Mark woke up on the back of Florina's pegasus, who was grounded for now. Florina quietly walked slightly to the side and in front, guiding them by the reins. Mark blinked the sleep from his eyes a few times and hopped off the horse, taking his position in the middle of the march after giving Florina a quick thank you. Before he had gone to sleep, he had given the small squad a new marching pattern. Now, the formation was similar to that of an arrow. In the front were Kent, Sain, and Florina, as it was before, however, Eliwood now accompanied them on his horse. Eliwood had purposefully not brought his weapons, and instead was acting as a guide so that Kent and Sain could focus more on detecting possible enemies. Mark had been hoping to see what Eliwood could do with a sword, but Eliwood insisted this was the correct move on his part. If Eliwood was carrying his weapons on him, Caelin could possibly see it as a sign of poor faith on Pherae's part. If Lyn won, Eliwood was to vouch for her. If she failed, well… at least he wasn't showing aggression. Mark couldn't help but agree it was important for Eliwood to be unarmed. Riding on the back of Eliwood's horse was Ninian, whose ankle was injured. Mark still wasn't sure why Lyn had even decided to bring the twins along.
Beginning the shaft of the arrow formation was Lyn. Mark thought she should be one or two slots back but she insisted and he couldn't convince her otherwise. In the end, her job was to be on the front lines with the knights. Mark was worried somewhat about the danger this put her in, considering without her this whole quest was a pointless exercise, Directly behind her was Mark. He was originally going to stand all the way in the back, but he wanted to be the closest to when Lyn joined the front lines, in case he needed to protect her in anyway. He wasn't worried about her ability as a fighter, but in the same vein as his discomfort in putting her on the front lines, without her the whole quest was a pointless exercise.
Behind Mark was Erk. Frankly, if Mark wasn't in the back, Erk should have been, but Mark felt much more comfortable having his friend behind him. While he had a general sense of what they would come across, he wasn't confident enough to continue on without someone he trusted watching his back. Behind Erk was Serra. Mark didn't want her this close to danger, but she needed to be as close to everyone as possible in order to have the least amount of time between sighting an injured ally, and their recovery. This way she was close to her escort at least. Behind Serra was Matthew. Mark wanted Matthew in the front, which obviously didn't work out quite as he wished, but putting him any further than he was now would be a criminal misuse of his abilities. Hopefully his speed would still allow him to get behind enemy lines quickly.
The feather of the arrow was made of Wil, Lucius, and Nils. Wil was the last member of the shaft, and Lucius and Nils were behind him on either side. It only made sense for those with ranged or supporting roles that weren't healing to be in the back. Mark bemoaned this fact, considering he stuck their two anima mages near the front. At least he had a sword. Other than that he wasn't worried. He had briefly met with Nils and Lucius, who he knew almost nothing about other than they wanted to help after speaking with Lyn, before he had set up the formation.
"You're a light mage?" Mark had said, relieved more magic had presented itself to him. "Perfect, I'm going to place you in the very back. Is that all right? You understand what your role is correct?"
"Yes, I do." Lucius said with a smile. "Thank you for allowing me to lend my assistance, Mage General."
Mark tried to hide his discomfort. "Yes, no problem. Please don't call me that." He chided himself lightly to remember that everyone knew his secret now. He turned to leave.
"Hey, I want to help too!" A young voice shouted behind him. Mark turned around to see the child his sister had been chasing.
"... You're still here? Isn't the Fang hunting you or something?" Mark scratched his head, thinking back to the confrontation at the bar. "Sorry. I obviously had other concerns at the time. Anyway, what can you do? You're just a kid, after all."
"I-I know, but I'm not useless!" He insisted. "Really, my music is special. It can help you fight better." The boy waved around an ornate flute. "Pleeeeaaaase?" He begged. Mark looked at Lyn. She shrugged. He looked back at the kid's pouting face.
"It's not a place for children. Travelling with us is one thing. Fighting is another. I'll ask you one time." Mark squatted down to be on eye level with the boy. "Do you really, honestly think your music will help?" There was no sarcasm in his question.
Nils's face turned serious and he nodded. "I have no doubt at all."
Mark stood. "Alright, you'll be in the back too. Use your music as you see fit, I don't know how it works yet. Lucius, please watch over him."
Lucius bowed at the chest. "Of course, Mage General."
"Don't call me that."
"Of course, my apologies Ma-" He stopped himself. "...Mark. Of course Mark."
Mark was still sceptical as to the nature of Nils's ability, which he seemed to hold great pride in. He had to admit, part of him was curious. He hadn't heard of any sort of music being able to help in combat. Other than some drum signals of course, he thought, but they hadn't discussed any signals and Nils didn't have a drum, he had a flute. Shrugging it off, Mark contented himself to wait and see. Together the group marched on for a few hours before stopping by a river for a light rest. So far they had passed nine of the marking's Mark had put on his map. So far so good.
Wil sat down next to Mark on the river bank as Mark stared at a map. "Hey Mark." He started. Mark continued to focus on the map. Wil continued. "Almost there, huh?" Mark still wasn't listening. Wil socked him in the arm. Mark jolted, gathering himself.
"Uh... yes?" He said. Wil laughed.
"Ah yeah, see? That's just like you. I think about that small interaction and it just screams Mark you know?" He said.
"...What?" Mark said. "What the hell are you getting at, Wil?"
"Well you know," he said shrugging, "It's just… you're still you, you know?"
"...Yeah… I am…" Mark said confused. "Why uh… wouldn't I be me?"
Wil eyed him without looking at him directly. "Well, come on, you know… Mage General." He said, exhaling slightly in a laugh. Mark remained silent. "No, I mean, Mark, come on." Wil immediately defended himself. "A guy hears one of his friends is actually a bigshot from one of the most powerful countries in the world and he's supposed to just get over that quickly? I mean who knows I thought since we all knew now, maybe you'd act differently." Wil looked down and poked at the ground with an arrow. "And, I mean… I know I wouldn't like that at the very least, right? I mean we've gotten along pretty well this journey right so I just thought I'd check. But, obviously, I shouldn't be worried at all." He leaned back and smiled happily. "Because, you're still Mark. Always will be." Wil ended his small rant there.
The conversation was not exactly surprising to Mark, as he was ready for everyone to come up to him at some point and ask him about it. What was more surprising was Wil's way of going about it. It had obviously been bothering him since he found out, but Mark hadn't noticed at all. Mark stood up.
"You know Wil." He said, smiling. "You've given me an idea." He said. He started walking away.
"Hey, where are you goin?" Wil called to him.
"I might as well ask now right?" He called back. Mark's heart raced. Yes, it was likely everyone was thinking about it, how could they not? Mark was aware the title held its bad gossip. As group tactician, he needed everyone to trust him, and meanwhile he hadn't said anything about his past now that everyone knew. He needed to face it head on. He gulped. Let's start with you. He thought.
Lucius was sitting on a rock, saying a prayer. He waved as Mark approached. "Hello Mark, how may I help? You seem distressed."
Mark laughed. "Yeah I guess you could say that." He scratched his head and continued before he could lose his nerve. "Do you um… Have any… questions? About the whole Mage General thing?"
Lucius shrugged. "You are the Mage General. What's wrong with that."
Mark blinked. "You haven't heard about the things the Mage General has done?"
Lucius laughed. "Of course I have, I may be a monk but I don't live on a mountain or something. But I cannot blame Etruria for anything, it only looks out for itself, as St. Elimine told it to do. How can that be wrong?"
Mark considered this. "I see. Thank you." He said. "Can you trust me?"
"Of course." Lucius said. "Please, come see me any time. It is my job to help in these matters."
Mark asked the twins next. "We don't really know anything about the Mage General, sir." Nils said, kicking his legs in a tree. Ninian leaned against the base.
"Y-yes. We've been running for a very long time. The matters of Etruria don't really… well, matter." She said as politely as though she were complimenting him.
"I suppose you have a point." Mark laughed at himself. "So, can you trust me?"
"Yes." They said in unison.
"I mean, it just means you went to a fancy school just for this sort of thing right? If there's anyone to trust here it's you." Nils added happily.
Next up was Matthew, who laughed loudly. "What?!" He cried incredulously. "You where the Mage General all along? What a twist!" He said sarcastically, shooting Mark a wink.
Mark rolled his eyes. "Yeah, I know you already knew, but if I didn't ask you people might find out who you are. Can you trust me?"
Matthew leaned back and remained straight-faced. "I don't know. Can you start trusting me in return?"
Mark sighed. "You know I can't."
Matthew nodded sagely. "I see. Yeah, that's probably for the best on your end. But yeah, I can trust you!" He shot Mark another wink. Mark patted him on the back.
Next was Serra. Serra squealed, "EEEE, I knew you were a noble! You can try to hide it but you have that air about you." She flopped one of her pigtails back. "Just like yours truly, of course. But my, you are abhorrent aren't you? You cheeky little killing machine you!" Serra pinched a surprised Mark's cheek.
"So…" Mark blinked. "I'm sorry I don't get it, do you like me or do you hate me?"
"Neither!" Serra said happily. "On the one hand you are simply the stuff that people like me are meant for. On the other… it's quite a lot to handle, even for someone as glamorous as I am."
"... I don't follow."
"It's obvious darling. You're a noble. I'm a noble. It's simple math. Nobles attract themselves, how else do you think we both found Lyndis, hmm? Same wavelength, all of us."
"Ok… sure, but what do you mean by you're meant for me, but I'm too much?"
"Nobles attract." Serra said seriously.
"You've said as much."
"So nobles marry!" She said, not an ounce of shyness.
Mark blushed. "O-oh. Uh. Gee. B-but I'm too much for you?"
Serra sighed. "Well, I wouldn't say thaaaaaaaat." she pouted. "I just mean you'll have to work for it. It wouldn't be so bad being Mrs. Mage General." She blushed and smiled. "Hehehe… Mrs. Mage General… nice ring to it."
"W-Well anyway!" Mark said loudly, trying to bring her out of whatever image she had in her mind. Serra seemed to know exactly how to throw Mark off guard. "This means you can trust me right?"
"Yes, I can." She said. "Don't be so dismissive, you'll break a ladies heart." She said sadly. Mark had no read on how serious she was about the whole thing.
"I'll uh… keep that in mind I guess."
Mark already knew what Kent, Sain, and Florina thought. Erk obviously knew from the start. Eliwood had no sense of shock, as he only knew Mark as Mage General. The only one left was Lyn. Mark hesitated. He had promised Lyn that he would tell her about stories of the Mage General when he'd given her advice after Dorcas and Rath's passing. Right as he was about to, he got called away by Eliwood. By the time he returned, Lyn was asleep so he had set to work in the library. He hadn't talked to Lyn, or even seen her until they set out.
"Lyn." Mark said quietly, approaching her from behind. "I would like to ask you something." He said.
Lyn turned around. The joyfulness she had in her face when they'd first started out had vanished. She looked exhausted. "Yes Mark?" She said, brightening a little at his presence.
"I've been asking everyone what they thought about it but… what do you think about me being the next Mage General?"
"... A leader doesn't have doubt, you told me." She said. She stared at him with unbreaking eye contact. "...Do you doubt me?"
"Of course I don't Lyn."
"Then why ask?"
"I need to be sure."
"Then, you doubt." She sighed. "I don't know Mark. I tire of all of this. A large part of me wishes we never ran into the knights." Mark's heart sank. A part of him wished that as well, but he also figured it wouldn't be that different than it is now. He'd still be leaving soon.
"I see. That's reasonable." He said sadly, sitting down next to her. "But you don't regret it all right?"
"No, I don't." She said. "As for your question, of course I trust you. I figured I'd made that clear by now." She said sadly.
"You have. I almost didn't bother asking." Mark lied. He was going to ask no matter what, for his own satisfaction.
"Then don't doubt, Mark. Follow your own advice. It wasn't bad. I needed to hear it."
Mark sighed. "I'm beginning to wonder if that's true. Kent was pretty upset about it."
"Well, I appreciate his concern of course but you brought up valid points."
"I guess. But now you seem so sapped of energy, you're practically-"
"LYN, TACKLE MARK TO THE SIDE!" A voice suddenly cried out. Mark didn't have time to register who it was before Lyn sprung up and hurled herself into his side. The both stumbled several feet away.
"Why the hell-" Mark was cut off but a loud tump, as a massive bolt impaled the ground he was just sitting on. "Wha… What the… ballistas…" He stood up and brushed his coat, scanning the horizon. "They have ballistas!" He shouted. "Gather!" He shouted, pulling out his fire tome. "Florina, don't take to the sky until the ballistas are under our control, Kent, ride ahead and try to find the closest one, do not engage. Lucius, send a blinding light at the direction the bolt came from, it may blind them and stop the assault for a while. Whoever just saved my life, come see me now. Ninian, Eliwood, find somewhere to hide until the battle is over. Everyone else, prepare for battle and wait until Kent comes back with more detail. Dismissed!" He shouted. Everyone ran in different directions to their things, hastily putting on the rest of their gear. Kent rode ahead after a curt nod. Mark waited patiently, looking at spells in his book and picking some to use. Someone tugged his coat. "Hmm?" He said not paying attention. He looked down. Nils was staring up at him. "What is it?" He said.
"You said to come see you." Nils said. Mark paused before he remembered what he said.
"That was you? How did you see that bolt?" He asked.
"I didn't see it." Nils tilted his head back in thought. "Well I guess I did, but I saw it in my mind. My sister and I can sense impending dangers, moments before they happen." Mark blinked.
"I'm sorry, what?" He said. This was surprising, and if true, and incredible help.
"Yes, we can. We told Lady Lyn, didn't you know?"
"I had no idea…" Mark said quietly. He closed his eyes in thought. "Alright, we are going to talk about this later. Be safe, stay behind the more hardy people in our group. Thank you again."
Nils smiled wide and stood at attention. "Yes sir!" He said, running off to his sister, who was getting onto Eliwood's horse. Huh. Mark thought. Maybe he really does have his uses.
A/N: This is a short one. The reason it's late is because it's really a third of what I thought was going to be one chapter, but with combination of the other parts it's a good ways longer than my normal chapter length and I want any noticeable length differences to be saved for special occasions like the one year anniversary (Comin up!) So, probably within the next four days I'll post the next part of what would have been one chapter. I hope you guys enjoy. In the end this ended up about 3000 words which is just a tad below my average so it should be fine. As always, thank you for your continued support/enjoyment of this story! :D -Matt
