The Matriarch – The Rise and Fall of the Primogenitor - Ascension of Darkness

### **Part 1**

The Library’s Vault was quiet and there were not many people present as Mira Scarlett walked down the stairs into one of the vault’s lowest levels. There she met one of the Council members, Anna Kushina. A little girl in a long black and red dress and despite her physical age of an 11-year-old is by far older, perhaps even older than anyone in the Council. Mira was surprised that she was at the lowest levels of the Vault and even more surprised that she even stepped foot side the Vault altogether. Aside from the other Council members who regularly go into the Vault, Anna never did or even bothered to since she knew everything that the Vault had stored inside. From sacred artifacts and potentially dangerous weapons to reading material like ancient long-forgotten texts and forbidden books that can never see the light of day. But there she was, sitting next to a pile of them, reading. Anna noticed her and glared at her in annoyance. Anna asked her what she wants from her with Mira simply replying that she was surprised to see her in the Vault. Anna smiled and said that she’s simply killing time and is simply tired of the same old routine and she needs a change of pace. So, she came down to the Vault. After a short conversation between them, Mira went back to search the Vault for a historical record about the birth of the First Vampires. It piqued her curiosity after overhearing a conversation between two members of the Council about the Vampire Matriarch. Searching the vault’s library, she found what she was looking for.

“Historical Record File # 104 – 03B – 019 - Origin - True Vampires."

When Mira picked it up from the shelf, she noticed it was no ordinary historical case file. It was almost like a book, roughly hundreds of pages long. Accounts from archeologists who discovered several ancient ruins and remains that date back hundreds of thousands, millions of years ago. Discovery of lost civilizations and relics that were buried over time. Including a recount from a blind sage who saw the past thanks to his unique ability after he was given an artifact from one of the uncovered ruins. All of these discoveries have only one thing in common, The Matriarch. The origin of the first human-like Vampire and its progeny that have laid waste to countless empires and civilizations over a long period of time. Much to her shock, she was intrigued that Theodore Roswall was part of the expedition to find the blind sage and learn what he knew. He was not the type of person to leave the confines of the organization but was rather busy perfecting his own magic. There were several dozen journal entries detailing his journey.

“Journal Log Entry - Day 4. It has several been days after getting approval from The Council to send me to locate this blind man who is rumored to have the ability to see the past simply by touching an object or person. I have been traveling by boat and I can say that I am not a fan. My reason to volunteer for such a mission is to find out not only what he knows about the relic he found and what he saw but also to find out about my own past. The past that I have forgotten.”

“Journal Log Entry - Day 10. The captain of the boat had to make a detour to avoid some very nasty individuals. Most likely a group of pirates and thieves. After hours of arguing with the Captain, I managed to convince him to go straight towards the destination.”

“Journal Log Entry - Day 15. After reaching land and finally locating where the blind sage resides only to be refused by the temple guards to see him. I pleaded with them to let me see him and after a while, one of his caretakers told the guards to let me in. “

“Journal Log Entry - Day 18. It has been tedious few days, the blind man kept on asking me questions, no, more like riddles, and demanded answers. Answers to riddles that made no sense. I couldn’t give him any answers to his riddles, so he told me to leave. I took the risk and told him who I was and what I came to see him for. I told him about the organization that I represent and the importance of my mission. His back was facing me at the time I told him that and after a minute he raised his left hand and snapped his fingers. At that moment his caretakers got up and left the room without any word. He turned around and faced me. He opened his eyes and looked straight at me as if he could really see me. The blind sage told me that he erased his caretaker's memories of what I said and ordered them to leave the room. All that with a snap of his fingers. He then told me to see him in a few days and gave me a talisman as a sign to the guards that I am to enter without them stopping me.”

“Journal Log Entry – Day 22. Like last time, he ordered his caretakers to leave and asked me what I seek. I asked him about the artifact that he received about a month ago that was uncovered in the ruins. He was quite honest and informed me that I best not know of the horrors that he witnessed after he touched the artifact. He only agreed under the condition that I let him into my mind, my memories, to which I reluctantly agreed. He touched my forehead with both his index and middle finger and after a few minutes, he told me that I carry a heavy burden but have no memory of. As we agreed he told me what he knew, what he saw when he was given the artifact. He again touched my forehead with both his fingers. At that moment a surge of magic was released from his fingers into my mind. He told me to brace myself as I am about to witness that birth of darkness that was unleashed onto this world approximately one million years ago. At that moment I saw it, I saw her, the Matriarch, the mother of vampires and her offspring that have brought forth devastation to countless empires and in the end, each one forged their own empire.”

At the peak of its power, the Atharva Empire thrived, with a strong economy and its people prospering and healthy. It was among the three powerful empires that existed during that time. All three empires created an alliance that gave way to new trade routes and expanded relations between the three powers. Most notably the crown princess Rayneshia El-Arte Corwen of Atharva Empire, daughter of Empress Reiya Hahwen Aertan of the Bethan Empire, and Emperor Serijad Cranwell Corwen of the Artarva Empire who is betrothed to Mithril William Reid's son of Athan Yandar Reid II of the Crescent Sun Dominion. These three empires would prosper from this union between the two and solidify their alliance. Rayneshia first met Mithril when they were young and as the years passed, they developed a bond with each other and it was later decided that they would marry when they were at age, to which they agreed.

Atharva Empire was surrounded by a forest filled with monsters which made travel difficult and dangerous. Mithril knew that when he volunteered to hunt down the creatures that attacked several merchants traveling from and to Atharva Empire. But he wasn’t going alone on this mission, all three empires have gathered a volunteer army of at least five thousand. Knowing what he’s facing against he will need all the help he can get. Before he departed, Mithril came to see Rayneshia one last time. He bid her farewell and that he promised that he’ll come back to her despite her protest for him not to go. When Rayneshia saw him and the army disappear into the forest she felt uneasy and that something horrible will happen. None the less she had faith that everything will be fine, and they’ll come back. For three days Mithril and his army have been marching through the forest destroying every monster they encounter along the way. Not everything is well, a day earlier Mithril lost one hundred and eight of his men when three giant worm-like monsters emerged from the ground and attacked. The army destroyed the giant monsters except for one who was wounded and managed to escape back into the ground leaving Mithril with five hundred-and forty-men left. Regardless of the situation, they were in they had to push on through the forest and exterminate every monster they encountered. They eventually traveled deep into the forest that the trees blocked out the sun and noticed that there was poor visibility due to thick fog rising from the ground, this made hunting for monsters extremely difficult and dangerous. While traversing through the thick fog covered forest, they began to notice that they were being stalked by an unknown entity. Some of Mithril’s men screamed, as he and several of his guards ran towards the source all they found was the men's broken weapons and blood spatter on the ground. Soon after there were more screams and then more again, then one of Mithril’s guards believed he saw a shadow of the creature circling around them. Mithril ordered his remaining men and to form a circle and defend their position.

Whatever this monster is, it took down almost all of his soldiers which are now just under a hundred less than under an hour. This monster was fast, using the fog and the night to its advantage while hunting its prey. Eventually, the creature showed itself just for a second to the remaining soldiers as it hissed at them. It had a humanoid-like shape but due to the fog, it was impossible to clearly see the creature. It attacked again after retreating into the fog, this monster was too agile and quick for the soldiers to react to its rapid movements. An hour had passed and Mithril only had his seven guards and eight soldiers left. None are unable to land a single blow to the creature. His only choice was to retreat and leave the forest but that was impossible. Not only that this creature was circling around them and attacking them after seeing an opening the whole commotion and the smell of blood attracted other monsters to their location as they heard familiar sounds coming all around them. And that several of his men that were attacked by the creature are still alive and were being attacked by those creatures as screams and wails are heard from the thick fog. Before Mithril could order his men, the creature attacked again, two of his men spotted it just in time and managed to land a blow. Unfazed the monster struck the two guards that hit it. One was ripped in half, the other one was dragged away into the fog where his screams stopped. His remaining men broke from the pressure and fear ran for their lives, disappearing into the fog only for their screams of agony echo through the forest. As for Mithril, he stood there alone waiting for the end to come. After what was felt like forever, Mithril heard the sound of footsteps behind him. He turned around and finally saw what took down his men.

From 5 meters from him, he could see that It was a creature like no other. Almost human, two arms, two legs, a head but slightly smaller and pointy ears. Had no eyes and was skinny, the creature's skin color was greyish brown. Its lower jaw was able to open wider, from ear to ear, and had two fang-like pincers on the top of his jaw. It was all that he could see through the fog, but it was clear to him that he was dealing with something way stronger than him. He was unable to move because of the incredible fear that it instilled in him in its presence. At that moment the monster roared and attacked him. It’s pincer-like fangs latched on and pierced his neck, using its strong arms to hold him in place while it drained his life. Unable to fight back all Mithril could do is just lay there and perish as the creature devour him alive. As the fog started to clear, the form of the creature is shown as it continued to gorge on its prey the other demons and monsters emerged from the darkness circled around the creature while its howl echoed throughout the forest. Back at the Atharva Empire, one of the guards stationed near the walls noticed an eerie sight when he glanced at the forest, a dark fog began to move across the deep forest as he felt that something was staring at him in the distance. Unknown to all, the creature began its descent from the forest towards the allied nation with thick darkness following behind it.

⬗ ⬗ ⬗

It has been almost a year since Mithril and his men left to exterminate the monsters that dwell in the dark forest, and it has been a year since they went missing. The other two powers sent their own military forces into the forest to deal with the monsters but, after few months later only a handful came back. The survivors were in shock while talking about an unknown creature stalking them and attacking during the night. And it wasn’t alone, its presence attracted hostile creatures that can only be described as hell itself has opened. Scouts reported that the remains of the fallen soldiers were nowhere to be seen and all was left was their broken armor and weapons. The three powers decided to stop sending their men into the forest and think of a strategy to combat the monsters that are coming down from the forest. If it goes well, they allied nations will be able to fight them off without any problems. For the past four months the allied nations kept the monsters at bay and away from any populated areas with only a few casualties. As for the creature that’s responsible for all of this commotion, it simply stays clear from the battlefield and somehow commands the monsters to attack. Getting to it and killing it is virtually impossible with all those monsters getting in the way. For the past nine months, Rayneshia, the crown princess of the Atharva Empire kept herself locked in her room hoping for the impossible, hoping all that has happened was just a nightmare that she will wake up from. But it wasn’t a nightmare it was reality. The two-set necklace ring she was given by Mithril the only thing she had left of him. Her servants and even her parents failed to get her out of her room let alone she won’t even talk to anyone. And to top that barely eats any food given to her. A week passed, then a month, it was then that she heard a voice, a voice she knows all too well. It was Mithril’s and it was coming from outside from the forest. At first, she believed she was hearing things due to her grief. But after a week Rayneshia heard it clearly, as if he was in her room. So, she thought of going to the forest, but with the guards and monsters in the forest it was dangerous and impossible. For the past three days she heard Mithril calling her name over and over, eventually she responded and was given an answer back.

It has been almost a year since Mithril and his men left to exterminate the monsters that dwell in the dark forest, and it has been a year since they went missing. The other two powers sent their own military forces into the forest to deal with the monsters but, after few months later only a handful came back. The survivors were in shock while talking about an unknown creature stalking them and attacking during the night. And it wasn’t alone, its presence attracted hostile creatures that can only be described as hell itself has opened. Scouts reported that the remains of the fallen soldiers were nowhere to be seen and all was left was their broken armor and weapons. The three powers decided to stop sending their men into the forest and think of a strategy to combat the monsters that are coming down from the forest. If it goes well, they allied nations will be able to fight them off without any problems. For the past four months the allied nations kept the monsters at bay and away from any populated areas with only a few casualties. As for the creature that’s responsible for all of this commotion, it simply stays clear from the battlefield and somehow commands the monsters to attack. Getting to it and killing it is virtually impossible with all those monsters getting in the way. For the past nine months, Rayneshia, the crown princess of the Atharva Empire kept herself locked in her room hoping for the impossible, hoping all that has happened was just a nightmare that she will wake up from. But it wasn’t a nightmare it was reality. The two-set necklace ring she was given by Mithril the only thing she had left of him. Her servants and even her parents failed to get her out of her room let alone she won’t even talk to anyone. And to top that barely eats any food given to her. A week passed, then a month, it was then that she heard a voice, a voice she knows all too well. It was Mithril’s and it was coming from outside from the forest. At first, she believed she was hearing things due to her grief. But after a week Rayneshia heard it clearly, as if he was in her room. So, she thought of going to the forest, but with the guards and monsters in the forest it was dangerous and impossible. For the past three days she heard Mithril calling her name over and over, eventually she responded and was given an answer back.

“Head to the northwest of the forest, come and find me.”

That was the response she heard. Later the next night she snuck out of her room without alerting the guards or the servants and left the castle. What was strange was that the guards that were supposed to guard that part of the castle next to where her room was were nowhere to be seen. But she ignored that and headed to the northwest of the forest where she was told to go. It was midnight and there was a full moon, as she walked, she heard noises all around her, she heard Mithril’s voice again.

“Hurry, this way. Closer.”

Unbeknownst to her the very same creature that killed Mithril and his troops was observing her every movement, stalking and following her. After couple of hours later she arrived at an old large, withered tree, and then she snapped out of it. Rayneshia realized she was deep in the forest and what was worse for her is that she was lost. A thick fog surrounded the area, and she couldn’t see anything past five meters in front of her. Any direction she went was most likely going to get her lost deeper into the forest.

**Part II**