[Private-GrandShadow & The Storm] Trial of Destiny

Aelai;
A land of pristine green fields, lush forests, majestic waterfalls, stunning mountains, and natural beauty. The land is full of natural resources giving its people nothing but prosperity. They developed ways to harness the land without harming it, to live with rather than live on. Truly nothing ever deserved the title of paradise more than Aelai. Its people were kind, peaceful and loving.

However the north was not so gifted. A barren and frozen wasteland of scattered villages and one major city. The people bitter and harsh, the whole kingdom embodied by a ruthless and greedy king. Phernez was an icy hell. The people never knew where there next meal would come from while the king gorged himself three times a day. Eventually word reached the king about a possible revolution, should nothing be done to aid its people Phernez was going to destroy itself. And so the king called in his top advisors and developed a plan. The plan was simple, yet it met the needs of the people and gave the king more to sate his greed.

Take over paradise.

It was quick, many not discovering what had happened until it was too late. The armies of Phernez swept aside the small militia of Aelai's villages and marched undeterred to the capital of Fonix. In a rush to preserve Aelai's culture and future, the youth of the capital were spirited out of the city and went into hiding. Phernez came later on the very same day and completed its conquest. Paradise was lost, and the youth were hiding in darkness.

Under the rule of Phernez, the people of Aelai became slaves. The lands natural beauty began to wither away from the new industrial presence of the northern folk. Forests were chopped down, waterfalls turned into sewage dumps, and green fields turned into places where nothing grew. Aelai was truly lost to the power of Phernez. But a small hope remained throughout the few who even knew of the hope's existance.

The youth of Aelai were not aimlessly hiding in the shadows. They had vowed the moment they left to return and free their home. Even if it was deemed impossible they would try, even if they were going to die, they would make the attempt. And so now the latest generation rises. They will take on Phernez and they will liberate Aelai. They will succeed, or they will die trying.​

"Ninety, ninety-one, ninety-two..." The cave was dimly lit by only three torches. It was large, about the size of a bedroom. Its pale tan stone given dark orange hues from the fires light. The only things inside were the torches which hung on the walls, a bed, a spear leaning against the wall next to the door, and a young teen doing push ups with one hand behind her back. Her flaming red hair offset by her pale white skin and blue clothes. She was five feet, six inches tall and it was obvious that she had a perfect hourglass figure. She ignored everything around her though and only focused on counting as she did the exercise. Finally there was a knock on the door.

"Yo Hime, come on out. You know we can't start the meeting without you." No answer as the girl just continued doing her push ups. "Don't ignore me Hime, I swear I'll break the door. I don't care of your naked or anything I'll break it open right now and drag you to the meeting." Still no answer. "Okay, you had your warning." The girl sighed and stopped as she stood up and brushed the dust off her clothes. She walked over to the door and opened it right as a man came charging through and stumbled, falling flat on his face.

"You know I always do a hundred-twenty push ups before I do anything else in the morning Jack." The other man stood up and rubbed his face. He was six feet tall exactly and looked far more built than most nineteen year olds should. His spiked red hair shined brightly against his white shirt and black vest. He had black pants and boots on as well while his hands sported white fingerless gloves. Hime brushed her hands through her hair a couple times and grabbed her spear before turning back to Jack. "Well, are we going?"

"You know, I am your older brother. You'd think I'd get a little bit more respect."
"Not likely cause then I'd lose the only entertainment I have."
"I know you don't like meetings but do you have to take out your frustrations on me?"
"Well who else would I take them out on?"
"Phernez troops?"
"And where would I find them here in these caves?"
"Uh... ah forget it. Arguing with women is pointless." Jack said as he stormed out of the room and started down the caverns as Hime started shouting about what he meant.

 

"Exactly but how is the problem." Jack said as him and Hime walked up. I know it's been five years since Phernez took over and that this is the first time they's gotten weaker but we can't just charge in. We've become strong but we're not ready to face an army. Plus Phernez still doesn't know were a resistance. They're still under the impression that we're nothing more that rogues and bandits. I'd like to keep it that way for now unless they decide to bring about their full might to exterminate us." Jack pulled the sword out of the map and tossed it back Kane.

"Ugh this is exactly why I hate these pathetic meetings." Hime said as she took her seat next to her brother.
"What?"
"All we ever do is debate about how to stay hidden and hurt them and now that a chance finally shows up, only one man here has the balls to say we should attack. Personally I'm with Kane."
"Hime, it's not that we don't want to. It's that we can't. How are we supposed to attack the Phernez army?"
"Oh, I don't know... how about by actually attacking them?!" Hime shouted as she slammed the bottom of her spear against the floor, creating a large metallic ring that resonated throughout the cavern. "I'm sick and tired of living in a cave when we used to have rooms. I'm fed up with only living off what the patrols bring in or our scouts hunt. And I'm not going to deal with it any longer when we can get back even a portion of our home!" Hime stood right back up as she finished her little rant. Unsurprisingly many of the people in the room began to nod, Hime even noticed Kane crack a smile.

Jack however sighed. "Sit down Hime."
"Why? So you can just turn everything back to the small plans? No I-!"
"SIT DOWN HIME!" Jack yelled. Hime was shocked and fell back into her chair just because that was the first time he ever yelled at her like that. He sighed again and placed a hand on his hip as he ran the other one through his hair. "Look, we all are tired of living like this, you and the other younger ones more than the rest of us. But that doesn't mean we can mount an assault at the press of a button. We've been working on plans for months, which you'd know if you bothered to pay attention to these 'boring' meetings. The thing is, nobody expected Lace to die. We never planned for something like this happening and if we pursue it then we drop all our other plans and risk everything on a chance. But we can't do that, not so fast anyways. Lace has only been dead for three days. It'll take Phernez about a week to replace him and so we've got a couple more days to make a plan and take advantage of this. We want to attack, but we have to plan how or everything could fall." As Jack spoke Hime waited patiently, with an impassive face to mask her thoughts. As he finished she stood up and held her spear over her shoulder.

"Is that all?" She asked. Jack nodded but before he could say something she knee'd him in the gut. "That's the same bullshit you've been spouting ever since we got in this mess!" She yelled as Jack was doubled over on the ground. "Plans, plans, plans! All we ever do is make plans! For once instead of making plans we should attack! Make a simple plan like when and where and thats it! We can make up the rest as we go. Who knows, we might die. But so what? We're going to die eventually and I at least would rather go from trying and failing. So you can stay here and make all the plans you want. But tomorrow I'm attacking that battle formation before it comes to get Devin Village's taxes. And I'm going to spread the word too. Anybody that wants to actually DO something can come with me. Anybody that wants to stay here and play it safe can get out of my way." Hime turned on the spot and stormed out of the room as Jack picked himself up, holding his hurting stomach.

 

"I know Kore but Hime does what she wants, I can't stop her." Jack said as he sat down. As Kore went over the intel Jack nodded. "Yeah definately. I know it's not like we normally do but maybe Hime is right, at least right now. Our attack on the new battalion commander should be quick and simple. And I think I know the perfect way to do it. Do we have any Phernez uniforms left over from our last raid?" Jack asked with a smile.

Meanwhile...

"Thanks for your support and I'm glad someone is having some fun here." Hime replied. "I don't care what Jack or the others try, I'm going tomorrow at Dawn and anybody that wants come with can. I could use all the help I can get." She added in an undertone. Hime always felt calm and assured around Kane, mainly because they both held the same ideas about what they should all be doing. She knew she could count on him, just as he could count on her. And while she wasn't entirely sure what he thought of her, Hime always saw him as another brother. She counted him as family and would hate for anything to happen to him or anybody in the resistance.

"Kane? You know how I'm always talking tough at the meetings and when we go out to do the raids? Do you think I'm wrong in always pushing a more... active plan for retaking Aelai?"

 

"Actually, I only want one. If this works, it'll be major blow to Phernez and it'll get Hime to quit complaining. Send someone to bring her back, I hate to say it but I'm gonna need her help to pull this off."

Meanwhile...

"I know that but... that still doesn't stop me from worrying." Hime hugged Kane before taking a step back and twirling her spear. "Thanks Kane. It means a lot." She was about to walk off to rally up some people for the raid she was planning when someone came rushing up to them.
"Hime, your brother wants you to come back to the meeting."
"Ugh why? So he can yell at or make me listen to stupid plans again?"
"I don't know but he says you should like this plan. He's saying it'll be direct."
"Really? Sounds nice. Might as well see how he thinks on impulse. Comin' Kane?"

 

"If this is anything like what you said not even ten minutes ago, I'll hit you and storm out again." Hime stated as she took her seat. Jack chuckled nervously.
"It won't be. Now, I know you wanted to attack tomorrow, considering that impressive triad you gave about it moments ago. And I-"
"I'm not stopping that, no matter what this plan is, even if I like it." Hime interrupted.
"Quite the opposite, I want to come with." Hime was dumbfounded by her brothers comment. "I will ask that you shrink it though. Not a full force attack but more of a distraction so that I may sneak into their ranks. From there, I will keep my head low and wait it out with the troops until the promotion ceramony. During the ceramony, you and the others will follow Kore's orders and attack to divert away attention from me as I rush in to kill the newly appointed officer. Then I sneak back into the army as you all retreat and later that night I escape back here. Now Hime, how do you like that? Is it enough 'action' for you?" Jack asked.

Hime was actually with her mouth wide open as she stared at Jack. "What?" He asked.
"Are you insane!?!" She yelled. Jack was actually surprised by her response; he expected her to say to wasn't enough or that she didn't like it. Questioning his sanity was a stark reverse of the normal order of things.
"Well, what's wrong with it?" Jack asked, Hime didn't seem like it but sh could make plans just as well as he could; she just favored the direct far too much.
"You!"
"Me?"
"Yes you! Why are you the one sneaking in? Wouldn't Kore be better or Kane even? He's blood thirsty enough to be a Phernez troop. No offense Kane." She quickly added in before getting back on topic. "I mean, you're way more important here than any of us. Why does it have to be you?" She asked. Jack smiled, Hime was worried about him. Despite all her bickering and her attitude she didn't want her brother to be at risk.
"Because, I'm the best at stealth out of all of us. Plus I can blend into a crowd very easily, despite my hair being such an attention grabber. For something like this, shouldn't the best be used? I mean, that's why I want you to be in the attack teams." Hime smiled at her brother.
"Fine, you win. So, since you want the attack tomorrow done a specific way, you have to come up with a plan for it."
"Wait, what?" Jack asked as Hime just giggled and strolled out of the room. She was going to have fun tomorrow.

 

"Right, well... I don't know. And since we don't know who's going to be the newest guy to be part of Phernez's upper management, we can't plan for that. It's not how we normally work but, we'll have to wing it." Jack said as he looked over the map. Jack knew Hime was counting on the best plan for her to smahs some Phernez skulls while he slipped inside. And the actual assasination, he was gong to let Kore plan that distracting battle. "Ok, so the enemy will be coming from here and entering the town from there then as they leave the best place to strike would be there..." Jack sarted to go over the plan as he pointed to psitions and gave out orders.

Meanwhile...

"Didn't you hear me? I'm letting Jack plan it. I don't like that he's risking himself but overall I like the plan. So I want him to keep thinking on his feet. All we've gotta do is kill as many as we can before we pull back. May be a distraction but that doesn't mean we have to hold back either." Hime said as she laid down on her bed. She set her spear to lean against the bed next to her. She was going to rest up so that she could rip apart Phernez tomorrow.

Morning came as all the troops were gathered, Jack dressed as the enemy so he was behind the frontlines. The Phernez troop were leaveing a village, their formations easily distinguishable. Rows of nine, Phernez is divine; basic troop teachings to their army. As the troops marched down the path, Jack motioned for everyone to stay quiet and still behind the hill they were hiding behind. It wasn't until they were alost past that Jack gave the signal. Hime leapt up and screamed, "Charge!"

 

Spinning her spear quickly above her head, Hime leapt into battle with a yell and brought her spear down on an enemy. Ripping her spear from his head she twirled it into the body of another. A smal tug and she pulled it out and blocked a couple attacks before decapitating them. Jack watched from the back as Kane quickly ran throug his enemes and Kore easily chopped through his. But his gaze kept turning back to his sister as she seemed to dance her way through the Phernez troops. More of the resistnance joined in quickly and soon the battle was a blood bath of Phernez troops. Jack smiled. Now's my chance.

Jack quickly ran into the fight but rather than kill or even draw his weapon, he grabbed the sword of a fallend Phernez soldier and cut his leg. Not very deeply, just enough to bleed. He then dropped to the ground and pretended to be knocked out. All he had to do was wait and then leave with the surviving troops.

 

Hime took one look back as they all retreated. She looked and after finding her brother pretending to be hurt she miled and started running like the rest. Jack waited until he heard movement and slowly picked himself up. He looked around and hid a grin at the dead soldiers around him. Jack slowly stood and grabbed a sword to act as though he needed it to walk. He saw other soldiers slowly doing the same, everyone was injured in some way. As Jack followed the troops he went over the plan in his head. All he has to do is last undetected for a day and a half before assasinating the new commander when the rest of the group provides a vilent distraction. Simple enough, he hoped.

As they all neared tha cave spirits were high, very few of them had any injuries and the worst one was just a broken arm from blocking someone with thei sheild. Hime ran up to Kore and Kane and smiled. "I saw Jack playing dead before we left, so all we gotta do is wait. Kore, let me know when you make that plan for the ceramony." Hime said as she ran ahead. She was going to take a nice shower to clean off the blood and dirt of the enemies.

 

As Hime washed the blood off herself, she felt relaxed. Dispite her firey personality, feeling water rush down her skin always relaced her. At least until she heard the door open and shut. What now? "I'm in the shower, I'll be done in a minute!" She called out. She quickly finished up and put on some clean cloths before heading out to the main part of her room, only to see Kane waiting on a chair. "Uh, if you had just said something I wouldn't have rushed it. I was relaxing you know. Why are you here anyways? Is the plan ready or is it something else?" Hime asked as she lied down on her bed.

Jack followed the rest of the trrops until they reached a large encampment just outside a recently finished mansion. So that is done. But this complicates things, we thought the ceramony would be outside. Crap, I can only hope Kore sends a scout before he makes his plans. Otherwise everything could come down on our heads. Jack stopped his brooding when a soldier came up. "All of you are first to report to the medic for treatment, you are then to go to the mess hall for debriefing." All of them replied with a 'Sir!' and the ones who could also saluted before stumbling to the right. Jack followed and avoided drawing attention to himself. At the medical tents, Jack was looked over and his leg bandaged before he was told to move along. 'Come back if it gets infected' though. Jack scoffed, if all worked out there wouldn't be a tent to come back to. Jack waited a moment for a couple more troops to stumble out before he followed them to the mess hall. Inside were many troops enjoying a nice meal, but then there were the ones standing at attention that motioned for them to come. First I listen to their stories, then I add my own believable tale. Jack thought.

"What happened?" One of the superios asked. He pointed to the soldier next to Jack and the man stepped forward.
"Ambush sir. I can't say if they were merely raider or some Aelai freedom fighters but they hit hard and fast. The attacked us from the eastern side and ran through us with speed and strength. I recieved this cut on my head and was knocked out as they cut my legs. My apologies for our failure sir!" He added before stepping back. The officer nodded and then pointed at Jack. He stepped forward and added a simple believable tale.
"They were fast and were weren't expecting an attack. I recieved a cut on my leg and during a momentary lapse from the pain I was hit in the head and knocked unconscious. I came too while the other survivors were leaving the field. My apologies sir." Jack said as he stepped back and hung his head in imaginary shame. The officers repeated this with the next and then with every wounded soldier that came in. All said the same thing; A fast force attacked them when they least expected and ripped throught the greater part of their numbers. Our apologies sir.

"Hmm, seems you all will need more training. Tomorrow is the ceramony when Commander Rai will become the Battalion Commander. He has ordered that those of you not in mortal danger shall attend this ceramony so that you may see who shall lead you. Consider it an honor he's not having you whipped and sent back to school for such a defeat!" The officer shouted. They all saluted and apologized again before he dismissed them. Jack sighed and looked over to where the food was. Might as well eat while I figure out what I'll be doing tomorrow.

 

Hime sat up and pulled her hand away. "I'm fine with you hanging out here Kane but I'm not..." Hime started but then sighed and looked down. "I get that you... you like me. But..." Hime was trying to think about what to say. If Jack could see her she'd bet he'd be laughing; such a battle ready warrior was afraid of hurting someones feelings. "I just don't tink of you like that. You're a great friend, a strong comrade, and me and Jack both consider you to practically be family." She then looked back up at Kane.

Meanwhile...

Jack finished up a simple mal and then went out of the mess hall as he stared into the sky. Never thought I'd find something worse than Hime's cooking. God I'm suprised Phernez hasn't poisoned itself out of commission. Or that I'm not puking right now. As Jack looked arund he saw a limosine pull up to the mansion. Jack watched as a young teenager got out and walked up to the mansion surrounded by guards. That kid couldn't be any older tha fifteen at most. Why the hell would he warrent such importance? Jack considred asking around but thought that might be suspicious so he instead he looked for a place to sleep.

Meanwhile...

"Master Arc, this is your room." A servant said as the youth walked up accompanied by his entourage of guards. Thank him and tell the guards to leave you for the night.
"Thanks, you can go away now." Arc said as he walked inside the room. They left as he shut the door an broke out into a smile. The teen was only fifteen years old. His hair was messy and black,his eyes were the same, no pupils at all. He was wearing a black sui with a white undershirt and silver fastenings as well as a silver belt. His shoes were black with white laces. Overall, he appeared as a young buisness man; but anybody that truly knew him would say that was farthest from the truth. Arc sat down on the bed and bunced a couple times laughing like a child before he fell back with his arms spread and continued laughing. Arc, shut up. Tomorrow you must be on your best behavior. Don't speak unless spoken to, and only say what I tell you too. Got it? "This bed is so bouncey. Haha, I could jump to the ceiling with this." Pay attention damn it! "Yes Arcanum." Tomorrow! Best behavior! You don't talk unless I'm telling you what to say! Got it? "Yes Arcanum."