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Difference between revisions of "Storybook"

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(Great Adventurer Karakas chapter 1)
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{{MissingInfo|Missing the following Storybooks: ''Great Adventurer Karakas'': Chapter 1, and ''Broad and Shallow Knowledge for Refined Aradians'': Chapters 1. Feel free to add them below.}}
 
 
{{BackToTop}}
 
{{BackToTop}}
 
[[Category:Quests]]
 
[[Category:Quests]]
 +
[[Category:Lore]]
 
'''Storybooks''' are Use items that are acquired from dungeons that explain lore not shown in [[Epic Quests]]. Each Storybook contains 1 to 5 chapters. Upon using the item, the player receives a side quest, and at the end receives reward gold and experience at chapter completion. After completion, players can re-read the Storybook again on all account characters through the Storybook tab in the Use Item Inventory.
 
'''Storybooks''' are Use items that are acquired from dungeons that explain lore not shown in [[Epic Quests]]. Each Storybook contains 1 to 5 chapters. Upon using the item, the player receives a side quest, and at the end receives reward gold and experience at chapter completion. After completion, players can re-read the Storybook again on all account characters through the Storybook tab in the Use Item Inventory.
  
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'''Gawen:''' We can do many things, but why do we have to sacrifice ourselves and suffer so much for others?
 
'''Gawen:''' We can do many things, but why do we have to sacrifice ourselves and suffer so much for others?
  
−
'''White Guardian Adrina:''' ...For all this time we've lived in Arad, others have done nothing but hurt us. They kidnapped our young and turned them into their pets. I can't count how many of us were killed for our horns because they make a good test material
+
'''Dragon Guardian Adrina:''' ...For all this time we've lived in Arad, others have done nothing but hurt us. They kidnapped our young and turned them into their pets. I can't count how many of us were killed for our horns because they make a good test material
  
 
'''Adrina:''' Everyone blames only the Empire, but think carefully, It's not the only force that has oppressed us. There are numerous collaborators. The outside world is full of them
 
'''Adrina:''' Everyone blames only the Empire, but think carefully, It's not the only force that has oppressed us. There are numerous collaborators. The outside world is full of them
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'''Abello:''' "...Why did Father ever introduce me to Kargon?"
 
'''Abello:''' "...Why did Father ever introduce me to Kargon?"
 +
 +
<hr>
 +
<u>'''Condition Message'''</u> — ''Go to Seria and watch Kargon propose to her.''
  
 
'''Kargon:''' "Oh! Ah! You there, beautiful girl!"
 
'''Kargon:''' "Oh! Ah! You there, beautiful girl!"
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'''Abello:''' "Silk spider skin is colorful and shiny. ...Are you really going to use the skin?!"
 
'''Abello:''' "Silk spider skin is colorful and shiny. ...Are you really going to use the skin?!"
 +
 +
<hr>
 +
<u>'''Condition Message'''</u> — ''Watch Kargon give Seria his gift.''
  
 
'''Seria:''' "Oh. Hello."
 
'''Seria:''' "Oh. Hello."
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|Show=none
 
|Show=none
 
}}
 
}}
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'''Book:''' ''In a peaceful time before the Great Metastasis befell, a small boy named Karakas was born in a small quiet village. He was so tine that he fit his mother's skirt pocket.''
+
'''Book:''' ''In a peaceful time before the Great Metastasis befell, a small boy named Karakas was born in a small quiet village. He was so tiny that he fit his mother's skirt pocket.''
  
 
''One day, Mother went out to care for her vegetable patch, with Karakas in her skirt pocket, and found her patch was infested by more moles than usual. Mother, Brothers, and Sisters were so busy hunting the moles that they didn't know Karakas fell out of the skirt pocket into a hole in the ground.''
 
''One day, Mother went out to care for her vegetable patch, with Karakas in her skirt pocket, and found her patch was infested by more moles than usual. Mother, Brothers, and Sisters were so busy hunting the moles that they didn't know Karakas fell out of the skirt pocket into a hole in the ground.''
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'''Great Metastasis'''
 
'''Great Metastasis'''
  
−
Myre's Great Pentacles were destroyed by the Great Fire that burned Grand Flores to the ground and then restored by the sacrifice of the Elves, but they were never recovered from the initial damage. They continued to grow weak and eventually allowed an interdimensional rutpure, which led to the great explosion of the Metastasis.
+
Myre's Great Pentacles were destroyed by the Great Fire that burned Grand Flores to the ground and then restored by the sacrifice of the Elves, but they were never recovered from the initial damage. They continued to grow weak and eventually allowed an interdimensional rupture, which led to the great explosion of the Metastasis.
  
 
The explosion sent the Metastasis energy spreading across Arad, causing mutation in monsters and Humans alike, turning places upside-down with its anti-gravitational impact.  
 
The explosion sent the Metastasis energy spreading across Arad, causing mutation in monsters and Humans alike, turning places upside-down with its anti-gravitational impact.  
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An empire which has risen from the remains of the Pelos Empire. It's a centralized state governed by an emperor, and its capital city is Vitalon, the City of Gold, in the 1st Province.
 
An empire which has risen from the remains of the Pelos Empire. It's a centralized state governed by an emperor, and its capital city is Vitalon, the City of Gold, in the 1st Province.
  
−
Centered around Palo Bay, the De Los Empire is divided into south and north, which are commonly referred to as the 1st Province and the 2nd Province, repsectively. The two provinces differ in their political philosophies in that the 1st Province, where the central military base is located, is focused on political stability and defense, while the 2nd Province supports liberal democracy.
+
Centered around Palo Bay, the De Los Empire is divided into south and north, which are commonly referred to as the 1st Province and the 2nd Province, respectively. The two provinces differ in their political philosophies in that the 1st Province, where the central military base is located, is focused on political stability and defense, while the 2nd Province supports liberal democracy.
  
 
However, the two share a long-standing bond and are currently working towards unification.
 
However, the two share a long-standing bond and are currently working towards unification.
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'''Michael of the Holy Eye'''
 
'''Michael of the Holy Eye'''
  
−
The first saint who receieved a revelation from hsi god, and one of the Five Holy Men who led the Priests to victory in the Black Crusade. He created the Divine Combat Techniques, the art of combat unique to the Priests.
+
The first saint who received a revelation from his god, and one of the Five Holy Men who led the Priests to victory in the Black Crusade. He created the Divine Combat Techniques, the art of combat unique to the Priests.
  
 
He was blessed by his god to remain young, and his blue eyes are believed to see through disguises.
 
He was blessed by his god to remain young, and his blue eyes are believed to see through disguises.
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|Show=none
 
|Show=none
 
}}
 
}}
−
'''Linus:''' "Wow, who's this? What a pleasant surprise!"
+
'''Linus:''' "Hey who's this? Long time no see!"
  
−
'''Aganzo:''' "Linus? I didn't know you were on Behemoth."
+
'''Aganzo:''' "Linus. You're still in this village."
  
−
'''Linus:''' "I didn't know you were here either. The Adventurer arrived a while ago, followed by the Imperial Knights, and now you. Has something serious happened?"
+
'''Linus:''' "And you're still adventuring. How are you?"
  
−
'''Aganzo:''' "I don't know yet. It could be just Vaughn blowing things out of proportion. What are you doing here? Are you playing blacksmith because of what happened a long time ago? Well, I'm really in no position to judge you. But really, why are you here?"
+
'''Aganzo:''' "Fine. Thank you."
  
−
'''Linus:''' "If I start talking about myself, we'll end up staying up all night, drinking. I came here because of Cinda. I've been learning smithing from him. The Great Metastasis made him think. I guess he was worried that he had no one to pass down his skill. He asked if I wanted to be his apprentice. I've decided to become a blacksmith, and I'm lucky to have such a great teacher. He told me not to call him Master, though. Anyway, he wanted me to come here, so I followed him. I also wanted to see some minerals unique to this place."
+
'''Linus:''' "Let's go have a drink. You're not busy, are you?"
  
−
'''Aganzo:''' "I see."
+
'''Aganzo:''' "Not at all. ...How do you like a blacksmith?"
  
−
'''Linus:''' "Enough about me. How have you been? The Magathas are the only source of news from Arad, and they don't come here often."
+
'''Linus:''' "It's not as exciting as being an adventurer, but I like hammering and turning metal into usable things. It's quite rewarding. If you're interested, why don't you try yourself? Who knows; you might uncover your life's true calling, like I did."
  
−
'''Aganzo:''' "Things are not good in Arad."
+
'''Aganzo:''' "That sounds interesting, but I'll have to say no for now."
  
−
'''Linus:''' "...I see."
+
'''Linus:''' "I've always wanted to ask you this. What are you hanging on to?"
  
−
'''Aganzo:''' "Linus, I don't know how valuable those unique minerals are, but don't you want to return to Arad?"
+
'''Aganzo:''' "What do you mean?"
  
−
'''Linus:''' "This is not a bad place to live. It's filled with mysterious minerals and the scenery changes every minute. And I like listening to the GBL doctrines. They teach me new things."
+
'''Linus:''' "To me, you look like you're wandering without a purpose."
  
−
'''Aganzo:''' "Linus, you've changed a lot."
+
'''Aganzo:''' "Well I didn't think an adventurer needs a purpose."
  
−
'''Linus:''' "I have. Since the Great Metastasis."
+
'''Linus:''' "I'm saying, you look like you need a purpose. In a way, I think you're wandering to find a purpose."
  
−
'''Aganzo:''' "..."
+
'''Aganzo:''' "To find a purpose... Maybe. For some time I've been trying to stop the Metastasis, but frankly I don't know why I'm doing it. I've been telling others that I'm trying to stop another Screaming Cavern incident from threatening Arad, but sometimes I wonder if the world's peace is really important to me."
  
−
'''Linus:''' "I'm just worried that you're dwelling on the past."
+
'''Linus:''' "Maybe you're just feeling burned out."
  
−
'''Aganzo:''' "You're not the first one to tell me that."
+
'''Aganzo:''' "Maybe. Or maybe this is just me. I don't think I've ever had passion for anything."
  
−
'''Linus:''' "And I won't be the last."
+
'''Linus:''' "Passion! Just hearing the word excites me. Travelling Arad once was my passion. *Sigh...* The Metastasis has killed countless people. I don't thin it's stupid that you're trying to stop it. Actually I admire you. If you don't do it, someone else has to. Because of people like you, I could choose the hammer over the sword."
  
−
'''Aganzo:''' "I have nothing to say about that."
+
'''Aganzo:''' "Stop. You're not drunk already, are you? If you're not going to stop, I'm leaving."
  
−
'''Linus:''' "I see."
+
'''Linus:''' "Geez, man. Do you think it's easy for me to say such embarrassing things? Many things have happened around here lately, and they just got me thinking. I was just trying to be honest with you."
  
−
'''Aganzo:''' "I'd better leave. I have someone waiting for me."
+
'''Aganzo:''' "Man, you're gotten old and soft."
  
−
'''Linus:''' "All right. How long are you going to be here? When you're done with your business, you should come by. I've got some good liquor that I'd love to share with you and your friends."
+
'''Linus:''' "So have you. Time doesn't discriminate."
  
−
'''Aganzo:''' "I will."
+
'''Aganzo:''' "Right. A lot of time has passed since we first met. Who's that [[Toby|goblin]] hovering around over there? Do you know him?"
  
−
'''Siran:''' "Are you done talking? Who's this? A friend? Don't worry. I have poor hearing. I couldn't hear what you were talking about. Anyway, what is he doing here?"
+
'''Linus:''' "Huh? Man, he came back. I told him not to come back because goblins and humans don't mix."
  
−
'''Aganzo:''' "He's a blacksmith. What do you think he's doing?"
+
'''Aganzo:''' "The world has changed, more so than you and I think. Like that young goblin, some of the things that used to be serious in our time no longer matter."
  
−
'''Siran:''' "Don't snap at me. Why are you angrier now that you've met an old friend? I don't understand you."
+
'''Linus:''' "You're right. Even I've noticed that the world is changing, and this place is far away from civilization. I can't imagine how rapidly things must be changing in big cities. Say, how'd you like to make an acquaintance with a goblin, in celebration of the coming of a new era?"
  
−
'''Aganzo:''' "Sometimes it's hard to accept that your friend has changed and there's nothing I can do about it."
+
'''Aganzo:''' "I have to go. I'm happy to be friends with someone who's friends with a goblin."
  
−
'''Siran:''' "I've never seen you so worried about someone else. He must be so important to you."
+
'''Linus:''' "Hmph, don't treat me as if I'm a child excited to introduce one friend to another. And don't thin you won either."
  
−
'''Aganzo:''' "We've been through a lot together. ...I don't know why I'm telling you this. Let's go. Vaughn is waiting."
+
'''Toby:''' "Linus, want to play Rock-paper-scissors with me?"
  
−
'''Siran:''' "All right. You can tell me more over a drink later. He looks like he likes drinking, too. Didn't he offer you some good liquor by chance?"
+
'''Aganzo:''' "*Chuckle*"
  
−
'''Aganzo:''' "Are you sure you didn't hear us?"
+
'''Linus:''' "...You're not helping, kiddo."
 
{{HiddenTextEnd}}
 
{{HiddenTextEnd}}
−
|}
+
<hr>
−
 
+
{{HiddenTextStart|
−
===Talking about Kartel===
+
|Title=Old Friend (Season 3)
−
{| class="wikitable" style="background-color: #aaaaaa; text-align:center;"
+
|Width=600
−
!style="background-color: #CEF6E3;" |Cover
 
−
!style="background-color: #CEF6E3;" |Chapter(s)
 
−
|-style="background-color: #ffffff;" align="center"
 
−
|[[File:Talking about Kartel Cover.png]] || valign="top"|
 
−
{{HiddenTextStart|
 
−
|Title=Talking about Kartel: Chapter 1
 
−
|Width=600
 
 
|Show=none
 
|Show=none
 
}}
 
}}
−
'''Book:''' "''The Kartel we know now is different from the Kartel when it was first formed. Back then, the Kartel was just a ragtag bunch of hotheads looking for trouble. They indulged in excessive drinking and violence, a deadly combination that always led to drunken shootouts. It's been only ten years since the word Kartel was recognized as the name for these outlaws, but the history of the Kartel dates back further.''
+
{{RemovedContent}}
 +
'''Linus:''' "Wow, who's this? What a pleasant surprise!"
  
−
''Some twenty years ago, two young men, [[Enzo Sipo]] and [[Sandstorm Varracht]], led Edon's Brotherhood together. They were the most famous gunslingers of the Lawless District, and because they kept the streets peaceful, the residents didn't mind having them around. Of course, they were ruthless to their enemies, and this gentlemanly yet cold-hearted killer image that they established was attractive to friend and foe alike.''
+
'''Aganzo:''' "Linus? I didn't know you were on Behemoth."
  
−
''But it wasn't just their charisma as individuals that inspired the organization of the Kartel. All outlaws live by their own rules and refused to be tied down by the constraints of society. They often exist in small groups, but they can never make an army that requires myriad rules for its management. How did these outlaws who are individualists to the core gather forces and grow so big as a group? How did they turn themselves into a well-organized army? To understand them, we first have to think about the deep-seated sense of inferiority and anger within the people of Wespeace, also known as the Lawless District.''
+
'''Linus:''' "I didn't know you were here either. The Adventurer arrived a while ago, followed by the Imperial Knights, and now you. Has something serious happened?"
  
−
''The Lawless District is a barren land once used as a prisoner camp. For a hundred years, the descendants of the prisoners were forced to remain in the land by the government. When the residents were finally freed from the sins of their fathers and allowed to move anywhere they wanted, outside society refused to take them in. In the eyes of the society, they remained synonymous with failure.''
+
'''Aganzo:''' "I don't know yet. It could be just Vaughn blowing things out of proportion. What are you doing here? Are you playing blacksmith because of what happened a long time ago? Well, I'm really in no position to judge you. But really, why are you here?"
  
−
''That's why the story of Brigadier General [[Jackter Elrox]], born in the Lawless District and rising through the ranks in the Empyrean Royal army after he moved to the Imperial Capital, drew so much attention. Regarding the most successful case of Archpriest Beldron's recruitment out of the Lawless District, Elrox said this in an interview:''
+
'''Linus:''' "If I start talking about myself, we'll end up staying up all night, drinking. I came here because of Cinda. I've been learning smithing from him. The Great Metastasis made him think. I guess he was worried that he had no one to pass down his skill. He asked if I wanted to be his apprentice. I've decided to become a blacksmith, and I'm lucky to have such a great teacher. He told me not to call him Master, though. Anyway, he wanted me to come here, so I followed him. I also wanted to see some minerals unique to this place."
−
''"...There are people who crossed the sea, but when their accent and mannerism give them away, the discrimination begins and they became more miserable than they were when they left the Lawless District. They return, and their stories discourage the rest from getting out to the larger world."''
 
  
−
''That became an endless cycle, and the residents of the Lawless District developed a yearning and resentment toward the society outside their world. The government initiated policies to embrace the residents, but they were still in its infancy. The residents of the Lawless District drank and fought to temporarily forget their anger and frustration. After days and years of meaningless destruction and hopelessness, a question came to their minds all of a sudden: "Why does it have to be us?"''
+
'''Aganzo:''' "I see."
  
−
''That was a valid question on their end, but it was the prelude to disaster for us.''"
+
'''Linus:''' "Enough about me. How have you been? The Magathas are the only source of news from Arad, and they don't come here often."
−
{{HiddenTextEnd}}
 
−
{{HiddenTextStart|
 
−
|Title=Talking about Kartel: Chapter 2
 
−
|Width=600
 
−
|Show=none
 
−
}}
 
−
'''Book:''' ''"Now, let's move our focus back to Edon's Brotherhood. Twenty years ago, the Kartel didn't exist. Instead, a myriad of big and small gangs fought and killed each other in turf wars. No one dared united them into one group.''
 
  
−
''Meanwhile, the question that crossed someone's mind became a movement and spread throughout the entire district. Some were tired of endless violence. Some wanted to grow in power. Some just wanted a reason to fight. Everyone had a different goal, but they rose in arms together. It was  a chaotic time. Intense battles were fought everywhere in the district. Those who couldn't fight crossed the sea because being alive and discriminated was better than being dead, but they weren't many.''
+
'''Aganzo:''' "Things are not good in Arad."
  
−
''Everyone in the district, regardless of their gender and age, had deep-seated anger that they exploded at each other. Edon's Brotherhood had been absorbing weaker, smaller organizations that failed to survive the competition. Brigadier General reminisced about those times, shared the following.''
+
'''Linus:''' "...I see."
 +
 
 +
'''Aganzo:''' "Linus, I don't know how valuable those unique minerals are, but don't you want to return to Arad?"
 +
 
 +
'''Linus:''' "This is not a bad place to live. It's filled with mysterious minerals and the scenery changes every minute. And I like listening to the GBL doctrines. They teach me new things."
  
−
''"While other gangs and organizations advocated great causes, Edon's Brotherhood carried the banner for romance. It was a smart strategy. It helped them evade persecution by the Wespeace Army that regarded Edon's Brotherhood as a group of posers. Outlaws, tired of the great causes of other organizations, sought refuge in Edon's Brotherhood because it let them be the carefree outlaws they were. Also, gangs that were too weak to survive the competition wanted to ally with Edon's Brotherhood. Edon's Brotherhood continued to grow, and by the time other organizations realized the threat that it posed, it was too late."''
+
'''Aganzo:''' "Linus, you've changed a lot."
  
−
''The leader Sipo was a great tactician. Varracht, who claimed to be the second-in-command, was high-handed, but had charismatic leadership. These two worked together for a long time. In the beginning, Sipo and Varracht wanted the same thing: a romantic, carefree life. But as their organization grew, their goals had to change, and with the absorption of Rangelus's Guerillas, Sipo began entertaining the idea of dominating the whole country. Rangelus, leader of the Guerillas, became Sipo's right-hand man, promptly pushing aside Varracht, a romantist to the core, and Sipo let that happen. He abandoned his friend of ten years. Varracht continued to support Sipo and tried to turn Edon's Brotherhood back to what it used to be, but he couldn't stop the change of the tide. In the end, he left the organization by himself."''
+
'''Linus:''' "I have. Since the Great Metastasis."
−
{{HiddenTextEnd}}
 
−
{{HiddenTextStart|
 
−
|Title=Talking about Kartel: Chapter 3
 
−
|Width=600
 
−
|Show=none
 
−
}}
 
−
'''Book:''' ''"To prevent your confusion, I avoided using the word, Kartel. Kartel is a variation of cartel whose dictionary definition is "a written agreement between belligerent groups." Edon's Brotherhood led by Sipo has formed an outlaw cartel with various other organizations. After Varracht's withdrawal, Edon's Brotherhood expanded rapidly, until there was no other cartel left standing in the Lawless District. Ironically, the end of Varracht's involvement in Edon's Brotherhood, which he created with Sipo, marked the beginning of the Kartel.''
 
  
−
''For the next ten years, the Kartel has transformed from a gang of outlaws into a well-trained army. equipped with advanced military technology. Of course, the Kartel cannot compete with Empyrean's scientific advancement led by the Seven Shards or with the time-tested structure and strategic strength of the Empyrean Royal Army, but nevertheless the outlaw army has continued to grow and already has a number of victories against us under its belt.''
+
'''Aganzo:''' "..."
  
−
''Some intellectuals have voiced their concerns about the Kartel, but a majority of the general populace is being more optimistic, believing that the Kartel will die out naturally once it runs out of resources. Such belief has a point, given the disadvantageous environment of the Lawless District. Also it doesn't bode well for the Kartel that its growing violence has caused it to fall out of favor with the residents of the district. Now, can we really count on the Lawless District's "self-purification ability?"''
+
'''Linus:''' "I'm just worried that you're dwelling on the past."
  
−
''[[Doctor Gizel Logan]], Empyrean's greatest scientist and a member of the Seven Shards, has visited the Lawless District several times for his research on the Galaha Desert. His answer to my question about the Kartel's longevity was:''
+
'''Aganzo:''' "You're not the first one to tell me that."
  
−
''"It's true the Kartel has great influence over Wespeace Island, but the locals said it'd been suffering from internal disputes and it's clearly evident, even to a stranger like me. I don't doubt the scarcity of supplies is a major issue. Belonging to an organization means you have to follow rules whether you like it or not, but outlaws don't have the discipline or want to live by other people's rules. The Kartel will never last long."''
+
'''Linus:''' "And I won't be the last."
  
−
''Brigadier General Elrox, with whom I've had multiple interviews in preparation for this book, has a different opinion.''
+
'''Aganzo:''' "I have nothing to say about that."
  
−
''"The Kartels have survived the harsh conditions of the Lawless District. They're as resilient as they're vengeful. All of them are angry at the social structure of Empyrean, and their aggression has been further aggravated by the rules set down by their organization. But Sipo is good at distracting his soldiers from directing their anger at him. Once he conquers Wespeace, he'll point his gun at the outside world. And there will be blood. We need to prepare for that time."''
+
'''Linus:''' "I see."
  
−
''It wouldn't be the first time the Lawless District revolted against the rest of society, but all its attempts at rebellion were frustrated more quickly than they started because of its perpetual lack of supplies. The optimistic point of view on the Kartel is valid, but I have to agree with the pessimists that the Kartel is growing too quickly. Maybe I'm worry too much, but I'm a firm believer that prevention is better than cure. Maybe it's time we take the threat of the Kartel seriously."''
+
'''Aganzo:''' "I'd better leave. I have someone waiting for me."
−
{{HiddenTextEnd}}
 
−
|}
 
  
−
===Young Imperial Knight===
+
'''Linus:''' "All right. How long are you going to be here? When you're done with your business, you should come by. I've got some good liquor that I'd love to share with you and your friends."
−
{| class="wikitable" style="background-color: #aaaaaa; text-align:center;"
 
−
!style="background-color: #CEF6E3;" |Cover
 
−
!style="background-color: #CEF6E3;" |Chapter(s)
 
−
|-style="background-color: #ffffff;" align="center"
 
−
|[[File:Young Imperial Knight Cover.png]] || valign="top"|
 
−
{{HiddenTextStart|
 
−
|Title=Young Imperial Knight: Chapter 1
 
−
|Width=600
 
−
|Show=none
 
−
}}
 
−
'''Book:''' ''"Vaughn Walshuted, having defeated the evil monster Sirocco that terrorized all of Arad, just returned home and was bombarded with attention. The people of the Empire praised and blessed the young Blade Master who accomplished something that all the others couldn't. Women threw flower petals at the boy hero, and men applauded as he passed by. Children followed Vaughn in procession, shouting excitedly. The sounds of trumpets and shouts echoed in the air. Vaughn, dazed from all the attention, entered the palace and knelt before the emperor."''
 
  
−
'''Vaughn:''' "Vaughn Walshuted reporting his return, Your Majesty."
+
'''Aganzo:''' "I will."
  
−
'''Emperor Leon:''' "Welcome back, and congratulations on your great accomplishment. You're young, but so strong. Even the most skilled court mage lost his life to that heinous monster Sirocco."
+
'''Siran:''' "Are you done talking? Who's this? A friend? Don't worry. I have poor hearing. I couldn't hear what you were talking about. Anyway, what is he doing here?"
  
−
'''Vaughn:''' "I couldn't have done it alone. If it weren't for the other Blade Masters who were there with me, I would also been killed."
+
'''Aganzo:''' "He's a blacksmith. What do you think he's doing?"
  
−
'''Book:''' ''"Vaughn speaks in a firm, clear tone. He could've taken the credit to himself, but he didn't forget to mention the other Blade Masters. The emperor smiled."''
+
'''Siran:''' "Don't snap at me. Why are you angrier now that you've met an old friend? I don't understand you."
  
−
'''Emperor Leon:''' "You're humble. But today's your day. You can enjoy the compliments you deserve. You're a proud knight of the Empire."
+
'''Aganzo:''' "Sometimes it's hard to accept that your friend has changed and there's nothing I can do about it."
  
−
'''Vaughn:''' "Pardon? Um, I'm not a knight."
+
'''Siran:''' "I've never seen you so worried about someone else. He must be so important to you."
  
−
'''Book:''' ''"Vaughn lowers his head, worried the emperor might get upset at his pointing the mistake. The emperor's smile widens."''
+
'''Aganzo:''' "We've been through a lot together. ...I don't know why I'm telling you this. Let's go. Vaughn is waiting."
  
−
'''Emperor Leon:''' "You are now. As of this moment, you will serve me and your country as a knight. Come closer and kneel."
+
'''Siran:''' "All right. You can tell me more over a drink later. He looks like he likes drinking, too. Didn't he offer you some good liquor by chance?"
  
−
'''Book:''' ''"Vaughn lifts his head, surprised. He couldn't take the knight training. He was a great swordsman, but he didn't have the backing to get him into the knight apprentice program. But he doesn't have hang-ups about it. He's content practicing his swordsmanship on his own, and he doesn't need the knight title to prove himself. He's already a Blade Master and that's enough for him. Well, that's more than enough, actually, when it comes to swordsmanship. But if the emperor wants to knight him, he's all for it."''
+
'''Aganzo:''' "Are you sure you didn't hear us?"
 +
{{HiddenTextEnd}}
 +
|}
  
−
'''Emperor Leon:''' "Vaughn Walshuted, do you swear that you will observe chivalry, follow justice, and protect your country and people against any and all threats?"
+
===Talking about Kartel===
−
 
+
{| class="wikitable" style="background-color: #aaaaaa; text-align:center;"
−
'''Vaughn:''' "I do."
+
!style="background-color: #CEF6E3;" |Cover
 +
!style="background-color: #CEF6E3;" |Chapter(s)
 +
|-style="background-color: #ffffff;" align="center"
 +
|[[File:Talking about Kartel Cover.png]] || valign="top"|
 +
{{HiddenTextStart|
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|Title=Talking about Kartel: Chapter 1
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|Width=600
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}}
 +
'''Book:''' "''The Kartel we know now is different from the Kartel when it was first formed. Back then, the Kartel was just a ragtag bunch of hotheads looking for trouble. They indulged in excessive drinking and violence, a deadly combination that always led to drunken shootouts. It's been only ten years since the word Kartel was recognized as the name for these outlaws, but the history of the Kartel dates back further.''
  
−
'''Emperor Leon:''' "Vaughn Walshuted, I hereby pronounce that you're an honorable knight of the De Los Empire. Do you promise conspicuous gallantry and selfless dedication to your duty to your country?"
+
''Some twenty years ago, two young men, [[Enzo Sipo]] and [[Sandstorm Varracht]], led Edon's Brotherhood together. They were the most famous gunslingers of the Lawless District, and because they kept the streets peaceful, the residents didn't mind having them around. Of course, they were ruthless to their enemies, and this gentlemanly yet cold-hearted killer image that they established was attractive to friend and foe alike.''
  
−
'''Vaughn:''' "I do."
+
''But it wasn't just their charisma as individuals that inspired the organization of the Kartel. All outlaws live by their own rules and refused to be tied down by the constraints of society. They often exist in small groups, but they can never make an army that requires myriad rules for its management. How did these outlaws who are individualists to the core gather forces and grow so big as a group? How did they turn themselves into a well-organized army? To understand them, we first have to think about the deep-seated sense of inferiority and anger within the people of Wespeace, also known as the Lawless District.''
  
−
'''Emperor Leon:''' "Vaughn Walshuted, do you swear your fealty to me, Leon Heinrich, the First Knight and the legitimate ruler of the De Los Empire?"
+
''The Lawless District is a barren land once used as a prisoner camp. For a hundred years, the descendants of the prisoners were forced to remain in the land by the government. When the residents were finally freed from the sins of their fathers and allowed to move anywhere they wanted, outside society refused to take them in. In the eyes of the society, they remained synonymous with failure.''
  
−
'''Vaughn:''' "I do."
+
''That's why the story of Brigadier General [[Jackter Elrox]], born in the Lawless District and rising through the ranks in the Empyrean Royal army after he moved to the Imperial Capital, drew so much attention. Regarding the most successful case of Archpriest Beldron's recruitment out of the Lawless District, Elrox said this in an interview:''
 +
''"...There are people who crossed the sea, but when their accent and mannerism give them away, the discrimination begins and they became more miserable than they were when they left the Lawless District. They return, and their stories discourage the rest from getting out to the larger world."''
  
−
'''Emperor Leon:''' "Your loyalty will be rewarded with my trust, and your betrayal with my wrath. Your pledge to me will remain effective until the day you die, and only then you'll be freed from your responsibility. Now lift your head and rise. You're now a knight and baron of the De Los Empire."
+
''That became an endless cycle, and the residents of the Lawless District developed a yearning and resentment toward the society outside their world. The government initiated policies to embrace the residents, but they were still in its infancy. The residents of the Lawless District drank and fought to temporarily forget their anger and frustration. After days and years of meaningless destruction and hopelessness, a question came to their minds all of a sudden: "Why does it have to be us?"''
  
−
'''Claus:''' "...!"
+
''That was a valid question on their end, but it was the prelude to disaster for us.''"
 +
{{HiddenTextEnd}}
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{{HiddenTextStart|
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|Title=Talking about Kartel: Chapter 2
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 +
'''Book:''' ''"Now, let's move our focus back to Edon's Brotherhood. Twenty years ago, the Kartel didn't exist. Instead, a myriad of big and small gangs fought and killed each other in turf wars. No one dared united them into one group.''
  
−
'''Book:''' ''"The entire Court stirs. The courtiers gape at the emperor, unable to believe what he just has announced. The emperor doesn't even bat an eye. He's just knighted and baronized someone who is only good at swinging a sword."''
+
''Meanwhile, the question that crossed someone's mind became a movement and spread throughout the entire district. Some were tired of endless violence. Some wanted to grow in power. Some just wanted a reason to fight. Everyone had a different goal, but they rose in arms together. It was  a chaotic time. Intense battles were fought everywhere in the district. Those who couldn't fight crossed the sea because being alive and discriminated was better than being dead, but they weren't many.''
  
−
'''Schuman:''' "(Has His Majesty gone insane? I thought Vaughn would only be made baron. He can't knight and baronize a goon with the Ghost Arm!)"
+
''Everyone in the district, regardless of their gender and age, had deep-seated anger that they exploded at each other. Edon's Brotherhood had been absorbing weaker, smaller organizations that failed to survive the competition. Brigadier General reminisced about those times, shared the following.''  
  
−
'''Book:''' ''"Even Vaughn is stunned by the emperor's announcement. The only other person who remains calm is Conrad of House Krueger, a prestigious family of warriors."''
+
''"While other gangs and organizations advocated great causes, Edon's Brotherhood carried the banner for romance. It was a smart strategy. It helped them evade persecution by the Wespeace Army that regarded Edon's Brotherhood as a group of posers. Outlaws, tired of the great causes of other organizations, sought refuge in Edon's Brotherhood because it let them be the carefree outlaws they were. Also, gangs that were too weak to survive the competition wanted to ally with Edon's Brotherhood. Edon's Brotherhood continued to grow, and by the time other organizations realized the threat that it posed, it was too late."''
  
−
'''Conrad:''' "(A baron and knight. The emperor can be mischievous if he wants to be, but he's just made a lot of people angry. Still, Walshuted can hold his own. He's better than any of those corrupt knights.)"
+
''The leader Sipo was a great tactician. Varracht, who claimed to be the second-in-command, was high-handed, but had charismatic leadership. These two worked together for a long time. In the beginning, Sipo and Varracht wanted the same thing: a romantic, carefree life. But as their organization grew, their goals had to change, and with the absorption of Rangelus's Guerillas, Sipo began entertaining the idea of dominating the whole country. Rangelus, leader of the Guerillas, became Sipo's right-hand man, promptly pushing aside Varracht, a romantist to the core, and Sipo let that happen. He abandoned his friend of ten years. Varracht continued to support Sipo and tried to turn Edon's Brotherhood back to what it used to be, but he couldn't stop the change of the tide. In the end, he left the organization by himself."''
−
 
 
−
'''Book:''' ''"Krueger is the only person who welcomes Vaughn's unexpected knighthood. Vaughn, unaware of the quick, furtive exchanges of gazes behind his back, swears his fealty to the emperor in a firm voice."''
 
−
 
 
−
'''Vaughn:''' "Thank you, Your Majesty. I'm now yours to command."
 
 
{{HiddenTextEnd}}
 
{{HiddenTextEnd}}
 
{{HiddenTextStart|
 
{{HiddenTextStart|
−
|Title=Young Imperial Knight: Chapter 2
+
|Title=Talking about Kartel: Chapter 3
 
|Width=600
 
|Width=600
 
|Show=none
 
|Show=none
 
}}
 
}}
−
'''Vaughn:''' "Emily! Emily!"
+
'''Book:''' ''"To prevent your confusion, I avoided using the word, Kartel. Kartel is a variation of cartel whose dictionary definition is "a written agreement between belligerent groups." Edon's Brotherhood led by Sipo has formed an outlaw cartel with various other organizations. After Varracht's withdrawal, Edon's Brotherhood expanded rapidly, until there was no other cartel left standing in the Lawless District. Ironically, the end of Varracht's involvement in Edon's Brotherhood, which he created with Sipo, marked the beginning of the Kartel.''
  
−
'''Book:''' ''"As soon as he left the Court, Vaughn ran to a quiet garden where a girl was waiting for him. It was difficult to get through so many people that wanted to see the great hero from close range, but he plowed through with determination to see his girl Emily, whom he thought about every day during his long journey. She was waiting for him in their special place. She turned as he approached, calling her name. She was startled at Vaughn's unkempt appearance (from the people grabbing at his hair and clothes as he passed by), but the surprise was quickly replaced with a big, beautiful smile, as she ran to her lover, her skirt bustling and fluttering behind her. Vaughn picked her up and spun with her in his arm. Emily tightened her arms around his neck."''
+
''For the next ten years, the Kartel has transformed from a gang of outlaws into a well-trained army. equipped with advanced military technology. Of course, the Kartel cannot compete with Empyrean's scientific advancement led by the Seven Shards or with the time-tested structure and strategic strength of the Empyrean Royal Army, but nevertheless the outlaw army has continued to grow and already has a number of victories against us under its belt.''
  
−
'''Emily:''' "Vaughn, you're back! Oh, Vaughn!"
+
''Some intellectuals have voiced their concerns about the Kartel, but a majority of the general populace is being more optimistic, believing that the Kartel will die out naturally once it runs out of resources. Such belief has a point, given the disadvantageous environment of the Lawless District. Also it doesn't bode well for the Kartel that its growing violence has caused it to fall out of favor with the residents of the district. Now, can we really count on the Lawless District's "self-purification ability?"''
  
−
'''Vaughn:''' "Yes, I am! I came to see you as soon as I left the palace. Ah, Emily! Something great happened today! Guess what I am now."
+
''[[Doctor Gizel Logan]], Empyrean's greatest scientist and a member of the Seven Shards, has visited the Lawless District several times for his research on the Galaha Desert. His answer to my question about the Kartel's longevity was:''
  
−
'''Emily:''' "You've been knighted, haven't you? *Shriek* Oh, I'm so happy for you! You're so great!"
+
''"It's true the Kartel has great influence over Wespeace Island, but the locals said it'd been suffering from internal disputes and it's clearly evident, even to a stranger like me. I don't doubt the scarcity of supplies is a major issue. Belonging to an organization means you have to follow rules whether you like it or not, but outlaws don't have the discipline or want to live by other people's rules. The Kartel will never last long."''
  
−
'''Book:''' ''"Vaughn put Emily down. Emily continues to chatter excitedly, but Vaughn looks disappointed."''
+
''Brigadier General Elrox, with whom I've had multiple interviews in preparation for this book, has a different opinion.''
  
−
'''Vaughn:''' "What? Who told you? Gah, I wanted to be the first one to tell you that."
+
''"The Kartels have survived the harsh conditions of the Lawless District. They're as resilient as they're vengeful. All of them are angry at the social structure of Empyrean, and their aggression has been further aggravated by the rules set down by their organization. But Sipo is good at distracting his soldiers from directing their anger at him. Once he conquers Wespeace, he'll point his gun at the outside world. And there will be blood. We need to prepare for that time."''
  
−
'''Emily:''' "Everyone was talking about it. Even Father said you were good enough to be knighted. So did Uncle Conrad!"
+
''It wouldn't be the first time the Lawless District revolted against the rest of society, but all its attempts at rebellion were frustrated more quickly than they started because of its perpetual lack of supplies. The optimistic point of view on the Kartel is valid, but I have to agree with the pessimists that the Kartel is growing too quickly. Maybe I'm worry too much, but I'm a firm believer that prevention is better than cure. Maybe it's time we take the threat of the Kartel seriously."''
 +
{{HiddenTextEnd}}
 +
|}
  
−
'''Vaughn:''' "Sir Conrad von Krueger?"
+
===Young Imperial Knight===
−
 
+
{| class="wikitable" style="background-color: #aaaaaa; text-align:center;"
−
'''Emily:''' "Yes. Uncle Conrad said you'd be made viscount, too. This is great! Now Mother can't object to our marriage anymore!"
+
!style="background-color: #CEF6E3;" |Cover
−
 
+
!style="background-color: #CEF6E3;" |Chapter(s)
−
'''Book:''' ''"Looking down at Emily in his arms, Vaughn grins."''
+
|-style="background-color: #ffffff;" align="center"
 +
|[[File:Young Imperial Knight Cover.png]] || valign="top"|
 +
{{HiddenTextStart|
 +
|Title=Young Imperial Knight: Chapter 1
 +
|Width=600
 +
|Show=none
 +
}}
 +
'''Book:''' ''"Vaughn Walshuted, having defeated the evil monster Sirocco that terrorized all of Arad, just returned home and was bombarded with attention. The people of the Empire praised and blessed the young Blade Master who accomplished something that all the others couldn't. Women threw flower petals at the boy hero, and men applauded as he passed by. Children followed Vaughn in procession, shouting excitedly. The sounds of trumpets and shouts echoed in the air. Vaughn, dazed from all the attention, entered the palace and knelt before the emperor."''
  
−
'''Vaughn:''' "Viscount? I'm a baron now. A baron!"
+
'''Vaughn:''' "Vaughn Walshuted reporting his return, Your Majesty."
  
−
'''Emily:''' "...Really? Really?! Baron Walshuted! That sounds perfect!"
+
'''Emperor Leon:''' "Welcome back, and congratulations on your great accomplishment. You're young, but so strong. Even the most skilled court mage lost his life to that heinous monster Sirocco."
  
−
'''Book:''' ''"Unable to contain her happiness, Emily starts jumping with her hands around his arm. Vaughn also jumps, laughing. It seems even the sun is congratulating these two lovers. It takes a while for the couple of young lovers to calm down, but they keep their hands linked together as they walk to a tree and sit under the shade."''
+
'''Vaughn:''' "I couldn't have done it alone. If it weren't for the other Blade Masters who were there with me, I would also been killed."
  
−
'''Emily:''' "I was worried."
+
'''Book:''' ''"Vaughn speaks in a firm, clear tone. He could've taken the credit to himself, but he didn't forget to mention the other Blade Masters. The emperor smiled."''
  
−
'''Book:''' ''"Stroking Vaughn's hand, Emily says in a quiet voice. After her fiance left her, determined to defeat the monster, she often stayed up at night, praying for his safety. Feeling a rush of guilt and gratefulness, Vaughn impulsively kisses her on the cheek. Emily blushes and pushes off from Vaughn's embrace."''
+
'''Emperor Leon:''' "You're humble. But today's your day. You can enjoy the compliments you deserve. You're a proud knight of the Empire."
  
−
'''Emily:''' "Wh-why did you do that? Someone could've seen us. You fool!"
+
'''Vaughn:''' "Pardon? Um, I'm not a knight."
  
−
'''Vaughn:''' "Why not? We're engaged. Ah, I can't wait to marry you!"
+
'''Book:''' ''"Vaughn lowers his head, worried the emperor might get upset at his pointing the mistake. The emperor's smile widens."''
  
−
'''Book:''' ''"Emily, her face red from embarrassment, tries to cover his mouth with her hand, but she's not strong enough to stop the excited boy."''
+
'''Emperor Leon:''' "You are now. As of this moment, you will serve me and your country as a knight. Come closer and kneel."
  
−
'''Emily:''' "Stop it! Someone could hear you!"
+
'''Book:''' ''"Vaughn lifts his head, surprised. He couldn't take the knight training. He was a great swordsman, but he didn't have the backing to get him into the knight apprentice program. But he doesn't have hang-ups about it. He's content practicing his swordsmanship on his own, and he doesn't need the knight title to prove himself. He's already a Blade Master and that's enough for him. Well, that's more than enough, actually, when it comes to swordsmanship. But if the emperor wants to knight him, he's all for it."''
  
−
'''Vaughn:''' "I want to marry you!"
+
'''Emperor Leon:''' "Vaughn Walshuted, do you swear that you will observe chivalry, follow justice, and protect your country and people against any and all threats?"
  
−
'''Emily:''' "..."
+
'''Vaughn:''' "I do."
  
−
'''Vaughn:''' "...Oh. I'm sorry. I'll keep my mouth shut. I'm just so happy. Please forgive me."
+
'''Emperor Leon:''' "Vaughn Walshuted, I hereby pronounce that you're an honorable knight of the De Los Empire. Do you promise conspicuous gallantry and selfless dedication to your duty to your country?"
  
−
'''Book:''' ''"Vaughn grovels. This lovely girl can be scary when she's angry."''
+
'''Vaughn:''' "I do."
  
−
'''Emily:''' "Keep doing that, and I won't see you for a month."
+
'''Emperor Leon:''' "Vaughn Walshuted, do you swear your fealty to me, Leon Heinrich, the First Knight and the legitimate ruler of the De Los Empire?"
  
−
'''Vaughn:''' "All right, I'll stop."
+
'''Vaughn:''' "I do."
  
−
'''Book:''' ''"Vaughn looks crestfallen. Emily glares at him for a second, and then bursts into laughter as she holds his arm and rests her head on his shoulder."''
+
'''Emperor Leon:''' "Your loyalty will be rewarded with my trust, and your betrayal with my wrath. Your pledge to me will remain effective until the day you die, and only then you'll be freed from your responsibility. Now lift your head and rise. You're now a knight and baron of the De Los Empire."
  
−
'''Emily:''' "By the way, how was that monster? I heard it killed a lot of people. Was it so strong?"
+
'''Claus:''' "...!"
  
−
'''Vaughn:''' "It was. I almost died trying to kill it."
+
'''Book:''' ''"The entire Court stirs. The courtiers gape at the emperor, unable to believe what he just has announced. The emperor doesn't even bat an eye. He's just knighted and baronized someone who is only good at swinging a sword."''
  
−
'''Emily:''' "You fool, I told you not to go."
+
'''Schuman:''' "(Has His Majesty gone insane? I thought Vaughn would only be made baron. He can't knight and baronize a goon with the Ghost Arm!)"
  
−
'''Vaughn:''' "I know, I know. But I've learned a lot and seen a lot. That Apostle had incredible powers. If we can understand what it's capable of, it'll help our country immensely."
+
'''Book:''' ''"Even Vaughn is stunned by the emperor's announcement. The only other person who remains calm is Conrad of House Krueger, a prestigious family of warriors."''
  
−
'''Emily:''' "You said it was a scary monster."
+
'''Conrad:''' "(A baron and knight. The emperor can be mischievous if he wants to be, but he's just made a lot of people angry. Still, Walshuted can hold his own. He's better than any of those corrupt knights.)"
  
−
'''Vaughn:''' It was as powerful as it was scary. Its influence on people's minds was so great that even the most powerful court mage couldn't resist it. Now, think of it this way. If we can employ its power to our advantage, our country will become stronger than anyone else's. No enemy will dare threaten our country, and we'll have the power to stop dragons and other monsters with the least amount of effort."
+
'''Book:''' ''"Krueger is the only person who welcomes Vaughn's unexpected knighthood. Vaughn, unaware of the quick, furtive exchanges of gazes behind his back, swears his fealty to the emperor in a firm voice."''
  
−
'''Emily:''' "But the powers of monsters are evil."
+
'''Vaughn:''' "Thank you, Your Majesty. I'm now yours to command."
 +
{{HiddenTextEnd}}
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{{HiddenTextStart|
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|Title=Young Imperial Knight: Chapter 2
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|Show=none
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}}
 +
'''Vaughn:''' "Emily! Emily!"
  
−
'''Vaughn:''' "No, monsters are evil. Their powers can be used for good purposes at the hands of the right people, just like swords."
+
'''Book:''' ''"As soon as he left the Court, Vaughn ran to a quiet garden where a girl was waiting for him. It was difficult to get through so many people that wanted to see the great hero from close range, but he plowed through with determination to see his girl Emily, whom he thought about every day during his long journey. She was waiting for him in their special place. She turned as he approached, calling her name. She was startled at Vaughn's unkempt appearance (from the people grabbing at his hair and clothes as he passed by), but the surprise was quickly replaced with a big, beautiful smile, as she ran to her lover, her skirt bustling and fluttering behind her. Vaughn picked her up and spun with her in his arm. Emily tightened her arms around his neck."''
  
−
'''Emily:''' "I still think that's a dangerous idea. You already have the Ghost Arm to deal with. Let other people handle things like that. If you get hurt... Oh, I think I'm going to cry again."
+
'''Emily:''' "Vaughn, you're back! Oh, Vaughn!"
  
−
'''Book:''' ''"Emily's eyes get misty. Panicked, Vaughn waves his hands and fidgets on his seat."''
+
'''Vaughn:''' "Yes, I am! I came to see you as soon as I left the palace. Ah, Emily! Something great happened today! Guess what I am now."
  
−
'''Vaughn:''' "Please don't. I don't know what to do when you cry."
+
'''Emily:''' "You've been knighted, haven't you? *Shriek* Oh, I'm so happy for you! You're so great!"
  
−
'''Book:''' ''"Emily wipes off the tears and tries to get her mind off the worries that never seem disappear. She looks up at Vaughn pleadingly."''
+
'''Book:''' ''"Vaughn put Emily down. Emily continues to chatter excitedly, but Vaughn looks disappointed."''
  
−
'''Emily:''' "Then stop making me worried, okay?"
+
'''Vaughn:''' "What? Who told you? Gah, I wanted to be the first one to tell you that."
  
−
'''Vaughn:''' "Okay, I will."
+
'''Emily:''' "Everyone was talking about it. Even Father said you were good enough to be knighted. So did Uncle Conrad!"
  
−
'''Book:''' ''"Vaughn nods reluctantly."''
+
'''Vaughn:''' "Sir Conrad von Krueger?"
−
{{HiddenTextEnd}}
 
−
{{HiddenTextStart|
 
−
|Title=Young Imperial Knight: Chapter 3
 
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|Width=600
 
−
|Show=none
 
−
}}
 
−
'''Book:''' ''"It's a sunny day in spring. The breeze is warm and the air is redolent of flowers. The fields are green and the sky is blue. People are enjoying a beautiful day everywhere except in the small city: thick plumes of acrid smoke are rising from somewhere there."''
 
  
−
'''Vaughn:''' "Emily! Emily!"
+
'''Emily:''' "Yes. Uncle Conrad said you'd be made viscount, too. This is great! Now Mother can't object to our marriage anymore!"
  
−
'''Garrison Soldier:''' "You can't go in there! You're going to die!"
+
'''Book:''' ''"Looking down at Emily in his arms, Vaughn grins."''
  
−
'''Vaughn:''' "Get off me, damn it! My fiancee is inside there!"
+
'''Vaughn:''' "Viscount? I'm a baron now. A baron!"
  
−
'''Garrison Soldier:''' "Firefighting Mages are on their way. Just... Ugh!"
+
'''Emily:''' "...Really? Really?! Baron Walshuted! That sounds perfect!"
  
−
'''Book:''' ''"Vaughn shakes off the garrison soldiers and rushes into the mansion. He pushes in through the crowd of coughing and running people. He doesn't see the familiar chestnut brown hair of his fiancee. Vaughn runs this way and that way, not caring if his clothes catch fire or get sooty.''
+
'''Book:''' ''"Unable to contain her happiness, Emily starts jumping with her hands around his arm. Vaughn also jumps, laughing. It seems even the sun is congratulating these two lovers. It takes a while for the couple of young lovers to calm down, but they keep their hands linked together as they walk to a tree and sit under the shade."''
  
−
''Before their wedding, Emily decided to go on a vacation to a friend's summerhouse. Emily wanted to introduce Vaughn to her friends, so Vaughn came on horseback as soon as he finished his training. On his way to this place, he was worried about embarrassing his fiancee. He didn't have to. Emily and her friends were trapped in fire. Vaughn has a reputation for cool-headedness among his peers and seniors in the Blade Master community, but when he heard Emily was still inside the burning house, he froze, his mind blank.''
+
'''Emily:''' "I was worried."
  
−
''He frantically searches inside the mansion until he feels dizzy from the lack of oxygen and almost falls. Vaughn shakes his head, draws his sword, and shouts as he swings his word in the air. Vaughn shakes his head, draws his sword, and shouts as he swings his sword in the air. The wind from his sword pushes back the smoke and breaks the window. Vaughn leans over the window and breathes deeply, trying to lower his heart rate."''
+
'''Book:''' ''"Stroking Vaughn's hand, Emily says in a quiet voice. After her fiance left her, determined to defeat the monster, she often stayed up at night, praying for his safety. Feeling a rush of guilt and gratefulness, Vaughn impulsively kisses her on the cheek. Emily blushes and pushes off from Vaughn's embrace."''
  
−
'''Vaughn:''' "(I was told Emily was resting alone after lunch. But where? The maid said she wasn't in her room. Then...)"
+
'''Emily:''' "Wh-why did you do that? Someone could've seen us. You fool!"
  
−
'''Book:''' ''"Vaughn thinks about the structure of the mansion he observed from the outside, Emily's personality, and what he heard from the rescuers. He reenters the hallway and starts running. He can run without breathing for a while. This fire is nothing compared to the vicious curse that filled the Screaming Cavern. Vaughn, having reached the other end of the mansion, breaks the heavy door of the study."''
+
'''Vaughn:''' "Why not? We're engaged. Ah, I can't wait to marry you!"
  
−
'''Vaughn:''' "...This!"
+
'''Book:''' ''"Emily, her face red from embarrassment, tries to cover his mouth with her hand, but she's not strong enough to stop the excited boy."''
  
−
'''Book:''' ''"The smell is so strong that it instantly paralyzes Vaughn's nose. It's the odor of blood. Trying hard to ignore the foreboding that crawls up his spine, he searches around the study that is as big as a library. Vaughn remembered that it was books that connected him and Emily in the first place. He's hoping his guesswork will pay off."''
+
'''Emily:''' "Stop it! Someone could hear you!"
  
−
'''Vaughn:''' "...!"
+
'''Vaughn:''' "I want to marry you!"
  
−
'''Book:''' ''"He finds Emily behind a big hardwood bookshelf. She is not alone. All the bookshelves behind the bookshelf are on the floor, all their books scattered on and around them, indicating a struggle. And two men with their faces covered in black cloth masks are lying on the floor, dead. Emily is lying unconscious behind a garrison soldier who is bleeding from his stomach. Quickly Vaughn holds up Emily. Her pale arm drops as if it belongs to a lifeless marionette. Vaughn gently shakes her, but her body remains limp. She drops a small silver knife from her hand.''
+
'''Emily:''' "..."
  
−
''Vaughn checks the garrison soldier. Emily is breathing, though shallowly, but this guy is really dead. He must have found Emily and died protecting her from the assassins. Vaughn closes the garrison soldier's eyes and prays for him. He then holds Emily in his arms and throws himself through the window out to the other side, barely avoiding the blazing fire that has reached the inside the study."''
+
'''Vaughn:''' "...Oh. I'm sorry. I'll keep my mouth shut. I'm just so happy. Please forgive me."
−
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|Title=Young Imperial Knight: Chapter 4
 
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−
'''Book:''' ''"A few years went by. Vaughn has just returned from the northern expedition. He's on his knees, reporting to the emperor."''
 
  
−
'''Vaughn:''' "I have subjugated the barbarians in the north as you commanded. They'll never dare intrude our territory. Their leader..."
+
'''Book:''' ''"Vaughn grovels. This lovely girl can be scary when she's angry."''
  
−
'''Emperor Leon:''' "How many soldiers did we lose this time?"
+
'''Emily:''' "Keep doing that, and I won't see you for a month."
  
−
'''Vaughn:''' "A hundred twenty-six, Your Majesty, but the enemy lost--"
+
'''Vaughn:''' "All right, I'll stop."
  
−
'''Emperor Leon:''' "That's too many, don't you think?"
+
'''Book:''' ''"Vaughn looks crestfallen. Emily glares at him for a second, and then bursts into laughter as she holds his arm and rests her head on his shoulder."''
  
−
'''Book:''' ''"The emperor's interrogation was disconcerting. There were fatalities, sure, but the number wasn't so high compared to the enemy's. But the emperor is right. A loss is a loss. Vaughn lowers his head and answers."''
+
'''Emily:''' "By the way, how was that monster? I heard it killed a lot of people. Was it so strong?"
  
−
'''Vaughn:''' "Yes, Your Majesty."
+
'''Vaughn:''' "It was. I almost died trying to kill it."
  
−
'''Emperor Leon:''' "That's not good. If we keep losing so many soldiers each time we fight, then one day we'll run out of soldiers to protect our empire. My queen can't sleep at night, worried that one day the barbarians would come and ax her to death."
+
'''Emily:''' "You fool, I told you not to go."
  
−
'''Vaughn:''' "That will never happen, Your Majesty. I'll do everything--"
+
'''Vaughn:''' "I know, I know. But I've learned a lot and seen a lot. That Apostle had incredible powers. If we can understand what it's capable of, it'll help our country immensely."
  
−
'''Emperor Leon:''' "All right, I'll trust you. For now. I've got no one else to trust, anyway."
+
'''Emily:''' "You said it was a scary monster."
  
−
'''Vaughn:''' "..."
+
'''Vaughn:''' It was as powerful as it was scary. Its influence on people's minds was so great that even the most powerful court mage couldn't resist it. Now, think of it this way. If we can employ its power to our advantage, our country will become stronger than anyone else's. No enemy will dare threaten our country, and we'll have the power to stop dragons and other monsters with the least amount of effort."
  
−
'''Book:''' ''"Emperor Leon interrupt Vaughn midsentence. Stumped, Vaughn further lowers his head."''
+
'''Emily:''' "But the powers of monsters are evil."
  
−
'''Emperor Leon:''' "Ah, that reminds me... How's your wife? Oh, wait. I forgot you're not married yet. I'm sorry."
+
'''Vaughn:''' "No, monsters are evil. Their powers can be used for good purposes at the hands of the right people, just like swords."
  
−
'''Vaughn:''' "Not at all, Your Majesty. Thank you for your concern. She's doing better now. Thank you for your concern. At least now she knows who I am and can eat by herself."
+
'''Emily:''' "I still think that's a dangerous idea. You already have the Ghost Arm to deal with. Let other people handle things like that. If you get hurt... Oh, I think I'm going to cry again."
  
−
'''Book:''' ''"Emily survived the fire, all thanks to the garrison soldier who died fighting for her, but she bled a lot. The arsonists were some adventurers who were not happy with the Empire. When Emily woke up form a days-long coma, she screamed at every man she saw and threw things at them. Vaughn wasn't an exception. Emily's parents suggested breaking off the engagement for Vaughn's sake, but Vaughn didn't want any other woman as his wife.''
+
'''Book:''' ''"Emily's eyes get misty. Panicked, Vaughn waves his hands and fidgets on his seat."''
  
−
''But he couldn't marry her. She'd been kept inside her house to protect the honor of her family. And the Empire's marital law requires both parties to enter into marriage voluntarily. Emily barely remembered her name, let alone the concept of marriage."''
+
'''Vaughn:''' "Please don't. I don't know what to do when you cry."
  
−
'''Emperor Leon:''' "I'm sorry that I had to drag you away from your ill fiancee because of national matters."
+
'''Book:''' ''"Emily wipes off the tears and tries to get her mind off the worries that never seem disappear. She looks up at Vaughn pleadingly."''
  
−
'''Vaughn:''' "Not at all. It's my duty to protect you and my country against any threats. You've put so much trust in me, and I'd like to repay you every chance I get."
+
'''Emily:''' "Then stop making me worried, okay?"
  
−
'''Emperor Leon:''' "Thank you for saying that, but don't you want to have children and settle down now? You've been engaged for a long time. Most people at your age have a couple of children already."
+
'''Vaughn:''' "Okay, I will."
  
−
'''Vaughn:''' "...I don't have a family plan, just yet."
+
'''Book:''' ''"Vaughn nods reluctantly."''
 +
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 +
'''Book:''' ''"It's a sunny day in spring. The breeze is warm and the air is redolent of flowers. The fields are green and the sky is blue. People are enjoying a beautiful day everywhere except in the small city: thick plumes of acrid smoke are rising from somewhere there."''
  
−
'''Emperor Leon:''' "I see. Well, that's great!"
+
'''Vaughn:''' "Emily! Emily!"
  
−
'''Vaughn:''' "Pardon?"
+
'''Garrison Soldier:''' "You can't go in there! You're going to die!"
  
−
'''Book:''' ''"Vaughn lifts his head, confused, Does the emperor want to select a wife for him? The emperor is one of a few people who knows the situation Vaughn is in with Emily, and he's an emperor. He can select wives for his knights if he wants to. The emperor's face, which has been stiff and emotionless until this point, relaxes into a smile, as if he's figured out what kind of thought was crossing Vaughn's mind."''
+
'''Vaughn:''' "Get off me, damn it! My fiancee is inside there!"
  
−
'''Emperor Leon:''' "Don't get me wrong. I said great because, since you don't have a child, you wouldn't feel sorry for young prisoners. I hate people who can't separate business from emotions."
+
'''Garrison Soldier:''' "Firefighting Mages are on their way. Just... Ugh!"
  
−
'''Vaughn:''' "...Oh. Well, you don't have to worry about that, Your Majesty. Prisoners are prisoners. Even if they're young, they know what they've done is wrong and they must be punished. I don't sympathize with criminals."
+
'''Book:''' ''"Vaughn shakes off the garrison soldiers and rushes into the mansion. He pushes in through the crowd of coughing and running people. He doesn't see the familiar chestnut brown hair of his fiancee. Vaughn runs this way and that way, not caring if his clothes catch fire or get sooty.''
  
−
'''Emperor Leon:''' "That's why I know you. You're clear-headed. If others were as competent as you were, I wouldn't had to worry about losing a couple of hundred of soldiers. Ah, that is meant to be a compliment. So, let's talk about your precious Emily. Even if she hasn't recovered from the mental trauma, you need to marry. You were about to marry before the accident."
+
''Before their wedding, Emily decided to go on a vacation to a friend's summerhouse. Emily wanted to introduce Vaughn to her friends, so Vaughn came on horseback as soon as he finished his training. On his way to this place, he was worried about embarrassing his fiancee. He didn't have to. Emily and her friends were trapped in fire. Vaughn has a reputation for cool-headedness among his peers and seniors in the Blade Master community, but when he heard Emily was still inside the burning house, he froze, his mind blank.''
  
−
'''Vaughn:''' "I'd love to, but Emily is not in a condition to have a wedding. Our marital law requires both parties to enter into marriage voluntarily. I'm not sure if she understands the concept of marriage."
+
''He frantically searches inside the mansion until he feels dizzy from the lack of oxygen and almost falls. Vaughn shakes his head, draws his sword, and shouts as he swings his word in the air. Vaughn shakes his head, draws his sword, and shouts as he swings his sword in the air. The wind from his sword pushes back the smoke and breaks the window. Vaughn leans over the window and breathes deeply, trying to lower his heart rate."''
  
−
'''Emperor Leon:''' "Hm, how many people know about her condition?"
+
'''Vaughn:''' "(I was told Emily was resting alone after lunch. But where? The maid said she wasn't in her room. Then...)"
  
−
'''Vaughn:''' "A handful except the house staff."
+
'''Book:''' ''"Vaughn thinks about the structure of the mansion he observed from the outside, Emily's personality, and what he heard from the rescuers. He reenters the hallway and starts running. He can run without breathing for a while. This fire is nothing compared to the vicious curse that filled the Screaming Cavern. Vaughn, having reached the other end of the mansion, breaks the heavy door of the study."''
  
−
'''Emperor Leon:''' "You know, you've been engaged for a long time. People are getting curious as to why the great hero Vaughn Walshuted is not marrying already. They think there's a problem."
+
'''Vaughn:''' "...This!"
  
−
'''Vaughn:''' "Emily is the only one I want to marry. And... If I break off the engagement, even Sir Krueger won't be able to stop Emily's family from abjuring her."
+
'''Book:''' ''"The smell is so strong that it instantly paralyzes Vaughn's nose. It's the odor of blood. Trying hard to ignore the foreboding that crawls up his spine, he searches around the study that is as big as a library. Vaughn remembered that it was books that connected him and Emily in the first place. He's hoping his guesswork will pay off."''
  
−
'''Book:''' ''"The only reason Emily has been allowed to stay in the main family mansion is because she's Baron Walshuted's fiancee. If it weren't for her uncle, Sir Conrad Krueger, Emily's parents would've abjured her before she woke up form the coma. As things stand, Vaughn is the only one in the world who can keep her safe."''
+
'''Vaughn:''' "...!"
  
−
'''Emperor Leon:''' "So I was thinking, maybe I should make you exempt from the law. Your fiancee wanted to marry you before the tragedy happened, didn't she?"
+
'''Book:''' ''"He finds Emily behind a big hardwood bookshelf. She is not alone. All the bookshelves behind the bookshelf are on the floor, all their books scattered on and around them, indicating a struggle. And two men with their faces covered in black cloth masks are lying on the floor, dead. Emily is lying unconscious behind a garrison soldier who is bleeding from his stomach. Quickly Vaughn holds up Emily. Her pale arm drops as if it belongs to a lifeless marionette. Vaughn gently shakes her, but her body remains limp. She drops a small silver knife from her hand.''
  
−
'''Book:''' ''"Vaughn perks up at the emperor's offer. He'll be able to marry Emily and bring her to his home. The only obstacle was the law, and the emperor is willing to bend the rules for him."''
+
''Vaughn checks the garrison soldier. Emily is breathing, though shallowly, but this guy is really dead. He must have found Emily and died protecting her from the assassins. Vaughn closes the garrison soldier's eyes and prays for him. He then holds Emily in his arms and throws himself through the window out to the other side, barely avoiding the blazing fire that has reached the inside the study."''
 +
{{HiddenTextEnd}}
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 +
|Title=Young Imperial Knight: Chapter 4
 +
|Width=600
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 +
'''Book:''' ''"A few years went by. Vaughn has just returned from the northern expedition. He's on his knees, reporting to the emperor."''
  
−
'''Emperor Leon:''' "You'll still want to keep her from the public eye, so a big wedding is out of the question. Have a small wedding in a remote city and come back. Leave Emily there until she fully recovers. People will want to see your wife, but you can use me and your mission to avoid telling them the truth. *Chuckle*"
+
'''Vaughn:''' "I have subjugated the barbarians in the north as you commanded. They'll never dare intrude our territory. Their leader..."
  
−
'''Vaughn:''' "I can't... I can't thank you enough, Your Majesty."
+
'''Emperor Leon:''' "How many soldiers did we lose this time?"
  
−
'''Book:''' ''"Vaughn is choked up with emotion. Pleased, the emperor looks down at him."''
+
'''Vaughn:''' "A hundred twenty-six, Your Majesty, but the enemy lost--"
  
−
'''Emperor Leon:''' "You're welcome, and I really have to send you afar on a mission. It's something only you can do."
+
'''Emperor Leon:''' "That's too many, don't you think?"
  
−
'''Vaughn:''' "What is it? I'll do anything you ask."
+
'''Book:''' ''"The emperor's interrogation was disconcerting. There were fatalities, sure, but the number wasn't so high compared to the enemy's. But the emperor is right. A loss is a loss. Vaughn lowers his head and answers."''
  
−
'''Emperor Leon:''' "I'll take you up on that. Now, let's go back to the subject. In order to secure the safety of the Empire, we need strong soldiers. So I've built a [[Vilmark - Area 50|research center]] to strengthen our soldiers. It's hidden in some remote place. I didn't want the nobility to make a fuss about it. Do you know what that means?"
+
'''Vaughn:''' "Yes, Your Majesty."
 +
 
 +
'''Emperor Leon:''' "That's not good. If we keep losing so many soldiers each time we fight, then one day we'll run out of soldiers to protect our empire. My queen can't sleep at night, worried that one day the barbarians would come and ax her to death."
 +
 
 +
'''Vaughn:''' "That will never happen, Your Majesty. I'll do everything--"
  
−
'''Vaughn:''' "You want me to watch the perimeters. As you wish. When should I leave for the research center?"
+
'''Emperor Leon:''' "All right, I'll trust you. For now. I've got no one else to trust, anyway."
  
−
'''Emperor Leon:''' "I'll let you know later. You need to focus on your wedding for now. Don't get your hopes up about marriage, though. Once you're tied down... Ah, you can figure out the rest on your own. *Chuckle* You must be exhausted. You can leave. I'll keep you updated on the details of your mission."
+
'''Vaughn:''' "..."
  
−
'''Vaughn:''' "Thank you. I'll leave now."
+
'''Book:''' ''"Emperor Leon interrupt Vaughn midsentence. Stumped, Vaughn further lowers his head."''
  
−
'''Book:''' ''"Vaughn leaves the audience chamber. The emperor waves his hand, dismissing the other courtiers. After everyone else leaves, the emperor remains on his throne and thinks for a moment. He then speaks."''
+
'''Emperor Leon:''' "Ah, that reminds me... How's your wife? Oh, wait. I forgot you're not married yet. I'm sorry."
  
−
'''Emperor Leon:''' "Can you believe that man? He's still in love with a damaged woman. Stubborn fools like that are only good as cannon fodder. Why do you want him so badly?"
+
'''Vaughn:''' "Not at all, Your Majesty. Thank you for your concern. She's doing better now. Thank you for your concern. At least now she knows who I am and can eat by herself."
  
−
'''[[Iris|???]]:''' "He knows about the powers of the Apostles better than anyone else in your country, and he admires them. He'll do what you want."
+
'''Book:''' ''"Emily survived the fire, all thanks to the garrison soldier who died fighting for her, but she bled a lot. The arsonists were some adventurers who were not happy with the Empire. When Emily woke up form a days-long coma, she screamed at every man she saw and threw things at them. Vaughn wasn't an exception. Emily's parents suggested breaking off the engagement for Vaughn's sake, but Vaughn didn't want any other woman as his wife.''
  
−
'''Book:''' ''"A woman appears from behind the curtains behind the throne. She's clad in a black robe that casts a dark shadow over her face. She exudes magical power that is incomparable, even to that of the greatest court mage in the empire's history. The emperor turns his head toward the woman."''
+
''But he couldn't marry her. She'd been kept inside her house to protect the honor of her family. And the Empire's marital law requires both parties to enter into marriage voluntarily. Emily barely remembered her name, let alone the concept of marriage."''
  
−
'''Emperor Leon:''' "Is he also part of the prophecy?"
+
'''Emperor Leon:''' "I'm sorry that I had to drag you away from your ill fiancee because of national matters."
  
−
'''???:''' "Yes. Everything is for the safety of the Empire and Arad. Vaughn will be your greatest supporter once he learns about your great cause."
+
'''Vaughn:''' "Not at all. It's my duty to protect you and my country against any threats. You've put so much trust in me, and I'd like to repay you every chance I get."
  
−
'''Emperor Leon:''' "He doesn't know what is necessary for the world to develop. Do you think we can change him?"
+
'''Emperor Leon:''' "Thank you for saying that, but don't you want to have children and settle down now? You've been engaged for a long time. Most people at your age have a couple of children already."
  
−
'''???:''' "I do. Everything is as prophesied."
+
'''Vaughn:''' "...I don't have a family plan, just yet."
  
−
'''Book:''' ''"The woman in the black robe smiles at Emperor Leon as if to reassure him."''
+
'''Emperor Leon:''' "I see. Well, that's great!"
−
{{HiddenTextEnd}}
 
−
|}
 
  
−
===Forest of No Return===
+
'''Vaughn:''' "Pardon?"
−
{| class="wikitable" style="background-color: #aaaaaa; text-align:center;"
 
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!style="background-color: #CEF6E3;" |Cover
 
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|-style="background-color: #ffffff;" align="center"
 
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{{HiddenTextStart|
 
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'''Book:''' ''The beautiful forest [[Grand Flores]] was inhabited by multiple races. Among them are the Elves, a race of superior intelligence that had existed since the beginning of [[Arad]], and the Taus, a race of giants who were as strong as they were innocent and wise.''
 
  
−
''All the habitants of the forest coexisted peacefully, protecting the Great Pentacles created by Myre. Sometimes they had uninvited guests, but their forest made sure that those guests left without causing too much trouble.''
+
'''Book:''' ''"Vaughn lifts his head, confused, Does the emperor want to select a wife for him? The emperor is one of a few people who knows the situation Vaughn is in with Emily, and he's an emperor. He can select wives for his knights if he wants to. The emperor's face, which has been stiff and emotionless until this point, relaxes into a smile, as if he's figured out what kind of thought was crossing Vaughn's mind."''
  
−
''It was a peaceful day as usual. [[Umtara]], the king of the Taus and all beasts, was searching for someone.''
+
'''Emperor Leon:''' "Don't get me wrong. I said great because, since you don't have a child, you wouldn't feel sorry for young prisoners. I hate people who can't separate business from emotions."
  
−
'''Umtara:''' "There you are. I've been looking for you."
+
'''Vaughn:''' "...Oh. Well, you don't have to worry about that, Your Majesty. Prisoners are prisoners. Even if they're young, they know what they've done is wrong and they must be punished. I don't sympathize with criminals."
  
−
'''Book:''' ''Umtara was looking for an elder of the Elves. The Elves could sense each other through their magical connection, but Umtara, incapable of magic like everyone else in his tribe, had to do legwork to find her.''
+
'''Emperor Leon:''' "That's why I know you. You're clear-headed. If others were as competent as you were, I wouldn't had to worry about losing a couple of hundred of soldiers. Ah, that is meant to be a compliment. So, let's talk about your precious Emily. Even if she hasn't recovered from the mental trauma, you need to marry. You were about to marry before the accident."
  
−
'''[[Seria]]:''' "Good day, Umtara."
+
'''Vaughn:''' "I'd love to, but Emily is not in a condition to have a wedding. Our marital law requires both parties to enter into marriage voluntarily. I'm not sure if she understands the concept of marriage."
  
−
'''Elder:''' "Long time, no see, Beast Tau King. What can I do for you?"
+
'''Emperor Leon:''' "Hm, how many people know about her condition?"
  
−
'''Umtara:''' "Um, I came to consult you about some concern of mine."
+
'''Vaughn:''' "A handful except the house staff."
  
−
'''Book:''' ''The Tau usually speaks his mind without preamble, but today there's hesitation in his voice. The tactful Elf girl who is with the Elder quickly stands up.''
+
'''Emperor Leon:''' "You know, you've been engaged for a long time. People are getting curious as to why the great hero Vaughn Walshuted is not marrying already. They think there's a problem."
  
−
'''Seria:''' "Oh, I almost forgot that I have books to return to the library. Excuse me, Elder. Beast King."
+
'''Vaughn:''' "Emily is the only one I want to marry. And... If I break off the engagement, even Sir Krueger won't be able to stop Emily's family from abjuring her."
  
−
'''Umtara:''' "I'm sorry I interrupted you."
+
'''Book:''' ''"The only reason Emily has been allowed to stay in the main family mansion is because she's Baron Walshuted's fiancee. If it weren't for her uncle, Sir Conrad Krueger, Emily's parents would've abjured her before she woke up form the coma. As things stand, Vaughn is the only one in the world who can keep her safe."''
  
−
'''Seria:''' "Not at all. Enjoy your conversation."
+
'''Emperor Leon:''' "So I was thinking, maybe I should make you exempt from the law. Your fiancee wanted to marry you before the tragedy happened, didn't she?"
  
−
'''Book:''' ''The elder waits until the girl is so far that her keen Elven ears cannot pick up on their conversation.''
+
'''Book:''' ''"Vaughn perks up at the emperor's offer. He'll be able to marry Emily and bring her to his home. The only obstacle was the law, and the emperor is willing to bend the rules for him."''
  
−
'''Elder:''' "So, what is it?"
+
'''Emperor Leon:''' "You'll still want to keep her from the public eye, so a big wedding is out of the question. Have a small wedding in a remote city and come back. Leave Emily there until she fully recovers. People will want to see your wife, but you can use me and your mission to avoid telling them the truth. *Chuckle*"
  
−
'''Umtara:''' "I've been seeing more Human visitors these days. I don't mind the adventurer and traveler kinds, but the people I've been seeing are clad in iron and that doesn't bode well with me."
+
'''Vaughn:''' "I can't... I can't thank you enough, Your Majesty."
  
−
'''Elder:''' "I'm aware of that problem. I'll assign more archers and guard the forest."
+
'''Book:''' ''"Vaughn is choked up with emotion. Pleased, the emperor looks down at him."''
  
−
'''Umtara:''' "Please do. That'll make our job easy. By the way, do you have any idea what those Humans are?"
+
'''Emperor Leon:''' "You're welcome, and I really have to send you afar on a mission. It's something only you can do."
  
−
'''Book:''' ''Umtara sounds wary. He doesn't know why, but his instincts is warning him of a looming danger.''
+
'''Vaughn:''' "What is it? I'll do anything you ask."
  
−
'''Elder:''' "Soldiers. I think they're here to do some kind of research."
+
'''Emperor Leon:''' "I'll take you up on that. Now, let's go back to the subject. In order to secure the safety of the Empire, we need strong soldiers. So I've built a [[Vilmark - Area 50|research center]] to strengthen our soldiers. It's hidden in some remote place. I didn't want the nobility to make a fuss about it. Do you know what that means?"
  
−
'''Umtara:''' "They'd better not touch the Great Pentacles."
+
'''Vaughn:''' "You want me to watch the perimeters. As you wish. When should I leave for the research center?"
  
−
'''Book:''' ''The Great Pentacles around the Grand Flores forest were made by Myre, a Human mage whose selfless act had gained him eternal respect from the Elves and other habitants of the forest.''
+
'''Emperor Leon:''' "I'll let you know later. You need to focus on your wedding for now. Don't get your hopes up about marriage, though. Once you're tied down... Ah, you can figure out the rest on your own. *Chuckle* You must be exhausted. You can leave. I'll keep you updated on the details of your mission."
  
−
''The Elves have been pushed out of their lands by the greedy Humans, and the Great Pentacles are the only thing that keep them safe from the outside world.''
+
'''Vaughn:''' "Thank you. I'll leave now."
  
−
''Grand Flores isn't the home only for the Elves. This vast ancient forest houses myriad animals and trees, and therefore is a crucial part of the ecosystem of Arad.
+
'''Book:''' ''"Vaughn leaves the audience chamber. The emperor waves his hand, dismissing the other courtiers. After everyone else leaves, the emperor remains on his throne and thinks for a moment. He then speaks."''
  
−
'''Elder:''' "I don't think they would, unless they're suicidal. There will be worldwide consequences if Myre's pentacles are destroyed."
+
'''Emperor Leon:''' "Can you believe that man? He's still in love with a damaged woman. Stubborn fools like that are only good as cannon fodder. Why do you want him so badly?"
  
−
'''Umtara:''' "I'd really like to believe that, but the Humans always have been looking for opportunities to destroy and plunder our forest. Some of them might try to do anything to satisfy their greed, the hell with the consequences."
+
'''[[Iris|???]]:''' "He knows about the powers of the Apostles better than anyone else in your country, and he admires them. He'll do what you want."
  
−
'''Elder:''' "That's why we've stayed vigilant. This forest has us Elves and you Taus, the strongest of us all. Nothing bad can happen to it as long as we work together to protect it."
+
'''Book:''' ''"A woman appears from behind the curtains behind the throne. She's clad in a black robe that casts a dark shadow over her face. She exudes magical power that is incomparable, even to that of the greatest court mage in the empire's history. The emperor turns his head toward the woman."''
  
−
'''Umtara:''' "I hope you're right. I just can't seem to shake off this bad feeling... Ah, forget it. I'm only embarrassing myself by talking about intuitions in front of an Elf."
+
'''Emperor Leon:''' "Is he also part of the prophecy?"
  
−
'''Book:''' ''Umtara stands up and hefts his greatax, which takes several Humans or even Elves to lift it off the ground. The Elf Elder admires his incredible strength.''
+
'''???:''' "Yes. Everything is for the safety of the Empire and Arad. Vaughn will be your greatest supporter once he learns about your great cause."
  
−
'''Umtara:''' "Then I'd better go look around the edges of the forest, in case there are more suspicious people than those soldiers."
+
'''Emperor Leon:''' "He doesn't know what is necessary for the world to develop. Do you think we can change him?"
  
−
'''Elder:''' "Then you'll be gone for a while. I'll pray for your safe return."
+
'''???:''' "I do. Everything is as prophesied."
  
−
'''Umtara:''' "Thank you. See you later."
+
'''Book:''' ''"The woman in the black robe smiles at Emperor Leon as if to reassure him."''  
−
 
 
−
'''Book:''' ''The Elf Elder watches Umtara's hulking frame disappear into the trees. This quiet forest is thickly wooded with trees that are bigger and taller than the king of the Taus. Whatever the Humans are up to, they cannot destroy this forest as long as the Elves and the Taus exist.''
 
−
 
 
−
''The Humans, however, are the most unpredictable sort. Even with the Elf Elder's wisdom and experience, it's almost impossible to predict what they will do.''
 
−
 
 
−
''Young Elves think they must go to war with Humans, but they're too inexperienced and proud to see the fact that the Humans are the mainstream of Arad. They can overwhelm the Elves by sheer force of numbers.''
 
−
 
 
−
''The Elf Elder hopes that the Humans will be able to have a better outlook, that they will become at least smart enough to see the future more clearly, like Myre who sacrificed himself for the peaceful coexistence of all races.''
 
−
 
 
−
''This Grand Flores must be protected not just for its habitants, but also for Arad. The Elf Elder hates to even imagine what will follow the destruction of the Great Pentacles.''
 
−
 
 
−
''Forests, once destroyed, can never be restored to their original beauty. The Elf Elder prays that Umtara's worries will not come true for the sake of Grand Flores and the rest of Arad.''
 
 
{{HiddenTextEnd}}
 
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|}
  
−
===Black Crusade Report===
+
===Forest of No Return===
 
{| class="wikitable" style="background-color: #aaaaaa; text-align:center;"
 
{| class="wikitable" style="background-color: #aaaaaa; text-align:center;"
 
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|[[File:Black Crusade Report Cover.png]] || valign="top"|
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{{HiddenTextStart|
 
{{HiddenTextStart|
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|Title=Black Crusade Report
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|Title=Forest of No Return
 
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''This Document is confidential and accessible only by those approved by the faithful [[Grandis Gracia|representative]] of Remidia Kathedra. No part of this Document may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means. Failure to comply with these standards is grounds for expulsion and punishment, and violators may be detained for an indefinite period. The following content must be preserved without omission or modification. Annex notes may be added if they can be supported by credible proof.''
+
'''Book:''' ''The beautiful forest [[Grand Flores]] was inhabited by multiple races. Among them are the Elves, a race of superior intelligence that had existed since the beginning of [[Arad]], and the Taus, a race of giants who were as strong as they were innocent and wise.''
 +
 
 +
''All the habitants of the forest coexisted peacefully, protecting the Great Pentacles created by Myre. Sometimes they had uninvited guests, but their forest made sure that those guests left without causing too much trouble.''
  
−
''The Anti-Ozma War, also known as the [[Black Crusade]], was fought by the holy priests with [[Michael of the Holy Eye]] in the lead, to save every life in Arad from [[Ozma]]. The war cost numerous lives, but it was meaningful in that it helped clear the world of the Apostle and his army of Imposters.''
+
''It was a peaceful day as usual. [[Umtara]], the king of the Taus and all beasts, was searching for someone.''
  
−
''The Priests who were instrumental in the victory of the war were made saints. Their leader [[Michael of the Holy Eye]] was made a patron god so he could inspire bravery in the followers of God, but the decision was only made to prevent confusion among his followers. (Refer to Material 1.)''
+
'''Umtara:''' "There you are. I've been looking for you."
  
−
''Dear God, please guide us! Michael, believed to be one of the most faithful, wisest servants of God, was in fact a demon who led many of his followers astray. Michael was a follower of Satan. He used God's name to deceive and corrupt us. The wisdom that we thought he had was mere trickery he used to entrap us. We must pray and repent. We must be ashamed of our foolishness and praise God's mysterious ways.  No one knew the truth until that evil Michael revealed his true colors, and when he did, all of us were devastated. (Refer to Material 2 and 3 for the proof of Michael's identity as an Apostle.)''
+
'''Book:''' ''Umtara was looking for an elder of the Elves. The Elves could sense each other through their magical connection, but Umtara, incapable of magic like everyone else in his tribe, had to do legwork to find her.''
  
−
''Magar Rosenbach, the Archpriest of the Priest Order and a great Crusader, had to officiate Michael's inauguration ceremony with grim determination. (For the reason of his uncancelled inauguration, refer to Material 4.) Magar Rosenbach, however, decided that this report be opened to public when Arad is finally at peace, so that the truth can be told to His followers with minimal damage. Everyone who reads this report, regardless of era, must do their best to honor Magar Rosenbach's wish.''
+
'''[[Seria]]:''' "Good day, Umtara."
−
{{HiddenTextEnd}}
 
−
|}
 
  
−
===Taybers's Light===
+
'''Elder:''' "Long time, no see, Beast Tau King. What can I do for you?"
−
{| class="wikitable" style="background-color: #aaaaaa; text-align:center;"
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+
'''Umtara:''' "Um, I came to consult you about some concern of mine."
−
!style="background-color: #CEF6E3;" |Chapter(s)
+
 
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|-style="background-color: #ffffff;" align="center"
+
'''Book:''' ''The Tau usually speaks his mind without preamble, but today there's hesitation in his voice. The tactful Elf girl who is with the Elder quickly stands up.''
−
|[[File:Taybers's Light Cover.png]] || valign="top"|
 
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{{HiddenTextStart|
 
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'''Book:''' ''"The golden planet Taybers was filled with vivid colors. Jewels of all imaginable colors were as common as rocks, and trees with giant rocks in the center of their trunks traveled through the sky, following their sun. There was no concept of season, and day and night were one. Everyone, when they were tired, slept in the shades cast by the trees in the sky, and their wings tucked under them, and ate ripe fruits when they were hungry. Children flapped their dainty wings and played in the golden water of the tranquil sea. Young men raced against each other against the strong winds for the biggest tree that they could find. But none of them were as fast as the Highest One.''
 
  
−
''The Highest One was the greatest of all. He soared through the sky despite the chill that froze everything, and fell asleep listening to the lullaby the stars sang for him. Countless men fell in their attempts to follow him. More men were blinded by the sharp feathers of the Highest One. He could see the farthest. He could see the future beyond the starlight. He drank the water of the Light Spring. He glowed more brightly than the golden planet itself. People called him the Sun in the Sea. Everyone loved his song and his beautiful wings.''
+
'''Seria:''' "Oh, I almost forgot that I have books to return to the library. Excuse me, Elder. Beast King."
  
−
''Then purple rain began, tainting the beautiful world with its ugly color. The rain tasted bitter and it turned every fruit it touched bitter and sour. Angry waves rolled up from the golden sea. The yellow plains cracked and cleaved. Something was wrong. Lupsong, Mother of Blue Fire, summoned the Highest One and asked him to investigate the strange phenomenon. The Highest One flapped his wings and reached the red sky at once. He discovered a fragment of some sort that flickered ominously among the stars. That strange fragment was heading in the direction of his home. Without hesitation, he headed for the fragment.''
+
'''Umtara:''' "I'm sorry I interrupted you."
  
−
''At first he thought it was a meteor that needed to be destroyed. But the closer he got, the more convinced he was that something sentient inside the dark, nasty fragment was looking at him. He changed his course and returned to Lupsong.''
+
'''Seria:''' "Not at all. Enjoy your conversation."
  
−
''"That dark fragment is dangerous. I'll go get rid of it. If I don't return, then I want everyone to evacuate."''
+
'''Book:''' ''The elder waits until the girl is so far that her keen Elven ears cannot pick up on their conversation.''
  
−
''Lupsong tried to stop him, but he was adamant. Everyone wept as they bid farewell to the brave man. A day went by. Two days went by. Three, and four days went by. On the fifth day, Lupsong unfolded her wings.''
+
'''Elder:''' "So, what is it?"
  
−
''"Children, let's fly. [[Isis-frey]], who can soar higher, see farther, and is more powerful than anyone else, is in need of our help."''
+
'''Umtara:''' "I've been seeing more Human visitors these days. I don't mind the adventurer and traveler kinds, but the people I've been seeing are clad in iron and that doesn't bode well with me."
  
−
''But he was too far away. Slenikron, who had the strongest beak of all, was so tired from the long flight that he lost all his feathers. (Reaver Rossol picked up the feathers and used them to adorn his tail. It's believed Rossol keeps himself inside the Cave of the Night in fear of Slenikron.) Those who flew too high had their wings pierced by icicles that were sharper than a razor, or they fell, their wings too frozen to move. Red Leg Arketo-frekses even had his wings tear from his shoulders and fell into the sea. Arketo-frekses hit his head as he landed on a small rocky island on the sea, but he survived. The imprint of his head still remains on the island to this day.''
+
'''Elder:''' "I'm aware of that problem. I'll assign more archers and guard the forest."
  
−
''Lupsong, having realized that she could not get to Isis-frey, let along help him, wept and sang her grief. Everyone else joined her and watched the dark fragment that was visible behind the clouds. Suddenly the air in front of us rumbled, and then the fragment disappeared as if sucked into the rumbling air. Soon the purple rain stopped, but Isis-frey never returned. The people of Taybers are still waiting for the return of the Highest One, believing he will repel the sadness that fills the world and  bring back happiness with him.''
+
'''Umtara:''' "Please do. That'll make our job easy. By the way, do you have any idea what those Humans are?"
−
{{HiddenTextEnd}}
 
−
|}
 
  
−
===Unexpressed Sadness===
+
'''Book:''' ''Umtara sounds wary. He doesn't know why, but his instincts is warning him of a looming danger.''
−
{| class="wikitable" style="background-color: #aaaaaa; text-align:center;"
 
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'''Book (Woo):''' "''It's been a fortnight since I brought [[Aganzo|him]] with me. I'm glad he's making a fast recovery, but the grim expression on his face worries me. I get anxious whenever he strokes his sword yearningly.''
 
  
−
''A part of me is happy to be so close to him, although I'm too shy to look him in the eye. I'm also so sad and depressed that I can't focus on anything. I've been making many mistakes, but if the Master has taken notice, he hasn't told me. I've pretended that I don't care if he cares or not.''
+
'''Elder:''' "Soldiers. I think they're here to do some kind of research."
  
−
''Every time I catch him looking up at the sky with longing in his eyes, my heart sinks. I hate the couple of birds chirping happily outside the window. He said he'd lost his appetite, so I cooked porridge for him. He barely had a few spoonful of his food. He said he thought he forgot someone and he couldn't remember who it is.''
+
'''Umtara:''' "They'd better not touch the Great Pentacles."
  
−
''My lips quivered, and he demanded I tell him what I know. That made me angry: it was for the first time after a while that he spoke to me. I told him that he forgot someone who died. He wanted to know the name. I lied that I didn't know, but I could never forget the name of the [[Roxy|woman]] I envied so much.''
+
'''Book:''' ''The Great Pentacles around the Grand Flores forest were made by Myre, a Human mage whose selfless act had gained him eternal respect from the Elves and other habitants of the forest.''
  
−
''If I could move the sun from the western mountain to the east sea, would my wish be granted? If my mother gave birth to me earlier, would I have been able to be with him? I'm helpless when it comes to my feelings for him. I felt as if I'd been abandoned. The moon shone brightly as if mocking of me. If I was abandoned, I could've cried myself to sleep. The night was long and sleepless.''
+
''The Elves have been pushed out of their lands by the greedy Humans, and the Great Pentacles are the only thing that keep them safe from the outside world.''
  
−
''My room was cold and dark, so I lit a candle. The candlelight swayed and flickered in the wind, breaking my already frayed mind, bringing tears to my eyes. I told the Master that I would leave as soon as the sun comes up. The heartless man curtly bid me farewell, and then asked me the same question that I'd dreaded.''
+
''Grand Flores isn't the home only for the Elves. This vast ancient forest houses myriad animals and trees, and therefore is a crucial part of the ecosystem of Arad.
  
−
''I hesitated and fidgeted. His penetrating eyes and silenced urged me to answer his question. I realized I was a wildflower that could never take root in a rock who is the Master. Resigned, I told him the name. His face instantly brightened, cutting me deep. If she was so precious to him, he shouldn't have forgotten her in the first place.''
+
'''Elder:''' "I don't think they would, unless they're suicidal. There will be worldwide consequences if Myre's pentacles are destroyed."
  
−
''He thanked me and walked away, leaving me with his shadow that grew as he went. I turned and walked the other way, trying to smile away my sadness.''"
+
'''Umtara:''' "I'd really like to believe that, but the Humans always have been looking for opportunities to destroy and plunder our forest. Some of them might try to do anything to satisfy their greed, the hell with the consequences."
−
{{HiddenTextEnd}}
 
−
|}
 
  
−
===New Genesis===
+
'''Elder:''' "That's why we've stayed vigilant. This forest has us Elves and you Taus, the strongest of us all. Nothing bad can happen to it as long as we work together to protect it."
−
{| class="wikitable" style="background-color: #aaaaaa; text-align:center;"
 
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'''Book:''' ''"At the end of the world, the Great Will birthed myriad gods. They were one, infinite, omnipotent, and ubiquitous. One day, one of them lamented,''
 
  
−
''"We are omnipotent, but no one worships us. We can go anywhere we want, but we have no place to call home."
+
'''Umtara:''' "I hope you're right. I just can't seem to shake off this bad feeling... Ah, forget it. I'm only embarrassing myself by talking about intuitions in front of an Elf."
−
''
 
−
''And the other gods lamented with him. Another opened his mouth and spoke,''
 
  
−
''"We could create something that will worship us and build a place that we can call home."''  
+
'''Book:''' ''Umtara stands up and hefts his greatax, which takes several Humans or even Elves to lift it off the ground. The Elf Elder admires his incredible strength.''
 +
 
 +
'''Umtara:''' "Then I'd better go look around the edges of the forest, in case there are more suspicious people than those soldiers."
 +
 
 +
'''Elder:''' "Then you'll be gone for a while. I'll pray for your safe return."
 +
 
 +
'''Umtara:''' "Thank you. See you later."
 +
 
 +
'''Book:''' ''The Elf Elder watches Umtara's hulking frame disappear into the trees. This quiet forest is thickly wooded with trees that are bigger and taller than the king of the Taus. Whatever the Humans are up to, they cannot destroy this forest as long as the Elves and the Taus exist.''
  
−
''And the other gods jumped for joy. The latter [[Crying Eyes Hilder|speaker]] had two faces behind which he hid luminous dew. In a saddened tone, he added,''  
+
''The Humans, however, are the most unpredictable sort. Even with the Elf Elder's wisdom and experience, it's almost impossible to predict what they will do.''
  
−
''"But creation can only follow destruction. Some of us have to sacrifice themselves for the creation of our desires, but who will want to return to the embrace of the Great Will?"''
+
''Young Elves think they must go to war with Humans, but they're too inexperienced and proud to see the fact that the Humans are the mainstream of Arad. They can overwhelm the Elves by sheer force of numbers.''
  
−
''The other gods sighed in tandem and discussed between them. Soon ten gods were selected and stepped forward. The god who was hiding dew lifted his eyes and examined the ten gods. [[Cain the Fatality|One was afraid of death.]] [[Bakal, the King of Dragons|One breathed fire.]] [[Isis-frey in the Blue Sky|One moved without stepping on the ground.]] [[Kasijas the Conqueror|One had steel soaked in blood.]] [[Sirocco of Intangible|One had hundreds of faces, but none of them were visible.]] [[Ozma of Chaos|One had risen from his grave.]] [[Gangling Lotus|One could hold thousands of weapons at once.]] [[Delezie, Plagued Apostle|One bled dirty blood.]] [[Flame Eater Anton|One was as tall as the world.]] [[Luke the Constructor|One touched the earth without a word.]] [[Michael of the Holy Eye|One could see the truth.]] And last but not least, one knew all secrets.''
+
''The Elf Elder hopes that the Humans will be able to have a better outlook, that they will become at least smart enough to see the future more clearly, like Myre who sacrificed himself for the peaceful coexistence of all races.''
  
−
''The god with two faces shouted,''  
+
''This Grand Flores must be protected not just for its habitants, but also for Arad. The Elf Elder hates to even imagine what will follow the destruction of the Great Pentacles.''
  
−
''"Your sacrifice will be appreciated. Let it be known we will not kill each other, and only a blade that is forged in hardship can penetrate our hearts and send us back to the Great Will. Your sacrifice is true. Your extinction is another's creation. From you, our followers and our home will be created.""''
+
''Forests, once destroyed, can never be restored to their original beauty. The Elf Elder prays that Umtara's worries will not come true for the sake of Grand Flores and the rest of Arad.''
 
{{HiddenTextEnd}}
 
{{HiddenTextEnd}}
 
|}
 
|}
  
−
===Red Sin===
+
===Black Crusade Report===
 
{| class="wikitable" style="background-color: #aaaaaa; text-align:center;"
 
{| class="wikitable" style="background-color: #aaaaaa; text-align:center;"
 
!style="background-color: #CEF6E3;" |Cover
 
!style="background-color: #CEF6E3;" |Cover
 
!style="background-color: #CEF6E3;" |Chapter(s)
 
!style="background-color: #CEF6E3;" |Chapter(s)
 
|-style="background-color: #ffffff;" align="center"
 
|-style="background-color: #ffffff;" align="center"
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|[[File:Red Sin Cover.png]] || valign="top"|
+
|[[File:Black Crusade Report Cover.png]] || valign="top"|
 
{{HiddenTextStart|
 
{{HiddenTextStart|
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|Title=Red Sin: Chapter 1
+
|Title=Black Crusade Report
 
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−
'''Book:''' ''"The news of the arrival of the Imperial negotiators quickly spread throughout Underfoot. To avoid unnecessary attention, the negotiators brought a small group of guards led by the famous Blade Master Vaughn. The Dark Elves hate the Empire, but they couldn't suppress their curiosity. They spilled out into the street to watch the procession of the negotiators."''
+
''This Document is confidential and accessible only by those approved by the faithful [[Grandis Gracia|representative]] of Remidia Kathedra. No part of this Document may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means. Failure to comply with these standards is grounds for expulsion and punishment, and violators may be detained for an indefinite period. The following content must be preserved without omission or modification. Annex notes may be added if they can be supported by credible proof.''
  
−
'''Robato:''' "(Vaughn Walshuted...)"
+
''The Anti-Ozma War, also known as the [[Black Crusade]], was fought by the holy priests with [[Michael of the Holy Eye]] in the lead, to save every life in Arad from [[Ozma]]. The war cost numerous lives, but it was meaningful in that it helped clear the world of the Apostle and his army of Imposters.''
  
−
'''Book:''' ''"Vaughn was riding on a horse, bringing up the rear of the Imperial noblemen who were waving their hands haughtily at the crowds. Vaughn was everything that a knight should be: young, confident, disciplined. His battered scabbard was in sharp contrast to the new, ornate scabbard of the head negotiator.''
+
''The Priests who were instrumental in the victory of the war were made saints. Their leader [[Michael of the Holy Eye]] was made a patron god so he could inspire bravery in the followers of God, but the decision was only made to prevent confusion among his followers. (Refer to Material 1.)''
  
−
''Unconsciously, Robato rubbed her Ghost Arm, a dark, twisted arm shackled with heavy metal constraints. She never hated herself for having the Ghost Arm, but she was ashamed that she let it cost many lives. Robato once was a colleague of those proud Imperial Knights. In the Empire where strength is worshiped, having the Ghost Arm isn't disadvantageous as it would be in other states in Arad. Some are even envious of the inhuman power of the Ghost Arm. Robato's life in the Empire was smoother than most citizens. Of course, she had to jump through hoops, like everyone else who was not of the nobility, but she was talented and patient enough to accomplish much more than many. But it didn't take long before she started asking questions. Why is the Empire so obsessed with strength? Why is showing off one's strength more valued than using it to save the weak?''
+
''Dear God, please guide us! Michael, believed to be one of the most faithful, wisest servants of God, was in fact a demon who led many of his followers astray. Michael was a follower of Satan. He used God's name to deceive and corrupt us. The wisdom that we thought he had was mere trickery he used to entrap us. We must pray and repent. We must be ashamed of our foolishness and praise God's mysterious ways.  No one knew the truth until that evil Michael revealed his true colors, and when he did, all of us were devastated. (Refer to Material 2 and 3 for the proof of Michael's identity as an Apostle.)''
  
−
''Time went by, but the questions remained unanswered. Robato confided in a few comrades she trusted, but their answers were vague at most. "I can't help someone unless I'm strong." That was the best answer she was given. One time, her knight master gathered Robato and the other members and said:''
+
''Magar Rosenbach, the Archpriest of the Priest Order and a great Crusader, had to officiate Michael's inauguration ceremony with grim determination. (For the reason of his uncancelled inauguration, refer to Material 4.) Magar Rosenbach, however, decided that this report be opened to public when Arad is finally at peace, so that the truth can be told to His followers with minimal damage. Everyone who reads this report, regardless of era, must do their best to honor Magar Rosenbach's wish.''
 +
{{HiddenTextEnd}}
 +
|}
  
−
''"This Arad is corrupt. Its order is destroyed, its law too slack. It's exploited by those who have a vested interest in other people's misery, and monsters are allowed to rampage. We must save the world by enacting and enforcing strict laws."''
+
===Taybers's Light===
−
 
+
{| class="wikitable" style="background-color: #aaaaaa; text-align:center;"
−
''The knight master's assertion instantly wiped out Robato's growing uncertainty. She thought, "We're right. We are right! We are the saviors! We're warriors fighting for a better world!" From then on, her life in the Knights changed. The training was as tough as ever, but Robato didn't complain. The knight master was stern, but treated his members like his own. Their mistakes were forgiven, and their failures were comforted. Under the knight master's command, the knights developed a tight bond. To Robato who lost her parents early, they were her family. She could risk her life for the knights.''
+
!style="background-color: #CEF6E3;" |Cover
−
 
+
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−
''The Empire had a stiff image in and out of its territory. It was almost ironic that its knights enjoyed a carefree, family-like environment. Robato suspected that was what the emperor wanted. The knights are an elite army fighting for the Empire, more specifically its emperor and his family. The tighter their bond, the less likely some of them will betray the others. Robato's doubtful attitude toward the Empire's direction became known and she was summoned by the knight master.''
+
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+
|[[File:Taybers's Light Cover.png]] || valign="top"|
−
''She was ready for a big scolding, but the knight master, who silently glared at the young knight until that moment, grinned. In Robato's opinion, that was a hundred times more effective than a scolding."''
 
−
 
 
−
'''Knight Master Doter:''' "Neither the Knights nor the Empire is perfect. Neither was His Majesty. He's not a god. Everyone makes mistakes, and that includes you. Personally, I don't think the Empire's pursuit of strength is wrong. We have a large territory, meaning we have many things to protect. It's just that people in high places tend to take things to extremes. When there are too many things to protect, naturally some of the things are left defenseless. I mean, sometimes we're unable to save everyone who needs saving."
 
−
 
 
−
'''Book:''' ''"Since that day, the new Knight Robato practiced harder to save more people than she did yesterday, for the emperor, and for Arad."''
 
−
{{HiddenTextEnd}}
 
 
{{HiddenTextStart|
 
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|Title=Red Sin: Chapter 2
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'''Book:''' ''"As the even tenor of her life continued, Robato's questions were forgotten like measles in childhood. Robato was ethical, enough to come up with such "boring" questions, but she wasn't squeamish about violence. In fact, she was more aggressive and fearless than anyone else. She always took the lead in fighting. Those who underestimated her strength because of her gender paid for it the hard way. But she never let her superior strength go to her head. She continued to practice hard, and her diligence and righteousness were admired by everyone in the Knights. No one doubted, that with more experience, Robato would be the greatest knight in the Empire.''
+
'''Book:''' ''"The golden planet Taybers was filled with vivid colors. Jewels of all imaginable colors were as common as rocks, and trees with giant rocks in the center of their trunks traveled through the sky, following their sun. There was no concept of season, and day and night were one. Everyone, when they were tired, slept in the shades cast by the trees in the sky, and their wings tucked under them, and ate ripe fruits when they were hungry. Children flapped their dainty wings and played in the golden water of the tranquil sea. Young men raced against each other against the strong winds for the biggest tree that they could find. But none of them were as fast as the Highest One.''
  
−
''One day, the knight master summoned Robato. He said the emperor was drafting young knights to form a new unit. The knight master wrote her a letter of recommendation. She left for Vitalon, the City of Gold, the same day. After arriving at the capital city, Robato passed the new knights unit tests with flying color. Elite knights from everywhere in the Empire trained together to push past their physical and mental limits every day. The leader of the unit was the emperor himself. The morale of the young knights soared sky-high.''
+
''The Highest One was the greatest of all. He soared through the sky despite the chill that froze everything, and fell asleep listening to the lullaby the stars sang for him. Countless men fell in their attempts to follow him. More men were blinded by the sharp feathers of the Highest One. He could see the farthest. He could see the future beyond the starlight. He drank the water of the Light Spring. He glowed more brightly than the golden planet itself. People called him the Sun in the Sea. Everyone loved his song and his beautiful wings.''
  
−
''Robato remembered the day before her first mission like it was yesterday. She was excited for the opportunity to make herself known to the emperor. As a knight, what else was a greater honor than demonstrating one's ability in front of her master? That night, she couldn't sleep. She thought the bright starlight streaming in through the window was the gods' encouraging message for her. But later she would be disillusioned. She would realize she was wrong to think the biggest honor for a knight was an opportunity to distinguish herself. She would learn that she traded her pledge to the weak for her ambition for success and that she was the emperor's puppet and had the blood of countless innocent people on her hands.''
+
''Then purple rain began, tainting the beautiful world with its ugly color. The rain tasted bitter and it turned every fruit it touched bitter and sour. Angry waves rolled up from the golden sea. The yellow plains cracked and cleaved. Something was wrong. Lupsong, Mother of Blue Fire, summoned the Highest One and asked him to investigate the strange phenomenon. The Highest One flapped his wings and reached the red sky at once. He discovered a fragment of some sort that flickered ominously among the stars. That strange fragment was heading in the direction of his home. Without hesitation, he headed for the fragment.''
  
−
''The mission given to the Knights was simple: raise your sword for the Empire's better future. The knights were powerful warriors. They didn't need to ask their nominal deputy knight master what to do.''
+
''At first he thought it was a meteor that needed to be destroyed. But the closer he got, the more convinced he was that something sentient inside the dark, nasty fragment was looking at him. He changed his course and returned to Lupsong.''
  
−
''1) They were to subjugate barbaric invaders and conquer their lands. The Empire could never have enough land. Whether the barbarians really invade the Empire's territory didn't matter.''
+
''"That dark fragment is dangerous. I'll go get rid of it. If I don't return, then I want everyone to evacuate."''
  
−
''2) They were to eliminate political dissidents and three generations of their families. The empire couldn't afford disorder. Whether their targets were real dissidents didn't matter.''
+
''Lupsong tried to stop him, but he was adamant. Everyone wept as they bid farewell to the brave man. A day went by. Two days went by. Three, and four days went by. On the fifth day, Lupsong unfolded her wings.''
  
−
''Every nobleman who traveled far to visit their camp on behalf of the emperor told them the same think: "You're the true patriots," and it never failed to boost the morale of the knights. Everyone in the Knights knew not everything they were told to do was ethical, but for a big chariot to move smoothly, rocks must be removed from the road. A little bit of injustice and tragedy were like small scratches on the skin from moving the rocks, or at least they wanted to think so.''  
+
''"Children, let's fly. [[Isis-frey]], who can soar higher, see farther, and is more powerful than anyone else, is in need of our help."''
  
−
''After the end of their long-term expeditionary mission, Robato found herself isolated in the Knights. Her questions about her country had become stronger than her loyalty to it. She wasn't a pacifist or squeamish about killing enemies, but she couldn't agree with most of the things that the Knights did in the name of the Empire. She decided to quit.''
+
''But he was too far away. Slenikron, who had the strongest beak of all, was so tired from the long flight that he lost all his feathers. (Reaver Rossol picked up the feathers and used them to adorn his tail. It's believed Rossol keeps himself inside the Cave of the Night in fear of Slenikron.) Those who flew too high had their wings pierced by icicles that were sharper than a razor, or they fell, their wings too frozen to move. Red Leg Arketo-frekses even had his wings tear from his shoulders and fell into the sea. Arketo-frekses hit his head as he landed on a small rocky island on the sea, but he survived. The imprint of his head still remains on the island to this day.''
  
−
''The deputy master asked her a few questions just for formality's sake, and then asked if she had a place to go. When she said no, he offered his letter of recommendation. He said she could be far away from the Empire, protecting some researchers while they researched.''  
+
''Lupsong, having realized that she could not get to Isis-frey, let along help him, wept and sang her grief. Everyone else joined her and watched the dark fragment that was visible behind the clouds. Suddenly the air in front of us rumbled, and then the fragment disappeared as if sucked into the rumbling air. Soon the purple rain stopped, but Isis-frey never returned. The people of Taybers are still waiting for the return of the Highest One, believing he will repel the sadness that fills the world and  bring back happiness with him.''
 +
{{HiddenTextEnd}}
 +
|}
  
−
''What Robato wanted was a chance to change the Empire, not a job. She hesitated for a moment, and then accepted his offer. She thought she could take some time off to regroup and plan her future. She didn't know this decision would change her life."''
+
===Unexpressed Sadness===
−
{{HiddenTextEnd}}
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{| class="wikitable" style="background-color: #aaaaaa; text-align:center;"
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!style="background-color: #CEF6E3;" |Cover
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|-style="background-color: #ffffff;" align="center"
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|[[File:Unexpressed Sadness Cover.png]] || valign="top"|
 
{{HiddenTextStart|
 
{{HiddenTextStart|
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|Title=Red Sin: Chapter 3
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|Title=Unexpressed Sadness
 
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}}'''Book:''' ''Robato arrived at a big testing ground surrounded by forests. For someone who spent most of her life practicing her swordsmanship, that place was a completely new world filled with high-tech equipment and flashy gadgets. A researcher who was Robato's age said the testing ground was equipped with the highest technology available in Arad, and her duty was to make sure the technology remained disclosed. Guarding the testing ground and escorting the researchers were like child's play compared to fighting in the battlefield. She felt so at ease, as if she was on a vacation. She had more than enough time to plan her future. In retrospect, Robato enjoyed peace for a fleeting moment. She regretted that she was so absorbed with herself that she didn't care to check what kind of place she was in. She shouldn't have believed that it was simply for security reasons that the testing ground was hidden in a remote woodland.''
+
}}
 +
<small><blockquote>
 +
<i>It's been a fortnight since I brought [[Aganzo|him]] with me. I'm glad he's making a fast recovery, but the grim expression on his face worries me. I get anxious whenever he strokes his sword yearningly.
 +
 
 +
A part of me is happy to be so close to him, although I'm too shy to look him in the eye. I'm also so sad and depressed that I can't focus on anything. I've been making many mistakes, but if the Master has taken notice, he hasn't told me. I've pretended that I don't care if he cares or not.
  
−
''At a certain point of time, the atmosphere of the testing ground changed. The researchers were no longer allowed to go outside the training ground. Neither were Robato and the other guards. Instead, things came in from the outside. Big wooden containers were let in the training ground multiple times a day. She was told the weeping noises were of animals that were brought in for testing purposes.''
+
Every time I catch him looking up at the sky with longing in his eyes, my heart sinks. I hate the couple of birds chirping happily outside the window.
  
−
''One night, she couldn't sleep. She was walking outside when she took notice of some strange activities that were taking place inside the testing ground. Quietly, she approached. She didn't have permission to enter the restricted area, but she entered anyway, bracing for an accident. And she arrived in a strange place.''
+
How funny! Seeing him makes me just as happy and sad as not seeing him. This emotional turmoil is driving me insane. All the discipline I learned from the Master has gone to naught.
  
−
''There was a big machine that looked different from the other testing equipment she was used to. Shaped like a tangled chain of loops, the machine boomed and shook as if it was about to explode. The researchers around the machine looked nervous, but not because something went wrong. It was because something incredible was about to happen. Instinctively, Robato hid behind a box. The machine boomed and shook for a little longer until the center of the machine glowed, and then from it a blindingly bright light exploded with a gust of wind that pushed everything backward, including the box that Robato was hiding behind.''
+
Why didn't my parents have me earlier? I might have been able to be with him if they did. The moon looks down at me chidingly for resenting my innocent parents.
  
−
''What the hell happened? Confused, Robato looked around and then froze. She saw something that she hadn't seen because of the darkness. There were children. There were adults. All of them were gagged and their arms were red. Robato gasped. She turned toward the machine, praying what she was thinking was wrong. The researchers were looking at a man kneeling at the foot of the machine that was still emitting light. Like the others infected with the Ghost Arm, he had his arm shackled with an unbreakable iron chain, and he was covered with bloody wounds. He couldn't talk with the gag in his mouth, but he didn't need to talk. His eyes showed the anger and hatred that he was feeling. Robato stood up to stop the researchers, but the light from the machine intensified and the whole place was swallowed by ominous light. Robato opened her eyes and couldn't believe what she was seeing. In place of the gagged man, there was a strange creature in chains. Having the dessicated head of a fish with tree roots for a body, it looked so grotesque that Robato wasn't sure if it was even a creature. She remembered the circus magic that she once saw switched things, then shook her head. Her brain couldn't register what her eyes were seeing. She just stood and gaped at the creature. Her heart was racing.''
+
Moon, don't judge me. You don't know this pain. Don't ask me what I'm afraid of, either. You're the coward who runs away from me at the end of the night.
  
−
''Suddenly someone touched Robato. She turned, panicked. Some female researcher, looking desperate, mouthed a "follow me" to her. She didn't look like she had malicious intent and Robato was too confused to refuse her. She ran after the female researcher. She could hear exclamations, sighs, and muffled screams from behind her, but it was all she could do to pinch her throbbing Ghost Arm. The female researcher, when they safely got out of the facility, warned Robato not to come back again before she went back in. Robato just nodded.''
+
The sun is up, and I hear him hooking his sword into his belt. I feel my eyes get hot from unshed tears. He hasn't recovered from his injury. Where is he trying to go? Would he not go if I latch onto his sleeve? His diligence irritates me to no end.
  
−
''She returned to her room, disheartened. She was naive to think that she could change the Empire. The creation of the monster she saw was proof that the empire was truly immoral. What the hell was happening in here? What should I do now?''
+
I asked him when he'd be back. He said he didn't know. How could he be so cold? Is he doing this to me on purpose?
  
−
''Since that night, everything changed. The face of the monster overlapped with those of the researchers who smiled and said hello to her. She didn't know what to do in a place that she didn't really know, alone. She was still debating what to do, when she was ordered to catch a thief who stole confidential materials. Reluctantly, Robato joined the search team, and when they found the thieves, she froze. All of them were in tatters and malnourished and had the Ghost Arm. As if possessed, the thieving Slayers lunged at the guards. Robato was forced to kill a few of the thieves in self-defense.''
+
Small clumps of cloud move in the wind. I hide in the Master's shadow for a while, and then turn around, trying to smile away my sadness.</i>
 +
</blockquote></small>
 +
{{HiddenTextEnd}}
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<hr>
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{{HiddenTextStart|
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|Title=Unexpressed Sadness (Season 3)
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 +
<small><blockquote><i>
 +
It's been a fortnight since I brought [[Aganzo|him]] with me. I'm glad he's making a fast recovery, but the grim expression on his face worries me. I get anxious whenever he strokes his sword yearningly.
  
−
''By the time the fight was over, all the other guards in the search team were dead and the Slayers who were alive but on the ground were glaring daggers at her. Robato had to choose. She was ordered to catch them. If she let them go, she'll become a traitor. Since she had the Ghost Arm, the researchers may decide to experiment on her, using that terrifying machine. She was only their enemy because she was a knight of the Empire. Slowly, she approached the Slayers. The image of the grotesque monster kept flashing through her mind. She wasn't afraid of dying, but being turned into that kind of monster was a completely different terror that was hard to overcome.''
+
A part of me is happy to be so close to him, although I'm too shy to look him in the eye. I'm also so sad and depressed that I can't focus on anything. I've been making many mistakes, but if the Master has taken notice, he hasn't told me. I've pretended that I don't care if he cares or not.
  
−
''In the end, Robato chose to follow her heart. She told the Slayers how to get out of the forests, and then took care of the guards that came after the first search team. She didn't kill them, but what she did was enough to make her a traitor. That day she lost her knighthood and became a fugitive. She traveled around Arad, carrying nothing but her sword. She always had to be on guard, even when she was asleep, but she never regretted helping the Slayers escape.''
+
Every time I catch him looking up at the sky with longing in his eyes, my heart sinks. I hate the couple of birds chirping happily outside the window. He said he'd lost his appetite, so I cooked porridge for him. He barely had a few spoonful of his food. He said he thought he forgot someone and he couldn't remember who it is.
  
−
''She arrived at Underfoot after her arrest order was lifted quietly. It'd been whispered that the emperor found out about the inhumane experiment that took place in Vilmark and imposed severe punishment to the researchers. The truth was buried in time. Robato stopped reminiscing and watched Vaughn Walshuted ride away on his horse. She heard Vaughn was the most trusted and distinguished warrior of the emperor. How much does he know about his own country? Is it possible he's being used like everyone else in the Empire? Robato couldn't give him advice even if she wanted. All she could do was hope that the admired hero of Arad could change the Empire.''
+
My lips quivered, and he demanded I tell him what I know. That made me angry: it was for the first time after a while that he spoke to me. I told him that he forgot someone who died. He wanted to know the name. I lied that I didn't know, but I could never forget the name of the [[Roxy|woman]] I envied so much.
  
−
''Robato turned and wormed her way out of the crowd. She was going to pray for those whom she killed directly and indirectly. Her heart was heavy from all the sins she had committed.''
+
If I could move the sun from the western mountain to the east sea, would my wish be granted? If my mother gave birth to me earlier, would I have been able to be with him? I'm helpless when it comes to my feelings for him. I felt as if I'd been abandoned. The moon shone brightly as if mocking of me. If I was abandoned, I could've cried myself to sleep. The night was long and sleepless.
 +
 
 +
My room was cold and dark, so I lit a candle. The candlelight swayed and flickered in the wind, breaking my already frayed mind, bringing tears to my eyes. I told the Master that I would leave as soon as the sun comes up. The heartless man curtly bid me farewell, and then asked me the same question that I'd dreaded.
 +
 
 +
I hesitated and fidgeted. His penetrating eyes and silence urged me to answer his question. I realized I was a wildflower that could never take root in a rock who is the Master. Resigned, I told him the name. His face instantly brightened, cutting me deep. If she was so precious to him, he shouldn't have forgotten her in the first place.
 +
 
 +
He thanked me and walked away, leaving me with his shadow that grew as he went. I turned and walked the other way, trying to smile away my sadness.
 +
</i></blockquote></small>
 
{{HiddenTextEnd}}
 
{{HiddenTextEnd}}
 
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|}
  
−
===Mischievous Homunculus===
+
===New Genesis===
 
{| class="wikitable" style="background-color: #aaaaaa; text-align:center;"
 
{| class="wikitable" style="background-color: #aaaaaa; text-align:center;"
 
!style="background-color: #CEF6E3;" |Cover
 
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!style="background-color: #CEF6E3;" |Chapter(s)
 
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|-style="background-color: #ffffff;" align="center"
 
|-style="background-color: #ffffff;" align="center"
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|[[File:Mischievous Homunculus Cover.png]] || valign="top"|
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|[[File:New Genesis Cover.png]] || valign="top"|
 
{{HiddenTextStart|
 
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|Title=Mischievous Homunculus
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|Title=New Genesis
 
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}}
−
'''[[Becky]]:''' ""Since ancient times, there was a castle as tall as the sky standing on one end of Pandemonium. The name of the castle was unknown. No one who entered the castle came out alive to tell about it. Because the castle was so tall, people thought it was connected to Heaven where the gods resided. Strong and brave warriors who wanted to meet the gods entered the castle.
+
'''Book:''' ''"At the end of the world, the Great Will birthed myriad gods. They were one, infinite, omnipotent, and ubiquitous. One day, one of them lamented,''
  
−
The castle was infested with strong monsters. The warriors from the outside were strong, but the monsters were stronger. All of the warriors were killed. When no one returned from the castle, people believed those warriors had reached the gods. So warriors continued to enter the castle. One day, a crazy dragon appeared in front of some warriors who were about to enter the castle. 'I'm the owner of this castle! Only I can get to the gods!.' The dragon was big and immensely strong. The warriors couldn't dare challenge it. Snickering, the dragon entered into the castle.
+
''"We are omnipotent, but no one worships us. We can go anywhere we want, but we have no place to call home."
 +
''
 +
''And the other gods lamented with him. Another opened his mouth and spoke,''  
  
−
The monsters attacked the dragon, but it wiped the floor with them. It defeated the giants, and even the old clown. The dragon was invincible. The dragon reached the highest floor of the castle, which no one else had ever seen. There, it found a beautiful blonde girl. The girl was super strong.
+
''"We could create something that will worship us and build a place that we can call home."''
  
−
The dragon lunged at her, but she swatted it aside like a fly. She swung her fist, and the dragon was flattened. The dragon was a wimp compared to the girl. She's still living in the top floor of the castle. She's the strongest girl in the world, so she'll never let anyone else take her castle. But one day she'll destroy the castle and come out for world domination. Her name is Becky."
+
''And the other gods jumped for joy. The latter [[Crying Eyes Hilder|speaker]] had two faces behind which he hid luminous dew. In a saddened tone, he added,''  
  
−
The end. Yay, finally my novel is completed! I'm going to make many copies of it and spread it all over the world. Then one day... Tee hee!"
+
''"But creation can only follow destruction. Some of us have to sacrifice themselves for the creation of our desires, but who will want to return to the embrace of the Great Will?"''
  
−
'''[[Gold Clown]]:''' "What are you doing?"
+
''The other gods sighed in tandem and discussed between them. Soon twelve gods were selected and stepped forward. The god who was hiding dew lifted his eyes and examined the twelve gods. [[Cain the Fatality|One was afraid of death.]] [[Bakal, the King of Dragons|One breathed fire.]] [[Isis-frey in the Blue Sky|One moved without stepping on the ground.]] [[Kasijas the Conqueror|One had steel soaked in blood.]] [[Sirocco of Intangible|One had hundreds of faces, but none of them were visible.]] [[Ozma of Chaos|One had risen from his grave.]] [[Gangling Lotus|One could hold thousands of weapons at once.]] [[Delezie, Plagued Apostle|One bled dirty blood.]] [[Flame Eater Anton|One was as tall as the world.]] [[Luke the Constructor|One touched the earth without a word.]] [[Michael of the Holy Eye|One could see the truth.]] And last but not least, one knew all secrets.''
  
−
'''Becky:''' "*Shriek*"
+
''The god with two faces shouted,''  
  
−
'''Gold Clown:''' "Oh, geez! Did you really have to yell? [[Iron Aim]] could've activated the alarm system!"
+
''"Your sacrifice will be appreciated. Let it be known we will not kill each other, and only a blade that is forged in hardship can penetrate our hearts and send us back to the Great Will. Your sacrifice is true. Your extinction is another's creation. From you, our followers and our home will be created.""''
 +
{{HiddenTextEnd}}
 +
|}
  
−
'''Becky:''' "Did you hear me reading? How much did you hear? And why were you eavesdropping.?"
+
===Red Sin===
−
 
+
{| class="wikitable" style="background-color: #aaaaaa; text-align:center;"
−
'''Gold Clown:''' "Starting from the dragon entering the castle. What kind of novel is that?"
+
!style="background-color: #CEF6E3;" |Cover
 +
!style="background-color: #CEF6E3;" |Chapter(s)
 +
|-style="background-color: #ffffff;" align="center"
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|[[File:Red Sin Cover.png]] || valign="top"|
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{{HiddenTextStart|
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|Title=Red Sin: Chapter 1
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}}
 +
'''Book:''' ''"The news of the arrival of the Imperial negotiators quickly spread throughout Underfoot. To avoid unnecessary attention, the negotiators brought a small group of guards led by the famous Blade Master Vaughn. The Dark Elves hate the Empire, but they couldn't suppress their curiosity. They spilled out into the street to watch the procession of the negotiators."''
  
−
'''Becky:''' "When I go outside, no one will know who I am. I'm thinking if the people of the outside world get to know my story, they'll worship me like a goddess. Then I can eat delicious things, wear pretty clothes... Tee hee!"
+
'''Robato:''' "(Vaughn Walshuted...)"
  
−
'''Gold Clown:''' "You're strangely ambitious for a homunculus. Maybe Luke shouldn't have modified you so perfectly. How many times do I have to tell you that you cannot get out of here? If you're so bored, I can teach you some magic, but I doubt homunculi have the intelligence to learn magic. Hah hah hah!"
+
'''Book:''' ''"Vaughn was riding on a horse, bringing up the rear of the Imperial noblemen who were waving their hands haughtily at the crowds. Vaughn was everything that a knight should be: young, confident, disciplined. His battered scabbard was in sharp contrast to the new, ornate scabbard of the head negotiator.''
  
−
'''Becky:''' "...Red light!"
+
''Unconsciously, Robato rubbed her Ghost Arm, a dark, twisted arm shackled with heavy metal constraints. She never hated herself for having the Ghost Arm, but she was ashamed that she let it cost many lives. Robato once was a colleague of those proud Imperial Knights. In the Empire where strength is worshiped, having the Ghost Arm isn't disadvantageous as it would be in other states in Arad. Some are even envious of the inhuman power of the Ghost Arm. Robato's life in the Empire was smoother than most citizens. Of course, she had to jump through hoops, like everyone else who was not of the nobility, but she was talented and patient enough to accomplish much more than many. But it didn't take long before she started asking questions. Why is the Empire so obsessed with strength? Why is showing off one's strength more valued than using it to save the weak?''
  
−
'''Gold Clown:''' "Pardon?"
+
''Time went by, but the questions remained unanswered. Robato confided in a few comrades she trusted, but their answers were vague at most. "I can't help someone unless I'm strong." That was the best answer she was given. One time, her knight master gathered Robato and the other members and said:''
  
−
'''Becky:''' "I said red light and you moved. Now Golc, you're the tagger. Catch me if you can!"
+
''"This Arad is corrupt. Its order is destroyed, its law too slack. It's exploited by those who have a vested interest in other people's misery, and monsters are allowed to rampage. We must save the world by enacting and enforcing strict laws."''
  
−
'''Gold Clown:''' "Wha... What?! Golc? Me? I like that... Ah, stop!"
+
''The knight master's assertion instantly wiped out Robato's growing uncertainty. She thought, "We're right. We are right! We are the saviors! We're warriors fighting for a better world!" From then on, her life in the Knights changed. The training was as tough as ever, but Robato didn't complain. The knight master was stern, but treated his members like his own. Their mistakes were forgiven, and their failures were comforted. Under the knight master's command, the knights developed a tight bond. To Robato who lost her parents early, they were her family. She could risk her life for the knights.''
  
−
'''Book:''' ''Becky runs from Gold Clown, out of the watchtower, through the hallways in the Castle of the Dead. Puncher, startled by the sudden whizzing noise, punches Bubble Buffer on the back of its head. Bubble Buffer shoots clear bubbles in retaliation, taking down three Lampers in its way. Web Spider leaps as Becky approaches, to catch her, but she crouches and rolls past the spider, breaking an innocent Blue Lamper's bulb along the way. Becky mocks Web Spider and continues to run.''
+
''The Empire had a stiff image in and out of its territory. It was almost ironic that its knights enjoyed a carefree, family-like environment. Robato suspected that was what the emperor wanted. The knights are an elite army fighting for the Empire, more specifically its emperor and his family. The tighter their bond, the less likely some of them will betray the others. Robato's doubtful attitude toward the Empire's direction became known and she was summoned by the knight master.''
  
−
''But she can't go too far. As soon as she reaches the Salamander's Furnace, an alarm goes off, alerting the activation of [[Iron Aim]]. That means Iron Aim has entered the combat mode. Becky likes to play, but not with something so dangerous. She tries to use the emergency stairs to return secretly from everyone else, but [[Giant Argos]] catches her.''
+
''She was ready for a big scolding, but the knight master, who silently glared at the young knight until that moment, grinned. In Robato's opinion, that was a hundred times more effective than a scolding."''
  
−
'''Becky:''' "Get off! Get off me!"
+
'''Knight Master Doter:''' "Neither the Knights nor the Empire is perfect. Neither was His Majesty. He's not a god. Everyone makes mistakes, and that includes you. Personally, I don't think the Empire's pursuit of strength is wrong. We have a large territory, meaning we have many things to protect. It's just that people in high places tend to take things to extremes. When there are too many things to protect, naturally some of the things are left defenseless. I mean, sometimes we're unable to save everyone who needs saving."
  
−
'''Giant Argos:''' "Becky, loud. Becky, causes trouble again. Becky, I throws!"
+
'''Book:''' ''"Since that day, the new Knight Robato practiced harder to save more people than she did yesterday, for the emperor, and for Arad."''
−
 
+
{{HiddenTextEnd}}
−
'''Becky:''' "NO!"
+
{{HiddenTextStart|
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+
|Title=Red Sin: Chapter 2
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'''Gold Clown:''' "Arrgh, Argos!"
+
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 +
'''Book:''' ''"As the even tenor of her life continued, Robato's questions were forgotten like measles in childhood. Robato was ethical, enough to come up with such "boring" questions, but she wasn't squeamish about violence. In fact, she was more aggressive and fearless than anyone else. She always took the lead in fighting. Those who underestimated her strength because of her gender paid for it the hard way. But she never let her superior strength go to her head. She continued to practice hard, and her diligence and righteousness were admired by everyone in the Knights. No one doubted, that with more experience, Robato would be the greatest knight in the Empire.''
  
−
'''Giant Argos:''' "My name is no Arrgh, Argos!"
+
''One day, the knight master summoned Robato. He said the emperor was drafting young knights to form a new unit. The knight master wrote her a letter of recommendation. She left for Vitalon, the City of Gold, the same day. After arriving at the capital city, Robato passed the new knights unit tests with flying color. Elite knights from everywhere in the Empire trained together to push past their physical and mental limits every day. The leader of the unit was the emperor himself. The morale of the young knights soared sky-high.''
  
−
'''Gold Clown:''' "Argos, put the kid down! Without her, Luke's dimensional navigation system cannot function!"
+
''Robato remembered the day before her first mission like it was yesterday. She was excited for the opportunity to make herself known to the emperor. As a knight, what else was a greater honor than demonstrating one's ability in front of her master? That night, she couldn't sleep. She thought the bright starlight streaming in through the window was the gods' encouraging message for her. But later she would be disillusioned. She would realize she was wrong to think the biggest honor for a knight was an opportunity to distinguish herself. She would learn that she traded her pledge to the weak for her ambition for success and that she was the emperor's puppet and had the blood of countless innocent people on her hands.''
  
−
'''Giant Argos:''' "Grr... You. Make noise again..."
+
''The mission given to the Knights was simple: raise your sword for the Empire's better future. The knights were powerful warriors. They didn't need to ask their nominal deputy knight master what to do.''
  
−
'''Becky:''' "All right, all right! Let me go! Blood is rushing to my head! I'm going to puke!"
+
''1) They were to subjugate barbaric invaders and conquer their lands. The Empire could never have enough land. Whether the barbarians really invade the Empire's territory didn't matter.''
  
−
'''Book:''' ''Argos huffs and drops Becky. Becky hits the ground headfirst, and groans. Argos ignores her and returns to his post.''
+
''2) They were to eliminate political dissidents and three generations of their families. The empire couldn't afford disorder. Whether their targets were real dissidents didn't matter.''
  
−
'''Becky:''' "Sheesh, it hurts, you stone head!"
+
''Every nobleman who traveled far to visit their camp on behalf of the emperor told them the same think: "You're the true patriots," and it never failed to boost the morale of the knights. Everyone in the Knights knew not everything they were told to do was ethical, but for a big chariot to move smoothly, rocks must be removed from the road. A little bit of injustice and tragedy were like small scratches on the skin from moving the rocks, or at least they wanted to think so.''
  
−
'''Gold Clown:''' "I thought you could kill a dragon."
+
''After the end of their long-term expeditionary mission, Robato found herself isolated in the Knights. Her questions about her country had become stronger than her loyalty to it. She wasn't a pacifist or squeamish about killing enemies, but she couldn't agree with most of the things that the Knights did in the name of the Empire. She decided to quit.''
  
−
'''Becky:''' "Hmph, Argos would've been dead if I had my sling!"
+
''The deputy master asked her a few questions just for formality's sake, and then asked if she had a place to go. When she said no, he offered his letter of recommendation. He said she could be far away from the Empire, protecting some researchers while they researched.''
  
−
'''Gold Clown:''' "If you say so. *Chuckle*"
+
''What Robato wanted was a chance to change the Empire, not a job. She hesitated for a moment, and then accepted his offer. She thought she could take some time off to regroup and plan her future. She didn't know this decision would change her life."''
 +
{{HiddenTextEnd}}
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{{HiddenTextStart|
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}}'''Book:''' ''Robato arrived at a big testing ground surrounded by forests. For someone who spent most of her life practicing her swordsmanship, that place was a completely new world filled with high-tech equipment and flashy gadgets. A researcher who was Robato's age said the testing ground was equipped with the highest technology available in Arad, and her duty was to make sure the technology remained disclosed. Guarding the testing ground and escorting the researchers were like child's play compared to fighting in the battlefield. She felt so at ease, as if she was on a vacation. She had more than enough time to plan her future. In retrospect, Robato enjoyed peace for a fleeting moment. She regretted that she was so absorbed with herself that she didn't care to check what kind of place she was in. She shouldn't have believed that it was simply for security reasons that the testing ground was hidden in a remote woodland.''
  
−
'''Becky:''' "Don't laugh! I may be a homunculus, but I can be strong, too! Hmph! When I become strong, I'll spin you in the air so hard that you'll puke!"
+
''At a certain point of time, the atmosphere of the testing ground changed. The researchers were no longer allowed to go outside the training ground. Neither were Robato and the other guards. Instead, things came in from the outside. Big wooden containers were let in the training ground multiple times a day. She was told the weeping noises were of animals that were brought in for testing purposes.''
  
−
'''Gold Clown:''' "Well, just be patient. The King of Hebron will recover soon, and you may be able to get out of the castle. The world will be his."
+
''One night, she couldn't sleep. She was walking outside when she took notice of some strange activities that were taking place inside the testing ground. Quietly, she approached. She didn't have permission to enter the restricted area, but she entered anyway, bracing for an accident. And she arrived in a strange place.''
  
−
'''Becky:''' "I'd rather it be mine, but... Well, I owe that geezer, Luke, so... Ouch! What was that for?"
+
''There was a big machine that looked different from the other testing equipment she was used to. Shaped like a tangled chain of loops, the machine boomed and shook as if it was about to explode. The researchers around the machine looked nervous, but not because something went wrong. It was because something incredible was about to happen. Instinctively, Robato hid behind a box. The machine boomed and shook for a little longer until the center of the machine glowed, and then from it a blindingly bright light exploded with a gust of wind that pushed everything backward, including the box that Robato was hiding behind.''
  
−
'''Gold Clown:''' "You can do anything you want, but don't call Luke a geezer."
+
''What the hell happened? Confused, Robato looked around and then froze. She saw something that she hadn't seen because of the darkness. There were children. There were adults. All of them were gagged and their arms were red. Robato gasped. She turned toward the machine, praying what she was thinking was wrong. The researchers were looking at a man kneeling at the foot of the machine that was still emitting light. Like the others infected with the Ghost Arm, he had his arm shackled with an unbreakable iron chain, and he was covered with bloody wounds. He couldn't talk with the gag in his mouth, but he didn't need to talk. His eyes showed the anger and hatred that he was feeling. Robato stood up to stop the researchers, but the light from the machine intensified and the whole place was swallowed by ominous light. Robato opened her eyes and couldn't believe what she was seeing. In place of the gagged man, there was a strange creature in chains. Having the dessicated head of a fish with tree roots for a body, it looked so grotesque that Robato wasn't sure if it was even a creature. She remembered the circus magic that she once saw switched things, then shook her head. Her brain couldn't register what her eyes were seeing. She just stood and gaped at the creature. Her heart was racing.''
 +
 
 +
''Suddenly someone touched Robato. She turned, panicked. Some female researcher, looking desperate, mouthed a "follow me" to her. She didn't look like she had malicious intent and Robato was too confused to refuse her. She ran after the female researcher. She could hear exclamations, sighs, and muffled screams from behind her, but it was all she could do to pinch her throbbing Ghost Arm. The female researcher, when they safely got out of the facility, warned Robato not to come back again before she went back in. Robato just nodded.''
 +
 
 +
''She returned to her room, disheartened. She was naive to think that she could change the Empire. The creation of the monster she saw was proof that the empire was truly immoral. What the hell was happening in here? What should I do now?''
 +
 
 +
''Since that night, everything changed. The face of the monster overlapped with those of the researchers who smiled and said hello to her. She didn't know what to do in a place that she didn't really know, alone. She was still debating what to do, when she was ordered to catch a thief who stole confidential materials. Reluctantly, Robato joined the search team, and when they found the thieves, she froze. All of them were in tatters and malnourished and had the Ghost Arm. As if possessed, the thieving Slayers lunged at the guards. Robato was forced to kill a few of the thieves in self-defense.''
 +
 
 +
''By the time the fight was over, all the other guards in the search team were dead and the Slayers who were alive but on the ground were glaring daggers at her. Robato had to choose. She was ordered to catch them. If she let them go, she'll become a traitor. Since she had the Ghost Arm, the researchers may decide to experiment on her, using that terrifying machine. She was only their enemy because she was a knight of the Empire. Slowly, she approached the Slayers. The image of the grotesque monster kept flashing through her mind. She wasn't afraid of dying, but being turned into that kind of monster was a completely different terror that was hard to overcome.''
 +
 
 +
''In the end, Robato chose to follow her heart. She told the Slayers how to get out of the forests, and then took care of the guards that came after the first search team. She didn't kill them, but what she did was enough to make her a traitor. That day she lost her knighthood and became a fugitive. She traveled around Arad, carrying nothing but her sword. She always had to be on guard, even when she was asleep, but she never regretted helping the Slayers escape.''
 +
 
 +
''She arrived at Underfoot after her arrest order was lifted quietly. It'd been whispered that the emperor found out about the inhumane experiment that took place in Vilmark and imposed severe punishment to the researchers. The truth was buried in time. Robato stopped reminiscing and watched Vaughn Walshuted ride away on his horse. She heard Vaughn was the most trusted and distinguished warrior of the emperor. How much does he know about his own country? Is it possible he's being used like everyone else in the Empire? Robato couldn't give him advice even if she wanted. All she could do was hope that the admired hero of Arad could change the Empire.''
 +
 
 +
''Robato turned and wormed her way out of the crowd. She was going to pray for those whom she killed directly and indirectly. Her heart was heavy from all the sins she had committed.''
 +
{{HiddenTextEnd}}
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
===Mischievous Homunculus===
 +
{| class="wikitable" style="background-color: #aaaaaa; text-align:center;"
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|-style="background-color: #ffffff;" align="center"
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{{HiddenTextStart|
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|Title=Mischievous Homunculus
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'''[[Becky]]:''' ""Since ancient times, there was a castle as tall as the sky standing on one end of Pandemonium. The name of the castle was unknown. No one who entered the castle came out alive to tell about it. Because the castle was so tall, people thought it was connected to Heaven where the gods resided. Strong and brave warriors who wanted to meet the gods entered the castle.
 +
 
 +
The castle was infested with strong monsters. The warriors from the outside were strong, but the monsters were stronger. All of the warriors were killed. When no one returned from the castle, people believed those warriors had reached the gods. So warriors continued to enter the castle. One day, a crazy dragon appeared in front of some warriors who were about to enter the castle. 'I'm the owner of this castle! Only I can get to the gods!.' The dragon was big and immensely strong. The warriors couldn't dare challenge it. Snickering, the dragon entered into the castle.
 +
 
 +
The monsters attacked the dragon, but it wiped the floor with them. It defeated the giants, and even the old clown. The dragon was invincible. The dragon reached the highest floor of the castle, which no one else had ever seen. There, it found a beautiful blonde girl. The girl was super strong.
 +
 
 +
The dragon lunged at her, but she swatted it aside like a fly. She swung her fist, and the dragon was flattened. The dragon was a wimp compared to the girl. She's still living in the top floor of the castle. She's the strongest girl in the world, so she'll never let anyone else take her castle. But one day she'll destroy the castle and come out for world domination. Her name is Becky."
 +
 
 +
The end. Yay, finally my novel is completed! I'm going to make many copies of it and spread it all over the world. Then one day... Tee hee!"
 +
 
 +
'''[[Gold Clown]]:''' "What are you doing?"
 +
 
 +
'''Becky:''' "*Shriek*"
 +
 
 +
'''Gold Clown:''' "Oh, geez! Did you really have to yell? [[Iron Aim]] could've activated the alarm system!"
 +
 
 +
'''Becky:''' "Did you hear me reading? How much did you hear? And why were you eavesdropping.?"
 +
 
 +
'''Gold Clown:''' "Starting from the dragon entering the castle. What kind of novel is that?"
 +
 
 +
'''Becky:''' "When I go outside, no one will know who I am. I'm thinking if the people of the outside world get to know my story, they'll worship me like a goddess. Then I can eat delicious things, wear pretty clothes... Tee hee!"
 +
 
 +
'''Gold Clown:''' "You're strangely ambitious for a homunculus. Maybe Luke shouldn't have modified you so perfectly. How many times do I have to tell you that you cannot get out of here? If you're so bored, I can teach you some magic, but I doubt homunculi have the intelligence to learn magic. Hah hah hah!"
 +
 
 +
'''Becky:''' "...Red light!"
 +
 
 +
'''Gold Clown:''' "Pardon?"
 +
 
 +
'''Becky:''' "I said red light and you moved. Now Golc, you're the tagger. Catch me if you can!"
 +
 
 +
'''Gold Clown:''' "Wha... What?! Golc? Me? I like that... Ah, stop!"
 +
 
 +
'''Book:''' ''Becky runs from Gold Clown, out of the watchtower, through the hallways in the Castle of the Dead. Puncher, startled by the sudden whizzing noise, punches Bubble Buffer on the back of its head. Bubble Buffer shoots clear bubbles in retaliation, taking down three Lampers in its way. Web Spider leaps as Becky approaches, to catch her, but she crouches and rolls past the spider, breaking an innocent Blue Lamper's bulb along the way. Becky mocks Web Spider and continues to run.''
 +
 
 +
''But she can't go too far. As soon as she reaches the Salamander's Furnace, an alarm goes off, alerting the activation of [[Iron Aim]]. That means Iron Aim has entered the combat mode. Becky likes to play, but not with something so dangerous. She tries to use the emergency stairs to return secretly from everyone else, but [[Giant Argos]] catches her.''
 +
 
 +
'''Becky:''' "Get off! Get off me!"
 +
 
 +
'''Giant Argos:''' "Becky, loud. Becky, causes trouble again. Becky, I throws!"
 +
 
 +
'''Becky:''' "NO!"
 +
 
 +
'''Gold Clown:''' "Arrgh, Argos!"
 +
 
 +
'''Giant Argos:''' "My name is no Arrgh, Argos!"
 +
 
 +
'''Gold Clown:''' "Argos, put the kid down! Without her, Luke's dimensional navigation system cannot function!"
 +
 
 +
'''Giant Argos:''' "Grr... You. Make noise again..."
 +
 
 +
'''Becky:''' "All right, all right! Let me go! Blood is rushing to my head! I'm going to puke!"
 +
 
 +
'''Book:''' ''Argos huffs and drops Becky. Becky hits the ground headfirst, and groans. Argos ignores her and returns to his post.''
 +
 
 +
'''Becky:''' "Sheesh, it hurts, you stone head!"
 +
 
 +
'''Gold Clown:''' "I thought you could kill a dragon."
 +
 
 +
'''Becky:''' "Hmph, Argos would've been dead if I had my sling!"
 +
 
 +
'''Gold Clown:''' "If you say so. *Chuckle*"
 +
 
 +
'''Becky:''' "Don't laugh! I may be a homunculus, but I can be strong, too! Hmph! When I become strong, I'll spin you in the air so hard that you'll puke!"
 +
 
 +
'''Gold Clown:''' "Well, just be patient. The King of Hebron will recover soon, and you may be able to get out of the castle. The world will be his."
 +
 
 +
'''Becky:''' "I'd rather it be mine, but... Well, I owe that geezer, Luke, so... Ouch! What was that for?"
 +
 
 +
'''Gold Clown:''' "You can do anything you want, but don't call Luke a geezer."
  
 
'''Becky:''' "All right, all right! I'll call him just Luke. Satisfied now? Sheesh. Sigh, I'm tired of hide-and-seek. I'm really bored. If I can't go outside, then I want someone to come in."
 
'''Becky:''' "All right, all right! I'll call him just Luke. Satisfied now? Sheesh. Sigh, I'm tired of hide-and-seek. I'm really bored. If I can't go outside, then I want someone to come in."
 +
{{HiddenTextEnd}}
 +
|}
 +
 +
===Interlude: Noblesky===
 +
{| class="wikitable" style="background-color: #aaaaaa; text-align:center;"
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!style="background-color: #CEF6E3;" |Chapter(s)
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|-style="background-color: #ffffff;" align="center"
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'''[[Erje]]:''' What was I supposed to do?
 +
 +
''The bridge of Empyrean's warship [[Noblesky]] was no longer bustling with the soldiers who fought Anton. In the middle of the empty space stood Princess Erje, her eyes reflecting the blue ocean outside the ship.''
 +
 +
'''[[Erje]]:''' What was I supposed to do? Should I have set the Lawless District ablaze like they insisted? Should I have let them accuse the Commander of something he didn't do? Should I have left [[Empyrean]] for [[Pandemonium]], like the [[Imperial Princess Isabella|Imperial Princess]]? Should I have gone against what my heart was telling me?
 +
 +
'''[[Woon]]:''' ...
 +
 +
''The Colonel, who had stood by the Commander all this time, was quiet. He'd been in and out of consciousness since he arrived, and everyone was worried about him. Looking at his pale face, Erje was worried and relieved at the same time. Having him there, she felt as if the Commander was with her. But [[Jackter]] was far away, locked up in Ghent. She should've let the old general retire like he wanted. He wouldn't have been disgraced like this, then.''
 +
 +
'''[[Erje]]:''' What is it?
 +
 +
'''[[Woon]]:''' I'm sorry. I wasn't sure if I was expected to answer.
 +
 +
'''[[Erje]]:''' You are.
 +
 +
''Suddenly, Woon knelt on the ground, supporting his body with his hands. Given his sickly condition, he shouldn't be standing, let alone kneeling on the cold floor, but he didn't care.''
 +
 +
'''[[Woon]]:''' The nobles abandoned their duty to this country and ran from the war. They're not in a position to demand anything, and yet they act this way because you didn't punish them for their cowardice. Like criminals who have managed to evade prosecution, these nobles think that they're untouchable. And the people are angry with you because you gave them a free pass. That was what triggered all this.
 +
 +
''Erje pursed her lips. She wanted comfort and got reprimanded instead. Most times she welcomed criticism, but not when she felt cornered and so desperate. Jackter once told her the same thing, that she must arrest all the runaway nobles. She refused. Then, she let herself be captured by the Kartels. She felt responsible for their abandonment... She regretted it now, and hearing her mistake through someone else's mouth brought tears to her eyes. When she spoke, she couldn't help but sound sullen.''
 +
 +
'''[[Erje]]:''' They have so much influence on this country's economy. At that time, most of my soldiers were wounded and out of commission. I caused my country grief by letting myself be captured by the enemy. I felt that I must forgive their misjudgment and give them a chance to redeem themselves.
 +
 +
'''[[Woon]]:''' But what about [[Nevillo Jurgen]]? He couldn't fulfill his ambition because he was born a man, so he attacked the chink in your armor more persistently than the others. Why do you think he remained in [[Ghent]] when his peers ran? Why do you think he volunteered to lead the expedition of [[Zelva|Zelba]]? One who has power never leaves his office for long, lest someone else might seize the opportunity to replace him. He wanted to set himself apart from you and the other nobles so badly. He would have risen against you if the nobility didn't beat him to it. And once this is over, the general populace will side with him, and that would further weaken your authority.
 +
 +
'''[[Erje]]:''' The nobility is trying to protect their own interests. Don't you think it won't be able to check Jurgen?
 +
 +
'''[[Woon]]:''' The people remember who fought for Ghent in your absence. They don't care about the rest of the nobility. The nobles abandoned them when they needed them the most.
 +
 +
'''[[Erje]]:''' Then they surely remember Commander Eagle Eye fought for their country. Why don't they accept him?
 +
 +
'''[[Woon]]:''' I can't tell you, but you know he and I are both from the Lawless District.
 +
 +
''Erje closed her mouth. She already knew the answer before she asked the question. It was all but her fault that the citizens of the Imperial Capital and the nobility became so wary of Jackter. The old prejudices against the Lawless District still held strong, and her implicit trust in the most successful man out of the district was a threat to the rest of Empyrean. Woon just couldn't bring himself to point that out.
 +
 +
'''[[Erje]]:''' But what about the false accusation of the Commander? I spent a lot of time trying to stop the nobility from spreading rumors about him.
 +
 +
'''[[Woon]]:''' If I were you, I would've tried him in the court of law to openly discuss the possible transgressions that others say he has committed. The nobles blamed him for leaving Ghent, letting you be abducted by the enemy, and going on a wild goose chase after [[Anton]]. But Anton had to be stopped, and the commander succeeded. The way he went about doing it may have been flawed, but that wasn't serious enough to cost his life. I would have publicly forgiven him and emphasized how he defeated Anton and made it possible to defeat [[Apostles#Ninth_Apostle:_Luke_the_Constructor|Luke]]. According to our Constitution, he can't be tried twice for the same crime. The trial would've permanently put the matter to rest. You succeeded in emphasizing his exploits, but you failed to use them to justify his mistakes. As a result, more people turned against him. And now he's in their hands, at their mercy.
 +
 +
''Woon coughed frequently, but he didn't let that interfere with his speech. At the beginning of their conversation, Erje all but resented this young colonel, but now she couldn't help but admire him. He was still in his twenties, and he was already being mentioned as the next brigadier general, and that wasn't just because of his military exploits. But Erje felt resistance to his suggestion. His solution would have brought disgrace -- albeit temporarily -- to the great hero.
 +
 +
'''[[Erje]]:''' We're not the Kartels. We don't repay honor with disgrace. Our soldiers fight to protect their country and honor. Trying such a great general for something he didn't do is not what we stand for. You have a point, but I would never bring disgrace to the Commander's name.
 +
 +
''The Princess's tone was not as harsh as it was before, but still, there was underlying resistance. If Jurgen was here, he would've called out on her ethical hypersensitivity.
 +
 +
'''[[Erje]]:''' But now I understand why the Commander thinks so highly of you. I considered appointing you an envoy purely based on others' opinions. I'm glad I didn't, and I wish we had this conversation a long time ago. Colonel, Jurgen wants to change Empyrean. But he's involved with the Empire. The moment Empyrean falls into his hands, our country will never be free from the Empire's influence. We must stop Jurgen. To do that, we must return to Ghent. What do you recommend for me to do.
 +
 +
'''[[Woon]]:''' I'd recommend that you call for reinforcements and leave the rest of the planning to others who are more experienced than I am. I'm not good enough to assist you in this matter.
 +
 +
'''[[Erje]]:''' Do you mean, call Wespeace and Etten for reinforcements? They've been ignoring this situation for so long. I doubt they'll respond to my summons.
 +
 +
''Erje gripped her skirt, but she couldn't stop the tears from falling. The sense of betrayal and sadness that she tried so hard to bury had resurfaced. She would have broken down in tears if Woon tried to console her. But he didn't. He kept his head lowered and gave her time to regain composure.''
 +
 +
'''[[Erje]]:''' ...We don't have time to wait for them. Jurgen isn't the only problem. The nobility will kill the Commander. The Adventurer risked his life to save me. I have people waiting for me in Ghent, and I can't disappoint them. We must move now.
 +
 +
'''[[Woon]]:''' I'm not equipped to make that happen. Order me to assassinate Jurgen instead. I can get it done, even if it kills me.
 +
 +
'''[[Erje]]:''' I can't lose you. And I'm not going to order you to assassinate anyone. We're different from the nobility. I won't do things that I'll later feel ashamed to admit to my people. They've been through enough as it is. I can bring him to justice without shedding blood. He's committed treason -- that's enough to keep him locked away for the rest of his life. There has to be another way. We're just unable to figure it out at this moment.
 +
 +
''Erje was adamant. Prostrate, Woon looked up at the Princess, and let his head fall, feeling helpless.''
 +
 +
'''[[Erje]]:''' I'm sorry if I'm being unreasonable, but we can't respond to violence with violence. That'll only further push the people away from us. I have a plan. I haven't had a chance to achieve it because of the nobility, but once we get over this, I'll see that it comes true. That plan will help me and the Commander make Empyrean the world that we've been dreaming of. In that world, the nobility won't be as unruly as they are now. The Commander thinks of you as his own. If anything, you should do this for him.
 +
 +
'''[[Woon]]:''' ...I will, Your Highness.
 +
 +
''Woon answered after a moment of hesitation. Erje thanked him and left the bridge. The sudden wind from the sea startled her, but she quickly straightened her shoulders and opened her eyes wide. She wasn't the princess who shook and wept a moment ago. Her innate intelligence and will, which helped her endure when she was at the mercy of the Kartels, gave her new strength.
 +
 +
'''[[Erje]]:''' (...I may be cornered, but I'm not dead. So long as I'm alive, I must fulfill my obligations to my country and my people. I'm not going to fail the Commander and the Adventurer.)
 +
 +
''Erje was no longer looking out at the sea. In the meantime, Woon was panicking. He was tormented by self-condemnation, a fear of failing again, and self-doubt that kept whispering to him that things would've been better if Jackter was there instead of him. Left alone on the bridge, Woon remained kneeling on the floor, unfeeling of the cold that slowly seeped from the floor into his body and unaware of time passing, until his men came to find him.''
 +
 +
{{HiddenTextEnd}}
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{{HiddenTextStart|
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 +
''The Princess was nowhere to be seen in the Palace of Ghent. Nevillo Jurgen walked into the old palace, barely suppressing his rage at having to see parts of it destroyed here and there and even burned to the ground in some places.''
 +
 +
''He dismissed all the others around him, entered the princess's study, and called for his daughter Marianne. It was a long while before his daughter showed up with Coast Guard Captain Hiram in tow, and Nevillo was so angry that it was all he could do not to strangle his daughter.''
 +
 +
'''[[Nevillo Jurgen]]:''' How can you be so stupid? How could you do this to your own father?
 +
 +
'''[[Marianne]]:''' ...Father. You came earlier than I thought.
 +
 +
'''[[Nevillo Jurgen]]:''' Is that all you have to say?
 +
 +
'''[[Marianne]]:''' I don't understand why you're so upset. I've captured Jackter the Eagle Eye and banished the princess for you.
 +
 +
''Sometimes you're so upset that you're at a loss for words. That was the case with Nevillo. He was next to none when it comes to speech and persuasion, but his daughter's cheeky remark left him feeling as if he was choking.''
 +
 +
''Hiram, who stood behind Marianne and had observed the father and daughter's conversation, broke into a grin.''
 +
 +
'''[[Hiram Klauf]]:''' Don't be so upset. Your daughter led this operation with flying colors. She's no longer the child you have to take care of. That should make you happy.
 +
 +
'''[[Nevillo Jurgen]]:''' Captain Hiram, what are you up to? Why did you encourage her to do this? We're no better than the Kartels now.
 +
 +
'''[[Hiram Klauf]]:''' No, we're not. We can't be more alike. Besides, it was you who said we shouldn't wait for an opportunity to present itself--we should create it on our own. The Coast Guard has been waiting all this time.
 +
 +
''Hiram sounded nonchalant, but he couldn't hide the scowl on his face. Fortunately, Jurgen was too angry to notice.''
 +
 +
'''[[Nevillo Jurgen]]:''' But the timing was wrong! And the people saw you chase away the helpless princess! Now they think the nobility and the Empire are no better than the Kartels! Sympathy is a great weapon. Why do you think the people still love that incompetent princess? The time that the people bowed to their ruler out of fear has gone. They still love her because they're a sentimental lot. Public sentiment is what kept her in power so far. The princess hasn't done anything good for the country, but she didn't do anything wrong either. The people know that. They feel sorry that she became a leader so young. They already think of her like their own child, and we drove her away like the Kartels did!
 +
 +
''Jurgen was now screaming, but that didn't faze Marianne. Her gaze on him remained cool and sarcastic.''
 +
 +
'''[[Marianne]]:''' What do you mean, "we?" You never took part in this.
 +
 +
'''[[Nevillo Jurgen]]:''' What are you talking about?
 +
 +
'''[[Marianne]]:''' Where were you when we drove away the princess and captured the Eagle Eye? Oh, that's right. You were in Zelba. It was Sir Verta, The Coast Guard, and I who saw this through. You have no right to be angry with me.
 +
 +
''Nevillo felt as if someone poured cold water on his head. This wasn't the obedient Marianne he knew. He felt as if he didn't know the woman who stood proudly in front of him.''
 +
 +
''Marianne ignored the pang of guilt she felt and lifted her chin defiantly. She still respected her father, but she was tired of being called a little girl who hid behind her father.''
 +
 +
'''[[Marianne]]:''' We couldn't have done this if it weren't for you. I know that and I'll make it up to you, but I can't live in your shadow forever.
 +
 +
'''[[Nevillo Jurgen]]:''' ...Everything I did, I did it for you. You could've waited a little longer. You could've done all this without blood on your hands.
 +
 +
'''[[Marianne]]:''' You're only thinking I was impatient because you're a man. But I'm a woman, and in my opinion, the timing couldn't have been more perfect. The Eagle Eye will pay for costing this country so dearly, and the princess will soon follow suit.
 +
 +
''Nevillo, who felt helpless until that moment, lifted his eyebrows and glared.''
 +
 +
'''[[Nevillo Jurgen]]:''' This is why I kept you from the Council of the Nobility for as long as I did. You're going to punish the princess, but for what? Were you listening to me when I said the princess did nothing wrong? You could say anything you want, and the people will still think she's innocent. Incompetent, yes, but not guilty. Incompetence in a leader is a reason for impeachment. But everyone knows the princess was too young and unprepared when she ascended to the throne. Why do you think I attacked Eagle Eye? Insisted that soldiers like him are a threat? It's because I didn't have a choice. He was her wings and her shield. When you catch a bird, you break its wings first. I went for the Eagle Eye for that exact reason. I was going to separate him from her, so I could pressure her into handing the Imperial Seal over to me. I was going to send her away to a small temple in a remote village, so she would be a constant object of ridicule until she dies. Well, thanks to you, she's become the fragile little princess again.
 +
 +
'''[[Marianne]]:''' Are you saying we shouldn't kill her? But she won't stop fighting as long as she lives.
 +
 +
''Marianne argued. Nevillo felt wearier talking to her than fighting his enemies.''
 +
 +
'''[[Nevillo Jurgen]]:''' What you really have to worry about is Anton. Anton is strong enough to decimate our army and destroy the Power Station. All the princess has is sympathy from the people. If the Eagle Eye didn't go after Anton when he did...
 +
 +
''Nevillo stopped himself from firing off. He remembered Hiram was still with them.''
 +
 +
''Hiram Klauf was the captain of the Coast Guard and Herman's student. Nevillo knew he wasn't the friendly man he wanted others to believe.''
 +
 +
''He needed him. He was the sharpest weapon he had in his arsenal. But he couldn't be trusted; having faith in a bomb's destructive power is one thing. Thinking it wouldn't kill you is another.''
 +
 +
''Nevillo breathed deeply. On the inside he was a whirlwind of emotions, but his face remained a mask of calmness, a self-defense mechanism he developed during his years at the Court.''
 +
 +
''Behind this mask he quickly calculated his odds, and then spoke in a brittle tone that worked like a charm on his daughter every time.''
 +
 +
'''[[Nevillo Jurgen]]:''' Go. Give away food to people and make them happy. Convince Zeldine Schneider and Marlene Kitzka that you mean the princess no harm. Don't hurt either one of them. They're your ticket out of this.
 +
 +
''His tone worked on his daughter just as he expected. His resignation unsettled her more than his anger ever could.''
 +
 +
''Marianne was already agitated by the Adventurer's intervention that ruined her complete victory. She couldn't leave the study faster to do what her father said.''
 +
 +
'''[[Hiram Klauf]]:''' You should be proud of her. She could've made a great soldier if she had a mind.
 +
 +
''Nevillo swore inside.''
 +
 +
''He cut down the military enlistment budget, claiming that they didn't need many soldiers, that soldiers were no better than the Kartels except that they had the license to kill, that civilians could help in states of emergency. It was clear what Hiram just said wasn't meant to be a compliment.''
 +
 +
'''[[Nevillo Jurgen]]:''' You instigated my daughter and other impatient nobles into creating this mess. What the hell are you up to?
 +
 +
'''[[Hiram Klauf]]:''' I told you before. I hate the Eagle Eye. When we were dealing with Anton, he only pretended to trust me. He was ready to throw me out the first chance he got. I only beat him to it. I'm just trying to survive here, just like you. That's good enough reason, isn't it?
 +
 +
'''[[Nevillo Jurgen]]:''' You should've been more patient. I would've given you the chance.
 +
 +
'''[[Hiram Klauf]]:''' Please, I knew your plan. You were going to dispose me and the rest of the Coast Guard once our usefulness ran out. I couldn't let you do that.
 +
 +
'''[[Nevillo Jurgen]]:''' ...
 +
 +
'''[[Hiram Klauf]]:''' Anyway, I see that we've come to agree that the princess should live. At least for a while. The Adventurer, hero of Empyrean, is on her side. That's been disconcerting to both the nobility and the general populace. At least the Eagle Eye gets to die. You were thinking about sending him into exile instead, weren't you?
 +
 +
''Hiram sounded cynical and frustrated at the same time. Jurgen hid the surprise in his eyes by pretending to adjust his glasses.''
 +
 +
'''[[Nevillo Jurgen]]:''' ...We might need him in the future.
 +
 +
'''[[Hiram Klauf]]:''' Pick your side. You either get rid of him or keep him alive. But now that things have changed, trying to save the old eagle will only get you in trouble. I'd better leave now. We couldn't have done this if it weren't for you, true, but also there are things we have to clean up because of you. We'll settle our debts later.
 +
 +
''Hiram left, leaving Nevillo alone in the princess's study. He stood up from the chair and paced about the room.''
 +
 +
'''[[Nevillo Jurgen]]:''' (Hiram needs to die. I picked him because I thought he was useful, but who knew he was a loose cannon? He has to die. He has to. The princess is not a problem. Neither is the nobility, so long as it refuses to accept the fact that times have changed. The problem is that rabid dog.)
 +
 +
''Nevillo was so angry that he was gritting his teeth, but he still took care not to speak his mind, lest someone might be hiding somewhere, spying on him.''
 +
 +
''But his head was filled with all kind of bloody images at that moment. For a while, he thought about possible solutions to his problem. Then, when he finally found just the right one, he smiled.''
 +
{{HiddenTextEnd}}
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{{HiddenTextStart|
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|Title=Interlude: Noblesky 3
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'''[[Navarre]]:''' What should we do?
 +
 +
'''[[Biyan]]:''' What should we do what?
 +
 +
'''[[Navarre]]:''' Should we go rescue the Princess, or stay put?
 +
 +
''They were sitting in a corner of the training ground at the Etten Headquarters. Navarre stopped drinking his soda and asked nonchalantly. Biyan didn't feel as relaxed as her companion might have been.''
 +
 +
''She almost strained her neck, trying to make out if her superior was drunk or something from drinking too much soda. For a moment, she even wondered if she was talking to a different person.''
 +
 +
''Navarre turned his eyes away from the flock of clouds in the sky and smiled at Biyan, whose face was closer now that before.''
 +
 +
'''[[Biyan]]:''' You smell like you've been drenched in soda. You're Lieutenant Navarre, alright. How many cans have you had today?
 +
 +
'''[[Navarre]]:''' No one gets drunk by drinking soda. By the way, can you really smell soda from me?
 +
 +
'''[[Biyan]]:''' Yes, because you drink it so much. Keep drinking like that, and you'll lose all your teeth before you're forty.
 +
 +
'''[[Navarre]]:''' ...Don't treat me like an old man. My teeth are fine.
 +
 +
'''[[Biyan]]:''' I was just saying because you asked a strange question. You've always been fighting for the Princess.
 +
 +
''Biyan closed the book she was reading. The afternoon was quiet. No one had passed them by. In the official Army setting, they were superior and subordinate, but when they were alone, they talked like when they were just two mercenaries.''
 +
 +
'''[[Navarre]]:''' That's because she symbolizes the resistance against the Kartels, but now... I'm tired.
 +
 +
'''[[Navarre]]:''' I don't mind fighting, but I don't want to fight forever. We just got out of a war with the Kartels, and then a revolt broke out in Ghent. Will there ever be peace?
 +
 +
'''[[Biyan]]:''' The princess had nothing to do with the Kartels though.
 +
 +
'''[[Navarre]]:''' In a way, she does. The Kartels rose from the ashes after the priestess who preceded her died. Anton is as unstoppable as a natural disaster, but everything else happened after was because of our leaders.
 +
 +
''Navarre started to ponder, and Biyan took the soda bottle out of his hand and took a long drink.''
 +
 +
''The soda tasted warm and flat, rather than sweet and cool as she imagined. She grimaced, and Navarre gloated.''
 +
 +
'''[[Navarre]]:''' This is why I can't emphasize the importance of prompt supplies enough. Whoever has better logistics wins the battle, always. And we're not them.
 +
 +
'''[[Biyan]]:''' You and your soda and your logistics. But why? What did the Commander say that got you in this weird mood?
 +
 +
''Biyan was talking about the commander of the Etten Headquarters. Navarre furrowed his brow.''
 +
 +
'''[[Navarre]]:''' She thinks maybe we should go independent this time.
 +
 +
'''[[Biyan]]:''' Huh?
 +
 +
'''[[Navarre]]:''' The electricity that feeds all of Empyrean is produced in this place. Its infrastructure is not completely restored, but now that the engineers are back, it's producing enough electricity for Etten. We don't need help from the Seven Shards anymore.
 +
 +
'''[[Navarre]]:''' The Coast Guard has gone to Ghent. The nobility will be too busy dealing with the situation in the capital city for a while. The same with the Imperial Army. She thinks we could use electricity as leverage to demand our rights.
 +
 +
'''[[Navarre]]:''' In other words, our lady commander wants to become the governor of Etten.
 +
 +
''He said it so casually that it took a while for Biyan to feel the impact of his statement. Wide-eyed, she repeated the word governor for a while. Suddenly, she started hitting Navarre on his shoulder.''
 +
 +
'''[[Biyan]]:''' Are you crazy? Why didn't you say anything to stop her? This is why people call you the nepotism hire!
 +
 +
''Navarre was quiet for a moment. She was telling the truth, and he had nothing to say to that.''
 +
 +
'''[[Navarre]]:''' She's just daydreaming about it for now. I didn't want to goad her, so I just played along. Ouch--stop hitting me!
 +
 +
'''[[Navarre]]:''' Etten is at an important turning point. We have to decide if we look out for Number One, or stay loyal to the rest of the state.
 +
 +
'''[[Biyan]]:''' Don't get any stupid ideas! This country is smaller than you think. If something goes wrong, we'll die--oh.
 +
 +
'''[[Navarre]]:''' Yes, things have changed. We can always run to Underworld, and we don't have to go through Ghent to get there. Underworld is much bigger than Empyrean. It'll be harder to find us there.
 +
 +
'''[[Biyan]]:''' So what seems to be the biggest challenge to this country is the greatest opportunity to the ambitious.
 +
 +
'''[[Navarre]]:''' So I asked you, whether we should go rescue the Princess or stay put.
 +
 +
'''[[Navarre]]:''' We could choose the Princess and stay loyal to her, but we'd get stuck. The others might refuse to join us, and we could even get caught by the Commander before we leave Etten.
 +
 +
'''[[Navarre]]:''' Or we could stay here and keep the aspiring governor in check. But that would leave the Princess helpless.
 +
 +
'''[[Navarre]]:''' We could stay here and still express our support for her, but then the Commander wouldn't leave us alone. We'd better keep our mouths shut, or she'll make us go to the end of the land and force us to dive into the ocean.
 +
 +
'''[[Navarre]]:''' She's a smart lady. She's plotting treason, and she's not leaving anything that could incriminate her. What I told you about her wanting to become governor didn't come out of her mouth. Say that to anyone else, and I'll be court-martialed for defaming my superior.
 +
 +
''Navarre grumbled, but Biyan was relieved to know he was still the same man he was when they first met as mercenaries.''
 +
 +
''But Navarre was just one man, and there is only so much one man can do.''
 +
 +
'''[[Biyan]]:''' Many Imperial soldiers remain in the Imperial Capital. Our soldiers there are inferior in number. Our weapons are old to begin with, but they're practically all worn out after fighting the Kartels. Cut off the electricity, and things will get worse. Restoring the Princess to the throne wouldn't be the biggest problem then.
 +
 +
'''[[Biyan]]:''' What about the Lawless District--I mean the Wespeace Headquarters? It hasn't moved either. What's their stand?
 +
 +
'''[[Navarre]]:''' We should leave it out of the discussion. It has enough on its plate--Kartel remnants, the militia, anarchists, oh, and Neil. Thank the gods, I wasn't sent there.
 +
 +
'''[[Biyan]]:''' I wish Commander Eagle Eye were here... The nobility ruined his reputation, but he's the greatest man I know.
 +
 +
'''[[Navarre]]:''' Those who believed the rumors that the nobility spread about him are also at fault, even if they didn't actively participate.
 +
 +
'''[[Biyan]]:''' I don't know how things went so wrong...
 +
 +
''Navarre felt the sadness in her tone, but he didn't know what to say.''
 +
 +
''How did things go so wrong? Some say things went downhill the moment Anton showed up. Some blame the reappearance of Underworld.''
 +
 +
''Navarre agrees with neither. He patted Biyan's lowered head. The sun finally came out from behind the thick blanket of clouds, but it was about to disappear below the horizon.''
 +
 +
'''[[Navarre]]:''' The Adventurer opened a path to Underworld. He came with the Imperial Army, and took care of the Kartels and Anton. And even Luke. Maybe all this is just part of the change that the Adventurer has set in motion.
 +
 +
'''[[Navarre]]:''' Whether it's a new change or simply a side effect is yet to be seen, but he didn't cause this conflict we're having. It's always been inside us.
 +
 +
'''[[Navarre]]:''' I don't know what's going to happen, but I'm glad I have choices.
 +
 +
'''[[Biyan]]:''' What do you choose?
 +
 +
'''[[Navarre]]:''' I'm staying. You?
 +
 +
'''[[Biyan]]:''' Do you have to ask? You know I won't go anywhere without you.
 +
 +
''Biyan smiled gently behind the curtain of black hair that fell to the side of her face.''
 +
{{HiddenTextEnd}}
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|}
 +
 +
===The Wind Blowing upon the Lawless District===
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{| class="wikitable" style="background-color: #aaaaaa; text-align:center;"
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!style="background-color: #CEF6E3;" |Cover
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!style="background-color: #CEF6E3;" |Chapter(s)
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|-style="background-color: #ffffff;" align="center"
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|[[File:Locked Storybook.png]] || valign="top"|
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{{HiddenTextStart|
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|Title=The Wind Blowing upon the Lawless District: Chapter 1
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<small>
 +
<i>The Company was accused of making an attempt on the life of Empyrean's highest priest. Even thought it was respected as a famous mercenary group, the general populace accepted the Palace's declaration of its betrayal as the truth. Its leader, O'Connell, kept screaming in his cell that his group was innocent, but no one listened.
 +
 +
As a freelancing mercenary group, The Company refused to take side with any political faction. Its goal to protect its country as a neutral party was admirable, but created many enemies. By the time O'Connell realized that, it was too late.
 +
 +
There was no place for his group on the Capital Island, which meant he had to escape. The Company, consisted of capable mercenaries, could get its leader out of the prison easily, but the question was, "Where should we go afterward?"
 +
 +
The Lawless District was a land of its own. it was the only place in Empyrean that the Palace's influence couldn't reach. It was also a land of outlaws, but there were no noblemen who would want to take advantage of the military group. There, it could be free.
 +
 +
The Company arrived at a beach in the Lawless District. The Lawless District was baren and filled with silence instead of the glamor that prevailed on the streets of the Capital Island. O'Connell liked it. Here, he could enjoy the gentle breeze blowing against his cheeks without having to watch his back.
 +
 +
Even outlaws had cities. O'Connell and his group decided to go to the city on the other side of the desert that they were in and get familiarized with their new home.
 +
 +
While crossing the desert, they met various groups of outlaws. All of them were rough, and most of them were just rabbles of misfits. "There guys are beneath us," said O'Connell.
 +
 +
Then, they met a pretty well-organized group. O'Connell was going to teach them a lesson before sending them back home, but it didn't take long before he realized this group was different from the others. It had an established chain of command, and its members were good at using weapons.
 +
 +
The group's leader, after several of his members were given a good beating, stepped in and tried to negotiate with The Company. He knew his adversaries were different from the other outlaws he'd met.</i>
 +
 +
'''Enzo Sipo:''' "Let me apologize for these guy's rudeness. We thought you were after us. You're impressive. Name's Enzo Sipo.
 +
 +
<i>This group's leader was unique. He sounded passionate and there's even a sense of righteousness in his eyes. He was too good to be in the midst of outlaws. He was determined to turn the Lawless District, the cesspool of outcasts, into a paradise where everyone could be happy.
 +
 +
Enzo's group was smaller than other city-based groups, but everyone in his group believed in his cause and admired his charismatic leadership. O'Connell liked his cause, too. The Company joined Enzo's group.
 +
 +
After The Company joined, Enzo's group grew bigger by the day. The members of the Company always fought on the front lines of battles, teaching and inspiring their outlaw comrades along the way. Enzo Sipo, with the seasoned battle commander O'Connell and Sandstorm Varracht on his side, won every battle he fought and conquered every city he had his eyes on.</i>
 +
 +
'''Enzo Sipo:''' We will not steal from you.
 +
 +
<i>The people of the Lawless District raved as their new leader abolished the old corrupt government and its cruel policies. Enzo embraced these people and showed them his generosity. Everywhere in the Lawless District, people couldn't stop singing praise about him. Feeling threatened by Enzo's rising popularity, other outlaw groups declared war against him. Sparks of war consumed the once quiet cities.
 +
 +
However, Enzo was an amazing tactician. During the siege of an enemy fortress, he used bikes to climb the steep hill on which the fortress stood, taking the enemy by surprise.
 +
 +
Watching the fortress being burned down, Enzo spoke.</i>
 +
 +
'''Enzo Sipo:''' I hope one day they'll understand my dreams. And that not everyone here is an outlaw, and that some of us are actually good guys. The dusk is dark, but the sun will rise. A better future is coming.
 +
 +
<i>One day, Enzo and his group were taking a break from fighting other outlaws when a suspicious mist rolled in to their camp. Soon, a strange disease of unknown cause started spreading among them. This disease made them sleepy, they dreamed nightmares. Day after day, they would have nightmares, and in the end they became extremely violent and impulsive. Enzo took this seriously, so he quarantined those who were infected by this sleep disorder and looked for its cause, but all to no avail. Time passed.
 +
 +
One evening, Enzo experienced nightmares and auditory hallucinations.
 +
 +
You desire power...</i>
 +
 +
'''Enzo Sipo:''' "Who's there? Who's talking?
 +
 +
<i>Enzo looked around and saw a suspicious woman in a black hood. Alerted by her sudden appearance, he pointed his gun at her.</i>
 +
 +
'''Enzo Sipo:'''  Who are you?
 +
 +
'''???:''' You're too sharp. I'd better leave now.
 +
 +
<i>The woman in a black hood disappeared before he shot his gun. Enzo then started hearing things.</i>
 +
 +
'''Enzo Sipo:''' Power... Destruction...
 +
 +
<i>Enzo Sipo had changed. The others hadn't noticed, but his eyes had lost the passion and yearning for romance. Naturally his group changed, too. Without his control, the outlaw group went back to its old cruel habits, pillaging people and setting their homes on fire. O'Connell and Varracht sensed the change in Enzo. He was as charismatic as before, but he was no longer the man they admired.</i>
 +
 +
'''Varracht:''' Enzo has changed.
 +
 +
<i>Varracht muttered bitterly. O'Connell agreed. Enzo, wanting to expand his territory, started letting any outlaws--even the crueler ones--into his group. Then one day, The Company's information led Enzo to a mercenary captain named Rangelus. Infamous for his cruelty and penchant for carnage, Mercenary Captain Rangelus went against everything Enzo Sipo said he believed in. Enzo wanted him, anyway. He notified his executive members that Rangelus was going to join them. O'Connell and Varracht were suspicious. Enzo wanted the outlaws to live freely; Rangelus wanted to keep them under his control.</i>
 +
 +
'''O'Connell:''' But Rangelus doesn't believe in what we do.
 +
 +
<i>O'Connell said. Enzo answered sternly.</i>
 +
 +
'''Enzo Sipo:''' Beliefs can change. We need him to unify the Lawless District and show the Capital Island what we've got.
 +
 +
<i>Enzo spoke with the same charismatic tone as he used to, but O'Connell and Varracht knew better. His leader was a different man now.
 +
 +
Enzo went to where Rangelus's Guerrillas were stationed. No civilians were around, probably too scared to be in the company of the ruthless mercenaries.</i>
 +
 +
'''Rangelus:''' What bring the Eye of Dawn here?
 +
 +
<i>Rangelus asked. He had a captured civilian with him.</i>
 +
 +
'''Enzo Sipo:''' Fight for me, Rangelus.
 +
 +
<i>Enzo said in an authoritative tone.</i>
 +
 +
'''Rangelus:''' I don't care for what you believe in. You don't rule by force. You're too softhearted to kill a civilian.
 +
 +
<i>Having heard that, Enzo fired his gun at the civilian without batting an eye.</i>
 +
 +
'''Enzo Sipo:''' What about now?
 +
 +
<i>Rangelus hesitated for a moment, and then said with a note of laughter in his voice.</i>
 +
 +
'''Rangelus:''' That changes things. I'm in.
 +
</small>
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{{HiddenTextEnd}}
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<small><i>
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Sandstorm Varracht had been with Enzo Sipo since Edon's Brotherhood, and he was renowned among the outlaws of the Lawless District ro his ability to trigger sandstorms with his bullets. Among the Kartels, Varracht was just as influential as their leader, Enzo Sipo.
 +
 +
Varracht opposed the Kartel's plan to wage war in their effort to unify the Lawless District, and he had such a big following within the organization that Enzo Sipo couldn't ignore his opinion.</i>
 +
 +
'''Varracht:''' I've been with you for a long time, but I can't agree to this meaningless war.
 +
 +
<i>Varracht's voice carried his convictions.</i>
 +
 +
'''Varracht:''' And letting that woman who comes to you sometimes meddle in our business goes against the ideals I've been chasing all this time.
 +
 +
<i>Cold anger gleamed in Enzo's eyes. This was why he'd excluded Varracht from meetings with the Prophet.</i>
 +
 +
'''Enzo Sipo:''' Then, I have no reason to hesitate anymore. You and I are done.
 +
 +
<i>Enzo said quietly and coldly.</i>
 +
 +
'''Enzo Sipo:''' You've been a good friend, so I'll let you go peacefully. But you'd better wish you never see me again.
 +
 +
<i>Enzo turned his back and walked away. Varracht thought, I'd better leave him alone; I don't want to cause any unnecessary fights. So Varracht left Enzo's tent. Now that Enzo is determined to conquer all of the Lawless District, it'd be safe for him to move as far away as possible. While crossing the desert, he noticed some people were following him, screaming death for the traitor.
 +
 +
Enzo must have told them that I've betrayed him, he thought. He set up traps as he moved, and while his pursuers were distracted by the traps, he safely got out of the danger zone. He was about to leave the Kartel's territory when he was welcomed by another comrade. He didn't look lie he wanted to fight. Varracht smiled and spoke.</i>
 +
 +
'''Varracht:''' You're so good that you got through my traps as if they were nothing, didnt' you?
 +
 +
<i>O'Connell responded with a serious look on his face.</i>
 +
 +
'''O'Connell:''' I'm not here to stop you. Help me persuade Enzo. I know it's not too late to bring him back to who he was.
 +
 +
<i>Listening to his plea, Varracht shook his head.</i>
 +
 +
'''Varracht:''' No, he and I no longer pursue the same dreams. I'm just going to live quietly from now on.
 +
 +
<i>Still smiling, Varracht said. Then the smile was gone, replaced by a grim look.</i>
 +
 +
'''Varracht:''' Be careful. Enzo has changed. I don't know what happened to him, but he's not the man I used to know.
 +
 +
<i>With that being said, Varracht left quietly. O'Connell watched him leave with a heavy heart.
 +
 +
The Kartel radioman, who watched O'Connell let Varracht go, quickly radioed his superiors from a hidden corner.
 +
 +
Having received the radioman's report, Enzo pondered. He still needed The Company. The addition of Rangelus' Guerrillas had significantly strengthened the Kartel both qualitatively and quantitatively, but it still relied on The Company's fighting skills and information network. Cutting ties with O'Connell meant losing the Company, and worse, turning it into enemies. Unlike Varracht's followers who admired Varracht, but had no close relationship with him, the members of The Company were O'Connell's students and thus had a tighter bond with him. If O'Connell agreed with Varracht, then he was also an obstacle in the Kartel's way.
 +
 +
After much consideration, Enzo made an important decision,. He then summoned a company of Rangelus's guerrillas.</i>
 +
 +
'''Enzo Sipo:''' Get rid of O'Connell. Tomorrow, he's visiting the village for an inspection. Ambush him in the desert on his way back.
 +
 +
<i>The next day, O'Connell was on his way back from his inspection on the village when he thought about the last thing Varracht said. But he couldn't give up on Enzo. He still wanted to believe that his leader wouldn't abandon his men.
 +
 +
"Why don't we take a break?" A student's voice brought him back to reality. They were in a hamlet near Kartel Headquarters. O'Connell nodded at his students and took a seat by the beacon mound in the hamlet. His students kept quiet, to give him time to clear his head.
 +
 +
After the short recess, they were about to resume their trip when the sound of many bikes and machines were heard. So many bikes in such a small village? O'Connell instantly became suspicious. He told his students to get ready for a fight. A group of bikes were coming at them. They looked like typical outlaws, but they moved organically like well-trained soldiers. O'Connell realized Enzo Sipo sent them to kill him. Regretting his misjudgment, he raised his gun.
 +
 +
The Kartel's mechanical weapons and land runners bombarded him and his students. We're going to die here, O'Connell thought. The two students who were next to him said, as they were shooting at converging enemies, "Master, we'll stay. Please keep the others alive." He wanted to tell them no, but then he saw the other students were struggling. He had no choice.</i>
 +
 +
'''O'Connell:''' I'm sorry...
 +
 +
<i>O'Connell started running toward where the other members of The Company were. He thought, My students are good. They can stay alive until I get back here with the others. Without looking back, he ran. No one followed him, probably his students were doing a good job stopping them. The few minutes he ran felt like eternity.
 +
 +
Just when he thought he couldn't run anymore, his students came into sight. "Master! Are you okay?" He told them to go help the two students in the hamlet. They look off in a hurry. A short time later they returned, looking grim.</i>
 +
 +
'''O'Connell:''' "Where are those two?
 +
 +
<i>O'Connell asked. "By the time we got there, they were already..." They couldn't continue. He felt as if the sky caved in on him. He lost two students, and it was his fault. Then it dawned on him that the Lawless District also wasn't the place for him and his students, and that there was nowhere else they could go in Empyrean. Where should they go now?
 +
 +
His mind swirled with many thoughts at once. Since there was no place for them in Empyrean, they had to find a new world... What about the world below the sea? Suddenly he remembered a book that he read a long time ago.
 +
 +
It said there was a continent below the deep sea at the bottom of the oceans, and it was bigger than Empyrean. During Bakal's reign, most history books were burned, but the name of the continent, Arad, had survived. It's sotry was unbelievable, but there was proof of its existence. Other Empyreans might have thought it was just a myth, but O'Connell knew better. He saw some confidential documents about it when he was in Ghent. He made up his mind.
 +
 +
As soon as he returned to his base, he called every member of The Company. He had to make a move before Enzo Sipo attacked again. He told his students about the Arad Continent, and they agreed to go with him. They trusted their master and now that Enzo had turned his back on them, there was no place else they could go in Empyrean.
 +
 +
But how could they reach the bottom of the oceans? The Company had no idea. Every one of its members was a great fighter, but none of them was knowledgeable in machinery or transportations. After a while, O'Connell's friend and a unit leader, Schmitt, suggested, "Doctor Gizel is making some kind of machine to stop the Imperial Army from attacking from under the sea. Maybe we should offer him our help to test it." O'Connell stared at Schmitt with a smile.</i>
 +
</small>
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{{HiddenTextEnd}}
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<small>
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<i>The members of The Company arrived at Gizel's lab without coming in contact with too many Kartel members. The Kartel guards at the entrace to the lab stopped them, but when they realized it was the Company, they let them pass. Given the number of guards at the entrance, O'Connell could tell Doctor Gizel was on a very important project. He approached Gizel. The Doctor noticed his presence and turned toward him. Even though he couldn't see them well, the machines that were being tested in the back of the lab looked impressive, even to the eyes of a mechanical layman like O'Connell.</i>
 +
 +
'''Gizel:''' O'Connell. I didn't know you were coming. What brings you?
 +
 +
<i>Gizel was curious. The Company, Enzo's vanguard group of soldiers, came all the way to the rear line to visit his lab.</i>
 +
 +
'''O'Connell:''' I came because I heard you were studying how to prevent the Imperial Army from attacking us from behind through the sea.
 +
 +
<i>O'Connell carried on nonchalantly.</i>
 +
 +
'''O'Connell:''' We'll be the first ones to take the hit if the Imperial Army strikes. We want to know what kind of protection we'll be provided with.
 +
 +
<i>Doctor Gizel nodded in agreement, but the suspicion on his face remained.</i>
 +
 +
'''Gizel:''' I understand. I just don't know why Enzo didn't tell me you were coming. Anyway, alright. This thing here is called an air-cushion vehicle, also known as a hovercraft. I've modified it so it could go under water. I'm thinking we can use them to attack the Imperial Army from underwater while it's on the sea.
 +
 +
<i>His explanation sounded simple, but O'Connell had no doubt that the machine itself was extremely complicated. There was a reason he was a member of the Seven Shards. Admiringly, O'Connell spoke to the Doctor.</i>
 +
 +
'''O'Connell:''' That sounds great. I say you let us test-drive the thing, so we know what to do with it when we fight.
 +
 +
<i>Doctor Gizel thought for a while, and then spoke.</i>
 +
 +
'''Gizel:''' Alright, but it's going to take a few days to finish it. In the meantime, I want you to help me.
 +
 +
<i>The Company didn't have time, but it had no choice. O'Connell nodded. After that, The Company started helping around Doctor Gizel's lab. The Doctor put it on simple tasks, organizing items in the lab, moving parts, or scouting the perimeter of the lab. After a while, O'Connell became suspicious of the Doctor's intention. He had a feeling that Gizel was stalling. He asked some students to gather information about the hovercraft and the rest to continue to do as the Doctor said.
 +
 +
The information his students brought to him proved his suspicion. "Master, Doctor Gizel is aware of our defection. He's trying to stall us until more reinforcements from the Kartel arrive. The hovercraft is already completed." O'Connell's face hardened as he listened to the student's report. They were running out of time. If they fought the Kartel's reinforcements, they could be outnumbered and wiped out before they had a chance to escape.</i>
 +
 +
'''O'Connell:''' What's their ETA?
 +
 +
<i>Two days from now, in the evening.</i>
 +
 +
'''O'Connell:''' Our window of opportunity is pretty small.
 +
 +
<i>"Tell us what to do." O'Connell answered firmly.</i>
 +
 +
'''O'Connell:''' Tomorrow, we'll get ready to evacuate. Schmitt, take some men and get the parachutes ready. Say that you're going to scout around the lab. Everyone else will continue to do as Gizel says. The day after tomorrow, we all will go out to scout the perimeter and steal the hovercraft, heading for Underworld.
 +
 +
<i>The next day, O'Connell's students prepared to escape without alerting Gizel, just as their master asked. Some went out to procure parachutes, using a perimeter patrol as an excuse. The rest continued to do chores for Gizel to keep him reassured. In his quarters. O'Connell pondered. Even though he acted strong in front of his students, he was worried.</i>
 +
 +
'''O'Connell:''' According to the documents I saw, that continent is not a myth. But can this hovercraft take us there? What if it fails?
 +
 +
<i>"Master, everything's ready." The student's voice brought him back to reality. Night had fallen already. "Okay, got it." The only thing left to do was fool Gizel. "I'll be back."
 +
 +
It was dark, but Gizel was still in his lab, researching. O'Connell's voice broke his concentration.</i>
 +
 +
'''O'Connell:''' Doctor Gizel, I'm going to take The Company out tomorrow to train and patrol the area.
 +
 +
'''Gizel:''' You already patrolled this area more times than necessary. And if you want to train, you can always train here.
 +
 +
<i>O'Connell was prepared for this situation.</i>
 +
 +
'''O'Connell:''' Sure, but we don't train out in the open. Our combat style is shared only among the teachers and students.
 +
 +
'''Gizel:''' I guess. I remember hearing your group is peculiar like that. Alright, do as you want.
 +
 +
<i>Gizel said uninterestingly, and then went right back to work. O'Connell stared at him for a moment and left quietly. Watching him leave from the corner of his eye, Gizel mumbled.</i>
 +
 +
'''Gizel:''' As if I'm stupid enough to believe such a sloppy lie.
 +
 +
<i>He then called a soldier.</i>
 +
 +
'''Gizel:''' Remove the air tanks in the hovercraft tomorrow morning. And have our troops wait on the sea around the hovercraft.
 +
 +
<i>The next day, The Company left the lab. When they were safely out of the guards' field of vision, O'Connell asked his students to stop moving.</i>
 +
 +
'''O'Connell:''' Now, let's turn around and head for the hovercraft. Hurry.
 +
 +
<i>The hovercraft was anchored at a temporary freight dock connected to a cliff by a metal bridge. Fortunately, no Kartel soldiers were around there.</i>
 +
 +
"Start the machine now!" O'Connell ordered his students and started preparing to take off.
 +
 +
'''Gizel:''' Where are you taking my machine?
 +
 +
<i>Gizel's voice sent chills down O'Connell's back.</i>
 +
 +
'''Gizel:''' You can't fool geniuses like me. Guys, get them out of my machine!
 +
 +
<i>Kartel soldiers came surging. "Is it running yet?" asked O'Connell in a desperate tone. "Master, it's going to take a while to charge this thing before we can turn it on." O'Connell asked other students to charged the machine.</i>
 +
 +
'''O'Connell:''' Alright, then we need to stall them for the time being. Stop them!
 +
 +
<i>He started firing his gun at the Kartel soldiers. Doctor Gizel urged his soldiers to attack, and when several of them went down, he came at The Company himself, riding a mech. "Leave my machine alone!" "Master, it's charged. Get on!" His students shouted at him as Gizel charged.
 +
 +
O'Connell hurriedly finished the Kartel soldiers he was fighting, and then got on on the hovercraft with his students. "Submerge now!" With his order, the hovercraft submerged into the sea. Doctor Gizel stopped his soldiers from going after them. "They don't have enough oxygen. They'll die soon enough. Just wait here." Gizel looked out to sea, picturing the members of The Company dying from lack of oxygen in the water.
 +
 +
While going deeper into the sea, O'Connell thought to himself. Now that they were underwater, they were safe from the Kartels. But his sense of relief didn't last long. His uncertainty about reaching the Underworld safely bubbled up again. Outside the hovercraft was filled with darkness as it continued to go down in the sea. Only the bubbles that rose sometimes showed that they were underwater. "Master, we're almost out of oxygen." O'Connell told the student to remain calm because they were almost at their destination.
 +
 +
But he wasn't sure if he was right. How much longer do we have to go? Is the story about the continent real? What if... we die before we get there? O'Connell was lost in thought when his students shouted excitingly, "Master! Master! I see a light coming from below!" Finally, his expression softened. "The gods didn't forsake us. Get the parachutes ready!"
 +
 +
While his students prepared the parachutes, the light in front of the hovercraft became brighter and brighter. SPLASH! The hovercraft shot out of the water with a slashing noise. They were falling from the sky. They made it! O'Connell was excited. "This must be the mythical Underworld," said his students excitedly as they unfolded their parachutes, getting ready to plunge into the new continent beneath them.</i>
 +
 +
'''O'Connell:''' Yes. This is our new beginning!
 +
</small>
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===A Heroine===
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===Seclusion===
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Latest revision as of 05:50, 25 June 2021

Storybooks are Use items that are acquired from dungeons that explain lore not shown in Epic Quests. Each Storybook contains 1 to 5 chapters. Upon using the item, the player receives a side quest, and at the end receives reward gold and experience at chapter completion. After completion, players can re-read the Storybook again on all account characters through the Storybook tab in the Use Item Inventory.

Storybook items can be found from every dungeon's boss, but there are some exceptions. They cannot be found in Mt. Kulun, Forgotten Land, Suju Arena, Special Quest Dungeons, Event Dungeons, and the Valley of Fallen Souls. However, in scenario and adventure mode dungeons, storybooks will not drop if the boss monster is a normal dungeon's named monster.

There are different grades of storybooks ranging from Rare and Unique to Legendary. Rare and Unique storybooks are Account Bound whereas Legendary storybooks are tradeable. Storybooks also have an 2 week expiration date after acquisition.

Note: Storybooks have a level requirement dictating their reward gold and experience. If the player uses a Storybook and is underleveled, it will stay in their Unfinished Quest tab.

Note: If you delete character which started a storybook quest but did not complete it, each chapter of the storybook that the character had in progress will be reset.

Storybooks

Blue Guardian

Cover Chapter(s)
Blue Guardian Cover.png
Blue Guardian

Wingless Angel

Cover Chapter(s)
Wingless Angel Cover 1.png
Wingless Angel: Chapter 1
Wingless Angel: Chapter 2

Way of the Priest

Cover Chapter(s)
Way of the Priest Cover.png
Way of the Priest

Great Adventurer Karakas

Cover Chapter(s)
Great Adventurer Karakas Cover.png
Great Adventurer Karakas: Chapter 1
Great Adventurer Karakas: Chapter 2
Great Adventurer Karakas: Chapter 3

Broad and Shallow Knowledge for Refined Aradians

Cover Chapter(s)
Broad and Shallow Knowledge for Refined Aradians Cover.png
Broad and Shallow Knowledge for Refined Aradians: Chapter 1
Broad and Shallow Knowledge for Refined Aradians: Chapter 2
Broad and Shallow Knowledge for Refined Aradians: Chapter 3
Broad and Shallow Knowledge for Refined Aradians: Chapter 4
Broad and Shallow Knowledge for Refined Aradians: Chapter 5

Alchemist's Friend

Cover Chapter(s)
Alchemist's Friend Cover.png
Alchemist's Friend

Low Ranking Knight Training Journal

Cover Chapter(s)
Low Ranking Knight Training Journal Cover.png
Low Ranking Knight Training Journal: Chapter 1
Low Ranking Knight Training Journal: Chapter 2
Low Ranking Knight Training Journal: Chapter 3

The Wind Blowing upon Empyrean

Cover Chapter(s)
The Wind Blowing upon Empyrean Cover.png
The Wind Blowing upon Empyrean: Chapter 1
The Wind Blowing upon Empyrean: Chapter 2
The Wind Blowing upon Empyrean: Chapter 3
The Wind Blowing upon Empyrean: Chapter 4

Hidden Bomb: The Cyphers

Cover Chapter(s)
Hidden Bomb- The Cyphers Cover.png
Hidden Bomb: The Cyphers

Children of Chain Peace

Cover Chapter(s)
Children of Chain Peace Cover.png
Children of Chain Peace: Chapter 1
Children of Chain Peace: Chapter 2
Children of Chain Peace: Chapter 3
Children of Chain Peace: Chapter 4
Children of Chain Peace: Chapter 5

Happy Magic Classroom

Cover Chapter(s)
Happy Magic Classroom Cover.png
Happy Magic Classroom

Last Heir of the Ulus

Cover Chapter(s)
Last Heir of the Ulus Cover.png
Last Heir of the Ulus

Old Friend

Cover Chapter(s)
Old Friend Cover.png
Old Friend
Old Friend (Season 3)

Talking about Kartel

Cover Chapter(s)
Talking about Kartel Cover.png
Talking about Kartel: Chapter 1
Talking about Kartel: Chapter 2
Talking about Kartel: Chapter 3

Young Imperial Knight

Cover Chapter(s)
Young Imperial Knight Cover.png
Young Imperial Knight: Chapter 1
Young Imperial Knight: Chapter 2
Young Imperial Knight: Chapter 3
Young Imperial Knight: Chapter 4

Forest of No Return

Cover Chapter(s)
Forest of No Return Cover.png
Forest of No Return

Black Crusade Report

Cover Chapter(s)
Black Crusade Report Cover.png
Black Crusade Report

Taybers's Light

Cover Chapter(s)
Taybers's Light Cover.png
Taybers's Light

Unexpressed Sadness

Cover Chapter(s)
Unexpressed Sadness Cover.png
Unexpressed Sadness
Unexpressed Sadness (Season 3)

New Genesis

Cover Chapter(s)
New Genesis Cover.png
New Genesis

Red Sin

Cover Chapter(s)
Red Sin Cover.png
Red Sin: Chapter 1
Red Sin: Chapter 2
Red Sin: Chapter 3

Mischievous Homunculus

Cover Chapter(s)
Mischievous Homunculus Cover.png
Mischievous Homunculus

Interlude: Noblesky

Cover Chapter(s)
Interlude Noblesky.png
Interlude: Noblesky 1
Interlude: Noblesky 2
Interlude: Noblesky 3

The Wind Blowing upon the Lawless District

Cover Chapter(s)
Locked Storybook.png
The Wind Blowing upon the Lawless District: Chapter 1
The Wind Blowing upon the Lawless District: Chapter 2
The Wind Blowing upon the Lawless District: Chapter 3

A Heroine

Cover Chapter(s)
A Heroine Cover.png
A Heroine

Seclusion

Cover Chapter(s)
Seclusion Cover.png
Seclusion: Chapter 1
Seclusion: Chapter 2
Seclusion: Chapter 3
Retrieved from "https://wiki.dfo.world/index.php?title=Storybook&oldid=162133"