Tales of a Lost Sword

Episode 1 Rain: A Sky That Cries
56 months after the Battle of the Underworld. Ellinian Region.

Torrential rainfall descends upon the wooded forests of Ellinia. A city rebuilt from the flames of war, the new Ellinia now stands tall and erect, with new buildings coated with fresh paint. The ancient towers, relics of the old Ellinia, rise as high as the tallest trees in the forest.

A grand castle-like compound claims much of the land destroyed nearly five years ago. Its walls are white, and magnificent new towers and battlements rise out of it. Its interiors are divided into numerous buildings, each as grand and tall as the exterior walls.

A stranger sits upon the wide branch of a forest tree, shrouded by the thick boughs of leafy green flora. He cradles a rifle at his side. Long fronds of dark reddish hair hang over his head.

Despite the heavy rainfall, a considerable amount of people still gather inside the newly rebuilt Ellinia Station. A number of people even stand outside on the dock, holding umbrellas over their heads as the rain pounds the wooden planks below like silvery bullets.

A girl with long, flowing purple hair stands eagerly on their tiptoes, peering into the distance, obscured by the misty water vapor created by the rain. All of a sudden, a loud horn blasts from somewhere beyond the mist. The others on the dock turn about excitedly, as the ship makes its way to the station.

The girl leaps forward, right to the edge of the platform, as the massive ship emerges out of the silver vapor. A number of passengers can be seen aboard the ship, standing under a makeshift pavilion.

“Mama!” she howls to one of the passengers on board.

The girl’s mother takes off her heavy coat made from Hector fur inside the Ellinia Station. She peers around the interiors of the building, lit with a gloomy, orange glow. “Where’s your sister, Mira?”

“She couldn’t come because of a test at the Academy,” Mira answers, helping her mother with some of the luggage. “So I came alone.”

“I see.”

“Come, Mama, I’ll show you the way to the Academy. It’s not far from here at all. We can walk there. I’ll hold the umbrella so you won’t—”

Mira’s mother suddenly reaches into her daughter’s left pocket, shoving something into its depths. “Mama! What are you doing?”

“Those were throwing knives, weren’t they?” Mira’s mother suddenly whispers in an agitated voice. “Keep them out of sight, you foolish girl! What if someone sees you with them?”

“Mama!” Mira exclaims exasperatedly, although she blushes a little. “It’s all right! No one’s going to find out. I’ve been coming here for over a year now. No one has suspected a thing. Even Ophelia forgets sometimes that I’m a—”

“Hush!” the elder woman yelps even louder than her daughter. “You’re speaking too loudly, dear!”

Mira grumbles impatiently under her breath, as she makes her way towards the door. “Okay, fine, fine, Mama. Have it your way. Anyway, let’s get going. Come, I’ll lead the way.”

Mira and her mother head back into the rain outside, the young daughter leading her mother, cradling a bag of luggage in one hand and holding an umbrella over the two of them with the other.

“How are things at the Academy, Mira?” the mother asks her daughter.

“Fine,” Mira answers curtly. She glances at her mother, who is watching her expectantly. “Ophelia’s been doing really well with her studies, but…that’s about it. She’s just the same as ever. She’s not cut out for fighting on the frontlines at all.”

“Yes, she’s always been a delicate little thing,” Mira’s mother sighs with an air of pride in her voice, “and what about you, my daughter?”

“I’ve been doing great, too,” Mira responds excitedly, “the Masters have taught me a lot about fighting, and I’ve made lots of friends, too. But I’ve been surprised at how good some of these people at the Academy are at fighting. There’s this one Hermit, Rill—”

“Mira, you’re getting all flustered!”

“Mama, you’re embarrassing me! But the truth is, life at the Academy has been great…”

A flash of lightning and the accompanying roll of thunder mask the sudden rustling of leaves on a tree. A crimson-haired man leaps out of sight, carrying his gun haphazardly with his right hand on a band of leather.

A girl roughly the same age as Mira waits for the two at the gates of the massive complex constituting the Ellinia Academy. Mira tilts her head in surprise at the sight of the girl waiting in the rain.

“Ophelia! You’re done with testing already?”

Ophelia nods her head vigorously, a smile playing about her lips. “Welcome back, Mira, Mother!” She leans forward to embrace her mother warmly.

Mira smiles slightly at the sight of her sister and mother hugging. She glances up at the sky, which is covered entirely by a mat of solid gray cloud. “I wonder when this rain will let up. I have my FRT tomorrow. If it keeps raining like this, I’ll never be able to get any last minute practice in!”

“Mira! You have a test tomorrow? You should have informed me of that! Now I’ve completely ruined your schedule with my visit.”

Mira turns to look at her mother. “It’s not like that, Mama! Don’t get worked up over nothing. It’s an FRT, Field Reconnaissance Trial. I couldn’t study for it even if I could. At least, not with this weather. I’ve already had lots of scheduled run-throughs in class. I was just hoping the weather would be good today so I could get some last minute practicing in. But I guess the weather’s not going to cooperate.”

“I see, so that’s how it is,” Mira’s mother replies. She sighs deeply. “Well then, I can only wish you luck for tomorrow, I suppose. But do at least try to get some rest tonight so you’ll be fresh and ready for tomorrow.”

“Of course, Mama! You don’t have to worry about me.”

“Mother!” Ophelia cries suddenly. “Since Mira needs to rest and prepare for her test mission tomorrow, you can come stay with me in my room!” She grabs her mother’s arm tenderly and tugs at it. “I’ll show you the way to the dining hall if you’re hungry.”

“Th-that’s all right, Ophelia, dear! You don’t need to pull so hard! I’m an old lady now, these bones will break!”

Mira smiles and fights to hold back a loud chuckle as she watches her sister drag her mother inside. She turns to follow them in as well, glancing back over her shoulder for just a brief moment. The rain continues to fall from the sky relentlessly, as if in mourning. “It hasn’t rained this hard for a long time. It’s almost as if the sky were crying.”