[Hyzenthlay]

Alex lay still, darkness surrounding him, he heard the footsteps of the elite 'Sabre' outside. The screams of the villagers as the pillaged and burned all in their path. The mud around him was freezing and the grass wet with dew. He sat hugging his knee's with the sword he had found beside him. He had come out to fight but now he was here his bravery escaped him.

Footsteps drew close, very close. A tall figure clad in black and fully armoured stood just a few feet away. Alex held his breath. Making sure not to make ANY sound. The figure checked his pulse rifel and walked away. Alex sighed deeply. He had to get out. He had to find others. There were others, he knew it. One of the machines drove past, the heavy drone of the hover pads, the screaching sound as the turret surveyed the enviroment.

Alex crawled a few feet away to a ditch, rolling down it he fell hip high in mud, he bent down wading through it. Making his way down to the next village. Then outof nowhere two men appeared on the ridge of the ditch. They held up their rifels aiming down at Alex, one spoke in a muffled voice to the others. He was caught.
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Celia lay face down in the mud, her team had been separated, their mission had failed. 'Im sorry father' she thought to herself. She heard the rumble of a Valacia battle clad, the air whipped her face as it drove by scouting the landscape. She then saw Alex dart by her and down into the muddy pit. getting to her knee's she crawled and watched him wade in the thick mud of the swamp, seeing two soldiers approaching she jumped with no sound to teh long grass on teh opposite bank, scrambling up and listening.

"This must be one of them 'freedom fighter' guys" Said one of the guards.

They were now holding their rifles directly at Alex. Looking down at him.

"I dunno, I think he looks more well trained. Maybe he's on teh wanted list." said the other in reply taking out a sheet of paper.

He looked down a long list accoumpanied by a discription and a photo.

"Alex... Alex Cohen." He said stuffin the paper back into his pocket. "It would seem this is Leutenant Arkensaw's daughters friend, a mercenary of sorts. I say we kill him!" He held his rifel steady looking down the length at Alex.

'Fight back Alex, now' Thought Celia looking down at her friend, normally she'd have taken their heads by now but her leg was badly injured from teh previous skermish. Suddenly Alex whipped out his hands from under the mud, aiming his palms at the two soldiers. He looked at them and smirked.

"Two slow!" He yelled, Fire bursted from his hands burning the guards almost to a crisp, their bodies lay twitching on the ground.

Celia walked out, staggering

"Alex, up here!" She said holding her hand out to pull him up.
"Celia, thank god, they are still fighting back there, but..." He paused thinking, he looked at her as she pulled him up. "I'm afraid most of them are already dead, only a few were alive when I ran for reinforcements" He looked around, "Where are YOUR team?" He said looking puzzled.

Celia sighed, sadness in her eyes, she looked at the floor. "All dead, all gone."

Alex gasped, "Then, we are all thats left?"

"It would seem that way" she continued to look at the floor, then shook her head of the sadness grabbing his hand. "lets get out of here quick" replied Celia, limping she dragged him to a wall, looked around the corner carefully through the town gates. A few guards walked past then it was clear.

"Now" she whispered dragging him again.

They ran into a nearby forest, into safety.

[Dark Rider]

He was patrolling his station, examing troops. He held massive blade pointing it at them. "You are all Pathetic! I expected a job done well, but you gave me crap!" Tare paced again, then sighed. "I am proud to say you all came back alive, but Next time will be different. Don't come back until Your objectives are done. I'll assist you upon the entry, but do not expect me to save you. You better rely on your trainining, the training I gave you. I have said it many times. If you follow my instruction, then you will be a seperate part of me. My Left hand! Now, make me even prouder to comand SABER! Because you are not all men, you are gods! Men fear Gods, so when you go into battle, don't fear man, for you are a god!!" He watched as they cheared. and smiled. "Yes, now you are dismissed. Debreifing is in 0600 hours. Rest up, rearm, and prepare." Tare noded, and walked away. He went into his office, and looked at a picture of a beautiful woman, smilling brilliantly at him. Her red hair and blue eyes shone gloriously in the light. He turned it away, and sat in his chair. "(War, my last refuge.)"

[Setzertrancer]

Vander was the only one to not cheer to Tare's speech, he didn't care, he didn't like the military and every moment he spent standing their being lectured by these so called SUPERIORS, he felt angry. He couldn't beleive he was a part of what he hated, but he knew that it was this or cleaning at the old dirty bar his whole life. He had only one goal to make enough money to buy a house and then quit this despicable job.

The soldiers standing around him were allowed to wear waht they wanted as long as they had the military mark, the sabre, stiched as a badge on their clothing. Vander hated the badge, it was too bright on his all black cloths. He wore a heavy black jacket covered with a whole assortment of pockets. In each pocket were several knives that were painted black so that they would be hard to see in the dark. Vander's specialty was fighting during the night when his completely black cloths and weapons would be virtually invisible. He also had 4 black daggers clipped to a belt that was almost impossible to see because they were an identical color to the rest of him. His long black flowed out from the back of a plain black beanie. His face being the only thing not black.

The Sabre was stiched on his shoulder and kind of ruined his black theme. Vander took out some knives out of his pocket and began flipping 4 of them from in between his knuckles and cathing them again blade first in between his knuckles. He walk towards the leader's office he wanted to have a word about the stupid badge.

He walked up to Tare at his desk and pointed at the badge and said "This is stupid why do I have to wear this?" This attitude that had already ruin several chances at promotion infected his voice

[Acheron]

Maybe I could just whip out Icarus, throw it along his neck and then...

It was becoming all too often now that Quinn was figuring out the easiest way to kill Tare, the commanding officer of Sabre. Not that he hated the man that much to kill him, not at all, but when he was bored, figuring out how well they were defended was a fun thing to do. He had stood not with the crowd of troops, but out of the crowd and somewhat to the front, never one to be overshadowed. While some of them wore thier own outfit, he had no problem with the black uniform pants and uniform top that Sabre issued him, he had his twin swords sheathed across the lower portion of his back and pistol ready on his right hip. Preparation, Quinn always made sure that he was on top of his game.

He followed Tare into his office but didn't say anything as he went over to one of the maps in the room, charting the distances that they had travelled. Quinn turned around and was about to ask Tare a question about the next raid and troop deployment, but as he prepared to speak, Vander was already talking to the leader.

We're not gods...We're barely soldiers.

[Dark Rider]

Tare looked at Vander indifferent to the rage in his voice. "You, you disgust me. But I like it. The only soldier worth training is one who is wiiling to disobey, rebel, and even talk against his superiors. You're like me, or what was me some many years ago. I despise my own lectures. Alright, rather than punishment you'll be rewarded. Name your price. I want you to see just what I expect of men of war. " He asked Vander this still looking rather displeased, and calm all at once. He noticed a second soldier in the room and became quite angry. "Quinn, get your ass over here now! I am sick of your sneaky antics. You disobey me too often! One more time I have to punish your miserable ass, and you'll be confined to your quarers until I have time to personally kick your ass! Am I understood?" He quickly turned to Vander and awaited his response.

[Hyzenthlay]

Celia and Alex slept in a small clearing no more than 2 meters wide and 3 meters in length. Rain beat down hard, so they made a make-shift tent from variouse bit of clothing in their backpacks. Lighting flashed overhead, thunder roared. Celia sat shivering, her leg had taken a more aching pain now, this worried her, though she would never tell Alex. She lay back on the ground in her sleeping bag. Looked over at Alex, he was already asleep. 'How does he do that?' she wondered looking over at him. The forest had many strange sounds, she wondered wether any of the rumours were true about this place, people mysteriously dissapearing, leaving behind only a shoe or a gun, or a body part. She shivered as a cold breeze swept along her. Lay back closing her eyes, she had to get some sleep. She opened her eyes suddenly and sat bolt upright. Someone was nearby, a snapping sound happened again, tehn teh gentle patter of footsteps, she shook Alex softly.

"Alex!" She whispered with a frightened tone. "Alex, wake up!" She continued.

Alex stirred and opened his eyes, rubbed them.

"Wha? Whus goin on?" He asked sleepily.

"Shhhhh, keep it down and listen." Replied Celia.

Alex noticed her scared expression and listened intently. He heard it too, the gentle patter of footsteps, drawing closer. Infantry, It had to be, Sabre wouldnt be so loud. Celia got up.

"Hide!" She whispered Jumping up into a high branch of a tree.

Alex followed, they looked down. It was worse than Celia had thought, at least 40 men were down there, advancing straight towards them. Within a minute or so one was far below in their camp.

"HEY GUYS! OVER HERE!" He yelled gesturing to some others close by.

The troop stopped inspecting the camp, on man began to feel the grass and the cloth that had been their shelter. He picke up a leaf and sniffed it, his head bolted upwards and he saw them.

"UP THERE!" He yelled pointing a long bony finger towards Celia.

"RUN ALEX!" Yelled Celia jumping down and sprinting as fast as she could on an injured leg, Alex was close behind, he was faster but was making sure she was safe by staying behind her.

The soldiers followed fast through the bushes and shrubs. Jumping tree roots and firing madly after Celia and Alex. A plasma bullet narrowly avoided Alex's left ear. They were gaining on them, Alex readied himself for an inevitable battle and death. Suddenly a scream was heard from the back of the soldiers group. Then another to the left of it, soon screams were heard all around the soldier group. Alex and Celia stopped running turning back, the soldiers wern't chasing, instead they fired aimlessly into teh treetops. The one nearest ran out of plasma and went to reload when a giant arm like tentacle came from high up and ripped his head off with a loud crack, spraying Alex with blood.

"Erghhh" Alex wiped some blood from his face then Celia grabbed his arm and dragged him away, running through the forest.

They emerged onto the otherside in sunlight, night had passed they had been running for hours, but that didnt matter to them, as they heaved and wheezed, holding their chests. They looked up, straight ahead of them lay Calluin, capital of Bluheim, a mighty coastal fortress surrounded by gigantic iron walls and gates 3 meters thick. They both looked up and sighed, they were home again.

[Acheron]

For the life of him, Quinn couldn't remember a single time that he openly disobeyed an order of Tare's but that was common place between the two of them, Quinn often being blamed for things that he had no control over. Why Vander was complaining and why Tare wasn't screaming about to kick HIS ass was beyond Quinn, but he didn't care too much at this point. He knew one thing though, Tare was mad enough at the moment and the last thing Quinn needed was to piss him off even more. He took a couple steps forward towards Tare's desk and saluted him.

"Sir when you find the time, please send word of how you want the troops allocated for the next possible raid so I can assemble the squad acordingly", he saluted and left the tent, giving no time for a possible response from Tare. The fresh air that hit him when he stepped outside couldn't have felt any better, it was like he was getting that second wind after a long day of training. As he started his walk back to his own quarters, questions once again of why they were doing this job came back to him. They're mission was never clearly defined and the most he ever got out of Tare was the usual speech about being gods, something that Quinn never believed in. When he got into his tent he let out a heavy sigh and took off his weapon's belt, placing his weapons on his bed, he instead went over to his desk to sit down and start a letter to his sister Munroe, a ranking official in the Origon government.

[Setzertrancer]

At first Vander was surprised with Tare's response, he had recently been relocated to his company and knew very little about Tare's methods. On previewous breaches of conduct Vander had been given a variety of punishments ranging from derogatory toilet cleaning duties to compulsory anger management sessions. The way Vander saw it though if he was going to be in the army he despised so much, he was going to make it as hard as posible for his superiors. Vander put the black knives that he had in his hand in between his knuckles and began to toss them up and catch them between his knuckle and wore a threatening grin towards Tare. It was time for Vander to test his new superior officer to see how long it would take for him to snap. It was a game he played in each of his stations for the sheer fun of it. "To start with," Vander began "I do not want to wear this stupid badge..." Just as he said that he suddenly released one of the knives and it flew towards Tare but was just stopped short by the desk right in front of him. If the desk wasn't there it would have hit his manhood. "I will not follow orders, unless you give a good reason why it is for the good of the world". Another knife shot forth hitting the bottom of the handle of the other knife, making a slanting tower of knives begin to form on the desk. "and I expect a promotion soon, we would not have won half of the battles we have been in if it wasn't for my unique skills". For a moment Vander made an intimidating stare at Tare. Then he threw another knife into the air and said "If you want kids, do not move". The knife spun in the air for a while approuching tare and getting too close for comfort. The knife then dipped down due to it's weight and began plunging down blade first. It then landed on the tiny part of the chair that was revealed between his legs. Vander then look his two knives and let Tare stare at the knife that nearly landed in a very unpleasent place. Vander then waited for Tare's answer.

[Mistress Victoria]

It was not as occupied as it used to be; this old tavern that he frequently visited while he was a child. Not to drink, mind, but because he just loved to play billiards. Throughout the years, Tristan became a genius when it came to billiards. He became the town’s Ace billiard player. Although he played billiards a lot, he always found extra time to train himself in his chosen art of fighting.

He always fancied swordplay and martial arts. His swordplay of choice was to use a katana; and his marital art of choice was a combination of the style of the snake and Taekwondo. His height and long legs permitted him to specialize in Taekwondo and use the Snake Style as a secondary arsenal. He always wore his favorite red headband with black flames running across. Wearing the headband always made him fired up.

But soon the whole meaning of his life was about to make her way through that door any minute now. Tristan wouldn’t be where he was if it hadn’t been for her.

Earlier today before he entered the tavern, he made his rounds around town, checking for suspicious people that wanted to harm the town. As always, he never spotted anything suspicious. So he decided to stop by the tavern and wait for his Celia to return.

[Hyzenthlay]

Celia and Alex ran the rest of the way to the city gates, rapping her knuckles hard on the visitor door she said loud and clear.

"Celia Arkensaw, landlady of the Revolution Inn. Returning from a trade trip to Origon"

The giant Iron gates opened , reavealing a long road through the town, an old crippled man guarded the gates along with a half-dozen soldiers and a dragon rider, Dragon riders were a speciality known only to Bluheim, a specialized and now alomost extinct solidier almost like 'sabre' with their swords of plasma. She walked the streets to the Tavern, Alex at her side. They walke din to be greeted by Tristen.

[Dark Rider]

Tare sat behind his desk, taking the knife from his chair, and examining them. "You ask for a reward worthy of my aproval. I could use a new captain, and as captain, I'm your only superior, and I only give orders to the underclassmen. Now about the badge, do you suggest that you would even have to wear it? I'll have an excuse lined up. Welcome aboard, Captain Vander. I'll expect you to be a big help, keeping the men in line, but please, don't try to annoy me, test me, or like some here kill me. I was much like you. I hated the military, but my father was detirmined, anyway, your conditions will be met, but please, don't think I'm your "buddy", because I will change my mind. I want out just like you, but lucky for you, I have less a chance than you. You are dismissed."
Tare threw the dagger back with a simple flick of his wrist. Vander cought it with his knuckle almost lazily, and Tare smirked before reading a file on his desk. "Oh, and since you're second in comand, see to it that Quinn is given a few extra pieces of meat for dinner, I like his way of dealing with boredom, but warn him, next time will not be a matter of boredom, or entertainment, but life or death. That is all."

[Acheron]

As the night continued on, Quinn pulled out one of his favorite books, which happened to be a story about a family of rabbits looking for a new home together after thier home is destroyed. It was an old book that was given to him by his sister before the divorce of his parents, a divorce that was mearly made so both of the adults could continue thier careers, while the kids we're pulled apart. He didn't hate his parents, not at all, if it wasn't for the two of them doing what they did, neither him or his sister would have been able to live as well as they did. A book from his sister, a necklace from his mother and his pistol from his father, every member of his immediate family contributed to Quinn in some way shape or form, coming into the military and trying to right things was his way to pay them back.

This fight, this war, this whatever it was, wasn't that way though.

No matter how many times he tried to go over the plans, the maps, the troop deployments, Quinn had the growing feeling that he was working for the wrong side. Even from government officials, the only explination he was ever offered was that they "were gods and must take what is ours", that wasn't something that he was too pleased about. Origon wasn't taking a stance yet but he knew they would favor whoever had the upper hand eventually, then kill them off when all the resources were used up, that's where Munroe came in handy. Quinn honestly didn't know what to do, but he placed his book down and decided to find something to eat, he would make up his mind about his next actions after the next raid.

[Setzertrancer]

As Vander walked out of Tare's office he smiled. He liked this new commander but was a little disappointed by how little he was intimidated. Maybe this would be one superior officer he could learn to get along with. Vander walked into the barrack's kitchen and saw Quinn preparing a meal. "You have extra rations of meat tonight". Vander's inpression of Quinn wasn't very positive, he was to much of a military goody-two-shoes. Vander saw these kind of people as wimps, who were to scared to challenge authority. Vander decided to see how long it would take Quinn to stand up for his rights and followed his first comment with "Then you shall clean and polish my boots, as well every other soldier's in this barracks, tell them Captain Vander told you to, understood?".

[Hyzenthlay]

It was late at night, Alex and Tristen lay asleep, or they were before she left, Celia paced the walls of the giant fortress that was Caluin. The sea on the eastern side was calm, the coast a mass of nests of machine guns and readied troops. She held a hangun loose at her side, keeping an eye on the red light of the siren, her ears almost twitching with concentration. She could sense it, this wasnt just a troop deployment like last time. She had a sixth sense for this, a battle was coming. The salty air made her feel queasy, she knelt with her arms crossed looking out along the bay. Slowly her eyelids flickered shut.

'Cecki... Cecki... My daughter where are you?' Her fathers voice came from an unknown source in a thick black mist. 'Cecki... Celia Arkensaw... My daughter... come here... come to me...' A shape emerged from the mist, Its face distorted and bloodsoaked, Its limbs mutilated almost beyond recongnition. 'Cecki... Celia... My daughter... I have searched... You have my ring... I need my ring... where is my ring?'. Celia took a step back, her nightmarish father stood before her. "Father, Your ring is mine, its my keepsake, All i have to remember you by!" She looked at the ring on her finger. 'That ring, keep it safe, it is yours, the only heirloom you will ever have... take care of it... the heart of the kingdom... burns... the heart of the kingdom... the winged warriors fly for the last time... seek out Arkaeus... My own little fire... he is alive...' With taht teh mist faded, her father blew away on a gentle breeze, smears of light on a lifting darkness.

She jumped into conciousness as the wall shook. A plasma canonball whizzed overhead, she looked down at the beach, it was alive with activity, scortched with blood as countless Calluin warriors fell to the masses of soldiers swarming the beach. Screams echoes through the streets, the iron gates screeched shut, she ran down the steps as a deafening siren rang out, red lights flashed all around, just down the stairs row upon row of soldiers stood, rifels raised, aiming straight at the huge gates that led down to teh beach. Celia joined them, handgun raised. A crash and the door flew open, one of the hinges snapped and a door flew crushing several men, blood splattering against teh few who didnt look, just relentlessly watched teh doorway, any minute tehir lives would be over, they knew it. The loyal soldiers of Calluin. A shadow was cast from above, at last tehy all looked up for a split second as at least 30 dragon warriors flew overhead, the mighty wings of the dragons themselves, creating whirlinds of air. Then they returned to look at the gates as men carrying giant swords of red plasma, or varied personalised short range weapons, the charged, clashig with teh rows of troops awaiting them. A few were cut down by machinegun bullets.

"SABRE, REINFORCEMENTS, SABRE ARE HERE, GET THE DRAON RIDERS IN HERE!" Yelled an officer from teh middle of the group, he drew his blade and yelled.

"MEN OF CALLUIN, DRAW YOUR SWORDS AND DIE HERE WITH ME!" He charged and the others followed drawing their long rapier like swords and clashing with the incoming troops, the officer was cut down instantaniously like many others. Celia swang her gun around as one charged towards her, pulling the trigger she shot first through his chest, then took his head clan off with a swipe of her sword. He knee gave way, she was dragged away by another soldier who drew his sword. His face was a mass of blood speckles, his chest cut diagonally across, pouring blood onto the street, he drew his blade and ran in without so much as a word. The shadow was above again, men dropped down swinging their huge jagged blades, killing many in one swipe then bringing their swords round again to attack others. They were huge in stature, masses of muscles and green cloaks with sparkling golden armour. They reminded Celia of her father.

"THE TIAMAT... THE TIAMAT." Came a cry from a sabre just before he came nothing but pulp on teh floor.

"THE DRAON RIDERS ARE HERE!" Yelled a soldier holding his arm close by to Celia.

The soldiers backed away as the 'Tiamat' or Dragon warriors formed a defencive line, like a wall of razor blades tehy cut througha ll who entered, but slowly tehir numbers deterearated, even as their faithful dragon companions helped, and came crashing down like lead onto teh ground as they wer ehit by plasma cannons. It was awe inspiring watching the legends fight, and die, with them. Soon they were forced to charge again as the number of Tiamat dwindled and the defence broke, the sheer number of sabres was overwhelming, Celia rose, drew her giant broadsword and joined teh others in the charge. She cut down one, but then a blow stuck her head, she blacked out, she felt herself being dragged... then nothing.

[Acheron]

He was told the news of being awarded more meat when he was just taking a bite out of his sandwitch, so now it was pretty much pointless. Even if they had gotten to him beforehand, he wouldn't have accepted it.
"Thanks but no thanks", he shrugged and put his sandwitch down. "I'll give it to the men though, for most of them barely have anything to eat", that wasn't something that he was making up either, it was very close to the truth of the status going on in the camp. "As far as your boots go, that's your own problem, you're not talking to some Private here, Captain, christ, I guess your promotion has gone to your head already", he laughed and took his sandwitch outside of the tent with him.

While he wasn't openly defiant like that, Quinn had it made known that he didn't agree with what was going on most of the time in Sabre's actions. As far as being maybe something like a goody good, he usually did what he was told to do, unless it was for someone he didn't respect, then he wouldn't follow the order. At the moment, he couldn't care less for Vander and his new orders, but with all of this going on, it was seriously leading him to consider leaving sooner than expected. As he was on his way back to his tent, he dropped the extra meat in front of a couple sitting, hungry soldiers.

[Dark Rider]

Tare was now alone, and sighed heavily. "God I made the wrong choice! Comander of SABRE! I could have been a god damn rider! Leoryn would have been a fine partner. We worked as one, we killed to survive, and then...I knew he was too sentimental. Trading his life for mine, and all I was good for was this crappy desk job. My arms still ache from the lack of use, I need to get out, and fight!" Just as he was sitting, drinking from his glass of whiskey, a soldier rushed in and saluted.
"What do you want?"He asked huffing irratated at the soldiers stance with his hand above his forehead, almost shaking with anxiety. " Well...sir. I have the latest update of the...Project BlackKnight."
"Well, I ain't gonna bite ya, spit it out."
"Umm...well it appears we have made great progress and despite thier dragon defenses, we broke through and captured many of thier inteligence agents plus another group of pows." Tare stopped listening after "Dragon forces" and thought instantly of his former steed Leoryn. He shook the memories from his head and gave the soldier a stern look.
"Very well. You are dismissed." Tare felt strange, and took another bottle out from his desk, but it was empty. "Who cares!" He said angrilly. He watched as his right hand shook painfully, and in the center of the back of his hand was a blue and black dragon scale.
"Without my scerum...I'll just wear my gloves."
He then put on a pair of shiny pair of blue and black gloves, and slid his hands into them.
"I hope we learn a great deal from the prisoners, the last ones were too soft. I like a challenge."
He then leaned back and read a scroll from his desk.

[Mistress Victoria]

He heard the Tavern door creak open during his game of billiards. He looked to see who came through, and it was his Celia. His face lit up with a smile as he waved to her. Tristan took a simple glance at Alex and waved with a simple “Yo.”

As he moved in closer to Celia, he realized that the two of them were far from healthy. They were wounded. There was only one thing that could have done this to his Celia.

“Tch, Damn Sabers.” He thought to himself as he curled his hands into a trembling fist. His eyes lit up like fire and he was about ready to stomp out of the Tavern to kick some major butt before Celia grabbed onto him from behind. Her arms around him took a slow effect, rather than a sudden one. He was still boiling, but unable to move forward. In his mind, he could only think about revenge to those who harmed his precious Celia.

“Let go.” He said in his malicious tone toward Celia. Her grip was tight, so he couldn’t simply pry her hands from his person. He could hear her sniffling and felt her nose shift around as she shook her head.

“You’ll just get yourself killed, Tristan…” she said as she turned his body around and took a look into his piercing, dark eyes.

He took a deep breath and glanced away as an attempt not to look into her tranquil eyes. Each time he looked into them, his worries would just slip away. He didn’t want that to happen right now. He was pissed off and wanted some action.

He glanced at Alex and he just shrugged with a ‘Don’t look at me’ expression on his face.

He shook his head and sighed. He wasn’t going to win this battle anytime soon. She didn’t want to lose him tonight when she just made it back home. He understood that. Tristan had a lot to learn about anger management.

Later that night, after Celia and Alex had their wounds checked on and taken care of, they went to their rooms above the Tavern. The three talked throughout the night of what Alex and Celia were up to and what happened while they were away.

Tristan was the last one to fall asleep because he decided to look after them until they fell asleep. His eyes were red and he gave a final yawn as his body fell on top of the bed.


What felt like a few hours passed by in mere minutes. Tristan heard the familiar sounds of dragon roars and clanging weapons combined with explosions. He sat straight up and grabbed his halberd. He loved his halberd because it had a spiky pointed tip at the top while there was a sharp reaper-like blade over a foot in length.

Tristan tied on his lucky headband and headed out to the window sill. He had a secret that he hid from everyone. He was a dragoon. He could fly in the air like any other dragon, but without wings. His eyes flared up and he leapt out the window in an instant. He could see the whole battlefield from his enormous height and airtime. He then looked straight ahead and saw a few strangling Tiamats. He twirled his halberd and took a straight charge at the riders. Their eyes widened at the feat of this warrior in the air without a dragon. How could this be? What magic was this?

That was no magic, just rigorous training day and night for the last eight years. And this was the night that everything paid off in full. He was flared up and nothing was going to stop him from achieving victory and protecting the city.

He appeared in front of them in what looked like an instant, but in reality his twirling halberd just thrust him in the direction he wanted; almost like a propeller. He used the wind like an extension of his body.

He smirked as the warriors looked on to him as he was in between them. His halberd flashed in a quick motion as slicing could be heard. In the next moment, a large gush of crimson paint flooded from their wounds as they fell off their dragon companions to the concrete floor. He landed on one of the dragon’s back. He looked into the eyes of the other dragon with a sincere confident look in his eye. They knew a dragoon when they saw one. The dragons immediately obeyed his order.

Tristan spotted Celia being taken away by one of those Sabers. His eye twitched as he pointed downward as the dragon swooped down and created a vortex of wind as it abducted Celia and the Saber carrying her in his arm.

Tristan leapt in the air and landed on the other Dragon’s back. He looked down and took note of the location of the Saber. He took his halberd and stabbed the Saber while he reached out and grabbed Celia as the dragon discarded the deceased Saber.

He sighed and shook his head. What was she doing this late at night? She needed to rest. He put her on the Dragon’s back and asked it to escort her back to his Tavern. It nodded and flew away. He was on the other Dragon’s back and surveyed what needed to be done. Most of the Calluin forces were defeated. As far as he was concerned, he was the only hope they had left of defeating the rest of the invading Sabers…


The next morning, Tristan was passed out on his bed with bloodstains on his halberd and a few scars on his face. The two dragons he met earlier were sleeping on top of the roof of the Tavern. It was a long night for Tristan as he barely managed to fight off the whole invasion. By the time he defeated the last one, he could only remember his vision blurred and faded to black as he passed out.

Was Celia alright? He remembered the Dragons escorting her back to his room. He hoped they made it there alright.

Tristan sat up and stretched. His whole body was sore, but he couldn’t remember why. Then it came to him.

Oh, right. There was a huge battle last night. Man, I haven’t fought that hard since I was training vigorously to become a Dragoon…

[Hyzenthlay]

Celia awoke, rising slowly she felt weak and her head ached. She remembered her dream, but her father was in it again, he cept mentioning his old dragon from when he was a rider, Arkaeus, that was its name, he told her to find him. She then though about the battle, then realising why there were bloodstains on her pillowsheet, one wall was collapsed and Alex was sleeping slumped against the wall with a cut on his forehead. She clasped her handgun still. She looked across just as Tristen stirred and awoke. She got to her feet yawning.

"A--alex" She yawned. "Get up, we are going." She threw a pillow at him.

"No... No..." Said Alex shaking into conciousness, raising his palms in a defencive stance. "Wha?" He exclaimed looking around. "It, Its over? Thank god, there were hardly any of our Dragon warriors left." He said, getting up slowly.

As this was said a huge man walked in, barely fitting through the doorway, at least 7 feet in height in fantastic shining golden armour and an emerald green cape, he wore a helmet also golden, placed in the forehead was an emerald in the shape of a star. He removed his helmet, looked around at the occupants of the room and spoke in a voice with superior authority and age, the three people withing didnt speak, just listened intently to what he said.

"There are more ships coming, I have gathered all remaining troops to guard the eastern barracks, the King has left with a convoy to Dalgalad. My fellow riders are staying here, I will accompany you to your next settlement. I have been informed you are mercenaries, correct. I offer my services, be what they may. I am Grendel, a sergeant in the Tiamat." He bowed. "I would be honoured to help the daughter of master Arkensaw."

Celia felt quite taken aback, she looked around, Alex was grinning, however Tristen was not, He liked to protect Celia. He didnt see why they needed a Tiamat. Celia ran and covered his mouth before he spoke.

"Yo... ~muffled~"

"You are most welcome Lord Grendel, I would be honoured to have you also." She smiled at him kindly, they needed more help anyway since the disaster in Hima.

Celia walked to her bed, took her sword and scabbard up, fixed it in place on her back, put on her silver breastplates and turned. As Grendel was too big for the door he barged through making the doorway bigger and taller. She grinned looking around, Alex, her Leutenant, smiled back. Alex fixed his gauntlets, Grendel Tightened his armour, Tristen polished his halberd.

"Well, I think now we journey to Junon, capital of Origon. To talk to my fathers friend Priest Barneby Kilos." She said, putting her handgun in a holster on her thigh.

She marched out followed by the others, Grendel crashing through again, they walked up to the roof and boarded the dragons, Alex and Celia on one fire red one, Tristen on another and Grendel on a far bigger one with black scales. They flew away east towards Junon, Celia looked back as boats approached the city, She looked to their north gates, a huge cavalry and infantry reinforcement was just arriving. Tanks again lined teh shores shooting blue plasma on the approaching boats. She sighed, turned and flew away.

[Dark Rider]

Tare awoke from his slumber with pain. He fell to the floor, and shook violenty. His nose bled after the fit. He stood and saw a black cloaked figure.
"Good. I like to see your resistance. I never could kill you even with my strongest magic. But your flying friend was not-"
"Its enough!" Tare said sharply. His face showed rage. "What dio you want?"
"Nothing, as usual, other than to point out how pitiful you are. And a challenge!" His face was curled in a malicous smile that Tare knew all too well.
"Again? You invade my dreams to try and kill me again? You died a long time ago, even your remiains are dying. Why waaste-"
"Fool! I've not come to fail again! I propose a challenge! Now, seeing as your still asleep at your desk, I think it is rather fitting forI have good news, and bad news."
"Bad." Tare said siting down.
"Of course. Your troops have failed again."
"I know. Celia is too well guarded."
"Odd. You know of your own failure before it reaches your ears?"
"I knew they would. They lack the stength, discipline and courage."
"Very insightful." Tare noded wipping the blood from his clothes. "And now for a tale you'll never believe." The figure smiled more devilishly now and watched Tare's response.
"What could you possibly tell me that would astound me so much?"
"Leoryn's son is alive, and well."
"What?!" Tare rose from his seat sending it smashing to the wall.
" He rsides in the northern caves, where you killed me. Zephyr, the mighty steel blue dragon. He will only allow you to so much as aproach him. He is indeed his father's son. The mother raised, and protected him from eggbirth. She died from an icy storm, cast by mages. but Zephyr survived. He is also like you, powerful in mind and strength. You interest-"
"I'll be there!"
"Good. I would hate to have been killed by a warrior who would give up his only dream. Farewell Tare." Tare then woke up, and roseto his feet. Blood still drippedfrom his nose. "Lets see if I still got it." He said as he drew his blade. He swung it around and sheathed it on his back. "Perfect!" He wrote a note and left it on his desk.

Dear Vander,
I'll be away for two days, so you are in charge.
Tare.

He leapt on his bike, and sped off. His face bore an excited smirk.

[Setzertrancer]

Vander was surprised by Quinn's response, it was not what he expected at all. Maybe Quinn was about to become better then a run of the mill soldier after all. Vander decided he would go and see if Tare had anymore orders for him, he was bored anyway and hoped that he could involve him in the next attack. When Vander arrived at Tare's office it was empty except for a note thay had been left on the table.

It read "Dear Vander,
I'll be away for two days, so you are in charge.
Tare"

In charge, Vander wasn't sure what to do. He had never known the politics behind actually running an army. Vander sat at Tare's desk and open the top draw, inside was a large parchment showing attack plans on a map of Celia. Vander began to make his own scribbles in a different colour. He soon had new attack plans, so he spoke into a microphone on Tare's desk and said "This is Captain Vander, I am temporarily your new commander, all soldiers are to meet me in the breifing room, we are going to attack Celia again, if you are not all their in 10 minutes you will be punished!".

Vander smiled as he headed for the breifing room, he was enjoying this new position of power. When Vander arrived at the breifing room most of the soldiers were there, so he began relaying his orders. "Your last attack on Celia was despicable, you all put Sabre to shame, so as punishment instead of resting for the night you are all going to attack again, right now, Don't expect any motivational speech from me, I have a philosophy even the most stupid of you will understand, victory or death."

It took another hour for the troops to be mobilized and brought to Celia. Vander approuched from the south with a small company of soldiers and in the dead of night Vander was vitually invisible. Vander saw the outline of shapes in the distance, these were enemy soldiers and Vander was probably the only one who could see them as over many years he had trained his eyes to adapt to the darkest of conditions. Vander pulled out a handful of black knives and threw them towards the soldiers ahead, hitting each one in the throught. They didn't see them coming and they dies nearly instantly. Vander felt a slight feeling of guilt about killing these people, but from the time he had been in the army, he had slowly desensitized himself from the horrible feelings of killing people you don't even know.

"Charge" yelled Vander and with that his soldiers turned on small flashlight so that they could see thier enemies. Vander stayed behind in the shadows and continued to throw knives at any opposing soldier he saw, he felt invincible back here, there was no way anyone was going to see him.