Doing his best to listen to Piero's advice of how to handle his injury; he thanked the fact that the injury wasn't too serious, though Piero's words did have him wonder nonetheless. Regardless, he took in the knowledge to the best of his ability, and maybe he could take them into practice during the next fight they undergo. Regardless, when setting up camp, Damen took it easy, yet put in his assistance to the best of his capability nonetheless. If nothing else, it was to help gather wood anyways, and with the watches decided upon, it left Damen at third, which gave him plenty of time to sleep... in doing so, he recalled the events of five years ago, the last time he seen his father...<br/><br/>-----------------------------------<br/><br/><i><span style="font-family: 'Tahoma'">The night was settling in at House Cortrova, Damen had just finished with the task of putting his sisters to sleep for until the next morning. His father wanted to talk to him after he finished, which happened to be outside the front door. Taking a few steps out, Damen was dressed in his normal wear, leather clothes that were given to him for his final years in intermediate academics, before he would set out to further his studies in the knight academy. "Lord Father." Damen spoke; his father stood before his Red Chocobo mount, stroking the top of its head before turning to face Damen. "...You were given another mission by the Northern Order... weren't you, Lord Father?" He didn't need an answer, seeing how the rare mount was prepared for the trek. His father was clad in his red armor, with matching feathered hat on his head, and cloak around his shoulder. At his side was a sheathed sword, etched with simple runes for empowering his Red Arts whenever he fought in battle.<br/>
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"<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ff0000">Damen... There is no fooling you, is there, my son?</span>" There was a brief pause in his words, before he looked upwards to the sky, the rainfall from earlier having died down. "<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ff0000">...The Order has received word of Ordallian spies breached our borders further north, by Riovanes. I am to regroup with my squadron, and we are to patrol the grounds to be sure. It won't be a long mission, I'm sure... I will be back to help further your teachings in our family's arts.</span>" Alexander spoke, turning to face his Chocobo, Choco. A very simple name, but nonetheless, it was the one that Damen had given the large red bird on hatching from its egg.<br/>
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Damen sure looked upset, but he was younger at the time, and believed his father was strong enough to handle any Ordallian force at the time. "Make the Cortrova family name feared by the Ordallians, Lord Father." At Damen's words, his father would give a light chuckle, before he would reach for something in his bag, all wrapped up. It was shaped like a sword, and when handed to the young blond, Damen knew the weight was very well one.<br/>
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"<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ff0000">Your mother and I... we discussed it over, and I was to leave this with her, and give it to you on your birthday. However... I think you're ready to start carrying the real thing, rather than the wooden practice blades you've been carrying. Don't give up on your studying in my absence... I will test you when I return!</span>" Alexander spoke, ruffling his son's hair, while moving over to Damen's mother, who stood beside his son, holding her in an embrace, before kissing her also, before he would walk back over to his chocobo, and climbed onto Choco's back. "<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ff0000">No matter what happens, Damen... Become a fine knight; use the knowledge you know now, and what you will learn in the future, to be capable of surpassing even I!</span>" Alexander called out; Choco was becoming a bit reckless, and decided to be off, riding fast into the distance, Damen taking a few steps forwards with both his hands holding the wrapped up blade, before clutching it firmly.<br/>
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"...I will, Lord Father... I promise..." Damen muttered under his breath, as the rain continued to fall, with the blond turning his head to the sky while uttering a soft prayer for his father's protection...</span></i><br/><br/>-------------------------------<br/><br/>Damen would find himself waking up, shaking his head a bit as he looked beside him; the blade his father given him, the fine ornate etchings on the blade, guard and pommel... Nowhere near as fancy as what his father's was, but nonetheless, it held special memories to him. It was the last thing his father gave him, and he just found it hard to let go of something so sentimental in that regard. He received a letter on his birthday that year... saying his father was captured, and believed to be taken to the gallows in Ordallian territory; it was rough for Damen thereafter, but his sisters done everything they could to get him out of the dumps. The sword itself had taken quite the beating and even missing chips of steel in the blade, yet Damen chose to use it anyways, and still intends to do so. The pain in his side having mostly subsided, he would sit up, tying his sheathed weapon to his hip again, and set his staff on his back once more, he would head over to where Piero was.<br/><br/>"Get as much rest as you can... we'll be setting off rather early by the looks of it. Also, Piero... I greatly appreciate what you have done. Before you go, allow me to ask one question... Lady Lydalia; do you think she would be a far more efficient field leader than I could ever be? I ask this... because my father was one himself, and surely, if he had not been taken to Ordallian gallows, he would see it through I would follow his steps to become a tactician myself. This..." Damen would draw the sword of his; the beaten blade that had seen far better days held most of its shape, but it was due time Damen should consider a new weapon. "...and my memories of him whenever he was off the field of battle, are all that remain." Damen was expressing that, it wasn't a fact of him simply quitting, more like he didn't feel like his talents were on par to a few of the others here; sure, he could enchant his blade with spellcraft for added effects in his attacks, but it only worked if they landed. He simply believed he was not yet as great as his father was, and such, felt he wasn't yet fit to command a squad of his own.