Sorry for delayed release, I had a family thing to attend.
(AU: wtf I didn't realize that this is 4600 word long until now.)
Continent of Esmeralda
Minas, Capital of the Kingdom of Epruilon
The city was in celebration.
They were celebrating the end of a civil war which embroiled the nation for four months.
The death of King Leo Wallace II enabled 2nd prince Joseph Wallace to usurp his older brother crown prince Phillip Wallace.
The dispute originated from the fact that Phillip was of lower standing than Joseph. Phillip's mother was a baroness while Joseph's was a countess.
Nobles who recognised this discrepancy encouraged Joesph to lead his siblings in a coup against his older brother, hence the Junta was born.
The crown faction led by the crown prince also included the master marshal of the nation, crown nobles led by Duchess Nina who was their aunt and two of the prince's siblings. 4th Prince Andrew Wallace and 2nd princess Adriana Wallace.
The support for the crown was spare due to the Junta utilizing many of their resources to sway public opinion to their side.
The first battle several km from the capital ended in a rout for the crown. The next one too was also a catastrophe. The crown faction simply did not have the support nor power to fight the far more influential Junta. The war was decided from the start but the crown prince would not go down without a fight.
The final battle which took place on the Plains of Roanoke in the lower lands ended in an annihilation of the crown faction.
Two factors which led to the Junta's easy victory was the betrayal of General Carlos Nelson who opened the rear of the crown faction's army in the Plains of Roanoke and the employment of 'Heroes'.
The Junta had allies abroad, specifically from the Alliance of the Middle World. These were nations who existed in the center of the world and collaborated with one another.
Two nations which bordered the Kingdom from the north, the Emirate of Perseus and Empire of Fire supplied enough magical crystals which were mined from magical caves and dungeons.
These crystals were sent over the Alnus Mountain Range which formed the border between all three nations in the upper lands.
Use for these crystals were many. You could fuel magical spells, run magical devices or use them as catalysts for reactions. However they could be used to summon beings from other worlds.
'Heros' or 'summons' could be summoned but it relied on quality of crystals, skill of caster and other variables, basically a gacha system.
13 heroes and 10 million lesser summons were summoned. These 'heroes' were of another world which the casters did not know.
They were trained in secret in the time leaded up to the outbreak of the civil war.
These heroes were effective in taking out enemy special forces and served as icons for the people.
Summons were substitutes for soldiers and used as cannon fodder.
The heroes underwent intense training and indoctrination which made them forget their lives back in their old world.
There were those who resisted but they were subdued with long exposures to control magic which only worked on summons which heroes technically were.
Things they did reveal to the casters revealed that they did not all come from the same world. They came from different world with similarities but fundamentally different.
Using all of these resources they easily won the war.
Colorful pieces of paper were thrown from the windows of the 2-story buildings lining the streets. Banners were hung from windows and on drying lines which stretched across the streets.
The civil war was over!
The Junta which took control of the nation was very popular in the north where the capital rested.
The capital city of Minas was located on a island in the middle of a river (AU: like Technochitlan or Manhattan) in the middle lands of the Kingdom of Epruilon. The upper lands were mountainous and the lower lands were full of fertile plains.
This central location as well as a optimal defensive structure made the island a perfect place for a capital.
The capital has long outlived its walls surrounding the island so more walls were built around the entire lake the capital was built on. Outside these walls even more buildings and streets sprawled.
All three million of its inhabitants were joyous for winning the civil war.
During the parade the soldiers wearing blue uniforms with iron plate and mail armor marched down the largest street to the cheers of the crowd which gathered to celebrate.
Various formations of infantry who wielded muskets, swords, spears and pikes marched by as well as formations of cavalry and large lizards who hauled bronze cannons.
After the military went by war spoils were carted on floats.
First came carts of weapons and gold looted from various defeated crown lords.
Next came lines of POWs who were chained at the neck and feet. Majority of them were soldiers who surrendered in combat. Several were nobles who sided with crown faction.
Paraded on a horse was Duchess Nina Wallace who was not stripped of her expensive clothes but chained at the hands.
The body of crown prince Phillip Wallace was crucified on a cross and hauled on a float.
It was grim scene as his body was stripped of all clothes but a loincloth around his waist. Nails were hammered into every part of his body regardless of location.
It was as if one was looking at a pincushion.
The depressed and pained facial expressions did not stop the crowd from cheering as they were losers of the war.
The final float came by and the 13 heroes stood on the float. Along with the heroes were the Royal family and prominent nobles from the Junta.
They waved to the crowd and they cheered back.
After the parade they held executions for prominent VIPs who were captured.
Many nobles were beheaded on a public guillotine except the Duchess who was forced into a marriage with General Carlos Nelson in order to legally obtain her title and land as killing someone of royal blood was damaging to the image of the Junta.
The execution transitioned into a crowning ceremony held inside the Royal Chamber inside the palace.
It was a large palace which was surrounded by its own high walls and moat. Its strategic location on a hill in the center of the capital made it easy to govern and defend.
Lavishly decorated hallways and extravagant chambers were strewn all throughout the palace. In the center of it was a throne room.
Inside the Royal Palace the 2nd prince sat on the empty throne. A cardinal from the Faith of Light approached him and placed a crown on his head.
Cheers erupted from the Junta affiliated nobles and royalty. Officially the nation belonged to the Junta.
"At last. I finally have my rightful inheritance."
Joseph was speaking to his siblings who followed him, 3rd prince Zane Wallace, 5th prince Chrles Wallace, 1st princess Elizabeth Wallace and 3rd princess Jade Wallace.
"Charles, how goes the search for our dear 2nd princess and 4th prince."
"Nothing at the moment brother. However I sent my most elite unit to apprehend them. Have no worries brother, I will catch them!"
Zane and Jade glanced at each other before glancing at Charles. They couldn't believe how much he was sucking up to their older brother.
Joesph nonchalantly regarded his youngest brother and turned to his older sister.
"Elizabeth, how goes negotiations into our entry into the Alliance of the Middle World?"
Elizabeth stepped forward and spoke. Her soft voice was hard to hear but siren-like an enchanting.
"Elizabeth, please control your 'laced tongue'"
Elizabeth cupped her mouth and then tried to speak again.
"I am sorry brother, I will try harder to control it. We are still in negotiations. They are demanding large repayments for the magical crystals even though they agreed for no repayments. I guess their foreign office was caught assisting us and need a way to make up their help to avoid punishments. This may delay us as it would take 5 years to repay them."
"Ah what a pain. I regret accepting their help now. We need to enter that alliance to get better technologies."
Joseph was rubbing his forehead with his left hand. A headache was starting.
"Just report to me if anything of concern happens. Im going to rest now."
Joseph dismissed his siblings and headed to his room. It was his old room as the room of his father was still being cleaned out for him.
"Ahhhh what a pain. Each and every one of these pains!"
Joseph had just won the civil war but two key figures were still on the run. That and his backers had turned their back on him and are focing demands. Joseph knows that the Kingdom is in no way able to combat them at their strength now.
Just then three sharp knocks rattled against his bedroom door.
Joseph quickly composed himself and sat up straight in the edge of his bed.
"Come in."
A man walked in with plated armor. His curled moustache formed swirls on each side.
"Your majesty, I have a particular report that may interest you."
"Oh, do tell me."
Joseph was needing anything good to happen, his day was ruined with bad news.
"Fishermen in the port city of Wallaceburg have been spreading rumors of land spotted in the Abyssal Bay. As you know your majesty our nation is a peninsula branching off the southern part of the continent of Esmeralda. Open sea is to our west and south but now in the east our land curls around and forms a bay with the Empire of Kursk all the way across the bay. The mouth of this bay was completely open until recently. A large landmass now blocks the mouth of the bay and several large islands populate the middle of the bay. I don't know why or how we never noticed this land but we know of it now.
Our spies an moles in the Empire of Kursk and Emirate of Perseus note that they too have noticed this land recently and are making plans to land on these lands as well. We share a land border with this new land, we should take it first and expand our power."
Joseph was in awe. He didn't care to check to see if the fisherman's tale was true. The fact that major powers were taking action was enough to convince him of the validity of this report.
"Where did Adriana and Andrew run off again?"
"Your majesty, they have fled south. It is not known whether or not they intend on fleeing to this new land. This is even more the reason to move first."
Joseph could not believe his luck. A giant piece of unclaimed land just fell into his hands without him doing a thing.
The south was a rather neglected part of the Kingdom. The vast majority of industry and ports were in the north closer to other nations. The south was underdeveloped and lacking in resources so it makes sense that the full extent of the south was still unknown.
"Let the army rest for two weeks. In that time we will prepare to march south. We must take this land and force the Alliance to accept us as equals.
"Yes your majesty!"
______________
"Brother. We have been on the run for several days now. When will we reach Wallaceburg?"
Adriana and Andrew were hiding in a bush. They have been running for days now. Soldiers and elite guards combed the countryside looking for them. Without his magical proficiency Andrew reckons that they would have been caught already.
"Look. remember that hill over there? Father used to take us running up that will when he tool us all on vacation."
Andrew pointed to a hill which was on the outskirts of Wallaceburg.
"We are close."
Before they were able to raise their heads more footsteps echoed.
"Down!"
Andrew grabbed the head of Adriana and they both fell flat on the ground.
They lay there without moving. Any movement will give away their position.
"Move around! They must be close!"
More shuffling of feet and the distinct clank of metal armor hitting itself.
""How did they find us? We were never trailed until now!""
"Baron Hess, please cast that magic again."
"With pleasure.."
Andrew peeked out a gap in between the bushes and spotted a mage.
His floppy had and purplish robe were distinct to the blue uniformed soldiers who roamed around the trees along the road.
A man stepped out of the shadow of a large tree, Andrew recognised him. The officer who almost captured them before was present.
Ändrew was eavesdropping on their conversation.
"How is the trail? Are you sure they are here."
The baron/mage turned around and frowned.
"Sir Alex, I may be a mage but I am still a baron. Watch your manners."
The officer Alex scoffed.
"I am the top officer who leads the 5th Prince's Elite Guards. I think I have quite the backing no?"
The baron paled. He knows of the executions of those who spoke out against the Junta. Anyone remotely connected to the Royal family was dangerous.
"I misspoke."
They continued to comb the vegetation.
"Brother, this is bad. They are going to find us at this rate. They are not here yet. Lets flee."
"No. Then they will shoot us. The mage can probably just heal us after. Its too risky."
Just then a low hum started to buzz.
Andrew watched the soldiers notice the sound and start looking around.
"Baron! Is that you casting something?"
"No it is not me!"
The two glanced around cautiously.
Then suddenly a large black shadow covered the land. A huge cross shaped being passed overhead.
"DRAGON, GET TO COVER!!!"
All of the soldiers dove into the vegetation and shrank into the treeline. The mage and officer Alex also hid.
Andrew and Adriana took the opportunity to run.
"Brother! What about the dragon?"
"Doesn't matter! We die either way!"
They kept running until they got far enough from the soldiers to rest. They sprinted up the hill and entered a meadow.
Andrew collapsed onto the soft earth as they approached the land beyond the hill. Flowers of various colors and sizes covered the land.
"Ha, ha ha (AU: labored breathing). We made it over!"
Adriana was bending over with her hands on her knees. Her once yellow dress was shredded and muddy.
Andrew looked down to his ripped shirt and tattered pants. They really look like fugitives.
"Brother, do you have any more water?"
Andrew checked his pockets. A small flask was left.
He threw the flask to Adriana who took a small sip of water.
She capped the flask and threw it back.
Andrew took out a even smaller flask from his pocket. A small bottle of a magical serum. The age restriction for this substance was 18 years so he was legally allowed to take it since he was of age.
He capped it and drank all of the serum.
"Brother! You said you wouldn't drink that!"
"Shut up. We don't have much water and I need to get my energy back. You can't have it since you are only sixteen."
They knew that they couldn't rest. They had to make it to Wallaceburg.
After several more minutes they finally continued walking to the medium sized port city.
"The Master Marshal will meet us here, right?"
Andrew pondered as they walked down the hilly meadow.
"I don't know, let's hope so."
Several animals poked their heads from the large flowers to observe the pair. They didn't really pay them much attention except when they got too close, in which they hissed at them.
They didn't encounter more soldiers which was strange.
"This is a good sign."
They opted to take the road now. They face and hair were more grubby than before. It would be hard to recognise them without using magical detectors which could detect their Royal rings which had a unique magical wave.
They hurried down to the open gates of the port city.
There weren't any people trying to enter the port since it was far south and underdeveloped.
Two guards stood at the gates. One was sleeping while standing up while the other noticed Adriana and Andrew.
He walked over with a spear in hand and looked up and down at the two.
"Show identification."
Andrew froze. Were they friendly?
"Sir I lost my identification. We were being chased by bandits."
The guard raised en eyebrow. The young adult in front of his wore clothes which at one time may be nice but were tattered. Several dried scratches dotted his legs.
The girl with him was shorter and younger but equality as dirty.
The guard shrugged. The civil war didn't affect them as much as it did middle and upper lands as it ended far too quickly to be considered a long war.
The southern lands were poor and desolate so the garrison in the city harbored pro-crown sentiments and were run down.
The guard couldn't be bothered with two commoners.
"Ah whatever. Just don't cause trouble."
The guard stepped aside and let them past. His partner was still sleeping.
They traveled down the empty streets of Wallaceburg which only had a few shops open. The city was really dying.
"That was easy getting in, now how do we find the Master Marshal?"
Andrew glanced down an alleyway which was to his right. A familiar sword was propped against the wall as a man was leaning against it.
A tall figure with well defined muscles, the pinnacle of a swordsman. His sword was not any sword but a greatsword which boasted larger a surface area and weight at the cost of stability and slowness.
The Master Marshal used passive weight-reducing enchantments which allowed him to wield it with one hand.
He opened a eye and spotted the two young adults staring at him from down the alleyway. He stroked his white beard while trying to determine if they were real or not.
"Oh your highnesses! You are safe!"
The Master Marshal hurried over and knelt before them.
"Stop, what if someone sees you?"
"Very well prince Andrew, please come inside."
The Master Marshal opened a door which was next to the wall he was originally leaning against.
The two hurried inside and the Master Marshal looked around to make sure nobody saw him.
Once inside the two collapsed ont the floor and sighed.
They were safe.
"Master Marshal, where are we?"
The Master Marshal chuckled and walked to an open door.
"Come and introduce yourselves. His highness Andrew and her highness Adriana have arrived safely!"
Adriana and Andrew watched as several of the Master Marshal's aquaintances and subordinates appeared from the other room. They were accompanied by their wives and some children.
"These are my comrades. We all pledge our allegiance to the prince and princess of our glorious kingdom!"
All of the people kneeled before the siblings.
"Everyone, please stand up."
Andrew was motioning with his hands to get them to stand.
Adriana was smiling, she didn't know what else to do.
Andrew took the initiative to speak.
"I have just arrived and I am sorry to say but we were tailed. We lost the soldiers but unfortunately they were elites of Charles's. Its only a matter of time before they search this city. We must move."
The faces of all of those who were in the room changed and a grim determination spread.
"Your highness!"
A young man in the back called out. His brown hair was pointy but faded to his left side. Besides him was a young woman with neatly styled brown hair, as if she were a noble.
"I heard rumors of new land discovered to the southeast. If we enter this land we could hide until we are able to cross to the east to the Empire of Kursk. They have a lot to lose in economic trading deals with the Junta in charge as they favor the Alliance over them. We may be able to find asylum."
"Preposterous!"
A older man with grey hair and a large grey beard stepped forward.
He was a close friend of the Master Marshal and they fought together during a border class with the Empire of Fire four decades ago.
"We cannot give up our royalty to a foregin ruler! The crown prince of the Empire of Kursk is rumored to be a womanizer! It is not right to hand over our beloved princess to him!"
A collective mutter gathered.
"No! Then we go to his brother, the second prince! He is rumored to be more moderate than his elder brother and he is of similar age to our dear princess!"
"True but how can you blindly trust rumors?"
"What choice to we have!?"
The room tensed from the clashing viewpoints until the Master Marshal interrupted the argument.
"Ahem, we should consider the opinion of princess Adriana. After all it is her who is most at risk if we are to flee."
Adriana felt all eyes fall on her.
She gulped but felt the assuring hand of Andrew who held her left hand to relieve her anxiety.
"Go on, speak your mind."
"Okay, if you insist. I am not good with politics or military matters so I do not know what the best option to do is. However if I can use everything I have from my title to my body to keep us all safe, then I would do it as my duty as princess. I do not get to live the luxury of a royal without being prepared to sacrifice myself for my people. This is what I believe."
The room went dead silent as everyone contemplated what she said.
She knew that it was hard to hear that kind of resolve from a sixteen year old but the times were not peaceful. They were all fugitives and would be killed if caught.
"There is no choice but to go to the newly discovered lands. Everything else can decided later."
A collective nod assured her that she had made a good decision.
The door to the alleyway cracked open and a man with a half-helm helmet peered inside.
"Sir Marshal! The 5th Prince's guards have entered the city. Our bribed peasants are harassing them but they won't last forever. We must leave now!"
The Master Marshal walked over a whispered to the man at the door. They exchanged a few words and he left promptly.
"We have to leave immediately. We cannot afford to be trapped in this city."
The group started packing up what they could take and prepared to leave.
They had a total of twenty four people, twelve adults capable of combat and four who couldn't due to health reasons or injuries. The other ten were children who could not fight.
They left in two groups. One was disguised as a hunting party and the other as a merchant carriage.
Andrew would travel with the hunting party as a hired hand and Adirana would travel with the other children in the merchant group as part of a fake family.
They secured a wagon for the hunters and a carriage for the merchants which were prepared ahead of time in case they needed to flee.
A boat was docked in the harbor as a backup plan but only eight people could ride in it. Even if all of the children were in the boat they needed someone to operate it. That would exclude someone so no one wanted to use the boat.
At least the royalty could flee.
They gathered in their groups and prepared to leave.
"Which gate did the elite soldiers enter through?"
The man with the half-helm turned around. The Master Marshal and he were in the hunter group.
"The northern most gate. They probably expect us to flee to the southern gate so that would be the least guarded gate."
"I agree. We are all going through it, hunters first."
They climbed into their respective carriages and took off with the hunter's wagon first.
They had a fake bottom where non-hunter related items were stored to reduce suspicion. Above it the hunters sat with food and weapons.
They reached the northern gate which as expected was basically deserted.
"Hey! Where are you people going?"
There were three guards here this time. The two from before didn't change but a new guard was stationed.
""Shit.""
Andrew recognised him. He was the one called Smyth who was pursuing him before.
Thinking quick he picked up a piece of brown cloth and wrapped it around his nose and mouth like a facemask.
The wagon pulled up to the guard who called out to them. It was the same one who questioned Andrew before. His comrade was still sleeping.
The Master Marshal had styled his beard differently and wore an eyepatch. He didn't look like the high class Master Marshal people were familiar with but as a bandit lord of sorts.
"We are heading out for a hunt. The drinks won't pay themselves."
Behind him one of his friends jeered.
"Yaahhhrr!"
The guard looked disgusted but this was a common thing in the port.
"Alright. We close the gates at sundown. Be back before then."
"Aye."
The one named Smyth didn't even pay them attention. He was staring off into the distance while leaning against the stone wall of the port.
After they passed through the merchant's carriage arrived.
"Halt! Why are you leaving as well?"
The young man's wife from the hideout popped her head from the carriage.
"As well? We don't have others with us, right children?"
On cue several more heads popped out from the tarp carriage and smiled.
The guard was taken aback and smiled back.
"Oh hello there. Well where to?"
"Oh we are heading north as merchants going to the victory celebration in the capital."
The guard raised an eyebrow. People in this port were not fans of the Junta.
"Well I guess."
The guard stepped out of the way of the carriage but Smyth stopped him.
"Stop. Why would a southerner go to the capital?"
The young man's wife looked puzzled. She was quite annoyed with this obstacle.
"Listen here soldier. I am from the north, my family is of noble blood. I just lost the race for succession, thats all. Here."
She fished a coin from her back pocket and threw it at the soldier named Smyth.
"Ma'am I don't accept bribes, please step…"
His eyes widened as he glanced at the coin. It was not a coin but a medallion of a noble affiliated with the Junta.
"My apologies, I misspoke!"
He quickly handed the medallion back and stepped aside. He snapped to attention and straightened his back as the carriage passed by.
"Ma'am."
Adriana peered at the young wife.
"You are part of the Junta. Why do you protect me?"
She turned around and looked at the young princess.
"Not all of those born in Junta families agree with their principals. We all have out own ideals."
This was very profound for Adriana who looked in awe at the strong woman as they joined up with the first group.
"Now we go south! We must make it to the new land."
The Master Marshal pulled a compass out and they trudged down the dirt road south.