Invasion

Dawn was filled with screams. The sky forged with the heat of battle as unspeakable creatures terrorized Biester. The lush green was set ablaze. Tempered steel and spirit blasts set the kingdom's stage. Crimson pools dirtied the earth, and corpses, both man, beast and monstrosities lay on the ground. Not every civilian was lucky to flee; some retreated to the castle, some safely fled, and some became casualties.

As the people ran about, flying, horned abominations terrorized the losing humans, clawing and kicking as the humans failed to defend themselves. Brute force did little, and magic left the monsters unfazed. There was no chance of riposte. It was only minutes until the castle itself becomes under siege.

"Fall back!" the retreat sounded with a horn.

"To the castle!"

"Hurry! The barrier....!"

The soldiers had their backs against the wall. Every artificer in the castle set up a barrier,and even the king himself helped in it's fortification, but with enemy numbers, it would crumble at any moment; and with only a handful of troops left, the kingdom was doomed to fall.

*bang* *bang* *bang*

Large, knocking sounds pressed the barrier. Every pulse shook the walls and the hearts inside with fear. The castle was surrounded.

Balbaroy, the current king of Biester, could not believe his eyes. He replaced his father after the war with Eingefroren, and crawled to restore the kingdom, raising it to its prime. He perished the thought of survival.

"Brave soldiers of Biester!!" Balbaroy roared. "I beseech your aid in our greatest time of need! I know I am asking much, however!" he paused, gasping for air due to exhaustion.

There was silence. All eyes were at him. Only the sound of dying hope at their doorstep echoed as the barrier slips away. Balbaroy removed himself from enforcing the barrier, leaving the work to the artificers. He took out his artifact: a large, old shovel with unknown glyphs engraved across its body.

"This is Cahelum's Fugue!" Balbaroy exclaimed.

Green spheres appeared before every able personnel, excluding the artificers. A cluster of spirit energy, it glowed warm as if embracing life itself.

"Do not touch that if you wish to flee... However!" Balbaroy paused, taking a deep breath.

"Those of you who wish to protect. Those who wish to die for this kingdom. Those with the will to fight...!" Balbaroy said, like a roaring lion to his pride.

His troops wet their eyes. They have accepted their fate. Each one agreed to lend their power to their sovereign. They touched the spheres. Their bodies were surged with the power of nature spirits. The room became verdant green, pulsating as if alive, living with every soft glow. Each sphere then beamed a link to Cahelum's Fugue. Each one that touched the spheres then lay on the floor, cold as if petrified.

"I would also like to ask another favor." Balbaroy looked pained as he looked at the artificers.

Green spheres floated over the heads of the deceased throughout the kingdom. They touched their foreheads and surrounded them with energy. Vines then sprouted from the ground, covering them as if squeezing the victims of war.

"I have never thought of the dead being burdened. However..."

Balbaroy closed his eyes. He plants the shovel artifact to the ground begins to concentrate. He knelt and reached out both his hands to the ground. The earth rumbled for a moment, and two large vines, almost tentacles, pierced his own two hands. He does not flinch, but his blood does for him as it spread like poison to the floor.

"I will carry this sin alone."

The artificers watched in horror as their king was punished. Weakened of both mind and heart, they let out a large burst of their power. The surge fortified the barrier to full in seconds. They only had bought a minute to rest.

"Get every civilian out of here." the king ordered.

"My last request as the king... Tell the other kings of what happened. Escape." Balbaroy huffed. His breathing almost muzzled.

The artificers chanted undecipherable phrases as they used their artifacts powered by their own spirits, and some succumbing to death by exhaustion. Bright glyphs and magical runes appeared under everyone that wishes to flee. Verily fatigued, the artificers warped the civilians, and eventually themselves. Fragments of residual spirit energy were the only remains of their jump. As they left, the kingdom's sovereign took his time to clear his mind, and prepared himself for his last moment as a king, as the defender, and as a proud lion.

A cracking sound started. Large gashes eventually formed. The cracking became boulders crumbling, and then a large explosion of energy. The entire kingdom was covered in smoke.

The crumbling castle's roof gave no vanguard for the dying ruler as it was immediately torn-off by the creatures. The only sight was Balbaroy, covered in vines, lying on the floor and his shovel artifact stabbed to his back

"*cough* if man can see the future..."

"I bet he'd act the same as he did now."

Balbaroy breathed his last. The ground shook as did his passing. Immense plant tendrils immediately escaped from his body, and from the ground, and from every human corpse. The tendrils took no second to settle, and bent facing the sky. It spun like an arm, and fired every spike to the sky, raining arrows that blocked the doomed city's sky.

Sensing the immediate danger, the demons tried to flee, like rats with a harrowing experience. Their efforts were wasted; the innumerable thorns outmatched their powerful wings, giving no egress.The spears rained down and struck every abomination within the kingdom's limits, turning them to skewered gargoyles, crumbling as they plummeted to the ground. All life were petrified with a single prick; the lifeless bodies, the even the tendrils and gnarled vines were not spared. There was no longer any trace of human activity. Balbaroy's efforts gave fruit.

A large dust cloud yet again covered the Biester kingdom. As the dust settled, only the untouched fauna was left. The kingdom of Nature's bounty was no more.

Nicolette

I think I've been here for seven hours now. Patricia's house was a bit run-down, but it was warm and had that sense of home that I've never had.

Nicolette was just bursting with more energy after our afternoon snack. We've been through every single part of the house, each with a bit of a playful story.

I've finally got my bit of rest and I've cleared my mind off whatever the king said. My only concern right now is how I'd be able distract Nicolette enough so that Patricia and Ben could make something special for her birthday tomorrow.

"Come here, Elicit!" She grabbed my right hand. "Come on!"

Nicolette kept pointing at the ladder to their roof.

"Be careful, now! I haven't fixed the roof yet!" Ben shouted from below.

We carefully tread the ladder. After reaching the wooden roof-lid, Nicolette blissfully showed her favorite spot on the roof. From there, one could see the entire slums, some of the common's row-houses and inns, and only the castle's front gate and towers were visible from the distance.

"Look!" Nicolette pointed up in the sky. "Patricia said my parents became stars when they left me."

I gave a sympathetic smile. Nicolette didn't seem to notice.

"What was the last memory you had of them?"

The violin that Nicolette almost never leaves, the one strapped behind her back somewhat called my attention. It seemed like it was trying to talk.

"I don't know. I was only two years-old. But I'm sure my instrument is from them." she said,

"....I'm sorry. I didn't know" I lied, hoping I'd get a bit more information.

She "It's like when I play, it feels like I'm hugging them, and they hug back."

"I never knew mine." I lied again. It was somewhat a habit for me to lie, having been trained to.

"Wow. I... didn't know that Elicit." she tried to console me. "But then, you're a good guy, right?"

I couldn't face the innocent child, so I looked away. I gazed above instead, hoping she'd take a glance at it too.

"If everyone who died becomes stars... Then..." Nicolette made a puzzled face.

For a second there, I remembered a few people that I've 'turned to stars'.

"Wouldn't the night sky eventually be bright like... in the morning...?"

I shook my head. "You're too young for that."

A running man from below took my attention. His attire says he's with the city guards, but doesn't look like the ones that I "turned to heavenly bodies", or so I thought.

The man gave a wave to Nicolette, still catching his breath. He tries to reach his pocket, and grabbing paper out of it.

"Howdy do, Lettie! A've you seen this man?" He shows Nicolette a wanted poster. The photo wasn't so clear, but I could see a young man with dull, red hair. He looked decent, but probably a wolf in sheep's clothing.

"it doesn't look like anyone I know."

"I think I saw him earlier this morning! Hours before I met Elicit! He bought one from me, too!"

"You there" he pointed at me.

"....?"

"What 'bout you, kiddo?"

I've got no idea why he called me a kid, but it was kinda refreshing to hear it.

"A've you seen this person?"

I shook my head

"Take care of Lettie then, y'hear?!" he immediately placed the poster, slightly creasing it with his haste to pocket it. We watched him as He runs off to the next few houses past Patricia's.

"He's one heck of a guard" Nicolette smiled. "Patt'e said he's been one for ten years now. And he was just the town mi....mili....mitia before." She said, trying hard to remember.

"That's impressive"

"yeah! He likes my music too!" Nicolette giggled. "Like that man on the poster!"

"you talked to the guy?"

"he wasn't a bad guy...I think."

"You said he bought one from you, right?"

"yeah! And he listened to me play too! Like you did!" she smiled again.

"could you play right now?"

"okay!" her eyes glistened with excitement.

"do you know what his name was?" I asked her nicely.

"I asked him." she frowned. "he didn't say what, but he told me that if I ever meet a Ne...on...awge?" Nicolette said with much effort.

"Neunauge."

"Right! How'd you know, Elcit?"

I could not tell her how much I did. How many of their own paid to kill, and how much I've avoided contact to any of them. They are a dangerous bunch, especially the ones with the flower crest. I quickly shook my head and smiled in response instead.

"Anyways...." She paused. "He told me to play a melody for them, too. He said they love music as much as I do."

Mecia

The 30-year war twisted not only the lands of Eingefroren and Biester, but also that of the other kingdom's lands. The war ravaged the land and sea in their conquest. One of these lands was Mecia, the city that borders the great desert and the Steel Kingdom, Feuersthal. As the artificers mitigated in use of the relics, Mecia slowly turned into "the city of endless tears", a place where the sun never rose, forever doused with rain. Even after five years, the scars of spirit abuse never faded.

The royal excavation team casually marched towards Mecia the morning after Calvin was given the order to return.. Aided by the Artifact Glyfaginning's murmur, the group was shielded from the city's conditions. The surrounding area was damp, but stable to walk on. The water from Mecia is drained onto the desert's boundary, producing a lush forest and a Marsh on the other. The team looked more like a group of traveling nomads; livestock and cargo as baggages. Their clothes did no better, being suited for the desert hell and even the harshest sandstorm.

"Set up camp here. Do not try to build a fire." Calvin stressed. "If you're cold, use spirits inside your tents."

"Sir!" the whole team followed.

The team worked like ants. Every baggage was accounted.Their small numbers, with their even smaller number of Livestock were grouped and pitched separate tents, and the members changed to their rainwear. Calvin walked to the camp's center; took his artifact out and browsed the ancient text, about half his size. He then raised his left arm and mumbled a passage from it.

The barrier slowly melted around the camp, eventually shrinking to protect only the artificer. Mist immediately invaded, and water started to gently ticker every surface. The artifice seemed out of breath after his spell.

"I'd like to check on something. Do not enter the city until I come back." Calvin ordered, upon reaching the gates.

"Sir, you don't look so good." a member raised his concern. The others agreed as well.

"Priscilla Alour, Monde Cormantio and Rawe Neunauge." Calvin called out.

Two young, scrawny members stood up, bearing the insignia of the Feuerstahl academia, went to answer the call. Monde and Rawe are new recruits personally selected by Calvin himself.

"Sir!" The two trainees anxiously greeted, backs straightened and glistening eyes.

One teenager smaller than the recruits stood up upon hearing her name. Clad in armor and a crest of the Alour family; an Edelweiss.

"Sir." Priscilla greeted casually.

"You three" Calvin paused. He took one last look at the camp. "With me."

The four proceeded to the city's gates. The city was mostly made of stone, and there was no lights. Not the commons, not the higher classes. Rain and thunder were the only sound.

Calvin personally led his team; he extended his barrier to them as they approached the inner walls. The rain poured more violently as they proceeded to the city's commons, although there was no wind whatsoever.

"Priscilla, you've noticed it, haven't you?" Calvin said, giving out a sigh. "You two." Calvin turned his head to a building on his right. "Look at this." he pointed at the windows.

A brilliant stroke of lightning illuminated the building, lasting a few seconds. Monde immediately took the chance to look inside from where he was standing, though the window was large enough to see a large portion of the living room, he could only view a portion of it because of the distance.

"Sir, I don't see anyth-" Monde was cut short.

*bleargh*

Monde's heart faltered and made him waste his breakfast. Knees weakened at the sight inside: corpses removed of their skins, left to rot. A large serving of what seemed to be innards, half eaten by some creature, and limbs torn, some hung in the most careless way, displayed. a shadowy figure was at the center, bathed in lush, crimson liquid.

Rawe was late to act to Calvin's instructions. After seeing the weakened Monde made him think twice, curiosity or no. He approached to get a glimpse, and stepped up closer than Monde did.

The only thing he saw was a creature. It turned its head; Rawe got its attention. It shuddered as it turned. It breathed heavily, only releasing a scream as it leapt and dashed, maw opened, saw-teeth ready to kill, and screeching as it approached the voyeur. Emerging death made Rawe fall down to his butt, paler than Monde in comparison.

"Wha-?!" Rawe squealed. "Run!!" He shouted, squirming to get away from the creature.

"You're cruel, Calvin..." Priscilla sighed. "...Sir." She delayed, remembering her place.

She approached the victims of Calvin's cruelty, rubbed Monde's back to ascertain if he was still able to go, and helped Rawe to his feet. Stricken with fear, the two breathed heavily.

The figure that horrified Rawe made its way out, shattering the window from where it was seen, broke the walls and gazed with indiscernible bloodlust. Tr creature remained unscathed an in a maddened frenzy. Upon noticing the threat, Priscilla gathered her spiritual power, and swiftly threw a bolt of white spiritual energy directly at the monster's head. The monster staggered, screeching in pain as it slowly melted its flesh. The monster's head melted before the party's eyes, eventually reaching its neck. Losing its energy to fight, it knelt down, and fell to its side. The monster slowly faded from reality. No melted flesh at the floor. No blood splattered. No Corpse to prove the kill.

"what....?" Monde was puzzled.

Calvin knelt on one knee. Fatigue has gotten to him. The two recruits immediately came to his aid and Priscilla surveyed the area instead. The two lifted him slowly with his shoulders but could not fully stand due to stress, and instead stood back arched, both hands to his knees, supporting him.

"What you're seeing is a manifestation of someone -or something's memory." Said Priscilla. "You see, -we- are REALLY welcome here."

There was no trace of the monster's exit. The window was fixed, and there was no broken wall.

"Ha...ahhahaha....ahahahahaha!" Calvin bursted in maniacal laughter, one hand to his forehead. He managed to divert the three's attention to him. He still looked pale, but rejuvenated.

"S...Sir Calvin?!" Rowe panicked. The two recruits ran to Priscilla.

The air changed. The barrier surrounding them immediately dissipated as Calvin cackled, soaking the other three. Instead of a barrier, a veil of steam enveloped him; incoming droplets vaporized as it came down near Calvin. Both his hands softly glowed in white light, and within seconds, energized and sparking. The Grimore did so as well, softly humming as if activating on its will.

Priscilla grasped the situation. She pulled out her weapon, a dagger connected to a very thin, long chain link, resembling a whip. The dagger dangled as she went into stance. The chains made no sound as it rattled.

"Rowe, Monde, stay back." She readied herself for a confrontation.

Calvin threw a large, condensed ball of energy from his hands directly aimed at his allies. The three were quick to respond, as they dodged to the sides, Priscilla to the left, and the others right. As the ball travelled, its trail left residual energy shaped like tiny balls of fire floating in mid-air, never doused by the rain. The ball itself hit several buildings inside the city, but unlike Priscilla's, Calvin's assault did not allow regeneration.

"Why is Sir Calvin attacking us?! Monde shouted

"Is he insane?!" Rowe followed.

The smoke from the rubble took time to settle. Priscilla quickly stood up to her feet, only to feel another surge of spiritual energy emerging from the impact. The dust was only about to settle when another ball was flung at Priscilla's direction, but this time, yellow. She dodged again, reuniting herself with the other two.

"I am NOT target practice!" Priscilla shouted in annoyance.

The bolt curved, and aimed itself at Calvin. Calvin deflected the bolt using his hands filled with spiraling spirit energy, to one side.

"I know that power." Calvin grinned viciously. "You think I wouldn't notice?"