Volume 1 Chapter 1: Beautiful Memories

Prologue

The rain falls where the dark rainy clouds appear. The sound of the raindrops makes your mind at ease, where the thunder rumbles and follows a flash of lightning.

A middle age man was begging for his life to the soldiers who chased him from his escape. He was utterly defenseless, looking at his eyes full of fear and despair.

The soldier kicked him on his chest and begone to fall. They simultaneously beat the man's body for satisfaction.

Then, the man can't take any more of the pain. He suddenly rises, holding his pain, and taking the chance to get a strike on the soldier.

He took a dagger from his clothes and charged toward the soldier; in the glimpse of the eye, he got thrust by a sword on his stomach.

The sound of the raindrops soothingly calms his mind in the dying state, and soldiers laugh at a distance watching the man die.

His vision became shaky and blurry; then, he hallucinated until he saw his wife and daughter smiling in a beautiful land full of nature. He then said:

"I'm sorry, my dear...tell our princess I won't be there for a whil..."

After the man died, they turned their backs on returning to their place. They talked and laughed while they walked.

Suddenly the dead man rose. The fresh blood dripped on the ground, the man's eyes color changed, and his body became pale.

The soldiers were still unaware of the undead man due to their loud noises. Until a twig snaps in the distance, one soldier turns his head back. After turning his head, the undead man was already on the spot to take its prey.

The monster bites the soldier's neck. The soldier was in the agony of pain. He loudly cries and yells for help from his fellow soldiers.

The other soldier came and thrust his sword into the heart. After the blade got through, there were no signs of movement. The soldier was in shock and smiled afterward after killing the hideous being. But the soldier who got bitten by the neck died of blood loss.

The rain stopped, their surroundings became quieter, birds were flying, and the sound of tiny droplets of water from the wet leaves was calm. But suddenly, the monster started moving its body and then pushed the soldier to the ground and started attacking. At the same time, the other dead soldier began to rise and started tackling the other soldier holding it before it died.

The two soldiers were screaming in pain and started yelling for help.

"Help!!!"

It was a moment when the other soldier managed to kill the undead soldier by swinging his sword on the neck to decapitate it. He then moves and escapes into the woods.

*Breathing heavily*

He held his sword tightly and started swinging his head left and right, waiting for the undead to pop up. He turns his back to the tree for a moment to leave a sigh.

A bush was rustling. He pointed his sword towards it and maintained his stance for a counterattack. Then a furry white rabbit jumped out of the bush and surprised the soldier. He touches his chest, leaving a significant relief.

Their days were nearly over; they didn't know their outcomes after killing an enslaved person. Life is mysterious when you see things you don't want to see and things that don't happen unexpectedly.

After the soldier was relieved, he turned his back, and it was the moment that he knew life had its path. He faced the undead almost to his touch as it pounced towards its body. It then

Beautiful Memories

.....

In 496 AD, during the Dark ages, where smelting swords, crafting bows and spears are the primary source of weapons for soldiers to use and fight against a kingdom they are at war.

Resources were rich in the era, and trading played the most critical role in the economy. Materials are more abundant than food, and clothes are elegant for nobles, while the commoners wear tunics, short breeches, or sometimes long trousers, which is unpleasant to see for the rich.

The system of the kingdoms varies from those who ruled the place. Corruption is high; justice is more advantageous to the rich than the poor, and inhumane will hold all decisions that will take place.

Everything will change for those who are brave to fight for what is theirs and to set an example for those who are taking advantage of the people.

Life must go on, but this will not be a disaster they'll be facing. The dead will come

_______

In a small village house, where a mother bore a child in the night, the baby had silver hair and was in good health. The parents were happy to see their child alive and healthy.

"Come here, Arce. Do you want to look at the face of your little sister?"

The little boy happily moves forward, holding a big smile, and is amazed at his new sister.

"Her name is Xaria. Look how beautiful your little sister is."

"Now you're a big brother Arce. You must take care of and protect your little sister. No matter how difficult life will be."

Arce, a little boy, comes from a family of warriors and nobles. He has black hair and a small tip of his mother's silver hair.

The father patted his head on Arce, making him happier and more motivated. He squished both sides of his face after what his father said.

"No matter how difficult life will be, big brother will always be there for you."

The next day, the sunlight hits the field of crops along with a breeze of wind. Knowingly it is a peaceful day in the village where villagers work daily.

Arce woke up and excitedly went downstairs. His mother caught him before going to the door.

"Are you going to go outside without eating first? I've cooked your favorite mushroom pasties."

Arce gladly eats his meal and moves toward his little sister, watching her sleeping quietly.

He went outside, seeing his dad working on the crops they planted. He waved to his father and gave him a big smile.

"Father! I'm going to meet my friends on the lake. I'll be back before noon."

"Don't get too far, son. Bring us some fish when you get back."

*Arce nods*

He arrived at the location, and his two best friends were waiting in a tree beside the lake. His friends were glad that Arce came. They weren't hesitant to tell Arce's new sibling.

"Is she beautiful? Does she have silver hair like your mom? What's her name? And...…"

"Ohh, cut it out, Aina, you're making Arce confused as to what he will say next."

Aina is a blond girl who lives with a family of farmers, an enthusiastic and spontaneous girl who loves picking flowers and has a sweet voice.

Aina is annoyed at Mykel and starts glaring at him.

Mykel is a black-haired boy whose family of knights is on their blood to serve a kingdom. He is intelligent, energetic, and very wise to people.

"Gu-guys, I will answer every question you have. Please stop fighting each other"

He then explained his sister's appearance, how healthy his sister and how quiet when his sister sleeps.

"Wow, I wish I have a sister like that. Too bad I'm the youngest in my family."

"Well, at least your brothers are knights affiliated to the lords who ruled and owned a castle."

"Yes, I will become a knight and swear to protect the people from danger."

"Looks who's talking. You can't even wield a wooden sword perfectly."

Aina teases Mykel continually, and Arce steps on to prevent them from fighting.

"Hey, guys, now it's not the time to fight. We are a team, right?"

"Well, she keeps teasing me when I didn't do anything wrong."

"If you weren't that annoying earlier. I would have made up some good stories about you even though you aren't that good."

Aina laughs continuously. Arce holds Mykel before he hits Aina. They were having a great time and fun.

Time passed, and they went fishing in the lake using a stable branch to withstand the fish and a string of cloth to make it hold the bait.

The group of friends started packing the fish after they caught a medium size trout in the streams.

Along the road, they talked about what they would do growing up.

"Arce, you haven't told us about what you want to do when you grow up. And even Aina, you have to tell us to."

"Um, I don't know. Hmmm, I guess I'll just become a farmer like my father. So I provide crops for my family and the people."

"That's lame, Arce. Why don't you become a knight just like me who wants to fight the enemies here and there."

"How about you, Aina?"

"Me? I guess I'll be Arce's wife and a big sister of Xaria."

*Aina blushed*

Arce was not bothered about what Aina said since he knew what will Aina say about him. But he didn't realize that Aina had a crush on him.

Mykel facepalmed and quietly whispered to Arce and said:

"You are dense, Arce."

Aina stopped and was about to say something about them. The two turned their backs and...

.....

Arce's mother stepped outside their house, holding Xaria to get fresh air.

She approached her husband to tell him that he was doing an excellent job of making the crops healthy

"Look, Xaria, your father is doing very well on making the plants healthy for us to eat."

"She's so beautiful like you. I'm glad I married a beautiful woman and have two lovely children who inspire me to work every day.

"If it wasn't for my brother, who supported our relationship while my mother disagreed."

"Guess I'll be sending more letters to Erwin to invite him here to drink some ale."

The village was lively. Many villagers were doing things they did. A fellow friend walked by them and interrupted their conversation.

"Richar, your crops are healthy. It will set good prices for the traders."

"Hahaha, of course, I've cared and worked this every day just like how I take care of my family."

"Your daughter is beautiful and healthy. I hope she can be a warrior like you. Like the old days."

Richar was happy and remembered the days fighting against another kingdom.

Richar was a strong and bold warrior that fought many soldiers from different kingdoms. He has black hair and a muscular body gained from wielding weapons and combat.

"Thank you, Gaius. We were good at swinging swords back then against our enemies. Glad we're on a truce till two months."

Gaius is the type of person that is very dedicated to what he does and has an unsurpassed level of archery. A browned hair guy with a scar on his face. He is always eager to help and protect the people.

Richard and Gaius' conversation got cut off when a man on horseback was rushing to the center of the village.

Richar eyes widened as he saw the scout galloping towards the village elder

He looked at his wife with a worried face and told her to go inside.

The two men immediately rushed to the center. When they arrived, the scout was shocked and trembling on his knees.

The elder asked the scout what had happened. The scout held the elder's hand and said:

"They're here, a large army of soldiers coming from the Drinealia Kingdom. They'll be heading to our village soon to get ransacked and be killed by them."

"I thought the truce was about to end till two months; something is wrong here."

Richar spoke to himself and was worried about what will happen to the place

In a loud voice, the elder ordered the people to pack their belongings, leave, and travel to the nearest castle ruled by a lord.

"I want everyone to stop working and pack your things. It will be a massacre to defend a place like this."

"Gaius, gather all the men who can fight while we travel to Staerdale fort. I'll send a messenger ahead to let us seek protection."

*Gaius nods*

"Richar, I want you to lead the people to the fort. I'll stay in here before they catch up to you."

Richar remembered that Arce was in a lake playing with his friends. His heart was pounding that he'll lose his son.

"No, you go ahead. I need to find and get my son his on the lake. I'll defend the village and make time for you to go there."

"I can handle this. You know what I'm capable of."

He smiled at the elder, and the elder understood his decision

He went back to his house to get his battle axe. He was a well-known warrior with the strength to carry a battle axe on the field.

He told his wife what happened and let her pack up the things before the army arrived in the village.

"Eshina, pack all the things up. I don't want you and Xaria to die in here."

"We'll just catch up and follow the eld….."

"No! Just go to the Naelwood Kingdom. Your brother will help you there. I don't trust the new ruler here."

"But Arce is still on the lake!"

"I'll get to him quickly. Use my horse to get out of this place. Don't worry; we'll make it out alive."

He held Eshina high and put her on a horse, and carried Xaria behind her back.

"I love you, Richar. Please get Arce and come back to us."

He slaps the horse's back, and the horse gallops to the open field and goes through the forest.

He then went to go and find Arce before the Army reaches them.

After he left, a black crow landed on the fence, holding a finger on its beak and dripping blood on the ground.

.....

A flock of birds disseminates the forest, and a flying wooden spear bursts. Then it….

"A-Aina, yo-your bleeding."

The two were shocked, with mixed emotion in gulps their mind and body. Their eyes widened to see their best friend got impaled by a spear.

Aina replied softly and slowly to Arce*

"I was going to tell you two that you are the best, and no matter what happens, we could still be best friends."

"Thank you for the memories you gave me."

Aina smiled, and tears started pouring out her eyes, slowly falling to the ground.

Arce quickly holds Aina and cries loudly in front of his dead friend while Mykel stands behind Arce. He was shocked, and his body didn't move an inch after he saw Aina's tragedic death.

In the distance, a loud thud came from the forest, and the two weren't aware that the Drinelia Army had arrived.

A group of Drinealia soldiers appeared from the forest. They were eager to kill people while holding their spears and swords. They shouted to boost their morale.

"Arce! Mykel! Come over here!"

Richar shouted at them. Arce hears his father and looks in front of them when a bunch of Drinealia soldiers is charging toward them.

He grabbed Mykel, but Mykel didn't move with him; he forced himself to stay.

Arce punched Mykel in the face to make him return to his senses.

But it was too late for them to run. A soldier raised his sword in front of them almost to their reach.

Suddenly, a spear flew rapidly directly to the soldier's chest.

Richar grabbed the children and carried them on his shoulders while running back to the village.

Arce looked back at Aina's body and saw her body trampled by horses and soldier's foot

He continually cried to see his best friend pass away before them. Aina was not given a proper burial due to the disaster they were facing.

Another horseback soldier chased the three and raised his sword towards Richar, Arce shouted to his father about the danger, but it was too late to dodge.

A missile of arrows landed on the soldier's body and pushed him away from the horse.

They saw small reinforcements of horse archers arrive and were led by Gaius.

"Hold me tight!"

Richar grabbed the horse of the Drinealian soldier that was killed. He mounted the horse with ease. The reinforcements stepped in and continually shot arrows as Richar got inside their perimeter.

The reinforcements then follow Richar back to the village for the last stand. When they arrived at the town, there were only middle-aged older men and some young people holding a pitchfork, a small axe, and a sickle.

They were only 23, and some villagers hadn't experienced close combat. Richar ordered and shouted to form a tight windowed, doubled line.

"I know you all stayed here to protect the land, our farm, and loved ones."

"We defend what is right and where we belong. Dying in the battle is a mere excuse; you die with your heart's content."

"Prove them that we are warriors not in brute strength but warriors in brute heart!"

The men cheered up and shouted at the speech. Their morale went high and eagerly want to fight, and defend their village.

Arce gazes at his father's speech while Mykel grabs a knife as he hears what Arce's father says.

Richar walked directly to the children and told them to stay away from the battlefield. He puts them back on the horses.

"You must head to Staerdale Fort where the others are, after this battle ends, then go to "

"They are here; prepare your defensive position!"

He gave Arce a dagger

"Here, use this to protect yourself. You and Mykel must stay and watch each other's back. Protect yourselves at all cost."

"I will see you at the end."

"Father! I will fight with you."

"I said go!"

He slaps the horse's back, and it rapidly gallops along the paved road where Staerdale Fort is.

Arce was in deep sadness. They were devasted by the tragedy they'd experienced. Mixed emotions will occur in their minds.

.....

"If this isn't true old man, I'll slice up your head and feed it to my dogs."

"I-I swear, my lord, we won't be wasting your time if no enemies are coming."

The lord of Staerdale Fort began to position his men in an open field where they would face the enemy.

They have 570 soldiers placed on the battlefield against an unknown army size.

The lord was in his 40s. He was bald and had a short beard. He has a physique body and is suitable for close combat along with his giant Warhammer.

He had subordinates along with him, a general and three lieutenants waiting for the enemy to arrive.

Among the subordinates, they weren't just ordinary knights they immense a psycho and evil aura in them with the intent to kill for fun.

The general was about the size of a bear standing. It carries a giant mace as its weapon, which masters close-in combat.

Suddenly a horse runs through the forest and heads directly to the army.

"Look! A child on horseback."

"Fire when ready!"

They mistakenly thought of Arce as an enemy, and it looks like the two were wary and scared of what would happen next.

The soldiers readied their archers and spears in the front and waited for the signal to fire.

Arce spoke up quickly before they turned into a practice target for the soldiers.

"I'm Arce, and I live in a village near your land. A Drinealian Army has invaded us."

"My lord, they are my people in my village."

The village elder calmed the lord to ease

"You say the Drinealia Kingdom invaded your village?"

"I think he is lying, Lord Viscus. May I cut down this little boy's throat?"

"No! We're not lying. My father was there and other people to fight on their last breath for us to escape."

The lieutenant sinisterly laughs and licks his blade on his tongue.

When the atmosphere worsens, the psycho lieutenant dashes to Arce and Mykel, raising his sword high to kill the children.

Arce and Mykel were not ready for the circumstances they've faced, they defend themselves with their arms.

Suddenly a horn blows in the distance, coming from the forest where Arce and Mykel came.

The lieutenant stopped and smiled at the arrival of his enemies.

The Drinealian army marched slowly with the immense amount of 2355 soldiers on the battlefield against their 570 soldiers.

The lord called the messenger to inform the other lords and the capital of Velaris Kingdom that the Drinealian Kingdom broke their truce and advanced to the lands of Velaris.

"Mykel, let's get out of here and head towards the capital."

Before they depart, the army stops outside the forest's perimeter and pulls out their hostages. There were three hostages, a young man, an older man, and lastly, his father, covered in blood and bruises.

Arce's eyes widened to see his father captured by the enemies and beaten out.

Before he moves his horse toward the enemies, the village elder grabs Arce, who is flustered about the incident. He grabbed Mykel and held them tight so they couldn't run into the field.

"Father! I thought you will come back to me, unharmed."

"Listen now, Arce, this situation is pretty dire. We can't save your father at this matter."

They start killing the older man, who accepts his fate, then move next to the young man.

"Please! don't kill me, I beg you, sir."

The executioner smirks and smiles toward the boy, and the boy shouts as the sword plunges directly into the chest.

"You two don't watch this."

"Let them watch old man, let them see how the world works in this era."

Lord Viscus insisted the village elder to let the children watch their people die in front of their eyes. He then gazed at Arce, who was looking at his father with sad eyes.

"I see you're the son of Richar the Night Stalker. Your father was a friend of mine way back in the war."

Arce looked at Lord Viscus in confusion as he didn't know what his father had done before he was born.

"Listen, all you fools! this is the mighty warrior from Velaris, who've killed thousands of Drinealian soldiers in the war."

"Now, he is weak and ready to accept his fate in the hands of his enemies."

The Lord from the Drinealia Kingdom laughed and signaled the executioner to behead Richar in front of his people.

When the executioner started lifting his sharp sword, a heavy throwing spear pierced through the executioner's chest and landed on the tree.

"I'm done repaying my debt Richar."

The Drinealian soldier was shocked, and the Lord from the Drinealian Kingdom got amused by how far Lord Viscus threw the spear to hit a person straight.

Lord Viscus picked up his Warhammer after throwing the spear.

Arce and Mykel were amazed by the performance of the lord and were relieved that the enemies would not execute Arce's father.

Suddenly a man on horseback jumped behind the Drinealian Army and grabbed Richar on the arm.

"I'm glad you're still hanging, my friend. You owe me ten cabbages."

"Ha, you still don't fail to amuse me, Gaius."

"That's what buddies do, help those who are in need no matter the circumstances.

Gaius quickly gallops his horse towards the safe zone where the Velaris army positioned

"You'll be dead in no time, you rats!"

The Lord of the Drinealian Kingdom ordered the army to attack the Velaris army quickly.

"Charge!!!"

The Drinealian soldiers started running towards the battlefield as they chased down Richar and Gaius.

Lord Viscus ordered his men to prepare and stationed his subordinates in their rightful groups.

When Richar and Gaius get into the safe zone, the two kingdoms meet and clash their weapons to their enemies.

The Drinealians have outnumbered the Velaris army led by Lord Viscus. They hold their formation till help arrives.

Out of the blue, a sudden growl grows beside the battlefield. The boys noticed the sudden noise coming from their right.

Richar and Gaius were looking for Arce and Mykel on the battlefield as they battled their way against the enemies.

The tree started to shake in the distance of the battle. Arce and Mykel were looking at the trees moving.

They shouted on the battlefield to tell the people to look at the trees moving.

They've gathered the attention they want.

The Lords from both kingdoms looked confused and didn't know what was happening.

The ground started rumbling like a vast of horses running.

Then one person burst through the forest and ran fast towards the army.

A Drinealian soldier stepped forward to make the man stop as he positioned his spear in front of the person running.

When the man got close, he dodge the spear and pounced on the soldier, and bit his neck.

The soldier was screaming in pain. The army was shocked by the behavior of the person. They immediately beheaded the man.

After that, they approached the soldier who got bitten by the neck. Who was in the agony of pain, then the soldier died due to blood loss. They poked it with their sword, to check if it's alive.

Suddenly the eyes started changing their colors, and the dead soldier started to rise. But it was greeted by a spear thrown by Lord Viscus

Now, more undead people began to burst out of the forest, running towards the army.

The two lords from both kingdoms ordered their men to face the unknown threat.

The boys were shocked and scared about the phenomenon. Their legs trembled in fear, and they could not move their feet to run.

They never saw a person that is dead and came back to life. Now they've witnessed the new era of dark ages emerge.

Richar saw the boys and shouted at them.

"Arce! Mykel!"

They saw Richar, but in a quick turnaround, a dead person leaped toward the boys. Arce tilted his head, his eyes widened as he saw Aina pouncing right in front of his face.