An Evil Mind
Hildebrand Bede smiled with satisfaction from his vantage point just outside The Forges window. The Master would surely love this information he just got. Hildebrand shifted his bandana and started to walk away, his Kafra cart trailing behind him.
Hildebrand was a Merchant, yes, but that was just his front cover. He worked for The Red Roses, an underground guild owned and managed by one of Izludes finest Knights, Sir Cedric Hawke. He was The Red Roses spy in Alberta. Aside from being a Merchant, this job provided Hildebrand with much-needed zeny.
Red Roses spies were paid for the quality of information they brought back to the Master. This information, which came from Altair Thornes mouth itself, could be priced for 500 billion zeny. The Master was obsessed with collecting the rarest and most beautiful Thornecraft weapons around the world. It was his life.
But the Master had a dark side. Even Hildebrand felt chills, just thinking about it.
The Merchant made his way through Albertas streets. If he was lucky he could catch a ship departing for Izlude. Then the Master would have his information, and that would mean more zeny for him.
He made his way to the port, where great Galleon and Junk were docked. Mariners and sailors were busy going to and fro, carrying cargoes and shipments on their broad backs. Hildebrand approached the ticket booth and tapped the counter with his ring.
"Yes, what can I do for you?" the grumpy old man inside answered.
"Id like to know if theres a ship leaving for Izlude just now." Hildebrand told him. "I want a ticket. Its an important business."
The old man reached for a tattered logbook on his desk and started to flip through the pages lazily. Hildebrand waited patiently for any results, tapping his golden ring at the counter as he did.
"I dont have any heading for Izlude." The old man said finally. "Youve got to opt for Warp Portals if you want to get there at once."
Hildebrand bit his lower lip and walked away, the wheels of his Kafra cart creaking on the ports wooden platforms. He returned to the Albertan mainland and looked around. There were a few Swordsmen, Knights, Hunters and Mages that abound his hometown, but Acolytesmuch more a Priest, never visited anymore.
The Merchant walked on, whistling softy to himself the Tune of the Nightingale. He would opt to comb Alberta first before heading a few kilometers away into the Payonese territory. This he did.
When he could not find even a single Acolyte in Alberta, Hildebrand exited from the western gate and thus began his tiresome walk to the woodland of Payon some 12 kilometers away.
The Red Roses was probably the second largest guild consisting of some 350 members, all stationed strategically around Rune-Midgard. Originally founded by Vladimir Hawke, Cedrics great grandfather in the 98th year of Thor, its sole aim was to defeat The Covenant, the guild formed by The Most Noble House of Thor.
But when Cedric came to power in his guild, his purpose changed. No doubt he still wanted to oust The Covenant, but now he had two guilds to destroy. He added the ever-famous Firnheild to his list, the guild led by Wealthow Eyre, Theodoric Raleigh, Altair Thornevald, Signy Brynhild and The Sibyl.
What was behind all this animosity?
It all started with a simple desire to collect Thornecraft weapons. Cedric also wanted to "pirate" Altair into joining his guild by using his connections. But in this he failed. He tried every method one can think of, but all he got from the Blacksmith was a big and loud NO.
"What did Firnheild have that The Red Roses did not?"
The Red Roses was one of Midgards richest guilds. But Firnheild and The Covenant were the greatest rivals in terms of fame and fortune. The Red Roses was still in the background. Cedric moved then. Since he could not get his beloved Altair, he sough to collect every single Thornecraft he could get his hands on and arm his guild with it.
Afterward, the part he loved best:
A series of Guild Wars.
In this The Red Roses had all the advantages. The Covenant guildmaster, the aged Sir Tiberius Thor, was in his twilight years. His last surviving son, Alexander Severus, was a Priest, and therefore did not have any right to rule as The Covenants next guildmaster.
Firnheild, on the other hand, may be powerful, but they lacked the ultimate destroyers: the Wizards. When Nerva alThor died, Firnheild had not been able to take in any new members from Geffen. Nervas body was consumed by the Apocalypse, making his Resurrection impossible. The Wizards refused to be recruited if the recruiter was not a Wizard like them. Firnheild lacked the Wizards supreme firepower of spells.
And, when the Guild Wars were over, The Red Roses will rise to fame and glory. He, Cedric, will deal with the Firnheild guildmasters personally. Hed kill them all and leave Altair alive. Altair will then be part of The Red Roses. It was perfect.
The main HQ of the Red Roses was situated on one of the strings of islands a few kilometers from the Izludian mainland. On the island of Etheria the fortress of the Red Roses was built, its massive stone walls and high towers demanding respect from every visitor. The guilds crest, a red rose in the center of a black heart that was pricked with thorns, was waving proudly on the banners hung from the turrets. Here the guildsmen convened about their daily business and plans.
Sir Cedric Hawke was in his favorite place, in the highest floor of the southern tower. He was reclining on a couch, a beautiful Thornecraft Ice Katana in his gloved hands. His chestnut brown eyes blazed with passion as he twirled the perfect sword in his hands, allowing the soft beams of candlelight to caress the Thorne embedded into the hilt.
The Knight stood up and assumed a battle-stance, the katanas perfect "ice blade" pointing forward. His eyes flashed ominously.
"FROST DRIVER!"
He brought down the blade to the floor, where huge icicles erupted out and went for the Poring decoy. The doll was torn to bits in the blink of an eye, bulbs of cotton hanging from the icicles deathly jaws. Cedric threw his head high and laughed diabolically.
"Perfect" Cedric mumbled madly. "This is probably the best Thornecraft I have ever seen!"
A knock sounded on the door. Cedric frowned and cursed; he hated it when he was disturbed in his private moments with his precious collection.
"WHO IS IT?!" He yelled angrily.
The door opened and his sister, Lady Recia, one of Rune-Midgards finest female Knights, entered the room.
"What is it now, Recia?" Cedric demanded savagely. "Have I not told you never ever disrupt my!"
"Hildebrand Bede of Alberta has just arrived." Recia answered casually. "He says he has interesting news for you."
Cedric breathed heavily and strode out of the room, Recia at his heels. Recias brown eyes surveyed her brother with disgust.
Even though they were the same blood and flesh, Cedric was way too evil to be considered her brother. Ever since he controlled the Red Roses he never did anything straight except to collect those dumb weapons. He had forgotten how it was to fight fairly when it came to ousting a rival guild. Recia could see her familys just system decaying in her brothers hands. She could not bear it, but she could not do anything either.
Cedric led the way to the great hall, where the guildsmen who have gathered there bowed to him in respect. He looked around and shouted.
"WHERE IS HILDEBRAND BEDE?"
A shock silence swept in the room. Nobody of the guildsmen dared to move.
The huge gilded doors opened and Hildebrand entered the great hall, pulling his pushcart behind him. He bowed before Cedric, who chewed his lower lip impatiently.
"What is it? Speak lest I kill you!" the Knight demanded.
"I bring news from Altair Thornes lips." Hildebrand answered, careful to avoid staring into Cedrics face, for it was a crime worthy of a death sentence. "He has forged the greatest weapon he has ever made, Heavens Blade."
A soft murmur arose among the nervous guildsmen. Recia cast a nervous look at her brother.
"Forgedthe greatestweapon?" Cedric repeated slowly.
"Yes, master." Hildebrand answered quickly. "I was lucky to have been given the opportunity to listen to Altairs conversation with his sister Lilian. Heavens Blade, his greatest masterpiece, has been forged. Only"
Cedric grabbed the Merchant by the collar and lifted him off the floor, his shoes dangling a few inches. The surrounding guildsmen gasped and moved away in alarm. Recia shouted, "Brother let him go!"
"ONLY WHAT?" Cedric spat vehemently. "ONLY WHAT? SPEAK OR I SLIT YOUR THROAT OPEN!"
Hildebrand stammered. "He doesnt plan to sell Heavens Blade, my lord. He plans to keep it for himselfhe said that if it falls in the wrong hands it'd cause catastrophe!"
Cedrics eyes widened. He dropped Hildebrand to the floor carelessly. He was breathing heavily as he ran his hand through his brown hair. He turned to Louisa de Chardin, one of the Wizards in his guild. Louisa took an automatic step backward.
"Give this Merchant 800 billion zeny." Cedric ordered. "Now."
Louisa nodded and quickly went to the treasury.
Cedric returned to Hildebrand. "Stand up, and go back to Alberta. Send word to Altair Thorne that I shall visit him tomorrow."
Recia gripped her lance tightly. "Altair does not plan to sell Heavens Blade, Cedric. No matter what you offer him he will not give it to you. He will refuse you firmly like before."
Cedric turned to his sister. "And when have you started deciding things, dear sister?"
"I do not decide this for myself. I decide this for the Red Roses!" Recia argued. "Force Altair to give you his weapon and you will plunge us into an inevitable Guild War with Firnheild!"
