Chapter 15
The World Moves
A castle stands high in the human Kingdom of Umbridge. King John was at his desk waiting for news of the battles happening south of the continent. He waited for several days before the message arrived. He read what General Cortez sent him.
"This can't be; we have failed the people. Those dam old geezers."
King John was upset. He releases Mana and slams his desk. The sound travels through the castle, and people run to his study. Queen Annabeth walks in and sees King John sitting in this mess of a room. She asks him what happened. A maid followed Queen Annabeth.
King John dismisses the maid. The maid closes the door, and King John speaks with Queen Annabeth. He tells her that all towns that belonged to the kingdom have fallen. Queen Annabeth, shocked by the news, asks of the people.
King John gives the report General Cortez sent him. Queen Annabeth tells King John to send more forces. King John told her that the Old Guard had stopped him from doing so. Queen Annabeth gets mad. She then feels a little light-headed.
King John gets up and goes over to her. He holds her and asks if she is all right. Queen Annabeth nods, and King John calls for the maid. The maid walks in, and King John tells her to take Queen Annabeth back to the room. Queen Annabeth looks at King John with a worried look.
"Everything will be all right."
At the Dwarf Kingdom, there was chaos in the streets. Human civilians wanted to know about the town. The army was stationed near the Dwarf castle. No word from the Dwarf King. Dwarf nobles didn't take it seriously.
In another part of the Dwarf territory known as the Workshop, troops prepared for battle. Adventurers were looking at quests but did not want to get involved in the fighting. Refugees from the towns made it to the Workshop.
Madam Cynthia learned about the destruction of Ivory Springs in a house where adventurers lived. These adventurers were former slaves that she helped. Madam Cynthia stopped there before going to meet with dwarf officials. Madam cried and remembered all who were there when she left.
In another town, Lord Michael was going over some records. He gets interrupted by a messenger. The messenger hands him a letter. Lord Michael opened it, and it was from Captain Harris. He wrote to Lord Michael and told him about Wolf and Adolpha.
Lord Michael gets excited. He learned that Wolf was dead and Adolpha was somewhere in the Umbridge Kingdom or the Neutral Kingdom of Kingsland. Lord Michael has a big smile on his face. He sits and brings out some paper. He began to write letters.
"Luck is on my side, after all. Adolpha, you had fun avoiding me, but it's time to come home. Wolf, I don't need you, but your child, now that's another story."
Lord Michael laughs. He calls for a servant. He wants him to take the letter to a messenger guild. The servant takes the letters and leaves. Lord Michael looks out the window at the servant. Unknown to him, an odd-looking boy stared at him. He smiles creepily.
In Ivory Spring, more ships began to arrive. Troops disembark and head to buildings that have been fixed. Demon soldiers already stationed there were moving supplies and fortifying the town. Demon soldiers that looked important went to see the head of all of them.
This demon man was wearing a brown worn-out Japanese-looking ronin outfit. The important soldiers were new captains making land. They introduced themselves to him. The demon man was looking out to the mountains. He gave the new captains simple orders.
"Get your troops ready for battle."
On a desert plain in a military station, the loud voice of a male beast man expresses his disappointment. He was reading a report about the attack on human territory. His troops, made of different animal beast men, heard him.
This beast man was in a tent behind a curtain. You could hear the splash of water, so he was bathing. The beast-man speaks to someone on the other side of the curtain. This beast man was enormous. He was sitting drinking wine.
"Kujo, did you hear me? The Empire has left its people again. This has to stop. I'm in about what you told me; get everything ready."
In a forest to the north beyond the mountains, the Elves lived. In a sacred place, a group discussed the situation. They spoke in an elvish language. The light shines on the group, and they were also fully covered. They talked about the demons.
One of them asked if the demons were real. Another said that their spies were investigating them. More questions arose about who was controlling the demons. Another voice told them to stop. This was a male voice; he was concerned that the other elvish clans would make a move.
A female voice told him that he should focus on the situation. They then had a vote to see what would happen. They voted to wait as the situation progressed. One elf then said that they would check the seal. They agree and leave.
Several more days passed, and Father Williams was at the church. He was handing out food. The church was still taking some refugees. Sister Angie came over and told Father William that the head priest wanted to talk to him. Father William asked sister Angie to take his place.
Father William goes to the head priest's office. It was ample space with decorative paintings. There was a large desk at the end by a window. Father William enters and takes a seat. The head priest greets him.
The head priest wore a white robe with gold decorations. He looks to be of average height. He also has blonde hair and blue eyes. He was old too. The head priest looks at Father Williams. Father Williams was nervous.
"Father William, the request to reopen your orphanage has gone through. With your age, it would be hard managing it. We at the church believe you can do good, so we allow you to reopen."
Father William got excited and thanked the head priest. The head priest smiled and told Father William to calm himself. He then told him about all the orphans coming in. He told them how hard it was on them to take in so many.
Father William asked the head priest to send them his way. He offered to help as many as he could. The head priest laughs. He thanked Father William and explained the process. He told him they needed to know if they had any other family.
The head priest told Father William that some children were being taken to other close families. He also said that some children had found one or both parents. The head priest told him those beast children were sent to the beast kingdom churches. He finally tells him that they have already selected a child for him to take.
Father William was happy to hear that. The head priest told him about him. He said to Father William that it would be a beast child. Father William was confused and asked about him, saying that all beast children were going to the beast kingdom.
The head priest told him the boy was already selected before making the decision. He then told Father William about him. The head priest said it was a wolf beast boy. He told them that they tried contacting the wolf clans, but they hadn't gotten a reply.
Father William asked about his parents. The head priest told him all he knew about him. Father William was sad for him. The head priest told Father William that he would take him until he was old enough to be by himself. He also said that other children would be sent to him after they determined they were orphans.
Father William thanks the head priest. They bid farewell, and Father William is asked to follow a sister. The sister takes him to a room with other children. The children were all young. Some were no older than five. The sister walks over to a baby wolf boy.
The sister picks him up and takes him to Father William. Father William becomes overjoyed when he sees him. The young wolf boy was Adolphus. He looked at Father William and was happy. Father William thanks god and offers a prayer. The sister then hands Adolphus to him.
Father William leaves to the front of the church. He sees Sister Angie waiting for him. She has some supplies with her. When Father William is close to her, he sees that it is baby supplies. Sister Angie told him that the church gave it to her. She also heard about him opening the orphanage again.
Sister Angie complained, but she was happy to help. They hop on a wagon and leave the church area. Sister Angie was driving while Father William made funny faces at Adolphus. She then asks for his name. Father William has a blank stare.
"You know, I didn't ask him. Should we head back?"
Sister Angie gets mad. She then tells Father William to name him. Father William began to think. He then remembered something he had heard a long time ago. He looks at Adolphus and smiles.
"When I was younger, I heard a Wolfman say this. So, I will name you Fillan, which means young wolf."
Father William was happy. Sister Angie mocked him for giving him a simple name. It took some time, but they eventually reached a small town. It was getting late, and some townspeople saw them. They greeted them as they passed. They then get to a small chapel.
The chapel has a house in the back. There is also a large farming area. Father William gets help getting off the wagon. He then looks at the chapel and tells Fillan it's his new home. Father William walks up to the front door and opens it. He steps inside.
In another part of the world, at the top of snow-covered mountains, panic arises. The race was another wolf clan. They wore fur clothes for the cold. Most of them have white hair. They head to a building near a cave.
An old lady makes her way to the building. She enters and sees another female wolf beast woman. She wore decorative clothes. The older woman was also a wolf beast woman. She was the head of the clan. The wolf beast woman was their seer.
The clan chief asks her what happened. The seer began to panic. She tells the chief that a great disaster is coming. The expression of hopelessness scared everyone in the room. The chief asked her about the vision. The seer, in a threatening tone, told her.
"I saw death and destruction, all races doomed to stop this evil. A warrior holds a rose and a king takes his throne."
The clan chief didn't know what to make of the vision. She asks the seer for more information. The seer could not remember more. The chief wanted to hold a meeting and determine what to do. She calls for the other elders.
The chief was in a building. It was decorated in the style of Native Americans. They were other older wolf people. They were discussing the vision. The clan chief wanted to wait and see if more visions came to the seer. The others wanted to inform the other clans.
After much bickering, they agreed to tell only part of the vision. They would wait for the seer to have another one. They were going to tell the other clans about the war the other races would start. The clan chief was going to talk with the gray clan.
The white wolf clan was worried because there was tension between the humans and the gray wolf clan. The chief of the white wolf clan understood what the gray wolf chief was going through. Years of conflict with the humans cause the other clans to view humans as hostile. Their peace was shattered by human greed.
Time moves on, and the peace in this world changes. King John wants to use his knights at the Umbridge Kingdom and attack the enemy. Within his counsel, a group disagrees with the use of mobilizing the troops. King John asks the nobles for their opinion.
Many nobles were already mad at him for detaining their fellow companions. King John lost the support of half his nobles. He was furious but didn't show it. King John had to rely on his ally, the dwarfs.
More time passed, and the Dwarf Kingdom was in a bad state. The dwarf nobles were fighting, and the dwarf king was not worrying about the enemy. He was having fun by drinking and fighting with his generals. They believed that if the enemy attacked, they could push them back.
When King John learned about the Dwarf King wanting to defend, he felt ashamed for their people. King John also heard that a new emperor had risen to power in the Beast Kingdom. King John now lost another ally. His kingdom now has to establish new ties with the new king.
The seasons changed, and the years passed. King John had scouts look into the enemy movements. They reported that the enemy had moved north, and they were building forts along the way. King John just heard the reports but could not act. It wouldn't be until tragedy struck.
In early summer 854, an older man wearing a brown ronin kimono stands on an open field. The older man was light-skinned and went bald from the top of his head but had long gray hair from ear to ear. He has broken horns and green eyes. He looks at a hill and sees a group; the sun blurs his vision. The older man lifts his hand and waves it. The group takes out what looks like weapons. They began to run down the hill.
The group was made up of children. They were of different races except for humans and dwarfs. The children all wore tan clothes with leather as armor. They ran to the older man standing on the open field. The older man draws Mana.
"Let's see how many will stop again."
The older man releases a wave of energy. The children felt it, and some began to slow. The older man looks disappointed. His disappointment disappears when another group keeps running toward him. The children running to him are two beast men and one that looks like an elf.
The older man prepares to fight. He pays attention to their moves. The first to strike is a small-looking boy. He has red and green hair that covers his eyes. The older man shows his arm. It was made of wood.
The boy starts by jumping and swinging a wooden sword. The older man dodges the first attack. With his other hand, the boy lands and swings another wooden sword. The older man avoids that too. The boy swings both swords rapidly.
The older man dodges all his attacks. He then sees an opening, places his palm on his stomach, and sends the boy flying back with a shock wave. The boy rolls on the ground and holds his stomach in pain.
"Needs to work on defending."
The next attack was by a large beast-man. He has short brown hair. His ears resemble that of a bear. This was because he was a bear beast boy. He was young but tall and browed-shouldered. The bear boy swings a large wooden ax. The older man sidesteps.
The bear boy's attack hits the ground and creates a creator. The bear boy lifts the ax again and goes for another swing. The older man leaves an opening, but the bear boy stops. The older man shacks his head. The bear boy again swings his ax.
The older man stops it with his hand. He then forces the ax downward, and the bear boy's face gets close to the older man. The bear boy then instantly sees the sky. The older man flipped him. The bear boy's back began to hurt.
"Soft."
Some of the other children reach the older man. They surround him and draw Mana. The older man draws Mana again. The children began to glow. The older man activates his spell. A magic circle forms, and the ground lifts him.
The children lose focus, and they get hit by earth pillars. They came out from the earth that lifted the older man. The older man deactivates his spell, and the land returns to the ground. This creates a cloud of dust.
The older man then feels a presence. A wooden sword pierces through the dust cloud. The older man dodges. He then loses sight of the blade. The older man dodges another attack and counters with his own. The attacker dodges.
The older man sees a shadow in the dust. It was moving fast. The older man draws Mana and releases a blast of wind. He feels an attack coming from behind. The older man dodges and tries to get the sword.
The attacker pulls back his sword. The older man turns to face him. In front of him stood a small boy. He wore the same clothes the others had on. The boy has messy gray and brown hair. The older man's arm turns into a wooden sword.
The small boy's ears react. He has animal ears. A wolf beast boy readies his wooden sword. He goes for an attack. The older man blocks the first attack. The wolf boy then attacks with a series of swings. The older man dodges and parries them. He then goes for a swing himself, and the wolf boy escapes.
The older man quickly moves and gets close to the wolf boy. The wolf boy reacts by stepping back. The older man moves again and appears behind him. The wolf boy turns and swings his sword. The older man catches it with his hand. He then swings his sword.
The wolf boy jumps up and spins kicks. The older man dodges the attack. He then goes for another swing. The wolf boy lets go of the sword and avoid the attack. The older man smiles.
"Let's see what you do with his next att…."
The older man gets interrupted by an arrow landing in front of him. He looks up and sees a boy that resembles an elf with horns. The boy's skin was a bright green, and he had white hair. His eyes were that of a beast. The boy got mad and prepared another shoot.
The elf-looking boy pulls the string back on the bow. He then releases the arrow, and it completely misses the older man. The older man draws Mana and creates a ball of wind. He then throws it at the boy. The wolf boy uses the opportunity to attack.
He throws his sword at the older man. The older man moves his head out of the way. The wolf boy then goes for a leg sweep. The older man's body glows, and simultaneously, the ball of air hits the archer. The wolf boy hits the older man's leg.
The wolf boy felt like he had hit a rock. He pulls his leg and grabs it. He holds his calf because of the pain. The older man looks around and sees the children on the ground. He also notices the other that didn't attack looking down. The older man waves his hand, and a group of soldiers wearing the same clothes appear.
The older man orders them to heal the children. The soldiers answer and gather the children. They begin to heal them. Another soldier comes forward and calls him—General Musashi of the Demon Kingdom.
Once they were healed, General Musashi ordered them to line up. Upon a closer look at the children, they were all different ages. They range from ten to fifteen. Once line General Musashi began to tell them how bad they did.
He explained that they did not correctly apply defensive magic before attacking. The kids stood and listened. General Musashi talked about their practice and how they needed more training. He then dismissed them. The kids began to head back to a fort. The fort was still being built.
The kids pass a large gate and enter the fort. Giant mud troll-like creatures were moving material and equipment. Demon soldiers worked on placing bricks and building other structures. Other demon soldiers were guarding the fort wall.
The kids walked to the training grounds. They talked to each other as they walked. The wolf boy stopped and looked up. He saw a giant tower and the flag of the Demon Kingdom waving. The wolf boy feels some place their hand on his shoulder.
"Yo, Fillan, that's some training."
Fillan turns and sees the green and red hair boy. Fillan calls him Shia and tells him that he failed again. Shia was the name of the boy. He is odd because he has a calm and carefree personality but works hard in combat. Shia tells him not to worry and that they have next time.
A large figure soon overshadows them. Fillan looks up, and the bear boy has an intense stare. Fillan showed no emotion and called the bear boy Barret. Fillan tells Barret to get over his fear of hurting people. Barret is the name of the bear beast boy. Barret's mean stare turns into a scared look.
Barret has a timid appearance but has a big brother feel. Barret shakes his head but doesn't say anything. They walked to cabins near the training grounds. The children split into groups and head to a cabin. Fillan, Shia, and Barret were in the same cabin.
They entered and sat on beds. These were their beds, and it has a drawer and a small locker. Shia lays on his bed while Fillan and Barret sit on theirs. Barret took out a book and started to read it. Fillan thought about the training. It suddenly becomes noisy when another kid walks in.
The elf-looking boy was mad and talking to himself. The boy sees everyone looking at him. Shia called him Fearty. He tells Shia not to call him that. Everyone called him that. Fearty said he was angry that he didn't do well. Shia tells him not to worry.
Fearty proclaimed he was a great demon and talked about his ancestors. He also said that he could not embarrass his family name. Fearty was from the demon race. They said that demons and elves were from the same ancestry.
They said that the demon race all have horns while elves don't. Fearty has small horns on his forehead. Fearty complained that everyone was useless and that he could not get an attack right. He looks over at Fillan.
"Fillan, you were right there. If you could have distracted him longer, I could have gotten a good shot. I thought the wolf clans were the most powerful warriors."
Fillan turns to him and stares at him. Fearty tries to intimidate him. They get interrupted by a soldier. He asks that Fillan see General Musashi. Fillan gets up and leaves. Fearty sighs and tries to play it off. He then questions why Fillan doesn't show emotions.
Fillan makes his way to General Musashi's quarters. He walks by demon soldiers training. He also passes the smith's workshop. There were other buildings too. Some were houses for the soldiers and workers. Fillan walks up some stairs and gets to a building.
Fillan knocks on the door and enters. General Musashi was sitting and reading a book. He sees Fillan and puts the book down. He offers him a seat. Fillan sits down and looks at General Musashi.
General Musashi takes a minute. He then begins by telling Fillan that his swordsmanship was excellent. Fillan thanks him. General Musashi then asks Fillan to use magic. Fillan told him he couldn't.
"Fillan, if you want to survive and continue to serve, you need to be able to use magic. When I first saw you, I knew you were special. All the children are special. I took all of you in when the world abandoned you. I know there is more to you."
General Musashi talked about the evils of the world. He talks about slavery and the discrimination of half-breeds. General Musashi asks Fillan if he can remember anything about his past. Fillan said it was foggy. General Musashi then tells him that something is blocking him from using magic.
Fillan asks if there is something they could do to help figure it out. General Musashi tells him that he has called for something. Fillan needs to wait for it to come. General Musashi tells him to keep training until then.
Fillan was dismissed, and he left. General Musashi sits back in his chair. He takes out his book and continues to read it. He then thinks about the demon lord and his plan. General Musashi has another thought. His body glows, and he forgets about it.