The crowd stood silent. A masked boy was preventing a nobleman, from hitting an elven slave. Both the lord and the crowd, began to resent him for this. Edward pulled back his arm, trying to get him, to let go. But his grip was too tight. He reached at his waist, drawing out the short-sword he had been carrying. "Who do you think you are?" He shouted, slashing at his head. Bright sparks to flew around. Before he knew it, the blade of the sword was sent flying past his face. Into a wooden beam behind him. The crowd gasped. A long, curved, slender blade. Almost 1.4 meters long, with strange markings across the length of its blade, and fitted with a simple handle. Had cleanly cut through Edward’s sword in half. From the looks of it, it wasn't made from ordinary steel nor mithril, having a charcoal black color. The natural color of the blade was almost pitched black, with a slight purple hue to it. Both Edward and the masked boy were unfazed, still staring down one another.
“I said. Let go of me! You peasant!” Edward kicked the masked boy. The masked boy let go Edward’s arm, blocking the kick with his right arm. The impact from the kick was powerful enough to create a small shockwave, sending a bit of rubble flying. Now that he was free, Edward took a few steps back, recuperating. It didn't take long for guards to enter the plaza. The surrounded the masked boy, pointing their spears towards him. Cecilia tried running to the elven girl, to get her away from the impending crossfire. The masked boy placed his sword between Cecilia and the elven girl. Stopping her from getting closer. He shook his head, signaling her that it would be a bad idea if she were to interfere.
Edward combed back his hair, gesturing for the guards to stand down. Edward grinned, “I admire your skills, swordsman. But you’ve done a great crime, by protecting a filthy slave and attacking the lord of the land. If you surrender that mere slave to me, I’ll consider letting you go alive. Or better yet, surrender yourself, and become my servant. It would be a pity to let such fine swordsmanship be wasted.” The masked boy gave to answer, standing there in silence. One of the guards approached Edward, whispering into his air. “Ah, I see.” Edward grinned, “So you’re another one of those people? The ones looking for the legendary Regalia?” Cecilia gasped, wondering if he was on the same quest as her. After a while, he finally sighed. He raised his sword with both hands, taking a defensive stance. He didn’t plan to take any of the offers Edward had given to him. Instead he made his own one. Fight. Edward gestured for his guards to attack. The masked boy took a dep breath. The stone road shattered beneath his feet as he swung his sword. In one swift strike, he cleanly cut through all of their spears. The guards stood in awe and defeat. “Who is he?” Cecilia thought to herself, “He instantly defeated over a dozen guards on his own.”
One of the guards brought Edward his horse to him. Edward put on his leather gloves, got on the horse, and took up his lance. Along with another dozen calvrymen arriving at the scene, Edward charged at the masked boy, not giving him the slightest chance of running away. The rapid galloping of the horses filled the plaza. The masked boy sheathed his sword on his waist. He grabbed a pole from a nearby stall. Running towards the calvrymen. “Only a fool would fight calvary head on.” Edward thought, “That’s it swordsman. come at me with all you’ve got!” Before they made clashed. The masked boy, swung the pole, knocking several of the men of their horses.
The calvrymen stood still, not expecting any of this to happen. Before one of them could ask for Edward’s orders. The pole was thrown at him, knocking him from his horse. The remaining calvrymen began panicking, franticly asking Edward for his orders. They were then all swiftly knocked down. One by one. Before Edward could react. The masked boy appeared before his horse. Edward tried thrusting his lance at him. Vigorous sparks flew, as it was effortlessly deflected. Edward fell from his horse. The masked boy stood before him, holding a sword at his throat.
Cecilia suddenly sensed a strange eerie feeling. She told her squad to get back. Something was coming their way. Something, bad. A pillar of fire, ignited under the masked boy’s feet. Separating Edward from him. The flames engulfed a large area of the plaza. The crowd of people began panicking, and running away. “Are you alright milord!” a hooded man shouted. He rode into the plaza, with 3 dozen, heavily armed soldiers in red cloaks. Theresa brought up her massive shield, deflecting the flames from her captain. Cecilia clicked her tongue, “Is he insane? Who uses such powerful magic, when there are still civilians nearby?” The ability to control mana, or flow of life itself. Magic. A rare talent, bestowed upon very few people. Those who wield this gift, are praised by many.
As the fiery inferno died down. The masked boy stood in the center, unharmed. The hooded man became impressed, “That would’ve burned a normal human into ash.” “Careful Professor!” Edward warned him, “He’s a lot tougher than he looks!” “I know.” The hooded man signaled for the soldiers to take aim with their bows. Edward started to boast, “The offer still stands swordsman. Join us! The empire can use your skills for the greater good of the world!” The masked boy drew out his blade. Clearly showing that his answer, was no. Cecilia noticed something about the masked boy. There was someone hidden within his cloak. As the wind blew, she got a glimpse of who it was. He protected the elven girl once again, using his cloak to shield her from the flames. She laid unconscious in his arms.
Just as the soldiers would release their bow. Several arrows, with pieces of paper on the end of them. Stuck to their helmets. The guards lowered their bows, confused as to what just happened. Before they knew it. They were all shocked. By a jolt of purple lightning. They all fell on the ground, unconscious. During the confusion. The masked boy made his escape with the elven girl in his arms. Leaping to one of the buildings. Running on top of the rooftops.
Edward shouted for his man to find him at once. All the soldiers at the plaza scattered in disarray. Cecilia walked forward, looking around. At the clocktower, she spotted a hooded girl with a longbow. Standing there, watching from afar. This was without a doubt the same girl she ran into earlier. The hooded girl jumped down, leaving the area. Meanwhile, Cecilia stood there. Thinking, about who those two were.
Later, in the afternoon. At the Silvester manor, in one of its many rooms. Cecilia and her squad, sat down on one of the sofas, patiently waiting. The room they were in was huge, lined with portraits, armor stands and cases of antique weapons. With a burning fireplace in the background, the room was warm. Lylah however, had the feeling that someone was constantly watching their every move. To her the entire feeling of the room itself felt weird, so she walked up and down the whole room.
Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.
Edward walked through the door, apologizing for him being late. The hooded man followed in behind him. Edward introduced him as, "Professor Rolland, head alchemist of the Empire of Daugšiadorys." Cecilia and Erik quickly put up their guard. The Empire of Daugšiadorys, the largest country in the northern continent. With its staggering military force of over two-hundred-thousand soldiers, they have defeated many countries for their land. But the bulk of their strength was not from their numbers. But the three generals, wielding powerful weapons created from the remnants of the calamity war, Imperial arms. Currently, the only countries that could maybe rival its massive militant strength are the kingdom of Edenia and Jawha Republic. But their forces are both capped at about 10 thousand soldiers each. Cecilia and Erik had to be extremely careful when dealing with Edward from now on. With current affairs, they couldn't afford to make someone an enemy that was backed up by the empire.
They took their seats, parallel to Cecilia and Erik. Edward formally apologized for causing them trouble this morning. He offered to let them stay in his manor as an apology. Cecilia humbly declined, “We must be on our way as soon as possible. However, if you do have any information regarding that of the rumored Regalia. I will kindly ask you to share that with us.” Edward leaned back, scratching his chin. Cecilia noticed that his lance was quite strange. She cleared her throat, “Is your lance by any chance?” “Nonsense!” Rolland interrupted her, “This is an Imperial arm! The pride of the Empire!” Cecilia apologized. She didn’t know that such a little thing would offend him that much. She had to be extra careful when choosing her words from now on.
Edward gestured to him, “It’s alright professor. She means no harm.” Edward leaned forward, taking a deep breath, “I apologize for not having any information about any Regalia.” Professor Rolland cleared his throat, “Pardon me captain. Might I interest you in signing a treaty? We can offer both men and weapons, to bolster your defenses for the impending war. Along with…” Cecilia raised her hand, interrupting him, “Unfortunately, that decision must be decided by our majesty herself. If you have no further information regarding Regalia. We shall take our leave.” Professor Rolland clicked his tongue. This was the first time, that someone talked to him like that. He started to fume, “Why you little girl!” Edward placed his hand on his shoulder, stopping him, “Verry well. I wish you the best in your travels.”
Cecilia and her squad then took their leave from the Silvester manor. As they were walking out, Cecilia kept thinking, “Why would such a high ranking person in the Empire be doing so far away from the Empire. Are they looking to take over this continent as well?” They got up on their horses, riding out of town, following the main road, towards the next town.
Later in the evening, Cecilia and her squad are having their dinner in a tavern, in a small town, somewhere along the main road. They were discussing where they would go next. Lylah laid her head down on the table, "Turns out, it was another damn goose chase. We, are very much, screwed." Theresa tried cheering her up by patting her head, "There, there. It's alright." Lylah got up, whining, as she poured herself a drink. "For six months! We have traveled to so many places. And not one of them brought us any closer to finding a single regalia." She laid down on the table again, sobbing.
Cecilia and Erik were reading a map, debating if they should go the long way around the mountain, or save time by crossing it. On the map, Cecilia noticed a blank spot. Erik had no idea what it could be, but it seemed familiar to her. For a while she sat there, scratching her chin, and thinking. Till, suddenly it clicked in her mind. She reached into her bag. Going through her many books, until, she found it. "Guardians of Regalia? How does that have anything to do with this?" Erik confusingly asked. Cecilia quickly went through the pages, searching for a specific one. "My dad told me, that this book was written by someone who actually met the guardians." Lylah gloomingly pulled her head back up, "I thought the guardians were a myth." "That's the thing, most stories are inspired by things that have actually happened. Found it!" Cecilia placed the book on the table. In the book was a small map, to a temple deep within the mountains. She aligned her book with the map on the table. They were all shocked that it was a perfect match. "Well team, I think we have our next destination."
Cecilia suddenly became nauseated, falling onto the table. "Woah, cap. You alright? You don't look too good" Lylah worryingly asked her. "I'm fine, my head, just hurts." She began to hear the same humming from earlier. "Do you guys hear that?" Cecilia asked them. They all looked at her confused, saying that they don't hear anything. The tavern suddenly felt eerie to her, as if someone was calling her. It became dead silent as the door had suddenly been opened. But nothing came through it. Only a chilling breeze, with the howling winds. Cecilia had a strange feeling, so she ran out of the tavern. "Oi captain!? Where are you going?" Lylah worryingly asked. She set her cup on the table, chasing after her.
Catching a glimpse of a figure in a white cloak. Moving in the distance, Cecilia followed after it. After a while, the white cloak went into an alley around the corner. But when Cecilia went after it, she ended up at a dead-end. The figure stood at the end, looking into the sky. The figure in the white cloak was woman. Her body was a pale white, with silvery hair. Cecilia approached her, asking who she was, and if she was the one calling her. The darkness veiled the pale woman’s face. Allowing Cecilia to only see her warm smile. The pale woman spoke, but made no sound. She slowly walked towards Cecilia. As soon as the pale woman got close to her, Cecilia's head began to hurt again. Everything around her was spinning, causing her to fall on her knee.
"Captain?" Lylah asked, putting her hand on her shoulder. Lylah had snapped her back to reality. "Are you alright?" Everything was back to normal. Cecilia looked around, “What happened? Was that all a hallucination?” She agitatedly asked if Lylah saw anyone. Lylah, now a bit confused, and extremely worried about Cecilia, said that the only person she saw here, was her. Lylah put her arm over Cecilia’s shoulder, “Why don’t we get back to dinner cap.” Lylah then brought Cecilia back to the others at the tavern. Erik and Theresa were extremely worried about her when she ran off like that. Cecilia apologized, promising that it will never happen again.
Later, in the middle of the night. In one of the stables, they were staying for the night. Cecilia was laying down on a bed of hay, with the letter in her hand. She kept thinking about all the strange things that have been happening ever since she entered Silves. She noticed that the letter was sealed by a wax stamp. The seal was the same as that of the royal Family of Edenia. From the looks of it, it had already been opened. Not being able to contain her curiosity, Cecilia read through the letter. The further she read, the more questions she got, and the less answers she found. She read over and over, trying to understand what this meant. She kept asking herself, “Just who are you two?”