Hetalia – Of Magic and Might

I present Chapter Nine! Exams are out the way finally! This Chapter was quite difficult to write, I'll just leave it here :3

Enjoy

The Elder Grove Isle,The Edge of The Elder Grove, the Transportation Gate

At the edge of the thick Forrest known as the Elder Grove, eerie silence resonated. Three boys stared completely stupefied as their kin fell dead on the ground. Time seemed to stand still,the present ceased to be. The deafening desolate atmosphere was broken by the heavy jagged steel approaching footsteps of Empire Soldiers. The bow man who had shot Seamus lowered his bow as his commander approached him. The Commander was a brunette and had dark indigo eyes behind thin rimmed glasses. His uniform was dark blue and on his hips, his royal rapier sat with its golden hilt gleaming.

"You were not meant to kill him, the Emperor insisted that they were to be brought alive. A dead sorcerer holds no merit " The commander spoke with his voice feigning regret. He looked over to the remaining three targets, they didn't seem to register his soldiers presence.

"That about the body? It can still be of use" The bow man gruffly said aloud to his commander as he nocked another arrow and drew it back. The red haired one who had been standing closest to the one he had shot snapped back to life.

"You. You bastards. Why?" Allistor snarled savagely his Greek Fire eyes flashing. Behind him Allistor's growling voice brought Dylan back to the present. Dylan looked down upon his dead brother's body and silently moved Arthur behind him, pulling Arthur's hood over his head to hide his void face. Arthur didn't understand what had just happened, his mind was completely bleak. His reality couldn't accept the sight of Seamus choking on his own blood.

"I had my man shoot him because it would give us the element of surprise," The Commander answered coolly. "The shock of your comrade's death would put you mentally at a disadvantage. It's a sound strategic move, break the knight to create an opening to the King".

"Strategic?" Dylan said bitterly. "You just murdered Seamus and you consider it to be a 'strategic' move?!" He finished by spitting in the soldiers direction. The Commander risen his sleek eyebrow in bemusement, these boys were starting to irk him. Well third one hadn't spoken a word yet, in fact he couldn't see the young one's face at all. He tried to look past the boy with chest-nut hair who shielded the young one from his view. He wondered what the hidden one was like, he grinned mischievously. He loved a mystery almost as much as he enjoyed the thrill of the chase.

"Watch your mouth filth, you are in the presence of Commander Roderick Edelstein of The Elite Guard" A burly solider shouted to the right of Roderick. So loyal, so desperate for attention thought Roderick.

"Yes yes, quite. Well now that you know my name, why don't you tell me all yours?" Roderick inquired condescendingly to the brothers. Allistor hissed and told commander Roderick where he could shove his patronising attitude, causing a few soldiers to smirk.

"Seamus?" A small noise from behind Dylan sounded drawing everyone's attention. Arthur seemed to be back with them. "Why?" Arthur asked in childish confusion, still not being able to comprehend his brother's death.

"We've already spoke of such topics and I begin to tire of this dull conversation" Roderick dismissed with a wave of his hand "Bring the prisoner forward. Perhaps he'll be able to identify our new prisoners".

The soldiers stepped aside to reveal a hooded figure with shackled hands. The grieving brothers looked from their lost brother to the stranger. One soldier reached forward and reclined the hood back to reveal a shock of strawberry blonde hair. The boy was of similar age to Dylan and had dulled red eyes.

"Vlad!" Allistor cried in surprise and recognition, causing Vlad to look up in dismay.

"No! I- I didn't know I was tracking you! Allistor I-I swear!" Vlad claimed attempting to defend himself as Allistor's eyes visibly darkened in hate. Vlad had once been a renowned sorcerer who had mainly dabbled in dark magic and charms. In the past three months he had gone missing, presumed captured. It had been a tragic loss to the remaining free sorcerers but their situation didn't allow them to mourn for long. They were too busy trying to stay alive themselves.

"I thought you were dead" Allistor said ignoring Vlad's pleas and whimpering.

"I would never if I knew it was you! I would never betray the Kirkland line!" Vlad cried as Allistor stared him down in disgust. Behind Dylan and Arthur the gate had activated and inside the stone structure, a mystic shadow veil appeared. Arthur felt a breeze against his neck and knew that the gate had been activated, he gently tugged on Dylan's cloak.

Dylan knew what Arthur was hinting at as he to felt the subtle breeze. Unfortunately he had no way of telling Allistor without giving themselves away. Allistor began to walk slowly backwards away from the soldiers, not taking his eyes off Commander Roderick.

"Vladimir, do tell us what is so special about the 'Kirkland' line? Why would you care if you assisted in their capture?" Roderick questioned Vlad who flinched away as he approached him.

"They are the most respected family of all Sorcerers. Th-their magic is strong, they were rumoured to of descended for the First Sorcerers, and-d…" Vlad trailed off as Allistor looked murderously at him.

"And what Vlad?" Roderick asked smiling wickedly, resting his hand on the hilt of his rapier.

"And the son named Arthur inherited 'The Sight'" Vlad stammered in a rush.

"'The Sight'? What is that?" Roderick inquired his eyes gleaming curiously as he leaned in closer to Vlad.

"I-It's a special ability, extremely rare. One in one billion sorcerers are said to possess it. It allows you to see creatures and things we wouldn't be able to normally see. Their magic is said to be able to create mountains and move the stars". Vlad cringed, closing his eyes fearing the horrified looks from Arthur and Dylan. Allistor only held venom in his eyes.

Roderick fought with himself to keep a neutral poker face. This discovery was ground breaking. He had learned through interrogations that different sorcery families had different qualities and quantities of magic. But he had never given much thought that they were ranked in their community by this. Now he had discovered he'd found the equivalent to an arch-angel among Sorcerers.

While Roderick pondered to himself, distracted by his own clustered thoughts. Allistor turned to Dylan and Arthur and looked at them gravely. Arthur's spring green eyes were wide and they kept unwillingly flickering to Seamus' body. Dylan returned Allistor's heavy stare, he understood Allistor's line of thought. He didn't want to, he was petrified and scared. But he knew, only one Kirkland was walking away from this.

"When I give the signal throw Arthur through the gate, then destroy it as completely as possible. I'll keep the guards off us as long as I can" Allistor whispered before pressing his forehead against Dylan's. Allistor moved away eyes watering, he reached out and rustled Arthur's hair one last time.

"Allistor, wait. Wait. What are you doing?" Arthur cried looking into his oldest brothers leaking eyes. Allistor was crying. Allistor was crying, he didn't cry. He was the big brother, the unbroken pillar of strength. Allistor .did. not. cry.

Allistor looked Dylan in the eye and gave a single nod. Turning his back to his brothers Allistor walked away from them and stood feet apart. Taking a deep breath in he steeled himself for what was about to happen.

"Yield friends and I promise no harm shall come to you" Roderick said suspiciously, the boys were showing no find of resistance. They looked like they had already surrendered. Something had shifted, something he hadn't seen. It made him uneasy.

The kneeling chained Vlad breathed quietly in relief, it seemed Roderick or the soldiers couldn't see that the gate that had already been activated. Vlad just hoped that the brothers plan worked. If he was responsible for the end of the Kirkland line. He would never be able to forgive himself.

Allistor focused his magic into his palms and into the ground. He imagined it appearing like roots beneath the earth, stretching until it was under Commander Roderick and his soldiers. Making his peace with the heavens Allistor made his final stand.

"I am Allistor Kirkland! First born and Eldest Son of the noble Kirkland line and I bow to no one" Allistor bellowed as he punched the earth causing his magic under the soldiers feet to crumble and shake throwing them off their feet.

"Now!" He yelled over his shoulder as Roderick back on his feet, unsheathed his blade and made towards Allistor menacingly.

Dylan grabbed the packs and threw them through the gate, before grabbing Arthur who was screaming to Allistor. Hauling him over to the gate Dylan snapped off his prized dragon tooth necklace and thrusted it to Arthur's person. Arthur's eyes widened with understanding and attempted to fight against Dylan, trying to claw Dylan off him.

"Arthur, I'm so sorry. Forgive me" Dylan whispered as he threw his screaming youngest brother through the gate. Arthur's screams were abruptly cut off as he arrived on the other side. Channeling all his magic Dylan raised his hand skyward, calling down a mighty bolt of lightening to crash down on the gate. The bolt split the gate clean in half, destroying the ancient magic that held its structure together, separating him from Arthur forever.

He was glad. He and Allistor had saved Arthur, one of them had survived. Arthur was clever, he would manage with what they had left him. Dylan smiled and fell to his knees, his hearing ringing blocking out all sound. Whatever was happening behind Dylan he didn't know, he didn't care. He'd saved Arthur, kicking and screaming. But alive.

And that much Dylan could be grateful.

Far away in the slums of The Capital outskirts a broken alone creature shrieked in pain and loss. Howling to the skies to convey his loss of his fallen brothers.

I am so sorry D: Arthur's backstory ultimately needs to be tragic and sad, we'll be returning to the lighter tone of the story in the next chapter. In case there is confusion to whom Vlad and Roderick are, Vlad is Romania and Roderick is Austria. Unfortunately there needs to be some enemies in this story and I felt that Austria would fit the bill? Now that the first lot of heavy stuff is out the way, we return to Alfred and Francis!

Until next time!