Chapter 1: A Wager in the Capital.
By SodiumChlouride12, derived from Fire Emblem, owned by Nintendo.
(Of the retired Tactician accepting a grand wager)
A/N: Hi! This is a new side project I'm working. Ultimately, the gist is that the tactician is going to travel around the world in a manner reminiscent of the "Around the World in 80 days" novel by Jules Verne. I'm going to spend much more time writing these chapters when compared my main story, so I'll only be releasing new chapters once a month.
I've got a beta-reader and everything! This is going to be a lot of fun!
June 20th, 987...
It's a bright midsummer's day in Bern. The birds are chirping their joyful songs, and the people go about their day without a worry across their faces. Man and beast alike live in harmony among the peaceful aura of their beloved city, and anything scarcely appeared to disrupt that.
The city of Bern is a big city, rivaling the prestige of its slightly larger counterpart to the west, Aquleia. It has many compact neighborhoods within its city walls, some of which cradled small businesses within their spaces. The people weaved in and out of these businesses by a grid-like road system present throughout the settlement and carried on about their days in what most can only describe as controlled-chaos. Seas of humanity crashed into the surroundings residential and commercial areas like a tsunami, surprising absolutely nobody. The citizenry had long since accustomed themselves to this life, only calming when the streets cleared for Saturday service.
The city's planners had divided the capital into two. They reserved the south for the lower classes and relegated most of Bern's residential/commercial capabilities here. Unfortunately, this part also held most of the poverty because of the commoners' meager means. Looters, thugs, and bandits roamed the streets late at night, terrorizing any poor soul that may come their way. Citizens sleep praying for the quick arrival of the sun, as the addition of light made policing the streets much easier…
The gentrification of Bern came to the benefit of the city's elite. This included civil servants, professionals, several business owners, and nobility. They live in relative luxury in stark comparison to their counterparts to the south, and shop in stores with higher quality goods. Every man and women in Bern dreamed to one day live in the North, but most never do. They spend their lives working for a wage that's far too pitiful and live in apartments that are far too expensive. The poor continue to stay poor, while the rich laugh high in their multi-leveled villas.
However, this is not a story about some aspiring revolutionary seeking to improve the livelihoods of their peers. Instead, it's a story about one — no three individuals who will take part in a grand wager. They seek to do something no one's ever done before. The task tried and failed by many before…
They seek…to travel around Elibe in 90 days…
Somewhere deep in the administrative district of Bern, Samuel Castillo listens intently to the lecturer speaking before the city's Reform Club, and he's surrounded by a marvelous display of splendor. Gilded chandeliers glimmer from their ceiling, their candles expressing warm light that tickled a man's senses. High rising stone walls provided excellent acoustic to the speaker's voice, their flat surfaces colored brightly with beautiful murals of past journeys. Large white tables adorned the dining area the audience sat at with their tops filled to the brim with delicate foods. Men of high society modify their monocles to get a better view of the bombastic lecturer before them…
The man, a mysterious individual, was speaking about the rudimentary infrastructure system that kept the continent connected. He said, "There's a hidden trade network system that connects every part of Elibe together. It's what makes it possible for us to receive goods from as far off as Kafti. When discussing its usefullness to us, we must…"
Samuel subconsciously rolls his eyes and let his head droops slightly. He found all of this an unnecessary hassle and didn't like it one bit. Whether it be the man's weird accent, the pomp and circumstance, or the lecture, nothing about this interested him. Samuel's not even a member of the Reform Club as he's only here because a business associate invited him. In Bern, it's considered an insult to turn down an invitation like this…
Samuel is a former military tactician—now civilian engineer from Bulgar, Sacae. There, he works to support himself and the livelihoods of his wife and niece. He had expected to spend the rest of his life there in blissful happiness with them, but things changed. The company he works for has business dealings with a company in Bern, and after his boss received a formal invitation for a seminar at the Reform Club, he passed on the invitation to him.
What a slimy bastard. Samuel thought. On the bright side, he let me bring them along.
His wife and niece were currently sleeping at their hotel room just down the street from the Reform Club's meeting hall. They had wanted to come along with Samuel to this lecture, but Samuel found it better to leave them behind. Their peaceful faces idle about their bed touched his heart, and he scarcely wanted to disturb their slumber.
Releasing a deep sigh, Samuel tries to focus in on the conversation of the lecturer again. He takes a deeper look at the man, and notices something he hadn't before. The man…looks oddly out of place when compared to the patrons of the Reform Club.
He was a stoic looking man with blond hair and a straight face. Scars cover several parts of his calloused hands, giving the impression of a military background. He spoke in a very quantitative manner, not unlike the same speech Samuel used when describing his engineering matters.
Who is this man? Samuel thought. I don't remember him introducing himself.
The man said, "With all this being said, it is my opinion that it is impossible to travel to every single one of Elibe's major population centres in a time frame of ninety days. The roads are just too mismanaged, transportation too disorganized, and the environment too hostile. I'm afraid we must wait for technology to catch up for us to accomplish this grand feat..."
!
Samuel can't believe his ears. Was this man really saying something so...fictitious? A man as well traveled as him understands that it is possible to travel around the known world in 90 days...obstacles be damned.
However, Samuel knows better than to wag his tongue. As an invited guest and foreigner of Bern, it'd be improper for him to object publicly. However, what happened next made him think twice…
Suddenly, the lecturer breaks out into a smile. He said, "I am aware of the Reform's Club reputation in...accomplishing things deemed impossible. I am willing to wager thirty thousand gold ilaria(coins) to any brave soul willing to partake on this journey. Of course, if you fail then you'd be in quite a financial hole, but I doubt any of the fine gentleman here will be ruined. Is that acceptable to everyone?"
"Pffffffft!"
Samuel spits out his unswallowed cup of water, the liquid splashing onto the table above of him. A transgression like this would usually warrant an expulsion from the club, but the lecturer's wager shocked the audience so much that most didn't notice. They fill the air with various remarks and statements, resembling a daylight storm.
One man, the Duke of Ankay, raises his finger into the air. He said, "Preposterous! Nobody in the Reform Club will ever accept such an impossible wager!"
His friend, a Lycian merchant named Voltar, agreed. He said, "I'm with you. Any man that accepts this wager might as well provide the thirty thousand gold ilaria up front. I don't believe in unjust cons, mister Speaker."
Another man, the Mayor of Venkala, shakes his head. He said, "Hold it there. If anyone were equipped to succeed in this wager, then it'd be someone in the Reform Club! I for one am quite interested in the soul who'll take this on. I can't go on this venture because of home duties, but I will also wager ten thousand gold ilaria!"
The Reform Club quickly becomes divided in debate. Half rally behind the idea, but the other half refuse to have anything to do with it. They leave with their brimmed monocles in protest, leaving seven individuals behind. These seven were the mysterious speaker, Samuel, Mayor Smithers, Lord Adler, Lord Windsor, Count Imani, and Duke Vitke. The latter five offered a combined total of thirty thousand gold ilaria between them…
One of these men, Duke Vitke, was Samuel's business associate.
Noticing his acquaintance's continued presence in the room, he raises his brow. He whispered, "Mr. Castil, what are you still doing here? Are you thinking about taking on the wager?"
Samuel shakes his head, feeling a little slighted by his associate's botched attempt at his surname. He replied, "No. I'm only here because you are, m'lord. Is it not considered rude in your business culture to leave before your superiors?"
Duke Vitke shrugged his shoulders. He said, "Well, we hold you to different standards since you are a foreigner. Come on, I can see an adventurer when I see one. Weren't you a soldier back in the day?"
!
Samuel winces as a snap of pain surrounds his gut and then travels up to his head. Terrible, vivid screams of the dying incapulate themselves into his conciousness. He spends a moment putting those repressed memories back into the darkest corners of his mind, and afterwards swipes an anxious bead of sweat from his forehead. Duke Vitke looks on with pity in his eyes, having realized he'd made a grave misstep.
Duke Vitke said, "I-I'm sorry, it's not my place to ask."
Samuel replied, "No...just...I don't enjoy talking about my war days. Please refrain from bringing them up again."
Duke Vitke understandably nods and keeps his mouth shut. This would be the last either would speak to each other today.
Samuel shakes his head. You know, that old man has a point…
Sighing, Samuel stands up from his seat and meets his gaze with the mysterious speaker. His eyes reminded him of an old friend he once knew, somebody who held duty above himself. Somebody long since dead.
He said, "Mr. Speaker, I believe I can accomplish the feat described in this wager. However, I need some clarification."
The rest of the Reform Club leans over in the seats with curiosity. Meanwhile, the mysterious speaker doesn't react at all. He said, "Clarification? In what way?"
Samuel nodded, "If I am hearing this correctly, you are wagering thirty thousand ilaria on top of the thirty thousand offered by the Reform Club. Do you all understand that this increases the total to sixty thousand gold ilaria, the total amount of tax revenue brought in by the entire city of Bern in a single month?"
The entire group of men nod in agreement, and Samuel silently gasps. This was more money Samuel could make in half his career — no, it's more than he and his wife have in their life savings. Winning this amount of money could set him and his family for life, and he can finally quit his dead-end job in the city for a blissful retirement in the countryside. No more noisy city-life, no more whiney bosses, and no more culturally-insensitive men like Duke Vitke…
It's free money, and Samuel had to take it. The benefits of winning the wager clouded him on the ghastly consequences should he lose it, and his confidence reaches levels a man like him should never reach.
Noticing Samuel's interest, the mysterious speaker elaborated on the wager. He said, "Hang on there, young man. You'll have to visit every nation in the known world and prove that you've stepped foot in their greatest cities. These include Pherea, Ryerde, Ostia, and Thria of Lycia; Bern, Antay, and Venkala of Bern; Edessa, Carrhae, Remi, and Hoger of Illia; Aquleia, and Calio of Etruria; Bulgar of Sacae; Jutes of Fibernia; Edina of Caledonia; Luxuco and Carazan of Missur; and finally, Sevil of Kafti…"
"Knowing all that, do you still accept this challenge?"
Hardly concealing his smile, he stands up and grabs the speaker's hand. Shaking it vigorously, he says the words that will lead him to take on the greatest journey of his life...
"I do. I, Samuel Castillo, will take on your wager. I will travel the known world in 90 days..."
Later...
After making his triumphant declaration before the Reform Club, Samuel returned to the hotel. He did so with haste, as the excitement coursing through his veins could hardly be contained by a single person..
Walking through the building's pristine oak doors, he greets the innkeeper half-asleep by the counter. He reluctantly shakes himself awake and tilts his white flat cap in acknowledgment of his patron's attention.
Samuel said, "Good morning, Mr. Innkeep! How are you doing?"
The innkeeper replied, "I'm doing well, Mr. Castillian. Did your meeting at the Reform Club go well?"
Samuel rolls his eyes, but he's too much in a good mood to let his emotions to get the better of him. Instead, he trots over the door by the stairs, and playfully opens it like an actor in a below-average theatre routine.
He said, "Oh, it went so well! Mr. Innkeep, let me be the first to tell you about this! I'll be travelling around the world!"
Thoroughly intrigued, the innkeeper misjudges the position of his elbow and knocks over a brass bell. It smashes into thousands of pieces when it hits the ground, but the innkeeper doesn't care. When compared to the other aspects of his dull life, this served as a refreshing change of pace. The innkeeper wanted to know more; he wanted to —
SLAM!
"…"
Samuel slams the door behind him, disappearing into the long winding staircase past it. The innkeeper frowns at this development, but sighs. Exciting adventure probably didn't suit a common businessman like him.
Climbing up the stairs, Samuel quietly runs through calculations he'll need to ensure his victory in the wager. He thinks of the sheer distance needed to be closed by any means possible and made some quick estimates in the time needed to travel between cities…
We'll need to travel the world in a counter-clockwise direction. With the capital city as our starting point, we can travel north to Bulgar in about two weeks. After that, we'll travel north onto the Interstate road going through the Great Divide, and then we can take another road to Hoger and Carrhae. This will take about 16 days. From there we go to Edessa. Oh, but the northern seas are frozen. We'd have to go back to Carrhae then but...that'll waste time...
He cuts to the right and makes his way through the hallway leading up to his hotel room. His feet create a light pitter patter as they drudge through the red rug floor and eventually come to a stop when he finds his desired door...
Hmm, it's going to be untenable for us to go back from Edessa. I think I heard that there was a whaling ship that can break through ice up there, and I wonder if they can take us to Remi. That'll take at least five days...
Turning the door, he comes to a cruel realization as he completes his numbers. Given current assumptions and technology, the most probable time to return was about one hundred and twenty-six days. That's thirty-six days from the desired time of ninety.
Damnit. I may have put ourselves in dire straits here...
Creeeek!
He pushes the door open, and for a moment, he forgets about all of his worries when he sees what's going on inside. The sight...makes him smile.
His wife and niece laid asleep on their twin sized bed, their bodies peacefully slumbering away like they hadn't a worry in the world. Their green and white hair strings out against the cloth in a manner than made Samuel want to chuckle, as it resembled some artist's poor display of art. Samuel desired to take off his hat and lie there with them, but he knew he couldn't. They hadn't a moment to spare. The wager was on.
He goes over to his wife's side and slightly nudged her shoulder. When that didn't work, he did so again, this time with a minutely more significant amount of force. This time, his wife did respond to Samuel's advances, and she opens her green eyes to meet with Samuel's mix of green and brown.
Yawning, she wrapped her arms around Samuel and pulled him onto the bed. This catches the young man off guard, and he's powerless to resist against his beloved's will. He tumbles onto the bed like a lumbering giant, but did so a manner that brought no harm to either of his favorite people.
Samuel said, "Lyn...honey, you got to wake up."
Still drowsy from the morning air, she squirms slightly and pulls him tighter. She replied, "But whyyyy. You made me feel so good last night, and it's a shame Lani had to end it prematurely. Give your wife a little time more time to rest as payback..."
Samuel's face goes red hot, and he shoots a glance over at his niece, Laniakea. Luckily, she snoozed away in blissful ignorance of the innuendo Lyn just delivered.
He whispered, "Lyn! You can't say that. Lani's right there."
Lyn chuckled, "Kekeke. That exactly what you said last night when Lani opened the door. If only she had spent a little more time playing with her...new friend downstairs..."
Lyn's referring to the innkeeper's son, a bombastic young lad with a bombastic type personality. He and Laniakea became fast friends the instant they saw each other when we first came through the hotel last Saturday. Their play dates came at a profound benefit to Samuel and Lyn, as the newfound alone time allowed them to have some…less than appropriate activities.
Samuel said, "Come on, get up. Please? There's something I need to tell you guys."
Unwavering from her position, she said, "Why don't you tell me now? I can't be that important."
Samuel sighs and realizes his inability to deny his wife's will. Conceding, he said, "Well, Lyndis, I may have made a mistake."
"Being?"
"I bet sixty thousand gold pieces on our ability to travel around the known world."
"…"
"Good joke."
Samuel freezes as Lyn brings his body close. She combs his curly hair slowly and serenely, almost playing with it as if it were some biological anomaly. Then again, perhaps it was. Hair as thick and unruly as this were a rarity in Elibe, a reminder of the alien world that Samuel hailed from…
However, that did nothing to cushion the cruel reality of their new predicament. Samuel's limitless pride had put the family's future in jeopardy, and the sooner Lyn understood that, the better.
Samuel said, "I'm not joking. We got to skip town as soon as possible."
"Mhm…"
"…"
"WHAT?!"
Lyn's eyes crack wide open like a peanut, and her body tenses up. She said, "You…know we only have five thousand ilaria in the bank, right? Why…why would you do that?"
A wave of regret fills Samuel, and he lowers his head in shame. Speaking meekly, he said, "I…I thought we could do it. It just felt like free money…"
Lyn shakes her head, her eyes disappointed with her husband's antics. She said, "Nothing's ever free, my beloved. You should know that above anyone else."
Samuel and Lyn arise from their lying position to sit atop their bed. Worry surrounds both of their minds, and at first they both look for a way out.
Lyn asked, "Is it possible to cancel the wager? They should have some window of buyer's remorse."
Samuel replied, "Nope. The Reform Club is famous for not backing out of a bet. We're stuck in this, whether we want to or not."
The couple share another moment of silence. Both ponder about some semblance of hope that can save their lives going forward, but before they can, they hear a small yawn from behind.
Waking from her slumber, Laniakea arises and drowsily wipes her red eyes. Noticing the worried looks across her guardian's faces, she frowns. She said, "Uncle Sammy, Aunt Lyn, why do you look so sad? What's going on?"
Samuel's the first to react, and he tenderly wipes some hair from his niece's face. He said, "Nothing's wrong, my dear. We're…just thinking about having an extended vacation."
Lyn said, "But do you think it's possible? If the newspapers have said anything, they claim that the journey can only be done in no more than one hundred and twenty-six days."
That's the prevailing belief on the matter. The previous man to attempt such the journey only did it in that allotted time, and it carries the world record title. Popular newspapers in Bern, Ostia, and Aquleia recorded his journey when it happened over two years ago. Lyn and Samuel both read about the man's account, though Samuel surmised the traveller failed to optimize his journey.
Samuel takes out a piece of paper and pencil, putting both on a nearby desk stand to jot down his thoughts. He made some quick calculations derived from the traveller's account, and thought of some methods to cut down on time…
Samuel said, "I think we have a shot. If we can cut down on the time-guzzling portions of the journey, like from Bern to Bulgar, Bulgar to Hoger, Edessa to Remi, Sevil to Luxuco, etc; then we can win the wager."
Lyn asked, "But how would we do that? Do you have any idea?"
"I do."
Samuel stands up and walks over to his work desk and opens its middle drawer. The drawer contained an endless jungle of different papers from his engineering job, but none of these applied to what Samuel needed. He threw these papers aside and took out a single paper folders hidden at the bottom which had a giant black marking at its front which read:
90 DAYS.
Opening the folder, he lies down its contents onto the bed, revealing schematics of an array of intrinsic inventions not yet known to humanity. This included a hot-air balloon, a crude wind-driven car, a glider, and snow skis. Lyn and Lani gaze at the sheets with wonder, their eyes scanning the various lines.
Samuel said, "I think these machines will allow us to cut down on the one hundred and twenty-six record. Now, with that being said, you guys don't have to come along if you don't want to. I'm perfectly okay doing this alone, but I—"
"No! I want to stay with you, Sammy!"
Laniakea lunges over and grabs onto Samuel's pant leg, refusing to let go. Meanwhile, Lyn displayed to the same sense of solidarity of her niece, and gives the same smile she's given to her husband countless times before.
Lyn said, "I'm with you too, Samuel. We promised to be at each other's side when we tied the knot, and you know a Sacaen always keeps their promises. We're in this together!"
Samuel smiles and hugs his family close. He felt lucky to have people like these involved in his life, and he knew he couldn't let them down. He WILL win this wager, if not for himself than for the family he loves so much.
Hardly holding back tears, Samuel exclaimed, "All right! I know this is going to be a lot of fun! Let's travel around the known world!"
Later...
The family of travelers checked out of their hotel room in Bern, and before vacating themselves of the city, they stopped briefly at the Grand Capital Market. The GCM represented the finest and most inquisitive goods the nation of Bern had to offer, and carried things that couldn't be acquired anywhere else.
They marvel at the splendor of the market. Samuel gawks at the high-rising arches that held up the entrance's front facade and takes mental notes on the quality of materials used to construct them. Lyn observes the colorful outfits of the vendors with a keen eye, comparing the wear to the folk dresses of her native Sacae. Laniakea hungrily smacks her lips at the long lines of candy hanging from certain stands at the venue, her tongue vibrating with want…
She tugs on the robe of her uncle, her eyes pleading for sweets. She said, "Sammy, can I?"
Samuel nodded, "Of course! But you can only take on. We don't want you getting a sick tummy, do we...?"
They spent the next couple of hours buying wares and procuring information. When they finished, they rested up at a nearby cafe right when the clock struck noon.
DING. DONG. DING. DONG.
Samuel listens to the bell tower chime as he sips his accompanying cup of green tea. The beverage felt soothing to his lips, and his two companions stood beside idly while he finished.
Lyn said, "It's noon, Samuel. That means the wager starts now. We best get going."
Samuel nods and tosses away his disposable cup. He then picks up his large brown suitcase, one of three to be carried on this journey. It felt a little heavier than usual...
Laniakea asked, "Sammy, why did we buy so much stuff? It's so heavy..."
Samuel responds by picking his niece's small suitcase in her stead. She smiles as the weight leaves her custody, feeling liberated from it.
Samuel said, "That's because we want to sell some stuff at far out places. They're worth more there, sorry, my little angel."
The family bought about a half dozen items at the market. They purchased a bottle of prime Pinot Noir wine (1000G), a silver pocket trumpet (750G), an elegant Bernish scarf (500G), a jar of Olive Oil (100G), a pound of saffron (250G), and five pounds of Bernish-made cocoa butter (500G). In all, the total cost for all these goods stood at about 3100 gold ilaria. However, the profit for selling these items were much more.
For instance, the bottle of Pinot Noir went for 1500G in Bulgar, while the scarf went for 1250G in Remi. The trumpet commanded a price tag of 2000G in Aquleia, and the cocoa butter 750G in Carrhea. The family stands to make about 6000 gold ilaria on these items, which will be important since the costs of traveling around the known world aren't cheap...
Looking out towards the north, Lyn winces her eyes against the bright summer sun. She said, "It's some ways to Bulgar, and it took us ten days to get here. Yet, you claim to be able to accomplish the same journey in seven. Tell me, my beloved husband, how do you intend to do that?"
Samuel thinks about the countless miles of forests, rivers, and plains between the two great cities. It's a momentous feat to close this distance in ten days, let alone seven. However, Samuel had already thought about this. Samuel, after all, had a plan.
Smirking, he said, "Why, I already sent a raven out for that very purpose. Today, we will make for the great river just above the capital. The Danubas River..."
"I have a friend who can be of some assistance there..."
June 23rd...
It's been a full day since the family of travelers left the capital. Nature supplanted the sunny skies with a mix of white and gray clouds, their fluffy exterior resembling various shapes. They float over a wide expanse of forested trees and plains, though that's not important. What is important is the large river streaming with gallons upon gallons of clear fresh water...
Peering at his watch, Samuel ticks away the minutes in his mind. Oblivious to the surrounding beauty, he's all but fixed to his timepiece. He taps his foot impatiently and doesn't notice his white-haired niece dip her toes into the river nearby...
Damn, what's taking him. He thought. It's already 10 o'clock. He should already be here!
"Laniakea! What do you think you're doing?!"
Lyn drops her briefcase and dashes over to Laniakea. She firmly grabs the mischievous brat by the hand, depriving her feet of the river.
Lyn said, "Lani! You can't do that! The Rusalka might get you!"
The Rusalka are a group of deathly pale maidens said to dwell the riverbeds of the Danubas, Ogasta, and Lom. According to Sacaen legend, they grab onto the ankles of little boys and girls to drown them in the rivers. Every Sacaen learns to fear letting their young play near these three rivers, and Lyn had every intention to share that treatment with her little Lani.
Laniakea sighs and looks towards her uncle for sympathy. He always served as the softer, more lenient guardian when compared to Lyn, and she hoped he would allow her to dip her feet in the water.
She asked, "Sammy? Can I play in the water?"
More concerned with the lateness of his supposed friend, he simply raises his head from his watch half-heartedly. He notices Lyn's expression of concern and quickly made a decision. He said, "No, Lani. You should listen to your aunt."
"But Sammy..."
Samuel shoots a mildly evil eye at his niece, paralyzing her with his gaze. He said, "Laniakea, please listen to what Lyn's telling you."
"O-Ok."
Disappointed, Laniakea shifts her attention towards a swan floating against the river's light current. The majestic beast dips its long white neck into the clear liquid below, submerging it in its cool embrace. Several moments pass, but eventually it rises to grace the earth again, this time with its mouth filled with lush green river weed.
Wow! Lani thought. That's so cool!
Several more minutes pass of her admiring the swan, and meanwhile Samuel didn't feel any less calm. Lyn does her best to soothe her husband's emotions, and extracts a small pre-made cup of tea from her pack.
Handing it to him, she said, "Here you go."
Samuel glances at the cup of tea, and then back at his watch. He ponders taking his beloved beverage from his beloved person, and after some mental gymnastics, he concedes to his spouse.
He said, "T-Thanks, Lyndis. You always know how to make me feel better."
He occupies himself with the tea, and Lyn closes her eyes in silent reflection. She hears the peaceful flow of the water, the hushed chirps of birds, and a faint hint of wind brushing up against her body. She enjoyed being here with her family, although the pretenses behind which weren't favorable. They were still waiting for Samuel's friend to arrive on the riverbank…
!
Lyn notices something off the corner of her eye. Peering over the horizon, she spied a black dot hugging a table of blue. It got bigger and bigger by the second, ultimately revealing a large raft that covered a third of the river's clearance.
Lyn asked, "Samuel, can I borrow your binoculars?"
Still enjoying his tea, her husband nods. He retrieves a pair of binoculars and hands it to Lyn without much thought…
Lyn takes the binoculars and looks over at the ever-enlarging raft. It didn't take long for her to realize who the raft belonged to, and the scene baffles her…
No way…
Bartre and Karla stood above their lumber raft, their arms extended out in greeting towards them. They looked a little older to when they'd last met, with Bartre now sporting a magnificent mustache and Karla a slightly wrinklier face. At first, Lyn felt glee for seeing them again after all these years, but then another question streaks through her mind…
What are they doing together after all these years? Are they married?
After the events that transpired five years ago, Lyn and Samuel lost touch with most of the army they'd fought with. The only exceptions came with several close friends, these being the Sage Erk, Lord Eliwood, Lord Hector, Lady Florina, Lady Rebecca, and Sir Lowen. Everyone else vanished into the large expanse that was the continent of Elibe, and this included Bartre and Karla. By what Lyn understood then, Bartre and Karla were more rivals than friends...
Lyn chuckled to herself. Time reveals the true emotions shared between two people. I should know. At first I used to find Samuel quite annoying...
Samuel lifts his cup of tea from his lips, and upon seeing the raft, nearly drops it onto the ground. Rushing to the riverbank, he raises his hands into the air like a lunatic. The sight made Lani giggle.
Samuel exclaimed, "HEY! GUYS! WE'RE RIGHT HERE!"
Samuel feels a sense of relief as the raft steadily began to make its way down the river Danubas. They were finally on their way to the Sacaen border, and without a moment to waste...
Upon flagging down their ride, the family boarded the raft to take them up north by ferry. Besides being a relatively easier ride than traversing through the Northern Bernish woodlands by foot, by Samuel's own calculations this route will serve to shave off a couple days from their journey to Bern. A swell beginning to a lengthy journey.
Samuel takes a moment to observe his surroundings. Lyn and Karla were sharing pleasant small-talk by the raft's railing, talking about a subject Samuel did not understand. Meanwhile, Bartre had taken a liking to showing little Lani his large oar, which he used to direct the raft away from the coast. The raft itself comprised a simple flat lumber floor with the after-mentioned railings, though a small rickety cabin held strong near the center. The cabin coerced further attention from the young engineer.
Hmm, I wonder if he has what I asked for...
Shortly after leaving the Reform Club, Samuel sent a raven to solicit Bartre to procure some raw materials upstream. Fearful that his acquaintance had forgotten about it, he walks over to him and Lani.
Samuel asked, "Bartre, pardon my intrusion, but do you have the things I asked for?"
Bartre nods his head and points towards the cabin that held all of his tools. He said, "I have the sail and wood as you requested. What do you require it for?"
Samuel smiles upon hearing those words. He lets Bartre lead him into the cabin with a newfound spruce in his step, though still expressing an aura of gentleman-like behavior. Before disappearing into the cabin for an undetermined amount of time, however, he informs his two companions of his intentions.
He told them, "All right, I'm going to be in here for a while. Don't come get me, no matter what. I won't be satisfied until I've finished this task."
Curious by what he meant by that, Lyn briefly pauses her conversation with Karla. She asked, "What will that be, my dear husband? I have the sense you intend to surprise us."
Lani added, "Yeah! Are you going to surprise us, Sammy?!"
Samuel smiles and then gives his niece a headpat. Not wanting to delay his work any further, he places his hand over the cabin's doorknob. He said, "You'll see. You might find that it's something I've already shown you."
Content with his message, he slams the door before him shut. He'll be there for the rest of the day...
And the day after that...
June 25th...
It's morning at the Sacae-Bernish border. The sun snuggles the horizon, and cool air refreshes the spirits of its water-faring passengers. Most of them are still asleep at this hour, all except two people, Lyn and Karla.
They stand by the same railing they've been occupying for the past two days, their attitudes unchanged from conversing for an extended amount of time. The raft rocks with the light current slowly pushing them north...
Wiping some dew from her hair, Lyn spares a concerned look towards the cabin. She hadn't seen him since he disappeared inside two days ago, and the locked door prevented her from giving her husband food or water. The burgeoning effects of separation anxiety crept up to her like a thumbtack pressing against her gut.
Noticing this, Karla said, "Does he disappear like that often? I imagine it brings you a lot of unease."
Lyn nods lightly, her gaze shifting away the swordswoman sporting raven hair. Reluctant, she said, "Sometimes his work forces him to lock himself away in a workshop, but I've learned to live with it. We learned to live with it..."
Lyn somberly lowers her head. Karla weighs the benefits of pressing the issue over not, but her curiosity prevailed. She'd heard a rumor several years ago of supreme importance, and now she figured was the time confirm it.
She asked, "Is it...because of Samuel's condition?"
"..."
The duo share a brief moment of silence, and Karla observes her friend stand in reflection. The wind overhead picks up slightly...
Lyn said, "Samuel only has about five good years left in him. The war left him with injuries that go far beyond those we can see. He...works too hard. I just wish he spent less time working...and more time with us. Eventually, the day will come when Lani and myself are alone. The day when we can no longer be with him."
Those pained words struck a chord within Karla. She felt pity for the former princess of Caelin, and in some ways she empathized with her plight. However, Lyn's statement raised more questions than answers for Karla, pushing her to ask about something else of greater importance.
She asked, "Lyn if I may?"
"Of course."
"I'm just...wondering about why you chose the Lieutenant to be your spouse. He carries a lot of baggage with him, and although he sports many admirable qualities, I feel like those negative aspects of him outweigh the good. Especially with his role towards your tribe..."
That last sentence cut through Lyn like a knife, but she managed to keep herself together. Scrubbing some past traumatic memories from her mind, she turns to address her friend.
She said, "Samuel had his demons, as did I. We worked hard to conquer the obstacles between us, and we both had to sit down to communicate about our issues. I...admittingly had to decide what I wanted in life. However, at the end of it all Samuel truly displayed to me his aptitude for unconditional love, and I found no reason not to reciprocate his feelings..."
"He's the best man I could've ever hoped for in a husband. He can't live without me, and I know I can't live without him."
Karla smiles upon hearing those words. The story of how two destined foes became lovers reminded Karla of her own story with Bartre. The two future spouses found each other amidst the arena, and after sharing a brief battle, soon found themselves fighting on the same side against the forces of Nergal. The memory made the young swordswoman nostalgic, and spurred some wisdom from her.
She said, "I see. I suppose love doesn't relegate itself to the merits or background of two individuals. It forms solely based on the bond formed between two lovers, increasing as we tear down pre-concieved barriers keeping us apart. This type of love can't be replicated on a whim. It's spontaneous, like lightning in a thunderstorm."
Lyn nods her head in agreement, though she scarcely had another moment to continue on. A loud creek from the cabin door takes her attention, and she swerves her head to spy her husband covered in wood shavings. A wide, crazed smile occupies his face, not dissimilar to a mad scientist.
Lyn asked, "Samuel! By the Creator, it's been two days!"
Samuel shakes off his oil-stained glove from his right hand, revealing a metallic limb. This comes to the surprise of absolutely no one, however, as the former army lieutenant was a known amputee. Instead, Lyn and Karla focus their attention towards the mysterious gadget hidden inside the confines of the cabin.
Samuel said, "Lyndis, wake up Laniakea! I want to show you guys something!"
...
Samuel hurriedly assembles his two companions inside the small, disorganized cabin. Looking around, they notice a wide assortment of tools hanging on the walls, along with a tidy makeshift work table at its corner. Scarcely any light made its way through the sole open window, though Lyn and Lani both see stray used candles littered around the floor. Samuel directs both of their gazes towards a large white sheet occupying about a third of the cabin's floor space...
Wiping the drowsiness from her eyes, Lani asked, "What's this?"
Samuel replied, "Only the best thing invented since the saddle! Ladies, feast your eyes on the latest product of my insanity!"
Samuel pulls the sheet, revealing a moderately sized carriage with two large masts at its center. The carriage looked very well made, having a sturdy chassis, finely lacquered wooden posts, and comfortable seats molded into the inside. Lyn and Lani stare at the thing in awe, unsure of what to say.
Samuel said, "I call this thing the Air-Propelled Transportation Carriage! This baby will let us ride across the plains using the strong gusts of wind that commonly take hold of the plains right around this time of year! I spent so much time making it..."
Samuel pauses and takes a seat on a nearby stool. His mind scattered around like an excited carbon atom, and his stomach grumbles from hunger. He disregards these feelings of discomfort and focuses on what he really cares about; the approval of his two favorite people.
He asked, "What do you guys think?"
"..."
The pair stare at each other, as if daring the other to say something. Eventually, the younger of the two says something that can only be described as a youthful observation.
Laniakea exclaimed, "It's an airboat!"
"..."
"…"
Beneath himself, Samuel simply chuckled.
"Sure, let's call it an airboat..."
A/N: I hope y'all enjoyed this! The next chapter is expected to be released around May 8th, but if I get a lot of feedback I'll release it sooner!