Duties of the Heart

Written by WickedSong

Summary : He was raised to be a knight, using his unusually developed talents to fight those who would otherwise plan to overthrow the power of the Sorceresses.

However, the arrival, to his home town of an enigmatic group of 'rebels' that are being hunted by the Sorceresses will change Alexander Light's whole perceptions of the Sorceresses and just what they do for the planet they profess they protect.

Can the young man have the courage to fight against a regime he knows is wrong or will his familial and noble obligations hold him back, as he finds truths, lies, betrayals, companionship and love?

"Come on Steven, make this at least a little challenging for me," Alexander Light, a leading Knight teased, helping his friend and colleague up onto his feet. "Seriously, if we want to protect Snowbard then..."

"Yes, I know, Alexander. I must train more, that is all." Steven nodded his head curtly, knowing what he was going to be reprimanded for. He had been scolded many times before for it.

Alexander simply shrugged his shoulders, knowing that the Knight would be ready the next time they fought for training. "Who else would like a go at me then, eh?" he asked, maybe unaware of his overbearing arrogance. It was hard for him to dismiss his own abilities as a skilled physical fighter, since he had spent everyday for the last seven years, from the age of thirteen training to be a Knight for the Sorceresses and sometimes this self-assurance found a way into his tone of voice and the way he spoke to other recruits.

When none of the Knights stepped forward – most of them looked down to avoid Alexander's gaze - he contemplated simply choosing one of them. However his idea was averted as quickly as he had thought it by the arrival of a messenger.

"Your father asks that you meet him and Aura in the Sorceresses chambers immediately, Sir Light," the man told him.

"Thank you, Harold," Alexander replied to the older man. He had a receding hairline and wrinkles around his face, and he was around ten or fifteen years older than Alexander's own forty-three year old father. "Tell my father I will be along in a moments time."

"Of course, sir," Harold said and then he scurried away into the distance, away from the Knights training field.

Alexander stood before those who, younger or even older, were all under his command, due to his rising through the Knights quicker than anyone in living memory, especially for a twenty year old. He just had a natural flair for fighting, including not breaking under pressure, being a good leader and having the guts to make a life-or-death decision with a snap of a finger. The people of Snowbard revered him for this, as did his father, who had always been proud of his only son. "You are lucky," he finally commented to the group, who looked down at their boots, their swords or directly at him, the number who did this were in the vast minority though. "When I return to training I expect you knights to be ready to face me with bravery and initiative, traits needed for this important task." He deliberately made his voice sound serious and deadly because the security of his home town was something he did not take lightly.

He turned and briskly walked away from them, leaving the recruits muttering and probably calling him obscene names behind his back. He didn't have time for them to like him. He had a town to protect and he would do so, at whatever cost, even if the entire Snowbard section of the knights hated him for it.

As he walked through Snowbard, garnering the admiring looks of the people, he didn't break his stride to stop and chat. He didn't have any qualms about keeping his father waiting but a Sorceress was a different matter. Aura may have not been the most powerful of the four remaining Sorceresses but she had abilities that were not capable of just any magic user or Mage. Being a Sorceress she was in charge of an element and the entire Western Continent, which held five towns, Snowbard, Ohane, Farbour, Yuline and Dognia. In all, the planet had four Continents, with a fifth at the centre, forbidden to all and only used for severe banishment. Any one who had ever been sent there had never been seen again.

"Alexander Light, I'm here to see the Sorceress and my father, James, the mayor," Alexander stated coolly when he was stopped, for identifying purposes. Of course, the guards - who were different from the knights as they protected the borders of their homes and therefore, did not do too much direct fighting - at the gates knew who he was due to his status as both the mayor's son and the leader of Snowbard's Knights. However these checks were protocol and Alexander was fully aware of this.

"There you go, Sir Light," one of the guards replied, swinging the gate open for him. "Aura and the mayor are waiting at the top chamber for you."

"Thank you," Alexander replied. He walked in and made his usual way up to the top chamber where this meeting would take place. He had not been due to have one for another week with both the Sorceress and his father, so keeping in mind that there would have to be something urgent to discuss he picked up his pace.

Arriving outside the door, he underwent the usual and very strict identification process.

"Alexander Light, leader of Snowbard's knights, confirmed," the electronic voice said and after three beeps the doors were opened for him.

Walking in he noticed his father and the Sorceress already locked in a heated conversation so instead of breaking it up he stayed still and quiet at the top of the room. He managed to hear bits and pieces of the conversation from where he was standing, however.

"Nina and Terra couldn't stop her and her accomplices.."

"Alexander is strong enough..."

"We need Arianna, James, it is vital..."

Alexander, at the mention of his name was intrigued but those were all the words he could have heard, that and the names of two other Sorceresses and someone named 'Arianna', a name he knew he should have known as it screamed familiarity at him. Fed up, he gave a slight cough, not one that sounded rude but also alerted the two to his presence.

"Ah son, I am glad you came." James Light, the mayor and Alexander's father turned and smiled brightly to him.

"Thank you father." Alexander nodded his head. He turned to the direction of Aura and bowed. "Good afternoon, Aura."

"Good afternoon, Sir Light," Aura replied, nodding to acknowledge that he was there.

"Please come sit, Alexander, we have much to discuss," James told him quickly, nodding to a seat across from him.

Aura sat at the top of the table, her hands delicately placed on it. Alexander sat down and noted that this was the first time he had ever seen the Sorceress up close. Her grey hair was left down, curling at the ends, she wore a grey dress and her Sorceress tattoo was visible on her shoulder, not completely though, partially hidden by her dress. This had to be the first tattoo he had ever noticed on a Sorceress. Of course he knew all about them, and the powers they held.

"We have an urgent matter to discuss," Aura said, in a loud voice. This snapped Alexander out of his gazing at the majestic beauty of the Sorceress. It was something they were famed for, along with their magnificent wealth of power and command over their continents. "Rebels have been identified in the East, Terra's continent. They were detained by the Knights in Arlington but managed to escape and then evade Nina and Terra, two Sorceresses."

Alexander knew why she had emphasised the number of Sorceresses. "How did they manage to escape Nina? Terra as well?"

Alexander knew he sounded completely shocked and he was. Nina was the most powerful Sorceress out of the four in the world, while Terra was near enough matched in power, only surpassed by Aqua, the water Sorceress.

"We do not know, young knight," Aura replied. Her expression said something else though, Alexander thought but he did not bring it up. Aura continued, "all we know is that the three of them approach Snowbard as we speak. They have rested in the neighbouring hills and should be able to fully able to dispatch any number of knights, if they can escape two of my kind."

"What we are suggesting, is that you ambush them, Alexander," James continued, from what Aura had been saying. "You are by far talented, even being able to best myself." James smiled and chuckled. Alexander remembered that day. His father had been by far, the knights more established fighter out of if not all four Continents then at least their own and Alexander, when he was seventeen had been able to disarm him, leave him at his mercy, in a combat battle. "Aura and I believe that you could fight them with your abilities."

"However," Aura began with a warning tone, looking to James as if he had missed something out. "We need one alive and so you do not kill this girl," Aura commanded, snapping her fingers and producing a photograph of a blonde girl with startling blue eyes. In the picture she was laughing, innocently. "The other two shall be easy enough to get rid of, at least with your talents, although one is a magic user who is quite accomplished and the other, a sword fighter. Be on your guard."

"I will." Alexander nodded his head, fully aware of his duty.

Three rebels who were desperate to ruin the lives of those around him were fast approaching and he had to protect his town, above all else. It was the life his father had planned for him, the only thing he could do and what his mother would want. His mother who had been mercilessly killed, just for marrying the mayor, by rebels when Alexander was only a baby.

"You cannot fail, Alexander," Aura warned. She stood and faced him, blessing him with her Sorceress powers, before he left, also handing him the photograph of the girl. "The fate of Snowbard and even more so, the world, rests on you bringing us that girl alive." She nodded to the picture.

Alexander simply nodded his head back to her, leaving his father and Aura in the chamber, feeling both a challenge and the weight of the world on his shoulders.

This is the beginning of my newest story, and this is basically the introduction to it. I am not finished writing it at this moment in time though I am halfway through the last chapter and then there's an epilogue.

Updates will be every two days in order to give people a chance to read and give feedback.

Please read and review and I hope you enjoy this story. I hope it'll be a good one.

WickedSong x