Disclaimer: I don't own Shining Force or related titles and characters.
Dark Reign
Prologue
"Anri became queen of Guardiana, Gort and Luke became high-ranking officials in her army, Hanzou and Musashi both returned to their nomadic lifestyles. And so ends Resurrection of the Dark Dragon." Simone completes the book she was reading and puts it down. "Well, it seems Grandpa isn't back yet, so I'll see if I can find another book to read."
Simone hops from her wall and walks into a library. She begins to examine the bookshelf she picked the first book from. Finding nothing interesting in the top shelves, she kneels to check books on the bottom shelf.
"Hmm…what's this?" Simone asks herself as she notices a black book far dustier and older than every other book on the shelf. "I've never seen this book before…" Simone picks it up. There is no title on the cover, so she opens it.
"It would appear this is a sequel…of sorts." Simone says, and starts reading. "The Age of Peace in Rune following Dark Dragon's imprisonment lasted only a few years, as a new evil soon emerged to take Dark Dragon's place…
"Thank you for your…demonstration." Anri said to the man standing before her. The short, raven-haired man on her left leaned in to whisper something in her ear, but she waved her hand in dismissal.
"Thank you for your time, Your Majesty," Kokichi bowed low as his assistants gathered pieces of a failed experiment from the floor. "Next time, I assure you, the steam-powered lance won't fall to pieces!" He laughed with the statement, though his face was still red with embarrassment.
"I hoped you would do better with Dr. Crock's research," Anri said, disappointed. "I'd also advise you to be more careful with your experiments; that's how he became the late Dr. Crock." She sighed as Kokichi and his assistants finished cleaning the debris and left the throne room. Shortly after, an auburn-haired, lightly-armored centaur barged into the room. Anri looked up in surprise.
"Urgent news, your highness!" the centaur panted. Anri signaled him to continue. "Another caravan was attacked, sometime yesterday past noon, and in the same region as the last!" The room erupted in whispers as various ambassadors and dignitaries spoke to each other.
Anri frowned. "Any survivors?" she asked.
"None, ma'am. Just…bodies." the centaur replied. "I found the wagon dismembered and charred. There were marks on it that resembled the last, ma'am." Anri's grew stern at that last remark. She had seen the carnage once with her own eyes, and it had reminded her of a legendary blade, the Chaosbreaker. She kept that to herself.
"This is the third attack this month," Anri muttered. She had even sent an infantry unit along with this particular wagon to protect it. "If these attacks don't stop, our economy will falter. How goes the search for the sword master?" Anri had sent scouts to find the sword master Musashi in the attempt of hiring him as a caravan guard. The centaur thought for a moment.
"It goes…well…in a manner of speaking," the scout answered. "One of our leads has us hot on his heels, it would seem. He is very wily, and never seems to stay in one place for long." Anri nodded.
"Well, Alterone needs that shipment of supplies. Bandits or no, we'll have to send another one." Anri said grimly. "Luke." She motioned to the man on her right. "I want you to personally guard this one. If Ken is available, take him with you. No common street bandits would be a match for the two of you." Luke nodded and left through a door behind the throne.
I want these bastards brought to justice, Anri thought to herself.