First of all, sorry for the bad summary of the story. I'm really bad at those.
Secondly, I hope you enjoy this story~ I've been working on it for a while and was encouraged to share it by some friends...
The sky above was covered in black clouds casting a gloomy scene upon the vastly once ominous land beneath it. Despite its recent change, light seemed to lack any existence, perhaps an impossible theory for the capitol beneath. Nohr was a kingdom of darkness, once in full control of the western portion of the country until its seemingly endless war with the prosperous eastern half Hoshido came to an end after the defeat of the wicked Silent Dragon Anankos. Now the darkened land had a sense of hope despite its spellbinding dreary appearance, the two new kings of the nations agreeing to work together in order to achieve peace in all of their land.
Indeed, peace had graciously been granted thanks to their hard endless work, the progress doubled in speed with the help of the queen of the lost land, Corrin. However, with recovery came new confusion and frustration. Anankos' defeat was supposed to vanquish all of the invisible Vallite soldiers that wreaked havoc, but they remained and continued their destructive paths through the land. No matter how intense the searches for answers became, the strange manifestations could not be figured out. Eventually, both nations seemed to set aside the challenging quest for the purpose of fixing their countries, but it remained heavy on their hearts.
Those who fought in the arduous battle against Anankos had gone their separate ways for the most part. Others had returned to the lands they considered home, though they often returned to either kingdom to visit with allies and offer reports of any notable happenstances.
Months had passed without any decent information, until one fateful night. The kingdom of Nohr had been under relaxing terms after a bandit camp had been successfully subdued after their treachery went unaccounted for in the slaying of an innocent family. Under King Xander's rule, the deaths were avenged at once, and punishment was swift and stringent. Crime had undoubtedly decreased since his title was bestowed upon him, and he worked toward fixing his broken nation diligently with slow, but remarkable results.
Now, in the throne room, he conversed with his intelligent younger brother Prince Leo on matters of new tasks when a soldier barged into the large room unannounced, guards chasing after him. The knight was gasping for breath, a clear sign that his intrusion was urgent and needed full attention if he had desperately rushed in even at the threat of being taken down by royal guards.
"Lord Xander, please forgive my reckless approach!" He fell to his knees, bowing so his face was against the ground in submission. His crazed appearance certainly gave off an initial discomforting air of potential assassination attempt, the royal guards surrounding him with lances at the ready. "I have urgent news to report, and a heavy-hearted request of you!"
Xander's dark auburn eyes, a perfect contrast to his blond hair, narrowed intensely on the soldier, his expression stern, noble, intense. As the soldier timidly lifted his head to view the king, he lifted a hand to calm the royal guards and the frantic man, "Be at ease my knights, and stand before me young man. What news do you bring to me?"
At his words, the soldier swallowed thickly, rising unsteadily to his feet as the guards around him dispersed from the room. He relaxed and caught his breath, approaching the king cautiously.
"My lord," He started to shake lightly as he spoke up, voice wavering. "The Woods of the Forlorn have been under strange conditions as you are probably aware. It is as if the entire forest is shrouded in an unusual cloud of pitch black, and there have been unnatural storms reported within them."
Xander frowned, a flash of disapproval coming into view, "Why are soldiers approaching the Woods of the Forlorn? Everyone knows it is a forbidden place where few know the safe path through it. Explain yourself!"
"Forgive me milord, we are aware of the dangers…" The young knight apologized meekly. "But Faceless came from within and slaughtered an innocent caravan of women and children!" His trembling had increased, panic reaching his voice once more. "My men arrived too late to save anyone, they were all dead, being torn apart by those foul monsters! We chased the dastardly demons back into the hell they belong, but… all of them, all of my men, are now lost inside of that forsaken place in the name of vengeance for those people! Their screams of pain… they haunt me. I beg of you, Lord Xander, please spare my men from certain death!"
The soldier fell before him once more pleadingly, and Xander glanced uncertainly at his younger brother who returned the gaze thoughtfully. They were all too aware that the chances of finding any of them alive at this rate were hopelessly low, but the information received was disconcerting. Faceless weren't the type to leave their domain unprovoked. Additionally, the man's desperate plea was stirring, he had come so far just to ask for aid for men that were probably long deceased. Before the war, his plea would have certainly been ignored by the previous king, but Xander longed to be compassionate for his people. After a moments contemplation, Leo spoke up.
"I'll go." He said boldly. "Niles and Odin shall join me. Guide me to the exact place they disappeared soldier."
"If you believe you are up to the task, the go swiftly my brother." Xander approved, a hint of unease reaching his voice.
The younger prince smirked, his brown eyes radiating brilliant confidence. His hand tightened on his trusted ancient tome, Brynhildr, skilled in magic compared to Xander's swordsmanship abilities.
"Th-thank you Prince Leo!" The soldier looked close to tears, climbing to his feet again. "I shall lead you there once you are prepared, please make haste!" He departed after a curt bow of gratitude, racing out of the throne room.
Leo began to make his exodus when Xander placed a hand on his shoulder, forcing him to halt and face his older brother.
"Have caution Leo, I don't like the sound of any of this." Xander contemplated. "This could involve more than just the Faceless."
"Do not worry about me, I'll be fine." Leo offered a small grin in hopes to quell the kings worries. "I'll have my retainers with me, so I won't face enemies alone should I encounter any. We are more than capable of taking any monster down, and I know my way through the Woods of the Forlorn."
"I have full confidence in your abilities Leo." huffed Xander with a shake of his head. "I have no reason to doubt you, but as your brother, I will still request caution from you." He gave his shoulder a squeeze, his stern expression softening enough to allow a small smile to grace his lips. "Now go."
Leo didn't waste any more time in the throne room, but now it was time for the hard part in his opinion: finding his wonderfully unique retainers. They were a strange pair, but Leo could swear that they were the best retainers he could ever hope to have, their loyalty irreplaceable. Castle Krakenburg was too enormous for his sake when he needed them the most. He turned a corner sharply, barely evading a maid holding a tray of tea in her hand, and cursing inwardly about the inconveniences of living in a large castle when it came to searching for people. His irritation grew until he considered asking for help in his search, but the notion was destroyed the second he heard a boisterous shout from a nearby storage room.
Leo sighed, but still managed to chuckle in amusement since he knew all too well who the voice belonged to. He followed the loud shouts to a semi-cracked door, where a lone figure stood in the middle with his back turned to the entrance. The young male shouted again, almost in pain as his arm shot into the air, the other hand grasping at his own wrist.
"My aching blood!" He howled to no one in particular. "The darkness within me demands to be quenched with knowledge of the spreading depravation within these lands! Such malevolence empowers the shadows of my wicked magic! Where does this foul embodiment reside that causes my unbearable distress!?"
Leo slowly pushed the door open, leaning on the frame silently as he watched his passionate retainer struggle to hold his own arm. He couldn't stop the odd grin that grew on his lips, "The Woods of the Forlorn contain the answers you seek, Odin."
The young male shrieked with surprise, reeling around on his toes with wide hazel eyes. Once recognition settled within him, he relaxed somewhat, a whiny tone flooding his voice almost instantly.
"Lord Leo… how long have you been standing there?" His cheeks were a pale crimson, embarrassment obvious from the fact that he was caught in the middle of his dramatic performance.
The prince chuckled, straightening his posture as he observed his matchless retainer Odin Dark. He truly was an interesting character, but Leo had no desire to change anything about him.
"I need your assistance, Odin." He curtly stated, dodging the previously asked question.
Odin perked up at that, intrigue filling his eyes as they nearly quivered with uncanny excitement, "What do you need of me milord?"
"I'll explain everything later when I find Niles as well, but for now make your way to the castle entrance where a young soldier awaits us." Leo requested.
"Very well milord!" Odin beamed. "My very soul yearns for the mission to be granted upon my unworthy bloodstained hands! I recall the whispers of you speaking about the Woods of the Forlorn though. Are there demonic spirits needed to the conquered with my dark empowered abilities? Do foul bandits need punishment?"
"Not this time Odin, but as I said, all will be explained later." Leo repeated. "Now, do you know of Niles' whereabouts?"
Odin struck out a hand, entering another dramatic pose, "Nay, but I can call upon the underlings of the demons to seek him out!"
Leo released a heavy sigh, pinching the bridge of his nose, "That's… unnecessary. I'll find him myself. Just… go wait at the front of the castle."
The prince turned heel and departed the room as Odin blustered a polite "As you wish," making his own way out hastily. Leo, in the meantime, pinched his lips together as he marched higher through the castle in hopes that he would find Niles in the place he most anticipated him to be; in the highest tower of the castle where the moon could always be seen from the lonely open window. He could have sworn there were as many stairs as there were in the Eternal Stairway, but as he reached the final step to the empty tower space, he spotted his other retainer perched naturally in his favorite spot on the sill of the window, carelessly dangling a leg out.
"Niles, it's a relief to find you here." Leo commented, and the mysterious outlaw addressed him promptly at the sound of his lords' voice.
"Ah, Lord Leo, do you require something from me?" Niles pulled his leg back inside as he stood in attention. Even with only the light of the moon shining through the window, Leo knew Niles' focused attention despite his relaxed stature and hood covered head.
"We have a new mission." He informed the suave male. "We must make our way to the Woods of the Forlorn at once."
Niles hummed, a sign that he acknowledged his liege's words. He lazily pushed off the hood, his platinum hair glowing in sync with the moon, "Shall we go then?" Reaching to his right, Niles grabbed a quiver of arrows resting against the wall along with his sturdy bow, clasping the quiver around his waist and beneath his signature blue cape.
"Yes, that is the best decision." Leo agreed, pleased that Niles was always prepared no matter the circumstance.
While he started back down the seemingly endless stairway, Niles took one more glance out the window to view the full moon as it disappeared behind large clouds before setting after the prince in a sudden whirl of his cape.
Upon reaching the entrance of the castle, and exiting its large doors, Leo and Niles were greeted by Odin and the desperate soldier. Due to Odin's rather intense stare, it was likely he had been informed of the situation at hand. As the young prince approached the two, a maid brought forth his horse, saddled and armored for safety nearly head to hoof.
"My prince, we have prepared your horse for you under Lord Xander's request." She said with a respectful bow.
Leo huffed under his breath, but made note to thank Xander later. He had been so focused on trying to find his retainers that he had forgot to send for his horse. Thanking the maid, he climbed into the saddle after giving his faithful steed a gentle scratch under its chin, pulling the reins to turn the beast in the direction of their departure. His eyes scanned the far horizon, locking onto a flurry of clouds forming in the far distance. He squinted, unsure if he was actually seeing the odd purple haze about them or imagining it. The shudder that ran over his spine was discomforting.
"Odin, inform Niles of our mission." He requested with a short glance to his ally, who nodded in agreement.
Another horse was brought out for the soldier who was still weary from his journey. He was quick to climb on, and the distressed look on his face as he stared into the distance showed his desire to leave as soon as possible. The instant Leo requested that he lead the way, he was flicking the reins and darting off. Leo reacted just as quickly, spurring his horse on while Niles and Odin gave chase.
As they sprinted on, Odin informed Niles the necessary details, "There were dastardly assailants upon innocent mortals by the nefarious Faceless, and this man had courageously chased them back to the contemptable woods they reside in with his fellow comrades. Unfortunately, his men journeyed too far in search for revenge, and are lost in the suffocating dreariness of those forsaken woods. We have been granted the honorable and dangerous task of finding them, though it would seem a hopeless task!"
Niles sighed, but by no means did he not understand what Odin had so flamboyantly told him. It had taken a while to bear through his speech pattern, but many years of partnership with him had somehow given the single eyed thief a knowledge of translating his eloquent verses. Nonetheless, he always had to wonder why.
"You couldn't have just said Faceless attacked some helpless people and this soldier boy and his allies pushed them back into the Woods of the Forlorn where they're trapped like little babes?" Niles admonished, smirking with a haughty know-it-all air in his tone.
"Ah, my umbral ally, did you not hear anything I uttered upon your ears?" Odin bleated disappointedly. "You repeated everything I said!"
"Yes, yes my… unique partner." Niles teased, sparing a glance since the mage was at his left side. "Let's not get left behind now. Did you remember to bring your tome?"
"Of course I did!" Odin claimed. "The mighty Odin's Grimoire is always rightfully at my side! Its crimson shade perfectly matches the spilled scarlet of our enemies defeated corpses! My fell powers strengthen its dark energy; truly a perfect match made by the gods themselves! It is normal to be envious of such a cursed blessing my friend."
Niles only offered a chuckle this time, conversation meant to be dropped now as they race through the town streets with Leo a horse's pace ahead. The Woods of the Forlorn required a few hours travel from the capital, perhaps less if they could maintain their pace. With an emergency pushing them forward, their adrenaline was at full throttle.
As they entered the vast field beyond the walls of the capitol, Niles' attention was stolen by the gathering clouds in the distance, flashes of thunder and lightning sprouting from within. A simple rescue mission was all this sounded like, taking out a few Faceless and hopefully saving a few lucky lives if they managed to survive this long, but he felt uneasy about the entirety of it. There was something off, and he didn't like it.
Whether it was the off colored shading of the clouds with the strikes of lighting increasing in amount, or just the abnormal feeling that shook his bones endlessly, Niles couldn't quite place a finger on it… but he wasn't bothered by that part. His sapphire eyes locked protectively onto Leo. He could only hope it the entire charade wouldn't cause any trouble for his liege.