Fire Emblem Part 2: Years Later, Moving Out

The years were not kind as magic was the hardest thing to grasp. The different energies and spells were so annoying at times in how they clashed. But every time he succeeded he would grow stronger. But it was magic and mentally only.

The training with all the different weapons kept his body moving forward. Only during times when Tiamat specifically instructed him to participate in Ostia customs did he relent. Considering he was very independent, it rubbed way to many the wrong way.

That and he killed a noble who was molesting a butler one day. Then another noble who felt the need to torture horses for fun. Lots of dead people piling up with only blood remaining behind. Lots of blood as the bodies were tossed into the Primordial Sea to Tiamat as offerings.

Age and restriction by Ostia prevented a lot of his growth.

"Raah!" Hector swung the axe in an arc cutting right through the armor of the castle guard. Sweat dripping down his body like he just left a shower. With each swing, his muscles relaxed before hypertension caused by his magic flow kicked in. "Next!" He turned to the next castle guard axe at the ready.

"Yes..yes sir!" The castle guard amped himself up and came swinging fiercely. The iron lance coming fast and deadly. It was barely dodged, cutting Hector across the cheek increasing the number of cuts he currently had. "Huh?!"

The castle guard stepped back with one foot as Hector swung at his side with his free hand. The axe came in an upward strike preventing the recovery of the castle guard's stance. He fell back on his butt dropping the iron lance all togethor.

"I yield!"

"Tch!" Hector shook his head disgusted. The guards were more worried about causing trouble for the young lord instead of doing what he wanted and providing a good challenge. There was no real reason to continue sparring with them at this point. "Very well. You and the others are dismissed."

Despite being in his teens, Hector had pushed his body to the limit the best he could with what he knew from his days as a bodybuilder with military training. But the laws of the Dimension just worked so weirdly it was an uphill challenge. Which he enjoyed most times.

Without access to booze, sex, and having to make new friends, it was a chaotic need that brought about a new focus when he relaxed.

"Douse." With a mutter, small water vapors moved over his body. Washing away sweat and grime as well as healing the cuts earned from today's fighting. "Torch." Small clear flames dried his body off as well as his pants.

*Shine!* Light engulfed him as he Class Promoted on the spot. The final of the basics, the Pre Classes he cared for done. All that was left was just growth as he fought and trained. The inside of his cape was the only thing that showed a change. Just another Sigil that represented the class.

"Hmm, feels great. More power to master for me." Eyes shining scared a few of the regular castle guards away. They rather not be put through the paces of his training further. 'Tiamat is sleeping again, how dull. She must have known I was going to ask a bunch of questions again.'

"Lord Hector.. Lord Uther has summoned you." A messenger said.

"Tell him I am going out." Hector paid the messenger no real attention. The continueing conversations with Uther were just so infuriating the last year. Wanting him to be something he was not and to be a proper nobleman. "If he wants me, he can come to find me before its to late."

Over the years, Uther didn't know what to do with "his" younger brother. To independent and to uncontrollable his advisors said. Even the help in Architecture provided by Hector did nothing to stem the growing separation between the two.

Even more so since he worked hand in hand with the workers when doing the work and showing them tricks of the trade. Hector had the populace on his side and the common soldiers as well.

As well as Uther getting the impression he crossed Hector to many times. No longer even looking at him friendly, Hector just saw another obstacle in his way to remove. The man was living on borrowed time, even with his illness pushed back by magic from Hector providing a little treatment, he would be cut down if he caused him enough trouble again.

Hector walked out spotting the knight, Oswin. Uther's eyes and ears on what was going on with Hector. Not like he cared in any way since Oswin tried to stop him once and learned the hard way never to do so again.

It took the Healers three hours to heal the broken arm and leg from the grapple Hector put him in. Two castle guards came over flanking behind him. Two that were long since enthralled; named Victor and Clyde.

Tiamat was not specific when she said for him to defeat them to gain an Enthrallment. They had to be beaten into almost submission and someone like Oswin's absolute loyalty to Uther kept him safe from it.

"Sir.. we have the news you requested." Victor informed lowly. He looked behind to see Oswin following behind at a respectful pace. "A bandit group has moved closer to the outskirts of the Lycian League and the smaller Fiefdoms."

"It as you said, the various Marquess are just doing token work. Not actually having full pursuit squads to take care of the matter." Clyde was quite angry about the situation. He took his duty as a knight very seriously. "If I had more power, I would wipe them out myself!"

"That is why we have trained so hard the last few months. It is time we acted. We will show the overall years of our training." Hector kept moving through the castle towards the exit. A few other castle guards, the same as Clyde and Victor joined them. "We march today. Consider this the first of many Crusades to clean up the land."

"If we have resistance?" Clyde asked a little worried.

"Then we try to talk to those who show resistance. If they cannot give a justifiable reason.. then it is best to remove them from their positions. Permanently." Hector's eyes were hard staring at the outer areas of the castle. It was very poorly defended. To many guards in locations that had no real importance. "More for prestige than for protection. Two guards at the gate can not stop a charging enemy. Not a single archer to cover distance either. This is such foolishness."

"Wanting to suggest more guard drills sir?" Victor questioned.

"Nope. I have said over and over again the importance of it. If they refuse to adopt new war tactics.. then the castle will fall." Hector spotted the carriage he acquired from funds earned in the arena. When he was able to go anyway. "Get the horses prepped for the journey, much to do!"

"Yes sir!" The castle guard went to work prepping for the journey.

Above, a few Pegasus riders came down. Those on permanent retainer to Hector. Led by the Pegasus Knight Sigune. She spent so much time out of Ilia now, it was almost home to be by Hector's side. The other Knights with her long since abandon the almost wasteland home already.

Periodically sending money back, the mercenaries did not have as much stress as before. Allowing them to live a different life then what was attended. Specifically trained in dealing with Arrows by Hector, they were aptly named the Left Wing of Tigris.

"Boss, a final patrol before departing?" Sigune asked Hector. He gave her a simple nod for an answer. The Pegasus flapped its wings under its rider's command pulling away. "Fiora, take the young ones to check!"

Obeying the order of her Flightleader and friend, Fiora her second in command followed the order. All of the riders with her were young and just fledglings. With the next oldest being Fiora's sister Farina. The youngest of the sister Florina was out on assignment when they were recruited.

Causing worry for most of them as she was a very timid girl and best not suited for the mercenary life.

Two figures in hoods moved to Hector who was securing his horse for the journey himself. It was always best to check your own horse instead of others. A lesson he learned from Rexford and Leroy in the past.

A really bad camel incident that had Hector dragged along during a firefight. it gave him no respect for the dessert though. Sand just kept coming out for days.

"What is it?" He asked not looking back. Feeling the presence of his people changing intuitively.

"Sir," a woman's voice spoke up. "it is as you summarized. Caelin is moving weirdly and shows signs of treachery within its inner walls. How do you wish to proceed?"

"I want the both of you to move to find a way to abduct the old man, Hausen if need be. If not, find the means to kill his treacherous brother Lundgren." Hearing no confirmation from the two, he turned to look at them. "Are you incapable of doing so?"

"We are spies, not killers." A masculine voice said.

"Then ride to the Sacean plains and warn the tribesman of the coming bandit danger." Hector crossed his arms not liking the fear he saw in Matthew the male thief. "Not much conflict and you will be saving innocent lives. A better thing than always worrying about the well-being of the other."

"It sounds easy." The woman elbowed her partner to zip it. Not wanting to mess this up. She enjoyed working for Hector a lot more than Uther. Especially with him providing some training to make infiltration easier. "We will leave at once."

Matthew rubbed his side as the elbow was pretty strong. Unlike Leila who built her core muscles up over the last few years, he kind of suffered on that focus.

Hector finished up on his horse focusing a little on what they may run into overall on the road. It was good that he arrived in the Dimension before any major events took place.

'The Lorca tribe Lyndis belongs to will make for good troops. Beating them will bring them over to my side. If they do not.. well, Tiamat will have some sacrifices that are really fresh.' Hector checked his canteen over and the rations in the side sack. Some of the few changes from a modern society he was able to make so far helped preserve food. 'If I can develop my magic a little more, it will make transportation easier on food and water. Not to mention weaponry.'

Despite the classes attained, he was still at Martial Rank: Journeyman and Magical Rank: Page. Unable to select another yet. Hopefully he was just needing to sleep later to choose.