Chapter one: Breaking Conflict

Araphran

It was a bright sunny day in Araphran that children of all ages would like to play outside and enjoy the sun. But a group of six children did not go out. That was an orphanage; six children ranged from the age of three to the age of nine are busy helping their "big brother" with all sorts of work within the building. That was what they call the young bishop who takes care of them. It was because he was only in his early twenties so he is more like an older brother to the children rather than a father. A day of working and story telling before bed time was all the children wanted since they know that their brother works very hard to keep them fed but this day the Marquess of Araphran came in… Telling the Bishop to leave this city yet again… "Go! Get out of here!" "Where Can we go? This is our home!" "What's Going on…? I'm Scared!" "Brother… Why are they yelling at you?" "They are so mean…" "Brother… isn't your friend coming today?" "Leave now or we have to make you!" "No, There isn't a place for us to go to. Please…" A little girl clutched to his sleeves crying "I'm so scared… Brother what did we do wrong…?" "Don't be frightened, we'll be fine." "Get this man and those children out of Araphran now!" As the order came the orphanage was burned… "Children we must get out of here fast!" He lead the children out of the Burning building and made sure all six children were with him but then he ran right into trouble. The Araphran Solders, One after another they attacked the small group. "Get behind me and take cover! Try not to get in the crossfire!" "But…" "Go on! It's dangerous!" He Dodged and chanted his spells… but a few Attacks still hit him. "Wow Brother Lucius can fight!" "Oh no! That axe man…" "Brother!" Then as A Silver Axe was about to finish him a mercenary appeared stopping the axe with his own Silver Blade. "Mr. Raven!" "Stop! Leave him be!" The battle ended and the Mercenary screamed angrily at the person who ordered the attack while glancing over to see if his friend is okay. "How could you do such a cruel thing? That was their home!" "I do not want someone bearing the blood of some uncivilized fool to live in my territory!" "They were only children! And your men wounded my friend! I'll not stand by and watch you hurt him!" "No! Lord Raven, don't… You won't stand a chance here by yourself…" The Marquess went back to the castle to attend business. "Lucius… Are you okay? You got hit by three weapons!" "I…" "Brother Lucius, What should we do? Our home was burned…" "We'll find another… way… …" "Brother Lucius!" "Lucius! Oh no! he's paling… At this rate…" "What's wrong? Brother Lucius… Mr., Raven, why is he sleeping now?" "Oh no, He fainted. Vulneraries or Elixirs should help…" "What are those?" Raven checked Lucius for wounds and tends to them. Some seemed pretty serous. "D If I hadn't finished using my vulneraries… Pricilla isn't here either…" "Will he die?" The youngest of the group cried and Raven just yell at them. "No…. Quit bothering me!" "But Mr. Raven! Brother Lucius never did this to us! I know he's sick but…" one of the older kids tried to explain "He's hurt! Now go away!" "We want to help!" All six of them said at once… "GO AWAY!" "sniff … Why…" "Don't cry, Little Sister, let's go find some of those healing herb things Brother Lucius some times uses or the sticks he uses to heal our wounds and booboos." The oldest child try to calm her as what Lucius would do and leading the group away. "Um Why is Mr. Lord Raymond so mad at us? We did nothing wrong." Another boy chimed in. "He's been that way each time I see him. Brother Lucius says he is just worried." "So much blood, Will Brother Lucius be okay?" "That's why we need as many of those healing herbs or the heal sticks right?" The children return with a few staffs… Even Someone like Raven Bursted out laughing at them. "We can help him now right Mr. Raven…?" One of the kids asked uncertainly still a bit scared of Raven's previous actions. "No… You can't… use… them…" He said through laughter. Then he took Lucius and left Araphran as the children followed.

Ostia 3 months before the scene in Arphran

In the castle Hector and Lyndis are talking when Matthew came up to them with breaking news." What? Lucius has been Strucked down by the Marquess of Araphran?" "That guy again… Matthew, you remember our first encounter don't you? And you say Lucius is there?" "Yes Young Master and Lady Lyndis, I think he has been attacked by now. I've heard a plan that the Marquess is trying to get him out of that city. He was there building an orphanage." "We have to go try to help him! Hector! I cannot standby! I'm going!" "Oswin! Serra! Come! We are going to save Lucius!" So the group set's out to the destination Araphran.

Pherae a week after the scene in Ostia

"Marquess Eliwood, We've a note for you from Lord Hector." "Let me see it." Eliwood, I'm canceling the next meeting as I'll be away in Araphran. A friend could have been or will be attacked by the Marquess soon. Don't concern yourself with this too much as I'll be there with Lyndis. This is just to tell you I'm canceling! From Hector. "Araphran… Who's in Araphran, Marcus?" "I believe The Bishop Lucius settled there." "Marcus! Send a troop to Araphran now! Go help him out of this situation!"

Sacae a day after the battle in Araphran

"Erk, Erk! Look! Will you stop Reading for once?" "Sorry Nino, I'm almost done. What is it?" "It just looks so beautiful here…" Erk and Nino are in the Sacae Plains. Nino has no home so she travels around with Erk The one closest to her age and they both use Anima Magic so Erk is partly teaching her while enjoying himself. They were both having fun when they overheard a few sacaians talking about something that had happened. "It seems he made another racket…" "What happened this time?" "Well It seems he blew up an orphanage ran by a nice bishop. Then telling his solders to attack her. If a mercenary hadn't showed up she could have died and leaving the children no where to turn to." "What? How did this happen?" "What a poor Bishop… Erk… Can we go and do something to help her?" "I'd love to but we have one small problem… Who knows where the mercenary took her…?" "I heard they are just right near the border of Araphran and Sacae." "Come on Nino, We are going to see if the children are okay." "Okay."

Border of Araphran about six hours after the battle.

The day is coming to an end as Raven gets food ready himself and his fallen comrade… The Children went berry-picking hoping to find something to eat. Lucius had not awoken yet. "Mr. Raven! Brother Lucius said that these berries could be cooked but he never told us how… Do you know how?" "How should I know! I'm not a cook!" Raven was getting shouting again making the children think he is angry at them. Lucius woke and wondered where he was and what had happened. He heard the last few words Raven had bellowed… "What…?" "Lucius!" "Lord Raymond… I… Where are we? What happened…? The Children…" He questioned weakly. "Brother Lucius!" "We are all here." "The marquess did nothing…?" "He had left seeing you near death." Raven answered with anger in his voice but it was soft and seemed to be more of a sound of relief to Lucius. The children was once again scared and crowded around Lucius… In the sudden relief of Lucius waking up the children had forgotten about cooking berries… "Brother Lucius… We were scared, we thought you'll not ever awaken…" "So much blood… Mr. Lord Raymond had just stopped it." "You won't believe it! We made him laugh…" "I don't know why… when we showed him these…" "Here these will make you better won't they? These sticks…" Laughing a little Lucius asked "Oh Children… Where did you get these?" "We found them scattered on the ground…" "Let's see there is only one use left." "Why are you laughing? What's so funny?" "Have I not explained it to you that only powerful magic users and clerics or troubadours can use these effectively?" "You mean like you're a bishop so you can use them…?" The oldest concluded "Yes. But unfortunately I believe my body is too battered to use any of this sort. No, not pain, it feels numb and I cannot move…" "You've been bleeding nonstop for four hours! And I do not have Elixirs! D I should have prepared some! I probably shouldn't talk about the severe ness right now but you should know." "Lord Raven…" "Lucius, don't speak just rest…" "You are frightening the children! Don't talk like that please!" "Brother Lucius, What is he screaming about?" "It's nothing… You should eat and go to bed…" "But…" "Come on let's go… We shouldn't ask for stories." After they finished eating Lucius went to sleep too Leaving Raven to worry and watch over the camp.