Emperor Leonard Alvatus stared out into the expanse of The Heart, Vex's most glorious island. Home of politics, power, and religion.
Despite the sun having long since set, a warm breeze washed over his face, sending strands of his white hair flowing behind him.
"You are troubled, my Lord?" A voice came from behind him. It belonged to a young man named Erwin, one of the three members of the Inner Council.
Leonard remained silent as he gazed into the moon.
Troubled... He doesn't know the half of it.
He heard the sound of footsteps coming from behind until they stopped next to him on the balcony. In the corner of his eye, Leonard could see the young man's purple hair, flowing down to the common white robes of the Oxon Citizens.
"Ilandrus is a liar, everyone knows that he is not a prophet." The man said, trying his best to consolidate the Emperor. "There is only one man favoured by the gods, and he stands before me right now."
Leonard almost let out a shameful laugh.
I'm not a prophet either. If Ilandrus is a fraud, then I am the angel of deception himself.
"Erwin speaks the truth." Another voice came from somewhere in the room behind them. Leonard didn't need to look back to recognise it as Bartholomew, another member of the inner council, though much older than them both. "Your father made sure that the empire was Monotheistic. That they only believed in one God. The Only One."
Leonard let out a silent sigh.
Another lie.
"There is a simple solution to this problem." A new, prouder voice came. This belonged to the third and final member of the inner council. A tanned young man named Enoch with long black hair. "Travel to The Right Leg, and put an end to the man's life. If we let false gods and prophets rise, then the six islands will return to what they once were. Lands of freedom. We cannot allow that to happen."
Leonard's mind raced with so many thoughts that his brain began to hurt. What angered him most was that this entire situation could have been avoided.
If his Father had not lied to the world, claiming that his son was a Vessel of the One and True god, then he would not have to keep up this front.
Ilandrus' claim could be accepted by those who wished to believe in him, and suffer no consequence for it.
But instead, he was forced to ensure that The Final Empire continued on the path that it started on.
One of Ultimate and Absolute rule.
Leonard was about to rest his face in his palms before a sudden sound in the distance snatched him from his thoughts.
"What on Vex is that?" Erwin said from beside him, as Bartholomew and Enoch made their way to join them on the balcony.
Leonard's eyes drifted into the sky, following the sound of strange shrieks. At first, he wondered if there was a battle taking place in the sky between two large birds.
But as he spotted the source of the noise, his heart sunk into his chest.
It was not an animal, but rather a human.
Its skin was dark like bronze, and its beard and short hair were white like the moon. Protruding from the man's back was a set of large white wings, similar to that of an angel, but closer resembling a large bird. He wore no shirt or shoes, only a pair of brown loose pants.
The man's shrieks caused the civilians of The Heart to exit their houses and look up into the skies. All were given sight of the man that hovered in the air, looking down upon all as though he were a judging god.
"It's him... Ilandrus." Erwin whispered in a shocked tone. "Those wings..."
"That is not magic belonging to the six Mageways." The older Bartholomew spoke, saying what was on everyone's mind. "He has earned that power elsewhere."
No one in the streets below, not even the Empire's guards, dared to attack the man, even though he had trespassed into the capital of the empire. Instead, all looked up in awe at the foreign power that stood before them.
A human mutation...
"Then it's true. His powers are gifted from a god." Enoch pointed out, turning from the sight and heading back inside, angered. "What does this mean for The Only One? Is our god false?"
Leonard stood there in shameful silence as the man in the sky let out a final shriek before flying away. He had only come to make a show. To let all those of The Heart know that his words were true.
Ilandrus was a real prophet.
"We cannot let this be." Enoch spat in anger. "The man must be in cahoots with demons. He is a pagan that must be kiled. There's still time now; we can send our strongest mages after him to strike the man down from the sky."
The other members of the council seemed to agree, but Leonard could hardly focus on their words. The pent-up stress of his circumstances plagued his mind.
Why can't they see that this is all false? I am not a prophet, nor a vessel for the true god.
The Only One does not exist, it was just a lie created by my father to conquer the lands.
And now, that a new man has claimed that he has the power of a god, we wish to strike him down? Even if his words are false, then he simply commits the same crime as I and my father!
Leonard clawed at his face, as he felt himself going insane. Blood welled from his skin and dripped down his face as he fell to his knees, deafening cries leaving his mouth.
He heard the worried voices of the inner council members surrounding him, trying their best to bring him back to his senses.
But he couldn't. Leonard Alvatus felt like he was losing his mind.
After a few moments of internal struggle, the young emperor felt his vision darkening and his consciousness fading away from him.
He wondered if he had died.
Part of him wished that he had.
But instead, he felt a chill spread through his spirit. Somehow, he had managed to... Open his eyes.
Leonard found himself standing in an endless expanse of black water. In the air was nothingness, and all around him was silent.
However, he felt an incredible pressure weighing on his presence. As though he was constantly being crushed by the largest of stones. He struggled to move, even if the body he currently controlled was merely spiritual.
But as he finally managed to swivel himself around, he found the source of the pressure.
A giant being stood before him, instantly causing his heart to lurch in his chest.
Not only did it stand at the height of mountains, but it's skeletal form took on a red ethereal glow. It sat comfortably atop the black water, the singular white eye of its face glaring down at the minuscule Leonard.
Leonard felt himself trying to back away from the being, but he couldn't. It's gaze was too powerful.
And it's voice was even greater.
"Leonard Alvatus." It spoke, sending waves of black water crashing across the expanse. Leonard feared for his life, but the waves seemed to intentionally miss him.
"Do you wish to make a deal with a true god?"