Chapter 10: A Grim Reunion
By SodiumChloride12, derived from Fire Emblem, owned by Nintendo.
A/N: I submitted this early because I have to cram for a Calculus Exam next week. Enjoy!
N: Eliwood works from behind the scenes to protect the rightful heir to Caelin. Mark talks some more with the mysterious man in his dreams. Our heroes find themselves fighting against former friends.
Eliwood felt a small drop of sweat fall down his forehead. He sat in his chair and felt as his leg refused to sit still. He took in a fresh breath of oxygen as he looked at the intimidating situation before him. The constant chatter of his seniors filled the airways.
It won't be long now.
He took a glass of water provided for him and drank it. Something to calm his nerves.
The gathering of marquesses and envoys were debating over what to do about the "The Pretender Question." Much to his dislike, he was unable to change the name of the issue; the envoy sent by Lundgren had given it a certain ring that captivated his audience. It was not looking good.
He took a moment to admire the gorgeous council hall that they chose to meet at. The marble interior repelled some of the summer heat that plagued Lycia during this time of year. An amazing bronze statue complimented the center of the room. Thick blue curtains covered the stained windows, an effective countermeasure against the external noise. A wide, unlit chandelier covered the ceiling. The walls were adorned with frescoes depicting ancient battles that occurred during the time of the Scouring. One in particular caught Eliwood's eye. It was a scene of Lycia's founding father, the hero Roland, using the Divine Blade, Durandal on a horde of dragons. The artist had effectively mixed in the blood red color against the white background, a detail not lost to the young lordling.
Roland was a character that many men in Lycia hoped to emulate, if not become. He represented the ultimate display of chivalry and honor, and despite his short stature, he carried himself with a confidence that intimidated even the grandest of opponents. The little knight had also started a dynasty that lasts even now, a fact that Eliwood was very aware of. His blood coursed through his veins.
Despite that, Eliwood wished that he had a little bit of Roland's idealism right now.
Marquess Ostia, a man known as Uther, sat on a chair higher than the others. Although he had a very firm expression, Eliwood could tell he was bored. Not surprisingly, Uther never found diplomacy very interesting. There were many more interesting things to do than watch old men bicker.
Eliwood felt himself relax as he resisted a chuckle. This detail reminded him of someone.
Just like his younger brother...
During the commotion, an important looking man with an orange robe stood up from his seat. His peers seemed oblivious to this gesture, and they continued debating the issue. The representative of Ryerde then proceeded to walk over to the opposing faction's row of seats. Eliwood frowned as he realized he had just lost a supporter.
In Lycia, much like a cat choosing which child it likes more, a voter can decide which side he's on by simply moving to the side of the debater. This is why the room was divided in two, with the left being occupied by supporters of the envoy of Lundgren, and the other by the supporters Lyn. The center was occupied by Uther, who moderated the debate. Much to Eliwood's surprise, Marquess Araphen had taken up to the task of Lyn's case. It was for the better as well, as a lordling, Eliwood's word carried less sway than a more senior member like Marquess Araphen. The fact that he was even here surprised him. Most of the time, the marquesses send over envoys to sit in these meetings for them.
Marquess Araphen slammed his fist on his podium, "I will NOT allow Lundgren to take the throne!"
The marquess' opponent was a short man with a red suit and blue tie. This was a relatively new fashion taken up by the lawyers and burgeoning business class of Lycia. It was a good choice too, and despite Araphen beating his opponent by several inches, he couldn't help but feel intimidated. The man had a pair of bifocals that rested blow his short, curly hair. He was a well-groomed man, and his clear voice and sharp wit made him a challenging opponent. Lundgren must've paid a pretty penny for this man's services.
The envoy representing Lundgren shouted back, "Lundgren is next in line to the throne! Thus, he should be allowed to use the crown's accounts to quash this rebellion! It's written in our alliance that the league will assist in putting down all pretenders!"
Some men nodded their heads, a couple of them added salt to wound by walking over to the envoy's aisle. Another wave of chatter filled the room as Araphen searched his mind for a response.
"Hausen's not dead yet! Besides, where is the man anyway? Supposedly he's bed-ridden, but we've yet to receive a letter or any confirmation of his condition outside castle gossip! We demand to know where he is!" exclaimed Araphen.
Men around him began to nod in agreement. The conversation then shifted to the marquess' whereabouts.
"Yes, that is quite unusual." muttered a man.
"If Lundgren can't produce confirmation, then I would suspect foul play. That's treason!" exclaimed another man.
The room continued this way for several hours, with no debater seeming to get any further traction. Eliwood nearly fell asleep as the morning quickly passed by. Eventually, the topic of Lyn herself was presented.
"And what of this pretender? How can we prove she is indeed the granddaughter of the late Madelyn?" asked the envoy.
The room grew quiet, and Araphen felt the countless eyes of the audience fall on him. He closed his eyes and thought of his late fiancé, the reason he decided to stand up for her daughter.
For all these years, I've had to live with the pain of my heart having lost you. I pray that through these last few words I will be able to protect your daughter. The last part of you that still dwells in this world. The one with your eyes. The one that I insulted in my rage. Madelyn, I hope you forgive me for insulting your daughter!
Breaking the silence, Araphen spoke:
"I saw this pretender with my own eyes. And let's stop calling her that, a pretender. She has a name. Her name is Lyndis, a girl who fought tooth and nail to be given the opportunity to see her grandfather again. A man I can call my friend. She stood before me and I looked me right in the eye. I can confirm from first-hand experience...that those were the eyes of my late fiancé...Madelyn."
The room erupted with discussion as Eliwood gasped from the revelation.
Araphen hadn't brought up his fiance in years! For him to go that far for Lyn...
The representative from Worde erupted from his seat, "Amazing! If anyone could point out a similarity, it'd be Araphen!"
The representative from Tania added, "He hasn't brought up Madelyn since she left, he hasn't even bothered marrying anyone else. For him to bring to mention her name after all those years..."
A noble from an unknown village rebuked the notion, "Outrageous! How can anyone believe such outlandish lies?"
Uther stood up from his chair and banged his gavel onto his desk. "ORDER!"
The council lay silent. Uther glared at everyone, taking extra effort to intimidate his peers. He spoke with a deep voice that shook the crowd to their core.
He said, "It seems like we can't come to an agreement, so there's only one thing to do. Compromise. I suggest that rather than supporting either/or, we do neither. Leave this pity squabble to the two parties. This should not bother us."
Eliwood watched as the crowd silently nodded their heads. This was interrupted with internal discussion.
Marquess Tania said, "It'd sure be nice if I didn't have to raise any of my levees."
An attendant added, "Or taxes."
The representative from Ryerde said, "I'd much rather stay home."
Uther felt his eye twitch, "SILENCE!"
Again, the council complied. Somewhere in the suited man's camp, Marquess Laus snickered. Marquess Ostia pretended to ignore this transgression.
He concluded, "We spent too much time getting nowhere. I will initiate a vote on the matter. All in agreement to stay neutral raise your hands."
Eliwood kept his hand down, but regardless, he saw as the room filled with hands raised. He'd much rather support Lyn than leave her out to dry.
Eliwood counted the hands raised. It was 29. Well above the majority. The vote had passed.
The envoy asked, "But what of the frozen accounts?"
Uther shrugged his shoulders, "Not our problem. This sounds like a simple trade dispute between multiple parties. Not of the league's concern."
Again, the room filled with agreement.
Eliwood slumped on his chair. He was exhausted.
Well, this is interesting. I can't help Lyn, but that also means that no one can help Lundgren. His accounts are still frozen so he can't hire soldiers outside of his canton. That means...the road to Caelin is clear!
Araphen smiled approvingly and began to gather his things. Best to stay away from this envoy after dismissal.
With the vote having passed, Uther raised his gavel.
"With the issue having been resolved, I rule that this council is now adjourned! Fine work men!"
Eliwood gathered his things and was the first out of the building. If he could reach the others before that envoy could with Lundgren, Lyn's Legion would have the benefit of added time.
He took his horse and rode right out of the big Ostian city gates. A stray guard blew a high note into his bugle, a tradition for nobility leaving and entering the city.
It'll be a day's ride if I travel into the night. I must get there soon...
Lyn spent a moment to process everything that she just heard. Her and Kent had met up with Eliwood in a meeting room located at the inn they were staying at in Kathelet.
The Lycian league has promised not to interfere...this...this is great!
Lyn smiled softly, "I don't know how to thank you enough Eliwood."
Eliwood had just arrived that morning. The usual clean and composed figure had arrived to them with droopy eyes and a twig stuck in his red hair.
Eliwood seemed to have noticed it just then, and halfheartedly removed it, "Oh? I do apologize. I hadn't slept in a while now. No need to thank me. I have secured the league's neutrality, but nothing more and nothing less. That also means we're unable to directly assist you. I'm sorry."
Kent raised his brow, "We're?"
Eliwood thought of Araphen's actions, "There were...others sympathetic to your plight."
Eliwood leaned over a bit a nearly seemed to fall. Kent gathered Eliwood's things.
"The efforts you and the others toiled for us will move mountains. As for you, you need to see yourself to a bed immediately."
Eliwood weakly nodded and followed Kent out of the room. He would finally get some rest.
Lyn thought for a moment.
Oh, how our fortunes have changed! I wish Mark was awake to see this...
I woke up in a pitch black room. I conjured a flame onto my hand, and the light illuminated a small radius around my person. The purple light met with the crimson, amorphous floor.
This crap again?!
As before the same man with a turban emerged from the bloody expanse. Rather than stand on the blood like myself, he elected to simply magically float over it. I passively threw some flame over at the man, illuminating the upper half of his body.
I exclaimed, "Why do you insist on surrounding us with blood?"
The man shrugged his shoulders, "I can change it if you'd like...how about a dark and gloomy dungeon?"
I passive-aggressively answered, "How about something more pleasant?"
He gave a puzzled expression, "Isn't that pleasant?"
I gritted my teeth, "No...it's not."
The man raised his hand over the floor, and whispered an incantation. My feet were forced upwards as the liquid floor morphed into solid cobblestone. Although it was still black all around, it felt nice to have dry feet.
"What do you want to talk about?" I asked.
The man waved his hand through the darkness and I found myself teleported to a new area. My eyes reset as a white light flooded the area. I felt a chilly breeze travel up back.
I fell backward and felt a wooden wall break my fall. I had arrived in a cabin. The cabin was humble in nature, with rustic furniture, a small table for four, and an extensive library complimenting the living room. The library was by far the most impressive aspect of this house. The man waved yet another hand as snow from outside the window blew inside, revealing a family of four. Another man was slumped against his sofa reading a book, with a woman that looked eerily similar to Ninian with him, who was also carrying a small infant. Through the silence, I could tell that the trio was having a good time. Nearby by a hearth, sat a small child playing with her doll. All three besides the man had pale skin, light blue hair, and red eyes. I suppose that trait was dominant?
Despite my proximity to them, I could sense that they didn't seem to notice me. I waved my hand at them to solicit a response, but it was fruitless. They were as oblivious like a love-struck teenager.
I asked, "Why bring me here?"
For a moment, I saw the man reach out towards the woman. The pain in his eyes was indescribable. I pondered saying something, but the man had something to say.
He turned towards me, "To introduce you to your family."
No way! How can this be? These people look nothing like me!
I recoiled, "M-My family?!"
He nodded his head, "You can call them that, although not by blood, you three are very much family."
I pointed at the man reading on the sofa, he had a striking resemblance to, "That man...is he you?"
He replied, "Yes, that was me, a long time ago. In a time before the Scouring."
I nearly jumped out of my boots, "The Scouring?! That makes you-"
"Yes, that would make over a thousand years old."
"How is that even possible?" I asked.
"Much like you, and them, I am not human."
I gradually felt my way onto a nearby chair. I slumped on it as I looked at my warm hand. My heart was pounding so fast that I felt like it could pop at any moment.
Not human? That's not possible?! Who am I?!
"I-I'm not human? How can that be?"
The man laughed and pointed towards the woman on the chair, "That woman is not human. She's a dragon. A dragon that I married here in Illia. A dragon that I planned on spending my entire life with. Those children. They're half and half. They retain dragonic blood within their veins. But as I can see from your face, you might think that they look familiar. Your gut is not wrong. Those two are Ninian and Nils. Those two are your brother and sister."
I felt tears begin to fall down my face, "I-I have a family? Those two? After all this time..."
The man placed his hand on my shoulder, "Yes...but they do not recognize you. I made you long after the Scouring...when we were separated. As with all dragons, they had to escape to a new realm after the final battle. I had lost my wife...but I will not lose my children. I fully intend to see them again. Unfortunately, those two had lost their memory of me when they crossed into the new realm. Now, somehow, due to the process of going through the Dragon's Gate, they think that I'm their enemy. I get that...I may look a bit intimidating...but trust me...I'm a nice guy."
The man gave an awkward smile.
After spending a moment to process everything that was said, I felt calm enough to inquire more.
"What do you mean when you made me?" I asked.
"What I mean is that I created you from my own magic, magic so powerful as to make me immortal. Your body is created from a mixture of my DNA, and quintessence. The magic I was talking about."
Quintessence must be insanely powerful...it's amazing what this world is able to do with enough effort.
"Can you bring the children to me? I'd like to reunite our family." asked the man.
I took a moment to think about his question, I thought about everything that would have to be done in order to do that. One question still remained unanswered, "What is your name stranger?"
The man stood there for a moment, he cleared his throat, "My name is Nergal, and you are Azazel. Pleased to remake your acquaintance."
Nergal...what a weird name. I gave him my answer.
"I agree to return them. But first I'd like to introduce myself to my brother and sister. Along with that, I need to resolve an issue with my best friend, it won't be resolved for another couple of weeks. Speaking of which...I should be comatose right now. I'd like to go help my friends."
Nergal scratched his turban, "Actually about that, you were due to wake up a long time ago. I had to take some of your mana so I could talk to you, I do apologize."
"What?! My friends could be in the middle of a battle right now! They need me!" I exclaimed.
Nergal took a glowing orb from his robe and threw it towards me, "This should wake you up. Godspeed my child. Remember that my children do not think well of me. Take your next few steps carefully.
I felt a warm sensation fill my body, and the area began to fill with light...
I awoke to the sound of battle. I laid inside a tent alone with a rag on top of my head. A thin blanket covered my body, and light came bled through the inner fabrics of the tent. Judging by the light intensity, I deduced that it was morning. I heard my stomach grumble...
I'm soooo hungry! I'd kill for some food! I can't use magic unless...
A small tray with a bowl of food immediately came to my attention. It looked like it was placed there recently.
I devoured the food as quickly as I could. Although it was only salted fish and bread, I ate it as if it were a full course meal. Content with my meal, I pushed open the tent flaps to warm heat of summer.
I exited the tent to the surprise of a bored Florina on guard duty.
I said, "What did I miss?"
Earlier...
Somewhere in Mark's rambling, Erk had picked up a few tips in good strategy.
Make use of good terrain. Blitz the opponent when there's an opening. Take advantage of one on one matchups. Oh, and never, and I mean never, put Florina within an earshot of an enemy archer...
They had since left the village and made their way back into Caelin without delay. Eventually, through the morning fog, they made their way to the first, and if Kent's intelligence was correct, only direct obstacle to Castle Caelin. Castle Caelin is protected by four fortresses covering a path from every direction, north, south, east and west. Each of these fortresses also has an estate held by four senior generals within the canton, the Northern general being the Paladin Eagler. Unluckily for Lyndis' legion, the general consensus was that Eagler would not let them through without a fight.
There were a few mountains cutting through the center of the battlefield, with one of them feeding a river downstream. Unfortunately, besides the silhouettes of dense trees on the other side of the river, Erk couldn't see anything else. A thick fog had made it impossible to see anything further than a few yards. That also meant there was a possibility that enemies were lurking nearby...
The group had gathered outside a village. Lyn approaches Erk, "Are you sure you'll be able to fill in for Mark? It's a daunting task..."
"There's no one else that can...we're stripped of options here." he replied.
Lyn bit her lip, "Yes...that is true."
Erk let his mind think of a strategy that could win them the day, this thought was shattered by the intrusion of an annoying cleric.
Serra said, "ERRRRRKY. I swear if you kill me, I'll haunt you."
Now isn't that a nice thought to have.
Matthew raised his hand, "Erk, a moment of your time, I have a skill that may be beneficial to us."
He looked over at the young thief, "What is that?"
He pointed towards his eye, "I can see very well. No- I mean VERY well. I've honed my vision to see deep into this fog. Oh? There's a big man coming this way..."
Erk heard a deep voice come from seemingly nowhere, "I see there is no reason to stay hidden..."
Sain nearly fell out of his horse, "Aagh!"
Kent squinted his eyes, "Lord Wallace! What are you doing here? Are you not retired?"
Lyn asked, "You know this man?"
Kent nodded his head, "Yes, he used to be our commander. He was plowing fields after he retired a few years back."
Wallace drew out his lance, "Was retired! Until I heard the news that a duo of traitorous knights- my knights mind you, were escorting a pretender to Castle Caelin. I swear, when I heard the news from Lundgren, I could not sit idly. This is treason."
Kent placed himself between Wallace and Lyn, "You don't think that we'd be oathbreakers do you?"
Wallace pointed towards Lyn, "Bring her to me."
Erk asked, "What are your intentions?"
Sternly, Wallace said, "If I don't like what I'll see, your journey ends here."
Erk took out his tome as he felt magic begin to build around his fingertips, "We will prevent you."
Wallace laughed, "You? Stop me? You must be-"
Lyn was fed up with the way this was going, and out of impulse she broke out of formation. Erk froze as the green nomad walked into a very vulnerable position.
If Mark finds out this happened...he's going to kill me.
She shouted, "Enough!"
She calmly walked to Wallace, face to face. Despite Wallace's intimidating stature, Lyn said, "This is me. I'm Lyndis of the Lorca. Daughter of Madelyn."
Wallace had an instinct to stop this nonsense and take the girl right then and there. Instead, he looked into the young lady's eyes.
This woman...those eyes. Her fire...I recognize this. No...I'm certain of it. This lady is indeed the child of Madelyn.
There was a brief silence shared within the party. Wil and Rath had their bows drawn, unsure if they should fire or not. To the shock of everyone but Wallace, the commander began laughing.
"Hahahaha! I always took Lundgren for a crummy lier!"
"What?" said Lyn.
"It all makes sense now, he wants to get rid of his only obstacle to the throne! I was ordered to put down a pretender, but the real pretender is sitting on a chair 20 kilometers away while I do his dirty work! The nerve of him!"
Rath and Wil lowered their bows. They felt their burdening anxiety be lifted.
Kent went over to Sain, "The commander, he hasn't changed at all."
Sain nodded, "Not at all."
Sain coughed and was shocked as blood appeared on his glove. Kent noticed Sain's shocked expression.
Kent asked, "Sain are you okay? You've been coughing since that battle against the Black Fang."
Sain hid his glove and took great care to be discrete about it.
He responded, "Just a small cold, nothing to worry about."
Kent eyed his his friend. He wouldn't lie to him would he?
"If you say so." replied Kent.
Wallace stopped laughing and placed his lance on his shoulder, "Eh...I wanted to spend my last days living in peace. Oh well, it won't hurt to take up arms again. I was starting to get bored." He extended a hand towards Lyn, "Let's go kill that guy. I never liked him anyway!"
Erk stood there shocked.
How the heck did that just happen? I mean, he was just about to kill us! Now he's here joining us? Did I have too much to drink last night? Wait, I didn't drink last night. Or did I?
He jumped back into the situation, there was a battle to fight.
"Alright, so Florina since we can't see the archers, I'd like you to guard Mark's comatose body. Everybody else, here's your orders..."
The Lycian breeze refreshed my warm body. Florina and I are riding to the front line as she briefed me on the current situation.
"We have a new member, his name is Wallace. Erk took your place while you were out. He's doing a pretty good job too! We're nearly at the castle gate!
To the distance, I could see Dorcas, Lucius, and Rath dispatch some stragglers that tried to counterattack. No use of going against good soldiers like them.
For a split second, I almost had eye contact with Rath, but I turned away at the last minute.
Florina said, "It's almost like he learned directly from you Mark!"
Rath...I wonder what goes through his mind.
Florina said, "Mark?!"
Jeez...I have better things to think about than beef.
Placing my arms around Florina's hips, I exclaimed, "Hurry Florina! We must get to the front line!"
"Eeeek!" exclaimed Florina.
Florina's horse Huey felt a jolt of excitement that shook him to the core. He leaned to the right and performed an unexpected aileron roll.
A force flung me into the open air. A wave of shock filled Florina's face. Time seemed to slow down as I faced the ground.
My mind filled itself with wild calculations.
I should've known Florina was going to react like that! Okay, I can probably break my fall if I use my fire spell to generate upward thrust. Energy equals mass times gravity times height. I weigh 65 kg (145lbs) and gravity is 9.8...meters per second squared. Fuck! The grounds even closer now! Eyeball the height...
The ground was speeding closer and closer...I had to act quick.
Shoot, I'm going to hit the ground in a few seconds! No choice! I have to do something!
I laid out the ground with a hot flame and felt a force push its way into my shoulder. The ground didn't slow down fast enough...
Crap! If I throw any more fire, the thrust will dislocate my shoulder! I have to break my fall...
I observed a nearby bush and flung myself at it. My body crashed into it as the twigs snapped against the weight of my frame.
Florina hurried her way towards me, "Oh my gosh! Mark are you okay?"
I feebly gave a weak thumbs up, saying, "Serra...please...now."
Florina hurriedly rode off to find the pink cleric, whom she found troubling Erk's ear. She plucked her away and within a few minutes, my wounds were being treated.
No broken bones, but a sprained ankle and multiple bruises. My gamble had paid off...
Eagler threw his ax at Wallace, missing its mark and taking down the pine tree behind him. With blood brushing against his brow, Wallace lunged at the man whom he had run drills with just a few years before.
Wallace plunged his lance into Eagler, however, the weapon disintegrated upon impact.
Curses...I knew I should've gotten a new lance.
The two crumpled on the floor, exchanging blow for blow. Wallace delivered a swift kick, which Eagler complimented with a hook to the jaw.
Lyn and Kent hurried onto the scene, "Commander! What do you think you're doing?" said Kent.
Wallace spat out some blood, "This man deserves to fall to a mighty opponent."
Eagler chuckled, "Fall? You're a dead man walking Wallace. I do respect your bravery, however."
The men stood up and Eagler kicked Wallace in the stomach, who stepped back to regain some composure. Eagler took the opportunity to draw a spare lance.
"Not fair to attack an unarmed man." said Wallace.
Eagler frowned, "I can't play fair today. There's someone I'm fighting for."
Wallace replied, "Something's telling me it's not Lundgren, you never liked that man. Tell me Eagler, why are you fighting?"
Eagler stayed silent.
"Tell me, where is your son? Why is he not on the battlefield with you? Did he not come of age recently?"
For a moment, everything went still. No one was sure what move to make.
Lyn stepped forward, "You're an honorable man, let us help you."
Kent said, "You're one of Caelin's best knights, it would hurt to lose her favorite son."
Eagler said nothing, it was almost like he was considering the offer, he then slammed his lance onto the ground, "I will not betray Lundgren! Enough with this foolishness! Come at me!"
Except no one came forward, no one was willing to attack this man who simply wanted to defend who he loved.
Lyn reluctantly stepped forward, "An honorable warrior deserves an honorable death. Lundgren is keeping your son hostage somewhere, isn't he? That villain. If it's me you want, then it's me you'll get."
Kent reached out to grab Lyn, but was stopped by the commander, "Let her go laddie. You can't stop a woman with the fire in her eyes like that. Besides, I doubt she'll lose if she got this far."
Kent frowned, "If you say so sir, I still don't feel at ease about this."
Wallace watched as the two took a battle stance, "As is the plight of a Caelin knight."
The sacaen princess and the wounded green paladin sized each other up for what was to be an epic battle. Nobody would get in the way of this fight. Almost nobody...
Somewhere in an apartment room in South Austin...
There were papers cluttered all around his desk. A poster of the world was the only thing that added color to his white walls. It was marked with locations he's been to. Orlando, Thunder Bay, Dallas. Uncleaned clothes littered his closet. Other than the bed, a sole work desk occupied the space.
The author leaned back on his chair and thought about that Physics exam he just got a 45 on. He questioned whether or not he was going to pass the class and then looked at his word count.
Over 4000 words...crap. Time to insert a deus ex machina.
With a swift stroke on his computer, the same that was calculating the terminal velocity of a penny just yesterday, the deed was done.
Lyn blinked and saw as her opponent erupted in flames.
What?
Lyn turned and saw as I limped my way closer and closer towards her. Although my leg was healed, Serra had only done patch-up work. The rest of the healing would have to be on its own.
"Stay away from her! Lyn stand back! I've got this!" I exclaimed.
Eagler howled in pain, "Aaaagh!"
"M-Mark! You woke up! No! Don't attack him! He's my opponent!" she cried.
Calming down, I approach the nomad, "So...I get here and I see Kent lending his shoulder to a bloody old man. Then I see you approach the guy who made him that way alone. Can you blame me for wanting to light this guy up?"
Wallace whimpered, "I'm not that old..."
Lyn fumed, "Well, I don't need you fighting my battles! I can take him on my own! Might I remind you who took out Batta when we first met?"
Right...meanwhile I just stood there and saw her nearly kill herself.
I rolled my eyes, "Well, it's not like I can do anything else. I wasted most of my mana trying to break a fall from Huey."
I looked away. I came off feeling like a conceited soccer mom.
"Go get him tiger." I said.
Lyn immediately kicked my shin, and my smug face turned into one of sheer pain.
Reaching for it, I said, "What the heck?"
Lyn's face went red with anger.
"You fell off of Huey?! How did that happen?! I swear...what am I going to do with you and your reckless behavior?!"
Sarcastically, I said, "Yet here you are dueling someone."
Lyn scoffed, "I don't have time for this! We'll talk after I fight Eagl-"
She went silent.
"What the matter? Cold feet?" I asked.
Lyn sheathed her sword, "He's already dead."
I turned and as advertised, Eagler was nothing more than a shallow burnt husk of a man. Kent and Wallace took a knee to respect the great knight.
I looked at our knights and felt an instant sting of regret.
This man was honorable...what have I done?
This man...he meant a lot to you guys did he?" I asked.
Wallace nodded, "Yes, he was a great knight of Caelin. He trained many of our soldiers, Kent and Sain included."
Facing the ground, I bit my lip.
"Don't trouble yourself tactician. He knew he was going to die here. That vile Lundgren has his son hostage. Whether by your hand or Lyn's his fall was inevitable."
These parlor games of Lundgren are despicable. To toy around with a man's family like that...I'll show him! The final battle is very soon!
"We will bury this man and rescue his son. I swear on it and we will avenge him." I said.
Within Kent's stricken face I could see a faint glimmer of happiness.
To the distance our army began returning, many with minor wounds and heavy hearts. They gathered around their leader.
Lyn exclaimed, "Lundgren's days are numbered! We WILL stop that man!"
Through the troubling battle between good men and women, Lyn's Legion felt some hope. Soon enough, they'll be at Castle Caelin, and if the stars and moon allowed them, this will all be over soon.
Later that day...
Mark was the talk of the camp that day. Not for his awakening from his coma, nor for his handling of Eagler, but for the big mess he was making at the mess hall. Many of the legionnaires never took him as much of a heavy eater. Especially for someone that just consumed six whole plates of food.
Mark took another bite on his biscuit.
I haven't eaten...for a WHOLE WEEK. Oh...how a cheese and pork biscuit tastes amazing right now. Plus Serra cooked me up some of that famed Ostian stew! I'm about to have a good time!
Erk looked at his tactician, "It's kind of impossible to feed you when you're unconscious. You know magic takes energy. Not sure why you woke up slinging fire everywhere."
"You know, when you're falling from the sky at terminal velocity, sometimes you don't get a choice." I replied.
Erk chuckled, "Florina did apologize. She wouldn't leave you until she knew you were okay."
Sometimes that Pegasus knight is more trouble than she's worth. She has heart though.
"You did a pretty good job today Erk. I was scared I lost my job security." I said.
Erk laughed, "Believe me, if anyone has job security it's you, especially with how -ahem, close you are to the princess."
My face turned as red as the Ostian stew, "It's not like that I swear! It's just that..."
"Just what?" he asked with a huge smile on his face.
"I-I've got to go! I've got to meet up with Ninian and Nils!" I replied.
"Don't tell me you're cheating on her are you?"
"No! I'd never cheat on- oh shut up!" I got up and left the mess hall.
Erk chuckled and began to leave as well.
He's a tough nut to crack...oh well, it's so fun to mess with him!
I walked outside of the mess hall and made for a campfire that the duo had made for the situation. Through the embers of the flame, I could make out the two people I seldom talk to the most out of anyone in the legion. Nils was reading a book while Ninian was stargazing. The book Nils was reading was a book called Sir Roland: The Little Knight that Could.
"I see you're a fan of reading Nils." I said.
He nodded, "What little memory I have of my mother is of her reading to me. It's always been a hobby of mine when I learned how to."
Ninian noticed me and stood up, having finished admiring one of the men constellations that dot the sky.
"May I join you?"
Nils replied, "Yes...of course, we were waiting for you. What did you want to talk about?"
I thought about what I was about to say. How my weeks of my own myserious identity could be solved now. How my life from here on out could change, either for the worst, or for the best.
I cleared my throat, "This is going to sound crazy, but I...I think I might be your brother."
End
