I do not having any holdings or assets in their company, therefore I do not own Fire Emblem.

A parallel universe to FE 7 with a couple cosmic changes.

Chapter 22: Wasteland

Dad! Whats a sord?

It is called a sword. It is a long metallic stick with a handle at the end. You can hit things with it.

What kind of tings?

I'll tell you when you are older.

Pease! Pease tell me pa, I am four now!

Okay my boy, but you need to know why we use a sword in the first place.

To hit tings right?

Ha Ha, have you ever heard of a knight?

Whats a knite?

A knight who swears to protect people from danger.

Du mean the hugry feling in my stomch?

Sigh, that too, and he saves his people from so much more.

If I wuz a knite, I could save people from danger too?...

It is a long and hard life my boy...it is not fun and games...it is a life choice...you are not old enough to decide that path yet.

But Pa! Du help people all tee time too! I want to too!

I suppose I better tell you the other things...A knight must suffer many things to train and get better-

It was a new day, perhaps a new life. Not only did the nightmares stop these past two days, but I could look forward to seeing that innocent sleeping face when I woke up. I would have to be careful of course. The Boars finally had something to take from me, but I would make sure it would never happen. It was difficult, but I managed to get out of bed. We would be approaching the desert soon, and preparations had to be made.

Everyone else opened their eye hours later. They woke up to find our spare tents were being used for other purposes. We could always buy new tents, but the ability to block the sun out in any way was far more important. Through some alterations with the help of Merlinus; we were able to have a linen shield against the suns rays. A large version of a sun umbrella that could cover a 12x12 foot cover that could hold about eleven people. This would help the delicate members of the camp, especially those who came from the bitter cold in Illia.

"Kent! Can you give me a hand over here?" I was trying to convert some tent poles into sticks that would be held from all four corners of the sun shield. Four people would be required to hold up the shelter, but they would also share the shade.

"Sure, what seems to be the trouble?"

"I need to find a better way to tie the poles to the tent or it will rip."

"Have you tried the clove hitch knot?"

"What is that?"

"Here I will show you."

…
"Ah I see thanks Kent, hopefully this thing helps in the desert."

"What gave you this idea? It seems unorthodox."

"Have you never been in the desert before?"

"It is supposed to be hot right?"

"Oh boy, looks like I will need to talk to everyone, we are almost near the border, and I forgot some people have never seen one before."

"You have experience in this new climate?"

"Once, it was brutal."

"I don't understand."

"Let me explain, just like Caelin Knights, we have trials that we must complete to prove our worth to the kingdom. One of my trials was to travel across a desert with one canteen of water and my wits. It was my final test before I started my career as a knight."

"I see, so what can I expect in a place like this?"

"Sand, lot and lots of sand. It is best that you tie some cloth or other linen around the holes in your armor. Especially the boots. The worst thing to have is hot sand on your feet."

"I shall set to work on it at once sir."

"Good, by the way how have you been Kent? It has been too long since we could talk."

"I feel a little out of place at camp lately."

"Sain annoying you?"

"No nothing like that, but it seems my duty to Lady Lyndis is no longer needed.

"Don't be silly, Lyn would be lost without her legion."

"Especially you."

"Er...I see she told you..."

"I am glad for you two, I know she is in good hands."

"Thank you Kent, it means a lot from a faithful knight such as yourself, but you are still a valuable member to the group."

"I suppose, but it does get lonely at times."

"Have you been making friends with our new companions?"

"Yes, I have talked to Marcus and Oswin greatly about our duties."

"Have you discussed anything else, like hobbies?"

"What? Of course not there is too much to do for small talk."

"Hmm I see, but as your tactician I am ordering you to make conversation with our new friends...that includes the women too."

"B-but I can't talk too to them..."

"Then consider it your duty to hone your skills. Give me a report at the end of the week."

"...If I must."

We reached the desert half way through the day, but lucky for us the sun was starting to set which would make traveling easier. The healers, pegasus knights, the archers, Nils and Ninian, and the mages all took shelter underneath the shade. Lyn had refused to take a spot despite how much I tried, and instead she traveled with me on Winston. I had invested in a bigger saddle since that one ride ten months ago. She was in front of me on the saddle so I could tell if she ever started to show signs of heat stroke.

For the next two days we ventured early in the day and then rested when the afternoon peaked. When then started back up well into the evening and stopped once it was too dark. A lot of my time went into teaching Lyn how to avoid the Boars, but we could not practice without using our energy in this wasteland. Even with these precautions, the further we traveled in the desert the more she was starting to show signs of fatigue.

"The Boars like to use that attack during dusk."

"...ung...I see, If I that happens I'll be ready."

"Lyn are you okay?"

"Huh?...yeah...just a little tired, but I will be fine."

"...I will tell Eliwood that we must stop, a small rest will be good for everyone."

"No...I don't want to be the reason to slow our travels."

"I won't let you run yourself down. How is your water supply?"

"...I still have a little left..."

"Hmm that is no good, here take my canteen."

"No I couldn't...what will you drink?"

"There could be a cactus up ahead or perhaps an oasis. I will be fine, but you need it more than I do right now."

"Mark you are sweating too."

"Never mind me, if you want to keep going then drink the water or else I will talk to Eliwood."

"...okay."

"Drink as much as you need and then get some sleep. I will make sure you don't fall off Winston."

"What about you?"

"I am holding onto the most beautiful woman in the world. I think I will be just fine."

"...Mark."

We traveled another two hours in this scorching heat. It was nearing the afternoon and we would have to make camp soon or risk over heating. We were no closer to any signs of life, but our first concern now was to find a water source. The heat had taken its toll on everyone. Everyone under the shade of the tarp were dealing with the sand that entered any hole or area that was exposed. The same was true for everyone else, but the heat was the more pressing matter. We were at least fortunate enough to have Lucius who was experienced in blocking the suns harmful effects. It did not stop the heat, but it at least prevented third degree burns.

Eliwood was in front of everyone and crossed a hill. He then tried to get everyone attention and soon came running towards me. I could on hope it was not an illusion.

"Mark! There is a battle going on over there!"

"Here? Have you been drinking your water?"

"Yes follow me to the top of the hill!"

"Okay."

Either both of our eyes were deceiving us or it was indeed a skirmish. One anima sage was battling a whole group of bandits, but he was winning.

"Lyn, I am afraid you must wake up."

"Unh...what is the problem?"

"There is a battle going on in front of us."

"Huh? Oh my they are all trying to attack….We have to help that man!"

"...Lyn can you fight on horseback?"

"..I can try it"

"Okay, Eliwood, Hector head over to the man. He seems to be holding his own but he might need your assistance. Everyone else just stay here. Do not over exhaust yourselves! I know you want to help, but it would not change anything but your stamina."

The Sage was about 200 feet west from us battling whatever happened to challenge him next. It would be difficult for anyone to reach him, but Eliwood and Hector were the closest and could travel at decent pace on foot. I was heading for the leader who was closer to us by our north-west.. This was not the first time Winston had traveled over loose terrain, but most of the time it was just a muddy road. I knew the harder he tried to run the less distance he would go, but I found the right balance.

It was clear that this man was highly skilled with magic. His spells were violently destroying anyone who tried to attack him. From archers to brigands, they all experienced the same fatal explosion by fire.

Lyn and I had met up with the brute that seemed to be making all the calls. He tried to lung his giant axe into my horse but Winston ran right past him. I jumped off my horse and dueled with him against my blade. He would swing violently at me and I would dodge with no trouble. He was quick enough to prevent counter attacks so I let Lyn stab the man in the back with her sacred sword once she managed to turn Winston around. I looked over to the rest of the horizon to see Hector charging a few stray soldiers, only to see them decimated by a sphere of fire.

I was just about to climb back on Winston when my legs gave out from under me. I was falling straight down as the sand I had one stood upon suddenly fell. I was dropping to fast to be in quick sand and soon met a sandstone floor. I was on the ground and trying to regain my senses.

"Mark!" I heard the echo that came from above. But more sand was falling down. I struggled to get up after such a fall, but I did not break anything.

"Lyn I am okay!" A huge amount of sand was falling down now and it almost blinded me but I heard another noise from above.

"I am going to get help...Kyaa!" My fears were soon confirmed and through the veil of sand I saw a blurred figure falling. I sprinted over and held out my arm. She was falling at an angle and I had managed to catch her but it knocked me down in the process. I turned out to be a pillow to soften her fall at the expense of having all my breath knocked out of me.

"Mark are you okay!?" She rolled off of me and stood up. Some light was peering through the hole that we fell from, but everything else was dark.

"I am fine...but I don't know where we are." I stumbled onto my feet thanks to Lyn's hand up and we tried examine the area.

"It is too dark...I can't see anything."

"Hmm, hopefully I still have some lantern oil on me. I grabbed the vial and put it on my sword. Once it was on fire we could see the small room we were in."

"What should we do Mark?"

"It is too high to climb back up, and it will be awhile before anyone stumble upon Winston either."

"...I have never seen anything like this place."

"Who knows how long it has been buried in the sand...Look over there, it's a door.

"Is it safe to explore?"

"What can an old ruined temple do to two master swordsmen?"

"Your right, but what if we get lost?"

"Ha ha, have some faith in me, but would you feel better if we held hands?"

"Oh sorry, but I would like that."

The other side of the door offered the same thing. An empty room with another door at the end. We went through that one, to find another small square room, however it did not have a door.

"Mark look at this wall art, it looks like a city with humans and dragons."

"This must be the ruins from the scouring then"

"Brr, it is so cold in here..."

"Odd...wind doesn't appear in an empty room. Hey Lyn do you see that cracked wall?"

"Hmm? Oh yeah it looks very fragile."

"Can you break it? I don't want to risk losing the flame."

"Sure."

The wall soon fell, but it showed a wide open room. The room was filled with even more wall art. It did not appear that we were getting any closer to an exit though. I looked at the wall art and became very uneasy. This room had the symbol of the boar...it showed men bowing to the symbol. The entire wall was written in blood. I wanted out of here now!

It was not long after that I saw a figure watching us. I warned Lyn and we gave chase. A few more chilling rooms of blood writing left us at another center room, but light was shining out from the top on this one. The figure tried to disappear again and went further into another room, but I had caught a glimpse of the man. It was the same one I had seen back at Valor. He had led us to the exit but why?

Taking a break from writing for a little bit, perhaps I am just exhausted from writing for a month. I do not know when I will get the inspiration again, but I refuse to leave a story unfinished. I'll see you next time, it should not be too long from now, but no promises.