A man in a black turban was watching as a village was burning.
"Well done Carson. You've done an amazing job." The man beside him stated.
"At what cost, Lloyd? We used to be considered heroes, saviors of the common man. Now, we're nothing, but a league of murderers. Do you regret staying in The Black Fang?" the individual named Carson stated.
"Come now, Carson. Don't tell me that you're getting soft on us!" Lloyd snorted.
"No. I was never soft. We used to mean something, we were a symbol. We stopped tyrannical nobles. Now we kill all, innocent or corrupt. I just don't know how long I can stomach this..." Carson said with a sigh.
"You can't be telling me...you're getting the feel to rebel." Lloyd asked.
"Of course not. I'm apart of the five fangs. Unless I got you and the others to rebel as well...It'd be a waste of time. I'd only get myself killed anyway." Carson stated.
"Smart choice...I'll see you later." Lloyd walked away. Carson continued to look down at the destruction below him. After a few minutes he heard footsteps approach. He turned and saw a crowd of mages rushing toward him.
"Shit! There are too many of them!" Carson exclaimed. He reached in his pocket and growled.
"Damn, it's all out! I guess I'll have to run!" The individual jumped off the cliff and landed on his wyvern. He rode his Wyvern away from the soldiers and saw that horseman were following him and throwing fire at him.
"Son of a bitch! At this rate, I'll be dead in a matter of minutes! Come on Shara! Get me out of here!" Carson exclaimed. The wyvern went faster. They eventually flew into a large temple. After some more flying they lost the horseman. Carson stopped his wyvern and hopped off.
"Whew...that was close...I almost got caught, but there's no doubt they got a look at my face. It's not too long before I'm a fugitive. Wha...what in the hell..." Carson looked down and saw he was in the center of a pentagram.
"N-No way! How can this be...AH!" Carson screamed. The face of another individual appeared before him.
"Carson!" The face shouted.
"I...I'm sorry! Please, give me another chance!" Carson exclaimed.
"No. We had a deal...now...your magic...it's mine!" The face exclaimed.
"No! I...AHHHHHHHHHH!" Carson screamed. He felt his chakra being sapped away. He felt himself losing his energy. He fell to his knees his magic was gone.
"You're mortal once more..." The face exclaimed.
"You...You!" Carson exclaimed before the horseman caught up to him.
"There! Carson Porter! You're under arrest for mass homicide!" The leader exclaimed. Carson made a handsign and attempted to use magic, but it didn't work. At that moment he knew it was no joke that he'd lost his magic.
"I have no intention of dying now! I'm not going down without a fight!" Carson exclaimed pulling out his sword. He charged at the mages.
The mages shot elfires at Carson. Carson managed to dodge the blasts and kill some of the mages. After a struggle he was eventually captured by the mages.
"Dammit!" Carson exclaimed. He struggled, but he knew it was futile. The leader then smirked at Carson.
"I'm sure Lord Pent will be pleased!" The mage exclaimed as they dragged Carson out of the temple.
Four months later.
Carson was waiting in his cell. His execution was supposed to happen that day. He was having his last meal when he took a deep breath.
"Damn you Sonia. If you hadn't hypnotized Brandon...I wouldn't be in this mess! But then again I should've left The Black Fang when I had the chance...I guess I should pay for my sins..." At that moment he heard a roar down the hall followed by struggling. He ran to the bars. After a moment the bars burst into the cell. His wyvern was there.
"Shara! Good girl!" Carson exclaimed. He hopped onto the wyvern and ordered it through the halls. The alarms were sounded. He then rushed for the entrance. He made it out, but that was the easy part. He knew that the security outside would prove more formidable. He was encountered by archers, and mages. After a long struggle he managed to escape the fortress.
"Yes! I made it out! See ya suckers!" Carson exclaimed as he guided his Wyvern away from the prison. He was making his way to Sacae, believing their lack of government could allow him to escape any trouble.
"Lloyd, Ursula, Linus, Jaffar. I can't stay with The Black Fang. I just have a bad feeling about the direction the groups been taking. I'm sorry, but I'm afraid it's the Four Fangs now!" Carson exclaimed. He continued to ride toward Sacae. He was close to the border when arrows flew past him. He turned and saw the Eturian soldiers chasing him.
"Ugh! Why won't you bastards just quit!" Carson shouted. He continued to dodge the arrows. More magic flew past him as well. He eventually noticed that they were getting a Balliste.
"F**k my life! St. Elimine if you'd be so kind as to...Oh I don't know. HELP!" Carson exclaimed. He then forced his wyvern to fly faster. Eventually the Balliste was out of sight. Just when he thought he was safe he saw the arrow coming at him. It hit the wyvern in the wing.
"Shara! Come on! We're in Sacae! Just a little farther...gaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!" The wyvern crashed, and Carson fainted a moment after the crash.
"Hey! Are you awake?"
Carson sat up. His eyes were still closed. He shook his head and turned. He saw a woman bringing him a bowl of water.
"Are you okay?" The woman asked. Carson nodded as he drank from the bowl of water. He looked at the woman.
"Tell me girl...what's your name?" Carson demanded. A scowl formed across the girls face.
"First off, I'm not a girl! I'm a woman!" The girl screamed.
"Don't kid yourself, girl!" Carson scoffed. The girl then slapped Carson across the face.
"You're around my age! If I'm a girl, doesn't that make you a boy?" The girl exclaimed.
"Maybe so, but at least I don't deny it. Now, answer my question!" the girl then crossed her arms as she looked away.
"I'm Lyn of the Lorca tribe! Who the hell are you!" Lyn exclaimed.
"Fine then. My name is..." Carson stopped and began to think.
"You have a name, don't you?" Lyn shouted.
"My name is...Mark." Carson said believing he should keep his identity a mystery. At that moment a large thump was heard outside.
"What was that?" Lyn asked.
"Don't look at me." Carson scoffed. Lyn then looked at Carson with a scowl.
"I'll check it out. If you so much as move, I'll chop you head off!" Lyn exclaimed.
"Oooohhhh, I'm sooooo scared." Carson said saracastically. Lyn stormed out of the room. Carson crossed his arms.
"Wow, what a bitch." Carson muttered. At that moment Lyn ran in a grabbed her sword.
"Something going on?" Carson asked. He got up and Lyn pointed her sword at him.
"I thought I said I'd chop your head off!" Lyn exclaimed. Carson smirked.
"Do it then! I dare you!" Carson exclaimed. Lyn growled and turned toward the door. She opened the door.
"You set one foot out of this ger, and I chop your hand off!" Lyn exclaimed.
"Didn't you just make a threat like that, but didn't stick too it?" Carson scoffed. Lyn shrugged as she slammed the door. Carson then walked out the door.
"Well girl. Just because we have some issues, doesn't mean I'll let you die now. I do know of something called integrity." Carson said he pulled out his flute and began to play it. He then made a handsign before putting his flute away. He slowly followed Lyn. He saw Lyn cut down one bandit. Two other bandits noticed this and ran toward her. As this happened Carson lept from the bushes and then took Lyns sword and held his sword at her throat. The bandits watched as Carson held Lyn captive.
"Come now! You didn't expect me to let you kill such a fetching lass did you?" Carson exclaimed.
"She killed our men! She must pay!" The bandit exclaimed.
"I don't know. I payed quite a bit for the young lady. How about you give me some gold. Lets start the bidding at 200 gold shall we?" Carson exclaimed.
"Fine 200 gold!" The leader exclaimed. He tossed Carson the bag. Carson looked inside and smiled. He shoved Lyn in their direction as he shoved the gold into his pocket. One bandit grabbed her by the hand. Then Carson turned and smiled.
"Oh one more thing...look up..." The bandit holding Lyn looked up. A wyvern then tackled the bandit and ripped the bandit to shreads. Carson tossed Lyn her sword and rushed the bandit leader. He quickly slashed the bandit in the chest and legs in one motion. Before he could react he saw the bandits axe coming toward him. It hit Carson in the shoulder. The bandit then kicked Carson sending him a few feet away. Carson held onto his arm he was sure his shoulder was fractured in some way. Lyn then sprang into action. She quickly slashed the bandit twice in the stomach. The bandit tried to hit Lyn, but Lyn dodged and then stabbed him in the chest. Lyn then pulled her sword out of his chest and the bandit fell. Carson smiled and fell unconscious
Carson awoke and he saw Lyn making food. Lyn finished making the food and handed it to him.
"Here." Lyn said handing Carson the food.
"Thank you...look. I'm sorry for the way I behaved yesterday. I'm sort of coming off of what was a pretty rough chapter in my life." Carson said with a sigh.
"Oh. Mark was it?" Lyn asked.
"What are you...oh yeah...right." Carson sighed.
"Thank you, for the help yesterday. Not that I needed it." Lyn exclaimed.
"Trust me Lyn. Two bandits at one is too much for some people. I used to be able to handle 20 bandits at once, but falling to one bandit! I must've lost more power than I thought." Carson sighed.
"Lost power? What are you talking about?" Lyn asked.
"That's none of your concern. Thank you for the hospitality. I'll be taking my leave now." Carson said making his way to the door.
"Wait! Mark!" Lyn exclaimed.
"What is it?" Carson asked.
"Would it be okay if I traveled with you?" Lyn asked.
"Why do you want to travel with me? You don't seem like the travelling sort." Carson said as he narrowed his eyes.
"That fight yesterday showed me one thing. That I need to become more powerful, and sitting here won't help!" Lyn exclaimed.
"Shouldn't you ask your parents first." Carson answered. At that moment Lyn looked down.
"Uh...Lyn are you okay?" Carson asked. He then saw a tear hit the ground.
"My tribe...the Lorca they were killed by bandits six months ago. My parents, my friends...they were all killed. I'm the only survivor..." Lyn said as tears continued to flow down her eyes.
"Oh my god...I'm sorry Lyn. If I'd known..." Carson began.
"No, it's not your fault Mark. No more...I will shed no more tears..." Lyn said as she took a deep breath. "It's okay now. I feel better." Lyn said. Carson nodded and then opened the door and turned to Lyn.
"You coming or not?" Carson asked. Lyn nodded and ran out the door. Carson shut the door and leaned against the closed door.
"So where's the nearest city?" Carson asked.
"Bulgar. About a one day walk to the south." Lyn stated.
"Good. That will be our first destination. Lets be off." Carson ordered.
"Wait, Mark!" Lyn exclaimed.
"What is it?" Carson asked.
"I read one of the books in your bag. What exactly are you? It isn't the kind of training book a swordsman reads." Lyn stated. Carson gave laugh.
"How perceptive! Yes, I am not a swordsman. I used to be a mage, but I lost my magic in a...'accident' I however, did graduate an academy for tacticians." Carson answered.
"Oh, so you're a tactician by trade?" Lyn asked. Carson nodded.
"I guess you can say that. It's one of my talents. In fact I had a sturdy employment a little while ago, but I left." Carson stated.
"Really? Why? Did they 'let you go?'" Lyn asked.
"No. I didn't like the direction they were taking, so I left." Carson answered.
"Which army did you work for?" Lyn asked.
"Enough questions! I'd rather not discuss it. To Bulgar!" Carson exclaimed. Lyn nodded and the two ran south toward Bulgar.