Training with Byleth had surprisingly been far less brutal than Lucas had feared. She started out with proper sword grip.
"When gripping a sword, the first thing to consider is if you are going to do so with one or both hands." Byleth began, demonstrating a one-handed grip first. "The handshake grip is self-explanatory. It provides good grip, while capable of flexibility." She turned to Lucas who mirrored her grip on the training longsword in his left hand. The top of his hand had been pressed against the crossguard. "One downside is that if your grip is too tight, you could injure your wrist when swinging your blade." Byleth demonstrated with smooth and practiced motions.
Lucas made 3 horizontal swings, making sure he did not over commit. His brief stint in martial arts when he was younger had taught him that controlled movements were more effective than flailing. Byleth's eye gained a glint of approval. "Good, too much momentum in a swing is just wasted energy. Are you naturally left handed?" Lucas nodded "Being left handed will give you a slight edge against opponents. Lets move onto thrusts." She demonstrated her own thrusts and motioned for Lucas to do the same. He drew his elbows back, and thrusted, stepping forwards. The movements felt familiar, almost as if he had entered an old routine "You sure you're new to this? You are doing well for a beginner"
Lucas turned to Byleth, sheepishheepish at the compliment. "I learned martial arts when I was younger. And one of the first things we learned was that quick movements and momentum are the key. I figured it probably also applied." The wooden sword did feel good in his hands, but he felt the urge to use both hands.
Byleth ran Lucas through more drills, including jabs, parries, dodges, and recovery. Another thing that Lucas remembered from martial arts was how to fall without getting injured. Whenever Byleth pushed him down, Lucas would move with the fall, and mitigate the chance of injury.
Byleth offered a hand after Lucas recovered from a grapple "You're doing well. It's obvious that your training paid off. The body tends to remember movements, even years later."
Lucas grinned at her. Despite his previous fears, she was admittedly a good instructor. "Thanks. But don't you think you are enjoying throwing me around too much? Think I proved I knew how to recover about 5 throws ago" Lucas japed. Byleth returned a small smirk, somewhat amused by his words.
"I wouldn't enjoy it if you hadn't gotten back up so quickly. But don't let it get to your head." She took a fighting stance. "One more time". This time, Byleth dodged his swing and sent a jab at his throat, which caused him to lose his breath. She then swept his legs out from under him, knocking him to the ground. Before he could recover, she pinned him and placed a dagger to his throat which alarmed Lucas. Her face was close and she was practically straddling him, but that did not detract from his fear. She looked him in the eye and said "Remember, a single mistake can mean death. You've got some potential, but it needs to be realized before it will do you any good." That sobered Lucas as he reminded himself that she was holding back. Byleth got off of Lucas and offered a hand.
"So what's the best way to escape something like that?" Lucas asked as she pulled him up.
"Pick a fight with me for one." she joked. "In that case, roll away before you are pinned. If you are pinned, keep a hidden dagger on hand."
She sauntered back to where the training swords were. She tossed Lucas his sword which he caught midair, which he fumbled.
"So, what's next?" Lucas asked, allowing the tip of the training blade to rest on the dirt.
"What's next is a two handed grip. Grip your sword with one hand below the cross guard and the other hand near the pommel." Byleth held her sword at eye level with the blade pointed downwards.
Lucas copied the motion, noting that in this stance, he could use his hand around the pommel to further increase the strength of the swing. What was the saying? 'Give me a lever long enough and a fulcrum on which to place it, and I shall move the world.' In this case, the sword was the lever, and Lucas the fulcrum. And instead of lifting, he was cleaving.
"Now, come at me," Byleth commanded. They just assumed this stance. Why aren't they going through any of the drills from before? Seeing his confusion, Byleth reassured him. "Trust me. You need to know what it feels like to fight a person."
While Lucas was hesitant to attack her, he abided by her request and began with a light swing aimed at her left shoulder. Almost as soon as he tried, Byleth parried his attack and looked at him expectantly. "I told you to fight. Go all out". To drive the point home, she moved like a viper and gave a quick thrust aimed at his sternum. Lucas backed up, not at all ready to deflect the attack.
Lucas knew she wanted him to take this seriously, so Lucas resumed the two-handed sword stance that Byleth had shown him. He took a step forward and sent a thrust to her left leg. Byleth dodged and sent a swing to Lucas's exposed upper body. Instinctively he raised his sword deflecting the attack, their swords making a hollow thud. Lucas took a few steps back to regain his breath and plan, but Byleth pressed her assault. She sent a flurry of quick slashes, only one of which Lucas managed to deflect. The remaining three hit his shoulder, rib, and left thigh.
Seeing Byleth getting closer for another swing, Lucas instinctively pushed forward slamming his shoulder into her chest surprising her. He then swings upwards intending to strike her wrist and disarm her but was shocked to see Byleth already recovered and performed a pirouette narrowly avoiding his swing and in a practiced motion, placed her sword to Lucas's throat.
Lucas then heard cheering. Looking to his left, he noticed for the first time that he and Byleth had an audience. Several mercenaries and Jeralt were watching the match. Jeralt walked towards them and placed his hand on his hip. "Not bad for his first sword fight huh kid?" He asked Byleth whom gave a nod. "We all took bets on how bad you'd lose. You won me some money today. Smart thinking with that shove. Most newbies focus too much on the sword in their hands and forget the rest of the body."
He then turned to the rest of the mercenaries ordering them to bed. Lucas took that as a sign training was over for the day and let out a moan of exhaustion. He returned the practice sword to the weapon rack and noticed the Father and daughter duo had followed him.
Jeralt still had a smile on his face, likely from the earnings he made on Lucas. "When we head out tomorrow, I'm pairing you with Byleth. When out in the wilderness, having someone to watch your back is invaluable, even the best of us can't dodge an attack we can't see coming. " He explained.
It made sense. Lucas had already suspected Byleth to be one of the best fighters in the Mercenary band. Having their best fighter who can hold her own and pair her with an inexperienced fighter could slow her down, but also serve to keep Lucas alive.
"Get something to eat and get some shuteye. We leave at dawn" Jeralt turns to Byleth and gives her a smile. "Show him around kid, then meet me in my tent".
Sleep came easily to Lucas that night. His dreams were anything but easy though. None of his dreams made sense, but he could remember one thing when he awoke. Fire and blood.
Lucas practically leapt out of his cot, instantly reached for the knife at his side, ready to draw and attack. His instincts on overdrive, he barely notices Byleth's presence. As Lucas's hostility and sense of terror faded, he realized she was holding his left arm still. "You okay?" She asked, seemingly nonchalant about Lucas trying to draw a knife on her.
"I-I'm really sorry!" Lucas apologizes "I was having a bad dream, I don't know why I even…"
"Stop," Byleth interrupted. "It's fine, no harm done. Jeralt says we leave in thirty minutes. Get dressed and ready to go."
Byleth left without another word. Lucas watched her leave, and rested his arm over his raised knee, letting out a sigh. And then he saw them. Some small, paper thin. Others were larger,and jagged. Scars covered his torso and arms. Scars he had never seen before. It was dark when he put his clothes on in the facility, and it was dark last night when he finally took his shirt and jacket off to sleep. He stared at them, not understanding what he saw. For what felt like the hundredth time in the last twenty-four hours, Lucas wondered what the hell had happened to him.
The trek up river was not physically taxing. While they were going uphill, Jeralts mercenaries made no complaints, and not even Lucas was winded. The possibility of new weapons, Lucas realized was invaluable to the mercenaries. One sword was probably an individual mercs share for a whole job, not to mention any maintenance that needs to be done. Finally, they came to the towering cliff Lucas had emerged from.
It should be somewhere around here though Lucas. He visualized what the clifface had looked like when he first emerged, and tried to figure out where the doors. Eventually, Lucas decided to keep staring at the cliff and walk until it looked about the same. After 20 minutes of walking back and forth, he found what he thought to be the entrance. Only to be facing more rocks.
Lucas frowned, questioning if this was the right spot. He thentried the same approach in the other direction. To his dismay, it was even less familiar and Lucas chose to turn around. Glancing back at his companions, even Jeralt was getting annoyed when they arrived in the exact spot he stopped at last.
"All right kid, safe to say, this isn't it. Sure your memory isn't playing tricks on you?" Jeralt asked diplomatically. Lucas shook his head. It was too familiar. Not to mention something about these rocks looked… off. The coloration was just a bit darker.
"Captain, the kid's been jerking us around. He's full of crap." The scout, Flora, said. The other two nodded in agreement, while Byleth remained silent, looking at the rocks as well. Lucas turned to speak to the mercenaries and chose to lean against the rocks.
Only to fall through the rocks and onto his ass. Jeralt cursed and Byleth moved forwards to check on Lucas. As she approached the image of the rocks disappeared in a flash of light. An illusion? thought Byleth. Byleth shook off the confusion and focused on helping Lucas. His bewilderment was evident, and he took a moment to respond to her outstretched hand.
When he turned, Lucas saw the door was closed. Jeralt stepped forwards, trying to pry it open. The other mercenaries joined him in investigating the large metal door. Lucas watched them struggle and stepped forwards "Let me take a look at it". Next to the door was a white data pad with a key card reader. Lucas realized that the wheel he had turned was probably an emergency exit, meant to be used in the case of a power failure. The power had been working, and the door most likely automatically closed and locked itself behind Lucas after he had left. "I've got some bad news"
Jeralt was staring at the door with a complicated expression. "Lay it on us kid". He seemed resigned to the inevitable bad news.
"This slit here is for a key card. It's essentially what it sounds like. Can't get in without a key, and there is no way for us to pick the lock." Lucas let out a long sigh.
"Meaning this thing was a bust…" The spearman Goetz muttered. Lucas could not argue, he had hoped that maybe a second look would find some more information, maybe even a way back home. But nothing.
Jeralt turned from the door. "Things are obviously not gonna work. It's locked up tighter than the Imperial Treasury, and I don't think blasting the mountain side with magic is a good idea. Let's head back everyone." He then spoke loudly in the direction of the forest "Arty, Mack, Milan, come on out. The kid was on the up and up after all!" What?
Three men with bows emerged from the forest, dressed in greens, meant to camouflage and hide them in the scenery. Lucas turned to Jeralt who gave him a sly grin. "Like I told you kid, I respect caution. Can't be too careful".
The walk back felt longer. This was mostly due to Lucas's mind moving a mile a minute. There was no way back in, he was stuck in a strange world, and everything he knew was out of reach, leaving Lucas in his own thoughts. When they arrived at camp, rather than being disappointed, the other mercenaries looked unsurprised, likely thinking their captain had been duped and Lucas had lied to them.
Jeralt pulled Lucas back into his command tent and asked Byleth to tell the rest what happened. Lucas sat down in the same chair he had been interrogated in the day before, and drank from the same mug. The two sat in silence as Jeralt poured them both a drink that they desperately needed.
"Kid, the conversation we are about to have? It stays here, understand?" Lucas agreed motioning for the older man to continue.
Jeralt gulped down his whole glass, clearly needing liquid courage for this conversation. "I've seen something like that before. You aren't from Fodlan, so let me warn you about something. Fodlan doesn't respond well to anything new. New inventions, new people, even new magics are scrutinized. The church does a lot of good, but if you do something to oppose it, or get on its bad side?" Lucas didn't need elaboration. His own people's history when it came to organized religion had its fair share of asterisks. The Inquisition, Crusades, it went without speaking that the church in medieval times was a dangerous institution to cross.
Jeralt looked away from Lucas "I used to serve the Church. Was never one for faith but it was my job. One thing I did learn was secret history. A part that the church wrote out of their history books. Apparently it was some nation that rejected and attacked the goddess. It was said they used foul magic which led to their downfall. Allegedly for their crimes, the goddess decreed that their magic was too dangerous, and ordered every remnant of their nation destroyed."
"And that was a remnant?" Lucas asked. Jeralt nodded. Lucas noted the similarities between his era and the technology he had seen inside the facility. "Did that country have a name?"
"Dunno. But I do know their remnants by sight." Jeralt brows furrowed as he looked Lucas in the eye. "I don't know if that country was yours. What I do know is that magic was their cornerstone, and from what you described, your people had none. I've also never seen one of those gun things before. Finally, you don't look a day over 25. Either way, we don't want you blabbing to any schmuck about your home or that place."
Lucas processed what Jeralt was saying. It was a grim situation. If the church found out about him or his story, at best he could expect an interrogation and a confiscation of his pistol. At worst he could be burnt at the stake as a heathen. Neither appealed to Lucas. He had nowhere to go, and one wrong word about his origins could get him killed. At least for now, staying with Jeralt was the right call.
Lucas gave a smile to Jeralt that was as pathetic if Jeralt's grimace was any indication.
"Is the offer to join still on the table?"
Byleth had thought long and hard about today. Mostly regarding the mystery of Lucas… What was his last name again? She could not remember if he said it or not. She made a mental note to ask him before their next training session. She had to admit for a complete novice he had learned quickly. He had gripped the sword almost perfectly on his first try and she didn't have to explain the ways to use a two handed grip to increase power. She could see he had potential and thought he was funny.
It was fun teaching. Byleth was mostly concerned with finishing the mission, she rarely interacted with the other mercenaries, even those she had known her whole life. It was mostly due to her many peculiarities. One of which was obvious. Byleth was a stoic person, rarely laughing or smiling, even in the heat of battle whilst cutting down enemies. Some thought the nickname of 'Ashen Demon' came from this tendency, which was false. The moniker was a mixed bag, which it served to intimidate their enemies and alienate allies. Byleth knew Jeralt didn't care for it, even trying to figure out who coined it, not that he ever did.
She also had excellent vision, even at night, which is how she spotted Lucas leaving her father's tent after sundown. Jeralt didn't tell her much about what he had learned about the man, just to show him the ropes and partner with him for an expedition. The expedition had been in silence, with Lucas leading the way so they had no opportunity to talk, not that she had much to say. The illusion had been unexpected, and the strange door had given her a headache.
Lucas walked to the edge of the camb and sat alone, near the riverbank. His arm rested on his raised knee as he gazed at the moon. Byleth chose to walk over and take a seat next to him. His face was a mask, but his eyes were red and full of sorrow. She had seen those eyes in villagers who lost everything, in mercenaries who lost their partners in a fight. In herself when she wondered why she wasn't normal. Eventually Byleth turned her attention towards the moon as well.
"Moon and star gazing. It's what Nerys and I do together." Lucas said without preamble. Byleth cocked her head to the side. "My girlfriend. We've been together for three years, and they have been great. Date night every week, driving out way past the city limits with a telescope in the back of the car just to stare at stars like these." Lucas wasn't really talking to Byleth, she realized. He was speaking aloud.
"Dad adores her, keeps telling me I need to ask her to marry me before she comes to her senses and realizes she's too good for me. Mom does the same, but thank god she hasn't started pestering us for grand-children." Lucas was smiling now, letting his memories flow. "My younger twin sisters, Cat and Izzy adore her. They are 5 years younger than me, and love to pester and tease me about her. I never understood romance or love until I met her. I never knew what it was like to want to be with someone for your whole life. And now she and that life are gone."
The weight of reality came crashing down on Lucas. His old life was gone, and phantoms of the past, and what could have been will haunt him the rest of his life.A sob escaped his throat. And the torrent of tears finally broke free. Byleth sat with him in silence, unsure what to say. In the end, she chose to simply sit with him.
After what felt like an eternity, he stopped crying and resumed his star gazing. He wondered if Nerys was looking at the same sky. Somehow, he knew she wasn't.