The Fallenic Knights were a testament of triumph through peril. Their training was rigorous and unrelenting. Every knight, every man, father, and husband. They had to overcome weakness. They gritted their teeth in the face of brutality. Their lord, himself, served as their mentor and punisher. He did not hold back in the slightest.
They fought without armor or weapons in the, cold, damp mud, against he who would aim to leave them beaten and bruised. His punches were like a splash of cold water to the resting, a strike that shocked them to their core and left them dazed and lost; but this taught them to take hits. Their training consisted of duels against one another, their flesh exposed and their weapons, sharp blades. They were no strangers to losing limbs, but thankfully, to the priestesses taught the skill of surgical healing, they would continue to fight another day.
Their lord would be their greatest foe, a being they had no chance of overcoming, but this taught them to rise to the challenge. They fought, day after day, in harsh conditions, their blistered feet on the sand, upon stone, at great heights, and in the slickness of oil. They were taught to fight in environments unlikely for them to ever find themselves in. They were taught to fend against magic, to parry against every weapon imaginable. They were soldiers, honed through bloodshed and pain, and with such soldiers, with such knights, having made up the Fallenic Army, it was of no wonder that they took cities with ease.
A thundering storm crackled in the night sky. The wind was harsh and the rain was ever pouring. The cries of men echoed alongside the storm. They barricaded the streets with iron bars and fences. They carried lanterns and weapons, barely able to see in the dark and rain.
The city was under siege.
"Damn it, sorcerer!! Cast us some bloody fuckin magic!"
"I am trying!! You fucking swine! Do you know how difficult it is to maintain a spell in such chaos? I can barely hear my own thoughts!"
"Fuck you, ay!"
A howl of wind blew through the city streets, as though the very storm itself was crying out.
The sorcerer finally managed to gather his focus, chanting a spell that prompted eleven bars to glow and float out from his bag. The light shone brightly, and as he uttered the last syllables of his spell, in raising his hand, he threw them out and down the sloped street, plunging them into the walls and floor, a ways down. They lit up the street in its entirety, giving them a clear view of what was approaching. One of the bars was caught in the hand of a black gauntlet, that of a Fallenic Knight. In his clutch, he shattered the bar and dispelled its glow. The men holding down the street shivered from the sight of countless knights, standing opposite end to them, like a scurry of rats, side by side.
"What the hell...?"
"F-FIRE!!"
The men armed with crossbows fired their bolts down the street, but they snapped and shattered upon striking the knight's armor, as though they were glass, hitting a wall of stone. The knights stoic in their advance, did not slow nor flinch. They neither ran at full speed, nor did they walk as though taking their time. They climbed.
"Fucking monsters!"
"Quickly! Quickly" Toward the back, a man urged. Blacksmiths carried a pot of oil, holding it by heatproof rags. "Move!! Move!!" He shouted, prompting the men at the barricade to make way.
The oil was burning hot, thrown over the barricade in an attempt to burn the knights alive. The blazing oil did not extinguish, even in the rain, quickly spreading as it poured down the slopes of the street and engulfed the knights in fire; but they would not be stopped. They swung their blades through the flames, their armor covered in oil and flicker flames, yet uncaring to its presence. This sight of pitch black knights, illuminated by the glow of a sorcerer's spell, and set ablaze, was enough to terrify the men to the point of panic. The knights continued their advance, easily tearing through the barricade with their blades that slashed through iron like paper. They dug their weapons into those they caught, while the others fled as cravens, abandoning their purpose and weapons, to save their pitiful lives. They were cowards, weak willed and pathetic. The Fallenic Knights, in comparison, were stoic and zealous, believing that even if they were to die, they would die a meaningful death.
Their march to the mayor's manor was unstoppable. The men sent to impede their march were cut down, namelessly and mercilessly, as no man, willing to hold a blade against the knights, would see the grace of mercy that only the unarmed would see. The mayor, a coward, in himself, sheltered himself in his manor. From all sides, the knights emerged from the outside, leaping through windows and busting down doors as they quickly overtook the castle in slaughtering all the guards. The mayor would finally be found in the deepest part of the castle, having hid with his family and wealth, surrounded by soldiers paid to protect him. The Fallenic Knights would block the two entrances to the north and west.
"Demons!! Demons!!" The mayor shouted. "Kill them! Priest!! Kill them!!" The mayor screamed, prompting the priest at his side to hurriedly chant a hymn.
"Theyi huam liko'pholis benu derum."
A guard plunged his blade into one of the knight's torso, only for it to turn crooked against the armor. The Fallenic Knight, with a swipe of his shield-banded-arm, tossed the pike away and decapitated the man.
"Those, without weapons, will be spared." One of the knights, rough voice, sounded.
The knights then began to cut down every man in the room, their armor deflecting every attack they received as they broke through the path of flesh and bone with ease. Those who knelt down and lowered their weapons were overlooked and spared, while those who clung and hesitated, died a fool's death.
The priest's chant did nothing to quell against their attackers, with one of the knights eventually reaching the priest. "Shut up, priest." Followed a blade to the throat.
Ultimately, the mayor's head would hang from the manor gates for all to see by morning. The city had been taken, and the Fallenic Banners would be flown over the city and order would be enforced. Some would deem the Fallenic Knights' ruthlessness to be too much, but they were leaving no room for any man, woman, or child, to act out of lines. Food was controlled, wealth was seized, and a curfew was placed upon the citizens. Where before, the noises of a bustling city was apparent throughout the day, now, under the banner of The Fallenic Empire, the city was quiet. The people did not dare to step out of line or cause a commotion. They feared the knights who never showed their faces or acted with emotion. They feared they were not human at all, and while that was true, in a way, they feared they were demons underneath their helmets.
Bright and early in the morning, Erik awoke to a knock on the door. He took his time getting out of bed and making his way to the door. Opening it revealed the maid, awaiting with a tray of water, cookies, and fruit. "Good morning, my lord." Erik said nothing in response, grabbing the small bowl of fruiting and turning away.
The maid would dress him at the foot of the bed where he sat in eating the fruit. He enjoyed the comfort of luxury, something he had missed from his time as a child.
Seeing his bare legs, toned and chiseled, she couldn't help but blush. Erik's eye was on her, looking down at her who had stopped in slipping on his socks. "Take this." He ordered, holding out his empty bowl down to her. "I will dress myself."
"Y-Yes... My lord."
Erik would soon knock on the door to his elder sister's room to the response of her calling out from the other side. "You may enter."
Erik opened the door to see his sister dressed in a sleek, black, Innah'vadahn dress, tailored specially by the most skilled tailors within Innah'vadah. It was of luxury, beauty, and modesty, and was certainly a dress to stand out in comparison to the fancy dressed of the modern fashion trends of aristocracy. "What a comfortable dress..." She commented. "...It is rather... Thin, though."
"It's design is based off of traditional Elvish clothing, Drowvish, to be specific."
"Drowvish? I have never heard of such a thing."
"Dark elves. There are many among my people."
"You lord over elves?"
Erik pondered for a moment, choosing his next words wisely as to offer a fresh perspective that would correct her way of seeing her future people. "I lord over Fallenists. Regardless of the point of their nose and ears, or the tone of their skin and nails, they are my people. Someday, they will be yours. Come along now. The carriage is awaiting."
Having grown up riding in such fancy carriages, it was a distant familiarity to Noesse, with her having not stepped foot in one for some time. "Is this your personal carriage?" She asked her brother.
"No. It is just one I am using."
"I see. Such a smooth ride... I remember when carriage rides were rough and often stumbled. There used to be sweepmen who were paid to sweep pebbles off the streets. Did you know that the suspensions you invented are widely used nowadays?"
"I do."
"I hadn't understood, having been so young, just how great of an invention you had made. Especially since you were just a child when you came up with it. You were always smart, though. Grandfather Henry was always fond of you because of it. Are you aware that the Rose family colluded with the church once they took power, to steal all of the royalties?"
"I am aware."
"You are? All of it?"
"I am aware that the engagement between I and the Duke's daughter was written in ink. Duke Barren Rose had been unable to produce and male heirs before his unfortunate infertility. Thus, he only sired two daughters with his wife, meaning that his eldest daughter, Ember Rose, would eventually inherit the Dukedom as duchess, despite being a woman."
"I have heard he spent a great deal to have Ember Rose taken in by the Archmage of the Mages Guild. Knowing she would be the next duchess, I am certain he wanted her to have the ability to carry on their family's magic arts."
"Indeed. Barren Rose is a doting father. He did all that he could to give his eldest daughter the means to carry on his legacy, while spoiling his second daughter, Emily Rose. He wanted her to live a carefree life with everything that she could ask for, thus, he arranged a marriage for his daughter, with a boy of high nobility, exceptional grades, and had an accumulated wealth. Upon learning of my death, he did all he could to seize said wealth using the engagement to claim that upon my coming of age, that his daughter and I were legally wedded, and thus, all marital assets would be inherited by her. I find his way of thinking to be rather impressive, in a way. He gave his daughter the perfect scenario. A comfortable life of wealth, without having to give up her chastity, and no responsibility, like that of tending to a husband. I am even aware that she does nothing but attend parties and lock herself in her manor, all the way in Novergracia."
"Yes... The Duke bought our childhood home in Finefield, and gave it to her as a gift. We had only accepted because we knew we would need the coin in the coming hardship."
"I am aware."
"How, may I ask? For someone who claims to have been far away, for so long, how is it that you know so much? More than anyone who would be able to learn, simply by asking around."
"I have a company established in Highland. It is how I made my enormous profit over the years, selling goods, services, and funneling resources to my kingdom. One such service is information. I bought out newspapers in various cities, recruited thugs and rogues to spread rumors and gather information, and bribed corrupt officials and nobles." Erik looked into his sister's eyes to see astonishment and disbelief. She had never expected her brother to do such things, especially to admit them so openly and shamelessly. To her, the way he spoke was that of a criminal's way of thinking, without a hint of morality in his actions. "I know what you are thinking, sister, but your way of viewing actions is too one sided."
"I don't know what to say."
"Then say nothing. I am a fickle man, but I am not indecisive. I will torture, bribe, and steal, just as easily as I would befriend, exchange, and offer fair dealings. It is all a matter of advantage and perspective."
"Your way of thinking is not that of a nobleman, Erik. What sort of life have you lived that you had to resort to such deceptive ways?"
"Your mistake is believing I had to resort. I was correct from the very beginning."
Their carriage finally came to an abrupt stop before a gate where three guards approached. One of them opened the door to, at which, Noesse offered up her familial crest, just as Erik had pulled out his. Seeing the crest in its well taken care of condition, the guard spared not another glance as he signaled to the others to open the gate.
"You kept your seal." Noesse asked, just as the carriage began to move again.
"I did." Erik responded, placing it back into his coat pocket.
"It looks new."
"It is the same one father gave me."
One of the guards at the gate sent word through a telephone to the palace. "Lady Noesse has returned with a man." The telephone was no more than a single line running through the wall and to the palace, connected to another, lone telephone.
The Palace of Cezarch was not like most of the distinguished palaces within Highland, it was an old castle with pillars in its deepest orifices that stood the test of time. Approaching the palace, one would be able to tell apart the distinctive outline between the red brick of newer buildings, and the cobblestone of the old keep, at which it had been expanded from. Still, it was a fortress that could compare to the beauty of the Palace of Novergracia, and the fearsomeness of the great Fortress Thighillis, that stood, border to border, at the eastern most of Highland, against the drylands of Hakah. It was a home to the Chamber dynasty, but it still held strong its capabilities in defending against potential invaders; from its
Erik looked to the palace through the crystal clear window, a reminiscent sight to gaze upon the building that hadn't seemed to change since he had last been here as a child, despite having spent little time in his life here.
Inside, those of the palace were spreading the news of Noesse's with angst. "Lady Noesse has returned!! Lady Noesse has returned!"
The maids scrambled to inform those of importance. Children overheard the news and scrambled, themselves, if not out of curiosity.
"Sir..." The butler knocked on the door. "Your sister, Lady Noesse, has returned."
The Duke of Cezarch swiveled his chair around to the news. "Noesse? Have you told my mother?"
"I have not. I await your decision."
"Yes, indeed... For now, refrain from informing her. Noesse has not returned for some time, and I fear that she has for gruesome reasons. Prepare water and inform Dezrich, she may need urgent healing if she chose to return home."
"Yes, of course, your grace."
The road from the gate to the entrance of the palace was rather long, a good walk if one chose to tread on foot. It gave time to the palace nobles to gather outside upon the steps of the entrance to see the approaching carriage.
"What a beautiful carriage. Is it one of ours?"
"No emblem... It is surely not."
There were many noblemen and ladies, as well as a handful of young children, both small and grown.
Out from behind the many, came the Duke. Tall, yet slender, with a head of golden hair and a well groomed mustache.
"Oliver." Said one of the ladies, grabbing onto his arm.
Oliver held her hand in return. "Niedress."
The carriage came to a stop, just before the long, first step of the stairs. The carriage door opened from the inside, and out stepped the unrecognizable, dark haired man, holding out a hand to the young Lady Noesse.
"Who is that?" One of the ladies asked, turning to look around to anyone who may answer her.
"I have no idea..." Said another.
"Noesse!" The Duke of Cezarch, Oliver Chamber had greeted. "You... You look well!" His arms were open and welcoming, a smile on his face as though relief had fell upon him.
Noesse seemed callous in comparison. "Oliver... We should speak in private."