Chapter 5

Princess of Light

July 6th, 2019 AE, 5:04 PM

The city of Argos was a chaotic place. Thousands of people had settled there to escape the war. With few jobs, many of these refugees struggled to survive in their new homes, resorting to crime to make ends meet. They were willing to do anything to get by, so it was wise to watch your back and carry a weapon every time you go out at night. Argos was far from the best place to live in, but it was the only place most people could live in.

Argos was surrounded by an enormous stone wall that overshadowed the one built around Newtown. The city itself was a gigantic maze that was easy to get lost in. One wrong turn could drag you into a world of trouble. Many shops and merchants sold rations and supplies for those fighting in the war. Among the mix were black market dealers who sold contraband weapons stolen from the Empire. A multitude of inns attracted travelers and warriors who came to rest or settle down. But one could hardly settle with the countless cars on the streets that deafened its citizens with their blaring horns. These streets were also littered with the scraps and human waste from thousands of citizens, creating the terrible stench that permeated the city air, leaving a bitter taste in your mouth. Simply put, this metropolis was the trash heap of scum, outcasts, and lives lost.

Why did Jaden choose to live here? It wasn't just that the apartments were cheap. As an Ark Knight with a strong desire to protect others and practice his skills, Jaden was able to both and make a living as a bounty hunter. When he wasn't traveling the kingdom, he would spend his nights patrolling the streets for criminals. In only a year, Jaden brought in hundreds of crooks, ranging from thieves and smugglers to mobsters and murderers.

The funny thing is that he actually came to enjoy it, despite how dangerous it all was. The mysteries hiding in every alleyway and every building excited him. This also came with the satisfaction of stopping crime and keeping people safe. It felt very much like exploring ruins in the wild and fighting off the demons. All in all, the city was an enormous urban jungle that he couldn't help but feel attracted to.

After riding the subway across town, Jaden navigated through the west side. Even for Argos, this portion of the city was especially poor, and just as treacherous. Its citizens were willing to snag any valuables they could find, no matter who they belong to. Aware of the danger, Jaden kept his hands in his pocket and tightly wrapped himself with his coat. He also avoided eye contact with those who passed him by to avoid any nasty altercations.

Jaden walked for about ten minutes before arriving at the Red Rose Inn: a local tavern with a very misleading name. He walked inside to see the place was packed with customers and the pungent smell of smoke and alcohol. Heavy music blared from the jukebox in the background, lighting up the room with an electric mix of the guitar and piano. Although, he could barely hear it over the sound of the customers' babbling. Warriors from all over the kingdom filled the tables as they filled themselves with their drinks. Almost everyone there was armed with scars, lethal weapons, and dangerously short tempers. Unless you wanted to end up with some broken bones, the best thing to do here was to not get on anyone's ugly side.

He walked up to the bar to see his dear friend, Darek, waving at him from behind the counter with his prosthetic left arm. He was a large, muscular man in his mid-twenties with brown, greasy hair with a matching badger chin and a black apron over his brown skin. His metal limb glistened beneath the lamps above, dazzling the Ark Knight with a warm welcome.

"Hey, J!" he greeted. "You're still alive!"

"What, were you hoping I wasn't?" Jaden joked.

"It's good to see you again."

"You too, Darek. How's my ride doing?"

"It's not fixed yet, but I'm almost finished. What else can I do you for?"

"Well, I uh..." Jaden looked around to make sure no one else could hear him. He leaned in closer to Darek and whispered, "I also got the Star."

"What!" Darek said softly. "You did?!" Wide-eyed and surprised, he also looked around the bar before whispering into Jaden's ear. "Meet me in the back in a few minutes."

Jaden nodded his head, and Darek walked out of the bar and into the back room, leaving his assistant in charge. As he waited, Jaden realized how dry his throat was. He ordered a glass of ice water to quench the extreme thirst oppressing him. He also bought a small bread ration, encased in plastic, that he then put in his jacket for later. After downing his crisp, cold beverage, Jaden made his way towards the back. That is until he accidentally bumped into one of the barflies, spilling his drink on his shirt.

"Hey! What the hell?" the barfly said in a drunken daze.

"Oh, God! I'm sorry!" said Jaden.

"Watch where you're going, man!"

As the man moved in closer to Jaden, the latter recoiled from his foul beer breath.

"Look, I said I'm sorry!" Jaden repeated to him. "I don't want any trouble."

"Well, you've got trouble now!"

The drunkard shoved Jaden into a nearby table, knocking him and a dozen glasses onto the floor. He then swung his own glass against the counter and rushed at him with its edge. Jaden reached for his sword and braced himself for an ugly fight. But without warning, Darek grabbed him by the wrist and disarmed him with a tight squeeze. The drunk tried punching him with his other hand, but he countered it with his robotic arm. With the power of his prosthetic, Darek sent him flying across the room and into another table covered with drinks. After a moment, the table collapsed and the drunk fell to the floor. He just laid there, writhing in pain atop a puddle of beer and broken glass.

"What?" Darek asked, his gaze hard as stone.

Everyone just returned to their own business without any concern for the unfortunate man. Darek walked over to Jaden and helped him back up.

"Thanks, but I could've handled that."

"I know," Darek said with a smirk. "I just wanted to show everyone here who's boss."

* * *

Jaden followed Darek into the back room: a garage filled to the brim with a variety of weapons, many of them stolen by the Empire. They walked past suits of high-tech armored suits and an armored buggy at the far end of the room. There were even some Divine Weapons hanging on the walls and on sale for a hefty price. All of this was Darek's side-business: selling weapons and resources to the Rangers as a top member of the organization. Though he wasn't a fighter, he regularly hosted meetings for the guild, which was actually how he first met Jaden. Ever since then, Darek had become one of his most trusted allies in the Great War. He was his supplier, his mechanic, his intel, and his friend.

Jaden's trusty motorcycle sat in the center of the garage next to a cart of auto-repair tools. The engine was damaged during a raid on an Imperial outpost about two weeks ago, and there were still fresh scratches on its glossy, black coat. Even with all these damages, Darek was still the right man to fix it. He was the one who sold it to him, so he knew the machine inside and out. It was also contraband stolen from the Empire, so he was the only one Jaden could trust it with.

They walked over to the table in the middle of the room, where Jaden took out the crystal from his coat pocket and showed it to Darek.

"Holy shit, man!" he exclaimed, "You actually found one!"

"Yep! It's the real deal!" said Jaden.

"How the hell did you get this?"

"It's a long story. I won't bore you with it now." In his head, Jaden laughed at the idea that his story could be considered boring.

"So...what are you gonna do with it?" Darek asked him.

"Well, I was hoping you could send it to the Royal Family so I could get my reward. It's not much use to me."

Both men were surprised to heard a knocking at the door from where they entered.

"Were you expecting anyone else?" Jaden asked softly.

"No." Darek answered at the same volume.

Jaden and Darek were put on high alert, intending not to let their unexpected guests know of their presence. Only a select few knew about Darek's "side business," and those who did never engaged in such business there without giving him prior notice. The Ark Knight sensed three people on the other side of that door. While he didn't detect any evil aura from them, he knew he couldn't be too careful.

Putting the Star of Valon back in his coat pocket, Jaden unsheathed his sword and slowly approached the door. Darek followed his lead and grabbed a pistol from one of the weapons shelves. Each of them softly stepped across the floor to keep themselves hidden. Jaden reached the door and looked back at Darek, who had his gun pointed at it from a safe distance. After his friend gave him a nod, Jaden swung the door open and greeted their guests with his blade.

In one instant, the Ark Knight saw two soldiers wearing white armor arc their halberds down towards him. In the next, he noticed a smaller woman, roughly his age, standing in between them, flinching at the sight of his raised blade. Her eyes were fixed on his, but in the next moment, she smiled.

"Hi, Jaden. Is that how you greet all your friends?"

Jaden immediately recognized this woman as the Princess of Astrelm, and he still marveled at the sight of her. Her long, golden hair and oval-shaped face shined like the sun, her blue eyes were like stars in the night sky, and her rose-colored lips formed a warm, pink smile. She was dressed in a white uniform of the Knights of Astrelm, and a golden rapier was resting in a white, leather sheath strapped to her hip.

"Astra!" Jaden said, putting his sword away. "I didn't know it was you."

The Princess turned to the soldiers next to her, "It's alright, stand down."

Her guards raised their weapons and pointed them back towards the ceiling. They continued to watch them all behind her like statues as she spoke:

"It's good to see you again, Jaden. You too, Darek."

"It's good to see you too, your Highness." Darek said, lowering his rifle. "But you couldn't have called first?"

"I know, I'm sorry," she said. "I've been so busy today, I completely forgot to. I didn't mean to scare you."

"It's okay," said Jaden. "So what are you doing here?"

"We're about to start the raid the Divine Temple, and I was hoping to discuss it with Darek," she answered. "Why are you here?"

"Oh, I was just showing him this." Jaden held out the Star of Valon to her, and she was immediately stunned.

"Whoa, you actually found a Crystal Star?" she asked in awe.

"Yeah, I was just gonna have Darek deliver it to you, but now that you're here...." He gladly gave Astra the crystal, and she was mesmerized by its emerald glare. It was like a green eye opened from within the stone and gazed at her through its kaleidoscopic lens. For a split second, she could even see the figure of an armored knight standing proudly in front of her.

"So, about my reward...."

"Huh," she said, having been knocked out of her trance.

"My reward! The reward for getting the crystal."

"Oh yeah! We'll have someone send you the money by the end of the day," she said.

"Thanks. So, you said you were about to raid the next temple?"

"Yes, I'll tell you more about it. But would you like to discuss our plans over a drink?"

"Huh?!" said Darek and Jaden. The latter's heart skipped a beat as he was sure that the Princess of Astrelm had just asked him out on a date.

"I'd still like to repay you for all you've done," Astra added. "And it's been forever since we spent time together. What do you say?"

Jaden hesitated to answer, as he was unprepared for this sort of encounter. "I don't know..."

"Come on, J, go for it," Darek whispered, pushing Jaden forward with his silver prosthetic.

Looking back at the Princess in front of her, Jaden agreed that this was an opportunity he couldn't pass up on.

"Uh...yeah. Sure." he responded nervously.

"Great!" she said joyfully. "Could you go find a table for us while I speak with Darek for a second?"

"Okay. I'll be back in a minute."

Jaden walked out of the room and back into the bar, mentally preparing himself for his date. While he never blinked in the face of savage demons or Imperial soldiers, socializing with people scared the hell out of him.

Especially with women.

As Jaden did his search, Astra walked up to Darek with a smile that immediately took the stress out of his day.

"Again, I'm sorry walking in like this!" she said, embarrassed.

"It's fine," he replied. "You're always welcome here, your Highness,"

"Thank you. But I really wish you were out on there on the battlefield. We really need people like you fighting with us."

"You know I don't fight on the front lines. Now that I'm free from the Empire, I'd like to keep it that way."

"I know, but with your combat experience and your bionics, you're one of the most gifted fighters we have!"

"Gifted? Do you really think this is a gift?" he asked, gesturing to his metal arm. His face suddenly morphed into a mask wracked by pain and anger. "The Empire already stole enough from me when they took my arm! What else do you think they'll take if they get their hands on me, huh? I'm sorry...I can't face that again! I'm still carrying too much pain."

As Darek spilled his guts to Astra, his entire body shuddered at the memory of the pain he suffered. This sensation was most excruciating in the stump of his severed arm, causing his bionics to stiffen up. He remembered hearing how people who lose their limbs tend to feel pain in them even after they're gone. Darek knew this feeling all too well. This phantom pain continued to haunt him years after the Empire tore his arm from his body. His prosthetic had provided much relief for him, as it used the still-active nerves once connected to his arm to operate. The energy core powering his arm also enhanced the other muscles in his body, giving him strength on par with an Ark Knight's. On top of that, the sensors on this device even allowed him to feel anything it touched, which sometimes made him forget he was missing an arm at all. But it was stress like this that interfered with his arm's neural feedback, making it hard to control. Though he succeeded in escaping the Empire with his life, Darek still felt he had a piece of himself taken from him, one that made him feel he was still their prisoner.

Hearing the pain in his voice, Astra placed her elbows on the table and knelt down to meet Darek's eyes.

"Listen, Darek, I know what the Empire did to you was terrible. I can only imagine the pain they made you endure. But what the Empire does to people like you is the reason we have to fight them. Like your arm, that pain gives you strength, and you shouldn't waste it! You can't spend your whole life hiding in fear. If you do, then they've already won."

"We're all hiding from something. Even you can't deny that."

"Maybe you're right, but I know deep down, you want to fight with us. If you didn't, you wouldn't be here, talking to me."

Looking down his hands, Darek took a moment to consider whether that was true or not.

Before he could come up with an answer, someone else walked in and stole the conversation.

"Hey, Astra!" Jaden called out. "I found us a table!"

"Okay, I'll be right there!" she said before whispering back to Darek. "I'll give you some time to think about it. Just try and consider it."

Astra then walked up to Jaden and grabbed him by the hand.

"Let's go!" she said, escorting him back into the bar.

Both of the Princess's guards followed her in the next room, and, after some hesitation, Darek joined them as well.

* * *

They sat down at a private table near the backside of the bar, where Astra's bodyguards staunchly watched everyone else inside. They were all staring at them from across the room, muttering about Princess of Astrelm sitting down with some nobody. Jaden and Astra felt very awkward with all these eyes locked on them. Even Darek was staring at them from behind the bar, himself feeling uncomfortable with this situation.

"Boy, I usually don't have this many people staring at me," Jaden said awkwardly.

"After a while, you get used to it," she responded.

The waiter brought each of them a cup of tea, which they gratefully enjoyed after a stressful day out in the field. While it wasn't the most popular drink here, it was much better than the watered-down swill they usually served.

As they sipped their hot beverages, their nerves loosened up with a soothing release. It was one of those rare moments of relief from the anxieties of war. They both hummed with delight as they had forgotten about the world for one blissful moment.

"Mmmm."

"Oh wow, I feel so much better now!" he exclaimed.

"Me too! I so needed a break from the front lines."

"You know, it's funny. Sometimes I forget what life was like before all this."

"What do you mean?" Jaden asked her.

"Well, think about it. Do you remember what this world was like before we both started battling the Empire? I know it's only been two years, but it feels like we've stuck in this war forever."

"Yeah," he answered. "I mean...it's hard to imagine life without it."

Truthfully, Jaden had become so used to fighting this war, he almost didn't want it to stop. He was even afraid of how his life would change if the conflict ended. Ark Knights were supposed to fight for peace, but if there wasn't any war, then what was his purpose?

As he pondered this conundrum, his focus wandered to the royal guards watching the bar as the Princess spoke with him.

"So, what's up with those guards?" he asked her. "You never had them with you before."

"I know. My brother wants me to have personal guards wherever I go. He's even started taking me off some of our missions! I admit, it has gotten more dangerous out in the field, but this is going too far!"

"So then why don't you tell him that?"

"Believe me, I've tried many times. I keep telling him that I can take care of myself, but he won't listen. Even my father agrees with him now. Being part of a guild like this is tough, especially when your brother's the leader."

She stopped talking and looked down into her drink, staring back at her with her own solemn reflection. Her eyes silently cried for help as she looked back up at Jaden. This was the look of someone alone in an invisible prison, desperate to escape, something they both shared. He knew he had to say something to make her feel better, but what? As a knight who spends most of his time in solitude, Jaden didn't know what to say.

They sat in silence for a few seconds. Astra looked into Jaden's eyes, and he swore she could tell that he was choked up too. But she quickly formed a smile on her face, seemingly to break the tension.

"It's alright," she said. "It's nothing I can't handle." She continued to gracefully drink her tea before changing the subject. "But you have to tell me how you found that crystal? It's been lost for centuries!"

"Oh, well, the Empire actually found it. I just intercepted one of their transmissions, and I was able to beat them to it."

Jaden had woven that lie together before arriving at the bar. He didn't like being dishonest with people, but it was necessary to preserve his secret.

"Wow! And you managed to get it all by yourself?" Astra asked him.

"Yeah, I can't believe it either."

"I'm surprised. Normally, an entire horde of demons would be guarding that kind of treasure."

"They actually weren't that bad."

For me, that is.

"Really?" she asked with a doubtful look in her eyes, "Because lately the demons have gotten much stronger. Our best fighters have had trouble fighting them, even as a team. So how exactly were you able to defeat them?"

"Um...it was just long fight. I don't really feel like talking about it. Is that alright?"

"But you have to tell me!" Astra pleaded. "That crystal has been hidden for centuries, and somehow, you brought it back all by yourself! Please, Jaden...I need to know how you did it!"

Jaden started to get worried, for he had no idea how to answer. Up until then, only a few people were aware that he was an Ark Knight. If she knew that he singlehandedly defeated a horde of demons, including a Zepherok, she would suspect something. Though it seemed she already has.

Maybe I should just tell her, Jaden thought. I mean, it can't be that bad if she knew, right?

He looked over his shoulder, anxiously wondering how he was going to answer her. Finally, he was about to open his mouth, but Astra cut him off before he could speak.

"You know what? Forget I asked! I shouldn't have put so much pressure on you." She smiled as she sipped her drink.

"It's fine," Jaden said, relieved. "So the temple raid is still tomorrow?"

"Yes it is," she answered. "I trust that you're prepared, then?" she asked him.

"I don't know. I'd feel a lot better if I knew what the plan was."

"To be honest, I'm not entirely sure about this mission, either. We've only known about the temple for about a week, so we don't have a lot of information about it."

"Well, can't we use the crystal we have to take it back from the Empire?" he suggested.

"Sadly, no. Only the Princess of Astrelm has the power to summon the spirits inside the crystals. But for some reason, I've never been able to use any of it. It's like there's a wall between me and my gifts, and I don't know how break through. It would be best if I left the crystal back at the Royal Sanctuary where it's safe."

They both knew this was a major setback in their road to victory. Being a member of the Royal Family, Astra was gifted with the Goddess Astraea's ancestral magic. With her divine powers, she could commune with the gods and defeat the demon army. This only made the pressure even more unbearable. For centuries, women descended from the Goddess have acted as the kingdom's spiritual leaders, including her mother. Like the Ark Knights, they were destined to protect the world from darkness. But now, Astra was struggling to live up to her legacy.

"I guess you're right," he said. "But do you think we'll be able to win tomorrow without it?"

Astra paused as she dreaded her answer. "I don't know...but we'll have to try."

"I guess. But I'm honestly not sure if I'm strong enough." That wasn't a lie. Even with his powers alone, Jaden didn't think he could face an entire Centurion army.

"Then how about we team up?" she asked. "Since I'm supposed to keep an eye on all our fighters, I want to see how strong you really are. Besides, I want to make sure you don't get yourself killed doing something rash."

"Wait, what?!" Jaden was stunned and confused by her sudden request. He had been so used to being alone, he didn't know how reach to her proposal. "What about your personal guards?"

"I don't need them. Besides, I'll have you fighting with me. You don't have a problem with that, do you?"

"No, of course not! It's just...are you sure you can handle it?"

Insulted by his response, Astra shot him a glare as sharp as a knife. He then jerked back against his leather seat, afraid of what she would say next.

"I already told you; I'm quite capable of holding my own. But I don't want to do this alone. I know you don't like working with others, but I could really use you on my side. So what's it going to be?"

Jaden didn't know how to follow up that argument, so he took a sip of his tea to stall for time. He knew that fighting this war on his own did make him lonely, and the chance to team up with the most beautiful woman in Astrelm was tempting. But the more he thought about it, the more it all seemed too good to be true.

Out of all the fighters in Astrelm, why did she choose him? To just about everyone in the kingdom, he was a nobody. Was she trying to prove her strength, or did she just want to protect me? He couldn't figure her out.

Nevertheless, Jaden couldn't let these questions slow him down. He had the Princess of Astrelm in front of him, waiting for an answer.

"Well?" she asked.

With no other response in mind, he finally caved.

"Okay, fine."

"Great," she exclaimed, beaming once again.

* * *

Later that night, with their plans discussed and their drinks finished, Jaden walked with Astra to the Stargate. The city was enveloped in the golden glow of its own lights. The Celestial Clock crowning the gate marked their arrival at around 6:30. The altar itself was already being refurbished by a few repairmen after his grand entrance earlier. New security guards were positioned there, so they barely noticed him as he spoke with the Princess.

"Well, it was great seeing you," said Astra. "Thanks again for all you've done."

"No problem. It's what I do."

"Hopefully, tomorrow, we'll turn the tide around against the Empire."

The thought of them actually achieving victory had Jaden stunned. He found himself staring off at the stars above, the cool breeze blew through his hair.

"If we do win, if this war ends, what do you think will happen afterwards? Do you think everything will go back to the way it was?"

"I don't know," she responded solemnly. "The whole world has changed so much in the past two years. I'm not sure if it'll ever be the same again."

"I guess we'll just have to keep fighting and see what happens," Jaden said.

"Yes, you're right. Well, I'll see you at the base camp tomorrow at nine."

As she walked into the altar of the Stargate, she turned around and called out to him. "Oh, and Jaden!"

"Yeah?"

"Be careful tomorrow," she requested.

Jaden looked into her eyes and saw a great deal of concern. Following a moment of silence, he responded.

"Okay, I will."

Astra smiled as she and her guards vanished into the light. Jaden smiled as well until they disappeared. He then thought about how dangerous this mission would be. Tomorrow, they would be going against an entire Imperial base full of soldiers. Even with his powers, he was unsure if they would make it out alive, and if he did have to use them, what would happen then?

* * *

This question stuck with him for the rest of the night. While he rode the subway back to his apartment, he wondered if the outcome would make any difference. Would all his struggles amount to anything that would change this war? He then thought that maybe Astra was right. Maybe life wouldn't change even if Astrelm won. The whole world seemed like this train, always going around on the same track with no hope of escape. Disregarding the bleakness of it all, in a way, Jaden wished he was more like this train. At least then, he'd always know where he would end up.

After disembarking from his subway car, Jaden found a homeless man sitting on the concrete floor. He leaned against the wall and held up a cardboard sign shouting in big, black letters:

THE END IS AT HAND!

WON'T YOU LEND A HAND?

This man seemed to know where he was headed, but he still looked like he needed something to make him happy. Answering his plea, Jaden took out the packet of bread he saved and handed it to him. The Ark Knight saw a grin form behind the man's thick, gray beard, and he too smiled at him. He wished he could've helped more, but even with all the reward money he earned that day, he knew he couldn't give it to him. Even if they didn't waste it all to get drunk or high on stardust, his aunt taught him that doing so would prevent them from seeking real help. They had to learn to take responsibility for their own life. But she still said that lending a hand, that doing something as simple as sharing some food, was enough to show someone they were loved.

That they weren't alone.

* * *

After returning to his apartment, Jaden quickly turned in after such a long day. He laid awake until about one o'clock in the crevice between his bed and the wall, looking out at the city through the window. He was yearning for his childhood days back home before this war, before he was an Ark Knight.

Living happily and untainted by the horrors of war was what he wanted to return to the most. He didn't have to fight for anything, and he just lived for the moment. It was a peaceful time that he cherished more now that it had passed and was replaced with pointless fighting. Sometimes, he regretted ever leaving that house in the countryside that he called home.