Rhapsody of Destruction

Prologue:

The once planet so called, the Blue Planet, now lies on the path of oblivion. Day by day life had become increasingly difficult for humans to live in the desolate Earth. Most of the planet's fauna and flora had been wiped out of the face of the Earth leaving those who were alive in excruciating life. The peasants asked their leaders, the aristocracy, to do something to alleviate their agonizing life. In response the Chrnos' family used their extensive knowledge over science and tried creating an object that would once again given them freedom. But after numerous fruitless experiments and tests, on the year 3560 humanity got it's key to freedom.

That shining light of hope on society's problems was Natsuki, the one who would lead humanity and everything else into a new beginning. From the beginning Natsuki demonstrated great abilities and powers, with ease Natsuki was able to bring plants and small animals back to life by simply the touch of her fingertips. And by simply walking among the polluted waters, Natsuki was able to bring back pure crystal water. Such talents seemed to be a god-given ability, surpassing any of the beings previously created by the other four Noble Households.

At first Natsuki's god-given like abilities seemed like a bliss, but gradually these abilities turned into a topic of jealousy and war. Wary friends, lovers, families, and comrades turned their back to each other. Not only trust was becoming scarce among families, but fear became a constant companion. Spies and assassins lying in everywhere and in every corner of the Earth.

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There was a light blissful breeze of crisp air, gently carrying a scent of wet earth. Arcueid sighed and looked out the window, the luscious green grass below in the secluded garden gently danced with the wind. Dark violet skies glittered with pure white stars, each flickering calmly across the vast sky. Thanks to Chrnos Family's extensive knowledge in science, they were able to reproduce nature in the precincts of the Chrnos' manor and were thus able to enjoy something that was luxury even to the other noble families.

Usually Arcueid would've been busy with military and political affairs, but today had been a unusually calm day. Such days were rare in Arcuied's life, as the head of the Chrnos Family, since she often occupied herself with scientific research or was solving family affairs. As the artificial winds slowly died Arcueid walked across her spacious private chamber to the mirror, which was richly ornated with marble and sapphire stones, trailing behind her was Arcuied's long and silvery hair. She took a look at her own reflection; a young woman stood before the mirror with alabaster like skin, her lips were soft with a light pink shade and a pair of light blue eyes silently gazing back.

But, suddenly a servant knocked and spoke loudly slightly taking Arcuied by surprise. She turned back and looked towards the grand double doors:

"You may come in!"

Slowly the servant entered and bowed deeply to Arcueid and in return Arcuied did just a small bow.

"My Lady a guest from the House of Jagara is awaiting for you in the main reception hall."

With one last bow the servant exited the chamber, Arcueid following behind her. She already knew who was the guest awaiting for her, it would be her brother Kazaf. A pricking sensation echoed through her soul, although Kazaf was Arcueid's twin brother he had no memory of herself. But that didn't seem to be the only problem towards the both of them.

A servant of the layos, knocked on the Raskove's door, the servant clearly heard a loud bang inside the room, he entered without permission and looked inside, smoke and dust roamed inside the room, "Master?" he called out and he peeked inside. Raskove coughed loudly as he got up from the ground, almost covered in smoke, "Master are you still learning that God-forsaken trick again?" the polited servant asked as he walked over to the window's and opened them so the smoke could air out.

"Well Zuri, it was your idea for me to learn the trick in the first place, ever since we went to the festival fair, and it is pretty obvious that this was your doing." he smiled as he pointed a finger towards Zuri, he patted himself down from head to toe, "Master I do say that you have several guest, waiting in the lounge." Raskove walks over to his small desk of magic scrolls and potions, "That's great Zuri, just give me a couple of minutes to straighten myself up." Zuri scoffed, "More like couple hours Master." Raskove turned around quickly, "What?!" he yelled out, "I'll inform your guests Master." Zuri covered his mockery, trying to make it sound familiar, "Oh well then I'll be down shortly."

Zuri bowed politely "Yes Master." he turned around and exited the chamber, Raskove was looking over each scroll of sorcery, "Now I wonder if I could get it right this time," he said quietly looking over each note, he read each line carefully and made each expection. He quickly read each and every scroll, "Okay, lets see if I could do it this time!" he said with a cheerfull expression, he got up from the small desk and walked over to the center of the room chamber. He extended his arm reach to the high ceiling.

Waving his arms in a counter-clockwise, his hands formed a small fire, controlling the flame. He continued until he can create a spiral form, but each time he attempts this part, something always explodes in his face, he could feel it in his hands, the small fire ball exploded again in the chamber, fogging the room with smoke and dust, Raskove himself layed on the floor, again covered in smoke chalk. He coughed a little bit, "Maybe I have to see who my guests are." he said quietly as he layed on his back.

Screams could be heard from outside the cave. A near by village new the meaning of those screams another villager was taken to the creatures cave. Noone knew what happened to the victoms down there. Very few came back from that cave and the ones who did were not human, some nolonger alive.
Marcus threw the carcass of his last expierment in the pit where decaying corpses laid after each one.

Within a few minutes both the servant and Arcuied had reached the enormous grand double doors of the Reception Hall, closing her eyes Arcuied sighed. Once more her brother had come, she knew that her brother was now her own sworn enemy. For Kazaf was now a part of the Jagara family and no longer of the Chnos family and yet he came almost daily to visit her. Something that had the Great Council highly upset with Arcuied and had her almost removed from power.

Two palace guards opened the large double doors, revealing a grand chamber filled with several pieces of sculpture, exotic aromatic plants, a gargantuan water fountain with a marble sculpture of Arcueid's father, Ciel Chrnos. Behind the bushes of white camellias stood a young slender man with short pale blue hair, calm light hazel eyes whom was looking at the lotus flowers floating in the artificial pond. As he heard the clicks of Arcueid's heels, Kazaf turned around and looked at Arcueid's strikingly beautiful profile. Before Kazaf was able to catch himself, he found his heart beating rapidly while his hands and foot began to sweat even though they were as cold as ice.

"What brings you this time noble man of the House of Jagara?"

With a kind smile Kazaf momentarily gazed at Arcueid, making her uneasy. He began to walk towards her almost unconciously, he couldn't stop it now. There was something in Arcueid that Kazaf found irresistable, Arcueid wanted to move away. Not only was he her twin brother, but he was a sworn enemy. The guards who were nearby noticed the incident and swiftly took Kazaf away from Arcuied. Breathing deeply Arcueid placed her hand on her chest, her heart was beating on what it seemed a 100 miles per hour. Regaining her posture, she instructed her guards to escort Kazaf to the entrance. It broke her heart to know this secret, but solving it was beyond her capability.

Without a second glance Arcuied retreated to a different part of the manor, where her generals for the war resided. She needed to check on the status of the never ending war, perhaps they had made some kind of advance in this war of atrition.

Kohana stared wistfully out the window. It was such a lovely day. The sun was at high in the deep azure sky. Kohana sighed sadly. How she wished today was when she was allowed out, but that had been only a few days ago. She wouldn't be let out for about two weeks. She could read or she could try sewing again. How she enjoyed sewing. She was making something with her own hand, a feeling that was hard to describe. No one but herself could understand the feeling of making something, or when you finished. If it was done right, you were praised. She loved to her mother's beautiful voice sing praises of her work.

Blah. Blah. Blah. Mother is sooo great. Yeah, sure, whatever. If she loved 'you' so much then why doesn't she let you put more often?

Kohana flinched at the harsh sounding of her own voice in her head. Her other self. A self she couldn't always contral. Of course she was the stronger of the two, but there werr times when even she couldn't contral her wrath. "You know why! If you don't get what you want, then you make a scene. Think of the accident a few months ago. Our parents are still apologizing. It shames me."

Her other self chuckled. Oh yeah. Tha was funny. It wasn't my fault though.

I'm sure it wasn't. She thought aimlessly. This is how her most of her days went by. Being confined in this childish room and left to talk with her other self.

A brisk knock came from her door. Without haste, she answered it. It was her father! He hardly ever came to her room. She stared at him. "Father?"

"We are going into town. Get ready." With that, he left, leaving Kohana feeling slightly uneasy, but it turned quickly to happiness. She was leaving. She was leaving for the day to go into town. Maybe today would be a good day.

Menya sat at the head of the table, eating slowly. There came a knock at the door and she glanced up.

"Enter." She said loudly.

A tall man dressed in the common garments of a traveler walks through the door. He walks over to Menya, kneeling before her.

"Get up." Menya ordered firmly. "What have I told you about that?"

"I am sorry, My Lady. I have confirmed the reports. We've found him."

Menya sat there, thinking.

"Good. Servant!" She shouts to a servant at the door.

"Yes, Mistress?"

"Get my horse ready, as well as an entourage." Menya looks at the rugged man. "Gerald, you will lead us to this rouge Necromancer..."

Marcus went to the cage that held his experiments and the soon to be experimented on. He only had ten left he would have to make a trip to the surface soon. In a special cage next to them held his best work. A creature half-dead and half-alive a blend of both spirit and body. Once the mind was placed in this creature of his, Marcus could use him for almost anything.

Marcus went to the other cage and pulled out another victim he had to get this one right. The mind of a human was easy to break, but get them to do as you say in another body was harder. Marcus started by straping the prisoner on to his work table and carving symboles into its arms. It screamed at this beging Marcus to let it go return to its famliy. Marcus laughed at this and continued his work.

Kazaf felt crushed, something inside told him that this forbidden love would not prevail in the future. And yet his heart could not deny the existance of Arcueid, everytime she was in presence Kazaf could feel a warm and nostalgic air. Something he had always longed for in the House of Jagara, where his family only cared for training and of course making war. This...was also something Kazaf always hated, although he was greatful they had adopted him. For he did not have any memories of his early life, but Touya the head of the Jagara Family once told him that he was found in the precincts of the palace but no one knew where he had come from.

Feeling extremely depressed Kazaf made his way to the city's old plaza, where commoners walked. Forgetting that he, Kazaf, was part of the aristocracy and should not walk alone without guards. Shortly arriving in the plaza, Kazaf walked over to a fountain which was now dry and dirty. It had been centuries since clean water had flowed through these parts of the city, sitting down he placed his left foot on the rim of the fountain and letting his arm rest on his bent knee.

Kazaf looked up to the gray gloomy skies and sighed. To a onlooker Kazaf had an air of aloofness, carefree, and almost shy but gentle nature.




Arcuied had met with her Council and both sides had agreed to make an alliance with the Layos family...Arcueid had sent in advance a messenger to announce her arrival.