Sekai was able to find the courtyard well enough after a maid mapped out the route he would have to take. Sekai was slightly irritated however, because he had been told to go through at least three different kind of doors. How the Gods anyone gets through this place, he was thinking to himself as he pushed open a door leading into the courtyard. There were only a few torches lit, and the full moon was out so it was pretty easy to spot the lone figure standing just a few feet off in thought to himself. As Sekai approached, he coughed into his fist, and Chrom realized he was not alone.
"Oh Sekai, what are you still doing here? Surely you've dropped off your report by now."
"I have Chrom, but your little sister is worried about you, and has asked me to navigate this maze you call a house to ensure you are all right."
Chrom laughed at that, which Sekai supposed was a good sign. "Surely it is not so bad?"
"I got lost. Twice."
At that Chrom let burst another round of laughter. Sekai himself smiled at how humorous the situation was. After a minute of laughter, Chrom finally settled down.
"So, dueling with unpleasant thoughts are we?"
Chrom's face grew grim. "Indeed. Tell me Sekai, exactly what do you know of my father's, the past Exalt's, deeds?"
"Only a second hand account. Apparently he claimed the Plegians to be heathens and attempted a religous crusade to wipe them out. His main targets were Grimleal members, but since it was impossible to tell who was in the Order and who wasn't, Ylissean soldiers ended up killing every man, woman and child they met. Also, since they were "heathens" and not people, the Exalt allowed looting to happen."
"Indeed, my father's crimes were unspeakable. Not even Ylisse escaped the tragedy as men were drafted and possessions taken to help fuel the war. By the time he died, Ylisse was nearly bankrupt and soon to fall to anarchy. If Emmeryn hadn't stepped forward when she did..."
"We'd all be a lot worst off that's for sure."
"Yeah, that's true. I still can't believe her though, despite all the hatred and insults thrown at her, by her own people no less, she was still able to restore this country and is now attempting to do the same for Plegia. Of course, that dastard Gangrel seems to be making it his life mission to prevent that. He won't stop until everything burns for his hatred."
Sekai pondered that for a second. "The sins of the fathers shall be paid for by the sons it would seem. But hold to the faith Chrom, I know you'll never let any harm come to Lady Emmeryn."
"I know, but sometimes I worry I won't be enough, and I'll lose Emmeryn..."
Sekai, hesitant at first to initiate, placed his hand on Chrom's shoulder reassuringly. "That's why you have friends Chrom. To help you do what you can't do alone."
Chrom paused, this being the first time he'd heard Sekai mention being friends, but before he could ask it of the man, another person suddenly appeared.
"Good evening to you two." Marth calmly stated, as if his appearance was normal.
"MARTH!", Chrom exclaimed "How did you get in here?"
"A cleft in the wall, near the maple grove."
Even in the darkness, Sekai saw Chrom's face grow a little red.
"Th-there? But how did you know..."
"I'm to assume you know of the place in question Chrom?" Sekai asked, turning his attention towards the swordsmen.
Though he'd seen the man back in the colosseum, this was the first time Sekai got a real look at him. He wore the attire of his namesake, with a butterfly shaped mask adorned over his face, hiding his identity. He then spoke to the swordsmen, keeping his own calm demeanor in check.
"Well, you went through the trouble to come here, am I to assume you have something to say?"
"Indeed sir. A warning."
Chrom turned his attention to Marth "A warning? Of what?"
"The exalt's life is in danger. She is going to die tonight."
"What!? Impossible, she is guarded at all times!"
"I understand this is hard to believe. What if...what if I told you I knew of the future?"
"What, don't be preposterous!"
"I knew you'd have difficulty believing me. Let me show you some proof."
Sekai wondered about the sanity of this Marth when he suddenly pulled out his blade and leveled it at the two men. What is he thinking!, Sekai thought as he pulled out a thunder tome, just as Chrom started to draw his own blade.
"I'm about to save your life...from him" Marth said suddenly looking at a bush behind him.
A bush that wasn't as empty as it appeared.
An assassin in a cloak ran out with a dagger pointed straight at Chrom's chest, but before he could do anything arth turned around and brought his blade into the chest of the would be killer. Marth then turned around to face the two men again.
"I trust that will suffice?"
Sekai turned to Chrom "I'm convinced. You?"
Chrom nodded his affirmation, then looked up and yelled in a panic "LOOK OUT!"
Another assassin had jumped out of a tree and pointed his blade at the masked swordsmen. Marth turned around and tried to back up, but slipped on the previous assassin's dagger. Luckily the only damage sustained was to his mask, and as Chrom went to handle the last assassin, Sekai paused to help up the man.
Who was actually...a woman.
As Marth's hair fell back to her waist, he looked at her face. He only saw her for a quick second, but even had he stared at her for minutes he was drawn to her right eye, where instead of a normal pupil he saw...an Exalt's brand. He made a mental note of it to pursue later, and quickly turned his attention away, feigning ignorance at the branded swordsmen. She is full of surprises, he thought to himself. Chrom himself, pulling his blade out of the chest of the other assailant, turned and made the same discovery as Sekai.
"Wait...you're a woman?" He asked
Marth looked over and smirked. "And quite the actress it would seem."
But before any more questions could be asked, the alarm rang out throughout the palace.
They were under attack.
...
Despite the sudden surprise, it was obvious all of the Sheperds had drilled for such a thing. Even Lon'Qu and Donnel were ready, though that was probably their lifestyles having been beneficial to suddenly being woken up. All of the Sheperds were already armed and holding a defensive line when the three ran to where Emmeryn was located. While Marth's appearance caused some raised eyebrows, the Sheperds let her in along with Chrom and Sekai, who immediately ran up to one of the guards.
"What has happened here? Is Emmeryn safe?" Chrom said, barely restrained panic and worry in his voice.
"She is fine Milord, though we were caught by surprise we were able to fend off the first attackers and have now established a defensive line."
Sekai looked around and admitted he probably couldn't have done better himself. He saw several Sheperds had already paired up and were using one for close range, one for long. Virion with Sully, Ricken with Lon'Qu, and Miriel with Stahl. Vaike and Frederick were working together to hold the main dooralong with Kellam who seemed to appear and reappear everywhere, and Lissa and Maribelle were running around making sure no one was too damaged. He then noticed what he could only describe as a giant...bunny. Chrom too noticed and turned to his tactician.
"Sekai, please tell me you are also seeing a large bunny fighting off assassins and I am not losing my mind?"
"If you are Chrom, then as am I."
Marth spoke up. "Her name is Panne and she can be trusted."
Chrom glared at Marth "More future knowledge?"
"Yes."
Before Chrom could respond Sekai spoke up "Chrom we have more pressing concerns right now. Marth, your here to help right?" He turned to look at the woman and she nodded. "Good, then stand guard by the Exalt's door and do not let anyone in until either I or Chrom give the word." He turned to Chrom. "As for you and me, everyone else has everything covered, so we are going to find whoever is leading this attack and kill him. If we are lucky, cutting off the head of this snake will end everything quicker." Chrom paused for a second and nodded.
"I'm not sure I'm comfortable leaving my sister in the hands of a stranger, but if you think it's best I'll follow your plan."
Sekai nodded, but just as the two men were about to head off, two of the palace guards brought what looked like a thief to them. Only instead of lockipck and tools, he had...candy with him. I'd bet money this guy becomes a Sheperd, Sekai thought to himself.
"Who is this?" Chrom demanded.
"We don't know milord, only that he came up to us and said he had information that could help thwart this assassination attempt."
"Is he not dressed like an assassin though?"
"Hey, I'm a thief, I take goods, not lives." The man said, with what looked like a piece of candy in his mouth. "I was hired and told I'd had to break in to something, no one ever said I'd be killing an Exalt."
"And I assume you are wanting to change sides due to the pains of your conscious?"
"Hey, like I said, I take things, not lives. Besides, I like the Exalt. She's a nice lady. So I just wanted to bring you some information to help save her is all."
Sekai spoke before Chrom had a chance. "All right, for now let's just say we believe you, what information are you hoping to give?"
"Well not much. I don't know the guys name, only that he hired me to help break into something, like I said before. All I know is he is currently waiting in the park area outside of the palace for me to report on the successful infiltration, and death of the Exalt I would assume."
"Can you tell me what this man looks like? What sort of weapons he carries?"
"Well, he's kind of tall and skinny looking. Eyes like a snake and a smile that sends shivers down your spine. He never carried a blade, but I always some him with some kind of a purple book."
"A sorcerer then. Difficult to beat, but shouldn't be anything to dangerous. Is that all?"
"Well, I don't see if it matters, but he had a peculiar tattoo across his back."
Sekai stopped in his tracks. A tall and slender man who used magic, and a strange tattoo across his back? It couldn't possibly be...could it?
"What did it look like?"
"What?"
"THE TATTOO! What. Did it. Look like?"
Chrom stared at him, a puzzled expression on his face, whereas the thief just looked at Sekai like he thought he was nuts.
"Well, I didn't get a good look at it, but it was strange. It looked like a creature with a long neck, tusks, and I would assume wings."
Sekai felt all the blood drain from his face. It was him. His father was here.
Hells.
...
Chrom looked over at his tactician with worry. This tattoo had seemed to put what he could only describe as...fear into Sekai. Normally the tactician was as calm as still water, never betraying any emotion, even in the heat of battle. Whoever this man was, Sekai wasn't just scared of him.
He was absolutely terrified.
"Sekai, are you alright?"
Sekai said nothing.
"SEKAI!"
Sekai jumped with a start, as if he'd been woken up.
"What Chrom?"
"Are you alright? You went as pale as death there?"
"I'm fine. Ju-just tired is all." He smiled at Chrom, but Chrom knew he was not "fine". Before he could question him though, Sekai immediately turned back to the thief.
"What is your name?"
"Gaius."
"Gaius? All right. Chrom," Sekai said, turning back to Chrom "Chrom, change in plans. You stay here and help Marth finish off the remaining assassins. Gaius is going to "capture" me and take me to this guy. Once there, me and Gaius will attack him together and try to kill him. Hurry up over here, once your done I want you to bring Lissa and two others of your choice to help. We may need it."
"Hold up, hold up there," Gaius said "Why am I suddenly helping you fight this guy?"
Sekai turned to Gaius with a look of utter pleading. "I'm going to need help against this man, and you are the only one who can get us in close without raising suspicion. I'll pay whatever you want after this, but I need your help...please."
Chrom was stunned at how Sekai was acting. This plan was utter and foolish nonsense.
"Weeelllll, I suppose if you need me that badly, but be careful. I like my rewards nice and sweet."
"WAIT!," Chrom shouted "Sekai, what the hell is this plan. It is too risky and I am NOT going to let you go through with it."
Sekai turned to him, a determined glare etched across his face. "Chrom, we are not arguing about this. The best way to kill this guy is going to be a surprise attack. He uses magic, so if we just rush at him, things will go very bad, very quickly."
"Well what's so sure he won't just kill you when he sees you? He's waiting for this thief here to bring him news, NOT a hostage."
"Chrom, trust me, when he sees me, he will be very glad. Gaius and I will be fine. Well, I will, can't promise Gaius will be."
"That doesn't make me want to go even more you know..." The man said, but Chrom wasn't even paying him attention.
"What do you mean he'll be GLAD to SEE YOU? You act like you know this guy..."
"..."
"You...you do know him, don't you?"
"Chrom, I promise I will explain...everything when this is all over. If you want to fire me? Fine. Imprison? Fine. Execute? Fine. But I need you to trust me on this."
"But-"
"Chrom! You told me you trusted me right? Do you honestly think I had something to do with this?"
"Of course not but-"
"Then TRUST me."
"..."
"..."
"...Fine you dastard. But you better survive, because I have questions. Which you WILL answer."
"Agreed. Gaius, let's go."
Sekai ran off, but before Gaius could leave Chrom grabbed him by the arm.
"I don't care if that man escapes, but you make damn sure Sekai survives this, or I WILL FIND you and END you."
The thief merely nodded then ran off, leaving a frustrated Chrom. He stared for a moment, then turned his attention to the battle behind him. He had to end this quickly. Then he would go and help his friend.
...
Gaius and Sekai were huddled outside the palace wall near the park where the assassin leader was supposedly hiding. Gaius was currently winding some rope around Sekai's wrist to give the illusion he was tied up.
"So what exactly am I supposed to say to make this thing believable again?" Gaius asked.
"Tell him that you found me fighting off some of his men. You heard me yelling out orders to the defenders and assumed I was in charge of something. You took me by surprise and wrestled me down. After you tied me up, you decided to bring me to Validar and ask what to do with me."
"Validar? So you DO know this guy."
"Yeah I do."
"Soooo, if you don't mind me asking...what's the relation?"
"You'll learn anyways, but our relationship is...paternal."
"Wait wait wait...he's your FATHER!"
"Sadly."
"So what's your plan when you meet him then, gonna ask daddy not to kill the Exalt?" he joked.
Sekai gave a joyless chuckle. "Something along those lines...I'm going to put my blade in his heart."
"Wow, and here I thought I had some daddy issues."
"Yes well, if all goes well I'll no longer have them by the end of the night. So, how much?"
"What?"
"How much. How much do you want for helping me kill my father?"
Gaius paused and pondered that question for a bit.
"Five."
"...Excuse me?"
"Five. I want a NICE, BIG five layer cake. With frosting, and chocolate, and lollipops and-"
"Wait wait wait...I'm asking you to help me kill my father, and all you want in return is...a five layer cake?"
"...Make that two cakes."
Sekai couldn't help himself. He laughed. Hard. After he was able to calm himself down, he and Gaius made their way to the park.
...
Validar was standing in a small clearing with a few trees to act as a camouflage He was listening to the palace alarm bell still ring, and smiled to himself as he imagined the Exalt's blood being spilled. As he was pondering whther or not to take a risk and see if he could watch, he heard a rustle behind him and saw Gaius come in through the foliage, towing along a tied up man in a...Grimleal coat and hood!?
"Hey boss man, gotcha a present."
Validar regarded him coolly. "What is this?" he asked.
"I don't know really. This guy was yellin out orders to the other defenders. I snuck up behind him while he was fighting one of our guys and incapacitated him. Sadly I couldn't stop him before he killed them though..."
"It matters little to me, the loss of a pawn is no loss at all. But, pray tell, WHY did you bring this man to ME?"
"I don't know, I just thought you might be interested in him..."
"Boy, what makes you think I would be interested in him?"
For the first time the hooded figure spoke. "Because you've been looking for me for nearly seventeen years now..."
Validar paused, then he walked over and threw back the hood and looked upon...his son.
And he smiled.
Then Sekai thrusted a hidden dagger right at his heart.
...
"OOFFFF!" Sekai groaned as he was blown back and slammed into a tree. He hadn't thought it would be that easy, but he was still surprised at his father's reaction time. Validar cackled a few feet from him.
"AHAHAHAHAHAHA! FATE DOES SMILE ON ME TONIGHT AND THROW PRESENTS AT MY FEET! AFTER YEARS OF SEARCHING, I"VE FINALLY FOUND YOU!"
Gaius struggled from where he had been knocked back. Validar turned to him.
"I should kill you for your betrayal thief, but since you brought something far more valuable than you will ever know, I will give you this one chance to value your life and run away."
Gaius paused, looked over at Sekai.
Then fled into the trees.
Sekai was strangely sad at being abandoned, but then what else should he have expected from a thief. But he had more pressing matters do attend to. He stood and faced Validar, removing his thunder tome and blade.
"Oh," his father said, amusement in his voice "Does daddy's little boy want some discipline? Don't worry, you'll get plenty of THAT for having run away for so long. Why did you run anyways? I offer you the world, and instead you break a loving father's heart?"
"You've never loved a thing in your life," He said to his father, hatred seeping from his very being. "You only ever saw me as an object, something to be used for your own purposes."
"OUR purposes son. To complete OUR families sacred mission, given to us by Lord Grima himself."
"I never accepted that. I am family to you blood only."
Validar sighed. "I don't expect you to understand. Your coward of a mother took you and fled before you could fully understand your sacred duty."
"She took me and ESCAPED YOU!" Sekai nearly shouted. Keep calm, he thought, it'll do you no good to lose your cool here.
"Sekai, I am not angry with you. I only want what I've always wanted. The best for you. Come home with me, so we might fulfill our families mission." he extended his hand to Sekai.
Sekai gripped his sword harder. "I already told you we are family in blood only. And besides, I have another mission."
Validar raised his eyebrow in amusement "And what is that my boy"
"To kill you, and stop YOUR MISSION" Sekai ran at Validar, firing thunder blasts at his feet. Validar jumped back instinctively, but just as Sekai nearly pierced his chest with his blade, his father fired a blast of magic downwards, knocking Sekai back again and making him drop his sword. Validar smiled and walked over, picking up the fallen blade.
"It would seem discipline is in order. And what is this?" he held up the blade and stared at it "Our families power is that of the Fell Dragon himself. You have no need of such a lesser weapon." He then tossed the blade into the trees, and opened his book which began to glow, bathing Validar in purple light. "Now face me with magic my son, IF YOU DARE!"
Sekai stood and opened his own, which glowed with a yellow light. Not good, he thought. He'd been hoping to avoid this kind of confrontation with his father since mage duels could go either way, but it seems like he didn't have a choice.
You see, it is really quite curious to watch two mages fight. Depending on the type of tome and it's strength, a battle can be heavily one sided. But if both fighters use the same level of tome, the battle is notoriously even sided, with some such duels lasting hours. Sadly, this was not the case this time. Validar's flux tome was hardly used, wheras Sekai was quickly burning through his own tomes dwindling energy supply. With each ball of magic thrown, Sekai came closer and closer to no longer being able to use it's magic. Then, as he tried to call forth a ball, the book sputtered, dimmed, and eventually disintegrated. Validar laughed and before Sekai could react, he fired a blast of dark magic that hit him dead center in the chest. Sekai cried out in pain as what felt like a thousand hot needles pierced his body.
"Hmmmm, I suppose I should praise you. You held out a lot longer than I thought you would, but play time is over kid. Now you just lay there like a good little boy and don't move. Daddy has to take care of some business, then we are going straight home." He turned in the direction of the castle.
And narrowly dodged having his head separated by Gaius's blade.
Validar jumped back, and before Gaius could react, blasted him with a spell do, knocking Gaius's blade from his body where it landed near Sekai.
"And here I was being nice," Validar sighed as he walked up to the thief "But I suppose you just really wanted to die." As he charged up another spell, he suddenly heard a shout behind him, and turned around to Sekai running at him with a blade. Before Validar could react, the blade punctured the tome, releasing all of it's energy in one blast. Sekai and Gaius were blown back by it landing near each other in a pile. Validar was merely disintegrated due to holding the tome. As Sekai was losing consciousness, he heard Gaius cough.
"*cough* He-hey Sekai...?"
"Yeah?"
Sekai turned his head and saw Gaius weakly hold up three fingers. "*cough* Ma-make that...three cakes."
Sekai then only saw black.
...
Chrom ran through the park, with Lissa and Maribelle coming right up behind them. Panne, who had shown herself to be tougher then her bunny form looked, was tracking Sekai. Panne sniffed at the ground, then turned to the left and bounded off.
"This way!" she said, her voice echoing due to her being in her rabbit form.
Chrom and the others entered a clearing where there had truly been a battle. Trees were charred, some broken, holes had been blasted in the ground. The thing that most drew Chrom's attention was the giant crater just a few feet ahead of him. He scanned the clearing, hoping to find some sign his tactician.
"Panne, do you smell anything?"
"The man spawns scent trail ends here, although..." She said, her ears twitching.
"What?"
"I hear groaning coming from over there." She pointed her nose in the direction of some trees a couple of feet from the crater.
Chrom and the others ran in the direction where Panne heard the groans. After what was only a few seconds, but felt longer to Chrom, they found the thief Gaius propped against a tree sitting down while clutching his stomach.
And Sekai laying face down in the ground.
"Lissa, Maribelle, Sekai NOW!" He yelled out, but the two were already shining their healing staffs on Sekai. Chrom ran up to Gaius to ascertain his condition and to see what happened. "Gaius, what happened!?"
The thief coughed a bit, but responded. "Big *cough* explosion. Knocked me and *cough* Sekai here back..."
"And what of the assassin leader? Did he escape?"
"No, he *cough* he was blasted to. From what I saw *cough* he got destroyed in it." The thief then fell unconscious. Chrom swore to himself, but then Lissa called for him.
"Chr-Chrom!"
"What's the matter!?"
"It's Sekai, he pale and...cold...and his pulse is super weak." Lissa said, on the verge of tears.
"Dammit," Chrom said, hoisting the thief on his shoulders to take him to the castle "Pick him up and get him to the castle. Quickly!" He looked over at his unconscious friend.
Don't you dare die on me Sekai, he thought.
...
It was very dark.
Validar floated there, confused as to how he was conscious. Last he remembered, Sekai had stabbed his tome which resulted in a violent release of the called upon energies within.
Damnable fool, he thought.
"...Validar..."
He looked around, wondering where the voice had come from.
"Who is there?" he asked, surprised at how he could still speak.
"Validar, your part in this is not yet over. You still have a role to fulfill."
"Who are you? Who dares to speak to me of what my role is!?"
The voice chuckled, a low sound "I suppose I should punish you for blasphemy, but you aren't in the right state of mind right now, so I will forgive you. As for who I am, well...I am he whom you call master."
Validar was confused, until he saw him. A young man in a heavy robe. A young man with long, dark hair whose color was not unlike his own.
A young man with purple eyes.
Validar laughs.
God I hate being sick. Luckily it's only a stomach thing, so by tomorrow I'll be the lean, mean handsome devil I always am again. Anyways since posting this chapter is 10 minutes of work at best I did that, but I'm nor irritated due to being unable to do any more real work on the current chapter. Combined that with having been called into work yesterday so being able to do little work then, guess I'm now just irritated. Oh well, personal problem, needed to vent. Feel a little better. Anyways, this chapter here was where the story really spiked up (100 views in 2 days) So I did something right with it. Hope you all enjoy. Now excuse me as I need to find a Tums and some Ginger Ale. Mhmmmm, Ginger Allleee.
Fave, follow, review and have a wonderful day.