A/n: a very late update…. Again, well at least this is done and I am proud that I finished this… although the lack of viewers is disheartening to me but I think it doesn't mean that people don't like the fic.

Chapter 3: Like Father, like Son

After all of the preparations that have been done, the small army of Princess Eirika began to march towards Grado in order to find her Brother Epharim. Her army's first stop is Ide, a remote village which was part of Renais until recently. Here the Eirika and her small army witnessed the devastation that was brought by the hostile forces with their own eyes.

"We'll travel south through the village Ide-" Rei pointed to a dot on the war map "-then we will head downwards toward Serafew into the Gradian territory."

"Milady, it is a sensible plan but as long as we would avoid any run-ins with the Grado forces." Moulder had said

"Princess Eirika. Shall I scout ahead for I can take my Pegasus to the skies to spot for any hostile units?" Vanessa politely asked

"Remember your Highness we are yours to command."

"Yes. Please do but be wary of archers, Vanessa."

"Yes your Highness."

As Vanessa flew she saw bandits coming towards a remote village

"Hey, boss! We've found a few more villages, ripe for the picking." A bandit said

"One, two, three… Ha ha ha! I love a good war! With all those soldiers preoccupied, we're free to pillage as we please! Alright, Bone you're in charge. Grab everything that's not nailed down and bring it to the hideout."

"I'm on it, boss."

[Scene Change: Inside the village]

"Dad! Bandits, approaching!" the young boy said

"Hmm… I'm getting you out of here, Ross. You stay close to me!"

[Scene Change: Outside the village]

"Alright boys let's start with that village over there! Cut down any fool that gets in your way. I'm heading west around the mountains to the other villages."

"Arrrrrrgggg!"

"Ross, what's wrong?"

"It's nothing, just a scratch! You're a warrior, Dad and I am your son. I won't be beaten so easily."

"Don't be so foolish… We need to get you some help." Then the man cried for help "Someone! Anyone! Please help my son!"

"Ah! This looks serious. I must report back to Princess Eirika at once." Vanessa then flew to the Princess "Princess Eirika, I have bad news. The village to the east has been besieged by bandits."

"Bandits?!"

"Oh no! We must help the villagers." Alice said

"It seems we have encountered our first obstacle. We must move quickly or else we might attract some attention to ourselves but…." Moulder said

"No, we must help them. I cannot stand by and watch my people be in horror anymore. Vanessa can you enlighten us on the situation?" The princess asked

"Yes your Highness. I have spotted two villagers, one is injured and appears to be only a child."

"Father, can you heal the injured boy?"

"Yes but unfortunately I cannot since he is too far away. I need to be closer to him" Then he said to the flyer "Vanessa, can you bring the boy here?"

"Yes, leave it to me. I'll bring the boy here."

Then she flew over the mountains

"Rei have you already formulated a plan to defeat the bandits?"

"Yes I have. Everyone please come closer…" she then pulled out blue, green and red pieces and began to discuss her plan "Based on what Dame Vanessa had seen the bandits are on the east village…" she then put red pieces near the village "…and two villagers…" then she put two green ones "…and I have noticed there are some bandits below, in the mountains…" she put some more red pieces "…now Eirika, Father Moulder, Alice and I will go to the two villages nearby while Sirs Gilliam, Seth and Franz will go south to warn the south village and keep the bandits at bay."

After she discussed the plan they all quickly move to their designated locations and then Vanessa have returned to the four heading for the nearby village

"Father Moulder here's the boy."

"No! Take me back there! I need to help my dad!" the boy tugged his arm as the knight tried to calm him down

"Child, calm down and let me heal you then you."

"My name's Ross son of the Great Garcia and I don't need healing, it's just a scratch. I need to go back and help in defending the village."

"Don't worry Ross." Eirika said "Please Father quickly heal his wounds and..." she looked at Vanessa "…Vanessa please take Ross out of the battlefield."

"What? No! I can help. Even though I am young I know how to fight and that my dad is fighting all by himself would give me the reason to come along."

"Hmmm… I see your resolve, I will allow you to fight but please be wary, do not be so hasty with your decisions and stay close to us."

"Let's go down south and meet up with Sir Seth." Alice suggested

"Ross, your father is still on the other side of this mountain right?" Rei asked as Ross nodded "Dame Vanessa, can you get the boy's father and meet us down?"

"Yes Milady. I will get the boy's father and quickly move south."

"Good and please be careful."

As soon as she said that the knight have flown across the mountain to the east village

[Scene Change: South Village]

Although tasked with a difficult objective, they have managed to warn the villagers of the incoming bandits now they have to hold the line till the rest of the group arrives

"Sir Seth, we have bandits coming from the south mountains."

"Thank you Franz. If you haven't spotted the incoming bandits we would have been flanked."

Then Seth took notice of a nearby battle between two bandits and the Frelian knight, which looks like he is out of breath

"Sir Gilliam, are you alright?"

"Yes." He exhales "These bandits are tough but they don't have the power to defeat us."

After 30 minutes of fighting the three saw the rest of the group come to them

"Princess." the General saluted

"Seth are there any more bandits around?"

"A few are left…" then he looks at the mountain "…most, if not all, of them are up in the mountains."

"Alright then let us press on."

Then they noticed the Pegasus knight have returned with an injured man riding along. After which she help the man off and Father Moulder began to heal the man's wounds.

"Thank you good people." Then the man noticed at his son "Ross, get out of the battlefield. You might get yourself killed."

"No! I will not. Dad you trained me how to fight, to survive I know how to take care of myself and those who are important to me."

"It is true. The boy managed to kill one of the bandits all by himself earlier."

"Hmmm… You're strong enough fight a bandit, eh? Well if that's the case, I won't force you to run away."

"Thanks dad."

The fighting continued for 30 minutes more and were victorious.

"Hmm…"Seth looked at the fighter closely "Good sir are you the great Garcia, the one who fought for Renais?"

The fighter did not answer

"Do you know who he is Seth?"

"He was a troop commander for Renais until around ten years ago. When I was a recruit, the soldiers used to tell so many tales about him. They called him a daring and fearless fighter for Renais. Master Garcia, you must know the peril our homeland faces right now… Can we impose upon you to lend your strength to Renais once again?"

"No, I'm sorry…I had made my decision long ago…I cannot be a soldier anymore."

"Master Garcia…"

"I have seen what are the costs of my duty. My wife fell ill and had died and left me a child…"

The group was speechless and still Garcia continued

"I…stood by my wife's grave and promised that I would take care of my son. I abandoned my duties in order to protect only my son."

Then Ross spoke up

"You fool! This-this is non-sense! If you would not come I will! I respected you dad. I know that you gave up being a soldier just to protect me but why would you be giving up the passion of being a fighter? Can't you even accept the truth that I can take care of myself?"

"Ross…"

"What? You want to challenge me? Fine! I won't lose to you or anyone!"

"Heh… Looks like my son isn't a boy anymore… He grew up into a man when my eyes where close. Alright I have raise my son good…good enough to be on his own. Princess you have us to command"

"Thank you for your help Sir Garcia, Ross."

After which, one of the villages kindly offered them refuge for the night as a thanks to what they've done but they have declined the offer.

[Scene Change: Night in Forest]

"Ephraim…"

Hiding behind the tree Rei noticed Eirika in her lonesome and wanted to ask why but quickly pushed the thought out

'Maybe she needs to be alone…for a while.'

"…"

Then she noticed someone in blue bumped into Eirika

"Oops! Beg your pardon, miss." The man runs off

"Hey!" Both Seth and Rei went to Eirika

"Princess, are you all right?"

"Y-yes… Someone bumped into me is all. I was shaken."

"Hmmmm?" Seth noticed something was missing "Your Highness, where is your bracelet?"

'Bracelet? She wore a bracelet… how come I did not noticed it?' Rei thought

"My bracelet? It's… gone. Where could it be? Did that man—"

"I'll find him!" Both Rei and Eirika were shocked at his sudden answer

"Don't worry about it, Seth. That bracelet was a gift from my father, but Ephraim needs our help. I can't let sentimentality get in the way of my duty."

"No, Princess… We must retrieve your bracelet no matter of the cost. You cannot lose it. Let us go with haste."

"Right let's inform the others."

They began to alert the rest of the group about the situation and began to march to where the Thief went.

End Chapter 3

Again I'm really sorry for the late update to much School work really but at least it's done but still don't expect me to update quickly.