Fire Emblem and any of its original characters and original storyline do NOT belong to me.

A man of red armour opened the swing door in the restaurant chamber, eyes peering over the mist of smoke. The air was thick of the smell of alcohol of many sorts, joined by the succulent aroma of roasted chicken and strong-smelling soup and garlic bread. It was a strange combination in the atmosphere; it smelt strangely good, yet terrible. Alas, he would get what he had come for, and calmly walked inside.

People shamelessly stared as he passed by; it was somewhat a rarity to see a knight in crimson armour in a place like this. Then again, Bulgar was a common commercial trading site, so it wouldn't be a surprise to see a knight of Caelin here.

He eluded the steady brazen glares and ignored the pointing fingers and hushed whispers, and continued to scan the area with perceptive eyes.

No where to be seen. Damn him. When will he ever learn not to go astray from his mission? He sighed to himself inwardly, turning back on his heels to look for any areas he might have missed.

I take my eye off him one minute, next minute… sigh… seriously…

It then caught his ear; that non-mistakable 'charming' flattering voice just over his shoulder. He looked over to see his comrade, as he expected and heaved a great sigh to be flirting with a rather attractive woman.

"Oh, please…" The woman giggled with a snort, flicking her hand in a shy gesture. A knight in forest green armour was sitting right across from her helping himself with some rum and was grinning ridiculously.

"No really… you are the most gorgeous woman with beauty that even surpasses that of the most beautiful flowers in this planet!" He smiled dreamily into her starry eyes, "Oh, what privilege to be in such presence… so breath-taking…"

"You say that to every girl you meet, Sain." The moment of floating and obsequiousness had vanished. Sain blinked a few times, and looked up to his calm, yet evidently annoyed companion. The woman gave the red knight a cold yet confused glare, then at Sain for some explanation.

"Kent! What a delightful coincidence you happen to be here." Sain try to sound calm and add a pathetic excuse of a laugh. Kent's stare was steel; Sain tried to elude it, but as always, he failed.

An awkward silence followed. Kent had his arms crossed, the woman was dodging looks, and Sain was sitting there twiddling his thumbs, cursing that he got caught. People in the bar turned and stared, transfixed, but it seemed tedious and looked away after awhile.

He decided to break the silence with an introduction. "Erm… this is my companion, Kent. Kent, this is Sherna."

Sherna said nothing but forced out a brave smile. Kent looked at her coolly, and made a slight bow. "Milady," he glanced at Sain, then back at her, "you don't mind…?"

She shrugged her shoulders, half-aware what Kent had meant.

Shortly he dragged a languished Sain outside by the ears.

"What that necessary?" Sain whined with a cocky look, rubbing his beet-red ear, "I swear you could have disconnected my ears from my head –" He paused, seeing that Kent was clearly not in the mood. He went silent, somewhat guilty.

"You're forgetting you're duty as a Knight of Caelin." Kent said calmly, yet a shot of coldness Sain only knew too well he seemed to endure on a daily basis.

"You pain me, dear friend! Why would I forget something I devote my life to?"

"By slacking on our mission; enticing and flirting with every girl that passes by you." He countered severely. "You know better than that. You're being so irresponsible."

"I was…" Sain was struggling for excuses that he had not used, "…Just taking a break-"

"Two hours?"

"I was just about to leave-"

"I'm sure." He ultimately questioned that, and turned to lease his horse free from its rope that was tied around a pole supporting a rim. Sain sighed, and did the same with him own horse and followed hastily after his friend.

"Kent, don't be mad…"

"I'm not mad." Kent narrowed his eyes, and looked at Sain.

"Just remember our mission… to find her."

Bulgar was larger than he had expected; it was a city practically bursting with movement and excitement. Mark left ever person that glanced at his unique eyes transfixed, but Mark learned to ignore it and continued following Lyn like a magnet.

"Careful not to get lost, Mark." Lyn warned, comically evading a wagon carrying a load of goods and threw a sharp glare at the driver. "It's quite busy, especially this time of year."

"I've noticed. Why is it so busy?"

"Well, there are certain events in the year when more supplies are shipped; as well as seasonal things, which are most desired, taking that you can only get it once a year. Bulgar happens to be quite a merchant's paradise for these sorts of things… But I must admit it does seem quite a bit busier this year."

"Why is that?"

"I'm not quite sure… but in any rate, keep a close eye and never let your guard down. There brigands in every corner, waiting to attack…"

" I'll keep by you, milady."

"Yes, do well to keep near me… But in the outcome, if we should be separated it would be best that we meet somewhere… lets see… perhaps the inn… Mark?"

With no response, she wheeled around, huffing an air of annoyance that her Tactician had already disappeared in the flooding crowds.

Quickly, she scrambled to look for Mark. "Mark? Mark!...Oh seriously…" She growled, walking a few more steps. After she told him to stay with her. Men!

Mark couldn't help it. He was curious and quite eager to do a little exploring. He felt it a bit rude to leave Lyn just like that, but his mischievous side was taking hold of him. Besides, he knew well that chances of something happening in public were less when it came to him individually, but however the rate of some radical individuals bombarding the public was high, for it was busy and overflowing with people. He also couldn't exclude the rate of uncertainness. It was just a risk he was going to take, but that didn't seem to bother him.

Mark began to wonder aimlessly down towards the northern side, glancing intently at the sales and goods. They had everything at the bazaar! Magical goods, potions, weapons, shields, maps… Mark took note to himself to re-visit, finding that some items here seemed compulsory for him and Lyn's upcoming journey.

Then he came up to the food portion of the bazaar. Fruits and vegetables looked quite abundant. He decided to stop in front of a trolley of apples, looking at their bright-red lavishing coat. They looked quite fresh and ripen –

"Hey!" A deep voice suddenly roared, and a small yelp of a child was to be heard. Mark swiftly turned his head seeing the owner of the apples, a fairly large man, holding a bone crushing grip on a peasant child. It was apparent to see the child had attempted to steal an apple.

"I-I'm sorry!" The young boy wept and sobbed, trying to escape from the massive man's grip. "Please… I was just hungry… I couldn't help myself… please let me go… I swears… I don't steal again, I swears…"

"HAH! You expect me to believe a filthy little runt like you? You know the penalty for stealing!" He tightened his grip, and the boy let out a muffled scream. The boy widened his eyes in fear when the man took a chopping knife, and forcefully rested his tiny arm onto the table. Mark was alarmed, shifting glances at the passers-by. Why was nobody even caring to help? Or even look, for the matter?

"Please don't! Please don't! PLEASE! NO!"

"What's going on here!" Mark suddenly snapped just in time, the chopping knife just an inch away from connecting to the small boys' flesh. The young boy looked up frightened at Mark, yet eyes tearing with innocent hope.

The man looked bitterly at him.

"I'm just taking care of a thief –"

"I told him to buy me some apples." Mark interrupted. The man looked at Mark, cocking an eyebrow, then looked at this boy, who looked about seven or eight.

"Heh, ur not gonna lie to me. I'm not easy to fool. Look at you, all clean and all. Him, he's a peasant. A nobody."

"Don't be so arrogant about the assumptions you make." Mark narrowed his eyes, "We were playing out in the field, that's why he's dirty."

"Then why aren't you filthy if you were playing in the field?"

"I went back to the inn to change myself. I told him in the meanwhile to go buy some apples," He then looked pointedly at the small boy," Am I right, Alexander?" he hoped the young boy would play along with his made-up name. The boy, 'Alexander', looked up to him speechlessly.

"Y-yes…"

"See? Now unarm him."

"He looked awfully sly, like a thief." The man said dangerously.

"Is that so? Well, I'm sorry about that. He has that look about him indeed, but I guarantee you he's harmless." He looked down 'Alexander'.

"Apologize to this man, Alexander."

"…I'm sorry, mister…" 'Alexander' sobbed silently.

"There, see? All at peace. Now, unarm him please." The man looked rather reluctant.

Mark looked derisively at him, smiling, "Of course, I can always invite a guard to have a chat with you." The man growled under his breath, and let go of the boy. The boy took back his arm, rubbing it to regain blood circulation.

"Now, Alexander." Mark said quietly to him, and smiled. "I've seemed to have forgotten how many apples I told you to get. How many did I say?"

'Alexander' still looked a little dumbstruck, but glanced at the corner where his two smaller siblings watched. He looked back up at Mark. "Three." He said softly, "You told me to get… three."

"Three? We're going to have more guests than that! What about we get nine? I think that's a better deal, don't you think?" With that said, he purchased the said amount, and gave them to 'Alexander'.

Mark began to walk away from the trolley with 'Alexander' by his side, until he had suddenly broke into a run and disappeared into the crowds without looking back, joined by his two siblings.

Mark couldn't blame him. He just smiled to himself inwardly and walked the other direction.

"I must congratulate you for such an act of kindness." A voice suddenly spoke to him from behind, and Mark stopped to look. No doubt the man in crimson armour was referring to the incident with Alexander and the apples.

"It brings me joy to see someone with such compassion."

"It bothers me that no one stood up for the young boy." Mark didn't mean to sound so bitter.

"I do not blame you. It bothers me as well."

"If you saw what happened, why not help?"

"I had just come when the man put down the blade, but I knew what happened from the expression of the boy and the way he ran off like that."

Mark was silent. The crimson knight proceeded towards Mark, brown eyes examining him.

"… You're not from around here, are you?" He said after looking into Mark's dazzling brilliant eyes. Mark smiled slightly.

"No, I am just a tourist here… came for all the big sales."

"…I see. What is your name?"

"I'll exchange mine for yours." Mark bit back, somewhat stubbornly. He wanted to know who this somewhat meddlesome knight was.

The knight looked at him seriously, then smiled. "Very well. My name is Kent, knight of Caelin."

"I am Mark… er… of the… Sacae." He hated himself for hesitating. Now this knight was surely suspicious of an outsider like him.

"Sacae, is it?" The knight turned, sounding somewhat unconvinced.

"I apologize, Mark, but you will have to come with me. It's nothing personal. It's better to be safe... you never know who's an enemy or brigand."

With that, having no choice but to follow the crimson knight, he followed.

Lyn had spent nearly an hour looking for Mark, and she was getting annoyed.

"Curse it all…" She sighed miserably. Mark should be easy to find, for he stood out quite a bit amongst these commoners. His eyes, for one, should have been easy to spot. Then it came to mind of the thought that Mark wasn't even in Bulgar. Perhaps he left?

No, he wouldn't do that. Lyn denied in her mind.

She suddenly absently walked into a horse, falling backwards… unfortunately into some mud. The nearby crowd blatantly burst with laughter as Lyn struggled to get back onto her feet, only slipping again, but thankfully someone caught her arm.

"I'm so sorry, milady!" A young man with a green bandana apologized frantically and roughly pulled her up unintentionally, "I didn't see you there!"

He threw a dangerous glare at the laughing crowd, who silenced immediately.

Lyn struggled onto her feet. "No, no, it was an accident…" She forced a sweet smile, but she was riling with rage in her mind. She felt the discomfort of mud all over her legs and… rear end.

"It was my fault. It could have been all prevented…"

"No, it was my fault. I wasn't watching where I was going." Lyn reassured, removing a portion of the mud. The horse neighed and whinnied when Lyn bent down, ultimately making her jolt back up and throw a steady glare at the beautiful brown beast.

"Are you sure you are alright?" He asked again worriedly.

"I am fine. I am in one piece, if that is what you are worried about, sir." Lyn said back bluntly.

"Positive?"

"Yes."

"Perhaps I could do a proper apology by buying you a drink?"

Lyn froze, and looked up at the hopeful knight. Wasn't quite the response she was expecting…

"Er… what?"

"A drink? Would that be proper enough?"

"Well-"

"My name is Sain, but the way. Might I ask what your name is?" He was wearing a charming, amiable grin.

Now this guy was really pushing it. "My name is… Lyn…"

"Lyn…" He rolled her name, flavoring it. "Beautiful, simply beautiful!"

"…It is?" Lyn asked nervously, backing away, but Sain continued walking towards her.

"Oh, yes! Simply a beautiful, original name… a perfect name for a perfect being like yourself… beauty that surpasses the most beautiful flowers on this planet… breath-taking…"

"Listen, I'm looking for someone…!" Lyn laughed nervously, her temper however starting to rise. Sain looked at her, blinking.

"Ah, so you are looking for someone? Delightful! I will be more than happy to help you search for your lost companion! Actually, ironically I've lost my companion as well. The fates have must have had this carved in stone! Perhaps bring us together, even."

"…I think not. And my eyes are up here." She added heatedly, crossing her arms in effort to hide her chest. Sain laughed sinuously, scratching his head. "Of course… now, where shall we start?"

Lyn had tried her best to elude Sain, but somehow this man had some special technique to track her down, even though she would supposedly blend within the crowd. She didn't know how he did it; actually, she didn't want to know. He was clearly a head-over-heels fellow for the ladies, and quite the perverted scoundrel.

Whenever she thought she had lost him, Sain would come from behind with a spirited grin and continue following her. He was worse then she had thought… he was like the mud that stuck to her dress-like outfit; dirty, annoying, and hard to get off.

Lyn was close to snapping when she suddenly heard someone call Sain -

"Sain!"

Sain stopped dead on his heels, slowly circling around with a sheepish smile. "Kent, I've been looking for you…"

"Looking for me?" Kent countered, cocking an eyebrow as he walked up to him. "You saw me, and you tried to weasel your way out… again."

"Of course not! I'd never do that!"

"Miss Lyn?" Mark suddenly spoke from behind Kent. Lyn gasped.

"Mark!" She went to his side, "Where on earth have you been?"

"Sorry, milady, I went… er…" He smiled fretfully, trying to escape Lyn's unearthly deadly stare, but she was relieved otherwise.

Sain blinked, looking a bit disappointed. "Oh, I see your companion is a man. I was rather eager to expect your companion a female instead……"

"You were thinking dirty, weren't you?" Lyn countered back.

"What? Now listen-"

Kent suddenly cupped Sains' mouth and pulled him back. "I'm sorry, miss. My companion is a bit of a moron."

"At least you seem decent." Lyn said sternly.

Sain escaped Kent's hand and rubbed his cheeks scornfully. Kent ignored him.

"But it seems to me that you know this young man?" He gestured a look at Mark. Lyn nodded.

"Yes, he is with me as my tactician. We are journeying together. We just came to Bulgar a few hours ago, but we got… separated."

"I am assuming you will be staying overnight, then?"

"Yes, we are." She went silent, then shifted glances between the two knights and Mark. "What is the matter? Did we do something wrong? Did Mark do something wrong?"

"Of course not." Kent then indicated for Sain to follow him. "My apologies."

"Aren't you going to take me in? Just to be safe?" Mark called out to Kent, sounding a bit mocking.

Kent let out a rare smile, looking apologetic. He glanced at Lyn, then at Mark. "That will not be necessary anymore." Mark had to bite his lip when he said that. He was offended.

Sain followed behind him with his chestnut horse wordlessly, when Kent stopped again, and looked at Lyn.

"Your name… is Lyn, is it?"

"…Yes." She said silently, eyeing him back a bit guardedly. Kent looked deeply into her eyes for a moment and smiled again, walking away with his fellow companion without another word said.

Wow, I am really sorry that I've forgotten to mention in the previous chapter that I was on a vacation! I'm really, truly sorry, I really thought I did. That's why I haven't been updating quite as fast… not that I ever did in the first place. Hehe. Sorry about that!

Wow, I really made Sain such an idiot XD and Kent such a serious person. XD Haha. Sorry for the spelling and typo and lousy vocabulary. I didn't go over this a third time. XD