In this blank space, there is a strange scenery. Two different people are standing on two different sizes of a river. On one side of the river, we can see skyscrapers, modern facilities, and planes flying high in the sky while on the other side, there are ancient Japanese buildings, a castle, and thousands of horses traveling around instead of cars. On the modern side, we see an old man standing, he wears Western clothes and holding a crutch. On the other side, we see a child holding two crutches and wearing armor whose design resembles ancient Japanese Samurai's.
- Where are we? " The child asks.
[To be honest, I do not know. The moment I help you defeat that assassin, I'm brought here]
The two look at each other's worlds for a while. For both of them, this is the first time they can see the world they've lived in through the eyes of others.
[Would you like to go for a walk?] The old man asks and the child nods, it's been a normal principle for them to go out for a walk whenever their minds are in disorder; In this case, they have just been attacked by an assassin and could potentially lose their life.
- '' So in your world people can build breathtaking buildings like this? Is there still starvation and poverty? '' Young child asks the older man. His eyes sparkle when he sees the prosperous scene on the old man's side of the river.
- [There are still starvation and poverty. However, everyone in my country can get access to education, not like in this world where only noblemen can do that] The old man answers.
- So your people must be much happier than mine. '' The young child asks again. In his eyes, we can notice curiosity and hope.
- [ Happy? ] The old man sighs. [ Actually, we are mostly caught up by the flow of life. ]
They continue to walk together. The width of the river reduces as they walk; soon, we can see the point where the river stops, and two worlds seem to be merging into each other.
[ I think my time has come, kid ] As the old man speaks, his body seems to fade out. [ You're born in the same fate as I am. I hope that you will do well with any misfortune that comes your way in the future ]
The river ends and the two persons stand right next to each other. The old man reaches out his hand and touches the child. A beaming light appears in the blank space and two souls become one.
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The city of Snowflake,
Not like Neverwinter, the city founded on an iron mine and a silver mine and designed to witness long siege, the city of Snowflake is founded on the river of Snowstream, the largest river in Iceland. This city is an important trading hub in Iceland, receiving traders from all over the Peninsula. Akira Yuu has been governing this city for 30 years. Although he has to pay 30% taxes to the Daimyo, he still gains a lot of gold coins from conducting business with traders and influential people.
"The old fox of the Akira Clan'', people call him. Although he has a high ambition for his son to become the Daimyo of Iceland, his skills in stewardship can be considered to be the best in all over the Shogunate of Matsuzaki. The Shogun even summons him to court several times to be consulted on the best methods to improve the Shogunate's economy. It's not overrating to say that, this man has single-handedly create the backbone of the economy of Iceland.
Now, Akira Yuu's sitting on fire, as he receives news about the survival of Akira Takahiro.
- '' Where is Umber and Gilbert? '' He asks his retainers.
- '' They are resting in the hospital, my lord. '' One of his retainers replies. Clearly, all of them are frightened by the anger of the old man. A samurai rushes into the room, yelling:
-'' The Daimyo, Lord Akira Kenji, has raised an army of 5000 men and heading toward our location.''
Fear erupts on the faces of Akira Yuu's retainers, as they all understand that in battle, no one in Iceland can be comparable to the Tiger of Iceland, the symbol of might of the Akira Clan for nearly two decades. A few years ago, a noble from Eastania, a continent in the east, was exiled into Arcadia. Umber and Gilbert are that noble's retainers and they're both famous knights in the east that chose to follow to serve their master instead of glory and fame.
Leonart is the name of that noble. He was exiled after losing the war to the throne of the Kingdom of Erius to his brother. Akira Yuu receives him into his court; In exchange, Leonart has to secretly recruit bandits and train them. When the time is ripe, Yuu has asked Leonart to send Gilbert and Umber to bait Akira Takahiro out. Never he has imagined that the child manages to survive the two monsters that even his strongest Samurais cannot beat.
- " What're we going to do, even if we count the new recruits, we only have around 3000 men.'' Fear appears among Yuu's retainers. They have been preparing for to fight the Akira Daimyo for a few years but their military strength is still not enough.
Akira Yuu's anxious; he needs to do something. If Akira Takahiro's dead, he can call more vassals of the Akira Clan to his side but the boy's still alive, which means no one's going to help him now.
" What do I have to do?'' He wonders. Suddenly, an idea appears. Akira Yuu stands up and shout:
- "Quiet'' His retainers' quarrels coon die off, leaving the room completely quiet. '' Assemble the army ''
- '' But our army is not still strong enough to face Akira Kenji. '' A Samurai speaks. " You're leading us to destruction. ''
- '' We're not going to fight Akira Kenji. '' The old fox smiles. '' We just have to sacrifice some unimportant pawns. ''
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Leonart clinches his fists in anger. Umber and Gilbert are his childhood friend and closest retainers. Seeing them heavily wounded that they can't even maintain their consciousness sadden his heart. A few years ago, he boarded in this island with a handful of followers. Under Akira Yuu's assistance, he manages to raise his number of followers to about 200 soldiers. 100 have followed Gilbert and Umber in an attempt to assassinate Akira Takahiro. If they succeed, Akira Yuu has promised that if his son could become the Daimyo of Iceland, he would support Leonart with ships and men to fight against his brother for the throne of Erius again.
Suddenly, Leonart hears the sounds of fighting coming from outside. Quickly grab a sword, he rushes outside of his mansion. He notices that around 500 soldiers carrying the banner of the Akira Clan have surrounded his mansion. Leonart has around 100 well-trained soldiers by his side; even though he's outnumbered, he believes that he can fight well utilizing the advantages of fortifications.
-" But why are Akira soldiers here? Akira Kenji should take at least three days to reach Snowflake and even if the Daimyo of Iceland is fast, the bells must have rang warning about an army approaching. '' Leonart thinks. His wonders are soon answered when he sees the figure of Akira Arata, son to Akira appears.
- '' Leonart, surrender. '' Arata shouts. '' I have five times your number.''
At this moment, Leonart has known that to save their own lives, Akira Yuu has decided to imprison him and deliver him to Akira Kenji. Drawing his sword, Leonart gives his commands:
- Archers to positions. Ready to fight!
100 of Leonart's retainers manage to hold the mansion for a morning. At noon, the building is set on fire, Arata's men breaches the gates and rushes inside, killing every man and woman they see. Leonart and the unconscious Gilbert and Umber are captured.
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When the army of Lord Akira Kenji reaches the city of Snowflakes, they see the army of Lord Akira Yuu already stationed outside the city walls. On the watchtowers the archers are standing firmly, ready to fight at any moment. Seeing this, Akira Kenji signals his men and the soldiers spread out, creating the arrow formation, suitable for heavy assaulting.
The gates of the city are opened, and three people imprisoned in a cage are brought out. Akira Yuu, armored and armed, rides outside of the gates with several riders carry white flag on his back. In the Arcadian's unwritten rules of war, white flag signals for a parley. Akira Kenji rides toward to meet his uncle, face to face.
- '' You have crossed the line, uncle. The captured bandits have told me about your plans to assassinate my son.'' The Akira Daimyo speaks.
- '' A word of a bandit cannot be viewed as the truth, my Lord. I've found the culprit hiding inside my land and imprison them on your behalf. '' Akira Yuu answers.
Looking deep into the eyes of his uncle for a few seconds, Akira Kenji continues speaking: '' They are just pawns in your plan, right? Uncle? How many more people you want to sacrifice for your ambition? I can kill you right here at this moment and my army will seize all of your lands, wealth and followers. ''
- '' And thousands of your men will die, my lord. '' Akira Yuu answers with a wicked smile. '' As I heard the Grasslanders are preparing for a invasion. We need to fight together, no against each other in this dark time.''
Sighing, Akira Kenji speaks nothing. The prisoners' guards deliver them to Kenji's soldiers and within an hour, 5000 Akira soldiers start to march back to where they come from. A court is hold by the Daimyo himself when he gets back to Neverwinter. Leonart's sentenced to become slave and work for all his life while Umber and Gilbert's sentences are postponed until they're fully recovered.