It's Not Sympathy
By Himig

Summary:
S2 The Tenkai's sister was dead, the moral of the castle was low, and the final battle is nearing. Viki is clueless as usual, asking a wind magician for a picnic outside. The main problem was it was Luc.

Disclaimer:
...no, don't own S2.

Author's Note:
There's a story that I've been playing in my mind but I couldn't put it into actual work since I never played Suikoden 3. To release the inside frustration, I'm writing a S2 sidestory about Luc. This was the time when Viki asked Luc for a picnic. I decided the setting would be before the final battle after Matilda Kingdom had fallen.

This isn't a one-shot. It's a series of short stories centering around Luc, eventually leading to the said picnic in the storyline.

Warning:
Spoilers

It's Not Sympathy
Scene 1: can you cage the wind?

Luc have always criticized, or maybe wondered how the castle, the North Window Castle, could be so full of life and normality when it was the headquarters of the opposing rebellion against Highland that started from a small foreign organization in the City-States. He was always by the stone tablet, leaning on the wall and hearing the echoes of children as they run through the halls. Often times, the children would poke fun at him for his long hair and was humiliated when the female population of the children said he was cute. Disappearing was the answer and the practice made it easier.

Teleportation was the advantage of Luc's power. He could only teleport himself of course. He wasn't a teleporter like the klutz and dopey teleportress, Viki. So most of the time when Lord Riou would call for him for a mission, Leona, the barkeeper, could not find him after he stopped lingering by the stone tablet. It was troublesome to look for him in the whole castle.

His second place to stay was at the garden in the castle near the towers. He somehow befriended the musician, twelve-year-old Connell. He enjoyed the fact the boy was quiet and respected Luc's need for privacy. Of course, his joy came to an end when Lord Riou started to bring those DoReMi elves for Connell who were especially talented for creating sounds. While Connell was not a mere amateur musician, for Luc, those DoReMi elves were not the sounds Luc considered pleasant.

He gave them a glare as Connell played as the conductor for his complete set of DoReMi elves.

"Luc, what sound do you feel like wanting?" Connell asked him.

"Nothing," he said, closing his eyes. "I find their sounds annoying."

Connell looked up and stared dreamily. Luc arched an eyebrow at the boy, ignoring the glares and the immature tongues stuck at him. Connell closed his eyes gently, not saying a word and then a smile was forming on his lips.

"The wind is blowing."

"..."

"The wind is the origin of all sounds, did you know that? It's silence. But when the wind is happy, sad, angry, upset...the mood of the wind created sounds."

"Is that a logical explanation or a philosophical one?"

Connell opened his eyes, a youthful smile directed to Luc.

"It's my opinion. What do you think, Luc? I can hear your heart and it's silent. But the wind is bored and tired, don't you think? The wind cannot create sounds because it is locked deep inside there. The wind wants to create sounds but a wind isn't wind when it is still. It's not even silence...it's turmoil."

Luc saw the boy place a clenched fist on his chest, thinking silently and listening.

"Make up your mind. Is it silence or turmoil?"

Connell opened his eyes again. The gentle gold eyes looked without fear at the anti-social magician.

"What do you think, Luc?"

Luc could probably stand the DoReMi elves for a while despite his history with them when he was forced to tag along Lord Riou and the other Stars of Destiny who could infiltrate as students in New Leaf Academy in Greenhill to find about Lady Teresa's whereabouts. Being a magician, he was of course, practically, required. He was a great convenient member in the party.

"COVER YOUR EARS!"

Luc heard Lord Riou's voice very well but it's not like the archer's, Kinnison, dog could cover his. As the dog, half dog and half wolf, Shiro, was needed to track down Lady Teresa's scent, they couldn't let him faint. Besides, the dog had saved him a couple of times before. He went on to use his rune to heal the dog or else Shiro would go crazy by the next DoReMi elves combo.

It was by Luc's expense.

Luc's ears could have popped but his brain was pierced like a cold sword thrust to him. Without control, he swung his staff in random directions, the noise driving him crazy quite literally. It would last for a while but when he activated his rune by accident, it was a disaster. The solution was to knock him down. Of course, that was Sasuke's, the youngest of the three ninja from Rokaku, solution. When he was brought to consciousness, feeling Lord Riou's Bright Shield Rune healing him, he could hear Lord Riou berating Sasuke for acting without his orders. His non-related sister, Nanami added to that but Luc knew the right arm she was gripping was injured because of his wind rune during his state of confusion.

While the DoReMi elves Lord Riou brought weren't the brain-damaging, aggressive elves he brought, Luc held distrust against them. Onto Connell's hand, it did seem better but when Lord Riou recruited the narcissists who enjoyed the garden and Connell's music, he simply must go.

The next choice was yet another floor in the tower. He ended up where Flik, a mercenary who was also part of the war three years ago, one of the founders of the resistance, was staying.

"Luc!" Flik said, his sword drawn. "You startled me!"

Having teleported here to see if it was vacant, Luc prepared to leave again, spotting the statue of a familiar person.

Flik unsheathed his sword, following Luc's gaze at the humanoid statue. "Ah, that's Wakaba. She's been useful in missions recently."

"I honestly thought it would be your bear friend or you," Luc said, not sounding really interested.

"We haven't really been in the battle with Riou lately." Flik leaned on the rails of the terrace, wearily sighing. "We've been on meetings instead and pulling out Shu's plans rather than direct combat. Most adults are."

"Ironically, the one leading all of you is a mere fifteen-year-old."

Flik glared at Luc. "Don't you mean 'all of us? And it's not like we chose this fate."

"I supposed Lord Riou did," Luc said sardonically.

Flik glared darker at Luc. "I don't understand how destiny really works, but you're the seer's apprentice. Why not enlighten me?"

"As if a foolish man like you will understand," was Luc's answer.

Flik sighed, trying not to get angry at a 'kid'. "...I supposed." Flik turned to look at the view of the ground. "It was her decision though that led him as the leader."

Luc watched the man quietly, aware who the pronouns were.

"And then things just happened that led to so many things...maybe that's fate. It was our decisions. It's not something that was set in stone...what do you think, Luc?"

When Flik turned around, Luc was gone.

The last resort was the very top of the castle but it was occupied by the griffin, Feather. It's not like the griffin talks so it was bearable...

Luc only stayed at the rooftop when it was morning and evening. During the afternoon, he stays by the stone tablet as most children were napping. By late afternoon, it was time to go. The sun was bearable in the place above and the view was good.

Of course, not all things were good...sometimes, they were better.

Feather looked like he was an idle creature. He stayed on his place all day without even a caw. When there was an intruder though, Feather was the first to move into action.

Luc admitted that he was startled when the griffon suddenly spread his wings and let out a fierce caw. Like an alarm, the guards at night scattered and the griffon literally dived into action. From time to time, they were indeed intruders and Feather never mistaken a friend from a foe. After that, the griffon would return to the same spot, always observing the place below.

Being a wind magician, their common element created an unexplained bond between them that eventually, even if he knew it may sound stupid, he asked...

"Why do you protect this castle?"

Luc wasn't an idiot. Feather was a smart griffon and he was a wind magician. Feather could understand English quite well if he assumed right based on his studies. Luc may not understand word per word what Feather may say back, but...

"Lord Riou had indeed saved your life, but you can't possibly be in debt with him forever."

Feather moved from his relaxed position, sitting on his rear and straightening his back. He looked so tall and majestic. One swipe from his talons and Luc's head can be cut cleanly of. The griffon's eyes looked at him before melting his gaze on the evening sky. Feather cawed and spread his wings. Not a single feather fell off. Luc have noticed that even with Feather's powerful, beating wings, not a single feather would even fall.

Luc turned to gaze at the same sky. He had seen it many times. It looked the same every night as if a day had never passed by.

Not a lot had happened in a single night but once, when Luc felt tired, he didn't feel like returning to sit in front of the stone tablet and sleep there. They were offered rooms, but Luc refused to have one. He never stepped in the inn in the castle either. This time, he slept in the very top of the castle. When Luc woke up, he was by the feathers of the griffon.

Luc blinked, rather not used to the extra comfortable bed he had. Feather didn't respond to a caw, which Luc was a bit grateful of. He didn't want to hear it after just waking up. Instead, he nudged his beak at Luc's head. Luc shoved Feather without effort, standing up and at once, he was completely awake.

The sun was not even out. It was yet to be dawn. Luc stared at the blank, starless sky and at once, he felt the griffon moving. And then, he cawed.

"You're going to wake everyone in the castle," he said to Feather, picking his staff. When he picked up his staff, he felt the wind suddenly moving after Feather's beak nudged him from behind. The sky disappeared and he was now starring at the ground—coming closer.

Luc was falling.

He had his staff, he was a wind magician, and he knew how to teleport. Falling wasn't a big problem but it wasn't an accident. Feather had pushed him and Feather had caught him.

Awkwardly, Luc fell in between Feather's wings. He felt just how powerful the wings were whipping. He clutched tight onto Feather's neck, trying to get in a better position in his knelt, make-shift position.

"What are you doing?" he hissed. He couldn't even swing his staff now. His hands were clutching on Feather's neck or risk getting beaten and blown by Feather's wings, or blown then beaten.

Feather gave a loud caw as a response. The morning air was cold and Luc froze in his position while Feather gained altitude. He managed to get in a better sitting position but he can barely move now. Clouds and clouds were deformed as Feather introduced him to them in the sky. Feather did some tricky moves Luc wasn't grateful of. It made him sick.

Luc learned griffons weren't meant to be ride on. It explains why they are not griffon riders.

They remained in the sky for hours. Luc could not banter as much as he would but was slowly getting used with Feather's speed. His head was ducked and his arms were frozen. His eyes looked at the smaller grounds of the castle and the large sky. Soon, another hour later, the sun appeared.

Feather glided and Luc held on tight. He narrowed his eyes, glaring at the bright sun. Feather was flying toward it and instantly...the cold was gone.

Luc already forgot he was abducted into this flight but after spending hours, he became bored and started to see the sky he thought was the same everyday. Slowly, he realized something, his face still indifferent but this time, he was hiding no thoughts for only emotions flooded in. When Feather introduced the sun, Luc felt the strangest sensation he had...

Finally, Feather landed back to the tower. Luc remained on his place for a couple of seconds, trying to get his head from spinning. The different altitude was making him dizzy. Once his vision was clear, he jumped off with his staff on his hand.

"...I see."

Feather cawed.

Luc didn't understand very clearly what the griffon wanted to say. He asked why he wanted to protect the castle but Luc didn't get an answer. It seemed as if the griffon wanted to tell him something else. Still, the flight had not been a meaningless thing. Luc did learn something but he chose not to say anything about that.

Luc considered the rooftop the place where he can stay but shortly afterwards he caught Flik there at night and of course, his fangirl, Nina tailing him. Luc did rub it in on Flik before teleporting. Frustrating a person was an amusing side-hobby.

Just as Luc was retreating to his usual spot by the stone tablet, Futch has been there, waiting for him. Without hesitating, he took his spot without even a 'hi' to the dragon knight.

"Luc!"

As if he just noticed him, Luc said, crossing his arms, "what do you want?"

"Bright is missing," he said breathlessly. "He's actually been...disappearing but now, I can't find him!"

"Complain to Lord Riou," Luc said without a hint of concern. "He should be able to have everyone in the castle looking for your dragon."

Futch glared at Luc. "I can't ask Lord Riou..."

"He's the lord of the castle and he recruited you. It's also his responsibility."

"Bright's my responsibility, not him. And he's very busy. I can't ask him for something so unimportant!"

"Then don't look for Bright anymore since he's not very important after all."

When Futch became flustered, Luc smiled slightly at the boy's expression. Realizing he was playing in one of Luc's tricks again, Futch tried again. "Please, Luc. It's not like you're busy..."

"Very well," Luc said. Without waiting for Luc to say anything else, he waved his staff and disappeared.

The instant Luc disappeared, he reappeared. Futch was quite baffled.

"I found your dragon."

"Really?"

The first thing that came to Luc's mind was the rooftop of the castle where Feather was. He thought navigating from above would be good and question Feather to end Futch's matronly worries. But he honestly thought the dragon was simply going to be there. Once Futch did get there (not able to teleport Futch with him and if he could, will definitely not because Luc is just like that), he immediately stopped Bright from jumping off.

Luc pointed out he had wings.

"He can't fly yet! Not from this height!"

Futch pulled Bright away, putting him on the flat surface of the roof near Feather, looking at him in the eyes. "Have you been doing this every night, Bright?"

Luc watched how much of a matron the fourteen-year-old Dragon Apprentice was. Three years ago, Futch was a mere child who had nothing in mind but dragons. For a normal child to imagine like him of dragons all day, it would make the child extremely creative and adventurous. Since Futch is a true Dragon Apprentice, Futch wasn't a very creative and adventurous child, but he was naïve at times.

Oh yes, three years ago they were in the same army but it wasn't until his former dragon, Black died was he recognized as a star. It was something close to maturing. Luc was quite surprised to see not a single tear slid past Futch's eyes. Perhaps it is his naïve belief that Black had saved him.

"…I guess you can't cage the wind," Futch said, rubbing Bright's clear head as the wind blew. "What do you think, Luc?"

Quite tired of hearing questions directed at him, he shot to Futch, "This is a waste of time."

"Not that! I mean, with what I said. Bright has been trying to fly. It's natural for dragons, of course. They're not dragons if they can't fly."

Luc waved his rod to teleport away, only saying, "It's not called wind when it is caged."

End of Scene 1.