The trip was uneventful; as Glenn had said, the roads were clear enough since they were well-traveled, and any monster they saw was always in the distance and wary of two armed young men. The flower-vendor was more than happy to fill the silence for Glenn and Serge, and in doing so kept herself occupied; it didn't seem to matter to her that the two young men rarely answered her. They reached the Manor in short order, and were greeted with relaxed guards, who, recognizing Glenn let them in without a fuss, and told Glenn to give their regards to Dario.

The wedding was to take place in two days.

Glenn and Serge left the flower-vendor with the other people involved in organizing the decorations, and went off to the practice fields, where there was little activity. Glenn sat down on a bench and sighed, unbuckling the Holy Swords.

"I ought to go see my brother."

Serge told Glenn that it seemed like he didn't want to.

"He'll be busy. I shouldn't disturb him."

Was there any other reason Glenn was avoiding doing so?

Glenn looked up at Serge and smiled faintly. "Probably." He looked at Serge, and a thought hit him.

"You have no place to stay around here, do you?"

Serge shook his head.

Glenn frowned and thought. "I suppose I'll be able to get you a spot in the barracks. If not, I'm certain that the stable-master might know other places you can stay."

Serge nodded and thanked Glenn.

"How long are you planning to stay?"

Serge answered that he would stay as long as Glenn would let him.

Glenn looked surprised. "As long as I let you? Shouldn't you take that up with the General?"

"Take what up with me?"

Glenn and Serge both jumped a little, surprised, and Glenn was on his feet in a millisecond.

"General!"

"Relax, boy. I see you're back from patrol. Have you come to any conclusions?"

Glenn looked thoughtful, and then slowly shook his head. "The matter bears more looking into. I still do not know what could have caused the mutation, nor the increase in aggression even in the usual monsters."

"Very well, then. Keep on searching for the answer. I'm sure you'll be able to discover the cause."

"Thank you, General."

Serge could tell that although Glenn was glad the General thought highly of him, he was not looking forward to returning to the Valley.

"And who is this young man?" the General asked, turning to face Serge.

Glenn looked at Serge, then the General. "His name is Serge, General. He is from the village of Arni, which lies on the cove near Hydra marshes."

"Ah. So, Serge, what brings you here?"

Serge said that he had helped the flower-vendor collect some bellflowers, and in doing so met Glenn, who he knows. Glenn had helped him in a fight against some monsters in the Valley, and had told him about the new problem. After that, they had left the Valley together, delivered the flowers, and had come here. He had come along because he was searching for something to do. He wanted to know if the General would kindly give him boarding, and as payment, Serge would be happy to do whatever missions the General needed another person working on.

The General looked Serge over, noticing his Spectral Swallow, his much-used armor, and the strength in his body.

"Very well. It will be nice to have another warrior at hand. Porre has been restless of late, and I fear that we may need to fight them soon. Until then, though, I know what you can do. I will allow you to room here as long as you agree to help Glenn with his research into the monster problem in the Valley."

Serge couldn't have wished the situation to go any better. He nodded solemnly, though, and accepted with thanks. What he really wanted to do was cheer, but he had more control than that.

"Now, Glenn, don't forget to pay a visit to your brother." As he turned to leave, he paused and looked at Glenn again. "It will be good to have you working with someone else. I hope you will realize that you need not take care of everything on your own."

Glenn merely nodded, confused.

Serge smiled slightly, noticing Glenn's momentary puzzlement.

"Well, I suppose I should go. Why don't you find an empty bunk for yourself? Since I know you know your way around the place."

Serge smiled wryly at the last statement when he heard the muted sarcasm in Glenn's voice. Glenn turned and headed back towards the Manor, his swords hung in their sheathes, looking a little too big for Glenn's more lithe frame. Serge watched him until he disappeared from sight, and sighed.

Find a place to sleep.

Sounded like a marvelous idea. Especially when a bed was involved. When was the last time he had slept on a mattress?

When he had been so drunk the barkeeper had pity on him and paid for his stay in the inn for the night. Right.

Serge sighed at that memory, a sheepish smile touching his lips. He was not going to have that experience again anytime soon.

Serge sighed and readjusted his swallow and pack on his back and walked to the Manor proper.

---

Serge sat wearily down on an unclaimed bed and shoved his pack beneath the bed frame. He knew what would happen if he left it in the open; someone would rifle through it and take what they wanted. So hiding it was the best bet. He placed his swallow against the wall, positioning it so that the tip didn't gouge into the wood flooring, nor would it would its edge by rubbing against the stone wall. He sighed and looked around. It was strange being in a barracks. He had never had such an experience before. He shucked off his boots, and removed his gloves, sticking them in the shoes. He untied his kerchief and removed his denadorite mail, and shoved them all under the bed to prevent any thefts. He threw the blankets down and swung his legs around so he was lying on the bed. With a sigh he dragged the blankets over his tired body, but he only got halfway before he was out cold.

---

He awoke and tensed. Where was he?

When he finally got his bearing he relaxed.

The Manor. Right.

He sighed inwardly. He was unused to sleeping indoors with no viable windows. He slowly sat up and noticed that the lights were turned down low. It was either late at night or near morning. How long had he been sleeping? He turned and rested his feet on the floor and winced at how cold the stone was. He reached under his bed and drew out his shoes and gloves. He didn't think he'd need his vest, but he was careful enough to bring his swallow. He walked quietly out of the barracks and exited into the hallway. The hallway was still well-lit and he gave his eyes a moment to adjust before walking towards the exit.

He was restless now that he was awake. He left the building and exited into soft, pre-dawn light. He stood on the steps behind the sentries for a long moment, just absorbing the gentle air before walking behind them towards the practice courts. He had never really explored that part of the Manor; one tended to avoid it if one did not wish to get caught. He turned a corner and saw a figure moving in the gray light. He tensed and one hand went to the handle of his swallow. He walked carefully, softly, out from behind the building, advancing slowly. When his eyes could finally make out the person, he relaxed considerably.

It appeared he wasn't the only one who was awake and not a sentry.

He leaned on the barrier between the courts and the rest of the Manor's campus, and watched Glenn practice.

Serge could tell he had begun recently; his movements were still a little jerky; apparently he wasn't completely warmed up yet. The rhythm was soothing and familiar, though; it was the basic kata that any warrior first learned, no matter what the weapon. A succession of blocks, parries, and blows that were deliberate and careful. If the warrior wished to make it harder, they would proceed to speed the kata up, making it more taxing to move quickly, yet efficiently. Serge watched as Glenn did just that, though the kata was admittedly more complex because of the use of two swords. Serge sat there silently and waited until Glenn had pushed the kata to its limit. It took a moment or two longer for Glenn to notice he was there.

Serge commented that Glenn's form had been very good.

Glenn shrugged. "It's still not good enough."

Good enough for what?

Glenn shook his head. "For me. For anyone. They expect a lot from the wielder of the Holy Swords."

Serge nodded slightly, and then offered to spar with Glenn.

Glenn looked surprised. "You would?"

Serge nodded.

Glenn paused and thought for a moment. "A swallow is an unusual weapon; you don't often come by it. It's almost like two swords; you always have to be on the lookout for the other side." Glenn nodded. "It will be good practice. You need to warm up first, though." Glenn gestured towards the empty ring and Serge hopped the fence, being careful not to get his swallow caught. Glenn walked off to one of the sides, and stretched to keep his muscles warm while Serge ran through the same basic kata until he felt he was ready. He turned and looked at Glenn and nodded before walking to the side opposite Glenn and falling into his stance. Glenn walked and fell into his own stance across the court from Serge and they looked at each other, each still for what seemed an eternity.

Then they moved.

---

Karsh was going to the practice courts to work out his depression over the coming marriage of Lady Riddle to Dario. He wanted to be able to attend it while not being in a sour mood. Dario had asked him to be his man-of-honor anyway, and he didn't want to spoil the occasion. When he turned to corner to the practice courts, he frowned. Someone was already there. No, two people were already there. And sparring. Karsh frowned, but walked over, wondering who would be crazy enough to spar this early in the morning. His vision resolved the two figures to be Glenn and another young man–the new recruit that Glenn had brought with him. What was his name again?

Karsh watched the match, and slowly smirked. It wasn't that fair of a match; it seemed the two already knew the other's moves, so neither would be surprised by any technique used.

He leaned against the fence, propping his axe against a post. It was actually an interesting match; Karsh had not known that Glenn was so strong, or so skilled. The young man had seemed to change drastically in the span of a night, and none of the dragoons had any good answer as to why.

Then again, he didn't seem too surprised when Dario had returned to them. Glenn hadn't acted jaded as much as with an 'it's about time' reaction. Like he had known all along that Dario was still alive. But how? Before he changed, he had seemed as convinced as anyone else that Dario was dead. But the Glenn he was watching now was a truly different Glenn, and it was more than just from spending time chasing monsters in various parts of the main continent in El Nido. This Glenn was utterly sure in his movements, was swift, strong, and in a way, alarmingly unforgiving. He was giving his partner no quarter, but the other young man wasn't holding back either. Karsh was puzzled and intrigued by the stranger's weapon, but saw how it would give Glenn a good work-out, since it was almost like wielding two swords. Not many people had the guts, or skill, to use a double-edged weapon. Karsh found that he was unable to decide the winner, and knew that any comment he made could possibly result in deadly consequences, so he merely watched. He felt someone come up behind him and knew without looking that it was Dario. Dario settled next to Karsh, obviously amused. He watched and Karsh felt his amusement change to interest turn to alarm.

"Glenn has changed, hasn't he?" Karsh threw as an off-hand remark.

"Yes, he has," Dario answered almost mechanically, riveted on the scene before him. Karsh turned his attention back to the duel as well.

"You haven't seen him in years, have you? He's become quite a dragoon since then. I've heard the General's considering making him a Deva, since he has inherited the Einlanzers..."

Dario nodded slightly, but Karsh wasn't sure Dario had heard.

The match before them came to a grinding halt when both weapons caught on the other, pinning their owners together, unable to move lest they risk losing a limb. Or two.

Karsh clapped languidly, making the two young men start and look at him.

"Brother! Sir Karsh...I hadn't known you were watching."

The other young man looked at the two spectators in something that came close to sullen before he and Glenn figured out how to maneuver each other so that they didn't hurt each other. Once disentangled, Glenn walked over and saluted his elders, and sheathed the Einlanzers without even bothering to look. Karsh was impressed. It seemed that Glenn knew how to handle the two swords better than he had given him credit for.

"Were you planning on using this field? I'm sorry if I seemed inconsiderate."

Karsh smirked inwardly. 'He doesn't want to implicate it was the other guy's fault; he would do something like that.'

"Nah, it's okay. I was just going to run through some passes to work out some tension. Nothing quite so serious as what you guys were doing. It looked like you were actually trying to kill each other."

Glenn looked surprised, and that confused Karsh. "Really, Sir Karsh? But we were both in perfect control the entire time. It was quite safe."

"Ah. Right." Karsh was impressed in spite of himself.

Dario was not so impressed. "You should be more careful. If you're going to practice, don't use live weaponry."

"But if we don't, we won't know how to handle the weapon correctly in battle, and that would have deadly consequences."

Glenn blinked, obviously surprised with himself. Dario frowned, but conceded that Glenn had a point. Karsh marked up another oddity that Glenn had gained over the span of a night. Before, he would never had responded to his brother in such a way. Something fundamental in Glenn seemed to have changed.

Was it because of that boy? Nah. He had just arrived, after all. Surely not long enough to have influenced Glenn to the extent that the boy had changed.

"Do you want to use the court? Serge and I are done sparring, I feel." There was a wry note in his voice that Karsh couldn't entirely place.

"I do. But I don't know about Dario. What brought you out here?"

A sheepish look crossed Dario's face. "I couldn't sleep."

Glenn smiled slightly, and nodded. "Well, the wedding is taking place today."

Dario nodded and his features became soft as he thought briefly about Riddle. Glenn hopped the fence and the other young man followed not long after. Karsh had completely forgotten about him.

"Hey, what's your name?"

The young man turned towards Karsh, and told him that his name was Serge.

"Alright. I'll be seeing you two around." Karsh took the more sensible way and entered the practice court through the gate. Dario turned and looked at Glenn.

"Could we...talk for a little?"

Glenn nodded, mildly confused, but followed his brother as they walked away from the field, Karsh, and Serge.

---

Serge sat on the hay in the second level in the barn, thinking. It had certainly been an experience since he had come back to the Other World. He was now in the employ of one of the primary people who had made his life difficult before, he had discovered the Glenn remembered what he did, and had found that Glenn's life had been as difficult as his before the two had met again. It's difficult when there is no-one to share your experiences. He was going to attend the wedding of the man who nearly killed him, and that man wouldn't believe him if Serge told him that it was he, Riddle, and another that had brought back his memories and retrieved him from Serge's home world to this one.

Right. No-one would believe a story like that.

Serge ran a hand through his hair, picking out all the stray strands of straw from his hair. He swung down from the loft, startling the stable keeper. Serge apologized and then walked out, memory conjuring images of both times he had been in the stable previously; first as himself, then as Lynx. He shook his head and just barely avoided running into some dragoons who gave him dirty looks and grumbled. Serge apologized, and then walked away, sighing. He turned a corner and saw the finished product of his painstaking gathering of bellflowers.

The whole place was filled with bellflowers, the other decorations simple and unobtrusive, and would highlight the ceremony more than the decorations.

"Hey! What are you doing here?"

Serge sighed and turned around to see one of the few females he didn't like.

Marcy stood a few feet away, hands on her hips, giving him a suspicious look. Serge gave her a small smile and told her that he wasn't entirely used to the layout of the Manor yet, and had gotten lost.

"What d'you mean? Like, who are you?"

Serge wanted to growl in annoyance, but kept his composure. He told her that he was Serge, and that he was a new recruit.

"You don't look like one. I know! You're just here to, like, ruin the wedding, aren't you?"

Serge vehemently denied it, but Marcy obviously didn't believe him. Or chose not to believe him. She giggled maliciously and then lunged in, intent on the attack. Serge dodged and then maneuvered away from the wedding pavilion, drawing her away to a safer place to battle. Serge tried to convince her that he wasn't here to do anything to the wedding, but Marcy merely grinned and asked him, "Then why are you running away?"

Serge wanted to answer, 'Because you're a lunatic and I don't want either of us to get hurt,' but she didn't give him time to answer. He did his best to simply dodge or block, but he was becoming annoyed. He measured how strong she was and then smiled softly to himself. Once he had her in the position he wanted her in, he cast Inferno, leaving her singed and defeated on the ground.

"Owwwwwwww! Meanie!"

Serge sighed and walked over to her, taking out some Ointment. He told her in the voice that made the children of his village obey him to stay still. Against her will, she did, and Serge applied the Ointment, healing the damage he had done. He caught her fist before she could hit him and had her look him in the eyes. He asked her if he really seemed like he would ruin someone's wedding day, and, after holding his eyes for a moment, looked away and sullenly murmured, "No, you don't." Serge gave her a small smile and dropped some Tablets in her lap, then gently suggested that maybe she should get up so that she could make herself presentable for the wedding. She nodded and stood, made an attempt to kick Serge's shins, which he avoided, and then ran off, tossing the tablets into her mouth as she went.

Serge watched her leave and sighed. He had not needed that.

"Well that was impressive. You beat her, and then healed her. You are a unique young man."

Serge turned and saw the General walking up to stand next to him.

"I have been told that you helped collect the flowers that my daughter loves," he said, looking off in the direction of the pavilion. Serge confirmed that statement. There was a long pause, and then the General looked at Serge.

"Karsh reported to me about your and Glenn's duel this morning. He said you are quite the warrior. That must be the case to be able to practice against the Holy Swords." There was a pause as the General looked at Serge's swallow. "May I see your weapon?"

Serge nodded and unhooked the swallow, and handed it to the General. The General took a few steps away and swung the weapons experimentally, then traced its contours with his fingers.

"This is rainbow shell!" The General looked at Serge with renewed respect. "You are quite lucky to have a weapon of this caliber on you." Serge nodded, agreeing that it was rare for anyone to have a spectral weapon, but he had managed to have one forged. The General nodded absently, then handed the swallow back to Serge, who replaced it in its holder.

"May I ask you a personal question?" the General asked, and Serge nodded. "How do you know Glenn?"

Serge smiled faintly and told the General that he and Glenn had fought side-by-side before.

"But how? Glenn, before inheriting the Einlanzers, rarely went anywhere. He was mostly on duty in the Manor. I would remember seeing you. You are a distinctive youth."

Serge hesitated and tried to find a good way that would explain how he and Glenn came to know each other. He shrugged and sighed, and told the General that time was slippery, and that he and Glenn had indeed fought together before, but all that experience was erased from the future of the world, and everything was instead returned to the way it should have been, rather than dealing with a great many crises. The General gave him a strange look, and Serge asked where Lynx was. The General was surprised by the question, and thought. "Lynx? I...don't know. He just disappeared from one day to the next."

And the Dragon Tear?

"Gone as well. Might he have taken it with him?"

Serge shook his head, and told that Lynx was dead and the Dragon Tear had shattered, but all that was gone from the future.

The General was quite puzzled. "You speak of many things that seem more magic than reality."

Serge asked where all the Dragons had gone.

The General frowned. "Disappeared as well. They were there one day and then gone the next. Caused quite an uproar in the communities that worship the Dragons."

Serge smiled faintly. He didn't feel like telling the General that he, Glenn, and Fargo had destroyed them.

"Well...you seem quite sane. I will believe you when you say that you and Glenn have fought together before, but I do not think you can convince me of the other things you speak of. But, come, the wedding will be starting in half an hour, and we need some people present to do crowd control."

Serge nodded, then, belatedly saluted, which made the General chuckle, and gestured for Serge to follow.

Serge fell into step one behind the General, and hoped that he wouldn't have to stay on crowd control for long.

---

Serge leaned against the post closest to the wedding, yet also near the common people who had come to witness the event. Glenn was standing next to him, his eyes gentle, yet sad, as he watched the ceremony take place. Serge contented himself with being near Glenn, and watched the crowd while Glenn watched the wedding. Serge looked at one person twice, and then smiled wryly.

It was Norris. That's right; he was spying here for Porre. Serge wondered what Norris thought of all this. The sudden departure of Lynx, the disinterest in finding the Frozen Flame...it would be quite strange to the very logic-minded man.

Serge continued his sweep of the crowd, and was only brought back to the wedding when there was a cheer. Serge looked over to Glenn who was smiling softly, and Serge asked what happened.

"They're married now." Glenn's smile changed when he realized why Serge would ask such a question. "You weren't even paying attention to the celebration you helped make possible?"

Serge shook his head and mentioned that he saw Norris in the crowd. Glenn sobered slightly, and nodded. "I did too. Hopefully he's still just spying. But we can't be too careful. Will you shadow him? I'll stay near the newlyweds and the General." Serge nodded briefly and slunk away, following the departing Norris. He followed Norris to a secluded part of the grounds, and saw him bring out what Serge could only guess was a communication device. Serge walked up behind him silently and with a deft flick of his wrist sent the device flying, bruised Norris's knuckles, and made the man start. With the tip of his weapon to Norris's throat, he asked what he had been planning to do with that device. It certainly was not of El Nido make.

"I do not believe that is your business," Norris answered stiffly, yet carefully. He had no wish to die.

Serge made a noncommittal noise, and then told Norris not to play stupid. He knew who he was, so there was no use hiding anything.

"Why would you care to learn the name of a lowly servant such as myself?" Norris asked.

Serge gave him a dry look, and told Norris all the details he knew: his name was Norris, he was a commander in the Porre army, and was here as a spy on the tip of a demi-human named Lynx to investigate the Accacia dragoon's interest in an artifact called the Frozen Flame.

Norris stared, and then regained his composure. "I don't know what you're talking about."

Serge lowered his weapon and used it to pull aside the dishwasher clothing to reveal a pistol strapped to Norris's thigh, and then looked at him.

Norris quickly took a step back, and fell into a fighting stance.

Serge sighed and told Norris to return to Porre. Lynx was gone, and the Frozen Flame no longer existed. There was no reason for him to be here.

Norris was obviously trying to hide his alarm, but succeeding only slightly. He stood up straight, and gave a small salute before turning and picking up the device and walking to the Manor. Serge sighed and replaced his swallow in its holster. Hopefully Norris would go back to Porre. Serge did not want to fight him. Serge turned and walked back to the wedding party and met up with Glenn, telling him the brief interaction that he and Norris had. Glenn looked pensive, but the look was ruined as something bounced off his head and landed in Serge's hands. They both looked at the bellflower bouquet for a moment before they heard the laugh and realized what Serge was holding. Serge had to fight back a blush and handed it to the closest woman who seemed to want it. He sighed when the lady went off, going to show the lovely thing to her friends, and the little incident was soon mostly forgotten as the wedding party expanded to the larger part of the Manor. There were hundreds of people wishing the two newlyweds luck, and Glenn and Serge had little to do aside from make the occasional sweep of the area with their eyes. If there was anyone who had planned on causing trouble, the food and the alcohol probably convinced them to do otherwise. Riddle eventually found the two men and smiled at them.

"My flowers landed on both of you, correct?"

Serge nodded slightly.

"Do you think that means that you both will get married next?"

Serge and Glenn were both taken aback. Serge told Riddle that he had no intention of getting married any time soon, so the woman he gave the flowers too probably will do so before him.

"Really? That's a pity. I get the feeling that you'd make your spouse very happy. And what about you, Sir Glenn?"

Glenn shook his head. "I don't want to get married. I don't want to leave someone behind if I fall in the line of duty."

Riddle looked a little sad, but nodded. "It's good that your practical, but I hope you find happiness."

Dario walked up behind his bride and greeted the two young men. "It doesn't seem like you two are enjoying yourselves. You should relax."

Glenn gave his brother a tight smile. "All the other dragoons are busy relaxing. At least two people should keep watch in case anything happens."

"So serious! But you should let go. If anything happens, I'm sure the more belligerent drunks will take care of things," Dario said with a grin.

Riddle squawked a "Dario!" before allowing herself to be led away.

Glenn and Serge looked at each other, and Glenn sighed.

"Perhaps I do need to relax. I've been doing so much lately..."

Serge told Glenn that he'd keep a lookout for both anything that could happen and for Glenn.

Glenn's eyes narrowed. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Serge told him that he would drag him to his bed if he got too drunk to walk on his own.

Glenn looked highly indignant. "For your information, I hate alcohol, so there's no risk of that happening."

Serge gave Glenn a wry smile. He had been kidding, but Glenn took everything so seriously.

He grabbed Glenn's hand and dragged him towards the party proper. Glenn had said he would try to relax. Serge would see to it.