Updated 9/29/17
Special thanks to Cormag Ravenstaff for beta reading this Chapter
If any of you are expecting a YosefxLyn or YosefxNowi, forget about it. Lyn is 18, Nowi is 1299 (almost 13 in dragon years), and Yosef is in his 30s. In addition, there will be no Human/Dragon pairings (although there will be Human/Half-Dragon pairings) in the foreseeable future.
This chapter combines FE7 chapters 1 and 2, partly because there will be no bandit fights. I'm sick of that trope.
Nowi swooped down in front of the city gates. Bulgar was the closest thing Sacae had to a city, and was the only major trade center in the entire country. Few Bernites ever past through it, and most Sacaens had never even seen a wyvern; the whole town seemed to freeze when they saw the trio. Yosef dismounted and helped Lyn do the same before finding a local restaurant and enjoying a good meal, which Yosef paid for. After they had finished eating, the pair began surveying the scenery for shops to stock up on supplies. Before long, many merchants ran up to them, assuming the Duke's affluence, and advertised their wares. The Bernite humored them, but bought comparably little. Feeling satisfied with their purchases, Yosef and Lyn decided to walk to the local library to see if they had gotten anything new.
"I've always wanted to fly on a wyvern. It truly was an amazing experience," Lyn said while Yosef organized their belongings.
"Perhaps when we get to Ilia, someone will let you fly on a Pegasus," the Bernite shrugged.
"Oh, I've flown on one before. I have a friend from Edessa who visits me from time to time."
"How fortunate. I've never been able to convince a Pegasus to let me ride him. They seem to have some sort of hatred for men. My Ilian acquaintances assured me it is a mere discomfort, but I remain skeptical. What was the experience like for you?"
"It was fun. I felt free, but to be honest, I enjoyed being on a wyvern a bit more. When you're on a Pegasus, you feel like you're floating on a cloud, but when you're on a wyvern, you really feel like you're flying."
"If you wish, you can return to Bern with me and I can see if I can get you into a flight school."
"Do you really think your people will let a Sacaen be a Wyvern Knight?"
"The Dukedom of Saraca consists almost entirely of Sacaens the King granted citizenship, and many of them enlisted in the army. We don't currently have any Sacaens in our flight groups yet, but young Galle is from Pherae and I'm from the Nabata; as of now there hasn't been any trouble, so I doubt anyone will complain."
"I see. Well, before we head off, I'd like to vis-"
"Oh, my heart! What a dazzling vision of loveliness!" A brown haired, green armor-clad knight ran up to Lyn.
"Hm?" Lyn stepped back, confounded by his choice of words. Yosef merely rolled his eyes.
"Wait, oh beauteous one! Would you not favor me with your name? Or better yet, your company?"
"Lycians…" Yosef grunted and shook his head in disapproval,
"Where are you from, sir knight, that you speak so freely to a stranger?" Lyn put her hands on her hips.
"I am Sir Sain, a proud knight in Marquess Caelin's personal guard! You won't find better horsemen anywhere in Elibe! Or lovers, for that matter!"
"If you are as you claim, why are you so far away from your Liege?" Yosef folded him arms, "Lord Hausen is not a young man. He needs his people to support him."
"I take it you're from Bern," Sain's tone shifted suddenly, to Lyn's surprise, "what brings you to Sacae?"
"I'm passing through on my way to Ilia. But I believe I asked you first."
"We are on an errand of great importance to Caelin," a knight with orange hair and matching armor ran up and bowed his head, "forgive my partner, Lord Yosef. He has a rather cavalier attitude toward life. I am trying to discipline him."
"That's Lord Yosef?" Sain's eyes widened, "Kent, you can't be serious."
"Do you pay no attention at the galas? Or are you too focused on the women to notice anyone else?"
"In Sir Sain's defense, I rarely attend Lycian galas. My friend, the Duke of Fafnir, usually has that… honor," Yosef sighed.
"I apologize if you were offended, my Lord," Sain said, though he was clearly being insincere, something the Duke immediately noticed.
"No need. If you want to become a politician, you need a fairly thick skin." Sain and Kent bowed their heads at the Bernite, then turned their attention to Lyn.
"I'm sorry, you look familiar. Have we met before?" Kent asked the plainswoman.
"I don't belie–"
"Hey, no fair Kent! I saw her first!" Sain frowned.
"Wha– wait, no! That's not what I–"
"As entertaining as this is, I believe we should focus on more important matters," Yosef interjected before the situation could escalate, "what mission could be so important that you would abandon a dying man?"
"Who told you he's dying?" Sain folded his arms, "I assure you, my liege's illness is quite minor; he will soon make a full recovery!"
"Of course."
"Anyway, about our mission," Kent said, "we're here following up on a letter received by Lord Hausen's estranged daughter."
"You mean Lady Madelyn? After nearly twenty years? Are you sure of its legitimacy?"
"Did you say Madelyn?" Lyn asked, though the others paid her no attention.
"The Marquess is convinced that it is so and sent us to find her. The letter indicated she was living amongst the Lorca tribe with her husband and one daughter."
"Well, the Lorca's numbers were severely depleted by the Lycian invasion ten years ago, and the rest were eliminated six months ago by a now defunct bandit clan. I don't know if there are any survivors beside this girl," Yosef looked to Lyn.
"Is that so," Sain's expression softened, "I am sorry for your loss, my dear. If you need a shoulder to cry on I would gladl–"
"Among your tribesmen, did you know of anyone by the name Madelyn? Or perhaps, Lyndis?" Kent interrupted.
"Lyndis… I never thought I'd hear that name again…" Lyn resisted the urge to cry.
"I beg your pardon?"
"Lyndis is my birth name. My mother was named Madelyn and my father was Hassar, chieftan of the tribe. They both died to guarantee that I safely escaped the bandits who destroyed out village."
"Then you're her…" Kent gaped, "ah, that must be why I recognized you. You look so much like your mother."
"You… you knew my mother?"
"Unfortunately not. She eloped with your father before I was born, but I've seen her portrait in Castle Caelin."
"I see," Lyn sighed dejectedly.
"Well now, this is rather interesting," Yosef chuckled, "it would seem that my presence is no longer necessary. I–" before Yosef could finish, Nowi came over to him and nudged him. The Duke excused himself so he could speak with her.
"Lady Lyndis, your grandfather has fallen quite ill and wishes to see you as soon as possible," Sain said.
"Should you return to Caelin with us, your title as a member of her noble house and heiress to her throne will be restored," Kent added.
"I do not desire a noble title, but I definitely want to see my grandfather again. I will come with you."
"Excellent, I thank you, my lady."
"If you will grant us the honor, we will gladly serve you to whatever end."
"I can see this is going to take some getting used to…"
"What's wrong, Nowi?" Yosef asked his mount in beastounge.
"That girl, I can't sense her," the wyvern growled.
"What do you mean you can't sense her?"
"It's possible she's under a protection spell. She may be more than she appears."I think the Wyvernstone I gave you has affected your personality somewhat. When we get to Ilia, fly out to the northern mountains and take your true form for a little while. Gregor told me you'll feel a lot better if you do that."
"I feel fine."
"Trust me, you'll feel better once we get to Ilia. Now, please go back to the stables. You're scaring all the locals."
"Good…"Nowi grumbled and walked off.
Eventually Yosef returned to the group with a calm smile.
"Lyn, or should I say Lady Lyndis, I do believe you are in good hands. I'll be heading off to Ilia now."
"Will I ever see you again?" Lyn asked.
"There's a gala coming up next month at Castle Caelin. I'll make it a point to attend."
"I look forward to it."
"As do I. Now, if I may ask, what route do you plan to take?"
"I'll answer that," Kent stepped forward, "we will take the highway through the Delvinshire Wolds straight to Araphen. From there we'll take the main trading route to Kathelet and cross the border into Caelin's Estate Section, which is the safest path to the Castle Town. It should take two weeks, at most."
"A sound plan, but I think you should proceed directly west through the plains, then cross into Araphen near the Etruscan border, which will take you directly to the Castle Town." Yosef said.
"Why is that?" Kent replied.
"The outskirts of Araphen are overrun by rebels. I doubt knights representing the canton's allies would be welcome."
"Rebels?" Lyn raised a brow.
"Remnants of a defunct house," Sain said, "but Caelin has remained neutral in the dispute. What reason would they have to attack us?"
"When in the history of Elibe have terrorists ever needed justification to kill?" Yosef reasoned.
"You have a point," Kent ceded, "alright, we'll take that path."
"First, I would like to stop to pray at the Shrine of the Sword of Spirits," Lyn added, "it's a custom of my people before we depart on long journeys."
The Sword of Spirits… no, it couldn't be… Yosef hesitated before responding, "If that is what you wish. Until next time, I bid you all farewell." With that, Yosef mounted his wyvern and took off.
"The shrine is just over that hill. The temple is one of the most magnificent structures in all Sacae," Lyn pointed toward a distant building. It was truly beautiful, seemingly created in another time. Most Sacaen buildings were made of wood at best, but the temple was made of limestone and red brick. It was surrounded by stone statues of men and dragons, covered with precious metals and gems and had depictions of the Scouring etched into its walls. The gardens were well kept, and the grounds had a magical aura that seemed to calm all who entered the vicinity.
"It truly is beautiful…" Sain stared at it in wonder.
"I admit I'm surprised by its quality. It almost compares to the Eliminean churches in Ostia," Kent said, although he seemed unimpressed.
Once they entered the building, the group found a lone bishop defending the shrine against a group of marauders led by seemingly battle-hardened veterans. They appeared to be interested solely in a sword on the altar. Without a word, Lyn charged in and began attacking the interlopers, followed soon after by Kent and Sain.
Most of the marauders were heavy, slow-moving axe-wielders, so the trio felled them with ease. When they got to the center, they faced the more experienced group, mostly wielding swords, who proved to be much more of a challenge. The bishop, however, was not defenseless and when the swordsmen directed their attention towards the trio, he fired off an Aura spell from his staff, dispatching half of them. The remainder were thrown into disarray, giving Lyn the chance she was waiting for. She lunged forward with all her might and gutted the swordsman in front of her. He wasn't finished, and in a display of extraordinary resilience, lifted his sword and prepared to decapitate the plainswoman. Lyn saw this, turned her blade upward and sliced through his torso and head, ending his miserable life. Kent and Sain meanwhile ran out of the building, grabbed their lances from their horses, then came back and dispatched the remaining swordsmen, except for the one who appeared to be their leader.
"Fools. Do you really think you can stand up to the almighty Glass? Come tr-" Lyn by now knew that the easiest way to fell an enemy was to attack him or her while they were giving an arrogant speech, so she thrust her katana right into his chest before he could finish his sentence. The bandit cussed one final time as his life left him.
The group approached the bishop to make sure he was unharmed, and the lot sat down on the pews to discuss recent events.
"Thank you for your assistance. At my age, I'm not sure I could have defeated them all," the bishop sighed.
"Of course. My name is Lyn; I am a survivor of the Lorca tribe. It is a pleasure to meet you, Father."
"The pleasure is all mine," he smiled. "So what brings you here, Lyn of the Lorca."
"I am traveling with these two knights to Lycia, and I wish to pray for a safe journey."
"Very well. And as an expression of gratitude, I will allow you to touch the handle." Lyn knew that this was a great honor, and was hesitant to touch it. When she did, it began to glow.
"In the name of all that is holy, what is going on?" She looked to the bishop, whose eyes were widening.
"I can't believe it… I never thought I would have the privilege of meeting the true wielder of the Mani Katti," the bishop was awestruck.
"True wielder? Me? That's not possible."
"The blade is calling to you, Lyn of the Lorca. If you do not believe me, draw it from its sheath." Lyn did so, and it came out effortlessly. The sword, still glowing, still felt like a weapon, rather than an extension of the body as was believed, but it nevertheless seemed to be a perfect fit for the young plainswoman.
Suddenly, a pale-skinned man with black hair, black robes and an ominous aura appeared and released a seal on his magic. The shockwave from his black, conflagrant aura intensifying sent Lyn, Sain and Kent flying backward.
"The sword is awakened. I will shatter it and its wielder before the prophecy can be fulfilled," the man said and raised his hand toward Lyn.
"Oh, I wouldn't do that if I were you, Lord Validar," Yosef said calmly as he came into view.
"Should I know you?" the sorcerer turned to face the Bernite.
"I'm Yosef, Duke of Thracia. We met at the trade summit last year."
"Ah, yes, of course. What brings you to such a barbaric realm?"
"I'm just passing through."
"Then keep on moving; my dealings here are far beyond your ability to comprehend."
"If you destroy the sword, you release what it contains."
"The sword is emitting a great deal of demonic magic… if I leave or stay, I fear she may be released regardless. I must act!"
"It's glowing because you are provoking it with your display of power. Replace your restraints and you will find that it will become tame once more."
"Why should I believe you?"
"Because you know in your heart I am telling you the truth. I haven't said anything the secular leader of the Grimleal shouldn't know." Validar hesitated for a moment, but ultimately refused to desist,
"I take it you are familiar with the prophesy that led me here."
"Of course. You think the girl awakened Baligant, who in turn gave her control over the Mani Katti, limited though it may be, and is in the process of trying to corrupt her soul."
"Then you know why I must do this."
"I understand your reasoning, but consider this: what if someone else gave the girl control over the sword? You know of whom I speak, and why you should be hesitant about angering him. I don't want you to end up like your son," Yosef's voice was now one of sincere concern.
"How do you know about that?" Validar scowled.
"I'm a politician. Knowledge is my business."
"Too much knowledge can be a dangerous thing," the druid directed his magic at the Bernite.
"If you kill me, the supply lines that allow your king to maintain his aggressive policies toward his neighbors will shift to Ylisse, and my king will surely declare war on your country. I wouldn't be surprised if Ferox and perhaps even the Haildom decided to get involved."
"We can endure a war with mortals."
"Even if that were true, are you certain you will be prepared for what will inevitably follow?" That final point convinced Validar to back down,
"If I am right, and this girl becomes Six, I will know who to blame," the sorcerer said and warped away.
"Who was that man?" the bishop asked the duke.
"He is the Duke of Grimleopolis, a realm in southern Plegia. It is partially autonomous and considers the laws of the Grimleal Holy Books to supercede the laws of King Gangrel. I met him briefly in Plegia's capital as I was negotiating for expanded access to their shipbuilding materials, which my King greatly desired."
"Why was he so concerned about me and the Mani Katti?" Lyn asked.
"It has to do with Baligant, the blade's previous wielder. She was as evil as they come."
"Baligant… I've heard that name…" Kent frowned.
"She was mentioned in Saint Elimine's Book of Admonitions," the bishop added, "but she supposedly lived a thousand years ago and was sealed away by Bramimond and Athos."
"That's partially correct. Let me conclude with this: the sword has a long, bloody history," Yosef said darkly, his tone indicating he was unwilling to go into further details, "now, I suggest you leave for Lycia soon. Word has reached my ears that Lord Hausen's illness is more serious than the Chancellor, Lord Reissman, is leading his people to believe."
"By your leave, my lady." Kent bowed his head, "we should make haste for Araphen. The road through the plains can be treacherous, but once we get inside the castle town we'll be safe. The Marquess, Lord Malcolm, has been friends with Lord Hausen since they were children; I doubt he'd be unwilling to lend us his support.
"I agree. Plus, ever since House Cornwell was dissolved into Araphen, their military might has dramatically increased; they are now comparable to Laus. If they back us, the neighboring cantons should follow and Lundgren will have no choice but to at least grant you an audience." Sain added.
I justify the temple scene using the technicality that I never used the word bandit. And technically, none of them WERE bandits. They were a band of thieves. There's a difference! I promise!
ANYHOW! To those of you who remember the old version of this chapter and complained about it, I hope this satisfies you.