Fire Emblem: A New Revolution (Esyel & Beautiful Disgrace's 1x1)

[Star Pupil]

Hearing Ike's compliment really made Katlynn feel good. Even though he didn't say that her eyes were pretty directly, since this was such a wonderful stone he was telling her that her eyes indeed remind him of sapphire stones. Pretending to be Ike's companion was something that at first she saw as fun, but as she thought about it....well she really didn't mind the idea. Katlynn knew nothing of love or romance, at least nothing outside of what her mother had with her father. She just knew that Ike made her feel wonderfully special. Maybe once they got to know each other better on this journey...he would be open to the idea of her sticking with him.

Once they went inside of the tavern, Katlynn was too distracted by the sights and smells to notice anything else. Everything smelled really good. Then a strong scent permeated the room. It smelled familiar, but she couldn't place her finger on it. Whatever it was, it was quite off putting, but it seemed as if many people were partaking in it, otherwise it wouldn't be all around the room like this.

Suddenly, she heard Ike call a name. Did he know someone here? She looked up at him, and then followed his gaze to this "Soren", who was with a woman. A very dark and scary looking woman. Well, maybe she wasn't dark and scary, but she definitely looked upset. Soren himself seemed surprised, as if he was thinking he was seeing some sort of illusion. Both of them had black hair like Katlynn, though Soren's eye color was opposite of hers, a deep ruby red that seemed to pop out when the light hit them the right way.

"Ike..?" Soren asked in confusion, though his face lit up when he got closer with Katlynn in toe. He lifted himself from his seat and gave the large man a hug, something that Soren didn't do for just anybody, but he really did miss Ike. It had been years. So many years that...well he could have gotten married. This girl was standing so close to him, and she looked very happy. Was this his wife? Did she come from the continent that he had traveled to? She did look rather strange, at least her armor and demeanor as she beamed at Soren waiting for an introduction. Oh! He should do that and introduce Selune too.

"Ike, this is Selune. I found her a few hours ago, being chased by Crimean soldiers who had nothing better to do with their time." Once again, Soren's honesty got the better of him. His eyes turned to Katlynn and he gave her a slight bow. "I am Soren, it's very nice to meet you. Are you Ike's...?" For some reason he couldn't finish off his sentence. Mainly because from the way she looked at him, he felt like he was wrong about that one. However, she didn't deny what he was about to say, she merely shook her head.

"I'm Katlynn. It's very nice to meet you, Soren." She told him before looking to Selune. "Nice to meet you too, Selune!"

 

[Esyel]

Ike & Selune​

Ike silently prayed he hadn't come off as too .. demanding to make Katlynn meet Soren. But, much like the other mage, he had missed all of his comrades also. On the outside, Ike may appear like the always strong type. But his connections with certain friends and allies were incredibly strong. Soren had become more akin to a brother than just another soldier. So, to Ike, he did mean quite a lot. A small but very happy chuckle passed his lips as he returned the hug, allowing Soren to pull away after a few brief yet lasting seconds. "Soren! Great to see you again!"

Selune didn't speak as the two men made their verbal exchanges with one another. The sight of Ike and Soren hugging, however, made her smirk slightly. It was interesting to see her future instructor abruptly go from seemingly cold and heartless to ... basically the exact opposite. And all from the site of one man.

"Wait a sec ... "

As her head lifted as she took in Ike's appearance, it seemed ... familiar? But why? It wasn't until Soren addressed the man as 'Ike' himself that the connection registered. Despite having just met Soren, she had heard of the Greil Mercenaries. They were practically heroes and a good reason as to why the recent chaos and bloodshed had finally ended. Although she had lived most of the duration of the conflicts as a nomad, she had heard tales about them wherever she went. So ... this meeting was a big deal.

"Then .. Soren is one of them also?!"

Suddenly, her throat felt parched and her voice vanished. Essentially, she was in front of some of the most famous men in existence. The last thing the female mage felt was worthy to be in front of such presences. Even though luck - maybe fate - had seemed to guide her, the sensation of not deserving this still lingered within her. The new feeling of eyes upon her, likely those from Ike, made her manage to snap from her thoughts.

"Nice .. to meet you, Ike, Katlynn."

Sure enough, the former Greil Mercenary leader - plus likely Soren and maybe even Katlynn - had noticed the woman go silent. But, if what Soren had explained was true, Ike couldn't exactly blame her. Still, the news made him frown a bit as he nodded.

"Mind elaborating on that when we can go somewhere more discreet?" he asked softly, feeling his smile return as his own head shook quickly no.

"Actually ... she was the first person I met upon returning to Tellius. She was being attacked by bandits so I intervened. I'm helping escort her at the moment. For now though, we're stopping for food."

"... Lovely necklace, Katlynn," Selune chimed in, feeling a slight twinge of guilt shoot through her as she saw the lovely piece of jewelry around the girl's neck. But it didn't amaze her too much. Just from a quick glance, Katlynn did look ... almost like a princess. Or someone of great importance. And that thought seemed to strengthen when Ike admitted he was escorting her. Still, any hints of envy weren't seen in her eyes or on her face. All that Katlynn would see was an exhausted but at least genuine smile.

If Soren was going to be near this Ike figure for a while, she figured it'd be wise to be on everyone's good sides, not just Soren's.

 

[Star Pupil]

"Thank you, Ike bought this for me just a little while ago from a nice old lady! She said it matched my eyes and he thinks so too! I love it, I will never take it off, not even when bathing!" For someone who had spent most of their lives alone, shunned in the very village she grew up in, one would never have guessed Katlynn would turn out so happy go lucky. But the way Katlynn saw it, she was happy now. Her village was stupid, and the people outside of it were friendly enough. She wouldn't let her past drag her down, especially when she sensed she had a very wonderful future coming up soon. Soren once again looked between the two, now knowing that Ike had only stumbled upon her today.

Oh, so he was wrong about that one. Neither of them seemed to offended though, but he dropped it. Still, curious to see that Ike had accepted a mission the moment he got back to Tellius. Soren hadn't seen him for so long, so it was a little disappointing knowing that he wouldn't be sticking around much longer. Soren glanced at Selune and wondered if she would mind more traveling. He was going to just teach her at his home, but...he missed Ike. Something in him just screamed to accompany him on this journey to escort Katlynn. "Where are you taking her?" Soren asked Ike, though Katlynn felt the need to answer him instead.

"To the islands of the South. To find my father, who's a king. My mother would want me to find him," She started as she sat down next to Selune, figuring Ike would want to sit next to Soren. "So Ike is helping me, for pretty much all the gold in my pocket. He's very nice, so I'm sure you're very nice too, Soren." The mage looked at her as if she were crazy, though he exchanged a glance with Ike just before taking his seat. South...well there was Gallia...Goldoa...then the islands of Phoenicis and Kilvas...

"Island..south of here? Are you sure of that? If you claim that your father is a King, then that would make you yourself a Princess, hmm?" Soren asked her, though he noticed that Selune seemed to be quite famished. He would need to fix that, so he called a barmaid over and ordered for him and Selune. It was a bit direct, but she probably didn't care what she ate, and since he was paying for it, well he didn't want her to feel guilty for whatever she picked. But he had pretty much ordered the best thing they had here for her. The woman took Ike and Katlynn's order as well, though curious enough Katlynn asked a strange question about the drinks most people seem to get here. It was something called "ale" which she had never heard of, so she ordered it along with what Selune and Soren were getting.

She then turned back to Soren and grinned once they were finished ordering their food. "Uhuh, I'm sure. My mother told me exactly where he was. In the Southern Isles. He is King of the Ravens, she says. Though I don't know how anyone can be capable of ruling a bunch of birds. Still, I trust my mother when she says he's royalty so..." Katlynn trailed off when Soren looked at her as if she had grown a second and third head.

This girl was claiming to be daughter of Kilvas, of that man Naesala. That King of Crows...was this true? That would make her a branded considering she had no feathers or wings. Though Soren did get that vibe from her. "Your mark...can you show it to me without being too obvious about it?" Soren asked her. Even if she had one, that didn't necessarily mean she really was the bastard of the Raven King. Still, he was curious.

"My mark...oh...you mean this?" Katlynn stuck out her tongue, and sure enough...she did have a very distinct mark there. It was...a little disturbing. Soren had never seen it there before.

 

[Esyel]

Ike & Selune​

"Oh? Did he now?" Selune replied, feeling her smirk widen just a bit more.

Maybe it had been the tone or the way Selune replied about him having bought the necklace. Or was it the fact now Soren knew this? Whatever it had been, something made Ike flush just a bit crimson in embarrassment. Placing his hands gently on Katlynn's waist, he helped her sit down, following suit himself soon afterward. He was definitely relieved when Katlynn spoke for him. She'd only replied with the simple answer of 'south' earlier. She hadn't given an exact name so it would have been awkward for Ike to try to relay that information to Soren.

While Katlynn began to speak with Soren, Ike decided to take initiative with this .. woman Soren had come across. It was still pestering him that Crimean soldiers had been chasing her in the first place. All of the mercenaries had worked hard to make damn well sure there was never any reason for anyone to be sought after. Clearly, something had happened to make this happen regardless. "Miss? Would you mind elaborating on why you were being chased? If ... you don't mind?"

The inquiry made Selune .. astounded. The number had jumped from one to three people who had spoken to her in a generous and sincere tone today. Maybe things really were turning around for the best finally. The thought made in inwardly smile. She kept silent, only speaking after the barmaid spoke. Soren's guess had been correct; as long as she could eat soon, she wouldn't begin to be picky on what she ate. Well, as long as it was also edible but that shouldn't be an issue.

"At first, I wasn't sure. But not too long after I met Soren .. he gave me the answer. Apparently, I'm -- "

Before Selune could finish her sentence, an eyebrow raised as the mage caught a glimpse of Katlynn's mark.

"... You're a Branded also?" she inquired, intrigued and yet unable to help but wonder if this was more than a mere coincidence. If anything, it felt .. almost like fate. And it seemed to hold true with everything, from running into Soren and now Ike plus this other hybrid. She felt herself unable to help but shift ever so slightly in her seat, feeling just a bit unnerved even though Soren was still next to her. Her hands raised as she pulled the cloak closer around her flesh.

Before the white fabric went too far, however, Ike was barely able to catch some black lines upon her upper shoulders. He merely nodded, thinking over Selune's reply before looking towards Katlynn. "Those rogues that I saw when we first met ... they didn't see that, did they?"

It wasn't likely since hers was in a far more secret location. Still, it wouldn't hurt to ask. But if the answer was yes ... Ike - and possibly Soren - may have to prepare for some unfriendly company. And it'd likely show up sooner as opposed to later. Not that Ike wished for it but that really was how things tended to go. He felt himself inwardly sigh, more than ready to have some of the ale when it showed up.

"Today's definitely been ... an eventful day. Two new Brandeds, one of which is the same princess you're escorting. Well .. you've got a long journey ahead of ya, Ike."

Sure enough, the thoughts made him smile slightly despite him being likely correct about his guesses. It probably would be a hell of a trip. But ... he now knew where to find at least one of his comrades. Even when the escort mission was done, Ike had the ability to return here and - hopefully - take it easy for a bit. Or if nothing else, assist Katlynn in laying low for a bit. He had begun to get a true feeling of why Selune was with Soren. And if any of the guesses in his head were slightly accurate .. the mission he was about to undergo would definitely not be easy.

 

[Star Pupil]

"Branded? What's a Branded? My mother said this was the mark of my royal blood. She told me not to show anyone, or else they'd try to capture me. So no, those bandits aren't aware. Come to think of it...I probably shouldn't have been so ready to show you." Katlynn grinned at Soren, who just shifted his eyes away. No one was going to question this girl? Everyone just was planning on going with it instead? Well, there was no way of proving she was or wasn't. Though last he had heard, Naesala had married Leanne. Soren doubted that crow would admit to having relations to some human..err beorc.

He stared carefully at the girl trying to see the relation...it was hard because that man had an extremely crooked, deceptive face. This woman though..she was innocent, happy go lucky...the only thing they shared maybe was eye color and paleness of the skin. Soren wasn't so sure considering his memory of Naesala was...well it wasn't very good. He was horrible with faces.

"Perhaps this isn't the best time to talk about this stuff. People have ears, and things get around. Let's just eat and leave." Soren told them, though Katlynn seemed to want to protest. What was so bad about her mark? Why did Selune call her branded? Was there something she was missing here?

Her thoughts really didn't last too long as they were all brought their food. Katlynn had never seen such delicious looking meat and stew. She had always grown up on meager portions, and they had only gotten smaller when her mother passed. This was so much food it resembled a mountain. Then she was given the mug of ale along with Ike. Soren had ordered water for both him and Selune. The first thing Katlynn did was sniff the strange drink and then put it to her lips. It had a bit of a kick but it was interesting! She never tasted anything like it!

Soren was quite proper when he ate, though Katlynn seemed to be the exact opposite. She was like a dog that had just been fed the scraps off the table. She ate so fast that it even rivaled how fast Ike could shovel down food when he was hungry. And so much too! Soren had to stop and stare at her for a minute. Was this woman human? How could anyone eat so fast? And the way she kept asking for more ale was even scarier...ugh she was getting drunk, too. He could tell.

"Mnn, I don't think I've ever had food that good...or juice. That was some strange, good juice..." Katlynn commented after she was finally done eating, though Soren looked at her in disgust seeing the crumbs at the corner of her mouth. When was the last time she ate? Last week?

 

[Esyel]

Ike & Selune​

How had she been lied to about such an important thing? Well .. it may have been a complete lie, Selune decided. Maybe only partly one. Still though, it mentally blew her away that she had possibly been given incorrect information, let alone with something so essential. This was .. one of those things that everyone should know the truth about. Or that was what she believed. But ... Soren had a good point. Now was probably the worst place, if any, to speak of such things. Nodding her head in agreement, a sigh of relief elicited from her lips as the food and ale arrived.

Even among Ike's smile, he gave Soren a brief but noticeable look. He didn't need to say anything; the male mage would understand it well enough. It screamed out loud that they now needed to talk. It had been optional before. But now? No, it had become a necessity, something that was required of them. But he heeded Soren's advice for now and stayed silent on the issue.

Sure enough, however, the mage had been correct. People definitely did have ears and Crimea had already sent a more discreet and professional form to do just this. A man in the corner was sitting alone, eating and drinking by himself. He had been sneaking glances but not nearly as often as he'd wanted to. The word "Branded", however, made him turn in time. Even with the cloak on, Selune's long, raven locks were easy to notice. That was one obvious part of her which was clearly correct in what the guards had relayed to him. But ... he needed to make damn well sure. Still, he at least had a lead of where to go next when they finished up. The male silently raised a mug of his own ale, concealing the smirk that spread across his lips.

Selune damn well nearly joined Soren in ... gawking at Katlynn as did Ike. Both seemed to ponder almost the exact same thing while watching her eat and how she appeared to devour everything so damn quickly.

"That ... is a princess?"

Ike, however, recalled she had admitted to being really hungry. It at least meant she really did need the nutrition which ... was good, he supposed. It was definitely better than her starving to death, especially before they arrived at the islands she spoke of. When he heard Katlynn slurring slightly in her speech, Ike chuckled softly. His hand reached over as he gently set down the ale.

"That means you've had plenty," he replied softly, trying to keep her from having too much. There was such a thing; gods knew how many times he'd seen it before. His gaze shifted from beside him to in front, looking now at the two --- one mage.

"You .. you seem to have a weary one yourself."

Sure enough, Selune had gotten more than enough to eat in a short amount of time. She had used utensils at least. But she had gotten ... about as much food as Katlynn had. She just hadn't eaten it as quickly. Concept wise, however, it wasn't much different. And now, Selune's head was lolling forward. Finally, it fell against Soren's shoulder as she began to drift in and out of unconsciousness. Her movements, however, did not go unnoticed.

The gentle impact had been enough to make the cloak move far enough for the man to see one of her marks. His smirk widened as he continued his own drink. Well, damn. That was easy. Now ... getting to her. Already, an idea was forming in his mind. Besides, with how things were going, he'd likely hear or see one soon enough. He had no real worries about being able to figure one out properly.

 

[Star Pupil]

Soren noticed Ike's loook and that decided it. They were going to have to have a talk about Katlynn. Maybe even Selune if Ike had his doubts about her, but..Selune wasn't claiming to be a Princess. She was just a girl, being picked on by some slimy soldiers. Katlynn though...Katlynn was something else.

"But it's soo yummy, Ike. I want more..." Katlynn whined when he set her drink away. She didn't reach for it though. She was somewhat of an obedient girl, but that didn't stop her from begging. She yawned a little, her belly full of food and ale. Watching Selune falling asleep by Soren only made her want to fall asleep, but she managed to stay awake...that didn't stop her from leaning herself against Ike. He was so handsome and strong...and Selune got to lean against that other stiff looking man. Soren? Yeah, that was his name. He sure did give her funny looks.

Soren looked over to Selune and couldn't tell if she was tired or drunk. He hadn't been paying close attention to what she had been drinking...but he didn't mind her resting on his shoulder. He was halfway through his meal, but from the looks of things they probably should be heading out soon. He pulled the his cloak back over Selune's shoulder protectively and made sure she wouldn't fall back and hit her head.

As he looked down at her, she seemed so...attractive. Soren wasn't sure why he was drawn to her as he was. He had seen many beautiful women, but this one was the first he had actually been attracted to. Even now, he could admit that Katlynn was a good looking girl, but Soren didn't see her the way he saw Selune.. She was different. At first he ignored it, but now that she wasn't looking at him, he could actually look at her. That sounded awful, but...well he was nervous around people and rarely looked them in the eyes. Bah, he really needed to stop staring before Ike noticed. He didn't want to hear the man ask anything too personal about Selune and his relationship. He hadn't even gone into the detail that he had planned on taking her in as a student.

"Well, I think it's time we go. Selune? Are you able to walk?" Was she even awake? If not, Soren could carry her. He didn't really look like he could, but...well Soren wasn't a weakling, he could carry a girl like her. Maybe not Katlynn though..not with all that armor and that big bow she had. Selune's armor was much thinner, so he was sure he'd at least be able to carry her on his back.

 

[Esyel]

Ike & Selune​

Ike smiled softly towards Katlynn as his head merely shook no. "I know it is. But ... there is such a thing as 'too much' with ale. And trust me, you'll feel really bad if you do that. You wouldn't enjoy it." The same matter-of-factly tone was heard in his voice once again. But, really, what woman would enjoy feeling as if they had to puke really badly? And all from mere alcohol? None; at least no one Ike could immediately think of. His head lifted as he briefly scanned the tavern. There had been a few seconds where he almost felt like they were being watched. If this was the case, however, he was failing to detect the source. Finishing the last of his meal, Ike slowly stood up and looked down to Katlynn. He had been ready to ask her the same question before a small groan made him turn.

Sure enough, it came from Selune. Her head stayed against Soren's shoulder and her eyes refused to expose themselves. While she had consumed a small amount of the ale, that hadn't been what made her pass out. No, it was pure exhaustion and fatigue from all the running and hiding she'd done in the past few days.

Ike's head shook at Selune before he looked to Soren. "She's out. I'm guessing she's been out and about near Crimea far longer than Katlynn. Or at least for around the same time frame."

While it was true that originally, Ike had considered asking, he abruptly got the idea that .. it wasn't smart. The ale had already made her buzzed. Trying to suggest that she move would be .. foolish. And, unintentionally but still, it would cause quite the scene. That was definitely something he wanted to avoid. "Come on," he murmured softly, beginning to help Katlynn up to her feet. "If .. you're not sure that you can walk, speak up and I'll assist with that."

As a new thought entered Ike's mind, he looked back to Soren, "Do you mind if I follow you back to your house to have our talk? I wouldn't mind getting her a room for herself here but ... "

As his voice trailed off, his unspoken concerns could be detected well enough by Soren. If anyone had already heard more than they needed to about these women being Brandeds, it wouldn't be smart of him to leave her alone. If, however, Soren wanted to go to the room Ike was about to get for the two of them, so be it. But splitting up was not likely the best idea. And with him having tons of experience as a tactician, Ike knew the mage would understand this better than anyone.

 

[Star Pupil]

Katlynn could walk. Why wouldn't she be able to walk? She stood up and then as soon as she took a single step, her leg immediately gave out and she fell right to the floor. Though as soon as she did, she hopped back up and claimed she was okay. Soren sighed softly, wondering how Ike had the patience to deal with such a woman. She laughed and then steadied herself using the back of her chair.

"Wow, I've never done that before unless I was really tired." Katlynn exclaimed as she watched Soren stand up and maneuver Selune up to her feet. He then let her fall onto his back before picking her up, gripping the back of her thighs soft thighs. He had never done this before. Had a woman so close. At least, he had never been this close and actually didn't mind it. The feeling was actually quite nice. She smelled..good. Was that a really strange thing to notice?

"Katlynn, you're probably better off being carried. You'll hurt yourself otherwise." Soren told her, though he knew Ike would be a gentlemen. Even if Katlynn didn't want to, she'd still be in Ike's arms regardless. Especially when she had apparently hired him to escort her to Kilvas.

"Yeah, you're right, Soren." Katlynn said thoughtfully and allowed Ike to pick her up. Once that was settled, Soren took the lead and left the bar.

He hadn't been back home in what seemed like years, but in reality he had been gone for a month or so. It would probably be a little dusty, but nothing a wind spell wouldn't fix. His bed would be large enough for both girls, assuming Katlynn didn't have a problem sleeping next to Selune. However, based on the silence he could only assume she had passed out.

"...It really has been a while, Ike. How were your travels? You must have wonderful stories." Soren started, trying to make casual conversation on their walk back.

 

[Esyel]

Ike & Selune​

When Ike didn't hear any objections from Soren, he fairly assumed that his friend wouldn't mind him coming back with Katlynn to his residence. The sight of the Branded princess stumbling to her feet made Ike cringe. It took every ounce of willpower to keep from chuckling out loud. While the sight did look slightly hilarious, he knew it probably hadn't felt that way to her body impacting the floor. But at least it didn't appear like she'd hurt herself which was always a plus. The ... display was all the incentive Ike needed at this point. His arms lowered as he picked Katlynn up once again, hoisting her into his arms.

"Ale can do quite a bit to anyone, especially those who are new to the drink. You probably should take it easy when we get back. Walking will be ... a bit of a chore since you're probably going to feel dizzy."

Allowing himself to sneak in one quick glance around the bar, Ike began to walk out of the tavern, following close behind Soren. His blue eyes lingered upon Selune as they managed to peek under the cloak and see that, sure enough, she did have some odd marks upon her shoulders. The sight made Ike unable to help but sigh softly.

"So ... she really was being chased for those? Damnit. Really? After all we did to lessen if not completely get rid of the prejudice and chaos?"

It definitely disheartened Ike to even begin thinking that this was a sign something was going to happen soon. But .. he was also a realist. And he wouldn't begin to doubt Soren's story. So the chance of needing to mentally - and possibly physically - prepare for something remained in his mind. Granted, he had no idea on what that exact 'something' was yet. But they'd likely be given a cue when it arrived. Until then, there was no sense dwelling on it just yet. His gaze shifted to Soren as he gave his friend a smile and nodded.

"It has. The journey was ... different. It really did feel foreign being away from Tellius. But at the same time, it was refreshing and welcomed. Not to say I didn't miss being here. But there are a few things I didn't miss. Unneeded bloodshed and chaos were definitely a few of them. What, exactly, are you going to do with Selune, anyway? Just help her hide from the soldiers? Or ... ??"

Ike allowed his thoughts to trail off, knowing if his friend felt comfortable explaining everything, he'd do so. Otherwise, the former leader of the Greil mercenaries could wait.

The five minutes which passed after Ike and Soren had left while carrying the women felt much longer to the cloaked figure. But finally, the assassin stood up, knowing he had given Ike and Soren more than enough of a head start before exiting the tavern. He had glanced back to see what direction they'd left. Using that plus watching the trail they had made in the ground, it was more than easy enough to start following the two. He forced his pace to remain slow, not wanting to catch up too quickly and put suspicion upon himself.

An arrogant smirk crossed his lips. He cared not for why the Crimea guards seemed to desperately want the female mage. All he knew was it was his job to retrieve her. He had full intention of doing just that and getting his reward. Whatever would happen after he turned her in wasn't really his concern. Although, given the last words from the Captain of the Guard, he had a few guesses of his own. Needless to say, none were pleasant. Still, he shrugged it all off, reminding himself once more the word 'mercy' didn't begin in his vocabulary in the first place. Why start now?

 

[Star Pupil]

"Mmmnnn.." Katlynn purred when Ike picked her up and held her in his arms. "I really like it when you hold me like this, Ike. You're so strong, and a gentlemen. You're the first person ever to treat me like a Princess. Thank you...thank you so much." Katlynn slurred her words, though they were sincere sounding. Shen wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her face into his neck. He was so warm, so caring. Katlynn really could get used to this, having him around.

She was quiet while Ike spoke to Soren about his travels. Teetering on the edge of unconsciousness. She wanted to hear about Ike's travels, but he was a bit vague. It was peculiar hearing though, that the other continent he visited did not have bloodshed. Katlynn really had never witnessed anything horrific, but she had heard tales of war in Tellius. It was a wonder her village was not sucked into all of it...but she was grateful. Very grateful for never having to watch her village suffer because of soldiers occupying during their marches.

Soren sighed thoughtfully, knowing Ike was going to ask him about what he meant to do with Selune. Though even he wasn't sure at this point. He finally found his friend, his leader...now he wanted to travel with him, like old times. Especially because he was going to be heading over to Kilvas with some girl who claimed to be a Princess. It just sounded dangerous. Really, really dangerous.

"I..well I was going to take her under my wing and help her study magic. She has a special talent, one that she probably sees as a curse. If I leave her, she will continue to be hunted down like a dog. Once I give her some proper clothes and teach her how to control her magic, she'll be able to live survive accordingly, and she won't be my responsibility anymore." He probably shouldn't have said it that way..but he didn't want Ike getting the wrong ideas. Then again, it was odd that he even cared whether or not Ike thought that he had a thing for Selune. Usually if someone accused him of having a crush, he simply shrugged it off.

"I was going to do it here, but...she may learn better on a journey. That's how I got so good myself. If you're escorting Katlynn to Kilvas, than maybe I can convince her to come along with us while I teach her." He said thoughtfully as they continued down the trail.

Eventually Ike would hear the soft breaths of Katlynn as she fell asleep in his arms, still nuzzling her face against his neck and holding him tightly.

 

[Esyel]

Ike & Selune​

Ike's pace slowed slightly, mainly to make sure he continued to follow Soren as opposed to accidentally leading and going the wrong way. His memory didn't usually fail him when the mercenary needed to remember things but .. better safe than sorry at this rate. Especially if his feeling about them being watched had been correct. At the same time, however, he was also listening to all Soren was suggesting. For the most part, Ike sincerely did like the ideas. But there was just one flaw with it. More silence lingered between them until the small house came into view.

"It is true that experience is probably the best thing for her. However, that bit about separation after she's done being trained ... " He paused once again, thinking how to word it best before nodding, "... may not be the wisest idea. Do you know how much it took for me to get my sister to behave and allow me to go on my vacation? No dramatic scene was seen by anyone else for only one reason and that was because I'd informed and told her about my departure an entire day before I told you all. I spent most of that very same day reassuring and keeping her as calm as possible. But she really, really didn't want me leaving. And she's usually more mature. Now ... "

Keeping one arm tucked gently underneath Katlynn's sleeping form, one slid carefully up as Ike began unhooking her arms from around his neck. After gently lying her down on a spare bed, Ike turned back to Soren.

"Think for a second about one thing. That was just from my sister. What if she'd had been someone I cared for like a lover? That would have been and gone much worse. Even without having spoken to her much, it's clear as day she's definitely taking a liking to you. She's likely hinted this at least once, even if it was just a subtle 'thanks' for anything. I don't recommend it. But ... she is your student and thus that's your call. Luckily, we have time to think and figure things out."

Once Soren had finished placing Selune down, Ike walked out towards the living room. He leaned gently against one of the nearby walls before looking over to Soren with a serious look.

"So ... with the tale I've heard about Selune thus far ... what are gathering from it? I don't think this is just a coincidence. I also don't think only Selune is enduring this which .. makes it all the more worse. I want to be wrong, gods do I ever. But .. what's your view on all of this? What do you think it means or suggests?" With Soren having been Ike's best tactician, he hoped his friend would begin to have a guess. He had his own theory but it truly was one he didn't want to think about being right.

If, however, his guess was somehow true or close enough, it would mean Soren may have to worry about himself even as he wouldn't likely be excluded from the oncoming Branded hunt. Sure, his mark was more discreet. But once the truth of its nature was revealed ... it wouldn't mean a damn thing. Both he and Soren knew this.

 

[Star Pupil]

Soren wasn't exactly saying that he'd leave Selune after he was done, just that..well he didn't even know why he added that extra part in the first place! That...Selune was making him act strange, and he really was trying to understand why he had the feelings that he did. He wanted to protect her and teach her for as long as he could, but if she ever wanted to leave he'd have no reason to stop her if she was fully trained. That bothered him for some reason...and he had just met this girl. How was he already getting attached?

He wondered if Selune would be upset if he tried to leave her behind..but really, why would she be? Ike and Mist spent their entire lives together, where as Soren and Selune would be spending, at most, a few years together. So it was different, right? Well, hearing Ike say the word lover made Soren look up at him, a confused look on her face. Selune and him were not lovers...not at all. As he placed Katlynn down on the bed, he did the same for Selune. The two were resting peacefully, so it was probably a good idea to leave them be and talk elsewhere. He followed Ike into the common area and sighed a bit, not wanting to really answer Ike right away.

She took a liking to him because he rescued her, more or less. Gave her food and shelter, and offered to teach her magic. She liked those things, not him. Soren was a complicated man, he doubted any woman in their right mind could fall for him after a short time. Though his thoughts trailed elsewhere when Ike brought up the possibility of Selune's situation being much more dire than he originally thought.

"Hmm, I will be honest. I never thought about it that way. If other branded are being hunted, then it could suggest a lot of things...I doubt this is happening without a reason. Something is sparking the hatred, this strange hunt. I just can't think of what." Soren said as he gestured to the door. "Our voices will carry if we're here, and I don't want Selune worrying anymore than she has." He said as he made his way out the door and then stood outside.

"At any rate, I will not leave Selune unless she wants me to. Especially if there really is a hunt going on. However, if she wants to leave me, I will not stop her. It's not my place to."

 

[Esyel]

Ike & Selune​

Originally, Ike had merely been attempting to make a point and comparison at the same time about why it would be wise to be careful with offering Selune the ability to part ways from Soren. But that expression that crossed over the mage's face spelled enough out. Even though they'd been together briefly, something was building up within his comrade. The faintest hint of a smirk crossed his lips but out loud, he didn't speak up. There was no sense rubbing salt in the wound so he wouldn't push for it. Still, the thought was incredibly amusing that someone - let alone a woman - had already begun to get Soren's attention. And in no doubt the best possible of ways. He glanced over towards the bedroom, wondering if she had meant to do that or if some unknown force had made this happen.

Whatever the case, it didn't matter at the moment. The two had far more pressing issues to discuss. His head turned back as Soren suggested going outside rather than using the common space and nodded in agreement. Katlynn seemed to be very unconscious but ... much better safe than sorry. And on the off chance she did wake up with a nasty hangover, the princess would need as much rest as possible.

Pushing himself away from the wall, Ike joined Soren outside and began to heed his thoughts. Between the two of them, he could usually think of such things pretty fast. It astounded him slightly that the possibility of a hunt hadn't even crossed his friend's mind. But .. better late than never as they often said. He gave a firm nod of agreement with Soren admitting there probably was some reason behind these actions. It seemed to be prejudice if not racism. But whatever it was, there was obviously something fueling all of these moves against Selune on. The mere thought of their efforts being ignored made Ike sigh as he leaned against the outer wall of Soren's house, being careful not to put too much pressure on the walls at the same time.

"This ... does not sit well with me. You and Katlynn are some of the best things I've returned to. Otherwise, I'd swear I somehow traveled back in time and all the chaos we halted is starting anew once more. Very irritating," he murmured, not bothering to hide the frustration in his tone. "But ... if this is how things are going to be, we may as well start expecting such things." It was incredibly disheartening to think his own words may be starting to form before his very eyes. But he couldn't deny the truth, more so when it was essential. Now was definitely one of those times that if he tried to be a fool and ignore what was going on around him, it'd haunt him later.

And yet, in perhaps the most ironic circumstances possible, Ike was about to experience the sensation of not heeding all that was going on. Enzio had followed the two men and moved to the back of the house once they entered through the front. Now that they were outside and out of his sight, he had the perfect opportunity. The assassin was definitely not about to waste it.

Gripping the window, he deftly pulled it open, making as little noise as possible. The same speed and dexterity was used to grab a hold of Selune as he began to pull her through the exposed window and sling her over a shoulder.

Selune had barely just landed in the assassin's arms before her mind registered the moving. While she had consumed some of the ale, the amount hadn't been nearly as much as Katlynn had drunk. Thus she had been in her light-sleeping mood.

The sight of Selune waking didn't make the assassin panic like one may have expected, however. He had half-expected this and it showed. Keeping one hand around the young woman's waist, his hand slid into her pocket as he fetched a dart. During the process, however, the damn wench actually struggled against him.

"... The hell are you doing?! Let go! Ngh!"

The scream she had almost let pass her lips was cancelled as the sleeping toxin began to enter her blood system. Now that he'd rendered the mage unconscious, it was time to head out, lest the men catch sight of him holding Selune and halt him.

Not waiting to find out if either of them had heard her brief whines and protests, the assassin pivoted on his feet and began to run off, sticking to the shadows and darkness as he took the Branded woman towards Crimea's castle, where her true captor awaited.

Ike had been silent for a few moments. During that pause, he had almost thought he heard a voice; Selune's to be exact. But ... had that been what he'd heard? Blue eyes looked towards his friend as he inquired, "Did .. you hear something by chance?"

 

[Star Pupil]

Even though Katlynn had consumed a fair amount of alcohol, the chill of the night air disturbed her sleep. She stirred as Selune was taken from the bed, though if Enzio looked at her he would only see her rolling over in her sleep. Though when he climbed out the window with Selune, Katlynn's eyes slowly opened. Then she heard Selune's voice and she sat up. "Selune?" She rubbed her eyes and then went out to the window that was open. Seeing Enzio run off with what she could make out as Selune on her back, Katlynn's eyebrows furrowed and she hopped out the window.

Maybe it wasn't a good idea to go out on her own, especially because she found that her bow was no longer strapped to her figure. Though Selune needed her, and she had no idea where Ike and Soren were. She had no way of getting in touch with them either, but Katlynn did plan to leave heavy tracks with her boots for them to follow when they came out looking for them. She was naive, but that didn't mean she was stupid. Selune wasn't talking or screaming or anything. Had he gagged her? Damn it, if only she had grabbed her bow, she might have been able to shoot him in the leg. Then again, she wouldn't want to risk harming Selune.

He was fast, but Katlynn's speed was nothing to be laughed at either. She only slowed just enough to shove her boot into the dirt to make tracks. He was sticking to the shadows but Katlynn had an uncanny sight. She could see him even though he was a ways away.

Soren heard Selune's voice as well. Did Katlynn wake up and start trouble with her? "Yeah, I heard it. Let's check on the girls." Soren said as he opened the door to the house, and then went into the bedroom. His eyes widened at the sight. Katlynn and Selune were no longer there, and Katlynn's bow was still against the wall. The window in the room was wide open, and Soren could only become sick with worry. "Ike..." He choked before shaking his head and getting his wits about him. This was no time to be panicking. Selune was gone, but he couldn't find her if he panicked. There was no sign of a struggle, but both girls had been asleep.

Soren looked out the window, and saw one large track of disturbed dirt. He jumped out the window and didn't wait for Ike to follow, but he knew the man would. He saw another distinct mark in the dirt leading further into the darkness. He opened his hand and a ball of flame was cast as he started going deeper. "These marks...they have to lead to Selune." He told Ike as he hurried along the trail. He seemed to have no worry for Katlynn..something that he didn't do unintentionally. It's just that...well finding Selune was the only thing on his mind right now.

 

[Esyel]

Ike & Selune​

Much like the princess, Enzio had his own keen senses. And the sounds of footfalls chasing after him actually made the assassin slightly amused. His head turned and, sure enough, he confirmed that he was indeed being chased after. It wasn't, however, by any of the men like he'd expected; not yet anyway. No. It was the other girl which made him chuckle and inwardly scoff at himself. He had been wondering on ensuring she stayed asleep also. Clearly, that had been a mistake he'd made. Ah well. He wasn't about to repeat that again. His head turned back to make certain he didn't run into anything while his free hand slid down and fumbled around in his pockets once more. Enzio didn't need to be told twice that time was running out before Ike and Soren would catch up. As skilled as he was, multiple opponents tended to be even the best assassin's weakness as they were used to dealing with one person at a time.

For a few seconds, Ike just .. blinked. They hadn't been gone that long and yet, clearly, something had happened. There weren't any signs of a struggle but the open window was more than enough of a hint for him. The two women had been asleep and even if either moved while unconscious, he doubted either of them had lifted that up. Let alone to do so and make it as exposed as it was now. If he had any doubts about the foul play, Katlynn's bow still resting against the wall got rid of those. No sane person would just leave their weapons unless they saw something, were in a hurry, any situation akin to these trains of thoughts.

But he too shook his head and hurried out the window, arriving beside Soren in a matter of seconds.

"Going off the assumption this is an unfriendly person, they're making quite the bold move. Did they not know these women were in our care? And if they did know ... they still went through with this?"

He gave Soren a quick nod as he withdrew his blade. "Should. They look recent enough and ... we weren't gone that long. It has to be!"

Whereas Soren was worried, Ike was downright infuriated with himself. He was better than this! And after what they'd just talked about possibly happening, now both Selune and Katlynn may be in danger! A knot formed in his stomach as Ike began to run behind Soren, following him as he created sources of light to check up on the tracks.

There had been a few times Enzio had almost thought he felt Selune trying to wake. He scoffed at the possibility and dismissed it. Not with that dart, she shouldn't be. Even with her being a Branded ... it was heavy in sleeping venom. Too much for any Beorc - and most Brandeds - to handle. Granted, he hadn't tested it on a hybrid before but ... it should at least give him enough time. He grabbed a pearl white orb and turned back around. Seeing Katlynn still running, he stopped for a few seconds, allowing her to get just a bit closer. It was never enough to get a good look at his face but at least to lure her into a false sense of hope.

And when the right time arrived, he hurled the orb down, resuming running once more.

Seconds after he left, smoke began to fill a large area, one that would steadily begin to surround Katlynn. It was filled with the same sleeping toxins Selune had been injected with. Normally, Enzio would have - and probably should have - used a normal poison that killed anyone indiscriminately. But he had overheard that Katlynn was also a Branded. So just in case she was needed for later, he'd need her alive.

That being said, he'd also force either one or both of the men to focus on her. He intended to be gone and completely lost by the time they got close to catching up. No way in hell was he about to be stopped or even fail his assignment just because he had forgotten to force one of the women into unconsciousness.