064. Once Upon A Time

It all began when an Eastern Slavic clan severed ties with the others, opting to settle in the southern regions of the Ural Mountains in the sixth century. They forged a civilization that blossomed into a kingdom known as Vorshkony. Under the reign of the formidable Gnevomir in the mid-eighth century, the Vorshkony kingdom flourished rapidly, prospering in every facet of existence.
Nadezhda was the sole daughter of King Gnevomir and Queen Marzanna, a woman who, beyond her striking beauty, possessed a gentle demeanor and an immense love for her people. The queen's visage and personality found their legacy in Nadezhda. Moreover, she inherited her father's intelligence and wisdom, forming a unique blend of grace, intellect, and royal sagacity.
The princess was a girl who reveled in the pursuit of knowledge. She delved into the intricacies of statecraft and alchemy under the tutelage of her father and Bogdan, the alchemist who served as the kingdom's advisor. Unlike most royal princesses, Nadezhda held a deep affection for martial arts. She mastered the arts of war, self-defense, and swordplay with remarkable skill under the guidance of the military commander Davorko.
However, what endeared Nadezhda to her people was her amiable and cheerful nature. She seemed oblivious to her status as the crown princess of Vorshkony, often spending her leisure time outside the palace. Whether harvesting straw and picking berries alongside peasant girls or joining in the hunt for deer, Nadezhda embraced the company of her subjects.
From a young age, Nadezhda's linguistic brilliance shone brightly. Before reaching the age of nine, she had mastered several languages, fluent in the languages of the Bashkirs, Huns, and Avars. A knowledge that Nadezhda eagerly shared with anyone who sought to learn.
However, the close bond between the princess and migrants from the Hun and Avar communities gradually sowed unease in the heart of Queen Marzanna. The mother felt disquiet, realizing that Nadezhda, at the mature age of fifteen—a time deemed suitable for marriage among women—was amidst nomadic men.
When the queen broached her concerns with Nadezhda, the girl felt profoundly disappointed. Misinterpreting her mother's worries, the princess believed Marzanna was unfairly prejudiced against those people. She regarded her mother's reasons as unfounded biases, judging without basis. That day saw a fierce argument between mother and daughter.
However, the following morning, a veil of sorrow shrouded the entire kingdom of Vorshkony. Queen Marzanna had passed away in her sleep. Nadezhda, mourning the departure of her mother, felt the deepest grief. She regretted every word and action exchanged during their disagreement. With Marzanna gone, Nadezhda realized her mother's actions had been solely for her protection. The princess wept, her cries echoing through the halls, repeatedly apologizing before her mother's lifeless form.
From that moment forth, everything changed. Though appearing composed during the funeral of Queen Marzanna, Gnevomir concealed grief even more profound than Nadezhda's. The king's demeanor transformed, akin to day turning into the night after the loss of his wife. For months, Gnevomir secluded himself, hardly touching the meals brought by attendants to his chamber. He gazed emptily out the window, his hands tightly clutching the last garments worn by the queen.
Realizing the mounting tasks and neglected responsibilities of the kingdom, Davorko and Bogdan endeavored to persuade and console the despondent king. However, their efforts proved futile. Subsequently, they turned to Nadezhda, who, though deeply affected, struggled to carry on with her life. At the tender age of sixteen, driven by a sense of responsibility, the princess assumed her father's duties to oversee the realm.
Every day, Nadezhda visited her father, attempting to engage him in conversation. Yet, like the hundreds of days before, the king remained silent, staring blankly out the window. As with each visit's conclusion, Nadezhda found herself in tears, pleading with her father to recognize that she needed a fatherly figure for protection and comfort.
As months turned into years, Nadezhda found herself increasingly submerged in duties and responsibilities that had thrust her into premature maturity. The girl no longer had time for leisurely interactions with her subjects. Yet, the entire kingdom understood the weight of leadership and sorrow burdening the princess, even though she never openly displayed it in her daily life.
One day, King Gnevomir unexpectedly emerged from his chamber, attired regally as befitting a king. He greeted everyone and expressed gratitude to Nadezhda for all her endeavors. He also apologized for his behavior after the queen's departure. Then, the king returned to his throne. The entire populace was enveloped in unparalleled joy. However, Nadezhda sensed a difference in her father that lingered beneath the surface.
Gnevomir's first decree was to seek a path to immortality, a command embraced by Bogdan, despite silent opposition from Nadezhda, Davorko, and nearly the entire kingdom. However, the king's orders were absolute, and the unwavering loyalty of the Vorshkony people to their leader was unshakeable. Without a word of dissent, they followed their king's command.
In just two years, Bogdan and the alchemists perfected the elixir and the ritual procedures for achieving immortality. The field once used for celebrations transformed into a colossal ritual altar. Interconnected lines and cryptic symbols were painted with animal blood mixed with translucent white ashes. Alchemists scattered various minerals and peculiar powders in designated locations. The ritual process commenced without hesitation.
The inhabitants of Vorshkony were divided into several groups, taking turns standing in the center of the field. Chants resonated simultaneously from all corners of the area. The ritual process, merging alchemical transmutation and occult practices, rendered these people untouched by death. Yet, although their lifespan was no longer restricted, the inexorable march of time remained unstoppable.
Immortality did not arrest the aging process. Time gnawed at the bodies of Vorshkony's inhabitants like larvae consuming leaves. No matter how diligently Bogdan and the alchemists worked, they couldn't halt the natural cycle of the human body. The entirety of the Vorshkony kingdom resembled the living dead, walking with decaying flesh. The once gentle and warm sunlight now felt like the searing cut of a thousand knives upon their bodies. The rhythm of Vorshkony's life shifted to a nocturnal cadence.
The neighboring Huns, Bashkirs, and Avars succumbed to fear after witnessing the unsettling events within the Vorshkony kingdom. Tales of dark sorcery and evil living dead spread like wildfire. They began attacking any Vorshkony inhabitant they encountered and even planned massive assaults on the kingdom's territory. Hence, at the dawn of the ninth century, Vorshkony shifted their civilization underground—far beneath the surface and all its inhabitants.
At that moment, most of them had transformed into living skulls. Amazingly some of their senses, such as sight and hearing, still worked. They were like ghosts trapped in skeletal frame. And they discovered the harsh truth that their immortality wasn't truly eternal. Those people could only escape death as long as their heads remained attached to their bodies, even after assuming skeletal forms. This reality, coupled with the despair of being banished from their homeland, plunged the entire Vorshkony populace into a profound sense of desolation.