Chapter 9: Vortex of Strategy
by SodiumChloride12, derived from Fire Emblem, owned by Nintendo.
A/N: Physics Exam weekend! Wish me luck guys (no seriously). Feel free to drop a review and follow! Enjoy!
N: A mysterious man appears to Mark in his dreams. Unsure and afraid, he discloses this information to a new friend. Meanwhile, new circumstances forces him to consider his feelings towards Lyn.
I was surrounded by a black vortex. It was chilling to the bone, and white breath left my lungs as I breathed. Goosebumps appeared throughout my body, as the wind pressed against my skin like knives. I looked down towards my feet.
What was this thing that I was standing on? Blood?
I gagged and nearly threw up right there, but my gut stayed intact. A sticky, red substance pressed against my feet. Suddenly, the vortex stopped, revealing a wide horizon around me. Nothing but a black expanse. If I could compare the sight to anything, it was like looking into the ocean at night from the coast. Nothing but darkness, my uncertainty quickly turning into fear.
I heard a loud slosh behind me, and shifted myself towards him on the amorphous ground. A man gradually lifted himself from the red abyss, and he was barely visible in the darkness. He was wearing a long black cloak, and with his silhouette I could make out a turban on his head. The being; having just lifted himself from the ground; paused, as if he was observing my person. After a few seconds, the man spoke with a clear, deep voice; his message cutting through the darkness like a hot knife.
"Azazel, it's been a long time."
I stepped back; I was familiar with the name.
I replied, "My name is Mark, who is Azazel?"
He laughed and pointed his finger towards me, "Why...that would be you of course."
"Me?!" I exclaimed.
He nodded, "Yes that would be you, I should know, I'm your father of sorts."
I gasped, and took a moment to process what he had just said.
My father? Am I not alone in this world? A father would suggest others as well. Does that mean I have a family? But I have to consider something else. All of this wishful thinking is for naught if this man is lying. There's no way that this is real. I am dreaming of course...
"How can I trust you?" I asked.
He erected a large purple flame from his palm, "You possess immense magical power...as do I. I made you that way."
Made...what?! How can you make a human being?! I mean you could but...that involves someone else. But he made it sound like he did it alone...
Suddenly, I felt a weird sensation coming from my head, and the world around me began to collapse.
The man looked at his arm, as if he had a watch on, "Well...it seems our time tonight is up...I'll see you soon."
The man began to fade away, but when I tried to run towards him, the murky floor halted my advance. It felt like thick syrup.
"W-Wait! What's your name?!" I exclaimed.
The man waved me away, "You'll find out soon enough..."
I woke up to the sound of a crowing rooster, and a bright light shone through my inn window. My head ached from the lack of sleep; eye floaters, spots, and flashes polluted the rustic furnishing around me.
What...just...happened? That man, he had a frightening, yet comforting aura to him. Almost like some distorted father figure.
Was I really not alone in this world? It's quite likely that I had some sort of family looking out for me before Lyn and I met, but how come I'm only finding out about this now? Besides, that man, with regards to my magical power, said I was "made" to be that way. I've never heard of a father saying he "made" his son...it's too objectifying. How did that guy know that I had good MP potential anyways? Only Erk knew that from our training sessions...
The more time I thought about it, the more it sounded like bullshit. It was time to address the elephant in the room. How did that guy even talk to me in my dream?
I looked out the inn window to see the village folk begin their day. A pair of elderly men were busily playing chess outside of a coffee shop. Masons were busily wiping morning dew from their iron tools. A family's kitchen fire was expelling a small amount into the sky. A little boy was playfully chasing his puppy between the wide corridors of the town, oblivious to his older sister looking for him.
A priest opened the doors to his chapel, much to the delight of parishioners waiting for early morning liturgy. Sleepy guards gave a sloppy salute to the day shift, who were reluctant to correct them. An angry lieutenant reprimanded them, and his barking order sent a wave of birds scrambling for the air. A pair of identical twin merchants opened shop; they sported green and purple tricorns. Barrels of clean water, flour, and other dry goods adorned the exterior of the shop. The merchant with a purple emerged from an unseen corner of the store with a horse in hand...
I hurriedly made my bed put on my [still burnt] green robe. Putting my hand through the combusted material, I couldn't help but crave for a wardrobe change...
Crap! I can think about this later, I need to run some errands!
We restarted our journey to Caelin. For six days we marched our way towards Lyn's mother's homeland, and I took in the clean Lycian air. Spring was ending, and along with it came the less pollinated summer.
The climate seemed to change by the day. One day we'd be wading through a humid swamp, and my robe was quickly drenched with moisture [mostly my own]. A few days later, we arrived at a small mountain range, and were slammed by an aggressive cold front. This led to some mild, pleasant weather, and these days were some of the most productive.
To be honest, the trek was pretty boring. I refrained from speaking to anyone besides Erk and Florina. Don't get me wrong, these people are very pleasant to talk to, but Erk's introverted personality only allowed me to converse with him once a day, and Florina...
Anxious as always...
I spent the majority of my day trying to avert my eyes from the overbearing sun, as the constant migraines wrecked havoc to my vision's light sensitivity. I had an episode that was so bad, that I tore off a dangling piece of cloth and placed it around my eyes. I walked around blindly, and although this arrangement worked for some time, I quickly realized how dumb this was and decided to suck it up.
Midway through the trip, I caught a glance of Lyn and Rath sharing a conversation. Although I knew it wasn't my place to be concerned with their affairs, I felt a growing pit of anxiety build up within my gut.
Was...she...laughing? I never took Rath as a funny person...
Rath successfully delivered the punchline...
"Get this, once I had to go window shopping for the marquess because he had forgotten to find a gift for a diplomat. Can you imagine what this man's taste was?"
Lyn anticipating a joke, invitingly said, "I can't. What?"
Rath chuckled, "He wanted a very specific cologne from a very specific vendor in Araphen. Can you imagine a man like me having to walk inside a posh store looking like this?"
Lyn laughed, she was very much enjoying this conversation.
"That sounds hilarious! Did they kick you out?" she asked.
Rath shook his head, "Once I dropped a big bag of coin they had no objections. Gold is the ultimate negotiator..."
I tried to keep my anger hidden, but regardless I clenched my first and swore silently. Erk raised his head from his book, An Analysis on Unequal Torques, and noticed my expression.
"Something the matter?" he asked.
"Perfectly fine." I lied.
Rath…!
Later that night, I leveled a small house that had been abandoned during a TB outbreak many years before. Despite the awesome demonstration of power, my body churned from the mass expulsion of mana. I had obviously surpassed my limits.
Erk's silhouette lit up with the burning building. He frowned at my violent outburst and disapproved.
He said, "You shouldn't over-exert yourself."
An overwhelming sense of queasiness filled my gut. A balmy acid launched from my throat.
I threw up right there on the open field. In my rage, I had completely forgotten of the phenomenon of Magic Deprivation...
Florina's lavender hair camouflaged well with the surrounding darkness. She poked her head from her hiding spot, a thick green bush. Huey was nearby grazing on some grass. As long as he was that, he will be silent.
She worryingly looked at the inferno that erupted from the former dwelling. The combustion lit up the everything in a large radius, and she briefly wondered if she would be caught.
But she didn't care. It's not being caught by the fire's light that worries her. It's what the fire represents.
After a day more of traveling, the feelings within me were too great to deal with alone. So in response, I decided to talk to the one person I knew wouldn't let me down...
Lucius listened to everything I had to say with open ears. I was confident that the monk with be unjudgmental...
"But Lyn has just been chatting away with that man every day...and it infuriates me. Even after he punched me in the face...and accused me of all those things. It pissed me off! I swear...once I get ahold of that man...!"
Lucius said, "Have you considered telling Lyn your feelings? You've been keeping her in the dark."
I shook my head, "Why would I want to do that? She values Rath more than me nowadays. Why wouldn't she? They come from the same nation and share the same culture. It's only natural for her to be more attached to him."
Lucius disagreed, "You downplay your value to her. I'm certain she cares about you a lot..."
"Besides, when was the last time you've had a decent night of sleep?"
I had trouble focusing in on the monk's blue eyes. I breathed a pained breath as I attempted to consider Lucius' question.
"Sleep?! Like a week or two. I'm not sure." I replied.
Lucius sighed, "What's been troubling you tactician?"
My mind immediately everything that's gone wrong lately. The constant nightmares, the mysterious turban man, this drama I've been having with Rath and Lyn. Why does this all have to happen to me?!
But there are something I can't even tell a monk under oath.
I said, "It's just the drama that's all."
I avoided eye contact with my response. The monk efficiently read my non-verbals and pressed the issue.
Lucius said, "I doubt drama would cause you to lose so much sleep. Especially for a trivial thing like this. You know Lyn is only human, yet you continue to ignore her requests to talk. Did she not approach you yesterday? Did you not send her away?"
I fell into a cold sweat.
How the hell did he know that?
Lucius added, "What's really going on here Mark?"
I anxiously put my sweaty hands through my burnt pockets.
I said, "I-I can't say."
Lucius read the tactician. A person so cool-headed and rational was somehow caving in to an unseen pressure. All he had to do was somehow coax the cause out of him.
Lucius said, "Mark...perhaps if I tell you a bit about myself...then you'll be comfortable telling me what's wrong?"
I considered his proposal. I could either reject and walk away, or accept and [maybe] tell him what's wrong. At the very least, this will allow me a bit more time to think.
I agreed, and Lucius began his story.
He said, "I grew up in the great nation of Etruria, living my first days with my loving parents..."
Many years ago...
The great city of Livomo had been Lucius' home since he could remember. Granted, he had only been alive for three years up till that point, but still. The little toddler boy playfully scampered across the hilly terrain of the city, which was one of the biggest in Etruria. Towering red brick houses had rainwater filtering down from their roofs, a symptom of the recent storm. A flying squirrel leaped between some stray trees. Sailors drank in the shoreside taverns, carefree of the large ships that dotted the shoreline. A cool breeze of ocean air flowed through the town, uplifting the spirits of its inhabitants...
After a day of frolicking in the mud, Lucius finally decided to go home. His muddy boots created a trail of muck that horrified housewives watching from their porches. After what seemed to be a dozen lectures from these women, he finally made his back to a familiar place. It was house similar to all the others, but its well vivid side-wall mural made it stand out. The mural depicted an blonde eye-patched man dueling what appeared to be the devil himself. An fitting description for the house's owner, the fearsome Phantom Lancer.
Lucius took off his muddied boots and made his way into his home. He hurriedly made his way to the home's bathroom, a luxury in their day and age. Best not inform the parents...and definitely not mother.
He tip toed across a corridor to the family living room. A left past that door and he would be bathing in warm veil of steam...
Lucius froze. A crimson pool surrounded his father's leather chair. The illumination of the fireplace exposed who it belonged to.
No...
His father, the Phantom Lancer, laid still on the ground with a knife protruding from his back. His eye lids were closed shut as his hand extended towards a dark corner in the room. Lucius' gaze followed his father's hand to the corner.
The young boy's heart sank. He was not alone.
A man with gray hair stood still, gazing ominously at his kill and the boy. Smirking, he calmly made his way to the exit.
With the man's back facing him Lucius held his father's hand, attempting to stimulate some sort of response. It was all in vain.
With his eyes full of tears, he asked, "Why...why would do this?"
The man calmly replied, "He was in my way."
The man then disappeared into the large expanse that was Livomo. Lucius could never the forget the screams of his mother as she came upon the bloodied corpse of her husband...
"My mother didn't last long after that. She was overstricken with grief and was thrown into an asylum by the city. She died shortly after, and I was taken to an orphanage." said Lucius.
I stood in shock with what Lucius had just shared with me. I imagined all the hardship he had to overcome to be who he was now. I felt shame as I realized my pains paled compared to his.
I sympathetically said, "Lucius...I'm so sorry."
Lucius wiped a stray tear from his cheek, "It's fine. I've grown a lot since that day. I even still carry my father's killer's knife with me. It's reminder that even in my darkest hour, I can overcome anything."
He revealed a silver knife from his cloak. Its dented blade spoke volumes of its purpose.
He put the blade back into his pocket. Lucius had a goal to achieve.
"Now...will you tell me what's really wrong with you?" he said.
Later...
That night, Lyn and I met up on a hill some distance away from our camp. The moon was waning, and the stars were bright. I could see the deep green eyes of my first friend, the girl who survived the genocide of her people, and the heir to Caelin. I took a deep breath and sighed.
I was foolish to stay mad at her. Stupid even.
"Hey..." I said.
"Hey." she replied.
There was a brief, awkward silence. Despite both of us waiting for this moment all day, neither of us knew what move to take. I opened my mouth.
We spoke in unison, "I'm sorry."
I was surprised when we both finished each other's sentence. We were thinking of the same thing! We both laughed quietly at the coincidence.
The air laid still again, and decided to tell her what I felt.
"This is all my fault...I shouldn't have overreacted." I said.
Lyn shook her head, "No, if I hadn't stood up for you, none of this would've happened. The fault lies in me."
"No, it was perfectly reasonable for you to doubt me. Any normal person would have." I replied.
"I'm not a normal person to you though. I'm your best friend. If Erk and Florina were willing to back you up, I should've been as well."
This was going nowhere. There was no way she was going to let me accept the blame and vice versa.
"We're both human. We have faults and we make mistakes. But I'd like to grow from this. As people, and our friendship." I motioned towards her and gave a thumbs up, "Don't you agree with me?"
She returned the favor, "Of course! What's a tactician without his peerless warrior?"
We giggled and enjoyed each other's company for a while. We laid on our backs as we looked up at the stars as Lyn pointed out constellations.
Lyn pointed towards what looked like a small man holding a stick, "Pisces, Lenoir, and that's Roland. They say it looks like a tiny knight with a sword and shield! Isn't he adorable?"
I rolled my eyes, "The dragon killer? Adorable? Come on man."
She looked at my sarcastic expression. Almost by instinct, she playfully punched my left arm.
"At least pretend to think he's adorable..."
I felt the wind brush a stray twig into my cloak, and I moved my right hand to remove it. By instinct, I returned it to its initial spot. However, as I motioned my hand, instead of feeling dirt, I felt a warm hand. It wasn't my own.
My heart began beating rapidly, and I felt the same pit in my stomach that I had felt many times before. I raised my head to see the sacaen plainswoman look at me with her deep, green eyes. Her clear face turned red, and I expected her to pull away, but she didn't. I nearly shook with excitement. Without thinking, I leaned in closer, and she did the same...
She was so close to me now. Our lips were so close. I-I...I could kiss her! Our faces were a few inches away now...
A voice invaded my mind.
How can you dare to approach her like that? Deep down you know what you did. Azazel. Do you see what I see? Suddenly, a flash surrounded my mind. I saw ger's all around me. The screaming...the pain was unbearable. In front of me, a green-haired woman laid, shriveling in pain. Around her was a plethora of dead sacaens.
She raised her head and looked at me with the whites of her eyes. They were nothing but white, no iris. No life...
I flinched and pulled away. Looking back at her, she had a disappointing look. "Lyn I need to tell you something."
"Huh?"
"I haven't been completely honest with you. Ever since we first met I've been bombarded with disturbing memories and dreams."
I clenched my hands against my hair. "It's unbearable! After all of that, I'm convinced that the life I led before we met wasn't just dishonest but outright villainous. There's blood in my hands! The screams...the countless deaths of innocents...these aren't the experiences of an honest man. Of a man that should afford your presence."
My eyes welled up with tears. Lyn observed me, silently thinking of her next move.
Mark's hurt. But so was I. It's wrong for me to allow him to wallow up in pain like this. I...I can help! Mark's pain is my pain!
She placed her tender arms around me and brought me close. I hesitated.
She said with a tender voice, "It's alright. If you feel remorse then I'm sure you and that person are different. A cold-blooded killer wouldn't be haunted by the voices of his victims."
She pulled my head onto her shoulder, "Sometimes all we need is a good cry."
I stood there crying silently, the ice that surrounded my heart, finally melting.
Somewhere in the distance, Erk and Florina silently viewed the couple from the safety of covered wilderness. Although they both felt wrong for breaching their privacy, seeing Mark finally let go relieved their hearts.
The next day...
Our troop had finally arrived at the Caelin border. I stretched under the Elibean sun. I had received my first night of decent sleep for a good time now. Today's going to be a good day! I turned around to observe the mountains behind us. They seem so far away now! Castle Caelin can't be much farther now!
"Hmmm, how much longer until we reach the castle Mark?" asked Erk.
I crunched some numbers in my head, "Well, we travel about 15-30 kilometers a day depending on terrain and weather...and the castle is 45 kilometers away. If we hurry, we can get there in two days!"
Serra reared her ugly head, "EW! Math makes my head hurt!"
Erk rolled his eyes, "That was basic division Serra."
Serra pouted her lips, "S-So? All I need to do I know how to read my temple's scripture to get along. I don't need Math in my life!"
Wil, laughing, replied, "Is that why you get Erk to do all your shopping for you?"
The Legion busted out in a jovial mood. If only we were aware of the danger ahead...
Nils gave a weird look, "Huh? Danger? It...it approaches!" Startled, he extended his arm towards Lyn, stopping her in her tracks.
*Thunk*
A 10 pounds ballista bolt landed within a meter of Lyn's feet.
"Woah! What the Fuck!" I yelled out. I immediately closed my mouth when I realized I just dropped an F-bomb.
The legion cautiously stepped back, I silently crushed more numbers in my head.
"Okay, so the projectile had a weight of 10 lbs, accounting for standard wind resistance and assuming an initial velocity of...okay...I think we should just be out of range…right here." I pointed towards the ground. The legion made sure to be behind it.
"That was a ballista bolt." I said to the group.
Sain balled up his fist, and sweat dripped down his forehead, "Curses, Lord Lundgren is getting serious. Deploying siege engines on his own soil."
Lyn, with a puzzled look on her face, responded, "What's a ballista?"
Right, lived in the plains her whole life.
"It's like a really big bow, except it can shoot at a range of about 450 meters max."
Florina nearly fainted, "B-Bow? 450 m-meters?"
Wil gave Florina's shoulder a nudge, "You should probably stay back miss."
I looked at the situation we were in right now. Minus the small mountain completely covering the ballista, the area was more or less flat. A complete plain east of us along with a village, some trees south, and a visible river crossing between us and the bulk of their forces. How is it possible to even shoot at us without vision? He'd have to have...that's right. A spotter.
"It's impossible to get an accurate shot like that while covered with a mountain." I said.
"What are you suggesting?" asked Kent.
I eyed the shaman and the mage currently blocking our path to the village, "You see those two magic men over there? They have the clearest view between us and the ballista, I believe they're using the mage as a signaller, look! He's doing it right now!"
Kent and I observed as the mage released some fire into the air, although to the common eye it might be assumed to be random, I noticed that he was leaving random gaps of time between each flame burst. Calculated flame bursts. Communication.
Kent nodded, "I see."
I rallied the Legion, "Kent, Dorcas, Matthew, and Erk will blitz those two troops over there. Once that is done, we will charge into the ballista. Here are the specifics..."
The trio charged into the two magic men. The mage was startled.
What? They weren't supposed to come here!
He began chanting swiftly but had his shoulder felled by a swift ax strike from Dorcas. He finished his chant and laid a veil of fire around the ax man.
"Ah!" screamed Dorcas.
The mage was relieved by the conclusion, but as he turned to see his shaman comrade, he saw that he was already on the floor, with a red knight over his body.
Oh no...
He felt a strong hand grab ahold of his shoulder. Dorcas had not only survived the attack but was strong enough to teach this mage a lesson. The fire had burned through the shirt he had been wearing, which was unfortunate considering it was a gift from his wife.
At that moment, as the mage looked into the pissed off eyes of the quiet man, he wished he had decided to stay home today.
"Have y'all seen Matthew anywhere?" I asked.
That shady character always seems to disappear during battles. Where did he go?!
Lyn replied, "He said he had to leave for some important business."
I placed my finger on my brow, "And...you let him leave? Aren't we paying him?"
Lyn shrugged her shoulders, "Well, he had kinda just said that and left immediately after. Didn't think it worth tracking down for."
I saw Dorcas throw the mage onto the ground, then, he climbed atop Kent's horse (with Kent still on it) and jumped off it. He used the added momentum to deliver a crushing blow onto the enemy mage.
I pointed forward, "Let's go y'all! Charge!"
Rath skillfully fired an arrow into the ballista men's shoulder. He watched as the others began to engage the forces on the river crossing.
How can they still trust that man?
On the river crossing, Lyn parried a lance thrust from a mounted knight. She tried to cut the man's lance arm but instead hit the dirt surrounding them. She cursed silently.
I delivered a swift fireball into the knight, hitting both the knight and his horse. I didn't even feel like I had to aim, and just fire in its general direction.
The knight recoiled and nearly fell off his horse, but the animal, spooked, turned and ran head first into a foot soldier behind them. Lyn and I gave each other a look of surprise.
Wil fired an arrow into the chest of another knight, and before the knight could react, Florina landed her horse onto the knight. Wil sighed.
You really need to learn how to properly charge into a troop.
Once we decommissioned the vanguard of the enemy troop, we closed in on the enemy commander and his bodyguards.
The commander was a man named Yogi. He was a middle-aged man with brown hair, and thick, blue armor. He cautiously eyed the group.
Curses...how did they get that ballista? Maybe if placed the bulk of the army near the ballista I could've had a better chance in victory...it doesn't matter. Lundgren promised reinforcements.
He rallied his bodyguards around him, "Knights of Caelin! Do your duty! We will stop this pretender from stepping a foot deeper into Caelin!"
The charged into our group, taking us off guard.
Lyn tiringly raised her sword, "They're charging. I think we're all still exhausted from rushing over here."
I took in a deep breath, she was right, everyone here was still tired from my blitz tactic. I thought the blitz would scare them away and force them to rout. I was dead wrong. Now, we had semi battle worthy troops waiting to take on a half dozen soldiers.
"Troops! Rally around Lyndis! She must not fall!" I exclaimed.
I focused my mana into a fireball towards the nearest soldier, he fell over, dead. The energy loss made me take a knee.
Crap, when was the last time I ate? I don't have much energy now.
The enemy commander himself rushed forward and thrust his lance towards me. I managed to dodge the blow, but he swung the blunt end to land a cheap shot into my gut. I laid on the floor, winded.
Wil shot an arrow into the enemy commander, but it was fruitless, the armor was too thick.
The commander laughed, "You think your tiny toys can defeat me? You pity me too much."
A swordsman emerged and drew his sword to lunge towards me, but an arrow implanted itself into his temple. Rath had returned.
Heh. I should probably thank him later.
"Eh? I'll kill you two archer man." said the commander.
Rath stood confidently behind the river separating them.
Yeah right.
Lyn stepped in front of me, "I won't let you get any closer."
The commander smirked, "You're the pretender to my master Lundgren! You'll fall where you stand!"
The commander thrusted his spear towards Lyn, grazing her left thigh. Ignoring the blood, she plunged the Mani Katti into her opponent's chest.
The blade glowed as it shredded through the commander's armor. He stepped back.
"Agh! We...must not fall here! Everyone charge!"
I got up and mustered the strength to fire a huge fireball into the crowd of people, the power being so great that it mixed with the surrounding cold air, creating a tornado, killing 3 and severely injuring the other three. My vision began to blur, but through the haze, I made out that the commander had fallen within my flames.
I fell onto the ground.
"Mark! Speak to me!" cried Lyn. She rushed over to my side as my breathing became irregular.
I was transported to a world covered entirely with flames, and the hazy screams of the innocent filled my mind...
"Oh no...I'm sorry. Please...stop." I muttered.
"What's going on?" said Wil.
Serra exclaimed, "He's going through MD! Everyone give him space! He pushed himself too hard!"
The last thing I saw before I passed was a faint dash of pink and green.
At an undisclosed location nearby...
Matthew lowered his hood as he entered an inn of a nearby village. He had been keeping a low profile since he arrived, but it was important for the mission he was to complete. To receive information.
He ordered a glass of Love's Supreme, a novelty drink more noted for its carbonic flavor than its alcoholic content. He presented small-talk with the inn keep, and after gaining the woman's trust, he popped the question.
"So I hear that there's a new Marquess." he said.
The filled out a glass for one of her patrons, "Lundgren's been the regent since the original took to the sick bed as of late. Though if the rumors are true...then I suspect that isn't the whole story."
"Rumors? Surely you'd like to pleasure me with some gossip."
The innkeeper broke into a cold sweat, "I really shouldn't". She eyed the guards drinking in the far end of the inn. She whispered into Matthew's ear, "I've said too much."
Matthew took out a small bag of gold coins from his cloak and placed it on the table. "Surely you'd like a hefty tip innkeeper?"
The lady eyed the money and took it, "A source close to the Lundgren says the original Marquess was in peak health before Lundgren took over. The original marquess is being poisoned by his own brother. There's a supposed imposter claiming to be the Marquess' granddaughter. She wants to claim the throne, but of course, Lundgren won't let that stand. Lundgren is looking to have her branded as an imposter in all of Lycia, and if she doesn't die here in Caelin, she would anywhere else in Lycia. She and everyone with her will be branded a fugitive. Lundgren would have Caelin's accounts unfrozen, and I wouldn't be surprised if he managed to receive outside support to put down this usurper."
Matthew took a moment to process everything that was said and thanked the innkeeper for her time. He left the establishment as quietly as he could. He had the information he needed.
Back on the Battlefield...
Matthew returned to the group and told them everything that he had learned. It was decided that as long as they were isolated politically, they had no chance of getting minutely close to Castle Caelin as long as the brunt of Lycia was breathing down their throats. They needed someone on the inside...
"Eliwood! He's sympathetic to our cause! Maybe he could do something?" said Lyn.
Sain replied happily, "Yes Eliwood! He should still be in Kathelet. If he isn't we could send him a letter?"
Matthew nodded his head, "Leave that to me, he will have our message by tomorrow morning."
No one bothered to question Matthew's methods, but Eliwood did indeed receive a letter the following morning.
"Then it's settled! We will return to Kathelet and hope Eliwood will save us!" said Lyn.
So, the group began the long journey back to Kathelet.
At camp later that night...
Matthew snuck his way into Mark's tent. The tactician had been asleep since the battle earlier that day. Serra had said that he had entered into a brief coma, though he should awaken within the coming days. He thought of the message he had received earlier.
Permission to terminate is granted.
Granted, at this state, with his pale clammy skin, and black hair, he really did seem to resemble that monster Azazel. The calculated mastermind of the Black Fang. He drew his long dagger. The tactician laid motionless there in covered canvas on the tent. All he would have to do is remove the blanket covering his neck.
Of course, he could make this seem like an accident, he could strangle him to make it look like he succumbed to the MD he had sustained earlier. He could.
But something about this didn't seem right. Azazel was never known to sacrifice his own safety for his allies, much less his "friends". That's what he was known for, the methodical execution of his enemies, and if it came at the cost of his allies, who cares? It was all numbers to him.
But this was Mark. The same person he spied crying alone with that sacaen girl earlier. How can this be the same man? Perhaps, did Azazel turn over a new leaf?
No, it just didn't make any sense. Mark was too emotional. Too rash. Too human. Mark and Azazel were not one and the same.
He heard a noise coming from outside, he put away his dagger and retreated into the night.
Lyn entered the tent with a wet rag, some more blankets for herself, and other commodities to help Mark feel comfortable. She placed her hand on Mark's forehead.
The fever's still there.
She placed the wet rag on his forehead to lessen the heat. She took a moment to observe Mark's unkempt hair.
By Elimine, this boy needs a haircut.
When she finished, she took her blanket and set up bedding on the other side of the tent. It was best to give Mark his space.
She gazed at the tactician's still frame. Peaceful, but so stern. This reminded her of a man she once knew. Her father.
She eased her blanket onto her body. A comforting silence permeated the space she and the tactician shared.
Tears formed around her eyes as she thought of the many memories she had with her parents. The many hunting trips with her father. Storytime with her mother. The countless shared meals with them both. One memory shot out to her in particular.
Lyn felt the sacaen breeze surround her as her father lifted her small body onto his shoulders. Her smiling mother looked on as she held a basket full of bread. The trio laughed as little Lyn said:
"Hey Mommy! I'm taller than you now! Does that mean I'm a big person now?"
Lyn's sheets were covered with moisture now.
Silently she said, "Mark...I miss them so much..."
The tactician laid still, oblivious to the sobbing girl nearby.
Lyn cried herself to sleep. Her memories were filled of her dead loved ones.
End.