The sweet summer air was refreshing. The smell and feel of the grass gave the depressed army a more cheerful feeling. There was a visible lightness to the aura the army sent off; people were chattering happily to one another, not gravely as they once did. The death of Lord Elbert was slowly leaving their minds.
"Lord Brother," Priscilla said to Raven as she trotted up next to him, "is it true that you intend to ki—"
"Shush!" he hissed, glancing around at the people that surrounded them. Nobody took notice of the two. "Do you want to get heard? How many times have I told you to stop calling me that?"
"You are my brother, and I will call you so," she said firmly. "You cannot change that."
He was quiet for a moment. Then he said, "You are still as stubborn as you were when you were young; once you had your mind set to something, you refused to change it."
"And I refuse," she murmured, leaning over her horse, "to allow you to rashly act upon Lord Hector for the destruction of House Cornwell."
Raven's already hardened face went up to a degree of shock and fury. He leaned in toward her. "We are not going to discuss this."
"We are very well going to discuss this. I need a good explanation on what is going on here!" she huffed indignantly.
"Lucius told you, didn't he?" Raven demanded and glanced around for said monk. "I told him not to mention anything of it!"
"It's a good thing that Lucius had told me about this, and a good thing that he continuously tries to stop you! You refuse, however, and I am here to convince you to let go of the grudge and move on."
"Hah! You, convince me? Priscilla, you are still a child; you know nothing of what truly happened in Cornwell, what really went on…" he trailed off, realizing that his voice was gradually getting louder from his whispers, and cleared his throat.
"I am not a child anymore," she huffed. "I have traveled all the way from Etruria to come look for you, brother! Does that mean nothing to you?" Her voice had become a quiet whisper. Raven didn't respond and looked away. Frustrated, Priscilla let out a little huff and jumped down from her horse. She marched right up in front of Raven, who still refused to look at her. "Killing Lord Hector will solve nothing."
He faced her, eyes burning with rage. "You don't understand."
"Then help me," she pleaded. "Help me understand what you feel. Let me help you."
"You cannot help me," he said stiffly and looked away from her sorrowful eyes. "Nobody can."
She opened her mouth to continue but a masculine voice came from behind and said, "Darling Princess Priscilla, if you could kindly get your horse to move, maybe mine will feel motivated to move as well."
She turned, already knowing from the name he had called her that it was Sain. He was grinning sheepishly atop his horse, which had stopped and was munching the grass along with Priscilla's. Her gloomy face disappeared. She giggled as she ran back to her horse and coaxed it to move forward.
Raven found this as the opportune moment to search for Lucius. He glanced around for a head of blonde hair and found it bobbing up ahead. Without a single look at Priscilla (she was now being charmed by the flirtatious knight) he ran off toward the blonde.
"Lucius," he hissed. The monk turned to face him, his smile disappearing at Raven's expression. "I must speak to you."
"Too bad, because he's talking from me!" Serra huffed, looking over Lucius's shoulder at Raven. "You can talk to him some other time."
He narrowed his eyes at her. "I need to talk to him now."
"You've had your time!" she said before Lucius could say anything. "Now it's my turn to talk with him!"
"You talk enough already. I feel bad for St. Elimine; she has to deal with you as a cleric."
She gaped at him, appalled. "Did you hear that, Lucius?" she shrieked indignantly. "He just insulted me! And St. Elimine!"
"I did not insult St. Elimine; I simply feel bad for her. For having annoying, whiny little you as a cleric."
Serra's eyebrows knotted and she opened her mouth to answer but Lucius quickly turned to face her. "Please, Sister Serra, if I could have a moment with Raven? I would greatly appreciate it."
"But—!"
"Please?"
She pursed her lips and sighed. "Fine, but it's only because you're looking at me like that with those beautiful eyes of yours."
"Thank you. We shall continue our conversation later."
"Hurry up!" Raven hissed, grabbing Lucius by the elbow and dragging him away.
"Is something the matter?" he questioned.
Raven stopped dragging him and glared. "Of course something is wrong!" he snapped. "You told Priscilla of my plans on Ostia!"
"I thought she ought to know."
"You thought wrong."
"Oh? She is your sister, Lord Raymond," he whispered, leaning in toward him so their marching comrades wouldn't hear. "She needs to know important things like this."
"She does not! She must keep out of my way, out of danger—that is what she needs to do!"
"What about you? Must you always be in the face of danger? There is no reason, milord, for you to commit a murder. I understand that you cannot simply forget the death of your parents, nor am I telling you to, but—"
"No, you don't!" Raven shouted. Many people turned to look at him. He looked outraged, fists clenched at his sides, teeth bared. "Do not tell me that you understand. You could never understand."
"Not understand?" Lucius shook his head. "How could I not understand? I was very close to the Marquess and his wife. I worked for them for ten years—do you truly believe that I do not comprehend how it feels to lose a loved one?"
Raven was silent for a long moment. "My apologies," he mumbled. "I did not…I was not thinking…"
Lucius's expression softened. "It is not a problem, milord."
"Must I tell you again? Do not call me by any Lordly name."
He smiled. "You will always be Lord Raymond of House Cornwell to me. Even if you change your name, even though you've changed since your parents' death, you cannot change one thing: You are and always will be Lord Raymond."
Raven did not respond, and so Lucius left him to his thoughts. Both were unaware of the dirty blonde thief walking behind them with a content smirk on his face.
"Why do you keep on glancing over there?"
Florina quickly looked back down at her stew and quietly slurped at it.
"Florina, I'm talking to you."
"Yes?" she murmured.
"Why were you looking over there?" Fiora asked and craned her neck, curious of what her sister had been staring at. "Is something the matter?"
"No, no, nothing at all," she said hastily. She didn't stutter once.
"Are you sure? It doesn't sound like nothing…"
"You don't need to worry."
"If you say so."
They ate their lunch but Florina ended up looking up again. This time Fiora caught her and quickly looked over the same direction. There was Dart, laughing and munching away on an apple as he chatted to Bartre and Wil.
"Did that man do something to you?" Fiora asked immediately, looking back at Florina. "Did he offend you, or—"
"No, no, of course not!" Florina said with wide eyes, shaking her lavender hair.
"You need not lie to me. I'll just go over there and tell him to—" She made a move to get up but Florina quickly grabbed onto her arm and pulled her back down.
"He just saved my life yesterday—so I just thought that I should say thank you…"
"Oh." She relaxed. "I jumped to conclusions too quickly. How about I go and thank him for you, then?"
She shook her head again. "I do not need…I can do it on my own…" She mumbled a few incoherent words.
"Are you certain? I know that you're very uncomfortable around men…and he is quite big...not as big as that Lord Hector, though." She paused. "Florina, it must be very hard for you to stay in this army, surrounded by so many men…are you alright?"
"I have been alright," she smiled. "I've been getting…used to them. I know they mean no harm, and they treat me well."
"You don't hesitate to tell me when somebody mistreats you, okay?"
"I'm fine, Sis…"
"Okay?" she repeated and Florina nodded her head.
"Okay."
Erk, who had been running, tripped over Florina's outstretched legs. She let out a squeak in surprise and pulled her legs back. He stood back up with an annoyed look on his face.
"I-I'm s-s-sorry," Florina said quietly.
"It was just an accident," Fiora said before Erk could even respond. "It's not her fault."
"I never said it was her fault," Erk mumbled, turning his annoyed eyes on the other Pegasus Knight.
"Oh. Pardon me, I just thought that with that expression of yours you would—"
"ERKY!"
Erk swore loudly, scrambling to his feet and tripping over his own cloak as he all too hastily jumped back. He tumbled over and lay on the ground for a moment, cloak thrown over his purple head. Florina giggled quietly and covered her mouth.
"Ide mebe."
"Excuse me?" Fiora raised an eyebrow.
"Ide mene!"
"I'm sorry. One more time?"
"Hide me!" he hissed, lifting his face off the grass. "Or...just get rid of Serra before she—ah!"
Seeming to be under the impression that his red cloak would blend in with the grass, he laid where he was.
"Have either of you seen Erky?" Serra demanded as she stopped in front of the two sisters, hands on her hips. "He promised me that he would help me with using magic!" There was a mumble from the grass. Serra glanced around. "Did you hear that?"
"Err..."
"Erky!" Serra gasped as she noticed the cloak. "This isn't time to play hide and seek! You have to teach me how to use my magic!"
Erk groaned, lifting only his head. "I told you, Serra, that you're going to practice light magic. I practice Anima magic, not light!"
She rolled her eyes. "Same thing! I got this ring"—She outstretched her hand to show him the large red ring—"and that means I get to use magic. You promised me you'd teach me!" she whined and stomped her foot.
"I never said such a thing."
"Obviously you didn't say it, but I knew you were thinking it the second you saw Lord Eliwood hand me the ring! Gosh, I thought he was going to propose to me at first!" She batted her eyelashes and fanned herself with her hand. Erk rolled his eyes as he stood up.
"Who would want to marry you?"
She flipped her hair. "Everybody."
"Count me out of the picture," he said, slowly backing up.
"Oh c'mon Erk, you're obviously mesmerized by my beauty like any other man. You're just embarrassed to admit it!"
"...Watch out!" he shouted and pointed to something behind Serra. She shrieked and automatically ducked. Fiora and Florina turned to see that there was nothing there. By the time Serra figured out that the mage had tricked her he was long gone.
The sword sliced through the air gracefully and smoothly. Isadora took a step forth and stabbed the air. She ducked an invisible enemy and took a few steps to the right, slashing her sword forward. When she turned around with her sword raised, she let out a surprised yelp at the smirking man in front of her. Her sword slipped out of her hand in bewilderment and fell silently to the grass.
"You have some nice moves," the man commented as he bent down and picked up her sword, "so elegant and graceful." He handed her the sword. She stared at it before warily taking it from him.
"Who are you?"
"Ah, pardon my manners; I suppose I was a bit loss of words in the presence of such a beauty." She eloquently raised an eyebrow and he grinned. It was a flashy sort of grin, quick and short, yet it had a tinge of charm. "I am Legault." He bowed dramatically, flinging his black cloak behind him as he dragged his right foot back. "And what is the name of the Dame Knight I have the honor of meeting?"
"My name is Isadora," she said and bowed in the Pheraen style: both arms at her sides as she bent over, legs firmly together.
"Of Pherae, are you?"
She straightened up and looked at him curiously. "How did you know that?"
"Your accent, your bow." He shrugged. "It's as simple as that."
"Am I correct to assume that you are of Bern?"
He shrugged again. "I might be. I might not."
She smiled slightly. "You are quite the mysterious one, aren't you?"
"On the contraire, Dame Knight," he smirked and she gave him a confused yet amused look.
"Well, I'm more than certain that you are an assassin."
"So you've got the looks and the smarts? I'd be damned if you were already taken."
Her smile faltered. He looked at her curiously and she quickly mustered up a polite look. "So, Master Legault." She paused at his chuckle. "Yes?"
"Master Legault, the Dame says," he said and shook his head, long lavender hair swishing. "As polite as a knight could be."
Her eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "You do not wish to be referred as Master Legault?"
"I'm not sure if I deserve that title." He continued to smile, but there was a strange twinkle in his eyes. It was gone before Isadora could comprehend his expression. "But call me as you please."
"I don't wish to make you uncomfortable."
He laughed again. "Uncomfortable? Me? Well, I suppose being called 'Master' is quite a traumatizing experience." There was a teasing and sarcastic take to his voice. "I'm not sure which is worse: getting called Master or Uncle."
"Why would I call you Uncle?"
He only chuckled and shook his head. "Never mind that. Beautiful bird isn't it?" He stared at a bird perched on a tree behind Isadora. She turned around and looked at the colorful animal.
"Yes, it's quite beautiful, but—"
Legault was gone when she turned back around.
Bartre sat down beside Canas. The Shaman's face was buried in a book, eyes moving from side to side excitedly.
"Hey." There was no response. "Hey." Again, no response. "Hey!"
The slam of Bartre's big hand against the ground seemed to do the trick; Canas let out a yelp, book flying out of his hands, and quickly fumbled around with it.
"Oh, hello," he said and turned to face Bartre, the book securely back in his hands.
"Gee, it's about time you noticed me."
He chuckled. "My apologies. Once I get caught up in a good book, I tend to lose track of the real world."
"Is it really that good?" Bartre asked curiously, leaning over to look at it. "What's it about?"
"Oh, just about magic. Erk has kindly let me read it for the night."
"Magic?" He crinkled his nose. "That sounds boring."
Canas gasped. "Boring? Do you have any idea how much information, how much wisdom, how much experience has been put into this book?" He shook the book in Bartre's face. "It is far beyond boring—even far beyond interesting! It's out of this world!"
"Really?" Bartre snatched the book out his hands and rifled through the pages. "There aren't even any pictures!"
"No, but there are quite a few interesting facts!"
"'It is always important to...burnish your Tome before any use of it's…eh?" He scratched his head. "Why would you burn your Tome?"
"Burnish means to polish, not to burn."
"Oh…then what does…argh! My head hurts!" he groaned and shoved the book back into Canas's hands. He rubbed his temple with his massive hands. "And you say this is interesting?"
"Yes, don't you think so?"
Bartre looked at Canas as if he'd grown three heads. "No! It's boring and confusing!"
"Confusing, maybe, but boring…? I have to disagree with you on that one."
"Well," Bartre huffed, folding his arms across his chest, "I disagree that you disagree with me."
"I disagree that you disagree that I disagree."
"I disagree that you disagree that I disagree that you…eh?"
Canas chuckled. "Shall we just agree to disagree?"
Bartre scratched his head. "Sure. You need to find a better book, though. One that's got action and is actually fun to read! A few pictures would help a lot, too."
"I prefer this," Canas said and raised the book. "But maybe I can get one that you'll like?"
His eyes lit up. "Would you?"
"Yeah, I'm sure I can find something. In the mean time…" He opened his book. "I've got to get reading again—I've just started to read about elder magic!"
There was chatter around the fireplace as the army sat around it.
"For the last time, if you don't stop humming I'm going to make sure you'll never be able to hum or speak again!" Raven snapped at the humming Legault. The ex Black Fang member paused in his humming and looked at the aggravated redhead over his shoulder, smirking.
"Mind telling your boyfriend to be a bit nicer to me, Scar-buddy?"
"Maybe if you stop calling me Scar-buddy."
He frowned. "But, we are scar buddies!" he said and pointed to his two scars. Jasmine unconsciously touched the scar that ran across her face.
"That doesn't mean you have to go around calling us 'scar buddies'."
"Wait a second," Rebecca chirped in the conversation, "you aren't denying the part where he mentioned Raven as your boyfriend." She was smiling excitedly, green eyes twinkling. Raven rolled his eyes, Legault smirked, and Jasmine shook her head.
"I've already told him too many times that we aren't a couple; I've gotten quite tired of arguing with him."
"Because there's no point in arguing a true statement," Legault quipped. She groaned and focused on her meal.
"I will slice you to pieces if you continue this stupid and pointless statement," Raven snarled at him. "You don't want to get in trouble when you've only been in the army for such a short time."
"I've already got quite a few people watching me already; what harm could this do?"
"For one, I would murder you."
Legault chuckled and looked amused. "You can try, pretty boy, but you'll only end up hurting yourself."
Raven raised an eyebrow at the name. Jasmine snickered into her soup and he flashed a glare. Rebecca giggled.
"Is that a challenge?"
Legault shrugged. "Only if you want to, but I wouldn't recommend it; would you really want to embarrass yourself in front of your girlfriend?"
"Please stop with that nonsense, Legault," Jasmine sighed. "Go ahead and rip him up for all I care, but please stop with that relationship stuff."
"Ouch. That's gotta hurt. It's alright," Legault said and sympathetically patted Raven on his shoulder. He scowled. "There are plenty of fish in the sea."
"I need no sympathy." Raven smacked the gloved hand away. "Nor do I need to find myself a 'fish'."
"Oh? Not interested in women?" His eyes twinkled mischievously and Raven groaned as he realized what he meant.
"You're disgusting."
"It's nothing to be ashamed of! You're a handsome fellow; it shouldn't be hard to find a mate."
Jasmine burst out laughing as she realized what Legault was talking about. Rebecca still looked confused.
"Shut up!" Raven snapped at both Legault and Jasmine. "Though I am in no need of a relationship now or ever, I'm interested in women, you disgusting twerps."
"Hey guys!" Wil said cheerfully as he sat down beside Rebecca. "Watcha talking about?"
"Raven's sexuality," Jasmine giggled and the redhead glared at her. Wil raised an eyebrow but chuckled nonetheless.
"Huh? I thought we were talking about fish," Rebecca said, eyebrows crinkled in confusion. Jasmine and Wil laughed while Raven simply rolled his eyes. Legault seemed to have disappeared.
"I forgot you were only fifteen," Jasmine giggled, "so you wouldn't understand. It's alright, though," she added. "It's good you don't understand."
"Wait...if you were talking about Raven's sexuality, then..."
"So, you guys," Wil said quickly in an attempt to change the subject, "isn't the weather so nice? Summer time is here!"
"Yeah, it's so beautiful out! It's getting even warmer in the night!" Rebecca said, completely forgetting the past topic.
"I prefer the cold," Jasmine said. "And the summer over here is much warmer than it is in Ilia."
"I don't care," Raven put bluntly and she glared at him.
"I didn't ask for your opinion."
"Nor did I."
"You're the one that butted in the conversation."
"You were the one that added the pointless comment about the cold."
"Um…guys…"
"Yeah, that's called having a decent conversation. Ever had one of those?"
His face hardened. "You're just trying to start something with me! You're always trying to get on my nerves, not that it's hard for you, of course—"
"I start things? Hah! You're the one who's always parading around like you own the place—"
"Jas…"
"If I owned the place, you wouldn't be the tactician!"
"I bet you'd like that, wouldn't you, knowing that you control everything and everyone—"
"I would, because then I wouldn't have to deal with you, or anybody else in this army, for that matter!"
"Sir Raven…"
"Yeah? Then how about you just leave this army if you hate everybody so much? What's the point of being somewhere, surrounded by people you hate?"
"Now you're just nosing into my personal life—"
"What? I'm not nosing in anybody's life! I was just saying you don't need to force yourself to be somewhere you're clearly—"
"Jas, Senior Rave, stop!" Wil said loudly, getting physically in between the two. The air was tense and heavy.
"Whoa, what happened here?" Matthew said as he waltzed up to them. "I can feel the tenseness in the air...it's so thick I could just cut it out!"
"Yeah, and you're really helping," Jasmine said sarcastically.
"Since when do you speak sarcasm?"
"Since I've been spending too much time around sarcastic people." She sent meaningful looks to Matthew and Raven.
The thief snickered. "Now, let's all be nice! I think you can lower your guard, Wil," he added to the archer, who had his hands up in case Raven and Jasmine were to move. "It's not like they're going to go off and kill each other or anything. We're all part of the same army so there's no way we would betray each other's trust to kill one of our own." He darted his eyes to Raven, who raised an eyebrow.
"Should you really be talking?" Jasmine said.
"Who? Me? I'm nice to everybody here!" Matthew said. Rebecca giggled at Jasmine's expression.
"There you are, Matthew! I've been looking for you all day!"
Everyone turned to face a very agitated Guy.
"Guy, my good friend! What do I owe the pleasure to?"
He narrowed his eyes. "You know exactly what you did! Jumping me in the middle of the night is not a proper battle!"
"Isn't it? I told you that I would choose the time."
"You…you…!" He shook a finger at him. "That's unfair!"
"I'm a thief; what more did you expect?"
"I demand a rematch!"
"There's no point—we battled, I won. You follow through with your contract. End of story."
Guy growled lowly. "No, not end of story! I won't lose if you give me a proper chance to fight! Wait…you're scared that you're going to lose to me, aren't you?" he smiled and Matthew raised an eyebrow.
"No, not scared. Just smart."
"Admit it! You're scared!"
Raven stalked off as the two argued. Wil, convinced that the redhead would not come back to start another argument with the tactician, started to chat with Rebecca. Jasmine bade them goodnight and went off to her tent. When she walked into it, she was surprised to find Raven in it, looking furious. Priscilla stood in front of him saying, "I'll never let you do that, no matter what you say!"
"You don't dictate me, Priscilla; I will do as I please, and that is final!"
"But-!"
Jasmine silently left the tent, not wanting to eavesdrop on the conversation.
"Ah, precious Jasmine, how you light up the night with your blinding beauty!"
She turned, smiling slightly, to face an approaching Sain. "You're still up?"
"Yes, to come and look for you, my sweet! I would not be able to sleep without seeing your beauteous face."
"What will Kent say when he finds out that you're not allowing the tactician her sleep?" She chuckled and shook her head in mock disappointment.
"I will tell him that I've a job to do!" he said and puffed out his chest. "I will protect you from all dangers, my darling!"
"Oh, yes, there's always the possibility of Priscilla strangling me in the middle of the night," she joked and giggled. "I do need a knight to prevent that from happening."
"Yes, precisely! I cannot allow you two beautiful creatures to kill one another! Now, come, and allow me to sit by your side to protect you!" He spread his arms and gestured to the tent.
"Sain!" Kent shouted before Jasmine could respond, "I've been looking all over for you!" He walked up to the pair, scowling at Sain. "We have night duty tonight, remember?"
Sain groaned dramatically, putting the back of his hand to his forehead. "Alas, my boon companion, I've already promised this precious gem that I would watch after her!"
Kent raised an eyebrow and looked at Jasmine. "Sorry if he was bothering you."
She giggled. "He wasn't bothering me at all! He's my friend, after all. Can't we talk a little more before you guys go on night duty? I mean, quite a few people are still awake."
Sain beamed and Kent frowned. "Yes, but we do have to set up and—"
"You are too kind, my delicate Ilian flower. Not only do you look like an angel, but you have the kind heart of one!"
"I must agree that you are a bit too nice, Jasmine," Kent said as he put a hand to his forehead, shaking his fiery hair. "It amazes me to end that you can deal with him..."
Sain pursed his lips. "What's that supposed to mean?" Jasmine giggled at his feigned hurt expression.
"No matter, we really must get a move on our shift." Kent glanced up at the twinkling stars and the black blanket of air atop them. "Sir Oswin and Sir Marcus would not be pleased to know that we will be late. Nor will I, for that matter."
"Unfortunately we must part, my beautiful Jasmine," Sain said sadly. "Blast our cursed fates! The other angels are jealous of your beauty, and so they punish us so!" He shook a fist to the sky and Jasmine giggled as Kent rolled his eyes. "I will see you as soon as my shift is over, yes? Then we can gaze at the stars and I can match each one as to what makes you so luscious. Unfortunately, I will run out of stars."
"Or we can just talk," she smiled and his face lit up. Kent, however, frowned in disapproval.
"I don't think that's a very good idea. We do have to leave early tomorrow morning and you already have enough trouble as it is to wake up, Jasmine."
"We leave early every morning, Kent! I don't get to share every night with this darling flower, however, so I don't think I can pass up this offer!"
"Sain! Kent!" Oswin shouted across the camp. "It's your shift!"
"Yes, sir!" Kent shouted back and hissed at Sain, "C'mon, you lout!"
"I'll be back soon!" Sain said as he took Jasmine's hands and making her shiver. "I won't take too long, I promise!"
She laughed. "You better get going. I don't think Kent can wait much longer."
"Yes, listen to the tactical mind," Kent said and Jasmine chuckled.
"I can't wait to stargaze with you once again, winter flower. It has been far too long since we've done that." Sain smiled.
"It has," she agreed. "This journey doesn't allow us much time to speak and catch up with one another; we had much more time to talk when we were going to Caelin."
"Yes, and as I believe I've said before, you can talk later," Kent said, patience gone. "I will drag you if I must, Sain. We have to go."
"Then you must drag me; I'm under this beautiful creature's trance!"
Many things happened as Kent made a move to grab onto Sain's armor: Raven walked out of the tent backwards so that his back was facing the three and he slipped on the tent peg; he lost his balance and collapsed onto the two knights; Jasmine stumbled back and tripped on a tent peg too; there was a shriek from within the tent as the front collapsed.
Those who had been walking off to their tents turned to the commotion curiously, and a few people even poked their heads out of the tent flaps.
The three young men tussled with one another before managing to get up. Kent looked flustered, Sain had a twig hanging off his drooping hair, and Raven looked furious.
"Are you guys alright?" Jasmine asked as she rushed over to them. She giggled at the twig in Sain's hair and gently picked it out for him. Sain laughed and took a few twigs off her hair in return. Raven narrowed his eyes at the motion.
Before he could comment on it Priscilla rushed out of the tent and said, "Is anybody harmed?"
"No, we're all fine," Kent said. "Now if you'll excuse us..."
He attempted to grab Sain but the green knight ducked his arm, "accidentally" elbowing his back so that he fell to the ground again. "Ah, do not look so sad, my darling Princess! Those sorrowful eyes of yours makes my heart clench!" He swooned, hand flying to his chest, knees buckling. "Please, do smile!"
She giggled, cheeks tinging pink. Raven scowled darkly, hand going to his hilt. "You best be going, knight."
"My thoughts exactly!" Kent said as he took a hold of the back of Sain's armor. He started to drag him away, ignoring his pleas.
"Sleep well, Princess!" Sain shouted, "and I'll come get you in no time, Jasmine!"
"Go to sleep. I do not wish for that idiot to come back," Raven said to Priscilla. She seemed to consider arguing but decided against it, walking back inside her tent.
Jasmine raised an eyebrow. "You shouldn't order people around like that, especially not Priscilla. She's nice."
Raven ignored her. "You're going on a date with him?"
"Huh? With who?"
He sighed. "With that green knight, of course!"
"Oh. It's not a date," she said, annoyed. "It's called stargazing with a good friend."
"Hmm. Well, I will most definitely say 'I told you so' if you end up walking out of his tent tomorrow morning."
She gasped. "Sain and I are friends; nothing more!"
"Sure didn't look like it."
"So, what, you and Priscilla have something going on?" she retorted and he made a face.
"No. That's disgusting."
"My point exactly."
He raised his hands in surrender. "All right, all right. Whatever. He did forget something, though..."
She looked at him curiously as he leaned in toward her. Her eyes widened and she backed away a bit.
"What are you—?"
"Don't move!"
She automatically stopped as if someone had pressed a button. He reached out to her curls (she barely flinched) and withdrew his hand to reveal a twig.
"Oh," Jasmine said dumbly as she watched him flick it to the ground. Raven raised an eyebrow.
"Were you anticipating something else?"
She flushed. "No, of course not!"
"Your face says otherwise." A small smirk was tugging the corner of his lips.
"...Go to sleep!" she said as she backed away toward her tent. "A good night's rest should tidy your thoughts."
"Have fun stargazing," he said sarcastically and walked off.
"You have mud on your butt!"
"Hah, very funny!" he shouted over his shoulder. Jasmine giggled to herself and shook her head as she retreated into her tent.
Raven had to find out the hard way that the tactician had not been lying.
Whew! That was fun to write! :D I feel like I haven't wrote enough Sain so far and I sure had fun writing him in this chapter!
Let me just say that there will be no Sain/Jasmine. They really are just strictly friends, even though, ya know, Sain flirts with her. He can't help it. Poor guy's cursed. How I wish he was real...I would not mind getting hit on by him :P What can I say? C'mon, somebody's got to admit that you love the way flirts-it's too hilarious. It also might have to do with my fan girl ways...I can't help it, okay?
Okay, I'm babbling too much. Back to the chapter. I'm going to try to incorporate the Hero Crests, Elysian whips, etc. and how much they train to be able to use them. I did include the guide ring in this chapter because it was about time that Serra could become a Bishop. Other characters are leveled up enough to go to the next class. I'll try to add this in the next few chapters.
