Chapter 1: Kriegsvorbereitungen
Night loomed over the dark cold expanse of the Silbern. A breeze, barely felt, swept through the streets and brushed past the numerous buildings. Glinting in the light of the moon, the ice that formed them almost danced in a liquid sheen.
Overlooking the city, the clock tower chimed down a bell toll seven times.
A group of individuals, dressed in similarly white uniforms walked down one of the many streets towards the palace.
"What do you think His Majesty wants?" Jamina Jazdera (Sternritter I) asked, looking up at her comrades as she attempted to keep pace with them. Around her head, the curls of her bright pink hair bobbed in almost rhythmic timing. Her deep red eyes were twisted into an expression of confusion.
Glancing down at his comrade, Silvanas Athalla (Sternritter N) returned the expression; his grey eyes holding an uncertain edge to them. "I'm not sure..." Brushing one hand back through his grey hair, he scratched slightly at the short black stubble around the back and sides of his head. "The last time I can even remember all of the Sternritter being called together is when they gave us the War Briefing."
"So do you think the Invasion is starting today?!" Jamina cried out in flustered protest. Not paying attention to where she was going, the young girl tripped over a pot-hole that lay in the middle of the street.
Landing face-first in the snow, Jamina blushed fiercely. The heat from her face began to melt the snow around her.
"What are we going to do with you," Basilisk Jones (Sternritter D) muttered, almost to himself as he helped her to her feet. Peering over the fabric mask that covered the bottom half of his face, he made sure that she hadn't hurt herself in the fall. "It wouldn't do us much good if our medic was out of commission before the fights even started."
"I know that!" Jamina cried out, defiantly as she looked up at the young man and blushed even more furiously than before.
Despite half of his face being covered, Basilisk was very attractive. His messy brown hair fell in an unruly fashion around his head, and his eyes were piercing and betrayed nothing. Jamina loved that, but hated it at the same time.
Brushing the snow off of her nurse's uniform, she pulled the traditional cloak of the Sternritter back around her body and turned her back on the two men. Storming off, she left a flurry of snow in her wake.
Glancing over at Basilisk, Silvanas began to toy with the pendant on his necklace. "Well that was awkward..."
"Was it?" Basilisk replied, ever so slightly confused by the remark.
Thinking better of elaborating, Silvanas simply shrugged. "I guess so." Turning his attention back to where Jamina had previously been, he realised she was far further away than he had anticipated. "We best go after her."
"If you say so," muttered Basilisk, pulling his hood up over his head and stuffing his hands into his pockets.
Walking down the road after the girl, the pair's footsteps crunched pleasantly through the chilling snow. Icicles hung from the lips of roofs, occasionally dripping cold water onto the men's shoulders.
After continuing in silence for a while, Silvanas spoke up. "So what have you been doing with yourself these last few days."
"Sketching," arose the almost blunt reply.
"Oh, you draw?"
"Sometimes." Basilisk was spurring any attempt that his fellow Sternritter was making at starting a conversation.
"If you like to draw, you could always talk to Gillaume," Silvanas persisted. "The guy is a master with charcoal."
"I'll keep that in mind." Again, another disinterested response.
Thinking better of continuing, Silvanas returned his attention to the road ahead of them and the fast-approaching silhouette of Jamina. He was in no mood to try and attempt to squeeze blood from a stone.
Very few of his fellow Sternritter actually related well with one-another. A price to pay from having been scattered across the world, and in hiding. A few of them were pleasant, but on the whole, Silvanas wasn't overly fond of them. Jamina was one of the few that he could talk to without issue. He liked that. If it paid to make friends with anyone, it would be their resident Doctor; even if she was only seventeen years old.
Finally closing the gap on the girl, Silvanas placed a hand softly on her shoulder. "Don't go running off like that again; we all know what you're like. You could hurt yourself."
Shrugging off his hand, she pulled a face. "Don't talk to me like I'm a child."
He laughed. "I'm not calling you a child." Breaking into a grin, he glanced down at her. "I'm saying that I'd feel safer with our medic close to me."
Losing the edge of her defiant look, Jamina allowed a smile to pluck the corner of her mouth.
"And why is that?" came a voice, seemingly from nowhere. "Expecting friendly fire, are we?"
Appearing from the alcove of one of the buildings, Asuma Godai (Sternritter L) threw him a serious expression. It was no wonder Silvanas had failed to notice him; every inch of him blended into the environment. Long white hair fell softly around his face, framing his bright silver eyes and almost luminescently pale skin.
"Hardly," Silvanas relplied, covering his distrust with a lie. "I'd rather have her and not need her, than need her and not have her."
"Hmm..." Asuma hummed in dissatisfaction, before slipping past the group of three and making his own way to the palace. After several feet he almost seemed to disappear into the surroundings.
"I know it's probably not right to say this, but he scares me," Jamina muttered, once she was sure that Asuma was out of earshot.
"I don't blame you," Silvanas replied, scratching his head again. "The guy is a monster."
"We're all monsters," Basilisk said from inside his hood and mask, before beginning to walk again.
Silvanas laughed. "And just like that you sound human again. I thought it would never happen."
Basilisk ignored him and focused on the palace ahead of them. The great dome and spikes dwarfed anything in the surrounding area that dared to come close to it.
Beside him, Jamina and Silvanas continued their speculations as to why they were being summoned.
Soon the threesome had arrived at the palace. The cavernous entrance hall reverberated sound back upon them, as their footsteps echoed through the room.
Several of the other Sternritter had already arrived and were seated around the hall in various positions and groups. Stood to the side on his own, arms folded, was Asuma; his spectral appearance almost making him seem like an apparition.
Onmar Gunther (Sternritter G), as usual, was sitting with one leg crossed over the other on the steps leading up to the throne room. His cloak was pulled tightly around his body to fight off the cold. Green eyes flicked lazily around the room as he rested his chin in his palm and observed the other Star Knights.
"Afternoon," he said, as the group of three approached him.
"Someone looks bored," Jamina said, sitting down next to him. Pushing her knees together, she turned her ankles outwards and tilted her head to the side, so that she was looking at him out of the corner of her eye.
"Someone is tired," Onmar replied, annoyance present in the undertones of his voice. "This damn place is far too cold; I couldn't get any sleep. " As he spoke, a cloud of smoke billowed from his lips. "I'm not used to this crap."
"So why aren't you trying to distract yourself?" Jamina asked. "Take your mind off of it. Talk to someone."
"Like who?" he asked. He nodded his head towards Asuma, stood off to the side. "Mr lone wolf over there won't even give anyone the time of day. Plus, Aya hates me, so that's that group in the corner out."
"Don't worry, we'll keep you company," Silvanas said, with a smile.
"I'm thrilled."
"If you're still cold, we can wait for Tomoko to show up," Jamina said with a reassuring smile. "I'm sure she'll be able to warm you up."
Onmar only let out a pessimistic grunt as he began to rub his hands together.
"So this is what... Eight of us?" Silvanas asked, looking around the massive room.
"Nine," Onmar corrected, still rubbing his hands together.
"Who did I miss?"
"Kirmie has one of his bugs flying around," he replied. "Disgusting bastard... I'm glad he didn't show up himself."
"I don't think I've ever actually seen his face," Basilisk said, from inside his hood. Slight intrigue plucked at his voice.
"You're lucky," Onmar spat out in response. "It's vile."
"I'm going to go and talk to Clarlonde," Silvanas said, turning his head to look at the group in the corner. He flicked his eyes back over to Jamina and smirked. "Make sure Onmar doesn't freeze to death."
As he walked away, Onmar's voice followed him. "Try not to get killed while you're there; god forbid you make me happy."
Clarlonde Emcell (Sternritter T) turned her head towards Silvanas as he approached her and her two companions. Her hair was long and black; several streaks of white leaping out from it. Deep purple eyes were crumpled into a smile.
Clarlonde was one of the few Sternritter who actually wore the traditional uniform completely uncustomised. Her body was adorned in a double-breasted white jacket, and her legs encased in a pair of pure white pants. She was the only one to wear the military cap, and it sat on her head tilted to an odd angle.
The girl next to her looked so similar to her that one could assume that they were siblings. Aya Herz (Sternritter S) also had black hair, albeit lacking the white stripes, and purple eyes. Aya, however, was several years younger than Clarlonde and, as such, was well over a foot shorter. Aya wore a light blue turtleneck underneath her jacket, and in spite of the cold, a short white miniskirt.
"What brings you to my neck of the woods, Sil?" Clarlonde asked, still smiling.
"Just coming to see if any of you know what this is about," Silvanis replied.
"You better not have been talking to Onmar back then," Aya suddenly butted in. Her brows were lowered into a childish expression of anger. "You know that I don't like him."
"And so what if I was?" Silvanis said, playfully. "It's rude of you to think that just because you don't like him, everyone else has to hate him."
"Master Athalla is right, My Lady," suddenly echoed a voice from the last remaining figure of the group. "It's terribly rude of you to impose such a harsh exile on Master Gunther, based only on your dislike of the letter G."
Standing at just over a head taller than Silvanis, the man was large. This was only enhanced by the full body armour and helmet that adorned his form, setting him as an imposing figure. None of the Sternritter knew his name, so it had become common practice to refer to him as "Knight"; based on his choice of garb.
Knight was, for lack of a better phrase, Aya's bodyguard. Truth be told, if the situation arose, he would readily defend all of the female Sternritter; call it chivalry. However, Aya being only fifteen years old, and therefore the youngest, he had taken it upon himself to be her permanent escort.
"Thank you, Knight," Silvanis said, a grin plucking the corner of his mouth as he bowed.
"Do not mention it, Sir," the voice said, from the helmet. " I was merely instructing My Lady on proper etiquette."
"And a fine job you're doing," he said, chuckling, before turning his attention back to Clarlonde. "So, do you know why we're all here?"
"As far as I can tell, Lenora- I'm sorry, 'Captain Poultery'- wants to go over battle strategies with us." Clarlonde pulled a dissatisfied face.
"Not a fan?"
"I don't think any of the Sternritter are," came the reply. "She's the leader of the Soldat, so they're all practically licking her boots. But as far as the other top twenty six are concerned, she's just another control freak."
"Is that a fact?"
"Well, no not really... Some of them don't even care about her. Take Z for example. I doubt he would even take notice of her."
"Madam Poultery is a well needed lynchpin of the system," Knight interjected. "While you may hold distaste for her, she is still your commanding officer. If you are going to be disrespectful, I would implore you to do so outside of my presence."
"Ever the gentleman," Clarlonde said, smiling.
"This is it?!" suddenly shouted a voice. The owner stood in the doorway to the entrance hall, his hands on his hips and a look of annoyance plastered across his face. "Why did I even bother?! There's not even half of you shitheads here!"
"Oh, well speak of the devil," Silvanis said, with intrigue.
Sternritter Z, Mann Elle spat to the side as he strode into the hall. The light glinted off of his bald head, highlighting a vein bulging on the side of his temple. He wore a variation of the standard uniform that featured a sleeveless white shirt, with three black bands strapped down his left arm. His hands were covered in a pair of fingerless leather gloves. Fixed to his belt and tapping against his thigh was a black powder horn.
"I came all the way here for this?" He continued to rant, his amber eyes flicking over the room's other occupants. "I expected at least half of us! If you're not going to follow orders, then what's the point, you dumbshits?!" His voice was mocking and harsh.
Eric Koertig (Sternritter R) walked up behind him and sighed. "Please shut up; you're giving me a headache."
Eric wore a mask that covered his whole face in the visage of a skull. Piercing blue eyes were visible through the sockets and jet black hair peaked through the back and fell over his neck. Around his body, a pure white trench coat billowed. Emblazoned across the back was the Vandenreich's insignia.
"What are you talking about, young man?" suddenly came another voice from outside of the palace. "Can you not hear the beautiful echoes that his voice is making? You need to take some time to appreciate art."
Sternritter F, Gillaume DaVinci, broke into a smile as he walked into the cavernous room. Admiring the area around him, his eyes began to twinkle.
Gillaume was an elderly man that appeared to be in his early sixties. Curly grey hair clung to his head, matching the thick bushy beard that covered over half of his face. Spreading across the right side of his face, covering the exposed skin of his cheek and forehead, was an angry-looking burn scar.
"The acoustics are simply fantastic," he continued on, not once breaking pace from his brisk stride. "The curvature of the walls, the strategically placed collumns. Brilliant. A true work of genius."
After a while, it became blatantly apparent that Gillaume was no longer addressing his fellows, but rather musing to himself. Tottering off on his own, he began to pace the room, all the while still talking.
One-by-one the remaining Sternritter entered the palace. Before long, twenty four out of the twenty six members had gathered. Converging around the stairs leading up to the throne room, they all waited.
Onmar, now sat cross-legged on the floor, was watching the stairs intently. His green eyes held them in an intense focus. Blowing air into his cupped hands, he never once broke his gaze.
All of a sudden, the floor in front of the stairs began to rise up out of the ground. Light flooded the chamber. A platform now stood in front of the gathered Sternritter.
Footsteps perforated the air as, descending from the throne room, a figure advanced down towards the stage. The sides of her head were shaved, however the bright red and purple hair on the top of her head had grown long enough to cover the right hand side. Her jacket was cut short to show off her midriff and across her shoulders a deep red cape was draped. Fixed to the side of her face was a headset.
"Is everyone here and accounted for?" Lenora Poultery (Sternritter C) boomed.
Scanning the crowd briefly, she made a mental note of those present before turning her attention to the podium. Noticing a small fly, rubbing its legs together as it watched her, she appeared satisfied.
"All bow, before His Majesty! Yhwach!" she called out, stepping to the side and bowing low.
Descending from his throne room, swathed in black robes and hair, Yhwach stood above the congregation. Eyes deep red held the Sternritter in his vision as they collectively bowed. His lips parted slowly, purposely.
"My dear Sternritter! As many of you know, the promised time is drawing near. The Soul Society will soon be within our grasp! The Shinigami shall kneel beneath the might of the Quincy!"
A cheer of approval was roused from many of the more vocal Sternritter. Onmar broke into a smile, still sitting on the floor. Basilisk's face betrayed nothing.
"In one week we shall strike against the Seireitei, and bring the Soul Reapers to their knees. My friends: Now is the time to put your existence on the line. To give your all for the cause. We are a clenched fist ready to strike back against those that sent us into oblivion and who now lie sleeping. So tell me my friends: What is it you truly want?"
It started with Mann, muttering under his breath. "Krieg... Krieg..."
Soon the entire congregation had followed suit and was chanting. Louder and louder their voices grew.
"KRIEG! KRIEG! KRIEG!"
Overlooking the spectacle, Yhwach broke into a satisfied smile. "Then Krieg is what you shall have..."
Turning away, he began to ascend back to his throne room, leaving Lenora stood above the Star Knights. Her mouth widened into a satisfied grin as she drank in the atmosphere.
"In one week we are to assemble at the Gate of the Sun," she boomed, still grinning. "I hope that you all are ready."