Dual Wielding

Wyn had found that traveling with a whole caravan made the journey much easier. No longer did he and Corrin have to scrounge for food. While they still fished and foraged to help assist the caravan members and reduce their own burden, it wasn’t strictly necessary as it had once been, and would become even less so once they were able to stop for supplies.

Over a month into the journey, the rolling hills and occasional valleys of the plateau had grown quite monotonous. Sighting of spirit beasts soaring through the air or roaming the plains in the distance helped to spice things up, but not enough to truly make a difference. Thankfully, the company more than made up for it, as the merchants proved as friendly as they could’ve hoped.

By the time a week had passed, he and Corrin had already been welcomed into the group of traders, who warmed up to them fast after learning they were from Straetum—native to The Northern Plateau. Though he was pretty sure being outed as a duo of country bumpkins had helped too. Corrin was especially popular with the children who were along on the journey, though growing up in the orphanage, he’d always gotten along well with children. Probably because he acted like one.

Wyn had initially been shocked to learn there were children with the group at all, but the explanation was quite simple, their families had nowhere to leave them, and so they came along, though they were often kept in the carts unless the caravan had stopped, and people could keep an eye on them.

The group would be coming up on the town of Cliffside within the day, which would give them a chance to resupply before the final stretch. Apparently, the timing should be good, as some of the older merchants said the sky looked like a storm was coming. Wyn couldn’t really tell the difference, but they seemed insistent.

They took a break from traveling for lunch, after which he and Corrin took the chance to spar as they did every day. Much to their amusement, the traders had started betting on their daily bouts, finding them to be a source of entertainment. It had no real bearing on the outcomes, but Wyn felt no small amount of mirth at their over-the-top reactions when the duels finished.

That day, as was increasingly the case, Corrin managed to claim victory. Wyn wasn’t happy about it, but then again neither of them ever was when it came to losing. Afterwards though, they joked with the merchants and happily accepted some water before they’d set off again, and the walking continued.

“...so there I was, naked as the day I was born, halfway through her window with the goat over my shoulder, and her father walks in!” Wyn turned his attention to the man telling the story, the rest of the men had gathered during the walk and now laughed uproariously.

Corrin slapped the storyteller on the back and wiped a tear from his eye, “So let me guess, it didn’t work out between you two?”

“No no that’s the thing!” He caught his breath before continuing, “He just grunted and said I had good taste in caprine! And that girl? We’re married now. Third kid’s on the way!” He held up his wrist to show a metal band wrapped around it.

The laughter got even louder as the traders howled, banging on the cart. “You might have good taste in livestock, but clearly your wife has shit taste in men!” Someone yelled.

“What happened to the goat?” Another asked.

“Still have it out back, makes the best cheese you’ll ever eat!”

The merchants continued trading stories back and forth as they continued their journey. It seemed that they were from all across the windfall range. Still, Kei was the only one who’d been off the Plateau for more than a brief trip. He looked back towards her cart and noticed her glance away from them. So far, they’d barely been able to talk at all.

If we’re going to travel together, this isn’t going to work.

Wyn slowed his pace, letting the caravan move past him until he was walking next to the young woman’s cart. “So, if you don’t mind me asking,” he started, “what brings you all the way out here from the capital?”

Kei stiffened as he approached, and then stiffened further when he spoke. “Really just a family errand, my father used to know someone who lived out here, and I was sent to contact him about some developments back home.”

“I see.” He paused, “I was wondering, is your family originally from Nladia?” He was referring to the continent to the southeast of Aeora, across a large channel of water. The two lands had been at war since before Wyn had been born, but had finally declared peace sometime around five years prior. Being even further from Straetum than Taravast, Wyn had only ever heard stories or read about the conflict in books, but he was aware of it, nonetheless.

“And what gave you that idea? Aren’t you supposed to be from Straetum?” She asked sharply, before she seemed to think better of it, and her tone softened. “I doubt you’ve ever seen anyone from Nladia in your life… my lord.”

“Your name.”

“Kei isn’t that—”

“No, Hayashi. I remember reading about a Nladian general by that name in a history book once.” He said.

She relaxed a little. “Well, there’s no relation of course, but I suppose that’s understandable. And yes, I’m half Nladian.”

“Half?” Wyn asked. “You can’t be much older than I am though, which means you would’ve been born during the war right?”

“That’s correct my lord.” Kei said. “I was born in Taravast though, so I’m an Aeoran at heart! I’ve never even been to Nladia!” Her grip tightened on the side of the cart as she quickly added the rest.

That’s… unexpectedly sensitive. Wyn thought, watching the way her eyes darted back and forth nervously. He decided to change his approach. I’ll just try to be pleasant then.

“That’s unfortunate,” he tried. Her dancing eyes glanced up in surprise. “I would’ve loved to hear about it. None of the books I’ve read mentioned much about what the continent is actually like.”

She paused, as if unsure how to respond. “Well—my mother would tell me stories from before she was... Anyways, unlike all the kingdoms here, Nladia is united all under a single ruler, one of the gods. Apparently, he’s lived for thousands of years.” She giggled. “Silly right?”

Wyn chuckled. “That’s incredible though—that it’s all one nation. No wonder the kingdoms had to unify for the war. Did she tell you anything else?”

Kei nodded, “She told me that in Nladia, they worship the spirits rather than the kings—not that many people truly worship the kings here anymore.”

“Are the kings a bigger focus in the east?” Wyn asked. “While I wouldn’t say we worshipped them, the spirits definitely played a bigger role where Corrin and I grew up.”

“Truly?” Kei tilted her head. “Many of the people I know in Taravast at least feign piety for them, though I’m not sure how many really mean it. Perhaps you’d be more comfortable in Nladia if you prefer the spirits.”

“Maybe, though I wouldn’t call it a preference. What about you? Do you worship the spirits?” Wyn asked.

Kei paused again as she seemed to think about her answer. Her face twisted with an odd look, and she responded carefully, gauging his expression as she went. “I’m not a particularly pious person my lord. If I had to choose, I’d say the spirits. They’re here in our daily lives, though I don’t know if they’re worthy of worship.”

Wyn chuckled. “Trust me, they’re not. Especially not the little ones.”

He felt a mental zap through the bond.

Kei looked at him quizzically. “What do you mean?”

“Just… a bit of an inside joke, I guess. Thank you for telling me about Nladia. I’d love to hear more about it soon. If we’re going to travel together, let’s try to get along, okay?” He smiled.

Kei’s lips curled up into a slight smile as well, it seemed fake to him though. “Of course, my lord.”

Wyn sped up, rejoining the front of the caravan, his suspicions confirmed. The way she was careful with her words around them, the way her body tensed when he approached and relaxed when he left, all her reactions brought him to a conclusion.

Spirits, that girl is afraid of us…

He’d hoped she was simply shy, or just antisocial in general. But fear? What was he supposed to do about that? Why would she be afraid of them in the first place, when they’d only recently met? The more he thought about it, the more it twisted his stomach, troubling him far more than he thought it would. Did it have something to do with her being from the capital? He wanted to ask but wasn’t sure how to even start.

I doubt she’d give a real answer anyways.

He tried to put it from his mind as he walked, instead looking inwards, towards the flame in his core. He’d kept the Spirit Fire burning low, pushing back slight aches and pains. He’d accumulated several cuts and bruises during the fight with Din Kai. Nothing serious or on the levels of Corrin’s injuries, but they still would’ve been noticeable had he not been hiding them beneath his cloak. It was a matter of pragmatism, others had much worse injuries than him, and his body naturally healed a little faster thanks to the effects of his blessing. Compared to others, his own injuries didn’t matter.

The flame was always within him, sending tendrils of flame into his body whenever he was injured or tired. When he wanted, he could stoke it, causing it to spread and burn more within him, even manifesting outside his body via weapons or objects he touched, though that part didn’t seem to do anything unless it touched the flesh of a monster. Spirit fire was a powerful tool, but he’d need something more.

He shook the bond gently, trying to get Eia’s attention without harming her.

“What is it Wyn?” A tiny voice called from above him as Eia peaked down into his vision. She must’ve been sitting on his head.

“You like it up there huh?” He smiled, causing her to blush.

“Flying gets tiring after a while, all right? Plus, your hair is comfy, and your spirit fire is good for my complexion.”

“By all means, lounge away. I hope you’re comfortable, would you mind if I asked you some questions though?” He said.

“Of course not!” Eia said proudly. “Ask away, I can answer any question!”

“Is there anything more I can do with my spirit fire? Besides just purifying myself and monsters?”

Eia flitted off his head and spun around in the air. Her method of flight was odd, one moment she’d be floating like a true spirit, or soaring through the air like a bird, and the next she’d be walking through the air as if there was invisible ground there that only she could use. “Hmm, it should be possible. Spirit Fire allows you the power of bonds. It’s how you’re contracted with me after all.”

“The power of bonds? And I thought the contract with you was how I got the Spirit Fire, not the other way around.”

“Well, it’s both.” She scrunched up her face. “You get the Spirit Fire from your connection to me, but that connection couldn’t exist without it to begin with.”

“Eia. That makes no sense.” Wyn deadpanned.

She laughed. “It makes perfect sense, just maybe not to you.”

“I’ll take your word for it.” He’d found it was best to shift topics when she got like this. “But what about the bonds you mentioned? What else can I do with it?”

“Hmm… Try to focus on the flame, really try to see it.”

Wyn did so, looking inwards and focusing, trying to capture every detail of the spirit flame as it flickered brightly in his body. The actual source of the fire was located around his sternum, in the core of his body, but the flames licked up higher, and sometimes spurted off into other areas of his body. He focused until he almost felt a headache coming on, but it must’ve been imagined—spirit fire burned away such fatigue. “What am I supposed to be looking for?”

“Our bond, silly.”

“I thought you told me to look at the flame?”

“They’re one in the same. The power and its source are one.”

Wyn sighed, turning his attention back outwards. “I’ll try to figure it out on my own then. You’re not a very good teacher you know.”

Eia crossed her arms, pouting slightly. “Well, I’m sorry, could you explain to someone how to breathe?”

“Well, no but—"

He felt a tugging on his sleeve and looked down to see one of the younger children in the caravan looking up at him.

“Who are you talking to?”

Wyn chuckled, he felt this was going to become a common question, but he wasn’t comfortable answering it just yet. “Just thinking out loud. Don’t worry about it. What’s up?”

“Can you teach me how to do sword stuff?” the boy asked curiously.

Wyn smiled back. It wasn’t the first time he’d been asked by one of the kids to teach them. Most of them were too small to even hold a sword though. He’d let them swing around his wooden blade, and it was quite funny to watch them try to maneuver a weapon almost as tall as they were. “Maybe when you’re a bit older. Once you’ve grown a bit, I’ll give you some pointers. Until then, just try to listen to your mom and dad.”

The boy grinned back at him, “Really? I’m gonna grow up real fast, maybe by tomorrow.”

Wyn ruffled his hair, “Try not to go too fast.”

Wyn watched as the he ran off to play with his friends. He was about the same age as Corrin and Wyn were back when they’d first dreamed of becoming Spirit Knights. How simple it had been at the time; how easy it was to say they’d become the greatest. As his gaze followed the kid, Wyn saw Corrin up ahead talking to some of the merchants, and when he turned to say something, Wyn could see a smile stretched out across his face.

His friend always seemed to just live a little more than anyone else. Like he knew exactly who he wanted to be and pursued it without doubt. Though the path might’ve been a bit bumpy, that hadn’t changed since they were kids.

Wyn turned his gaze back to the road ahead. It stretched on and on, out of view, winding across the endless plains as far as he could see. Somewhere over that horizon, it met The Grass Sea, and even further beyond, far, far away, lay Taravast, the greatest city in the world. The distance was unfathomable, the journey would be long, but as they grew closer, Wyn’s excitement grew along with it.

They had promised to become the greatest knights the world had ever seen. And there was no doubt in Wyn’s mind that Corrin would. So he just needed to keep up.