Evangeline was shocked and stared at Ravaen. He looks at her and waits for an answer when Evangeline slowly turned her attention to the broken wing. Ravaen was still waiting for an answer until he slowly turned his attention to the darkening sky. Silence lingers in the air between them, as both of them were speechless and Evangeline onlyfocused on healing his wings. The wind blows lightly when the hissing of the healing spell stopped and the wings are healed. Evangeline stands up and backs away a little while Ravaen flaps his wings to check. Delighted by the result he was about to thank her with a big smile but she already left. His smile slowly fades and he recalled his wings. He sighs deeply, took a deep breath and lays his back on the roof to stare at the skies with a rather disappointed aura. He was asking her about it and didn’t mean anything else about it, but he knew he made a wrong approach about it.

Evangeline hovers down and directs herself towards the forest. With the question still echoing on her head she hovers and hovers until she reached a stream not far away from the temple. She sighed as hovered and stops over the stream. Saddened, small pink and maroon glowing orbs appeared around her body and it encircles her and continued to spin around her. Her clothes then floats and flow like its underwater. Her hair quickly followed and she glimmers in pink and maroon as the water beneath her slowly rises and appears to be en-circling her too. She closed her eyes, while the wind blows lightly. She recalls all of her studies back when she was only a child. She recalls the stories her father told he, about how they ended up in this world, about how they discovered Unibeltrasia.

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It was a raging night, the sky lights up with lightning and bursts with thunder. In an unknown town, the people were in chaos, the muddy streets were bombarded by cold, icy rain. All of the people were running in a hurry. The men carrying their belongings, the women carry their children as they were covered with cloth to protect them from the cold rain. Hay carts were running the streets pulled by horses as they rush to get to the coast. Everyone was indeed in a hurry. They were shouting, and in panic as it goes with the bursting thunder. Not far from the town, a medium sized-cavalry was in sight, bearing a banner of red, crossed with yellow and a standing lion on the middle. The horsemen wearing armor with tabards of red, wearing straps of red on their arms. They all gaze upon the town as they are soaked by the rain with faces as cold as the rain itself. Behind this cavalry is a group of swordsmen who is wearing the same thing. With shields colored of red and imprinted of yellow cross and a lion on its middle. Behind this is a group of archers ready to fire their arrows upon call. They halted their march as they observe the chaos-crippled town.

One person saw the upcoming army and he rushes towards the town bell. He climbs atop and rushes to untie the bell knot.

In the army, the captain calls for one archer from the group, they all make way as the best archer approaches the front of the army. The archer salutes the horsed captain and he did the same. He points towards the bell tower and the archer looks and quickly gets the point. He walked forward and stops as he takes aim. Spotting the person has untied the bell, he pulled the rope immediately and over. The bell rings as many as it can. The archer finally locks in target and quickly releases the arrow.

“The Soldiers are here!” he shouts. Then he was struck in the back with a long arrow and drops dead to the wet, muddy ground. The masses panic and runs for the coast as five big ships with big sales are waiting for them.

The captain pulls his sword and leans it forward and the horse raised its front legs.

“For purity and for God! For the King! Charge!” he shouts and the army along with the cavalry charges forward as they all chant their battle cry.

The ground is shaking as the charge echoed like the thunder exploding in the sky. Not far from the fast emptying town, seven men bravely makes line and prepares their selves for the upcoming foe. The men simultaneously rolled their hands and cast a pinkish blanket in front of them and hold until the enemy is close enough. As the distance between them shrinks, the archers at the back release their arrows as it hurls through the rainy sky, hurling towards the group. From the back of the defending group, three more backs up. They launch a maroon-colored wave that collides with the arrows and they all vanished from sight. They focus once again to the charging cavalry as they prepare themselves to defend the fleeing town.

The collision happened and shattering glass echoed along with the exploding of the heavens. The defenders fall back a little as they failed to hold them off, but they cast pinkish glowing balls to retaliate from their foes. Swords echoes and slash through the raining night, as a bloody battle has begun. The arrows streak through the wet air as it enters the fray once more. But also being deflected back, some broke through the barrier and kills a few of the defenders. The captain was in the battle as he fends off the leader of the defenders. As they continue to fight each other, the other manages to de-mount the captain and he hits the muddy ground. The leader then casts a pinkish sword and tries to strike a finishing blow to the captain. But the captain was able to deflect and kicks the leader in the stomach throwing him down but flips back up. The captain rolls to his right and stands up right away. They stare at each other for a moment as the battle surrounding them seems to go slow. Time slows for them as they look directly at each other’s eyes. As both only focus on each other, the captain held a tight grip unto his sword while the leader’s hands glows slowly of pink and maroon.

The battle continued around them while they stare each other down. The attackers and the defenders are at odd. But they all know one thing, one shall emerge from this battle, the battle that will determine the future of both of them.

The captain charges forward as he held his sword. The leader crosses his arms in his chest. They got closer and closer until the captain strikes a blow, but were deflected by the leader. They continued attacking each other, showed off their skills in battle, skills of different types, skills of different styles, and skills of different factions. They continue to attack each other until the captain’s glare turned to the back of the enemy. One of his men is creeping behind as he tries to strike the enemy brom behind, with the leader having no knowledge of this. The captain charges forward to stab his enemy, the leader was able to evade the death blow. Throwing him again to the muddy ground, and to his surprise, as his eyes saw the unimaginable. The captain struck the blow to his own men, stabbing straight through his stomach. The soldier vomits of blood and he slowly descends to the ground as his eternal rest waits. The captain slowly pulls his bloody sword as he holds the shoulder of his dying soldier. He laid him slowly to the ground and closes the eyes of the dying soldier.

He glared to his shocked enemy as the leader stares with wide eyes. The lightning lights the skies and thunder explodes again as they both look at each other. The captain anxiously spins his sword on his right wrists as he goes left and right repeatedly, as he waits for his enemy to stand up.

“Come on!” the anxious captain shouts, “Come on Benjamin!” he yelled once more. His enemy, Benjamin slowly stands up as his hands glowed once more, and they stared at each other.

“Why did you do that? Arthur?” Benjamin asked calmly despite his short breath. They both walk in a circle as they wait each other out.

“All I want is for me to strike you down, old friend.” the captain replied, he grins to Benjamin as both of them are soaked in the rain.

Benjamin grins back and chuckled as they both attack each other while both of them deflected. They both grind their swords at each other. Strength against strength. Brute force versus skill. They stare at each other as they continue to outwit the other.

“Why did you do this Arthur?” Benjamin asked again. They push each other out, and continued to walk in circles.

“You know us soldiers, Benjamin,” Arthur laughs, Benjamin grins as they both look at each other as the sky starts to calm down, “Always following the king’s orders I suppose?” he answered then both chuckled to each other.

“You know what is right, Arthur, do not do this.” he said as he looks at Arthur deeply.

Arthur quickly gets what Benjamin wants, emotions starts to set in as both of them knows what each other wants, for this nonsense battle to stop.

“I’m sorry old friend, but I’ll be hanged if I don’t,” he said to Benjamin. Upset by the answer, Benjamin tries to make another solution.

“You won’t,” he beamed a smile at Arthur, “Come with us.” he adds. Arthur still is unsure what to answer but certain on what should happen. The battle rages around them as they both talk and Benjamin tries to convince his friend. The sky still sheds its tears as the tide of battle is uncertain for the soldiers.

The captain still isn’t giving any reply, he then lays down his sword as he looks around him. Seeing his men getting massacred by their mystical counter-parts. He looks to his right and to his left, only seeing the blood that spills from the bodies of the soldiers he commands. As the scream of death and bloodbath can be heard, only a few kept fighting. A combat for the motherland they call home. A fight that really was unnecessary to begind with.

“You know old friend,” he said to Benjamin. He kept his stand but looked at Arthur in a different way, “I was against this task given to me by the king.” he revealed to him, Benjamin’s eyes widened as he continued on listening.

“But I have to tell you this,” he smirks to his friend. Benjamin lowers his deadly hands as he somehow knows what Arthur is about to said, but still uncertain of it, “your brother, is the adviser the king has.” he added. Benjamin was stunned, as he was shocked for what he heard.

“That can’t be true! My brother is long dead!” he protests. But Arthur closed his eyes as he tries to reason with Benjamin.

“I’m sorry old friend, but he is the one who convinced the good king to wipe you all out,” he said to Benjamin. Heart-stricken he begins to breakdown as Arthur continued, “he became the king’s adviser because we stabbed him all at once, yet no blood spilled from the wounds.” he added. Benjamin’s attention was quickly caught by this and was in disbelief.

“The good king doesn’t have the knowledge of your existence Benjamin,” he adds, “he thought of your brother as a blessing from the almighty God, an angel sent by the kingdom of heaven itseltf.” he explained more as Benjamin begins to shake.

“You’re brother said, he will bring this country to victory over her enemies and all who dare stands in her way,” he spills more, “the king then believes him and was advised to cleanse the land of the demons.”

Benjamin knelt to ground and holds his head, as he is confused of what he just found out. The thought of his brother dead was all but a lie. Lie that he thought was true for years after his death. A lie that happened before his eyes, as vivid images of the day his brother was killed and was taken by their enemy. His head was shaking as he thought of this unbelievable, but true reality. He slowly stands up as he stares at the wet ground. The rain continued to pour and lightning continued to illuminate the sky. His brother, who was his twin, a grand sage like him, the brother he loved the most after the death of their parents. These thoughts flood his mind as he tries to calm himself down. The thoughts were replaced with lies and treachery, deceived for so long, his brother did not only to him but to his own kind, his own people. His emotions quickly change with anger and hate as he tries to erase his treacherous brother that would want his own kind to be slaughtered in a way unimaginable.

“He is an immortal,” Benjamin said to Arthur as both stare at each other. Benjamin’s face now paints a different picture that Arthur is able to see clearly, “he used the forbidden spells which he brought with him on his final days.” he added, Arthur was slightly unsure of what his friend said.

“Forbidden spells? You mean the book he is always holding?”

Benjamin quickly looks at him, “He has it?”

“He used the book to make himself immortal,” Benjamin quickly came to that conclusion, as he realizes what his foolish brother did. He doesn’t know what ill fate he brought upon himself. Arthur’s eyes widen as both look at each other in shock and confusion.

The battle comes to a close as the defenders won, and all with glowing hands surrounds Arthur as his men was completely wiped out. They held their hands in-front of him, ready to release the deadly energy upon command. They were all exhausted as their clothes and faces are covered with mud and bloodstain. Arthur looks around him, seeing that he had lost the battle and paid with the innocent lives of his men. He looks at each man’s face, trying to see it, seeing only hate and anger on their faces that will love to finish his life in-front of their superior. Some glances at Benjamin as they wait for the kill order, but some of them already knew that it will not come. Arthur who still holds his sword looks at it as the men surrounding him slowly moves with him, he stares at it. The sword which bears the lion symbol decorated by red and yellow, symbols of purity and peace. He looks up, high in the sky as the rain hits his face. Trying to clean and rid it of guilt and fallacy. He closed his eyes as the rain hides his feelings. As he knows what will happen to him after this. The very horrid thing that will not only happen to him but to his family back at his home town. He will be regarded as a traitor and so does his family. He bows his head back down and looks at the sword once more. As he tries to understand the true meaning of the symbol it bears.

Peace, unity, freedom, symbols that which represents the entire nation he defends whole heartedly. The good king who he served for years as the king defends the freedom of his people, his subjects. But now the good king he knew was poisoned by a serpent, a snake who only wants chaos. His face gradually changes as he close his eyes once more, as he saw images of his family in his mind. He opens his eyes, throws the sword to the ground as he is dissatisfied on what had happened, realizing that this is not worth it, but realizing it too late.

Benjamin only looks at him with pity as he saw Arthur’s shame and despair upon himself and to him. Arthur began to tear up as the rain goes with it, he began to realize his wrong. He knows that he can call off the attack but still, he hesitated to do so. He continued the attack knowing that it will only result to the death of his men. He tries to calm himself as he begins to loosen up then looks at his old friend.

“Your brother also gave us very powerful asset,” he said as he showed a slight grin to Benjamin. He looks at Arthur with confusion and so does the men that are surrounding him “You’re brother gave us the power of gunpowder.” he added. Benjamin was stunned and so does the men. Benjamin looks at his men as they knew what means.

“The king now has the upper-hand over his enemies,” he quickly adds again. Benjamin’s face was showed mix upset and frustration. The men quickly ready’s as they think that Benjamin is about to give the kill order, “The King’s newly formed fleet is on their way now Benjamin.” he said while he got serious about this, as Benjamin looks at his face he realizes something, something that will hinder their evacuation.

“And this fleet, they are fitted with the cannons, am I correct?” he asked as his hands starts to shake. Arthur saw this as he looks at this sign of nervousness and uncertainty.

“Yes…” he only whispered one word. Benjamin begins to panic inside and is careful not to show this to his men. He looks at his right, to see his men confused. He quickly realizes that they have to go now, and fast.

“Go back to the ships, tell them to begin sail.” he ordered to one of them. One looks at him and approached him.

“What of the enemy captain sire?”

Benjamin shouts at him, “I’ll handle him! Just go to the ships and warn them now!” the man was shocked for being shouted at and Arthur quickly added some more information.

“They will be coming from the west,” He added, “Sail now and you’ll see them on your route to the new world.” he added more.

Benjamin looked at him, he quickly approached Arthur and holds him by the shoulder, “Come with us,” he said, only to stare at his friend, “there are some people that are coming with us that is not of magic blood. Start a new with us, on the new world, Arthur.” he tried to convince his friend. But Arthur just refuses that disappoints Benjamin.

Arthur smiles at the crestfallen Benjamin, he holds him in the shoulder too and they both look at each other. Benjamin gave orders to his men to leave now. They followed swiftly as they flew unto sky with streaks of maroon glowing light coming out from their hands and their feet.

“I can’t leave my family, old friend. I’m sorry.” he answered to Benjamin. He begins to shake as he faces towards the ships. Arthur follows his footsteps to gaze upon the ships whose sails began to deploy.

“But I can’t let you die.” he said to Arthur as he looks seriously at Arthur. The captain quickly gets the point and backs away from him. Benjamin with his face saddened and already in regret held and points his right finger upward. A tiny maroonish orb then appears atop of it and spins rapidly.

“Do what you have to do, old friend.” he said to Benjamin as he still smiled at him. Benjamin looks at a small glowing orb in his hands then looks at his friend who is ready for something.

“This will not kill you my friend,” he said to Arthur as he looks to him, “But this will save your life.” he added then Arthur closes his eyes. He points the rapid spinning orb to Arthur and it quickly hurdles towards him. It hits him and a large explosion of compressed air hits his body close, felt like hitting the ground from a very high point. It explodes near his stomach and brings him up before being thrown to the muddy ground. He was still alive but was now unconscious.

Benjamin only looks at him and saw from afar the approaching cavalry. He faces the ocean as the ships began to sail one by one. As his own ship leads the fleet, he hovers for a couple of moments then flies towards it. He took one last glimpse of his badly injured friend as the cavalry reached him and takes him to one horse. He gains speed and was able to catch up with the Aurora, the main and lead ship. He lands on the upper deck as his fellow men continue to asses and scout their route unto the new world. The rain begins to calm down as they are now getting far from the shore and into the vastness of the Ocean.

“Deploy all sails now captain, we need to make speed.” he orders the captain. The captain quickly orders his other sailors to deploy the other sails as they need to make haste, to gain more speed to avoid the impending fleet.Benjamin signaled the other ships behind them to deploy the remaining sails and the other captains quickly followed.

As the mainland is now only a blanket view from behind the ship, Benjamin anxiously waits for their enemies. It was somewhat foggy that day as the rain completely stops and the skies finally calmed down.

“Prepare for a battle!” he shouts to the others. They all look at him as Benjamin continued to shout his orders, “One last attack from the enemy is near, and they have cannons!” the ship then began to murmur as they were slightly stunned by the sudden advancement.

“Well what are you waiting for? Unto your stations now! Go on!” he shouts. The sailors then quickly move and prepare the ship as they know what is to come.

He pats the captain by the shoulder, “Signal the other ships to do so too.” he orders. The captain nods and went to the back of the ship. He gave a signal by his left hand as it glows of red, only meaning that another danger lurks on the waters. The other ships quickly saw the signal and they hasten their movements more as they prepare for an attack.

Minutes have past as the surroundings slowly get quiet and only the wave of the calm sea is to be heard. They anxiously wait for their foes, as one final stand will determine their survival. Benjamin is all over the upper deck as he continued to take watch around the fleet. The other ships are also in guard as they carry woman and children, and other supplies as well to start anew. Back at the Aurora, at the crow’s nest, one of them, holding a small telescope sets its sight on the port side of the ship. He was in a little bit of doubt of what he saw beyond the fog. He lightly slaps his face to wake up and looks again through the scope. There, in the foggy seas, silhouettes of large ships of not one but an entire fleet coming out from the fog. He was shaken even more as he saw the flag of the enemy waving up high the poles of the ship.

He starts to shake as he looks and stares at the upcoming ships as the enemy fleet starts to deploy their large sails. He suddenly stood up and shouts.

“T-t-t-they are coming!” he yelled out as he stutters. Everyone looks up as they stare at the stuttering sailor, “Starboard! Northward! It’s an entire fleet!” the sailor shouts once more. Benjamin quickly ran down to the decks, heads to the starboard side as he tries to find the enemy. He looks closely at the seas a far and there he saw the fleet of the enemy, as the enemy breaks their formation and surrounds their fleet. His eyes widen as one ship quickly turned and is ready to fire.

He was in doubt if it will be able to fire from that distance, but still he hesitates and shouts, “Prepare for incoming fire! Prepare for quick retaliation after they shot us first!” he shouts to his men. The ship is now in scramble as they prepare for a naval battle. Out of nowhere and out of shock, Benjamin and the others heard a loud bang. He looks back at the enemy fleet and saw them firing from a very huge distance. It didn’t hit any of their ships but close enough to shake them up. They are now in disarray as they scramble to retaliate. This time not only one but three shots at them, as they close in like a net, one manages to hit their ships. Benjamin looks in shock and horrible scene as one of their ships bowels are hit, water starts to enter that ship which carries women and children.

“Prepare now! Prepare to retaliate!” Benjamin shouts. He hovers unto the air as his eyes glowed of pinkish-maroon. The other ships fires and fling glowing orbs and hits directly the enemy ships as it explodes and quickly sank two of the enemy ships.

The enemy quickly retaliates as they shot more and more and made a barrage of exploding iron. The men from the other ships quickly made a shield on their starboard side as the cannon balls hits it and explode several feet from them. They were all thrown off of their feet as the explosion was too close. They fire back once more as they try to eliminate the hindrance on their route. Both sides continued to fire at each other non-stop as Benjamin looks at them. He crosses his arms and it glows of maroon and throws it towards the enemy. It hits the enemy ships and it goes through as it sank five of them. But to their surprise another loud bang explodes and hits their ships from their port side. Benjamin heard the explosion and looks to that side only to see another fleet.

“Shield the port side! Prepare to retaliate from both sides!” he shouts as they continue to defend the remainder of their ships, “Defenders follow me, we’ll sink the other fleet.” he shouts again then flies to the right side and heads to the other enemy fleet.

Other defenders flew and quickly followed him. Benjamin’s eyes glows once more as he prepares to release another deadly spell. The defenders quickly gains on him and flings their exploding orbs to the enemy. They hit all their targets and their numbers are quickly reduced to a minimum. But Benjamin takes no chances, he shots multiple powerful orbs to the remaining enemies and with one shot. Hitting multiple targets that sinks them with one hit. The defenders still flinging orbs around to destroy the fleet completely leaving nothing afloat.

“Let’s head to the other fleet.” he orders and flew to the remaining enemies. The defenders quickly followed and heads toward the larger enemy. They were closing in but one ship was able to fire at them. The hurling cannon ball heads to their direction and Benjamin prepares to deflect it. To their surprise the ball explodes in mid-air and shoots more deadly burning pellets. Hitting almost every defender in flight, including himself, rendering his arm, he was about to crash to the dark cold sea when another surviving defender caught him and gains a little altitude. He fires from his left hand a pink lightning and hits the ship that fired at them. It immediately hits it and was sinks, and then they head back towards the speeding fleet and the aurora.

He quickly flew to the Aurora and lands him softly on its decks, and flies back to the other ships. The sailors quickly attend to Benjamin. He was in hurt and pain as he tries to make one more command.

“Continue firing and don’t stop until they themselves gives up.” he said and then quickly fell to unconsciousness, he was hurried inside to attend on his wounds as the captain hurries to make another command and signals the other ships.

“Continue on barraging the enemy fleet, we’ll hide on that thick fog.” the captain orders then turned the ship towards slightly to the starboard, heading straight to the thick fog.

The ships continued on firing as the odds turned too grim for them. As the enemy fleet is unable to follow them, it seems that they will be able to get out of their ordeal. The enemy continued on firing and manages to sink one of their ships and this time, it hits a supply ship. The enemy is gradually gaining speed and is now closing in to them but for some reason they stopped their sail. They continued firing but were already in futile for they are now too far to be reached.

The captain noticed this and began to rejoice as they know that they are now safe from their final ordeal and will start a new life, as they enter the thick fog.

They continue on sailing and sailing for days. Benjamin who was already well with only a slight injury remaining is now concerned of their situation.

“We’ve been in this fog for days now, our supplies are running short.” he said to his captain. The captain who was feeling upset was still a little embarrassed and ashamed.

“I am sorry grand sage, it is my fault why we are here.” he said to Benjamin. He holds him at the shoulder and smiles at his trusty captain.

“It is not your fault, you saved us all and that I’m in debt to you,” he said. Then one moment, the sailor in the crow’s nest shouts what will be very good news.

“The, the new world. Land ho everyone!” he shouts out of rejoice and continued to jump and jump out of excitement. Everyone then looks forward and saw the fog, breaking in front of them only to reveal, the quiet seas, the shores of the new world.

“Deploy all sails!” Benjamin orders as the entire ship and entire fleet are in haste, “Prepare to lower anchors, and prepare for a landing!” he shouts out of joy and happiness.

They close in to the shores and the smile that once was in his face gradually changes to doubt. They close in to the shores and as they were close enough, they retracted their sails and began to board their small boats as they head towards the coast. Everyone is excited as they now found a new land they can call their own, and their home. But out of these people, only Benjamin is the one who still is uncertain.

Their boats now hit sand underneath the water and they all jumped off the boat and heads toward the sandy beach. Benjamin still uncertain stops on the beach and looks at the surrounding. Seeing abundant and fruitful trees and up to the sky which for him and only for him is un-familiar. They heard a slight movement from the bushes in the trees and their came out, several groups of armed men. With pointed ears and their skin as white as the sands on the beach. The defenders and the others that accompany him prepare themselves but Benjamin orders them to stand down. One mysterious armed man stares at him with doubt. It talked, but Benjamin who doesn’t have a clue on what the man said, signaled someone far on the ships.

There exploded a pink and maroon colored wave that ran across the sky as it continued on and on and on. The mysterious beings then was surprise and look on the skies as Benjamin approach one of them. Then the man who asked him previously on an un-familiar language asked them again.

“We are the Grand Elves of the Xerxecia Kingdom. State who you are.” the man asked Benjamin. He was shocked, also was his companions but quickly he answered.

“I am Benjamin, Grand Sage of the Maroon Orderian.” he said then held his hand to shake the man’s hand. The elf shakes back as they are now welcomed to a strange, new world.

End of chapter X