Interlude ~Base Convos Part 9~
This was the last stop and rest before reaching Castle Caelin. Making an encampment, they were to rest and prepare for the final battle.
"Ike." The boy in question looked behind him, it was Dorcas who call him out.
"Did you need something, Dorcas?" Ike asked.
He nodded, and spoke: "After this battle, I plan to leave with Natalie into Lycia. Although, I plan to continue my mercenary work."
"I see. It might be more safer to live here in Lycia." Ike pointed out.
Given where they were in Bern near the Taliver Mountains some distance away. It was safe to say their village was not ideal. Dorcas nodded with him.
"What actually got me thinking, while it could very well be myself in one of the graves we dug, I want to do my best whatever I can to help Natalie recover. I want to have her enjoy life and run into the fields without a care in the world. That's why I want to fight and thank you for giving me funds to do so." Dorcas explained, with a sense of hope within his eyes.
While the funds they obtained thus far are somewhat questionable, Dorcas didn't complain. His commander, a boy much young than he, took alot of responsibility just to ensure that his men were fed, paid and led into battle safely.
"Well then, should everything go well, I may need to reside here for awhile before I get my bearings on how to return to Tellius." Ike explained. "Until then, let me also help escort you with Natalie to whichever village in Lycia. No charge. Of course, I might need you to still fight off nearby bandits along the way."
Dorcas smiled and nodded. "Thank you, Ike." But soon, his smile turned expressionless or rather, into worry directed at Ike. "Speaking of money, I may not be aware of the world, but even I know a voyage back to another continent unknown to most would be... rather pricy. Do you plan to ask Lyn for aid once we finish our goal?"
Ike turned silent at Dorcas's question. A good moment passed and he closed his eyes before answering.
"Man... training on horseback with archery sure is difficult..." Wil spoke with a tired tone.
"Is that why I saw you shooting arrows like Rath on a mount?" Ike asked from behind.
"Oh! Ike! Um, yeah. Rath gave me some pointers. He's a better shot than me while mobile at that! I can't defend well if an enemy is behind me." He explained.
Ike nodded. Rath was very good at pelting their enemies with arrows while on his mount.
"Well, if you are scared of the enemy coming close, let me or Lyn teach you some basic sword forms as well." Ike offered to Wil.
"You will? Thanks!" Wil spoke with gratitude. "You and everyone look so amazing on the battlefield, I gotta catch up and not be left behind."
Wil really was willing to improve himself. He's a good archer and a great friend. That's why he hopes he might be able to learn a skill.
"You know...there's actually a mystical skill that are imparted onto archers, snipers specifically."
"There is? What is it?" Wil fervently asked.
"It was called Deadeye. My father detailed it as a technique that twirls and launches the arrow into the air and the sniper jumps up and grabs it, shooting in midair. The enemy somehow falls asleep if they get hit." He explained. "They're taught through occultic scrolls that are rare in Tellius, it is possible to learn it on one's own, albeit much more difficult."
Although he was able to use Luna, he was no Halberdier or General. At best, his technique was a imitation inspired from watching his comrades and looking at his father's techniques. Strangely enough, he has no idea why he had the ability to do so in the first place, he was not necessarily the right class to do this feat.
"Whoa, sometime I twirl my arrow while on the ground if I have a good shot, but doing all that in midair? Although I have no idea on how the enemies get put to sleep." Wil pondered.
Ike shook his head at that statement and continued: "Possibly a hypnosis skill. But either way, they might have a scroll of it somewhere in Elibe, I hope I can find it for you one day. Although, those scrolls are mystical and can only be read by one person. If not, I hope you can learn it on through your own effort."
"Thanks Ike. I hope I can learn it through my own effort. Although," Wil decided to move onto the next topic, "What worries me now is when I decide to send a letter to my parents and Dan's family. Hopefully, the village chieftain isn't still mad about four years ago. Albeit Dan might rein in his father along with Rebecca. And I hope she isn't still mad at me either..." Wil scratched his head at the thought of their angry faces.
Wow, so his best friends were also the children of the village chieftain. Lyn and supposedly Rath were children of their tribes too. Small world...
"I'm sure Dan and his family are fine in their home. I bet they are more worried about you though since you kept on traveling..." Ike pointed.
"Same goes with you, Ike! Your father's company should be safe and sound, and are just waiting for you to come back." Wil assured.
Ike smiled and nodded.
"There there, Huey." As Florina slowly fed her pegasus similar feed as the horses.
"Florina." Ike's voiced called out from a distance.
"Ack! S-sorry Ike!" Florina's surprised voice sounded out. "U-um did you need something?"
"Sorry for startling you... I actually wanted to know how you were doing after all. We haven't actually spoke since the Taliver Mountains." Ike pointed out. "Sorry to speak to you despite knowing you still had anxiety against men.
"O-oh... don't worry...I think I've been able to adapt to everyone in the group... for the most part." Florina replied. "With Lyn, Lucius, and Serra, I think I've become more confident."
Lyn, he could understand. But Serra...? Maybe it's due to that confidence of hers... no matter how bloated it is. And Lucius? Oh no. She may not have heard the sounds of laughter that day. The pair must have apologized to Lucius on their own time without Florina hearing that he was a man.
"Um, Florina." Florina let out a noise upon Ike's call. "You are aware Lucius is a man, right?"
Florina's eyes widened at that fact and her mouth gaped open. "Eeeehhhh!? But sh-I mean he's so... beautiful." She replied in a surprised tone. "Did you know, Huey?" Looking at her pegasus, who neighed in what appeared to be a nod. "T-that can't be... I hope I never offended him."
Ike shook his head and responded, "Lucius is very aware of his circumstances. I don't believe he will be bothered too much. Although, it would be ideal if you interact with him as you normally do."
Florina nodded at Ike's suggestion "I-I'll try! Thanks for informing me, Ike! I'll clear the air with Lucius right away."
"No problem, Florina." Ike replied with a smile. And Florina left off leaving with Huey.
So long as everyone remains aware of Lucius and he doesn't have to explain further... Ike felt sorry for Lucius. It must be very awkward if everyone he met saw him as a woman. Although, the issue now was Florina's anxiety against men.
"Hyaaaahhhhh!" Ike yelled out while clashing his training blade with Lyn's own. His battle cry resounding in the meadow away from the camp.
While the training blades don't have a scabbard she could use to unsheath her blade, it barely hinders her swordplay. Ike once again slashes diagonally, only to get parried, leaving him open. Lyn quickly aimed her hilt and hit Ike's solar plexus in a split second. Causing Ike to fall backward. The victory went to Lyn.
"Phew. I'm still way behind you Lyn. And the way I saw you use that technique to quickly follow up with another blow..." Ike spoke with admiration.
"Don't be so hard on yourself, Ike. The way I saw you twirling your blade like some of our lance users really shows how far you've come." She explained.
Within that moment, they kept complimenting one another over their skill. Soon they found themselves chuckling. However, Lyn's expression turned from joy to worry.
"Tomorrow, we face Lundgren. And I'll meet my grandfather..." Lyn spoke. "I just hope... we'll make it in time to save him."
Eagler's words all but confirmed Hausen being poisoned. It's a matter of time that he keeps struggling before succumbing.
"You remember how long it has been since you've heard he was ill? It's been weeks, if Lundgren has been trying to poison him, he's survived thus far." Ike pointed out. "Your grandfather is a strong man. He's fighting his own battle."
"But... I don't want to lose my only family." Lyn whispered out. Her anxiety was at its peak. He may already be at death's door as they speak.
Ike looked into Lyn's green eyes and declared: "You may have lost your family once, but I swear to my last breath, you will have your family once more. I'll repay you for saving my life, Lyn of the Lorca Tribe."
Lyn smiled at Ike's declaration, and responded: "And I swear to you, Ike of the Greil Mercenaries, that I'll help reunite you with your family, the Greil Mercenaries. Thank you for being with me, Ike."
"Those are my words... I noticed I've troubled you with taking care of me all this time. I did notice I've eaten more than alot of people here." Ike pointed out.
It was Lyn's turn to frown, albeit with a playful manner.
"Eat?" Lyn replied. "You consider what you do at meals, eating?" In a scolding tone, she remarked further with her hands on her hip, "As I far as I know, mister. You've been shoveling your meals into your mouth like an animal. Even Guy has begun to look at you as an example and overstuff himself!"
It was true. Upon seeing Ike's example of... speedeating... Guy began to emulate him thinking it will give him greater strength. Which only resulted in an upset stomach. It amazed even Wallace and Dorcas who only ate half of the size of Ike's portion. In short, they had to hunt for food more often than most would consider. In other words, Ike was oblivious at how much he ate until now. It was only until he looked at how much food expenses were with Lucius and Erk for the times they couldn't hunt that he realized he ate alot.
"Ah, s-sorry, Lyn... I should have helped more in hunting." Ike apologized while scratching his head.
"Pfftt... Tee-hee." Lyn chuckled. "Well, if you are that remorseful, I'll forgive you!
She was glad Ike liked her cooking alot. He particularly liked spicy meat dishes that she began adding more spices into the meat. Luckily, no one complained even if they had to drink more often.
The vicinity was filled with laughter. Their worries drifting away for a brief respite. They were all alone in a meadow away from the camp. There were no objections with them alone to train aside from Guy who wanted to train with them but was stopped by Sain, who apparently understood the mood.
"Hey... Ike..." Ike turned to Lyn. "Can you sing that lullaby one more time?"
The song he's believed to have remembered from his mother. But ever since he saw Nils and Ninian, he had doubts. Did his mother really sing the lyrics? Or did she hum it? No, no doubt she truly knew it. But she seemed to have only... A good moment passed before Ike nodded.
"irawoahirumenikagan~"
His voice was resounded in the meadow. His voice singing the lyrics was off-key and slightly awkward, but to Lyn, she found it endearing. Soon, she decided to join in, having already remembered the lyrics.
"erufairakihodohiuyabam~"
The meadow was filled with a duet, their vocals harmonizing with one another. The journey they faced was filled with chaos. The future all the more uncertain with its path shrouded in mystery. Whether it will transform the lives they encounter along their path, or their own, who knows? But in this brief moment, they were free. And their voices, in this faithful night, will call for the awakening of the dawn.
