It was several days ride to the shrine of the Mani Katti. In that time Jace had bonded closely with both the Caelin knights. He'd learned that while Sain was boisterous and flirtatious, he was horribly shy and lacked self confidence around women. Which for some odd reason translated to his over flirtation with every pretty face he came across. Kent was far more composed than his counterpart. He was a man of faith who deeply followed the teachings of Saint Elmine.
"Thus all life is sacred, and all are equal in the realm of eternity. The Book of Elmine Chapter 1, lines 2-3." Kent was saying as they rode along.
"My father taught something very similar." Lyn said softly.
"When it is time to stand before the creator, all shall be judged fairly. Teachings of Naga verse 238, line 6." Jace quoted with a small smile. "So it would seem that all teachings in one way or another are similar."
"It would indeed." Kent said as they neared the shrine. A short while later, a young woman flew up the road towards the four riders, alarming their horses.
"Help! Please help!" She shouted as she ran towards them.
"Relax fair lady." Sain said as he calmed his horse. "Pray tell what ails you?"
"A band of well armed ruffians have broken into the shrine up the road! I believe they plan on stealing the Mani Katti!"
"Steal the-! We cannot allow this to happen!"
"No Sain we will not allow this to happen." Jace said calmly, although his tone was icy.
"You should find somewhere safe until the fighting is over." Lyn told the frightened woman, who nodded in confirmation, and barricaded herself in the nearest house.
Jace had sent Kent and Sain around to the front of the shrine, while he and Lyn broke down a weakened section of the shrine. When the tactician and the swordswoman entered the fray, it was to the horrified confusion of the ruffians. The young woman was indeed correct about these ruffians being well armed. In Jace's mind they were almost on par with the Grimleal that his father had sent after him and his mother. Not the ones that his mother had ended so brutally, no the others before that, the other Grimleal that his mother had been loathe to kill. Yet these ruffians while armed like those Grimleal agents, had none of the skill of the agents his father had sent.
It had come down the the leader of these ruffians, who wanted to steal the sacred blade for himself. He was currently engaged in combat with Lyn, and in Jace's eyes Lyn would have been more than a match for any swordsman from Plegia. Lyn moved like her sword was an extention of her arm. All Jace, Kent, and Sain could do was watch in amazement as the two engaged one another, their sword arms almost completely unseen. The only indication that Lyn had emerged from the battle victorious, was when her quarry had dropped to the ground with a large of slash in his chest.
Lyn turned her head, gave her companions a winning smile, then dropped to one knee clutching her right side. Alarmed, Jace was right at her side checking the wound. "This doesn't look bad, hang on I have a Vulnerary."
Jace produced the small bottle from his dark coat, and poured some of the liquid in the bottle onto Lyn's wound. The swordswoman winced as her wound stung, but it had soon closed fully healed.
"Thank you Jace." Lyn said as the tactician helped her to her feet.
"Thank you all for protecting the Mani Katti." An elderly priest said as he made his way towards the four of them, being supported by his staff.
"We could not allow unworthy common thieves to steal the Mani Katti." Lyn said straightening up, after being helped to her feet.
"And you have my utmost thanks. And as a reward, I shall let you hold the Mani Katti." The elderly priest said, and from his robes he drew the sacred blade. He made his way over to Lyn, and placed the blade in her hands. What happened next, everyone was certain they would never forget it until the day they entered into eternity. As Lyn grasped the hilt, with the slightest movement the scabbard of the Mani Katti fell away.
"By Elmine's grace." The priest breathed in awe. "The spirits … To meet you … I never thought…"
"What's going on?" Lyn asked in awe. "The blade … It came out effortlessly."
"I never thought I would finally see your sword reach your hands." The priest breathed once more.
"My sword-? But I can't take this. This is the Mani Katti!" Lyn was awestruck.
"It is the swords wish. It is the will of the spirits. Now go Lyn, you will face many dangers on whatever quest you are on. You have a great destiny ahead of you, and you will need the power of the Mani Katti many times over before the end of it."
Everyone's attention was drawn by the sound of applause. Everyone turned, to see someone was standing in the entrance of the shrine. Jace's eyes widened at the sight of the man. He was clad in a red coat, dark pants, and boots. There was what looked like a cross between a rapier and a saber sheathed on his left side, and his hair was the same untidy dark blond as Jace's.
"Cyrus." Jace said in a tone barely above a whisper.
Lyn looked to Jace in shock. "You know this man?"
"I do indeed." Jace replied. "He's my brother."
"You didn't tell her about me?" Cyrus asked, a mockingly offended look on his face. "I am hurt."
"Oh cut the act Cyrus!" Jace snarled, and drew his blade. Cyrus responded in kind, a challenging smile on his face.
The battle that ensued between the two, was more spectacular than Lyn's battle with the leader of those ruffians. Blades clashed, spells collided in mid-air, and several times the brothers avoided decapitation. At one point, both Jace and Cyrus' blades clashed, and the force was so great that it knocked both blades from their owners hands. Jace and Cyrus leapt back, and magic gathered in their hands.
"Arcthunder!"
"Arcfire!"
The brothers launched their spells at the same time. They collided in mid-air, and exploded with the force of a horrendous thunderclap, that destroyed the windows of the shrine. Jace and Cyrus then dove for the blades belonging to the other brother. At the same time, they brought the blades up pointing them and one another's necks. For the longest time, the two brothers glared daggers at one another. Then everyone looked to the brothers in shock. As one they lowered their blades and began to laugh. After handing their respective blades back to one another, they embraced.
"Jace, what is going on?" Lyn asked shocked, yet awed by the display they had just put on.
"Lyn, Kent, Sain this is Cyrus." Jace explained. "He is my older brother."
"Your older brother?" Lyn asked still clearly shocked. "Why then did you never speak of him before?"
"A fair question Lyn." Jace said still smiling. "Do you remember what I told you about the last few agents my father sent for me and my mother?"
Lyn nodded at Jace's question. "Well I neglected to mention Cyrus, as I thought he had been killed in that last attack, and the mention of my older brother was too painful for me to talk about."
Lyn nodded in understanding. Jace knew her story, and how painful the mention of lost loved ones was. "I understand Jace, but why is he here?"
"That's actually a fair question." Jace said turning to Cyrus. "How did you find us?"
Cyrus smiled and crossed his arms. "The symbol of Naga. You always carved it into the ground whenever you felled an enemy."
Jace just stood there, eyes wide and his mouth agape. At that moment several things flashed through his mind. How could I have been so foolish? If Cyrus can track me through that, then father's Gimleal can do the same!
"Calm yourself brother." Cyrus said. "I've been tracking you for days, and haven't spotted any trace of father's agents. Jace sighed in relief making Cyrus laughed. "Now tell me, what's happening and where we are going."
(A/N) Firstly yes I write very fast. Then again, this is Fire Emblem and very easy to write because while I played FE 7 a long time ago, I can remember a lot of the in-game dialogue.
Secondly. In this fic, the FE 7 tactician and the Avatar from Awakening will be one in the same. Can you say 'artistic license' kids?
Thirdly Jace's brother Cyrus minus the hairstyle, I modeled after Genesis Rhapsodos from Crisis Core Final Fantasy 7.