Chapter 1: Chaos Reigns

The exhilaration of battle; nothing is better. I haven't felt that since I found out I was destined to destroy chaos. I don't know what's wrong with me, but I feel peaceful. Could it be the Goddess's influence? I don't want a war anymore. Seeing the Goddess's army at war in front of my eyes gives me a sense of sadness. Chaos has tainted the minds of our people and I cannot allow anymore lives to be lost because of my absence in defeating the Chaos. It's my fault for all the death and sorrow. We've taken up to much time and now time is running short. I just don't know what to think anymore.

*****

Despair; that's the only feeling I feel right now. The last thing this world needs is another senseless war. The Elves and Dwarves are supposed to be allies; allies that would help the Chosen One defeat the darkness that clouds the land every few hundred years. If that explosion signals something, it could spell the end before anything started. How many more lives must be taken to end this war with my father?

Ris and Myriani stand frozen in place. Ris has a horrified look on his face as if he knew something like this was bound to happen. Whatever he was carrying, is now on the ground rolling away. His hands shake as he reaches for his slender blade. Each blade is made carefully for each individual Elf. "We must hurry." He says with a shaky voice, "This can't be good at all."

Even with my training, it's difficult to keep up with the Elves when they're at a full sprint. We pass troves of Elves and Dwarves headed towards the center of the city. Plumes of pitch black smoke drifts into the air. I know that smoke all too well. It's the same color that blanketed Icelia after Fiore destroyed the city. Magic fire is the only thing that could keep burning after an explosion like that. Embers rise from the stone houses as we get closer. A magic circle appears above the plume of smoke sending water into the square. The fires were extinguished, but the smoke lingered.

We push through the crowded square until we reach the center. Everything is quiet as a lone breeze carries the fresh scent of blood. Lying in a pool of blood, is the small body of an Elven girl. A destroyed sword lays at her side. Her stomach slowly rises as she fights for life. Kneeling next to her, is a well built Elf wearing a crown. That must be Svewn and the Elven girl in front of him must be his daughter. Drenched and blackened from the smoke, he takes her hand.

"I know what must be done daughter." He says with a shaky voice, "The Dwarves have gone too far this time and must be eradicated!"

"You really think we'd kill a child?" A Dwarf walks up to the girls other side picking up the sword, "This sword caused her death. It's not Dwarven made, so how would we be responsible?"

"Rgur, my old friend, I know it was you." The grieving Elf looks up at him, "You've been working with the darkness for some time haven't you? Waiting for a moment to strike! You should have came after me instead!"

"We're supposed to be allies!" Rgur takes his massive hammer and slams it into the ground, "Chaos has risen once more and here we are squabbling like children. Whoever is responsible for this, should be hunted down."

"Why waste time and energy looking for someone when the culprits are already here!" Svewn stands up only to be gripped weakly by his dying daughter.

"Please," She pleads. Only now can I see how badly wounded she is. The entire right half of her body is obliterated. The right half of her face is heavily burnt. Her arm is completely gone leaving a bloody mess. Deep cuts run down the rest of her body from the sword fragments, "this..wasn't their..doing."

"Save your words daughter." Svewn wipes the blood away from her eyes, "Look at me...we'll destroy all who was involved. Starting with Rgur!"

The two leaders clash with the deafening sound of steel. For a Dwarf, Rgur is fast enough to keep up with the Elven leader. The rest of the soldiers join the fray and an all out war had started. Myriani takes a step forward as if in a trance. I reach out for her, only to be stopped by her gaze. Her eyes are clouded with Chaos. The feelings that had risen from this even had stirred the Chaos inside of her. I can't lose her too!

My back slams against a building and I slide down to the ground. I bring my knees close and hug them tightly. The feeling of sadness and loneliness returns from my youth. If I intervene, I'll have to kill innocent lives. If I don't intervene, innocent lives will be lost. If only I wasn't late. I look down at the Ice Crystal. The humming it gives off is soothing and the coldness is refreshing. I don't want to lose anyone else!

Large explosions fill the air as the mages enter the fight. The massacre in front of me is needless. I wish I had gotten here sooner. If I didn't waste time, none of this would have happened. Because I'm late, the war with my father has changed. It changed once he began practicing the dark arts and absorbed Abadden. I stand up on shaky legs and slowly walk through the fighting. Most of the fighting has dwindled and both sides are collecting their dead. The amount of dead children is nauseating. They weren't even fighting, yet they fell where they stood; helplessly watching their friends and family tear each other apart.

Blood splatters my face as I walk past a pair of warriors. The fallen Elf had his face caved in from a Dwarven hammer. I look away and search for Myriani. I find her at the edge of the square surrounded by dead Dwarves. Her fighting skills had kept her safe, but killed innocents. No one here deserved death like this. They aren't fighting for what they believe in, they're fighting for what they desire. Myriani's breathing quickened as she stared at the death she caused. She falls to her knees and screams into her hands, her rapier clattering at her side. She came to her senses too late. If I tried to stop the battle from taking place, I don't know what the Goddess would have made me do. The only Elf to not fight was Ris. The calm headed warrior knew what was right and wrong. He didn't let the Chaos flood him.

I shudder as a cool breeze flows through the city. My father's army is nearing the city and no one is in no shape to fight.

"The deed was dealt, wasn't it?" Svewn appears out of nowhere next to me. He's covered in wounds, but standing firm. His calm demeanor seems to have returned for now. I've never known Elves to lose themselves, "Chaos has stricken the next blow and our weakened army doesn't stand a chance at a defense."

"I don't believe we've met yet." I stare ahead at his dead daughter, "She didn't deserve this...no one did."

"The sight of my dying daughter forced my emotions to run high and in turn Chaos seeded itself." He stares towards Myriani, "Even our Queen was taken. Miss Stormblade," He turns to me, "I believe we have a long discussion ahead of us."

"There's no time." I look towards the horizon where the Chaos Army will appear, "My Father's army is marching here. We have to mount some sort of defense. We only have a couple of days."

"That short?" Svewn nods taking a deep breath, "I'll gather what warriors are left and we'll fortify the north. What will you do? The city knows you're here now."

"I'll fight." I grip Artenagon tightly, "I may die, yet I'll fight. If this city becomes the last bastion, then so be it, but I'm not going to let anybody else die!"

"Very well." Svewn smiles, "I'll meet with Rgur and we'll treat everyone's wounds. Savor these last few days, peace will not come shortly."

"Even if my Father's defeated, the world will need help." I sigh, "Who knows the scale of this."

"The last time, Chaos plagued the world for a hundred years." Svewn walks over to his daughter, "She was just born before that war and she didn't live through this one. The scale of this incident is by far the worst it's ever been."

"I can only blame myself." I bow slightly, "I'm going to find ways I can be useful for now. I'll take my leave. I'm sorry for your loss."

****Swven

"She's young but wise." Rgur walks up to me, "You know about her right?"

"It's wise to keep her like this." I look up at the old Dwarf, "The Goddess may be protecting her, but her birthright will come forth eventually."

"The Goddess is a bright one; when the twin fell, the light shone on her." Rgur ponders, "The prophecy about the Chaos twins were true. When do you think her powers will awaken?" Rgur questions, "One twin was born with Chaos while the other lay dormant."

"It can only be a matter of time." I say, "Coming into contact with this much Chaos should have an effect on her soon enough. She's awakened from her slumber so I can only imagine. Sixteen years of war because a child woke up. Kazle, the Fell Dragon, has a way of eliminating threats doesn't he?"

"If he wants to bring balance to the Chaos Throne, then yes, he has an unorthodox way of dealing with his enemies." Rgur says, "Two cannot exist. That is why there has always been one ruler. This is the first time twins were born and now a power struggle is happening."

"Rias may be more powerful than her father or sister." I say, "One who cannot control their powers is a powerful one. She could easily erase this world if her mind is taken."

"Surely the Goddess will keep her safe?" Rgur sighs, "She can't...the Goddess' powers have been weakening for some time and Rias is but a vessel for a dying Goddess. We failed the last Heir thus ending the bloodline. Rias is all she has now."

Debris crumbles from above. Buildings around the square are finally giving way from the fighting. I look north. The turning point of the war will be decided on the outskirts of the ancient city. The city's defenses will be put to the test. They haven't been used since the last war and are aging. I'll have Rgur see to our defenses. He's never lost a siege yet.

"Rgur," I look back at him, "please see that our defenses are ready. We don't have much time. I'll gather what warriors are left and speak with the queen. We can't have her falling apart at a time like this. The people will need her."

"And the twin?"

"She'll fight is all she said." I tell him, "She'll fight to her last breath."

"Her powers will keep her alive." Rgur says, "The only thing that can kill a Fell Dragon is a Fell Dragon."

"Let her believe she's human acting as a weapon for the Goddess." I say, "If she learns of her past...no she has a good heart and will follow her own path."

"Right," Rgur says slowly, "I'll go see to the defenses now. We'll survive this, I know we will."

I listen for Rgur's fading footsteps and look over at the distraught queen. She needs to rally the soldiers no matter what. She needs to stand strong through this. I only hope we see tomorrow.