Izuku and Mark may have lost much, but they live. What happens to them now, after they've lost the allies they've made on their trip and almost all their belongings? Hope seems lost, until a green-haired girl carrying the pride of the Lorca on her shoulders finds them unconscious.
A/N;
Now that we're touching upon FE7 canon, it's important to note that FE7 in its entirety belongs to Nintendo and Intelligent Systems. I will be using much of the dialogue that was in the original game because frankly, I wouldn't trade Sain's dialogue for the world. Some scenarios will be cycled around due to tutorial shenanigans in the original game that won't work as well in the context of the fic.
Chapter has been re-edited as of March 14, 2023. Major changes include changes to fights in light of Izuku's change in motivation. Lyn has also been edited so that she is somewhat more merciful to bandits. She's demonstrated in canon that she simply doesn't like working with them, only killing them if; 1) They're Taliver and 2) if they pose an immediate threat to her life. Otherwise she's happy to let them leave with their lives, as she offers to Migal in Ch 3: Band of Mercenaries.
Izuku felt all types of sore as his consciousness returned to him. Recalling his most recent memories, he jolted awake; trying to rise but finding it mildly difficult to do so.
His body was wrapped from head to toe in bandages covering his wounds. He shared a simple bed with Mark, who was similarly bandaged. The tactician was still unconscious but it seemed that he had recovered.
"Are you awake?" A female voice rang out from beyond Izuku. He turned to see a beautiful girl holding a wooden bowl of soup.
"Yaoyorozu?" The similarities were uncanny. Apart from the girl's green hair, her height, hairstyle, and sizable assets were on par with Class 1-A's vice president. The sight of a similar face deluded Izuku into thinking it was someone he knew.
"So much has happened. Glass, Bank, Guy. Ringue… It's so good to see you again. Is everyone else alright?" The boy began to vent; tears welling up in his eyes.
"Excuse me? I think you have the wrong person." The girl frowned, moving closer to the bed with soup in hand. Izuku tilted his head in confusion. The girl could tell from his glazed over eyes that the boy was not entirely there. She had gone through the same thing herself not so long ago.
"I found you and your friend unconscious on the plains." She explained, setting the bowl aside with a somber look. "Your archer friend… I'm sorry. By the time I found you, it was too late to do anything for him. I gave him a proper burial."
"Huh? Ah, I see… Thank you. I apologize for my behaviour. How long has it been since you found us?" Izuku nodded, wiping his tears with his sleeve as he was brought back to reality. A slight red dusted his cheeks, but the girl paid it no thought.
"It's been two days since I found you collapsed behind a hill. Can you eat? This is a soup made of some vegetables." She explained as Mark roused from his slumber.
"Where… am I? Izuku?" Mark mumbled as he propped himself up on his elbows. His eyes wandering, he quickly focused on the girl at the bedside.
"Do you know her Izuku?" He asked apprehensively. Izuku then noticed the colour of her hair, it being remarkably similar to his own. He had yet to tell Mark of his true origins, so the tactician could only come to this sort of conclusion.
"No, she is the one who rescued us. She also gave Ringue a proper burial." Izuku explained, pausing in slight embarrassment at the fact that he didn't even know her name to address her with. Luckily, she picked up on it and took the initiative.
"I suppose I should introduce myself first. I am Lyn, of the Lorca Tribe. I believe you are 'Izuku'. And you? What is your name?" She said with a hint of pride.
"I am Mark. It is a pleasure to meet you, Lyn. You have our gratitude for saving our lives." He replied, doing his best to bow from his position.
"What an odd-sounding name…" Lyn absentmindedly wondered, realizing what she said out loud before she corrected herself. "Ah, pay me no mind. You have good names. What brought you to the Sacaen plains? Would you share your story with me?"
A crash and a neigh of a horse sounded outside the tent, piquing Lyn's attention. "Hm? What was that noise?"
"...lease...don...ow...anyth…!"
"I'll go see what's happening. Wait here for me." She said as she walked to the entrance, picking up a sword that was by it before leaving. Moments later, she rushed back in.
"It's bandits! They just razed the ger on the other side of the plain! They must have come down from the Bern mountains! They are headed this way. I think I'll be able to handle them on my own. You'll be safe here." Lyn reported, tightening her grip on her sheathed blade. She hoped that her words held weight.
"Wait, I want to help." Mark and Izuku said in unison; surprising each other and Lyn. Izuku wouldn't allow himself to stay back while someone else protected him again.
"What? Are you able to fight in that state? Mark, do you even have a weapon?" Lyn questioned. Izuku, she could understand, seeing as the green-haired boy had a sword among his belongings. Mark's belongings didn't even contain a magical tome.
"I am a tactician. I can lead from behind." Mark replied, a determined gleam set in his eyes. The tactician was burning in shame. He should have been able to take control of the situation at the camp. He would not be so powerless again.
"I see… So you're a strategist by trade? An odd profession, but… Very well. We'll go together!" Lyn nodded, taking a step outside to give the boys some privacy to prepare.
"I suppose we'll sort things out after we deal with the bandits?" Mark suggested, carefully fastening his satchel to his side before throwing his singed robes over himself. Most of his things were lost in the flames, but he managed to keep everything that he kept in his satchel; his maps, two vulneraries that he had bought the morning before they left Bulgar and some other medical supplies. Luckily, his scarf seemed to escape any damage.
"That sounds like a plan." Izuku nodded, putting his vest and haversack on and fastening his blade to his waist. He didn't lose any of his belongings to the flames; all of it being kept in his haversack. He patted his pocket carefully. He would use Ringue's parting gift wisely. He quickly got used to the feeling of soreness. Todoroki's burns from the Sports Festival were much more intense in comparison. Prepared for a fight; they left the room to be greeted by the afternoon sun and the flowing green grass of the plains.
"Over here! With your wounds, you should let me take on the majority of the bandits. You two should stay together while I go ahead." Lyn said as she waved them over, keeping an eye on three bandits, one by a tent-like structure on the other side of the plain while the others made their way to Lyn's tent.
"We'll be right behind you, Lyn. They're a good distance away, so we'll bait the first with Izuku. When I give the command, pincer the closest one and move to the next. The third seems to be preoccupied." Mark commanded as Lyn ducked and moved through the brush with a grace and speed that surpassed Guy's.
Knowing his role, Izuku moved up with Mark and got the bandit's attention.
"There he is! Grab the one in the back!" One of the bandits yelled, rallying his comrade to charge at the duo.
"They look like barbarians. Glass taught you how to deal with them, right?" Mark tensed, taking a step back as Izuku drew his blade and stepped forward.
"He did. I will use his techniques well." Holding his blade defensively, he prepared to parry as the bandit leapt up and aimed his axe at Izuku's head.
"Lyn, now!" Mark commanded as Izuku cleanly deflected the bandit's attack; the swordswoman leaping out of the brush and slashing the bandit's head off before Izuku could react, moving past and beginning to engage the second bandit. Izuku froze for a moment before Mark pulled him back, the first bandit's body falling where Izuku was moments ago.
Thankfully, the bandit's corpse and gore was hidden by the long grass. The gurgle of the second felled bandit brought their attention back to the battle. Lyn stood over the bandit with a hand over her sword arm and a small cut on her thigh.
"Lyn, are you okay?" Mark asked, quickly spotting the cut on her leg and frowning. Thankfully, the wound was small and very treatable, the tactician thought as he took a vulnerary and some bandages from his bag. "I can treat you behind that hill over there. It'll be easier to defend if that third brigand comes after us."
"It seems like the best course of action. That bandit seems to be occupied with whatever he found in that ger." Lyn agreed as the group moved to hide behind said hill. Taking her hand off her arm, Mark was relieved to see that it was barely a scratch.
"Izuku, stay on guard." Mark directed, the boy climbing up the hill and keeping an eye on the bandit. The tactician noted that Izuku's hair blended in and hid the boy quite well among the grass. He would use that in the future. "You mentioned ger earlier, Lyn. What exactly were you talking about?"
"I suppose you wouldn't know as a traveller. It's a type of round hut. Many nomadic Sacaens live in huts like these. I thought Izuku would know." Lyn explained as Mark rubbed some of the vulnerary on her arm before he wrapped it with a bandage. She would have been able to do this on her own, but she had no reason to decline the help.
As Mark tied the bandage, he took a look at the cut on her thigh, and a bit of a glance at Lyn's dress. Ornately designed, the conflict of interest was how… high-cut the sides were. Her waist had no sign of an undergarment. Was she not wearing anything under the dress? The tactician cleared his mind of impure thoughts and went to work, rubbing some vulnerary solution onto her-woah. It was softer than any pillow the tactician had ever felt. Mark forced himself to move at the same pace he did with her arm, not allowing himself to become distracted by who might have been the most attractive girl he'd ever met. He'd leave those thoughts for when he was alone.
"Done. Let's take out that last bandit!" Mark announced, wiping the sweat off his brow. It was times like those he wished that clerics could have been male as well. Healing with a staff would do well to avoid those kinds of situations. Not that the tactician particularly minded though. The feeling would not be forgotten anytime soon.
"You're quite a capable medic. Thank you, Mark!" Lyn quickly drew her blade and tried a few attacks, slicing the grass in front of her with ease. The bandages didn't slow her down in the least. "Let's go get that bandit by the ger!"
"I'll run up the middle right at him. It seems like I am the target. Engage him from his flanks on my signal." Mark commanded, Izuku and Lyn nodding as they ran alongside him.
"You! You think you can stand up to Batta the Beast? That priest wanted you alive, but he didn't mention anything about the others! Now die!" The blond bandit roared as he left the ger. Spinning his axe in his hand, he leapt at Izuku with ferocity the boy had only faced before in Muscular.
"Izuku!" Mark commanded as the boy drew his blade, barely parrying the bandit's blow. Before Izuku could counter, the bandit delivered a nasty uppercut to Izuku's gut, causing Izuku to drop his sword as he flew back a few feet; landing on his back.
"Not so fast!" Lyn yelled as she leapt at Batta's back with her blade drawn, the bandit turning to catch it with his axe before it could draw blood.
"Wait your damn turn!" Batta yelled as he clashed with Lyn, the swordswoman skillfully deflecting the bandit's reckless attacks. With her superior swordsmanship, Batta couldn't go for a low blow like he did with Izuku, but Lyn could not continue to weather through his attacks forever.
Batta paused and turned in surprise to see Izuku with his sword stabbed into Batta's back. Izuku had fought Muscular after all. Batta was strong, but not on the level of the muscle-augmenting villain.
Lyn capitalized on the opportunity and slashed at Batta; the blow sinking halfway through his arm before it was stopped by his arm guard and bone. With a roar, Batta dislodged the blades piercing him and threw Izuku and Lyn back, his axe tearing the side of Lyn's sleeve. "NO MORE GAMES! NOW YOU ALL DIE!"
"Izuku, I can take him out if you buy me some time. It'll all come down to the next blow. Please escape if I fail. He's tougher than I expected." Lyn asked as she sheathed her blade and took a deep breath, her hand on the hilt to prepare for her final attack. Izuku nodded and stepped up to face Batta.
While not as skilled as Lyn, Izuku managed to match the blond bandit thanks to the wounds the barbarian had accumulated. It wasn't perfect, though. The boy's arms slowly went numb from the force of each of Batta's rage-empowered attacks.
"Izuku, now!" Mark commanded, the green-haired boy parrying Batta's attack and leaping back, leaving him open as Lyn drew her blade and dashed forward. Izuku was amazed to see the swordswoman split into three afterimages, each landing a fatal slash before the afterimages merged back into one as Lyn returned to her starting position. Blood spurted from Batta's wounds as Lyn sheathed her blade, the bandit falling to his knees.
"What? How… How did you-" He mumbled in shock as he collapsed from his wounds.
"Whew… That was close. Thanks for holding out, Izuku." Lyn breathed a sigh of relief, the collective group recovering their breath after the battle.
"We should check on the ger. Hopefully, we're not too late." Mark suggested, Izuku and Lyn nodding and entering the ger.
"There's no one here. They must have escaped." Lyn said, surveying the ger. The occupants had left most of their things, taking only their horses.
"Seems so. Despite the noise, there's no signs of a fight." Mark agreed, noting some bed rolls that the previous owners left behind. "Do you think we can take these?"
"Hmm… I don't see why not. It would go to waste otherwise." Lyn thought for a moment before shrugging her shoulders. Mark nodded and took a roll with Izuku.
"Let's go home. I'm sure you're tired after so much action." Lyn said with a small smile.
"Yeah, let's go." Mark agreed as they followed Lyn back to their ger. The group ate a bit of soup before retiring for the night; the fight taking more out of them than expected. The night passed peacefully, much to the group's relief.
"Good morning! Are you awake yet?" Lyn cheerily asked, frowning when she was met by the half-conscious groans of Mark and Izuku on the floor. "That fight yesterday must have taken a lot out of you."
"Yeah, it sure did." Izuku yawned and stretched. He was still a little drowsy, but he was awake. Lyn passed him a bowl of soup which he ate heartily.
"I'm just not a morning person." Mark commented as he got up and adjusted his clothes. He had used his satchel wrapped in his scarf as a pillow and got to fastening the satchel to his waist again. Lyn passed him a bowl as well, which he drank in one gulp.
"Say, Mark… I want to talk to you about something." Lyn asked with a small blush as she sat with them on the floor. The tactician instantly perked up, wondering if it had something to do with yesterday.
"You have some experience in the ways of war; far more than I have skill with a blade. I would like to travel with you and learn your skills." She asked, surprising both Mark and Izuku.
"Heh, I was going to ask you to accompany us to Bern to my academy." Mark joked, gesturing to Izuku. "But what about your parents? To whisk a girl like you away under their noses is a bit…"
"What? You… want me to get permission from my parents?" The girl paused, contemplating some internal thoughts before she spoke again.
"My mother and father… died six months ago. My people, the Lorca, they don't… I'm the last of my tribe. Bandits attacked, and… they killed so many people." She began, pausing as she remembered that night. Tears began to roll down her cheeks in her reminiscence. "The tribe was shattered. My father was our chieftain, and I tried to protect our people. But I was too young, and our people were old-fashioned. They wouldn't follow a woman. They left to join other tribes…"
Izuku began to panic as Mark took a handkerchief from his bag offering it to the girl, who accepted it gratefully.
"I'm sorry. I've been alone for so long… No. No more. I will shed no more tears…" She sniffled as she wiped her tears. Mark and Izuku looked on with compassion, each placing a hand on her shoulder.
"Thank you. I'm better now. Mark, I want- I must become stronger, so that I may avenge my father's death! Yesterday's battle taught me something; I won't become stronger by sitting here alone. Mark, please train me, please let me travel with you!"
"Of course. Welcome aboard, Lyn." Mark responded with a wide smile.
"You will? That's wonderful! Thank you! Oh, thank you!" Lyn exclaimed as she tackled the tactician in a wholesome hug. "We'll be better off working together, I know it! You'll be my master strategist, and I'll be your peerless warrior! We can do it! Right?"
"Don't forget our valiant hero! Get in here Izuku!" The tactician added as he pulled the green-haired boy in for a group hug.
It was nice. Even if the three of them were alone, they were alone together.
The three set out for Bulgar immediately. Lyn mentioned that the city was about two days away, giving the group lots of time to get to know each other.
"How do you not know about these things? They are Sacaen essentials!" Lyn asked, exasperated. She had spent the day's journey teaching Izuku about Sacaen traditions and customs, still under the assumption that the boy was from the plains.
"Haha… I guess I just… missed it?" Izuku tried to deflect, drawing Mark's attention as well. The tactician simply assumed the boy was Sacaen, but things just didn't add up.
"Really, Izuku. Where are you from? I'm pretty sure you aren't actually Sacaen." The tactician prodded, Lyn looking on in interest.
"It's almost sundown. How about I explain after we make camp? It's a long story." Izuku nervously answered as he scratched his cheek.
"Sure, I suppose it's as good a place as any to rest for the night. Lyn, how far are we from Bulgar?" Mark nodded, turning to the Sacaen girl who halted their horse. The group only had one horse, Lyn deciding to walk on foot with them so she could have an easier time conversing with them.
"Hmm… We should arrive in the city tomorrow afternoon. Here would be a good place to rest." Lyn looked at the sky for a moment. Izuku followed her gaze and stared in awe at the clarity of the stars. He came to the realization that without the lights of the city, the brighter stars in the sky could be seen even before the sun went down.
"Father Sky leads us from above…" Lyn commented with a smile. She remembered when her father had shown her the same thing when she was young. She was as awestruck as Izuku then.
"Come on Izuku. I'll teach you how to set up a ger. After you tell us your story, I'll share my father's stories too." She tapped his shoulder, bringing him out of her reverie. Her offer seemed to pique his interest.
"Let me help, too. I don't have much to do." Mark offered, unable to hide the smile on his face. It would speed up the process of getting to know Izuku too, the tactician thought in the back of his mind.
"Good, let's get to work!" Lyn accepted as they started unloading their things from the horse and began to set up camp.
After a light supper, the group rested comfortably around a campfire, enjoying the view of the night sky. The ger was set up, but with such a marvellous view, it felt foolish to stay inside.
"So Izuku, tell us. Where are you from?" Mark asked, comfortably bundled in his scarf. Used to the temperature drop at night on the plains, Lyn simply scooted closer to the campfire as she waited on Izuku to begin.
"Um… So as you guessed, I'm not from Elibe, actually. I was brought here by Bramimond, the Enigma." Izuku began, taking a pause to let the mention of the most elusive of the Eight Legends sink in.
"Izuku, surely you jest." Mark interjected, disbelief evident in his wide-eyed expression.
"I'm not. He sent me here to prevent a calamity. He said my dream of being a hero will save lives." Izuku explained, his expression somber. He paused, reminiscing about the scant few days he had already been in Elibe. "I… I've yet to live up to that dream, but I will persevere so I can help save this world."
"As odd as that is, it does add up. Your appearance in my tent without anyone noticing, the lack of knowledge of Elibe, the Eight Legends and how the class system works. Even your diligence to train and learn how to fight makes sense in that context." Mark shrugged, rubbing his temples as he struggled to comprehend the wave of new information.
"So where are you from, Izuku?" Lyn asked, not as flabbergasted as Mark at what Izuku revealed.
"So there's a country called Japan…"
The three hadn't even noticed the campfire go out, so engrossed in sharing their stories with each other under the starry night sky. Another peaceful night passed.
Izuku awoke inside the ger, yawning as he sat up and saw the morning light peek through the entrance. Looking around, he spied Mark, still sound asleep in his bed roll. Silently, the boy got up, grabbing his blade and bag before going outside. After a couple stretches to loosen himself up, his eye caught Lyn sitting on a nearby hill, admiring the sunrise. He went and sat beside her, in simple silence as the sun rose above the horizon.
"I wonder if this sunrise can compare to where you come from." She said, the wind blowing through her hair and the long grass. Caught off-guard by how pretty she looked, Izuku sputtered as his thoughts were thrown into disarray.
"I… I think it's prettier here." He responded with a blush.
"Is that so?" Lyn smiled at his answer, unaware of the effect she was having on the young boy. She stood and stretched, loosening her shoulders and unknowingly pushing her ample chest forward. Izuku hurriedly turned away, his thoughts racing as his cheeks turned a darker shade of red.
"You use a sword as well. Would you like to spar with me, Izuku?" She asked, prompting the boy to turn around and see her outstretched hand. He gladly took it and stood.
"I'd love to. I've never seen anything like the technique you used against that bandit." Izuku nodded in admiration, dropping his bag to the side.
"Not even in your world? It was something my father taught me, when I first learnt to wield a blade." She recalled nostalgically, taking a distance away from Izuku and placing her hand on the hilt of her blade. Izuku noticed that her hold on her blade was a little stilted, the large crossguard resting on her thigh uncomfortably. It wasn't something he had an issue with, since he simply fought with his blade drawn.
"There may have been something similar, but the advent of quirks sort of forced martial arts and the like into obscurity." Izuku admitted. There was a sword style that had a similar stance, but being that no current hero used it, Izuku had no knowledge of it other than the name, iaido.
"Considering how your world lacks the magic trinity, I could see why the ability to create natural elements from one's body would overtake mastery of other skills. Now, shall we begin?" Lyn nodded in understanding, exhaling a long breath before steeling her eyes. Izuku drew his blade proper in preparation.
"Yes, let's!" Izuku agreed as he rushed forward. He knew she was faster than him; all the more reason for the young boy to take the initiative against his opponent.
To the boy's surprise, Lyn knelt, dodging his slash by a hair's breadth and countering with a pommel tap to the stomach. As soon as it started, the bout ended.
"Fast…" Izuku mumbled as he let his blade drop to his side.
"You're quite fast as well, Izuku. I'm sure I am faster than you, yet you took the initiative. It's impressive for sure." Lyn complimented, sheathing her blade as she stepped back to make some distance for the next bout. "How much do you know about footwork? We could practice that instead before we start using our swords."
"Frankly, not much. Please teach me." Izuku rubbed the back of his head, sheathing his blade. "Where do we begin?"
"My father used to chase me through a forest to learn by trial and error, though it seems that option is unavailable. We shall practice with the long grass instead. I notice you focus a lot of movement on your upper body as you fight. You should move through the grass, not above it." Lyn reminisced, pointing to a grassy area behind the hill. "I shall go first, do your best to follow me."
And with that, Lyn slid down the hill and dashed through the grass, barely ruffling the blades of grass as she maneuvered through it. Izuku jumped down to follow, surprised by how much the grass slowed him down as he pushed through.
"There are openings where the grass is thinner, openings that change with each step. They exist in all things, even in combat. When you learn to see and take advantage of them, your footwork naturally improves as well." Lyn called from the other side of the long grass. With that, Izuku set himself to work trying to spot these openings Lyn talked about.
Back in Japan, One For All trivialized the need to look for openings, and All Might's style of going Plus Ultra and punching his way through his opponents only complemented a straightforward but reckless fighting style. His training with Gran Torino only went as far as analyzing the older hero's movements and unlocking Full Cowl. His training at the forest camp with Tiger only increased his stamina and endurance, though it did allow him to keep up with Bub, Mac and Aron.
As he pondered his thoughts, he struggled through the rest of the long grass. He eventually reached Lyn, who seemed to also be thinking about something as she stared at him.
"How did you move with that speed enhancing ability you had in Japan? It might help to learn in a similar context." She asked, to which Izuku gulped. After he came to terms that it would help him in the long run, he spoke.
"The one who helped me develop that ability flew circles and kicked me around until I managed to hit him." Izuku sighed, cringing as he remembered the times he slammed face-first into an alley wall in the middle of the night to practice the prototype of Full Cowl.
"I see. I cannot fly, but I suppose I can 'beat' the footwork into you. Would these do?" She nodded, looking around until she picked up two slender yet sturdy leafless tree branches. "We'll go at it until Mark wakes up."
"A-alright. Please be gentle." Izuku stuttered as he caught the branch Lyn threw to him.
"I'll do my best." Lyn said as she began weaving around Izuku; striking at areas he couldn't guard with her branch.
At first, the young man was struck multiple times in a row; unable to focus as Lyn's chest bounced about with her accelerated movements. After a particularly hard hit to the head, Izuku slowly became better. He started blocking some attacks and began to analyse how Lyn stepped into and out of attacks. He watched how she adjusted her knees to dodge so precisely and how her one-handed grip focused more on her pinky rather than the two-hand grip he had on his own blade/branch. He planned on asking her the specifics when they got on the road; Gran Torino's advice of thinking on his feet helped him push aside distracting thoughts and streamlined his analytical abilities on not getting smacked by Lyn. Eventually, Mark climbed up the hill and waved them back to camp.
"I already started preparing some food, go wash up and it'll be ready. You two went at it for quite a bit. Do you think we can still make Bulgar by the afternoon?" He asked, passing both the swordsmen waterskins to refresh themselves as he turned to Lyn.
"It should be fine if we increase our pace by a bit. The roads should be easier to traverse as we get closer to the city as well." Lyn nodded, wiping some sweat from her brow as she passed her branch to Mark. "There's a river nearby. Please take these back to camp while Izuku and I clean up."
"Yeah, sure." The tactician obliged as he took the duo's branches, picking up Izuku's bag as well.
"And don't take too long now, alright Izuku?" Mark teased as he threw a subtle wink at the green-haired boy. Too tired to make a proper rebuttal, Izuku simply waved his friend off as he fought the blush on his cheeks.
As Mark went back to finish preparing their morning meal, Lyn led Izuku to the aforementioned river; leaving him at the nearest bank while she headed upstream for some privacy. The boy hadn't bathed since their stay in Bulgar. Stripping himself down, he entered the river and sighed as the cool water relieved the tension from his practice. He absentmindedly wondered if Lyn felt the same relief upstream.
Izuku immediately dunked his head into the river. He didn't like having thoughts like that, but he couldn't help it when Lyn was right in front of him. She reminded him of Mirko, the Rabbit Hero, both in their strength and their beauty. Not that they'd even need to be a hero to turn him into a stuttering mess. Any girl other than his own mother did that well enough. Shaking his head to get rid of the water in his hair, as well as dispersing his thoughts, he got out and dressed himself. It was uncomfortable having to wear his things without drying himself first, but he didn't have much choice in the wilderness. Perhaps he would invest in a towel when they got to Bulgar.
"Have you finished, Izuku?" Lyn called from behind some tall reeds on the shore, obscured from Izuku's sight.
"Y-yes! Just finished getting dressed, Lyn." Izuku stammered as the Sacaen woman stepped out of the reeds. Other than her damp hair which was now let down, she seemed perfectly dry. He hadn't even put on his green vest, as his tunic and pants soaked with water. Seeing Lyn without her boots, he assumed it was safe to go without footwear. He didn't want to ruin his, for some reason unchanged, sneakers. "It might seem like an odd question, but how did you dry yourself so quickly?"
"If you wipe off the excess water with your hands, it should only take a couple minutes for your body to dry. Unfortunately, it doesn't work with long hair like mine." Lyn explained as she combed through her hair with her fingers. Izuku nodded, getting used to the feeling of damp clothes. Hopefully, it would dry as they marched in the sun.
"Let's go. I believe Mark is waiting for us." Izuku segued, Lyn taking the lead as he followed her.
"Good, I just finished. It's just some soup, but I'm no chef." Mark waved them over as they passed the hill. It looked inoffensive enough, perhaps a shade thicker than Lyn's soup the night before. The taste was just as inoffensive; mildly tasting of meat and vegetables, but nothing too noteworthy. They finished their meal and set out for the city; unaware of what, or rather, who, awaited them.
"Batta is dead? Tch. Leave me to my thoughts." The fake priest sneered as the bandit who reported to him left the room.
Not only had the tactician and his companion escaped, but so had the mercenary and four others; the axe fighter, the thief, the myrmidon and the archer. His bandits were able to capture the two barbarians, keeping them tied up in a private room at the shrine. Should they come back to take revenge, the priest would have something to dissuade them.
In other news, it seemed that the tactician found an ally in the plains. He must have, to defeat Batta and the bandits that accompanied him. The bandits found three different trails that led away from the smouldering camp. By his calculations, they were split into three groups. The largest group of three with the archer from the bow that was recovered, two others that slipped away in the opposite direction, and the one sword fighter that managed to shake off the priest's Sleep staff with the myrmidon before the bandits could tie him up.
Now he had to concern himself with how to recover the tactician. Perhaps fate would lead their footsteps back to him. Should their ally be a plainsmen, they would surely come to the shrine before going back to Bern to receive a blessing from the Mani Katti. The sword was proving to be quite the boon, even if it was unusable for combat. For now, he had to maintain the guise of a priest, at least until his mission was complete.
"Oh, my heart! What a dazzling vision of loveliness!" A man in green armour leading a horse called out to them. Thinking that he was addressing someone else, Lyn started to move to the next stall to buy some supplies for the road.
Their group had arrived to Bulgar some time after noon. They sold the ger to get coin to repair Mark and Izuku's clothing. The tent just weighed their one horse down and they didn't mind sleeping outside as long as they had their bed rolls. Just a couple other purchases and they would be on their way to Bern. With Lyn's knowledge of the city, she quickly navigated ahead of the duo and their horse to get what they needed.
"Wait, O beauteous one! Would you not favour me with your name? Or better yet, your company?" The man reached out and gently turned Lyn toward him, a rose in hand as he flirted with her. Mark and Izuku had never seen such a shameless display before, and had no clue on how to react. Luckily, Lyn seemed to have a response.
"Where are you from, sir knight, that you speak so freely to a stranger?" She asked, pushing his hand off her shoulder.
"Ha! I thought you'd never ask. I am from Lycia. I hail from Caelin canton, home to men of passion and fire!" The 'knight' laughed, brushing his straw-coloured bangs with his fingers as he talked with pride.
"Shouldn't that be 'home to callow oafs with loose tongues'?" Lyn ruthlessly rebutted, giving the man a look of disgust. Mark and Izuku had to stop themselves from laughing outright.
"Oooh… You're even lovely when you're cruel." The man gripped his chest with his hand, as if Lyn's words had given him a heart attack. "Milady, I-"
"Sain! Hold your tongue!" Before the man in green could finish his sentence, a ginger-haired man with similar red armour interrupted and pulled the green knight back. He too had a horse trailing behind him.
"Ah, Kent! My boon companion! Why so severe an expression?" The green knight, Sain, turned to greet his friend, a feigned look of concern on his face.
"If your manner were more serious, I wouldn't have to be so severe! We still have a mission to complete, Sain!" The red knight, Kent, reprimanded. To Mark and Izuku, who were still a stall away from Lyn and the knights, it seemed like the current situation was one Kent had to deal with quite often.
"I know that. But how could I remain silent in the presence of such beauty? It would have been discourteous!" Sain argued, more of a playful jab to his companion than a valid rebuttal.
"What do you know about courtesy!?" Kent yelled. They reminded Izuku of a comedy routine, with Kent as the straight man.
"Excuse me! You're blocking the road. If you would be so kind as to move your horses…" Lyn interjected, having finished with what she needed at the stall and wanting to move to the next, but it seemed that the red knight had unwittingly boxed her into the stall she was currently at.
"Of course. My apologies…" Kent nodded, bowing before he trailed off as he felt a spark of recognition as he saw Lyn's face.
"Thank you. You, at least, seem honourable enough." She gave a small curtsy in return, further shocking the red knight as Lyn started for the next stall.
"Pardon me, but… I feel we've met before." Kent called out, giving Lyn pause.
"I beg your pardon?" She asked, confused as to what he meant.
"Hey! No fair, Kent! I saw her first!" Sain interrupted, mildly annoyed. His friend might be hopeless with romance, but damn was that a smooth line.
"Tsk! It seems there are no decent men among Lycia's knights! Let's go, Mark, Izuku! I've run out of patience!" Lyn clicked her tongue in rage as she stormed off, Mark and Izuku following her toward the south gate of the city. At least they had gotten what they needed. Mark even managed to snag some ingredients for ice cream. Perhaps he could get Izuku to make some for Lyn to help her cool down.
"Wait, please! It's not like that!" Kent tried to stop her, foiled by a wagon that crossed between them, blocking the street.
"...Sain, you lout!" Kent yelled at his companion, having run out of patience for his friend's antics.
"Huh? Not like that? I thought you were…" Sain sobered, trying to explain himself before Kent silenced him with a glare.
"I am NOT you! Come, we must follow her! I suspect she might be-" Kent trailed off as he mounted his steed, whipping the reins for it to leap over the wagon.
"Be what? She's our mission? You're joking! Wait!" Sain realized as he mounted his own horse and dashed after Kent.
"Run! We're being pursued!" Lyn yelled as she took Mark by the hand and her horse with the other. As a tactician, Mark was naturally slower than the rest and it showed in his laboured breathing. Lyn decided to throw him atop her horse to get him to safety.
The city had just left their sights before Lyn noticed someone trying to shadow the group. Before she could turn back, the group quickly rushed at Mark, Izuku and Lyn. They wouldn't be able to make it to the gates before the unknown group caught up.
"Could it be those knights from town?" Lyn asked aloud, only to be answered by Mark atop the horse.
"No… It's not them. Those knights have more distinctive armour. We'll have to make a stand here, while the terrain is favourable and you both still have your energy." Mark replied between breaths, finally able to regulate his breathing now that he didn't have to run.
"Heh heh hehhh… Aren't you the pretty one! Your name is Lyndis, is it not?" A gruff silver-haired man with a scar on his forehead chuckled as he stepped away from the shadows. He had the tell-tale signs of a bandit, in both his garb that matched the ones of Mac and Aron, along with the axe that hung off his hip.
"What did you call me? Who are you?" Lyn asked, her hand already on the hilt of her blade as she and Izuku formed a wall between the bandits and Mark.
"Such a waste. An absolute waste. The things I'd do for gold… Ah, well. Time to die, darlin'!" The bandit sighed before he drew his axe and spun it in his hand, weighing his options before leaping at Lyn.
"Hey! There she is!" A voice shouted as the sound of horse hooves grew louder.
"Tch, get to cover boys!" The bandit ordered as he leapt back into the brush that deceptively hid the other bandits.
"Whew… Finally caught up… You there! What's your business with the maiden? Such numbers against a girl? Cowards, every one of you!" Sain sighed before he shouted at the bandit, yelling his insults into the brush at the others.
"You! You're from-" Lyn looked at the green knight in shock before he and his companion trotted to stand in front of Lyn's party.
"We can discuss that later. It appears these ruffians mean to do you harm. If it's a fight they want, let them look to me!" Kent said as he rallied his horse, drawing his blade.
"Stand back! We'll take care of this!" Sain directed as he brandished his lance, an slender iron spearhead attached to a wooden shaft.
"No! This is my fight! Stay out of my way!" Lyn refused. She was adamant on finding out why some random bandit she's never seen before knew her name.
"Well, I can't just stand here and do nothing…" Sain shrugged with a frown. He would typically acquiesce to such a beautiful maiden, but to fight against bandits, he was rather nervous for her safety, especially if she was who Kent thought she was.
"I have a solution. You there, you're a tactician, correct? Command us. I am Kent, a knight of Lycia. My companion is Sain. We will follow your orders in this battle. Is that acceptable, milady?" Kent suggested, turning to Mark, who gave the knight a nod. Izuku was confident in Lyn's abilities, but the sound of knights fighting alongside them was certainly reassuring.
"Yes, it is. Mark will lead! Let's go!" Lyn agreed, turning to Mark for his orders.
"You! You are called Mark? I want to impress my beauteous one! Let me attack first!" Sain appealed to the tactician. Mark was relieved that he stepped up to the plate. He would need to get a better idea of their abilities. With a point of the tactician's finger, the knight charged at the first bandit advancing towards them.
"Direct my arm!" Sain shouted as he drove his lance forward. The bandit jumped over the attack and swung his axe at Sain's head. Luckily, the green knight bucked his horse back, blocking the bandit's attack with his arm guard. "Whoa! I missed!?"
"Quickly, back him up!" Mark directed, as the arrival of Kent, Lyn and Izuku scared the bandit away.
"Sain! Why aren't you using your sword?" Kent asked, wondering why his companion still held his lance, despite its disadvantage against axes.
"The lance is more heroic. A knight should look heroic, don't you think?" Sain defended himself, flashing a wink at Lyn. The girl simply sighed and shook her head.
"You're hopeless. If you don't take fighting more seriously, you're going to find yourself on the end of a blade!" Kent reprimanded, sheathing his own blade now that the first bandit was dealt with so he could take his horse's reins with both hands.
"Truth be told, I… forgot to buy a sword after the last one broke." Sain said with a sheepish look on his face.
"Forgot? Or were you simply too busy dallying with the ladies?" Kent rebutted. With what they had seen from the green knight, it was highly likely.
"Don't be so mad! I'll be fine with a lance. I'm that good!" Sain replied with a self-assured smirk.
"I'd prefer to rely on your skill, not your empty bragging! Take my spare blade and use it to attack next time!" Kent took a spare blade in a scabbard from his things and threw it to his companion, who hastily fastened it to his belt.
"Are you sure? My thanks, Kent!" The green knight thanked with a sincere smile, leaving his lance in its holder on his horse.
"You're almost more trouble than you're worth. Almost." Kent sighed as he turned to Mark for his orders.
"Mark! Give me another chance! I can take them out!" Sain pleaded, but Lyn noticed something about the green knight.
"You… Your name is Sain, right?" She asked. Even though she heard Kent reprimand the lackadaisical man by name countless times, she wanted to be sure herself.
"Yes! Sain, the gallant man of Caelin. That's me!" He replied with fervour, bowing dramatically atop his horse.
"If you insist… Why have you not healed yourself?" Lyn asked, pointing out the blood that dripped from the arm Sain used to block the bandit's attack.
"Huh? Hey! I've been injured? What a cad I am! To wrinkle that perfect brow of yours with worry for me…" Sain undid his arm guard, revealing a bloodied bruise underneath. He took it surprisingly well, Izuku thought. Perhaps Sain had a damage tolerance akin to the green-haired boy.
"Uh… I was thinking of giving you a vulnerary, but… It looks like you're fine. So, nevermind." Lyn frowned at his display. He seemed fine, it would be better to save the vulnerary for a more dire occasion.
"No, wait! I'll take it! Please! I'll take it!" Sain corrected, his tough act eroding immediately. Sighing, Lyn took a vulnerary from the fold of her sash and tossed it the cavalier's way. Mark took some bandages from his bag and trotted up to Sain, helping the knight with bandaging the wound.
"Ah, much better! Thanks, Mark! And you have my gratitude as well, my angel." Sain sighed in relief, sliding his arm guard back on and clenching his fist.
"Alright, here's the plan. Sain and Kent; us three will clear the path south for our horses while Lyn and Izuku maneuver through the brush. It will be easier for them since they're on foot." Mark commanded, before turning to Izuku specifically. "I know you have a good eye for tactics. You and Lyn should be just fine."
With a nod, Lyn and Izuku went off the road, spotting a bandit by a tree and advancing towards him.
"We'll do a simple flank strategy and I'll be the bait. Is that ok?" Izuku asked, an affirmative nod from Lyn before he dashed out at the bandit. Intent on being more than simply bait, Izuku drew his blade and slashed at the bandit.
As the bandit hopped back, Lyn rushed out and disarmed him, forcing the bandit to the ground with the tip of her blade.
"How does your leader know my name?" She demanded, to which the bandit responded by spitting at her and telling her to die. Lyn sighed and knocked him out with the pommel of her blade.
"Are you alright, Lyn?" Izuku asked from behind her, taking a handkerchief from his haversack and offering it to Lyn.
"I'm fine. The quicker we get to the bottom of this, the better." Lyn grunted, taking the handkerchief from Izuku and wiping her face clean. After a breath, she managed a small smile at Izuku.
"Mark was right. I'm surprised you are taking up the sword with your tactical prowess. I'm glad to have you by my side, Izuku." Lyn said, flustering the poor boy who could only respond with a shy nod.
"Come, let's catch up with Mark and the knights." Lyn took Izuku by the hand and moved on, spotting another bandit. "What's the plan?"
"Huh? Ah, I want to try taking him on myself. Can you jump in if something goes wrong?" Izuku snapped back to reality, quickly analyzing the situation and drawing his blade for his plan. Lyn gave him an affirmative nod.
"Hey! Come and get me!" Izuku provoked, taunting the bandit.
It worked well enough; the bandit running at Izuku and leaping at him with his axe. At the last moment, Izuku dodged to the side as the bandit lodged his axe in a thick branch that was behind the green-haired boy. With the bandit's grip still firmly on his axe, Izuku simply bashed his temple with the pommel of his sword; knocking out the bandit.
"Let's regroup with the others. The bridge is in sight." Izuku nodded, sheathing his blade as he and Lyn made their way out of the brush.
"My angel! Are you unharmed?" Sain shouted as he trotted over to Lyn and Izuku. It was reassuring to see that Mark and Kent were not so far behind, the tactician holding a pensive expression.
"Yes, we are fine. Thank you, Sain." Lyn monotoned, not wanting to deal with the knight's flirtatious antics.
"What's wrong, Mark?" Izuku asked. The riders seemed to have come out fine, so Izuku was confused as to why Mark looked so conflicted.
"It's Sain. He seems to be stronger than Kent, but he ends up making the dumbest mistakes. The fool nearly ran himself into a tree because he forgot it was there when he went after a bandit. Luckily, it seems he has a decent instinct at defending himself." Mark vented, the red knight beside him sighing in disappointed agreement.
"The leader is over the bridge. Is everyone ready?" Mark announced as he changed the topic. With a nod from the entire party, they rushed over the bridge with Kent in the lead.
"Accursed knights, always tampering in other's affairs!" The bandit yelled as he parried Kent's sword, only to be simultaneously run through by Sain and Lyn. Hacking up blood, the bandit coughed his last words, "Blast… There was only… supposed to be a lone… girl…"
With their leader dead, any remaining bandits that had regrouped decided instead to flee.
"That's the last of them. Well done, Mark, Izuku!" Lyn complemented as she sheathed her blade. "And now for these knights of Lycia. You were going to discuss your story with me?"
"Yes. We have ventured from Caelin, in Lycia, in search of someone." Kent nodded as he dismounted, leaving Sain to drag the body away from the main road.
"Lycia… That's the country beyond the mountains in the south-west, isn't it?" Lyn asked, a hand on her chin as she recalled her geography.
"Correct. We've come as messengers to the lady Madelyn, who eloped with a nomad some sixteen years ago." Kent agreed, much to Lyn's shock. She repeated the name with a confused familiarity.
"Our lord the marquess of Caelin's only daughter. He was heartbroken that his own daughter would abandon him. Eventually, the marquess simply declared that he had no daughter." Kent continued somberly.
"And then, this year, we received a letter from Madelyn. It said she, her husband, and their daughter were living happily on the Sacae plains. The marquess was ecstatic to learn he had a granddaughter of fifteen years. I remember the smile on his face when he announced that he'd suddenly become a grandfather. The granddaughter's name is Lyndis. This was also the name of the marquess's wife, who passed away at an early age." Sain spoke with a small smile. He had returned to continue where his companion left off.
"Lyndis?" Lyn repeated, lost in thought as she continued to listen to the knight's tale.
"That she should bear this name thawed the marquess' heart. Now, his only wish is to meet his daughter's family at least once. This is why we're here. We didn't know that Lady Madelyn died a few days after sending her letter… We only learnt this shortly after arriving here in Bulgar." Sain frowned, unable to continue.
"But we also learned all was not lost. Her daughter yet lives. We heard that she was living alone on the plains… I… I knew it immediately. You are the lady Lyndis." Kent said with resolute determination.
"Why would you think that…" Lyn posed, still in the process of understanding the weight of what the knights were saying.
"Your resemblance to your departed mother is remarkable." Kent answered.
"What? Did you know my mother?" Lyn asked out of shock.
"I'm sorry to say that I never met her directly, but I saw her portraits in Castle Caelin." Kent frowned, shaking his head.
"To the rest of my tribe, I was always Lyn. But when I was with my parents… When it was just the three of us, I was Lyndis. It's all so strange. I was all alone in the world, and now I have a grandfather. Lyndis… I never thought I would hear that name again." Lyn finally said with some clarity. "Wait! That bandit! He called me Lyndis, too!"
"What? How could he have–" Kent exclaimed in shock.
"He was a henchman of Lord Lundgren, wasn't he?" Sain answered, surprising Izuku and Mark. The green knight seemed to be sharper than his attitude would suggest.
"Lundgren? Who's that?" Lyn wondered, the name foreign to her.
"He's the marquess's younger brother. Everyone assumed the lady Madelyn was gone forever. This made Lord Lundgren heir to the marquess's title." Kent responded, explaining who the lord was.
"To be blunt, milady, your existence is an obstacle to your granduncle's ambitions." Sain spoke with a disgruntled tone, no doubt aimed at Lundgren.
"That's– But I have no interest in inheriting any title!" She rebutted.
"Unfortunately, your grand-uncle is not the sort of man to believe that. I believe the attempts on your life will persist." Sain sighed with a frown.
"What should I do?" Lyn asked, turning to the knights.
"Accompany us to Caelin. Continuing on like this is dangerous." Kent advised with a severe look.
"I feel I have little choice. I will go with you. Please give me a moment." Lyn decided, the knights nodding and giving the group some space as they kept watch further down the road.
"Mark… I'm sorry. This changes everything. What do you want me to do?" She turned to the tactician for his advice. He had dismounted Lyn's horse as well, not wanting to burden it further.
"Lyn, we should be the least of your worries. It is your choice." Mark spoke, to which Izuku agreed. Perhaps this was part of Bramimond's mission for him.
"You… want me to decide? Of course, your companionship would do much to ease my journey, but… It's going to be so dangerous." Lyn hesitated, speaking her mind but not confident that she would get that answer she wanted.
"Then say no more. We will accompany you to see your grandfather in Caelin. I'm your master strategist, no? I will fulfill that role until the end!" Mark pledged, a hand on his chest as he bowed to Lyn.
"You'll come? Are you sure? Even you, Izuku?" Lyn asked in disbelief.
"Of course. It's what a hero would do." Izuku nodded with a smile.
"Thank you!" Lyn said tearfully as she hugged the both of them. Mark and Izuku smiled at each other and reciprocated. It was heartwarming news after hearing the trials Lyn had to face not too long ago.
"One thing I hadn't mentioned," Kent started as they trotted down the road. After baiting Sain to bear most of their belongings on his horse, the group all rode on horseback; Izuku riding with Kent while Mark and Lyn rode together. "The letter never mentioned a brother. Lord Hausen will undoubtedly be pleased to have two heirs."
The group had decided that it would be better if they kept the information of Izuku's origins to themselves, deciding that he would act as Lyn's younger brother.
"Your swordplay is different from milady Lyndis. Was that simply the difference in training you received?" Kent asked, maintaining conversation with Izuku riding with him.
"Y-yes. Lyn had much better skill with a blade than I." Izuku stuttered, not considering how the difference in his and Lyn's fighting styles might be a cause for suspicion.
"Would you be open to a spar when we settle for camp? I would like to test my prowess. I have some pride in my sword skills." Kent posed, to which Izuku readily agreed. It would be good to train with the knights. After a bit of riding, the group came to a crossroads.
"Mark, hold a moment. Could I make a short detour?" Lyn asked, pointing to the path northeast rather than their path southwest to Lycia.
"Sure, Lyn. What's the detour for?" Mark nodded, changing the group's direction according to Lyn's demands.
"I would like to make a visit to the shrine in the temple there. I would like to see the Sword of Spirits, the Mani Katti."
Special thanks to GoldenWitch for beta-ing the chapter! Don't forget to check out her fanfic, Ghosts of the Body.
Time to answer some reviews!
MasterBlade47 - I have to ask if Mark is older than Izuku or are the two the same age? Also I am going to give the archer a FeelsBadMan. Can't wait to read where this all goes alsi I just realized we have two green haired sword users.
So the MHA students are canonically 15 during the Forest Training Camp arc. I put Mark around 16, so he's about a year older than Izuku. Ringue will be missed ;(. The more the merrier!
Switching gears next chapter. Time to find out what's going on somewhere else in Elibe. I think I've left Izuku on a good cliffhanger. We'll probably get back to him soon. Look forward to the next chapter!