The dark, tall walls of Macareth Palace bounce off the sounds of fighting. The battle is a desperate one. Ryoma had hoped for the normally outlying castle to be quiet and kindly in their need for the particular herbs for Takumi: they were not expecting a fight in such a dire situation.
Takumi's coughing rings through Ryoma's head even through the thick of the battle. It's rough and raw. His sister, Sakura, had stayed by his side in the Astral Plane, and had been seen pressing cool rags to his forehead on their way out. Between her, Lady Orochi, Azama and Hayato, she was the fastest for creating medicinal herbs and needed to stay near Takumi. They hadn't much time.
Oboro and Hinata had almost thrown a fit that they were chosen, quickly so, for this battle. Being his brother's retainers, Ryoma knew that they wanted to stay as close to Takumi as they possibly could. However, Ryoma also knew that Corrin hadn't made a mistake in her decision. He watches as Oboro, seething with rage, race into a group of Nohrian troops, cutting them down as she goes. She's followed closely by Silas, charging after on his horse. His alliance to Hoshido is not deterred by his battles against Nohrian troops.The two of them worked incredibly well together, he had noticed.
His momentary distraction gave an enemy Knight the chance to thrust his lance towards the sword master, almost catching him. Almost. A blast of magical power zooms past Ryoma's shoulder and hits the Knight, forcing him to topple back with his heavy armour.
Orochi sidles past, cards flying past her. She plucks one out of the air.
"I foresaw that. Make sure you thank me later." She smirks at Ryoma. Her lilac hair flies around her head as she readies another attack, shooting towards an enemy Dark Mage this time, stepping away from Ryoma. Time for talking would come later.
Ryoma smiles quickly, running after her with Rajinto poised. Their forces must press onwards. Takumi's life was in danger.
Hinoka flew past him on her pegasus, enraged, aiming straight for the leader of the Nohrian band. He was a dark mage by the name of Iago. An evil man, with no consideration for anyone but himself. It made Ryoma sick to his stomach to remember stories about the worm. Iago was not a victorious person. King Garon, the leader of the Nohrian forces, kept him so close simply because Iago was useful.
His sister is joined by another pegasus knight by the name of Subaki. He is one of Sakura's retainers, and a perfectionist. His poise in battle is incredibly graceful, which he is currently displaying with how easily he dispatches enemy troops. Finding all the weak points in their armour, he lands critical hit after critical hit, swooping around on his white pegasus in the large corridors.
Ryoma races after his sister, his white and gold coat flapping as he goes. Rushing the enemy captain would quicken their efforts in helping Takumi. When there was no one to command the troops they would scatter, unsure of what to do. It made picking them off much easier and resulted in less soldiers permanently injured.
Their small group push through the Nohrian soldiers firmly. They had been training for a moment like this. With access to Master Seals being much easier now, many of the Hoshidan army had been deemed worthy of upgrading to a better class. It was more expensive to fund these changes, but with the gold Corrin had been raking in from "training sessions" at past battle locations it was much easier to afford. A win-win situation.
The coat he donned had been supplied when he was chosen the title of Swordmaster many years ago, passed on from his late father. Despite its age, it proved Ryoma's status well.
After the battle was done and dusted, and after a girl called Flora had been found and taken into care, all was fine once more. At least, as fine as things could be in the middle of a war.
After returning victorious to the Outrealms, the first order of business had been passing on the specific herbs to Sakura. A few minutes later the mixture had been made.
Ryoma watches over his brother as he sleeps, from a short wooden stool that healers frequently used. The herbs had certainly done their job. His fever had spiked moments before the herbs had been found, frightening his sisters. Honoka also hovered, nervous for Takumi to never wake up again. For Ryoma, he was simply grateful they had done their job. Corrin had also passed through, but with the preparations for their next battle requiring her attention she had left as quickly as she arrived, a worried look on her face.
Sakura's worried face had finally relaxed as she laid another cool rag on Takumi's forehead. A few hours sleep and he should be fine, she had said.
"Lord Ryoma."
He glances at the doorway upon hearing his name. Kagero, one of his retainers and a dear friend, was standing a little ways from the door. She seemed uncomfortable about entering the room, most likely due to not wanting to intrude.
"Kagero." He responds kindly, getting to his feet and leaving the room. He slides the wooden door to the infirmary closed, giving Takumi and his sisters some privacy.
"Lady Corrin requires your assistance with drawing up a plan. She is having a few issues with…"
Kagero explains the current plan as they walk, cutting across the courtyard of the Astral Plane. The sun was shining high in the sky. Midday. Time in these realms never seemed to sit still, with days constantly moving into night at a faster rate than in the real world. Their battle at Macareth had been in the late evening. It had taken less than two hours to find the herbs and return them.
Mozu, a young girl with a history in farming, is working the small rice field where most of their food is farmed. She wipes her brow, letting out a breath as she takes a short break to wave at the two. Ryoma smiles warmly, raising his arm in return. He tried his best to befriend each member of the army. It was a small group, making it much easier to speak to each member.
They reach the castle, where Corrin had set up a room with a huge map of Hoshido and Nohr. The map room was used as their meeting room, for drawing up plans and deciding their next advance on the enemy. A lot of the time it was defending Hoshidan towns that were in the outlier near Nohr. They were the easiest to attack and capture.
Jakob, Corrin's right hand man, was shaking his head upon their entry.
"Lady Corrin! I feel like this plan couldn't work. It's much too early for such a head-on assault."
Felicia and Flora also join Corrin and Jakob, standing around the table with the long map rolled out onto it, as well as Lady Orochi. Ryoma trusted in Corrin's decision to keep these people so close. She had known them since she was a child, and could trust them with her life.
However, knowing the attitude of Nohrians left a bitter taste of distrust in his mouth. He was grateful for Lady Orochi's presence, and catches her eye. She winks, a humoured smile on her lips.
"Er, Lady Corrin, I do agree with Jakob on this one." Felicia bit her lip, studying the map intently. "The distance to travel is much shorter, but is heavily fortified and the path may be well guarded after our battle at Macareth."
Corrin crosses her arms. A look of annoyance and almost panic crosses her face as she turns. She looks to her older brother and the expression is replaced by joy.
"I know the risks, but with the state the army is in I think we can take it! The battle at Macareth easily showed me that. Only Oboro was injured, and that was because she didn't listen and just raced on in."
She wasn't wrong. Oboro's seething rage resulted in her slipping up her battle stance, and a sword had slashed her arm nearly in two. Thankfully, Silas had been ready to rescue her, and had quickly returned her in range of Azama to prevent further damage. Her howls of anger in having to sit out for the rest of the battle stayed with the army, fueling the fight.
"What is the current plan?" Ryoma quizzes, glancing to Kagero. The plan she spoke of had been different. What was with all the second guessing? Corrin was rarely one to change her mind.
"Lady Corrin would like a direct assault on the capital of Nohr." Jakob puts it bluntly, rubbing his forehead.
"Absolutely not," Ryoma growls, his smile dropping. "Anakos only knows what would happen if we were to do that."
Corrin's face falls, disappointment coating her features. He now felt quite guilty.
Ryoma sighs, running a hand through his brown mane as he goes to the map. He points to a section of it, along the main road leading towards Nohr from Macareth Castle.
"If we were to go this way, which I'm assuming is the way you were thinking…" he runs a glove-clad hand across the smooth parchment, showing their movement. "We would reach the capital within about four days marching. However, the number of forts along the way would result in multiple battles, slowing us down to about a week."
He looks back up at his younger sister. She runs a hand through her white hair, which is held back by a simple black hairband.
"Sister, I'm not disagreeing with your decision. But I believe if we were to go this way it would be more or less the same than taking a wider arch to avoid danger."
She nods. Deep down, Ryoma knew that she knew she could trust in his decisions. He had been running the Hoshidan army for a long time, since he had reached adulthood and was able to take over from his stepmother. It was a load off her shoulders, and he took it almost naturally. Just like how his father had, before he fell and the role was passed onto his wife.
"Might I interject?" Flora steps forward, speaking up. Felicia blinks at her sister.
She smooths her blue hair before she leans over the map.
"Close to the Nohrians capital is Felicia and I's homeland, in these mountains."
She points to a location to the north of their location, straying from the main path towards Nohr.
"We are currently unhappy with Garon's rule, and our father, the leader of the Ice Tribe, has decided to uprise against him. I am sure if we were to go to him he would be willing to take the Hoshidans in and ally with you." She smooths her skirt as she steps back next to her sister.
Felicia looks surprised, looking at the map. "That's true! Why didn't I think of that?!" She slaps her forehead, pouting.
Corrin bites her lip, looking at the map. "I suppose if you only just came from there, Flora, you would know for sure how they feel about Nohr."
Ryoma glances back to the diviner. She says nothing. Orochi is paying attention to the conversation, but seems almost bored.
"Jakob, Ryoma, this could be an option for taking the capital. We have somewhere to return for backup if need be."
The amount of absolute trust Corrin had in the Nohrians bothered Ryoma, and it seemed her mind was now made up. She was formulating a plan in her head, he could see it in her eyes.
It wasn't a bad plan, but could she be so sure of what was to happen?
He looks to the Nohrian sisters as they speak to Corrin. There is no emotion on their faces to show distrust. Could they be trusted? He wanted to trust them like how Corrin did but felt something hold him back, warning him.
Corrin disbands the meeting, smiling, turning to write the plan into her journal.
Ryoma bites his lip as he leaves the room. He should have said something, but for Corrin's sake he didn't. He had already disappointed her once today.
Kagero passes, a worried look on her face, but says nothing as she leaves the hall. He stays by the door, watching Corrin's servers pass. Felicia is speaking rapidly to her sister, with Jakob following after. He has a tired but happy look on his face, after being reunited finally with his friends. They also leave, probably headed to the mess hall to prepare for dinner.
Orochi comes out last. She's swirling her purple hair with her fingers, deftly braiding it.
"Lord Ryoma, might I have a word?" She pauses in front of him, looking up to him. The last time they had had an alone moment had resulted in Orochi wanting to teach him how to make jokes. Her mood was much different than that time. She seemed off, slightly hesitant now that she had left the room.
"Of course, Lady Orochi." He responds, falling into step next to her.
--
Notes:
Hey everyone! Thanks for reading!
Figured I'd throw this out there to see if others like this :) super excited to write more of this! Please, leave a comment on what I could do better for the next chapter. Thank you again!
