Chapter 1: Genesis
"Killing is my job. Don't take this personally."
Another victim entered Tharja's unholy graveyard. It was a thing of unadulterated beauty, to see her on the battlefield. Even kings have fallen to her dark magic, and with every broken opponent, her magic intensifies, as is the rule of the Nosferatu bloodline.
But let us not start this bloody history at its apex, let us start it where most great tales do, at the beginning.
War was, and still is, the way of life in the land of Plegia. Sorcerers and knights were not simply trained; they were bred through several generations of warfare. The Nosferatu family possessed a power mightier than most. Every dead enemy's life force was forcibly taken and used for personal gain. Nergal, the founder of the Nosferatu house, tapped into this power to become the most powerful sorcerer of his time. It was not until the bloody excursion of Gharnef that the world's governments decided to destroy the Nosferatu clan. The bloodline crusades came at a price.
"As long as there is death to be had, Nosferatu will live…" These were Gharnef's final words.
The kings of yore took no heed of this warning, as the land was baron of the deadly clan for 800 years, or so it seemed, but every once in a blue moon, legends of unstoppable magical mercenaries arose. Wartime stories of one man armies kept children's minds awake with fear of the creatures known as Nosferatu. King Gangrel had no time for these stories, with all his planning and manipulating. War was on the Plegian horizon, and Chrom was most definitely a worthy adversary.
"The final lesson one must learn before one can truly become a warrior in the Plegian army, is the rule of honor. One who turns their back on an adversary is a coward, one who turns their back on the battlefield is a traitor, and one that turns their back on an ally is both, such is the code of war."
This statement was drilled through the young minds of Plegian recruits in every section of the country. This is especially true of the Royal Military Academy, one in which the best of the best were enrolled. This included the skilled and insanely nimble swordsman Gaius, the crazed but talented sorcerer Henry, and the mysterious and beautiful mage Tharja.
"Say Tharja, you got any more sweets for me today doll?" Gaius slyly asked. He was already known throughout the ranks as the "Confectionary Swordsman".
"The answer is going to be the same as yesterday's, last week's, and every day since I last gave you candy and promised it would never happen again…fool."
"Hahaha why so serious my dear Tharja?!" boomed a voice from the entrance of the classroom. Henry and Tharja were regarded as the finest magic-wielding recruits to enter the academy in recent memory. For this reason, they were usually paired in the regular sparring matches, and had a mutual respect for one another.
"You know my weakness is insolence Henry…hehehe."
"Well I guess some spare candy is too much to ask for from the great and noble Tharja, soon to be dark knight of the Plegian army. Oh please could you spare some change my fair lady?" Gaius said in his usually snappy and sarcastic tone, one that Tharja has numbed herself to.
"Ugh, fine. If it will silence your idiocy for a moment I would give you my bodyweight in sweets." Tharja handed him a sour candy from the local merchant.
"Thanks, doll." Gaius snickered, leaving Tharja with a look of sheer disdain.
The instructor, a dark knight with a missing left hand, soon came into view at the doorway. Today was the final day of class before the recruits were sent off to the barracks.
"Greetings, class. As you all know, today is your final day of preliminary training, and as you also might know, the day you receive your military rankings. I have thoroughly reviewed each and every one of your grades and performances on the training grounds. Most of you will start as basic mages, archers, thieves, and soldiers, and will receive specialized training at the barracks. However, this year I had the most students ever to start out with a master rank. Three of you will go to the frontlines and defend our noble and just nation."
The class collectively gasped, all except Tharja. She had seen the strength of a master before. Her mother had been a dark knight, slain in one of Plegia's many crusades.
"Gaius, I have selected you to go into the Assassin's Corps. Your skill with a blade is great, but they will also teach you the way of the bow, as well as the proper ways to kill with absolute discreetness." A smirk spread across Gaius's face, he knew that he could use his newfound wealth to clean out the candy merchants.
"Henry, I have selected you to join the Sorcerer Corps. Your instinct to kill surpasses all other recruits in this class. You will need this, because the Sorcerers are known to sweep over the battlefield, to clear the way for our soldiers and archers. Best of luck to you, as if you need it."
Tharja became anxious. Henry had beaten her several times in a row on the training grounds. He had the killing instinct, that was certain, but she was stronger. She had to be.
"Tharja, I have selected you to join the Dark Knight Brigade. You will develop you magical skills, as well as learn the art of the sword, and wartime strategy. This unit requires the most time and effort to master, but I know you have the talent to succeed there. You surpass my younger self in every way in terms of the battlefield. So I bid you farewell, my pupil."
Tharja knew what this meant for her and the other two. War was coming, and they were to be the fresh troops, unknowing of the horrors of war. It would not catch the mighty Tharja off-guard though; it would take much more than war to shake her.
"Tharja and Henry, you along with other masters have been summoned by King Gangrel. You are to arrive at the Royal Courtyard at sunrise tomorrow for a briefing. As for you Gaius, a mission has already been assigned, report to the Assassin's Barracks for your briefing, and good luck."
Tharja and Henry walked to the Magi Barracks to await the king's call. Tomorrow would be interesting indeed for the two warriors. Meanwhile, Gaius received word to meet in a secret enclave with a mysterious mercenary hired by the King.