“Then go now and hurry the others. By nightfall we must ensure all our men are in place.” Vossler ordered the soldiers.

Vossler York Azelas, who had been a military man most of his life, had also been through a lot. He was a man of loyalty and though somewhat greedy, he would still protect the ones important to him. Along with Ashelia B’nargin Dalmasca, the royal princess of his kingdom, they founded The Resistance together. The Resistance is a rebellion group that consisted of young men and women who hated the Archadian Empire with all their heart, and will take advantage of any opportunity that allowed them to destroy the Empire.

“Sir!” The soldier replied and left. While Vossler stood in the same spot, the princess approached him from behind a wall.

“Hasty, aren’t they?” Ashe asked him.

“If you want to attack the Consul before we get arrested, then I guess not,” replied Vossler. “Your Majesty, are you sure you want to participate in the bloody fete tonight?” Vossler asked.

“I have wanted to avenge my kingdom for two years now, have I not?” the princess answered his question with a rhetorical one of her own, “To turn back now would be too late, don’t you think?”

She was determined, anyone can tell, it isn’t easy for a young woman who had lost so much in just two years and can still have a will to live.

Ashelia B’nargin Dalmasca had lived in luxury all of her life, until two years ago. Her father, King Raminas B’nargin Dalmasca, and the king of Nabradia have matched Ashe and Nabradia’s royal prince, Prince Rasler Heios Nabradia, together and arranged for their marriage.

Even though at first she opposed of her father’s intention, the king explained to her it was all for the best, to have Nabradia as their close ally when both the kingdom’s royalty joined blood in a holy marriage. Ashe knew that it was her responsibility to accept as she had no choice, plus she had always wanted to help out her kingdom by one way or another, and to help out her father. Having a husband wouldn’t change much to the life she already had, but she worried if she will ever love a man whom she never met before in her life.

That same month the kings have arranged a banquet for the meeting of the two. The moment Ashe saw Rasler, she knew she was attracted to him right away, whether it was his innocent look or his deep yet calm voice, she couldn’t tell. He was also attracted to her; he loved her delicate smile and her beautiful eyes and lips, but her sweet voice was the thing that captured his heart. The prince had been nothing but romantic to Ashe, giving her his best intentions to win the princess’ heart. She liked him, and he liked her. Love sparked between the two not long after that night.

She was seventeen when she married her husband, Rasler. Her wedding day has been the most wonderful event of her life, as she looked into his eyes and he looked into hers, they hope for a bright future that has yet to come. The kiss that they shared that day was magical, bonding their love together even more. She had since kept the wedding ring Rasler gave to her that day, and had never taken it off.

When she heard news that Rasler’s kingdom, Nabradia, had fallen, she couldn’t bear the thought of sadness that came over her. When Rasler told her that he would go and aid Captain Basch fon Ronsenberg in the battle to stop the Archadian invasion that was taking place in Nalbina, tears came down her tender, rosy cheeks.

“But we have just wedded, why must you go?” that was all that came out of her lips.

Rasler understood she wasn’t fond of thoughts of her husband going into war and may never return, he then held her in his arms, whispering soothing words that calmed the girl’s spirit. His words tended her soul more than he knew.

The day that Rasler received King Raminas’ blessings for the war was the day she had last seen her husband. Because after that day, her heart broke as she couldn’t bear the fact that Rasler had died bravely in battle, leaving Ashe alone in the world.

Ashe was a young girl of seventeen, already married, and already widowed. She couldn’t help but to cry her heart out, bringing down the whole palace along with her grieves. On the day of Rasler’s funeral, she took a last look at her beloved husband, sleeping for eternity inside the flower-covered casket. The same innocent look still remained on his face since the day they first met.

A week after that day, the messenger informed her that all of her eight brothers have died in battle with the Archadian Empire, once again she was brought down with tears and pain.

This is all happening too fast, the princess thought, I just can’t take this.

She had been so close with her brothers all her life. The princes of Dalmasca had taught Ashe how to survive in situations like this when they were alive, but now they were gone, it was too much to take in one month’s time. Sadness struck and she couldn’t stand the agony it brought her.

While her brothers, along with her husband, passed away, the only person left in her life whom she loved dearly was her father, King Raminas. She ran to him and hugged him tightly, not letting go that night. As the king brushed his hand through Ashe’s soft hair; he cheered his only heir up. She told him he was the only family that she had left, so he mustn’t die. The king understood his daughter’s words and kissed her on her forehead, he told her to get a good night’s sleep because he was here to stay, with her, with his beloved daughter. Ashe had lost her mother when she was a newborn, so missing her presence never occurred to Ashe. However, if Ashe were to lose her father, the man who had raised her up until now, she would not stand the agony it will bring.

Fate came to her one day, bringing her the tragic news she never wanted to hear, but expected.

“I am truly sorry, Your Majesty…” The messenger said to her. She just stared into blank space when she heard that her father had been killed, how could something like this happen to a young princess who hadn’t done anything bad to her people or anyone her entire life? Was it a curse that meant to follow her? She had been through too much to grieve over another death of her family members, though she knew inside her heart had shattered. She just knew it was her duty to avenge her family’s death.

Upon finding out that Dalmasca’s very own leader of the army, Captain Basch fon Ronsenberg, was the one who killed her father, she was filled with rage and hatred towards someone whom she once trusted entirely. It lifted a small burden to know that Basch was executed for treason, but she was enraged that it wasn’t her who took away the life of the traitor that took away her father’s. Now she doesn’t even know what or who to believe, she had turned from a happy, care-free princess who loved everything that had a soul, to a vengeful young woman who Fate had pushed around. She went into hiding and eventually led her uncle, Marquis Halim Ondore, to believe that she had taken her own life and gone to heaven along with the rest of the Dalmascan royal blood.

In reality, she ran away with Vossler, the loyal knight who was her only friend then. They created the Resistance movement and put many young fighters on the road to freedom, both to themselves and to Dalmasca’s.

She learned in her year with the Resistance that Vayne Carudas Solidor was behind the Archadian invasion and will stop at nothing to take away his life.

“Very well, we’ll enter the Palace Garden through the Waterway, provoke the Imperial Guards then break through to the Consul of Rabanastre, Vayne Solidor.” Vossler resumed from their conversation about the plot to break into the palace, waving and pointing his finger at their destination as he spoke.

“Whether we will succeed or not, we are just going to have to do our best,” Ashe nodded at his words, giving him a faint smile. She was happy that they will finally get to confront Vayne face-to-face and do to him what the Empire did to her family, and to her husband. Angry at the thought, the princess raised a fist to her chest, cursing the Empire under her breath.

“We shall proceed as soon as the messenger gets back.” he continued.

Several hours later, the group found themselves on the surface above the sewers. Though they had thought that this banquet would leave the palace having fewer guards than usual, they were wrong. The guards were armed and ready like they were expecting the Resistance. Ashe was surprised and thought of how outnumbered they were to the Imperials. Vossler then nodded at Ashe, signaling her to go and attack the enemies. She did so with no hesitation, drawing her sword and slashed at a nearby guard with ease. It seemed the princess had grown tougher and more aggressive over her year with the Resistance.

Her eyes burned with rage as she fought her way through the guards, giving no attention to her surroundings except her enemies. Soon after, a big explosion was blown near where she was standing. Coughing and quickly rubbing her eyes clear of smoke; she looked up and notices that a big fighting airship was firing at them.

Vossler was by her side the whole time when all this happened. Grinding his teeth at the Ifrit, he looked over to the princess and said to her, “Your Majesty, this was obviously all a trap set up by Vayne, they were obviously trying to lure us out to the open for them to get rid of us once and for all.”

Ashe nodded in agreement on what Vossler told her, she yelled to him, “We either retreat or we finish what we started, hurry and make a decision, Vossler!”

“It is far too dangerous for you to keep fighting, as this will only lead to a trap waiting for us at the end.” Vossler answers. Ashe couldn’t make out some of his words clearly, but she still managed to understand what he was trying to tell her.

“Majesty, the men and I will continue from here on, you must get back to the Garamsythe Waterway and get yourself to safety!” He tried hard to yell to her through the loud noises on the battle field.

Ashe shook her head in disagreement, “No, Vossler, if I retreat, then what kind of coward am I, who can’t even defend her own kingdom? I must move on if you are!” She cried to him.

“If anything were to happen to you, there will be no kingdom, so you must get to safety this instant, please, Your Majesty!”

Ashe hesitated and thought of how Vossler have done so much for her and yet she was helpless at his presence. Being in this situation, she had no choice but to accept as he was the leader of the group, though she still wanted to fight for her kingdom. “Vossler, thank you, and good luck!” she yelled to him as she turned her back and ran down to the Waterway entrance, attacking enemies in her way. Her heart filled with guilt as she looked back at her allies, fighting for their freedom, as well as Dalmasca’s.

“Please forgive me, Vossler, until we meet again.” Ashe mumbled under her breath.