Special Chapter: A Time for Joy

Day breaks on the happy harbor of Badon, the village folk suddenly appear to be quite much more lively as they trot away with fallen leaves of various shades, temporarily close their shops for the day, and be merry to their own company.

"Hey, excuse me, innkeeper, what's up with all the ruckus? What's happening?" Lucas groggily asks the innkeeper, woken up from all the merry noise resounding around the roads of the port of Badon.

"Oh this? We are planning to celebrate a renowned holiday, commemorating the birth of the late saintess Elimine, the icon of hope and one of Elibe's Eight Legendary Heroes!" Anna, the innkeeper, joyfully replied. "Everyone celebrates this glorious day, to share joys and interact in merry gatherings! Oh oh! There are also the great bountiful feasts to partake in! All the more encourages all to share joys with one another, whether family or not!"

"I see, thank you for answering," Lucas thanks before departing from the inn's lobby to stroll around the now busy and jolly roads of Badon. He passed by the local tavern and decided to enter inside since he spotted Fargus inside, singing one of his shanties with his rowdy crew as the alcohol had sunk in, and slowly made his way towards the tipsy captain.

Fargus, meanwhile, sang for a little bit before feeling a tap on the shoulder. He immediately stops singing and faces the person who interrupted their merry cheer, only to see the stoic tactician staring at him, his face unimpressed from what he was doing.

"Yo mate!"

Lucas quickly turned, unsheathed his dagger and ended up parrying with his dagger against Dart's huge, yet lightweight iron axe. He was sort of surprised because he was not bringing his lance around his person, being in a town full of civilians and all.

"Whoa landlubber, cool it. Whatcha standin' around for? Go on in! Join the fun!" Dart invites as he wields his axe over his shoulder while offering the tactician a newly brewed mug of beer with red tinge on his cheeks, indicating that he had drunk quite a bit.

"I'll pass," Lucas refuses with his hand up. "I appreciate the gesture, but it's not my kind of thing, thanks."

Lucas immediately leaves the tavern and continues strolling around the area, aimlessly looking for anyone else familiar. After a few minutes of searching and wandering around town, he noticed three familiar people from afar, sitting by the pier's wooden bridge. He inspects closer to see Farina and Florina, who were idly chatting whereas Ren is trying to fish for some game.

"Grrrrgh, still nothing," Ren growls out of frustration after reeling in his naked hook.

"C'mon, we've only been here for like, I dunno, half an hour? Fish ain't like people you know?" Farina assures.

"B-but why are you still here sister? I-I thought Lord Hector asked you to do an errand of sorts?" Florina nervously asks.

"Oh don't worry 'bout that, li'l sis. I got all the time in the world. Hm? Oh Lucas! Over here man!" Farina assures, motioning him to come to them. Lucas does so before taking a seat next to the three. There was a calm silence as the three just end up watching Ren struggle with fishing. After a few minutes of hearing him complain and Lucas snickering to himself he decided to ask them.

"What are all of you doing here?"

"Me? I'm just killin' some time before getting on with some stuff. Don't know about those two though," Farina replied.

"Well? What are you doing here? Lazing around again?" Lucas sternly asks Ren, letting Florina off the hook to avoid scaring her.

"Aha! On the contrary brother, I am trying to catch some game for a feast, just to get on with the day's season is all!" Ren joyfully replied. "But uhm…"

There was a tug on the line and Ren immediately started reeling up the fishing line.

"I got it! It's close, I can feel it!"

Once the line was pulled up, Lucas smirked as he saw that Ren had caught nothing on his fishing line.

"Maybe because we have been chatting and disturbing this place," Florina thought aloud, her voice nearly a whisper but not too the tactician.

"I doubt dumb creatures like fish would care about mere noise that are not predatorial, That, and Ren has been stomping and swearing like a sailor every two minutes or so." Lucas replied, before pointing to Ren, as said person stomps around a little bit. "He may be a reliable pawn but leave him with a pole and he's as useless as a young lad."

"Hmmmm, maybe I should try using a better bait," Ren thought out loud as he checks his satchel and takes out a piece of hard tack biscuit, reasonably well preserved because of its high salt content.

"You're going to use that to fool and lure them?" Farina asked him in a curious manner.

"Well, it's worth a shot," Ren jokes around as he hooks the hard tack onto the fishing hook and whips out to the ocean.

"Okay, now we just play the waiting game. Oh and Lucas, if you're lookin' for Lyn, she's been up and about early to stroll around the boulevard. I did see Eliwood go in that direction, but I'm probably wrong," Ren informs in a teasing manner.

"Thanks, I hope you become fish food as soon as possible," Lucas curses jokingly in order to vent out his anger and avoid hitting him as he gets up and starts to dust himself off.

From that point, Ren's line fidgeted and shook, alerting the excited swordsman for what he possibly caught.

"Oh oh oh! Finally! Got one got one!"

Ren battles and struggles against his game in a playful tug-of-war, to see if he gets to bring back a good meal, or come back empty handed.

"Come on! Give up already! Come to papa!" Ren playfully struggles against the marine creature.

"G-go Ren!" Florina cheered.

"Get 'em!" Farina cheered along.

"Hwoooooogh!" Ren mustered up his strength from all of his sword fighting and after one strong pull, he was able to pull out the fish out of the water. "Haha! Got 'em!"

"Not quite," Lucas blankly replies to hide his surprised look as he points to the sky for Ren to see a huge ten feet long grouper fish that has its hooked mouth open wide enough to accidentally swallow Ren whole while exposing only his drenched galoshes.

"Mmmhph! Mmmph!" Ren yelped whilst inside the huge fish before falling on his back and wriggling on the pier out of fear, making both Lucas and Farina laugh out loud from his cursed predicament.

"Gods, this must be both my lucky and unlucky day," Lucas exhaled in relief after a moment of laughter.

"R-Ren!" Florina panics frantically and tries to help Ren out of his situation.

"I got ya man!" Farina assists Florina in trying to pull Ren out of the huge fish that will be one of their main courses for dinner.

Lucas silently leaves the scene and strolls along the boulevard, following Ren's directions to find Lyndis, only to spot her sitting by the border with Eliwood at her side, engaging in what appears to be a lively conversation that wrenched Lucas' heart and caused him to unintentionally eavesdrop on the two.

"So wait, if my memory serves me well again, you happen to have learned your lineage only after a decade or so?" Eliwood clarifies what he and Lyn talked about.

"Yes, all my life, I lived in the plains in a simple setting until my grandfather wished to welcome my mother, only to discover that she's gone by that time," Lyn replied. "I am still not quite accustomed to the life and education of being one of the nobility, even though Chancellor Reismann was very much patient with my upbringing like a parent and guardian."

"I see, but is there not anyone else that has always been close to you in helping you get this far?" Eliwood prys further.

"Well, there is one other person that has been with me, even though I don't see that person very often," Lyn replied, making Lucas from afar, eager to hear who she's referring to. "And it was Florina, who stuck by me, even though we belong in different places."

From that statement, both Eliwood and Lucas had their faces downcast in disappointment of how dense a lady like Lyndis can be for such an occasion. Lucas sighs and sneaks away back to the inn to enjoy some downtime in his own personal quarters to continue planning for the next leg of the trip as a way to forget what had just happened. He started by looking through his notes on the Black Fang. There was some reason as to why they chose the dread island and that it wasn't just meant for aesthetics. However, after a while of thinking about why, his thoughts subconsciously went back to Lyn's conversation earlier.

'Lyn, just what exactly were you saying back there…' Lucas mutters to himself looking away from his notes frustrated.

"What was I saying back there?"

Suddenly, Lucas quickly scrambled to keep all of his notes as fast as he could after being startled by the Sacaen swordswoman that took hold of his heart, and would rather keep Lyndis in the dark about the Black Fang and its relation to Ren, Leila, and other matters.

"L-Lyn! W-what is it that you need from me now?" Lucas stutters nervously, hoping that she barely overheard of his muttering and noticed his research. "I-I mean, is there anything you need?"

"O-oh no! Nothing much of the sort. It's just, I wish to have a change of pace for this day, but…"

"But?" Lucas inquires.

"But, I would very much appreciate it if you...could care to spare some time in joining me, just for today," Lyn asks, seemingly cute and alluring in the distracted tactician's vision that he impulsively answered with ambivalent emotions dwelling from within.

"Why yes!? I mean, ahem, yes, I could spare my time, if it's for you," Lucas blushes as he tries, and fails, to compose himself with his answer, getting a radiant and cute smile from the Sacaen swordswoman.

"Really!? Thank you! Now, come, let's not tarry further then!" Lyn excitedly replies and exits the room while holding onto Lucas' hand, before unceremoniously dragging him along with his satchel full of notes outside of his rented chambers.

As the sun had already set, cold powders of soft hail and snow descend as both the swordswoman and the tactician wandered around town and watch in wonder the sights of the now beautiful night sky while enjoying the great treats that the port of Badon has in store in preparation for a town-wide celebration of the day commemorating St. Elimine's birth. While Lucas watched as all the townspeople celebrated with a mix of distaste and indifference, Lyndis was enjoying her time watching the children playing among the snow. After moments gone by, Lyn pulls Lucas aside as they both enter the tavern that the two were going to celebrate with the others inside having their merry company in various groups or pairs.

"Seems quiet enough," Lucas humours in the midst of all the happy members of their huge army, combined with a few village folk and some pirates from Fargus' crew mixed among them, making Lyn chuckle cutely, which caused Lucas to get flustered in response.

"Well, shall we?" Lyn asks quietly and politely, leading him through the town.

Lucas could only nod as the two slowly made their way through the town and up a hill that overlooked the entire town and port. For a moment, it was as if the stars had descended into the lights that lit the town for this snowy night, resounding the joyful noises of the citizens celebrating with their feasts and companies.

"So beautiful…!" Lyn, draped warmly under Lucas' green cloak as they share it under a tree, gazes in wonder at the sight of the town on such a holiday.

"Y-yes, it really is beautiful," He says nodding along while enjoying the view from the hill. "It's not everyday that you see a peaceful town like this."

"Yes, and now, there is someone that wishes to destroy that peace, not just in Lycia, but all of Elibe," Lyn replies with a saddened and pressured heart. "These people don't deserve to suffer in any way possible as my tribe did. I wish to help Eliwood and the rest bring about a great peace for all to enjoy."

"L-likewise, Lyn," Lucas answered as he quickly turned his gaze on Lyn, the moment she tried to look at him while sitting down on a tree stump beside Lucas.

"We both have been through a lot that these folks never experienced. The cruelty of human nature and the horrors on the battlefield. The monsters men can become when they are exposed to horrid experiences." He says as he turns away to see the village as the people start to decorate the giant colorfully decorated tree in the middle of town. The village folk went up and about dancing, prancing, singing, and playing music around the tall tree with their merry company, while others engaged in friendly drinking competitions, some of whom happen to be members of their army like Sain, Bartre, Ren, and Wil. Although, there are others that distanced themselves from such a gathering for strange reasons whatsoever such as Raven, Priscilla and Lucius, who followed suit with him, and the two lords with their loyal retainers, possibly planning for the embarking to Valor.

"Lucas, I think we should hurry back. I am worried that they might be expecting our return," Lyn suggests as she stands up from the sitting position.

"Agreed, we shall," Lucas responded and helped her stand on her feet while keeping her warm under his green cloak as they descended down the snowy hill. He assists her as she carefully stays on her toes on the slippery snowy ground while walking down with Lucas helping and guiding her, assuming that he's been through this type of climate that has been usually rare to experience in the plains of Sacae. As they finally descended down the hill, they try to avoid the village folk and other bystanders as the duo slowly make their way to a tavern that is mostly occupied by different couples and lovers. From this, it made both Lucas and Lyn flinch and blush in bright red out of embarrassment, knowing that it is too late to exit at this point.

"L-let's just stay over there," Lucas suggests as he points to a nearly secluded table found by the corner, which was slightly farther from the open area that most of the patrons are at.

"Y-yes, it is fine," Lyn yelped as she was led to the area and got seated in with content, thanks to Lucas' gentlemanliness. "Thank you, Lucas."

"I-it's nothing," Lucas responded, trying to keep his composure in front of what he believed to be the most beautiful Sacaen, no, the most beautiful woman that he knew. He slowly moved closer and sat down on the chair beside her as both of them watched the people.

"Such a jolly sight to behold," Lyn stares in awe at the open grounds, with all the people still dancing, playing, and singing before the tall and colorful tree.

"It sure is," Lucas replied before getting interrupted by a tap on his shoulder.

"Hello kind sir! Is there anything you'd want to dine in our open tavern?" the kind waiter asks.

"Hm, anything related to roasted meat?" Lucas asks.

"Ah why yes! We have a mutton dish that is to be shared by two people! I must warn you though, the spicy taste might be unbearable," the waiter adds.

"That so? So is it a curry with mutton is it?" Lucas clarifies.

"That sounds fascinating to eat! Would you like to try it, Lucas?" Lyn asks with an excited look on her face.

"Well of course it is fine, for the occasion," Lucas responded gently, though a tad bluntly because of his straightforward personality. "And what about you Lyn?"

"I'll have the same, if it is not too much hassle."

The waiter nods and leaves to get their order. After minutes of waiting for their meal, mixed with some small talk and friendly banter, they finally received their dish on the dinner table. It happens to have chops of lamb, glazed and smothered in a sauce spiced up in a way that the flavors blended well.

As Lyn partook a piece of her dish, she moaned with satisfaction that her face glowed in awe of the burst of delicious flavors flowing into her mouth.

"I'm speechless! I've never tasted anything like this!" Lyn comments. "I do taste herbal flavors that are so much familiar to the herbs that I've always harvested in Sacae."

"Well that's nice to hear," Lucas responded contently as he watched Lyn and her jolly reactions that it already satiated his mental hunger.

"Why don't you try some? Come here, now open your mouth wide," Lyn suggests as she dismembers the smothered lamb chop and shows a delicious piece before Lucas to feed him. "Come closer Lucas."

"Wait, b-but," Lucas stammered in embarrassment as he is very much conscious of the escalation of the matter, knowing that it is close to an indirect kiss with Lyn's touch on the utensil, not to mention, the eager stares of the neighboring patrons looking at them.

"Come now Lucas, it cannot wait for long," Lyn insisted with her innocently cute smile, blinding Lucas' eyes to shame.

"Urgh, okay...ahh," Lucas followed and partook of the piece Lyn fed to him. "Whoa! My word, it really is good."

"I know! Would you like another?" Lyn asks, catching some the other inhabitants' attention with her innocent cuteness, all for Lucas to enjoy.

Lucas tries to swallow his thoughts down for the sake of his enjoyable time with Lyn, making every moment count, being like real lovers as they dreamt to be.

"Here Lucas, have another," Lyn once more tries to feed Lucas another piece after getting hers. Lucas was about to take another bite before...

"My oh my, having fun huh, you two."

Suddenly, Lucas gets startled by that familiar voice and immediately pulls away as he turns to see the playful swordsman Ren, who was holding a dish of grilled seasoned fish, which most likely made from the grouper he caught.

"W-w-what are you doing here?!" Lucas stammered, knowing that Ren shouldn't be here.

"What am I doing here? Shouldn't I be asking you that question instead? This happens to be a luxurious and romantic restaurant actually, so I am just wondering about seeing you with Hausen's granddaughter," Ren deadpans, rendering Lucas speechless and in quite a shock upon realizing that he and Lyn entered a possibly expensive restaurant.

"Kind sir, for the meal, they are worth a total of 400 gold coins," the waiter replied kindly, stunning Lucas with the ridiculous price for a single meal.

"L-Lucas? I-is everything alright?" Lyn worriedly asks, knowing full well of Lucas' pragmatic personality. "I-If it's alright with you, we can—"

"No! N-no need, it's a man's duty to always provide, otherwise, how am I worthy of someone like you," Lucas mumbled that last part as he grumbles and complains about the price before he took out his coin pouch from his satchel and totally paid for their meals, touching Lyn's heart with his love and generosity, although partially clueless of his pain in knowing how extravagant the price is.

"Hey, try having some of my homemade fish steak, for free of charge of course," Ren teases, winning against his brother for once as he leads them back into the inn where everyone is celebrating the holiday. As they enter the inn's lobby….

"Heads up!"

Wil warns Lucas, making him pull Lyn back in his arms as he had barely made the arrow that was in their way pass through them and struck a bullseye behind them.

"Whoo! Yes!" Wil rejoices, making Rebecca pout from his winning streak.

"I am going to impale the two of them with my spear if I ever got the chance…." Lucas growled before being calmed down by Lyn's hand.

"Leave them be, Lucas, I am sure they mean no harm," Lyn assured him.

"You could've been grazed with a flesh wound," He said with serious concern in his tone before Lyn gave him a look to calm him down a little as he sighs in frustration before replying.

"Fine...I suppose so," Lucas trailed off as they were guided by Ren to a place in the lobby next to a drunken Bartre and a sober Dorcas, who were engaging in an arm wrestling match, which the drunk was clearly losing after quite some time. While spotting the three cavaliers, Sain, Kent, and Lowen, having civil talk being knights under their lords and commanders.

"Ah, milady, Lucas, you've returned," Kent saluted with his fist to his chest.

"As you were, Kent. We were just sampling the town and seeing what they had to offer for the season," Lucas responded, putting him at ease. "Take your time to enjoy yourselves for now, since I believe this is a yearly celebration that comes around only once at a time."

With that, Lucas and Lyn sat down at a table in the inn's lobby to be served by Ren with his nicely done fish steak, glazed in some fatty butter with a pair of baked potatoes beside it that appears to be soft and creamy rather than a firm and starchy structure.

"Um, Ren, what are these?" Lyn curiously asks.

"Mashed potatoes, courtesy of Rebecca and Wil's expertise," Ren replied.

"Hmmm," Lucas speculated as he tastes a piece of that mashed potato, to see if it is edible. "Apparently, this is not half bad, compared to what we've eaten earlier, and thankfully it is less costly."

From afar, he could see Rebecca rejoicing as she nonchalantly hugs Wil out of excitement, causing his face to blush as bright as a tomato, making Lucas lightly chuckle, while Lyn stares at Lucas' sight upon the joyful Rebecca with a slight hint of discomfort in her heart.

"Is something the matter Lyn?" Lucas asks upon seeing the uneasy look she gives.

"Oh it's nothing really…" Lyn trailed off, which in turn confused Lucas from the sudden change in mood.

"I shudder to think that you are jealous of me…" Lucas jests.

"H-how could I? It's understandable for a man of your stature to be quite likeable, so I dare not protest," Lyn turns away, a tad embarrassed from having her unspoken feelings written all over her face.

"Lyn, I can assure you that there is nothing between me and that annoying archer." Lucas replies, attempting to grasp Lyn's unguarded hand. "I can explain. She is merely a straggler in my travels who decided to bring me along for no reason who was with that pretty boy, and is not who you think she is with me."

From that moment, Lyn allows her hand to be wrapped in Lucas' assuring hold before speaking with a content smile.

"I understand, I can sense that, despite how she often comes in contact with you," Lyn responded. "I trust that you will always stay by my side?"

"Always." Lucas casually answers as he holds and caresses her feminine hand, internally annoyed by Ren's smirk, who had gathered Wil, Erk, and Matthew to listen in on the conversation. Lucas remained eerily calm as he let Lyn's hand go before saying out loud.

"Allow me to take out of the listening walking soon to be corpses…" He says about to pull out his dagger and lifting it out before remembering he was in a bar before he readily wields a nearby broken broomstick and uses it to angrily whack and fling both Ren and Matthew to the wall, whereas Erk calmly dodges and avoids the strike, scaring and startling both Florina and Priscilla as they happen to be nearby.

There, the other three dashed away as Lucas smiles and slowly stalks them outside. "You know, I expect that there will be more work for you either way, right?"

The trio were shuddered by his stealthy appearance before Ren breaks the silence.

"H-hey brother, don't take it personally, I just wanna—"

"Oh no, I'm not. Just let me impale you with my spear for a minute."

"That's our cue, run for it!" Matthew screams with Erk in tow, leaving Ren exposed as he runs from an angered Lucas, throwing a flurry of hurled javelins aiming straight at them with a grimacing smile, making Lyn laugh nonchalantly from the sidelines. Thus, ending the silent night on a jolly, if not terrifying, note.

Chapter END