Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stone
The Tale of the Sage-Knight
Disclaimer: um…yeah, I don't own anything that is involved with Fire Emblem. If I did, the Game cube version would be Roy's story and I would be making one for the DS. And my characters of Kilika, Telco, and Venn would be in the game too. But since I don't own it…yeah. I do own Kilika, Telco, and Venn. I have ownership. Yay.
And for Link015 and any others confused. Kilika is a male. Kilika is Hawaiian for Chris which is my name.
Chapter 2: Failure
After our fateful meeting in Serefew, we traveled a few miles to the Adlas Plains. Out in the middle of nowhere, meaning, surrounded by forest, forest…hey look, a mountain, and more forest, we all decided to set up camp and call it quits for the night. I got to meet some of Princess Eirika's companions. First there was Joshua the myrmidon. I think that that Venn and Joshua will be good friends on the account on they both like to gamble and flirt with woman. Their first target…Natasha, a quiet but beautiful cleric/sister from Grado. I had to practically drag them away from her to teach them some manners on respecting woman. But as soon as I let them go, they went straight back to Natasha. I presume that they would never learn. I saw Telco speaking with Neimi, a pink hair archer from Renais and Colm whose I suppose is a good friend of Neimi, seeing that they never separate. Gilliam the knight and Seth were playing an old tactics game, chess while Franz was cooking dinner. Garcia, feared axe fighter, was putting his son, Ross, asleep and Vanessa was brushing her Pegasus. Lute the mage; Artur the monk, and Father Moulder were talking about magic and staves. I was tempted to join in their conversation about the many magic skills, but then I saw Eirika sitting by a lone campfire. My thoughts were to leave her be, but my instincts told me to talk to her. And if I learned something over the years of traveling with Telco and Venn, it was to trust my instincts, not my thoughts.
I causally walked over, making sure not to draw too much attention. "Excuse me, Princess Eirika. Is this seat taken?" I asked. She scooted over and I took my seat. "It's a beautiful night out. Kind of reminds me of Renais." I looked over to the south. "Heh. Looks like we'll be traveling blind tomorrow. Those clouds will be upon us soon." I looked over to her, who still has a grim look on her face. "Princess Eirika, what's wrong?"
She turned away, not facing me. I knew she didn't want to answer. But seeing her in this state, depressed, it's so gloomy. I got up and walked to face her. I got on both my knees and lifted her face to it would be eye leveled with mine. "Princess, I told you that I would do anything to help you now, but I can't help you if you don't tell me what's wrong. Now, I'm asking you…as a friend, what's wrong?" All of a sudden, she launched forward wrapping her arms around my neck. She was crying. I closed my own eyes to hide my tears. And in that state when I was soothing her, I knew what she was worried about…Her brother, Prince Ephraim. It was a weird sense that I knew that he was in the Grado Empire, attacking their army. And that was all she had. Her father, King Fado, was killed in battle. A proud man with honor and glory whence no man has ever wished achieved.
When she finally calmed down, I put my hands gently on her shoulders. "Do not worry, my Princess. Prince Ephraim is a strong leader and will not be easy to kill. I'm sure that he will come back to return Renais to it's former glory and even better." I heard Franz calling everyone to eat. It was then that I took off my cloak and covered Eirika with it to keep her warm. "I'll get you something to eat." I gave her small peck on her forehead. "Rest easy, Princess Eirika. If anything is to happen to you or Prince Ephraim, it will have to take me first." I stood up and walked over the log to the line of the hungry soldiers. I stood behind Telco.
"So I see you've developed a crush for Princess Eirika." Telco inquired. I looked at him was wide eyes, not believing if he actually saw us. "Besides that, what's the scope? What is it that we need to do?"
"Wha! You didn't…I mean…Damn you and your ultra strong archer eyes." I let a sigh and turned around. "It looks like we got our work cut out for us. We'll be traveling the Grado Empire. Heh, maybe we'll go to your home village. I'd like to know who taught you how to shoot a bow." We went up to Franz who was serving stew from wild herb and meat. "Two bowls please, one for me and another for Princess Eirika." Franz poured the stew and gave it to me. "Thanks. See you later." Franz gave a slight nod of the head. Telco was nowhere to be found, but then I found him eating with Venn. He looked at me and jerked his head toward Princess Eirika. I gave a soft laugh and walked away.
"Princess Eirika, foods up. And it looks great." I passed the bowl to her and gratefully took it. "Mm…I say, Franz is a really good cook, despite his lack in years." Eirika nodded in agreement.
"Cavaliers are to learn the basic of cooking if they want to go on a journey. To make sure the troops are well feed, since we don't have many traveling cooks." I laughed a little.
"Ha! No wonder my brother would always cook." I tried to laugh again, but couldn't. I looked down at the stew. It was almost like the stew Kenji made when we went out hunting. I put the bowl down and stood up. "I need to go for a walk. A bid you a farewell and good night." I bowed to her and stroll into the forest.
It was nothing special about this forest. Just one that was covered with trees and such. Somehow, walking alone always calms me down. I leant on a nearby tree and just sighed. I went on many adventures and many dangerous quests in my life. I fought and killed many of the toughest bandits in all the seven kingdoms. Then why do I have a bad feeling about this one. This is going to be like any other mission I've been other, except for the fact we're not getting paid, but that isn't the point. Something was amiss. Something was really amiss. I couldn't put my finger on it but something was wrong.
I heard something that was wasn't by a nightlife animal. I turned around, unsheathing my sword and slashing at the prowler. After that I heard a kink and knew that the attack had weapon. It was too dark to see, but I knew if I took the time to see, it would cost me my life. So I continued my attack, hacking away. But being the smart fighter I am, I could finish this fight without one of us dying. I closed my eyes to get a feel for the sword and my surrounding area, only the night wind's whisper and the slashing of the cold-hearted steel…if steel ever had a heart. I brought my sword downwards to my reverse side bringing his sword with'em. With a flip of the wrist, I swiftly brought up my blade, also taking the attacker's cutting edge blade with my hand guard. By that time, the attacker was off balance. I brought down the sword down again, but this time by my left hand, my sword hand. Reaching behind my back, I grabbed my hidden dagger, dropped my killing edge, grasped the attacker's arm and brought my dagger to his throat. But then I could smell the hint of perfumes. This was no man…my attacker was a woman, one with long blue hair. I soon recognized both the hair and the perfume; it was none other then Princess Eirika.
"Well, well, if it isn't princess Eirika. I hope you're feeling better." I went to hug her, but stopped. Instead, I pushed up my glasses and set my hands on in pockets. I took a step back and stood sideways. I looked down at the ground, trying not to attach my eyes to her.
"Yes…I am. Thank you." I could hear her soft voice that whispered in the wind, so soft that I could barely hear. It was a while since either of us said a word. Seeming that time had slowed down. The branches, leaves, and just the night's wind was all that we heard for a long time. It even seemed like a small vortex surrounded us. "Kilika…Tell me. Tell me about yourself. Tell about Renais. Tell everything about you…and your life."
"There is nothing about me to tell, your highness." I said to her. I started to walk away, but She stepped in front of me. I went in the other direction, but she again moved in front of me again. She was quite persistence, I'd say.
"Please Kilika. We've been traveling for almost 5 days together. I know close to nothing about you. I see you helping others and helping me and you seek no rewards or any favors." I looked into her eyes to see what she was getting at. "I knew your brother, Kilika. He was a gentle man with a heart pure of evil deeds. And every time I see you, I see Kenji in you. Such kind eyes." She placed her hand on my face, stroking gently. Her smooth skin a blessing upon me. I couldn't help, but stare into her eyes that were so deep.
"I'm sorry. Thus I cannot, this burden is for me to carry and me only ever since my brother died. I need no one's help." I turned around and started walking away.
"You know what your problem is? You never let anyone help you. You help a lot people, but you're just so…so arrogant." She shouted at me. I never heard her shout like that. And I personally wouldn't stand for it. No matter even if it was the Princess.
"Shut up! I heard enough out of you! You think you know me? Well do you?" I rotated around and started walking towards her in a threatening way, shouting all the way. "You know nothing of me. I tell you, nothing! My family, my home, my life! I say now Eirika, if you knew me, you'd know why I have to be so 'arrogant'. But you don't, so don't talk about something you know nothing about!" I shouted. I towered over her, and saw the tears in her eyes, the fear that I delivered. I stepped backwards, not knowing what I a moment ago just did. I actually roared at Princess Eirika. A woman that was not only my leader and general, but also the woman I had a slight crush on since I saw her. Which I know is wrong since I am a mercenary and she is a princess. "Wha…what did I do? Princess Eirika…" I couldn't take it anymore. The fear in her eyes, I could do nothing more but run, I don't know where and really didn't care, just somewhere away from her, away her pain and agony.
I ran as far as my legs could take me, hearing the faint cries of Eirika's weeping. I ran into a nearby cliff side. Falling on my knees and screamed out. Screamed out as loud as I could. I didn't care who heard me; I didn't really care as much for my life anymore. I lost all respect for myself and lost the girl I ever liked in my lifetime, which none as fairer then princess Eirika. "What got into me? I don't even know who I am anymore." I laid my head low for the moon. The same moon that shined over my head for so long now. "Why, Great Moon of the Night Sky. Why are you forsaken me?" I shouted. Then I took notice of a shooting star, a sign of good fortune. But what good fortune is this. I lost everything dear to me in this world.
I decided to sleep there for the night. I needed some time to think, some time alone. So there I was, once again alone, sleeping on the ground by myself. Aye, I wish I had milady beside me. Haha. That is, if she ever wants to come beside me. But by the way I treated her this night, I doubt that will ever happen now.
It was next day, and the sun up covered up by the fog. Damn, I hate it when I'm right. I gather my things, my Killing Edge, Elfire Tome, and a Vulnerary. I tried to retrace my steps, but since I ran with no complete sense of where I was going, I have no way of knowing where I was going. So I did what Venn would do…keep walking straight, which might be a bad idea. But all I did was run straight. I walked till I got to a cleared area. This was the Adlas Plains. I walked through blindly till I heard some voices and it none I heard before. This was not Princess Eirika's group. Instead it was two men, one shaman and an old priest.
"So tell me, you have ascertained on Eirika's whereabouts, have you not?" The old priest asked. He had an eerie look to him and an even more eerie voice. He was no holy father, I say. More like a demonic old priest of the old legends. The shaman I couldn't see very well, his hood covered his eyes. It seem that they wish to do harm to Princess Eirika. But I will make sure that won't happen.
"I have. I sent some of our men to follow the princess as she fled Serafew. They tell me Eirika and her friends will be coming this way shortly. Our ambush is ready and waiting. There is no way they can escape. Like rats in the sack, they say. Heh, Heh, Heh…" The shaman laughed. I would attack them now, but they said ambush. Now this peaked my interest. I got two choices; attack them now and risk life or wait till Lady Eirika arrives with reinforcements. Heh, I made be a smart fighter, but I can't resist a good fight.
"Very good…won't that wench Valter be delighted." He too expresses amusement. "Now about this Princess Eirika. I heard she is quite a handful. They say her paladin withstood Valter's lance. Tell me, Novala, are you certain that you can handle this assignment?" Shaman, currently known now as Novala, seemed a little angry about that last comment.
"Don't worry. Everything is under control. I've brought along a certain something from Renais. It will negate whatever futile resistance they offer. Ha ha ha."
"Heh heh heh. Pray it goes well. Very well. Do what you must. I must return to the capital." The old priest said. Good, now was the time to attack. Soon, he left and all that was left was shaman. I jumped out and slashed at Novala. He dodged left and shot out a Flux. I too, dodged.
"Who are you, boy? What business to you have assaulting me?" He shouted. I stood up and placed my sword, blunt side on my shoulder.
"The name's Kilika, the sword-mage. Remember it, but then again, Corpse hasn't have a need to remember names." I told him. I had a smirk on my face. Just by looking at him I can take out him and his entire 'ambush' party. "You know what, this isn't fair. You up against me, so why don't you call out your little friends to help out."
"Why you little arrogant punk! That was your last insult of your life! Now feel the wrath of my power." A bunch of mercenaries, fighters, archers, and brigades came out. A little more then I expected. "I kill you and use your head as a trophy once I replace the senile old fool, Riev, besides our Emperor."
"I don't care. You won't get that chance if you are bent on harming princess Eirika." I told him, pointed my sword toward the shaman; even though I was outnumber 20 to 1. Novala just looked at me.
"Eirika you say? Well this is a treat. Get him, we can use him as bait, too." They all charged. I manage to kill a mage, but was overwhelmed by the sheer numbers. And I got quite the beating for that one. They took all my weapons; I was left helpless with my hands bound to the back. "Heh, I know your reputation, Kilika. You fought bandits all over the continent, but you never fought a royal solider of the state. You see; you are just like every other pathetic fighter who can think they can take on the Grado Empire." I was going to speak, but he cut me off. "And before you speak of Serafew, those were bandits that were found and bribed with money. They could never amount to a real soldier, just like you. Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!"
I just sat there as the soldiers went back to their ambush places. I was thrown in an impassable circle of mountains with 3 other citizen. For the first time I actually felt helpless, a failure. I failed Princess Eirika. When she gets here, they're probably just going to kill me. Heh, now I can never tell her how I feel. Damn them.