After the four brothers attempt to conquer the Verni World, they are defeated and arrested by the two embodiments of Creator Vernakula namely Olrin and Archen; fighting alongside are Olrin’s pupils called Hunters. Post victory, Olrin goes missing and Archen is suspected to be corrupted as he doesn’t serve his destined purpose anymore. Without the support of the embodiments, the world order established by Olrin crumbles and kingdoms declare their independence while enacting their own laws. Hoping to restore stability, the Hunters who were trained by Olrin himself choose Aelius, King of Verni, as the interim successor and take up the quest to bring back their master. “The Soul Snatcher” by R. S. Chintalapati is a novelette narrating the fall of Vernakula’s embodiments and the journey of the Hunters to save their world.
In the second age when mortals could no longer witness their Creators, the four brothers namely Dream, Shadow, Dreary & Halo killed almost all of the Bloomers in the Irun World on the order of their master Alwerik. Though the brothers didn’t intend to harm the Bloomers, they were bound to complete their mission or lose their mortal forms for eternity. This wouldn’t even be the first time they have lost their mortal forms and the last time they did, they lost their mother and were locked up in a cage that killed every possible hope to even exist.
By killing the Bloomers, Alwerik planned to weaken their Creator Irunkula and as expected, the four brothers fulfilled their undertaking. Bloomers were special creations and in an attempt to create a superior creation, Creator Irunkula in the past placed two souls in each of his special creations. When they were born, Bloomers were to return the soul that craved for their material needs thereby freeing their desire while returning their creator his power. Since two souls weren’t in the natural design of any creation, Irunkula had to use some of his energy to create Bloomers and planned to regain it when his creations resubmitted their souls. However, this design didn’t work due to the intervention of the brothers and with every dead Bloomer, Creator Irunkula lost a little of his power.
Chapter I
Five decades after Olrin was last seen, the Vernakulan World was ruled by a ferocious Conqueror named Aelius. After waging wars for nearly four decades, Emperor Aelius united the entire known world under his rule except for a few tribals.
Blessed with wealth, health and power, Aelius never hoped to even expand his kingdom. However due to the circumstances, the Hunters chose him and helped him in uniting the world under one rule. Without any desire for it, he did become the second world emperor after Olrin himself but in the journey of doing so, he spilled a lot of blood, burying young men, and wiped off a few communities entirely.
Chapter II
As the Sun rose, Elrin the commander of Knights at Merk ordered his men to form lines while facing the Emperor’s battalions. He knew they would be slaughtered but he couldn’t defy the promise he made to Archen. He couldn’t give up the sacred chain.
Ever since Archen asked them to secure the Golden Tower, the Knights have been killing everyone who approached their camps built around the tower. Not intending to change his position while glancing at the forces before him, General Elrin took a deep breath before shouting, “We have pledged to defend this tower to our death! Let us keep our promise!”
Chapter III
Though Glinda knew that the battalions wouldn’t reach Merk yet, she was awake all night reevaluating her decision in the number of battalions sent. Predicting that the battalions would reach Merk the next morning, Glinda sat in her chamber awake all night wondering if she should have sent more battalions. By the next morning, her belief about being victorious faded. That evening when she almost made up her mind to send a few more battalions, a scout returned from Merk to inform her about the victory.
That night again, even the cold autumn breeze, the full moon and the news about their victory couldn’t make her sleep. She awaited to obtain the chain and as the Sun was almost waking up, she heard the city guards playing the drum. Getting off her chair, Glinda immediately rushed to the ministers’ hall in the southern part of the palace to meet the generals.
Chapter IV
The next morning, the Blessed and Glinda arrived at the Prince’s chamber after he bid farewell to everyone he wanted to. Noticing them, the Emperor kissed his son one last time on his forehead and exited the chamber.
When the Emperor left, the Prince nodded his head as Glinda approached him, he started chanting prayers and concluded by saying, “Forgive me, God, for my sins and I plead you to welcome me to your home.”
Chapter V
As Jasper and Glinda approached the lawn behind the fort, they could feel the scent of different flowers before they even reached the lawn. Looking at his mother, Jasper said, “We have been studying these cages for a while now. However, until this point, their existence was an assumption. Now that the Blessed have confirmed their existence, we are in a terrible position.”
Entering the lawn as the sun shone on them, Jasper continued, “After Goddess Vernakula’s embodiments Olrin and Archen have defeated the four brothers, the Goddess has offered velators the choice to choose one of her embodiments to follow and we did as we were told.”
Chapter VI
Feeling the cold winds at midday while resting under the Sun, Glinda and Jasper were silent after their long conversation. While Jasper thought about the next course of action, he heard Jasmine rushing toward Glinda to hug her.
Embracing each other, Jasmine asked, “It has been a while since you have paid us a visit, mother. I hear you bring grave news.”
Chapter VII
Breaking the silence, Wiler banged his fist on the table as he exclaimed, “You cannot kill an innocent boy to live forever.”
Though Glinda shared his point of view, she realised there was more at stake. Noticing Ilian’s silence, she pleasantly asked, “I understand your argument Wiler but we cannot let this world be consumed by a corrupted power.”
Chapter VIII
Listening to the Hunters banging on the door, Ilian felt rejuvenated in his new form. Though he could feel the pain of the cut around his throat, the bleeding stopped and in time, he knew the wound would heal too.
Walking past Yarin as she wept, Ilian opened the door to see all of his Hunters shocked. Most of them could see his old body & Xerin lying on the floor and Glinda of all seemed terrified looking at the wound.
Chapter IX
The next morning the throne room was filled with every selected member to form the first republic. It was Aelius’s decision to elect the first republic that shall last for four years and within the first four years, the arrangement shall be made for people to elect their next republic.
After all of the elected members swore they would serve their people to their best, Aelius turned to Ilian. Surrounded by his followers all around him, Aelius remarked, “I’m ready to meet my family.”
Chapter X
Reaching the Fort of Hunters within a couple of days, Ilian asked about Wiler to every pupil he could find but none of them answered as they didn’t identify who Ilian was in his young form.
Searching for Wiler in the meeting hall and his chamber, Ilian finally found him in the backyard teaching a couple of students. Approaching him while being opposed by many students, Ilian commanded, “I need to talk to Wiler.”
Reliving in his mortal form, Ilian noticed that Wiler was just standing before him. Noticing his master waking up, Wiler felt relieved. For a moment he thought they failed and Ilian corrected him by mentioning, “The brothers are just behind you. We shall have to give them their mortal forms.”
Observing Wiler’s hesitation, Ilian mentioned, “Let’s complete what we started.”
Comments