled with contentment were what he hoped for in them. So the second soul shall absorb the evil within and was planned to be rooted out. While one soul shall gift them life, the other soul shall liberate their existence.
Irunkula was even willing to sacrifice a lot of his power to build an artefact that would help his children to cast out their evil souls and intended to define a way of life through his law called the Irun Law. Most of it seemed to make perfect sense to him; however, Orunkula, the Soul Master of Kulas, did not accept his request for two souls.
Now he did not know how to approach his brother again, and as he looked at the Soul Core [1] enclosed in blue flame, Orunkula appeared out of nowhere. As Irunkula stood up to bow, the eldest Kula wailed no time by saying, “After our recent defeat, I have reconsidered your plea, brother. You should at once start creating life as you wished and build a force that could fight with us!”
Irunkula could not believe his ears. He was delighted that, at last, they agreed on this. He bowed his head again, and Orunkula smiled.
Turning to the Soul Core [1], Orunkula chanted a hex, and the ball now split into two equally sized small cores, one lit in lighter blue flame and the other in golden yellow.
Turning towards his brother, Orunkula said, “Use your illierns [2] carefully and root out the golden souls as soon as possible from your children!”
Irunkula looked at the Soul Cores [1] in amazement, and Orunkula disappeared.
Footnotes
Soul Core: A ball of souls covered by Orinum cut by Soul Masters.
Illierns: They are blessed souls used by the Creators to serve a purpose.
Chapter XI
Aelius’s Power
Leading thousands of men, general Alian sat on his brownish black horse, waiting for the Raiders to arrive, and King Aelius was just beside him, staring at his men. Although Alian struck a deal, he did not inform King Aelius about it.
The first three lines of cavalry had two men sitting on each horse; the first man held a soul twig to pierce the hearts of their enemies, and the second held bows to hunt his enemies. Behind the three lines were ten lines of soldiers with swords, and the last ten lines were archers alone.
Though cold winds swirled in the battlefield, the Sun’s rays shone brightly. Aelius and his men waited for a while until the Raider forces arrived. They stopped a mile away, and all that King Aelius could see was the first line. Leading the entire army were three generals, and General Eric said, “Brothers, as we planned, the initial attack would be by two of you, and I will join along with my forces later.”
The first raider, a man in his fifties with a muscular body covered in peer green armour, boasted, “I am sure it would not last that long. Look at their soldiers, quivering in fear. Our march shall bury their will to fight even before they strike us.”
The first raider continued talking in his commanding voice, “Today! We shall show those fools they challenged the Immortals! We shall make them feel what happens when anyone challenges us!”
The second raider immediately held his spear and, pointing it forward, started riding. Behind him followed the first raider and two segments of the army wearing peer green armours, and they shouted in unison and seemed reasonably confident about their victory.
King Aelius smirked, looking at them and thought, “For an army led by men who count the numbers to win a war, they will all be proved wrong; I pity them as they would die before they hurt my men.”
Alian looked at the Raiders for a moment before shouting, “To victory!”
King Aelius followed his chief general and waited until their archers were in range. He then shouted, “Shoot!” and the first round of arrows was set loose, and the voice of their mother whispered to King Aelius, “Curse them with blindness,” and without wasting a moment, Aelius faintly said, “Darkerk!” and all the Raiders touched by an arrow turned blind!
The blinded Raiders crashed and hit others in their way. When this chaos was unleashed, another round of arrows was shot, killing those who couldn’t defend themselves.
Meanwhile, General Alian commanded when the frontlines were about to crash, “Brace for impact!”
Verni’s soldiers held their spears and shields as firmly as possible while the archers behind them kept shooting. Moments before the lines clashed, King Aelius faintly said, “Shatterian!” and as soon as the spears of his soldiers touched the Raiders, they shattered into pieces. While the arrows kept making them blind, the spears blew into pieces.
As his forces slaughtered the others, King Aelius finally said, “Delusion!” The few Raiders fighting against them turned around and started killing themselves. Verni’s soldiers stood awestruck as they had never seen anything like this.
The third Raiders general did not even dare to march. Looking at the bloodbath, he alone rode his horse and approached Aelius to fall on his knees. Looking at their enslaver, he pleaded, “King Aelius, I swear in the name of Raiders, we shall serve and follow your command if you spare our lives out of mercy!”
Aelius got down from his horse and walked towards General Eric said, “I shall grant you mercy if you promise that you shall make every soldier of yours march to various kingdoms and tell everyone what they have witnessed this ring. I would like them to speak to all kings and warn them that this is what shall happen if they wouldn’t bow to Verni.”
Placing his head at the feet of King Aelius, General Eric said, “Yes, my Emperor.”
Chapter XII
Master’s Appeal
After teleporting from his brother’s castle, Orunkula travelled to one of the three enriched Moons. For every Kula world, there is a moon that is also habitable. The one that Orunkula now visited was of the violet moon-bound to his world with an Archaic Ministry.
As he appeared on azure stones in the centre of the city of Lorgil, Orunkula could see the huge castle far away before it was a wide street filled with Pethers, creations who communicated with other universes through their internal voice. Beside every Pether was an Arc guarding them. These creations of Creator Pathra were called Archaics, and they lived on moons and helped establish communication between different races.
As Orunkula walked down the street, Pethers wearing white robes bowed, kneeling and kissed the ground while the Pethers wearing blue robes just bowed their heads. The Arcs also bowed their heads when the Soul Master passed by them.
Most of them were amazed by looking at the golden aura around Orunkula. Walking on the radiating violet land, he reached the Ministry of Masters. As he ascended the stairs to walk into the Ministry, Arcs guarding it opened the doors.
Walking inside, he could see thousands of Masters sitting on their sapphire chairs, discussing the blockage of the Kulas portal. While one of them shouted, “It has been a while since our Pethers lost communication, and we haven’t even written to the Soul Master!” another shouted, “We have failed the purpose we have been created for!” and when they saw Orunkula walk in, everyone became silent.
The chief of Masters stood up out of respect for the Creator. Bowing down in courtesy, he said, “Welcome, Soul Master. We have been hoping for your arrival. As you can see, we have all assembled to discuss the key for our current crisis.”
Looking at the Master, who was unusually short, wearing his violet armour, staring through his single eye beneath his neatly stowed brownish black hair and radiating crown made of white gems, Orunkula said, “I see no point in your debate Chief Master. The truth is that every one of you knows how to break the portal, but you desire to preserve your most prized possession.”
One of the Masters shouted, “For a Creator is gifted with immortality, life might not be such prized possessions, but for Archaics with short lifetimes, it means everything!”
Hearing it, Orunkula became furious while the Chief Master calmed him, saying, “My friend meant that without the stones of Elixir, we would have to die as being blessed with a short lifetime of just ten years. Most of us are solely dependent on it, Creator Orunkula.”
Orunkula replied, “Chief Master when Pathra created all three universal creations, namely Masters, Arcs and Pethers, to live in moons, he restricted your life since he knew your thoughts would be corrupted over time. Even you know that it is why he limited your life to be short. However, one of the Masters wished for longevity, and Creator Pathra was gracious in gifting every family tree five Elixir stones. These stones have been extending your lives, thereby letting you serve more. Over time, however, even the creations that are not worthy have been gifted with this Elixir. I am here to tell you that the wise can live with one stone of the five while I want the rest of the four.”
All the Masters were shocked, and the Chief Master thought at least two stones would be left. One of the Masters furiously shouted, “Do you think we would let you take four stones?”
Ignoring the other Master, Orunkula looked at the Chief Master, waiting for a response. While one of them ignorantly shouted, “You fool, we are as powerful as you are!”
Without waiting another moment, Orunkula created his spear, chanted a hex and hit it on the floor. A massive wave of black circle hit everyone around him and travelled around the entire castle. A few moments later, the Chief Master opened his eyes to see everything destroyed while Orunkula stood still.
Walking towards the Chief Master, who trembled in fear, Orunkula said, “If you do not give me what I ask for, I shall destroy your home.”
Tears rolling down his eye, the Chief Master rose, gathering all his strength to walk to his throne and as he ascended the stairs, he saw most of his fellow Masters dead and a few of them lying on the floor suffering in pain.
Placing his hand on the throne, he chanted a hex, and a small chest appeared on the chair. Carrying it down and putting it before Orunkula, Chief Master winced in pain. Opening the trunk, Orunkula could see five thin and long stones. Closing the chest, he left in silence.
Noticing him leave, the Chief Master thought, “One day, you will plead for mercy!”
Chapter XIII
Irunkula’s Hand
Irunkula completed creating fairies using his entire Soul Core [1] and gifted his marigold-coloured world for their living. He gifted them a magical vision that could help them see through darkness within other creations and ensured that they needed no food to live, but they should drink a portion every day to support their life, called ealix [2]. Physically, they were given pointy noses, long silky hairs, extraordinary beauty, and broad wings like Jertins.
Irunkula elected four heads of his creations, one for each direction, and called them Caliks. One day, summoning them, Irunkula realised he gave each leader and their side their powers. The northern leader was the most powerful in terms of strength in combat. The southern leader was most potent in terms of his memory — the eastern leader for his willpower and the western leader for his creativity.
Irunkula stood up from his throne and, walking towards the Caliks, said, “I have elected you hoping that all of you would represent me in my world, and after many years I have summoned you because I want you to know that you are not just ordinary creations to be slaves of desire. Mark my words because anyone can be ruined because of desire. Though most Creators believe that desire is the driving force for almost everything, I believe that an entire creation can perish with one evil desire. So when I created you, I crafted within you a magical soul, which would suck away all evil desires within you.”
While all four fairies looked at their Creator in amazement, Irunkula stated, “I want all the fairies to offer me this magical soul through my Golden Hand. As you all might be wondering, why would I, as a Creator, gift you evil desire and later ask you to offer it back? I want you to understand that gifting magic might be a choice, but when life is created, desire is an element to make it happen, and with it comes corruption. So from today, I shall create the ministry of the Golden Hall, and in its centre would be the Golden Hand, and every fairy after birth should stand before it. Anyone who disobeys this command will be burnt alive!”
As soon as Irunkula finished saying, all the four fairies curtsied, along with the Creator, and disappeared. The next moment the four Caliks were standing on barren land covered with sand on all sides. While the four fairies wondered where they were, Irunkula created a huge castle and walking in, he created a Golden Hand in the centre.
All four leaders looked at it in amazement, and the northern leader walked first and stood before the Golden Hand. The very next moment, the hand sucked out the magical soul creating a black pupil in his white eyes.
The eastern leader said, “Father, we thank you for gifting us such a great blessing. We shall call this fort Birthmark, and the Golden Hand shall be referred to as Father’s blessing. We shall ensure the fort is open at all times, and as instructed, if any fairy disobeys your command, we shall burn them!”
Irunkula, filled with pride, shouted, “Bless your rule!”
The four Caliks bowed for one last time, and Irunkula disappeared. The other three fairies gave up their magical souls, and the northern leader Revil said, “We need this castle to be protected. So all of us shall make a pact that each of us would train one thousand fairies to defend and administer this castle. They shall ensure everything is right while we live in our homes.”
All others nodded in agreement, and Revil concluded by saying, “They shall be called the army of Awakening, and it would be wise if we ask all our fellow fairies to bring their children as soon as they are born.”
Footnotes
Soul Core: A ball of souls covered by Orinum cut by Soul Masters.
Ealix: A sweet drink made of plants to enhance strength.
Chapter XIV
Ilian’s Knowledge
“How could King Aelius perform magic?” thought Alian all along the way as he rode back with his guards after the Battle of Charms to meet his family. It has been three days since the battle happened, and never in the history of the Vernakulan’s world has a battle been fought with men using magic. Every moment the word spread to thousands all across the world, and some of the irvendlers [1] claimed that Mother Vernakula chose King Aelius to be the world emperor.
As General Alian passed across the streets, commoners greeted him, and a few even bowed. As soon as he entered his fort gates, a servant took his horse. His guards walked behind him with two chests filled with jewels sent by Emperor Aelius. Alian walked to see his wife, and she raced to him like a young girl and hugged him. He smiled and whispered, “My love, you still ran to me as you did the first time I returned from war.”
He looked at his son, who was around twenty years old, lean and fit with emerald green eyes, silky black hair, clean shaved, pale oval face waiting to embrace his father. Hugging him, Alian said, “I need to speak to you. Join me for lunch.”
As Ilian helped his mother and other servants get the lunch ready, Alian took a bath and, wearing his robes, arrived to have his lunch. Eating one of his favourite dishes, he asked his son, “Have you ever read that men can perform magic, son?”
Tasting the red hot meat, Ilian replied, “All men aren’t just blessed to perform magic, father, but it is not like we can’t. We can perform magic, but I am sure we need to be an illiren [2] to do it. I guess the Battle of Charms has indeed proved that men can perform magic, didn’t it?”
Alian looked at his son, wondering what he meant by an illiren. Meanwhile, his wife Moria, forty years old with long black hair and wide brown eyes, said, “A day earlier, an irvendler walked in the street shouting that our blessed King Aelius has now become an Emperor! He mentioned that King Aelius has destroyed the entire Raiders through his magic!”
Turning to his wife, Alian furiously shouted, “Raiders turned blind as soon as our arrows hit them! They were shattered into pieces when we struck them with our spears, and the worst thing is our soldiers, who aren’t worth anything, fought using magic diffusely! Tell me, how could this be possible?”
“Blindness, shattering? It is definitely not a coincidence,” thought Ilian and turning towards his father, he asked, “Father, are these the two powers that King Aelius used?”
Continuing to eat, Alian nodded in acceptance. Ilian said in amazement, “Then he is an illiren father! I am sure as those are the powers of Mother Vernakula.”
Finishing his food, Alian looked at his son, waiting for an explanation, while his wife asked, “Tell us everything about it.”
Ilian explained, “All the Creators have auras around them, and the most powerful Creators have many. It turns out that our Mother Vernakula has three of them, according to the Masters. The golden aura would create delusion, the orange aura would shatter, and the green aura would blind her enemies. According to the Council’s law, any Creator can gift a part of their magic to any illiren, who is also called a blessed soul. The purpose of gifting them is to make them serve a mission the Creators wish to fulfil in their world.”
While a servant filled their cups with ealix [3], Alian comprehended that King Aelius would easily conquer their world. Meanwhile, Ilian looked at his mother and pleaded with her for one last time, but she nodded her head, saying no and left with no other option; he hesitantly asked, “Father, with your permission, can I please study the origins of Creations?”
Slamming on the table, Alian seriously questioned, “How many more years would you keep learning? You have been learning for a decade, and perhaps, it is time you use your knowledge to help our world.”
Footnotes
Irvendler: A creation who can foresee the future or an astrologer.
Illierns: They are blessed souls used by the Creators to serve a purpose.
Ealix: A sweet drink made of plants to enhance strength.
Chapter XV
Heric’s Prediction
As the sun shined, Heric walked back home. He was returning to the city of Firth, his home, months later. The first thing he did was buy food from the market. He spent two coins, and on his way back, many friends greeted him. He has been serving the army of Tri-Forts for years now.
Blessed by Mother Vernakula, Tri-Forts had the biggest fortified cities in the world, and its soldiers have never been defeated. Not even a king dared to attack them for about five decades, especially after the Battle of Firth, where the Tri-Forts army defeated two kings together even though they had only half the infantry compared to their opposition.
Heric reached his home and shouted, “Helena! I am back!”
His wife, Leria, rushed from the kitchen to see him. Placing his goods down, he rushed to hug her and asked, “Where is Helena?”
Leria picked up the goods and, walking to the kitchen, replied, “Your daughter has built a habit of walking to the lake of Gerwils every morning.”
Drinking some ealix [1], Heric immediately set forth to go to the lake between the kingdoms. When he reached, he saw his daughter sitting on one of the pale green stones and looking at the sun’s reflection. As he sat slightly behind her on another stone, he could see the beautiful reflection himself. Looking at his three years old daughter, who looked unusually older for her age, Heric asked, “Have you come all the way to look at the reflection?”
Helena turned back to see her father, hugged him, and embracing her back, he expressed, “You have grown old! Good!”
Helena’s face became dim, and looking at his daughter Heric said, “Do not for a moment wonder why you are growing so old than your peers. Maybe there is a purpose for this child.”
Helena smiled while Heric continued, “Anyways, I also wanted you to know that there is a new Emperor in our world called Aelius. He claims that he is chosen by our Mother, but I believe he is lost in desire and blinded by power as only a fool wishes to conquer the whole world. Sooner or later, he would fight against our kingdom, and our king, filled with pride, would not bow, thereby needing me.”
Helena smiled and said, “My lion would never fall, for he is the Knight of the Tri-Forts, and death would dare not come near him.”
Heric looked into his daughter’s eyes and smiled though he knew that the Emperor would destroy them with his magic. A few moments later, both of them walked back to their home, and while they walked past the city centre, Heric heard an announcement that the King of Yeqin, the kingdom located to the west of Tri-Forts, had surrendered to the Emperor and so has the Keops kingdom which was to the south of Tri-Forts.
With the Raiders spreading fear after their defeat, all the kingdoms surrendered and knelt one after another. Though Heric wanted his king to bow deep inside, he knew it would never happen. With their strong army, which had never been defeated, his king would never bow.
Footnotes
Ealix: A sweet drink made of plants to enhance strength.
Chapter XVI
Xelria’s Children
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