Chapter 3
Paradise
Two Months Later
"Ephraim! Lyon! Where are you two?"
"We're over here, Eirika. You'd better be quick. Ephraim says he's tired of waiting."
"Oh, please, I'm sure you could wait a few moments longer..." Eirika ran forward through the crowded streets of the city, and finally rounded a corner to find her three friends. Knoll, as usual, had his face in a book, Lyon, surprisingly, didn't, and Ephraim was waving his lance around and striking heroic poses. Everyone save Knoll was wearing swim clothes underneath a lighter outfit. "Oh, Knoll, you aren't going swimming?"
"Uh-huh…"
"That's too bad…" Eirika said, winking at Lyon, who grinned back. Knoll, while an able swimmer, wasn't overly fond of the water. Ephraim looked up from a particularly difficult stance, and nearly fell over as he lost his concentration.
"You're late! How does it take you so long to prepare for such a simple trip?"
"Rest easy, Ephraim. There's no need to be so curt with your sister. After all, a king must learn how to treat women with honor and discretion. That's what Father Macgregor says."
"Thank you, Lyon. You, unlike my dear brother, are a true gentleman." Eirika stuck her tongue out at her brother.
"As for why I'm late… I was up far too late thinking about my prayer to the temple flame last night. And I'm afraid I... I overslept..."
"Your prayer? What are you babbling about?" Ephraim said, tilting his head to one side, confused.
"Come now, you know that the flame in the cathedral has been burning since the time of darkness ended. You must know the story that the flame will answer the prayers of any pilgrim!" Lyon said, shaking his head at his friend's silliness.
"Really? I didn't know that."
"Oh, Ephraim... Father MacGregor is going to scold you for neglecting your studies so." Eirika sighed. Ephraim winced and glanced about nervously, as if checking to see if aforementioned teacher might be lurking nearby.
"...Don't even joke about that. So tell us, what have you decided to pray for, Eirika?"
"I, uh... It's a secret." Eirika said, turning slightly to shield her blush from Ephraim, and more importantly, Lyon, and fiddled with her hair. Lyon… what would you think of me if you knew? That I had wished… for you and me… to bring peace to this earth… together… Ephraim yawned, breaking through her thoughts. "I should've known. You're so boring."
"Well, how about you, Ephraim?" Lyon asked to break the silence that followed.
"Me? Let's see... I guess I'll pray to become a stronger fighter… or for that girl over there to like me…" He said, turning around open-mouthed to stare at a particularly pretty village girl as she sauntered past with her friends. Eirika shoved him, and Lyon laughed.
"That's just like you, Ephraim."
"Just like you indeed, brother."
"... I can never tell if you're complimenting me or mocking me." Ephraim said, putting on his pouting face. Lyon smiled roguishly at Eirika, who went into a giggling fit.
"Praising you, of course! Right, Eirika?"
"Hee hee... Yes, that's right."
"And you, Lyon? What will you pray for?" Ephraim enquired. The young mage shuffled his feet awkwardly and looked at the ground.
"What? Me? Hm... I suppose all I really want is for all our people to be happy." But that's not all I wished for… Eirika… I want us to make this world a better place together…
"...That's very, uh... That's very much like you."
"Very much so, Lyon." Eirika said, smiling.
"...Now, I'm the one who cannot tell if he's being praised or..."
"You're being praised, as always, Lyon." Eirika said passionately. Ephraim nodded, then zoned out as another girl walked by.
"What will you wish for, Knoll?" Lyon asked, turning to his disinterested cousin.
"…For more knowledge, so that I can help others more effectively." Ephraim cackled. "That's just like you, watchdog!" Watchdog was Ephraim's nickname for Knoll, regarding to his silent demeanor and the fact that he was always around to keep his younger charges out of trouble. Eirika and Lyon chuckled as well, and then Eirika asked
"Tell me, why the sudden decision to visit the temple, besides the fact that it's on the way to the beach? Did my brother do something again?"
"Now listen, you..."
"Oh no. It's now what Ephraim's done. It's what he hasn't done. He's learned nothing at all about the Sacred Stones and the temple flame, so..."
Ephraim groaned and used his hands to show angry chattering. "Father MacGregor became angry. He said "One destined to become king and rule over a nation... must know the history of his kingdom and must respect the Sacred Stones." Durr, I knew that! Ugh, he just kept ranting on… I'm supposed to be the one with teenage angst, but the way that guy talks! Ever since I came to Grado, my life has
been chastisement and castigation. Father MacGregor does not think me to be altogether too...kingly." He rolled his eyes.
"And yet General Duessel has nothing but praise for you, Ephraim. He says you've brave and true, that you've the making of a great king." Lyon announced, hoping to keep Ephraim from moaning for the rest of the day.
"A great king? I honestly have no idea what that means. Eirika should succeed the throne.
I would be happy simply taking my lance and traveling the land as a mercenary." Eirika stomped her foot angrily.
"Ephraim, that is nothing but foolish, irresponsible romanticism! Do you realize how much your words would fill Father's heart with grief?"
"Are we speaking of the same man? Our father will likely outlive us all. For now, I'm content just learning the lance from General Duessel. What about you, Lyon? Is there anything you want to do?" He said hastily, hoping to transfer his sister's attention to someone else.
"Me? Well, I... I suppose I want to become like my father."
"You were born to be the Emperor of Grado, Lyon. It suits you." Eirika said, smiling. Lyon shook his head.
"No, I don't think so. I'm not… One thing I do know from watching my father is that being emperor is hard. Every day, he answers the complains of the people, and he almost never sleeps... My father is always so very tired... I hope one day that... I hope that I can help him." Knoll snorted. "You hardly sleep, either. You're always studying how to help others..." Eirika reached out and gently took Lyon's hand, and he looked up, surprised by her action.
"Lyon... You are so honorable. You should learn from him, brother."
"...Again with your criticism! Tell me, Eirika… What say you to dressing like me and becoming king in my stead? You're so skinny, I doubt anyone would notice you're not really a man. " Ephraim said, grinning. Lyon covered his face with his free hand to mask the unmistakable sound of laughter.
"Ha ha ha... I'm not l-laughing… ha ha…"
"Ephraim!" Eirika cried. "Look what you've done, you've turned Lyon against me! Oooh, you're going to pay for that!" Ephraim waved his hands in mock horror. "Oh, please don't hurt me, sis!" Knoll smiled, carefully holding up his book to hide the happiness on his face.
"Ha ha ha!"
"Hee hee…"
"Mwhahaha!!"
After they had visited the temple, Lyon led his three friends through a clump of mixed palm and beech trees to a small, hidden beach. The ocean was a brilliant shade of blue, and sparkled invitingly under the hot late afternoon sun. "This is it… Only me and Knoll know about this place. I call it Sunset Cove…" Lyon said, turning to Eirika and Ephraim. "Oooh… how romantic!" Ephraim teased, subtly trying to nudge Eirika closer to Lyon. She glared at him, and he shrugged, then hollered happily and pulled off his shirt before beating his chest like a gorilla. Eirika more casually slipped out of her over clothes, revealing her red swim dress. Knoll plunked down in the shade and leaned against a tree, and Lyon turned towards the water. "Well, shall we?"
"Well, yah, so get out of your normal clothes!" Ephraim replied. Lyon plucked at his shirt. "Uh… these are my swim clothes."
"Aw, what, you wear a shirt when you swim?" Ephraim said, laughing.
"Um... yah..." Lyon said, putting his hands behind his head and grinning sheepishly.
"Well, you aren't allowed too. My sister's been waiting ALL DAY to see you shirtless, and now you're going to deny her?"
"I HAVE NOT, EPHRAIM!!" Eirika fumed, going scarlet with mixed embarrassment and rage.
"Uh-" Any protests Lyon might have made were cut off as Ephraim tackled him and pulled his shirt off. "There you go, Eirika! You can thank me later, I know, I'm so generous!" Despite her earlier arguing, Eirika couldn't help herself and looked up at Lyon. Although there was, not surprisingly, very little muscle, there was also virtually no fat. His chest and stomach, while thin, were beautifully formed, and quite pleasing to the eye. Eirika realized she was staring and berated herself mentally, but still didn't turn away. "I'm-I'm probably a bit of a disappointment…" Lyon said, subconsciously feeling Eirika's eyes on him, making him blush and bashfully bow his head. "No, I like what I see… I mean… err… Uh… I mean that in a…" Eirika abruptly ducked down, grabbed a handful of wet sand, and chucked it at Ephraim, then plunged into the rolling surf.
The water was pleasantly cool, and Eirika relished the feel of the damp sand between her bare toes. She heard a splashing sound, and Lyon and Ephraim were beside her, Ephraim making what he fondly believed were realistic sounding dolphin noises, and Lyon smiling at her before shooting forward over the gentle crests of the waves. "Wow… Lyon…" Eirika said, in awe of her friend's prowess. He was an excellent swimmer, graceful and fast, and she tread water and watched him for a few moments. Then he elegantly cruised up next to her. "Eirika… can you swim?" He asked, concerned. She nodded. "Sort of… There are a few ponds in Renais that I've been too. But I'm… kind of scared of the deeper water…" She admitted. He extended his hand to her, and she took it. "Don't worry… I'll watch over you." Lyon said, smiling warmly as the sunbeams shone sparkling through his lavender hair and tinted the water a deep orange. "Lyon… thank you." Eirika murmured, smiling back, and there was a moment of quiet silence as they looked at each other. Then Ephraim swam over and grabbed his sister's leg. "I AM A SHARK!! RAAAR!!" He said, grinding his teeth menacingly. She slapped him lightly and swam away, gazing down into the calm depths of the sea below her as Lyon and her brother stopped and joked with one another. Then Lyon turned to see where Eirika had floated off too. She was a few dozen yards away, letting the gentle swell and ebb of the water carry her, eyes closed as she basked in the sunlight. He grinned and was about to look away when something caught his eye, and he looked back towards her… and spotted the death-dealing nightmare speeding straight for her oblivious form.
"Eirika!!" He shouted, and Knoll's head snapped up at the sudden noise, eyes widening as he saw what Lyon already had. A shimmering black sea serpent rose above the deceptively peaceful water, its head, no thicker then its neck, sporting long, needle-like teeth and huge, luminous orb eyes, which lacked pupils. The spine was topped by a jagged crest of white, bone-like material, and glowing tendrils extended off of the clawed fins near the base of its neck. A razor sharp, blade-like tail tipped the end of its sinuous body. It must have been roughly a hundred feet long, and was about as thick around as Lyon's torso. Eirika looked up, confused, and saw the devilish being about to descend upon her. Paralyzed with shock, she was helpless to do anything but watch as the fanged mouth plunged down to devour her. "EIRIKA!!" Lyon was there in an instant, grabbing Eirika and twisting around so that he was between her and the serpent. The jaws dealt him a deep blow on the shoulder, but, meant more for trapping food then for killing it, they only pierced a few inches into his skin before the creature recoiled and readied its next weapon. "Eirika-go!" Lyon cried, gasping from the pain of the assault. He pushed her away, giving her an extra boost towards shore, and then the monster was upon him. It coiled around him, as fast as quicksilver, the leering eyes glowing with inhuman menace. Knoll dropped his book and leapt into the water, and he tore forward, frantically chanting an incantation, but knowing he was too far away for it to have any effect. Ephraim was likewise unable to close the distance in time, as he was not nearly as fast a swimmer as the two mages who had lived near water their entire life. In the manner of a constrictor, the snake-like beast began suffocating its helpless victim, tightening its coils every time Lyon exhaled, keeping him from breathing in enough air to cast his potent magic. He gulped for air, struggling desperately to free himself, but to no avail. He coughed weakly, black spots forming in his vision, his thrashings growing less violent… And then suddenly, the serpent loosened its grip. He had only a moment to see what had happened. Eirika, weaponless, had nonetheless swum forward and struck the monster with her bare hands, drawing its attention to her instead of Lyon. Without wasting a breath, he drew in the life-giving air and cast a spell. "Ffoelimis aquilo serpende!!" A huge geyser of foaming water burst into the air next to the serpent, rapidly taking on a similar shape as the creature, but the size of a full grown one. The dripping aquatic beast opened its terrible maw and screamed at its smaller mirror image, who fearfully slipped off of Lyon and sunk beneath the waves, leaving only a spray of bubbles to mark it had ever been there. Then the watery apparition followed suit, falling back into the sea in a spray of foam.
"Lyon!!" Eirika cried fearfully, slipping forward and putting an arm around the exhausted mage to keep him from going under. Ephraim and Knoll finally caught up, and they helped pull their wounded companion to shore. "Eirika… you're alright…" Lyon muttered thankfully as Knoll tenderly healed his cousin, fixing the wounds with magic. "Yes… thanks to you, Lyon. You saved me…" Eirika replied, gently stroking his hair. Lyon's arm would be alright, as long as he was careful on it for the next few days, because even healed, it would still be sore for a while. His body was badly bruised and in some places gashed from the rubbing of the serpent's sharp scales, but that, too, would mend in a short period of time. The damage slowly faded, leaving only tender new skin in its place. "Bed, as soon as we get home." Knoll said, pushing his cousin down as he tried to get up. "And God forbid, if you try to stand again, I'll sit on you if I have too." Knoll and Ephraim then prepared to carry him as Eirika knelt worriedly near her hurt friend. When they got back to the castle and set Lyon down on his bed, Knoll was only barely restrained from summoning a horde of fussing nurses to look over Lyon when he raised a hand in weak protest. "Please, cousin… I'll be okay!" Lyon said, smiling reassuringly at him. "I'm just sorry that you guys didn't get to see the sunset over the water…" Ephraim and Eirika, who were sitting on either side of him, smiled. "Don't worry… the view from here is just as nice…" Eirika said, and the four sat together in silence and through the huge, wide-opened window at the foot of Lyon's bed, watched the sun majestically sink into the golden water… Truly, this was paradise…