I am not the owner of Fire Emblem.

-0-0-0-

"Of all the men that I've been with during the Ganelon Skirmish up to the Caelin Uprising, Grey is probably the second-in-command in the Legion. Whenever Lyn, Kent, and I are not available in the battlefield, Grey takes charge of the troops around him and helps out with the planning. The problem with him however is his so-called accidental slips in calling me 'El' and his eccentric view about the world."

An excerpt from the 'Close Call in Caelin'

"Tactician Elric is probably the most brilliant student that our military academy in Bern. He excelled and has a doctorate in the fields of combat tactic, warfare, swordsmanship, and theology at the age of 16. It's a shame that he disappeared few years later..."

Testament of a witness from the West Isles

-0-0-0-

They decided to stop by at Bulgar once they made it there to get the needed supplies for their journey to Etrutia. Lyn's horse, Hakmall and Elric's horse, Falkner are taking a rest and lazily browse the grass they eat as the three decided to have a lunch under a tree...

"I still do not understand the reason behind that... thing..." Elric said while pointing at Grey's collapsible bike, "How can you keep your balance while using that small thing?"

"Well it is cheaper than horses!" Grey replied while he checked his bike for any damages, "But if you are bothered with such thoughts, then I'll go and buy a horse once we are in Bulgar."

"Wait... You don't have to buy a horse even if we are bothered with your... bike." as Lyn mixed the spices for their lunch. "Though I don't understand how a fragile piece of object keeps you balanced."

"Actually, I too kept asking that question myself." Grey told the two with a straight face.

"What? You use that thing yet you have no idea about how it works?" Elric fumed.

"Let me tell you what I know about bikes." Grey said as Lyn and Elric decided to pay attention to Grey, "The bicycle or bike for short, is an innovative land transportation device that is much more faster than walking and at some point, horses."

"The first bike that was ever created was dated 200 years ago. This piece of work..." Grey referred to his collapsible bike, "was created by the inventor of the first bike's great, great, great granddaughter. She also made the new collapsible bikes which I use right now."

"I see that your place is... quite a stranger for us to comprehend, Grey." Elric said, "And that thing you ride was created by the descendant of the its creator."

"Yep. The question you two asked baffled the most knowledgeable of our scholars and scientists." Grey added, "We still do not understand how a fragile and small object such as this becomes an efficient transport."

"My..." Lyn said, "Let's just not dig deep into the logic of bikes. But tell us how you acquire such thing, Grey."

"It was given to me as a gift last year. They said that this will prevent me from exhausting myself all of the time since I usually wander around back at my home on foot." Grey fondly said, "There! All done! No damages. No faults. No scratches." as he finishes his maintenance on his bike.

"I still don't understand how and why that thing moves." Elric said grumpily, "Ah! What a nice aroma! Is that Sacaean white herbs you've added for today's lunch, Lyn?"

"Yes. Though we call it 'Nasahhee' instead of Sacaean white herb." as Lyn added another Nasahhee in the pot and mixing it.

"I see..." Elric said, "A friend of mine once travelled here in the plains to study and learn from the Sacaean. She told me that the Sacaeans may have peculiar ways but their ways are much more open compared to those from Bern, Lycia, and Etrutia."

"Your friend?" Lyn asked as she gave Grey and Elric their portion, "What is she like?"

"She's a cleric from the Church of Elimine. A kind soul and a great teacher actually. She told me a lot of stories about how Sacaeans live their everyday lives." Elric recounted as he eat, "You've done a great job in cooking by the way..." Lyn blushed.

"Anyway, she stayed in the plains for a year to learn from your people. She stayed with the Kalsshim tribe to know more about them and helped them improve their daily lives. Heck, she was offered to become a part of their tribe and was asked to become the tribe's teacher since she taught the children and a number of interested adults on how to read, write, and speak in different language."

"So, what happened to her, Elric? Lyn, seconds please." Grey asked as he asked Lyn for seconds.

"She was called by the church to preach in Sacae about the 'wonderful' teachings of Saint Elimine." Elric said, "She said no and excommunicated herself due to the outrage she felt when her superiors insulted the Sacaeans and their ways. She also became a wanderer since that day."

"I see... To think that there are people who came here in our lands not to brag about their superiority and to convert us from our so-called 'heathen' ways but to appreciate and learn about us." Lyn said happily, "And she protected our ways by removing herself from her supposed way of life..."

"Yeah." as Grey put down his bowl and lied down on the grass, "That cleric sure is something, Elric. And I'll be happy to meet her mind you. I'd shake her hand and congratulate her for her actions to help and protect the people she loved."

"I hope she's doing fine though." Elric said, "She's quite young to be travelling alone."

"Wait... How old is she?"

"Grey, you shouldn't ask about a woman's age. Anyway, she's twenty four by now. It's already five years since she left the Church. I wonder where she is now..."

Lyn saw the eyes of Elric, it has the look of longing. Lyn was a bit sad that the cleric that taught Elric was gone...

He longs for her... I wish I was her as well...

-0-

Grey gawked at the moment he laid his eyes on Bulgar. He was more than stunned when he looked carefully on the sea of ger that caught his eyes, followed by the center of Bulgar that is made of stone and wood that accommodates people who are not used in sleeping inside tents. The first place that they stopped by was the pawn shop. Elric and Lyn was very surprised about the treasure trove that Grey have and told the owner to exchange it for currency. The owner agreed immediately and gave him 40,000 gold for the jewels that Grey have. After exchanging jewels for gold, they stopped by at the horse trader's tent and bought a horse (named Amateus). Then, they stopped by at the apothecary to buy medical supplies. After buying what they will need for the next days to come, Elric managed to get reservations (one huge room and also because that room was the only room left vacant) in an inn since the sun will set and their horses need some rest...

"Okay! Since we got what we need, let's go and have some fun!" Grey happily said while locking the room they will be using.

"Agreed! It's my first time here in the famed trading city of Sacae." Elric added, "Do you wish to come along, Lyn?"

"Of course!" Lyn said in high spirits, "It has been a long time since I came here and the visits are rather brief. I want to explore the city for the night!"

"Let's go then!" the three left.

-0-

Bulgar at night was quite spectacular. Many performers from faraway places are showing their talents, vendors are selling items that they did not saw while the sun was up, various food stands (to Grey's surprise that they exist in Elibe as well) sell delicious food like the famous Sacaean kebabs, rabbit on a spit, and many more...

"Oh man... This stuff is awesome!" as Grey ate the kebab, "Did you add herbs like Nasahhee on this?"

"Quite a good tasting sense you have there, young man." the old cook said, "How did you know that I've added herbs on it?"

"A friend of mine cooked a stew with Nasahhee mixed on it. I couldn't forget the partially minty taste of it."

"Incredible."

"I'm betting that you've dipped this beef on a sauce with Nasahhee on it huh?"

The old cook and Grey began to discuss things about food and culinary arts...

-0-

Meanwhile, while Grey and the cook talked about cuisine, Lyn and Elric watched a performer juggle flaming knives while balancing himself on top of a very thin and flimsy stick. The crowd around the performer were stunned on how the performer keeps his composure and as he finished his juggling, he put out the fire on the knives with his mouth, jumped high, made a perfect landing, looked up, and breathed fire as his grand finale. Those who watched him applauded and gave a large sum of gold to the performer. Lyn was quite amazed while Elric asked the performer how he managed to do such stunts...

"There are no secrets in my act, lad." the performer said, "I only did what I can do."

"Really? So you've done them by being talented?" Elric asked more.

"I've only done my best. Nothing more, nothing less." to the performer's amusement as he liked Elric's childlike curiosity, "If you excuse me, I shall now take a rest for my next performance tomorrow."

"I see... Thank you for your time, sir!" as Elric returned to Lyn.

The performer left as well when Elric turned around. Lyn was smiling when Elric returned to her side...

"I've never thought that you like to ask questions and such, Elric." Lyn smiled, "And I never thought you could be a bit childish."

"Oh it's nothing..." Elric said as he was flustered by Lyn's smile, "I may be too old to ask questions like those but I still do so anyway... I guess old habits die hard."

"So you do like to ask questions then?"

"I only do so when it touched my interest and attention." Elric answered, "Shall we go and tell Grey that we should be going back to the inn?"

"Yes." Lyn said.

"Ahhh! What a beauteous site that my eyes have set upon in this wonderful evening!"

Lyn and Elric were alerted by a voice, a very flirtatious voice. Then from out of nowhere, Lyn was surprised to see a man with a light green hair and armor in front of her and the man in question was kneeling to her like as if she was nobility while holding up a rose on her. Elric was torn from laughing at him and at the same time, attacking him for being a cheesy flirt...

"Excuse me?" Lyn said with scorn, "But what are you doing?"

"Your voice! It's like those of a Muse!" the green man ignored Lyn's question and her annoyed stance, "I am Sain, Sain Garramond of Caelin, and I am quite honoured to be in your presence, milady!"

"What's going on?" Lyn, Elric and the man named Sain saw Grey who was holding a rabbit leg on a spit.

Sain returned his attention to Lyn and carried on with saying flirtatious lines to Lyn. Elric answered his query with annoyance...

"That Lycian Knight is trying to get Lyn's attention Grey." while watching Lyn getting more and more annoyed, "Elimine... I hope Lyn won't do anything that would scar him on staying away from women."

"I think that won't be necessary." Grey said as he chew on the rabbit meat.

"What? Why did you say that, Grey?"

"You are from Caelin correct?" Lyn said with annoyance.

"Correct, my Goddess." Sain ignored her tone while Grey and Elric snickered on his ignorance, "Caelin, my fair canton, is the home of men with hotblood and passion. Why did you ask, milady?"

"Because your description of your canton would be much better if it goes like this; 'Caelin, the land where men with callous tongues and oafish manners walk.'." Lyn laid a coup de' grace on Sain while the two laughed.

"You are quite beautiful when you are scornful, milady. May I please know your wonderful name?" Sain said as he feigned being hurt.

"You waste my time, Knight." Lyn fumed, "Elric. Grey. Let's go back to the inn! I am at my end of my patience just by being next to this... thing." she added the last word with disgust.

The three travelers left the Green Knight of Caelin and they later heard an angry voice of a man scolding Sain. They may not have heard their tussle, but they were smiling since the man practically deserved it for being lecherous to the extreme...

-0-

"Can you believe that man?" Lyn angrily said as she change her clothes behind the curtain as Grey and Elric listened, "I'm beginning to think that he says that to every woman that he have met!"

"Let it go Lyn." Grey said as he lie on the bed while writing on his notebook, "Though what he said was true. You are quite dashing by the way."

"What? Not you too, Grey!"

"Don't worry. I'm only complimenting you. Besides that, I already have someone special." Grey said.

"Someone special, Grey?" Elric asked, "Pray tell. What is she like then?"

"She's... A blonde. She's a knight from where I am from and she's also a childhood friend of mine." as Grey recounted his thoughts about her while Lyn (who was finished changing) and Elric listened more closely.

"How is she able to stand you, Grey?" Elric said, "Is she a saint?"

"Yes, Elric. She is a saint." Grey said calmly and ignored Elric's sarcasm, "In fact, she is one of the Sword Saints from where I came from. And she is quite good with swords mind you."

"How good is she by the way?" Lyn asked excitedly. Elric understands her enthusiasm since Sacaean swordsmen are always trying to find someone who are also following the way of the sword to measure each other's strength.

"She was able to win many bouts in battle tournaments that involve swords. She won against an entire army of swordsmen, alone. And she and I tend to tie in our sparring matches."

"So you're a swordsman too?" Lyn asked with much more enthusiasm.

"Not really. I follow any ways of combat and martial arts, Lyn." Grey said, "Not to mention, I also study magick. Did you not see me the other day, casting spells?"

"You are a magick user correct?" Elric said, "Why would someone like you use steel to fight when you have mana as a weapon?"

"Well. Magick users are required to learn how to fight in melee from my homeland. Most of the time, magisters are the first to fall in a fight against anti-magick warriors and such. The council from my homeland decided to add martial arts, weapon mastery, and melee combat in our studies." Grey explained.

"Amazing. Our mages here practically falls down against enemies with a great amount of magick resistance. And they are usually the soft underbelly of every army."

"That might be true. But does teaching mages on melee combat works, Grey?" Lyn questioned Grey, "I mean, it is quite hard enough to concentrate while fighting. What more if they-"

"It works, Lyn. Casualties drastically lessened after that kind of training was introduced." Grey interrupted, "Thanks to that, it also widened our research on magick."

Elric and Lyn wished to ask some more until Grey decided to stop them by not saying anything and reminded them about tomorrow's ordeal and what should they be doing right now...

"Anyway, shouldn't we all get some sleep?" Grey asked as he yawned, "We have some few miles to cover and a long way to go."

"You're right..." Lyn said then suddenly, she had an idea, "Oh and will you spar with me tomorrow? I would like to hone my skills."

"I'll think about it." Grey said, "Anyway, go to sleep."

Grey covered his head with a pillow and slept. Elric turned off the light of the lamp and sleeped as well. Lyn also went back to her bed, opened the window to let some of the night's cool air in before going to sleep...

-0-

The next day, the traveling trio are now packing up and readying themselves to leave. They've said their words of gratitude from the innkeeper and the innkeeper told them to visit again once they have a chance to do so...

"Are all Sacaeans like this, Lyn?" Grey asked Lyn while the innkeeper wave his hands and saying goodbye to them, "They're quite nice actually. And hospitable."

"We Sacaean take pride in our culture. We take every chance that we have to share our culture to the visitors of the plains of Sacae." Lyn replied.

"And the Sacaeans are also known for their hospitality. They welcome visitors from another land most of the time back then without any hesitations." Elric added, "But now..."

"Many of the visitors of Sacae are either appalled and disgusted at our 'barbaric' culture and some from that Church are here to convert us from our 'heathen' and 'disgusting' religion." Lyn spat.

The three travelers have mounted on their horses and began to find their way to the exit. They are planning about how to enter Etrutia by explaining the border guards that they are nothing but mercenaries and sellswords. Lyn disliked the idea of lying to the Etrutians and Grey asked her why. Elric explained that the Sacaeans are proud to the point that they only tell the truth. They would not tell any lies and deceive anyone. They also disdain underhanded tactics and cheating...

"There are no rules in fighting, Lyn." Elric said, "But you may follow them if they lead you to victory."

"But... Stabbing someone from behind is..."

"Also a battle tactic. It's very effective as a battle tactic but it is very cowardly if used in politics and affairs."

"Can't we just face them and fight honourably? I think-"

"Lyn." Grey interrupted, "Have you seen the bandits we fought two days ago?"

Lyn recalled the past events...

"They maybe stupid. But they are not complete idiots. They tried to go behind and backstab us." Grey said to Lyn, "But they were not that successful in doing so."

Lyn instantly remembered when Grey suddenly left her back to rescue Elric from being attacked. She was nearly killed by a bandit had Elric not thrown a dagger to slow him down and Grey casted a spell to kill the man...

Lyn understood what the two meant and fell silent. Elric comforted Lyn...

"Lyn, we live in a world where people think differently." Elric said in a comforting tone, "It's true that many are noble and just. But it is also true that some are not... in your line of thinking."

"I never realized that bandit... Had you two not saved me..."

"What happened before must remain in the past." Grey said, "We humans thrive by learning. You must also do so as well, my friend."

"Thank you, Grey, Elric..." Lyn looked up, smiling.

Elric became red as a tomato while Grey looked forward and saw two horsemen, blocking their way. As he looked closer, he saw Sain, talking to a man who has red hair and red armor...

Wow... Give him a red pants and I might as well think that his friend is a real red knight of Cael... whatever that Lycia country state is...

As the three come closer to the two. It became suddenly clear to them that the red man is scolding Sain for fooling around the town. He also said that all the green man was doing was flirting with women. Lyn, annoyed about the two men for barely recognizing their position, stepped in and told them...

"Please move your horses." Lyn said with a concealed tone of annoyed and pissed, "And do try to bicker somewhere else where you two won't disturb anyone."

"Oh! So sorry, Miss." the red man said as he move his autumn brown horse.

As soon as the horses are moved, Sain suddenly spoke...

"Ah! Fair maiden from last night! Perhaps you'll need an escort while you travel by, I presume?"

"Urgh... You again?" disgusted Lyn, "Will you stop that?"

"Sain, you dolt!" the red man said with a disgusted tone.

"Buh... Kent, we should at least talk with others rather than each other, my boon companion." Sain replied to the man named Kent, "Traveling can be lonesome and we must inter-"

"Enough, Sain." Kent interrupted, "We have an urgent business to attend to and all you do is flirt with every dames we come across every time chance deemed so."

Kent, turned to Lyn, began to say his apologies...

"Forgive my friend's... conduct." Kent said as he made a quick glare on Sain, "Please do not judge us as a whole after what my companion said to you."

"It is fine. All is forgiven, Sir Knight." Lyn said while making a polite smile.

Well... At least he apologized for that man...

Kent suddenly examined the Lyn. He looked at her face more closely though, and suddenly, he spoke...

"Forgive me for saying this but..." Kent thinks hard, "I've seen your face... Somewhere before... I just can't put my mind into it however..."

"Excuse me...?"

Sain suddenly spoke with sheer stupidity that Elric nearly ordered Falkner to trample the stupid green knight...

"Kent! I saw her first!"

Lyn nearly slapped Sain had Grey not gotten into her way by stopping her right arm...

"Grey! Let me-"

"Don't..." Grey said, "Let's leave. If we don't, you and Elric might do something you both might regret later..."

While the trio passed by the two Lycian, Kent was too stunned to talk after what his partner have just said. Sain was quite amused and a bit disappointed about what he just said in the spur of a moment. When Kent recovered, he held Sain's head and gave him a Lycian head crusher (a noogie) while cussing...

"Sain... You complete imbecile!" Kent angrily, "What in the name of Elibe was that for?"

"I... I can expl- AWAWAWAWAWAWA!"

"I've had it with you, acting like this. WHAT KIND OF AN IDIOT ARE YOU?"

"Sorr- AWWWWWWAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!"

-0-

"That green armored lout..."

"As we have said last night, let it go Lyn..." Elric said, "Though I have to admit. That man is a lout."

Lyn, Elric, and Grey are outside the trading town of Bulgar. They also bought two horses to carry their belongings (mostly Lyn's). Lyn seethed about the Lycian who shamelessly flirted with her when they stayed at Bulgar. Elric tested his new spyglass that he bought with the help of Grey's gold and his haggling skills which as Elric boasted, a skill he mastered during his days as a traveler...

"Yeah. I'll hand it to you, El." Grey said, "Your ability to haggle is quite scary. Even I would be persuaded with your skills if I'm peddling."

"Thanks. And stop calling me El!" Elric said as he realized that Grey called him by his pet name.

"Aw... El is so cute when he's pissed off~" Grey said as if he is talking to a baby.

"Ahahaha!" Lyn laughed as Elric and Grey began to bicker about once more.

Suddenly, a hand ax flew from nowhere. The hand ax is flying towards Grey and Elric. Lyn reacted and told the two to get down. Elric managed to get down. Grey however reacted differently by catching the ax with his left arm...

"Gah!" as the ax was caught in Grey's left arm, "That's dangerous you know! You could've hurt someone or lope some poor guy's head off!"

Lyn and Elric was shocked that Grey was not fazed nor panicking about the fact that an ax is buried deep on his left arm. In fact, they were even more shocked when Grey removed the ax...

"Geh! This Lyndis bitch got herself a fine mercenary eh?" a rough voice called out from nowhere.

"Huh? How did you-" as Lyn asked with curiousity and anger, "Who in Elibe are you?"

"Tis a shame tha' we'z gonna kill her off, Boss!" another voice said.

"Oke' boys! Le's kill us a fine girl and her two bitches and gets ourselves some good booze 'fter this!"

From shrubs, bushes, and hills, at least twelve bandits and ten archers showed up. Elric instantly analyzed the situation and made a hypothesis...

"They must have waited here for quite a while..." Elric said, "Most of them are still recovering from their lull."

"So... Attacking them immediately is our best solution then?" Lyn asked as she unsheathed her sword.

"Most likely, yes... But we're outnumbered. And they have the upperhand. To make it worse, they have archers as well." Elric added, "Grey, do you know any spell that can distort senses?"

"Yeah. But I'll need at least five minutes to prepare. And five minutes is enough to get us killed." Grey grimly said.

"Damn..."

"DIE!"

One bandit made a jump from the flank. The bandit's target is Lyn, who was surprised about the scream. As the bandit draws closer to Lyn, a green flash suddenly rammed the man with a steel lance and a red flash beheaded the bandit with a steel sword...

"Wait! You two?" the bandit's last words before losing his head.

"Fool. How dare you try to lay a finger on our Marquess' granddaughter who is also a wonderful lady?" Sain angrily spat, "You and your comrades may be forgiven by Elimine but we knights of Caelin will see you severely punished for this!"

"Milady! We will help you fight these dregs if you will allow us." Kent said.

"You-" Lyn tried to answer but Elric interrupted.

"Sorry Lyn. You two!" Elric referred to the two cavaliers, "Can you two use throwing spears and have fast horses?"

"We have short spears with us." Kent said, "And our horses are trained to be fast. Why did you ask?"

"I want you two to rush on those archers after Grey casts a distorting spell. Grey, can you hasten the spell?"

"I can. The spell's effect will remain strong but it will have a shorter duration due to the rush casting."

"How long?"

"Two minutes if casted below five minutes. Ten if the required time to cast it is accomplished."

"That will be enough." Elric said, "Lyn, get ready to charge."

"Understood."

Grey held his hands up high and four magick circles suddenly appeared. He spoke in languages that the Elibeans do not understand. Later, he suddenly bolted his hands towards the enemies on the other side and threw a giant ball of light. The ball exploded and a flash was seen along with an extremely loud screech. The bandits and archers are distorted at the same time...

"Two minutes to take them out, GO!"

The four rushed in and eliminated the hostiles that outnumbered them. The archers were taken out by the two cavaliers immediately. The bandits however, proved themselves tricky since they still try to fight back even if they were blinded. Grey and Lyn have to be extremely cautious since they are wildly waving their weapons and used them as their eyes. They were cutting through their blinded foes and all the enemy could do is scream, resist, and fight hopelessly. When the two minutes were up, there are five remaining bandits including their leader...

"Whu... What the hell? They killed our boys off?"

"They ain't human! Le's get outta here!"

"Sorry. But your retreat will be denied by me. No hard feelings, pal." Grey said as he threw a Magick Missile on the remnants.

"Wait- GYAAAAAAAH!"

"AAAAAAAARRGH!"

"NOOOOOOOO!"

"HAGHK!"

The four bandits instantly lost their lives and made the coroner's job easier when Grey managed to hit them with his spell. The bandit leader however, lived by using one of his comrade's dead body to block the spell...

"Tha's a close one ye git!" he angrily shouted, "You'll pay fer this!"

"Before we kill you, tell me how you know of Lyndis." Elric asked the leader.

"Heh! Le's jus' say tha' a certain relative wishes him dead."

Kent and Sain became uneasy when the last bandit spoke. Lyn is now more confused about the situation but it did not deter her to attack the last bandit. The bandit tried to parry the attack but Lyn's actually a distraction and the real attack came from Kent and Sain, both with steel swords raised up high and their horses galloping at high speed...

"GAAaaaaGHHHH!" the bandit's last words as the two swords entered both his ribcage and his gut that the bandit lost his life.

"Pay your sins with your death, scum." Kent said as he put his foot on the body of the dead leader to remove his sword.

-0-

After the fight, Grey began to stockpile the corpses of the dead bandits and gathered a lot of dead wood for burning. Elric and Lyn are now interrogating the two cavaliers. While Lyn acts as if they were doing nothing, Elric gave the two a hard eye and asked questions about what they know about Lyn and the identities of her assailant. The two cavaliers began to tell a story about their Marquess' daughter…

"A long time ago, the Marquess have a daughter named Madelyn." Kent began his story, "Marquess Caelin loved her daughter and was quite over protective towards her welfare..."

-0- 20 years ago -0-

It was afternoon in a Castle Caelin. Inside, a young lady with a light green hair and wears a blue and white dress. She saw a door and she suddenly bursted in. She saw many papers fly and a surprised man but she didn't care and walked in front of the man with anger written all over her face…

"Father!" a girl in her adolescence walked in, she is quite angry about something.

"What is it Madelyn?" a man who dons an outfit that fits of a lord and was still in his 50's looked at his daughter in her eyes.

"Why are you doing this to Hassar?" Madelyn asked angrily, "He served you to the extent yet you terminated his contract without any warning, tell me the reason why?"

Marquess Caelin turned white. He knew that he couldn't keep any secrets from her only daughter. He decided to tell him everything…

"Madelyn, forgive me but this is for your own good…" Marquess Caelin coldly said, "I will not allow such relationship from a man with no standing. Not to mention, a Sacaean. I've been hearing quite a number of ugly rumors about you and that man…"

"How many times do I have to tell you this, Marquess Caelin…" Madelyn added with fury, "I do not want you to interfere with who I go into relationship no matter what! You made a promise about that and yet you wish to break it just because I love Hassar?"

"I'm only doing this for you, Madelyn. I will not let you go into a relationship with that Sacaean." the Marquess said with the same tone as before, "And I especially will not let you go. In Sacae, it is a custom for a man to take the woman he love with him to his home and his tribe. It also applies to you, Madelyn. I just won't allow that to happen."

"You… You scum!" Madelyn shouted and immediately left the office.

Marquess Caelin was mortified about what her daughter have just said. He's also shocked about the fact that his daughter's feelings towards the Sacaean soldier-of-fortune, it is quite strong…

-0-

"Madelyn, are you certain about this?" a young man on his black horse who is wearing a similar outfit like Lyn's and has a dark green hair asked Madelyn, who now wears commoner clothes given by her maid and childhood friend, "I cannot just let you go about and live a life just like mine, travelling most of the time and living on the unforgiving lands. You are much-"

"Silence yourself, Hassar." Madelyn snapped at the young man who immediately shut his mouth, "I've made my decision. I will not be deterred by you or father or anyone else. I love you Hassar. I just… Can't bear a life without you… I just can't…"

"Madelyn…" Hassar affectionately said, "I swear to Mother Earth and Father Sky that I will protect our love. Even if I lose my own life and honor."

Hassar then helped Madelyn up on his horse and Madelyn held on tight on Hassar's well-built body. Hassar ordered Makkar to ride fast in the dark night. They met resistance however. When they have made it outside, he met Caelin's cavaliers. Their horses were trained to go fast but they were not trained to make quick turns which Hassar took advantage of and used the city alleys and sharp curves to lose all of them. Madelyn held on tighter, worried about what her father might do to Hassar if they were to be captured. Hassar, didn't made any worries and remained confident. He managed to dodge, evade, and escape every squadron that were sent to arrest the Sacaean interloper and return the Marquess' daughter. They managed to reach the borders of Caelin after eight hours of continuous dodging. But on their way, a man in a heavy armor barred their way…

"Wallace?" Hassar said with surprise and slight disappointment.

"Yes." said the man in his early 30's who have a cropped black hair and a Halberd, "I will let you go if you return Lady Madelyn, whom you stole-"

"Sorry. But I have no intentions in surrendering Madelyn." Hassar interrupted Wallace, "You might as well give up because I will not yield my love to anyone."

Wallace is now torn. He is a good friend of the two. Hassar, Madelyn, and himself usually get together after their duties are done. He knew that the two are madly in love with each other. He is also a knight who serves his liege to his full extent. His liege ordered him to tear the two away from each other, even if he had to kill Hassar in the process. Wallace wished he could just cry due to the Saint's challenge to his loyalty…

"Wallace!"

Wallace looked at Madelyn. He saw her getting down from Makkar and went to the knight. Madelyn held both of her hands towards him and said…

"If father ordered you to kill Hassar just so he could get me back…" Madelyn said, "Then please spare him. I will give up peacefully and return to the castle."

"Madelyn?" Hassar exclaimed.

"I'm so sorry, Hassar. But I don't want you two to fight against each other…" Madelyn sadly answered, "You are my first love and my true friend, Sir Wallace is like my elder brother. I don't wish to see you two fight to the death. But no matter what happens, you will always remain in my heart, Hassar…"

"AAAARGH! MY EYES!"

Madelyn and Hassar saw Wallace, down the ground, rolling back and forth, holding his perfectly uninjured eyes. He even added more 'injuries' by saying that he also got his leg fractured and such…

"YOU BASTARD!" Wallace shouted, pretending to be really hurt, "How dare you put poison on your blades?"

"Wallace, you-" Madelyn said.

"Aaaarnh!" Wallace added as he played possum, "Don't… The Marquess… Stop…"

Hassar and Madelyn knew what Wallace is trying to do. He immediately took Madelyn and spurred his horse to move while Wallace continued to fake his 'incapacitation' as he let his two friends get away…

"Thank you Wallace…" Madelyn said as she and Hassar went past Wallace.

-0- 20 years later -0-

"… Marquess Caelin was heartbroken and disowned Lady Madelyn…" Kent continued his tale, "He told everyone that he did not have any child and carried on his duties."

"That until a letter from Lady Madelyn came out from the blue, twenty years later." Sain said, "The letter said that Marquess Caelin became a grandfather and they are doing great in the plains of Sacae. He never smiled ever since the day he lost Lady Madelyn and that letter gave him a brand new reason to live once more."

"He immediately ordered us to confirm the letter. We went here in Sacae to find Lady Madelyn and give her a message that the Marquess wishes to reconcile with her after twenty years. But…" Kent said, "When we found the location of the Lorca tribe, all we saw were nothing but bodies, dead bodies to be precise. A passing Kutolah nomad told us that the Lorca was annihilated by the Talliver on the next day the letter was sent. We nearly lost hope and were about to report to Marquess Caelin that his daughter died along with her tribe…"

"The nomad told us that there were at least 12 survivors. And one of them is the daughter of the Lorca's chieftain." Sain added with excitement, "We immediately asked where she is. The man told us that she is travelling with the survivors. And we went off to search for her for two weeks. Sifting every clues and information about Lady Madelyn's child. After those two weeks, we finally found ourselves in Bulgar after hearing information about her going there, along with two companions…"

-0-

Meanwhile, Grey is about to finish cleaning up the battlefield until he came across something. Grey saw a pair of golden eyes. Immediately, he picked up an ax lying on the ground and began to cast a spell on it…

"… Rise, Dark Blade." Grey silently chanted as the ax surrounds itself with an ominous black aura, "I know you are there. And I also know that you've been following us after we've took care of those bandits two days ago."

From out of the blue, a hooded figure appears. Under his hood, the only thing that Grey saw are golden eyes. His grip on his enchanted ax tightened as he can sense no human aura on the hooded figure. The hooded figure began to speak in a tone that confirmed Grey's feeling about the person…

"Hahahaha… So you found me, mortal." the hooded figure said with a voice that anyone can describe as those who are evil, "I was told by my master to search this rat infested plains on some anomalous magick concentration. And it turns out to be you, not that Bernese tactician, not those two horse riding monkeys, not even that Sacaean bitch, but it's you…"

"Let's be blunt, you are no human, yes?" Grey replied while controlling his urge to strike the figure with his dark ax, "Oh wait, will you answer positively on my first question?"

"As expected…" the hooded figure answered, "You are quite interesting for a mere mortal, would you like to serve us instead of join-"

Grey threw the Dark Ax on the hooded figure. The hooded figure dodged the ax but Grey charged on the figure and punched him on the face. The figure received a black eye, thanks to his distraction; he staggered backwards while Grey used his handkerchief to wipe off his hand…

"You…" the hooded figure held his eye, "What did you do?"

"Nothing in particular." Grey said as he finished wiping off his hands as if he touched something, "You know, anything that is man and manmade are destroyable, no matter what it is. You are not an exception, Mr. Golden Eyes. And I'll bet my soul that this will not be the last time that we will meet."

"I'll hold on to your bet, mortal…" the hooded figure began to disappear, "I will have your soul for the taking once you die."

The hooded figure teleports away from the area, and Grey was left standing there. Grey saw the Dark Ax that he used a while ago, crumbled and turning to dust. He felt that something might happen. And he knew that that something is big…

-0-0-0-

Character Level:

Lyn – Swordswoman LV.07

Kent – Cavalier LV.09

Sain – Cavalier LV.09

Elric – Tactician LV.10

Grey – Sorcerer LV.08

Okay, Kent and Sain have Steel weapons and Short Spears because Marquess Caelin gave them funds (at least 10000 gold) so that he can reestablish contact with his late daughter and her child. And I also thought about how did Lyn's parents escape Caelin without being caught by anyone Marquess Caelin sent, I also introduced Wallace since he is the guy who let the two escape. And I welcome comments and suggestions.