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Prologue: 'We fight for what we love.'
For centuries the world has suffered from the constant bickering between the Five Great Nations. Wars have been fought over land, money,
power, and a many other assortment of matters. The year is that of the New Leaf, the turn of the century. With it, a full-scale conflict between Estala, Anarcas, and Cesadas is reaching it's climax. Both Cesadas and Anarcas, having come to a mutual agreement, fortify themselves in the Anarcasi capital of Blackwater as the Estalian Army invade the combined alliance. After a month of siege, the Estalians have penetrated the Blackwater defenses and pillage the city, taking captives and heads alike. Their King, Erigan IV Estali, leads a small group of entrusted knights with him into the castle.
The fires of war was a repulsive, but familiar scene to Erigan. Such atrocities were not uncommon in this age. As he looked back towards the landscape, his hardened face was caught on the sight of burning homes and fleeing families. He looked down to his men that followed him up the icy steps of the castle and gave them a nod, continuing towards the gates as Estalian soldiers rushed through the streets, rounding up civilians and prisoners of war, or killing those who did not comply. As he reached the broken down castle gates, his men drew their swords with the king. Anarcasi and Cesadasi troops charged forth towards the king as his own knights engaged in battle, cutting each other down swiftly. Despite being outnumbered, the king found himself victorious...but with the cost of his knights. His face grew grim as he looked up to the castle, knowing what came next.
The doors that led to the throne room creaked open as he pushed inside. Silently, he pulled a book from his satchel, and gripped the blade in his hand as he slowly made his way inside. On the opposite side of the throne room stood the Anarcasi king, Theodorus, and his son Jaedal. The Erigan advanced at a slow pace, keeping his eyes upon both king and prince. Theodorus squinted at the sight of a 'disgusting' Estalian in his home, an Estali and king no-less. "You've raided my home....killed my people....and now you come to kill my son and I for this girl. You have no right to her, Erigan. The marriage will commence after your blood has been spilled on this floor." Theodorus was an old man, his skin wrinkled and his body frail from age. On the other hand, his son Jaedal was a powerful young man and general that had served his father for years. "Let Lady Ceiya go. You've held her against her will before this marriage was even legitimate. If you do not...then let Nilonne spare you, for I shall not." The words planted such anger in the young prince that he found himself charging at him without another word. Before Erigan could respond in time, soldiers flooded from each doorway, advancing towards the Estalan king as quickly as they could.
The fight had gone for at least a few minutes, but it felt like hours since they had been there. Both Estalan and Anarcas royalty had exchanged blows. To the kings frustration, the young prince had such a strong resistance to his melee attacks that it was difficult to land a blow. He was heavily armored, causing the king to use his own high mobility to keep the prince at bay. "I've used way too much magic at the beginning of this siege just to get us in...it doesn't help that I had to use it to defend myself against these soldiers. Damn it....am I really going to lose here!?" Erigan's chain of thought was broken when yet again the young prince charged towards him, bringing axe and blade together. With a quick strike, Erigan managed to cut underneath the prince's armor and score a slash on his arm. Unfortunately, the prince backhanded him with all of his might, sending the king down to the ground. He was exhausted from the battle, having used both his stamina to keep the prince from hitting him and using so much magic to aid in himself and his men in the fight.
Theodorus laughed triumphantly on his throne, watching the spectacle with great interest. "Excellent, Jaedal! Very good...now dispose of this king so that we can evacuate the city with your new wife. We'll continue our fight with these Estalan fools once we have recovered our forces in Casedas." He stood up slowly, hobbling his way across the throne room. Jaedal was joined by the rest of the Anarcasi troops, laughing triumphantly over their victory. With the death of this powerful king, surely the Casedasi and Anarcasi forces would win the day, and then the war. Erigan shifted through his book, desperately trying to find a spell of some kind, until his eyes were caught on one. He stared at it for a long while, weighing his options. He was surrounded with no way of escape or help to save him. If he didn't do something, he would be killed, and his lover would spend the rest of her dies as a shallow and cold woman. He shut his eyes and raised his hand to the sky, as if desperately trying to cling to the sun. Jaedal believed he had seen enough and moved for the killing blow...until everything seemed to shake. Without warning, a large burst of flames surrounded the king, sending the Prince and soldiers into a wild panic as they tried desperately to put out the flames. The roaring sound of fire rang out, the heat seen visibly leaving the castle gates. The king felt his skin crack and dry from the heat as he kept the flames up, desperate to stop the Anarcasi in the throne room. He felt himself slipping....and saw only darkness.
Days had passed when Erigan finally woke up. He had been covered in bandages from his torso to his toes. He stirred quietly in his sleep and looked down, staring at what was once a fully functional body. His eyes immediately met that of a young, beautiful lady. He was lucky that she had come to him for a kiss, for he was unable to move at all. She wept as she held on to him, the royal guards leaving the tent slowly to stand outside. Lady Ceiya was his again, at the cost of his body. It mattered little though as they embraced, finally together after so long. He had given up so much to save her, but now it was over. He stroked the young girls cheek, wiping off a single tear from it as he spoke gently. "You will never have to worry again." The words he spoke caused her to smile. "I know.....I know you'll protect me." With that, the war had come to an end. Casedasi, afraid of the magical skill that Erigan had displayed, immediately withdrew from the war and sent diplomats to mediate the peace among Estala and Casedas. Anarcas, now a struggling wasteland, had lost the only male members of the royal family in one quick and powerful spell. Both Theodorus and Jaedal were burnt alive until they were unrecognizable. The capital was practically destroyed and Estalian soldiers took control of the country under martial law for a few months, until an Anarcasi general that had surrendered offered to take the country off their hands. He was allowed to lead the country, but was set under a strict set of demands made by Estala, the worst being the payment of destruction during the war.
Erigan went on to marry Lady Ceiya and live a prosperous life with her, until the fateful day that she gave birth to their son. In her last breath, she requested that the boys name was to be Eli. Erigan, out of grief, had locked himself away in his castle to raise his son on his own. When the boy slowly grew, he saw a little of Ceiya in him...what was once dark days slowly began to shine. The world, no matter how harshly it had treated him, or how much it had taken, never seemed to stop him. Erigan knew that despite his nearly ruined body, he would not let that stop him. Over time, Erigan learned how to walk again with a cane at his side. His magical ability was never the same, and had become almost laughable. That, however, did not worry him. He spends his days sending his trusted advisers to different parts of the kingdom, signing laws, listening to the politics of the world, and keeping up to date on several affairs. Most importantly though, he stands on the balcony of his room, staring off into the garden, and thinking of his wife. When he feels himself close to crying, he looks down at the gardens, and sees his son. His sadness is washed away...and hope begins to seep back in his heart.
Fifteen years later
