Mark followed behind Lyn, he glanced up ahead at the forces assembled.
"Lady Lyndis, you should be able to see Castle Caelin once we pass the mountains." Kent says pointing up ahead.
"Grandfather… I'll be with you soon." Lyn says, closing her eyes.
"Everything rests on this next battle." Kent says, looking back at Mark who simply nods.
"Lundgren will not be receiving the reinforcements he expected. He'll move against us with everything he has soon." Sain says.
"Let him come! Let them all come!" Lyn says the anger and drive for revenge evident. Mark looks away and closes his eyes.
"I will not be turned away! I will see my grandfather… I've come too far to let anyone stand in my way." Lyn said determination now mixed in with the other emotions. Kent and Sain leave. Only Mark and Lyn remain.
"Lyn…" Mark says looking her in the eyes.
"What is it…? Mark," Lyn says looking away from Mark.
"When we finally meet up with your granduncle, what will you do?" Mark says narrowing his eyes.
"I'll kill him, for all the crimes he's committed. He has no right to live!" Lyn says gripping the hilt of her sword tightly.
"I had feared as much, Lyn… no matter what, you can not kill him." Mark says shaking his head.
"Why not?" Lyn says, startled at Mark's words.
"If you kill him, you'll be no better then he. You'll begin traveling a dark path…" Mark says.
"What do you care… you care nothing for me!" Lyn says turning away from Mark.
"How many times… how many more times must you break my heart? I will kill my Lundgren. Nothing you can say will change my mind." Lyn's final words as she leaves Mark alone.
'I do it to protect you but if you become a monster you'll be no better than he is and I will never be able to care for you' thought Mark.
"… It's going to rain." Mark says shaking his head and prepares for the coming storm.
So the battle began and the rain began to fall. Lyn charged out ahead immediately going after a mage and striking him down quickly.
"… For my grandfather…" Lyn says kneeling down at the man.
"You shouldn't have sided with my Lundgren. You would not be lying dead right now otherwise." Lyn continues shaking her head and charging ahead.
"She's gone to far ahead. Sain, Kent you two stay with her. Don't let her do anything reckless." Mark shouts over to the two knights who nod and ride off.
"The rest of you maintain a clean up, I don't want our rear lines to be compromised, by her sloppiness." Mark mutters trudging on ahead.
"Cursed rain, makes it to hard to maneuver." Mark muttered, looking up at the skies
"Oh well least the rain shall break soon… the castle… almost there." Mark continued his muttering.
Meanwhile Lyn had struck down two more an Archer and a Mercenary.
"How many more, could Lundgren possibly have?" Lyn mutters cleaning off her blade.
"Lady Lyndis, perhaps you should slow down. You've gotten too far ahead of the army as it is." Sain says riding up next to her.
"The other's should try their best to keep up with me, I will not waste anymore time. My grandfather awaits me." Lyn said, not bothering to even glance back at Sain she runs off.
"… I was right… she has been blinded by her desires." Mark muttered shaking his head.
So far the battle had progressed smoothly they were practically at the castle and all that remained was Lundgren himself. Lyn approached Lundgren.
"So you're the girl claiming kinship with my brother!" Lundgren shouts gripping his spear.
"You'll play this farce to the end, won't you Lundgren?" Lyn says gripping Mani Katti tightly.
"The royal house of Caelin has no need of a Sacaen mongrel! I'll put an end to this foolishness here and now!" Lundgren roars.
"To further your own black ambitions, you've harmed my grandfather and the very land you ought to serve. I have neither pity nor mercy for you. Lundgren! Prepare yourself!" Lyn shouts drawing her sword and charging Lundgren.
"Whelp!" Lundgren readies himself for her attack.
Lyn slashes at Lundgren and connects slicing slightly though his armor. Lundgren chuckles and thrusts his spear at Lyn. She avoids it and moves in for a fast counter attack; however Lundgren sees it coming and avoids the attack. Quickly raising his javelin he thrusts at Lyn who evades the attack and follows with a pair of rapid attacks. Both miss Lundgren again
"Come on, Whelp is this the best you can offer." Lundgren laughs, knocking Lyn down with his lance.
"This is the end, Whelp." Lundgren laughs as he brings the lance down to finish Lyn off. Only to have it blocked by an axe.
"Picking on children, Lundgren." Wallace says walking forward. Axe in hand.
"Tch an old fossil like you… should just die." Lundgren shouts raising his silver lance and thrusting it, piercing through Wallace's armor. Wallace grits his teeth and falls to his knees.
"LYN!" Mark shouts running forward.
"Mark…" Lyn mutters standing back up.
She grips her sword tightly and with renewed determination. She lunges at Lundgren evading his attacks and in a flash.
"That annoying little girl…" Lundgren mutters dropping to his knees and dropping his lance.
"Lyn…" Mark mutters running up to her side.
"He is not dead…" Lyn says raising her sword. To deliver the final blow.
"… Lyn I told you once, I will tell you again. If you slay him you will be a monster… just like he is." Mark says stepping forward.
"Do you want that… to be like him?" Mark says closing his eyes.
"… My granduncle… he has caused so much pain… so much misery for so many." Lyn said the sword now just above his head.
"The world… would be much better without him. He tried to poison my grandfather… tried to kill me… ruined his own kingdom." Lyn closed her eyes. Tears began to fall from her cheeks. Yet they quickly dried and she looked down at Lundgren with disgust.
"You aren't worth it." Lyn said, sheathing her sword and turning around. Mark smiled at her.
"You made the right choice Lyn." Mark said smiling at her.
"… Disgraceful… I will not…" Lundgren mutters picking up his lance.
"Caelin… IS MINE!" Lundgren roars and in a flash he was at his feet, Lance held back and ready.
"LYN!" Mark shouts running forward.
Time itself seemed to slow down for him. Lyn slowly turned around to see Lundgren's thrust. She stepped back but it was too late, she couldn't draw her sword to defend herself.
A moment later blood splattered everywhere, and Lundgren looked on with sick glee… only to look horrified a moment later.
"N-No…" Lyn muttered standing up.
"I-i was a fool...Lyn." Mark mutters hacking up blood. The lance had pierced his stomach. Blood was pouring out of the wound; his breathing was coming in shallow gasps.
"A fool… I should've admitted it; I shouldn't have let things like class get in the way." Mark says, a slight grin crossing his features as blood pours out of his mouth. However he slowly reaches down and grabs the hilt of his blade.
"I should've told you…When you told me you loved me… how much I wanted to admit it to you, how much I loved you" Mark says weakly. He begins unsheathing the Muramasa.
"I hope you can forgive me…." Mark says, fully unsheathing the Muramasa.
The sword was black as the night, and yet it seemed to illuminate the whole area. Lundgren had to look away for fear of being blinded. Yet for Lyn and Mark the glow was beautiful.
"Had I admitted it to you sooner… I wouldn't have been so conflicted… how easy it would have been to draw this sword." Mark says staring at the blade. In a flash he sliced and sheathed his sword.
Lundgren stared at Mark for a moment, before his head rolled off his shoulder and his body fell to the ground limp.
"… I suppose… he's not my family… so it isn't so bad for me to kill him. Heh… how much of a hypocrite am I?" Mark begins to chuckle slightly before he falls back onto the ground.
"N-no… Mark." Lyn stares at his body for a moment, tears overflowing her cheeks.
"MAARRRKKKK!" Lyn shouts rushing over to his side