The continent of Elibe. With the Dragons defeated in the Scouring, the unchallenged race of men had flourished and spread civilization throughout the land for the past millenium, and continues to grow.
In the west lies the beautiful Kingdom of Etruria, the most developed nation in Elibe with an appreciation for the arts.
In the east lies the mighty Kingdom of Bern, a land of military prowess that boasted the continent's strongest army.
These were the two largest nations in Elibe, and the smaller powers were scattered between them. Just to west of Bern was the Lycia Alliance, a peaceful land under joint rulership of various marquises. The people of the Knights' Union of Ilia were hard at work cultivating the snowy wastelands in the north. In Sacae lived various tribal clans which rode through the plains on horseback.
Despite the occasional clash between nations, there was enough balance of power to ensure peace in Elibe.
However, no peace can last forever.
Under the command of King Zephiel, the Kingdom of Bern suddenly began to dispatch its forces and attack the rest of Elibe. Taken by surprise, Sacae and Ilia were quickly overrun, and those who resisted were mercilessly killed.
It wasn't long before Bern turned its attention to Lycia as well.
In the east of Lycia, lied the territory of Pherae. Roy, son of Lord Eliwood the current Marquess Pherae, was studying to become the region's next marquess in the great Lycian city of Ostia. However, Eliwood, who had fallen ill, sent for Roy to return home. Just a few days earlier, Lilina, the daughter of Eliwood's best friend, Lord Hector of Ostia, had traveled to Pherae to pay her respects to Eliwood.
After getting his father's message, Roy hurried home, taking with him his loyal knights and Bors, a knight from Ostia responsible for Lilina's safety. The story begins when Roy had reached an area just on the outskirts of Pherae...
In one of the villages in Pherae...
"Young man, are you leaving?" a kind middle-aged woman with brown hair tied up in a scarf, wearing a faded, maroon dress asked. The person whom she was talking to was a male youth, about fifteen or sixteen years old, wearing what appeared to be a strange attire in this country. He was adorned in a red, long sleeve shirt, complimented with a navy blue jacket with short sleeves. Upon his hands, he wore dark brown full gloves, that were padded for protection. He also wore darker navy blue colored pants that were fitting, not loose, and just the right size for his height. Strapped around his waist was a fine belt, with a golden buckle of an intricate design, with a few satchels fastened and tied around that possibly held various items and valuables. He wore brown boots, also with a fine design, almost leather and cotton made, also padded with interior protection. They made a fine noise around the base of the small heel.
Strapped to his back, was a dark red and brown sheath, made of simple material used to crafting one. The pommel protruding from it was a light brown handle, decorated with a ruby jewel, and the shaft, an odd display of dark brown with a golden jewel embedded in the center. This young man had the lightest complexion of skin, pale-bluish grey colored eyes, a firm, but handsome face, and the most exotic color of golden blond hair. It was spiked naturally, apparently, to the left, but if it had been wet, his hair would reach his shoulders. He obviously had the look of a warrior, but had sincerity written all over it.
"Yes ma'am. I think I've overstayed my welcome here, and I think I'm in the way..." the warrior youth replied, smiling warmly. "I thank you and the rest of the villagers for the hospitality you provided me."
"Ah, I see. Is there no way I can convince you to stay a while longer? You've been so helpful with the younger children and with us, and very kind. You've also kept bandits at bay for us, and free of charge. It's rare to see a boy like you." the woman said, almost pleading. The blond shook his head. "I would love to, but I believe it's time for me to go home though. But, I will be sure to come and visit when I can."
"All right then. You take care of yourself and be careful. Bern's been acting strange these days, and bandits might come and rile you up."
"I will be. Thank you, ma'am. Have a good afternoon." the boy said politely, heading for the gate of the village. The village children all waved goodbye to their new friend, feeling sad he was leaving, but would wait until he returned. "Bye! Come back soon!" one girl shouted. The blond turned his head slightly, still having that gentle smile, and waved back. "Of course I will! You take care and stay safe!" Was his cheery response.
However, the moment he took a step outside the village gate, he looked over towards the castle to see...bandits? The boy's eyes widened as more of them were forming around, and very close to the other village just northward of the one he had exited. "Brigands? More of them? Don't they ever quit?" he scowled lightly, frowning. The warrior youth decided to close in undetected to see what the villains were up to.
Outside of the Pheraen castle, a group of bandits form up, grinning greedily to themselves. A single brigand approaches the leader of the group, whom had a confident smirk plastered on his face. "Boss! Those wimps are just hiding inside the castle!" The short bandit said.
"Heh, even Eliwood the greatest knight in Lycia, can't beat an illness?" the leader, whom had short, jagged, messy light brown hair, kept up with a pale green colored headband that had seen its days in the wear and tear. He was garbed in a biege colored large man's shirt, tattered at the arms as if the sleeves were purposefully torn off, and had matching, dirty pants. He looked like he, as the rest of his group, hadn't bathed in weeks, and probably didn't care.
The smaller man grinned as well, joining in the mirth. "Hehehe, you were right when you said there wouldn't be many soldiers around here because they're getting ready to take on Bern!"
"Of course, who do you think I am? But you never know when reinforcements are gonna show up." He looked over to his men, seeing they were ready to pillage any nearby villages. "All right! Kill off the guys in the castle while we still got time! Then all the loot is ours!" The head bandit shouted, earning roaring cries of pleasure from his men. More bandits appeared from the southeast of the castle, and a particular one set his eyes on the nearest village.
"Hehe, castles ain't the only places with treasure! Let's go ransack the villages and get some loot!" the brigand jeered, being followed by two of his cohorts. Many villagers screamed in panic as the louts entered the homely village, raiding the houses and burning the entire place down at the same time. The boy from before gaped in horror, hearing the shouts for help, and cries of innocents filling the air. One of the brigands came outside the burning village with a young woman, no more than the boy's own age, struggling for her life as she was being carried away as if some prize.
"Let me go! Let me go!" the girl cried, using her fists to beat wildly on the tough man's back to release her.
"Heheh, not a chance. You're comin' with me!" the bandit said greedily, hefting up his axe effortlessly with his other, unoccupied arm over his shoulder. "Hey man! Are you coming or not?"
"Here I am! And I got the money! Six thousand gold, all for the taking and all for us! Damas is gonna be proud of this!" the other bandit said, laughing. The girl stared in horror as her home village was still burning to the ground, and many people were now suffering. "Someone! Please! Please help!"
Inside the Castle...
A man with teal colored mustache, half shaved head with those tealy, curly locks, wearing green robes of fine material approached an older man, around his mid-40's, whom had relaxed, fiery red hair, garbed in a dark violet robe and pale blue cape draped around his shoulders. "Lord Eliwood! The bandits from Bolm Mountain have surrounded us!" the man exclaimed.
"I see..." the sickly red-head responded coolly, closing his eyes wearily. "Damn! If I weren't in this state, I would teach them a lesson...!" Eliwood strained his voice, now paying the price by coughing roughly, and covering his mouth. Just as he spoke, a young girl with blue locks, wearing a red colored robe-skirt that ended around her thighs, carrying a thick, red book in her hands, came into the room with a worried set of blue eyes on the nobleman.
"Lord Eliwood..." the mage girl said softly, catching the Pheraen's attention.
"Lilina, you must hide. This castle will become a battlefield."
"No!" the girl, Lilina, refused. "I can fight, too!"
Eliwood shook his head at her proposal. "Don't be ridiculous, Lillina. If something were to happen to you, I wouldn't know what to say to Hector."
"To my father? But still..."
"Don't worry." the older nobleman said with a reassuring smile. "Roy should be arriving any moment now, so as long as we can hold our own until then, we can drive off these foul marauders." The red-headed marquess turned the merchant man with teal colored hair. "Melinus! Send a messenger to Roy informing him of the attack immediately!"
"Y-Yes, my lord!" Merlinus replied sharply, carrying out the nobleman's order quickly as he could. Within the few seconds of time passing, a lone rider with green hair, wearing gold, armor breast plate and shoulder pads, and garbed in a dark, olive green outfit, rode out on his horse, bypassing the terror that was the burning village, urgently riding off with the intended message of finding Lord Eliwood's heir.
Not a moment after this, entering into the land was another red-headed nobleman, though he had the young look of about fourteen or fifteen. His unruly mop of bright, fiery red locks was kept with a fine headband of navy blue, with a yellowish design on the front. He wore blue colored breast plate, shoulder plates and garbed in a darker blue tunic with white pants. His boots were leather fabric, and also blue colored like his armor. Strapped to his belt was a scabbard, which housed a blade. With him was a light green haired male, about his age, armed with a bow, a knight upon a horse, wearing red armor, and had matching red eyes and darker red hair, an aged knight, also a horse, wearing light purple armor, with graying lavendar hair. Lastly, there was a knight by his lonesome, wearing heavy, orange armor and had curly, green hair.
Once this boy and his small band stepped foot into the Pheraen lands, the troubled, rushing messenger of the castle was approaching them.
"Master Roy!" the green-haired cavalier shouted, panting and nearly out of breath. Aforementioned teen turned to greet the rider, looking concerned.
"Lance? What's the matter? Why are you in such a hurry?" the young master nobleman wondered.
"Bandits have surrounded the castle and are attacking as we speak! They even pillaged a nearby village and its abound in flames!" Lance announced worriedly.
"WHAT?" the red-haired cavalier with red armor, Allen, roared furiously. "Is Lord Eliwood safe?"
"He's inside, defending the castle as best he can." Lance answered quickly, "But he won't last long with his illness..." The group shook worriedly, Roy himself, but he still had on a look of determination. He knew his father was strong, but also knew word of his sudden illness. That was one of the reasonz he was sent back home in the first place. The orange-armored man with green hair stepped forward, also looking deeply concerned.
"S-Sir Lance! Is Lady Lilina safe?"
Lance turned to the voice's owner, looking at the knight staring at him, nodding. "Are you from Ostia? Lady Lilina is inside as well. She should be all right as long as Lord Eliwood is with her, but he can't last forever."
Roy closed his eyes, hounding on himself with the disturbing news. "No... I shouldn't have let Lilina go to the castle before me." He scolded himself. The light green haired archer nearby piped in next, "Master Roy, regret won't solve anything. We must hurry to the castle!" The purple-clad paladin upon his horse agreed to this. "Wolt is right. We must make haste." Upon hearing his trusted knights boost his vow, the red-head looked up, his sapphire eyes lighting up.
"Marcus, everyone. You're right." the teenaged auburn noted. "All right, let's go! We're going to save those trapped in the castle!" Once this was said, the boy-marquess-in-training unsheathed his thin sword, a Rapier, and his trusted knights brandished their weapons as well. "To the castle! And be careful!" he warned his companions. Many lone bandits were spread out, an enemy archer close by, and a pair of axe fighters down the way towards the village the first boy had came from. Lance and Allen equipped themselves with their swords, charging towards one of the axe fighters, as Marcus headed for the other. Roy and Wolt were left together to deal with the archer.
"What the!" the bandit archer roared as he saw the teenagers coming for him. He knocked an arrow into his bow, firing it directly at the incoming red-head. Roy dodged it expertly, rearing back his Rapier and thrusting it forward in a swift motion. The bandit dodged him in time, but didn't see the arrow being launched from behind Roy and was struck through his neck. The auburn haired noble once more thrusted his thin blade through the bandit's abdomen, jerking it out as fast as he moved to instantly fell him. "That's one." Roy told Wolt, whom nodded.
"Indeed, Master Roy. I see another one over there!" The green haired archer pointed out another brigand towards the northeast. "Shall we claim victory?"
"Yes, let's go!" Roy told his companion, the pair of teens heading that way.
"Haaaah!" Allen roared in battle cry as he swept his sword in a horizontal slice towards the axe fighter he and Lance were double teaming against. The bandit fighter grunted, using the bulk of his axe to block the oncoming attack of the riding knight, now retaliating with a roaring blow vertically. The red-clad cavalier reigned his horse to the left, avoiding the retaliating blow to his leg, steering his trusted steed from harm and returning the strike with another horizontal attack. Once again, the bandit blocked, sneering even.
"Heh! You castle dogs ain't got nuttin' on us!" the brigand chortled, running on Allen's nerves, and even managing to deliver a clean gash to the young man's leg with his axe.
"Filthy cur!" the red-armored knight scowled, ignoring his injury. Just as the two were clashing against another, Lance came up from the right hand side, his own blade drawn as he swung his sword expertly in the air, delivering a critical blow to the bandit's backside, stabbing him through his shoulder, penetrating cleanly through his body. "Guhh!" the bandit spat, blood pouring out of his body as he fell to the ground, dead.
"Allen, are you all right?" Lance called over to his colleague, rushing to his side as the red-armored knight clenched his wound. "I am fine, my friend." Allen answered, wincing lightly. "This is nothing."
"Still, you should treat it with a vulenary. Here." The green-haired cavalier offered the bottled liquid to his companion, whom took it without refusal. He applied the medicinal balm to his injury, waiting only a few seconds as it took effect. "Thank you, Lance."
"No problem, my friend. Now, let's ride to aide the others!"
"Of course!"
After Allen stashed the vulenary into his pouch, the two rode off to meet further bandits who leeked about untamed.
Marcus grunted as the bandit he was up against persisted to live by evading his attacks, by an inch, and deflecting his blows as much as he could. Bors, the armored knight also tried stabbing the brigand with his lance, but he was too slow. The bandit sneered as he got the upper hand on the knight, his axe swing heading for Bors's head. However, the knight shielded himself in time, allowing Marcus in to get him. "Hrmph! Let's see you deflect this one!" the aged paladin gruffed irritably, jarring his Steel Sword through the bandit's neck with a powered force behind it, lopping off the worm's head in the process. Once the beheaded brute was downed, the loyal knight turned his horse around, finding his young master heading off towards another brigand in the distance, followed by the two cavaliers. Without a word, he rode off as well to further assist his companions in ridding of the bandits.
"Wait for me!" Bors said, hurrying as fast as he could behind Marcus.
Damas, the bandit leader, growled when he saw Roy's group pressing for the castle. "Damn! Reinforcements already? Hmph! But they won't be gettin' to the castle so easily! Heh! I'll make sure of that!" the brunet grunted, waiting eagerly for his prey to come closer.
As Roy and his group were approaching the castle, and for the nearest brigand, the red-head noticed, in the northwest direction, a young girl crying for help as one bandit was carrying her away. This infuriated the young noble, seeing one of his people being taken as if a looted prize. He quickly pushed from his original direction in pursuit of the brigand with the young woman. "Unhand her!" Roy shouted furiously, still keeping his cool all the while in check. The dark haired brute turned to the teenager, and laughed haughtily.
"You've got guts, kiddo! But there's no way Imma let this beauty go! She's coming with us! Geh-heh-heh!"
"Release her this instant. This is your final warning." the red-head warned again, his blue eyes almost lighting on fire. Before he could see it, another archer of the bandits had locked an arrow and shot it! It was hurdling in Roy's direction! Wolt's eyes widened in fear, and began darting towards his friend.
"Master Roy! Look out!" Wolt shouted worriedly. The greenet knew he wouldn't make it, but maybe his voice...
Roy turned to the direction of the impending arrow, and nearly froze on the spot. Something told him to move, and he did; unfortunately the arrow still pierced through his right thigh. The teenager dropped his sword once it connected, staggering back some, then down to his left knee, wincing in pain as the arrow seemed locked tight into his right leg. Fresh blood was already staining his good pants. The red-head clenched his teeth together, trying to fight the pain that burned inside his body.
"Heh! Not so tough, are ya kid? Now take this!" another brigand shouted, raising his axe high over his head to deliver a finishing blow to the auburn. Roy gritted his teeth together, but stood his ground as he nearly trembled, fear rising in his heart for the first time ever. This wasn't how he planned to say goodbye to the world, if he ever had died before his old man.
"Master Roy!" Wolt cried again, lodging an arrow quickly and firing it in the line of direction of the bandit whom was attempting his master's life.
"Grrhnh!" the axe-user grunted horribly, his blood jetting out from his throat as the arrow connected, piercing through the bone of his neck even. He staggered backwards and fell dead. Roy sighed in relief as his friend had saved him, but now the other bandit who captured the young girl was getting away! "Someone stop him!" Roy shouted, trying to remove the arrow in his leg. Allen and Lance saw the fleeing brute and began their pursuit. However, before they could even get close, the bandit was cleaved in two by something sharp, and the young girl was caught by a person, holding a large, golden blade in the shape of an isoseles triangle, standing over the fallen bandit's body.
It was that odd, golden haired teen.
"Are you all right?" the blond asked, the girl nodding, still in utter shock. The boy smiled warmly, as he had before. "Good." He replied, shifting her onto his back. "I'll get you home-"
"But the fire!" she reminded, the youth taking note of that. He nearly forgot, having tailed the brigand who snatched her up. His pale bluish grey eyes narrowed on the flaming village, seeing less people escaping, coughing and charred a little. Allen rode up to the warrior youth, his eyes fixed on the boy for a few seconds of study before speaking up. "Who are you?" He asked politely, but still half rushed, as the problem hadn't been solved just yet.
"We'll worry about that later." the blond said, "Take this girl to safety to the other village! I'm going to put that one out!" The youth set the girl down, and before Allen could ask how, he was already darting off. What a strange kid... Allen shook his head and helped the villager onto his horse. "Don't worry. You'll be safe with me! Lance, Sir Bors, can you handle the situation on your own from here?"
"Yes." The orange-armored knight answered.
"Be careful, Allen." Lance replied, the red knight nodding and riding off.
As they were doing so, the teenager swordsman from before looked around to make sure nobody was watching him. With the lifting of his hands, he took in the energy he needed to create his purpose. "Froth Sphere!" the boy shouted, only audible to himself. Within the seconds he commanded this, giant bubbles of water emerged from nowhere, dousing the village the moment they were directed. Several citizens were drenched, but nonetheless, saved. They stared dumbfounded at one another, wondering what had just happened, but all had faces of utter relief. With this done, the boy smiled and raced off to find the reinforcements for the castle.
Meanwhile, Wolt and Marcus rode to Roy's aid, assisting him in his injury of removing the lodged arrow. It was successful, but extremely painful. "Master Roy, are you all right?" Wolt asked, helping the teen apply a vulenary to his wound.
"I'm fine, but I won't let this hinder me. The villagers... we have to save them."
"Of course." Wolt replied, a hearty smile to his face as he helped up Roy to his feet. "Let's go finish off the rest of them."
"There's only two left!" Roy pointed out, re-focusing his trusted friends to the battle. Towards the northeast, Bors and Lance had double teamed and attacked the lone bandit, whom tried several attempts to hack and slash at the cavalier. However, Lance was much quicker than his counterpart, Allen, and steered his horse professionally to dodge the blows from the bandit and deliver his own. The orange clad knight found his opportunity to deliver a heavy blow by swinging his lance expertly and stabbing forward, gutting the brigand through his abdomen. Once he felled the idiot, the two hurried up towards Roy and the others. "The last of the bandits are felled." Bors announced.
"Allen went to help a village woman to safety." Lance explained after, also telling of his comrade's sudden unavailablilty.
Just as he said this, the blond swordsman approached them. "The village's saved, and the people are all okay. They just need to be escorted to the nearest other village for safety's sake." He announced. Lance and Bors nodded, taking this opportunity to ride forward and help assist. "Marcus, can you go help out as well? Wolt and I will deal with the leader." Roy said. The lavendar clad paladin had on a stern expression that seemed to say "I won't allow you to leave my sight", but noticed the worried and firm tone the young master spoke to him and nodded.
"Of course, Master Roy." Marcus answered, now riding off with Lance to assist. Roy, as did Wolt, turned to the blond and stared at him.
"You seem to have fought against one of the bandits. Will you help us?" Roy asked.
The blond smiled again, the grip on his sword tightening. "Certainly It seems like a reasonable plan to, and those bandits should pay." He replied.
"Thank you. Can I ask for your name?"
"It's Matthew."
Roy and Wolt absorbed the name and appearance of this lone warrior and nodded. "All right, Matthew, Wolt. Let's take care of the bandit leader and save my father and the villagers."
"Right!" both responded, allowing Roy to lead the way towards the castle's front. Damas, noticing the three teenaged boys approaching, especially eying Matthew's finely shaped, and definitely rare looking sword, grinned greedily. "Now that is something worth stealing! I'll just have to kill that brat and take that sword from 'im! Heh, this will be easy." He then noticed all his men were killed, and eyes widened like dinner plates at this realization.
"Hmph! You damn idiots! Can't you guys take on these bastards?" the brigand leader shouted, obviously to his now-dead companions.
"Sorry, they can't hear you as they've been felled." Wolt said in a challenging voice, the red-head eying the brute unmercifully. "Stand aside and you'll be spared your life." Roy added icily.
"Hrrmph! Not a chance, brats!" Damas roared, grabbing up his axe and sneering. "There's loot inside this castle, and once those idiots inside are dead, I'm taking everything!" The brunet turned to Matthew, a sneering glare of greed written upon his face. "Including yer sword, runt!" The blond remained unfazed by the threat, still keeping his position.
Roy hissed lightly at this idiot's claims, drawing his Rapier. "Then, you will have to face us first!" He waved his hand in a mocking fashion. "Come." Damas, partially enraged by the child's antics, rushed forward wildly, roaring out a loud battle cry as he charged, aiming for Roy's head as he swung his axe. The auburn easily evaded, and from the left, Wolt fired off an arrow to Damas's shoulder. The bandit was struck with the arrow, grunting in pain when it connected. "Why you little...!" The brunet raged, now wailing against the archer.
Wolt gasped lightly as a punch was delivered to his abdomen, knocking him against the ground. "Wolt!" Roy cried worriedly, coming to his defence. The red-head blocked an axe swing from Damas that was aiming to finish of the archer, his thin blade not exactly made for the defensive position he put himself in. But, he wasn't going to allow his friend to be hurt. "Geheheh! Give it up, kids! This world is big enough for people like you. With Bern attacking now, it's the strongest live and the weak that die! You weaklings are just food for us strong!"
"Hah! Say what you will, but I won't allow you to do as you please!" Roy shot back, a steely anger boiling in his veins. He pushed his opponent back, switching now to offensive, and thrusting his sword forward sharply. Damas saw this coming, and evaded effectively. "Hahaha! You can't do any better than that?" Before anymore words came out of the bloke's mouth, Matthew had rose up, his large blade in hand as he struck vertically at the bandit in one, swift motion. Damas laughed as the sword of his didn't seem to make him flinch. "Gahaha! What kind of attack was that kid! You missed horribly-!" it was then, the timed attack had amputated his axe-wielding arm, the entire thing from shoulder down, lodged off completely.
"On the contrary, I didn't miss." Matthew said, his own voice as ice.
"GAAAAAH!" Damas roared in fury, pain, and suffering. The blood poured out like a water fountain, the brute trembling, eyes widened like dinner plates again, as he unbelievably stared at this dislocation of his arm, and everything around him. Roy took this opportunity to end the brigand for good, jabbing the man through his forehead with his Rapier.
"What the... S... Strong..." Damas uttered out, falling to his demise, mouth agape as he lied dead. Wolt sat up from his shock, rubbing his stomach.
"Ouch, that hurt. He sure knows how to pack a punch." The archer half complimented, and was helped up by Matthew. "Whew, he was annoying. Thanks." Matthew nodded to Wolt, smiling again as he sheathed his blade.
"I'm glad this is over. Now we can meet Father and Lilina." Roy added, sighing in relief.
They waited a few moments, seeing Marcus, Allen, Lance and Bors catching up to them, having successfully escorted the villagers to safety. Roy, glad to see his companions all present, led them all inside the castle as quickly as possible.
"Father! Lilina!" Roy shouted, having rushed indoors at a quickened pace.
"Roy! Is that you?" Eliwood answered up, coming out from the throne room, followed by Lilina and Merlinus.
"Roy!" the mage exclaimed happily, running up to her childhood friend and hugging him tight. The red-head smiled warmly, returning the grateful embrace, then turned to the pleased look on his father's face. "Father, Lilina ...Thank goodness you're all right."
"Roy, thanks for coming all this way." The current marquess said, sighing in relief himself.
"Of course, Father. How is your health?"
"I'm fine. I'm still alive, see?" The nobleman presented himself, smiling easily, but one could tell he was still not fully recovered. "Now, Roy, I trust you know why I sent for you to return back home."
The younger red-head nodded. "I am to take over your role of leading Pherae's military and join the Lyica Alliance Army."
Eliwood nodded as well. "Right. As you know, Bern has started to invade Lycia. We must follow the ancient pact and send out Pherae's military to defend our land."
"Yes."
"...To be honest, I didn't want to send for you because you were still studying, but I'm not well... I would merely be a hindrance..."
"Father..."
Lilina perked up now, wanting to be involved in this, not only to help her best friend, but because she wanted to. "Lord Eliwood, I will accompany Roy! My father is in charge of the Alliance Army and my magic could be of some help to Roy..." Eliwood, unfortunately for her, shook his head once again at her offer. "No, Lilina. You must return to Ostia." The mage girl looked in surprise to have heard that, Roy as well.
"...Why?" she questioned in a sad tone.
"With Hector's absence," the older auburn started, "the people of Ostia must be feeling uptight. As the princess, you must take the throne and ease the tension of your people. Do you understand?" Seeing as she had no other choice, and understanding the scenario Eliwood presented, the magic-user nodded her head, eyes closed.
"...Yes." She said simply.
"Roy," the older man turned to his son, who caught his matching blue gaze, "first you must go to the Bern border and meet with a mercenary band that I have arranged a contract with." The boy nodded in understanding. "I'll send Merlinus along with you. He'll be helpful with his knowledge."
"Thank you for everything, Father." the teenager said, smiling, his father returning the expression.
"Of course my son. You'll be fine, I know you can do it! Go fight, and show them who you are, the next heir to Pherae!" the older man said proudly, his son agreeing.
"Yes!"
Roy happily gave his father a gentle embrace, now leaving the throne room to prepare for the long journey. He knew they would need several supplies, and thanks to Merlinus and his caravan, it would be easy to keep their stored weapons in place. Before leaving the throne room herself, Lilina pulled Bors aside, a concerned expression on her face. "Bors, I have something to ask of you..." the Ostian princess began, though her sworn knight already smiled wide.
"I know, my lady. I will accompany Roy in his travels and swear to protect him with my life." The orange-clad knight said, making the mage smile herself in relief.
"Thank you Bors." She said, watching the loyal Ostian leave the room. With a heavy sigh, she said quietly, "Roy, be careful."
Later that evening...
Roy found himself watching the teenager, Matthew, whom had assisted them earlier, now leaving the castle grounds. Wondering, the red-head ventured off to greet him before he got any further. "Hey, Matthew was it?" the soon-to-be marquess called out to him, making the blond halt in his footsteps.
"Hm? Yes?" Matthew turned around to meet the young leader. "Is there...something you wanted, Roy? ...Oops, I should be calling you Lord Roy."
"No, "Roy" is fine if you're comfortable with it." The auburn gestured. "But, are you leaving?"
"Well, I was. I didn't think you'd need my help, and I was probably in the way. I overheard some of the conversation, though. Something about Bern attacking and a Lycian Alliance?"
"Yes." Roy replied, "The Bern kingdom has invaded our lands of Lycia, and in my father's place, I'm going to join the Lycian Alliance armies to fight back." He then looked towards the blond, sapphire eyes concerned. "Matthew, if you...don't mind, would you like to accompany me, well, us? Unless you have to go..."
The blond smiled lightly, shaking his head. "Well, to be honest, I don't really know where my home is from here. I guess I got lost... but I'll figure out where to go later. This thing against Bern sounds serious. I wouldn't mind helping out. If my strength can be added and be proven helpful, of course, then my blade's with you, Roy." The Pheraen nodded, glad to have convinced the teenaged swordsman to stay, unlike the village woman earlier. "Great. It's good to have you, Matthew. The more the better, that's what I believe. You should come inside the castle and get some rest. We'll be leaving early tomorrow morning."
With that, the red-head turned to leave, Matthew following behind, deciding it was best to rest, even though he wasn't as tired. But, for some reason, his memory seemed clouded; he couldn't remember how he got here. It was definitely not like home, and even the aura flow around the place was different. It was hard to restore his "magic", as he would call it for now. "Man, what have I gotten myself into? I think I'm too nice." Matthew mumbled to himself.
I was inspired by Assassin of Shadows and their story crossover "Whom She Found". I love that story, and it gave me inspiration for this, despite it's not Legend of Zelda x Fire Emblem. Anyway, I hope this was enjoyable, and definitely more to come (since I'm playing the game). Healing's Teardrop will also get its update tomorrow-ish, those of you who are wondering.
Please review; no flames please and thank you.