"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:6)
1. He was born unto this earth with a fate tied tightly around his small baby wrist.
He realizes it is not in his fate to be a hero. No, no, that position had been filled. Lucina is blessed with the brand, not him. And she is his enemy.
2. She sings to him, nights after the news of their parents' death. Singing quietly, hoping maybe just one night her little brother will sleep. He pleads with her, "oh, Mother is still alive, Luci. I know it, I just know it." He smiles happily and she leaves him, her shoulders shaking as she steps out of his room.
3. He doesn't remember what his father looked like, the young exalt always being at war, and thus feels no grief.
He rarely cries. But then again, no one he really cares for died.
4. His mother's sweet words speak to him at night. Quiet and soothing.
Promises of redemption, of love and acceptance.
5. He leaves in the night when the voice gets too loud, too threatening, too real. His breathing becomes ragged and he claws, tears at his skin, begging for relief, begging for his mother to hold him. And so he leaves, vision blurred and hands shaking as he gathers his tomes and sword.
He leaves nothing behind.
6. To fight for Master Grima is the closest thing he has to having his mother.
To kill innocent others just so the beast that wore his mother's skin would praise him.
She cups his chin with her claws. Her pale face cracks and he can sees the two extra set of eyes, red and threatening. She smiles, her sharp teeth slightly too big for her mouth. He is unsure whether to love her or fear her.
7. Lucina points Falchion against his chest, tears and blood smudged across her face. His hands fly up in false surrender, and he smiles at her knowingly.
Her grip tightens on the hilt of her sword, her knuckles turning white.
"Forgive me, brother."
He senses her movements and is quicker. Falchion falls from her hands and she is on the ground, winching in pain as dark magic surrounds her.
"I'm sorry, Luci, but I can't let you hurt Master Grima."
8. He meets his mother again on the battlefield.
Except it's really her. And she smiles and laughs and is not threatened by him.
And she hands him a book he already owns and suddenly he knows that he can no longer keep this up.