Chapter 5-Guardians of the Desert
I stood up as the sun broke the horizon drenching the lush landscape of the oasis and I scanned my surroundings to see that only Eldore was up fixing breakfast. I walked towards him and sat down on a nearby stone and just gazed skyward.
"So you've been this way before?" Eldore inquired calmly.
"Yes," I answered simply, "My people migrated here after the war…but I'm not sure they're here any longer."
"Really…but you suspect someone awaits you in Albana," Eldore commented handing me a bowl of simple soup.
"Yes…an old friend of mine," I said a small grin on my face, "he and I used to get into so much trouble together…but we eventually went our separate ways."
Our conversation was then rudely interrupted by the now awake Ginger who went over and grabbed his bowl of soup. He began slurping it down noisily which I found absolutely disgusting…not to mention annoying.
"So where is Albana exactly?" Ginger inquired curious.
"It's located in the center of the desert," Eldore answered preparing another bowl for the now awake Yulie.
"I've never seen the desert before," Yulie commented excited, "I can't wait to see it."
"You're going to regret that comment," I laughed, "Deserts are one of the most dangerous places on this world…and the Lagnish is one of the worst."
"What's so bad about it?" Yulie asked me.
"Well to start things off its filled with horrible monsters…Fire Giants and other such creatures," I answered the smile still on my face, "and then there's the desert itself…many people get past the monsters only to die from dehydration, starvation, or heat stroke…and those are the good ways to die in this place."
"Is it really that dangerous?" Ginger asked.
"Yes it is," Eldore commented dryly.
"Look we should get going before it gets too hot out," I told them standing up, "Make sure you refill our canteens to the brim…we're not likely to find a safe place to drink until we leave the Lagnish."
"What about Albana?" Ginger asked confused.
"Like I said we're not likely to find a safe source to drink until we leave the Lagnish," I answered clipping a mask to my helmet.
It looked like it was made out of some sort of organic material but it was actually a man-made material known as Lamellar. The eyes were open but the area over the mouth was covered by a mesh…I was wearing it to protect myself from the sand. I stood up and moved to a small pond nearby and began to fill several canteens…Yulie and Eldore soon joined me but Ginger was jumping around in his huge amount excitement…meaning that he was not filling his canteens. When we were done I stood up and began moving towards the edge of the oasis we were camping at followed by the others…why were they always following me damn it?
"What are we likely to face here?" Yulie inquired.
"Well last time I came through here there were fire giants, scorpions, fire elementals, a red boar like creature, as well as a giant tiger like creature," I answered unsure of some of their names as they had only recently been discovered in the Lagnish, "but for those of you who weren't there for my lecture about elementals here it is…leave them alone and they'll leave you alone."
Ginger sighed as the oasis abruptly changed into the golden sand of the desert…and the heat of the morning sun hit us like a charging bull.
"Argh –cough- I've got –cough- sand in my mouth," Yulie complained.
"What's with this wind?" Ginger commented.
"It's a common occurrence in this desert…be glad it's not terrible…there's some storms that can rip the flesh from your bones," I told them truthfully, "but listen I'm going to go scout ahead."
"Why the hell are you going on ahead?!" Ginger shouted.
"I'm the strongest of us," I scowled, "and I know the layout of the area best and can scout for ambushes."
With that I took off running through the desert leaving my stunned companions behind…truth be told I wanted to scout for something else…there was supposed to be an enclave of my people located in the desert but I'd never found it…at least not yet. I scaled a nearby cliff to gain a better perspective of the area and I was shocked by what I saw…the desert was teaming with monsters…way more than there should be. I took off across the bluff using a bow I borrowed from Yulie to pick off monsters that were blocking the group's way but I had to be careful because when I killed one of the monsters because the smell of fresh blood would quickly draw more monsters to it…hopefully the others would realize this. I was running forward when I realized that Ginger and the rest of the group had not appeared yet…and I'd been standing here for about ten minutes. I began backtracking attempting to find them…I ran back probably thirty yards when I came to a clearing…and there stood the others…surrounded by a group of fire giants. How the hell did they get surrounded by so many fire giants…wait…the grounds shaking…shit! I whirled around only to be met by a giant hammer and be sent flying straight into the others where I landed with a nasty crack…I'd broken my arm.
"Eddoe!" Yulie shouted in shock as Eldore helped me up, "Where were you!"
"Clearing the path," I hissed in pain, "Damn it…my arm is broken!"
"What the hell are we supposed to do then?!" Ginger shouted in panic raising his sword and shield.
"I said my arm is broken…not that I'm helpless," I snarled drawing my sabre only for my hand to spasm and drop it, "Shit…I can't even hold my own weapon."
I looked at my hand to see blood streaming down it from a wound in my shoulder…I examined the wound to find that my shoulder had been shredded by the spikes on the giants hammer…and that in turn damaged the nerves in my shoulder preventing me from properly wielding a weapon…and maybe even casting magic.
"What's wrong?" Eldore shouted as the fire giants began closing in…the chieftain who knocked me off the cliff jumped down and closed the ring around us meaning we had five giants to defeat before we could escape…a challenge for me even on a good day…but now.
"My remaining arm has received nerve damage," I snarled in pain, "I'm unable to continue the fight in my current condition."
"Then what are supposed to do?!" Yulie screamed the fear evident in her voice.
They all looked at me expecting me to come up with some great plan but to tell the truth…I was out of ideas…fire giants only hunted in pairs…if they hunted with others at all…I gazed to the sky to see a single pink pedal floating on the wind…it was strange because the petal was not native to this region...it was native to…the Vale!
"Get down!" I yelled grabbing both Yulie and Ginger and pulling them down with me as Eldore dropped to his knees.
From underneath the sands erupted ballista bolts with chains attached to them that pierced many of the fire giants and pulled them down…I turned to see the fire giant chieftain being pulled to towards the cliff wall where I could see several ballista's mounted within hidden alcoves…as the fire giants hit the ground trap doors opened and out leaped several soldiers wearing armor similar to the Balandor Kingdom armor except instead of the golden pieces they were red…they were Valerian Soldiers. The first fire giant was brought down to its knees and met with the halberds of two of the soldiers who surgically cut the arteries in its neck, the second was roaring in pain as three soldiers armed with crossbows took shots at its eyes blinding it and a soldier with a spear cut its throat, the third had been completely brought down onto its back when a soldier with a katana cut its head from its shoulders in a single swing, the fourth attempted to stand only to have its legs cut out from underneath it by a man with a war ax and had its head removed by the same axman, and the fire chieftain who was pinned against the cliff face was hit by blasts of winds that were cutting the giant to pieces as easily as a blade through kibble hide…I gazed over in the direction of the attacks to see a man in a crimson set of robes…and he was wielding a green war fan with white tips…accompanying him were two soldiers wielding Archmage's Staffs. I stood up and began walking towards him ignoring the worried looks from my allies…as I approached him he turned towards me a small scowl on his lips. His eyes were red in color and his hair was blond and long but slicked back.
"So you're still alive," the man growled before he ran up to me and hugged me with a smile, "It is wonderful to see you again my lord."
"You as well Ziron," I laughed glad to see an old comrade, "I can't believe you found us in this godforsaken desert."
"Well it's not actually a coincidence," Ziron sighed shaking his, "We were actually tracking these creatures for the last three days…we think that their building a war party."
"Shit," I hissed under my breath as the soldiers began removing the ballista missiles from the bodies of the dead, "Things just aren't going right."
"I wouldn't worry about it though," Ziron chuckled, "We've already killed several chieftains so far…so more than likely they'll just fall into infighting."
"Good…what the hell!" I winced as one of the soldiers began examining my shoulder.
"I'm examining your wound to prepare it for healing my lord," the soldier stated in a matter of fact tone.
"Continue," I hissed as he began prodding the wound causing my arm to flare up with pain.
"Who the hell are these people?!" Ginger yelled completely confused.
"Oh…forgive me," Ziron chuckled, "We are the Valerian army Lagnish division."
"Wait I thought Valeria fell," Yulie stated the confusion evident on her face.
"Our Capital fell," I stated wincing as the soldier set about healing my wounds, "but the outlying villages and towns were able to evacuate before the Magi could destroy them…also are armies were out in the field…"
"So they weren't there when our Valeria itself fell," Ziron sighed.
"So wait are you saying that there are thousands of vagrant soldiers out there?" Ginger inquired completely shocked, "Why don't you retake your homeland then?"
"Our army has aged ten years without a way to take care of equipment, train new recruits, and supply our army…not to mention all the veterans that have died in all of this time," I barked angrily, "and then there's the problem of not having a leader to unite behind."
"Your people are a monarchy right?" Yulie inquired to which Ziron and myself nodded, "Then why didn't your people just select a new king if there's no heirs?"
"But there is an heir," Ziron stated confused turning towards me and before I could tell him to shut up he told them, "Why Lord Eddoe here is the heir apparent."
This one comment was met with startled looks from Ginger, Yulie, and Eldore…as well a look of utter despair on mine. Why god…why do you taunt me so…do you enjoy seeing me suffer…damn it.
"I thought you knew," Ziron stated confused by the others looks.
Note to self…kick the shit out of Ziron.
"No they bloody hell didn't know!" I shouted panicked, "Do you think I go around proclaiming at the top of my lungs –Hey I'm the king of the long dead kingdom of Valeria come and hunt me down Magi-…god do you think I'm that dumb?!"
"Wait you're a king?" Ginger asked incredulously.
"And here we go," I muttered under my breath.
"Your majesty," Ginger stated with an insulting bow.
"I'm going to make you suffer," I whispered to Ziron…to which he only smiled, "and you stop it before I kick the shit out of you."
This last comment was directed at Ginger who was making a completely pompous ass out of himself. I turned and stalked off the path with the soldier trailing after me shouting something about needing to finish healing my wounds…God I hate my life…I never wanted to be king…hell it was a shot in a million that I'd become the king…I hate fate. I stopped once I was standing a good fifty paces away from the others as the soldier set about healing my remaining wounds. I turned as I heard a whooshing sound and saw that the soldiers had set the giants bodies on fire to burn them…Ziron was approaching me with the others in tow a small smile on his face.
"I'm more than willing to escort you and your comrades to Albana," Ziron offered to which I nodded my agreement and we quickly set off.
I soon fell into discussion with Ziron about the enclave that was supposed to be located in the Lagnish and he told me that they had moved on towards Greede to find greener pastures…literally…he then explained that he and his men were here to guard this area in case any other refuges passed through.
"We're here," Ziron stated as we approached the gate to Albana.
"Finally it's so hot," Ginger complained.
"One thing before you go," I told Ziron, "Have you seen a black monoship?"
"Yes I have," Ziron answered, "It landed on the edge of town for about an hour and then took off…it looked like they took some people aboard it."
"Thanks," I told but as I turned to leave he grabbed my arm.
"The council is convening in two months," he whispered in my ear before leaving with his men.
"What was that about?" Yulie asked as we walked into Albana.
"It was nothing," I stated calmly.
"Wow this place sure is lively," Ginger commented ignoring the conversation.
"Yeah it sure is," Yulie stated letting the conversation drop.
"Keep a firm hand on you pouches," I warned, "This place is filled with cutpurses who are always ready to fleece the incompetent."
"We should search for information," Eldore commented.
"You should start at the tavern," I told them turning to walk away, "I'll leave that to you."
"Where are you going?" Ginger inquired.
"I'm going to look for my acquaintance," I told him, "If you need to find me later I'll be at the guild."
I walked down one of the alleyways looking for a little hut that was meant to be unextraordinary…unless you knew what to look for. I approached a hut and soon found out it was the right one as a woman came running out screaming that the fates had abandoned her. I smiled opening the door and stepping into a heavily veiled room. I gazed around at the purple curtains and the incense candles that were perfuming the air with a pungent aroma. I approached a chair at table that had half of it covered by a thick black veil…as I sat down a voice spoke from the other side.
"I will now predict your future," the voice spoke clearly male, "but know child no future is set..."
I remained silent not wanting to tip him off…that was if he didn't already know I was here…most other fortune tellers were fake but this man wasn't…his name was Norvain Vask…and he was one of the last seers of Valeria…as well as the man I came to meet.
"I will now predict the future…wait what is this," Norvain stated confused, "I see a posterior…with a boot implanted in it…wait a minute that's my ass…and that boot seems familiar…shit."
Norvain ripped aside the curtain and just sat there staring at me in utter disbelief…he was wearing a set of Bloody Coat robes but they were different colored…they were deep blue with red embroidery. His hair was brown and slicked back and he had piercing blue eyes.
"What the hell are you doing here?" Norvain asked confused.
"I've a job for you," I answered him with a smile.
"Wait a paying job…no I don't want to know," He said seeming a little disoriented, "Last job we did together almost had me sleeping with a male warg!"
"Would you be willing to do it if I told you it would be rescuing a princess?" I told him seeing his resolve to deny me unraveling fast for you see unlike me Norvain had a chivalrous heart and could not turn away from someone in need of help.
"Eddoe you are the biggest walking cliché I've ever met," he sighed after a couple of minutes, "Fine I'll help you."
"Good," I told him still smiling, "Meet me at the tavern in a little while."
"Wait but there's a disturbance going on at the Tavern," Norvain warned, "It seems like it's some sort of brawl."
"Shit grab your weapons and let's go," I shouted as he grabbed a set of metal rings with blades on them.
We went tearing through the streets nearly running over an old lady who was saying something about needing her palm read which caused Norvain to tell her to find another fortuneteller…we ran through the streets shoving people out of the way until we entered the main square where I saw my companions surrounded by probably a dozen or so shoddily outfitted warriors…Norvain rushed them and threw one of his weapons which as it spun in the air it made a horrible humming sound and as it struck the back of one of the warriors it split him in two…but as one of the others turned to see where the attack came from I was already upon him driving my blade through his chest…Eldore reacted using this distraction to cut down three more enemies while Yulie sniped two more and Ginger cut down three more as well as Norvain ended the last two with a blast of lightning. As the two charred corpses fell to the ground Norvain just stood there smiling but his smile quickly faded when he locked eyes with the blond haired woman who had not joined the fight.
"Eddoe," he began to warn me.
"I know," I told him readying my weapon.
"Eldore," Ginger shouted the fear in his voice.
"I sense it as well," Eldore warned, "We must be careful."
"So there are more of you," she stated with a thick accent…almost too thick, "but that won't save you…Aveni!"
When she said this she pulled out a card and held it to her forehead…which as she did released a massive burst of energy which through Eldore and myself down one of the streets and before we could get up a barrier emerged blocking us from the battle.
"Damn it," I shouted punching the barrier knowing it was hopeless.
"I take it we're trapped here," Eldore stated calmly.
"Yes we are," I hissed angrily, "It's all up to them."
"Who's your friend?" Eldore inquired curious as Norvain fought the woman now transformed into a Gigas.
"He's Norvain Vask…a Seer," I stated calming down slightly as Yulie shot the Gigas in the eye, "He's lucid most of the time but once in a while he'll say some pretty weird stuff."
"Press the X button to dodge roll," Norvain yelled loud enough for us to hear as if to illustrate my point, "Never mind just dodge!"
The battle was raging on with Ginger at one point attempting to activate his Incorruptus but the incantation took too long so Norvain pulled him out of the way of being crushed. The battle would have been impossible to win with us cut off if it had not been for Norvain…I could see Norvain was growing tired of this battle as he prepared a powerful lightning spell…which when he launched it brought the Gigas down…and suddenly it faded shattering the barrier and leaving the girl behind…Eldore and I rushed towards her me with my sword drawn to prepare to kill her but Ginger leapt in front of me to block my attack.
"What are you doing?!" He shouted at me.
"Ending a threat before it can begin," I snarled back.
"Eddoe we can't just kill her," Norvain stated shocked, "She's an unarmed prisoner."
"Fine have it your way," I scowled angrily storming off.
I stood waiting at the guild as they brought in the blond haired woman but before they could ask me to help I stormed off into the room I rented for myself and laid down on the bed…in my opinion the woman wouldn't be awake for a couple hours so I decided to catch up on my Z's…I quickly fell into a deep slumber not realizing that Yulie had enter my room…
-Strange Darkness-
I was in an area filled with broken columns and other such debris…I soon realized I was not alone on this floating slab…I turned around to see a man dressed in red and golden armor with red golden tipped feathers attached to the back of the helmet…He simply stood there just staring at me.
"So you are the inheritor of my legacy," the man stated his voice echoing as if in a cave, "You don't seem like much."
"Why don't you come and say that to my face," I snarled drawing my sabre as my enemy drew two ornate Katanas.
I charged him as he charge me our blades clashing but not causing a sound or spark…I struck out again and again but he blocked all of my attempts to until eventually I forced him to the edge where he lost his footing and I lopped off his head…or so I thought for as his head hit the ground I saw that the armor was empty.
"What the hell are you?" I inquired in a hushed tone.
"I'm the future," he stated picking up his head.
-Room in the guild-
I awoke with a start the sun rising in the distance…as I rose to my feet I saw Yulie sleeping in a chair in my room and I was confused as to why she was there so I shook her awake.
"W-w-what," She stated groggily.
"Why are you here?" I asked confused.
"Oh –yawn- I was going to ask you something," She stated, "Why were you so ready to kill that woman?"
"She was an enemy," I stated simply, "Now if that's all you've to ask…GET THE HELL OUT OF MY ROOM!"
I practically ripped her out of the chair and threw her out of the room as I went and laid back down to on the bed where I quickly fell back asleep knowing full well that Ginger wound have some crack pot scheme to try and find the Princess…and I would need all the energy I could muster…and besides I had to attempt to understand who this man was in my dream…and what legacy…
Here ends Chapter 5…I thank you for all of your reviews and questions about this story. The part where Eldore explains what the woman's turned into is now handled by Norvain and it is not heard due to the barrier and the distance between them and the battle as Eddoe and Eldore are thrown down the street leading to the general store. As to the question from Spartan016the Blitz Guard armor is a black set of Archduchy armor embossed with golden thread. The Helmets Worn by Male Farians are the same as the normal ones except black while the one worn by Eddoe is a normal one except it has a length of Wolf hair emerging from the top and extending down about two feet. Female Farians have a hood instead of the Helmet. Also the Mask worn by Eddoe in the fifth chapter is very similar to the ones worn by the Samurai of Feudal Japan. The review I made earlier was entered under the false assumption that the Archduchy Armor was known as Farian heavy armor but I've recently replayed the game again to correct my mistake. But new information keeps adding up…apparently Valeria isn't entirely dead just scattered… Eddoe's dream about a strange warrior…and Eddoe is the one true king of Valeria…it looks like the past is catching up to him…what will this mean for the redemption seeking mercenary. Thank you for your support and don't forget to review…All characters stated by name will become important to the story…eventually.
Characters-
Norvain Vask-
Age-19
Gender-Male
Bio-A seer of the Kingdom of Valeria and a longtime friend of Eddoe Yonthanx…he is somewhat insane due to his abilities. He fights with a set of weapons known as Chakrams.
Ziron Talon-
Age-20
Gender-Male
Bio-A Knight Strategist of Valeria and commander of the Lagnish division. He fights with a war fan similar to Eddoe's except this is green with red tips…He is an old acquaintance of Eddoe's.
Author Request-
In one of the later chapters taking place in Greede I will have a mission based on one of the side missions taking place…The one where you face the gauntlet of monsters in an arena style fight but instead of monsters I will be using characters found in the game…I will be taking requests from authors who would with their OCs to participate…I thank you for taking your time to read this story and sticking with it this far.