Painted Wings

A/N: This is my first fic in this section, and i KNOW that my work is crap, so i don't need anyone telling me that it is. I know. Yes, so that means, NO FLAMING. Harsh, but i'm rather sensitive. Word of warning for those who STILL wish to read, there WILL be a lot of OCs. I know in Ragnarok Online, you're suppose to create OCs, but mine is just overflowing. Think Suikoden's 108 stars of destiny, and you'll have a better picture. Not 108, but close.

Disclaimer: I do not own Ragnarok Online or anything related to it. I love the game, though and hope the sequel of the game would be just as enjoyable as the first.

Fear. A simple emotion. Thrown into a continuous spiral of despair. Flames. The red devil that flared itself up like a giant wave. Eyes. shaking, not able to focus correctly. Why? Why was it like this? Dead burnt bodies, skins melting before her. Those blood red eyes. It looked human, but everything about that abomination screamed monster. It seemed to stare straight through her. Pulling its long sword from the corpse, it turned around, leaving the inferno, and her. But it stopped at the doorway. Turning around, it raised a hand, where dark swirling energies formed. She was scared. She tried to retreat further back into the wardrobe, but her back was already against the back. The creature pointed that same hand towards her, and a like an arrow, the energies shot forward, connecting straight on her forehead. She could not move. The energies that flowed into her tempted to tear her skull apart. She could not scream, her throat would not emit any sound. Her screams would not be heard. Her entire body felt like it was burning. Pain coursed throughout her veins. Then, as fast as it started, it stopped. Her body being exhausted, she could not hold back, but fall limp. The creature seemed to laugh. Then, it left. But even though she never heard a word through her ears, she could hear its wicked voice ringing in her head.

'"You have many hidden potential powers within you, girl. It may cause a problem for me in the future, yet, it will also cause problems for me if i should kill you now. The path that you will walk would be filled with hardships and pain and despair, but if you truly have the gift of man and the blessings from the Gods, then maybe... just maybe you will be the one who would provide me with good challenge."'

Those words, that cold tone. Its very presence shook fear within her. She started to black out, but not before seeing a figure rushing in towards her.

A quick left, then a fake right. Bringing it from above, crashing it down on the sword, forcing it out of his hand. The tip of the blade lightly scrapping the floor, the handle twirling easily and with grace in her hand. The flow of the sword formed three forth of a full circle, ending with her hand at her back, her hands holding it backwards like a dagger. Swinging it across, it knocked her opponent's shield and sent him back. Twirling her sword once more, she thrust the blade forward, aiming for his neck, but stopped before it touched. All was silent, not a single breath was heard, only the howl of the winds. Then an applause. Smiling, the girl sheathed her sword and set down her large shield. Offering a hand to her opponent, she helped him up to his feet.

"Good job."

He smiled, picking up his sword from the floor. She bowed to him and walked off, tying her shield to her back to secure it. The guy simply stared at her back as she walked off.

"... Man, she's hot."

He sighed. An arm slung around his shoulder. Turning to see, it was his friends.

"She is a tough nut, even among the new batch."

One of his friends said.

"I heard she is the favourite of the general. It was rumoured that she was orphaned after her village was attacked by none other than the Vestratos, the Devil Lord of destruction."

Another added.

"Yeah, i heard that too. Heard that she was the only survivor. Then the general's son rescued her and brought her here, didn't he? Some people say that she was cursed by the Devil. That is why she was left alive, to be forever tainted."

"Really? Then how did she manage to join the Holy Order? Surely the Bishop would not allow such a thing!"

"Well, there is no proof that she is cursed, but the Bishop seems to approve of her. She is the best swordsman around."

"You mean swords woman. Well, that is for sure. She has natural talent for swordsmanship, but it seems that she aced all of her courses too."

"That makes her a perfect woman. Beautiful, smart and talented. Heard she's learning cooking and sewing as well from the kitchen and helping them out at the same time, oh what a saint. Did God deliver us an angel?"

"... Or a demon in disguise."

The man said, looking at her walk off.

"... Tharin Lethmen... age of nineteen, graduated at the young age of fourteen in the order to become a Crusader. Beautiful in looks, kind in nature, extremely good at what you do... Exactly what are you?"

"Don't look so glum, Borsh, you were the one who tried to dual her to get her on a date."

The moment she left the training grounds, Tharin heaved out a sigh. She took a moment to look at herself in a mirror that was nearby. Her smooth face and soft dark brown eyes, together with her long trailing black hair. Some said that she was daughter of the Darkness, because her dark hair and dark eye colour were rare, and most of the time considered an omen, but that didn't stop her from doing what she liked to do. She may be good at most things, but there were things she wasn't good at. For one, she wasn't really very ladylike. In the Holy Order of the Paladins, there were few Crusaders, and even fewer Paladins, who were women, so a role model was hard to look for. She may be excelling in swordsmanship, but she has many weak points, like she cannot stay in a fight for more than half an hour for two main reasons. One, she would have trouble making clear decisions, and two, which may be the cause of the first reason, is her mark. She lifted up the cloth that was around her neck, exposing the area above her cleavage. A black mark was etched on her skin. It would never go away. She knew. The mark of a sword facing down, with a shield behind it. No one knew the meaning of the mark, but the Bishop was sure it was linked to the Devil. She must really thank the Bishop was not discriminating against her.

"Do you really like to flash?"

A voice interrupted her thoughts, and she quickly covered herself up. Turning around, there stood a young man, about four years her senior, with a short cut brown hair with clear blue eyes. He was rather good looking, she had to admit. He stood about a head taller than her, and he wore the traditional Crusader uniform, like hers. The Crusader uniform consists of a tunic and a round cloth that wraps rather loosely around the neck. A chain mail over the tunic and then a full plate. The full plate has the Crusader's cross etched on it on three points, the arms, and the front on the chest. Then comes on the shoulder armour. It basically distinguishes the difference between a Crusader and a Knight. Knights being under the service of the King of the Kingdom, while the Crusaders swear loyalty only to God. The shoulder armour also holds the giant cape that the Crusaders were so famous for. Most Crusaders don't like the weight of the armour, so they opt for a smaller piece of armour than the full plate. Now is the difference between men and women. For men, they wear greaves over their feet with a pair of tight pants, have a belt and have two pieces of cloth between their legs, one in front and one behind. Women, have the same greaves and cloth between their legs, but no pants which can cause chills when the wind blows. However their legs are covered with long stiff leather hides. It covers only the sides of their legs, and it usually engraved with a cross, like the cloth. Of course, no one really cares for the difference. Tharin sighed, placing a hand on her senior's shoulder.

"Bashin... must you really be so perverted?"

"No, but it is nice to see you be more social now."

Bashin smiled. Tharin blushed slightly, averting her eyes to some place else. Her hands unconsciously touching the cross pendent around her neck.

"Bashin... i am really grateful for what you and your father did for me. If it weren't for you rescuing me on that day... i don't know what i would-"

Tharin was cut short by Bashin, who placed a finger on her lips.

"I did what i should. Nothing more. You should be more grateful that you're going to be promoted soon."

"I am? But i just became a Crusader!"

Tharin objected. Bashin silenced her once more.

"Girl, you should learn to listen to others. It is good and all to be outspoken and all, but if you don't listen to others, you will only bring misfortune down upon yourself, that has always been one of your weak points, never listening. Besides, it has already been five years since you became a Crusader. Anyway, as i was saying, the bishop wanted to see if you were ready for the initiation test. He wanted to promote you before the new bishop stepped up to power."

"New bishop? Who's that?"

Tharin wondered. She had never heard of this before, though she did sort of think it was almost time for the current bishop to step down due to his age.

"Most of the council were against it, but it was the King's wishes. Even though we serve God before the King, the bishop seemed to accept it."

"Who is it?"

"Venan Volos, the King's own brother. And he, for one, is greatly against your very existence."

A/N: This is just the beginning. Remember, no flaming. I know it's bad, in fact, i thought of scraping the entire plot and rewriting, but i'm already writing five stories at one time, and so scraping this at this point... is just plain pointless