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The Scarlet Sword

A young girl was hiding in the cellar of her parents home. She was ushered there by her older brother when he heard the Greens battle horn. She peeked out from the cellar and saw her brother with the family sword, prepared to strike at anyone who entered. She was scared but put her faith in her brother. He was terrified but put his brave face on for her sake. He had never killed a man but put his hesitation aside for his sister. He told her if anyone came in, to go out the crack in the cellar and escape to the cave system under the house, he’d find her there. He hoped it wouldn't come to that. He wished his parents were here, but they were at the next town over.

“Brother...” she whispered. “Get in the cellar Pyrrha. It’s not safe out here.” he looked at her and smiled “I’ll join you soon don’t worry.” Pyrrha beamed and went back down. He sighed. He didn’t want to die today. He heard a knock on the door and readied his sword.

“Blake it's us!” a feminine voice called. Blake opened the door and a group of village youngsters were at his door. “Aida? What’s going on out there?” Blake asked while putting down the sword. “We don’t know. The Green’s marched through and burned the Town down. We think the Blues are here to evacuate us. We need to get out of here. Where’s Pyrrha?” Blake pointed to the cellar. “I sent her down there to keep her safe.”

While the children got together a Green Mage had sensed their energy and made his way over to the secluded house. He silenced his steps and walked behind the group. He silently charged an airwave spell and upon casting it knocked the kids to the ground.

The kids screamed as they fell but Blake heard them and was able to jump out of the way at the last second. He readied the sword and lunged at the Mage. Sidestepping, the Mage hit him with a fireball to the chest and Blake was tossed aside for his efforts. Gasping as he stood up Blake steeled himself and channeled what magical energy he knew how to use to strengthen his reflexes. He jumped at him with a speed the Mage didn't anticipate and sunk his sword to the crossguard in his stomach. The Mage shrieked and tried to pull the sword out and push Blake away, but couldn't. Blake kept pushing him back until they hit a wall. The Mage electrocuted the blade. Trying to shock Blake off him. Blake was unfazed and ripped the sword out himself. Before jumping up and stabbing the Mage through the throat, crushing it, and stuck his sword through the wall. He fell to the floor soaked in blood, both his own and the mages. The kids gathered around him and started stripping their clothes off to use as bandages. They sent the fastest kid out to find a Blue to help them.

While Blake fought gallantly, his sister, Pyrrha, on the first sound of the kids screaming had run deep into the cellar to the crack that led to the caves. She squeezed through but got cut up in the process. She had often come down into the caves to explore, but she had never gone through that fast before. She started running in the cave, not looking for a direction she was familiar with. She couldn't see and traveled the cave using instinct alone. She heard loud noises around, so she knew she wasn't safe. She kept running until she couldn't run anymore. She saw a light and ran towards it. She stopped where the light just barely touched the ground. Illuminated by sunlight, filtered through craggy rocks, lay a beautiful sword.

Ornately carved with flames, the hilt and crossguard were made of red steel. While the blade itself was glimmering silver, with red etchings around the entire blade. Pyrrha walked forward, towards the blade and placed her hand on it.

The sword seemed to twinkle, the etchings of fire glowed for but a moment then extinguished. Pyrrha wrapped her hand around the hilt and drew the sword from its tomb. Though it was larger than her, she could wield it without much difficulty. She heard a loud crash and turned around and saw a large man crash through the wall of the cave system. He had an eye full of arrows and a gaping chest wound sat. He was thrown against the rock by some force.

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“Are you okay sir?” she asked while walking towards her, the beautiful sword still in hand. The large man, Beo, opened his remaining eye and looked at her. He didn't see a scared little girl, instead, he saw a tall beautiful blonde warrior, wielding the red sword as part of herself. He knew he had found her, the next Queen of Britannia. Beo stood up, mustering all his strength.

“My name is Beo, I am a Vice-Comadant of the Blue army. What is your name?” “... My name is Pyrrha. Are you okay Mister Beo? You look terribly hurt.” she pointed with her other hand to the wound on his chest. “Oh, this?” he said, slapping the wound. “It’s nothing to me. I’ve already recovered from it.” he smiled “No need to worry about me.” he finally got a good look at her. He easily towered over her by many feet.

The sword caught his eye, but he said nothing. “Mister Beo, what about your eye?” Oh right, his eye. Full of arrows, even his healing wouldn't work on that. “Ah let me fix that.” he turned around and ripped the arrows, with his eye attached, out. He threw them on the ground and closed his eye. “Good as new.” he laughed “Now tell me everything that happened so I can help, okay?” he said facing her.

And so she did, recounting her journey to where he met her.

She wanted to go make sure her brother was safe. So she leaded him back to their village, not through the caves as Beo wouldn't fit. When they arrived they found an abandoned ruin. The smoke still raised to the heavens, but no one was there. Pyrrha led him slowly, picking her way across buildings.

They reached her home. She tried to go in, but Beo called out. “Allow me, whatever is in there will do you no good to look at.” she pouted but knew he was right. He walked in and the stench of blood and magic filled his sensitive nose. After sneezing he looked around and found the corpse of a Green Mage. He had a large stab wound in his stomach, and his throat was obliterated. There was a hole in the wall about the height the mage would be. Clearly, he was impaled by a swordsman with enough strength to pierce through the wall and his barrier.

“Well? Is it okay?” Pyrrha asked meekly. “There's a body in here, but it’s a Green,” Beo replied walking out. Pyrrha sighed in relief. “That means my brother still alive right?” she looked at him hopefully. “Most likely a Blue found him backed by the Green and killed the Green to protect him.” he rubbed his nose “We should gather what supplies we can find and head out. Who knows if the Green’s will be back.” Pyrrha nodded. “What should I pack? I think most of my clothes are in there.” Beo thought for a moment. “I’ll take out the body, then you can gather some of your brothers older clothes.” Pyrrha looked dumbstruck. “Why would I do that? I have plenty of dresses and other clothes.” Beo sighed. “It’d be odd for a man like me to be traveling with a young girl like you. If you look like a boy, they’ll just think you’re my squire or a trainee.” Pyrrha nodded sadly. Beo dragged the corpse out and tossed it into a burning building, while Pyrrha packed what she was told to. She changed into some trousers, a loose shirt, and some old boots. She was grimy from her journey, so she looked like a boy. The hair was the only thing that could give it away so Beo gave her a cord to wear it up.

“Hand me that sword will you?” Pyrrha walked over to him and presented it to him. He grabbed the handle and was shocked by the weight. He assumed it was featherlight, but no little girl could wield something this heavy. He pulled one of his swords out and put the scarlet one in its sheath. “I’ll get you a proper sword and we can start your training immediately.” he turned and walked out of the room. “What training Mister Beo?” she asked while following him out of the old house. “I thought it was obvious. I’m training you to fight in the Four Swords War. I’ll turn you into a proper swordswoman.”