Disclaimer : I do not own Tales of Vesperia of any of the characters of the game. But I can only deplore it, because if I did, we would see Elucifer at least once in the gale and Duke would be more present. And Flynn would be playable even in the Xbox version.

This is a Duke and Elucifer's story, because they definitely don't get the attention they deserve. It is an AU, in a world where humans and Entelexia are living separated from each other and fighting against each other. I plan it to be yaoi, but there won't be explicit scenes, I think.

We don't know anything about Elucifer besides his name, so he must be OOC (but what can I do about it ?). As for Duke, he may seems a little (or very) OOC, but I think his cold attitude is mostly due to Elucifer's death in the game, so if he's alive, maybe Duke can be a little less cold and a little more talkative ?

Another thing you may have already found out. English is not my native language, so there must be mistakes. Please tell me when you find one. It will help me improve my English.

Pairing : Elucifer / Duke, and maybe Yuri / Flynn, if I can work this out.

YYYYY

It would be a beautiful morning, if not for all his worries, he thought. The sky was clear, without a cloud, but he knew it wouldn't last. The war was coming their way, and the man he didn't like to call his friend (even if he definitely was) would be involved. There wasn't a chance in the world this thing changed. Yuri liked to think he didn't worry, because if he could forget them, maybe they would pass their way. But luck wasn't his strong point. Well, it wasn't really him, this time, because he wasn't a soldier, and wouldn't be involved in the war as much as them, he wouldn't risk his life for the Empire, but still.

There were rumors, in the streets. Rumors of war against the Entelexia, against this powerful enemy. But they had been rumors. And then the young captain, his friend, had confirmed all the rumors. He was to leave with the men under his command and with his general. He was to participate in the first battle of many against the kingdom of the Entelexia. But he hadn't want to tell Yuri more. Military Secret. He had already said too much for his liking. And that made Yuri worried. Because he knew the Entelexia were not small enemies. They were powerful magical being, who could kill ten men in one of their spell. Many soldiers were about to die, and the Council didn't give a care in the world. That made him sick. The government just wanted to get ride of a possible threat. And possibly get their hands on some powerful things or some "treasure".

And so Yuri was worried. Because his friend was about to leave for a war he found "wrong", a war for a purpose he didn't agree with. And if he was the a pretty good swordsman Yuri knew, it wouldn't be enough against the magic of the Entelexia. He would be overpowered. And killed. And The human Empire would lost the war they had begun, because they underestimated their target. The Empire would fall.

Yuri had expressed his worries. But the other had just avoid the question. He had said it was his duty, even if he didn't agree. He wasn't scared of death, for the Empire and for the people he cared about. He didn't care about his own safety.

And Yuri was stuck in Zaphias, the Empire's capital. He couldn't do anything besides waiting for news of the war, which he knew would be good ones, because the Empire wouldn't let the bad ones pass. He could just wait and hope that the Empire would be victorious, that there wouldn't be too much dead soldiers, and that his friend wouldn't be part of those ones.

Shaking his head, Yuri reach for his sword on his bed, spared a look at Repede, who was sleeping, and decided to go to the place he called his training ground. It would empty his mind.

YYYYY

Duke took care of his duties. Not because he followed orders to the letter, because he didn't do it unless he agreed to the order or respected greatly the one who ordered him. Besides, as a general, he gave more orders than he obeyed them. It was more a duty he had made himself. A duty to protect the country he had been born in, even if he didn't particularly like the people, but more about the places he loved the sight of. He just didn't understand the people. Not the soldiers under his command, not the people a the city. He couldn't bring himself to care. He staid alone, fought alone and would probably die alone. He didn't even know why he join the army. For the fights ? Or for the moment he would finally be overpowered by an enemy. There were a good chance it would be the case with the Entelexia.

He knew why the war had to happen. The people feared the Entelexia, and wanted them eliminated. And the government took the opportunity to try to get their hands on the apatheia, the source of the Entelexia's magic. But he felt detached about those things. He didn't care about the reasons, because whatever they were, the war wouldn't change. He was to fight, to win the war and to prevent the destruction of the Empire by the Entelexia.

YYYYY

"It will soon begin"

Even as he thought it, he knew it was wrong. The war had already begun, without anyone noticed. It had been an unofficial war, one lead by fear and segregation. Now the real war, the one of soldiers and death, would begin.

Elucifer took pride in thinking that he was a king who took his people's safety before everything. And so, when the war had been declared by the Empire, he had tried to negotiate. But his request had been denied. With no other choice, he had prepared his kingdom for the war.

He knew the Entelexia were less in number, but they were stronger and had magic, whereas their enemies had just iron weapons for them. It would not be an easy war, and he had to be careful not to become overconfident, but if they planned with care, they could win the war.

His spies had report that a small part of the army was to cross the border. It was probably a way to see their strength, just a small army which was to be scarified to the Empire. But he couldn't let them pass. He would kill them quickly, and maybe this would scare the humans enough and they would abandon this stupid war. He just wanted to hope. A fool hope, really.

He knew not who the human who lead the soldiers was. He just knew he had the reputation of being a great swordsman but apart from that, he didn't know anything about him. And so he had to learn what his weaknesses were.

He thought of going with the army. But Khroma had disagree. She said he didn't have to go to fight for the first battle. He had to lead from behind, and he didn't like it. He supposed it was better if he just let his generals lead their battles.

YYYYY

"General, sir."

Duke looked at the one who called him. Captain Flynn, of the infantry. A good warrior, in his opinion.

"What is it ?"

"We finished preparations. We will be able to depart tomorrow morning, as planned."

"Good. We'll leave at dawn. You can leave."

The young blond man saluted a last time, and went out of the room, letting his superior alone. Duke just looked at the now close door with little interest. He had a bad feeling about the battles incoming. His army of two thousand was the only one sent to the war. All others had to stay in Zaphias. It could mean two things. Either the government underestimated the enemy, or they wanted to analyze them. A third cause appeared in his mind. Maybe they wanted to kill him and the ones who supported him. He had opposed the Emperor on his decision to declare war. He may not trust his general anymore and sending him on the front line would either show where his loyalty lied or kill a nuisance. Duke sighed. He didn't want to think about it, and told himself he was just being paranoid. The Emperor would not send his general and his best army to their death, just because of a little mistrust, would he ? The albino didn't know for sure, really. This kind of thing just were out of his understanding. He would crush the enemy, end of the discussion.

YYYYY

His quarters were neat. His bed was made (even if he would soon lie in it and destroy his work), his desk was without a paper, his belongings all tidies. He had to keep his mind from thinking about the incoming battle. A dawn, he would depart with the army. In less than a week, there would be a battle. If not at the border, then in the mountains they would have to cross. He was a soldier, a captain even, but he didn't what war was. He had live his life in peace. And now all was crushed. Yuri had yell at him earlier this day, saying he was going to die for a wrong cause, for a corrupt government, and he could not help but agree. But what could he do, really ? He was a soldier, he couldn't flee away from the war.

He sighed when he heard a knocking at his window. What his idiot of a best friend was doing here now ? He chuckled to himself, thinking it was probably to scold him. He opened the window, and let his friend in.

"Took you long enough. I could have frozen to death", complained the long haired man. So you're really leaving, eh" he said while looking at the tidy room.

"Like I said earlier, it is my duty. I have to go. There are so many people who would suffer if we lose the war."

"A war the Council has begun. Their fault. We don't even know if those Entelexia guys are as monstrous as they said. We're just manipulated."

"I know that, trust me."

"Then why ? You wanted to change the Empire, and now what ? You'll just die in a stupid war."

"The general Pantarei is a good strategist. And he studied the Entelexia. I'm sure we all be fine."

Yuri just snorted, obviously not trusting the guy, or at least not believing he could protect his army as much as Flynn thought he could. He sighed, and with a last glance at his best friend, whom he would probably not see again, he left, jumping out of the window.

YYYYY

There isn't really action in this prologue, but I wanted present a little the characters, and their opinion on the war (which will be the central action). Just tell me what's wrong (and what's good, please, because it will motivate me).

I'll try to update regularly, but I have exams in a month, so I have to study. I'll do my best, I promise.