Omega's Rebirth-Chapter 537: Once Magnificent ()

Azkar trudged through the forest at a slow pace, his boots dragged through the wet mud of the swamps, each step growing heavier than the last due to the accumulation of mud stuck to his boots.

Even through the thick leather of his boots, the chilling cold from the wet ground seeped through, crawling up his covered skin in a manner that would deter others, but not Azkar.

The dark sorcerer did not mind it, it was infact a welcome feeling...one of the few things that remained familiar here in the dark lands.

The forest brought back memories Azkar had long buried away beneath his responsibility and vow to restore his kind to their former glory.

There were many of these memories that were now hazy, blurred and broken into bits and pieces, most of which were inconsistent and difficult to put together.

It had been centuries longer than Azkar could count since the fall of their dynasty, in all these centuries, Azkar had seen so much things, experienced so much that his earliest memories had become difficult to hold onto.

Azkar could vaguely remember running through these very same swamps in his childhood, covered in mud from head to toe. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

Why he had been allowed to run freely through the swamps and why he preferred such an unsightly sport, Azkar was not certain,

The memories Azkar still had did not tell much beyond some bare glimpses.

Azkar’s gaze slightly squinted as he glanced around for a brief moment, in an attempt to determine if he was on the right path.

Though Azkar could see just fine through the shadows, the forest that was once familiar to him like the back of his hand had become overgrown and untamed.

The paths were obstructed by rubbles and outgrowth, the greenery was darkened by the shadows that had laid claim for as far as the eye could see.

It was not a strange sight, Shadow Tower had always been so. But then, the darkness was beautiful and tamed... now, it was just out of control.

And whatever could not be controlled was dangerous even to those who owned it.

Azkar walked down the path for a short while and it took some time for him to finally navigate his way to his destination but when it was finally within sight, Azkar stopped and just stared in silence.

The Shadow Tower, a mighty fortress that was now disreputed with the title of ’Forbidden Swamp.’

A scornful title given by the dragons that had carried on for generations, till hardly anyone was left who remembered the true name of this beautiful place.

And even then, even that title of ill repute was outlawed and never to be mentioned.

Azkar knew it, that while this had been a beautiful place to him, it was not the same to the dragons.

Azkar knew it, that the place he called home had been to them a place of captivity... a place they loathed and longed all their lives to be freed from.

But how cruel was it to cast the great history of Azkar’s kind into oblivion? Was there a greater curse than being completely forgotten and erased from existence?

Azkar could not agree that the punishment fit the crime. What crime was there to be the powerful in the first place?

Azkar knew his people had not been the kindest leaders, but all the races had a chance at life then, so long as they were willing to submit.

Yet once the dragons took power, they crusaded against dark magic and it’s wielders, wiping them from existence for their fear of the indomitable power dark magic was.

And even when there had risen a Dragon King unlike the rest, one who understand the beauty of the dark arts and sought to restore it to it’s might, his own kind had turned on him and he was slain.

Like dark magic was some curse and whoever practiced it deserved only death.

Yet the dragons were known to be righteous, even when they had done nothing but shed blood and destroy whoever was different from them.

There was neither right nor wrong, Azkar had realized. The rules of right and wrong were determined by who was in power.

If that applied to the dragons, the same applied to his kind.

Thus Azkar’s life goal was to tip the balance of power, in the favour of whatever race pleased him at the time, even if it could never bring his people back...it would ruin dragon kind and that much was good enough.

Azkar breathed a deep sigh, shaking away thoughts that would cloud his mind with rage, he had enough of that for one day already.

Azkar continued on his way till he stood at the mighty gates of the fortress, staring up at it with a melancholic expression.

In his mind’s eyes, he could see the magnificence and glory of this fortress that had been the seat of ultimate power, many centuries ago.

He could see the multitudes trooping in and out and the beasts of Asvar flying overhead...

In chains, yes...but at least they had been allowed a place in their world.

A mercy the dragons had not granted in return.

But now, this same fortress lay in ruins and decay, covered in overgrown vines till there was barely any part left to view.

A few of the towers had crumbled, weathered down by age and neglect.

Azkar hesitated for a moment, it had been a few decades since he had come here and the last time he had, he had not dared linger.

But this time, he had come to seek the right weapon...

It was difficult to find one powerful enough to shake up the stronghold, but Azkar had the perfect idea of just what might be the right start.

Azkar ventured on through the gates, but he did not head into the castle, instead he made a bee line through the courtyard, heading all the way around the castle to the back.