Aftermath

Two hours after the Greil Mercenaries left, Erik still remained stunned and disheveled, as if reality hasn't set in. He was beaten, by sellswords no less. And with only a few men while his outnumbered them several times. This somehow felt worse than defeat at the hand of his rivals, Eliwood or... Hector. The other villagers who even saw this pathetic display from the Marquess's son, who was always a power-hungry dullard. Now their Marquess ran off for war with all his soldiers, leaving them to fend for themselves. Just like before. They witnessed the entire fight with the mercenaries. Although they couldn't hear the entire conversation, it looked as though the mercenary band were in a hurry to intercept Darin and his forces based on context clues they wanted to know from the villagers. They rushed to get supplies next to the South village and left Laus. But not before they heard a good tidbit from a certain Sacaen nomad in a bandana along with a generous sum from a certain Guy...

Soon, Eliwood and Hector's forces arrived in Laus, without having encountered Ike's forces along the way. They were impeded by rain along the way while having to help with Merlinus's supply convoy.

"What in the..." Hector voiced out.

Bodies of Laus forces strewn about everywhere. It was as if a war took place. Everyone's eyes widened and ready to take to battle until they saw a lone Erik in the battlefield.

"Erik!" Eliwood cried out. Erik finally snapped from his stupor. The forces rushed towards him.

"E-Eliwood! A-and H-Hector!" Erik called out while stammering.

"What happened here, Erik? Did another house fight with you?" Eliwood asked. Erik had a bloody broken nose and a frantic expression.

Erik shook his head: "I-it was them! A bunch of mercenaries! The Greil Mercenaries did this! Without warning or reason, they attacked Laus!" Everyone's eyes narrowed. Serra and Matthew held a curious and confused gaze. Lowen and Marcus only met them briefly last year while Oswin only heard of them in passing. Bartre held his chin, as if he heard of the company from his friend, Dorcas. Merlinus pondered at the name according to some of his merchant contacts. Eliwood was also in doubt, were they hired by other territories to deal with the mobilization of Laus? Did the Greil Mercenaries number increase the last time he met them?

"We g-got outnumbered! My father left Laus due to the amount they had and I stayed behind to protect the castle! Those savages killed many of our forces!" He exclaimed. Lying through his teeth to salvage whatever he could in front of the party.

Hector's eyes narrowed, the only forces who have fallen were Laus. Whatever regiment Erik had, it should have cut down at least one of the mercenary forces unless they took the bodies of their comrades with them.

""STOP LYING!"" Voices shouted out from the North and South.

Villagers came out in droves wielding pitchforks, hoes, and whatever farming tools or sharp objects they could find. Their furious expressions evident on their faces.

"You got beat by just seven people! One of them couldn't even fight back!" One villager exclaimed. "And you think you and your father can take on the rest of Lycia!?"

Everyone's eyes turned towards Erik. His lie pointed out by the villagers of Laus. He cowered before the villagers and their murderous gaze.

"All of your arses got kicked even when you outnumbered them few times over! What made you think you could compare yourselves to Ostia, let alone a small group? They didn't even lose a single man while you lost everyone!" They shouted out pointing at the scared Erik.

Everyone in group's eyes widened at the fact, Ike's forces were certainly impressive to deal a crushing blow to even when outnumbered with such a small group comparable to theirs.

"Oh my... I'm so glad Lord Lucius is safe and sound!" Serra exclaimed to which everyone ignored her.

It seems as though she was informed Lucius joined Ike's group.

"No! They're lying. This is a revolt against your lords!" Erik protested.

"Oh shut up! You and your father were strutting about preparing for war while the rest of us were slaving away! We were vulnerable to attacks by pirates and bandits! Those mercenaries actually did their damn job and fought off those marauders. And they didn't even accept payment (outside of Priscilla accepting it for them)!" A man told off Erik. Everyone else nodded with him while Hector narrowed his eyes at Erik. They neglected their people to this extent.

"But why did they decide to attack?" Eliwood asked one of the villagers.

"Milord, a girl they imprisoned was none other than Lady Priscilla of House Caerleon in Etruria." Oswin's eyes flickered upon mention of the name. The villager continued: "Darin took a fancy to her and kept her in the village in the South until she agreed to become his bride. It got so bad that even her escort had to plead and search for help and I think he got it from the Greil Mercenaries."

Eliwood shook his head at Erik's father's habit. In any event, it was clear that the villagers were not fond of their lord. But to go this far to break her out...

"You talking about that wavy short purple-haired mage lad?" A northern villager asked to which the southern villagers nodded.

Serra's smiled beamed upon mention of the description. It seemed like Erk was also involved. Those who have seen the Etrurian mage were pleasantly surprised. Maybe they did it out of a favor for a friend.

"Next thing you know, the person she was searching for all the way from Etruria was a long-lost red-haired brother who was already a member of the mercenary group! Raymond I believe his name was..." Oswin's eyes widened with the villager's mention of the name. He recognized the siblings.

Hector took notice but didn't inquire further and continued on to hear the tale. That name rings bells... The villagers and their testimonies were lining up to paint a clearer picture. In any event, they've neglected their duties and were defeated by a small group in the end. It would be a miracle if they keep their title with even their citizens revolting.

"Upon hearing his sister's plight, he immediately rushed to action! Cutting down the soldiers left and right, and the two with him, a Sacaen lad and beautiful blonde woman." Conveniently ignoring Lucius's real gender.

"Isn't that the red-haired lad who found my granddaughter after she slipped away from Darin and his forces in the castle?" The elderly villager holding a rake in his hand. To which the villagers in the south affirmed.

"No wonder..." The elderly man mused. Turning towards Eliwood, he continued: "Milord, my granddaughter was in a similar strait as Lady Priscilla and taken to the castle, before she slipped past before being founded by this Raymond, that she witnessed Darin and his forces abandoning his son and land with a cloaked man named Ephidel! We couldn't tell them in time before they left!"

Erik shivered upon hearing that name. Hector took notice and narrowed his eyes at his ever-present glare towards Erik.

"Ephidel? Who's that?" Eliwood asked. Erik remained silent, only to which made Hector growl.

"Speak, cur!" Hector grabbed Erik with a single hand. "Do you want to die here?"

"Ah!" Erik panicked. Now more terrified than ever. Being held with even his armor creaking from the strength of Hector's grip.

"Your father abandoned his people and his son, and both of you neglected your duties in order to rebel against the rest of Lycia. So talk!" Hector threateningly spoke. "You're lucky you were stopped by the Greil Mercenaries. Otherwise, Ostia would have put you and your entire army in its place to be buried..."

"Hector!" Eliwood pleaded to his friend. Turning towards Erik, he continued: "Erik…please. You must tell us everything you know. I… I just want to know where my father is. That is our main focus of this journey."

Erik closed his eyes and remained silent before responding.

"Ephidel… He appeared at the castle one year ago. He came…and my father changed. Ostia's position had always bothered my father… He felt Laus deserved to rule all of Lycia. But he'd never gone so far as to speak of rebellion."

"So it's true..." Eliwood muttered. Laus did plan an attack.

"Ephidel had something… With it, he convinced my father to set this plan in motion. My father then sent envoys to several other marquesses. Marquess Pherae, he had approved of the idea." He explained with Eliwood and the others eyes widening.

"...What?" Hector added.

Eliwood shook his head: "That's not… possible…"

Erik continued on: "My father and yours argued vehemently that day. Marquess Pherae always distrusted Ephidel. He tried to convince my father to send Ephidel and the Black Fang assassins out of Lycia. My father would not be persuaded, and Marquess Pherae left the castle. As you know, he then disappeared. I doubt he's still alive." Smirking as he finished his explanation.

The Black Fang. The ones Hector and Eliwood encountered not too long ago and the ones Ike and Lyn engaged with a year ago. The villains who tried to kidnap Nils and Ninian. Nergal may have been in control of them.

"No!" Eliwood vehemently denied.

"Shut your mouth!" Hector demanded with his grip tightening on Erik.

Erik kept his crazed smile: "Eliwood said he wanted to hear everything. My father… He is but Ephidel's puppet. He'll listen to anything that villain says. Even watch his own son…die… Those are the sort of people you're dealing with. Marquess Pherae betrayed them. They would not let him live! Ha ha…ha ha ha ha ha ha…"

His maniacal laughter continued until one of the villagers shouted out at him. All their teeth gritting at Erik.

"Listen to us, you piece of wyvern shit!" A male villager from the South called out. "Don't forget why we are all here!"

"W-what? W-what do you peasants mean?" He stammered in fear.

Hector's furious gaze became even more narrowed. At this rate, it will become permanent.

"Does, 'Those villagers will pay for even hiring you in the first place!' Ring a bell!?" He replied, repeating every word Erik said to Ike.

Erik froze. Everyone's opinion of Erik couldn't get any lower. The Greil Mercenaries knew better than to leave them to peril from the Marquess or his son. Especially one of Erik's lines that was spoken to Ike. Whatever the case, they were now on their own, but not before Guy and Rath who told them about Erik after restocking gave a good sum to the South village to help all the villagers in Laus. 15,000 gold even after they given 5,000 to Priscilla. Laus forces even left with all the funds, leaving none for any party remaining in Laus.

"You..." Hector pointed to Erik who felt a sudden drop in temperature. "You want to punish your subjects for your own messes...?"

Hector may be hot-headed and reckless to a fault, but he understood responsibilities. The villagers needed help to clear out bandits and Laus wasted their taxes for a rebellion. Even if they were never officially contracted to the Greil Mercenaries (who was hired through the village chieftain in Pherae), they still held gratitude for their good job.

"N-no, H-Hector... I didn't-" Erik was cut short with a punch from a right hook from Hector. Teeth came out this time, even knocking Erik unconscious. His already blooded face from a broken nose became swollen from his left side of his face. Eliwood fought back an objection to Hector's actions, still too distraught over his father. Some of the villagers even gave a thumbs up.

"Bah... heal him." Hector spat out. "He should be lucky to even be alive. He can no longer serve as heir or lord at any rate..."

Serra shrugged to herself and began her chants to heal Erik, who also received a slight bonk on the head from her staff. The teeth are long gone at any rate.

Hector turned to the villagers.

"We will reside in Laus for the time being, we will ensure protection and aid goes to everyone." He announced. "I swear it upon House Ostia."

Hector continued: "House Ostia will only seek to punish Marquess Darin of Laus for his defection and abandonment of his territory. Neither will his son, Erik inherit the duties that they both willfully neglected. Until then, be rest assured."

The villagers all sighed a breath of relief. Matthew was surprised that Hector this time had a rare formal speech. Oswin nodded approvingly at his liege. His brother would indeed laugh and celebrate on this occasion.

However, Oswin wished to return to Ostia and inform Lord Uther of these events as well as Lord Elbert's possible involvement. Even Eliwood wanted a moment to himself, his doubts about his father still weighing on his mind.

Unbeknownst to the party and even Matthew, a lone thief overheard everything. With a dark attire, cloak, and slicked-back long gray hair with a black headband tied to his forehead. Two lines of scars ran through his left eye making the left side of his face distinct.

"My... to think the Commander, Lloyd, and Linus would have me take one last request..." Legault spoke out. "At least it's better than cleaning house."

It seems as though they are taking a more proactive approach against Sonia, which he welcomes. They needed a better view of the situation especially within Lycia. And a recent inquiry into the Greil Mercenaries. Certainly the generous sort. He even witnessed how they gave money to the villagers right before they left.

"In any event, seems like a good number of our forces are being used without our full knowledge... Ephidel is most likely working with Sonia." He concluded to himself.

For now, he needs act quickly and report to the others. He might need to head back to Dread Isles with the Fang and create a cover...


AN to Guest: Chose the whole promotion/class up items out of tradition and the significance across the Fire Emblem series. I know in Tellius that they can just promote with experience after lvl 20 but I chose to make them more prominent.