Chapter 1: The Burning of Savage Flowers

As the group arrived, the palace of Firene had been set ablaze, and the bodies of many were strewn across the ground. Kezaniah, who had just finished taking out what was necessary to force a forfeit of the bracelet, was resting against a tree, just as the group arrived.

"Hmph. Here. Two bracelets from this endeavor. The bracelet of the Dragon Ancestor and the bracelet of the Brash General." Kezaniah stated coldly as she chucked the bracelets to the group. "One of them was on a random Corrupted."

"You didn't kill Alfred and Celine… did you?" Siege asked in concern.

"I grabbed the bracelet from them before it got to that point." Kezaniah stated. "It's likely they're going to try and come for it."

"How… How did it happen?" Veyle asked. "...Did you… Did you really attack Firene out of…"

"Kezaniah must have a reason for rushing like this." Richard answered back. "You said that you got that off a random Corrupted, one of those Bracelets. So the Corrupted were attacking Firene at the same time you were… or they were among them. Which is it, Kezaniah? If you attacked Firene, there must be a firm reason for it. Impulsive you are acting right now, you causing this destruction cannot be without a purpose."

"Kezaniah, please. Tell us, what happened there?" Alear pleaded gently.

"Firene was working with Corrupted." Kezaniah said firmly. "This implies to me that we're dealing with all Corrupted. Therefore, I can deduce that when Firene comes to attack, do not treat them as you normally would. Show no mercy in slaughtering them all. Just as I would have done if not for my objective."

"You didn't kill them all, did you. One of our friends was there. If you killed her…" Nel would say.

"What? You'll kill me? Strangle me? Cause me more pain like I already feel just to be in the PRESENCE of both of you!?" Kezaniah yelled at the twins, before she growled and closed her eyes with folded arms. "But no. I made contact with your Mage Dragon and confirmed she isn't a Corrupted but an ally. She was quite mortified when I began to assault the castle, however." Kezaniah remarked.

"By the Divine Dragon…" Nil remarked, looking fairly repulsed by what he was hearing. "Hopefully, Zelestia won't get the wrong impression of what we're trying to do… I… I understand your need to deal with matters quickly, and that you might be unable to stand our presence-"

"How could you understand." Kezaniah would suddenly spit with venom. "How. Could you possibly understand!?" She yelled again, her gaze now fiercely shot towards Nel and Nil. "Every time I look at you two, you remind me of one word! Weakness! Weakness from you and your pathetic attempts to please father, weakness from you in the fact you couldn't do anything without your brother! And the fact I cherish you both reminds me of my weakened heart, that will only grow weaker should events play out as I fear they will here for the both of you in this world! Just your very EXISTENCE is a bane to my ability to fight! The pain, the worry, the vulnerability of my heart! I CAN'T STAND IT!" Kezaniah yelled at the twins.

"Kezaniah!" Richard harshly declared, before he then paused to give Kezaniah time to catch his words. "...Kezaniah. That's enough. I may not be able to truly understand how you feel, but I can understand where the source of those feelings come from. Just… Just take a deep breath. You need to calm down before you go nuclear. Your own conflicting concern and disdain are causing your own heart and mind to be jumbled up, and it's not doing well for yourself. For your sake, for Alear's and Veyle's sake. Just close your eyes and breathe. Try to find some peace in all of this. You don't have to be with Nel and Nil if you must. But please, don't do something reckless like that… if you ended up in pain and misery because of that, Alear and Veyle won't be able to forgive themselves."

"Richard makes a firm point. Your emotions are running far too wild right now." Zephia shook her head. "We can't afford to have you break down when greater threats loom overhead. Let us handle the matters. Just take care of yourself before anything else. Your sisters care for you more than anything else."

Kezaniah closed her eyes and turned away from the group, taking deep, heated breaths, before her entire demeanor calmed down and she turned back around. "I'm sorry… really I am… but I despise having to look in such a cruel mirror to my past." Kezaniah remarked, recalling all the time she had with her version of Nel and Nil. "All I know is that if you two are anything like you were back in my world… then a road of pain and despair are ahead for you both further still." Kezaniah remarked, looking to the twins at long last. "I loathe the fact I have to be reminded of the two people I swore to protect from my father's wrath… and in the end I could do nothing, because father caused the two of you to be the reason you both died. Not from him. Not from stronger siblings… but caused the both of you to die… and all because of that damned dragonstone on Nil's chest." Kezaniah spoke, slight venom returning, glaring at the red dragonstone.

"Kezaniah, without that dragonstone, Nel can't transform. What's so bad about it?" Siege asked, as Kezaniah bit her lip and shook her head, turning around.

"In due time you'll find out… I'll wait back here. Go meet up with your Mage Dragon friend. If the Firenese attack, I'll come and help you fight them off." Kezaniah simply stated.

"Take care, Kezaniah." Richard remarked, before he then gestured for the group to follow, as they moved on, leaving Kezaniah behind.

"I… I didn't think that Kezaniah would have so much torment buried under her regarding you two." Alear remarked. "I… I'm sorry that-"

"It's of no concern." Nel remarked, although her troubled expression indicated that Kezaniah's words rang within her quite soundly. "She has talked to me in the same manner before she departed abruptly from the Bracelet Vault. It seems that this is an unfortunate chain of misery it seems."

"Nil, what about you?" Richard asked, before noticing that Nil was looking at the dragon-stone on his chest, as there was a torn expression on his face. "Nil?"

"I… She… she must be mistaken." Nil remarked, as his voice was shaken. "I… I mean, there's no way that… that a dragon-stone could be a source of anything that would tear me and Nel from each other. She must be assuming that things are the same in her world as they are here. It might be wrong… It has to be-"

"Nil!" Veyle shouted. "Please, get a hold of yourself. I'm sure that we'll find out what Kezeniah was talking about. Just… Just don't let it get you down. I'm no stranger to corruption as well. Father, the one of our world, installed a helmet on my head, that created a secondary personality completely subservient to him, a far cry from my true self. And Richard and Siege were able to find a way to banish it from me. I'm sure that they could do the same, if you are under the same influence."

"They… could…?" Nil remarked, before he looked at Richard and Siege with a curious look, before shaking his head. "No, No, I don't feel like that is the case."

"I regret to inform you that it's best not to dwell on this much more. Lady Kezeniah said that the Firene Army are likely to seek retribution against her, and by proxy, us, and if we waste time, we will not be able to meet with whoever Nel and Nil mentioned as a friend, and what Kezeniah said to be a Mage Dragon." Mauvier remarked.

"Mage Dragon…" Zephia remarked, before her eyebrow creased, upon remembering the alternate Alear's words. "...I believe that I might have a clear idea on who might be meeting us."

"Tell us more about Firene of this world, as we continue." Richard stated. "Surely, you hold a low opinion of them. Why is that?"

"Tell us, what was Firene in your world, first?" Nil asked.

"Firene is a kingdom of peace and prosperity. They are renowned for their kindness and compassion to others. And their prince and princess are amicable individuals." Richard explained.

"How jarring. In this world, they are quite the opposite: Vengeful and violent, their royals especially." Nil winced. "That made them useful allies in wartime, despite their disdain for Fell Dragons. But ever since the Divine Dragon's death, they have completely avoided visiting us in Lythos."

Zephia averted her gaze slightly, as she felt that her actions in the original Firene were far more cruel, when compared to a far less idealistic Firene that stands right before her.

"Don't tell me that Queen Eve is some sort of bloodthirsty warmonger in this world." Griss remarked bluntly, earning himself a smack on the back of his head by Veyle, which only startled him, rather than offend him. "Hey, I'm just trying to be realistic here!"

"Not that I'm aware of. And I do not know much of her. She died at the start of the last war. And her throne remained empty until after the war ended, when King Alfred took her place. But as Nil said, he subsequently cut ties with us. We were forced to take precautions. And as I said, we had a friend be our eyes and ears in that nation. If she encountered Kezeniah as I believed, she would have come rushing towards us."

"Lady Nel! Lady Nil!" A familiar voice remarked, as Zephia froze up slightly, while Alear's breath hitched, and Veyle's eyes widened with shock, while the rest of the Hounds had curious expressions on their face, wondering who this person would be. "Things have turned horrible! There's another Fell Dragon who has forced herself upon Firene, and caused such great destruction and ruin in her wake! Firene has risen to arms to find the perpetrator, and they will likely be void of reason if they find us!"

Before the group, they saw a almost identical duplicate of Zephia, down to her crescent-like horns, albeit with many visual differences, with yellow tassels instead of red, and red flower-crowns along the base of her horns instead of Zephia's blue, and she had more smoother dress-pieces rather than ones that jutted out.

"Zelestia, so you are well." Nel remarked, as she did show concern, although it was only her tone, as her face was still stoic.

"So… that's what the other Alear meant…" Alear remarked to herself.

"I apologize for reporting late. I had to hide from Firene's forces, taking many detours to get here." Zelestia apologized. "Despite all of the things, that Fell Dragon decided to spare me, and the royals, when she caused that destruction… it's as if she was acting as a lone agent with a simplistic goal of snatching the bracelets, and leaving."

"It must have been harsh, having to use your own skills to reach her safely." Nel continued.

"If I can get this news to you, any amount of wounds will not faze me, Lady Nel." Zelestia declared, before she then noticed Alear. "But who's this you brought with you? Oh! How is it you remind me so much of the Divine Dragon Alear?"

"About that…" Alear started, before Zelestia rushed forward, before embracing Alear tightly.

"Glorious day! Divine One, you've been reborn!" Zelestia exclaimed with joy. "I knew you could never leave us! Not permanently, anyway. Hahaha! It's so obvious! How could I ever believe Sombron bested the Divine Dragon Monarch?"

As Nil walked over, the Hounds could hear the sound of crackling bones, as they looked at the source, as Zephia's hands were wound tightly into fists, with a stony expression on her face.

"Hey, Zephia? You okay?" Marni asked with concern, as the words managed to snap Zephia out of her own trance, as she let her hands go.

"...It's… It's not something that I wish to bring to light." Zephia remarked, before pressing a hand to her chest. "I… I did not expect this. To think that looking at who I am in another world from another time… I believed that I would have accepted them regardless if they are villain of hero… but this…"

Zephia then closed her eyes. "...I… I need time to process this." Zephia answered back. "I will address her introduction back, if she asks me anything more. I shall answer, provided that I believe it necessary to answer."

"Zelestia, as much as I hate to let you down, this is not who you think it is." Nil remarked.

"Yes, I'm actually the Divine Dragon of another world." Alear answered back.

"What?" Zelestia asked back, her joy turned into disbelief.

"We should have let you know sooner. This is not the old friend you and I knew." Nel answered back. "Rather, this is the saviour whom Nil and I summoned with an ancient ritual."

"This Divine Dragon arrived in the castle sanctuary after your departure to Firene." Nil finished.

"I… I see." Zelestia remarked, her voice turning solemn. "Of course, what was I thinking? I was there when we buried the Divine Dragon. I held that lifeless hand in mine, as we said our goodbyes…"

"I know this is difficult, Zelestia." Nel told Zelestia.

"I shouldn't have gotten so emotional. That loss was just as difficult for the two of you." Zelestia remarked, before she straightened herself up. "Divine One, my name is Zelestia. I am a Mage Dragon of some small renown. I always considered both you and Queen Lumera of this world to be my family. It's an honor to make your acquaintance."

"Zelestia, please, we don't have to be acquaintances. Friends can do." Alear answered back.

"How funny! That's just what the Divine Dragon I knew would have said." Zelestia laughed, before she then noticed Zephia, who was standing behind Alear, as she was shocked. "Oh my, so my question is answered before it leaves my mouth, so there is someone like me living in your world! Surely, she must be a great help in your fight against Sombron."

"Actually… Uh… Well…" Alear remarked, before she then grabbed Zephia by the arm, surprising the Mage Dragon with how forceful that Alear was being, shoving her right before the Divine Dragon. "I think that Zephia would be the best to explain it."

"Alear, I did not consent to this-" Zephia tried to argue with a glare.

"Zephia! What a beautiful name!" Zelestia remarked, before holding Zephia's hand with an anticipating expression on her face. "Tell me, how was it in your world?"

Zephia fell silent, before she then closed her eyes and sighed. "...First of all, could you please let go of my hands?" She asked firmly. "I don't appreciate it when people force themselves upon me."

"Force yourself upon you?" Zelestia remarked, before she drew a conclusion from Zephia's attitude, as her expression turned apologetic, as she let go instantly. "Oh, I'm sorry, it must have been terrible over there."

"That's…" Zephia remarked, before she began to choke on her words for a moment. "...That's more or less the fitting words to explain what my life has been like. You have a much better life than me, Zelestia, I can tell from a single glance in your eyes that this is an indisputable fact."

"That's… that's sad to hear." Zelestia answered back. "But I'm sure that your Alear must have-"

"I will speak no more of this." Zephia remarked forcefully, with a stern expression on her face, before she backed away, behind Alear, which stunned Zelestia.

"Wait, I didn't mean to offend you!" Zelestia pleaded.

"It's not your fault." Richard responded back, as Zelestia turned her attention to him. "She's… She's been through a very complicated situation. I know what she's been through, and if you knew it, you would feel two things: Either you would feel pity and sympathy for your other self, or…"

"Or?" Zelestia asked in half-curiosity and half-dread.

"...It's best not to tell you. Fuelling your curiosity with what Zephia has done will make things go bad." Richard shook his head. "I should introduce myself. My name is Richard Liu. I'm the bond-brother of Siege Sukui, who is the Radiant Saviour, a guardian to the Divine Dragon Empress, which is Alear presently, and the both of them are betrothed. And with her is Veyle, her Fell Dragon sister from Sombron's side, and with them are the Four Hounds, leading them is Zephia, as you can tell."

"Four Hounds… much like the Four Winds…" Zelestia remarked, before turning to Veyle. "And as for you… Nel, Nil… don't you feel anything looking upon her? After all, she's one of your Fell Dragon siblings, and Mauvier's charge. You were close to her, and now she's-"

"Please, no more." Nel answered back firmly. "I have already had enough dealing with the Divine Dragon's loss."

"Zelestia, please, let us not speak of this." Nil remarked, as there was sorrow in his voice. "Let us be happy that we can spend time with Veyle, alternate self she might be. After all, she is far too familiar to the one that we have lost."

"I… was lost?" Veyle remarked, before her expression turned sullen. "Oh, I'm sorry for reopening another set of old wounds with my appearance. Rest assured, I will ensure that whatever memories that you have had of my other self, you will not be haunted by their loss. I will remind you what you cherished in her."

"That's… that's touching to hear. But… It's… It's not that simple." Nil remarked, as he looked away with some shame in his own gaze.

"What news of Firene Castle, before and after the Fell Dragon attacked it?" Nel asked Zelestia, refusing to allow the group to dwell any longer in the past.

"Firene is making plans to invade its northern neighbor." Zelestia declared. "The idea was Princess Celine's, it's technically still waiting for King Alfred's approval. But that hasn't stopped the young princess from mustering a force of elite knights. Well, that mustered force is pretty much in past tense after the Fell Dragon ran through it with such ruthlessness. It also managed to force the Emblem of the Bracelets it stole to manifest themselves, before it departed as sudden as it came, but not before addressing me."

"Northern neighbor…" Veyle remarked. "...That's Brodia."

"Well, guess Nil and Nel got the part about them warring themselves right." Siege sighed. "Still, to think that it's Firene vs Brodia here, rather than Brodia vs Elusia back there…"

"Nel! Nil! What is the meaning of this!?" A voice yelled, as the group turned to see Alfred and Celine rushing to them, both armed and angry. "Explain yourselves!"

"A Fell Dragon brethren of yours has laid waste to our beloved castle! Hundreds of people are dead, and you two are to blame for sure!" Celine exclaimed.

"Great. They're here…" Siege clicked his tongue.

"Don't drag them into blame where it doesn't belong." Kezaniah's voice rang out as she approached, Mont at her side as she stood before the group. "The culprit you're after is me. I alone was the one who decided, and followed through, with burning your palace."

"Nel, Nil…. Who is this…?" Alfred asked darkly, as there was a equally dark expression on his face. "There should only be the both of you as the only Fell Dragons here. And yet here lies one more before you."

"Of our world, we are the only two that remain." Nel answered back. "But this Fell Dragon hails from another world entirely, as does Veyle, who stands before us, breathing and alive."

"Celine… Alfred…" Veyle remarked, as her expression was torn, upon seeing how discordant the two were from their own originals.

"I advise you all avert your eyes for what comes next." Kezaniah said, before looking at Celine and Alfred. "I told the both of you I had no further use for being in your kingdom anymore. Yet you pursued me here, likely a declaration of combat. The bracelets, being a hope for you… allow me to show you how feeble that is."

Mont Leonis Emblem Skill: Divine Cross - Attacks an area from a central point, the attack range extending one block adjacent to the central point. Increases Str by 50% during combat, and restores HP to unit equal to damage dealt. If foe or foe(s) are killed, unit moves again, gaining Movement equal to foes killed with skill. (Max. +5)

Mont suddenly slashed his sword, as a golden slash wave cut through Celine and Alfred once, before Kezaniah dashed forward, and finished it with a slash that cut Alfred and Celine in twain, as they each gave blood curdling death screams before falling to the ground, dead.

"W-What… What did you do…!?" Alear exclaimed.

"You… You just killed them both…!?" Nil shouted. "What… What have they done to warrant this? Even if they are hostile, they couldn't possibly warrant any reason to be killed off as if they are common men! They aren't like the Corrupted, those are living people with an actual dream and hope, they can-"

"Why waste your breath. Nel would have done the same thing I did." Kezaniah stated harshly.

"Wh-what…!?" Siege exclaimed.

Kezaniah turned to Nel. "If you're anything like the sister I knew, you live by a code in battle. Kill your enemies. Lest you give them a chance to rise up against you yet again. Am I wrong." Kezaniah stated.

Nel fell silent, before she then shook her head. "Perhaps...I believe that you know of the same truth as I do, if you know of who they are, and yet you would kill them the same." Nel responded back. "...You merely expedited the process. Regardless, the deed is done."

"N-Nel, you can't be serious, right?" Nil remarked with shock.

"Believe me when I say this: This is a mercy to them." Nel answered back. "Kezaniah killed them because she believes that she would rather be the one to perform the deed, than to let me do it. Perhaps she wouldn't want them to feel betrayed in their last moments, perhaps she had her personal reasons. But it doesn't matter, the deed is done."

"Lady Nel, you can't certainly be thinking-" Zelestia tried to argue.

"It's done. We move on to Brodia. Now." Kezaniah growled, before leaving the group yet again.

"Zelestia, I order you to be silent in this matter." Nel answered back firmly, as there was a harsh glare in her eyes. "We follow after Kezeniah. If she intends to slaughter to victory, then either any of you convince me to show mercy, although I find that hardly possible, let alone with your errant sibling… or you do exactly what is intended."

"...This is fucked up." Richard cursed under his breath. "Nel, we will find out what you've been hiding, and what Kezeniah believes that she knows. I know that you are not being malicious right now, but these actions are not something that someone on a path to fix the world should be doing."

"That hardly matters. Once we are done, you will be leaving." Nel remarked, before she then continued on, leaving the rest of the group behind, as Kezeniah did with the group.

"Oi… now this is a real mess that we've been brought into." Griss stated. "Never thought that Kezeniah would get in touch with her father's side to deal with all of this."

"Kezeniah… she… she can't possibly really mean to do all of this!" Marni argued, in disbelief at the cold slaughter of the royals. "There's no way that she is of the right mind, there's no way-"

"I'm afraid that she is clearly aware of her actions." Zephia answered back. "...And if my beliefs are correct, you might not like what you learn."

"Zephia, tell us, what are you thinking of? What could drive Kezeniah to such extremes?" Veyle begged.

"Think carefully about Kezeniah's words. And the hint is there." Zephia answered back. "I'm sure that there are at least two of you who are smart enough to figure out where this line of thought goes, and what implications it has."

"I had suspicions from the start." Siege remarked. "Ever since I first saw her change… but if she's right. And what you hypothetically speak is true…. Then God help our mental stabilities going forward…"

"It's a good thing that I've been prepared for all of this." Richard winced. "But I'm going to apologize beforehand that things will be getting much, much worse from here on in. Because if the Shadow Duelists are here causing trouble, then they're merely lighting a powder-keg that's already leaking."

"What are you talking about, Siege, Richard?" Alear asked, as both of them were silent. "Please, tell me something!"

"We've got the whole world as our enemy. Focus on that, before you end up being sidetracked like Kezeniah has." Richard warned Alear. "If you're not careful, we could end up with any of us dead by making the wrong assumptions."

"...As my wife, you deserve a small glimpse. So let me tell you one thing for this little adventure of ours. Guard your heart. Always. You never know who might stab you in the back." Siege stated cryptically. "Now let's follow after Nel and Kezaniah before they wind up in something bad."