The continuation from my one-shot, since I got those positive reviews. I didn't see fit to continue this under the one-shot; this will be continued separately. Read and review, if'n ye will. Again, my tactician is based on a roleplay tactician, but now it's all me.

Castle Caelin was in an uproar that night, even after my heart-to-heart with the Lady Lyn. While she was busy with her grandfather, I had time to look over our motley crew and think of the task at hand. I kept aside, off in one corner of the main dining hall, almost keeping to the shadows like a thief would. I suppose I could associate myself with their sort the most, keeping hidden but being just as effective as any fighter, calculating and swift. Of course, I was never satisfied with just sitting on the sidelines, and even took up the dagger in my own time. It was this, and my own desire to adventure and grow that earned me my famed nickname, the "Jack of All Trades, Master of One".

Pah. I don't understand why my tactics became so famed within so short of a time. Yes, I helped Lyn and her company retake Castle Caelin from the jealous Lord Lundgren, though I credit her and her company for their drive and desire more than I do my own haphazard stratagems for the victory. Who knew that my random madness would lead to such a decisive blow?

As I was keeping to myself, Hector parted from his own group he was socializing with to walk to me.

"Why so quiet, Jason? You're usually more energetic than this," he said while shifting his weight to his left foot.

"My mind is heavy." My response was quick and to the point. I really wasn't in the mood to talk. My gaze remained on no one and nothing in particular.

"Eliwood and Marcus are also concerned. You're not yourself. Come, have something to drink with us."

"Wine is a poor idea, Hector." My eyes shifted to meet his, though I made no other movements. "I've had a long day and would like to keep my mind clear." My eyes returned to the floor. "Besides, isn't the food going to be served in a minute or two? I'm sure all that axe-wielding you do works up an appetite."

"You speak no lies there, my friend. Are you sure I can't interest you in at least some stew? It's not like you to be so anti-social. You seemed to have no problem getting back in touch with the Lady Lyndis—"

My eyes shot rapidly up to meet his again. I hadn't wanted to show how edgy I was about the subject of my daydreaming, but the one thing I hadn't learned how to do in all my training was to hide my emotions.

Hector gave a bit of a knowing grin and chuckled mildly, nodding in what seemed to me to be an almost teasing manner. "She's still awake, you know. Bring her one of those rare flowers and go make up with her."

Now it was my turn to grin. "Silly, presumptuous axeman. Jumping to conclusions. I see you don't know everything." It amused me how Hector's friendly attitude brought me out of my dark mood. I at least feel I have good people I'm working with.

Hector paused a moment, then chuckled again, pressing a hand to my shoulder, some brotherly kind of gesture. "Isn't knowing everything more your job than mine? How long were you in school for all of this, anyway?"

"Not as long as you would expect. The food is being served now—go eat your fill. I have a few things I wish to attend to."

"If all that truly ails you is being lovestruck, then I think I can leave you alone and not worry about your well being." He winked. "Until later." He walked back to the table with his comrades-in-arms, seating himself in front of a hearty meal of... well, I couldn't tell what it was, but I really couldn't bother myself with food.

Hector was right. I had butterflies in my stomach at the thought of Lyn and her troupe joining our own entourage. It bothered me. I knew it didn't bother me because I feared incompetence; I knew better than to think the goddess of my daydreams would ever miss her mark with that legendary blade of hers.

...Wow, I'm really smitten, aren't I?

I needed to get some air. I left the main dining hall that everyone else was in, walking to the courtyard where we had gathered our supplies that we would take with us on the great journey ahead. Plenty of lances, spears, swords, a few axes, more arrows than I could possibly count merely by sight, and enough vulnerary to fill a castle's moat (not really, but it was a popular joke between Rebecca and I, for some reason). Then one particular sight caught my eye, and I couldn't help but to sigh a little.

My dagger. Not just any dagger, but the dagger given to me by... well, the reason why I ended up unconscious on the Sacae Plains. The dagger with a blade of the purest black and hilt of purest white. It was nestled very comfortably in the leather whip that I used to accompany it. One of the more unorthodox—I grew to like that word more when Lyn used it—combinations seen on the battlefield, but it worked for me.

I couldn't help myself, and I needed to clear my head. I took the dagger in my left hand, felt the smooth polished steel beneath my palm, felt my pulse race against it. My right hand clutched my worn whip, and my blood ran ever hotter.

I live for this rush. I live for the way it feels when the whip lashes out and cracks, the sound striking fear into the hearts of my enemies, yet reminding my comrades that I'm there for them.

I lowered my right hand, then swung the whip up into a fierce crack, then almost immediately brought it back down. Two more sounds; a second whipcrack and the sound of leather colliding with cobblestone. As I drew back the whip, I swiftly spun forth, slashing at empty air with my dagger. As those in the martial arts perform floor exercises, I dreamt myself into a mock battle to try and forget. Try and put myself in that simple frame of mind where all that matters is the fight to stay alive, and to keep others alive.

I think it might have been a good five or ten minutes before I realized someone was watching me.

I at least managed to pause in somewhat of a stylish pose as I gawked at Lyn, Hector, and Eliwood all standing a bit off to the side, watching me. I had recoiled back to return the whip to its coiled state in my hand, dagger held forward, knees bent, leaning forward.

"And you mean to tell me he's fought alongside you both in every battle?" Lyn asked of her companions.

"If you don't believe it, look at the scars on his chest," Eliwood responded gently, almost as if the foolish young man had admiration for me in his voice. "Well, if he'll let you see them, anyway."

I think I saw a smile creep onto Lyn's features. It almost made me go weak in the knees, but I just stood tall, ceasing the pose that I thought would make a rather heroic-looking statue someday. "Maybe you and I will have to spar sometime, Jason."

"And get more scars? I think not, Lyn." I shifted my gaze to Hector for a second, a playful grin tugging the corners of my lips upwards. "Now, Hector here... I'll spar him until the cows come home. He won't hurt me."

"I'd think that Hector would hit you harder," Eliwood quipped.

"That's if he could hit me."

This drew a light chuckle from all four of us, and I relaxed, setting aside my two weapons of choice. "So what brings you three out to see me, anyway?" I asked. For a moment, my features went stern with a "Can't a man get a little privacy?" My tone of voice was very jesting, however.

"I—we were worried," Lyn responded, a light blush gracing her cheeks at her slip-up. "You didn't eat anything."

"And it's not like you to skip meals," Eliwood added, electing to ignore Lyn's misplaced comment. "Normally you're the first to fill your belly."

"I'm fine," I insisted. "Just restless. And before you ask, no, it's nothing any of you can help. I have this gut instinct I'm getting into more than I bargained for. I suppose I have you to thank for such, young Lord Pherae." He looked almost hurt at my words, but I just smiled at him and verbally reminded him of how I was joking.

We all shared another laugh, then a moment of silence. As I usually did, I glanced skywards to admire the stars. Green and blue eyes followed my own, and it was all I could do not to fall backwards onto the ground to lay there and watch. A wistful, pleased sigh passed my lips and I could feel my muscles relaxing. It was almost like another rush, as if the first one left me nothing but satisfied. Thinking about that, it made me decide to go ahead and seat myself on the cobblestone of the courtyard. The stone was cold underneath my fingertips, but the breeze was warm, and the stars were bright, so I could bear that burden.

Again, I had lost myself in my thoughts, and didn't realize that all eyes had fallen on me. Once I did, the three glanced amongst each other. "I'll never understand him," Eliwood commented, before turning to leave. "I'll see you all at dawn. Good night."

"What's wrong with being starstruck?" Hector called after him, giving Lyn and I a brief nod before walking off, to follow the young Knight.

This left me alone with the plainswoman again. Shyly, I glanced to her with a little smile on my lips, and it was met with one of her own. "Aren't you going to bed, too, Lyn?"

"Not until I'm certain you're alright."

"No, that's my job. I'm the tactician. I make sure everyone under my charge is alright before I rest."

"Well, you're my friend, and I make sure all my friends are alright before I rest."

My grin turned into more of a smirk. I watched her as she sat down across from me, maybe a foot or two away. "This isn't the kind of duel I expected to start with you."

"You think I would take a blade to you, Jason?" She pressed slender fingers to her chest in mock shock. "I'm injured."

"Not as much as I would be, I assure you," I responded, leaning backwards on my elbows, watching her a few more moments before lying backwards on the ground, the cold cobblestone warming beneath my robes. I found it frighteningly comfortable.

I don't really remember much of anything else from then on—I know for a fact I lost my "duel" with Lyn, as I fell asleep.

Oh, wait, I do remember something—a whisper in my ear. I don't know if it were from the light breeze or Lyn's lips, but it was a warm wish that I slept well and had pleasant dreams.

I assure you that I did.