"Usurpation"
The King of Sandoria was furious as he stepped out of the airship from Jeuno. He had just received news that the Orcs have struck another blow to the Sandorian Army. A platoon of Paladins was massacred as they tried valiantly to defend a Sandorian outpost in Norvallen. The Sandorian Army was slowly being decimated by the constant beastmen attacks the past week. It as time to do something drastic the King thought. "Jahn, call an emergency meeting of the military commanders right away. I need to discuss a plan of action against these Orcs." The King told his personal bodyguard. "It shall be done my Lord." said Jahn, an Elvaan Ninja replied as he took his leave. As the King made his way to Chateau, he saw how the war with the beastmen had affected the lives of ordinary Sandorians. The streets of Northern Sandoria was usually teeming with people especially near the woodworking guild, now it was like a ghost town, no one dared to venture out of their homes in fear.
"This has got to stop." the King said to himself as he entered the throne room. He got even more furious at the sight one of the prince lying down on the throne. "What is the meaning of this? Stand up from throne." the King angrily said to his son.
"Your throne? Not anymore my dear Father." the Prince yawning as he answered back.
"At this time of crisis you still have time to joke around?" the King angrily asked.
"This is not a joke Father, since you cannot defend Sandoria from the Orcs, you may as well give up your throne and let me rule in your stead." the Prince replied.
"And what do you think you can do? All day long you do nothing but womanize and ruin the good name of the Monarchy. Don't make me laugh. Get out of my sight before I lose my temper and lock you up in a dungeon."
"Sorry Father. Your reign as ruler of Sandoria has ended." the Prince said as he stood up.
"What makes you think I will give up my crown to you? Guards arrest him and lock him in the dungeon and throw away the key." the King ordered the guards.
The royal guards started to approach the Prince when a Hume came out and stood in front of the Prince. The royal guards drew their swords and surrounded the Prince and the Hume. "and who might you be?' the King asked the Hume.
"He is my trump Card." the Prince smiled.
The Hume raised his hands and cast a spell of Stonega at the royal guards, knocking most of them down. Then he cast a spell of Thunderga defeating the rest of the royal guards that were still standing. "Who are you? It has been quite awhile I have seen such a powerful mage like you. Why do you meddle in the affairs of Sandoria?" the King asked.
"His name is Icon my dear ex monarch." a voice said behind the curtains. A white haired Elvaan then stepped out and the King saw who he was. "Duke Leydon, what is the meaning of this?"
"You are old my Lord. It is time to give up your crown and let the Prince take over." the Duke answered back.
"You traitor! I have made you my advisor the last 30 years and this is how you repay me? Betrayal?" the King angrily asked.
"Betrayal? Saving Sandoria from destruction is called betrayal? I think not. The youth is the future of Sandoria. I am sorry but you have to go." the Duke said.
The King drew his sword and charged the Duke. A Paladin by training, the King was a highly skilled warrior. A female Elvaan carrying a scythe appeared out of nowhere and blocked the King's sword as he was about to strike the Duke. She smiled and said. "Nice, The King is a Paladin. I will enjoy this."
"Meet Umbra my Lord. She is the best Dark Knight ever to survive the Dark Knight Training." the Duke said,
"Umbra, I know that name. You were Zeid's pupil years ago. I thought you were killed by Zeid." the King said.
"Not your luck I survived." Umbra replied. She swung her scythe at the King. The King jumped back to avoid getting slashed but he was amazed on how fast Umbra made her second move. Umbra made an upward swing of her scythe slashing the King across the chest, wounding him in the process. The King blasted Umbra with a spell of Banish. Umbra hadn't expected the King's magic powers to be that strong. She staggered back from the force of the magic spell. The King then cast a spell of Flash temporarily blinding Umbra and blasted her with another spell of Banish. Umbra staggered a few steps backwards again.
"I am impressed. I haven't fought a Paladin with such skill as you have for quite awhile." Umbra said an evil smile. She then twirled her scythe in front of her, walking slowly around the King in circles. The King was now on the defensive. He knew Umbra was very fast. He had to anticipate her next move or else it would certainly be the end of him. The King was sweating heavily from the tension. Umbra noticed the King's demeanor and launched her next attack. She faked a slashing move and instead blasted the King with a bolt of lightning, sending shockwaves across the King's body. The King, still shaking from the effects of the magic bolt wasn't fast enough to block the Umbra's next move. The blade of her scythe found its mark and struck the King's abdomen, the King yelled in pain. Umbra then pulled her scythe out; blood could be seen dripping from the blade. "After you have done playing with him Umbra, keep him alive, he still might have some use to us." the Duke said.
Shurikens suddenly flew towards Umbra out of nowhere. Umbra twirled her scythe to block the shurikens. "A Ninja, interesting." Umbra said to herself. More shurikens flew towards Umbra. Umbra was getting tired of them. "Stop your petty move, your Shurikens has no chance of hitting me. Come face me one on one." Umbra said.
The Ninja then jumped in front of the King in defensive position. "Are you all right my Lord?"
"Yes Jahn, I thought you left Me." the King replied.
"I will never abandon my King. I had to find another way in. the entire Chateau is crawling with people loyal to the Duke." Jahn answered.
Umbra walked towards Jahn and the King. She raised her scythe and pointed at both of them. "You two can fight me together if you want."
"Enough of this, Icon take them down." the Duke ordered Icon.
Icon cast a spell of Stonega thrice at Jahn and the King. The King wounded already, quickly collapsed on the ground. Jahn held the King in his arms and said. "My Lord, are you all right? Answer me please."
"Go Jahn, leave me and find help." the King said before he lost consciousness.
"I will not leave you." Jahn replied.
"You can stay with your King if you want." the Duke said. He blasted Jahn with a spell of Blizzard. Jahn felt very cold after getting hit with the spell. His movement was somewhat impaired. The Duke then finished him off with another spell of Thunder. "Lock them up in the dungeon." the Duke ordered.
Umbra was glaring at Icon. She wanted to have the satisfaction of defeating the King and the Ninja but Icon butted in. Icon saw her looking at him and looked away from her and left the room.
-O-
"Prince Trion. As promised I have given you Sandoria." the Duke said.
"And the problem of the Orc invasion?" the Prince asked.
"As we speak, my emissary should have sealed the pact with them already. They will not attack us anymore."
"Good, good. My ascendancy to the throne will have legitimacy then for it was I who stopped the Orc attacks. You have done well Duke Leydon. I promise you will be greatly rewarded for your effort." Prince Trion said.
"No reward is needed. I only did it for the future of Sandoria."
The Prince smiled and walked towards the throne, touching the wooden surface of the throne then sat. He was now King. "Take leave of me Duke Leydon. I want to savor this moment alone."
Duke Leydon bowed and took leave from the prince. "Fool." he mumbled to himself as he left.
-O-
Umbra was standing outside the throne room when the Master stepped out. She approached him and asked. "Why did you help him gain the throne? He is not worthy to be King."
"He is nothing but a puppet. I still wield the power from behind. I need to control the Sandorian Army. They might band together with the other nations and thwart my plans. I cannot take that risk. With Sandoria in my control next stop is Jeuno. Then we take Bastok, lastly Windurst."
"Why is Windurst last?"
"Windurst is a place of great magic. Icon might not be able to withstand the combine might of the magic powers of the citizens of Windurst. I will have a large enough army to overwhelm Windurst after I subdue Bastok and Jeuno. If Jeuno falls, I can send the Orcs and the Quadavs through the great bridges of Jeuno with ease."
-O-
Icon viewed the main square in North Sandoria from above the Cathedral. He willing helped the Master with the condition he would not kill anyone. Suddenly he heard a voice call out to him. "Icon... Icon... Icon..." Icon looked around to see who it was but no one was in sight. "Icon... Icon... Icon... " the voice said again. Chills went down his spine as the voice kept calling him. "Show yourself!" Icon yelled. The voice then laughed out loud and suddenly stopped. Icon looked around again. Weird he thought as he went down the stairs.