Hearing that Val, a person who was suspected to be the child of destiny, was the son of Joshua, Eldric felt angered beyond belief, his hand clenching into a fist. He was clad in a dark scarlet robe, his face hidden behind a mask adorned with a skeletal design, his brown eyes the only part of him revealed. He was so disgusted by the news that he couldn’t contain his contempt. His voice was a low growl as he spat out, “Joshua is a disgraceful beast who turned his back on us and betrayed me, his own friend, to curry favor with the Queen. Would his son be any better?”
His words were laced with deep-seated resentment. He and Joshua were once comrades, brothers in arms, but Joshua sold him out to the royals who hunted him like a beast for his unique blood. He was forced to live like a rat in the sewers as he was a fugitive that couldn’t show his face to the world otherwise he would be hunted down.
The worst part was that Joshua had only betrayed him, keeping the information about the Destiny Coven, its members, and its objectives a secret. None of the members of the coven wanted to go against him since he hadn’t compromised their mission.
“Don’t judge a talented youth with eyes blinded by prejudice, Eldric,” Lord of Thunder cautioned, “It will only make you look foolish if you’re proven wrong later.” Then he proceeded to defend Joshua’s actions, “And I can’t fathom why you harbor such intense hatred. In this world, the strong dictate the fate of the weak. Joshua simply exercised his power as he deemed appropriate.”
Eldric rolled his eyes in disdain. “Your views are as primitive as the barbarian down east. I’m too mature to entertain such petty justifications.”
He wanted to retort far more harshly, but he wasn’t interested in going down that path again as it always led to the same destination — disagreement and lengthy arguments, ones that always left him fuming, so he held himself back.
“Why do you think this Val is the Child of Destiny, Lucious?” Fenris interjected, attempting to steer the conversation back on course. 𝒩𝞸𝐕𝔩xt.𝔠𝒪𝔪
“The prophecy stated that the Child of Destiny would bear two bloodlines and would ascend in power far more rapidly than any other,” Lucious reasoned, leaning forward in his chair. “I’ve used my abilities to confirm that Val has recently awakened and, within a week, reached the second level of his bloodline. Such a rapid rate of progression is unprecedented. What can he be if not the one we’ve been waiting for?”
Fenris stroked his silver beard thoughtfully before saying, “While his rapid ascension is indeed unique, it doesn’t definitively prove that he is the Child of Destiny. We should not be hasty in this matter.”
Eldric pondered, “Then what should we do?”
“There are two ways to confirm the prophecy,” Fenris revealed, his eyes gleaming in the dim light of the destiny coven. “First, the prophecy indicates that the Child of Destiny will possess not one but two unique bloodlines and climb the ladder of power quicker than others as if the world itself is helping them. Val seems to meet these conditions. Second, the Child of Destiny will save us from a minor disaster before the ‘Winter’. We will know then.”
“But Val’s uniqueness cannot be ignored,” Lucious insisted, still not willing to drop the subject.
“Lucious,” the Lord of Thunder spoke sternly, “this is the Northern Frontier, where merit rules supreme. I’ve overlooked your help for those bearing the mark of destiny as they are your kin, and I respect you. However, you should also respect our ways. We should not aid someone merely because they’re special. If Val is destined for greatness, he will find it here, in the Frontier.”
“You’re right, fellow lord. I understand,” Lucious nodded in agreement, although his eyes still held a certain determination to not follow the rules when it comes to Val.
Fenris suddenly jolted upright from his seat, the screeching sound of the chair grinding against the stone floor reverberating throughout the room, causing everyone’s attention to be drawn towards him as he stared out the window, a look of shock etched on his face.
“Is something wrong, Fenris?” Lucious inquired, puzzled by Fenris’s unusual behavior. Fenris was the eldest among them. He was the head of the Vigil of Destiny. He was known for his calm demeanor. After all, having weathered many calamities, he was akin to an old tree that refused to be swept away by a storm. Thus, it was deeply unsettling to see him so startled, as Lucious had never seen him in such a state before.
“I…I’ve just sensed the birth of a very special wizard,” Fenris revealed, still staring into the distance as if trying to locate the source of this sensation. However, he failed and even suffered a backlash that cause blood to rush up his throat, filling his mouth with a metallic scent. It was as if an unseen force was hiding the truth he sought from him. He swallowed the truth so as to not cause panic among their rank.
The Lord of Thunder frowned, skepticism creasing his features as he questioned, “How special can a wizard be to even startle the Great Wizard Fenris?”
Fenris turned back towards the people in the coven, his eyes intense as he declared, “This one is exceptional. His powers can cross the divide that exists between the two sides of the same coin that represent the state of our world.”
Upon hearing this, Eldric voiced his concern, “Unchecked power is a dangerous thing. Especially in the hands of a newborn wizard who is yet to understand the depth of his abilities. We need to bring him under our protection before it’s too late. However, if the worst-case scenario happens and he falls into our enemy’s hands, It would be for the best if we kill him before he can grow up and become a thorn in our plans.”
The rest of the council members nodded in agreement.