Following their trip down the Otrobort Way, Soren and Mia have arrived at Malsean!
Enjoy yet another weekly update! I could keep this up for months!
Chapter Three
Center of Trade, Malsean
"Here we are! Malsean!" Fistivus announced as the carriage came to a stop after emerging from the forest. Just once glace told you that the city was much larger than Corelis. Countless people traversed the streets between the taller buildings and countless merchants set up shops on the many corners.
"This isn't even the Exchange Hub at the city center were you can get anything from any part of our Anondye Kingdom!" Soren and Mia looked at each other quickly, it was definitely bigger and more active than Corelis.
"Before you go to find your friends, I have to show you one great spot! Crown Overwatch!"
Fistivus took them to a large cliff, Soren and Mia got out and saw that in the distance was the green and gold covered Castle Anondye, the grand capital city expanded from it.
Fistivus bid them adieu, after he left Mia put her arms around Soren, "Amazing, eh?"
Soren nodded, the view reminded him of looking out to Melior back in Crimea. After a while he and Mia returned to the city to find Oscar, he gave them a rough description of where he lived on the backside of his letter, having never been in Malsean before they looked around for help.
"Looks like we should've asked Fistivus if he knew where we could start searching…you know…before he left to make money." Soren grumbled.
Mia shrugged "It's alright; we get to meet new people this way!"
The pair moved around asking before they came across a girl with short red hair leading a horse down the street, after a short conversation she recognized the area they were describing.
After following her through the bustling streets they found a smaller house in a neighborhood, behind the houses was a large pasture with animals roaming freely.
"Soren! Mia!" The two turned to see Rolf running towards them, He hugged Mia before turning to Soren who grinned and gave him the one arm hug. Rolf turned to the girl who turned to the two people "You are Soren and Mia? Oh that would've made this easier!"
"Shay is the younger sister of Lora, who Oscar has been dating for a while."
Soren turned and shook her hand "Didn't really consider that, should've mentioned Oscar's name."
She laughed "No problem, we're all here and safe and sound!" The four moved into Oscar's house, the former mercenary welcomed them with open arms and a meal prepared for them all, including Lora who was coming soon.
"Soren! Mia! I am so glad you two decided to come! It's been so amazing living here but I've never once forgotten about the mercenaries, I don't think I could even if I wanted to!"
Mia nodded "Same here, really great to see you, I would've come sooner but I didn't want to leave Soren on his own."
"Still being ridiculously cautious eh, Soren?" Rolf asked.
The sage rolled his eyes "No…alright…maybe, ridiculously is too strong of a word."
Lora walked in later she spoke briefly with Soren and Mia, introducing herself before walking over to Oscar and kissing his cheek. The next few hours were filled with laughs and catching up. In the midst of it, the memory of Oscar and Rolf's departure came to mind.
Soren looked up from his desk to Oscar, the mercenaries came to an inn and the man just told Soren that he and Rolf wanted to leave the mercenaries following Boyd and Mist.
Soren scratched his head "I assumed Rolf would want to follow Shinon…he hung around much longer than I thought he would."
Oscar nodded "Shinon had choice parting words for Gatrie and Rolf to convince them to stay…I didn't want Boyd to leave us either, he is my younger brother, as is Rolf so I took it upon myself to watch after him. Rolf isn't the young one any more, neither is Mist which is why they can make these decisions…but I still feel it's my duty to watch after him."
Soren nodded "So it's Rolf who wants to leave…"
Oscar sighed "More than I do…he doesn't have anything against being a Greil Mercenary, no one who left felt negatively toward the group, not even Shinon…but his youth has practically passed by…frankly, he wants to live."
The sage looked outside, it was about midnight, even though Mia constantly told him not to work so late, every now and then he would anyway. Old habits die hard.
"I understand…Oscar, you've been loyal as a Crimean Knight and as a Greil Mercenary, you've given everything for us…you deserve peace."
Oscar smiled "Very kind words, Soren."
The next day, Soren, Oscar and Rolf approached Ike about it, with their departure the green brothers would all be gone, the three of them being a cohesive unit within the mercenaries, but with how little conflict they saw now, their effectiveness was severely underutilized.
"Rolf…I'll admit I was with Oscar and Boyd when you first showed up on the battlefield all those years ago alongside my sister. But you've proven time and time again that you grew up alongside us as a warrior…now it's time, long overdue, for you to grow as a man."
The young marksman smiled and hugged Ike, the mercenaries stood in place as Oscar and Rolf turned and rode away on Oscar's horse.
Ike let out a heavy sigh remembering Mist asking to leave. Part of him was glad because letting her go was the hardest, he turned to Soren and thought to himself that someday Soren might want to go. He then looked at Mia in the back helping the others pack up and knew that the day may come sooner than he expected and when it did, he would be ready to let his tactician go.
Later that day Soren watched Mia, Lora, Shay and Rolf as they rode around on horses through the pasture, he waved at her whenever she was in his line of sight. Oscar put a hand on Soren's shoulder.
"I never imagined you of all people would fall in love as hard as you did." The green haired knight stated.
Soren nodded "You and I both…I never expected to be giving advice to another guy about approaching women."
Oscar blushed and scratched the back of his head "Regardless, I do appreciate your help Soren."
The archsage thought about what to tell Oscar about his trip over here, it was a minor problem but it was something nonetheless and he was in the same mercenary group with Oscar for years. The decision was made for him the second he began thinking about it.
"Oscar…while we were coming through the Otrobort Way we were attacked by a few bandits…two to be exact though I felt there might've been more."
The knight turned to Soren, surprised "Bandits? Really?"
Soren continued to explain about the information Fistivus gave them about the Korgans.
"It would be a very bad thing if a clan was forming but even if it does happen, this General was able to root them out, I'm sure he'd do it again."
Soren nodded "As am I…but I can't help but worry…these two acted like they were sent after us…to specifically attack Mia and I."
Oscar thought over what Soren was telling him, why would someone hire so little bandits to attack them? Who knew they would be going that way on that date? It would have to be someone who didn't know about their skill from their years of travel but knew enough about them to know they'd leave Corelis for the first time through the less travel Otrobort Way.
"I think I'll tell a few friends of mine around here with connections about this, maybe someone can get word to Castle Anondye or at least the right person so we know that something will be done if this gets worse. For now I think their only target was you, I'd suggest not going back that way, just to be safe."
Soren nodded to Oscar's suggestion, he had already considered it, safer for Mia; he always put her before himself.
That night Soren and Mia stood over in Oscar's home, around midnight Soren stirred, he turned to Mia who slept soundly, he kissed her forehead and got out of bed. Walking outside something forced its way into his head, an experience he wished he could forget.
His encounter with the vile Kanahana who desired his blood, he nearly died and nearly lost Mia in that encounter. He reduced the grotesque creature to a burnt husk but still regretted the actions that led to that situation.
Right now, in the dead of night as he stood alone, he imagined he could be walking into that same situation.
He looked around, the barren roads, the still air and the insects chirping all around. He closed his eyes, muting everything and opened them with a shifted pupil, Ty's words and lessons about Branded hidden abilities continued to ring in the back of his head.
He turned and stared at the clock tower which extended high into the sky above nearly all the other buildings in Malsean.
After a few minutes of staring he walked back into the house, unable to shake the sense that something might have been staring back at him.
The next day Mia took off with Shay and Lora out into the fields, Mia was never happier at the fact that she learned how to ride a horse.
"So you live down in Corelis?" Lora asked.
Mia nodded "Yeah, nice small town compared to Malsean."
"My family has held the Red Farm for many generations, several of us however have traveled as far as the frosty peaks in Regalshin and the endless caves of Pozem…can't remember the last of us that went to the Coastal City though…"
Mia smiled "Surprising considering it isn't that far…but seeing what it's like hear, I guess the hustle and bustle is more interesting…in fact, Soren and I live in a small home in the Lis Forest near Corelis."
"Wow! That is so cool!" Shay yelled "Whose idea was it to do that instead of moving into the town?"
Mia thought back to it and smiled at the memory.
"You want to be here? Corelis? Where we first arrived on Ymarkteg?" Mia asked.
Soren nodded "Yes…it's quiet, has steady activity being close to such a center as Malsean and the woods…remind me a lot of my days in Gallia…while not the most pleasant, they are times I wouldn't forget for anything."
Mia breathed in the forest air "So then…how about we stay here instead of Corelis?"
The archsage turned to her "In the forest?"
Mia nodded "You can't beat the peace of the forest…it's perfect for us…"
Soren looked around, the Lis Forest is three pretty large sections of woods divided by plains, rather than naming all three segments, the whole area is one continuous forest. He had to admit, the more he thought about it, the more he wouldn't mind it. Living in a small home in the middle of a peaceful forest with Mia…it was like a dream come true; just the two of them.
"Yes, Mia…we will start our life together, here."
"It was my idea, Soren took to it with a lot less convincing, in fact, I think he convinced himself."
Lora smiled and Shay sighed "You two are just beautiful together."
Mia blushed at the younger girl's comment as the three continued to ride.
Soren walked through the streets of Malsean with Rolf "You've been in touch with Shinon?"
The green haired archer nodded "Yeah, the last letter I got from him told me he was engaged to Uhnie…I asked about the wedding but…well…we all know Shinon. Though I think he is nervous about the whole thing."
Soren raised an eyebrow "Shinon? Nervous? Normally I would pretend I didn't hear that but…marriage…even Shinon can't approach that with his sarcastic, don't-care-about-anything attitude."
Rolf nodded as the two continued, fetching things for Oscar as thanks for the meal yesterday.
At the overwatch, the three women sat staring towards Castle Anondye, Lora had brought a picnic lunch and as they ate, Mia thought of the Castle.
"Have you been there?" Lora asked.
Mia turned to Lora who wore a straw hat to block the sun, she shook her head "No…even while we were venturing across Ymarkteg after our arrival, we didn't do much sightseeing. I've actually been in very few select locations here, in Numengate and Pozem before returning to Anondye and settling near Corelis."
"The Castle is amazingly huge, the outer gardens and such are open, and their beauty is what inspired the Southern Kingdom to be regarded as the Grove Nation. The forests like Lis and the Ore River that runs through this nation are prime examples of it's natural beauty." Shay smiled, proud of her knowledge as she continued eating her sandwich; Mia turned to Lora as if to ask about the other nations.
The farm owner looked out to the horizon "While Anondye is regarded for it's forests, Sarhara is known for the countless dunes and heat, Pozem for the mines and cave systems that even to this day have yet to be fully explored and Regalshin for it's wondrous white snow all year round."
She stopped for a bit then sighed "Numengate, the Black Nation is called such for it's history as the aggressor…back when wars were fought constantly on Ymarkteg, any semblance of peace was always snuffed by Numengate and it's crazed ruler: Seino. Despite the fact we've achieved peace, the history has always plagued Numengate and it's people, while not as berated as they were years ago, still suffer for something past descendants were responsible for. Even now, the largest peace summits that discuss what will occur here in Ymarkteg take place in Numengate."
After a while, Mia helped Lora pack as Shay walked around examining the trees, many people born in Anondye seem to have a natural draw to the nature around them.
As Mia and Lora laughed, the trueblade noticed something "Shay!" she yelled, drawing a blade out of the horse saddle and turning as a masked man jumped out of a tree and grabbed the younger girl and held a blade to her neck.
"Put the blade down or I'll kill this worthless girl!"
"Shay!" Lora screamed.
Mia held her blade staring at the man as he edged the blade closer to Shay who yelled for help.
Mia stood up straight and dropped her blade, at that second the man threw Shay and shot the knife towards Mia, the trueblade quickly sidestepped and noticed the man's eyes widen as she held two fingers and fired a purple bolt into the man's head. His body was flung into the tree then fell to the ground still.
Lora ran over to Shay and held her as Mia picked up her blade and walked over to the man. She knelt down and examined him, "Dead…" she muttered to herself, she grabbed his shoulder and moved him only to pull back and gasp.
Lora turned quickly "What?"
Mia shook her head "Nothing…let's go…" she walked over and helped Shay up.
"What's the story with that?" Soren asked, pointing at the clock tower.
Rolf glanced over to it "That was built here about 10 years ago according to the people to signify this town's 150 year existence since the last outbreak of war."
"150 years…" Soren breathed silently. "Does anyone specific care for the tower?"
Rolf nodded "Yeah, Ulmeihn, he has watched over it the 10 years it's been around. Why do you ask?"
Soren shook his head as the pair headed home.
Oscar welcomed them and as they packed Soren noticed Mia, Shay and Lora return to Red Farm, he could tell something wasn't right with Shay as Lora held her very close. Something happened and he noticed Mia's face, she was thinking about something as well.
Soren left quickly and walked over to the farm, Mia turned to him and signaled for him to follow.
"Mia…what happened?"
"The guys that attacked us at the Otrobort Way…you killed one right?"
Soren nodded to Mia's question "My attack shattered his spine, and sliced his body a few times, even if he did survive, he'd be paralyzed…you?"
"I cut my guy across the chest, half my blade sunk into his body."
Even the youngest child could guess a man wouldn't stand up after that.
"Why are you asking this? How did you know this guy was related to the other two?"
Mia scratched her head "Because I examined his body after I killed him…he had a large scar across his chest…in the exact same place as the one I killed at Otrobort."
Soren turned from Mia as she began rambling about how maybe she just saw things as that was impossible.
"Mia's Branded senses have never lied before, if she says it's the exact same spot…then it's the exact same spot…but how? He would've lost the connection to his lungs and heart if she tells me the true about the first attack…"
"How did you kill him this time?"
Mia snapped her fingers and a purple flame appeared on his pointer finger. "Small shot to the forehead…checked him again…dead."
Soren turned to Mia "Then-"
He stopped as he saw a man walk into the Red Farm from behind, many thoughts crossed his mind but key among them: There were two of them.
Disregarding logic and facts he ran past Mia towards the farm, she followed shortly after.
Inside Soren skid to a halt as he faced the bandit who attacked him with a sword at Otrobort. Several scars from the Arcwind attack were left along his body, however, most were obscured by a jacket the man now wore.
"You two, don't try anything funny…those farm girls are upstairs, and I know you two can easily avoid any of my attacks, but they can't."
Soren noticed the man held a cord attached to his jacket "It can't be…explosives!?"
"What do you want!?" Mia asked.
"It's not what I want! It's what my employer wants…you two…in the ground…"
"Why!?" Soren demanded taking a step forward.
The man held up one finger and tugged slightly on the cord "You aren't an idiot, one more step I blow this barn up and those girls die…you two may avoid it…but will you be able to live with yourselves?"
"Answer me you son of a bitch! Why does your employer want us dead!? Who are you!?"
The bandit laughed at Soren "I can't tell you that! No matter how threatening you are!"
The man began walking towards Soren and Mia "Don't try anything, just let me blow us all home and it'll be done…no further bloodshed needed."
Soren and Mia took a few steps back as the man began to walk faster and pull on the cord more. "Die!"
As he began to lunge he grunted and fell on his back, dead. Soren and Mia noticed the arrow in the man's head and turned to see Rolf on top of Oscar's house and the green haired knight running towards the barn.
Lora came down stairs and noticed the dead man as Oscar ran to her and embraced her.
"What happened!?" he asked Soren and Mia.
Later that night, Soren and Mia explained their encounter with the two bandits, the decided before hand not to mention that they were the same two from Otrobort, the last thing they wanted was for Oscar to get involved in something when he was at peace.
"You two are very unlucky…" Oscar stated.
Soren nodded "I'm sorry we brought this to you…I think Mia and I should leave, out of concern for you, Oscar."
The knight wanted to tell them not to but part of him wasn't sure.
"I'm a terrible person…" Oscar said sadly.
Mia consoled him as Soren stood and turned to Rolf, thanking the archer for the help.
Later near midnight, the two left, as they walked the empty streets Soren glanced at the clock tower, and then turned to Mia.
"There is something I want to do…"
We aren't leaving Malsean just yet
What do people think of the chapter naming style? I, personally haven't seen it done, even when I was an avid fanfiction reader
Anyway, even the format of "where they are" / "where most the action takes place" still makes some chapters hard to name.
Well, another week, another chapter of Ymarkteg!
Here is the address of the first Ymarkteg OCs sheet with Mikel, Pira, Lyle, Fistivus, Shay and Lora
deviantart . com slash all this mumbojumbo art/Ymarkteg-OCs-1-361167394?ga_submit_new=10%253A1364082004