Chapter 15: Wyrds
His Father’s words weren’t pleasant.
He could see where he was coming from. He was half human and half dragon, his unique talents fusing into the Black Dragon Bloodline and Nefarious Dark Mana. He had only recently taken up the Dark Cauldron Art, but he had no trouble absorbing the essence of someone as strong as Xena.
In many ways, Han was an anomaly. He didn’t believe his parents had aimed for a "fruit of love," either. Both had their own reasons for giving birth to someone like him.
Curiosity? A new bloodline? Proving something? There were many possible motives, but Han didn’t care. His Mother had given him reasons to love and respect her, and so had his Father. Yet the way his Father’s artifact had begun to handle things tipped the scales toward his Mother.
You’d better speak carefully, Father.
[Therefore, I wasn’t surprised when your bloodlines didn’t manifest. Simply arriving in this world was the miracle. You proved you are my son, but your birth left you useless—]
"WRONG!" Han shouted. "Some fucker sealed me!"
[—and too vulnerable to survive while bearing our surnames. A parent’s weakness is family; you could become mine or your Mother’s. For that reason you were rejected by both houses. Cindralynn took matters into her own hands and swore to kill anyone who spoke ill of you. She threatened me in public as well, because, as Head of Tenaxis, I could not show you support.]
"Aw, he sounds like such a sweet and good man. A perfect father! I nearly shed a tear! Then I remembered all the rumors about him! About how many lives he turned into his Cauldrons! About how many Cauldrons he burned through for his businesses and wars! Oh, how sad that his son is trash!" Xena jeered.
Han raised his hand and grabbed her head.
"What?" she said, as if asking whether she had lied.
Han looked into her eyes. "I didn’t want to truly command you to shut the fuck up; that would kill your personality. But for now, stay silent, bitch."
"You dare to claim that my personality is all talk—" Xena snapped, then her lips zipped shut.
"You’re quick to judge others after doing all that atrocious shit yourself," Han added, sneering at Xena’s widened, rebellious eyes as if she wanted to fire back.
[Now that you have awakened, you can defend yourself and choose for yourself. You are still a hatchling, so I will do my duty and show you what it means to be of the Dark Family. Within this artifact, I will take you through past and present—beginning with the origins of the Dark Families, Demi-Humans, and the Churches.]
Han’s vision went black, and cold bit into him. He was thrown into a pile of snow in an unknown forest, the snowfall so heavy the trees bent under the mounds on their branches and crowns.
This is the artifact? He’s literally taking me to the past with this. It’s like I’m in a different world. Crazy.
Pulling himself out of the snow, Han looked to the side and found Xena already on her feet, standing straight, a few flakes trickling down her face. A vein pulsed at her temple as if she wanted to say something. There was a third person with them.
A young man in thick furs, wielding an ax. He met Han’s gaze and smiled.
That’s not how my Father looks. I have portraits of him.
"Thank you for coming with me," the man said. "It’s a dangerous mission, but we don’t have any options left. If I die... no, never mind. Let’s do it!"
What is he even talking about?
Han was so lost he didn’t know how to process any of it. Then he realized he didn’t have his dragon wings. His eyes must have reverted to normal as well.
Wings gone like that? Feels so strange. I’m used to wings.
Then the most reliable narrator in the world explained everything.
[He is a brave hunter who chose to assimilate with a Wyrd. A moment ago he waited for your reassurance—that he would live, and that you would carry on his mission if needed. You’re wondering what Wyrds are? You will see one in five, four, three, two, one... here.]
Across from Han and the others, a wave of unknown mana swirled in purple tendrils before it billowed into a tornado. Within that tornado, seemingly out of nothing, bones, flesh, and blood formed. They assembled into a creature like a minotaur, armored in thick, rolling muscle.
Han knew at once this monster was unlike anything he’d seen on hunts with his maids and Xena. Its mere presence grated—an eyesore that made him want to fight it then and there.
"It appeared farther than we anticipated! It’s fine! Assist me, please!" the young man said before taking off and sprinting toward the monster like a lone hero.
[Beings born from humanity’s woes—Wyrds. In the present day they go by another name.]
[Demi-Humans.]
Say what now?