Chapter Three - May the Emperor live!

Across the northwestern seas of Parikan upon a land where the skies are
within a man's grasp is the land of Arcadia. Made of up of two
altitudes, Heaven Arcad and Sevra Arcad, and some surrounding isles,
Arcadia is most known as the birthplace of the Winged Humans or
Atavians. Ruled by the peaceful Emperor Emeris of Lorn and his wife
Empress Jules within the palace upon Heaven Arcad, Arcadia has been
without deathly conflicts or civil disputes for more than 200 years.

That is, until the year of the Fenrol, translated to the seventieth year
after the fall of the Seleucarian Empire. Prophesied by the great
Arcadian Magi Danerol, a man of the lizard shall step forth upon Sevra,
enter Heaven, and attempt to end the peace upon Arcadia. So in the year
of Fenrol, the man of the lizard arrived on Arcadia.

From the accounts of children playing near the man's arrival point, they
described him as a tall man of around 6 feet tall with a long pointy
tail flailing behind him. In the glistening of the morning sun were ruby
eyes and dusty blond hair. He wore a strange sort of armor that covered
all of his upper body and only a leather skirt around his lower body. As
for his weaponry were two sheathed swords around his waists, two pairs
of daggers sheathed over his shins and arms, and a large hammer strapped
on his back.

Amongst the merchants at the ocean bazaar, they witnessed the man
walking towards the bazaar and then striking up a conversation with the
bazaar greeter. For what seemed only minutes, they spoke with smiles and
laughter like two friends meeting for the first time in several years.
Then without a moment's notice, he struck the greeter in the throat with
a dagger and dragged him behind the tents. Many who saw this didn't
bother to see what was the matter for they were either too busy or they
assumed that it was a quarrel between the two that need not be
interfered by the public.

Minutes later, witnesses saw the man walk out from behind the tents and
to the stables of the gryphon chariots. No one saw or heard anything
that came out of the stables, until someone from the crowd entered them
herself. A blood-ridden scream was heard and a chariot with the unknown
man at the helm was seen hastily leaving the stables, entering into the
clouds above towards Heaven Arcad.

Arriving on the ports of Heaven, he was approached by two soldiers. One
of the two soldiers spoke of the man's weapons and about removing them
as accordance to the laws of the Emperor, the other asking him of his
name and what errands brought him to Heaven. He said his name was
Pyradius Mydrin of Perceliss and that he was here to speak to the
Emperor himself. When the first soldier asked him again about his
weapons, the man suddenly unsheathed a dirk from his left arm and thrust
it through the soldier's armour and into his chest. The other soldier,
witnessing this vile act, jumped away from Pyradius and fled towards the
Palace doors crying out for the guards. Seeing this, Pyradius quickly
removed the dirk from the soldier's chest and gave chase towards the
second soldier.

A nobleman crossing the plaza between the ports and the palace saw the
chase from a far distance and hid from the open witnessing the whole
thing. What he saw first was a soldier running towards the palace
attempting to gain reinforcements against the man chasing after him. The
nobleman turned his head trying to see whom the chaser was, eventually
saw the chaser grab something from his waist and flung it at the soldier
in front of him.

HELP M-Aahgahk!!!

The nobleman turned his attention to the soldier once more, but all he
saw was a body upon the ground with a sword thrusted into its back. Soon
the chaser came up to the fallen soldier's body, removed his sword from
the body, looked up and then stared right into the eyes of the hidden
nobleman. With that, the nobleman fled the scene.

When Pyradius entered the palace, he presented his name to the royal
courier and was led into the main audience hall of the Emperor. When the
Emperor arrived, both spoke of their introductions. Magi Danerol moved
towards to the Emperor secretly spoke to him and left the halls.
Pyradius saw the haste in Danerol's walking and started to walk towards
the Emperor. Emeris cried out and the guards suddenly entered the hall
in defense for their Emperor.

A struggle took place with Pyradius against the palace guards, where
eventually his plans were spoken out. He came to assassinate Emperor
Emeris and make Arcadia a part of his kingdom of Perceliss. The day
turned into night and Pyradius fled the palace. Before the Emperor
fainted he heard the man cry out, "Emeris, four years and you will see
the wrath of the Xorans!!! Four years and your palace will crash into
Sevra!!!"

Out, Pyradius came from out of the clouds. Out, from the skies and near
his boat to gather his things. As he was about to depart from the shores
of Arcadia, he looked up and saw a creature with someone on it flying
towards him above the waters. It looked like the gryphon strapped to his
chariot, but it wasn't. Eventually the creature landed some few yards
from Pyradius and walked towards him.

Good sir, is this the land of Arcadia?

It is, do you wish to conquer it?

Nay, my destiny lies in this land. As is my son Siegfried. Oh apologies,
I forgot to introduce myself. I am Rei'tu Kourawn.

I am Pyradius Mydrin of Perceliss. What kind of beast is that that you
ride? A Gryphon?

This is a Sphynx, a far advanced stage of the Gryphon family.

Ah, tis a grand creature then. With apologies to you and your son, I
must depart. Though before I go, I should give you a small piece of
advice.

Oh, really? What is this advice?

Leave now, for soon this land will no longer be Arcadia. For to stay,
shall be your death wish.

Then Pyradius flew off, leaving Rei'tu alone at the shores.

In the four years after Pyradius' first encounter, few things have
changed though many for Rei'tu Kourawn. With the support of Emperor
Emeris, Rei'tu founded the Guild of the Celesti and became the first
Celestine Guildmaster. The Celesti were soldiers trained in the arts of
the elemental sword. Before the four years were over, they formed an
infantry of soldiers to protect the Emperor by guarding the shores of
Sevra Arcad. With the knowledge of Rei'tu, the calendar of Arcadia
changed to the Seleucarian Calendar. In the year before Pyradius' return
to Arcadia, on the 7th of Glacian, 73 AF, Rei'tu's son Siegfried Kourawn
married the Emperor's second daughter Chrystine of Lorn with all the
farfare.

In the dark of night of the 13th of Ero, 74 years after the fall of the
Seleucarian Empire, the outlines of seven ships were seen at the
outposts of Sevra. In a matter of hours, daybroke and a line of seventy
Celesti soldiers took hold of the shores in front of the nearing ships.
At the ends of the line were Rei'tu and Siegfried Kourawn calling the
shots.

As the ships drew near, Siegfried called for a Tredan, a skill of an
impenetrable force field that requires a minimum of ten soldiers to
create. With the signal to fire, the soldiers began firing out from
their outstretched palms, large balls of light towards the ships though
only disappearing at a certain distance away from them. As the balls of
light disappeared in front of Pyradius' eyes, he began to laugh
maniacally then louder and louder as the foray of lights continued for a
few more minutes.

When the last of the lights disappeared into the air, Pyradius shouted,
"Is that all you got Arcadia? Flashing balls of light that did not
hinder our course? I guess you all fear the all powerful Pyradius of
Perceliss!!!"

Suddenly a reply is heard from the shores, "Pyradius, I am Rei'tu
Kourawn. Feared you I did not on the day I met you nor do I still for
you will not win!"

Rei'tu, you have signed a death wish for you and your son. Prepare to
die!

You first, Pyradius. Tredan-ha!!!

From the shores of Sevra, seventy-two soldiers unsheathed their swords
and aimed them at the ships. Suddenly, a force field appeared from out
of nowhere. Of the seven ships, three ships exploded after their ships
passed halfway through the force field. Then two more ships exploded as
the commands from Pyradius were heard and understood late. With only a
small distance left before touching the force field, two surviving ships
stopped including that of Pyradius.

Removing his hammer from his back and wielding it, Pyradius cries out,
"You think this forcefield'll hold me off? Then take this!" Pyradius
dashes and jumps at the force field with his hammer overhead. KABOOM!
GAH! With a mighty blow, Pyradius makes a grand shift in the force field
sending four of the seventy-two soldiers to their knees in pain.

Rei'tu, I challenge you to mortal combat. If I win, Arcadia is mine. If
you win, heh yeah right.

"If my father wins, you're dead and Arcadia is free! Tredan-ka!!" By the
order of Siegfried, the force field disappears and the soldiers stood
ready for the fight.

So it shall be, Siegfried. Perceliss, take down the infantry. I'm
getting the knight.

As the orders were shouted out, Pyradius climbed on his chariot and flew
towards Rei'tu himself. When he had landed, the two duelers exchanged
words and began to fight. The duel continued throughout the day, as the
rest of Perceliss and the Celesti fought. When night arose, the battle
continued. Dawn came and Pyradius fell to the ground. It seemed like
time froze still as everyone turned their attention to the fallen
Pyradius.

You have beaten me, Rei'tu ... It is true when you said that your
destiny lies in this land ... I am to die soon ... though I do not wish
for my body to return to Perceliss. Please Rei'tu ... finish me off ...
and put my body ... in one of the boats ... send me off ... then let the
... weakest of mine ... leave for home ... please.

Rei'tu grins, nods, and replies, "Your dying wish shall be honoured."
Then, Rei'tu takes his sword and slits the throat of Pyradius with its
tip. The battle ends as Pyradius' body departs to a place unbeknownst.
By request, the weakest soldier departs.

Three months after the battle, Rei'tu steps down as Celestine
Guildmaster and gives the position to his son. Ten years after that on
the anniversary of Pyradius' death, a funeral ceremony was held for
Rei'tu as his body was laid to rest in a temple on one of Arcadia's
adjacent isles named Donner's Isle.


Continue to the following Post...

Penned by my hand on the 13th of Daedalan, in the year 285 AF.