Ranma 1/2 Fan Fiction ❯ The Path of the Warrior ❯ Prologue - Chapter 1 ( Chapter 1 )

Prologue:

In a time long ago, long before rifles and missiles came to pass, the world was lived and was ruled by the sword. Men would face each other, not with gunpowder and lead, but with tempered steel. Long swords and halberds would cross with axes and spears, and the winner would be decided not by the man who holds the most firepower, but by the strongest and most skilled of fighters.

Kingdoms were formed and the strongest and wisest of the men would be crowned king, given the sacred honor of ruling those very people that fought for a place to call home. And to protect and serve the king, a group of the elite warriors would bear the 'coat of arm' of their leader and would, from that day forward, be bound by their code of honor to serve their country and their king, they were known as the knights. And of those knights, a champion would be awarded with the title of captain, and would lead those noble warriors into battle. Many a men's dream was to become a knight under their lord, for there was no greater honor in that day and age.

Later came the discovery of beings called spirits. Years of research led to a break in the communications barrier between mankind and these creatures of nature. Sacred pacts were formed between the few chosen among the people of the kingdom, people found worthy of the spirits to wield their powers, thus the first mage was born. The ruler of the winds, Sylph, granted the power of the four winds. Undine, protector of the waters, granted control over the rivers and lakes. Control of the raging fires of the mountains was granted by the great Ifreet and power over the land itself by Knome, lord of the Earth.

A select few were granted the honor of controlling the holy power of light. These were the pure of heart. Men and women would devote their lives to helping others with this great power. And some warriors were granted the power to fight against the evil of the world, thus the first holy Paladin and Cleric were born.

But to every right, there must always be a wrong, and this was no different with the powers that be. The power over the dark forces was granted to those with evil hearts, and these people were devoted their lives to destruction and chaos. Thus was born the first Dark Knight and Dark Mage.

Men and women alike would work to support their homes. Some raised crops to sell in the various markets. Vegetables and beans were grown in great abundance. Then came the foragers, people who would search the forests and swamps for special herbs and spices. These special items were used in medicines and ointments, and people would come from miles around to receive treatment from these men and women. Thus was born the first Alchemist.

And of all these new and grand achievements that were accomplished during these times of peace, a capitol was erected at the foot of the holy mountain of the Espers. Thus was born the holy kingdom of Crystallia. Men and women came from all around the known world to worship at their holy temples. Apprentice mages would travel there seeking a chance to study at the greatest of mage towers, the Tower of Babil. Also, the bravest and noblest of warrior came to test their worthiness upon the Peak of Esper Mountain, where the temple of the Ancients rests. This temple was thought to be the place where the spirit of light, Excelcia lay in rest. The warriors would face the trials of the temple and if they were found worthy, would be blessed by the Holy Spirit, becoming the greatest rank any warrior could achieve, the Paladin.

So the lands lay in peace and the people prospered. But peace is never long lasting.

The forces of the dark despise those who worship the light. Villages were burned by the hands of Orcs, Ogres, Trolls, and dark Dragons, all the minions of evil. Some kingdoms would fall under the might of the dark, and others would push them back to their lairs deep underground. Swords would clash with claw, and spell would clash with spell, in bloody and gruesome battles. Many families would lose their loved ones to the hands of the evil beings, but thus is the way of life. Thus is the continual battle of good versus evil.

It was that faithful day in the season of fall that the forces of evil invaded the holy land of Crystallia. Both sides clashed in many a battle, and the light held their ground. The war continued on for three long years, the tide turning to each sides favor many times, only to turn once again.

It was then though, that one of the greatest evils known to man showed it face upon the bloodied battlefield. Never once had any known him to leave his throne in the dark city of Arsis. Happosai, the demon lord from the depths of hell no human has ever traversed showed himself. So, with his arrival, the dark minions gained a great advantage. For with the aid of the forbidden spells, spells of which had not been cast since the dawn of time, millions upon millions of undead rose from the land. Corpses from past battles, friends or foe, joined the battle against the light.

The holy knights of Crystallia fought bravely, but they were vastly outnumbered. Even with the greatest of warriors, King Genma, they could not hold against the evil undead. For every man or beast that fell in battle, the evil spell would force the corpse to rise again, joining the ranks of the dark. So the king and queen came to a desperate decision. They summoned their son's instructor in the ways of the sword, Lord Tallis. Tallis was the very man who had taught king Genma all he knew of the righteous path of the Paladin. He was a great, and noble man who fought for those that could not protect themselves from the tyranny of the world. Tallis had infused these followings into King Genma, making him a great and noble ruler. Thus those followings were to be passed to the king's son also.

In order to save their five year old son, Tallis was ordered to escape with him under the cover of darkness. Tears ran freely from both parents eyes as they said their goodbyes to the only heir to the holy kingdom of Crystallia. Dressed in dark rags, Tallis made his way out of the kingdom, never looking back. All that remained with the two of their homeland was the pendant that hung around little child's neck, and Exodus, the blade that was a gift from Excelcia herself to the first Paladin. The sword had been passed down through the ages to the king of Crystallia, thus it would continue that tradition in the hands of the young prince.

And so the holy kingdom fell, and evil took its place above all other. But this did not come without a price. The use of the forbidden spells drained the life of most the dark army, including the demon lord Happosai. Most returned to the depths of hell, while the creatures of the dark returned to which they came. Happosai was forced into a deep slumber, deep in the city of Arsis, not to awaken for many a year. All that was left of the dark forces were pushed back by the neighboring countries forces, but the damage had been done. The holy land of Crystallia was no more, for all that was left was a shell of its past beauty.

This is where our story comes forth. A tale of love and a tale of loss, a tale of quests where battles lie around every turn.

A mysterious stranger with a hidden past will willingly take on the burden of saving all the lands. He has known the pain of losing those he loves many times, thus he will always put others welfare before his own, so not to let them experience the same pain in which he had suffered. He travels from kingdom to kingdom, lending his sword where it is needed, and for this he has become known simply as the Free Knight. Those who had heard his tales knew him by the mystical blade that rests upon his hip, the sword rumored to be Exodus, thought lost many of year ago with the fall of the holy kingdom of Crystallia. This is his tale as he crosses over the lands of the world, seeking peace among all races of creatures, matter not if they were human, elf, dwarf or spirit.

Eternal Flame is proud

to present:

The Path of the Warrior

A Tale of Swords and Sorcery

Chapter 1

'Just another boring ball…' thought a beautiful young woman as she gazed out over the edge of the balcony. Her body adorned a beautiful white dress, which flowed all around her with ribbons and bows. It was strapless on top and rested easily upon her bosom. White leather shoes of the finest craftsman can be seen discarded at the entrance to the balcony. Her short, silky black hair was done up with pins to keep it from falling into her eyes, and small white flowers are woven into her short tresses. Large brown eyes look up into the darkness of the night, and flow from star to star, to land on the full moon which sheds light on the gloom of the night. She stares at the glowing globe in the sky as she leans her hands on top of the railing. She recalls one of the many dances her father as put on in order to parade the princes of neighboring countries, all seeking her hand.

She was soon to be 18, the age in which her father expected her to be wed. Both her sisters were already either betrothed or married. Princess Kasumi, the oldest, was already happily married to prince Tofu of Cerius, a land to the west. Princess Nabiki was to wed a wealthy duke that hails from the east. The ceremony was set for this spring. So all that was left of the three daughters was her, and King Soun wished to see all his daughters wed before he passes on.

She thought about her father as she gazed at the North Star. 'Just like him, a light that which guides those to where they wish.' She thought with a smile on her face. But he was getting old, and he had not had an heir to his throne. Ever since her mother died four years ago, he had been frantic to find suitable husbands for his beloved children, for fear of illness taking him away and leaving the kingdom of Felecia in turmoil without a ruler. With Princess Kasumi, it was not a problem; she had been very close to the young prince of Cerius all her life. And so when it was decided that she was to be web, Tofu was the first and best choice as her husband. They now were the proud parents of a 2 year old son named Philip. They would travel from kingdom to kingdom each season, so Kasumi could be in the presence of her father and Tofu could still be home for his country. But the three planned to settle down in Cerius once Tofu takes the throne.

Princess Nabiki had met Duke Forbes of Lenore a few summers ago. Many a balls were held in her honor, much like now. At one particular one, they had talked a bit and danced throughout the night. So when Nabiki had turned the age of 18, Duke Forbes had presented himself, and she had gladly accepted. They are rarely seen apart now a day, taking walks through the gardens, or just sitting upon the grass, watching the sunsets. Yes, her sister had changed quite a bit since she met her groom, all for the better.

But now that left her, Princess Akane, the youngest of the three sisters of Felecia. So many a prince, duke, and lord had come seeking her hand in marriage, and so many had returned home with no such luck. And now, with her 18th birthday arriving in a few months, her father was getting desperate. He has begun favoring an arrogant prince from the northern kingdom of Mardock. Prince Kuno IV, skilled with a sword and fast at the mouth, Akane despised the man. She loathed being forced to spend day after day in his presence, listening to him ramble on in the ancient tongue about how great he was and how he would have his 'vigilant beauty' for himself. 'Oh, how I wish I could cut out his tongue, then maybe he could be almost bearable.' she thought with a sour taste in her mouth. But King Soun and King Kuno III had been close allies in previous times, therefore in her father's eyes; the prince was the best choice as her groom.

There was a knock at her chamber door, and she turned to regard it. 'Who would be calling at such a late hour?' she thought as she made her way to find out.

"Yes, who is it?" she asked as she reached the door.

"It's Ryoga, your highness. I was just checking to see if all was alright." came a voice from the other side of the door.

Akane smiled slightly. Ryoga had been a long time friend of hers, ever since childhood. He had always been there to watch over her, and had become her personal guard once he reached the rank of knighthood. "Yes Ryoga, everything is fine. You can retire for the night." she said to the man.

"Alright, goodnight princess." And with that, footsteps were heard making there way in the direction of the barracks. Akane made her way over to her dresser and sat upon the ornate stool in front of an extravagant mirror. She let down her hair and picked up the brush from the table, then proceeded to comb out her short tresses.

She hated being cramped up in these castle walls, she wanted to get out and see the world. There are some days she wished she wasn't born a princess, instead just one of the commoners, free to roam wherever they wished. She sighed as she hit a tight knot in her hair where a flower had been woven. 'Why can't I just go out and see how our people live there lives from day to day.' She had never been outside the castle walls without an escort, so she was always treated quite differently among the common people. She had read books that old Morgan, a great scholar and distinguished mage, had given her. Tales of heroes and damsels, riding off together, men fighting dragons and monsters, all in the name of good. Oh, how she wished she could do those things the heroes did.

She was quite the swordsman, forcing Ryoga to give her training out in the woods in their younger years. She also had the gift of Ifreet, the fire spirit. Morgan had helped her harness the raging fire within her, and now she could be considered quite the warrior mage. Her father never approved of her learning the arts of war; ever since her mother had died he had done all he could to try and live up to his late wife's expectations of him as a father. He wanted her to be a proper lady, like her sister Kasumi, but Akane was too wild and energetic for that. She had learned all she needed to attend court and to speak with elegance when necessary, but she would fall back into the common tongue that she spoke as a child when she was alone with her friends and family.

She sat her brush back on the table and stood. She proceeded to dawn her night gown and make her way to the elegant bed that was located on the far wall. She pulled back the silk sheets and got onto the soft mattress, savoring the feel of the silk as it ran across her bare arms. She lay there and stared at the ceiling, deep in thought.

She had been planning on sneaking out into town for awhile now. She had wanted to be seen as another commoner and walk among the market as just a normal person. She was tired of this life in the castle, and needed to take a break. 'Well, tomorrow is just as good a time as any,' she thought, turning on her side. Her body sunk into the feather mattress a little further. 'In fact, I think I need a long vacation.' She smirked as she smiled to herself. She pulled down the covers and jumped out of bed. She made her way over to her wooden closet and proceeded to make a small bundle with a short piece of cloth she had asked one of the servants to get for her a few months ago. Many times she had thought of running away from the castle, only to change her mind at the last minute, but not this time. She proceeded to prepare for her departure tomorrow, taking only some of her more basic type clothing and boots. 'Tomorrow, I'll start my own adventure…' she thought, packing one of her favorite books into the small bundle.

Ryoga made his way to his private room near the barracks, lost in thought. Ever since he was young, he had been in love with the Princess. But never had he expressed it in any way, due to his duty. Everyone knew that Royalty only married Royalty, and Ryoga was born a commoner.

He always was by her side though, secretly wishing that one day she would show some interest in him also. But she had never seen him for more then a friend, possibly a brother, so he kept his feelings inside. When he came of age, he had applied to become her personal guard, a job in which King Soun had readily given him since he was one of the greatest swordsmen of the kingdom. So now he could still be near her, but never with her.

He had watched with envy as many a man had danced with the Princess at each of the balls, never once seeing one that deserved her. So many times he had wished that he could dance with her in his arms, hold her close forever. But a brother to her he would always be…nothing more.

He opened the door to his room and closed it behind him. He placed his sword and sheath next to the bed within arms reach, and proceeded to remove his armor. Once done, he washed his hands and face in the small basin on his dresser, drying his hands on the cloth next to it.

Once in bed, he was left to think about all the things that were out of his reach, never to be savored by him. At least he had his dreams, a place where all was possible. A place where his love and him lived together in peace, always together…

The next day, Akane made her way down the narrow streets to the market. Sneaking out had been quite simple, since she knew of the small tunnel that ran from a hidden door in the wine cellar, to another hidden entrance on the back side of the castle about 200 yards out from the moat. She had made her way back towards the village quickly, so not to draw suspicion.

She had wrapped herself in a plain, red cloak. It was probably the most common of clothing she owned. But to the occupants of the town, the dark red hooded cloak stood out like a sore thumb. She did not know this of course, as the eyes of the people only tracked her after she passed, so she believed that she had blended in quite nicely among the crowds.

She looked form shop to shop, listening to the vendors peddle their wares. Dried fish and live chickens were set on display for all to see. Fresh vegetables were set in baskets out on the street. The ever present sound of metal meeting metal signaled the hard working blacksmith slaving away at his fire pit. Ornate swords and axes lined his walls, while armor and shields were displayed in plain sight. Fine silks and cloth were found among the tailor's shops. Finely sewn tunics and capes were lying on wooden tables, with the master tailor's daughter sitting nearby, ready to make a sell. Fine leather boots were displayed around her in various sizes. People mingled among all the shops, looking for what they needed and moving on. The low roar of trades taking place was always present throughout the marketplace.

She made her way through the streets, stopping here and there to look at the fine, yet simple jewelry along the way. In and out she wove through the mingling crowds, trying her best not to bump into others. This is how she spent the early hours of the morning, out among the common people.

She was examining a particularly beautiful jeweled brooch, when a commotion nearby caught her attention. She turned in the direction of the sound and saw a ring of people about 20 paces down the road. She replaced the brooch and thanked the vendor for her time and made her way to see what was going on.

She pressed her way through the crowd, trying to get a better view of the spectacle taking place in the middle of the street. As she reached the front she looked to see what all the fuss was about. There, being shoved from man to man was a young Elvin child, seeming to be no more than 12. Half a dozen city guards were laughing as they shoved him from side to side. Akane's eyes narrowed at the way the boy was being treated. She turned to regard an older woman that stood next to her. "Excuse me madam, but what is the meaning for the treatment of this boy?" she asked, as she peered towards the young one.

The old woman turned to look at the beautiful woman that had spoken to her. "He was caught stealing a loaf of bread from a local vendor. The guards normally just arrest the thief, but it seems they don't take a liking to the Elvin kind." She said with pity in her eyes.

Akane bristled as one of the guards backhanded the boy, sending him to the ground. The guards just laughed as the young elf spit up a small amount of blood. She was about to step forward and put these guards in their place, but thought about it for a second and realized in order to do anything, she would have to reveal her identity. So she stayed put for the moment. Her rage built every time the guards cussed out or stuck the boy, and after a few more minutes she snapped. 'I'll be damned if I let this continue, and they call themselves knights.' She stepped forward and was about to reach for her hood, when something made her pause once more. The guard, obviously the leader, was about to strike the elf again, when a hand shot out of the crowd and grabbed his arm. She followed the hand to its owner, and found it to be a cloaked figure with a hood hiding his features. She listened as he spoke.

"For what reason does this boy be beaten here before the people of this fair town?" said the stranger, as the guard tried to pry his hand loose for the man's grip, much to no avail.

"How dare you interfere with the punishment of this lowly thief, beggar! Unhand me at once." stated the guard, gritting his teeth as the stranger tightened his grip.

"And tell me, 'oh honorable knight', has this boy been tried before the king like every other criminal that is arrested?" said the man, squeezing the guards arm tighter.

The guard stifled a scream as his forearm was placed under immense pressure. The surrounding crowd had gone quiet as soon as the stranger had caught the guards arm. The other guards had their hands on the butt of their swords, but dared not make a move until they understood the full situation with their leader. "This lowly Elvin scum has no right to be present before the king!" said the leader through gritted teeth.

The stranger seemed to regard the boy that was huddled on the ground. His face was not visible because of the shade the hood threw across his face, but as he turned back to the guard he held, Akane caught a glimpse of deep, piercing blue eyes. "I was not aware that there was a law that forbids the Elvin kind to be taken before the king for a rightful trial. Tell me; is this the order of his majesty himself? Or merely the idea of a racist bastard that believes himself to be able to answer for his king?" stated the man. He pressed down on the arm he held trapped and the guard gave a strangled cry, falling to his knee.

"You will pay for this you son of a bitch! You will wish your bitch of a mother had never given birth to you when I get free!" screamed the guard in pain.

Akane watched as the stranger froze at those words, and regarded the man he held captive. A small aura of pure white seemed to bath the man as his free hand clenched and unclenched. He lifted the guard almost effortlessly with one hand, and hurled him at the other guards. The leader barreled into the other five men, toppling them all over. "Draw you blade." The stranger simply said in a low, calm voice, the aura dissipating as he seemingly regained control of his emotions.

The guards scrambled to their feet, the leader snarling. "I'll have your head for embarrassing the guards of Felecia, street scum!" he said, drawing his sword. The other guards followed in turn.

The man simply stood there in a relaxed stance, his right hand disappearing inside his cloak. 'Probably a sword.' thought Akane as she watched the gesture.

"Let us see if you can back up your words 'knight.' Or will you simply hide behind your comrades?" stated the cloaked man, sarcasm dripping from his voice as he mentioned the title of knight.

Once again the leader snarled, and waved off the others. The five stepped back, relaxing their stances. "Very well, you can feel the bite of my blade alone!" screamed the leader, charging the stranger. The man tensed at the last moment, then his arms blurred.

His left hand shot out from the folds of his cloak faster then most could follow, including the guard. Before he knew it, the leader's sword hand was captured once again in the iron grip of the stranger, but that was the least of his worries. For the shining edge of an immaculate blade rested at his throat. None had seen or heard it leave its sheath. The leader gulped.

Murmurs sprang forth among the crowd as the surrounding people got a glimpse at the blade the man held.

"…hat him?"

"…Free Knight?"

"…o way, it is!"

"…Exodus Blade…"

Akane listened to the people around, only catching the tail end of many conversations and comments. By what she had seen and heard, the man before her was known as the Free Knight. She had heard the stories that were passed among servant and nobles alike, telling the stories of the knight's adventures. He traveled from kingdom to kingdom, lending his services to those in need, never asking for more then room and board in return. Her eyes lit up as an idea came to mind. 'THAT'S IT! This is my chance to go on an actual adventure! There was no way I could have done gone on my own, but if I go with him, I'll be fine!' she thought excitedly.

The leader gulped as he peered down at the blade resting at his throat. He had been hasty to judge the cloaked man, and now he would most likely pay for it. His blade slipped from his grasp.

"To gang up on a normal criminal, I could most likely overlook. But to beat them even more severely only because of their race, and a CHILD at that, is unforgivable. Now I will give you two choices. You will apologize to the child for your mistreatment, also to the people of the town for disturbing them. Then you will swear on your majesty the king himself that this will never happen again. OR, you can lose your head and then I'll make sure your subordinates mind their manners in the future." With that, the man lowered the blade and threw the leader to the ground. The guard slowly got to his feet, and looked down to the elf at his feet.

The cloaked man made his way over to the boy, and knelt before him. "It is alright child, no one will hurt you." He said in a soft, reassuring voice. He extended his free hand to the boy, waiting for him to grasp it. The Elvin boy looked at the hand and slowly reached for it.

"I-I only stole it because my mother was starving." came the small voice of the elf. Ranma's brow furrowed at that and he glared at the leader. He lifted the boy to his feet and steadied him in front of him.

"Now choose what you will do 'knight.'" stated the man, sword still in hand. The guard looked at him for a moment, and then lowered his head.

"I…I apologize to you all for disturbing your peace. And…" he looked at the elf in front of him, hate showing through. But then he continued. "And I apologize to the boy for beating him, and swear on his majesty King Soun, that this will not happen again." The cloaked man nodded. "BUT, that still doesn't forgive him of his crimes."

"I will pay the vendor for the bread he stole. No harm will come to a child that wishes only to feed his starving mother." stated the cloaked figure. "Now leave my sight, before I change my mind and lope off your head for your cowardly actions."

The leader turned with a raged face and made his way through the crowds, people opening up to make room for him. The other guards followed close behind with one last look at the stranger.

"Now," Akane heard the man say, looking down to the Elvin boy before him. "What say we go pay that vendor back and get your mother and you some supplies." He stated. The elf's eyes lit up at his words, then took on a confused look.

"But mister…why would you do that? You've already helped my enough and I couldn't possibly…"

"No worries. I have no need for repayment and you seem to be a nice boy." stated the stranger, leading the elf off.

"I AM older then you, you know." stated the elf, looking up to the man beside him, smile upon his dirtied face.

"Oh really?" returned the man.

"Yup! Elves age slower than…" The voices trailed off as the two left Akane's range of hearing. The crowds watched the man leave and after a moment of gossiping, returned to their usual activities.

Akane took off after the man, determined to gain a companion in him for her journey. 'What better person to travel with that the legendary Free Knight?' she thought, as she made her way through the streets, the two ahead of her never leaving her sight. Now she just had to figure out how to get him to travel with her…

She followed them to a local tavern, where both sat at a table near the back. Akane chose a table of her own, off near the darker part of the room, so not to be detected.

She watched as a woman came over to their table, the cloaked man sat down a few pieces of silver before her, and seemed to say something, but what, she could not tell. The elf said something next and the waitress nodded and walked off towards the kitchen.

They seemed to not say anything for about ten minutes, so Akane took a closer look at the blade that was half hidden under the cloak of the man. It was a masterpiece in itself, a work of art of a level that is unattainable by human hands. She could only see the dwarfs of the northern mines being able to craft such a weapon. But as she looked at it longer, she could tell that not even their master craftsman could weld such a blade.

She was knocked out of her examination as the waitress made her appearance to the left of her. And as she regarded the serving wench, she failed to notice the hooded figure in the corner raise his head and peer in her direction. He returned his gaze to the table slowly before Akane turned once again towards him.

Soon, food was brought out to both parties' tables, and Akane almost had to laugh out loud at how ravenous the Elvin boy was. He ripped into the flesh of the meat before him, and downed the goblet of mead like it was water. She gazed at the man's plate and had to blink. For where a small rack of lamb once sat upon his dish, nothing was there. The only thing he was doing now was wiping his hands upon the cleaning cloth the server had brought him. 'How in the hell could he eat so quickly?' she thought, gazing down at her own small helping of food. She shook her head and proceeded to eat, not wanting to be left behind once the two males left the establishment.

Once again they were on the street. The man had paid for the boy's meal and left back towards the center of the marketplace. She stayed a good distance behind them, watching as they went from booth to booth, examining the fruits and vegetables.

Everything the boy seemed to ask for was bought without question by the stranger. He would simply give the vendor the money and shoulder the small bundle of items he had. Then he would follow the elf to the next stop. For half an hour they shopped, buying anything from clothes to food, when finally they started heading out of the market, due west down a main street.

She followed them through the twists and turns to what she believed to be the elf's home. Finally after an unmentionable amount of corners, the two stopped outside a small wooden shack. The Elvin boy reached for the handle of the door, and turned it. Both entered, the man's arms full of items and the boy with a smile on his face. Akane creped toward the small window to the side of the shack, and listened to what was said.

"I'm home mother!" she heard the young elf chirp.

"Why hello dear, did you have fun playing today?" said an old voice. Akane snuck a peek through the window and gazed upon the old woman. She was dressed in rags, much like the young elf, and had long silver hair. A large bandage was wrapped around the top of her face, tied behind the large ears that symbolize Elvin blood. 'She's blind…' thought Akane, looking at the dark cloth. The woman must have been several hundred years old in Elvin years, for small wrinkles adorned her face and hands. She continued to gaze at the three, careful not to make a sound so not to give away her presence.

"Mother, a nice knight helped me out today. He bought us supplies and new clothes and refuses to take any type of payment!" said the now excited boy. Ranma slowly walked forward and knelt before the old woman.

"It is an honor to meet you madam. I must say you have a very caring son. A fine man he is." stated the stranger in a soft voice. The old woman turned her face slightly towards the sound of his voice, and raised her left hand slowly, as if searching for something.

"I do not know how to thank you, kind sir. Ever since I was blinded, I have feared for my child's survival. We could not afford the costs the clerics in the chapel asked for. Normally they would heal a commoner for free, but I am afraid to say they do not take kindly to our kind." said the soft spoken woman.

Akane bristled as she said that. 'How dare they refuse to heal her? How could they make these poor people pay for the use of their powers just because they are Elvin! The holy power is for all living beings!' she thought. The priests and clerics of the church were there specifically for the people of the kingdom. She would have to have a long talk with her father once she returned. She looked back up as the old lady's hand came to rest on the hood of the man's cloak.

"May I, good sir, see your face, so that I can always remember you. There are not many men this day and age that would do so much and ask nothing in return?" she gently tried to push back the hood, but the man stopped her hand gently.

"I will not let you gaze upon me with you hands, madam. But I shall let you gaze upon me with thy own eyes." With that, the stranger raised his right hand to the bandage, and gently removed it. The old elf jumped slightly, and looked down to her lap, ashamed of her appearance. Cross scars were present upon her brow, down across her eyes. The man brought his left hand up to her face and gently covered her eyes. He brought his right hand down to his chest level and made a fist. He extended his forefinger and middle finger up towards the ceiling in a gesture of prayer, and bowed his head.

Akane listened as he spoke the words of the healing spell in a tongue long forgotten. 'He…he's a cleric as well as a warrior?' thought Akane. Very few people in the world could harness the holy power of light, and it seemed this stranger was one.

A soft glow emanated from under his hand, and the Elvin boy's eyes grew along with Akane's as the glow seemed to seep into the old woman. The lady in question gasped as the light washed over her, and soothed aches and pains of sitting in the shack for so long, doing nothing because of her blindness. The stranger stopped speaking and the glow dissipated. He slowly dropped his hand and looked up from his casting. The old woman still had her eyes closed, but gone were the scars that had once crossed her face.

"Now, open you eyes madam, and gaze now upon my face with your new sight." said the man. Slowly the old woman opened her eyes, much like a newborn child. Her eyes widened and she blinked away the blurriness that came from not using her vision for so many years. But see she could.

Tears sprung to her eyes and a huge smile played across her face. "I…I can see!" she said, voice rising in excitement. "I can see!"

The young elf cheered and ran to his mother's waiting arms. She cried as she ran her hand over her son's face and looked him up and down. "You have grown into a fine man, haven't you Sigmund!" she said through her tears.

"Oh mother! I'm so happy you can see again! I just can't believe it! Now we can open our tailor shop again!" the boy, Sigmund stated as he hugged his mother. The old woman hugged him back, and then brought him to arms length. She turned to look at the hooded figure. She grasped the man's hand and knelt before him, kissing his knuckles all the while.

"Bless you sir, bless you. Now I can once again support my child so that he may grow to be strong. Please let me look upon the face of the man who gave us our lives back."

Slowly, the man pulled his hand from the old woman's, and raised it to his hood. Akane moved closer to the window, as if to get a better look at the man that stood before her. In one fluid motion, the hood fell from his head. Akane's eyes widened at the sight before her. For where she thought the man hid his face from the world with a hood to hide his ugliness, shone one of the most handsome men she had ever seen.

He had long black hair, braided loosely down his back. High cheek bones gave form to a slender, tanned face. Soft, yet piercing blue eyes gazed down to the old woman, who also seemed to be staring at his features. The man had a gentle look to him, yet if he was truly the Free Knight of legend, Akane knew he could be deadly.

"It has been centuries since these eyes had laid sight to such a handsome face. Why would you cover it so with a hood, kind sir?" asked the old woman, with a perplexed look on her face. Sigmund nodded next to her in agreement. If any of the three had been facing the window they would have noticed a beautiful woman, nodding as well.

The man smiled. "For reasons that most would not understand my lady. One doesn't wish to draw attention to oneself, if that person wishes to be at peace with others. I am just a wondering knight that travels in search for people in need. But there are also people throughout the kingdoms that would wish to see me laid to rest in the bottom of a shallow grave. So if no one can recognize me, I can avoid many unneeded confrontations." stated the man.

The old woman nodded, and looked to her son. Sigmund looked to her. "He's the Free Knight from the stories you used to tell me momma. The one that ventures all around!" he stated excitedly, extending his arms in a wide getsure. The old woman's eyes widened a bit at this little piece of information. She turned once again to her guest.

"Are you truly the Free Knight?" she asked in a curious tone. Silence followed as the hooded figure seemed to look off into the distance.

"That…is what many call me, yes." She said simply.

The old elf clapped her hands in excitement. "Wonderful! Oh, how I love the stories of your adventures! Fighting dragons and killing ogres. I have told my son your stories ever since I heard the bard sing of your tales several years ago." she said. "Please, let me make you dinner. It is the least I can do for you since you bought so much for our small family!"

The man seemed to consider it for a minute, then spoke. "I would be honored to eat with you. And please, set the table for one more guest. I'm sure she would be hungry by now, following us all day like she has." he said, looking towards the window.

Akane 'eeped' and fell from her small perch outside. The two elves blinked as the gazed towards the window. A woman's head peeked around the side of the window, and gazed at the three, stopping at the man.

"Umm…how…" she started.

"When you wish to follow someone madam, you shouldn't wear such a bright cloak. Such garment is hard to miss with the eye." The man stated simply.

<Blink><Blink> Akane looked down at herself and blushed the color of the cloak. She couldn't believe she had not thought of that.

"Please, join us. I made sure to buy a little extra after I noticed you at the tavern." stated the knight with a small smile on his face. The three inside laughed as Akane facefaulted outside.

'He knew about me that LONG…' was her only thought.

"So why were you following us?" asked the man. The four were sitting at the small table in the shack. The old woman, which they found out was named Sylphi, had used some of the wares the knight and her son had brought from the market to make dinner for her guests.

"Well…I was just curious, that's all. I saw what you did in the market this morning and was just wondering what kind of man goes against castle guards like that." stated Akane as she took a bite of some of the stew before her. The two elves just sat and observed the conversation without a word.

"Is that so?" said the man. "What is your name?"

Akane froze mid bite. She had to think fast, so not to give away her true identity. "May, my name is May." She said after the brief pause. That had not gone unnoticed by the stranger, but the elves accepted it at face value.

"Very well May, and from where do you hail?" he asked.

'Think girl…' "Cerius." she stated simply. "I arrived this morn."

The man raised an eyebrow but said nothing. He went back to eating without a word.

An hour of so later, the two humans said their goodbyes to the elves with promises of returning for a visit. They stepped out upon the street and turned to one another.

"Well then, this is where we part." stated the man. "It was a pleasure meeting you…May of Cerius." He turned and began to walk away.

'Oh no…' "Umm…wait!" she yelled after him. He paused mid step and gracefully turned back towards her direction, peering from under the hood he wore. "I…I was wondering if you could use a traveling companion?"

"I travel alone, I am sorry." He made to turn once again, but Akane rushed forward, grabbing his cape. The man's eyes tracked the small medallion that came free of her cloak as she reached for him. 'Royalty?' he thought, eyes narrowing.

"Please, the roads are not safe and I am in need of a companion. Please, please allow me to accompany you." She pleaded with him.

He regarded her for a second, thinking about his new discovery. Then, he spoke. "Tell me what your real name is."

She looked at him for a moment, perplexed. "I told you it's Ma…" she stopped when he began to turn once more. "Alright, alright…only if you tell me your true name, knight." she stated.

"You are the one seeking my trust my lady, not I. If I wish my name to be revealed to you, then I shall give it. But if you refuse my request, then I shall be on my way." He turned once again, freeing his arm.

She watched as he walked away. "…Akane." She stated in a defeated tone. "…Princess…Akane, of Felecia." She bowed her head. "Please sir, I cannot stay in that castle another instant! I'll go insane. I want to travel the land like in the books that I read! I am a capable warrior, and am in tune with the fire spirit Ifreet. I will be a great help to you on your journey. 'Please,' allow me to travel with you. I do not care what your destination is."

He regarded her for a few minutes, debating whether or not to allow the princes to come. Finally he nodded. "You will listen to what I say, and do what I tell you to do. There is no royalty out there in the wilderness." She nodded her head enthusiastically. "The king will be quite mad, and will most likely send a party after his missing daughter."

"Don't worry; I spent much of my childhood out in the outer woods with my friends. I can take care of myself." She said. He slowly nodded and turned.

"Then let us be off." he stated, beginning to walk away. She quickly followed.

They made there way through the now dimly lit streets. Vendors were closing shop, getting ready to retire for the day. In the distance the sun crept towards the horizon, ready for its daily rest. As they approached the western gate, the man spoke softly.

"Ranma…" he said simply.

"Beg your pardon?" said Akane, peering over to him.

"My name is Ranma." he said, eyes never leaving the road ahead of him. He nodded to the gate guards as they passed through, walking off towards the forest.

Akane smiled to herself as he told her his name. She too looked ahead towards the forest. As they reached the entrance to the thickly wooded area, they both removed their hoods and gazed around the trees. Ranma nodded to himself and continued walking.

"A band of Orcs have been spotted 30 kilometers or so to the west. Jumkoffer, the Orc Lord, is said to lead them as they raid the outer villages. That… is our first destination." Ranma said in a low, calm voice.

Akane nodded and once again let a smile grace her lips. She would no longer only read about the adventures and fairy tales, she would be a part of it…

Author Notes:

Well folks, there you have it, the first installment of my new story. I got a few ideas from "The Record of Lodoss War," and a few other old stories I've read. I wanted to show the Ranma cast during the Medieval times, my favorite time period.

This will be another long story I will be writing along with my others, so keep checking for updates and leaving reviews.

Next up: The dangerous path…

Thx

Eternal Flame