Chapter 47: Budding Friendships
By SodiumChlouride12, derived from Fire Emblem, owned by Nintendo
A/N: By the time y'all get this, I should be in a car drudging on a road somewhere in the Montana en route to Yellowstone. I won't be writing for a week, but I already have a chapter lined up that only needs editing. If I can edit it before next Friday then my posting schedule will continue unchanged, otherwise I'll just wait to post it till until I get back home to Austin on Saturday. It's a marginal difference of a single day, but now y'all know now.
If I can, I'll be writing the proto-sequel chapter on my flight and the car ride. If I go ham and the word count exceeds 3k, I'll just make it its own standalone chapter. Otherwise, I'll just tack it on with that week's chapter like I did with my other [now-defunct] series.
While on that subject, after the third chapter I realized I did not have the energy nor the motivation to keep on going. I don't think I'll ever go back to writing something for Three Houses again, not until I finish the SOMB project in a couple of years anyway. Had I continued on with that story this series would've taken forever to finish.
If anyone wants the prompt for that I can go ahead and give it to you. I made a storyline beforehand...
Yet another amazing review. Whoever you are, you're simply amazing. This goes towards everyone that took the time out of their day to provide me with some well appreciated feedback. So, to the 10-14 people that did that...thank you!
N: Memory can often be a feeble thing. It can be corrupted, modified, or at times completely forgotten. Thus is the plight of a drunken man, a burden shared amongst many of that similar lifestyle...
"..."
"Ugh..."
Waking up, my eyes wander through the convoluted jungle that inhabited my tent home. A brown liquid stains its canvas floor, and the morning sun shines through my ceiling like metaphysical pins of light. My few belongings were strung out across the floor like a lazy attempt at jigsaw, and my worn-down boots stood idly by the front door.
Amiss my dirty surroundings and hazy perception, my memory found itself lacking...
I don't remember what happened yesterday...
My first hint came in the form of the half-emptied flask resting in my left hand. Looking at it sends ripples of stimuli through my head, ultimately cultivating in a massive headache I'd been subconsciously ignoring this whole time.
Ouch!
I've been drinking...that much is clear. For how long, I don't know. However, judging from the bitter taste of dryness in my mouth, I can only assume that it was for a long time. Likely in celebration of some unknown event.
My feet wake up with miniature pins of pain as I struggle to get out of bed. The weeks' worth of walking had created dense calluses underneath my soles, but even this hardened skin could do little to protect the gradual discomfort to my toes. Still, I figure there's little to gain by staying here to sulk, so I open the tent flap to begin my day...
!
What the…
I gasp when I observe the scene before me. We were deep in a forest, far away from the mountains I'd grown accustomed. But the unfamiliar terrain was only the beginning. Light creeps through the light forested canopy above us, revealing a stocky blue lordling, a sturdier brown knight, and two people I had hoped I wouldn't reunite with so soon.
Matthew and Serra were calmly engaging in small talk by a nearby stream. Well, calmly might be an overstatement. What I saw was nothing more than pure, untempered misery.
Serra said, "Matthew my dear, as your superior, I order you to fetch me some freshwater."
Unamused, he replied, "I'm not your vassal. The water's right there, get it yourself."
The two eventually befall into a shouting contest over who's superior to who. The rest of the army does their best to avoid landing themselves in the crossfire, with Marcus eyeing the pair like they'd just intruded on an Indian burial ground.
How annoying...
"Hey Lieutenant! Good morning!"
Rebecca appears with a jolly demeanor reminiscent of a Christmas elf. Her hair is neatly held back in a bun, all while being firmly within the confines of a hairnet. Her whole get up indicates that she had just come out of the kitchen...
Oh God, that thought sounds sexist as hell.
I said, "Eh...hey Rebecca. Why do you look like that?"
Confused, she rests her hands on her hips. Her hands were white and slightly wrinked, likely from excess exposure to water.
She said, "Uh...what do you mean? You put me and Lowen on mess duty since we both have the most cooking experience. Don't you remember?"
I...didn't. Whether it be from past trauma or the hangover, I just couldn't make the correct neural connections in my brain. I recall speaking to those two about something, though I'm unsure of what.
Well Rebecca, you're going to have to help with memory duty.
I said, "I'm afraid my mind is failing me right now. Can you give my mind a boost over breakfast?"
Always happy to help, she said, "Sure! We just finished breakfast recently, too. I hope you enjoy catching up over chicken broth!"
My stomach makes a weird sound and I give an awkward smile. I simply adored chicken broth, and the mere thought of it was enough to send my appetite to a frenzy...
I said, "Honestly, with the state I'm in right now, I think I'd like to catch up over anything..."
Yesterday...
We're now near a village in a mountainous canton named Santaruz. The city-state is a small territory nestled directly between the road connecting Laus and Pherae, and we had stopped here on Eliwood's request. Apparently, our young lordling has quite the relationship with the marquess here, and he'd like to flex that relationship towards our benefit. We'd set up camp here in anticipation for a letter that would allow us to be received formally by the canton...
Eliwood said, "This was a great place to set up camp, Marcus. We're close enough to enjoy the amenities of the village, but far away enough as to not arouse suspicion."
Marcus agrees and observes the village far away. It's a rustic little settlement with few of life's luxuries, but it still had everything needed to sustain it. Food, medicine, it was all there. Several of their own troops even went there to engage in some recreational time, though most of them have returned by now.
Most of them...
Eliwood asked, "Say Marcus, have you seen our tactician?"
"He's right here."
Lowen materializes from behind both of their cones of vision with me sound asleep on his saddle. My clothes were dirty, and my rag doll-like body swayed with every minor motion from the horse. It's a wonder my mask didn't fall off my face, with nothing more than the binding magic protecting my identity.
Eliwood said, "Nice to see you well, Lowen. Erm, may I ask why the tactician is unconscious?"
"Take a guess."
Marcus didn't hesitate to make his thoughts known. He'd grown tired with my consistent commitment to goonery and seeing me in the state I was struck a nerve.
He said, "You found him blackout drunk by the side of the road again?"
"You'd be right."
Marcus sighed, "Lord Eliwood, I implore you to relieve this tactician of his duties immediately. His behavior is most inappropriate for someone of his rank, especially someone that is associated with you. Your father would never surround himself with a man like this..."
Eliwood considers the proposition for a minute, but ultimately disagrees.
He said, "I'm sorry, Marcus. I must refer to his letter of recommendation, if he's anything like it said he is then we must keep this man in our ranks. He has his faults...but I'm sure we can speak to him about it. He's professional enough when he has to be."
Marcus gazes into the eyes of his superior. They held the same fire and determination as his father, and although Eliwood was young, he truly seemed to believe in the ability of his new tactician. There was no convincing a man like this of the contrary, to do so would be an utter waste of time.
Marcus said, "Hmph, fair point. Still...that doesn't mean we can just let him sleep."
He grabs me by the scruff of my collar and pulls me from Lowen's steed. Shaking me with all his might, he raised his voice to match the ferocity of his force.
He ordered, "Hey, you! Wake up!"
!
"Snork?"
I open my eyes and the shaking stops. The immediate gaze of Marcus sends an unpleasant feeling down my spine, and I get the sense that I'm under some sort of trouble.
I squeaked, "Hello..."
Marcus growled, "Mr. Vacia, do you have any idea what you have been doing?"
Remembering the bar hopping I did earlier, I answered truthfully, "I had a little bit to drink...so what?"
He said, "So what? What your doing is entirely unprofessional and harmful towards our mission. Not only am I disgusted by your actions, but I am disappointed as well."
What are you, my father?
"If you want continued employment with the House of Pherae, then I recommend that you restrict your alcoholism to times more reasonable for us. This means you aren't allowed to drink until at night when we've already set up camp, and should we get ambushed you have the expectation to sober up in time for us to defend ourselves."
Great, now he's giving me rules. I don't need a babysitter.
I said, "*hic* I'm not an alcoholic. I can handle a little bit a booze during the daytime."
Eliwood shakes his head disapprovingly, "Absolutely not. We are confiscating your flask until nightfall, while also limiting your intake. I respect you for your rank Lieutenant, but we run things a little bit differently in Lycia."
I'm confused that remark. Was that a hint of racism in his voice, or some other suggestive quip? I didn't know for sure, but if it was the former, then Eliwood should really watch his mouth.
I said, "Eliwood, what...did you mean by that?"
Eliwood's frowns and scratched the back of his head. Thinking back on his words, he realized he may have made a misstep.
He said, "I mean no disrespect, Lieutenant. I'm clueless towards the Carazanite army's attitude towards drinking on duty, so that's why I said what I said. Still, we can't tolerate this behavior here."
I suppose that's reasonable enough. Admittingly, I haven't been the model soldier.
I sighed, "Well, it's really that not much different from the Lycian armies. If you're caught drinking while on duty, you're hung. My apologies Lord Eliwood, I'll accept these restrictions and will spend my duty going forward sober."
But mind you, the minute the sun sets I'll be swimming in liquid courage. There's no rule against that.
Eliwood nodded, "Excellent, I'm glad you'll listen to reason. Hopefully, my friend Marquess Santaruz will too."
"Marquess Santaruz?"
Marcus nodded, "Yes, he's the royal in charge of the territory of Santaruz. He's a kind old man who is a good friend of Lord Elbert, and Eliwood's shared many fond memories with him in his younger years."
Hmm, I'm impressed. Looks like Eliwood's using his connection for our benefit.
I said, "So, the expectation is that he'll provide us with some support for our journey. Are we talking supplies and the such?"
Eliwood said, "Yeah, though I wouldn't doubt it if he gave us some troops. Santaruz is technically Pharae's ally, so he has a treaty obligation."
Treaty obligation? Usually nation-states only ally with each other when they're nervous about an aggressive neighbor. I wonder who that neighbor could be...
Granted, now's not the time to think about the geopolitical situation here. What's important is establishing contact with this marquess...
I said, "Have we sent him a letter requesting his audience? If memory serves, I think I recall seeing a guard post from the village."
I vaguely remember my drunk-self stumbling through town and spying a fortress-like tower far away. It was in the same style as the one I saw in Pherae, and for a while I thought we hadn't embarked on our journey yet...
Luckily, now I've sobered up to realize that's not the case.
Marcus said, "I've penned a letter informing him of our presence. I sent it in the morning, so I'm sure we're due for a message soon."
Curious, I asked, "Oh really? At approximately what time would you say you sent it?"
Marcus said, "I'm not sure...I think I did it right around breakfast."
Breakfast...we had that at around 8 o'clock. What time is it now?
I take out my watch and read the time. As expected, the minute hand hadn't missed a second, and it read 1:00 pm.
This is odd. The marquess should have answered back by now. What's keeping him?
Something doesn't feel right. It's customary in Lycia for correspondents to respond within a reasonable amount of time, yet it's been five whole hours.
I said, "Get everybody together. I can't shake this dreadful feeling in my gut"
Marcus asked, "Dreadful feeling? What for? We're in friendly territory."
I sigh and observe the idle mountains far away. They seemed peaceful from this vantage point, though I had a sense something more sinister lurked within those rocky crevices.
I said, "Just do it. I might be hungover, but my gut hasn't me failed me yet..."
Castle Santaruz...
Somewhere deep in the heart of his country, Marquess Santaruz looks on with horror as a caped figure relays him the information he'd been dreading…
"What? Eliwood is here?"
Hearing the old man's panicked whimpers, he nods. However, despite his humanlike appearance, he is far from human. In fact, he's someone of dubious character and mysterious regard. He does not act for himself, but instead his labor is all in the name of a masterful puppeteer hiding in the shadows.
He said, "Yes. He has set camp up on a hill south of here. He seeks permission to enter Santaruz. He seeks an audience with you."
The marquess shakes his head in disbelief. This was the worst possible thing that could've happened to him. If Eliwood were to find out what's going on, all that he'd been working towards would be for naught, and Lord Elbert's mission...
Marquess Santaruz said, "Could it be… Do you think Eliwood's come to ask of his father? If that's the case… I… I know not what to tell him."
The messenger replied, "Then act clueless and let him go on his way."
But the marquess can't do that. His moral compass was not as flawed as his companion, and it told him he could not lie to Eliwood. Not as an old friend of his father, or the perceived uncle of his son.
Ultimately, the messenger convinces the marquess to allow him to "subtly" deal with the issue in a "non-lethal" way. Everything would continue going according the plan, and Eliwood would end his brief stint with adventure.
Then again, perhaps the marquess had underestimated the determination of Eliwood's squad. Almost like how he underestimated the ferocity of his messenger's organization...
The Black Fang...
Later...
"Hey there, Lieutenant. What are you doing here?"
"Hm?"
I'm at the camp mess hall oiling the joints of my hand when Rebecca comes in. I'd been spending the past hour in anxious anticipation for the inevitable battle, but so far my concerns appear to be unfounded…
Rebecca had finished her lunch duty with Lowen, and now possessed some free time. I found it unusual in why she decided to spend that time with me instead of the knight she admires…but I suppose everybody gets a little curious...
She said, "That weird liquid you have in that can, I've seen nothing like it. Is it a magical potion?"
I look at the oil can [which says oil on the front cover] and then back at Rebecca. The disbelief on my face made my companion feel like she was being made fun of, and I chuckled.
I said, "Honest question, can you read?"
She asserted, "Y-Yeah! I'm no idiot! I-uh knew all along that you're holding a can of oil!"
"Then why did you ask?"
"..."
Flustered, Rebecca glances away and lightly presses her head on a tree. I found this humorous and couldn't resist laughing at this childish gesture.
"Hahahaha! It's been a while since a kid's make me laugh..."
Rebecca pouts. Being called a child is apparently a really easy way to get on her nerves.
She exclaimed, "What? I'm no child! I-I'm 15, technically an adult! You can't be much older than me!"
I replied, "I'm 20. In those extra five years of life, I've fought in a civil war, been enslaved, and spent a month in jail. We may technically both be adults in the eyes of the law, but in mine you're still a frail farm girl..."
I instantly regret having a loose tongue.
Oh boy, Samuel. You've said too much.
What had started out as a joke ended up being an uncontrollable stream of conciousness. Maybe it was the hangover working through the mental barriers in my brain, or the guilt I still felt for having her injured on my watch yesterday, but I just could not keep it together...
Rebecca opens her eyes wide in disbelief. I blink, and I'm immediately reminded of a face I hadn't seen since my college years. This face was of a 15-year-old girl who was very similar to Rebecca in both stature and personality, and I recall mentoring her for a STEM after-school club on my free time. The resemblance is uncanny...and I feel an urge to put this girl under my wing...
What did I have to gain by saying this? These experiences were mine alone to bear...
Rebecca said, "Lieutenant...I don't know what to say."
Of course she doesn't...she's only 15...
I replied, "Erm...don't worry about it. I can't believe I said that out loud, anyway I...I'm sorry about what happened earlier. With your injury."
I close my eyes and think about the sheer volume of blood involved then. I was scared out of my mind for Rebecca's safety, and that sentiment soon extended towards Lowen after I made my transfusion attempt. Again, I just can't stress how much blood trickled through my hands; the memory still haunts me...even now. I truly thought I would lose both...though more so for Rebecca.
Rebecca said, "Oh, I see. Is...is it bothering you a lot?"
Rebecca's concern for me was flattering, though it's important to note its platonic nature. It's at occasions like these that I'm reminded of the innate, rural hospitality she expressed towards her friends...and I'm put at ease.
She said, "Kenan, I didn't know you felt this way. Look, it's my fault okay? I was the one that hid the injury, not you. If anything, you should be mad at me not sorrowful."
"But why?"
Puzzled, she tilts her head, "Why what?"
"Why would you hide something so grievous from us?"
Rebecca pauses to consider my question, "Well...it's just the adrenaline you know? It numbed the pain, and I just couldn't feel it hahahaha..."
That laugh was obviously forced. She's hiding something from me, though I know I won't be able to get it out of her now. I will not feel all right with Rebecca until I find out why she just lied to my face...but I need more time.
I said, "The blow you got to your shoulder was pretty bad. If it ever bothers you again, tell me so I can give you a painkiller. If it persists, I'll arrange a visit with a cleric next time we visit a major city."
Rebecca nods approvingly, and any ice forming between us evaporated. Fortunately for me, she accepted my offer...
She said, "Sure Lieutenant, you can count on me! I think I'll take you up on the painkiller too, my shoulder has been affecting my aim a bit. What good is a soldier if she's not useful right?"
I replied, "A soldier's usefulness isn't entirely dependent on their fighting ability. I mean just look at me. The only reason I'm here is so they can prick my brain. You're useful with your bow, but I noticed you're rather keen with your senses too. Serving as a scout would help us a ton."
Rebecca said, "Interesting observation, Lieutenant. I hope you...don't do that though. I like my post with Lowen, and I feel my potential can be greater realized with him."
Her remark makes me smile. Rebecca truly looks like a gushy teenaged girl when she talks about him. If I didn't know any better, I'd assume she had a burgeoning crush on him.
Young love...man I feel old.
"Oh, look at the time! I need to do some housekeeping work with my bow, but it was nice talking to you! I hope we can catch up again soon!"
I didn't realize it, but we had been speaking for about half an hour. I'd kept Rebecca here for long enough, so thus we bid our farewells.
I replied, "Yeah, same here!"
She playfully waves me goodbye and disappears somewhere over the camp. Now inflicted with another bout of boredom, I think about what I will do next.
Hm, what to do? Maybe I should talk to someone else...
"Lowen!"
Lowen's calmly replacing the horseshoes on his steed. His back faces me as his hunched over position was too focused on the task at hand, though he appears over-cumbered.
He pleaded, "Lieutenant! Can you help me? I've never done this alone before, and I'm confused!"
That was obvious enough. The poor lad was doing it all wrong. Had my rancher grandfather glimpsed me doing this, then I'd be due for an old-fashioned switching. Luckily for Lowen, I am above such methods of discipline, and I agree to help him in this simple yet tedious task.
"I need nails!"
First, I locate the wrought iron nails that were to be applied to the creature's hooves. I found them in a toolbox far away from Lowen's radius of accessibility...and I'm baffled.
"Hey...why is the toolbox all the over here? At the opposite end of the stable?"
Lowen smiles awkwardly, "Eh...I didn't think ahead when I put it over there. Bring it over here, my tools should be in the box."
I obliged and opened the box. I see an assortment of cheaply made tools inside, with a hammer, nails, and some grooming equipment catching my eye. I jokingly pick up a pair of scissors and glide them just above Lowen's tuft of green hair.
I said, "Young man, I think you need a haircut. The beautiful girls won't swoon for you if you're out here looking like a cup of noodles."
Lowen said, "Hey! Cut it off, and hurry with those tools! I've been in this position forever!"
Stifling my laughter, I hand him the hammer and a half-dozen nails. Since my friend was still clueless on how to complete his task, I give him a few pointers.
I said, "Okay, the trick is to pull this off without startling the animal. You can do that by..."
...
That...took a while...
Having completed our tesk, we left the stables and lounge around while sipping on some fresh water. The sun is bears down on my brown skin like a hammer, and a drip of sweat drips down my unacclimated forehead.
I said, "Why is it so hot around here?"
Even I knew the answer to that question. Yet, I had to be reminded by someone with only a marginal knowledge in meteorology.
Lowen said, "Because it's summer, duh. Isn't it supposed to be much hotter in Carazan anyway? Why are you complaining about the weather here?"
He was right. During summer, temperatures can reach the high nineties in my supposed "home country". Meanwhile, it's only about eighty degrees here in Lycia. This weather should be a cakewalk for me if not for the few months I'd spent shivering in Illia.
I said, "That's because I left Carazan a few years ago. I've been taking refuge in Illia for some time with my niece...but then everything changed..."
"How so...if you don't mind tell me?"
I hesitated. I had just set myself up for a personal calamity. If I say too little, then Lowen will grow suspicious of me. His little seed of doubt will spread across the army like an uncontrollable epidemic of flu, with the result ultimately being my popular expulsion. However, the inverse is also true. If I say too much, then it's game over now. Nobody will rescue my dear Laniakea, and I'll be thrown to rot in prison for the crimes I did not commit.
I need to watch my next few words very carefully. Extract an emotional response from him if I can, but don't leave enough on the table for him to piece my past together.
I take a deep breath, and with Lani's memory firmly in my mind, I began.
I said, "I...grew up in a good family on the outskirts of town...but after my 10th birthday I became an orphan. I lived the rest of my childhood in grueling poverty, however I pulled myself from my bootstraps and climbed the ladder of the military in quick time. By my 16th birthday I had already earned myself a seat in Carazan's tactician academy..."
"I established myself amongst the military elite in my home country. I had it all, money, women, power. But I wasn't happy. All those superficial things felt worthless in this chasm we call the game of life, and I spent months trying to find it. Eventually, I did find some meaning in my life, in the form of a little girl..."
"She was my niece, the daughter of my older sister. The latter had died after being taken away by some gangsters for enslavement, and by law her child fell onto me to care for. At first, I didn't like it, and our relationship was tense for the first few weeks. But eventually, we grew to truly love each other, and I had at last found the thing I'd been wanting. A reason to live, and someone to share my life with..."
"But...that all changed with the civil war. I didn't feel like my particular faction was going to win the war, so I packed whatever few possessions I could and fled the country. I went to a place as far away from the conflict as possible, and I wound up in Illia. There, we lived peacefully until I came upon the likes of a mysterious sorcerer."
Lowen, who at this point was entranced in my story, felt curious about this nameless mage.
He asked, "Mysterious sorcerer? Do you know his name?"
I shook my head, "I do not. He took my niece to fulfill whatever shady experiment he had planned and escaped into the dead of night. Enraged, I swore my revenge and promised to my niece that I'd one day reunite with her. That is yet to be seen, but I believe I'm in the right place by being here with you guys."
!
"So, you're looking for someone too..."
Lowen said, "Rebecca?"
Our green haired archer was quietly standing nearby while leaning comfortably against an idle tree. She'd been shamelessly eavesdropping through the whole conversation, and she'd camouflaged well enough with the vegetation that neither of us spotted her.
She said, "Yeah, I'm here. I happen to be looking for someone too. His name is Daniel, but we call him Dan. He's...my older brother."
There's...something off about Rebecca. She's usually very cheery and upbeat around me and Lowen, but now she's very somber...almost sad. It's incredibly off-putting seeing this part of her personality, no matter how human it may be.
I said, "Rebecca, do you want to talk to us about your brother?"
Rebecca nods, and her tense shoulders relax like she's finally ridding herself of some unspoken burden. We invite her to take a seat by us, and Lowen offers her his canteen full of water.
She said, "T-Thank you sir knight. You are honorable."
Heh, this whole interaction has the aura of a counseling session. I can't say I know much in the topic of psychology, but I sure can listen...
Now comfortable, she began her story...
"We grew up in a little village in the outskirts of Castle Pherae. We lived there happily...but there would occasionally come times of famine as the crops varied between the years. Those times were tough, but we'd always make it through knowing more prosperous times were over the horizon. However, sometimes our neighbors would lose strength and get sick...with everyone powerless to do anything about it..."
"My brother and his friend Wil looked at this, and decided they'd try for their fortunes abroad. Both of them were always the ambitious lot, and had plenty of strength with their youth. So, they left the village to become mercenaries...but they never returned..."
Rebecca sighs and looks toward the ground. Tears began to blot her eyes.
"I-I fear the worst for them. It's been over two years and we haven't gotten anything back...not even a letter. I should've stopped them...I should've..."
Rebecca was...noticeably shaken. I knew how it felt to wear the burden of someone else's safety on your sleeve, and the terror one can sustain knowing we could've done more...
I said, "This is not your fault. They made the decision and thus are responsible for any trouble their way. Do not beat yourself over this...I'm sure it'd trouble them more if they knew you did."
"Are you sure?"
Lowen said, "I'm certain. I have a little sister back home, and I think I can relate. The fact your going this far to look for them says enough about you as a person."
I raise my brow and nodded approvingly. I did not expect something so deep from someone as young as Lowen, but lately he's been full of nothing but surprises. I've been underestimating the maturity of this rookie knight, and perhaps it was time I stopped doing so.
Rebecca said, "O-Ok! I won't beat myself up anymore than...thanks to you both! I feel truly blessed to call you two my new friends!"
Friends?
That word catches me off guard. I hadn't made a friend since my relationship with Canas almost a month ago...but yet here Rebecca is proclaiming just that. I...I didn't know what to think.
Was this okay? Rebecca had put her trust within a persona as fake as the fool's gold [pyrite] running through these rivers. Was it morally right for me to accept her friendship when the world can't even accept my own identity?
Regardless, the choice isn't mine to make. Lowen already expressed his acceptance of Rebecca's gleeful banter, and it'll look odd if I don't follow suit.
I said, "I feel grateful too, Rebecca. Hopefully, we have many happy moments in our future!"
I...may have to consider distancing myself from these two. If we get too close than it'll only serve to hurt them when the truth gets out...and I can't do that. I need to establish myself as a cold recluse outside the reach of the common troop, not the easy-to-approach older brother that's amicable with everybody.
This sucks...but I need to protect myself. Do it for her...
...
"I...I have to go..."
I excuse myself from my newly-made friends lock myself alone in my solitary tent far away from human activity. It looks the same that I left it, and I rummage my hand through my disorganized pile of laundry...
Where is it...
!
I produce a metal object from the heap. It's a blue amulet of Illian origin...a gift I had recieved from Lumina during my birthday. Opening it, my eyes focus on the small portrait the casing protected from the elements...
She...looked so adorable. So innocent...
This...this never ending pit of sadness in my heart. I can't control it. It feels like it eats me inside more and more every day. Oh, why did I fail...?
Tears blot my eyes as I gaze upon the portrait of a silver haired little girl. That...of my niece Laniakea.
"We're under attack!"
Eh?
I groggily open my eyes and regain my bearings. I had spent the past hour napping inside my disorganized tent, and my mind frantically searches the scene for answers.
Where...
The voice shouts again, "We're under attack! Everyone rally around Lord Eliwood!"
Eliwood...
...
!
I come to my senses and erupt from my tent like a shaken-up bottle of cola. Looking around, I see that the camp was deserted if all humanity, with nothing but prints on the ground signifying past activity.
Huh? What's going on here?
"Hey! You there! Prepare yourself!"
To my astonishment, a bandit had infiltrated deep into our lines. He must've emerged from the nearby mountains; a sole man lusting to terrorize the nearby villagers for their gold. His eyes look like those of a rabid bear, and they glare at me like I was scum to annihilated.
I drew my weapon and did as the man said. I pinned my feet deep into the dirt, and held my weapon tight within my grasp.
He...looks young. I wonder if he'd left home to do the same thing that Daniel did, but could only find work with these bandits. Is it possible that...this man could be him? A man so desperate for coin that he'd throw his humanity to be completely consumed by greed?
No...that's not possible. Daniel...is a farm boy at heart. He'd never hurt these defenseless villagers. Right?
With those thoughts, I do my best to discard any hesitation I carried deep in my heart. Just as it always was in the case of battle, I'd either kill him or he'd kill me. There was no in between, and the sooner I learned to accept that...the better...
"Hwuaaaagh!"
The man charges forward with his axe raised high over his head...but I don't flinch. As intimidating as this technique may be, it was more tailored as a scare tactic than anything else. That was because of one crucial flaw...
!
My cold, unfeeling blade tears through his unprotected stomach. My opponent's pained face widens with shock, as if he'd were unexpecting of this inevitable truth. This is the way of war...the storied, bloodied path brought upon by the angel of death.
The man falls onto the ground dead, but I'm left speculating about him. His inexperience suggested that he was a novice thrust into this new profession, with his form being as green as the grass. He likely didn't want to be a bandit, but the unforgiving game of life had played him a bad hand. Perhaps he had a family he was caring for, and the only way to keep them from the rough hand of poverty was the measly salary provided to him by these bandits.
Well, he won't have to worry about his burdens anymore. My blade has made sure of that. I've...dealt him a quick and merciful death...
I turn my back on him and walk away. I can't spare a thought towards him with my ally's lives still at stake. Or more specifically, the well-being of Rebecca and Lowen.
But...was that okay?
What am I thinking?
As a tactician, it's my duty to prioritize the needs of the army over the needs of the individual. Besides, I've resolved myself to be more cold and isolate going forward...right?
Fair and impartial...
However, to be impartial would make me no different from the morphs that preceded me. As is common with the rest of humanity, I had a tendency to do things that weren't necessarily logical. Even if I told myself I wouldn't care for them, subconsciously I always will. With that in mind, is it even realistic to see myself as such? To even proclaim that I can even be more cold and isolate going forward?
To be honest with myself, to do so would bring me a lot of inner pain. I've dealt with enough of that in my past, so what's the point of inviting more of it? Don't I already have enough of a burden? What do I gain by doing this?
The answer is as clear as it was fortunate. It's nothing...absolutely nothing...
Maybe I should go look for them...
Eh?
Biff! Thwack!
Huh?!
An arrow breezes over my head and implants itself firmly inside a bush. From the sound of it...the impact seemed organic.
But...then came the scream.
"Aghhhh!"
A bandit crops up from the brush and charges directly at me. I instinctively draw my fire tome to nuke this guy where he stood...but that proved unnecessary. ]My savior sooner finds her arrow fly into her opponent, this time incapacitating his knee. The towering giant crumbles onto the ground like a poorly built building and writhes there in pain.
"Lieutenant! Are you all right?"
Rebecca emerges from her protective, concealed position high above on a tree. She had some makeshift camouflage paint across her body, along with leaves glued onto her clothing. If she was trying to imitate Rambo, it was a job well done.
I said, "R-Rebecca! You're okay! What are you doing!"
Confused, she tilts her head and lowers herself from her hiding spot.
She said, "Yeah, I'm okay...why wouldn't I be? During the battle, Marcus told me to find a place to be useful so...here I am. I'm trying to stop anybody that comes near the village."
Stop? You're just outright killing them...
On the bright side, at least I know I didn't kill Dan. She would've stopped me otherwise.
Daniel's safety, something else felt odd to me. It was Rebecca's joyful demeanor in the face of the cruel realities of war...and I did not like what I saw.
I said, "Rebecca...doesn't this seem weird to you?"
"What is?"
She doesn't understand...does she?
I said, "This whole war business. It's clear to me you're not made for this type of work...yet you're out here with nothing but smiles in the face of danger and misery. Doesn't that...seem weird to you?"
"..."
Rebecca pauses for a moment, and she tightens the grip she has on her bow. My words influenced her, and I knew it. These next few minutes will be instrumental in our friendship going forward...should I choose to keep it.
She said, "Lieutenant...I was going to keep this to myself for as long as I could but...I'm terrified. Honestly, I really am. I'm so...terrified. Kenan, do you know how it feels to risk your life on the battlefield? To do so while being in a place so foreign and far away from home?"
Those words...hit me hard. It was a sentiment I could empathize with myself, though I could never admit as much. At least not until today.
I replied, "Yeah, I feel scared all the time, but there's someone in my life I'm working for that trumps that. I can't leave here no matter what I do, but you on the other hand are different. You can leave this battlefield and never come back. War is tough young lady, nobody will fault you or call you a coward."
My eyes fixate onto my young audience member, and I briefly wonder if this was the same talk I would've given myself if I had the chance. What would I have done then? Would I have stayed with Lyn if I knew about the horrors of battles, or the debilitating injuries I'd have to painfully rehab later? Would I have run away to stow myself with some random village in the wilderness and become forgotten by the pages of history? I didn't know the answer to that question, but I won't rob Rebecca of answering that for herself.
She pauses, and just as she looks like she'll accept my offer...she declines.
She said, "I...I appreciate the thought, Kenan. However, I must decline. My brother means far too much to me to give up now. I want to find him...with whatever it takes."
"Rebecca..."
"I don't need your help to find him. If you're going to trouble your mind worrying about my safety, then I'll separate myself from you. I only hurt the team by making you impartial..."
Impartial...
Heh...she can see she has the potential to sway my judgement. But...even then I can't help but admire her resolution. I want to help her...
I think I'll give in into my human emotions just this once. I'll protect her...and I'll open myself up more to my allies too.
I said, "That won't be necessary. If I'm doing my job correctly, then by the end of this entire journey everybody should be going home in one piece. Besides, we can help each other. You be on the lookout for my niece...and I'll watch out for Daniel."
If Rebecca's going to risk her life, then there's no reason for us to help each other out. I'll make her time worthwhile, just as she'll do for me.
She replied, "Really? That sounds amazing! Here, let's shake on it!"
!
She nearly yanks my metal hand from its socket, and leaves a vigorous gray stain. She had used so much force that some paint scraped off.
I'm...just going to ignore that.
She said, "Hm...for some reason I expected a tighter grip from you..."
I quipped, "I'm trying to save on mana right now. Any tighter and I fear I might lose a spell for the day..."
Despite the clear limitations inhibited by technology, I still feel compelled to smile and laugh with my young companion. I think this is the beginning of a bright new chapter in my life, and at least for a little while...I felt hope.
Man, this feels good. Why can't I act like this with everybody?
Rebecca said, "Oh, hey Lowen! There you are, I was looking for you!"
Lowen was trotting slowly towards us, and he appears tired. His armor was bent in all sorts of ways, and his lance was broken in two. Although it looked like he was in no mood to deal with Rebecca's gleeful outbursts...I'm gladly mistaken.
He said, "Oh, Rebecca and the Lieutenant. You two just missed the most epic fight I've ever taken part in. It truly was one for the ages."
I asked, "Epic fight?"
Lowen explains to us that in the time it took me to wake up and contact Rebecca, the rest of the army wound up in a major engagement at the nearby mountains. Although at first they were outnumbered, and all seemed loss, unexpected reinforcements from the north turned the tide of the battle and resulted in the defeat of the enemy bandits. The copious use of hand gestures and imagery by Lowen truly made it sound like a great battle...a battle neither the archer nor myself had the honor of participating in.
Drat. How the heck did I sleep through all of this?!
Ah man...Marcus is going to give me a mouthful. I am SO fired.
"Say, where were you two during the battle? We could've used a little bit of your magic back there, Lieutenant."
A bead of anxious sweat falls down my forehead. Before I could say anything, Rebecca beats me to the punch.
She said, "Oh! I was protecting the village and K-"
I interjected, "I-I was helping you defend the rearguard! Oh look, there's another one of those bastards over there by the ridge!"
"What?!"
I point my finger towards a defenseless little shrub huddled between a rock and a cedar tree. Both of my companions took on a defensive stance, and I quickly called upon the magic coursing deep within my veins...
"FIRE!"
Devastating, purple flames leave my fingers and shoot through the air like a jet. It crashes onto the shrub in a fantastic display of strength, with the vegetation disintegrating into a magical puff of smoke. Rebecca and Lowen look on impressed, oblivious to my successful attempt at covering myself up.
Rebecca said, "Wow, Lieutenant! That was awesome, I had no idea there was a guy in there!"
Lowen agreed, "Same here. I figured we would've heard some sort of screaming, but the blast was so powerful it got drowned out."
I breathe a sigh of relief. Fortunately for me, neither Rebecca nor Lowen had amazing vision, a symptom of the lack of doctors inhabiting rural villages. In their minds, they just witnessed me defend the village with my magic, and this was a story they'd surely tell the others, Marcus included.
That's just the way I'd like it. At least in this way that old man won't bother me.
I smile, and stretch my tired body. That magical attack took quite a bit from me, and I was ready to shake it off with some walking.
I said, "So...how about we go meet up with Lord Eliwood? I'd like to talk to those mysterious reinforcements...maybe celebrate over a shot of whiskey."
Lowen replied, "Whiskey? Mind if I take a sip with you?"
I laughed, "Hahaha. Funny joke..."
"No."
Rebecca laughs while Lowen lowers his head in shame. Together, we stroll east towards the rest of our army.
Meanwhile, back in the bush, tucked in between the scorching bristles, was a single skeleton. A skeleton that at one point, had an arrow pointed directly at Lowen's heart...
A/N: Congrats on making it to the end! These next few chapters are going to be like this one in where I focus on Sam's relationship with different members of the army. His dreams are going to make a return too, I can't wait!
Also, I'm still looking for a beta. My PM's will remain open for all inquiries.