Sky Piercer

Chapter 1

The bells tolled. Varcilli's people mustered to the grand cathedral in order to begin their day of worship. Several members of the Sky Piercers also attended, acting either as guards or clerics. Luthien watched from the west balcony as the Archdeacon, along with three other deacons, marched slowly down the center walkway to the stage. Once there, they turned to their audience, the people, and the Archdeacon began the Eternal's sermon. As the sermon went on, Luthien began to doze off, as his last few nights left him sleepless. Before he could, a figure approached him and gave him several pats on his back, which was oddly enough carrying his large stuffed bear by added straps. The figure was his elder sister, Castora. A young, beautiful, and well-endowed woman, Castora LaRance was among the most exceptional and skilled of the Warders of Varcilli. She's also known to be among the most devious, rowdy, and pretentious of them all, consistently getting herself into raunchy antics when off-duty.

"So, how's the little champion enjoying the sermon of the boring?," Castora sarcastically remarked.

Luthien looked to her with eyes half open and sighed. "I... have nothing to do while off-duty. The academy's scholars say I've completed my studies for the next month." His voice held purity and clearness, another of his more effeminate traits.

Castora turned around and leaned back on the railings, her arms resting onto them. "Well, do you want to do something while we're off? We could go see the guys down by the barracks. Or maybe play a joke or two on old man Reinluth. Maybe you and I can go down to... well, maybe not you, sorry, but..."

Luthien bluntly cut off his sister's rambling. "I'm not going to get involved in your antics. Must you always try to get me into them? And do not pester me with your 'need-to-let-loose--'"

He was cut off by the cathedral doors being slammed open. All of the people who attended the sermon watched in shock as the leader of the Golden Hand of Geveria, Father Lurdain, as well as others of the Golden Hand walked in with a swagger that feigned authority. While his members moved to the sides of the building, Lurdain walked up to the stage and began heckling the Archdeacon.

"So, another day of babbling words to the people you love, huh? They must be so very fond of your speaking abilities."

The Archdeacon was enraged by his arrogant interruption. "Father Lurdain, there is a closed sermon underway! What is the meaning of this intrusion?!"

Lurdain maintained a smug look. "Well, first of all, let me... apologize for my rudeness for coming in, unannounced. Now, I've been sent by Lady Elise of Geveria to send a message to Varcilli."

"A message? What kind of message would be worth--"

He stopped cold when he heard loud commotion going on outside the cathedral, which included the screaming of many. Horrified of what might be happening, the Archdeacon quickly trotted with a limp down the hall to the entrance, while Lurdain slowly followed. What he saw past the great doors froze him in fear. The entirety of Varcilli was engulfed in flames, and many people, including members of the Sky Piercers, lay dead in crimson pools on the paved streets. The Archdeacon prayed to himself quickly to wipe away the horrid illusion he saw, but it was clearly no illusion.

Lurdain smiled wickedly and pulled out his blunderbuss, placing the barrel right behind the Archdeacon's head. "The message starts with this..."

Without hesitation, he fires his gun right through the Archdeacon's cranium, killing him instantly. At the moment of the bang, the Golden Hand members brandish their weapons and begin killing off the people in the seats. Some died instantly, while others tried to force their way to the entrance in order to escape. Luthien and Castora were not about to let this act of brutality stand. Brandishing their own special weapons, they leaped down from the balcony and plunged their weapons into two Golden Hand members on their landing. Some of the Golden Hand noticed the two Sky Piercers' act, and turned their attention away from the civilians to kill them. They underestimated the duo's prowess and were quickly dealt with, and the others soon followed them in death. With all of the Golden Hand in the cathedral dead, they were lucky enough to find multiple civilians still alive and well.

"Everyone, we must leave the cathedral before more arrive," Luthien called out. "NOW!"

Many of the civilians left the cathedral, running for their lives. Following behind them, Luthien and Castora hurried for the embassy to see if they can help their fellow Wardens. When they arrived, the Sky Piercers were engaged in heavy battle with the Golden Hand. A fellow member recognized Luthien and Castora.

"Luthien. Castora. Thank the One you're both alive. We'll handle these goons! You two find Father Reinluth! Go!"

Castora immediately moved to find him, but Luthien was hesitant. Pulling his arm, Castora motioned for him to move, and he reluctantly did. There was one area alone that Father Reinluth would be on days like these, only when there was no massacre: the Specterleaf Garden. Luckily, then, they did not have to travel far, as the garden was part of the embassy. Climbing over the fence, Luthien and Castora searched the garden's grounds. Their search was interrupted when more Golden Hand Wardens climbed the fence and attacked. These were slightly harder for the two to handle than those in the cathedral, as these were elite units, which could be told by their distinctive helmets. Nevertheless, the hostile Wardens were killed. Looking past the bodies, Luthien noticed the body of an old but well-formed man resting his body against a pillar, deathly wounded. He recognized who the man was immediately: Father Reinluth. Yelling out his name, Luthien rushed to Reinluth's side, while Castora followed.

Reinluth was pleased to see that two of his greatest Wardens came. "They... had already wounded me before you two came. Almost... split open my stomach."

Luthien tried to comfort him as best he could. "Father Reinluth, what's going on? Why are the Golden Hand Wardens pillaging Varcilli?"

Reinluth struggled to reply. "I... I don't know, but if they are brazenly attacking like this..." He coughed harshly. "...then the Repentance has reached Geveria."

"But how?" Castora demanded. "The Golden Hand are sworn to eradicate all signs of the Repentance, even if it seeps into possessing nobility."

"They may be indoctrinated... by Lady Elise. There have been..." He coughs several more times. Knowing that he didn't have much longer to live, he gave his last orders to Luthien and Castora. "Look... hurry to Chanderlain. The Midnight Blue... must..."

Unable to finish his words, Reinluth's body began to fall over as he lets out his final sigh. Grieving his death, Luthien broke down, knowing that he was unable to rescue the man who formed and maintained the Sky Piercers. Castora, however, while also regretting the loss of Reinluth, knew what had to be done. Pulling Luthien up to his feet, she helped him regain his composure.

"You heard what Reinluth said, right? We need to go to Chanderlain and inform the Midnight Blue of what has happened both here and to the Golden Hand." She still noticed her brother's reluctance. "There's no time to complain about Father Reinluth's death. That can come later when we leave this place. We need to move, now!"

Luthien still couldn't believe everything that transpired in such a short time. "But... what about the others? What about Varcilli?"

"Forget about Varcilli!" Castora angrily remarked. "We've been overrun, and this entire city is going up in smoke. And if we don't move, we're going to be among the ashes! Now let's go!!"

Seeing no other way to deal with this, Luthien ran towards the fence and quickly climbed over it, joining his sister as they both sought their way out of the burning city they once called home.

And as the flame's continued to extend it's reach, the garden became engulfed in the blaze, as the endless blades of Specterleaf grass was set alight and were released from their roots from the flames' strong gust, floating off into the distant sky. If one were to look, they seemed to follow Luthien and Castora in their escape...