Chapter 1- The Road is always long.

In Velder, a small, hastly put together camp was bustling in the middle of the Velder suburbs. Velder's knights patrolling the small encampment, placed in the suburbs. Civilians going about their business, worry etched into their faces. An entire town, pushed to into a small make shift campe. The sky clouded ,and red. Smoke rising from the east indicating multiple fires in the city depths. Within the small camp was. a boy sitting atop a large blue, and white cannon. HIs spiked dirty blonde hair flowing in the wind, as his cold blue eyes were fixated on the dirt beneath his feet. Chung was deep in thought, and his feet were uncounciously scraping the dirt. On the outside he looked as if boredom had taken him, but on the inside however he felt sick with worry. The Kingdom of Velder was overun by demons. They had completely taken the capital. It was a catastrophe! Chung thought to himself,"How did this happen? I didn't think it could get this bad..."

Chung, along with two of his other companions had only arrived last night. The scene that greeted them, had only made their troubles worse. One of his companions in particular looked as if she was on the brink. He could recall the rage, and sadness deep in her eyes. It sent chills down his spine. She seemed so cold compared to just a months ago. Things were constantly being thrown at them. Bad sitation after bad sitation piling themselves up on the group. With a heavy sigh, Chung shook his head, and raised his head, glancing about. His eyes caught hold of a young woman approaching him. Her long hair black ponytails floating in the wind as she graciously walked toward him. Chung scooted himself to one end of his cannon, and patted the other side. The oriental vixen sat on the opposite side of Chung, and placed her spear across her lap. She gave a half hearted smile towards Chung, but all expression left her shortly after, and she glanced towards the eastern gate.

Chung grumbled, and leaned back slightly. His eyes taking in the clouded sky."Damn...No good news then. What are we going to do Ara? Just how bad is it in the capital?" Ara moved to look at Chung, and then to the ground. "Most of what we heard is true. The city is burning, and the demons are in complete control. It's all the Velder Knights can do to keep the demons from breaking into the camp. We would need to break through them if we wish to continue on. No easy task." Ara finished, her eyes now distant. Chung could tell what Ara was thinking about, but he was not ready to press the issue. They had to help these people the best they could. Even if it meant delaying not only his goal, but Ara's as well. After a moment of silence, Chung decided the current mood was to bleak to keep. With a coincidental growl from his stomach, he let a small smirk creep onto his face. "Hey, wanna find something to eat?" He turned his gaze to Ara, and rubbed the back of his head.

Ara snapped back to reality, and nodded. "I-I suppose. But we should wait fo..." Ara was interrupted as the sound of stomping knights halted, and saluted a other young woman who was approaching the two friends. They watched as she took the fearsome looking claymore from back, and stabbed it into the ground in front of them. With a loud thud, she threw her bottom atop the cannon, now made bench, and slouched forward. The two watched their third companion silently, waiting. She had her elbows to her knees, one hand holding her head up. Her crimson locks gently blowing into her face. "E-Elsis?" Ara gently spoke. "We begin a campaign to retake the captial in a couple of days. I have secured us a small room for the time being. However, we will have little support from the Knights. At least until we clear some of the way. They hope to look for survivors from the demon raids, but..." She let her hand fall, and sat upright. Hey amber eyes, full of what looked to be a mix of anger, and despair. With a sigh, she continued. "They say there are quite a few formidable demon officers about. This...will take some time..." The trio sat silently for a moment, the other two soaking in the new information. Chung's stomach suddenly growled once more. "Well... Let's go eat."

A while later, the group is sitting at a small stone table, their plates now empty. Chung could feel the disdain for their current situation flowing from Elesis, and Ara. He understood how they felt. He wanted to get Hamel in Fluone just as bad as they did. After all it was his hometown. The rumors coming from Hamel were horrifying. What was left of Elesis' Red Knights were stationed there. That was their ultimate destination. That is why he, Ara, and Elesis went ahead of the rest of the group. He could only hope they were doing well without himself and the other two. "So what's the plan? Where are we starting?" asked Chung. Elesis took a quick sip from her water, and turned her attention to him. "They say that there is a large bastard of a demon, terrorizing the closest, and the last of the residential areas to be evacuated. Luckily the fires haven't reached the area yet, so the possibility of any survivors is higher. We will go in, see what we can do about clearing out the demons, while looking for survivors. Eventually we will find this fat head demon, and take him down."

Ara interjected "I assume the Velder Knights will follow us in, and once cleared they will be doing most of the searching for survivors, and taking them back. Which leads us to do all the fighting..." Elesis quietly nodded, and leaned back in her chair."Never a dull day in Elrios. Uuugh... I hope my little brother is ok..." Ara quickly leaned over, and patted Elesis' shoulder. " I'm sure he is fine. After all he has Raven, and the others with him." Chung nodded in agreement, and smiled. "Yea! We are all tough. There's nothing they wont be able to handle!" Elesis let a small smile grace her lips, and nodded." Thanks guys, I'm sure you're right..." However in her gut, she still felt worried. She had lost enough. It couldn't be helped that she would worry. "Still, it's one thing after another. Can't get a break anymore. "She stated with what sounded like a forced chuckle. The others nodded in agreement. Chung looked up to see the sun setting in the west, and decided it was about time for them to get some rest. They had been traveling for quite some time after all. "Let's go to up to our room, get a decent shower in, and some rest. We got rough times ahead of us."

"Yes please! I feel like I haven't showered in weeks!" Are exclaimed, as she jumped from her chair, grabbed her spear, and immediately ran toward the tavern/inn's stairs. Elesis, and Chung watched as she ran, with smirks in place. For being the oldest in this group, Ara sure acted the youngest. It was uncertain if it was the influence of Eun, the fox spirit residing within Ara or if that was just how she is. After Elesis threw a few ED down on the table, they both follow suite. Once they found their room, and entered, they could hear already in the shower, humming to herself. They walked further into the dimly lit room to observe their rented quarters. A quick glance showed a small wooden bed made for two, and 4 foor long, and two foot wide dressed for their belongings. The room seemed well kept. Probably due to the influx of people as of late. Elesis placed her claymore upright against the the wall, and shook her head. She placed her hands at her hips, and looked at the bed. "Welp. Chung. Seeing as you are the gentleman here. you get to sleep on the floor." She looked over to see Chung laying the floor up against his cannon, which was placed right under the window. She laughed as he had given her a 'no shit' look. "Sorrrrrry." She stuck her tongue out him, and plopped down onto the bed, with a small thunk, and groan from the wooden bed legs.

After a good half hour, Chung was just leaving the bathroom, now weaing his white, and blue pinstriped pajama shirt, and bottoms. He brushed a hand through his hair, and turned to Elesis, who was now staring at the ceiling while laying in bed."It's all yours" he said flatly. Elesis pulled herself up from the bed, and trudged along sluggishly into the bathroom. Chung looked to Ara who was on the other side of the bed, mushing her face into the pillow."Feeling better now?" He asked. All he got in response was a muffled 'mhhm'. He shrugged, and moved back over by his cannon. He pulled out a a soft thick blanket from the group pack, and laid it on the ground. He laid on his back, folding his arms behind his head, and stared intently at the ceiling. He couldn't help but feel anxious about the coming days. Their road was a long one. The obstacles were also starting to pile up. But for some reason that eluded him, he also felt excited. He was unsure of what to make of it.

Elesis was huddled on the shower floor, hugging her knees tightly. The hot water gently sprinkling itself on her soft cream colored skin. The crimsonete was finally letting what had happened in Feita get to her. The images of her fallen Red Knights still fresh in her mind. The assault that nearly lead her to her own death. With her eyes tightly shut, she focused on resisting the urge to scream. She could feel the power of the dark El she used to save her life. She knew it had twisted her, for all she desired was vengeance on the demons. She was silently promising to her self, and to every demon, that she would get her revenge. And it would be a massacre. A violent, bloody massacre. "I wont stop until every demon in this world is dead... Elsword..Wait for me.."She whispered to herself. She leaned back, and let hot water fall on her face before getting up, and out.

After drying her self off, and putting on her red pajam shorts, and a loose black shirt, Elesis brushed her hair, and headed out of the bathroom. She silently moved to the bed through the darkened room, pulling the covers back, and gently laying on her belly. Resting her head on the pillow, she closed her eyes, hoping sleep would take her soon. On the verge of unconsciousness, small movement pulled her back, and one crept open. Ara had pulled herself closer to Elesis, and hugged her arm, resting her forehead against Elesis' shoulder. Elesis smiled lightly, and closed her eye once more. "Elesis...Everything is going to work out...r-right?" Ara had whispered. Elesis couldn't help but let out a small laugh. Elesis spoke softly as not to wake Chung, if he indeed was asleep. "Of course Ara. We will do everything we can to help these people, and find your brother. We will unite with the others, and things will eventually go back to how they should be." She felt Ara nod into her shoulder, and sighed. In her heart she knew she had to do more then just take revenge on the demons. She had all of her friends to protect now, as well as her brother. But the thirst for blood would always be there. Haunting her until she fulfilled her own promise. She turned her face into the pillow, and quietly growled. "Lets just hope our journey doesn't get anymore complicated." She thought to herself. The room became near silent as the group fell asleep. Only the feint sound of demon's howling could be heard.