The Sixth King

I shall start at the beginning - My first clear memory.

I was lying on my back, staring at a clear, blue sky. The sun was almost directly above me. My body felt odd, especially my back, though I know not why, as I remember naught of what it felt like before. I sat up, confused. At this point, I remember that my life was quickly fading from my memory, though I have no other memories.

A small quadrupedal animal walked up to me. Its rear half looked like a lion, but its front legs, wings, and head looked like that of an eagle. I knew this without looking, though I was not sure how. Without turning, I tried to speak.

Hello.

Instead of noise from a mouth, a thin voice whispered my words at the back of my mind.

The animal jumped back, shock written onto its face.

“Uh, hi.”

Gravelled but high-pitched, its voice was calmer than I expected. I filed the information away, however, when I tried to stand up and glanced down at my hands.

Instead of the normal hands which I could no longer remember, my hands were solely skeleton. The bones themselves were pale and thin; they barely seemed able to hold my weight as I carefully leaned on a finger. It easily bore the weight, even as I saw a thin gap in the knuckle.

When I shifted my gaze from my left hand to my right, I noticed that my had had been wrapped around something. It appeared, at first, to be a staff of some type of wood - oak - with a long, slightly curved blade at the end. Its shape was familiar, reminding me of a tool of some sort - scythe - from my home.

The creature - gryphon - behind me cleared its - her - throat. "You awake?"

I wanted to laugh. For something that, mere moments ago, seemed terrified of me, it was surprisingly brash.

Yes. Here I sit, still. For all meanings of the word.

The gryphoness was silent for a second before she snorted, either laughing at the pun or because of it. I stood up, still holding the scythe. It felt oddly right in my hand, though the life of a farmer was unfamiliar.

When the gryphoness behind me gasped in fear, something stirred within me. I noticed that the sound came from below my height.

Be not afraid, I mean no harm.

I tried to smile calmingly, but I was given no reaction. I suddenly realized that, through our conversation, I had not turned towards the gryphoness. I was worried what I would look like. At the time, I thought I would look like the Grim Reaper, though exactly exactly which likeness I would have was uncertain. I did not lie when I spoke to the gryphoness, though my appearance may be terrifying to those unfamiliar with it.

Worried of the reaction, I slowly turned. I realized my scythe still was held in my hand, and lowered it.

What is thy name?

My parlance sounded odd, though I again know not why. A voice whispered her name in my mind seconds before she said it. “I-I’m known as Eir.” - A goddess of dawn. To my relief, she seemed unafraid of me. I doubt I would have stayed on the path of truth had she not assisted.

Then greetings, Eir.

“What do you call yourself?” Eir’s speech sounded more… normal, though I did not notice at the time.

I know not, Eir. My first memory is seeing the sky. Dost thou knowest a name for me?

“Your appearance is… disquietingly similar to images I’ve seen of another being, one called Azrael.”

The name seemed familiar - An archangel of death - and an image surfaced in my mind. It was of a winged, black-robed man, but instead of skeletal hands, his were flesh and blood, as was his head. However, one aspect of the image caught mine eye: The wings. My back had been aching for some time, but I assumed that I had been unconscious for some time in an uncomfortable position. Unsure of what would happen, I tried pushing out with muscles I barely sensed, and to my shock a pair of massive, black wings unfurled. They seemed to pass through my cloak where they joined my back and were a deep black, compared to the dark grey of the cloak. I did not attempt flight then, for I feared embarrassment should I fail. Folding my wings, I said, Azrael I shall be, then. Perchance I shall change in the future, but for now it suits me.

The voice within me murmured something, but I did not understand it; instead, it instilled a dread the source of which I would not discover for nigh a year.

Where dost thou live? I should need shelter, I think. I held up a bony hand, moving the fingers slightly. I doubt it would be healthy for these bones of mine. The voice whispered in my mind again. Actually, it would be fine, but all the same I think it smart to have a "home", even if only a temporary one.

Eir blushed before gesturing behind her. “I live in a cottage thataways, if you want to stay for a few days.”

I noted her embarrassed tone, and felt somewhat guilty. I wish to be no imposition, Eir. Before I could continue, she cut me off.

“No! It’s fine, I have a guest bed you can sleep on,” she said, before blushing again. It was only later I found the true reason for her embarrassment at my words.

If thou art truly comfortable with it.

“Well, not really comfortable, but it would be rude to just leave you out here.”

I tried to smile, but found that my face did not respond. Eir did not notice, and I began a list of things I needed to check. First on that list was mine ability to fly, and I added to find a reflective surface with which I could see myself.

Soon, Eir stopped. We stood on the banks of a small but surprisingly fast creek. Eir extended her wings and used them to propel herself over the creek.

I had put off the task of seeing myself until I would not delay a potential friend. Again, I hoped to avoid embarrassment, so I reached into my new store of knowledge to see if I could teleport instead of trying to fly - Yes.  I knew that flight would be more difficult that teleportation, though I didn’t notice at the time.

I found instructions of sorts - it was almost a memory how it felt. I replicated it easily enough and found myself on the other bank, feeling exactly the same. Eir was gaping at me.

"You can teleport?!"

Apparently, yes. I knew not how until this moment. I would have tried to explain what I meant, but Eir turned around, annoyed, and continued walking. A few minutes passed before our arrival at a small, one-story cottage which, at first glance, appeared to have four rooms. As we approached, the illusion remained undispelled, though the house felt larger. However, when we passed through the door, the house seemed to triple in size. I knew how many rooms it actually had - 7: a kitchen, two bedrooms, a dining room, a bathroom, a guest bedroom, and one empty room - but its looks had not until now matched the information. I questioned my information little; as of yet, it had proven correct, so why doubt it now?

As it happened, the information was indeed correct. We stepped into Eir’s house and I was presented with the sight of a spartan living room with few decorations. Along one wall was a set of alcoves with a few idols, in each of which seemed to be different statue - Source, Matter, Earth, Hate, War, Death  - and an inscription above reading, "The Line of Kings". Along the other side were a variety of weapons, each sharp and well-maintained. In the corner opposite the door near the weapons was a model of a gryphon, on which had been placed armor. The armor was ornate, but still retained its function of protection without inhibition of movement. Eir sat on a chair that was in front of a small table, the weapons at her back. I stood before her, curious as to what I should do.

At one point, I think I remember being a social person, but I had no memories to serve as precedents.

Eir looked up and seemed to notice that I was still standing. “Oh! I’m sorry, I don’t ha--”

I cut her off. Do not trouble thyself. I do not need a chair; I am comfortable standing. Again, I wondered how I knew that I would still be as comfortable in an hour as now, but put aside questioning it for later.

Eir blinked in surprise, then shrugged. “OK. Well, make yourself at home. The guest bedroom is downstairs” -- she pointed with a claw -- “and to the left, second door. It’s getting late, so I’d recommend going to sleep. We do need to talk in the morning, though.”

I said nothing and walked to the guest room. When there, I searched my knowledge again and conjured parchment and a quill pen, then left a note for Eir should she wish to check on me.

I do not sleep, so I am going to explore.

I shall be back at dawn, if you would allow me stay.

Before I signed my name, I paused. I decided that, since I doubted I could recover my memories anytime soon, I would simply go with the name Eir had provided.

Azrael

With that, I teleported out of my hostess’s house and began to walk. It was peaceful, and my mind began to wander. I lost myself in the treasure troves of knowledge now available to me, but one subject was lacking -- my past. Whenever I tried to look for it, it felt like I knew something at the back of my mind, but it kept slipping away. My mind would always turn to some other subject, and whenever I tried to bring it back, it failed. I was snapped out of my reverie by the sound of a twig snapping, and a feminine gasp. To my right was a creature which was far less familiar than Eir and had the terrible luck of startling me.