3 FFT 2 Planting seeds to fight against Destiny

"Ahhh," the squire screamed as his clothes caught fire. Seeing a few squires move to attack them, Mage held out her palm and pulled the fire over in a circle. Magic mixing in as well, to give more control over the element. With the boost, she cast a level 2 black magic spell with ease. "Fira!"

The spell exploded around a few that charged over. Blasting them back a good bit.

"Enough or it gets worst. Like this." Luther stepped over. The closes enemy was pulled by the collar with his right and then slammed into his left fist.

*Krack!* A sickening crunch came out upon contact. Pulling back, his fist was fine as he held the squire up for all to see. His nose, forehead, and cheekbones had cuts and were bleeding slowly. The fire then started to burn the wounds shut next.

Soot and splinters mixed inside. Bad thing if not treated.

Luther pushed a wave of power out. Stopping the rest from really fighting against Mage. Most not knowing he could use any magic. Especially since he was only known for martial skill.

Everyone was staring at the outcome of the little skirmish.

"Give him a potion dammit! Don't just stand there like fools. This was just a dispute that was solved with our fist, not one to the death." Luther barked. Almost facepalming at the slow reaction time they still had. 'No wonder so many will die at this rate. Call to action is pretty slow.'

Several cadets scrambled for a potion. Soon, some of them realize that they were a chemist. A minute or two later the old Commander and his son were back to full health. Luther walked up to the two.

"Sorry about the excessive force, you sorta hit a sore spot with the words you said to them. I want to kill you personally. Wipe out the disgrace that comes with your family and all."

Seeing the others not come to their aid spoke well on the reputation of the family. Looks of derision from the commoners hurt the most. Before the old Commander could speak out, a bit of fire flared up on his clothes.

"Get them to the infirmary!" A squire yelled. "If he dies, who knows what will happen!" A steadfast loyalist called out. They were carted off instantly.

"You might get in trouble Captain," Delita said coming over. "You may have done to much."

"You might be correct. I may have been out of line with some of what happened, but too many people are dying due to their manipulations." Luther turned to look him in the eyes. Eyes judging Delita critically. "You are no different than them. Well maybe a little different right now, not enough change things currently. I can see the corruption in you. Wanting to manipulate and hide behind a weakwilled individual. All the makings of a sociopath. The same as those you hate secretly. I will have to let your sister know what you are up to."

"I have no idea what you are talking about." Delita responded quickly. Much to quickly for his lie to pass in front of Luther. "It is not good to besmirch my good name."

"All right, everybody, form up!" A man's Voice (from outside the hall)

A knight instructor walks in with a small group of archers. His eyes darted around the room glancing at each of them quickly before moving on to the next order of business.

The smear campaign against the Corpse Brigade started to pick up more.

Luther moved from Delita. Not wanting to hear the deceiver speak anymore. Listening to the briefing fully leads to an issue more important. The squires looked odd.

Confusion but a lot of them were having doubts about attacking the Corpse Brigade.

"I said to gather around you brats!" At that, the squads all formed up. "Listen up! You all are getting flushed out for some assignments. There is a new uprising of riots in a few towns, your orders are to clean up and put a stop to it at once. Treat this like it's your final test!" The knight instructor stopped at a short pause reading everyone's faces.

He started giving the details about what each squad was gonna go up against and answered some questions from some of the cadet leaders. After a few minutes of this, he realized the time and started to settle the crowd down. "

"Alright, that's it. Good luck out there and come back safe." The knight instructor gave everyone a once over before leaving with his attendants. Taping his collar to fix his cape. But in actuality, signaling Luther to meet up. 'I hope he catches that. Trouble is afoot as he said it would be.'

As the room cleared. Luther called Ramza and Delita to follow him. Ordering them to be quiet as they moved through the halls. He was taking them to meet his informant. It was time to clear the waters on the actual morality of the two.

As they moved, he informed them about what is going on outside. How he met up with several town leaders. Explaining the plight of the people. Speaking of the needless death in the areas. And the increasing of monsters for certain populations.

The two listened well enough. Delita more than Ramza. Ramza more inclined to only follow the orders of his brothers. Still to wet behind the ears to be an individual.

He then spoke of the key figures that could help sway the Corpse Brigade more to a better cause. Weigarf Folles, Mileuda Folles, and Gustav Margriff. Passing on the importance of what they are doing and who they are meeting.

"I doubt my brother is manipulating the war as you say." Ramza defended his brother as expected. Delita gave a frown at that. "For power, humph! Make no sense. If you forgot, he passed over full leadership of the Order of The Northern Sky to Zalbag. A power mad man, he is not." He shook his head ruefully at that.

"The best way to hide his actions better." Delita said insipidly. "Focus no longer on himself, is a better move. Your brother was always a better strategist than a fighter. An excellent "Fencer" he may be, but not for deep fighting. To dirty."

"Mind your tongue Delita!" Ramza snapped at his long-time friend. "You forget yourself!"

"Of course Ramza. I spoke to hastily." Delita said mockingly. His fist balled uptight as they walked deeper. 'Brothers.. Ramza may pretend we are at times, but that does not matter in the face of any slight to those in the Beoulve house.'

"Yeah, well.. can't fix people's perception if they want to stay in denial." As they moved, Luther kept his magic sense sharp. Making sure none followed them.

And Ramza's outburst did not give them away.

After some time, Delita spoke up. Not liking the current situation.

"That knight instructor has no love for you Captain I hear."

"I still have love for me. That is what matters." Luther gave him a smirk over his shoulder. "Perish the thought I care if one loves me or not. I might end up like.. well like Ramza here."

"What's that suppose to mean?" Ramza frowned.

"That you replace your brothers as your father in a very creepy kind of way." Luther stopped at a door. Doing the code knock to allow them in. A Shave and a haircut. A bar was lifted, and they walked inside a few seconds later. "Greetings."

In the room, were cloaked figures. Luther knew who each happened to be. The cloaks protected them from prying eyes. Gifts from Apophis when they signed provisional contracts with Luther.

"The spineless of House Beoulve... and the Deceiver," The lead figure spoke suprised. Underneath was the Knight Commander that called the meeting. ".. a bold risk you are taking."

The others nodded agreeing. But remaining silent.

"If he pays more attention, he will become an actual man of the people. Not this puppet boy he is currently." Luther's tone was stern as he spoke. His forces nodded in understanding. They knew to leave it be for now. "Hos goes the plans to make sure the townsfolk are safe?"

"Good." The Knight Commander placed a map down on the table. A few key places marked. "The Merchant City of Dorter, Magick City of Gariland, and Lenalien Plateau areas have the best safety. More and more of the Corpse Brigade have dropped their banners and joined up. Paying them upfront has gone a long way. They defend well enough. They long for more, however."

"What now?" Ramza said walking over. A small smug smile on his face for some reason. "If they want more, who will pay them? Your coffers can not be that big."

"They are not. But who said they want gold?" Luther arched a brow at the boy. He then gestured for the Knight Commander to continue.

"They want more, yes. But it is for the others in the area." He trailed his hand along the map. Stopping on Brigand's Den, Siedge Wield, and Zeklaus Desert. "The towns neighboring these areas have it the hardest. We need more soldiers and more provisions. To many monsters at work."

"Why hasn't the Akademy dispatched soldiers to help there?" Delita asked. "Or any mercenaries in the area?"

"The orders were made, but nothing was done. Someone recalled them. Can you guess who?" Luther moved his eyes onto Ramza. "Who has the power to blatantly ignore the plight of the people like that?"

"I doubt my brother would. Either of them." Ramza said in defense once more. "Show me proof!" He said the perfect words for the Knight Commander. Who reached behind and placed the orders on the table. "Those..."

"Proof enough for you?" Delita couldn't help himself. "That is his seal, is it not? As well as Zalbag's. Those orders are damming if the people knew. Let alone others in the Akademy."

The next few minutes were spent on going over the orders and a few of the plans that were stopped by Luther and those in the room. Finding out that Bestrald Larg, and Dycendarg Beoulve had been planning some dangerous work, left most in shock.

With time running out, they finished up and departed. Ramza and Delita waiting with Luther for a bit. In his hands was one last report. One that would either change Ramza's and Delita's Destiny or cement it the way it was currently.

"An order of foods that hide poison. But only one type specifically." Ramza read slowly. The names for the orders were ones he knew. Servants of servants actually, of his elder brother. Servants that have not been seen in years. "A plant order as well."

Delita read over Ramza's shoulder.

"This is for your ears only. What do you know of Mossfungus?" Luther's words caused a stir in Delita. "It is the devil's own grass that has killed many in the past. Only small bits of it remain here. To get it, one would have to travel far out of our country to get effective doses. Or have connections within connections to have it brought to you."

"Surely you do not wish to acquire it, Captain?" The color in Ramza's face drained the more he read and the more Luther spoke.

"No, misguided child. I just wish to study it a little. If you can, with your connections can you acquire some of it or an antidote for me? Even small amounts will help me actually. It does come with its own risks." Luther's words were like honey to their ears. A bit of magic suggestion to Persuade them to act on this. "The person who ordered this last, was very careful with who he poisoned. Target one of the most influential in the lands at that. The one who poisoned him will go to great lengths to keep others from finding out. Will you be able to handle this?"

"I will have to think about it, Captain." Ramza had his head down and he seemed to be thinking hard on the order. Confliction passing in his eyes on how to carry this out. He took the paperwork away into his shirt. 'What to do? Do I bring this to Zalbag for him to handle, or do I do it myself?'

"Take your time. Other things I must tend to." Luther said as he walked over to Delita. "You are his brother almost, why not try a little more to get him to be his own man?"

"Not my job." Delita eyed Ramza pass Luther. To wrapped up in his thoughts to hear the two, Delita guessed anyway that was the case. "He is to coddled to change without drastic measures."

"Why not become his in-law then?" Luther suggested. "I mean, yourself and Alma know each other really well. Better you than some noble Dycendarg will force her to marry eventually. She is after all like Ramza, a half-blooded noble. Something that does not sit right with the two older Beoulves. Despite what they say on the surface."

"In law?" Delita shook his head amused a little. "I doubt she likes me enough to marry."

"I will try to make this quick. Ramza's father was poisoned if you haven't understood from the last few minutes. If you don't do something, he will be next most likely. This I can guarantee." Luther spoke quickly. His magic running low after everything he had done. "Do not trust his half brothers so easily, they have very strong jealousy towards him."

Delita just looked at him shocked and slightly angry. Mostly angry about the position Luther was putting him in. He had his own plans after all. And not wanting to draw attention to himself was on that list.

"That is crazy talk. They would never." Delita shook his head strongly. "How becoming his brother-in-law would help? I tell you it would just cause problems. Cause dissent between all of us." He folded his arms and looked at Luther.

"Dont believe me then," Luther said looking at Ramza. The magic wearing off faster. A small plan came to mind. "As for Tietra, she is not staying in that monastery much longer. Alma may be willing to suffer there, but your sister is better than that."

Luther left the room promptly afterward. Leaving the two alone. So much to do still, he smiles a little.