Disclaimer: Fire Emblem and all mentioned characters and places all belong to Nintendo and Intelligent Systems.

Author's Note: This is a little experiment I'm doing, to see how well my FE fanfic goes. I might continue it, or I might not. It all depends on how well you all like it. I know I'm not the greatest writer around, but I don't tolerate flames. Also, Saleh is my favorite FE8 character, and there's just not enough fanfics with him. So most, if not all of my FE8 fanfics will most likely focus on him. )

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Chapter 1

Saleh, a reclusive sage from Caer Pelyn, sat in his room practicing his Valega. It was similar to a prayer, but instead was a very pure, unselfish wish. The War of the Stones had just ended, and Saleh was praying for all the shattered lives and countries to be restored. While he was deep in his meditation, he heard a knock on his door.

Saleh opened his eyes. "Who is it?"

The door opened, and two people came in – a young red-haired mage, and a blonde-haired young girl with red armor.

"No, no," Saleh said. "When I say, 'Who is it?', it doesn't mean for you to come in. When I say 'Who is it?', you say who it is."

"We're sorry," the mage responded.

Both he and the girl turned and stepped outside, closing the door behind them. Saleh paused, waiting for them to knock again. Seconds later, they knocked again.

"Who is it?" Saleh asked again.

"Who it is!" the voice replied from the door.

Saleh paused again. He wasn't sure how to respond to the smart alec remark. Part of him wanted to laugh, but somehow he found himself unable to do so. Rather than trying to clarify his last lesson in manners, Saleh moved on.

"Come in," he called.

The mage and the girl entered the room again.

"Hey Teacher, guess what!" the mage said.

"What is it, Ewan?" Saleh asked.

"Remember when we met all those people during the war?"

"Yes...what about it?"

"I'd like you to meet Amelia. She traveled with us, remember?"

"Oh...yes, I remember, although we hadn't been formally introduced until now."

"It's an honor to meet you, Mister Saleh," Amelia said. "Ewan's told me so much about you."

"Amelia and I promised to take a trip around the world once the war ended," Ewan explained.

"I see. It should be a rewarding experience for both of you," Saleh said. "When do you intend to set out?"

"We're setting out tomorrow morning. Hey Teacher, could we have one more training session?"

"You mean now?"

"Yeah. I want to show Amelia how far I've come with my magic."

"Ewan always talks about how great you are," Amelia added. "I want to see your magic, too, Mister Saleh."

"Very well. Let's go outside by the stream."

The three went outside to a grassy field overlooking a clear blue stream.

"All right, Ewan, let's test our resistance," Saleh said. "I'll let you make the first attack."

"Sounds great, Teacher," Ewan said. "Hey Amelia, watch this!"

"I'm watching, Ewan!" Amelia called. "Show him what you're made of!"

Saleh and Ewan stood ten feet away from each other. Ewan pulled out his Elfire tome.

"Are you ready, Teacher? Hi-yah!"

He cast his spell, throwing a large fireball at his teacher. The fireball hit the ground at Saleh's feet, then exploded, sending several more fireballs swirling around his body. Saleh held up his arm to shield his face from the flames, but otherwise he was unaffected.

Amelia clapped her hands. "Go, Ewan!"

"Not bad, Ewan," Saleh said. "Now, prepare yourself."

Saleh fired an Elfire blast of his own. The blast exploded around Ewan, forming larger flames and fireballs. The flames only lasted a short second, but when they died, Ewan's cloak was on fire.

"Aaaaiiiieeeee!!" Ewan dove into the stream to douse the fires.

Amelia applauded again. "Go, Saleh!"

Ewan climbed out of the stream, wringing the extra water from his clothes. "Wow, Teacher, I should have guess that you'd become more powerful as well. I need more practice."

"You were great, Ewan," Amelia said. "I could never do magic like that."

"Finished already?" Saleh asked.

"I guess so," Ewan replied. "Amelia and I wanted to prepare a little something before our trip."

"And what might that be?"

"Tee hee...it's a surprise. Let's go, Amelia! Last one back to the house is a rotten egg!"

Ewan and Amelia began running back up the hills towards the houses. Saleh only watched them silently. Somehow, being around two hyper children made him feel...stiff. Saleh shook off his thoughts and began walking towards the houses himself.

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That night, a famed mercenary dropped by for a visit. He was a mercenary leader named Gerik, but the continent of Magvel knew him as the Desert Tiger.

"Hello, Saleh!" he said cheerfully.

"Oh...Gerik," Saleh responded in a low voice.

"I hear that Ewan has a surprise dessert coming on," Gerik continued. "The kid idolizes you, Saleh! He's preparing a special dessert thank you for all you've done for him."

"That's...very sweet of him."

Ewan and Amelia came into the room, carrying a steaming hot pie.

"Dessert is ready!" Ewan called.

"Smells good!" Gerik said. "Let's go for it!"

They divided the pie into four slices, and they each ate their own slice hungrily. It didn't take long at all before the pie was completely gone.

"That was delicious, Ewan!" Gerik said. "What was it?"

"That was my very first michew berry pie," Ewan replied. "Amelia and I picked the berries ourselves."

Saleh was just swallowing his last bite, but choked up when he heard the main ingredient. "Michew berries??"

"That's right. What do you think, Teacher? I made it special for you."

Saleh instantly felt nauseous. His stomach felt bloated and heavy, as if he had swallowed a cannonball. "Ewan...I'm allergic to michew berries."

"You...you are?"

A sharp pain jolted through Saleh's stomach as he felt an overwhelming urge to vomit. He jumped up and dashed to the bathroom, slamming the door behind him. Gerik, Ewan, and Amelia looked very concerned.

"He's not going to die, is he?" Amelia asked.

"Nah...he'll just be ill for a few days at the most," Gerik told her.

"I'm sorry..." Ewan lamented. "I didn't know he was allergic to michew berries."

"And I've always stressed to him the importance of good communication," Gerik remarked.

Saleh emerged from the bathroom looking somewhat relieved, but still uncomfortable.

"Teacher...you're angry at me, aren't you?" Ewan asked.

"No...it was my fault," Saleh responded. "If only you had known..."

"Yeah, it's true, I didn't know."

"Now...I only wish to sleep..."

"Sleep well, Saleh," Gerik said.

Saleh turned and went into his bedroom now. He looked down at his bed for a good, long moment. Rather than climbing into it normally, he fell forward on top of it, rolling awkwardly onto his back. Finally, he closed his eyes, letting himself fall into the depths of sleep.