Chapter One / Begin the Work

The man lowered his hood, revealing a young man with black hair that just reached below his ears. The man took his left hand and made a fist, placing it over his heart as if to salute Arn from his bent knee position.

Arn peered through the console but was unsure if the man could also see it. He scrambled to close it and reflexively thought to himself: Console. This closed the console and Arn was able to see the man in front of him fully.

“I am Gelicarus, your grace. I am the designated Caretaker – your servant and advisor. I have been waiting for your awakening for some time now. It is an honor to be in your presence.” Gelicarus reiterated with his head lowered.

“You may rise, Gelicarus.” Arn said, grasping the situation.

“Thank you, my Lord.”

Gelicarus stood from his kneeling position and looked towards Arn. Arn could see the young man’s appearance better and could also see years working their way through Gelicarus. Age had subtlety formed lines around his eyes, and strangely his green eyes had a tinge of gray in them. It was, however, true to say Gelicarus’s complexion was fair, and that he hadn’t been taking care of himself. It was hard to determine Gelicarus’s age due to this – as if he should appear much older.

“You may have many questions, my Lord, and I am ready to serve.” Gelicarus said.

Arn moved his right hand to his chin – it was true he had many questions, but it was difficult to choose what to start with.

“Where are we currently?” Arn asked.

“We are at the lowest level of your dungeon, my Lord. The Fiftieth floor. More specifically, we are in the throne room – the seat of your power.”

Arn took a moment to pause and think: “What is our current situation?”

“The areas under your control currently are the throne room, your private quarters, staff quarters, the soul forge, and a few empty rooms which can be put to use as you see fit. We are, however, buried on this floor. What caused this to be the case, I am unfortunately unsure.”

“The surface?”

“I am uninformed of the current situation on the surface, your grace. I have been in an induced comatose for many years awaiting your awakening.”

“You said ‘once again’ when speaking of our initial meeting – have we met before?”

“I,” Gelicarus paused a moment, “believe this is our first awakening in this place, but I do not feel this is our first meeting. What came before, however, is a mystery to me.”

Arn took another moment to think. Not our first time. He thought to himself. That could explain why he felt he had been traveling before.

“Who am I, Gelicarus?” Arn asked.

“You are the Dark Lord, your grace. I could not begin to tell you who or what you are.” Gelicarus said in shock at the question.

What should I do then? Arn questioned himself. Why am I here?

Arn opened the console, and looked at his Dark Lord tab.

“Are you able to see this, Gelicarus?” Arn asked.

“See what, my Lord?” Gelicarus asked, his head tilting slightly, before he began looking around the room.

Arn then went to his Domain tab, and the room began to rumble but centered on the area just below Gelicarus’s feet. He stepped back, and a portion of the floor raised several feet into the air and floated. A white light emanated from the surface for a moment before it turned into what looked like a map of the dungeon.

Arn stood and walked down the steps to the map. It showed the immediate area he controlled, showing several long hallways that splintered from the entrance of the throne room. Just beyond the doorway was a circular room, a waiting area, that four hallways split from. His personal quarters were the furthest left hallway from the throne room. The furthest right hallway was lined primarily with a room designated as Staff Quarters – which specifically was a dorm that housed forty beds.

This seems like a lot for an average dorm. Arn thought. How large is this game going to be?

There was a moment of disillusion for Arn, his thoughts trailing over what he was thinking. Game? He shook his head at the thoughts, bringing himself back to the present.

The Staff Quarters stretched only over half of the overall hallway, and only to the right of the hallway. There the area between hallways seemed large enough that if he needed to construct other areas he could do so, but he needed to confirm this. Taking his right hand, he placed a finger upon the map – which opened a screen just in front of him in the air. There were several rooms: Staff Quarters, Personal Quarters, Soul Forge, Smithy, Guard Room, Storage Room, and finally Barracks. His choices were limited by his experience in his Domain tab, but the description alluded that the more he built, the more he would gain in experience. Thankfully, these rooms didn’t require resources to build.

Clicking on the Staff Quarters and moving his hand back to the map, he touched and dragged a finger over an area. The designated area would become another Staff Quarters if he chose it to be so, but he dragged back to the initial point which cancelled the building.

So, they’re zones rather than specific room sizes. That’s convenient. Arn thought to himself.

Gelicarus watched carefully from the other side of the map but said nothing unless he was spoken to.

“Who builds these rooms, Gel?” Arn questioned.

“M-” Gelicarus cleared his throat, the nickname making him tumble over his words, “My Lord, the Covetous do. They are one of your most devout followers.”

“That’s a strange name for builders.” Arn aloofly said by mistake.

“You will understand when you see them, my Lord.” Gelicarus said without skipping a beat.

As Gelicarus finished what he was saying, Arn looked at the Staff Quarters and found only one was currently occupying them: namely Gelicarus. Strange, why aren’t the builders on the occupation list? Arn thought.

Arn looked at the map again, it was a simple outline that showed nothing beyond each room’s designation. In order to draw up more details he needed to select the room – which then showed a number of occupants, and what role they were designated. There was also a grayed out “Upgrade” icon which hinted at further changes to the rooms. The benefits of each room, however, were determined by size – multipliers stacked on the bottom of the screen.

Arn was glad, however, that he didn’t see what was happening in each room from here – it would force him to leave and oversee things in person. Will I be able to command from in person? Arn wondered. If this was the seat of his power, then he perhaps needed to be here to command.

Instinctively, Arn waved his left hand to the side of the map. The map withdrew into the ground and became again a part of the floor.

“On the topic of the Covetous, my Lord, one of them would like to speak to you.” Gelicarus said.

“Good, I was wondering what they were like. Send them in.” Arn said turning to the throne and climbing into the seat. “Do you have any advice when dealing with them?”

“Very well, my Lord. I will tell them they have your permission to enter. My advice when dealing with the Covetous is to be your majesty – A Dark Lord.”

“That’s all?”

“As I said before, my Lord. You will understand.” Gelicarus said before walking a few feet to his left as if to get out of the way.

It was cryptic advice, but Arn was beginning to understand Gelicarus was a straightforward person. It made him feel a bit nervous.

The stone doorway began moving, parting in the middle and only enough for a person to enter. Beyond the open doorway was the darkness of the waiting area Arn had seen previously. No one entered. Arn looked at Gelicarus who then nodded.

“Enter.” Gelicarus said his voice echoing.

A fleshy sound slapped against the stone and entered a tall pale creature. A wave of dread washed over Arn – he wasn’t expecting what was in front of him. Pale would be a kind description of the creature’s skin and incorrect, it was a mixture between bone and gray – almost like a shade of its own. It was somewhere around seven feet tall, or two-hundred and thirteen centimeters, and its body was thin as if malnourished. Its arms and lengths were elongated next to its main body. Its hands were more akin to claws and possessed four fingers but no thumbs – its feet similar. The head was nothing but scalp, and slightly larger than a human. The eyes were small and black, and sunken into the skull – its features gaunt and almost owl like. If it possessed a mouth, it was not obvious. It had flaps on its face that were like a human with no nose, and larger, but had no obvious ears. It wore no clothes, but no reproductive organs appeared present so perhaps it felt no need to wear them.

The creature approached slowly, and then in front of Arn, knelt to the ground with both knees touching. It bent forward, lowering its head and body. It said nothing.

Arn was in shock at its appearance but quickly reminded himself of where he was. He was the Dark Lord; he needed to act as such.

“Speak.” Arn said.

At first Arn was unsure if the creature could speak at all and regretted having said that.

Then it spoke.

“AS…YOU…COMMAND…” It spoke. The mouth revealed itself beneath the ghoul like flesh on its face but acted as if it had nothing to hinge the bone and thus somehow moved beneath.

The words were harsh, drawn out, grotesque, disturbing, gurgled mesh of a language. An imitation. Inhuman was as close to a description Arn could think of. Words failed him to truly encompass the language it imitated.

“What are you?” Arn asked as if rhetorically.

“I…am…Covetous…your…EMINENCE.”

“Whom do you serve?”

“I…exist…only…to…serve…you…EMINENCE…DARK…ONE…”

There was strange reverence when it said the word eminence, as though it was worship.

“How do the Covetous carry out my orders and build for me?” Arn asked.

It was silent and seemed to be struggling to form the words.

“Psychic…link…we…BBEND…TWIST…SPACE…to…form…” It paused, “You…COMMAND…physical…also…”

Arn looked at Gelicarus, who was watching the Covetous closely in an indifferent manner. He noticed, however, a hint of endearment in Gelicarus’s gaze. Curious. Arn thought. Then Arn returned to the Covetous.

“Raise your head, Covetous.” Arn commanded.

The Covetous did as Arn asked, but its deep black eyes seemed to be looking at the ground still.

“Look at me.”

The Covetous did so, and an inhuman screech escaped from it. Its hands raised and covered its face as it clamored to calm itself. Yet it could only slightly rock its body and screech in a gaggle. It was an inhuman cackle. It calmed itself, but the skin where its mouth was formed an ajar smile.

“UNWORTHY…of…EMINENCE…” The Covetous said between cackles.

Then the Covetous removed its hands from its face spoke the inhuman language: “YOU…DARK…ONE…are…the…REMAKER…CHANGER…CREATOR…DESIGNER…LIBERATOR…EMINENCE…HUMAN…not…worthy…this…I…am…young…forgiveness…”

Arn realized something as the Covetous spoke, it was if it was imitating his own speech. What would cause this obsession? Arn wondered.

“Your speech is good, Covetous.”

“Only…one…of…young…CAN…”

“I see. Do you have a name?”

The Covetous again screeched and spoke: “NAME…”

Arn moved a hand to his masked chin.

“Rakan. That is your name.”

The Covetous buried its head on the ground and groveled before Arn.

“GREATEST…HONOR…EMINENCE…”

“Good. That will be all, Rakan. We will meet again soon.” Arn said.

Still bowing, Rakan stood and backed away from the throne – never showing its back and exited the room.

Arn sighed deeply.

“Do not be too harsh to judge them, my Lord. In one of the many Human languages that I can recall, to them you are but one thing: God.” Gelicarus interjected.

“Am I not God to you then, Gelicarus?”

Gelicarus bowed his head and said: “I live only to serve you, my Lord. No matter what you call yourself, you are only ever going to be you.”

Arn stood from the throne and walked down the stairs.

“I will retire for today, Gelicarus. I feel as though I haven’t slept and as if I’ve slept for far too long. I think I need to sleep in a bed.”

“Very well, my Lord. I will show you to your room.”

Arn held up a hand.

“That will not be necessary, I know where it is. I’ll leave the rest of your day to yourself then.” Arn said quickly and walked to the doorway.

In the waiting area beyond the throne room, Arn looked to his left. Torches on black metal sconces dimly lit the large room that was only slightly smaller than the throne room. He walked to the hallway that would lead him to his personal quarters. He walked for a minute before coming face to face with a stone doorway. It was the same height as the Covetous and arching at the top. Runes ran the length of the sides and over, but Arn couldn’t tell what it said. He placed a hand on the doorway, and the doorway split down the middle and opened inwards towards the room. He stepped inside and the doorway closed behind him.

A single fireplace lit the room, wood cracking as he entered. Arn looked at its comfortable warmth to his left, and then in exhausted excitement to the king-sized bed in front of him. The walls were strangely made of dark wood planking, perhaps to give it a more cabin-like appearance. The floor and ceiling, however, remained stone. In front of the bed rested a masterfully crafted wooden chest, black iron wrapped around it and used for its latch.

Arn removed his cloak first, putting it around the standing coat hanger by the door as if he had already known it was there. He removed his gauntlets, and gloves – placing them on the chest. The bed was draped in black silk covers, the materials wrapping around his fingers as he sat down on the side closest to the fireplace. Beside the bed was a nightstand with a small wooden pole coming out of it. He removed his mask and let it rest on it. Then he removed his boots and placed them beside the nightstand. He removed his clothes and folded them on the chest in front of the bed. Finally, he climbed into the very comfortable bed.

Arn was exhausted, between his awakening in this place and the Covetous – it was more than he felt he previously had handled.

“Did I ask for this?” Arn asked aloud.

Flashes returned to him of someplace else, voices and faces he couldn’t recall.

“What a dream…” Arn said his voice slowly withering.

Fatigue embraced him, and the snapping of burning wood lingered into dreams.