Pales, Archanea
It was all dark… Roan could hear nothing but the echoes of screams as the smell of smoke permeates throughout the area.
He slowly opens his eyes as he breaths rather deeply due to his injuries.
"Roan!" Marian said, picking up her captain "Captain. Captain! Please answer me! No… Please don't die"
Roan was barely conscious and could hardly utter a word to comfort his comrade.
She quickly places her barely conscious captain on her Pegasus and flies to the other Sokols.
They were holding off hordes of soldiers, all exuding a purplish aura and menacing red eyes.
The Pegasus knight lands just behind the frontlines and places her captain in a makeshift hospital.
"Luna! Luna!" the Pegasus knight frantically cried "The captain! The Captain!"
"I understand" the middle aged silver-haired saint said "Put him down here, gently"
Marian complies and the saint quickly heals the wounded captain.
No longer feeling pain, the captain springs to life.
"Roan" Luna said grasping the captain's shoulders "You need to rest"
"No" Roan replied, trying to stand up "We must defend the city… I can still-"
He feels a sharp pain in his chest, forcing him to kneel.
"Don't push yourself, Captain!" Marian said, helping him up
"I can't rest now…" the Captain replied "Not when everyone is fighting…"
"Captain please…" Marian pleaded as several enemy soldiers appeared from the rooftops
Roan unsheathes his sword. "Marian. Get to your Pegasus"
"But Captain"
"That is not a request"
Marian ponders for a moment before deciding to comply.
"I'll help too" Luna said picking up her staff
"No. You have to focus on evacuating the people!"
"I have others taking care of that. Besides-"
The saint casts a seraphim spell, incapacitating several enemy soldiers.
"-You need my help against these things"
"Alright…"
Roan and Luna charge towards a group of enemy myrmidons.
He blocks the attacks from 2 different myrmidons and charges at the one behind them while Luna engages the first 2 myrmidons.
Roan easily dispatches the enemy soldiers as Luna skillfully dodges every attack while casting a variety on spells on the enemy.
After fighting for some time, a masked Lancer confronts the Sokols Captain.
Roan widens his eyes for a moment before closing them, the sight of this lancer caused quite a stir in his heart.
Armed with a Brave Lance, the lancer charges forward. Luna attempts to support the captain but is attacked by several enemy wyvern riders.
Roan opens his eyes and parries the strike. The lancer follows up with a side sweep but the captain quickly steps back, avoiding the attack.
The two square off, slowly moving to the side.
"Roan!" Marian said flying to her captain.
She is interrupted mid-flight as an enemy outlaw and rifleman attack from a roof.
"Lorelei… Aiken…" She muttered sorrowfully before charging towards the 2 adversaries "I'm sorry…"
Meanwhile, Roan was getting tired as his wounds were not fully healed.
He was at a disadvantage as the enemy lancer slowly took the upper hand.
"No…" he muttered with his back against a wall "It can't end like this"
The lancer attacks, attempting to stab Roan.
The captain desperately attempts to redirect the lance with his sword.
He succeeds with the lance landing a mere few inches away from his neck.
Roan grunts as the lancer slowly pushes his sword towards his neck.
Unable to release himself from the enemy's grip, Roan closes his eyes, accepting his death.
Suddenly, a familiar voice calls to him. "Roan"
"What?" he muttered opening his eyes "It can't be"
The voice echoes again. "Roan"
"Lissette?"
"Roan you know what to do…"
Roan opens his eyes and quickly rises from his bed, gasping a bit.
"Another weird dream…" he muttered as he prepares himself for the day.
In the months that followed the Taguel uprising in Menedy, rumors of corruption and slavery began to circulate throughout the kingdom.
Outrage and anger spread amongst the common people. The fact that many of them have begun to suffer from the outrageously high taxes at the time also contributed to their anger.
It did not take long for another rebellion to rise…
Pales, Archanea
Palace of the Hero King
War Room:
"What do we know about these rebels?" An Archanean General asked
"My scouts report that they're mostly peasants and commoners from the provinces" Mathis replied "But there are a few defectors from the Archanean Army in their ranks"
"Among them" Kyle Added "Is a former Paladin named Robert"
"Sir Robert?!" Roan thought with wide eyes
This rebellion was far different from the others.
It was bigger, more organized.
But its members were mostly discontented peasants, commoners, and army deserters.
Leading them was a Paladin named Robert, a former Captain of the 12th Cavalry Division of the Archanean Army.
For reasons that Roan had yet to know, the former Army Paladin and his Division decided to separate themselves from the Kingdom.
Together these dissatisfied soldiers, along with some angry peasants, formed what would be later known as the Yellow Turban Rebellion.
"They have wide support in the East" Mathis continued "We have also confirmed that their main stronghold is in the Island of Talys"
"Well" Another Archanean General said "Why don't we invade the island and be done with it?"
"Because" Kyle responded "A large Yellow Turban force is currently marching from Youzhou and headed straight for the capital!"
"So?" The bearded general replied "What can a bunch of peasants do?"
"Wow… With generals like you, it astounds me that the kingdom manages to stay afloat"
"What did you say?!"
Underestimating your enemies… A fool's mistake if you ask me"
"Watch your tongue boy. You may have contributed a lot in this kingdom but you must remember who the true Archaneans are!"
"Pfft… You think blood has anything to do with competence?"
"Enough!" the stern female general said slamming her fist on the table "Let us get back to the meeting at hand! No arguing, am I understood?"
"Yes, General Lilian!" the Archanean generals replied
"General Kyle. Continue your report"
"Yes General" Kyle responded pointing at the map "They are gathering in the border between Aurelis and Youzhou, by the Orlesean River"
"Me, General Kyle, and General Romar gathered our forces on the Aurelis side of the river" Mathis added "There have been a few engagements but nothing major as of yet"
"Hmm…"Lilian said "Any insight on the enemy forces? Their weapons? Equipment?"
"They're not as well equipped as our men" Kyle replied "But still they fight with decent enough skill as well as being supported by rebel Archanean soldiers"
The meeting continued with no end in sight as the generals had varying strategies and views on the situation.
Aiken, who was at the corner, suddenly heard a knock on the door.
He investigated and finds it was a fellow Sparrows rifleman.
After talking with the rifleman, Aiken approaches his commanding officer.
"General Kyle" the cadet whispered "I have news from the front"
"What?" Kyle replied as the cadet relayed the rifleman's message.
At the end of Aiken's report, Kyle stands up.
"Gentlemen" the general said "My scouts just reported that they uncovered rumors of a planned attack on the Aurelis Magic Academy"
"That's west of the border" the bearded general said "How could a rebel force hope to break through our lines and attack a magic school?"
"Don't forget that they're peasants and not to mention that they are supported by experienced soldiers as well. They can easily blend with the normal populace and slip past our troops"
"What? T-That's impossible!"
"Again, you're underestimating them"
"Enough!" Lilian interjected "But why would the rebels want to attack a magic school?"
"We don't know yet" Kyle replied "But I can guess that these rebels want to gain access to more advanced magic or the academy may have something they want"
"Hmm… Fair enough. Can we spare troops to defend the academy?"
"Unfortunately, we can't unless we risk lessening our manpower in the border"
"I would like to volunteer the Sokols" Roan said
"The Sokols?" Lilian responded "I know that the Queen, herself, acknowledges your skills but will you be able to undertake such a task against unknown forces?"
"I have the utmost faith in my unit's skill, General"
"Very well. The Sokols shall be the vanguard of the main force. Captain Roan. I entrust the academy's defense on your unit"
Aurelis Magic Academy
Built just about a thousand years ago at the side of a mountain, it was one of the largest magic schools in the continent.
Whatever it was that the school had at the time, the Yellow Turban rebels wanted it… Or at least that's what the Kingdom thought…
2 days later:
"Welcome to the Aurelis Magic Academy, Captain" a refined middle-aged woman said
"It's an honor to be here, Headmaster Julyan" Roan replied sipping a cup of plum tea "So there have been no incidents these past few days?"
"None so far"
"And for good reason, I might add. Your people wasted no time in setting up defenses for your academy"
"Oh my. Have the gargoyles, skeletons, and golems bothered you or your men in any way?"
"Not at all. By the way, headmaster. If I may ask, I had heard rumors that your family is related to the forgotten hero of legend"
"Forgotten hero?"
"The one spoke of in one of many legends from the War of Heroes era. A warrior whose strength matched that of the Hero King. A loyal soldier who was one of his closest friends and helped usher the era of peace that Archanea enjoyed for the last hundred years"
"Oh my. You know an awful lot about this legend"
"Why yes. Heroic legends like that appeal greatly to me and I always loved the stories of the struggles of these heroes"
"My. My. You are passionate. But alas, I cannot confirm nor deny at this time if those legends are true at this time"
"That's too bad…"
Classroom Wing (2nd floor):
Meanwhile, Chris and Brine were patrolling the corridors and hallways.
"So Chris" Brine said "About that group of pacifist monks you used to be a member of"
"What about them?" Chris replied
"I'm just wondering why you joined their group if you were so attuned to violence in the first place"
"Well… The monks weren't completely wrong about the whole enlightenment thing. And I guess you could say that I actually believe most of the stuff they preached"
"And yet, you left them on your own accord"
"But I just can't bring myself to completely believe in their pacifist philosophy. I can respect them for that but I don't think we'll get anywhere in this world without standing our ground"
"So you believe that violence is necessary?"
"Yes but don't get me wrong. I don't enjoy it"
"What?"
"Violence is violence. Nothing we say can ever place a positive light on it but we need to do it in order to survive. Killing threats for protection, slaughtering animals for food, hell even eating nothing but vegetables for food is still killing"
"Hmm… What do you mean about the vegetables?"
"Come on. Plants are still part of nature. They're also alive. All because something doesn't cry out in pain or react to damage, it's not alive?"
"Hmm… Interesting"
Chris chuckles for a bit and looks at the hallway window.
Despite it supposedly being a school day, there were hardly any students in the classroom wing.
Even the courtyard on the 1st floor was empty… save for one.
"Huh?!" Chris said readying his hand axe "Brine look!"
"A girl" Brine replied peeking through the same window "Wow Chris. Real smooth"
"Look again, idiot. She's surrounded!"
"Huh? Oh. Aren't those… Bonewalkers?"
"Damn! We gotta do something!"
Without any thought or doubt, Chris leaps through the window and dashes to the female student.
"Huh?! Wait! Chris!" Brine exclaimed looking at the courtyard
The war monk did not hear Brine's protests.
He throws his hand axe, 'cutting' off the head of one of the skeletons.
The other 2 Bonewalkers counterattack, swinging their swords from both directions.
Chris brings out his iron axe, parrying every blow.
He uses his axe to push one of the terrors back, after parrying its attack.
The creature lost its balance.
Taking the opportunity, Chris sweeps its legs and destroys the skull while it was still in midair.
The final Bonewalker charges once again.
This time, Chris dodges the attacks and finds an opening.
He swings as hard as he could, landing a critical hit on the creature.
The threat was gone.
Reveling in victory, Chris picks up his hand axe and turns to the female student he rescued.
"Are you ok?" he asked in a soft tone
The student did not utter a word. In fact, her expression was rather deadpan, seemingly devoid of all emotion.
She walks up very close to the war monk, almost as if she was going to kiss him.
"U-um… M-Miss…" Chris nervously said as her face slowly drew closer
Chris couldn't stop his heart from beating so fast. "She's pretty cute…" he thought
"Wait!" he suddenly muttered to himself "I-I can't start thinking that now!"
With their faces so close, the student stops. Confused, Chris stares at her emotionless face as a magic circle appears around her.
"What…?" he uttered as he is hit, point blank, by a fireball sending him flying.
Chris recovers quickly, the fireball hardly injured him.
"HEY!" he shouted "What was that for?!"
"Moron" the student said with a deadpan look and monotone voice "I wasn't being attacked. Those were part of the academy's guard"
"Huh?"
"Don't enter in a situation you don't fully understand, Brainless Brute"
"Brainless Brute?!"
The student flutters her hair and walks off.
"What's her deal?" Chris said as Brine helps him up
Brine chuckles. "I tried to warn you… Still… Looks like you got shot down"
"Shut up…"
"Tell me, Captain" Julyan said sipping some tea "Why do you have such fascination for legends and heroes?"
"Ah yes well" the captain replied "I have always been fascinated with these things since I was a child. It's hard to explain but I just find those stories to be utterly romantic. Saving the world… Changing lives…"
"Really now… But surely there must be a reason behind all this"
"I'm sorry, headmaster but that is a bit personal now. I hope you understand"
"It is quite alright. I'm sorry for prying"
The two then sipped some tea as the school suddenly shook.
"An earthquake?" Roan uttered clutching his sword.
"It could also be one of the classes" the headmaster replied "In some classes, these occurrences are normal"
"Headmaster! Headmaster!" a middle-aged mage said bursting through the door
"What is it?"
"I-Intruders! They've attacked the Mess Hall!"
"What?!"
"The students, teachers, and guards are keeping the intruders at bay for now"
"What of the Sokols?" Roan asked
"They are aiding in the academy's defense as well"
"My. My" Julyan said "This is a pressing matter. Send an alert. Evacuate all novice and intermediate level students in the area"
"At once, headmaster!"
"What of you, Captain?"
"I'll mobilize the Sokols" Roan replied "Headmaster, I advise you to-"
"If it is for me to stay behind, I will not"
"Why?"
"I am the headmaster of this school. My family has helped protect it for hundreds of years, from one generation to another. I am compelled to do the same as my ancestors before me"
"Very well… Let us be off"
Mess Hall:
"Man these bastards are tough!" Maya said dodging an arrow "Are they really peasants?"
"It is odd" Brine remarked casting lightning on an enemy mercenary "They seemed to be quite experienced to be mere peasants"
"Less talk" Lorelei said firing an arrow "More action"
Maya fires her rifle, taking down an enemy myrmidon.
She pauses for a moment, letting her guard down as an enemy assassin appears behind her.
"Look out!" Lissette said parrying the assassin's attack
The lancer quickly defeats the enemy assassin as the other assailants travel deeper into the academy.
"Don't let them get away!" Brine yelled casting a thunder spell
"Everyone!" Roan called "What's going on?"
"An unknown group suddenly started attacking the school" Brine answered "They're probably the rebel force that was mentioned"
"Damn… Any other details?"
"If they are the rebels" Lissette added "Then for a group of peasants, they sure are skilled in combat"
"What do you mean?"
"It's almost as if they trained in the army"
"True" Marian added "They also had dread fighter and assassin unit classes as well"
"Dread fighters?!" Roan uttered in surprise
"Yes" Brine responded "They're a rather rare sight in Archanea"
"Aren't dread fighters a Valentian combat class?" Maya wondered
"Yes they are" Lorelei answered "They are one of the Valentian Army's elite troops"
"This does not bode well" Brine said "If these assailants are affiliated with the rebels and Valentia, one could wonder in what direction this war is going…"
"Excuse me" Julyan interrupted "Where are these ruffians headed?"
"They're mostly concentrated by the Storage Wing" Chris answered
"The Storage Wing?! Oh no… The Vault!"
"The Vault?" Roan wondered "What's in the vault?"
"Records, research, books, artifacts. Everything the academy knows about magic is sealed there!"
"Damn! Sokols, let's move!"
The assailants were well-trained in the art of combat, something unheard of from hastily trained peasants.
Mixed with the fact that Valentian combat classes are among their ranks, the situation grew more complex and the mystery further deepens.
Little did the members of Sokols know that this was only the beginning…
Storage Wing:
"There they are!" Roan said as they gave chase
"More guards…" one of the enemy dread fighters said "… Stall them. We must acquire the artifact at once!"
Some enemy troops broke off the main unit and engaged the pursuing Sokols.
"Hey Brine" Chris said "It's that girl!"
"What?" Brine said
"Over there! She's among the mages fighting the enemy by that big door!"
"Well… Are you going to save her?"
"Of course I will!"
"Typical… Let's see if she doesn't try to burn you again"
"Shut up!"
Marian leads the charge, engaging an enemy swordmaster.
The Pegasus knight swings her lance but an enemy thief parries her strike.
Lissette charges with her lance forward.
The enemy thief easily dodges her attacks.
He was too nimble for the lancer and he manages to injure her with his iron dagger.
Roan quickly comes to Lissette's aid, protecting her from another attack.
The thief proved to be difficult to hit but the Lord eventually was able to land a hit and finish off his opponent.
But the Lord could not catch his breath as he and Lissette are assaulted by enemy archers.
Maya and Lorelei act quickly, attacking the enemy archers with their weapons.
Meanwhile, Chris throws his hand axe at several enemy mages.
"Are you ok?" Chris asked checking on the female student
The female student squints and casts nosferatu, eliminating several enemy mages.
"Right… Well…" Chris muttered as the student manages to hold her own in combat.
A few minutes later:
Roan parries several strikes from an enemy dread fighter.
The Lord was unaccustomed to fighting such a nimble opponent, even with Lissette's support.
"Hey!" Chris said catching up to the student "Come on. We gotta work together here. Hey! Are you listening?"
The student ignored him, focusing her attention on the dread fighter, with a scar on his left eye, in front of them.
"You…" the enemy soldier said in a menacing tone "You stink of forbidden magic"
The student squints and casts Mire on her opponent but the attack hits her opponent's afterimage.
Still with a deadpan expression, the student searches for her target.
The dread fighter appears behind her.
The student notices her opponent too late as he manages to cut her cheek.
She squints once more as the dread fighter attacks again.
Chris quickly throws his hand axe, parrying the fighter's attack.
"Are you ok?" Chris said as he heals the student
"…I'm fine" she replied, still with an emotionless tone
"Come on. Let's fight this bastard together!"
The dread fighter charges, with Chris engaging him first.
Chris' strikes were easily dodged while the war monk struggled to parry every strike of his opponent.
The student casts flux, mire, and nosferatu in quick succession.
The dread fighter dodges the attacks but the nosferatu spell hits him.
The enemy soldier quickly recovers.
"Chris!" Roan said as the Sokols surround the now lone dread fighter
The enemy soldier squints and hold his steel sword tightly, ready to fight to the death.
"Who are you?" Roan asked "What are you after?"
The soldier does not answer.
"Answer me!"
"You all know nothing of what is at stake"
"What?"
The soldier then throws a silver ball at Roan.
Maya quickly fires her rifle, hitting the ball.
"What is this?!" Lissette said as the ball explodes into a thick smoke
Using the smoke as cover, the enemy dread fighter runs past the Sokols.
Lorelei recovers quickly and fires several arrows.
The female student also emerges from the smoke, casting flux on the enemy soldier.
The enemy soldier easily dodges the spells while 2 other dread fighters suddenly appear and cut down Lorelei's arrows midflight.
They use another smoke bomb to finally escape…
Academy Vault
A few minutes later:
"Was anything stolen?" Julyan asked
"There doesn't seem to be anything missing, headmaster" an Academy mage replied
"What were they after?" Roan wondered
"It could be anything" Julyan replied "Our Academy has done numerous researches and collected various artifacts for the past hundred years…"
"Does it involve a purple orb?" Lorelei interjected
"Purple orb?" Roan asked "What do you mean, Lorelei?"
"Before they escaped, I saw one of the enemy dread fighters carrying a purple orb"
"Purple orb, huh… Headmaster, do you know anything about it?"
"A purple orb…" Julyan replied "Oh gods… That was the darksphere"
"The Darksphere? You mean the same artifact that corrupted Emperor Hardin's mind?"
"The very same… But, more importantly, it is one of the components for the Fire Emblem"
"The Fire Emblem?" Brine interjected "Your academy is holding onto the Fire Emblem? I thought it was in the hands of the Royal Family?"
"I think it is no secret on the powers the Fire Emblem possess. In order to protect the artifact, King Marth entrusted the Fire Emblem on the founder of this Academy"
"This does not bode well…"
"Hey!" Chris said, running to the female student
"What do you want?" the female student asked with a deadpan expression and tone
"Come on… Don't give me that… I just wanted to thank you and all"
The female student leers at the war monk.
"Hey… I know we got off on the wrong foot so let's start over. I'm Chris"
The female student continues to leer at Chris.
"Can I at least know your name?"
"Why?"
"Why?! Is that a question? We'll be working alongside one another from now on. We need to know each other a little bit more so we can work together in battle!"
"…Brainless Brute…"
"What? Come on. I'm trying to be nice here!"
The student leers again.
"Carol" she said turning her back
"What?"
"My name is Carol" the student said still with an emotionless tone
Headmaster's office:
"Are you sure she can come along with us?" Roan asked looking at Chris and Carol's conversation through the window
"Carol is a stubborn girl" Julyan replied "Even if you reject her offer, she would still go on a journey alone. So travelling with you would be for the best"
"Right… I promise to take good care of her"
"Thank you"
"One more question, headmaster"
"What is it?"
"I noticed that she practices some peculiar magic. I've never seen anything like it before…"
"Oh… That child… She delved into dark magic, you see"
"Dark magic?! Isn't it forbidden to study them?"
"Yes but Carol was a rather curious girl. She did not allow such risks to stop her. 2 years ago, she conducted some illegal research that ended in disaster"
"What happened?"
"The ritual she performed required her to sacrifice something to whatever she conjured up. In this case, her emotions were the cost"
"Her emotions?"
"Yes. After the ritual, her emotions were sealed. She became incapable of experiencing any emotion or, at least, expressing them"
"Oh gods… Why is she still here if she conducted an illegal ritual?"
"We were ready to expel her but a representative of the Kingdom intervened and advised us to let her stay"
"What?"
"It seems that her research bore some fruits that the kingdom was willing to supply her with materials and money to continue her research"
"Strange… Anyway, are you sure it is alright for you to share this with me?"
"Don't worry. I trust you enough to keep a secret"
The headmaster winks as Roan chuckles.
Thebes Labyrinth:
The 3 dread fighters arrive at the ruins.
They are greeted by other dread fighters, myrmidons, archers, and mercenaries.
The 3 walk past them and are eventually greeted by a male sage and a woman.
"Did you get it?" the sage asked
"Yes" the scarred dread fighter replied, handing over the darksphere
"Very good, Raimi. Did you encounter any trouble?"
"The Sokols"
"Ah yes. Lani's executioners… How goes the battle of Youzhou?"
"The Archanean Army is gaining momentum" another dread fighter replied "The rebel peasants will be overwhelmed sooner than we thought"
"Hmm… The Kingdom is quick to act… Aurora. I think we need to be more direct this time"
"Does that mean..?" the woman replied
"Yes. Use your dragonstone. Use it to turn the battle against the Archaneans. That should buy us more time"
"Very well"
The woman then transforms into a green dragon
"Take care, my dear" the sage said
"I will"
The female manakete then flies off to the southeast.
"Should we accompany her?" Raimi asked
"No. Our mission is elsewhere. Continue searching for information on the other gemstones, as well as the whereabouts of the Fire Emblem and the Falchion"
"At once"
Raimi and the other dread fighters disappear into the darkness of the night.
Left alone, the sage goes deeper into the ruins.
A few minutes later:
The sage stops near a huge door.
He turns to his right and opens a chest.
Inside are several familiar gemstones…
"That's half of what we need" the sage thought placing the darksphere inside "Just a little bit more"
He then goes back to the huge door. The marking on it were eerily familiar, depicting a seemingly 6-winged dragon.
"It will all be over soon" the sage muttered staring at the door as a loud bloodcurdling cry echoes from behind it.