• Date: September 29, 2173


  
• Time: 6:00 AM


  
• Location: Unknown


  

  In a place far beneath the surface lay Ghost Operative Tale. His body was chained, limiting his movements. However, it wouldn't matter as he was currently unconscious and had been for the past thirteen hours. Thus, he and his companion were imprisoned. But slowly, the operative would gain consciousness. Opening his eyes, he saw the stone floors before him.

  ''Where- Where am I?''

  He uttered as he raised his head and observed his surroundings. Looking around him, he saw the empty room that he occupied, and to his sides were chains that held him. Confusion sets in as he tries to remember what had happened, but luckily, his partner would appear on his H.U.D.

  [You're awake!]

  ''Vee, where are we?''

  [We're in a dungeon.]

  ''Elaborate.''

  [After our confrontation with the Kaynian Lord. You went unconscious after being sent to a building head first. Right after, the elve you previously fought launched the Kaynian Lord out of the town with his magic. Afterward, he and I talked and explained some things to one another...]

  [...Then, more elves arrived on the scene, and they thought that you were a Kaynian, or as they refer to you, invader. Of course, Adelard, the elve you previously fought, tried to vouch for you, but they dismissed him and brought us here.]

  The Ghost was more confused than he already was, but the point of the matter is that he was, by his partner's words, in a castle's dungeon. Immediately, he searched the room for any way to escape his prison cell. Looking at the chains, he noticed their luminescent glow and concluded they might be magical.

  ''What happened to Joan?''

  [Well, the last thing I saw before we were dragged away was a group of cloaked elves came and took her. I tried to stop them, but Adelard said she would be in good hands.]

  ''And do you believe him?''

  [A part of me wants to say yes, but the other strongly counters with no...]

  [...I'm split. I don't know what's currently happening to Joan.]

  For a brief moment, the A.I. felt her partner's anger through the neural interface. Although tame, she knew that if these spikes were to reach a peak, her partner would no longer answer to reason, and those who had wronged him would suffer. Her partner was young, yet here he was, being tested. She could only hope he would remain calm.

  ''I see. We'll have to search for Joan then.''

  [Yeah, but before you do, I have some-]

  Immediately, the operative attempted to break free from the chains that bound him. However, due to the magical properties of the luminescent chains, even his physiology as a Ghost Operator, combined with the MK48GV3 Power Armor, was not enough to escape. He struggled to overpower the magic chains that held him.

  [That may not work...]

  [...These chains are imbued with magic. Which is something I never wanted to say as a sentence.]

  ''Can you calculate how much force is needed to rip them apart?''

  [It's not like that. You need to destroy the energy source to escape. If you apply more force, these chains increase their toughness, draining your power armor of precious power.]

  Vee explained, prompting her partner to halt his second attempt at escaping. Try as he might, Tale couldn't argue with his partner's logic. And with what little they know of magic, he couldn't brute force his way out, understanding the implications. Thus, he hoped there was at least a plan to get him out or someone to let him out.

  ''Then what do you suggest?''

  [Before you interrupted me. I was about to say that Adelard promised to talk to a figure called the Saintess. She's the twin sister of the Queen of Elvania.]

  ''Did he specify when they would arrive?''

  [Uh, no, hence why waiting is our only hope of leaving.]

  Hearing his partner's response, Tale gave out an audible sigh. Perhaps it was best to wait, as even if they escaped, he would still need to navigate his way out of hostile territory. Suddenly, the door to his room opened. Stepping in were three figures; the first was an elve who wore a white robe that exposed the sides of her bosom. The second wore a purple dress that had a window that revealed her breasts, and over her head was a golden crown. The last figure was the elve the operative had fought with against the Kaynian Lord. Staring blankly at them, he awaited their response to his predicament.

  ''Greetings. Hero of Eldrant, we have been waiting for you.''

  Stepping forth. The white-robed elve greeted the Ghost Operative. However, the elve's greeting only brought confusion. Hero of Eldrant, what the hell was that? Didn't they call him an invader, the elvish term for Kaynian? Something was up, and he needed to know what it was.

  ''Our apologies for locking you here in this dungeon. At first, we thought of you as an invader or, as you may know of them, Kaynian...''

  ''...But upon clarification about your identity and counseling with our mother. We discovered you are the prophesied hero who will save us all.''

  She explained with a hint of guilt as she kneeled before him. The unknown elve raised her head and stared at the Ghost's emotionless helmet. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she expressed regret, shame, and sorrow.

  ''I am Isabella, the Saintess of the Pantheon Church. It is a great grief of mine that we have treated you poorly.''

  Joining the Saintess was the crowned elve, kneeling as she lowered her head in shame over what had happened to their savior. Meanwhile, the rider also kneeled before the operative, joining them in reverence. Flanking the now-known leader of the Pantheon Church, they would introduce themselves to him.

  ''I am Gabriella Queen of Elvania. The ill actions of my subjects to you will never be erased in my mind.''

  ''I am Adelard, Champion of Her Majesty. My poor judgment of you has brought unnecessary deaths to the kingdom.''

  After their introduction, Tale saw it strange for these elves to apologize to him, but worst of all, he didn't know how to respond. Of course, Vee would notice her partner's distress as she took over for him by materializing in front of the kneeling elves. Her virtual avatar stood proudly, and on her face was a smile.

  The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

  [Well, it seems that all of us here are willing to say sorry to one another. We might as well return the gesture...]

  [...Hello! I am Vee, and my partner here, which you call the Hero of Eldrant, is Tale. Our sincere apology for engaging with Her Majesty's Champion over the outskirts of Quake Town.]

  Gabriella and Isabella were taken aback upon seeing Vee for the first time. Adelard, who already knew of the A.I., kindly nodded to her. Taking a step forward, the Saintess approached and attempted to touch the avatar's face, but only for her fingers to phase through. Her eyes widened in surprise as she pulled her hand back. Meanwhile, the Queen watched the interaction before her intently.

  ''You're the hero's companion. The one our mother spoke of, his ally against the invaders.''

  [Uh, sure! That's a bit simplifying my existence, but sure, I'll roll with it!]

  ''My apologies, but have I offended you?''

  [Ah, no! What I mean is that I am his companion.]

  Vee clarified, gaining a sigh in response from the Saintess. Giving a nervous laugh, the A.I. was in utter panic mode beneath her facial features as she stood before the figures representing the nation they were currently stranded on. However, with a quick breath, she continued where she left off and pointed at her partner's chain-up state.

  [So now that we know of each other...]

  [...Do you mind if you release my friend?]

  With the change of subject, the Queen and Saintess nodded to their guest's request, as they had come not only to apologize but also to free the hero and his companion. Immediately turning to her champion, Gabriella would command him to go forth and unchain the immobilized Ghost.

  ''Yes! Certainly, Adelard, if you will.''

  ''Understood, My Queen.''

  Approaching the chains, the commander imbued his magic signature to unbind them from the operative's metallic body. Slowly, the luminescent chains unraveled, granting Tale the freedom to move. Without anything to bind him, the super soldier stood to his full height and towered over the elves present in the cell.

  'Oh my.'

  'By the pantheons.'

  Whispered the twin sisters as they bore witness to the sheer size of the Hero of Eldrant. Striding to meet them, each step taken by the hero echoed with a thud as his weight was something to be taken into account by the flooring. Meanwhile, Adelard merely stood beside the freed Ghost, acting as an escort/guide to him when they exited the dungeons and to the castle proper.

  ''My rifle and drum magazines. Where are they?''

  The hero's first words nearly made Isabella faint as she struggled to comprehend that the being before her was the savior of her people from the Kaynians. However, her sister, the Queen, took over to answer the question asked to them.

  ''They are currently at the armory along with your weapon. We shall return them to you momentarily after you meet with our mother.''

  Her Majesty responded, gaining an irritated tsk from Tale. However, he did appreciate that they were at least honest about their intentions for him. They wanted to apologize for their hostile actions and create a stable connection with him. And since he and his partner were stranded on their planet, he'd let it slide for now.

  ''Understood. Shall we get going?''

  ''Yes, hero, we shall.''

  Immediately, the group composed of the Hero of Eldrant and his companion, the Queen of Elvania, the Saintess of the Pantheon Church, and the Champion of Her Majesty, proceeded to exit the cell and into the dungeon proper. With his large stature and royalty escorts, the elves guarding the dungeon kneeled before the presence of the operative. Climbing a set of stairs. The entryway to the dungeon and its masses of prisoners were opened before the group. Sunlight reflected on the H.U.D. of the Ghost as he saw the beautiful architecture and marble flooring of the castle's ground floor.

  ''Your Majesty!''

  The head maid of the castle approached them, and beside her were several maids and butlers ready to assist their Queen and the Saintess. However, they also noticed Tale's towering presence, causing several of them to shake or cower in fear.

  ''Velvet, I need you to send word to Marshal Eugene that she must attend a meeting in the Garden of Gian.''

  ''Of course, Your Majesty.''

  Responding to her Queen, the head maid immediately noticed the enormous silhouette of the operative and dropped to the floor. She was so focused on Her Majesty and the Saintess that she neglected the other two individuals following the royal sisters.

  ''Your- Your Majesty that- that is the hero, I- I presume?''

  ''Yes, Velvet. Now get a hold of yourself and inform the marshal.''

  ''Of- Of course!''

  Getting up, the head maid quickly hurried away, leaving the rest of the maids and butlers behind as she had a message to send off. Although Tale found it weird, he immediately dismissed the scene that had occurred. Right after, they quickly passed the maids and butlers responsible for the castle's maintenance. Several of them kneeled to him while others bowed to Her Majesty and the Saintess. Immediately, the group walked forth, continuing on to meet the Former Queen. However, a single thought lingered in the operative's mind.

  ''What happened to Joan?''

  ''The child is currently under the care of my subordinates...''

  ''...Do you wish to see her after the meeting?''

  ''Yes.''

  Responding to the Saintess, Tale couldn't shake the paranoia consuming his thoughts as he worried about the young one's safety. Of course, his partner, Vee, felt his emotions through the neural interface. Once again, the A.I. sensed an emotion from her Ghost, similar to those he displayed when they first encountered Joan.

  [Your brain activity spiked up again...]

  [...What's happening, Tale?]

  ''I feel agitated about Joan's safety. This is the second, no, the third time. I felt this emotion. I feel weak, helpless without any reassurance about her safety.''

  [I know. I feel the same.]

  Hearing his partner's advice, he wished it was that easy. Stepping out of the castle, a beautiful view of Ivershine, the capital of the Elvania Kingdom, greeted Tale and Vee. The city is protected by its mighty walls, stretching the entire city. Airships also patrol its parameters, deterring any feral dragons or wyverns that may intrude.

  [That's a nice view you have here, Your Majesty.]

  ''Thank you, Lady Vee. For the past two hundred years, we have been increasing the defenses of our capitol, anticipating another invasion.''

  [Kaynian Invasion?]

  ''Yes, I shall give you the details right after the meeting concludes.''

  [My thanks. So where is the meeting taking place?]

  ''The Gian Pantheon Church's garden will be where we conclude our meeting. We will be arriving there via teleporter.''

  This broke Vee's mood all of a sudden. Teleportation? If this was a joke, then she was not laughing. During their war against the Kaynians, one of their key advantages was teleportation, which enabled them to instantly deploy large numbers of ground troops to a planet's surface without using aircraft. However, the A.I. found it hard to believe the elves had their own method of teleportation. Yet, as they arrived on the castle's front lawn, she was greeted by a large circular metallic pad.

  {Your Majesty, Saintess, Champion, and the Hero of Eldrant! What location shall we bring you to?}

  ''To the Pantheon Church, spirits.''

  {Of course, Your Majesty!}

  The spirit responded and activated the teleporter, causing runes and magical energy to materialize on the metallic pad. Tale bore witness to the magic performed by the spirits as his H.U.D. screamed with warnings of energy signatures happening around him. Meanwhile, Vee was stunned by the sight of the spirit before her. It should have been impossible, yet it existed before her. In an instant, the four occupants of the teleporter vanished in a flash of light.

  TALE: Hero of Eldrant

  Within seconds, the group arrived at the Pantheon Church's courtyard, greeted by an army of priestesses in perfect formation. Immediately, they were greeted with every priestess kneeling for respect before the royal sisters, the champion, the hero, and his companion. The gathered sisterhood was in awe and shock at the sight of the Ghost Operative and his A.I. partner, whose virtual avatar sat on his left shoulder.

  ''Thank the Pantheons! We have a fighting chance!''

  ''Please bless us with your light!''

  ''It's the hero!''

  Immediately, the priestesses screamed as they caught sight of his black power armor. They were cheering, overzealous, and praising the arrival of the savior of their species. Tale, however, felt confused by their reaction. To him, their praise felt misplaced; in his mind, he was merely a weapon—a Ghost. Seeing the body language of their esteemed guest, the Saintess raised her hand, prompting her subordinates to seize their chatter. A moment of silence glomed over everyone. Afterward, two priestesses approached the teleportation pad, halting just before their superior and the Queen before giving a light bow.

  ''Laetitia, Nadine, please bring forth the child you rescued over Quake Town. The hero needs to see her after the meeting.''

  The two sisters, now identified as Laetitia and Nadine, bowed again, accepting their task. However, their bows were not only directed at the Saintess but also at the operative.

  ''Of course, Saintess-''

  ''-We shall bring her to you, hero.''

  The twins responded in kind to him. Meanwhile, Tale stared at them blankly before offering a nod of appreciation. The group then moved on, bypassing several rows of priestesses as they entered the church.

  ''Welcome hero to Gian. The headquarters of the Pantheon Church; here we dedicate ourselves to learning the mysteries of magic and the Pantheons.''

  [Woah! So this place is like the Vatican City of Eldrant?]

  ''I do not know what this Vatican City is, but I presume it is also important in the hero's world?''

  [Oh, yeah. The headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church, it's a common religion back on Earth.]

  ''Ah, I see...''

  "...I presume that Earth is the name of the hero's world?''

  [Yep! But it's better if we talk about it sometime later!]

  The Saintess nodded, moving through several hallways and corridors. They would be greeted by an elven marshal. She wore a red uniform with a window exposing her bosom. Her red hair and crimson eyes were accompanied by a coat draped over her shoulders, adorned with numerous medals and trinkets.

  ''Your Majesty.''

  The marshal immediately knelt. Gabriella, in turn, extended her hand, allowing the marshal to kiss her delicate hand. Signifying her undying loyalty to Her Majesty, the marshal stood up as she took notice of the Saintess, the champion, and the Hero of Eldrant standing behind the Queen.

  ''Marshal Eugene.''

  ''I have come as ordered, My Queen.''

  ''Come, marshal, we have much to talk about.''

  ''Very well.''

  Accompanying the Queen and her company, the marshal led the group toward the garden's entrance. Upon arrival, Tale was greeted by the lush greenery of the church's garden. Flowers, exotic avians, and artistic structures were present. In the middle of it all lies a gazebo housing a floating sword. As they approached, for some unknown reason, the Ghost's instincts told him the blade was watching.

  ''Here we are, our mother's garden.''

  [This place is nice and calming. Your mother must like nature.]

  ''Indeed, during her free time, she would busy herself with her garden.''

  [So where is she? And why does she want to talk with Tale?]

  ''My mother is currently at her gazebo, and for your second question...''

  ''...She was the one that predicted your arrival.''

  This shocked Vee so much that her virtual avatar leaped off her partner's shoulders and met Gabriella face-to-face. The Queen's mother was the one who predicted their arrival. But that was impossible! She couldn't have known that Tale would arrive on their world via a Kaynian Device. It was outrageous, preposterous even! There was no way an elve could have predicted such an event several light-years out to happen.

  [Pardon my language, Your Majesty, but I find it unbelievable.]

  ''No need, Lady Vee, even I did not believe such a prophecy to occur, yet here we are.''

  As the group approached the gazebo, Tale felt anxious and wary about the sword ahead. Suddenly, the Queen, Saintess, Marshal Eugene, and Adelard kneeled before the floating blade. Trusting his instincts, the Ghost realized that the sword before him was the one who called for him.

  {I have been waiting for you, my master.}

  To Be Continued.