Fire Emblem: The Hidden Kingdom

Chapter 4 - Intercepting Bandits

With Lyn taking charge and leading the way out of the tent, Astrid slowly emerged into unfamiliar surroundings, finally able to experience the outside world for the very first time since he had lost consciousness.

As he stepped out into the open air, Astrid was struck by the sight of the expansive landscape that surrounded him, marveling at the lush greenery and grass rustled and whispered in the breeze that seemed to stretch on for miles.

"So, this is Sacae..." He murmured, his voice filled with awe and wonder.

This was Astrid first gaze upon Sacae. A gentle breeze swept across the plains. The sweet fragrance of the earth and vegetation filled his senses. In the far distance, his eyes could make out the towering peaks of majestic mountains that rose up against the clear blue sky.

His original plan had been to teleport directly back to his home kingdom and report to the council about the alarming state of the heavily militarized Kingdom of Bern, which lay to the south of Sacae. However, fate had different plans for him, and a slight detour had brought him to Sacae by accident.

While he was observing the beauty of the grasslands in Sacae, he suddenly heard Lyn's voice shouting to grab his attention. "Over here!"

He quickly made his way towards her, feeling the wind cool him off and play with his blonde hair.

Arriving at Lyn's location, under the cool shade of a nearby tree, he gazed out at the vast expanse of land before him. In the distance, he could make out the silhouette of various structures: a towering tent and... more rounded tents that seemed to blend seamlessly into the surrounding grasslands. With almost nothing in between them except for the endless sea of green grass.

As Lyn watched Astrid taking in the beauty of her homeland, she couldn't help but feel a sense of pride wash over her. It was a rare and special thing to see someone appreciate the beauty of her homeland in the way that Astrid did, and she felt grateful to be able to share this moment with him.

"It's a great world that Father Sky and Mother Earth have given us, right?" Lyn said, as she joined him admiring the graceful grass.

Astrid turned to her with a smile, nodding in agreement. "Absolutely. I've never seen anything quite like this before. It's breathtaking."

"It's amazing to see how the wind plays with the grass and the earth, and how everything seems to work in perfect harmony." He continued.

Lyn couldn't agree more. "Yes, everything here is connected in some way. It's like we are all a part of something greater, something that extends beyond just ourselves."

She paused for a moment, as a flash of memory crossed her mind. She saw her parents' smiling faces, then their lifeless bodies on the ground. She felt a surge of grief and anger, mixed with gratitude for the friends she had made along the way. She lowered her head, trying to hide the tears that threatened to spill over.

Astrid noticed Lyn's sudden change of expression and reached out to touch her shoulder gently. "Lyn? Are you all right?"

Lyn quickly wiped her eyes and forced a smile. "I'm fine, Astrid. Thank you for your concern."

As they continued to admire the green blades swaying in the breeze, when a sudden noise startled them. The earth trembled under their feet, as if a giant beast was stirring. They looked up and saw a group of bandits descending from the mountains.

A bandit scout caught something in his eyes, It then rapidly approached in their direction.

"Uh-oh! That bandit spotted me! He's coming this way." Lyn said in surprise.