*Checks Watch* Hmm... Yep. I've officially become an ass. Sorry, sorry, sorry for the nearly 2 month update delay! (Has is been 2 months? Ieduno. Felt like it...) School started with a (less than enthusiastic) pop, and as it turns out, LATIN IS REALLY FUUFING CONFUSING. That, however, is another story for another time. More stuff in the bottom A/N, so stayed with me for this chapter (which thankfully has no fight scenes ;A;).
Chapter Four: Digging up the past.
Zyre walked down the halls of Castle Caelin, one arm rubbing his head while his other arm rubs the first. "I get that she just healed my broken arms, but did she really have to refuse to help me then SMASH MY FREAKING HEAD IN?!" Sighing, Zyre continued his search for either a healer or a staff.
'Honestly, the only good my time spent in the Dragon's Gate is learning from him, but I doubt I'll see him again any time soon... At least he taught me the fundamentals of both the arcane arts, and smithing...' Zyre chuckled as he remembered his time with his mentor. 'That old lizard was a better leader than Nergal could ever hope to be.' Zyre thought to himself, a snarl forming on his face. He was lost in his thoughts until he felt a small bump, then heard a subsequent yelp.
Looking down, Zyre saw someone covered in various clothes and sheets. Reaching his hand out, he found the other person's and pulled them up, then catching them (much to the dismay of his fractured arms), as he underestimated the others weight. Looking at the person in his arms, he suddenly felt a sharp pain in his ears, then the person pulling away.
"S-sorry for bumping into you..." It was Florina, who's flustered face raised some concern for Zyre. Raising his hand, he pressed the back of it to her forehead. "Are you feeling alright? I'll go let Mark know not to push you hard if you're sick," Zyre paused, slightly worried that her face was a bright crimson, "pushing a sick person only makes matters worse. Go find Lyndis and see a healer." He ordered, then proceeded to pick the clothes and such from it's place on the floor, then neatly refolding some, stacking them in smaller piles once that was done.
"Also, get help if you plan to carry this much at once. Something worse could've happened to you, then you might've been out of the fight for a while…" Getting up with a (somewhat painful) crack from the weight he put on his arms, he bid the girl good health and farewell, and went on his way to find some medical assistance. 'If my arms weren't fractured before, they sure as hell are now…'
Moving at a slower pace, Zyre finally found what he was looking for. Walking over to it, He was wishing it was something more potent than a simple Mend, but he'll have to take anything at this point, anymore pressure on his arms would worsen the damage already done.
"If I remember correctly… I just have to focus pure energy into the medium… Then focus on the wound. Alright then, I guess I'll give this a shot!" Holding the staff in his hands, he raised it over his head while focusing his purest thoughts into the orb on top of the staff, a soft glow swiftly enveloped his arms.
After he was finished, he lowered the staff and placed it back in its original location. Stretching, then twisting his arms he sighed contently. 'I really hate that feeling, but if it keeps me in fights I suppose I'll deal with it for now...' Turning around from the staff, he soon discovered his exit was blocked by two people.
Zyre instinctively fell into a defensive stance, not able to clearly distinguish the two as friends or foes. That is, until he saw the pink hair. The figure beside the girl, Serra, covered his ears as she released a high pitched shriek.
Before he could even attempt escaping, Zyre found himself with an hyperactive priest blocking his way, saying things so fast and high-pitched he had trouble keeping up. The other person, a man with purple hair, used one hand to hold her down while the other one cupped her mouth.
"If you would stop talking for more than a few seconds, you'd see that he's hopelessly lost…" The man looked at Zyre, who simply nodded. This person obviously had to handle her in the past.
'Poor guy, I'd have gone insane by now!' Zyre thought to himself, mouth slightly open as he wondered how this guy had such willpower. "Oh, you're right Erk! I was just excited to see someone able to handle a staff that well, since not even the high priests can heal anything deeper than flesh wounds in that short amount of time!"
"Yeah, yeah… He really doesn't seem too happy to see you though, did you do something to him?" Serra turned to look at Zyre, who's half-opened mouth now formed into an unnerving neutral position, like they were simply wasting his time.
After several seconds of staring at him, Serra couldn't recall anything, prompting Zyre to turn, grab the Mend, smack her on the head then replace the staff in one swift motion. The blow seemed to refresh her memories. "Oh! Yes, that's right, he went and got himself hurt again so I refused to heal him unless he asked me properly!" "You know you're one of the only TWO HEALERS of the group, right?" Erk asked, more exasperated than anything else.
"Yes I do know that, and I was about to help him regardless, but he just walked out on me!" "And? Then what?" "I- er…" she looked down, like a child who was caught and can't lie about breaking rules. "I sort of… smashed my staff against the back of his head…" Erk just sighed and shook his head. 'I REALLY need to take a page from this guy about patience...'
Zyre thought, before an agitated Erk smacked Serra on her forehead. "So, Zyre was it? I'll assume you know how to use other forms of magic?" "Yeah, you'd be right about that." Zyre replied, earning curious gazes from the two magic users. "Great! If you'll pardon me, I'll find you a basic… tome…" Erk looked at Zyre in astonishment, as the assassin held out his hand and summoned three orbs: One of fire, another of light, and the last of dark.
"This is… This is amazing! I've never seen an ability to invoke magic without a tome!" "For once, you're making sense to me, Erk! Not only can he heal unlike any expert I've seen, he can also control the Trinity!"
Zyre felt slightly uncomfortable from the aura the two were emitting, like they were predators and he was the prey. "Hey guys, wanna see something else?" Before they could answer, Zyre clenched his fist, opening it revealed a smaller orb that had constantly swirling colors inside it.
Throwing the orb down, the energy inside reacted with the magic in the air, causing a large cloud of smoke to flood the room (and some of the hall.) Zyre was already outside the Castle windows, and up a floor.
'I really had to get out of there… I hope they don't approach me like carnivorous animals the next time we meet…' Pulling himself through the upper floor windows, Zyre soon found himself in another odd situation. He was staring down an elderly man who appears to have just lost an ally.
"Oh! Intruder! Who the blazes are you?!" He asked (rather loudly…) 'Oh great… Into the fire…' "You see sir, I'm part of Lynd-" "Grandfather! Are you alright, we heard shouting and we rushed over he-" Zyre stared at the Lords as they poured into the bedchambers, only able to sheepishly chuckle and wave.
"What the hell are you thinking?! We thought you were another assassin!" Hector bellowed, still a little sore at the man for abandoning his orders. "Sorry! I just had to get away from an… unfavorable situation. Although it seems I've stumbled into yet another one…" "Oh shut it, you're starting to sound like someone I know."
Another woman stepped into the room. The one that was with the morph, Ephidel. "You! You're the one that helped that bastard!" "Ah! Lord Zyre, it is fortunate you survived the battle, for if you had fallen, things might've taken a turn for the worse inside the Fang..." At the woman's words, all the Lords turned to face her, while Zyre did the opposite. "Wait a moment Leila, did you call him Lord Zyre?" Leila nodded. "I can tell you all I know... If that's alright with you, Lo-""Tell them whatever you wish. I'll be on the upper floors or roof, come find me and I'll tell the rest of the tale, if you wish to know..."Walking towards the door, no one made an effort to stop the young man.
"Alright, my knowledge is limited, and it may be unsavory for you to hear..."
Feeling the warm air brought more memories to the assassin. Some good (like him catching prey, then roasting them over a large flame), and some bad (avoiding becoming the prey roasting in the flames.) Closing his eyes, he soon found himself drifting through memories, until he landed on one he never thought would turn up again.
His first night awakening in the Dragon's Realm.
He first awoke briefly, as the drug hadn't quite worn off yet, that was the way he stayed for several minutes, not asleep, but not awake either. Until a roar jolted him upright in nearly an instant. Running in the opposite direction of whatever made the sound was difficult, as there were many trees, most of the uncharred ones were larger than castles made by the wealthiest of kings. He'd have stopped to examine them closer, but he was so afraid that if he stopped, that he'd be dead. And that was the only feeling he had, fear.
Zyre's eyes shot open when he felt something coarse and wet across his face. Thrusting his arm forward, he stopped his attack when he felt the short fur of an animal, a horse for that matter.
'Wait, not a horse, a Pegasus!' As he corrected himself, he was met with another rough lick. "Hey! Would you kindly stop that?" The pegasus ceased it's assault for a moment, then went back to its licking.
"Why do you insist on tasting my fac-" As if to answer his own question, he tasted some saltiness and realized the intentions of the animal. 'I... I was crying..?' Snapping out of his shocked state by the door handle turning, Zyre quickly wiped his face of slobber and tears while standing from his resting position. He noticed the pegasus tense a bit, but relaxed just as fast. 'I hope that it's only the rider, and not the Lords...'
Zyre was (somewhat) correct, as the first person that came up the steps was, indeed, Florina. Both he and the pegasus were visibly relieved, that is, until the Lords walked up shortly afterwards. "Oh! This is where you went and flew off too Huey…" Florina stepped towards the pegasus, but Huey moved closer to Zyre (Who went unnoticed by her worry about the pegasus). Upon seeing him however, she became visibly flustered, and stopped her approach towards the animal. No one watching paid much heed to her, as she gets nervous around men, but instead both sides eyed each other warily. "O-oh... I didn't see you, Zyre..." Her face looked like it was about to catch fire.
"I really must than-" "Alright, you found your pegasus, now go make sure it's held properly so it doesn't go wander about and make us waste time..." Hector interjected, earning a sad look from Florina. "Hector! I would appreciate if you weren't so... harsh with her." Lyn said, motioning for Florina to leave the area.
Stroking Huey's head, Florina began to lead the pegasus towards the exit, earning a snort from her mount. Huey looked back at Zyre and stared at him for a few moments, and started walking with Florina after receiving a nod from the man. After the pair left, the Lords walked over to the now alone Zyre, the information they heard from Leila was shocking to say the least. "We know who you are, Zyre..." Lyn began, Hector closing his eyes with Eliwood fully attentive. "What all did you learn?"
Looking to make sure Zyre left the room, Leila shut and locked the door. Turning back to the group of nobles, she looked at Hector last.
"Sir, no offense but can you promise me that... that no matter what you hear from me, that you refrain from judging him rashly..." Looking around slightly, Hector reluctantly nodded, prompting Leila to continue.
"From what I understand, he's the son of the man behind the Black Fang." "You mean Brandon Reed? The man who founded the Fang?" Eliwood asked, a shocked expression coming across his face, earning a shake of Leila's head. "No, not the leader, the man behind the Fang. I've had the displeasure of working with him before. His name is Nergal, and he… He isn't what he seems to be. That's all I know about him, but please, don't make harsh judgements based on his parentage. He'd be dead by now if he didn't have a drive to break away from them." Leaving with a nod from the Lords, she quickly went about the halls of the castle, attempting to find a certain thief…
"From there, Lyndis told us about how she met you. I hope you're story is believable enough for us to take you in with us." Eliwood said, earning a grimace from Zyre and a frown from Lyn.
"But wait, I thought we were going to wait for Mark to join us…" Lyn added, Hector nodded. "He is our tactician, and Fang or not, Zyre could be an incredible benefit with his skills and knowledge."
Everyone in attendance stared at the blue-haired man. "Hector, that might just be the most intelligent thing I've heard you say since I've met you…" Lyn said, while Eliwood suppressed a chuckle.
Hector decided to let that remark slide… for now, but that didn't stop him from gritting his teeth. "I suppose my story will have to wait until Mark ar-" Zyre paused as he heard a faint gasping sound.
"It appears he's soon to arrive. Good, I suppose…" The doors slowly creaked open, as a tired tactician pitifully crawls up the stairs.
*Huff Huff* "Sorry for the-" *WHEW* "wait guys… I ran all the way here when I heard there might be some trouble. So, where does this little issue stand?" Mark asked, earning a swift glance from the Lords and a stare from Zyre.
"Wha- What? Do I have a bird in my hair again?" "No Mark, we just weren't expecting you to rush getting here is all..." Lynn said while trying to suppress chuckles at her friends actions. Despite his serious disposition and job as tactician, he managed to be a bit scatterbrained at times.
"So, what's the situation here?" Mark asked, finally catching his breath only to find the tense atmosphere between the Lords. Oh Gods how he hated tense situations…
Eliwood was the first to speak. "We've learned some… interesting things about our friend here. We need your input as to what we should do with the information."
From there, the entire story was laid in front of young tactician… Well, more like Eliwood would say something, Zyre or Lyn would pitch in if he made an error, then Mark would nod with the occasional "Hmm" or "Huh…" filling the air.
"...and there you have it, my 'life story' as you might call it." Everyone in attendance was shocked. A boy, no older than themselves, lived in the realm of the dragons for years, learning their language and honing his skills for survival more than anything. Not long after, a silence fell upon the roof, as information began to sink in, and thoughts began connecting. Zyre knew he was done for, he knew they would cast him aside. All he had to do was wait for the order... But what he got was, in a word, unexpected.
(A/N) Oh Gods I can hear the pitchforks and torches now. I'm kicking myself in the balls right now at how short this chapter is, and how long the wait was for it... Anyway, before some of you start complaining about my... choices with Zyre's ability with the arcane arts, I should remind you that 1.)It's a FAN-FICTION (A work of literature created by a person who enjoyed the original story/setting of an established work, be it video games, movies, books, or anything else.) and 2.) He was trained by DRAGON. Y'know, the ancient beings who've mastered the art of natural manipulation. Shitty excuse I know, and I'm all but throwing the canon out the window and dropping an anvil on it's genitals. Sorry if this isn't your cup of tea/coffee/energy drink, but my story, my rules (unless you guys want to give me some suggestions... I wouldn't mind that.) Well, I think i wrapped this chapter up, seeing as it's 3:19 in the morning at the time of revision. Until the next chapter. Kerota, out.