Disclaimer: See Chapter 1
Another Roll of the Dice
by Storm Wolf77415 and Centurious the Azure
Chapter Five: The Princess of the West Wind
Rean wasn't sure how to accept that his master was a Jaeger. On the one hand, it made total sense, but on the other hand, he could never fully envision Master Yun Ka-Fai, usually so kind and soft-spoken, if a little on the pervy side at times, as a steel cold killer. But as he looked into the older man's eyes, he saw that it was indeed the truth. The Sword Hermit just laid a hand on his student's shoulder. "I imagine it's a lot to take in, Rean. But just as you have your own issues, I too have demons buried in my past."
It made the young Ashen Awakener cringe to think what kind of shadows were hidden in his master's heart. Some things were best left to the imagination. Still, it made Rean's respect for his master all the greater. Master Ka-Fai admitting his own shortcomings made him relatable. Despite his reputation, he was still a man like anyone else.
Ezra said nothing, but he figured that even as legendary as the Sword Hermit was, he wasn't some idealized figure. The fact he was a Jaeger didn't surprise him either. He had to earn his stripes somewhere. His gaze then fell on Fie. She looked almost bored as they hiked down the trail. He had to admit, she was kind of cute. The shoulder-length silver hair framed a face that would be gorgeous if she smiled more.
They soon arrived in town. Where Victor was standing in the square with two men. The first was shorter, wearing the same uniform as Fie, a sleeveless jacket revealing a pair of thick muscular arms, his brown hair tied up in a ponytail. Rean's eyes widened slightly at the sight of an Eastern-style blade hanging at his side. The other was a walking mountain of muscle, hair turning gray, and if the first man's arms were large, this guy's biceps were massive, cords of muscle as big around as steel cables bulged. This man could only be the Jaeger King.
"Well, how about that!" The older man drawled upon seeing Master Ka-Fai walk up with an inviting smile on his face. "If it isn't the sharpest blade in the East!" The two greeted each other like old friends, exchanging a manly handshake and a light hug. "Of course, I hope you haven't let that blade of yours get dull when chasing after the ladies, have you?"
"Oh please! I'm still as sharp now as when I was a young lad." Rean just rolled his eyes. The Sword Hermit replied, beckoning Rean over. "I suppose introductions are in order. Rutger Claussell, let me introduce you to Rean Schwarzer, my third apprentice. Rean, this is Rutger Claussell, commander of the Zephyr Jaeger Corps, also known as the Jaeger King."
Rutger gave Rean an appraising eye. "Heh, not bad, Yun! This one has talent aplenty. I can tell just by looking at him. Nice to meet you, kid." Rean didn't bat an eye at the older man's rock solid grip. "If you're one of Yun's boys, then he's got a plan for you. Slade, get over here!" He barked at the other Jaeger, who marched up with a confident stride and a smug grin on his face. "This right here is Slade Castillo, a recent addition to our ranks, we call him Jetstream because of how fast he is. Not to mention he rocks an Eastern blade just like you."
"I'm going to assume your style is not Eight Leaves. I'm sure I would have heard of you." Rean sized up his fellow swordsman. The future Ashen Chevalier could tell straight up Slade was the real deal. Despite the arrogance in his demeanor, it wasn't an empty bravado, but a genuine confidence in his skill.
"You'd be correct." Slade's voice drawled with a faint accent Rean didn't recognize. "It's the personal style of my family, almost as old as the Eight Leaves." He stroked the handle of his blade. "The commander told me he was friends with the Sword Hermit, so there was no way I was going to miss a chance to meet him." He sent a pointed glance at the older man, who just gave a nod in reply. Rean didn't miss it. Slade intended to challenge his master. It would be eager to see another Eastern style in action for a change.
Fie ambled up, giving Slade a light punch to the shoulder. "Ah, here's our Wind Princess." He said affectionately. Despite having only been with the company for a short time, he and Fie had bonded quickly, becoming like siblings. It was then Laura came down from the manor, and instantly locked eyes with Fie. Neither of the girls said anything, simply glaring at each other while the temperature in Legram seemed to drop by about twenty degrees.
Rean tensed, recalling how things had gone down between the two of them the first time around. Class VII's formation had been anything but smooth, but it was to be expected when so many disparate personalities were thrown together. Jusis and Machias's animosity toward each other had been the stuff of legends, both being so diametrically opposite to each other before settling into a vitriolic friendship, not that they would ever admit it. While the friction between Laura and Fie wasn't nearly as vocal, the tension was just as thick.
Laura was from a long line of knights, noble warriors who stood ready with lance, sword, and shield in hand to defend their land from threats. Fie was a jaeger, some might even call a thief, who fought only for the highest bidder, the kind of threat knights like the Arseids defended others from. It was a life that Laura couldn't comprehend, and for Fie it was natural but never considered how others would view it. So it lead to their difficulty in establishing combat links. Now they were meeting each other over a year earlier. Would this mean they would bond or would it push them apart?
Indeed, the Arseid Heiress really wasn't sure what to make of this turn of events. Why would Jaegers set foot in Legram, and why was father being so familiar with them? Her gaze fell on Fie, a seemingly bored expression on her face, but she could see a spark in those yellow eyes. Laura's fist clenched, not sure what to do.
Luckily, the elder Arseid kept anything from transpiring. "Ah, welcome Laura! We have some guests." He motioned her over. The young swordswoman approached with tenuous steps. "Gentlemen, meet my daughter, Laura S. Arseid. This is Rutger Claussell, his adopted daughter, Fie, and Slade Castillo of the Zephyr Jaeger Corps." The young woman bowed stiffly at the waist; Laura was really not liking the idea of these jaegers being in her home even for a minute. Her gaze flickered back to Fie every so often. She just gave her a light smile, looking like a mischievous little kitten with a new toy to bat around.
It was then Rean came up to her. Something about him made her heart lighter. So, she let herself relax in his presence, it just felt right. He smiled at her, and she felt her face get red. "Mm, what's going on here?" Leave it to Fie to ruin the moment, that cat smile growing by a factor of ten. "Looks like someone's in love!" Oh Adios, did she actually come out and just say it?
Slade caught onto this as well. "Ah! So it seems, little sister. Are you planning on building a Arseid/Eight Leaves dynasty, Master Ka-Fai? If so I'd be quite eager to see what came about of it." Cue Rean and Laura both completely red-faced. The worst part was when the Sword Hermit himself started grinning.
"You never know, Mr. Castillo, anything can happen. I've known Teo and Lucia for a long time. I can't imagine they'd object to a union between their son and Viscount Arseid's daughter. What do you think, Victor?" He asked the Radiant Blademaster. "I'm sure you wouldn't object to having some grandchildren to spoil." The scariest part was how the elder Arseid actually seemed to consider the matter.
"Perhaps I should look up Baron Schwarzer. I hear he's quite the accomplished hunter, that would be a good way to get to know him. You do have his contact information, Yun?" Victor looked over his shoulder to which the Grandmaster of the Eight Leaves just gave a smile and nodded.
"Master!" "Father!" They both protested. Laura's cheeks burned in embarrassment, although the way Rean side-eyed her suggested he wasn't that incensed. Her dream from earlier of the boy wreathed in azure flames came back. It was then Emma and Phoebe came down from the manor house, having seen the gathering in the town square.
"Uncle, what's going on here?" Phoebe asked, eyeing the jaegers in her uniform. Emma looked to Rean, and then saw Fie, recalling what he had told her a couple of weeks prior.
"Nothing to worry about, Phoebe, we just have some visitors." The Radiant Blademaster said. "Rutger, this is my niece, Phoebe S. Arseid, and Emma Millstein, a friend of Rean's." Castillo strode up to both girls.
"It seems Legram has quite the selection of beauties." He drawled, kissing both ladies on the hand. A point in his favor. "Nice to meet both of you. Rest assured the boss and I won't be here for very long. We're just visiting some old friends, nothing more, nothing less." He winked at them, and both girls smiled.
"Perhaps we should continue this conversation indoors?" Ezra offered, trying to steer away from the awkward subject, although both Rean and Laura were still blushing. Victor led the entire party up to his mansion. Slade eyed the training hall for a few moments, most likely eager to challenge some of the Arseid students on their home turf before following his boss upstairs.
"I'm sure you kids are wondering just how I became a Jaeger." The old Sword Hermit rumbled. "Truthfully, it kind of happened by accident." Rean and Ezra both looked at him confusedly. "Thinking about it now, I couldn't have been much older than you boys. I set out from my humble little town in the far corner of Calvard with nothing but my sword and the clothes on my back. The Eight Leaves, One Blade School had been just an idea in my mind for years. This was my chance to make it more than an idea. I would take it out into the world and see how practical it really was."
"Did you start just challenging random people?" Ezra asked. "Because that sounds like something you would totally do master." The three older men all started laughing.
"Not totally at random. I started looking for the kind of people who like to start trouble. Which is incidentally how I met Rutger." He indicated to the Jaeger King. Who just smirked and puffed on his cigar. "Zephyr was just a gang of street toughs in Langport back then. Thought they were all untouchable." The Sword Hermit drank some sake while a smug grin tugged at his wrinkled old lips. "Changed their tune really quick when I leveled them all with Gale. Rutger was the only one who managed to put up a fight."
"I developed a fast respect for your master. I could barely keep up with his movements, given his sheer speed. Not to mention the quickness of his blade draws. Lastly, he didn't kill any of my boys. So I figured it was better to stop fighting and start talking." Rutger took a fine Remiferian beer. "I told Yun that if he was going to build up his skill, best way to do that was on the battlefield."
"He wasn't wrong. I needed money for food and other supplies. So, at the time it just made sense to become a sword for hire." Master Ka-Fai's expression was a mix speaking of wistful memories and painful experiences. "I never really wanted to be a mercenary of any kind though. I just wanted to hone my skills with the blade, but it wouldn't mean a single thing if I didn't have food in my belly or be able to maintain my equipment now, would it? I did what I had to do. I fought in many battlefields all over Zemuria. Traveling from one hotspot to another. In the process, I gathered quite a few followers. That became the basis of Ikaruga."
"Old Yun's combat prowess and natural charisma just gathered people to him. He didn't have to try very hard to win them over." Rutger puffed on his cigar. "Helped he was one of those types known to spare his enemies when they couldn't fight anymore, even offered them a place within the outfit. It made him very popular."
"Their reputation was well known in the eastern part of the continent." Victor spoke up. "It piqued my interest enough that I went and sought them out when I was but a young man. My father, the previous Viscount, had always been my benchmark of strength with a blade. I felt no one could match him." Laura nodded in agreement, having been told many stories about her grandfather, and that legacy now continued to Victor himself. "You can imagine my surprise the day he told me of a warrior who could equal his strength in combat. It wasn't something I could wrap my brain around, so I decided to see for myself."
"I recall how you brazen you were in marching into our camp that day," Yun smirked, recalling the then young Arseid heir, so fresh-faced looking at him defiantly. "I decided to indulge you when you took on one of my best men. I couldn't deny your skill when you overcame him, and the potential that still lay within. You have excelled, Victor, and I have no doubt your daughter will continue the legacy."
"Oh yes, I have the greatest pride in my Laura. She's a natural, but there's much she still must learn." Victor looked to his daughter, who seemed quite moved at her father's words. It was then the Radiant Blademaster took note of Fie, sitting with her usual bored look. "I'm sure you're equally proud of young Fie here. I can see you dote on her much as a parent would, Rutger."
This made her perk up as the King of Jaegers puffed his chest out. "Yeah, I'll admit she wasn't much when I found her. But she's not that little scrap I picked up all those years ago either. I'm sure she'll blossom into a very lovely young woman someday." Castillo smirked at that as well. Fie wasn't sure how to take it. He folded his arms. "That being said, I wouldn't mind her being away from the battlefield. She deserves a chance to just be a kid."
Fie was about to open her mouth to protest when Rean spoke up. "Fie would be more than welcome to remain here for a while." This caught everyone's attention. He looked to Laura and Ezra in turn. "I'm sure she'd enjoy hanging around some people her age for a change." His gaze fell back on Fie. "Of course, the choice is ultimately hers. Choice is a precious thing, if I may use one of your favorite lessons, Master." The Sword Hermit snorted, glad to see his stubborn apprentice had been paying attention after all.
"You should really consider it, Little Sis." Castillo implored Fie. "I have the feeling much fun could be had around this place. It would be a travesty to miss out on it." He flashed a gaze at Rean, clearly the older man could sense something was off about the whole thing, but he would rather see how it played out.
"It would be nice to have you here with us, Fie. Viscount Arseid's students certainly would be thrilled to take on a real Jaeger." Rean knew this was manipulation of the worst kind, but he knew the Princess of the West Wind all too well. Fie was as much of a challenge seeker as Laura was, despite how she may hide it behind her usual mask of apathy. No way would she turn down an offer like this. He then noticed how Fie was looking directly at Laura. The Arseid heiress met her rival's gaze, neither backing down.
"You know what? It may be worth hanging out around here after all." Fie took out one of the gunknives Rean knew so well, idly spinning around her finger, before pointing it right at him. "Especially if it means I get a rematch against you. I owe you for scaring me out of the tree earlier after all."
Rean laughed. "Sure, I suppose I owe you that much."
"Then it's decided then!" Rutger's big meaty hand slapped the table. "I can rest a little easy knowing my little girl's here with you, Yun. I trust ya enough."
"Let me ask the big question of you, Master Ka-Fai. Why did you walk away from the Jaeger life?" Slade asked, something that many were wondering now that the Sword Hermit's past was known.
"Because forming and running a jaeger company was never what I intended to do with my life." Yun replied solemnly. "I never planned on becoming a leader of men, watching as they went off to die. The lifestyle can and will wear you down." Both Rutger and Fie could agree to this. "I had lost sight of my first love, practicing my craft and honing my skill with the blade. So I decided to be smart and leave while I still had the ability to do so. I left Ikaruga in the care of my best man, Kouzo Mitsurugi, and became a wanderer. I headed south to Liberl and met a promising young chap named Cassius Bright."
"And the rest was history," Rutger said, all too familiar with the story himself. "It was a shame to see you leave the battlefield, Yun. But you knew when it was time to step back. I respect that a lot." He looked to Slade, his eyes brimming with anticipation. "You may as well make your request of the old man now, Jetstream, I know you've been waiting since we got here, and this will be your last chance to do so."
The young swordsman stood up, and bowed to the Sword Hermit. "If it's not too much to ask, Master Ka-Fai, I would be honored to have a duel with you. The reputation of the Eight Leaves, One Blade School is known all over, and I've long sought to test my blade against it. If you would do me the pleasure, I'd be very grateful." His eyes narrowed slightly, and Rean could see the desire. He then looked to his master, and the old man simply smiled, standing up, Konoha Kurohachi in hand.
The challenge had been made and accepted. Everyone quickly hurried to the training hall. The other apprentices quickly cleared the floor to let the young warrior, and the master take the stage. No one was going to miss this. The two men stood opposite each other while Victor was in the center as referee. "This will be a one-point match, whoever strikes the first blow is the winner." The Radiant Blademaster held his arm out, looking to both combatants.
Slade drew his weapon, Rean's eyes widened at sight of the Jaeger's blade, colored a deep blood red. "This is the Murasama, a blade passed down in my family for generations. It's yearned to taste the steel of the Sword Hermit." He raised his blade into a ready stance, holding it one-handed over his head. "So let's not deny it any further, shall we, Master?"
The old hermit of blades just snorted, drawing his own weapon. "Very well then, Lad. But I'll warn you, many thought they were ready to cross blades with me." His face turned firm; his brown eyes hardened like a pair of smoky quartz. "Many of them didn't live to tell the tale, sadly." Kurohachi Konoha came up as he assumed his own opening stance, it was rock solid and firm with no openings that Rean or Ezra could discern. A silence filled the room.
"Begin!" Victor barked as his arm came down. Slade moved with a speed that Rean could barely grasp. He saw the crimson gleam of the weapon swinging upwards at his master, but Yun parried it away, swinging his own blade at the young mercenary's face. But Castillo's smirk never faded. The Murasama spun in his hand, knocking Kurohachi Konoha away while going in for a slash at the Sword Hermit's arm, but the old master pivoted on his feet, the tip of the angry red blade just barely avoiding it. Emma winced at how close it was. Laura put a reassuring hand on the witch's shoulder. She knew both men wouldn't push it too far.
Rean mentally took a moment to break down what Castillo's style was about. It was a simple technique, hard hitting with an emphasis on powerful moves backed up by surprisingly light footwork that gave him a blistering natural speed that Rean himself could probably only manage by using Gale. He was pretty sure his master already knew this, given how he was playing a defensive game and digging in hard, blunting some of his speed's efficiency. "Impressive, isn't he?" Fie sidled up next to him. "Slade may be the most recent addition to our ranks, but he's quickly become one of our best enforcers."
"He's certainly fast, no doubt. And that's his all his own natural speed. I'd dare say he'd even give you a run for the mira in that department." Rean recalled many times that silver blur had taken out whatever threat Class VII faced that day. "I'd need to use one our own techniques just to keep up."
Fie folded her arms. "Children of the Steel Wind, that's what he calls the two of us. Being that speed is one of our main draws in combat, he says that ties us together. Slade's made it a point to look out for me."
Phoebe bit her lip as the two blades locked, metal creaking as they strained against each other. "Impressive speed, Lad. That footwork is second to none." Yun commented. They exchanged a quick flurry of swings. "I recall hearing about some young hotshot swordsman who brought down a hit squad of ten Cartel hitmen all by himself. They called him Minuano. You by chance wouldn't know anything about that, would you?" He gave a knowing smile to the younger man, who just smirked wider.
"No one else! They called me Jetstream, because I'm a wind that slices all my path to pieces!" He charged again at the Sword Hermit. The red blade primed to strike once more, slicing in an X pattern, which Yun promptly blocked. He struck back with Gale, followed by an Arc Slash, the crimson arc of light hurtled toward Slade, only for the younger swordsman to run straight at the projectile, cutting it in twain. Something neither Ezra nor Rean expected to occur. Whatever this technique Slade was using was clearly a big move. The scarlet blade flashed with a bevy of strikes. The Sword Hermit merely stepped back, effortlessly blocking every single one of them. Phoebe gasped in surprise. Even Fie seemed uncertain of what had just transpired, but Rutger certainly didn't seem surprised, nor did Victor.
Kurohachi Konoha swung once more, and the Murasama went spiraling up into the air, before he deftly caught it with his free hand. Silence once again ruled the entire training hall. "This match is over! Master Ka-Fai is the victor!" The Radiant Blademaster declared. Muted clapping started coming from everyone present. But Slade paid it no mind. He didn't look upset at all, just resigned. He soon found his prized blade held out to him by the old master. The man known as Jetstream took his blade back and bowed to him.
"Well fought, Master Ka-Fai. I can see you truly are the real deal. That right there was the Nine Headed Cerberus, made to strike at every sword zone." There was a new degree of humility in Slade's voice. "You managed to block every strike of my strongest charge attack. I understand that despite my skill I still have a long way to go."
"We all continue learning even when you get to my age." Master Ka-Fai's voice was firm but gentle, having slipped into teacher mode. "If you don't mind my honest opinion, I'll point out what you did wrong. You got too impatient toward the end. I get the impression you like finishing your fights quickly, right?" Slade just nodded as he sheathed his blade. "Nothing wrong with ending a fight with a single move, it's practical in its own way. But sometimes the smarter thing to do is try to wear your opponent down, let them waste their energy, and then go for the final strike. Don't be afraid to play the long game sometimes. It will lead to victory."
"I will certainly keep that in mind, Master. I hope next time I'll be a better fighter and we can have a rematch." Rean secretly hoped he'd be present for that clash. Perhaps he should consider challenging Minuano himself, once he had honed his skills a bit more. Slade had unknowingly given the Ashen Chevalier a new benchmark to reach.
Rutger took one last puff of his cigar before putting it out in the ashtray. "This was all very exciting, and I was happy to catch up with you guys again. But Slade and I better get back before the boys tear everything apart." He stood up, stretching his massive frame. "You know how Leo and Xeno can get when left to their own devices for too long." Slade snickered. The Jaeger King patted his princess on the shoulder. "Enjoy the time in Legram, Fie. I really think it will be good for you."
"Just keep in touch." Laura heard the concern in Fie's voice as he kissed her on the forehead. Despite being hardened mercenaries, it was clear how much Fie and Rutger loved each other. This helped her to see that despite their chosen profession the Claussells were a family just as she was with Phoebe and Victor. In that moment she found herself doing something unexpected, coming up from behind to put her hands on Fie's shoulders.
"You can rest assured that Fie will be well taken care of, Mr. Claussell. That is my word as Heiress of House Arseid." Fie craned her neck up to look at Laura, who merely smiled gently at the younger girl. "I'm not sure what kind of food you receive on the battlefield. But perhaps you'd enjoy a home-cooked meal for a change? I can assure you Klaus is a master in the kitchen. He can make you anything you want."
"I suppose there's only so many ways you can eat spam," Fie remarked, this got some laughs because it was a thing only Fie would say. Rean felt a small degree of triumph. While Class VII was still not an official thing yet, it was now that much closer to becoming complete. This was a small but significant victory in the Ashen Awakener's eyes. His gaze fell on Emma, looking content to see a new addition to the fold, and then to Laura. Maybe it was time to pull back the curtain and tell her the truth?
(June 2nd S. 1203, Arseid Training Hall)
With Fie now in the group, Rean wasted no time integrating her into training with the others. She and Rean were currently engaging Fie and Ezra in a two-on-two match. Fie was still as fast as he remembered, and her agility was almost superhuman as he launched an Arc Slash at her. The Princess of the Wind leapt over him, even using his shoulder as a steppingstone, before landing behind him to take a few potshots with her gun daggers. He was quick to come at her with a Gale, but she met him blade to blade.
She threw a kick at him, but Rean twisted his body to the side to evade it, the tip of Fie's left dagger swinging mere rege from his face. Not that he would let that intimidate him. Movement came out of the corner of his eye, and Laura entered the fray, her sword swinging downward, only for Fie to parry it with her other weapon. While Ezra made his presence felt with a well timed Flame Impact, he really was making the third form of the Eight Leaves his own.
"Here I come, Rean!" The column of flame loomed down on both him and Laura. But the two were prepared. Laura used her Radiant Spin to dispel the attack, and Rean rushed Ezra with Autumn Leaf Cutter, only for Fie to get in between them. A flurry of bullets rattled out of her gunswords. But Rean was able to evade it with judicious use of Gale. Laura showed incredible flexibility in how she used her blade as a shield to defend herself from the onslaught.
"That's enough for now!" Master Ka-Fai's stern voice brought the match to an abrupt end. He stood on the sidelines with both Emma and Phoebe. "Let's get some lunch and we can resume afterwards." Rean was grateful for the break. Master Ka-Fai had really accelerated both his and Ezra's training after the match with Slade. The day was warm and inviting, and the sun reflected off the lake. As they departed from the training hall, some movement came out of the corner of Rean's eye.
He turned slightly, hoping no one noticed and caught sight of a small dark form dart behind the corner, just catching sight of a blue silk ribbon attached to a long tail. Rean's eyes widened but he said nothing. He put a hand on Ezra's shoulder. "Hey, can you guys go ahead? I need to talk to Emma about something alone." His fellow disciple just gave him a confused look. "Don't worry it's nothing major. I just to discuss something with her. We won't be long."
Ezra shrugged and followed Phoebe, Fie, and Laura up the stairs to the manor. Master Ka-Fai looked at his apprentice, but merely nodded slightly and left the two of them alone. "Emma, we have a visitor." The witch wasn't sure. "You can come out now, Celine. The others are gone." She gasped at the sight of a black cat that came trotting out from the shadows. "I'll admit it's been quite some time since we last met."
"Apparently so." The cat spoke in a light, melodic voice. Celine "I'm surprised you were able to detect me so quickly. But then again, if you were trained by Master Ka-Fai, it would be easy to pick even me up."
"Celine!" Emma squealed, picking up her familiar in her arms, and began stroking her fur, which elicited a contented purr from Celine. "Oh, I have missed you!"
"I'll admit I've missed you too, Emma." Celine trilled, relishing Emma's delicate fingers rubbing against her belly. "It was starting to get real boring hanging around Eryn with only Rose for company. Suffice to say, I was more than happy to come and see you when your grandmother ordered me to bring you back home." This made Emma's fingers lock up. "Oh yeah, I probably should have led with that."
"Why does grandmother need me to return to Eryn?" Emma knew she'd have to go back eventually. But right now? Already her mind was starting to think of the worst-case scenario. "Has something happened? Did something happen with the Septian Veins?" The young witch's mouth was about to move as quickly as her brain, but Celine quickly reached up to lightly bat at Emma's face. It was something she often did to calm her down when she was younger.
"Oh, don't even start!" Celine snapped, before wiggling out of Emma's arms and landed gracefully on the stairs, and spoke quieter. "Everything is fine. Rose hasn't found anything going on there. She's taken that time to draw up a new training regimen for you. There's some new, very advanced spells she wants you to learn, Chop Chop. That's all it is."
Emma hesitated for a minute. She hadn't expected to enjoy this journey so much. She had gotten to see the world outside the isolated forest Eryn Village was located in. Not to mention making her first real friends her own age. Phoebe had become a kindred spirit for her given their shared love of history and books. The idea of leaving her future classmates now wasn't very enticing. Only for the Ashen Chevalier to put a hand on her shoulder.
"Go with her, Emma." Rean finally said. "I will miss having you with us on the next leg of our journey, but if there is a chance for you to get stronger presents itself, I say go ahead and take it. We'll be fine, and you can always join us later." He then leaned in close so only she could hear him. "But let me suggest that you make perfecting your teleportation spell a top priority. We will need it down the line." The events of October 30th, 1204 were prominent in his head, and knowing the others would be able to make a quick escape from Trista would put him at ease.
Emma's eyes watered and she cried softly, before giving Rean a light hug. He gave her a reassuring pat on the back to let her know that he was fine with her going back home for a while. "We should probably let the others know that I'm leaving. I don't want them to wonder about me." She smiled happily, glad that there was a chance she could hook back up with them later. "Thank you so much for letting me be part of this, Rean. I'll be sure to study diligently and be ready for next March. You have my word on that."
Everyone was greatly saddened by Emma's departure, but Rean knew this was just the beginning of the next leg in their journey. One that would eventually end with all of them together in Trista. Besides, he now knew that he'd have a new traveling companion in Fie. Losing access to Emma's magic was a inconvenience, but in its place was the sheer speed and combat experience of the young silver-haired Jaeger. The issue now was telling Fie just what the Gehenna was going on. He knew that despite her lazy demeanor, the Princess of the West Wind was far more perceptive of such things than she would ever let on. Then again, Fie was just chill enough that she would probably shrug at the whole-time travel thing say "huh, neat" and then saunter off to find a new place to nap.
(June 20th, S. 1203, Legram)
Not that three of them were leaving town anytime soon. It would still be a couple more weeks before they departed for Bareahard. Where they would try to win over Jusis, which would prove to be far more difficult. The scion of the Albarea family wasn't exactly the open-minded type. Until then, there were still a couple more matters to settle in Legram first.
It wasn't like Rean and Fie could leave anyway. Because not more than two days after Emma and Celine's departure. Master Ka-Fai himself left town, citing that he had some personal business to tend to. Rean took charge of Ezra's training in that time, helping him iron out the rough edges in his technique. The two had bonded even closer in that time. It made Rean think of Crow a little bit, wondering where his Azure counterpart was at that moment and what he was doing. In all likelihood he was at the races, some things never changed. They were taking a short break after a very intense sparring match.
"So, when you do think Master Ka-Fai will get back? It's been the better part of two and a half weeks now and I'm starting to get worried..." Ezra knocked back some water to keep away the heat of the sweltering June sun. He had gotten a pretty good grasp on the Eight Leaves, and was finding ways to integrate it with his Arseid techniques. A part of him contemplated opening his own school to share his knowledge. The One Hundred Forms Military Combat School used by the bulk of the Erebonian Imperial Army was a mix of the Arseid and Vander Schools, the two most well-known sword styles of the empire. A hybrid of the Arseid and Eight Leaves would certainly bring in curious future students. He filed that idea away for later.
"Oh, ye of little of faith, my apprentice." Both boys turned to see the man in question standing there, holding a long thin bag that Rean recognized for carrying Eastern-style blades in his hand. He looked quite smug as he walked up to them. "As if I would ever think of abandoning my students. What kind of teacher would do such a thing?" He motioned for them to sit down. "I was gone for as long as I was because I had to go back to Calvard. Because that is where the swordsmith who forges all my students' blades resides." Yun pushed the package into Ezra's hands. "Here you go, custom-made just for you."
Ezra inspected his new prize with great trepidation. The cloth bag was black, and adorned with a stunning flame pattern. He loosened the drawstring and revealed the work of art contained within, and about dropped it considering how incredibly beautiful the sword really was. The sheath was black on top, and the bottom was red, the edge of which resembled the telltale shape of a raging inferno. Even the tsuba resembled a tongue of flame. He unsheathed the blade, colored a brilliant red, it even seemed to glitter slightly in the sunlight. "Thank you so much for this Master!" He finally said. "It's magnificent!"
The Sword Hermit just patted his newest student on the shoulder. "I'm glad you approve of it. I had the swordsmith coat the blade with a special powder to give it that color. Given you seem to be specializing in Karmic Flame, and have a natural affinity for fire. I figured I'd just roll with it." The smirk from Ezra was all the affirmation he needed. "Of course, now that you have your blade it needs one last thing, a proper name. It's only right, given that you're going to use it forge your legend."
"In that case I have just the name for it." Ezra said as he looked into the mirror polished red finish of his new weapon. "I'm going to call it Urenthiel."
Rean whistled. "You're not doing anything by half. That's the name of the sword of Tiber Reise Anor, the first Emperor of Erebonia!"
Ezra just gave a knowing smirk and a slight nod to him. "And that's by choice. I had always looked up to him. I mean he's the main reason Erebonia is even a thing. He managed to unify the five kingdoms and got them to work together in the first place. We owe everything we have today to that. So, I'm paying tribute in the only way I know how." He held up Urenthiel, inspecting every inch of his new acquisition. "Feeling up for round two, Rean? I need to put this baby through her paces." Ashen Void was out in a second and the two blades crossed, and the sound of clanging metal filled the air once more.
The old Sword Hermit looked on with pride as the two young men resumed their sparring with new purpose. "That is the privilege of being a master, watching the students grow beyond what the teacher is." He remarked quietly to himself as the two young men resumed their sparring with renewed vigor.
(June 22nd, S. 1203, Lake Ebel, Legram)
Rean was about to indulge in something he hadn't had much chance to do since starting his journey. The chance to get some fishing done had been far and few between, given the expedition to the castle, Fie's arrival in town, and helping Ezra train. This was his first opportunity to do so in a while. It was a calm morning; the sun was rising in the morning sky. The Ashen Awakener has his stool set up on the dock. His rod and reel were already deployed in the water. The fog clung to the mirror surface of Lake Ebel. While the spires of Castle Lohengrin loomed into the sky. In all, it was about as perfect a day as it could get.
Even on the other side of the lake, he could still feel the pull of the higher elements. Their sojourn into the castle a few weeks back hadn't diminished the aura of power and grandeur the place held. Rean wondered just how many of the castle's secrets still waited to be discovered. Although that was the farthest pressing issue on his mind. He was thinking about the future, namely the civil war. He had no illusions that he could stop the October War from happening outright, but nothing said he couldn't plan for it. In fact, he had already taken the first step in encouraging Emma to train with Rose, and practice her teleportation spell.
Rean knew he would stand a better chance against Crow and Ordine this time around. He had been piloting Valimar for almost a year, granted he would be rusty once he finally got the Ashen Knight back. But regardless he didn't need to beat his fellow Awakener here. Just rough him enough to get him to back off. Once that happened, he'd flee back to Ymir and regroup with the others once Emma had teleported them there. It was a solid plan in his mind, but a lot of other pieces had to fall in place before they got that far.
His mind then went to Crow himself, he wondered what the master of the Azure Knight was doing in that moment. In all likelihood, probably at the track watching the ponies. "Enjoy your time while you can, Crow." Rean clenched his fist around his fishing rod. "Even if you did give me this second chance, it doesn't mean I'm letting you off scot-free for what you did either!" Sighing, The Ashen Awakener went back to his fishing as the sun rose in the morning sky. The sound of splashing water caught his attention, and he saw a certain blue-haired swordswoman gracefully paddle out of the fog, doing a relaxed but strong crawl.
It took all of his training as a swordsman not to stare too long at the beauty gliding through the water with a grace that would put a mermaid to shame. Laura locked eyes with Rean and smiled, quickening her pace as she made for the metal ladder built into the dock. She flopped down on the hard concrete, water dripping off her body. Laura wore a one-piece swimsuit colored a dark blue with purple stripes running down the sides, fitting perfectly over her slim, lithe body. While Emma was far curvier in some aspects, Laura made up for it with a toned, athletic build honed by years of sword training. But what clinched it for Rean was the smile she wore. A smile so radiant the snow of the Eisengard Mountains would never have stood a chance against.
"Good morning to you, Rean. Could you hand me that?" She indicated to the fluffy white towel rolled up on the dock. He gladly tossed it to her as she sat on the edge of the dog, and beginning to dry her hair. "Looking to get some fishing done?" She watched him reel the line in, trying to stifle her amusement at the mock dismay on Rean's face at the empty hook he held in his hand. "It doesn't seem the fish are biting today."
"Eh, it's not that big a deal," Rean said, casting the line back into the water with a muted plopping sound. The familiar concentric rings rippled out across the water before it settled back to its mirror calmness. "Not like I can't catch something later. And to be honest, sometimes it's not even about catching anything for me. It's just relaxing and enjoying the ambiance around the place." He gestured to the lake. "Let's face it, this is a pretty nice spread. Easy to get lost in your thoughts."
"I can agree with that." Laura spread her towel out and sat down next to Rean's stool. The breeze felt nice as it ran through her hair. "While I love the water, sometimes I'll just sit here and enjoy the sun." Rean was glad he was sitting down at the moment, given how she turned and smiled at him, it made his legs weak. "So tell me, Rean. Have you enjoyed your time in Legram thus far? I must say it was certainly enlightening for me. You helped restore Ezra's passion for the blade and helped us recover a piece of my family's history. That alone has certainly earned you a place here."
"I'm glad I could help out. Both you and your father have treated us very well over the past couple of months. This place has become like a second home to me. It'll be a bit sad when Master Ka-Fai and I have to get back on the road. But I'll be sure to drop you a line when I can." He paused for a minute, noting the frown on Laura's face. "Let me ask you a question now, Laura. Have you considered where you're going after you're done with Sunday School?" Laura perked up, looking at him questioningly. "I'm just wondering if you've come up with a couple of options yet."
The Arseid heiress thought about this for a few minutes before finally speaking. "I've looked at a few places, like St. Astraia's or East Point Institute, but I haven't really made any solid commitments yet. What about you?" Laura cocked her head, her ponytail swaying as she did so. Rean puffed out his chest and looked up to the sky, exuding an air of confidence.
"Actually, I already made my choice a long time ago. I'm going to Thors Military Academy in Trista come next spring. They have a very robust combat training curriculum, which I'm sure is something you'll appreciate. I also heard they have a very nice swimming pool, so you'll be able to keep getting your morning routine in." Some would argue that Rean was blatantly pushing Laura down that path, but if the future he wanted to make was going to come true. He needed Laura at Thors, it was a simple truth.
"I had considered Thors myself early on." Laura really had thought about it, but still wanted to look at a couple more places. But if what Rean said was true, maybe she could finally hop off the fence and make a commitment. "You really think it will have everything I need?"
"I guarantee it." The confidence in his voice said it all. "But don't take my word for it. Look at Thors closely, do a little research, and then make your choice then. But I'd be overjoyed if you chose to go to school there. Who knows? We could be in the same class together." The radiance of her smile returned. And relief flooded through the Ashen Awakener's soul. Rean would tell Laura and the rest of their classmates the whole truth in time, but in that moment, he felt he earned Laura S. Arseid's allegiance. He wasn't in any hurry to enter a relationship with her, but this was a good start. He resumed his fishing while Laura sat and enjoyed the sun. Neither of them said a word, merely enjoying the quiet and each other's company.
Neither of them realized they were being observed. Both the Radiant Blademaster and Sword Hermit watched over their young charges from a distance. "Ah, it seems Rutger's boy was on target. There is something between them. Not much right now, but it's there. It must be like looking into the past for you, old friend. Given that the two of them are sitting in the exact same spot you and Kayla did when you first met." Yun said quietly as he sipped his sake. "I recall you telling me how majestic she was coming out of the lake."
"Don't remind me. Kayla loved the water." It would have been jarring for anyone to hear Radiant Blademaster's voice be so quiet and subdued. As he recalled a day long ago when he met the woman of his heart. The woman he married and together would bring their beloved daughter into the world. "Laura takes after her mother in so many ways, and not just her looks. But her kindness and empathy for others." He took the saucer of sake from Yun.
The Sword Hermit said nothing, merely downing another mouthful of liquor. "How do you really feel about this, Victor? I mean it is your only daughter. I know how protective fathers are of what they treasure most." He eyed the Radiant Blademaster, looking with a stoic gaze. The wind blew his coat around.
"You are correct, There is nothing more invaluable to me than the child I brought into this world." He bowed his head slightly. "I like to think I've done my best to raise my daughter as a single parent. Laura has become very strong with the blade. I know she'll eventually surpass me in time. In that regard, I couldn't be prouder of her. But let's face it, there's some areas I feel I'm seriously lacking in regarding her upbringing. Things that require a feminine touch, her mother's touch. I've known many of the boys who are intimidated by Laura's strength, and it may scare off potential suitors for her. I want her to continue training, but I also want her to be happy, and have a family. It makes me wonder if I could have done more to help her prepare for that."
Yun put a hand on Victor's shoulder, knowing how sensitive an issue it came to the death of his old friend's wife. "I'm sure Kayla knows all the effort you put into raising Laura. She has a strong sense of responsibility and justice. Both of you are truly deserving of being called nobles, unlike so many of your peers." Yun bit out that one. "As for Rean, he's not intimidated by her strength at all. If anything, it seems to be just another thing he finds attractive about her, besides her looks." He reached into his pocket and handed a slip of paper to Victor. "Teo's phone number, give him a call when you have a chance. I'm sure he'd be very pleased to know that his son has found a prospective partner."
"Thank you. I'm sure Baron Schwarzer will be happy to an alliance." The Viscount of Legram stuck the paper into his own pocket. "Although I'm not sure we should make anything formal just yet. Let them grow this on their own." He patted Yun on the back. "We should leave the two of them alone." Yun took one final drink, and they returned to the manor.
(June 25th, S 1203)
So it came to pass and the time to depart from Legram had come. Everyone was gathered at the front entrance to see Master Ka-Fai, Rean, and Fie off. Ezra was saddened to see his fellow student and new friend leave. "I wish I could go with you guys. A road trip across Erebonia sounds like it could be really sweet. Unfortunately, my mother said no way." His heart burned in silent rage when Yesenia flat-out rejected it. This would have been a golden opportunity to uncover a lead about Wakana's whereabouts. He knew Rean and the others would understand why, but sadly it wasn't meant to be. "I'm never going to finish my training in the Eight Leaves now."
Master Ka-Fai merely smiled in that mysterious way all old sages did. "Now now, don't get so discouraged my boy. I believe I said I wouldn't think of leaving you out in the cold now, did I?" He gave a sly grin, as he pulled a trio of scrolls out of his backpack, passing them to Ezra. "A little going away present. Think of it as homework for you while we're away. I'll stop by Legram later and check in on your progress. I'm sure you'll have little trouble picking it up?" The young apprentice mirrored the Sword Hermit's grin. He would certainly ensure he had the scrolls' contents memorized by the time he returned.
It was then an idea came to the old master's mind. He knew what Rean would be up against in the future and that he had a plan of his own. But he certainly wouldn't object to having an extra ally in the mix. "In fact, you might want to consider where you go to school in the next couple of months, Ezra. Rean has shown an interest in Thors Military Academy. I'm sure he'd be overjoyed to have you there with him. But that's just a suggestion on my part."
This struck a chord in Ezra; he hadn't considered what school he'd attend once he was done at Sunday School. He knew a little about Thors. If it meant getting to see Rean more. It would be worth looking into in his opinion.
Fie was stoic. This was just another departure for her. She still wasn't sure what to make of the boss's kooky old friend. But how bad could it be hanging around him and his student? If she didn't like it, then she could just leave and rejoin the corps. Then again, it was nice to take an extended break every so often. She could really crank out some quality naps without having contracts nipping at her heels. But then Laura came up to her. The two of them had reached an understanding, and the beginnings of a friendship had started to form. "I suppose this is goodbye for now, but certainly not farewell." Her eyes narrowed slightly and she smirked. "After all, you owe me a rematch."
The Princess of the West Wind let out a muted chuckle. The two girls had struggled to interact with each other. Until Laura challenged Fie to a swimming race across Lake Ebel. It had been a fierce contest, one that Fie had one by only a hand's length. The two sat in the shadow of Lohengrin Castle to rest, they finally stopped walking on eggshells and just talked. "I thought you said you weren't sore that I beat you across the lake. You weren't lying to me, were you?" One thing Laura learned about Fie quickly was that beyond her lazy demeanor was a first-rate troll.
Laura let out a delicate laugh. "Hardly! But know that our next race will have a very different outcome." Her face softened. "Besides which, you did win. I thought it was only proper you earn some kind of trophy." She produced a small dagger in a blue sheath with the crest of the Viscounty of Legram engraved in silver on the side. "I took this out of the family armory. I figured it would be a suitable prize for a fellow warrior, especially given you're a knife fighter. Consider this proof of your victory over me, and a bond of our friendship."
Fie whistled as she took the blade in hand. Pulling it out to inspect it closer. It was double-edged with a simple crossguard. "Ooh, fancy! I've never had something this nice before." She smiled. "I'll be sure to put it to good use." It was clear a rivalry now existed between them, but one built on friendship and trust.
Laura then turned to Rean. Fie wasn't the only new friend she had made in the last couple of months. That day on the lake had brought them together in a way she couldn't fully understand. But Laura felt something that drew her to the young man with hair dark as the night itself. "I'll be sure to write to you once we hit Bareahard." Rean's smile made her face heat up in a big way. "I think the best part of this trip was getting to meet you, Laura. We'll both have to keep our training up. I'll want to spar with you next time we meet."
"You mean next March?" He raised an eyebrow. The smile was back. "I've decided to take your advice and attend Thors myself. I hope to see you then. Keep your skills sharp, Rean. You'll definitely owe me a duel."
"I'll look forward to that as well." And as when they met, Rean kissed Laura's hand. To which Phoebe giggled again. Ezra grinned, happy to see his fellow disciple and childhood friend could possibly get married, maybe he would get to be a godfather to any potential little ones. Rean then looked to Victor, who merely smiled and folded his arms. It gave him hope that a deeper relationship could manifest between them, and it seemed he would have the Radiant Blademaster's blessing, but that could wait until later.
Fie then grabbed Rean by the shoulder, yanking him away. "You can make out with your girlfriend later, Casanova. Your master's ready to leave." He indicated to Master Ka-Fai, standing near the gate, waving to them. The Ashen Awakener gave one last look to the small town that had taken such an important place in his heart. He looked at his new brother disciple and the girl he loved, giving one last wave and the trio departed for the next step of their journey.