Chapter 1: His name is Telion

The planet Nia, a lush verdant garden world filled with life, home to the people known as the Shin to the rest of the world, a people know for their ferocity with near supernatural powers… but that is just only one side of the world, an isolated part of the world. Beyond the seas where no Shin has gone were three empires that have been at war with each other for centuries, tired of the needless bloodshed all three factions had signed a non-aggression pact that has lasted for decades. The most prominent of the three factions is the Pelistal Empire, the smallest of the three great kingdoms. Known for their prowess and resilience in battle, they know not the meaning of defeat, for centuries they had defended their borders and not one invader has ever set foot on their lush fertile soil. Their towering and hulking war machines bring death and destruction upon their enemies from both near and far, for such a small nation their battle hardened soldiers have created a fearsome reputation in the battlefield.

One such soldier was a young one of golden hair and eyes as blue as the eternal sky, he was loved among his people for his bravery and skills in battle. He was a great friend and a terrible enemy to many, the women of his nation love and adore him but much to their dismay, he has yet to choose a suitor, for right now his profession as a soldier was his relationship.

Nobody knows how he came to Pelistal, all they knew was that he was an orphan found on the shores by the Royal Family on a basket. It baffled them that this child could have come from the lost lands, a violent yet primitive land where War Machines do not exist. The child held power within him, a power that would benefit the empire greatly, while he was no prince he was raised in the Royal Family as one of their own. He got along well with the children of the emperor, Xander and his younger sister Nalianna. The young soldier and Nalianna were the best of friends, as children they would always play out in the garden together. Her lush red hair and golden eyes were always an eye catcher to the young soldier for some reason, the emperor and the empress would always comment on how they were made for each other, lightly teasing them just to get them flustered. They always worried that Nalianna would be fated to wed a nobleman far older than her because of her being a woman, but thanks to the new arrival that might not be so. While women in the empire do have equal rights with the men, noblewomen were always different because of their social status.

The young soldier in his massive Gropho heavy assault mech, patrolled the borders of the nation where a small village resided, he was greeted by the many farmers and merchants that pass by. He sat on the shoulder of his war machine eating a snack when he heard the communicator on his arm going off, he pressed the button and saw a lovely image of a beautiful young woman in it, “At least you actually called on my lunch break for once.”

The red head pouted cutely at the comment, “It’s not wrong to call you, you know?”

“Not when I’m on patrol, Nali.”

That only made her pout more, she then glanced at the trees behind him and could not help but ask him, “So, where are you?”

“At the village of Brimdo, nothing but farmers and merchants here, no Thelodicans or Nuimqolians to worry about.”

“It still worries that your so close to the border.”

“I’m a soldier, Nali, it’s my job to defend our home.”

“You sometimes love your job a bit too much.”

“Yeah, I do…” he said with a look of guilt, “I’m sorry.”

Nalianna simply smiled at her best friend, “Telion, just be sure to come home okay?”

He nodded, “Yes ma’am, I’ll see you tonight.” The call ended with the princess waving him a goodbye, he sighed and laid down on his back, “Dammit, I couldn’t tell her!” he ranted to himself but had to stop as he heard the murmurs of the people down below, he sat back up and saw the people looking out into the coast to see a wooden ship powered by steam approaching, he got his binoculars and saw that strange people of neither Thelodican or Nuimqolian approaching the beach. People wearing what seemed to be very early flak jackets and metallic headbands, “What is going on?”

“My lord!” a merchant called out to the blonde, “What do we do?”

“Get the village chief and send word back to city, it seems we are meeting new people for the very first time.”

“At once my lord.” The merchant bowed and did what he was told.

Telion felt his arm getting hot as red energy leaked out of it, his eyes flashed from blue to red and then back to blue, as if the presence of this unprecedented arrival meant something. The power within him was a mystery to the scholars as the monks in the mountains were the ones who could channel such power, they called it spiritual energy, an energy that resides within all human beings, but must be manifested at a young age if it is to be used properly. The monks told him that he held a great being within him, one that has not been seen for centuries in the great kingdoms. He asked them if it was because he was from the lost lands, perhaps the being came from there as well. The monks of course agreed, and told him that they would be honored to have him train in the arts of chakra and its abilities. For some reason he also wanted to train in the art of the blade as the monks called it, , a graceful way to fight as he would see that it was not just simply swinging the sword but it also looked like dancing.

He took hold of his sword and immediately went back into the cockpit of his Gropho, a towering war machine of power colored in Pelistal green and gray colors, armed with four quad barreled missile launchers and two twin-barrelled Deathgiver autocannons, it was a beast meant for one thing and one thing alone, and that is to wage war against whatever enemy comes its way. Within the cockpit of the massive mech, Telion used his unit’s optics and saw that the ship approaching the village docks. He also saw the people aboard the ship to be looking at him or specifically his unit, as if it were their first time seeing a war machine in person.
‘Could they be?’ he thought to himself as he continued to observe the new arrivals, ‘No doubt about it, they are from the lost lands.’ He looked to his back to see two transport ships flying towards the village bearing the crest of the Imperial Guard and its envoy.

[Lord Commander Telion, we will take it from here, the princess requests your presence.]

“Very well, thank you.”

~oOo~

Pastaelios
Capital City of the Pelistal Empire

Telion stepped down from the lift and immediately was greeted by his long-time friend Crown Prince Xander Pelistal, “You’re early.”

The blonde nodded to the black haired prince, “New arrivals on a wooden steam powered ship off the border coast near the village of Brimdo, I have reason to believe that they are from the lost lands.”

Xander narrowed his eyes, “Are you sure?”

Telion nodded once more, “Everyone knows the people of the lost lands do not share our technological expertise, they may be primitive but they are quick to anger, and are quite warmongering as well, possibly even more violent than the Nuimqolians. You know how violent those lands can be.”

“So what are they doing here then?”

The blonde Lord Commander shrugged, “On a diplomatic mission or possibly a quest for power, who knows?”

“Come on…” the prince patted his friend’s back, “Nalianna wouldn’t shut up about you.”

Telion sweatdropped at those words and just followed him out, “I told her I would at least be back this evening.”

“You know how much she worries about you.”

The blonde sighs, “She worries too much.”

“She is only concerned for your well-being, everyone knows how much she loves you, and we are all wondering if you feel the same.”

The Lord Commander blushed at his friend's words, “I just do not feel that I am not worthy of her, I am not of noble birth after all.”

“Father thinks you are more than worthy,” he retorted, “and I do not want her to marry some noble who is old enough to be her grandfather. She loves you dearly Telion, I beg you not to break her heart.”

“You’re not making this any easier for me are you?”

“Nope.” He said cheekily, “Therefore I bid you good luck, just please for god’s sake, I’m too young to be an uncle.”

“Can you not joke about that!?”

~oOo~

“Ah Telion!” a middle aged man in his forties or fifties approached the pair of young men, “Welcome home.”

“Your grace.” Telion bowed in greeting of his ruler.

“None of that, Telion.” Emperor Pelistal said, “I told you already Telion, you are like a son to me and a brother to Xander, no need for formalities.”

“Forgive me sir, it’s a habit.”

The older man simply chuckled and patted him on the back, “Nalianna has been quite adamant of you to return home.” That of course made the blonde groan.

“I already told her I would be here for dinner, isn’t that enough already?”

“Not for her it isn’t.” Xander muttered.

The emperor simply laughed, “I have no problem of you asking for her hand in marriage, Telion. You are a worthy suitor after all.”

Telion sighed, there was no winning this. He did love Nalianna, he truly did, but the teasing was just getting annoying.

“TELION!”

Xander sighed at the voice he knew all too well, “Oh here we go again.”

“Nali-oomph!” Telion didn’t get to say her name as he was immediately tackled onto the floor by a fiery haired princess, her face rubbing onto her chest and her arms completely wrapped around him in an embrace that is impossible to break free.

“What took you so long!?”

“Something unexpected happened down at Brimdo, nothing dangerous of course, just an unexpected arrival of newcomers.”

“You’re still late!”

Telion sighed and simply rubbed her back while returning the hug, “I’m sorry I was late, but can you please get off me?”

“Huh?” the princess tilted her head but then flushed in embarrassment, her face became red like her hair and immediately got off of him and started to stutter like a machinegun, “I-I-I-I-I’m sorry!”

Telion also sported his own blush but not as red as the red haired beauty before him, “It’s alright, no real harm done.”

Emperor Pelistal helped his daughter up and said, “Daughter, you need to be more careful.”

She nodded dumbly, her face still flushed with embarrassment at what she had done, she could not find it in herself to look at the Lord Commander and fled the scene, her hands on her cheeks trying to hide the blush.

“That went well.”

“As always, she is so easily flustered.” Xander said as he helped his friend up.

“Come on you two.” The emperor said with a chuckle, “Dinner is ready.”

~oOo~

Empress Meliandra looked at her daughter who refused to look at Telion without blushing, the entire family was right now eating their dinner but Nalianna barely touched her food, “Did something happen today, Nalianna?”

The princess squeaked and her face began to redden once more, “N-Nothing, mother.”

“Oh, then why is your face reddening? Did you do something to Telion again?” Said man nearly chocked on his food.

“So you did do something, again.”

“N-No! I did not!”

“Nalianna.”

“Meep.” The princess squeaked out, trying to glare at her older brother who was trying his hardest no to laugh at the situation.

The emperor cleared his throat and then turned to his son and surrogate son, “Well, today it seems the arrival of people from the lost lands have caused quite a stir among our people, our envoy has already given them a hotel for them to stay in, tomorrow we will meet with them and discuss as to why they have come here.”

Telion straightened himself, “Have they said why they came here?”

The emperor nodded, “They wish to request aid in a coming war that is to befall their country.”

Xander looked at his father questioningly, “Father, our nation has suffered centuries of war, I do not think the people will want to go to another.”

“Precisely why I will politely deny their request and explain to them why.”

“They will not take that lightly.” Telion told him. “They are if not more quick to anger than the Nuimqolians.”

“Which is why we must tread lightly.” The emperor said, “But there is another thing, they are looking for someone.”

Telion could not help but feel nervous at the last part, “And who might that be?”

The emperor produced a picture from his coat and handed it over to the blonde Lord Commander, “They gave a copy of the picture of an infant child who was kidnapped nearly nineteen years ago… they are looking for-“

“Me…” Telion stared at the picture of an infant baby with bright golden hair, there was only one person in this kingdom who resembled the child in the picture... “They’re looking for me.”

“They say your parents had never stopped looking for you.” the emperor told him, “So what are you going to do now, Telion?”

“I have no intention of abandoning the very nation that has taken me in when I was a babe.” The Lord Commander declared, “As you said, we will tread lightly.”