Disclaimer: I don't own the fire emblem series or in anyway present that I do. But I do own rights over all original Characters presented thus far.
Author's Note: This is an orriginal story created by some friends that we decided to share with you. The story is intended on makeing a finish. We just want some reviews before we move on too fast.
The Artefacts of the Ancients
Chapter 01:
The Start of the Road
Kezuro, the current Marquis of Iuria, the fastest growing city in the world, had always been a failure in the eyes of his father in every way. His thin, frail frame has been a mainstay of his physical description. When he was a child, his father, then the Marquis, sent Kezuro to be trained under a master swordsman, an old warrior, Keido by name. However, Kezuro's skill with a blade was laughable, and he suffered mockery at the hands of those he trained alongside. Keido even gave him extra training, but he failed the course much to his father's disappointment.
It didn't take long for Kezuro to coax his father into taking him out of Keido's training system, and he then devoted all of his time to learning about tactics and politics, in the hope that he would be a good ruler of Iuria when he succeeded his father. He hoped to be just and good to his people, just like his old man. All of his study of battle strategy couldn't teach him that. Knowing this, slowly, gradually, bitterness grew deep in his heart. He couldn't stand knowing that his flaws could bring down the city of Iuria.
He soon became enveloped in his study. He felt that it was all he had, since his parents seemed to aim more affection at his younger brother Asura, a strong, quick-witted, charismatic young man, a natural leader. He was the perfect candidate for a Marquis, but Kezuro was older, he would be next in line. The people loved Asura, and hated Kezuro. Jealousy brewed inside him like a storm.
His father fought as hard as he could for years against old age and illness to ensure that his son would not be the Marquis. He would rather live under the strain of disease than see his son wreck his work. It wasn't that he didn't love his son, but he knew that Kezuro wasn't bold enough to be Marquis. He would bow down to any attack and allow any assailant to take over the city. His city. If only he could pass the torch down to Asura… After he died, the region entered a period of collapse. Iuria was now led by a jealous, pathetic man.
On his first day as Marquis, he took into employment more guards than ever. Some saw this move as caution and protecting the city, but many knew he was hiding. No-one would go near the fortress he ruled from, as every battlement housed soldiers. Every door was guarded. To attack this place would be tactical suicide.
One day, he called those who trained with him under Keido to the castle at Iuria. They entered the gates, and met the new Marquis of the region. In a quiet, understated voice, he called for 'a guard'. The now-warriors soon found themselves encircled by the palace's guards. Kezuro did not make a command. This had been a pre-planned attack. The guards moved in, the circle around the warriors diminishing.
Never were the warriors seen again, and such was the evil that had already overcome Kezuro.
---
The placid, wooded area sheltered Arashi Arekusu's house from the furore of the world around it. Recently, armed gangs of swordsmen had been moving around Akaseki, seemingly scouting the area for something. In fact, they were looking for the hidden glade where her house was.
Arashi's brother, Reishi, was the Marquis of the nearby capital city, Akaseki. Reishi had the most efficient army, the greatest resources around were all in Akaseki, and the popularity of the people. The plans of Marquis Iuria would come of nothing unless he could avoid or destroy Akaseki. Reishi knew Kezuro through training together under an old warrior, and was unsure of Iuria's new leader. He was dangerous and Reishi remembered him as a invidious, sly person at their training school.
Outside the small cottage, Arashi was training with her magic, casting her spells at trees and small targets she had set up. She knew a little curative magic, but her main skill was in a form of dark magic, where the caster uses the shadows of the arena of battle to fight. In dark places, her magic was much more powerful.
From nowhere, two mercenaries carrying swords appeared, with a mage carrying a tome behind them.
"Mercenaries… Who do you serve?" Arashi asked.
"You think we'd tell you?" the mercenaries laughed, "Anyway, you're just a little girl. You will comply and aid our master."
Arashi quickly mumbled a spell, casting Demon Drain, forcing health to be drained out of an enemy into the shadows cast by the sun's rays over the forest. This spell allowed her to then take the power out of the shadows to heal herself if need be, but for now, she just kept the power in the shadows, as she had other plans for them.
Arashi lifted her staff just as the swordsmen came towards her, and she called the shadows to form a humanoid shape – Shadow's Protection. This was one of her better powers, as the shape not only stood between her and the mercenary, but it attacked both mercenaries violently, cutting them down viciously. The shadow then moved back under the trees into nothingness.
The mage that remained charged at Arashi. Staffs clashed on one side of the forest's clearing. Arashi called her protective shadow back into action. With one slice of its blade, the mage fell. It really was too easy. However, the next thing Arashi knew, a dark robed figure appeared.
"Arashi Arekusu. I am Kezuro, Marquis of Iuria. I wish to talk to you about your brother. He is the only one who can stop me from getting what I want. I wish to change that. And you will help me, since you shall be my ransom. Then, Reishi will take notice of me as a worthy adversary!"
Behind him, a magician and three soldiers warped into the clearing. Kezuro snarled
"Soldiers, get those two".
The magician threw a fireball at the house, which exploded into flames. The soldiers followed Arashi, but they soon couldn't keep up and returned to Kezuro.
"I am sorry, Lord Kezuro, but she escaped."
"Fine, let us go. I know exactly where she will be, and I'll strike that place when the time comes. Being stuck in the castle, wrapped up in trying to fit the royal mantle he assumes, her brother's no longer there to save her. I however have no time for the royal side of leading." Kezuro chuckled arrogantly. The warriors warped away first, followed by Kezuro.
Arashi arrived at Akaseki Castle. She was pleased that the mercenaries did not give chase, or she may have struggled much more with getting here. When she reached the castle gates, she found a warrior, who looked roughly around Arashi's age at about 20, asking to get in. The guards refused each time he claimed that he had to see Marquis Reishi Arekusu of Akaseki.
"Excuse me, who are you?" Arashi asked.
"I am Asura Ignius, brother of Kezuro, Marquis of Iuria. I come in peace, but I require aid. I need to stop my brother. His greed has claimed him. Please, can you help? I know that Akaseki has many strong warriors. I too can fight, but can't do this alone. I came to Akaseki since I know that Marquess Akaseki is worried about Kezuro. So am I." Asura asked.
"We shall gather some warriors and discuss peace terms." Arashi said quietly.
"Thank you…"
Two hours later, Reishi had been told Asura's story, and a notice had gone around the town. 6 warriors needed to aid Asura Ignius on a personal mission. In that castle, there was a sense of excitement. Reishi's most trusted spy, Kaitou, under Reishi's orders, had armed Arashi with his skills of concealment for her safety and advised both Arashi and Asura on how to get to Kezuro.
"Thanks, Kai. Now we have to do what we can," Arashi replied, "but first, we need to get more warriors."
"Arashi, could you ask around at the inn? I'll talk to a few contacts, see what I can come up with." said Reishi.
The next day, Asura and Arashi walked to the largest inn in Akaseki, meeting inside a group of warriors.
"Looks like we've got a good group, Arashi" said Asura, as he inspected the group of warriors. It was the girl who spoke first.
"Hi. I'm Rynna Ichiko from Miran. What's the job?" she said.
"A discussion of peace terms in Iuria. If things go wrong, we need warriors." Asura replied.
"Rynna, I think its best to leave what the job is to the lords here. I'm Kage. Like Rynna, I hail from Miran, Lady Arashi."
"Kage, nice to meet you. However, please don't treat us any differently as any other warriors. The whole nobility thing doesn't suit me." Arashi replied.
"So, are we leaving soon? My wyvern's out the back. He could do with a good flight." one of the men stated bluntly.
"You have a wyvern? Hmm, that could be useful. What's your name?" Arashi asked.
"The name's Varlen. And who are you…?" the man replied.
"Hey, excuse me. If you wanna get going, why not cut out chasing the sister of this city's Marquis? Look, short introduction. I'm Blade Hakashi. Nice to meet you two," a clearly short-tempered man said, "Can we get going now?"
"Yes, definitely," Asura replied, "First, we plan to go to Iuria itself and see whether we can't talk to Kezuro and end this before we begin. Obviously this is quite dangerous, so we expect to have a large fight before we begin. Everyone ready?"
The group walked out of the inn and began the trek across a large plain. As soon as the group moved through the giant red gates leading out of Akaseki, they could already see Iuria just ahead of the horizon – the two cities' proximity, coupled with their status as the capitals of their Empires, signified their rivalry.
They walked for most of the day, finally reaching the Empire's border. Night was approaching, and the city of Iuria was near. As they passed through the checkpoint between Akaseki and Iuria as Empires, Arashi turned to the group to announce a plan she had had.
"Asura, I know dark magic. That gives me an advantage at night, when the shadows give me a place to be concealed, and a vantage point for attack. I can move through the castle unseen and wipe out some of the guard for you. If we go as a group, we'll attract too much attention."
"Why don't we split the group up? It's dangerous for you to go alone." Asura replied.
"No, I'll be ok."
Arashi ran ahead, hoping to make use of the night's darkness. The others rested for a few minutes before making the last part of their short trip, entering Iuria around three quarters of an hour after Arashi.
The group walked forward from the gates into Iuria in to a grand plaza. Arashi had ran across this plaza to enter the castle earlier. They looked for an inn as night fell, while Asura and Rynna waited outside at the point where they had promised to meet with Arashi after she got back from reducing the numbers of guards ahead. Five minutes later, they heard a scream from the castle that stood proudly on the west of the plaza, projecting shadows down over the plaza itself.
---
Arashi crept silently along a passage, hugging the wall. Ahead a guard had a bow strapped to his back. He didn't notice Arashi even when she drew near due to her dark robes, shadow magic and silent movement. The guard only realised there was a problem when his whistling stopped. A shadowy figure was standing in front of him, but it had no clear features. It slashed horizontally, felling the guard. Arashi ended the Shadow's Protection spell and moved forward, her cold fingers pushing open a door that led into another stone-walled corridor. She walked down it quickly and silently, her robes billowing behind her and her feet silent on the stone floor. Suddenly, from nowhere, a great light appeared ahead of her, and a familiar face appeared, with two guards behind him. Arashi turned around and was seized by two more guards who had warped in behind her. Desperately she screamed out for help... She wished that the others were close enough to hear her.
"Ah, so now we have Miss Arashi Arekusu... My brother is surely in the city. Find him and bring him to me!" Kezuro exclaimed to the guards.
---
Rynna and Asura heard a scream. Soldiers began to flood into the plaza as Rynna entered the inn to retrieve her allies. The group prepared themselves, standing in the centre of the city's plaza as guards and soldiers poured from the castle. They were surrounded...
Two waves of soldiers found the newly-formed group sandwiched between them in the middle of the street, and, they all began to converge upon the group, running forth to commence the skirmish that was clearly about to ensue. The group ran to try and block the entry from the path into the plaza from the castle, in order to keep the numbers low. Already they had at least fifty soldiers in the plaza facing them, and a greater number trying to get to them from the castle.
Rynna and Blade met the force that was still trying to get into the plaza with a rough impact on their numbers. Blade weaved and dashed through the crowd, ducking to avoid a slash at his head only to come up into a two-bladed spin slash, disposing of eight soldiers in one sweep. Rynna on the other hand, took a more aggressive approach, dashing at the nearest enemy, before dragging the tip of her blade across her target's throat. She then sidestepped, still running, moving on to the next.
Meanwhile, Varlen, Kage and Asura were fighting those who had already come into the plaza. Varlen, due to the lack of time to call his wyvern was fighting on foot, eventually reached the path to the bridge, taking care of any straggler who came near him until he met up with the others and helped them.
"Alright then, let's do this..." Kage muttered to himself, stepping off with blinding speed into the fray, becoming a phantasm of his former being, rushing all the way through to the backmost rank, and skidding to a stop to thrust his blade behind him, piercing into a soldier's chest as he whirled around to catch sight of the rogue. Asura followed up, fighting steadily through the ranks, spending most of his time parrying blows rather than dealing them. Helping with hits every now and again, Kage cut down many of the enemies that were focusing on Asura.
"Ready for this?" With her back facing the trio fighting those in the plaza, Rynna rolled backward to avoid an attack, and, immediately recovering to her feet, whipped the Brillante into a slash at the air in front of her. The ground ripped apart and a tornado of sand travelling forward, the street apparently not wide enough to allow any room to avoid it.
Blade shot a glare towards the swirling wall of sand, and, after hastily taking care of another soldier, turned around, dropped and thrust both the Styx and Lethe into the ground to brace himself. The twenty meter tall whirlwind swept quickly through that side of the street, snatching up all who remained in its inescapable path and lifted the soldiers off the ground, whipping them around in the air like a collection of rag dolls, the sandstorm ending and depositing them harshly every which way. Upon this, the survivors of the attack, and any else who remained on either side began to retreat. Kage, although in a position to cut off the retreat, simply gave a humble bow, and the group regrouped and moved towards the distant bridge over which laid the castle.
Asura decided to quickly call the attention of the group. "Come, we must get back to the task at hand... we need to find Arashi."
The group moved forward, closer to the castle. Moving through narrow streets, it was easy to see why it is considered hard to attack the city of Iuria without being seen - the towering castle in the centre of the city being surrounded by a labyrinth of streets. As the group moved forward, they met small pockets of enemy resistance, each being two or three guards at a time easily dispatched by the various skills of the five group members.
Soon they reached a large flat area in front of the castle. The drawbridge was still down, and the area seemed empty. Cautiously, Blade and Asura fronted the group and moved closer to the bridge. However, the second they stepped on the bridge, roughly 20 soldiers filed out of the castle. The group turned to move back into the more open space, only to see that it was now filled with more guards. The only space the group could occupy was the bridge itself.
Thinking quickly, Rynna ran to the chains that pull the drawbridge up and fiercely slammed her blade into them. Following suit, the rest of the group attacked the chains, slowly wearing them down until a weakness on each side caused the chains to snap, ensuring the bridge could not be pulled up. Now they had to fight - outnumbered and in a small area, they stood back to back in a circle, their compact formation allowing few enemies to get attacks in at once.
Rynna and Blade moved to the bridge's end closest to the castle and began slicing their way through the wall of enemies. Blade's powerful grace coupled with Rynna's speed and skill combined to quickly take out a large number of enemies, but more kept coming.
Meanwhile, Kage and Asura were using their skill with blades to stop the soldiers coming towards the castle. Asura used his dexterity with his dual swords Igni and Luce, helping the group to cut down swathes of soldiers. However, still slightly outnumbered, they begin to work solely in moving away from the castle ready for a retreat. However, what they had expected to happen did not. It wasn't long before no more enemies came, and the numbers of soldiers soon started falling quickly as the group gained the upper hand.
Eventually, the final enemy fell. Exhausted, the group began climbing the seemingly endless castle. They met very few enemies as they followed the path Arashi had already taken. They could tell where she had been, as there was a lot of dark energy and slain guards in every other room. The lack of living guards unnerved the group greatly, though it meant that Arashi had done what she had set out to do. Finally, they reached a hallway with what looked like cell doors lining each wall. They looked through the gap in each one, finally finding the one with Arashi inside.
"How can we break the door?" Varlen asked, "Perhaps Rynna can use her charm on it... or on me?" This was met by a slap.
"The hinges..." Asura murmured, before charging an attack, striking the hinges of the door repeatedly with illusion-like movement. One of the hinges buckled, but the middle hinge held firm.
Asura stepped back angrily, having failed to fully break open the cell. Each warrior attempted a strike on the other hinge, and after a few attacks, it finally came loose. Blade stepped back as the door fell forward towards him, with Arashi sitting inside.
"Oh, it's great to see you! Come on, I know the way to Kezuro's study-" Arashi's attempt at telling the group where to go next was cut off by the appearance of a familiar face...
"Ah, you rescued her, my dear brother Asura. What a surprise! I didn't think you had it in you, really… Now I can kill you both. Vireo, come! Let's see how you fare against one of my Royal Guards…" A large soldier entered the room, and ran straight at Asura, knocking him with a shoulder charge. Asura fell backwards to the floor, and drew in as much air as possible before leaping up and assuming battle positions.
"Such speed and strength... But such a simple fighting style…" Blade noted.
"Watch out, there's something about that axe that gives him strength. I heard Kezuro mention it earlier…" Arashi exclaimed.
"We can beat him. Let's do this!" Varlen exclaimed.
Rynna and Varlen moved forward at the same time. Having left his wyvern outside, Varlen was in an unusual situation, fighting on foot, and the soldier, Vireo, easily knocked his attack away, before slamming his axe downwards, which Rynna almost failed to sidestep.
"Come on, we have to get out before someone gets really hurt! Let's get back to Akaseki and regroup. He'll only send more soldiers to fight us if we stay! Kezuro, it's clear you won't accept peace talks. Just don't start a war you cannot win, or Iuria will fall into ruin." Asura said, first to his group, then to his brother.
"Well done, Vireo. That's scared them somewhat…" Kezuro chuckled once the group were out of earshot.
The group ran out of the hallway, sprinting down the tower. Varlen hopped on his Wyvern and flew up and ahead of the group, but no more enemies were in sight. They were off the hook- for now, at least. Eventually, they got out of the labyrinthine town and found their way to Akaseki as the sun was rising, uninjured but confused about that man.
Reishi was waiting for them inside his quarters. As they entered, he rose apprehensively. "Arashi! You made it!"
"Yes brother, but I bring terrible news. We didn't even get a chance to talk peace terms. He sent one of his guards to attack us and we narrowly escaped."
"Yeah, we're all here." Blade interjected. "But I say we go back there and kick that guy's ass. He may be fast, but, I've got him handled."
"Don't be stupid," Rynna sighed. "He's just way to powerful for us at this moment…We gotta figure something out…
The group decided that resting at the palace would be the safest place, despite the fact that Marquis Kezuro would certainly know where they were. Then Arashi asked, "Are you all okay with pairing up with people to share a room?"
Arashi left, leaving the others to decide who to pair up with, and whether to go out and enjoy Akaseki's nightlife, or whether to go to sleep.
---
"Well, I think I know who I'm sleeping with tonight..." Varlen said comfortably, folding his arms behind his head with a satisfied smile on his face.
"...I'll pass." Rynna muttered at length, knowing exactly who he was talking about. She opened one of the doors to the guest chambers and walked in, with Blade following behind.
"Eh? And what makes you think you're so lucky?" Varlen complained, starting after him. Blade halted as soon as he cleared the doorway, tossing a glance over his shoulder.
"Sorry Varlen, those of us who are actually GOOD fighters need to exchange techniques. Go talk to Kage or something." he explained, shutting the door behind him. Varlen stood for a moment, blinking.
"I just... suddenly have an extreme dislike for that guy..." Kage mumbled aloud. Meanwhile, inside that same room...
Rynna undid the knot and removed her trenchcoat, sheath and all, neatly folding it in her arms and setting it down on the floor beside the bed. Blade turned around to see her daintily slide off her boots. Blade came beside her, carelessly tossed his weapons on the ground next to Rynna's neat pile, and kicked off his shoes.
"A little rude of a comment back there." Rynna broke the ice, not turning towards him, instead focusing on slipping off her gloves.
"Oh?"
"He's a creep, but that doesn't make that sort of thing okay." Rynna continued, kneeling to stack her gloves next to her trenchcoat.
"Meh, I was more going for how little he helped during that last fight. He was just picking off the ones that were too scared to fight us. Besides, what's said is said, and apologising isn't my style." Blade replied, recalling the battle with clarity. He looked up after the brief thought, finding Rynna twisting the ornate knob to a door at the side of the room. "What're you doing?"
"Me? I thought I was gonna take a nice warm bath." Rynna answered simply, turning back to look at Blade, who, began approaching her.
"Me first then. You're probably gonna take at least half an hour." he explained, trying to weave around her, only to be barred by her arm.
"Blade. That's a baseless stereotype. Not all women take forever to-" Rynna began, only to be interrupted.
"I'll only be five minutes. C'mon." Blade said, getting a little impatient.
"...Whatever happened to ladies first?" Rynna questioned, now becoming annoyed.
"Lady? Could've fooled me." Blade countered, aiming to irritate her. A tough opponent to outwit, but she wasn't without weakness, Blade mused to himself. Rynna may have been something else in battle, but this Rynna, if her senses were dulled by anger and lack of concentration, would prove much easier to manipulate. Rynna powerfully delivered an open-palmed slap across his face, leaving a searing red imprint on his cheek. Blade, reeling slightly, swung back, throwing his fist forward unexpectedly and hitting Rynna in the face, sending her falling backward. She shook herself off on the floor of the bathroom, raising a hand to the bruise on her cheek.
"...You can't hit me! I'm a girl!" she shouted at him. Blade simply smirked.
"Rynna, I thought we went over this." he let out with a chuckle. She quickly got to her feet, ready to prove that she would have the last laugh. Blade looked on in amusement as she laid her hands gently on his shoulders, but his expression changed entirely in a split second. Rynna gripped Blade's shoulders tightly, and, using them as a form of leverage, thrust her knee with unimaginable force into his groin. Blade give a shrill, short-lived cry that could be heard at least two rooms away, reminiscent of a cat in a blender, and dropped to the ground, curled into a ball, twisting his face into a grotesque visage that further expressed the excruciating agony.
Next time would be different, he vowed secretly. Never mind that he wouldn't be able to have children for at least a year. Oh yes, revenge would only taste sweeter with every second he spent writhing in pain.
"...If I said I was sorry, I'd be lying. Go ahead, you can have the bed. It's the least I could do." Rynna spat out at him, turning around and slamming the door behind her. At least he got the bed. Now if only he could get there.
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