Well... just lately I have rediscovered my long lost love for the FE series, and decided to search for something good to satisfy my 'princess and her knight' need.

And VOILA! here comes your work!

Your writing is exquisite. It's elegant and flowy and gets things through without too much force, but just enough impact to feel the reader all tingly.
And I love the way you grasped Kent's character - with the addiction of how alone he sometimes is in the strange army - makes me think that he is a
real man, living and breathing somewhere out there. And Lyn, ah Lyn!, you have no idea how refreshing it is to see her written as a bold girl, one
who knows what she wants and know how to get it. Too many times I've seen her turn into a second Florina, stuttering ans flushing, which made me hit
the 'back' button with great speed.

Lovely work indeed! I can't wait to see more chapters of this story to show up.

And now, I'm going to storm through your other works.

You've handled this with your usual sense of grace and tact. Very well written, especially considering the sensitive issues that you brought up. (Personally, I don't believe that Lyn got quite that close to anything, but as you mention, it is a possibility. And because it really isn't relevant to anything, I'm not prepared to argue the point! Especially not with writing this good!) I think you hit on the prefect balance for Lyn's mood, especially after all the events portrayed.

Kent's hesitancy, and near complete understanding of the silence of his lady was pulled off masterfully. The little touches strewn throughout serve to reinforce his character - the handkerchief, the tremble in his hand, his unwillingness to touch her until she made it clear that he could hug her, and then the way that he held her tenderly. Spot on.

He'll keep his word too; no one will ever find out about this.

But it's going to eat away at him.

Being a protector, there is nothing so wrong as the evil that you could not prevent. That's going to be the thought that runs through his mind every time that he looks at her, that and his oath to prevent such things from ever recurring. In all those moments where he's alone and immune (or so he thinks?) to prying eyes, he's going to be a much grimmer Kent than before. And he'll plot all the ways that he can inflict pain to the beasts that roam in the forms of men.

That's my take on his psyche, just in case it helps. And I do agree that the pair needs a solid grounding in friendship before moving on. Especially with Lyn's mental state, she would need to know that she could trust him before being vulnerable with him. (No matter how much they desire each other, as detailed in the previous two parts.)

Again, beautiful work here. You should be proud of yourself.

Trev X

The chapter.. is so sad. But I loved it anyway, I love Kent's last line. Aww. :) Do update soon!

Wow, I DID NOT see that coming. I was definitely thinking: "Oh wow, so Kent finally takes the initiative. Good for him." And then when you cut to the morning after, I thought: "Oh, now it's going to be one of those gushy 'I love you' moments... OR NOT O_O." Not gonna lie, I was freaking out with Kent. That must've been HORRIBLE, having to see that. Either way, the last few lines were a great touch, loved how it connected with the beginning. So, yeah, congrats on your achievement!

"...!" (Speechless)

(OMG! Wow!)

(If this is hard, then you have gone beyond amazing to pull it off. Because this so far has been amazing. Both chapters. From two different viewpoints, the same binding thread. Two totally and yet not totally different takes. It was after all about a common theme.)

("Shockingly good." - The New York Times)

("Best in it's class. A work to look forward to. This author should be read and reviewed." - USA Today)

Trev

very well done, really communicated the topic well. I'm just imagining what sain would say if he saw this. Probably something along the lines of "that lucky bastard!"

I actually loved this piece a lot, even more than the first chapter (and I didn't think it would be possible...!)

Although I do love Lyndis thinking and watching her thoughts is very interesting, I can't help but to adore Kent more.

He's just so...
Alone sometimes.
And his feelings and thoughts can sometimes be hard to potray.

Can't wait for the other chapters!
(And don't we all love Sardonic? Happy birthday!)

love,
nazzy

Whoa, Manna. It's been a damn long time since I've read your fic... and what fic. Lyn's an animal in this one with Kent as the tasty morsel she's dying to devour. I gotta disagree with your last point: this may not be explicit, but it's definitely lustful enough to merit the name.

If I had to give one word to sum up this piece, I'd say "desire." Lots and lots of barely restrained and almost animal-like desire. And that's what's interesting is that this isn't a romantic piece. There are no vows of love, no tugging of the heart -- just heat. A visceral reaction to sweat and muscles and *gasp!* nipples. I know there's more than that between these characters, and you do give us hints in the way she doesn't like how often he's ignored and how she pulls back when she feels him tremble. But those emotions are overshadowed by unadulterated physical lust. It doesn't go beyond that.

Whether you take that as criticism or not is up to you. It is a piece written specifically to illustrate a deadly sin, I know. But it is startling to see Lyn almost have her way with Kent without so much as a 'by your leave' or any sort of buildup. The absence of emotion, of feelings beyond the physical, makes the act feel empty. So much that it's hard for me to believe, especially with two characters that care so much for one another the way Kent and Lyn do.

I did have to laugh at the image of Lyn pretty much undressing Kent with her eyes right after the match. She's seriously ogling where all the world can see, priceless.

Lust is definitely portrayed in this piece...and that's my take on it. Was fun reading something of yours again, Manna. ^^

I, personally, love the use of the Seven Deadly Sins/Seven Virtues as a theme. Maybe I'll do it myself one day... Anyway, Lyn being a tease was hilarious to read. Actually, I think it'd been even better if it had been Kent, but it would never happen XD. My favourite part was probably that last line. Killed me.

Um, I haven't got much else to say right now, though I'm definitely looking forward to seeing what you're going to come up with next!

First thought: I get a religious fic (more or less)?! HOORAY!

Second thought: Bahaha, the title reminds me of this epic song we sight-read in band the other day. "The Universal Judgement". It was about the apocalypse xD.

Third thought: W-w-wait. It's CHAPTERED?! I get a CHAPTERED present? (sobs) Manna, I don't deserve you!

Um, okay. Maybe I should actually read this before I freak out some more.

[No, she wanted to do so much more.] Woah now, Lyndis! xD This is a cool concept, already...I mean, usually it's the MAN in the relationship who's always portrayed as the one after sex...and even if Kent DOES have a drive like that, who's to say that Lyn doesn't want it MORE? xD I've never thought about it that way, actually...(And Kinky!Kent was in the back of your head the ENTIRE TIME you were writing this, wasn't he...yes he was, DON'T YOU LIE TO ME!)

[She sits in his lap.] HAH! I literally snorted. Perhaps loud enough to wake someone up. (This happened to a friend of mine--he's pretty dense, so eventually his would-be-later-girlfriend got fed up with flirting and just SAT DOWN IN HIS LAP xD.)

Wow, Lyn is...very confident. Just going up with no precedence, no indication given ever in her life, and puttin' on the moves. I guess I couldn't expect anything less from her xD. Of course, it's SO obvious that Kent's head-over-heels for her, so...:P The poor dear. I wonder what his face looks like after all that! xD

[Because he’s trembling so badly.] Aww, that's SO sweet. Even with how badly she wants him and how much she KNOWS she could seduce him, she doesn't because he isn't ready. This even made me wonder why you put this whole desire as a SIN (I mean, it IS a perfectly natural reaction to someone you're attracted to...) until I remembered the whole...before marriage thing xD. Bad, Lyndis, bad. Either way, it was very sweet.

Well. I can't believe you actually wrote something sex-related for me xD. Remind me to never open my mouth and always watch what comes out of yours :P. (Nah, I'm joking.) Actually, even though you said this: [This isn’t really lustful enough to cover lust, but I didn’t want to have to rate this M], I feel inclined to disagree. You definitely got the whole feeling and point of lust across, but you did it while staying within tasteful boundaries. It doesn't HAVE to be explicit to pack that sort of punch, and you got that across really well.

And KentxLyn birthday = win = made my day. Whatever day today is now.

And I love you.

And I hope you'll write some more soon so that I can continue freaking out over it!
THANKYOUTHANKYOUTHANKYOU--![shot]
~Kender

XD I saw the summary and went "...What?" But now I'm all SGKKSDGKFHDG COOL BEANS. (And incidentally, I was going to do a rewrite of the sins 'fic, but with different characters and such, but I guess you beat me to it. Not that I'm complaining, of course.)

BUT OH WOW. Normally, we see Kent pining after Lyndis and such--not the other way around! That in itself makes this really, really epic. And srsly, I've got so many favorite lines in this that it would be pointless to point them out.

So, yeah. I liked this, and I don't really mind that you borrowed (because I don't really think you "stole" it) the idea, and I'm excited to read more.

[Xirysa]

Ah, what to say~ X3 I love introspective pieces, and this one certainly covers something not usually considered. It's all fine and dandy to think one has a perfectly chivalrous perception of love and nothing else, but it's just plain not true.

And oh, poor Kent~ subject of Lyndis's wanton desires (and she, troubled by them herself, but, I suppose, not so troubled that she can actually fight them).

[ People tend to ignore him, and that upsets her.] Aw it would upset me too. I like this line. It just adds a little something. And also that, despite this, she takes advantage of the fact.

[She leans against him, pressing her chest into his, so—so—glad that he’s not still wearing his armor.] Haha, a benefit indeed! Though I'm not so sure she'd have been quite so quick to give into temptation had he still been wearing it. Just thought. x3

[She’s never tried anything like it before; he’s probably confused.] A bit more than /that/ I think.

[But she can’t—she just can’t. She can’t do any of them.

Because he’s trembling so badly.] Aw! ;0; The poor man~ Makes you wonder what kind of thoughts are swirling around in his head, especially since, as you alluded, he hasn't directly told her he loves her and then this comes out of /nowhere/.

[just because she can] /That/ had to shock him something special. I don't think he really ever imagined his lady possibly doing such a thing. His mind, I think you blew it.

And you are indeed correct; Lyn is a terrible tease. x3

I liked this much~ c:

~Fence

Lust, eh? Im not even going to start think about that...

Great chapter, stolen idea :), and a happy birthday!