Wrath of Fate
Chapter the Fourteenth
Fall of the South-West
Yuguo Woods
Cid blocked yet another slash from the assassin and whirled to parry a swift thrust from Guy. He felt the two knives of Matthew jab into his back. He whirled around slashing, but Matthew easily ducked out of the way. Guy slashed only to be evaded once again by the Thunder God. Cid then kicked Guy down and turned to block one more of Matthew's attacks. He returned his gaze to Guy. The swordsmaster flicked his wrist crouched, did a spectacular and mesmerizing dance then was gone. Cid blocked Matthew's attack in the nick of time and shoved him back. Then, Cid's arm fell off. Guy appeared in front of him. Cid raised his sword in his still attached right arm. Before he could bring it down two blades shot up, through his armpit and clean past the shoulder blades. Cid screamed in pain and terror as his right arm fell with the clang of his sword. Guy whirled on the ground and chopped Cid's legs from underneath him. As Cid's dismembered form fell, Guy angled his sword and sliced Cid's head off. Of course there was no need to. And thus the famed Thunder God of Ivalice died twice before he hit the ground.
Guy walked over to Cid's head. He picked it up and impaled it on Cid's sword. "C'mon Matthew, we're done here."
"Yes, well I can't say that was easy." Matthew said as he and his friend left the same way they came in, Guy bearing Cid' head.
Western Ivalice
Eliwood paced back and forth in his tent. They were about to raid another village but Rebecca remained in her tent. It seemed she was asleep. It was very unusual of her to be asleep at this time. She was normally one of the first up.
Eliwood decided to check on her himself. He entered her tent. There she was indeed, asleep on her bed. But as much as Eliwood was surprised by her odd behavior, the man sleeping on the floor surprised him even more.
Murond, Land of Wyverns
Zephiel observed the force lay before him. His father had sent him more troops. News came as well from Biran. His family was safe and extremely proud of his work.
Ten thousand troops stood before Zephiel, five hundred more in the air on wyvern back. This was the force he was going to use to deal the final blow in establishing the Biran territory on Ivalice.
A city lay in the north, home to the famed Rune Hall of Ivalice. It was named Gariland. It was above all other cities a center of magic but in it also lay the heart of the Hokuten knights. The majority of the Hokuten had been disbanded in the Lion Wars and now only around five thousand lay around Gariland to protect it. If he could crush one of the three major factions in Ivalice's defenses, he would have a territory that was safe; one that was in peace.
He would waste no time either. The attack would begin that very night.
Eastern Ivalice
The boy from the eastern keep watched as a scene unfolded before him. Some bandits were dragging two girls out from the wreckage of a village. They were around his age and sisters by the looks of it. They were obviously trying to resist.
He gathered his courage. He had never been in a fight against a real foe much less three of them all at once. But he had confidence in his skill. Both his father and Ramza had always told him to take a stand for what little light was left in the world. He would do just that.
He ran at the bandits his halberd raised above his head, gripped in both arms.
The bandits were quick to react. One of them ran off to the side, the other charged him straightforwardly. The third ran off to the village and one stayed to make sure the girls didn't escape. The ones charging him had axes; the one guarding the hostages had a sword. The one who ran into the village had a bowgun.
He stabbed the bandit in front of him, piercing right below the ribs. The next one came from his side. He hacked downwards, attempting to cleave his skull. He raised his halberd to block the attack. The bandit attempted to kick the boy off but he blocked his foot; then in a second motion tripped the bandit. He slammed his halberd down full force on the unfortunate bandit. The third turned tail and ran, leaving the girls where they were.
The boy approached them. "Are you alright?"
"Watch out!" one of them shouted.
In his focus on the axemen, the boy failed to see the bowman in the ruins. An arrow struck him in his side. He looked to where the shot came from. There a bowman stood, aiming his weapon. The boy quickly reversed his grip and hurled the halberd. It went far, almost unbelievably so, striking the bowman's side. He collapsed on the roof he stood upon.
"Wait here." The boy said to the two sisters.
He quickly retrieved his weapon and returned to them.
"So are you alright?"
"We're fine." One of them said. "What is your name, young knight? You bear a ring of a noble house; I assume you hail from a noble house from Ivalice."
"I'm from Lesalia. My father served the court but when we ran from the traitors we were separated. My name is Ardrsil. And you are?"
"I am Gaile my sister is Vinya." The older one said.
"What are you doing here?" Ardrsil asked.
"My sister and I are from the mage council, we are apprentices to some of the archmages." Gaile said.
Ardrsil then realized that the clothes they wore resembled those of the vagabond mages he had seen many times. The older one, Gaile wore a white dress which ended above her knees and a long black cape. She also wore the signature wide-brimmed straw hat of black mages. Vinya wore a long white dress with red embroidery. Typical of white mages.
"We came to deliver a message to the Hokuten scattered around this region. We did so but as we were returning we were caught here…"
"What is this message? Ardrsil asked.
"It was a summon to all the Hokuten knights. They are gathering at Bethla."
"Wasn't Bethla destroyed?"
"Yes but after a year of hard work the mages have been able to restore it!" Gaile said happily. "We may have a chance…if only…"
"So where are you headed?"
"My sister was going to Bethla. I was to go to Gariland, to report in."
"I see. I will accompany you." Ardrsil said after a moment of thought.
"You, you will? Thank you! Thank you so much!" Gaile said.
"Now rest easy Vinya, I will be safe."
"Very well, sister. I shall see you in Bethla."
Western Ivalice
Rebecca waited nervously in Eliwood's tent. The tactician was with her, looking rather odd in his Lord's cape with his ragged old clothes underneath.
Eastern Ivalice
Fiora hovered above the Caelin encampment, her knights hovering around her. They held their spears, dipped in pitch, facing downwards. They waited as the sun settled behind the horizon.
Author's Notes
Well, I'm sorry this is getting boring even if only mildly. I'm just trying to set things in place for the bigger events. Well, Ardrsil is an OC.