AN: This story will be scenes that happens before and doing the main game of Dragon Quest XI.
I will be ignoring the post game as the main game is what has the story structure and so on and I am going to consider the main game the "True." story of the game.
Whether you consider main game or post game the true story is all up to you, to make it easy for myself here though, I will just be ignoring the post game and act like it never happened, at least in terms of this fic.
I hope you will enjoy this story regardless. Love, Moonbird.
Storm… Heavy rain… and Darkness.
That was all that met Jade as she ran, ran as fast as she could with a basket clutched in her arms, a baby was laying in the basket, crying for his mother and father. Neither of which would come to his aid.
Jade squinted her eyes shut, trying to suppress the ringing sound of Eleanors scream, she could still hear it in her mind, as clearly as if Eleanor was right next to her screaming into her face. But she wasn't. She was gone.
Jade swallowed as she clutched the basket, she wanted to cry, she wanted her own dad, she wanted him to come to her rescue, pick her up and hold her tight so no more bad stuff would happen. She had to keep back her urge to call out for her father.
To call out now would be a death sentence, if she called out both Irwins and Eleanors sacrifices would have been in vain.
The monsters were everywhere, ready to kill any human in their path, they weren't going to stop before the Luminary was dead.
This helpless little thing in Jades arm, to think such an innocent thing could be the cause of so much rampage. "It's okay." Jade sniffed. "It's not your fault, I will protect you." she promised the baby. "I won't let anything happen to you, I PROMISE!" she cried as she sprinted across the forest, ignoring the coldness of the icy rain and how her own body was freezing and protesting.
The suddenly, something caught Jades foot and she fell right over, right into the river. She didn't even manage to think nor register what happened, before she knew what had even happened the basket with its most precious content was no longer in her arms. Wide-eyed Jade looked up, and just managed to see the corners of the basket carried by the river. "No.. NOOOOOO!" she screamed as she ran for the basket, but it was much faster than her, and the heavy water mercilessly grabbed her body and pulled her to the side. "NO! DON'T GO!" she screamed desperately as if that was going to help, Jade even threw herself headfirst into the water trying to swim for the basket even though it was already gone.
The waters though were strong and cruel, the heavy rain made the water run so much faster and even though Jade was fighting with all of her might she was pulled down, down beneath the water surface.
Desperately Jade tried to reach upwards, or what she thought was up!
Dad! Where are you Dad?! PLEASE SAFE ME! HELP ME! DAAAAAAAD!
So panic stricken was she, that all Jade could think about was her desperate wish for someone to save her, finally though it was to much, and even though Jade thought to the last, at last the cold and darkness claimed her as she lost conscious in the water, her last thought being with the poor baby and she cried.
I'm sorry….. I'm sorry Irwin… Eleanor… Little one..
Hendrik was distracted.
Why now of all times? It didn't make any sense.
He was in Porto Valor, King Carnelian had send him here for the year, to help him expand his knowledge.
It would do him good to have another instructor, someone with a different style than what he had been taught all of his life, and Don Rodrigo, one of the finest knights in the land had decided to take him in.
Porto Valor was a beautiful place, the buildings build in pearly white stones, the always shining blue ocean glittering, inviting anyone whom saw it to go for a swim in the gentle waves. People would chatter and laugh, everything was always so happy and peaceful around here.
But all of that was lost on Hendrik at that moment. He didn't know why, but his inner ear was filled with the screams of so many years ago.
And when he closed his eyes, all he saw was fire and blood.
They were old memories, very old. When Hendrik had only been a little boy, six years old, he had lived happily in the country of Swardrust with his mother and father.
They had been simple folks, his father a carpenter and his mother a cook at the local inn. It was a simple life, but they had been happy. That much Hendrik was sure of.
Then in one night, everything had changed. The sky had become dark and monsters had attacked, Hendrik didn't really remember the specifics.
He remembered being pushed into a tiny little space by his mother, there had only been room for him and Jasper there and all they could do was sit tight and hide as they held each other. Whimpering in fear.
Suddenly the trapdoor that was their exit was being knocked down, Jasper had retrieved as far back as he could, Hendrick though had picked up a stick, readying himself to hit what-ever monster that awaited them.
Though as the trapdoor was finally removed it was no monster, but a middle aged man, wearing a shining knights armor.
It was the knights of Heliodor whom had saved them, and the man whom had pulled Hendrick and Jasper out, it was the king himself, Carnelian. Whom took the two newly made orphans to his castle in Heliodor, offered them food and a place to stay.
Hendriks mind had already been made up that day, the day the knights came and saved him. He would become a knight too!
If he had been strong as the knights, then maybe, he could have saved the people of Swardrust, or just one person. Maybe.
Just one! If he could have saved one that day.
Hendrik sighed as he closed his eyes, why was he thinking of that now? It was so long ago.
He wasn't the only one distracted though, a young boy standing by the corner of the courtyard to practise his sword stances had stopped midway through and was looking towards the ocean .
This sure was unusual for Norberto, to not finish his practise routines.
Noberto sure was a peculiar boy, and so was his relationship with his father.
Rodrigo would ask Noberto to make one hundred sword strikes, Noberto would state he would make two hundred. Then Rodrigo would instruct Noberto to never ever make a claim he couldn't fullfill, if a knight promised to do something, it would be his sworn duty to follow through!
And Noberto would make the two hundred sword strikes just as promised, even if he could barely even stand upright by the end of it.
Rodrigo would only give him a short nod of approval, though as he turned his back to the boy, his face would betray him as that smile of pure pride would break through, even if Norberto wasn't allowed to see it.
Rodrigo had a image to maintain after all! He was a strict instructor whom never smiled, you would have to catch him in smiling.
It didn't seem to matter though.
With such diligence it seemed pretty obvious that the boy was sure to become a fine knight, one of the strongest and finest. There were even talks about how Noberto would be sure to out best his father some day.
And considering the rate Norberto was going, Hendrick wouldn't put it past him. Now though the boy was standing frozen, his eyes fixated on that view.
"Norberto!" Rodrigo snapped at his son making the boy jump. "Three hundred sword stances isn't that what you swore to me to do?"
"Yes Papi." Norberto replied looking up at his tall father.
"Remember! The knights code!" Rodrigo proclaimed.
"Do not shirk in your duties or training, strive to exceed your limitations, be they physical or mental, at all times, whoever you may encounter, be well mannered and gentle." Norberto recited the phrase he knew by heart. And were clearly proud to recite. "And if you set yourself a goal, never fail to pursue it, do not stop before it has been archieved."
"Then what is the issue Norberto?" Rodrigo asked.
"I'm sorry." Norberto replied a bit abashed. "I just saw…" he turned to the ocean. "That cloud, over there!" he pointed.
Rodrigo looked up and so did Hendrik turn to see, it was far away! Very far, in the direction of Dundrasil, it was a wonder Norberto had even seen it, but true enough there was a dark cloud.
The mere sight of it made Hendrick shiver, so far away and it was like he could feel the evil and he was reminded… Swadrust! A cloud like that had covered Swardrust.
Rodrigo frowned. "Evil seems to be covering that land."
"Papi?" Norberto asked.
"I must go, there may be people over there whom needs aid. Sadly it is most likely!" Rodrigo stated.
"I'll go with you!" Hendrik spoke up immediately.
"Don't you have training to do?" Rodrigo asked in a rather condescending tone.
"Sir, with all due respect. You said it yourself, people over there most likely needs help!" Hendrick pointed out gesturing at the cloud in the distance. "People are likely to be hurt!"
"And what if you got hurt because you weren't ready?" Rodrigo asked. "Then we should waste valuable men on dragging you to safety as well!"
"Sir! I asure you that-" Hendrick began but was cut off.
"STOP!" Rodrigo demanded. "Do not say you are going to do something when you cannot actually do it!" he stated.
Hendrik was just about to protest but closed his mouth.
"Good." Rodrigo nodded. "What-ever you were going to say, I was going to hold you up to it! A knight should never go back on his word! I'll be going myself, so I entrust you to look out for Porto Valor and my son!" he stated.
"Yes sir, I understand." Hendrik nodded.
"Norberto! I shall expect you to behave!" Rodrigo demanded. "Do what Hendrick asks, and no tomfoolery."
"Yes Papi." Norberto nodded.
Hendrik couldn't help but smirk, Norberto was a very well behaved boy always doing exactly what Rodrigo asked him to do, any spare time he had he usually spend on either training or studying. It was hard to imagine him doing any tomfoolery as Rodrigo put it.
Rodrigo though only gave him one short nod, and then headed to the manor in fast strives.
Noberto standing up again, going back to practice his sword stances. "One hundred and seventeen." he mumbled to himself immediately making Hendrick feel left behind!
He had only done fifty sword swings himself! And with raised arm he started! Norberto might very well be Rodrigos son, but it just wouldn't do to be outdone by such a young boy!
Just then another young knight in training casually came towards it, a slender build young man with long blond hair collected in a pony tail. "Oh so the old man is on his way out." Jasper commented. "You know if we want to slip out, now would be the time, we could actually go to the casino." he suggested to Hendrik in a sly smile.
"No thank you, I must train." Hendrik stated as he made another swing.
"Really?" Jasper asked. "What about you runt?" He asked Norberto. "Your deadbeat dad is out, you want to go have some fun?"
"One hundred twenty-one." Norberto counted his stances. "I promised Papi to make three hundred stances and no tomfoolery." he replied. "A knight should never go back on his word! I'm sorry sir Jasper."
"Man, you guys are no fun at all." Jasper commented.
"Jasper, there is evil out there, it is looming right now." Hendrick pointed out. "We must be prepared."
Jasper frowned as he glanced at Hendrick then turned to the ocean and he blinked. "What is that?" he asked as he finally saw the cloud.
"I am not certain, but whatever it is, it is evil." Hendrick stated.
"Yeah… I see." Jasper swallowed. "It looks just like.."
"Swardrust." Hendrik replied quietly and Jasper looked down.
His fists tightened.
"So you must see, that evil is still out there." Hendrick pointed out.
"Yes, you're right." Jasper admitted. "We should train." and with a final unsettled glance on the cloud, Jasper pulled his own sword and joined in.
None of them knew what that thing out there was, but there was no way it could be good.