Pologue
It was a day that would have been unremarkable by the normal standard. I stood on a rise as I had done each day for more than a decade. As did my father for three decades before me, and his father for seven more and so on back to the start of this bloody war. My troops behind me waiting for the next raid our numbers less with each attack the enemy makes any more losses and we will have to retreat to our mother's waters.
“Majesty. The enemy has begun massing on the border.” One of my guards informs me.
“Prepare.” Was all I need say.
Amassed and waiting we stood strong as our enemies began to surge forth. The ground we thought shook from their monstrous stampede. The foul horde grew every closer we raised our shields to receive them. It was then the Goddess made a miracle happen. The earth gave way in front of our advancing enemy many fell to their doom.
My men and I cheered and gave praise to our Goddess.
As fortune shined our marvelous goddess was not finished. From the newly opened gap came a sound of rushing water. I peered over the edge of the chasm to see the waters of divine Aquos build far below. Even as I watched the water sprung upward into the sky as far as my eyes could see. As I watched the water began flowing upwards the way a waterfalls flows downward. I was informed later the wall is over one thousand men high and stretches around the whole nation. The sound of this new wall was deafening my men and I pulled back and set a new camp.
It was then the goddess appeared. As a child I had seen the goddess once as she spoke to my father. Now I was seeing her again. Her hair and eyes the colour of the water. Her complexion pale, she was more gorgeous then any I had seen but she seemed different some how.
“Behold, I have made a insurmountable wall and the force of evil you have faced will trouble you no more. They have been contained by the other gods and myself behind our Elemental Walls. Your war is over.” The divine goddess told us.
Cheers erupted from my men.
Her gaze fell upon me. “King of my children, soon I will go into the water not to return. Before I leave there is one more task I have to do I have need of two of your people.”
I called forth my two most loyal vassals.
“I have a task for you and your lineage.” She told them. “It is a position of great acclaim but you will be chained to this wall. Do you accept?” Both felled to their knees in obedience. She placed a hand on each of their heads and briefly I saw the men shine. “Rise and be blessed. Stay with me I will show you the task you have now.” The goddess turned to me. “Bow before me.”
I did.
I felt her hand touch me and a warmth spread through my entire body.
“Rise my King. I give you three gifts and one warning. First, my blessing is upon you and your line long will you reign. Second I give you the Water wall and a way through to your allies none shall penetrate it. Third I give you the oceans to explore and travel. Beware none shall pass through this wall unless sent and those who try will perish. Lastly, I leave a promise, one day my champion will come bearing the blessing of water with a nixie on their shoulders. They will be my last agent and they will be the guiding light to finding me again. I do not know how many centuries will pass but one day they will come. Fare well Noble King.”
Then the goddess vanished taking my two vassals with her.
It was days before I saw my vassals again. They informed me our water wall was not unique each of the Nations now had an Elemental wall. They surrounded the land of dark cutting off the foul army from us. My vassals were tasked to mind the wall on our side, controlling the passage of the populace through the wall one on the north pairing with Helion, and on the east with Granite.
It is my dream the walls last forever trapping in that abhorrent land and all its foul minions. Leaving thoughts of gloom behind I will look forward with my people to the water and prepare for the champion.
- Excerpt from the journal of King Wargun Hail Wavecrasher.
