I had an extra long weekend, so I had some more time to work on this chapter. Here, I use a joke from the game to good not to use, give Lester a little characterization, shoehorn in a scene I was originally going to use last chapter but forgot about, and prepare for our meeting with Shanan and Patty next time. I would also like to ask my readers to type up reviews. I only have one constant reviewer, but I want to find out what more people think, and if there are any critiques to help me improve my writing, cause I know she isn't the only one who reads this, if my view counter is anything to go by. As for my one constant reviewer, just ignore this and keep doing what you do. Please enjoy this little breather episode.

"Well hello there Seliph, where are you going? And do you honestly think that you'll be allowed out of the castle without a guard?" said someone lurking in the shadows just behind Seliph.

Seliph stopped in his tracks and turned to the speaker. "Oh, hi Lester. I was just... I heard that there was a vilage just northwest of here, and I thought the residents would appreciate a visit from their country's liberator."

Lester folded his arms and said "Then we'd better hurry. The funeral is in a couple of hours, we shouldn't miss it."

"We?"

"You said 'meet their country's liberator', right? And if I recall correctly, I am the one who shot Danan dead. As far as you go, all you did was kill a bunch of common soldiers and siezed thrones." then his expression went from serious to thoughtful. "Why are there thrones in the fortresses anyway? Isaac is one country, not a bunch of united kingdoms like Agustria... right?"

"I think it has to do with the Dozel's ego. Johan had his father and two brothers. 4 Dozels and 4 fortresses, 4 thrones for 4 men to play king of their own little castles." Seliph rolled his eyes and then said "Or maybe not, I think I heard there actually were separate noble houses of Isaac back in the day, but Shanan's is the only one that exists now. Anyways, back on subject, I don't mind you coming, but that statement you made sounded a little prideful. Didn't your mom teach you about the problem with pride?" he said, giving Lester a concerned look.

"Didn't she teach me the problem with pranks? Pride has nothing to do with my wanting to come with you to that village. What if there are still some stray imperial soldiers wandering about? They could pick you out as an easy target if you were alone. It's dangerous to go alone, so my bringing up what I did was just an excuse to come along."

"...I have nothing to argue against in that. Let's go." said Seliph, conceding Lester's point.

The two boys were quickly swamped by the gratful citizens within half a minute of their arrival. When the villagers finally made an organized circle around them, the village elder came to address them personally. "Hello Sir Seliph, I must thank you for the great service you have rendered us."

"It was the least I could do for the country I was raised in."

"Nevertheless, I would like to reward your service with the hand of my granddaughter in marriage."

"Well I...wait... WHAT?!" at the elder's statement, Seliph turned deathly pale, and his pupils dialated rapidly.

"We raised her well, and she is rather good tempered, and..." as the elder continued explaining his granddaughter's merits, Seliph was backing away slowly, and Lester was corpsing on the sidelines.

While this was going on, a young woman worked her way out of the crowd and shook the elder. "Grandpa! Quit it! You're being humiliating!" then turning to the terrified lord, she said, "I apologize for my grandfather's behavior. He likes to play matchmaker with me and any young man he meets. You'd do best to ignore him." At this, Seliph visibly relaxed. "But if you do find me attractive..." Seliph clenched up again, and the girl laughed "Here's some money we gathered up as a thank you... you do realize I was joking right? It was a J-O-K-E."

The grandfather piped in with "No it wasn't."

At this point, Lester couldn't contain his laughter anymore. After he continued chuckling, he plopped a gemstone in the elder's hand and said "OK, OK Iv'e had enough. You can stop now, youv'e gone farther than I asked you to. You see Seliph-" he turned around to see the village gate swinging back and forth and the granddaughter staring at him in shock.

"You... you PAID grandpa to say that?!"

"Yup" he said, and he burst out laughing again.

"How... how did you even know Seliph would be coming here? Did he tell you ahead of time?"

"No. I knew because being concerned for the well being of the common man is so ingrained into Seliph's heart and soul, he would be willing to visit a man on his deathbed that he never met if that man asked for Seliph's pressence. I know he would! It's happened before! Anyways, it isn't that much of a stretch to think that he'd visit a random village to see how the villagers fared living under a cruel regime that set up it's main base of operations close by. Anyways, thanks for keeping the joke going, sir. It was a good laugh."

"Joke? What joke?" said the old man.

"Alright, spill it. What is it that you want to show me Johan? I have to prepare for my best friend's funeral, and I don't have time for games." said an irratible Larcei as Johan dragged her to the castle basement and Ulster followed.

"Something I think that you should know about, something I took no part in, and I think if you saw it, you would then be able to express your... emotions and feel better before the funeral by clearing this out... no wait, that's a terrible choice of words, 'cause you're going to-"

"WHAT. IS. IT."

"Did you ever wonder what happpened to all of the girls my father's men kidnapped? Well..." he opened a door and the backed away quickly.

Larcei looked inside, and when she realized what it was, she gave a furious shriek and dove into the room, sword drawn, and the sounds of violence soon arose. A couple minutes later, Oifey came down the stairs "What is with all the rack- HOLY CRAP! WHAT THE HELL IS SHE DOING?!" he cried as he stared in the room, eyes huge, and mouth hanging open.

Johan wouldn't look at him and Ulster just gave a bored look. "What does it look like? She's killing a bunch of amoral men, DUH."

"WHY ARE YOU SO CALM ABOUT IT?!"

"Why are you so freaked out? You helped raise us. You should know that this isn't out of the ordinary."

"Why were there even people still in there?!"

"Why do you think?"

At that moment, Larcei finished her killing spree and came out with multiple red splotches doting her body, and holding... something in her left hand. "DAMN that felt good! Now I won't be an emotional wreck at the funeral. I know Radney would have been happy to see this." She said, dropping the object she was holding.

Oifey shrank back in horror and let out the worst expltive that he knew. "Thank you for showing me this room Johan, that was years worth of anger I just used up in there. I'm going to go clean up. You might want to have someone come by a demolish this room, by the way." she said as she left and was followed out.

"I'll tell Seliph when he gets back." Ulster said.

"You look like you were in a big hurry, Seliph. I heard about Radney, but you've got an hour, an there is no way someone could have told you I arrived yet."

Seliph stopped short and looked at the speaker. "Lewyn! You're back!"

"Yes, and I am impressed by how quickly you've retaken Isaac from the empire. I take it you haven't lost a single battle. That's good. Let's hope that streak keeps up, the world needs it."

"Oh? What's going on in other countries, Lewyn?"

"Hell on Earth, Seliph. Hell on Earth. Turns out that Isaac didn't have it that bad thanks to Danan's sons actually being decent people. What you've done here, you have to do across the continent. Prepare a speech and have a meeting with your army after the funeral. Organize a force to stay here in Isaac to gaurd it against imperial attack, and then have the rest prepare for a long journey."

"That's all well and good, Lewyn, but taking on the empire as a whole? That's a very dangerous thing. Where should we even start?"

"Thracia. When I left it, your cousin Leif was in desperate need of support. It almost seems that the entire Thracian Penninsula wants him dead. We cannot allow that to happen. Also, from the rumors Iv'e heard, I have reason to believe my son is leadig a resistance force by himself... for some reason. I recognized his potential when he was born, if you find my son, you'll want to have him join us."

"I'm sure Fee will be happy to see you both."

At that, Lewyn froze in place. "WHAT?"

"Yea, your daughter joined us when we defeated Johalva. She's a decent fighter. Real cheery too. She's partnered herself with a young mage who claims to be the son of Azel and Tailtiu."

"Arthur. The little... nah, Fee will be just fine under his protection."

"Wait, does that mean-"

"Prepare yourself Seliph. It's almost time." Lewyn interupted and then he left, leaving Seliph to think on his advice.