Disclaimer: I don't own squat, ya know. Capcom does. I do this for fun, not profit.

Notes: Somebody reviewed this, which surprised me. Guess I could continue it...

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It was nightfall now. Vargas and Ryu sat around a fire, Nina asleep near Vargas's behemoth. The creature had been surprised and confused by this for a moment, but took the act in stride, and had fallen asleep itself. Vargas had taken off his mail, wearing only the layer of chainmail and padding underneath it.

"You know why she's being chased, don't you," said Ryu.

Vargas was quiet a time, now looking at Nina. The lines of age on his face, were deeper on his face, evident of the passage of time. He frowned.

"It's not my place to say."

"That's a lie, and we both know it. What's going on? Those guards don't set foot outside the castle unless it's something to do with what goes on in those walls. You didn't give us a free pass for just any reason."

"And do you want me to turn you both in?"

Ryu was silent, glaring at Vargas. He had never turned his gaze away from Nina.

"You won't."

Vargas glared at Ryu, looking at him, through him.

"You haven't yet. You know what could happen if you're found out, but you don't care. That girl is more important, isn't she?"

"You don't know what you're getting into, boy."

"You're right. I don't. But now I'm in it, aren't I? I'm up to my eyeballs in it, and I have no idea what it is."

"It's a royal matter."

"I gathered that. They only do tax collection and parade around town."

"Did you look on the inside of their armor when you took it off?" asked Vargas.

"Not really. I just took it off and cleaned off the plates."

"Go and look," said Vargas, staring into the fire.

Ryu stood, walked to the cart, grabbing a breast plate and bringing it back to the fire. He looked to the inside of it.

"The hell?" Intricately carved and painted into the inside were symbols and runes. Ryu flinched away from it, blinking his eyes. He looked again, squinting his eyes like he was staring into the sun. "The hell are these?"

"A fine question. Only five guards have been killed while wearing that armor. Two were said to be training accidents. Two are in that cart."

"And the fifth was ten years ago," Ryu replied.

"Yes. They are idiots and incompetents, but they have powerful magics backing them. Powerful wards to prevent injury and death, and to fill their opponents with fear." Vargas held his tongue on what else those runes did.

"I'm not afraid of them."

"You should, if only for their relentlessness. They may be idiots, but they do not forget, nor do they forgive."

"Nor do I. Now what is this royal matter?"

There was a quiet murmer, and both looked towards Nina, watching her turn over. Ryu looked back to Vargas, who still stared at Nina.

"It has to do with her parents. Who they are, or who they were."

"She's part of the royal family."

Vargas nodded. "Her mother was princess Alexandra. Nina was born before her marriage, thus she's next in succession. If Nina were to die, then Alexandra's husband, Cornibath, would be king."

"He's the head of the guard."

"Indeed he is. His ascension would be the end of the royal family, and be the death knell of Wyndia."

"You're a knight, can't you protect her?"

"I will protect her with all my life. The Wyndian army, however, are not immune to those runes of protection."

"You think I am?"

"Think? No. I am a knight. I do not think. I know. You are immune. I can face against a thousand of those wretches, knowing that someone else is protecting her. If I have to, I will crush Cornibath myself. But the girl needs protection."

"Protect the crown princess of Wyndia. I suppose there's no pay in advance for this, huh?"

"No."