I've always been curious as to how the war actually began. The idea that Vox used to be an honourable man seems stuck in my head. Put it together with the fact that the Scourge possess those who are too weak to wield it and there you go.
This fic is my take on the events leading up to full-blown war.
Disclaimer: Star Ocean 3 and its characters are property of Tri-Ace and Square-Enix. Both of which are, unfortunately, not owned by this fan.
For my younger bro, whom i had to beat into submission to proofread this... XD
'Wield me, worthy one,
the sky we shalt cleave.
Touch me but once, worm,
your life be forfeit.'
A raving lunatic found in the dungeons of Airyglyph.
Chapter 1: Taking the Reins
The blizzard was gaining strength every minute. The few people left in the streets hurried home; the prospect of a warm fireplace and shelter hurrying their pace. The castle itself was protected from the worst of the cold. But it's mood was even more so.
Glou Nox was dead.
The Captain of the Dragon Brigade, the faithful servant of Airyglyph, had shielded his only son in his failed Accession of the Flame, sacrificing his life in the process. Months had passed since his funeral and yet the inhabitants of the castle still grieved his passing, struggling to come to terms with their loss.
Most of them in any case...
The sound of armour clanking on stone steps roused the Guard's attention. Shaking the temptations of sleep from his mind, he readied his halberd on the off-chance of trouble.
His fears were unfounded as a group of Knights from the Dragon Brigade descended the stairs and stood to attention in front of the great doors to the treasury.
"Isn't it a bit late to be up and about lads?" The old soldier sighed. "And what in the world are you all doing here? It's restricted here."
"Don't give them a hard time; they're here on my order." A voice echoed from the steps.
"And whose might that be?" he remarked as he turned to face the new arrival. His jaw promptly dropped to the floor as he recognised the face of the voice. "...Milord..."
Duke Vox nodded to the old soldier as he descend the steps, his second-in-command and his adjutant both following him closely. "The doors," he gestured to the treasury, "open them."
"But... milord," the guard stammered.
"Just open them; I'm not after that bauble. I'm here to claim it."
The guard's eyes widened, "You mean..."
"Yes, the Crimson Scourge, the time for mourning is over. We must move forward from the loss. Open the doors."
"...Yes milord." Releasing the bolts on the door, the guard pushed the doors open.
"No one is to enter unless I give the word. Close the door once we enter." Duke Vox ordered as he strode through the door.
"My lord is this wise?" Duke Vox turned to regard his adjutant who had followed him in. A young knight by the name of Arix, he had served him faithfully for a number of years.
"This is the path we have to take Arix," the door closed behind them with a thud, "The loss of Lord Glou and the incapacitation of his son has dealt a great blow to our Brigade and morale. The faster I assume the full vestiges and responsibilities of my new post, the better for our kingdom. The last thing we need now is a hostile nation taking advantage of our weakness."
"A hostile nation? You mean Aquaria? But our relations with our neighbour have been cordial even before our king took the throne."
"Not exactly the Apris-lovers. As long as we let worship the sun they'll do us no harm. No, I'm more concerned with Greeton. A full invasion led by their iron men will sweep us and Aquaria from this continent." Arix paused to ponder the uncomfortable thought.
"Cheer up," Vox smiled warmly at the troubled young man, "Hopefully it won't come to that."
He strode up to the pile of gold and precious jewels lying in the vault of the Castle. Right in the middle, sticking out of the rest of the treasures was the ancient sword, the Crimson Scourge.
Suppressing the quaver in his voice, he spoke, "I am Duke Vox, Captain of the Dragon Brigade, loyal servant of King Airyglyph XIII, long may he reign on the throne."
"I hereby ask for you to lend me your strength, so that I can better serve my King and Kingdom," he concluded, bowing deeply towards the daemonic blade.
The temperature in the chamber plunged as the last word left Duke Vox's lips. Arix looked around frantically, his hand on the hilt of his sword, trying to find the source of the cold. Wind whipped around the Crimson Scourge, jangling the scattered treasure around it, impossibly forming words with the sounds of precious metals clanking against one another…
Take my hilt human…
His hands trembling slightly, he gripped the hilt of the Scourge reverently with both hands. Try as he might he could not lift the blade out of the treasure pile.
Fool, do not waste your strength… A voice spoke in his head; you will not lift me until I accept you as my master.
"Wha… what is that you want?"
What is it that you hate?
"Wha..?"
What do you hate, puny human?
"I.. I hate Lord Glou for his early departure, leaving our Kingdom weak…"
Worm! Do not lie to me! I see through to your soul. You hate him for holding a place that rightfully belonged to you.
"! No, that's not true; I respect him with al-"
Lies! You hate his son for what he may become; HE is the rightful heir to Captaincy of the Dragon Brigade.
"But h-"
He failed? Didn't you have a hand in that? The son is so like his father, both need to die. Pity he didn't.
"I-"
You hate the King for not strengthening the Kingdom, letting it be weak compared to its neighbours. These 'concessions' are all a farce to weaken and destroy our land, don't you think so?
Vox dropped to his knees, unable to bear the torment.
You hate Aquaria for possessing land that rightfully belongs to Airyglyph; you hate Greeton for the threat that they pose to the Kingdom and yourself; you hate the weak soldiers of the Brigades, unable to defend their homes; you hate that fool Arix, always trailing you like a dog; you hate the Dragons, such unwilling mounts and never enough of them to go around; you hate Count Woltar, always reigning in your plans; youhatethecommonpeoplepointingatyouwhisperingbehindyourbackyouhatethosethatbelieveyoushouldnotbetheCaptainoftheDragonBrigadeyouhate…
youhate…
youhate…
youhate…
..You hate yourself too don't you?
Vox screamed as his mind crumbled, his hands falling from the hilt of the sword.
"Mi'lord!" Arix ran up to his Captain, sword drawn. "Let us get out of here, forget the blasted swor-"
Arix looked down in shock at the sword that was now embedded in his chest. Blood spurted from his chest as Vox twisted and withdrew the blade. The young knight dropped to his knees as his strength ebbed from his body. Looking up into the face of his captain, he barely had enough time to mouth his question before his head flew off.
The doors swung open as the Knights outside finally disengaged the lock, running in with swords ready. They stopped and gasped in shock at the body of Arix.
"What are you waiting for! Secure this area; there may be more spies around!" Vox snarled at them.
Snapping out of their shocked stupor, they began a quick search of the chamber and the floor, ingrained patterns of training taking hold.
The Sergeant of the Guard stepped forward to Duke Vox hesitantly, "Mi'lord, are you alright?"
"I'll be alright once this place has been searched thoroughly."
"It will be done… What happened mi'lord ?"
"Arix was a traitor," Vox kicked the lifeless body of his former adjutant, a malevolent glint in his eyes, "A traitor and a spy. He tried to kill me while I was retrieving the Crimson Scourge. Fortunately I was quick enough to kill him before he did his deed."
"A- A- A traitor! Arix!"
"Of course he was one! What, you doubt my words?" Vox snapped at the luckless sergeant.
"I'm- I'm sorry mi'lord… But a spy for whom?"
"That is a question I would like answered as well," Vox wiped the blood from his blade and sheathed it in its scabbard, "very much so…"
His eyes narrowed as the Knights reported the floor clear. "We're leaving this place. Until such a time when the traitor's paymaster is found, the taking of the Crimson Scourge will be put on hold. Move out."
With Duke Vox at its head, the Dragoons left the Treasury and marched back up into the castle.
Back in the Treasury, the blood from Arix's body flowed towards the hoarded treasure. Inexplicably, the blood flowed up the slope of precious metal, pooling at the base of the Crimson Scourge.
With relish, it drank the fallen's blood.
To Be Continued...