Divinity Keeper

By Raphael Fae

Four Children. They were chosen by gods to fight in a century’s old war. Ran Caden, warrior. Vaschel Devanshi, farmer. Iri Mercer, merchant. Prince Zephyr Cynerik. All creatures of death and dark; life and light. Holding the symbols of divinity, War Beasts Blaike, Dawn, Phuong and Ryden. Divine Fatality. Azra Yuki is the Balance Keeper. She is the Child of Skjöldolfr. Before, she was a Child of Galen. And a Child of Loralai, the sacred griffin. Azra has made up her mind. She needs to destroy the Beasts. But to do that, she needs to end the war.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Pencil
• Release date: Sep 9, 2021
• ISBN: 9789354587535

Book preview

Chapter 1

My Queen ordered me to do something strange today. I was told to gather information on a group of people who were believed to be of magical properties. I knew where the magic our Queen believed they had come from.

It was an old archaic magic that wasn’t practiced here anymore. It was outdated. Relying on others, especially creatures of powerful and ancient nature, wasn’t the best for the world.

But the question was, more to the point, which creatures were alive during this time? For that country at the very least. Was there anything or anyone interesting?

Vaschel

I woke up to a loud banging at my bedroom door and the sounds of muffled argumentative conversation in the hallway. I glanced at the clock on my bedside table quickly.

It was early morning.

Why wasn’t I allowed to sleep in? Then I glanced at the calendar on the other side of the room.

Gods.

I pulled on a shirt and a pair of blue jeans before opening the door. A tall broad-shouldered man in a formal charcoal suit stood at the door. My father. He wore his business suit. It only confirmed my suspicions about what day it was.

His wings, even though tucked behind his back, seemed to add three more layers of bulkiness to his overall figure. And yet, it made him seem a little more relaxed at the same time. Like a giant teddy bear.

My younger sister, Mirai walked out of her room with a huge grin on her face. She was wearing a green dress in a shade of emerald I’d never seen before.

Meaning she’d pulled it out for the occasion. Or mother had made it for her just for today. Do you like it brother mine? Mirai asked.

My little sister whirled around to show me her dress. The skirt rode up her legs as it flowed outwards.

Mother made it for your Awakening Day.

I smiled at her and she giggled before hurrying downstairs. It seemed that she took the smile as an affirmation. Vaschel, we need to talk about today before you get invaded by the ladies. I stepped aside to let him into my room.

Father had a strange way of thinking about my mother and younger sister. He thought all of them to be nuisances. But he was at least forced to acknowledge the fact that the two of them did something while he was at work. Your room is an absolute mess my father informed me shortly.

Yep.

But I kind of liked the way it looked right now. Photos were over my walls. My desk was covered with sketches paper pens and an empty candy box. My bed was unmade, and my curtains were closed. Both signs that I hadn’t been awake for exceedingly long. But father couldn’t have expected much. Books and dirty clothes were stacked in piles across every spare space.

Father turned to glare at me. I flinched.

Today is the day you find whether your designated as something special to the community or not. And you haven’t even cleaned your room yet. You’re not going to be staying here after today.

I knew that. He didn't have to remind me.

Today was what was called the Awakening Day.

On this day, every year everyone turned the age of eighteen that year would be tested. This was to see if they could stay in town.

Well not in town.

Each year, these people would stand before a statue in the centre of town and wait. The gods then looked down on us and decided whether whoever bowed before them was worthy of their presence.

Three things could happen to you on Awakening Day.

The most common option was that you weren’t decided as worthy and were left alone to do whatever you wished to do. Within reason of course. But usually, you were kicked out of home.

Actually, being kicked out of home was guaranteed. It was just more to the point of being able to stay in the community if you so wished.

Then you had option two. Those who weren’t deemed worthy and weren’t allowed to be left alone. They ended up either dead or Exiled. Because if you had something – anything – which marked you as a threat to you or any society you were dealt with quickly.

And well, there was no rehabilitation option available. And neither did very many people want it to be an option either.

Option three hadn’t happened since my great-great-great-grandfather was a child. Or maybe it was my great-great-great-great-great-grandmother. Or maybe it was my… nope it didn’t matter.

Someone was chosen to take up battle against other forces of a darker intent. They were deemed worthy by whatever higher force there was and were given a gift of a creature of light. But either way they were no longer to live at home.

In fact, they usually didn’t even stay in town. Which was part of the reason my father wanted my room to be clean before I started getting ready. Especially because no one could ever come back here after they left. And then Mirai could have the choice of coming to live with either me or her parents.

But I also had to pack everything I wanted to take with me as well. Father and I shuffled around the room in silence, working to pack up all the stuff I needed for my new home.

I already had my new house planned out. And the owner had agreed to give it to me if I made it through the Coronation without being Exiled. I’d start a farm away from the bustle of this city.

Time to get ready.

I nodded to my father, turning to see him gesturing to clothes set out on my bed. I picked them up and headed to the bathroom.

I showered washing away my concerns and worries of the day. I spent a lot more time washing my wings washing the dirt from underneath each individual snow-white feather then I did anything else. Being an angel of any means certainly had some downsides.

Once I was done, I changed into the necessary clothes for the day. A pair of black cotton pants a white button-up shirt and a jacket in a strange shade of jade. All of it had been prepared for today alone.

My wings - unfortunately - had to go. I used a small amount of magic to have them disappear. Well, not disappear. My wings simply became something similar to a tattoo spanning from one shoulder blade to another.

I stepped out of the bathroom running my hands through my hair nervously. It seemed to be a habit that I couldn’t stop myself from doing. My father had left the remainders of my outfit and went downstairs with the rest of my family.

I pulled on the jade tie which matched with my jacket and a simple pair of hiking boots. I’d never be able to afford the black leather shoes that all the others wore. On top of that, they were kind of impractical.

Then I headed downstairs to the living room. When I entered the room, two small hands grabbed my forearms. The two girls pushed me down onto the couch and my mother gave me a strange smile; one that was a mixture of pride and concern.

I had no idea what my mother would be concerned about.

Mother came at me with a comb in one hand and a spray bottle in the other. She combed my unruly hair away from my face spraying it with the contents of the bottle. It was probably some sort of hair gel or conditioner. Made to make my hair stay down.

Come check it out in the mirror. You look like a businessman in the making Mirai told me. I didn’t want to look like a businessman. I wanted to look like who I was.

A farmer with little to do in the way of anything.

Mother led me to stand in front of the full-body mirror in the hallway. I couldn’t help but stare at the person before me. The Awakening Day outfit chosen for me was tailored to fit my exact measurements.

Mother had probably given the seamstress my exact measurements so they could make it that way. And it had probably cost her a lot more money than she actually had.

The jade and black of my outfit brought out the overly stunning looking blue of my eyes. I looked richer than a farmer’s son should have.

My sister came to stand beside me in her emerald dress. I barely registered that it was tailored to have fit her as well.

I whirled around and pulled her off the ground in one swift movement. My little sister squealed delightedly as I spun her around in circles. Mother laughed and father smiled warmly as they watched us.

I looked at the clock.

Everyone in every Clan my age would be doing these Awakening trails. It was anyone who was aged eighteen at this specific date. Most of them were probably outside playing a game. Until the bells went to announce the Coronation was to begin.

A reputation of a parent or guardian could affect their children greatly. I belonged to the Devanshi family, renowned for our good harvests and great trading profits. We were one of the most looked up at families besides the nobles.

Are you ready?

The village bell went, signalling the beginning of the Awakening Day test and giving my answer. I had to be ready.

By the time we arrived at the testing arena, the whole village was getting seated so they could watch. The trails were done in one specific place. The centre of town. Right under the watchful eye of our town’s sacred animal, the coyote.

The coyote statue was put there to protect the clan. The real coyote who had been named Dawn had joined with other War Beasts to save the world from predestined destruction. No one knew what had happened to our sacred animals after the wars ended. 

I turned my mind back to the young woman in front of me who was speaking about everything that was happening today. She didn’t look to be much older than me. But she was here because she was pretty.

That’s why the nobles wanted her here.

The order of the trails is simple. First the members of the royal family; second, the nobility. Third the shop owners; fourth, merchants and finally whoever else is left afterwards she told us.

I took note of two men who watched everyone. They looked strangely out of place in the Coyote Clan.

One of the men wore something like a grey cloak with a hood that hid his face. Those kinds of cloaks were found usually in a merchant style. He was obviously from the Lynx Clan. He was had on formal wear. The Lynx Clan was the only one who could wear grey formal uniforms.

The other man wore a brown cloak and a wide-brimmed hat to hide his face. Maybe they were looking for someone or something. They didn’t seem like the usual kind of visitors we had. I shrugged it off.

We often had visitors who watched over the trails. Some were curious. Others travelled to these towns because they found it amusing to watch the way other people did their trails. Sometimes we even had nobles come down to watch.

Vaschel Devanshi.

Chapter 2

I can feel something stirring in the darkness around me. The power in other country was started to rise and change. It seems that the country the Queen told me the Cadre had been sent to investigate was gaining some power.

I wanted to know what was happening down there. I wanted to know what had changed there. I wanted to know what was so potent and powerful that was stirring over there that wasn’t there before.

Vaschel

Two guardsmen clad in black guided me down to the area where the Awakening trails would be taking place. The rest was up to me.

I approached the statue of our protector Dawn. Then I knelt in front of it. Everything was silent around me. This is how it had been for the others too. The rest other Coronation attendances had been made to sit for three minutes to see if anything happened.

I had no idea what was meant to happen. Nor my parents or I had seen it happen before. From what I had seen nothing had happened for them. But if something had happened, they didn’t react. None of the crowd picked up on anything. Which I supposed was a bad thing.

It meant that none of the nobles had been deemed worthy to be Dawn’s companion. But then that meant no one was likely able to be deemed worthy as Dawn’s companion this year either.

I ignored the thoughts blazing through my mind trying to concentrate on anything else. I looked at the overly green grass beneath my feet.

I found it annoying that the statue of Dawn was surrounded by fake grass. Grass that was artificially made for aesthetic purposes and nothing else.

It was the nobles keeping up appearances.

I’d always found it to be something of a disappointment especially after I petitioned to change it. If these people were going to respect the creature which looked after them then why not do it right?

Then something happened.

Something changed.

An itch began to build in my arms. It was like someone made of poison ivy had given me a hug. This had happened to everyone else.

Right?

I didn’t say anything. Couldn’t say anything. Panic rose. What was happening? This had to have happened to everyone else. Hadn’t it?

I resisted the urge to look around, but blood filled my mouth in return. I’d bitten my lip so hard that it had started to bleed.

My senses prickled telling me something had appeared behind me. Appeared? Why had I chosen the word appeared? Why not walked up? I had no idea what the thing was, but it gave off a strong presence.

All I knew was that it was dangerous. And probably important in its dangerousness. I resisted the urge to turn around.

If I broke ritual, I’d be Exiled.

If I did anything that any of the others didn’t do, I’d be Exiled. Even if I were about to die, I had to do it with my back turned.

I heard gasps from the crowd. They sounded suspiciously like surprised gasps.

Why?

I heard snippets of conversation as the crowd started talking over one another. I couldn’t hear one individual conversation. They all melded together, words from each conservation overlapping each other.

The itch in my body became a burning pain as I turned to face what had appeared behind me. I didn’t want to die. Even if I was Exiled for moving. I wasn’t going to face death with my back. But the creature before me wasn’t what I expected to see.

It was a coyote with shining silver eyes and a gingery-cream tint of its fur. The eyes of the creature seemed to see straight through me. Seemed to stare into the depths of my soul. It was disturbing.

I just wanted to sit down, the pain ricocheting higher and higher. I thought that it looked a little like the statue of Dawn behind me. Of course, I stared at the statue to try and distract myself from the pain. With no such luck.

Getting warmer.

I ignored the voice. It was probably a hallucination from the pain I was in.

Because with this much pain I wouldn’t have surprised me if I hallucinated the appearance of this animal before me. And the reaction of the crowd that had followed this.

Because there was no way an animal like the one which had been protecting our country was waiting in front of me. A simple farmer’s son.

Someone who’d never have the money or resources for what they needed. Or the ability to provide for a creature such as this one.

The coyote purred softly and comfortingly tilting her head downward in some form of bow. Why would a majestic creature like this bow to someone like me? As if inviting me to touch the fur of her muzzle.

She was beautiful.

I held out my hand towards the creature and the coyote lifted her head. Her muzzle touched my hand softly. Her beautiful thick and surprisingly coarse fur beneath my fingertips. I nearly couldn’t believe it.

This feeling was softer than what I had imagined any animal’s fur to be. If it were like this for all creatures we came across, I would want to continue living out my dream of owning a farm of my own. Or just being around animals in general.

Unfortunately, if my suspicions were correct that’d never happen. That was when I’d noticed.

The white-hot pain I’d been experiencing before had lifted. Disappeared as if it hadn’t been there before. Then I noticed other smaller changes like that.

Things I’d never noticed before.

Everything looked brighter smelt better tasted more empowering hear the things no one else could and sense everything that happened around me. I could see every blade of glass beneath me. I could practically taste the tarts that were on the table a few meters away. The individual whispers of the crowd became more vivid to my ears.

Can you believe some farmer wannabe got a War Beast?

I can’t believe it. He’s so lucky.

This makes him seem even hotter now.

I scrunched up my nose at the comments from the crowd. Especially the ones that came from the people who found me hot or attractive. I never understood anything like that.

And at the sudden smell of smoke as the bakery as the bread starting to burn. It seems like the baker had forgotten to turn the oven off before he’d come to the Coronation.

I’d never been able to do that before. Had it been caused by this creature before me? I watched the creature bow before me with a low head and respectful eyes.

War Beast Dawn at your service young master.

Um… what?

I looked back at our statue of the sacred War Beast and then towards the coyote in front of me. There was no difference in the way they looked.

I mean there was.

One was a stone statue in the centre of our town and the other a living creature with coloured fur and eyes before me. This was the legendary protector of my home? She was mine to protect now? What? I didn’t…

No, I did.

I understood. I’d been chosen to be Dawn’s companion. My life was now intertwined with Dawn’s. There was evil lurking beneath every shadow. It had to be so. Otherwise, Dawn wouldn’t be here. She’d still be up there wherever she rested.

But what I didn’t understand was the how. And the why. Why did the gods choose me? Why did Dawn accept me? How was I chosen? Why didn’t they choose one of the royals? What was stirring beneath the surface? Why was it coming out now? Why couldn’t it have waited until Dawn had been available for someone of a more warrior-like person?

Dawn bowed her head to me as if making a sarcastic bow in response to my thoughts. Could she read my thoughts? I waited. And waited.

With no answer I assumed not. I smelt something like charcoal and sulphur behind me. Dawn yipped warningly.

Someone touched my shoulder squeezing it like he was about to be my best friend. Or like he was about to do me a favour.

I turned seeing the man in the brown cloak looking at me. This time I noticed something different. He had an animal with him. A bear.

Why would he have a bear? Was it a sacred animal like mine?

A War Beast?

No.

The voice was back. And now it was being helpful now. I watched someone come up behind the man. My father.

His face was grim as he stared at Dawn. I stood, brushing dirt off my pants. Son, we must talk. Well,