Act 2: Flight from Salone

Please R&R!

Sun was blazing high when Princess Lena and Alyce emerged onto the streets of Salone. The former capital was now reduced into a battlefield of chaos and violence. Everywhere, corpses littered the roads, and stench of blood and smoke stung their noses. Shocked and somber, Lena wandered into the desolate road.

"I...I never wanted this…I never…"

She suddenly burst into tears. Alyce helplessly stood, not knowing what to do.

"I only wanted best for my people, and...and I do agree that they should be treated as same as us. But, I didn't want this! Death is everywhere now, Alyce!"

"It is not your doing, milady. The hearts of men are darker than you think."

"But still…Have I done something wrong? Do I even deserve to be the princess?"

Alyce comfortingly patted Lena on her shoulder.

"Whatever you say, milady, I will serve you as my liege. No one else deserves more to be a princess, and you did your best to be one."

Lena sniffed.

"Th-Thank you, Alyce."

"It is my honor, ma'am."

The pair soon hurried down the streets to the main gates. Yet, they knew that danger was still abound until they were out of the city altogether. Cautious, they ran down the road.

Meanwhile…

"My lord Merovine, we nearly have secured the entire city. Some are resisting, especially in the eastern roads, but we will have them soon."

A man holding a sword approached the hooded prophet, who was now sitting on the top of a house, watching the revolution. The man had a black hair, gray eyes, and a thin scar along his left cheek. He wore a leather jacket with cutoffs, and long cloth pants, and cotton shirts. The prophet beheld him silently.

"Good, Captain Gardner. Make sure to finish the job properly. Soon our other brothers and sisters will complete the jobs in other cities. And captain?"

"Yes, milord?"

"Our scouts report me that Princess Lena is on the run. She could not have gone far, so capture her at all costs. Kill her if she resists"

"But milord, the princess has been so kind to us for years. How can we-"

Merovine held a finger.

"Captain, it is all part of our glorious plan. Compassion does not help here."

Gardner looked sullen, but nodded. Then he left the building. Merovine looked out into the carnage before him. A crooked grin slightly appeared on his face.

On the eastern roads, the last pocket of loyalist resistance was fighting on. Entrenched behind a makeshift barricade, soldiers huddled, besieged by the mob who was now throwing axes, stones, and arrows. Among the soldiers was a young man, riding a horse. He had a light purple hair, blue eyes, and a really cheerful face. Though other soldiers looked grim, he was smiling. Soon, a soldier approached him.

"Captain, the mob is trying to make a charge. I don't think we can hold them off."

"Really?"

The man stood up, and addressed the soldiers.

"Hear me, fellow men! The enemy are about to charge, and we have no choice but to fight. But have no fear; we all should know that life is just another game we play. We have played all we want, drank, and partied around. We were pieces of dirty scumbags! So let us show these enemies how scumbags meet their end, with sharpened steel!"

The soldiers gave a small cheer, though many were confused whether their captain was encouraging them or he was just saying their lives were all shit. The captain took no heed, however. He checked his light armor, his sword, and lowered the visor on his helmet. He did have reason to fight: he saw that the mob has burned down his favorite tavern. All those good ale! They will pay, oh yes. He didn't care about his life. After all, his life was some joke gods came up with one day.

"Look, Princess. There seems to be a commotion."

Alyce pointed at the big crowd around the corner, while both of them concealed themselves in the nearby alley.

"Looks like some soldiers are still fighting, and leading them is… Ah!"

Alyce suddenly paled.

"What's the matter?"

Lena asked. Alyce stammered.

"It's Evan! Oh, no, I hoped not to see him today."

"What's the matter with him?"

"He's the one who's keep making fun-oh it's just that he is some really weird, cynical ass."

Alyce grimaced, but Lena suddenly stepped forward.

"We should help them! Come, Alyce."

"Oh, no…"

The mob suddenly charged. Some shot arrows, and some had axes. But Evan (Dragoon, Lv.2) took no heed, but just charged back. He swung his sword, and sliced off a man's head, while dodging lance thrusts. Some soldiers were helping him, some throwing javelins. He felt blades tearing at his thigh, and stabbed once more into the crowd. He loved this shit. It made him feel like a real badass.

Lena and Alyce approached the mob from behind. Taking note of them, some men rushed at them. Lena dodged an axe stroke and stabbed forth. Jumping clear of another swing, she charged with her rapier at the man so fast that she could make multiple, lightening-quick stabs in one attack. (Critical) Alyce was having some difficulty with a man with an axe, but she managed at last to pierce his head. Suddenly, an arrow flew into her, but her armor easily deflected the projectile. Picking up a javelin from a dead foe, she hurled it at the archer, knocking him down. She was mad that she had to help that jerk Evan. He is born to torment me for all eternity, she thought. Well, the worse thing would be having him as a company. She thanked that it has not come to that.

Evan noticed some women taking down the mob. Squinting, he saw that one was his liege, the sweet and so-naïve princess, and the other one was…

"Ha!"

It was his favorite target, Alyce. Of all people to come and aid him! He renewed his fight with extra vigor, but cringed when a soldier next to him went down with an axe in his head. Soon, all the mob fell save for one, a huge man with an equally huge axe. He roared, and charged at the princess, who parried the blow. After few fights, however, the princess lost her balance and fell, and the man raised his axe for the final blow…until Evan rode by and decapitated him.

"Well, that's six for me, fatso. How many did you kill?"

Evan sniggered while Alyce suddenly grew red.

"I'm not fat. I just do more exercises than any other girls at my age!"

"But how can you deny what are? After all, you were fat from the start."

While Alyce did not look fat at all, she certainly seemed so roused up. Lena looked at the fighting couple, sweat-dropping.

Evan noticed Lena, and bowed down.

"Hail, Princess Lena! I am Evan, the squad leader of the 3rd Street Patrol Brigade. Except that everyone else has been killed."

"I welcome you, Evan. Are you well?"

Evan shrugged.

"Most certainly. But it's not safe here, ma'am. We should get out of here. The Eastern gate is right past that corner."

"We will need all the help we can get. Evan, will you join us in our flight?"

"Of course, milady. Especially when I can get to chew up Alyce all day, heh, heh."

He heard no response from Alyce, who was now on the verge of passing out due to shock and surprise.

"Let us hurry. We are not safe here."

The trio passed the gate into wilderness, surprisingly getting no resistance. Yet, as they disappeared into the horizon, a man appeared on the top of the city walls, and watched them go.

"May the fortune be with you, princess, and please be safe."

Captain Gardner then walked down into the streets, ready to clean up the mess.

How was that? R&R!

Note: Some new Jobs!

NPC jobs: In addition to soldiers and brigands, I have added more!

-Militia: a crude citizen-soldier wielding axes or swords.

-Cultist: a follower of Rionism who uses dark magic

Playable Classes:

-Pariah: A mage-priest who turned to the darkness for answers. Uses Dark Magic.

-Reaver: A Silesian horseman who have a high magic resistance. Uses Swords.