Prologue: Liberation

          "We live in a trying time, the Spira slowly becoming barren, the life of our world barely holding on. The royals of the Zechs Empire ever oppressing the common folk since their victories after the Magus wars. But that does not mean we have to give up, I Alphis come to you now with a plan. It will come at a great risk..."

A quill is lowered on a table next to the parchment, a hand pinches the bridge of a tired looking man clad in brown robes. He rises from his chair and walks across his study to a glass cabinet to retrieve a bottle and tumbler glass, then begins to pour a drink.

He looks at his reflection and counts the amount grey hairs that he has gained on the side of his head, he grabs his unmanaged beard. From a bright purple eyed black haired youth, to this exhausted old man on the run from an empire that desires to squash the last glimpse of resistance.

He takes a bitter sip from the tumbler and takes a step back to at least appreciate his accumulated
library of forbidden texts, tomes, and scrolls. Another bitter sip is taken as he returns to his desk, sets his glass, takes his quill, and returns with a grim expression.

"I have found a means cripple the Zechs royal family by starting with their Magi. They have killed many of our friends and family alike, but I have learned that these Magi are not performing out of their free will. After much observation I've learned a means to free the Zechs royals of thei-"

A loud crack is heard from the end of the study as a curved blade slices between the gaps of the door and its frame. The door slams wide to show a shadowy hooded figure, with a curved sword etched in runes with a faint glow through the thick fur of their left arm that reaches down to the back of their hand.

Alphis stands ready in his practiced stance, 3 circle runes on each arm spins at the ready as he flicks his left wrist and snaps. Thick tree roots sprout from the ground and grabs hold on the assassin's ankles.

The hooded figure kneels to slash the roots as Alphis vaults his desk and closes the distance arm outreached. "Halt Creature" the figure whispers.

Alphis feels shivers from his arms down to the soles of his shoes forcing him to stop in place, then musters all of his will to shatter a rune from his wrist to resist the spell and break through. Stumbling towards the Magi, Alphis takes a brief kneel dodging a sideways swipe from the curved blade.

Then rises with an uppercut another circle rune shatters on Alphis arm turning it to stone before connecting to the jaw of his attacker.

"Travel Door" whispers the Magi as he reaches out with his left hand and turns a knob in the air and steps backwards from the hit from the stone fist. A bludgeoning sensation hits Alphis on the back of the head as the Magi appears behind him knocking Alphis to the ground.

The Magi rushes Alphis as he just turns over to see the Magi plunges his sword into Alphis's stomach. Alphis in a shocking amount of pain as the blade begins to twist he reaches out and grabs the face of his attacker.

"It's not your fault, I even hoped to reach you" Alphis says with a gritted grin.

The Sword continues to twist and start slicing down as the Magi uses all his strength to try and bisect their mark.

Another rune shatters from Alphis's arm causing the Magi to freeze for a moment, as Alphis undoes the hood revealing a blinking wide eyed wolf like face staring at him.

"It's all up to you now, please free them as I've freed yo-"...

Alphis goes still, eyes lose their color, and the hand that caresses his murderer's face falls limp to the ground.