Tale of the Fate

[Millie]

Title: Tale of the Fate
Classification: Adventure-Fantasy
Rated: G for all ages

Summary: A Suikoden tale following the path of a young girl with hidden talents. With her own eyes, she will witness about the secrets of power, long lost True Rune, and also her true nature...Read more for details

Disclaimer: Suikoden is Konami, but this fanfiction is mine

Notes: This fanfiction will have lot of OCs, but also include several Suikoden Characters such as (in the prologue is) Teresa, Klaus and Nina. Also, this is takes place 1 or 2 years after the Second Fire Bringer War, which is...SY 476. Credited for my sister Zerase / Cathari...

Enjoy the read

This post has been edited by Millie on Dec 19 2008, 09:43 PM

[Millie]

Prologue

“Hey, Iris!”

A brown haired young man approached his schoolmate. The called Iris girl merely tilted her head a little and smiled to him as he stopped next to her and took some breathes to relieve his lungs.

“Hey, Rudger. What’s wrong?” she asked, held her books tighter to her chest.

“Erm…wait…” Rudger huffed awhile before he coughing and gave the girl anymore explanations. “Lady Nina asked you to come to her office,” he finally told her.

Iris blinked and frowned, now playing her hair with her finger. “Lady Nina? What’s wrong? I didn’t do anything,” she complaint.

“You didn’t do anything? Hello, who’s the one that winning the prize of Old Sindar Text Decipher Competition last week? Now, get any clue?” teased the brunette boy.

“Oh, that. Well, want to accompany me?”

“Of course.”

“Then let’s go. No dawdle here!”

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The youths arrived at the hall where the teacher office and headmaster office lies. Iris suddenly grimacing, which was Rudger noticed and made him laughed. “Now, what’s with that look?” he asked between his laughs.

“Nervous,” she hissed. Iris placed her books to her bag and took a deep breathe before gave the headmaster’s office a soft knock. Just a second after that, a gentle voice signaled to let them came in.

Rudger politely opened the office’s door. The two entered and gasped as they saw older people who appeared in that room as well. One of them was sat at the chair behind the desk, she was Lady Nina—the headmaster. While the two other were people who were very vital to the control of the country.

“Lady Teresa! Sir Klaus!” they claimed, still stared at the people with unbelieving looks.

“You finally come, Iris,” Nina shook her head gracefully and continued, “Took you long enough.”

“Iris, what’s with that formal calling? I’m still your aunt,” sighed the famous president of Dunan Republic.

“I think that’s the way for her to show her respect towards you, Lady Teresa,” the handsome man with warming heart smile chuckled.

“Uh, um…so…why do I was called to come?” asked Iris, feeling even more nervous than before she watched the three honorable people.

“I heard you were won the competition of deciphering an old text, Iris,” said Teresa, approached the nervous young girl and placed her hands on Iris’ shoulder. “And so, without any idle babble, I asked you if you willingly study aboard in Falena.”

“WHAT!?” Iris, who was too shocked by all the surprises, yelled her last comment accidentally and quickly adding a mutter apologizes. “Uh, um…so…does this offering really is…true?”

“Do you think I will ever lie to my sweet niece?” the eldest woman in the room frowned at Iris, who frantically shook her head as a sorry comment. She then smiled again, still grabbing Iris’ shoulder, “I know you always wanted to go to that place someday. So, it’s your golden chance, Iris dear.”

“Oh…sure, I will! Thank you so much, La—Aunt Teresa,” the blonde girl nodded and gave Nina and Klaus a reassuring smile.

“And as an extra bonus, Rudger here will accompany you study there as well!” Nina pointed at the forgotten brunette young boy, made Iris frowned and looked at the older folks with questioning look.

“Fleming here also good at history of Sindar race, or so I heard,” explained Klaus calmly. “He’s also the academy’s President Student Council, so he could be a good representative for the school.”

Rudger smirked to Iris. “I’ll appreciate your cooperation there, Iris Wisemail.”

That last word of Rudger made Iris gasped and looked at Teresa, which now has released her shoulders. That lady looked at her, ready to answer any questions from the young student.

“Will I be your representative as well?” Iris asked. “I mean…as one who bears the Wisemail name?”

The comment made everyone in the room looked at her, concerned. Iris shook her head. “Uh, I mean…if it’s important, then I’ll use your last name, Auntie. But if I’m allowed…I would prefer to use my true full name.”

Teresa gave Iris a reassuring smile and nodded. “I’m sorry, but yes, you need to use the Wisemail name. But if you wish, you may introduced yourself with your true full name to whoever that you seen as a friend there,” she added.

Iris nodded and smiled again. “When we’ll transfer there?”

“Soon after this terms ended. You’ll be escorted to Solde, the sea-port city with our Capital Soldiers,” replied Klaus. “So, you might be wanted to take your time for memorials or some valuables to commemorate your study here.”

“Yes. Thank you very much,” Iris and Rudger gave the older people respectful bows. “We shall not disgrace the name of both New Leaf Academy and Dunan Republic.”

Teresa, Nina and Klaus looked at each other and then smiling back to the young students. After Iris and Rudger came out of the office, Teresa turned around to her loyal and best assistances since her former bodyguards decided to go on a journey to his homeland.

“Is it come to a good events later?” asked Klaus, seemed really concerned.

“Its suits her true nature well,” replied Teresa firmly. “As one who born by the blood of Sindar race, and the last survivor of her race. It might be better if she lived there.”

“Does our choice will make him happy?” Nina asked again. “I’m scared of him, you know.”

“Oh, he’s my brother. He wouldn’t dare to harm us,” Teresa chuckled. “I even believe that he will proud of her. Proud of the daughter that he left merely because his lack of skills. He's very poor father. Hhh…Iris will be really sad if she know the truth.”

This post has been edited by Millie on Dec 19 2008, 09:45 PM

[Millie]

Chapter 1

Our spirited youths have finally arrived at their destination. After a very long trip which had consisted of three days riding on coach to Solde, a sea-port city located in the Dunan region that was created just three years after Teresa Wisemail was elected as its president, our two heroes still needed to go on their first sea-trip to Falena’s sea-port city, Estrise.

Iris, both her mind and body in high spirits, did not care about how the sea ship would be rocking all the way on the wide sea and stood firmly on the harbor. Rudger, however, was the exact opposite. He was having a terrible seasickness and so he decided to sit at the pile of crates nearby, waiting for their guide to come.

People who passed by them began to wonder who they were, as their skin and hair color were noticeably different from Falenans. Wandering traders even tried to persuade Iris to buy some of their goods, as they thought she was a first-class Harmonia citizen judging by the golden color of her hair and her fair skin.

“No, I’m not a first-class citizen from Harmonia,” Iris said for the fifth time in the past three hours. Again, a soldier who tried to tease Iris walked off away from them, grumbling something about how arrogant she was.

“And I’m not arrogant!” she hissed and turned around to face her companion, who was still lazily sitting on the crates. “Rudger! You should help me to avoid them, geez!”

“Nah, I prefer to enjoy the moment seeing you being teased by those not-too-pretty-guys,” he remarked as he toyed around with the strands of his soft hazel colored hair. “Anyway, where is that royal who is supposed to guide us to the excavation site?”

“I don’t know,” Iris said irritably. “I just wish these people would stop making fun of us just because our country is one rank below them.”

Suddenly a noisy cheer from the townspeople erupted. Iris and Rudger looked at each other and grabbed their suitcases, hoping the cause of the cheer was what they think it was.

They were right. A young man with short silver hair approached the teens, followed by some white-suited soldiers that Iris recognized as the Royal Capital Guardsmen. When the silver-haired young man saw Iris and Rudger, he bowed respectfully, as did the guardsmen.

“We deeply apologize for being late, guests from Dunan Republic,” he said. “I am Ehlen Falenas, the Prince of Falena. I will be your guide for the first full month after your arrival to our country. I’m pleased to meet your acquaintance.”

“Oh, the pleasure is ours, Your Highness. My name is Iris Wisemail, and this is my companion Rudger Fleming,” Iris said and then she and Rudger both bowed politely. After they raised their heads, Iris continued, “It’s such a great honor to be greeted by the Prince of Falena.”

“Ehm…” For some reason, Ehlen seemed to look uncomfortable. “…Can we please drop the formalities?”

Iris and Rudger looked at each other and then looked at Ehlen again. “But…is it really okay for you, Your Highness?” asked Rudger nervously.

“I…always feel uncomfortable to talk in this stiff atmosphere,” Ehlen grinned shyly. “How shameful, right? For a prince to not get used with all the formalities…I can’t join in any political business at this rate.”

“Oh, I see,” the blonde girl chuckled. “Then you won’t call me Wisemail, right?”

“If you want, I can call any nicknames that you want me to use.”

“Nah, Iris is fine enough.”

“Okay then, Iris,” Ehlen smiled and shifted his eyes to Rudger. “Can I call you Rudger as well?”

“Yeah, of course, Your Highness,” Rudger nodded. “So…will we be escorted directly to the site, or do we need to stay the night at an inn or something?”

“Oh, that’s right. Her Majesty Queen Lymsleia wants to have an audience with you.” Ehlen sigh before he spoke again. “I’m sorry. I know you are all tired, but can you two please meet her? She was a bit over-enjoyed when she found out you two were coming here.”

“Like I said, it’s our pleasure.” Iris laughed. “Well, we better not make the Queen wait for us, right?”

The coach escorted the teens to the capital. The conversation inside the coach was quite lively, as Ehlen’s way of speaking became more and more informal because he knew his men would not hear him talking like that. Iris and Rudger did enjoy it, though. It was so rare to talk with a royal, and even more a royal who talked so casually.

To their surprise, Ehlen revealed himself as the sole son to the hero Prince Freyjadour.

“Really? Wow!” Iris exclaimed, surprised. “I’ve read many books about the Falena Civil War and Sun Rune’s conflict war, and the Prince always proved himself as a good leader! He even once possessed the Dawn Rune, and was chosen even!”

“Yeah, I’m proud of him as well,” Ehlen said, smiling shyly.

“I’ve read about him in books too, but they none of them revealed he was married,” said Rudger thoughtfully. “Who’s your mother, Your Highness?”

“The Queen’s Knight, Lyon, the ex-bodyguard of his.”

Iris gasped and blinked again. “Lady Lyon? You mean the possessor of the Twilight Rune during the Falenan Civil War? Wow, I never thought of that! I heard they were childhood friends and very close, but…I always thought he would marry a noblewoman.”

“Nah,” the silver haired guy shook his head. “Father loved mother dearly ever since their relationship grew when the war happened. A master and his bodyguard, heh, that’s quite romantic. I usually tease them about that every time and they get all blushing.”

“That’s a nice way to tease your parents,” Rudger laughed. Suddenly he remembered something and stopped laughing. He shifted his eyes to Iris, who was sitting next to him.

The girl looked rather sad, but she quickly erased that expression so that Ehlen would not notice. “Well, parents are always shy about their pasts. I guess its normal…for them…”

“Iris, stop,” hissed the Rudger. Iris gasped and stopped talking. Instead, she gave a pure smile to a confused-looking Ehlen.

“Oh, we’ve arrived.” Ehlen looked outside through the coach’s window.

One of the guardsmen opened the coach’s door. Ehlen came out first, followed by Rudger and lastly Iris. The two Dunan youths were amazed when they saw the magnificent scenery of Sol-Falena. However, there was no time for them to praise the city’s splendor as some knights in black uniform approached them. Iris immediately recognized them as Queen’s Knights.

One of the Queen’s Knights with long violet hair smiled to Ehlen and then to Iris and Rudger. “We’ll take care of them from this point, Your Highness,” he said respectfully.

“Oh, but Her Majesty gave me direct orders to bring them right away to the Audience Hall,” replied Ehlen, trying his best to sound ‘princely’. “And if you are worried that I might be tired, Kaylee, Clovis, I assure you I will get some rest, only after I bring these people to the inn.”

“What Kaylee is trying to say is, Your Highness, that it is not your duty to guide these youths,” interrupted the Queen’s Knight with black hair.

“I repeat, I have Her Majesty’s direct order,” Ehlen hissed, annoyed by his knights’ stubbornness.

The two Queen’s Knights rolled their eyes each other and sighed heavily. “Alright then…Please, this way.” Queen’s Knight Clovis turned around and led the way.

The two Queen’s Knights escorted the teens. To reach the palace, they needed to go through the very long bridge that crossed the city’s plaza. The citizens who bypassed them gave the royal prince very respectful greetings, to which Ehlen replied with dazzling smiles.

After having passed the bridge, they still needed to go to the ascending path to the palace itself. This time, nobles who were on their way to the Parliament Court Hall greeted the party. The guardsmen who stood in front of the palace’s entrance opened the large doors to let them enter the main hall.

There were other Queen’s Knights who were present in the main hall, only this time they were girls. One of them, which was wearing white knee length skirt under her black uniform approached Ehlen.

“Your Highness, I thought Kaylee and Clovis asked you to stop escorting our guests since we’ll be the ones who will guide them afterwards?” she asked politely.

Ehlen sighed, but before he could complain, the other Queen’s Knight Lady interrupted. “Oh c’mon, Alexis. You know that the Prince is quite stubborn about his task,” she said teasingly.

“You’re absolutely right as always, Latina,” added Kaylee with the same sly tone.

“Could you all be quiet please?” hissed the silver haired prince. “Anyways, commence our arrival.”

The four Queen’s Knights nodded and went to their positions. Kaylee and Clovis lined up in the right side of the hall while Alexis and Latina stood at the left. After taking a deep breath, they all shouted in unison.

“His Royal Highness Prince Ehlen has returned along with the honorable guests from Dunan!”

The large door to the audience hall opened. Iris and Rudger entered the hall, with Ehlen in the lead since he was the prince and because he needed to report to the Queen himself. The audience hall was larger than the front hall, adored with red carpet until it ended right in front of the throne.

Iris could see four people in the throne area. One of them was sitting on the throne, and Iris recognized her as Queen Lymsleia, ruler of the Queendom of Falena.

The Queen of Falena rose from her throne seat and nodded to the teens. Ehlen stepped aside from the carpet so it was only Iris and Rudger who stood on it.

“Welcome, young ones,” said the beautiful queen. “I am glad that you have finally come to my country, even it is only for business matters. I am the Queen of Falena, Lymsleia Falenas.”

Iris and Rudger bowed respectfully. “It’s our honor to be able to work here and also to meet you, Your Majesty,” said the blonde girl.

“I’m sure you already know about this, but let me explain more for the sake of convenience. For the very moment, you two will prompt to stay in the city’s inn as honorable guests. If you prove that your work is excellent, I’ll give you the right to live in this country for the rest of your life and also a manor in the East Palace.”

“It’s such a promising offer, and we will gladly take the chance to perform our skills, as ones who seek the truth behind great mysteries, just like any other scholars,” continued Rudger.

“Thank you,” Queen Lymsleia said and sat on her throne again. “Thanks for your service, Prince Ehlen. You have proved your capability to escort our important guest safely here.”

Ehlen turned to the young queen and nodded. “Anything to please you, Your Majesty,” he said and bowed.

“Now, shall we end this audience? I think our young guests are tired from their long journey by now,” Queen Lymsleia turned her head to look at the people who stood by her. “Well? Who wants the great honor to bring our guests to the inn?”

The man who was standing in his place at right side of Lymsleia stepped forward. Judging from his appearance that greatly resembled Ehlen’s, Iris immediately knew the man as the country’s previous prince, Prince Freyjadour.

“I believe that Prince Ehlen wanted to guide the guests by himself, but I shall take the assignment so he could rest.” The man in his forties approached Iris and Rudger and shook their hands.

“But, I--”

“Prince Ehlen, you still have other assignments to you need to complete,” interrupted a black haired lady who looked about the same age as Freyjadour. “Sword training, inspection to the Baska Mine and Hershville, and many others that you promised to finish this week.”

Ehlen sighed. Iris threw him a sympathetic smile. After that, she, Rudger and Freyjadour walked out of the audience hall while the others stayed, more specifically the fight between the black haired woman and Ehlen. The other Queen’s Knights who were waiting outside gave Freyjadour a respectful bow.

“Your Eminence, are you going to guide these youths to the inn?” asked Alexis.

“Then, we’ll replace you and bring them there ourselves,” added Clovis.

“Now, now, it’s actually Ehlen’s task, but I need to replace him,” the silver haired man said, smiling. “I can’t let my own son get sick because he’s too tired, right?”

“Stop!”

The large door of audience hall opened again. This time, Ehlen with the black haired woman came out from the hall. The younger man approached his father and frowned, followed by the lady.

“If it’s just escorting them to the inn, I still have lot of energy left!” Ehlen protested.

“Lyon, you lost?” asked Frey to the lady.

The woman named Lyon sighed and nodded. “Always stubborn just as he is determined. Really looks like exact someone here,” she commented. The older silver haired man blushed while his son smirked evilly.

“Is it really alright, Your Highness?” Latina approached the royals with Kaylee next to her. “I mean, you’ve been wandering in the city quite a lot lately…”

“Hm? If I do recall, Prince Freyjadour here did the same thing in his young age.”

Again, the door opened. The man that had not spoken in the hall just now appeared. He wore a black Queen’s Knight Uniform, which only meant that he is the current Commander of the Queen’s Knight. Every Queen’s Knights there gave him a respectful bow as the man approached Iris and Rudger.

“Zane, not you too. Why does everyone keep saying that Ehlen’s bad behaviors were from me?” Frey complained and folding his arms.

“But, that is true,” the man with black hair replied, and Ehlen and Lyon laughed. The man called Zane then turned to the two youths. “I haven’t properly introducing myself yet, have I? I am Zane Rescales, the current Commander of the Queen’s Knight. It's nice to meet you, Lady Iris, Sir Rudger.”

“It’s our pleasure,” Iris nodded.

“So, who exactly will escort us to our inn?” interrupted Rudger. He really wanted to sleep. He had met too many important people today and was beginning to feel symptoms of a splitting headache.

“Clovis, Alexis, if you please,” commanded Zane, which made his nephew gasp and glared at him.

“Now, now, Ehlen,” Lyon grabbed Ehlen’s shoulder before he could take any steps to burst out his anger. “Obey the elder, dear.”

“Hmph!” Ehlen settled down.

Iris giggled and patted his back. “Don’t worry. If you finish your assignments, you might be allowed to meet us again, Your Highness,” she said.

“You heard the lady. Now go back to your chamber, take some rest and you will be faced to your true live, young prince,” added Frey.

Iris and Rudger tried their best not to laugh at Ehlen’s annoyed face as they walked out of the palace with the two Queen’s Knights. The inn that they were staying was quite big, just like expected for such honorable guests, though Iris and Rudger were not that important.

After they entered their room, Clovis and Alexis left Iris and Rudger, only saying ‘Good night’ as their parting. The blonde girl sat on her bed, while the other youth dropped his entire body to the bed.

“Rudger, don’t sleep just yet!” Iris sighed. “We still need to arrange our plans for tomorrow thoroughly.”

“Nah. I’ll leave it to you, Iris…I’m only your companion after all…” answered Rudger, who was sinking his head to the cushion.

“Fine, baby-sitter! Lemme arrange everything myself!” Iris picked a paper sheet and a pencil from her traveling bag. She then sat on her bed again and began to write. “…Let’s see…buying weapons, medicines, armors…”

Rudger raised his head when he heard the unusual things-to-do-list from his friend. “Wait, why we need to buy those stuffs? Medicines, yes, but why do we need weapons and armors? What are we, soldiers on patrol?”

The black-eyed girl laughed happily, but Rudger caught it as mocking laugh. “Hello, we’re going to explore a site. A site. A site which is supposed to have these annoying monsters and if there are no soldier around us, we need to kill them ourselves, got it, young spoiled brat?”

“Do you even know how to swing a knife?” asked the brunette boy, still lying on his bed but his head facing at Iris. “I’m a noble, so I have already learned basic skills of combat. But you? The only time I saw you commit violence was when you threw stones to naughty kids!”

“Just be quiet! I’ll learn how to fight better eventually!” hissed the blonde girl. She finally finished writing on the sheet and put it down on the drawer next to her bed. Iris dropped her whole body to the bed and felt her eyes beginning to feel heavy all of the sudden.

“Good night, Rudger…”

“…Hhh, night, Iris.”

This post has been edited by Millie on Dec 19 2008, 09:47 PM

[Millie]

Chapter 2

The morning sun shone through the windows. Rudger, who always awoke early, blinked as the shone tickled his face. He sat on his bed, looking around and found Iris slept at the bed next to his. Smiling, Rudger got up from his bed and opened the window curtains widely and the let more sun shine entered the room. That still wasn't waking the girl.

“Iris, wake up,” the brunette called her. Iris still fell asleep, and apparently won’t wake up anytime soon.

Rudger sighed and scratched his head. The young man finally decided to take a bath before Iris woke up, or else she might be think he’s a perv maniac.

At the same time Rudger entered the bathroom, Iris woke up. She looked lazily around her and found Rudger’s bed is empty. The girl then got up and walked to the body-length mirror next to the cupboard. Reached her towel, Iris walked to the bathroom and opened the door. And that unexpected accident broke the silent morning in the whole inn.

“KYAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!”

“WHOAAAAAAAAA!???”

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Two Queen’s Knights were waiting in the lounge at the first floor. The golden haired knight lady stood in front of a picture and took her time admiring the beauty art. At the other side, the violet haired man sat on the sofa, winked to every maids that walked across him, made them blushed.

Some footsteps made them stopped their activities and looked at the lounge doorway. Iris and Rudger walked through, both of them have slight blush on their face before they noticed the knights were there.

“Oh, Sir Kaylee, Lady Latina,” greeted Iris. “Good morning.”

“Good morning. You know, I think there was a loud scream that made the patrol guardsmen outside panic. They said it was come from around here. You two were okay, right?” asked Kaylee, rather worried.

“Sir Rudger, what’s that red mark on your face?” added Latina, spotted Rudger’s wounded face.

“Nothing!” the brunette quickly replied.

“A-anyway, can we visit the equipment shops before we go to the site? I want to buy some equipment…” the younger blonde girl cut in hurry.

“Sure. Equipments are good extra safety for the scholars in this country,” Kaylee agreed. “Well, let’s go.”

They came out of the inn and walked to the western side of the city, where the shops district lies. With Kaylee and Alexis’ faces showed, the teens got armours with great discount. After wore the armours under their clothes, the group walked to the weapon shop.

“Oh wow, there’s many weapon here!” Iris amazed, since it’s the first time she ever visited weapon shop.

“I’ll buy this sabre,” Rudger immediately found a weapon that he knew how to use for fight. “And temper it please,” he added.

“3000 potch,” answered the blacksmith. The brunette man brought out his wallet and gave the old man the money.

While waiting for the sabre finished, Iris looked around. Rudger grew a wicked smile and chuckled. “Find your suitable weapon yet, Miss I-never-swing-weapon?” he asked from the chair in front of grinding table.

Iris glared at him. Latina then approached her and patted her shoulder. “If you’re beginner at this, why don’t you choose weapon that wasn’t so sharp, like staves?” she suggested kindly.

“That’s a good idea, sis! You remember what my Mom taught you!” praised Kaylee with his mischievous smile.

“What? Sis? You two are…brother and sister?” asked Rudger surprised. “But, you’re not looks alike at all.”

“Well, no. My father is Kaylee’s mother old friend, and since we often met whenever we bumped each other at the Palace as a kid…we became as close as brother and sister now,” explained Latina. “Oh, that’s right. Are you a good magician, Lady Iris? Can you use any magic?”

“Oh, yes. I bear a Water Rune,” Iris nodded as she busy looking for a good staff. “I was told by the tutor at the academy that I’m a good hybrid-fighter, just like Rudger here. But I never get enough training to learn how to fight in real battle. Hehe. I’m poorly experienced.”

“That’s not a problem. Everyone can learn how to fight if they want,” supported Kaylee.

Iris tried to swing staves one after another, but none of them fit her well. Some was too heavy, some was too long, and some was too short. Latina even suggested how if she picked a wand, but Iris merely refused since she won’t be a healer.

That blonde girl touched a middle-length staff and held it. Its light and the long matched her reach. “I guess I’ll buy this one,” she said finally. “How much is it, sir?”

“It's only 1200 potch.”

“Here you go,” Iris gave the man the money. She turned around and found Latina pulled out her weapon, a pair of long daggers. “W-what was that for?” she asked, panic.

“Testing your skill, of course,” answered Latina calmly. “I need to measure which level are you in so I can know how I should protect you, while you able to use that staff.”

“She’s a beginner, just protect her as much as it is!” claimed Rudger angry. He can’t believe a Queen’s Knight would put a fight to an amateur that just received her first weapon.

“If you want to know, then let me be the one who measure it.”

Everyone in the shop looked at the shop’s doorway and gasped. The selfish young silver haired guy which was supposed to have lot of assignments today stood there. Right, Ehlen was there, leaned on the door. He walked inside as if nothing happen, while the Queen’s Knights still dazed by his sudden appearance.

“W-what are you doing here?” asked Iris, surprised just like the other.

“Hmm, my cousins were came back last night and they kindly offered to replace me do the inspections to Baska Mine and Hershville,” he explained, unsheathed his long rapier. “So, how is it? I’ve lower skill than the Queen’s Knight, so I would be perfect for this task, right?”

“You really are an easygoing prince,” muttered Rudger under his breaths.

“Did you say something, Sir Rudger?” Kaylee having this threatening aura even his face smiling.

“Nothing,” the brunette shrugged and looked at his partner. “What will you do, Iris?”

“I will,” that black eyed girl nodded. Her determination reflected in those eyes. “I’m accepting your challenge.”

Ehlen nodded. The five headed to the pier, where currently there were not so many people there so they could fight in large free spaces.

The silver haired youth swung his sword in front of him, raging Iris to attack him. But that golden haired girl only stood there, tired to have a fit grip at her new staff. She’s have no experience at fighting at all, so she thought she’ll only did like what the soldiers in Muse did when she visited the capital.

When Iris tried to hold a position, some images like lost memories was crossed her mind. There was a man, practicing some moves. She couldn’t look at his face clearly. It was almost like she once saw the event, but it was happen so long ago that she couldn’t remember well.

The man in the images swung his staff to the air, made some beautiful moves. When he finally stopped, the man turned to her (because Iris thought she saw it) and approached her. He smiling and kneeled, but when Iris almost could saw his face, Rudger called her.

“Iris! Are you ready?” he asked.

“Huh? What? Oh, yes…” Iris nodded. She considering something, but finally settled her mind. She made a strange pose, definitely not looks like a battle-pose for any combatants. She faced Ehlen, of course, but she held her staff, rather hid it behind her body.

Ehlen quickly swept away his confused mind as Kaylee began to countdown to the match. After that violet haired Queen’s Knight shouted a ‘zero’, Ehlen rushed forward, sword out in an attack. He was surprised when his sword and Iris’ staff made a large ‘clank’, forcefully made the two pushed backwards.

Kaylee and Latina widened their eyes. They didn’t expect their prince could push by a simple blow by a beginner combatant like Iris. But that silver haired guy still not gave up. He got up and rushed again. Iris managed to jump and protected her body from the attack by raised her staff in front of her.

The fight continued. Ehlen kept rushing to Iris, but that girl managed to defend this long. The Queen’s Knights impressed. Never thought Ehlen could have a hard time to make this girl fell down.

Annoyed, Ehlen became more aggressive. He began to do another fighting stance. Iris felt that he will become dangerous. Ehlen rushed to Iris again, now making combos of four hit every ten seconds, leaving only some seconds to rest his lungs. Iris watched carefully his attacking style, and found his blind spot.

When Ehlen finished his combos, Iris quickly changed her defence to attack. She raised her staff and thrust Ehlen’s chest, made the young prince fell to the ground. Before he could get up, Iris pointed her staff to his neck, made a total defeat.

“I win,” she said, now huffed to inhale some fresh air.

Kaylee helped Ehlen stood up after Iris pulled back her staff and jumped to Rudger, who was been so quiet while the fight take place. They got into another partner quarrels while the other three approached them. Iris turned around to see Ehlen’s satisfied face.

“That was pretty good,” he said. “I think you don’t need to be over-protected by us. I’m expecting your assistance if any nasty monsters appeared, Lady Iris.”

“Thank you, Your Highness,” and the two youths bowed respectfully at each other. After threw a huge grin, Iris came back into sense. “Okay...so, when we’ll go to the site?” They all laughed and immediately came back to the city plaza, taking a ride on the coach that was tirelessly waiting for them.

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After two hours, they finally reached the site. It was located near Rainwall. The site entrance was actually at a very big crater called the Big Hole by the common people. Prince Freyjadour found large ruins inside and it was speculated as one of Sindar legacy as well. Three years after the enthronement of the Queen, she decided to gather scholars to solve the mystery there.

Ever since then, scholars from wide-world began to join the search but none solved the mysteries yet. Some of them who were taking much interest in it began to build houses around the hole, creating a small village there.

Iris hopped of the coach and amazed by the width and depth of the crater. She followed the royalists, together with her partner, to the base of the hole where scholars and guardsmen took rest after their tiring research. Some of them greeted Ehlen and his Queen’s Knights, which they only replied with a single nod.

“Oh, you’re here, young boy.”

The grouped stopped as they saw a black haired lady approached them. She didn’t seem like holding a high respect towards Ehlen, rather friendly to him even.

“Hello, Lorelai,” answered Ehlen. “Still as spirited as ever?”

“Hmm…what do you know about me, kid?” the named Ehlen frowned when she saw the other youths behind the prince. “Don’t tell me these kids also scholars?”

“Yes, they are,” Latina nodded. “They were from Dunan. This is Sir Rudger Fleming,”-Rudger smiling reluctantly-“and this is Lady Iris Wisemail.”

Lorelai gasped. She walked to Iris, made the others gave her some spaces since she seemed like to observe the blonde. Iris only frowned, though. When Lorelai stopped observing her, Ehlen asked the lady. “What’s wrong, Lorelai?”

“No, something’s odd here,” explained Lorelai, folded her arms in front of her. “What is your relationship with Teresa Wisemail?”

“She’s my aunt and the one who take care of me since I’m still a baby,” replied Iris, rather doubt to explain it, actually.

“Why? Did you know her?” asked Rudger, covered Iris behind him.

Lorelai kept staring at the nervous Iris and shrugged. “Well, saying it won’t change the truth, anyway. So, if you want to help the research, follow me.”

“Lorelai, you need to explain yourself,” Kaylee smirked and blocked her way.

“Sigh. Fine, fine,” the black haired lady only tilted her head a little so the young scholars could saw her smiling. “My name’s a Lorelai, and I’m the same of you: seeking a way to solve Sindar mystery. Not so I able get the rewards, but there’s something I’d like to know. Don’t bother calling me ‘Lady’, since I’m not a noble or high rank person anyway. Now, get out of my way, Kaylee.”

Lorelai continued walking ahead as the youths as Ehlen explained more to Iris and Rudger. “Lorelai is Father’s acquaintance. She helped him and Mother too when they seek a way to open Ceras Lake’s water valve in the last Civil War. She was on her journey in the northern continent, but when she heard that the Queen opened a research party to explore this site, she came back and joined. Now she’s the head of researcher here,” the silver haired boy told them.

“Oh, I heard about you. You were once a member of Allied Force at Dunan Unification War, together with Lady Teresa,” Rudger remembered that he was once told in the history class about the war.

“That’s past,” replied Lorelai.

They came deeper and deeper inside the site and finally stopped after entering a large opening. There was a very large scale of ruins, maybe a city in old ages that was destroyed during some natural disaster. Some poles blocked the way, made some researches need to take another route if they wanted to proceed.

“What’s your impression, kids? Be honest,” asked Lorelai. She stared at Iris and Rudger, having this looks of testing them.

Rudger touched the nearby poles. Some symbols were engraved on it. He smiled and looked at his blonde partner. “Iris, you noticed?” he asked as he looked at another poles.

Iris approached a cracked wall. She touched and nodded. “It’s not Sindar. Its Armes ruins.”

Ehlen, Kaylee and Latina gasped. They looked at each other and looked at Lorelai, which have this mischievous smile on her lips. She folded her arms in front of her and chuckled. “Hm…why did you two say so?” she asked, still smiling to them.

“Well, this structures, this symbols. Everything here expressed Armes culture,” Rudger shrugged.

“Though, it's rather different. It seemed older than that. It was older than this Queendom. Rudger, what’s the kingdom that has the Sun Rune before the Falena does? ...Oh yeah, the Ancient Armes Kingdom,” Iris kept mumbled while she observing the area closer.

“Excellent work. It’s not Sindar but Ancient Armes. It was suspected as the capital of the Ancient Armes Kingdom back then. After the king went insane, it was destroyed…at least that’s what we speculated this far,” explained Lorelai.

“Wait, are you telling we’re wrong? Our Queen didn’t know about it and kept the researchers working in a wrong objection?” asked Latina furious.

“Some fool researchers belief this ruins were Sindar, but some smarter researchers found that the Sindar ruins lies deeper in this site. Now, follow me to see if you can observe that ruins more,” Lorelai turned around and walked ahead. The youths were following her again.

“Is it okay for a prince to wander around in this dangerous place?” asked Iris worried, since Ehlen seemed enjoying this explorations himself.

“Why do you think Kaylee and Latina kept following us? Only to protect you? Nah, they protected me too,” answered Ehlen easily.

“Of course we are. Because if we didn’t follow you and something happened to you, we’ll be the one to take the responsibilities, Your Highness,” muttered Kaylee.

They walked past the Armes ruins, met some researchers that busy translating the symbols that they found engraved on the poles or walls. Lorelai has brought them to the deeper parts of the site. Some researchers also there and they didn’t greet the youths since they were too busy with their own activities.

And so on, they arrived to a large room. There was a platform, where a large box lying on it. Lorelai was walked on it and signalling the others to follow her. The box have no cover on it, not like it was lost in some way, but someone has opened it forcefully, made the hole inside opened to let anyone enter.

“Come,” Lorelai whispered. “It’s inside, and you should prepare your weapons. The monsters here were more than you can imagine, and very nasty.”

Lorelai hopped in, followed by Ehlen, Iris, Rudger, Latina and then Kaylee. They needed to go downstairs to see some more runic engraved on the walls. Iris and Rudger quickly approached it and tried to decipher the runic. The other was waiting for them to say something. After some minutes, Rudger turned around.

“It’s indeed Sindar writings, runic, and symbols. It didn’t seem very old, though. The cracks lesser than the other ruins, but many mosses here, which represented that the ruins quite old itself,” he explained.

“How about you, Iris?” asked Ehlen, leaned on the wall.

“…’to whom I show, to whom I tell…’” the golden haired muttered under her breaths. “…’shalt we give you our wise? We doubt to…’…”

“What?” Kaylee frowned and looked at Rudger in confused fashion. The brunette boy only shrugged and smiled to the Queen’s Knight.

“She can read it further than me. I’m sure she can decipher all writings here,” Rudger leaned next to Ehlen and stared at Iris’ back. “It’s her nature. She even took her time mostly at the library, trained her ability to translate all ancient runic. It’s no wonder that she won many ancient text translation competitions in her young age, right?”

Lorelai kept looking at Iris, which still busy read all the runic. Ehlen noticed and asked. “Do you have something in your mind, Lorelai?” he said. “Are you envy her?”

“No. She just reminded me of someone…” the black haired lady shook her head and leaned on the other walls.

“I get it!” Iris shouted all of sudden, made the other get all serious again. “The biggest mystery lies in the very deep of these ruins! If what I read was true, there must be a very large room like the entrance of this place. Can you show me the place, Lorelai?” she asked. Her spirit lit, brighter than before.

“Very well. It’s very linear, but there were still be monsters lurking around. As I said, prepare your weapons,” replied Lorelai, held her halberd tighter.

The six go all the way downstairs. That place truly lurked by many dangerous monsters, such as Zombie Unicorn and Megaeyes. However, Lorelai defeated most of them, leaving Kaylee and Latina as the next strongest combatants while Ehlen and Rudger defeated enemies that have lower agility than them. Here, Iris only acted as extra attacker and mostly using her Breath of Ice.

After ran through monsters and some helpful treasure chests along the way, finally they arrived in front of a large door. Ehlen, Kaylee and Rudger pushed the door together, while the girls only supported them from behind. When the door finally opened to let the six came in, the youths surprised.

The room was larger than the entrance to the ruins. And it barely has any decorations except maybe the unused light torch on the wall and some symbols and runic engraved on the floors and walls. There was also a large glyph on the centre of the floor, with a picture that similar to a rune.

Rudger and Lorelai went to observe the right wall, Iris and Ehlen approached the left wall while the Queen’s Knights on guard near the doorway.

“…’black haze of sky’…’the sparkle of fierce battle’…” Iris muttered.

“…’shalt be the wrath of sky and earth’…’lifeless body emerged, and dost us gave life…’…” Rudger read in the other side. “Gee, can’t understand what they meant. I think I’ll leave it to Iris.”

“Some help you are, kid,” mocked Lorelai, sighed and walked to Iris.

“Understand something?” asked Ehlen curious from her right side.

Iris became really quiet. After she stopped reading for awhile, she nodded quietly and turned around. She walked pass Lorelai, as if she didn’t care about the eldest lady. Rudger noticed that she acting strange and approached her too. Iris stopped in the centre of the glyph and kneeled down. The other were began to worry and approached her as well.

“Iris?” Rudger called her. “Iris, what ha--”

The blonde girl touched the glyph with her right hand and began to chant something strange. Not magic, not runic read. More like keywords to unseal something.

“Oh blackness without beginning or end...One eyed god imprisoned there now harks unto my call. In the abyss the trident of hell's lore dances, dripping crimson truth lights the one true path. I command you, and take the offerings for my guidance of fate!”

The glyph began to light. The blinding light surrounded Iris. Rudger quickly ran to her, but Kaylee stopped him, as it seemed dangerous for anyone to approach. They covered their sight so the light wouldn’t turn them to blind. After the light faded away, the five found Iris on the glyph, unconscious.

This post has been edited by Millie on Dec 19 2008, 09:49 PM

[Millie]

Chapter 3

“Iris!” Rudger quickly grabbed Iris’ body and shook it. “Iris! Iris! Please, open your eyes! Say something!”

“Let me take a look, sir,” Latina patted Rudger’s shoulder, allowed her to examine Iris’ condition. She finished and gave everyone a reassuring smile. “It’s okay. She just passed out.”

“Thanks goodness,” whispered Ehlen, relieved.

“Hm? Is that a Rune on her forehead?” Kaylee pointed at a new mark on Iris’ forehead. It patterned like a Rune, but seemed different from ordinary runes like Rudger’s Fire Rune or Ehlen’s Wind Rune.

Lorelai gasped as she remembered something. She pulled out a small book and searched something in it. She then found it, gave Iris a questioning look, looked at the page again, and show everyone what’s on it.

“That’s a Fate Rune,” she explained. “It was rumored as a legendary rune where you can control one’s destiny.”

“Oh, that’s right. I read them once, that someone has succeeded changing a friend’s destiny. He prevented his friend from the death, but as the exchange, he sacrificed his life,” Kaylee remembered that he was once read about it in the palace’s library when he was assigned to seek some history books for his punishment.

“Why it’s here?” asked Rudger desperately, looked very worried, as Iris still not opened her eyes. “And why it’s choosing Iris as it master? She’s only a normal girl.”

“No, not exactly normal,” cut Lorelai. The brunette guy gave her an angry glare before she could continue. “If my suggestion were true, she maybe has the blood of Sindar race in her vein.”

Everyone looked at Lorelai with questioned eyes. But that expert researcher won’t explain any further, rather avoided their looks. Ehlen sighed and looked at Iris again. “Still, let’s bring her back to the East Palace. We could reach it before night, rather to go back to the capital that farther,” he said.

Everyone nodded in agreement. Rudger carried Iris on his back, so he unable to fight and let Ehlen, Kaylee, Latina and Lorelai do the fight. After reached to the surface again, they quickly hopped on the coach and told the coachman to bring them to the East Palace.

On the way, they’ve been so quiet. Rudger wouldn’t stop staring at the unconscious Iris. Kaylee and Latina felt they have no right to say anything right now. Lorelai looked distant, thinking about something. So, it’s Ehlen task to comforting the young brunette.

“It’s okay. After we reached the East Palace, Kaylee and Latina will report to Father. He’ll know what to do. I mean, he once a True Rune bearer too,” he said with a reassuring smile.

Rudger couldn’t help but to smile and nodded to relieve everyone a little, and to relieve himself as well.

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Iris was flying somewhere in an empty space. It was completely silent. She opened her eyes weakly and when everything in her sight became clearer, she found herself there, alone. She was trying to look around, hoping to see if someone there with her. But none even a slightest shadow appeared.

“Hello?” she shouted. Her voice resounded through out the empty space. “Rudger? Ehlen? Guys?” Iris kept called out. But nobody was answering. Only her voice resounded. “Somebody is here? Please, someone, answer me!”

Then, there was a sudden light. Iris crossed her arms in front of her face, protected her eyes from being blind by the bright light. When the light faded a little, she tried to look what was that. A lady with long black haired covered with long azure hooded cloak appeared. She was illuminated with light and she seemed…blind.

“Are you Iris, the new bearer of Fate Rune?” she asked with melodious voice.

“I don’t know if I’m the bearer, but yes, I am Iris,” replied Iris nervous. “Who are you?”

“I am Leknaat,” the lady explained herself. “I am a seer who always watched those who guided by the star. And I will be watching over you, as you have made the oath to be the guidance of the stars when you received the very rune on your forehead.”

“Oath? Rune on my forehead?” Iris touched her head. She could felt something was there. She tried to concentrate her magic power, and a large glyph of the Fate Rune appeared before her. “T-That’s…the Fate Rune!”

“Please take the full responsibilities of your actions and promises. Do not worry. I will be watching, watching how you will take your actions and lead the stars of destined.”

“Wait!” Iris tried to grasp the light as Leknaat engulfed in light once again and disappeared. At the next second, darkness began to consume the spaces around Iris. Iris tried to seek away to escape from the darkness, but there was nothing there except empty space and darkness. The darkness reached Iris and she got all panic. “No! Somebody help me! Rudger! Rudger!!”

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“Iris!” Rudger was sat next to Iris. That girl began to call his name, so he held his hands to make her calmed down a little. “Iris! I’m here!”

Iris woke up and the first thing she saw was Rudger’s anxious face. She noticed that she was someone else, clear that it wasn’t in a researchers’ barrack around the site or in the coach. She was lying on the bed in a luxurious place, judging from the expensive looking decorations in the room. She also noticed that Ehlen and Lorelai stood near the bed.

“Rudger…Ehlen…Lorelai…” the blonde girl sat up and looked around, “Where am I? Where are Sir Kaylee and Lady Latina?” she asked, as she didn’t seem those Queen’s Knights in the room.

“You’re in my private manor in the East Palace. You were unconscious, so…” Ehlen was stopped awhile and smiling. “Kaylee and Latina are now in Sol-Falena. They will call my Father and Mother to come here and check on…your Rune.”

“Oh,” Iris remembered now. Not much, actually. She read the runic on the ruins, and it was as if somebody took over her body. After that, she saw darkness and then…she met the Leknaat lady. She knew her Rune. Iris touched her forehead and knew that the Rune was there. “So…I’m…”

“Don’t worry, Iris. I’m sure Prince Freyjadour will know how to release it from you,” said Rudger, tried to cheer her up. Iris only smiled at him and the other two.

While waiting for the coming of the royalist, the four have their dinner. Nobody talked while those people were enjoying their meals. When Iris was eaten half than her Risotto, some noises were came from outside. A servant from the manor came to the dinning room and bowed respectfully before reported in.

“His Royal Eminence Prince Freyjadour and Her Excellency Lyon have arrived with the Queen’s Knights,” he chirped.

“Yes. You may dismiss,” Ehlen nodded.

“Understood,” the servants gave them another bow and came out of the room.

Ehlen and Lorelai, who was finished their dinner stood up. Then Iris got up from her seat after she drank half of her plain water.

“Would you like your dinner to wrap just in case if you getting hungry again, Iris?” offered Ehlen kindly, seeing her dinner remained on the plate. Iris didn’t even touch her salad yet.

“Oh no, it’s okay…” Iris shook her head slowly.

Rudger stood up too. “Well, why not? I’m not finished yet too. Let’s continue the dinner after this talk, okay, Iris?” the brunette gave Iris a warm smile. The blonde sighed and replied with a reassuring smile, signaling a ‘yes’ to the young man.

The four left the dining room and arrived at the lounge. Prince Frey and Lady Lyon, together with their four Queen’s Knights were already there. The older silver haired guy gave them a smile and let them took seats on the chairs and sofas at the lounge. After everyone sat down (minus the Queen’s Knights), Frey began the topic.

“So, I heard you were gaining a True Rune while you explored the site?” he asked. “Would you mind to explain what are you doing that time and how you received it?”

Iris nodded. She explained what she read that there was a sacred power stored in the ruins. She also explained that she didn’t realize when she read the keywords to unseal the Fate Rune. She explained everything, including her meeting with Leknaat. Both Rudger, Ehlen and the Queen’s Knights seemed amused by her story, while Frey, Lyon and Lorelai didn’t even surprised that she knew that much.

“I see,” Frey nodded, leaned his back against the sofa. “That lady did watch us…But didn’t even help in any form except for pray, maybe.”

“Father, you know that black haired woman Iris was told you about?” asked Ehlen curious. His father did ever tell him many stories about his fighting companion during the Civil War. But he never told anything about this mysterious lady.

Frey and Lyon looked at each other and smirked mischievously. “That’s a secret, sonny,” they said in unison.

Ehlen frowned and muttered a slight, “Hmph!” followed by some cursing chant that blurred with Kaylee coughs, which somehow more similar to laughs that held with a good effort. Iris and Rudger can only smiled.

“Ehem,” Frey cut with a cough. “Let’s continue…so, she said that she’ll watch over you because you promised to guide the stars?”

“What could she meant by ‘guide the stars’?” asked Clovis seriously.

“The thirty six Stars of Heaven and seventy two Stars of Earth,” answered Lyon, folded her arms in front of her. “The Stars of Destiny. The stars of guidance. They had many nicknames. But we called it as ‘108 Stars of Destiny’. They are person who born under the blessing of the stars.”

“That’s many,” mumbled Alexis.

“So, did she trying to say I should find those people?” Iris gulped, imagining the difficult to find that many people, between thousand lives on the world.

“Wait, I need to ask you something, above all these matters of guidance,” interrupted Rudger. “Weren’t you here to release the rune from Iris?”

Frey and Lyon turned in silence. They sighed and Lyon decided to reply the brunette’s question. “A True Rune shall choose its own master, and will stay in their side as long as the bearer alive. The only way to release one bearer from its rune is to…” Lyon looked at her husband, couldn’t continue her sentence.

Frey nodded and replaced Lyon to continue the rest sentence. “…to kill the bearer, thus it’ll freed the Rune, as its chosen master now has died.”

Everyone in the room minus the elders gasped as they surprised of the resolutions from the one who was once bear a True Rune himself. Both Rudger and Ehlen looked at Iris, which having this frightened looks after heard the way to free herself from the Rune on her forehead.

“Wait, how about you, Your Eminence, Your Excellency?” asked Latina. “You were True Rune bearer that chosen by your Runes, the Dawn Rune and the Twilight Rune. But…the Runes now safe in the Sealed Room at the palace and yet…you’re…”

“We have this one ally, a rune mistress that was been favored by your father too because of her beauty,” Lyon explained. “She was the one who released the Runes, after we reclaimed the Sun Palace, after the Civil War.”

“And where is that rune mistress now?” asked Kaylee.

“Oh, we don’t know. She was missing since, what, one year before Ehlen born,” answered Frey, shrugged and looked at his son that still annoyed.

“Is there really none other way?” Rudger asked desperately.

The husband wife shook their heads, made Rudger depressed. Iris looked at him and patted his shoulder.

“It is okay, Rudger. I think I…ready to take the responsibility that Lady Leknaat talked about,” she smiled warmly. “If it’s my fate…well, I’ll face it. Bring it on, stars! I’ll gather you under my lead!”

Rudger chuckled. “Gee, you really an easy-minded, Iris. Its might be dangerous…I mean, we can ask their helps too, but what if we needed to go to dangerous place?” he asked.

“He’s right,” supported Ehlen. “Especially, we needed to watch over Harmonia’s moves too. They’ve been aggressive lately, sent some spies to mix in common people. Surely you know what the reason.”

“The three treasure Runes of Falena,” Iris nodded. “Yes. But I believe in myself. Something inside me told me to trust in my power and…well, I think I needed to more trusting myself every now and then.”

Frey smiled, amused by the courage of that young girl. “Well then, I think you youngsters need to rest. We’ll stay here until tomorrow to prepare more plans about this,” the silver haired father stood up, followed by his wife. “Ehlen, please take care of them for now. Don’t dare to tease the lady.”

“Why I can’t?” Ehlen frowned, looked at his father, then to the same confused Iris, and then met eyes with Rudger’s glare. “Hm? I can’t?”

Lyon giggled as she approached her only son and rubbed his hair that already unruly. “Ehlen, don’t be so dense. It’s not…princely,” she chuckled.

“Ah, Her Excellency, let the prince stay naïve as he is now,” commented Kaylee. “It’s fun to tease him that way.”

“What’s that supposed to mean, everyone?” the young prince still didn’t understand, made both his parents and his knights burst in laughs. “C’mon, it’s not funny!”

“Hhh, you’re really not so princely, you know that?” muttered Rudger under his breaths.

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Iris couldn’t sleep. It’s not like the bed not fluffy; it’s nice and comfortable actually. She only couldn’t sleep because having too much things in her mind right now. The Sindar mysteries, the Rune on her forehead, why she was being chosen…she had so many questions.

The blonde blinked her black eyes. That’s right. Why she was being chosen? Not only that, Iris was began to wonder why she could read all the runic. She didn’t need to bother so much to understand what they meant. Only a mere sight and she could decipher it.

“Why?” Iris looked distant. “Why it’s happen? Who…not, what am I?”

But there was a clear melodious instrument voice. Iris enjoyed it. Only in seconds, she fell into deep sleep, to her own dream world.

Rudger was the one who played it. He whistled his harmonica, playing an old song that he believed called as Moonlit Theme. He didn’t know why, but he enjoyed playing it himself. He always played it when he felt this strong worry. Whenever he played it, all those worries melted away.

The brunette haired stopped playing it. This time the magic of the song didn’t work. He kept worrying about Iris’ fate as a True Rune bearer from now on.

“Iris…you don’t need to suffer like this, you know.”

This post has been edited by Millie on Dec 19 2008, 09:52 PM

[Millie]

Chapter 4

Iris found herself floating. This time she was in a place that resemblance outer space-place. Stars and planets surrounded her. When she admired a dozen of stars near a small planet, this void sound resounded.

My chosen master…

“Who’s there?” Iris asked. “…Master…? Are you the Fate Rune?”

Indeed. I will be your power from now on. But first, I will show you how to find the stars of guidance. Your allies.

“Oh, I see….so, how I can know about them?”

When you met the certain star, you will have this sight. The sight of stars. The other Tenkai called this vision with many names, ‘Waking Dream’, ‘Chamber of Stars’. You may call it as you wish.

“Hm…let me call it Sight of Star, just like you did.”

Very well. So, when you see a person who will be your allies, you will have this vision. The star that they born under will shine and you will know that they were destined. For this time, these people are your current allies.

Four stars began to sparkle, and some silhouettes appeared from it. Iris recognized them. They are Rudger, Ehlen, Kaylee, and Latina.

“Um, okay. I guess I don’t need to bother for not having some stars this early,” Iris nodded. And some silhouettes appeared again. These time the silhouettes of Clovis and Alexis. “Oh, are they my allies too?”

Yes, Master. But they not yet trusting you, hence they are not your allies yet. They will be your allies later.

“Oh, that’s a pity…but if you said they’ll be my ally later, then I’m glad.”

Now, I shouldn’t take your time. You need to wake up soon, Master. The rest of the Stars await you. ‘Til we meet again…

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Iris blinked her black eyes. The dawn light went through the room’s window curtain. The blonde girl sat up and rubbed her eyes. Everything around her still felt hazy, until the manor’s servant knocked the door from outside.

“Lady Iris, it’s morning,” she said.

“Yes, I’m awake,” replied Iris, walked to the door, and opened it.

The servant bowed. She brought clothes for change to Iris. “This is from Her Excellency,” she raised the clothes. “She said you should wear it. Where shall I put these clothes on, ma’am?”

“Uh…on the drawer is good.”

The servant nodded. She came in, approached the drawer, put the clothes on it. She then gave Iris a salute and came out of the room, returned to the servant lounge. Iris closed the door and looked at the clock that hung on the wall.

“I better go bathing now.”

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After she took a bath, Iris changed her clothes. Before, she only wore the normal dress of Dunan people, specifically the one that Greenhill citizen would use: green garb and long skirt that covered most of your body. Now, she had new attire. The clothes that Lyon provided that young lady were a black turtleneck without sleeves. On it, there was this small shawl like to cover her chests, since the turtleneck tight and stick to her skin. She also had pair of knee-length white shorts, followed by long black socks and white boots.

She smiled on herself when she saw her reflection on the mirror in that room. After satisfied admiring herself, Iris came out of the room and went to the dining room. Ehlen and Rudger were there, eaten some portions of their breakfast.

“Oh, good morning,” greeted the silver haired guy.

Ehlen wore different outfit today. He was no longer wore the royal outfit for some reason. He wore this white turtleneck under his orange cloak. He also had a pair of long white silk trousers, followed by a pair of brown combat boots. He also wore brown colored fingerless gloves.

“C’mon, sit down already,” invited the brunette boy. When Iris looked at him, she burst in laugh, made that boy blushed and yelled in angry, “D-don’t laugh at my outfit!”

Well, of course Iris laughed. Rudger totally changed his appearance. He wore the uniform of Queen’s Knight, the traditional black outfit that embroidered with golden embroidery on it. Under it, he wore the white kimono with long furisodes and a long blue colored shawl belted the kimono from inside the black armors. He also had the long black arm protectors and the black combat boots. Very similar to a Queen’s Knight.

“Why did you wear that?” asked Iris, finally stopped her laughs and sat down on the seat next to her partner to enjoy her breakfast.

“Father decided that now you’re a True Rune bearer, you’ll be ranked as higher as me. And so on, to protect you, it’ll be Rudger job. For the convenience, he’ll be introduced as a Queen’s Knight Apprentice that assigned to be your bodyguard. With those, everything will go smoothly and you’ll gain some convenience during the journey to gather the Stars. Isn’t that awesome?” explained Ehlen, seemed excited.

“This uniform is too heavy, geez,” Rudger complaint. “And hot too. And why I need to wear this ribbon like shawl?”

“Oh, that’s just mark for a Queen’s Knight. Actually, there is still a headband, but…”

“No! I don’t want to wear anything like that! This outfit was shameful enough.”

“C’mon, don’t be such a child. It’s cool,” Iris giggling after she chewed her first bite of her meal. “The black armor represent determination and will to fight for what you dear most, while the golden signature represent glory, something that fit ‘the protector of the Queen’.”

“Wow, you wouldn’t stop kept me impressed, Iris,” said Ehlen.

Iris was blushed a little. “I read it in a book; it’s not such a big deal.”

“Well, after we finished our meals, we needed to meet Father and Mother. But, don't need to be so hasty. They’ll be here until the noon, after all.”

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Prince Frey and Lady Lyon were stayed in their private manor. It was at the other edge of the area. Ehlen has gained his own manor since he reached sixteen, which meant he had it since three years ago. When they arrived there, Kaylee and Latina were the only one that greeted them.

“Alexis and Clovis were back to the palace this early morning,” explained Latina when Iris asked her where the two are.

The two ‘siblings’ brought them to the manor’s lounge, where the royalist seemed still enjoying their morning tea. However, they properly let the teens sat down on the sofas to begin the conversation.

“Hm, my choice wasn't wrong. It suits you well, Lady Iris,” Lyon smiled as she saw Iris wore the clothes she gave the young lady this morning.

Iris nodded and has a slight blush on her cheeks. “Thank you for this outfit, Your Excellency,” she said.

“That Queen’s Knight Uniform didn’t weight your movement, Sir Rudger?” asked Frey concerned. “If it’s too weight, I could ask them to give you other uniform.”

“No, its okay, Your Eminence,” replied the brunette for the formality.

“Good,” the silver haired man leaned his back to the sofa and smiled to the three youths. “Now, I think you’ve prepared. You can begin your journey to gather the Stars of Destiny now. I suggest you go to Lunas, the Holy Land first, since it’s closer than Rainwall from here.”

Iris nodded and rolled her eyes to Kaylee and Latina. “Um, Your Eminence. Did Kaylee and Latina will accompany us too?” asked the blonde girl, made Frey grinned mystically.

“Are they?”

“…Yes, they are.”

“If that is, then so be it,” Frey stood up and faced the two Queen’s Knights. “Queen’s Knight Kaylee, Queen’s Knight Latina, from now on, you’ll have extra assignment. Aside from serving the country and the royal family, you will be assigned to serve and protect Lady Iris in her journey. Will you accept the decision?”

Kaylee looked at his ‘sister’, and vice-versa. They smiled each other and turned to the ex-Commander of the Queen’s Knight. “We proudly accept the assignment, Your Eminence,” and they gave the formal salute of Queen’s Knight.

“Oh, count me in,” interrupted Ehlen.

Frey sighed as he turned to his only son. “I know you eventually will say that words.”

“Don’t you have assignments to do as well, Prince Ehlen?” asked Rudger, rather annoyed by how that young prince acted so carefree.

“Like what I said the last time, my cousin Princess Amaterasu has returned from her emissary trip. So, I have no tasks to do right now,” Ehlen shrugged. “Well, there’s still task to accompany my other cousin Princess Yumigami at her inspections, but I don’t want to guard a bratty obnoxious girl like her...”

“Prince Ehlen, watch your language!” hissed Lyon.

“Well, if you insist…why not? You’re still a bravery sword,” Iris smirked.

“What?” both Rudger and Ehlen frowned at the blonde girl, but she merely giggled and refused to explain more.

“So, we’ll go to Lunas now?” asked Kaylee.

“Yes, let’s go,” Iris smiled. “Your Eminence, Your Excellency; by your leave,” she, Rudger and the Queen’s Knights gave the two royalists a salute.

“Father, Mother, until out next meeting,” the silver haired boy bowed a little.

Both Frey and Lyon approached their son and rubbed Ehlen’s head. “Be careful,” they looked at the other. “You guys too.”

Iris, for unknown reason smiling wryly but she quickly erased her irritated mind and nodded. “We will.”

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The journey finally began. In the first battle today, Iris quickly experimented with her Fate Rune. When Rudger was caught off guard and badly wounded by a boar attack, she cast her first level spell of the Fate Rune. It quickly healed everyone’s wound and they all felt stronger. Hence, they succeed defeating difficult enemy in their way to Lunas. Iris titled the magic as Rebirth.

“Hm…that was one good magic. It’s like Shield Rune, but it mixing both healing and boosted stats magic in one spell. Very convenience,” said Kaylee after observing the spell.

“But, are you feeling well, Lady Iris? I mean, it’s very powerful…” Latina seemed worried.

Iris nodded and grew a reassuring smile. “I’m still having lot of magic power left. The spell only requires the same concentration and amount of magic power like when I used my Kindness Drop.”

“Well then, if we need extra power, we’ll be relying on you, Iris,” Ehlen smiled.

“Yes. Leave it to me.”

After fighting monsters and received some money and valuables, they finally reached Lunas. Like every other who never visit Lunas before, Iris and Rudger amazed by the sparkling river at the entrance of the holy lands. Ehlen explained that it was gold dusts from the gold mine upriver of Lunas. The two young scholars also surprised by the elves that freely wandering around the place. However, before the young prince could explain more, someone called him.

“Ehlen! Hey!”

Ehlen tilted his head and smiling when he found the one who called him. It was yet another silver haired guy that slightly older than him. That guy approached Ehlen and the group, followed by an emerald haired elf.

“Long time no see, Ariel!” replied Ehlen, do a high-five with the other silver haired boy. “And long time no see to you too, Feaux!”

“Heh, still as carefree as ever,” snorted the named Ariel.

“Young Master, you aren’t supposed to talk that casually with Prince Ehlen,” the named Feaux interrupted seriously.

“Oh, it is okay, Feaux! Ariel and me are cousin, oh no, wait. You’re my uncle, if I really think of it,” Ehlen chuckled, placed an arm around Ariel’s shoulder, as if they really are best friends.

“Huh?” Rudger frowned. “Please explain yourself.”

“Well, it’ll take longer, um…” Ariel looked at Iris and Rudger carefully.

“Iris Wisemail, and this is Rudger Fleming, he’s…um, you might call him as my bodyguard,” answered Iris formally.

“I’m Ariel Falenas, son of Oracle Haswar. I’m the one in charge here whenever Mother was out to the Palace. This is my assistant, Feaux. Pleased to be your acquaintance, Lady Iris, Sir Rudger,” the older silver haired guy bowed a little, followed by his bodyguard’s salute. “Well, um…let’s talking inside the conclave. I guess you’re tired standing here while we talked, right? Follow me.”

The groups followed Ariel and Feaux to the conclave. There, a purple haired elf greeted them. She bowed and smiled rather shyly to the group of teens behind her young master.
“Welcome, Prince Ehlen, and…?” that elf still frowned at Iris and Rudger, as she didn’t recognize them.

“Well, Fennes, if you want to know more, why don’t you join our talk? C’mon, let’s talk in the guest lounge,” invited Ariel, continued walking as he patted the elf’s shoulder quickly while he passed her.

And so on, the teens gathered in the guest lounge. Ariel sat on the sofa that back against the window of the lounge, while Feaux and Fennes arranged themselves around him. Iris and Rudger sat at the sofa in Ariel’s right side and Ehlen, Kaylee and Latina sat on the sofa in the opposite.

Ehlen began explaining the current condition. About Iris’ rune, and about her that demanded to gather the Stars of Destiny. After the young prince ended his explanations, Ariel seemed like have a hard time to comprehend the situation.

“Hm,” Ariel murmured. “So, we’re in threat to have war with Harmonia because the resurface of both the Three Runes of Falena and the Fate Rune on Lady Iris’ forehead? And you’re in search of these Stars of Destiny? And Ehlen, Sir Rudger, Kaylee and Latina are the current found Stars?”

“Yes,” Rudger nodded.

“Is there any way to know that a person is the mentioned Star?” asked Fennes.

“Yes. If I have a vision, then I’ll know that they’re the mentioned Star,” replied Iris.

“So, are you having the vision yet, Lady Iris?” asked Kaylee again. But Iris only looked down and turned silence.

“Not yet, or it’s merely nobody here a Star?” helped Latina.

“Um…can I hold your hands?” Iris looked at the three, Ariel, Feaux and Fennes.

The three looked at each other and agreed. Iris got up from her seat. She stretched her hand and Ariel took it, shook the hand. Then, the atmosphere around them changed. From Iris sight, nobody was there except herself and Ariel. A star shined on top of Ariel’s head.

Ariel Falenas, the Tensyo Star, the Swift Star, or the Featherless Arrow. He’ll be a trustworthy ally for you, Master.

After Iris heard the last word of another Fate Rune’s voice, the surrounding area returned to the guest lounge in Lunas once more. Ariel and Iris still holding hand, since the guy waiting for her words.

“Lady Iris?” called Latina, broke the blonde girl’s concentration.

“Oh, yes,” Iris quickly released their holding hands and continued. “You’re a Tensyo, the Swift Star. One of the Stars I seek for alliance.”

“Really? Neat! Now I can work with my dear nephew over there!” Ariel smirked at Ehlen, who muttered about something that nobody could hear. Then the young master rolled his eyes to his two servants. “Um, just me?”

“Hmm, let’s try Feaux and Fennes too,” suggested Rudger.

The two elves approached Iris as that blonde girl stretched her arms. Feaux and Fennes rolled their eyes to each other and then nodded. They grabbed Iris’ hand. Once again, the surroundings changed in Iris’ sight. Two stars on top of the elves’ head sparkled.

Feaux, the Tenritsu Star, the Star of Standing Spear or the Warrior of the Two Spears. Fennes, the Chisou Star, the Strong Star, or the Night Ogre. Both of them are loyal to their master, but also loyal to everyone that their master believes, including you, Master.

“Okay,” Iris released the elves’ hands and nodded. “Tenritsu Star and Chisou Star. You two are also my alliances.”

There was a slight cheer from the elves’ lips, but it quickly went unnoticed as Ariel grinned and placed his arms around his assistants’ shoulders. “Yes! I’ll be glad to work with you guys!” he chuckled.

“Oh, the pleasure all ours, young master,” replied Fennes happily, followed by Feaux’s agreement nod.

“Well, okay. I’m still glad that I can work with anyone that I know well.”

And the group of teens laughed happily. Iris was sure it’d be a good start for the next hard journey that they’ll jump into soon.

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Meanwhile, at the Crystal Valley, Holy Kingdom of Harmonia.

The bishops were become edgy lately. Sasarai noticed this. But he hardly know what are they talking about, since every time he tried to talk with those bishops, they always reasoned “It’s nothing, Your Excellency”, “It wasn’t something that you need to concern, Your Excellency”, like that.

Even after he secretly ordered his loyal fellow Dios, Sasarai still couldn’t know the slightest thing of the bishops’ conversations.

“Something was up, I know it,” he hissed. He walked across the hall with Dios and yet two bishops quickly walked away from them.

“Maybe it was really nothing you should worry about, Your Excellency,” replied Dios politely, even he also wonder why the bishops has been acting strange lately.

“I need to know.”

Just some seconds after Sasarai finished his last sentence, a quick image appeared on his mind. Someone from far place wore a black outfit. Sasarai tried to look at the man clearer, as everything he could see was the man’s back. When that man in image finally turned around, that bearer of True Earth Rune gasped in shock. Before he could stumble backwards, Dios caught him carefully.

“Your Excellency!”

“…That can’t be…!” the brunette bishop shook his head. He stood up on his feet again and glared forward the hall. “We need to see the other Archbishops. Let’s go, Dios.”

The large door of Archbishop Edlind’s chamber opened rudely. The mentioned bishop was sat behind his desk, gasped in surprise, as he never thought the ones who opened his door would come, right here and now.

“My, His Holiness! For what honor do I have your presence here?” asked the forty years old bishop, got up from his seat and approached the two bishops.

“Bishop Edlind, be honest with me,” the brunette bishop hissed as he tried his best to angry to the old bishop. “Something was happening, right? Something about a True Rune that currently is in the Queendom of Falena. I know you can tell me, you are different than those follies.”

Bishop Edlind sighed and looked at the serious face of Sasarai. That young man seemed like wouldn’t give up anytime soon, so Edlind stepped back and signaling Sasarai and Dios to sit on the chairs in front of his table. The two men sat up and waited Edlind to sit on his seat so he could explain more.

“Well, to be honest,” Edlind leaned his back against the chair and looked at Sasarai’s eyes. “The other Archbishops sent some spies to Falena lately, and they reported some unexpected events occurred.”

“Unexpected events…?” Sasarai frowned.

“The Fate Rune has resurfaced.”

Sasarai touched his temples and closed his eyes. “A True Rune that was once in the protection of Harmonia. It was stolen and the culprit was never captured. Rumor it was a person from Sindar race, since the Rune refused to accept anyone except those ancient bloods people. So…”

“Well, apparently, the Sindar race were hiding their presence somewhere, and some of them came out from the hideout, succeeded hiding their identity and mix in common people somewhere else.”

“And their descendants came to Falena, to reclaim the right of the True Rune?”

“…Probably.”

Sasarai opened his eyes and crossed his arms in front of him, thinking for a way. Something disturbed his mind. That person in the image is the reason he confused by all of this sudden events.

“Well,” Sasarai looked at Edlind. “If you tried to make any war with Falena…go on. Just be careful. The Sun Rune and her children were there as well. They might be banded together to chase us away from taking the Fate Rune.”

“What about you, Your Excellency?” asked Dios.

“…I’m still tired since the previous war in Grasslands, so I won’t join the force for now.”

“If things getting worse, will you join?” now Edlind asked. He won’t try to force Sasarai if he doesn’t want to, since the senior bishop knew that the young man still in shock state after he heard something unbelievable.

Sasarai got up from his seat followed by Dios. He smiled and turned around as he said. “If things are getting worse, yes, I’ll confront him myself.”

This post has been edited by Millie on Dec 19 2008, 09:55 PM

[Millie]

Chapter 5

At the Sun Palace, Sol-Falena, nighttime.

Prince Freyjadour Falenas stood in his chamber’s porch. He still worn his royal garb and watched the star. Tonight the star seemed brighter than usual. And it seemed sparkle, as if it was dancing and making a festival up on the obscure black night. At time like this, he remembered a certain mysterious lady that bore the Star Rune.

“Hm, I wonder where she is. Will she appeared in front of Lady Iris?” murmured Frey as he kept looking at the stars.

“I guess not.”

Frey laughed a little and tilted his head. His wife approached him, still worn the black uniform of hers. Lyon stood next to Frey and looked at his face.

“You’re expecting Zerase? I guess she won’t. Except Lady Iris was an incompetent one, then yes, she would come and threatening her,” added the navy eyed woman.

“I guess so,” Frey nodded and continued looking at the Stars. “The Tenkai Star…before, I was the one who took the blessing of it. Yet a young lady like her took it. I hope she’ll be okay…she seemed totally unprepared at the beginning.”

“Just like you before.”

The silver haired man laughed. “Well, what do you expected?” just now he tried to began a mock battle with Lyon, he noticed a knight with black uniform and other man with brown kimono without sleeves approached the palace. “Is that…Toma and Shigure?” Frey pointed at the two men.

“Hm?” Lyon looked at the direction her husband showed her and nodded. “Yes, they are…what are they doing? I thought Toma was placed to guarding the western regional, near the border between Nagarea and us.”

And a brilliance idea crossed their mind. “Don’t tell me…!”

Frey and Lyon ran to the Queen’s Knight Headquarter at the first floor of the Palace’s east wing. As soon as the two entered the room, everyone inside there was looked at them. Namely, they are Alexis, Clovis, Toma, Shigure and the Commander, Zane. Alexis and Clovis were stood near Zane, which seemed so concerned about something while Toma and Shigure stood before them, have the same expression.

Frey approached the grey haired Queen’s Knight that was his old friend too. “Toma, I see you came back. There must be something urgent if you dare to leave your post,” he said. “Now, let’s sit down…ah,” Frey rolled his eyes to Zane and chuckled. “It’s your right, Your Commandership.”

Zane blinked and smirked. “Oh, well, it’s not something that needing any formalities, but if you wish…” the black haired guy stared at his knights. “Let us sit down and commence the meeting.”

Everyone sat down in his or her seat. Actually, there were only seven Queen’s Knights. But since the Prince was given a special treatment to join the meeting after he showed himself skilful at handling thousand men from the previous war, he also granted a seat there. Shigure stood next to Toma, still having his eyes covered with his bangs.

“Well, we’ve been cooperating with Shigure and his companions to search any suspicious moves on Falena,” said Zane. “So, I guess if he came to report here, something was happening. And by your arrival with Toma that was supposed to be in his post at the western regional, I suggest the group were appeared from the west.”

Shigure nodded. “You see, these people actually are bunch of mercenaries from Northern Continent. It’s not clear if they were spy from Harmonia before, but after my partner sneak and watched them for this whole three months, we sure that they’re Harmonians.”

“Three months?!” Alexis gasped and looked at the rather expressionless Shigure. “They have been spying us for that long?”

“I’m not amazed if they spying us since the previous war, more than twenty years ago,” commented Clovis. His facial expression kept the same, as if it wasn’t a big threat at all for him. “The facts that the Sun Rune was very powerful enough to be a threat to our country itself prove that the Sun Rune has a supreme power. That’s one reason enough for Harmonia to try stealing the Rune.”

Everyone turned into a silence. After the awkward tense air, Toma opened another conversation.

“Well, I’m here to escort Shigure, and also bring news,” he said. Everyone looked at him seriously. “The group that he reported was gaining more power. Apparently, Harmonia has made an appointment with some of Zelant’s mercenaries to help them at this one battle.”

“Zelant…mercenaries,” Frey remembered about the Lindwurm Mercenary Brigade that once aided him at the civil war.

“At any rate, we need to prepare for the coming battle,” Zane stood up. “I’ll send a messenger to call Kaylee and Latina. They supposed to still in Lunas right now, or might be the farthest is at Rainwall. While that, I’ll begin to arrange the soldiers. Now, you guys…”

“Don’t say that you’ll arrange them alone,” Frey stood up. “I’ll help too.”

“But…”

“I know. I’ll join the war as well. But I need to help my brother-in-law too. For you. For her. For our country.”

Zane smiled and nodded, knowing that the silver haired man wouldn’t stop or changed his mind about this.

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Iris and the other were at Rainwall. After they finished their breakfast at Lunas today, they left the holy lands and heading to that city at Ehlen’s suggestion. He said that there lived a great swordsman and once fought alongside his father, so he sure the man would be one of the destined too.

“Oh, this city is prettier than when I saw it from afar!” Iris whispered happily.

“Hm? When did you saw this city?” asked Rudger, confused.

“We past this city when we raid the coach to the capital, Rudger,” hissed the blonde annoyed. “The port city Estrise was just some miles to the east from here.”

“Really? Oh well,” Rudger shook his head, innocent. That brunette looked at the young prince who looks like seeking for someone in the city’s plaza. “What are you doing?”

“Today was supposed to be an important day for them,” Ehlen said, still tried to look around. “So, I guess they were in the port from morning, but I guess not…”

“Looking for someone, Your Highness?”

The groups looked at the voice’s direction. A man with wide grin on his face walked toward them, followed by a blonde guy with solemn face. They approached Ehlen and the friends.

“Hello, Lord Richard, Sir William,” Kaylee and Latina smiled and bowed respectfully.

“Hello, Your Highness, Kaylee, Latina. It’s been awhile since we met. Did you want to spar with William for this week again?” asked the older man.

“Oh please, Dad. He had sworn that he wouldn’t try to challenge me dueling again, since his… thirty-sixth loss. Or was that sixty-third? I didn’t remember. Did you remember, Prince?” the named William smirked mischievously.

“Now, don’t you make me mad…” hissed Ehlen.

William laughed. “Okay,” then he rolled his brown eyes noticed the absent-minded Iris. “Young lady, you supposed to not absent-minded here. Though it’s okay since your friends are here, but if it’s become a habit, it’ll be quite dangerous.”

“Oh, what? Uh yes,” Iris nodded, and hid a little behind Rudger. “Chian, the Strong Star, the Elegant Panther…”

“Hm? Are you afraid of me?” asked William, looked disappointed.

“Lord Richard, I thought you didn’t invite Sir Wilhelm here anymore,” Latina sighed.

“No. But I guess he learned too much from the last visit,” Richard shook his head. Still with the smile of his, he rubbed his son’s hair. “William, you know what your mother will say if she found out you trying to flirt a girl like this?”

“…’Try to be like Prince Ehlen, he more polite to the girls than you, dear’. The usual speeches, right?” answered William with a high-tone voice that resemblance a lady. Ehlen and the two Queen’s Knights laughed at that while William continued mimicking the voice of his mother.

Rudger only smiled wryly and rolled his emerald eyes toward the blonde girl. Iris noticed his looks and nodded. She approached Ehlen, made the noble kid stopped mimicking. “Sir William, I ask your alliance with--”

Just before Iris could finish her sentence, a motor sound appeared all of sudden. Ehlen, Richard and William looked at each other and smirked. They ran to the pier, which is not too far from the entrance of the city, followed by the confused Iris, Kaylee, Latina and Rudger. They waited there and a boat came from afar to the pier and docked there.

A lady at her mid-twenty hopped off from the boat. She smiled when she saw William and Richard. At the next second, she jumped to them and gave them a big hug. Ehlen stepped back so if those three stumbled they won’t fell on him.

“I’m home, Father, Willy!” she chuckled, released the hug after Richard coughed desperately, almost die in suffocation.

“Will you stop calling me Willy?” grunted William, crossed his arms in front of him. The girl only laughed and ignored the complaint, so the blonde gave up. “Oh well. Welcome back, Elise.”

“How it goes with Kent?” asked Richard after breathe more air to relieve his lungs.

“Well, he’s kept busy with his task. I said I‘d stay if he needed more help, but he said its okay, so I’m back. Still, I guess I’ll go to Estrise soon to help him more,” explained Elise. She then noticed Ehlen and the groups were there too. “Oh, Prince Ehlen. How do you do? Is that girl the scholar from Dunan?”

“I see you’re not changed too much, Elise,” Ehlen shrugged and shook his head. He then looked at William and Richard. “That’s right. Before we explained more, why don’t you all explained yourself first hand?”

“Oh, that’s right. Sorry for the improper greetings,” Richard gave Iris and Rudger a salute. “Richard Barows. Though I inherit the name of Barows, I’m not the head of the House. When I married the mother of these kids, I became a Barows too.”

“I’m William Barows, the second child of Barows family,” William smiled.

“And I’m Elise Barows, the first child of Barows family, though now I’m the fiancé of Kent Wilde, the governor of Estrise” Elise smiled just like her father and bowed a little. “If my memory was true, you two are Iris Wisemail and Rudger Fleming, right?”

“Yes. Nice to meet you all,” Iris bowed too, followed by Rudger.

“So, why you all coming here all of sudden?” asked Richard.

“Can we talk in your manor? It’s kinda long,” replied Ehlen. He actually just didn’t want any passer-by overheard their conversation. Knowing that Harmonia might attack anytime by now, he don’t want to make the citizen worried just yet. Fortunately, Richard nodded and led them to Barows manor at the top of the city.

After they arrived in the manor’s lounge, Ehlen explained everything. William and Elise looked worry, but Richard remained calm. He stared at Iris’ forehead and then to Ehlen’s serious face. Just before he could comment about the situation, a servant was come to the lounge.

“Sir Kaylee, Lady Latina,” he said. “A messenger from the capital come and asked to lend you this message.”

Kaylee and Latina frowned. They got up and approached the servant to retrieve the message. After read the message, Kaylee and Latina gasped. Iris, Ehlen and Rudger looked at them. The two Queen’s Knights turned around and smiled nervously.

“Your Highness, we need to get back to the palace right now. An urgent meeting,” explained Kaylee, tried to hide his nervousness but failed perfectly.

Ehlen realized something was up. He thought for a while but then nodded. “Thank you for your companion for this last day,” the silver haired prince said.

Kaylee and Latina gave the nobles a salute and left the lounge, almost made the servant stumbled. After the servant went to his usual duties, Ehlen looked at the confident-looking Elise.

“The Harmonia might be made their moves now, right?” she asked. Ehlen nodded weakly. Elise looked distance to the window at her right side. “Mother has filled us with the information about that. Now that the Fate Rune has resurfaced, His Majesty and the Queen busy, preparing for the upcoming war.”

“Wait,” Iris interrupted. “Did you mean that Kaylee and Latina get back to the castle for the preparations of war? But…it’s just some days after the Fate Rune resurfaced…”

“They impatient,” replied William. “Now that they lost some power after the war at one country in the north, they seek new power to return their mighty. And one way to do that is to take the Sun Rune or the Fate Rune. Both runes were quite powerful.”

“And what are we waiting for?” the blonde young scholar got up from her seat. “I definitely won’t let this country having another war. I’m part of the reason they became aggressive, so I need to help.”

Rudger chuckled. “And how exactly you will help them?” he asked, made Iris a little down. “We’re not even gathering the soldiers yet, and we don’t have anyone that experienced at war now.”

“Still, I think I’m agreed with Lady Iris,” William commented. “I don’t want those Harmonians took our treasure. Only traitor who could stay calm and uncared after they knew that war would happen soon.”

“I think so too,” Elise smirked. “Prince Ehlen, if you tried to persuade your father, he might be willingly lending some of the soldier so we can make our own regiment. Not to mention I can recruit the men from both Rainwall and Estrise through my connections.”

Ehlen sighed. “Is it okay with you, Lord Richard? Your children challenged and gambled their own safety and life.”

“I like their courage actually. I don’t know about their mother, but I guess they will try to persuade her themselves,” Richard smiling widely. “Just remember everything you learned from ours, Elise, William.”

“Thank you, Father!” Both William and Elise hugged their father. After some laughs about how pale was the expression of the veteran swordsman, Iris smiled faintly.

“Chian and Chikai. Two Stars recruited.”

“Did you say something, Iris?” asked Ehlen, noticed that the blonde has muttered something like a whisper to nobody.

Iris shook her head frantically. Rudger quickly changed the topic by gave the prince a questioning look. “And so, what’s next plan, genius prince?” he asked.

“Oh, thanks for calling me genius,” Ehlen chuckled. “Well, I guess we should find a nice tactician for ourselves. Luckily, I know someone that Father might forget about her incredible ability by now,” he turned to William and Elise. “We need to make a ride there if we want to hurry. Can we borrow your boat?”

“Of course,” Elise nodded. “Even better, I’ll go along. I’ll stop at Sol-Falena after I bring you to your destination. I need to inform Mother, after all.”

“Well then, I think I’ll accompany your travel, Prince,” William said, looks very confident and spirited at this.

“Okay. Thank you,” Iris nodded and looked at Ehlen again. “Where are we heading to?” Ehlen smiled wryly at the question, but he still answered.

“Stormfist.”

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After dropped Iris and the companions at Stormfist pier, Elise sailed off to Sol-Falena, just like what she said. Now the three youths looked at the young prince, pointed him to lead the way to the place of the person he called ‘nice tactician’.

“So, what is she looks like, Ehlen?” asked Iris, followed behind Ehlen and beside William. “Why you said that your father might have been forgot about her?”

“Well, actually…she’s a newcomer to this city. She began to live here…ten years ago. She’s a part of Silverberg family, so…you know about the family, don’t you?” Ehlen smirked.

Iris and Rudger nodded. “The Silverberg family was famed by their brilliance strategist. Some of them were a part of victorious army, even their pupils. I heard that at the Dunan Unification War, there were two of them. One at the Alliance Force was the pupil of a member of the House, while the other one at Highland Force’s side was a true member of the family,” explained Rudger.

“So, she’s a part of the family. But I heard the Silverberg family was from Toran Republic?” asked Iris again.

“I don’t know why, but she seemed like tried to hone her skill here. You know that Stormfist’s central library has many records about the wars that happened on Falena in the past, so she maybe doing research by those archives,” Ehlen shrugged, and then he noticed that Iris looks rather pale. “Lady Iris? You look like not feeling so well.”

“Oh, um…maybe just a little tired,” the blonde just chuckled. “I don’t eat my breakfast too much.”

“Well, why don’t we go to the tavern? I’m rather hungry too,” suggested William. “I heard that the lady loved to wander around the city, observed the townspeople. We maybe will bump into her while we're wandering around the city.”

After they agreed, Ehlen led them to the tavern. The tavern was very crowdy, but they managed to get a free table. After ordered some meals and juices, the three, Ehlen, Rudger and William looked at Iris. The blonde girl gasped and frowned. “Why are you looking at me?” she asked, rather nervous.

“Well, you can see destined ones just by looking at them, right? Don’t you think it’ll be a nice opportunity to look for them now? There’s a lot travelers here,” explained William, rolled his eyes to some scary looking adventurers.

“Oh, good idea,” Iris tilted her head. She looked around at the people in the tavern. When Iris eyes’ moved to a corner, she had a quick Sight of Stars. Gulped, she tried to look around more and found another destined one. After finished looking at all the travelers, she turned her head to the boys and they nodded, agreed to persuade those two Stars now.

The four approached a man with short black cropped hair. He had some scars on his skinny white face, proved that he had encountered many powerful enemies. He also wore a sleeveless black tunic and yellowish leggings with brown boots and a black headband, just like your average adventurer.

“May I help you kids?” he asked coldly.

“Um,” Iris spoke up. “I need your strength.”

“What?”

Ehlen explained quickly and lowly, prevented anyone overheard his or her conversation about the coming war. The man introduced himself as Raijin. He turned into a silent after heard the prince’s explanation. After quite awhile, he raised his head and stared at Iris’ face. He smiled and nodded.

“Very well, in just one condition,” Raijin said. “If you brought me a Thunder God Robe, I’ll join your alliance.”

“I can ask my armor peddler to bring me the armor. It was from around Dunan Republic, wasn't it? If you promised to join and swear loyalty to Lady Iris, then I’ll told him to quickly bring it here, to you,” offered William.

Raijin laughed. “You know how to deal with bothersome people like me. Very well. We both promised to each other.”

Iris smiled and nodded. “Thank you, Sir Raijin!”

“No need to call me ‘sir’, I’m not of noble. And beside, you’re my master now, Lady Iris,” Raijin got up from his seat. “Now, shall I accompany you with this youngsters or I’ll need to go to your quarter or what?”

“Well, I guess we should stick along,” suggested William.

“Yes. I beg your assistance, Raijin,” continued Iris.

“Now to the next Stars. Who?” Rudger asked looked at other travelers that kept talking, ignoring the groups of teen with one elder.

Iris walked ahead to a man with long black hair at the other corner of the tavern. The man seemed like a ninja, as he worn black pants and a ninja shirt that covers his mouth. His freezing red eyes met with Iris’ black eyes, made the girl rather afraid of him but still had some courage to greet the man.

“Good day, sir,” Iris opened. “I want you to join my alliance.”

“Your alliance?” the man frowned. But before Ehlen could explain, the man continued. “I will only work with anyone that can surpass my power.”

“Fine, then prove yourselves, sir,” mocked Rudger, crossed his arms in front of him. “Unfortunately, Lady Iris here not suit to duel with you.”

“Oh? And why it’s not you, pawn, who fight me?”

“Rudger, no!” hissed Iris, tugged his Queen’s Knights’ uniform. At that, and the rude man noticed Rudger’s rank.

“I see you’re a Queen’s Knight. You must be a good swordsman, right? And your master must be good too,” the man smirked. “Fine. Let’s duel outside.”

“I accept your challenge,” replied the brunette boy, followed the man outside with his groups following behind him.

As they came out of the tavern, William shooed every passer-by, told them that they’ll held a spar and everyone needed to step back so they won’t get hurt by looking at the fight so close. After succeeded persuading with the citizen and had Ehlen showed his face to the patrol guards, Rudger and the man unsheathed their weapons.

“By the way, the name’s Buff,” said the black haired man.

“Rudger Fleming, a new apprentice of Queen’s Knight,” Rudger introduced himself. “See, even I’m new, you’ll regret to ever duel with me.”

“I’ll look into that.”

“Duel between Rudger Fleming and Buff. Begin!” commenced William.

As soon as the blonde guy finished his sentence, the two rushed to each other. Their swords clanging, made red sparks flew. Rudger wasn’t no lie when he said he learned how to fight, but Iris never expected that partner of hers could be very good at battle. Yes, she witnessed how he fought in previous battles at the site and in their way to Lunas and Rainwall, but it was helped by Ehlen, whom more experienced and two skilful Queen’s Knights.

Rudger fenced off the attacks of Buff, which aggressive as he never showed tried to take a defend step like Rudger. They were locked in a duel of strength. Rudger wanted to use his Fire Rune, which he attached before he ventured to the site, but he wondered if he allowed to. Just some seconds later, he noticed that Buff began expelling a red aura around him.

“Hey, so we can use magic?” muttered Rudger, avoided one of Buff’s attacks again. “Why don’t you tell me earlier?”

Rudger’s sword glowed in a red aura. He swung his sword and a fireball flew, burned Buff’s shirt a little after the fireball missed. While tried to run as fast as he could with the help of his Gale Rune, Buff gripped his sword tightly, gathered more power to the next attack. However, Rudger was unexpectedly talented at this. With untenable speed, Rudger quickly blocked Buff’s attack and counterattack. He deflected two blocks before plunging his sword into Buff's lower right chest.

“I told you you’ll regret,” whispered Rudger with a winning smile while his sword pointed at the other man's throat then tipped the chin upward.

“The winner is, Rudger Fleming!” William announced. Everyone in the street who stopped to see the simple match between a Queen’s Knight and a travelers, gave them a big applauses and cheers.

Iris, who was stunned for a while by the amazing fight, finally had her senses again and approached the men who ended their fight just now. “Let me heal you two,” she said and using her Kindness Rain to heal their wounds.

“Well,” Ehlen, Raijin and William approached the three. “How is it? Rudger won, fair and square,” said Ehlen.

Buff sighed and looked at Iris. “Well, why not? If she’s worth that much, then I’ll join too.”

Iris smiled. “Thank you, Buff.” At that, Buff blushed and received a threatening glare from Rudger that signaling that if he tried to flirting her, he’ll die soon.

“Oh my, Prince Ehlen. You love to draw yourself to the crowdy townspeople, aren’t you?”

The groups turned their head to the left, where a small girl with brown locks stood near the dismissed crowds. She approached Ehlen and gave Iris, who stood before him, a mischievous smile.

“Hello, Prince and his guests. How do you do?”

This post has been edited by Millie on Dec 19 2008, 09:59 PM

[Millie]

Chapter 6

“Hello, Prince and his guests. How do you do?” asked the brunette girl.

“Hey, Rui. Shouldn’t you explain yourself?” Ehlen smirked. But the little girl named Rui shook her head and refused to say anything. The young prince sighed and looked at his confused friends. “Guys, this is the tactician of Silverberg family that I mentioned, Rui Silverberg.”

“WHAT!? This brat!?” Rudger shouted and blinked, couldn’t believe what he heard just now. Rui only giggled and approached Rudger. At the next seconds, Rudger cried out as Rui kicked his knee.

“That’s your punishment. Treat you elder properly, you spoiled punk,” grunted Rui, still with the smile of her.

“Elder?” Buff frowned. Of course, Rui’s face seemed too old for her age, but she was chubby and short, like the rest of little girl should be.

“She’s twenty, one year older than me and William,” explained Ehlen, held his laughs as best as he could.

“Oh, looks can be very deceiving, right?” Rui chuckled. She turned to Ehlen again. “Well, that’s and why you searching for me, Prince? You said that you mentioned me to them. Is something the matter, hm? Is it about the suspicious moves of Harmonia, perhaps?”

Everyone looked at her in awe. Rui giggled again. “Well, why don’t we talk in the tavern? That punk and the other man seemed tired. Let’s talk while we eat. And if you ask why I don’t invite you to my house, it’s because I have no foods to serve you. So, is there any objection?” The groups shook their heads as Rui finished her speeches. “Then let’s go,” she said, walked ahead.

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When Iris and companions appeared in the tavern again, their tables had filled with some meals that they ordered some while ago. Raijin, Buff, and Rui took other empty chairs nearby so they could sit together with the four teens since Ehlen ordered some more meals for the three.

While enjoying their meals, Ehlen explained the situation with William too. Rui seemed she didn’t care though. But Iris kept staring at her, having another Sight of Stars with Rui’s star shined over her head.

“Hum, well, if I can help, why not? I wanted to try joining an army and prevent a country from a war too, you know,” said Rui, took another bite of her Meat Pizza. “Well, I’ll be glad to be your tactician from now on, Lady Iris. Just promise me one thing…”

“Oh...what was that? Oh yes, if I can fulfill it…” Iris nodded doubtly.

“Teach me how to have these fair skins, and your height, and those melons!”

At that comment, the group surprised to hear about it that they did something ridiculous. Both Ehlen and William coughed while they drank their coffees. Rudger accidentally hit his head with the tip of the table. Raijin cut the meat until the plates broke. Buff held his glass too tight that it cracked. Iris herself blushed and blinked.

“T-teach you to have melons?” she covered her chests with her arms.

“Now, stop there, Lady Rui! Don’t call it melons!” interrupted Rudger. “It’s coconuts.”

Iris glared at her ‘bodyguard’. There was a loud bump under the table and Rudger moaned, made everyone looked at him. He wanted to explain, but Iris’ threatening aura stopped him.

“Now, let’s be serious,” Rui threw away her casual smiles. “Even we gathered people and soldiers, we might be still over-powered.”

Ehlen looked at the young tactician. “Nonsense. When Father forced to run away from the capital at the civil war 24 years ago, he managed to chase away the army who tried to capture him after he seeks shelter with the Barows, even they was outnumbered back then.”

“It’s a different matter. Back then, it was the Godwin forces. We can’t compare the Godwin with Harmonia.”

“Do you want us to stay calm and gather more members before we could participate in the war?” asked Buff.

“No, of course not,” Rui smirked, leaned her back against the chair. “We need some regiments. One was for Lady Iris to command, another one for Prince Ehlen, and the last one for Raijin and Buff. You said that Sir Kaylee and Lady Latina are our allies too, so they can lend their army to us. The problem is…”

“The problem…?” Raijin finished his meals.

“We don’t know from where they will attack us! I can’t prepare any war tactics if I don’t know the layout!” the brunette girl grumbled, crudely sliced the meats with the knife into small pieces.

“If you wish to know more information, I have it.”

They all looked at the tavern’s doorway. Elise Barows stood there. She smiled and approached the group. The grey-eyed girl stood between Ehlen and Rui, swung a small note in front of them.

“I get it from Sir Kaylee and Lady Latina,” she put it on the table, let Rui took it and read it. Elise then looked at her brother. “Mother has let us join the alliance force, and she brought me to the two. They had finished their meeting and now preparing for the upcoming war. Oh, don’t worry, Your Highness. Your Father also prepared some soldiers so you could join the war too.”

“Oh, that’s good,” Ehlen couldn’t help to feel grateful towards his father.

Rui finished read the note. She curved her lips, signaling the same thing she would say about now. “I had a plan. Listen well and I should reduce the casualties as best as I could.”

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Five days afterwards.

The atmosphere in Sol-Falena has grown stiffer and stiffer as the day of the war began. The citizen didn’t worry too much, though. They thought it was only a small rebellion from people of the western. They didn’t know that some regiments have sent to be guarding far from the capital so the citizens wouldn’t know about this war.

Prince Freyjadour wore his former Queen’s Knight Uniform. For this war, he would be a vice-commander of the Queen’s Knight, though it was originally Lyon’s position, even after she born their son Ehlen. He will lead a unit of infantry with Lyon. Every Queen’s Knight should lead a unit, so there were total seven units in this war.

Those eight generals gathered in the Queen’s Knight Headquarter. Zane and Toma looked at the map of war layout, discussed about their tactics once more. Clovis polished his sword at the corner of the room. Alexis tighten her headband. Kaylee braided his long violet hair into a ponytail. Latina tightened the long amber ribbon in her waist. Frey and Lyon talked near the meeting table.

“I wonder where is Ehlen,” said the silver haired man. “After he took those soldiers I arranged for him, he gone and there was no any news from him. I wonder what he was planning to do…”

“I heard he has recruited a tactician. So, I guess he’ll be okay,” replied Lyon.

The door was opened. Everyone looked at the doorway and saw Richard with his wife Luserina Barows approached them. Frey frowned as he saw that thin man wore armors on his body, just like what he saw when Richard fought alongside the Lindwurm Mercenary at the civil war.

“Richard, what are you doing here?” Frey asked. He then gasped and looked at Luserina. “Don’t tell me, you…”

“Yes. I’ll participate in the war as well,” the blonde man nodded. “My kids participate in war. I just can’t let them have all the fun…I mean; I want to ensure their safety myself.”

“Luserina…you allowed him to?” Lyon also looked at the blonde administrator. That lady also was their ally in the civil war and titled as ‘the only good Barows’ after her family has treated Prince Freyjadour for nothing but their own benefits. That was also the reason why Elise and William Barows had a good relationship with the rest of royalists’ youths.

Luserina nodded and gave everyone a reassuring smile. “I know they won’t listen to me, so the only thing that I can do is to support them, now and then,” she said. “Though, after they brought their belongings from the manor, they didn’t report anything to me…”

“I guess we should trust the youths,” Zane smiled from his seat. “They were helped by Rui Silverberg.”

Soon after Zane finished his sentences, a soldier rushed in to the room. “The enemies were seen and heading to the West Palace!”

Everyone turned into serious mood again. Zane and Toma stood up from their seat. Clovis sheathed his sword. Alexis and Latina approached Kaylee and the three walked to Frey, Lyon and Richard. Those brave knights turned to see the black haired Commander. He nodded quickly and gave his command.

“Everyone, move out to victory!”

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Seven units of the Royal Army had arrived in the wide plains where the West Palace lies just a little further to the north. Richard was positioned as a commander of cavalry unit, replacing Clovis, and let the black haired young man be the vice-commander of the unit. The army consisted three Infantries that led by Frey, Kaylee and Toma; two Cavalries with Zane and Richard as the leaders; Alexis and Latina led two Rune archer units.

They could saw at least six units headed toward them from the forest near Stormfist. Part of them bore a Harmonia flag while the other part bore a Reinhold Mercenary flag, one of three famous mercenary groups from Zelant. Richard gritted his teeth, remembered that his brigade once confronted that group just because a trivia matter that began by those barbarians.

Those mixed army stopped after they all passed the bridge at the western of the plains. After awhile, a voice of the army’s leader resounded by the help of a Thunder Rune.

“Behold, you royal families!” the leader shouted. “Hand over the Sun Rune and the Fate Rune, and we won’t harm your country!”

Zane moved his horse to the front line. “We prefer die than hand our treasure without resistance to the likes of you!” he replied, pointed his unsheathed sword to the army at far distance.

“Fine, you have declared war against Harmonia. I’ll make sure you experience suffer to your death!”

After the leader let out a sharp cry, the army began to move. Zane, however, decided to watch their moves before he commanded his army. The Reinhold Cavalry charged forward. The Commander of Queen’s Knight quickly signaled for his two archer units to go ahead.

Alexis and Latina took their place forward. They stopped at the middle of the plains and quickly their units chanted some magic. Zane saw the Harmonian infantries began to move as well, so he and Richard moved as well to prevent their archer units from being attacked.

“Follow the path to destruction!” Latina cried out. She and her soldiers pointed their hands to the nearest units. At the next second, some thunder struck the cavalry, shocked and killed at least more than half of that one unit. The cavalry retreated to take some time to healing their wounds but, unfortunately, Alexis finished her chants too.

“I will teach you not to take me so lightly,” the ebony haired girl hissed. She did the same pose as Latina, and her units called out a strong earthquake that affected three units at once. It didn’t injure them too much, but at least it was wide range and hurt more than one unit.

“Retreat guys! The infantry heading your way!” commanded Toma, as he and his unit moved to the plains just like the two other units.

Alexis and Latina quickly led their units to get away from the battlefield. The cavalries who injured by Alexis’ magic seemed like they wanted to take their revenge, but Richard’s unit blocked them. Zane charged the infantry who tried to penetrate their defenses and followed the archer units. Frey got his army helped Zane’s unit, while Kaylee ensured the girls to the safe place.

Zane’s unit confronted the leader of the Harmonian army. He was a very young man with sandy hair that styled like feather. He was a Temple Guards, judging from his blue silvery garb, though his face not supported it. Zane had a talent to know runes of anybody that close with him, and he noticed as soon as he saw the leader that he bore three runes.

The sandy haired man swung his sword toward Zane, and their swords met at each other and made a loud clanging voice. The black haired Commander glared at the leader’s playful eyes. They didn’t seem to care about their men fought each other around them by now.

“You’re pretty good,” said the leader. “I always heard that the Commander of the Queen’s Knight was so talented at swordsmanship and magic, but never expecting to be this good. I’m Troy. What’s your name?” The named Troy still tried to push his sword so it could penetrate the other man’s block.

“Zane Rescales,” the man smirked. They kept attacking on their horse still. After some awhile, Zane managed to hurt Troy’s upper left arm. But the wound was too minor that he could swear that Troy wouldn’t realize he was just get an injury.

“Well, well, I see your other unit has come,” Troy looked past over Zane’s shoulder. Kaylee finished escorted Alexis and Latina’s units to other plains so they could regain their strength to help the other in next round. Strangely, Troy not seemed worried about the Queen’s Knight. He smiled wickedly.

Troy pulled out his sword away from Zane’s. He and his unit retreated to get his people recovered. Now another infantry tried to charge at Zane. Unfortunately, Richard and Toma has finished defeating the cavalries and let the leaders ran away. It’s no use to kill him now anyway, so they better helped the other units.

“Ha! You think you could win?” shouted Richard with his usual smile.

“No, but I’ll make sure your girls killed!” replied Troy while he raced his horse away. He stopped with his unit and they burned a white flag with their fire rune user. “Now! Ambush those witches!”

At that, and an ambush army appeared from the forest near where Alexis and Latina’s units took a brief rest. The two Queen’s Knight Ladies gasped, as they not expected the army to come. When they prepared their arrows and shot the sudden unit, they didn’t manage to stop them or slowed them down, since they unprepared. Those soldiers slain the archers, and finally a soldiers reached Alexis.

“Now, let us go!” Alexis unsheathed her rapier and killed the soldier who tried to attack her. Now she busy trying to get away from the soldiers, not realized that her comrade Latina now has been targeted, since she was too shocked to swing her sword.

“Die!” a soldier aiming his sword toward Latina.

Alexis gasped as she looked at her. “Latina! Watch out!”

“Blazing Wall!”

Suddenly, a row of blaze fire struck the soldiers, saved Latina, and returned her composure back. Alexis blinked and tried to look around. Who used the magic? She finally found the spell caster as some people came out of the forest.

“Prince Ehlen! Lady Iris!” cheered Alexis and Latina, recognizing the two people that led some soldiers behind them.

“Now, Prince Ehlen, Sir Raijin, charge!” Rui Silverberg pointed at the unit that surrounded the two Queen’s Knight. After Ehlen and Raijin led their units out of the forest to help the ladies, Rui turned to Iris and Rudger who stood next to her. “Now, let’s help the royal army.”

“Understood. Let’s go, guys!” commanded Iris. The blonde ran to the battlefield with her unit. Kaylee, who was finished defeating yet another infantry unit of the Zelantian mercenary, approached Iris’ unit.

“H-hey, stay back! It’s not a mere war, alright?” he hissed, afraid if Commander Zane would be mad if these kids entered the battlefield.

“Who will try to fight them?” Rudger smirked. “Get out of our way and you’ll find out we’re quite helpful.”

Kaylee sighed and let them past. The unit arrived behind Richard’s unit, who heavily wounded and decided to retreat by now. Iris looked around and saw some of Frey’s unit has lost and now only left less than a quarter from the normal regiment should have their soldiers. She also spotted that Troy has decided to fight back, made sure to chop Zane’s head now. However, the Royal Army has suffered too much casualties.

“You know what to do, Lady Iris,” Rui patted Iris at the back.

Iris nodded and smiled. She raised her hand and closed her eyes, tried to concentrate and gather all her magic power. A soldier that managed to penetrate the block of Toma’s army tried to attack Iris, but Rudger effectively killed him. Just some seconds afterwards, Iris opened her eyes.

“The deepest part of a pure heart that shines and gives the eternal blessing now freed and spread. Rebirth!”

At once, all soldiers who injured fully healed and joined the battle again. Now all units have their full soldiers, they can blast the remained army. Troy realized that and quickly turned his soldiers to run away as fast as they could. Frey stopped Kaylee and Toma who tried to follow and killed them, rather returned to Iris’ unit as Ehlen and Raijin’s unit approached them, followed by Alexis and Latina’s units.

Zane and Richard hopped off from their horses, approached Frey, Lyon and Toma who were confronted the youths. There was a long silence, where only the horses breathe that could be heard and the sound of wind blown their hairs, until Frey spoke up.

“I hope you all can be more cooperative,” he said. “Why are you hiding from us? Why didn’t you tell us that an ambush army has waiting at the forest?”

Rui stepped forward and bowed, apologizing. “It’s my order. After Prince Ehlen received a band of soldiers from you, we tried to train them and made plans. That’s when we found an ambush army was hiding at the forest. We decided to be quiet and not telling you elders, because I thought it’ll be more benefit if we give them a counterattack ambush too,” she explained, still bowed. “I won’t say any formal apology, since it was a benefit until the end. We suffer small casualties, didn’t we?”

The Queen’s Knights and the other generals blinked at Rui’s full confident speeches. Iris, Ehlen, and Rudger also stared at that teens-look like lady, amazed by her confidence. But then, a chuckle appeared. Everyone looked at the voice’s direction and found Ariel walked to their way, followed by Feaux and Fennes.

“Lady Rui, you're as confident as ever, aren’t you?” Ariel chuckled, approached Rui and looked at his older cousin. “Just like what she said, I guess they weren’t that guilty. If they weren’t here to help you today, hundreds life will be sacrificed. So, you need to say your gratitude rather than scolding them, Frey, Zane.”

Frey and Zane looked at each other, and then smiled to the youths. “Well…I guess so…Thank you, Lady Iris, everyone,” those men nodded and gave them their best smiles.
“Oh, you’re welcome, for allowing us to help you,” replied Iris kindly.

“Now, why don’t we throw a banquet?” offered Ariel happily. He turned to Ehlen and smirked. “Actually, I want you to have the banquet at Lunas, but considering the rule…we can’t. So, can be our good and kind prince borrowing his manor for the banquet?”

Everyone looked at Ehlen. The silver haired prince sighed and shook his head a little. “Like you willing to stop if I say ‘no’. Well, let’s go to the West Palace. It’s bigger than the one at the East Palace.” The youth’s army cheered after Ehlen finished his sentence.

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And so on, they marched to the West Palace. The soldiers placed outside the manor, but the cooks still brought them their foods. For the sake of equal treatment, Iris asked everyone to have the banquet outside of the manor, just like the soldiers.

The banquet was full with laughter and cheers. The soldiers have wines, while Iris and the other member who still underage have soda juice. The youth army has recruited three new members. They were Hayate, Ceas, and Kiros. The three made the banquet even more cheerful as Kiros opened a beer-challenge competition with the soldiers and Buff helped too.

Ariel and Ehlen were talking with Rui, while Feaux and Fennes were discussed how spear works with Hayate and Ceas. Raijin sat at the corner quietly, but eventually found by William and they began to talk.

Suddenly, their laughter stopped as the soldiers saw five horsemen approached the West Palace. Those horsemen hopped off from their horses and they finally recognized them. It was the Queen’s Knights, minus their Commander and their Vice-Commander. The soldiers opened a straight way to Iris who sat at the top of the crowd. She and Rudger bowed a little as those five approached them.

“Well, we actually wanted to join the party as well,” said Kaylee, looking at the wine glasses that were held by some soldiers. “But, Sir Toma, Clovis, and Alexis have something to say for you, Lady Iris.”

Toma stepped forward. He kneeled before Iris, followed by Alexis and Clovis too. Iris gasped, but before she could say that it’s not necessary, Toma explained their reason. “I heard that you were seeking for the destined ones,” he said. “My Star was shined at the time you awoke your Rune, Lady Iris. So…I guess I’m part of you.”

“We here as well,” continued Clovis. “Actually…I want to join only because I wanted to train you and your army how to fight better at a true battle. I’m sure I can be quite a helpful in this army.”

“Me as well,” added Alexis. “I’m a good magician. I was used to train some soldiers to use their runes. I’m able to be the tutor for the magic unit.”

“Um…I know. I can saw those stars of yours, but please, don’t kneeling before me! I’m not something very supreme like that…” Iris felt very nervous. “Of course I’ll accept you. We need all help we can do for now. And I’m still from a low rank even I bear the rune, so please, don’t kneeling! I feel…embarrassed.”

The three knights got up. Toma smiled and nodded. “Thank you. From now on, we’ll be at your services.”

“Yes, thank you,” Iris replied with a smile too. “Well…let’s continue the banquet everyone! Oh, the wine’s over there, if you want to, sire.”

Kaylee and Latina quickly came to the wine table and brought a bottle of wine and some wine glasses for their comrades. Iris sat down again, seeing her allies gaining more and more numbers. Elise brought out more foods for everyone from the manor as she helped them cooking.

“Oh, guys. Didn’t we not cheering for Lady Iris just yet?” asked Ehlen suddenly.

“Oh, right. Well, Lady Iris…” Rui looked at Iris and gasped.

Iris was slept on her chair. It seemed that she really tired that she fell asleep. Rudger placed his point finger on his lips, signaling for everyone to be quiet a little. He then brought Iris in his arms, made the girls gasped and cried without voice, as they wouldn’t awake Iris.

“I’ll bring her to her room,” explained Rudger, could felt his cheeks was blushed a little as people kept staring at him. “Where should she stay?” he looked at Ehlen. They’ll use his manor anyway.

“Oh…yes, the room at the end of the right hall at the first floor is fine,” answered Ehlen.

“Don’t do anything to her, will you?” Kaylee smirked, waved his hands as Rudger walked to the manor.

Rudger found the room that Ehlen mentioned. He could hear everyone outside still cheering for Iris, because the soldiers were cried, “Long live, Lady Iris!” But Iris not awoke. She really fell asleep. The brunette placed her on the bed and covered her with the blanket. Before Rudger could return to the banquet, he turned to the sleeping beauty and smiled.

“Good night, Iris.”

This post has been edited by Millie on Dec 19 2008, 10:08 PM

[Millie]

Chapter 7

Iris awoke on her bed. Her eyes blinked as she saw the sunshine struck her face. She got up and looked around. It was definitely a room. She then found two figures sat at a corner of the room, slept. Iris rubbed her eyes and finally recognized them. It was Rudger and Raijin. Apparently, they were watched over Iris for the night, as safety guarantee since no one can tell if those Harmonians decided to sneak in and kill Iris at night.

The blonde got out of her bed and brought the blanket with her. She wanted to cover them with the blanket and let them slept more. Unfortunately, Raijin woke up at the second Iris covered his body with the blanket.

“Oh, Lady Iris,” Raijin noticed Iris’ black eyes. “Good morning.”

“Good morning, Raijin,” replied Iris. At that, Rudger also awoke and rubbed his eyes lazily.

“You’re awake,” Rudger saw the blanket on his body. “What’s with this blanket?”

“I saw you sleeping, so I want to let you sleep longer, but I think it’s not necessary now,” Iris stood up. “Now, let’s have breakfast.”

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The three came out of the room after they cleaned their face. They arrived at the dinning room and found only Elise and Fennes there, cooking for the breakfast. Elise smiled when she saw the three took their seats. “Good morning. I’m not expecting you to wake up this early. Maybe it's because you were slept earlier?”

“And where’s the other?” asked Iris, received the morning tea from Fennes.

“Prince Ehlen, Lady Rui, Master Ariel, and Sir William were slept above, while the Queen’s Knights slept at the first floor west wing, Feaux went back to Lunas to give a report for Oracle Haswar,” explained Fennes, returned to the kitchen to take the pancakes from the pan. “The rest of the Stars were asleep outside, together with the soldiers, except Sir Raijin here.”

“Oh, were you gave them the blankets?” Iris got up from her seat and looked at the window. Her soldiers and the subordinates were asleep on the floor, with blankets covered their bodies. The blonde girl giggled and returned to the table to enjoy her breakfast. “They looked so enjoying the banquet, huh?”

“Verily, until Kiros tried to make underage kids drank the wine,” replied Raijin. “Sir Rudger managed to escape from them by reasoning to watch you, Lady Iris.”

“Stop calling me ‘Lady’, geez!” the black-eyed girl sighed. “Oh well, it’s not like you’ll stop anyway.”

“Good morning!” Rui appeared at the doorway, followed by Ariel, Ehlen and William. They took their seats and the breakfasts too.

“Now Lady Rui, what’s our next step?” asked Rudger suddenly.

Rui pointed at Rudger’s face. “Let me eat this pancake first, will you?” she said. Rudger sighed and decided to eat his breakfast as well. After Rui finished her last bit of her meal, she drank the tea and began to open the serious conversation. “Well, first of all, we need to find a fort.”

“A fort?” everyone frowned at the young tactician.

“You’re not thinking to keep making Prince Ehlen’s manor as our base, didn’t you?” Rui poured some milk to her tea. “Well, the manor will flood sooner or later, you know.”

“That’s true, but where?” asked William. “There was no empty fort to use.”

“The Ceras Lake Castle was drown in the lake, and I’m not sure if Father will be kindly allow us to borrow the Dawn Rune just so we can arise the castle once more,” added Ehlen, remembered that his father was once use the castle at the middle of the Ceras Lake at the previous war.

“Hm,” Ariel fell deep to his thought. “It’ll be good if there was an island where a giant castle stood, waiting for use.”

“Why it need to be in an island?” Rudger frowned.

“Well, if those Harmonian came by ship, surely we can fight back with ship too if the fort were in the middle of the sea,” Ariel shrugged, chow down another bit of his pancake and continued. “And it’s easy to do trades all over nations.”

“One thing, we’ll be difficult to travel around,” commented Rudger. “If we’re Islanders, it’ll be easier. But we, especially Iris, and me were simple fighter of the land. Falena also not a sea country, you know.”

They were deep to their thoughts again. Raijin, who didn’t like to take parts of this superior discussion, decided to get up from his seat as soon as he finished his meal. He walked to the window, and found someone entered the West Palace. Raijin frowned and tried to look at that person clearer.

“Is that one of the officers here, Prince Ehlen?” he asked, pointed at the man from the window.

Ehlen frowned and stood, approached Raijin. The silver haired man looked at the person too. The stranger was having too pale skin to be called as human, and his face was expressionless. That stranger then noticed Ehlen and Raijin looked at them. He glared at gave them a look that signaling for them to come out of the manor.

Iris, who seemed interested, tried to look at the person too. She then gasped in shock, as she had another Sight of Stars when she saw the man. Iris was finally able to get control of her body and tried not to stumble. She turned to Rudger and smiled nervous. “We need to persuade him,” she said.

Iris, Rudger, Ehlen, William, and Raijin came out of the manor, while Ariel, Elise, Rui, and Fennes waited inside. The stranger glared at the five, made them all felt a strange sensation. Still, Iris encouraged herself and approached the man.

“Al…Altus?” Iris called out.

“You know my name, and then you must be the True Rune bearer that she mentioned,” the named Altus reached out his hand to Iris. “Hand over the Rune!”

“Are you one of those Harmonians?” asked William cautious.

“Hmph. Don’t you dare compare me to those thirsty Rune mortals,” Atlus walked closer to Iris and still glared coldly to them. “Hand over the Rune!”

“We’ll be glad to,” Rudger smirked. “It’s just that, we don’t know how to free the Rune from Iris.”

“It’s simple,” Atlus pulled out his daggers and swung it to the empty air in front of the group. “I just need to kill the bearer, thus the Rune will be freed. It's as simple as that.”

“Over our dead bodies,” claimed Ehlen. They all unsheathed their weapons, ready to kill that freak.

Atlus disappeared. The five scattered, tried to figure out where he was gone. At the next seconds, William was knocked off, unconscious and fell down to the ground. The other gasped and looked at him. William fainted and he wasn’t injured, so they left him alone.

“Four left,” the voice of Altus echoed at the air and quickly disappeared.

Iris looked around. There was not even a single hint about Altus whereabouts. Even when Iris asked her Rune to locate him, the Rune was incapable to find the slightest trace. And then, Ehlen was fallen down, followed by Raijin.

“Two left,” Atlus voice resounded again. “Do you really think you can defeat me?”

“Yeah, that's if you count more careful.”

Suddenly, Kiros was already stood nearby, together with Buff, Hayate, and Ceas. Looks like they finally awake after hearing their comrades fell one by one to the ground, asleep. Or might be Altus accidentally stepped on them while he was hiding. They held out their weapons, ready to join the fight. Iris and Rudger smiled at them, but then forced to turn their concentration for the fight, since Atlus still not show himself.

Rudger blinked. He was hearing something clang with the wine bottles that scattered around the floor. So, Altus was nearby. Then a bad feeling across his mind and he quickly turned into Iris. That is, he saw Altus shadow behind the blonde girl. Rudger tried to run to her, but his movement was too slow, he wouldn’t make it in time.

Altus finally showed himself. He fell to the ground after Hayate managed to block his attack and threw him down. Iris was saved. She almost stumbled but Ceas caught her and helped her stood up firmly. Altus sat on the floor, rubbed the blood on his cheeks that came out of his mouth. That one Hayate’s attack has hurt him badly, even he wasn’t thrust the pale man with the sharp part of his spear. But before Altus could get up and do some more attacks, Buff’s sword and Kiros’ cutlass has pointed to the man’s chin.

“Give up,” the two said with serious looks. They seemed like wouldn’t show any mercy, even their master would say to stop.

Altus spit on the floor. “Alright, I gave up,” he raised his hands up. “Tch. Damn that stupid seer. Why didn’t she tell me about this?”

Iris approached the man, even Rudger tried to hold her. She kneeled before him. “Who is the girl you mentioned? Did she the one that telling you about me?”

The pale man frowned. “You don’t know about that Selena witch?”

Everyone looked at each other and shrugged. Altus smirked evilly and continued. “So, the True Rune wasn’t so perfect, after all,” he said calmly, forgot that two sharp blades still pointed to his chin.

“Explain yourself, lad,” said Kiros. “Or this cutlass shall bathe with your blood.”

“No need to be so hot-headed, mortals. Look, wake your comrades and bring me to a place where all of your comrades can hear me, so I won’t repeat it over times if they came out and wanted to hear my explanations.”

Iris nodded at her subordinates. Rudger woke Ehlen, Buff hit Raijin’s head, and Ceas shook William’s body carefully. The three finally awoke and they all entered the mansion’s lounge, gathered every Star to listen to Altus’ explanations. After everyone gathered, Altus began to explain.

“I came to this place because that witch told me to,” he said with his icy tone. “She had this Prophecy Rune. I found her and she told me if I wanted to find the Chief, I need to find the bearer of the Fate Rune first hand. And so one, she told me that you’re here.”

“Prophecy Rune…” muttered Iris, thoughtfully.

“Where is she now?” asked Rudger.

“She was unable to move her feet, so I doubt she’ll move anywhere,” Altus shrugged. “But, she can always have good profits if she opened a fortune telling shop. Her prophecy never failed. The villagers that lived around the mountain sometimes came to visit her to ask about their daily fortune.”

“A mountain? Which mountain?” Ehlen asked. He began to interest with this fortuneteller.

“Up north of Sol-Falena. Not the Ashtwal Mountain, no. The mountain was next to it, the Devandier Mountain. There was a small village and a cave too in the mountain feet. She lived at the deepest part of the mountain, so the villagers often calling her as ‘The Hermit’.”

“The Hermit…but she called herself Selena, huh?” Ariel touched his temples.

“Guys, I think we need to visit this Selena,” suggested Iris, made everyone looked at her. “Well, I don’t know if she’s a Star or not, but at least she could help us finding a suitable fort for us, right?”

“Yes. She might be able to tell us,” Rui agreed. “Well, Altus, show Lady Iris and her companion the way!”

“Why me!?” Altus grunted. But then Ceas’ trident pointed at his neck from behind. Altus gulped and sighed. “Fine. Hurry up. Even I do have all eternity, you weren’t.”

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Today’s battle party consisted of six people: Iris, Rudger, Ehlen, Clovis, Alexis, and Altus. That half-vampire led the way to the hermitage. Past Lunas to the dry land at the north of Falena, they could spot a small village after walked some miles away from the holy land.

The villagers didn’t seem very surprised to see those strangers entered their village, which meant they had seen travelers before. Ehlen rather amazed to see those people did all their daily routines without bother with their coming.

“Is something the matter, Your Highness?” asked the black haired Queen’s Knight noticed the young prince’s weird expression.
That silver haired man shook his head, “I just…wonder why I don’t know about this village’s whereabouts until this morning, and I knew it from a foreigner. How pity I am, not know about a village from my own country.”

“Prince, actually…everything had informed to Princess Ammy,” Alexis smiled, “But the Princess had been very busy lately, so I guess she only forgot to tell you about the creation of this village.”

Ehlen sighed. Iris patted that guy’s shoulder gently. “Don’t worry. It’ll be more fun to see something that you don’t know just yet,” she said.

The silver haired guy smiled a little and nodded. They proceed through the main path to the cavern. A villager was kindly let them borrowed a fire torch so they could have some light in the dark cavern. Altus kept walking ahead as the guide, and they eventually saw the end of the dark cave. There was a bright light and when Iris cs came closer, they gasped.

There was a girl sat on a rock there, closing her eyes as if she was sleeping or maybe she was meditating. Her long golden locks fell down and even touched the ground. Iris couldn’t believe her eyes. That girl emitted with light that now shined that small room of the cavern. She almost looks like…an angel, except not. That girl opened her eyes, and once again, the party was startled. She’s blind, but they knew that the girl was used to have these pretty black eyes.

The girl smiled and spoke up, “Welcome to my hermitage, Lady Iris.”

“Um, you know me?” the younger blonde girl raised an eyebrow.

“Why, yes of course. I foresee you will eventually came to me and seek for my assistance, milady. That was also the reason why I sent Altus to you.”

The vampire gasped. “Hey! Did you mean that you just using me?” he frowned at the hermit, “You really a wicked witch, Selena!”

“Sssh, I speak the truth,” Selena smiled again, “Lady Iris will eventually led you to your Chief, Altus. That is, if you wish to follow her path.”

“Fie!” Altus folded his arms, “Never! The Chief is my sole master, the one that I will always obey!”

“You can keep saying that. It’s only a matter of time until you realized that you need Lady Iris,” that blind girl turned her attention toward the Tenkai girl, “And about your true objection for coming to me, milady…You demand to find a shelter for your people of guidance, right?”

Iris nodded. “Could you please give me some clue where it is, with your ability?”

“Of course. And it is not only that, milady. I will give you a bonus.”

Selena body began to float. Everyone startled. Rudger stepped in front of Iris, took a defense stance. The party was also ready with their weapons. That girl floated on the air and raised her right arm, pointing at Iris.

“I will directly show you your greatest protector and become your ally if you can defeat me,” she sang with her melodious voice.

“Fine. I accept your challenge,” the younger blonde nodded and ready with her staff.

Selena smiled mystically. Suddenly, the light from her body was bright so shiny that everyone forced to cover their eyes to prevent a permanent blind because the dazzling light. After they could felt the light had faded a little, they opened their eyes again and found out that they were somewhere else up in mountain. There were more spaces, exactly what they need for the upcoming battle.

“Let’s begin,” the blind girl raised her arms and began chanting a spell, “Charm Arrow.”

The ground started to shake. Alexis spontaneously called out the power of her Mother Earth Rune. She used an instant Canopy Defense and thus the six was protected from the strong holy damage. Selena chanted some more magic such as Earthquake and Scolding.

“Scatter! Avoid her magic!” commanded Iris.

Everyone obeyed. Clovis jumped to the hermit’s blind spot and tried to land a hit, but an invisible barrier reflected his attacks. Ehlen called out The Shredding and unfortunately, it was futile.

Alexis gave signal toward her black haired partner and they nodded. The two made a unique stance. Clovis posed as as if he will use a Falcon style, while Alexis ready with her rapier. At the next second, the two was already moved to each other side, finished their incredibly fast unite attack.

“Hmm…impressive,” Selena's cloak was cut down, fell to the ground. Her right arm started to bleeding, but it was only a small wound. “But I expect more.”

Iris gritted her teeth, tried to think for a way to hurt the hermit badly. Then she was spotted that Altus was disappeared.

“Altus?” the younger golden haired girl cried out, “Altus!”

“Iris, concentrate in battle!” shouted Rudger after he casting a Dancing Flames toward Selena. Again, the attack was futile so the brunette decided to get on more strength works. “You back us up!”

“But…”

Selena pointed her left arm toward Rudger, and that young man floated all of sudden. Some spirit-like appeared out of nowhere and hit Rudger for multiple times, badly. Iris gasped. Just when she was trying to use her healing magic for that faint partner of hers, Iris’ body was emitted with the same light. After some awhile, the light faded away and Selena’s body became even brighter.

“I drain your magic power,” explained that hermit calmly, “I’m sorry, but I’m invulnerable against all kind of magic, so you better find another way.”

Just after she finished saying that, another magic struck Clovis and Alexis, made the two Queen’s Knight unconscious. All those left were now Iris, Ehlen and the missing Altus. Selena was still floating on the air.

“I guess it was not a fair fight,” the older blonde girl said in whispery voice.

“What do you mean?” Ehlen frowned, gripped his Nagamaki tighter.

“I read all your moves…just by seeing a single hint of your movements with my light…it were not fair, right?”

“Right, but you can’t do anything about it,” Iris replied. Her mind was busy thinking a way so she could land a hit or two on that blonde hermit.

“But I can.”

All of sudden, the scenery around them was consumed by darkness. Iris gasped; Ehlen took a defense stance in front of the lady to protect her. Now they all were inside of some kind of dark dome. Selena’s body was the only source of light now. However, it seemed like it wasn’t her work because she also wonder who did that.

“I can see you…in this darkness if mine,” the same voice from earlier spoke up.

“Altus! That’s you!” Iris sighed relieved.

“Hmph. I do not acknowledge you as my master yet, mortal. But…if you wish to let me stay with you until what this witch spoke came true…then I will help you,” answered Altus from nowhere.

“Okay, do whatever you wish. I owe you this one.”

Selena sighed. Fighting in darkness like this meant her disadvantage. Her Prophecy Rune would only work if she could felt the body of the object that she tried to predict its movement with the light that flowed out of her body. And now she must rely to her sixth sense…that is bothersome, because she wasn’t used to it even until now.

“Funeral Wind!”

The hermit could felt a strong wind blow directed toward her, but she effectively cast a Vengeful Child to deflect the attack. Now, what they will try to do…

“Eat this!”

Selena could felt her body was thrown to the ground with a single attack. The darkness faded away, and the scenery turned back into the rocky mountains. Alexis, Clovis and Rudger still fainted on the ground. The hermit was also fell down and struggle to get up, but without her legs not functioning, she had no hope to stand up. Suddenly, a blue staff was pointed at her chin.

“I guess we win,” said Iris with satisfied smile. Behind her were Ehlen with tired look for wasting his magic power and Altus who stayed with his expressionless face.

Selena sighed. “Yes, you win, milady.”

“YAAAAAY!” the blonde girl jumped, over enjoyed by her win.
“Now, show us this ‘greatest protection’ you babbling about!” Ehlen folded his arms, demanded a straight conclusion after their hard effort defeating this hermit.

“Awake your comrades first hand, Your Highness,” the older blonde girl smiled.

And so on, the three went waking up their unconscious friends. Selena teleported herself and the party back to the dark cavern of her dwellings. She was floating and went to the thick wall behind her. A large glyph appeared and the wall crumbled. That girl went ahead and the six followed her. After walking passed the hidden tunnel, they were arrived in a small bay.

“Okay…” Rudger turned his head around. Nothing was in sight except the northern seas of Falena territory. That brunette raised an eyebrow, “Where’s this fort you promised?”

“Lady Iris, please come here,” Selena was pointed at a small stone near where she was floating.

Iris nodded and approached the hermit. She noticed that the stone had these ancient symbols written on it. She frowned and Selena gave further command, “Please read what’s written on it.”

The younger golden haired girl kneeled down before the stone so she could read the text clearer. Selena was flying back to the party. Ehlen frowned at the hermit. Alexis seemed enthusiasm to see what would happen next. Clovis and Altus stayed cool and looked at the young Tenkai lazily. Rudger had a strange feeling that was reflected in his emerald eyes. Iris kept silent for some minutes until she began to chant yet another magical keyword.

“In my hand is the creator of sword that calls eternal sleep. Honor our pact and hear my command. I command thou to arise as my greatest protection. Randgriõr!”

The earth was shaken, and yet Iris was fainted again. Rudger gasped and quickly approached that little girl. Ehlen was almost stumbled backwards, but Alexis held him. Clovis wanted to complain, but then Altus pointed to the sea as a strange building suddenly rose. A wide land formed as a path led from the bay to the castle. Selena smiled mystically to see the castle-shaped like building.

“Finally, the great castle of Sindar race had arisen once again.”

[Millie]

Chapter 8

An hour before the arisen of Randgriõr; The President’s Office: Capital City of Muse, Dunan Republic.

“Hmm…what a peaceful day,” muttered Lady Teresa as she signed the last document for today, “I wonder what Iris do at Falena…”

“Maybe a lot of fun,” Sir Klaus chuckled. He walked to the nearest opened window in the room and smiling solemnly at the clear blue sky, admiring the calmness. “I guess I must agree with you that it’s a peaceful day.”

“No, sir! You’re not allowed to meet the President if you had no appointment made earlier!”

“Shut up and get out of my way!”

The blonde lady sighed. “I guess it’s not peaceful anymore.”

The office’s door was opened rather harshly. A gentleman with similar face with Teresa entered in. Behind him, an officer of the parliament was following, wanted to scold the stranger. However, the President got up from her seat, gestured for the officer to come out of the room. That officer obeyed and closed the door. Klaus could hear the moan and grunt from the officer.

“My, my,” Teresa folded her arms as she approached the young man, “How you’ve grown past this…fifteen years?”

“Stop the idle banters and I’ll get to the point: Were you sent Iris to Falena?” asked the stranger. He tried his best not to get angry toward the lady.

The blonde president smiled, “Yes, I do.”

“Teresa!” that young man hissed, still managed to control his anger, “I left Iris in your care so she wouldn’t go to that place of her true nature!”

“Yes, I do know that. You telling me about that line five times when you left your daughter to me, at that day.”

“If you understand, then why you--”

“First of all, when you gave Iris to me, you also gave me all authorities to lead her for the best path of her future, and so here I am, chose her to return to her nature,” Teresa smirked, “You had no rights to say, dear Little Brother.”

“Of course I had! Even you if got more authorities, I AM her parent! Not you!”

“Oh?” a brown eyebrow raised, “A parent? So you still dare to call yourself as such after you give Iris to your sister’s care. And…poorly, it’s because she’s a child out of wedlock. You didn’t take responsibilities at your own sinful action and yet you left her to us. Have you no shame?”

“You stay out of this, Windamier!” the stranger shouted, “You two had no idea! You have failed my trust, Teresa…I trusted you with Iris because I thought you will be able to prevent her from her miserable fate!”

The blonde lady slammed the table behind her with her bare palm, “If you want to, why don’t you keep her by yourselves! You don’t know what kind of life that she walked through because her parents left her behind! You had no rights to scold me! You had no rights to refer yourself as her father! You--”

Teresa’s words were cut because a sudden earthquake was struck the whole city. No, it wasn’t the capital only. The whole earth was shaken. Teresa ducked to the floor, while the brother of hers grabbed her shoulder, protected her. Klaus kneeled down. The three stayed calm down and some seconds later, the earthquake was stopped.

“What an unusual earthquake,” Teresa muttered. She then noticed that the young man was grabbed her body. There was a slight blush on her cheeks before she pinched the creamy skin hand, “Let me go.”

The blonde man pouted and stood up. He turned around and walked to the door, before stopped by the President’s call.

“Where are you going?”

“I’ll go fetch her myself,” he replied, “It’s no use to argue with you. Her fate has rolled on, and I swear I’ll stop it.”

“No you can’t!” Klaus hissed as he stood up again, “If you come over there without any preparations, you will only make things more complicated. It is Harmonia they were fought over.”

The young man blinked and turned his head to face the Vice-President. “Harmonia? Was it the rune hunting again?”

“Most likely,” replied Teresa, “I received the letter from her partner yesterday and he said that they were currently aiding Falena at war with Harmonia. Iris had her own True Rune now and those Harmonians demanded to take it from her. So, knowing her, she would better to fight over her freedom rather than ran away somewhere like her father.”

“I had enough,” that brother grunted, “I don’t care if it would cost my life. I will obliterate those Harmonians with my Rune.”

“We had better plan, which will make you stay longer with Iris, and make you life longer with her,” Klaus interrupted, “We were planning to aid them by providing army and my intelligence. In other words, I’ll go to Falena and help that daughter of yours.”

The young man blinked again. The blonde president smirked. “How if you trying to disguise yourself as one of our officers, my dear Little Brother?” she offered kindly, “I had prepared if something like this happen, and here you are, doing exact same thing like what I would imagine you do.”

“Okay,” that blonde man nodded, “I’ll do everything to help Iris…everything. Even it’s meant to hide my identity.”

“Good,” Teresa nodded, her face showed this expression of satisfied. “Now, I shall refer to you as…Argent. Sir Argent, I assign you to accompany Sir Windamier in our cooperation with the Falena.”

“Yes, ma’am,” replied the named Argent firmly.

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Meanwhile, in the northern coast of Falena.

Ehlen blinked his cerulean eyes. “What? That thing from the sea is…a Sindar castle?” he asked, gazed over the castle on the sea.

“Just like the arisen of Ceras Lake Castle?” Clovis added.

“Hmm…yes, maybe similar,” Selena still smiled, “It’s just that, we don’t need to use any rune here. We only need words from the Sindar people to arise these kinds of buildings.”

“Wait, what?” Alexis frowned, “Did you mean that Lady Iris is a Sindar race?”

“Yes, of course.”

Everyone gasped, except Altus. He seemed already know about this matter. Selena approached the fainted girl. She then stared at Rudger. “Well, let’s take her to a place where she can rest…” she then pointed at the castle, “Over there. There was supposed to be this good grassy garden…she could take a nap there.”

“How did you know?” asked Clovis, but then he realized, “Don’t tell me…you’re also a Sindar?”

The hermit could only smile mysteriously. “I would explain more…when we arrived in that castle and when your comrades had come all along here,” she explained, “That’s my final decision and I wouldn’t change it.”

Ehlen sighed and turned to his knights. “Alexis, Clovis…please return to the West Palace and tell everyone to come here, ASAP,” he commanded gallantly.

Alexis and Clovis couldn’t resist and gave the silver haired prince a salute before they left through the secret tunnel. Having no other choice, the party walked to the castle just like what Selena wished. Iris kept sleeping as Rudger piggyback her until they arrived in the castle.

There was truly a small garden at the entrance of the castle. The brunette laid down his partner. Selena stopped floating and decided to sit down on the bench of that garden as well. Rudger sat next to the blonde unconscious girl, observed her blank expression when she was asleep. The young prince also sat down, gazed over the blue sea that surrounded the castle. Altus was the one who still stood and leaned back against the nearby tree.

“Selena,” Ehlen called out. The hermit turned her head and stared at the prince with her blind black eyes. “I thought the Sindar race had perished from this land a long time ago…”

“Well, you must be more patient. I rather lazy to tell people the same thing over and over,” that older golden haired girl giggled and return her attention to the empty scenery from her sight.

Ehlen sighed and looked at the sea again. Just at the time, Iris woke up.

“Uhm…” that young scholar stretched out her arms and rubbed her eyes, “Was I’m sleeping?”

“No, you’re fainted after saying some weird things,” answered the brunette one.

“Hnn? Really?” Iris tried to remember about previous event, “I remember that I was trying to read the text, but suddenly everything blacked out. Was I said something at the moment?”

Rudger and Ehlen frowned at that comment. Selena sighed and shrugged, still refused to explain. Soon after, they could saw a large ship with the signature of Estrise Royal Ship on the flag. The silver haired guy could notice some certain people were aboard too. The ship get closer and finally threw an anchor on the nearby shore.

“Whoa, this one large castle!” their young tactician amused to see how tall the castle is, “It’s amazing! We could fit more than one hundred thousands men in it!”

“That was pretty fast,” said Ehlen, approached his uncle.

Ariel shrugged. “Well, soon after the earthquake ended, we decided to follow you guys. And then we saw that Alexis and Clovis were heading to Lunas. They told us everything and…well, we decided to borrow Elise’s ship for it.”

“It wasn’t a big deal,” the blonde noblewoman giggled, “That one Swanhwid of mine always ready for sail in emergency times like this.”

“Okay, so what’s with this Sindar race I heard about?” asked William, looks like very enthusiasm.

Selena smiled and started to float again. Everyone gasped to see that. “Welcome to Randgriõr, the very castle that owned by Sindar people,” she sang with her melodious voice, “Please comes this way. It must be tiring to talk while you people stand up. There was a meeting hall inside, and it’s more comfortable than here. So…shall we?”

Everyone looked at each other. But seeing that Iris followed that flying girl inside, they all also tailed from behind. Selena led them to a very wide empty hall. She signaled for everyone to sit down, and they all obeyed. That girl also stopped floating and sat down on the floor. Iris sat next to her, just like Rudger.

“Okay, let’s begin the conference now,” that blonde hermit smiled, “Who wish to ask first hand?”

Toma raised his hand, “Tell us what’s with this Sindar race.” Selena nodded firmly.

“You mankind think that Sindar race had vanished since many years ago, but that was wrong,” she said, “But that was wrong. We just hid ourselves somewhere…untouched.”

“Hm…okay…” Buff nodded.

“And could I suggest that not only Lady Iris, but you yourselves are a Sindar, lady hermit?” asked Raijin formally.

“Wait, what? You know that she’s a Sindar?” Ceas gasped.

“Well…to be honest, yes we are,” Selena nodded, “We are part of those few who dare to come out of our hideout…oh, not really like that if I think. I’m the only one who dared to do so here. Lady Iris had no idea she was a Sindar.”

“Please explain yourself,” hissed Feaux.

“I’m a pure Sindar, while Lady Iris here was born from a Sindar woman and a normal human man. I would say she’s a half, but yet she mostly inherit the blood of Sindar.”

Iris gulped. She herself didn’t even know about that. Yet Selena knew everything. Was it because of her Prophecy Rune? Or it is because they share the same blood, the Sindar race blood? That blonde Tenkais got a headache all of sudden, and her partner seemed notice about it.

“Stop this rubbish,” he said suddenly, “So what if Iris is a Sindar? Her nature meant nothing in this matter.”

“Oh no, it meant really much, Sir Rudger,” the hermit smiled, “It meant she will able to read the rest of the Sindar text, and it meant she will able to solve every mystery of Sindar.”

“Yeah, I know that. But in this war, it’s not meant a thing except if she lost her, we would lose so much.”

“I guess that’s true,” Ehlen chuckled from his sit place, “Was that meant you also my relative, Lady Iris?”

Everyone frowned at the young prince. That silver haired guy chuckled even harder, “Oh c’mon! The legend said that the first Queen of Falena is a Sindar! That’s makes Lady Iris and Lady Selena are both my distance relatives!”

“Oh yes, of course,” Selena smiled too. “Is there something else to ask?”

“Does it will be really okay for us to use this castle?” asked Hayate.

“Yes, of course. Now Lady Iris is the master of the castle. If she wish and need the castle for this current war then so be it. I believe our ancestor will bless us about it too.”

“Okay, then I suggested we must draw all soldiers at West Palace to here,” said Rui, concluded everything. “Lady Barows, I’m sorry but could you let us borrow some more ships for the soldiers?”

Elise smiled and nodded, “I’ll be honored then. Now, let’s go, Willy. We must get them fast.”

The lady and her younger brother got up from their seat. After they gave Iris a small salute, the two went downstairs and set sail the Swanhwid to return to Estrise’s port. Now everyone turned his or her attention to the army’s tactician again.

“What now?” Latina asked with her enthusiasm tone.

“Well, I guess we need to look around and get you guys rooms…and knowing the geographic so I can plan further tactics!” that brunette girl smirked, “Now, Lady Selena, if you please to show me a--”

“Pardon for my interruption.”

Everyone turned around and looked at Feaux and Fennes, who were assigned by their master to watch the surrounding from outside. They seemed as pale as Altus. The silver haired master got up and approached them. “What’s wrong?” Ariel asked. There was slight worry in his voice.

“We saw some cavalries heading this way from western bay,” informed the emerald haired elf seriously. “They brought the same army flag with those of mercenaries brought at the last war.”

Everyone gasped. “They wanted to attack us this soon?” Kaylee grumbled, annoyed. “Can’t they take a little break?”

“Unfortunately, Sir Kaylee, The three units from Reinhold mercenary that we fought over at the previous war weren’t the main units. I presume there were lot of them hiding while the three were taken along in that war,” Rui folded her arms, “And I suggest now their leader finally show up to infiltrate us. Maybe because they thought we had not yet brought along our soldiers here, so…”

“Okay, enough,” Toma got up, intervened the long speeches. “You had any plan?”

“Once again, unfortunately no,” the small woman played with her brown hair, “With our current total here, we can only defeat one or two units. The rest will kill us at once.”

“I guess not,” Selena started to float again. She turned her head toward Iris. “We had secret weapons at the basement. Follow me, Lady Iris, Lady Rui. I will show you a way.”

“Alright,” the young Sindar girl nodded and got up. “Everyone, please get ready for the fight.”

“Yes, ma’am!” replied everyone in the hall.

Selena led Iris, Rui and Rudger (remember, he’s Iris’ bodyguard) to the basement. They ran all the way to that place and finally stopped in front of a large door. Selena touched it a little and the door opened widely, let the four entered. And look how they were so surprised.

In that large and wide chamber, many mannequin-looks like stored. At least there were three hundreds strange mannequin. Iris and Rudger recognized them.

“Claymore…?” Iris muttered nervously, “But, I thought they were all demolished?”

“What? What is a Claymore?” asked Rui, unfamiliar with the word.

“It was a puppet that could be controlled with some kind of crystal. We focused our magic power on the crystal, thus we could control the Claymores. It’s required a large amount of magic power to do so, but…” Rudger stopped and gasped, then he rolled his eyes to the hermit, “…Did you mean the Sindar also created it?”

Selena smiled mystically and nodded. “Yes, we are. Some had been destroyed when humans used it very long time ago, but some still stored here. The Claymores are worth the power of ten men. So I guess it’s enough to use them in battle with those mercenaries?”

“Yes…yes, of course!” the young tactician got her spirit back, “Now, bring every pieces of it out of the room! Are the crystals around too?”

“Yes. Over there,” the older Sindar girl pointed at the edge of the room. There were some white pale crystals on the crates.

“Good. I have plans ready. Call everyone, let’s go to the battle!”

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At the other place: Solde, the port city of Toran Republic.

“Are you ready?” asked the vice-president to a certain blonde.

Argent nodded firmly. “Let’s get going: to Falena.”

This post has been edited by Millie on Dec 31 2008, 02:10 AM

[Millie]

Chapter 9

“Now, the Claymores had taken out of the storage room?” asked Rui, “Quick! They’ll come nearer and nearer as time passes, you slow head! You need to work quick, quick, and quick!”

“It’s okay, they still not come to the large path to our castle,” said Ariel, tried to calm down that young tactician.

While everyone busy, three mages had surrounded three command crystals. They will use those crystals to control the Claymores. Each crystal could control one hundred Claymores, and because there’s only three hundreds Claymores, they only required three command crystals.

“I hope it’ll work,” said Iris.

“Iris…you’ll control one of em, right?” asked her brunette bodyguard.

“Yes I am. What’s the matter, Rudger?”

“…Could you control the Claymores in my unit? That way, if something happens you’ll know…immediately.”

Iris blinked. She stared at Rudger’s eyes. Those emerald eyes somehow filled with unexplained worries. The young Sindar girl smiled encouragingly and patted the Queen’s Knight Apprentice’s shoulder gently.

“Okay,” she said confidently, “As exchange, do your best out there and erase that worry looks! I will be here, so nobody will harm me!”

Rudger smiled and nodded. Ehlen called for him and that brunette forced to return to the main business. The second campaign is approach near.

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Everyone had set out to the large drenched path that connected the bay and Randgriõr.

Currently, there were only three units against the Reinhold Mercenary. One was led by Toma, Kaylee, and Kiros; the second was led by Clovis, Raijin, and Buff; and the last one was led by Rudger, Ehlen, and Hayate. And of course, they were leading Claymore soldiers. Ariel, Feaux, and Fennes will help by shooting arrows from the castle. While Iris, Selena, and Latina were handling the command crystals, Altus and Alexis became the spare if one of them used all of their magic power.

At the mercenary side, there were total five units and all of them are cavalry units. They were in advantage because the three units were all infantry.

Rui had made the plan very clear: buy some times until the Swanhwid returned with some ships and their soldiers on it. At least they shouldn’t worry. Selena said a Claymore worth ten arms men, so they could buy enough time waiting for the ships coming.

The Reinhold mercenary were watching the situation as the three units were placed like guarding the only way to get to the castle.

“Sir, shall we attack them now?” asked one mercenary.

The leader, who was a man with orange short hair and some scary scars on his face, laughed hardly. “Of course, men!” he said, “Let’s charge them forward! We outnumber them! Let’s take the Fate Rune and gift it to those Harmonians!”

“Yes we shall, sir! Sir Gruff, sir!”

The mercenary cheered and they started to move forward. Toma turned to the other units’ generals.

“Just like what Lady Rui planned: I’ll go first and block some of them, then when I reduced some numbers, the second one will following. Just as we draw them nearer, the last unit will throw them some magic, and helped by the archers at the castle,” he explained, “Got it?”

“Yes, sir!” replied the Queen’s Knights plus the other generals.

The gray haired man nodded in satisfied and turned around to see the cavalries that came closer and closer. “Now, let’s move out!”

Toma, Kaylee, and Kiros rush ahead to the first unit. It was just the ordinary cavalry, so they quickly wiped the unit to half of their normal total. The unit retreated to treat their wounds. Now here's come the leader’s unit.

“Hi ya,” Gruff greeted Toma, “We didn’t get to meet at the last war, Queen’s Knight.”
“Shut up,” Kiros said as he killed his eleventh’s prey.

As their unit engaged in battle with the leader’s unit, two cavalries were managed to slip off and heading to the castle. “Now, Clovis!” shouted Kaylee aloud.

“I don’t need your command,” the black haired Queen’s Knight brought his unit behind him. “Let’s show them hell.”

And the blood sheds in the big road. It was drifted away from the hard path because the sea waves rolls and cleared the path from their bloods. Clovis defeated one unit, and another one slipped away even they were heavily wounded. Rudger was ready with his Fire Rune. He cast an Explosion and the unit was defeated at once.

“Yep, two died,” Rui was giggled as she watched from the castle’s height. She had the task to watch how the battle going together with Ceas who assigned to keep watch if something unexpected happen.

“Alexis, replace me,” Latina called out her comrade. The blue-eyed brunette nodded and took the crystal from the blonde woman.

“Found any sign of the Swanhwid just yet, Altus?” asked Ceas from the opposite side. The vampire shook his head slowly and continued watching the east seas. The green-eyed girl sighed and paid more attention to the shore where the Reinhold Mercenary is.

Back to the battlefield, Clovis has to defeat another unit. He and his troop stopped to take a small rest, waited for the remained one unit to come after him. Toma and Gruff’s unit still fought each other. Rudger’s unit now moved forward. They had prepared Ehlen for his Wind Rune to help defeating the rest of the units.

“Was that magic unit or combat unit?” Gruff frowned after once again his sword clanked with Toma’s weapon.

“Why do you care?” the grey haired Queen’s Knight remained cool and tried to land some wounds on the mercenary leader’s body.

“Well, if it’s a magic unit, then…you know what people said: eyes pay for eyes, magic pay for magic!”

A sudden Furious Blow struck Rudger and his unit. Ehlen stopped chanting his spell. Everyone in the unit including the Claymores fell down to the ground. Iris, who handling the command crystal for the Claymores in that unit, gasped and shocked as she felt a strong electricity bit his fingers.

“Lady Iris?” Selena whispered as she still concentrated with her command crystal.

“Rudger…!” the young Sindar girl got up and ran to the window next to Rui. She saw the unit was defeated. “No! No, Rudger!”

“Calm down, Lady Iris!” Rui tried to calm that Tenkai girl down.

And back to the battlefield, Clovis’ unit was busy handling the one remained unit that they couldn’t treat Rudger and the other. Toma was also still busy with Gruff. None could aim their healing magic to them because they were too far. Rudger tried to get up, even his body felt utter pain. Hayate was unconscious, while Ehlen felt his body all paralyzed that he couldn’t get up.

“Bas…tard…” the brunette muttered as she tried to find the unit who attacked him.

“Where they are?” Ariel hissed as he tried to look at the battlefield clearer, but it was no use.

“There!” Fennes pointed at small crevices between mountains with another. There was a slight shade of a unit hiding over there. “Unfortunately, the arrow won’t reach there.”

“Is there nothing we can do?” Feaux bit his lower lip.

“Eyes pay for eyes, magic pay for magic.”

Another Furious Blow struck, now not attacking Rudger’s unit but hit the hidden mercenary unit. Everyone gasped as those people looked at the eastern seas. There was a large battleship heading to their way. Iris gasped again as she saw the symbol on the flagship.

“That’s…Dunan Navy Forces!” she said cheerfully.

“Looks like we come in a right time,” Klaus smiled as he stood at the bow of the ship.

Argent was the one who led the soldiers to cast the Thunder Rune at the hidden unit. From their position, they could saw clearly those barbarians. That blonde young man turned to the skillful tactician. “What now?” he asked.

“Hmm…Barrage to the rest men that left alive,” commanded the brown haired man firmly.

Argent nodded and raised his hand. The soldiers were ready with the bow and arrows and now aiming for the hidden unit. They quickly shot all arrows and it all ended the life of that one unit. Iris jumped in joy as she saw the action. Altus however, saw the Swanhwid had returned with some smaller ships behind them.

“Sorry we’re late!” shouted William from the bow of Swanhwid.

“It’s okay! Just bombard them!” yelled Kaylee as loud as he can.

“Understood... Men, barrage,” ordered Elise clearly.

Every soldier unleashed the arrows to the remained enemies. Gruff, found out that he couldn’t risk dying here just yet, quickly shouted, “Run! Run!”

“Sir Toma, shall we follow them?” asked Raijin as he approached the grey haired Queen’s Knight.

Toma shook his head. “Let them run,” he smirked, “I’m sure the Harmonians had their own special way to punish those losers.”

Iris and the rest of Stars came out of Randgriõr. That blonde girl quickly cast her Rebirth to heal everyone that wounded. Both of Dunan flagship and Swanhwid anchored at the nearby path. Klaus and Argent approached the Tenkai girl and her comrades.

“How do you do, Iris?” asked the brunette vice-president, whom received an immediate hug from the young scholar.

“Sir Klaus! I’m so glad you came to help us! If you don’t know, oh my, maybe Rudger will…will…” Iris shook her blonde hair and smiled, “No, at any rate, I’m so glad to see you again!”

“Me too,” Klaus chuckled.

Rudger got up after his wounds fully healed. He stood next to Iris and bowed a little. “Thank you for your aid, sir,” he said.

Iris released the hug and nodded. She noticed that Argent was stared at her with strange looks. Once again, that girl had a quick Sight of Stars. “Uhm…who is this gentleman, Sir Klaus?” asked the blonde doubtly.

Klaus rolled his eyes to the blonde man behind him and smiled warmly. “This man is Argent. Lady Teresa found his talent and recruited him, even he’s actually a Highlander,” he explained, “Argent, this is Iris…you know her.”

Argent nodded and stepped forward. He held out his hand and smiled kindly to the girl. “It’s a pleasure to be your acquaintance, Lady Iris,” he said. He felt awkward to call her ‘lady’, but it went unnoticed as Iris smiled back at him.

“Yes, me too,” she said.

“By the way, Sir Klaus…were you just accidentally had a trip past here, or the President demanded you to help us?” asked the brunette bodyguard.

“Oh, of course we come here to help you kids,” Klaus gave Iris a polite salute, followed with Argent’s deep bow. “Would you accept our aid, Lady Iris?”

“Yes, of course I am!” Iris chuckled. “I, Iris Atreides, am honored to have your service and allow you to join my humble army.”

At first, everyone blinked. They turned silent. Even Argent blinked to hear what the Sindar girl just said. Klaus kept his usual smile. Rudger stayed cool. Iris raised an eyebrow.

“What? Why you guys become silent all of sudden?” she asked innocently.

“Wait a minute, milady,” Buff spoke up, “I thought your name is Iris Wisemail? What’s with this Atreides stuff?”

Iris giggled. “Oh yeah, I forgot to mention it,” she took a deep breath before explaining. “I’m Lady Teresa Wisemail’s niece. My father is her brother, however he took another name for some reason, and I ended up inheriting the last name. Officially, I came here with Wisemail name as it’s also an official visiting, so…well…”

Everyone still silent, tried to understand what she meant. Iris continued, “Auntie said if I wish, I could introduce myself with my true name in front of my friends, so…” she sighed, “I’m sorry to lie to you all.”

“Ha, no need to worry, milady!” Hayate suddenly cheered, “No matter what your name, you still you, right? It’s not a big deal!”

“True,” Ehlen said, “We won’t turn you down only because you’re not using Wisemail name anymore.”

Iris smiled widely and nodded. “Thank you!”

“By the way…” Rui folded her arms, “What’s with this ‘my humble army’? Can’t you think more beautiful name, Lady Iris?”

“Nah, I don’t have time…”

“Oh geez, and here I hope we got some cool names!” grunted Ceas.

“Why don’t we discuss about it later?” suggested Selena with her usual mystical smile, “We must preserve the soldiers with their rooms, and such. The Randgriõr is pretty old, so we need to do some cleaning.”

“What? What are we, cleaning service?” Latina pouted.

Everyone laughed, but those people still heading to the castle, led the soldiers that had hopped off from the Swanhwid. Klaus and Argent were following from behind.

“You must be glad, eh?” the brunette one chuckled, “She used your family name, at last.”

“Bah, not my family anymore,” replied the blonde one.

“Oh yes, but you insist not to bear the Wisemail name even Teresa asked you to do so.”

“Who want to acknowledge I had that stupid old man’s blood by use the name?”

Klaus raised an eyebrow. “You know what? I can’t seem to understand what’s in your mind. If you rejected both, which one will you be?”

Argent smiled icily. “Myself.”

[Millie]

Chapter 10

It had past some weeks after the last war with the Reinhold Mercenary Brigade. The Fate Army finally established. They had settled down in Randgriõr for these past weeks.

Thanks for Klaus and Ehlen’s great connection; they gain a trading company as their temporary ally in this war to supply the armors for the soldiers. Randgriõr’s location also part of the reason they had convenience trading. It was located on the middle of the sea between the Northern Continent and Southlands with large drenched lands at both front side and backside, which connected the two continents.

Everything had gone smoothly. The soldiers had their own room, and they had started the daily training so they could get ready for the next war. The Queen’s Knights (minus Rudger) and the rest of the nobles sometimes must return to do their works, so Randgriõr often turned so silent.

That’s why Lady Iris must gather more Stars.

Iris had come back from visiting Island Nations Federation by borrowing one Dunan Naval ship as the hermit pointed that some Stars was currently at the islands. As far, they had recruited four Stars: Katarina, Demetrius, Filo, and Sydnee. The four really excited to work here. Katarina, Demetrius, and Filo helped for being buskers, while Sydnee helped training the naval fleet.

“I’m glad the castle grown crowdier now,” said Iris as she walked at the hallway in the third floor of Randgriõr with Rudger.

“Aren’t you supposed to train too, for the next war?” asked the brunette bodyguard.

“Oh please. I've grown stronger from adventuring at Island Nations Federation. Beside, the Harmonians had not made any moves since two weeks ago.”

“Hhh... absolutely...”

The two continued walking around the castle until they arrived in the castle’s yard and saw Sydnee was watching Altus from a far. Iris approached the brunette lady and patted her shoulder from behind.

“Hey there, Sydnee...”

“Whoa! What's wrong? The enemy is attacking?” Sydnee quickly drew his rapier, almost skewered the young Sindar girl if the brunette Queen’s Knight didn’t pull her backwards. “Ooops, I'm sorry, milady. My bad,” she said, regretted.

“Yeah, it’s okay,” replied Iris even she still afraid of the blade. After the older woman sheathed her rapier, she asked, “Why are you looking at Altus from distance like this?”

“Um…I just curious…I was never seen a vampire before.”

“Oh I see…why don’t you trying to look closer at him?”

“Well…he seemed not friendly,” reasoned Sydnee, “Beside…he’s a vampire…”

“He’s not sucking blood if he didn’t meet evil female,” explained Rudger, “But yeah. He’s unfriendly. He said he didn’t want to talk if it’s not about searching for his master.”

“Hmm,” Iris left Sydnee and walked to the brown haired vampire. Altus was currently leaning on the castle’s wall and rather hidden in the shade. He looks like sleeping but when he felt those teens approached him, he opened his eyes.

“Hey, Altus,” greeted Rudger flatly. “Sleeping in daylight?”

Altus didn’t answering. He only stared at both scholar partners and stayed silent. Iris raised an eyebrow. “Is something the matter? Or are you thinking about that Chief you searching for?” she asked innocently.

“That witch refused to tell me where is her whereabouts,” Altus grunted, “She kept saying if I follow you then I’ll eventually met with the Chief, but yet--”

“Lady Iris!”

Fennes was running from the backyard and heading to the castle’s master. That elf gave her a little salute before explaining, “Milady, there was this angry villager heading from north land to here. They bringing torches and swords, but I can’t seem to know the reason.”

Iris looked at her brunette bodyguard and they nodded. “Altus, Fennes, Sydnee, come with me. We’ll confront them and try to find out their will for coming here,” she ordered straightly.

The three Stars nodded. The five then heading to the backyard. If they were villagers, then they must be from near Kanakan. But as far as she knew, Iris never crossed the land nor she heard her Stars from any near place. The five finally arrived at the back entrance and saw a group of villagers heading to the castle.

“Gosh, looks like they really are mad,” Rudger frowned.

When the villagers arrived in the entrance, one of them stepped forward and shouted loudly, “Who’s the one that called as Iris?”

Iris moved forward and smiled nervously. “I am, sire,” she said.

“So, was this rumor about you had a vampire in your army was true?”

“You demand to see me, mortal?” Altus crossed his arms in front of him and stayed expressionless.

“You!” other villager exploding in anger, “You were the one who attack our village and turned half of our villagers into zombies! Explain yourself!”

Iris and the other gasped. They turned their head toward the brunette vampire, who still stayed cool. “You were the one who must explain yourself, mortals. I had no a slightest idea about what you were saying just now,” Altus replied calmly.

“Liar!” yelled the next villager, “We saw you right ahead! You had that calm expression, pale face, and…and…”

“Sepia hair, no?” asked the vampire coldly, “Blue eyes, no? Does the vampire wear black coat? You don’t see anything familiar with me, right?”

“Beside, wasn’t vampire could only turn human into vampire?” Sydnee frowned.

“Yes, I only know that vampire will turn human to vampire, and about zombies, only Neclord who mastered the skill to resurrect zombies,” added Iris firmly.

“W-well…the one we saw exactly a vampire…but I think…the vampire is a female…”

At that, Altus blinked. “Female…? Was she a white haired vampire, with the red blood eyes?” he asked, walked toward the villagers with threatening aura.

“W-well…I guess so…”

“Where did she go?” Altus shouted, “Didn’t you see her went somewhere? Tell me, where she went!”

“Uh, um…Altus...? Altus, calm down,” Iris tugged at the vampire’s black coat.

“Well, if you want to see, why don’t you come to our village, then?” offered a villager from the rear. He quickly received glares from his comrades. “I-I mean, under the tight security from us…yeah,” he quickly added.

“I guess we can…” the young Sindar girl turned to her Stars, “Well?”

“We must ask Lady Rui’s permission first hand,” suggested the violet haired elf politely. Because Iris was not really a great leader just yet, all permission to travel, and such must consulted to Rui. If the tactician allowed the Tenkai girl, then she can go in some time.

“Then let me--”

“Where will you go this time?”

A high-pitched voice cut Sydnee’s words. The brunette tactician was already stood behind them. She walked along with Klaus and Argent. Sydnee and Fennes stepped aside to let them approached Iris and Rudger.

“You really love to travel, aren’t you, Lady Iris?” Rui sighed and shook her head slowly.

“Lady Selena did say that the Stars are spread through out many countries, Lady Rui,” Klaus chuckled from behind, “That meant Lady Iris must travel to many places in order to gather them all under her lead.”

“Please let me go, Rui. Altus finally found a clue about the person he’s searching for,” pleaded Iris with her cutest expression, “Please?”

“Just let her,” suggested Argent, “Maybe she’ll find some Stars while they travel to Kanakan.”

Rui sighed. “Okay. From here to Kanakan require two days, so back forth will be total four days. I will let you go for seven days. Finish the problem in three days.”

“Okay, okay. Thank you, Rui!”

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Today’s party consisted Iris, Rudger, and Altus only. The villagers not allowed any other person to accompany them as they thought if they add more people they might be will harm the village. The Tenkai girl must gave up as they saw it as a safety guarantee act.

First, they travel from the drenched land at the north of the castle and arrived at Northern Continent, Kanakan regional. What made them annoyed is that the villagers refused to help them fight the enemies, which they came across and rather choose to not fight.

After two days walking, they arrived at Kanakan. True, the village was ruined. Some house brunt down and there was only a few villagers left wandering around the village’s small roads. Iris could saw some graveyards built along the roads, maybe for the villagers that had turned into zombies and slain.

“You never came here, right?” asked the brunette Queen’s Knight to the brunette vampire. Altus merely shook his head and stayed expressionless.

“Now, what should we do?” Iris looking around the village, “Altus, had any idea?”

“If the Chief was really here…I suppose to be able to feel her presence, even it was just small traces.”

“Hey!”

A small stone was thrown directly toward Altus. The vampire swiftly lift his long black coat to cover his face and hence the attack undamaged his face. Iris look who was the culprit and it was apparently a small village boy. He was glaring at Altus as angry as his facial expression could make.

“You're filthy demon, you! You turn my Mama and my Papa into zombie!” he cried out “Give back my Mama and my Papa!”

Altus stared back at the boy, made the little guy shuddered a little. Iris could only sigh. Rudger stopped a man who was accompanied them to the village.

“Sir, did you saw from where the vampire or the zombies appearing?” he asked sternly.

“Well…” the villager man rubbed his chin a little, “Hmm…if I’m not wrong, from the west. There was a cave to the underground…so it must be a best way for the vampires to hide.”

“Okaaay…” Iris shrugged, “Let’s explore the cave then.”

“Wait!” the small boy stopped them and pointed straightly at Altus’ face. “He can’t go! How if he resurrecting more zombies there? You must stay here and we’ll watch you over so we can see if you’re not the culprit!”

“Alright, alright,” Altus grumbled. He turned to the blonde girl, “Lady Iris, if by any chance, you happen to meet with a lady with white hair and red eyes…please bring her to me.”

“Of course,” Iris nodded firmly.

Altus smiled a little before he turned into a black bat, which made Iris scared and quickly hid behind her bodyguard. That bat flied toward the tree and slept with the usual upside down position.

“Um, kid, please watch over him,” said the young Sindar girl. The boy only nodded as he walked toward the tree and observed the now-in-bat-mode Altus.

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Iris and Rudger went to the cave at the western side of the town. A cavern goes deep into the underground. Rudger lit a wood with his Fire Rune to make a torch while they went to the deeper part. The monsters inside rather nasty, however, Iris learnt the next level of her Fate Rune because of this. It is called Growth, raising all stats temporary, and has a regen effect.

“Phew, was it still long before we reached the underground?” asked Rudger, rather tired.

Iris shrugged. “We should keep on going…two days left for us to inspect this matter. But…” the blonde girl sighed, “I wonder why the vampire is invading the town. It’s nothing special, nor is it near a large cemetery or such.”

“Point made. Maybe just thirst of blood?”

“I thought I read that the vampires had control their bloodlust since the Chief regained her Moon Rune again fifteen years ago.”

“The Chief…the one that Altus’ mentioned…?”

“Most like—Rudger!” Iris tugged at the brunette’s long ribbon, almost made Rudger yelped with the sudden stop. That girl pointed at a source of light from the deeper parts. “Someone’s there!”

Rudger led over while Iris following from behind. There was truly a person over there. He wore a red cape, so it almost impossible to see his facial expression. The Queen’s Knight Apprentice rolled his emerald eyes toward his ‘master’ and they nodded in agreement. Rudger handed over the torch to Iris and he disappeared. At the next second, he had jumped toward the stranger and swung his sword. Surprisingly, the other man successfully blocked the attack and made the brunette thrown aback.

“Rudger...!” Iris immediately approached her bodyguard. The brunette twitched in pain, but nothing dangerous. When that Sindar girl raised her head to look at the stranger, she noticed that the man had a blood red eyes and short silver hair.

“You are…humans?” asked that man slowly.

“And you’re zombie?” Rudger asked back.

But that man shook his head. “I’m human too…My name’s Ryusei” he pulled down his hood, revealing his face clearer now. “What are you kids doing? It’s a dangerous place.”

“We’re searching from the one whom responsible in making the zombies attack the village nearby,” explained the blonde girl, “From the information we got, the zombies seemed coming from this way, so…well, you got the point.”

“…Village?”

“...A village at the east from this cavern.”

The man folded his arms. For a while, they turned into a deep silent, until the silver haired one gasped and shook his head. “No…no way. I had mistaken,” he muttered, “Then again, a village? Nearby…?” the man looked at Iris sternly and continued, “Say, young lady. Did you bring another companion with you? Maybe elves or the worst is…vampire?”

“Uhm yes, our vampire companion is the one who was accused as the culprit for this incident, so we came here to clear his name. The villagers currently keep watch on him so they could believe it wasn’t his fault…,” explained Iris again.

“Foolish…” the man sighed.

“Hey, what makes you say so?” Rudger crossed his arms in front of him.

“The village nearby at the east…and even bringing vampire as your companion…you really make a big mistake.”

“Yeah, and what do you mean with that?”

“That village…was actually the village of zombies.”

Both teenagers gasped and looked at each other before looked at the man, surprised. That silver haired man continued, “I’m here because when I visit the village to kill their boss, they said the boss was currently out to this place, yet it seems like I was fooled by them.”

“No way…” the owner of a pair of black eyes widened her eyes in fear.

“Those zombies could live only by sacrificing immortal creatures, such as elves, or the best is vampires. As far, they managed to survive by capturing elves…but the elves now learned about the zombies nature, and they decided to not come across the village anymore,” that man folded his arms, “Now they got vampire to be sacrificed. Pretty good...”

“Rudger,” Iris turned to her brunette partner and grabbed his hands, “We need to get back to the village and save Altus!”

“Yeah, but--”

A sudden loud sneeze echoed and then followed by a loud bump. Something was just fallen down to the ground behind the three, and they quickly grabbed their weapon, prepared if that was a monster or something dangerous. However, they were surprised to see three ladies were appeared there.

One of them, the white haired and wore a blue cape grunted as she tried to get up. “Ow…” she moaned, “Viki, you dumb! Can you teleport us more gentle?”

“I'm sorry, Sierra! I was just had this urgent to sneeze…,” replied the woman with long black hair.

“Hhh…” the black caped woman sighed heavily. She sat on the ground and rubbed her temples, when she realized something and turned her head toward the white haired lady next to her. “Chief, Nash is gone.”

“Huh?” the called ‘Chief’ gasped and turned her head, looking at her surroundings in panic before she glared icily at the named Viki. “...Viki! You didn’t teleport Nash with us!”

“Huh? Huh? Oh no...!” Viki widened her eyes in fear. “Oh…what to do...? I’m not sure if I left him or I was made him teleported somewhere…”

As Sierra and Viki panic, the blonde noticed another thing. She looked at Iris, Rudger and the red-cloaked man with her emerald eyes. That pale woman tugged at the Chief and silently pointed at the three confused spectators. The three ladies quickly got up.

“Mortals, excuse me but could you kindly tell us where are we right now?” asked the Chief.

“Deep in an underground cave near Kanakan,” replied Rudger, still in alert. He could tell that the two pale women are quite a strong fighter.

“Oh, I see…” the white haired woman nodded, understand. She turned around to Viki. “Now, Viki...! You must teleport us back to Toran!”

“Wait!” Iris stepped forward, made the three older women looked at her. “Um, my name is Iris Atreides. You two--” she pointed at the Chief and the black coated woman, “—are vampires, right?”

“Why yes, of course we are.”

“Do you know about a vampire named Altus, perchance?”

Sierra lifted an eyebrow and crossed her arms in front of her. She thinking for a while until her follower snapped, “Altus, the half who was born through Dyane relationship with a human man. Felicia reported to me that she wished to bring the newborn baby run from the village soon after that jerk Neclord stole the Rune from you, Chief.”

“Oh that baby?” that white haired woman smiled, “Yes, I remember now. What’s with him? Are you his acquaintance, young mortal?”

Iris nodded. “He wished to meet you, and, if you don’t mind, please help us release him from a danger!”

“What?” the three women raised an eyebrow constantly.

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“Ugh…” Altus desperately tried to open his eyes. Even he was just sleeping on the tree; he felt his stamina evaporated mysteriously. When he finally able to fully open his blue eyes, he had turned to his human mode and was tied into a large cross. He tried to struggle with the chain that belted his hands, but it was useless.

The villagers around him laughed loudly. It was night, and they finally revealed their identity. They were truly zombies, with pale skin and dirt all over their body and scratched clothes. A zombie held a silver sword with him. Altus finally understood his situation. He trapped and will become a sacrifice. He had heard from his former master that there was a zombie village where the inhabitants were kept living by using bless of eternal blood that flows through immortal creatures like elves and vampires. And it seemed, this year their sacrifice will be a vampire.

“Hey, you dumbass vampire,” mocked a zombie kid from afar, “Whaddya think huh? We’re pretty genius even though we’re brainless, eh?”

Altus stayed silent.

“We’re different with the zombies in the north! They’re so stupid; they can't rebel against the order from the one who resurrected them! We’re not like that, we lived by our own, and we will live with the help of your blood!”

Altus was still silent.

“Hey!” the zombie kid got angry, but he smirked wickedly. “Hmph... Whatever! Dad, make him died for good.”

“You don’t need to ask, sonny,” the zombie with silver sword replied.

“Any last wishes, vampire?” asked a zombie from behind him with a mocking tone.

“…I wish you guys beaten and dried into the sunlight,” muttered Altus whispery.

“Okay, you say it. Unfortunately, we can’t dry under the sun light, folly,” laughed another zombie.

Altus stayed silent and closed his eyes, he wished he could sleep more to restore his stamina and kill those zombies, but that cross seems absorbed all his energy.

“Now, prepare to die!”

CLANG!

Altus opened his eyes. It was the sound of metal met metal, so that meant he wasn’t killed just yet. A vampire with long golden hair was stood before him. She managed to fling away the silver sword before it could thrust the male vampire straight into his heart. All zombies widened their eyes in shock.

“Who are you…?” mumbled Altus weakly.

The vampire turned around and slashed the chains that held Altus to the cross, with her rapier made the man fell to the ground. The vampire lady stretched out her hand and helped Altus stood on his own two feet. “Rachel,” she said, “One of the survivors from Blue Moon Villages that happen to not became bloodlust.”

“I see,” muttered Altus, “So, it wasn’t her after all.”

“If you were searching for the Chief, she was over there.”

Altus raised his head and found the zombies that kept guard the village’s entrance was being defeated by Iris, Rudger, the cloaked man, and the Chief. They slain them into two pieces, made the zombies unable to resurrect anymore. They made their way to the podium where the two vampires stood.

“Altus! Are you okay?” asked the Sindar girl, worried. Altus only nodded slowly. His attention was distracted by the appearance of the white haired vampire.

“Chief…” he called out.

Sierra smiled. “Hello. You never met me face to face, but you recognize me, eh?”

“Felicia told me about you…a lot.”

“Oh, I see…” the vampire elders giggled, but then her face showed an alert expression. She turned around, and everyone noticed that the zombies had become furious. “It’s looks like we have no time to chit-chat.”

“Ryusei, I beg your assistance,” said Iris to the red-eyed man. Ryusei was merely nodded and ready with his nodachi.

Rudger started quickly cast an Explosion to every zombies that surrounded them. They all burnt into ashes. Iris and Ryusei then charged forward, killing zombies at the next line. Meanwhile, Sierra signaled her two vampires to help her annihilated a cluster of zombies.

“It’s Hunting Time,” she smirked.

At the next second, both the Chief and Altus disappeared. The next time, they bit the zombies next, drained the rest of those undeads’s life. Rachel though, didn’t join the ‘bloodsucking’ fest; she stayed on the podium with sick expression. After the two vampires satisfied, the blonde vampire charged and slain the zombies nearby.

“Hey,” Altus stood back-to-back with Rachel, “Help me out with this one.”

“No prob,” replied the vampiress.

The full moon suddenly covered with darkness, and everything turned shady. Iris stopped attacking and took defense stance. Rudger protected the lady beside him. Ryusei was just concentrating to sense any zombies’ movements. Sierra, realized what happened, just smiling terrifying at her place.

“...The Dark Moon!”

Just as the moon finally beamed upon the village, almost all zombies were slain into pieces. To be blunt, Altus was using his power to control darkness and covered the moon so there will be no zombies could react when in the deep darkness. Rachel used this moment to kill every zombie in her reach. And thus, they managed to execute almost every zombie in that village.

“Now, run!” shouted Iris loudly.

Everyone nodded. The path to the entrance had been cleared. Viki had waiting over there, ready to teleport everyone to Randgriõr at once. When they arrived, some zombies tried to catch them. However, those zombies were excessively slow, hence Viki finished her cast, and everyone was teleported to the very Sindar’s castle.

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Iris and the others landed on the shallow path that connected the Northern Continent with the castle. Viki cheered as she successfully managed to teleport everyone safely there. The castle’s master high-fived with her bodyguard, celebrated for the ‘mission accomplished’. Ryusei only drew a tiny smile on his lips behind the cloak. Altus was still too nervous that he finally able to meet with the one he had been searching for all this time.

“Chief Sierra,” Altus started, “I…I wish I could serve under you, following you to the journey for rebuild the Village.”

Sierra blinked. “Hmm…I guess you missed some point there, Altus…I didn’t want to rebuild the Village.”

“But why...?”

“Because the Chief afraid that someone might stole the Moon Rune once again,” explained Rachel, “And none wished to die any longer. The Chief also didn’t want to turn humans into vampires anymore.”

“True, Rachel,” the white haired vampire smiled, “Beside…you had your task. I know you had offer your full service for little Sindar girl over there,” she added as she pointed at Iris.

“I can quit serving her…”

“No. A promise that had made between Stars with the Tenkai could never be broken;” Sierra patted her partner’s shoulder gently, “And Rachel here will serve under the lady along with you, Altus.”

The blonde vampire sighed. “I guess it’s really my time now…”

“Um, sorry for the interruptions,” Iris said suddenly, “But…I guess I rather lost...why are you pointing at me and know that I’m a Tenkai?”

Sierra chuckled. “That’s supposed to be a secret, little Iris. The only thing I could say is this: both my followers here, Rachel and Altus, will serve you from now on. Viki there also will aid you. And of course, it’s only until you fulfilled the Trials of Destiny. I presume you know until that far?”

The vampire elder leaned a little after seeing the young mortal girl still rather puzzled. “What I mean is the Stars of Destiny. Both of them are ones who borne under the Stars of Heaven, right?” she whispered on Iris’ ear.

“Oh…yes they are,” the blonde Tenkai nodded.

Sierra smiled and turned to the other vampires. “Now, orders from my mouth still an order. Obey your chief here, Altus, Rachel,” she commanded firmly as she placed her arms on her waist.

“Yes, ma’am,” the two responded reluctantly.

“I guess I should leave for now…your comrade had come to tell you something, Lady Iris,” the white haired vampire winked before turned into a white large bat.

“Oh…Sierra…” Viki started to cry for the farewell. “I will totally miss you…”

“Well, we’ll meet again, I’m sure of that,” the bat lady said as she flapped her wings. “However, I wouldn’t forgive you if you by any chance hurt Nash at the previous event…just prepare for an immediate punishment, Viki.”

“Aw…you’re not so nice…”

Sierra laughed. “Until next time, everyone...”

She was gone to the dark of night. Viki wept away her tears that kept flowing down as she kept overdramatic things. Altus sighed, but refused to say any other words. Rachel only bowed a little before following the sepia haired vampire’s gestures. Ryusei also stayed silent. And that was when Iris and Rudger noticed a light was heading to their way. Yes, it’s none other than the blind hermit Selena.

“Oh Selena...!” Viki blinked and quickly hugged that older Sindar girl as soon as she arrived near the group. “How are you? It’s been awhile since we last met, right? Did you still can’t see anything? Did you ever try to get out of the cave? Where is Gregory? Did you read anything for now?”

“Calm down, Viki…I’m sure the time will come when all of your questions will be answered. Please just be patience, okay?” Selena smiled as she managed to get out of the sudden-strangle. She turned to her master. “Milady…someone had waiting for you…now if you please meet her?”

[Cathari]

Notification:From now on, I will be the one who updating this story.

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Chapter 11

“Milady…someone had waiting for you…now if you please meet her?” asked the hermit lady politely.

“Someone who...?” Iris raised an eyebrow. It’s been around midnight. Is there anyone that really wished to see her that bad until he/she willingly waiting for her until she returned until this late? He/she must be a very patience person.

“She’s waiting at my chamber,” Selena smiled mystically, “Now…Altus, you may show Rachel and Viki their chambers…I believe there were some empty rooms left at the second floor of the west wing. They may use the rooms.”

“To be honest, if there’s any dark room like storage or something, I’ll be glad to stay there,” said the blonde vampire. “Or maybe trees…I can use sleeping on it.”

“...As you wish. Altus, show the ladies the way, please.”

Altus sighed, but he still led Rachel and Viki to their rest places. The older Sindar girl then turned her attention toward the brunette guardian. “Sir Rudger? Will you return to your chamber or will you following your master?” she asked clearly, though she already knew the answer.

“I’ll go too. What’s the use for bodyguard if I left her?” Rudger reasoned.

Selena nodded. She flied ahead, escorted the castle’s master and her bodyguard to her respective chamber, which located at the third floor of watcher tower at the middle of Randgriõr’s district. A simple small room could accommodate five people inside. There were no other furniture such as bed and chairs--there were only a stone, which she used to meditate.

Selena raised her hand, and the stone door opened immediately. The two youths entered the room. After the three were in the room, a sudden light appeared before them. It was not Selena’s bluish light, but a very bright white one. Iris recognized the light as the meaning of a certain person.

As the light faded away, Lady Leknaat appeared once again before the Tenkai girl. Just in this case, Iris wasn’t dreaming and accompanied by her trusted people.

“Congratulations, bearer of Dawn Rune,” the blind lady smiled, “You had past the start of your trials…you have done very well this far. I expect as much from a talented Sindar like you.”

“Thank you,” Iris nodded shyly.

“However, you had not experience true testament just yet. Many people will become your allies, and more will fight you. You shall endure the feelings from killing those who oppose you. You will also learn more about your true nature and the secret that people hide from you.”

“Secrets…?” the young girl stunned at the words. She used to lie to everyone about her true name…so she understand that it maybe just exchange from her lies.

“In order to help you gather your allies, I shall give you a small present,” Leknaat turned her head a little toward the blind hermit. “Selena, I’m sure you know how to handle this thing?”

“Sure is, Leknaat,” Selena flied ahead, now floating near where Leknaat is.

The two blind ladies chanted a short spell. A light beamed to the stone behind them. Suddenly, a large blackish jade stone appeared on the stone where Selena usually meditating. The two stepped aside so Iris and Rudger could see clearer at the thing.

“It’s called as Tablet of Stars. The Stars who had decided to give their faith to you will be listed here,” explained the black haired seer. “And with the help of this Star, Selena could read clearer and pointed at a Star whereabouts. Here is my small gift for you.”

“Oh, it’s really a big help! Thank you, Lady Leknaat!” the blonde young girl bowed respectfully to the mysterious helper.

“Thus, I hope you can fulfill the tablet. If you manage to do so, I shall grant you greater gift,” Leknaat’s body engulfed with light once again. Before she completely disappeared, “I will keep watching, watching how you will lead those Stars, my child.”

After the seer gone, Iris smiled happily to Selena. The hermit lady only shrugged and rolled her not-functional eyes at the other person than them in that room. Rudger still stared at the place where Leknaat used to float. However, his eyes reflected a desire to unleash an unbearable fury.

“Rudger...?” Iris frowned, waved her hands in front of her partner’s face.

“Oh!” the brunette gasped. He then smiled nervously at the girl. “What is it, Iris?”

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing…I just…wondered, ‘so, that’s the lady Iris mentioned…’ like that.”

“I see,” the blonde girl nodded. She turned around to her distant relative. “It’s late. I guess we shall retreat to our rooms. Good night, Selena!”

“Yes, good night, Lady Iris,” Selena smiled.

Iris and Rudger left the room. The hermit was left alone in that room. She floated and then sat down on the meditating stone. She leaned to the Tablet and sighed. Her blind eyes looked up to a Star name.

Rudger Fleming, the Retreating Star, the Winged Tiger.

Selena smiled after reading the line. “How long you could hide the big secret, eh, Sir Rudger?”

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“So, with this girl’s power we could move to any place?” asked Kiros. He seems amused. “It's amazing.”

Viki blushed furiously at the compliment. “No…I think I can only teleport a group from a Sindar ruins to another Sindar ruins, that’s all,” she explained. “I can’t teleport so many at once and not so far too. And I afraid I can mess up, teleporting you somewhere else…”

“It is okay, Viki. I’m sure you’ll be a great help!” said Ceas, encouraging the teleportress.

Everyone met the three new Stars this morning...correction. Everyone met the one of three Stars this morning, Viki. Rachel kept sleeping over the tree in bat mode, and she refused to move even an inch so none could greet her. Ryusei glared to whoever that dare to come closer to him. Viki is the most kind among the three so they easy to talk with her. They also learned her ability, teleporting. It’ll be very useful for them, as the castle’s master must travel to one place to another in order to gather the Stars of Destiny.

“She’ll be pretty popular. I’m sure of it,” commented Katarina from a far, because the cute teleportress surrounded with the others.

“Agreed,” responded Rudger, shook his head slowly after a soldier struck him by accident because he too eager to see the cute newcomer.

“Ah Rudger...! There you are!” Toma, the gray haired Queen’s Knight ran from the staircase, approached the mentioned Apprentice and his companions.

He stopped for a while in front of the young man before grabbed his arm, tried to drag him somewhere. Rudger, however, managed to stay on his standing place and frowned at his superior.

“Hey, what do you want with me?” he frowned.

“You need to train to be a proper Queen’s Knight! No dawdle and get on moving now!” replied Toma, persistent with his will.

“I don’t need those stuffs! I’m a fake Queen’s Knight Apprentice, don't you remember? Only for disguise, so I don’t need to train to be a true Queen’s Knight!”

“That’s not what Toma meant, Sir Rudger,” Ehlen came afterwards, approached Rudger and Iris as well. He was followed by the army’s young tactician Rui.

The Prince smiling doubtly before continued. “There will be a banquet in the Palace. My cousins Princess Ammy and Princess Yumi will reached their sixteenth birthday two days after tomorrow and many important people throughout countries will be present in the banquet. In order to keep the security tight, the Queen’s Knights assigned to guard the hall until the party end.”

“Oh I see,” Iris nodded and turned to her bodyguard. “Well, assignment still assignment. You must train for the event, Rudger.”

“What about you?” Rudger asked, felt rather disappointed that his partner not even bothered with the never-told-to-him-before assignment.

“Don’t worry. I had these people with me,” the young girl smiled mischievous. “Though, I must say that I will kinda miss you from not being around me in the time being.”

“Ah, don’t worry, Sir Rudger,” Ehlen interrupted. “Lady Iris and Rui will be invited to the banquet as well, because…you know my point. You two are important people right now,” the prince chuckled.

“Beside, it’s a good opportunity,” Rui smiled. The same smiles she grew whenever she made a brilliance tactic or able to convince important people to make alliance with the Fate Army. “There will be important people there, right? We could ask them to support us in the war!”

“Well, I don’t mind then. Now, Sir Toma, please train Rudger with all your might,” the young Sindar girl pushed her partner to the gray haired man.

Rudger moaned with the forceful leave. Iris could only chuckle. Her best friend never likes to be ordered around, especially by someone that he not fully acknowledged as his superior, someone who he must obey. Iris is one of those few people whom the brunette couldn’t resist, and since their fate turned to something like this, she never had the chance to command him around as she wishes.

“Lady Iris, there’s something I had in my mind ever since I heard we’ll be invited to the banquet, though…” Rui folded her arms and posing arrogantly. “Because your primary intentions to come here is to work at the sites, I presume you didn’t bring any gown at all…?”

Iris stared at her tactician for a while. She blinked. Ehlen and Rui were waiting for her reaction. That Tenkai girl eventually giggled and sighed. “True. I forgot that I must wear a gown to the banquet,” she admitted.

“Just as I thought…” Ehlen shook his head. “Well, fortunately we had some noble lady in our army. Elise might have some gown for you.”

“Hey! I had some gowns too, you know,” Rui protested.

“Yes, but I’m sure it’s all small size and wouldn’t fit Lady Iris.”

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The three just now arrived and asked her to borrow Iris one of her gowns. Elise showed three of her gowns. Iris tried all of three; unfortunately, none of them seems match her image. One was colored strange when worn by Iris; the other was too heavy while the last one is too thin that Ehlen almost could saw the young girl’s bosom.

“Oh, I’m sorry…this is all gowns I have,” Elise said regretfully.

“No, it’s not your fault, Elise…its okay,” Iris smiled reassuringly.

At the time, Klaus and Argent walked across the chamber and saw the four seems uneasy. The brunette strategist entered the chamber and then followed by his blonde attendant.

“Iris? What’s wrong? Why you all look so gloomy?” Klaus asked, made everyone turned their attention to him. He then noticed the gowns on the bed and made a speculation. “Were you wanted to wear a gown, Iris? How rare. Why is that?”

“Er, me and Rui invited to the banquet at the Sun Palace,” explained the blonde young girl. “But…I don’t have any dresses at all…something appropriate to wear for the special event as such.”

Everyone turned silent again. Then Argent remembered about something. “I think I had something that will suit you perfectly, Lady Iris,” he smiled. “If you wish, you may come to my chamber…I left it along with my other belongings.”

“Hum, sure. Why not try it?” Iris agreed.

The five—Iris, Rui, Ehlen, Klaus and Argent—headed to the blonde man’s chamber at the east wing of third floor. It was only a simple room decorated with a bookshelf, a body length mirror, a wardrobe, a simple bed, and a set of table and chair. Argent opened his suitcase and pulled out a blue-colored dress. Judging from its motive, it’s a traditional dress from Northern Continent.

“It’s a traditional suit of Alma Kinan Clan. I heard from President Teresa that you were born in that village so I guess these clothes will match on you,” explained Argent. He walked to Iris and handed over the clothes. “Here, try it on.”

“Um…thank you,” Iris retrieved the clothes and smiled. “Now, wait at the outside. Shoo! Shoo!” she shooed the four away, and them laughed.

Iris closed the door and looked at the traditional clothes. It is indeed beautiful. She wondered why Argent brought those clothes along with him in such wartime. However, she changed her clothes with it. In addition, she changed her hairstyle as well. It wasn’t braided down anymore, but braided up high like what fashionable noble women should do to their hair.

She looked at her reflection on the body-length mirror in that room. She smiled. The clothes were very beautiful, and she likes it. She never wore any gown or frilly dresses since her last prom, which is last year. She turned around, and giggled to see the beauty.

“Lady Iris? Are you finished?” asked Rui from beyond the door.

“Sure. Come in,” replied the young Sindar girl.

The four followers entered the chamber and gasped to see the lady. She looks very different. She looks precisely like a fine lovely high-class lady, not a tomboyish girl who currently led an army in a big war fight. The three males widened their eyes in awed, took their time to praise their compliments with mind voice. Meanwhile Rui quickly approached the young teen and walked around her.

“...Magnifique! It’s totally suit you well, Lady Iris!” the tactician said, amused to see the younger girl. “This way, I’m sure those stingy nobles wouldn’t mind to have you among them!”

“Thanks, Rui,” there was a slight flush on her cheeks. She turned around to look at the males. She smiled shyly before shrugged. “Well…? What’s your comment, Sir Klaus? Ehlen...?”

“I’m…at loss of words…” replied the older tactician, followed by an agreement nod from the silver haired prince. Argent still awed, though after that he smiled and nodded as well.

“It’s all thanks to you, Argent,” Iris approached the blonde man. She was inclining her head, though not fully bowing. She raised her head again, wore a puzzled expression. “However…I must admit that I confused…why you bring a girl dress along with you? Was it just a coincidence?”

Argent rolled his eyes to the ceiling, thinking for a reason. He couldn’t admit that he wished to give that dress as a gift for her. It would be just as plain as he confessing her about their true relationship would. He paid attention to the young lady’s eyes once more. She still demanded an answer. So he had no other choice to response.

“It was…my daughter’s clothes.”

Klaus raised an eyebrow. The other three gasped in shock. Argent frowned. “Why? Am I not looks like I had married?” he asked, still with his best polite attitude.

“Well…to be blunt, no,” Ehlen said. “You look so young…but these clothes are for teenage girl, right? How old ARE you actually?”

“He seems not that old, eh?” the male strategist chuckled. “He’s over thirty. He had married in his very young age. You catch my point…with that pretty face, he hardly could resist for any women that asked him to marry them, eh?”

Argent glared at his sister’s right-hand man. Klaus only laughed. Iris clasped their hands. “It must be rough, marry and have a child in young age, didn’t?” she asked with little smile.

The blonde man shook his head. “I was used to it. Once before I had my own daughter…I adopted a little orphan girl. So actually, I already get the glimpse how to be a good father,” he explained.

“I see,” the young Sindar girl grimaced. She said the following sentence with annoyed tone. “I hope my father as good as you. He didn’t take so much responsibility for taking care of me.”

Those words really hurt Argent’s feeling. It looks like he was stabbed right to his heart. Klaus smirked. He had the pleasure hearing Iris said that to her father, even she unintentionally said that aloud because she didn’t know Argent’s identity. It’ll be a good lesson for the father.

“Oh that’s right!” Iris clasped her hands and smiled, “Would you like to come with us in the banquet?”

Gray eyebrow lifted. “Beg pardon? Why I receive such honor?”

“Well, you lend me this dress. Beside, I and Rui need bodyguard and I think you’ll become a perfect one to do the job.”

“Yes, I love the idea. Why don’t you accompany the ladies into the party, Argent? You can act as my behalf,” a wicked smile stole on Klaus’ lips. “This is a great honor and it maybe a chance for a lifetime! You can’t possibly miss this opportunity…”

Argent folded his arms. He turned around, taking his time to choose. Finally, he turned toward the castle master once again and saluted, “Well then, it’ll be my honor to accompany you, Lady Iris, Lady Rui.”

“Then it settled!” the Sindar girl nodded. “Oh, may I bring these clothes to my room so I can keep it until the day come?”

“Sure. I’m sure that…my daughter will be proud if she knew her dress wore by such an important person like you, Lady Iris.”

The blond girl giggled bashfully. She bowed a little and left the room, followed by the tactician and the prince. The man-in-aide let out a deep sigh. The male tactician approached him and landed a light hit on the other man’s chest.

“Way to go, Father.”

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At the day, Iris, Rui, and Argent had Viki teleported them into the capital of Falena. Sol-Falena had turned into a very splendid city to celebrate their precious princesses’ sixteenth birthday party. The citizens kept doing their jobs though. The True Rune bearer could see there were more soldiers stationed to patrol around the city than before, when she and Rudger first arrived in the city.

“Ah, watch out!”

Alerted with the warning, Argent pulled Iris and Rui aside, avoided the sudden rush from whatever it is. As the Sindar girl winced and tried to see what had almost struck her just now, she saw a black wolf there, panted heavily. The Highlander bodyguard pulled out his sword, taking a fighting stance, if by any chance the wolf tried to attack them.

“Please, put down your sword, sir!”

Iris turned her head around and saw a beautiful girl with silvery-white hair came to their way. Her face reminded the young scholar with Ehlen. And the girl definitely has this regal aura around her.

“I’m sorry, she didn’t mean to do that,” the stranger girl bowed apologetically.

“Yeah, I won’t do that if you stop going after me, Ammy,” remarked the black wolf.

“She can talk?” Iris startled.

“Of course she can,” Rui rose to her feet and cleaned her dress until she felt it was neat enough to greet people. “Because she’s not an ordinary wolf, Lady Iris. She is, in fact, one of the jewels of Falena, Princess Yumigami Falenas.”

Before Iris could state her queries, a light emanated the wolf and soon she had turned into a cute girl with short black hair, looks perfectly similar with the girl she called as Ammy. Noticed that the young girl was too awed with her sudden transformation, Yumi laughed and snapped her fingers, woke the girl from her shock.

“Surprised, huh?” the black haired princess placed her hand on her hip. “This is our natural ability, thanks to the Dawn and Twilight Rune.”

“Yumi!” the silver haired princess smacked her sister on the elbow, made her winced. “My apologize, Lady Iris. We’re supposed to introduce ourselves to you. My name is Amaterasu Falenas, and this is my younger twin sister, Yumigami Falenas. Pleased to meet you...”

“Uhm…pleased to meet you too,” replied the blond girl. “Did you just said that you’re able to turn into wolves because the power of the Dawn and Twilight Rune?”

Ammy nodded. “That’s right. We once tried to bear the Runes, and suddenly we turned into wolves. After that, we got a rune sage detached it from us, then all of sudden we are able to transform into wolves as we wish. I don’t know is it a curse or a gift, but we find it fun and make things easier, so well,” she shrugged slightly.

“Never mind that! I heard you’re Rudger’s friend! He’s cool, isn’t he? What’s your relationship with him?” asked Yumi eagerly.

“Yumi, don’t be so impolite to guests!”

“Well, to answer your question…yes he is, I think so, and I’m his childhood friend,” answered Iris. “Oh, speaking of Rudger…he’s doing okay right? Have he, by any chance, hurt or something during his training as a Queen’s Knight?”

“He got several bruises because of the training, but there are no serious injuries,” the older princess reported. “If you’re concerned about Sir Rudger, how about meet him directly? I think the Queen’s Knights were practicing for the upcoming show right now…”

“Oh, I wouldn’t impose…”

“Ammy is right. Let’s go to the Sun Palace now!” invited the Twilight Princess.

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“Alright, that is the end of the final practice. Please keep up and do your best performance in the banquet tonight,” declared Zane.

“Yes, sir!” replied the rest of Queen’s Knights.

The eight black-garbed knights dismissed themselves. Zane approached Lyon and discussed about the party’s schedule. Latina was drinking her mineral water when Kaylee pulled her sash, made the girl choked and eventually chasing the playboy swordsman. Clovis leaned against a wall and wiped away his sweats. Alexis practiced more techniques with a dummy. Rudger sat down at a corner of the room, cooling down. Toma approached him and gave him a bottle of water.

“Here,” he said. “You’ve doing a great job for these days.”

The brown haired apprentice smiled slightly and received the bottle, saying, “Thanks.”

“I’m sure Lady Iris will be proud of you.”

“Oh he always proud—no I think she almost get jealous—of me,” the young swordsman opened the bottle and shook it a little, “I’m the one who protected her whenever she in trouble. We’re almost like brother and sister by now.”

“But you think of her for more than that, right?”

There was a slight pink across Rudger’s face, and Toma chuckled. “It’s alright to admit that you’re indeed in love with her. You’re so perfect together. I heard from the members—they were thinking that you two are lovers or something,” informed the senior knight.

“No…I’m just her best friend…really.”

Suddenly, the room’s door opened widely and five people entered. One of them was a pale blond man, while the rest of them were girls. Everyone immediately noticed them as Iris, Rui, Argent, and the twin princesses. The Queen’s Knight rose to their feet and saluted to the honorary guests, except for Zane and Lyon.

“My, what the princesses doing here?” asked Kaylee jokingly.

“Wait, is the training over?” Yumi looked up toward her father.

“Yes. It was over at…what, ten minute ago?” remarked Zane. “You girls are late.”

“Oh no…” the black haired girl turned her head toward the Sindar girl, “Sorry, Lady Iris. It looks like we didn’t make it in time.”

“No it’s okay…hey, Rudger!” Iris waved her hands, made her appearance more recognized.

Rudger smiled and approached his partner. “Hey, long time no see. How’s the castle? Are you all right? Did anyone tried to flirt you or something?”

“Yes, it’s been awhile; the castle is doing okay; as you see, I’m alright; and lastly, no, nobody dares to tease me,” the True Rune bearer responded. She giggled when she saw her best friend let out a relieved sigh. “Geez, you don’t need to worry so much. Rui and the others were there with me.”

“Yes, you don’t need to worry, Mr. Nanny,” mocked Rui sardonically.

“I’m not her nanny. I’m just concerned. I’m here to accompany and protect her until our research done, you know,” Rudger retorted. However, seeing the mischievous smirk on the tactician’s face, he shrugged and said, “Oh whatever. Shouldn’t you enjoy yourself? I’m sure there are lots to see in the city, unlike when we first came here.”

“You’re right. Rui, Argent, do you want to go for a walk with me?” asked Iris.

“No, I think I better start the ‘Operation Gaining Supports for the Army’. See you guys!” and the midget made her way out of the Palace.

“It’ll be my pleasure to accompany you,” the blond bodyguard bowed.

“Oh, oh! I’ll go too,” Yumi waved her hand and approached the True Rune lady. She turned her head and looked at her twin sister. “Ammy...? Do you want to go with us or not?”

“No, I’ll stay,” replied the silver haired princess gently.

The younger twin shrugged and led the two guests out of the castle, into the city plaza. Rudger let out a deep sigh and noticed that Toma looked at him funnily. Flushed slightly, he asked, “What are you looking at?”

“No. I thought you will go out with Lady Iris,” the gray haired knight widened his smile, “I heard from the people in Randgriõr that you’re much attached to her. You always followed her everywhere faithfully and protected her, even feeling a little jealous whenever men like Kaylee or Kiros teased her.”

“I’m not jealous!” the apprentice shouted, embarrassed. “Beside, I want to show her my best performance at the banquet later…so, Alexis, can you practice with me a little bit?”

Alexis smiled and nodded. “Sure. Come here, Winged Tiger!” she challenged, swung her rapier into mid-air.

Rudger smiled and walked toward the senior knight. They then started their sword practice, made several laughs as Alexis made some feint and made him looks like a poor swordsman. The black haired Tenyu Star sighed. “Show off.”

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Night had fallen and the banquet had started. Noblemen and noblewomen, knights and their ladies, gathered in the Palace Hall. As heard, soldiers placed in many places to guarantee the party’s safety. The Queen’s Knights stationed in the Hall itself. Six of them stood tall, watched the invitees talked with their commons, while the Commander and his Vice-Commander stayed beside the royal family, which seated themselves on the throne. Iris eyed them carefully.

Princess Amaterasu looked very beautiful in her red and white kimono. Her long silvery hair tied and hung on her shoulder gracefully. At the throne next to her, sat quietly was Princess Yumigami. She wore black and purple kimono with the same design as her sister. Her short black hair adored with small tiara. The princesses seated themselves in the right and the left side of their mother, Queen Lymsleia, whose grace and beauty was second-to-none. Even her daughters were in pale comparison toward her.

Prince Freyjadour clothed in his royal garb, very much different from when she last saw him, which is in the first war. He stood next to the Dawn Princess. Lyon, his wife, stayed beside him loyally and watched the banquet with much pleasure. Stood next to the throne of the black haired princess was her father himself, Zane Rescales. He donned in his usual black and golden uniform. And last of the royal row, was Prince Ehlen, with uneasy expression of his. As informed, he didn’t used with formalities, which he supposed to learn as a royalist, so his stiff countenance wasn’t questionable.

“Having fun watching the royal family, Lady Iris?”

The voice startled her. Rui had stood next to her again. The tactician was disappeared as soon as they entered the Hall, left the young leader with Argent. Now she had returned with another big grin that Iris swore she had seen for the fifteenth time today.

“Um yeah. They look very…regal. Princess Yumi is especially different. I thought she was the total opposite from Princess Ammy, but now she’s as graceful as her older sister is. I almost think that she maybe has double-personality or something,” explained the Sindar girl.

The black haired midget chuckled. “Well, to be a proper princess, they need to have several masks of emotions, so they can false their expression as they need,” she said. “Oh, oh! Look, they are about to perform the sword dance!”

A scholarly eyebrow lifted. “Sword dance...?” Iris queried, unfamiliar with the terms.

“A technique mastered only by few swordsmen in this world,” Argent spoke, “It use speed and the beauty of swordplay. Some circuses have these swordsmen to entertain the audiences with their art of sword. However, it was very different with sword fighting. The technique is sharp and cold, yet beautiful and magnificent. Very much different with mere brutalities like fighting, don’t you think?”

“Wow, I guess you’re right…It sounds difficult.”

“That being said, the technique is hard to master. I wonder how Sir Rudger will perform. He never learned this kind of skill before, right?” Rui smirked, “I’m a little anxious…a little failure in this performance will cause a serious injury to an amateur like him, you know.”

Black eyes widened in horror. The naïve girl laced her hand together pleadingly, prayed for her best friend’s safety. Argent lifted an eyebrow. “As far as I know, Sir Rudger’s swordsmanship is very good that Sir Toma offered him to be a true Queen’s Knight. I’m sure he won’t get injured in this,” he remarked.

“Who knows? Let’s just see, shall we?” the Silverberg concluded easily, turned her full attention toward the dancing floor, where all eight high-ranked soldiers stood right now.

The Queen’s Knight made a formation in the middle of that floor. They stood in circle, eyes closed, and hands ready on their weapons. Silence finally fell as the guests decided to watch the performance silently. Times passed, and they opened their eyes, grabbed their respective swords and pulled it out, pointed the blade and united it together.

The spectators watched in awe as the eight skilled swordsmen and swordswoman started to move. Each step they took was very soft yet sharp. Avoiding slashes, swinging blades…each moves they did showed grace and glory, somewhat representing the true meaning of Queen’s Knight. Even glancing at the comrade made a quite impression as their eyes showed both mercy and prowess.

The performance closed by one last sword slashes by the Commander, and the Queen’s Knights sheathed their swords again. Big applauses welcomed them back into reality, broke the silence of perfect illusion. Clasping hands and congratulation words filled the hall. Everyone felt very amused by the magnificent show the knights showed him or her just now. Eight of them bowed politely before returning to their posts.

“Wow, that’s awesome,” Iris couldn’t stop clapping hands for Rudger’s beautiful performance with his saber.

“Now that’s what I called as a ‘sword dance’! That’s the best performance I’ve ever seen up until now!” added Rui cheerfully.

“Such is expected from a Queen’s Knight,” commented Argent thoughtfully.

Rudger, positioned near one of the pillars that supported the second floor, let out a deep sigh. He looked up and could saw Iris clasping hands, together with the rest of the audiences. He smiled, and their eyes met. The blond girl raised her thumb and winked slightly. The knight smirked and winked as a reply. It was too bad that he have duty tonight. If not, he could approach her and ask her opinion about her performance just now.

Toma, seeing the regretful expression of the apprentice, approached Prince Freyjadour. They talked a bit, before the Prince nodded and told his brother-in-law about his decision. Zane smiled and agreed with him. The gray haired swordsman went into a table, where foods and drinks reserved for the invitees. He picked two glasses of champagne and walked toward Rudger, who stared curiously at him.

“What, we can drink champagne while we’re on duty?” he asked innocently.

“Well practically no. But the show is over, now we can enjoy the party a little bit,” the older knight handed over the champagne.

“What the—you mean…?”

Toma nodded. “Sure. Have fun with your lady.”

Rudger smirked. He drank the delicious low-alcohol drinking and returned the empty glass to his senior knight. He walked through the crowd, tried to get to Iris’ place. Unfortunately, a group of noblewomen whom heard the rumors about ‘the new apprentice who happen to have cute face’, found him walked past them and quickly surrounded him.

“Gosh, you’re that new Queen’s Knight Apprentice everyone talking about, aren’t you?”

“Just like everyone said, you’re not only skilled swordsman, but also…”

“CUTEE!”

Rudger furrowed his eyebrows. “I’m sorry, ladies. I have business to attend at this point, so could you--?”

“Not yet, pretty boy! We haven’t talked anything about you!”

“Say, there is a dancing session after this. Who is your partner tonight, Sir Rudger?”

“Or are you too busy with your duty that you didn’t get a chance to find someone?”

“Well then! You can go with me!”

“No, he’ll dance with me, obviously!”

“No, of course not! He will definitely pick me!”

Iris noticed the small crowd at a side of the hall, turned her attention and found Rudger surrounded by high-class girls. She chuckled. She remembered every time when they went into a prom. The girls would always cornered him, asked him to dance with one of them. However, he would always use the same excuse, and that same excuse will save him from this one misfortune as well.

“Sorry, ladies. But I will dance with Lady Iris. Only with her. None else. Nope.”

The crowd froze as he said that. Rudger use this chance to get out of them and approached Iris. The blond girl looked very beautiful with her Alma Kinan dress. She looks stand out with her Harmonian appearance, but matter not. The Queen’s Knight arrived in front of her and smiled.

“So, what do you think?” he asked unexpectedly.

“About what?” the Sindar girl returned the question.

“My performance tonight…not only the show, but also my appearance. What’s your comment?”

She chuckled. “The show is fabulous, and you’re looking good. Looks very valiant, unlike when we’re in Randgriõr or somewhere else.”

The brown haired guy laughed. Soon, a mellow music played out. Ammy and Yumi rose to her feet, and their hands welcomed inviting hands of Ehlen and William. Both princesses started to dance on the floor, accompanied by the perfect melodies orchestrated by the best musicians and conductor.

Slowly, everyone joined them in the dancing floor. Kaylee patted Latina’s shoulder and they danced. Clovis coughed and asked Alexis to dance with him. Zane led Lymsleia into the floor, followed by Frey and Lyon. Luserina dragged Richard all the way to dance with him too. Rui had disappeared unnoticed, maybe talking with some more invitees. Argent shifted his eyes toward a certain couple next to him.

“Lady Iris? Sir Rudger? Shouldn’t you join them too?” he offered.

“Oh I don’t know…this is not the right suit for dancing…” Iris said, looked down at her clothes.

“You look beautiful in anything, Iris. C’mon, let’s join em!” and Rudger dragged his partner into the dancing hall, followed the music.

Men and women moved gracefully on the dancing floor. The slow and mellow music brought their steps. Iris looked around. Every other couple looks very shinning. The ladies wearing expensive-looking gown, and the men were wearing tuxedo—the Queen’s Knights were always an exception, of course. Compared to her attire, she knew she was out of place and felt a little uneasy. Nevertheless, she danced pretty well with Rudger there.

“I didn’t look stupid, did I?” she asked in whispery voice.

Rudger frowned and chuckled. “No. Why?”

“I wear traditional clothes!”

“Me too. From a land called Queen’s Knights Headquarter.”

Iris blinked, and then she giggled. “Oh well. We’re one odd pair in this floor.”

“But we’re so perfect. None can match your beauty.”

The blonde girl blushed. Rudger always complimenting her looks in every prom they attended together. It was as if…he is a completely different person, unlike when they are doing their normal daily routines. There are the Rudger who always teased and joked with her and the Rudger who saying flattering comments. She wondered which one is his true personality.

As the music stopped, everyone stopped dancing. The audiences clasped their hands again and the dancers returned to their position. Argent welcomed the young couple with two glasses of champagne in both hands. Iris took one and Rudger took the other one. They drank it and let out a relieved sigh.

“Well, that’s pretty good! I’ve been practicing sword techniques for days that I didn’t get any entertainment at all,” the brunette commented.

“Seeing good-looking women like Alexis and Latina is not good enough for you?” teased the scholar girl.

“No, but seeing the Queen and her daughters are quite a pleasure for sore eyes,” the partner retorted, causing hearty laughter from the girl and her older bodyguard. “For the rest of the night…I think it just will be chattering between nobles, gifts presenting and father-and-daughter dance. Ha, Zane will be troubled.”

“Why is that?” Argent aired a query.

“Oh I see your point. There are two daughters but they only have one father. Commander Zane can only dance with one of the Princesses, right?” Iris speculated.

“Indeed. Let’s just see him in trouble,” Rudger concluded.

As expected, no sooner after the free dancing session over, Ammy and Yumi confronted their father. Zane lifted his eyebrow, wondered why his daughters look very curious, and pressured him with this scary aura.

“Father, you need to choose, now!” Yumi started.

“Choose what?” the black haired Commander asked, dubious.

“Choose one of us, who will dance with you with father-and-daughter dancing session,” explained Ammy. “You honestly didn’t thinking about it, did you?”

“Ah, my bad…” Zane rubbed his chin. “Well, at times like this…let’s use rock-scissor-paper. Whoever wins, I’ll dance with her.”

The twin princesses groaned. Lymsleia giggled at her husband’s funny way to end the conflict. It somehow reminded her about her father, Ferid. Anyway, Ammy and Yumi started playing rock-scissor-paper to decide which one of them who will dance with their father. And luck sided with Ammy today.

“Ahaha! My scissor cut you!” the silver haired princess laughed.

“Ugh, I hope it turned out into rock-scissor-metal paper, so you can’t cut the paper easily!” the black haired princess pouted.

“Now, now, Yumi. You maybe lost, but it doesn’t mean you won’t dance with us tonight,” Zane smiled. He waved his hand, signaling for Toma to approach them in the royal seats. “Toma, will you please dance with Yumi later?”

Toma gasped. “It’ll be my honor, Commander. But how come...?”

“You’re almost like father to them,” the Queen pointed out, “Beside, you’re pretty close with Yumi too, aren’t you?”

“Well then…if you say so, Your Majesty.”

With that, Ammy descended into the dance floor with Zane, while Yumi paired with Toma. The musicians took this as a cue and they started to play cheerful yet melancholy melodies. Several noble ladies that came with their fathers also joined the dance, for example Elise and Richard. Argent had this urge to ask Iris for a dance, but he worried what if she finds out that he is her father.

“Lady Iris, you look like you’re jealous,” Latina pointed out, as she approaching the Sindar girl with one funny smirk. She was followed by Kaylee.

“I guess…” the younger blond girl shrugged. “They are in good terms, aren’t they? The princesses must have been very proud to their father, and Zane too was proud of his daughters.” She sighed heavily as she leaned her back against the pillar. “I’m so jealous. I hope I can feel the same way toward my father, and hopefully he too, feels the same way.”

Argent felt like he had been slapped right in front of his face. His heart was hurt to hear those words. But he bears with it. He couldn’t risk concealing his secret right now. His priority is to protect Iris, Teresa Wisemail’s niece, as one of Dunan officer. He must not put his own feelings in this problem, or it will become more difficult for him to handle.

As the music stopped, the fathers and daughters stopped dancing. They bowed at each other, thus ending the dance session of the banquet. It was late in the night, yet the people didn’t show any sign of exhaust and keep chatting to each other. Iris yawned slightly. Normally, she would be deep in her dream world at this time, but not tonight. She have to stay awake, unless the Queen declared that the party has over and the invitees allowed returning to their quarters.

Argent noticed that she had grown weary. He will ask her to call it a night and makes her sleep, but will she obey his request? As far as he known, she’s very stubborn and quite determined at each choice she made. Even Rudger, her best friend, was unable to change her mind when she had made her choice. Sighing heavily, he averted his gaze to the crowds of nobles, when he felt a strange chill down to his spine.

The blond bodyguard looked at his surroundings. There was definitely something there…something that strong enough to make him shiver like that. He gulped; hand ready at the handle of his sword, when suddenly the light was off and sounds of screams could be heard.

“Turn on the light!” Zane’s voice could be heard commanding at none to be specific.

When the light finally turned on once again, more than thirty nobles had collapsed to the ground, unconscious. The rest of the invitees gasped in surprise, feeling a danger threat their life in instance. The Queen’s Knight quickly grabbed their weapon, ready to attack anything that hold possibility to harm the souls of those Falenans. Argent took a firm step forward, effectively guarding Iris though the girl had pulled out her staff, which she hid under her skirt.

Suddenly, a strange smoke started to appear in the hall. People whom unaware of it and had no precaution for something like this, began to fall to the floor, joining the other fainted people. Annoyed, Ehlen made his own move. The Wind Rune on his right hand started to glow as he cast a strong wind to blow away those strange smokes. People finally could take a relief.

“I’m sorry, but it seems this party has to be a battlefield soon,” Zane spoke. “Guardsmen please led the waking invitees out of the Palace. We’ll handle the collapsed ones later.”

“Yes, sir!”

Soon after the order, several guardsmen escorted the nobles out of the Palace. Once they assured that every guest had been sent to their quarters, they returned to report the successful assignment. However, before they could reach the dancing hall, a sharp stab into their hearts from behind ended their life effectively. The bodies fell to the ground, bathed with red bloods. The murderers pulled out their blades from the corpses, chuckling, as they felt slightly eager to start massacring the Sun Palace with their nightmares.

This post has been edited by Cathari on Mar 14 2009, 01:42 AM