Read upto 10 extra chapters worth of extra content; Simply go to my Patreon and become a Patron.
Patreon Challenge: If I get 100 Paid Patrons then I will officially make writing a job of mine.
Allowing for more consistent updates as well as more Content availability on my Patreon.
Current number: 62/100
Patreon: Patreon.com/ArkNova
Dan Trigolden and Barry Gerald. Thanks a lot for becoming fellow Patron supporters, your support means a lot for both the story and myself. So I'll say it again Thank you!
You too can join my Patreon as fellow Patrons to get extra chapters, support the story, A shoutout, voting rights as well a taking a part in the Patreon Challenge.
-------------------------------------------------------
"Dead!?" Alastor looked at his magic teacher in shock. "How!? Moreover, how did he even die, considering how powerful you say he was!?"
Antonidas shook his head.
"Sadly, I'm not privy to all the details. But I'm almost certain that either Anduin Lothar or Lady Aegwynn would know—considering one was his closest friend alongside your father, and the other was his mother and predecessor."
Alastor frowned, making a mental note to seek out Anduin or Aegwynn when the opportunity arose to bring up the matter.
"We may have strayed a bit too far from the topic you originally came to discuss. Let us continue from there."
"Now, where was I? Ah, yes. At the time, those three were young men who had come to Dalaran, and after their arrival, they quickly distinguished themselves—not to mention formed many connections."
"Among them was Marcus Grave, the heir to House Grave from western Lordaeron."
Alastor's knuckles tightened as the conversation finally reached the point he had been waiting for.
"At that time, Marcus was not only a distinguished young noble but also a genius mage in training, with all the makings of a future Archmage."
Antonidas sighed, a hint of regret in his expression as he recalled the brilliant and charismatic young man before....everything.
"While he was not quite the prodigy that you or Medivh were, he was without a doubt a genius—praised by all his teachers. Not to mention, he was quite social and courteous."
"That was who Marcus was: a gifted mage and the perfect heir. In fact, many believed he would be the one to elevate House Grave—especially since the former principal noble house of western Lordaeron had all but died out without a legitimate heir."
"Everyone was certain that with a powerful mage—perhaps even an Archmage—as its heir, House Grave was destined to become the new principal noble house of the kingdom's western region."
"But… sadly, he encountered forbidden magic."
Antonidas's face darkened as he continued.
Apparently, Marcus had begun taking part in quests issued by Dalaran—to gain combat experience, earn merit, and build connections.
In fact, it was during one such quest that he first met Llane, Anduin, and Medivh, forming a friendship with them.
However, during an extermination mission targeting a suspected cult of Black Mages, Marcus came into his first true contact with forbidden magic.
After the cult was wiped out, it was discovered that its members worshipped dark entities within the Aether—a common trait among Black Mages.
During the aftermath, Marcus found the cult leader's workshop—where he discovered the man's grimoire.
Normally, when a cult or guild of Black Mages was uncovered, all its contents were to be destroyed. Only particularly powerful or unique relics would be spared—sealed away for further study, in hopes of understanding their nature and developing defenses against them.
The grimoire Marcus found was one such relic.
But Marcus became enthralled by what was written within it.
Even a brief glance provided him with insights that sparked the first ember of curiosity within him toward these dark powers.
Confident that he could nullify any danger with his own abilities, Marcus hid the book and secretly brought it back with him—continuing to study it in private.
As time passed, the deeper Marcus delved into the grimoire, the more fascinated he became with the knowledge it offered.
Eventually, he began volunteering for as many Black Mage extermination quests as possible—secretly retrieving additional relics and texts for his own research.
But even that was not enough.
Using his resources and connections, he started tracking down leads related to Black Mages—or more specifically, the daemonic entities they worshipped.
Through this, not only did his magical power grow, but he also gained knowledge and skill in exotic and previously unknown fields of magic.
It was during this time that Marcus began noticing a pattern among the Black Mages and daemonic artifacts he studied.
Most of them were linked to a single concept:
"Chaos."
To his amazement, he discovered that Chaos was not merely an abstract force—but an entire pantheon, with its own realm within the Aether: the Realms of Chaos.
Furthermore, he found that four names appeared repeatedly among Black Mages:
Khorne, Tzeentch, Nurgle, and Slaanesh.
These entities—daemons, or perhaps gods—were the four primary deities of this dark pantheon, collectively known as the Chaos Gods.
Their four realms together formed the entirety of the Realms of Chaos, and each commanded vast almost endless legions of daemons and mortal servants—granting them powers and blessings aligned with their respective domains.
This also explained why many Black Mages exhibited abilities that fell into four distinct categories.
Khorne was the Blood God—his domains being war, wrath, violence, rage, and hatred.
Tzeentch was the Changer of Ways—his domains being change, sorcery, destiny, ambition, and treachery.
Nurgle was the Plague Lord—his domains being decay, disease, despair, death, and endurance.
Slaanesh was the Dark Prince—whose domains encompassed excess, lust, pain, perfection, and hedonism.
Aside from them, there was also Chaos Undivided—the worship of all four gods equally—though it did not possess its own distinct realm within the Realms of Chaos.
As Marcus's fascination with Chaos grew—including its promises of immortality and ascension—he began to see it not as something purely monstrous, but as a path toward collective transcendence.
Not realizing that, even then, his thoughts were already being subtly warped by the cursed objects he kept hidden.
Unfortunately for Marcus, despite his vigilance, he was discovered—by none other than Llane.
That day, Llane had gone to find Marcus after they had raided and destroyed a large Black Mage guild alongside many other mages, warriors, and paladins.
During the aftermath, Llane secretly witnessed Marcus pocketing a corrupted amulet.
Though shocked, he said nothing at the time.
Only after they returned to Dalaran did he confide in Medivh and Anduin.
Together, the three approached the higher authorities of the Kirin Tor. With a sizable team, they raided Marcus's residence in Dalaran—breaking into his heavily fortified workshop, much to Marcus's shock and panic.
What they found was damning.
Not one or two, but numerous dark and daemonic artifacts and relics were hidden within.
Marcus was immediately arrested and put on trial, while everything discovered was either destroyed or sealed away.
The incident quickly became a major scandal within Dalaran.
Not only had several dangerous artifacts been brought into the city undetected, but the one responsible was one of their most prized and carefully cultivated geniuses.
When Marcus was brought before the Kirin Tor for trial, the situation proved… complicated.
To the people of Dalaran—and to anyone who heard of the incident—Marcus was met with disdain and disgust. He had violated not only the tenets of magic, but one of the greatest taboos of Azeroth: consorting with the dark entities of the Aether.
However, for the leadership of Dalaran—the Council of Six and the high-ranking members of the Kirin Tor—the matter was far less straightforward.
Many called for severe punishment: execution, banishment, life imprisonment.
But others hesitated.
Marcus was still the heir to a high-ranking noble house of the Kingdom of Lordaeron.
His parents, too, were prepared to use every means at their disposal to save their son—and salvage whatever remained of his reputation.
Politics further muddied the waters.
Some high-ranking mages quietly proposed an alternative: to attribute Marcus's actions entirely to daemonic "compulsion" caused by the cursed relics. This would allow him to escape with his life—albeit with a tarnished name.
But such suggestions were abruptly shut down.
By none other than Llane Wrynn himself.
At that very hearing, the young Crown Prince of Stormwind openly rebuked those who advocated for leniency in the face of such grave crimes.
He reminded them that, aside from the Church of the Holy Light, none understood better than the Kirin Tor the dangers of consorting with daemons and dark entities.
And beyond that—the sheer recklessness of hoarding so many cursed artifacts within the heart of Dalaran could have led to catastrophe.
Lesser crimes could be forgiven—especially those born of desperation or coercion.
But crimes of this magnitude demanded justice.
Not only to set an example of zero tolerance toward forbidden arts—but to preserve the sanctity of justice itself.
Shamed—and in some cases, deeply embarrassed—the mages who had suggested leniency fell silent.
Many in attendance turned their gaze toward the impulsive young prince who technically spoke out of turn, surprised…...yet filled with newfound respect.
At the time, Llane had often been overshadowed by his two closest friends—both already seen as future great heroes.
Because of this, he was more often known simply as the Crown Prince of Stormwind… or as their companion, rather than as his own person.
Not that Llane ever resented it.
He never envied his friends' talents—though, at times, he quietly wondered whether he was truly fit to stand beside them.
But in that moment, the men and women gathered in that chamber saw something different.
They saw that Llane Wrynn, too, possessed the makings of a great hero.
He did not have the "gift" (Psyker Gene) required to become a mage—let alone the overwhelming aptitude of Medivh.
Nor did his martial skill rival that of Anduin.
But that was never meant to be his path.
Llane was destined to be a king.
Not just any king—but one who embodied Honor, Duty, and Justice.
The balance between a hero and a ruler.
And in that moment, he'd unknowingly revealed that for the very first time.
And while it marked the beginning of Llane Wrynn's rise…...
....…it was also the moment of Marcus Grave's fall.
With Llane's call for justice supported by Medivh, Anduin, and many others present, Marcus was condemned for his crimes against both magic and humanity.
He was not executed—his noble status spared him that fate.
But the punishment he received was far from lenient.
His sentence was as follows:
His magic was to be permanently sealed by two enchanted bands placed around his wrists. For the rest of his life, he would be unable to cast even the simplest spell—nor draw upon the Aether in any form.
All of his research was to be destroyed, deemed too dangerous and potentially tainted by forbidden influences.
He was to be dishonorably banished from Dalaran and barred from every Mage Guild henceforth.
For the next twenty years, he was forbidden from leaving his family's territory—under threat of more severe punishment.
And with that, Marcus's fate was sealed.
He fell from a respected noble prodigy and prospective Archmage… to a pariah—shunned wherever he might go.
Escorted back to House Grave's lands, he felt less like a noble….....and more like a deadman.
The Church of the Holy Light also dispatched a team to investigate both Marcus and the Grave estate.
When no trace of daemonic taint was found within the estate, they departed as swiftly as they had arrived.
But there was one silver lining for Marcus; His family.
While Lord Victor Grave was furious with his son and heir—for both his actions and the damage inflicted upon their house's reputation—he still loved him.
This was evident in the fact that he did not strip Marcus of his position as heir, whereas many others would have gone as far as to disown their children to save their reputations.
Once his anger subsided, he joined his wife, along with their younger son and daughter, in helping Marcus recover.
To them, Marcus had indeed done wrong—terribly wrong.
But they did not believe he was beyond redemption. They held that the Chaos artifacts had played a role in warping his thoughts and judgment.
And as the months passed, Marcus slowly began to return to normal. Had things continued this way, he might have fully recovered—and perhaps even worked to regain respect as a worthy heir to his house.
Unfortunately… reality was cruel.
House Wilson, the long-standing rival of House Grave, was ecstatic.
Marcus's fall had all but destroyed House Grave's chances of becoming the new principal noble house of western Lordaeron—paving the way for House Wilson's rise instead.
But that alone was not enough for them.
House Grave, despite everything, had stood for centuries almost a Millennia. Its foundations were deep, its influence enduring. It would recover—of that, there was little doubt.
Even if House Wilson rose to become the principal house of the West, House Grave would remain a rival.
And so, they decided that this opportunity… should not be wasted.
It was time for House Grave to meet an "unfortunate" end.
One must remember that Lordaeron was the birthplace of the Church of the Holy Light—home to its headquarters, as well as the Holy City of Stratholme.
Because of this, the people of Lordaeron harbored an especially strong revulsion toward anything associated with fel or daemonic forces.
House Wilson's agents began spreading increasingly vile rumors about Marcus—rumors that soon began to taint House Grave's reputation even further.
People were kidnapped and murdered in brutal ways—within secluded houses, warehouses, and basements. At these sites, daemonic symbols and sigils were deliberately left behind.
Any mage or priest would have recognized them as crude imitations—false, meaningless.
But to the common folk, they were real enough.
Fear spread.
Paranoia followed.
Each "ritual site" uncovered only deepened the panic.
To make matters worse, some of House Wilson's agents, disguised as commoners, actively incited the crowds—placing the blame squarely on Marcus Grave and, by extension, his entire family.
They spread wild accusations:
That the Graves were escalating.
That they would soon sacrifice entire towns—settlements, even cities—to their daemonic masters.
Victor Grave became aware of what was happening and did everything in his power to suppress it—while trying to shield his family from the truth.
But after months of mounting tension…
…the breaking point came.
A massive riot formed—an angry mob that marched directly toward Grave Castle, intent on "punishing" the so-called daemon-lovers.
At first, the castle's defenses held.
But it didn't last.
Some of the guards—either bribed or swept up in the same fanaticism as the mob—betrayed their duty and opened the gates.
The horde flooded in.
The defenders were quickly overwhelmed and slaughtered.
Victor Grave, his wife Maria, and their children—Michael and Michelle—were captured and dragged from the castle.
Victor and Michael fought valiantly. Even outnumbered, they cut down many attackers.
But exhaustion took its toll.
Despite their strength granted to them by their genetic factors and formal warrior training, they were eventually overwhelmed and subdued.
Maria and Michelle fared far worse.
Unlike the men, they had no formal combat training—only the basics of self-defense.
Even with the advantages of their family's genetic factor, they stood little chance against the frenzied mob.
Marcus, who had not been present at the castle at the time, had been sent away to travel through the territory by the suggestion of his mother—both to clear his mind and to distance himself from recent events.
But as he made his way back, accompanied by a few bodyguards, he froze at the sight of smoke rising in the distance.
Shock turned to dread.
Fear gripped his heart.
Pushing their jetbikes to their limits, Marcus and his guards sped toward the castle.
Only to arrive… too late.
Before them stood Castle Grave—completely engulfed in flames that lit up the surroundings.
Yet even that was not the most horrifying sight.
At the castle's entrance, a large wooden platform had been erected.
Marcus dismounted instantly and ran forward—only to come to a halt behind the gathered crowd.
What he saw shattered him.
On the platform… were his father, his mother, and his siblings.
Bound tightly to wooden stakes.
As they were being Burned alive!
Their screams—raw, agonizing—were drowned out by the crazed crowd's frenzied cheers and laughter completely blood drunk and certain what they did was just.
"HAHAHAHA! BURN THE HERETICS!"
"THIS IS WHAT YOU DESERVE, YOU DAEMON LOVERS!"
"DAMNED WITCHES AND WARLOCKS!"
"WE'LL SEND YOUR SON TO JOIN YOU SOON ENOUGH—YOU WON'T BE LONELY!"
No one noticed the hooded Marcus standing behind them.
Their attention was fixed entirely on the horrific spectacle before them.
Nor did they notice the tears streaming down his face…....as his world collapsed by the seams around him.
And so, when a "voice"—or rather, "voices"—whispered to him offering "Salvation".
Marcus did not even hesitate in agreeing because why would he? Did he have anything else left to lose?
Power from all four Chaos Gods flooded into his body and soul.
In that moment, he ascended—becoming a Champion of Chaos Undivided.
A scream tore from his throat—no longer human.
And then—
The slaughter began.
A different type of screams filled the air.
Blood flowed, Much of it.
Every single person present met a fate more horrific than the last.
By morning, the castle and its surroundings were saturated with corrupted energies. The land itself began to warp—twisting, mutating, and decaying under the influence of Chaos.
As for the corpses…
—or what could even be called "corspes"....
…it was a nightmare made manifest.
Especially the mountain of corpses before the ruined castle's gates.
Marcus, however, was nowhere to be found.
The Church of the Holy Light dispatched a large force to purify the land and investigate the incident, led by the then renowned Bishop Alonsus Faol—a Saint of the Light and one of the Church's most powerful warrior-priests.
But less than a month later, another shocking piece of news spread across the continent.
House Wilson…
…had been completely annihilated.
An unknown—yet incredibly powerful—Black Mage had slaughtered them all.
Each death more gruesome than the last.
And though few knew it…
Marcus Grave had, in truth, died the same day his family was burned.
In his place…
rose Malak—
Champion of Chaos Undivided.
-Flashback End-
--------------------------------------------------------
Author Note: Please remember to Vote, comment, Add to library and give the story a 5 star review to help it get the coverage it needs.
Read upto 10 Chapters worth of content ahead by going to my Patreon and becoming a fellow Patron. As well as supporting both the story and myself as well.
By a 100 Paid Patrons I will officially make story writing a job of mine. Guaranteeing more consistent releases as well as more consistent long form content both her and on my Patreon.
Patreon: Patreon.com/ArkNova