Chapter-9: Arrival in Greede/Round 1:Eddoe V.S. ?
The transport had just landed on one of the many platforms of Greede and as I stumbled out it was clear that I was abnormally green…I hate flying…I continued off of the transport followed by the rest of them…Norvain was snickering like an idiot and if I felt better I would have thrown him over the edge…he would survive somehow…I stood up straight and grimaced as I felt my stomach do a back flip…thankfully I hadn't eaten or I would probably be seeing it again. We continued to walk through the long corridors that were filled with people talking to new arrivals or clearly awaiting someone…I smiled to myself as I remembered my first time here and couldn't wait to see how the others reacted…and when we entered the main lobby I wasn't disappointed.
"Wow this place is huge," Yulie stated in awe.
"Of course," Norvain chuckled, "This is one of the largest trading hubs in the world…why wouldn't it be large?"
"What should we do now?" Ginger asked staring around.
"Well you three need to secure yourselves some train passes and afterward you can meet us in the Merchant's Quarter," I told them calmly, "You can find us at either the Apothecary or at the outdoor café."
With that Norvain and I stepped through the elevator doors with several others and quickly pushed the button for the second floor…after a few seconds of feeling like my stomach bottom fell out we reached the second floor and swiped our passes and passed through the turnstile. As the train doors hissed open we stepped through them and sat down in a nearby compartment where we began discussing the current status of the world as we knew it…
"So the Magi have killed both the Archduke of Faria and the King of Balandor," Norvain sighed despondently, "10 to 1 odds that they once again pick up their pointless war."
"Not if I've any say in it," I hissed angrily, "I've already got a plan set up."
"Oh and what is that?" Norvain yawned departed.
"I plan on giving them a common enemy…the Magi," I answered…the plan was simple as the Magi had already killed both leaders so all both of the nations needed was a slight push in the right direction, "Besides it's not as if they're in any real shape to pick up their war once again."
"You're right about that," Norvain sighed, "Which will make it even more difficult to oust the Magi…filthy home wreckers."
"We'll bring justice down upon them soon enough," I yawned glancing to my left which is when I saw a woman in a hooded black cloak staring intently at us, "Am I really dressed that odd that people should be staring…it's Greede after all…there should be people more odd than I."
"Why do you ask?" Norvain inquired smiling.
"There's a woman over there staring at us," I stated feeling slightly uncomfortable.
"Just ignore her," Norvain yawned…
-About ten minutes later-
We had left the train and were walking through the bustling walkways of Greede attempting to find the apothecary…with very little luck…apparently very few people knew where it was exactly in the city…it was apparently located somewhere on the second floor of the quarter so once again we jumped into the elevator and rode it to the second floor where we found dozens of stall scattered throughout the paths…as we passed by them we saw people hawking items ranging from strange and downright disturbing. There was a Paupitur selling Greaver meat steaks as well as a Strange man with a beard long enough to tuck into his belt attempting to sell a book that appeared to be made out of human flesh…I could see the freckles.
"Over here!" Norvain shouted motioning me towards a Farian woman whose booth was filled beakers, vials, and other equipment meant for brewing potions.
"So can she help us?" I inquired walking towards them both.
"Of course I can," She barked grumpily, "I just need the name of the poison and I'll begin working on the antidote for it…so what's it called?"
"Vetralis Venom mixed with about three ounces of red scorpion venom," I answered which brought an incredulous look from Norvain.
"I'm not even going to bother to ask how you know that off the top of your head," he sighed.
"When you've been poisoned as much as I've been you learn to recognize the symptoms," I stated as the woman began looking through her supplies.
"I'm sorry but I'm all out of supplies to make the antidote," she sighed looking slightly upset, "But I'm receiving a shipment in about two days…so if you wait here I'll have the antidote ready then."
"Okay then," I stated turning to walk away, "We'll meet you here in two days."
Norvain and I left the market area and soon found the café we were looking for was also on the same floor. As we sat down a waitress quickly walked over to us to ask what we'd like to order.
"I'd like some ramen, a basket of freshly baked croissants, a bottle of red wine, and a single glass," I stated smiling she nodded and turned to Norvain who just ordered a cheese and ham sandwich.
"You eat like a middle class merc but drink like a noble," Norvain chuckled as the woman walked away.
"I've more plans for the wine than just drinking it," I stated glancing over Norvain's shoulder to once again see the woman in the black cloak heading away from us towards the market place, "Our stalker is back."
"The woman in black?" Norvain asked slightly confused, "You think she's a Magi agent?"
"It's possible but I don't think she's one," I yawned causally, "She's being to careless to be a spy…but still…it makes me uneasy that we've spotted her twice now…it's a large city and the odds of us running into her accidently are astronomical."
We sat there talking for about an hour when our food arrived and we fell upon it ravenously with me eating my noodles whole…this constantly confuses Norvain and I always give him the same answer…an ancient culture believed that eating your noodles without chewing them would grant longer life…and who knows it might be true. As I finished my ramen I began to sip my wine enjoying the flavor as I munched on a fresh baked croissant with a small smile on my lips.
"I've always enjoyed a good glass of wine," I muttered tucking the bottle away in my bag as Ginger and the others approached not looking happy, "Figured out how you're going to get your meeting with the count?"
"How do you know what we're supposed to do?" Ginger groused sitting down.
"Well we're looking for dragons after all so I figured we'd be starting in the Bunker Lode Caverns," I stated taking another sip of wine, "and since it's not the mining season we need the count to give us permission to raise the Demithor."
"We figured out that the count is looking for a statue," Eldore stated picking up a croissant and beginning to nibble on it, "But we can't get a straight answer about where to get it…just that it may be being sold at a black market auction house known as the Black Cherry."
"The Black Cherry is in downtown," I stated taking another sip of wine, "It's an exclusive club so you need a card to get in…I'd take you there but my history with the proprietor is…colorful to say the least."
"In other words he means he's forbidden from entering it," Norvain chuckled, "The look on the twits face was priceless."
As the conversation concluded Ginger grabbed Yulie and began dragging her back to the train yelling something about wasting time.
"But I'm starving!" Yulie yelled as she was being dragged away and Eldore stood up with a sigh grabbing another croissant before following them.
As we started laughing a man in a red messenger's suit came up to us looking slightly uncomfortable.
"Eddoe Yonthanx, Norvain Vask?" He inquired to which we nodded, "I was told to give you these."
He handed us two envelops which when we opened them held identical letters which read as following
Dear Recipient of this Letter
If you are reading this letter then you're either the person who it was intended for or you removed it from their possession…either way you've proven yourself worthy standing against some of the greatest fighters in the known world…there is a final test though…you must reach the arena in the underground by any means necessary...attacking fellow competitors is not only allowed but encouraged…the first eight competitors to reach the arena shall be the ones allowed to continue anyone else is sent back to the surface…or they buy a ticket and become a spectator…We hope to see you there.
Signed
The Arena Master
I began to laugh out loud and soon Norvain began laughing with me…this was not the first time we'd entered this tournament and of course we knew another way in rather than the one they wanted us to take.
"Elevator?" I asked Norvain smiling.
"Elevator," he agreed returning the smile.
We paid our bill and then set out for the staircase and when we reached the second floor landing I pushed a brick on the wall revealing an older model elevator…it was known as the champions lift and anyone who'd ever won the tournament knew it was there and was allowed to use it freely…it gave them an advantage over the other competitors as well as nearly guaranteeing them a spot in fights...we stepped into the elevator and descended into the depths of the underground…
The Arena-
Norvain and I stood at the edge of the arena having already drawn our numbers…I was to fight in the first round and Norvain in the last…we weren't the only ones present…there was much to my unease the woman in the black cloak from earlier, a man who hide his face under a hood, a taller man with a great sword slung over his back, a from the jungles of the south…What the hell is he doing here?...and another warrior I've faced countless times before named Sai…one spot remained open but no other competitors had emerged from the underground.
"Well I'm afraid time is up," the arena master stated walking to the head of the group, "due to the selection of combatants Sai is given the pass and moves on to the semi-finals."
There was a little grousing at this from some of the other competitors but that was quickly silenced.
"Now here is the remaining pairings," the arena master yelled, "Returning Champion Eddoe Yonthanx V.S. a woman who prefers to remain unnamed for the present…the next round will be between a local warrior Aden and a warrior from the jungles of the south Jiao…the final round will be between last year's runner up Norvain Vask and William Vermillion…the winner of these fights will move on to the semi-finals…Fighters of round 1 please move to the arena…as I walked towards the arena I examined my opponent…the way she walked…the way she held herself…she seemed familiar…
As we stood out on the battlefield staring at each other it clicked…I knew who she was…and I smiled.
"Who do you think you're fooling with that disguise," I taunted which caused her to shuffle nervously, "Come on…I know you can do better than that cheap disguise…Xaidra."
"What gave me away?" she sighed throwing off her cloak revealing Blitz Guard armor and pink hair with part of it draped over the front of her right shoulder and her two weapons of choice…a double bladed sword staff and a kusarigama.
"The way you move and hold yourself is memorable," I stated calmly.
"So even after a decade you remember how I move and…hold myself," she smiled slyly, "I wonder why that's what you remember?"
"Wait…what!?" I stated feeling flustered and I knew I must be blushing horribly, "That's not what I meant!"
"I know," she stated smiling and drawing her Kusarigama, "but I enjoy watching you squirm."
"…" I was stunned into silence…the Xaidra I remembered wouldn't act like this…though she seemed to be trying to unnerve me but when she spoke there was a slight coldness to her tone.
"Wow stunned into silence…I guess that's all I should expect from you," she snarled the anger clearly visible in her eyes, "For ten years I waited for a…a letter or something from you stating that you were alive and I received nothing…for ten years I believed you to be dead…and then Farlend returns home with the Archduke's body and an outlandish tale of a ghost fighting against the Magi."
"I'm sorry you feel that way Xaidra," I sighed drawing both of my Katanas and holding them at my sides, "but I won't apologize for my actions."
"That's just like you," she hissed angrily, "Always trying to act better than everyone else…it's time you were put in your place."
"You can try," I stated raising one of my blades so the tip lined up horizontally, "But you will not be the first to regret such a move."
We stood facing each other…none of us moving as we stared each other down…a slight breeze of warm air ruffled our armor in the underground arena…
Before I could move she swung the bottom half of her
kusarigama that held the weight at me but I evaded it by rolling behind one of the four pillars that dotted the battlefield before I whirled around it and launched a fire ball at her in the hopes of catching her off guard…but much to my surprise she countered with her own spell…she raised her hand and sent out a wave of stone that overwhelmed my attack and continued towards me before it hit the pillar turning it to dust. I knew I had to remove that weapon from the equation as the distance it allowed her to strike from could prove deadly…I continued to dodge her attacks while studying the way she attacked…she had improved greatly since the last time we had fought…I was brought back to reality by a shard of earth smashing into my face and knocking my helmet clean off…as well as knocking me off of my feet but I quickly responded snarling at her through my bloodied mouth.
"You've got something in your teeth," Xaidra taunted smiling slightly.
I was breathing heavily the poison taking its toll on my body and the strenuous combat was not helping…
"You're not looking to good," she said smiling, "Maybe you should just give up."
"Why don't you save us both the trouble," I stated standing up straight, "and just shut up already."
She sneered as she once again struck out with the weighted end of the kusarigama but I expected this…as it struck the wall I stabbed the blade of one of my Katanas through the chain and then slashed it into two pieces with the other one as she tried to pull it out…and this caused her to fall down where she sat in shock.
"Now why don't you be smart and surrender," I chuckled as she stood up and drew her blade staff.
"I will never surrender," she hissed charging at me and slashing but I parried it and struck back…but I missed, "You're slowing down…are you sure you can continue?"
There was actual concern in her voice…the old Xaidra I knew…the one who cared deeply about her friends and worried near constantly about them.
"Worry about yourself," I wheezed my strength fading, "We're enemies now…fight to the end."
I raised my sword and felt myself smile…I may lose…but at least I tried.
"Life's a gamble Xaidra," I stated beginning to walk towards her while feeling a tingle behind my right eye and flipping the katana into a reverse grip, "and the only way you ever truly lose is to not place a bet."
She readied her weapon knowing that I was moving to end the battle quickly…though I doubted she knew…the poison was beginning to take serious effect on my body…I readied my weapon…flashes of memory crossing my mind…Save us please…I'm that much closer to my own personal paradise…We'll pay just please help us…Why? Why did you kill her…I've gone through too much to just die here…There is no good or evil only perspective…I charged at her…and she charged back…our blades clashed together with a god awful shattering and I felt a shard of my katana streak by my face leaving a shallow cut just below my eye…
-Five years earlier…Southern Shu Liang Province…Sacking of the city of Bu Lei-
I stood in the bustling streets of Bu Lei…everyone was wandering around going about their daily business…but I just stood there gazing out across the streets…I was wearing a black set of mirage armor with a hood…a hand and a half sword was strapped to my side and a scowl set on my face…I was here for a reason…and I knew it would be starting any minute…and I was not disappointed. Screams erupted around me as boulders came flying into the city and shattered a nearby building…as the city guard ran towards the walls in the hopes of getting archers on top of them I moved from my spot towards the gate where I overheard a conversation between two guards.
"They don't even have a battering ram," one of them snickered.
"I know how do they plan on getting through the gates?" the second one asked confused.
"They plan on someone inside opening them," I hissed running the first guard through and burning the second to ashes…and in the process drawing the gaze of every soldier in the area. I proceeded to blast the doors off its hinges.
I stood there as the besieging soldier rushed through the gate and set about massacring the opposing forces at the gate…the battle was just beginning as a corpulent (Fat) man strode through the gate with a club held in his hand…
"I'm that much closer to my own personal paradise," he whispered under his fetid breath, "Mercenary get out there and start massacring any who stand in my way."
"As you wish my lord," I stated calmly…a good mercenary doesn't fight for ideals but for his next paycheck, "I will slaughter all who would dare oppose you."
I turned and began walking down the streets…the sun setting behind the wall behind me…it was going to be a bloody night.
-Three hours later…the city burns-
I was walking through a ruined house when I heard crying…I turned to see a girl of 19 sitting in the corner trying to hold back her tears…she saw me then with and just stared.
"Please you've got to help me!" she wailed, "They took my mother…they're going to come for me next please you've got to help me…save me from them."
"I don't have time for this," I snarled raising my sword to strike her down…I'd been given an order…and I would follow it.
"Please no don't!" she screamed as I killed her…I took no pleasure in it…but neither did I deny it.
"What are you doing!" a younger mercenary shouted running past me to examine the girl, "She was defenseless!"
"A mercenary obeys an order when given even when it's one they don't agree with," I snarled bringing my sword to his throat, "If you don't learn this cruel fact of life then you'd best be prepared to join the rest as food for the crows."
"Where is the justice in this?" He asked…I did not know his name nor did I care about him.
"Justice…Mercy…Honor…Friendship," I snarled grabbing him by his collar, "They're just things the weak cling to for hope…they mean nothing…everything in this world is transient."
"How can you sound so bitter?" the mercenary asked gazing at the dead girl, "How can you do something as evil as killing an innocent!?"
"You don't get it do you," I snarled turning to walk from the building, "There is no Good or Evil…only perspective."
I walked out into the streets…and once again drowned myself in the battle to take the city.
-one hour later…All that matters-
I stood on top of a home watching the young mercenary trying to organize the peasants into a defensive unit…I had my orders…all who resisted would die…I jumped down from the roof landing with grace and the terrified screams of the peasants.
"It's him!" a woman screamed clutching a pitch fork.
"We're going to die," a man screamed panicking, "We're all going to die!"
"Hold together!" the young mercenary shouted before turning back to me, "You can still turn back from your path."
"You don't understand," I stated smiling, "I walk this path not for myself but for my people…I will sell my soul to the devil if it grants my people their fondest dream…I will sacrifice everyone and anyone to achieve my goals…for all that matters in this world is power."
"What are you talking about?" he stated the anguish in his eyes.
"Power defines everyone," I snarled raising my sword.
"Power does not define everyone…our actions do!" he shouted.
"I'm disgusted by your naivety," I snarled running him through, "Power is what all dream of…the power to save others…the power to change our fate…but in the end…we are all powerless."
"Why…I trusted you," He whimpered before falling to the ground dead.
I turned towards the group gathered and walked towards them…blade in hand…today I was a day of blood and butchery…
-Present Day-
I rose to my feet feeling no emotion…just the cool calm cruelty of my past…Power…that was what I sought…the power to reclaim my homeland…for that power I am willing to…to sacrifice everything…friendship is for the weak.
"I refuse to lose here," I snarled throwing away the broken sword away, "I've too much to do to simply bow before a weakling like you."
I charged her ducking under her attack and striking with a brutal uppercut…the tingling in my right eye began to grow even more…then I realized that there was a shimmering mark on her left knee…it spun as if attempt to draw my attention…I lashed out with a brutal kick and I heard the breaking of bone as she fell to her knees and I ripped her weapon from her hand and struck with a brutal attack from the flat side of the blade…knocking her out cold…I'll gladly play the role of tyrant…if it means my people's ambitions can be achieved…I will not relent until I can give my people what they deserve.
"And we've a winner in an amazing comeback," the Arena Master shouted.
As the tingling in my eye faded so did the marks and that was when I realized what it was…it allowed me to see weaknesses in my opponent.
"Eddoe!" Norvain shouted looking worried, "What happened to you?"
"It doesn't matter anymore Norvain," I stated remembering the heat of the burning city, "I'm done playing the games of others."
"What is that supposed to mean?" Norvain asked confused.
"Since this adventure started nothing has gone right," I hissed walking out of the arena and leaving Xaidra behind, "No matter what we do their still one step ahead of us…and who knows what else they'll throw at us."
"Yeah but as long as we work with our allies we'll be fine," Norvain laughed, "After all as you've always said allies make you stronger."
"I need time to think Norvain," I stated walking into the underground, "Come and get me before my next fight."
"Eddoe!" he shouted as I walked out of the arena, "What's happening to him?"
Is one girl's life worth sacrificing so much for?
Here ends the chapter…I'm going to be writing individual chapters for the fights my OC's participate in and the events after them so I can have better detail for the fights…but now on to the overview…Norvain and Eddoe have entered a tournament in Greede and Eddoe has the luck to face someone from his past in the first round…Xaidra is a skilled Farian woman with a chip on her shoulder and apparently some abandonment issues with her best friend…also a Kusarigama is a hand scythe with a chain attached to it and on the other end of the chain is a round metal weight…Eddoe a mercenary who once sought redemption for past sins now seems to be taking a new path…reminded of the acts of his past and realizing that he cannot escape them no matter how hard he tries…will he fall to the darkness or will he be able to accomplish his goals. Please read and review…and as to the reason why I've not posted in a while I was having issues with my laptop…my charger caught fire (Apparently a common occurrence due to wear out) but I've gotten a new one now so hopefully I'll be posting more quickly…also I've a favor to ask people reading this story...if you liked this story could you please read and review one of my other ones…I thank you for reading this and am happy to say I'm glad to be back…on another note I've noticed something about Level-5 (Company that created White Knight Chronicles)…I've played three of their games (WKC, WKC II, and Dark Cloud 2) and all of these have one thing in common (I count WKC and WKC II as having the same starting point)…they all start off the story with an evil circus…I wonder why they do that…if anyone else has played a Level-5 game are there more of their games that do this?
Xaidra-A skilled Farian warrior and friend of Eddoe…she respected him and to her he was her personal hero so when he left Faria it hurt her deeply and is what also drove her towards a military career where she surpassed even the skill of her hero…at least the skills she remembers him having
New Abilities
Eddoe Yonthanx-Scan-Using his right eye he can find out the weaknesses of an enemy (Elemental Weakness, Weak points, and Attack Type Weaknesses)
Name Pronunciation (Most are simple pronunciations but these are only for my OCs in case there was any confusion on how a name was pronounced)
Eddoe (Ed-doe)Yonthanx (Yon-Thanks)
Xaidra (Z-ai-dra)
Norvain (Nor-vain)
Ziron (Zeer-on)
Farlend (Far-lend)
On another note I'm going to start breaking down knights into subclasses based on their appearances and abilities…basically just two…a Knight is either human based or avian based...as well as including their abilities which may or may not change as the story advances…I will not be including basic commands like Slash, Strong Slash, Shield Bash, or Thrust…in the story as those are just normal attacks...Enemy Knights may or may not have a few commands missing so if you see any commands missing for the knights current settings feel free to inform me of it…
White Knight-
Knight Class-Sword and Shield
Subclass-Human
Weapon-White Steel/Aegis Shield
Special Abilities-
Healers Soul-Heal a huge amount of HP
Black Knight-
Knight Class-Sword (It is unknown if it's just basic sword techniques but many say that its techniques are very similar to Longsword attacks)
Subclass-Avian
Weapon-Sword (Name Unknown)
Special Abilities-
Dinavas Boon-Heals a Massive amount of HP
Mode Change-Change from ground to air combat and vice versa