The little tidbits of information dropped in the newest chapter of Vivid inspired me to write this fic. I originally posted this as a stand alone, but I decided to fold it back into this story because no one left a review and it bothered me that it was the only fic on my list that didn't have the red 'reviews' link next to it (yes, I get bothered by stupid visual things like that ^^"). It's just a little side story that takes a peek into the past.


Ingvalt had only one dream: to unite the world under one kingdom. He did not hold such a desire out of a thirst for power, no, it was all for the sake of peace. The land of Belka had always been one of conflict and death and Ingvalt wished to end this bloody history.

His methods called for even more bloodshed, but Ingvalt was well aware of this fact. He would shoulder that burden if it meant uniting all the countries into one. He felled one king after another, assimilating their land and people into his own. Those under Ingvalt's rule knew he was a benevolent leader, one who cared deeply for his people and desired to protect them above all. The conquered masses soon realised this, and few would rebel against their new emperor.

He was confident that he would be able to defeat those who opposed him, but before him had stood an opponent he could not strike down. She was the Saint King Olivie Segbert. Her beauty and skill were said to surpass all, and this proved to be true as Ingvalt was unable to best her in one on one combat. He was unbelievably frustrated afterwards, cursing fate for ending his dream so soon. He expected to face death then and there, but to his surprise instead of finishing him off, Olivie smiled and outstretched her hand. She said she understood the path he walked and wished to achieve the dream of peace along side him.

An alliance was thus formed between the two rulers, and Ingvalt found himself fighting side by side with many new powerful and trustworthy allies. More than ever before, his dream appeared to be within his grasp.

Above all, he had gained a much needed pillar of support. The blood on his hands were sometimes far too much to bear, but in these moments of weakness Olivie would rest a hand on his shoulder and assure him that what they did was for the good of all. Once everyone was united under a single banner, there would be no more foreign nations to wage war against. And that together, the two of them would rule justly over the united kingdom, ensuring that inner strife would not disturb the new found peace.

More so than himself, Ingvalt felt that it was Olivie who was necessary for this peace. He vowed that he would protect her from any harm, even at the cost of his own life.

The battle waged on, and at long last the only remaining independent land had been claimed. With that last battle, the world would finally be at peace.

… So why was this happening?

When Ingvalt arrived at the outpost, it was already engulfed in flames. The corpses of his soldiers were strewn about, the flesh roasted off their bones. In the middle of the carnage stood a lone figure, his armour painted with the blood of his victims. Ingvalt watched as the last of his men charged at the figure, who calmly side stepped the charge. He grabbed the soldier by the neck and twisted it with such force the head spun around four times before it fell to the ground.

"W-What is the meaning of this?!" Ingvalt demanded of the figure that turned towards him.

"Hey Ingvalt." He greeted with a smile. "How's it going?"

"You… What are you doing, Volvo?" Ingvalt stared in horror at his friend. He was some one that had fought along side him during many battles. He was a powerful and reliable comrade whose loyalty to Olivie even surpassed Ingvalt's own.

"That's pretty obvious, isn't it?" Volvo gestured to his surroundings. "I'm slaughtering everyone."

"But why? Why are you attacking our own men? The war is over! The dream we've fought so long and hard for has finally come true! So why…"

"Dream?" Volvo pondered. "Oh yeah, that dream. Conquering heaven and earth, was it? Uniting the world to bring about peace? That worthless dream?"

"Worthless?!"

"Have you given thought to what happens next?" Volvo asked. "What becomes of us now? Oh sure, you'll have a country to rule, but what about me? I'm a warrior whose only use is on the battlefield. If there are no enemies to fight, then there is no reason for me to exist."

"So for that reason you will start war anew?" Ingvalt gasped. "Even if not as a warrior, you are still important to Olivie!"

Volvo let out a boisterous laugh that made Ingvalt take a step back in shock. "Olivie? What does that woman care of my existence? How many have I slaughtered in her name, yet she does not even acknowledge me? What has my devotion won me? Nothing. All I have left is the joy I feel when I take a life. What use do I have of a peace that will rob me of even that? Indeed, I shall choose the joy of the slaughter over some mundane peace!"

"You have lost your mind, haven't you?"

"You could say that." Volvo's grin widened.

"Then I have no choice but to put an end to your madness right now!" Ingvalt assumed his battle stance.

"I was so hoping you'd try." Volvo also stood at the ready.

Ingvalt knew full well what his former friend was capable of. Many times had he seen Volvo wipe out entire regiments of enemy forces with his vicious and unrelenting fighting style. His power even surpassed that of Olivie, who had once confessed that she had never defeated him in a serious sparring match. She had erroneously gained the reputation of being the world's strongest only because Volvo wished for her to be seen that way.

This match would be over in a single blow, and Ingvalt was fully aware of that. He would have to make his strike count.

When the main building of the outpost finally collapsed after the flames ate away at its supports, the two warriors charged. They each threw out a fist as they passed each other, but neither stopped until they had switched positions. After a moment's pause, Volvo fell to one knee.

"Heh, you got me." Volvo chuckled as he held his blood seeping side. "But you're too soft, Ingvalt." He turned to the other man, who was laying face down in the blood soaked soil. "Hesitant to strike down some one you viewed as a friend?"

"I could say the same of you…" Ingvalt managed. "You could have killed me in one blow, but instead you've only rendered me immobile."

"Don't mistake that for an act of mercy for an old friend." Volvo rose, still holding his side. He walked over and stood above Ingvalt, looking down at him with a wicked grin. "I left you alive because I want to see the look on your face when I throw Olivie's severed head at your feet."

"You wouldn't dare!" Ingvalt's eyes bulged and he attempted to move, but his body wouldn't listen. "Olivie is your…"

"I can do with her as I please." Volvo snorted. "I've been with her long before you ever came into the picture, and I will be the last one who occupies her thoughts as I squeeze the vitality from her. So you just wait right there and I shall be back in a short while."

"No! Volvo! Stop!" Ingvalt's body still refused to cooperate with him. All he could do was watch as his foe headed off in the direction of the castle. "Move, accursed body of mine!" He pleaded. "We promised we would protect Olivie, did we not? We swore we would fight for her to our death! We cannot allow his wishes to come to pass!"

Ingvalt failed to move even the slightest distance from that spot. The pain assaulting his body was too great and eventually he felt his consciousness slip away, but before it did so the smiling image of the woman he longed for filled his vision. A single tear fell from his eyes as they closed.

Ingvalt did not know for how long he slept, but when he awoke the flames around him had died. Off in the distance he saw that the castle had sustained heavy damage and, discovering a degree of mobility restored, he slowly crawled to it. He crawled through the rubble and corpses that littered the remains of the castle town, and eventually reached where the castle gates were supposed to be. There he discovered that he was not the only one still alive.

"Lord Ingvalt!" A middle aged man ran to him. "You've survived, my lord!"

"You…" Ingvalt did not recognise the man, but knew of his garb. "You are from the clan Scrya, are you not? Tell me, what has happened here? Where is Olivie?!"

The Scrya man averted his gaze. "Lord Volvo attacked without warning, and Lady Olivie went to face him. It was a fierce battle, but it appeared that Lord Volvo had been wounded prior, so my lady was able to gain the upper hand. We managed to put him under a seal, but Lady Olivie insisted that it was not enough. She then moved the Cradle and buried him under it."

Ingvalt breathed a sigh of relief. "So he was defeated… Where is Olivie now?"

"Lady Olivie… I'm afraid that after moving the Cradle, she succumbed to her injuries."

"No, this cannot be! Tell me you jest!"

"I dare not jest of such things, my lord. I only speak the truth."

"Olivie…" He whispered her name as tears streaked down his cheeks. It was all over. The kingdom he had strived for had been destroyed, and the woman he vowed to protect was no more.

The once mighty emperor wept, filled with a powerful regret that would live on for generations to come.


I only had a little to actually go off of from the Vivid chapter. But the main stuff like Ingvalt's goal, his losing to Olivie, and his regret over losing his kindgom and some unspecified woman is in there.

Also, this does not mean Einhart will be appearing later in the fic. Ingvalt might get a mention, but otherwise I'm pretty much ignoring Vivid.