Chapter 2: Sword of Spirits
"The shrine should be located east of here. We Sacaens often pray to there at the onset of a long journey with sacred weapon at the altar, the Mani Katti." Lyn explained as she walked.
"Oh! How quaint!" Sain replied
"The teachings of Elimine have the most followers in Elibe, especially in Etruria." Kent explained glancing at Ike. Only for Ike to ask a question: "Don't Sacaens follow their deity, Father Sky and Mother Earth?"
"Indeed, Sacaens hold their beliefs. It's nice to see ancient customs still observed." Kent replied, only to follow up with a question of his own, "Do you have any deities in Tellius?" Leaving Ike to scratch his head in response.
"I'm not the religious sort, as far as I know, there was once a great flood after a war that left just the land of Tellius to survive after being blessed by the goddess Ashera. I didn't think Elibe existed until now." As Ike explained, the knight pair exchanged curious glances at one another.
As the group slowly approached the shrine, an older female villager came out to approach them. She seemed to be in a panicked state.
"Are you heading east, to the altar?" The woman asked hastily.
"Is something the matter?" Ike prodded. The woman nodded immediately. "Yes! You must hurry and help the priest there. I saw a band of local ruffians head in there not long ago. They seemed intent on stealing the altar's sacred sword!" The group's eyes widened at the proclamation.
Lyn stepped forward, "The Mani Katti... They're going to steal it? I cannot allow this to happen!"
"We'll take care of this. The Greil Mercenaries are at your services." Ike spoke calmly. "By the way, is there are any way to enter the altar safely without being ambushed?"
"The bandits may have the main entrance guarded. The mountains to get to there is difficult to traverse. However, one of the altar's walls is cracked and in poor repair. You might be able to create another entrance by hitting that section with your weapons. We're all counting on you!" She quickly replied.
"Stay in your homes until our battle is over." Ike turned towards the knight pair, "Kent, Sain, can you inform the nearby villagers to stay in their homes and prepare to escape or stick together? Once that's done, meet back with us."
"Affirmative." And they galloped off in their horse to the nearby homes.
"Ike... we can't let them go with the Mani Katti... it's one of our pride and joy like the Mulagir." Lyn spoke with a concerned tone.
Ike nodded and spoke, "Don't worry, the blade will be safe and the bandit fought off." Lyn looked at Ike in the eyes and nodded with a determined expression.
Taking cover in a nearby forest, they observed their surroundings. Without the bandit to the North noticing. One bandit to the south past the mountains that lead to the entrance. Brigands could possibly traverse them. One wall looked ready to be broken down a few paces away from the bandit at the north.
"We could ambush the one in the North. Can you snipe him from a distance?" Lyn quietly nodded. Getting closer and into position of the trees without the bandit noticing, taking her arrow from her quiver, she twirled it slightly, then placing the arrow on the notch of her bow and pulled the string. Aiming straight at the Bandit. Releasing the bowstring, the arrow shot straight at the bandit's neck. The arrow piercing his throat, the bandit barely struggled to realize what was going on or call for help.
Ike smiled. 'At this rate, even Shinon might be impressed. Now then...' Turning towards the crumbling wall, he took the bandit's axe. Lyn looked concerned but realized he was going to use the axe to break down the wall. There was no point in using their own weapons to break it down. It was slightly heavy for Ike, but doable. Using the axe to hit the wall, it began to crumble piece by piece. Lyn chose to stay hidden in the trees and spot for him.
The spiky brown haired bandit, Glass, stood on the throne, thinking about how to break down the shrine altar. Suddenly a sound came from the right of the building.
"Fools." He cursed. "They're trying to break down the wall to the right. One of you, prepare yourselves if they break it, the rest of you, attack on the other side!" Readying his blade, he stood at the throne waiting for his opponents to dare strike at him.
Hearing the footstep approaching south, Ike quickly kept swinging the axe at the wall. The bandit quickly approaching Ike from the south, he raised his axe only to be cut short with an arrow shot center mass. The bandit quickly recovered, only to hear the galloping of a horse to receive a slash at his chest.
"Damn it all... for some stupid blade..." He cried out as he fell.
Ike noticed the knight pair coming back from warning the villagers, "Kent! Sain! Block them from coming from the South, me and Lyn will attack from the ruined wall!"
""Understood!"" As they positioned themselves in front of the bandits approach from the mountains.
Lyn quickly came out from hiding and hurried to Ike's side. With one last stroke of the axe, the wall came down.
"Dammit!" Glass shouted out. He quickly unsheathed his blade while one bandit readied his axe.
Putting aside the ruined axe, Ike unsheathed his iron sword and placed it over his head and bent slightly, readying his stance against the bandits. The one with the axe quickly approached Ike, holding his axe in the air. Within a single moment, Ike's eyes narrowed, and he kneeled slightly on one leg, and raising his sword near his shoulder opposite to his sword arm. In the single moment, in a blink of an eye, he dashed straight past the bandit.
QUICK DRAW
Having received a fatal wound to his stomach, the bandit groaned his last, spilling his blood on the shrine's floor.
The Glass's pupils dilated a moment out of fear. Growling out of his stupor he shouted: "Who do you think you are? What chance do you think you have against me?" And he held his sword on one hand over his shoulder.
"Ike... let me handle this" Lyn spoke out approaching Glass. Ike nodded and stepped aside with his blade at the ready. Lyn's blade ready to be unsheathed at her side, with her one hand on the grip.
"You intruded and decided to take our sacred weapon important to our culture. For that, you will face the wrath of Sacae and our gods." With the bandit only snorting at her declaration.
"Wrath? I am Glass! The gods fear my name! My swordplay is peerless!" The man after introducing himself, leaped out from the throne into the air to slash forward with his wide blade. Lyn quickly reposition herself away from the attack, unsheathing her blade, strikes at Glass. Making contact and leaving a gash on his chest, Glass staggering.
Lyn lowered her center of gravity, and once again, Ike's eyes could not keep up with her speed. In the blink of an eye, a downward, upward and finally a horizontal slash assailed Glass. All without a single blemish on Lyn's blade.
"You... You... Urr...urgh..." Stumbling to speak his last words, it was cut short with him finally collapsing.
Suddenly a two voices came out from the ruined wall, ""Lady Lyndis!"" With Kent and Sain galloping into the shrine. Lyn and Ike turned towards them. It appears they took care of the bandits approaching from the mountains.
"I'm fine, for now, let's make sure the priest is safe." She assured.
With all of them nodding, they noticed the door on the right of the throne room. The elderly priest with a grayed mustache and blue hood covering the top of head coming out. "Thank you for dealing with those ruffians." Congratulating them and coming closer to see his saviors.
Upon taking a closer glance at Lyn, he spoke, "Ah, your clothing... Are you of the Lorca tribe?"
She nodded in response. "I'm Lyn, the chieftain's daughter. Are you hurt, sir?"
"Thanks to you, I am unscathed. You have my gratitude," the priest bowed to Lyn.
"Don't thank me, thank Ike. He's our mercenary that helped coordinate us and fight off the bandits." Pointing towards Ike as she spoke. The knight pair nodding with her.
"You have my sincere thanks. If you need payment, we could..." With the priest bowing to Ike in turn.
"It is of no concern. I'm glad that you are safe. But I did damage the wall to the right. Whatever funds that you want to pay, just use it to help repair your wall." Ike pointed to the now gaping hole in the shrine. With the priest only chuckling, "That wall was crumbling from the beginning, don't worry. You'll receive your just payment."
Lyn stepped forward to ask, "And the sword? Is it safe?" The priest nodded in response. "Yes, I have sealed the sword safely away. Until I remove my spell, the sword cannot be drawn. Now, as a token of my gratitude, I shall allow you to lay hands upon the Mani Katti. Touch the blade's pattern, and pray for a safe journey."
Lyn beamed with joy, "Oh, thank you so much!" Thanking the priest.
Bringing out the sword, the priest unsheathed with it appearing to be a single edged blade, with a greenish hue. Just as Lyn came to contact with it, suddenly, it glowed, causing the priest to let out a curious sound, "Hm?"
"What? Did-" Lyn murmured.
Ike came forward and spoke out, "Is something wrong with the blade? Why is it glowing?"
Pondering on the answer, the priest realized it a moment after, "It's the power of the spirits. Lyn, they have looked into your soul, and they call out to you."
The rest of the group barring Lyn looked at one another, with surprises evident on their faces.
"So. She could wield the Mani Katti?" With the priest nodding. The girl in question mouthing out: "No... I can't... I couldn't..."
The priest shook his head, "It is the sword's wish. If you require proof, draw it from its sheath." Unsheathing the blade and placing it in the hands of Lyn, she stood with hesitation, gripping the sword with care.
"Um... ..." She let out, looking towards Ike, who nodded at her. She then turned towards the blade, and unsheathed it. Its blade shining with a brilliant glow upon being revealed. "It came out...effortlessly," she spoke.
Priest nodding in confirmation and spoke: "I never dared to hope that I might meet the wielder of the Mani Katti in my life. I am indeed fortunate to see your sword reach your hands." Bowing his head at Lyn.
She mouthed quietly, "My sword?"
The priest came up to her with his hands on top of hers in a gesture of assurance, "It is time for you to go, Lyn. You face a great many ordeals. Grip this sword, and meet your destiny head-on."
"Yes... Yes, sir!" Lyn nodded in response.
With the priest turning towards Ike, "As for you, take this as payment for your services." A bag of gold amounting to roughly 2000 in the hands of Ike.
Ike nodded, and bowed, "Thank you. As well as for the Mani Katti."
After exiting the temple, Sain decided to break the ice: "So this is the Mani Katti... A blade with no equal."
"This is all so unbelievable. Perhaps the most famous sword in all of Sacae... in my hand." Lyn spoke incredulously.
Lyn continued peering into the blade and its glowing greenish hue. One of the finest blades Ike has ever seen in his life and supposedly a mystical one at that.
"I'm glad for you Lyn, that blade will certainly suit your skills." Ike congratulated.
"Stop it! I... I'm nothing special!" Blushing at Ike compliment.
Sain only smiling at Lyn's bashfulness: "Think of it this way: Some weapons feel more comfortable in your hand, right? Well, the Mani Katti itself feels very comfortable with you. Does this make it any easier for you to accept? It doesn't appear that either of us can use it."
Indeed, when they tried to pull the blade from the sheath, the blade refused to reveal itself. It seems as though the blade is truly magical.
Lyn responded, "It...does feel right in my hand. A blade that only I can wield. That seems reasonable enough. I can understand that. Look at it, Ike." Brandishing the blade in front of Ike, as he stared into the blade that matched her eyes. "This is the Mani Katti. This is...my sword. I must care for it well." Ike nodded with her. Their journey will be difficult, and they need all the help they can get.
"What? Madelyn's daughter is still alive?" The man in armor and slick backed long grey hair growled.
The armored soldier looked nervous but responded, "Uh... Yes, Lord Lundgren. The girl is traveling with Kent and Sain. Along with a mercenary named Ike, of the Greil Mercenaries they called it. What are your orders? If we let them be..."
Lundgren spat out, "Bah! I've heard that northern Bern is full of bandits. She's just a girl. She'll not survive her journey here even with Kent and Sain, along with that mercenary. I'm more concerned with my older brother. His life must be ended quickly. The poison... There must be no blunders."
The soldier replied, "Yes, m'lord. He suspects nothing and continues to drink it. The marquess's death, no doubt due to "sudden illness," is not far off." Subtlely speaking the last sentence.
Lundgren only laughing in response, "Heh heh heh. Soon... Soon Caelin will be mine!"
With an evil grin, he stomped off, awaiting his family's demise.