Chapter 2: Birth of a Legion
Lyn, Lucas, and their group decide to travel to a border between Bern and Lycia: the Taliver Mountains, home to the notorious bandit group, the Talivers, whose savagery and cruelty knows no bounds indiscriminately to all men, women, and children alike. There within the mountains, Lyn witnesses their atrocities as they stop by a group of neighbouring towns and villages, only to stop by certain ruins of what seemed to be a pillaged town.
"This place...it's…," Lyn reacts to the ruins.
"The entire town is in ruins, why doesn't their marquess do anything to help?" Sain adds.
"No marquess would rule over small towns like these, especially with the militant nation as their neighbour and the rough terrain here. Not to mention the cost to keep guarding these villages is rather high. Besides, it is far better to distrust those greedy leeches. Most of them are all the same," Lucas explains, grabbing his spear to clean.
"Moreover, Taliver Mountains are home to the most ruthless gangs of bandits, vicious and notorious to all. My village was near here, on the other side of the mountain. My people...they were all slain by the Taliver, in a single night, scattering the remnants of less than ten from my tribe. They are all soulless beasts. I'll never forgive them!" Lyn explains with pain in her tone. Lucas notices this and grips his spear, which he was cleaning while walking, hard.
"I agree on that part, which is why I work cheaply for food usually," Ren jests before hearing a faint sound of a maiden's cry for help. "Something is not right," Ren says out loud before running towards the source of the noise, noticing giant white wings around the corner.
"For a place that is supposedly destroyed, this place is rather too quiet." Lucas says eyes hardening as he keeps the rag inside the pouch with his horse. Lucas motions the group to get their weapons and prepare for any possible attack, but notices Ren has disappeared from the group.
"Where is Ren?" Lucas asks with annoyance in his tone to everyone in the group, letting them know of his disappearance.
Meanwhile, Ren rushes towards the source till he gets a closer look at the situation, found around two towns away.
"Whoa, is that an angel perhaps, a peek won't hurt," Ren thought as he crept closer to see an orchid-haired girl wearing what seems to be field uniform from a certain military group.
"Let go of me!" the girl screams terrified as the rugged brigand holds her arm.
The girl in question had lavender hair with emerald green eyes. She was wearing dark blue armor with a white dress underneath. She also had a brown belt around her waist and knee high boots with straps where her thighs are supposed to be. She also was wearing a silver chain around her head as a headdress.
"Hahaha, you think I would let you without any payment?" says the brigand interrogating the girl before being struck in the gut by Ren doing a flying kick to his abdomen.
"Two men trying to hold a girl captive, too low class," Ren comments as he brandishes his shamshir to use its pummel to bash the other bandit's head, rendering him unconscious and releasing his hold of the girl.
"Oof!" the girl trips over herself before hiding behind a huge white horse with wings. Ren immediately helps her up and dusts her off much to the girl's protests as she hides behind the pegasus.
"Oh, a pegasus! First one I've seen and it's a magnificent sight I'll say! Are you perhaps its rider?" Ren comments in awe before asking.
"Th-thank you, " the girl replied shyly. Although her eyes were a little distrustful, almost as if she was afraid, frustrating and confusing Ren with the awkward pause.
"Ren! What in blazes are you doing you, You-" Lucas shouts rushing towards him.
"Knucklehead? Idiot? Take your pick, but I saved someone before something cruel happened," Ren deadpans to Lucas before showing the two bandits lying unconscious, making Lucas palm his face in disappointment.
"Ren! You could give ou-!"
"Gasp! Could it be!? Lyn! It truly is you!" the girl excitedly declares as she tackles Lyn with a hug.
"F-Florina?!" Lyn asks with astonishment. "What are you doing here all alone? And why?" she continues.
"I-I heard you have left Sacae and decided to follow you silently, but I ended up causing t-trouble to you and your friends. I-I'm terribly sorry everyone," Florina apologizes.
Lucas looks at Ren. "Well, I shall let this slide for now, but we are going to talk about this later," Lucas threatens, and a little upset that he went off without telling the group when he hears the sound of a large shout from one of the bandits.
"Not while you start paying back for injuring my men!" says the buff brigand heading their way with other bandits. "The name is Migal, and your lil' girl there," he says pointing at Florina, who trembled at the sight. "injured my men with 'er flying horse. She's comin' with us to pay for it,'' he adds.
"She deserves nothing of this fate." Sain says gallantly twirling his spear, with Kent sighing and preparing his spear.
Ren and Lyn stand in the front with their blades ready for combat side-to-side while Lucas twirls the tactician's spear beside Lyn.
"Can't leave a girl alone with men like you," Ren blurts, somewhat scaring yet comforting the terrified Florina.
"I will never hand over my best friend to beasts!" Lyn answers, standing beside him.
"And there is no way in hell, that I am letting you harm the innocent." Lucas threatens with his spear aimed at them.
"Heh, yer funeral, up and at 'em lads! We got some good game here!" Migal shouts, rousing the other bandits to appear from their spots and surrounding the area like pests before retreating to a safe spot.
"Sigh, when will bandits ever learn," Ren comments as he prepares his shamshir for close combat.
"Lyn, Permission to kill?" Lucas says not looking at her but asking for her permission if he could let loose.
"We must, there are other villages found in the other parts of these mountains, we must warn them and protect them!" Lyn declares.
Lucas smiles at her answer and starts to think a little more.
"I-I can go to the other villages and warn them, my pegasus can take me over these mountains. I can also survey the area while I am at it!" Florina speaks valiantly yet shyly.
Lucas stops her before she could fly off. "Wait, we are not sure if it is safe for her and it is too risky for you to get scouting information. For if they have archers waiting when you fly off, you will be shot down." He advises. "Kent, could you go ahead? Me and Lyn will cover your flanks, Sain, cover our rear guard..." Lucas says pointing to a small arch that they can pass through.
"Alright, I can watch over my companion more efficiently this way," Kent comments, glaring at Sain.
"Hey, I didn't do anything, Kent, I promise to follow orders!" Sain promises, making Lyn giggle from his silliness and making Lucas roll his eyes.
"I can vouch for Lucas on this, but wait, there are still bandits attacking at the other side of these mountains. It is too dangerous for Florina to go out there," Lyn says with concern.
"I can go with her, I can hold off any brigand while she goes to the villages," Ren says.
"Then I entrust her safety to you Ren," Lucas says, brandishing his lance, "Lyn, you and I shall go and warn the villages near us before joining the fray, you and Florina can go ahead. The rest of you: eliminate them," he continues.
"Roger." Sain says riding off with Kent following behind him
"H-hop on, R-Ren," Florina stutters while guiding Ren to sit behind her atop Huey before flying over the mountains to reach the other village.
Meanwhile, Lucas and Lyn have decided to split up and each take a village, with Lyn taking the farther one, much to Lucas's dismay. He sheathes his spear and enters the village to warn them of the bandit attack encounter. "Get away, you bandits! We don't have any money!" says a young man from afar.
"We are not here to take any gold from you people. We are only here to warn you of the threat nearby. Geez, great audience," Lucas says, sighing in his upset nature.
From that, a young boy with arrow quills at the side of his leg and equipment belonging to an archer, comes out and meets with Lucas out of curiosity.
"Oh really? Then what are you doing here?" asked the man.
"We are only here to warn you to close and guard your village to prevent disaster falling upon it, take it as you will," Lucas groans from repeating his message.
"I see, my name is Wil, I am an archer. I can aid you in your struggle against those bandits with my arrows," Wil assures as he gets his iron bow.
"Wait, Aren't you supposed to protect your village from the inside, in case bandits come?" Lucas suggests, not really excited to take him in fear for the village.
"I believe that their defense is fine. And I am pretty sure that if we all worked together, we may solve this threat," Wil reassures him.
"Alright, Looks like I got no choice. Welcome aboard Wil, show us what you got," Lucas says defeated as he and Wil exit and close the village gates.
"Lead me to your command, my bow and arrows are yours to lead," Wil says as he readies an arrow for a shot.
"Cool, now I got another pawn..." He says thinking a little more. "Wil, could you support the others? I need to think about what to do as of now."
Wil nods and leaves as Lucas squats down indian style to think of battle plans. He stayed like this for a while until Lyn arrived and saw him like this.
"What's our next move, Lucas?" Lyn curiously asks.
"Hmm, at the moment, I am not quite sure now that we added another couple of new members to the group, so it is time to change strategies while Kent and Sain hold the line..." Lucas muses a little bit. "...wait, I have an idea, Ren and Florina should be fighting on their end. And we will do the same until we regroup and meet up," Lucas soon brandishes his javelin and rushes ahead.
"We can do that, but we must quickly push the enemy to a corner in that case. Let's do this Lucas!" Lyn rallies alongside Lucas as they head into the battlefield with Kent, Sain, and Wil.
"Wil! Stay behind the rest of us while attacking from afar! Kent, Sain, Lyn, let's be his shield!" Lucas commands while standing beside Lyndis fighting off the brigands.
Suddenly, a couple of axe-wielding brigands appear targeting Lucas, being a lance-user who is at a disadvantage against axes. Lucas closes his eyes for a moment and turns to face them head on.
"You want some? Come and meet your fate!" Lucas taunts while twirling his spear and impales the bandit on the chest, killing him instantly. He is able to slay a few more bandits targeting him, parrying any strike and switches to his javelin. But alas, as he fought for a while, when another bandit charged forward with his axe, he tried to block an axe swing with the javelin Lyn gave him, but it broke due to the force of the swing. Lucas screamed out in pain as he suffered a great axe-laceration injury and he was exhausted from slaying several brigands. Kent and Sain were nowhere near as he saw the broken javelin in front of him and slowly closed his eyes, accepting his fate to be slain by the bandit.
"Lucas! No! Haaah!" Lyn yells as she slays the bandit and runs to the injured Lucas, standing with the help of his broken lance. She helps him sip on a vulnerary to mend his external and internal wounds before replying with a worried tone: "Lucas, what were you thinking!? Fighting off bandits with a lance all alone?! You could've died out there! And I can't even be there to save you…!" Lyn cries with a few tears of nearly losing her closest companion.
"Lyn…," Lucas said softly before comforting her with a tight side hug and replying: "I am sorry, for making you worry, Lyn. I thought I could handle them since they appear to be weak. It seems that I have misjudged their capabilities. I'll try not to do that again."
"Please, I have lost my family, I don't want to lose my close friend. That's difficult for me to bear," Lyn begs as she pulls away to look into the tactician's forest green eyes.
"Like I said, I'll try to not do that again," Lucas assures while looking straight into Lyn's emerald eyes.
"Lucas…," Lyn said softly as she was getting lost into Lucas' forest green eyes, slightly blushing in the process.
"Ahem, are you two done yet?" Ren deadpans out of nowhere atop Huey beside Florina.
"Huah!? Ren! F-Florina! Don't scare us like that!" Lyn begs from the surprise, dropping Lucas as he cries out in pain because of a thing called gravity.
"P-please, Ren wanted to join after helping me save the village and fighting the bandits," Florina shyly replied.
"Good that you two caught up, now, let's finish this," Lucas says as he props himself back up with his lance, slightly irritated by Ren's unpredictable timing.
"Great, wait, where are Kent and Sain?" Ren asks, noticing the two cavaliers that have vanished.
"Sorry for our absence, but after we pushed back most of the bandits, we saved a weapons smithy and decided to buy a few more blades and lances for the road. Unfortunately those were the only ones available, no bows and arrows were in stock," Kent replied as he and Sain carried new pieces of weaponry.
"Here, for the lovely Florina and the stoic Lucas," Sain says teasingly while handing the two lances to Florina and Lucas, to which he winces a little bit receiving the lance..
"Mm," Florina hesitantly takes the lance, but is surprised as Ren takes the lance from Sain and places it in a holster of Huey's saddle.
"Thanks for the ride, glad to be working in the skies. Really breezy," Ren comments, flattering Florina so much that it scares her.
"Alright Ren, enough now, we still have to deal with the bandit leader," Lyn replies as she takes a new iron sword from Kent.
"Sure sure, let's do that," Ren replies as he takes a sword handed by Sain then decides to test out his new sword while sheathing his shamshir and comments: "this can do too. It's somehow light enough to execute my techniques."
"Great, now let's administer judgement to these ruffians, shall we, Lyn?" Lucas says to Lyn while brandishing his emblem lance.
"Yes, we shall! Onward!" Lyn shouts, rallying the group to defeat the rest of the gang of bandits, bathing the mountain paths in blood, corpses and bloodied weapons until the leader, Migal, stands alone against the group.
"You Talivers are truly cruel monsters," Lyn replies to Migal, preparing the Mani Katti.
"Talivers? Those cruel beasts? They are soulless killers that kill even women and children. We are the Ganelon Bandits! At least we know things like honor and do with them more profitably, as what nobles might say," Migal confidently says until he sees Florina aiming from behind. He dodges and since he was feeling extra cocky he taunts.
"Hey, it's you 'gain, changed yer mind bout comin' with us?"
"N-no...I don't want to...but c-can we please...s-stop fighting?" Florina asks gently and shyly.
"What? You must be pullin' me leg after humiliating me! Now you must come with me whether in one piece or two!" Migal shouts as he aims for Florina.
"Kyaaah!" Florina screams with fear and froze, but soon hears the sound of clashing steel between Migal and Ren.
"Hold it pal, no girl is going anywhere. Now, meet my blade," Ren smirks with his iron sword in hand while protecting Florina and fights against Migal then deals several critical wounds on his body within moments.
"Ugh, how...no matter, my boys will come after you, avenging...me," Migal says before falling to the ground, bleeding to death as Ren cleans his sword with a rag then sheaths his sword and tosses the said rag away.
"L-Lyn…?" Florina calls, getting her attention.
"Yes Florina?" Lyn asks.
"W-who is that scary man? I-is he a m-murderer?" Florina asks as she hides behind Lyn.
"Oh no, on the contrary, he is honorable enough to uphold honor and justice. Moreover, despite his appearance, he can be quite a gentleman whenever trouble dies down," Lyn explains, making Ren slightly blush from the praises.
"Shucks Lyn, don't say things like that when you just knew me for days," Ren barks embarrassingly to Lyn, making her giggle with glee, comforting the tense Florina and calming her nerves, partially.
"Well that was one obstacle out again, but how do we deal with our funds now that they are spent on new weaponry and the lack of rations we currently have," Lucas deadpans as he glares at Kent and Sain for their 'good deeds.'
"But it is a necessary expense for our long journey. It cannot be helped," Kent explains with his arms crossed.
"A necessary expense includes food! And we were running out!" Lucas protests.
"Worry no more! Earlier, when Florina and I warned the western village, the villagers thanked us and left us a bag of 2000 gold coins as well as some rations as their token of gratitude for helping them," Ren replied as he got a bag of gold coins out of Huey's saddle storage compartment and puts it back inside.
"Whoa, now that issue has been dealt with appropriately, let us all continue and find a proper place to camp." Wil says trying to diffuse the situation trying to calm both problems have been dealt with.
"Aye! We shall rejoice for the birth of Lyn's Legion!" Sain shouts with glee, raising his lance in hand.
"Lyn's Legion?" Both Lyn and Lucas responded with confusion.
"No No NO, We are NOT naming this." Lucas protests.
"Why not? At least this way we won't be totally mistaken as just another band of mercenaries. I mean, at least that was supposed to be the case," Ren explains, after reminiscing past memories as a hired sword.
"Hurgh," Lucas groans from the name. "Please don't tell me…."
"U-Uh huh, in this way, I may get to complete my knighting ceremony from Ilia. I-I am actually q-quite fond of the name, because we have Lyn as the leader," Florina comments, surprising Lucas.
"Well, for Florina, I truly agree on that. I can't imagine you being alone in a band of men, even if it's necessary for your knighthood. It will most likely make you uneasy all the time with your fear of men," Lyn concurs with Florina.
"You too, Lyn!?" Lucas responded from Lyn's response.
"Well, this was technically Wil and Sain's idea, but apparently, I hold nothing against it," Kent replies, irritating Lucas more.
"You guys...oof!" Lyn responded before being tackled into a hug by Florina.
"I-I like the name! We shall be known as Lyn's Legion!" Florina rejoices while hugging Lyn tightly.
"Huzzah! O beauteous Florina! I, Sain, knight of Caelin, am at your service!" Sain agrees and indirectly tries to flirt with Florina, with Kent face-palming in response.
"Eeek! Stay back!" Florina hides and gets behind Lyndis to hide from Sain.
"Well, I'd be glad to be part of Lyndis' Legion, travelling seems more fun," Wil comments.
"Oh, you will surely enjoy it, brother," Ren comments as he pats Wil behind his shoulder.
"Lyndis' Legion? Things are getting stranger everyday, Lucas," Lyn comments with joy and glee with a smile while guarding Sain away from Florina.
"A pain in my ass, I'll say," Lucas finally gives out, but laughs along with Lyndis and her Legion.
(Timeskip an hour later)
Lyndis' Legion decides to stay in one of the nearest villages to rest for the day and rented rooms at an inn. The men were to stay in one room whereas the two women stayed in a separate room so as to not cause disturbances.
However, from the men's side, not everyone is tired as usual. Along the corridors, Lucas walks out of the men's chambers and strolls forward only to notice Lyndis who is also awake, sitting on a stool by the window while staring at the moon.
"Lyn, you're still awake?" Lucas asks as he walks to Lyndis.
"Oh Lucas! Um, yes, I'm afraid I can't sleep yet, I am trying to recollect my thoughts as of late," Lyndis replied with a slight smile as she faces Lucas.
"That so? Care to share with me?" Lucas says as he leans to the wall adjacent to the window while looking straight into Lyndis' eyes.
"Well, first of all, it was still about my lineage. It is really difficult being called someone extraordinary when I'm just ordinary. Although, it comforts me knowing I have a family somewhere far from the plains, but slowly out of my grasp by my own kin," Lyndis laments with fear and sadness in her tone.
Lucas walked to the bench and sat beside Lyndis before replying: "Lyn, whatever happens, I always have your back. Don't over think things. That's my job, and you will see your grandfather, I'll see to it that it will happen with my abilities," Lucas says with deep assurance despite not looking into Lyndis' eyes. Lyndis notices this sadness and scoots closer to him unassured that he is alright.
"Lucas? What's wrong?" Lyn asks concern glimmering in those emerald eyes.
"It's nothing Lyn. Nothing Important." Lucas says, looking at the moon as if it had a tale of its own.
"Lucas, you never really know what's wrong…."
"Lyn, you just learned that you have a family. I've been an orphan for as long as I can remember, but I doubt I would want to even see my own parents if they're still out there..." Lucas comments with no tone of regret. "...or if they want to see me…"
"Lucas…," Lyndis whispered to herself with sadness.
"Lyn, no need to worry for me. I have gotten accustomed to journeying solo, and I sometimes wonder if it stays that way…," Lucas says only to feel a warm hand on top of his.
"Lucas, forgive me. I was blind and selfish to forget that you too, have things to handle..."
"Don't be."
"Huh?" Lyn was taken aback by the sudden response.
"I hate it when people feel pity for something they cannot control." Lucas stands up and dusts his pants off. "It just seems fake, y'know."
"I understand that, but what about those that truly care for you. Like me for example," Lyndis protests as she stands up as well.
"...I, I'm sorry...must've slipped my mind I suppose," Lucas replies with a hint of regret.
"It's alright, I'm relieved that you acknowledge that. It's getting very late, Florina might worry if I stay out too long. Goodnight Lucas. I appreciate your efforts for helping me," Lyndis replies as she stands up and goes back to the room where Florina sleeps.
"You too…," Lucas trailed off as he stood up and also walked to the guys' rented room.
"Had a fun talk?" Ren says startling Lucas.
"Gah–Ren...it's just you. Let's get some rest tonight. We still got a long journey ahead of us," Lucas shrugs off as he enters the room.
"Alright...hmmmmm, meh," Ren comments and shrugs off a pair of eyes looking at him entering the room from afar before going to sleep.
(Timeskip: Overnight)
Alas, the band of Lyndis' Legion rises with vigor before leaving the village to continue their long travel across Lycian lands in hopes of reaching the Caelin borders before time runs out. However, this journey they tread will ever be more unpredictable with obstacles at every side.
Chapter END