Chapter Five: The Great Conflict
Three guards take watch in an ominous guard tower which overlooks all of Belcourt.
"Sir, I see something," One guard reported, "It's emerging from the forest."
"Could it be a dragon?" the ranking officer inquired, as he peered out the window. "It's not a dragon, it's about ten."
The three quickly made their way down the tower, wasting no time along the way.
"To arms!" they yelled. "To arms! The dragons are coming!"
Word had spread quickly of the impending attack, and soldiers were gathered. Even the people took up arms to assist their valiant protectors. They weren't going to let their homes and all they had put to heart go to waste.
"How can you be sure they are going to attack us?" the Queen asked. "Maybe they aren't striking. This whole setup would go to waste."
"Look. The formation is an attacking pattern. There is no way for the center rows to be killed before the outer rows. We have no choice to take action. Besides, if we abandoned the people's beliefs then they would cause as much a problem."
"So be it," the Queen muttered in disgrace.
Soldiers lined up across the training field as numerous as the blades of grass beneath their feet. As their commanders give them their final orders, they ready long bows, throwing blades, blowguns and crossbows taken up to they're liking. Though well prepared for the assault, the dragons' flight had already laid waste to the outlying farms and rural homes. The battle has already begun there, and the inner districts prepare for the worst. From the distance, three travelers watch while they wait for a chance to claim victory.
"We cannot let the dragons kill that many people," Kiresk explained. "It would be like helping them die."
"We'd easily perish, Kiresk, this is our only option. We must wait for a chance to strike when we are out of harm's way," Galaan returned.
The battle continued for many days, and as the days went by, more and more men died, but both sides refused to give up. Soon, brave men dropped like flies, as human and nymphian blood spilled, running like rivers through the ground. Scrap pieces of armor lay shattered on the ground, hung up on the flesh of the dead. But when the people thought all was lost...
"Kiresk, Galaan! Take me to the tower at the center of Belcourt!" Salena yelled, grabbing her staff and book. "Hurry!"
Without a moment's hesitation, the two headed for Belcourt, signaling for Salena to follow.
Salena was now making her way to the top of the tower, while Galaan and Kiresk kept watch. As Salena entered the top of the tower, she pulled the book with the Silver Phoenix emblem from its nest of silk and began to read.
"In desperate times when heroes are few," she began. "Upon the time and the place when all are crying in their last breath of hope, may we be shown the way. Shown the light of the great guardian of life, the protector of the living. Then and only then will the final judgment be passed upon all beings. Upon the judgment of life, if the heroes should appear, then the ultimate sign will deliver victory to fallen men and their lost cause."
A single ray of white light, as fine as a needle rained from the heavens to the battlefield for all to see and feel. The light spread to the shape of its owner. Creating a ray of hope to all people, the shadow of light. From the shadow of light, the Phoenix had risen to safeguard all people, to show vengeance for those who had suffered. Its grace and beauty was there for all to behold as it had slain the flight of dragons that oppressed the people of Belcourt, leaving only the largest alive. It made a swoop on the dragon, but the dragon proved to be much too agile. The Phoenix the dove and burned through the large dragon's torso. The dragon's halves fell to the ground, causing tremors on impact. As the dragon fell, the Phoenix disappeared from the skies.
Later, when the events of the battle's victory had calmed down, Salena, accompanied by Galaan and Kiresk, made their way to the grand cathedral, which made Belcourt's magnificent heart. The towering stone edifice stood over the three, dwarfing them, almost to insignificance. Though incredible in size, the church is only used four times a year, to ask for a prosperous season, it still remains one of Belcourt's most important buildings, for inside resides the high counsel. They are prophets, advisors to the public, magi, and most of all, they were diplomats.
"I'll wait outside," Galaan muttered. "I've no desire to see what the counsel has to say."
"If that's what you really want to do, you can stay out here," Salena teased. "But don't you want to see the architecture?"
"Salena," Kiresk warned. "Do not bother him. I will explain him later. For now, we will just go to the counsel."
Kiresk and Salena passed through a stone archway into a long hallway with eight stain glass murals covering both walls, each one depicting one of the eight spirits. As they came closer to the end of the hall, they could hear thunderous drums pounding out a prayer to the wind spirit, Shuuma. A large black oak door swung open as Kiresk and Salena entered. The eight councilmen bowed upon Salena's entry.
"The Silver Phoenix Woman!" cried a barbaric man, draped in hides. "But where is her crown?"
"Crown?" Salena asked, confused. "What are you talking about?"
"And her guardian hasn't obtained the sword," accused a woman, clad in branches and vines. Despite that they were clearly detached from the ground, they still were alive. "Maybe their destiny is unclear. But then again, maybe that isn't her guardian..."
"Who are we to judge who they are and what they know?" Asked a curious looking man in a white toga. "Perhaps we should send them to find what they need. I note that they seem lost in our words, and need direction."
"Very well, I see your point, and agree with you," a woman with dark flawless skinned woman concurred, then turned towards Kiresk and Salena. "You will go to the bottom of the ocean, to Kraken's Hideaway. There resides an underwater palace. You can find what you're looking for there, but come back when it is in your possession."