Bastian’s Story

Altina had an older brother named Bastian, the third prince, who boasted far more physical strength than he deserved. He had gone off to study in the neighboring kingdom of High Britannia.

Bastian personally didn’t want to be dragged into the nation’s power struggles, and those in the court didn’t want such an ill-mannered prince around the capital, so the arrangement worked out for both parties.

On April 15th, in the 42nd year of Stillart rule, High Britannia’s queen drew her final breath. She had named Princess Elizabeth as her successor—a young woman who was at the time Bastian’s schoolmate, having adopted the name “Elize” in an attempt to conceal her lineage.

Elize began her journey to the palace of Queenstower for her coronation, surrounded by knights. But owing to a surprise attack from her political rival, Princess Margaret, her guards were taken out, and she was thrust into quite the predicament.

It was none other than Bastian who had saved her. He had chased her carriage for no other reason than to have her read his handwritten story as she’d agreed to do, and he protected her simply because they were friends.

While Margaret’s faction advocated war with neighboring lands, Elize preached pacifism. Empathizing a little with her stance, Bastian promised to deliver her the rest of the way to the palace.

At the end of a trying journey, they ventured to Fort Greybridge, where they hoped to get assistance from Elize’s uncle. Unfortunately for them, the man had already flipped to the war faction.

Bastian plowed through many soldiers, recovering Elize from her uncle’s trap, but trouble soon came as he attempted to extract her from the fort. He ended up in a duel against Margaret’s retainer, Oswald Coulthard, trading a slash across his foe’s right wrist for a sword to the abdomen. This abrupt decision led to both him and Elize plummeting into the river below.

While the two ultimately escaped with their lives, Bastian had failed to deliver Elize to the palace. He hadn’t been able to see her wishes through.

Margaret the war hawk was enthroned, and in no time at all, the High Britannian Royal Army marched to invade under Oswald’s command.

On April 23rd, High Britannia waged an all-out war against the Belgarian Empire.