City of Qua-Toyne, Qua-Toyne Principality, 26th of September, 1639

Heavy rain pattered down the roofs of the capital of Qua-Toyne. But instead of families enjoying the day inside, the city remained quiet. Suddenly, the relative silence of rain was interrupted by a loud boom.

Outside the city walls, a mass force of soldiers, wyverns, and cavalry circled the city. The mages and archers of Qua-Toyne stood atop the walls as they tried their best to hold back the significant Lourian force.

In the Prince's Palace deep under, the meeting room was in chaos. In the middle of it all sat a young, blond elf with a crown. Despite his extravagant appearance, the young man looked to have aged a thousand years. As the shouting plagued his brain, he finally snapped and yelled. "EVERYONE QUIET DOWN!!"

And in his command, the room went dead quiet, only being shaken by the muffled sounds of booms outside.

The young high elf then soon stood up. Prince Haluta then leaned against the long meeting table. On it were maps of Qua-Toyne and the cities of their nation. He then spoke. "Panicking is not gonna help in our situation!! Louria is here and they're SLAUGHTERING our men because you all have been screaming about trivial things!"

Even the older generals and grand mages remained quiet. Haluta then continued on. "Our war plans have been fruitless and somehow Louria amassed an even bigger army than we expected. Where they got their resources can only be a matter of debate that is nigh useless right now. So please, let's take a moment to think."

The room stayed quiet. Suddenly another elven being then spoke. "Your majesty... We have called the reserve force all the way from Maihark to come and defend the capital. But I've received reports that the Lourian navy is encircling our coastline."

Haluta looked to him. "What's the response so far, prime minister Kanata?"

Kanata sighed. "Our navy is barely holding them back for now. We've received reports also that some civilians have been evacuating on their own accord by boat. Most heading to the north."

Haluta went wide eyed. "What? Are they crazy? The Parpaldian Empire wouldn't accept our people! Where on Elysia are they even going?"

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Port of Maihark

The rain wasn't helping the dampened spirits of the Qua-Toynians crowding on the port. Ships of all kinds from mere fishing boats to trading vessels were being filled to the brim with people.

A port authority figure was then shouting. "Everyone please keep calm! No pushing, no fighting! Women and children are first priority! Men of youth and the elderly are the ones only allowed! Men of battle capability are being asked to join the army! Keep luggage to a minimum!"

Near a cargo vessel, a family of elves was being loaded onto the ship. A mother and her two children as alas the father had to stay behind to fight.

The matriarch Arus held the hand of his young son as in her other arm was a little elven baby crying at the rain hitting her face. She shuddered at the cold as Arus did her best to keep a warming spell on her child.

Kelin held his mother's hand as securely as he could amidst the chaos of the crowd behind them. He could only looked to his baby sister Mera in pity as soon they found a spot to sit down in.

Arus looked to the side. Suddenly the wooden boarding platform wasn't being trampled anymore by a dozen elves. With it being raised by the crew members, sounds of panic from the dock got louder as another ship was about to leave. Arus realised this and sighed shakily. They were just in time.

The captain of the vessel then stood at the helm. An elderly merchant that has seen his fair bits or chaos but this was something else entirely. "Everyone please find a spot and settle down!" The captain eyed the crowd. Majority were women and children with only a few young or elderly men. "We will be sailing through the rain and up north as far as we can from Rodenius!"

Suddenly the crowd erupted in skepticism and surprise. There was nothing north of Qua-Toyne except Parpaldia. And when that realisation hit, an elderly man stood up outraged. "Up north!? Being sliced by a Lourian swordsman is bad enough and now you want us to be beaten to a pulp by the Parpaldian Empire!?"

The crowd yelled in agreement but the captain shouted again. "Quiet!! What do you think I am, stupid!? Do you all really think I would sail us to a place where we'd be enslaved anyway!?" The crowd suddenly went quiet. "No, there is another place up north. A place much closer and safer for all of us! All I ask is that you trust me to be your captain and that I could trust you all to cooperate!"

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The crowd murmured. With no clear answer of agreement or defiance, the captain sighed. "Men, prepare to set sail!"

The crew of the ship then quickly moved. The captain eyed the rain as it was now light enough to traverse but dense enough to be as hidden as possible without sinking. With that the vessel then set sail.

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Rodenius Sea

The trip has been long and hard. Fighting the waves in the rain and dark has been grim for both the crew and the refugees on the ship. But now there was a sense of calm in the twilight of the day. It has been a couple hours since the vessel left Maihark and truth be told, not even the captain knew where he was going.

There have been rumours of a new land up north. The spread of word has been sparse as barely any cargo vessels from Qua-Toyne would head north to Parpaldia to trade. But then news of a mysterious land started to spread. And when Louria invaded Qua-Toyne, the captain decided to take a leap of fate to find this mysterious new land.

On the deck, Arus sat against a pole in exhaustion. Mera had luckily fallen asleep and Kelin was simply fidgeting with his fingers. She looked to her two children, they were her world right now and not knowing if her husband was alive or not kept her awake.

The ship was quiet save for a few whispers. Arus's stomach grumbled. She didn't have dinner as she prioritised the food for her children. But alas exhaustion was catching up to her and soon she closed her eyes.

Suddenly screams pierced the air. Everyone looked to see a few refugees suddenly stabbed by burning arrows. Panic then started to spread.

The captain looked up. A warship with the Lourian naval ensign. "Oh gods, they found us!! Men, ready yourselves!"

There were barely a few archers on the ship, twelve at most. The captain quickly held the helm as he started to manoeuvre the ship away from the Lourian warship.

People started to panic as they said their prayers to the gods. Mera started crying once more as Arus held Kelin close. She started breathing quickly as she did not want to see her children in the hands of death. "Kelin, stay close!" She said to the crying boy as she kept her hold on him as tightly as he could.

Another wave of arrows the hit the vessel. Even more screams were heard as with the ship being so crowded there were bound to be a few hits. And even if they weren't hit, small fires started to erupt as the arrows pierced the wood of the ship.

The captain tried his best to keep calm. His crew members shot their own flaming arrows back but with barely the professional skill of the Lourians, nor the numbers.

The captain eyed the warship. It was a whole lot bigger than his measly cargo ship. Why were they being teased like this? He then realised a grim truth. The ship and its crew wasn't being tactical.

They were having fun.

Another wave of arrows were sent and soon some volunteered to try and dissipate the fire and heal the wounded. The captain looked around at the panic. His men couldn't possibly hold them back nor is his ship fast enough.

Arus held her children as closely as she could. She looked around at the chaos. There was death and destruction on the ship. They weren't gonna make it. She started praying to the gods to at least spare her children but suddenly another wave of arrows came down.

Arus screamed in pain. She looked down to see an arrow pierced her shoulder. Mera started sobbing louder as she saw her mother in pain. Kelin panicked further as he spoke. "M-mother! Are— what do I do!?"

Arus panted quickly as she leaned against a barrel. She looked to her son as she shakily handed his sister. "K-Kelin I need you to make a promise, okay?"

"W-what?" The young elf boy held his sister close while still gripping onto his mother's skirt.

"Promise me you'll take care of Mera for me, okay?" Arus said with a weak smile. Kelin then started panting as he shook his head.

"N-no! No I'm not gonna promise you that!" Kelin exclaimed as Arus went wide eyed. "We're all gonna be together!! All of us! I-I don't want you to be gone mother please!"

Arus's heart dropped. She simply caressed the boy's cheek. "O-oh Kelin... I am so proud of you..."

Up on the helm the captain could see the ship approach. It was fast approaching and soon it was sailing side by side. Another round of burning arrows came. The crowd below screamed in a panic as some jumped overboard and many died due to the much closer range of the arrows.

Arus rushed to the other side of the ship. She panted quickly to keep herself awake for her children's sake while Kelin held his baby sister closely.

This was it. It's all over. The captain shut his eyes as he gripped the helm tightly and heard a loud explosion.

However, his expectations of falling into the water didn't happen. In fact he could suddenly hear a lot more screams coming from men. The captain quickly opened his eyes.

The Lourian ship suddenly exploded in half. He could see soldiers desperately trying to keep afloat in the water with their armour as debris from the ship floated in the sea. He then quickly looked up. There was a bright light in the distance. Was this his mind playing tricks? Was he actually really dying?

He narrowed his eyes as he pulled out his telescope. There was an unknown flag. And the ship was entirely made of metal. What the hell was it?

Arus couldn't ask the same question. The last thing she heard before she lost consciousness was the sounds of whirring above and his son's desperate pleas.

...

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An unfamiliar beeping sound went through Arus's mind. A smooth fabric covered her body. The sharp pain in her shoulder was gone.

Arus weakly opened her eyes. She looked to see a bright white ceiling above. The softness of the fabric and the colour would've fooled her that she was in heaven. But soon she weakly moved her head.

Kelin was there as he held his sister. He sat on a strange looking chair as he looked out the window. Soon Arus spoke. "K-Kelin...?"

The boy looked back before he gasped. He quickly ran as he held the woman's hand while he kept a stable hold on Mera who slept peacefully. "M-mother! You're okay!" Kelin said with tears in his eyes.

The elven woman smiled as she wiped Kelin's tears away. "Indeed I am, my son..." Soon she looked around. This room was nothing like she's seen before. "W-where are we?"

Kelin soon calmed down. With a sniffle, happiness engulfed his face as he smiled widely.

"We're in Italy, mother!"