The Emblem [Aidan/Saturos]

[Saturos Prox]

OoC: This support takes place after "Aftermath" and before "Sons of Bern"

The sun had fallen quickly after the group had left Castle Bern, so instead of traveling in the dark they had set up camp in a quaint grove of trees next to a small pond to settle down for the night. With the full moon high in the sky, the freedom fighters slept soundly. Well, two of them did.

Saturos sat on a rock at the edge of the pond, twirling his sword in his hands and staring at the moon's reflection on the glassy clear pond. It was bright tonight. Brighter than usual. Even for a full moon. But it was beautiful, though perhaps in a beautifully ominous way. Like an omen. Yes, it felt like an omen. Saturos wasn't sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing.

The thing was? The myrmidon couldn't sleep. Anticipation was welling up in his chest. This rebellion. It had been so long since Saturos had done anything like this before; wielding a blade for a purpose. It was like a host of long dormant feelings were slowly bubbling up inside him: pride, honor, determination, hope. All of those things, those emotions that he had locked away those ten long years after dragging that wounded Ilian boy off of that scarred, bloody battlefield, were rushing back to him. That was a difficult thing for even him, a natural born thespian, to handle.

[Aidan Lowell]

The way it glinted in the moonlight, shining it's reflection at the earth below. This weapon, it was really a work of unparalleled craftsmanship. It looked as if it should hand upon the wall of a nobleman's home, his family once had a weapon like this in the hall of their home. A spear that he passed every morning, belonging to his long distant ancestor, the very spear he wielded in the Scouring. The weapon he wielded when he fought alongside the heroes themselves. Something he took for granted, he never knew the story behind it and now he wished so dearly he did. It was gone by now, perverted, probably in some Ilian general's hands. Just like his home, now a home to the Ilian lords.

Still, this lance, this dragonspear. Hrm... On the butt end there was a mark, holding it to the light he studied it intently, seeing if he could make it out in the shadowed moonlight. Gently he ran an ungauntleted hand over the symbol, feeling it embedded in the steel itself. It resembled... something like a moon, or was it a sun? No, wait, it was both? Yes, one symbol was inside the other, interestingly enough. He recognized it, it was the symbol of Koroda. It must of been a present, to celebrate Orion's promotion to commander. It almost felt dirty to have taken, but it was also a gift, from an old friend to him.

Lost in his thoughts of times long past, lost in the old sights an scents of his childhood, lost in his nostalgia, his wishing for days long gone. If only to experience them again, to remember what Bern was like in it's prime, to appreciate things he never thought he would miss. He finally found his self after what felt like decades of life, decades of lessons, it was dark and the inky night spread across the blackened sky. Littered with stars, and a moon shining, piercing through the dark. Everyone slumbered, well everyone but one man, a man who had stuck by him through so much... but he knew so little of.

"I would think after all of that, you would be sleeping." Aidan spoke, cutting through the silence like a knife, taking a seat near the shirtless man. "You look relieved to finally be free of that armor. Funny, I'm relieved to finally be back in it."

[Saturos Prox]

"I've never been much of a sleeper," chuckled Saturos, shaking his head as Adian sat down next to him. Although he was shorter than the Etrurian by a couple of inches, the Bernese ex-noble had an undoubtedly much larger presence. "And I am relieved. It might feel safe to you, but I don't exactly feel safe in those metal shells you soldiers love to wear. Too constricting. Too heavy..." The myrmidon's gazed drifted back out over the pond as his demeanor grew distant, as if drifting off into the past. "...Like a death trap." He sighed wistfully.

"Only armor I'm able to get comfortable in is that breastplate I've got. Had it custom made. Not hard enough to stop wyvern jaws, but hard enough to stop a stray blow and light enough to let me move and bend around in it." Saturos chuckled again at his mention of the wyvern jaws. Close call that had been. Good thing Marle and Syana had been there to save him. "I mean, I wouldn't wear armor at all if it was practical, but alas, when you spend your days swinging a sword around and traveling like I used to do, it's really not. After all, my skin isn't exactly a great defense against sharp objects, and heavy leather makes my skin crawl." The myrmidon stuck his tongue out and cringed for emphasis. "Breathes about as well as a fish on dry land."

Then, turning his gaze to Aidan, Saturos shrugged.
"Just a quirk of mine I suppose. Probably safer to be covered under layers of iron and steel. Like a turtle."

[Aidan Lowell]

"I make a living out of being a turtle, mind you." Still he wasn't too far off, Aidan more or less lived in that shell. "I used to move like a turtle in it too, I still did kind of do. Eventually my muscles developed in the right places from wearing this steel like a second skin, and now it feels no worse then some heavy clothing." He spoke his mind, feeling no real reason to keep it confined in his own thoughts, no matter how irrelevant it was. "Of course by heavy clothing I meant REALLY heavy clothing, since my armor weighs more then most children. I was more or less crushed the first time I donned it. That was a long time ago, mind you, around seven years."

He felt somewhat old now, has it really been seven years? Wow, so much has happened in this past year that it felt like the last six before it never even happened. Like he picked up his life, right where he left it. Well, right where he left it with a thousand strings attached like some extremely elaborate puppet show.

"Back then I used to be a wyvern rider." He added, not really sure where he was going with all of this. "Like most of my family, I suppose. We're famous for being wyvern riders." That brought to mind an amusing anecdote. "In fact, if the stories are correct, it was the great Armand Lowell who popularized wyverns as a mount in Bern so many years ago. The stories say that he trained men how to fight upon the backs of wyverns to help combat dragons in the sky, back when he fought in the Scouring. It was those soldiers who, along with Hartmut, founded Bern and it's military. This is why so many soldiers of her army are trained to fight on wyvern back to this very day." He held up a hand with a small smile.

"Of course, it's just a tale, but still one worth telling. It doesn't mean much now in this new Bern, but it's one of the reasons my family is so well respected." He added, with a shrug of his heavily armored shoulders. Finishing it up with a small sigh. It hurt to be so serious sometimes. Of course, this was about Aidan's family, not him his self. Sometimes it was hard to tell the two apart, where the Lowell began and the Aidan ended. "What about you? I daresay I know little about you Saturos." Not much out of how his facepaint was a show of respect for those he fought with, and a symbol of great trust. It was why he allowed Syana to wear it, or atleast that's what she had told him. Regardless, this was a man of honor, it was hard to find those in the cesspit known as Elibe nowadays.

[Saturos Prox]

The myrmidon listened quietly as Aidan recounted his origins and his family history. It was all very interesting to hear, and to be honest, Saturos hadn't known much about the man other than his personality, his nobility, and his last name and its significance to the old Bernese rule. Armand Lowell. In his head, the Etrurian imagined a massive bear of a man, at least a foot taller than Aidan and with a big beard to match. He rode atop a massive four winged wyvern as the sun glinted off of his teal armor, and a fleet of Bernese wyvern riders in flight behind him. He looked a lot like Aidan, but hey, that's all the myrmidon's brain had to go off of. Needless to say, to be the forefather of the Bern wyvern riders, the man had to be ridiculous looking, right?

Then Aidan asked about him. He wanted to know more about Saturos? It wasn't a question that got asked often, not at all, so it caught him off guard. Well, he was just a humble hermit who had escaped a life of war for a life in nature. No, he was a traveling swordsman training his blade in order to better himself. No that wasn't right either...

"As surprising as it might seem, I was born in a small fishing village on the northern coast of Etruria," replied the myrmidon quietly. "My father was a merchant, and a darn good one at that. He was already extremely wealthy by the time I was born. Ran a business buying and selling goods to travelers both at home and abroad. He built a mansion on a hill just at the edge of the village shortly before I was born. He wanted the best for his wife and son. Said that he wanted to keep me away from the bustling cities." He sighed. It was such a long time ago. As young as he acted, running around with Marle, Syana, Darion, Vince...it made him feel old. Guess that's why it was nice talking to Aidan. The gruff knight was his age. He knew what it was like to have years behind him.

"I tried my hand at book keeping, but," Saturos continued, "it wasn't for me. I had my sights set far. I wanted to see the world. I wanted to see other countries and cities, and not just from the windows of a merchant's carriage. But my father wouldn't have it. He said he wouldn't have his son cavorting about like a wastrel." He shrugged silently. "It went on for years like this, with me apprenticing my father in his work and practicing my swordsmanship in secret, but when I turned 18, I couldn't take it anymore. The tedium, the secrecy, the frustration..." Saturos shook his head. "I ran away. I kissed my mother and father goodbye, then ran right out the front door and hitched ride with some traveling performers who had stopped off in our village earlier that week. I loved my parents, and I imagine it was hard on them, but..."

The myrmidon trailed off, stopping and sifting through the thoughts in his head. It had been ages since he'd told anyone this. Perhaps the last time had been fourteen years ago when he had stood in a Bernese military barracks and bragged to his fellow recruits about how far he'd come to get here and all the things he'd seen. For a rabble that had consisted mostly of farmers, blacksmiths, and their sons, his tales of his time as a merchant and a performer had captured their minds, and utterly confused others. He had had it all, and he had tossed it away to fight in the army of a country not his own? What a buffoon.

"I could go on," said Saturos, speaking up again, "but I'm sure you were hardly looking for an abridged version of the Life and Lies of Saturos Prox." He leaned back on his rock and grinned. "Or were you? I have noticed that gruff demeanor of yours hides a certain curiosity."

[Aidan Lowell]

He grabbed his chin and let out a soft "hmm" as he spoke, appraising the man before him. "Can't say I was quite expecting that." It was almost funny, how Saturos' was a mirror reflection of his own, similar but opposite in it's own ways. It surely wasn't quite what he expected to hear. His life sounded interesting, but perhaps not for the same reasons someone else might think so. He wasn't overly concerned over the actual actions the man took, how he threw away so much that was given to him, how he had escaped from a life that for all intents and purposes would of allowed to let him live in luxury for the rest of his days.

No what he was interested was the man who did those actions, and it was a man he could respect. He was a man who had a choice, and made it, for better or for worse. "I see. You've had quite a trip then. From a rich man's son, to a rebel on the run. I daresay you would never of expected this life." He placed his hands behind his back, pushing at the hard surface he sat upon, looking straight up at the stars and moon. Sometimes, just sometimes, it filled him with a sort of wonder he hadn't felt since he was a child.

He then spoke something else, something that snapped him from his slight daze. "I guess you've found my weakness then." He looked deathly serious as he spoke, but his voice had a slightly jovial bounce to it that it hadn't had in ages. Maybe it was just him being happy to be out of jail, maybe he was filled with hope for the first time in so many many years. Or maybe it was the simple pleasure of talking to someone who could understand him, did things always have to be so complicated? "Always been like that, even as a lad. I suppose I like stories. I like to know about the men and women I fight with, it keeps things in perspective. It reminds you that people aren't just tools, but rather every person. Every single person has had a story. Each as long as twisted and complicated as the next. Friends, families, first loves, reasons for fighting. We're all the main characters of our own stories. That's something I never want to forget. That way every sacrifice means something, they aren't just names of people who died, they are comrades. Friends forged in the fires of battle." His head slowly lowered from the sky, turning to look at Saturos. Even in this dark night he could see the man clear as day. Dark skin, as if scorched by the sun, sky blue hair and deep red eyes. This was probably the most he's talked about his self in... hell, years easily. Maybe even longer. Sometimes he felt so damn old.

"Sometimes it feels like I carry the weight of Bern on my shoulders, but I prefer it that way." He shrugged. "That way everyone else has to carry less."

"But that's enough about me, please do go on. Indulge me in my weakness, I'm curious, what happened after you joined the entertainers?"

[Saturos Prox]

The myrmidon chuckled after the knight spoke. He didn't find Adian's "weakness" to be a flaw in the least. It wasn't annoying to have pledged himself to a man who cared. It was nice, and Saturos probably wouldn't have done it if he hadn't seen the leader in Aidan. A man who knew and cared for his comrades was the best kind of man, even if the knight didn't see it in himself.

"Well, don't carry too much weight on your shoulders," the swordsman laughed, nudging his battle brother with a fist. "You're not Atlas, and whether you like it or not, you have comrades now. Comrades share each others' burdens." He shook his head. Adian really would never learn, but that's what made him Aidan.

"But anyways, if you want to know more I might as well keep going. Not like I've talked about this to anyone else in years. Feels good to get to tell my story to, well, someone." Saturos turned his gaze back towards the water. "So where was I, oh, right..." He cleared his throat. "After I ran off, I spent two whole years with the performers. They taught me their tricks and their trade, and I had more fun making a fool of myself in front of other than I ever had being groomed for commerce. They became like a second family to me. If you haven't noticed, I'm quick to bond." The teal haired man's red eyes glanced at his bearded companion before continuing with his story. He did have the especially bad habit of making friends.

"I became especially good friends with a Sacaen man in the troop named Saif. Twenty six years my senior, he had been exiled from his clan for being a drunkard and a liar. Not exactly honorable traits amongst the people of the plains, but he was a damn good swordsman. He taught me everything I know. He had this story he'd tell to anyone who would listen, about how he had to cut down an entire troop of thirty Ilian mercenaries that he had fleeced at a gambling table. Sore losers he called them. The whole story was absolute tripe, and everyone called him out on it, but I indulged him. It gave him so much pleasure to have a protege who would listen, and judging by his sword skills, the story had to have some weight to it. Besides, there was something about his insistence that made it seem true."

Pausing, Saturos rubbed his chin in silence. He had no idea where Saif was now. In fact, he had no idea where any of the performers were. When he had left them in Bern to join the military, the dark skinned Prox had simply bid them all farewell, a smile on his face, as he moved on to the next stage of his life. No doubt Saif had gotten himself into copious amounts more trouble after his pupil's departure, but somewhere inside, Saturos knew the old buzzard was alright. He then looked back at Adian, who was, no doubt, listening intently.

"Anyways, I only stayed with the performers for two years. It was fun, and I made many friends, but as young and restless as I was, I wanted to do something else. I had always enjoyed swinging a sword, and now with some of Saif's skills at my behest, I decided I wanted to be a soldier. Fight in some wars, gain some glory, the usual shtick and now having no homeland to call my own, I had to opportunity to chose my country of choice. I had heard many great things about the heroism of the soldiers of Bern in my time there, and the tales of Hartmut inspired me to no end, so I joined up with the Bernese military." Saturos laughed heartily. "In that Aidan, we have something in common."

[Aidan Lowell]

"Don't worry about me, strong shoulders. I can carry a lot." Eat your heart out Atlas. He rolled his shoulders underneath the heavy plates of steel, as if to brag. It felt nice though, to know someone else actually cared enough to offer to help. It's a sad day when you realize you don't have anyone to turn to, maybe that's why he was so miserable in Lycia? He had left his entire life behind, he had always been the kind of man to keep to his self but that didn't mean he didn't have any comrades back in Bern.

Most notably was his partner in both battle and the sky, Orion. He was a commander now, an Ilian commander no less. But he had let Aidan go, despite everything that happened. Despite the fact they were on two different sides of the war, despite Aidan being an outlaw of the highest level of treason, despite that incident that happened years ago... He still considered Aidan his friend, and let him go. Even if it would destroy the reputation he spent so long to build up for his self. It had been so long since Aidan had felt anything like that, it made him bitter. Quiet, brooding. It wasn't until he met Lyar about a year ago that he slowly remembered how it was to not be alone. Even if it's been about a decade since he's been to Bern, it feels like he was picking up right where he left off. That life he had before, it didn't feel like a life, it felt like he was just waiting. Watching life go by and slowly becoming more and more bitter over it.

But now, now he had comrades again. He had Saturos, Lyar, Syana. People who risked their life to help him. As he sat there, listening to Saturos' words intently. As he explain his life before coming to where he was, his old master and his family of the circus, he couldn't help but crack a small grin. "Drunkard and a liar?" He almost laughed. Aidan was no stranger to the bottle himself, that seemed to be how he passed most of his nights in Lycia. "I would like to say that reminds me of my tutor, but only in how it's the exact opposite. He was a strict man, harsh and left no room for error. He taught me how to fly and fight on Wyvern back. He always said if there was time for fun, there was time to train." Aidan tried to recalled in the depths of his memory. "He was an old man, trained my father too. I couldn't tell if he loved or hated all of us." He let out a small quiet chuckle as he shook his head. Last he heard he left Bern though. He wondered how he might be. Him and his small pencil mustache that must be white with age by now.

So Saturos was a part of the Bernese army? That was surprising. He doubted that he'd ever even served anywhere near Aidan, seeing as Aidan was a part of the wing unit, while Saturos would of been a ground troop. "Really? Bern?" He's Etrurian and he served for Bern, but the two countries were at war years ago. Well Bern was kind of at war with everyone half the time, and not the others. Like it couldn't make up its mind. "That must of been interesting." Aidan had been treated with an odd sense of respect, envy, and anger when he was a soldier. They resented that the commander at times took favor of him, simply because of his name. Aidan hated it as well. He was even offered a position as a lieutenant after only a few weeks, simply because everyone expected him to become a general. "I don't know how you could of lived with wearing the armor." He joked. "Must have drove you crazy."

"About how long ago was this? Don't tell me you joined just in time to wrapped up in that whole bandit war?"

[Saturos Prox]

"Fortunately, I didn't have quite an aversion back then," recollected Saturos, giving Aidan a small smile. "That's definitely a, er, quirk that I developed after my time in the military." He shook his head. "Though I have to imagine that it's probably hard to imagine me in a soldier's uniform, much less merchant's finery."

"But no, I actually left service just in time to not get wrapped up in the bandit war," the myrmidon said, correcting his bearded companion. "Didn't save me from the Bernese soldier rebellions though. Boy, were those fun." Saturos laughed with a sarcasm uncharacteristic of his usual, cheery temperament. "Did you serve during the rebellions? You're a bit younger than I am, so you might not have, but they were nasty." He coughed once, before staring at the younger but much gruffer man. "No point in summarizing if you already know."

[Aidan Lowell]

"I was just a recruit at the time." He crossed his arms and thought it over. The creaking of the metal and clanking of steel upon steel was like a symphony of nostalgia to his ears, he had almost forgotten this sound that was almost a day to day occurrence in this life. The only sounds he heard was the silent desperation of the jail, the taunting of the guards and his own barbs back at them. The taunts didn't hurt him, he was grateful for them, anything but a sole existence in nothing but silence, where you forget what your own voice sounded like. Where you can do nothing but dwell on your past, on your mistakes. But this isn't what Saturos asked, no he asked of the Rebellions.

"Just wrapping up training. I didn't get wrapped in myself, but I almost did. Of course I dodged that arrow and walked right into the bandit war, so it's like missing the sword and hitting the axe. But I do remember it going on around me, I remember the senior soldiers whispering hushedly about it, how one our instructors left to join the rebellion, about how some of the more bold soldier tried to talk to us recruits about it and sway our minds to join them. One of them in particular wanted me to join, he said if I came along I'd be a general. Obviously I turned him down, but it wasn't really surprising, wasn't the first time someone attempted to use my position as an advantage. It's happening right now." He let out a someone dry laugh. "In a way right now is a lot like then, only this time we're on the other side."

"What happened to you during it? I was lucky and was able to stay out of the battles themselves. But I doubt you had that good fortune."