Nine Kingdom

The trade caravan travelled north for a day and a half before eventually arriving at a port town. From there the group boarded a ship heading to Aria.

---1 week later---

The ship was not far from the city of St. Verloren, the last free Arian City. At first everything seemed fine as they passed the Aria-Deria Border, but as they got closer and closer black pillars of smoke could be seen from the city before it was even in sight. As the city finally came into sight a large Seraphim army besieged the city on three sides, leaving the port as the only way in. Though the city was under siege there were no Seraphim Airships, yet.

“No” Alastair said as he stood at the bow of the ship and looked at his home as they approached the burning city.

 

" The bloodshed has spread to here as well?" Suri said with a sad look as she watched from further back on the rail of the ship.

 

Vitan looked at the devastation with anger. It looked just like Saradi. When they began their trip, Vitan hadn't figured the empire would have made their way here so quickly. They were everywhere! It was insanity! Vitan was delved into his own thoughts when he realized the ship was still heading towards the harbour. Vitan ran towards the wheel yelling all the way there. "We can't go any farther! You can't land us in there! We'll be killed!"

Atrox went over the details of the raging battle with many other men, assessing the situation. They were all held up in a tent far enough away from the battle as to not be attacked, yet still close enough to review what was happening and to make desicions on what to do next. Atrox was displeased with the results of the battle so far.

A soldier ran up to the tent and yelled out "Another ship has been sited bring in supplies to their troops sir! The fight might go on a while longer!" The soldier then ran back to the fray.

Atrox slammed his fist into a wooden table and broke it in two. "Damn! This fight was supposed to be over an hour ago! Where are our ships, Captain?"

A man walked up to Atrox and calmly said "They should be here any moment."

Atrox grabbed the man by his collar "They had better be here! I am tired of those weasels recieving supplies! Block them off as soon as those ships get here! I won't stand it another moment!"

"Sir!" Another soldier called out and Atrox walked up to him. The soldier was looking into a telescope and handed it over to Atrox "You will want to see this."

Atrox looked into the telescope and saw their two ships approaching the bay. Atrox smiled.

 

"Should we go around maybe?" Suri said as she hung onto the rail and watched as they drew nearer.

 

“No” Alastair said to Suri “We are to close, we need to reach port, they wouldn’t risk getting close to the city archers, if they do they will be vulnerable to a fire attack”

“We have no choice” The captain said to Vitan “Full Sail!” The Captain ordered to the crew as the all the sails were set and the ship picked up speed as it tried to pass the Seraphim ships.

“This is going to be close, can you use Light magic?” Alastair asked Suri as the ships closed in.

 

Vitan couldn't believe this was happening. "This is crazy! We'll be killed!" Vitan looked at the destruction they were heading towards. He felt very frieghtened. "Isn't there anything we can do?!"

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Bheliar, Mya, and Drei had travelled by foot for a week, attempting to get to the Vision kingdom's capital. On their travels, Bheliar provided the two humans with food and water which was abundant in the land. But Bheliar was troubled... he could sense a particular presence ahead, at his destination. He just couldn't figure out what it was. It seemed familiar, yet he couldn't place his finger on it. Finally after a week of travelling, the capital was finally in sight. Showing off it's beautiful buildings and it's famous Angla Church which shone brighter than the rest of the buildings. It would only be a few more days before they would arrive at the outer walls of the city.

"There it is!" Said Bheliar in excitement. Soon they would arrive, and Bheliar couldn't wait to satisfy his curiousity of this unknown presence.

 

" Yes I can use light magic... what do you want me to do?" Suri said her eyes widening at the incoming ships.

 

"Well my friend told me Light Magic can manifest as fire so I say burn their ships as they try and close in on us" Alastair said to Suri as he looked up at Vitan and the captain "Vitan! If worst come just swim to the shore line!" Alastair yelled so Vitan could hear him.

 

Vitan heard Alastair and accepted these words... He ran up next to them and began listening in on Alastairs plan. He figured he might be able to help in some way. But wasn't sure which way...

 

" I guess I can try to turn their ships into a lightshow..." Suri said as she pulled her gloves on and then walked over to the bow of the ship where she balanced and waited for the ships to draw closer. She then lifted her hands and conjured fire out of thin air and sent it hurling at the enemy ships in the form of a cyclone.

 

Only one ship was caught alight, but it was enough. The other ship stopped to rescue the crew allowing the ship to pass. "We did it, good job Suri" Alastair said as the ship entered the port, the crew was also happy but that quickly died down, the stench of corpses could be smelt even at the docks, the sound of fierce battle echoed threw the city. As the ship finished docking and started unloading supplies hundreds of people came running up, some begging for food, others offering everything they had to be taken away, the Arian Soldiers held them back but the atmosphere of desperation was thick.

 

Mya sighed, exhausted from the long trip they took. Despite all the rests and food they took, her body wasn't matched to a demons. It was good they saw the capitol. Another day, and she would've collapsed from exhaustion. "Thank the gods there's the capitol. Another day, and I would've collapsed from exhaustion and frustration. Now if you don't mind, I'd like to take a small break. We humans are not used to walking like this without proper rest." She propped her small pouches of food as well as her sword next to a tree before sitting next to it.

 

Vitan got off the ship and immediately ran into the fray. Reckless, but courageous. Vitan knew he had to do something other than sit there and watch the empire's troop's get closer.

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Atrox's anger grew. He turned one of his men "Once the ships get into the bay Light a torch and signal the ships to open fire on the bay. I refuse to let these fools think they can get a moment's reprieve."

The soldier saluted Atrox and then said "Yes sir!"

"What else should we do my lord?" another soldier asked.

Atrox smiled. "Well, I set aside some necessary reinforcements in case the fighting got tough, and I think now is a perfect time to strike." Atrox then began putting on some armor.

The soldier failed to see the point of Atrox simply telling him this though and questioned "Should we have them go in their sir?"

Atrox then finished putting on his gear before answering "No, I'm going to tell them to follow me." Atrox then picked up his hammer, got on his horse, rode to his troops hiding behind the ridge and then after yelling a few words to them, rode towards the town. They all followed him in...

Bheliar thought about it before conceding to the girl. Besides a little rest would do wonders for the group in case any trouble occurred at the capital. "Very well, we shall rest here for the night. Then we shall head in. Agreed?"

 

"Wait Vitan don't go running off on your own" Alastair yelled after Vitan, his voiced trailed off as Vitan got further and further away "Crap, now I have to go and take care of that idiot, Suri stay here" Alastair said drawing his sword "I will bring Vitan back" he said running after Vitan.

 

Vitan easily found the front lines and jumped in. Hacking and slashing at the already battle exhausted imperial troops. Vitan easily dispatched these troops and even managed to use the magic in his sword to blow one or two off their feet, allowing for his allies to kill them. In the area where Vitan joined in, it seemed that they were winning against them empire. Vitan felt a sense of victory and joy, but this was boyish and short lived as a man from behind Vitan exclaimed "CAVALRY! HEADING TOWARDS US! THE EMPIRE HAS REINFORCEMENTS! REGROUP!" However this was impossible and the empires cavalry quickly cut through what little forces were left. Vitan and a few others held out though...

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Just a little ways away Atrox sat upon his horse looking down on a soldier "Has she been captured yet, captain?"

"No sire, I am sorry, but she is still behind enemy lines, but we should have her in a bit!" responded the captain, scared for his life.

"Sir!" another soldier exclaimed "We actually had the woman in our sights when our captain decided to send our troops in another direction to aid a weak spot in our main line."

The captain looked back at the soldier in horror at his betrayal. "No..." He turned back to Atrox "NO, I did it for the good of the empi-"

"SILENCE! Despite what you may think, winning this battle was not my first priority! I told you to retrieve the woman and you failed!" yelled Atrox when he then proceeded to cut off the head of the captain. He then pointed his bloodied sword at the soldier who had pointed the finger at the captain "You are in command of the mission now, and don't you dare fail me! I will hold them off, now get the woman!"

"Yes sir!" said the soldier, smiling. He and his squad then ran into the fray.

 

An Imperial Soldier was about to stab Vitan from behind when Alastair cut the back of the soldier's neck "Vitan you idiot" Alastair said, it was obvious to Alastair that no matter how good Vitan's sword is and how much potential he has he had zero experience actually fighting in a war "Another wave is in bound, we should retreat" Alastair said to the soldiers, but before anyone could react he arrived.....

 

Atrox rode his horse into battle, making it up to the front lines when suddenly he caught the sight of Alastair in the corner of his eye. He smiled for a moment before readjusting the horse to advance on Vitan and his position.

Vitan looked at Alastair and laughed a little "Well, thanks! Sorry you keep having to save m-" suddenly Vitan's sentence was cut off when Atrox rode by and smashed his giant hammer into Vitan's back, sending the boy flying. Vitan was still conscience, but hurt... He laid on the ground taking in all the pain...

Atrox stopped his horse and turned it around to look at Alastair. Atrox didn't say anything, he just smiled as he looked into Alastair's eye's. Then Atrox yelled "YAH!" and the horse began running at Alastair. Atrox readied his hammer and swung it at the boy.

 

Alastair stood still, he calmed down and waited, at the last moment he dodged Atrox's Hammer and swung his sword, not at Atrox but at his hammer, aiming right where the Handle and Head connected, he hit the connection weakening it but his sword bounced off and hit his horse in the back leg being it and Atrox down. "That was close" Alastair said to himself, he wanted to check on Vitan but knew Atrox would be back up in a sec, he grabbed a shield from a fallen Seraphim soldier that had the dragon peaks symbol on it.

 

Atrox rolled off of his horse and quickly got up, he then charged at Alastair. Atrox swung his hammer above Alastair's head, knowing he would block there with the shield. Atrox then kicked Alastair in the stomach where he was undefended. Atrox was unrelenting and then proceeded to swing his hammer with amazing speed again, hoping to hit the boy.

 

Alastair blocked instinctively with the shield, the hit dented the shield but what really did it was the kick to the gut that sent Alastair into the ground, when Atrox swung again Alastair blocked with the Shield but the force broke the shield and Alastair's arm. Alastair was left defenceless on the ground as he prepared to block with his sword, he knew that it would fail but he had to try.