Xenologue: The Painted World
Chapter 1
Summoning
Robin awoke in the confinement of a comfortable bed. Above was the familiar ceiling of his study, and just to his side was the draped window that spilled light directly into his eyes. Dust floated lazily throughout the room, a fine coat covering many of the books and furniture. He stepped on one such tome he'd been reading the prior evening as he rose to his feet. He tore through a small closet, dawned a fresh cloak, and made toward the window with his steps the only sound of life in the mild dark. The white haired man parted the curtains to let in a blinding bolt of radiance. He need only cover his eyes for a second before being able to feast his gaze on the view.
A clear blue sky with the morning sun just over the horizon sat above the peaceful capitol of Ylisse. It's been several months since the end of the Mad King Gangrel. The celebrations were well over, and the rebuilding of the aftermath was underway. A statue had been built where the previous exalt was buried, a memorial to all who lost their lives for peace. Now the new exalt was doing what he could to keep his nation stable. After the many battles were over, many of the Shepherds were dismissed. Some went away on vacation around the world, while some stayed here in the Halidom. The Tactician opted to stay for the immense library collection at the royalty's exposal, much of which were scattered or wedged in the overstuffed bookshelves throughout his room.
Robin smiled and turned away from the glass window. He'd cooped himself up here far too long. A visit to the barracks seemed the best place for a change of scenery. He made sure to stuff a tome into his cloak. No telling when he'd have some time to kill.
The hall was small for the Halidom, but still grand in scale with large windows high above the walls to let in light. The air was noticeably fresher out here than in his study.
"Good morning."
Robin's heart leaped out of rhythm as he jumped from the female voice. He hadn't seen her, and he wondered if that was intentional. Tharja's head poked out from behind a nearby indent between Robin's room and hers. How she convinced Stahl to switch with her, Robin would rather not think about. "Uh… good morning, Tharja. I didn't see you there."
She lightly scratched the wall, her usual golden accessories jingling as she moved. "Oh, I'm used to that. Where were you going Robin?"
"I was going to visit the barracks… did you…" He could already feel regret seeping into him as the words spilled from his mouth. "Did you want to join me?"
Her cryptic smile quickly turned to a frown. "And be surrounded by pig brained soldiers? I think I'll pass."
Robin tried his best to hide the relief. "So glad to hear that you still think so highly of others. Well, I'll be going then…"
But that was too easy.
"Why don't we go to a place with just the two of us? Or maybe even by yourself, you won't even know I'm there."
"Ahhh, that sounds great. Maybe this evening." Robin started inching away, desperate to depart this conversation.
"Sure~ it's a date. Oh wait; there was actually something I wanted to tell you." Tharja stepped out from behind the wall to catch up with him.
Robin's brow furrowed. "Oh, so you weren't just counting the breaths I took outside my door?" He suddenly realized at some point that had become normal in his life.
"Well that was a bonus. In the middle of the night, I felt something peculiar. Call it… a feeling. There's a rise in dark energy coming from the south. It feels faint, very far away but I can feel it nonetheless. Do you want to investigate it? I'm very curious as to see what it is." Tharja's mouth contorted to one of her smiles.
"A feeling huh?" Robin was intrigued, but intrigue rarely won out when it came to the dark arts, especially when it involved Tharja. "I'll keep that in mind, seeya!" With that, he fled down the hall and in the direction of the mess hall.
Tharja was left more than disappointed behind him… but he did forget to lock his room door. The smile returned. "Keheheh…"
2
Robin panted as he ducked behind a doorway. His legs were killing him. Even the short sprint was enough to wear out his unused body. He'd have to start taking strolls through the garden or something to get back in shape.
The messhall was mostly empty, save for some new recruits late to their training and veterans too old to worry about schedules anymore. Robin definitely related to the latter. Peace time was welcome, even if it did cause some complacency in the thin army. He hadn't expected to see anyone he knew here, but was still disappointed to see the giant hall empty. So many celebrations had been hosted here, so many memories: The rickety table where arm wrestles were waged, the time when Olivia had performed her routine for everyone (then burst into tears in embarrassment), and the door that Vaike had left crooked after he bashed it op-
A crash broke Robin's reminiscing. "The Vaike is back!" The loud warrior burst into the once quiet room. Even without his axe, he still resembled a bandit more than one of Ylisse's soldiers. Out of his grand shadow came Lissa and Maribelle in the middle of a heated, but much quieter conversation between them. Lon 'qu followed behind them with several bags in each hand. Robin couldn't help but smile at the sight.
The Vaike was the first to see him. "Robin! Hay bud, you just missed my crushing victory!"
"Uhh, Good morning to you too Vaike." Robin said. He closed the distance with some amount of caution at the man's enthusiasm.
Lissa and Maribelle turned from where they were furiously conversing. "You." Maribelle pointed an accusatory finger to Vaike. "You invite yourself upon our little shopping trip and then feel the need to spar in the middle of the plaza? I don't know what goes on in that cavernous head of yours—"
"I saw Lon's look." Vaike shrugged. "Non fightin' ladies like yourselves can't see the look, but he gave me one. It's a silent challenge, I couldn't just let him get away with it!"
Lon'qu set the many bags on the nearest table with a grunt. "I gave no such look."
Robin flicked his curious gaze between them. "You two fought in the streets?"
"And I won." Vaike said proudly.
"It was a… hectic morning. Let's call it that." Lissa giggled. She seemed much more amused than the other blonde next to her. "Sorry, I didn't think you were up. I would've invited you."
"I wasn't. I just woke up a few minutes ago. What was that about fighting in the streets?"
"It was supposed to be a quick run to the store," Maribelle flared, "But these two had to cause a ruckus." She grabbed one of the bags and disappeared into the kitchen.
"I am not the one to blame." Lon'qu said in his usual calm demeanor.
Vaike hooked a muscly arm around Robin, bringing him in for hushed words. "I'm sorry to say this, but Lon'qu over here isn't what he used to be. How about you and me have a go after some breakfast and I can get a real challenge? Whatd'ya say? I'll even go easy on you."
"That'll be a no…" Robin stammered, trying to unlock the heavy weight on his neck.
"You ambushed me as we walked through the street." Lon'qu stabbed at Vaike with his gaze.
"Well I gotta keep ya on your toes bud- There! See it! That's the look…That mean you wanna go again? I'm ready!" Vaike released the shorter tactician and pounded his chest.
Robin recoiled into a nearby seat. Lissa had scavenged through the bags, and now sat down opposite to him with some fresh rolls of bread. "Here, they've been like that all morning. At least some of the groceries were salvageable."
Robin's morning was a hectic one, as Lissa would put it. Even still, he was more than happy to catch up with some friends. Apparently the morning shopping was also a cover, Lissa explained, for the upcoming birthday of Libra. They'd have it in the temple the monk stayed at and get as many Shepherds as they could. Poor timing, as most were still on leave.
"I got him this reaaally cool stave, too." Lissa tore the gift from her shopping purse. It was half the length and size of any they used in the army, and had the emblem of the exalted engraved straight into the gemstone.
Robin raised a brow at the craftsmanship. "Where'd you get this?"
"Isn't it adorable!" She squealed. "I had it custom made. It's so much cuter than the regular ones. Look! It'll even hook onto his robes or whatever you call them."
"Dearest Lissa, please do not hike up your dress for all to see!" Maribelle fumed.
"Oh fine." Lissa sighed as she took her seat again. "I'm just worried he'll say something like, 'It's a gift in itself to have you all here.' And then make me feel bad because there'll only be, like, ten of us there."
"I'm sure he'll understand." Robin assured.
The five of them ate, some louder than others. Robin noticed some stares their way. He didn't know whether it was due to their high status or that Vaike was imitating a starving bear.
"I know, but it's still a bummer not everyone will be there. Ugh, I miss those days." Lissa said in between large bites of food.
"Hun, those were days of war that shouldn't be missed one bit." Maribelle chimed.
"I… I know that, but it wasn't all bad back when everyone was together." Lissa said.
"You could do for a vacation, dear." Maribelle said. "It might get your mind off the past and point it to where it should be facing: the future." She sipped her cup of tea with some amusement. "What are your plans…" Her voice faded from Robin's focus.
The future. Robin felt like he'd glimpsed the future all too many times. The nightmares he rarely told anyone still plagued him. Only… he remembered the last one was a strange nightmare, not like the reoccurring one with that assassin standing in an abyss of darkness. What was uncommon were the images he'd seen; strange lands, stone pillars rising next to colossal dragons, Risen everywhere. He had accepted that nightmares would simply be a part of his everyday life since he was found on that dirt road, but this one seemed different. It gave him a terrible knot in his gut. He…
I have a feeling.
Robin finished his brunch, gave his goodbyes and they gave their farewells. He needed to speak to Chrom.
He left out of the messhall and began turning down the many corridors and intersecting hallways. The throne room door was shut and guarded by a pair of knights. Visiting hours must have started. The guards only stopped him briefly, claiming the Exalt was busy. "I've important information about the Risen attacks to the south. Excuse me gentleman," Was enough to get passed the gates. It's not like it was entirely deceitful. He had a rising suspicion what Tharja had said was not a ploy to kidnap him once and for all. Some evil was tugging at his senses, even though this morning was as peaceful as any other.
"No, no, and no again!" Robin heard Chrom's voice echo out in rage. "I'm not going to give you your neighbor's land because he built a fence a few inches into your property."
Robin stayed in the shadows behind the throne. Frederick was whispering into the ear of Chrom who was standing from his seat. The farmer on the lower steps clenched a scroll of paper and turned around to leave. One of the many knights lining the grandiose room hollered that the farmer was to show proper respect. The man promptly turned and mock-bowed, "Why thank you, my Lordlyness. Hmp." He left without an ounce of care.
Chrom receded into his comfy seat with a hand enwrapping his forehead. Frederick gazed off at the farmer, a clear intent of murder lingering in his stare. Robin stepped out and rested a hand on the gilded chair. "Enjoying your duties, M'lord?"
Chrom raised his eyes from his palm-tent, tried to smile, and failed. "Good morning, Robin. I'm having a great day with the people of Ylisse, as always."
Frederick rolled his armored shoulders. "That man ought to pay respect to royalty. Say the word, and I shall generously teach him some manners."
"No need. He'll just come back tomorrow with the exact same complaint. Just like all the others that don't understand 'No'." Chrom stood again, already looking tired even though the day had barely started. "What brings you here? I warn you that there's no tactics that'll convince some of these people that their problems are petty."
"Wow, this sure has made you a bitter ruler hasn't it?" Robin smirked.
"You sit in this chair for one day listening to these things! A fence two inches too far, an alleged candy thief on the loose, a petition to invade Regna Ferox, madness…" Despite his tone, Chrom started to smile. It was probably by how mad he himself sounded.
"M'lord." Frederick said. "There are still more visitors in line. It is important that the people see their Exalt as a calm, fair leader."
"Well hold them off for a moment." Chrom said. Frederick gave a quick hand signal, and two guards left down the steps toward the main entrance. Chrom turned to face his tactician. "I know you haven't stopped by just to give me a break, Robin."
Robin folded his sleeves together. "…I wanted to know if there has been any recent news of Risen attacks."
Chrom waved a hand in dismissal. "Every Risen sighting so far has been small."
"All of them were taken care of by our soldiers." Frederick added quite proudly.
"What about to the south?" The words spilled from Robin's mouth before he could stop them. This caused both the knight and the Exalt to give him a curious stare.
"What is this about? Have YOU news of Risen in the south?" Chrom said.
"No, I…" How could he explain it? "Tharja. She said she felt something coming from that direction. I just thought our hexer was up to something, again, but I wanted to check with you just in case."
Chrom's serious demeanor lightened. "Robin, come now. It's Tharja. She claims to feel darkness from everything." He chuckled.
Robin caught a glimpse of Frederick's inquisitive stare pointed right at him. He knew that look, that 'what are you hiding?' look the knight seemed to always have pointed at him. Robin was not about to press any further, less he make a fool of himself or even worse: offend the staunch knight.
"Well, alright then. If anything-"
"This can't wait!" A cry echoed from the main entrance, along with shouting and sounds of metal clattering together. Frederick drew his spear in both hands and made to stand in front of the confused Chrom. A haggard man came running up the steps, stopping just before the many knights surrounded the intruder. "Wait! Wait! Exalt!"
Chrom sighed. Frederick treated the unarmed man as if he were an assassin. "Why have you trespassed?" And before a reply could even be given, "Take him away!"
"Risen! I rid all the way from Ludwig, on my fastest horse no less. The whole town is under siege! Please, this can't wait!"
Chrom paused a moment as Frederick stepped down to ask for details. He slowly turned to Robin, who was equally confused. "There's your Risen attack."
3
The guards outside the throne room murmured to each other before jumping to attention when the door burst open. Chrom and Robin marched out in haste.
"Frederick will brief us on the way." Chrom said, turning toward the barracks.
Robin made for the messhall. "I'll let everyone know." The two split to prepare for the mission. A rush of adrenaline now made his steps quicker, despite his previous sprint. He wasn't happy, knowing that people were probably in danger, but he'd be lying if he didn't admit he was looking forward to some practice.
Robin was once again breathless as he flew through the messhall doors. The Shepherds were still there, along with the other soldiers who had noticeably scooted away from them. The Vaike sometimes had that effect on the unacquainted. "Shepherds! Risen are attacking a village. Get to the barracks and-"
"A mission? Alright!" Vaike shot from his seat and rushed passed Robin. The rest looked to one another before following quickly after, leaving their mess. Robin caught a glimpse of an angry cook, and promptly fled after them.
When Robin reached the barracks, it was a whirlpool of Shepherds scrambling for their gear. He began preplanning as he threw open the tome shelf. Lissa, Mirabelle, Lon'qu, Vaike, and Frederick seemed to be all he had to work with today. They needed more soldiers, more heavy hitters to protect the support. Perhaps they had time to scour the city for Libra and any others they could find…
"What's all the commotion?" A familiar female's voice said behind him. Robin jumped yet again to find Tharja behind him. She cast a hand toward him, as if to catch his surprised face, only to grab a tome of Nosferatu from the shelf. "You weren't planning on leaving me behind, were you?"
Robin had almost forgotten. "N-nooo. Of course not! We just got word of an emergency Risen attack and-"
"Say no more." Tharja turned, subtly cackling to herself as she left the barracks. The others were leaving as well, equipped and ready for battle. Robin grabbed a few tomes and a vulnerary before heading outside. Pack-horses were being loaded with all the extra supplies they would need. Mirabelle and Frederick saddled onto their personal steads while Chrom was standing outside, overseeing the preparations.
Everything was in order. "Let's move out!" Chrom shouted.
Robin gave a puzzled look. "You're coming too?"
"Why yes I am. I need some time away from my duties, if the Exalt can get away with that." Chrom said.
"What if you get hurt? Ylisse…"
"Ylisse can survive without its leader for a day. And I thought we've gone over this 'I can protect myself' ordeal?" Chrom said. He patted his falchion. "This sword hasn't seen combat for far too long."
Robin grinned. "Fine, I could use another swordsman to go on the offensive line."
"You should really break that habit of seeing us as just pawns on a board, friend." Chrom said, returning the gesture.
"You mean the habit that's won so many battles?"
"True." Chrom began walking to the front of the small band of Shepherds. "Ready? Good. We'll march double time to make it by tomorrow's daybreak. Let's move, Shepherds!"
All Author's Notes will be in my Profile. Thanks, and enjoy.
