Post by illɘgal on May 8, 2023 20:05:27 GMT -7
Apparently Riddler just gets all my muse now.
I was young when my father had decided to finally choose between myself and Zyler. While we were identical twins on the outside (with the exception of our eyes), we were like night and day personality wise. My brother was charismatic, loud, and drew people to him like a magnet. On the other hand, I was reserved, observant, and liked to snoop every change I had. As young colts, we got along like brothers typically would. As we got older, we started to drift apart. I was technically the older one and should have been in place to inherit the land. Everyone knew this, especially since it was my mother's dying wish for whatever reason. My father had other plans. Whenever I did speak, it was rapid fire and out of context, and in his eyes, the heir to the lands couldn't run around spouting off whatever bullshit popped into their heads.
So, he kept me away. My brother began to receive war training, learned the delicate politics of royalty, and was being flaunted about as prince. I heard whispers from the servants that they had me killed or chained up in the dungeon, which probably would have been a better fate if I'm being honest.
I was never asked if I wanted to be an assassin. I was forced.
My father guilt tripped me, accusing me of not wanting to help keep my kingdom safe. Acting like I didn't support him or Zyler. That wasn't the case by any means - I was young and wanted to be free. Instead, I was forced to attend training and meetings with the few spies we had. He began sending me intel to investigate. Apparently I adapted to my new life quickly - mostly because there was a threat of being exiled if I didn't - and I soon had developed my own spy network. They answered only to me, which infuriated my father and brother but brought me savage satisfaction. I was no longer useless - I was powerful. I was important. It got to the point where if you really looked at it, I was running the kingdom.
I could tell that as my influence spread and it felt as if the Underbelly became the dominant species, my father and brother grew wary of me. I had the power at my fingertips to ruin all their carefully crafted plans and truly take over. Instead, I haunted their dreams and hid in the shadows. I murdered, stole, lied, manipulated. I grew my own empire beneath while they slept in their beds, terrified of when I would finally slit their throats.
They had no idea that that was never my desire. While I was angry that I was thrust into this life for simplicity’s sake, I had become successful and comfortable in my role. The few meetings I was actually allowed to be involved in were incredibly boring, but being taken seriously and being able to contribute wasn’t something I was expecting. All those stuck up assholes were definitely nervous around me, but that just implied that I was doing my job well.
Ironically, it appeared I hadn’t been doing it well enough.
Things had seemed to be going well. My brother was finishing his preparations, and my father was intending to step down rather sticking to tradition and holding his position until his death. Though, I suppose it worked out that way anyway. My spies had kept me updated on the tensions at the border, but could never figure out what actually caused them. In the end, I should have seen it coming. Destruction from within - classic.
She appeared to be just another lady trying to vie for the king’s attention. I should have noticed that she was acting suspicious, but I simply ignored her. It was a mistake that cost my father his life. When the fighting broke out, Zyler and I were separated. I never did learn what happened to him before I was captured. I didn’t go quietly by any means, but they had been observing me long enough to anticipate my reactions.
They locked me deep in those catacombs that were hidden under the desert. They barely kept me alive, hoping I would somehow “come to my senses” and serve the new queen the same way my father. She wasn’t prepared for my resolve, and after what felt like an eternity, they let me go. Dragging me far, far away from home in the dead of the night, they cut me loose. Giving me a head start before they would hunt me down. I was surprised, since that throne was my birthright. But there I was - free.
I ran.
I wasn’t ashamed that I did so. While I had my own cult-like following, there was little chance that there were enough to help me rebuild. No, I knew when to cut my losses. I had to start over.
And this is just the beginning.
800+
I was young when my father had decided to finally choose between myself and Zyler. While we were identical twins on the outside (with the exception of our eyes), we were like night and day personality wise. My brother was charismatic, loud, and drew people to him like a magnet. On the other hand, I was reserved, observant, and liked to snoop every change I had. As young colts, we got along like brothers typically would. As we got older, we started to drift apart. I was technically the older one and should have been in place to inherit the land. Everyone knew this, especially since it was my mother's dying wish for whatever reason. My father had other plans. Whenever I did speak, it was rapid fire and out of context, and in his eyes, the heir to the lands couldn't run around spouting off whatever bullshit popped into their heads.
So, he kept me away. My brother began to receive war training, learned the delicate politics of royalty, and was being flaunted about as prince. I heard whispers from the servants that they had me killed or chained up in the dungeon, which probably would have been a better fate if I'm being honest.
I was never asked if I wanted to be an assassin. I was forced.
My father guilt tripped me, accusing me of not wanting to help keep my kingdom safe. Acting like I didn't support him or Zyler. That wasn't the case by any means - I was young and wanted to be free. Instead, I was forced to attend training and meetings with the few spies we had. He began sending me intel to investigate. Apparently I adapted to my new life quickly - mostly because there was a threat of being exiled if I didn't - and I soon had developed my own spy network. They answered only to me, which infuriated my father and brother but brought me savage satisfaction. I was no longer useless - I was powerful. I was important. It got to the point where if you really looked at it, I was running the kingdom.
I could tell that as my influence spread and it felt as if the Underbelly became the dominant species, my father and brother grew wary of me. I had the power at my fingertips to ruin all their carefully crafted plans and truly take over. Instead, I haunted their dreams and hid in the shadows. I murdered, stole, lied, manipulated. I grew my own empire beneath while they slept in their beds, terrified of when I would finally slit their throats.
They had no idea that that was never my desire. While I was angry that I was thrust into this life for simplicity’s sake, I had become successful and comfortable in my role. The few meetings I was actually allowed to be involved in were incredibly boring, but being taken seriously and being able to contribute wasn’t something I was expecting. All those stuck up assholes were definitely nervous around me, but that just implied that I was doing my job well.
Ironically, it appeared I hadn’t been doing it well enough.
Things had seemed to be going well. My brother was finishing his preparations, and my father was intending to step down rather sticking to tradition and holding his position until his death. Though, I suppose it worked out that way anyway. My spies had kept me updated on the tensions at the border, but could never figure out what actually caused them. In the end, I should have seen it coming. Destruction from within - classic.
She appeared to be just another lady trying to vie for the king’s attention. I should have noticed that she was acting suspicious, but I simply ignored her. It was a mistake that cost my father his life. When the fighting broke out, Zyler and I were separated. I never did learn what happened to him before I was captured. I didn’t go quietly by any means, but they had been observing me long enough to anticipate my reactions.
They locked me deep in those catacombs that were hidden under the desert. They barely kept me alive, hoping I would somehow “come to my senses” and serve the new queen the same way my father. She wasn’t prepared for my resolve, and after what felt like an eternity, they let me go. Dragging me far, far away from home in the dead of the night, they cut me loose. Giving me a head start before they would hunt me down. I was surprised, since that throne was my birthright. But there I was - free.
I ran.
I wasn’t ashamed that I did so. While I had my own cult-like following, there was little chance that there were enough to help me rebuild. No, I knew when to cut my losses. I had to start over.
And this is just the beginning.
800+
