Enlisted?-Chapter 3

"Ugh..." Natsuki groaned as she came too. Cracking her eyes she was greeted with an overbearing light and was forced to close them again. Her head ached fiercely and she felt too tired to move even an inch. She felt metal around her wrists and when she was able too took a look at the large manacles that adorned her arms.

Unable too get up, let alone move any part of her body Natsuki craned her neck around to get a better view of her surroundings. She was in a cramped four walled cell, a small unbarred window let in a small amount of light but not enough to illuminate the entire cage. A large windowless door sat in the middle of the wall opposite of where Natsuki was lying. Letting out a sigh Natsuki resigned to her fate, at least until she gained enough strength to do something and looked at the ceiling for a few moments before falling back to sleep.

The sound of chain boots against the stone prison floor woke Natsuki from her slumber. The sun light that filtered through the window had turned into a dim moonlight. She could hear the faint sounds of two men talking outside the door too her cell.

"H-Hey, do you think this is a good idea? The captain said that the prisoner was to be fully secluded and anyone that was found breaking the rule would be discharged." A high-pitched voice asked, clearly nervous.

"We'll be fine, she's still going to be unconscious, remember? That stuff the captain uses is vicious, italways takes at least week for someone to recover from that stuff." A lower voice replied, Natsuki noticed it was somewhat annoyed, "And besides, it's only me and you in this place at the moment, I'm not going to be telling the captain, are you?"

"N-no, but what if the rumors are true?"

"What rumors?" A pause, "Oh...oh, don't tell me you believe those stupid magic rumors." The lower voice rhetorically asked followed by a jangle of keys, "There's no way in the abyss that that chick is a mage."

"Y-Yeah, but you were there too. We both saw what happened when Edwin touched one of those weird looking swords. I mean...it's been three days and he's still encased in that ice."

Three Days? I've been out for three days?

"Hmph." The sound of a key entering a lock, "Damn not this one." A pause, "Hell, an enchanted blade isn't that hard to find as long as you have some money."

"B-But..."

"Enough! If your just going to keep complaining and thinking of excuses then go away. Gods forbid." Lower voice responded angrily

There was silence except for the rattling of keys entering and leaving the lock for several minutes.

"Dammit, why does the warden have so many damn keys?!" Lower voice yelled to no one in particular then let out a sigh.

"How did you get the keys anyway?" High-pitched voice asked

"Alcohol." Lower voice responds simply, fitting another key in the lock. The sound of the lock unlocking echoed through the small room and was followed by a cheerful yell from lower voice.

Natsuki watched as the door inched open trying to be silent, though the rusty hinges proved otherwise and despite the careful motion a loud and piercing screech echoed throughout the prison floor. Natsuki could hear one of the men curse though she couldn't tell which it was. She watched as the two men entered the room, in the dim moonlight Natsuki could only make out that both of them wore a simple chain-mail suit of armor and each had a hand and a half sword strapped to their waists. Neither armor nor sword were particularly well polished so Natsuki assumed they had to be of a lower rank.

The darkness gave Natsuki an element of surprise, the two men thought she was still unconscious and didn't pay attention to her. So when one of the men came close to her she lashed out with one of her feet catching him in the gut and knocking the shocked knight into the other sending them both to the ground. Going with the momentum of the kick Natsuki slid out of the stone slab that was her bed and landed in a crouching position. However the poison was still lingering in her system and Natsuki had to fight off the feeling of vertigo as she rose to stand. Her muscles ached and protested loudly at her sudden flurry of movement. Still, she managed to exude a calm demeanor with no trace of physical exhaustion evident.

Natsuki couldn't tell what the knights were up too, they had fallen into one of the corners of the room where the meager lighting didn't reach. However when they didn't move to stop her, she made her move. Scooping up the keys that the knights dropped she stepped out the door not leaving the knights out of her line of sight. She then quickly grabbed the handle and proceeded to slam it shut. One of the knights realizing what was going to happen tried to stand and stop Natsuki but was too far away to do anything. As soon as the door closed, the lock automatically latched into place locking the knights into the room.

"Damnit! You Bitch, open this door!!" Natsuki heard Lower Voice let out a muffled yell followed by pounding. Natsuki chuckled a little before having to catch herself from falling over.Her little stunt had left her physically drained and her peripheral vision had all but faded completely.

"Wow, You really are something you know that?" Natsuki recognized the female voice and spun around to meet the owner. However the move was a little to strenuous for her current condition and a searing pain shot up her legs, Natsuki grunted and leaned back into the wall, sliding down to the ground to alleviate the burning sensation.

"Heheh, So I guess you haven't totally recovered, that's a shame." The woman said with a chuckle.

Natsuki looked up to find, to her surprise, a girl that could not have been any older than herself standing over her with a slight smirk. The girl was garbed in armor of fine dragon scales colored in a mix of a deep black and a vibrant gold, a pair of claw like weapons dangled from her waist.

The girl knelt down to Natsuki's level and outstretched her arm, in her hand was a small crystal vial, a bright yellow liquid was contained within, "Here." she said simply pushing a strand of fiery red hair back behind her ear.

Natsuki looked at the mysterious liquid then back to the girl, "What is it?"

"An antidote." Came the simple response. Natsuki looked at the vial again but made no move to take it. The girl sighed, "Look, you can either take it or I can force it down your throat, I'm sure you'd agree that you wouldn't be able to offer much resistance. So if I were you I'd just drink it myself."

Natsuki couldn't disagree with the girl's judgment and resigned to take the vial. Undoing the stopper Natsuki gingerly took a sniff of the strange liquid and gagged. The concoction was the most fowl thing she had ever smelled. Natsuki heard the girl laugh but was too busy trying not to vomit too do anything about it.

"Sorry, I should have said something." The girl managed through her laughing fit.

Natsuki gave the girl a look that went unnoticed and swallowed her fear and drank the whole vial in one smooth gulp. Natsuki was surprised when the liquid went down rather easily and let out a silent sigh of relief. The effects of the antidote were immediately gratifying, Natsuki could feel her strength return and the pain had already vanished.

"See? That wasn't so bad was it?" The woman said with a slight grin, "Now that your all better come with me, and don't try anything funny."

Natsuki gave a small nod, she knew that there wasn't any hope for escape, especially since her arms were bound together, plus the fact that she needed to get her blades back kept the thought even farther from her mind. Natsuki tried her hand at standing and was surprised when there was no pain or vertigo. The girl had already started walking down the hall and Natsuki had to jog a little to catch up.


"H-Hey!! Captain, is that you?!" Lower Voice's yell came muffled from behind the cell door, "Captain?!" A pause, "Hey look, I know that you had expressively said that this was off limits and I'm reallllyyyy sorry. So come on, let us out, please?!"

"Caaappptainnn?!!!" Came another muffled cry followed by a lot of banging on the cell door.


Natsuki and her escort had arrived at the front gates of Fuuka keep. The large marble structure towered over the pair as well as the rest of the city. It was the first time she had gotten so close to the building seeing as it was surrounded by a the noble district which in itself was surrounded by a wall separating it from the rest of the capital and for non-nobles entry was almost impossible. It was like a city within a city.

Natsuki followed her escort through a small side entrance into the castle grounds. The pair moved quickly and silently through the deadened corridors. The inside was as ornate as the outside, the halls were lined with statues of gold and silver as well as paintings of all types. Natsuki was just about to start asking questions considering the entire trip had been spent in silence however she was unable to as her escort stopped suddenly.

"Here we are." The girl said opening a large oak door and proceeding inside.

Natsuki followed her into a small office room. Natsuki took a quick glance around the room, a large desk sat in the middle of the room a mess of papers and other assorted objects sat atop it in a sorry state. On one side of the room sat a row of bookcases all filled to the brim, a collection of dust told Natsuki that the owner did not care much for literature. It took a moment for Natsuki to spot a figure standing beside a large window that ran the length of the walls. Natsuki noticed that the woman was dressed in ceremonial armor, a cloak of a magnificent gold and trimmed with platinum lace matched her blond hair.

Natsuki's escort gave a subtle cough to gain the woman's attention, "Haruka, I've brought the prisoner as ordered."

The woman turned around a scowl on her face, "Nao, do you know how long I have been waiting, and how many times have I told you it's Commander."

"I apologize for the inconvenience Commander." Nao returned casually, "It's not like the prison isn't on the other side of the damn city." She added under her breath.

"What did you say captain?!"

"Nothing Ma'am."Came a militaristic answer.

"Hmph, I bet."

Natsuki watched the short exchange with slight amusement but quickly masked the smirk that had crept it's way onto her facial expression as the commander focused her attention onto Natsuki, "So this is her huh?"

"Yes, Ma'am." Nao responded simply.

"Hmm...very well, your dismissed captain." Haruka told Nao giving a little shooing motion towards the door for emphasis.

"Yes, Ma'am." Nao replied in an unenthusiastic response and with a lack luster salute then left the room.

There was a brief moment of silence as the commander gave Natsuki a once over. Natsuki noticed that the woman was sub vocalizing and wondered what she could be thinking. When no word from the other woman was uttered Natsuki started to speak.

"Would you mind telling me what's going on?" Natsuki asked irked, "Oh, and by the way I'd like you to know that I'm innocent." She added quickly.

Haruka gave Natsuki a little confused look, "Innocent? For what?" There was a slight pause, "Ohhhh, the murder? Oh, We already know that, that idiot Takeda told us everything."

"What?!" Natsuki yelled outraged, "Then why the hell am I still here?!"

"Because of those..." Haruka answered pointing. Natsuki followed her cue and looked to find her weapons standing propped up against one of the bookcases, Natsuki had to wonder how she had not noticed them before and it took all her energy to keep herself from running to them.

"So what? I get sent to jail for having some swords? I see people all the time with weapons and I'm the one to get busted?" Natsuki tried to sound as nonchalant as possible, but then remembered the conversation she overheard from the guards she had trapped earlier, "Wait?! You mean I got sent to prison because I had some enchanted weapons? You've gotta be kidding me!"

"No I am not kidding! Do you know what it would be like if we let people go willy-nilly with enchanted items? The Abyss, that's what! We knights have a job to protect the people of our country and if people are allowed to have swords that shoot out fireballs or kitchen knives that secreted acid on anything it touched, we wouldn't be able to keep the peace that is expected of us. I mean..." It was about this time that Natsuki tuned out of the one sided conversation, she had a knack for detecting speeches and an even better knack for ignoring them, her thoughts turning to anything else she could think off at the moment.

"However...I digress, now...on too the matters that you have been brought here for." Natsuki yawned as she heard Haruka finish speaking, Finally,she thought as she noticed that there were hints of red appearing on the horizon.

"You have been brought here because..." Haruka continued, oblivious to the fact that her speech had gone completely ignored, "You seem to have caught the interest of one who shall remain nameless at this time, though why I do not have the faintest clue." Natsuki noticed that the commander's voice had a hint of disdain to it, "However...it is not my place to question the request I have been asked of and so you are here before me to be asked..."

"Will you just say it already?" Natsuki asked impatiently.

Haruka coughed deliberately, "Yes, well. I was just getting to that thank you." Natsuki heard the commander mutter something but was unable to hear it, with another cough Haruka continued, "You are here to be asked to join our order under the rank of knight and as such all past crimes will be absolved."

"Your kidding?" Natsuki asked in disbelief, "Why the hell would I want to be some stuck up knight?"

Haruka shrugged, "It's either that or you can go back to prison."

"That's nothing short of blackmail!" Natsuki yelled in protest.

"Blackmail?!" Haruka returned in a similar loud voice, "You broke the law and your being let off the hook, it's called a pardon, a par-don, p-a-r-d-o-n."

"And I'm saying it's a stupid law in the first place!"

"Stupid?! Did you not hear a word of what I just said?! Do I have to repeat myself?"

"Oh for the love of...you know what fine. I'll do it." Natsuki finished with a sigh figuring that any further arguing would be pointless. Besides, I can just "disappear" if need be. Natsuki thought with an inward grin.

"Very well..." Natsuki noticed the commander give a slight frown before she turned towards her desk. "Now then..." Haruka continued opening one of the many desk's drawers, pulling out a small wooden chest. Opening the lid Natsuki watched as the other woman pulled out a simple silver choker, a single sapphire sat inlaid in the metal, and moved towards her, "Stand still." Haruka said simply, undoing the the small clasp and fastening it around Natsuki's neck before the girl had time to react.

"What the hell is this?" Natsuki questioned bringing a hand up to her neck, tracing the small jewel with her fingers.

"It's too keep you in your place." Haruka said simply returning to her desk and replacing the small chest to it's resting place.

"Excuse me?" Natsuki asked in disbelief

"You honestly didn't think that I'd let some commoner run amok in the castle grounds?" Haruka answered and sat in the chair that sat behind her desk before continuing, "That choker is enchanted to keep you out of areas you are not supposed to enter and keep you in the castle. You are still technically a prisoner until after the knight's exam so you will be treated like one albeit given a little more leeway."

"Agh...you've gotta be kidding me..." Natsuki muttered watching her hopes of escape shatter against the rocks right in front of her. It took a moment before Natsuki realized a term that she had never heard before and felt compelled to ask, "What the hell is a knight's exam?"

"What? Nao didn't tell you?" Haruka asked, her question answered with a blank look from Natsuki, "No...of course she didn't, why do I even have to ask." She muttered, "Alright...listen up because I'm not repeating myself, the knight's exam is an event we have yearly. It is too see what squires are ready to be moved into the rank of knight that they have been working for. It consists of a simple battle between a squire and a knight, you do not necessarily have to win, since it is highly unlikely that you will anyway, to be granted induction ."

"Wait...but you said I'm already a knight now, why the hell would I have to take an exam." Natsuki interrupted.

"Please...we can't have someone just show up and be granted knighthood, it would make people ask questions which we don't want, now do we? Don't worry, you won't have to worry about anything, you will be automatically accepted, though I would like to press upon the fact that you should put on a good show."

"Right..." Natsuki muttered.

"Well then." Haruka said said standing, ignoring Natsuki's downtrodden state, "Now then, if you will excuse me I need to catch up on my rest and you will need too as well. If you will follow me I will take you to your quarters."

Natsuki just nodded going over all the events that had passed within just a short amount of time and followed the other woman out but not before grabbing her kris. The walk to Natsuki's new living area took no time at all, in fact the would be room was just down the corridor from Haruka's office room. Haruka took her leave quite quickly but not before giving Natsuki a 'good luck' and Natsuki just watched as the commander walked four doors down and disappeared into a similar room.

Natsuki opened the door to her new living arrangements and proceeded inside immediately shutting the door behind her. Once inside Natsuki made a bee-line to the large bed that sat inside an equally large room. However Natsuki was dead tired and didn't notice the rich accommodations. She dropped her blades haphazardly to the ground and fell into the mattress falling asleep almost instantly.


Tate Yuichi walked through the dense foliage of the Artaian jungle, grumbling the entire way. The humidity was death and he silently prayed to every god he knew that he wasn't in his standard plate armor. Though his hair was still matted down straight from sweat as well as was his clothing.

"Oi! Reito! Are you sure this is the right way?" The duo had been walking off path for what seemed to Tate like an hour now and he was quite certain that they were completely lost.

"Tate! Over here!" Replied a voice from somewhere in front of Tate and he resigned to follow the voice, cutting at the foliage impeding his way with his longsword.

It only took a few strides before Tate emerged from the tree line and out into an enormous circular expanse, a large crater was cut into the center. His companion was standing at the drop off looking back at Tate with a very elated expression on his face.

"What's got you so happy?" Tate asked while walking up to Reito.

"Just take a look." Retio responded arcing his spear over the crater.

Tate looked over the edge and could make out the vague form of a large complex of stone structures that looked to have seen better days, though in the dawn light it was hard to make out everything. "So you think this is it?"

"Heh, It better be." Came the response with a chuckle, "Let's get down there and find out eh?" Retio continued and started to walk down the steep incline.

Tate followed, "I can't believe we're missing the knight's exam for this crap."

"Ah, don't say that Tate, we're doing important work here. I'm sure you can miss one year of seeing the squires getting beaten." Reito said with another chuckle.

"Why isn't Airies doing this instead? Wasn't it there archaeologists that got lost, why are we stuck doing their dirty work?" Tate grumbled, almost tripping on a stone.

"Because they are our allies and as allies we must be willing to help one another and since there closest contingent of troops are most likely halfway across the world we we're the logical choice."

Tate let out a sigh and pushed some of his hair out of the way, "Yeah I guess your right."

"If we get through quickly I'm quite certain that we can catch a good part of the battles, they don't start until midday anyway." Reito said to give some encouragement to his partner. Though he was uncertain if the desired effect was achieved

The rest of the trek down the crater's side was spent in silence. The duo reached the bottom to be greeted with absolute stillness and silence. Not even the sounds of the forest sounded over them, the two knights looked to each other for a moment before Reito started walking.

"I can't see anything down here." Tate said after several minutes of walking through one of the buildings, "Hey Reito, give us some light would ya?"

"I was just thinking the same thing, one second." Reito replied before resting the butt of his spear on the ground and muttered, "Lŭmąs."An instant later and the blade of his spear erupted in a white light instantly illuminating the surrounding area in the white glow.

"Now that's better." Tate said looking over their current surroundings now able to actually see what was around him.

"Hmm, what's this?" Tate heard Reito mutter and looked too see what his partner had found.

"What is it? Anything good?" Tate quizzed Reito.

"No I'm afraid not." Came a morbid response, "Look." Reito finished turning towards Tate. Tate could see a silver longsword in his hand, it was still gleaming from a recent polishing, "There's no doubt this came from the one of the guards."

Tate ran a hand through his hair, "I guess that means-"

Tate didn't get to finish his statement because Reito raised his hand in a silencing motion and quickly brought his spear into a ready stance. Tate followed suit quickly then looked around wildly for danger but couldn't find any. Just when he was about to quiz Reito on what was going on her heard what he could only describe as a crackling coming from what seemed like everywhere. Neither Reito nor Tate however could see the creatures making the noise, whatever they were they were sure to stay outside the circle of light.

"Fekrâ."Reito muttered his hand outstretched towards the darkness, a fireball erupted from his palm piercing the darkness where it contacted with it's intended target. There was no sound uttered from the mysterious creature however several bones flew into the circle of light, along with a longsword like the one they had found just moments earlier. A skeletal hand gripped the hilt tightly.

"Oh just great, undead." Tate muttered, "Oi, Reito let's get out of here, like now." Tate was worried, he was no mage and conventional weapons, especially bladed ones, against undead was not the most effective way at handling the walking corpses.

"You read my mind Tate, let's go on my mark." Reito said moving to stand in front of Tate looking towards the exit, "Ready...set...go!" Reito yelled, "Ferïs"with an arc of his lance a wave of fire cleared the way, the two knight's followed closely behind.

"For lady Necra!" Tate heard a crackling cry followed by the sound of metal against stone.

The two exited the building to find that the sun had risen to Tate's relief. Though he didn't have time to relish the feeling as the two quickly cleared the distance from the stone building to the steep climb that was the edge of the crater. From behind Tate could hear an ear piercing scream and chanced too look back to find the skeletal warriors had stopped in the safety of the building.

"Phew, Reito, I think we're ok for now." Tate said exhausted, wiping sweat from his brow with his arm.

Reito paused and let out a deep breath, "I think that we've done enough searching, don't you?" He asked trying to lighten the mood.

Tate let out a fake chuckle, "I think so too. Let's get out of here. We need to let his highness know about this, undead practically on our back door is not good news."

"Agreed." Reito nodded pulling out a small circular gemstone from a pouch on his waist, "Next stop Fuuka Castle." He finished by throwing the gem to the ground causing it to shatter and enveloping the two in a blue light. As quickly as the light had appeared it was gone, along with the two knights.