She closed her eyes, feeling a sense of strangeness wash over her. She had not heard that name in a long time, and it felt foreign to her ears.
"It's all so strange." Lyn murmured, her tone filled with wonder.
"I was all alone in the world, and now I have a grandfather." She added, a hint of sadness in her voice.
"Lyndis... I never thought I would hear that name again."
Everyone remained silent, respecting her emotions and thoughts. They could tell that this was a lot for her to take in, and they did not want to overwhelm her.
Suddenly, Lyn's eyes widened as a realization hit her. She remembered something that had puzzled her before.
"Wait!" She exclaimed. "That bandit! He called me Lyndis, too!" She exclaimed.
Astrid, who had been listening quietly until then, spoke up. "That's right."
"He did say your name. I heard him clearly." He looked at Lyn with concern and curiosity.
Kent looked at Lyn with a mix of fear and confusion.
"What?" Kent frowned, trying to make sense of the situation.
"How could he have--" Kent muttered.
Sain, who was standing next to him, interjected. "...He was a henchman of Lord Lundgren, wasn't he?"
Lyn blinked, not recognizing the name. "Lundgren? Who's that?" She asked.
Kent explained, his voice grave. "He's the marquess's younger brother." Kent answered.
He continued, his voice tinged with anger. "Everyone assumed the lady Madelyn was gone forever. This made Lord Lundgren heir to the marquess's title."
Astrid listened carefully as Kent spoke. He felt a surge of suspicion as he realized that this confirmed his earlier hunch about the battle.
Sain went on, his voice somber. "To be blunt, milady, your existence is an obstacle to your granduncle's ambitions."
Lyn felt a chill run down her spine as she heard Sain's words. She had no interest in inheriting any title. She just wanted to meet her grandfather and live in peace.
"That's-- But I have no interest in inheriting any title." She shook her head, her voice firm.
Sain sighed, his voice sympathetic. "Unfortunately, your granduncle is not the sort of man to believe that." He looked at Lyn with a serious expression.
"I believe the attempts on your life will resist." Sain warned.
Lyn felt overwhelmed by the situation. She did not know what to do.
"What should I do?" Lyn turned to Kent and asked.
"Accompany us to Caelin." Kent answered, his voice calm and reassuring.
"Continuing on this way is dangerous." He added, his voice stern and urgent.
Lyn nodded, feeling that she had little choice. She agreed to go with them. "I feel I have little choice. I will go with you."
She then looked at Astrid with an apologetic expression. "Astrid... I'm sorry. This changes everything."
Astrid smiled at Lyn with a supportive look. He did not mind the change of plans. He was curious about Lyn's story and wanted to help her.
He replied, his voice cheerful and friendly. "Don't worry about it, Lyn. I'm here for you."
"Besides, I'm always up for an adventure." He added, his voice playful and teasing.
Lyn looked surprised and touched by Astrid's words. She asked him, her voice grateful and hopeful. "What will you do, Astrid?"
Astrid shrugged, his voice casual and confident. He had already made up his mind. He answered, his voice clear. "I'll come with you, of course. But it is up to you."
He added, his voice sincere and loyal. "You're my friend, Lyn."
"You…want me to decide?" Lyn asked.
Astrid nodded, his voice sincere and honest. "Yes, Lyn. It's your life, your journey. You have to decide what's best for you."
He respected Lyn's choices and opinions. He did not want to influence or pressure her in any way.
"Of course, your companionship would do much to ease my journey, but…" Lyn trailed off.
She hesitated, feeling unsure and conflicted. She wanted Astrid to come with her, but she also did not want to put him in danger or trouble.
Astrid interrupted her, his voice firm and decisive. "But nothing, Lyn. I'm coming with you."
"It's going to be so dangerous." Lyn said.
She looked at him with concern and worry. She knew that going to Caelin would involve many risks and challenges.
Astrid grinned, his voice confident and playful. "So what? Danger is fun. It makes life more exciting."
He looked at her with a mischievous and adventurous spark in his eyes. He was not afraid of danger or risk. He welcomed them as opportunities to test his skills and courage. He loved the excitement and the challenge of the unknown.
Lyn smiled warmly at Astrid, feeling a surge of affection and gratitude for him. She appreciated his companionship and his aid.
She looked at him with a soft and tender smile. She felt a strong bond with him that went beyond friendship. She was glad that he was with her on this journey.
"You'll come? Are you sure? Thank you!" She replied, her voice happy and thankful.
She reached out and hugged him tightly, feeling his warmth and strength. She thanked him from the bottom of her heart for his support and kindness.
Astrid hugged her back, his voice warm and tender. "You're welcome, Lyn. You're my friend, remember?"
She pulled away slightly and looked into his eyes earnestly. She asked him humbly for his friendship and his aid on this journey.
"Let me ask once again for your friendship and your aid."
Astrid smiled at her, his voice loyal and faithful. "You don't have to ask me anything, Lyn. You already have my friendship and my aid."
He smiled back at her reassuringly and held her hand firmly.
Astrid thought to himself. 'This is perfect... I have found a way to make this journey work for me.'
He had a hidden agenda behind his decision to accompany Lyn to Caelin. He wanted to use this opportunity to gather more information about Caelin and Lycia.
He was curious about the lands and the people that he had never visited before. He wanted to learn more about their history, their politics, their culture, their strengths and weaknesses. He wanted to know what made them tick, what they valued, what they feared.
He also had another motive for staying close to Lyn. He wanted to benefit from having a noble friend who could grant him access and influence in the future. He knew that she could be a powerful ally or a dangerous enemy, depending on how he played his cards. He wanted to make sure that he was on her good side, that he earned her trust and loyalty. He wanted to help her achieve her goals, but also manipulate her to suit his own interests.
He was not just doing this for Lyn's sake. He cared for her as a friend, but he also saw her as a means to an end. He was also doing this for his own interests.
He had a vision for his kingdom of Asteria, and he needed allies and resources to make it happen. He was not afraid to use his charm, his intelligence, his magic, or his sword to get what he wanted.
Lyn looked at Astrid with a smile of gratitude and relief. She was glad that he was coming with her to Caelin. She felt safer and happier with him by her side.
She said to him, her voice sincere and warm. "Thank you, Astrid. You're a true friend. I don't know what I would do without you."
Astrid smiled back at her, his voice sincere and warm. He hid his ulterior motives behind his friendly facade.
"You're welcome, Lyn. You're my friend too. I'll always be there for you." He said to her, his voice loyal and faithful.
He then looked at Kent and Sain, who were waiting for them patiently.
He said to them, his voice polite and respectful. "So, are we ready to go to Caelin?"
Kent nodded, his voice calm and serious. "Yes, we are. Let's get on our horses and head west. We have a long way to go."
Sain nodded, his voice cheerful and enthusiastic. He said to them, his voice friendly and encouraging. "Yes, let's go! It's going to be an amazing adventure!"
They all got on their horses and followed Kent's lead. They rode westward, towards Caelin.
As they continued on their journey, Lyn asked Kent and Sain about the place they were heading to, Caelin. She wanted to know more about the place.
"Can you tell me more about Caelin, Kent?" Lyn asked as they walked down the winding path.
"Of course, Lady Lyndis." Kent replied.
"Caelin is a small but prosperous territory in the Lycian League, ruled by your grandfather, Lord Hausen. It's a peaceful and prosperous place, known for its strong army and rich culture." He began.
"So, Caelin is a peaceful and prosperous place? It sounds like a lovely place to call home." Astrid hearing their conversation joined in hoping to get more information about Caelin.
"Indeed it is. It's a land of plenty, with fertile soil and abundant resources. The people are hardworking and friendly, and they have a strong sense of community." Kent answered.
Sain interjected, eager to add his own input. "And let's not forget about the castle! It's known for its beautiful architecture, and many travelers come from far and wide just to admire it. You'll be living like royalty, my friend."
Astrid smiled wryly at the thought of living like royalty, but he didn't say anything. He was used to the lavish lifestyle that came with being a prince, but he didn't want to come across as arrogant.
Lyn listened intently, picturing the grand castle in her mind. "What else can you tell me about the people of Caelin?" She asked.
Kent nodded. "The people of Caelin are proud and loyal. They're known for their courage and fighting spirit. They're also very welcoming to strangers, so you'll fit right in."
"What about the army? Is it strong?" Astrid then asked about Caelin's military strength.
Kent thought for a moment before responding. "Well, the people of Caelin are known for their bravery and loyalty. They're skilled fighters and take great pride in their country. They have a long history of defending their land from invaders."
"That's good to hear. I hope I can learn something from them. As a strategist, I'm always looking for new tactics and techniques to add to my arsenal." Astrid replied.
Sain grinned, impressed by Astrid's confidence. "You won't be disappointed, my friend. The people of Caelin are known for their ingenuity and resourcefulness. I'm sure you'll learn a thing or two from them."
Astrid smiled, feeling excited about the prospect of learning from the people of Caelin. He couldn't wait to see what else this journey had in store for him.
Sain faced Lyn then added. "And they're also known for their hospitality. You'll be welcomed with open arms, Lady Lyndis."
Lyn smiled at them. "I'm excited to see it for myself. Thank you both for telling me more about Caelin."
Astrid noticed the look of wonder on Lyn's face and smiled. He felt happy for her and wished to see her smile like that more often.
He spoke up, his voice teasing. "You seem excited, Lyn. Are you sure you're not secretly a noble?"
Lyn laughed, feeling amused by Astrid's words. "I assure you, I'm no noble. I'm just a simple girl."
Astrid chuckled, his voice lighthearted. "I beg to differ. You're one of the bravest and kindest people I've ever met. That makes you special."
Lyn blushed at Astrid's compliment, feeling grateful for his words. She looked at him with a warm expression, feeling a sense of closeness with him.
"Thank you, Astrid. You're pretty special too." Lyn replied, her voice sincere and affectionate.
Astrid just smiled at Lyn, enjoying her company.
As they continued their journey, they shared stories and talked about their hopes and dreams. They laughed, sang songs, and made jokes. They forgot about their worries and fears, and for a moment, they felt free and alive.
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Updated cause formatting again...