[center][u][b]The Capital, Elementia
Arno Volke and Oriel Shulz[/b][/u][/center]

	Arno sat on the stood bench brushing aside his cloak, opting to take one of the few tables just outside of the tavern doors. The fresh air was crisper, and it wasn't as stuffy. He set down two tankards on the well made oak table, next to his shield, assortment of weapons and helmets. He pushed a tankard towards the woman sitting across from him, who gracefully took it and pulled it closer to her chest. She was a strange one, Arno admitted. Just showing up at his doorstep in his lodge, who nobody should know the location of, wearing a loose shirt and pants. She said that Arno had a great quest ahead of him, whatever that meant. He still fed her and gave her a place to sleep, rule of hospitality after all. She introduced herself as Sapphira, an Oread. Arno had no idea what an Oread was. Later she followed him here, where he sold his pelts from trapping and purchased whatever supplies he needed. She was probably the most gorgeous woman he had ever laid eyes on, young and petite. Though she was still taller than Arno. He could describe her as a flower, much like the red flowers she always kept tucked on her right ear, which never wilted. Arno wasn't a florist, but he had never seen flowers like that before. 
[color=59955C][b]"Just water."[/b][/color] He plainly said to his new companion. She simply smiled at him, looking with him with her inviting blue eyes while sipping the water. [color=59955C][b]"No ale, that's for celebrations. I've no interest in becoming a drunkard or making you one."[/b][/color] The girl nodded. Arno scratched his beard, she was beautiful indeed, and thankfully his wide variety of killing tools and armor dissuaded any troublesome men from bothering her. He looked down the road towards the city center, where a huge mass of people gathered for some Knighting ceremony. Arno had no interest in it, but he was intrigued this time. He took a gulp of his water and looked back at the girl, who looked at him knowingly.

[color=FF4848][b]"I'll be back before dark!"[/b][/color] a young blonde woman of fair complexion said before leaving the small tucked away library she resided in, bidding a short farewell to her caretaker. A kindly old man who was in his twilight years whom she would help frequently with various tasks such as grocery shopping and running errands, to even organizing the shelves of his small library. Oriel was quick as she moved through the crowded streets of Elementia; One had to be on such a day as this. The choosing of Knights to be defenders of the downtrodden and champions of justice...if only such people really were capable of existing. She'd given up on believing in heroes being left in the world after her father's death, and that cynisism was what kept her from walking in to watch the festivities. Passing by with a scant glance, the busy former noblewoman was turning to head into the busy market district before a glint of metal caught her eye, sitting on a middle aged man's table. Perhaps it was merely a trick of the light, or fate itself that brought her eye to it as she saw that familiar helmet...at least, she had heard a description of it. 
Hurriedly walking over, the woman's bright blue eyes were transfixed on that helmet. [color=FF4848][b]"Are you...Volke the Small Demon?"[/b][/color] she asked with an acute level of curiosity. Something in her eyes would seem familiar to him as well.

Arno looked up at the voice, [color=59955C][b]"Now that's a name I've not heard in a long time... A long time."[/b][/color] He looked at her up and down, [color=59955C][b]"The answer depends on who's asking."[/b][/color] Sapphira glanced at the newcomer, then went back to her drink, seemingly uninterested.
[color=FF4848][b]"I... n-nothing...my brother he was..."[/b][/color] Oriel started, before taking a moment to arrange her thoughts. [color=FF4848][b]"He served under Aldebrand, and told me stories of a man with a painted helm just like that one."[/b][/color]
Arno rose an eyebrow, [color=59955C][b]"Really? What unit did your brother serve in? I may have punched him out during a brawl."[/b][/color]
[color=FF4848][b]"He was in a foot knight unit. I believe he was one of the Fifty Peasant Demons of Schulz."[/b][/color] the girl replied, not having to think about it at all.
Arno grinned widely, [color=59955C][b]"Really now? Then I most definitely punched your brother out, and probably broke one of his ribs. I trained my little devils hard."[/b][/color] He extended out a hand, [color=59955C][b]"Former Captain of the 50 Peasant Demons, Arno Folke, the Small Demon. Hows your brother then? He still in the 50?"[/b][/color] Arno asked cheerfully. 
The amount of jovialness this small fragment of Oriel's former life quickly dwindled and burned away as her eyes lost a bit of their luster, avoiding looking directly at Arno as she said: [color=FF4848][b]"There...are no 50 anymore. Haven't you heard? Lord Aldebrand...was assassinated. And his men were either sent into exile or reinstated into the King's army. My brother was...one of the few that got neither choice."[/b][/color]

The former footknight frowned at the news, [color=59955C][b]"My 50 gone?"[/b][/color] He looked down at his tankard, [color=59955C][b]"And General Aldebrand assassinated?"[/b][/color] His grip tighted and his hand shook, the man suddenly stood up, the bench he was sitting on knocked over. He threw the half full tankard against the wall and took a few hard steps towards the girl, [color=59955C][b]"Who?!"[/b][/color] He shouted, a few people walking by now staring. He grabbed his war hammer, turned towards the bench of a nearby table and dropped it on the seat, snapping it in two with a loud crack, [color=59955C][b]"Who killed the General?! Who killed my Knights?! I will rip the spine from their back and use their skull as a flail to kill the conspirators!"[/b][/color] He thundered.

Oriel took a step back, honestly surprised not at the outrage, but that one so loyal had been ignorant for so long. Gulping slightly, she averted her gaze and said: [color=FF4848][b]"None are certain...but...I believe only one man would be so heartless."[/b][/color] in a hushed tone, before she leaned forward and gave Arno a suddenly quick hug before whispering: [color=FF4848][i][b]"Our King."[/b][/i][/color] and breaking off the hug. She made a motion as if she was wiping tears from her eyes, but plain to see to Arno, she was simply acting.

Arno was taken aback at the news, surprise stamping out most of his anger, The King did this. He looked to Sapphira, [color=59955C][b]"You knew."[/b][/color] She nodded, [color=59955C][b]"And you didn't tell me?"[/b][/color] He asked, his voice now much quieter. She shrugged. [color=59955C][b]"Fair enough."[/b][/color] He grumbled, after all he wouldn't have believed a stranger. This must have been that great quest that she mentioned to him when they first met. He didn't believe that either. He turned back to Oriel, [color=59955C][b]"I'll need..."[/b][/color] he stayed quiet for a moment in throught, he mumbled a few things as his eyes glanced up to the sky, [color=59955C][b]"If it's the two of us at least six years, then I'll rip his spine out and use his skull as a flail. Maybe four if we can find proof to this assassination and get it out to the peasants." [/b][/color]

A glimmer of hope quickly dwindled within Oriel's heart. Realistically...a peasant knight, no matter how skilled couldn't hope to amass the same army a King and his Lords might. Even a Demon Peasant. [color=FF4848][b]"Don't be so reckless...I've...given up on avenging my brother long ago. All we can hope in is a fool's legend that we'll be saved by some magic wielding heroes that will likely be suaded by coin and wine...just as our Knights already have."[/b][/color]

Arno grimaced at her, [color=59955C][b]"Magic wielding heroes? We didn't need any klazomaniac sorners like them during that three year long siege, or when we counterattacked to get out of that siege. Giving up is for the weak, and to be related to a man of my 50 Demons, you should not be weak. What was your brothers name? I knew all of my men, only a few mentioned a blonde sister. I want to know who I can complain to when I pray for them."[/b][/color] He asked.

Oriel tensed up for a moment at the mention of her being weak, before she rather swiftly raised her right hand. Not responding to what he had asked, her palm was an inch from smacking across his face before she suddenly froze, words from neither of them stunning her and sending her into a cocktail of emotions.
[color=FF4848][b]"Oriel Schulz, you will be the next Knight of Fire!"[/b][/color] the announcer called with enthusiasm, not knowing that his words had practically just damned the newly christened hero. Lowering her hand, she stared in disbelief at the ceremony, before clenching her fists, nails digging into her palm as she tried to fight down the urge to scream. Dread, anxiety, hope, nausea, and anger welled in her chest, begging to be let out before she hurriedly pulled her hood over her head. [color=FF4848][b]"...There is your answer."[/b][/color] she said, turning to start towards the square.

Arno looked at the raised palm, ready to take the slap to the face. That was good, she was insulted at being called weak, and that anger could be turned into resolve against the King. He had a slight smile until she stopped. A name boomed out from the announcer, Oriel Schulz. The name of the Generals daughter. He looked to the city center down the road, then at the girl in front of him, who was visibly troubled. He put the two together. [color=59955C][b]"Oh."[/b][/color] He simply said. She moved to run to the stage, but Arno grabbed her wrist, stopping her. [color=59955C][b]"Hold on."[/b][/color] He quickly undid the belt for his rondel dagger, shoving it into her hand, [color=59955C][b]"Lady Oriel you should have been trained in rondel dagger."[/b][/color] He got on one knee, unstrapping the belts for his dagger on his boot, [color=59955C][b]"We'll go over this quick- Lady Oriel Schulz you are now the head of House Schulz. I promise on my faith that I will in the future be faithful to the Lady, never cause her harm and will observe my homage to her completely against all persons in good faith and without deceit."[/b][/color] Quickly saying the sacred Oath of Fealty. He finished unstrapping his dagger and tossed it to Sapphira, who handed him his warhammer and helmets. He quickly placed the warhammer on his belt and donned the helmets in only a few swift and practiced movements. He handed Oriel the arming sword. [color=59955C][b]"Now if I recall correctly you have to get your scroll thing."[/b][/color]

Oriel was ready to scream once her wrist was grabbed, but found she didn't need to. In spite of the danger he must know in her still being alive...this knight that knew her not was swearing his life to her. Biting her lip as she took a moment to realize she could not on her honor turned down an oath such as this, especially sworn on her family's name, Oriel turning the Rondel dagger in her hand before nodding. It had been a while, but she knew well enough how to pierce an eye with this. Strapping the belt tightly around her waist, the young woman would say: [color=FF4848][b]"Much as I'd love to skip this part...appearances and all. Wouldn't do well for a returning Noblewoman to run off like a thief."[/b][/color] as she strode towards the square, confident that her Knight, who had shown genuine rage at the knowledge of his lord's death would defend her if the need should arise. She would need her father's old equipment however...ill-fitting as it may be. Walking up, she gave a graceous bow with Arno at her flank, a terrifying sight to behold as she had pretty much the angriest looking midget in the kingdom on her side as she ascended the stairs to stand at the banner for Fire with her scroll in hand. [b]"May the fire in your heart never die."[/b] the bald announcer would say as she strode up confidently.

As they walked up to the stage Sapphira stayed hidden in the crowd, as told by Arno. They needed someone down there to keep an eye out for them if they were high profile targets of the King. As Lady Oriel took her scroll and stood by her banner, Arno kept at her side. That is until the announcer continued, [color=59955C][b]"The Scroll of Earth, Arno Volke!"[/b][/color] He loudly proclaimed. Arno leaned over to get a better look at the announcer, then he looked at Lady Oriel, then back at the announcer. He pointed to his face, a muffled [color=59955C][b]"Me?"[/b][/color], coming out of his helmet. The Announcer looked over. Arno took off both of his helmets, resting his bascinet in his great helmet. The Announcer nodded. Arno gingerly approached the Announcer and took the scroll that he held out. [b]"Be the foundation of which great things are built."[/b]
Arno nodded and walked back to Lady Oriel, standing by the Earth Banner, next to the Fire Banner.

[color=FF4848][b]"Today was more than a coincidence."[/b][/color] she said in a hushed tone, face still obscured by her hood. 
[color=59955C][b]"I'm inclined to agree."[/b][/color] Arno replied, his gaze falling on Sapphira, who had a knowing smile on her face. They'd need to make a stop after this...and then quickly break for out of town. No doubt the King would soon hear that her head was available to be chopped...and to quell hopes of rebellion in one fell swoop with her as a Knight of Elementia.