We arrive at the shrine with the Mani Katti after two days since Lyn wants to pray for safety for the journey. I can't wait to see her face when she gets a new, neat weapon! Anyways in those two days I got even more help in my training from Sain and Kent, though Kent was a bigger help since he had the whole drill instructor routine in him, ergo giving me more pain. At least I stop to close my eyes all the time. Also, that guy rather uses the sword, so of course he's better. What bugs me is however, is that neither the two handed style from Caelin knights nor the quick draw style from Lyn really fits me. In both cases I have to use two hands. Sure, I can use Lyn's style as an opening attack, but then? I need to learn how to fight with one hand, preferably with the right one, though I should start to use my left too. That way, one hand is free for my glove or...magic? Desmond did mention that light magic should fuel my gloves, so maybe I should learn how to do that from Lucius when he gets in the group. Hm...light magic. Does knowing something exist work too as believing? Meh, I still have time. Until then, I should work on my sword play, so while we rest in the village nearby the shrine in an inn, eating stuff I can't identify, I talk to Lyn regarding those thoughts.
"Hey Lyn, can we talk for second?"
"Of course. What can I do for you?", she asks with a smile and the two knights automatically go away a few meters to give us privacy. Wow, they must respect her a lot. Or they're just having the mentality of "The righteous noble is our god" or something like that. Anyways, let's get to the point:
"Well...it's concerning our training. I think I should begin to train one handed sword fight, so that my other hand is free for...you know. But we can stick to the quick draw technique too, only the knight fighting style isn't really my thing." Looking at me surprised she probably considers what I just said and replied after a few moments:
"Hm...it seems you put some thought into the matter. Very well. But you should get used using your left hand too. So as training we're going to train that too. That's why we will double the training amount." Should've expected that, but come one! I'm half-dead already by the amount we have! Still, she's right. That doesn't stop me however to frown a bit, which makes her chuckle. For a while we sit around in the inn, enjoying the peace, which would be broken any second now.
"Why aren't you calling me Lyndis?", the girl asks me suddenly. The look on her face shows that she really wants to know. Probably. Therefore I reply:
"Well...I like Lyn more? It's shorter and doesn't sound...I don't know...you know that feeling when you hear a word and you just think...nah? Do you want me to call you Lyndis? I can do that if you insist." Not that I would like that, but I don't want to ruin a possible friendship over something that trivial. Luckily she doesn't mind since she says:
"Oh, no, it is alright. I actually welcome it."
"Why so?", I say a bit surprised. Sure, she asks Florina later that she would stick to Lyn, since they are friends and all that, but I kinda expected her to want me using Lyndis. She closes her eyes as if she is picturing something and explains:
"Right now, Sain and Kent treat me like royalty, what I technically am and will be when I get to Grandfather. I can also already see to be there for some time, so it feels good that someone treats me no different than a normal person." Okay, now I feel a bit awkward. Her smile makes me embarrassed, so I play it down like an idiot by scratching my head:
"I'm the kind of person who literally avoids using honorifics if they aren't necessary. So yeah, gonna stick to Lyn, okay?"
"Like I said, I would like that. Though you probably shouldn't call me that if the situation calls", she says after she chuckles at my behavior. For that I counter with a deadpan expression:
"No promises."
"There are times when you shouldn't be honest", she frowns, but I'm sure she doesn't take it too serious. I hope...Better say something for that.
"I'm not always honest."
Genius. That makes her look confused a bit, but oh well. Anyways, since there is still no event trigger nearby, Lyn decides to continue with the talk and asks intrigued:
"How do you use that shield of yours anyways?" Explaining it won't hurt, so I begin to explain it to the fullest:
"Oh, I just need to point my palms at a direction and think Schild. It's really handy, since it doesn't have to be activated on voice command. That way I can also create a map of a certain area with numbers of enemies on it. I need to test out if I-" As I go on a tangent here, Lyn slowly points her hand at me and interrupts me with a disbelieving tone:
"Uhm, Ken?"
"What?", I ask confused. Is a bear behind me or something? Are the bandits attacking the village instead of the shrine? Is a portal going to suck me into another dimension?
"Your shield is activated right now."
...
"Say what now?", I say with a tone of horror. That feeling got multiplied by a hundred as I hear a beeping tone again and I slowly look at my gloves. The light is gone.
"Excuse me for a minute." With an awkward fake smile, I go out the inn and search for a dark, lonely corner.
Good. Now...
DESMOND, YOU FUCKER! Why didn't you tell me it worked on voice command too?!
I knew I forgot something! Sorry about that.
Sorry my ass! It's hard to believe you when you sound so non caring! Do you know how angry I am right now?!
Come on. Yeah, you're out of energy for the next hour, so what?...Okay, not really sounding good. Well, can't change it now. Before I forget, if you think for example "Schild auf Lyn" then you use it on Lyn. Got it? Good. Have fun!
Son of a bitch! Yeah, kay thanks! Great...I'm about to punch the wall next to me, as an unfortunate soul decides to talk to me while I'm ready to explode.
"Sir Ken?" Yep, this voice belongs to Sain. I instantly turn around and ask with a bad polite tone and gritted teeth:
"What, my dear friend?!" This startles the knight a bit and he asks with a careful tone, as if he's talking to a bomb, which would be an appropriate metaphor right now:
"What misfortune came across you that you are in such a bad mood?"
"I just wasted energy, so I can't use my gloves for another hour. Please don't tell me that bandits attacked the shrine." My hopes are crushed after I said that with an almost whining sound, as Sain clears his throat a bit and slowly says:
"Well actually..."
"Natürlich, natürlich! Mein Glück hier wieder!" (#1), I say angrily and get out of my little corner to join up with the others and I can bet with you, that Sain looked confused and shocked at my emotion burst again. My fuse is pretty random at times. Inside school I have the patience of the god, but in PE I literally rage every two seconds if I can't do something.
Anyways, Lyn and Kent already went ahead and sent Sain to pick me up. But on the way there, I decide to walk up to one of the villagers and ask for information, since my GLOVES ARE EMPTY:
"Does anybody know how many bandits there are?" The young lady I talk to seems to be a shy one, since she blushes and I'm pretty sure it's not because of my looks.
"Uhm...there should be five people...but I saw two going in already, so you might not see everyone. At the west side of the shrine is a crumbling wall, so you might try your luck there." After a said goodbye with an attempt of a smile and a bow I and Sain meet up with Lyn and Kent, who are waiting in front of the crumbling wall.
"What's the plan?", Kent asks in his serious tone and I immediately give them the plan I pull out of my ass:
"Break the wall down and then go hide until they send one of them out. Take that guy out by throwing your lance and stay hidden, so the enemy will have their attention completely on your side. In the meantime I and Lyn go around and come in from the front. Then you two rush in the moment you here a death cry or something like that. There should be about two people inside, with three others being on watch in front of the shrine, so five overall."
"How do you know that?", Kent asks suspiciously and I say with a dead pan expression:
"I asked." This seemed to satisfy him as Sain nods in confirmation and they are about to smash the wall with their lances, but Lyn exclaims angry:
"Wait, destroying the wall? That's sacrilege!"
"Please, I'm sure they don't mind as long as we safe innocent people and bring the evil to justice!", I say convinced, but I'm not so sure, so I do the thing that makes most sense: Ask if what I said is the case.
Desmond, do the gods and spirits up there mind?
Honestly, they don't give a crap at your earthly buildings. Sure, that boosts their ego, but it's enough for them if you mortals keep on praying to us.
No sacrifices?
The heck are we gonna do we them?! We can't touch earthly things directly!
Okay, good to know.
Anyways, Lyn seems to accept my decision with reluctance and we get to our position. While we are walking, Lyn talks to me to pass the time:
"This idea is quite unorthodox, even I can see that."
"Well, not really. Distraction, flanking, killing. Those are the main elements of this plan, which are quite common. I just modified them a bit", I reply offhandedly, but she insists on complementing me with a smile:
"You truly are talented with those ideas of yours."
"Meh, I think everyone could get the idea." Seriously, I don't see a reason why everyone thinks I'm special. Sure, I don't make plans like Robin from Awakening, but that doesn't mean that this is good. There is no way in hell I'm actually an instinctual type strategist. My only reason being here is the fact that I played the game, I'm sure of it.
"You should be more confident", Lyn suddenly says and I look at her confused. I even get more perplexed since she has this sad and motherly expression on her face.
…
Come to think of it, I am doubting myself a lot. Especially in fighting or strategic stuff...Maybe I should stop being so pessimistic...Well, can't change over night, right? Anyways, I and the Sacaen arrive at the front entrance and take a peek inside the shrine. As I expected (or rather hoped), the entire focus of the enemy is on the dead guy with a lance in his hand and they don't even dare to shift their focus else where. Making a hand sign to Lyn to signalize to attack, we both run into their direction. Come on...
Crap! One of them suddenly turns around, I think Glass, and screams:
"TWO OF YOU! KILL THESE PEOPLE! SHOW THEM WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU OPPOSE GLASS, THE SWORD GOD!" In that very moment Sain and Kent come in from the hole in the wall and attack with their favorite weapons (Speak sword for Kent and Lance for Sain). The bandits sadly manage to either dodge or block their attack and in my and Lyn's case they manage to block our quick drawing too. As I groan in disappointment I yell at the others:
"Sain, you're the better one with the lance, so get the wannabe sword god! Kent, Lyn, do whatever you want as long you live and they die!"
So...the surprise attack didn't kill anyone, but at least we are on the offensive. And I'm stuck against a bandit. Without OP-Gloves this time. I take a deep breath and sheath my katana again, sticking to Lyn's fighting style since I don't want to push my luck by trying out something new, like the Caelin style or the style I was planning to use in the future.
So, I'm overloaded with adrenalin, so I don't try to think about consequences, because fear is the worst thing in life or death situations. This guy is harmless, he is weak, he is slow, he will show an opening...
Okay, enough pep-talk, come at me!
The brigand jumps at me with his axe and slashes downwards, which I dodge to the right. Unlike my first battle however I don't rush in this time and I don't rush it. The one who should give in to impatience it my opponent. The guy frowns and runs at me again, attacking me with a diagonal attack this time. Trusting my guts I dodge to get closer to a stone pillar which is to my left. However it got a bit closer this time and I could feel the wind that came with the attack.
Okay, I should be there in about three attacks from this guy...
Side attack incoming from the right, I duck and jump as low as possible to my goal. His face grimaces into a very welcomed pissed look and he begins to swing his axe around like a maniac. Well, I can't really predict that anymore, so I need to guess.
Downs slash, answer with side step. Diagonal attack from upper right side, arrive at the pillar. Shit, he grazed me a bit! Oh well. My back hits the pillar and I grin, flipping him the bird and motion it so, to taunt him in coming to me, which works: The bandit lets out a ferocious cry and swings the axe dumbly from his right side, ignoring the obstacle in the way and tries to decapitate me. I duck to my right side to be sure, as the axe got stuck in the pillar and unsheathe my sword with my right hand, aiming at his now fully open left side or to be specific, at his throat. I don't wanna boast, but Lyn told me that I'm pretty fast with my quick draw for a beginner (though I'm certain that I'm nowhere her speed).
Left thump to push the sword a bit out, extend arm and move it to the right, putting the sheath to the back so that the weapon won't get stuck, rotate my upper body and slash!
Good for me that I did everything right and judged the distance correctly, since the sword comes out in a fluid motion and cuts open the bastard's throat with a bit more than the tip, because he was shocked by his stuck axe! Well, I wasn't aiming to behead the guy, I don't have so much confidence yet. Gargling by the wound he put his hands to his throat automatically and I decide to leave him to die, since nobody could survive a wound that deep at that area. Looking around I see that Lyn and Kent are already done with their part and I observe just in time to see Sain impale the so called "sword god" with his lance. He drops dead and I calm down at the sight of it, leading it to feel all the tension in my body go away and making me notice the amount of sweat I collect on my body.
Okay, wasn't so calm after all.
The group meets up at the altar in the shrine after Lyn gets the priest out.
Story time! Yay!
"Oh, thank you...ah, you're clothing...you are from the Lorca, aren't you?", the elder man asks with gratitude and Lyn introduces herself, though she winced a bit at the mention of the Lorca:
"I'm Lyn, the chieftain's daughter. Are you hurt, sir?"
"Thanks to you, I am unscathed. You have my gratitude. And the sword is also safe, sealed away. Until I remove the seal, nobody can unsheathe it. As a toke of my gratitude, I shall allow you to lay hands upon the Mani Katti. Touch the blade's pattern, and pray for a safe journey." After he said that he unsealed the weapon and presents in to her, who smiles brightly and bows:
"Thank you so much!" The moment she touches the sword, the room is blended in light and I can swear I hear some voices.
…
Maybe it's the spirits. Anyways I start to space out and just want this to be over, since seriously, it may be spectacular in real life to others, but to me it makes me blind and I already know the story about it.
It takes a while until they finally are done with their stuff and I tune back in as Lyn thanks the priest and sheathes the weapon.
Well, now that we have the Mani Katti-
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
I immediately look down and see that this motherfucker Glass isn't really dead since he stabbed my right leg with a dagger! And quite deep on top of that! How the fuck is he not dead from blood loss?!
"This...is...my...weapon!" Yeah, great famous last words, you fucker! As he's cutting open my entire leg downwards, which mind you hurts even more, Kent instantly smashes his head by thrusting his sword with all his might and Lyn catches me before I fall to the ground. Sue asks concerned and with horror:
"Ken, are you okay?!"
"NO! I'M NOT! I JUST GOT STABBED! WHY WAS THAT GUY STILL ALIVE?!" Screaming at her wouldn't stop the pain, but right now, I don't care at all! Call me a wuss, but I never got stabbed before and I never wanted to try that out! Hitting my forehead so hard it bleeds and leaves a mark until today? Ticked that off already and it hurt like a bitch. Getting my leg stabbed and cut open about two centimeters? That is a lot worse than the former thing!
"Ken, keep breathing! It's going to hurt a lot more in a moment, so grit your teeth!"
Oh god, they're pulling it out. I look at it since I think I remember reading somewhere it would be much more painful, if I don't look at it. Okay...take a deep breath and-
JESUS FUCKING CHRIST! The blood is leaking or shooting out of the wound as the dagger is getting removed. Luckily the priest can use a heal staff, so the pain soothes a bit. Nevertheless, I cry rivers already and scream like any normal 21st century guy from a pretty peaceful town would do. After a while, they bandage my leg up, put healing potion on it, which by the way BURNS and Sain looks guilty for not killing him cleanly. Before he could say anything I raise my hand and say while wincing in pain:
"Don't even...start the whole guilt trip. Nobody of us could predict that this guy would still be alive with a lance through his body. Learn from this, okay?"
"...Very well! I won't disappoint you again!" Glad that this worked, but I wouldn't be surprised if he would still blame himself at least a bit. Not that I would want that. Anyways, I can barely feel my leg now, so I look at the priest and rather state than ask:
"Great. So...I can pretty much feel my leg isn't fully healed yet, am I right?"
"I'm terribly sorry, but you are right. It would take at least a whole week for a complete regeneration. You shouldn't put too much pressure on it for the time being. I apologize, but my healing abilities aren't what they used to be..." Toll, another guy who feels guilty for a thing he couldn't really control. Or it's just his mentality. Anyways, I try to smile and play it down by saying:
"Hey, at least I know I'm going to get better, right?"
After we say our goodbyes, we ride into direction of the village where we will meet Florina and Will, since it's already starting to get dark, so we pretty much try to close as much distance as possible and I sigh at my injury. Lyn leading the horse since I can't ride a horse at all. Trying to break the silence, I sigh again and say:
"Guess I can learn to use my left arm now and focus on muscle training?"
"Are you sure you shouldn't rest?", the girl asks concerned and I assure her:
"My leg is the only thing crippled right now and I won't die from it suddenly. Just the arms won't hurt that much. Anyways...new weapon, huh?" I may not see her face, but judging from the little laugh, I think she is smiling in disbelief as she says:
"I can't believe I am in possession of such a powerful weapon..." Trying to get her self doubt away, I say as relaxed as possible:
"Well, you have it now. Some people are chosen to have or do things, no matter if they want to or not." Like me, becoming a strategist of the team who pretty much decides if the world goes into ruin or not. Yeah...anyways, Lyn peeks over to me with a raised eyebrow and states:
"You sound like you went through something like that."
…
Well, I gotta tell her someday. Later or sooner...yeah, gonna stick to later. I don't want to get into shitty situations like certain other self insert characters (I'm looking at you, Art from Mass Vexations!), so I give myself a deadline which I announce to Lyn:
"...I'll tell you when we arrive at Caelin."
"Very well. I hold you onto that!", she asks with a smile, which I guess she has, and the rest of the way is silent on my part, while the others are talking about a bunch of other stuff.
Good, now I have to make up my mind until then. Well, it's still a couple chapters until then, so no big deal. I plan out how to tell them until I get there. Anyways, I need to write down some stuff later...like the voice command shit!
/
#1: Of course, of course. My luck is here again.