The next few days of marching were uneventful. Bandits, thieves and, villains stayed away from the group for a few days but, on the fourth day as they approached the Lycian border the Ganeleon bandits struck.

Kent pointed up ahead "We've almost reached the Lycian border."

"Once we cross, we'll be safe from the bandits, right?" Lyn said glancing back slightly at Mark though not long enough for him to catch on.

"We should be I doubt they'll be willing to pursue us across the border." Everyone nodded at Will's comment after all it made the most sense.

"At last" Sain said in a singsong voice, "Lycia, my longest love! It's been to long! I can taste the bountiful food from her garden already! Not to mention-"

"The mistress at the inn is a beauty?" said Mark.

"You already know me so well" said Sain.

"You certainly have a one-track mind…" said Kent rubbing his temples.

"So Milady, will we be staying at the inn tonight?" Wil said with a pleading voice.

"I'm sure everyone deserves a good night's rest" said Lyn, nodding in approval.

"Yes" said Wil.

"Lady Lyndis, You truly are an angel from the havens" Sain praised her.

"It's nothing" said Lyn, "If you want to thank someone thank Mark, he's the one with the money"

"No need to-"Mark started.

"Mark, My good friend!" Sain cut him off, "Once we get to Caelin, I will show you the finest woman of the land! Of course that's my solemn oath"

"Thanks…" said Mark.

"Mark?" said Wil.

"Yeah?"

"I love you so much right now"

"No need to mention it Wil," Mark told him, "Not now nor ever again"

"A real bed sounds very comforting right about now" Florina sighed as she leaned against Huey, her Pegasus, who neighed in approval to not be used as a makeshift pillow for the night.

"Seems everyone is in agreement then" Dorcas stated, gathering everyone's consensus.

"It seems so…" Lyn said, not paying attention, instead looking out towards the woods on the other end of town.

"Lyn… What do you see?" Mark asked, dreading the answer.

"What's a seven letter word for persistent?" asked Lyn.

"Bandits?! Come on!" Mark Complained.

"We have a winner!" Lyn confirmed.

Then a group of bandits busted out of the woods and made a beeline right for the group.

"There they are" said one of the bandits.

"Can't these guys just cut their losses and leave us alone?" Wil said rhetorically.

"Don't think you can get away so easily after incurring the wrath of the Ganeleon Bandits" said the Leader.

"Oh I'm so scared of you" said Mark stepping forward, "Who are you anyways?"

"I am Bug and I will squash you all" said the leader.

"Get in our way and suffer the consequences" said Lyn.

"Cheeky little thing, ain't ya?" Bug laughed, "We'll fix that for ya. Boys, come on out and get them and don't hold back because they're women!"

Meanwhile…

Erk sighed as he tried to catch up to Serra who had run up ahead. "Wow! A fight! A fight! Erk! Take a look! Fighting those bandits…" She tilts her head slightly looking at one figure "It's a young girl!" Erk ran up behind her and covered her mouth in a vain attempt to silence her

"Fool! Keep your voice down!" A bandit approached the pair and glanced at them

"Eh? What's this? You in league with that she-devil?" Serra seemed to glare at him. Erk sighed and rubbed his temples

"Ah… This is so wrong…" Erk muttered under his breath.

The bandit strung up his arrow and aimed it at the pair and in response and much to Erk's surprise Serra began to scream in terror, and rushed behind Erk to hide. "Erk, Help me!" Erk covered his ear you'd think by now he'd be used to but one way or another he stood in front of Serra

"Serra! Behind me!" He looked at the bandit "Just try it" The bandit let fly an arrow which struck Erk in the shoulder he gritted his teeth but quickly muttered a spell a fire ball shot out and struck the bandit sending him flying to the ground.

"That scream…" said Mark.

"What is it Mark?" asked Lyn.

"Lyn come with me we will investigate that scream" said Mark as he pulled out Masamune and headed towards the scream, as his eyes turned yellow with slitted pupils.

Serra was tending to Erk's wound "You get injured way too much Erky" she shook her head "Honestly you should be more careful" Erk glared up at her but said nothing as she healed his wound.

"Um, excuse me… Hello?" Lyn approached the pair Serra glanced up at Lyn "Why are you fighting these bandits?" Erk sighed and looked up at Lyn

"It just happened." Serra looked down at Erk and then back up at Lyn

"That's not true! Those ruffians thought that we were with you!" She points and accusing finger at Lyn "This is your entire fault and I expect you to fix it" Erk sighed and shook his head

"Serra, if you'd not been so meddlesome, this all could have been avoided." He looks up at Lyn and she could swear he had a look that screamed help me "My apologies. Please trouble yourself with us no more." Lyn looked down at him and shook her head

"But… if you're going to fight anyway, shouldn't we team up? It will certainly end things faster" said Lyn.

A mischievous grin crossed Serra's face one that Erk was all too familiar with now "That's true. Yes! That's a good idea, don't you agree Erky?" Erk looked horrified "Erk! Go and help these ladies." Still horrified he stuttered hoping to think of some argument to get out of it then sighed

"Fine" Lyn nodded to the pair and after a brief introduction moved to join the fray.

Mark charged a group of three axe wielding bandits and shouted, "Dragon fire!" shooting out a jet of flame and engulfing the bandits in fire. The group looked at Mark with fear as he fought the bandits.

After slaying most of the bandits, Mark and Lyn stood a few feet away from the leader of the bandits, Bug.

"Lyn after you" said Mark, making the gesture for Lyn to go before him.

"Oh thank you" said Lyn, before charging Bug and clashing sword to axe with him.

Lyn jumped back and charged him again only to be back handed by Bug. Lyn crumpled to the ground with her nose and mouth bleeding.

Mark's heart started pumping heavily. His eyes slowly turning red. Mark roared and charged Bug. Mark's sword clashed with Bug's axe.

"I will make sure the Dragling dies tonight!" shouted Bug.

Bug knocked Mark's sword out of his hand and prepared to hit Mark with his axe when an arrow went through his arm and he was forced to drop his axe in pain.

"GAAHHH!" shouted Bug.

Mark grabbed Bug's head and put his face in front of Bug's and screamed, "DRAGON FIRE!" jets of flames shot out of Mark's mouth and burned Bug alive.

Mark let go of the lifeless body and saw that everyone had seen him. He turned and ran into the forest away from his friends.

Hours later… Mark sat at the base of a tree grabbing his head in frustration. His eyes had returned to normal, as he sat there in frustration.

A twig snapped. "Who's there?" said Mark.

"It's me, Lyn" said Lyn as she came around the tree and sat next to Mark.

"You know they're worried about you" said Lyn.

"They think I'm a monster" said Mark.

"No, they just are afraid of what you could do with that power"

Mark sighed, "They are still afraid of me Lyn"

"Mark, trust me, they may be scared but they still trust you" said Lyn, "Now come, everyone is waiting for us at the Inn"

"What about the two we helped" asked Mark?

"They decided to join us and help us defeat Lundgren" said Lyn.

"OK I'm coming" said Mark as he stood up and walked across the border into Lycia with Lyn.

As they walked towards the Inn, Mark saw the entire group was waiting outside the Inn for them. Sain walked up and grabbed one of Mark's shoulder and said, "It's good to have you back"

Mark smiled and nodded. The rest of the group came up and welcomed Mark back before they went into the Inn and went to sleep.