Gilded Dawn {FE:3H} [HIATUS]

CHAPTER ONE: The Mercenary

Bandits.

Why did it have to be bandits?

He should have known the first time he'd heard the branch crack that nothing in these woods would be loud enough, or clumsy enough, to do that but a human. He should have been smart enough to not have let them get surrounded by half-wit bandits. But he'd been distracted by whatever stupid shit Dimitri and Edelgard were saying, and now they were running for their lives from a group of rouges. Compounded with the fact that none of them had slept, and that their prior teacher had run off in fear the moment the first bandit had stepped up – yeah, Claude wasn't exactly in the best mood right now.

"You have any idea where this town is, your highnesses?" Claude panted, weaving around a tree

"Just a bit further," Dimitri responded, also panting. Though all three of them were fitter than your average teenager, running the last few miles through heavy forests made it kinda hard to breathe.

"Let's hurry it up, shall we? My legs are sore."

"Just like Claude, always trying to make light of a serious situation," Edelgard said

"Save your breath for running, you two, we can banter later!" Dimitri yelled

Claude decided to take Dimitri's advice to heart, especially after nearly banging his head on a low-hanging branch. He clenched his fist as the trees seemed to blur past. He lost count of how much longer they were running for. He couldn't really think of much other than his footsteps, and Edelgard and Dimitri next to him, and the bandit's behind them and-

"There! There's the village!" Edelgard cried

"Those mercs there will probably help – it's not like we can't promise gold." Claude pointed out, gesturing offhandedly to the white-clad mercenaries clustered by the village entrance.

"Right! Let's go!" Dimitri yelled, and the trio changed course for the white-clad group. As they got closer, Claude took stock of their members, as was practically tradition for him by now. The group seemed to be a well-rounded combat group, with a good mix of cavalry, mages, and weapons infantry. The two that stood out the most were the two men in front. The first was a gruff, older man who reminded him of the legends of the Blade Breaker, and knowing how the gods of fate were seeming to have blessed him lately, it probably was. But the second was the most interesting. They had dark blue hair and wore all-black armor, a stark contrast against the rest of his group. He carried two swords and a dagger with a purple sheathe, at least that Claude could see, but he seemed to be a very practiced fighter. Claude wouldn't be surprised if he had more.

"Kids? What are you doing out here?" the blue-haired man called, turning the attention of the group on the trio of students. A few put their hands on their weapons, but not the older man or the blue-haired one.

"Forgive us, we wouldn't bother you if the situation wasn't so dire –" Dimitri began

"No time for formalities." Claude cut in "There's bandits chasing us. Will you help?"

"We can pay, of course," Edelgard added

"We consider it an honor to help any in need." The blue-haired man commented.

"What he means is, of course, we'll help." The older man said. "Just point us in the direction of the –"

"GRAAH! You brats will learn not to run from me!" the lead bandit roared, bursting through the trees.

"Found him." The blue-haired man deadpanned.

"Oh, Kostas." the gruff man growled "I know him. Knew I shoulda turned him into the church."