ALLEGIANCES    

(Known Ákardans)

Sokara (Stormfang)- a shepherd from Delyra who wields the legendary blade, Ragnarok and plans to stop the Garugians from getting their hands on the Ataraxia Emblem. (The just Delyran prince, brother of Arcturakos and Koshka, captain of the Shepherds and Exalt after chapter 11.)

(Motto: Eternal shepherds of Solaris!)

Koshka- sister of Sokara and a brave Delyran. (The sprightly Delyran princess and younger sister of Arcturakos and Sokara.)

Demiri- a Delyran shepherd and Guardian Dueler. (The royal retainer for Arcturakos, Sokara, and Koshka and lieutenant of the Shepherds.)

Eleanore Kendora (Lunaria)- daughter of Sokara and princess of Delyra after Arcturakos was executed. Currently wields the Ragnarok after she inherited the blade upon Sokara's death in the time of the Spring Wintercress.

(Motto: Hope never dies out.)

Tenaki- a talking fox born in Knem forest and brought to Delyra by a hunter when he was just a cub. Full grown into a restaurant manager of the Ruby Fox in Crodantis, he joins the Shepherds in chapter 5 where he easily befriends Sobek and wields "Firefox", a Ruby Infused Glass Longsword forged and bought from the Equinox store in Delyra.

Senpai- Born in Aragary and raised in Delyra, a studious Shepherd Mage and Spellthief who wishes to research all that interests her. She is the first spy on the avatar.

Arcturakos- (Enlightened Truth) a pacifistic current ruler of Delyra; older sister of Sokara and Koshka until an executive threat from the king of Gudora caused her to free fall as a suicide farewell.

Gendembi- a Delyran shepherd and Mystic Knight. Friend of Sokara. Rides Taragon, a stallion that was used for the chariot races in Arena Kagia.

Euruki- Battlemage and priest of Kagia whose appearance often causes people to mistake her for a man.

Sobek- (Snapperhook)- Valkyrie knight and Thief of Durene. Joined the shepherds in chapter 4. He loves candy and always enjoys giving his friends a nickname.

Sokara- Grizzlypaws

Avatar- Feathers

Koshka- Noisy Mouse

Tenaki- Redtail

Demiri- Sketch

Senpai- Sly wolf

Eleanore- Hooter

Gendembi- Hoofy

Corasta- Penny

Nimbus- Speed Cloud

Zorkowa- Lady of Wind

Kelamus- Little one

Robion- Baskin Robbins

Corasta- A clumsy but dedicated Shepherd and Pegasus Knight. (Potential queen) Rides Zaphira, a wild pegasus tamed in Aragary before becoming long time companion to Corasta.

Nimbus- (Speed Cloud)- an extremely skilled Cavalier of Crodantis and shepherd of Delyra. (A well-meaning Shepherd Cavalier with a voracious appetite.)

Zorkowa- Windwalker and guard of Gate Riproris.

Kelamus- messenger for the shepherds. Unfortunately gets killed in the middle of chapter 15 where a hoard of Duranian bandits seized her life and kept the tiny parchment which included a small message to Sokara concerning Arcturako's death.

Tharles- a fisherman from Port Wenox.

Gylex- mercenary of Aprelux and wields the axe, Gauwill. Rides Astraios, a tamed griffin found in the skies near Crodantis. A thick-headed Shepherd and Sokara's self-proclaimed rival.

Ascald- Ruler of the west of Regna Kagia

Hardo- Ruler of the east of Regna Kagia

Kelli- stage dancer of Kagia.

Segui- An advisor and traveler from Wenox.

Robion- a Kagian fighter and best friends with Kelli. Wields the Striker blade "Hawkus"

(Motto: Strike swiftly, aim true.)

Maline- The Avatar's maid.

Jade- Maline's friend and battle mage of Delyra. The captain of the Delyran Pegasus Knights and Arcturakos's bodyguard.

Gallus Ferdinand- a Delyran castle guard.

Hugo Balle- friend of Robion.

Marc Leth- friend of Robion.

Lillian- Flowergirl from Cresta. Partners up with the Shepherds in chapter 17.

Rikkert- A young Delyran Shepherd Mage newbie who desires to be treated like an adult rather than a child.

Elmeri- merchant from Delyra and shopkeeper.

Elek- A prodigious Pegasus Knight with hidden feelings for a certain individual.

Vigur- a Delyran shepherd and skyguard. A thick-headed Skyguard and Sokara's self-proclaimed rival.

Dakota- a Delyran shepherd and skyguard.

Skyler- A prodigious Pegasus Knight with hidden feelings for a certain individual.

Laurel- second battle mage of Delyra

Donmax- Durenian bandit who joins the shepherds after the disappearance of Kelamus.

Gwilian- Durenian bandit who joins the shepherds after the disappearance of Kelamus.

Shepherd Children:

Eleanore - Leader and eldest of the Shepherd Children. Daughter of Sokara and lieneant heritage of the Delyran royalty.

Edelin- the daughter of Vivienne from the future, and can potentially be the mother or sister of Reuben. Edelin became timid and meek as a result of many years of testing. To counteract this, Vivienne developed a special talisman which created a much more brash and somewhat violent persona for Edelin whenever she wore it. Edelin joined Eleanore and the other children during their journey into the past to prevent the ruinous future.

Ridgar- is Skyler's son from the future. Ridgar can potentially be the brother of Reuben. Ridgar was once a happy, but somewhat shy child. He had pride in his parents and bonded well with Rhaegos,his pet Drakowing but his parents were often off fighting Sirens to protect their country. Ridgar eventually lost his father, and later his mother. After Skyler's death, Rhaegos flew back to Ridgar and stayed with him for the rest of his life. He also received Skyler's wedding ring and has worn it ever since. Eventually, Ridgar receives word from Eleanore that she and the other children will return to the past to prevent the ruinous future. Rigar, however, felt that no matter how hard they try, destiny cannot be changed.

Inari- is Maline's son from the future, and can potentially be the brother of Eleanore or Reuben, should Maline be wed to either Sokara or the Avatar (Marco) respectively. His birthday falls on February 22. According to his in-game profile, Inari is said to be, in spite of looking intimidating, more likely to burst into tears than bust out a weapon, alongside being the most likely to incur friendly fire.

Larendalle (Urchis)- She is the future daughter of Elek and the potential sister/mother of Reuben. If Elek married the Avatar, otherwise she is an only child. In her childhood, she grew up in the shadow of her mother's legacy. Despite her best efforts to show any sign of prodigious skill, her attempts were considered inferior to Elek's natural abilities.

Alys- the daughter of Dakota. If Dakota marries Sokara then Alys will be Eleanore's sister, if Dakota marries the Avatar, then Alys will be Reuben's sister. Otherwise she will be an only child. She is trained by Dakota to become Delyra's best knight.

Galen- is the son of Koshka and the cousin of Eleanore from the future. Galen's supports and conversations with Edelin during the Hot-Spring Scramble reveal that he is a bit of a writer, and always tries to write other characters into his stories the way he sees fit to do it. He is quite proud of his heroic lineage and bears the Mark of Solaris on his arm, proving that he and Koshka are of Delyran Royalty bloodline. Galen has an "uncontrollable sword hand" which apparently seeks battle.

Eryeth- He is the son of Kelli, and a character from the future. In Legends Awakening, he can be the brother of Eleanore or Reuben, depending on if Kelli marries Sokara or the Male Avatar (Marco). In addition, he can also be the father of Reuben if a female Avatar marries him.

In the future, Eryeth was shy, much like his mother, Kelli. However, Kelli wished to help him overcome his shyness by having him talk to girls. Unfortunately, this made him a womanizer in the long run. Kelli also trained Eryeth to dance and fueled his desire to become a dancer himself. Eryeth soon joined Eleanore and the other children to return to the past to prevent the ruinous future.

Cillia- the daughter of Corasta from the future. If Sokara marries Corasta then Cillia will be the sister of Eleanore, if Corasta marries the Avatar, then she will be Reuben's sister. Otherwise she will be an only child. Cillia is Corasta's daughter from the future. In the past she used to be a "girly-girl" according to her conversation with Larendalle in the Harvest Scramble. Cillia grew up with the stories of the "Generation of Heroes" or the stories of her parents and their friends, even if they were not all entirely accurate.

Yiraloth- He is Elkos's son from the future, and a member of the Roskinsian race. Yiraloth can potentially be the brother or father of Reuben. As the son of Elkos, Yiraloth was born in the future as the first human-roskinsian hybrid. This made him a clear sign that the Roskinsian would survive. Unfortunately, he lost both parents at a young age. Though Yiraloth has immense pride of his Roskinsian heritage, he also feels like he's burdened by his "Last Roskinsian" status. Upon arriving in the past, separated from his friends, Yiraloth searched for strong allies to protect him and eventually stumbles upon the Stonewall Knights, whom he stays with until the revelation with Eleanore at Carrion Isle.

Egelard- He is Laurel's son from the future, and can potentially be the brother or father of Reuben. His Summer Scramble pre-battle quote also reveals that his mage hat belonged to Laurel as well. Egelard returned to the past with the other children to prevent the ruinous future. However, due to anomalies in the time travel process, Egelard was transported 3 years before Eleanore's arrival and thus made him older than Eleanore despite being born after her.

Oriel- Future Daughter of Tealgra, Oriel was born as a half-breed Roskinsian and is proud of her Roskinsian heritage. Oriel is a unique Roskinsian, unlike Tealgra and Elni (and potentially Reuben) With her parents killed in an Siren attack and despite all this, not one of her foster family was ever grateful nor did they ever acknowledge her. Oriel lived feeling alone and unwanted, only wishing for her parents to return home. Eventually she joined Eleanore and the rest of the children to return to the past to prevent the ruinous future.

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Sungjack- a baby Fursona who stands up to see the last of his kind who happens to be Tenaki, the last fox on Akardos.

Elni- a Roiskinsian of the Royal Nagas. Currently sleeps in the Divine Mast located near Athecea and protector of all 5 gemstones for the Ataraxia Emblem (Shield of Solaris)

Divine Dragon of Flames, Solaris- leader of the Royal Nagas and the rest of the Roskinsians who first discovered the continent of Akardos. Her divine dragon form was revealed during the Solar ritual on Mt. Destiny with Sokara. Otherwise she stays in her human goddess form for most of the times.

 

(Known Fonáxi)

Krotos- King of Gudora. Born in Graxalon, raised in Gudora, he proudly wills to awake Garuga in order to seize all 5 gemstones of the Ataraxia Emblem shield along with the extinction of Solaris. Wields the blade of Garuga known as "Oblivion"

Aegis- Queen of Gudora and wife of Krotos.

Stormcrest- a Mercenary of Cresta and servant of Krotos.

Avatar- An amnesiac male/female tactician left in the fields of Delyra in order to travel with Sokara's group, finding a perfect oppurtunity to slay the exalt and gain the shield under Krotos's order. Wields the Keris dagger, Silverlight and the Battletome of Redemption, Stormrage.

Goose- a lousy bumpkin from the countryside of Terabia. Joins the shepherds of Solaris in chapter 23.

Gawin- friend of Goose.

Silvermoon- a female battle mage of Aarekiryn and servant of Krotos.

Vojar- Warlord Brute from Shep Glaria. Wields the axe, Grey Foxe.

Blavoi and Zlavoi- twin rulers of Cresta

Segarus- dark mage of Estria. Wields dark type tomes only and is a second spy on the avatar. He is known as a crow freak and sends out his personal messenger, Argos/Rikarus the alpha raven to spy on the avatar.

Vivienne- dark mage of Cresta. Wields dark type tomes only and is a third spy on the avatar.

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Sargon- Emporer of Fonaxe.

Zo'an- Sargon's tactician.

Mig'ron- One of Sargon's generals.

Jesse- One of Sargon's generals.

Aborek- General of Fonaxe who pursues Sevalia to Fonaxe Harbor.

Agratheil- General of one of Sargon's fleets.

Karadok- A bigoted Fonaxi general who invades Kagia.

Yirien- The former dynast of Athecea and the older brother of Sevalia.

Sevalia- Former princess of Athecea and the younger sister of Yirien.

Dragon of Eternal Shadows, Garuga- an Titan Hydra dragon believed to run on a computerized chip that could only be decoded with a special numerical code in Rune that was thought to be written somewhere but long known by Stormfang and Lunaria after Krotos's defeat in the Shadow Wastes. The code is written on the hilt of Ragnarok where Solaris grants the shepherds to be fighting on Garuga's spine where the chip is located. The chip in the end was later stored in the Shield of Solaris (The Ataraxia Emblem) after the start of the time period known as the Emblem of Eternal Ends. 

2: Preamble: Fated Clash

Preamble: Shadow Wastes near the city of Durene

In a vision that feels neither real nor dreamed, dracoknight tactician Marco and captian of the Delyran shepherds Sokara defeat the king of Gudora Krotos. But in the vision's last moments, events take an unexpected turn.

Victory closed in on both of the swordsman unknown to the sands of the Shadow Wastes as the cackling laugh from the cloaked figure revealed the Gudorian king while he gripped an rank A dark type tome, Garuga's Truth.

Sokara panted with a gasp after numerous swings of Ragnarok against the dark blade Oblivion, tactician Marco at his service, "Up there!"

"Right." Marco nodded as he picked up a fire-type tome Etheregra and blazed it towards Krotos. The deflected attack thanks to the Ring of Oblivion worn on the index finger of king of Gudora got him to heartlessly laugh at them both.

"You fool!" The Gudorian king stunned Sokara with Vortex and prepares a killing blow. "Die!"

Marco intercepts the attack with Wind Fury, causing a large amount of smoke to thicken the heated moment of truth. After the smoke cleared, Krotos grunts, impressed to study Sokara's companion as a large helping hand for the Shepherds.

"This is it! Our final battle! You're one of us, Marco, and no 'destiny' is able to change that. Now let's kill this dastard and be done with it!" Sokara raised Ragnarok high above his head and charged for the Gudorian mage.

Marco stood as if hypnotized by an invisible force, blinking in thought towards the style of his swordplay on Krotos.

"Marco, we have to get closer. Let's move!" Sokara called again as he strongly deflected Krotos's attacks.

Still, Marco refused to join as a wicked smile started to purse his lips while his iris turned jet black like his short cropped hair.

"Gya ha ha! Why do you resist? Fools! Struggle all you want! You cannot unwrite what is already written!" Krotos laughed heartlessly as he prepared to strike Sokara to his death, haden't Marco intervened with another spell tome attack and a weaker version of his special move of Wayward Dawn on his blade Creventis.

"What's important isn't whether you can see the future or not. It's the will to make a choice and the strength to seize destiny! Our time has come. OUR DESTINY IS OUR OWN!" Marco felt his body blaze with anger as he finished off Krotos with the lightning tome, Tempest.

The king took in his final breath before looking up at his enemies with cruel hate, "This isn't over... Damn you BOTH!"

As if the flower from the Delyran fields shed the petal of victory drifting towards the castle, Krotos collapses, seemingly defeated as Oblivion and Garuga's Truth fall to the floor.

Sokara and Marco held their breath, not sure if this was completely the end of thier battle. A greater being was going to arise from the Efux mountain in less than a week and it wasn't going to be a happy sight for the Shepherds.

Almost in an instant, Krotos grabbed Oblivion and fired Restoresio at Sokara, but Marco shoves him out of the way. Upon rolling on the floor after the blazing impact, Sokara grunts in pain as he stands up bravely and runs over to the wounded Marco who bravely took the hit.

Kneeling down, Sokara hastily pats Marco's cheek to see if he was alive, "Are you all right?"

The wind blew heartlessly west as it ruffled Sokara's brown strands sticking up as if to reply to his heavy concern to the dracoknight.

"That's the end of him. Thanks to you we carried the day. We can rest easy now. At long last..." Sokara deliberately elaborated towards the spot where Krotos fell, now vanished into thin air as his mind failed to notice Marco struggling to stand on his feet with red bloodshot eyes glaring at his brown cape in enmity.

One more footstep and Sokara turned around in concern, "...What's wrong? Hey, hang on —"

Creventis fizzed with bolts of Static Storm struck Sokara in the waist as the captain of the Delyran Shepherds gasped in difficulty while kneeling down as if defeated, "This is not your — your fault... Promise me you'll escape from this place... Please, go..."

With one final thud to the ground, Marco played with Creventis between his fingers while his other hand held the Garuga's Truth tome tight around the cover.

A rough evil laugh echoed around the Shadow Wastes as sand billowed over Sokara's body.

3: Come, Join Us

Marco is found lying in the fields of Delyra with no memory. After he helps Sokara fend off a band of brigands, he is welcomed into the Shepherds as a dracoknight/tactician.

---

The sun's rays showered the bright green grasslands of the Delyran plains as a long stretch of rocky paths snaked through the east of Castle Delyra.

About a thousand years ago since the continent of Akardos was discovered by a group called the Royal Nagas, it's destined leader, the divine dragon of flames, Solaris set her foot of eternity and marked the time of the first war against the titan hyrda dragon Garuga. The field was littered with destruction, gore and suits. Red, gray and pink were the new colors of what was once a marvelous, lush field, which became the stage of a cruel war.

The air which would normally be full of nature's sounds was a barrage of explosions, war cries and the screams of the wounded, enough to make even the bravest tremble in fear.

The Delyran army and the rebellion Gudorans fought each other because of a betrayal, but it became clear which side won. The wounded of the losing side are scattered across the field and the faces of the fighters was grim with horror and fatigue, fighting was useless, but they will fought to their very death.

With the rush of victory coursing through their bodies, the winning side pushed on and on. Some have succumbed to panic and were barely able to force their bodies in motion, while others seemed to be fairly unaffected by the terrors around them.

The toll on both nature and humanity is tremendous. It'll likely take a lifetime before this field will have recovered. It's clear metal, broken siege engines and explosion holes have taken the place of plants, grass and flowers.

Boots shuffled across Falcon Claw Road as Sokara and Koshka took their time to go for a peaceful walk beyond the Delyran plains. There were no wars, no battles, nothing to impress thier exalt even with a piece of bread. Since the reconstruction of Delyra after the downfall of Garuga, everything in ropes seemed to tight back to the way it was, including the opposite territory of Akardos, Gudora.

"The next time we plan for a heroic scene, let me be leader. I know I could follow you in being a hero." Koshka floundered her dress with her excited hands, attempting to pluck off the most precious flowers that deemed to grow in the same spot where a fallen Delyran soldier mouthed his last words.

Sokara hummed with a smile, the joyful sight of green and blue seemed to make their hearts beat in sibling joy. "Like you're doing it right now. I'd rather let you stay in the castle with Maline and Kellum. Infact, I want Delyra to have a third messenger. You'd fit to be the string that sews the cloth in one tie of victory."

Koshka laughed with uncontrollable joy as Sokara poked her in the side, grass and petals marked her dress while rolling around near a hill. Her mind failed to notice the slope as she yelped in alarm towards gravity pulling her down towards a deep bump.

She held her breath as she stood up and gasped staring at the swaying grasslands, where a shape was lying motionless in front of her.

Sokara started to get worried as he walked over to the foot of the hill, eyebrow raised in confusion, "Something wrong, sis?"

Koshka replied as if there was an emergency, "Sokara, we have to do something..."

Nearing towards the body, Sokara and Koshka curiously stared upon the newcomer as if he fell from another planet. He had short cropped hair as black as the wyverns of Gudora neatly coiffured to reveal a craggy, charming face. Shining brown eyes, set tightly within their sockets, watch eagerly over the children they've defended for so long.

Fair skin delightfully compliments his hair and cheekbones and leaves an intriguing memory of his fortunate upbringing.

His fairly long sleeved, silky black tactician robe covers him to well below his knees and is loosely tied with string at the top left side that covered his dracoknight armor from shoulders to toe.

A bright green Triquetra bore the middle of his chestplate while two pan handle-like shapes guarded the symbol of Solaris.

Sokara noted he was a Delyran of some sort, probably an outgoing foreigner who joined the battle to end Garuga's destructive causes.

"What do you propose we do?" he asked in concern, his sister shrugging half-heartedly.

Pouting in confusion, Koshka bit her lip, "I... I dunno... probably we call the infimary."

As if a dragonfly zipped across the newcomer's chest, his nose twitched in disturbance as his slited eyes slowly opened to reveal two figures infront of him.

"I see you're awake now." Sokara smiled as Koshka giggled softly, "Hey there."

Still the newcomer blinked utterlessly towards the whole scene infront of him.

"There're better places to take a nap than on the ground, you know." Sokara never gave up in his smile and held out a hand, "Give me your hand."

The figure stared at both of them as he calmly obliged the friendly order and stood up successfully, no traces of grass or petal staining his lime green cape.

Sokara noticed a strange mark on the back of his hand but bothered not to speak about it as the short man exhaled in nervousness and bared his ground for whatever kind questions were going to hit his ears.

"Are you all right? You seem heavily flustered with sleep." Sokara placed his hands on his hips as he studied the newcomer for his decision over the Shepherds.

The man took a moment to reply in a hesitant way, "Y-Yes... Thank you, Sokara."

As if a rock just hit his mind, Sokara stepped back in awe, "You finally know who I am?"

The figure re-assembled his jumbled words as his mind wanted him to say it, "No, actually. I... It's strange... Your name, it just...came to me in a flash..."

Koshka bothered not to intervene as she patiently heard her brother questioning him like a thief who came to raid the market stalls in Delyrus, the capital of Delyra.

Sokara inched a little forward "...Hmm, how curious. Tell me, what's your name? What brings you here to the continent of Akardos?"

"My name is... It's... Hmm?" Play it out, Marc. This guy is just messing with my mind.

The capitain seemed unamused with surprise, "...You don't remember your own name?"

"I'm not sure if... I'm sorry, but where am I, exactly?" the man blinked in surprise as he glanced at his surroundings. Grasslands, Birds, clear sky. This had to be something new for him.

His scan broke off when Koshka snapped her fingers for his attention, "Hey, I've heard of this! It's called amnesia!"

"It's called a load of pegasus dung." another voice stepped in as a Delyran Guardian Dueler came bounding across to them on a white stallion, hooves whipping up a tiny dust cloud as the lieutenant of the Shepherds climbed off and joyfully shook the newcomer's hand, "We're to believe you remember Stormfang's name, but not your own? Name's Demiri by the way."

Heart beating at the sight of new people, the man was not ready to listen to multiple introductions as he spluttred in confusion, "B-But it's the truth!"

Sokara stepped in and interjected straight forward, "What if it IS true, Demiri? We can't just leave him here, alone and confused. What sort of Shepherds would we be then?"

Demiri blew out a sigh as the stallion snorted in agreement, "Just the same, Stormfang. I must emphasize with caution. Don't let a wolf into our flock."

Sokara patted Koshka on the shoulder to get her moving along, "Right then—we'll take him back to town and sort this out there."

The dracoknight hastily called back, "Wait just one moment. Do I have a stay in this?"

Sokara walked up to him, a heartwarming smile calmed down the tactician's nervousness, "Peace, my friend—I promise we'll hear all on what you have to say back in town. Now come."

---

The 4 Shepherds bounded across Falcon Claw Road under the setting sun as castle Delyra was clearly visible straight ahead.

The dracoknight felt his instincts rise as he nosed his new friends into more hesitating questions, "What will you do with me? Am I to be your prisoner? Wearing invisible cuffs to make me look like an idiot?"

Sokara almost chuckled as he shook his head, "Hah! No, you'll be free to go once we establish that you're no enemy of Delyra."

The dracoknight blinked in perplexing thought, "Is that where we are? Delyra?"

Demiri almost took this seriously, "You've never heard of the halidom? Ha! Someone pay this outstanding actor. He plays quite the fool! The furrowed brow is especially convincing..."

They halted at the gates that led to the capital, two guards greeting them in sincerity as Sokara waved it off and started to give out a tour, "Demiri, please. This land is known as the Halidom of Delyra. Our ruler, Arcturakos, is called the Enlightened Truth or exalt. I suppose proper introductions are to be in order... My name is Sokara or Stormfang—but then, you already knew that. The delicate one here is my little sister, Koshka."

Ruffles to her brown hair caused Koshka to remark back in annoyance, "I am not delicate! ...Hmph! Ignore my brother, please. He can be a bit thick headed sometimes. But you're lucky the Shepherds found you. Brigands would've been a rude awakening!"

"Shepherds? You tend sheep? ...In full armor?" That got the tactician to gain his interest in this place.

Sokara chuckled as he gestured towards his lieutenant, "Heh, it's a dangerous job. Just ask Demiri the Guardian Dueler here."

Demiri raised his axe with glory, "A title I shall wear with pride." Lowering it, he added, "Gods forbid one of us keeps an appropriate level of caution. I have every wish to trust you, stranger, but my station mandates otherwise."

The dracoknight nodded in agreement as he unknowingly introduced himself, "I understand, sir. I would do no less myself. My name is Marco Rubio. ...I just remembered that. How odd. I suppose that's one mystery solved."

"Marco? Is that foreign? ...Ah, well. We can discuss it later. We're almost on our way to town. Once we—" Sokara cut his words off once Koshka caught his attention, his sister pointing towards the stalls ablazed near the main town hall near the castle.

"Sokara, look!" she called out as if it was an emergency.

A real red handed emergency at that one.

"Damn it! The Southtown is ablaze! Those blasted brigands, no doubt... Demiri, Koshka! Quickly!" Sokara hastily snapped as he prepared to follow the distant trouble of signals rising into the sky.

"What about him, milord?" Demiri kindly pointed towards Marco who seemed to feel fit for battle but was still underway into getting used to these new people.

"Unless he's on Arcane as well, it can wait!" Sokara signaled as he ran towards the smoky sky hovering over Delyrus.

Demiri glanced at Marco for a brief moment before dashing after him in concern, "Aptly put, milord."

Koshka rolled her eyes as she pushed Demiri forward like a shopping cart, "Let's go already!"

Only Marco stood behind, studying their movements as they ran for their life for the castle, "But what about— Hmm..."

After a brief moment of indecision, the dracoknight ran after them.

---

As much as the Delyrans despised spy bandits setting foot into their territory, the guards were trained to defend the city from outrageous threats that blazed the halidom, a Gudorian bandit was already in duty to corner a helpless woman behind her stall.

"Gwa ha ha! Get to it, lads! Grab anything shiny, and put the rest to the torch! We gots an example to set for these Delyran types! Ain't that right, lass?" Halton cackled as he swayed his torch in advanced warning.

"S-Stay away from me! Please! Someone! HEEEEEELP!" The maiden's cries brought Sokara, Koshka, and Demiri appear on the bottom-left corner on cue.

Koshka caught sight of people running away from the incident, neighs and hooves echoing the blazing city alive. She took a stand to alert her brother one more time, "Sokara, we have to end their ruthless acts now!"

"Don't worry—after today, these bandits won't be bothering anyone ever again and red snaking to blue will eventually fade away..." Sokara pulled out his legendary sword forged from the fangs of Solaris. This was Ragnarok, the Light blade of Eternal Hope. One swing of the blade could immersily cut through anything including tough steel and air units in the sky such as dragons, wyverns, and other sky creatures traveling across Akardos. Even though no traces of an aura glowed from within the bear heads that took the hilts of the blade, it could feel annoyed while glowing red if it was wielded in the wrong hands.

Koshka once used it to cut strands of ropes for tent supplies but gasped in sudden surprise as red reflected her gaping vision. Sokara had no utter idea how this blade had the ability to sense the chosen wielder even if Solaris was controlling it in free will.

Roughly scraping the tip against the sandy ground in one swing, Sokara smirked as he barked for Halton's attention. Flames and laughs cackled through the air as Halton pointed his fire torch towards the captain of the Delyran Shepherds.

"Wait!" Flames continued to lick the wooden stalls as both of them lowered down their weapons in suspicion as Marco came breathlessly bounding towards them while maintaining his breathing.

"Marco! You followed us! Why?" Sokara raised an eyebrow as Halton snickered eerily.

"I...I'm not certain myself. But I'm armed, and I know my way around a fight, if you'll have me." Marco calmed down as he blinked in forgiveness towards the prince of Delyra.

Even Halton was stunned towards this newbie who wanted to interject the fight as a perfect distraction.

Sokara nodded with a smile, "Of course—strength in numbers. Just stay close!"

Demiri joined by their side as he raised his axe high, "Remember, Marco, we face practiced thieves and murderers. They will grant us 0 Nerado. It's kill or be killed."

Sokara blinked while gazing contently at the dracoknight, "So, Marco, I see you wield a sword. Is it— Wait, is that a tome? ...You know magic by any chance?"

Marco eagerly shuffled his metallic boots across the sandy ground while pulling out his personal lightning tome, Tempest, "I...believe so? I suppose I should check."

Sokara shook his head in unamusement, "You "believe so"? Perhaps I'll just keep a few paces behind you for the time being..."

Marco jolted his mind awake as he if he just got shocked by a stray lightning tome, "No, I can control it. I'm sure. Now, how did this work again? Ah, yes..."

The dracoknight raised up his personal sword which was rather odd to many people in Delyra because mages were supposed to wield Keris daggers since the blade suited them best for wielding magic spelltomes.

Marco was a fuse between a dracoknight and tactician mage so there was a ultimate chance that he possibly could wield both blades once he had the hands on a keris dagger.

Koshka crossed her arms as she pouted, "We'll see who's delicate! I may not be able to attack like Sokara, but when you get injured? I'LL be the one stitching your bones back together, thanks to my trusty staff! You just tell me where to go, Marco."

Meanwhile, Halton was on the verge of covering the whole perimeter in flaming red, "Here, sheepy sheepy! Come to the slaughter!"

The Shepherds made thier move not to attack thier victim because it was rather foolish for Sokara to halt in his tracks and turn around to ask them in concern, "Is anyone hurt? It would be foolish to leave a wound untreated."

"Oh come on!" Koshka sighed with a slap to her thigh as he twirled around in annoyance, "Is this the time to be asking the most important point that happens in every battle we encounter?"

Marco nodded in agreement as his blade started to glow green, "Indeed. Timely use of a staff or a vulnerary should prevent the worst."

Both swordsman charged towards the Gudorian bandit who seemed defenseless after his torch sliced in two. However, Marco felt a little odd to help Sokara out with daily trouble in Delyrus even after the re-built city confirmed there would be no attacks for the council of the house was wrong to prove that point.

"Still with us, Marco?" Sokara snapped his attention as the dracoknight started to calm down his feelings, "Hmm... It's strange. Here on the battlefield, I can... Well, I can "see" things."

Sokara immedatly sliced off sticks repetitvely coming his way from a dumb minded bandit who through that cackling manically would solve Gudora's victory.

"See things? Like what?" the captain inquired while locking his blade against the thick log held by a sneering Halton.

"The enemy's strength, their weaponry, the flow of battle... I must have studied this somewhere." Marco elaborated his knowledge of battle like a smart scholared war monk who seemed to care for his mind flowing with words of the higher.

Boots scraped against the ground as Sokara tried his best to keep overpower his strength over Halton, "So, you're saying you can size up the enemy at a glance?"

Marco furrowed a brow as if proven correct, "Yes, it would seem so. And perhaps more, if I apply myself..."

The dracoknight rushed in to help as blade plus wind tome Dragon Ray broke the clashing point, throwing Halton and Sokara off balance to the ground while the slice of log slapped Marco's cheek hard, causing the green colored tome to fall from his hands and thump back covered on the floor.

Stunned after the clash, Sokara held his dazed eyes awake as he gasped and ran towards the wounded Marco with heavy concern, "Are you all right, Marco? Don't rush right into danger!"

Thankfully, Marco didn't damage himself too much as he stood up in difficulty, his hand being assisted by the capitian's. "I'm fine, Sokara. Don't worry."

Sokara stared ahead at Halton who seemed to admit defeat but bothered not to whine in agony about his pitiful attempt to complete his task, "You've lent us your strength, and that makes you a friend. Having an ally by my side gives me courage."

Smiling warmheartedly, Marco felt his courage rise up again and nodded, "Thank you, but...I think there's more to it than that."

Sokara blinked in concern while inquiring an eyebrow, "What do you mean?"

Marco exhaled while armor clinked under his tactician robe as he held his hand up to his chin in thought, "I believe there's a tactical advantage to fighting side by side... It's fuzzy... Wait, yes: working in pairs improves strength, defense, speed... Yes, yes, I'm sure of it!"

Halton finally blew in his tantrum and began to whine like a 5 year old peasant, "Bwaaargh! I can't believe I submitted myself into faliure! I was dumb as the dodos of the forests! Krotos will pay for revenge against Delyra! Bwaaarrgh!"

Marco chuckled inwardly as he quietly spoke out, "Well, that's the end of that."

Koshka held up her arms, obvious to see his statement reflect the smoky remnants that snaked into the sky, charred walls that guarded the capital now graffitied with a sea of coal. Scoffing, she rolled her eyes in annoyance as she caught their attention, "Lucky for the town, we were close by. But holy Solaris, Marco! You were incredible! Swords, sorcery, AND tactics! Is there anything you can't do?"

Sokara came over and ruffled his hair in congratulations, "You're certainly no helpless victim, that much is for sure."

"Indeed. Perhaps you might even be capable of an explanation for how you came here?" Demiri sheathed his axe as he patiently took in word for word from an honest dracoknight tactician.

Marco gave out a quick cough before elaborating his answer, "I understand your skepticism, Sir Demiri. And I cannot explain why only some knowledge has returned to me. But please, believe me. I have shared all that I know."

"You fought to save Delyran lives. My heart says that's enough." Sokara smiled as he placed a hand on the tactician's shoulder.

Demiri followed Sokara's movements as the captain walked over to the exit gates of Delyrus, "And your mind, Stormfang? Will you now heed its council as well?"

Sokara halted in his tracks, feeling a warmhearted smile return to his ever handsome face, "Demiri, the Shepherds could use someone with Marco's talents. We have brigands and unruly neighbors, all looking to paint our soil red. Would you really have us lose such an worthy dracoknight/ tactician? Besides, I believe his story, odd as it might be extremely straightforward with a strong tie to our group. It's only starting with one string at a time."

The sun started to streak it's way down beyond the Delyran grassland plains as Sokara faced Marco, the dracoknight ever curious to view his new friend as a wise teacher of some sort, "Th-thank you, Sokara."

The captain exhaled as he held a hand out, those warm chestnut eyes locked with almond brown, "So how about it? Will you join us, Marco?"

Marco's heart beat in agreement as he smiled with joy and shook his hand as an eternal treaty, "I would be honored to help out."

---

Shuffle. Shuffle. Shuffle.

The stony path of Falcon Claw Road led the shepherds into a short trek to Knem Forest, Demiri breaking the silence after 5 minutes since their departure, "Did you notice, Stormfang? The brigands spoke with a Gudorian accent."

Marco was intrigued to know the new locations as well, "Gudorian? What's that?"

Sokara grunted in thought while he stared at the ground rolling down like credits to a movie, "Gudora is Delyra's westerly neighbor. They send small bands into our territory, hoping to instigate a war."

Koshka, arms crossed towards the evening sundown, almost spat a leaf out of her mouth. Lots and lots of floating nature. And she wasn't liking the walk at all.

"And it's the poor townsfolk who suffer! Totally innocent, and totally helpless..." letting her arms droop down while exasperating a tired sigh, Koshka murmured with a whine as she placed her head against Sokara's side, her brother patting her back to assure there was nothing to be afraid of.

Demiri clicked his teeth as he waved the fire torch lit from Marco's Dragon Ray, the same one Halton left behind, "They do have us, milady. Shepherds to protect the sheep. Do not be swept up in your anger. It will only cloud your hard based judgment."

"I know, I know... Don't worry. I'll get used to all this." she murmured as he held her arms around Sokara's waist, keeping him from the evening danger.

Almost as if a miracle had arrived, a sweet maiden approached the traveling group as if she wanted to take in their hospitality, "Stormfang, please! You must stay the night! We are simple folk of simple means, but we would gladly toast your valor with a feast!"

The shepherds accepted their hearteous award most of the times but Sokara stepped forward, his kind chestnut eyes calming down the lady's level of excitement and revilement. "That would be incredible for you-

Instead, Demiri cut in and informed her rather in a hurry, "A most generous offer, ma'am, and no doubt your hospitality would be grand... But I'm afraid we must hurry back to Delyrus."

Koshka huffed and pointed west, "Did your mind forget the concept of directions, dear lieutenant?"

Demiri's cheeks felt red in embarrassment as he signaled the group to move on.

---

Koshka boredly poked the flames as orange reflected her pale face, her glummed out mood seemed to stay opposite of the other Shepherds' feelings. "Dark meat only for me, medium well, and no salt in the soup. I simply— Wait, what?!"

Standing up dismayed, she paled at the sound of a sleepover occurring around crickets and hooting owls, "We're not staying?! But, Demiri, it's nearly dark!"

The Guardian Dueler stretched in comfort before picking up a set of wood, "When night falls, we'll camp. Eat off the land, make our bed of twigs and like... I believe you mentioned you would be 'getting used to this'?"

Koshka nodded in disagreement, "Demiri? Sometimes I hate you."

He simply smiled in glee as he sat down next to Marco, who eagerly shined his sword with his lime green cape as a substitute of a handkerchief.

"You've quite the stern lieutenant there." the dracoknight quietly commented as he moved to the hilt, Koshka raising an eyebrow towards the panhandle shapes guarding the symbol of Solaris in the middle as it bared the same position on his chestplate.

"Yeah, well, "stern" is one name for it. I can think of a few others!" Koshka added while she eyed Sokara arriving back with more wood held in his arms.

Dropping them down with a thud, he came over to sit down next to Demiri with a refreshing sigh, picking up his stick to poke the flames, "Demiri only smiles when he's about to bring down the axe."

Marco shuddered at the imagery but kept a nervous smile on his face, "Duly noted."

A few minutes past by as the air started to grow cool around them, whistling whispers in their ears as Demiri started to grow annoyed, "Ahem, you do realize I AM still present?"

The others laughed in joy, Sokara was the first to speak in playful mockery, "Oh, we realize."

Even Marco held his laughs in his stomach as he quietly chuckled under his breath, "Heh heh."

Demiri moved his stick through the flames as if he was challenging an invisible creature, "Stormfang remains as amusing as ever. Now then, shall we be going?"

Right upon Demiri's notice of departure, the cool breeze howled through their fire, leaving an ungodly explanation of smoke rising into the air as the Shepherds felt awkward on how this really happened.

Sokara exhaled as he broke the silence, "All right, all right. Ready to go, Marco? The capital isn't far."

4: Cataclysm in the Woods

“A chaotic night in the woods brings tremors and terrors, but a swordsman named Lunaria comes to the rescue. Back in Delyrus, Marco meets Arcturakos.”

CG= Castle Grounds I guess...

---

“I told you—it’s getting dark already! ...Ech! And now the bugs are out!” Koshka ranted in frustration as she swatted a firefly away from her brown curls, “Noisy, disgusting bugs that buzz around and crawl all over and bite you when—Agh! Won goph in mah mouph! Blech! Ptooey!”

Since the devastating night’s stay at a clearing that marked the middle of Knem Forest, the shepherds decided under each other’s agreement that they at least get a good knight’s sleep before heading back to Delyrus by tomorrow.

Sokara smiled and bothered not to ruffle her hair as he carefully watched in silence, chestnut eyes locked on a tiny bug nibbling the tip of her hair, “Aw, come on now, Koshka. Hardship builds character. Want to help me gather firewood?”

Koshka loved to help her brother out most of the times but during the night she rather die on the battlefield than let her ears listen to eerie sounds floating in with the wind towards their makeshift tent.

The flimsy cloth material to the triangular piece of sheets and sticks flapped in smooth anger before calming down as Koshka shivered and spat out her answer, “Tpht! Tpht! Yeeeeeuck! ...I think I swallowed it... I’ll pass on finding firewood, thanks. I think I’ve built QUITE enough character for one day!”

Marco, blinking towards them in thought while listening into the crickets, decided to stand up with a stretch, “We should probably think about food. I don’t know about you, but I’m starving.”

As if to prove the dracoknight’s question correct, a soft rumble was heard from the tent as Demiri crawled out with a hand on his flat stomach, “Yes, I should think a little hunting and gathering is in order. Now, who wants to clear a campsite?”

“I sometimes wonder why I’m glued to your boots.” Koshka murmured as she joined the others in a little snap hunt.

---

“Mmm... It’s been too long since I last had bear meat. Delicious!” Sokara joyfully exclaimed as he glanced over in concern towards his sister who seemed to be in a tempered mood, “...What’s wrong, Koshka? Dig in.”

“Pass! I’ll take a Thymed Griffin instead.” Koshka kept her glare on her brother, arms still crossed from the torturous night she stressed through.

Walking with people whom she knew for life ever since she was a baby.

“Gods, couldn’t you blade us an animal normal people eat for once? I mean, come on! Who eats bear?! You’re meddling with the food chain. Right, Marco?” Koshka snapped her blabber mouth towards the dracoknight who seemed to be hypnotized with his food. “...Uh, Marco?”

The armored tactitican replied with munches and slurps as if he had never seen food for the very first time in his amnesiac life.

Koshka dismissed the blanting habit with a stressed sigh and poked the flames with a random stick, “I suppose a person would enjoy just about anything after not eating for days...”

Sokara placed a hand on his sister’s back while she kept her long face abroad the nightly atmosphere, “Just eat it, Koshka. Meat is meat.”

Still, she refused to jump into a jovial mood as she came up with another brilliant argument, “Since when does meat smell like old boots?! Wait, I take that back—boots smell better!”

Demiri used his axe to slice a smaller portion of the bear’s upper body as if it was in a veterinary session, “Every experience makes us stronger, milady. Even those we don’t enjoy.”

“Really? Then why don’t I see YOU eating, Demiri?” she countered with a smirk.

Knightfall disobeyed gravity as it almost flew out of the hands of the Guardian Dueler with a calm expression, “Me? Oh, well... I’m not hungry. I...I had a large lunch! Yes, quite.”

Watching Demiri place his axe besides the timber log, Koshka strained her undefinable happy mood, “Yeah right, Demiri!”

---

Black covered Akardos like an eclipse. Thankfully the stars were out as the Shepherds felt too tired to go stargazing and save thier precious energy for thier long trek back to Delyrus.

Koshka shivered under the cool protection of the tent, flapping ominously to catch the attention of outside predators. Whenever it came to predators that almost wanted to kill them, ranging from Gudorian bandits to outside creatures, she always placed hope and courage in her brother to fight for her, even though she learned a few battle skills from him in a flash.

With her mind awake to the outside activity tingling her spine with a shiver, Koshka felt a bump on her back as Sokara shifted to his senses, his ears focused on the strange rustling noise that struck south of the forest. “...Huh?”

Koshka, stirring sleep from her eyes, followed her crawling brother out of the tent. Yawning with a small stretch, she asked in kind concern, “What’s wrong, Big Brother?”

Placing a hand on her shoulder, Sokara scanned the dimmed forest, nothing revealed except for hooting owls, chorus of crickets, and a strange rustling sound nearby.

Another bear? They just filled themselves with a whole female they caught a few hours ago, it might have been possible to think there might have been the male in search of his dead spouse.

Only if Marco was awake by now, it would have been a great help for them if sightseeing was used.

But it came down to the two as they investigated the strange evening commotion.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to wake you, but... Something is amiss...” Sokara held his gaze as he hummed in concentration. Koshka felt eager on her brother’s tricks of wildlife nature, even though they traveled back and forth in the Halidom a lot.

“Define ‘something’.” Koshka piped up with a serious gaze, her eyebrows knotted in sheer interest.

Sokara glanced around as he blinked in suspicion, “I’m not sure... I think I’ll have a look around.”

And that’s when Koshka’s instincts hit in. Always follow her brother around, “Not alone, you won’t! I’m coming too.”

The level of sibling joy rose a bit as Sokara chuckled in agreement, “Heh. Thanks, Koshka.”

---

Leaves crunched underfoot as the two took their time to scout around the darkened paths of Knem forest. The trees stayed still as statues, thier wrinkled bark not giving away any branches to rustle in alarm by the dark hearted breeze flooring their feet in shivers.

Koshka moved closer to her brother as she blew out a tired sigh, “It sure is dark. ...And quiet. Where did the birdies go?”

A few more minutes passed when Sokara walked forward, his ears alert for any attack coming his way.

Heart beating in curious fear, he held his breath as his feet halted infront of a small crater, the edge not presenting him the concave floor yet.

Koshka caught up to him as Sokara placed his arm to prevent her from falling in, “Something is wrong here...”

“Tell me or I’ll jump in with you.” Koshka warned playfully as she obeyed her brother’s command and eagerly watched from above as Sokara approached the strange lines on the flat soily ground that traced violet lines across the surface, creating some sort of symbol.

A spiked Chaos star.

Kneeling down, Sokara blinked in bravery as he reached out to the middle and pressed his fingers against the violet lit soil.

Koshka, watching from above, felt her heart agreeing with her brother. Whoever made this mark must have been another Gudorian bandit who simply didn’t work into a job and simply drew symbols in the Halidom for fun. “Sokara?”

A finger was held up for silence as violet reflected his vision as if entering some sort of dream. Sokara swore the color of the symbol grew deeper in color, the shade of purple still present against the soil of planet Solara.

In a quick millisecond or two without warning, the ground began to violently shake as Koshka almost tripped into the earth made bowl, “Aaah! Sokara!”

Sokara caught her in the nick of time and steeped over the slope to the very edge in a panicked hurry, “Gods, what— Agh! What is this madness?! Koshka, stay close!”

His sister felt numbed from the quake as she stared traumatized towards her brother who barked a serious command, “Koshka, run!”

Still her mind gave in to feel fuzzy after the quaking motion of Solara as she stood where she was, her eyes still glancing at her big brother like a targeted bandit, “Huh?”

“I mean it! Go!” Sokara yelled as Koshka left with tears. Sister out of sight, he decided that staying too long would result in his injury of swordplay failure as he muttered a curse under his breath and dashed after Koshka in hot pursuit.

Leaves flew in random directions as the two aimlessly ran through Knem forest, their breathless thoughts bringing up the imagery of the foreign mark that was written out of thin air.

Marco should have been together with them. That way, maybe the dracoknight had a clue on what that symbol possibly meant to him.

Koshka ran forward as Sokara dashed to a skidding halt against the pile of leaves while glancing around for a simpler route back to camp. “Hey! This way!”

His important call echoed against the trees as Koshka skidded on her back against the leaves, the rough points scraping her skin like numerous needle stings as she grunted in pain and bravely followed her brother back to the way they came.

It was only a heart beating 3 minutes away haden’t the leaves alerted Sokara to turn around with a serious exhale towards the sky.

“Sokara, what IS that?!” Koshka pointed with a horrified expression.

Following the crow’s flight towards starry night sky, the twinkling dots re-arranged themselves into strange writings in Seivati as the Chaos star mark grows into a portal releasing strange zombie-like figures raining from the sky in a slow motioned state.

They looked grotesque and wrinkled as if they never bothered to take a bath underground. Their long brainless cries ripped through the sky, the sounds of horror giving Koshka to shiver in fear and shift closer to her brother for protection.

Sokara gritted his teeth as he stood his ground in a serious position as he pulled out Ragnarok, “Koshka. You’d better stand back. These skeletal nightwalkers could get ugly even if they behave like a normal being.”

Upon gulping, Koshka bravely pulled back from her brother as she watched his heroic skills be put to use.

One swing caught a Nightwalker to howl in agony while his arm jumped somewhere else. Sokara swung Ragnarok like a martial artist with a practice staff, endlessly taking out many Nightwalkers that threatened him within his sight.

Not only that numbers were gaining on Sokara, but one even made a surprise jump behind Koshka’s back.

A piercing scream echoed the whole forest alive with birds taking off in squawking fear as Koshka struggled to break free from the hungry Skeletal Nightwalker drooling with lust.

“Koshka!” He yelled in fright as he dashed towards the scene of trouble brewing just about any spot on Akardos.

Branches rustled repetitively as a mysterious figure leaped from under the tree and stabbed the Nightwalker in the back, the motionless zombie falling to the floor while leaving Koshka to retain her breath back.

But time was too short to study the newcomer wielding an identical blade that resembled Ragnarok as he wildly defended himself from another Nightwalker with a gruesome axe similar to Demiri’s Knightfall and countered it with an upper strike.

The Nightwalker in return, gained his last second strength but failed to return a swing as the swordsman grunted in difficulty, “Help!”

“Right!” Sokara dashed to attention as he charged for the impaled Nightwalker, freeing the newcomer’s blade off from the ugly wrinkled surface as the lifeless body fell flat infront of them.

The swordsman panted while kneeling down, standing up to sheathe his sword back to it’s case, nodding to assure them that he was okay during minor injuries to his upper body.

Sokara felt intrigued to ask his full profile, “...Quite a heroic entrance. What’s your name?”

As quiet as the midnight over the Halidom, the shepherds blinked in confusion as thier vision twirled in amazement to see how fast the swordsman stealthily disappeared without a sound, leaving a tiny circle of dust clouds to vaporize in the air.

Distant pants were heard as Demiri and Marco came bounding up to them, “Stormfang! Milady! Are you hurt?”

Koshka gasped with sparkling eyes as if they just got rescued from the Skeletal Nightwalker attack, “Demiri! Marco!”

The dracoknight pondered his glances as he studied the clearing they were standing on, “Are such horrific creatures commonplace in these lands?”

Sokara grunted while his mind replayed his fight against the skeletal beings, “They’re not from Delyra or any other country in Akardos, I promise you that.”

Demiri watched the captain sheath Ragnarok back in its case as the Guardian Dueler asked in concern, “No one is injured, then? Thank the gods...”

Koshka immediately jumped in excitement as she mentioned the stranger, “Thank the masked man who saved me! If it wasn’t for him, I’d be...” With her mind still picturing the stranger present around them, she halted and looked around in curiosity, “Hey, where did he go?”

Demiri exhaled while glancing at Sokara for support, “We can worry about him later, AFTER we put these...things...to the blade. Eyes open, now. We know nothing about this enemy.”

“Right.” The Delyran prince nodded to show their plans as they cleared the site and treked along west to the capital.

---

The sun rose early morning, rays of radiant light led the Shepherds back to Delyra, the odd castle-like structures greeted them rusted in age and cursed writings in Seivati expressed the deserted land they were standing on.

Sokara felt the impression of ignoring the condition the tiny part of the Halidom suffered, but very well bothered himself not to utter a word while longing for the silence that gripped their ears.

Koshka was the only one impatient with a certain nosey attitude, growing listless as ever whenever it came to waiting of course. Miracously, Marco decided to break the silence as he stepped forward, his almond brown eyes blinking in awe towards the castle like structures for the first time.

“Hmm? Are those...” the dracoknight tactitican held his curious hum as Demiri volunteered to explain history that pieced the divine continent together.

“Abandoned forts, yes.” The Guardian Dueler smiled as he unsheathed Knightfall and swung it around, feeling an odd presence of enemies nearby.

Sokara pointed Ragnarok at the invisible air, sensing danger sprouting a foot away, “Then we should take shelter in them whenever possible. No doubt they will offer distinct advantages in battle. Ya!”

Leaping forward, the Delyran prince slaughtered swing after swing at about 30 Nightwalkers that manifested out of the sky and even appeared under the branches like the swordsman did.

“Not wasting a single second. C’mon Demiri!” Marco ordered as they both joined in to fight.

Only Koshka pouted, wishing that she brought her staff along. But since her brother was used for her defenses against these Skeletal beings, her only chances grew into staying alive by keeping her watch on surroundings that didn’t resemble red and purple.

Sighing, her eyes settled near the forts, where a blonde haired girl much older than Koshka came running up with armor clumsly slung around her body.

Glasses and braces framed her face of confidence and bravery as she held her personal staff, Thunderstorm towards the sky, “Captain Sokara! Wait! I’m coming! ...”

Koshka chuckled silently as she tripped over a stone but regained her footing with a curse, “Agh, I knew I shouldn’ta left ’em. All right, you ash-faced freaks! Which one of ya wants to try my lance on for size first? I know just the spot for it: shoved right up your—”

A voice caught her off guard as Demiri spotted out her sudden appearance.

“Dakota!” he exclaimed happily as the Delyran skyguard came walking over to them with a snobby attitude, very much like Koshka’s.

25 down. 5 more to go.

Dakota whirled around and found another male skyguard running up to her, “Hold, milady!”

“PMS me again and Thunderstorm shall hold your tongue! What’s the emergency, Vigur? Can’t you see the importance of an enemy battle here?” Dakota sneered while she held Thunderstorm high above her head as the tip fizzed with lightning very similar to Tempest.

Vigur kneeled down on one knee and clasped his hands as if pleading for marriage, “Life may be long, but attraction is fleeting! Would you leave me in your sweet dust? Leave war to the warriors, dear bird! A beauty such as you need wage only love.”

Dakota swung Thunderstorm and knocked his staff forcefully from behind his back, “...The hell are you to abandon my skills and follow your lusts of love? Leave a skyguard alone that’s useful for once to the Delyran society!”

Vigur felt intrigued to follow and speak valentine nonsense as Dakota fought hard, “Ha! Is the lady intrigued? Of course you are—it’s only natural. I am myth and legend! I am he who strides large across history’s greatest stage! The man who puts the “arch” in “archer”! My name, dear lady, is Vi—”

Dakota pierced 5 Nightwalkers with a tasing yell while Vigur blinked in amazement at just how fast in staffing she accomplished, “Sorry, Ruffles—no time for this. Onward!”

And that was when the male skyguard was left stunned in silent love as he called back in emergency, “Vigur! ...Er, my name. It’s Vigur. W-wait! Where are you going? Pray, at least tell me your name!”

Dakota halted at the foggy rocks that jutted 10 inches from the ground while she whirled around with a killer smile, “I’m Dakota. ...And I’m a Shepherd.”

With her armor clanking as she hopped off, the skyguard approached Vigur, intrigued to know her profile, “‘Dakota’! How divine! A starkly beautiful name, as befits its owner, truly. Will you marry me, my dearest Dakota?”

Feeling insulted, she countered back with a bark, “Will I what now? Oh wait, I get it... This is a joke. And when I put my boot through your face—that’s the punch line.”

Vigur pleaded in sign language while his hands dashed from left to right as if nervously in a hurry, “I realize my manly figure and noble bearing can be overwhelming. ’Tis common! So please, don’t feel pressured to answer right a—”

The ground almost shook as Dakota slammed Thunderstorm into the ground, her brown eyes striking up a temper of annoyance, “How’s THIS for an answer?!”

Upon falling against the wet foggy ground filled with dew napping on the blade’s edge, Vigur coughed and stood up with a wince, “OOF! G-goodness, but those shapely legs certainly can kick, can’t they?”

Still, Dakota refused to accept his words as she walked back towards Delyrus, an annoyed face still slapping her bravery into two.

“P-please, milady! Allow me to accompany you, at least! Mine is a cold, empty world without you. I shall be your most willing servant, and you, in turn, will give my life purpose...” Catching up to her, Vigur smiled while eyeing her lovely face. Blonde strands, chestnut eyes, and blue tongues of lightning just about electrified his excited heart into affection.

Dakota sighed as she tapped her staff hard against the bark of an Eagle Buckthorn, her mind unaware of the arrival of Skeletal Nightwalkers far away from their location, “Fine... Anything to shut you up. ...What? Stop staring at me like that!”

Vigur chuckled under his breath as he stepped forward as if drunk, “My dear, don’t look at me. Look at your newcomers arriving behind you!” He then placed his arm around her and announced his message, “My lovely ladies and noble gentlemen, might I have your attention? I, as it happens, am an archer! ...The archest of archers, in fact. As such, I attack most effectively from a distance. So kindly keep me one step away from peril, if you would!”

Whipping out Tholex Indson, the skyguard smirked as he flicked arrows at each targeted Nightwalker wailing in agony after it’s stunned defeat.

This time, it was Dakota’s turn to give out an impressive nod while pale starked her shocked expression. He too had the skills of an archer that matched her staffing.

Watching Vigur closely, she held her breath as Vigur faced himself with a Nightwalker chief swinging a Nethersbane axe above his head. The male skyguard switched positions in trickery and aimed for the it’s armored head. The Nightwalker aggressively countered with an upper swing and glanced for his hungry target with a “Ryaaargh!”

Swinging the axe close to his side, Vigur swept to the right before the arrow stabbed the Nightwalker’s back in defeat.

“Nnh...aaagh...” staggering as if heavily intoxicated with Delyran mead, the Chief Nightwalker gave up and fell flat to the foggy ground.

Pulling out the arrow covered in purple blood, Vigur cleaned it with a small cloth before Dakota gave him a hug of congratulations.

“Next time, tell me to Holy Blitz your bow and arrow.” Dakota finished as they both skyguards retreated in joy back towards the Delyran capital.

---

Meanwhile, the Shepherds were trailing Falcon Claw Road, their ticket to their way home.

As much as Sokara felt impressed with Ragnarok, the legendary blade of Solaris never seemed to dull out at all!

Even Marco compared this astonishing ability with his Creventis and the results almost made Koshka scoff with doubt lacing her teenager attitude.

What do these legendary blades have in common?

That was one question that Demiri was not able to solve as they marked halfway to their destination.

“It seems all the creatures are vanquished. This young man took care of the others.” The Guardian Dueler sighed in revilement as he absentmindedly shrugged like an jolly old man on an autumn walk.

The other Shepherds remained quiet as they spotted a dark silhouette a few meters away from them. The air around them rose in hesitance and curiosity as Sokara was the first one to step forward. The dark figure in return, imitated his movement but showed no signs to speak up.

That’s when Koshka gasped in realization and hollered while waving urgently, “Um, I never got to thank you...for before. So...thank you. You were very brave!”

The figure smiled until it walked out of the shadows to reveal the owl swordsman that saved them from the first Skeletal Nightwalker attack. Blue boots marked his quick and agile feet as the impressive feathered Owl armor defended him from vicious attacks snapped from any enemy in sight. Brown hair was visible at the side and forehead but hidden by the collars of his armor. Finally a mask bearing the face of a snow owl glared ominously at his rivaled friends.

Sokara smiled while sheathing back Ragnarok in it’s case, “You saved my sister’s life. My name is Sokara or Stormfang. Might I ask yours?”

Eyeing the blade that the newcomer wielded, the swordsman made a blushing sound as he hid the hilt with his hands, “You may call me Lunaria.”

Sokara blinked with interest glinting in his almond brown eyes before replying with ease, “Lunaria? After the heroic king of old? You certainly fight like a hero. Where did you learn your way with a sword?”

Lunaria sighed as if he saw the vision of the Titan war already happen, “I’m not here to talk about myself. This world teeters at the brink of a horrible calamity. What you saw tonight was bit a prelude. You have been warned.”

Koshka stopped creating lines into the dirt with her worn out shoe and squeaked in alarm, “Huh? What’s teetering where now? Hey, wait!”

Lunaria turned to leave the Shepherds alone before a circle of leaves and dust clouds took her disappearance.

Marco nodded with a thoughtful hum, “Not much for conversation, is he?”

Demiri huffed with a sigh as he stared at the dracoknight with a smile, “It appears his skills lie elsewhere. I wager we’ll hear his name again... But for now I’m more concerned about the capital. We should make haste.”

---

Delyrus CG

Since Halton’s attempt into flaring the city of Delyra extreme red and charred gray, the market stalls were built back up as sellers called out in joy about different items exported from different cities in Akardos to boost up their sales this week.

As much as Marco adorned peace, it was his first time to explore a place packed with a sea of Delyran citizens wandering around from stall to stall, grabbing fruits, meat, and beverages from desired sellers while others helped themselves into side bars that lined the narrow streets, leading directly to the castle, his most favoured icon of Delyra.

“So this is Delyrus, capital of Delyra... I’ve never seen so many people!” the Dracoknight exclaimed in awe as he gave way to a horse carriage for cargo while a small girl offered him flowers for 3 Nerado each.

Smiling to show her ’no thanks, I’m fine.’, Marco caught up to Demiri as he blew a refreshing sigh, “It appears the capital was spared the chaos we encountered, thank the gods. I see no evidence of the great quake. It must’ve been limited to Knem forest.”

Sokara chose not to reply as he felt the castle’s doors open wide. He couldn’t believe it! His older sister was there to make an announcement in front of the Halidom!

Before word spread out of his brave mouth, an old Delyran villager from the Southtown joyfully pointed with a shaking finger, “Look! The exalt has come to see us!”

Cheers erupted into whistles of joy as colorful flags were waved around while the small band played a welcoming song. Confetti showered the narrow streets as cobblestone aided the rickety wheels of the royal carriage, a studious woman seated on the front. Her wavy long brown hair tickled her back as her lovely smile brought light to the city even after a tiny disturbance from their neighboring country. A staff was adorned by her side as she gripped an rank A Light type tome.

Marco knew his senses told him it was one of the most useful tomes against the certain dark type tome settled in one of the locations south of Gudora.

Leaning towards Demiri, he whispered in curiosity, “The exalt is your ruler, yes?”

The Guardian Dueler nodded in satisfaction, “Yes. Her name is Lady Arcturakos.”

The Dracoknight/Tactician raised his eyebrows as if impressed with Sokara’s older sister coming in with the royal entrance. Demiri felt as if he needed to start explaining about Delyra’s history with this newbie still getting used to this life. Exasperating a sigh, Demiri chuckled then elaborated her profile, “The exalt is a symbol of peace—Delyra’s most prized quality. Long ago, at the dawn of our age, the titan hydra dragon tried to destroy the world. But the first exalt joined forces with the divine dragon of flames and laid the beast low. Exalt Arcturakos reminds us all of the peace we fought for then.”

Sokara overheard the conversation as he decided to join in, “With Gudora poking at our borders, the people need her. She’s a calming presence, when some might otherwise call for war.”

Koshka bothered not to interject while she called her older sister’s name in excitement flowing through her small teenaged body, “Arcturakos! We’re here!”

Marco pondered on the thought of a city running with an exalt. It seemed useful to have a ruler overlooking the city but wasn’t that supposed to be Solaris’s job to take care of the world instead of controlling a blade?

“She’s also the best big sister anyone could ask for!” Koshka hopped excitedly as Marco nudged himself awake from his disturbed thoughts about the idea of an exalt.

Exhaling with a sigh as if troubled from invisible quotes assaulting his head, Marco mustered up his courage and decided to be in the happy zone, “Yes, I imagine she... Wait, what? She’s your... But wouldn’t that make you and Sokara...”

Demiri patted the dracoknight’s back in comfort, “The prince and princess of the realm, yes. You remember Sokara’s name and not this?”

Marco’s head got stoned in confusion as he spluttered back hastily, “You said you were ‘shepherds’!”

Sokara ruffled his hair into a spiky mess as the prince laughed with a smile, “And so we are...in a manner of speaking. We just have a LOT of sheep.”

“S-Sokara... I mean, Prince Stormfang! Sire! Forgive my dreadful manners!” Marco tongued his mistake as he started to nervously sweat in embarrassment.

Sokara whistled before placing his hands on the dracoknight’s shoulders, “Just plain Sokara is fine. I’ve never been engaged much for formalities.”

That left Marco to blink in realization as if getting left behind, “The prince and princess... That explains why Demiri tolerates all the teasing, eh?”

The Guardian Dueler nodded with a tiny yawn while a small stretch got him to walk again, “Indeed. Oh, the sacrifices I make for the good of the realm...”

Sokara noted his sister leaving the crowd of Delyran citizens as the carriage clopped upwards towards the great icon of Delyrus. “It looks like Arc is returning to the castle. Would you like to meet her?”

---

Marco wished he stayed outside the castle.

The stained glass of Pegasi glowed thanks to the sun’s rays while luxurious red carpet floored the stony surface of Castle Delyra as the Shepherds walked past the friendly guards, including Gallus Ferdinand, a middle aged man that got appointed as Arcturakos’s royal guards in defending the castle grounds.

Upon entering the Great Hall, Marco hung his mouth agape at the sight of art slapped on each wall. It was about time he learned about the exalt’s favourite pass time, which was art of course. The style of abstract flowers and other herbs from Dexagella, Phocecress, King’s Dill, Abyss Leaves to Hazel Chervil and River Lavender covered the walls as if she just opened up a Floral store.

The unexplained piece of mastery just got Marco to catch her attention in concern and joy.

Gasping, her mouth widened in awe as she spoke like a mother hugging her child home from school, “Sokara! Koshka! Welcome home. Oh, and good day, Demiri. How fared I you all?”

All of the Shepherds bowed down in respect, Marco imitated them while gulping in confusion to this weird fact of bowing down to a woman.

“Well—we shouldn’t have any bandit problems for a while.” Sokara raised his head as Arcturakos smiled and placed her hand on his shoulder as if in praise. “Wonderful. And our people?”

“Safe as they can be, Arc. But we still need to watch the borders. The brigands crossed over from Gudora.” Sokara reported with voice of bravery and confidence as his attention averted to the side doors opened wide to bring up a small girl dressed in armor and wings.

“Forgive me, milord. My Pegasus knights should have intercepted them.” the girl lowered her panting as she studied the newcomer in confusion.

Arcturakos gave out a look of sympathy and waved her hand as if nothing was to be worried about, “No, Jade. Your duty was here, with the exalt.”

“And besides, we had plenty of help!” Koshka playfully jumped on her, causing the little Pegasus Knight to giggle in hysterical joy.

Arcturakos sighed and laid her sapphire eyes on the newcomer, “Ah, you speak of your new companion here?”

Sokara volunteered to explain as he stood up, “This is Marco Rubio. He fought bravely with us against the brigands. I’ve decided to make him a Shepherd.”

Feeling proud, Arcturakos placed her hand on her chest as if she felt impressed with her younger brother, “It sounds as though Delyra owes you a debt of gratitude, Marco.”

The dracoknight held his breath of nervousness and assured her with a confident smile, “Not at all, milady!”

Demiri however reported some news to her about the sky threat that invaded Akardos dot by dot, “Forgive me, Your Grace, but I must speak. Marco claims to have lost his memory, but it is only that of a claim. We cannot rule out the possibility that he is a brigand himself or even a Gudorian spy.”

Sokara immediately gave out a look of dismay as he laughed, “Demiri!”

Arcturakos settled the group down into a silencing moment of concern, “Yet you allowed him into the castle, Sokara. Does this man have your trust?”

Sokara nodded straightforwardly, “Yes. He risked his life for our people. That’s good enough for me.”

The exalt nodded in understanding as she stood up and approached the dracoknight in acceptance as a Delyran shepherd, “Well then, Marco... It seems you’ve earned Stormfang’s faith, and as such you have mine as well.”

Marco took back her words as of whispering surprise, “Milady.”

The exalt wondered about Koshka but her younger sister was too busy conversing with Jade. That brought up a smile to her face as she faced the Guardian Dueler, “But thank you, Demiri, for your prudence, as always. Sokara and Koshka are blessed to have so tireless a guardian. I do hope they remember to mention that from time to time...”

Demiri nervously chuckled as he reached behind the back of his neck and scratched it in hearteous comfort, “They occasionally express something akin to gratitude, Your Grace. Jade, I assume you’ve heard about the deathly creatures we encountered, yes?”

“Yes, milord. They’ve been sighted all across Delyra.” Jade reported while re-adjusting her helmet after it got playfully spun around from a snickering Koshka.

Marco swore one of the flowers, Sun Dill, grew a tiny bit as Arcturakos stared at her murals in lovely thought, “Sokara, we are about to hold council. I was hoping you could join us.”

Sokara straightened the case to Ragnarok before saluting her with a smile, “Of course.”

Koshka dropped Jade’s helmet as she grabbed the tactician’s arm in excitement, “I think that’s our cue, Marco! C’mon, there’s a place I want to show you!”

5: The Admired Family

"Koshka introduces the other Shepherds. They head north to Regna Kagia (Aragary, Kagia, and Aprelux) to seek military aid against the creatures from Knem forest, now named "Skeletal Nightwalkers"or "Siren".

—Opening Narration

The Admired Family

"Here we are! The Shepherds' Garrison. Go on! Make yourself at home!" Koshka withdrew her hands in surprise as if introducing new guests were part of her daily job. Rubio found it rather lavish but a typical building for forgery, storage, and lounging of course. Something that didn't pop up into his amnesiac mind since he ever woke up from his supposed nightmare against his friends.

The refreshing air of warm welcome soothed his nose as Rubio carefully studied his surroundings at a wide alerted arc. Multiple shelves that held spelltomes and newly forged weapons hung at the barricade of the cherry units, inviting him in glee to discover new spells that he hadn't mastered yet. A maple desk holding stacks of paperwork, several scholaristic books and a stack of Delyran apples grown from the Southtown. Marco was teeming with curiosity to savor out the sweet crunchy delight. Almost on instinct, he was about to reach in for one bite when-

"Koshka, my treasure! Are you all right? I've been on pins and needles!"

Rubio wearily dropped the apple in deep astonishment. The voice belonged to young lady dressed in parasols. She seemed as if she just jumped right out of a 17th century Victorian movie, the kind that royal henchmens would watch.

Rubbing his eyes tiredly, he scoped in on her profile.

Two piece jumpsuit in rose, light green, and cream flooded her lithe body. Madly running towards Koshka, her flowing brown hair cut short at her neck, seemed to adore the non-existent wind in sync to her urgent motion of approaching her friend breathlessly.

Hands on her knees, her green eyes focused on Koshka's jovial reply.

"Oh, hey, Maline!" the little Cleric greeted as she speculated at her skirt while doing a little twirl.

Maline seemed timely about her notion of being happy- heck, Koshka was always happy if you make her happy. "'Oh hey' yourself! I've sprouted 14 grey hairs fretting over you!"

Rubio expected the dull strands to immediately bombared her brown hair into a menacing witch. But he took her response lightly and carefully listened to Koshka's reply.

"Aw, you worry too much. I can handle a battle or two! ...Although I could do without the bugs and the bear barbecue..." Koskha's eyes dipped with sarcasm in her easy going tone, conveniently leaning against her Dawn Omega II, an exuberant golden plated lance with flaming wings guarding the rose tip.

"Hey, squirt! Where's Sokara? I bet he had a rough time out there without ol' Teach and his trusty axe!" Spinning on an revolutionary axis that belonged to the mercenary's hand like a basketball, Rubio cowered down in sudden fright and took a good look at the surfer dude. His bronze dreadlocks were tied into a ponytail while his mahogany red armour tinted with gold decided to match it's colors to his Gauwill axe.

Koshka bewilderingly inhaled as if she caught a floating bubble with her mouth. "Oh, so you're "Teach" now, Gylex, is that it? Hee hee! And here I thought people were just born lacking wits. It can be taught?"

The incredulous laugh roared back as Gylex rounded around her with a hit it up smile, "Ha! Never doubt the Pegasus!" The sudden saying caught Gylex into questioning himself, "...Wait, was that an insult?"

Rubio smiled at them in deep consideration. So these are the Shepherds and the meaning of friendship and family. After looking through some rare fuse tomes dusted off from the shelf, Rubio cocked his ear towards hurrying footsteps towards them.

"Beg pardon, but when might we see the captain?" a young motherly voice sounded from a young woman with flowing brown hair reaching her shoulders from behind. Her sweet blue eyes revealed slight embarrassment and worried concern.

Maline shook her head in sympathy and scooted closer to Rubio who had an indecisive hum to his pondered thoughts, "Poor Corasta. She's simpy been beside herself with concern... Her eyes were scanning the horizon all day during training. ...She might have earned fewer bruises fighting blindfolded."

That statement flourished Koshka's heart into a deep family moment, "Aw, Corasta, that's so sweet of you to worry about Sokara."

"Worry? Well, I... He's our captain and our prince- of course I'd worry!" The Pegasus Knight drew out her words as if being the rightful person in the house. But in a mere sense to Rubio, she was trying to be like all mothers sounded.

"So, who's the stranger?" Gylex joined in, immediately changing the subject into a more objective conversation.

Koshka gladly served his question with a gasp of joy, "No one's stranger that you Gylex... But allow me to introduce Marco! He just joined the Shepherds. Sokara's made him our new dracoknight and tactician. You should see all the tricks he's got up his sleeve!"

"Oh yeah? Can he do this?" The mercenary drew back his breath and released an obnoxious belch.

The force of it was timidly strong that Maline was forced to fan away the odor back to him.

Rubio carefully held his snickers under his breath as a shaky smile got him re assured in accordance to his "humble" behavior. "I'm sure I have much to learn in the belching arts, "Teach." In any case, it's a pleasure to make your acquaintances."

It was almost astonishing on how Marco managed to hold it all in considering he was a newbie here to the Shepherds. Maline absolutely could not tolerate the odor. Pinching the bridge of her nose, she decided to retaliate with an annoyed tone, "Ugh, Gylex! That was abhorrent! Must you baseborn oafs pollute even the air with your buffoonery? And you, Marco! Don't encourage him! I'd hope you were cut from finer cloth. Hmph!"

The absolute turn of her heels complied Maline's attitude to swiftly whisk away in complete disturbance.

Every Shepherd was left disdained at the sight of the Avatar's maid feeling insulted at Gylex. The surfer mercenary raised up his axe as if shrugging no clues off of his shoulders.

Rubio tilted his head in curiosity as Corasta placed a hand on his shoulder, "Don't take it to heart, Marco. Maline warms to people slowly. Especially when she's appointed herself as your maid."

"Or burns too quickly! Hee hee! But yeah, just give her time." Koshka giggled as Marco smiled in agreement. It was not long before Sokara walked in, fully attired in his Shepherd armor with a blade case strapped to his hip that held the legendary blade, Ragnarok.

His confident face brought the Shepherds into attention as if it was elementary school. Shortly clearing his throat, he was about to announce thier plans when-

"Ah! Captain! You've returned! I was- I mean, we were so- WHOA!"

Fully fledged in bundle of exuberance, Corasta ran forward to greet him, only for her to trip on stacks of endless tomes that were used for research.

Dusting herself off, Corasta meekly nodded as Sokara held here up, "Corasta! Are you all right? ...Those boots of yours again?"

The sudden fired up tone of flawed worry rose in her again, "No! I mean, yes! I mean... *sigh*"

Plopping to the floor, the older Pegasus Knight felt like she was being an immature rag doll. Most of the Shepherds understood her feelings, especially if it was in a tiny moment such as this.

Sokara didn't waste any time and clapped his hands for attention, "All right, listen, everyone: in the morning, we'll be marching to Regna Kagia."

"Regna Kagia?" Rubio hacked the word as if it sounded too familiar to him.

"A unified kingdom made up of three countries north of Akardos inhabited by brigands, or so it's said." Corasta took a sip of Moon Tangerine before setting herself down on a woven chair.

Sokara continued with non stop glances to his fellow members, "Warriors are what they are, and we'll need their strength to quell that new menace. Typically, the exalt would request such aid in person. But given recent events... Well, the people might worry should my sister suddenly leave the capital. So the task has been passed to us.

"Now, this mission is strictly voluntary. So if, for any-" Sokara was cut off shortly before his little sister butted in.

"I volunteer!" Koshka's hands went wild without dancing like a tree.

"Me too! You'll be needin' ol' Teach along for such a delicate mission!" Gylex raised Gauwill in glory, feeling persistent that he would be considered the star of the group.

Right upon mentions of an expedition north of Akardos, Maline decided to arrive in with an warm hearted smile, "I'll go as well."

The Shepeherds stared at her blankly for an obscure moment as if she just broke the law of leaving the house.

"...What? I've been here the whole time!" Maline retaliated with an annoyed tone.

"I... I, um..." the other Shepherds turned around to see Corasta, heavily flourished in a hesitant way.

"Yes, Corasta?" Sokara swore that her eyes were watering in pleads.

The Pegasus Knight felt like she was out of place as she rolled up her sleeve to comfort her right arm, "It's just that... I'm not sure I'm quite ready for a proper mission just yet. I'd probably just get in the way."

The mere shyness caught Rubio on the brink of cheering her up with his ever mute smiles but nevertheless caused Sokara to wrap his arms around her, "Well, you could stay behind the main group, and if a battle is met, just watch and learn? Your choice, of course. But some lessons can only be learned on the battlefield."

Corasta stood up in bravery, tightening up her embarrassing mood, "W-well, if you think it wise, Captain."

Sokara unleashed his smile, the kind that would get anyone warmed to their heart. "Just stay by me and you'll be fine."

"Oh, yes! I mean- Yes, sir, I'll do that!" Corasta immediately stood up, regaining back her letharged energy.

Just by the sound of preparations got Rubio into a ponders of his new family. So this is what it was like to be together and protect each other as one.

---

The sun's rays bleaked out on the horizon of the Northroad, several miles away from Delyrus and it's iconic exalted castle. Standing on the rugged roads that led north towards Kagia, Marco couldn't help but feel the wind howling through his ears while flowers gently swayed along.

The Shepherds prepared themselves with vulrenary herbs, sweet delights, and canteens of water. The most important thing to defend themselves from foreign enemies were their newly forged weapons of course.

"Is everyone ready? We've a long march ahead." Scraping his boot against the rugged rocky path, Sokara easily grabbed their attention, even through they escape artists from getting attention anyway.

All of them looked rather prepared in a clumsy kind of way, save for Koshka of course who still had the moody teenager attitude.

Sokara was about to double check on thier travel items when a voice sounded out of nowhere.

"W-wait for me!"

They all turned to see a lithe and light muscular thief running towards them, his straight forwarded hair gleaming bright orange under the sun.

Halting to devastating screech, his neurotic exhales caused him to re-gain his energy for his final rhetorical offer.

Sokara blinked uncomfortably as he rolled up his tongue into a tie of puzzled realization, "Sobek?"

A studious lime green bow decorated with crocodile fins hung behind his back as Sobek caught his breath into a finalizing grin, "Why am I the last to hear about this expedition to Kagia? Only if I could last remember where I placed Devolution. *moans in sadness* Oh..."

Koshka immediatly glared at the mercenary with an astonishing gasp, "Huh? Gylex was supposed to..."

She then targeted him with a zap of her Omega lance, "Gylex! Did you forget to tell Snapperhook about our mission?"

The mercenary coughed uncomfortably before apologizing with a nervous face, "The griffin never forgets! ...I just don't always remember, is all..."

The latter of apology didn't seem to sum up her mood, "Ugh... I swear, you'd forget your own name if you weren't constantly saying it yourself! Speaking of which, are you SURE you remembered your axe this time?"

"Hey! That was one time!" Gylex countered in retaliation but then switched his mind about the count, "...Okay, twice, but training sessions don't count. Anyway, I got it right here. Teach is loaded and ready for action! Glad to have you along, Sobek, ol' buddy."

Arms wrapped around his neck, Sobek swore suffocation at this point. After writhing in difficulty, Gylex finally dropped the thief with a disinterested shrug.

Sobek inhaled as if he was on the last dying point, "That makes one of us."

Standing up, he regained his energy and started to twirl a pocket knife between his fingers in astounding speed. "I was in such a hurry, I had to miss breakfast! There were muffins, and cakes, and... Well, I can tell you all about it while we march..."

Rubio wondered why the Thief's name didn't occur to his mind. He then scrutinized in oblivious realization. With a finger point, he calmly required, "Your name is Snapperhook, right?"

Before the orange pickpocketer could gladly serve his question, Sokara stepped forward to intercept the talk, "Nicknames aside, this is Sobek, one of our finest."

Snapperhook's hands joltly awoke into handshake catapults with a shaky Rubio, "Hello, Marco. Laurel told me we had a new Shepherd. Er, Laurel's one of our mages. She should catch up soon."

---

Unfortunately Laurel was nowhere to be seen. The vivid sky turned purple, dark beams blazoning the clouds into purple rays of light beaming across the Northroad.

"Gods, have the Sirens spread this far?" Sokara blinked in deep distress as his deprived expression reflected against the tongues of purple lightning.

"Sirens?" Rubio inquired in perplexity.

Thankfully, Demiri was head on the subject, "We needed a name for this new threat. Classified as one of the Skeletal Nightwalker species so the council gave them one."

The natural instincts in every Shepherd caused Sokara to raise Ragnarok high above his head and strike a battle pose against the Sirens. "Everyone, remember what we're up against!"

"Mya ha! They'll remember ME once I drive my Gauwill axe into their... Wait... My axe. Where's my axe?! I had it a second ago!" Gylex inhaled horror into his panicked voice as he checked his blade case for Gauwill.

Intrepid swings against the Sirens got Sokara to mutter out the mercenary's reckless play, "Gylex, this is no time for jokes..."

Gylex felt like a puppy, helpless without his axe in plain sight, "I'm serious! It's gone, but I JUST had it! It's got to be around here somewhere..."

But Sokara yet ignored him as he yelled over thier moans, "Keep to the rear, then! The battle is nigh!"

Footsteps scurried across the fields as a young mage dressed in a cream and light blue robe hurried in, her rusty brown hair flicking to halt while the tip of her light black mage hat pointed south. "Splendid! It seems I've caught up. Now to extirpate these brutes..."

Normally, mages were supposed to wield tomes and a Keris Dagger in hand. This time, Laurel pulled out a rather salutary axe that matched it's owner's armour.

"Hmm? Is that an Gauwill axe? Why yes it is... Perhaps someone mislaid it?" She then raised her eyebrow at the only whining mercenary on the battlefield.

Fist pumping, her soft and scanty voice spoke intrepid bravery, "I'd not thought such dereliction permissible among the Shepherds. Still, I'd be remiss to not return this implement to its owner. Perhaps along with a stern word or two of disapprobation!"

Gylex then noticed Laurel dashing towards him, Gauwill in hand, "Whoa! My axe!"

Laurel chuckled while keeping a playful glare on him, "I wondered what manner of ignoramus would mislay their weapon. Now I know."

The mercenary praised his weapon while unleashing a goofy grin, "Thanks, Laurel! ...Er, for the axe anyway!"

The mage refused to comply with his attitude while using Arcane to blaze another Risen in the distance, "Perhaps next time I'll use my Relium spell to fasten it to your hands... permanently."

---

After 15 minutes of disintegrating dead, the Shepherds continued to walk down Northroad, Sokara and Rubio already ahead of them.

Halting to a certain point, Sokara turned towards Rubio with further support, "What's next, Marco? Guide our swords."

Before Rubio was about to gladly reply, Demiri intercepted and held up a finger to grab attention, "Might I advise patience, milord? Marco is a fine dracoknight/tactician, but we have been working him mercilessly. Even the best of us needs rest."

Sheathing back Ragnarok after a dull stare, Sokara sighed and apologized, "Yes, of course. I'm sorry."

"Perhaps Marco would prefer we choose our own actions at times." Demiri heaved Knightfall behind his back as the sun slowly set.

---

It was beginning to grow dark and it definitely was not Koshka's favourite time of the day. Neither would the Shepherds stay out this late unless they were engaged into a fight against thier enemies.

"But how will we know?" Sokara speculated in silence, the chorus of crickets sounding in through the howling trees and dancing blades of grass.

Demiri swore one of the scribbled Sevati symbols trailing the skies. This time, the message was clear before their eyes.

"We could use a simple command that lets us fight on our own. So long as Marco realizes such a strategy does not guarantee victory. Acting as we see fit may not always lead us to the best course of action."

A foreign moan sounded behind them then switched to the sides of the road. Wherever it was coming from, they plainly knew their enemy in sight. Whether surprise attack or not, the Shepherds always knew where it was targeting.

"And quick because Demiri, BEHIND YOU!" Sokara yelled in warning as the Guardian Dueler whipped around and swung Knightfall against a stray Basic Sword.

"Gwaaaaaar!" the Siren Chief grotesquely moaned, countering Demiri's swift strikes. It was then that Sokara made a surprise attack from behind like Lunaria did and instantly stabbed the Siren Chief to it's final end.

"Unnngh..." the Siren Chief softly moaned as it disintegrated to nothing in particular.

Sheathing back his Ragnarok, Sokara exhaled in constant nods, "Finally, and good riddance! But if they're appearing this far up the Northroad..."

Demiri just stared at the evening sky of the Halidom, "Then no path is safe. We'll need to stay wary."

6: Storm Road

Author's Note: Please read!

Please NOTE that this story is Fire Emblem inspired! Nothing is taken directly from the game. Please ignore Hazzan's review on this story because she is completely mistaken and wronged to understand about the word "Inspiration" Everything from characters, settings, weapons, and script dialogue are written in my own words. Some dialogue/chapters may refer to FE Awakening but I twisted a lot of words into my own along with original concepts of "The Rune Enigmas" collecting and dual recruitments through out the book. Nothing is original these days. Everything is inspired. Vk is inspired by Facebook. Geomon is inspired by Pokemon. And Tho San Trung Rong (Draogn Egg Hunters) is inspired by Bakugan Battle Brawlers.

Plus, I'm trying my best to come up with more ideas for you guys. Since the second book to the series is originally completed, I would say by the middle of 2018 I might be done with this book. Any more positive reviews would be really appreciated. :)

Thanks and enjoy! :)

---

"At The Longfort dividing Delyra and Kagia, the Shepherds are taken for brigands and attacked by the Kagian Guard. A show of force clears the matter up."

-Opening Narration

Storm Road

The shepherds travel along Northroute road where it leads past the city of Crodantis and onward to large wall separating the borders of Akardos.

Northroad CG

"Left, Right, Left, Right, Left, Right. I clearly see my feet despising the steps I was supposed to take when I cherished my time as a baby. Hooves would have made much sense!" The Shepherds ignored Koshka much to their silent annoyance as they kept on walking the sun-lit Scarlet Road north of Akardos. They had set up themseves to camp out near an abandoned plain in proximity south of Knem Forest. Evening nights bugged Koshka alot since she was rather disturbed by it's ghostly surroundings or she wasn't completely in the mood to sleep on rugged sandy ground.

And today she wasn't going to take her walk very seriously.

"Or Taragon's hooves would have accompanied time much faster." Demiri thought out of the blue as he inched himself near a pouting Koshka, finally relieved to cheer her up, "Patience is taken slow, but impatience gets you in rage out of nowhere."

Sokara couldn't help but chuckle at the random comment, giving Rubio to inquire about their talk.

"Thanks for mentioning Gendembi. Poor Archer. He must be left behind at the castle, performing some healing herbs together with Euriki." A slight fake pout from the Delyran captain brought the other Shepherds to nod their heads in agreement.

Upon mentions of the Kagian Battlemage, Gylex snapped to attention, his tone of laid back joy snuggled up the others into a friendly atmosphere again, "Hey! Euriki's location! That's where were finally heading to!"

"You finally realized." huffed Sobek, stationed in the back of the group while hugging his scarf. A set of cylinder shaped candy with twisted ends at both sides hung from his pocket like military medallions. He then broke into a fit of tragic agony, kneeling down before them as the Shepherds halted thier trek and turned around with puzzled glares, "I can't die on the battlefield alone without my Whippersnappers! Oh beloved candy! You shall whisk your way towards me from the sky, the lush rainbow sugar and the sweetest of sweets rush my tongue like fire."

The very last whispers of wistful dreaming got Koshka to forcefully jab him in the back with her lance, "Is candy you ever think about? I'd prefer fighting alongside with Sokara then dwell over your 'Whippersnappers'"

A friendly revenge rose into Sobek's emerald eyes as he unleashed his bow dangerously close to her Dawn Omega, the two demanding each other in growls of determination.

The 5 second preparations were enough for Sokara to intervene with sarcasm dipped off of his confident tone, "Peace, my squabbling little sheep. A fight can be taken place at Arena Kagia. For now..."

The wind howled ominously to the west as the Captain of the Delyran Shepherds carefully scanned the horizon. Silence was ever something Koshka hated from birth, consedering she was a loudmouthed teen to everyone she tightly adored. She was about to remark back furiously at her thick headed brother but taking Demiri's advice from earlier brought her to eventually calm down.

"Wait. I see something up ahead." As if holding a Dream Jar to foresight his vision, Sokara manages to spot something in the distance, Koshka once again impatient at his diverse findings with an irritated sigh, "What is it now, Sokara?"

The other Shepherds tensed themselves at the tranquility loathing the sands of Scarlet Road.

Sokara jogged over to the small white dot laying on the sandy ground, picking it up like a forensic invetigator as he exhales in thought towards a small bead of stone entirely made of Rune.

"Some Gudorian bandit most likely must have dropped this on his way while secretly jumping to our territory." Speculating at the tiny treasure, Sokara dissmissed his bearings to orginate it's original meaning as Demiri stood himself up for the item in gasping realization, "Wait, that must be Seivati in rune! I have seen that symbol in many scholaristic books I've reaseached back in the castle!"

"Any idea what it stands for?" blinks of doubt flooded from Sokara and into Demiri like a dangerous storm, the Guardian Dueler bearing no hesitancy at all.

Sobek chuckled like an energetic teen fit started for life, "Probably something in Ratspeak, that's for sure."

Demiri grabs the rune stone and studies the mark. Three lines; two of the same length while the middle line was acutely shorter in size.

"It's rune for the letter W." he drawled out his words of unjusted confidence, giving Koshka to deliberately heave up a teenager sigh.

Swinging her Dawn Omega II into a stab against the sand, she leaned against the pole as if it was a pool stick, "Someone is aware that this piece of stone is worthlessly a trade for something valuable!?"

"Corasta would indeed adore the bead for 15 Nerado." Sobek wistfully adored, filling in the scarlet sand beween the seams of the crocodile fins on Talonstrike.

Sokara took note of everyone ready to resume thier march ahead to Kagia. With the sun railing low over the bleak orange horizon, it was a scenery worth longing for. The captain of the Delyran volunteer group halted them with clicks of armor. "Well, there is no time in wasting daylight. We better move on before any vagabonds and mages attack us in sight."

---

Sobek found his sweet spot on the ground.

And day break naps were no exceptions to the Shepherds- at least to a moody Koshka for sure.

"Gods, those Whippersnappers must have fouled my stomach into constant growls of dog. I desperately need some tea to accompany my aching belly before it persists into Gylex's belchs." the orange haired thief groaned in painful moans, one of the Shepherds attempting to kick him back up to his feet.

"Here, take this." Rubio opened his satchel and gladly offered Sobek a canteen of Wolf Saffron.

The thief accepted with a muttered thanks before taking it all in with one sweep of his tonugue.

"I prefer Draxgella over Wolf Safrron but if this is the potion Euriki want me to be fit for battle, I'm ditching the whole thing!" Canteen tossed far ahead, Rubio irked at the sight of Sobek's drunkardness.

A jovial little guy who was crazy after candy was worth traveling with.

The only girl that got highly disturbed by Snapperhook's drowsy taunts was Koshka, steaming her raging wits off of her while balling up a murderous glare, "That idiot never learns on how to handle valuable medicine! Euriki will stir up into madness if she were here with us right now."

Demiri merely chuckled as if the world was saved again, "Relax. At least it got him to full health again consedering his tracks halted at the sight of a-"

"Siren!" Sokara ducked for cover from the stray arrow whizzing his way as the Shepherds jumped back for defense. A grotesque Siren Chief holding one of Vigur's Tholex Indson bows, glared hatefully at Sokara.

"Aaaaaauuuuggghh!" Ditching the arrows, the Siren leaped forward, using the ends of the bow as a serrated sword possessing any gripped hilt. Ragnarok was not the only aim for the pink blade. Sokara found his chance after the Siren idiotically let go of his static clash, giving Sokara the grand oppurtunity to counter back a stab to it's waist.

"Aaaaghhhh!" the Siren deeply moaned at his final defeat, disintegrating into nothing in particular.

Ragnarok sheathed back with a click, Sokara justified the dark remnants of the Siren disappear from sight.

The rest of the Shepherds congratulated their captain for saving the day not long before Demiri held up a hand of silence.

Wind escorted the tranquility as Rubio spoke out his strategic conclusion, "Thank the gods it ended with Sokara finishing him off. He might have Geodrifted somewhere else to spur up a trouble."

Demiri nodded while stamping the rune symbol against the patchy sand where the Siren disintergrated, "Expand and recruit our group in order to scour the whole perimiter of Akardos. Never give up without a skill and a sweat."

---

It was Gylex's turn to moan like an idiot after Sobek's performance of loathing cries.

Staggering in difficulty, the mercenary dropped dead to the ground as if he got sniped by Gembembi from behind. Glancing up at the sky if heaven spotlighted him in seconds, he gave out a moan of despair, "How long have we been trailing this sandy plain? Astraios might be worried about my disappearance!"

Digging back his head against the sand in weeps of agony, it was Koshka's turn to kick him up with an annoyed tone, "The cry for your griffin almost makes my head spin with a sigh. He might be hanging out with other griffins around Delyra."

However, Demiri noted the commotion and stayed weary of any more cat fights ensued throughout their trek to Kagia, "He's strong enough to defend himself from a Siren attack. His skills match the same of a mercenary's. There's no need to think about your companion if you're here with us. We're Astraios for you."

That caused the two to immediately stand up with glares exchanged between thier faces.

Rubio pulled out his Dragon Ray tome, using the wind spellbook as a guiding nav for the group, "I sense no Siren attacks near Crodantis but we must stay alert for any of those creatures falling towards us like a shooting star."

All of the Shepherds except for Demiri were forced to listen to this vague report for 5 times during the day already. Demiri was about to hunch up for another logical comment about the Sirens when Gylex intervened with a moan of hungering glory.

"I'm feeling famished. A good sandwich at-"

He immediately got tackled by Sobek, "The Ruby Fox would do! Gods, I'm dying to meet Tenaki ever since I last saw him in Delyra!"

"Tenaki?" Koshka dragged the word as if she just realized of it's origin, "He sounds like a Crodantian peaseant in old boots for sure!"

The soft smile raised as Sokara accepted Sobek's destination, "Whoever Tenaki is, I agree with Snapperhook for once."

Sobek fist pumped in victory, giving Koshka to roll her eyes with an ultimate sigh of unsatisfaction. "Thank yew, Grizzlypaws! Finally the Little Mouse kept her mouth shut in an oral defeat!"

Defending himself from a hugging in joy Snapperhook, Sokara sighed at his vigilant army, "You two never quit against each other."

Kohska, irked at the sight of Sobek bear hugging her brother, gave out an irritated look, "Call me Little Mouse one more time and I swear you'll be cleaning the horse stalls back at home!"

---

The Ruby Fox

"So, let me get this straight. You want Roasted Mustard & Thyme Pigeon, Mango Waffles, and Arctic Mundu. Is this your list?" A trendy nonchalant fox standing on two legs, wearing an apron, scribbled down numerous orders from many tables scattered around the restaurant.

An Aragarian traveler, the stormy man from the high seas, shook his head with a mumbled "No.", feeling disatisfied towards the furry server.

Tenaki gasped in excitement as if he found the perfect treasure, "High-five buddy! You read my glorious mind of faviourite delicates! I'll return your favour in 5 minutes. For now let me deal with this angry bluff over here."

Dismissing the traveler, Tenaki walked over to an old man seated by the frameless window, wearing shades to accompany his blind senses.

"Chuck, I see no Ale over here. Just what kind of a business is this?" tapping his finger ominously against the laminated menu card, that gave Tenaki the chance to switch dishes in a flash.

"Ok blind pops, here ya go." setting down a plate of Tea-Smoked Light Beer Bruschetta on the table, the old man inquisitively continued to tap his finger against the card now moving onto his dish.

Chuckling at his sly act, Tenaki gave out a whispering giggle as he kindly informed the blind man with a non chalant tone, "Hope you feel better over your loquacious squabbling!"

Shaking his head in slight laughter, Tenaki calmed down at his other duties when the door opened to reveal the Shepherds. Silence ensued the dusty atmosphere as everybody stared at the visitors in awkward confusion.

A small boy almost dropped his wooden figurine toy to accompany the awkward tranquility.

Sokara, sensing that the silence would distraught by anyone with word of confusion, majestically stepped forward as if he presented them with his royal speech.

Throat cleared, he scanned everyone in the room with a wide arc before announcing, "Excuse me, we have traveled far from Delyra to-"

That earned Tenaki to knee slide in front of him as if begging like a poor canine, "Oh, Lord Stormfang! I pardon to interrupt thou valuable message. Go ahead and take a seat, my honored sire."

Just before Sokara could enter the facility, Koshka extended her arm, efficiently blocking the doorframe upon entry. "No thanks, we'll take it as an honored exit."

Maneuvering her head behind his brown cape, Sokara gave out a confident smile, "Koshka, please let him welcome us warmheartedly."

The excitement overgrew as Sobek ran forward and tackled the fox down in cries of jovial agony, "Tenaki! It's been long since I last saw you in Delyra! How's the Ruby Fox going? Gods, I'm craving for the new menus right now. Uh, yeah, I call Kagian Mead for this one because that's where were heading, right?"

Sokara merely sighed at the thief, "Snapperhook, please. No embarassing jokes for now."

Tenaki cooled off as if he wanted to wrap things up quickly with his non chalant tone, "No, let the crazy candy dude talk. Besides, he travels to Crodantis just to enjoy my Slow-Cooked Sweet & Spicy Bear, Solar Shepherd's Pie, Dragon Lettuce sandwich and Black Bacuri smoothie." He then turned towards the remaining Shepherds, all eager to grab their seats. "Would that be enough for you all?"

Upon the mention of pies, Rubio clapped his hands in glee like an excited child, "Pie? I LOVE Pies!"

"Spit it out at the table, not here." the fursona clicked his furry claws above his head as he trudged solemnly towards the kitchen.

The sight of impatience brought Koshka to retaliate in annoyance despite her attitude, "Isn't it smart enough for me to keep a Siren look out while you guys feast for the day? I can't stand to waste time like this, besides I brought with me some dried fruits for us to snack on the way. And this is the time Marco declined his dried peaches."

Demiri rubbed his hands tiringly against his face, "I'm pretty sure the Sirens won't attack us inside a building. They only show up outside in the fields or deserts."

Fist raised as if he accomplished victory, Sobek lunged into the air to grab their vivid attention, "Let's break off the Siren talk. It's time to feast!"

---

The Shepherds felt stuffed after a heartous cuisine of delicious meals along with shots of Kagian Mead.

Lights dancing in his vision, Sobek swore the ceiling zoomed in close on them. Carelessly setting his arm against the wooden table decored in fine linen roses, the thief hiccuped after an enormous amount of Mead intake, his emerald green eyes wagering a stare contest, "Oooh... I see stars in the sky. What do you see Gylex?"

The mercenary/fighter swayed his head around in dizzy steps before crashing on the table's surface, "As my slurry vision tells me, there's Gauwill penetrating a slayed dragon with Eight heads."

Sobek measely smiled, his fingers tipping over a wine glass, loud enough to have made Tenaki kick both of their butts out the restaurant immediately, "That was long talk when Arcturakos finished off the real Hydra dragon that doomed Delyra into a state of destruction..."

As if help arrived from the spot, Sokara approached the drunkard duo, a smirky expression and crossed arms told them to move on, "Enough with your daydreams, you two. It's time to get going. Besides, Tenaki has been a wonderful volunteer in resuming our journey."

Pointing to a caravan with two brown horses patiently waiting infront caused Koshka to blabber in relief at the wondrous sight, "Finally a caravan replaces our tortured steps to Kagia! Thank Solaris for the hooves and wheels!"

"You sure you don't want some on the way?" Tenaki breathlessly arrived back in with some Elderberry Delight. The twinkle in his eye just got his smile raised into a notorious offer in regards to his clumsy fetching.

This time, Demiri stepped forward to take Sokara's decline against the fursona's hearteous offer, "Thanks but- hey is that a sword?"

Before Tenaki could awkwardly raise his paw and whimper, Sokara walked over to the wall behind the line of beverage selections and carefully dispatched a Ruby Infused Glass Longsword from the nails jutted out crookedly from the surface.

"Please Lord Stormfang, I-" the fursona tried again, this time with soft innocent pleads but was evidently halted by the Delyran captian with a confident smile.

"Just plain Sokara would do."

Eyeing her brother setting the blade on the table, Koshka blew out her temper, "Hurry up already! I hate to wait around your worthless blabbers!"

With Demiri holding her hostage from her fidgeting arms and legs, Sokara glanced warmly at Tenaki, "Beware of my little sister, she can get impatient and stubborn as a donkey sometimes."

"Oh no, I don't mind my customers acting this way. Infact, since I received that sword forged from the Equinox store in Delyra," kneeling on one paw, the fursona respectfully bowed before him, "Would it be a huge honor for me to join your group?"

Demiri let go of the little Cleric, efficiently crashing into a pile of plates before Tenaki dismissed it as violation #342, "Delighted than ever, young fox. You have earned yourself a spot as a Shepherd."

Upon mention of another Shepherd recruit, Sobek scrambled over to the now- tangled for air fox, legs writhing in the air while the Thief endlessly hugged him in circles, "Gods, I can't believe my day! Thank Solaris of the Royal Nagas this is happening!"

Tenaki used his swift legs to jump from Sobek's hoop and confidently land beside Sokara. "No need for the tight hug, Snapperhook!"

Straightening himself before adjusting to the tranquility, Tenaki's whiskers twitched in concern towards the Thief. Was he high on Kagian mead lately? The rest of the Shepherds might have agreed on this. Clearing his throat to signify their attention, the fursona gladly continued, "Thank you. Without you guys, I would be stuck forever in this lousy hut, serving local townsfolk just to make 10 Nerado a day."

Sobek was once again on the sweet streak, his tongue lolling out like an excited dog on a brisk fall morning, "Nerado! That reminds me! Whippersnappers, please!?"

Koshka huffed and rolled her eyes, "There he goes again."

Tenaki dug his face into his apron and measly sighed at his stupidity, "Behind the counter. Find tons of unopened boxes full of your heaven."

"Just before we depart for Kagia, you may happen to know these creatures named Sirens?" Sokara's eyebrows vividly raised in concern as Tenaki snapped to attention with a timid gasp.

The fursona carefully eyed the old man, performing some blind tricks on a cup of Silent Fluff. Behold the relevant pun connected between the beverage and the guy who seemed to lay his hands everywhere on the table. "Sirens... you talking about the loud bells or waving flags when alerting a battle signal or something?"

"Close. They're zombies that represent Gudora's fallen soldiers since the first war against Delyra." Rubio hung his gaze on the old man, now spluttering a one sided conversation with the Silent Fluff.

Demiri also joined in with great pride, "That's when our Lady Arcturakos took down an eight headed titan hydra dragon of flesh and ichor with Ragnarok and the Arcane Emblem. Everyone in Akardos must have heard of this story."

All of this must have made Tenaki cringe for a steaming kettle of water. Instead he honestly pieced his non chalant voice into a careful tone, "Talk about a grand victory for Akardos, I was just the only lonely cub during that war."

Candy flew in all directions as Sobek exploded out of the box full of Whippersnappers with a horrified gasp, "Holy Solaris! A survivor of the Hydra war!?"

Zooming in on Tenaki's eye, the screen pulsed into a fog framed vision of the past.

Flames along with a gray blanket of smoke layered Knem Forest into a state of genocide and destruction.

"It all started in Knem forest. My mother desperately tried her best to hide from the Delyrans and Gudorians blazing in fire and clashing in steel."

Little Tenaki shivered in fear as a full grown fursona came forward to shelter her cub behind tufts of leaves.

Please be safe, my son. Niali whispered as she licked her son's forehead with motherly love. The last of her tears were the only thing that Tenaki could remember.

"She left me hidden behind the willow tree, scared and worried. I had no choice but to hide my tiny identity from the sea of silver and red. That's when I watched through tears, the familiar yelp of my mother's final death by a greedy Gudorian."

"Seconds later, I emerged from my hiding place, corpses and weapons lay motionless around my paws. Niali was nowhere to be seen. My heart sank to my paws as it carried me to a strange miracle thanks to Solaris. A hunter with a homemade forged spear approached me with a friendly smile, beckoning me to climb up on his shoulder as we set forth back to Delyra, presenting me with the Ruby Infused Glass Longsword now nicknamed Firefox."

Sobek leaned against the flattened boxes of whippersnappers, staring into the ceiling while munching on his beloved candy, "Hey, the name suits the blade, Redtail."

"Ignore Mr. Nicknamer here. He's high on Whippersnappers for now." Demiri gave out a glare, causing the thief to stand up in a flash, coughing lightly to his misbehaved conduct that violated the Shepherds.

"The hunter must have made you strong in swordplay." Sokara unleashed his killer smile while Tenaki gazed up at him with a confident glance. "Another recruit into our group would make a worthy redeemer for our preparation against the Sirens and possibly another return of the titan hydra dragon."

Koshka perked up from the ceramic mess, a dazed glance at her brother, "G is all I'm gonna say. Not gonna finish the other letter heads."

"Stormfang addressed our location minutes ago!" Gylex hurried in, popping his head around the doorframe of the entrance, "Are we gonna stick to this floor for a whole century if not even a toe is wiggled for traveling?"

"Duly noted." Rubio assured with a monotone nod as the Shepherds started to file out of the creaky exit.

However, the Aragarian traveler barked back his disgruntled fury on the only fox and sharply trained his glare on the furry two legged fursona, "Hey Fox! What about my important meal I requested 5 minutes ago?"

Expecting a yelp from the startled creature, the sheer non chalant laid back tone got the traveler muttering out some "looliness of youth". Tenaki clicked his paws as he pointed towards the old man now in a severe duel against the cup of Silent Fluff, deeming pride and towering a sweet dark after taste in sync to his blind vision.

"Uh, leave that to old pops over there!"

Slowly but carefully, the Shepherds left the restaurant under care of it's new host, Tenaki feeling consent that the old man would start a lecture against a lifeless object. Leaving a perfect echo behind.

"Chuck, I see no Ale over here. Just what kind of a business is this?"

---

The Longfort CG

"Ah, the Longfort of Kagia. A mightly hole made through the Gate of Riproris." Sokara exhaled at the tremendous sight of the mighty structure towering before them.

"This wall stands over 50 feet high and is 500 feet wide." Demiri hunched Knightfall over his shoulder like he usually does whenever a spectacular moment was unveiled before them. Koshka rather found it cheesy and annoyed by her older brother's lieutenant. Sometimes, stern could have been put to play along with his personality.

"It's so impossible to even make out the end of it with the naked eye!" Koshka spluttered out in pure shock as the Shepherds carefully surveyed the wall before them.

12 rows of Steel bands railed across the surface of concrete studded with 5 individual shield bolts wedged on the steel bands itself. The mighty hole before them was known as The Longfort, an accessible gate that served as a border zone between Delyra and Kagia to let soldiers and other militant citizens to gain quick retreats from the Titan Hydra war. Through the mesh, a set of fir trees guarded the frame of the Longfort, it's individual pines glistening under the moonlight.

Sokara tensed at the sheer cold that was beginning to blow south, ignoring to the fact that Kagia sometimes had harsh winters, even throughout the summer.

Koshka inched closer to Demiri, the Guardian Dueler wrapping a helpful cloth around her shivering body.

Tenaki relaxed at the white flakes now falling towards thier feet. "I must say, the Kagians are so impressive at building, they should stretch a new wall between Delyra and Gudora!"

A feeling of exclamation flooded Demiri's heart, goggling a confident smile on the fursona, "Good thinking young fox! Sokara is highly delighted with your idea."

Pausing while staring at the flakes pile around thier feet ahead of him, Demiri took a hesitant inhale before finishing his sentence with a hawk glare, "Except for one issue."

Creventis sheathed out, Marco transpierced the blanket of snow, his voice leaving behind a cautious whisper, "Sirens..."

Silence ensues the Longfort as snowflakes begin to drift to the ground in steady flight. In the distance, hiding behind the jutted supports of the wall is a young mage with silver hair. Her green eyes fixed on Marco with deep interest but remains hidden. A rustle is heard across the cold sandy ground as the Shepherds stood alert for any sudden Siren attacks. Instead the young mage lashes out with a Keris dagger and Wind type tomes in her hand.

"Stand where you are, group of strangers!"

Rubio must have inhaled the shower of gold light streaking through her bright silver hair. Her green eyes must have picked out her perfect fashion sense of her striking appearance. A standard green mage robe with gold lines striking through the sleeves and lower area, similar to how Marco has it on his tactician robe. Silver bear scaled pauldrons were hunched on both of her lithe shoulders, a mage hat absent from her head. Brown boots fuzzled with snow already gave away her pristine look.

"Stand where you are, group of strangers. I can judge by the way you look! Gudorian thieves trying to bypass our brilliant piece of structure? Hmph, a bunch of chickens retreating for thier hideout! Make your move and clash with me or you can surrender yourselves to Zorkowa! Choose one."

The sever tranquility caused Demiri to lightly cough against the cold and humbly give out his response, "I say we clarify ourselves in a peaceful discussion. We station from Delyra, currently trekking across our way to Kagia in regards of your twin rulers."

The sole favour of passing through did not solve the mage's suggestions. Instead she was about to remark towards Demiri's statement when Rubio attacked her on the forefront.

Snow splashing everywhere, the silver haired girl flipped backwards, landing beside the iron gate of the fort while pointing her Keris Dagger at Marco, "Very well then. Get ready to get smacked by a Keris Dagger charged with Dragon Nova! Me, Senpai, will protect the Kagian district of Akardos!"

"Marco! Wait!" Sokara called out in urgency but to no avail did the tactican fruitfully ignore him for once. A hand to his forehead muttred out his sore sympathy, "What did I get myself into?"

Both magic absorbing swords took an unexpected turn as Rubio fired Dragon Nova at the shrieking girl, her Keris Dagger unstoppable from the deadly projectile. Green smoke flared in all directions as Senpai coughed out her final defeat, snow clinging to her robe as if she wore gold Yule lights. "My wind magic must have been weak against these fools. I accept my privilege of defeat. You have earned this my friend."

A Wind cube (S) was placed in Rubio's hand while he surveyed the item from every side.

Demiri and Tenaki carefully stooped over to help her up, taking back her weapons after they were miscellaneously scattered in distant proximity from where she crashed.

Before Sokara could gladly take her in as a new recruit, Senpai stuttered out her final suggestion with a weak moan, "Fine, if you agree not to fight, a talk with the Kagian guard should solve our first encounter."

---

The Longfort instead was played as a joke on Koshka's crisped mind. She never knew that Kagia could hold upfronts of fake wooden frames planted infront of the real Longfort. That imagery came from the informative encyclopedias, the exotic pictures very well printed into their frosty heads.

The rickety sign graffitied as the "Longfort" must have overthrown many Delyrans into confusion. Whoever planned this must have been a Gudorian brigand who simply wanted to mess with the continent.

As Demiri volunteered to take Senpai up on horseback behind him, the Shepherds trudged through god awful snow that seemed to bury them in ages if they didn't move fast enough.

Before Tenaki could pluck out his whiskers frosted blue, the Shepherds halted infront of the gatekeeper of the Longfort.

"Senpai, what's the commotion with these newcomers all about?" the tall lightly tanned woman dressed in a long feathered robe, used her winged lance (similar to Dawn Omega) to create another hole in the snow, a greeting of appreciation over new traverlers. The sapphire blue sharpened her agile vision as the same color of the pristine crystal on top of her lance bore the same glow. Endless feathers guarded her shoulders, the idea of Rubio gawking inspiration from the feathers itself. It would consider one of his kids in the future to wear something similar to that. Gold vine designs stretched down her feathered robe, her vibrant glittering boots flickering under the moonlight.

Senpai hopped off of Taragon in rough pursuit and splashed snow infront of her, thanks to her clumsy bow on her knees. "Greetings oh Windwalker of Riproris. I have just met these group of Shepherds who are willing to visit Kagia on the Twin Rulers' behalf."

Zorkowa considered this by raising a brow of interest, her sparkling sapphire eyes training on the leader of the Shepherds.

Sokara stepped forward and respectfully bowed down, "We mean no harm by acting as Gudorian brigands." Standing up, he unleashed his killer smirk, "We hail from Delyra just to confront with Kagia's twin rulers. It's to secure the north of Akardos from the Siren threats that are appearing from the sky."

"Indeed, you Delyrans must have a sense of kindness when it comes to a trade deal." The windwalker swayed her lance in sync to the wind, the crystal sending out light blue waves of signifying the direction of the Longfort. "In order for me to unlock the Longfort's gate, I must have the Azure key in hand. Is someone out of this heroic group in volunteer of doing this?"

Koshka deliberately missed the keyhole. As logic would play in her part as Cleric, every door bears a keyhole whether locked or unlocked.

Rubio immediately volunteered to serve her purpose, "I will find it and bring back under your orders, ma'am."

Zorkowa's lance radiated in deep pleasure towards the newcomer in the group, "My, your dracoknight tactician must be ready for anything whether challenging or straightforward."

"Nobody leaves without a canine!" Tenaki called out but his yelp brought him back standing next to Sokara.

"Even though I gained his full trust, I want to judge his skills in rapid thinking. Please Tenak, stay." the calm and stern tone of the capitan irked Tenaki to behave like a moody Koshka.

Tenaki huffed with crossed arms and grumbled in disappointment. "Fine, Grizzlypaws."

Unfortunately for Rubio, the Azure key staged a bigger challenge for the Longfort. Held in the wrinkled grotesque hands of a Siren Chief, wielding a dangerous Tryhung sword.

Since Blade against Blade was not going to achieve the concepts of the Weapon Triangle, it was a 50/50 chance on who was going to deem victor over the Key and the Gate.

With Static Storm loaded on Creventis, Marco managed to shock a cluster of Sirens before switching tomes on the Siren Chief.

First swing upon contact against the green blade and the Siren Chief disgruntled his final farewell blazing in Arcane flames.

Smoke withered the absence of the skeletal Nightwalker as Rubio caught his blade from midair and conviniently pocketed his tome.

The result of the dracoknight tactician's fairplay got Senpai's jaw hanging agape at what just happened infront of her.

Blinking in light shivers, she stuttered out her disbelief, "Wait! Every mage is supposed to carry a Keris dagger! Just how in Akardos does he possess a normal sword for once?"

Rubio picked out his clever smirk while brushing lightly against her shoulder, "Your tone of surprise made my blade hum a random dragon lullaby. That's the power of Creventis, my dear lady!"

Before the Shepherds could congratulate thier new helping hand, Zorkowa inserted the Azure key in the keyhole and stepped backwards in humble respect, "Very well, your request is granted under my permission."

The iron meshed gate to the Longfort rattles upward, the winter walkway to Kagia presented ahead with snow covered fir trees and more dancing flakes adorning the Shepherds. Zorkowa took in many farewell compliments from the Shepherds as she stood there, waiting for them to disappear into the forest.

"Adios my sweet lady!" Sobek was the last to yell out, his compliment carried by the howling wind.

"Glad that this is over with!" Koshka exhaled in relief, admiring her icy breath under the moonlight. "I wonder what Maline and Jade are up to back home?"

"Give Delyra a rest. For now, let's focus on Kagia." Demiri replied, feeling consent that Taragon was already warmed up through this 3 day trek.

Sokara halted infront of the three path intersection, the wooden arrows directing the city of Aprelux to the right while Aragary and Kagia were stationed to the left. His light chuckle signaled the Shepherds to march according to the directions of the sign, "Right. Our location to the Twin rulers must give out our plans unfolded."

With the group fading under the foggy flakes in the distance, Sobek was busy conversing with a stray drakowing that screeched in joy. After feeding it several amounts of his favourite candy, the thief realized he got left behind.

"No one worded out the rumor of drakowings loving Whippersnappers! Hey! Wait up guys!"

His yelp of peaking absence from the Shepherds echoed franctically through the heart of the Kagian evening.

7: Lunar Assualt

"To secure Kagia's aid, Sokara must defeat Lunaria in combat and win East-Ruler Ascald the throne. Meanwhile, the kingdom of Gudora kidnaps Koshka's friend Maline."

—Opening Narration

Chapter 4: Lunar Assualt

Bypassing Zorkowa's challenge along the Longfort, the Shepherds pass with ease through Regna Kagia.

"By the gods of griffins! I could've flown over the wall using my lovely Astrios! Why didn't ol' teach think of that?" Gylex exclaimed in laid back realization as if he wanted to facepalm his head split into two thanks to Gauwill held in his hand. The Shepherds were able to gradually blend in with the temperature thanks to the extra blanket supplies reminded by an ever helpful Maline.

Koshka was still frozen as a rock, her arms wrapping around Demiri's waist while her teeth chattered for hours. The harshing breeze of winter was not her top likeliness of "steady" weather. Even though the snow showed no signs of melting throughout the course of their daily trek, they were able to pitstop by a local bonfire, stacks of serrated bricks and twigs heartlessly blew off into a strong stench of firewood smoke that lulled the little Cleric easily into her dreams.

The sun glistened the carpet of white alive as Sokara chuckled at the Mercenary's comment, finding it obscure, "Gy, there are other matters to be completed such as confronting the Kagian rulers with this threat perimetering over Akardos."

Tenaki, on the other hand, drifted through the snow, glancing up at the sky to inspect the faded clouds hovering above him, "Just that I think about flying, Fursonas don't fly unless they think of a Pegasus Knight's wings."

The jested sarcasm behind the fursona's voice brought Senpai into a fit of hacked giggles while Koshka whirled around, sending up snow on Dakota's steaming face, "I highly doubt his class change. You can't even scour your First Seal anyway!"

Just before Tenaki could protest any further, the Shepherds heard an urgent neigh of despair as if a Pegasus was recently shot down from a flock of arrows.

Two white Pegasi soared over the Longfort and eased their descent towards them.

The smaller pegasus wore blue leg guards made out of fine silk, along with a standard unicorn muzzle plate, it's gracious horn spiralling from it's forehead.

The bigger Pegasus bore a larger resemblance to a Valkyrie, undefined on Sokara's toppled mind as how it was first found with royal linen scarfs hung from it's chest. Graceful Pegasus wings supported by a golden frame spouted from it's unicorn muzzle plate, the teal colored armor gear glinting under the light. Kicking it's legs into thin visible wind, it's silky fleece covers flapping from it's hind legs starkly reflected the Delyran Brand.

"Shiida!" gasped Senpai as she rushed forward to hug her Pegasus, the whining creature beat it's wings before roughly pawing the snow. The battlemage kneeled down to inspect a dash of ichor streaked across the snow.

Corasta's pegasus, Zaphira landed neatly beside the whining Shiida, the older Pegasus knight calling out to Sokara in order to catch his vivid attention.

"Captain! We finally arrived to join you!" Grabbing his hands, she exhaled in soft respires and caught her breath. "We got left behind because of a nail wedged into Shiida's hoof."

The latter of a pegasus injury caused Koshka to mutter in sarcasm, "Hurrah for our two greatest Delyran veterinarians."

That got the Shepherds to fix their interested gaze onto the only silver haired newcomer, "Don't look at me. I can class switch from Battlemage to Pegasus Knight any day!"

"Better watch out for those Seals comin after ya." Sobek joked while he attempted to feed one of the winged horses with his beloved candy. He evidently got a slap on the arm from one of the ladies, causing both horses to nicker in glee. "Ow!"

Sokara carefully took the Pegasus Knights into consideration and left Senpai to send out an emergency call to Euriki in preparation to heal the injured Pegasus. Signalling his group to march forward, he grabbed their attention easily as a merchant would with her fine bar of Nerado, "Classes aside, I want to confront the Rulers before it gets dark. C'mon Shepherds. Let's move."

---

Snowflakes drifted lightly through their ambitious trek through the Kagian plains of blizzard white, the Shepherds halted towards a large silver building stutted with green ivy designs and rampant griffins.

Tenaki had a good excuse for griffin enthusiasts.

"This is the Turf? I was thinking more of a well suited castle for the both of them." Rubio raised a perplexed eyebrow in awe, the indentions of gold reflecting against the stark orange sun blissing away from their radius.

"It seems Kagia was damn right about their castle. Looks more like a library to me." Dakota huffed out her cold glaring exhale, sending some of the Shepherds' spines tingling in reaction to the cold winds surrounding them.

"Oh please! Don't mention Laurel right now!" Koshka cockily swung her attitude off of a patient Taragon, Demiri relieved to have Sokara's little brat of a cleric away from him... for once. Holding her Dawn Omega II lance closer to her chest, she continued with her sarcastic tone, "I'm so glad that she's left behind home, currently studying about this wacky threat that Sokara has been hogging on lately."

The mention of Sirens kept Rubio awake, his strategic interests mind boggled on his notes scribbled into the inner back covers of his tomes. Koshka was a girl of snarky concern, whether her fired up mood would be the resolution to Delyra's victory over Gudora.

Ragnarok softly crossed her lance with a light clink, both golden weapons gleaming under the sunlight.

"Calm down Kosh, there's nothing that our favourite scholar can do right now." Sokara stepped forward to face her in sincerity. "Besides we have our own flourished library. That should be enough for her."

And with that, the rest of the Shepherds filed through the door, thanks to a mysterious click of granting themselves inside. Only some of the Shepherds stayed behind, rather dazed at the feeling of thier thoughts wilderwind through thier minds.

"I wonder if there are books about Whippersnappers." Sobek wistfully licked his lips at the mention of his faviourite candy pictured into his mind. Close enough for a certain skyguard to snap his thoughts into reality.

"I wonder if there are books about getting a Valkyrie Knight/Thief rammed in the face with Thunderstorm." Dakota thankfully ditched her blue fizzing lance away from his startled face as her fearsome expression scanned the interior of the turf a foot away. "That very well describes you, Snapperhook."

Sobek merely gulped as if he was going nuts over Arcturakos's heartless law of banning Whippersnappers from existence. The thief merely sulked away, his back arching low like an old man from the stormy seas and trudged ahead in whimpers towards the lavish entrance.

Dakota had no time to waste and followed her own instincts to explore Sokara's last known location through the labyrinth.

Only Rubio and Tenaki remained, quirking an eyebrow at both Zaphira and Shiida roped up by the entrance, enjoying themselves under the sun while nibbling on the cold patchy grass wedged between the concrete seams.

"Just as Sokara mentioned, I'm really eager to find where the Rulers' are hiding." Rubio exchanged glances with Tenaki, both of them solemly shrugging towards the god awful idea on where they could be hiding.

"Not in a hole perhaps. It would take me measly ages to scent detect them for sure."

---

"By the baffled gods, I can't believe you knocked my queen out! What's a king gonna do without his lovely bride eh?" a baffled voice roared back in laughter as Hardo leaned back in an interested gaze, leaning his instincts of skill on a game of chess against the East Ruler of Kagia. Squinting while studying Hardo's facial features: a well trimmed golden beard along with bits of shaggy blonde hair seemed to sense forth victory as if gold reigned supreme over Ascald's lithe black ponytail.

The East Ruler puckered his bets against a Griffin timer, every squawk indicating his turn.

"Then your chances of rescuing her might recover your tactics and taking revenge on me. " With one swift move, Ascald's knight moved 2 spaces north before knocking off Hardo's queen as if it was timber. The gray colored piece tumbled off the board and rolled in circles next to Hardo's boot. "To be modestly honest with you, Hardo. You haven't even thought of downfall on a certain East Ruler yet."

Blinking back shell shocked results, The West Ruler of Kagia felt like biting back friendly revenge guttered in his teeth as if a growl of determination would certainly change Ascald's mind of course.

Instead, he paced around in mild defeat, the sting of getting his 18th loss in chess wasn't going to be played by his rules.

"I was going to get there hadn't your knight checkmated my queen!" Fisting the Griffin timer, the monotone squawk! comforted Ascald into gathering his courage to calm the west ruler into a new warrior.

"Locktouch would have been a suitable description." The lion khan replied in calm amusement, gathering the pieces to lock them away in a drawstring bag as if keeping his possessions safe from prying eyes.

"By the bards of griffins! I can't seem to focus on your achievement in this blandy game of chess!" Give him a lollipop, or a complicated spell, Hardo would take anything serious even if he lost his hope on winning in almost anything he dared to do. He was the kind of person that would never give up even if his rants on losing horribly in a chess game would enter Ascald's mind like a tape recorder.

"Well, a Kagian soldier never gives up on training." Ascald flicked his Sea Glass Sword like a Schoolhouse teacher's stick, the tip slammed against the board dusting out a cloud until it revealed on tips and tricks to overtake enemies in a rioting war.

Hardo shivered uncomfortably on how many times he was going through this. Just for the defenseless case for every Kagian citizen to endure at the age of 13, all the way to a 45 year old jolly ruler who proudly loses his wits in anything. Talk about lacing up his boots.

"Now that I think of it, I need to train you in chess and see how pumped the West Ruler can get in his lousy defeat. Would you like to accept my cause?" Softly cracking his knuckles, Ascald patiently waited for his response. Hardo jabbed his gaze at a delicate vase stationed to the corner of their room, eye twitching in sheer thought of crushing it under his hand. A lesson of anger management at play.

"Oh, by the feathers of a griffin, no! I should be training myself into this!" Furiously standing up, Hardo exhaled his temper until the third chess board was snapped in half from his iron fists.

Ascald nodded in a monotone expression, a sly smirk building up across his stark white face, "Very well then."

It was not long before they were off to duty the other soldiers patroling around Kagia (including the Longfort) when the white ivy door bursted apart, the sound of awkwardness tensing the air.

"Now's a good time to break up a game of chess!" Hardo held back his roar of laughter as Ascald muttered with a stern growl, "We just finished chess!"

So as it seemed, Hardo yet ignored his existence. The West Ruler strided up to the Shepherds, yanking a welcome hand to Sokara, who hardly took in his iron grip, "It looks like Kagia gained some visitors from the south!"

Sokara lightly pulled back in embarrassment as Ascald took over introductions, "Welcome to the Twin's Turf. What brings you here at your upmost concern, Stormfang?"

Koshka gave out a flustered sigh as Sokara cleared his throat and stepped forward. Time broke into several chains as the exalt's panicked attention trained on the rest of his Shepherds instead.

"Griffins can soar over the clouds at over 5,000 feet! Sounds so intimidating that it's a world record against the Pegasus if ya ask me!" Gylex was a natural at his class that he almost choked on his brain bringing up an imagery of Astrios soaring over the clouds.

"Candy! How can I ever get myself more into this?" Sobek dug into a sacking heap of various Kagian candy, one of them being orange colored and flavoured to direct his wistful dreams.

Tenaki curiously approached a wooden shelf full of Scholar books, one of them being his type, "The Art of Fursona Living by Glyn Maddock. Hm, seems quaint for a fox like me."

"Oh, a recipe book on pies! This might make Marco into double satisfaction for his needy hunger over pies!" Corasta glamoured over her gasps in relation to the cookbook she was holding.

"This might help fall myself into affection with Dakota! My very own notebinder for love! How noble!" Vigur's eyelashes enthusiastically battered into romantic hearts beating for an urgent love arrow.

Only Demiri seemed less hypnotically poured over. "A sense of flipping through Guardian Tactics seem sense for a threat like this."

"You bunch of people don't make any sense at all. Hel-lo!?" Gathering her temper like Hardo would, Koshka unleashed her teenage attitude. A warrior queen from the Constellation Realms. The shoulders rose. The hips tilted to the left. The pink lips puckered out into a sheer fanatic vocal assault. "He's trying to steal Sokara's attention!"

"I can't stand this with impatience... " The only female blonde couldn't withstand her surroundings. With Thunderstorm fizzing from an invisible light source, Dakota sparked up every book the Shepherds are nosing into, a sense of hypnotaization caught their fizzed attention towards the irritated Skyguard.

Smoke irritated their calliparies as every Shepherd coughed to an extent of evacuating the Turf in an instant.

"What in the bards were you thinking woman!? " Hardo coughed indignantly as he used his arm to raise himself up from the explosive storm. His golden shaggy hair stood up on ends as if he just survived a steep rollercoaster descent. "You wanna get this place grilled up just to grab attention?"

The Shepherds slightly cringed at the imagery burnt into their minds.

"Hardo, please. " Ascald glared at the older gruff man with a monotone smirk as he turned around to face the Shepherds with a logical elaboration, "Forgive me, Shepherds. The Turf may steal a visitor's attention and completely dazzle them into a state of hypnotization by the book."

The west ruler immediately balled up his temper into a ranted yell, "Why did you ever plan to build a library in the first place, you oaf!"

"Because that would be a well suitable environment to our noble game of chess. " Typical for the East Ruler to gain his patience from the bickering West. Bustling things back to business, Ascald calmly re-stated his greeting, "How may I fair your importance of Akardos, dear Sokara?"

"I came here to announce of the new threat that has spawned Akardos into a urgent distress of chaos." The capitan surveyed the Shepherds comfortable enough to last thier day without commandering entertainment. "I suggest if anyone of you would be of help."

"Of course we would be of help!" Hardo sprung up as he swung his Twisted Golden Axe, making sure that Koshka won't splutter into the same phase as him. "We just need to think of one, that's all."

Ascald gunned down a glare, signalling Hardo to shut his mouth up. "Easy. Every year we host a tournament at Arena Kagia to decide and declare who is going to steal the throne. "

Sokara nodded with repetitive interest, deepening his intake of words announced by the east ruler.

"Last year, I was the champion. This year it was Hardo but he is still pending." Ascald finished with an excusably sarcastic tone.

"Did someone mention about a tournament? Me and Gauwill are going to bring down my opponent in the sands!" Gylex swung his axe in salutary mimics, much to Hardo's compelling amusement.

That bellowed Koshka to prick her ears in attention, "Tournament? Better place my healing staves in good use."

Sobek was the last resort, resulting his appearance after popping his head out of another sack full of candy. "Will I be trophied with lots of Whippersnappers?"

Rubio held back his giggles but bothered not to show them out to anyone except for himself.

"Only the confronter who wished to speak with me is allowed to enter the tournament grounds." Ascald continued with a meandering gaze to anyone who was willing to complete. "Your opponent will be Hardo."

"Again? What's in your hollow brain, you oaf!" Hardo squared up on his twin ruler again as if he wanted to parley with a deflated balloon, "Do have lice in your ears? I was crowned champion this year!"

Sokara chuckled while shaking Ascald's hand in an honarary agreement, "No brainer that I was chosen for a Skirmish against one of the Rulers here. Very well, I shall accept his grand challenge."

---

Arena Kagia CG

Flames withered into a bright glow supported by wall mounted torches of a dimly circular arena floored with cobblestone and a stark red sun emblem outstretching the whole perimeter.

A strange musky scent of moss began tickling Tenaki's nose as if he was on the verge of escaping a fire route.

"I can't imagine the underground coolness of wind bellowing my whiskers!" The fursona continued to rant while helpfully wrapping his cape around himself. It seems Koshka wasn't the only neglected girl to have a sheer issue against the heartless wind. "It's been days since I've snuggled myself into warmth thanks to the torches."

"I wonder how aerial attacks are going to work here. The ceiling is mounded with earth!" The little cleric remarked in overwhelming awe. Sometimes she was on the safe side according to Jade.

"The hazard of the arena is not to strike your opponent from a high proximity." Demiri sampled a piece of soil dispatching from the ceiling with a sizzle. The latter then roughly piled on Tenaki's head, fab to have sand drift down across his face after a vigorous shake. "Milady, that's one opportunity to all participants that has to be noted in mind."

Corasta on the other hand, ran towards Sokara as if hugging him in farewell, "Stay safe, captain! Don't let Hardo get the best of you!"

The returning rub on her shoulder along with a warm smile got Sokara comfortable around any danger, "I'll try to stay low and watch out for any strikes. After all, swordplay has been my hobby from birth. What can you expect?"

"A full fledged victory!" Gylex hollered out loud as if he was leader of the Shepherds. Feeling pumped, he raised Gauwill high in the air as if victory was about to run course through his body after disowning Hardo, "Ol'Teach here will be favouring your moves for my next training session!"

"Gates opened." Ascald called in from the inner ring of the arena. "Sokara, are you ready?"

The capitan of the Shepherds nodded in confidence, as if he nodded in checkmarks to every training command mirroring his swordplay skills. Feeling his boots traverse against cold cobblestone, dire flames on the wall flourished into a brighter whoosh of light as if either the light or the opening gate sheeringly blinded his eyes.

"Be prepared to be hog meat on the fireplace for sure!" Hardo arrived in with laughable roar as strength and determination was all that he possessed over his masculine body. The honey golden curls and trimmed beard gave away as if he was immortal during this vile match.

The Naga Trinity was well worth in every match considering that Sokara's Ragnarok would easily take down Hardo's Dark Cherry Axe. Prop a cherry on a bear and you'll get the simple defeat of cherry devoured by the bear. That's how Sokara measured his skills as if he was duelling against numerous Sirens.

Hardo raised his axe like Gylex would and in a split second charged against his challenger as if he really was hog meat on the fireplace for sure. Sokara didn't even bulge to resist a dodge.

How would the spectators who were just made up of his vigilant army react to this shocking moment?

Clashes. Dust Clouds.

Completely disrupting this heated match.

Hardo coughed like an old Aragarian man from the high seas, clearing up the dust cloud to reveal a new figure on the arena. "By the gods of Kagia! Who in the world breaks our spectacular clash?"

Sokara froze on the spot, his mind processing to realize who this mysterious newcomer was.

Wordless, the mysterious figure demandingly points at Sokara, deeming him to be his opponent.

A chorus of gasps entitled the air, astonish rising up their spines in every close second.

Ascald patienty waited for them to make a move or confront the newcomer as a violating interruption.

"No, it can't be!" Koshka remarked in agitation, feeling bewildered to recognize him on the spot.

"Milady, could he be the masked owl swordsman who saved us from the Siren attack in Knem Forest!?" Even Demiri took a wide turn and felt the same page as the others, his intriguing look gave away intense concern and silence spiralling around the arena.

Armor clinked against blade as Sokara adjusted his gaze of realization into a whisper of recognizing awe, "Lunaria?"

The masked swordsman grunted once while plunging his blade against the cobblestone. The shing effect of transpiercing through cobblestone caused Sokara to double take at the sword identical enough to rival his own Ragnarok.

"Ruler Ascald, I bestow my opponent to be Sokara."

Hardo immediatly erupted into gaffing non-stop, "Did you listen to that, oaf? I get a summer's worth of vacation right here!"

Ascald didn't seem impressed with both Hardo making fun of him or Lunaria intercepting blade strikes. He gave out a salutary sigh and merely waved his hand for attention, "Since Lunaria unexpectedly broke the line, I say that you two resume with your swordplay skills."

"Swordplay?" Sokara's eyebrows notched into confusion as Lunaria then kicks up his long silver blade with gold striping down the middle similar to Sokara's Ragnarok.

"How did you get that?" Bewildered at the sight of mirrored blades, Sokara remained as still as his Hero's Band, while Lunaria prepares to pose for another aerial strike. The last whisper of determination caused one last drop of sweat to free fall from Sokara's brow, "There is no way."

Sokara then charges towards Lunaria but completely misses. The Masked owl jumps staunchly for the ceiling, then deflects his boots against the earth, launching himself in an aerial strike. Sokara then counters the attack with hardship built in his swordplay and stoops low to dodge the swing.

"Tell me! Where did you learn to fight like that?" Sokara demanded in repetitive pants, a flourish of swings and blades clashing against each other caused a great jump back between the two.

"It's none of your business to unlock my identity." Lunaria's feminine like voice toned out bravery and determination, "I am fairly in line with the Heroic Prince of Delyra... Callum."

"There's no possible way that his level of swordplay matches my brother's!" Koshka continued to comment on the skirmish as if she was chosen to be commentator for Arena Kagia. She then laid low with mistaken concern by herself, "Or has my attitude not ripened enough?"

"This has to be fairly the most historic fight ever in Akardos." Demiri hunched up into a speechless expression, focusing his gaze on his captain, "Duel or no duel, having Sokara go up against his clone is a superior ideal to his skills of swordplay."

"Just think about it, I would be turned into fox fur boots if I were to face him!" Tenaki yelped in fear as he used his impressively huge tail to cover his eyes.

"I can't say that same for Lunaria. He really is getting on the verge of becoming just like Sokara." Rubio suppressed out his astonished awe, his inhale of tactics mirroring Sokara's movements.

"Captain! Watch out!" Corasta warned out of the blue as Sokara faces a blow to the side but narrowly misses the blade impaling his hip. Lunaria caught a glimpse of the Brand of the Exalt tattooed on Sokara's right shoulder but remained wordless as ever.

"Whew! That was a close one!" Koshka sighed in close relief, feeling comfortable enough that her brother will win this match no matter what the odds outcomed. "I don't wanna take Hardo's words into this situation!"

Sokara counters Lunaria's upper strike then returns the aerial blow towards his mask. Feeling it loose, Lunaria quickly grips tight of his mask from any prevention of revealing his identity.

Several breaths later, Lunaria finally stands up and hold out his hand as salutary congrats. Sokara, feeling uneasy to devour his ultimate win over an opponent deeming beyond expert level, returned the greeting with a small smirk.

"You have been worthy to be my opponent, thus I will let Ascald be of true nature and crown you as champion of Arena Kagia." Lunaria announced in clear spirited tone that would deeply move Ascald into silent tears of joy.

The Shepherds hearted their only moment on the brown haired captian, the well trained swordsman from Delyra and abroad Akardos outcomed every battle against enemy brigands and Sirens, never failing to his swordplay without the use of a helping hand.

"This match does not end here. " Much to thier exuberant achievement, Ascald came walking across the cobblestone, a finger held up for silence. "I'm afraid that I forgot to mention of Lansu. He was our best fighter in Kagia, winning a record of 20 consecutive matches in a row until one fatal moment. Our myrmidion knight moved to Athecea where he was claimed dynast of the Drakowing continent."

He then turned to face Sokara with a welcoming tone, "Sokara, will you hereby accept my words and take over my throne of East Kagia?"

Sokara uneasily glanced at Hardo, who had his arms crossed with a tiny smile of consideration.

"I am very grateful to be crowned champion of Kagia but since I have a lot of sheep to take care of, our plan to repel this threat-"

"We know of the Sirens, silly prince!" Hardo interjected with his signature gawking laughs, "Those luggers of the undead moan across Kagia, it takes our best soldiers to finish them off like rotten butter!"

Even Ascald took this to consideration and nodded in agreement towards Sokara's statement, "We heard of Gudora manifesting these creatures into your territory. It would be wise of we gave full support to Delyra."

The captain upon reaction, bowed down respectfully, "Thank you Ascald and Hardo. May Solaris bless you with your kindered spirit."

Hardo finished off by fisting the Griffin Timer with a irritated squawk, "There's no thanking us boy! After all, the party's just started!"

---

Castle Delyrus CG

"Wherever the Shepherds are, I just hope that threat is taken care of. Besides, windows tell it all, don't they?" Maline sighed after a day's worth of sewing and forging new weapons for the Shepherds. Light filtered through the lavender curtains while the lonely Trobadour sipped on Hazel Chervil tea. "I guess Marco won't be returning to his leftover pies. Better eat them before the candle takes over."

As if a mouse skittered across the woodwork up above her head, Maline gasped to attention, jerking her head up towards the padded ceiling. "Whoa! Who's there?"

"Don't worry Maline." a pericular voice that imitated Sokara whispered back, "It's me, Sokara. We finally returned from Kagia."

"Oh Lord Stormfang! How exuberant! I finally longed for the day to return to my trusted companions!" Gasp flooded her eyes into a spark of re-juvination as Maline crept closer towards the doorframe, the distorted shadow still locked away from her unmezmorizing eyes. Still, the Troubadour didn't care where ever this stranger travelled from, she loved guests and communed herself in serving tea. Slowly stepping forward, the shadow didn't bulge to appear. It was as if Garuga hurled a time spell on this poor Delyran bystander. "Where is Marco? Is he lounged in the Pavilion this time?"

The shadow chuckled but showed no signs of intruding emotion. "Come and I shall take you to him. It would be a great honour if I am at your service."

"Great Pansies! I'm on my way right now!" Maline ran forward, only for an unexpected hand to cover her mouth into fidgeting kicks and muffled help.

The shadow revealed itself as a Gudorian bandit, gawking in sheer exuberance, "Har Har! This should be a good Delyran kidnapping! Our ol Madking would luv this fer sure! I can't stand his jeebering voice honkin like a donkey especially when it's trainin time!"

Unfazed to the Shepherds returning home from Kagia, they would find tea cooled in one corner and knitting supplies discarded in a box to the right of her woven chair. With only one evidence left behind on how Maline was captured by the Gudorian Bandit.

A lonely Gilew axe impaled against the floor.

8: Silver Wisdom

"Arcturakos confronts King Garea of Gudora, who demands the Arcane Emblem, an item vital to the world's future. The parley ends with a declaration of war."

—Opening Narration

Chapter 5: Silver Wisdom

---

"What's this, then? The exalt herself, in all her radiance? I fear I must shield my eyes! Bwa ha ha ha!"

The horrendous gagging laugh erupted from a tall eye-patched man with a pepper slashed ponytail and a fine overcoat tad with overgrown collar spikes which seemed as if he would qualify as lead role of a villain play.

"King Garea, I've come for the truth of this unfortunate incident between us." Arcturakos, for all of her appearance anywhere across Solara, deemed to calm down any stranger whether they were rightful or too sadistic for anything adored.

One of the Gudorian guards quietly shuffled their feet and remained on duty to stand by the foyer of the castle hall. Compared to Delyra's castle hall splashed with numerous amounts of fruit and herb murals, Castle Gudora lacked any art, save for the sloppy King's Dill grafittied in the lower corner of the foyer.

By any means of answering Arcturakos's question, a figure stepped out of the shadows accompanied by a gruesome smirk and her battering cat eye lashes. Dressed in a purple robe similar to Rubio's, she appeared to be holding a Scimtar lance along with several dark type tomes. From the look of her personality, she was definitely a Dark Flyer.

Arcturakos kept her confident blend of ataraxia, Garea's glare gunning her down in parley to increase anxiety off of her watering forehead. "Perhaps milady might first share her name?"

The Dark Flyer sheathed her lance behind her back while dispatching her set of tomes safely on her bookshelf. Garea gruffed and bothered not to show out remarks against his precious orb laying harmlessly to the right. The woman flicked her jet black hair behind her shoulder, revealing emerald eyes that mirrored hers. Light black curled into a suppressed smile, approaching the Delyran exalt with a finger on her chest, "You may call me Aegis."

"Very well, Aegis." Feeling consent to converse with Delyra's bittering neighbour, Arcturakos racked her mind and felt as if she was in mind to concern the kidnapped citizen. "Is Maline unharmed?"

Garea fixed his attention on a shadow spot. "Who? Oh yes, that little blonde brat."

Out of the shadows stepped into view was a gruff Gudorian guard roughly hand chastling a brown haired Troubadour. Strands twisting in a matted mess, the girl choked forward from the harsh push commenced by the guards, an act of vile defiance caused Arcturakos to motherly gasp from the lower right corner of the foyer. "Maline?"

"Unhand me, you gutter-born troglodyte!" the young girl growled in amiable demands, her roped up wrists on the verge of snapping apart.

"Maline!" Koshka hurried in followed by Sokara, Rubio and the rest of the Shepherds.

"Koshka? Darling, is that you?" The exchanged glances of hope and courage redeemed a radiant smile on both of their faces until the chains broke loose and Aegis grabbed her close and protectively used her arms by any means of danger from the Delyrans. "This girl crossed the Gudorian border without our consent."

Right upon the gruesome statement made by the Dark Flyer, the Shepherds reacted with rude awakening and urged themselves to fight against her seductive plan in result of placing a death threat on the poor Troubadour.

Before Sokara could make a move, Aegis held up a finger in silence, the only signal of obeying the fall of tranquillity heavily perusing the Shepherds to mark under her words. Walking around like a sly cat on the evening nights of Themis, she toggled with her lance as if inviting her new friends to a game of Duck, Duck, Dragon. "And what's more... She wounded the brave Gudorian soldiers who sought only to escort her safely home."

"LIES!" the shrill demand from Maline's furious eyes drilled deeply into Aegis's soul. Sokara tensed to stop her from any means of feud such as declaration of war, but that would only prospect the result of endless rivalry among the two countries. With the guards struggling to keep her close, Maline continued her tone of aggression, "You speak nothing but lies, hag! Did they not teach the meaning of the word 'truth' in wretched-crone school?!"

This brought Aegis to unleash her fake sympathy on the poor Troubadour, a selfish act to purposely deride the girl into a vocal torture.

"You see? No manners at all. Such a nasty little bird simply had to be caged." She attempted to raise Maline's attention on her soothing expression but neverthless jerked away from those ungodly gloved fingers, stretched to an unusual length from gripping her Scimtar lance for years.

"Such a violent temper speaks to her guilt. This will call for a weighty punishment." Garea stood up and chuckled ruthlessly at Maline's sober growl. Cracking his neck left and right, the relief of capturing his neighbour was like slaying a thousand from the opposite territory. "And if she were to later confess to being of a Delyran spy? My goodness! It would take an act of CONSIDERABLE good faith to repair our relations!"

Maline entirely felt like sniping them dead on the spot. She never felt this rage when she scolded to the slightest time when Rubio accidentally ate one of the decor apples from the Garrison.

"I have done nothing wrong! It's they who should confess! They're the ones who invaded Delyra. They razed an entire village! When I attempted to intervene, they took me and dragged me across the border. Let the plundered shops and charred homes of that village serve as my proof!"

Her pleading statement didn't move Garea one bit. A second killed by, the madking roaring out his delightful laughter on the little girl.

"That would only prove Delyra has a bandit problem—something I hear oft of late... But indeed, tonight I shall weep salty tears into my pillow for your dead villagers."

Sensing the exalt present in close proximity, Maline disregarded her argument with the madking and glanced at the Peace Treaty for further support. "Your Grace, please do something!"

Silence spiralled around the hall, the only glow of Peace radiating from her royal tiara. Arcturakos shifted uncomfortably with a tiny mumble as if she felt extremely numbed to utter out her favourite memory.

Blinking in deep thought, her bright hazelnut eyes trained on Maline, her only wailing right hand girl on the verge of taking her life over the exalt.

"Peace, Maline. I believe you."

The calm statement irked both Garea and Aegis to the heart but granted her to continue.

"King Garea, I request that you release this woman at once. Surely, you and I can sort out these affairs without the need of hostages."

"Without so much as an apology?" the Madking scoffed as if it was the most blasphemous thing to say. Garea faced her like a professional butler, a brow of perplexity raking over her anxiety. "Why should I even bother with parley? I'm within my rights to have her head this instant and be home in time for supper."

As much as Sokara despised Sirens moaning across Delyra, he felt Ragnarok glowing red in result to what Garea had just confessed. With his hand gripping the hilt, Sokara lashed out his fury, "You black-hearted devil!"

"Control your dog, my dear, before he gets someone hurt." Garea purred out his fake sympathy on Stormfang before Rubio and the Shepherds grabbed him from causing anymore danger.

"Rrgh..." the last second growl from restraining himself caused Sokara to calm down with a sober glare.

"Now then, Your Graceliness." Garea snapped his attention back to Arcturakos, remaining confident as ever, "Perhaps we can arrange a trade? You give me the Arcane Emblem, and I return Mali Contrary here in one piece."

The mere mention of a navy blue and gold shield got Arcturakos to full flattery. Training her concerned glance towards an old jeebing king, the outcomes of letting go of Delyra's prize is a well worth mistake.

"You would ask for Akardos's royal treasure? But...why?"

Innocence drifted from her lips, the sheer perturb of waiting patiently caused Garea to dislike intense silence.

"Because I know the legend! The Arcane Emblem is the key to having all one's wishes realized." Pacing around in determined steps, Garea halted by a vintage pillar holding nothing in particular. His dream speech bombarded into exuberant achievement as if he just got the shield right in his hands. "I have desired it for years. YEARS! ...Yet my birthday comes and goes each year, and nothing from Akardos. Heheh..."

Still, Arcturakos did not seemed to be moved by Garea's trade deal. She narrowly dug her hands in between her knees, her sorrowing stare struck Garea into a double come-back.

"The Emblem's power is meant for a single purpose, King Garea: to save the world and its people at their hour of most desperate need. Would you claim a more noble wish?"

The madking denied her words of honesty and ranted further on the shield, "I want what every Gudorian wants—a grisly end for every last Delyran! What could be more noble than that?"

"What?" Tilting her head as if undeniably recognizing his words, Arcturakos deeply stabbed guilt across her heart before her sharp whisper of indisputable perplexion.

"Surely you have not forgotten what the last exalt did to my people? Your father named us heathens! His "crusade" across Gudora butchered countless of my subjects and my kin!"

Arcturakos felt scars teeming and starking across her worried face. Keeping herself from falling into solitude and despair, she continued to speak as if she spread out her plans in front of her enemy, "...I have never denied Delyra's past wrongdoings."

Aegis pricked a leaf off of a King's Dill, the sudden result of gaining interest between the two rulers of Akardos.

"But I have sworn to never repeat those mistakes. Ours is now a realm of peace."

Garea toppled over a vase, it's purpose of scaring the exalt into her deepest anxiety. "Oops, I must have cracked the treaty! Yours is now a haven of hypocrisy! Now give me the Arcane Emblem!"

"No, Your Grace! I'd sooner die than act as a bargaining chip for this filthy reprobate!" Maline beseeched in plentiful shrieks, tensing herself free from being armed by the guards.

Arcturakos shook her head in deep distress while tears trailed from her hazelnut eyes. The traumatic whisper tinkered into urgency, "No, Maline..."

"Ugh... Taaaaaalk talk-talk-talk-talk. It's time to speak louder than words!" Garea unleashed Oblivion, the blade of Garuga, on the vintage pillar. It toppled over in serrated seams of marble dust, the mess quickly vanished by a Gudorian guard. "This negotiation is over, Your Luminosity! I shall have the Emblem if I have to pry it from your shiny dead hands!"

In a split second, Sokara gasped towards a gruff brigand charging towards Arcturakos with a Dark Ravager axe raised high above his head. The captain of the Delyran Shepherds ran forward to intervene the attack. The brigand wordlessly thumped to the ground, while Maline uncovered her face.

"Stay back! Or you'll all suffer the same fate!"

Garea felt impressed with Sokara's strike. His amiable chuckle grew into a clamour of applause, "Now that's a declaration of war if I've ever heard one... A big, messy war that will bleed you Delyrans dry. Bwa ha ha!"

Storm clouds thundered outside the castle. The Shepherds braced themselves for what was going to happen next. It was going to resemble an ugly sight for sure.

(omg, I'm about to write the most badass enterance ever.)

A ghostly neigh rippled across the opening clefts, a majestic dark pegasus armoured in purple and gold stormed in, pinning Maline down with it's hooves. The unbearable weight on the Troubadour's chest could strained her rib cage, cracking a tad or two from the intense pressure. With the tip of the Scimtar lance pointed savagely at her, Aegis dipped down her killer smile, "Poor, stupid girl... Are you really worth fighting a war over? Years from now, you'll be remembered only as she who destroyed House Delyra."

Her nerves started to flow in a slow cycle, sending Maline into a deep spin. "No... That's not... Oh, Koshka... Please, no..."

Out of the blue, a cluster of wind threw the pegasus off guard, Aegis shrieking out attention. Maline, dazed from the intense heat cutting through her head, struggled to raise herself up. With a dazed expression on her red stained face, she managed to find a newbie mage too short to be classified as a midget. Fancied in a red mage robe and a black mage hat topping his superior appearance, he managed to close his Dragon Ray tome, whisking out the smoking spine with his lips.

"What!?" Aegis was on the verge of fighting back against this little wind magic brat.

"Maline! Go! You're free!" the boy urged in deep concern as he signaled Koshka to escort her out.

"RIKKERT?! What are you doing here?" Biting back perplexion, Maline's shriek of compelling surprise caused her to wince from her damaged ribs.

"Just run! We can talk about it later!" Rikkert waved his hand in dismissal of the two girls, his snark expression dueling against Aegis's playful smirk.

"Oh, is this your little boyfriend? Isn't he just precious." her seductive tone absentmindedly purred like a cat, Scimtar lance ready at hand.

"Don't talk down to me, witch!" Rikkert retaliated in furious remarks, his Rain of Despair tome ready in hand.

"Very well! Pleasure the sight of my beautiful pegasus then!" Rearing to it's hind legs, the pegasus charged up a storm, lightning flickering in sync to it's beating wings.

Rikkert sensed his ambition of mastering the mage class with flying colors and used his tactic enchantment at hand. A wind summon circle outstretched underneath his agile boots, the astonishing cry of Dragon Nova sliced through the intercepting lance attack.

Scimtar barrelled a few feet away from the toppled Pegasus, Aegis scowling in final defeat. "Nngh! W-wind magic?"

"Come on, Maline!" Rikkert fled from the hall with the Trobadour trailing right behind him.

"Right!" the girl glanced back at disdained Dark Flyer, dark haired seer regreting her awful defeat.

"Wretched whelp! I should..." Halting dead at the guards overwatching the front of the foyer, a wicked smile stretched across her face, a simple snap of her fingers summoned the signal of Gudorian soldiers of various classes clustering outside the castle. "No. Our soldiers have them outnumbered. The brats will be dead long before they can reach their comrades."

---

Castle Gudora Outskirts

Rikkert and Maline continued their breakneck flight towards the Border Pass, their ticket to way home to Delyrus. Frozen against the sight of Garea conversing with a burly Drakowing Rider from the west continent of Akardos, the mage luckily dispatched several sticks of Sea Angelica and quickly rub it ominously on Maline's wounded chest. The Troubadour gave out a slight moan, the act of Koshka's Recover staff would have moved her much faster on course. Whatever Rikkert supplied was what Maline had to deal with and thank him for.

Scarlet sand briskly whooshed around Garea's boots as the burly man on his dark drakowing shifted in position and re-assured his orders with a salute.

"Bwa ha ha! I have my war! Captain Orton!"

The drakowing growled to attention and trained it's attention on the madking. The rider stupidly sighed at his mount's antics of gaining the spotlight.

"Remain here, and take down as many Delyrans as you can. You can expect reinforcements from the forts as well. Now, do your best—at doing your worst! Bwa ha!"

Orton fairly ignored the madking's ambition on eliminating their neighbours and attuned to his duty immediately. The dark Drakowing extended it's wings and took flight, it's agile ruby eyes in search for any intruders escaping on foot.

As luck would snap into two, Maline saddled on her horse with Rikkert seated right behind, tugged at the reigns, a desperate neigh and thudding hooves planted and dispute a heavy silence spiralling around the two.

Rikkert growled in despair, wishing that the guards were smothered away by the thread of his wind magic, the only element that he could master at this point. Maline, on the other hand, was held responsible of her only steed evading injury during the dark meetup between two rivaling nations.

Orton raised his Stormravager axe and greedily pointed at the two as if they were caught red handed, "I won't ask for your name. Only your life!"

"Nice try, dragon breath!" Rikkert retaliated with a clever smirk as he got his Rain of Despair tome ready. "I won't ask for your axe. Only your mere defeat from the power of wind itself. Ad! Desperatio est pluvia!"

The crescent symbol on the embossed cover radiated to life as countless wind in form of rain drops tore through the heavens above, conjuring up storm clouds of purple lightning.

In the mere blink of eye, Orton knew his fate would replenish from oncoming attack. Since wind tomes dealed great damage to flying mounts such as Pegasi and Drakowings, the drakowing rider gave up his counter stance and accepted his mere defeat.

Orton dazed at the static drops hovering around him. The one that brought quick second shock and confusion.

Rikkert finished the move by signaling the drops to bombard from a radius, the Rider smacked from the creature like someone flicking an ant off of it's surface.

Orton baralled over the dunes of the fort, his lifeless gaze bringing up a frail chuckle of defeat, "This matters not. Soon war will be upon...your soil... Heh heh..."

The mage once again inhaled his proud victory by replenishing the steam hissing from one of the tomes.

Maline's heart leaped to her next step of heroic scenes. She found her Locktouch Support right on the spot.

---

Shepherd's Pavilion

The door creaked open, spilling out light of welcome steps. Koshka boredly tossled with a string of yarn before her gasp of astonishment brought her zipping towards the two said rescued hostages.

"Maline! Are you hurt?!" the worrying tone of desperate silence caught Maline in a state of tiny tramutization deep in heer wounded chest, but remained cautious to what she was offering.

The Trobadour instead smiled half heartedly and whirled around, revealing her chest just a bare red spot from the Sea Angelica healing. "Nothing. I didn't return twofold, darling."

The statement deeply moved Koshka into more questions, until it was intercepted by someone important.

"I'm glad you're safe."

"Who?" Maline smiled upon the appearance of their only Dracoknight tactician. His graceful stride walked across her heart like a saviouring hero. "Oh, it's only you."

"Yes." the timid smile and the gentle squeeze of hands got Maline hugging Rubio protectively. Koshka couldn't help herself but bring up several tears of joy. "I know you're not especially fond of me, but it's a relief just the same."

Maline kept herself in this stagnant pose until it was time to exhale perseverance. The Troubadour shyly remarked her horrible experience with that grievous Dark Flyer and her pagant pegasus. "Oh, it's not a question of fondness. I am simply protective of Koshka. My treasure is very sensitive, and... Wait. Am I really justifying myself to a commoner? Gods... Yes, well, I do...apologize for being curt. And... And... And you have my thanks for your part in the rescue. There, I said it!"

The three aroused in good laughter, taking in most of what was deemed to parry with Akardos's future.

---

Meanwhile, Sokara left the Shepherds to their cherished duties, a little work to relieve the city from it's haunted neighbours would definitely sum up the mood in commencing a small meeting at the Grand Hall of Castle Delyrus.

Arcturakos sat on her royal throne as usual, clad in a fur faux scarf and her book of Solaris tucked near her arms. As if a holy tome might protect her from prying eyes wafting from the eerie shadows of the walls.

A simple respectful bow and that was all she needed to restore their vindication.

"Forgive me, Arc. I acted rashly." Raganarok sheathed, Sokara glanced up while propping the sheathe in front of him for the bowing support.

Demiri nodded in silence while the exalt caught his sober gaze. The lieutenant rarely smiled if only he felt happiness around his radius.

"It's all right, Sokara. King Garea is the one at fault here. You were only protecting me."

The sheer sweet smile brought Sokara to downpour his (almost) greatest failure ever yet. Protecting his own sister from danger. It was a close one too hadn't Sokara compromised his team made up of confident citizens able to fight along his side.

Demiri absentmindedly studied the Wolf Saffron herb on the Arc's mural on the Grand Wall. No wonder Taragon possessed armour guards shaped like a Wolf's head propped on the each side of the muscular stallion.

He verily flicked out his handkerchief, threading it down the blade of Knightfall. "The Mad King will be rallying his forces, if they have not mobilized already. I suggest we make haste back to Delyrus and discuss our strategy."

"Of course, Demiri." Arcturakos stood up, adjusting her fur scarf while twirling around to glance at the moon lit sky through the glass stained window displaying Naga and Solaris entwined. "It seems war is upon us. We must protect the Delyran people at all costs."

9: The Garugi

"Lunaria warns Sokara that Exalt Arcturakos will be assassinated. The plot is thwarted, but Lunaria is revealed to be a woman - and one with knowledge of the future."

—Opening Narration

The Garugi

Cool narrow wind sliced through the heart of Castle Delyrus, stars bursting to their brightest elements on the backdrop of the Delyran evening. Sokara carefully pondered on his thoughts, worrying for his sister even though they greatly removed her out of trouble caused by their bickering neighbour, Gudora. His brown cape gracefully danced to the wind, arms crossed in deep perseverance against the marble railing of the castle's balcony, enthwarted with royal red banners displaying their city crest in green.

Whatever dealt Garea's interest in the Arcane Emblem caused Arcturakos to play a great role in their deal. Suffice to have it destroyed by his fellow vigilant friends, Sokara emitted out his sigh, loudly to capture a figure approaching him in timid concern.

"Sokara? What are you doing out so late?" It was none other than Marco Rubio, the famed Dracoknight Tactician found from the Delyran wayside. As much as the jet black haired newbie fully evolved to the family of Shepherds, Sokara could only conclude something well mysterious about his behaviour. Sweet and potent to the point.

"Oh, hi, Marco. Just... duelling with some unpleasant thoughts..." The brown haired Shepherd continued his worried sighs, Rubio astonished at the sight of the captain drowned in sorrow like Arcturakos would whenever she was under pressure from foreign enemies. His skilled almond eyes captured a star twinkling bright in the northern hemiskreis, feeling Ragnarok in great radiancy to reflect back the moonlight from it's superior hilt. Armour clinking in accordance to face Rubio with fake sympathy, Sokara continued his reason, "Tomorrow we march to Regna Kagia to request additional soldiers. But there's something you should know first."

A slight pause halted the torches, flames flickering to measure their silence. Rubio beared his pose, a hand to his chin while patiently awaiting his captain's final decision.

"...Not everything said by Garea was a lie. The last exalt, my father, waged war on Gudora for many years. The violence..."

As if a rock thwarted his forehead, Sokara certainly felt his head throbbing from the word 'violence'

It was a temporary rush of tramutized memories, a feeling that only affected Sokara, Koshka, and Arc's memories. The Shepherd managed to sustain the tiny attack to his body as he fairly ignored the oncoming pressure points pinching his forehead any further.

Rubio saw it all but very well kept his sightings hidden deep in his heart.

With slight irritated irk, Sokara continued with deep difficulty, "It was a brutal campaign, ending only with his death 15 years ago. Gudora rightfully remembers their suffering, but his war was no kinder to his own people. As the fighting dragged on, our army became more and more diminished. Farmers who could barely wield a pitchfork were conscripted and sent to their deaths. Soon there was no food at all, and the kingdom began to collapse. I was young, but I remember those dark times. ...I know how they affected Arcturakos."

Hoots kicked in, accompanying further support of the tranquillity spiralling between them. Rubio undeniably shook his head as if Sokara was the last person he had standing on the very grounds of the ancient Royal Nagas. With his fingers lacing his tactician robe, Marco inhaled deep sympathy and honestly reasoned out his statement, "Such an experience would change anyone."

"Indeed. When our father died before her 10th year, he left Arc quite the legacy... Gudora's desire for vengeance... Our own people's unbridled rage... My sister became a target for blame on all sides. Her own subjects began to hurl insults-and stones. She still bears the scar from one... But she never let them see her pain. Only Koshka and I understood."

Rubio dunked the info rapidly into his head as if he wanted to dispatch this information to someone important. The dracoknight tactician verily readjusted his stance, his faux fur boots made from grade A Delyran leather gave him the rugged wits to scrap off the useless parts such as 'Becoming a target of blame' and 'Her own subjects hurling stones'

Clearing his throat faster than the rainstorms beyond the abandoned fort, Marco once again suppressed a sigh, "It must have been so hard..."

"I cannot claim to know how she does it, Marco." Sokara turned around to speculate at the dimmed carpet of green, the courtyard frankly frolicking with rosebushes and torches on tiki stands. The dracoknight tactician swore in his mind, digesting the sight infront of him.

Men rarely did cry unless pained themselves by thier tramutized past. A crystal tear of clear white, trickled down Sokara's cheek, dark brows niching to a squint.

"I could not greet such hostility with warmth and patience. While our people mocked and vilified her, she reached out and healed them. She brought soldiers home to their families. She ended the war. And when Delyra's spirit was mended and the people "forgave" her? ...She never resented them for it. She represents the best part of the halidom-the part most worth protecting. She IS peace. But some men would take advantage of that. Men like King Garea. The day he understands peace will be the day death gives it to him. ...So perhaps I must be death's agent. Arcturakos would never order him killed, nor would I wish her to."

Rubio had nothing to perceive. As long as Sokara stayed in good radius to his fellow Shepherds, that could fix his heart back into a spar of swordplay.

Feeling consent to warm him up, Marco began to stride to Sokara's side before a voice beat him to it.

"Well spoken, sir."

Sokara turned around, exhaling the sound to the familiar voice, "Lunaria..."

The Owl masked Swordsman respectfully bowed on one knee, "Good evening to you."

Shell-shocked at how this mysterious figure could teleport at ungodly times, Sokara took his bolt from the blue at greater heights and blinked in sheer revelation, "How did you get here?"

Hefting up a small smile, Lunaria merely pointed south towards the surface of the courtyard, her blade conjuring up a reflection of her entry. "The cleft in the castle wall, behind the maple grove. You wouldn't think I would appear right behind your back."

"There? But how would you...? Ugh." Sokara inhaled his greatest mistake while muttering out excusable jargon.

Rubio panned out the castle map in his humming thoughts and decided to drop the pin on the captain instead, "You know the place, Sokara?"

As heaving sighs would courage the disdained mutters and rubbing forehead temples, Sokara nodded out his sarcasm, "Yes. I bashed in part of the wall while training the Shepherds. It's only a small hole, and I'd thought it was well concealed, but..."

"Your secret is safe with me." Lunaria placed his gloved hand on the man's shoulders, draining away his headache. It seemed that Lunaria would serve as Delyra's best healer right next to Euriki. "I came here only to warn you."

That jolted Sokara into attention. "Warn us?"

"The exalt's life is in danger." Lunaria treasoned out, dragging their gazes to the waxing moon, the spectacular shine radiating a frowning portrait of Arcturakos on it.

"What, Arcturakos? That's absurd!" Sokara retaliated in deep distress, floummuxed at mention of the Exalt partaking in free adoption. "She's guarded at all hours."

"What if... What if I told you I have seen the future? Would you believe me? A future where Arcturakos vanishes from the face of Delyra. Here. Tonight?"

Rubio blinked back perplexion, much to remaining his guard and carefully listening in. As if the world was going to diminish past the full moon was a complete understandment.

Finding this absolutely absurd, Sokara shook his head in disarranged belief and denied his fact of the future. Stepping forward, he pointed an accusing finger at the swordsman's chest, a silent stare in his mask foretold his sketchy nonsense, "Seen the future? Have you lost your wits?"

"Yes, I expected you wouldn't believe me." Lunaria softly pushed Sokara aside, his vivid owl vision scanning the courtyard in a graceful arc. "So allow me to prove it!"

Quick and agile as a Pegasus staunched in flight, Lunaria drew out his blade, his agile movement locked instantly on an assassin bursting from the overhead trees.

Sokara tensed to place his hand on his own Ragnarok but was halted by Rubio.

With several Sol daggers lashed out from the Assassin's hands, his speedy pace charged directly for the brown haired icon. Lunaria carefully measured his distance and smirked at his enemy's false start.

"Bad move. Yah!" Hurling Ragnarok into the air, Lunaria staunchly leaped after it, directing it's boomerang attack on the Assassin's back. Resulting the motionless body into an instant kill, Rubio felt astonished on how Lunaria took him down in one hit. Even Sokara would not be able to master the Boomerang trick like the agile Owl.

"I do trust this proof will suffice?" Releasing his blade from the fallen assassin, Sokara could only witness in shock.

"Yeah..." Numbed at his heart, the Shepherd re-collected courage to calm his nerves down from the Assassin take down and carefully watched Lunaria sensing his radius.

The bushes drowned in shadows rustled to their obtrusive reveals, several Assassins flowed into the fray, unsheathing nothing but a flurry of Sol daggers clasped between their gloved hands. Lunaria measured his second mark to counter the oncoming attack but weighed out his failed chances on his scampering foot. Falling across the ground with a hard thud, he regained his strength to clamber back up on his two agile feet, only for the assassin to slash his owl mask in two halves. Gasping femininely over the shocked result, Lunaria urged himself to hide his face both form revealing his identity and blockade from Sokara's lunging strike.

Lunaria's base armour clinked in eagerness, his pose of light concern hovering over a ramshackled Sokara. Even Rubio fonded over in revelation towards the crossdressing newcomer.

Stunning brown hair began to untangle into a plethora of silky brown locks. Vivid almond brown strikingly matched Sokara's, her confident smile turned into an eager grunt.

"Wait, you're- You're a woman?" Sokara overdunked his mind, plaintively stumped over the fact that this woman might resemble familiar traits to someone he knew and dearly loved.

"Consider me quite the actress, too." Lunaria chuckled into a timid smile, acting as if she knew them from day one. Sheathing Ragnarok, she relaxed visibly thanks to Rubio's frightened expression. "Honestly, I'm surprised you didn't figure it out until just now."

"Uh." Sokara grunted in difficulty, taking in the beverage to digest whatever his mind distartled sight.

Faster than a Sniper's arrow, the ground shook in violent cracks, the distant rumbles jolted the trio's boots. A certain gasp from Lunaria brought them running towards the heavy smoke gathering in near proximity.

---

Castle Gudora CG

"Remember, I want the Emblem in my hand and Arcturakos dead on the floor. Let nothing distract you from either purpose." Garea sipped on his Devil Plum swishing around a copper grail, a metal rare in resource to Gudora's blight deserts. The old Madking sat in his deflated throne, brainstorming on his wonderful plans to retrieve the shield from Delyra's grasp.

"As you will." An Assassin judgmentally bowed down in respect, scampering away from the scene.

Garea heartlessly finished his beverage, a loyal gesture of flicking the grail and letting it twirl around Aegis's Scimtar lance was a fine notice for the absent Dark Flier to storm back in sheer temper.

Somewhere near the outskirts of the Madking's humble abode, Sobek stealthily unlocked one of the castle gates with a makeshift key from Shiida's crystal lace, an immidiate wedge in one of the castle clefts brought several guards passing by him. Loudmouthed talkers discussing about Garea's plan.

"Woah, woah, did I just hear that right?" Sobek's shock brought his thoughts into cautious whispers. "We're to KILL the exalt? I'm just here for the plunder. You know, line my pockets with some royal goods."

He then pocketed some whippersnappers, in hope for his best of raiding several Gudorian market stands.

"The exalt's such a sweet lady... Sure, I'll rob her blind, but I'd never harm her!"

He then went in.

---

Castle Delyrus CG

"Arc!" Sokara called out in urgency, his heart beating rapidly in two. Running through the Castle's Vault where Delyra's finest weapons were stored, Arc was busy dismantling the Emblem from it's acute stand.

The brown haired Exalt felt on the same page as the captain, apprehension lacing her foreboding face. The shield started to radiate in urgency, every slot except for Hoperl started to glow lunar blue. A defiant signal of treasuring value since the dawn of the Royal Nagas.

"Sokara! Take Koshka and flee while you still have time!" Arcturakos shoved the shield into Sokara's hands, the Ragnarok wielder questioning his mind on what kind of madness was going on.

More important lives were settle into safe haven than a lifeless shield labled as 'Divine Protection'.

Sokara immediately retaliated in urgency, his stressed out tone caused Arcturakos to glance up at him with clouded tears. A fierce yank took her yelping across the marble tiles, Sokara pleading out his cause, "No! We're not leaving you! Just stay where it's safe!"

"The assassins should scatter if we can defeat their leader." Rubio assessed, flickng out his Arcane tome to foresight Krotos.

---

Dragon's Gate

A shadowy figure stood between the pillars of the sacrificial well. How he pleased Garuga to steal numerous souls from innocent Akardian citizens and preciously treasure the Titan Hydra dragon at heart. He was just a Dark mage, rogue to Garea but viewed as a stunning leader of the Garugi. Many tome wielders of the Mage classes would arouse unconscious at how he was able to cope with the mercenary armour yet savagely wield a set of Dark type tomes, the unsettling skill would make Aegis retaliate in curses. The long extra spikes shooting out of his massive pauldrons and gloves were extracted from the fallen roskinsians during the Titan War. Roskinsian elf ears twitching in disgust, Krotos grunted out of self reliance and flicked out his Vortex tome. A purple aura began to swirl into a small portal, conjuring up the situation at Castle Delyrus.

"Hmph! Two assassins and the little princeling still there? ...Wait. Some of these actors do not belong on this stage..." Krotos carefully surveyed Sokara eliminating Assassins one by one while Rubio simply adored his Arcane tome mirror with a sober glare. The Dark mage smirked in satisfaction to the dracoknight tactician's successful camera pan.

The Arcane Emblem being escorted into the hands of a fleeing Arcturakos.

"Ho ho! Can it be?! After years of searching... Tonight, fate truly piles gifts at my feet!"

His endless laugh dived down the well, purple lines spiralling down in effect to Garuga's awakening.

---

Castle Courtyard CG

The three breathlessly caught up to Lunaria, the female sword wielder blinking cautiously towards her blade. The Triquetra branded on the middle Hilt of bronze began to radiate in urgency. Rubio took notice of this strange behaviour.

"Magnum Ursus is gleaming..." Lunaria extracted her moment into minutes, studying the spatial effect of proximity between the sword and the shield. "There is always a way to find hope. You just only have to believe in it."

Sokara justified this reason to Arcturakos, who merely nodded in concern. Whatever the grand connection is to Ragnarok, it must lie somewhere near the east of Akardos. Sighing plaintively while placing his hands on his hips, Sokara blustered out his concern, "What's wrong?"

Lunaria cleverly hid the glow with a simple hand, her agile glare at the castle doors mustered up a sober hiss, "Nothing of your concern."

"Fair enough, seems like nothing is ever with you." Sokara sensed doubt behind Lunaria's ambition towards Arcturakos's life in severe danger.

Feeling disturbed by Lunaria's antics, blades immidiatly clashed. The first time strike to hold each other down was a well approachable cause for Arcturakos.

"Tell me! Where in Solara did you come from and why are you mirroring my weapon?" Sokara felt his Ragnarok lowering under pressure from the dominating hold down. Lunaria merely expressed herself as a silent figure from the Delyran wayside, and brought up an uncaring tone, "My apologies. I thought you already knew from the Stormfang heritage. Hint word. Brown."

Sokara winced in difficulty. So many scenes of catastrophe and introductions of new friends. However, there was no time to waste. Plethora of rustling figures whooshed over them and bounded their stealthy trek towards the castle gates. Turning to face her, the captain remarked under stern commands, "Just stay at Arcturakos's door. We'll handle the killers."

Just before he could charge against the Assassins, Arcturakos caught his arm and whirled him around in distress, "Sokara, please! Flee while you still can! You each have but one life, and I do not wish it weighed against mine!"

"Sister." Sokara could only utter out words of sorrow. The minute silence of foreboding sibling sensation didn't last long until a figure jumped from behind them and took down two assassins.

"I knew there was wisdom slipping in with those rogues." the fursona stood up while sheathing Firefox. His whiskers twitched in defiance towards their enemy units. "Look at how these man-spawn claw at each other like savages! I will repay my warren's debt and then wash my hands of their race."

"Another assassin?" Sokara shook his head one more time to recognize the Shepherds' march to Kagia. But to no time waste, he shook off his memories and decided to attack the hooded Fursona. His stealthy jumps got him countering around Sokara, as fast as a Pegasus in flight. Even Rubio remarked on how fast this fire rabbit was.

"Hold!" Just before Sokara could strike him down, a blade interfered with his downward swing. The inferior clang sounded above the castle, bringing a chourus of crows flapping though the air.

Lunaria carefully sheathed back her Ragnarok, "Tenaki is not your enemy."

Sokara grunted lightly in understandment towards another recruited Shepherd. "Right. I know him from the day we marched to Regna Kagia. He's the last fursona on Akardos. Or it has been stated."

Tenaki's whiskers fairly twitched in perseverance as Lunaria stepped forward to study him in silent concern, "I know... of him. And I knew he would come here tonight."

"Quite the prophet, aren't you?" Sokara smirked while Lunaria wordlessly passed him.

The female Ragnarok wielder stood her ground and glanced over at Rubio, who was settling an oncoming perplexion. "As you say. And I swear to you, Tenaki is an ally."

"...Good enough for me." Sokara exhaled in relunctant nods and bustled up his orders. "All right, Shepherds! For now, we leave this fursona be."

Demiri caught his sense of reckless start and countered in ridicule, "Is that wise, Stormfang?"

Sokara merely hunched up his killer smile, a certain gesture that would relieve anyone's heart including the weeping Garugi. Carefully eyeing the brown haired blade wielder, his almond eyes softened to the warmest brown, "Lunaria has earned our trust. She enjoys her secrets, I know. ...Like her gender, for one. But she's also saved our lives. Twice. And that's enough for me."

Collecting his tremendous praise with her eavesdropping ears, Lunaria returned her gesture of thanks. Fingers curved into a spiralling owl's claw. "Sokara... Thank you."

The brown haired Shepherd seemed to digest her kindness at heart, albeit her agile skills in boomeranging her Ragnarok and mysteriously appearing in flickering gaps of time. He then posed as if danger was ahead, raising his own Ragnarok above him like a hero's bow, "Now, to the matter at hand: driving these scoundrels from our castle!"

---

As luck would bramble down the hills of Delyra, a certain thief born from the Durenian wayside cameoed his return stealthily behind the bushes.

"Nngh... Damn and double damn... I hate it when things... go sour..." Sobek whispered in frustration, cautiously stooping low behind a set of branches to evade danger from the oncoming Assassins flooding the castle like anchid parasites.

A clumsy step ahead and he was already limboed to arrest by a golden sword. "Drop your weapon, or die where you stand!"

"Easy there, Grizzlypaws. I'm not here to hurt anyone!" Sobek meekly heated his cheeks, using his right hand to lower down Ragnarok's tip while his left hand was still suspended into the air.

"...Yet you run with a band of assassins?" The unsatisfied sober look caused Sokara to cross his arms. Definitely not a good sign to Sobek. The thief witnessed many guards and patrolling strangers utilizing this gesture, a common gesticulation that is not be messed with.

"Believe it or not, just trying to make a living. I'm a thief of Durene, see?" He meekly waved an Onyx key in front of Sokara's tedious frown. "Bust open doors, crack into chests... that kind of thing. This lot said they wanted to break into some kind of vault. Nobody said anything about murder. I'd just as soon set this one out."

Since Snapperhook was an early recruit to the team, the thief did not act like he was supposed to be with candies bombarding his clumsy attire, whippersnappers glued to his waist while a set of lollipop sticks stuck out of his furry pauldrons. He resembled one of the mice that scuttled through hunger and emptiness.

Sokara checked it off his list with a hand to his chin. "Hmm... Then perhaps you'd be willing to prove your good intentions?"

"Beg pardon?" Sobek was busy fidgeting with his ear. After drastic amounts of knocking it off, a small gummi scaled dragon popped out from it's hive.

"We need all the help we can get to save the exalt's life. You appear capable of sneaking past our enemies, and we could use any information you have about our foes."

"Oh, right-those good intentions." Sucking madly on a Wolf Saffron flavoured lollipop, Sobek stood up and extended out a hand, "Fine then, I'll prove my sincerity... if you sweeten the deal."

Sokara noted a bronze ring on the thief's hand, marking that out from his wishlist. "You want gold? ...Fine, you scoundrel. Let me just-oops."

A turquoise silk pouch with a gold ribbon drawstring tumbled over from Sokara's blade case, Sobek greedily inhaling the lush scent of Eagle Buckthorn.

The gasp of concern was worth it. "Looks like you dropped something. What's in the satchel, mmm?"

After examining the bag from every side, Sokara felt embarrassed and hurriedly snatched the pouch away from the thief's dangling hands. "Nothing-candies for my little sister. I'm sure you-"

A lightning bolt broke from the blue, trapping Sobek into a romantic affection against the C word. "Caaaandies? As in, sugar caaaandies?"

Sokara blinked uncomfortably and dragged his awkward moment on the orange haired thief, "Well... yes. I assume they'd be sweet? But-"

As fast as Tenaki hopping across Falcon Claw Road, Sobek's hand yanked Sokara into catapulting hand shakes. "IT'S A DEAL!"

Flustered from the daze of Snapperhook's sheer excitement, Sokara gathered his courage and blinked back to express his shell shocked agape. "...You'll risk your life if I give you... a bag of candy?"

"I said 'sweeten the deal', didn't I?" Sobek found an ant crawling on the red planet of his furry pauldron system. He wearily flicked it off and assumed as if it didn't happen. Growing excited again, he slipped an arm around Sokara's neck, "Don't get me wrong, I'll take the Nerado, too. Later. Unless you've got more of these. ...Have you got more of these?!"

The brown haired Shepherd softly pushed him aside with an awkward gulp, "Um... I'll ask Koshka."

---

"Arcturakos was supposed to be an easy target... You will pay for interfering in my designs!" Krotos diminished the light purple portal and forebode danger arriving ahead to Castle Delyrus. Pacing around in impatient shuffles, the Gudorian Dark Mage halted his word on the tip of his tongue and seized interest in his only dark hierophant. "Well, well... Ha ha ha! Oh, I know you... Submit to me, and perhaps I might honor you with the truth!"

After the incredelous laugh, the results brought up his only foreboding mistake.

Without showing any regret to the Shepherds, he dramatically whined out his mock up defeat.

"No... This is... all wrong... How could... you have known the plan..."

Sokara charged for Krotos before Ragnarok transpierced the empty space before him...

---

Castle Delyrus Grand Hall

"Thank the gods you're safe!" Arcturakos protectively hugged Sokara before bowing infront of her with respect. The exalt waved it off with a warm smile.

"It is you I have to thank, Sokara." her graceful almond eyes vividly spotted out hate speech scribbled over a cluster of Abyss Leaves.

"I beg your forgiveness, Stormfang!" Jade bursted out her failure to defend castle grounds, "I failed in my duty-they should never have made it into the castle in the first place."

Her silent wailing clamoured into loud sobs, pushing herself against Sokara's waist. Despite her tiny height, Koshka gazed at the fact of traiting the same Delyran Royalty even if they were tasked different classes.

A gentle hand ruffled through her silky black strands, "Peace, Jade. You couldn't have known what was coming. Only Lunaria could..."

"...Lunaria?" Arcturakos hacked the name as if it had a stellar description similar to hers.

Sokara felt awkward for a moment and franctically looked around in search of the brown haired swordsman, "Yes, I would speak more with... Um... Marco, where's Lunaria?"

Rubio measured out his reason, "Hmm... An excellent question. She was here a moment ago..."

"...Not again!" Heart racing in urgent despair, Sokara dashed off with out a single trace of goodbye. The rest of the Shepherds including Arcturakos could only grip silence in superfaction.

---

Grass crushed with every step she took. Sorrow gripped her heart but neverthless shewed it to anyone but herself. Halting with confidence, she turned around to gaze at the castle once more. The sight of gray shrouded under the aura glow was never a forgetful memory. Smiling, she continued her path until urgent footsteps behind her halted her trek of silence.

"Going somewhere? You have a bad habit of leaving without saying goodbye, you know."

Turning around, she found Sokara intercepting her thoughts. Both of them stood under the stars of the castle courtyard, Hazel Chervil trees swaying lightly to the breeze.

"Yes, I'm afraid I was born with few bad habits." Lunaria coldly reasoned, feeling Sokara tensing up to her cause.

"Good ones as well-you saved my life, as well as both of my sisters." A chuckle escaped from the Shepherd's killer smile, Lunaria unable to digest humor. "Is there some way I can repay you? Some favor I can grant?"

The brown haired swords owl softly sighed before showing forth her tiny smile, "Hearing you offer a reward is enough."

With a curt pivot, she faced away from Sokara and continued to walk her path. The capitan of the Delyran Shepherds felt as if this was of importance and spread out his urgency at a higher level, "But there must be something..."

Blue metallic boots halted across the rocky path. Lunaria blinked in seldom confidence and faced him as if in a inferior duel, "I already have what I came for. History has been rewritten."

"And what future averted?" Sokara's tense grew to deep despair. Lunaria noted this as 'tumbling concern'

"After the exalt's untimely assassination, the Arcane Emblem would be stolen. This, in turn, would lead to a great war, and soon to the end of mankind itself. ...But I'm sure that sounds like madness to you."

Still, Sokara chained invisibly to Lunaria, not letting her go for a single second. The act of searching answers behind questions was the sole purpose of the Shepherds and a prideful duty to attain peace through Akardos.

"...Strangely, not that I have planned out. It doesn't. Somehow I know I can trust you. And I hope someday to repay your favors."

Albeit Ragnarok mirroring Ragnarok, both blades began to glow green before dimming according to Lunaria's farewell, "Perhaps one day you shall. Until then..."

Stabbed by guilt in accordance to the buffering breeze, Sokara could only grunt in reliance to the mysterious masked wielder.

---

Meanwhile, Tenaki was amazed at the fact that he was being praised by the certain exalt of Delyra.

"Brave fursona, there are no words enough to express my gratitude." Arcturakos inhaled a bright smile from the anthomorphic fox wielding a royal blade.

Tenaki's jet black ears pricked up in curiosity, "So you know our true name?"

"I'm sorry, but what's a fursona?" Rubio felt uninformed in everything he saw. Tenaki unleashed a doubtful glance as if it was obvious on what he actually was.

"I'm fursona. The... The last fursona. We are foxy hybrids mingled with rabbit ichor. Most of your kind calls us "beast" or "coney" in the midst of their hunt. I only helped because my warren owes Delyra a debt. Don't think us as enemies, you and I!" Tenaki jabbed a playful finger at Rubio, causing him to limbo backwards until he fell to the floor. Arcturakos and Koshka held in thier laughs. Tenaki sarcastically crossed his arms in non chalance, "Besides, you were hogging for those pies at the Ruby Fox. Can't reckon why you forgot about me all of a sudden."

"I don't understand..." Marco's amnesiac brain kicked in once again.

Tenaki sighed deliberately and started from the top, "Yeah, it's precious little your kind seem to understand. It was man-spawn like you that invaded our warren and slaughtered my people."

"What?!" Arcturakos's shell shocked fear deepened far superior over the furry restaurant owner. "Is this true? Who would do such a thing?"

"Ha! Don't act so shocked. You are all the same. Right down to your base, desire to ruin and destroy all your touch-even each other." Tenaki exaggerated his chuckle into several clicks of his teeth.

Measuring out her calm sorrow, Arcturakos gave out a gentle smile and tailored the fursona with slight backdrop story, "...There is truth to your words, perhaps. I'm told that, in fursona society, everyone is treated as an equal. Mankind could learn much from your warren. The words may come too late and mean too little, but I am deeply sorry. We have stolen your friends and family and made the world a lesser place."

Jade immediately retaliated into squeaks of pressured flashbacks, "Your Grace-you had no fault in this!"

"You claim to be blameless, and yet you would apologize? Pah! Your words are wind to me." Tenaki raised an sarcastic brow, feeling potent on the fact that Arcturakos meant no harm to him, even though his species was wrecked out of existence.

Still, the exalt beared his words and suppressed a sigh of gratitude, "I know... But they are all I have to remember for."

After a sincere amount of tranquillity, the vines on the mural grew a tad inch to the right, thorns seeping into view. Tenaki shook his head in honarary return, "...You seem sincere, man-spawn. You feel my pain as your own. ...I've never felt that before. Look at me. ...See what I am. I will never trust mankind. But you... Perhaps you truly are not like the others."

The exalt confirmed his gratitude, "All I ask if a chance to earn your trust."

---

Folly near Castle Gudora

Krotos cursed over his failures for retrieving the Arcane Emblem. Shifting himself over to a dark void, he carefully watched the Delyran gang embracing in victory over a lousy shield.

"Nngh... How?! My purpose is too significant... to be thwarted... here... Aaargh..." Clutching his head as if maintaining a massive headache, the Gudorian Dark Mage unsheathed Oblivion and allowed the Fang of Garuga to slice through the vortex.

Krotos held his breath for a cautious second.

A shadowy figure stood in place of where the vortex hummed in front of him, revealing it's lower body conjurned with a black and purple robe.

Krotos... the whispers casually entered his hollow ears as if wind suddenly had the ability to take over anyone's mind.

Krotos grunted in difficulty but nevertheless allowed this invisible intruder to possess his body.

"What? Who are you... Where did you... come from?"

I am the power that compels you. You will not perish here. It is not written. You must live on to author a destiny greater than you know.

"I-impossible! It can't be you! It can't be..."

I am the wings of despair. I am the breath of ruin. I am the Titan Hydra dragon, Garuga...

A pertified scream tore through the folly before the whispers left his motionless body.

---

Castle Delyrus CG

The Delyran league were almost to moreover in regards of escorting Arcturakos safely away from Delyrus. Koshka sprouted no remarks while the others vivdly shared thier opinions.

"It will take time to investigate how the assassination plot got so far. We have no leads at present." Jade sighed with fashioned sorrow, the little pegasus knight tending to her armor wing like she would do on Corasta's pegasus.

"It was Gudora! I'm certain of it. They'd do anything for the Emblem." Lashing out his raged complaint, Sokara softly eased at the sight of the exalt giving him a sorrow gaze. The Shepherd immediately disputed to her with urgency. "Arc, you can't stay here. Come to Kagia where it's safe."

"And leave the people undefended? War is at our borders, Sokara. Do you expect Delyra to stand against Gudora without a leader? They must know their exalt stands with them."

Backtracking his thoughts from the castle courtyard that evening, Sokara and the others re visioned Arc's statement. Of course, if the main icon of Delyra was absent from her throne, it would be rather obvious free to the other nations to hoggle over it.

Time raced as Sokara's grip on Arc became more urgently fair, "But if something happens to you? What then?"

Arc could only feel pain and silence coursing through herself. Demiri stepped up with helpful advice, "Your Grace, perhaps you might relocate to the eastern palace for the time being? The other kingdoms would know nothing of it. You would be safer."

"Yes, please. At least that. I can't leave for Kagia with you right in harm's way." Sokara rubbed his temples tiringly, the common gesture of the certain Shepherd falling into franctic situations very easily.

"...Hmm. Very well." Arcturakos wisely hummed in thought.

A sigh of relief conducted Sokara's mind as he let loose his killer smile, "Thanks, Arc. I mean it. We'll escort you to the palace before we head north to the border."