Chapter 1 – New Beginning
Ellina, the town of Fairies and Magicians stood towering on a huge tree. Lush green forests and clean streams surrounded it. The blue-haired Bishop stared in awe at the pretty town and started climbing up the vines to get to Grendel the very Old's magic library. She slightly panted as she reached the small wooden door of the library. She rubbed her hands together and took a deep breath as she pushed the door open. She walked inside and let the door slam shut behind her. "Sorry, sorry!" she quickly stammered as she spun around to look at the door, "Didn't know the winds here were so strong." The old magician smiled. "It's okay, child. What brings you here?" Grendel asked in his old, raspy voice. "I just suddenly decided to visit the place I was raised in." the Bishop sighed in relief, seeing that Grendel wasn't annoyed, even the slightest bit, "And I thought…you called for me and some others?" "Ah, yes. You see, I sense something coming. Something..bad." Grendel replied sadly, "I'm afraid…the Black Mage might be invading Maple World very, very soon." "W-what?" she staggered back in shock, "It can't be! The Heroes sealed him up years ago! He's now nothing but history…" "It seems that some of his minions have resurrected him. So just in case something DOES happen, I hope you could stay here for a while to defend us against evil." Grendel shook his head in melancholy as he handed the Bishop a tiny silver pin shaped like an eagle, "Will you…join the fight?" The Bishop looked down at the pin in Grendel's hand and hesitated for a moment. Who knows what could happen if she did. "I-I…" she stuttered as she looked up and saw the old magician's sad face. She clenched her fists and finally nodded, "I promise I won't let you down." She took the pin from Grendel's hand and clipped it onto her Black Bazura. "Thank you for your cooperation, Dinah. Now, we can only hope we win this battle." Grendel nodded back and went back to his work. Dinah stared at the pretty pin on her dress then averted her gaze to her Green Turtle Staff. Without a word, she walked out of the library, flipping her Timeless Cape behind her. No matter what happens, she will fight.
On the other hand, a rather scary-looking, crimson red-eyed Shadower hopped silently from roof to roof of the run-down buildings of Kerning City. He finally stopped as he landed in front of a small, dirty bar. His golden-blond hair and his cape swayed as the wind blew harshly. He spotted stall vendors, thieves and rogues training to become thieves around the town. Kerning City, the town of thieves was a dangerous place to be at when alone. You could easily get robbed or killed in the dark alleyways of the town. But of course, it wasn't the little bit dangerous for Ivan. He quietly walked into the empty bar. The floorboards creaked at every step he took. He crawled through a small hole in a wall and ended up dropping down a few feet from the ceiling into the Dark Lord's hideout. "Ow…I always thought there was a stairway here." Ivan mumbled as he narrowed his red eyes at the Dark Lord and rubbed the back of his head. "Things have changed, Ivan. Very much. It's been years since you've last been here." The thief instructor smirked. "And you haven't moved since we last met." Ivan said, staring up at the ceiling where the Dark Lord hung from by his feet. "Such a child. I'm cursed to be like this, haven't you heard? I don't mind it a single bit." He shot the Shadower a fierce look. Ivan stood at where he was and muttered in bore, "Why did you call me here?" "There's going to be an invasion." "What?" What the Dark Lord had said made Ivan snap into reality. He widened his eyes, both in fear and shock. "Impossible. The Black Mage is dead. He has been dead for years! You must've mistaken." The Shadower argued. "You know nothing! He's back, alright, and he's here, in this world! And if we don't do anything about this, we will all perish!" the Dark Lord raised his voice, to Ivan's surprise. "So…what can I do about it?" he asked softly as he looked at his feet. "Here. Put this on. I'm sure you'd do a huge part if you join the fight." The Dark Lord swiftly flung a small eagle-shaped pin at the Shadower, who caught it in his gloved hand before it could hit him. "Why me?" "Because I know you're cut for it. It was I who raised you after all. I know what you're capable of." "Well, then, I guess I can't say no." Ivan stuffed the pin into his equipment bag and left without saying goodbye. The Dark Lord watched as the Shadower, his once most powerful student, leave the hideout. "I'm sure you won't let my hopes down, Ivan." He smirked as he closed his eyes.
"Has it been 10 years or more?" the short, dark-haired Bowmaster stood before Athena Pierce, the bowman instructor, and quickly gave her a light hug. "I think so. All I know is, it's been a very long time. You've grown." Athena smiled at her student wisely, "You're even taller than me now, Lea." Lea smiled back and ruffled her short black hair. She straightened her red Armis as Athena turned around and started searching for something in a drawer of her desk. She tightened her grip on her Timeless Engaw. "Ah, here it is!" Athena suddenly exclaimed as Lea slightly jumped at her sudden enthusiasm. "H-here is what?" she simply asked. "This," Athena held up the small silver pin in front of Lea and grinned, "Is the proof that you have joined the fight against the Black Mage." "Fight? Black Mage? Quit joking, Athena!" Lea's eyes got bigger as she shook Athena by the shoulders. "Now, calm down, child. This is no joke. An invasion is ahead of us and we must be prepared before it's too late." Athena gently touched her student's hands and removed them from her shoulders, "You're one of the strongest students I've ever had. I have discussed with the other job instructors and they agreed to choose you." "M-me? Really?" Lea clumsily pointed at herself. "Does this really look like a freaking joke to you?" Athena snapped and grabbed Lea's hand. She forcefully placed the pin in it and gave the Bowmaster a soft smile, "Please, Lea. For Maple World." Lea bit her lip and finally took Athena's hand and shook it well. "I'm honoured." Athena nodded and grinned proudly at her student, "You should be."
The young pirate girls crowded around the orange head Corsair, squealing as he winked at them. "And then, I punched him and I…" he stopped in mid-sentence as he saw Kyrin standing before him. "KYRIN!" he purred as he got up and hugged her, "Haha, I missed you so much!" "Douchebag! This is not the time!" Kyrin yelled as she pushed him off her. She gave him a disgusted look and beckoned him to follow her. He obediently followed her into a whale-shaped building, looking like a kicked puppy. "So…what's up?" he playfully hopped around Kyrin's office room and she scowled. "We're about to get our asses kicked by the Black Mage and you're acting like a kid." She palmed her face, cursing under her breath. He stopped what he was doing at once and straightened up. "Repeat that." He said, his voice now in a more serious tone. "You don't know anything!" Kyrin yelled as tears welled up in her green eyes, "If it wasn't for the legendary Heroes, we would all be running away from evil every fucking day of our life like we are going to very soon." "God, speak English. How is it even possible? Are you saying we're going to be facing an invasion of evil?" he growled irritatingly. "Hanson, I have to say yes…" Kyrin wiped the tears that rolled down her cheek with the back of her hand, "And we currently DON'T have the five Heroes with us, so we're fucked. But right now, we're planning to find another five." "You mean…you're choosing ME to be one of the five?" Hanson almost tripped in surprise, "I'm that great?" "Shut up, bastard. Don't be so proud of yourself just yet. Here. Take this and keep it well. If you lose it, you're no more in the fight." Kyrin shook her head and gave him the tiny pin. "Don't worry, I won't." Hanson grinned sheepishly, "This is AWESOME! I-I can't believe it! I've marvelled over the Heroes all my life and now…now I'm one of the chosen! Gee, thanks, Kyrin!" he hugged his job instructor once again and she just stood there, thinking in her mind why the heck she even chose this guy.
Kyle stood on the highest cliff of Perion, town of the fiercest warriors. He looked down from the cliff and saw that it was a long way down. He shrugged and turned around, walking away from the edge of the cliff. He stopped in his tracks when he was about 10 feet away and without hesitating, he charged towards the edge in full speed and jumped. Dances with the Balrog, an experienced warrior instructor heard a knock on his door. "Come in." he said darkly as he heard the door open. Cold winds entered the hut and Kyle quickly shut the door behind him, making them stop almost immediately. "You sent for me and here I am." He said as he gave a small polite bow. "You may rise. And before I start, how are you?" Dances spun around and started inspecting the Paladin. Kyle shivered as he felt his instructor run his dark hands all over his well-built body. "I'm just fine. And how are you? More importantly, why am I needed?" Kyle demanded. "It's quite hard to believe but our lives are at stake. There's going to be a Black Mage invasion very soon." Dances explained sadly. The Paladin tried to hide his shock but failed, "And what has that got to do with me?" "You, my dear boy, have been chosen to join the fight." Dances quickly quipped. "The…fight?" Kyle put on a confused look and glanced at the shiny silver pin in Dances' hand. "Yes. The fight. Just like the five Legendary Heroes. We've already got a Bishop, a Shadower, a Bowmaster and a Corsair. Now, I just need your answer." The job instructor nodded his head, "However, I won't force you into this if you are not interested. It's hard to find someone like you, though." "W-who said I'm not?" Kyle stammered, "I've been waiting for this moment my entire life." He took the pin from his master's hand and shot him a tough smile, "I'm ready for anything."
They have succeeded in choosing the most powerful from each class. Time was running out and the date of the invasion was getting close. The Victoria Island job instructors have prepared their soldiers and Empress Cygnus had prepared her Knights. And when the time has come, they will strive.