Chris: I'm finally back with another chapter! Hope you like it!
RLnaruhina: Glad you like it so much, and don't worry about the finish time for the contest. I'll have a lot of leeway cause there's only like….three people in it right now. So yeah, don't worry about it. And just so you know I read it, it's about the Karel/Dart supports and Karel just chopped off a guy's hand. Nice so far, I'll review when it's finished.
Dairokkan: Well, you'll see. You might find things a little different from what you're expecting.
Mullenium Master: Glad you liked it.
Aqua Solider (x2): Bah, Sain isn't atrocious…He's just…overly courteous. Yeah. That sounds a lot better than a perverted womanizer. Yeah. Sain is just overly courteous. And thanks for the compliments!
Nightmare3: This isn't soon…But here's the update! And yes, I did read your fic (I'm doing a mini-review for all entrants here.) and so far, it's fine…And I features Raven and Karel. Two…wait…Yeah, two fics about Karel. Strange. Anyway, your structuring is getting a lot better but you still have minor spelling and grammatical errors. Nothing to be worried about.
Draknal: Glad you liked it and here's the next chapter just for you! And everyone else who reviewed! And Karla is awesome. Although she sucks in the game.
danyelldmd: Thanks for the compliments…And I'll think of something for the Sain x Nino one.
Min the Noodle (x2): You're back! And you haven't updated/posted anything! Tsk, tsk. Anyway, glad you liked both of the chapters and I hope you like this one as well! Oooh, and join the fic-contest! Rules are in my profile…cause I need more entrants! Grading three is like flipping a coin…It's really not that fun.
JSB: Well, glad you entered and since I'm doing this with all of the entrants, I might as well overview my thoughts about your fic here. One, it's a very original idea. Not many fics about Nils out there. And the flute idea was very nice. No other comments at the moment, but I'll be waiting for an update.
Disclaimer: I do not have the ability to drain your souls through my stories and use them to power my mind-control device. In fact, I don't even have a mind control device. So your souls will remain safe until I obtain one.
Also, don't own Fire Emblem. And if you believe I can suck our your soul…I will laugh at you. Like this. HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Chapter 3: The Sword Mistress, Part 2
Karla struggled out of Sain's grip, flushing deeply and giving the cavalier a wounded glance. "Sain! That was entirely inappropriate!" The black-haired girl's face was flushed with blood and she was panting slightly. "I can't believe you did that!"
"I'm sorry, my beautiful flower." Sain said remorsefully. "Still…Looking like that, I couldn't resist." He smiled gamely. "I hope I was not too forward."
"Ah…I…Uh…" Karla stuttered, running through her mind for various reactions to his honest statement. Something akin to a multiple choice test suddenly popped into her head. Choice number one was to be like her brother Karel and chop the insolent cavalier into pieces. Choice number two was to just walk away and never speak to him again. Choice number three was to forgive him and not let this incident faze her. And her final choice was for her to fall for Sain's lines and kiss him back. Almost as reflex, she discarded choices one and four. They were the extremes, and she wasn't an extreme girl.
Luckily for Sain, and maybe Karla, she chose to mark number three as her choice. Clearing her throat slightly, she calmed down and looked Sain in the eye. "It's okay…But please, don't do that again. I do not harbor those types of feelings for you…at the moment."
Sain smiled briefly at the mention of the last words. He knew that there was still a chance because Karla had just left one door to her heard open. "I am truly sorry, oh goddess of war! Next time, I will be certain to contain the love I carry in my heart for you!" He bowed regally.
Karla stifled a small giggle. Sain certainly was strange. She wondered how her brother would react if he saw this. 'Karel would probably just shrug and call him a worthless nuisance and leave…All he cares for is power…I wonder where he is…' Karla's thoughts brought her mind back to the main reason why she was here. She was still searching for her brother, and ever since she joined, which was a day ago, she hadn't seen any sign of her demonic brother.
"So, if we are finished, milady, is there another way that I may assist you?" Sain asked, grinning cheekily. He ran a hand across his brow, wiping the sweat off of his headband. Karla thought for a bit before shrugging mentally. It really couldn't hurt to ask if Sain had seen her brother anywhere.
"Um…The brother I am searching for. His name is Karel. Have you seen him anywhere?" Karla asked skeptically, believing that the cavalier would have no knowledge of her long-haired brother.
Sain paled slightly. "Karel? Does….Does he have long hair?"
"Yes, he does." Karla nodded, a tiny spark of hope igniting in her heart.
"…Is he a master of the sword and does he like killing people?"
"Yes, yes!" Karla nodded again, this time more vigorously. Apparently, they did have news about him!
"And is your brother a demonic entity who likes to eat the souls of the dead?"
"Of course not!" Karla said angrily, softening her tone when she realized that Sain was just joking. The cavalier let out a shaky laugh.
"Yeah, Karel's in this army. Heh heh…" Sain rubbed the back of his head. "Funny story about we met, really. Your brother is quite excitable…Kept going on how we weren't strong enough to sate his lust for fighting. Not the most sociable of creatures."
"Yep, that's my brother." Karla stifled a small laugh, enjoying the way Sain described Karel. "So, can you tell me where he is?"
"Sure, why not?" Sain motioned towards a spot farther away from the camp. "I believe he should be there, training with his new apprentice. But last time I interrupted him, he threatened to kill me and drink my blood. I listened to him. But for you, beautiful rose, I shall go to the depths of hell itself for you!" He gently took Karla's hand and the sword-wielding woman didn't do anything to stop him.
---
"Focus!" Karel roared angrily as he slammed his sword against Guy's. "You will never be strong enough to fight me if you can't focus!" The brown-black haired swordmaster suddenly zipped to the side, catching Guy off guard. "You are still too weak!" He swung, but Guy was quick enough to turn the attack aside.
"I will win, Master!" Guy returned and he went on the offensive. Diving low, he slashed at Karel's feet, but the swordmaster only jumped backwards and brought his sword down. Guy rolled to the side and kicked himself upwards, landing behind Karel. The Sword Demon smiled grimly and thrust with his sword. Guy sidestepped and avoided the direct attack and launched one of the combinations that his master had taught him.
'Fukutsu!' Guy struck with a flurry of swift strikes, not getting discouraged as each blow was deflected. In fact, as each of his hits was parried, they steadily grew stronger until he was able to break past Karel's guard and hit the swordmaster in the neck with his wooden sword.
Karel grinned, licking his lips and anticipating the time when he could revel in the feeling of true battle against his student. "Good offense! However, you still cannot focus! Defend, now!" Guy's teacher moved swiftly, disappearing from the ponytailed-boy's vision.
Guy looked around wildly, unsure of where Karel would strike next. Remembering what his master had taught him, the green-haired boy closed his eyes and used his other senses to detect Karel. For while the eyes were controlled by the light, his other senses were open to all changes around him. 'Left of me!' He swung and blocked the sword aimed for his side. His foe suddenly disappeared again and Guy focused his energy again. 'Behind me!' Guy spun but was unable to react in time, feeling the hard wood of his master's blade pound against his stomach.
Guy was lifted into the air and he fell a small ways away, coughing. He struggled upwards, feeling his sore stomach. He looked up lamely, seeing his master stare at him. Guy slowly lifted his sword, ignoring the pain and readying himself for the rest of his training. Karel slid forward to attack when he heard someone cry his name.
"Karel! Is that you?" Karla's sweet voice filtered through the training grounds and Karel paused, looking unfazed.
"…Hello sister…" Karel nodded slightly. He looked at the sword that Karla wore at her waist. "I see you've improved."
Karla folded her arms and grimaced. "I have. All so I could finally get to you."
"Why, dear sister?" Karel said mockingly. He never considered any of his family members dear to him.
"Why?" Karla smiled slightly. "Because you're my brother. Because I wanted you back. Because I felt I had to."
Sain looked between the two siblings, not wanting to interfere. From the looks of things, this wasn't going to be the happy reunion that he had envisioned earlier. Guy jogged up next to him, looking curiously at the newcomer.
"Hey, who's she?" Guy pointed at Karla.
"Karla's the new person in our group, my friend. That beautiful flower joined so that she might finally be reunited with her brother!" Sain said dramatically. "Of course, it doesn't look like it's going so well…"
"I agree." Guy nodded slowly, watching the two. "Think she'll teach me sword fighting?"
Sain shrugged. "I don't truthfully know. My beauteous Karla does not seem to enjoy the fighting arts." He grinned slightly. "Even though she is quite good at it." Guy only nodded.
"So, sister…Do you truly believe you can bring me back?" Karel smiled wickedly, running his fingers across the edge of his wooden sword.
Karla stared at him for a while before looking at the ground. "No…I don't. But that won't stop me from trying!" She brought her sword up in front of her, holding the wood horizontally across her face.
"Even with this piece of junk, I could still kill you!" Karel laughed brazenly. "Do not throw away your life, sister! You still aren't strong enough to even touch me!"
Karla's anger flared and she narrowed her eyes. "We'll see about that!" She cried as she attacked, holding her sword high above her head. Karel just smiled, threw his sword away and lay on the ground. Karla stopped, her anger kindling again.
"How dare you insult me!" Karla yelled angrily.
"No, no. How dare you insult me!" Karel returned, his eyes flashing. "I believe I have said that you could not scratch me with that toy and yet you presume that you can defeat me? That, my sister, is the ultimate insult!"
"Whoa, whoa!" Sain rushed in, namely to stop Karla from doing something stupid like attacking Karel and killing herself as well as the chivalric feeling of duty that he for his beloved to not get her hurt. 'Of course,' Sain thought wryly, 'if Karel kills me, then that would ruin my plans. I wouldn't put it past him.'
"What do you want?" Karel glared at Sain.
"Why are you interrupting me?" Karla yelled, her sword now pointed at the brown-haired cavalier.
'Wrong move, Sain…I shouldn't have done that.' Sain raised his hand slightly, looking sheepish. "Pardon me, o beautiful mistress of the sword, but, you see…Um…I really don't know what's going on here, and I would really like it if you didn't get hurt. It would mar your lovely figure."
"Sain, what are you jabbering about now?" Karla said in exasperation. She was growing tired of his incessant compliments and chattering. She had a score to settle with her brother and she wasn't going to let anyone, even a romantic knight, get in her way.
"Yes, Sain...Did you decide you want to die?" Karel's eyes narrowed. "You have no chance against me."
"Uh…I kind of figured that." Sain chuckled. "Anyway, Karla…Can I talk to you for a moment?" He looked at Guy, who was trying to listen in on their conversation. "Alone?"
"Sure, but make it quick!" Karla snapped as she allowed the cavalier to lead her far away from her brother. "What do you want?"
"Listen, Karla…I told you I don't know everything that's happening…But I don't know if it's worth throwing your life away. I have seen Karel fight. No offense to you or your lovely skills, but he is out of our league. Out of almost everyone's league." Sain looked at Karla pleadingly. "Please…Listen Karla. All compliments aside, all those words aside…And I would still say the same thing. You truly are beautiful. You're a goddess. I don't want to see you throw away your life and your beauty just for vengeance."
"…" Karla looked at Sain, and then back to her brother. "I don't know…"
"Please, Karla…For me?" Sain smiled his trademark smile, which had the uncanny ability to charm almost every girl in sight. "I don't want to see you get hurt."
"…" Karla dropped her sword. "Fine, I'll listen to you…For now."
"All right!" Sain smiled widely. Now that the serious part of over, the cavalier kissed Karla's soft, pale skin. "O delicate and fragile flower, how joyous I am to see that you have accepted my advice!"
"Sain!" Karla said, trying to stifle laughter. "P-Please stop! You're embarrassing me!"
"Am I?" Sain looked up, a mischievous gleam in his eyes. "Well then…I guess I'll just have to do something to make you love me instead." He softly pulled the young woman closer to him. "I really would hate to see you give everything up for the past…" Gently, slowly, softly, the cavalier planted another kiss on the sword mistress' lips. And this time, she didn't resist.
Chris: Aww….How sweet! Ahem, anyway…While this does seem like a nice way to end it…There's still one more chapter. Why? Cause technically, I've never really explained if Karla is actually in love with Sain. Cause, so far it's just been a day. A day is too quick for love, man. Remember, Karla just joined yesterday in this fic.
Hope you enjoyed it and review please!
P.S. - If you haven't noticed, once again, I used Japanese for the sword moves. I was going to use Korean, because Guy is from a different tribe than Karel (different tribe, different techniques), but since I couldn't find a good one, I settled for Japanese. Eh, at least I changed the name of the move to fit the character.
English - Japanese
Fortitude - Fukutsu