Devan Lochees's Story

Devan Lochee's sat at his desk in the Arcanum, surrounded by tall shelves of dusty tomes, tables that were covered in scrolls and various intricate lamps, that illuminated it all with the greenish hues of vapelight. He sat here most days, the harsh nature of Regis no longer suited to a man of his age, and his attention was focused on a rather sizable, brown leather book. The type of book you may expect to find in the depths of some grand library, or in some ancient tomb, except this one looked new. He picked up his Quill from his inkstand and lifted the heavy cover of the book, running his hand down the parchment. How he loved the feeling of old, heavy vellum over his fingers,

And quite right so,

he thought to himself,

At the price that merchant charged, this better be the best vellum i have ever wrtten on..

He chortled slightly at himself, as he dipped the long point of the dark quill into the ink, and he brought it to the page to begin.

The short tale of Azo and Ben.

Some years have past, since Azo and Ben, roamed the surface of Regis, which i’m told, wasn’t always as polarized as it now is. The two boys although from the same ilk, grew to be of very different characters and while Azo became thoughtful and nurturing, leading studies and research in the Arcanum, Ben found gratification in violence and combat becoming the greatest single combatant of the Obsidian Arena.

It wasn’t long, however, before these characters were put to the test, when their mother and father both died suddenly and unexpectedly, sending the two young men, into a state of grief.

Azo distanced himself from people, finding solace in the company of books, and while he grew to terms with his situation, he had a much colder demeanour than the child he had once been.

Ben became angry, challenging and lashing out at any in his path, in the hope that revenge, however uncalculated, would lessen him of his sadness.

More time passed and Azo returned to the small town he had once frequented, only to find the burning rage of Ben had caused the same pain and grief on many others.

Brother, stop this madness! For no rage as destructive as this will free you from grief.

Azo pleaded when he eventually found his brother.

Be gone Azo, i have no quarrel with you, However no world where such feelings can exist, should be allowed to endure.

Ben explained.

You mean to kill us all, brother? To inflict that same pain you are enduring?

Azo started before being interrupted.

I mean to rid all people of their pain and grief!

Ben roared back defiantly.

Azo saw not the brother he once had, but a monster he no longer recognised. After witnessing the effects of Ben’s rage, and the consequences it left widows and orphans, Azo muttered in an unfamiliar language, a curse.

You shall be forever alone with your grief, unable to speak, unable to touch or be heard. No longer can your rage touch the hearts of others. I am sorry for not being here for you brother, but this has gone too far.

Azo explained calmly yet with a solemn look to his face, for he knew that the freedom of the town, would cost this own.

After the curse took effect, It is said that the two brothers ascended to the skies, as the grand star Benevolence, with its fiery rage, and Azoris, a distant dark hole, leeching the heat from the world, Two forces equally matched but with very different intentions.


Devan, placed his quill back in its inkwell, and capped the ink bottle carefully, before stretching his wrist and standing from the table. He looked around for a few moments, searching eyes protruding into his various belongings, before moving to retrieve something from under one of the scrolls on the table.

Aha!

he said opening a small cloth bag, and pulling out a handful of a chalk like substance. He scattered it over the page and blew any residue off preventing any bleeding,

There we go!

he continued somewhat triumphantly before closing the cover of the book.

Duplicate

Duplicate

A letter had arrived at the Arcanum from the Stone Towers. Another nine convicts had taken the green mile, among them four murderers, two thieves, and three arsonists. Devan looked down at the letter and made notes in a journal. While it wasn't an official title, Devan acted as the keeper of the city, doing his best to keep people fed, and housed.

This was no mean feat, and today alone he had council with five appointments, concerning various subjects ranging from, crop yield, to city planning.

The economic climate wasn't dreadful but it certainly wasn't great either, it would have beem a hell of alot better if they could sell the obsidian and vape off-planet. On the Brightside, the recent establishments in the area were a start. considering most who came to Regis spent their money elsewhere.

So far they had only managed to achieve small trade quantities interplanetry, travelling by a gatestone to one of the nearby worlds, and while Obsidian and Vape were well sought after, Devan thought they needed a largerscale solution.

The Arcanum had people working hard to find alternate methods of travel and all they had achieved so far was a slightly more powerful portal that lead to, well... nowhere.

Devan was sure that once this was possible, Regis would be catapulted through a technological, and socio-economic growth period, completely revolutionising Regis's stance in the multiverse, and of course he'd finally be able to retire.
.

Devan heard a knock on his chamber, and while he knew that he had appointments today, he was somewhat unhappy with the early intusion.

"Come in!" he said ina resigning tone, He knew after all it was his own fault for failing to specify appointment times.

A young messanger boy dressed in robes entered the door.

"Sir you'll never believe it, they've done it sir!" the boy said excitedly, a grin spread on his face and not thinking properly.

"Done what? Who? speak clearly my boy." he replied somewhat baffled as this didn't sound like some of his appointments.

"Sir, theyve managed to create the portal we've needed, it's small but it leads to a city. That's all they said before telling me to fetch you"

Devan looked puzzled, could it be? was this finally the day that- he cut himself midthought.

" I'll come and see for myself. You my dear boy must go out and fetch one of the guard, immediately, and bring them back here. Okay?"
The boy nodded, and immediately proceeded to run out the door, closing it behind him.

"Well i'll be" Devan continued, standing it was too much to hope for, but he had to see for himself.

A young boy rushed in from off the streets and proceeded to the woman standing behind the bar. "Excuse me Miss, do you know of any officers around here?"

Seph's eyes looked up from his drink, and thought to himself a moment.

Newton smiled at the boy and caught Sephs glance, " Perhaps that man over there can help you." He seems like the type.

Seph's interest peaked when he saw she was referring to him?

"Whats the problem?" he said, it must've been something serious, why else would a boy be looking for an officer?

The boy looked at him and in a fast flurry of words , he said "We need you in the arcanum, immediately!"

"Who does? Why?" Seph sounded intrigued now, he wasnt technically an officer, but he had been thinking about joining the Royal Planetary Guard, for some time, and while officers are heads of their teams, the position he'd been offered was higher still.

"Devan does" the boy continued sounding exasperated, and somehat annoyed, now.

"Ahh, good old Devan, I'd be happy to give him a hand, he said finishing his drink.

"Dont worry i won't be a stranger," he said reassuringly at Newton following the boy out the door.

Newton smiled and once the oor had shut muttered once again the word "Dumbass."

Seph pushed the door open and found Devan, amongst some other robed figures, all looking delighted with themselves.

Devans eyes lit up as he saw Seph step through the door.

"Hello Seph, i wasnt expecting..- I hope i'm not interrupting you" Devan was fond of Seph, he was kind to him on several occasions and was more than up to the task.

"Not at all, but i would ask why i am here," Seph returned politely.

"We've found a city, finally, and we require your assistance in diplomacy. As you well know, we've needed a way to trade over longer distances, and this may just be the solution." Devan explained. "You see i would go myself, but there is no saying where it leads, and an old man like me would'nt stand much of a chance in the big wide world."

Seph nodded. this was a big deal, if this was indeed a city with ties in the trading world, Regis could emerge drastically, the economy would rise, the guard would be better equipped, so much potential. Do you have the terms you wish to send to this civillisation?"

Devan smiled "You have common sense my boy, use it, along with this." Devan passed him an artfully sealed, official looking scroll.
"Be aware that your actions could make or break this city, but i faith in you."

"So how do i get there?" Seph asked suspiciously,wondering just how painful the transportation would be.

Devan handed him a ring that mounted a small obsidian crystalset in in what looked to be stone. "Just put this on." he smiled.

Seph sighed, "I'm going to regret this, oh well" He slipped the ring onto his finger and the world began to disappear in a fleeting blackness.