In the ruins of Eldoria…
The civilians of Eldoria were scattered across the land, many tried to run off to neighboring kingdoms to escape, yet they all got caught and killed.
The humans that were kept alive? They're forced to work.
Bones, skulls, ribs, everywhere on the ground, everywhere you step.
The Archs with their superior strength managed to remodel the castle.
Before it was light and gold, showing off prosperity and religion.
Now only dark shades have remained.
Archon was sitting on the throne. "What's the worth of soldiers… towers… walls… if they can't scratch a monster?" he said.
"Your majesty, we had caught a spy. He told us that we should be scared because reinforcements are coming,"
"Ah, yes… the classic tactical call… Archs used to be the laugh of the century, never mentioned, forgotten as if we were WEAK!... Humans, elves, giants, goblins, fairies… never Archs… And yet now that we show ourselves they need multiple kingdoms to take down a small army of 20,000 Archs"
"The king of the Viscon Kingdom has spoken up and said that he'll make sure he'll stop any Arch from attacking. Should we spread out?"
"No… No, don't… I want to see how deep in our land they're willing to step… I hate their audacity… They act like gods but on the battlefield… they perish… they're fragile… small… incapable of destruction… Go tell the slaves, that their 'heroes' are coming"
"Yes, your majesty!"
The soldier got up and left.
***
Rulers Meeting, Julshert Empire.
The air was heavy, words scattered across the room, arguments broke out, kings that were once at war now forced under the same roof
"What do you mean you can't send soldiers to Viscon!? ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MINDS!?? Just look at me! My face can't be ruined by these monsters! They ripped King Forgy from head to toe! They're savages! Savages!" said King Henry of Viscon.
"We understand your concern, King Henry… Yet it's too risky… The most we can do for you is give shelter in Julshert," said Emperor Julian.
"Shelter in your empire? Yeah, I don't need a useless kingdom like Viscon! The people don't like me anyway, they were rebelling for my death, let them die" replied King Henry.
Hm… That was quick, thought Emperor Julian.
This was a meeting, an urgent one. After the fall of Eldoria the 18 Grand Rulers decided on a meeting and now here they are.
Emperor Julian's eyes drifted towards Emperor Quinox of Lumisis. After a few seconds of analyzing he speaks, "You've been quiet, Sir Emperor Quinox,"
Emperor Quinox stared around, snot dripping from his nose. It was clear he wasn't interested in being here.
"What are you idiots staring at?! Be grateful I'm even standing here!" said Emperor Quinox. He sat slumped in his golden chair, picking on his nose and wiping it off his royal robes.
Queen Mira of Lylit chuckled nervously. I wonder how Lumisis is standing with such an emperor, she thought. Everyone here has dignity, the slightest bit of nobility implemented in them… but him?...
"I propose an alliance," Emperor Julian declared, "A temporary alliance until the fall of the Archs. It'll be beneficial," his eyes were cold, he inspected the room, the Rulers.
"You will all die," Emperor Quinox said while staring around at the ceiling. Aelion told me to not accept anything… hahah, I'm so smart, I'm making him feel inferior! Emperor Quinox thought
"An alliance? Hmm… Considering the threat, it's probably the best option we have," said King Vergo of Halstarn.
…
17 out of 18 states agreed. The Defense Accord was founded.
***
The group was traveling through a forest, near their destination
"Mr. Sahin… You said you wanted to tell us something" Seren reminded.
"Oh, yeah! Almost forgot!" Sahin chuckled. "We need to get you some weapons, and also, you need to learn about the importance of names"
"Names? What importance could a name have?" asked Zorn.
"Power is what describes something unnatural, techniques are the type of magic, for example… Fire! And abilities are the attacks derived from the technique," Sahin explained. "Warriors give names to their abilities to make them stronger. The closer your bond is to your technique, the stronger it becomes. You cannot create a bond with someone if you don't even know their name, no?"
"So, we have to create names " Zio scoffed.
"Old man! When are we even going? I'm hungry, my legs are going to fall down!" Rami whined.
"We're near!" Sahin chuckled. "We're stopping at the Warriors town, Maceiston"
***
Maceiston.
The group has arrived in Maceiston.
There was a market, filled with stands, people selling anything from food to weapons and armory.
Voices filled the town, the rough sound of blades hitting each other came from the Arena, multiple scents of various foods hypnotizing Rami.
The people were bold, they kept bumping into each other, shouting, yelling, they weren't trying to stay down, they were trying to be the center of attention in a town made for warriors.
Rami stared around, his eyes indecisive of what to explore first… until in the corner of his eyes he saw it… a food competition!
Without a thought he ditched the group for his own selfish reasons.
"We should've placed him on a leash," muttered Horatius.
"Well, we came here to get some equipment, and maybe join some contests. So, let him run off" said Sahin.
Sahin began walking with the kids following behind. It was a mess, the people were so violent with the bumping and pushing that from time to time the kids had to jump out of their way because a man would come falling their way.
Zorn smiled at the sight. "So this is how a warrior town behaves?" He said, his eyes sparkling, thinking back at some of his favorite warriors and how rough they were.
"If you're enjoying this then you're a masochist," Horatius said.
"Mind your own business, you jerk!" barked Zorn.
Eventually the group arrived in front of a store. The store was medium size, boxy, it was a shade of red with a hammer and sword swinged against each other above the opening door as decoration.
The group entered inside. It was a whole different story from what was going outside. The customers were behaving, as the owner studied everyone.
It was cool inside the store, just the right temperature. Blades from swords, hammers, daggers, scythes were on display. The ones at lower prices looked completely like normal ones, while the more expensive ones had more unique attributes.
"Hey, old man Min! How have you been doing?" smiled Sahin.
Old man Min glanced at the group, with a soft smile he said, "Well, look who decided to visit"
Sahin chuckled and said, "I came here for some equipment"
Old man Min examined the boys and walked up to them. "Hmm… I think I can give them fitting weapons"
Sahin steps aside, "Come on tell old man Min what you want" he said.
Zorn, the bravest, stepped forward and said with a raised tone, "I want a scythe, sir!"
Old man Min smacked him across the face and shouted, "Don't yell in my store, brat!"
Zorn fell sideways and slowly stared up at old man Min with a shocked expression.
Zorn's eyes were burning from humiliation, he got up and shouted back, "Bastard! I have pride, and if you wanna challenge me, I'll fight right here right now!"
Old man Min stared at Zorn calmly. The line on his face formed into a smirk, "I have the perfect weapon for you," he approved.
Zorn stood shook, feeling the smack was way too harsh for a test.
"You're harsh, dark, imposing!" old man Min said, "You're fit of a scythe able to perform dark magic," he walked up to the display section and took a scythe.
The scythe was long, sharp, the blade had some cracks, perhaps to make every strike hurt more, it was a very dark shade, even the blade itself leaned towards a darker shade.
Zorn walked up to old man Min and stared at the scythe, "Wow…" he whispered more to himself.
"A warrior like yourself is flashy, special, unique, easily remembered. A normal weapon wouldn't fit you, no?" old man Min said.
Zorn gripped the Scythe's handle and swung it around.
"It's so light!" Zorn exclaimed.
Old man Min chuckles and says, "It's because of mana. Mana is able to shift the weight of a weapon when neutral. Just watch out for when you use the scythe's abilities, you'll feel the weight of a boulder on your shoulders,"
Zorn stared at the pay tag and… 95,000 gold coins… He stared, his face mortified. "95,000!? This is for nobility!" he panicked.
Old man Min chuckles while patting his shoulders. "Don't worry, I'm giving it to you for free. My joy isn't selling weapons, it's selling it to the right person,"
Zorn stared for a few seconds before his eyes drifted back to the scythe. He gripped it tighter as he was holding back a smile.
Old man Will turned towards the other kids, staring them up and down. He sat down at a table, pointed at Seren and said, "You, come sit,"
Seren awkwardly went up to the table and sat across old man Will.
"Y-yes?" Seren stuttered.
Old man Will stared and stared then he said, "What do you like to do?"
"W-well… I like…" but internally he was a mess. Does he expect something philosophical? Will he slap me like he slapped Zorn if I say something wrong? he thought.
He smiled shyly and said, "Uh… I like to talk to animals?"
Old man Min stared… then he said, "Is that so? I like talking to animals too,"
Seren grew amazed at his words. "R-really?" he stuttered thinking that maybe this will go well.
"No, I highly disapprove of people that talk to animals. What do you get out of it? Animals don't talk, they're not humans"
Seren stood in shock, not having a single word to reply with. He stared down at the ground with a defeated look.
Old man Min got up. "Get up. I need to inspect your body to see what suits you best"
Seren slowly got up, staring down at the ground as he approached old man Min.
Old man Min pretended to inspect Seren's physical state. All of a sudden he strikes… a precise strike of his fist, right in the upper abdomen.
Seren's breath was knocked out of his lungs. He doubled down on the ground, throwing up what he ate before the adventure. He was trying to regain his breath and his eyes were tearing up.
"Why? Why wouldn't you fight back? It's what you like to do. Why would you let me walk over your opinion like that!?" Old man Min barked.
"Don't you feel what you are? You're chosen by Fate! Yet you waste it by being a puppy!" Old man Min continued, raising his hand.
Sahin stepped up and held out a hand, giving old man Will a disapproving look.
Zorn walked up to Seren. "Are you alright? This bastard can strike good" he said.
Seren slowly whispered, "Why?"
Zorn managed to catch that. "People of his generation are some of the most brutal people in history," he said.
Seren stared up at old man Min, his eyes tearing up. "What do you get from acting like this!? It's because of people like YOU! Those innocent children are left without parents, men die, nations collapse! All because of your type! All you see is war, and battles, and having an honorable death, that's why humans are detested! That's why we can't evolve as beings!"
"Yet you're going on a journey to stop the biggest war hungry beings in existence! What are you doing to do for the team? Let them do all the fighting while you encourage them with your stupid philo-"
"I'll rescue them! I'll bring those people to safety! If we keep going at each other's throats, we will never forgive each other! We will hate each other until one of us perishes!"
Old man Min stared at Sahin. "What do you think about this? Is this what you raised?" he asked
Sahin chuckled. "Sorry, I'll have to take my kid's side," he said
Old man Min stood there… and sighed… "I don't think I can give him a weapon," he said.
Sahin smiled and said, "That's alright, I don't think he wants one"
Seren got up. He stared at old man Min with defiance, his eyes red from the tears. "I'll show you that you don't need to be a warrior to be strong"
Old man Min didn't say anything in response. Warriors have massive egos. Even a composed man like Min feels something whenever warriorism is challenged.
Old man Min's gaze shifted towards Horatius. "What about you? What do you like to do?"
Horatius smirked and pretended to think. "Hmm… There are many things I love and hate" he said after a moment.
This boy is a trouble maker, he's going to challenge my perspective. Not because he's as soft as the puppy, but because he thrived feeling on top, old man Min thought.
"Is that so? What do you love and hate then?" old man Min asked.
"I hate when someone tries to spread their perspective onto me, as if they know better. I love when that person submits in humiliation"
"And out of everyone you chose me… I have the perfect weapon for you, j-"
"Weapon?" Horatius interrupted. "Who says I need a weapon? A weapon is just an extension of your limb. If warriorism prohibits any advantage in battle, why are weapons allowed? Are you that weak?"
Old man Min's veins flared at the comment. "Excuse me? Are you searching for a fight?" he said.
"You're old… you're prideful… you're short, I thought warriors were tall enough to reach the stars" Horatius said.
"You have seen nothing of the real world. What you have to do to survive. You'll die in your first battle with such…"
"Elira Glavyberne is undoubtedly the best warrior ever. Her most famous quote was on her death bed, 'If warriorism wouldn't have existed, humans would've had less frequent wars'. How come you warriors worship the same person that saw warriorism as a chain locked to the human species?"
Sahin sits at a table, clapping and whistling. "Woo! He's got a point, I think I heard that quote once in my life!"
Zio and Bellator have already sneaked out. They weren't going to try out their luck especially when they knew Horatius would drive the man insane.
Zorn has also left, followed by Seren. He wanted to go watch some battles, and to make sure he doesn't do anything stupid, Seren joined.
Old man stared at Horatius before shouting, "Get out, you brat!"
Horatius smirked and walked off. "You were easy to break. If everyone will be like you, I'll have more fun than ever" he said before disappearing out of sight.
Old man Min sat across Sahin rubbing his head, "They're as stubborn as you! Especially the puppy"
Sahin chuckled. "Is he? I think he's way better than me" he said.
"I remember when you were my student," old man Min said. "You were so… energetic, you dreamed and trained daily to become a warrior. Yet now when I look at you… I don't see that spark anymore, as if you left it all behind. You had such a wonderful spark in your eyes"
Sahin chuckled as he leaned back. "The spark hasn't disappeared… it has become too bright to be noticed by one" he said.
The two stared at the wall in silence for multiple minutes. The silence was almost painful, so many words waiting to be exchanged, yet none saying a single one.
"Where are you planning to go?" old man Min finally asked.
"Well, I guess where we land," Sahin replied.
"I see… I recently heard some rumors. It's said that a village nearby has been captured by bandits. Some of the bandits also have powers from what I have heard. If you need, I'll give you a map," old man Min said.
Sahin glanced at old man Min. "Thank you, old man Min"
"You're also old!"
"I'm only 46!"