_The Champion of Naga?_ Interest piqued, he was suddenly much more compliant with following her than he had been previously. Was the Champion here? Now? ...Had he been among that group fighting? Now that he realized who this "Champion" that the girl had been talking about was referring to, he couldn't deny that he was curious. He had heard little snippets about the individual on his travels, and the prospect of meeting them and seeing what kind of person they were wasn't an opportunity he really wanted to pass down. That being said...

As they neared the group, Rylan's voice dropped to an almost inaudible mutter as he stared at the back of the girl's head. "I hope you don't ask him for his eyes. _Please don't ask him for his eyes._" Anything else he wanted to say was cut short as she finally released his hand and greeted the unusual ragtag group that had gathered. Looking between all of them, his gaze immediately flickered back to shoot a dull look at Marianne's head when she introduced him as her henchman.

"_Rylan_," He corrected, his tone dry, "My name is Rylan. And I'm not her henchman--we just met like five minutes ago."

Attention falling onto Jacob then, the corner of his mouth pulled upwards in a lopsided smile at the teen's words. "I am indeed a mercenary. I can't deny that I'm in need of a job right now, though I admit to being a little picky about my employers." Pulling off his gorey glove--_thank you for that, Marianne, truly_--he tossed it to the side before moving to stand right in front of the tactician. Leaning forward, he met the younger man's gaze with his own, lips curved into a smile and arms crossed over his chest.

"I  just want to know, what is it that you hope to achieve, o' Champion of Naga? Perhaps this is rather rude of me to say, I'd only be happy to lend you my sword if I feel your mission lines up with my own interests as well. I have my own set of morals I abide to, after all."