Authors Note: Started as through what can only be described as a fey mood, this is my first foray into actually posted Fan Fiction so I hope it'll go well. For anyone hoping this Fan Fiction will be following right along with the plot, I'm sorry to disappoint you, but as the name suggests the team aren't going to be the ones taking down the big bads of the main plot, instead I'm hoping to craft a side plot running parallel to the main one. Hopefully I do a good job of it.
Thanks to my two beta readers, all remaining mistakes are mine not theirs.
Disclaimer: I own nothing, nothing I say!
The clash and clatter of combat rang out over the field, two masses of men and women pushing against each other as they looked to gain dominance over the field. I was standing back from the combat, twisting my pike in my hands, and waiting for out orders to move in.
I didn't have to wait long, one of the pikemen along the line fell to an arrow, and I moved up to take his place. Hefting my pike to attack over the masses of people infront of me I went to work, driving my weapon forward into the face of a swordsman, then yanking back before he could drag my pike with him.
Luck wasn't with me that day though. When I drove my pike forward again I felt myself lose control of the end, and saw another pikeman holding the haft of my weapon, just below the blade. Before I could react I felt the pike being pulled out of my grip, sending me tumbling forward. My hand went to my blade, grabbing my sword from the scabbard at my side, and drawing it, just in-time to divert a stab from the pikeman who had disarmed me.
I took advantage of the deflection and stabbed forward with my blade, my sword catching him in the neck. When I stepped back again I took a moment to catch my breath and looked over the battlefield again. The regular combat practice was one of the things I looked forward to each week, fighting my fellow SCA members for exercise and fun. That day was no exception and I was greatly enjoying myself. The last few matches had been fun, even if I had been killed by those cursed archers repeatedly.
It took me a moment too long to realize I had stopped following the flow of the battle. It was only when my awareness returned that I saw the red and black of a claymore, hurtling right toward my head, just before I felt the sword hit me.
-
I felt terrible. My head was pounding from where that claymore had hit me. The thing might not have been steel but that rattan still hurt like hell when it got enough force behind it. Add onto that my breathing was still ragged from the fighting, and I found I really didn't want to try to get up. Lying here in the quiet looked like the best solution.
'Wait,' I mentally questioned. 'Quiet?' When I last checked I had been in the middle of a very noisy fight. Even if it had ended I should have still heard people moving around. A quick attempt to move my arms confirmed that I remained in my armour, so where was everyone? Struggling past the searing headache, I opened my eyes, and saw nothing but grass and dirt, so I was still in the field. Pushing off the ground I looked around me, and realized that I was definitely not on the battlefield anymore.
Gone was the mowed lawn of the school field we held our fights, I now realised, replaced with a wild field, overgrown with tall, wild blades of grass that swayed in the wind. The pain in my head was forgotten for a moment. I shot to my feet, then promptly stumbled and fell as I felt the aching return.
Lying face down in the field once again, I muttered to myself "Where the hell am I..?" Panic, confusion, and anger rose in my voice. "Where the hell am I?" Now utterly lost in every sense of the word, I howled a muffled cry into the earth below me. "WHERE THE FUCKING HELL AM I?!"
"Is someone there?" The field around me replied.
The unexpected response caused me to tense up, and I struggled to crane my neck, trying to see if someone was really talking to me, or if I had simply gone insane. My patience didn't last long, as I couldn't wait and risk being left to my own devices. Raising my voice again I shouted "Hello? I could use some help."
"..." The Silence was deafening, and I felt my soul die a little when no response came back.
My breathing picked up speed, my eyes closed, I curled up into a ball, and I resumed muttering to myself. It was in this state that I suddenly felt a hand on my shoulder, causing me to nearly jump out of my skin. Instead I screamed and rolled across the ground, then fetching up on a rock after only a few feet. My eyes now wide in terror, I looked for who had grabbed my shoulder.
Standing back where I had started was a woman with hip length red hair, who I probably would have called attractive if I wasn't in the situation I was, and if she hadn't been pointing a spear right in my face. Trying, and failing due to the rock, to push myself back from the spear tip I sputtered, "W-Whoa, p-put that down!"
"Who are you, and why are you here?" she questioned, with neither her voice, nor the spear point wavering.
"Hanz!" I blurted out, I used my SCA name for some reason, the urgency of the iron spear-point didn't help. "I have no idea why I am here. I don't even know where here is, for that matter!"
"Your expect me to believe you got to the heartland of Ylisse and you don't know where you are?" Her suspicious tone grew more obvious. "Not only that your wearing armour."
It a moment for what she said to sink in, and when it did I was rapidly on my feet again. Turns out that wasn't a smart idea. The pain in my head was added to by a 'whap' on my left arm from the haft, and I found myself back on the ground yet again. All I could think was 'How the fuck did I end up in Ylisse!?'
It couldn't be real, I had to be in a coma or something and this is just what my brain grabbed onto. I mean I had been playing the game near constantly since I got it only a short while before. I hadn't even finished the thing for god's sake. The business end of the spear suddenly appearing a few inches from my face again quickly snapped me out of my thoughts and back to 'Reality'.
"I said why are you really here?" The woman, I now recognised her as Cordelia, continued. "I am beginning to think you are from Plegia." Obviously she was disinterested in, or disbelieving of, my confusion.
Ohh that didn't look good. It must be near the start of the game, when Phlegia was still launching raids on Ylisse. I had to admit I probably did look like a bandit. Even if all my armour came with me, and I was fairly certain it all did, what I wore into my SCA fights barely passed inspection. Two steel knee and shin-guards, a chestplate, a helmet, steel elbow guards, and a single shoulder guard. All of it collected from left over and spare pieces from former fighters gear, and most of it was covered in rust. My friends always joked that I looked like some rag-tag gladiator and I couldn't really say otherwise.
"I swear I am telling the truth, I don't even have a weapon, how could I be a bandit?" I said, my eyes still focused on the spear.
"You could just be a remarkably incompetent one" The spearwoman responded flatly. Despite that, she pulled the spear back as she did.
"I'm not a bandit, look I'll come quietly." I responded with all the earnesty I could muster in the insanity of the situation, moving my hands slowly into the air, careful not to make any sudden movements. "Just don't kill me, please."
Cordelia went silent for just a few seconds before she lifted the spear and stepped back. Taking that as my queue I sighed, relieved, and pushed myself off the ground for the third time in the last few minutes. I don't really know what I was expecting but, also for the third time today, I found myself lying on the ground, one hand clutching my helmet, while the other laid out to the side.
"I... might need a little help." I said from the ground. Once again Cordelia hesitated, but soon enough I found myself being hoisted into a sitting position and a bottle, that reminded me of a flask from chemistry, was thrust into my hands. From the appearance, and the brown liquid inside, I guessed it was a vulnerary. Did the games ever actually show how they applied these? I always had guessed you were supposed to drink them.
Turns out I was right, and after a tentative first mouthful of the vulnerary, I found the pain in my head receding rapidly. Handing the flask back to Cordelia I pushed myself to my feet for the fourth time, and this time, with genuine relief, I stayed upright. Man, those things worked fast. A few seconds later I was being herded away from the field.
I wasn't even here for more than an hour and I am already being led somewhere by spear point. I could somehow tell this is going to be fun.
God my legs hurt. We hadn't even been walking for that long but I wasn't used to going so far in all my gear. I didn't voice my pain though, didn't need to annoy the girl with the spear who was following behind me. Of course Cordelia was now on her pegasus, those things were huge, maybe, not like I had actually been near a horse in years.
As we walked the silence started to build up, and eventually I couldn't take it any longer. Silence meant my mind could actually think about the situation I was in and right now I didn't want to risk my sanity on that topic. Seeing as I can't really just run on my knowledge from the game without tipping someone off I think I found my conversation topic.
Lifting my voice up I said "I just realized you know my name but I don't know yours. Care to enlighten me?"
No response came back; I swear she seemed a lot friendlier in the game. Looking back at her I saw she was holding herself perfectly straight in the saddle, her eyes watching the surrounding area like a hawk. Maybe she was trying to do this perfectly, that would have been in character for her from what little I knew about her.
Actually, you know I wonder what she was doing out in the field. I mean I doubt someone like her would be out sitting around to kill time. Doubt she would answer me though, and I am perfectly willing to chalk it up to my mind finding a way to connect me to the plot. Actually I wonder where the plot even is right now. I mean it can't be that far in if Plegia is still raiding Ylisse but I wonder if the Great Quake happened yet.
Noise, sounds like rustling leaves, which is odd because I was pretty sure there was no wind. Cordelia seemed to hear it too and was looking around in a way that didn't inspire confidence, her entire body shifted into a battle stance which her pegasus seemed to mirror. This can't be good, this being Ylisse only two things could be out there, bandits or Risen, and to be honest from how the Risen acted in cut scenes I have to hope it's bandits.
"Aye look what we gots here lads, a wench and pup. Get em."
Well that confirmed that its bandits atleast, the source of the voice emerging from the bushes a few dozen feet ahead of us. While another four of them stepped out around us, boxing us in. God I wish I had a weapon right now, and Chrom and the Shepherds are nowhere in sight, why didn't I get dropped in with them.
Wait focus, bandits all around, big guy to my right coming up with an axe. Shit I don't think I want to get hit with that, don't need to die in the coma and go under in real life. Luckily this guy was about as good a fighter as a SCA brute fighter, as in not at all. The axe swing fell short and buried itself in the ground almost up to its haft. Taking advantage of the bandit's horrible skill I punched him in the face. The blow, carried out through an armoured gauntlet, quickly left the bandit with a broken nose and my fist in a bit more pain then I would like, still though I had gotten into my fair share of fights so I managed to avoid breaking my hand.
My punch wasn't enough to floor the bandit but it did get him to release his grip on the axe. Following it up with my other hand I managed to send him to the ground and I turned to take his axe. Not that I had any real idea how to use it past the occasional wood chopping or random weapons SCA fight. Looking around as I gave the axe a mighty tug I saw that the other bandits weren't all standing around doing nothing.
The other three bandits were currently going after Cordelia, who was admittedly doing a very good job of holding them off. I think it might have helped that I just took out the only axe wielder in the group other than the leader. Who was still standing on the road just watching us? Are the enemy leaders really not going to move around unless we get into striking range of them? Ok going to make a promise to myself to not complain about things that benefit me.
Pulling the axe from the ground I ran toward where Cordelia was fending off the trio of ruffians, hefting the axe over my shoulder as I moved. I guess the three had expected their friend to deal with me fairly easily and they didn't notice me till their boss shouted at them to watch their backs, but by then I was already on the first one, twisting my body as best I could to swing the axe as hard as possible.
And I completely missed the ruffian leaving myself open to his sword. The slash I was expecting to come from him didn't happen though and as soon as I recovered I saw why. A spear thrust from Cordelia had caught the distracted Ruffian through the chest and ya, it wasn't very pretty, I guess I am going to have to get used to seeing that aren't I?
SWORD! One of the Ruffian's blades of the just skimming my helmet as I pulled back, luckily resulting in nothing more than a loud clanging in my ear. Okay next promise to myself, pay attention when fighting in a life or death situation. Bringing up the axe again I swung at the Ruffian who had just tried to cut my head open, and missed again, damn this unwieldy weapon. The Ruffian had jumped back to avoid my hack though and he caught a rock when he landed, causing him to stumble long enough for me to recover, third time's a charm right?
Well sort of apparently. The Ruffian managed to dodge my attack once again, or atleast he did with his upper body. What he didn't manage to get out of the way intime, and what I didn't even plan on hitting, was his foot. The cry of pain the guy let out was enough to nearly deafen me and I decided to take the quickest way to shutting him up, knocking him out cold like the first guy who tried to attack me. I also decided to take the sword the guy was carrying because screw axes, I never liked them anyway.
While I had been blundering with the axe, Cordelia had finished off the other Ruffian, leaving only the leader blocking the road infront of us. To be honest I wonder if we could just go around the guy, I mean he hasn't moved an inch while we slaughtered his crew-
"Rrrrgh, ya killed mah boys but ya not gonna get past me."
Well that idea's out the window, looks like we are going to have to go through him. Looking over at Cordelia I gave her a nod, which she returned before we both moved to attack the bandit. Cordelia, having the benefit of being on a... horse?, reached the bandit first and stabbed forward with her spear. The leader stepped around the spear and swung overhead, Cordelia's pegasus jumped back just in time to avoid the vicious swing.
Taking my chance as soon as I came into range I slashed at the Bandit's side, the distracted leader twisting away too late and I scored a long cut on his arm, causing him to grunt in pain. He didn't have long to deal with it though as another thrust from Cordelia brought him down, dammit stop stealing my kills, your taking my exp.
Still though I don't really mind, I would like to avoid killing anyone here as long as I can. Of course though if I get dragged into the plot I don't think I will be able to avoid it for long. Also Cordelia is looking at me now, right I am a prisoner, probably shouldn't keep holding onto the sword.
Letting the sword clatter to the ground I lifted my hand over my head again and said "Hey don't worry, I'm not going to do anything. Don't think I could win anyways, you did most of the work."
"Keep the sword." Cordelia said in a fair bit friendlier tone than before.
"You sure?"
"I don't think you could beat me, so I don't see much threat in it."
"I could just be hiding some super skill."
"Do you want to have to punch your way to a weapon if we run into bandits again or not?"
"Shutting up now."
As I reached down to pick up the sword again she added "Also thank you for the help"
"I didn't exactly do much. You could have probably handled it on your own." I said as I straightened out again, motioning to the two I knocked out.
"What are we going to do about those two?"
"Take their weapons and leave them."
"Not going to take them back to Ylisse?"
"If you hadn't cut one of their feet in half we could have. Bringing them along now would slow us down drastically, and if we took the one you didn't hobble then the other one would most likely die out here."
"I didn't think you would care, they did just try to kill us."
"Do you want to leave him for dead? They tried to kill you too."
"….No" I said with a sigh, as we made to leave I asked again "So you didn't tell me your name before, any chance you will now?"
It almost seemed like she wasn't going to answer, but as she motioned her pegasus forward she turned back to look at me and said "Cordelia, I am one of Ylisse's Pegasus Knights. Now can I ask where you learned to use a sword?"
"Who says I learned?" I said back as we continued down the road. I was honestly surprised it even appeared I was trained at all, I guess Kendo and SCA actually did something.
"I am going to be honest, you're not very good, but you knew more than someone who was using one for their first time, and you were much better than when you used that axe."
"Yah I am not going to touch an axe again if I can avoid it."
"So are you going to answer my question?"
Well looks like its cover story time "Uhh well, I was a mercenary. Only been at it for a few months though, and I think my term ended with them because you found me in that field."
"So they abandoned you?"
"Yah….I guess they did, not sure why though, thought I was getting along well."
"Hmm…"
With that the conversation died off again and we continued on our way.
It took till the next day for us to reach Ylisse, mostly because I had to walk. Cordelia said, in one of the now somewhat more frequent conversations we had, that it would have only taken her a few hours if she had been flying. By the time we reached the capital though I could swear my legs were falling off.
Ylisse was an impressive sight though; the castle towering over a large city. People bustled through the streets going about their daily business. My rust covered armour drew a few stares as Cordelia directed me through the streets. I didn't get much time to look around because Cordelia was driving me to quickly reach what looked like a barracks from the outside, a pair of soldiers standing guard at the entrance.
"Hail" Cordelia shouted to the pair, "I need you two to watch this man while I deal with business inside."
"And who is this man. He certainly isn't one of ours." The guard on the right shouted back, his voice dropping in volume as we neared.
"I found him a day west of the Capital. He says he doesn't know how he got dumped there by his former company."
"A Bandit?"
"Potentially so I need you to watch him."
Well thanks Cordelia, I thought me killing the other bandits might have made you think otherwise. Of course it wouldn't be very odd for a bandit to kill another bandit to save his own skin would it? Still though not much I can do about it right now, Cordelia was already stepping inside and the guards were staring at me like I was about to try to attack them at any moment. Even if I was a bandit do they think I would be so stupid to try to cut down two guards and run off in the middle of a capital city? I mean the games didn't really make it seem like the bandits had any sort of intelligence but that would be a bit much.
Lacking anything better to do I sat down on the side of the street and looked around. There was not much to see, the area around the barracks seemed to be mostly blacksmiths and other jobs that military personnel would need on hand. So I ended up spending most of my time staring back at the two guards. They were dressed like the standard Ylissian mooks you saw in a few cut scenes. They wore all blue clothing under the almost conquistador like armour. They also wore those blue, mostly face hiding, scarves. I wondered why they would wear them pulled up on a good day like this, is it regulation or something?
I managed to kill a good bit of time mulling over what kind of person designed those abominations of a uniform and a few more worrying subjects related to the game., and soon enough Cordelia came back, motioning for me to come into the barracks.
When I entered the barracks I found myself under the glare of three sets of eyes: Cordelia's, a soldier wearing the same gear as the men outside but with some more flourishes, and Phila herself. Why she was here I am not exactly sure, I don't think I have any chance of being put onto the pegasus knight roster.
"So this is the mercenary you picked up?" The soldier who I am guessing is of some higher rank, said, "Doesn't look like much."
"He isn't much" Cordelia answered, if it wasn't true I might have been hurt by that statement, "But he can learn."
Well it looks like I am on the road to potentially being hired by someone. In all honesty I am not sure if this is a good or a bad thing. It means that I am going to be potentially one step closer to the plot, but I also remember what happens to the Ylissian army when Plegia invades.
"With all everything going as it is, he isn't likely to get any time to learn." the soldier said back.
You know what, screw it, maybe if I get lucky I can somehow avert whatever disaster hit the Ylissian Army, speaking up I said "Sir, we were attacked just a day away from the capital, I don't think you can afford to be picky about who you take on."
"I can be as picky about what soldiers I take on as I want" the soldier growled and then sighed, "But you have a point, we are overtaxed as it is and any extra soldiers could be helpful. Report to the armoury and we will get you properly outfitted."
With that the soldier turned around and left, Phila following him. Why was she even here, she didn't even say anything. That left Cordelia to show me where the armoury was.
"So why did you sign me up for the army?" I asked the redhead beside me.
"You said you were a mercenary, and we need soldiers, better than trying to fend for yourself against bandits isn't it?" she replied back.
"That's why I agreed to it. Of course I can't help thinking that something is escalating out there."
Cordelia didn't respond again until we reached the armoury, at which point she half waved goodbye and then left. Looking down at my rusty armour again I had the strangest feeling I might not be keeping it, but at the very least I might stop being at threat of getting tetanus.
Going into the armoury I found a single blacksmith at work, luckily not doing any hot work right now that would keep his attention.
Raising my voice over the noise of his work I said "Hail sir, I am here for some gear."
The blacksmith worked for a minute longer before he put down his tools, "A new recruit? Don't get many of those since the last Exalt died. You look like your armoured already, even if I hesitate to call that rust bucket you're wearing armour."
"I didn't have access to much cleaning gear, and I pieced this together out of what I could salvage off a few battlefields."
"Bah, the military is taking on mercenaries now? People like you are the reason half this world is going falling apart at the seams."
Well that went downhill fast, can't say I didn't expect it though, when your country is being torn apart by bandits and thugs, a bit of animosity toward sell swords is to be expected.
"Hey I volunteered to work for Ylisse, those bandits out there give us all a bad name." I said in my not entirely true defense.
All I got in response to that was a grunt from the blacksmith before he looked me over again and walked over to the armour racks. There wasn't exactly that many of them but he still managed to take a few minutes to pick one. Turning toward me he said "Well if you're going to be joining the right side we might as well get you equipped properly. Get that rusty monstrosity off yourself and test this."
A few minutes of prying the rusty armour off myself and strapping in the new gear later, and I was good to go. I guess I have a pretty average build here as the armour fit pretty well, rather annoyingly though I had to wear that blue scarf thing as well.
The only thing I got to keep was my helmet, it being the only non-rusty piece of armour I had, and it had a drop down visor that gave me more protection than those weird Conquistador helmets most of the soldiers wore. Apparently the army here allows a fair bit of customization of their uniform; just most people are too boring to do it, or maybe they just didn't want to attract attention to themselves. Regardless I would rather go with the extra head face protection even if it meant attracting some attention. I also picked up a spear to add to the iron sword from before, not exactly the best gear but it's better than nothing. Stepping outside the armoury I nearly ran into a soldier standing right outside the door, just skidding to a stop before I could bowl them over.
Before I could really get a good look at the soldier infront of me, I heard a female voice, "You're Hanz right?"
A nod is all I could get out before she continued "I'm Amelia, the Sergeant told me to lead you to the training field."
Wait, Amelia is here? Getting a better look at what I can see through the armour, she looked like Amelia, except closer to my own age. The blond hair and blue eyes combination, along with the way she seemed to be completely unused to the armour she was wearing, seemed to fit her personality from Sacred Stones perfectly. I wonder what her explanation for why she is here is, and I got to admit I would have expected her to be serving Phelgia if I wasn't looking at her right now, guess she doesn't need to be working for the enemy first this time.
Following Amelia through the barracks I barely had a chance to talk, she was a lot more lively then I remember from Sacred Stones.
"So you're a new recruit too?"
"Why did you sign up?"
"Why do you have that helmet?"
"How long do you think we will be training?"
Under the barrage of questions I feel into my standard routine when dealing with being overwhelmed, nod and go along with it. The animated girl didn't even notice my complete lack of proper responses as we continued. Eventually we reached the training field and I was flat out shocked at who I saw. Even with the differing uniforms I recognized almost everyone gathered around, and none of them were supposed to be here. I managed to keep moving even through the shock luckily enough and had atleast temporarily recovered by the time we reached the group. I had also by that time confirmed that yes, I was seeing who I was seeing.
Nephenee, recognizable because she had customized her uniform like she had in Radiant Dawn, the same red ribbon, same helmet, and that same green hair. Aran would have been harder to recognize if I wasn't lucky enough to have arrived when he wasn't wearing his helmet. Much the same with Edward, who looked a bit older than his game self, and who was also, other than me, the only person with an actual sword on their person in the group, and if Edward was here that meant the bowman, who was actually wearing his full gear, was Leonardo, who also looked older. Gilliam stood infront of the group, his armour painted slightly differently and making everyone else look tiny comparatively. The last guy in the group was the only one I didn't recognize was standing in the back, he wore a lot less armour then the rest of the squad, with a hood pulled up around shaggy brown hair. My guess would be he was the squad rouge, and twenty bucks says he is going to be as cynical as he looks.
Gilliam turned to look at us as we arrived and said "And that makes everyone. Introduce yourself to the squad."
One round of introductions, later and I had learned that the rogues name was Koel. Other than that everyone was exactly who I expected them to be, seriously what was going on here? I didn't get long to dwell on it though, as Gilliam, who not to my surprise was the squad sergeant, spoke up "Ok recruits time for a run."
Without another word Gilliam turned around and began running in his full knight gear. The rest of us spared a few glances at each other before following behind him. Sighing to myself I wondered why I had to do so much moving around in my armour these last few days. I mean I was already exhausted from walking for a day to get here, and now we are going on a run. I can already feel my legs protesting the movements, but no way I was going to let something as light as a run make me look like the weakest member of the squad.
About five minutes into the run I realized I didn't really have much to worry about. Everyone else in the squad seemed to have never worn armour much. Amelia was already lagging behind the group, along with Leonardo. Aran and Nephenee were doing slightly better but were falling back too. The only guy who was keeping up with Gilliam and me was Koel, and I would say that was because he was maybe wearing 20kgs less than us.
Only maybe 20 minutes after we started we had our first man down. Edward ended up stumbling mid run and didn't get back up. We ran past his sprawled out form a few times before he finally pulled himself up and got out of the way. The next person down was Leonardo, collapsing in much the same way as his friend, except he nearly took Amelia with him. Amelia was actually clinging on tenaciously, I swear she looked like she was about to die any second but she kept on running with us. Sadly though she and Aran couldn't keep up, and both of them fell out of the run at about the exact same time.
At that point Gilliam called it to an end, the three of us who were still keeping up with him reacting to the run in our own way. Nephenee collapsed to the ground on her back, Koel double over hacking up a lung, and I did what I always did at the end of a long run, walking without feeling my legs. Completing another two laps of the run area before my legs finally gave out and I stopped.
By the time we were all breathing again Gilliam was staring us over, the run having done absolutely nothing to his demeanor. The hard glare looking over all of us as he thought over something, and about a minute later he said "Now grab your weapons and follow me."
The exasperated sighs from pretty much everyone in the squad, and a muttered "Slave driver" comment from Koel, had to have been loud enough for Gilliam to hear, but he didn't give any reaction that he did. Picking up our scattered weapons, abandoned at the start of our run, we fell into line behind him. A few of the scattered guards throughout our path laughing at our ragtag appearance, which made sense as most of us were either leaning on our weapons for support or were more stumbling then walking. By the time we reached the weapons room though most of us were atleast in a semblance of good shape.
The weapons room was pretty well equipped really. A number of archery targets sat along one wall of the room, and along the other was a group of combat dummies. Gilliam didn't need to give anything more than a glare at us before we moved out infront of the combat dummies, well everyone except Leonardo, who lined up across from the archery targets.
Gilliam decided to start with Leonardo first, stepping in behind him and tapping him on the shoulder. The kid responded by bringing up his bow and letting loose his first arrow. All I got to say about the kid was that he could shoot. Beside me Amelia let out a bit of a shocked gasp as Leonardo put his first arrow dead center on the target.
Mumbling to the girl beside me I said "Looks like our backs are covered eh?"
Amelia didn't say anything in response as she continued to watch Leonardo put arrow after arrow into the bullseye.
"Damn this guy is going to show us up" Aran grumbled from down the line. Nephenee and Koel remained silent as Edward cheered his friend on.
When Leonardo finished up with his quiver Gilliam turned without a word and moved onto Aran. The soldier readied his lance before driving it into the target infront of him. The weapon was off center and just clipped through the side of the target. The hit would have taken out someone kidney but wasn't a directly lethal. His next stab caught the targets shoulder. Another non-fatal wound but that one would have been crippling. A third stab caught the targets other shoulder, and it was at that point that Gilliam moved on to Nephenee.
The female soldier did a bit better then Aran, her three stabs catching the target in the gut, the shoulder and a knick to the head respectively. Atleast the gut hit would have been fatal, the one to the head might have been if the target wasn't wearing a helmet. With that Gilliam moved onto me.
Readying my lance I took a second to remember my training, spear work was like bayonet work, attack attack attack. Stepping forward I drove my lance into targets stomach, pulling back and immediately striking again at the center of the rib cage, and finally a stab to the dummies neck. The three strikes weren't the fastest I had done, but I made sure to put them all on target. Stepping back to my original position I saw Gilliam still standing behind me, the same look on his face, it took me a moment before I realized he expected me to use my sword too. Putting the lance to the side I drew the former bandit's sword and slashed at the target. The blade missing a vulnerable shoulder joint and instead slicing across the dummies shoulder, my second slash came down on the targets head, just like a kendo strike, and my third move was a botched stab to the neck. I aimed a bit too high and deflected off the base of the dummies chin.
Gilliam had moved on to Amelia before I had a chance to sheath my blade. The recruit could barely hold her lance properly and her following stab barely stuck into the straw dummy. She didn't let that discourage her, and as soon as she had regained her balance she drove her lance into the dummies eye, and admittedly good stab but not one that worked well in combat, her final stab missed the target entirely, passing just under the shoulder of the dummy.
"Target moving too fast for you girl?" Koel chimed up from his corner.
As Gilliam moved on I glanced over at Amelia and saw that she was biting at her lip, obviously displeased with that miss at the end, and Koel's comment didn't help either. Not that I could exactly blame her, it's always a bummer to end on a low note. As it was I missed the first two of Edward's strikes, surprised at how fast the guy started. The third one I only just caught, and even then it was little more than a blur that cut across the front of the dummy.
Koel was up last, the rogue unsheathing his blade and setting onto the target. He did about as well as I did with my sword, maybe a bit better. Three quick stabs to the lung, neck and a skid off the chest, the guy knew where to aim atleast. With his testing completed Gilliam walked over to the edge of the room and looked us all over again.
"The biggest lesson on the battlefield is that no soldier fights alone. As such from this day on you will train with your partner, you will get to know your partner as well as yourself, and you will keep eachother alive." Gilliam said in a harsh voice. He took a few moments to let that sink in before he continued "Here are your partners, Edward you're with Leonardo, Koel you're with Nephenee, Hanz you're with Amelia, and Aran you're with me, any questions?"
No one spoke up, not wanting to draw the attention of the glaring Gilliam. Aran shifted on his feet as Gilliam turned and walked out of the room, then he looked at the rest of us, not sure if he should follow. It didn't take long for him to decide that it was safer to follow the imposing sergeant then risk angering him and he bolted out of the room in pursuit. Leonardo and Edward burst into laughter at Aran's reaction and left the training room. Nephenee and Koel left next, I had to wonder what the odds were that the one person from the games who I knew hates talking, got paired with the guy who I am pretty sure doesn't like talking either.
I wasn't exactly ready to abandon a bit of practice though, it would help keep my mind off my situation of still not knowing how the hell I had gotten here. Picking up my lance and turning back to the dummy I let out my pent up frustration at my predicament out in a flurry of jabs and blows. I had to admit that I when I stepped back from the target a few minutes later I wasn't expecting Amelia to still be standing in the room, her eyes a bit wide at the violent assault I had just unleashed on the dummy.
"Uhh, sorry about that, just a bit frustrated today" I said, scratching the back of my head nervously as I did.
Amelia just stared back at the dummy, which was leaking straw from a few of the larger hits I had given it, and then asked "Can you show me how you did that? When I try I can hardly get enough power to hit once."
Well I guess this is what Gilliam meant by train together but I didn't really think I would be qualified to teach anyone anything, still though the look in Amelia's eyes didn't really give me a choice.
"Ok line up on a target and I'll see what I can do."
Amelia lined up infront of the dummy beside me and lifted her lance again, the front end barely above the ground. Putting my hand up I said "Stop it right there. Before you can actually try to hit the target you need to be able to hold your weapon properly. Even if you lose a bit of range it's better that your weapon is stable so move your grip a bit farther forward."
Amelia followed my advice and soon enough she found a point on the lance where she could keep it from falling into the ground, even if she had to pretty much hold the thing at the halfway point.
"Ok that's better, now go for the kill," I said as I gestured to the dummy.
Taking a small step forward Amelia drove her lance into the dummies stomach, it was definitely a stronger hit then her earlier hits, but it was still a pretty weak hit, barely pushing into the target.
"Now try to use your legs more, and twist your body into the strike, like this" Leveling my lance at the target I jammed it forward, using my legs and upper body instead of my arms to add force behind my strike.
Amelia readied herself and tried to repeat what I did, and she sort of got it. Her strike had more force but she was still using her arms to much, which I didn't hesitate to tell her. We kept at it for about half an hour before she managed to not only hit the target much harder, but she managed to fully impale the target on her lance, which she promptly let go of in shock as resistance disappeared.
Smiling I said "Well that was impressive, but you need to make sure you don't let go next time, anyways I think we should stop there today."
Amelia let out a little laugh at my jab and then said "Thanks, I don't know if I could have kept this up much longer, I can barely feel my arms."
"That's pretty normal, you'll get used to it though."
Amelia chewed on her lip for a moment and as we left the training room she asked "I thought you were a recruit too. Shouldn't you be as unused to this as me?"
"Ahh… Well, I am a recruit in the Ylisse army yes, but I'm not new to fighting."
"So you were a mercenary?" Amelia said. Giving me a glare that was scarier than I would have thought would be possible from the girl. Damn people really don't like mercenaries around here do they. Ok got time for a cover story before the person who is supposed to be watching my back hates me.
"Hey I didn't say that, though you're right" I sighed, "They came to my village and I ended up in a bar fight with some of them. Next thing I knew they had knocked me out and conscripted me into their group."
"Did your company raid villages?"
"No we weren't bandits. Most of our work was in Plegia or Ferox. We were passing through Ylisse and I can't remember what happened but I woke up in a field and my company had ditched me." I said back, trying my hardest to sound convincing.
Amelia's glare lessened a bit at my response but I could tell she wasn't fully convinced.
"Look I know most people lump mercenaries in with Bandits, but some of us want to help the innocents instead of hurting them." I growled, seriously I am getting sick of people assuming that I am some villager murderer, "I signed up because I want to help."
Thank god Amelia is a nice person at heart. Her glare died away after only a few moments longer and she went back to her bubbly self, of course that also meant I was quickly under a barrage of questions again, and I reacted the same way I did before, smile and nod.