A/N: I'm back, and I've got a new story. As the summary says, it is a story inspired by an rpg game named Radiant Historia. Some of the concepts came from it. Well anyways, read. I also revised my other story, the Ocean Sunset. Alright, without any further ado, I give you Soul of Vitality.


"The world.. Why did this have to happen..?"

Two people stand in the middle of a deserted ruins, still cannot believe their eyes. Around them, deserts continue to spread. Water becomes polluted. Trees and plant life die. Land becomes unsuitable for farming. Illnesses spread, beings, human, monster, elves, and others, die unnaturally.

"If only.. if only we could have done something.."

The girl started to sob. She knelt down.

"There is still something we could do.."

The girl looked up to the boy.

"As the Guardians, it is our duty to find 'them', and guide 'them'. They may not be here, but we can still find them in the past."

"That's right. This isn't befitting for this world.."

"Let's go."

And suddenly, a white light flashed, instantly, the two were gone.


-The continent of Bermesiah-

A land that consists mainly of deserts. It used to be teeming with life, until a time when plants began to wither. Land is not arable anymore. It is also the time of the apex of the ruthless empire that met its downfall centuries ago. No one knows, but some suspect that the two are related. Now, a fierce war is raging to conquer lands, gain more power. To the south lies Serdin, once peaceful, but is now at war with the kingdom to the north. It is here that a man is found. The most skilled knight of the special Army unit Grand Chase. A swordsman in blue, he knows no fear and emotion. He is Ronan.

Prologue: Ronan Erudon

A man in blue walks in to a chamber, looking straight. He was headed to the Knight Master's office. Soldiers and other people alike look at him with awe. Some others with hatred. But either way, he doesn't seem to care. He walked past through them and headed straight into the office.

*knock*

"Come in, door's open." An expectant voice said. The man in blue opened the door and came in, and closed it behind. The office was too simple for the rank of a Knight Master. It was a small room fit only for the Official's table and a few more décor. Behind where the knight master sits is a huge painting of a man holding a white book. Windows were at the sides.

"You know, Ronan? Your punctuality amazes me to this day." The man motioned to his chair and sat. He had silver flowing hair, and he had an air of elegance around him. He wore a red armor which is his trademark for being the Knight Master.

Ronan moved to the front of the man. "And I suppose you also know I have no time for small talk?" He sat by the sofa to the right of the table. "What is it you want now, Astaroth?"

"Ahh, same old cold. Alright I have a mission for you. Do you know how long has it been when we came into war with Kanavan?" Astaroth asked. He seem to be looking for something in his drawer.

"Yeah. I heard from others it's getting worse as the days go by." The blue knight replied, looking by the window.

"Yes, they're right. Kanavan's lands suffered the Decay much more than ours. Now they are desperate to get arable lands."

"That's our problem now."

"Our special unit Grand Chase is known for its hasty responses to anything untimely and unexpected, and thus, came to be our name."

"So..?"

"Lass told me they had an agent who had an intel on the enemy's army is stuck between a rock and a hard surface, which brings us to your mission, help this man and bring him to Lass." Ronan looked at Astaroth curiously. He was holding a glove, but he was more worried about the mission.

"Do we have a right to that? That's supposed to be done by our army." The blue knight stood up, without averting his stare at Astaroth.

"Have you forgotten already? We were commissioned by the army itself. They were the ones who organized our unit. So in technicality, we're still part of it." The knight master sat and replied calmly.

"Oh yeah, right." Ronan scratched his head for his forgetfulness.

"The rendezvous point would be within the ElvenForest. Make it fast. You know Lass's 'agency' is despised so much by the army and we are secretly helping him, I don't want our bosses get the drift."

"Hmm.. So, no backups, stealth, and a timebomb on our hands, that's great."

"You are the only one with skill to handle that."

"Okay, I'll go." The knight in blue stood up and was about to leave the room.

"Wait." Astaroth motioned him to come back. "Take this."

The Knight Master handed Ronan the glove he was holding just a while ago. It looks like a normal glove that has a white gem in the middle. It also just covers the palm. The blue knight looked at him intriguingly.

"What's this for? What does it do?"

"Umm.. ehh.. uhh.. c-consider it a gift. It might come in handy, y-you know, your old gloves might fail you."

Ronan did not question any further. He wore the glove on his right hand and prepared to leave.

"OH WAIT!"

"What now? I thought we need haste?"

"I almost forgot! I've assigned you two comrades to help you on your mission. They are waiting outside."

"What? They'll just get in the way, you know?" he looked irritated. Ronan wasn't really much of a social man. Instead, he prefers to be alone.

"Nah, if you don't trust their skills, go find out for yourself what they can do."

"Alright, I need to make haste now."

"Well then, you may go."

Ronan left the room with great speed. He is the type to get jobs done, may it be right or wrong.

Astaroth stood up and moved to the window. He felt the wind brush through his calm and collected face. "..Ronan.. May it help you realize.."


"There he is!" a woman clad in red feminine armor pointed to the just-came-out Ronan. She and her companion rushed to the blue knight's side.

"So these must be my comrades.." Ronan met with the two people.

"Hi. You must be Sir Ronan." The boy greeted. From the looks of them, they seem to be new recruits. The girl had red ponytailed hair, a little shorter than the boy. The boy, wears a green vest with so many pockets for items.

The blue knight sized the two greenhorns. "Are you the two that were assigned to me by Astaroth?"

"Yup! I'm Ryan! Nice to meet you, sir!"

"And I'm Elesis. Glad to be working with you, sir."

"Okay." Ronan thought for a moment. These are greenhorns! What the heck are you thinking, Astaroth?! With this kind of mission, they'll be gone in no time! Shaking off the thought, he asked "Can you two fight now?"

"Of course! I'm a good spearwoman!" Elesis posed a good stance with her spear.

"I specialize in axes! And count on me for healing!"

"Oh yeah! From what I heard from Sir Astaroth, you are the best knight in town." The girl smiled.

"…." Ronan looked away from the girl.

"And a little bit of cold, too…" Elesis looked down out of disappointment.

"Enough of that." He began to walk and the two followed him.

"Umm.. Sir.. Ronan?" Ryan was hesitant to ask. He made a FEAR-ME impression on him.

"Just Ronan's fine with me"

"O-okay, Ronan, what's our mission?"

"We're going to rescue an Intel agent. We're headed to Elven forest."

"That's it?" Elesis asked confidently.

"You're very confident again, Elesis! You just don't know how dangerous this is!" the boy with green vest answered her. "Don't you know? The Kanavan army already took the Gorge of Oath and is advancing to Elven forest!"

"Wh-What?!" She was taken aback by the revelation. "Isn't it just east of here? It won't be long until we drop our weapons and surrender!"

What?! The enemy is already knocking at our doors! Ronan butted in in their conversation. "That's why we need to hurry. Our man is claimed to have intel on our enemies' top secrets. We may turn the tide on them if we make our success on this mission."

"Reaaally?" Elesis turned to her CO. "Then we can't fail this one, huh?"

"Right, there is also a chance we may encounter enemy soldiers, so brace yourselves."

"I-I guess so.."

Suddenly, Ronan felt like he was in pain.

Nngh! My hand..! wh-what's wrong?!

!

Th-the glove.. the orb..

Two visions then became visible to his eyes.

What the-..! What is this?!

In one vision, he saw himself, Elesis, and Ryan, dead on the way to Serdin.

Are those two..?! No…What is this?

In the other vision, he saw themselves escaping through another route.

Huh? I-is this us? But we were..

"Hey Ronan!" a woman's voice disturbed his thoughts and the visions were gone. "Why the stop?"

Surprised, he just shrugged. "Nothing, come on, let's go, we have a timebomb in our hands."

"Oh yeah, I've brought in already some supplies, just in case something happens." Ryan brought out his medicinal supplies and showed it to them.

Something, huh? Damn, It's just nothing, Ronan, shake it off.

"Okay, then we're good, let's go."

The trio headed for Elven forest. They walked through the Royal Corridors, where offices and chambers alike are found. On their way they walked past the Statue of Thanatos, their God. A few more walks and they found themselves out of town already.

Elven Forest. A dense tropical rainforest famous for its big tree at its deepest part, the Elven tree. Also known for its strategic location, Serdin folk and soldiers know their way in and out of the forest, which gives them an upper hand in battling here.

"Do you think the Kanavan knights are already on their way here?" Elesis inquired, upon arriving at the forest entrance.

"I think. That's why we need to hurry. Our meeting place should be at the Elven tree. Let's go." Ronan walked without taking a reply.

"Wait for us!" Ryan and Elesis hurried along. In a few more moments, they've arrived in the meeting spot.

A towering tree came into view. It was at the center of the forest. Beautiful and colorful flowers of different kinds encircle the foot of the magnificent tree.

"We've arrived!" Ryan bellowed in anticipation.

The knight in blue observed his surroundings. "Looks like he's going to be late."

"Well, let's sit and wait here." Elesis sat in the middle of a circle of flowers nearby. She seem to be enjoying herself, though it is not obvious her appearance for her to be doing that. She's boyish.

Another few moments passed but still no sign of the intel.

"Hey Ronan, do you think he's had it?" Ryan asked worrily.

"Don't jump to conclusions, he's here."

Ronan pointed to the bushes nearby. Suddenly a cloaked man appeared.

"Damn, Damn!" he ran to the trio who shot out of their places to meet the man.

"What happened?" The blue knight asked the man who looked like the intel man.

He looked up to Ronan. "A-a blue uniform.. Then you are.."

"Yes, tell me what happened."

"I've got a platoon on my tail, man!"

Voices began to be heard nearby.

"Where's he gone to this time?"

"He can't be far off! Search the forest!"

"Sir! He might have headed off to the Elven tree!"

"Alright, search the Elven tree!"

Ronan turned to the two. "This place isn't safe anymore. Hurry, take the man. I'll be behind you." Elesis and Ryan nodded. Just before they can leave the Elven tree, the soldiers arrived.

"There they are!"

"Stop right there!"

A soldier stepped forward. From the looks of him, he is the commander of the troop.

"Serdin mongrels, end of the line for you!" he drew out his sword.

Ronan sized up the platoon. It consisted of 6 soldiers plus the commander. If we don't take care of them here, there's a chance we get cornered. Looks like we don't have a choice.

"Stand back, we'll handle this." He ordered the intel man to hide. "Elesis, Ryan, ready yourselves!"

"We're ready!" the duo yelled in unison.

"Hah! Do you think you stand a chance against us, you mongrels? Bring it!"


And there goes the prologue.

Next chapter: Prologue part 2

R&R!