The Phoenix Order

Bound By Flames and Blades

The sun dipped low, casting long shadows over the assembly of warriors gathered in the clearing. Siegfried had manage to make the journey alive and well. "Guess who's back." He said in his Raspy voice as he opened the door to Afleck's house as he and the rest were there. "Siegfried," Bushido said as he nodded his head and closed the door behind him. "What have you found?" Foxtrot asked as she pointed out the sword that he had on his back. "A sword of the ancients," he said as he removed it from it's scabbard the held it. "My ancestors had made me fall behind since they called upon me to become the Siegfried of this generation, and might be the last." The room was silent, only broken by the clanking of metal outside by Johnathan, a traveller whom was friends with Bushido. "Sorry about that!" he shouted outside.

"Anyway, what makes them say that you are the last of your kind?, you still have Foxtrot." Mimi asked as Domitia nodded her head. "Indeed, Foxtrot is a hybrid, yet they say I am the last." Siegfried answered, "I must have been, a prototype of some sort?" Foxtrot asked. "No, it cannot be. I had known you for over decades now. It is impossible if you are merely a robot. It's insanity to think that humans would do such things to our species." Siegfried said. "Unless.......I am the last Pure Blood of our kind," He said in a low voice. "It must be," Foxtrot said as she removes her hood. "Yet now, we face a problem." Afleck said, "The discovery of the temple is certainly a marvel of its own, but I sense danger in it." Afleck added as he sat down, "So your saying that the presence of my ancestors are a bad sign?" Siegfrid said as he slightly raised his voice, offended by what Afleck said. "It is not of your ancestors that give me a bad feeling but-" Afleck said before he got cut off by Bushido, "What he's trying to tell is the temple is inhabited not only by your ancestors, but something else that is bound within it." "I shall see of that Bushido, but we must report this first to the elder and see of what he shall make us do." Siegfried replied as he went outside. 

They had only the Tablet as their proof of evidence that there might still be anything that can be valuable to them that they can discover in the temple,  they walked back up to the castle to seek the approval of the elder to continue on their investigation. As they approached The Elder, cloaked in his robes of deep green and silver, the air thickened with tension. The woods fell silent, as if the land itself awaited the outcome of this meeting. "Noble warriors," The Elder began, his voice steady and resonant, "I commend you all for returning back to Cassaport safely, and what tidings do you bring from your quest?"

Siegfried stepped forward first, "Our recent discovery of the temple was a lost artifact of my ancestors last temple from whom the last hundred of them still lay to waste as stones are now today," "An interesting discovery," The Elder said as he sat on the edge of his throne, "Carry on." Bushido came next to speak, "The temple's structure was exceptionally intact, as if someone or something had been taking care of it," He said, "A strange yet fascinating structure." "Not only that my lord," Afleck said, "But this tablet came from the temple and we have yet still have to see the riches it behold in there." "No, we should not disturb the peace of those who lay there to rest Afleck, we already had enough problems with those from the underworld. And what of our future?" The Elder inquired, peering at Afleck with a glimmer of expectation. "You have borne witness to the struggles of our realm. Speak, for what you know."

Afleck, with the composure befitting a leader, leaned forward. "Our victories, though hard-won, have illuminated a path forward, we may had lost many good warriors like your son. We must fortify our defenses and prepare for the darkness ahead. We cannot falter when the shadows rise again." It was then that The Elder made a pivotal announcement. "Afleck, I see in you the spirit of a leader, and I shall declare you fit to become the general of our army. Do what you need to do to protect Cassaport and other kingdoms of this realm."

Yet, the moment was eclipsed as a figure emerged from the edge of the clearing—a young man cloaked in arrogance and resolve, Lucas, the son of the once king of Cassaport, Kioto. He was an unwelcome specter from the past, bent on reclaiming the throne that had been lost to his father through betrayal. "General?" Lucas laughed mockingly, stepping into the circle. "You grant such honor to a mere soldier? The throne belongs to my lineage, and I will not allow a commoner to take what is rightfully mine, grandfather." He pulled out his spear and was ready, "I dare challenge you for the throne. General," he mocked Afleck as he circled him. The air crackled with tension as the assembly of warriors bristled at Lucas's derisive tone. "You are mistaken," Afleck replied calmly, his voice steady. "The throne is not obtained through blood, but through valor and the will of the people. And your people are better off without a dictator to rule them," As the words left his lips, a challenge hung in the air, and soon Lucas drew his spear with a flourish, the blade gleaming ominously in the fading light. The gathering held its breath as Afleck, unperturbed, unsheathed his weapon in response.