I am one of the only Archers of Cygnus.
I was there when it happened.
The Invasion, or what some like to call it,
The Sundering.
I remember it like the light of day.
Like the light of Her.
We were attacked. The largest battalion of Invaders I have ever seen.
This wasn't just an army, this was way more than an army.
They were planning to kill everyone.
It was obvious, with that amount, you could conquer the Below several times over.
But this wasn't the below, this was the Palace of the Goddess.
Only I and a few Scions survived.
All of the Archers were thrown off the island.
The Scions kept fighting.
The ones who survived were the ones who ran and the ones who knew alchemy.
And I'm the only one who knew alchemy.
Few Scions ran, the others died fighting.
Don't call the Scions who ran "cowards," they ran and did something.
And of the Archers, they either died during the fall, when they hit the ground,
or when the Infection kicked in.
How did I survive?
I'm an alchemist, as well.
Elixirs, potions, those are my specialty.
I have had a few experiments that have gone horribly wrong.
And there are also the prototypes that have led to the invention of what most of you now know as the Elysian Flask.
Just like the one that saved my life.
While falling, I remembered that I had a few prototype potions that I brought to the fight.
"Might as well die as a test dummy rather than a person who fell," I thought.
I chugged a potion and blacked out.
I woke up on the ground, really dizzy.
Around me lay the bodies of my fallen comrades, and some desperately grasping onto their life.
I run to their aid, but I couldn't do anything to help.
All I could do is pray that Her Radiance guide them.
I stand up, and I look at my body.
The Infection is...
Still?
The potion I drank.
Trial 57-2F.
It was supposed to be used as a "last hurrah" drink.
Something to push you to your limits for a few moments, then make you collapse.
Except...
I'm not collapsing, and neither do I feel like I'm at my limits.
There must be something about this potion and the Infection.
I found a cave and set up a small lab, and I start experimenting almost immediately.
I had to go out and get ingredients and ahem subjects to test on.
And I get to testing.
A few hours in I see results.
A few more hours I start on producing the next prototype.
A few days in, a few prototypes in, I get a bit low on materials.
I decided to go out and gather a month's worth of supplies.
While out on a Vale, I see a massive flash of light.
"No... It can't be..."
I couldn't speak after that.
I fell on my knees.
She was gone.
She sacrificed herself to save us.
I fell into depression,
I couldn't do anything for days.
I was a broken man.
"I didn't act fast enough" "I should've stayed and fought"
These kinds of thoughts flooded my mind during those days.
And I snapped.
I grabbed my bow and I charged for the Palace.
I ran all the way to the sky.
Fueled by wrath, sadness, and vengeance.
And I arrived.
The army of Invaders was reduced to around 20 of the monsters.
And there were Scions, but I can feel that they were no longer good.
These Scions were Infected and, instead of dying, they were turned.
I took out 1 or 2 Scions before being thrown off.
I woke up on the ground.
"Why didn't I die?"
I thought.
I heard heavy, shaky, breathing.
I look around, and see a strange yet familiar beast.
From the looks of it, it was Infected and distressed.
I calmed it down to get a better look at it.
No wonder it was familiar, it was a dragon.
I have read about these creatures in the Archives.
These were the Dragons with No Name,
Ancestors of what most people know as the Azulian Dragons.
It looked severely injured,
Body full of scars, wings torn, eyes almost blind,
its breath even had flakes come out with it.
It, along with its herd, was attacked,
And from the looks of it, he's the last one,
Just like I was.
I gestured for it to follow me, and that it did.
I led it to my cave and gave it a prototype to drink.
(I was depressed, vengeful, definitely not in the right state to do this)
It fell asleep almost immediately, and I decide to rest, too.
I started to plan for the next attempt to reclaim the Palace.
This time, with a relatively clearer mind.
I thought about what got me defeated in the first place.
Speed.
Despite being big, bulky embodiments of chaos, they were fast.
I needed a way to run faster, and slow them down.
An upgrade to my arsenal, a new trick, and training was decided.
The trick: A trap, a snare.
A way to slow them down.
A way to give me the advantage of speed.
I started thinking of how to stun them.
Everything seems to be, at a degree, ineffective.
Except for...
Light.
Of course!
Light bright enough to stun them.
I start designing a prototype, and immediately after that, building it.
Test it.
This was the moment the first version of the Sun Snare was invented.
Amazing!
First prototype and it's already working as intended!
There might be hope to reclaim the Goddess' domain.
With this new hope, I start to work on my arsenal.
I'm no blacksmith, but I am an alchemist. I know alteration, but not as well as I know potions.
I alter my armor and bow to become sturdy and lightweight.
It took a few tries, but it eventually showed the results I wanted.
It made the armor and bow translucent in some areas, and changed the color weirdly, too.
In any case, this was a success.
Next is training.
Endurance, agility, and accuracy were important, and they were done with top priority.
While doing target practice, I heard an explosion.
I looked at where the dragon was sleeping,
It wasn't there.
Another explosion from outside.
I approach the entrance of the cave and I see a fireball.
It exploded and lightning burst out of it.
I run out of the cave and there I saw it.
The dragon was flying, with what looked like distress in its eyes.
I call it down, and it did come down after a while.
I got a better look at it.
Its wings were still like how they were when I first saw the dragon, except they seem more sturdy, they even look like blades now.
Its eyes were a glowing violet, it appears to be somewhat healed now.
It seems that the Infection had stopped, like it was cured.
But why wasn't this dragon reverting to it's normal self?
I studied the dragon for a while, and I came to the conclusion that
it was still infected, but the Infection is no longer harming the beast.
It looked as if the prototype I gave it was a partial solution.
I rummaged through the prototypes until I saw it,
Trial 76-9X, the 97th prototype to come from Trial 57-2F.
I drank a few drops, and I felt drowsy immediately, and soon,
I was asleep.
I woke up with the dragon beside me and no idea for how long I was out,
but one this was certain:
I have changed.
I was black and violet all over.
And I felt different.
I wasn't in pain, I wasn't feeling anything negative at that time.
I felt... stronger.
I wanted to see what was new with me,
So I grabbed my bow and...
its colors turned to what my skin looked like.
The string also vanished, and the translucent parts also changed color to a light violet.
I was surprised at this, but also excited.
I took my armor and it also changed.
Colors were changing, new things were showing up around the back and helmet.
It looked awesome.
After the initial shock of the shifting arsenal, I then continue to my
practice grounds.
I looked at my bow for a bit, figuring out how to shoot without a string,
I eventually just pulled at the string and released.
An arrow appeared out of nowhere and was shot at the dummy.
I smiled, and "pulled the string" as hard as I can,
and the bow started producing a strange sound, sort of like a buzzing noise.
I release, and a very shiny arrow was shot.
The first Radiant Arrow was released.
I was even more amazed now.
First, the weapon, then the armor, and now a new ability!
I attempted to do it again.
Success.
I decided to do some experimenting on this ability,
and it appears that the shiny arrow can pass through walls.
This is an amazing advantage against the Invaders.
I thought I was ready, so I prepared potions for the battle for the Palace,
as well as the traps.
While finishing my preparations, the dragon woke up.
"Stay here," I said.
It made noises that seemed to be whimpering.
"Don't worry, I'll be back," I said as I set off to the Sky once more.
Upon reaching the island of the Palace,
I sneaked around and placed traps in specific locations.
Then I started the fight.
I managed to get rid of all the Scions with relative ease,
This was how I learned that the shiny arrow can pass through enemies,
I just lined them up and shot a few of the special arrows.
I also got 2 or 3 Invaders down while doing this.
A few hours later, I'm running out of traps, potions, and ideas,
I'm tired and they're running straight at me, ready to thrust their swords into my chest.
"This could be the end" I thought,
and then I pray to Her.
Then I hear a roar,
and then explosions,
I look up and see the dragon,
And it looks like it has the attention of the Invaders.
I run to cover while the dragon lures them away.
I get myself together and call the dragon,
I tell it to lure them to me.
I summon all the my courage and strength, and I drink Trial 57-2F.
They're almost here.
I leap at them,
Pull my bow with all of my being,
It sounds of the loudest buzzing,
And I release, followed by a massive explosion.
This was the moment the first Arrow of the Goddess was fired.
I wake up. I look around.
I see the dragon beside me, the remains of the Invaders, and my bow.
I stand up, and so does the dragon.
It follows me as I walk toward Her throne.
I look at it and smile,
"We did it, we actually did it..."
I sigh as I fall onto the floor.
"Hey, what's your name anyway?"
The dragon growled in a strange way, not in any way like its previous noises,
It sounded like "Fyull-gyoo-res"
"Fulguras?" I asked,
It responded with a nod, then laid down, I sit down as well,
"Well, Fulguras, what do we do now?"
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