Origin of the Realm (part 4): the universe that Demon rules, the universe that Aoife belongs to...

The lands lay barren; no seed, all dust
The men lay dead; just women, all cursed 
  
(The Storytellers)

 
It was a truce gone bad with Krâl Kalum. Lord Ducai never saw it coming.

After the land of Realm was divided, under the supervision of Buzurgs, the need to rebuild anew was just as pressing as the need to eat, bathe and live.

While Kalum took the throne and title of Krâl and dubbed his territory the Kingdom of Volttus, the clan of Syhla, under Sikam's strong leadership, started fresh in a new world on their share of Realmic land. They farmed and called their new country Enth. 
 
Lord Richesse named his new country after his family – Richesse. Affluent in natural minerals, the country of Richesse had a lot to offer and share with the neighbors. 

Ducimus was where Lord Ducai ruled.

As the population grew, so did the bounties of land and trade. It was evident from the start that in order for all to survive, all four lords and their people would have to coexist in peace. It was also important to have rules to facilitate national and international relations and that such rules be acceptable by everyone. 

Since there already existed a supreme power in that odd, new universe that came with its own set of laws, few as they may be, and the ownership of that power, that Scepter, made Kalum supreme, the laws Volttus automatically became the constitution of the Realm. All other countries beside Volttus were of course free to legislate for their own benefit but those laws could not cross over homeland boundaries and became void in that event.

Unpleasant as it may be, it was what everyone had to agree to. The power of Scepter demanded that and in time so did the authority of Krâl.
 
Sikam of Syhla had no worries there. He wasn’t the jealous sort nor did he crave power. His red mark of courage and the respect of his people had already filled his cup to the brim. Besides, owed to his combined venture with Kalum into Kuzdoh, he enjoyed a special place with him that the Demon King refused to share with any other.

Sikam desired no more.

But nature smiled upon him still. He was soon blessed with a beautiful boy. Baby Aloysius bore the same crescent as his father by birth and it was obvious the boy was just as special as the man who’d sired him. The Enthonians, out of love and respect for their leader, declared that the title of Syhla would now be used only for the family of Demon slayers. Hence, began the long line of Syhlain Royals of Enth.

Lord Ric was happy as a lark to be handed down such wealth on a platter - all those minerals and gems. He wasn’t inclined to discipline much either, therefore, it suited his temperament a lot that someone else took control. It was mighty helpful and fine that Krâl was there to scare everyone into submission to law and civility. All Ric had to do was rule. It is believed he did not live for very long to enjoy his new domain since the climate of the Realm wasn’t compatible with his delicate self. He caught a bad cold and died, was succeeded by his wife, Jana, who brought up their son Ezem to become the next king. But that’s another story and a fairly uneventful one at that.

Now Ducimus was a juicy monarchy. Lord Ducai was now King Ducai of Pompousness by all means. He also loathed the fact that everyone in the Realm had more or less the same acreage for homeland space. You see, on Earth, he had more land than both Ric and Sikam combined and even then he wanted Xome. He was the power hungry, lusty and crafty wolf of the forest. It is believed he liked to receive and present good wine and women as tokens of goodwill among friends. 

And who could've been a better friend than Krâl of Realm if all went well?

Ducai picked out a dozen of his most beautiful harem virgins and sent them off to serve Krâl. A harem virgin was a rarity on her own and then a dozen of them! How long do you suppose had Ducai waited for this to happen? And why? Sure, being in Krâl’s good books was profitable but why be so generous. A cartful of fresh produce of the season from Enth or the first batch of gems from a new mine from Richesse was always enough to put a smile on Kalum's face. Besides, the mighty Demon never asked to be showered with gifts.

Dark hearts have dark purposes.

Kalum wasn’t much into women. He enjoyed the company but he rarely indulged himself that way. But to return the girls would indeed be a dishonor to Ducimus. Hence, he kept them all. And he pleased them all. And to one he lost a bit of his heart. She was young and pretty and naïve. And she made him happy. Until one day when he came to her and found her confiding with one other Ducimus woman. Both whispering, secretly conspiring on how to grab that vital piece of information and send it to Lord Ducai for that much reward!

Traitors! Spies! So that’s why Ducai had planted them there!

The women were arrested. Krâl’s army prepared to wage war against Ducimus. Lord Ducai had brought the worst upon himself. He had attempted to gain knowledge of how to snatch power, the Scepter, from the Demon King. This was treason. This meant war.

Those were the early days of the kingdoms and none had huge armies. But Krâl didn’t need a huge army. He could burn and kill with his eyes alone. The Fire in his being was fatal alone for the enemy. And his revenge was ugly. He slayed every man, adult or child, in the territory of Ducimus and left the women alive to despair. 

“Send your women to deal with the mighty Krâl, will you?” He laughed as he pointed his sword to Ducai’s bared chest before he pierced his heart.

Next, he let his soldiers lose to plunder cities, destroy crop, uproot trees and burn forests, slaughter animals and poison the big lake that supplied water to Ducimus. And then, he let the women go. Left to wander the streets and fields of their ruined land.

To be continued...