"I have changed my mind about you, Primordial, and thus, I shall grant you my favor."
My mind crackled with the intensity of the tips of a fire. My thoughts were complex to piece together, but I was able to gather them. I opened my eyes, and with that simple action, I found myself in a familiar area. Candles carefully illuminated the smooth stone walls of the hallway. The dank stench of muddled water followed down the corridor.
The hallway was empty, with little evidence of anyone having ever been there. My heart began to quicken as I moved briskly through. My gaze darted around the area before ultimately landing on my destination—the large stone arches of my grandfather's throne room, the place where I was executed. My fists clenched instinctively as I glared at the massive wooden planks of the door.
I wanted to tear down these planks and confront the coward residing within. I wanted to go in there and demand that he step aside. I wanted him to decline and send Zokin my way, but this time, I will not allow him to kill me. I will not allow him to snuff out the future of our clan, not this time. Zokin, like Azorth, is a coward, and I see that now. I allowed a coward to kill me, and I now understand why I was labeled complicit.
My complicity allowed cowards to sit comfortably for too long. I've always known within the deep annals of my heart that we should not be complacent. I waited for a moment to save my people, and once presented with that opportunity, I showed my cowardice.
'Not anymore. My words were only that. How naive was I to believe that words alone would sway a primordial of old like my grandfather. There is only one way to get my message across, but I couldn't bring myself to do it.'
The loud creaking of wood snatched me from my thoughts, and I looked up to see the throne room's doors open. A wave of heat poured through the growing cracks, displacing the strands of my hair. The heat carried with it a sense of familiarity and for good reason. My instincts drove me to enter without contemplation as I was beckoned against my will. However, this time it was my will.
I wanted to enter the room, and a part of me awaited a confrontation with Azorth and Zokin. The beat of my heart mirrored my ever quickening footsteps as I strode through the barrier of heat. This time, I will not falter, and I will do what is necessary to fulfill my destiny. If burns were the price that I needed to pay, then I'd do so gladly.
When I finally pushed my way through the resistance, I didn't find the individual I was looking for. Instead, there was a stranger perched on his throne. Wide yellow eyes bore down at me as orange flames melted the stone throne. They belonged to a woman, and she exuded a powerful aura. Her hair was made of fire, and her light grey skin was reminiscent of a primordial being. Flames wrapped around her frame as snuggly as a well-tailored coat.
I stared up at her for minutes before acknowledgment flickered in her vacant eyes. The woman didn't bother to stand to greet me, but instead crossed a leg over the other.
"I didn't expect you to survive. Having your soul engulfed in my aura is enough to grant your average soul a fiery eradication. Most people could handle a fraction of my favor, even if their affinity is suitable. Your affinity is not," the woman said.
There was apparent disinterest in her gaze, and the woman leaned back to assess me. I attempted to match her gaze, but the intense burning that came of that deterred that action. Smoke plumed from her mouth, startling me briefly, but I immediately wafted it away.
"No, I am not Panchis," the woman said. Her words spoke with conviction, and with it, her raging hair flared. "He is a relic of an older era, much like your grandfather is. Both of them are complacent, and that is why I answered the call of your soul. As I said earlier, I have changed my mind about you. I sensed the smoldering heat of your soul and tested you. Instead of flickering pathetically into the void, you withstood my aura and reignited into a new blaze."
I would've usually been caught off guard, but whoever this woman was could read my thoughts. She did so when I was in that strange void. I wanted to speak up, but my words caught in my throat. I wanted to question who she is, but deep down, I knew. The vacant stare, immense power, and blazing hair were a clear indication of a demigoddess of old.
The woman stood, and with it, fire quickly escaped her body and encircled me. Her gaze remained vacant, but the heat emanating from it was far more powerful than anything she had produced prior. When she stood, her flames parted, she would be reminiscent of a warrior mentioned in the great history of my people. A blazing mantle of fire flows over her shoulders like a cape, and flame patterns trace down her limbs like divine armor. Her boots and gauntlets are armored and flame-wreathed, exuding heat and menace.
I should have been reduced to ashes on the spot, but instead, I found my core heating up. She approached me, then placed her scalding palm against my right cheek.
"I am, but I am no mere demigoddess anymore. Much like you today, I was reborn."
"Reborn? What do you mean?" I sputtered. "And if you're not Panchis, then you must be Neza."
The demi-goddess took a step backward and stared in my direction. I don't know exactly what she did, but I could sense an incredible power radiating from the spot where her palm print was. It pulsated and burned, but there was no damage when I touched it. Her vacant eyes lit ablaze briefly before she answered,
"I am the Phoenix Goddess, but our enemies refer to me as Nezaphine."
Nezaphine's blaze into life again as the goddess peered into my mind.
"I have repaired and evolved you for one simple purpose: to bring about the rebirth of your people. I have seen within your mind the vision you possess, and I now believe you have the will and power to act upon it. An old rival of mine has begun to make her move, and she is becoming emboldened by the presence of her new pet. I have decided to stake my claim as well. That is where you come in. I do not need a sycophant, nor will I accept incompetence."
"My loyalty is with my people," I responded firmly.
"Ensure your people's loyalty goes to me, and I'll look the other way. You said that you would do anything for your people. That is why I am confident that you'll accept my terms and begin acting on them. Now, this conversation bores me. Just do whatever you want, and ensure your people worship me."
"So you wish for me to swap from one oppressor to another?" I questioned, clenching my fist. "Not a chance!"
Taken aback by my declaration, the goddess briefly erupted in flames. She raised her hand, and coils of fire sprouted into a burst. I watched in disbelief as the flames slammed into me and knocked me onto my rear. The fire continued to rage, searing my flesh and burning into my mana core.
"I do not recall giving you much of a choice," Nezaphine declared with finality. Her words roared fiercer than the flames coating my form.
However, I did not falter. I shielded myself with my forearms and attempted to push myself to my feet. The staunch scent of burning flesh sickened me. I was being roasted alive, and I experienced a new phenomenon. Her flames were so intense that even my soul was put to the torch.
'I have to...'
"There is no escape! There is only submission or eradication!" Nezaphine roared, increasing the power behind the flames.
I had to do something, and I had to do it quickly. When faced with the overwhelming wrath of a goddess, I chose the only thing I could do; I ran. Pushing against the flames briefly, I mustered every fiber of my strength to stand. The fire roared with increased fervor, eradicating my skin to reveal bones. Muscles quickly reduced to flaking ash, but I managed to brace my legs and launch myself to my right.
My arms trembled from the damage, but they were barely usable. I fought to tighten my fists and pushed myself to run towards the throne room. Nezaphine's flames raced after me, but I managed to evade the initial blast. I moved to the left and then to the right, and briefly hid behind stone columns. The columns snapped from the impact of Nezaphine's fire blasts, and melted stone splashed against my legs.
Smoke poured into the throne room with smog and ashes burning my nostrils with each inhale. The once decorative throne room of our elder was reduced to the smoldering hellscape of Nezaphine's creation. Her fire licked my heels on one evasion, but it didn't matter, because I had made it to the exit. I was free from her damnable-
Fwoosh!
A pillar of flames erupted the moment I stepped outside the room. The heat forced me to a desperate stop. I choked on the thickening smoke as a gray hand penetrated the pillar and reached for my face. Unable to move aside in time, I moved to intercept the hand with my forearm. Fire coated the fingertips as the hand latched onto my forearm and severed it without resistance.
My eyes flew wide as the wound faced instant cauterization as Nezaphine pushed her way out of the flames. Dread struck me like a bolt of lightning as the Nezaphine proved her title true.
"A phoenix? I-I"
Large wings of fire sprouted from Nezaphine's back as the goddess stretched her limbs. If there were any doubt in my mind that she was who she said she was, it would be squashed at that moment. The fire of her wings roared in a deafening boom as the woman's vacant eyes ignited with contempt. Within them was an orange spiral that coiled with intensity.
"Fear not for your people, Primordial. They will join you soon."
Her declaration rippled throughout my psyche. As I watched fire accumulate around the corners of her eyes, her meaning resonated within me. Without warning, her flames burst forth in a brighter orange from her eyes, and they hit me with the power capable of finishing my soul for good. The impact forced me back into the throne room and razed my soul from within.
I attempted to brace myself with my mana, praying to Panchis that my mana could keep me alive for a few moments longer.
"I am the last chance for my people," I coughed.
It was thanks to some miracle, some divine intervention, but I managed to remain standing against the eradicating power of Nezaphine.
"Your brother was chosen to lead, not you. No matter how many speeches you gave or warnings you delivered, Azorth chose Dalk'tov over you," Nezaphine stated with burning disdain.
"Without me, there is no future for them. For the generation of today and the generations yet to come, someone must take action. For years, I pleaded with Azorth to do something, and when the opportunity to escape happened, he executed me."
"Dalk'tov was always better than you, and you know it. His arrogance was earned by his dominance of the rituals of the era that you idolized. You were always weaker, Nadivo. Burned by the incompetence passed down from your parents. Azorth was right to remove you from their lineage. Those so-called "Great Kings" wouldn't look in your direction if you were in their time," she replied. "You know this."
"I know only one thing! My people should regain their place in the world. For too long have we been exiled to the depths of that damnable hole! For too long have our gods forsaken us, and granted favors to our oppressors! Gods like you, who demand loyalty and worship without showing loyalty to those who revered you! If I have to sacrifice myself to keep you here, Nezaphine, then I'll do so, but I will never allow you to empower another oppressor ever again!"
Without warning, the fire blast that was cremating me where I stood quickly snuffed out. My flesh bubbled, and ash flaked before my eyes. The flesh on my forearms and thighs was burned to the bone, yet I dared to remain standing. I was going to make good on my words. I'll delay Nezaphine for an eternity if I have to, if they prevent her from creating an agent among the populace of my people's oppressors.
That is how far I would go for my people. I may have failed them before, but I would not now. I would stand defiant in the afterlife, and my glare at the woman showed my resolve.
"Is that right? You would go that far?" Nezaphine inquired, and then her invasive flames began to retreat.
Nezaphine stared blankly at me. The overbearing and intrusive mana that she was previously pumping out began to dim. The temperature started to plummet as the divine wrath of the Phoenix Goddess subsided.
"I have reevaluated my stance on you, Nadivo, and tested the upper limit of your power," she said, returning to her vacant expression.
"What do you mean?" I inquired skeptically.
"I am convinced more than ever that you could be pivotal to me. I could use a mortal with your resolve."
"You believe I would work for you after all that you've done to me? I know of your past treachery," I spat.
"I was bored with your kind. They were too predictable and weak. Their leaders hid behind my power, and they grew weaker with it than without it. Mortals are foolish in that fashion. I imagined you were the same, but instead, you remind me of a mortal I once bestowed my power upon."
I wanted to voice my response, but the goddess didn't bother to listen. Her spiraled eyes went vacant, and she pressed a finger to her lips.
"The humans and elves are more fascinating creatures, but I've noticed that a couple of reserved acquaintances have regained their spines. This world is beginning to shift, and the power balances will topple drastically. My entertainment will begin again, so I've decided to grant you knowledge upon your return, but do not allow my grace to go unrewarded. If so, then I'll ensure your soul burns for centuries to come."
Her words caused a tightening in my chest. While not out of fear for myself, but something more tangible. Heat began circulating my chest, knitting the lost essence of my soul. The sensation would be akin to having boiling water pumped throughout my veins. I could sense it within myself; Nezaphine was making me stronger. My mana, my body, and even my soul felt different from before. I was now aware of my soul, unlike I had been before.
Flames crawled along my body, fueled by the internal mending. The burns that once returned plagued my body began to repair themselves rapidly. Even the severed arms sprouted flames, and the limb reformed from flame to flesh. Once I was able to move my fingers again, I did so, stretching them and then clenching them.
"I have read tales of Panchis's magic. It was said that he was amongst the most powerful of gods due to his ability to repair himself with his fire," I remarked, but that lesson earned a scoff from Nezaphine.
"What you are feeling is the expansion of your mana core, it has evolved far beyond any anticipated in this process. It's expanding and merging with your soul. This is quite the phenomenon, but that only proves to me that you might be worth the investment," Nezaphine said, crossing her arms across her chest. "It is Panchis's Astral Art. It was why he was named the "Phoenix God." No Matter what threat came his way, he'd always escape and burn his wounds away. It was quite annoying to deal with."
"To deal with? You battled him?" I asked, shocked by that revelation.
Layered into the history of my people is Neza or Nezaphine, as she calls herself, who was a loyalist of the Court of Embers. Under the guidance and assistance of their divine favor, my people reached their zenith of power and influence. Everything was right in the world just rule of the "Flame Bringer" Panchis.
Panchis was the Chief God of the pantheon of the Great Kings of Old and their prosperous people. It was said that he'd seen defeat, and with that legacy, his power significantly boosted the power of my ancestors. That was until one of the Great Kings, Geryon, betrayed his people.
Having forgotten his roots, Geryon sided with our oppressors to fuel his own wicked ambitions. He was a coward, but a different one from Azroth. However, they were cut from the same cloth.
"No. I retired him, and out of respect for my power, he gifted his power to me. Hence, I am now the Phoenix Goddess. You wouldn't be aware of the transition since your people were pathetically bound within the dungeon. Panchis was adamant that I find myself an avatar. It is an archaic method of gaining power within the world, but I am quite in favor of the implementation for one reason."
For the first time, I noticed a crack within the vacant expression of Nezaphine. Her eyes briefly lit ablaze, and her flames shifted from orange to a bright blue. Pure hatred was written across her face as she spoke, "That damned witch has crawled from her ashes to play again, and I refuse to stand by and allow her to do as she pleases."
"So that is your motivation, but I don't understand where I come into the picture. I will not be your pawn to do whatever you please. It was your decision to rebuild me, not mine. I had no say in the matter, but I do have a voice now. I will not subject those whom I'll protect to your whims. I will continue to act on my desire, and not for your entertainment."
Nezaphine waved her hand dismissively at my comment, causing the blue flames to break off into sparks. Upon hitting the floor, the flames began to spread, creating a circle at my feet. Startled by it, I attempted to step over the fire, but found the heat too hot for me to do so.
"No, I am not going to cremate you since I am the god of your people now. You may not see it now, but eventually, you'll be calling upon me for power. If you want my favor during your time of need, it would be in your best interest to ensure my desire is met," Nezaphine said, igniting her palm in a subtle flame. The goddess exhaled, briefly increasing the power of the fire.
The spiral eyes of the goddess reappeared and began to swirl with hypnotic motion. The speed increased as she pointed her hand at the circle around me. They reacted, blazing with more continuous intensity.
"I deem your goal righteous, and I believe you are truly dedicated to doing what is necessary. Upon your return, you will find that Nadivo de Monrozal is dead, executed by his short-sighted and pathetic elder. No avatar of mine would bear such a failing legacy."
Nezaphine's magical aura began to pulsate, and incredible heat blasted from her body. The flame circle reacted, flashing higher and higher with each step she took. With elegance unbecoming of a raging flame, Nezaphine left intricate symbols in the form of embers in her wake.
"It was no surprise that Nadivo de Monrozal died. He was weak. A weak child, who begged cowards to act, when he alone had the clarity and empathy to act. He is a relic who waited for permission and allowed fools to take his head despite knowing in his core that he had to do something. Nadivo failed his people, but despite his failure, he dared to be defiant. He dared to burn for eternity in order to regain his honor and to protect his people."
Nezaphine's power and grace were on full display as the goddess wrapped herself with fire. The rage of those flames was tempered and well-controlled. They began spreading to her feet, melting the stone floor with each step.
There was something to be mentioned about Nezaphine, and that was her immense power. Each of her movements appeared small, but she pulsated with power, so refined that I'd likely never see anything in her nature ever again. It made me question many things, but in the end, I began to be drawn to her majesty.
"Now, as I send back, I bestow upon you a new name and the opportunity of a new legacy. The era of complacency and slow extinction is over, as you will be the constant on their new rise to power! With that in consideration, henceforth, you are Constantine."
'Constantine?'
"Yes. Constantine. That is the name that your oppressors will fear as their destroyer and your people will revere as their savior."
I took a step forward, attempting to interject when a pillar of blue flames erupted under my foot. The roar of the raging inferno threatened to swallow me whole if I dared to defy her again. It was that warning that burned a realization in my mind. She was correct that Nadivo had failed his people. Despite all of his determination and his words, he allowed himself to be slain and abandoned them.
Nadivo de Monrozal took the coward's way, and he would have been complicit in their extinction. My primordial brethren needed a strong leader, and thanks to our new goddess, they will finally get one. With a fire igniting in my resolve, I followed in his footsteps one last time. I kneeled before the Phoenix Goddess.
"I have finally been shown the light. Nadivo was a weak child, and that is why he died in the void. He died a failure and a coward, so that is why I graciously accept your power, and acknowledge you, Nezaphine, as the one true matriarch of my future Primordial nation! If it is entertainment that you seek, then I will provide it for you, as you have provided me with the strength necessary to save my people. I am in your debt!"
"Excellent," Nezaphine said, her voice gentle despite the volatile flames. "Now return, and burn your place into the land!"
With her order, the blue flames that encircled me converged onto my body. What would have terrified me beforehand no longer did. There was no malice behind its heat, only the warmth brought about by change. With Nezaphine's power and guidance, I will do what is necessary for my people. While it was once a dream of Nadivo, I will prove that it is the destiny of Constantine.