Chapter 4: Unintentional Crossfire
After a few days from the bandit attack, Lyndis and her legion, which the name Lucas still didn't like, continue their way along the borders of Lycia and Bern, Lyndis decides to take a moment to imagine what will happen upon meeting her grandfather and his possible appearances. So, the group slowly stops near a dense forest along the Bern's borders.
"We've almost reached the Lycian border, a few more days till we get to the nearest neighbouring city of Kathelet. We can meet the marquess and request favors from his Greatness," Kent replied confidently.
"That's really reassuring, after another long trip, it's crucial to get a break in these times. Where is this said city?" Lucas asks for confirmation.
"It is west to the mountains over there. It won't be long," Kent answers confidently.
"Splendid! My legs need to rest a bit," Ren sighs before sitting on the grass. However, he hears a loud scream.
"Oh stop complaining, You never complained when it was time to train" Lucas comments as the group prepares for the break.
However, a loud scream resounded in the deep forest in front of the group, alarming everyone on high alert.
"Is it wrong to say that we're cursed?" Sain asks jokingly.
"Perhaps I guess," Ren adds as he stands up again and brandishes his iron sword.
"Up and at 'em lads! The girl is here! Aim for 'er when ya see 'em! The Ganelon Bandits will be avenged!" says the bandit leader to his crew as they scatter in the plains and hills while he runs to the other side of the mountains to be protected.
"Everyone, prepare for battle." Lucas commands everyone as he slowly places his knapsack on Lyn's horse much to Lyn's annoyance. "If there is a robbery by one bandit, the rest are likely to be near."
"Alright, What are your orders?" Lyn asks with confidence in Lucas' next move.
"We have another pawn and we do not know the terrain well. So…" Lucas mutters as he looks at the party thinking on what to do as well as analyzing the surrounding area.
"Let me check the area there in the forest. Ren and I can reach there in time on foot," Lyn suggests. Lucas doesn't respond but Lyn leaves before he could notice.
"I have to agree with the lady on this one. Horses can't get through those dense areas," Ren says.
"I may assist you two as support," Wil says with his bow in hand.
"I-I checked the vicinity. I spotted a pair in the middle of the forest attacked by a bandit archer! We-we have to help them!" Florina fidgetedly yet assertively suggests.
"I got it. To start: Kent, Sain, Florina, Dorcas, the four of you shall flank the bandits around the plains outside the forest. At the same time, me, Wil, Ren, and Lyn shall meet the pair in the crossfire. If need be, we will flank the bandits as well from the forest, Move out!" Lucas commands picking his lance and carrying a javelin as an extra.
From then on, the legion divided into two groups with Lucas being the rearguard before any of them could do anything fishy. As the second half enters the forest, Kent starts shepherding the rest around the forest.
As Lucas and his half enter through with Lyn getting out first, she spots the pair. A calm purple-haired boy with a red cloak covering his entire body with a pink-haired girl with a staff struggling against a bandit archer. She goes to the girl first then gets her attention nearby.
"Huh!? Who are you!? More bandits!?" the girl asks with her shrill voice, making Lucas cringe from the sound.
"No! Trust me. Now may I ask what are the two of you doing here in this area? It's dangerous here," Lyn wonders.
"...We just happened to be here," the purple-haired guy replies in a monotone voice.
"Hey! That's not true! Those ruffians thought that we were with you! You got us into a terrible situation! How are we supposed to escape this now?" the maiden with holy-signed robes explains with her shrilling voice.
"Serra, if you'd not been so meddlesome, this all could have been avoided. My apologies. Please trouble yourself with us no more," says the composed boy.
"Hey, hold that thought, your cloak, signet, and that tome of yours. You're an Etrurian mage, a magic-wielder aren't you?" Ren points out from observing his appearance.
"I, yes. My name is Erk, I'm flattered with how you guessed my identity, but we have trouble at the moment, mostly on my part with this loudmouth for a lady," Erk says with his monotone voice.
"Hey! Who are you calling a loudmouth!" Serra barked at Erk with her shrilling voice.
"Can we leave her to die? Please?" Lucas begs hoping that they could leave the annoying one alone.
"If that is so, why don't you join us and team up against these bandits?" Lyn suggests to Serra.
"Oh yes! That's a great idea! Erk! Be a gentleman and help the ladies please," Serra commanded with her arrogant tone.
"Um, with that wound?" Ren points out the shallow flesh wound on Erk's arm.
"Oh that? No worries! I, Serra, am a cleric! Any wound is easy to heal with my abilities. Please allow me!" Serra says arrogantly before waving her staff to emit holy magic on Erk and heal his wound instantly.
"Hmm, much better," Erk comments from looking at his arm before chantlessly summoning waves of fire and molding it into a ball of fire and projecting it against the bandit archer into ashes for wounding him.
"Ooh, nice skill. I'm thrilled to not get on your bad side," Ren comments after checking the cinched bandit corpse.
"Hm," Erk responded before turning to Lucas and saying: "You must be the tactician, correct? I'm not sure why and how I got myself into this, but, if you want me to fight, I shall show the true power of magic," he replies as fire dissipates from his palm.
"Great, now, with you two magic-wielders, our legion is sure to be a blast!" Ren comments with glee.
"Legion?" the pair responded in confusion.
"Yes, welcome to Lyndis' Legion! Looking forward to working with you!" Wil exclaims with a smile and a thumb up.
"Alright, enough camaraderie, we got a battle to fight, c'mon!" Lucas hints with slight irritation with both the cleric on the team and the team name. Lucas sighs and whispers to the two, "I'll explain later." Before rushing out to the field.
"Lucas! We pushed back those bandits further to the other side, let's crush them now while we have a chance!" Kent announces as he trots to-and-fro from Lucas' team to his team.
"You heard the knight, let's finish this!" Lucas rallies with his lance held high, motivating the team.
"HEY IT'S THE SCUM THAT KILLED HALF OF OUR MEN, KILL HIM!" The bandit leader screams as he sees the lance of Lucas.
"Oraah!" roared the bandit faction as they make their way to fight Lyn and Lucas' teams.
Lucas sighs a little bit before rushing in the battle. Onc Once more, there ensues another period of metals clashing with each other, but eventually swiftly dies out with the assistance of the legion's long-ranged fighters and the mysterious mage Erk flinging fire powder to scorch the opposing bandits from afar.
"Lucas, for some reason, the bandit's numbers are fewer than from our previous journeys," Lyn points out after cleaning her iron sword before sheathing it.
Lucas nods before pulling out his spear and throws it at the bandit, impaling it straight to the bandit's chest killing him almost instantly. "In the last few days," Lucas starts before impaling another one that tried to attack him and continues, "We have been killing their men, these are most likely their reserves."
"Hey brother, do a rain check further before assuming, woe falls to us all. Bandit gangs happen to become natural occurrences," Ren jokes and explains logically before turning to see an armory of a blacksmith and yelps: "Ooh! An armory! Good timing to refresh weapon stocks!"
"Hey! Let me visit!" Wil exclaims and pushes Ren out of the way and knocks him down to the ground as he rushes to the armory, unknowingly leaving Ren dumbfounded from his strength. And with an upset Lucas yelling back to Wil, that they can check it later.
"A-are you okay?" Florina asks, with Ren responding with a thumbs up before slowly getting up on his feet and pats dust off his garb.
"Hmm, even if I'm thrifty, I do need a new axe," Dorcas thought out loud before going to the armory with Wil, much to the dismay of Lucas.
"Ouch, who knew he'd be that strong," Ren sarcastically comments before pushing back forward to stretch the pain, making Florina slightly chuckle, but not loud enough to notice.
"There are only two of them left, victory is ours!" Kent chants and rallies the group except Wil and Dorcas who are busy in the armory.
"Onward!" Lucas continues, annoyed that two of the group went out to get weapons, but he and Lyn charge forward against the two bandits.
"Bug, they're coming!" says one brigand.
"Grrrrgh, guaaagh!?" Bug grunts before feeling backstabbed with an iron sword piercing through his chest.
"Don't even think about escaping," Ren scoffs before pulling his blade out of the bandit leader's chest, leaving him to die on blood-drenched grass.
"Scum...you're all scum…," Bug replies with resent before choking on his own blood and dies.
"Hiiigh, ggrgh," the bandit grunts from two javelins thrown from afar before falling and getting impaled to the ground while bleeding to death.
"Hm, these new javelins work like a charm I must say," Lucas comments as he puts the javelin in his hind holster.
"I couldn't agree more," Kent adds before hearing Sain yell from afar.
"Kent! I'm so lucky today! A bandit I slain was holding a spare blade, in good condition too! Surely, St. Elimine finally smiles upon me!" Sain theatrically replies with the new iron sword.
"Oh really, then you don't need a new spear perhaps," Kent sarcastically replies while holding a spare javelin that was supposedly meant for Sain.
"Oh, surely you jest! Why don't we trade!?" Sain replies with eagerness, making the whole group except Erk and Lucas laugh loudly.
"Nicely done Lucas, everyone! That should be the last of them," Lyn remarks, motivating the legion.
"Surprisingly, for a lady like yourself, you're unexpectedly very strong," Serra compliments.
"Your staff and healing powers are a miracle to have," Lyn compliments her.
"Only those in the service of good can wield them," Serra says with her head held high.
"Hmm," Ren responds with uneasiness before getting a nudge from Wil.
"You've helped us tremendously, but it is time for us to part ways," Lyn says with a little hint of regret.
"Take care and goodbye Lyn," Serra bids.
"Farewell, you too Erk," Lyn bids.
"It's been fun seeing your tricks," Ren bids smirk gleefully.
"Hmm, farewell," Erk bids before walking alongside Serra away elsewhere.
"Good Riddance," Lucas says, before receiving an elbow to his liver from Lyn,. "What? She's leaving," Lucas grunts as he falls to his knees while wincing in pain.
"Not so tactful with words again huh?" Ren sarcastically comments, with Lyn slightly pouting from Lucas' blunt nature.
"You're one to talk." Lucas retorts, making everyone laugh a little, not noticing a missing green knight.
-.
Meanwhile a few miles away from the group as the pair were deciding what to do, A certain green knight from the legion, approached them.
"Let us be on our way, shall we Erk?" Serra says before noticing Sain, who was unknowingly following them.
"What have we here? Another wildflower? A beauteous maiden? O what a delectable creature your Grace is!" Sain dramatically flirts.
"Oh! Are you one of Lyn's companions perhaps?" Serra asks kindly.
"Yes milady, I am," Sain answers with gentleness. "May I ask you for your name?"
"I am Serra," Serra replies with pride.
"O, what a lyrical name! I am Sain, a knight in service of Castle Caelin," Sain replies with confidence.
"Oh! So, is Lyn a member of Marquess Caelin's household?" Serra speculates with curiosity.
"Not just merely a member, she is the granddaughter of our lord, the marquess of Caelin,"
"Oh! Such an important person!" Serra thought out loud with an eerie motive.
"Serra, don't tell me what you gonna do what I think you're gonna do," Erk sighs with unease.
"Tee hee! Having such an important and powerful person in your debt may not be such a bad thing, correct? So..?" Serra gleefully retorts, making Erk face-palm with a hint of regret in response to her idea. "Oh Sain!" Serra calls and gets his attention before Erk sighs in exasperation.
"Yes, milady Serra?" Sain asks, who had spent the past few minutes daydreaming not noticing what the cleric was scheming.
(Timeskip: After a few minutes of discussion)
"Wait...what?" Lucas asks, his tone mixing with feelings of uneasiness and annoyance from the idiocy he had just heard.
"You should be grateful! I, Serra, have decided to accompany you on this long journey!" Serra declares with pride and gestures, ignoring Erk who face-palmed from his client's "flair."
"Well, here we are, at your service, again," Erk bluntly points out.
"Great! Now we got some firepower going!" Ren bursts with glee.
"We are already grateful, and we would like to have you come with us, wouldn't you agree, Lucas?" Lyn trails to staring into Lucas' eyes with excitement for the new pair of members.
"Oh Saints, kill me now," Lucas curses quietly at the saints and his own luck and face-palms with annoyance before composing back to his proper image as the legion's tactician then turns to Serra and Erk and replies, defeated: "Welcome aboard, Erk, and Serra."
"Why ye–waitaminute, why am I mentioned secondly? I demand an answer!" Serra points out dreadfully with her siren-like voice and the attitude of a child, making the entire group burst with laughter except for the serious duo: Erk and Lucas, which the latter cringes a little from her voice.
From that point, the members of Lyndis' Legion have acquired two new companions unique in their abilities that could change the tides in the battlefield, all the more valuable for the unpredictable future that comes in their leader's pursuit for her grandfather, even in the destination of refuge: Araphen.
Chapter END