Gou is a dark elf in Warhammer

Tar Anlek is less a city than a fortress of immense proportions, the greatest fortress in the world, built by Aenarion and Caledor to defend against the hordes of demons that once swarmed across Ulthuan.

A massive wall surrounded the city, with twenty spires scattered around it, each like a small castle. Black and silver flags fluttered in the wind, the flash of weapons could be seen from time to time, and hundreds of guards patrolled the walls.

When the last rays of the sun disappeared over the horizon, Anlek emerged quietly like a monster awakening from the abyss of darkness, and the entire city was shrouded in heavy shadows.

The spires stand like the horns of a monster, twisted and sharp, as if ready to pierce the sky at any time. The towers are tall, like claws surrounding this silent giant city, guarding the dark secrets hidden in it. Every building is like a part of this monster, silent and majestic, exuding a gloomy atmosphere.

A suspension bridge spanned between two cliffs, winding out like a spine in the shadows. The shadows walked silently on the bridge. On both sides of the bridge, flames were burning in braziers embedded in the stone walls. The flames licked the air, making slight crackling sounds, which formed a sharp contrast with the silence around. The scorching heat waves hit us, but they could not dispel the thick cold, but instead added a hint of uneasy restlessness in the air.

Once it had been a beacon in the darkness, a fortress of Aenarion, but now the sight of the black granite building made Aris shudder, for the Anar had not come to the city in the centuries since Morathi had usurped the Archon and Council left by Malekith.

Ares looked up at the towering city walls on both sides, secretly feeling sorry for the warriors who were destined to attack Anlek. He believed that when Malekith launched the attack, many loyal elves were destined to lose their lives.

He quickly pushed these worries aside, for he knew it was his family's job to ensure the gates were opened and save those warriors from such a bloody fate. After witnessing what Anlek had done, his resolve grew, and he was proud that House Anar would play such an important role in the war on Nagarythe.

Through the open gates he could see the flames burning, illuminating the dark stone walls of the side towers and the vaulted ceiling of the great gatehouse. As he entered the gatehouse he felt a chill, as if all light had been extinguished. He suppressed the urge to look back, tensing as the city engulfed him.

Soon after, he stood in the window of the abandoned garrison tower, overlooking Anlek, watching the scenes unfold in the distance. The night was torn by the screams of sacrificial victims and the screams and prayers of fanatics. Flames of different colors broke the darkness, and bloody mobs rampaged through the streets, fighting each other and dragging away those unfortunates to sacrifice to the dark gods.

He was in an abandoned building near the northern wall of the city, which once housed hundreds of soldiers, but had long since been moved to the south. Like many places in Anlek, this area was eerily quiet, with fanatical believers tending to gather near the temple in the center of the city. Religious groups competed with each other, and in order to gain dominance, strength was demonstrated in numbers.

There were rooms beneath the tower that the Annars had not entered since their initial explorations, where they had been shocked by the bloodstained floors, spiked fetters, broken swords, and vicious brands. They shuddered at the thought of the tortures of their fellows, and then they closed the doors and confined themselves to the upper areas.

"I never thought we could fall to such a level, especially here, a place that was once full of dignity and glory. Look at us reduced to our current state..." Eloran walked to Aris's side and said dejectedly.

"No, Morathi spreads weakness and corruption, but Malekith will bring strength and determination, and the future is still worth fighting for!" Aris responded in a firm tone.

After he finished speaking and saw that his grandfather did not respond to him, he turned his head to look at his grandfather, and he found that his grandfather was staring at him with a smile.

"I am proud of you, my child. Proud of the House of Anar. Your father will be a great lord of the House, and you will be a fine prince of Nagareth. Whenever I see you, the old painful memories fade away. It was for men like you that we fought and bled, not for the corrupted who revel in Aenarion's cities."

"If I am able to do so, it is because of your example. It is the legacy you leave behind that inspires me, and I feel so proud that I cannot even express it in words when I call myself a member of the Anna family. When others faltered and fell into darkness, you remained steadfast and became a pillar of light for all to follow."

Tears sparkled in Eloran's eyes, and then the grandparents hugged each other, drawing comfort from each other's love and temporarily putting aside the horrific scene outside. After a while, Eloran broke free from the embrace and turned his gaze back to the window, his expression becoming serious.

"Aris, those who commit these atrocities must be punished, but do not confuse punishment with revenge. Fear, anger, jealousy and hatred fuel these cults and stir up the darkest emotions in all of us. As long as we stick to our ideals, victory will be ours," Eloran said calmly.

Ares spent a sleepless night, keeping watch outside and discussing upcoming events with his father and grandfather. As the rose-colored mist of dawn crept over the horizon and flickered faintly on the stone walls of the city, he went with his father and grandfather to the highest room in the spire. In the light of dawn and the torches on the ramparts, they could see many warriors inside the city preparing for the attack.

In Anlek, the day is less dangerous than the night, the garrison dominates during the day, patrolling the streets to ensure that complete anarchy does not engulf the city, while the cultists who revel and sacrifice at night rest. The Shadows can conceal themselves in the heart of the enemy, hiding from sight and gathering information and food.

It is clear that Morathi controls the balance of forces, coddling the cult enough to retain support, but curbing the cult's excesses enough to ensure that some semblance of order is maintained.

Ares took off his robe and decorated himself with a simple loincloth and red cloak, dressing himself as a follower of Khaine. The streets outside were empty, and he walked carefully, sticking close to the wall, heading towards the center of the city.

Anlek's spire once stood alone in the center of the city, but over the centuries more buildings have sprung up nearby, each one closer and closer to the palace. These buildings undoubtedly belonged to Anlek's rulers, but most of the residences were empty when the nobles led their armies from the city walls or led their soldiers far to the south.

He leaped over the garden wall and skimmed over the bubbling fountain as he had before on his own hillside, leaping from rock to rock, looking for a way in. He leaped onto a bare branch near the porch of a mansion, from where he leaped onto the roof, cutting through an open window, ducking to avoid detection, and running along the sloping tiles of the steep roof.

There was a distance between the gable of the mansion and the castle wall, but that did not prevent him from leaping over the cliff. His fingers grasped the worn stones of the wall, and after scratching for a while, his bare toes found support. Then he climbed to the top of the wall like a spider, and after making sure he was not discovered, he slipped down the high battlements to the wall.

He climbed towers and spires, sidling along ledges and climbing to the roofs of steeples until he was far above the city, and as he rounded the tops of the steeples, basking in the sun's warmth, a sudden flash of memories came over him of him and his mother lying on the lawn, talking about Ashnir.

At that moment, he realized that he had not thought about Ashnir for a long time, and he was so fascinated by what was about to happen that he temporarily forgot about Ashnir. But he felt no guilt, he was filled with excitement, because if he succeeded today, Malekith would regain his throne, and Ashnir would no longer be bound to the safe refuge of the mountains.

Driven by various forces, he looked around for a more stable footing, and then he saw a balcony not far above him. He jumped, grabbed the curved stone column below the balcony, and pulled himself onto an elegant railing.

Just as he was about to move again, he froze, and he heard a voice that drove him to stop. He risked a glance into the room, and found it empty. However, through the archway in the room, he saw an inner sanctum, and his heart leaped when a tall figure came into view.

She was tall and stately, with long black hair that fell in lazy waves down her back. She wore a robe of purple gauze, the fabric hanging like smoke around her fair skin. A strange shadow hung about her, an almost invisible miasma of darkness that seemed full of its own life. In her hands she held an iron staff topped with a strange horned skull, and in her hair was a golden crown studded with diamonds and emeralds.

Morathi!
At that moment, Aris' pupils dilated. He was overwhelmed by Morathi's beauty, even though he knew in his heart that Morathi was completely evil. This was the first time he saw Morathi, and Morathi had her back to him, but the curves of her shoulders and hips aroused a desire in his heart that he had never had before. He longed to immerse himself in her smooth hair and feel the touch of her soft skin on his fingertips.

But soon, another voice broke the enchanting spell, and Aris realized that Morathi was not alone. He could vaguely see a bald head with a black robe with strange patterns on it passing through the archway. He listened carefully, but he still couldn't hear the words clearly. Finally, driven by curiosity, he broke his promise to his father and quietly entered the hall, approaching the witch he hated.

After finding a suitable position, he could see the scene in the central hall more clearly, but the scene in front of him made him take a step back. Behind Morathi, a ball of colorful flames burned, which reminded him of the legend of the fire of Aenarion.

But this thought only stayed in his mind for a moment, because this flame had no sacred aura, and the flames were sharp and angular. A half-formed figure was entrenched in the center of the twisted flames, vague and indistinct, made of flames but not belonging to the flames, looking like the face of a bird, perhaps an eagle, or a vulture, constantly switching between various forms.

"The time has come!" A deep and solemn voice echoed in the hall.

The voice came from the flames, and it didn't sound like Elsalin, but strangely enough, Aris understood it easily. It was as if the voice came from a language that wove all languages ​​together, completely recognizable yet distinct.

"The winding road has many forks," another voice warned, followed by a cackle.

"I see the end of all paths!" the first voice responded.

"But I don't know when!" the second voice continued.

Aris was confused, and although both voices seemed to come from the burning phantom, the voices had an argumentative tone.

"In exchange, I expect something in return. When I call, you must answer!" Morathi interrupted the argument, her voice as luxurious as her body.

"She made a request!" the shrill voice squawked.

"Request?" The deep voice also gave a cackle.

"I am not afraid of you. You came to me. If you want to return empty-handed, I will not stop you. If you want to leave with the purpose you came here, then you must treat me as an equal partner."

"equality?"

The sharp sound was like a thorn piercing Aris's ears, and he felt great pain from it.

"We are equal in all things, and as partners, we have made this deal. Always remember, there are things that are beyond your reach, and only mortals can do them, demon. We have bound you in a prison, and if you wish to transcend that prison, you must rely on the hands of mortals to achieve it." Morathi said calmly.

When Ares heard the word "demon", a chill of fear ran down his spine, and he had an urgent urge to escape. He trembled all over, but his will forced him to suppress his fear and continue listening.

"Always so arrogant! Mortals imprisoned us? You'd better remember that no prison can imprison us forever, and no barrier can completely block us. Mortals will be liquidated, oh, yes, liquidated!" The sharp voice said sarcastically.

"Shut up, you foolish old crow! Do not listen to his idle nonsense, Queen of the Elves. Our deal is made, our pact is sealed. In exchange, you will receive what you need."

"I seal this contract with my blood."

Morathi said, pointing to one of the warlocks in the distance. The warlock was instantly covered with countless small wounds, blood splattered everywhere, and screams echoed in the hall. She threw the still screaming warlock into the flames, and the flames suddenly lit up, almost blinding people, and shrill laughter echoed off the walls.

"Your destiny has already been woven."

As soon as the words were spoken, the flame flickered again and disappeared, and the hall fell into darkness.

Ares blinked, trying to clear the spots from his vision, and when he recovered, he realized that Morathi had turned around and was walking towards him. In a panic, he rushed to the balcony and jumped down. His hands groaned in pain as he grabbed the support. He gritted his teeth and held on to the stone pillar tightly. He heard the sound of narrow high-heeled boots softly on the stone slabs above.

"How funny, I thought he surpassed the flames, it seems my son has finally grown up."

When Morathi spoke again, her voice was almost above Aris's head. When he heard Morathi's voice, a chill ran down his skin.

"Can't you feel its presence, Your Majesty? The headband in his helmet burns with ancient power." A warlock whispered.

"Yes, we shall soon see, but does he have the will to harness that power? This is an artifact that existed long before Ulthuan rose from the sea. Be careful, my darlings, or we will all suffer the consequences." Morathi sighed.

"What if he captures this place?" "Send your messenger to inform others, our agents in the mountains and in the city. One battle cannot decide a war. If he enters Anlek, he will definitely come to me." Morathi said softly.

As the footsteps faded away, Aris let out a long breath. He almost lost control of the uneven stone wall. Too many things made his mind chaotic, and time seemed insufficient. He focused his attention on the most important thing, and quickly opened the south gate to let Malekith's army enter the city.

Aris suddenly opened his eyes and stared at the ceiling blankly. In the dim room, the air was filled with a heavy silence, with only his rapid breathing echoing around. His body was soaked in cold sweat, and the thin blanket was tightly attached to his body, and the wet feeling made him feel a little uncomfortable.

He sat up, rubbing his cheeks with shaking hands, as if trying to erase the warmth of the dream from his mind. For some reason, his dreams recently always returned to those long-ago times, to the battles of his youth and the presence of his loved ones.

The scene in the dream was so real, his grandfather's voice still echoed clearly in his ears, and the warm touch seemed to still remain on his shoulders. However, the reality was cold, he was no longer the boy full of fighting spirit and hope. The world he lived in now had been tempered by time and war and became more cruel.

Ares sighed and looked out the window. It was not yet completely light, and the gray sky cast a faint light through the window. He didn't know why these dreams appeared frequently in his mind recently. Perhaps it was some kind of omen, or perhaps it was his deep nostalgia for the past.

He stood up, walked to the window, opened it, and the cold morning wind blew in his face, bringing with it the chill of winter. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, trying to let the cold wind dispel the confusion in his heart.

But the cold wind did not dispel the anxiety in his heart. He turned away from the window and began to tidy up his clothes, preparing to greet the new day.
-
Malekith stood with his hands behind his back, looking through the window at Naggarond shrouded in lead gray. For some reason, he suddenly thought of Aris and the scene when he first met Aris.

That was what happened when he returned to Nagarythe. Just as he had arranged, the Anar family, who received the information, sneaked into Anlek and assisted him in opening the south gate of Anlek, allowing his army to advance smoothly.

On the wall, he was wearing armor and talking with the head of the Anar family, his father's lieutenant and flag bearer, Eloran, and Eloran's son Esriel. Soon, he turned around, smiling, and looked at Aris who walked out of the tower.

"Aris, I want you to meet a very special person, and that person is Prince Malekith." Esriel said as he put his arm around his son's shoulders and pulled Aris close.

Ares bowed his head instinctively, but his eyes never left his face. He leaned over, took Ares' arm, and helped him up.

"It is I who should be performing the salute, not you. I owe you a favor that cannot be easily repaid." After he finished speaking, he brushed aside his cloak, knelt on one knee for a moment, and then stood up.

"Liberate Nagarythe and we'll be even," said Aris.

"I will fulfill my part of the promise, and Morathi's tyranny will end today." After Esriel's stern shout was interrupted by his smile and wave, he turned to Aris again and his expression became serious.

"This is the noble Isil, the commander of the Nagareth army and my most trusted lieutenant." He then called Isil over and introduced Isil to the three from the Anar family. He could feel that Isil seemed a little uneasy as he nodded, so he had to pat his lieutenant's shoulder to comfort him.

"Excuse me, my mother is waiting for me and I have a score to settle with her." After being polite for a while, he said without any smile on his face.

"Are we even now?" Malekith, who had just broken free from his memories, asked Hirsis, who had come over and stopped not far away.

"Your Majesty?" Hirsis was confused by the question. He didn't know what Malekith was asking.

"No!" Malekith's voice echoed in the room, breaking the silence around him. He ignored the confused Hirsis and continued to think on his own. After pondering for a moment, he turned his eyes back from the window.

Like a moving fortress, he slowly walked to the center of the room and looked around, his orange eyes sharp and unquestionable. The cold air swirled in the middle of the black tower, and the walls were embedded with golden candlesticks, the flames flickered weakly, reflecting the mottled shadows on the stone walls.

"Do you think he will like it here?" Malekith's voice was cold, but with a hint of meaning.

Hirsis stood there, his face slightly nervous, he could sense the question in Malekith's voice. But... Malekith had previously ordered him to clear out the middle and lower levels of the Black Tower, without giving him any specific instructions, only telling him: "You should know who will use this place in the future."

This……

you……

Perhaps? At this moment, Hirsis was blessed. Perhaps he should write a letter to Clarkalond and have the fleet that was about to depart deliver it to Asheril.

Malekith ignored Hirsis and walked slowly to the wall, running his fingers lightly across it. The cold stone surface was as cold as his expression at the moment.

"Will he like this arrangement?" He repeated his question in a whisper, as if asking himself.

The wind outside the window howled and slapped the thick stone walls, as if to add fuel to the cold atmosphere of the black tower. The tower was filled with cold echoes, and occasionally the sound of black guards moving could be heard from afar, which enhanced the solemn atmosphere here.

"Not enough, the space is empty, and emptiness is meaningless, do you understand?" Malekith looked back at Hirsis.

"Your Majesty, I will rearrange these areas." Hirsis's heart tightened, and a trace of cold sweat oozed from his forehead. He knew that this meant that Malekith was not completely satisfied with the arrangement he made. He hesitated for a moment and responded in a low voice.

Malekith nodded and walked slowly towards the hall. His footsteps sounded particularly heavy in the empty space. Every step he took seemed to be thinking about the next chess move. Everything here was the same as it was thousands of years ago. The long colonnade hall extended inward from the gate.

On the floor was a huge mosaic of a golden sword blade against a stormy sky, a pattern he always remembered from when his father had been there with him in his childhood.

He remembered lying on the masonry, caressing the golden tiles with delight, while his father sat beside him and told him that this was a dream he had had long, long ago, a dream that troubled him and encouraged him to fight the devil.

He remembered that he had passed through here when he returned to Nagarythe, conquered Anlek, and sought revenge on his mother.

just now……

"Your Majesty!" Aegirether appeared from the darkness and bowed.

"Stand back."

"Come to me." After a long time, a voice echoed in the empty hall, but unlike last time, this time it was Malekith who said it, not Morathi.

"You once had the chance to possess that sword, but you refused." Morathi's voice came faintly, her eyes staring at Malekith, as if she could see through all of Malekith's thoughts and secrets.

"Yes, I refused. And we had a similar conversation thousands of years ago, my mother. Do you remember? At that time, I was not like I am now." Malekith's voice was steady, with a hint of tiredness and exhaustion, but more of dissatisfaction and questioning.

The passage of time did not ease the deadlock, but instead made the argument between mother and son become an endless cycle.

"Your father was controlled by the sword. It is the embodiment of evil, waiting for its next host. I have always worried that you would follow in your father's footsteps and become its puppet. But I am proud that you rejected it. It takes rare courage. No one can truly become its master." Morathi paused and said more seriously, "If you want to rule others, then you must never become a slave to the sword. Its will is evil. It will corrupt you and devour everything you have."

Unfortunately, Malekith did not have the ability to predict the future, otherwise he would have known what would happen in the next era, and he would have ridiculed what his mother said. Now, he lowered his head slightly, tightly grasping the hilt of the Yangyan Sword, and the memories of the past came flooding back like a tide, carrying pain and disappointment.

"But now, you are controlled by another sword, my child." A complex expression appeared on Morathi's face, with a mother's love and a ruler's cruelty intertwined in her eyes.

Malekith knew what his mother was talking about. She was not referring to the physical sword, but to some deeper bondage.

"Yes, Dacreus. You rejected the control of the Sword of Khaine, but were inevitably involved in another more covert control. Dacreus's existence is not that kind of brutal force, his methods are more delicate and cunning. He does not need a sword to control you, he just needs to make you fall into his trap and become part of his plan. And you, although you know this, still find it difficult to get rid of it." Morathi nodded slightly, her eyes looking straight into Malekith's heart as if she could see through everything.

Malekith was silent for a moment. He certainly knew the influence of Daquus. He had always known that the invisible force was subtly changing the situation, and even made him inevitably become a chess piece in the game.

"Think about the sword you are holding now. How did you get it? How did you know it?"

"Dakwus is indeed well versed in manipulation, but I am not unaware of his methods. This is a game that I have to participate in. If I want to achieve my goal, I must enter the chess game, right? Otherwise?" Malekith sneered. He knew what his mother was saying and doing.

"Perhaps so, but my child, you must remember that a true ruler will never rely on others. The more you rely on external forces, the easier it will be to be bound. At that time, you will be powerless to break free."

"Mother, I have to say that your suspicion and prejudice against Daquus have gone beyond rationality. Rationality? Yes, rationality is a precious thing to you, and you have never had it. He is my supporter and he has brought real changes. Compared to you... I would rather believe in a real ally." Malekith's eyes became colder and his voice was low and full of dissatisfaction.

"Do you really think he is your ally? My child, he does not stand by you out of loyalty or friendship. He is a dangerous chess player. Everything he does is just to consolidate his position. He has no loyalty to you, only exploitation. And you are willing to be his chess piece!" Morathi's gaze did not waver, still firm and cold, and the expression on her face seemed to carry a hint of contempt.

"He brought strength and change. Compared to your empty words, his actions let me see the future! His arrival turned the situation around, and I have a real chance. I need him, just as he needs me! Besides, who else can I trust? You? My mother?" Rage gradually burned in Malekith's heart. If someone else said this, it would be fine, but coming from his mother's mouth, it sounded particularly harsh and ironic. He clenched his teeth, his voice low and suppressed.

"You can control him? You are as naive as ever, my child. Don't you understand? Daxus is not your tool. He is manipulating you, pushing you little by little onto the path he designed. Maybe you think he has brought about changes, but those changes are not from your will, but the chess game he has already arranged. You are just one of the chess pieces, and you are completely unaware of it." Morathi smiled coldly, with disdain and compassion in her eyes.

"Enough! I've had enough of your doubts and slanders! You never see my efforts, always think that I'm not good enough, and always think that I'm not doing it right! But the reality is, Daquus gave me hope, but you only brought me confusion and endless doubts, in the past, present, and future!" Malekith's anger was completely ignited, he strode forward abruptly, his tone full of suppressed anger.

"My child, I just want you to see the truth. You think you are in control of the situation, but in fact you are being controlled. Don't forget, your father was the same. He thought he was in control of everything, but eventually became a slave of Cain. Do you want to repeat his fate?" Morathi did not back down. Facing her son's roar, she remained calm and resolute.

Malekith's chest heaved, his orange eyes burned, and his iron hands clenched into fists.

At this moment, he could no longer suppress the anger in his heart. (End of this chapter)