Hey its me again! I really fight with myself to update more than once a week, I just know when I do, I'll fall behind in writing and loose this lead that I have, there will probably be some exceptions but for the most part I have a hard time waiting till Saturday XD
Anyway, here we go!
Chapter Five
Cross Kingdom Path
A few hours later the pair was back with Fistivus, this time taking the main road from Malsean back to Corelis, despite the fact it may take longer, they wanted to properly see it as well.
The two looked out of the carriage at the many traders, moving back and forth, selling to each other and the travelers going from one city to the other buying things or trying to convince the merchants they weren't looking to buy anything at all.
"So when we get back to Corelis, what should we do in addition to preparing for the trip to Euto?" Soren asked.
"Well, we can find a few other people who may want to come along as well, safety in numbers and all that…we never know if we'll be attacked again and if it'll be more than two next time."
Following Mia's answer Fistivus turned "I am very upset to hear you were hounded during your first visit to Malsean…very saddening…I volunteer my services on this next expedition to Euto. I myself have no problems with encountering any sort of bum…I've seen you two fight, remarkable."
Soren placed a hand on the man's shoulder and thanked him "So who should we look to come with us?"
"I think if we asked, Lyle wouldn't mind it, he is also an instructor at the school and fairly skilled."
Soren nodded "I'll see if Mikel wants something more interesting to do after he finishes this job…last I checked he is a wood-worker, I'm sure cutting down trees gives him the muscle he needs to cut down some foes…"
"Between us we have two swords, magic and an axe…or three swords…"
Soren shrugged "If we have Lyle, I'll be able to hold on doing what I do best…do we know anyone in Corelis skilled with a lance?"
Mia sighed "No one as skilled as Nephenee…"
Soren remembered that Mia and Nephenee were very close friends during the wars and the time between, before their departure she was one of the people Mia went to see. Apparently Nephenee had a desire to come with them but was still concerned for her family among other things.
"No…we'll never find someone as natural with a lance as her…but the next best thing." Soren said slowly.
Fistivus turned again "I know someone, she lives at Corelis Bay, it's more of a side thing as opposed to her life to live by the lance, but if you need someone who has latent talent, I'm almost certain she's it."
"She doesn't fight? Why would she agree to come with us on this quest?" Soren asked to which the merchant laughed "Her family held renowned military positions for generations, the desire to go on adventures and her true skill is in there, aside from her, I don't know anyone who has the roots for something like this."
Mia shrugged "Hopefully she'll come along; we really could use all the help we can get."
As the day marched on, Fistivus made plans to stop in a few hours, the path became a bridge over the Ore River where many people fished, swam and overall enjoyed themselves in the dusky hours of the day.
Soren and Mia decided to take a short walk hand in hand along the riverside, passing several people setting up camp and the like. Despite the fact that they were about to embark on an unknown task, there was still much more time now to enjoy each other's company than back during the constant travel between lands.
"What do you think the other mercenaries are up to now?" Mia asked Soren. They often like to imagine where their good friends have gone, where they may have decided to settle and what they may have decided to do if they put down their weapons.
"I would like to think Zihark found a good spot to rest…where he may be now, I wish I knew but I would guess up north." Soren stated.
Mia nodded with a smile "Zihark…I really do miss him and Leah…the four of us were one unit during the adventure…we need to find some way to get in touch with him."
Soren smiled and closed his eyes remembering one of the last times The Invincible Four were together.
"So I told him first to get to the sword wins, no need for bloodshed, I mean he was only 15 feet away from the blade, me, I was 30. If I could beat him to it, there was no way he could beat me in one on one combat!"
Leah looked on in amazement as Zihark told a story from his days back in Tellius, he had spoke a lot of his time as a Toha Vigilante, secretly helping the Laguz they tried to catch by aiding their escape from the cruel humans. However, the time between wars was pretty open, aside from his eventual recruitment into Tauroneo's forces protecting Pelleas, he traveled Daein alone.
"So, did you beat him to the sword?" Leah asked.
Zihark laughed, "Of course I did, I slid right under him and took it with me; the bastard had no honor and drew knives on me and had his archer buddies try to take me out. One spin and I knocked the knives out of his hands and cut the arrows out of the sky!"
He took his blade out and ran ahead to demonstrate a spin before turning and jamming the hilt behind him.
"One thrust to the gut, he was out, the archers didn't see me coming. The village was very grateful and I regularly went back during my travels, very nice people."
"A hero for those who don't have one, is that what you think of yourself Zihark?" Soren asked.
The man turned and shrugged "I'd like to think I'm just a guy helping out…working for a company like you lot with Ike at the head, any little deed I do is hardly a hero's job when compared to felling a crazy goddess."
The group let out a few chuckles "Still Zihark, it's good to hear of those easier times back in Tellius." Mia stated.
Zihark grinned "Yeah…it was our home and it still is…who knows…maybe someday I'll go back to that village, see if anyone recognizes me, or see if I recognize anyone."
"I think we'd all like to return to Tellius someday." Soren said.
"You all really miss your home…personally I'm happier being here with you guys than I ever was back in Hitenticul." Leah stated.
Zihark put an arm around the younger man "You've grown since you were the kid we recruited from Hitenticul, someday you as well will go back; for what reason remains to be seen, but you'll see your home in a new light and really come to appreciate it!"
Leah nodded "You may have a point Zihark…"
The group remained silent for a bit before Zihark smacked Leah in the back "You know I do!" he then began to tell another story.
Just then above on the Cross Kingdom Path a carriage burst into flames and fell over into the ocean, several people screamed and ran away. A man was thrown over and landed in the river, the Tellian pair turned to look up at the bridge as they heard another explosion.
They took off and upon reaching the top another carriage exploded, five men walked through the center of the path all in red cloaks covering their faces. One raised his hand as an orb of fire formed before shooting out and destroying another merchant's supplies.
"Hey!" The two turned and extended their arms grabbing the blades Fistivus threw at them.
The leader of the red men, who was noticeably bigger than the other four, wore a long red robe like them but also covered his face with a hood, pointed at Soren and Mia "Go!" he yelled, the sage headed towards them with his arms encased in flames followed by two men hurling their spears and the last whipping out his axe.
Mia jumped into the air and deflected the two spears as Soren swung his blade releasing a sharp Arcwind Gale, the sage burned through the center of it with one fist and then rammed his other into Soren's stomach. The tactician slid back down the path and looked up as the axe wielder descended on him. With a quick spin the axe embedded itself into the ground, enhancing his rotation with Arcwind the blade came around and decapitated the axe wielder. The sage shot another blast at Soren; it exploded against the archsage and hurled him into a carriage, throwing it over.
Mia landed in front of the lancemen as they took out two more spears and charged her. She dodged the rapid stabbing from the lances before leaping above them, landing behind them and spinning to stop both lances with her blade.
Purple flames began to lick across her blade and melt through the lances. The two men backed off as their weapons fell apart, they both jumped away, Mia surged forward and impaled on in the chest, killing him.
The other landed near the sage who turned and fired another blast at Mia. She dodged the attack and moved to lunge when the leader stepped in front of her. Mia made a move to swing but the man stopped her blade with his left hand then struck her with an open palm, she flew away from him and crashed into the wrecked remains of another carriage.
She stood up and noticed that the man was holding her blade, she turned as a carriage exploded, long sharp gales tore out and cut the other lanceman to shreds while the sage continued to evade the attacks. As Mia turned to the leader he began to approach her, a bolt of lightning struck the ground in front of him, in that short second Mia outstretched her hand firing more purple bullets into the man.
Soren and the sage continued to leap around each other as they shot gales of wind and fire at each other. Another lightning bolt struck the sage in the back allowing Soren time to finish him off.
The leader turned, realizing all four men were down and threw Mia's sword away.
"You two…I leave you with my name…Meloi…" he raised one foot and struck the ground, a perfect square tore into the bridge and he fell through it. Soren and Mia ran to the hole in the ground and looked down into the river. The chunk of bridge was carried away by the river and sunk but the man was nowhere in sight.
"I knew I'd find you two eventually." Soren and Mia turned as another man made himself known.
Throwing aside his golden robes, he smiled at them "It's been such a long time since I've seen either of you."
Mia's hands went to cover her mouth as Soren's eyes widened "Wyre Reh…"
Arriving from Hitenticul, the thunder sage of the highest order, armed with the unique Brave Bolt: Wyre Reh
The Hitenticul Arc was the 3rd of New Emissaries (after Departure and Thyremog) where the Greil Mercenaries fought alongside warrior kings Lyger and Yuuten Heitnaro against the vampires of the Order of Rein under the command of Ulyus.
Wyre Reh served under the army commander Klein Kruse, his best friend and a reformed vampire, due to vampires' weakness to thunder magic the powerful sage was an excellent asset
This will not be the last tie between Ymarkteg and New Emissaries and it will not be the end of the occasional flashback to the days of Tellius!
Going back to Corelis next week before setting off on another grand adventure!