Disclaimer: I don't own Fire Emblem.

A/N: Response wasn't too bad for the prologue. Now onto the real first chapter. Hope you all enjoy.

Chapter 1: Border Pressure

The Longfort stretched across the landscape as their troop came upon it. The massive fortress was a wall between the lands that were teeming with Risen and the cities that had yet to fall. It was an expansive construct left behind by the former kingdom of Ferox, and served as a boon to those that led the combined alliance against the forces of darkness that threatened the land.

The gates opened, welcoming the weary company into the city just beyond. Lucina always felt relieved and refreshed when she saw the buildings of the Fort City. Even on the borders of Risen infested lands, people were comfortable living at the city. It was also reassuring to those living in the city to know that since the Longfort was so heavily protected, if they ever did come under attack there were plenty of soldiers capable of protecting them. All in all, any city that was nestled against the wall was seen as a fort sanctuary. A safe haven where they could live happily and in peace.

Lucina hoped that things would stay that way for years to come.

The troop was met at the gate by more soldiers who moved to help the returning men and women with their equipment while the medics helped the injured into infirmary tents and barracks where they could get healed and rest. Lucina immediately recognized a familiar face talking with the captains of the squads and directing people where they needed to go. Lucina caught his attention as she approached him. The man turned away from the captains after giving them their orders and returned Lucina's smile.

"Glad to see you back here, Lucina." Laurent greeted, bowing his head slightly to their leader.

"Laurent." Lucina grasped her friend's hand when he extended it, giving a firm shake. "I can't thank you enough for the reinforcements you sent. I only hope that you weren't forced to send too many soldiers and leave the fort unguarded, even if was only for a little while."

"I only sent as many as I thought would be necessary. I'm gratified to see that my calculations regarding the amount of soldiers needed to help transport supplies and the number of medics needed to accommodate the wounded were spot on." Laurent smiled. "Based on the reports the captains just gave me, we saved great many lives thanks to the healers I provided."

"I sometimes fear what would become of our alliance if we didn't have your calm judgment to rely on." Lucina complimented.

"Yes, yes. Whatever would we do without your meticulous attention to detail?"

Laurent only chuckled in response to Severa's quip as the girl joined the two of them. "I'm glad to see you made it back safely and in one piece as well."

"Are you saying you expected anything less?" Severa frowned.

"Of course not. After all, I can't imagine what would become of our alliance if we didn't have a woman with such strength and prowess fighting for us."

"You're making fun of me, aren't you?"

"Not at all." Laurent returned, adjusting his glasses in a way that made the sunlight reflect off of them, expressing how serious he was. "You are a skilled warrior, Severa. There is no doubt of that. It would be a great loss if you were to somehow fall in battle."

"W-Well, obviously! There's no way you'd get along without me." Severa agreed, preening a bit at Laurent's words.

"And I'm afraid Lucina overestimates me somewhat. I may have never thought to send reinforcements had I not received your message. Foresight is not a talent I possess, unfortunately."

"But you responded quickly and effectively, and the aid you sent was more than we hoped for. Again, I give you my thanks." Lucina said.

"Yes, well… I can make assumptions about the results of your expedition based on the skeleton reports given to me by the captains of the remaining platoons and my own observations… but I'd like to hear a more detailed account of the events that took place if that's possible."

"Of course…" Lucina gave a slow nod at that. Laurent was kind enough not to ignore the grimace on her face, deciding to withhold his comments until after they had finished discussing the details of their assault.

Laurent gestured to the two girls, leading them over to a building nearby where they could speak without having to worry about the soldiers eavesdropping on them. The mage held the door open for Lucina and Severa as they walked in, quietly shutting the door behind him and lighting a couple lanterns so they wouldn't have to speak in the dark. Maps and other notes littered the tables and desks while books filled up every bookshelf. Severa gave an unladylike snort as she appraised the room.

"You've certainly made yourself at home here, haven't you?" Severa half asked and half stated to Laurent.

"Someone needs to help coordinate the soldiers along the fortress, so I thought it fitting to have my own workplace rather than make a mess of the barracks coming up with strategies and hypothesizing possible battle scenarios. I needed someplace I could work in peace and store my notes." Laurent replied evenly.

"Oh, I'll bet. I can only imagine how much whining you would have heard from the soldiers if their quarters were flooded with all these papers." Severa smirked. She frowned a little and crossed her arms in dissatisfaction. "Still, appreciate the fact you have a place to call your own for the time being. I haven't even stayed in one place longer than two days because of how much I've been moving around lately."

"I apologize for that, Severa. Those orders are my own and I understand the burden I'm placing on you," Lucina immediately spoke up in response to her friend's complaint, apologies already on the tip of her tongue. "But our forces are already spread too thin as is and there are areas that-!"

"Save it, Lucina. I'm not blaming you, I'm just venting a little frustration." Severa sighed, annoyed by how serious Lucina was being in response to her comment. "I'll move when I need to and do as you say. Even if all this moving around is a pain, if it means saving lives, I can deal with it."

Lucina nodded and gave her an apologetic smile. "I'm happy to hear that. But that doesn't mean I'm not-"

"Ahem!" Laurent cleared his throat. "Not to sound impatient… but the report?"

"Ah! Of course. I didn't mean to…" Lucina trailed off as she shook her head, expression flattening into a much more solemn look. "About our army's attempt to reclaim land beyond the border…"

Lucina's expression broke for a moment, expressing her frustration and regret as her fists clenched on the table. She bowed her head so that her friends couldn't see the look on her face.

"…Well, you've seen for yourself. It ended in our retreat and we were unable to reclaim a city."

"So your army fell in the first battle?"

"No. We stayed under the cover of darkness when we approached the first city and launched our assault at dawn. Our battle was successful and we sustained minimal losses. We left some our forces at the city and moved the bulk of the army to the surrounding area, trying to create foothold for ourselves." Lucina paused for a moment, giving a deep sigh before continuing. "…More Risen were upon us within hours. The legions overwhelmed us and we retreated back to the city. I sent the messenger telling of our retreat on the third day, which is the day we were forced to abandon the city we reclaimed and spent the day and the night trying to elude the Risen who were sent after us, trying to conserve our remaining supplied and cater to the injured as best we could. In the end, it went the same way as all other battles… it resulted in heavy losses and defeat for us."

"…I see. It is truly regretful that you failed."

"Indeed."

Laurent sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose as he grabbed a couple pieces of paper off a desk nearby. He held them out to Lucina. "I also regret I cannot give you better news on our other endeavors. Instead, I can only capitalize on the negative."

Lucina frowned and snatched the papers away from Laurent. Her eyes scanned the reports quickly, becoming wider and wider the more she read. Slowly, she set the papers down on the table after she had finished reading them, raising her head to gaze at Laurent in disbelief.

"Five cities… all gone?"

"The messenger who gave me the report bled out before we could heal him. He used the last of his strength to warn us. If you had seen him, it would have truly driven home how dire conditions in the west have become." Laurent said solemnly.

"No way! Five?!" Severa gasped, snatching the papers off the table to verify the details for herself. "What are they doing over there?! How could they…!"

Humanity still fought hard to survive against the legions of Risen that swarmed across the land. In the ruin that the world had become, everyone had banded together to form an alliance to push back the dark forces that threatened to swallow up the land. Lucina, along with a few others, headed the alliance that struggled against the Risen. While they did their best to inspire and lead those that would follow them, they didn't disillusion themselves. Victories were never truly victories anymore. They weren't fighting a War, they were just doing their best to struggle against a wave that was getting closer and closer to swallowing them up each day.

They weren't fighting to win, but to survive. Mankind had reached a point where they could do nothing expect desperately hold on to the footholds they maintained in the ruined world. The continent of Valm had already fallen years ago, reduced to a dead wasteland teeming with Risen. Ylisse and Plegia were in an even worse state since they were the first countries that had been overwhelmed by Risen. Only the former Kingdom of Ferox, filled with many strong warriors that still had the will to fight and coupled with the defense provided by the Longfort kept the legions of Risen at bay.

…At least for the time being.

Fact of the matter was, no matter how many soldiers were lost the number of Risen never once decreased. If anything, each day they seemed to grow in number. Each day, the borders of the lands they tried to keep safe were pushed by more and more Risen. Lucina's charge into Risen lands hadn't been an attempt to reclaim land despite what many soldiers thought.

It was just an effort to push back the Risen that pressed against their borders. To keep them at bay for just a little longer.

"Risen are beginning to appear near the coastlines beyond the Longfort. That's how they're getting into our lands in the west." Laurent sighed. "Our soldiers are fighting a battle on both sides of the fort now. I don't know how much longer the west walls will remain standing under such pressure."

"Ooh… the soldiers in the west had it hard, but they always managed to push the Risen back until now." Severa said, biting her lip in worry. "But to lose this many cities… I can't imagine the stubborn fools over there losing that badly! There has to be a reason for it!"

"Regardless of whatever reason there is, all we can do is fight them off. Try and maintain our hold on key cities while sacrificing ones that are doomed to be lost." Lucina muttered. "But… Severa does have a point. We've never lost so many cities before. At least not all at once…"

The three lapsed into silence, lamenting the situation for what it was. They each felt ice in the pit of their stomachs, a cold feeling that was a premonition of what was to come. They had managed to fight back the Risen and keep losses on the safe side of the Longfort to a minimum while barely losing any towns and cities… but now that this blow had been struck…

"…Has Grima moved?" Lucina asked, voicing the question she and Severa both wanted to know the answer to.

"Hah… I would have been the one sending you a letter ordering your retreat if that was the case." Laurent gave a hollow chuckle. "No… thankfully, the dragon has decided not to move from the spot he's been in for the last couple years. There have been no reports about his appearing anywhere near are lands. He seems comfortable enough watching our struggles from the center of what was once Ylisse, our former home and kingdom."

"That's… good."

Lucina didn't feel the relief she should have. After all, since the beginning of the war whenever Grima entered the battlefield any battalion in the area was ordered to immediately retreat. To fight the evil dragon was… it was unthinkable. That monster alone had razed Valm to the ground in under a month, killing thousands upon thousands of the strongest warriors who called the nation their home. It had been an example of the resurrected dragon's might. A testament to just how fruitless any attempts to fight the monster head on would do. Even as they fought against Risen back on their home continent, Lucina and the others had waited and dreaded the day Grima would return to their homelands and ruin them the same way it had ruined Valm.

And Grima did indeed return. It had cast a shadow over the lands in its flight back, signifying its return. For those who had witnessed or been under that shadow, they had despaired. But Grima hadn't attacked that day of his return. He didn't attack that week, the next week, the next month, or even the next year. His nightmarish form had descended and disappeared over the mountains of Ylisse, settling in land that had already been destroyed during his resurrection and the remains swarmed with Risen. Since then, Grima had not personally taken part in any battle.

"…Why?"

Lucina and Laurent turned towards Severa, who voiced her own question.

"Why?" Severa repeated. "Why hasn't he moved for all this time? He's… his power is… he could take us out at any time so why…!?"

Severa caught herself, covering her mouth with her hands and shaking her head. Lucina and Laurent bowed their heads, expressions downcast as they had been thinking the same thing.

"N-No, um… I…!" Severa stammered, trying to take back her words. "I… I didn't mean it like that…"

"It's okay." Laurent assured her with a pitiful smile on his face. "I understand. We all do."

"Guh…!"

"It's true. He could… at any time…" Lucina whispered.

It was a taboo subject of those who led their forces across the lands they still possessed. Within their inner circle, it was the one thing each of them knew but constantly denied so that they wouldn't lose hope. But what Severa said was the truth, and they knew it. Grima had the power to make nonsense of the forces that continued to fight valiantly against the darkness. If the dragon ever did choose to attack them, that would be the end. No matter how hard they struggled, there was no way they could defeat the beast. If Grima took part in any battle, it would be their end.

"…Perhaps watching our struggles provides him with enough amusement to warrant our continued existence." Laurent sighed. "He knows we cannot hope to oppose him so… with the luxury knowing that he has the capability of destroying us whenever he wants…"

"So this is all just a game to him?! Seeing all of us fight and fight like maniacs, losing lives to Risen every day…!" Severa seethed. "We're just… entertainment for that monster?!"

"No!"

Severa and Laurent both jumped at Lucina's vehement shout. The woman had a fierce look on her face, glaring at the both of them with fire burning in her eyes. Her blue eyes flared brightly, so much so that Severa and Laurent could see the Mark of the Exalt shining in her left eye.

"I refuse to believe our struggles are that hopeless!" Lucina declared. "Yes, it's true… right now Grima has the power to destroy us at a whim. If what Laurent says is true, and that he's only let us survive this long, content to watch us push back the waves of Risen he sends at us for his own amusement… that arrogance will be his downfall!"

"Lucina…"

"Someday… someday…!" Lucina's voice quaked. Her hand came to rest on Falchion's hilt, and feel of the weapon allowed her to take a deep breath and calm herself. "…Someday, we will find a way so that we can take the fight to Grima. So that we might overcome his forces and slay the beast himself and end the plague of darkness that has cursed our beloved home! When I took up my father's blade and decided to fight, I swore this to myself. As long as I wield Falchion… I refuse to lose hope. I can't…"

Because if she, the one chosen to lead their people through the darkness, could not feel hope… then how could anyone else? It was up to her… it was her duty to keep on hoping until they found a way to stop Grima. Until they found a light to chase away the darkness…

And until that light was found… she would carry the torch and lead those who would follow her into that darkness. Even if she had to do it alone…

"…Hmph. Well, just remember you're not alone."

Lucina turned to Severa, eyes wide in surprise. The girl was smirking with an approving look on her face.

"Don't try to sound cool by yourself. You've got all us here to support you." Severa smirked. "I know in my heart we'll find a way to beat Grima someday. And you'll be the one to lead us to it."

"But… you said…"

"I know what I said!" Severa huffed, turning away. "I-It was just another complaint, okay? Things have been hard lately so I was just venting a little. It's not like I really… as long as you're around, Lucina, I know there's no way we'll lose."

"Severa…"

"Of course, that goes without saying."

Lucina turned to her second companion. Laurent gave the shocked princess a warm smile, his tone expressing his own faith in their leader.

"Statistically speaking, we are at a severe disadvantage. We've lost many soldiers, and the number of Risen keeps growing. Many lands have been lost and even superior tactics can only do so much against overwhelming numbers. Not only that, but-"

"Can it, smart guy! Are you even listening to yourself?!" Severa shouted, stamping her feet while Lucina chuckled hollowly in response to Laurent's words.

His blunt honesty was a curse to their morale at times like these…

"Ahem. I wasn't finished." Laurent coughed, looking vaguely embarrassed as he adjusted his glasses. "As I was saying, even if the odds are against us… there is always a chance for us to turn the tide. Lucina, without you guiding us these lands and our lives would have been lost long ago. One of the greater factors that has contributed to our survival is you. And even though we've lost much, you've earned victories in a battle that most see as hopeless. You've given hope to those who would despair. Even someone like me, who bases his judgment on logic and probability, knows that you will see us through. And I refuse to believe the losses we've sustained and the lives we lost will be for nothing. You've shown me through that hope that there is nothing outside the realm of possibility. Surely, it is indeed possible for us to defeat Grima once and for all. I know you'll find a way, and you have my aid in finding an answer." He smiled, gripping the book he always carried on his person tightly. "I promise you this."

Lucina felt warmth deep in her heart and her friends' words. The princess smiled, assuaged by their words. Yes… it was because she could inspire hope in those that mattered is the reason she was able to keeping hoping. As long as her friends stood by her, she would hope for them and for everyone else. And someday… someday…

She hoped they would find a way to defeat Grima once and for all.

"Both of you, truly… thank yo-"

The door to the study burst open, and a man whose face was hidden by a mask stepped inside. The trio turned towards the newcomer, recognizing their companion immediately.

"Geez, where have you been?" Severa asked, arching an eyebrow at Gerome. "And haven't you ever heard of knocking?"

The wyvern rider ignored the girl, turning towards Lucina with a grave expression she could see even through that black mask.

"Risen have appeared."

"Wha…!" Lucina gasped. "Already? But we… when did…!"

"Have they reached the gate?" Laurent asked, his expression calculating as he quickly moved to address the situation at hand. Gerome shook his head.

"Not yet, but they're close. And their numbers this time are…"

"Rally anyone who can carry a weapon!" Lucina ordered, hurrying past Gerome with Severa and Laurent hot on her heels. "Everyone, meet on top of the fort walls!"

The four of them left the building to witness the soldiers already worked into a frenzy over the announcement of the impeding assault. Laurent broke off from the group and began shouting order to the captains of the platoons that could be deployed, who relayed his orders to the soldiers who could fight.

Gerome led Lucina and Severa over to his wyvern Minerva, mounting the dragon and gesturing to the two girls. "Get on. I'll fly you guys up."

The two girls hurried onto the mount, and at Gerome's command, the beast took flight and soared high into the air. It hovered over the top of the great walls before flying low and perching on the wall. Lucina and Severa quickly stepped off and Gerome took off again, flying into the skies to access the situation from above. Lucina took a look at her surroundings, seeing the captains of the wall defenders barking orders to archers and mages and prepare to fire a volley of arrows and magic to cut down the approaching Risen forces. Lucina drew Falchion, the sword shining and catching the attention of every soldier on the wall that could see it. Lucina's voice carried over to all of them as she spoke to the forces.

"Proud soldiers who defend these walls, hear me! For years this fortress has helped us draw a line between our lands and the Risen. Not once has this fort fallen, and I intend to see that it does not fall today! Archers, take up your bows! Mages, grab your tombs! So long as you all fight with me to defend the line thus far, the Risen shall not reach the walls of the fort today!"

The soldiers all raised their weapons in the air at Lucina's words, shouting vigorously as their leader's words touched and encouraged all of them. Every mage and archer standing atop the wall formed a line that stretched across the fort. Archers notched arrows to their bows and the lines of text within the mages' tomes began to glow with power. Lucina peered over the walls and beheld the approaching force of Risen. She smirked when she accessed the force for herself. Not nearly as big as some of the legions she and her soldiers had fought and defeated in the past.

"Severa, give the command."

"You got it." Severa smirked before raising her voice. "Okay, archers raise your bows! Mages, ready your spells!"

The soldiers complied with her order as the horde of Risen came closer. Severa raised her hand and swung it down as she gave the signal.

"FIRE!"

A volley of arrows flew through the air and several hundred bolts of lightning were summoned, all descending onto the bodies of the Risen before them. The wave of Risen before the fell, but another wave swept forward to replace them. More arrows were notched to bows and more spells were prepared to respond to the Risen that drew closer. Severa raised her hand and brought it down, her voice echoing so that everyone could hear.

"AGAIN!"

The Risen were impaled and struck down by arrows and magic. Those that remained still lumbered forward. The soldiers bravely defending the border responded in kind.

"ONCE MORE!"

Hundreds of Risen fell. Hundreds more arrows and spells were at the ready.

"KEEP FIRING!"

Lucina watched with grim satisfaction as the Risen's number were cut down. The original force she had seen approaching them had been cut in half now, and they were still a ways away from reaching the walls. This was how they defended their land guarded by the walls. This precious support gave them an overwhelming advantage over any Risen force that approached. And they had capable soldiers defending the gates with all their might. Even when Risen forces in the past had reached the wall, its gates were never breached. It may have cracks and scars to show what it had endured during their struggle, but it would not fall.

Not today.

"Lucina!"

Lucina turned to face Gerome, who had landed beside her. He leaned down and spoke low so only she could hear.

"Some of the Risen have made it to the gate."

Lucina whirled on the man, speaking quietly but harshly. "What! How did they…!"

"Calm yourself. It is a small force separate from the main one, and they made it through one smaller gates from the outside. They haven't made it past the walls, and there's barely more than a dozen. We can take care of it if we hurry."

Lucina nodded, glancing to numerous soldiers that continued to fire at the Risen. While she wanted to go take care of the threat herself, she couldn't abandon those who were fighting valiantly here. It didn't sound like there were a lot of Risen, but she was afraid of sending Gerome to take care of them alone. Lucina grabbed Severa's arm, gaining the girl's attention.

"Severa, could you please-"

"I'll take care of things here."

Lucina, Severa and Gerome turned to Laurent who had just arrived. The mage pushed his glasses up, the lenses glinting as they caught the light. "You three go take care of those Risen. I'll handle things here."

"Laurent, are you su-"

"Lucina, may I remind you that you were the one who charged me with defending the gates in the east? You asked me to direct the forces and keep the Risen at bay here." Laurent smirked confidently. "So then please, allow me to lead those who defend the gate while you take care of the smaller force of Risen."

Lucina smiled at Laurent, nodding to him confidently and mounted Minerva just behind Gerome with Severa joining her. She turned down to Laurent. "Good luck."

"I have no need for luck. Our victory has already been assured."

The wyvern took off past the gate. Laurent meanwhile took a tome out from his robes and stepped between an archer and a mage, who recognized their strategist and commander who had led them for the past few months and made room for him. Laurent opened the magic book and readied his spell, shouting to his fellow soldiers.

"On my mark!"

Laurent's tome glowed.

"STRIKE THEM DOWN!"

And the Risen force in front of them was decimated.

Lucina and Severa ran down the corridor, swords drawn and at the ready. Gerome and his wyvern flew low behind them, with the rider gripping his axe tightly between his fingers. The Longfort had several towering gates that allowed their soldiers to come and go whenever their armies every decided to foray into Risen territory, but originally they hadn't been the only places for people to enter and exit through. Along the fortress were smaller corridors with smaller gates that could be opened with keys from the Ferox guards that had manned the gates back when there was still a Ferox kingdom. Once Grima was resurrected and everyone retreated past the fort, these smaller gateways and corridors were either destroyed outright or blocked off to prevent Risen from getting through. Most of the entries were transformed into more parts of the wall, but some structures had yet to be converted into such.

It was hard finding time to amend every part of a wall that stretched across most of the continent with the Risen roaming about and constantly attacking.

Still, it wasn't the first time something like this happened and Lucina wasn't a stranger to these walls. As she and her two companions rounded a corner, they spotted a small group of Risen slowly lumbering up the ruined steps.

Lucina gripped Falchion and sprang forward, bisecting the Revenant and pushing its remains off of the stairwell. Severa stayed on Lucina's left, forming a wall that wouldn't let any of the Risen get past them. One revenant took a swipe at the girl with its claws, but they only scrapped the girl's raised shoulder guard before its head was separated from its shoulders as Severa severed its head from its body with her sword. Her eyes widened when a Risen just behind the one she had slain raise its arm to strike, but the Risen let out a furious growl when Gerome's axe smashed into its chest. The man tore his axe out of the creatures torso as he flew past, swinging the axe a second time as he swooped down to take out another one. A Risen wielding a bow caught he wyvern rider in its sights and aimed its bow up. It groaned when Lucina's sword stabbed through its chest and the red glow of its eyes disappeared as its body fell to the ground, disappearing into dark smoke moments later.

"This is nothing!" Severa proclaimed, a smirk on her lips. "These Risen are no match for us!"

Lucina only nodded in response to her friend's boast, hacking off both of a Risen's arms before stabbing it through the back. It was true. The number of Risen attacking them was certainly underwhelming when compared to the number they usually faced. Barely over a dozen, and most of them were revenants and not even wielding weapons. It took no time for the three of them working together to finish them all off.

Falchion cut through the final revenant as Lucina and Severa touch down on the ground, glancing around the entrance of the stairway and spotting no other Risen around. Sheathing her sword, Lucina turned and gave Severa a satisfied smile.

"If only all battles were this easy."

"You're telling me." Severa sighed, also sheathing her sword.

"From what I can see, all the Risen in the area have been taken care of." Gerome said as he and Minerva touched down. "Shall we return to the main gate?"

"Gladly." Lucina nodded as she and Severa approached Minerva and mounted the wyvern once again.

"We gotta be sure to let Laurent know about this piece of the wall. It needs to be sealed off as soon as possible." Severa noted as they took off.

"Agreed." Lucina said. "I'll be sure to… ah!"

"Lucina? What's wrong?"

The girl fell silent as they soared about the wall, allowing Lucina to face the wall and watch it extend for miles on either side, though only one detail had caught her attention and when her eyes came upon it her words stopped.

A single, long crack ran along the front of one part of the wall from top to bottom, not far from where they had fought the group of Risen. There were many chips and cracks in the wall itself in addition to it, but the split in rock was so pronounced and stood out to Lucina so much that she…

"It's… it's nothing." Lucina replied softly, shaking her head.

Neither Severa nor Gerome pressed about the matter as they flew back to the main eastern gate. Lucina was left to her own thoughts, and felt depressed and worried as she thought. They won. She was sure of that.

But victory was once again made meaningless to her when Lucina was reminded that one day the great walls of the Longfort would fall when the wave of Risen finally overwhelmed them.

She just prayed that day was a long ways off. That they still had more time…

A/N: Little long, but I like how it came out. I'm trying to set the same tone as the game and I think I did alright.

Anyway, if you guys have thoughts/feedback on the chapter I'd be happy to hear them. What do you think will happen in later chapters? One thing you should all know is that nobody knows about the Outrealm Gate yet, and I've left the identity of the Grima-Possessed Avatar ambiguous as well. Hope you guys liked it. Have a good one.

Kiiam