The Great River

"Hurry!" A rebel shouted to another. "Get Lord Zerith some medicine!"

"No, you fools!" Zerith shouts, pointing towards the open horizon. "Chase after them! Don't let them escape!"

The rebels nodded and grabbed their weapons, and off they went to chase after the loyalists.

A medical soldier approached Zerith and inspected the wound that were present.

"That is a strange cut." The Medic said, grabbing some herbal ointment and bandages. "Somehow the sword managed to pierce through your armor and cut a wound so deep that it reached the tip of your stomach".

Zerith gritted his teeth as the medic began pouring the ointment and healing the wound in order to hold back the pain.

"That Hayabusa.. He'll pay for this..." Zerith thinks to himself. "I gave him the chance to join me... however he still insists to side with Tigreal the fool."

"I'll prove him wrong..." he mutters. "I'll prove them all wrong!"

______________________________________

"Gussion!" I shouted as I see my friend with a medical soldier. "You escaped! Thank goodness."

"You think I'd be beaten by those dummies?" Gussion tells me before standing up, a bandage present on his left arm.

"Not exactly." I replied. "I'd just feel guilty if you died helping me escape."

Gussion grinned. "Don't think so highly of yourself, Ziao. I only did it because I wanted to use you as a distraction for the big one."

"Yeah right."

"It's true."

General Tigreal finally appears before the panicked crowd along with a woman I have never seen before.

"Alright! Everyone, move on towards the gates!" Tigreal shouts, pointing over towards the wall. "I have positioned my men to prevent any of the rebels from stopping us. We can escape unscathed if you all move quickly!"

The people whose hearts remained loyal to the King nodded and started for the outer gates. Gussion and I followed, but not before looking back on the inner gates that separated the towns of Zuan and Zian. There were rebel soldiers everywhere, however they weren't advancing just yet.

It was like they were waiting for orders.

"Do you think that they established a chain of command by this time?" I asked Gussion, who turned away at that time.

"It was highly unlikely at first.." he answered. "However, I assume that they planned this way before the events happened."

I nodded as I continued walking. We were past the gate now, but there were still a lot of people that were left behind, probably to help the others.

I couldn't help but stop and think. If they really were trying to achieve victory here, wouldn't it only be right to charge through? We were at our most vulnerable, and with the amount of soldiers we have right now, there would be nothing that would stop them from overrunning us any second now. But why are they not charging?

Suddenly, a great flash of purple light came from what seems to be the cemetery grounds.

"Dark Magic..." I hear someone mutter.

General Tigreal shouted once more. "Everyone! Hurry now!"

The others seemed convinced that this was now the time of concern, and that we should be moving faster than before. Unneeded carriages were left behind and some even dropped the small packages they were holding just to carry their children to safety.

But beyond the forest lies the great river, and the General told me that thousands of soldiers from the South are already there preparing to escort us. Only then would we be safe.

But I felt at ease. The General was up there leading the defense. He always had.

I always viewed him as a father-figure, as I never knew my real dad or mom ever since they left me in a rotten old house in the woods. They say I had the mark of the Dragonborne, and that's why I was abandoned; because they were scared.

But the General told me another story. They left me there for a reason, and its my duty in life to find out what that reason was... and giving up wasn't an option.

Gussion finally got reunited with his family after walking a few miles, and they invited me to join them after the vanguard has declared that it is safe and far enough to take a break.

I didn't feel comfortable at first, but Gussion's father was nice, and so I was able to adjust real nicely. Gussion didn't have the same attitude though, always with that angry look at his father.

I don't know why though, but I guess it's not my business to know.

....

King Samuel stands beside Tigreal as they observe the purple glow illuminating from within the inner wall.

"What do you think is going on in there?" The King asks.

"Nothing good, probably." Tigreal replies. "But we'll keep watch in case something else happens to be in store."

Natalia joins them, giving both a cup of herbal tea to drink. "Your majesty, shouldn't you be with the Vanguard, escaping from here?"

The King sighs before answering. "It is not right for a King to put himself first before his people. I felt like I should be here with all of you."

Natalia smiles before going back to her post. Tigreal removes his helmet and reads the letter given to him by an old friend in a great city on the other side of dawn. "It seems like the Dark Wizards have finally gone at it. All of Dawn seems to be in chaos."

"Do you think it's all connected, General?" King Samuel asks.

Tigreal nods. "I hope not. I have encountered members of the Dark Wizards more than once before, and they are not someone who should be taken lightly."

The King nods in agreement before turning his attention to the eerie glow. It seems to have been fading as time passes.

Hayabusa appears right behind them and kneels before the King. The King commands him to stand up and report everything that he has seen.

"Zerith Brightfall has tapped into the Dark Arts." Hayabusa reports. "I thrusted my blade unto his stomach, however he seems to have survived the encounter. I had to get out of there or else they would've gotten me. I'm sorry."

Tigreal shakes his head and taps Hayabusa in the shoulders. "No, we are grateful to have you by our side, Shadow of Iga."

"Have you gotten any valuable information out of Zerith's mouth at least?" King Samuel asks.

Hayabusa thinks about what Zerith had just told him.

"THE ONE YOU WANT IS WITH THE KING'S GUARD.."

"Hayaba-" Tigreal tries to say. "Er.. Shadow?"

Hayabusa snaps out of it and faces Tigreal once more. "Call me Saito."

"Alright Saito..." Tigreal says, scratching his head. "Now I don't even know what your name is but okay. Tradition is tradition."

Hayabusa shook his head. "Unfortunately, I didn't manage to squeeze more of the traitorous knight. Although I still believe that he is one of those responsible for the purple glow."

"What can you say about the purple glow?" The King asks Hayabusa, who thinks for a while before answering.

"I overheard two men talking about a certain woman who conjures spirits with a man walking towards the cemetery for a ritual." Hayabusa replies. "That is all I know for certain."

"It seems to have something to do with dark magic... so it is only logical to do it in the cemetery..." King Samuel commented.

"-Where dark energy is usually forming." Tigreal says.

Samuel nods at this and looks at Hayabusa. "Saito, can we ask you to sneak in and gather information inside the castle for us? I believe that you are the only one capable of doing so."

"Of course, King Samuel Escion." Hayabusa nods. "I believe you have a plan in mind?"

Samuel smiles. "It can only be achieved once we unite with the southern soldiers. For now, we must head towards the Great River that separates the North and the South."

Hayabusa closes his eyes only before disappearing a few moments later.

"I like him." The King said. "The strong, more-or-less silent type."

Tigreal nods. This was going to be a long night.

_________________________________________

"Why is everyone still here?!" Zerith shouts as he arrived at a large gathering of rebel soldiers. "I thought I told you to engage?!!"

But just then, a shout came from among the people. "That won't be necessary, Zerith."

Zerith turns around the strong and powerful voice, and as he did, he knelt. "Lord Moscov..."

The rest of the rebels knelt down in respect. "This can only be a sign from the heavens. The Prime Minister lives!"

Vexana steps forward. "Engaging the enemy while they are at their weakest is good strategy. However, we are also at our weakest, and our weapons are no match for theirs."

Moscov moves in closer to Zerith, placing a hand into his shoulders. "You have done well, my friend. But it is now time for the minds to do the battling."

"The revolution has begun."

________________________________________

Alice steps inside the dark abyss, where demons and monsters alike lurked in every corner, hissing.

"Shut up, you freaks!" Alice shouts in annoyance as she walks past every single one of them without fear.

Every one of the monsters backed away when she came near, except one.

Helcurt.

"My..my.. Alice.." Helcurt smiles as he says. "You had a terrible fight, huh?"

"Move out of the way." Alice orders. "The little elf has called for me."

"Hehehe..." Helcurt chuckles. "It seems like you're losing favor in the eyes of the dark lord, huh? It has been hundreds of years since you came to existence. It's no surprise that he'd grow tired of your face."

"I'm warning you, shadow creature." Alice says, raising her eyebrows. "Move aside or I will crush your skull."

Helcurt laughs before falling silent. "You have a big mouth, demon. But whatever."

Helcurt backs away into the darkness, and before disappearing, he says "I shall see you at your lowest..."

Alice moves on with a disgusted look. This guy was being annoying. Too annoying.

"Once I've dealt with the dark elf... I shall come after you next, Helcurt.."