Cursed and the Blessed
Note: This story will have three "avatar" characters: Robin, Daraen, and Reflet. In turn, there will be offspring named: Morgan, Linfan, and Marc.
Prologue
A man laid in a bed of vivid green grass. The blades of grass swaying as they waved at the sky. The man could feel the cool breeze of the wind gently caress its exposed skin as his dark red hair lightly fluttered in the breeze. The sky was mostly clear as only a few fluffy white clouds drifted aimlessly in the bright blue sky. The man grinned.
"Such a pretty sight…" he whispered while the corners of his lips curved up. The air smelled sweet as the wind flew across the field. The man lifted his right hand and on its back, a bright purple mark made of three pairs of eyes with a crown of jagged horns stared at him. "Huh," The man looked back towards the sky and watched as the clouds floated across the light blue background. The man grinned a wide toothy grin. "Nothing to it, right?"
The man could feel the breeze get warmer as he saw flashes of blurry images.
The man heard voices rise slowly as the blurry images faded into black. The black was soon tinted a bright red as sunlight tapped his face.
"We have to do something!" A soft but shrill voice shouted as the man opened his eyes and sat up. He saw three figures in front of him: two men and a woman. Only the tall man on the back, dressed in blue steel with white accents on the metal noticed. The other two continued.
"What would you have me do?" The blue haired man muttered at the lithe blonde woman.
"I…I don't' know. Just something!" She muttered.
"I don't know I was having a pretty good nap," the man chuckled. The blue haired man and the blonde-haired woman sharply turned to face the sitting man. He yawned and grinned a large toothy grin (wildly?) at them. "I'd prefer a good morning though" the man looked up and pointed to the sky and the bright sun beaming heavy light on them.
"There are better places to take a nap, you know," the blue haired man offered a hand. The man on the ground grinned (smiled?) as he reached out with his right hand to the blue-haired man's hand.
"Ah, I don't know," the man shrugged as he grabbed the blue-haired man's extended hand. The man pulled himself up and rolled his shoulders. "The grass is pretty soft and the crisp air," the man shifted his weight and rubbed his chin, "is really soothing." The blue-haired man and the blonde-haired woman looked at the man with a blank expression. The man chuckled. From the corner of his eye, he noticed the tall man in blue steel expressionless face. The man shifted his weight back and the heft of a thick blade with a gold hilt and the thump of a thick purple tome hit his left leg. The man grinned. "Hell, we've been talking and we haven't introduced ourselves yet." The man crossed his arms and shook his head. "Such bad manners, aye?" The man flashed a wide grin. The three in front of the man flinched slightly. "So, name's Robin." Robin ruffled his red hair and rolled his shoulders.
"Robin? Is that foreign?" The blue-haired man asked. Robin shrugged.
"Don't know" Robin muttered. "All I know is you three are an odd bunch." Robin nodded at them. The blue-haired man tilted his head slightly. The blonde woman bounced once and pouted.
"Odd? We're not the one who was sleeping in the middle of nowhere." The blonde-haired girl poked Robin. Robin raised a brow at the blonde-haired girl.
"Seems pretty normal," Robin smiled, "I mean three people check up on a random stranger who they don't know in the middle of nowhere is a pretty common occurrence."
"Sir," Robin flinched as he noticed a large man tower over Chrom and the blonde woman. He was slightly taller than Robin. The thick pale blue stale (steel) covered most of his body. Robin raised an eyebrow at the sight of a bow-tie right above his armor's collar. How does that help with anything? Robin thought. Does he expect to disarm his opponents with style? Robin placed his hand to his chin. He imagined a faceless man attacking this weirdly dressed knight. The knight would remove his bow-tie and throw it. The bow-tie would smash into the hand and toss the weapon of the attacker. Robin could feel a single tear of sweat form on his brow. What the hell am I thinking. Like that could ever happen. "Perhaps we should get back on the road, I think Miss Lissa and you have dawdled long enough." Robin turned to the blonde-haired girl. Lissa, aye? Robin kept his expression still.
"Come on, Frederick" Chrom placed his hand on the large knight's right shoulder. "We can't just leave." Lissa grabbed Frederick's left arm and pulled on it.
"Yeah, I mean we can't just leave Robin yet. He might end up on sleeping on the floor again." Lissa chuckled.
"Going back to sleep is tempting," Robin chuckled. Robin placed his hand on his temples, "But how will that help?" Robin paused as the wind kissed his skin. He smiled. "So, I'm off." Robin turned away from them and waved his arm back and forth. The three watched as Robin wandered further away until he stopped. He turned around and rubbed his chin. His lips tightened and his brow furrowed. He sighed and placed both his hands at his waist. "So I'm off to some place called Ylisstol. I believe I got some folks waiting for me there but..." Robin rubbed the back of his head, "I have no idea where it is exactly." Chrom and Lissa looked at each as Frederick raised his left brow.
"So you know where your destination is..." Chrom muttered as a single drop of sweat fell from his cheek.
"But not how to get there?" Lissa finished. They both looked at Robin who continued just to smile.
"Odd, no?" Robin muttered, "Must have hit my head hard when I decided to doze off." Robin shrugged.
"I know what you are thinking milord," Frederick kept his brow raised at the Chrom. Chrom turned to Frederick with a bemused expression.
"But it's not up to you, is it?" Chrom chuckled. Frederick sighed. Chrom gave him a large toothy grin. "Thanks for understanding, Frederick." Both men turned to see Lissa had bolted to Robin. She began speaking and bouncing on her heels.
"So that's how you get to Ylisstol." Lissa nodded. Robin covered his mouth with his left hand as he slightly rubbed his pointer finger against his cheek.
"So it's not that far from here," Robin muttered through his hand, "A day's travel you say?"
"We're also going to Ylisstol." Lissa stated. Robin smiled at her.
"Is that so? Then I suppose you won't mind me tagging along?" Robin grinned. Robin crossed his arms, " I promise I won't be too much of a hassle."
"Not no hassle?" Lissa prodded Robin. Robin bellowed a large laugh.
"And make a promise I can't keep?" Robin crouched so he was eye to eye with Lissa, "Being no hassle is no fun." Robin chuckled, "I like to think even with my current state that I'm no boring board of wood." Frederick and Chrom glanced at each other.
"I guess Lissa already decided for us." Chrom chuckled. Frederick sighed and he rolled his shoulders.
"I suppose so." Lissa began waving at them.
"Hey!" Lissa bellowed at them. Robin flinched at the shrill pitch of her yell. For a small thing she sure has some pipes. Robin thought. "Robin's coming along with us!" Not to mention, Robin counted the steps between them and Frederick and Chrom. We're only about five steps from them. Robin grinned. Maybe she just likes to yell.
"We got it Lissa," Chrom muttered. He turned to Frederick and smiled. The large man in blue armor just nodded at Chrom. "Let's get a move on then." Robin waited for the three of them to start on a path. Robin began to follow them always five steps behind. Robin's eyes noticed slight details in the equipment they carried. A sword with an odd circular blade guard that seemed to be nestled into the blade's hilt. A spear with triangular shape with a whole in the center of the blade attached to a large steel pole. A wooden staff of fine white wood, the wood seemed finished with a glaze. Not your average attire, Robin thought. Large blue armor and those fine clothes are also odd. Robin felt warm breath on his neck. He turned around to have his faced licked by a horse. The horse huffed air through its nostril. "Well, hello" Robin wiped his face.
"So..." Chrom looked back towards Robin. "can you tell us anything about the people you are meeting?" Robin took a deep breath.
"Honestly," Robin smiled, "I don't really know. I can't truly remember their names." Chrom flinched. Robin's lips slightly curved up as he looked down at the ground. He chuckled slightly, "But I can recall who they are." Robin looked towards the sky. The clouds slowly floated away. Leaves floated passed Robin's eyes. "Let's just say, they'll be hard to miss." Robin chuckled.
"My lord!" Robin flinched as Frederick pointed towards the horizon as he walked beside the horse. "Something is amiss in the next town." Robin squinted his eyes and noticed a tinge of smoke list up.
"By the looks of it," Chrom muttered. Robin ran passed them towards the fire. Chrom grinned. "Hey! I'm normally the one who rushes in." Chrom quickly shot forward and followed Robin. Frederick sighed.
"Wonderful," Frederick shook his head as he mounted the horse and offered a helping hand to Lissa. Lissa grinned.
Chrom was running at full speed until he felt an arm hold him back.
"I think we should survey the situation first," Robin grinned at him. The two men looked at the area in front of them. A small hamlet with broken barrels and a distinct smell of smoke and fire. Armed men wandered the pavement and a large burly man in furs was hitting his hand against a cathedral's door. "So that's our target." Robin muttered. Chrom's brow furrowed.
"How can you see that?' Chrom muttered. Robin began to pat around his waist.
"I do have a weapon somewhere," Robin muttered, "I think..." Robin felt the cold metal hilt of a blade on his left and unsheathed it. Robin patted his right side and felt a thick leather cover. He rubbed his fingers against the coarse pages. "A sword and a tome." Robin muttered.
"You can use magic and wield a blade?" Chrom muttered. Robin hesitated.
"I think so…" Robin muttered as he titled his head. "One way to find out!" Chrom watched as Robin ran forward.
"I'll just keep my distance..." Chrom whispered. A hand fell on his shoulder. Chrom flinched.
"That's a good plan sir," Frederick muttered. Frederick pointed towards the armed men to the left. "Robin is heading far right." Chrom nodded. "It seems like a pincer maneuver would be best." Chrom nodded. Robin ran forward and paused.
"Oy!" Robin shouted at the armed men, "The hell's goi-" Robin dodged a blast of wind. The wind current cut through Robin's black cloak. "So that's how it's going to be?" Robin grinned a large toothy grin. Robin rolled his wrist and rushed forward.
Let's see. Robin brought his blade down at the first armed man. He dodged backwards.
Focus. Robin's left hand began to spark and simmer as lightning arced around his palm. Another blast of wind grazed Robin, he rushed forward at the swordsman and stabbed forward. The swordsman dodged left of his blade.
Robin grinned and brought his left hand forward. He slammed his palm into the swordsman's face and brought him down to the ground. Lightning discharged around them, Robin felt a gust of wind slam into him. Robin stabbed his blade into the ground and held on as the wind died down. Robin's coat was slightly tattered. Robin drew his blade.
"Let's get started." Robin recharged his left hand with bright lightning.
A blast of wind traveled passed Robin and rushed to the other side, Frederick grabbed Chrom's collar and threw him backwards and the piercing wind slammed into the stone wall.
"Robin, please block those strikes." Frederick shouted. Robin turned towards and nodded. Another blast of wind came rushing forward. Robin forced his left hand into the current of wind and with a discharge shattered the current. Robin shook his left hand.
"Come on, you can muster more power than that," Robin sheathed his sword and taunted the wind mage.
Chrom and Frederick rushed forwards towards their opponents. Chrom drew his blade and rushed forward. One of the armed men brought an axe above his head and planted his feet in preparation. Chrom slightly tilted his blade and redirected the force of the cleaving axe to his side and slashed the axe man across his bare chest.
Blood stained the silvery steel of Chrom's blade. The blood burned away as if the blade was hot as molten metal. Frederick rushed in at the horse's full gallop and pierced the other warrior through the chest and tossed it off the silver spear's blade. Robin glanced at them as he reflected another blast of wind with his left hand.
"Moving on then." Robin charged both his hands with lightning. Another blast of wind rushed forward at him. Robin shattered the current with his right hand and blasted a bolt of lightning through the wind mage's chest. "All done." Robin sighed. Robin looked at his hands. Must be nothing new. Robin thought.
"Robin, let's go." Chrom shouted. Robin glanced at his hand. He nodded to Chrom.
"Wait!" Lissa caught to them. "You know how hard it is to keep up with you guys in this?" She motioned to her yellow dress.
"I thought you were just staying out of the fight," Robin chuckled. "I guess you could hit someone with that staff but I would think a-" Lissa pouted and squished Robin's cheeks.
"I am not DELICATE!" Lissa pouted at him.
Then why didn't you get on the horse? Frederick thought. Lisa raised up her staff as Robin's cloak and cuts began to knit themselves back together.
"Besides you needed a some Lissa-Approved healing!" Lissa pounded her chest lightly. Robin grinned as Lissa forcefully rubbed his cheeks.
"Does it include having my face squeezed," Robin muttered as Lissa continued to rub his cheeks. Lissa winked at Robin.
"Nah, that's extra!" Lissa grinned. Robin sighed.
Wonderful. Robin turned to the last enemy. The large burly man had stopped slamming his fist on the cathedral door and turned to them. Chrom and Robin stepped forward. Robin drew his blade and charged his left hand. Chrom flourished his blade.
"Lookie 'ere" the large burly man grinned. "Name's Garrick and 'em boys you killed ain't nothing to sneeze at." Garrick picked up a large metal axe from the ground. "Now, 'ow 'bout I split ya'll into tiny pieces!" Robin watched Garrick's footstep as he charged.
"Chrom follow me," Robin shouted as he sheathed his blades and went right under the axe. Robin grabbed the heavy axe with both hands.
Sparks flew around them as the metal clashes against the lightning covering Robin's hand. The lighting arced through the axe's metal but fizzled around the leather hilt.
"That ain't goin' to work!" Garrick growled as he put his whole weight into the blade. Robin grinned.
"Of course not," Robin held tight on to the blade. "But I'm not here to kill you." Garrick noticed from the corner of his eye Chrom rushing forward. Garrick tried to pull his axe away. Robin pulled on the blade and adjusted his footing. Chrom sliced through Garrick's chest. Robin pushed on the blade and fired a bolt of lightning at the large cut.
"Arrgh" Garrick groaned as he collapsed backwards. Robin wiped his brow.
"Not bad," Robin grinned and rubbed his palms. Blood dripped from his right palm. The flesh began to knit itself together. "Lissa, thanks." Robin turned to Lissa. She raised her brow at him.
"For what?" Lissa tilted her head. Robin turned back to his palm. No trace of blood or even a wound was on his hand.
"I guess I was just seeing things..." Robin muttered.
Suddenly the Cathedral door opened and people busted out shaking the hands of their saviors. A young woman came up to Robin and grabbed both his hands and shook them with tears in her eyes. Then a sudden hush came over the large crowd.
Their voices rose but as more people came out they seemed to avoid Robin and talk to the other three. The woman who shook his hands smiled at him and whispered into Robin's ear and walked away.
Robin looked at his right palm and turned over his hand. Three pairs of eye attached by small purple threads.
"Hey," Chrom placed his hand on Robin's shoulder. "We are about to head out. Need anything?" Robin glanced around at the crowd. He couldn't see any eyes looking out towards them.
"Nothing," Robin sighed. "Though, I am famished." Robin placed his hands on his stomach. "I feel like eating a bear." Lissa and Frederick stared at Robin. "What?" Robin muttered.
"Oh, bear meat would be interesting." Chrom muttered. Lissa stopped her feet.
"Can't we just get food from here!" Lissa shouted as the sky turned to night. Lissa sat on a patch of grass. A large fire danced with the wind as chops of bear meat hung skewered by wooden sticks. The specks of ash floated into the deep forest that flanked them to the left.
"I can't believe we are eating bear." Lissa whined as she held her knees to her chest. Robin had four to five sticks next to him as he grabbed another skewer and began munching on the bear.
"Gods, "Robin belched. "It may be gamey but damn does it hit the spot." Chrom nodded.
"Yeah, nothing better than fresh caught meat." Chrom took the last skewer from the fire. "But you must have been famished Robin." Chrom took a bite off the skewer, "I don't think I could eat that much." Lissa nodded.
"And he can eat a lot." Lissa chimed in. Robin chuckled.
"I must have not eaten all day," Robin bellowed. The fire died as the night grew older and the chilly wind began to bite. Robin stared up to the sky. It's bright lights shining through the thick black of the night. Robin closed his eyes and listened to the song of the wind. The cool breeze hitting and rolling over him.
Robin opened his eyes to see a sea of purple mist hanged in front of him. Robin took a step forward but felt something pull him away from the mist. Robin reached out his hand towards the mist, but felt something embrace him from behind. Pulling him away from the mist. Robin grimaced as he felt his chest ache.
"Robin!" Robin shot up. He grabbed his shirt where the pain in his chest was. "Robin," Chrom pulled him up. "I think something is happening and I don't know where Lissa is." Chrom muttered as he huffed. Robin glanced around and noticed giant dark portals appear above the forest. Robin tightened his grip on his shirt.
"We can't wait." Robin murmured. Chrom nodded. Both men rushed into the forest. Robin felt something boil in his blood. This power. Robin gritted his teeth.
A figure rushed passed them. Robin caught a glimpse of dark blue hair and a mask. The scent of lavender echoed in the air.
"What was that?" Frederick stated as he readied his lance. Chrom shook his head.
"Doesn't matter," Chrom rushed through and broke into clearing in the forest. Lissa was sitting against a tree as the deep portals continued to glow.
"Sister!" Chrom ran up to her. He began to fret and pester her about any wounds or injuries. Robin walked slowly as he stared at the deep portals. Runes covered the edges of the portals. Robin grabbed his blade and drew it.
"Get ready," Robin hissed. Chrom and Lissa turned to Robin. Robin felt his entire body become overcome with heat. His sweat caused his whole body to be chilled as cold wind nipped at his skin.
"They are coming." From the portals figures of flesh fell to the floor. Dark purple arcs around the sewn flesh as the slobs knitted back together. The purple lightning arced into the ground as bones rushed from the ground and flesh began to inflate from the bone until they formed humanoid shapes.
"The hell." Chrom gritted his teeth. "What are they?" Robin breathed deeply.
"Besides abominations we must kill," Robin gulped. "I think they are called Risen." They creatures flopped forward. Some, the more humanoid, reached into the ground and pulled out weapons charged with purple lightning.
"So you know their weakness then?" Frederick bellowed as he pulled on his horse's reins.
"They are just like you and I, "Robin muttered. "Broken corpses with a tied soul." Robin chest was burning up.
"But that's all I can think of." The Risen rustled forward. "Get ready!" Robin charged his left hand with lightning. Chrom raised his blade. But then a shadow covered the sky as many arrows rained down. Volley of arrows after volley pierced the Risen. Every arrow hitting at the base of each Risens' neck.
"What?" Robin muttered. Suddenly out of nowhere two figures came out of the forest.
"Aye Chrom, I'm here to back you up." shouted a woman with short red hair. Her lips pursed as she whistled for her horse to slow down. The horse was dressed in red armor like its riders.
Does every knight these guys know color code their armor? Robin thought.
"Oh ho," a voice rang out, "My dear Sully, was my display not," the man with light blue posed in the moonlight. The light focused on him.
That's impressive. Robin thought.
"Ravishing." The light blue haired man rolled the word off his tongue.
"Hey frills, I'd be impressed if you hit all of them." Sully muttered. The light-blue haired man paused and grinned.
"But I, Virion, never miss." Virion proudly boasted. Robin turned to see more Risen rise from the ground. Robin cursed under his breath.
"Hey Virion! Think you can hit all of them again and not hit an ally?" Robin barked. Virion pulled back his hair.
"Oh, a challenge," Virion quickly notched his arrows. "If you are brave enough, I shall show you my glorious skill." Robin nodded.
"Chrom run across the side of the forest and when you see me attack something," Chrom nodded at Robin. Robin nodded. He rushed forward into the mass of Risen. He could hear arrows whistle through the air. The thump of an arrow burying into flesh rang around him.
Robin slowed down as he kicked up grass and noticed a Risen surrounded by dark purple arcs. The portals above them seemingly feeding into it. Robin rushed at the Risen and slammed his blade at him. The risen didn't move as the blade hit its flesh.
The risen reared backwards but its wound began to knit shut. "Shit," Robin stepped back as the Risen raised its axe and brought down to the ground.
Luckily it's slow as a snail. Robin thought. Robin watched as Chrom circled behind and rushed at the Risen from behind. Chrom stabbed the Risen in the back and kicked off the Risen's back. Robin prepared to rush in but the wound did not heal. The purple lightning danced around the wound but couldn't touch the opened gash. The flesh seemed to smolder at the steel's touch.
"The plan worked." Chrom shouted. Robin nodded. He turned to see Sully quickly rushing through the stragglers on the field. Her lance forced the remaining Risen to collapse to the ground as she used the lances edge to cut through the Risens' legs.
The portals began to collapse. Chrom ran up to Sully. Robin looked at the dead Risen. A Risen Chief. Robin thought. A soul tethered to a body. A soul writhing in dark emotions. It only lacks one thing before it becomes something greater. Something so much darker. Robin looked at his right hand and at the mark he had. The eyes stared back at him. Robin grinned. Frederick jumped off his horse and patted Robin's shoulder.
"I'm impressed by what you did back there." Frederick muttered. Robin sighed.
"I just did what was necessary." Robin muttered, "But, I seem to have a problem." Frederick raised his brow at him. "I doubt you believe me but at this very moment." Frederick nodded. "I'm a broken mind that is slowly coming back together."
"I do believe and," Frederick crossed his arms, "I have no doubt the others will too." Robin chuckled as he rubbed the back of his neck.
"A bunch of idiots, right?" Robin smirked as he elbowed Frederick.
"I agree." Frederick and Robin looked at each other and sighed.
"Well, off to Ylisstol." Robin rolled his shoulders and stretched out his arms.
I hope you enjoy the chapter!
Also a special thank you to those who comment and review to improve the story's quality.