Chapter 5: The Fight for Brodia/Quick Detour for Village Rescue
The group returned to the Somniel, as before they could make preparations to move on with the castle invasion, Chloé had hurried back frantically with some news.
"Chloé? What's up?" Siege asked.
"Lots of corrupted, attacking a poor village on the Firenian side of the border!" Chloé exclaimed.
"That's not good! Not at all!" Mirai exclaimed.
"If Elusia attacks the castle, they can hold out a good bit. But attacking a village… who knows how long they'll hold out." Siege stated. "Alright, quick change of plans people, we're taking the Somniel for a Quick Detour to this village."
"I agree with the assessment. Brodia didn't get anywhere by not being strong. They should be able to hold out, should Elusia attack them while we save this village." Geina remarked.
"Indeed, we shall march for that poor village." Lumera answered back. "It is our duty to save lives when we can."
They soon managed to reach the village quickly, as everyone deployed on several parts of the village, as they looked towards the centre of the village, as the village militia were trying to beat back the enemies, as there seemed to be a father and son duo who seemed to be using the medical expertise, as well as healing staves to heal those injured from the attack.
'Oh no…" Alear remarked, seeing the battle raging on.
"Get moving!' One of the spear-wielding militia remarked, as he knocked back a Corrupted with a shove of his spear, saving several fleeing villagers from its attack. "There's shelter at the clinic!"
"Keep your wits about you, everyone! I'll patch you up once the crisis has passed!" The father remarked, being a man with short black hair tied into a small tail on the back of his head, brown eyes behind round-rimmed glasses, and a green vest over his white robe.
"We cannot stand idle. The Corrupted are already doing enough damage as it is!" Richard exclaimed.
"Let's hurry and finish this then. For any villagers not in that center, tell them to lock their doors and stay safe, people!" Siege exclaimed.
Victory: Route the enemy
Defeat: Siege, Alear, or Richard fall
PLAYER PHASE
The group then moved forward, as they began to advance on their fronts, as Richard used an Elfire tome in order to blast away one of the archer Corrupted, allowing for Chloe to swoop in and take out a sword-wielding Corrupted that was near one of the open houses, as Celine moved forward to address the residents within the house.
"The danger has passed!" Celine exclaimed. "Do not worry, we have come to your aid!"
"The Princess herself!?" The villager inside remarked, before he then entered the house, before coming out with a concoction of some sort. "Sorry, your Highness. This is the most valuable thing that I have in my possessions. Forgive me, and I am eternally grateful that you have come to our aid…"
"Please, just keep safe. That's all I ask." Celine answered back, as the villager quickly secured his own house.
Meanwhile on the other side, Mokou immediately punched the lights out of one of the Corrupted casters, while Mirai rushed forth and skewered one of the Corrupted, clearing out a decent amount of their numbers, as they noticed that there were Corrupted approaching from the vineyard east of the clinic, as the group set up positions in order to intercept the Corrupted over there. Leading that charge was Geina and the Brodians, who immediately took down the Corrupted as quickly as they deployed.
ENEMY PHASE
The nearest Corrupted went for the militia, as they managed to endure the hit and even damage the Corrupted considerably, before the rest of the Corrupted to the east threw themselves right to the group, attempting to fight them, only to be sorely outmatched, due to how cohesive the group was, as they managed several chain attacks from Boucheron, which allowed to get several good hits in.
"Observe your ruin!" Louis exclaimed, before he then swung his spear in a wide cutting motion, as it bisected the Corrupted with a single strike.
"Well struck, Louis!" Alfred remarked.
"Glad that my strength is still of use to you, my prince." Louis answered back.
ALLY PHASE
"Father, look!" The son of Sean remarked, as he was a very young boy with short scruffy black hair under his large green hat, as he had a pair of his own glasses on the front of it, with olive green eyes, and a green and black shirt, with black shorts that had green zigzag stripes, and a pair of black boots. "Aid has come to us!"
"My word… such a great relief force… Who could be there leading them…?" Sean remarked. "Everyone, keep holding the line! Victory is within reach, thanks to our saviors!"
The militia quickly reformed a line around the clinic's entrance, as they did not make an attack, merely bracing themselves for the battles to come.
PLAYER PHASE
The allied group immediately began to cut through the Corrupted at the clinic's gate, as Siege managed to pass through and get to the son of the parent-child duo.
"Hey, kid, you should get inside. It's dangerous-" Siege said.
"I can't! I'm the local doctor's son. I won't leave until I've helped the injured!" The boy declared with determination. "If father won't go, neither will I! I can still help people!"
"Heh. That's a lot of heart and spirit for a kid of your age. I respect that." Siege remarked. "Alright, you just keep on taking care of the people. We'll make sure that the Corrupted get taken down."
"I really appreciate the help. My name's Jean. Now come on, there's work to do!" Jean exclaimed.
As Siege was persuading Jean, the rest of the group immediately began to clear out of the rest of the Corrupted, as Mirai even took a quick trip to another one of the villager's houses.
"Lock your doors and stay inside, please!" Mirai told the people inside, as a woman came out.
"Oh, such a young one fighting at the front-lines… what has this world come to…" The woman lamented, before she then handed Mirai a crystalized dew-drop. "There's not much use for me with this. And I believe that this is best used for yourself, for you will have many battles ahead. I wish you luck on what comes next."
As the enemies were cleared out, the group managed to secure a perimeter around the village, checking for any more Corrupted that would attack the village, only to be relieved that no more could be seen or sensed.
STAGE CLEAR
MVP: Louis
Alear, Richard, and Siege met with both Sean and Jean, as the woman that Mirai met, came over, relieved that everything was alright.
"Thank the Divine One that you both are safe and sound!" The woman cried.
"We managed to all come out unharmed, thanks to their intervention." Sean remarked.
"Umm…" Jean remarked, as he looked fairly timid.
"Come now, Jean. Give these nice people a proper thank-you." Sean encouraged Jean.
"Oh, right. Thank you for saving our village." Jean told the trio.
"We saved it together, because you were helping the people." Richard remarked. "You are a brave one, young man."
"Oh! I have introduced myself to you, but I never asked your names, did I?" Jean asked the trio.
"Well, there was a lot going on. I'm the Divine Dragon Alear, and the swordsman beside me is the Radiant Saviour himself, Siege." Alear introduced herself.
"The Divine Dragon!? And the Radiant Saviour!? From the land of Lythos!?" Jean remarked, as his entire family were shocked hearing who Alear and Siege were. "Oh, please forgive my rudeness!"
"Don't mention it. Like I said, there was a lot going on at the time." Alear assured the family.
"Did this attack attract your attention?" Sean asked.
"Indeed, we heard news of the plight, and we came to your rescue." Richard explained. "Both Alear and Siege were adamant that you are all to be saved from a fate most cruel. And how easily we have achieved it."
"And you are…?" The mother asked.
"A humble traveler who knows the Radiant Saviour. You could say that I'm a long lost friend of his." Richard answered back. "Please, I do not need any worship. I am just as human as the rest of you. Call me Richard."
"We're on a journey to defeat the Fell Dragon and bring peace to the world." Siege remarked, before looking directly at Jean. "And I can tell from that resolve you showed me that you would very much like to come aboard with us?"
"Wow, I never thought that you would ask me to come!" Jean exclaimed with eagerness.
"Jean! What's gotten into you?" Sean asked Jean.
"My dream has always been to become a doctor so I can save people. And that hadn't changed." Jean told his father. "But with monsters running rampant, I might die before I can do that. Look what just happened, if it wasn't for the Divine One and her allies! At the side of not just the Divine One, but the Radiant Saviour too, I think I can learn to fight and to heal people at the same time."
"But what about the Divine-" Sean asked.
"Do not worry, he has a lot of potential." Alear assured Sean. "If he wants to come, we will make sure that he will be well taken care of. And it will be of no inconvenience. After all, we will make many allies on our journey. A young boy like Jean is more of a benefit than a hindrance, which he certainly will not be ever."
"I agree with Alear. Besides, we could use someone else with medical expertise on our side." Siege remarked with a smile.
"Well, if both Divine Ones have given permission to this… I can only hope that you will take good care of my boy." The mother stated.
"He will be treated as part of our own band, a true companion." Richard smiled back. "He will get nothing but the greatest of our kindness."
"Father, Mother. You mustn't worry about me. It's not like I'm never coming home. In fact, when I return. I'll be a first-rate doctor, or even a medical legend. You'll see!" Jean exclaimed with passion.
"How quickly they grow up…" Sean remarked, as there was a hint of fatherly pride in his voice. "Of course, Jean. Be a good boy, a hard worker, and an attentive student. And come home safe."
"I will!" Jean exclaimed, before turning to the trio. "I can't wait to start working alongside the Divine Dragon and the Radiant Saviour."
'The feeling is mutual for all of us. I have a hunch that we'll be leaning on you a fair lot in the days to come." Alear responded back. "Now, let us go. We have an urgent matter that we must attend to."
And so, Jean came aboard the Somniel, as the group plotted a course right for Brodia's castle, entering it, as they were surprised that there was no attack so far.
"I don't see any Elusian soldiers. Thank goodness… The attack hasn't begun." Alcryst sighed in relief.
"Then that means we have enough time to have a hearing with the King and try to get the Ring of the Young Lion as well." Siege remarked with a firm tone. "Let's go, while we still have this opportunity."
"Wait, there's someone in front of the gate. He doesn't look like a guard." Alear remarked, pointing at a figure dressed in a red cape at the front of the inner castle gates. "Is it an enemy soldier?"
"No, you idiot! That's Prince Diamant, the Crown Prince, in fact!" Hitomi declared.
The man then turned around, revealing his entire figure, as he was dressed in silver gauntlets and armored boots, with a red and white tunic underneath his armour, which had an entire leather betl lattice on the front of his stomach, and white furred padding around his shoulder-guards and the end of his gaunlets. He himself had shaggy red hair and red eyes.
"Hm? I've been waiting for you, Divine One." The crown prince stated. "I greet you as the Crown Prince of Brodia, Diamant."
Diamant decided to walk down to get closer to the group.
"I've heard so much about you both. I'm honored to meet both legends in person." Diamant stated.
"It's a pleasure, Prince Diamant." Alear answered back.
"Yes, an honor indeed." Siege bowed.
"And as for you, Prince Alfred and Princess Celine, Queen Eve's letter explained your situation." Diamant addressed the Firene heirs. "Thanks for coming all this way. It's good to see you."
"Likewise, I'm sorry it took a war for us to meet again after all this time." Alfred stated.
"And I hope that our talks will be fruitful." Celine added with a hopeful smile.
"Oh, and Alcryst, thanks for escorting our guests from the border. I know that's a rugged road." Diamant told his brother.
"It was nothing, really. Geina did most of the work to get them here." Alcryst humbly stated. "However, I bring ill news. Elusian forces attacked us at the Grand Crossing."
"Is that right?" Diamant frowned.
"Yeah, a battalion from the second princess, Hortensia, herself. We sent her packing back, thanks to some unexpected aid, but she said that her sister, Princess Ivy, is leading an attack on the castle." Mokou stated. "And since they tried to filch our Emblem Ring, they're after King Morion's Emblem Ring as well."
"We'll have to prepare our defences. Thanks for the warning, Alcryst, and you, Geina, your retainers and Nihilister for escorting our guests here safe and sound."
"You are welcome, Prince Diamant." Geina said with a bow.
"Now come with me. Father will want to hear this." Diamant told the group.
They passed through the castle inner gates, before they found King Morion himself right before them, as he was fully dressed in gray armor, with a dark maroon cloth underneath, as the man himself had short red hair, a golden circlet with a red gem on the front of his head, and a short beard that covered his chin and around his nose, and yellow eyes.
"Why do you all look so tense?" The king asked the group.
"Father? You were supposed to be waiting inside." Diamant told his father with concern.
"Yes, I know. And I was. But then I had this feeling my boy Alcryst might be home." Morion remarked, before smiling at Alcryst. "Seems my fatherly intuition was right as usual, heh! Welcome back, son!"
"Thank you, father." Alcryst answered back.
"I wish you'd stop finding excuses to leave the castle. It's not safe out there." Diamant sighed.
"Please, Diamant, not another lecture. Where's the harm in welcoming my dear boy back from his journey?" Morion pleaded, before turning serious. "Anyway, we'd best not argue in front of our guests."
"Oh! It's all right." Alear stated.
"Please, pardon my rudeness, Divine One and Radiant Saviour, as well as both Prince Alfred and Princess Celine, welcome to Brodia Castle." Morion said.
"Good to meet you." Alear returned the greeting.
"As am I." Siege nodded.
"Likewise! I never imagined I'd meet the Divine Dragon Alear. And to see the Radiant Saviour in the flesh himself!" Morion remarked, as he looked fairly motivated. "Indeed, such a special occasion calls for a welcoming duel!"
"There's no time for that. We have an important matter to discuss." Diamant urgently interrupted. "As Alcryst and Geina was escorting our guests from the border, Elusian soldiers attacked them."
"Ugh… Elusians…" Morion grumbled.
"It appears that the crown princess is planning an assault on Brodia Castle." Diamant continued.
"Already making their move, huh?" Morion remarked, before turning to his escort. "Soldiers! Go now! Shore up our defences!"
"Yes, your majesty!" One of the soldiers answered back, before they left to prepare the castle for the attack.
"Well done getting that information, Alcryst." Morion praised his son.
"Please, I don't deserve such kind words." Alcryst stated.
"Humble as ever, son. Haha…" Morion laughed heartily.
"King Morion, excuse me, but I need your kingdom's aid." Alear told Morion.
"You want our Emblem Ring, right?" Morion remarked, before he then pulled out a golden ring with an embellished gem slot, which held a red spherical gem inside of it. "I knew you'd ask! That's why I brought it! Here, the Ring of the Young Lion! Hey, Diamant, think fast!"
Diamant reacted fast, as he caught the ring in his hand as soon as his father threw it. "Father. We're supposed to take care of the ring, not throw it around." He complained.
"...Funny, King Morion seems to be quite nice, despite his country's stance." Alear remarked. "I thought that the King would be much more intimidating person, as someone who wars with Elusia time and time again."
"That's because Morion right now is being a good friend and a true family man." Celine explained. "He's known to be a bighearted guy. Would even be generous to his own people. But in battle, the demon comes out, and that's what you should be afraid of. He's not someone you want as your enemy."
"Anyways, Father being a handful aside… Divine One, I've got the ring for you." Diamant stated, offering the Emblem Ring to Alear.
"Thank you." Alear stated.
"What will you do with it?" Morion asked curiously.
"Why, Alear shall summon the Emblem slumbering within the Emblem Ring." Lumera helpfully stated.
"Rise up, Emblem of Binding!" Alear incanted, as there was a flash of red light, as Roy appeared in Emblem form.
"I'm Roy. If you're summoning me… that can only mean war has begun." Roy stated firmly.
"There was a person in there?" Diamant asked with shock.
"How about that! All along, this Emblem dwelt in our family's ring." Morion remarked, impressed by the display. "And now you have released him. 'Divine' is no exaggeration, huh?"
"Urgent news, Your Majesty! An Elusian wyvern rider is approaching!" A soldier rushed in to report. "It's dodging all of our archers' attacks!"
"She's here. Divine One, may I call-" Diamant stated, before Alear handed the Emblem Ring over before he could finish.
"There is no need to ask for permission. Simply ask and I shall give it to you." Alear answered back. "Everyone, let us sortie forth. The enemy must be at the gates, if their leader is already here."
The group just came out in time to see that there were several burning holes torn through the castle gates, as Elusian and Brodian soldiers were fighting against each other, as a black wyvern landed down, depositing a woman with long purple hair and orange eyes, as she was dressed in a long blue dress, with a large blue flowing cape that touched the ground, as there was a circular head-dress on the front of her face.
"I, Princess Ivy, speak for the Elusian Throne." The woman introduced herself. "I will now take your lives, your souls, and the rings."
"I underestimated how far you could get into Brodian territory, Princess Ivy." Diamant remarked.
"My soldiers are on the way. Now, I will give you a chance to surrender before they arrive." Ivy answered back coolly.
"Not happening. You'll have to go over our dead bodies before you take Brodia Castle!" Nihilister growled.
"Oh, I'm itching for that fight." Morion declared.
"Father, go back into the castle." Diamant harshly whispered.
"What? Why?" Morion asked.
"If something happened to you? Our country would be devastated. Please, leave this to us." Diamant answered back.
"Right, why should the king get a say in the matter?" Morion sarcastically remarked. "I'll do as you ask. But Diamant, Alcryst… don't you dare get killed."
"We won't. Not with Geina and the others." Diamant confidently declared.
"Well, we'll try not to." Alcryst stated, before Mokou bopped him on his head. "Ow!"
"You're not going to die, Prince Alcryst. We all got your backs." Mokou told Alcryst.
Meanwhile, Alear and Ivy faced each other, as they stared for a moment at their opposition.
"You must be the Divine Dragon Alear." Ivy remarked. "You really are as stunning as my sister said. I'm pleased to meet you. As it my ring."
Ivy then raised a hand, as she revealed the golden-bordered ring with a white body and a golden gem on it.
"That's the Ring of the Sage Lord. Just like your sister has the Ring of the Princess of the Exalt…" Alear remarked.
"A gift from my father. With its power. I am sorry to say, I must kill you." Ivy answered back.
"I won't let that happen." Diamant intruded. "It's you who will fall, Princess Ivy."
"You won't surrender, then? In that case, my forces will prepare for battle." Ivy remarked, before she retreated behind enemy lines.
"As will ours." Diamant declared.
"I'll stop at nothing to get those rings back, Princess Ivy. Mark my words on that." Alear declared.
As the group began to create their formation before the castle gates, they began to observe the formation, and the surrounding battlefield, as Richard noticed something.
"That ballista over there…" Richard remarked. "We could use that to bombard the enemy from afar. Unfortunately, the enemy would know this as well. If we don't secure it fast, once the wooden barricades fall, it will be a bad day for anyone stuck on it. They would be in great peril."
"Noted. Etie, we leave the ballista for you to utilize." Alear stated.
"You got it! I got the strength to make this thing really roar!" Etie exclaimed.
Suddenly, a horse immediately rushed before the group, as there was a man with yellow eyes and light blonde hair, dressed in a black suit with a frilly white collar, and puffy sleeves, and pointed black boots, as he was panting heavily.
"Finally, horsey, you've stopped! Where are you taking me?" The man remarked, before seeing the gathered group. "Huh, wait, uh… is this the castle? Is that… Prince Diamant!?"
"Amber?" Diamant remarked, before Amber then turned to see the Elusian soldiers in formation.
"What are Elusian soldiers doing here!?" Amber exclaimed.
"They've attacked us. Say, Amber…. Weren't you out fighting beasts?" Diamant asked Amber.
"I was, but then horsey got spooked and wouldn't listen to me." Amber sighed. "I kept getting tossed around and off its back, and next thing I know… here I am!"
"Haha, I'll never understand how you end up in these strange situations." Diamant chuckled. "But this time, it works in our favor. I was just wishing you were here."
"Maybe horsey sensed this danger… that's so clever of you!" Amber remarked, praising his horse, who whined gently.
"Ready to defend the castle together?" Diamant asked Amber.
"I was born ready!" Amber declared.
"Alright, let's stop the enemy from getting into Brodia Castle!" Diamant exclaimed.
Victory: Defeat Ivy
Defeat: Siege, Alear, or Richard fall, or foes reach area
PLAYER PHASE
Suddenly, a figure came in from the east side of the map, as she seemed to be someone who wasn't native to Brodia or Elusia either one, as she was dressed in a simple black top and black shorts with simple black boots, exposing a lot of her muscular build, as she had wolf ears and tail to complete the look of a proper Barbarian, with her wild hair and amber eyes.
"Found this Otherworld Ring back home… was told to find a Divine Dragon or Radiant Saviour… and I end up walking into the heat of a fight." The wolf woman remarked, as she brandished her Greataxe. "Typical for me, I suppose. If anyone decides to look at me wrong, I'll strike them down."
"Please, take me to the Radiant Savior…" The ring spoke, a heavenly voice coming from it.
"I get it, I get it. But we're in a bit of a scrap right now." The wolf woman huffed.
The group quickly set up their advance, as Richard and Siege stood behind the two barricades protecting the ballista, while the others split up to cover the stairways, as there was no enemy encounter for the time being, while Etie decided to snipe a enemy pegasus knight, who was gored by the shot, taking them out instantly, which surprised even Etie herself
ENEMY PHASE
The death of a soldier somehow caused the Elusian forces to advance, as they were a mix of actual humans and Corrupted, as they rushed up the stairways, as a enemy mage tried to land a hit on Louis, while swordsman tried to hurt Nihilister, only for their attacks to do very little damage, if they could even land, as she was agile despite her heavy armouring and weaponry. Several soldiers tried to attack the barricades, but they couldn't get through at all.
ALLY PHASE
The wolf barbarian made her presence known, rushing an Armored Knight and smashing it down with a single strike of her axe.
PLAYER PHASE
The group then began to fight their way down the staircase, as Citrenne came to Richard's aid, as Richard immediately charged up an Elfire spell into his tome.
"Have a taste of my magic!" Richard exclaimed, before he then threw his hand forward, lobbing a massive fireball that exploded like a bomb, taking out an enemy barbarian.
"Allow me to dazzle you!" Citrine declared, before she cast down a thunder storm that destroyed an enemy mage, despite their own resistance.
The two mages looked at each other, before they complimented each other with a silent thumbs up, while Siege lingered behind the barrier, knowing that any enemy that tried to break through his side would get a nasty surprise.
Alear managed to cut down an enemy Corrupted axe-wielder, while Alfred moved forward, and swiped an enemy swordsman onto the ground with a swing of his lance, as they managed to reach ground fairly quickly.
ENEMY PHASE
The enemy immediately went for the groups on the sides, as Mokou managed to take a serious hit from one of the mages, while Hitomi got scraped by an enemy axe-wielder, which resulted in her blowing their head off their shoulders with a powerful blow, while Geina got double-teamed by a pair of swordsman, only for her to beat them and defeat them in a better show of prowess, as their attacks whiffed, while hers struck true.
"Elusia was always second-rate to me in swordmasters!" Geina proudly declared.
Meanwhile, one of the people with Ivy, a blue-haired man clad in what appeared to be samurai clothing, with a dark gray skirt and a white cloth with red ropes tying an iron ring to his chest, and a red and white rope tying his hair in a short ponytail, had noticed the barbarian wolf and went to engage her.
"What the hell do you want with me?" The wolf woman asked, seeming slightly surprised that one of the people by Ivy's side went out of his way to strike her.
"You seem to be heading towards the Brodian Army, and you carry an Otherworld Emblem Ring…" Kagetsu remarked. "I must ask that you relinquish the ring, or be cut down."
"A pretty boy like you? Cut me down?" The wolf barbarian laughed. "Ohh that's a rich joke. You barely look strong enough to wield a sword big enough to harm me! But by all means, try it! The ring stays with me until I reach either the Divine Dragon or the Radiant Savior, however!"
"Then you leave me no choice." Kagetsu remarked, before he rushed to attack, and hit her straight in her abdomen… only to find his blade bounce off. "What!?"
"Hah, you heard me pretty boy. Now… THE SANDSTORMS TAKE YOU!" The wolf woman yelled, as she had proc'd her critical, leaping up in the air in a spiral motion before swinging down harshly, striking down Kagetsu in one blow! "That's what happens when you challenge Zendara the Fierce!" The wolf woman exclaimed.
"I am defeated… I must retreat." Kagetsu remarked, as he quickly disengaged, before retreating behind the enemy line to recover from his wounds.
ALLY PHASE
Noticing Alear in her movement path, and the ring guiding her, Zendara suddenly ran up to Alear. "Hey, quick question for you! Are you the Divine Dragon?" Zendara asked.
"Yes, I am. And you are…" Alear asked Zendara.
"I am Zendara the Fierce, renowned warrior of the deserts of Solm. I found this Otherworld Emblem Ring, as that guy called it, back at my home, and it told me to come find you. So, here I am, and here's the ring." Zendara stated matter-of-factly, handing over a ring with a black band, complete with a red diamond on the top.
"There's no doubt which Emblem that is! That's the ring of the Black Knight!" Dezna exclaimed upon seeing it.
"I shall attempt to make my invocation." Alear remarked, before she then held the ring close. "Shield us, Emblem of Night!"
Coming forth from the ring was a man dressed in fully clad black armor, as he had his helmet off, Alondite in his hand as he stabbed it into the ground, and power exuded from him.
"I, am Emblem Zelgius. Many call me the Black Knight. I shall serve you and your army, for my blade will cut down all foes in our path." Zelgius stated with determination.
"Whoooooaaaa. He's got some strength! Divine Dragon, if I may, can I wield him?" Zendara asked. "And let me fight for you as well! I'll have a lot of explaining to do should we get back to Solm… but my axe is ready to fight for your cause!"
"Of course. Any ally would be welcome to join our cause." Alear smiled back.
"Thank you, Divine One." Zendara said with a smile.
Zendara joined your party
PLAYER PHASE
"Well, now we have a full on Barbarian on our side." Siege quipped. "Suddenly I feel like we have a huge advantage now."
"Well, we are doing pretty well so far." Richard remarked with a smirk. "Half the enemy force down, and wolf-lady here just took out one of Ivy's retainers."
"And we shall take the other!" Lumera remarked, before she then rushed forward, attacking a dark-skinned man clad in shadowy black robes, as his yellow eyes were in great contrast to his own curved black hair, while he wielded a dagger in his hand.
"My name is Zelkov, Ivy's shadow. Leave now or my duty demands you be destroyed. Nothing personal." The man stated.
"I shall not let you pass!" Lumera remarked, before she then prepared her blade, as it glowed with blue energy. "The Emblems guide me!"
Lumera then leapt into the air, before she then thrust her blade down towards the ground, hitting Zelkov, and creating a swirling storm of blue particles that knocked Zelkov far away.
"How unfortunate. I must return to Princess Ivy…"Zelkov remarked, slinking away.
"Victory lies with the generous!" Lumera declared.
"That's amazing, Lumi!" Clanne exclaimed, impressed at how his Queen was able to take care of the enemy retainer in a single swoop.
"Of course. I aspire to do all I can for the cause." Lumera answered back.
The group then began to advance, as Richard and Citrenne went through the hole in the barricades, allowing them to reach the area ahead, while Siege moved forward, positioning himself to bait the remaining Elusian soldiers, and perhaps even Ivy as well.
ENEMY PHASE
"Such tenacity… All right, I'll step in." Ivy remarked. "With this ring, nothing and no one will take me down."
The remaining soldiers moved forward, as a mage tried to attack Richard, only to be countered back by an Elfire that hurt them badly, while a cavalry knight attacked Boucheron, who countered back with a heavy hit.
As for Ivy, she immediately stopped just far enough to target Siege with a spell, as she charged magic up.
"Hm, seeing you up close, Radiant Saviour… I can see why the legends paint you as a warrior of legendary strength and resolve." Ivy remarked.
"Then you should know, challenging me is an ill fate for you." Siege responded.
"Hm, we shall see." Ivy remarked, before the Dark Emblem Leif appeared by her side, as Ivy threw a Fire spell that Leif followed up with a horizontal slash, before Siege sidestepped the fire-ball, while ducking under Leif's swing, as the Elusian princess clicked her tongue.
PLAYER PHASE
The rest of the group decided to clear out the remaining enemies, with the wounded knight and mage instantly shot dead from afar by Clanne's and Citrenne's magic, while Richard immediately rushed towards Ivy.
"For someone who hails from the kingdom of knowledge, you seem to be fairly aggressive." Richard remarked. "Tell me, do you truly believe that you will succeed taking the rings from us, with both of your retainers crippled, and your main force down to a few men?"
"I do not intend to fail." Ivy simply retorted back.
"Then allow me to correct that." Richard answered, before he then raised his ring, as Leo appeared beside him, as Richard raised his finger up, creating an orb of light, as Leo touched it. "ENGAGE!"
Richard was enveloped in light, before Richard reappeared, as his hair and eyes were turned yellow, while there were a pair of golden wings that seemed to look like branches, with large leaf-like feathers of green, as well as a floating crown of branches, with a set of multi-coloured jewels among them.
"I'm afraid that your advance ends here, Princess Ivy." Richard remarked, before he then threw his hand forward, as a forest of withered trees began to form around the front of Richard. "Now then, let me tie your aspirations to the ground where they belong!"
Leo Engage Skill: Brynhildr Forest
Affects a 9-tile frontal spread in any of the four directions. All enemies will be hit as if being targeted by Brynhildr with a 20% bonus damage, and all enemies that are damaged by the attack will have 1 effective Movement and -40 Avoid.
Several withered roots began to seize Ivy's wyvern tying to the ground, while Ivy was being held down by a second wave of roots, as the attack lashed against her own defenses, barely leaving her standing.
"Your turn, Siege." Richard remarked.
"Right. Let's do this, Dezna!" Siege exclaimed, as they rushed at Ivy with their Combat Art: Demonic Judgment Flash, which finished off Ivy properly, as the attack also knocked the Emblem Ring off her finger, as it clattered to the ground.
"No, the ring…!" Ivy remarked, before noticing that the allied group already cleared her entire army out, as she grit her teeth and flew away before she could be attacked again.
STAGE CLEAR
MVP: Lumi (Lumera)
Alear walked over and picked up the Emblem Ring, as she examined it.
"We recovered the ring, but the Emblem is tainted with Fell Dragon energy…" Alear analyzed. "But I can summon him again myself to undo that… Free us, Emblem of Genealogy!"
Emblem Lief then appeared, as he tapped his blade on the ground. "I am Lief. Thank you for letting me swing a sword with these arms again." Leif remarked. "I will do what I can to retrieve that which has been stolen."
"Thank you, Lief." Alear answered back with gratitude.
"We managed to get through alright." Diamant remarked. "Now, if we can only-"
"Your Highness! Urgent news from the border!" A Brodian soldier declared.
"What is it?" Diamant asked.
"An Elusian battalion stands at the ready! King Hyacinth is acting as general, he's leading the army himself!" The soldier exclaimed.
"What?" Diamant asked with disbelief.
"Yes, and he's demanding to see King Morion." The soldier answered back, as Diamant held back a growl.
"I must face him. Anything less would bring dishonor to Brodia." Morion answered back, walking before the group.
"Father, he's baiting you. This may be a trap of some kind. Go back inside." Diamant advised his father.
"Hah! I can fight my way out of whatever trap he springs." Morion scoffed.
"I urge you to reconsider." Diamant firmly stated.
"Listen, who's the father, and who's the son here? Stop trying to protect me." Morion stated with a serious voice. "This has been happening a lot lately. What's it all about? Are you worried Brodia might lose the war? Or lose its king?"
"We're not ready for any of this. Brodia, to lose its king. Or me, my father." Diamant stated.
"Diamant…?" Alcryst muttered.
"From an young age, I was told I would lead Brodia after you died." Diamant continued. "Imagine… a boy forced to anticipate his father's death. To think of that empty throne. The Fell Dragon has returned. War is here. The future is uncertain. And I'm not ready."
"It's all right, Diamant. If I die, I die. Brodia will live on." Morion stated, before looking towards Geina. "You'll have Geina to make sure that you both walk the right path. After I'm gone, I know you will lead with a steady hand. Though I'm offended you expect that day to come so soon. You think I'm going to lose, huh? You think I'm weak? That I need your protection? Oh, the hubris of youth…"
"That's not what I meant." Diamant stated.
"King Hyacinth awaits me on the field of war, his army at the ready. If Brodia hides, then what?" Morion argued. "After years locked in battle with Elusia, will we reveal ourselves as cowards? Listen to me, Diamant. I will fight bravely for Brodia. I do not fear death. Being known as a king who runs from battle… that scares me far more."
Diamant could only sigh, before turning to Alcryst.
"What do you think about all this, Alcryst?" Morion asked his second son.
"Me!?" Alcryst squawked.
"If I die, and Diamant alongside me, you will take the throne." Morion stated grimly, as Alcryst let out a strangled whimper as a result.
"Father, don't say that." Diamant answered back.
"I… I will not let that pass! I will protect Diamant to the bitter end!" Alcryst exclaimed, mustering his courage to deliver his words confidently.
"Alcryst…" Diamant remarked.
"Haha! That's my boy! Diamant, you could learn a thing or two from your brother." Morion laughed. "Fear has no place in my kingdom. If we step into fear, then we step out of Brodia. Now then, to the border!"
"It seems I can't dissuade you from this path. All I can do is walk it with you." Diamant sighed. "Come on, everyone. Let's show Elusia why we're called the Kingdom of Might."
"Haha! That's it! This won't be the last time I see the castle." Morion remarked. "And when I'm back, a tournament with our strongest warriors. That means both you, Divine One, and you, Radiant Saviour. Hope you don't let us down, Geina, when the day comes."
"Me?" Alear asked, pointing at herself.
"Yes! I want to see you transform into a mighty dragon. Whoosh! Roar!" Morion energetically declared.
"Oh… OK." Alear remarked neutrally. "We'll see about that when the time comes."
"Haha! I'm looking forward to that." Morion remarked.
"I'd like to spar with you, Divine One and Radiant Saviour… After father gets his chance of course." Diamant stated. "But that's for later. Now we should prepare for our journey to the border."
As the group left Morion and Diamant to prepare for the confrontation at the Brodian border, the group returned to Somniel to discuss their future plans.
"You know… since we have some time before King Morion sets off… I think we should investigate something." Richard remarked.
"And that is?" Siege asked.
"There's a bandit base near the Brodian border." Richard remarked. "When we passed through the town, we managed to take out a few from that base, and learned from the townsfolk that they've been hoarding lots of precious goods. But that's not all. You see, we glimpsed that base ourselves, in case we would need to take it down. And we found someone interesting."
"And who's that?" Alear asked, as Richard leveled his eyes with Siege.
"Say, Siege, who has a lot of sisters, a love of merchandise, and pretty respectable skills?" Richard asked Siege.
"Who would be like that… who would be like that…" Siege pondered, before it then struck him. "You found an Anna here!?"
"Can't mistake that red hair and that face." Richard declared. "Quency and I decided to bounce. But I'm sure that Anna would be interested in robbing these bandits blind, as Quency would in her own past. So I think that it would be nice to get her onboard. After all, Anna was pretty good with her skill-set and a nice companion back then, right?"
"Yeah. So maybe this one's just as helpful." Siege mused.
"Exactly." Richard answered back, before turning to address Alear. "Just to get you into the loop, Anna is a name shared by certain red-haired merchant-women who are a constant in realms like these. In fact, there is one Anna for each world that the Emblems hail from, save for one. We met one, she was a good person who may be greedy at times, but a loyal companion. In fact, she…"
Richard then paused, as he realized that he was about to delve into a sore topic for both Siege and himself, as he stopped.
"...It's going to get into territory that Siege and I prefer not to revisit." Richard stated, after the pause, his mood slightly worse. "What I can tell you is that she was in a lot of danger, far more than either of us. But while others have perished, she managed to emerge alive thanks to her luck, and our intervention."
"...I see." Alear stated, as she felt that Richard and Siege did not wish to discuss further.
"Anyways, it's a detour that we can afford to take, if we set off early. Much like we did with Jean." Richard stated.
"We can make that." Alear stated. "A ally like her could prove useful, as both you and Siege testify to her skill and potential."
"Then it's settled. Let's head to the border for a quick 'scout for Elusian troops' per se at that bandit base, shall we?" Siege suggested as the group agreed, and set off for the base.