Chapter 86: Breaking Fever

By SodiumChloride12, derived from Fire Emblem, owned by Nintendo

A/N: Okay, so this is going to be a bit weird, but I'm going to write in past tense from now on. I'm currently progressing through my other project (written in past tense) at a glacier's pace, which is good since I'm taking my sweet time. In the meantime, if you enjoy this, feel free to drop a review, follow, or favorite! Stay tuned to the end for some news!

"I will not allow this criminal to impart himself in our army any longer!"

Samuel took a step back as Kent went for his collar, narrowly missing him as the man did his best to turn skinny. His legs churned as they ached with the wounds of days past, yet his arm made up for this by providing more support via a handheld cane. Despite Samuel's return to the army, his situation was as dire as ever.

They had just arrived to Arcadia after the group's rescue from the cavern deep underground into the desert. Tension was rather hot because of a combination of the environment and anger sent towards his person, but Samuel had stayed any flare-ups until they were safe and sound. This incident came when they were in Athos' chamber, a period where the army (or at least those who weren't injured) had ample time to mull over their thoughts. Samuel should have expected something to happen, yet he didn't.

Confronting him were Kent, Sain, Fiora, Marcus, Leila, Lucius, and surprisingly even Florina. Eliwood and Hector observed a short distance away with their emotions unreadable to Samuel's eye.

Kent pointed his finger towards him, his voice radiating with a combination of strength and mild anger. He said, "We've let you go undeterred for too long! We will punish you for your sins, accursed homunculus!"

A wave of gasps washed through the army. In response, Samuel took a step back. One wrong move and his life could be in some serious danger.

He said, "Woah woah woah. Calm down there, Kent. You don't need to—ack!"

Samuel felt his neck tighten. Kent had grabbed him. He was now at the mercy of this much stronger man, powerless to do anything against him or to the group backing him up. Glancing over at Florina, the sense of betrayal inside felt too strong to reconcile.

"You too, Florina? Why—I thought we were friends?"

Florina's face softened. In response, Fiora stepped between her and Samuel. Unlike her sister, Fiora appeared much more resolute. Samuel lowered his head in defeat.

Fiora said, "If you wish to plead, do so with me. You'll share no words with my sister."

"If that is what she wishes, so be it."

Kent and the others took Samuel and placed him on a chair, gagging his mouth and binding his hands together with rope. Then they and the rest of the army surrounded him. To Samuel's relief, he noticed Eliwood and Hector appear.

Eliwood asked, "What is the meaning of this, Kent?"

Hector added, "Aye, this isn't what we meant by putting him on trial. He's still a man. Treat him with dignity."

Samuel's eyes bulged. Trial?

The group obliged. They removed his gag and bounds, instead opting to let them sit there while under the watchful eye of Kent himself. Then, they informed the public that they would be commencing with Samuel's trial. A trial that was by every indication, a court martial.

Marcus announced, "Today will be the day of judgement! We can only hope to imitate the Creator's will, but that task unfortunately falls upon us! Our tactician, Samuel Castillo, will stand trial on one count of desertion, one count of conspiracy, and one count of incompetency on the battlefield! The jurors will be the men and women who so loyally fought under his banner!"

Samuel's blood ran cold. Those three words felt like separate daggers that had embedded itself into his heart. Desertion. Conspiracy. Incompetency. Had he really acted in a way that deserved them? Had Samuel failed to live up to the expectations pressed onto him?

What happened next felt like a blur. They put him on trial, with witnesses airing their grievances. Samuel couldn't look them in the eye, and neither could they towards him. They came from every corner of the army, even among those he thought were his friends:

"We have reasons to be believe he's an agent of Nergal." Lucius said softly. "I regret to say that, but the church says creatures of the dark tend to congregate around men like him."

Kent asked, "But how do we know he is a homunculus? Is there a test?"

"Indeed. If you expose his skin to holy water, it should burn. That is a fact the church has known for millennia."

A voice raised itself in protest. It came from one of Samuel's staunch allies, Erk. "Stop! You don't know what you're doing! Samuel is not under the employ of Nergal!"

Eliwood raised his hand for silence. "I know you feel much for Samuel's plight, Erk. But justice must go it's natural course. I will allow the test to progress. Provided that it doesn't injure him."

Lucius stepped towards Samuel, a vial of holy water in his grasp. Samuel provided no resistance as the holy man placed a drop of poison over his right hand. As expected, it burned, producing another wave of gasps over the crowd.

"Preposterous!" said Raven. "We've been tricked!"

Serra said, "I can't believe it. He's not even human!"

Rebecca said, "Does that mean—everything we know about him is a lie?"

Hearing Rebecca say that made Samuel feel more guilt than he had previously. Regardless, he hardened his heart, opting to keep his gaze fixated on the floor. His resolve was completely gone.

The trial continued on, with the first matter on the count of desertion. Yet, this proved to be mostly a formality. Samuel had no doubt left the army, and everyone understood that.

The next came the count of conspiracy. Kent offered several witnesses and evidence, some of whom Samuel felt shocked to see. They had bundles of texts and the watch that was his most prized possession.

The first to speak was Matthew. Unlike other instances of being the center of attention, the thief looked very uncomfortable. He was covered in a wick of sweat, his form shriveled as he stood. Samuel wondered if he was forced to testify by his employer.

He said, "Erm, House Ostia has known about Samuel's association with Nergal for some time now. From what information we gathered, we know the sorcerer created him as his minion, much like the other morphs were."

Kent asked, "Would you say that morphs do not have the means to make their own decisions? Do they have to act in accordance to the will of their masters?"

Matthew gulped. He stole a glance towards Samuel, who silently pleaded with him. Despite that, Matthew could only provide one thing. The truth.

"Yes. The vast majority of morphs have no sense of free will, at least not with deeper decisions. Yet, I think it's important to know that Samuel is likely in the minority. House Ostia has reasons to believe that Samuel has the ability to act on his own will."

Chatter echoed through the chamber. Kent, unamused, pressed on further. "But, how do you know that? How you do you know Samuel isn't just manufacturing will to blend in with us? How can we know he isn't conspiring with the enemy?!"

"His emotions." Matthew said while wiping some sweat from his brow. "You can't fake those, no matter how hard you try. They're only present among people. I think quite a few people in the army, especially with those who were close with the defendant, can back me up when I say we've seen him show a more vulnerable side. Whether it be in his bouts of sorrow, anger, or attachment."

Several voices speak out in his defense:

Erk said, "Yes! I can say I've had to lend the tactician my shoulder a few times. He's a terrible crier!"

Canas nodded in agreement. "Indeed! Samuel is quite the infant at times. More so than the tot he's looking over!"

Priscilla added, "At periods of great pain, I've observed the tactician spare a tear. I think that's a very human thing to do."

Samuel took in a sigh of relief. For once, he felt glad to have cried in front of so many people. He observed with intrigue as Kent appeared noticeably shaken by the testimonies of his friends. Samuel wondered if it had ever occurred to him that for a man like him, it was okay to express one's emotions around trusted confidants. He understood knights were taught to keep their vulnerabilities to themselves, a lesson that Samuel had discarded long ago.

Finally, the court progressed to the last charge, incompetence. To Samuel's shock, this charge extended to his initial stint as a tactician. When he served under Lady Lyn for the first time.

Kent said, "There were many instances in time when the tactician exposed the army to unnecessary danger. I, for one, witnessed this when we first encountered him. I'm sure you are all familiar with the tale of how Lady Lyn first acquainted with Samuel."

Samuel flinched. Many moons ago, Lyn shared this story with the army as a light-hearted gesture. Samuel laughed with her then, like how many people do when thinking back on near-death experiences. Never in a million years did Samuel ever think they would use this against him. He bit his lip as he observed the army nod their heads.

"Lady Lyn, in her effort to protect her tactician, opted to spin this tale as one of destiny and triumph. Though I think her thoughts are founded, I'd like to introduce another point of view. What if her actions, of which nearly took her life, were reflective of the impulsivity of her tactician?"

Kent walked over towards Samuel, his gaze as cold as ice. He loomed over him like a hawk looking over its prey. "The defendant has claimed many times that he trusts us. That he believes in the talent expressed by his troops. Yet, withholding the actual trust issues he has towards us in neglecting to inform leadership about an unscheduled leave of absence, Samuel appeared to have masked his flaws in strategy by putting too much weight on us. Though, admittingly, this has resulted in many of our successes, it also ultimately resulted in unnecessary risk. Risk that eventually led to Oswin's death."

Murmurs fill the crowd. Some spoke in Samuel's defense, while others took Kent's posture. To this, Samuel could no longer sit idle. He raised his voice to defend his reputation.

"You've oversimplified my thought process, sir knight. I don't entrust soldiers with tasks unless I'm certain that they can handle it. I've done plenty of work in terms of shuffling personnel around." Samuel then lowered his head. "Oswin's death has, and will always be, my biggest mistake. Even so, you must understand the sheer amount of uncertainty I had to deal with. Not only were we ambushed, but we had to deal with the thickest veil of fog we'd ever seen. I've taken countless actions towards minimizing casualties, including my own participation in combat. Tacticians usually don't participate in such things, though—I likely should have followed that tradition more."

Samuel felt the eyes of all rest on his legs. Though he found it immoral to take advantage of such a situation, he knew that appealing to the group's empathy was his ticket to avoiding the noose. "I might never walk like I did before. This was a sacrifice I made to make sure my plans went accordingly. If I had to do it again, I would if it meant I could save any more of my trusted soldiers."

The reception was mixed. Some people shook their heads, while others spared him their sympathies. To Samuel's relief, Rebecca was one of these people who expressed her support aloud.

"I believe you. I know you only have our best interests at heart."

Regardless, Kent pressed on. "An experienced tactician would have known to prepare against any threat. The pirates informed us of the fog that tends to linger on the island's surface. You can't just explain your incompetence away by claiming ignorance."

Eliwood said, "Ahem. I think that's enough. It's time to determine what will become of Samuel."

Thus, deliberation ended. Though Samuel felt fortunate that they entitled him to a speedy trial, he would have preferred some more time to come to terms with his fate should the army decide to kill him soon. Regardless, the tactician opted to keep his head high.

Hector said, "Is there anything you'd like to say before we vote? Eliwood and I will decide your fate."

"—yes, I would appreciate some closing words."

"Very well. You have no more than five minutes."

Samuel cleared his throat, allowing the cold air of the chamber to lick the inner circumference of his esophagus. He looked first towards the lords. He noticed the coldness behind Hector's eyes, but inversely, noticed some softness in Eliwood's. Next, he did the same for the army. He saw his friends, acquaintances, and detractors stare back at him with a myriad of emotions. He noticed the look of horror on Rebecca's face, the angst in Erk's, and the concern on Canas' and Lowen's.

Samuel exhaled. He would be speaking for his life.

"There is no doubt that the charges against me are severe. Likewise, I admit to have made mistakes. For those afflicted, I am truly sorry, from the bottom of my heart. If I could go back in time to save Oswin, I would. Yet, I cannot. Thus, all I can say is this. This is a fact—I am not perfect. Nor can I claim to be. As expressed by Matthew's testimony, although biologically my body might differ, in mind I am quite similar. That means I am subject to the same psychological stresses and limitations normal to all human beings."

Samuel continued on. "War is cruel. It is a very difficult task to escape a battle without losing a man. Yet, despite that, I managed to do it nearly every single time up to the tragedies involving Oswin and Wil. My question to you all is this—"

His eyes turned cold. He hardened his heart as much as he could, and he raised his voice. This would be the most important part of his speech. A threat.

"Sack me. Heck, you can even kill me. Yet, I implore to you all to think. Who would you replace me with? I may have made some mistakes because of inexperience, but such things do not affect me anymore. Where can you all get an experienced tactician as I? One that won't fall for the veiled traps of the enemy, one whose aggression would naturally result in more casualties, and one who would gladly take the agency to discard your lives at the drop of a hat. And for what? For someone who might get you better results? You cannot expect to fight a war without losing lives. At least not with the expectation of winning. I am responsible for two deaths, but have achieved plenty of successes in their memory. I don't think I need to remind you all what we're fighting for, or what will happen if we fail."

Samuel ended with one last message. "These are the stakes. To make a world where all of this world's creations can live—or go into the dark. We must either love each other, or we must die."

Silence. That was all Samuel could hear. He saw some people cry, a few chuckle, but most stayed dead silent. They observed him as he sat back down on his seat. Though Samuel was unsure of the totality of his effect on his fate, he was comfortable knowing he had done everything he could.

Hector looked over towards Eliwood. It was time.

He asked, "So I guess we'll act to convict him, right? Scare tactics don't work on me."

Samuel held back the temptation to flinch as his blood ran cold. Had he—failed? Silently, he felt very fortunate that Laniakea wasn't here to see this. If she was, this would be an additional drop of trauma added to the sea she already had.

Eliwood brushed his shaven chin. He pondered for a bit before stealing a glance first at Ninian, then towards his hands. For a moment, Samuel wondered if he was thinking about his mother. He hardly spoke about her to him, but from what little he knew, he understood she cared deeply for him. He undoubtedly felt the same for her.

"I—must say I found the tactician's words persuasive."

Hector balked, "What? Surely you jest! We've agreed that this trial was only a formality! We cannot proceed if we have disagreement!"

"Indeed, I did. Yet, we failed to provide a replacement in the event of his termination. I am not comfortable applying such a dangerous handicap to our army without a suitable reason."

"Suitable reason? Have you not been listening?!"

Eliwood shook his head, "No. So far, the only charge we have him guilty for without a shadow of a doubt is the count of desertion. The other charges are only supported by flimsy accusations motivated my emotional appeals to our conscious. I cannot vote to convict, yet, I cannot vote to acquit either. We cannot proceed since Lady Lyn would have surely voted in Samuel's favor. Thus, I propose to you an alternative."

"—and what is that?"

"Since we are at a standstill, I think we should let the army decide. Throw away the charges of incompetence and conspiracy. Decide solely on the count of desertion, which carries with it the consequence of death. I reckon that to be fair."

Hector hesitated. He stood there in thought for a while before agreeing to this compromise. "Fine."

This was not what Samuel expected. He sat with anxious anticipation as Eliwood and Hector organized the army for the vote. They stood in a straight, horizontal line with all visible to see.

Eliwood said, "You will be deciding the fate of our tactician. There will only be two results. Either Samuel is guilty, or not. Under Lycian law, all deserters receive the death penalty. If Samuel is found not guilty, we will vote again to either terminate his contract or allow him to continue in his service. If you wish to vote guilty, please say so."

Thus they voted. Most did so right away, while some hesitated. Samuel's hand shook as he looked at the results:

Sain: Guilty

Kent: Guilty

Florina: Not voting

Dorcas: Not Guilty

Serra: Not Guilty

Erk: Not Guilty

Rath: Guilty

Matthew: Not Voting

Leila: Guilty

Nils: Not Guilty

Lucius: Guilty

Marcus: Guilty

Lowen: Not Guilty

Rebecca: Not Guilty

Bartre: Not Guilty

Guy: Guilty

Merlinus: Not Voting

Priscilla: Not Guilty

Raven: Guilty

Canas: Not Guilty

Dart: Not Guilty

Fiora: Guilty

Renault: Guilty

Ninian: Not Guilty

Isadora: Not Voting

Heath: Guilty

Guilty: 11

Not Guilty: 11

Not Voting: 4

Samuel could hardly believe his eyes. Dead even. Most of the votes were to be expected. The knights all hated him, with the only ones breaking from the pack being Lowen (who he shared a good relationship with), and Isadora, who didn't vote. All the members in Kent's clique voted with him, as with several others who had a strong sense of justice. Yet, they fell short because of Samuel's own bloc of support formed through his many interactions with the army. Interestingly, Matthew also withheld his vote, likely to not contradict the will of his significant other. He watched as the most surprising omission, Florina, had the blood drained from her face as she realized what had just become of them all.

Hector asked, "So what happens now?"

Eliwood replied, "Lycian law states that in the event the judge is unsure of whether to deal judgment, that it's wise for them to do so. It's better to occasionally punish an innocent man than to let a single guilty go free."

Samuel's heart stopped. Halfway across the room, he saw Kent crack a smile. His entire life flashed before his eyes. He came to bear with the images of his love and nice. He wondered how they would live their lives without them. For the first time in a long time, he silently prayed for their wellbeing.

Hector shrugged his shoulders, "Very well then. We should fetch an executioner. Let's make this nice and painle—"

"STOP! I CHANGED MY MIND! NOT GUILTY! NOT GUILTY!"

A voice erupted from the crowd. It high-pitched and incredibly feminine. All eyes fell on Florina, who reconsidered amid a blanket of tears.

Hector asked in disbelief, "Did—you just—"

"YES!" Florina exclaimed. "PLEASE DON'T KILL SAMUEL! I WAS WRONG TO DOUBT HIM! HE'S A GOOD M-oh—"

Florina's eyes rolled behind her head and she lurched forward. Unable to handle the pressure, she fainted. Fiora grabbed her before she hit the ground, but not before Samuel felt numbness encapsulate his limbs. So many things went across his mind. In between all the things Samuel had done to wrong her, between knocking her out in Castle Caelon, giving her a concussion in Sacae, and lying to her alongside the others, she had decided to forgive. Within minutes, Samuel's vision turned hazy. Everything went dark as he fainted too.

When Samuel came to a couple hours later, Erk would tell him the results of the following vote. They had kept him as their tactician by unanimous decision.

"Ugh...where am I?"

Samuel woke in a different location than before. It was under the canvas roof of which he had some familiarity, the hospital tent belonging to the army. Light bled in through the small spacings of fabric above, reflecting a luminosity common among morning suns.

"Man...I'm so thirsty."

Samuel instinctively looked for a glass of water, only to be disappointed when there were none. There wasn't even an end table to put his belongings. Pouting, Samuel lifted his blanket up to his face and turned over. He may be thirsty, but his want was easily outweighed by laziness.

"The duality of man." Samuel muttered as his eyes drifted shut. "That phrase is so stupid. I don't even remember the guy I first heard it from."

"The duality of what? What are you blabbering about?"

Samuel's eyes shoot open, much like a forceful pair of window blinds. He looked over his shoulder to see Matthew sitting patiently on a stool. The accursed thief wore a snarky expression on his face, with a single wood pick sticking out from his mouth. Samuel nearly mistook the thing for a cigarette before realizing tobacco was incredibly expensive to the average man.

Samuel said, "Why in heaven's name do you have that thing in your mouth?"

"Aye. It's something I use to scrape off some meat from my gums." Matthew took the pick out and worked on his teeth. "We had lunch recently—and well, you gotta keep your hygiene."

"Since when did anyone in this army care about that? Besides, what's with that tongue, soldier? Have you been hanging around Dart and them for too long?"

Matthew shrugged, "Mayhaps. Dorcas tells me often about his love for mutton. It's a pity the meat makes him sick." Matthew flicked the pick from his hands, the object landing harmlessly on the grass below. "More importantly, our little tactician finally appears to have broken his fever. Do you need help getting on your chair? We can't let our cripple sit here all day."

"I am not a cripple." Samuel said while lifting the blankets from his body. "I am proudly independent. I can figure this out on my own."

Matthew laughed. He went over behind a nearby bed and pulled out Samuel's rolling chair. He placed the thing near him, though not opting to provide anything else by way of aid. "If you say so. Call this a welcoming gift."

He waved him away as he disappeared through the front flap. "You should talk to your girlfriend soon. I don't know what she sees in you, but she's more loyal than a dog to its owner. Then again, I suppose you're the same to her—ah. I'm just going to shut up before I say something too controversial."

"Waht."

Matthew chuckled, "Just use protection, my guy. We have enough unplanned things as it is."

"Heh—WAIT WHAT?!"

"Oh, that's right! You don't know. Oh my, aren't in you for a treat?"

Samuel was angry. Very angry. This was the type of anger he'd never thought he'd express in his lifetime, much less while he was out of combat. This was the sort of thing that he'd expect during periods of extreme adversity, like if he'd were powering up before the final fight with the big bad. Yet, here he was chewing out his friend, the mage with the red hood, Erk. The two were in the command tent, with Samuel sitting in a place of authority behind a makeshift desk.

"I cannot believe that you did such a thing!" He exclaimed while banging his hand against the wood. "This preposterous! Forget about what I have to say about this. What will Lord Pent and Lady Louise say?! Have you told them yet?!"

Erk seemed to shrink inside his collar. He replied, "I—don't know what to tell you. It was my birthday—and she had some drinks! I swear I didn't intend to take her there! It—it was an accident!"

"An accident?! This sort of thing ain't no accident! You really couldn't have waited until this war ended? Or better yet, could you have messed with someone who isn't a woman of the cloth?!"

Erk fell to his knees. He raised his hands to beg. "Please, I plead! I don't know where Serra is right now! She took off! We need to go find her!"

Samuel felt a vein burst on his forehead. He ignored it, but he couldn't resist tempering his anger. "Hell yeah, we need to find her! She's half of our total healing capacity! She won't be able to fight on the front lines anymore, but she'll still be of vital use in the reserves."

Erk cocked one eyebrow. "Reserves?"

"You really think I'm going to let a woman with her condition fight? Absolutely not! Professionals have standards, Erk. Regardless, I'll arrange for you to have Fiora accompany you in her search. Tell Serra her secret's safe with me."

"So—you're not coming with me? There's a lot of mountains around here. I could use a friend."

"Absolutely not! You're a man-to-be, Erky. You should act like one. I'm not much use to you anyway, at least not like this."

Samuel went into his drawer and retrieved a small ring. It was silver with a large red ruby at its prominence. He flicked the object over to Erk, who's irises seemed to shake as he observed the jewel's luster.

He said, "S-Samuel, surely you don't intend for me to propose?"

"Propose? That's up to you, buddy. I'm surprised you didn't recognize that as a guiding ring."

"G-Guiding ring?"

Erk stared down at it, and his eyes bulged as he saw the power behind the promotional item. Samuel wondered if he considered slipping it on right then and there, but he knew he wouldn't. Erk wasn't the type to enjoy transforming in front of other people.

Samuel said, "I'd slip that on soon. Also, grab a staff from Merlinus. You're going to need it."

Erk looked towards Samuel, dumbfounded. "Surely, you jest? The powers of a sage are magnificent to behold. It's much more than just a heal—"

"Well, maybe that would've mattered if you still had agency, my guy. We only have Priscilla now. Deal with it, healer dude."

"Healer dude?"

Samuel wheeled over. Then he patted his friend on the back. "That's your new name. Wear it with pride."

"—I don't think I can."

"Not my problem. Just get out of my office. I have other things to attend to..."

Love. That's the only emotion Samuel could sense right now. There weren't many other descriptors for it. The situation he found himself in did much to dull the mind. A woman's company had a tendency to do that.

Lyn said, "I'm just glad you're okay. For a while, I wondered if you'd ever wake up."

He and Lyn were in their personal tent somewhere in camp. They laid in each other's embrace, with Lyn holding Samuel tighter than she ever had before. The darkness of night did much to obscure the scene before their bed.

Samuel placed his hand around Lyn's thigh, using the other the caress her shoulder. In response, Lyn coo'd at his touch. She met her lips with Samuel's allowing the two's warmth to normalize between their bodies. Eager to explore further, Samuel next worked over her waist. He marveled at the relatively miniscule diameter of it. Yet, this observation got cut short when Lyn lifted his chin. They fell into another kiss, both gasping for air when they concluded.

Samuel said, "Hey—Lyn. I—think it's time."

"Whatever do you mean?" Lyn replied as she laid her head on his chest, eager to listen to her beloved's heartbeat. "I hope you don't mean something detrimental."

Samuel shook his head. "No. Actually, I just—wanted to tell you I love you very much. So much in fact, that I—you know. I wanna do that thing couples do."

Lyn lifted her head so that her gaze would meet Samuel's. In response, his heartbeat accelerated. She asked, "Are you asking me to kiss you? We've done that plenty already. You don't need to ask. I know you're not contagious anymore."

Interestingly, smallpox in Elibe worked differently than on Earth. While the virus stayed relatively active for several days after immunity was developed, on Elibe the virus more or less stopped being contagious several hours after breaking fever. This was something Samuel felt grateful for, especially when considering what he wished to do next.

Samuel said, "No. The other thing. You know—the thing we can't do with Lani around."

Lani was gone. She had decided to not sleep with them today and instead opted for a "sleepover" at Rebecca's tent. There, she would have a good time with the girls.

Lyn's face turned red like a beet. Her eyes scanned Samuel, as if looking for any sign of a joke. He wasn't.

"You're—serious. We're not even married. How can you ask such a thing?"

Marriage. Throughout Elibe, it was taboo to have extramarital affairs. This remained true in Samuel's catholic upbringing. But at this point, he didn't care. His priorities had shifted.

"You're right. But, I came upon something when I woke this morning. I realized I could die at any moment. Could be next month, next week, or even tomorrow. I asked myself, what are the things I'd like to partake in before I go? I concluded I wanted to partake in you."

Lyn blushed even more. Samuel did too. This entire experience was proving more awkward than initially planned.

Lyn said, "I suppose it wouldn't matter if no one knew about it. I'd be lying to myself if I didn't admit I had my own urges as well. I—very well. I will accept your request on the condition you take responsibility should things go—unexpected."

"There was never a doubt in my soul in what I would do..."

Thus they entered a kingdom of sweat and bedsheets, with time passing like a blur. It was like Samuel had found himself on a train, one that ran on track with plenty of hills and valleys. This hilly terrain proved difficult to bear, but Samuel didn't care. He deeply desired the urge to experience the displacement of earth that was humanity's most intimate event. The more rough the ground, the better it was.

Much like a train, sometimes the conductor had to take breaks. Unlike a standard vehicle, however, conductor and passenger often took turns switching places. Samuel would do everything from relaxing on the cab car, to shoveling coal into the engine, to jamming the stick shift on the transmission. He indulged himself in the beverages sourced from the train's icebox, which carried luxurious wines. By the time the train had stumbled into its stop, Samuel felt nothing but bliss.

It was at this moment that he finally came to. Lethargic beyond comprehension, Samuel found Lyn resting soundly on his arm. Her cheeks were a vibrant red, and she possessed a smile of equal satisfaction.

Samuel brushed her hair, to which Lyn giggled. He said, "That—was absolutely amazing. We should do that again sometime."

"For sure. Can I interest you in some candy? It's tradition in my tribe for the woman to give the man this."

"I don't see why not."

Lyn handed Samuel a piece of caramel. Where she got it, he didn't know, nor did he care. He plopped it into his throat before kissing Lyn's neck.

"Stop—I mean don't actually stop, but you know."

"Thanks for communicating with me. You're hilarious."

"If you keep mishandling me like that, I'm going to invest in scarves."

Samuel finished with his labor, afterwards letting out a yawn. Likewise, Lyn did as well. Both were exhausted from that day's activities, though there was much to do for the next.

Samuel asked, "So what are we doing tomorrow?

"We're going to Bern. We still need to fetch the Fire Emblem, after all."

"Right."

Lyn snuggled up to Samuel, intent on him getting a good night's rest. Appreciative of Lyn's attention, he closed his eyes. He gave her one last kiss before sleeping. That night's dream proved uneventful, yet peaceful. He sailed on a small boat over some calm waters. A serene, solitary little caravel. One that rocked with a rhythm that seemed to soothe every fiber of his soul.

Soul. Sometimes, Samuel wondered how many times he avoided giving up the ghost. Regardless, with his girlfriend sleeping beside him, he could only say one thing.

He was just happy to be alive.

A/N: All right y'all. I'm bringing this thing out of the pits of hell (hiatus) and giving it another go. Due to other responsibilities, I won't post as often as before. I'll be doing it bi-weekly, so every other Friday. See y'all in two weeks!

Writing fanfiction is damn drug. It took me less than a year to relapse, lol.