WARRIORS OF THE WORLD: FLIGHT OF THE PHOENIX
a ragnarok online fanfic
Chapter 1
New Beginnings
In the bustling streets of Prontera, nothing was going wrong. The guards that were at their usual posts were chatting brightly with bystanders, the merchants were shouting their wares and so many others of Rune-Midgard's population were going about their daily business.
Prontera Plaza was a meeting place for all, regardless of who they were. Here knights and crusaders discussed their latest strategies and techniques, blacksmiths forged weapons, priests healed others, swordsmen and those of the younger generation started their journeys and, all in all, did what they usually did for years.
Amidst the crowd in the plaza there was a small clearing. People streamed past the occupants of the clearing, not even taking a glance at them.
Anyone who did would have taken notice of the two of them. They didn't seem out of the ordinary, but somehow there was something to them. Something...different.
One of them was a knight. He did not look impressive; in fact, he seemed only about five feet tall. His outstanding features were his bushy white hair, slightly grey at the roots, his steady, deep green eyes and his unknown sword at his side. He was wearing a visor and the usual fins that had somehow become popular once more on either side of it.
The other was a wizard. He was an impressive six foot, with flaming red hair of which one lock covered his left eye. People took one look at his golden eye and hurried away - well, except for the group of girls clustered nearby and jostling each other as they dared their friends to talk to him. He was indeed handsome and just the right man, they thought.
The knight nodded once. "My name is Valkron."
The wizard bowed his head slightly. "I am Emeth."
The knight called Valkron. "Pleased to meet you." His eyes gazed steadily onwards into the wizard's eyes as he offered his hand.
The wizard called Emeth took Valkron's hand and shook it firmly, his eyes never once moving from the knight's face. "It is a pleasure."
They released hands at the same time. Valkron said, "I am sure you wish to ask me something."
"As a matter of fact, I do," answered Emeth.
"What is it, then?"
"I wish to join your guild."
There was silence. Then Valkron said, "Very well."
"Thank you." The wizard bowed deeply for a second.
"What is wrong with both of you?" said a crusader, suddenly appearing on the scene. "I've been watching you from the window and you're just going through some odd welcome procedure? For Odin's sake, Valkron, Emeth is already a member of the Raulus guild!"
"Iruna," said the knight, after digging his ear vigorously, "I am merely keeping to procedures."
Iruna threw her hands up into the air. "Really? What, inducting Emeth several months late?"
"Now, now, Iruna," said the wizard soothingly, "he has his reasons."
"Valkron,' said the crusader dangerously, ignoring Emeth, "stop this now."
"All right, all right," said the knight. "Besides, I don't want to keep going on and on about this. Let's get back into the inn."
He made shooing gestures with his hands. Iruna gave him one last glare before turning away and striding back into the inn. Emeth gave him an apologetic look before turning away as well, shaking his head at the girls as he walked past them. They looked downcast at his rejection.
Valkron watched both of them go before walking over to the bench outside the inn and sitting down on it. As the people streamed past him he sat back and closed his eyes, letting the sounds filter away into the background as he thought...
It had been three months since the world had been clouded in darkness. It was hard to forget that time. Although almost no one knew what had happened since their souls were taken from them a lot of people seemed to be gossiping about the events that had transpired. Valkron had heard them, and none of the stories were right.
But the king had survived the dark period. While everyone had been bundled into Al de Baran, Payon and Juno he had stayed underground in a small village just near the border. No one had known. Argath's monsters had not sensed him at all. In no time he had caught wind of the Raulus party's deeds and had immediately sent out word to reward them.
Valkron was of course happy to, but the dark period had left him with some bad memories. He was still having the occasional nightmare or so, often causing Emeth, Iruna or Samaroh to run into his room in the middle of the night. The knight had not spoken to anyone about them, but he knew what the three of them guessed. And they were right.
Now what he wanted to do was stay away from the darkness. It was much better, sitting in the light.
He lifted his head, savouring the warmth of the hot sun. Summer was passing and autumn would be coming soon. But now, before the world reverted into the white place he had seen during the time of the portal, he wanted to enjoy every little bit of the life force that was flowing throughout the world once more.
This had been happening for a long time. Valkron had never felt happier.
Except for one thing. Their guild still consisted of the original Raulus party. No one wanted to join it, no matter how hard they advertised the guild. The other, much bigger guilds had returned.
The king had also decided that, to prevent such a horrible time from happening again, he wanted to hire the most powerful guild in the kingdom. After he announced it there had been a big fight between the guilds and the Prontera Chivalry was ordered to stop it immediately.
There had been a period of tense peace, and then one night a member of the Black Cross was foolish enough to insult the leader of Apocalypse Ultima in a tavern - the Crown and Axe, to be specific. And no one, not even the poorest beggar, would have ever dared to cause such a fuss in the king's tavern until then.
The Prontera Chivalry had taken weeks to clean up the mess.
Thus the famous War of Emperium was established. The king ordered the construction of five castles situated around four cities - Al de Baran, Geffen, Payon and Prontera. The exact locations of these castles would be undisclosed. It was up to the guilds to do a little reconnaissance.
Twice every week, at a certain time in the afternoon trumpets would sound across the kingdom. Then there would be a massive rush as the guilds went for the castles they had chosen and something similar to a pub brawl - except on a much larger scale - would break out.
Valkron disliked this. It seemed a waste of resources and time. Hospices in the kingdom would be chock full of injured warriors until even a sardine wouldn't have fit into them. He thought there was a better alternative to this, but he was also wise enough to keep quiet about it. Everyone seemed to enjoy fighting in the War of Emperium - or, as some of his colleagues had put it, "WoEing."
Valkron shook his head. To prevent war they were causing war. There was no sense in whatever was happening these days.
But the reason why the Raulus guild had so little popularity was because the main guilds were far too powerful, and therefore everyone wanted to be a part of them. Big names like the Exodus Faction, the Odyssey, the Seven Eyes and Exorcisma were head-turners; the guilds themselves had thousands of members all eager to be part of the action.
And there were the little guilds, the Raulus included, sitting around and watching all the action happen to others.
It was not that Valkron wanted to be part of the War of Emperium. He was actually quite glad to stay out of it. But in his personal opinion a proper guild did not have just eight members in it.
"Fretting again, Valkron?" said a voice.
The knight opened his eyes and looked up. Someone with a lot of hair was blocking the sun.
"What now, Iruna?" he said, sitting up on the bench.
The crusader shook her head. She had taken to leaving her blindfold around her neck. Most people who knew her were shocked at the revelation that she had't been blind at all.
"You always fret about the guild," she said. "You've been doing it ever since it was set up. Move up, I want to sit down next to you."
Valkron did so. Iruna gathered her skirts and took her seat. The guild had not been fighting for some time, so they had taken to walking around without most of their armour or clothes. Nocturne, for example, was not wearing his short, white jacket.
"So," she said, resting her head on Valkron's shoulder, "what were you thinking about now?"
Valkron slipped an arm around her waist and sighed, resting his head on hers. He could feel her soft hair under his cheek. "The usual."
"Oh, you. You always take so much responsibility for something you can't help."
"Well, as guild leader I should be," retorted the knight. "It looks like we need something better than just trying to tell people about our guild."
"You know, I believe that we'll get some good members soon," said Iruna consolingly. "Maybe you don't have to worry so much about it."
"I'm thinking of a guild that helps the novices around here," said Valkron. "These days the bigger guilds are snubbing them. Everybody snubs them."
"It's usual," said Iruna dryly.
"Oh? We're not doing it."
"We're different."
Valkron settled back. He did not intend to argue with Iruna over this matter. She had a tendency to speak calmly during an argument, and it was infuriating for him sometimes. But like all the women he had met in his life he could feel a certain aura around her that made her seem so knowing. Perhaps he should really just do what she said.
"The odd thing about you, Valkron," said Iruna, her eyes half-closed, "is that you're not the typical sort of man I come across every day. Men don't like to lose an argument and they just persist. But you just keep quiet."
"I'd rather fight Baphomet alone than argue with you," replied Valkron.
Iruna's clear laugh rang through the noise of the crowd. "Was that really you who said that?"
"Yes. What, you don't trust me?"
Iruna put a hand to her forehead. "You never fail to surprise me, Valkron."
The knight shook his head, but he was smiling. "We still hardly know each other."
There was a wolf whistle from overhead. Valkron and Iruna looked up to see Samaroh waving at them from a first floor window, grinning cheekily at them.
"Having a nice romantic moment?" he called down.
"Any more of that, Samaroh, and I'm going to go up there and give you what for!" shouted back Valkron. The priest chuckled.
"I'd like to see you try!" His head disappeared back into the inn and there was the sound of wood against wood as the window was shut.
"No one's changed, have they?" said Iruna, looking back down at Valkron.
Valkron looked her in the eye. "Nope, not all."
As they settled down onto the bench Valkron slipped an arm around the crusader's waist and drew her closer to him. She allowed him, and amidst the bustle of the crowd two lovers sank into their own private world, a small island of peace in the midst of a sea of sheer busyness.
Valkron draped his towel over his head and gave his hair a massive rub in an attempt to dry his hair completely. Iruna always told him off for it, but the reason why his hair was so difficult to tame was mainly due to inheritance.
After a while he hung his towel around his neck. It had been a good shower, and he wanted to make the most of it last.
He laughed a little at this thought. Luckily he was alone in the room. Everyone was either outside or busy with their work. He had been given a long break and was due to return to work in a week's time. At the same time Iruna would be getting inducted into the Order of Juno once again.
Valkron sat down on one of the two beds in the room. Emeth slept in the other one. It wasn't hard to tell whose was whose - Valkron's double bed was always neatly made at 6 in the morning while Emeth's would be messy every time.
The knight stared into space, becoming serious again. Although he was having a long break it didn't mean he could rest. Iruna understood that as well, and she too was keeping herself fit. Likewise Valkron was still visiting the Chivalry to check up on his students, some of which had died during the time of the portal.
Valkron closed his eyes, letting the sounds of the outside world filter away. At times like this he really wanted some peace and quiet...
There was a knock on the door.
"Come in," said Valkron, not opening his eyes.
The door opened. "Busy?"
"No, apparently not." Valkron opened his eyes and looked up at Samaroh. "What did you think?"
"Iruna told me that you apparently like to think when you're alone. I thought I might be interrupting you."
"Hah, well, yes, you did. But I don't mind," Valkron added hastily, seeing Samaroh's expression. "It's good not to think of some things...sometimes."
"I hope it's not your nightm--"
"Don't bring that subject up or I will throw you out of here," warned Valkron.
"Sorry."
"So what are you here for?"
"Well, the whole inn's empty," said Samaroh.
Ah. The inn. Ever since the War of Emperium began inns began catering for guilds in such an extravagant way that even Valkron got scared, initially. But he got used to it, and as all good warriors were wont to do he quickly adapted to the situation. For a cheap 5 zeny a head for a night the inn would let their rooms to a small guild.
Unfortunately the situation of everyone being out except for a handful of them was often magnified to a much larger scale in such a small place.
"I was thinking of recruiting today," Samaroh was saying when Valkron caught up with him. "You know, the usual--"
"Samaroh, the last time we did that people thought we were crazy," interrupted Valkron. "Obviously flyers aren't going to achieve anything. Forget it."
"That doesn't mean you're just going to leave it," said Samaroh severely.
"An opportunity will come. That's all I can say." Valkron ran a hand through his hair. "What time is it? Time passes damn slow when you've got nothing to do."
"It's three in the afternoon," replied Samaroh, looking at his pocket watch. During the time of the portal it had been greatly inaccurate, but now it told the right time.
"Okay, I've got to go down to the Chivalry. Got to check up on my students, see how they're doing with their substitute tutors." Valkron got up and pulled the towel from his neck. "Surely you've got something to do other than just sitting around in the inn."
"Well...I could pop down to the Church and see what needs doing," said the priest thoughtfully, as the knight moved around, putting on his armour.
"Yeah, you do that." Valkron turned to look at the priest. "How's your training as an exorcist going?"
"Tough," answered Samaroh, shaking his head. "I have to meditate every day to increase my concentration. And my level of energy! People train to build up their stamina but just imagine trying to build up my energy!"
"You know, I can't," said Valkron carefully, "but you've given me a picture I didn't want to see."
"Exactly! I should have been learning exorcism in the first place." Samaroh got to his feet. "Well, I'll go and see. Good luck."
"See you, and enjoy your time," called back Valkron as the priest went out.
"I doubt it," came the answer, somewhere outside the rooms.
Valkron chuckled to himself and strapped his sword girdle on, shaking his head. Then he strode out, armed and dressed.
He was jostled by the crowd as he moved along to the Chivalry. Sometimes he regretted not taking his peco along, but then when he got to the doors he was thankful. The younger knights had taken to waiting at the doors and taking turns to help him bring Evlor into the stables. Valkron was not used to so much attention, and definitely not so much worship.
He walked up the steps to the bronze doors. Some of the younger knights, hoping to get a good word from him, sprang to action and reached for the handles.
"Stop right there!" barked Valkron. Their hands stopped inches from the doors.
The senior knight glared at them. "I'm perfectly capable, and you know it, of opening doors on my own. I don't need people serving me hand and foot! Now get back to your lessons and don't let me catch you here again, or your tutors will get wind of this! Get going!"
The knights scrambled out of the way. Valkron gave them one last glare before he pulled open the doors and walked in.
The receptionist fronting the counter bowed to him. "Hello, Valkron, I'll just sign you in."
"Yeah, go ahead," said the knight absently, as he walked past her.
The white stone of the Prontera Chivalry passed him as he made his way deep into the building. From the outside the facade was not so impressive - somehow the money that was supposed to repaint the front had gone into the War of Emperium - but it was much more impressive once you stepped inside. There was the entrance hall, with its beautifully carved walls and hanging tapestries from far and wide, telling the stories of the soldiers. There was the great ceremonial hall, where swordsmen had been knighted on a daily basis by the commander himself. Wherever he walked, he could feel centuries of respect and honour simply pouring off the walls.
He just didn't think that the knights of the present age actually had the privilege of the gravitas the building had earned over the years.
As he neared the practice courts he could hear the sound of metal clashing. There were six of them, and they were so vast that at least thirty pairs of knights could train in each court. They were surrounded by a long pavilion, of which the roof was supported by tall pillars. Valkron walked in the shadows of these pillars, nodding in appreciation at some of the knights. No one saw him, but he didn't need to be seen.
He made his way into another passage, and walked down it before coming out into a courtyard. This was the place he loved the most. Although almost no one in the Chivalry - and people would pay to know this - knew, Valkron would hotly defend this part of the Chivalry if he had to.
It was a vast courtyard, paved with stone and lined with gravel. From an aerial view anyone would have seen a massive coat of arms formed by the paving stones laid in the gravel. It was not the one he wore on his tunic, but the emblem of the double-headed spread eagle - the symbol of the Prontera royal family.
In the middle of the eagle was a tree. Its great crown gave shade to all who came under its branches. There were benches built around the trunk, but they seemed as if no one had sat on them at all.
Valkron stopped when he was at the tree and pulled off his glove. He reached out and touched the bark. It was smooth and cool to the touch - just the way it had been when he had been knighted and entered the Chivalry.
By the gods, how long had it been standing here? Valkron could feel the age radiating off it. The tree had seen more than he had, and it was far older than he was. In the old days it was his companion. When he had felt sick and tired of being alone he would sit and read at the base of the tree, in the cool shade of its leaves, and he would not be by himself any longer.
The knight closed his eyes and leaned his forehead against the trunk, pushing up his visor to make it more comfortable. Under the tree he felt calmer, happier and far from the harsh reality that had forced him down all his life.
Thirty long years of being hammered into the anvil of life.
After a while Valkron straightened up and adjusted his visor. He walked out of the shade the tree offered and continued to walk on into the Chivalry, where the Military Division would be. He was still part of the Mercenary Knights' Battalion, after all.
It was sunset when he returned. Longing for a hot honey lemon drink he made his way back to the inn in silence. The streets of Prontera were still as busy as ever, and lights were turning on in the growing darkness.
The innkeeper greeted him warmly outside the door. Valkron nodded to her in acknowledgement and went straight for the inn's tavern. He knew everyone would be there.
And they were. They looked up at him as he stopped at their table. As a guild they were privileged to have an entire corner of the room to themselves, so their area was relatively quiet compared to other areas. Their corner was also separated from the rest of the room by a simple bamboo screen.
The knight looked at the table. There was Samaroh, his nose buried in a book as he took notes. There was Nocturne, yawning hugely. Beside him was his sister, Eni, reading from a potion manual as she stroked Fluffball, the pet lunatic and the guild's current mascot. There was Khan, examining a katar and discussing the quality of its blade to Amaru. There was Emeth, his head in his arms as he dozed after a hard day's work in Geffen. And there was Iruna, sitting upright in her seat without her blindfold and looking straight at Valkron.
"You look half as tired as the rest," she said. "Come on, sit down. I'll move up."
The knight obligingly sat down next to her as she shuffled up. Without question she waved over a waitress and asked for honey lemon drinks.
"Had a hard time, did you?" she said to him. "How much work was left incomplete since you were absent?"
Valkron shook his head and buried his face into his hands.
"Oh, come on now. It can't get that bad."
Valkron nodded frantically. It could get that bad, yes.
"And you spent three hours shouting till you've completely lost your voice?"
Valkron shook his head. Not lost, no. Just sore.
The crusader nuzzled his shoulder. "You'll be fine. Look, the drinks are here."
Valkron accepted his mug and drank it gratefully. One by one the party picked up their mugs and drank too, downing the steaming liquid.
Iruna nudged Emeth. She was answered by a sleepy grunt.
"Come on, get up," she said. "You've been teaching all day. Get a drink."
Emeth blearily straightened up and took a deep, long draught. Iruna smiled approvingly of this behaviour.
"That was a horrible day," gasped Valkron, after a few quiet minutes.
"Couldn't have put it better," said Iruna. She put her arm around his shoulders. "But now we're together, so relax. You're not going to do it again tomorrow, are you?"
"Well, I do have to go back there."
"Then take a break. Maybe we should all turn in early, get a good night's sleep. How's that sound to you?"
Valkron considered this. Then he shrugged. "It's a good idea. And we should get Emeth up to his bed before he falls asleep under the table. Again."
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I don't actually like estimating my characters' ages, but it would be best to say that Valkron is most likely in his late thirties/early forties. A bit late to have romance, but better late than never.