The following pieces of story will be going in-between 'Mad King Gangrel' and 'The Seacomers' as a time skip is not how I am going to fully go through with this, so enjoy the Sections.
Within the following days, Alexander found himself free to wander, to browse about the place of Ylisse, especially with the recent news, Chrom and Sumia were getting married, MARRIED!
It turned out that when Chrom got his confidence back, he PROPOSED to the shy Pegasus Knight and everyone was blown away by it, except him who left rather early, but it was also the point of what Christian said, the 'last day of freedom', he was cheering for Chrom's final days as a free man, the Tactician rolling his eyes in disbelief at his friend's easy-going behavior about it, but he was a free man for the most part so he let that slip on by. He paused in the middle of the street in thought before a vendor spoke.
"Hey, are you okay, Son?" Alexander looked at the man and smiled to the fruits and produce that he had.
"It's fine, everything is good, just musing some points." He bid the vendor farewell as he continued on, he also was faced with obstructions, the noble class other than that of Themis were in total vote against him as he looked too 'riff-raff' to stand with the higher tiers, he quietly left the meeting on the new Exalt and needed some air for a bit.
It was true, he had no name to claim as his own, he had not the land to attest his ways, nor did he have the back up of his fellow Shepherds as they were off doing a number of things, reforming the Knights, training the new bloods in battle and war, learning more about their arts than before, and leading powerful fights for their own gains. Alexander shook his head before he stopped, the most dishonorable Gaius was running a shop... a shop, that fact stuck to him as he strolled over and browsed about, the thief smiling as he spoke. "See anything you fancy? I've got silk smallclothes from exotic ports, genuine leather belts, top-quality figs..." They really did, but Alex was not pulled in as he spoke.
"Do you have any books? Strategy books, specifically? I've been hoping to expand my tactical knowledge to better serve the Shepherds." He lightly sighed as he looked about the marketplace. "However, I can't find a single volume in these parts. It really is most strange..."
"Strategy books, is it? Wait right there, Bubbles!" With that, Gaius disappeared like he never was there to start with, Amirg gasping as well as he exclaimed 'mortals can't pull that, they cannot!' before Alex inquired.
"Where'd he go?" He looked about and pulled his hands back just in time as a huge crate of books dropped right in front of him and Gaius not even looking winded one bit. "...Oh, you're back! That was fast."
"Take a gander at this lot, and tell me if any of 'em tickle your fancy!" Alex sorted through them all and found that they were all such books, like...
He groaned as he spoke up about it. "Gaius, this crate is FULL of books! Did you buy every tome in the market?!" The thief shrugged as he answered.
"Sort of. Here, they're yours. Every last one, my gift to you! But that makes us even about the whole 'wink-wink' thing!" Alex deadpanned at the notion, did Gaius think that he was trying to blackmail the poor man out of gains and house? He didn't want to think about it as he spoke, resting a hand on the stand as he returned with furrowed brow.
"You are so pigheaded. For the last time, Gaius, I am NOT blackmailing you! Now please, return these books. I can't take them in good conscience." But the thief turned it once more as he countered.
"Oh, I see! Books aren't good enough? Still holding out for something better?!" Alex facepalmed as he stated.
"Sometimes I wonder why I even try..." It wasn't too hard to say no, but he had the feeling that Gaius was holding it against him, but on what grounds as he looked to the side and paused, a remarkable cloak came into view on the next stand and he mused on its texture and design. "Hey, that's a handsome cloak. Looks warm, too."
"You like that cloak? I can buy it for you!"
"GAIUUUUUUS!"
"Guess not!" The thief chuckled before his face dropped and he spoke again. "So, what are you doing out here, shouldn't you be with Blue right now?" Blue was the nickname that Chrom got from the thief and Alexander slumped his shoulders as he spoke.
"I felt somewhat out of place, the noble class, other than the Themis family, were in total agreement against me, they didn't want to see the 'riff-raff' involving themselves with royalty." Gaius shuffled as he stated.
"Man, talk about bad luck, you are not getting the best of it, I am here and running this place easily, but you are shunned big time." Gaius spoke before he nodded to a few customers and sent them on their way with the things that they were interested in. "Word on the street even started to spread that you were some common brigand and that you threatened Blue to get in." Alex nodded as he took a seat and he shared it.
"I'm pretty sure if that was the case, Fredrick would have run me through, it's clear that the nobles are fearful of someone new in the circle and they haven't taken the time to learn who I am, worst yet, they eye with suspicion, I feel that I have to just wander the realm of Ylisse for the time being." Gaius nodded as the Shepherds were, after all, divided for now and he could do anything to remedy the issue as the thief continued.
"Well, there is some good profit to be done here, I just... got a job in some channels that need some hand of work." Alex raised a brow as Gaius gave the details. "I admit, I am not the finest of souls, but this could turn that frown around, even with your current 'blade'." The Levin Sword hung on Alex's belt and he nodded as the red-haired thief continued. "A recent convoy was attacked in the wake of the peace treaty, a number of them Plegians and the sane members have asked that we look into it and deal with it, the nobles can kiss it, they haven't even lifted a finger to help out, but if Blue caught wind of it..." The thief whistled loudly in amuse. "Some nobles would lose a LOT in the transaction."
Alex folded his arms as he inquired. "So, you doing this too or am I the sole person in this mess?"
"Take it easy, I am coming, this will help me too, Twinkles is nicking my ankles for something and I need to get out of the city for a bit." Alexander nodded as he sidestepped to Gaius jumping out and pulling down a wooden sign of CLOSED.
"Alright, lead the way, oh thief of friends."
"Will do, Bubbles." The duo headed out and to the location that Gaius was set to do the assignment, Alex taking his time to always face the possible troubles that could come from it...
The vast overgrowth along the road told Alexander plenty that it offered minimal cover for an ambush, several of the plants were of the poisonous variant and would not be a good choice as they arrived to the site, a site of struggle and conflict as there were apparent signs of battle, but from the looks of it, the convoy won as he ran a hand and grinded the dirt between the gloved fingers. "I think I have the basic gist of things here."
"Shoot." Alex stood up and walked as he detailed.
"Convoy came from Plegia, show of good favor from the weighed wheels pulling into the dirt and mud." He trailed the lines as he continued. "Suddenly, stop before shifting into combat form, brigands of twenty, possibly thirty, charged out to attack, but were repelled with ease, yet after the battle, they shuffled before departing toward an unknown direction from the Capital, possible idea of severing the bandit threat in this area before moving on." Gaius whistled as Alex continued to look, something just not adding up as he finished. "But there are no known bandit locations here that could be belonging to Ylisse, my guess is that they are also Plegian."
Gaius rifled through the tracks himself as he questioned. "But why would Plegian bandits attack a convoy from their own country, that is not the brightest idea in the haystack."
"No, it's not..." Alex started to think, the likelihood of Gangrel's forces still causing trouble was possible, maybe some force failed to meet up or were stationed in Ylisse to continue the havoc of the land, but to attack one of their own and put up a fight in the face of such small numbers, meant something else was afoot as he spoke, resting a hand on his hip. "Let's find out where the treks lead, we may have a bolder picture if we find out why this had happened."
"Right behind ya, Bubbles." The duo continued on, following the trail through the forest and trees, being cleared out of the way for the convoy itself before they found the location, hiding behind some fallen bark to see that the bandits had ensnared the convoy, a party of eight members while their two wagons were being wrecked and their horses killed off as the brigands cheered in victory, Alex checking it over before he got behind and Gaius asked. "So, what's the plan, we are going to need one 'cause... we don't have an army behind us."
"No, we don't, but we have a squad." Alex gauged the area before he spoke. "The members were caught by surprise, they didn't suspect an ambush away from the main road and it is clear that they went together, all of them are fighters of battle, no innocents to get caught in the middle, so I have an idea, I will provide a distraction, you will free those prisoners."
Gaius raised a finger to question, but Alexander beat him to it. "You have the easier task, just sever the ropes and help them get their equipment back, I can distract them away from the area and force the bandits to spend more trying to kill me than keep those members prisoner." Gaius shrugged as he agreed with some words.
"Alright, but if you die, my debt will be unpaid and your girlfriend will KILL me for that too." Alexander shrugged as he crept away, rounding about the clearing before he waited, gauging the chances before he rushed out, hands extended out before blasting two brigands through the chest with flames, the surprise evident as the rest called out.
"What...!?"
"We're under attack!"
"Get 'em!" The rush of bandits was enough as Alex unsheathed his real blade and fought, giving them a tough time as his skills had improved drastically in the war, these foes were of minor caliber as he slashed and diced through them and gave them reason to attack, drawing them out as they sought to overwhelm him with numbers, heedless of the thief getting in and starting his tricks of freeing the members. His eyes took in their abilities before he dealt them a hand of judgement, some fallen in death while others were hesitant and were knocked out, yet the numbers started to render him tired as he was only one against tens of hundreds at how they surged out to kill, but he stood strong before an arrow cleaved past his leg and he dropped, sword resting as he panted as the shooter spoke.
"All of the men in the world and it is the one that stood beside the Exalt." He glanced up to a female Archer, arrow nocked once more as she spoke, they being the only two remaining, but he could hear more coming as she continued. "What brings the glory hound to this neck of forest?"
"Strange, I could... ask the same of you..." Alexander breathed as he slowly stood up, but it was in vain, biting down on his teeth as another arrow found his knee and he was forced back down.
"Fool..." The next arrow was primed for his skull as it felt like inches from the shot, no way to dodge at that close range. "Our King fell to such a weakling, you are nothing short of a maggot and you will pay for your treason against him."
"Treason says that I was his ally before his foe and I would remember if I was such a member of such a corrupted land." He stared up with glowing green from brown to look at the arrow and archer with resolve. "As it stands, I was never his friend nor his ally, so weakness is not seen in my eyes, only fear fills yours." The string grew taut and he just stared before someone shouted.
"I got ya, Bubbles!" Like a speeding arrow, Gaius appeared from the side, the bow shifting to catch the thief, but he was faster as he slash, cleaving the bow in half and came back around with a slash to the gut, the archer falling backward in death as Alexander remained before closing his eyes and falling... falling into the abyss of his combined soul, muffled voices filling his surrounding like water clouded his senses...
Light filled his vision once more before he looked up, staring at the ceiling as he breathed, slightly relieved to the sound as he gauged the surroundings, the barrack and Gaius first in view as he spoke up, another sucker in his mouth while the fourth, from the looks of it, was deposited in the garbage. "Hey, good to see you breathing again."
"Me too, Sweets, me too." Alexander groaned as he slowly pulled himself up, dressed in a loose shirt as bandages and gauge covered his body, Amirg slumbering from the sound in his mind which explained not much, but that he helped push and cause the small bout of fear in the bandits. "Looks like we're back in Ylisstol..." He sighed as he rubbed his temples. "How long was I out for, Gaius?"
"A decent hour, me and the convoy quickly got you back when you just stopped breathing for a moment and got you fixed up." Gaius rubbed his head as he continued. "No one knows what went down, but shortly after we got back, the lead headed off after dropping off the goods and came back for you, saying that he would like the approval of the 'Marauder Chieftain'." Alex raised a brow before he turned to the other figure in the room, a stout-looking man with a sword on his belt, his appearance that of a Mercenary as he kicked off the wall and walked over before he bowed.
"My name is Barlowe, former Captain of the Southern Guard of Plegia, pleased to make your acquaintance, Milord." Alex waved his hand in ease as he spoke.
"Just call me Alexander, titles do me no good as I am but a man without land or name to his person, at ease, Barlowe." But he remained in stance as Alex looked to Gaius. "Am I not such a person, Gaius?"
"Yeah... That's the thing..." Gaius rubbed the back of his head in unease. "Blue, upon learning that you were being scorned out and that the nobles would not entertain bringing you back to health in spite, cracked down on ALL of them that bad mouthed you and they currently... were exiled to Regna Ferox, he sending a personal message to the Khans that he wanted them trapped there for a month and until they learn their lesson of trust. He also went ahead on giving you some land near the capitol and naming you 'Lord' of the new piece given." Alexander's face lit up as he turned back and spoke.
"Barlowe, you have much to gain, but for now, you will help me in finding this land that Exalt Chrom has given to his Tactician." The Mercenary nodded as he strolled over and helped Alex to his feet as he continued. "Gaius, if you want, you can join us at the point to see what's going on."
"No thanks, Bubbles." Gaius tapped his head as he spoke. "I got some work that needs to get done, maybe later, I will see your new land, for now, see you around." Alexander nodded as he was hoisted out of bed and he slowly made his way to a horse and mounted up with Barlowe guiding the animal on their way. They walked past Ylisstol's streets as the people continued on, the duo continuing as they soon arrived and Barlowe rushed ahead as he shouted.
"Milord, there are brigands attacking the people!" He nodded as they reached over the crest and took in the bandits hooting and howling as they primed for battle as the town guard mobilized to stop it, Barlowe nearly pulling his blade before Alex spoke.
"No need, I will handle this one..." He breathed as he pulled out an Elthunder tome and raised his hand, the clouds darkening before he slammed down, the field suddenly riddled in the power as the bandit ranks broke to pieces and cowardly retreated with the small numbers remaining, he riding ahead with Barlowe amazed before he joined and Alexander stopped before the guard. "Who is in charge of this village?" The people parted as a shy priestess approached and she spoke.
"It would be I, S-Sir!" Alex nodded as he continued.
"Spread the word across this province, the Exalt's friend has arrived to claim his gift." Sharply, she nodded and the people rushed about as Alex continued on as he spoke to Barlowe. "Your desire to join the Marauders is sound, but I want you to prove you have what it takes, join me with the others and test yourself against the gravest threat that this land has to face, learn to fight that which has no purpose other than death and destruction." Barlowe saluted as Alex rode ahead and he searched for the area that had his gift and stopped as he beheld a manor of recent construction and came short as guards rushed out and poised themselves to fight as their leader demanded.
"Who are you and what are you doing here!?"
"Rude, to bare arms against me when Chrom himself made note of me..." Alexander rested a hand on the lance and it turned red hot as his eyes glowed and he spoke. "Stand down now, I am expecting several others in this area and it will do you well to NOT interfere with my decision or my interest." The lead swallowed as both released, the metal smoking as the soldiers stood at attention in fear before Alex continued, getting off the horse and spoke, his legs more stable now for the moment. "I respect your devotion and your will to defend this manor, but you don't need to worry too much for my safety, I have plans in the mind to protect not only myself, but all the others of this province, return to your posts and alert me to a group of brigands or Plegians, they will be the guests in my home, is that clear?" The fear eased off as they all saluted and he motioned them to go, his silent command followed as he rested a hand on the horse and walked on to the front door, looking up and smiled before he sat down on the seat and breathed, the horse being lead away by a servant and he just waited before a familiar face appeared, walking past as he stood up. "Ah, my friend of mercenaries, Christian!"
"Alexander, about time I found you around!" Both hugged, but Alex groaned from the pain, he should have thought ahead as Christian released and spoke. "Good timing actually, I realized something that has been evading us, the nationality thing." Alex nodded as he crossed his arms and Amirg listened as well. "This doesn't change much, but looking through the forces and asking about it, we seem to share a more Plegian appearance that has grown in the villages of Ylisse." Alexander nodded as he spoke, hand to his jaw.
"Raised in Ylisse, yet possessing a Plegian build, that would explain our appearance, but why would we forget about it and for what reason?" Amirg could have the answers, but both of them felt into his mind and only felt an abyss, his history muddied a bit and unrecognized which didn't help as he finished. "For whatever the cause, we have aided the young Exalt in his defense of home and have made a spot in his soul of trust, I didn't think we would come this far, but my senses tell me that we have much more to be done." Christian nodded as he departed to survey the grounds, Alexander focusing inward as he asked. 'Amirg, you said that I was meant to be a host for your power, does that fully mean that I was born of Plegian lineage?'
'There is only one country that worships Grima and that is correct, still the possibility that you are from a different nation than Plegia is plausible, but Plegia is the only place with crazy cultists that would want a host of Grima.' Alex nodded as he turned and opened the doors into the main hall, nodding as he continued on.
'Still, we have to be on guard, the world is changing and we still need answers, a few for a start is how Plegia managed to control the Risen, why now does the world suddenly feel on edge, and who is Marth truly, having future events of what is going to happen or was going to happen... so many questions, but with so few answers, we stand in a dire strait and we have to swim out before the tide steals us beneath.' The duo agreed as Alexander looked before he found his place and sorted through the rooms for his organization...