Chapter 8: Sight

"Marth."

The woman froze in her step, turning to my voice. She glared at me, but I returned no emotion. If this was going to work, I had to beat out her rage with patience.

"What do you want?" She asked, hands on the hilt of her blade. Well, that's a good place to start...

"Are you scared of me?" I asked, taking another step towards the mysterious girl. She took a step back and said nothing in return.

"What is there to be scared of? I-" Then it dawned on me. My memories. "...Did I do something to you in the past? I can't remember. I'm sorry-"

"Stop!" She drew her blade, but continued to step even farther back. She was nervous and distressed. This wasn't the Marth I fought at the arena. This isn't the one who argued with Chrom about my morality. She was no Hero-King. Was this the real girl behind the mask?

"You...You wouldn't understand. I don't even know what you are." Her eyes stared intensely into mine and for a moment, I thought I saw a familiar sigil. I lost focus the minute the girl lost control of herself.

"I can't trust you." She looked lost. It was a sad sight. I have a feeling she has a deeper past then she lets us know. "Not with those eyes.."

"My...eyes?" I didn't know what she meant. Just a second ago, I thought I saw something in her own eyes. Now she says there's something in mine? "What about my eyes? What is it that you see in them?"

"You don't know..?" Her expression previously filled with fear now softened. "Your left-"

Morgan, there you are!" A loud voice bellowed. Chrom came racing down the hall, only slowing down at the sight of the other presence. "...And Marth. Trying to sneak off without saying goodbye again? I'm glad Morgan caught you. I've got a few words for you myself."

Marth gritted her teeth, but it only showed for a moment. Then, her normal, calm expression reappeared. "If you plan to ask me to join the Shepherds, I'm sorry. I have my own affairs to take care of."

"Fine then." Chrom walked towards her and stuck out his hand. "Thanks for your help. Without you, Emm would have died...I might have died. I appreciated all of your hard work."

A slight blush appeared on that of Marth's face. She took his hand and shook it. A smile soon formed. "It's no problem. History was rewritten. There's no longer need for worry."

"What was it you saw then? What was the future you sought to avoid?"

She sighed, seemingly having a difficult time discribing the future she saw. "..After the exalt's assassination, the Fire Emblem would be stolen. This would lead to a great war. A war even worse than your father's rampage of Plegia. That war would lead to the end of mankind itself."

Silence filled the air as we tried to take in all she had said. Lucina let out another sigh.

"I'm sorry. This must sound like madness to you."

"No." Chrom said. "I believe you, strangely enough. I trust you and one day, I will repay your favors."

"Perhaps one day you shall. Until then..."

She turned and slowly walked away. I stood there, the puzzle that is my memories still not solved. Though, I do have one lead to follow.

"Chrom." I called out. He turned to me with a curious glance, eyebrow raised. "Is there something in my eye? The left one, particularly?"

He stepped closer and looked down into my eyes as I looked up into his own. "No, there's nothing there-"

"Hey lovebirds!" The thief from earlier called from the walls behind us. And neither of us had heard him approach. He's more skilled than I realized.

"Better kiss and talk later, because the rest of the group's heading here." I could feel my face heat up at the mere suggestion of such a relationship and looking at Chrom, I could tell he feels the same. "It's not like that, Gaius!" He yelled.

I took this moment to rush into the palace, face still red as Chrom's. Dashing past the rest of the Shepherds, confused looks apparent on their faces. No doubt this would bring about rumors...

My blush only faded when I recollection of the recent events flashed through my mind.

"The fellblood...it somehow runs within you...Has he produced offspring so quickly?"

That man wasn't trustworthy...That fellblood nonsense ...But I can't help think he knows about my past. About Father...

"I can't trust you. Not with those eyes."

When Marth spoke those words, the words of the leader of those assassins came to mind. Could that man see what Marth saw? Why can't I see it myself? They know more about me than I do. I need answers, but I can't find them..

Even with all my knowledge and insight, I feel blind...

"Quite a show you made out there. You must've frightened that girl have to death, drawing your sword and declaring her dangerous."

The azure maiden's eyes snapped open at the sound of the voice. Her hands quickly wrapped around the hilt of her blade, she swung in the direction of the voice.

"Hey, not bad." He said, ducking under her swing. Before she knew it, the mysterious man was within her guard. "But you seem a little nervous. Maybe what I said earlier should be reversed. You're scared of a little girl who wants nothing but to give you thanks. Isn't that odd?"

The girl backed away as quickly as she could. Sword still drawn, her hands shook from fear unknown. Her left eye twitched in the presence of the man. He was evil, her instincts told her. Something she must destroy.

"Let me guess. Your little mark is telling you, "Kill him while you can! Strike this man down!", right? It's sad. Her 'blessing' is more of a curse. It influences you to follow the path she wishes. And she wants nothing more than the death of her kin. She thinks herself immortal. It is only her namesake that is so. She's just as easy to kill as me or you."

"W-who...What are you?!" Fear clearly present in voice, she couldn't move away. She was backed against the tree she slept near. In the night, his face was unclear. His voice brought feelings of greed and temptation to her mind.

"Would you let me finish first?" She thought to attack from behind, reversing her grip on the blade and striking his heart. For some reason, her arm would not respond. "Naga's dogs always think the same thing. Following the road of a hero and wiping out the evils of the world is the righteous way. The only way. Doesn't it get tiring?" She tried to push him off. To run away. Still, her body would not move.

"The last "hero" of your family to fight in Naga's name ruined many lives. Both Ylissean and Plegian. All because a little voice in his head told him that one day, Plegia would end the reigning peace and spread war across his land. That they would end the life of his favored daughter, who would lead Ylisse into a world of peace and prosperity. Little did he know, he would be the cause."

"Why..? Why tell me this?" She asked, her resistance ending. There was no way out. If this man was truly as dangerous as her instincts told her, then she would die here. "I'm sorry, everyone.."

"You interest me." He said calmly. "I want to see what path you'll choose knowing this. Will you continue to endanger yourself being Naga's pawn? Or will you choose your own path and decide your own future? After all, are you assured that the future the divine dragon is leading you to is a good one? Will you blindly believe in her like your grandfather did, hurting those who don't deserve it?"

She was silent. His voice...that smooth, brilliant voice that held a playful and childish tone. It made his words all the more effective. The voice in her mind told her not to give into temptation.

She blinked and he was gone. He had fled through the forest, she assumed. It was only then that she let out a breath that she didn't notice she was holding in.

It was then that she realized that he had a mark in his right eye. One that reminded her of her worst nightmares.

She would see him again one day, she was sure. This wasn't something inside her speaking. It was her own thought. Her own wish.

Something deep in her mind told her that he was the enemy, or at least a part of their ranks.

It was then that she made her own decision and ignored the voice deep inside.

Notes: In a complete twist to how I felt about last chapter, I feel great about this one. Lots to think about this chapter. I hope it really leads to some deep speculation.

Thanks for reading, as always!