Chapter 8: Redemption

The next day, Luberian troops attacked the Chess position, and the aftermath of such an attack consisted of 1,500 Chess casualties and the loss of 400 Luberians. This, of course, gave Alan the excuse he needed to negotiate a five day ceasefire. Cross reinforcements were heading in from the east, while Chess reinforcements continued to march from the west. Both sides were willing to wait until their respective reinforcements arrived.

From the peak of a mountain in the range southwest of the Luberian fort, the former Knights Ian and Ash watched the Cross and Chess arrangements with mixed emotions. Ian spoke: "I'm sick of war, Ash, and if I wasn't, I'd be joining them... If the Chess beat off the Cross Guard here and attack Luberia, then this entire continent will practically be their's. Once they invade the Southern Continent, Mar Heaven is finished. I... I'm not going to fight. I've seen enough of the battlefield... But you've got little to lose, friend. Besides, you're going to have to fight for the children, won't you?"

Ash turned to Ian: "It looks like I am going to have to fight. You're right, the Cross Guard don't look like they'll be able to hold their ground for long."

Ian smiled: "Take this Arm." Gido's lover handed Ash the Moon Fall weapon Arm. This was one of Ian's strongest Arms, and the very Arm used to kill Chimera. Ash was a little surprised that his friend was handing him such a weapon. "Ash, use that Arm as my representative. I can't lend the Cross Guard my strength... I want to live peacefully with Gido, but I'll give you that Arm to help give those Chess a severe beating... Best of luck, Ash. Good hunting!" Ian turned and walked away.

Ash glided as fast as he could towards the Cross Guard encampment. With his assistance, the Chess would definitely have an unpleasant experience!

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Nanashi decided to do some reconnisance, and after mumbling to Galian that he'd be going out, Nanashi sprinted out of his tent and ran away from the battlefield. The easy-going thief was once again able to turn corners and avoid completing the job.

Galian shook his head: "Sophie, looks like Nanashi isn't going to keep our end of the bargain with the Cross Guard. We're going to have to train our troops alone."

"That idiot! Of all times, he choosing this one to slack off. He doesn't take anything seriously now that you're practically the one in charge." Sophie sighed.

"You say that like its a bad thing..." Galian looked a little hurt, and Sophie was honestly shocked. It seemed that the emotional side of Galian was locked away by that overwhelming greed, but ever since Nanashi bashed some sense into his old savior, Galian seemed to slowly show traces of his old self.

"Of course it isn't... It's a wonderful thing that you've finally returned to us... It's just that we can't afford to have Nanashi not take things seriously. He's still the highest in command, you know." Sophie spoke softly.

Galian nodded: "But people change only when they realize that they have to, not when others try to convince them to. Nanashi's going to be the way he is, and I'm afraid that we can do little about that. Now, let's go train our troops." Luberia's founder smirked and walked towards the Luberian formation.

"Right." Sophie smiled as she ran after him.

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"So, Ash, you want to join the Cross Guard?" Alan crossed his arms in the main Cross tent.

"Yep, as long as you'll accept me."

"But, may I ask, why?"

"The children of Mar Heaven will never be allowed to sleep soundly if Halloween is allowed to continue this mad path of destruction. For the Children of Mar Heaven, I am ready to fight these Chess Pieces to the bitter end. I see that warriors like Galian and Pano are in your ranks. They were both former Chess Pieces. Can't you let more of us join your forces?"

"Do you love Mar Heaven?"

"I love Mar Heaven's children."

"But are you willing to protect Mar Heaven?"

"I am... As long as I protect the children by doing so."

"Air Hammer!" Alan rammed a blast from this legendary Arm into Ash's face.

Gaira and Alviss, who were calmly observing the interview, jumped up and rushed towards him. "What are you doing?" Gaira asked, alarmed.

"Idiot." Alan glared at Ash.

Ash seemed confused.

"No wonder why you fight for the children, because you are a child! Mar Heaven is our home. If it is in ruins, how can that be a safe environment for our children? Children tend to be easily traumatized. Is a land of ruin a happy place for our children to set eyes on? Can they frolick and play in rubble and among corpses? Of course not! How can you fight as a Cross Guard if you are unwilling to protect Mar Heaven itself? Fool! Protecting Mar Heaven means that you will protect its children. Children are the future. Without them, all is lost. Mar Heaven is our home, without it, we are also lost. Come to your senses, Ash. Do you love Mar Heaven!"

A spark flashed in Ash's brain, and he immediately answered: "Yes, I love Mar Heaven!"

"Are you willing to die for it?"

"Yes!"

"Then, defender of Mar's Children, I will accept you as a member of the Cross Guards. Now you're finally where you should be, Ash." Alan gave a rare sincere smile.

With Ash as a member of the Cross Guard, there was little doubt that fate was beginning to turn against the Chess Pieces!

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Nanashi wandered about, happy now that he could finally slack off without anyone breathing down his neck. "Without Alan, there's no one that's gonna lecture me. I'm finally free!" He laughed as he walked along.

Northeast of Keklon plains were the vast Enrich woods. These woods actually spread far enough to actually reach parts of the Luberian Fort. The woods were typically peaceful, and the only potential threats that grew in them were large apes that Nanashi could easily defeat even without his Arms. So Nanashi wandered in this forest, wanting to take a breather, when he spotted a young girl tiptoeing among the trees.

Nanashi was interested in the girl the moment he saw her. This wasn't that surprising, as Nanashi was quite the suitor for many girls. Nanashi had a record of having advanced on every single girl he ever met, including Dorothy and the Chess Pieces Loco and Aqua. Nanashi had even went for Sophie, before she threw a goblet at him, of course.

So he found this new girl quite intriguing, so he decided to watch her as she continued to wander about. She finally stopped, extended one of her arms, and leaned on a tree. She heaved a deep sigh, and looked at the sky. Nanashi made a movement, and she suddenly snapped into attention. She looked left and right, and then she began to glare slowly towards the west, as though she feared that something was approaching from there. After a good fifteen minutes, she finally began to calm down, and continued to look longingly at the sky.

Nanashi finally decided to gather his courage and approach her.

The girl spotted him, and gasped: "Nanashi, of Luberia! A strong opponent indeed... Weapon Arm: Diamond Blade!"

Nanashi seemed surprised that she'd activate an Arm the moment she saw him. "So you know who I am. Huh, that's wierd. I don't believe we've met..." Nanashi said as he slowly walked towards her.

"If you're planning to fight me, I will not hesitate! I might not have any allies any longer, but by no means am I a weakling! I didn't leave that horrible place to simply be killed by the likes of you!" The girl shouted.

"Woah, woah... Who said I was ever going to hurt or capture you? I don't even know who you are, and, to tell the truth, I just left the battlefield to go out on a stroll. I didn't expect to find anyone out here." Nanashi raised his hands.

The girl began to lower her blade: "So you're not trying to take revenge on me."

"What do you mean?"

"I'm... Well... I was a Bishop not long ago..."

"A girl like you used to be part of the Chess? I can hardly believe that."

The girl began to burst into tears: "It's true... I... I helped kill so many people... Helped destroy so many towns... But... But that was because I gave up in humanity..."

"What do you mean?" Nanashi asked.

"I used to think that humans were pathetic, that our stupidity simply made it impossible for us to truly learn from our mistakes. But, even so, that didn't mean that we deserved to die. I joined the Chess last year, as a Pawn, and made my way to the rank of Rook. I watched many of the battles of the War Game, including the one you had with Master Peta. By that time, I had already participated in the attacks of Elto Town and Caldea. I felt that, by killing those idiots, I was helping our race become stronger... I saw you kill Peta, and your friends were all victorious in all of their battles, and, deep down inside, I felt a little doubtful about my beliefs.

"But then, then Halloween revived us, and I eagerly joined him. After all, many weak people joined the Cross Guard and made the protectors of Mar Heaven look like idiots. I found them laughable, and thought that, by joining my old comrades, I could fulfill my philosophy and weeding out the imbicles and weaklings of humanity... But the carnage was too terrible. I joined in the second attack on Caldea, and watched as those brave wizards and witches fought to protect their homeland. I was promoted for my help in that battle, but by no means did I feel proud. No, now I began to realize that I was wrong...

"I had no chance to leave the Chess, so when Halloween asked for troops to join in the march on the Northern continent, I volunteered. We attacked Vestry, and more innocent people were butchered by this blade of mine. I couldn't live with myself for standing by these bloodthirsty Chess, so I left again. I fled during the heat of battle and succeeded in deserting. I found these woods and thought that I could hide from the Chess and rethink what I was going to do with my life now that I was no longer a part of them. But now, you've found me." The girl turned away, with the look of shame and embarrassment tainting her face.

"You're too pretty to have that kind of look on your face." Nanashi smiled. The girl stared at him strangely, and he explained: "In both ways."

The girl's eyes widened, and Nanashi continued: "We all make mistakes. Heck, I have a close friend, Galian, who became a Knight in the Chess, and, by doing so, he betrayed the people who he used to call family. But now, he's a proud Luberian who's been fighting the Chess for this whole time. You're a little different from Galian, though. He joined the Chess with the stupid reason of wanting to be stronger. You joined the Chess because you felt that you could do something good in lessening the population of the idiots of this world... Like me!" Nanashi lept up, attempting to help her laugh a little, but he only succeeded in crashing on the ground.

The girl smiled slightly: "You're quite kind... Well, I'd better introduce myself. My name is Julie."

Nanashi got up, and flashed a smile: "So, are you willing to start bashing Chess brains out? My friends are having a brawl with them about twelve miles behind us... Well, you know that. So, shall we go?"

"It's difficult attacking them when I was among them not too long ago... But... I'd better make up for what I did. I'm coming with you, Nanashi."

"And I'm glad that you are! Let's go!" Nanashi smiled brightly. The pair rushed as fast as they could back to the allied lines.

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With two more experienced fighters on their side, the Cross Guard and the Theives Guild of Luberia had a new reason to be a little more hopeful. However, what could these two additional allies really could do compared to their horde of foes?