The Belkan War
This is the backsetting story for Lyrical Nanoha: Belkan Pride. As such, it doesn't feature Nanoha, Fate, or the majority of the usual cast. However, it will portray the past of the Wolkenritter and their first mistress, as well as the first Reinforce, along with their creation, beginnings, and ultimately, the event that marks the Book of the Night Sky's becoming a Lost Logia. Enjoy.
Chapter 1: Remnant of Opel
The piercing cry of beast and warrior echoed over the polluted land they battled upon. A young man in armor forged of magic and metal with noble raiment tarnished by blood and soil wiped blood from his eyes. His blade was cracked and shattered weapons lie around him, yet no other bodies lay among them. A ferocious roar crackled from his opponent, a dragon of massive stature and power.
A single crimson eye glared at the warrior before him where his other eye swelled shut from a grievous wound from the young swordsman's blade. Beast of magical and daemonic origin brought to the mortal world through dark arts, its intelligence was superior to those who summoned him. Thus was how it broke free of the summons and rampaged at a whim.
"Young mortal, your power exceeds your physical limits. How long can you last, with such wounds and limits?"
"I will last till the bones of my body and the light of my soul fade from existence. Too many of my family have you devoured; too many are the innocent you've destroyed, and too long have you rot terror on my countrymen. I will gladly sacrifice myself to end you, dragon."
The beast crossed its arms in a human-like gesture of contemplation before laughing boisterously. Licking its fanged jaws and laying a ring of unholy fire around the man the creature racked its claws over each other.
"Ah, so you are an Opel, one of the miscreants sent away from the kingdom of Belka by your precious King and Queen. Why do you seek to protect that which forsook your ancestors? Join me, and you shall have your vengeance!"
Uttering a prayer of power and lifting his weapon on high, the sword glowed with white light.
"Dragon of darkness, you are not long for this world. You misunderstand my family's charge! For his Majesties and their beloved son!"
One by one, broken blade and shattered hafts, blunted points and snapped strings, all the weapons around him glowed as one. Seeing this spectacle, the dragon unleashed his flames upon the man, drowning him in his fire. Over the crackling flames the voice of the warrior echoed on ethereal incantation.
"All soldiers called to arms," the weapons levitated and forged themselves back together, as spears, halberds, swords great and small, axes, hammers, and bows surrounded their prey. "under the banner of the King," The dragon stepped back in panic, never before had any of the man's previous descendants perform such sorcery. "Form ranks and follow our sacred order . . . Legion's Crusade!"
As one, every weapon unleashed their savage assault. Toughened hide tore and flesh rent asunder under the onslaught as arrows of magical force pierced and shattered magical defenses. Spears and hafted weapons plunged deep into their target's feet and claws, pinning him to the ground. The dragon's roar of fury and outrage was drowned out by the sounds of a legion of soldiers in the throws of battle.
With his remaining eye, he peered upon the warrior with blade upheld, sweat poured down his strained expression. Bringing the weapon down to point at him, he took the sword in a two handed grip. Draconic orb widened in realization that he would be stabbed between the eyes while pinned by the sudden assault, he summoned the black fires of hell's spawn to impede his adversary.
The battle cry of the swordsman beyond the flames was one he'd recognized countless times, a warrior giving everything he had for one final blow; putting the last of his life into a final gambit, hoping for victory in death. Yet despite his hope in the flames he had summoned, his opponent charged through, piercing the flames intact with shining blade in hands. Their eyes met for a split second and beast spied a greater power in the man's eyes.
"You have . . . !"
Blade tip split through the skull, driving home up to the cross guard, silencing him in his tracks. Sprinting up the dragon's head, the swordsman summoned his last vestiges of strength.
"Ethereal . . ." gripping the sword with all his might, he heaved against the magical dragon bone. "Divider!"
The sword glowed and the magical pressure around them grew immense as the weapon displayed a message across its cross guard.
"Ethereal Divider . . . Full Power."
The weapon glowed within the skull of his quarry as the dragon unleashed a deafening scream. A white line peered from the back of the great beast and burst forth, splitting the bane of mankind in two as a towering blade of pure magical force rose into the air. Poisoned blood flooded the air and splashed over the member of House Opel. Ignoring the burning poison that began to envelope and asphyxiate him, his eyes searched madly for the one piece of evidence he needed. From the split open gut, a handle protruded far enough for a single hand to wrap around.
Sloshing through the fetid blood and entrails, his body numbing to the poison, he charged as fast as his ragged and worn body would allow. Losing his sight as he closed on the object, he reached desperately, abandoning his own blade. Losing consciousness, only the heavens witnessed the blazing flames that consumed the area.
"Did you hear? There's a new challenger for the title of Heavenly Knight."
"I heard he's young, I doubt he'll make it."
"Don't be so sure, I heard he comes from House Opel."
"House Opel? I thought they were ousted from the filial lines!"
The streets of the capital buzzed with gossip and speculation over the recent news of a candidate for the King and Queen's ultimate knight supreme. The past thousand years had seen peace and prosperity unlike any other, yet the citizens of Belka knew that without their Knights, the land would've been lost ages ago. Before the King had come wielding the sword Excalibur, the land had been lawless and merciless to the common man. Thieves, monsters, and other evils ravaged the land, doing as they pleased with none to keep them in check.
His advent had been a godsend, erecting law and order and inspiring others to rally under his banner of unification and peace. He held many knights under him, though twelve stood out among others. Despite this however, only a few of those truly shined above their peers. Wielders of swords and sorcery, the Knights of the Round were the nations first and best magic fencers. Among them, Astra Bedivere, Tigra Koho, and Merlin the Archmage were the pillars that supported his Majesty in the founding years and remained faithful throughout his rule.
"Wait, wait . . . that's him! Over there!"
"Shh! He'll hear you!"
The young man walking through the streets wore noble robes of deep purple and gold with flecks of white. His dark black hair was worn to shoulder length, and his bangs hung just to the tops of dark sapphire blue eyes. A ball bounced in front of him and stopped against his feet. Glancing down at the spherical toy with some amusement, he looked to the children hesitantly watching him from behind a bundle of barrels. Smiling, he picked up the child's plaything and tossed it to the smallest of the children.
"I think you lost this. Have fun you lot."
The smallest of them grinned widely and thanked him before running off with his friends in tow.
"Well that's interesting. No scorn for the common folk?"
Turning to look at an older man who looked at him with a bit of disdain.
"House Opel has fallen, you won't make it to meet the King, and they won't let you."
He only smiled and shrugged before adjusting his travel bag on his shoulder. The single sword by his side matched his cloths. The old man glimpsed the sword and flinched.
"I recognize that sword! That's the sword that the dragon Bloodbane swallowed when he defeated the former Heavenly Knight! But that would mean that you!"
Making his way toward the castle, he let the man gawk. It seemed that he wouldn't need to explain much if the sword by his side was proof enough. Gods knew he still had scars from that battle. Bloodbane had waged an infernal battle with the former Heavenly Knight for three days straight before the knight had succumbed to his wounds. He had nearly died fighting the dragon a month ago. Now he felt more or less back to his normal potential.
Approaching the entrance to the Grand Palace, the castle guards stopped him short of the gates. They each held magical spears and crossed them to bar his passage.
"Who are you who desire to enter the Royal Palace?"
Pulling his pendant from inside his coat pocket, he jingled it a few times in front of them as he spoke.
"I am Omega from House Opel, bearing news for his Majesty and a gift once lost to a fierce foe."
"House Opel is . . ."
"Permitted here by order of the Queen. You would do well to let a guest of the Queen through these gates dear knight."
The guards spun to see Astra Bedivere in his ceremonial dress. His blade Grimhrist was by his side in its sheath. The men stuttered and nodded, opening the entrance to admit Omega.
"My thanks Ser Bedivere. The Queen is most generous and thoughtful to send you to the entrance upon my arrival."
The blonde man nodded and motioned for him to follow as they walked through the palace. Many nobles and knights could be heard gossiping behind fans and hands as a member of Opel walked once again through the hallowed halls of the King. They proceeded up several flights of immaculate staircases. Omega suspected they were traveling the long way to the throne room to give the King and Queen time to situate themselves in the chambers. They halted at a set of grand doors. Saying a silent prayer to the gods, Omega looked to Astra and nodded that he was ready. The Knight nodded and pushed open the doors. Entering upon the announcement of his name, he could feel a stifling tense atmosphere from all those gathered to see who would be granted an audience on such short notice.
Keeping his head held high, but respectful, he entered the grand throne room. Halting at the middle of the room, he knelt on his right knee, keeping his left leg forward. It was a sign that he was giving his heart to those before him. A sign that he held no malice against those who'd admitted him in.
"Your Majesties, Omega Opel at your service. I have returned at last."
"What of your house Omega? Surely your family knows of this visit?"
Lifting his face partially, he sighed.
"I suppose they do milord, but it does them no good to voice objections."
"Why is that?"
"My family is dead Sire. Taken by the Plague and by sword. I am the sole survivor of my lineage."
Murmurs and shocked faces rippled through the nobles in attendance. One of the noblemen spoke up.
"Good riddance! The Opel Family turned on his Majesty! They plotted to kill her Highness the Queen and take the crown for themselves!"
"Here now! He speaks truth!"
Omega grit his teeth together and drew the sword by his side, earning gasps and prompting soldiers to draw their spears. Thrusting the sword into the floor, Omega stood and placed a hand on the pommel.
"Your Majesty, the charge of House Opel is finally complete. We have returned with the Flame Blade Levantine, drawn out from the bowels of the dragon Bloodbane. Your son, the late Heavenly Knight is avenged my King."
The people stood stunned. Everyone had thought the family to be banished from the ranks of the nobility and knighthood. Yet they'd really been sent to face Bloodbane, the dragon of darkness and such violence that the grounds where it had been fought had turned into a poisoned black bog from the deaths. The King stood from his chair and approached the man. Omega stepped away from the sword as the King came near. Taking the blade from its sheath, the ruler glanced up and down its blade.
"Levantine!"
"Your Majesty?"
The blade's voice rang clear throughout the halls of the castle for the first time in more than a decade. The gathered nobility and knights were held in amazement.
"Can you prove this young man's claim?"
"Yes Sire."
The weapon glowed and hovered toward Omega. Floating above him, the device summoned the young man's weapon from within him. The King smiled.
"It has been a long time since I laid eyes on that sacred blade young Omega. You've exceeded your ancestor greatly, he never was able to perform the sheathing ritual you now control."
A simple nod of thanks was the King's answer. The weapons glowed and synced with one another and played back the battle between Bloodbane and Omega. Horrified murmurs and terrified cries erupted from the crowds as the bloody and merciless fight replayed before them. The King's eyes widened at the man's final blow against the dragon before diving straight for the Levantine without waiting to let the blood dissipate. The following release of the Flame Blade's power and the incineration of the blood engulfing the seemingly doomed Omega told him everything he needed to know.
As the scenes closed and murmuring resumed, the weapon Omega had wielded faded from view, presumably back into its spatial location within Omega's very being. Taking Levantine in hand, he turned to the outcast.
"Opel Omega, kneel please."
The man resumed his kneeling position. The king took the sword and brought the it down, tapping the man's shoulders with the flat of the blade.
"Omega of House Opel, just as I fulfilled your Father's request to leave the true mission of the Opels a secret, so you and yours have fulfilled your end to the point of death and beyond. For this, I grant you Knighthood and grant you permission to attempt the trial of Heavenly Knight."
"You are most gracious my liege."
"You will be challenged by the three finest of the Knights of the Round. Are you sure of this?"
Another single nod was his only answer. The King looked to his wife at her throne and the woman rose from her chair. She glided toward them with ethereal grace.
"Very well then young Opel. We shall set the day of the test for two days from now. Will this give you enough time to prepare?"
"It is plenty my Lady. You have my thanks."
Up in one of the balconies above the scene in the throne room, a woman of dark locks and light eyes smirked. She could feel the man's magical power from her place in the room. Part of her wanted nothing more than to be one of the three opponents he'd face in the next two days.
"How are you going to fare against us? This will be interesting, slayer of Bloodbane."
Opel Omega: The last of the Noble Family of the Opels, he is the inheritor of the Intelligent Belkan device: Legion. Even though his is considered young, he is in his mid-twenties. He wields the Legionnaire sword style in accordance with his device's powers. He is also a mage of some aptitude due to his mother's bloodline.
Legion: The Intelligent Device of the Opel Family Line. More will be revealed as the story progresses.
The Belkan King: Wielder of the sacred sword Excalibur, he rules the Belkan Nation alongside his wife. His thirteen Knights of the Round are utterly loyal, and his son died fighting Bloodbane, who swallowed his sword Levantine after he died.
Astra Bedivere: The King's most trusted knight along with Merlin. His device Grimhrist is as famous as he is. He is also Merlin's son, and personal confidant of the Queen.
How will Omega fare against three of the King's best? Will he live up to expectations and achieve the title of Heavenly Knight?
Opel Omega: The last of the Noble Family of the Opels, he is the inheritor of the Intelligent Belkan device: Legion. Even though his is considered young, he is in his mid-twenties. He wields the Legionnaire sword style in accordance with his device's powers. He is also a mage of some aptitude due to his mother's bloodline.
Legion: The Intelligent Device of the Opel Family Line. More will be revealed as the story progresses.
The Belkan King: Wielder of the sacred sword Excalibur, he rules the Belkan Nation alongside his wife. His thirteen Knights of the Round are utterly loyal, and his son died fighting Bloodbane, who swallowed his sword Levantine after he died.
Astra Bedivere: The King's most trusted knight along with Merlin. His device Grimhrist is as famous as he is. He is also Merlin's son, and personal confidant of the Queen.
How will Omega fare against three of the King's best? Will he live up to expectations and achieve the title of Heavenly Knight?