Fiction:Realities Altered/Paragon's Descent

Since the Andromeda War, has always been sensetive and vvery close to his friends. For those he truly cares about he has been known to suggest infusing them with Descention energies as they teeter on the brink of death. Uriel Ultanos, being mortal, a state leader and a warrior, has heard this suggestion more than most and has usually remained staunchly opposed to the idea.

But what if one day Uriel, on the brink of death, agreed to such a dark deal. When Uriel was crippled and close to death, he was offered the deal. However with great power comesa great risk of corruption...

Damnation's Origin
Tyraz lowered himself in front of Uriel who's limbs had been crippled from an attack by Angrus Mortarius.

Tyraz - Uriel...can you feel your limbs? Uriel - No. No I can't. Tyraz - Good, then your mental state is still intact. Uriel - ''I could still hear you... y-you wanted to descend me?'' Tyraz - A majority of your limbs and body are in a state of...being non-existent... Uriel - ''I-its nothing an extended period under stem cell treatment won't solve... although I suppose there is always the option of implants.'' Tyraz - Uriel...

Tyraz leaned down and picked Uriel up in his arms. Uriel was somewhat weary from his fight with Angrus and he struggled as he held his own head up.

Tyraz - Do you wish...for immortality? Uriel - I-i thought you always called such thing a curse? Tyraz - ''I can't bear seeing you in pain! Everytime, I see you get hurt and I can't stand it!'' Uriel - ''Tyraz... Are you sure giving me this power is the answer?''

Tyraz struggled for breath but looked back at Uriel.

Tyraz - If I lose you Uriel...then I will lose near enough all meaning! My existence is worthless without those around me...You are the first person who has accepted me for who I am...I cannot lose you...I could not bear it...''

Uriel sat silently, his eyes darted in contemplation and he thought deeply to himself.

Uriel - And this offer, you are asking a lot of me. Tyraz - I know...It is a selfish offer...I don't even know why...I contemplated it to begin with... Uriel - ''It pains me to see you like this. But if it helps you, then perhaps such an offer is not so bad.'' Tyraz - ''Are you sure...Uriel? Why give up life for a man like me...?'' Uriel - ''You are a good man TYraz, I have known that for a long time. If I must change my life to make you happy, then I will take that sacrifice. Besides *coughs* maybe it will help me survive against odds like these... But before you do anything; promise me something Tyraz. Promise me you will not let me end up like Volkarus.'' Tyraz - ''Uriel, Volkarus became the way he did because of the person he was. He wasn't like you, you are better...much better.'' Uriel - ''Regardless. Please. Do not let me slip down the same road as him.'' Tyraz - I shan't, Uriel, I promise.

Uriel smiled and nodded to Tyraz. At this signal Tyraz grabbed his Firesword and stood over Uriel. He looked to Davius with an expression of sadness.

Davius - My task is to protect his majesty from threats to hs person. If he made this choice, who am I to argue with him?

Tyraz shook his head briefly and pierced Uriel's torso with the tip of his Firesword. Tears streamed down Tyraz's face as he painfully ended Uriel's life, only for this moment.

Davius - Grandmaster....?

As several Blood Dragons approached, Davius raised his hand and called for them to stand back. Tyraz had finished ending Uriel's life. He looked at Uriel's corpse, a smile seemingly on the Paragon's pained face. Tyraz knelt down and placed his hand on Uriel's chest, directly over his heart. Black, vapourous energy flooded from Tyraz's arm into Uriel's body. As he did so, Uriel's wounds began to heal. Tyraz closed his eyes as the process was almost complete. The disturbing sound of bones repairing back into placed filled the air as well as the wet sound of flesh coming and fusing together. Physically, Uriel was almost completely Descended, a power filling his body. However, inside Uriel's mind, he could feel torment and pain as his brain began to corrupt and rot from the dark energies.

In Uriel's mind things were completely different. He found himself wandering down a large cave. Green and orange moss clung to the rock as he approached a white light. As he walked closer he smiled, as the light became less intense he saw the lush forests he had always dreamed of - rotting and withering as dark energy seeped up from the ground. Looking up into the sky he saw a huge pair of lowing eyes narrowing as a black subsance seeped into the cave. Stepping back, tendrils of the same material shot out from the walls and wrapped around his wrists, lifting him up. He strugggled to escape as the black susbtance crept up his arms and legs, he grew ever more frightened as the susbatance reached his torso. Suddenly, he felt a sharp pain as it bled through into his heart and crawled down his mouth and nostrils as everything faded to black. His last sight was the forest, black and withered with decay.

All Just a Dream?
Uriel Jolted awake. He found himself in his room and he sighed with relief. There were golden rays of light as the sun shone through the windows.

Uriel - ''It was all a dream. It was all a dream.''

Uriel sat up out of bed and walked into his bathroom. As the smell of forests entered his nostrils he washed his face and looked into the mirror as he lowered the towel from his snout.He was startled as his eyes, instead of an emerald-green liek he was known for, were now a blood red. He reached in to check them and pulled the eyelid down. Looking down, Uriel noticed his scales ahd turned tan. He took several deep breaths and changed his clothes. He decided a walk around hte palace would calm his mind

As he passed one of the drawing rooms he peeked inside and saw Tyraz sitting by a table and looking out of one of the windows. He put on a smile and walked inside.

Uriel - Good morning.

Tyraz stayed silent and sighed. Said it again, slightly agitated but it was not enough for him to notice. Tyraz slowly turned to Uriel and put on a sad and pained smile.

Tyraz - 'Good morning, Uriel. How are you?'' Uriel - ''Not too perfect. I had a bit of a rough night.'' Tyraz - Yes...I was expecting that. Uriel - You were?

Tyraz sighed again and looked away. He had noticed Uriel's red eyes and tanned scales.

Uriel - ''I saw my eyes when I washed. I am guessing they are more than bloodshot.'' Tyraz - Yes...They are a side effect of...well... Uriel - ''Descension? So what other surprises can i expect?'' Tyraz - ''It all depends on how far you're willing to go...Mainly grow in claws and horns, as well as maybe the appearance of a few more...The further darkening of your scales... Your dreams shan't return...only either nothingness or nightmares...'' Uriel - ''What do you mean eaxactly by 'how far I am willing to go'? I am not sure I fully understand.'' Tyraz - It means...how often you use your Descension power...How weak you are to give in to its power... Tyraz - The more it is used, the further your appearance and spirit change. Uriel - So you mean...Rather literally...Power corrupts? Tyraz - ''I am afraid so, Uriel...There comes a time where you are corrupted so much, you become so powerful that you begin to deny even yourself...But only if you allow it too. Tyraz - At first, you begin to deny a part of your mind...but because you deny it, you are vulnerable to it taking control of you at times. I can only assume that there comes a point where you deny it for so long, it takes control of you.'' Uriel - ''Surely you know I would never go so far? I accepted descension so that you no longer have to worry about my death. I did not accept it for the power it promises.'' Tyraz - ''Of course...Yes, you're right. I know you wouldn't go so far. You are a good man.''

As they talked, Septis was play-fighting with one of his siblings as they stumbled into the drawing room Tyraz looked to Septis and his sibling with a little surprise, not expecting them to stumble in.

Septis - Got you, now I will take you to the dungeon! Infant - I will not be taken alive!

With a smile the other infant jumped on Septis who fell backwards. They both wrestled each other, and the sounds they made were a mix of grunts and laughing. Tyraz was aware of the sounds they were making, disturbing him slightly. Uriel also became more aware, he was no longer so oblivious and began to imagine twisted, violent scenes. he blinked repeatedly and shook his head rapidly as if to shake-out a bad image. As he did, Septis managed to push the infant off him. Septis turned to his father and outstreched his arms with a broad smile on his face. He lowered himself and picked his son up, who's smile dropped when he saw his father's eyes.

Septis - Daddy, why are your eyes all red? Uriel - I have been sleeping rough for the past few days, don't worry. Septis - Oh okay, it makes you look all scary and stuff seeing your eyes like that.

Tyraz looked to Uriel for a moment. After they exchanged looks with each other, Tyraz took Septis for a moment.

Tyraz - ''Hey, why don't you go play with your brothers and sisters? Your daddy and I are talking about some important stuff. Very boring.'' Septis - ''Are you sure? Sometimes daddy and Larnus say that when I wander into Daddy's study.'' Tyraz - ''What are you doing in Daddy's study? Aren't you supposed to be banned from that room?'' Septis - ''Sometimes daddy lets me in if he's not too busy. But I'm not allowed inside on my own.'' Tyraz - ''Huh, well, run along. Me and daddy will be discussing boring stuff and uhh...Tenday of Twilight.'' Septis - ''Oh okay. I won't bother you.'' Tyraz - ''Thanks, child. I may bring Kezoreg along again one of these days.'' Septis - Yay!

As Tyraz put Septis down he joined his sibling as they ran out of the room giggling. Tyraz looked back to Uriel with a sad stare.

Uriel - 'You've been looking at me like that since I said hello. Its like I have a terminal ilness that you are not informing me about.'' Tyraz - Oh, I'm sorry...Uriel. Uriel - Is there anything still on your mind? Tyraz - No, it is fine...Just a little concerned for your welfare. Uriel - ''I feel fine. A little odd but otherwise fine.''

Uriel walked up to Tyraz with a comforting smile, but secretly unsure if it was enough.

Uriel - I let you descend me because I wanted you to stop worrying about me, don't make me regret it because I replaced one convern with another.

Tyraz smiled and chuckled.

Tyraz - You're right Uriel, I'm sorry. Uriel - ...Was I right to keep this a secret from my own son? Tyraz - I am more concerned of the Inquisition. Uriel - ''You have a point... WHat would they think if their own paragon chose to become... well... like Volkarus?'' Tyraz - ''You are not like Volkarus, Uriel. You are a better man.'' Uriel - ''You are right. Let's hope they can understand that.'' Tyraz - The Inquisition disliked me for my original supposed inability to control my actions...You are not like that. Uriel - ''Let's hope it stays that way. One last thing. When Septis and his brother were playing... I felt something.'' Tyraz - ''You will. Your senses become heightened, and your spirit becomes more...open to symbolism and thought.'' Uriel - 'I saw... blood, savagery, teeth. It was like they were no longer playing...''

Tyraz looked away from Uriel.

Tyraz - Yes... Uriel - Care to explain? Tyraz - Your soul will tend to see things differently. Uriel - ''And how frequently is this going to occur? Can I no longer watch my own children enjoy themselves without seeeng them ripping into each others' throats?'' Tyraz - ''Only for a short while until you grow accustomed. Like I said, it will take some getting used to.'' Uriel - I can imagine. Tyraz - ''P'eople will eventually notice your change, however. And under no circumstances, no doctors.'' Uriel - 'Because I would be considered dead?'' Tyraz - Yes, exactly. Uriel - I will take your word for it. Tyraz - I must depart now, Uriel...

Tyraz walked out of the room without a word.