Sakura and Azama had wrapped cool bandages around Koda's chest. Koda winced while they applied the bandages, but he gratefully thanked them once their attentiveness had ended. Koda was sitting on a barrel, watching the Hoshidans move the dead bodies from the center of town. They dragged the bodies down the mountain and piled them in the forest, leaving their corpses for the local predators.
Koda noticed that Corrin was talking to one woman almost the entire time; her fiery red hair was bold and somewhat flamboyant. Corrin laughed and smiled while she talked, and Koda also noticed that Ryoma, Takumi, and Sakura had sauntered towards the duo. Koda smiled slightly as they saw them share an ecstatic laugh. He had two brothers in the heart of Nohr, but he rarely saw them. Wave, the middle child, was a thief and was sharp with his tongue. He was usually drunk or in a fist-fight with a bar patron. The eldest brother, Caine, wasn't about the military. Caine was married and had two children, and he worked in politics. Caine wasn't physically strong, but he could outwit anyone.
Koda sighed as he rubbed his fatigued eyes. He was shirtless, and the zephyr slightly chilled his bones. Azama had instructed him to remove his shirt while they applied the bandages, and Koda was reluctant to wear his bloody rags. His mother was talking to the head figure of the village, Acami. Acami was a sweet old lady with a pure, hardy heart. Her husband died several years ago from a disease, but it barely scathed her.
"Tired?" laughed an enigmatic voice from behind. Koda jumped off the barrel and spun around, his nerves jumping around his body. Koda smiled as he saw a familiar face, Silas. Silas was tall and strong, his silver hair curled upwards in the front. Silas was wearing black armor, and his warm smile brightened the dark and morbid mood.
"Silas!" said Koda, his voice happy. He had to keep his voice down from the general merit, but he was actually happy to see a familiar face. Silas walked around the barrel and embraced Koda warmly. Koda hugged him back, Silas's armor chilling his bare skin.
Silas pulled away, then he frowned. "What the hell are you doing here?" his voice was hushed.
Koda looked at the crowd in the center of town. He grabbed Silas's arm and lead him away. They walked into the higher part of the village. Koda and Silas entered an alleyway and Koda looked around. Koda let out a breath and looked at Silas. "You cannot tell anyone that I'm here, Silas. It is imperative that you keep my actual identity a secret."
Silas frowned again. "You never answered my question!"
Koda rolled his eyes. He forgot how persistent and irritating Silas can become. "I'm on a mission for King Garon and Prince Xander."
"You were sent my the King?!"
"Yes, I was," said Koda as he looked down the alleyway. "My mission is to return Corrin to his true family in Nohr. I was sent to enter the ranks of the Hoshidan army and convince Corrin to return with me. Luckily, the army was heading through this area, saving me a long journey. Now that you're here, I can convince Corrin much more easily."
"Koda..." said Silas crestfallen. He looked down at his armored feet and sighed heavily. He looked back up and looked into Koda's dark blue eyes. "That won't be an easy task. Corrin loves his new siblings, and he despises King Garon now - you cannot take him back to King Garon."
"I have to, Silas!" said Koda. He began to pace again, and chew on his lips.
Silas smiled as he watched his friend pace. "I haven't seen your pacing in many years, my dear friend."
Koda smiled but he still paced. "Thanks, but I have to get Corrin back to King Garon. My life could depend on this mission, along with my parents."
"Yeah, it would be pretty horrific to fail the King," said Silas as he looked away.
"Then you have to help me return Corrin," said Koda as he stopped pacing and placed a hand on his friend's shoulder. "Your help would be gratefully appreciated."
Silas closed his eyes and sighed. "Koda-bear...these people spared my life at Fort Jinya, and they are nice people! It would be best if I don't betray them, and I already pledged my life for them."
Koda smiled. Silas always called him "koda-bear" when they were little. Koda chuckled at the nickname and looked at his friend. "Alright, I can see you're not going to be persuaded easily. You're a good man, Silas. If you could please keep my identity a secret, that would be splendid."
Silas smiled. "Your secret is safe with me, Koda-bear!"
Koda and Silas returned to the Hoshidan army. Koda's mother was talking to Ryoma and another ninja, but this one was female. His mother laughed as Ryoma chatted with her. Koda smiled and looked for Corrin. He couldn't find the former prince of Nohr. Koda and Silas walked around, becoming reminiscent about old times. Koda and Silas barely noticed the two figures that were approaching the duo. Koda looked at the two figures: it was two warriors, one male and one female. They looked like siblings, but the male looked goofy, much unlike the girl's stoic look.
"Hello, Oboro and Hinata!" said Silas enthusiastically.
The male grinned, showing teeth. He had a katana at his side, and his hand rested on his the handle of the sword. The female was holding a spear. She simply nodded. "Hello, Silas!" said the male.
"What are you two doing?" asked Silas.
"Me and Oboro are patrolling!" said the ecstatic young male. He around Koda and Silas's age, while the female, Oboro, looked a few years older.
"No - you insisted that you wanted to walk with me," said Oboro with a frown. She touched her black hair as Hinata laughed and ran a hand through his black hair, which was tied back.
"It's hard to tell what my true intentions were, Oboro," said Hinata. Hinata looked at Koda, then stuck out his hand. "Sorry, pal! I didn't introduce myself; my name is Hinata!"
Koda smiled and shook his hand. "Nice to meet you, Hinata. My name is Koda."
"You're the kid that was defending the village, weren't you?" asked Oboro. She looked down and fixed her armor. Silas and Hinata exchanged glances before smiling.
"Yes, that was me," said Koda sheepishly. The wind began to intensify, and it chilled the young boy. No one noticed the young boy shudder.
"Well, that was quite stupid of you, kid," said Oboro as she walked past. She brushed shoulders with Koda and Silas as she stormed past. Hinata dropped his smile and Silas watched her pass. Koda looked at them for an answer, but neither could provide the answer. Hinata shrugged and followed Oboro. Silas began to walk again and Koda followed him. Koda looked at the blood that stained the dirt. He grimaced at the rancid smell.
"You never get familiar with that smell," said Silas with a despondent tone.
"That's true," said Koda as he felt bile creep into his mouth. He swallowed the bile and continued to follow the knight as they wandered around the town, admiring the decorations. Silas pointed to several food vendors and gathered a cache of snacks. He filled himself merrily as Koda watched him with surprise and envy; he wished he could stomach the same amount of food that the knight could eat.
Koda looked at Silas as they walked. "What is life back at Nohr?"
"Well, it was pretty shitty, and that's an understatement," said Silas as he shoveled more food down his throat. Koda nodded and looked at the sword at his side. He had retrieved his sword after the battle with the bandits. Silas hadn't noticed the sword. Silas had left his weapons near the center of town.
"Ah, I see-"
"Stop it, brat!" shouted a voice from behind. Koda and Silas turned around, seeing a bloody bandit standing over a child, his ax held high. Koda gasped as he recognized the bloody and wounded bandit: it was Buster. Koda growled as he drew his bloody sword. The sword was still stained with the blood of Arb. Koda rushed forward, catching the attention of the bandit.
Buster smiled and stepped away from the child. The child ran into an alleyway, screaming for her mother. Buster readied himself for the fight with the boy that killed his friend. "Ah, so I see that bigballs has finally returned! You can't defeat me, boy! Arb was a pushover, and you were lucky that Hill didn't kill you! I won't fail to kill you."
"Then come at me!" growled Koda. Buster roared in anger and rage as he charged at Koda. Buster leapt into the air and made a downwards, vertical strike. Koda stepped to the side and made an diagonal uppercut. The blade hit the breastplate of the bandit, and Buster spun around. Koda mimicked his actions and charged. Buster growled and swung his ax in various directions. Koda blocked all the attacks and pivoted his right foot inwards. Koda lowered his arm and bent his wrist, making the blade point towards Buster's ribcage. Koda lunged and stabbed towards Buster, but Buster swept with his hand and made another downwards vertical strike. Koda quickly twirled his sword in his hand so the sword pointed towards Buster again. Buster moved inwards towards Koda, closing the gap between them. Buster dropped his ax as Koda shoved his sword into the hip of Buster. Buster roared as he dropped the ax, the handle of the ax hit Koda in the shoulder.
Koda let loose a breath once Buster collapsed onto the ground. Koda twirled his sword so it pointed towards Buster's back. Koda roared at the top of his lungs as he dropped the sword. The sword penetrated Buster's back, sending blood everywhere. Koda began to stab Buster repeatedly. Silas sauntered towards Koda and pulled him away from the bandit. "He's dead, Koda! Stop stabbing him, Koda-bear!"
Koda finally stopped and allowed himself to be picked up by Silas. He looked at Silas, then looked at Silas. Koda didn't notice the large crowd that had surrounded the bandit and the spy from Nohr. Koda looked at each face, then back at the dead body of Buster. Koda sighed. "He's dead..."
