Notes: Fill from the Fire Emblem Kink Meme on LJ: "Wallace gives Lucius the Manual of Knightly Prowess. Lucius follows it dutifully."

I'll Make A Man Out of You

CLANG.

"Ah-"

CLANG CLANG.

"Nnng, oof, come on-"

CLANG CLANG CLANGCLANGCLANG.

"Oh no-!"

CLANGCLANGCLANGCLANG-CRASH!

Wil peered out from his tent, expecting to see Wallace searching for him again. There was no way he wanted any part of that man's insane "training". Instead, he saw a figure, dwarfed by the oversized armor piled onto him and flailing on the ground like a turtle rolled onto its back. Wallace might have been an oaf, but there was no way he'd get himself into a situation, at least not without laughing like a madman about it. Cautiously, Wil came closer and noticed the long blonde hair poking out of the bulky armor.

"Lucius, what in blazes-"

"Not now!" the monk panted, making another pathetic effort to stand up. "I'm... circling the domain... at... top speed!"

Circling the... oh no. Wil fought the urge to slap his face and groan. Instead, he leaned over and offered his hand to the struggling monk. It looked as if the armor weighed more than he did.

"Maybe domain-circling isn't your strong suit, eh? Here, come on, I'll help you up."

Lucius hesitated, but finally accepted the hand. It took a few minutes for the reedy archer to pull him to his feet, but they succeeded nonetheless.

"Chapter seventeen... section eight... says accept aide from your comrades... as you would give it yourself," Lucius said, still fighting to catch his breath. Wil's eyes widened in surprise.

"You got that far? I only got..." Well, he'd gotten through about five pages before throwing the thing down in horror, but Lucius seemed so eager. He didn't need to know that. "Well, anyway, it doesn't matter. I really doubt it was intended for, ah, a man of the cloth like yourself. Maybe you should stick with your tomes and staves...?"

"Chapter twenty-nine, section three: 'Knightly prowess is not limited to knights- nay, every man, woman, and child can benefit!' " Lucius quoted. With a grunt and a wheeze, he lifted the heavy spear he'd dropped.

"Lucius-"

"No time to dally! I've still four more laps to make, and then five-hundred spear thrusts ahead! It was nice talking to you, Wil!"

Before Wil could object further, the clanging recommenced as Lucius waddled off, spear in hand, and a massive hand had clapped on his shoulder.

"GAHAHAHA! Now THERE'S a lad after my own heart! Now, Wil, you should be joining him! Knightly prowess doesn't just happen on its own!"

Oh, sweet Elimine, how did he sneak up behind me?

Later, Wil, sweaty, aching, and exhausted, asked Raven why he hadn't objected to his friend's insistence on knightly prowess.

"Are you kidding?" the mercenary had asked with a rare grin. "I haven't laughed that hard in years."