Chapter 5) Fire Emblem

Marquess Laus has been working with Bern behind the scenes. I wonder if this is part of the reason why there was an ambush at Araphan. If one good thing can come from this, it's that Laus still has a lot of soldiers. Soldiers that are practically bending backwards to assist Roy.

But this whole thing has hit Roy hard. Maybe it's because of the peace, and maybe… maybe it's a bit of my fault, but it shakes him that he can no longer trust the lords of his homeland. If one betrayed, who can say others won't?

To avoid castles, we make our way through a treacherous mountain pass. I think we're heading for Thria, Lord Orun's home. Surely he, half-brother to Uncle Hector, was still loyal. But, then again, the world is going mad. I think I'm going to read a bit more.

Lycian mountains were rather different from Bernese. There were many villages dotting the paths, old fortresses, and the paths were more than wide enough for an army to pass. Bernese mountains practically required fliers to navigate safely.

"Irene, you really have some of the prettiest hair." Clarine was rather gentle when she brushed people's hair. I always forgot that. "I knew that shampoo would work terrific in your hair." I also always forgot that Clarine was stupidly skilled at packing. She was the only person I knew who could bring a full Etrurian hair-care kit, plus extras, along with things such as clothes and other necessities. "And the conditioner. Your hair is so soft~" Really, I was surprised she didn't bring a make-up kit. I think she only didn't because she didn't really like them. "Irene, are you asleep?"

"No, but it is rather soothing having you brush my hair," I replied, focusing back on my book. While I was still hesitant to talk to people, and I still wasn't really sure I could 'help people get along' like Deke suggested, I did decide to at least take my studying outside of the tent. "Do I need to hand you anything?"

"No, not yet." So, instead, I was sitting by the fire at the temporary camp we set up for lunch, and Clarine was perched on a bucket behind me. I could only hope no one needed to use that bucket as they weren't getting it back anytime soon. Clarine had already refused to sit in the dirt like me. "Well, actually, can you pass me my tea?"

"Sure." I passed it back carefully, and then reached for my own cup. I'd ended up making tea for the camp, after gagging on Allen's earlier attempt at it. It… seemed to be popular enough? Certain, no one was complaining.

"As always, you make some of the best tea, Irene." I smiled at that. Dad was the one who taught me. He always enjoyed teaching me, and called my tea 'the best', even though it paled in comparison to his. Would I… no, I would. When I returned to the Sacae, I would find the Kutolah, give Dad a big hug, and badger him relentlessly. He was fine. He was fine. "Do you think Princess Guinevere will let me brush her hair?"

"You can ask her later, when we stop for the night." She was sharing a tent with Guinevere and me for now, until we stopped long enough to pick up more tents. "For now, I think she's content with chatting with Elen." The sound of wood clacking caught my attention, and I looked up from my book to see Rutger and Deke sparing. Though, by my eyes, it seemed more like Rutger had ambushed him, and Deke was trying to make the best of it. "Well, it seems like they're sort of getting along."

"Perhaps." She sounded sour. "I tried to talk to him before, but he just walked off, the rude lout." Clarine… "That's not how a gentleman is supposed to treat a lady."

"Remember, we aren't living a tale."

"Just because we're not doesn't mean we can't bring those ideals into reality, though." She sounded rather firm. "Things are always rough when people are cynical. That's what Mom says. I'd rather be a little brave, and hope for better." Her hands stilled in my hair. "That's… um… that's okay, right?"

"Clarine, I love you. Don't change." Yes, it was okay to hope for better. Everything will be fine. Oswin… Oswin's last words had been that.

"Oh, but I must hurry up and become a refined lady. Like Mother, and Aunt Katri, and Cecilia." Oh, Clarine… "You know; Rutger doesn't have that bad of a face. Nowhere near as wonderful as Klein's."

"No, I suppose…" I trailed off, feeling a blush prick up my face. "Clarine!"

"Haha! You always turn red!" Ugh, why did I tell her I was crushing on Klein again? "Anyway, I think with a little bit of work, he can be truly handsome."

"I somehow doubt he cares. He's Sacaean, even if his face is Bernese."

"You're Sacaean, Irene." Yeah, and I was just humoring her in this. …And I liked having someone brush my hair. As I had mentioned, it was very soothing. "Oh, who is that?" Mmm?

I glanced up from my book, and saw a man, wearing ill-fitting clothing, bolt for Roy, who had been sitting by the fire too. Merlinus's undignified squawk made me snicker. "Pardon, but… are you Lord Roy, of Pherae?" the villager asked. Roy hesitantly nodded, eyes cautious. "Please, can you help us with the bandits?"

"Bandits?" Roy repeated. He stood up, brushing the dirt off his pants. "Is there a reason you do not go to the castle guards? I know there is one here."

"Our lord died in Araphan, and the guards fled as soon as we got word." Cowards. Where was their pride? "We villagers were left behind, and now we spend our days in fear." The villager ducked his head, half-bowing. "Please, help us…"

"Master Roy, we are on a mission," Merlinus harshly reminded. I glanced around for something to throw at his big head. "We must continue our pace to Ostia." Yeah, and Aunt Lyn would literally kill us when she heard we had abandoned people to bandits. Seriously, Merlinus, why were you so jerkish and stupid?

"But we cannot leave people who are in need of help," Roy replied easily, not even hesitating. Roy, I did love you so~ "But if you are truly so insistent, Merlinus, you can inform Aunt Lyn exactly why we let bandits run amok." Merlinus paled. "I appreciate your advice, Merlinus, but it is important to remember that, as a lord and a knight in training, I have an obligation to protect the people of my land. Uncle Hector is dead, so I must take up his burdens until Lilina can." …Roy, that was a bit too mature, and we were going to have a talk later. "Irene?"

"Even if I was somehow so pragmatic that I was willing to let innocent civilians die like some people…" I began slowly, unable to resist the bard at Merlinus. I just did not like him! "I'm not stupid enough to deal with Aunt Lyn and Lilina's wraths." I made to stand up. "So, let's just-" Only for Clarine to push me back down. "Clarine?"

"Plan while I'm finishing," she informed me, sounded a little sour. "You can't skip this!" …Clarine, seriously? "I mean it." Mother Earth, maybe you could give her a better sense of priorities. Then again, it did make me smile.

"Okay, okay." I sighed, and settled back down, tugging out some paper. "Shanna, you're going to have to come to me. It's apparently the end of the world if I move right now." I caught a ripple of laughter, and I felt myself relax. Maybe things… wouldn't be so bad.

One group through the gate, and one group to go up and around the mountains to warn the other villages of the conflict. Mostly foot soldiers in the former, and mostly cavalry in the latter.

I ran down a bandit, nudging my horse to kick back with her hooves to smash an approaching one's face in. As she settled, I shot a third, right through the neck. There were really an incredibly number of bandits. What bothered me was that there were Sacaeans among them. I made it my job to take them out first, so they could explain to Mother Earth why they were falling in with bandits. Where was their pride? Surely, bandits didn't pay enough for them to discard it?

I ducked under an arrow, eyes narrowed as I saw one Sacaean bandit had aimed right for me. The markings on his clothes marked him as one of the Djute tribe. I didn't know much about them, mostly seeing them in passing. Their chieftain, Monke, and Grandpa didn't get along. They were one of the larger tribes, larger than even the Kutolah, but not quite matching our might.

"Why are you here?" I called. He didn't reply. "I'm Irene, of the Kutolah." He tensed up, eyes widened slightly. "What's wrong? Were… were you displaced by the…" The words were hard to say. "The massacre of Bulgar?"

The only answer I received was an arrow. I dodged it, and charged forward, aiming and firing at him. He ducked under it and lunged out of the saddle, tackling me to the ground. Hadn't had… something like that happen in a long while.

He tried to punch me, but I twisted, hooking my legs around his waist to throw him off me. I scrambled up, panicking when I couldn't find Rienfleche. I couldn't lose it. It's Dad's. I need to return it, when I saw him again. I would see him again. I knew I would.

He lunged forward again, not even bothering to find a weapon. I dodged and feinted a sidekick, before switching it to an axe kick, catching him straight in the shoulder. I felt something 'pop', and I twisted to punch him in the face, breaking his nose, and then actually kicking him in the side to send him crashing to the ground, right on the swelling shoulder. I might have dislocated it. I might have also hurt my leg, or at least my hip.

"So, are you willing to answer my question?" I asked, crouching down next to the man. He was gasping for air, coughing and sputtering as some blood trickled into his mouth from his nose. "Why are you here?"

"…Kutolah…" he gasped out. He looked right at me. "The Djute… Monke betrayed Daylan." …Betrayed…? They… betrayed…? "Kutolah massacred… Bulgar destroyed… separated the granddaughter from the noncombatants." Granddaughter? Sue? Where was she?! "Fell on them. Tore them…"

"You attacked non…" I straightened and kicked him as hard I could in the gut. He coughed up blood, and I kicked him again. "Monster! Traitor! Kinslayer!" Each word was punctuated with another kick. "How dare you all betray…? To betray even Mother Earth and Father Sky!" I'D DESTROY THEM!

"Not all…" He was still coughing up blood, curling into a ball in an attempt to protect himself from my wrath. I tried to just focus on breathing and calming down. No matter how much the scum deserved it, it… really wasn't right to kick someone while they were down. Literally. "Not all were killed." Oh, well, that's great! "Katri…" Mom? "Katri, Lady of Kutolah… she did something. Made the Bernese retreat." Well, it was Mom. I wasn't surprised. But where was Dad? Where was Sue? Where was Grandpa? Where was my family?! "Ran then. Ran far. Couldn't stand it. Couldn't support it."

"…But you didn't turn away at first. You still charged and killed." There was a bow nearby, though not Rienfleche. But there was one, and an arrow, and I picked both up and rolled him onto his back, aiming the arrow right for his skull. "Beg for Mother Earth's forgiveness, because you're not getting any from me!"

He smiled as the arrow hit him. Maybe he had been looking for a place to die. Well, I was most happy to oblige!

A whinny caught my ear, and I smiled as my pretty mare trotted up. She nuzzled my face, nudging my shoulder as if gently chiding me. Whether it was because I was stupid enough to be thrown out of the saddle or because of how I acted, I wasn't sure. It might have been both. This might be Mother Earth's way of scolding me.

"I know; I know…" I murmured. I glanced around and finally found Rienfleche not far away, picking it up and brushing the dirt off of it. Then I mounted up and closed my eyes, focusing on the wind. Father Sky's whispers of reassurance… I needed to calm down. I… really needed… to calm down.

But the Djute betrayed the Kutolah? Even if we had never gotten along, to betray? Were they mad? Mother Earth and Father Sky would never let such a transgression pass. They would be obliterated, by their wrath or by the agents of their wrath.

Plus, there was what he said… Sue had been separated? Mom had done something to make Bern leave the survivors alone? Where were they? Why had he not mentioned Grandpa or Dad? Where were they? Dad had been at Bulgar, but… everything was fine. Everyone was fine. I had to believe that. If I was to continue walking forward, I had to…

"Lady Irene?" I tugged the reins to make my mare turn, blinking slowly as I drew myself out of my worries and focused on the present. "Lady Irene?" There was Lance with… with a strange looking lance. "Are you okay?" …That sentence amused me far more than it should have. "Lady Irene?"

"Sorry, I'm a little…" I began, groping for words. I just shook my head. "No, never mind. It is not important for the present fight." I might need to have a talk with Marcus or someone, though. I felt like my head was about to explode. "What's up? What is it you have there?"

"Oh, this?" He held it up, smiling slightly. "The villagers gave it to me, stating that it is the lance of Sir Gant." Wasn't he a hero in some Lycian folklore? "I don't know if that is actually the case, but it seems like a good lance." It did. "Regardless, the area is clearing up."

"I see." I heard wings, and looked up to see Shanna swooping down. "Yes?"

"Bandits are coming out of the nearby fortresses!" she informed me breathlessly, not even bothering to land. I simply sighed, rubbing at my temple. So, they not only took over the castle, but the fortresses as well? We needed to get the castle secured quickly. "Gate group is at the castle. Rutger and Deke are dealing with the bandit boss person." Oh, that was nice. "Orders?"

"We'll leave them to kill and secure the castle," I answered slowly. "But we need to ensure the bandits don't take the surrounding villages, or meet up with the bandits at the castle as reinforcements." I looked to Lance. "Get me Allen, and we'll round things up here."

"Of course, Lady Irene," Lance replied immediately. He smiled slightly, though I had no idea why. "I will be back momentarily."

"Let's gets to bandit killing then."

As I suspected, Deke and Rutger were more than capable of dealing with the bandit, though from what I understood, it was closer than I would have thought. Apparently, the bandit leader had carried a 'killer axe', and there were a few close calls. Thankfully, both of them were good at dodging.

"Master Roy," Merlinus called. As was becoming our habit, Roy, Guinevere, and I were in the throne room while everyone else secured the castle. It looked like we were staying the night here today, if only to make sure there were no more bandits. "A priest of the Elimine Church has come to speak with you." There was an awkward pause as the three of us turned to face him. "And Princess Guinevere." …Wait, hold on a second there. Did he just say…? "Yes, by name." How?

"Go ahead and let him in," Guinevere answered. At my skeptical look, she smiled bitterly. "The relationship with my brother and the Elimine church has… not been very good, as of late. I do not believe I am in immediate danger." I was going to get an arrow from my quiver anyway, just in case.

"If you are certain," Roy replied. Still, one hand dropped to the rapier at his waist as he turned to Merlinus. "Please, let him in." Merlinus bowed and disappeared from the room. "What could a priest want with us?" It couldn't be a simple 'thank you' if whoever it was asked for Guinevere. "Irene, keep sarcasm to a minimum." I'd try.

The doors to the throne room opened again, signaling that our guest had arrived. "Lord Roy, what a pleasure to meet you at last." The man that walked in looked a little familiar. "I am Saul," he greeted. I knew that name. "I am a priest of Elimine."

"You're one of Yodel's students," I added. Though, I mostly knew him because… "Guinevere, get behind me. He's a horrible, horrible flirt." He even flirted with Mom. Yes, Mom was gorgeous, but she was married, and Saul often flirted with her in front of Dad.

"Lady Irene, as always, your words are as vicious as your beauty is striking." He sighed so mournfully. "But goodness, I believe the rumors downplayed your great beautiful, Princess Guinevere."

"Just get to the point." We would be here all day if we played his game. "Is Dorothy here?"

"She is waiting outside the door, being glared at by that financial advisor." Saul sighed. "Very well." His eyes sharpened, and I automatically tensed. Things like this reminded me that, while he was an acolyte, there was a reason why Saul was entrusted to missions from Yodel. "Your highness, Princess Guinevere, I wish to know the location of the Fire Emblem." That was…? "You have it, don't you?"

"…What makes you think that?" Princess Guinevere asked slowly. Her words were calm, but I saw her hand go up to her chest. She gripped her Sacaean pendant, but I thought she went first to the other necklace she wore.

"Bern's head of church informed us that the Fire Emblem mysteriously disappeared from the vault, a feat that has not been accomplished in twenty years." Twenty years ago? That was during the Campaign of Fire… did Mom and the others have something to do with that? "You, convenient, went missing at about the same time."

"Is that so?" Her voice got just a little colder. "I hadn't heard anything about it. It's rarely used nowadays except in the most formal of ceremonies. The last time it came out of the vault was during my coming of age ceremony."

"Oh?" Saul's eyes sharpened further, and I instinctively shifted to shield Guinevere a little better. "Perhaps I might ask a different question. Is there a reason why King Zephiel would be… distraught at losing the Emblem? Does it jeopardize him in some way?"

"According to the tales, there is a sword hidden deep within the Shrine of Seals. A powerful sword, more powerful than even the Divine Weapons of legend." That… was saying something. I wondered if it was as old as the Katti Blades Aunt Lyn wielded. "Hartmut is said to have wielded it, and when the Scouring ended, sealed it away, taking the emblem from the hilt to use as the key. The royal family of Bern guards it, just as we guard the location of the Shrine of Seals."

"And since there are rumors that Bern has brought out dragons, having such a powerful weapon in enemy hands would be… most troubling." He nodded, eyes closing. "Is there a reason you did not go get the sword yourself?"

"I thought about it, but a traveling dancer named Fiona told me I shouldn't." Roy and I exchanged a wide-eyed look at the name. Fiona… she had been an old friend of Aunt Ninian, a dancer who never seemed to get older, no matter how many years passed, and had played with us as children. She left when Aunt Ninian died, though, wanting to mourn her in private. We hadn't heard from her since. "She said that I would be unable to touch it, that the sword itself will kill me. I imagine it is for the same reason Zephiel doesn't obtain the sword." It would kill? The Katti blades just refused to be used. Why would the spirit inside this sword go so far to kill potential wielders? "Does it truly matter, though? Wherever the Fire Emblem is, its disappearance has not stopped my brother."

"Mmm, I will let it slide." He opened his eyes again. "So, what will you do?"

"I will remain with Roy and Irene. I still have not given up hope."

"If that is the case, then I shall come with you."

"If Roy allows it. I am a guest. He is the leader."

"I have no objections, so long as everyone plays nice," Roy answered. He and I exchanged another look. "Um… Princess Guinevere… this Fiona you mentioned…?"

"She appeared around the same time as the 'dark priestess' or whatever she is," Guinevere answered. She smiled slightly. "She appeared at the manse, looking for shelter. She encouraged me to come to Lycia. I don't know much about her, but she seems strangely young for how old her eyes are. Last I saw her, she was still in the manse, saying she had to 'watch Idenn and Jahn', whoever they are." I didn't know those names. But it worried me that Fiona was in Bern when all this madness was going on.

"I see…" Roy sighed, closing his eyes. "Well, we should get Saul and… Irene, who is Dorothy?"

"His babysitter," I deadpanned. Saul dramatically gasped, looking playfully wounded. "More seriously, Dorothy is in training as a church guard, an archer, and most often has to be Saul's bodyguard when he gets sent on missions."

"Wolt will love having another archer to train with." I'm sure. "Let's just… get everything together then?" Yeah, that sounded good.

But that information about the Fire Emblem, and Fiona, wasn't going to leave my head soon. How would she know that Zephiel and Guinevere couldn't wield that sword sealed away? Was that going to be a constant thing?

…I should just focus on the immediate goal. Get to Ostia. Though, perhaps…

After securing the castle, ensuring that no one killed Saul, and making sure everything was running smoothly, I went to go find Marcus. Dad and Mom had always insisted that when things got too overwhelming, I should talk to someone. I was reluctant in this case, since there was so much going on, but at the same time, I did feel like my head was going to explode. That wasn't a very nice place to be, and I highly doubted my ability to perform properly when my thoughts were a giant mess like this.

I found Marcus out on a balcony, looking down below at Allen and Lance beating each other with training spears in a practice bout. He had a notebook next to him, and I saw him carefully writing down observations. Maybe I should observe training sessions too. Maybe that would help me figure out what strategies to give?

Still, that wasn't the reason why I was here. "Marcus?" I called softly. He glanced back and gave me a warm smile, the wrinkles in his face deepening with the gesture. "I'm sorry to bother."

"Lady Irene, I promise that you are not bothering me in the slightest," he reassured. He waved me to come stand next to him. "What is it? I would think you would hole up studying right now."

"I should, but…" I sighed, looking up at the sky. It was still far too early for stars, and honestly, I was a bit afraid of what I would find up there. "I was hoping you wouldn't mind talking?"

"Of course not." I breathed a small sigh of relief at that. "What is it? Is it about what happened in Bulgar?"

"Oh, you already know?"

"I spoke to Rutger, worried by how angry his strikes were. After a few pushes, he did tell me. I reassured him that he does not need to tell anyone else, and as far as I am aware, that knowledge is not known to the group as a whole." I see. "But it stood to reason that you would find out. I know the sword he wields."

"Yeah…" I drooped, resting my arms on the railing of the balcony, dropping my head to look at my boots. There was a rip in the sole. I'd need to fix that. "One of the Sacaeans we fought today told me a little more. How the Djute betrayed…" I felt so nauseous. I was almost certain I was going to throw up. "Bulgar is massacred, my tribe is at best scattered, and I have… no actual idea where my family is." My voice cracked, and I covered my face as the tears flowed. "I'm so scared. Oswin is dead. Uncle Hector is dead. The last I've heard about Dad is that he was in Bulgar, without his preferred bow or sword." He had given the bow to me, and the sword to Rutger, so that we could be safe. "All I've heard about Sue is that she was 'separated' from the non-combatants before they were cut down. Mom apparently did something to make them retreat, but there's nothing on her."

"And you want desperately to believe that everything is going to be all right, but at the same time, you are fully aware that it is a hope that might be answered with nothing." I could only nod, still crying. "That is, of course, not even going into your fears of being a tactician during a war. You are well aware that you might have to give an order that leads to a soldier's death." Yes, I was. That made me scared to get close. Could I even give such an order? "You know… Katri had a hard time with that as well."

"She did?"

"Yes, her 'miraculous' keeping everyone alive was born from that same fear." He passed me a handkerchief to wipe my face. "She also had a horrible time talking to people about what was bothering her, until everything dramatically exploded, at the worst times." Mom did? "She told no one how she was faltering at what path she wanted to walk. She told no one her mother had passed. She never even really told anyone that she had a fear of horses." She did? I hadn't known that. "But that so-called miracle was born from that fear. She couldn't bring herself to sacrifice the one for the many, and ran her health deep into the ground in order to pull off that 'miracle'."

"She did?"

"Barely sleeping, barely eating… really, she worried a lot of us with her poor health choices." I finally looked at him in time to see him shake his head. "But we grow off topic. The source of your current trouble is that you are terrified by how mad everything has become."

"…yes…" My voice sounded so small, even to my own ears. "I mean; Dad is the best hunter, so he has to be…"

"You are aware that you used the same justifications for Lord Hector, and it makes you shake." Yes. Yes, it did. "Rath is skilled. If there is someone who could survive what I have heard, it would not surprise me if Rath would." Yes… "But you are also aware that he would have been up against an army. An army that ambushed innocent civilians during a festival."

"Why are Sacaeans so hated?"

"People can be stupid and blind, fearful of what is different." I loved how cynical he could be. I really did. It just made me feel better. "Irene, it is not a shame to keep hoping. It's not a shame to be afraid that you're wrong." He laughed softly. "Hope is… like a coin, Irene. It constantly flips between joy and despair, and you always hold your breath when it's flipping through the air, wondering what side it eventually lands on. Are you rewarded with joy or are you plunged into despair?"

"It just burns."

"Making it hard to hold onto. And you must hold onto a lot of it, to keep from falling apart." He reached over to ruffle my hair. "What is it that Sacaens say about the dead?"

"They find peace in the meadows of Mother Earth, resting and watching over the living. Father Sky carries their messages of reassurance on the winds, and paints them in the stars."

"Meaning that, regardless of what happened, they are always with you, watching and protecting you." The words made me start crying again. "Though it hurts to no longer see them, or to get a reassuring hug." Yes… "Perhaps you should hold onto that, instead of clinging so desperately to hope that blisters your spirit."

"But I can still be sad."

"Of course." He shifted to return to his notebook, letting me stand next to him to just… sob. "But do not use the tears to drown. Use them to clear your sight and move forward."

"Oswin said something similar."

"The greatest joy Oswin and I have is watching our lords and ladies grow into their full potential. Which, I must say, you and Lord Roy are doing very nicely." Ha… "Go ahead and cry for a while, Irene. I think you need it."

"Thank you…" So, I did, just sobbing into the handkerchief as he fell silent, making notes on the training people below.

The wind blew gently, almost like a hug, and, on them, I 'heard' words of reassurance and pride. Of love and care. I wasn't sure if they were from Dad's spirit or Father Sky sending me his living thoughts to bring me comfort.

But I did find comfort in them, and the strength to keep on walking. One step at a time. I would scream in joy or despair when I learned the truth. But I… I would not run away. I would keep on hoping, but also hold onto these reassurances.

One step at a time. I would walk forward.

Notes on Saul

· An acolyte, priest… whatever of the Elimine Church. Student to Yodel. He is quickly proving to be a horrible headache, as he has already hit on all the women in the army. Thrice.

· Skilled with staves, though, and is a good healer. What I'll probably do is have him and Clarine on the field, and set up Elen as the 'back up'/'emergency' healer near Merlinus.

· I think he's horribly unlucky, based on some interesting accidents I saw in the past, but he's decently fast. Certainly more physically healthy than Elen.

· Strangely, his affinity is ice.

Notes on Dorothy

· Saul's long suffering babysitter and bodyguard, an archer who has been training from a young age to serve as a church guard.

· Rather reserved, shy and not very confident in herself. She also has a habit of talking to herself often.

· Likely due to having longer training, she is stronger than Wolt, but I think she's less accurate. Though, that could be because she second-guesses herself often. Regardless, though, it's going to take a lot of work to get her stronger, much like Wolt.

· Her affinity is fire.

Author's Notes: Technically, Saul and Dorothy join next chapter in game, but we're putting their info here for convenience. Gant is an original character from the manga adaptation, and you get his lance in this chapter. I chose to go with folklore hero for… fun? References to Deke-Rutger and Rutger-Clarine C supports.

Next Chapter – Ensnared