Chapter 12: Unclouded Eyes Part 2 (Lyn Side)
Right after the fight with Ike, she stormed off. Her mind distraught over her grandfather reprimanding her and Ike working with pirates of all people. Why did he choose the option of being with the people he is supposed to defend against?
"Lady Lyndis!" She turned around to see Lucius.
"Lucius... Did you manage to settle things with your friend?" Lyn asked with Lucius nodding in response.
"Yes, Lord Raymond is a mercenary and he decided to help Ike on his mission and most likely thereafter. They did not have the greatest of meetings..." Lucius shook his head after saying the last sentence. "Regardless, as repayment for bringing him to me, I will also assist my friend in helping Ike."
Lyn's eyes blinked at Lucius's announcement.
"So you're working together again... that's good..." She spoke softly.
She still couldn't speak confidently about Ike at this moment.
"Is something the matter, Lyn?" Lucius decided to speak her casual name.
"No... it's nothing, Lucius..."
Her tone and melancholy made it clear she was lying. But Lucius wouldn't point that fact out.
"If you'd like... please, let us discuss in the study..." Lucius proposed. Lyn wanted to refuse, but decided to speak to a friend about this issue.
"I see..." Lucius voiced out. "You don't agree with him in pirates escorting him to Tellius..."
Lyn nodded. "I...Grandfather supported Ike's decision and the reputation of the pirates. I can't let go of my own prejudice it seems..."
"I remember... bandits have taken away the lives of many of your people... I pray St. Elimine will help guide your people to their deities' embrace." Lucius spoke softly, as if in a prayer. "Do you want to continue your revenge against these bandits?"
She nodded, with a growing sense of hatred welling within her. "Yes, the Taliver Bandits, the blood they spilt must be repaid, I cannot forgive them." She spat out. Her tone becoming worse. Lucius stood still, silent in face of her emotions.
"Even so, does grief still burden your heart? Does revenge... at least allow you the strength to fight when love couldn't? Allow you to live? Does it give your life meaning when you still have loved ones, family even... by your side?"
Lyn furrowed her brows slightly. Silence filled vicinity of the study. "Lucius..." Her voice cutting the silence as sharp as her blade.
"Forgive me, Lyn... My friend Raymond may be facing the same dilemma as you. It has already been a year since his parents have perished... he suspects foul play. He wishes to seek justice for his parents." Lucius closed his eyes as he explained.
"No wonder he looks so angry... he seems so sad." Lyn pointed out. She caught a glimpse of the red head, and it was clear he was still grieving in his own way just like her.
"Even so, I was truly happy he was worried for my life... the fact that he was willing to fight for his life for me made me realize I at least made the right choice..."
"Which was?" Lyn prodded. Hoping to know where Lucius was going with this line of questioning.
"To know that leaving my grief behind allowed me to see that there are those in front of me. Who need me. I cannot dwell in hatred and sorrow that I would be blind to Lord Raymond. That is why I gave that dagger away to Ike. The greatest source of my grief." His voice was like a sermon. As if attempting to reach out to Lyn.
That dagger. It appeared on Ike one day around the time before facing Eagler.
"What is so special about that dagger, is it a memento?" Lyn asked, with a curious and worried expression.
"It is... the very dagger that killed my father and my mother soon following him in her despair in form of illness." Lyn's eyes widened at the revelation. But Lucius continued: "What sent my life to another road of grief was the orphanage. Poverty, despair, cruelty from one teacher... and the most recent events of House Cornwell who have treated me so well for a decade... I cannot say that I don't empathize with you."
Lyn stood there, slightly trembling against Lucius's words.
"How... how could you let go of something that cruel that happened to you? How can you just forget like that!?" Voicing out her frustrations, Lucius remained patient, unyielding to Lyn's cries.
"I didn't forget..." He replied. "Even now, I pray that one teacher that was once cruel to me finds salvation. And I don't know if I can forgive the man who killed my father..."
He spoke true. If his family's killer came before him, he would not know what to do. Regardless, he chose to move on. For Raymond.
"I gave that knife so Ike could at least remember me fondly if I fell in battle. It was more selfish reason to at least be known that I let go of my burdens in order to prove true as a friend of Raymond." Lucius explained. As heartfelt as one could be.
Lyn felt... ashamed. Lacking somewhat. Lucius stood steadfast in his beliefs. Her resolve already wavering.
"Lucius... how do you remain so strong?" She asked. Lucius shook his head at her question.
"I am far from strong, Lyn... I only chose to not to be blind to the people around me." Lucius gazed into her eyes as he spoke. "We both have our friends. You still have family by your side. All I tell you, Lyn of the Lorca Tribe, and granddaughter to Lord Hausen of Caelin, to not let your wings and gaze be burdened by hatred. I will not stop your pursuit of revenge. Only that if it will bring you peace... so be it. As long as you can still find happiness."
Upon saying those words, Raven, who stood outside the study, quietly left. Without a single word or glance.
When she took the opportunity to apologize, Ike was ready to go. She looked at the reports her grandfather had given her about the Davros and Anna Merchants. The plan to reconcile took a sharp turn as Ike acted strange. Soon after, Lyn was distraught as to why Ike took the mission to Bern to bring Natalie back to Lycia. When he said, "We'll see you soon," it made her wonder... He looked as if some people were around, and he didn't want anyone to know. Wait, alot of money, Bern... the Taliver Bandits...
Their real mission might have been to deal with the Taliver Bandits. Quickly moving around the castle, she looked for Wallace. No one mentioned having seen him. Was he ordered by her grandfather to help dish out revenge? To do it in her stead?
He couldn't... No... Ike couldn't have also gone along with it... right? Her thoughts thinking of all the clues that point to it being a mission to deliver justice for Lyn's parents. She and her grandfather had that right, but for him to not tell her.
She had to go. It was also her right, not just for her grandfather who lost his daughter, her mother. Packing up her things in the middle of the night, she sneaked out before she could be called upon by Chancellor Reissmann in the morning. Sneaking past the guards, she made her way to the stables. As she was about to pick a horse, she heard footsteps from behind her.
"Lady Lyndis..." Kent called out.
It was Sain and Kent. Kent's worried face evident as she was about to take off. But before Lyn could respond, he also went to his horse to mount himself. "We will accompany you."
"Milady... we're ready." Sain added, also going to his horse to prepare to ride.
She stared at their willingness to accompany her to Bern. Their loyalty was unquestioned despite her grandfather not possibly liking their willingness to sneak out with her.
"Kent, Sain... Thank you." Lyn voiced out in appreciation. Just as they were to embark, another voice came out.
"Hey! Don't forget about us!" Wil called out. Florina came up in tow with him and spoke: "We're with you, Lyn."
"Wil, Florina..." Lyn turned to each member. "All of you, thank you."
The group left Caelin with their mounts. As they left, Lord Hausen looked out the window where he saw them off. He stood silent he watched his granddaughter go off.
"Lord Hausen! Lady Lyndis has-" Chancellor Reissmann called out only for Hausen to raise his hand.
"She's out to perform her duty to her family." Hausen replied. "She has capable men at her side. She's in no need of further succor."
"B-but-" He attempted to object but his lord remained stoic. Almost resolute. He knew his granddaughter would return. Her eyes unclouded by hate.
Along the journey, they made their stop to rest for the night. Wil and Lyn sat at the campfire while the knight pair stood watch in the distance.
"Wil... you don't think Ike was hiding things from me...? Right?" Lyn asked to which Wil immediately shook his head.
"Ike's not the type to hide things. He let you know first, after all. He did say him and the others will see you soon, so I'd say he was expecting you to come with him." Wil explained. "For all we know, it would have been awkward to try and ask your grandfather on the issue of the mission. Wallace wasn't seen the entire time and Ike might have had his hands tied with not fully informing you."
Wil was right. But if that was the case, wouldn't Ike be punished for Lyn's actions? From what she saw before Ike left, he was probably counting on her to leave. He was risking his entire relationship with her grandfather to have her obtain her revenge.
"At any rate... if we're taking Dorcas and his wife back to Pherae, I plan to visit my folks." Lyn's eyes looked up at Wil, surprised. His head scratching at how he'd even plan out his meeting with them.
"I thought you were planning to save up before seeing them, Wil." Lyn pointed out. "Didn't you send a letter to them?"
He once explained he and his best friend left Pherae to become rich for their families. But they separated and their plans went under. Wil only went as far as Bern until they saw him in that Village where the Taliver Bandits were near.
He nodded in response and opened his mouth to speak: "I did, but I might as well come back as the prodigal son and face disappointment. At the very least, I want to see if they're healthy. That's all that matters." Wil smiled softly as he closed his eyes. "Maybe Dan managed to calm my folks down so I don't get my ears pulled endlessly."
Lyn giggled slightly at Wil's remark.
"I'm sure they're just worried for you, Wil." Lyn responded. "Just like you, there's no parent that wouldn't want to know their child was safe."
Wil sat silent and nodded. He hoped so. If it were true, then he would be glad.
"What spurred this on was Ike..." He voiced out. Lyn turned to look at him with her eyes widened upon mention of Ike's name. "I can meet my family and send letters to them whenever possible. Even if I have to beg on my knees for forgiveness... But Ike doesn't have that luxury. I've realized that after the lives we took whether if you were a soldier, bandit or mercenary, anyone could end up on a unnamed grave. He's taken alot of risks just to find a way home... He can't send a letter or meet his family back in Tellius to let them know he's fine... I can't take this opportunity for granted. Our lives could be lost in the battlefield. I want to let my folks know that I'm still alive and well."
Lyn was silent the entire time when Wil explained his reasoning. Her parents must be happy that Hausen and Lyn are living happily. But... she must avenge them. Avenge her tribe, her parents, she could never move on as long as they lived, right...?
The night continued as they hoped to intersect with Ike's convoy. Unbeknownst to them, Wil's parents, his father who whose hair Wil received from, and his mother, whose face resembled his, gasped a sigh of relief. Their son's letter reached them all the way from Caelin. However, their jubilation did not extend to Rebecca and her father who received their own. The green braided pigtailed girl with a bandana on the top of her head grew worried. Why did their letter assume Dan would be here?
"Wil... where is Dan?" She whispered out.
They finally spotted Ike's convoy, just as she was about to greet them...
"Why are you set on fighting the Taliver Bandits?"
It was Ike's voice. She and the others halted before going to reunite with them. What followed was Wallace's own words: "...I knew it would serve Lord Hausen and Lady Lyndis best. This time, I'm obeying his orders."
So her grandfather... why didn't he inform her? Why have Wallace carry it out without her knowledge?
Wallace continued: "Lady Lyndis does not need revenge. Her heart needs to remain unclouded. Happiness is already the best revenge."
That was not his to decide. Even if her grandfather was involved and wanted them dead, did she not also deserve that right? Her head spinning with thoughts. She continued to observe the conversation, while the others behind her only looked concerned.
It was only until Wallace spoke his final words to Ike that she realized. She and her grandfather regained happiness. She's regained family through her grandfather... and perhaps him... She became happy with her friend who risked so much for her. Everyday, she began to gain strength not for revenge, but to help protect her friends and loved ones. Her parents could be no more happier with her living the best she could. Lucius was right. Everyone behind her also understood.
Once Wallace left the vicinity, everyone in Ike's group gathered. Stepping forward out of the forest, she approached Ike's group with her own. Lyn's eyes remaining unclouded to Ike's own Cerulean eyes.
That's why... she goes into battle, not for revenge, but to help her friends. The fellow nomads who look out for their fellow tribespeople, Dorcas to make their home village safer... and Ike.
"At your command, Ike." Lyn announced.
The Taliver Bandits will end not by just Lyn's hand, but by the Greil Mercenaries.