Bern Waits for One Man

[Valcrist]

The silent breeze of the Sacaen plains, it had drawn Valcrist back to it once more. The army marched from the frozen tundras of Ilia and into the tepid grasslands of the tribal land. The footsteps of this conglomeration of outcasts and soldiers echoed as they all moved in step with one another, making good if not great time. Unlike before, and that sudden ambush, it was as if they hadn't had a single snag upon leaving their homeland. The departure of Clair and the loss of Richter damaged their morale significantly, but their safe journey was slowly starting to make the army once again believe in their chances to do this.

They made camp in the plain many times, but now it was more permanent. No one knew when they were to get word to march once more, and only the orders of Clair Feldsky or Richter Abend were able to get them moving once more. Lt. Bennett lead the force until either were to return, keeping the army in place yet always ready to move at a moment's notice. Like am animal watching its prey, waiting for the right moment to spring into action. Always tense, on it's toes, since they never knew when the next day may bring about new orders to descend upon Bern. Somehow, Bennett kept the entire outfit in order, atleast it appeared that way from the limited viewpoint of Valcrist.

Somewhere Valcrist must of missed the memo in which everyone he even had a passing knowledge of left, leaving him taking from faceless commanders he never met and they had no intentions of becoming personal with the boy. While that was probably for the best, it made everything so detached. The more people he found his self surrounded by, the more lonely he felt. Nowadays he spent the entirety of his days blacksmithing or training, using one or the other to fill the empty time. He had stopped showing up for the morning training sessions, he found no real reason to go to them anymore. Especially since he wasn't even one of the soldiers, he had a feeling that if he went to them any long he might be met with anger or annoyance. Possibly both. That wasn't what he wanted, he didn't want to hold anyone behind, and with the lack of skirmishes the orders for blacksmithing grew less frequent.

Looking out at the camp he was stationed at, he sighed. There were tents pitched all over, looking like a hedge maze of man made fabrics. Soldiers spent their free time talking, playing cards, or getting in some extra rest. Hardly the alert and attentive force that they once appeared to be, peace had settled in and made them relax. Val had long since finished his orders for the day, mostly just maintenance. He had long since repaired all the broken weapons and armor from that fight against the bandits. It felt like he spent more of his time making sure things aren't broken, then actually fixing things that were.

[Valcrist]

He saw hide nor hair of Farlus, the tactician. Or Leontius, the man he help escort from the battlefield. He worried a bit, perhaps the dark skinned man's wounds were far greater then he could of imagined? Maybe Leontius had gotten lost somewhere along the way? These questions made small blips in his mind and he idly painted his picture. One that only grew more detailed and intricate by the lazy and empty days that filled his time. Marle was no longer just in her armor, with her dazzling Dragonspear. Now she was fighting a wyvern, the beast's blood glimmering across the magnificent weapon's head. It looked like it belonged in some kind of nobleman's house, or something of the sort.

"Valcrist, correct?" He heard voice from somewhere behind him. His easel propped up and his paint brush delicately touching up on the colors of the picture itself.

"Hrm?" He made a sound as he continued his work, only somewhat interested as the piece was more or less finished. It had been for a while, now he was just kind of obsessing over anything not done perfectly. A perfectionist out of boredom, not desire. The painting was gorgeous, but he looked bored to have been making it.

"You are the blacksmith Valcrist, right?" The man like voice added, the sounding distinctly interested.

"Oh, yeah." He sat his palette down and twisted his body around on his stool. "I'm Valcrist. If you need any blacksmithing done, tell the quartermaster and he'll file an official request. I'd do it right away, but I was warned not to." He made an effort not to sound bored, it didn't work.

"I... You don't know who I am do you?" He sounded taken aback, if not a bit offended. Looking him up and down, he was vaguely familiar, something nagging him in the back of Val's mind.

"No, not really. Sorry if I offended." He simply replied, shrugging.

"I'm Lt. Bennett, the one in charge during commander Abend and Feldsky's absences." He didn't sound angry, or upset in the slightest. If anything he sounded a bit disappointed.

"Oh, sir, I didn't realize I'm so sorry." He apologized instantly, realizing how much of a fool he just made of himself. Why did he always do this? It was so obvious now, that nagging was listening to this man's orders. Of course he was always in the back, he barely had a glimpse of him even in the best of times.

"It's alright, I understand. I lack the sheer charisma of either Abend or Feldsky." He shooked his head, offering a slight grin of self-depreciation. "I have been busy with everything, it's not unusual for the noncombatants to not recognize me, especially since I don't command you directly."

"I'm sorry sir..." he almost felt pity for the man. "Erm... Did you need anything. I'll do my best to help you." Did he have to make a request from the quartermaster? Or did that not count for him?

"Actually I don't need anything, well atleast from a blacksmith. However, I do need something from you, Valcrist." Huh?

[Valcrist]

"I'm... I'm not sure I follow. Sorry sir." He was a blacksmith, but he didn't need a blacksmith? That didn't even make sense, what did he need then?

"It's alright, what I'm asking isn't standard procedure. But the current situation forces me to make a judgment call." He was making even less sense, he sounded serious. "I'll make it simple, I need you to become a scout."

"W... What?"

"You see, we don't have many recon member left. The best of us went along with Feldsky to find Commander Abend. To hasten the process, only now it's taking far longer then any of us imagined. It's beginning to hurt us, and we need some more men to do recon. As we cannot act, we need to gather as much information as possible before Feldsky returns." He was gestured as he spoke, trying to display his case as plainly as he could to the bewildered blacksmith. "I remembered the reports of the battle with the bandits, about how a dark skinned blond haired boy stood out particularly in the battle. And how he led a successful and impromptu scouting group, bringing back Commander Leontius. Then, just as quickly he appeared, the boy was never seen again. There were no soldiers that fit such a profile, and after asking around, it became quickly obvious that this mystery soldier was in fact our blacksmith. You stand out significantly in the crowd, I'm surprised I hadn't noticed it earlier." He had sort of a cocky smile on his face while looking at Valcrist, the boy whose face was rapidly heating up in the from this unexpected praise.

"I... I'm sorry. I didn't mean to get involved and..." He sputtered out.

"No no, you misunderstand me. I want you to join the recon teams." He shook his head, dismissing the embarrassed kid's apologies.

"I'm not... very good. That was a fluke. I kinda got pulled in, by accident..." His voice was barely a whisper.

"A fortunate accident. I've heard several reports from several people, and all of them where praising this mysterious boy. I heard you fought alongside our Tactician Farlus and then rushed right into battle once more. To be honest, the need for a blacksmith right now isn't all that demanding but the need for a skilled scout is overwhelming. Someone quick, and able to keep out of sight. Able to fight back and flee preserve his identity if need be." Was this really happening? Was he being asked to join the army? "While I can't force you, I hope you accept. Come speak to me later if you decide to do this."

"I will!" He didn't even take a moment to think, he nearly shouted it. It wasn't just the fact he was so bored, but he felt... needed. It was an odd feeling, but it made him feel important. Nice, he didn't feel this way often. Like someone was depending on him, like he wasn't a failure. Just some kid wrapped up in a mess over his head, but a part of the mess itself.

The lieutenant smiled. "Good, you're in recon team three, and answer to Sergeant Golding. Be ready, because your team is now full thanks to your addition. You'll be leaving in the morning. I'll go inform the Sg. now."

[Valcrist]

His mind was still fragmented from what just happened. He felt an odd sense of elation, and an overwhelming feeling of dread. What if he messed it up? What if he got killed? Or worse what if he got his other team mates killed from his inexperience? The last time was... It was a fluke. Nothing more, he did that in the adrenaline of the moment. Just thinking about doing it again made him scared, shivering down in his shoes. Er... Sandals. He should wear shoes, but ever since he came back to Sacae he's been in sandals. He used to always be in them in Koroda, for obvious reasons, old habits die hard. Anything else felt like they were trying to choke his feet.

He felt like he needed to pack... everything. But he couldn't, scouts needed to move swiftly and carry only whats necessary. Still he didn't have the heart to leave his drawing tools behind, they were as part of him as his blade. He looked down at his smithing hammer, frowning at it, feeling dirty. He couldn't say the same about it, he was no true blacksmith. This was the hammer they provided him with when he came here, his hammer before that was one that belonged to the smithies he used. HIS hammer was all the way in Koroda. His hammer being his mother's hammer, and her father's hammer. He couldn't take it with him, it belonged to his mother not to him. But maybe one day, once he returned... With a sigh he sat the tool down next to his forge. It wasn't his, no, it was Ilia's.

He next looked at his painting of Marle, he couldn't. No matter how much he wanted to, it ate at him but he needed to leave it. It was too large to carry around easily, and the paints were still wet. They would be for several days, as oil based paints usually were. Bringing it would be a good way to ruin it and everything else in his bag... He needed to make sure it was safe, so it didn't get stolen or that it got lost if for some reason the army moved in his absence. Head ask the person in head of storage to make sure it gets taken care of later, maybe slipping him some gold as incentive. The original sketch remained in his artbook, so if it got lost he could create a second. But it wouldn't be the same, art is never the same, even if you copy it exactly the same. The spirit of it, the emotion, will never be the same.

He could help but laugh at how pretentious that sounded, and then again once he realized he was being completely serious. Laughing in mocking of his self. He unsheathed his blade, Loyal Fang, at his side all this time. All those battle, it's weary edge looking far from the ebony glory that was once it's original form. The blade looking old, worn, and it was. Chips in the edge, but it still retained a certain air of quality. It wasn't his prized item, one he would show off at anyone who would give him the time of day, not anymore. Now it was a friend, one who had been with him all this time. The much larger blade on his back, the untitled wind blade... He would take both. Old friends and new acquaintances. It had been so long since he left his home, it felt like an entire life ago. Being a young child in the blistering heat, his hair streaming behind in a long tail. His hair...

Tomorrow he would go on this mission, he would succeed. He had to succeed.

[Valcrist]

The long long strands of golden blond hair fell to his feet, his hand open as he dropped the years and years of work and growth. His blade that rended those years of life in his left hand, still in the air as his eyes were shut tight. Peeking them open at the silk like strands upon the ground, he made a weird face. A bit of a smile, and a bit of frown. All those years... But no, Valcrist wasn't that same kid. The one who fought with his mother every week, the one who refused to get his hair cut. He wanted it long, he wanted to be like his hero, he wanted to be like Kenshin.

Now he was an adult, it wasn't just now with this new duty, but with everything. He's traveled Elibe, seen the world, seen the icy alps of Ilia and the tranquil plains of Sacae. He was a swordsman, and a scout in the army of Richter Abend. He's been trained by Yaen, he's killed the swordsmaster Versill. He's met Kenshin, but his childish fear got the better of him, and he couldn't even look him in the eye. He's forged the blade Fang, he's forged many swords lances and axes, created the killer bow for Chelsea. He's done far more in the last year then the entirety of his life.

He wouldn't have his hair in a vain attempt to emulate another man, he would be his OWN man. From today on out.

Slowly he sheathed his blade at his hip, looking at the rising sun. It was about time for him to move out and join his squad. He gently checked his things one last time before moving out. His painting safely secured for now, and his blades on his person, and his art in his pack. Today he would step forward for the first time as a different person then before. But hopefully... not too different.

[Valcrist]

"Good day." He tried to sound confident in his voice, it didn't. Still the effort was there, he had a nervous smile, and constantly felt the back his head where the hair once was. It felt really... cold, and light, like his head weighed a bit less.

"Are you Valcrist? Strange, Lt. said you had incredibly long hair." This must of been Sergeant Golding... erm... he wasn't expecting a woman. She was tall, taller then Val at least, though Val wasn't know for his dizzying height. She kept her dark brown hair short, barely framing her face and looking a bit jagged at the edges. A hard and serious face, and a way of carrying herself that was a bit more masculine then her feminine frame implied. She looked atleast ten years older then Valcrist, but still not exactly like a scout. She carried a blade, long and thick, upon her back. Little nicks and scars on her face, she looked like a mercenary and not a soldier. Then again, in Ilia those two were the same.

"Er... I cut it this morning. I didn't want it getting in the way and all that." He smiled, nervous, and defying his expectations he set for his self. He thought that he'd be all full of confidence as soon as he stepped out, he was feeling so full of his self. Saying it was easy, changing it, however, was hard.

"Alright." She said in a very professional manner, shrugging which betrayed her tone. "I doubt there's many dark skinned blonds anyways." She added turning away from him and checking her equipment. Val felt his heart in his throat, like he was going to burst from the anxiety of it all. He had prepared a thousand more answers for the many questions he could of been asked, but none were. She wasn't interested in his life story, and why should she be? It still felt a bit weird, but he needed to remember they were just working together. She wasn't his friend, she didn't want to hear his problems. She just wanted to make sure he did his part, his job. Still, that didn't stop someone else from coming up. A man, a young man, he didn't look much older then Val. Ginger red hair and freckles dotting his face. He looked familiar, but most people looked familiar. Valcrist never forgot a face.

"Hey! It's you!" He looked really happy with his self for some reason. Val looked a little confused in comparison. "Oh you don't remember? I was with you, back in that battle?" He had the widest grin ever, you have no idea. Still it was enough to jog Valcrist's memory, or rather grabbing it and dragging it at high speeds. The smile was certainly familiar, as was the freckles.

"Oh yeah! You're right. Thank you for coming, by the way. I'm Valcrist Terris." Suddenly he was much more comfortable, no longer all alone in the world. Even if he didn't really know this guy, he was a small connection in a land where he had none.

"Private Collin Masterson." He offered an open hand, which Val took and shook happily. "I recommended you to Lt, I'm surprised to actually see you though." He about the same height as Valcrist, and almost as lithe manly in build. On his back he held a bow and at his hip was a quiver full of arrows.

There were two other members of the scouting team. One of them was really silent, and didn't talk at all. Even quieter then Val it seems, but he had a bit of a dark look in his eyes. A dagger at his hip, he didn't look much like the "scouting" type. More like the "take all your gold and leave you high and dry" type. A mask over his face and black hair tightly cropped to his head. The final member was another woman, this one quite a bit more traditionally female then their leader. Long pink hair, and looking nervous with a spear in one hand and a small shield in the other. The morning was full of tense introductions, and thinking about what they were to do that day. It wasn't serious, or even dangerous, but like Valcrist almost none of them had ever been a scout. They were all soldiers, made into scouts because of demand.

It was a simple little task, checking out the local tribes, making sure they weren't planning to mount an offensive. It was unlikely, but you could never be sure with Sacaens, or atleast that's what Golding said.

[Valcrist]

It was quiet, they moved quickly. The plains were empty, but that was no reason to be careless. They each carried a spyglass in which they studied the terrain before moving forward, keeping a close watch for any unforeseen movements. It was a plain, it was hard to keep a cover which was both a blessing and a curse. Any enemy would be hard pressed to sneak up upon them, however the reverse was also true. The only thing they can hope for is to keep as low as a profile as possible, crouched low to the earth. Val found it easy to keep up with the other, incredibly so. In fact it felt more like they slowed him down, as opposed to the reverse. Val was no experienced recon man, but his naturally avoidant nature made it come easily to him. Trying to stay out of sight, trying to catch others before they caught you, it wasn't that hard if you thought about it abstractly.

He checked around, and as soon as he was absolutely sure there was no one around, he made a symbol with his hand. Beckoning the others to close in once they were done checking the perimeter. They quickly moving in closer until they took a new formation and Val was looking out of his spyglass once more, keeping an eye upon the plains they just traversed. Almost like a cube that rolled from side to side, the top edge of the group became the bottom of the next group. Val on one end, Golding the other. He made note of the surrounding geography, though it wasn't really necessary. The word Plain described it well, not only in a literal sense but also how exciting it was.

[Vashnar]

After a month since leaving Hoff and Jerale on the road to Etruria, Vashnar wandered around Lycia before heading north and entering the sea of plains known as Sacae. At first it was a wonderful experience from the mountainside landscape of Bern and the multiple realms of Lycia, then it hit him: Everything looks the same!

"Oh great, now I've even lost direction of where I entered Sacae" He said as he sat down on the grass. Even though the grass was tall, he could still see all around him; so that ment he couldn't get sneaked up on. "well it could get worse" Vashnar said to himself as he opened his water-skin to find it was dry. "And there goes the afternoon!" he grumbled as he stood up and started to walk again to find a source of water.

[Valcrist]

He saw the signal, it someone had spotted someone! The ginger haired man held up a hand, making a sign to show that there was a person in his sights. Oh man, this was it. Things were going to get serious, he looked in the direction in which Collin indicated. There was a small water pool, he'd have to keep that in mind, they could use it to get water from in the future. Of course that wasn't the thing they were trying to pay attention, no, rather there was a single person. He wasn't dressed like a nomadic tribal, or Sacaen at all. Odd, must of been a wanderer. What a wanderer was doing alone on the plains was unknown, but then again Val used to be a wanderer on the plains alone his self. Maybe he got lost?

However, it wasn't their mission to make contact. So they wouldn't, he looked alone and there wasn't a tribe of angry sacaens trying to murder him for no good reason. Valcrist hoped he'd find whatever he was heading to, but they needed to stay out of sight.

[Vashnar]

"Ah! That sure hit the spot!" Vashnar says after taking a long, deep drink from the spring. "now that thats over with, let's see how the rest of my supplies are going. Let's see, Bread cheese, beef, apples, carrots, turnips, wait....where did my jerky go?" he then let out a long sigh. Hoff. He probably took it, even though his party members were both thieves. "I wonder how they're going. Bah! They get to stay in towns and lands that have signs and not just grass!" Vashnar shouts as he throws a rock into the tall grass, and a rabbit runs out. It starts to run towards one very dense grass patch when it stops, sniffs and runs away to a new patch. "probably just a snake" Vashnar thinks as he throws a rock towards where the rabbit ran away from. This time it hits something metal, frightened and shocked, Vashnar picks up his lance and shouts toward the grass "ALRIGHT! SHOW YOURSELVES! I'M NOT SCARDED OF YOU! "

[Valcrist]

It was time to move again, Val quickly shifted his position with as little unnecessary movement as possible. However... Something seemed to be wrong, in the rush of limbs moving and bodies shifting, someone was left behind. It was the Lady Soldier, Bethany, and a quick look showed that she was staying behind on purpose. Looking distraught, and staring at the small pool of water with the man near it. He moved quickly over to her, without really in thinking about what he was doing.

He looked at the pink haired woman, trying to offer a smile. "Are you alright? What's wrong Beth?" He tilted his head, looking at her. She seemed to have calmed down a bit, looking disappointed and perhaps a bit angry.

"I... lost my shield." The pain behind her words took him aback, why would such a small thing cause her such distress? It was just a shield... Wait, he understood. How could he, of all people, call an object merely an object? He was the poster boy for being a bit obsessed with items, his swords, his art. Ugh. He felt almost disgusted with his self.

"Where did you leave it?" He trailed where she kept nervously glancing to. "Near the lake?

"Y-yeah." She cringed realizing what she had done. "I went to refill my canteen earlier, and check it out, but forgot my shield when I saw someone coming." Her eyes trailed the contour of the earth somewhere far away from Valcrist, ashamed of herself. "That shield was..."

"It's alright, I'll get it." He put a hand on her shoulder and nodded. "Just continue the mission without me, I'll hurry and catch up."

"B-but"

"No, it's alright. Don't worry, I run fast. I also get mistaken for Sacaen quite often, so even if I'm caught I can play it off easily. Make sure to tell Golding that I went to check out some smoke I found, or something. Leave your shield out of it, I don't want anyone to get in trouble besides me." She nodded, with a bit of restraint, her eye squinted as she felt as though she made a huge mistake.

He burst from the spot, moving quickly and towards the man shouting at what seemed like nothing. As he neared closer, he dropped his rapid running and took a more brisk walk. He was so distracted by something in the bushes, he probably didn't even notice Valcrist walk up. "Hey buddy, what you got the spear out for?" He casually said, filling his (already full) canteen in the pool of water as if nothing at all was wrong.

[Vashnar]

"Well, for starters someone just bursts out the tall grass with a sword, looks like they're from Sacae and they just act like nothing happened" Vashnar tells the man who is now filling his canteen. "Oh god, I'm over thinking this, have to remember not to be the only member of a party that is otherwise all thieves" he says to himself as he sits down again and sets his lance still within grabbing distance as he then asks the tan skinned person. "Anyways, What are you doing here? from the looks of things and what I heard earlier the rock either hit your sword, or some else's items. Is there more then just you? and if so, do you know you're way around this place? everything looks the same to me".

[Valcrist]

"Well, this IS Sacae. So I wouldn't think it'd be too odd for people that look like Sacaens to be around. It tends to happen." He chuckled to his self, turning his head to look at the man. "I'm just here to refill my water skin." He held up the now full, again, canteen with a smile. "Headed to Bern, as it turns out, it's a bit south of here." Ok, alright. That was easy enough, just a little lie Valcrist just a little lie. People don't tell each other their life stories at first contact, so he shouldn't have to say any more. "As to what you hit... I don't know. I didn't feel any rocks, lemme check." He headed over to the grass patch, pretty sure what he would find, alas it was exactly what he expected!

"Ah! My shield! How could I have dropped it and not realize." He claps a hand against his head, dramatically. Looking like the fool. He turned back to the man and shrugged. "Sorry if I scared you, not many people just wandering the plains. I'm by myself, however. If you want directions though, look at the sun. It's about mid morning, so that way is east, that's south, west, and north. Bern is to the south, and there's a town not far from here. Lacuna, I think?" He used the suns position as a makeshift compass, a useful skill for any traveler.

[Vashnar]

"Ah, never thought about that" Vashnar told the person. "And as for Bern, I think I'll want to travel somewhere else. I grew up in Bern and boy, did my life suck" seeing the person may not be interested in his life, he asked him another question "Not that Bern isn't for anyone, I mean. I just left a group since my trip around the continent and they weren't the best companions, both of them thieves". After waiting a bit in awkward silence, Vashnar decided to ask the stranger another question "You seem to be someone who's skilled with a sword, and for all I know you could be with a group. I'm traveling around trying to hone my skills with the lance, do you a group nearby I might be able to join? for some reason not traveling with others is not fun at all in my case"

[Valcrist]

"Nope, can't say that I do. Not unless you're planning on joining a Sacaen tribe, but even then they prefer someone who can use a bow or blade as opposed to a spear." Valcrist shrugged, lying through his teeth. Something about telling a complete stranger from Bern about an army from Ilia there to suppress the rebellions seemed like... well a bad idea. Not to mention he was on a mission of reconnaissance, he wasn't even supposed to be talking to this person. He just needed the shield, he should be leaving by now. "Well if you head..." He took a moment to think. He point Northeast. "That way, you'll find City of Heroes. Or that way..." He pointed north. "Is Bulgar." Once again all those maps he memorized came into use.

"In either town you'll easily find Mercenary work, or you could join a caravan as a guard to help get to Lycia or Ilia. I wouldn't count on Eturia though, they don't take many Caravans these days. I'm headed to Bern though, so I suppose this is where we part ways. I hope you find what you're looking for."