Disclaimer: I do not own any part of Fire Emblem. I wish I did, but I don't.

Saleh's Death

Inevitable


He supposed that it was inevitable that his student would surpass him in skills and magic. Saleh was faster than the boy, but that was due to his longer legs. Since the start of the journey, Ewan had grown, and that was something he was all right with. He was proud of Ewan no matter what; he would always be proud of him.


The Demon King's shell of body moved forward a couple steps, the world trembling underneath its massive power and weight. Hastily, the small army scurried back in surprise, helping up injured as they could.

This time, Saleh understood that he was just too slow.

"Teacher!" Ewan cried, and the sage turned his head, seeing the other's eyes filled with tears. His sister, Tethys, was holding him back, but he was struggling as hard as he could to reach him, one hand stretched out as if to pull him away from the attack that was bound to occur.

The massive hulk of the once great force roared, light gathering in an attack that Saleh knew would kill him. The ball of demonic energy was too large for him to dodge, and it would be too fast for him to run. He was going to die.

Strangely, he only had two regrets. One, his grandmother would lose the only grandchild she had, the only living relative alive that could keep her going; and two, Ewan would lose his teacher, though Saleh had planned for Lute to take over in his stead, in case he were to perish.

The Demon launched its attack, and it soared toward him, though he prepared himself as best he could. Already, he could smell his cloak charring at the edges from being so near to the energy, and the scent was a putrid one that would remain in his mind. Then there was the pain; that horrible, searing pain as his body was ripped and burned apart. He could feel his body disintegrating, dissolving, under that enormous energy.

And as he fell, he tried to murmur just enough, though the pain scorched his body and layered his thoughts, "I'm…sorry, Grandmother…Ewa — "

Saleh knew no more.


As the battle wore on, and as the Demon King's body disintegrated into nothingness, Ewan mourned for his teacher's death. His sister touched his back, rubbing small circles to calm him enough to stand, but it was a long time before he could. Inside his heart, there was now a tiny fissure that he knew would never heal.


I have good news, and I have bad news. The good news is that I finally finished Sacred Stones (no thanks to my friend who kept on laughing at me as I freaked out during the final chapter). The bad news is that I lost Saleh. I suppose it was inevitable; Saleh was the closest, and I didn't know whether or not the body would step forward or not.

I cried and I screamed. I couldn't help it; I felt so guilty that my friend even stopped taunting me and patted my back in comfort. It wasn't just Saleh's death in the game that hurt, but it was this one-shot that entered my brain at that exact moment, once I realized that there was nothing I could do.

Yes, I suppose it was inevitable.