Another excerpt

These will be in order of the story progressing, but not whole chapters or like that

Glowing with spectral intensity, the star encrusted sky cast a dim, ghostly twilight upon the cherry trees lined garden. Vyr hadn't registered the enticing, sweet scents sailing through the gentle breeze, nor the bountiful ripe fruit dangling from bent branches. His mind tireless, racing around the insult he suffered just moments ago.

An absentminded, pronounced frown sat on his lips, eyebrows low and narrow cresting his ominously shining blue-green orbs as he, distant and lost in thought, paced up and down below the trees. Left hand playing with his chin, right hand trailing his ruby decorated sword hilt…

His dark blue cloak moved in unison with him, as though it were an extension of his being, of the turmoil in his mind.

*
A sudden beam of light pierced the darkness, startling Vyr from his rage-befogged reverie. A guard, his face etched with surprise, stood before him.

Vyr's eyes glowed ominously against the bright white radiance of the small, palm-sized orb of magic held up by the sentinel.
Lifting away his right hand, shielding his face, Vyr halted his pacing,
“Point that away from me this instant!”
He commanded.
If not his appearance then his voice finally jolted the trooper with realization of who stood before him.

“A thousand pardons, vice captain, sir..” the guard stammered, releasing his sword hilt and promptly dispersing the light spell by closing his grip around the orb.
“I was told someone intruded… I scarcely thought it was...”

Verifying the gold dragon head decorating the guard's breastplate,
“You scarcely think about anything you do, that's the trouble with you new recruits.”
Vyr berated the young man,
“Go on back to your post and tell the others not to disturb me.”

Only after the sentinel left did Vyr consider the gossip this would spark among his subordinates. Their vice captain pacing the garden like a madman in the dead of night when those of sound minds were fast asleep or at least confined to their studies.

Though his mind swiftly returned to the previous chaotic state for the length of a few more thoughts.

‘Have I defeated Astaroth, faced the bloodthirsty hordes of Belphegor, killed his successor, destroyed Asmodeus.. All demons of considerable notoriety… for this?! To be so casually brushed aside.. by the underlings of a smug, main family brat no less! They thought a meaningless rank, and a big house with a handful of servants will be payment enough for taking away my only treasure..
My only remaining family.. Just you wait, I have survived and surpassed greater challenges than this, you conniving, spoiled rotten little…’


Vyr halted his renewed pacing once more, remembering his station.
In the snobby, elite circles, a cool, collected and superior image was essential. He couldn't afford any childish incidents at this point. He would have to lie in wait for the most opportune time and make few but deliberate choices in what he'd say and do.
Challenging the high lord directly was a tempting thought, if for nothing else than teasing his ego, though even with skill and magical prowess refined and increased to incredible levels through grueling battles, shaped by centuries of experience and tested against seemingly insurmountable odds.. Vyr remained dreadfully aware of why the main family was the main family and he, a nobody, would ultimately fall before the clan's leader.

He'd known this day would come, when his sister would be plucked from his life by the main family of the clan, after all she was of a pure lineage, while he was the child conceived by an adultering father, a measly taint left on his mother's pure line, one birthed as a result of her transient passions.

And yet, after millenia of service to the noble cause, he'd hoped, somewhere within that by now, his efforts and exploits would be recognized by even the highest of powers.

****

Only long minutes later did he recognize the garden he stood in.

A far removed sort of yard of cherry trees encircled by hedge lined walkways. The spot he'd frequent in the company of Elara, and sometimes find her lost in thought or deeply perturbed, sitting around under one of the trees, still on the clan's grounds with other people just steps away but secluded enough to feel comfortable.

Author's Note

See ya on the next one

Reviews

[AYVID N]

It seems that Vyr is not content with scraps and aspired for something greater than what he was rewarded with for his very substantial victories. At this point I cannot clearly see if he's justified in his expectations or is being unreasonable but I can certainly understand his ire and simmering frustration at being undermined. Though a fantasy character, he's still quite relatable to the readers and that matters a lot in story telling. Vyr will be interesting to follow. This was a very enjoyable read.

[Dennis Wolf]

All good villains are at least a little relatable 🤔 thank you for your kind words

[AYVID N]

Yes, you're right. And that would make for a famous quote.
And you're welcome. 😀