1412: A Fire Emblem 7 (Rekka no Ken) fanfic with 3 of my own OCs. Everything else is owned by Nintendo.

Thank you ChaosHeroMark for the review! ^-^

The adventures of the mysterious tactician Mark (Lo Shii) and Lyn. (The first 10 chapters/tutorial part of the game)

Enjoy.

The "apprentice" tactician Lo Shii and the young swordfighter Lyn. A strange pair on an even stranger journey. To prepare for the long road ahead, they go to Bulgar, the commercial center of Sacae. Unbeknownst to Lyn, she will discover something that will altar her life forever.

Chapter 1: Footsteps of Fate "Fate is a strange wind that brings with it, surprises."

"Lyn," Lo Shii said suddenly. They had just finished setting up Lyn's ger for the night, not too far from Bulgar's walls.

Lyn, surprised, asked, "Yes, Mark?" "I'm meeting a contact of mine tomorrow in Bulgar. Do you think you can buy the provisions? I think I have some spare items available for trade. If that's not enough, use this." Lo Shii handed a bag to Lyn, full of gold coins. "There's about 200 gold in there, so use it wisely."

"Should I buy any tomes?" "No... I'll explain that to you another time. Your sword is still durable, so just buying provisions are enough. Let's hope we'll get hired." "Right!" They walked towards their respected spaces to turn in for the night. Lo Shii to his animal friends and Lyn to her ger.

But Lo Shii could not sleep.

'Ziida, do you feel it?' Ziida, roused from her non-existent sleep, replied, 'Yes. What we do tomorrow has been predetermined. Do not go against it.' 'Let's hope our deaths aren't written for tomorrow then.'

The next day came quickly. Lo Shii and Lyn left their makeshift camp. "This is Bulgar, the biggest city in all of Sacae. But you already knew that, I'm guessing." Lyn explained as they walked through the gate and into the market.

Lo Shii nodded, then pointed out a person in a heavy brown cloak. The person's face was obscured from Lyn's view, but Lo Shii knew who it was.

"That's my contact, I'll see if I can find an appropriate mission. Be careful with the gold!" With that, Lo Shii disappeared into the crowd with the cloaked figure.

Once they were out of sight and in one of the many dark alleys of Bulgar, the cloaked figure suddenly stopped and pushed Lo Shii against the wall.

Only to meet thin air.

"Still as sharp as ever, Lo Shii." Remarked the figure. Lo Shii stepped from behind the figure and replied, "You are just to slow, if you were just a bit faster, I'd have some trouble." The figure turned around and wrapped his arms around the shaman. "Well met, at least you aren't an impostor of some sort." "You really need to act your age, or rather...your appearance." The cloaked figure drew back the hood to reveal teal coloured hair and bright crimson eyes, the same shade as Lo Shii's. "Please, I am far older than you are, several centuries at least!" "Well, are we going by time here, or...?" "Many things have happened to be sure, but a long time since I've been in these plain last. I have to say that it is shocking to see so many...buildings!" Lo Shii laughed softly, "By the way...where is your sister? Performing?" The boy nodded, "Here's our earnings from our performances here. You'll need it, no doubt." The tactician took the bag of gold, thanking the boy.

"Where should we meet up next? You should probably stay here no longer, lest they find you and us together." "I figure we should meet up in another country... Perhaps, Lycia?." "Do you have other friends there?" The boy shook his head. "No one to betray us then...unless they find our plans... Have you seen Ziida and John?" "Your 'pets'? No, they cannot be allowed inside Bulgar's walls, surely!" "No, they aren't... They'll escort you a short way out of Bulgar into a forest area. Stay there for the night, I'll see if I can meet up with you then." "Agreed, but who was that girl with you?" Lo Shii paused a moment, thinking how to word his answer, "A girl with a strange wind controlling her fate... I feel that she can help us…somehow..." The boy stared at the shaman, then said, "I trust your judgement, it's saved us many times. Let us hope she is the one to free us from...him."

They departed and went their separate ways.

Lyn watched as Lo Shii disappeared from view, and then started hunting for bargains and traded items for necessary provisions for any journey. 'I don't think we'll need to buy meat... We'll probably hunt most of it. Or the large animals will. I wonder how Mark came by them?-' "Oh, my heart! What a dazzling vision of loveliness!" Lyn's thoughts were disrupted, by the voice of a knight in green armor.

The knight rode on his sorrel horse towards her and dismounted. He tried to land in a fancy manner, but was lucky enough not to hurt himself. Lyn was about to go on her way when she heard the voice again. "Wait, O beauteous one! Would you not favour me with your name Or better yet, your company?" She turned towards the green knight and said, "Where are you from, sir knight, that you speak so freely to a stranger?" "Ha! I thought you'd never ask! I am from Lycia. I hail from the Caelin canton, home to men of passion and fire!"

"Shouldn't that be 'home to callow oafs with loose tongues'?" Lyn replied coldly. "Ooooh... You're even lovely when you're cruel." If Lo Shii hadn't arrived to meet Lyn again at that moment, she would've forcibly started a fight and knock some sense into the knight.

Lo Shii regarded the newcomer with a suspicious eye, "Is he your friend?" Lyn scoffed, "Hardly, let's go, Mark. I've nothing more to say to this lout." The strange pair left the green knight to wallow in his self pity. "Wait! Please..."

"Lyn, who was that man?" Lyn, still seeing red, replied angrily, "A leecher, I haven't seen him before though. He said he was from Caelin." "That's in Lycia, that's a long way, why would he be here?" "Nevermind him, do we have a job?" Lo Shii shook his head, "No such luck, my contact told me there has been bandit attacks, but they are so varied that it's hard to tell where they would strike next. He advised me to just go to Lycia and hope some lord will be kind enough to take in two more in their army." Lyn, fumed silently and said, "It's too bad there's only one entrance into Bulgar. That knight and his friend are blocking the gate."

A knight, in red armor and also atop a sorrel horse, rode towards his friend, "Sain! Hold your tongue!" Sain, cheered up and replied happily, "Ah, Kent! My boon companion! Why so severe an expression?" Kent scowled, "If your manner were more serious, I wouldn't have to be so severe! We still have a mission to complete, Sain!" Sain brushed off the lecturing tone, "I know that. But how could I remain silent in the presence of such beauty? It would have been discourteous!" Kent stared at him. "What do you know of courtesy!?"

A shaman and a plainswoman came into view. "Excuse me! You're blocking the road. If you would be so kind as to move your horses..." Kent straightened up and lead his horse away from the gate. "Of course. My apologies..." Lyn, seeing how this knight took responsibility immediately, said, "Thank you. You, at least, seem honourable enough."

"Hm? Pardon me, but... I've feel we've met before." Kent started to look at Lyn with a more careful eye. "I beg your pardon?" Lyn was appalled. "Hey! No fair, Kent! I saw her first!" Lo Shii stepped in front of Lyn, so that he was between the fuming girl and the knights. "If you gentlemen would excuse us, we really must be on our way." He grabbed Lyn's hand and led her away from the two knights.

Kent called after the pair, "Wait, please! It's not like that." He stopped shouting and turned to Sain, "Sain, you lout!" Sain, confused, asked, "Huh? Not like that? I thought you were..." Kent sighed before shouting, "I am NOT you!! Come, we must follow her. I suspect she might be—" "Be what? She's our mission? You're joking!" Kent rode ahead after the two while Sain called out, "Wait!"

"Run!! We're being pursued! Could it be those knights from town?" Lo Shii shook his head. "These are bandits...and they're blood thirsty for some gold." A bandit appeared suddenly in front of them. "Ah!" "Heh heh hehhh... Aren't you a pretty one! Your name is Lyndis, is it not?" Lyn, surprised and shocked, asked, "What did you call me? ... Who are you?" Lo Shii took a defensive stance and shouted, "Back off, cur! We're willing to fight now and ask questions later!"

The bandit leader chuckled and said, "Such a waste. An absolute waste. The things I'll do for gold... Time to die, darlin'! C'mon out, boys!" Four brigands suddenly appear, jumping out of the surrounding forest. "There's too many, Mark! But I won't give up to these bandits." "Let's even it out a bit, shall we?" Lo Shii whistled, while really calling for Ziida and John in his mind, 'Hurry and get the performers out of here; we're about to fight some bandits!'

"Hey! There she is!" Everyone, the bandits and their targets, turned this way and that. Wondering where the voice came from. "Huh?" "What's going on?" "Were there more people?" Slightly familiar to them, Lyn and Lo Shii whipped their heads towards the owner of that voice. "That sounds like—"

"Whew...Finally caught up... " said Sain, trying to catch his breath. "You there! Such numbers against a girl? Cowards, every one of you!" Pointing at each of the bandits and shooting them a threatening glare.

Lyn's eyes widened in surprise, "You! You're from—" "We can discuss that later." Kent appeared on his horse which was trotting lightly. "It appears these ruffians mean to do you harm. If it's a fight they want, let them look to me!" Sain, wanting the spotlight of attention, shouted, "Stand back! I'll take care of this!"

"No! This is my fight! Stay out of my way!" The plainswoman swung her sword dangerously, daring the knights to stop her. "Well, I can't just stand here and do nothing..." said Sain, looking dejected. Kent straightened up in his saddle and said, "I have a solution. You there, command us." He gestured to Lo Shii, then continued, "I am Kent, a knight of Lycia. My companion is Sain. We will follow your orders in this battle. Is this acceptable, milady?" Lyn, seeing no other way to get rid of the knights nodded and said, "Yes, it is. Mark and I will lead! Let's go!"

And so the second battle of Lyn and Lo Shii's partnership began.

Sain, trying to steal the attention, shouted, "You! You are called Mark?" Lo Shii, intending to keep with the lie, nodded. "Let me attack first! I wish to impress my beauteous one!" Lo Shii raised an eyebrow at Lyn, who ignored Sain pointedly. "Hmm... attack the nearest brigand with your sword." Sain charged ahead after hearing the first part, ignoring the latter part of the command. He swung his lance, a green flash, but the brigand ducked and swiped at Sain with his axe. "Whoa! I missed!?" The knight in green completely ignored his new wound, instead astounded at the fact that he missed the bandit.

Kent called after his companion, "Sain! Why aren't you using your sword?" Sain, still ignoring his wound, answered Kent, "Swords used to be "heroic", but lances are now. A knight should look heroic, don't you think?" Kent shook his head and shouted, "If you don't take fighting more seriously, you're going to find yourself on the end of a blade!" Sain looked a bit sheepish and replied, "Truth be told, I...forgot to buy a sword."

Lyn, Kent and Lo Shii stared at the green knight, disbelief on Lo Shii's face. "Forgot? Or were you simply too busy dallying with the ladies?" Lyn nodded in agreement, looking self-righteous. Sain waved his arms around, "Don't be so mad! I'll be fine with a lance. I'm that good!" Lo Shii shook his head while Kent replied, "I'd prefer to rely on your skill, not your empty bragging!" Lo Shii noted John and Ziida had arrived, and suggested, "Kent, do you have a spare blade?" Kent looked a bit surprised, "Yes, but what do you plan to do with it?" "My raven can take it to–Sain, was it?—as long as it's iron." The red knight handed the sword to Lo Shii, who then tied it to Ziida's claws. Sain, noting the bird and whom it came from, shouted, "My thanks, Kent!"

Kent did not bother replying. He turned to Lo Shii, and said, "Mark! Allow me to make up for my companion's blunder." "Attack the same guy Sain missed with your sword. He won't be expecting you now." A quick charge and equally fast slash, the axe came hurtling through the air. "Now, let's deliver the final blow!"

Lo Shii nodded towards Lyn and she went after the brigand, not expecting the swordswoman to deliver the killing blow. A death wound perfectly executed at his stomach area. He bleed to death, unable to move. The rest of the bandits picked up the pace and began to advance.

Sain, desperate for the attention, shouted at Lo Shii, "Mark! I failed you once before, but give me another chance... I'll not fail you again!" Lo Shii sprinted ahead to give Sain his orders. "Go after the brigand in the forest, use your sword this time!" Sain rode ahead, trying to cleave through a branch to attack the brigand. The bandit ducked the sword swing and counterattacked. Sain barely moved away in time, "Gah!"

Kent, worried about his clumsy companion, shouted, "Sain! Are you all right?" Sain, took a few breaths before replying, "Yes, I am. I was able to dodge in time. I can't believe he evaded my sword stroke so easily." The red knight facepalmed and said, "Look closely. The enemy is hidden in the woods, the branches make it difficult to attack straight on, don't they?" Sain looked around, actually taking in the surroundings before replying, "You're right. I was so focused on attacking... I didn't see." Lyn and Lo Shii stared at the careless knight again, Kent shouted at him, "Your lack of attention may someday cost you your life!" "Fine! I understand already!" "If you truly understand, then act like it!" Sain muttered under his breath, "He's going to grow old before his time."

'John,' Lo Shii thought, 'Go distract that brigand and I'll send Kent to back you up. Ziida, can you come back to where Lyn and I are?' 'No problem, Lo.' 'In a minute.' John rushed forward, surprising the brigand with a swipe at his legs. "Kent, attack the brigand my wolf is attacking!"

Lyn and Lo Shii watched the animals follow their unheard order. "Why didn't we split up like last time?" Lo Shii replied quickly, "Simple, I don't know if they can each take down a bandit. Their knightly training would be much more different than what you learned, fending for yourself on the plains. If anything, it's easy to see that Kent has good skill with his sword. Sain has the strength to back up his lance. However, Sain is a careless idiot and Kent is by the book. I'd trust Kent to follow his orders more than Sain."

John sprinted, trying to hone his natural instincts and get his blood boiling. 'Savage wolf, speed faster than the eye can see, fangs tearing flesh, claws shredding it into lovely strips of ribbons.' John thought this like a mantra, trying to bring out his bloodlust and savagery. 'These guys are chumps! I could've killed them in my sleep!'

Ziida invaded his thoughts, 'If you kill them by snoring, you mean. Once you fall asleep, a parade of berserkers can't wake you up!' 'Aww, cut me some slack, Z. I can handle myself.' If Ziida could roll her eyes, she would've. As it was, she could only think this, 'Pffft!' A raspberry, really immature.

Lo Shii joined in, 'Bicker later, we still have four bandits to kill. John, fake left, go behind the tree and strike him down!'

John followed the directions and gave the bandit a nice giant claw swipe near the legs. The leg, from the knee-down, separated while the bandit fell. A flash of a blade and he fell lifeless, his head hanging on a tree, hair tangled with the branches.

The red knight wiped the blood off his sword and thanked the wolf. "Your help was greatly appreciated, noble beast." John felt very happy at the compliment, 'See, he called me a "noble beast". Someone here recognizes good help.' 'Just don't grow a big head while you're at it.' 'Let him have his compliment, Ziida. It's been a while since he's run that fast.' 'Fine.'

"It seems those knights can handle that bandit." Lo Shii shrugged, "They'll gain some experience at least. We should focus on that brigand coming our way right now." "To the forest area over there?" Lyn pointed towards a forest area. '...Ziida, can you tell the difference from that forest area to this one or another?' 'Nope, must be a Sacean thing.' The pair ran towards Lyn's direction, Ziida perched on the tree they had marked.

A shout of directions and commands from the bandit leader was heard. "He sounds like he's pass the river. There's still one bandit unaccounted for, probably near the leader." A caw from Ziida and Lo Shii corrected himself, "Sorry, two unaccounted for. But I think that one is going against Kent." He whistled and Ziida came at his call.

Lo Shii took a piece of parchment from inside his cloak along with a quill. He quickly scribbled the orders for Kent; using Ziida as a messenger. After sending the commands, Lo Shii turned to Lyn, "Do you think Sain has a vulnerary?" Lyn shook her head, the shaman continued, "Guess that means he needs your extra vulnerary then. Sain!"

"Yes? Sain the gallant man of Caelin. That's me!" Came a shout from the southern direction. Lyn shouted with Lo Shii, "Do you have a vulnerary?" Sounds of frantic searching before the expected reply came: "No, I also just discovered I'm injured! What a cad I am! To wrinkle the lady's perfect brow with worry for me." Lyn gave Lo Shii a look that said: Are you sure he's a knight?

She shouted, "If you can still praise others without any pause. I would think you not need any healing." Sain panicked, shouting and wooing at the same time, "No, wait! I'll take it! Please! The healing power of love awaits with yon angel! Mark! Tarry no longer!"

Lo Shii sighed and asked Lyn to give him the vulnerary. "I'll give this to him and you go start fighting that bandit up ahead. I'll finish him off once Sain gets his 'healing power of love'. Alright?" "Yes, Mark!" Lyn sped away to ambush the bandit just as Sain came galloping into the clearing with gratitude clear on his features. Snatching the healing tincture from Lo Shii's hands and drinking it like it was the only water to quench his thirst. His earlier wound from the bandit, a slash near his abdomen, started healing and stopped bleeding. The skin stitched itself together to leave a slight scar.

Sain finished his drink and stored the vulnerary in his pack. He turned and thanked empty air. "You have my gratitude, my angel. I--eh?" The green knight finally noticed that Lyn was not with Lo Shii. "Mark—" "Yeah, I sent Lyn ahead to deal with another bandit. Stay here and don't hurt yourself." Lo Shii then thought, 'Ziida, go help John and Kent kill that bandit. That leaves two still alive, so you guys can eat the two that we defeated earlier.' 'OK!' 'Thanks, Lo!'

The shaman ran towards the sound of clashing weapons. He saw a blur of blue mixed with the forest scenery, occasionally with a flash of blood. He muttered a curse, summoned the blades of dark magic, and sent the ball of evil at the bandit.

The brigand's wounds from Lyn were nothing compared to the blades of darkness. The dark magic consumed life energy as it slashed the brigand. Constantly moving and cutting endlessly, it left open wounds with a burning feeling of intense heat.

Needless to say, he died within minutes of being hit.

When he heard no more gasps of pain, Lo Shii snapped his fingers and ended the curse. He asked John, 'Is your fight over?' 'Yeah, he wasn't even that tough! Lo...can I eat now?' 'Yes, I think these guys can handle the chief bandit just fine.' 'Alright! C'mon, Z! Feast time!' 'Way ahead of you John.'

"Mark!" Lo Shii's attention was drawn to the swordswoman. "What kind of dark magic was that? I've neither seen nor heard of anything like it!" Lo Shii replied a lie he had rehearsed many times: "It's a family secret, my great-great-great-grandfather's grandfather discovered it. Certain malicious and evil spirits can be compelled to form themselves into weapons. That's what true elder, or dark magic, is. The curse I just used is not written, it's very…picky about it's user. There are two other curses like it...but I'd be insulting the spirits if I used them on simple brigands. That's why I don't need to use tomes, if I can use these three curses, it means I've mastered dark magic and have no use of tomes."

"So you come from a long line of shamans?" "You could say that... I am the only living son left in my family. My father, mother and brothers have been consumed by the darkness... They merely subexist, a living death, you could say." 'Lo Shii! You needn't need to tell her so many lies!' Lo Shii's conscience was ignored, and the raven returned to her meal. Albeit, unhappy and suddenly angry at the dead corpses.

A shout of orders and a barrage of cursing came from the bandit leader. Interrupting Lo Shii's thoughts, "Lyn, this battle is not over yet, so perhaps later...?" "Yes, you're right." "Kent! Use a vulnerary before crossing the river!" Knowing the red knight would actually have the healing tincture, the tactician focused on the green knight and swordswoman. "Sain! Scout the eastern area to see how many bandits are still alive!" "Charge!!" Came a shout from the south. Lyn and Lo Shii both jumped when they heard the thundering of hooves, luckily growing fainter within moments...

A silence overpowered them. "…He's going to knock the bandit down, isn't he?" Lo Shii nodded in agreement. A shout of surprise confirmed Sain's action. "That brigand must be at least half-dead now...Kent! Are you across the river?" "Yes I am, Mark! All that's left is their leader!" Lo Shii thought for a moment before shouting his next commands. "Stand close enough to engage in combat but DO NOT attack him! Wait for Lyn, Sain and me to get there and finish him off." Clashing of weapons could be heard as Sain fought with the bandit he had run over. He had just delivered the final stroke to his chest, right through the right lung, when Lyn and Lo Shii had reached him. "The battle is nearly won, let's go!" The three hurried across the bridge, seeing the bandit leader red with angry and his veins bulging.

"Accursed knights, always tampering in others' affairs!" The bandit leader screamed in rage, ready to tear apart the ones who defeated his gang so quickly. Lo Shii taunted him, "Two knights, a swordswoman and a shaman against only you. Your move, if you have one." The brigand cursed under his breath and viciously swung at Kent. Kent dodged the move easily and counter-attacked. Lyn slipped in and struck the leader in the abdomen, cutting as deep as she could with her strength before Lo Shii rescued her and Sain finished him off.

"Blast... There was only...supposed to be a lone...girl..." muttered the fallen leader. His eyes rolled back into his head as he died. "That's the last of them! Amazing teamwork everyone!" Lyn seemed pretty happy that everyone had survived the battle in a spectacular fashion. "Nothing like an exercise of the mind, is it?" "And now for these knights of Lycia. You were going to share your story with me?"

Kent stepped forward, "Yes, we have ventured from Caelin, in Lycia, in search of someone." Lo Shii interrupted, "Lycia is the country beyond the mountains, isn't it? This person must be pretty important." "Yes, we've come as messengers to the lady Madelyn, who eloped with a nomad some 16 years ago." This time Lyn interrupted, "Madelyn?" "Our lord the marquess of Caelin's only daughter. The marquess was heartbroken when she had left, eventually declaring that he had no daughter."

Lo Shii thought quietly for a moment, 'John, Ziida, do you guys want to hear this?' 'We can hear just fine, Lo. But it sounds like something big.' 'This was predetermined…we couldn't have changed any of this.' 'Still, you guys better check on the dancer and the musician. We need to make sure they're safe...for now.' Hearing running paws and flapping wings inside his mind, he focused on the story presented to him.

"But this year, we received a letter from Lady Madelyn. It said that she, her husband and their daughter were living happily on the Sacae plains. The marquess was ecstatic to learn he had a granddaughter of 15 years. I remember the smile on his face when he announced that he'd suddenly become a grandfather. The granddaughter's name is Lyndis, the same as the marquess' wife, who passed away at an early age."

Lo Shii commented, "Guess you forgot to tell me something, eh, Lyn?" Sain continued their tale, ignoring the comment, "That she should bear this name thawed the marquess' heart. Now his only wish is to meet his daughter's family at least once, which is why we're here. We didn't know that Lady Madelyn died a few days after sending her letter... We only learned of this shortly after we arrived here in Bulgar." Sain stopped, his voice grave and solemn, surprisingly. "But we also learned that all was not lost. Her daughter yet lives, we heard that she was living alone on the plains..." Kent paused, unsure how to continue, "I... I knew it immediately. You are the lady Lyndis."

Lyn's eyes were unfocused as she tried to comprehend what she was hearing. She asked vaguely, "Why would you think that..." Kent interrupted, "Your resemblance to your late mother is remarkable." Lo Shii and Lyn both wore surprise on their faces, "Did you know my mother?" Kent shook his head, "I'm sorry to say I've never met her directly, but I saw her portraits in Castle Caelin."

Lyn looked away, walking towards the river, and stopped at the water, away from the two knights and the shaman. "To the rest of my tribe, I was always Lyn. But when I was with my parents... I was Lyndis. It's all so strange, I was all alone in the world, and now I have a grandfather. Lyndis... I never thought I would hear that name again..." The red and green cavaliers remained in a respectful silence. Lo Shii coughed lightly and reminded her, "Lyn...that bandit called you Lyndis too..." Shocked, Lyn turned to face the men, Kent asked Lo Shii, "What? How could he have—" Sain interrupted, "...He was a henchmen of Lord Lundgren, wasn't he?" "Lundgren? Who's that?" "Is he the heir to the Caelin throne?" Kent nodded, "He's the marquess' younger brother. Everyone assumed the lady Madelyn was gone forever, making Lord Lundgren heir to the title." Sain continued, "To be blunt, milady, your existence is an obstacle to your granduncle's ambitions."

"That's—But I have no interest in inheriting any title!" "Lyn...if you meet with your grandfather, he'd surely give you the throne of Caelin over Lundgren." Sain added, "Mark is right, Lundgren is not the man to believe that you won't take away his inheritance. I believe the attempts on your life will persist." Lyn, overwhelmed by everything she had just heard, asked, "What should I do?" "Accompany us to Caelin, continuing on this way is dangerous." Suggested Kent. Lyn replied dejectedly, "I feel I have little choice, I'll go with you."

Lo Shii remained silent for a moment, "Well...you better start packing if you're going to Caelin, Lyn. Roughly three months travel...Non-stop or at a slow pace?" "We can discuss that as soon as milady is done packing." Kent replied. "But it is getting late, we should probably leave on the morrow." Sain stretched and began to climb on his horse. Kent pulled him back down, "We'll stay on guard at your camp site, in case there are any other assassins." Sain stared at Kent, "But the inn..." "We've no time for your wooing with the bar maids." Sain continued to look pathetic as the two knights rode to the tactician and swordswoman's campsite.

Lo Shii whistled, but he didn't need to. John and Ziida had returned and were waiting faithfully in the forest area just beyond the gate to Bulgar. The group continued in silence, with whimpers from the green knight and the occasional exasperated sigh from the red knight.

The afternoon faded into evening, the knights made themselves comfortable and set up a guard schedule at Kent suggestion. Lo Shii had the first shift and was found sitting with his back against a tree. John was at his legs, feigning sleep but ears alert, hearing everything. Ziida perched on the lower branches of the same tree, also feigning sleep. Lyn sneaked towards Lo Shii when the other two knights were asleep.

"Mark...I'm sorry. This changes everything... so what will you do now?" Lo Shii opened one eye, similar to what he had done this morning, it seemed so long ago now to him. He answered, "It's your choice, milady. I'm pretty sure I'm no longer your equal, but I did promise to train you. Would you let me back out of my promise?" "You...want me to decide? Of course, your companionship would do much to ease my journey, but... It's going to be so dangerous..."

Lo Shii opened both eyes and stared at her hard, "It's going to be dangerous? I think I'm more dangerous than anything we'd meet out here. That's including my wolf and raven, of course." "You'll come? Are you sure?" "A promise is a promise, right? Besides, Saceans can't go back on their words, and I don't like to either." Lyn hugged Lo Shii again, then had let go quickly. "Thank you, Mark! Let me ask once again for your friendship and your aid." She then left him, peace in her mind.

But not in his.

'Predetermined, eh, Ziida?' 'Yes...but the fates are not done with her...the spirits are calling out to her...I see a sword of great power…' 'A sword? Hmm... I can only think of the Mani Katti in Sacae...unless you mean the legendary weapons?' 'No...it's make is like Sacean swords...but gifted with the power of the spirits.' 'We'll find out soon, I think... John.' 'Yea, Lo?' 'Did I make the right choice? Joining with her?'

John sneaked a look at him, 'You should follow your heart.' Lo Shii struck him on the head hard, knowing it didn't hurt the wolf. 'Logic makes more sense than emotions! Hmph...Ziida?' 'It was predetermined by fate...but she will become strong one day...maybe too strong .' 'She's a good person...but power is malicious and crafty...'

'Lo, you didn't eat much for dinner...' 'That's because I'm going to feed on Sain, the sooner I have a good hold on him, the better...' 'Lo Shii! I thought you said yester-' 'It doesn't matter now, the more people that join us, the more I need to know and control...' 'And how many people have you controlled?' 'Completely? Only a few at a time, you guys know that. I don't want our tracks to be found, alright?' 'But-!' 'Enough's enough. I think it's time to change the guard...time to wake Sain up.'

Lo Shii crept towards Sain, intent on waking him up after feeding on him. Sain tried to knock Lo Shii away, but as soon as the cavalier looked into the shaman's eyes he fell into a trance. His lifeless movements made him a human doll as Lo Shii finished up. Lo Shii ended the knight's trance and sent him to sleep. Kent suddenly woke up, surprising Lo Shii.

"Mark, why isn't Sain awake?" Lo Shii shrugged, "He won't wake up, I've been prodding him for a while... Why are you awake?" Kent started to get up and put his armor on. "I'm a light sleeper by nature, too anxious to sleep I suppose." Lo Shii nodded, "Well, a lot of things did happen today... You don't mind if I sleep with my animals, do you?" "No...although I am a bit curious about how you came upon them." "It's a long story, I might tell you someday, Kent. Night." "Good night, have a restful sleep."

As soon as the tactician was sure the knight stood guard. He slipped away, unseen with his animals, towards the forest area to meet with his cloaked friend and his sister. They appeared to be sleeping, but were alert to every sound in their surroundings. "Peace, it's me." The boy and girl jumped up to greet the shaman, the girl spoke, "We thought you were never going to come..." "I'll have to tell you that the girl I'm traveling with...she is actually an heiress to the Caelin throne." The sibling's eyes widened in surprise.

Lo Shii continued, "We should meet up in Caelin then, roughly three months from now. Think we can do it?" "Well..." "It is a long way though..." "Suppose you two travel ahead of us with John? I'll send Ziida to check up on you, every morning and every night when we break or make camp. If anything is wrong, they'd be able to tell me immediately and I'll help you." "Thank you, Lo Shii." "What did we do to have a friend like you?" The shaman turned away, focusing on the stars above. "Who knows? Fate seems to like doing this to me." "Lo Shii, I--." "Save your thanks when that blackheart is dead. I'd better go, before they realize I've slipped away. Take care." The girl and boy nodded, they quickly packed their few possessions into their packs. They then sat on John's back, the girl riding in front and her brother behind her. Neither had looked back to see the tactician run back to his own camp.

The rest of the night was filled with dreams that the shaman could not make sense of.

1412: I did warn everyone that updates will hopefully be weekly. But it seems updates will be on Saturdays or Sundays pending if I'm unavailable on Saturdays ^^; Curious and curiouser, who is that mysterious contact that Lo Shii had met? (Very obvious to those who have played the game and finished -;;; )

Ziida: So I can see the future?

1412: Yes and no, more like a good idea of what will happen.

Ziida: ...So I just make really good guesses?

1412: ... (refuses to comment)

John: I've been reduced to a pack animal! TAT

1412: *stares* when did your vocabulary get better? Anyways, text from game used was shortened to have the more important detail in...may need to edit this chapter later

Here's what Lo Shii looks like - http : // slayer-1412 . deviantart . com/art/The-Tactician-145524521 (without spaces)

Now for the preview of the next chapter:

A small altar lies on the outskirts of Bulgar. This ancient temple, sacred to the people of Sacae, has long been known for its powerful bond to the world of spirits. Before starting their journey, our travelers come here to pray for their well-being. At this altar, Lyn's hand is directed to a grand inheritance.

Chapter 2: Sword of Spirits "In my hands, this blade is strong."

The next morning, Kent was unhappy with Sain, as he had never woken up for his shift the night before.

His punishment for that was three nights of standing guard by himself, no shifts for sleep at all.

Lo Shii did not feel a bit guilty at all. Grinning inside his mind while looking indifferent in reality, knowing that Sain needed to be punished for harassing Lyn somehow. At least, that is what he had heard from Lyn.

Lyn, however, led the group not towards the mountains towards Caelin. Instead, she led them not too far from Bulgar. Lyn suddenly stopped, "Mark, hold a moment, and allow me a short detour. There is a sacred sword enshrined in an altar east of here. The people of Sacae go there to pray for safety at the onset of a long journey." Sain, seeing the altar, replied, "Oh! How quaint!" Kent commented, "The teachings of Elimine have the most followers in Elibe. It is nice to see that, here at least, the ancient customs are still observed."

Inside the temple, it was anything but quaint and filled with worshipers.