Once, dragons and men coexisted.
They shared a peace forged in wisdom,
a peace that lasted many generations.
All that was lost when mankind disrupted
this balance in a sudden onslaught.
Man fought dragon in a savage war
that shook the foundations of their world.
This war was called The Scouring.
Defeated and humbled,
dragons vanished from the realm.
In time, man rebuilt and spread his
dominion across the land and
on to the islands beyond.
A millennium has passed
since those dark days ended.
PROLOGUE : A GIRL FROM THE PLAIN
I woke up to a terrible headache and the aroma of fried rice. I blinked my eyes open, and propped myself up from lying down on this mattress… wait! Where am I?
I rubbed my eyes, and I found myself inside… what is this? A house… more like, a tent. There were no walls—every boundary of the place was made with what I judged to be some really heavy cloth pinned to the ground. This wasn't the place of the bandits. It was a little neat to be their tent. Good. That was a good sign. It means the bandits didn't capture me. I looked at myself. Good. I was wearing my clothes. It means the bandits haven't… touched me or anything.
Hmm… this might be a nomad's place…?
I was examining the place without moving from my spot when the headache made itself more unbearable, and the aroma of the fried rice was screaming for attention, too. My stomach grumbled. I let myself fall back into the mattress.
Suddenly I thought that the food's scent was coming closer. And then someone said, "Are you awake? Who are you? Can you remember your name?"
I couldn't answer the woman as she stared with me with her black eyes. She had long dark hair pulled up to a ponytail, and she wore clothes that looked like what a Sacaean traveler would wear. I was busy staring into the wooden bowl of fried rice in her hands.
"Oh!" she noticed where my eyes were fixed at, and she handed me the food, and placed the water right near me. I brought it to my nose to sniff it for poison. The woman giggled.
"I didn't poison it. I found you unconscious on the plains. Who are you, please?" she repeated her earlier question.
After a gulp of water, I answered, "Kumiko. But you can call me Kumi."
"Your name is Kumi?" she sat beside me on the mattress. I nodded. She said, "It is a Sacaean name… I am Lyn. Well, your name may be Sacaean, but I see by your attire that you are a traveler. What brings you to the Sacae Plains? Would you share your story with me?"
…My attire? I took a break from eating to consider my clothes. The green dress was stained dark brown in some parts from mud. My clothes were still a little damp from the… rain. Yes, I remembered rain. My brown-blonde hair was all disheveled. Ugh. I looked ridiculous. I don't look like a young girl, which I am.
(And she definitely got that right. My name was Sacaean. At least to me my name sounded Sacaean, and not Bernese, which I am, by the way. )
I searched around for the chain belt I wore that had my bag attached to it. When I found it on the floor, I sighed a sigh of relief. Good. I haven't been robbed.
When I found the woman's expectant gaze at me, I said, "Uhm… Hi. Last I recall, I was being chased by bandits around the mountains… and I just ended up here. I'm from Bern."
"Oh…" she said, and she was about to speak but a noise from outside stopped her. I too, dropped the food bowl to my lap, since I was startled. There were… some sort of ruffled noises. Metals clanging, and men chatting around in loud, thunderous voices. What could it be…? I hope they aren't bandits! I've had enough of bandits for now!
Lyn was puzzled as well. "I'll go see what's happening. Kumi, wait here for me."
She got up and left and I took a mouthful of the food and gulped down the water, and left them. My sense of duty as a tactician (or a supposedly one) getting to me, I followed Lyn.
"Bandits!" I caught her shrieking to herself as she held open a flap in the tent to see what was going on outside. I peeked at the window of sort and saw about three axemen coming down from the Bern mountains… ugh! They look familiar! They might be the ones that chased me and Mark! I knew they were still around…
"I thought so." I said, as I stood beside… yes, Lyn… and stared at the view of those three men lugging their axes... "They must be planning on raiding the local villages."
"I... I have to stop them!" Lyn turned to me with an inexplicable determination in her face. "If that's all of them, I think I can handle them on my own. You'll be safe in here, Kumi!"
"Wait!" I screamed before she could exit the tent. "Can I… uhm… come with you?"
Lyn's first question was, "Well, can you use a weapon?"
...I was disappointed. I can help without using a weapon. And I didn't know anything about weapons. You can hand me a sword and I wouldn't know the difference between the sharp and blunt edge.
"You see... I am a traveling tactician... or supposedly one. I'm still a student… but… well… I can at least tell you to watch out or something."
"Oh-kay..." She looked as if she was a little enlightened of my chosen career… and confused of all the words I said. She shrugged. "So you're a strategist by trade? An odd profession, but... very well. We'll go together!"
Okay, so I kind of lied to Lyn when I said I was a tactician. I mean, I am a tactician, but I'm a novice tactician. Oh, wait, I told her that. I'm just fresh from the academy in Bern. Though, you probably don't know there's a tactician school in Bern... It's not really a school, just a guild were this awesome tactician tutors us and--
"Over here!" Lyn called on my attention. "If you want to come with me, Kumi, I could use your advice. I'll protect you, so stay close to me."
I looked around the area, holding onto Lyn's arm as she led me outside. Hmm… There seem to be three axe-wielding bandits here...
"Now, we need to get closer to the enemy..." she whispered to me.
"Yes. Try not to get noticed..."
I didn't realize at that moment how stupid what I said was. To "try not to get noticed" in the open plains is impossible. Ugh. I hate myself. This must be because of the stupid effects of lack of food. All I could think of is the fried rice I left in Lyn's tent. As I took off from her tent, I also sighted some mangoes… oooh… mangoes… No… Must. Be. Alert!!
"Who's there?!" As I said, it was impossible to go unnoticed.
Lyn grabbed a hold of her sword to prepare for a fight. "Kumi! Go somewhere safe!"
I backed away but froze when I saw the axe glimmer in the sunlight from afar. I developed quite a phobia for bandits. I screamed, and the axe-wielding bandit charged at us with his Iron Axe. I thought that day was my doom, but Lyn lunged at the opponent and stabbed him. The enemy dropped to the ground… probably dead. Or if not dead, almost dead. Near dead. Just… dead.
I wrinkled my face in disgust and backed away from the fallen man. I hated seeing people die, seeing blood, and seeing all the violence. I have been told (more like screamed at) to get used to the mechanics of life and death. I was a tactician, after all. Or at least I was going to be one. I can always change my career, but… I wanted to be a tactician. I just didn't like seeing the killing up-close. Eeek.
I pushed the thoughts out of my head and looked up to Lyn. "Uhm... thank you for protecting me..."
Lyn just looked over at me and smiled, "You should learn how to use a sword."
Before I could think of an appropriate reply, I saw the remaining two bandits rush toward us yet again. "Lyn! Look in front of you!"
But my scream was too late. She turned around to see the bandits attacking her, and there was inadequate time to dodge. And…
I froze and shut my eyes close.
I reluctantly opened my eyes to a soft poke at the side. I thought it might be the bandits poking at me, but I was relieved to find Lyn there, and the bandits felled. I let go of the breath I was holding for I don't know how long now.
Lyn looked at me with a mock smile. "…Are you really a strategist by trade?"
"Novice strategist by trade!" I corrected her. "Apprentice, student, newbie…"
"Oh," was all she said, and then she turned to look at the felled bandits. Or one of them in particular. And then I just noticed Lyn clutching her arm… it was bleeding. There was a slice there. "That was close. I sorely underestimated him." She then slid her sword back to its scabbard and turned to me. "Sorry if I worried you. I'll need to be stronger if I'm going to survive... Strong enough that no one can defeat me."
She looked deep in serious thoughts when she said that, and I could just raise an eyebrow in question. She just shook her head as if to say it's nothing.
I then remembered her cut, and remembered the things in my bag. "Oh, wait, I have a vulnerary here..."
I dug into my belt bag...wait! Where is my bag? Ugh. I just remembered that I didn't pick it up from the tent… stupid, stupid me!
"Oh... I took it off you." Lyn gave me a smile as she scratched her head. "Sorry. But don't worry, I have some in my satchel here." She dug her hands into her satchel, and fished out a gold-colored bottle. I took it from her, and we sat down on the grass, and I applied some of the balm on her wound. "After this, we can go back to my ger."
"What's a ... ger?" I curiously asked as I applied the ointment on her wound.
"You don't know what a ger is? It's a type of round hut." Lyn knowingly answered me. "Many nomads live in huts like these. We build it by using some wood and dried leaves and grass for the framework, and draping heavy cloths over it, and pinning these cloths to the ground."
"Ah, suited for living in the tropic heat of the plains," I remarked. "I think I've read about them, but I didn't know that Sacaeans call them… gers."
When the bleeding of Lyn's wound stopped thanks to the vulnerary, we headed back to the tent… But, in a sense, I never made it. The moment I stood up from my position on the grass, and I took my first step, I felt incredibly dizzy. And then everything went black…
...Ugh... where am I? Was it all... just a dream?
"Good morning, Kumi! Are you awake yet?" I saw that black-haired Sacaean lady before me again—Lyn. I wasn't dreaming. The environments were that of her house, and something in the air smelled fragrant... Mmm... food... FOOD!
"...Lyn? Is that really you?" I wanted to make sure I wasn't only seeing things because of passing out too much.
"Yes." She nodded, and then she handed me a plate of fried rice mixed in with onions, garlics, potatoes, and scrapped meat. The dish also included a ripe mango. I cheerfully took it into my hands, and began eating in front of Lyn. "That fight yesterday must have taken a lot out of you. Or maybe the heat did… or maybe because you haven't eaten a thing yet."
"I haven't eaten anything... in days..." I said in between stuffing my mouth with the fried rice. I didn't have eating utensils, and I didn't want them at the moment. I ate with my hands. When you're really hungry, your mind forgets how to use a fork and spoon, so they're not necessary.
She just stared at me, and I can tell she looked… amused. She asked, (and her tone sounded like she was talking to a 6-year-old) "Tell me, Kumi… How did you end up here in Sacae?"
I paused eating to answer her. "You see, I'm supposed to put all I've learned from my mentor to use. So my friend and I—my friend's also training to be a tactician—decided to travel together. But then horrible bandits chased us around the mountain borders of Bern and Sacae! Oh, Mark went to distract them from me, so we parted ways… and it was raining then, and it was getting dark… so I just ran and ran and I remembered slipping… I think I fell off a cliff. And next I remember, I'm here…"
"That does sound horrible!" Lyn gasped, and I nodded. I… I wonder where Mark is… I now know that I'm safe, and I wonder about him… Mark couldn't even hold a sword efficiently to save his life! Well, at least he knows how to hold a sword compared to me, but… he's not a warrior. He's a tactician. What if those bandits found him and… ooh, please… I hope that didn't happen. I hope Mark's safe.
I suddenly lost my appetite that moment. Mark took care of me like an older brother. I can't just continue searching for a way to practice tactics when I know he could be in danger…
"Are you going to look for him?"
I was snapped from my thoughts when I heard Lyn ask me that. Look for Mark…?
I nodded. "I'll look for him by continuing to travel. Maybe I'll see him along the way, or find some clue of how he is…"
I resumed eating, now calmer than before. I started peeling open the ripe mango. When I feel a little blue, I want sweets. I hope this mango is sweet…
She silently watched me for a few seconds, and then suddenly went, "Say, Kumi... I want to talk to you about something. You may be a little young, and you may be a little… scattered… but you have some experience in the ways of war, I can see. Would you... allow me to travel with you?"
I was surprised to the degree that I stopped eating and the half-open mango almost slipped from my hand. "Lyn! I just said that I was a novice tactician! Sure, I know almost everything my books say about wars and battles and how it should be directed, but I haven't even led a group! Not once!"
"That's why I'm coming with you!" She told me. "If we travel, you can improve your skill and maybe find a group to lead, and maybe find your friend, while I can improve my swordsmanship!"
"Why are you so hell-bent on improving your swordsmanship?"
A cross expression slowly traversed through Lyn's features. Oh, no. I must've asked a question I shouldn't have.
"My mother and my father," she narrated, "died six months ago. My people--the Lorca--they don't... I'm the last of my tribe. Bandits attacked, and... They killed so many people. The tribe was scattered. My father was our chieftain, and I wanted to protect our people. I am so young, and my people are old-fashioned. They wouldn't follow a woman. No one would follow me."
Before I realized it, drops of tears came streaming from Lyn's black eyes. Oh, no. I did ask the wrong question. I put off my food for the moment, and got up beside Lyn and tried to comfort her. "Lyn..."
She fought back tears as she wiped them off with her hands. "I'm sorry. I've been alone for so long... No. No more. I will shed no more tears. Thank you. I'm better now."
I continued to pat her on the back, to make the tears go all away and abandon Lyn's face.
"Kumi, I want—I must become stronger, so that I may avenge my father's death! Yesterday's battle taught me something. I won't become stronger by sitting here alone. Kumi, tell that you'll let me travel with you!"
I sighed. I'm just an apprentice tactician... I barely have money left in my purse... yet, I feel like I have to let her come with me, because like me, she is alone, too...
"Well, a companion probably won't hurt in my journey." I cheerfully told the lady and I shared with her my smile. "If you really insist, you can come with me. I'll help you improve your swordwork and in the long run avenge your parents, while I look for a job and find Mark. Okay?"
"You will? That's wonderful! Thank you! Oh, thank you!" Lyn got up, and held me in her embrace. "We'll be better off working together, I know it. You'll be my master strategist, and I'll be your peerless warrior! We can do it! Right?"
"Yep!"
End of Chapter.
Author's Note:
Zee new improved Prologue! I hope it's better than the old one, and improved. I took liberties and changed some stuff (not exactly following the script and all), but I think it was done for the better.
I changed it for a few reasons: One, to have a more appealing beginning chapter. Two, Kumiko's personality grew to be more developed ever since chapter 7… I wrote this with no idea of Kumi's personality at all, but as I wrote and wrote, her personality was formed only around chapter 7… so the chapters earlier than that has nothing much of her personality… (blink, blink). O.O So now that I know who Kumi is, I'm trying to redo the earlier chapters.
Reviews, please. xD