Warning: This fanfic is a sequel to 'The Alliance: Questionable Honour.' It can be read by itself, but certain things are better understood after reading it's prequel.

Prologue: The Paladin and Her Crusader

A young woman walked down the stone corridor of the Pronteran Army Headquarters, located nearby the Pronteran castle, with long confident strides. As she looked out the window at the clear blue sky, she decided it was a beautiful day and started whistling to herself.

Melanie Stryfort was a young 22 year old crusader who served the Pronteran Army. She was a crusader by profession, and a very well decorated soldier. She joined the church initially to serve as a swordswoman when she was 16, before attaining her rank as a crusader, enlisted in the army when she was 18 and attained her first command of a platoon when she was 19. She was an excellent fighter and leader and many people acknowledge that, even though there are some people envious of her, probably due to her young age.

" Hey, Melanie, where you heading?" Flick Kernal called to her as she passed by. He was flanked along with Camelia Wonderwind, both of them former classmates of Melanie.

" I'm going to see 'Grandma'," she replied jovially to her friends, as she embraced Camelia in their customary hug every time they met.

'Grandma' was the affectionate nickname of her commanding and division officer, Paladin Deinnelle Zelkenia. It was an apt nickname, since Deinnelle was the oldest commanding officer in the army who still was able to fight. She was a kind-hearted and warm leader, although most of the people in the army knew how ferocious she could get when she was fighting.

Deinnelle was Melanie's teacher when she was training to attain her rank as a crusader. She was apprehensive at first when she was going to meet her after all the stories about her conquest in her years of service in the army. Melanie expected a gruff, pompous old lady with a loud, guttural voice and dark, tan skin. She would not be surprised if she spotted more than 2 scars, minimum, on her face.

It was much to her surprise, and relief, the Deinnelle did not look one bit like the officer she imagined in her mind. Melanie remember how taken aback she was when she first laid eyes on her mentor. She had a light brown complexion and a sparkle in her eyes. She had a soft, but rough voice with a calming exterior and commanding air, but yet not arrogant. She had a motherly look, a look Melanie fell in love with since she was an orphan before she could even remember. The first words she heard spoken from her were: " Good Lord, am I that scary?"

Melanie understood that her commander had a tragic past, and she found it surprising not too many people knew about it. She was married to the Zelkenia family and she had 6 children. However, by law, her family needed to send one family member to enlist in the army. This was due to some crime her husband's family committed generations ago and had to repay in kind. Her family was the last generation to pay in this kind.

She decided to enlist the army to spare her family the trouble and risk of dying in war. Besides, it was during the wartime that she enlisted in the army. She was known as a very loving and caring mother, and she did what she thought was the best for her children. However, her efforts were to be in vain. She lost her husband in the war, and in another major one 15 years later, she lost all her remaining children, including her grandson whom she got from her first daughter.

It was after this that she became more morose and dark. To people, she always put up a brave front, smiling and treating her subordinates fairly, but deep down inside she was torn up apart from her loss. It was ironic that she survived while her family perished when it was her who took up arms in the war.

She was known to love her daughters very much, and most of the men in the army complain that she was rather biased towards the females in her division in general. Melanie had to agree with that, although she was not about to complain. Melanie didn't meet Deinnelle before her loss, so she wasn't too sure of her personality before then, but she had heard enough from Aesis Crenilia, the Division commander of the 1st division of the Royal Army of Rune-Midgard, to get the idea.

Melanie had always strived to perform her best for Deinnelle, and she had never disappointed her superior officer, not once. However, she felt a pang of sadness in her heart. Deinnelle was getting old, almost in her fifties, way past her prime years and her best has left her. She was probably going to retire soon, although Melanie hoped she would stay on longer for maybe a few more years.

" Seeing 'Grandma', eh? What for, going to get a spanking?" Flick laughed. Camelia scowled at her companion's sense of humour.

" No, I wish. I'm getting a promotion," Melanie replied, not bothered by Flick's ways.

Melanie was not too sure about this statement actually. Her commanding officer had just called her up and asked her to meet her at her office at noon to talk about something. She sounded jovial in the morning, and the first thing that struck Melanie's thoughts was promotion in the army. She was hoping for it, although she was not too sure about it.

" Well, good luck anyway. I've got the afternoon covered by keeping an eye on rookies who can't even wet their pants properly," Camelia said, patting her friend on her shoulder before leaving. Flick gave a wave before following Camelia.

It took her another 5 minutes navigating her way along corridors and room before she could hear the sound of a piano being played at the distance. She knew who was playing it and immediately took off following the sound.

" Why the hell do you always keep that ridiculously heavy armour on all the time?" Melanie asked the moment she opened the heavy wooden doors as she stepped into Deinnelle's office.

Unlike most other people who work in her field, Deinnelle preferred to wear her heavily fortified full-plated armour all the time, except when she was going to sleep. Melanie found it cumbersome to wear it all the time, so she usually takes it off when she is not on duty. Right now, she was wearing nothing more than her undergarments, a singlet and a short pair of pants along with her leather boots. She looked more like a peasant than a crusader of the Pronteran Army, except with a ridiculously large build that only a crusader could achieve.

" The armour signifies the symbol of a crusader: the power and strength that comes from it. I wear it all the time to remind myself of it. Besides, what's wrong with wearing it around the place?" Deinnelle asked, her hands still gracefully pressing the piano keys to produce music. Granted, she was not the best player around and her music key is a little awkward, but nobody really complains.

" Well, you called me. What is it, ma'am?" Melanie asked.

" Well, since you are one of my closest students, and a good friend, I decided to tell you this first in advance. It has come to my attention that I'm getting 'old', so I've decided that this should be the right time for me to step down as the 3rd Division Commander. Besides, I'm…"

" Wait, don't tell me you are retiring?" Melanie groaned, interrupting her commander. Sometimes, it was easy for Melanie to forget that she was talking to her superior officer and not a friend, and this was one of the traits Deinnelle did not like about Melanie, but since they were pretty close, she usually let it slide.

" Who gave you that damn idea?" Deinnelle reprimanded her, her fingers pressing the piano keys harder than was required, changing the light, soothing music to sound slightly jumpy.

" I don't get it…If you are not retiring…sorry, please continue," Melanie said stopping in mid-sentence, seeing Deinnelle's expression.

" Look her, girl. I'm not retiring, alright, not yet. But, I'm way past my prime and I can't lead my division as well as I could years ago. Unfortunately age catches up with everyone, whether we like it or not. I'm retiring from my post, I'm not retiring from my job. From tomorrow onwards, I'm stepping down as the Commander of the 3rd Division to Assistant Commander," Deinnelle explained.

" Oh…" Melanie replied, sounding relieved. " And, who will be taking your place?"

" Reinne Malkenthos."

Melanie knew that name well. Reinne Malkenthos was the third child of four children, and the only female, of King Arthras Malkenthos, the Supreme Ruler and Leader of all citizens of Rune-Midgard. Reinne was a High Priestess, although she is only about a few years older than Melanie, if Melanie's memory serves her right.

Melanie could remember the time when Reinne expressed her initial wish to join the army as a priestess. This request did not gain favour with many people, especially most of the royal aristocrats and people from the higher echelons in the palace. It was almost a tradition for the princes of the Royal Family to join the army, but for a princess, it was unheard off. Moreover, the king's sons had already perished in a previous war, and she was the last remaining heir to the throne.

Thus, joining the army placed Reinne at a risk of eliminating the last of the Royal Family's bloodline, which a lot of purists say must be preserved than using other lesser people from the lower families of the Royal branch. King Arthras was too old to bear another child and the Queen had passed away some time ago. Some people in the army figured the princess would be too much of a delicate and weak person to become a proper soldier. However, nobody said another word when King Arthras said yes.

Reinne was to prove every one of them who thought she would be a useless soldier wrong. In fact, according to the church, she was one of the best followers they had ever had. She passed the priestess test with full marks, and she was a remarkable leader, not doubt more on the compassionate and soft side. Melanie had to agree with this choice. They had a better choice in High Priestess Coranis Maralynn, Reinne's mentor, but she insisted she was too old for the army and retired soon after.

Melanie found it amusing that Deinnelle was allowing a younger person, by almost 20 years, to boss her around as an officer of a higher rank. This was rare in the army, where status was of some importance. Melanie could not remember the last time a Division officer actually demote herself from her post because she wanted to. However, Deinnelle and Reinne shared a good relationship: Deinnelle treating Reinne as a daughter to replaced the ones she had lost and Reinne treating Deinnelle as a mother she never had.

" Something wrong?" Deinnelle asked, seeing Melanie's blank expression.

" Uh, no, I think it's a brilliant choice," Melanie replied, regaining her composure.

" You have your reservations?" Deinnelle asked, raising her eyebrows.

" Nonsense!" Melanie rebutted. Deinnelle's mood lifted slightly and Melanie could feel it from the sound of music she was playing.

" So, all this is about telling me you are dropping your rank?" Melanie asked jokingly.

" No. There is something else I need to tell you. I think you deserve a promotion," Deinnelle replied.

Melanie's heart was beating rapidly as Deinnelle spoke those words. She was rather eager to ask what is was but she decided to be patient. Deinnelle paused for a while, before continuing.

" It is from my recommendation to Commander Aesis Crenilia that you become the official commanding officer of the 3rd Squadron of our division. Your probationary rank is now revoked officially. I'm honoured to address you as a official Squadron commander as of now," Deinnelle said.

The Army was made up of 6 Divisions, all commanded by a Division commander and an assistant. The 1st Division was the Assault Division, where there is a large concentration of knights and swordsmen. The 2nd was the magic division. The 3rd was the Secondary Assault Division, but they are mainly made up of soldiers under the Holy Order, like crusaders and priest, who give support alongside the knights in battle. The 4th and 5th Divisions were support divisions while the 6th was a supplementary division, mainly consisting of assassins and rogues or odd and ends working under the army.

All Divisions have and average of 10 Squadrons, with the 1st having 13 and the 6th having only 3. All Squadrons are commanded by a Squadron Commander and an assistant, along with a few other higher officers. The Squadrons are then divided into about 13 Platoons each, each with its own Platoon commander and second-in-command. Currently, Melanie was in-charge of the 3rd Squadron, but she was under probation, or previously under probation as of now.

Melanie felt elated, and she seem to swell slightly due to happiness and pride. " What's my commanding status?" Melanie asked, curious.

" Both you and the assistant commander of the platoon will receive Class 2 clearance," Deinnelle answered, changing songs midway during her sentence. This meant that Melanie and her assistant commander, whoever he or she was, could boss almost all the Squadron commanders up to Class 2, which were the top Squadron commanders of all the divisions, which numbered in about 20 people. Class 10 was the lowest, where they could order anyone who was not a Squadron commander.

" Sounds too good to be true. Who is the assistant commander?" Melanie asked.

" Azaroth Crimson."

" What in Infernal's name...!?" Melanie yelled.

" There is nothing wrong with him. To my knowledge, he is an excellent leader, and an expert in battle tactics, not to mention a skilled and decorated knight," Deinnelle replied, chuckling. Looking at her expression, she continued with " Honey, I was just joking. He's not taking the place as your assistant commander, unless you want it. He's too new to get a promotion, although I figure we will have to hand it to him soon."

Melanie almost gave a sigh of relief. " Then, who is?" she asked.

" Commander Aesis was generous enough to allow you to pick your own assistant commander, whether you want one or not. Take it as a sort of a gift from him saying congratulations on your promotion. You take your pick," Deinnelle replied. " By the way, talking about Azaroth, what's he up to now in the division?"

" I'm giving him the liberty to take command of the 5th platoon in my Squadron, whom he's being very friendly with. He's proved himself quite worthy, and I'm not going to begrudge him of a promotion," Melanie answered. " I'll tell him the good news later."

" When you fight him later in the match?" Deinnelle asked.

" Um, depends..." Melanie said, feeling uneasy.

" Come now, Melanie. It is of my best interest for you to beat me," Deinnelle replied, stopping the music. Getting up, she walked up to her nearby closet and opened it. Melanie saw her took out her refined Claymore, a brilliant looking sword, which seemed to glitter under the sunlight that poured into the room, and her Holy Guard, both custom made by Dirk Quintos, the resident genius and talented blacksmith of the Pronteran army. " Shall we go? Let's not keep the boys waiting."

Melanie merely nodded, trying to smile.

Writer's note: It was about time I got this up. It probably will not get regular updates yet, since I'm busy with life and I have another fanfic to finish, so it'll be up periodically.

A sequel to my previous fanfic, taking place 2 years after the initial events.