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The creation of a legend has always been somewhat of a step by step process. The prologue. Prosperity was something that had enveloped the world of Marosia, kingdoms after kingdoms uniting under the mutual agreement of light and justice. Under the Queen of Light, shone an era of radiance and integrity, uniting separate kingdoms that had once been in war with one another nor had no dealings with their neighbors. Order was gifted upon stretching lands, the Kingdom of Elizar democratically chosen to govern over the individual and smaller kingdoms. Before the Founding Hearts??former leaders of Marosia??s kingdoms??had each passed on due to old age, their life work had been to build a sound structure. A connected web that pillared Marosia to unite, forcing all those within the kingdoms to work together. United they stood, rising up a world of pain and war, and soon, no longer did the blade and fist rule over decisions in the upcoming world. Centuries would pass, the kingdoms in peace, the throne of each region passed on and on, heirs uniting in ways that kept the world at peace. But like in any historical rhythm, eventually, one had to fall out of synchronization. The start being the calm before the storm. ??Don??t you have servants for these kind of things?? a gentle, yet sharp jab of the mental communication, the link sending a sharp message of irritation and affection between the two. A large dragon, flecked with red and black scales, flapped its powerful wings in the serene air. Perched upon the base of the powerful creature??s neck was a small speck compared to the large body. A female, seeming like a fair maiden with angelic pale flesh and following rosy hair. Delicate fingers gripped at the lasso that wrapped around the Dragon??s neck, holding her close to the warmth of the larger body. ??I thoroughly appreciate the lift, Ranis. Who else can I trust but the Queen of all Dragons too make sure my journey is a safe ride home?? the Queen of Light asked softly, as if she hadn??t cornered the Dragon Queen into traveling far out of her way just to fly her home. Teasingly, as her fingers were tracing patterns along the scales to sooth her companion??s irritation. They both knew she was just buttering the Dragon Queen up, but they both knew that eventually, Ranis would melt. Without words, the mood between them softened, like the smooth gust of wind against their forms eroded off any negativity. ??I still don??t know if this is a good idea. Visiting Cardina during the Winter Solace? You know Vayne will be there.? Instead of a worried agreement or an angry tongue lashing, Cecelia only chuckled against the smooth scales. ??Worry not, Ranis.? was all she offered in condolences. The rest of the flight from the Northern Kingdom back to Elizar was a quiet one, peaceful and fretful at the same time. ??One and two and one and two and one and two and one and two!? ??Damnit, Vali! It??s not going to happen if you rush me??you??ve got to let it come naturally!? ??Well, you??re not going to get there on your own, now are you?? ??If you want to get there so fast, be my guest and do it yourself!? ??You know what, maybe I will!? ??FINE!? ?? FINE! ? A sword violently thrown down onto the dirt ground, before footfalls stomped away with flares of flames scorching the earth. The Female Knight??s temper had gotten the best of her yet again, and this time, it seemed to have gotten the best of the Eldest Knight??s as well. They had been practicing on Altima??s swordsmanship, as she hadn??t practiced enough with hand-to-hand combat. While her archery skill was the best out of the knights and most fighters in Elizar, Valen informed her that range was not always available. The eldest blonde wanted to hone in everyone??s skills, preparing them for any dangers that might lurk, despite their peaceful years spanning to the point that training to become stronger was a sport rather than a necessity for life. Huffing loudly with a strong gust of wind, the Eldest shook his head and moved to tie up his shoulder-length hair. Frustration was obvious, as this was the fourth time that Altima had marched away, unwilling to continue her lessons. ??You??re definitely not going to get lucky any time soon.? came the voice of a third party, viewing from the sidelines and waiting for his own lessons. Valen grumbled and rubbed both palms over his face with a slight tremble to hold in his own impulse to just smack the owner of the voice in the head. ??Gods, will that forever be a stigma?? he mumbled, crimson eyes nearly glaring at the blue haired male. The miscellaneous knight, or at least, that??s what others called Gandrian, since his position was not the eldest, the youngest, female, nor the only male. The blue haired youth laughed at that, swinging his legs and bumping his heels against the stone wall that he sat upon. ??It can??t be helped. I mean, I think everyone heard what happened.? ??It was merely one?? one ??date, and-.? ??And then she threw you out on your ass. What, couldn??t satisfy her?? a leering smirk, teasing and joking as always. It wasn??t like everyone didn??t hear what had happened. The day that the Eldest and Female knights had decided to act upon their growing infatuation with one another, the subsequence date that eventually had to come, and then the evening that took the wrong turn. Their personalities, while good friends, had not matched as well as they had hoped, and before any acts that would lead to indiscretion could happen, the Wind Knight had been thrown out of Altima??s room like he carried the plague with him. No one knew what truly happened, but a lot of speculation had been geared towards a floppy experience. Not that surprising. The act that is, as they were teenagers. The floppy part was up for questioning, as they were teenagers . Narrowing his eyes, Valen had finally had enough of the other male mouthing off at him. With merely a jolt of muscles, he rushed at Gandrian and tackled the blue haired male, sending them tumbling over the stoned wall and rolling along the garden beyond them. Rough grunts and battle cries erupted, as the two wrestled for dominance along the grass. The gardener was not going to be happy, as two bodies rolled over flowers, tore part of random bushes, and crushed decorations without a care. Before either realized it, they rolled right into a tree trunk, halting their tumble and knocking the wind out of both of them. Valen was the first to gain back his breath, chuckling as he found himself sitting back against the trunk and the smaller male at a sideways angle against him. They both rolled a bit until Gandrian was resting his head against the Eldest??s lap, chests panting up and down to ease the adrenaline rush out of their bodies. After a few moments, he finally caught his breath and grinned. ??Annie, you??re going to get yourself in trouble one of these days, mouthing off like that.? he puffed out, staring up at the beautiful, clear sky. The only response he received was a soft hum of agreement, before they lapsed into silence. Peaceful together, as brothers would be, resting and supporting. As the clouds fluttered by, drifting in their endless journey towards another area, the blonde spotted one that made him laugh slightly. ??Look, Annie, there??s one shaped like-.? but his tone died off, as he gazed downwards towards the knight upon his lap and saw that the younger male had fallen asleep. It was rare that the other male rested peacefully, that Valen found himself unwilling to wake the other up. So instead of words, he just brushed his hand through baby soft, blue hair, humming a tuneless melody that whispered in the air and hopefully soothed his companion. ??Ta ryng gra??la.? ??Tah ring grah??lai.? ??No, ta ryng gra??la.? sharper emphasis was give to each syllable. The soil beneath them, softened by the nearby river, was gently craved by a wooden branch. Scribbles and scrawls that meant nothing in the modern day Elizarian language, but just as interesting, if not more so. A rather tall brunette knelt down to accurately write in the soil, trying to teach a bit of his native language that had been lost with his tribe to his smaller friend. And smaller he was, as the youngest knight stood barely at 4??5????, peeking just around the naturalists?? abdomen??whom was well above 6 feet tall. ??Brand, are you sure you shouldn??t be learning Elizarian?? he asked, brushing back long strands of his hair. While Tsu??Ro??s hair was dark as the soil of the earth, the youngest knight??s was as vibrant as the sun above them. Brand??s cheerful smile turned downwards though, at the other??s sentence topic. He didn??t like the lessons that he was forced to take, but it wasn??t like he had a choice. It was a duty for him to learn the national language, as it was his duty to immerse himself in the culture that he had sworn to protect. ??Call me Z, Tsu. I told you that already.? he grinned brightly, nudging the other male??s shoulder with his head. Only those close to the blonde was given the option, and with the brunette, it seemed like Brand wanted it to be an absolute??most likely because the other male seemed so stiff about it. Their friendship had started roughly, with the other seemingly teen not trusting anyone. Yet after being integrated into the palace by the Queen, Tsu??Ro and Brand quickly bonded speculated by the idea that they both were probably the youngest and understood each other the most among the older crowd. Tsu??Ro just shook his head and grinned, before returning to the lessons. Twirls of vines seemed to just loosen, relaxing around his body along with his mood, as the rose upon his flesh bloomed beautifully. It signaled that he was at peace, not dwelling on darkened past that threatened to overtake his mind and soul. Thorns that were retracted slithered only the smoothest of vines along the soft neck, hiding the scrawls that were in the same language as the one he was teaching Brand. ??Gee, all of this is hard.? the younger frowned, prodding one of the characters with his own stick. A chuckle was his only reply, before the character was traced over to reform it. ??You??ll catch on one day. I can even make a booklet for you.? he offered carelessly, knowing that he shouldn??t, but if it made it easier for his friend, he would attempt it. ??We can work on it together after I come back.? This caused a frown. ??After we come back. I??d like to come with you and the others, Z.? ??And Kali had said for only basic needs to come. We don??t want to leave Elizar unguarded, after all.? the blonde grinned, headbutting the other male??s shoulder yet again. ??Don??t worry, you can join us on our next journey, okay?? Of course, the brunette only smiled indulgingly. He didn??t relay the fact that he wanted to go because he was worried for the blonde, not because he wanted to go on an adventure. The trip to Cardina was an annual trip, but for the first time, it was going to be taken during the time that was unscheduled and lately informed. Inside her room, Altima paced around, trying to dispel the irritation she had with Valen from earlier. The male was just infuriating to her sometimes, yet at the same time, he was the calmest and collected of them all??most of the time. It took some time, but after a good few moments, she was able to sigh and slump her shoulders. The blonde female hated training lesson, as they only reminded her more and more of the life of restriction she had back in Alusair. She was a regional princess of a small nation within Elizar??s kingdom, nothing more than a station really, but full of combating warriors that trickled into the Elizarian army. The female knight had been one of them, seeing to escape her mundane life of pampered laces and giggling sisters. ??Wasted the day away?? she sighed, unraveling her hair and clothes, as she prepared for a late supper and perhaps a warm bath to relax in. They had been informed that the Queen would be returning from her vacation in Long late at night, so the entire palace had been cleaning up areas, straightening themselves and waiting out the day like there was nothing to do but wait. However, Altima was never one to waste her time away, and instead of just planning nothing, she decided with a steal determination, that she would start packing. After all, the trip to Cardina was bright and early tomorrow. Preparations were swiftly accomplished by the guards and servants, everyone doing their part so that the whole was able to efficiently work. When night fell, Kali had finally returned to the palace, Ranis?? wings flaring out against the direction they were heading, so that her body was able to come to a gentle stop. Clawed feet clamped down onto the stone hallway, large opened arches leaving plenty of room for Dragons to land or leave. The Dragon Queen had much to do so she knew she should depart soon, still wanting to accompany Kali, but was firmly told that she??d be given a good tongue lashing if she followed the Queen of Light. A quick nuzzle of their cheeks, one flesh, one scaled, before Ranis soared back into the clear sky and journeyed outwards. Her knights were in bed by the time she had returned, and as if she had not even left the grounds of her home, she easily fell back into habits and wandered towards her room. Daybreak would come soon enough, and by then, they would already have been on their way towards Cardina for the Winter Solace. The middle wherein the cusp of something horrible goes wrong. Their journey wasn??t long, as it was dull. Paces and leagues of land and a bit of river to cross, nothing but each other to keep their interest and entertainment high. Which to say was boring after the third day. Luckily, they arrived on the fourth day, high in spirits and quickly to fan out in the old fort to find rest, shelter, food, and entertainment. For a good few hours, nothing appeared amiss, just partying with the locals for the upcoming solace. Kali had found her way towards the Count of the small village, chatting away as two old friends would. He mentioned that at night, the fireworks and show truly begins, as they had planned a show like no other. In which she only laughed at, thrilled to have came just in time for such a thing. But things rarely went as planned, and as night fell upon them, the spirals of fireworks and trickles of magic fluttered the night sky. Everyone had been so enchanted with the show, that no one had noticed a stray spark. Intentional though, as it spiraled wildly in the air, before sharpening and aiming to land to the ground??aiming to strike where the Queen stood. The Count gave a startled cry, shoving the pink haired woman aside and sending her tumbling to the ground. The spark speared through his chest, flaring vibrantly like a vine spreading out its thorns. Finally, in a flare of blinding light, the vine burst into a flower shaped energy, and blasted the form it speared into bit and pieces. Blood flecked Kali and those around her, screams filling the area with horror and fright. Panic swept through the village quickly, rippling outwards from the point of attack like a droplet of blood in water. ??KALI!? Valen cried out loud, forcing his way through the thicken crowd that was running the opposite way. Civilians that couldn??t be blamed for wanting to save their own lives, but the knight was determined to rush to his Queen??s aid. The knights and guards were spread out variously, some near her, some not. They were all rushing towards the Queen though, forming a protective barrier as they could. Not quick enough though, as hoards of creatures seemed to burst from nowhere. An ambush. Nothing struck panic and disorientation as such, and they were left scrambling for safety. Sirens luring, stabbing and killing, ogres easily crushing their foes, to even wolves viciously attacking those they could. It wasn??t so much as the rejects and scums of creatures that were present, as many others that wore a darkened aura were there. A stain within them, marred by the clothes they wore, the style of battle cry? all of which pointed towards the Lassadarian inhabitants. There were demons on Kali??s heels, the Queen blasting a ray of light at them to disburse them. That only served to distract them and delay them momentarily, as she rushed towards the sound of her knights. She was an iconic symbol, the purity that was within all. Her life was in danger, and yet, Kali couldn??t find it within her to strike down any one of the demons. Of the ones that she had injured with a sword she grasped from the ground??oh gods, please let it not have been a fallen knight, but it must have been??she gave a small whisper of forgiveness for her trespass of their lives. An ogre that was slashing at another warrior crossed her path, seemingly clouded by the haze of battle. The redheaded demon didn??t seem to take not of her as any special compared to the others holding weapons. A Halfling, from what she could sense in her. The woman just attacked at her like she was a target??she was a target. The Kanabo nearly sliced Kali??s hand off, her sword being the only thing that took the blunt of the pressure, before it was flung aside. There were no words to be spoken, as battle cries were the only thing that fluttered throughout the entire village. Cardina was bursting with lights, but instead of the festive flares of the Winter Solace, it had turned into a bloody battleground of steel and might, elements and magic spiraling out of control. Everything felt like a blur, survival being the key thing as fighters clashed like titans. Kali didn??t even try to retrieve the sword, not stupid enough to risk her life for a piece of metal, as she spun around and began to race away from the redheaded ogre. Not long before she made it across a building or two, a beastly creature lashed at her from her left. Its claws as sharp as razors, form seemingly the body of an ogre, but a demonic heat of snakes, along with bear-like claws and wing-like arms. A hideous creature of mixed origins, no doubt created for battle and the sole purpose of elimination. ??Just my day?? Kali groaned, leaping out of the way on a particularly close swipe. Anything she threw at it seemed to bounce right off, and bursts of light seemingly absorbed with the darkened magic that surrounded it. Darkened magic that caught her off guard, as it could have only been of equal origins as her light. Distracted, a sharp claw was sent merely scant inches from her body, only to be swiftly cut along a blade as the Queen was tackled into safety. Their bodies tumbled against the cobble stone, bouncing a bit, before landing against a building. ??Move, move!? Gandrian cried out, yanking her upwards with a roughness that could have dislocated her shoulder. The creature howled with rage, seemingly aware of its target. As it stomped towards them, speed hindered by size, the blue haired knight firmly grasped Kali??s hand and nearly dragged her with him. They were fast as smaller forms, but the large strides kept the beast nearly behind their heels. Left right, left right, left right. Things blurred into a mess of limbs hacking and slashing, burst of wind flaring from where he summoned. The Eldest Knight swirled with his spear, the end tipped with blood that drizzled down the spine and covered his hands. Red, black, and a pasty green they were all the same??blood of the enemy. He rushed blinding along the field, having already gotten to the place that Kali had been standing, only to realize she had been diverted to another direction. The noise was deafening, clashes and clangs, cries of battle and death. Even in his sharpened senses, he found it hard to pinpoint where the Queen was. The wind was disturbed and hard for him to pick up sounds he would have easily heard throughout the few yard radius??it could also mean that she wasn??t near him in the least. Turning to the left, he could hear the rough pants of Altima. It wasn??t long enough he was able to spot her, as she had been leaping nearby rooftops. The female knight had flames covering her hands, throwing them as she was chased and chasing enemy attackers. On her heel appeared to be a swiftly moving woman, shrouded in darkness that it seemed like black ink followed her where she leapt. Ice verses fire? such a terrifying clash that showed neither fully gaining an upper hand upon one another. Valen??s muscles twitched to follow, instinctively ready to give chase and aid his companion. However, a flicker of his eyes towards the ground level revealed that another companion was also within range. Brand, the smallest knight, was flopping around, almost seemingly hacking at the enemies from ground level. He would have laughed if it wasn??t so dangerously ridiculous, the short male giving out battle cries like he was the one being hit as he hacked down enemies. Yet one hit did land, sending the youngest flying against barrels and crates. ??Z!? he cried out, rushing towards the other blonde. Altima could handle the mysterious woman, he was nearly sure that the female knight was strong enough to take care of herself and a few others, so he went to aid Brand. It pained him to see the younger, babied knight injured. His spear thrust between the shoulder blades of the enemy, before yanking it out and rushing over to help Brand stand up. The dazed expression, closed eyes and slight frown on Brand??s features made his mind race, flashing in the fight-or-flight stage at many things at once. Gandrian??the one knight he had yet to find on the battle field. Surely the other male had raced towards the Queen??s aid as well, but where was he? Fear made his mind race, fear that the blue haired male was somewhere among the streaks of blood and discarded bodies of the dead. ??Watch out!? the sharp cry snapped him out of his momentary daze, a small hand shoving at his chest to move him to the side, as a rusted blade came into view. Brand had no sword with him, as his own weapon had been flung somewhere in the midst of the attack. ??Excalibur??, as they had joked its name being close to the Arthurian legend??s one. Instead, a burst of crackling electrons sparked from his very flesh, causing an ear-breaking sonic boom that was of the air itself reacting to form the blade of thunder. As soon as the rusted metal blade clashed against Brand??s sword, the element quickly corrected the balance of power and sent the attacker flying with a burst of energy like a shock. The Eldest knight was quick to get to his feet, racing towards the direction he had saw the sword discarded. Sliding like a baseball player, he snatched up Excalibur, quickly flinging towards the other blonde??s direction with a shout of his name. The blade landed nearly perfectly in the younger??s grasp, cracks of lightning rippling over the metal instantaneously. ??Thanks!? Brand cried out, before dashing off. Valen had the strongest urge to rush and follow as he was 130 sure that Brand was going to hurt himself. The younger male was clumsy, unsteadily swinging the sword that was a bit too big for him here and there. He??s going to get himself killed! Valen mentally shrieked, trying to hurry along and get closer to the youngest. It wasn??t hard to lose sight of his companion though, and once again, he was left alone to battle those swarming like flies around them. ??Look out!? a shrilled cry tore from Kali??s throat, as the water knight miscalculated and was given a bash to the head by the hilt of someone??s sword. Dazed, the blue haired male just continued to yank them along, running blinding to a further point to get Kali to safety. ??I??m all right! Just keep running!? he ordered of her, a bruise forming at his temple. Despite them being flecked with blood??her dress ruined, his tunic missing pieces??she couldn??t help but stare at the cut along Gandrian??s temple that bled moderately. Truly, Kali was not that much older than her knights, but they were her responsibility and the sight of them injured made her heart clench painfully. Each throb was harder and harder, as she tried to picture how well Valen, Altima, and Brand were fairing. I should have taken Ranis and her guards with me? she thought mournfully. Though it wouldn??t have turned the tide easily, it would have still been a battle front for the Dragons to have been there. Each step felt like it had to be taken with a duck here and there, side-stepping and dashing in random sprints. Her magic was only so strong after so long??what felt like mere minutes had stretched into an hour or two at least since the attack began. How could it have been so long? How many men did they still have compared to the downpour of enemies? Only later would she realize that half of the guards were gone, the enemies not so outstanding, as they were intimidating. Most of them were lowly creatures, used to send confusion and distraction. This had been obviously planned to separate her from the others, so that she was targeted for an easy death. Lost in the daze of frantically glancing every which way, the Queen ran right into Gandrian??s back, parting her lips to ask him why he was stopping. A tuff of blonde hair caught her attention, too short to have been her eldest. ??Z !? the two cried out, Gandrian wrapping his sword hand around the aimless knight to steady him. The younger blonde stared up with wild eyes, clearly battle with courage, yet a healthy dosage of fear as well. Brand was much too young to face battle, Kali realized, the boy never truly taking a life until today. There was a large gash on his calf, from running into something or being hacked at, they couldn??t tell. The frenzied state of everything was daunting, seemingly hard to just rid the field of those worth fighting and those not. The lowly creatures were clouding them from those that could harm them fully, blending danger and non-danger into a swirling mess on a canvas. A physical showdown one by one was not going to work and the sounds of different magic being used heightened Gandrian??s idea. A dirt and blood covered hand grabbed at Brand??s tunic, tugging him closer so that he could hear what the water knight had to say. ??Z! Z, listen. Find Altima, tell her to shield all those within her range with bubbles of lava as soon as she feels the breeze! And then aim for the North. Z, repeat after me! Altima. Shields. North!? Brand nearly clung to his companion with fright, only knowing that he needed to kill and kill and kill. His mind was half settled when he realized that Kali had been with Gandrian, and that the two were seemingly safe for now. ??Altima. Shield. North.? he stuttered out the command, words imprinting themselves in his mind like the blood on the ground. Without another word, he was shoved aside, and Gandrian and Kali rushed passed him. Find Altima, find Altima, find Altima! the blonde thought with a touch of panic and puppy-like franticness. He ran in a literal circle for a moment, before rushing off like a headless chicken towards a random direction. The scorches of flames along the buildings were a huge indication that Altima had gone that direction. The climax tilting the tide of the battle. Like a whispered chant that filled the air, Gandrian continued to shout the same thing over and over again. ??Shield, Vali, shield.? over and over, like a poorly understood chant one that Kali didn??t understand, but quickly began to chant the same thing. They didn??t know where Valen was, but the wind would carry their cries to him, as long as they brushed pass the similar range as he was in. The two were still rushing towards the north, where most of the attack seemed to dwell down. It made no sense, what he was chanting out. But to Valen, it must have, because they had trained together many days. Shield, chanted over and over again was their code, if anything. To protect objects around them when Gandrian felt like he couldn??t control some sort of creation made of water he had summoned up. After all, Kali would have murdered them if they destroyed nearly everything around them in the palace. ??Where are we going?!? the Queen cried out, confused as to why they hadn??t stuck to Brand. ??Spread and conquer!? he replied, sliding towards one of the buildings. His arm hooked around her waist and shoved her into the ditch, where he rammed shut the cellars?? door. Kali screamed for him to let her out, that she didn??t want his back unguarded, but he firmly latched the lock over it and stood in front of it to guard it. The Queen was only able to peer out from a crack, her eyes on the back of her water knight. Please work, please work, please work? the chant took place in his head, arms spread out to the side. Gandrian had many things to learn about his magic, but one of the things he had been working on was large bodies of water. Praying that Valen had heard him somehow, that Brand had gotten to Altima, he began to exert his magic outwards. A faint glow of magic enveloped him, the very air molecules around him, hydrogens and oxygens mingling and snapping together. The aura seemed to call out from under and nearby as well, drawing in any form of water from the river to the ground, to even the liquid in the barrels around them. Dampened hair wildly lashed along his cheekbones, eyebrows meshed in a frown at the amount of energy he was using. It didn??t take long, before the vibrating air around him suddenly burst into action, like a tsunami tidal waving over them and swirling into a hurricane right before their eyes. First it was a swirl around the blue haired male, and as he saw a flash of blonde hair and a nod, the spiral burst upwards like a forming storm. Water rushed in a spiraling action, roaring with its ferociousness gentle properties of the element negated in this one moment. Soon, the hurricane storm of water began to form itself, mimicking that of Gandrian??s position, with a fist drawn high up into the sky. The body of water shaped like a man, flowing in every direction, yet solidified in image of a myth??s god. Surrounded by frantic water, Gandrian was uplifted into the near center of the giant body, hovering over the height of buildings around them as he got a good, clear view of all those below him. No w! A mixture of mental starters cried out, a heavy burst of wind flaring first. Swirls of dust were the only things that indicated a gust, before they too formed similar spirals of tornados. Valen??s eyes glowed an eerily shade of gold, magic and mastery over his element taking over. Miniature tornados seemed to seek out and find those with a touch of light aura, surrounding them and trapping them within. A bubbled gust even surrounded himself, magic expelling itself from his very being like a leech on a prey. It was like a nerve ending how they worked, and as soon as one signal was sent, it triggered a chain reaction from the others. As soon as the final seal of wind enclosed innocents around them, a flare of fire seemed to spread down from the roots of the ground. Like a wildfire it spread, singing enemies?? feet as it went. As soon as it touched the globes of wind however, the fire flared upwards around its aiding element, surrounding those within with a firestorm that could potentially be dangerous if kept in form for too long. Screams were uttered from within, as they were confused and terrified of what was happening. Some were calmer about it, as they were trained to remain as such. As Altima??s and Valen??s magic mixed, the firestorm that encased all those they sworn to protect, Brand hesitated to do his part. It was dangerous. Their elements weren??t compatible like Valen??s and Altima??s. It was suicidal. But the glow of blue light filling the sockets of where the water-form??s eyes should have been reminded him that this was an order, and that Gandrian did not ask please at the end of his statement. Aim for the North. Balling his fist hard enough to dig his nail into his palm and make it bleed, the youngest knight allowed his magic to roar to life once more. Like molecules from the sky itself seem to charge up, negative electrons clashing and sparking, forming just a swirling ball of lightning. It was just enough, because not much was needed when against a good conductor. Aim for the North. Conflicted, terrified, and looking like he was two seconds away from pissing himself silly, Brand pitched like it was a ball he was throwing, and instinctively knew that it was heading in the right direction he had been facing North, after all. It spiraled out of the protective bubble he was in, losing just a bit of its spark as it was sent sailing across the dried air. Gandrian was vibrating with energy, his magic sustained only on the strength he had left in him??which consisted of a butter smeared piece of toast, 3 pounds of candy, orange juice, and the goldfish he swear he didn??t mean to eat. Raising his fist into the air higher, thus causing the water body to mimic his motions, he saw the spark of lightning headed his way. We??re playing catch, Z. he mentally chuckled, thinking that this might well be the most stupid idea he had. If it didn??t work, he??d be dead. If it did work, he??d probably be dead anyways. Either way, he wish he had thought of a different idea, because really? he wasn??t all that into being the dying hero. But it was too late to go back to the drawing board to plan, and with a slightly clumsy motion of the water body??s hand, he caught the spiraling spark of energy. Lightning flared and spread, snapping along the conductor like mad dogs chasing after a piece of meat. It was like he was being stung in the hand, as the thundering magic bit downwards, covering the fist. Oh, please, let it work. because he didn??t want to die for nothing. With shut eyes, he made a motion to slam his fist towards the ground, every inch of his body aching from the strain, and every thought praying to any deity listening, to not let his plan backfire and harm those he was trying to protect. Elements clashed, raging against one another and threatening to destroy each other. The water sparked by lightning spread out with rapid speed, covering every inch of Cardina with its unforgiving destruction. Acidic waters, as it seemed, as enemies that were able to withstand the strength of electrocution were eaten away like rotten corpses among vultures. From the far corner, a crystallization seemed to have form, a dome of sort that began to crack. Luckily for whoever was inside, the dome held out until the final waves of attack, only bursting from the pressure, acid, and thunder. A shadowed figure quickly leapt outwards, not unscathed, but escaping. While the water didn??t seem to latch onto the stranger, lightning seemed to spark around the individual, leaving a memory in the nerves of this person to remember the feeling of being ??shocked??. Some had been able to escape the tidal wave??s fury one that Gandrian could see having a rather large choice of weapon, others with no weapons at all. The only things that were left ??standing? were the spheres of magic, swirling vortexes of fire and wind. Drained of his energy, something he had already knew would happen, Gandrian helpless watched as the rest of the body of water slowly dissipated, but not fast enough that the lightning that still lingered in the water didn??t find its way downwards. Like a shot to the chest, the thundering feeling reached the water around him with painful ferociousness. A silent cry was parted from his lips, the clash of the source of one magic with another colliding with such force that it literally sent the lightning and water disbursing with a slight explosion. And the end where the victors imprint themselves into history. Plain horror rippled through him, shaking the very foundations that he mentally stood on. He had never hurt anyone, he had never killed until today, he had never attacked his own friends or teammates or? oh gods, ??ANNIE!? the cry tore itself from Brand??s very soul, like a child that just realized he had wished his parents death in a fit of rage and having the unfortunate event of watching them get ran over by a carriage. Fire and air finally disbursed themselves, only when the trickle of water and lightning was soaked into the earth. Of course Valen had known. He knew what could happen, knew the gist of what Gandrian had been planning. Some part of him had hoped against odds against odds and even more odds that it wouldn??t have had the final burst he saw as fact. Obviously, Brand didn??t see the ending as well as he had, as the youngest knight ran with frenzy. They all were, Altima just keeping in time with Brand, as the youngest was still wounded and slowly hobbling compared to the pace he could usually run. Kali had been banging against the door of her cellar, frantic in the need to get out and see what she couldn??t see. She knew, of course the Queen knew, but the worse wasn??t going to be confirmed until she saw with her very eyes. Let it be nothing? a desperate plea. Valen reached just under Gandrian??s position, the other male just freefalling down towards the unforgiving ground. Drawing towards any strength he had left, Valen rushed the air towards their companion, enveloping him like gentle hands and slowly aided him down onto the ground as softly as he could. Like a magnetic pull, he nearly fell on top of the blue haired male, panic racing through him faster than it had with the attack. The water knight??s eyes were deadly still under clothes eyelids, chest not heaving in any form that showed he was inhaling. But that wasn??t important, right? Because Gandrian could go without air for quite some time??how else did he survive in the water for long periods of time? ??C??mon, c??mon, c??mon?? he muttered, shaking at the pale youth??s shoulders. Suddenly, Valen was shoved, his body angled away from Gandrian??s for a brief moment. Brand was frantic with guilt and fear and emotions, his body sparking here and there. He wasn??t able to control himself though, only thinking that he had to get Gandrian to get up, because he wasn??t going to be responsible for his??for their companion??s death! Altima had quickly noted that the Queen was trying to bust out, so she attended to that first. A distraction really, as she wouldn??t??couldn??t??look at Gandrian??s still body. Kali burst out, nearly toppling over both of them, as she gaped at what she saw. Valen attempted to stop Brand??s touch, as the other male was unstable, but was too late. Luckily though, as a mere touch sent a shock through the still body. They didn??t know exactly what had happened or what was working, but with a jolt like a nerve cell coming back to life, the chest heaved and breath was gasping deeply. Brand jerked back, his eyes wide as Gandrian seemingly choked on air, gasping every bit he could get in him despite the struggle. Tension released itself soon though, and the blue haired male fell back onto the earth with still racing breaths. Calming though, as his self regenerative magic began to work as fast as it could, healing its body and restoring any little strength it could to survive. ??Stupid, stupid knight?? came a relieved sigh, Kali losing the strength in her legs as she fell in a heap. Altima barely managed to support her, only to fall in the same heap as well with relief. Great sacrifices had been made today, many warriors and innocents maimed or worse. Tests had been laid out, dragged through mud and blood of skills. The strong reminder to them all that one is just as important as many. That a single heartbeat could ease all racing ones. But like any good story, the end, is merely the beginning of a greater legend. The series of battles to come after the attack in Cardina were but little trickles after that. Small blows that were dealt back with equal amount to crush darkness as fast as they could. At the end of a nine month long siege, the battles were soon to be known as the Kapathian Wars ancient word in Elizarian meaning the War of Common Darkness. At the end of the wars, the final resistance thrown back into the far reaches of Lassadar and the King of Darkness entreating forgiveness from the Queen of Light, a ceremony was held. Kali saw no safe grounds that could be left unguarded from then on, fearful for the people and unity under Elizar. While she had forgiven her brother, she feared that those outside of Vayne??s command would attempt revenge, attacking points of Mariosa and try to uproot everything. For this, the Queen commanded for a gathering of leaders, each corner of the kingdoms attending the ceremony of crowning and new order. Elizar was decorated grandly, flourishing with so much life and robust that it was almost gaudy. They all seemed to lead up towards the palace, trickling the crowd towards the public crowning throne area usually used for announcements and the like. There, the Queen stood before the people and facing the four other leaders within their allied kingdoms. Her bow was gentle, a simple curtsy of a leg stepping behind the other, but with the top half bowing just a fraction and head tilted back. Traditional for Elizarians, of which other leaders were obliged to return the same greeting. A steward stepped forward, though still behind the Queen. He held a tray of jewelry, each symbolizing a swirl of element within a gem??s depth. Kali smiled brightly, announcing the heroes of the Kapathian Wars, for their bravery and resilient push towards a just victory. It was also announced that from hereon in, each corner will be housing one of the knights, as guardians to protect their kingdoms as they saw fit. The Queen turned and plucked each item of jewelry made for this occasion, feeling the metal and slight swirl of magic within them. For Valen, a silver, orb centered armlet for Altima, a ruby, orb dropped necklace for Gandrian, a sapphire, shield symbolic ring and for Brand, a yellow-sapphire, sword symbolic earring. Anticipation was high, each kingdom brimming with curiosity of which knight would they be given as a guard. Kali finally turned to face the ??audience?? once more, her knights keenly attentive and curious as well. ??For the Western Elves, no suited more than would the Champion knight be, as his winds will carry your songs across all lands to sooth if needed.? the Queen announced with an air of importance, lacing words of embellishment into the sentence to heighten their thrill of a new order. Valen stepped forward, just as the Elvin King and Queen did. The Elvin pair placed their right arm over their chest and bowed gracefully, no more than a shoulder and neck bow. It gave him great pride to mimic such a greeting and acceptance, and it gave the Elvin kingdom a victorious grin at getting the Champion knight. ??For the Southern Ajantians, the Fiery knight??let your fires envelope one another and burn brighter for the future.? Altima hummed with anticipation as she stepped forward, the Ajantian King doing the same as Valen and the Elvin pair had side-stepped. The Ajantian King gave a sharp jerk of hand against his chest, nearly a greeting like that of the Elves, but harsher, firmer in showing of strength through physical and fiery might. The blonde female had no trouble with returning the gesture, as she saw the growth that she would be having within their care. ??For the Eastern Atlantians, the Cardinal knight, to help spread healing waters and to tend to the goldfishes.? the Queen teased, giving Gandrian a small smile as he grinned back with mirth. The Atlantian King stepped forward as preceding ones had. The two males stepped closer together, more so than the others had, and each slipped a hand along each other??s opposite shoulder. Their bow and contact was the traditional greeting of the south, two heads gently butting against one another and a firm squeeze of shoulders. So of course, there was only one last one, wasn??t there? ??And for the Northern Dragons, I entrust you, Queen Ranis, to guide our youngest, the Lightning knight.? Brand stepped forward, staring forward as he finished hooking his earring into his right ear and straightened up to look presentable. And then? he had to bend his neck back completely to get a look at the face of the Queen he was supposed to be guarding. Ranis was less than impressed, almost miffed that of all the knights that Kali was to give the North, she had to get the clumsy knight??the one that had not only destroyed half her room the last time the boy was there to help ward off Lassadarian demons, but managed to daze a few of her Dragon Guards with his wild sparks of thunder. But, as she had fond affections for the Queen of Light and knew that it wasn??t wise to reject one of the beloved knights, she puffed and gave her people??s greeting. Ranis was, of course, in her Dragon form purely for traditional purposes. And the greeting of her people was a sharp rapt of their tail against the ground, sending a small shock that rumbled vibrations through whomever they were greeting. Brand gawked and dropped his sword, Excalibur causing a faint clank of metal ringing in the deadly still air. Truly, this marked the beginning of a new order and hopefully would lead to a prosperous era.