Chapter 2: The Mani Katti

I sometimes wonder what some parents are thinking when they name their child. This same thought crossed my mind when we met Glass. The sacrilegious swordsman was trying to steal a sacred blade when we arrived.

Lyn wanted to pray for a safe journey at this altar and so we honored her request. This trip also caused another fight.

A woman approached us and told us about the thieves, "Please milady help the priest at the altar. A band of ruffians are intending to steal the altar's sacred sword!"

"They are going to steal the Mani Katti? No I will not allow it,"

"What is our plan then?" Kent inquired.

Since I was the tactician, the group turned to me, "Let's go ask the residents in those homes to the south,"

By speaking with the residents we learned about the cracked wall on the side of the temple, the mountainous terrain and some information about the Mani Katti that wouldn't help us here.

"Ok Lyn we can go to the south and take care of the bandits near the entrance. Kent and Sain, you guys focus on breaking down that wall," I pointed to the cracked wall.

"I hope it's weaker than it looks," Groaned Sain.

"Let's go, Rohan," Lyn and I hurried south and tried to cross the mountains as quickly as possible.

"Would you like to attack first Kent?"

"Fine watch that bandit over there" Kent pointed to an enemy near the wall. Sain remembered to use his sword this time and easily took out the bandit without breaking a sweat.

"See Kent? I have more skill than you give me credit for!" Sain was grinning ear to ear.

"Perhaps if you acted less foolish I would give you more credit. Now help me with this wall Sain,"

I watched as Lyn dueled with the final enemy at the gate. The other two died quickly by quick jabs to the ribs. Once we entered the temple we saw Glass yelling at the sword.

"Grrr. Curse you spirits. I care not of you! One day all will fear me! Glass!"

Just as soon as he said this the lycian knights made a grand entrance through the crumbling wall.

"Who are you? What chance do you have against me?"

"I think we are more than capable of defeating a mercenary named Glass," I countered.

My remark had a better effect than I realized. An enraged Glass blindly charged us. Kent and Sain simply equipped their lances. Glass found it extremely hard to get close enough to strike either of the knights without the other countering. He regretted his blind attempt to attack afterwards and retreated towards the throne.

That was when Sain surprised me. He rushed towards the throne spinning his lance in a circle. He then delivered a critical attack to Glass. Glass fell, howling in pain at his wound before dying. I was amazed and shocked at the same time.

"How in the world did you do that?"

"What? Even you doubt my skills?"

What skills?" I grinned,

Before Sain could respond, an old man emerged from a door behind throne. An old priest emerged and thanked us for out aid.

"As a token of my gratitude I shall allow you to lay hands on the Mani Katti and pray for a safe journey,"

The moment Lyn touched the blade it glowed and came out of it's sheath.

"Huh? How how did this happen?"

"The spirits have called out to you. You are the rightful owner of this sword. Someone I never thought I'd meet in my life,"

"I… I can't… I could't wield the legendary Mani Katti!"

"It is as the sword wishes, otherwise your attempts to draw it would have been as futile as the bandits. Now it is time for you to leave. You may face many ordeals but grip this sword and meet your destiny head on! May fortune small upon you,"

"Thank you father," We all replied before we left the altar.

"So this is the Mani Katti… A blade with no equal," Sain observed the blade in Lyn's hands

"This… It's all so unbelievable…"

That was where I blanked out again. It seems I blank out during all the important conversations. A memory was coming back. I could now remember a name.

'Legault, I know something about that name but… I can't think what it is. Memory loss is a pain'

"Hey Rohan don't you think Lyn is special?" Sain asked in a strange manner.

"Huh what?"

"Woah are you ok?"

"I'm fine,"

'The way he said special… Why does it make me feel uneasy?'

"Yeah she is special,"

"STOP! I'm nothing special!" Lyn's reaction surprised me.

"Oh. I'm sorry Lyn I… Wait why do you say you are nothing special anyway?"

Bad question. She gave a brief, angry stare and left my question unanswered. I turned to Kent for an explanation.

"What just happened?"

"Don't worry about it. Lady Lyndis just feels different being the rightful owner of the Mani Katti,"

"Ok. Maybe she's having a little trouble accepting it. But what did I say wrong?"

"You should have been paying attention instead of daydreaming. Perhaps you'd know the answer to your question,"

'Thanks for answering the question sir knight'

"Tell me Kent. How come you wished to be a knight of Lycia anyway?" I was curious. Besides I felt that if we're going to travel together might as well get to know the people I'm traveling with.

"Not much to say. My parents disappeared when I was young. It was my dream to become a knight and fortune favored me. Sain and I were trained by General Eagler, the knight-commander of Caelin,"

"I'm sure your skills also played a part in earning your knighthood," I replied.

"Well I consider this a test of my worth as a knight. I must escort Lady Lyndis to Castle Caelin before it's too late,"

"I see… Tell me Kent is Sain a close friend of yours"

"He is a close friend yes why?"

"It's just that the two of you are so different. Not just by his desire to woo all the women he can find but he seems… loose. Flexible, if you will and less serious than you. You are someone who's stern and strict when it comes to rules," I realized that wasn't a very positive description and I quickly added, "An honorable knight with a strong sense of duty,"

One of my many weaknesses is my mouth. Once I open it, there is no telling what might come out. This is just one of the reasons why I always try to stay quiet and end up failing. I just hoped my words didn't insult the knight.

To my surprise he had a light smile on his face, "Thank you for the generous description. I always thought the ideal knight should follow the rules. I have tried to become an ideal knight. Tell me Rohan. I've told you about my past. May I hear about yours?"

"I should've expected that," I sighed.

"Is the topic uncomfortable?"

"No that isn't it. It's just that I can't remember. I don't remember many details about my past. That's why I'm traveling. I want to learn who I was and who I am now. All I know is I'm a tactician with two blades forged by a nomad tribe," I held out my blades for Kent to observe.

"Why are they glowing?"

"They have always been like that. They were masters at creating weapons,"

"I see so how come you were traveling with Lady Lyndis?"

"She found me unconscious on the plains of Sacae. She asked if she could travel with me and that's how our journey started,"

"I see. Well It looks like we're setting up camp here,"

I looked ahead to see Lyn and Sain stopping to set up our tents. I hurried to help them.

After camp was set up there wasn't a lot to do. We had to keep moving west and cross the mountains. But the mountains were infested with bandits. I tried to take a vacation from my problems by going for a brief walk. I spent most of the time daydreaming about the various possibilities of who I am, what would happen, and what enemies we'd be meeting in battle. When I walk I feel in the same state as when I sleep. My mind is free to wander and I can just… Well it's difficult to explain but I feel calmer after my walks. Today was no different although I took a much longer walk that I had originally anticipated. I decided to head back to camp as it was beginning to get dark when I heard a voice that stopped me in my tracks.

It was singing and it was coming from my right. I soon discovered a cliff where the same beautiful voice I heard in my tent was in action now. Lyn was standing near the edge singing. I guess singing makes her as calm as my walks make me. I turned to leave when I stepped an a branch.

'IDIOT!' The noise was loud enough for Lyn to stop singing and turn. 'Elimine help me'

For a moment I seriously thought about making a run for it but I decided against it.

"Uh… Sorry just happened to be walking along and I heard something. I'll just go back to camp now," her response came quickly.

"Wait!"

"…"

"Please come here," Woah was she sad? I walked towards her and sat in a grassy area. She left the edge to sit by me.

For a while there was an awkward silence that I wasn't too anxious to break. I was a little afraid of what she had to say.

"I… I'm sorry,"

"For?"

"My anger towards you earlier. It wasn't your fault. I… I'm just…lost,"

"What… What are you thinking about Lyn?"

"Everything! First I learn that I'm a marquess' granddaughter and that my granduncle wants to kill me and possibly my grandfather as well, the only other link I have to my past and now THIS!" She held out the Mani Katti, "I'm not fit to wield the most famous blade in all of Sacae! I… I've simply burdened you throughout this journey. My very existence is a threat to my companions' safety. Besides that you three are forced to protect me!"

She put her head in her arms and started crying.

'Uh oh what do I do?' I tried to stay calm even though I felt very far from calm.

"Lyn… no more tears Lyn remember?" Ok maybe that wasn't the best way to start out but that was really the only thing I could think of to say.

"You're right… No… No more…" She wiped her face trying to clear her tears.

While she did this I carefully chose my words and organized my thoughts before speaking again.

"Milady you must not blame yourself for the events that have occurred these past few days. They are not caused by you. I know you. You don't want the throne. You simply want to see your grandfather. Nothing is wrong with that. If anyone is to be blamed for all of this it's that… coward Lord Lundgren.

"…"

"You… You are not a burden. Not to me and not to the knights either. Lyn you are my best friend. You saved my life at the plains and helped me when I had no one else there. I am very grateful for your help and companionship. Without you… I may not have made it this far. And the fact is you are protecting me. Not the other way around,"

"If any one is fit to wield that blade it is you. You are the same girl who I met at the plains. Your family history cannot change who you are. You are still the strong yet compassionate woman I met on the plains. No matter what happens I'm staying with you until you reach Caelin and I'm sure Kent and Sain feel the same way. So please set your mind at ease milady, your existence is a blessing to us all,"

Wow I cannot believe I just said that. Honestly I thought what I was saying was kind of cheesy but it worked.

"I… haven't changed?"

I nodded unable to say anymore. Her expression suddenly became unreadable to most. Fortunately my tactician skills are much better than my people skills. I could see that she was content.

"Yes. I will meet my grandfather and defeat Lundgren. I will do just as the priest said meet my destiny head on with this sword. I will protect the people in harms way,"

'So it took me two paragraphs long to convey the same point that the priest did in one sentence,'

She then looked at me and I found myself staring into her eyes. She smiled.

"Thank you Rohan. Thank you for being there when I needed someone. Thank you for being my friend,"

'I've become a friend to her. That makes me… wait is my heart supposed to be beating this fast?'

"I…uh…um... I am glad you think of me so highly"

"Well you are my master tactician,"

I grinned and found my voice, "Contrary to your opinions you are special. Last I checked peerless warriors are pretty special,"

she smiled and dropped her gaze. After a while she asked, "Rohan, what's wrong?"

That took me by surprise. "Wh-What do you mean?"

"I'm sure you know what I mean,"

"Um,"

"You were there for me when I needed you, now it's my turn. You're having nightmares aren't you?"

'Can her emerald green eyes see right through me?'

"How did you…?"

"I can hear you in your sleep sometimes. I hear you begging for it to stop. So i ask you again. What is wrong?"

"…"

"Please. Tell me,"

"You are right I'm having nightmares. I'm having nightmares. I can see the blood of those that we've been killing to survive. I hear the screams and I feel... Disturbed that I could have caused all this. Yet we're killing these monsters who happily pillage and slaughter anyone. Yet I feel disturbed that I could..."

I didn't need to finish the sentence. She got my point.

"Should I feel like this? I'm a tactician. Death surrounds me and it always will. It is my job to plan how to get you guys through these battles alive. Besides that we are killing bad people... Yet I still feel... No better than those we kill. I am no better than these bandits..."

I looked down. There was nothing else to say. I stayed silently waiting for what she would say.

"The fact that this bothers you proves that you are better," I looked up at her, "You are not evil. You do not pillage for pleasure, you do this to help us... To help me. I had nightmares before too Rohan, I still do. But I never thought I'd regret fighting those monsters. No matter what happens, I will always believe you are a good person,"

I looked back up at her. This was the only time I saw her looking so uneasy. She looked almost afraid.

I sighed. My burdens weren't gone but I felt better. I had some sympathy.

"Thanks Lyn, I'm going to sleep now,"

She smiled and we walked together to our tent. I slept soundly that night, with Lyn's arm wrapped around me.