Disclaimer: All Valkyrie profile characters, places and things all belong to Enix and other involved companies. I own none of them. This fanfic is purely for the fun and enjoyment of myself an others. I make no profit from this.
Author's note: Hello everyone! This fanfic is basically based off of Valkyrie profile the game. I loved the game so much I had to write a fanfic on it. This story is only an offshoot of the broader scheme of things though. Instead of explaining the whole valkyrie thing or even lazard etc, this story takes place before then. Unfortunately, some of you may be angry to know, Lezard, valkyrie, and a few other major V.P. characters won't be in this fic. This fic is exclusively based on the group of characters that had an obvious plot together yet that plot was never explored in detail. This is basically the story of characters such as Arngrim, Roland, Lawfer, Celia, Kashel, Grey, etc and how they met and adventured together. Of course, this story takes place before any of them died. Instead this is a story on how they first got together. (hope that made sense, I guess its getting harder for me to explain.) Anyway I hope you all like it.
-Cordis
ADVENTURE'S TALE
CHAPTER 1
Arngrim wiped a damp cloth across his brow as the hot summer air once more brushed his skull. "I hate summer…" The mercenary warrior mumbled to himself, fingering the metal straps on his armor so as too allow a fresh breeze to pass through.
Arngrim felt a soft hand gently nudge his shoulder causing him to turn around towards the one person in the world whom he could never raise his sword against; his brother Roland.
Roland was a rather thin man whom, at a distance, seemed as if he had no resemblance to his brother whatsoever. Unlike Arngrim's rather muscular build together with his menacing sword and armor that gave him the reputation of Damocles sword, Roland was instead lean and a foot shorter then his older brother. By appearance he seemed virtually harmless despite the fact he wielded a bow and quiver across his back. However, as opposed to how he looked, Roland was indeed very skilled with his weapon of choice. Many people in the past were awed by his incredible skill with the weapon and could hardly fathom that a man such as he could wield it so flawlessly. Many more people would often say the two brothers were gifted with super human abilities to be as skilled as they were. Now, however, Arngrim and Roland didn't find themselves so lucky.
*
Both Arngrim and his brother grew up in poverty, having lost both their father and mother years earlier when they were still very young. Even still, the people in the village greatly respected the two brothers. Their father had been a great Knight of Artolia and their mother was a highly respected and loved member of their community. In the past, their father had stumbled across their village after a recent battle with Villnore. He had literally fallen into the woman that would later be their mother. After nursing him back to health, Their father, Arzon, soon fell in love with the woman who's name was Sulia. Some months later Arzon decided it was time he return to the kingdom of Artolia yet at the same time he didn't want to leave the woman he loved. Painstakingly, Sulia told him that it was best he go to defend his king but only if he promised to return to her safely. Arzon made that promise and returned to his kingdom.
Many years passed and little did Arzon know, Sulia had been pregnant with his son. After 2 years Arzon returned to her. He had been shocked of the realization he had a son but was overly joyed as well. He had told her he explained the situation to his king and the king had granted him off time as the threat with the Villnore had been sedated for the time being and also that it was owed to him since he was such a distinguished knight. Arzon spent the next11 years with Sulia after marrying her two months after his return. Two years after his return, she bore him a second child whom he cherished with equal love as that of his elder son.
Soon time passed on and by the 11'th year War between the kingdoms of Artolia and Villnore had broken out again. Sadly, Arzon was called back to duty. Suliya had sadly accepted his responsibility as a knight but pleaded with him to return to his family soon. Once again, Arzon had made the promise and left to fight for his king. Unfortunately He was killed during a major raid on the kingdom. As it was, he had died while defending the king from a famous dark knight who was working in the service of the Villnore emperor. Both Arngrim and Roland, still young and naïve, never saw it coming when all of a sudden their mother became ill and died shortly after due to that illness.
Arngrim and Roland grew up as orphans in the town. Though they were highly liked, they still lead hard lives, having to work hard for a living. Arngrim accepted the role of supporter as he insisted he do all the farm work and wouldn't allow his younger brother to bear the full harsh reality of their misfortune. Arngrim did everything he could to shield his brother yet even then, Roland seemed to possess a greater understanding of their poverty then his older brother and would often find a means of gaining wealth through less harsh means. Silently at night he would plant the money he earned into his brothers money pouch so that by the time the older brother woke up he would think he was still the one providing the major support.
Life went on like this for 4 years for the two brothers until the day when a Dragon suddenly attacked their village. Nearly everyone was killed, however by some miraculous means Arngrim had taken up his father's sword and challenged the dragon. Roland, fearing for his brother's life, gave him support with a bow and quiver he found lying around. Though it was a fairly small dragon, it was still powerful and no one alive came out unshocked when finally the two brothers single handedly defeated the beast and forced its retreat. The remaining villagers saluted their brawn and bravery. The elder of the village then told Arngrim of his father and the legend that his father had formally been a Knight of Artolia. The two brothers saw their destiny at that point. They would journey forth and become knights of Artolia just like their father.
*
However, now this vague dream was becoming more of a memory in the minds of both Arngrim and Roland. They had left the village over 3 years ago. Arngrim now 20 years old and Roland, 18 the two brothers had found many adventures and quests on their journey earning them the reputation 'The Bloody Brothers' yet they still held true to their dream of becoming knights. Unfortunately, that dream was now swiftly dwindling especially on this day as both brothers continued to suffer under the hot summer sky.
"Who's idea was it to go south again?" Arngrim grumbled abruptly, once again fingering at his blue armored plate mail.
"Hey don't look at me dear brother!" Roland defended. "I never said we should go south, I merely suggested that this way would lead us to the nearest town. Unlike you, I highly advised against us simply acting on impulse which you've managed to perfect over the years."
"Oh, so now you're just going to put the blame on me huh?" Arngrim was becoming more livid now, flailing his arms about while at the same time, being careful not to jostle his equipment too much. "Blame it on the older brother while sweet little innocent Roland has done no harm whatsoever!"
"I never said that!" Roland retaliated.
"Oh really? Well you sure are a good actor then cause that's exactly the way you made it sound little brother."
By now both brothers were walking through a particularly bushy trail, trying as hard as they could to keep out of the heat. There were many plants and ferns around them coupled with all sorts of flowers and insects. Had the weather not been so bad, the two brothers might have decided they had landed themselves on a tropical paradise. However, instead, this island of greenery and heat was nothing of the sort as the humidity continuing to pound upon their exposed flesh.
Roland, holding his long bow as if it were a walking stick, swiftly struck it across a large piece of shrubbery in his way. "Look brother, I'm not trying to take advantage of you here. I just… I just don't want you to blame me for this. You know I hate it when you do that…"
Now it was Arngrim's turn to feel bad. He had absent-mindedly ignored the fact that he had indeed started the argument off by hinting the blame towards his younger brother. The big warrior sighed, once more wiping his brow with the back of his gauntlet gloved hand. "Roland… I apologize too. I didn't mean what I was saying. It's just… it's this damnable heat! That's what it is. You know how bad weather affects me. I'm never suited well with it."
Roland simply sighed and shook his head, continuing to walk forth through the glade. "Let's just keep moving brother. Arguing the issue is not going to get us out of this heat any faster."
Arngrim chuckled and was about to say something when suddenly as if out of nowhere a loud scream rang out in the distance.
Both brothers immediately turned their heads towards the shrill sound.
"What was that?" Roland asked anxiously.
"No way of knowing unless we go find out!" Arngrim quickly unsheathed his broadsword then darted quickly down the forested path towards the source of the scream. Roland sighed. Once again, it seemed his brother had all but forgotten him as he has once again fallen victim to overruling logic with instinct. Nonetheless, Roland gripped his bow tightly in his hands as he rushed right after his brother, silently hoping they had not just gotten themselves in over their heads.
::::::::::To be Continued::::::::::
Author's note: Thanks for reading and please stay tuned for chapter 2.