The characters from the game belong to Capcom. The OC's and story background belong to me.

A/N: I'm not english native speaker, so you might find some typos or grammar mistakes, I do apologize for that.

"There is no victory that is not made up of losses, much less joy that does not come from sorrows."

"My love, why are you so sad?" George Talbot asked noticing his silent wife sitting next to the window with a distant look

Angelique continued looking out the window. A tear cored down her face as her eyes filled with water.

She was devastated inside. She never expected, not even in her darkest dreams, to have her death ordered by someone.

She, who always tried to live pacifically with everyone, despite the hell in her own home. She knew her father and stepmother didn't like her, but they receiving money for her death, being accomplices to such evil plan had been too much for her to bear.

Much less an order by no one and no less…Katarina O'Gregon. The beautiful woman she once admired and respected the power and influence. The woman who claimed to embrace women's cause… almost had blood in her hands.

Her blood.

To deepen her suffering…there was Christopher. The man she most loved married the evil regent. The evil noblewoman. Evil Katarina.

Was he her accomplice too?

Was the father of her firstborn as evil as his noble wife was?

How disgusting! How painful!

She lived more than a lie, a bitter illusion. She lived true hell disguised as paradise.

How fool!

She forbade Oliver to see Christopher since he learned the truth about their blood connection. Yet, they'd be always connected… She had to deal with that.

"Why those people…What did I do to those people hate me so much? Why do I exist? All I've lived is pain, betrayal, lies! Why do I deserve this when I always tried to not harm anyone? This is so unfair!" she murmured

"What happened love? Who are you talking about?"

"Everyone who has hurt me! My father, Amelia, Christopher…Katarina! What did I do to them hurt me so much?"

"Katarina?"

"Yes! Katarina!" she spoke bitterly

"What are you talking about?"

"The letter…I finished reading the letter my late 'father' wrote to me…confessing his crimes"

George grabbed the paper and could not believe his eyes, "Are you sure it's his?"

She nodded in confirmation, "I know his handwriting"

"Could be a mistake…his last attempt to hurt you…"

"What about the bitch's necklace?"

He shrugged speechless

"It's not a coincidence…they had a pact to kill me! My questioning is…why? What did I do to them? To Katarina? I didn't even know her!"

George rolled his eyes letting out a sigh, "Christopher…" he spoke in a tone of it was obvious Katarina's motives to hurt her

"What would he win with my death? Why didn't he kill me all the times he had the chance when we…we were alone?"

"Maybe your father hired him but he ended up getting involved…"

"I saved that bastard's life! It doesn't make sense he being hired for the way I found him! He could've had died!"

"Maybe you should've let it…Now you know the type of person he is…Maybe it was a mistake of calculation…"

"I gave him my best and my all! I faced my own hideous family for him…for "our love"… such a lie!"

"I never liked him…"

"My biggest mistake! And the more I try to find an explanation, I don't seem to find the answer! If he was hired by my father, Amelia or whoever else…they pretended very well not knowing each other when I introduced them! And I was so blind to see that!"

"You were young…"

"I was a fool! And that son of a bitch even came to our house! Now I understand why he seemed so surprised to see I'm alive! No wonder why he never returned to talk or understand after that… if he really loved me, he should have been more interested in knowing how I survived, right?"

He made a face of agreement

Angelique squeezed her hands tightly, "I never knew I was capable of feeling such a powerful feeling like I am now…"

"What feeling?"

"Hate!" she almost screamed, "I never thought I could hate anyone like I hate him right now! All of them! But I hate him more for all the things he made me feel, he made me believe! He played with me…he took away my innocence! He turned my few sweetest dreams into nightmare!" she broke into tears

The Talbot's head family, affected by his wife's suffering, took her into a tight comforting embrace, "My love…I understand how much you're suffering, but don't feed this feelings…it's not good for you, and worse for our baby" he placed his hand on her belly, "Think that life separated you for a good cause. You thought it had been a bad thing, but…the truth came out and brought us together, made you stronger…you proved you're better than them! You don't need them!"

"It's not easy Geo…I never felt this before…it's too much to bare…"

"You're pregnant…naturally more sensitive…more emotional… you can cry all you want, if you want to scream, scream it, if you want to break dishes, break it…but don't keep it in yourself. Let it out"

"I want to forget it…I want to wake up from this nightmare and not feel this agonizing pain in my chest…my soul is broken… I'm broken…" she spoke in between sobs hiding her face on his chest as she hugged him tight as she trembled

"I know my love and this is tearing me apart too…" he tried to tranquilize her, "I'll bring you a glass of water and you should try to rest. I'll stay here with you all the time"

"Don't leave me G…" she whispered defeated

"I won't!"

They remained in silence for a while, until Angelique felt more recomposed.

"I feel like unmasking the stupid couple!" there was anger in her voice

"People love them…they wouldn't believe you" George tried to reason with her

"I have these evidences!"

"Useless…they can deny. They have the power… you'd better just ignore them"

"Are you telling me to stay quiet?"

"I'm telling to avoid unnecessary trouble…you're pregnant!"

"I don't know if I'm that strong… and let them unpunished"

"They might stay unpunished…but not triumphant. I'll make sure to tell Christopher some harsh words that he'll never forget! And he'd better not try to punish me or I myself expose him!"

Angelique was too broken to respond to her husband. The broken scenario crossed her brain over and over, draining her. she never felt so betrayed in her life. She never felt so little in her life.

Getting over a heartbreak was something, but overcoming a deadly alliance was another different thing. Her heart beat so strong in her chest, that she could hear it in the silence. She could feel it almost jumping out. Her blood coring so strong heated her body. Her head starting to spin. She was in her limit. The verge to continue conscious.

Too much pressure to the sensitive redhead.

The dark days were back.

The difference she wasn't a teenage now. She was a mother of two little boys, and carried another angel in her womb. She wanted, and needed to be strong for them.

But not now…

She couldn't just ignore the recent findings.

She wanted to forget it. She Needed to forget it. It was for her own self-safety. Her sanity.

Suddenly her mind lost control of its senses, and the redhead passed out on George's embrace.

Castle of Edonia

How this place is so empty without their noises. Without life. So many years hearing children noises, cries, laughter, jokes, and now only the sound of the wind passing through the open windows and my own footsteps when I walk, when I move. I hear my own breath.

I admit there were times I have longed for solitude to refresh my mind, to balance my feelings, and now with my desire fulfilled, I feel regretted. Loneliness that scares me.

I miss their voices calling me, daddy, daddy, daddy!

When I was at home, there was always a reason to call me, to tell me something, for me to intervene in their fight, or for me to see something they wanted to show me. There was always a reason for me to pay attention at them. And I loved to give my full attention to my beloved children. They cheered up my bad days somehow...

I miss the sweetness of Maddy, my dear girl Lilly, Philly's playfulness, and Beau's joy and innocence.

It' wasn't already enough for me to be away from my eldest son, Olly...

And as much as it hurts me to admit, my wounded pride... I also miss the remarkable presence of Katarina... I never thought I would miss that spoiled brat but at the same time a woman of strong fiber. Imposing... cunning with life, and cunning to know how to hurt me as well!

Just as Angelique hurts me now that she's pregnant with that stupid marquis!
It should be our story, not theirs!

I know I have no right feeling this way about them…after all, he has raised my son very well. I'm aware of how much Olly likes him and respects him. In the bottom of my heart, I do respect that marquis for being so good to my Angely and to my firstborn boy.

And in this immense empty palace "I enjoy" the solitude of the empty nest. I live the anguish of the empty nest.

The O'Gregon-Reed is not the family I dreamed of, but they are my home.

I want them back... by my side...

I want my life back…

The routine back.

21st Century, Bohma

"Little he did know the dark times that would follow after this letter of confession. Little he did know what awaited him.

And today, in August of 2011, I've witnessed the hard and lonely man he became... The women he most loved, turned him into this sentimentally dry man. Skeptical in love. Disillusioned with family.

So distant and opposite from that Christopher so devoted to his home. So devoted to his family.

All that was left of him was his impulses that do not always work for him.

There is still much work to be done. Many encounters to be rescued. Many feelings to be forgiven. Many situations to overcome.

And today I wonder if I will even be able to cause some spark of change?"

Mr. Lionel's daydreams were interrupted by the sudden visit of the beautiful redhead Angelina, who carried on her face a countenance of contemplation. Of questions.

"Sit down, my dear, tell me what happened"

"I had a strange dream, but it seemed to be so real... it made me wonder if past lives exist... do you believe that?"

You nodded slightly, "I do. And I believe that some dreams show us this distant past of our trajectory."

"Then why don't we remember past lives?"

"We don't remember the past lives and that is the wisdom of God.
If we remembered the evil we have done or the sufferings we have suffered, the enemies that have harmed us or those whom we have harmed, we would not be able to live among them today.
For often, the enemies of the past, today are our children, our siblings, our parents, our friends, who are now with us for reconciliation. That's why there is reincarnation.
Certainly, today we are correcting errors committed against someone, suffering the consequences of crimes perpetrated, or even being supported, aided by those who, in the past, have harmed us. Hence, the importance of the family, where it is customary to resume the ties cut in previous existences. And so it is so important to forgive those who we don't sympathize and also to ourselves for our mistakes towards them and towards ourselves."

The young redhead became pensive and remembered her dream.

"Tell me Angie, what did you dream about?"

"Something that doesn't seem to make any sense"

"Tell me, you know how much I like to listen to nonsense things" he said playfully

She was embarrassed, "I dreamed I was Katarina's sister... she had feelings for a fisherman and they wanted to run away together. But apparently I also liked him in secret... And end up ruining their plan, and during the escape, Katarina had an accident and died... And I never forgave myself for that accident although sometimes it seemed that I had conflicting thoughts as I met him first, but she seduced him and took him."

Mr. Lionel made the face, and before he could say anything, Angelina continued the story.

"But it doesn't make any sense to me... How could it be Katarina if I don't even know her, except through the paintings of Angelique? And even if it was her, Katarina was a nobleman, obsessed for Christopher... even though that fisherman looked more alike BSAA's Chris... it doesn't make any sense!"

"Perhaps the order is another Angie... maybe you and Katarina were sisters in another experience, but your brain related to her image in the paintings because it is the most "recent" image that you recognize more easily, or even your sister and Katarina are the same soul in different life existences... and the fisherman and Chris BSAA are the same soul too... why not?" he questioned her

"Because that would be crazy!"

"Why?"

"Because I don't like Katarina and I did like the sister in my dream! What Katarina did to the people of Edonia, of Bohma, destroyed an entire city because of her ambition! For obsession for control, power! For selfish desires! People died because of her! Not to mention what she did to Angelique! She went over everything and everyone; including the man she said she loved the most! And how about what she did to an innocent child... a little being who had no chance against the perversity of that monster!" Unconsciously her hand went down to her stomach level, "Maybe the only thing worthy in all this story is what Christopher when he faced her and gave that blow to the devil O'Gregon! But unfortunately bad pot doesn't break easy, does it? And I add more Mr. Lionel, and with all respect for you as you seem to have some affection for that woman... If it is true that there are multiple lives and god's justice, I hope Katarina suffers a lot to pay for everything she did, because it would be very unfair she continue having the facilities she always had and abused of it to harm other people!"

Angelina's emotionality was evident with regard to the facts about Angelique and the innocent child... He understood the young redhead's revolt. He did not disagree with her explanation. He might even have some affection for Katarina, after all, he had more answers than he could reveal unwisely. He knew the other side of the story... And he knew very well the reflexes of that damned existence of the 18th century... How he knew!

"Angely... it's not a matter of affection... it's a matter of Law of Return. I'm sure that whatever we want to someone returns to us, whether it's good or bad. Each one pays for what they have committed even if they don't remember, but nothing is by chance and no harm goes unpunished to life... It makes rounds... I'm sure that Katarina was not exempt from the evils she did, yet it's not up to me to be an eternal judge. Nor you. To forgive is not to agree to the crime. To forgive is to get rid of the negative feeling that is cultivated within us and that makes us ill and often we do not realize the real cause is the accumulation of negative feelings and/or thoughts... because nobody is free of mistakes, of imperfections. And who judges, is also judged... I understand your revolt and I do not disagree on some points... I myself have been through many things that at first didn't result in pardon, but as time passed, I saw how much I was wasting time keeping that negative feeling inside me... just as there have been many times that I have made mistakes and I have not been forgiven... And then, how does it stay? We will be forever in this cycle of one doing, the other doing, then one does again, hence the other too... will we stay like this forever? It gotta stop at some time. And he who stops the cycle first, the one who forgives first is the stronger, the wiser, because they has already understood the lesson... however they'd better not repeat the same error, otherwise, the weight of the error gets bigger... so it's no use complaining. Gotta do different for the cycle to stop... so the victim's pardon is as noble as the tormentor's request for forgiveness. The victim sets free, and the tormentor will still have to deal with their own conscience later... and that makes me think about your dream... could it be a form of message about such a situation? In one moment you committed the mistake, in the other Katarina, despite of so many more mistakes that she might have committed, both have mistaken one with another... the cycle remains, and I will confess to you Angie... I was worried when you uttered those words of hatred for Katarina."

"Maybe I overdid it when I said hating, but I do not really like her... and after all you said, I ask you, do you believe I'm really involved in this cycle with Katarina?"

"I don't doubt. Why discredit it completely?"

"Because it's crazy! No matter how much I have considered this idea and searched for information about it, it is still a crazy thing to believe. Knowing what she did to all that population..."

"What if it was not her fault?" He said calmly

Angelina paused for a while, "Is there any proof that it was not her fault?"

"Yes"

"Then why do not you report it? Why do you still let people believe in her bad fame?"

"Because the truth is not supposed to be imposed. People only believe in what suits them. And in the end, people will never forget her faults, her crimes... the truth doesn't change the past. It does not alter what is already done"

He was convinced. He had lived for a long time to witness the societies, the various types of people.

The human being. He had reached a point in his life that he already knew that he could not save the world and this no longer hurt him the way it did once upon a time...

He no longer cared about the judgment of others.

His self conscience alone was enough.

18th Century

Unknown Location, Arthena

"I think it's about time we make a field experiment" Albert commented

"What kind of field experiment?" William asked

"Observe how the puppets behave among the people, and gather more guinea pigs for the great experiment…"

"And what about Katarina and Christopher? Do you still have intentions to use them?"

"Of course! Especially Christopher. Let's see how brave and good he is in battlefield…"

"And Katarina?"

"That stupid woman is still useful. She's a true proof that the black herb does work…and the next experiment is to test its power of re…"

They heard a loud noise. The men turned their faces simultaneously in its direction. They took whatever they could use as a weapon and walked slowly to investigate it. However, they didn't go much far, from afar they spotted the army of puppets leaving their cage.

Caught off guard, they didn't notice a pack of dogs behind them, cornering them.

Albert looked in the direction of a distinct scepter at the bottom of the chamber. He touched his pocket; there were two pills. He thought of giving one to William. Those pills were their only chance to survive the attacks that soon after happened.

William had no chance against their attacks and succumbed to his injuries, while Albert, even severely injured, managed to reach the scepter; however his plan didn't go accordingly as he couldn't control the dogs as he expected. He had no chance against the dog's final group attack.

The following day, their wives found the scientists' mutilated bodies and some notes about their experiments.

Castle of Edonia

Early in the morning, Christopher was awaken by knocks on the door of his bedchambers. He didn't take long to open it.

"Your Majesty, I apologize to disturb your sleep this way, but one messenger from Arthena brought us bad news" Leonard Keane spoke

"What happened?"

"Their army needs reinforcements. A large group of rebels attacked a village nearby the Forbidden Grout. Most of the population were killed. Lots of injured and severely injured. Very few survivors. The last update was that they could be marching on foot to the great desert…"

"They're heading to the center of the town"

"Yes, and I have alerted Pierce to watch the boarders and the Great River in case some rebels may try to invade through there, and I have also sent a messenger to inform the king about the whole situation"

"Good, but we also need to secure the population from knowing about that. We don't need to cause more commotion"

"Yes, agreed"

"Prepare my horse and armory, and reunite the special knights to come with me to Arthena"

"Are you going too?"

"Yes! I am the leader and front man to secure the king and the kingdoms safety. I cannot just sit and wait for news"

"Alright…"

"You also stay alert in case we need reinforcements"

"Yes your majesty"

Castle of Bohma, O'Gregon Bedchambers

Katarina was facing a large wooden trunk, full of black glass bottles containing the forbidden black pills. Hearing knocks on the door; she immediately closed the trunk and covered it with a cape.

"Your majesty" Lucy entered evidently altered in concern alongside Nicholas Keane

"What are you doing here?" Katarina asked staring at the man

"I don't have good news" Nicholas said

"About what?"

"Your husband"

"What about him?" Katarina asked with preoccupation

"He's on his way to battle in Arthena"

"What? Is there a war in Arthena?"

"Apparently there will be…There's a group of rebels…weird rebels"

"Weird rebels?"

"Yes…apparently they're very resistant and act abnormally…"

"As in?" Katarina asked

The man inhaled making a face, "They're experiments of Albert and William…"

Katarina gasped, "What?"

"Those rebels killed them yesterday"

"Is Albert dead?" Katarina frowned in surprise

"Yes, both Walker brothers are dead. Victims of their own work"

Katarina didn't know what to say

"I sent messages to the nearby villages and provinces before I came here because you may be capable to stop the rebels"

"Why me?"

"Because of one the black herb effects"

"What do you mean?"

"The element they used in them, are found in the same place the Black Herb grows…in the Forbidden Grout, and according to one of Albert's notes, there's a relation between them. He didn't enter in details as he was still studying it, but he intended to continue using you for their greatest experiment."

"What the hell are you talking about? Am I part of his experiment?" she spoke in scare

Nicholas made a face, "Apparently yes, but a different experiment"

"What kind of experiment?"

"To learn all the Black Herb's effects and side-effects"

Katarina needed to sit, as she didn't feel well learning the truth, "He lied to me! He said it was a medicinal herb, used for regeneration of the skin, to prolong the beauty…It even cured Charles! I did not think he was using me as a guinea pig!"

Nicholas made a face, "He didn't lie about those effects. He only told you half of the truth"

"Bastard! I am glad he died!" she shouted, "That is what happens when anyone tries to harm me, fate punishes them! I am Katarina the Enlightened, God's chosen one!"

"And how do you know all that?" Lucy asked him with a serious face, "How did you have access to such secretive notes?"

Nicholas didn't feel threatened by the lady-in-waiting's suspicious, "I went there some time after they were attacked. I had to deliver them a part of the payment her majesty always donates to them. I managed to hide and not be seen by any of them, the rebels nor the dogs that killed them. I also retrieved the weapon that might be used against them. It's kept down there alongside my horse"

"You should have brought with you. Someone may inspect it!" Katarina said

"I covered it in a way no one will suspect of it"

"Does Charles know about that?"

"Yes milady, I heard one messenger talking to him and he's very concerned too"

"Does he know about the experiments?"

"No, he doesn't know anything about it. I preferred telling that only to you as you have the power to stop them"

"What if I cannot?" Katarina questioned

The man shrugged, "Then may god have mercy on us…"

They stayed in silence for a while, "Let me read his notes so I can know what to do to stop them" Katarina broke the silence

Katarina didn't take long to have an idea. She hoped she was right in interpreting the late scientist' instructions, and prayed she was capable to really make the difference.

.

.

"My name is Katarina, my mother's first child, my father's darling, my sister's favorite. I was the dream of another's. In the center of a faraway land, I was the dream of a prince. The fresh flower of a man, the almond tree that has not seen the storm, the sea without wave... The dream of a city in a capital city of a kingdom. Bitter land? Who says it is time to open the crocodiles? When does a child grow up? What does a child grow up with? Milk, honey? I saw and learned in the palace... I saw in the palace the grief in the greatest riches of the world, the darkness in the radiance of the greatest jewels, the wickedness behind the most beautiful surrogates... the deep, clear, pure and sublime heart as the waters in the mightiest ruler... Even when the rainfall is avoided, I am ready to sacrifice myself now... My past is devouring, despair and death... One day is the price of a life. I have returned and recreated myself. I am coming. It is a red rose that is fading in the sky. Goodbye child, goodbye past. I am ready to give life to love. I am Katarina Reed O'Gregon… I will say hello to the sky for the first time... Fire rivers flowing in my gardens, I come to bring out star lights myself in my eyes. I wear a love armor and chest, my innocence is a sword, I will walk over the cores. I will change the fates, write the future, I am coming to leave my mark!

Until this day, I have not been afraid of anyone and I will not be this time!"

Upon arriving in Arthena, Katarina noticed the commotion of the population in the central plaza. The despair in their faces and manners.

With her imposing figure, they opened space for her to pass by them, followed by some guardians.

Standing in front of the central fountain, she inhaled deeply and kept an imposing posture and called their attention.

"Whoever wants to say whatever they want, may they say it to my face, without fear!"

"They say you caused the rebels' disaster" a man said

"Yes, is it true, why do you do it?" another man agreed with the man

"Do not believe such things. They are all lies."

"How do we know you're telling the truth? We do not have any faith left in you. You abandoned us!"

"Unfortunate. Very unfortunate. Maybe some of you had not been born but I have shielded this state with my own life! I came from another land. My name was something else, my language was different, and my culture was different! I loved your seas, the winds here. I loved your southwest winds! I always protected my children. I loved the people, the people! I loved you. I loved the children and women. I always loved the elderly, the needy. I saw death and almost died myself! Still I never left any of you hungry. Never left you poor and needy, not even in my absence!"

A more polite gentleman said, "Your majesty, please forgive us, we have great respect for you but the rebels, the disasters have not stopped coming down upon us and afterwards the punishments and prohibitions. We have lost our way, forgive us"

"I am here! I will solve this! Now leave this town with your families and stay in a safe place. I will stay here! As the former governor of the province. Do not be afraid. Do not worry. I give you my word –your lives, your wealth and even your honor is under my protection!"

After the lecture, Katarina headed to the Central Church alongside a group of royal soldiers.

Christopher Reed was not the man to despair of anything, much less the sort who expected a divine solution to his problems. Perhaps because many years ago he had come to the conclusion that he had been abandoned by God, or because experience had taught him that every minute he stopped was one less of life when he was faced with an army of rabid and heavily armed soldiers, especially when some of the soldiers in question were on horseback and he was not.

Several escape routes had passed through his head, more for safety than for any desire to escape – again -, because if there was one thing everyone knew about him was that he never ran away from a good fight since his return to the court. Even when the opponent had a twenty to one advantage. And then everyone knew that the harder the battle, the better the reward, at least that was what he and many others thought of it. For this reason, he regarded with calm and naturalness the desertion of the leader of the troop.
He finished loading his fire gun and positioned himself to aim at the head of a soldier who was in front of the others.

"Hold the position!"

He noticed from the corner of his eye a strange movement at his side.

"Firm!" He shouted once more for the troop to hear him

As he turned his eyes forward and saw the army of soldiers even closer, he was sure that before he gave the order to shoot, many other soldiers would follow the example of the old knight of another province and run to hide in some hole in the ruins behind them. He knew exactly who would be the first to do it. He did not have to wait long to see a fire gun fly and see a soldier running off in the direction the old knight had taken, so at least ten other men were chasing after him. But there was no time to pay attention to the cowards, especially since the rabid soldiers had chosen that moment to start firing.

"Fire!" He still managed to scream before throwing himself to the ground to deflect an almost accurate shot

Shots and daggers flew in all directions. Those who had previously remained in position were now running to save their lives. The moment of "every man for himself" had arrived in record time. The blood and the bodies of the front men stained the earth. The angry soldiers passed through them as devastating and ruthless as a cloud of locusts destroying a plantation. If Christopher thought that God was not with him, he had every reason to be sure that Devil was with the bloody foes.
He threw the rifle that was accompanied by a detachable bayonet in the chest of a soldier, but as he imagined, he did not get the reaction he wanted since the strange soldier seemed to feel no pain or to be immobilized by wounds.

"Shit!" He drew a flintlock and shot the same immortal soldier as he tried to run backwards

He had not gone very far, trying to reload the gun, when he tripped over a body. The fall caused the weapon to fly from his hands. He looked around expecting to see some enemy ready to kill him. Christopher Reed would never be accused of lying down and waiting for death.

At that moment, Christopher heard a low, high-pitched sound, like a groan. He turned quickly and saw a dead man feeding on another dead body.

"What the fuck?"

He jumped up and ran as fast as he could in the direction of a large statue. He knew he was being chased; he could feel the ground tremble with the rush of angry soldiers and heard the ominous sound of the tongues of the enemies snarling like a macabre salute to death.

When he finally reached the statue, he was weak. He threw his body against the stones of the image in the vain hope of making a secret passage appear, or who knows, the ground opening and swallowing the enemies. But the only thing that happened was to be surrounded by twenty creatures under the sight of rifles with bayonets and scythes. He decided to use the last seconds of life to exchange a few words with the Lord.

The moment he closed his eyes he heard the sound of the rifles being cocked, knowing he would not have much time, he chose to make a request, "Sorry to bother You, I know You must be very busy since You obviously are not here. I know, and the Lord knows too, that I do not believe You exist, but if You're willing to prove otherwise the moment is this... I think it's just... hum... Amen"

He heard a distant ring of bells.

He opened his eyes boldly, willing to see death face to face, but found only the deserted spot and the silence. The strange soldiers were walking away. He looked around still in disbelief, and ran to a higher part of the ruins and saw the enemy army getting away quickly; he shook his head completely stunned and looked up. He could still hear the strange ring of bells at distance.

"I think it's a thank you..."

He thought it was best not to sit around waiting to see what would happen. He ran away from the ruins and back into town. The fact that he had not even taken a horse passed through his head. As he ran, he could hear strange sounds mingling with moans. Explosions. It was as if the earth was moving beneath his feet. An explosion took place next to his feet and a wave of land covered him, he barely had time to jump to the side before two new explosions happened. Hand grenades.

"Christopher, get out of there! Hurry!"

He heard the voice of Pierce at the top of a hill, along with other soldiers and several guns placed to shoot the strange creatures. He followed the rest of the way to them, never looking back.

"What are these creatures? They don't die!" Christopher grumbled

"Katarina knows how to destroy them. She drew the others to the great church. You go to the church to support the troops that are already there. I and the others will take care of these ones here and destroy the Forbidden Mine"

"Pierce..."

"Go! Get my horse. You have to get there before them!"

Arthena's Center

Leonard, Cathy, and Jillian removed the remaining people from their homes and settlements to empty the town of Arthena before the arrival of the strange soldiers.

Christopher arrived in the besieged city. A deadly silence. He headed for the great church.

Katarina was waiting at the altar with a strange scepter in her hand. Soldiers were stationed in every corner of the church below and in the upper levels, ready to attack the enemies at the right time.

"What are you holding?" he asked

"The bait that will draw them in and keep them standing for the ambush while the other soldiers shoot at their heads"

"How do you know that?" He questioned her

At that moment, they heard the signal that the strange soldiers had arrived.

"Get a gun and shoot them in the head, but wait for my warning!" Katarina ordered her husband

Strange soldiers lined up to sit on the wide wooden benches to pray. Like they were at religious mass.

Hypnotized.

Everyone waited patiently one by one to sit down. Paralyzed, Katarina raised the scepter and the extermination began.

Katarina threw the scepter on the ground and set fire on it.

They all left the church and watched the place in complete blaze for a while. Watching the flames spread, all the soldiers, Katarina, Christopher, and the others left the city.

A strange smoke spread through the alleyways of the city, and a strange cloud of rain formed in the sky. The heavy rain erased the burning church. It flooded the river that made connection between Arthena and Edonia that served of division of the territories. The river flooded the city, extinguishing the flames and leaving a trail of immense destruction.

It was the end of the strange rebels. The end of Arthena.

Thank you Pin and silver scropion for the reviews! :D

Phew! That was a long one! Thank you all for reading my piece :D

It's official, only two more chaps to end the 18th! Be prepared, I might update quick this time! And also be ready to read long chapters!

I'd like to add that I don't know if you noticed, but sometimes Mr. Lionel calls Angelina in two ways: Angely and Angie. It's not a mistake of mine! I write that way on purpose :D

Very soon we will find out the old man's secrets...whuahuaha

Stay Tuned!