The Semilia Kingdom [1]

Zain followed the Masked Man to the Imperial Castle. He walked inside and looked around. The Masked Man stopped in front of him and took off his mask and hood.

"Allow me to introduce myself. I am Shion. Number One of the Supreme Army." Shion said. He had black hair that stopped at his shoulders and cursed marks running down his face. His eyes shined purple.

"Supreme Army..? You all are the most elite army in Arcania. Please you've got to help me...my mother's kingdom, it's being attacked as we speak! I have to save my mother and my little sister!" Zain said in desperation.

"There isn't a thing I can do for you. Lord Lazlord has rules that even the Supreme Army must uphold. We are to stay out of the Big Three's personal issues. We are the first to respond when another land attacks us or when a kingdom threatens us directly." Shion said.

"Please I beg. My mother and Kanon are the only family I have left and I want to stop Stella from destroying Semilia." Zain looked down.

Shion looked at him and crossed his arms. He closed his eyes and sighed softly. "I'll see what I can do. I can tell that your mother is in danger if she chooses to defy Queen Stella."

"Then we mustn't allow her to defy her. She is a key to keeping Stella at bay." Zain said.

Shion closed his eyes and walked off.

"The Country of Arcania is meeting it's darkest days, Lord Lazlord." A man said as he poured wine into the glass of his Emperor.

"I am aware of the war happening between Uphelia and Lunia. I am interested in seeing where this will go. It has been a while since those two have battled.." Lazlord chuckled and sipped his wine.

Shion walked into the throne room and kneeled down before Lazlord. "My Lord, Zain has appeared and requests assistance in saving his mother. Will you allow me to see to his issue at once?"

"Zain? Of the Uphelian Army? The same who served in the Holy Order?" Lazlord asked.

"Yes. The same Zain." Shion said.

"Hm..this is quite interesting. A traitor. Alright, see to his issue in exchange that he will work for me once his work is done." Lazlord said.

"As you wish." Shion said then stood up and walked off.

"My Queen, we are nearing the Semilia Outpost. Just beyond the Outpost...we will be at the Kingdom of Semilia." said Jin as he rode on his horse.

I stayed silent and stopped my horse and looked at the Outpost. "Semilia.."

"It used to be an ally of Lunia, but it seems we may have some adversaries amongst those allies." Victoria said and looked around.

I kept my hood on then got off my horse. "If that's the case...then I hope it was worth it."

"M-Mama." Kotome got off her horse and followed me.

"Stella, are you crazy? If you kill them, we will have more enemies. We need not to get on their bad side." Jin said and got off his horse and followed me.

I walked to the guards manning the entrance to the Outpost. They looked at me and intercepted their lances to make an X in front of me.

"Identify yourself." One guard said.

"We are lone travellers. We are only passing by." I said.

"There is a war going on and General Siegfried has ordered us to not allow any travellers to pass by. Go home." The guard said.

"Please kindly reconsider..!" I said and swiftly slit the throat of the guard speaking to me with my dagger.

The other guard was about to alert the men inside of the Outpost, but Victoria swiftly killed them. I looked at Victoria and she nodded. I walked back to my horse and grabbed the leash. I walked inside of the Outpost and looked around.

Jin hurried beside me and grabbed my arm. "Queen Stella...have you lost your mind..? We could have simply gone around.."

"Unhand me Jin. I like you so I don't want to have to hurt you. I only allow Victoria and Kotome to touch me. You know that." I said and looked at Jin.

Jin let go of me and sighed. "Ren."

"Sir." Ren said and walked beside him.

"Gather the horses. Looks like we shall rest here for now." Jin said.

"Yes." Ren nodded and hurried off.

I stopped and allowed my horse to go with the other horses. I closed my eyes and heard footsteps nearing me.

Victoria grabbed my arm and pulled me to her. "Your Highness. Three Holy Order members, two Uphelian Army soldiers, and one prisoner."

I placed my head against her and whispered in her ear. "What do you suggest we do?"

"A quick assassination will fair however...one of the Holy Order members happens to have Aura Manipulation. He can sense us if we expose our aura. I am concerned about the prisoner though. He..is a young boy. About Kotome's age." Victoria whispered back into my ear. "We strike...at night."

Victoria let go of my arm and closed her eyes. I smirked and looked back at Victoria. She looked at me and we both nodded at each other then walked our separate paths.

"Man it was almost too easy capturing Semilia. I mean all they had was Queen Lina and she was a threat. Her daughter however was a huge let down." One of the Holy Order members said.

"We mustn't let our guard down. Lunia can attack us at any time. We need to be on top of things." A woman said.

"After losing Zain...our power has dropped by a noticable margin. Zach's untimely death was also unfortunate. We most definitely need to look out." A man said and closed his eyes.

Victoria snuck into the house of the Holy Order members. She stuck near the walls and listened closely in their conversation.

"Have you heard the news. Captain Kaya is returning from her trip from Eshea. She said that she's coming back with new technology and abilities that would ultimately help us. She'll be stationed at Semilia alongside Siegfried." The man said as he dealt the cards.

"Oh yeah..? Sadly her potential is wasted due to her...lack of people skills. The only person she talks to is Yaura and even still she doesn't really have interest in the Holy Order. Wouldn't be surprised if she betrayed us." The woman chuckled and picked up her cards.

Victoria took one step and the floor creaked. The house went silent. Victoria closed her eyes, cussing herself out in her head. The man got up and Victoria kept making her way out of the house before anyone caught her. She wandered into the shadows. The man walked out of the house and looked around. I covered his mouth then stabbed his stomach and began to slice upwards, letting the blade tear through his insides. I let him go and kicked him off my sword. I quickly went into the shadows and stood beside Victoria.

"There's another member of the Order. Her name is Kaya and if we are lucky...she can be our ally." Victoria whispered.

"Yeah..? Where is she?" I asked.

"Within a few days...she will be in Semilia." Victoria said. "Where are the others?"

"Saving the prisoner...like I commanded." I answered. "Let us clear out this Outpost before the sun rises."

"Yeah.." Victoria said.

"Tomi?" The woman called out her partner's name then walked out of the house. She looked down and covered her mouth.

"Surprise." I smirked and covered her mouth then slit her throat. I let her go and her body fell forward. I went inside of the house and heard footsteps inside. I took another step and the floor creaked.

"I know it's you, Stella Bushi." The Holy Order member said. "You can't hide from me."

"Yeah..? Just like you can't hide from your fate..? Arcania is mine...and always will be for as long as I live. You Uphelian Scum...have no place on my land." I said then turned the corner quickly and threw my dagger at his head before he could pull his trigger. He fell to his knees and fell on his side.

Victoria snuck behind the two Uphelian Soldiers and assassinated them by cutting their heads off swiftly and with no screams. She preformed the chiburi and sheathed her katana.

Kotome untied the young boy and looked at him. "He looks my age...Uphelia really takes children prisoner as well..?"

"They aren't one who is known for sympathy nor empathy...not that I am one to talk. They will kidnap children and force them into their ranks." Jin said.

"Hey..what's your name?" Kotome asked.

"I-I'm Zekuu." The young boy said.

"Zekuu..? You're from..Arthvia.." Ren said.

"You know him?" Jin asked.

"I know of his name. He's a young boy who has exceptional skill with the blade. He was trained by a legend in Arthvia..before you know. Things got bad." Ren said.

"Mmm...Zekuu come with us. Our Queen will keep you safe." Jin said.

"A-Are you sure..?" Zekuu asked.

"As sure as can be." Jin nodded.

Zekuu looked at him then looked down. He nodded and closed his eyes.

"Zain, hold on." Shion grabbed his shoulder and stopped Zain.

"What's the matter?" Zain asked.

"For helping you in your personal matters, Lord Lazlord holds a proposition." Shion said. "He asks that you serve the Supreme Army."

Zain looked at bit surprised. Such a request was beyond his understanding and his imagination. Zain closed his eyes and gave it some thought.