Magnus-Chapter Two-Perfect Timing-City Ruins

News had come in regarding Chester. After recruiting Virion, Cherche, and Arthur, he dealt another major blow to Valmese Forces, killing their new twin commanders, Victor and Vincent. I'd normally celebrate their defeat, but it meant Chester was one step closer to killing Queen Mikoto. I had a limited time frame to gather allies; and if Valm couldn't hold him off for longer, I'd have to step in myself.

Speaking of problems, Daniela, that sadistic Nohrian general, had the entire fourth army on her side. The Plegian's military forces had met hers, and both sides suffered casualties in the thousands. Meanwhile, the Grimleal had targeted me instead, setting their sights on the entire eastern half of Nohr.

To that end, my allies and I had holed up in the ruins of an older city of a smaller kingdom annexed by Nohr long ago. I had heard rumors of a group of soldiers resisting Plegia's influence in the region, and we had tracked them down to these ruins. Now they were surrounded by Grimleal soldiers led by Ardri. He was a Grimleal sorcerer with a penchant for sacrifices.

It was day two of us hiding out inside, and we planned to try and sneak out today. Gunter had led the recon efforts, and Henry, Tharja, and Flora stayed behind to train up and prepare.

I had snuck to the north to loot the largest building in town, only to find myself surrounded by several ruffians looking for treasure. I was in the central room, unwilling to leave my hideout as of yet. With my only allies a thousand feet or so away, I cursed my own damned luck as I pushed open the door, blade drawn.

I looked around, noticing the four ruffians in the vicinity. They didn't see me, and they were probably here looking for treasure, anyways. I hoped they'd ignore me.

Well, that's fine. I just have to not draw their attention, I thought to myself as I took one step onto the cobblestone only for it to cave in beneath my weight and fall into the basement below, raising hell as it hit everything possible.

Maybe they didn't hear that, I begged as I dodged a swift knife strike from behind by one of the thieves, "Aye boys, this ain't a Risen. What do we do with 'em?"

A second thief laughed, "Mug him, mate."

"Oy, bloke! Give me yer valuables!" A third thief addressed me.

"I don't want to," I answered in a whiny tone, "Fuck you guys."

The fourth thief called over to the other three, "Enough! Our boss gave us orders. We're looking for our ransom target. This idiot isn't a princess, clearly."

A princess? Ransom? Uh-oh...

A fifth guy ran up, his leg bleeding, "She's coming! We pissed her off!"

"Who!?" The leader of the four idiotic goons asked.

"That guard of hers... Rayne said her skills, like her body, fall a bit fla-" The rogue yelped in fear as a sixth thief was tossed over him, crashing into a nearby ruined building, the entirety crashing down onto two of my captors.

The leader growled, "Rayne, you idiot! Derk, Hanzo, with me!"

The three joined together and headed from the direction the attack came from. I turned and noticed a large band of rogues and mercenaries were headed towards me, but the Risen had flanked them. The two were now embittered in a brutal bloodbath, blocking me from my destination.

Well, I've never met a princess before. I justified my actions as I whimpered a bit, following the three stooges into a whole new hell zone.

I followed them, jumping over broken doors and sliding out of dilapidated buildings through their windows, even climbing up to rooftops to leap across them in a single, terrifying bound to follow them. They made their way to the courtyard of an abandoned mansion. A group of soldiers had all been defeated and killed in the center by a girl riding her loyal steed, a Pegasus.

Derk, Hanzo, and their commander leered at her as they slowly made their way towards her. She was clearly exhausted, her silver armor covered in dents, scratches, and blood. Her long red hair flowed behind her as she expertly maneuvered between a couple of archers that had followed up the attack.

On a rooftop overlooking the scene, I sighed as I unsheathed my blade and jumped down on top of one of the archers, cutting him down. He wasn't Grimleal, that was for sure.

The other archer aimed at me, and I pretended he was Chester as I sliced him into his stomach, "Fuck your horse."

The commander spun around and drew his brave axe, "Boy, thought you'd know better. Commander Sav, the Savage Butcher," He smirked as he tossed his blade into the air and drew a lance, tossing it at me. It pierced my side.

I clenched my side, feeling my blood flow. Damnit, I wasn't prepared for this. I raised my sword at him with my free hand, "Name's Magnus. The Lord of Bullshit!"

"What on earth do you...?"

I threw a rock I had snatched on my way here and chucked it at full force. It soared through the air before slamming into a bell perched atop the building above Sav. It clanged, the loud sound damaging their ears. As Sav held his head in pain, he didn't notice the tumbling rooftop pieces, or the bell that eventually crushed him into the ground.

Holding my wounded side, I cleared the gap between me and his men, "Tell me, boys... Did that ring a bell?"

Before they could answer, an iron lance cleaved through the both of them, and they collapsed, screaming before bleeding out. Behind them, my wai-... Cordelia greeted me with expected suspicion, "Who are you? Why are you here?"

My wound was bleeding profusely, and I tripped in front of her, falling to my knees. As my consciousness faded, I quipped, "Happy birthday, Cordelia..."

I didn't know how much time passed, or even if I was actually alive. All I know was that I was in a functional building with wood support beams holding it up. If I had to guess, it was a church. Was it Sunday already?

I laughed at my own joke until a sharp pain broke my calm enjoyment, "Ow... hurts to laugh."

I looked around. Sure enough, there was an altar, and behind it was a story of some famed dragon king. Well, if that isn't symbolism...

"Are you okay?" Oh, shit. People.

More specifically, a princess was standing before me, her healing staff at her side. She frowned as she held her hand against my forehead, "No fever, but you still look pale. I tried my best, but there's only so much I can do without herbs."

I tried to sit up, laying my back up against the side of the church wall, "Thank the Gods, a healer. Er... How should I say this? Delicately..."

The girl frowned at me, "I'm NOT delicate," she waved her staff towards me, "I'm a grown up princess now, thank you..."

I shrugged, "Fine, I won't be delicate. What are you even doing here, Lissa? And with Cordelia, no less?"

Lissa's eyes widened when I addressed her by name, "How do you-"

"Met the Plegians already," I answered, "It'd take a while to explain, but let's just say I know you, your pranks, your friend Cordelia, how her unit was destroyed by Plegian invaders, and the whole stopping Grima from reviving thing. My name's Magnus, by the way."

Lissa pouted, "Pranks, me? Never."

Cordelia walked towards us, glaring at Lissa as a frog crawled out of her armor, to which Lissa just blushed, "Okay, maybe once in awhile."

Cordelia picked up the frog and tossed it to the floor, "Lissa. Would Chrom let you behave in such a manner?"

Lissa bowed, "I'm sorry, Cordelia. I know I shouldn't do that. It's just... You never smile anymore."

"If it were Chrom here and not you, I might," Cordelia said just under her breath, barely audible.

I sensed a disturbance.

Lissa glared up at Cordelia, "I heard that."

Cordelia smiled, pretending as if she hadn't heard her reply, "Oh, you listen to me now, hm? What about when your sense of adventure that got us trapped here?"

"You told me to investigate the area for sights of interest!" Lissa pouted, "I just did what you said..."

"No, you rushed in here because you didn't hear me. I said not to go in alone. How did Chrom ever let you in the Shepherds if you can't follow basic instructions..."

"Because he loves me. You wouldn't know that feeling," Lissa angrily replied. Cordelia's eyes opened in shock, and she glanced to the floor.

"Daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaamn!" I covered my mouth in shock and savagery, "What's wrong with you two?"

Lissa frowned, "We came through the Dragon's Gate. Chrom asked Cordelia to protect me, and we were split up. Cordelia's been slave-driving me since."

"Slave driving?" Cordelia seemed even more offended by that, "Making you do your half-"

Lissa shook her head, "Crying every night that he's not here, telling me I don't match up to your expectations for his little sister... I'm sorry if everything comes so naturally to you!"

Cordelia shook her head, "Lissa, if you just bothered to apply yourself-"

"I try, okay!?" Lissa begin tearing up, "I've been alone and scared all this time! My brother... could be dead. My sister's murderer is in this town! I'm not... like you. I can't just hide how I feel!"

What was that last part? Sister's murderer...

The entire building rocked, and from outside, flames shot forth, burning the exterior of the nearby buildings.

"Gods, he's here!" Lissa screamed as she balled up in the corner.

Cordelia ran to the nearest window and glanced outside, "Him and his Risen. That bastard doesn't let up."

Outside, a sorcerer in typical Plegian robes, an old man with a dirty grin, stepped towards the church we resided in, "Oh, princess... How lucky we were to find you. Come out, come out, wherever you are..." He summoned a wind spell and blasted the nearby area with it, sending debris flying everywhere, crashing through the stained glass windows above us.

Cordelia grabbed her nearest lance and readied up on her pegasus, "I have to go out there. Lissa, go out the back."

I lifted myself onto my feet, "Are you kidding? That bastard has wind magic. He'd strike you down in no time."

"I have no choice. My lo..lord, Chrom, asked me to be ready to give my life for her," she drearily replied, "If this is all he wants from me, I can serve."

Just then, the metaphorical cavalry arrived. The actual cavalry was the form of a dual fire blast that razed through the risen forces behind him.

The sorcerer turned to see two former pupils step up towards him, "Ah, the traitors. We were looking for you as well."

Henry just smirked, "Traitor? Ardri, you must be getting old. I signed up for the Plegian army, not some loser death cult. I hate the taste of Kool-Aid."

"Mock us if you want. When our lord and savior is risen from the blood of our enemies-"

Tharja launched a wave of wind at him, knocking him back and sending his horde scattering, "Quiet, old man."

Behind the two of them, Gunter charged forward as Flora jumped off of the back of his horse and threw daggers at the man. He raised a wave of dark magic before shooting it back, knocking Flora off of her feet.

Ardri smiled, "Time to prove to you children why I'm the lead priest..." He summoned a dark shadow that ran across the ground. The shadow consumed Gunter before slamming him into the ground off of his horse.

Henry and Tharja both combined their lightning spells, but Ardri struck back with his own, overwhelming the two of them in an epic, heated battle.

With no alternatives left, I pushed open the church door and charged towards the old man. Cordelia followed behind me, but Ardri sent a whirlwind towards us. Cordelia was lifted into a nearby rooftop, crashing through the ceiling. Her pegasus landed near the ground next to it, and I cursed to myself.

I raised my blade high and slashed at the bastard old man, who screamed in shock as I cut through his robes. He turned on me and shocked me with his lightning magic, lifting me high into the air.

Henry, covered in blood not his own, ran forward, "Call me Darth Henry!" He raised his tome, but Ardri whisked it out of his hand with a powerful wind spell before blasting him at point blank range with a ball of light. Henry fell back down the steps and crashed onto the ground below, "Should have watched the movies..."

Ardri faced me again, that evil smile returning to his face, "Lord Magnus, glad to meet you. Sacrificing you to our God will bring me much glory... Then I can kill that wench in the north."

"Lightning!" A bolt of lightning came from below me, striking Ardri in his chest. He dropped me to the ground, which I landed on pretty painfully. I stabbed my sword into the dirt next to me and used it to propel myself forward. I slashed into the creep again, but he managed to jump back before I could finish him.

Another lightning bolt came from Lissa's hand as she knocked his dark tome from his free hand, searing his arm off. She walked up to him, her face covered in scratches wrought by his attacks on the church's outside.

Ardri smirked in the face of his own demise, "Princess... Sacrificing Emmeryn brought me great joy, you know. When Grima returns, my rebirth will be-"

Without a shred of hesitation, she grabbed his neck and shouted her spell a third time, roasting him to death in her hands. She pulled her hand back as the skin chipped, charred from the intense heat. How metal is that?

I finally managed to get to my feet. Cordelia, covered in broken wood pieces, opened the door and checked her horse for wounds.

Flora had already begun healing Gunter and Tharja, while Henry walked up to Ardri's corpse, "Old man had magic tomes. And magic hands."

My group eventually limped towards me, and we awaited on Lissa to heal us. She said she had to take a moment for herself, and she had walked off with Cordelia to apologize.

"Thank god you guys showed up," I said, hugging Flora and Henry, "I found reason to believe, again!"

Henry scratched his head, "In God?"

I shook my head, "No, that I have a soul. When Ardri attacked, I damn near felt it leave my body."

Cordelia and Lissa rejoined us, "We're back," Cordelia announced, "The two of us have come to terms with each other. Both of us were out of line..."

"I'll say," I quipped, "Everyone has their own strengths and weaknesses. Instead of fighting over who does what better, do what makes you feel accomplished."

Gunter nodded, "A wise piece of advice, Magnus."

Flora agreed, "How surprising coming from you."

Just then, someone else addressed us, "Nice light show, guys."

In front of us, a Levin sword shining in her hands, was a smiling Anna, the trickster that already had me reaching for my wallet.

"What are you doing here?" I asked.

"Well, who do you think sent all those robbers here? They weren't Plegian, right?" Anna twirled her blade in her hand even as the lightning threatened to burn her exposed flesh, "Ardri promised a pretty penny for the two prime targets. A wannabe lord and a little princess. Look what I found."

I already felt pain, and I groaned, "No... No double boss fights..."

Anna glared at me, "Killing every last one of my mercs, huh? Do you know how much that costs me? And my clients, too... What a naughty boy you are, Magnus." I gulped, fearful of how she said that, "I think it's time to punish you." She raised her sword high, and a bolt of lightning came down, making it shine even brighter in the dark, dreary sky.

Then she lowered it and placed it back into its sheath, "Since you guys cost me, you're taking responsibility for it. The loot from my men? Yours. The gold? Mine. Ardri's stuff? Mine. Half of your future coffers? Mine."

"Half? Hell no!" I yelled back, "Twenty!"

"Forty-five."

"Twenty-one."

"Forty."

"Thirteen," I glared in indignation.

"Twenty-four," she smirked back.

I sighed, "Deal," I could already feel my wallet growing lighter.

Anna smiled and struck a victory pose, "Awesome! I'll even be so kind as to set up weapon shops for you! Make every gold count!"

And that was the tale of how Anna the merchant began leeching off of all of my money.

The eight of us traveled back to my castle, where Lissa healed us all up. Just before morning, I met Cordelia and Lissa in the cafeteria.

Cordelia started up the conversation, "Lissa and I discussed our options, and we've decided to stay with your group for the time being. We won't have a chance if Plegia finds us again, and we don't have any idea where to go ourselves."

Lissa nudged her, "Oh, is that all?"

Cordelia smiled as she placed her hand over Lissa's mouth, "Beware this girl, Magnus. She's wont to spread rumours."

I decided not to inquire further, "Cordelia, your pegasus is in our newly refurbished stables. Your rooms have both been prepared by Flora. I recommend you both to get some sleep. You two look exhausted."

The two nodded and both stood up and headed to their rooms. After they left, I collapsed onto the bench. Damnit. Why me...?

My reason for despairing must have some kind of sick sensor, because the sadist walked up behind me, "Oh, Lord Magnus. I see you're not looking too well. Should I take care of you?"

"No more fees, Anna. And please remember; if you ever do anything to endanger my group or me for money-" I reprimanded her.

Anna just smiled as she slid next to me, "I've decided to let danger come to you first," Oh, great. "Now, are you sure? I'm renowned for my excellent customer service record. Never left a single one unsatisfied," she said, putting her finger on my chest as she mischievously grinned at me. Oh, gods.

I moved her hand off of me gently with my own, "No thanks, Anna. I prefer not being totally broke." That and I didn't know if I was comfortable with this. Yet.

She didn't let up, moving her head next to my ear, "Even if the first time's free?" What is this free to play bullshit?

I made my way to leave, but she grabbed my collar. Oh, no...

Anna smirked and flipped me onto my back before elbowing me in the spine. And thus began a long painful hour of her 'expert back message'. For a long while, I felt as if she was crippling me, but at the end of it, the pain and bent up stress in my body had completely dissipated. I actually had never felt better.

I sprung up from the table, feeling light and exuberant, "Oh, that's great. I've never felt this way in a long while!"

"Kind of the point," Anna laughed, "You seemed stressed out. Normally, I charge, but you looked like you needed it."

"Wow, thanks for that, Anna," I replied, legitimately surprised by her kindness.

Anna winked, "Next time I'll charge, though."

Damn it. I could already feel it in my bones that I'd have to ask for her services again.

I made my way to the kitchen and worked my ass off for the next two hours. Covered in flour, sweat, tears, and a batch of inflamed pancakes, I sighed to myself, my job complete.

The night passed without incident, and when everyone gathered at the lunch house together, I announced, "Guys, got a surprise for everyone."

I reached behind the counter and brought out a cake with candles in it, "Tradition from my lands says I've gotta do this for our special birthday girl." I placed the double-layered chocolate cake in front of Cordelia, who seemed intimidated by its size, "Make a wish and blow out the candles. I'll get us knives and plates."

"What... I haven't seen a confectionery this large before," Cordelia commented, looking up at me, "And you even drew my pegasus and I in the icing..."

I smiled back at her, "Of course. No holding out for people I care about."

Cordelia turned back to the cake, "You care for me? Am I not a stranger to you?"

"Well, not exactly," I snickered, "I told Lissa, I know a bit about you both. And I wanted to make this day special for you. You deserve it, always working so hard. Organizing our weapon stockpiles without even being asked, checking our health over the night... I'm very thankful."

Cordelia didn't answer me, closing her eyes, her hands clasped together and held near her heart as she blew the candles out, "There."

Curious, I asked, "How old are you now?"

The second I said that, Lissa, Tharja, and Flora's expressions all turned grim as they stepped back in fear of the potential rage flowing within my new companion. I fucked up, didn't I?

I expected hell, but instead she stayed quiet. After an awkward silence, she rose to her feet and faced me, "I'm not mad. I... I'm just glad you went out of your way for me..." she hugged me, and I kept myself from saying the first thing that came to my mind.

Instead, I said the second, "You're...soft." Cordelia let go of me a moment later, and I blushed, "Uh, anyways. Gunter, someone, get over here and slice this cake up for us!"

And with that, our group celebrated not just her birthday, but our first time we truly felt united. I was surprised to see even Tharja come out of her shell and happily converse with Cordelia on the potentials of magic, while Lissa and Henry soon found great joy in pranking Gunter and Flora.

I resigned myself to my fate as Anna watched it all from afar, and I asked, "Any reason you're not reveling with the others?"

Anna shrugged, "Do I seem like a people person to you? I mean, not to be rude... I just don't often spend enough time around others to grow attached."

"With us, maybe that will change," I offered, "Come on, what's the harm in having fun?"

Anna studied me for a moment before nodding, "Not lowering my rates, though."

I rolled my eyes, "Like I'd even ask."

Anna and I joined the others, and together spent a joyous moment in our castle, despite the impending doom that felt growing in our presence. I was... happy. Genuinely happy to have bothered on this adventure. I hoped it wouldn't end any time soon.