Bandits were very easy to fight. Just wait for them to swing their axe, side step, then slash. It was painful for Lyn to do this. She knew an easy way to kill a man, and she killed without a second thought- something no one should know how to do. However, such was the way of life for her. Her mind wandered towards Robin. Where had he come from? Who was he? She felt sorry for him. Sure, her memories were painful, but that doesn't mean she didn't want them. They were what made her who she was. Without memories, what were you?
Lyn shook the thoughts out of her head. It would do her no good to lose herself in philosophy on the battlefield. She walked up to the leader, who yelled something about a beast or something, she didn't care. Who knows how many people he's killed, or worse? She sliced him down without so much as flinching. Sighing, she started walking back to her home.
When she walked in, Robin was fiddling with a spare sword she had lying around. She sighed, "Robin, does it feel right?"
Robin sighed and sat down, "No… I feel like I've used a sword before, but when I try to swing it now, it just… Feels off."
Lyn put her hand on his shoulder, "Keep trying. I'm sure you'll find what suits you eventually."
Robin sighed, "Thanks, Lyn."
She smiled, "No- wait…" She gave him a quizzical look, "How'd you know I liked to be called Lyn? If I remember correctly, I introduced my self as Lyndis."
Robin rubbed his temples, "Wait, you said you were Lyndis? All I heard was Lyn…"
She smiled, "Guess it was just a coincidence, then. After fighting those bandits, I need to bathe. So, if you value your life, stay here, okay?"
Robin gulped, "Gotcha."
After she was out of ear shot, the stone in his pocket glowed again. "Hey, Robin! Message for Robin!"
Sighing, he pulled it out, "Yes?"
Old Hubba scratched his head, "Well, you're a fine gentleman. If I were you, I'd have snuck over to the stream by now… But regardless! What I came here to tell you is a bit of unfortunate news…"
Robin sighed, "And what might that be?"
Old Hubba sighed, "I'm afraid I'll be useless to you, other than regular advice. My fortune telling skills will be unable to work."
Robin cocked an eyebrow, "You were useful?"
Old Hubba groaned, "Now why do you have to be like that to poor Old Hubba?"
Robin looked down. "I'm not sure. I don't remember who you are, but there's this nagging voice in my head that tells me to take everything you say with a grain of salt."
Old Hubba sighed, "Well, never mind. The point I want to get across here is that, despite the fact that we're from the future, everything we knew about this time line is wrong."
Robin cocked an eyebrow, "Huh? What do you mean."
"Well you see, in the normal timeline, Lyndis introduced herself as Lyn to her tactician, not her real name. Now, she introduced herself as Lyndis. This timeline's changing."
Robin sighed, "So because she changed her introduction, everything is ruined?"
He sighed right back, "Let's see, how to explain this… Okay, pretend time is a river. A long, flowing, endless river. Now everything is going along smoothly, no hiccups in the flow. Now, pretend there's a kid sitting at the edge of the river. He's that lonely kid from down the street with no friends, so he just looks out into the river hoping that in some way it will make him feel more happy about his own life, but it never does so he gets angry and starts throwing rocks in the river. Are you following me here?"
"Not at all."
"Great! Now you see Robin, you're that kid, throwing rocks in the river. Now Lyn introducing herself to you different? That's just a little pebble you threw in there. But as your adventure unfolds, you could start to throw bigger and bigger rocks into the ocean of time-"
"I thought you said it was a river?"
"Did I? Well, regardless, in the history we know, the tactician Mark saves the world from a dragon. But with you there… That may never happen. Robin, you're going to have to save the world. Again."
Robin sat in silence, taking all this in, "So basically, I have to do… What I would normally do in every scenario, and live life like I usually would, without any Godly help that I wasn't even supposed to have in the first place?"
Old Hubba nodded, "Exactly."
Robin sighed, "So the point of telling me this was…?"
"To explain the plot to the readers."
"What do you- Sigh… Whatever. Old Hubba, can you answer me one question?
"Sure thing, sonny!"
"Why am I here? Why am I not in the time and world that I belong?"
"… To protect yourself."
"Huh? What do you mean?"
Old Hubba shook his head, "I'm sorry, I can't say anymore. Let's just say that the past you're in isn't the only place that's facing a world shattering evil… Actually, it is the only place that is. What's back where you come from… Is a life shattering evil."
Robin rubbed his temples, "What do you mean?"
Old Hubba sighed, "What we're facing back here… Is an evil that can end life all across time itself… And evil that can ruin all dimensions… Basically, the only reason time still stands is because your there."
Robin eyes grew wide, "What? What is this evil? Why-"
Old Hubba clenched his non existent teeth, "I can't tell you that. I'm sorry. And besides, Lyn's coming back now. I'll speak with you later."
Then the stone went dull, leaving a very confused Robin behind.
Since I'm here, history could be damned… But since I'm here, history is saved… What does this all mean…?
A/N: Thanks to all the reviewers thus far. The main complaint I saw was that Robin accepted Old Hubba to easily. Remember, he's dealt with time travel, beach bandits, and vegetarian zombies before. I'm pretty sure nothing would faze him anymore. Also, there are reasons for why this takes place after Awakening. Just keep on reading- the answers will come in due time.
