Chapter 11: Mercenaries on the Move!

And so, a new journey begins. Prince Innes decides to go to Jehanna, Prince Ephraim goes to Grado Keep to fight against the empire and finally, Princess Eirika decides to go to Rausten. Sento, Banjo, Kazumi and Kairi decides to go with Princess Eirika as they venture through Port Kiris. Kyle and Forde, two of Ephraim's men decided to join Princess Eirika on her journey to Rausten to ensure her safety. However, as they arrived in the port, Tana can be seen catching up to them.

"Eirika! Wait!" Tana called out.

"Tana? What are you doing? You were supposed to remain in the palace." Eirika told her.

"You left so abruptly, without any warning or farewell. You and Ephraim have only just arrived, and already you leave on another quest?" Tana replied. "Well, I'm your friend, Eirika, and I won't let you go into danger without me."

"Does King Hayden know of this?" Eirika asked.

"No. He'd just say 'I forbid you to go on this foolish errand,' like always." Tana answered. "But I'm so worried about you."

"Thank you, Tana. I appreciate your concern, but King Hayden would-" Eirika told her before she was interrupted.

"You and Ephraim, my father and my brother...You're all fighting together, fighting for a noble cause. I cannot be left out. I will not be left out." Tana told her. "Please, Eirika."

"All right. I never could refuse you anything. Come on. Let's go, Tana." Eirika accepted her.

"Thank you, Eirika!" Tana was happy.

"So, welcome to the team, I guess." Sento said.

"I can't wait to see you transform again!" Tana was excited.

After Tana joins the team, the group finally arrived at Port Kiris.

"Your Highness, we've reached Port Kiris. If we can find passage across the North Sea, we will reach Rausten in 10 days." Seth informed.

"It smells of the tides...This is a busy place, isn't it?" Eirika asked.

"It's a trade center. Peoples of all nations pass through here." Seth answered. "Do not become so enthralled with the sights and sounds that you forget your mission."

"I won't. I'm a mercenary by the name of Erina. I'm travelling to Rausten to receive a commission." Eirika said.

"Well, if we're going with that, then I guess should go under the name of Takumi." Sento added.

"Out of all the names you could come up with, why THAT one?" Banjo complained.

"He IS Takumi Katsuragi, after all..." Kazumi whispered to Banjo.

"I know, but why not Taro? That's a much better name than Takumi." Banjo suggested.

Then, all of a sudden, Sento does an unusual pose where he bents his head upside down and his body upwards while still facing towards Banjo. This surprises not only Banjo and Kazumi, but Eirika as well.

"Let's get grilled meat tonight!" Sento said Taro's well known catchphrase. "...No. Takumi suits me much better."

"Uh...What was that?" Eirika asked him.

"Oh, it's nothing you need to concern about. It's just for fun." Sento told her.

"Anyway, let us look for a ship then, Erina. The docks are this way." Seth told her.

"Hm?" Eirika began to notice something on the north.

"Is something amiss?" Seth asked.

"Seth, that woman over there? Is that..." Eirika said.

Then, we see L'Arachel, Dozla and Rennac arriving from the nothern part.

"Oh these dainty sugar pastries! They're delightfully scrumptious!" L'Arachel said. "Flavorful without being overwhelming, refined without being banal..."

"Gwah ha ha! Right you are, Lady L'Arachel!" Dozla said while laughing.

"You look familiar..." Eirika said to her.

"Oh! Aren't you-" L'Arachel recognized her.

"We've met before, haven't we? You arrived with your companions when we encountered those creatures...Your name is L'Arachel, is it not?" Eirika said.

"A wonder and pleasure that we should meet again so soon! It is providence!" L'Arachel was delighted.

"Bad luck is the only thing the divine has ever provided you!" Rennac said.

"Oh, and if you have not yet tried one, these pastries are also divine. Would you care for one?" L'Arachel told her as she gave Eirika the pastry.

"Uh, thank you..." Eirika accepted the pastry. "No, wait...That's not why-We're actually on our way to the Theocracy of Rausten. We're rather in a rush and need to find passage on a ship..."

"Oh, dear. I'm afraid you'll find none to assist you. No ships are leaving port." L'Arachel told her.

"Pardon?" Eirika asked.

"You see, I find myself heading home once more to my beloved Rausten as well! And actually, I'm quite well known with the powers-that-be here in Port Kiris." L'Arachel explained. "So I ordered them to ready the finest passenger vessel for me. But both merchants and passenger ships alike are too frightened to set sail. It seems a giant ghost ship has been sinking every ship it finds..."

"A ghost ship?" Kairi asked.

"Yes. Would that I could confront it, I could stop it's foul villainy in a moment. Alas, It's such a shame" L'Arachel said.

"Yes, yes...Uh...That is troublesome. Still, I must get to Rausten somehow." Eirika responded.

"You needn't worry too much. After all, if the sea is closed to you, simply follow the overland route!" L'Arachel suggested.

"The overland route? I've heard that's a terribly roundabout path to travel." Eirika asked.

"Oh, it is, but don't you see? The hardships of the road, they are truly blessings! They will toughen you and strengthen your resolve when you need to face great evil. For example, I have been tasked with a great trial in order to better me." L'Arachel explained. "I understand my path, O unknowable forces of providence! I, your faithful servant L'Arachel, shall overcome! With faith and divine strength!"

"Now, listen, L'Arachel! You might be thrilled about going the long way, but-" Rennac tried to convince her.

"Come now, we're leaving. Dozla? Rennac? Don't fall behind!" L'Arachel told them.

"Gwah ha ha! Wait for us, Lady L'Arachel! Come on, Rennac! We run 'til we drop! The first one to collapse from exhaustion is the winner!" Dozla said.

"Help...Why is this happening to me?" Rennac asked.

Then, we see L'Arachel and her men depart...to the west?

"Man, what a bunch of idiots..." Banjo commented.

"Uh, Seth?" Eirika asked him. "Isn't Rausten in the other direction? Aren't they heading towards Frelia?"

"Okay, they ARE a bunch of idiots..." Banjo said.

"It's nothing you need to concern yourself with, milady." Seth told her. "Our only concern now is to decide our next course of action. An overland journey would be very long. However, it seems that may be our only choice at the moment."

"I agree. Whatever shall we do..." Eirika said.

Then, we see an axeman approaches the group.

"You're Eirika, the princess of Renais, ain't ya?" The axeman asked.

"What?" Eirika was surprised.

"Dastard! Away with you!" Seth told the axeman.

"No need to get personal! You know, there's a pretty price on your pretty head. Sorry, but I need that gold." The axeman said.

Then, more reinforcements came, surrounding the group.

"Well, so much for going undercover..." Kairi said.

"I guess we have no choice, then..." Sento said as he takes out the Build Driver.

KAIZOKU! DENSHA! BEST MATCH!

WAKE UP! CROSS-Z DRAGON!

ROBOT JELLY!

RED! 0-1-0! MASQUERAISE! KAITOU CHANGE!

"Henshin!" Sento, Banjo and Kazumi shouted.

"Kaitou Change!" Kairi shouted.

TEIKOKU NO HANGYAKUSHA! KAIZOKURESSHA! YEAHHH!

WAKE UP BURNING! GET CROSS-Z DRAGON! YEAH!

ROBOT IN GREASE! BRAAAAA!

LUPINRANGER~!

"The rules of victory has been set!" Sento said.

"I feel unbeatable at this moment!" Banjo said as he clenched his fists.

"I'll crush you all with the fire burning in my heart!" Kazumi told them.

"Here's a little bit of warning: whatever treasure you guys have, I'm here to take them!" Kairi said.

And with that, the group began their attack against the axeman's group. As the fight goes on, we see four more soldiers arriving in the battlefield. One of them was a blonde-haired girl wearing an orange armor.

"Attention! Carcino's mercenaries will arrest the princess of Renais shortly. Our duty here is nearly ended, and I expect no further hostilities. If you must fight, however, remember that the whole empire fights with you!" The guard informed them.

"Um, Commander? What should I do?" The girl asked.

"Who are you?" The guard demanded.

"Sir! I'm Amelia of Silva, sir! I'm new. I was only assigned to your command today. I wanted to fight for the empire!" The girl introduced herself.

"I don't need your life story, fool! Recruits are in front! Grab a lance and move!" The guard ordered.

"Sir, yes sir!" Amelia obliged. "This lance...Stab the enemy. I'm not afraid...I'm a citizen of Grado. It's my duty to fight. And I'll fight my best!"

Back to the battle, it seems that the group gained the advantage as Build, Cross-Z, Grease and Lupin Red managed to take out some of the mercenaries that are getting in their way.

"At this rate, we should be able to win this one." Sento told them.

"Yeah! Let's keep it going!" Banjo said.

On the other side, we see Eirika taking out some of the mercenaries with her rapier, with Seth assisting her. But then, she comes across Amelia on the way.

"Who are you?" Eirika asked.

"What? What?" Amelia was nervous.

"Are you from around here? You should find someplace to hide. These men are after me. It's not safe." Eirika told her.

"But...But I'm..." Amelia tried to tell her.

"Yes?" Eirika asked.

"I'm a Grado soldier. I'm here to stop the princess of Renais." Amelia told her.

"Huh? You're with Grado?" Eirika was confused.

"And you're Princess Eirika? But the commander said Eirika's a cruel and merciless fiend..." Amelia asked.

"What? No, I'm..." Eirika said. "I don't know what Grado's officers have been telling you, but...Our two countries are at war, so I suppose they can say what they want."

"Mistress Eirika..." Amelia muttered. "I, uh, I surrender. I won't fight you."

"Huh?" Eirika was now confused.

"I became a soldier because I admired General Duessel's sense of honor. But the general has been very opposed to this war from the beginning...And now I see you, and you look so sad about all of this. I don't know what's right anymore." Amelia explained. "I'm just a soldier, but I want to decide for myself. I want to understand the truth myself, to see it with my own eyes."

"I see...So does this mean you're coming with us? I suppose I should ask your name then." Eirika told her.

"Amelia. Amelia of Silva." She introduced herself to Eirika.

"Alright, Amelia. We need to get through this alive, okay?" Eirika told her.

"Okay!" Amelia nodded.

And with that, Amelia has joined the group as she helps Eirika take out the mercenaries that are coming towards her. After that, they regroup with the rest.

"Okay, there's only a few of them now." Eirika told them.

"Wait, who's that girl?" Kazumi asked as she points to Amelia.

"I-I'm Amelia." She introduced herself to them.

"She's a soldier of Grado, but rest assured, she no longer fights for them and has decided to join us." Eirika reassured them.

"I see..." Sento said. "Well, welcome to the team, I guess."

"T-Thank you. I'll do my best to help!" Amelia bowed.

"Alright! Let's just finish this already..." Kazumi told them.

And after a long and heated battle, the mercenaries are all being taken out.

"Your Highness, are you well?" Seth asked.

"Yes, I believe so..." Eirika answered. "Who are these men? They don't appear to be Grado Imperial troops."

"Judging by their crude swordplay, I'd say they're mercenaries. We can expect more of them in the area, too, I think." Seth explained.

"That might explain why they want the princess' head..." Kairi added.

"But who could have told these mercenaries to go after the princess?" Banjo asked.

"Let's find out. Wait here." Seth told them as he confronts one of the mercenaries.

"W-Wait! I give up! I don't want to fight anymore! We were just doing a job." The mercenaries begged him.

"Who hired you?" Seth asked.

"I may be nothing but a hired blade, but I have my honor. I won't say a word." The mercenary replied.

"I admire your professionalism. I guess we have no use for you." Seth told him.

"No, wait! I'll talk! Carcino! It was Pablo of the Carcino Council of Elders!" The mercenary said.

"Councilman Pablo?" Seth was surprised.

"That doesn't make sense! Carcino and Frelia are allies. Why would they target me?" Eirika asked.

"I don't know...Could be they've decided Grado's going to win. They want to be on the winning side." The mercenary explained. "Some of the others opposed Pablo, but I heard he had 'em all silenced but quick. That's all I know, I swear it."

"I believe you. Go." Seth told him.

Then, the mercenary ran away in fear.

"We were careless. We should have seen this coming." Seth said. "Carcino's a young and ambitious nation ruled by power-hungry merchants. And Grado grows more powerful with every passing day. So it's no surprise Carcino's merchant lords would throw in with Grado now."

"Damnit! This is getting worse..." Sento said.

"Looks like Grado is getting desperate about winning the war..." Kazumi stated.

"Wait! Prince Innes...Prince Innes was to pass through Carcino on his way to Jehanna..." Eirika realized something. "If Carcino has betrayed us, then he ran headlong into enemy territory..."

Then, a flier can be seen coming towards them.

"Princess Eirika! I bring dire tidings!" The filer called out.

"I know you...You were a messenger riding with Prince Innes." Eirika recognized her.

"Yes, and I have news of him. Prince Innes is in danger! Carcino's merchant army struck and cut through half our men." The flier informed her. "The prince is trapped in a siege. He has no means of escape, and-"

"No more!" Eirika stopped her from talking. "I understand. Return to Frelia and deliver your message!"

"What of Prince Innes?" The flier asked.

"Leave him to us. The prince's troubles should burden you no more. We will see him to safety." Eirika told her.

The flier then flies away, presumably back to Frelia to relay the message. But then, we see Rennac approaching them.

"Hey, you...Have Lady L'Arachel and her man, Sir Stubble-chin, gone yet?" Rennac asked.

"Aren't you-Yes, they no longer appear to be in the city." Eirika answered.

"Whew...I'm finally free! No more getting bossed around by that witless ninny!" Rennac express relief. "Thanks. I owe you one. Take this. Now that I'm free again. I think I'm just gonna wander about for a while."

Rennac gave her an Angelic Robe and took his leave.

"What a strange relationship they have." Eirika said.

"Lady Eirika, I think we ought to be leaving soon." Seth told her.

"Yes. We must hurry to Prince Innes' side!" Eirika nodded. "Let's go everyone!"

"Yeah!" Everyone shouted.


A/N: And that's Chapter 11. So far, nothing really big has happened in this chapter, but we do have two more recruits in the form of Tana and Amelia.

That's it for now and I'll be seeing you in Chapter 12.