Witch of Chaos

Duke Hugo Penfield stood by his stepmother and sisters as he watched at the sight of the witch woman awarded the highest honor of his nation. She wore black, the only color that the church deemed worthy of a person like her. Her unnatural lavender hair was pulled into a modest bun, a requirement the church required to keep her appearance under strict control. Hugo stared at her in curiosity. To him, it was hard to believe that such a lithe woman would cause others to look at her with such disgust and fear. He had been told over and over again that there was nothing to be done to change her true nature, but that she could be made into an honest woman. A reward for her service despite all of the chaos she had wrought to their civilization. The church believed that they could handle her, and deemed Hugo as the proper man to ensure her acclimation into society. As his wife. Hugo held the totem of Minus in his hand, reciting the prayer of forgiveness in his head as the ceremony unfolded in front of them. He prayed for her, especially since he understood that she had no loyalty to his god. The witch and the duke had been married in a private ceremony only a few days before. An arrangement that Hugo was not sure was a punishment for his late father’s transgressions or a reward for his own faithfulness. “It is with great honor to reward the hero of the Atrena, whose intelligence, natural ability, and power protected us from the destruction of our way of life,” said Empress Cornelia, her blonde hair was piled on her head, her golden circlet was etched with the symbol of the Church of Minus. Empress Cornelia was a devout member of the Church of Minus. She ascended the Aterenian throne at the age of twenty and oversaw the Holy War that threatened humanity. It was thanks to the Empress’ unconventional thinking that Atrena was able to survive as more creatures emerged from the gates, murdering and killing and taking what they wanted from the humans. It was Cornelia who decided to release the Witch of Chaos from her prison underneath the capital, the witch as the only weapon strong enough to stop the growing magical forces that threatened the human nation of Atrena. “The rumors about her always said she was plain,” whispered Hugo’s sister, Greta, “I think she’s pretty.” “Quiet, both of you,” Genevieve cut their conversation short before Hugo could answer, “We are being watched.” Hugo was well aware of the eyes on him and his family. The ceremony was small, only the most prominent families were invited. The witch naturally drew in crowds, but the Empress thought it was better to keep her out of sight. Under strict control. It was why sending the witch to Galacia’s Horn was the best course of action. Hugo’s family was the talk of the entire nation—the nobility of Galacia’s Horn finally pulling their weight, finally proving that they deserved to be as much a part of the nation as the rest of the provinces, despite the ‘wild’ beliefs of some of the people. Galacia’s Horn was the last to convert to the Church, a century ago, through much strife and bloodshed. Atrena was the seat of the Church of Minus, a strict religious sect that taught the supremacy of Minus, and distrusted the use of all magic. An eon ago, it was rumored that it was the Witch of Chaos was the true founder of Galacia’s Horn. That she founded a place of sin and debauchery and had to be overthrown by the original Emperor of Atrena who banished her beneath the capital city. She was too powerful to kill, but keeping her in stasis was the best they could accomplish. For Empress Cornelia to ask the very witch for aid was a surprise to the entire nation. It proved that Atrena was desperate enough to ask their own mortal enemy for help. “Thalia Nox, you will now be hereby known as the title of Protector of Atrena, the highest civilian honor I can provide, please, lower your head,” the Empress declared. A servant walked beside her to present her with a box. The Empress opened it with a flourish and lifted up the precious broch to show off the sigil of the imperial family. Cornelia pinned the pin onto Thalia’s chest. “Raise your head,” commanded the Empress. “You ready, big brother?” whispered Greta as they watched the ceremony from their private setting. “It is not quite up to me,” answered Hugo. “Both of you, stop whispering and pay attention,” scolded Genevieve again. They were in the massive throne room on the second-level balcony overlooking the nobility that remained on the floor. It was his mother, Lady Genevieve Penfield’s, idea to have the family away from the main floor, especially with the announcement that the Empress would make. There was already enough talk about the Penfields—about the disgraceful behavior of the late Hugo Penfield and his descent into sin. From how their house had fallen in wealth after poor business decision after poor business decision. There was nowhere for the Penfield family to go but up, which is what made Hugo Penfield’s situation the perfect mix of unfortunate luck. “Protector Thalia Nox, it is thanks to your particular set of skills that we were able to survive. And now Atrena is ready to flourish. In order to accept your council, I am pleased to award you with another formal title, so this way none can question your place in our great country,” the Empress looked out to the gentry. Word had already spread through some of the nobility. Whispers of a secret marriage. Lady Genevieve Penfield understood the court of public opinion and needed to make sure her closest allies were aware of the controversial news. Hugo knew that they were put in a difficult position as a family. If anything, he was pleased that the Witch of Chaos was not a Warlock least one of his sisters would be forced to marry such an affront to Minus. “Two days ago, in a ceremony sanctioned by myself and the High Priest himself, Duke Hugo Penfield and Thalia Nox have been wed,” the Empress paused as the gentry filled the throne room with gasps of surprise. The whispers started to mount as Hugo felt eyes on him. The Duke that would marry the witch. “It is with great honor to introduce Thalia Nox into the nobility as the new Duchess of Galacia’s Horn.” “Stand up straight,” Genevieve reminded Hugo. The young man followed his mother’s orders, his ears hot from being given so much attention. Part of the benefit of living in such an inhospitable province was that he did not have to worry about the normal pageantry of the other nobles. Attention was not something he was adept at handling. Hugo hardly paid attention to the rest of the ceremony as the Empress continued her speech. All he could do was think about the hundreds of eyes on him as he pretended on the ceremony. Instead, he counted the columns. The number of flower arrangements. Anything to make sure he looked engaged. The witch stood still, watching the Empress with an otherworldly attention. Hugo was struck by the fact that she did not look like anyone else. His sister was right, his new wife was more than pretty. She was alluring. Her skin was kissed by the sun, a light brown color that Hugo did not expect from a woman who spent hundreds of years locked away underneath the castle of the capital. Her lavender hair was out of a fable, from stories he had grown up with about furies and magical beings that turned away from the teachings of Minus. She was older than him by lifetimes. But her appearance put her around the same age as the Empress, in her mid-thirties if Hugo had to guess. The witch intimidated him. He had just turned twenty years of age with a laughable amount of experience, mostly encouraged by his fellow friends in the nobility. He did not even fight in the Holy War and yet was tasked to marry the heathen hero of it. Music. The ceremony concluded with the same fanfare as all other ceremonies. A recessional. The throne room buzzed with activity as the subdued celebration began, officially marking the end of the war and the beginning of a new era for Atrena. “Be polite and greet anyone who approaches, we will head straight to the apartment and be done with this for the evening,” said Genevieve as she looked at her children, “That goes for the two of you, too,” her eyes narrowed to Hugo’s younger sisters, Greta and Ingrid. “Yes mother,” all three siblings answered in unison. Each of them was used to the strict rule of their mother. It was thanks to Genevieve, that the Penfield family was invited inside of the palace, and it was thanks to her idea of marrying Hugo to Thalia that pathed the first steps in bringing the Penfield duchy out of its disgraceful past. Genevieve led the way for the family through the balcony. Hugo was met with gazes of curiosity and whispers. None of his friends were invited to the ceremony, which was a strange relief. He kept the secret of his marriage ever since his stepmother announced what would happen. Part of him thought that there was no way the Empress would want to go through with it. Or at the very least, the witch herself would have wanted to back out of the arrangement. It was obvious to him that the marriage was only a way for the Empress to exercise formal control over the witch. By folding her into the nobility, the Empress was acknowledging the worth of the witch while also guaranteeing her fealty. It was unfortunate that Hugo was the right age to get married. A young man with a decent title to his name, and a family desperate to raise their station. “I would hate to be the man married to a witch.” “I heard witches feast on men, wouldn’t surprise me if he didn’t last a year.” “Don’t they realize how dangerous she is? And they reward her with a title?” “The poor Penfield family have another misfortune thrown at them.” Hugo tried to ignore the comments that he overheard. Leaving the throne room felt like an eternity, but at least the end was met with certain benefits. For the first time, the Penfields were invited to stay in one of the Empress’ special apartments for guests. Normally they were given modest accommodations, but with their new roles as the Protector’s family, they were given favor—an aspect not lost on other members of the nobility. As they made it to the guest suite provided by the Empress. It was another sign that life for the Penfield family had changed. Hugo hoped that it was truly for the better. In the safety of the apartment, the family was able to exhale, the fire roared in the living room as Genevieve took her seat. “I’ve requested our dinner be sent here,” said Genevieve. “Again?” complained Greta, “How are Ingrid and I supposed to meet husbands if the only time we are in Drusil we cannot mingle.” “This is a time to celebrate Hugo. There is an art to these sorts of things, and you will only be more appealing if we let the talk about us grow,” said Genevieve, her adept way of handling society was a trait she wanted to teach all of her children, “Besides, after this, I am certain both of your prospects for marriage have increased.” Hugo paced around in the room as Greta and his mother filled the space with their idle chatter. The reality of his situation sunk in. Now, the entire nation knew of his marriage. The word would only spread. Hugo knew of Thalia Nox from the stories he heard of her. The myths described her as a ruthless leader. She allowed many forms of magic to taint the land of Atrena and encouraged mixing among the races. Elves, Orcs, Xasans, dwarves, and all sorts of people were given free rein in the barbaric world she created. Thalia was born as a human, and allowed magic to corrupt her, changing her into something else. An undead, unnatural thing that was against the light of Minos. When Minos’ teachings spread through Atrena, it was Thalia who was ruthless to the budding religion, destroying anyone who was found spreading the gospel. She was their devil, living in the flesh. It wasn’t until an army amassed by the first Emperor of Atrena that she was captured and sent underneath the capital to atone for her behavior. And now, she was a duchess of the very nation she wanted to destroy. “Ingrid and Greta—both of you retire to your bedrooms. I need to speak to Hugo alone,” said Genevie, stopping the conversation between herself and her daughters. Ingrid stood up first, “Of course, Mother,” said the younger sister, her blonde hair was pulled back into a conservative style, her totem of Minus was featured prominently on her simple yellow dress. Out of all the Penfields, Ingrid was by far the most religious, even more religious than Genevieve. “We will talk about this later,” said Greta determined, her mind racing towards the courting season, “Now that Hugo’s married, we’ll have to throw a ball, right?” “You are correct, we will have this conversation later, now go,” Genevieve repeated herself. They all knew not to test the family matriarch. The sisters left to go to their respective rooms as Genevieve and Hugo remained alone. Hugo paced, uninterested in the conversation with his mother. “You have done the right thing,” she said, “You cannot doubt yourself.” He stopped, “Then why does this feel…wrong?” “Hugo—” “I understand. Arranged marriages happen all the time, in my station, I did not expect anything different, but to marry a woman like her?” he asked, he shook his head, “Is what the people say true? Are we being punished for what Father has done?” “This is not us being punished, Hugo. Your marriage to Thalia Nox is a blessing,” she stood up and approached her son, “You do not see it now, but this is our opportunity for redemption. If our family can be responsible for keeping the greatest threat to Atrena and Minos at bay, then we will be forgiven for our past.” Hugo clenched his teeth. “Minos teaches that sacrifices must be made, and this is a small one that I am asking of you,” said Genevieve, “It is your duty to your family, to our country, and to Minos to keep Thalia Nox at bay. Perhaps, if she likes you enough, she may even see the light of Minos for herself,” she said, thinking aloud, “But all you have to do is listen to her. Do everything she asks to keep her happy. To prevent her from harming our people again.” “What if I cannot? What if she takes over again?” asked Hugo, worried that he and his family would be blamed if Thalia were to attempt to take over again. “Minos is with you,” answered Genevieve simply, “This is happening for a reason.” Genevieve patted Hugo on the cheek, “Enjoy this solitude because when we return to Galacia’s Horn our lives will not go back to our monotony. Not with Thalia Nox around. Rest.”