• The streets of Bruma were in chaos as the bandit forces of Pharis attacked the Arcian Capitol. Flames could be seen and fighting could be heard. Inside the castle, a fierce battle raged. Theives and soldiers clashed weapons, the smell of death lingering in the halls. "Take whatever isn't bolted down!" cried the leader of the bandits. This man was Klaus. Agile and slender, he was the ruler of Pharis, the desert country. "Bruma shall never fall to you Klaus! I should've had you executed rather than exiled." Alcard shouted above the turmoil. "Exiled, HA! It was a blessing rather than a punsihment! Enough talk, now fight!" Klaus said, with a maniacal tone to his voice. Alcard drew a golden sword, which Klaus's eyes immediately fixated upon. Suddenly -before the duel can even start- Alcard drops his blade, screaming in agony. Using the opprotunity, Klaus moves in for a kill. With a flash of his dagger, he fells Alcard in one blow. A pool of blood flows out of the fallen king. Klaus quicky snatches up the glowing sword. "Don't want a mess on this, now do we?" Klaus remarks. Klaus continues with his raid, unaware that he is being watched. A young, blue-haired child watches from a hidden passage, his eyes filled with horror at his father's death. "Ephraim! Follow me!" a royal mage shouts, grabbing the child's hand as he ran. "Morian, what's going on?" Ephraim asks the mage. "Just keep running!" Morian cries. After moving through the hidden passageway, they stop in a secret library. "Ephraim, you need to listen. Alcard was a brave man and lived a full life. He warned me after Klaus's banishment that something like this may happen. If it ever did, I was to send you to Ilyad. I already sent word ahead, and Giam is waiting for you there." Morain explained. "There is one last thing that you should know. Ephraim was not your birthname. Your true name-" Morain suddenly stopped as bandits voices were heard coming towards them. "There's no time! Ephraim, be brave for me." Morain started reciting a spell, and a warm glow surrounded Ephraim. "Morain, what are you-" Ephraim stated, when suddenly a group of bandits broke in and a dagger burst through Morain's chest. As she fell to the ground, the bandits advanced on Ephraim. Before he could even let out a scream though, there was a blinding light, followed by an engulfing darkness...