Der Langrisser: Side Imperial

Written by Spiritblade

Disclaimer: Der Langrisser belongs to Masna. Special thanks to the people who have spent over five years translating it; had it not been for you guys and girls, I would never have understood the storyline and would have not been inspired to write these stories. This story comprises of multiple one-shots, each from the eyes of the characters from the game, and is set on the Imperial path.

Now, the only thing I have done is take some very small liberties with the story. Names of cities and commanders not seen in the game are mine.

Let us begin, then.

Let me see if I can hold your soul long enough, and entrance you with characters that are as human and as fallible as you and I.

X X X X X X

Chapter 1: Parting of ways

Riana's POV

I could not understand. Why did he leave? Why did he accept Leon's offer to join the Empire? Did he understand how much he had hurt us by turning his back on us? Does he understand that peace will not come by the methods in which the Reygard Empire is utilizing? Or did he? I saw the look on his face. It was the look of a man sick of war; it was the look of a man who had seen too much blood, death and pain – and who wanted to see it end. Hein told me that Erwin had fought for years long before they had met; like Rohga, he had been a wandering mercenary.

The Hein I knew from my childhood was a trouble-maker of the first degree. Rare were the days when he never got into trouble. I remember the days when the village girls would come after him, waving their fists and promising every manner of pain for his pranks. I remembered the boys bullying and teasing him, saying that he would be better off staying indoors with the girls. But, the Hein that came back to my hometown of Silver Vale was not the same one I remembered. He had changed. He was still that trouble-maker I knew underneath it all but that haunted gaze that sometimes came over his cheerful face told me that much of him was buried in a battlefield somewhere. His innocence had been blasted away in the crucible of war.

In the place of the childhood friend I knew, was a person whose transformation would have startled all those who had known him. When Erwin chose to join Leon, Hein followed him, to honor the debt he owed him. But, what perplexed me the most was Erwin. I remembered the day he and his small company of soldiers had come to the town, thankful for the peace that they found there. It did not take long for Erwin to earn the affections of a good number of the girls and children in Silver Vale. Kind and gentle, intelligent and wise, he was a rare animal in a war-torn world where strength and ruthlessness were virtues more lauded than compassion and wisdom. His soldiers, comprising of men and women, would train with him nightly after they returned from working in the fields and forges. That peace ended when soldiers of the Reygard Empire came for me, for reasons I was unaware of.

The town would have turned into a battlefield, had the Reygard division's leader, the same person who voiced his offer to Erwin four months later to join the Empire, forbade their harming the innocent. But, regardless, to defend me, Erwin turned the streets into a killing ground. That, I think, was the beginning. The thought of someone who would give his life to defend me, a near-total stranger, shocked me. Heroes were few and far between in this age of war, but one stood before me. And he pledged his life to defend me. A pledge he broke when he joined the Empire.

Keith told me that Leon, commander of the Reygard Empire's elite Blue Dragon Army, was – is – a good man. A man of honor, devoted to his Emperor and his people, and whom his enemies revered even though they stood on opposite sides of the field. He and Erwin were not so different, Keith added. Their hopes, their conviction and their willingness to pay a high price so that a hundred generations would live free and in peace are the same things that the Descendants of Light were fighting for. But whereas the Descendants of Light fought to unite the continent with hope and faith as weapons, the Empire did so by force and diplomacy. The fact that they ruled a large swathe of the continent was testament to the competence of its military commanders and its ambassadors. And now, with Erwin, Hein and Rohga joining them, Kalxath and those countries who opposed the Empire were in more dire straits than before. Erwin had proven himself an able strategist and fighter, a lethal combination on the field of battle. It was what had led to the Reygard Empire's first siege on Castle Kalxath to be broken. It was what had defeated some of their best generals and their elite troops. And above all, Erwin inspired the men and women under his command. The effect of his joining the Empire had been demoralizing to the soldiers of Kalxath; they realized that the same person who could have led them to victory over the Empire would now be their enemy.

I remembered the somber silence that had pervaded the war room in Castle Kalxath a week later as Keith told them the grim news. The skies outside the castle had been stormy and dark, as if the world knew that the days to come would be hard and bloody. Jessica had been quiet throughout the meeting, but the look in her eyes told me that she understood and accepted Erwin's decision – a decision that would make them both enemies. Lester had been the most vitriolic in his condemnation of Erwin's choice to join the Empire, but Jessica had silenced him with a hard glare. Cherie had been all but unapproachable, her temper causing even Lester to back off when he tried to cheer her up and her soldiers to keep her at an arm's length before she decked them. But, nonetheless, Cherie's control over her emotions was formidable. She directed her anger and pain into preparations for the inevitable clash with the Empire. Already, news had arrived from countries closest to the Empire that the armies of the latter were already marching on them, subjugating those that would not kneel to Imperial rule by force. The Four Heavenly Dragons, a red-haired general and his compatriots had already crushed the fortress-city of Caer MacDonald, scattering the formidable armies of the Kingdom of Dun Caras to the four winds.

The fact that a fortress-city as formidable as Caer MacDonald had fallen to the Empire in a matter of days instead of weeks had spurred every country who shared a border with the Empire to either strengthen their fortifications and armies or send ambassadors swearing fealty to the Imperial Throne. Cherie did not have much time, and she knew it. She had to unite as many kingdoms she could under the banner of Kalxath if they were to have a chance of defeating the Imperials. But, most importantly, she had to make sure that the Empire did not get their hands on the Holy Sword, Langrisser. If they did, the defeat of the anti-Imperial factions was only a matter of time. And before that happened, they had to get it first. The Imperials had already acquired the Holy Rod. Now, they needed two things – the first being Langrisser, the second being me.

"I will protect you, Riana."

His voice, so gentle and warm, echoes in my mind. It was not an empty promise. His duel with General Vargas of the Blazing Dragon Army had injured him so badly that he almost died. General Vargas withdrew when he saw Keith and Sherry bearing down on him, the last on the verge of going berserk. But Vargas had given Erwin a thumbs-up before he withdrew, "You are one heck of a fighter and a strategist, boy. If you decide to join the Empire, I'll welcome you with open arms. Your heart is in the right place. We're not that different boy. Think about it."

"I will protect you, Riana."

I closed my eyes and wrapped my arms around my body, trying to fight back the sob that threatened to spill from my lips. But, Erwin, you can't. You can't do that anymore.

"Even if it means risking my life…."

X X X

Cherie's POV

I read the report that my country's rangers had sent. Erwin and the Four Heavenly Dragons were on the move. Egbert, advisor to Kaiser Bernhardt and leader of the Black Dragon Sorcerers, had joined Erwin on the field of battle, bringing with him entire detachments of wizards to aid in the Empire's conquest of the continent. I was shocked when I heard that Caer MacDonald, one of the continent's most formidable city-fortresses, had fallen in a matter of days. I had expected, when I heard that report, of innocents being slaughtered, women being raped and children murdered. But, nothing of that sort happened. The Four Heavenly Dragons and Erwin kept the men and women under their command on a tight leash; to allow their warriors to run amok and commit atrocities would arouse the ire of the Kaiser and make his dream of unifying the continent all the more difficult.

I pick up another report, this one from a small ranger unit from within Reygard itself. It bespoke of Demon Tribe units amongst the Reygard Empire's armies. This perplexed me. The Demon Tribe would never ally themselves with their age-old foes. Centuries of hatred and persecution made it impossible for any member of the Demon Tribes and those of humanity to stand within the same room and not kill each other. There were rare instances, such as when we met a half-demon girl named Sonya. She had apparently been Rohga's half-sister, who had lived in the village she had led a host of monsters to destroy in retaliation for what they had done to her. But, that aside, I now had to confirm if the Demon Tribe had allied themselves with the Empire, or if this report is an isolated incident.

A flash of rage runs through me, and I sweep the papers and the goblet of wine to the floor. Damn you, Erwin…! Why? Why did you join them? What was it that the Empire could give that we, together, could not accomplish? How could you hurt Riana like that? You promised to protect her! What kind of man are you?

"Princess…? Are you alright?" a voice made me look up. Standing at the doorway was Keith and Jessica, both of whom were looking at me in concern. Keith looked unbelievably weary, and I could see bandages that swathed his powerful frame.

"Keith…? What happened?" I asked.

"That's my line, Princess. Don't worry about me. We managed to see off an Imperial advance party from our borders. Their leader pulled his force out of the area before we could surround them and demand their surrender. He brought in Griffon Knights; this guy is a Royal Guard."

"Which one…?" I asked, hoping that it was not Erwin.

"No. It's not him. The one I encountered was a guy called Shateiel; he's the first of Kaiser Bernhardt's Royal Guards and commands the Silent Dragons. The Silent Dragons are small in number, but they have quality soldiers, equipment and commanders. I made the mistake of underestimating Shateiel; it won't happen again."

I was honestly surprised. Keith was not someone who let ego get to his head. The Silent Dragon commander had somehow done the impossible. Then, Keith smiled bitterly, "That guy has never changed. Lester and I knew him from way back then. He was a great guy. I've never expected him to be in the Reygard Army…but, on hindsight, I suppose it was meant to happen."

"Keith…?"

Jessica put a hand on Keith's shoulder, "Go rest, Keith. You've had a long week."

Keith nodded, and opened the door. He paused briefly and looked at me, "Princess…we are at war. Put your head and your heart where it matters, or you won't be alive to even regret anything afterwards. I know you are in pain, but nothing can change the fact that he is now our enemy. You are the princess of Kalxath and the leader of the anti-Imperial factions. You must be strong and resolute. Don't let your feelings for Erwin cloud your judgment."

My eyes narrowed as my pride saw the retort leave my lips before my heart and head could react, "Keith, what are you implying? Are you saying that I'm in love with Erwin? A man who betrayed us and who broke a promise to the person he swore to protect? Why would I love a man like that?"

Keith smiled sadly, "Because you do, princess. We only realize how precious the things are the moment we lose them."

And then, he turned about and left the room. I slam my fist on the table, the sound thunderous in the room. Damn it. Why? Why now, of all times, do I find the man I can love, only to lose him? Why did I…? Jessica wrapped her arms around me, and whispered gently, "Let it all out, Cherie. Let it all out…"

And I did. I gave vent to a strangled cry in the other woman's breast, and let my tears and heartache flow out in a torrent. I could not cry then, in front of my soldiers. But now, here, at this very moment, I could. I was no longer the Princess of Kalxath. I was a girl who had her heart broken by a man she loved, and who betrayed her not for another woman, but for the same ideals she championed.

"You are one hell of a girl, Cherie. I don't know if you're brave or crazy, but your charging into that detachment of High Elves was suicidal."

"Speak for yourself, idiot! Your trying to bash Vargas – one of the Empire's top Generals – over his damn head is about the craziest thing I have seen ever since I jumped into the moat from Castle Kalxath's battlements to prove a point!"

"I take that back. You're not brave. You're crazy."

"Say that again and I'll beat you!"

"What? That you're crazy?"

"Why you…! That's it! Come here and die, Erwin!"

X X X

Jessica's POV

I look down at the girl who had fallen asleep in my lap, the silvery trail of her tears luminescent in the moonlight. She was lovely, her strength of will and determination reminding me of a friend who had passed on long ago. I know that this girl was the descendant of the child Nahmu and Ledin had, the final gift of a moment made eternal. Cherie looked so much like Nahmu, save that her hair was shorter. The cruel irony was not lost on me. Where her grandmother had loved her grandfather, their grandchildren would be separated because of their convictions.

Keith was right when he said that we cannot help who we fall in love with. I could tell that he had either seen or experienced it personally, and that the wounds caused had never healed. He had hoped that Cherie would never have to feel such agony, but his prayers had gone unanswered. I look up at the glowing, alabaster orb of the moon that hung high in the star-lit skies.

Somewhere, I knew, Erwin was crying. I could feel his heartache, even as I felt his conviction. He would fight, I knew, for a day when a new generation would not have to fight and suffer as he did. He would give his life for this. With one stroke, cut down old hatreds and lance the infected wounds, and unite a people to a single, undying dream that had been forgotten for thousands of years. Oh, the price he would pay. Dear, dear Erwin…how much pain are you able to endure to that end? It is the most cruel fate to fight your friends with the full knowledge that only one of you can walk away alive. The stakes are high enough that one's life does not matter in the grand scheme of things.

I look down at Cherie, and I smile sadly. It was not only her heart that was broken. Riana's heart, as well, had been shattered. And, as these long days go by, I know that the pain they feel will only deepen. I can only hope that they are strong enough to carry on without you, Erwin, to accomplish with faith and hope what you hope to accomplish when you lent your strength to the Kaiser of the Reygard Empire.

Only time will tell…

To be continued…