Disclaimer: I do not own Ragnarok Online. This story, however, is completely mine and may not be redistributed or used without my approval.

Chapter 1

The sky was gray…as it has been for the past week or so, and the clouds threaten to rain upon the war-trashed land. I sat at an untouched spot on a small hill just inside the forest East of Morroc. I stared at the bodies and bits of monster laying in the field, mixed of desert sand and grass, and sighed in disgust.

I had just become a Crusader not long ago. As a swordsman, I've only witnessed death of monsters while training. It didn't bother me much since, as we were trained to be servants of the God of Light, we only killed the dark monsters, spawned by the God of Darkness. But today, I witnessed my first battle…and it was disgusting. I wiped the bit of blood from my cheek and mouth, stood up, wiped off the blood on my sword, and headed for Morroc. I could hear the survivors of The Legion yelling behind me, trying to get me to stay. One battle was enough. It wouldn't be bad if we fought against evil, but we killed Priests, Wizards, Knights….even Crusaders.

"Yui!" The second in command of The Legion shouted. "As of now, I am leader of The Legion! And I order you to stay, or we shall make you an enemy." I stopped and my Peco made a loud call.

"I joined The Legion against my parents' wishes, thinking that it would be better than to merely serve the king." I didn't turn around and just held onto the wound in my side. "But after what I saw today, The Legion is not what I saw when I was a kid. This is murder…not bringing peace…" Angered by my reply, Tobie, the successor of Layton, the original leader of The Legion, ordered the other Crusaders to seize me. I was now an outlaw.

Blocking right and left with my shield, I did not want to hurt anyone, especially after what I had seen. While blocking a blow, a flamberge slashed down and landed a blow across my face. A deep, diagonal cut was engraved and my eyes went blurry. The last thing I could remember was my grand Peco trying to defend me…but was stabbed to death by my former companions.

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I woke up and the bright sun blinded me. I had a huge headache and still couldn't see properly. Looking around painfully, I could see that I was jailed. They didn't even bother treating my wound. I sat up, and noticed that they had confiscated my suit of armor…not only that, it was snowing outside and I was only wearing pants and a tank-top…and slippers. Sighing, I waited a while for the guards to come from patrol and laugh at me. Warring times like this was horrible for anyone who didn't want to fight. War of Emperium, which started out as a sport, has now turned into a horrible period of time where many are slaughtered. Names were taken, honor tainted, friendships were broken…loyalty now didn't have a meaning.

"Hey!" I heard footsteps from the stairs coming down to the dungeon. "Look! It's the berserker!"

"Ooh better not anger him eh!" The two guards laughed. "Only weaklings get caught as a berserker!"

"Yea, should've gone back to swordy!"

I was confused when they joked about the berserker. I've heard about Knights going berserk, but Crusaders are Holy and shouldn't be possessed by the Spirit of Anger….and when they do, they usually die before they get a cure…water from the Yggdrasil Tree.

"Berserker?" I asked, wanting to know more. "What berserker?"

"Pfft, YOU." The short and stubby one answered me as if everyone knew. "I heard you tore apart about ten trees in one swipe!"

'That's right…both my parents were knights and belonged to The Chivalry…I have Knight's blood in me too…!' I realized with much worry. "Do yo-"

"Silence, Yui." A familiar voice sounded through the dungeon. I looked up and there he was, Tobie, the new leader of The Legion. "Now, guards, come with me." The two guards looked at each other and followed the Crusader out.

I just sat back down and waited, listening to the constant dripping of water and the laughing outside as people played in the snow. For a moment, I almost fell asleep just listening to the happy sounds outside. But as soon as I'd open my eyes, I'd see the horrid dungeon. Almost an hour passes and Tobie comes back inside with the two guards. The guards look scared and stiff. Something was wrong.

"Well?" Tobie gave the guard with the keys a threatening look. The guard whimpered silently and opens my cell. As if he thought I was going to run, Tobie unsheathes his sword and points the blade directly at my throat. "I'm going to execute you in the Church."

"You're not-"

"I don't need the King's or the Pope's consent to send a Devil to Hell." Tobie interrupted me. I could see anger in his eyes. "It was your fault we lost. Now people are doubting The Legion's abilities." I could feel a guard tying my hands together. "Now follow naturally, or I will not even bother bringing you into God's sight where you can plead for forgiveness."

I did as I was told, knowing I would have nowhere to go anyways even if I was to escape. Without my armor and Legion emblem, I would be considered an outlaw and would be rendered defenseless. I could not go back to my parents, for when I joined The Legion, they hated to even look at me since The Chivalry and The Legion had always been bitter rivals.

Tobie took me out of the dungeon and towards two lone Pecos and two Crusaders. The Crusaders dismounted and pushed me onto one of the lone Pecos. Tobie got on his own and we rode towards the Prontera Church.

On the road, we got a few weird looks from civilians. Tobie and the two Crusaders ignored the looks and rode on. We then got to the gate of the graveyard and met four more Crusaders who hurried us into the church courtyard.

"What the-" An acolyte was reading silently in the beautiful courtyard when we entered, he stood up but Tobie stuck his blade against his throat. "How dare you enter a church like this."

"I am the leader of The Legion." Tobie boasted. "Without us, this church would've been burnt to the ground."

"Sir!" Another priest shouted from the doorway. Behind him was the High Pope. "Please put down your weapon, we are in a place of peace!" Tobie chuckled at the remark.

"Peace?" The golden armored Crusader sneered. "Let us through and you shall be in peace."

"Let the young man go and we shall let you through." The Pope spoke in a calm and serene voice. I was now worried. Knowing Tobie ever since childhood, I knew he was impatient and is used to getting whatever he wanted. I saw his hand crutching hard on his shield and I tried to struggle free. Despite my attempt to save The Pope, my captors held on tight and I was forced to watch Tobie fling his heavy Holy Guard at The Pope, pushing the old man into the church wall and killing him.

"Who is next?"