1 GRAND CHASE (1/2)
With clear blue skies, the sun smiled at the peaceful Kingdom of Soden. Ruled by the Egberts for centuries, it occupied most of the fertile southern lands of the Sunsimoon Region.
Tavern stories and tales of old said that Soden used to be a sanctuary of dragons where men and majestic beasts lived in harmony—a legend lost amidst the great panic of humanity in their grand chase of life.
...
In a five-hectare mansion loftily standing on the central district of Soden, the household of Misfeet Family was in complete disarray. The veins in Meister Piorquee Misfeet's forehead—the patriarch—were about to pop.
”You useless pieces of aargh! Find it at all costs!” Meister Piorquee said. Despite the supposedly tight security, the King's entrusted treasure in his room's vault was missing.
”S-Sir, your treasury in the basement was also ransacked,” one of the guards said. ”Some gold coins are missing.”
”I don't give a damn! I need the artifact! Find it or I'll have all your heads cut before dusk!”
The guards scrambled at the behest of Meister Piorquee while the other five stationed at his room snored. They slept in peace, not knowing that they'd wake up jobless and in prison—or headless.
Meanwhile, in the narrow alleys of Soden's slums known as Bunya, knights were in a frenzy. The shut, shabby stone houses linked to each other like tombs made their hunt tricky. They were after an infamous thief. The notorious man that has challenged the Kingdom's peace ever since he learned to run—Vance Valfern!
”Valfern! Stop or I'll shoot!” a knight with a bow and round belly said.
The hooded man in a black coat with a leather sack bag on his shoulder paused. With his left hand raised, he slowly turned around to face the familiar knight. ”Come on, Rigert. I'll give you two silver coins this time.”
”No! I won't compromise my honor!” Rigert said with his chin raised high, ”I'll earn more if your arse is in prison!” With an arrow notched to his bow, he inched his way towards Valfern.
”Five silver coins then! That's my limit. Take it or...” Valfern's ears picked up the marching of feet—at least five pairs. He then darted away from where he stood.
”You're courting death!” Unwilling to let his target escape, Rigert haphazardly released the string.
The arrow swooshed to the side, far from the intended target. ”Damn! Old age is getting into my nerves!” Rigert said.
A door suddenly opened, and a yawning child rubbing her eyes came out of it. Rigert's arrow pierced her on the left shoulder, barely missing her neck.
The girl wailed, and it echoed like the cry of poverty that even Valfern paused.
”Stupid Bunya brat! You're not supposed to come out if we're around!” Rigert said. His eyes darted between the distant figure of Valfern and the bleeding child in the doorway.
”I hate this part,” Valfern said. He then turned around and dashed back to the child.
Rigert grinned.
”Reinforcements!” One of the five knights fully geared from helmet to sabaton said. They've finally arrived at the entrance of the alley behind Rigert.
Meanwhile, Rigert's confidence swelled, and he continued to fire arrows on the charging Valfern, ignoring the paling child.
Valfern zigzagged his way back to evade Rigert's attacks, but the number of arrows suddenly increased. Two of the reinforcements sniped with their crossbows while the three with swords and bucklers charged.
From his coat's inner pockets, Valfern took out three small, brown balls and locked each between his fingers. He then used his leather sack to swat some of the arrows.