The Age of Shinji
Warzone
Shinji walked over the balcony and looked out of his wizard's Tower, the landscape surrendering his land, calmed him. The sparkling blue ocean the golden sun burning brilliantly over top of his city; he could see the commercial ships in and exit the harbor. He heard the resounding laughter of the children playing 'Wizards' directly below him. He thought back to when was their age granted he was only fourteen and already an accomplished wizard; he remembered playing a game similar to that with Kensuke and Touji except for he wasn't always the good wizard or the evil wizard but he was the wizard that only acted as situations demanded.
'Kensuke. Oh god Kensuke is coming back with a guest.' Shinji thought as he saw the royal ship 'Geo' enter the harbor. Shinji saw that there was no time for him to walk down the massively large tower. So he began to focus on the nearby mountain range. He called to it, asking it to lend him it a shard from it's face to help him. A piece broke free and flew up to him…he heard the children's Awes of amazement it eclipsed them. He stepped on it rode it to the docks thanking the rock the entire time. He reached the docks and was gently set down on the ground by it. Shinji hopped of the rock, knelt before offered up a prayer it then he placed his hands on it. A light consumed it and from the light emerged an earth Golem. It knelt before him.
"A gift." Shinji whispered to it. The Golem took its first steps walking closer to Shinji as to say 'I accept I am yours to command'.
"Return to the mountain with your brethren. I will call it I need you."
The Golem understood and begun it's short trek to home, Shinji got up, patted his green and brown robes not rid himself of the dust by the salt from the sea water.
"Shinji, lord Shinji!" he heard yelled from the bottom of the docks.
"Kensuke." he said turning to him. He smiled seeing his friend return safe and sound from his mission. He walked regally to him extended his hand and shook his hand gladly as he felt Kensuke's palm touch his. He was overjoyed to have one of his best friends home where they belong. Touji had been away on a mission as well for quite some time…he wasn't worried Touji hadn't really been gone that long but he still worried about his more then capable friend. Shinji slowly noticed the rather statuesque hooded figure behind him.
"It is good to see you. Lord Shinji I would like you to meet Misato Queen of the Dwarves…" Shinji nearly passed out when the figure removed her cloak in one might tug, revealing an ample bosomed Purple-Haired warrior dressed in similar colored armor with a mammoth sized sword that looked like it would give a golem problems wielding it.
"She is Queen Misato?" he inquired sounding quite disappointed
'But she isn't anything like the legends tell.' Kensuke nodded vigorously with a smile on his face. Misato patted Kensuke's head and looked down at Shinji.
"So you are the new Geo." she said examining the boy over with her eyes. "I hear you managed to push back the those pesky orcs and put their mistress in her place.."
"Yes …um…lady Misato." he answered nervously.
"Misato will do. Geomancer Shinji." she said with a small bow. Shinji started to blush as he was get a peek down between her armor, his nose bled slightly. Misato laughed heartily and smacked him on his back, knocking him over. Shinji returned to his feet, the bells begun ringing.
"Oh…I made it back in time?" Kensuke asked looking at Shinji.
"I would seem so."
"In time for what?" Misato asked taking a flask from her hip full of the finest Dwarven ale and taking a might swig.
"The temple oracle is calling…the mother must want something."
"Mother?" Misato thought out loud for a while, "Oh…you mean nature…I think I like your city Geomancer Shinji."
"Please call me Shinji…Lady Mi….um…Misato."
"Okay!" Shinji walked Kensuke and Misato throughout the city. Kensuke had a dozens of question there were sections of the city he hadn't remember and Shinji, gladly took up the role of tour guide for his friend and visitor.
"Most the city was rebuilt after the Orcs attacked. I thought we were goners when they breached the wall…" he explained smiling widely, "But I managed to rebuilt most of the city…however my main focus was reinforcing the wall. I found out where the breach had come from."
"You know Shinji this would go a lot faster if you used your magic to help you." Misato pointed out as she looked around.
"I know but I was thought that magic wasn't to be used for matters that could easily done."
"Oh…" Misato looked over at Kensuke was staring at her, his nose left a trail of blood that should have made the young man pass out a long ways back. She smiled to herself as the came to the massive temple erected for worship…the bell had long since stopped and the worshippers have returned home or to their work, leaving the temple empty except for the Oracle and the spirit of nature. Shinji and Misato entered while Kensuke remained outside.
"are you not coming in Kensuke?" Shinji asked.
"No no not today some other time." he said holding the bridge of his nose trying to stop the bleeding, "I will see you at the Tower." He gave Shinji and Misato a polite bow…they entered and they instantly felt the presence of nature.
"Come my children." a voice as sweet as singing bird's called to them. They walked to the seat of the Oracle, who arose and walked over to them. Beneath her feet flowers and grass sprung up out of nowhere from the marble floor. She smiled emitting a smooth aura…it enveloped both of them and they felt the warmth and love that nature could bring. Smiling they humbly and respectful knelt.
"Oh Spirit what wisdom do you wish to impart on us." Misato inquired facing the floor.. Shinji looked directly into the Oracles face.
"I am glad you two are here, Misato…Shinji is the embodiment of my will, with him I feel he is worthy to bring all peoples back to the nature as it should be.." The Oracle imparted gladly , "Shinji Misato will act as your shield, while the earth shall be your sword. I need you to show the world the blessing of nature and if need be the wraith." They both humbly excepted the charge of nature and rose and left. Misato gave Shinji a big hug, squeezing him between her ample bosom. He couldn't breath and begun turning blue.
"Misato…can't breath…need oxygen." he cried gasping for air. Misato looked down and released him. She smirked releasing him. She begun walking away.
"Hey where are you going?" he asked her catching his breath.
"Your tower. If I am going to be your shield I want to see your tower."
Misato was gaped open as she saw the amount of space that was used as his living quarters. Six different rooms, an amazing library, one with a small bed, a relaxing bath pumped full of sparkling water.
"That is it…I am moving in." Shinji's jaw dropped, as she laid on the floor marking her territory in his tower.
"But but but…."
"Shinji I am your shield right?"
"That is what our mistress said to us."
"Well as your shield I need to be near you to protect you. I can't protect you if you are up here and I am down there fighting right?" she quipped winking at him seductively. Shinji held the bridge of his nose and nodded in agreement. "Yeah okay now…" She took the flash from her hip and downed it.
"Where can I get a good brew around here?" she asked.
"Misato…"
"Yeah can I ask you something?"
"Go ahead."
"You are human aren't you?"
"Yeah…why does that matter?"
"But you are queen of the dwarves?" Misato thought about it for a second and realized how that might confuse someone especially her new liege.
"Well I was raised by the Ironclaws and they manage to defeat the Steelhammers. All of the Ironclaws' male heir were killed in battle against the goblins. I proved worth of being the next in line…" she stopped after noticing the look of boredom on the young wizard's face, "You get the general idea, don't you?"
"I don't think I quite get dwarf history but I get the point."
"Good….now where the booze?"
"Um….don't know…I am usually held up in here until I am really needed or I get bored of reading." Misato slapped her hand on the floor and smiled.
"That will have to change."
A week has pass since between the Oracle gave them their orders from nature…Misato had worked hard on rebuilding the city and make advancement using the technology of the dwarves and the wisdom of the humans. She had completely moved into Shinji's tower, taking on of the empty rooms as her forge, study, and bedroom. She strolled through his library and scanned his books…like for something on mystic metal she picked up the book only to have a picture fall out. On it was an elf with sky blue hair and red eyes, Misato thought it kind odd feature for an elf to have but it no more odd than a human to be queen over a dwarves. She kindly put it back before Shinji found out that she knew and could make the proper inquires. Shinji had been out all day preparing an army, on Misato's advise he was going to take the offense. It wasn't a big force but it was force large enough to take a city on the other side of mountain. It consisted of the dwarf from a nearby settlement that started following Misato and a few members of the city's standing militia. Misato came out of the tower smiling brightly, she thought on her previous plan and decided against it. Misato met Shinji in front of the western side of the gate, Kensuke was order to remain inside the city with a back up unit incase they were needed. Misato walked over to Shinji, who dressed in a similar style of silken robe worn by the Oracle, he looked very distinguish on his horse. Misato mounted a horse and looked at out the armies.
"Shinji….you ready?" she asked kindly smiling at him.
"As I will every be."
"Listen up you worms….we are going to kick some Orc ass. In the name of nature, in the name of Lord Shinji we march." The army roared, the dwarves on warthogs, men on horse, and both on foot begun to march toward the mountain pass. Shinji frowned for he knew that some on the warriors that went with him would die. It made him sad to think that but he couldn't help it. And he knew that war couldn't be avoided. The Orcs had gone to far when they breached the wall…and Misato seemed to be enjoying herself during the march. Yes her smile seemed to big for boredom or fear…she was happy about something. She pushed her horse closer to Shinji, stared at him with her ear to ear grin.
"Shinji…do you like elves?" she asked out of the blue. Shinji turned his head to face her, "you could say that…my mother was a half elf."
"Oh…I didn't know." She was about to ask about the elf in the picture but she thought it best to at least wait until they broke camp. They overcame through the mountain relatively fast…the dwarves seem a capable of navigating tunnels expertly. On the other of the mountain was a desert that Shinji hadn't expected, but as luck would have it the city which he planned to attack was directly on the other side. Shinji made camp inside the middle of the mountain, he walked over to the fires that was burning quite brightly and Misato was sitting drunken by all human standards, barely feeling the buzz by dwarven. Shinji found it hard to distinguish which one she fell in; suddenly Misato shot up bumping her head on something, cursing like a sailor she collapse into a sleeping position.
'Human' he thought watching her sleep…she mumbled barely understandable about some fodder name Kaji. 'Least she isn't snoring…it is sounds like a rockslide in my tower.'
Shinji bored from the walk here, let the camp to survey the area. He looked over the city only to have his mouth gaped open. There stood a magnificent tower that seemed to spring up out of nowhere. It emitted a reddish hue that seemed to incase the entire city in such radiance. He stood there just gazing in awe.
"Beautiful isn't it? Only those most in tuned with the spirits can see this lights." a strong feminine voice asked him. He was quite startled but knew was only Misato.
"It is…"
"Do you know why that is like that?"
"No…"
"Because when a wizard harmonize with a spirit…they build huge temples to it's glory. Asuka has many cities and is of great power but her strength isn't complete her own. She is a servant of war…just as we are serve nature. War has given her his support and will willingly smite all the threaten her."
"If war is on her side then how are we to defeat her?"
"Nature…as long as nature is on our side we can stand against them."
"I see…Misato can you hear nature?"
"I can hear faintly. I hear war call to me strongly." Shinji was quite afraid, she noticed him backing up almost if to run.
"Don't worry Shinji I serve nature loyal."
"Can I ask why?"
"Why what?"
"Can't you hear her…why is it faint in your mind?"
"Well I …" she said placing her hand on her chest, she was about to speak when the creases on the picture agitated her. She removed it and looked at him.
"Shinji your mother is quite beautiful…I can see where you get your looks from."
"You knew my mother?" he asked interestedly, "What was she like?"
"Um….what you never seen this picture of her?" She waved the picture in front of his face and he started to blush, Misato realized something as she gazed into his face.
"Shinji who is this lovely lady?" she asked with a seductive voice, little did she realize that wasn't necessary he would given that information up to the enemy if they asked.
"That is Rei." he sung, her name rolled off the tip of his touch smoothly unabridged. Misato snickered uncontrollably, "Is she your little girlfriend?"
Shinji snapped back into reality at the sound of Misato full blown laughter. Shinji shot her a look that screamed 'none of your business' but Misato pressed him for the answer, "So…"
"Don't we have war council meeting now?"
"Say who?"
"Says me. Call the captains together."
Shinji sat with the maps of the regions that his spies have gathered made. He stared quizzingly at them. Shinji hadn't exactly made up a battle plan…tactics weren't really a priority in his training. Luck for him Misato had enough experience to help the situation.
"There is a few mines here…I think that is where the city main supply of gold and iron comes from…" she informed pointing to various points on the map, "I don't think they will be well guarded so I think we should attack them first."
"Why?" a commander inquired reviewing the possible scenario in his mind.
"The node…without it Asuka's magic will be weakened and place a severe limit on her casting space."
"Surely they will be heavily guarded."
"Exactly with we are going to attack the mines…they won't be as heavily guard."
"Aye…I say we take some musketeers and blast a hole in their green arse."
Shinji turned to Misato who was deeply studying the map. She noticed that up ahead that the terrain changed…it made note of it but it wasn't her concern. He gave her a soft nudge before she realized that she was still here.
"Misato you seem to be the most tactical, I will ask you to lead the war effort."
"About time…slide over." He did and she took a sit beside him, the advantage of seeing the map from this angle were numerous.
"Okay…divide our forces in three forces….One lead by Ironbeard will set up an ambush and attack the mines….the node's main force will rush to there aid knowing that it the close thing. While they are gone Shinji and I will attack the Node alone." Shinji's eyes widened as he heard her say alone.
"M…M…Misato?" he whimpered out before being politely shushed by her.
"Not now…you everyone else will attack the city on Shinji's signal." Misato looked around…the dwarves seemed more gunho about the idea while the men…were less then optimistic. However after receiving a reassuring smile from Misato then one from Shinji, they were more then happy to comply.
After some preparations, Shinji and Misato left to fulfill their end of the bargain. Shinji mind was wondering from fear to a strange excitement. Misato, however, held the look of purest joy.
"Going to a node. Going to a node. Hi ho the dairy-o. Going to a node." she sung smiling widely.
"Misato why is it just us two?"
"Well Shinji I think it would serve our cause better if you go it alone. I mean it is good for you…" "But."
"No but …the source of your power isn't what you think it is. Once you bath in that node's light you will be stronger."
"Misato I am…"
"Don't be…I am here…and so is nature."
They two rode for a distance….before coming to the node. Orcs seems to mingle outside without coordination or focus. Misato saw it was to many to fight alone. Then a trumpet began to blared loudly across the land.
"Someone are attacking the mines." they cried as running toward the direction of the mine.
"Who?" was a reply.
"Stupid dwarves…If we lose the mine our queen will have our heads."
Misato crunched low, taking a sip of the flask…and letting out a pleasured 'awe'. She hand the flask to Shinji who was as low as she was. He nodded no and watched as they left the node unguarded, she smiled. She cautiously made her way to it, she pulled Shinji with her. The node's power made him light headed…it was more intoxicating then dwarven ale. He staggered around at the thought of it.
"Misato…" he cried drunkenly.
"Shinji…get a grip. I know you are feeling funny but you must focus."
"Misato…"
"Shinji focus bent it to your will. Make this node respond to your will and only your will." She helped him into the flowing mana, it was clear as water and smelled similar to blood…the node the mana begun to warp and he felt the effects of loosen up. Misato sighed, was hoping that some remained for her to kill but the sight of him gaining control of the node warmed her hurt and made her remember when she first learned earth magic and took up the mantle of wizard. Though his tower was bigger, he was still unskilled in comparison to her, after a hundred and one years of practice she would have to be. She wanted much for Shinji…he was quite young and the burden he would bear was great…nature made her his shield choice made her his teacher. Shinji's body became warm the mana had seeped its way into his body empowering him. The node was now his. Misato walk up to him gave him a firm smack on his back.
"Okay good."
"What now?"
"Easy…focus on the tower."
"My….why?"
"No the one we are attacking."
"Oh." Both of them pictured it in their head…Misato's came quickly then Shinji through her connection with nature was much stronger and in tuned. Shinji struggled a bit but he could picture it. He could see his army attacking it…how it wasn't going so well for his side. His anger took hold of him and without knowing it he caused the city to shake violently. The dirt begun to take form and monstrous beast stood before the walls of the city. Being pelted by arrow it stormed and forced it was through the walls, making a hole for his army's entrance.