It is the year of First Dragons, 1324, and the world teeters on a knife's edge.
Valla, island kingdom, center of magic and learning, and suzerain of the south seas has lost its guardian and god, Anankos, the Silent Dragon, who had watched over the island for the past thousand years. Through Anankos' power and leadership, Valla grew to be the dominant power on the continent, bringing many petty lords and kings into their empire, and creating the greatest fleet in known history.
The death of a god has not gone unnoticed by the vassal states, who see an opportunity for independence, nor will Valla's rivals, Nohr and Hoshido, allow such an opportunity to pass them by, seeking to carve up the weakened Valla for themselves.
However, the Silent Dragon foresaw his death, and the need to leave behind a worth successor. To that end, he took one of the Priestess, Mikoto Autem Gyges, to wife, and with her sired one son and two daughters; the twins Prince Corrin, and Princess Kamui, and their younger sister, Princess Lilith. Each child possesses the power of their sire, able to take on the shape and form of a dragon, and wield strength beyond that of lesser men.
Though trained from birth to rule, the siblings are inexperienced still, and are targeted by many both at home in the form of opportunistic courtiers, and across the sea, where rival kings seek to take Valla's place.
All the while, in the north, something new stirs, roused by the changing of the times...
Corrin Autem Valla, First Prince, and heir to the title of High Lord of Valla, lit the candles that surrounded the shrouded body of his father, the Silent Dragon Anankos. As the eldest, it was his duty to oversee the funeral rites of his sire, to stand watch over his body for three days and three nights, taking only dry bread and water from the spring as his sustenance, and to ensure that the ceremonial candles, beacons for the ancestor dragons to take his father home amongst the stars remained lit.
It was the final night, and Corrin was tired. He wanted to sleep, to finally return to his bed, but he had to finish the final Rite of Purification first.
"Dragons, see my father,, the great Anankos," Corrin chanted as he, "See my father, and judge him worthy to join you in eternal slumber… Dragons, take my father into your embrace…"
"Still awake I see."
Corrin did not need to turn around to recognize the voice of Azura, his cousin.
"Naturally." he replied, a little smile on his face, "The Rites take time to complete, and I don't want to disrespect father by getting them wrong."
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to intrude." Azura said, "I just wanted to check on you and pay my respects to Uncle."
"You're not intruding." Corrin replied, "I'm almost done… just need to light the incense."
Corrin walked over to a table that held a brass bowl, inlaid with precious gemstones, and filled with several sticks. Using a candle, he then held a flame up to their tips, setting them alight, and releasing its fragrant smoke.
"Father, may your spirit rest this night." Corrin said, "May it rest till we entomb you with y- my ancestors. Good night."
He placed the candle down and lightly kissed Anankos' forehead through the shroud, trying to stay stoic even if he felt like crying.
Azura placed a hand on his shoulder, and gave it a comforting squeeze.
"How are you Corrin?"
"The shock has gone away, but now I feel… numb." he admitted, "He was getting sicker and sicker for months, I had come to terms with the knowledge that I would have to bury him soon but… knowing something and then living it are two entirely different things."
"I'm sorry." she said as she hugged his back, "I know you were close…"
"I'm not ready." Corrin stated, "They're going to make me High Lord after him, and I know I'm not ready; not to head the Senate, not to lead the fleet, not… anything."
"You'll have your mother and mine." Azura offered, "You'll have your sisters… and me."
Corrin turned around and wrapped his arms around her, squeezing her tight.
"Thank you Azura. I need all the help I can get."
They broke apart after that, and Corrin finally got a good look at her; she was wearing a black dress, with a translucent veil that did nothing to hide her beauty. Not for the first time did Azura take his breath away, nearly making him forget his sorrow.
"Do you want me to accompany you back to your room?" he asked.
"I would love some." she said, smiling, "Let me say goodbye to Uncle first though."
Corrin nodded and stepped aside, allowing Azura to pass and step up to Anankos' body. She laid a hand on his forehead, and began to whisper a short prayer. When she was done, she bowed her head to him, then turned around and took Corrin's arm.
As they made their way down the hall, Corrin wrestled with his thoughts and emotions. He had so much he wanted to talk to her about; them in particular, their future… but now was not the time.
So they walked through the halls in silence, past the statues of Vallite heroes, frescos and murals depicting images from their people's history, So when Azura finally spoke, she startled him.
"Have you read your father's will yet?"
"No." he said, shaking his head, "His Advocate stated that, according to his last will and testament, father wanted his read after the funeral. Just like him I suppose; he most likely did not want business interfering with the family until after we had a chance to mourn."
"That does sound like something Uncle would do." she said, biting her lip before speaking again, "Mother has asked me to perform the ceremonial dance and song for his funeral."
"Really? I look forward to seeing it"
"I hope I do well… I've never performed in front of so many people before."
"I'm certain you'll do fine; after all, Aunt Arete would not have asked if you were not capable. Besides, if nothing else, I'll enjoy seeing you dance."
"True." she said with a smile, and a hint of a blush; and it was that that Corrin worked up his nerve, and came to a decision. A few minutes later, when they reached her room, he spoke.
"Azura… when the funeral is done, and I am crowned, I would like to talk to you."
"Is that not what we are doing right now?"
"N-no, I mean, not small talk like this, but of serious matters; concerning us.."
"Us? Oh! I see…"
"Azura I- that is, there are things I want to say to you, to ask you, but now is not a good time. I lay my father to rest soon, and then afterwards the Senate will confirm me as High Lord. That requires my full attention, but afterwards-"
"Let me stop you right there." Azura said, cupping his face with her hand, "If what you wish to say is what I think it is, then let me put your mind at ease; I care for you deeply, but not as a cousin."
To his surprise, she then kissed him on the lips, through her veil; it was a light, and short kiss, but it made his cheeks burn hot all the same.
"I have waited for over a year for you to confess to me." she said, pulling back, her own face crimson, the veil failing to hide anything, "And if the moment was right, then I would be more than happy to invite you into my bed… but the moment is not right."
She pulled back, smiling behind her veil.
"When the moment is right, come to me Corrin; we will speak of our future together."
She opened her door, and stepped inside, closing it behind her, leaving Corrin alone, but smiling. He turned around, and made his way back to his own chambers, letting the thoughts of a bright future fill his imagination.
His father may be dead, but Corrin no longer felt as sad as he had mere hours ago.
AN:
Obviously, this is a Fates AU. Instead of being a kingdom in another plane, Valla is instead an island kingdom, which Anankos ruled directly as a sort of draconic God-King, and those with dragon blood became the nobility.
Anankos found a way to keep himself from going mad, but unfortunately, that cut his lifespan short by a tremendous degree; he only had twenty more years to live. A fair trade in his opinion, if the other alternative was turning into an insane, raging, world ending beast. Since he was now mortal though, he needed an heir, and so married Mikoto, who was a Priestess and from one of the oldest Vallite bloodlines. He courted her for a time, and eventually they got married, and had twins (M!Corrin and F!Corrin), and Lilith.
Valla here is inspired by other fictional powerful island nations, such as Numenor from Tolkien's works, Melnibone from the Elric stories, and Ulthuan from Warhammer Fantasy, themselves inspired in part by Atlantis.
While Anankos ruled Valla, under him was the Senate, made up of nobility, priesthood, and wealthy merchants. While both nobles and priests both have dragonblood,, and as such the ability to use dragonveins, they have different roles. Nobles have secular power, and priests spiritual, though there has been friction in the past between the two.
Instead of being royalty like in canon, Arete and Mikoto come from a prominent family of the Priesthood, both being High Priestesses, and Azura's rank is that of Priestess, though she's not a cleric or part of that class tree, but rather she's a Pegasus Knight this time around, with traits from her canon Songstress class.
AN 2:
I got into a misunderstanding with a reader in the review section, which started to become ugly. We came to an understanding in the PMs, but the reviews were already there, and I don't want the readers here to have to experience that bit of ugliness.
Hence, I deleted the old story and am now re-uploading it, review-drama free.