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The city had the smell of death.
Flames ate away at what the Brigands left alive. Bodies of civilians and defeated Brigands littered the ground.
Phantom felt her stomach churn when she ran past some of the more gruesome corpses. Never before had she seen such unnecessary destruction and loss of life. Slowing to a halt Phantom allowed herself a cough, the smoke slightly choking her.
Looking around she clenched her fists when she couldn't see Chrom, or his compatriots.
"Dang it Chrom, how far in are you?"
Deep in her musings she didn't notice the sound of clanking armor, hidden somewhat by the crackling of the flames around her.
It wasn't until the person behind her raised their weapon, the shadow stretched over her. Not thinking she quickly rolled to the side as a massive ax came down and shattered the cobblestone that made up the road.
Turning she gritted her teeth at the sight of a Barbarian, the man let out a laugh as he pulled his weapon from the ground.
"Ah, so little miss, you escaped? I thought this street was emptied out early."
Phantom took a step back as the man advanced. She didn't have a weapon, and he did, she didn't know how she was going to get out of this.
Blinking Phantom saw the most curious sight, a number floating just above the man's left shoulder. A small red 13, seemingly etched into the air itself.
So entranced by the strange sight, Phantom didn't notice that the man had swung his weapon again. It wasn't until the blade dug itself into her side with the sound of crunching metal did her attention return to the problem at hand.
Searing pain dulled any other sense she had as the man pulled the blade out, blood spilling from the wound as Phantom gripped it with her hand. She fell to her knee as the man laughed.
"Funny to see a lady dressed like that fall so easily, yet you are unarmed. I will finish you quickly."
She didn't know if the man was trying for a joke, but she just growled as she forced herself to stand. The man then rushed forward with his ax pulled back, possibly aimed for her neck. Raising the arm that wasn't keeping her side held together, she clenched her fist. She could feel adrenaline begin to course through her veins, dulling some of the pain from her wound.
Punching forward her armored fist made contact with the man's jaw. She felt it break as the man was thrown to the ground, his weapon sliding across the ground and into one of the fires.
She inched forward, looking to one of the Brigand corpses she saw a Bronze Sword clenched in the man's hand. Reaching down she forcefully plucked the weapon from their hand. The Barbarian rose from the ground as Phantom walked towards him.
Without his ax the man did the only thing he could think of, he lunged. Phantom simply spun the blade around and plunged it into the Barbarian's gut. Some twisted satisfaction was felt when she saw the number tick down to zero.
The Brigand actually looked confused as he coughed up flecks of blood, Phantom only sneered.
"What's wrong? Not used to the blade being apart of you for a change?"
Phantom the withdrew the blade and stepped back, allowing the man to fall. Dropping her blade she felt the pain return in full force. The effects of the adrenaline leaving her quite quickly. Again falling to her knees she silently swore as she doubled over.
"Well, I killed him, but I am also critically wounded. This is great, dying before I can help."
Wincing Phantom looked up at saw something stuck to the Barbarian's belt that seemed like a ray of hope to her. A Vulnerary, the blue flask glowing with the medicine housed inside. Quickly reaching out she grabbed the bottle and tore it from the belt.
Pulling it closer she quickly broke the seal on the lid and quickly downed the liquid. It burned her throat, but it dulled the pain in her side quickly. Looking down to her wound she saw the blood flow slowly stop. She knew that a Vulnerary wasn't going to be enough to fully heal the wound, but it was enough for her to operate.
Standing up she retrieved the bloody sword and proceeded towards the center of town.
Crossing over a downed pillar Phantom wiped the sweat from her forehead. She may have had no memory, but she was really thinking that she hated heat. She wobbled slightly and proceeded to lean against the nearest wall, she was beginning to feel lightheaded. She placed her head into her hand trying to stop her head from spinning.
"I knew I should have tried to find a stronger healing potion. And this heat is not helping."
Managing to clear her head enough she proceeded to continue on her way through the city. She managed to reach the end of the alley she was waking in, and heard someone shout.
"Give it up Garrick! Your army is dead!"
Looking up Phantom saw Chrom in the center of the town square, edging ever closer to a man that looked to be in charge. She could see Fredrick and Lissa standing a few feet behind Chrom, dealing with what seemed to be the last Brigand.
The Brigand commander simply cackled as more Brigands swarmed around them. She could hear Chrom swear, something that she really didn't think possible from the man.
"And he seemed so nice."
Drawing her procured weapon she quickly hurried into the conflict as the Brigands advanced on Chrom. She managed to cut down a Ruffian that had gotten behind the man. A zero also appearing above his shoulder as he crumpled to the ground. Chrom killed another Barbarian before turning to her.
"Phantom? You followed us?"
"Yeah, just thought you could use some help. I even found a weapon."
Phantom proudly brandished her sword as Chrom looked down. His attention going to the wound at her side.
"Phantom, you're hurt."
"Nah, just a flesh wound...I'll be fine."
She then ignored the sting as a particularly accurate ember floated into the wound. Spinning around she blocked another Ruffian's strike, knocking the man back. Chrom grimaced at the obvious lie, but he returned his attention to the conflict at hand.
Fredrick pushed his horse between Phantom and the Ruffian, finishing the man off with is lance. He turned and actually gave her a smile, again creeping Phantom out.
"Well, it is quite nice that you could join us."
"Yeah, had a little run in with an ax with arms, nothing major."
His eyes too went to the wound in her side, but the quickly returned to her face. He the quickly reached into a side pouch on his horse, producing a clean sword and tossing it to her. Phantom looked down to it and then back to him with a raised eyebrow.
"What is this for?"
"Well, that sword you are using seemes like it will break soon, and I don't use swords. So I thought I would be nice."
Fredrick then nodded and rode towards Chrom, followed closely by Lissa. The girl waved as she rushed past.
"Sorry I can't talk, have a fight to win!"
Phantom shook her head and she spun around to deal with another Barbarian. The man smiled as she blocked the strike. She sneered, feeling like being a bit rude.
"You Brigands all look alike, I mean, did I not just kill three of you already?"
Chrom sighed as he sat on a downed slab of concrete, Lissa sitting next to him, her staff glowing as she dealt with Chrom's injuries. Fredrick was walking around the square trying to find and assist any civilian that was still alive. Phantom was currently trying to pry her sword from a stone column, being stuck in there due to a poorly timed swing.
Chrom looked to the bodies of of the Brigands and again sighed.
"We didn't get Garrick, how did we miss him?"
"To be honest, we should be happy that we at least stopped his little band of misfits."
Chrom chuckled as Lissa finished her work, she was always trying to keep his spirits up. She then turned to Phantom as the woman slumped over from exhaustion. Phantom then could be heard growling as she then proceeded to start her task again.
"You need some healing Phnatom?"
"No. You should save your stave for Chrom and Fredrick."
Lissa simply shrugged as she went back to sitting next to Chrom. The man then looked to Phantom as a question came to mind.
"Phantom, why did you follow us here. I appreciate that you helped us, but why?"
Phantom halted in her task and turned around, the knight shrugging as she smiled.
"Don't know. Honestly I was also contemplating running, but you were nice, so I decided to help. I knew how to fight too, so that was a plus."
She paused to think of something else to say, but as she was about to voice her thoughts, Fredrick rode towards the three of them. Chrom stood and turned to him as he dismounted his horse. The man bowed before speaking.
"Milord, there are some surviving residents of this town. They wish to speak to you."
Chrom nodded as he stood, dusting himself off before following the knight. This left Lissa to watch Phantom fail at her task once again. She placed her chin in her hand and chuckled when Phantom fell flat on her back.
"Quick question Phantom, how does it feel to not have your memories?"
"Like I am a book that is completely blank except for the title."
"That is poetic."
Phantom turned to disagree with the Cleric, but she was interrupted by Lissa being thrown to the ground from a punch. The person responsible was Garrick, which Phantom didn't feel suprised by for some reason.
"You really have a horrible way of thinking if you think that I'd let you get away with that."
Phantom stood and cracked her knuckles, a wicked smile overtaking her face. She then proceeded to run towards the ex-Brigand commander. She threw a punch when she was close enough, but the man dodged and retorted with his own punch, to her ax wound. Pain shot through her as she was floored, she grimaced when the man laughed.
"You should have had that looked at."
Garrick then returned his attention to Lissa, he reached down and grabbed the front of her dress and proceeded to drag the struggling girl. Phantom raised her hand, she couldn't do anything. That felt worse than the pain in her side.
"See, Chrom and his lackeys took out my entire group. So I see it fit to take his sister as payment."
Garrick then threw Lissa against a wall as he drew an ax. Phantom felt her rage begin to build, she however didn't notice the crackle of electricity around her supporting hand. Pushing herself up she stood as the electricity became more apparent.
Chrom and Fredrick entered the square, Chrom called out his sister's name as Garrick let out a laugh. Images flashed through Phantom's mind, each showing her a dead Lissa in several different ways. She bared her teeth as the rage then broke her restraint.
"I WILL NOT LOOSE HER AGAIN!"
Several things seemed to happen at once. Lissa began to scream, Chrom and Fredrick began running towards the two, and Phantom threw her arm forward, the electricity turning violet.
Garrick began to drop his arm, to finish off his prey, but then he stopped moving. Everything began to feel numb, and began to burn. Looking down he saw what everyone was now staring at. A long white and violet spear of lightning was piercing his chest. The man slowly turned around to see the knight he had downed was standing there with an outstretched arm, the same color of energy fizzling around the arm.
Her eyes were glowing violet as well, and that sinister gaze was the last thing he saw before his life faded. His body crumpled and hit the ground, the hole in his chest smoking profusely. Lissa inched away from the man's corpse as Chrom ended up next to her, wrapping her in a soothing hug.
Fredrick halted in his advance and turned to Phantom, the woman dropped her arm as the energy faded. A worried look crossed his face as she turned to him with a weakened look.
Her head had cleared, the feeling of pure exhaustion taking over her rage.
"I-I'm sorry, but does anyone else feel like passing out?"
Fredrick shook his head and Phantom nodded with a contempt expression. Chrom and Lissa looked to the knight in curiosity.
"Good, because I feel like I may take that offer."
Phantom then proceeded to fall to the ground as all consciousness left her. She could hear Chrom calling out her name.
Another chapter complete. I hope you enjoyed!
Tried to be a bit more descriptive with this chapter, but I feel like I used the word 'crumpled' a bit too much, but I'm not sure.
Phantom does not have magic. The Thoron she fired was something the Doppleganger had. This will be the only time you see her use it. She also saw the Doppleganger's memories of Lissa's death.
Made the Brigands a bigger threat than they actually were.
Anyway, again I hope you enjoyed.
Have a nice day!