TOV: The Overlooking Crown
Chapter 1: Song of Zaphias
Neath the speckled sky,
In the light of the brightest star,
Atop the castle that shall touch heaven,
The sound of battle gives an ode to the moon
The blood of two ignited in flames
Anger burning in their hearts
Their battle, an offering to the overlooking Vesperia
Who's glory is greater than they?
Who's legend shall live for all of eternity?
To whom shall the throne reach out its arms?
It is the victor
Below them, there is celebration
Below them, there is happiness
Below them there is peace
The blood of two ignited in flames
Anger burning in their hearts
Their battle, an offering to the overlooking Vesperia
In the dark of the night,
Neath the star speckled sky,
One overcame blood
Upon the stones of the First Age
The glory of Terca Lumireis was given life
Out of the ashes of pain, rises Zaphias
To Zaphias be glory forever
The blood of two ignited in flames
Anger burning in their hearts
Their battle, an offering to the overlooking Vesperia
Artemis Documents: 1st Entry
In my extensive research of our great empire, I have stumbled over startling revelations. To begin, I must note the origins of what is now the most influential body of people in our world. Records indicate that Zaphias began as a number of smaller city-states that were scattered across the eastern continent. Facts about this time period is scarce and vague. I theorize that something was hidden during the infancy of Zaphias.
Going into my research, I asked myself many questions. Where did Zaphias originate? Who were the First Emperors? What kind of world was Terca Lumireis during this time? To answer these questions, I embarked on a long journey.
My travels, though vast and time consuming, originally revealed little information about my curiosities. However, while traveling the outskirts of the Empire, I came across the most startling of discoveries. While in the desert, I spotted a young Krityan girl resting beside a dragon-type Entelexia. It is not uncommon to find Krityans among the human populous nearer to the capital, but to find a young girl out that far with an Entelexia perplexed me. Can there be more Krityans, and could they have knowledge that I lack?
Artemis Documents: 12th Entry
I have finally reached the ancient city of Myorzo, a sacred place for the Krityan people. Gaining entry was not an easy task in the least, but I am forever grateful that they allowed me to enter their city. It did not take me long to find a vast collection of knowledge that Myorzo has stored.
First, I will describe these people, for I believe they give us a glimpse at the past. The first thing significant about Myorzo is that there are thousands of blastia scattered about the streets. All have been broken apart and rendered unusable. When I inspected the blastia and compared them to our own, I was surprised to find that the ancient blastia are far more sophisticated than first theorized.
I talked long with Myorzo's people, especially the more elderly of their people. Thankfully, the Krityan people are naturally easy-going and the people of Myorzo are very welcoming towards anything that is out of the ordinary. My being a human offers them an equal chance of entertainment I'd suppose.
Now, while visiting with the mayor of Myorzo, he took me to his vast library. I spent days within it, either reading the ancient texts, or discussing my findings with him. The events of the past that I learned were overwhelming. The revelations of the beginnings of the Zaphian Empire can possibly overturn all of the myths and legends we are all taught from our youth. The implications are mind boggling.
"I must say," The Artemis Documents snapped closed, "it took quite awhile for us to track this place down." A well dressed man placed the old book down on a nearby desk and wiped his hands with a white cloth. "Without Leviathan's Claw around to do such jobs, finding competent help has become troublesome." He looked to the other occupant of the room, "Wouldn't you say Eleanor?"
A beautiful woman closed the book she was flipping through and looked at the well dressed man, "Yes, and I'm afraid loyalties are not as firm as when Yeager was alive." She looked down solemnly before meeting his eyes again, "Lord Philip, I think it best we do our business and leave."
Lord Philip chuckled before brushing off his expensive cloak, "If you are concerned about those Black Brigade dogs, then relax." He smirked, "I made sure to put them on a separate trail."
"Even so," Eleanor glanced to the shady gang at the entrance to the old library, "I've heard many rumors of the Black Brigade's wolf, Fenderick. I don't want to test how good his sense of smell is. I don't need to remind you of Yuri Lowell and his reputation." The elegant woman watched Lord Philip approach her before he took her chin into his gloved hand. His proud, green eyes made a smile tug at her lips.
"If it comes down to that, my dear Eleanor." Philip spoke softly, "then I am certain you will protect me."
Eleanor's hand grazed the handle of her sword, "That would've sounded better if our roles were reversed." She smiled at his chuckle. When his fingers ran through her curly, brown locks, she leaned into his touch, "I must insist."
"Oh very well Eleanor," Philip took up the small pile of old books, "I am a weak man to the request of a strong, beautiful woman such as yourself."
"Or is it because I have a sword and you do not?"
Philip chuckled, "And smart too." He turned swiftly. The flow of his cloak briefly exposed a winding, silver crest on his clothes before covering him in grey once more. His light expression hardened when he spoke to the armed men at the door, "Come, we leave now." He took three steps out of the old library and into the streets of Heliord.
Elsewhere, members of the disbanded Leviathan's Claw occupied an uninhabited house. The rays of dusk cast harsh shadows over the streets of Heliord, and reflected off of the surface of the nearby ocean. "Tch, and here I was thinking the Black Brigade would show up by now." Their leader snorted and continued down the hallway.
"Yeah, maybe they're still sniffing around Nordopolica." The larger of the three walking down the dim hallway laughed and opened the door. The three men casually walked into the room, planning to ride out the rest of the night lounging around.
Their leader's chuckles stopped the moment he entered the room. Wide-eyed, he looked at the man seated on the other side of the room, drinking a hot cup of coffee. Though was dim, he could see that the young man is wearing a pinstriped vest with a matching pair of trousers. His hands were covered with black gloves themselves, and his sharp eyes are focused on the three men at the door.
"G-Get him!" Their leader ordered.
"You don't want to do that." The young man indifferently warned. He quickly splashed his hot coffee into the face of the first attacker before slamming his head into the second. Stunned, the second thug staggered backwards before raising his dagger for another attempt. With both hands free, the young man caught the thug's wrist and used his other hand to slam the thug's head into a nearby desk.
"I tried to warn you." He brushed off his hands and turned to face the third man, but he wasn't there. "They always run." He casually put his hands into his pockets and started out of the room.
The leader of the former guild thugs quickly made his way to the front of the house. It was a former noble's home, so the hallways were numerous and spacious, "Hey, we got Black Brigade in here, hey!" He tried yelling for his comrades, but he heard no reply. "Hey, you bums! Wake up already!" He slammed into the door ahead of him and burst into the next room before a bright light filled his vision.
"Azure Edge!"
"Gah!" He cried as his back slam against the floor. Shocked from the blow, he looked up to the face that hovered over him. His jaw tightened, "Yuri... ugh, Lowell."
The blood of two ignited in flames
Anger burning in their hearts
Their battle, an offering to the overlooking Vesperia
A/N: Feel free to leave a review. Thank you for reading.