Lost Tales of Ragnarok
By Rei-kun
Disclaimer: Ok, we all know that Rei-kun is NOT the owner of Ragnarok Online (dang it…). All credits belong solely to Gravity Corp. As this is my first fan-fic, please forgive my work if it's terrible. XD
The First Saga
"Aaaa!"
Ri-anne, Elliot, Delfred and Galicia felt the entire house tremble as loud and clumsy movements were heard from upstairs. The four of them sighed. It was a daily routine which they went through without fail. A few minutes later, a girl rushed down the stairs and braked in front of the four who were already in the middle of breakfast.
"Sorry I woke up late! My alarm clock… well, it somehow got smashed on the ground," the twenty-year-old high acolyte explained sheepishly.
"You really got to stop bashing up your alarm clock, you know, Phelysa," said Ri-anne, shaking her head, sipping her warm tea.
"Take your seat, it's ok, but we're almost done with breakfast," Elliot smiled easily, prodding her to take the empty seat next to him. Phelysa took his offer and immediately helped herself with a carton of fresh milk.
Galicia reached out to grab the last piece of bacon but Delfred overtook her. He poked it with his fork and stuffed it into his mouth happily. The chest-length, wavy, black-haired girl glared at him viciously, her fist ready.
"You know I was going for that bacon!" she roared.
"Hey, that bacon did not have your name on it," he retorted, sniggering.
The high swordsman yelped as the girl was about to punch him in the face but Ri-anne broke the quarrel before it happened. "Guys, enough, can you two not fight for just one day?" she frowned.
"She started it!" complained Delfred.
"Why, you…!"
Phelysa and Elliot laughed as they ran around the kitchen table. Ri-anne sighed aloud. Well, this was the life of five good friends who used to share the same party and currently sharing the same guild, led by Elliot Nedan, the Lord Knight. They grew together as children and into adulthood, were separated in search of their identities and dreams, and were reunited as they promised to. Now, they shared a comfortable bungalow in Prontera City.
Ri-anne brought her empty plate to the sink and washed it. After that, she went out to the mailbox to fetch the posts for the day. She came in once more, flipping through the envelopes.
"These are yours." She passed at least five letters to Elliot before she sat in the living room, staring at the yellowish envelope before her. Since Elliot was a guild leader, it was normal for him to receive numerous mails from guild members or other guilds and association. But it was exceptional for the Assassin Cross. She disliked mails; it always was a bad omen to her.
Delfred came running to her. Ri-anne easily blocked his attempt to snatch the mail away from her. The others crowded around her soon, curious to know the content of it. From the look of the handwriting scrawled across the envelope stating the address, she knew instantly the origin of it.
"Aren't you going to open it?" asked Phelysa anxiously.
"What are all of you so excited about? It's addressed to me, not the five of us," Ri-anne said flatly.
"I can't believe you just said that!" chided Delfred dramatically. "The five of us have been friends ever since forever! You know we all care for you and your life's business."
A sweat-drop formed beside her head. Her black-green eyes returned to the mail. She gulped as she opened it. She hooked her slender fingers into the envelope and fished out a single piece of folded paper. She unfolded it and nearly fainted at the sight of the words.
Seeing that she had paled out, Galicia read aloud the contents for them with her loud voice.
"Dear Ri-anne,
How are you, sweetheart? You have been away from home for too long, my daughter. Your family needs your presence urgently.
I am sorry that I have to be the person to break this grave news to you. Your grandfather has just passed from this world to the other during the night. A grand funeral will be held for him as he was the head of the Assassins Global Organisation. It will be on the morning of the 14th of May.
Please come home to join us in our grief for your dear grandfather.
Love,
Mum."
Silence trailed the end of Galicia's voice. The four of them had no idea what to do and say. The strong-minded girl sucked in a breath as her throat swelled. They knew she was going through hell for they knew clearly of her family background.
Ri-anne Zedt was born into a family of assassins, not just any family of assassins but the line of the 'rulers' of assassins. Ten-ho Zedt was the founder of the Assassins Global Organisation (AGO) and was one of the pioneers and forefathers of the assassins.
She was never really closed to her family except for her grandfather. She adored him since she could ever remember. She grew up with him and she was trained into an assassin personally by him. She was who she was, a valiant and proud fighter and an Assassin Cross because of him. Now, all of a sudden, he was gone.
A tear escaped the corner of her eye. Before she could brush it away, her four friends embraced her and pulled her into a tight group hug. They knew she was at her weakest then. That was all they could do for her, console her and comfort her.
A bright and cheerful morning altered into a day of gloom and mourning for Ri-anne Zedt.
It was noon and Ri-anne was standing at the east door of Prontera, the Kapra lady in sight, with her sling-bag behind her back, along with her friends. Her brown hair which was tied in a bushy ponytail swayed as a breeze blew by.
"You go ahead, alright, we'll catch up with you after Elliot takes care of some guild matter," said Phelysa as she hugged Ri-anne.
"We'll join you very soon," assured Elliot, smiling warmly.
"But I'll still miss you," teased Delfred, despite the solemn state. He hugged the girl as well and patted her on the back.
She could only manage a grim smile and bid her goodbye to her friends. Ri-anne had decided that she must instantly return home. She was a calculative person but now, zeny was not an issue. She had to get back home right away.
"Welcome, Kapra Corp. is always at your service," greeted the Kapra lady friendlily as usual. Ri-anne requested for the teleportation service and stated her destination. She paid the amount required without a sound.
I never thought I'd return to Morocc with such a heavy heart.
A bright light shone around her instantly. She closed her eyes and let it embraced her. Seconds later, however, she felt desert winds brushing against her skin. The air was drier than Prontera's. She knew she was home. Ri-anne pulled her long white scarf wrapped around her neck just above her nose bridge and began to walk in the direction of her residence.
The first thing she noticed was the clothing of the thieves, assassins and assassin crosses who walked in the streets were like hers. They were all dressed in plain white, which was an unusual sight. If it ever happened before, it must have been really rare for it was the first time she saw a sight like this.
Grandpapa, the whole of Morocc is mourning for you…
She passed the inn and saw the path leading to the eastern gate of Morocc. She exited the city with eyes of on-lookers or traders on her. They knew her identity as the eldest of the grandchildren of Sen-yu Zedt.
Under the scorching desert sun, she hiked for fifteen minutes before she saw the enormous yellowish wall protecting a huge structure of building within. When she stood in front of the red gigantic, thick, wooden gate, she took in a breath to calm herself. She saw a picky bouncing next to the wall. How puny it was next to the ancient walls.
"Open the gates! It's Lady Ri-anne!" shouted the guard who stood in the scout tower.
The heavy doors opened slowly, making a loud, hollow sound as they did. Ri-anne stepped in easily. Before her, a building which rivalled the Morocc palace itself stood at the centre. The yellow bricks glowed like gold under the afternoon sun. Towers surrounded the main structure with domes as their roofs. The main building was an independent stately-house with high walls and colossal pillars. This was the home of the Zedt household as well as the headquarters of the AGO.
Within these walls, the mourning atmosphere was heavier. The silence dripped so achingly that it hurt the twenty-one-year-old girl. It used to be a lively place, buzzing with activities. Again, it was a terrible reminder of the leave of her grandfather.
"You are home, Ri-anne, thank goodness," whispered her mother as she hugged her. Ri-anne fidgeted. She was never close to her mother and she did not see why she was so intimate with her all of a sudden.
"Your father is speaking to the lawyers in the study room," she informed.
Ri-anne nodded. It was then that she realised there was a stranger at her home. He was most likely to be about her age, too. She frowned at him. He was dressed in white too. So, it meant he was a mourner as well.
"Who's he?" she questioned bluntly. She did not feel very warm and friendly at the time.
"Oh my, I've forgotten. This young man is Antares Yilric. He was a guest of your grandfather before he died. He has joined us in our mourning," explained the mother.
The person named Antares walked toward the mother and daughter. He bowed politely and offered a hand to Ri-anne. "Antares Yilric, High Merchant," he introduced himself briefly. "You are, I supposed, Sir Sen-yu's princess, Ri-anne Zedt?"
Ri-anne nodded, took his hand and shook it with a firm grip she owned. She could very well guess his job as she had caught sight of a cart which was parked outside. She drew a quick conclusion that he was a close friend of her grandfather despite his age. Only her grandfather called her 'princess'. She could not help but note the odd appearance the guy had.
Antares had long dirty-blond hair, untied and free. His peculiar amber-gold eyes were hidden behind a pair of rectangular spectacles. He was a tall person, somewhat a head taller than herself.
"Madame Shin-su, I would like to have a private word with Lady Ri-anne, if you may allow," requested Antares. The girl eyed him suspiciously while the woman nodded.
He went to a corner with her trailing behind. He looked around to make sure no one was in the hearing range before he bent down and whispered to her secretively.
"There is something I have to tell you and you must believe me," he began lowly. She stared at him enquiringly.
"Princess Ri-anne, your grandfather, my dearest friend, did not die a natural death. He was murdered!"