A/N: I did this. Why? I dunno. It's here now I guess. Deal with it. Pairings are undecided (if they will be a thing at all) as this ain't dem new games, this is Tellius.
-o-
I have to say, I thought I'd be pushing up daisies by now - not tasting them. Rolling over and unceremoniously spitting out the flowers in my mouth, I was met by an open sky with only a few wispy streaks of clouds dotting the blue expanse. The problem was... I'm supposed to be dead. My hand drifted slowly towards my chest, slipping under the fabric of my shirt and stopping when it reached the bump I was looking for.
Fingers trailed down a patch of uneven skin around my heart, the scarred flesh about an inch and a half up and down. Clear memory of my own hand pushing the knife into the same spot which seemed to be healed surfaced and my addled mind attempted to process it. The air was fresh but tasted sour as I lay unmoving, watching the wind rustle the grass and push the fluffy clouds along. I had no idea why I was still here and wasn't eager to find out soon.
"Was that truly the end you wish for?" A ghostly statement rang out, inquiry clear in the feminine voice. "A life so abruptly cut short as reparation for a misdeed."
"I received what I deserved for my actions. To take the life of another is unforgivable. It matters not in regards to my intentions or position." I automatically mumbled back, glancing around to see nothing but nature.
"An accident can only garner so much blame."
"I should have been more careful." I clipped bitterly. "I got carried away and paid the price for it."
"Atonement is paid off slowly through death and more heartfelt through action."
"Then what do you propose I do? Spring back out of my coffin and apologize?"
"No." It/She replied. "Though I will admit it would be humorous to do that. Instead, I offer you a choice."
"A... choice?"
"Yes." The voice affirmed. "I can relinquish you to the murky depths of death or you can redeem yourself by helping to save another world."
My voice gained a spark of hope, faint but nonetheless present - "I believe I'll take the second option. Am I to know anything about this place?"
"Good." A twinge of relief was evident in her voice. "Welcome to Tellius, then."
Tellius... that sounds familiar. That's with Crimea and Ike in...
"Fire Emblem." Came the words.
"What can I do there?" I vacillated. "I've no real combat experience."
"Talent with physical weaponry is far from the only combat type in such a place if you can recall."
"Magic...?" I muttered but received no reply. It seems I was alone yet again. My breath steadied and my hand combed through my messy hair, locks falling slightly on my face and startling me slightly. "Why's my hair purple?"
I shook my head. Not that hair color matters anyway. Perhaps I would luck out and the forest to my right would be the one Elincia was in. It didn't seem so, what with no Daein troops or Princess Oranges hiding in the foliage.
"Who's there?" A new voice called sharply, emanating from my right. I paused a moment to consider my options, and by then it was too late. A dark glob of stuff came hurling out of the bushes and landed at my feet, dissipating in a hiss and causing me to squeak out a... questionably manly scream.
A hunched figure appeared from my left, what I assumed to be magic in his hand as his gaze settled on me. The mage a countenance that screamed 'I'm angry all the time' and facial features that resembled a raisin. Thin white locks fell from the back of his head and his jaw jutted out sharply, while his black beady eyes were trained sharply on me. "Well?" He spat, magic clump growing bigger. "Answer my question, boy."
"U-uhm... well I..." My words tumbled out, nervousness clear in the tone. "I don't actually know."
The man glared at me incredulously. "You don't know." He repeated.
"Er, yes. No. Yes? Wait, I know WHO I am, I just got a bit nervous-"
A growl from his throat silenced me. "Stop wasting my time. Who are you, why are you here, and how did you get here?" He demanded.
"Albrecht," I replied quietly. "I don't know the answer to the other two."
His glare grew in intensity as we fell silent. He waved away the magic in his hand an turned around. "I'll give you one hour to leave and never return. Don't abuse my generosity."
With that, the man turned away and began walking at a brisk pace as I stood dumbfounded for a split second. "Hey!" I began. "W-wait a minute!"
My next words died in my throat as he turned around and gathered a lump of magic yet again. "Go on." He said calmly.
I gathered a breath and hopefully stopped shaking when I opened my mouth again: "I meant it when I have no idea where am I. At all... I don't know what country or even landmass I'm on." Well, technically I know this is Tellius but... blah.
"You truly claim not to know where you are or who I am?"
"Y-yes sir."
The pause was long and awkward as I tried not to melt under the look he was giving me. "Well, Albrecht." His voice said slowly. "My name is Malcolm. This is my property. And I'm the most feared person this side of Daein aside from his majesty."
"Okay... erm, why exactly?"
Malcolm's eye twitched at the question before he cast the spell again, holding a defined sphere of black energy. "I am a dark mage. And not known to treat uninvited guests well."
"Oh! Are you a spirit charmer then?" The words fell out of my mouth before I realized what I had asked.
A flicker of anger passed on Malcolm's face before it took an appearance of neutrality. "No. To think that I require an outsider's help is an affront to me and the entire practice of dark magic."
"Then, many people fear you for it?"
"Sharp, aren't you?" He said dryly. "Yes. I'm more of a legend than an actual person to them, so how lucky that you get to meet me."
"Are you able to do Anima and Light as well?"
"You know, you're asking a lot of questions for being the one trespassing." He noted, seeing my face fall. "Don't give me that look boy. Of course I can! Both are easier arts that Dark, I can affirm that much."
I was silent for a moment, absorbing the information, before realizing I'd been sitting on the ground the whole time. My legs hoisted me up and I brushed off my pants from the dirt and grass blades that lingered on them. If I needed to help Ike in this world I need to learn how to fight... maybe...
"I can see a question forming on your face." Malcolm drawled. "I find it humorous that you seem so timid when speaking yet not when I threaten you with Yotsmungand or Flux."
I was caught off guard for a moment, recognizing both the spell names. One was the 'staple' for basic dark, and the other only appeared in Thracia. "What's the difference?"
The mage sighed. "I swear, noone knows the difference nowadays. Always call it 'subtle' but it is clear as day to anyone who- bah, what am I saying? You wouldn't understand either. Out with it now, what do you want boy?"
"I have nowhere else to go. I'm unfamiliar with where am I. And I require a way to protect myself so... would you instruct me in dark magic?"
Malcolm stared at me, rubbed his eyes, blinked a few times, then took in a breath. "What?"
"Would y-you-"
"No." He snapped. "What did you expect? I don't know you... and you apparently don't even know yourself that well."
"What am I supposed to do then?"
The man sighed and gently massaged his temple. "Leave and go find a swords trainer or something. Magic, especially of this nature, is not a toy."
"I know that!" My voice cried out, volume rising. "I can't fight with weapons, I'm not strong. I want to be able to help!"
"Anima magic then." He said shortly, turning away.
"I'll do whatever you ask!"
"That's great. Get off my land then."
"I'm serious! Whatever it takes..."
Malcolm huffed before facing me once more. "Why do you wish to learn Dark Magic so badly?"
I set my face into an 'as determined as I can be' expression. "I heard it was the magic more intertwined with knowledge and skill, that those who study hard are rewarded."
"Hm." Came the reply. "You're not wrong, as just that is more than most of the common masses know. Come along then, and keep up. You'll start immediately..."
-o-
A wooden bucket with water and a rag attached to the side was set down next to me as I started at the medieval equivalent to a sink. We had reached Malcolm's cottage after half an hour of walking and I was now assigned to my first task... washing dishes. It wouldn't be so bad if the whole home didn't smell like dust and the plates to be made of jagged ceramic that irritated my skin. 'Work for your stay. Then you can learn' is what he said to me, giving me the bucket before sauntering off outside. The sink was made of some sort of hardwood and was embedded with a handle, making it a water pump with a basic. A wooden rack where I assumed the plates and... two cups went hung over the basin's side by hooks. Malcolm expected this to be done by sundown... and said celestial body was infuriatingly speeding across the sky, about an hour's worth of distance afternoon. My stomach growled and I suppressed my hunger in favor of concentration.
Scrubbing grime off plates was a bit harder with no soap or sponges, and I constantly had to go outside and 'beat off' the gunk from the rag, even with the water to soak it in. I barely made the correct time as Malcolm strolled in the door to see me finishing up. His expression was unreadable as he examined my work. "Hmph. Acceptable enough I suppose." He then grasped for a broom tucked up against the wall and tossed it to me. "Sweep the front room. After that, you'll get dinner."
I sighed inwardly as I took the new task with as minimal outward complaint as I could muster. The front room was the biggest in the cabin and consisted of furniture and various knick-knacks I'd have to move to dust. I can certainly say this wasn't what I was expecting when I came to Tellius, and not at all what I was expecting when I... my rhythmic motion stopped for a moment as I recalled the circumstances that brought me here.
"Useless trash."
My grip tightened. My situation wasn't exactly uncommon either and I had to go and die while others suffered. A splosh on the floor caused me to set a growing wet spot, and afterwards to wipe my face with my free arm to brush away the other tears.
I just hope I'll be of use here.
