" Young man, are you leaving now?" The man said as he placed his cup on the table.
"I am," replied Alphonse."Today we go to Formido Fortress."
" Formido Fortress?" He replied. " The Fort to the north?"
Alphonse drank his tea in one go and placed the cup on the table." Yes."
The man wiped his forehead and took off his cloak," may I know the reason why."
"We have some business there, I need to speak to the leader." Alphonse said." by the way what was your name again?"
The man swallowed" Elrik" he replied." Say, young man, you said that you're in need of troops right,"
"Yes, very much," Alphonse replied."I need more men for this quest to complete."
Elrik smiled at him." Then why don't you recruit me, I've been thinking about this and going with you may help me find my daughter more easily."
Alphonse's eyes grew wide open," are you serious?"
"Yes!" Elrik replied, " Though I cannot use a weapon, I can aid you through my magic, I am one of the strongest Ice-user in my clan."
" Yes! Please join us."
"Haha!" Elrik laughed.
The tent's curtain slowly open and Ivanna entered," Alphonse, it's time to leave." She said.
Alphonse stood up" Ivanna! Elrik is joining us."
"Really?" She replied," well, the more the merrier." She said and laughed.
Alphonse gathered his rucksack and placed it on his shoulder, Elrik stood up and went towards him, " so, are we leaving now?"
"Yes," he replied," But first, I need to thank the chief and speak a bit with Cressida"
Cressida refused to meet with Alphonse even though they were departing,
She didn't come out of her tent, so Alphonse stood outside her tent and he thanked her.
"I am sorry, Cressida I hope you'll forgive us and the next time we meet let's have a friendly battle of archery between you and me and thank you for everything, I am going now."
Cressida wanted to come out and see Alphonse one last time, but she didn't.
"Well, Alphonse are you ready?" Elrik said as he picked up his rucksack
"Yes, let's go!"
...
Formido Fortress
Formido fortress was a small fortress and was heavily guarded by soldiers, the gates opened and an imposing Knight comes out." The knight of Lodis will come to Formido soon." He said to one of the guards, who seemed to be in charge of guarding the Fortress, his name was Grimal." The one's sent from Felis at the request of the south?"
The Imposing knight nodded his head," I hired bandits to attack them, but some survived and made it ashore, Grimal, use the soldiers stationed here to protect the fortress."
Grimal stomps the ground with his feet and stood in attention, " Yes, sir, but how about you commander Briffaut."
The Imposing knight sighed." That young lass's calling me, she'll be mad if I don't come soon, according to my sources the Leader of Lodis is only seventeen years old. They're making a fool of us!"
Alphonse jumps out from behind the ruins and took out his sword." You must be the white fang troops, abandon this fortress and withdraw to Naja immediately otherwise...."
" commander Briffaut, look!!"
Earlier...
" we've reached Formido Fortress," Ivanna said as she placed down her bag," look over there" she pointed at the top of the fortress.
"Wow, that's a lot of guards," Elrik replied counting the soldiers by hands."
"There are too many guards, and we're only three of us."
"Who cares," Alphonse replied," we can just kill them all, you can use magic too so it will be no problem."
Elrik smirked, " I like your confidence, boy."
"Ehhh... Don't call me boy, I am already a man."
"Quiet! Both of you." Ivanna slipped through the rocks," look someone came out of the gates!"
"Who's that?" Alphonse replied tilting his head forward.
Ivanna peeked in more closely," that's Nichart," she said," the current leader of the white fang troops."
"Ha," Alphonse smirked, " so, he's the one we must capture, well" he stood up and jumped from the ruins.
Ivanna tried to catch him, "Alphonse!! What are you doing?"
." You must be the white fang troops, abandon this fortress and withdraw to Naja immediately otherwise...." He said as he took out his sword and pointed at them.
" Commander Briffaut, look!!!"
"They're here already, much early than anticipated?" Nichart turned his back and walked towards the gate," this fortress is critical to movement in the south, it's up to you, Grimal!!!"
Alphonse jumped on one of the staircases the soldiers guarding the entrance pointer their swords at him.
"Are you running away? Don't you have any guts?"
Nichart turned back, " Shut up!! Kid, I have no time for you, remember, I am Nichart Briffaut, the leader of the white fang troop." He opens the gate and exits it.
Grimal took out his sword from his sheath " Ha! Is there a shortage of soldier in Lodis? A kid like you is the Lodis? Luck's been on your side so far, but this ends here!!"
Alphonse smirked," we'll see about that!"
"Soldiers, attack!" Grimal ordered.
The soldiers rushed towards them with swords and blades in their hands.
Alphonse charged towards them and sliced the first soldier he met, another one jumped at him and swung his blade at him but Alphonse blocked it with his sword before kicking him and cut his stomach, the soldier screamed in pain and laid down holding his stomach so as the inside does not spill out.
The soldiers kept on coming towards them, " there's just too many of them."
"Step aside," Elrik said as he approached forward," I didn't think I would be using this but I have no choice."
He first grasps his hand together and unleashes his power, blue icy wind filled the whole battlefield, the soldiers stopped moving, their body slowly started to freeze.
Alphonse shielded his eyes from the icy winds" what's happening?"
Elrik smirked," You'll know later." The wind blew stronger and everything beneath the wind became solid ice.
"Look," he said, the soldiers were all frozen solid.
"Wow, you should have done that earlier."
"More soldiers are coming!!" Ivanna shouted." Alphonse! Go get their leader, we'll handle this."
"Alright"
Alphonse jumped higher up the stairs and climbed towards the fortress.
"Here I come!!" He said and jumped high swing his sword up in the air and landed a blow at Grimal but he blocked it with his shield. Alphonse quickly leapt backwards and stood pointing his sword at him." Shield? Fight fair!!!" He said
"Very well," Grimal replied and tossed his shield on the ground," I won't be needing a shield to fight you, kid, one stab is enough to kill you."
"Then taste the pain of my sword!!!." Alphonse rushed towards him and they both clashed their sword making a loud noise.
...
Ivanna and Elrik
"Swoosh!!!!" Ivanna swung her blade and sliced down the soldier, another one came behind her but she quickly turned around and stabbed him." Hah!!"
"Poof!! Poof!" Elrik created icicles and threw them at the soldier's stabbing them and freezing them. " Ivanna are you alright? Do you need help?"
" huff...thanks..huff but, no I can deal on my own, don't underestimate me, I've been fighting for the last twenty years."
" haha..." Elrik laughed, " sure, have it your way, nothing is grander than seeing a woman fighting for herself."
Ivanna wiped the blood off her cheeks." You're a married man." She said
"Com'on, I was just kidding."
"I think we've killed all the soldiers, I wonder how Alphonse doing up there."
"Ivanna! Behind you!"
She quickly turned back, the soldier swung his blade at her, but she quickly blocked it with her blade, the soldier was small in size, so Ivanna was easily able to overpower him. She stroked his sword with her blade and it fell then kicked him in the stomach, the soldier fell and his helmet came off.
"PLEASE.. PLEASE DONT KILL ME!!" he pleaded." I AM ONLY FOLLOWING ORDERS!!"
"A kid? What are you doing here?"
Elrik came closer towards him," Ivanna it's better if you killed him now, we don't know what his plan is."
The kid quickly went and grabbed Ivanna's feet, " please spare me, I was captured by the white fang troops and they forced me to work for them"
He began to weep," alright" Ivanna replied and placed her sword back on her sheath." Where do you stay kid?"
The kid looked at her with tears in his eyes." are you gonna spare me." He said and started crying again
"Ha!" Ivanna sighed," stop crying and tell me where do u live before I change my mind."
The kid slowly got up on his feet rubbing his eyes," Urodela.." He replied, " they attacked my town killed and captured the people there."
"Urodela...that's near."
"Ivanna, are you gonna spare that kid's life, we never know what his intentions are," Elrik said in a strong tone.
"If that's the case, I can just kill him or u can freeze him to death."
"I won't " the kid replied, " I just want to go home and save my parents."
Ivanna looked at him." What's your name?"
"Oris" he replied.
"Well, Oris we'll take you home."
...
Alphonse and Grimal
"Your skills are not bad, kid."
Alphonse dashed and swung his sword at Grimal but he dodged it." You're good at dodging, but your sword skills are blunt. It's time we end this, mister look at your soldiers they're all dead."
Grimal eyes grew wide open," ..but...how." He stood there frozen.
Alphonse quickly slides down and with one stroke he swung his sword and sliced Grimal stomach.
"Gahhh!!!" Grimal screamed and he fell on his knees.
Alphonse held his sword up in the air
" well, I think the game ends here!"
He said and stabbed Grimal on the back.
He gradually fell flat on his stomach and died.
"Phew!!! Didn't think this could be that easy." Alphonse said as he wiped his sword.
Ivanna and Elrik climbed up the stairs and Oris was following behind them
"Alphonse, are you okay?" Ivanna asked.
Alphonse gave a thumbs up to Ivanna," better than ever, but who's that behind you?"
"His name is Oris, he was one of the soldiers, but he was forced against his will so we're planning to take him back home."
Alphonse seems reluctant," I don't think we have time for that. I am going inside to speak with Nichart, why don't you go and drop him home."
"That'll do," Ivanna replied.
"I'll go with you." Elrik said," we don't know yet what this lad has plans up his sleeves."
" wait for me at Urodela."
...
Inside the Fortress seemed deserted there was no one inside and the place was in a mess.
" they're all gone," Alphonse said to himself
Behind the open door, a small figure creeped out.
"Whos there!?"
Before Alphonse could do anything his body started to feel weird and his eyes turned heavy and he succumbed to sleep.
Alphonse slowly opened his eyes and felt like his hands were grabbed by something tight, he tried to shake it off but could not, he could hear chains clanging as he moved, he realised that both his hands were tied up in chains, he tried to break free form the chains but they were too strong.
"Ha..." He sighed," I guess I was a little careless, but where I'm I."
The dungeon door slowly creaked open and Nichart came in with a leather whip in his hand and behind him was a young girl dressed in a short robe.
Alphonse tried to shake the chains off." YOU COWARD!!!! WHAT A DIRTY TRICK."
Nichart laughed and went closer towards him ." Did you think I got scared and highlighted it out here? It's your fault for letting your guard down after defeating Grimal, I feel sorry for him but at least he bought me some time, everything's going as planned."
The young girl gave out a sigh." Commander Briffaut, we're not here to chat." She said
Nichart looked at her, he seemed annoyed by her." I know, I know, don't be so uptight." Then he grabbed Alphonse by his chin." Well, tell me, knight of Lodis what are Lodis's true intentions."
"Intentions?" Alphonse sounded confused.
"Right," he replied," the true reason why the troops of Felis we're sent here. Why Lodis takes action, there's always something they're after."
"Reason? It was a request from the south...."
"Hmph.." The girl sneered," don't play dumb, you say that the south requested help but has Felis ever sent troops for such a thing before?"
Alphonse tried to shake the chains once more." I don't understand. Let me go! Release me!!"
"You're so hot-tempered, kid" Nichart said." You still snap at us even in chains. Do you realise the situation your in?"
He straightens his whip and slashes at Alphonse.
"Ugh, ugh....huff.." Alphonse wailed." This all began your aggression!"
Nichart straightens the whip once again and whipped the floor," Lord Naris has ordered us to find out the real reason for your presence here if you wish to be freed, then talk." And slashes it again at Alphonse.
"Aahhhhh!!" He wailed.
"Hmph...kid, I'll ask you once more what's your true purpose here?"
"Ugh.. I told you...I don't know."
Nichart raised his whip once again but the young girl stops him," Commander Briffaut, perhaps he really doesn't know, of course, he may just be strong-willed, In which case I have no choice."
She stands up and walks towards Alphones and takes out a bottle from her pocket.
"What's that?" Nichart asked.
The girl giggled," just a potion, this will make him talk, but he won't feel so well when he wakes up." She slowly pressed the bottle on Alphonse's lips and makes him drink it, the potion made Alphonse's head spin around until he passes out.
'Drip...drip....'
Alphonse slowly opened his eyes, he was still chained and the dungeon was filled with water and was slowly rising.
" huh? Are the tides rising?."
"You know this place will be filled by high tides." There stood a mysterious woman, she had blonde curly hair." All the soldiers have left. That means your alone." She walks towards Alphonse and stood there with her arms crossed." I'm in need of a soldier. So, here's the deal, if you cooperate, I'll set you free, what do you think?"
Alphonse looked at her, he seemed out of energy," you gonna save me?"
The woman shrugs," that depends on your answer, I don't care if you die here or not."
"Alright," he replied," I'll do as you ask, but I am concerned about my comrades."
"Don't worry they are safe. My name is Cybil Alinda, I enjoyed watching your fight today. Don't forget, we have a deal now!" She takes out a pin from her hair and unshackles the chain.
"Thank you," Alphonse said," but what's the deal?"
Cybil threw the chain into the water and helped Alphonse up." I'll tell you later."
From the shadow, a ninja appeared and he got down on his knees.
"Shiven, anything to report?" Cybil asked.
Shiven bowed down his head and replied." All the soldiers stationed at the ruins retreated to the north."
Alphonse rubbed his forehead," it seems I should have been more careful. What happen to the troops that were supposed to attack from the south."
"They entered the forest of Gryllus." He replied. " but retreated to Scabellum. I have no idea why."
"I wonder what happened."
Cybil cleared her throat, " Shiven, return at once and inform headquarters." she ordered
"Yes, commander," he said and disappeared into the shadows.
" and...what should I do? Alphonse said in a confused tone.
" Rest for a while, we will cross the Meleagris mountains at dawn," Cybil replied.
" the Meleagris mountain? But why?"
"I'll tell you later." She said and walks towards the exit, " Forget about your comrades, your fate is in my hands now."
...
Ostorea Castle
The halls of the castle were painted with silver and red carpets and curtains were placed everywhre, in the middle was the throne and there sat the lord of Rananculus- Naris Batraal, and beside him stood a young Sorcerer his name was Cirvante.
Crivante: "Commander Briffaut has returned from the ruins as planned and Lethe's with him. Nothing of consequence seems to be happening to our west."
Naris:" Things never go as smoothly as planned, speaking of which, what's the Duke of Felis's son been up to?"
Crivante:" Rictor Lasanti's troops failed to make it through the forest of Gryllus. He must be reestablishing his troops at the port city. Incidentally, weren't many people massacred there by soldier of Lodis?"
Naris: The village of Blete, fifteen years ago, those worshippers of nature refused to convert Lodism and so, their house were burned down as a warning to others. Nearly all the villagers escaped to the forest but the soldiers surrounded it and set it ablaze, the villagers were burnt to death.
Cirvante eyes were filled with horror.
Naris: I heard the souls of the dead wander the forest. I cannot believe they went there. If only they had been possessed or killed by evil spirits.
I must find 'it' before they learn of it....otherwise, everything will be in vain."
Cirvante looks at him" sir, there's something I've been worried about. The soldier of Felis who was captured at Formido...has escaped."
Naris: "Not to worry, I gave Nichart no information of consequences."
Cirvante: I see...
Naris stands up from his throne and turns towards Cirvante." Malicia...how's she been doing?"
Cirvante: "She seems ok, she said she's been feeling better."
Naris:I see...