Scenario:Siegfried - Indomitable

Indomitable

Siegfried sneaks into the castle and investigates villages in order to expose Consul General Isabella's evil deeds, but finds that she's already taken steps to obstruct him. Moreover, he's discovered by the Order of the White Dragons when he stops to save a family from an unusual monster and finds himself surrounded deep in the forest.

---

Siegfried has been framed for regicide by Consul General Isabella.

Now he must bring her wrongdoing to light, but his investigation has hit a dead end.

Siegfried: I don't think I'll find any new leads outside the castle...

Siegfried crumples the paper he'd been jotting his notes down on into a ball.

Siegfried: (Well, I'll just have to sneak in. Fortunately, it seems that Isabella is reorganizing the Order of the White Dragons right now.)

Siegfried: That could give me an opportunity to get in. Tonight should be my best bet.

White Dragon 1: Yawn... I sure am sleepy. When's the next shift getting here anyway?

White Dragon 2: Come on, you heard Lady Isabella's announcement about the new schedule we started using today. The new shift's not coming for a while yet.

White Dragon 1: ...

White Dragon 2: Hey man, I answered your question. Don't just ignore me.

White Dragon 2: Wha—
Hey, what's wrong?

White Dragon 2: What?

Siegfried: Don't worry. I just need you to sleep for a while.

White Dragon 2: ...

Siegfried: Right then, Isabella's office is... Ah, down this way.

Siegfried: Her papers concerning alma and karmide should be on these shelves...

Siegfried: Oh?

Siegfried: These are records of how much alma was produced each month. And here we have documents about distribution to the villages.

Siegfried: Hm? These numbers don't add up. Production is much higher than distribution.

???: Who's there?

Siegfried: Oh dear. I suppose I'll have to take these papers with me.

Siegfried gathers up all the documents within reach and then jumps out of the window.

Moments later, a young man enters the office.

Lancelot: There's nobody here...

Lancelot: Wait, the window's open!

Lancelot rushes to the window and sticks his head outside.

Lancelot: ...
No one out here either. But I know I felt the presence of someone other than Lady Isabella in this room..

Lancelot: This is the fifth floor. The only person who could have escaped from here is...

As Lancelot furrows his brow, a damp, warm breeze caresses his face.

Siegfried: (If I collect enough testimony from the people, I might be able to expose Isabella's deeds to the public.)

Siegfried: I should go to Ruforth Village. I haven't checked on them in a while.

Isabella has been secretly disposing of alma's deadly byproduct, karmide, in the Howling Valley in order to hide its existence.

Ruforth is a small village downstream of the river that flows through the Howling Valley.

Siegfried: I hope that the karmide pollution hasn't spread to the village yet.

Siegfried: White Dragon knights are camped out at the entrance to the village...

Siegfried: (Odd. They wouldn't need to station that many men if they just wanted to protect the village.)

Crawling through the long grass, Siegfried sneaks up to the men and listens to their conversation.

White Dragon 1: I hear that we're doing more patrols now because Siegfried snuck into the castle.

White Dragon 2: Yeah, me too. Apparently everyone in the capital is under orders to stay at home. I hope my family's all right.

White Dragon 1: What I want to know is why post us here? Why would the Kingslayer come to this tiny village?

White Dragon 2: Well, apparently this place is actually important. I was told that if we find him here we'll punish the whole village for sheltering him.

Siegfried: (I see, this must be Isabella's doing.)

Siegfried: I could knock them out and investigate, but that would put the whole village at risk.

Siegfried: Looks like I'll just have to turn back...

Siegfried stealthily departs from the area.

Siegfried: Right, I should be far enough away now.

Siegfried emerges from the overgrowth. He has been making his way to a different village while avoiding the main roads, but runs into a dilemma.

Woman's Voice: Aaaaaah!

Suddenly, he hears screaming coming from down the road.

Siegfried: What?

Monster: Grrr...

Father: Why is there a monster here? Stay behind me, you two!

Mother: Dear, don't be reckless!

Young Boy: Dad! Dad, I'm scared!

Siegfried: (If I intervene, the knights posted nearby will find me for sure. But if I don't...)

Josef: I want to protect this kingdom alongside you.

Siegfried: ...!

Monster: Grrraaahhh!

Siegfried: Gah!

Siegfried: Haah!

Monster: ...

Siegfried: Are you all right?

Father: We're all fine. Thank you so much!

Young Boy: Mister, you hurt your arm really bad...

Siegfried: Don't worry, I'm used to it.

Siegfried examines the monster and discovers traces of karmide in its body.

Siegfried: (This monster is different from most of its kind. Did the karmide cause it to mutate?)

Siegfried: (That would explain why it left its territory and was wandering around near the road.)

Mother: W-wait, are you... Sir Siegfried?

Father: What? Siegfried the Kingslayer?

Siegfried: ...!

White Dragon: Hey, what was that screaming about?

Mother: Dear, look! The knights are here!

Father: We were being attacked by a monster, but then Siegfried came and...

Father: Wait, where did he go?

Siegfried is nowhere to be seen on the road, but there's a trail of blood leading into the forest.

White Dragon: Leaving tracks, huh? Looks like we won't have to comb this place for him after all.

White Dragon: Send a messenger to the main unit! Tell them that Siegfried's lurking in this area!

White Dragon: Yes sir!

White Dragon: Don't worry, we'll escort you to the nearest village.

Young Boy: Hey, Mister Knight! You've gotta save that guy with the big sword!

Young Boy: He got hurt saving us... So please, you've gotta...

White Dragon: ...
Fret not. The Order of the White Dragons will do what needs to be done.

Realizing that search parties had been dispatched all over the roads, Siegfried makes his way deeper into the dark forest.

Commander: The trail of blood leads deeper in! He could be hiding anywhere, so keep your guard up!

The sound of boots stomping through the foliage gets closer and closer as the knights close in from all sides, until finally...

White Dragon: He's here! He's here!

Siegfried: They found me. Looks like I'm going to have to fight.

Siegfried confidently readies his greatsword.

Commander: Even if the man we once called "Dragonslayer" faces us, we must not falter! Overwhelm him with our numbers!

White Dragons: Yes sir!

Commander: First Squadron, charge!

White Dragons: Chaaarge!

Siegfried: Haaah!

Siegfried's blade knocks the men to the ground.

Commander: Hhg... He's too strong! Messenger, go call for backup! Second Squadron, charge!

From an unfortunate series of events, Siegfried's battle with the Order of the White Dragons has begun in earnest.

Indomitable: Scene 2

Siegfried has been cornered by the Order of the White Dragons in a forest. From behind enemy lines, he hears Lancelot call out his name in hatred. Exhausted from the endless fighting, Siegfried finds himself unable to move as his pursuer's sword thrusts toward his heart, but the dagger he has stored in his breast pocket that he received from King Josef blocks the blade. Upon seeing the dagger, power wells up within Siegfried and he forces his way through the order's lines and escapes.

---

Siegfried: Huff... Huff...

Commander: Don't let him get away with what he's done! Knights of the White Dragons, fight for the righteous glory of Feendrache!

White Dragons: For the righteous glory of Feendrache!

After being framed for regicide, Siegfried has finally been cornered by the Order of the White Dragons.

Siegfried: Hraah!

Siegfried: Ngh!

Commander: He's getting slower, and the captain's almost here! Wear him down!

White Dragon: Damn it! How can it have taken us three days and three nights to tire him! What kind of monster is he?

Commander: We'll have to give up on taking him alive. Strike him down!

Three days and three nights after the battle began, Siegfried's stamina is reaching its limits.

Siegfried: (Considering the fact that the king was just murdered, their unity is exceptional. To think that I would ever end up this cornered.)

White Dragon: Die, traitor!

Siegfried: Haah!

White Dragon: Ngh... I'm not done yet!

Siegfried: You move well. Would I be right to guess that you're in Lancelot's unit?

White Dragon: Think you're so strong you can start chatting during a fight? I am in Captain Lancelot's unit, yes, and I'll use the techniques he taught me to take your head!

Siegfried: Then I suppose the rest of the exceptionally proficient men I've been fighting recently are as well. You must have arrived on the scene ahead of him.

White Dragon: Stop acting so familiar! You've betrayed all of us, and especially the captain!

White Dragon: Do you have any idea how he feels having to hunt you down?

Siegfried: ...
Sorry.

Siegfried: Huff... Huff...

Suddenly, Siegfried hears a voice he knows well coming from behind enemy lines.

Lancelot's Voice: I want status reports from every squadron! Depending on the situation, I might go out there myself!

Siegfried: Seems like Lancelot's arrived...

Lancelot: Please help me with my training again sometime, Captain Siegfried!

Siegfried's reminiscing is interrupted by the sound of Lancelot's roar.

Lancelot: Siegfrieeed!

The adoring tone that Siegfried is used to hearing in the young knight's voice has been replaced by hatred and anger.

Siegfried: Lancelot...

Though he can't see his former student, Siegfried needs only hear that voice to understand how he feels.

Commander: Captain Lancelot has arrived! He'll be joining us soon! Press the attack!

White Dragons: Yes sir!

Siegfried: What!

As Siegfried's greatsword clashes with a knight's blade, it suddenly snaps in two.

Commander: Good, his blade is broken! This is our chance to finish this!

Siegfried: Even should my weapon fail me, my will is indomitable!

Siegfried: ...!

Despite his bravado, Siegfried finds himself unable to move a muscle.

Siegfried: (What? Why can't I move?)

Though his will is still unbroken, his body had long been pushed past its limits.

Commander: Now!

Siegfried: Urgh!

Siegfried staggers under his pursuer's strikes.

However, he still cannot force his body to move as he wills it, and falls to his knees.

Commander: We did it! Pin him down!

Siegfried: Ngh!

The knights restrain Siegfried, twisting his arms behind his back.

White Dragon: Prepare to die, Siegfried the Kingslayer!

Siegfried: I must purge this country of its rot!

Commander: The man who plunged the kingdom into chaos claims to want to fix it? Ridiculous!

Commander: Even though you risked your life to protect that family, you're still a kingslayer and a traitor.

Commander: Saving them led to us finding you, and because of that you're now going to die.

Siegfried: ...!

Commander: Repent for your crimes in the afterlife, Siegfried the Kingslayer!

Time seems to slow as the knight prepares to pierce Siegfried through the heart.

Siegfried: ...

Siegfried: (Am I going to die here, unable to grant King Josef's last wish?)

The moment that thought crossed his mind, a powerful emotion seemed to surge through Siegfried.

Siegfried: ...!

Siegfried: (No! I must struggle until the bitter end!)

Siegfried musters all of his power and roars.

Siegfried: Out of my way! My life is pledged to His Majesty's service, and none shall defile that!

White Dragon: Urk...

The ferocious intensity of his declaration makes his pursuers reel back, but only for a moment.

White Dragon: Damn you! Yo-you're going down!

White Dragon: Haaaah!

The tip of the knight's sword rushes towards Siegfried's breast.

Siegfried: ...!

The dagger that Siegfried had been keeping in his breast pocket blocks the White Dragon's thrust.

White Dragon: What?

The dagger falls out of his pocket and to the ground.

Siegfried: This is... the blade that His Majesty bestowed on me...

Josef: I pray that this blade will one day protect you from harm.

Josef: A great rot is spreading about Feendrache. I would have you expunge it before the kingdom falls to ruin.

Siegfried: ...!

As Josef's words flash through his head, Siegfried feels his blood start to boil.

Siegfried: Argh... Graaaahhh!

White Dragon: Damn it! How does he still have strength left?

Commander: Who knows? Just stop him!

Siegfried: Aaaaaagh!

White Dragons: Aargh!

Siegfried: Aaaaaagh!

Commander: Retreat! Retreat!

The rest of Siegfried's escape doesn't really stick in his memory.

All he will later be able to recall is swinging the dagger, throwing his pursuers off him, and running.

Siegfried: Huff... Huff... I think I'm in the clear.

Siegfried: ...

Siegfried: ...
I will complete my task, no matter what.

Even Lancelot, Siegfried's former pupil, stands in his way as his enemy.

Nevertheless, he tightens his grip on the dagger and unwaveringly walks down the path before him.

Indomitable: Scene 3

In search of a stronger sword, Siegfried visits a blacksmith that has long made swords for the knights of Feendrache and is given a crimson greatsword named "Integrity" and a set of armor that comes with a full-face helmet. He learns that the sword had actually been made specifically for him by King Josef's request before his passing, and renews his oath on it. Time passes, and Siegfried finally meets Lancelot and (Captain)'s crew as the end of his mission approaches.

---

Siegfried made use of his superhuman strength to escape the Order of the White Dragons.

Some time has since passed.

Siegfried: Haah!

Siegfried: This one's no good either, huh...

Strewn at Siegfried's feet are several broken greatswords.

Siegfried: They're all too weak. I suppose I won't find anything workable if I keep relying on regular weaponsmiths.

Siegfried: (I have a task that must be completed no matter what.)

Siegfried: (Therefore I need power. Enough power to make it through any predicament...)

As if to brush away his aggravation, he shoulders his last remaining greatsword and walks off.

Siegfried: ...

Upon reaching the nearest town, Siegfried decides to gather information.

On the town's bulletin board, he finds a prominent notice warning of a recent increase in monster attacks.

Passerby 1: Apparently the main roads are crawling with them now. I heard that the chief of Ruforth Village was attacked and spirited away.

Passerby 2: Oh, how frightening. You won't catch me going out there anytime soon.

Siegfried: (What? Ruforth's village chief was taken away?)

Siegfried: (No, there aren't any monsters around here that kidnap people. This must be Isabella's handiwork.)

Siegfried: (Since she couldn't capture him openly, that means...)

Siegfried: (There's a secret dungeon in the castle. She might have imprisoned him in there.)

Siegfried: Looks like I'm running out of time.

Siegfried: (I need more power, specifically a strong sword. It'll be risky, but I'll have to rely on him.)

Siegfried: Galreginda, I'm coming in.

Galreginda: Sir Siegfried? Why would the most wanted man in Feendrache come here?

Siegfried: ...

Galreginda: No, I can tell from your eyes. You never would have harmed the king you respected and loved so much.

Siegfried: Thank you, Galreginda.

Galreginda: The fact that you've come to me must mean that you need a weapon. Just a moment, please.

The smith goes into the back of his shop for a moment and emerges with a crimson greatsword.

Galreginda: Please, accept this.

Siegfried takes the weapon and tests out how it feels in his hands.

Siegfried: Oh? The center of gravity is... Ah, I see. Very interesting.

With a quick exhalation of breath, Siegfried releases a horizontal swing with the sword at a wooden training dummy.

Siegfried: Hah!

Cleft cleanly in two by the knight's strike, the top half of the dummy falls to the floor.

Siegfried: It cuts well. I see you're still as skilled as ever. It's no wonder we knights have been procuring your family's services for generations.

Galreginda: You speak too highly of me. It is your skill that makes such a feat possible, Sir Siegfried.

Having obtained the power he longed for, Siegfried tightly grips the greatsword as he renews his resolve.

Siegfried: That said, isn't this sword's center of gravity too far forward?

Siegfried: What inspired you to make such a thing? I can handle it just fine, but I don't know of anyone else who could.

Galreginda: I have something I must convey to you that concerns just that, Sir Siegfried.

Siegfried: Oh? What would that be?

Galreginda: I was asked to create this sword for you by King Josef before his death.

Siegfried: By His Majesty?

Galreginda: Its name is Integrity. After King Josef's death, I wasn't able to hand it over to you, but...

Galreginda: Now, I can finally follow his last command.

Tears begin to well up in Galreginda's eyes from the grief of being reminded of King Josef's death and the joy of seeing Siegfried again.

Galreginda: The blade is made from a rare crimson ore of Feendrache origin that has been refined and forged through a very labor-intensive process.

Galreginda: I am sorry that this is all I can do to help you, but I hope that you succeed in clearing your name.

Siegfried: ...
I am truly grateful for this, Galreginda.

Siegfried holds Integrity aloft and raises his voice as he recites his oath.

Siegfried: I swear on this sword that I will expunge this land of that which rots it.

Galreginda: The blade has at last passed to its destined owner. King Josef, please grant Sir Siegfried your protection...

Galreginda gives Siegfried a set of pitch-black armor with a full-face helmet well suited to hiding his identity.

Galreginda: Take care, Sir Siegfried.

After saying their farewells, the two men part at the door.

Quite some time has passed since then.

With his enormous crimson greatsword on his back, Siegfried is on his way to face the moment of truth.

And there, he will have a fateful encounter...

Siegfried: Lancelot... Long time no see.

Lancelot: Siegfried? Kingslayer!

Blazing in Lancelot's eyes are the fires of hatred. Siegfried returns his gaze with cold composure.

Vane: Bwah? What's Siegfried doing here?

Vyrn: Whoa! So that's Siegfried?

Siegfried: And you people are... skyfarers?

Lyria: That's right! We won't lose to someone like you!

Siegfried: Very well. Although I'd hoped to avoid any senseless fighting.

Sophia: You might have been a hero before, but you don't stand a chance of winning when you're this outnumbered! Think this through!

Lyria: (Captain)! Let's back them up!

Siegfried: That should do.

Siegfried: I'm afraid we'll have to pick this up again another time, Lancelot.

Lancelot: Wait, Siegfried! Are you just going to run away?

Siegfried: Don't lose your composure. Look objectively at what is happening around you.

Siegfried: (See this for what it is, Lancelot.)

Lancelot: What are you saying? Wait!

Isabella: Lancelot! Protecting Sylph takes precedence! Don't go after him!

Lancelot: Ngh... Argh! I swear I will capture you, Siegfried!

Lancelot's rage fades into the distance as the black-clad knight makes his escape.

Will Siegfried, this kingdom's most stalwart defender, be able to fulfill his oath?

The answer can be found only in the records of Feendrache's subsequent history.