Mark tapped his finger to his chin as he stared at the chess board intently. He was at a disadvantage to be sure but he could turn it around. It would take a careful move though. His opponent was the most skilled he'd ever played. His opponent sighed in boredom and waved their hand to signal him to go faster. He would not be bought in by their tricks, oh no. He was better than that he would take all the time he needed. Then he saw his move, he would smirk but he had to play this coy. He couldn't let his opponent see through his move. He lifted his piece and made his move.

He smirked up at his opponent. "Check." He declared triumphantly.

His opponent sighed and moved out of the way. Yes that was the move he was expecting he moved again yes one more turn and it would be checkmate.

"Checkmate..." His opponent declared in a very bored voice.

Mark stared wide eyed at the chess board. Impossible... but he had planned everything so perfectly... there was no way that.

She sighed and rubbed her eyes slightly. "That's the twelfth time I've beaten you big brother." Serra responded bored with the game.

Mark sighed and lowered his head in defeat. "Best 13 out of 14." He challenged.

Serra sighed and stood up making to leave. When Lyn walked into the tent that she and Mark had been sharing. "Oh how many times did you beat him Serra?"

Mark frowned and glared up angrily at Lyn who simply shot him a mocking look and turned her gaze back to Serra. Who simply shrugged. "Twelve times. He's not very good at this game."

Mark folded his hands together and looked up at Serra. "Tch I'm damn good at this game and you know it. You simply cheat." He replied but quickly grew more serious. Lyn noticed the change and walked to his side. She whispered something in his ear and he nodded. "More to the point though Serra. You've been acting different lately. Ever since our time at Castle Caelin... no before that. You've been acting different."

Serra stiffened for a moment before turning around to face Mark a smile on her face. "Oh big brother you're so silly. I'm just fine it's just that I'm tired it is rather late and I really out to get some sleep. After all someone as beautiful as me can't afford to lose too much beauty sleep." She punctuated her sentence with one of her trademark giggles.

Mark didn't buy the act for a second. "You really should just tell him how you feel. You're only hurting yourself and the longer you go the further the distance between you will become. Eventually you'll lose him forever."

Serra again stiffened, and looked down at the ground. Slowly her cheerful facade vanished. "He... he's found someone else. He never... he never cared for me like that." She places a hand over her chest and takes a deep breathe to calm herself. Then when she looked up that same cheerful expression back on her face. "Besides who cares about one little pathetic lowly mage. I have the love of Lord Hector and Lord Eliwood. Who needs some commoner like him?" She giggled and turned back around and left the tent.

Mark frowned as he watched her leave. He sighed and leaned back in his chair. Lyn placed her hand on his shoulder and offered him a small smile. "It's okay Sep, you know how stubborn she can be."

Mark nods though his mood did not improve. He tapped his finger against the board. "I don't like seeing her like this. So hurt... so upset and sad. It breaks my heart in some ways. Though we may not be true siblings I do love her as a younger sister." He sighed and stood up and walked towards one of the many maps that hung around the room. He grabbed one and unfurled it on the nearby desk. He began staring it.

Lyn frowned and walked up next to him she wrapped her arms around his waist and nestled her head in the crook of his neck. "I know Sep... I know." She smiled slightly and nuzzled his cheek. "These things though, they have a way of working themselves out. Remember our own problems a year ago. Now look at us." To prove her point she kissed him with as much passion as she could muster.

Sometime later the two were lying together on the bed. Lyn resting her head against Mark's bare chest. She smiled up at him and he smiled down at her. He ran his hand through her hair which she had let down. "Don't worry Sep, they'll work this out. You need to have more faith in them."

Mark nodded slightly and leaned down to kiss her on the head. "You know I only let her win so she could feel better about herself."

Lyn smirked and chuckled lightly. "If you say so Sep, if you say so."

"Lyn, I have to tell you something that I should have told you a long time ago. How I got my title" said Mark. "I didn't get it from just killing people. When I started out I was hired to kill families. I destroyed families, Lyn. I wish I could take it all back" Mark says closing his eyes.

"Mark if-"

"No, I'll finish this. I killed everyone but the children and I always took them to an orphanage and now my apprentice, is one of those orphans and now I have to remember that for the rest of my life"

"Mark, I'm so sorry"

(In the rest of the camp)

Hector noticed Serra leave Mark and Lyn's tent and head off for her own tent. She seemed less than bubbly on the way out. Hector thought to make a comment on it. Then thought better of it, she had left Mark's tent. No doubt he was ether the cause of her downtrodden mood or had already spoken with her about it. For whatever reason the two of them where quite close. He crossed his arms and turned around. Coming face to face with a very small lavender haired girl. Hector was startled by her standing there.

She looked up at him mortified she blushed and swiftly began muttering what sounded like an apology before running off. Hector only stared at her retreating form in confusion. "What in the hell was that about?" He paused and tilted his head to one side. "Hey wasn't that Lyn's friend... Florina? No that isn't it" He scratched the back of his neck and shrugged. "Oh well..."

(The next day)

Mark sat at an inn in Badon he casually sipped from his drink as he stared at the pirate across from him. Lyn was glowering in the corner. "So then Fargus, have we reached an accord?"

Fargus rubbed his chin and looked at Mark. "You drive a hard bargain, I suppose you won't be given me much of a choice then?"

Mark smirked and leaned back in his chair. "Come now you know the answer to that question the moment I walked in here and sat down in front of you. I trust that I can trust you to take us to the Dread isles then."

Fargus smirks "Yeah you can trust my crew to take you to the Isle of Valor. Heh usually I'd challenge you to a little test but I think I can judge you without the test."

Lyn snorts in disgust and turns to leave when a hand reaches out and catches her by the wrist. Lyn frowns and doesn't even bother looking back. "Unhand me Mark. It's bad enough that I have to spend a sea's voyage with these pirates. I don't wish to spend any more time with them." She finally turns her head to glare at Mark.

Mark eyed her and let go of her wrist. "You can't afford to allow your hatred to consume you." Mark turned back around to face Fargus and the two of them continued their discussion.

Lyn glared at Mark a moment longer before storming out of the inn. Mark glanced back in her direction and sighed before returning his attention to Fargus.

Once outside Lyn took a deep calming breathe and stared out across the ocean. She wasn't sure how long she stood there until she felt a presence behind her. She didn't bother turning to look. "Are you done talking to that Pirate Sep?"

Mark stares at her for a moment then turns around nodding his head. "Yes we leave in a few hours. I've given the others some time to themselves." He turns around and walks towards her. Gently wrapping his arms around her waist he rests his head in the crook of her neck. He softly kisses his way up her neck. She responded favorably to Mark's advances leaning her head against him. Mark smiled and turned her around to kiss her passionately to which she eagerly returned. After a moment they broke up their kiss and Mark took her by the hand. "Come on Lyn, what do you say we explore a little bit. I'm sure we can find something fun to do."

She looks at him for a moment then smiles and nods. Squeezing his hand gently she allows him to lead her into the harbor. Though she does cast one last distrustful gaze at where they had been meeting the pirates earlier before following after Mark.

(Elsewhere in the town)

Florina took a deep breath and leaned against the wall. "O-okay it shouldn't be t-to hard. I just have to have confidence... just walk up to Lord Hector and thank him for saving me. Easy... remember Florina confidence."

She turned the corner and bumped into Lord Hector. Her face immediately brightened. Hector glanced down at her. "Oh hey you're... Lyn's friend right?"

Florina looked up at Hector and if possible her face flushed even brighter. She said something in haste and ran off. Hector could only stare at her retreating form and blink in confusion. "That's the second time she's run away from me... what is that girl's problem?"

A slight chuckle from behind Hector startled him and he spun around quickly. To see Eliwood approach him. "If what Lyn told me is true, Florina is quite shy around men. Though I think that's only a part of the problem here."

Hector blinks in confusion. Eliwood smile only widens and he pats his friend on the shoulder laughing as he does so. "Heheheh don't worry Hector I think the truth will reveal itself in time."

Hector stares at Eliwood even more confused than before. He scratches his nose and shrugs. He notices Eliwood staring off at the ocean and sighs. "So I have a question for you Eliwood?"

Eliwood blinks and turns back to face Hector. "hmmmm?"

Hector smirks "So Eliwood I'm curious why a young handsome noble like yourself. I know for a fact that a lot of the other ladies are after you. So with all the women chasing after you, I'm sure one of them is bound to have caught your attention."

Eliwood stared back at Hector wide eyed and blinked a few times.

Hector laughed and clapped his friend on the shoulder. "I mean come on Eliwood you and I are getting older. At this point we gotta start thinking about finding a girl who catches our fancy. I mean just look at Lyn and Mark the two of them are quite happy together. All that time we spent with Mark I don't think I ever actually saw him happy until the moment he was reunited with her. While I've only just met Lyn I can tell by looking at her. She's different around him even when she was pissed off at those pirates well..." He points to the two of them off in the distance admiring some shops. "Look at her now. She's happy. Heh I'm kind of jealous actually."

Eliwood blinked at his friend and shook his head. "Perhaps you're not so hopeless after all."

Hector blinked and glared down at Eliwood. "The hell does that mean?"

Eliwood laughed and ran his hand through his hair. "Never mind. To answer your question, I'm not sure to be honest. There was someone once... even though I only knew her for a very brief amount of time... something about her. She was beautiful almost otherworldly. Not just on the outside but... by looking at her I can tell she was a pure heart." He shrugs and glances back out across the sea. "I think I'm just waiting for the right girl to appear Hector."

Hector stares at Eliwood and shrugs; I guess that was answer enough.

The two of them sat in silence for a few more minutes. "... So you really think I'm handsome Hector?" A smirk appeared on Eliwood's face

"...Shut up."

(Elsewhere)

Erk wandered the town alone. He sighed Priscilla had been spending a lot of time with that Mercenary Raven and Lucius. That Raven person made it quite clear that he was no longer needed there and he wasn't going to cross that person's path anytime soon.

With that being said there was also Serra who, well he didn't even want to begin to think about what her problem was. He sighed of all of the current problems. Serra's recent attitude change was bugging him the most and he wasn't quite sure as to why. He sighed again and kept walking.

"Humph no one cares about you, you know that?" A female voice called out behind him.

Erk paused and turned around to face the very source of much of his trouble he frowned. "What is that supposed to mean, Serra?"

Serra crossed her arms over her chest and huffed. "It means what it means Erk. Nobody in this whole damn little army of ours gives a shit about you. Nobody you understand me, humph I mean just look at you. Wandering here all alone. If you simply didn't return I doubt anyone would care.

Erk had about enough of this. He uncrossed his arms and approached Serra. "Humph, I could say the same about you Serra. I don't see anyone else around you."

Serra frowned and glared at him. "Humph I'll have you know I was just with Lord Hector and I saw you skulking around on your own."

Erik tilted his head back and eyed her with suspicion. "So what then, if you were with Lord Hector. Why come here to me? As near as I can tell you hate me."

Serra gritted her teeth and glared down at the floor her fist clenched and unclenched. "I merely wanted to see how badly you taken rejection Erk. I mean let's face it; you're head over heels in love with me."

A moment and then Erk burst out into laughter. "I... love you? Hahahaha don't be ridiculous. You're an obnoxious, stubborn, spoiled brat. Who only thinks of herself. Tch your whole life you've had everything handed to you. Yet you think I love you, as if I could have feelings for someone who doesn't understand anything about me." Erk glared at her. Then blinked in surprise no quick retort all she did was stare at the ground. Her hair covering her eyes. Erk bite his lip great he had gone too far. She turned around slowly and began to walk away. "S-Serra... wait I..."

She stopped and looked back at him. Her eyes seemed empty. "... I know you Erk... I'm the only person here who understands you... I love you Erk. I had hoped... I had hoped you had come to understand me as well." It was then that her eyes got misty and she turned around and ran off before Erk could say anything else.

Erk only watched her retreating form get smaller and smaller in the distant. He sighed and rubbed his eyes. "How stupid can I be...?" Of course she loved him. That's what this has been about the whole time, and he was just too stupid to see it. She had so desperately trying to tell him but was ether to proud and then to stubborn to admit it.

He sighed and looked at the direction she had run off in. "... I do understand you... it just took me awhile to realize it." He silently cursed and turned and walked off in the other direction. For now perhaps it was best to give her some space.

(Another part of the port)

Mark and Lyn had been traversing the port for the better part of an hour now. They had seen most of it. "I suppose we should round up the others. It's almost time for us to go."

Lyn frowned slightly but nodded. "I suppose your right... in the end I suppose personal hatred must be pushed aside if it gets us a ride to the dread isle."

"But before we go about what I told you last night." Mark said with a smile.

"Mark, if you don't want to talk about it you don't have to" said Lyn.

"This isn't about last night, when I was in Pherae, I was getting a new title but I won't accept it until I know I earned it and one thing I have to ask you Lyn" said Mark as rummaged in his pocket.

"Ok ask me anything" said Lyn.

"Lyn, daughter of Lorca, will you marry me?" said Mark, getting down on one knee and holding up a ring.

"I will after we help Eliwood, I will" smiled Lyn.

Mark smiled and kissed her on the forehead. Before he started leading her on towards the center of the town.

On the way they passed on old lady with a crystal ball. "You there..." She pointed a gangly finger at Mark. "Would you like your fortune read?"

Mark glanced over at the old lady and raised an eyebrow. "Humph I'm no fool. I know a scam when I see one."

The old lady shook her head and motioned to her crystal ball. "You are an interesting one... for you I will give the reading. Free of charge."

Mark's frown intensified. However Lyn gently poked him in the side and smiled at him. "Come on Mark, it's free. Lighten up and try to have some fun eh?"

Mark raised his eye brow. He sighed and with Lyn he approached the old fortune teller. "Very well... make it quick."

The fortune teller closes her eyes and places her hand over her crystal ball. She begins muttering something under her breath. After a moment she opens her eyes again only now they appear white and soulless. "You shall become far more then you are. You will become a harbinger of death. A castle in the sky... at the peak of your power you will know the sting of death, not from any enemy but from your own blood."

Mark stares at the old lady and shakes his head. "Tch lunatic old bat. As if any of that made sense, I knew this was a scam. Let me guess I'm to buy some charms to prevent this from happening." Mark turns around and walks off.

Lyn however remains behind staring at the old lady. The old lady pointed her gangly bony finger at Lyn. "You will suffer most of all..."

From behind her Lyn could hear Mark call out her name after another hesitant pause she turned around and ran to catch up with Mark.

The old lady watched the pair a moment longer a smirk played across her face and then she simply vanished.

(At the docks)

So it is that our heroes had assembled together ready at last to venture to the Island of Valor. The dread isle nobody was looking forward to the trip.

Mark frowned and turned around to face their newest companion. "So let me get this straight, you want to accompany us. To the island of Valor that is considered evil and cursed. I've got that right?"

The person in question was wearing a black robe that concealed most of his facial features though his monocle and genuine unassuming appearance made the black robe and hood seem out of place. Overall he seemed like the scholarly type. "I believe the myths about the island being cursed is just that a myth. It is a lost island; I believe there is a wealth of knowledge to be found there."

Mark blinks and then shrugs. Turning around to face their vessel. "Hey whatever you say. What was your name again?"

The man smiles at Mark. "My name is Canas. I study deeply into the ancient magic's. Often in these days called dark magic. I feel that is too droll to be true. It's really quite beautiful in its own way."

Mark glances at him and shrugs. "I asked for your name, not your life story. Though someone who has knowledge and skill with the so called ancient magic will be most useful to us." Mark rubs his chin and nods. "Welcome aboard Canas, I'm glad to have you with us."

Canas bows and boards the ship. Leaving only Mark, Serra, and Lyn remaining on the shore. "What happened Serra, you look... upset." Mark glances over at Serra.

Serra swallows and then looks up at Mark her biggest most award winning smile. "Oh big brother you're so silly. I'm fine, I'm better than okay."

Mark stared at her for a moment then nodded. "Of course you are little sister." He places his hand on her head and ruffles her hair a little bit. "If you ever have anything you want to get off your chest. I'm always willing to listen."

She blinked at him and then smiled nodding her head. "Of course big brother." She then made her way up the ramp. As she did the smile slowly drifted off her face. She took a deep breath and boarded the boat.

Mark turned to glance over at Lyn. "You look distant, something on your mind my love?"

Lyn looked up at Mark and shook her head. "Just thinking about what that fortune teller said..."

Mark sighed and shook his head. "That old lady was insane; you needn't put any thought into what she said." Mark approached Lyn and kissed her.

After a moment they broke away and she rested her head against his chest. "Your right Sep... It's impossible to predict the future." She snuggled into her chest and Mark simply ran his hand through her hair.

"As much as I love being able to spend time with you like this my love. I would hate to keep everyone else waiting." Mark said calmly. He kissed her on the forehead; she looked up at him with a smile on her face and leaned up to kiss him. After the kiss she made her way up to the boat.

Mark stood at the dock for a moment and then nodded. He turned around to face the vessel. "Water... water everywhere and not a drop to drink."