Chapter 2
"You're highness! Flee now, Kira and I will hold them off for as long as we possibly can!"
"Do not return until you see the signal Queen Tilaphiopa. Do you understand?"
"I will not abandon my people!"
"Please . . . for the sake of your daughter and your kingdom! We can not afford to lose our last ruler! King Persenion has already fallen, you must live on!"
"Kira, you and Ganford can escort my daughter to Sandoria! I will not abandon my kingdom!"
"You must!"
"Your highness please!" A door slammed open.
"Captain Ganford! They have broken into the castle!"
"What! What of the third and sixth division guarding the gates!"
"I'm sorry my lord . . . . they are all dead."
"Accursed Beastmen! Kira, get Queen Tilaphiopa and Princess Ginryu out now! I will see to the last of these orcs. Jenor, follow!"
"Yes sir!"
". . . your highness . . ."
". . . he said . . . the sixth division was completely wiped out?"
". . . . yes." The queen fell to her knees.
"Oh gods . . . my son Faros!"
"Your highness!"
Gin snapped upright in her bed panting. Her breath came in ragged gasps as she clenched her white sheets in fisted hands.
"Altana save me . . . what was that?" She murmured.
"Gin!" Mabs called running up. It was 4 years from the day they had met, and both had grown considerably taller, as all of their kind did. Ginryu was now at the peak of blossoming, the delicate age of 10, and Mabs was at the age of 11.
"Hey Mabs, hang on a sec, I just gotta finish my chores!" She called as she wrung out the last of the laundry. Clipping it onto the wire, she skipped down the stairs and called into the kitchen;
"I'm done the laundry! Is it all right if I go with Mabs now?"
"Certainly Ginrie." Lillith called, using their nickname for her. "Be careful."
"I will!" She said cheerfully. Running down the steps she kissed Cahaurme and Lillith on the cheek before skipping out the door. Joining Mabs, they ran over to Helbort's blades and ran inside.
"Hiya Mr. Helbort!" Mabs called cheerfully.
"Hello Mabs." He said absentmindedly. Gin climbed behind a little curtain and quickly pulled off her dress, wrapping it in a blanket, she gave that to Thadiene and grinned.
"Thanks Thadi!"
"Anytime Gin." She called placing the bundle beneath the counter. Gin was now dressed in a blue tunic and brown leather pants.
"Let's go!" She cried.
"Yeah, now that dress won't slow you down when we fight!" And the two ran out of there.
"Mr. Helbort?"
"Yes Thadi?"
"Is it right to help such unladylike behavior along in Ginryu?" She asked a little worried.
"Yes. We are a country of warriors after all Thadi. Besides, that girl is destined to be a warrior, I can tell." A sudden clanging of the door bell caught his attention.
"Oh, hello there." Thadi said cheerfully. "What can I- Mr. Scwol! What a surprise!" She said to the hume who walked up. Black hair and gray eyes were covered by a bright white helmet, and he was garbed in the gear of a Paladin. Behind him came a hume girl with Brownish blonde hair tied in a ponytail, she was garbed as a Summoner. Her green eyes flashed with mischief. Next to her was Draish, garbed as a full fledged Red Mage.
"Mr. Scwol, what a pleasure." Helbort said cheerfully. "I must say, I have not quite gotten used to your attire. It seems just like yesterday, you were a brand new adventurer bumbling around, buying your first bronze sword here." Scwol laughed.
"Yes, but I have grown. Allow me to introduce Miaah." And he gestured to the hume female behind him. "My fiancée." Thadi's eyes widened.
"Good heavens! You're getting married!" She squealed delighted.
"Yes." Miaah said smiling.
"Congratulations to the both of you." Helbort said happily.
"Unfortunately, that is where the good news ends." Draish whispered, Helbort and Thadi looked at him.
"Pardon?"
"We have news. The Orcs are rising, they plan a full frontal attack tonight, after midnight. With the lack of forces in Sandoria . . . it's expected the battle will be a grievous one." Draish murmured. Thadi turned pale and gasped behind her hand.
"The Orcs!" Helbort demanded. Miaah nodded her head sadly. "Why have we gotten such little notice of this?"
"We only heard of it yesterday, it was a full day's ride from Davoi to here, we should have heard it earlier from royal spies, but yesterday, they were found outside their designated posts. Dead, papers in their hands. That's why we received so little notice of it." Draish explained. Thadi looked troubled.
"But why have you come here? Anything we have to offer at this point is useless to you."
"We came because we need to know if there are any people in the city that can fight aside from the royal and temple knights. Adventurers are being called from all over to help protect Sandoria, Windurst, Bastok, Selbina, Mhaura and Jeuno. Kazham for the most point is safe, as is Norg, there aren't enough Beastmen there. Just goblins. But with our services being stretched so greatly, it's expected that there are barely enough troops to defend such a large city." Scwol said, his face furrowed in thought and frustration.
"Well . . . I will tell you the names of all who can fight in this city. On the condition that you do not force them to fight. Do you understand?" Helbort demanded. Scwol, Miaah and Draish all nodded assent.
"Very well . . ." And he proceeded to list all possible names of customers, who had bought his weaponry. When he had finished, Scwol bowed.
"Thank you."
"Uhm . . ." Thadi murmured looking away in shame.
"Yes?" Miaah asked turning to look back at her. Thadi blushed.
"There are . . . 7 more. 7 more people. . . who can fight." She whispered. Draish blinked.
"Why did Helbort not mention them? 7 fighters would certainly boost our ranks."
"B-because . . . they are . . . not very well trained." She whispered. Helbort's eyes widened in realization.
"Thadi! No! They are not ready!"
"They have trained for 4 years Helbort! We should give them a chance!" Thadi protested. Helbort's eyes narrowed in anger.
"NO! I will not let you!"
"Tell us." Scwol injected firmly, his feet spread, hands on hips. "And what is the matter with asking them? 4 years of training is plenty."
"Because. . . because. They are children no more then the age of 10 and 11."
"Give up Laz!"
"Forget it Mabs!" Lazarus jeered and he blocked with his sword and swung at Mabs catching the tip of his arm.
"OW!" Mabs yelped falling to the ground clutching his arm.
"That hurt Laz!" He whined. Lazarus laughed.
"Come on baby, up you come." He said grabbing Mabs' hand and hoisting him up.
"Me next!" Gin cried hopping to her feet. The 7 children, had been training ever since Gin and Mabs told of what they had seen that day. Of the adventurer, and had decided they should all become ones themselves. And thanks to what they now knew as a LinkShell, people had taught them all they needed to know. Opeth aspired to be a healer, so naturally a white mage, Lilli wanted opted to be a black mage, being fascinated with the dark arts, Bagel wanted to be a thief, and eventually a Dragoon. Hal was set on being a monk, while Lazarus and Mabs were warriors, eventually Mabs wanted to be a Paladin, while Lazarus chose to be a Dark Knight. Gin however had now idea of what she wanted to be. She liked the idea of healing, of casting attack spells, but also the idea of fighting. What was an Elvaan to do?
"Okay baby, come on!" Lazarus taunted while swinging his wooden sword, each had wooden weapons, and they were all filled with lead, to help them get used to the weight of a real sword. Gin drew her own short sword and the two circled each other.
"Go Gin!"
"Come on Laz!"
"Go Laz! Go Gin!" Mabs called laughing. Gin suddenly struck forward with her sword meeting his with such force he was pushed back a few steps.
"Not bad . . . little girl." He smirked and forced her off before lunging with his blade. Gin squeaked and dodged the blow by stepping to the side before swinging her sword at his neck. He quickly blocked that with the blade nearest his hilt and slid the tip up towards her stomach. She diverted his aim by using the hilt of her blade to smash it left, then jumped off to the side. They circled again. They ran at each other again, both smiling at the prospect of a challenge.
"Fast blade!" Lazarus suddenly yelled. Gin's eyes widened.
"Wha-? AH!" She yelped as his blade suddenly glowed white and came down in a haze of sparks and heat. She blocked it with her sword and was forced back, stopping only when the wall halted her skidding.
"What the heck!" Hal yelped looking at both Gin and Lazarus in bewilderment. Laz laughed out loud.
"I learned that yesterday while practicing! Awesome isn't it?" He asked grinning innocently. Lilli applauded.
"That was so awesome Laz!"
"Yeah, way to go!" Bagel cheered. Opeth sighed.
"You people and your violence." He muttered. Mabs stomped up to Lazarus and glared before fisting his hand and slamming it into the side of Lazarus's face. The Elvaan stumbled a few feet, his eyes wide in disbelief.
"W-what did you do that for Mabs!" He snapped. Mabs glared.
"You could have killed her you idiot!" He screamed in fury then ran over to Gin where she was vaguely trying to stand. Lazarus blinked at her for a moment, before it sunk in.
"Oh crap! Gin are you okay!" He yelled in shock as he ran over.
"Fine, just fine. Got hit a little hard that's all." Gin said trying to wave them off. She managed to chuckle. "That's a pretty strong blow Laz. Way to go." She coughed and stumbled over to the bench and fell on it.
"I'll be fine, just a little shaky." She said with a wink. "Go ahead without me guys."
"Actually, I was hoping we would get to speak with you." A voice broke in. All 7 turned to the alley where three shadowed figures stepped into plain view and smiled friendly. Unfortunately, the minds of the children registered only one thing. Adults. Their eyes widened.
"SCATTER!" Mabs yelped and instantly all of them ran in different directions. Scwol sighed and looked at Draish who shrugged.
"Graviga!" He yelled, instantly all of them felt the weight of gravity become greater, and as a result, not a whole lot of them could run.
"This . . . could be bad." Hal said dimly as he tried to take a step. Miaah walked around gathering some of them and dragging them behind her. Scwol gathered up the rest, while Draish picked up the fallen weaponry. Setting them down on the bench, Scwol removed his helmet, wiped his brow, then put it back on.
"Alright, sorry we had to stop you like that, but we'd like to talk to you." He said with a nod to Draish.
"What am I? You're bloodhound?" He muttered sarcastically and removed the spell. The 7 children suddenly found it much easier to breath.
"You are Mabs, Gin, Lilli, Laz, Hal, Opeth, and Bagel correct?" Scwol asked dimly.
"Who's asking?" Mabs demanded, eyes glinting. Miaah walked up and smiled going onto one knee.
"Tell me child . . . would you do anything to protect your home?" Mabs blinked at the sudden change of topic. Looking at his friends, he nodded.
"You would do anything?" Draish asked, his face hidden by the shadows of his hat. Mabs nodded again without hesitation.
"Anything." He said calmly. Draish shared a glance with Miaah and Scwol, before nodding and walking over while removing his hat. Gin and Mabs' eyes suddenly widened with realization.
"Draish!" Gin cried hopping of the bench, stumbling a bit due to her jelly like legs from Laz's attack and catapulted herself at his waist where she hugged him tightly. Draish 'oof'ed from the assault and was forced a step back, before looking at her and smiling.
"Hi Ginryu."
"I haven't seen you in forever Draish!" Mabs said cheerfully. "You need us for a favor? What's the favor?" Lazarus grunted.
"Who said you speak for all of us?" He demanded. Mabs shrugged.
"I asked him what the favor was, I didn't say we'd do it yet."
"Yet." Lazarus grumbled moodily crossing his arms and leaning against a wall. Scowl exchanged a glance with Miaah.
"Alright." Scowl said looking at them. "Here's the problem. . . ."
"ABSOLUTELY NOT!"
"But-!"
"NO!" Cahaurme snapped. The call to arms had been sent out an hour ago and he was strapping on his armor.
"It is hard enough bearing the knowledge that my brother and father are out there and could die, I will not have my daughter out there as well!"
"But father-!"
"No! And that is final!"
"Ginrie, listen to him. He speaks sense, war is a brutal thing, it is not fun and games!" Lillith explained urgently. Ginryu looked at her frustrated.
"I know that! I know the full force of war!" She said sharply. "I can fight! Let me help!"
"No, I will not repeat myself again Ginrie." Cahaurme's firm tone of voice signified the end of the conversation. He finished tying his sword to his belt and picked up his bow and arrow set.
"Now remember." He said turning to face them. "The battle starts at midnight, sleep near the back door, if you hear the attack has made it past the walls or arrows being shot outside the house, escape into the back alleys, they were designed for war like this." Ginryu's mind instantly went over what a visiting scholar in the city had said once; that the winding passages of Sandoria's capital were built in such a manner as to make invasion all the more harder.
"Of course. Be careful." Lillith whispered as she stood to embrace her husband for what could possibly be the last time.
"I will. Be safe you two. Paradise is a blessing, but not one to be received so early." He said calmly and opened the door where knights had already began to parade through the streets. They were reinforcing walls where the could, setting up ranks, lining up their men . . . all signs of preparations of war. Ginryu glared at him in frustration, tears of anger at the corner of her eyes. She waited for a few seconds after the door had closed, before running over and yanking it open. Running into the street she yelled;
"Father!" Several heads turned in her direction, including Cahaurme's. "I want you to know-!" She continued. "That I don't like you right now for not letting me fight! But I still love you! And you'd better come back so I can still hate you! Or else . . ." She faltered. "I'll hate you even more if you don't! And you said hating is a sin!" She finished. All those listening chuckled softly, and Cahaurme smiled. She waved at him, tears trickling down her face. He waved back and continued on.
When her father was out of sight, Ginryu raced up the steps to her room, closing the door she sorted through her drawers before finding what she was looking for, a candle and a clear red crystal. It was starting to get dark, just past sunset. Lighting the candle, she walked over to the window and set it down carefully, then she held the crystal in front of it and began rotating it slowly, eventually the light would focus on a corner and send out a blink of light, visible in a window a block away. Suddenly a blue crystal light winked back at her, and she smiled. It was a signal, Mabs had gotten the message, and he would send it to Lilli, who would send it to Hal and Opeth, who would in turn get it to Bagel and Lazarus. It was a signal usually to go to the secret area, and to come armed.
Long after the moon had risen, it was time. Ginryu rose ghostly quiet from her pallet on the floor, and tiptoed deathly silent over to the room where she had hidden her sword. Closing the door quietly, she changed from her sleeping gown to her trousers, boots, gauntlets and mail. Grabbing her short sword, the one she had saved money up for and bought from Helbort was clasped to her belt, looking at a mirror pinned up on the wall, she grabbed one last item. A visor. That secured she started out the door, a note pre-written where her pallet was.
I've gone to protect my country.
Don't worry about me, I'm not alone.
Keep safe, I'll bring back father for both of us.
Ginrie.
"Took you long enough." Bagel hissed as Ginryu ran into the circle between the buildings.
"Sorry." Ginryu whispered back.
"We really going to do this?" Lilli whispered urgently.
"Yes." Mabs and Lazarus said at once. They looked at each other and smiled.
"Do what you can." Mabs said softly. "That's what Draish said. We have to help!"
"Well I know I'm good for healing! Adaunel said that I had great healing potential, and that if I were in the Adventurers army, I'd be ranked level 10." Opeth murmured.
"Same!" Lilli cried. "Except for the healing part, he said I had incredible skills as a blackmage! I'm gonna roast those Orcs!"
"What about you Gin?" Hal asked looking at her. Gin was silent, before she looked at them.
"Adaunel said that my casting ability was exceptional."
"Nice! You're going to be a mage?" Gin looked away.
"Kind of." She replied.
"Why? Did he say something else?" Lazarus asked curious.
". . . that my ability to wield my sword with such skills was commendable as well, even more so than my casting skills."
"What! You can't cast and melee at the same time!" Bagel cried out shocked. Gin flushed.
"Actually, you can. I talked to Draish yesterday . . . there's a job I didn't consider, but now I have. And I've decided it's what I will be, I've chosen it as my class." She murmured.
"What is it?" Mabs asked. Ginryu looked at him, and grinned.
"What Draish is. A redmage. I can heal, nuke, and melee all at once."
The children joined the already vast line of troops. A commander came down the lines, inspecting. He stopped at Bagel and blinked.
"Shouldn't you be in the mage ranks?" He asked blandly. Tarus came in generally one size, he couldn't tell if it was a child or not.
"I'm a t-thief profession sir!" The commander hid a smile.
"No need to be shaken by me Sir Thief. You should be more worried about the beastmen."
"Y-yes sir!" Bagel stuttered. The commander walked on. He didn't even take a step before his gaze settled on Lillianna who trembled.
"And what are you doing here? And you? You as well! Good god what are children doing in my ranks!" He bellowed. Opeth and Hal openly flinched, Lazarus gritted his teeth and Mabs felt sweat going down his temple. Ginryu clenched her fists and bit her lip. All heads turned in their direction and all 7 children suddenly turned pale.
"Well! Speak up!" The commander roared.
"We're here to fight for our country!" Ginryu squeaked. The commander glared.
"What? Speak up!" He ordered. Ginryu took a deep breath to try and calm her heart, note the word 'try'.
"We're hear to protect our country sir!" She said a tad louder then needed. A few men in the back smiled. The commander was touched by their determination, but was less then amused.
"And what can children like you do to protect your nation?" He demanded.
"We don't know until we try sir!" Mabs broke in, he was openly trembling now. The commander looked at him, he was to the right of Ginryu.
"And what happens if you find out you can do nothing?" He hissed. "What if you die?"
"Then we will die trying to do something noble." Lazarus answered calmly. "Our greatest fear is dying a useless death, if we die, we want to make our death worthwhile. That is what being a true hero is." He said calmly. Lilli and Hal nodded eagerly.
"It's true sir!" Bagel pitched in grinning as he pushed his large hat back above his eyes.
"If we go down sir . . ." Gin began, and the others all finished the quote they had often said in reference to the beastmen.
"THEN WE WILL TAKE ANY ORCS WE CAN WITH US!" They cried in unison. The commander was truly surprised, and suddenly had a whole new respect for the newer generation.
"I'll tell you this kids, you're determination is aspiring, truly, but you're still kids. I refuse to-!"
"I will speak for them."
"As will I."
"They have my backing." Three voices interrupted, the commander turned to find Draish, Scwol and Miaah.
"We asked them ourselves, PERSONALLY to assist us." Scwol commented. "Thadiene who works under Mr. Helbort said that they have been training for 4 years. From what we've seen they've already gotten to the point of learning weaponskills."
"What! You would put these children's lives on the line!"
"Children they may be, but all the people of this city have their lives on the line here . . . the least we can do is let them help decide their own fate." Miaah explained calmly.
"Let them choose." A soldier offered. "Tell them what could happen with either choice and let them choose!" The commander glared at him and he backed down. The commander sighed.
"Seems fair." Draish said comically. The commander turned to look at the children.
"Alright, you fight and there is a chance you will die a horrible, painful and bloody death. Choose not to fight, you get to live longer and not experience warfare." He said dully.
"Ahem." Draish said. The commander glared.
"What?" He snapped.
"And what happens if our ranks lose the battle while they are at home?" He asked softly. The commander gave Draish a searing death glare before looking at the children.
"Should our ranks fall, the Orcs will pillage the city, destroying and burning anything they can." There was silence. And suddenly the commander noted the children's trembling.
'Good, they've finally realized this is not a game.' He thought. He thought they would refuse to fight. Bagel looked at the others, his face pale, his hat flopped over one eye.
"Guys . . ." He whispered. "I can't . . . I can't let . . ."
"I know Bagel. None of us can." Mabs whispered. Gin looked at them, Lilli, Hall, Laz and Opeth all looked back, all 7 of them exchanged a glance before looking at the commander.
"We can't." They all whispered. The commander smiled gently and was about to nod when Ginryu continued.
"We can't let that happen. Right!" She called encouragingly.
"Never! I won't let those damn Orcs touch my mother! Or any other citizen of Sandoria who did not raise a sword against them!" Lazarus cried drawing his sword and holding it up. Mabs' sword joined his.
"Neither can I! They will taste steel before the night is done!" The others drew their weapons and raised them to the night sky. One by one they chanted off a saying;
"Die not in vain-!"
"Die in cause!"
"Fear nothing!"
"For you can only fear yourself!"
"Lose no hope!"
"Gain only courage!"
"Never give up!" And the last line they shouted together.
"AND FEAR NO CREATURE SO LONG AS WE ARE COMRADES!" Their speech had riled the crowd, and suddenly swords, staffs, poles and weapons of all kind were being raised to the night sky with the 7 children's. The commander looked taken aback, before hesitating, laughing, and drawing his own sword. And all the voices of Sandoria, looked to the night sky, forgetting for one moment that over the rise, lurking in the shadows were eyes of red, hungry for blood. They cried in one voice;
"TO THE GODDESS ALTANA!"
Overhead, the moon signaled midnight.
Disclaimer: I do not own Mabs, Lillianna, Opeth, Bagel, The Orcs, Draish, Miaah, Scwol is iffy, I changed the name but the character is based on my brother's. Sandoria, Thadiene, Helbort, Adaunel, and Cahaurme.
I DO own Ginryu, Lillith, Halloween, Lazarus, and the plot.
