"Checkmate."
Robin grinned when Leo stared at the chess board, stunned that his king was indeed cornered.
"Looks like you bested me this time," he grunted. "I'm impressed. You've improved so much in so few games. I thought you said you'd never played chess until now."
"Chess is new to me, but I have played a very similar game," Robin explained. "Unfortunately, I lost to the strutting peacock I played with more than I care to admit."
"Is that so? Were it possible, I'd love to have a round with that person. It's been ages since I've had a decent chess opponent. I now see why you're a tactician."
"Thank you, Prince Leo," Robin said with a smile. "I've enjoyed having you as an opponent, too. You're not so bad when you're not acting all high and mighty."
"I'll take that as a compliment," Leo said dryly. "Your wit certainly matches Prince Takumi's."
"Well, I guess I finally did one thing right," Robin replied.
"Care for another round?" asked Leo. "I won't hold back this time."
"As much as I'd like that, I'm afraid I have to get moving," Robin stated as she put her pieces away. "There are things I want to do before I say goodbye to this place."
From what she overheard, Corrin's army was going to launch its final assault tomorrow. Robin never got to find out who their mysterious foe was, but according to Azura, a curse prevented them from speaking freely about it.
"What sort of things?" asked Leo.
"I actually wanted to speak to that retainer of yours you told me about before. Odin, was it?"
Leo gave her a strange look. "Yes, but… why?"
"From what you described, Odin sounds a great deal like someone I know, and he bears a great resemblance to him, too," Robin explained. "And not just him―there are two others in this army who resemble people I know. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe they serve your older siblings."
"You must be thinking of Laslow and Selena."
"Laslow and Selena, huh?" Robin held her chin thoughtfully. "Those names aren't that different from the people I know. But wait a moment, I didn't even describe them! I thought all of you royals had two retainers each. How did you figure out who I was thinking of?"
"Don't be daft," Leo snorted. "Out of all of our retainers, only Odin, Laslow, and Selena been coy about their pasts and homelands. They are the only ones who could possibly have come from your homeland."
"I'm surprised you have such faith in them. I would've thought you would want to know everything about them before hiring them."
"You're one to talk."
"Hey! In my defense, Chrom's retainer put me through the grilling of a lifetime! He almost made me strip to my smallclothes just to make sure I didn't have any concealed weapons! If it weren't for Chrom and Lissa stepping in, I don't know what I would have done!"
Leo snickered, earning a glare from Robin. "It's not funny, damn it!" she shouted.
"You're far too easy to tease," Leo remarked. "Yet another trait you share with Prince Takumi."
"I can see why you drive him up the wall," Robin deadpanned. "And we aren't that much alike."
"Prince Takumi said more or less the same thing," Leo said with a chuckle.
Robin gave a small start, but quickly recovered. "W-well, that's good, because it's true!"
"You two are in so much denial. It's ridiculous," Leo scoffed, shaking his head.
"I'm not in denial of anything!" Robin snapped. "You've seen how badly I've failed at pretending to be Takumi! We may have some similarities, but they aren't enough for me to keep this charade going forever! If all goes well, this war will soon be over, and all you royals will no doubt have a lot of cleaning up to do. And I'm not exactly versed on Hoshidan and Nohrian politics. If we don't put a stop to the switching soon, then who knows what sort of disaster could unfold?"
"True enough," Leo conceded. "Unfortunately, I still haven't made any breakthroughs on that front."
"I can't say that surprises me," sighed Robin. "Aside from Tharja's theory about the switches being connected to dreams, we've got nothing to work with. And I have no idea how to stop myself from dreaming, especially since it's apparently due to my blood."
"Your blood?"
"I was told by a manakete―one of the dragonkin―that I carry dragon blood."
Leo froze, his eyes wide. "Dragon blood?"
"I know it sounds crazy, but I don't think a several thousand-year-old dragon would lie about something like this. Come to think of it, she once told me that I have power like hers. I wonder if this is what she was referring to."
"How can that be?" Leo asked. "Only royal family members are blessed with the blood of dragons."
Robin gave a start. "Wait a minute, are you saying that you have dragon blood, too?"
"You mean no one told you? Figures." Leo sighed and shook his head. "The First Dragons gifted our ancestors with a blood blessing before leaving this world. The Hoshidan royal family carries the blood of the Dawn Dragon, while my family holds the blood of the Dusk Dragon. As for Azura and Corrin… They are special cases. I'm afraid I can't explain more than that."
"This has to do with that curse Azura mentioned, doesn't it?"
Leo nodded. "Correct. It's inconvenient, I know."
"It's okay."
"More importantly, this brings up several questions. All records state that dragons died out long ago, but apparently dragonkin still survive in your homeland. How did such news not reach Hoshido and Nohr? Furthermore, just what dragon has blessed you with its blood?"
"Good questions," Robin hummed. "The news probably didn't reach here because we didn't know Hoshido and Nohr existed. As for my blood… I believe it's the blood of the Fell Dragon, Grima."
"Grima?" Leo repeated. "None of the First Dragons had that name. And I have a hard time believing that we are so isolated that we would not have heard of any living dragons. I'm beginning to wonder if your homeland is even a part of this world."
"Wh-what?! How can that be?!"
"Think about it. There are far too many inconsistencies between our countries. If they are in fact, different worlds, it would explain why we have never come into contact before and why dragons still exist in your homeland but not here."
"I guess that makes sense," said Robin. "But then how are Takumi and I switching bodies if we're from different worlds? And why us specifically? It can't just be because we have dragon blood, otherwise all the other royals would be experiencing this."
"Indeed," Leo replied with a nod. "But I have a feeling we're on the right track. Did the dragon who spoke to you tell you anything else?"
"Um… Well, I have white hair, and she said that hair color is common in manaketes. She also said that dragonkin are prone to frequent and vivid… dreams."
Robin felt as if someone lit a candle inside her head. Only she and Takumi had vivid recurring nightmares, and if dreaming was what triggered the switches, then they finally had a lead. She shared her theory with Leo, who agreed it sounded plausible.
"You may be onto something here. How curious, though. Dragons have hair in your world?"
"Only when they take human form," Robin explained. "Tiki told me that manaketes seal their true forms into dragonstones and only transform when they need to. It's to stop them from losing their minds and going berserk."
Leo's eyes lit up in understanding. "So that's why…"
"Huh? It almost sounds like you're familiar with that behavior."
"Corrin told me that her dragonstone is what keeps her dragon form in check. Without it, she is unable to control herself while transformed."
"That's strange," Robin noted, crossing her arms. "Tiki said that manaketes only show signs of degeneration when they're nearing the end of their lives. Or maybe it has to do with her not being a pure-blooded dragon. Maybe I could ask Nah about this…"
"Nah?" Leo parroted.
"Nah is one of the manaketes I know. Well, to be exact, she's half-manakete. She has a human father and a manakete mother, but she can still take on a dragon form. Every so often she gets an overwhelming urge to go all dragon and runs amok in the countryside. I wonder if it's more difficult for her and Corrin to keep their dragon forms under control because they aren't pure-blooded."
"As intriguing as that sounds, we can investigate that another time. We have more pressing issues right now. Based on everything you've told me, it's possible that you and Prince Takumi possess unusually potent dragon blood."
"You think so?" asked Robin.
"Corrin has white hair, which corroborates your dragon friend's claim," stated Leo. "And surely you've noticed how Takumi is the only one in his family with silver hair."
"True, but then again, your family is all blonde except for Camilla."
"It's not the same," Leo said, shaking his head. "While we share the same father, all of us have different mothers."
"Really? I had no idea. Your father must have been… Uh… Really something."
"You don't have to mince words. It's obvious you're disgusted."
"Not disgusted. Just surprised," Robin clarified. "Your family's personal affairs are none of my business. Back to the topic at hand, you have a point. Based on what Tiki told me, it makes sense that Takumi and I would have stronger dragon blood. The question now is how this connects to the switching."
"That's something I'll have to research. I won't be able to access the library in the astral plane anymore, but I'm sure Castle Krackenburg's will have volumes on the matter. The problem will be communication."
Leo had a very good point. By the time the next switch happened, the only way to contact him would be by letter, and missives could easily fall into the wrong hands. Until they could properly schedule a meeting, she and Takumi would have to investigate the switching on their own.
Robin chatted with Leo for a few more minutes before they went their separate ways. The Nohrian prince made a beeline for the library, eager to put his new information to good use. Meanwhile, Robin took a stroll around the Astral Plane. If Odin really was Owain, she would hear him before she saw him. In the meantime, she smiled to herself as she observed the hijinks unfolding around her. Felicia tripped over nothing and scattered laundry everywhere. Keaton was showing an owl pellet to Kaden, which the latter observed with poorly disguised disgust. Mozu tended her vegetable patch and glared daggers at anyone who came too close to the delicate sprouts. It all reminded her of home. In that respect at least, this world wasn't all that different from hers.
"SHADOW DRAGON FIRE ASSAULT!"
"BRILLIANT LIGHT OF THE RADIANT DAWN!"
Robin froze in her tracks. There was no mistaking that ridiculous shouting. What confused her was that Elise had responded in kind. She quickly found the two in a grove of trees, both conversing in Owain's signature dramatic manner. She couldn't believe that Elise not only understood that blather, but also had no problem mimicking it. At least she had the sense to not speak like that to other people, as otherwise Leo would have likely put a swift end to this "practice".
More importantly, this confirmed Robin's suspicions: Odin was almost certainly Owain. Even if this was a different world, the chances of someone looking and speaking exactly like him were astronomically small. There was just one glaring problem: Owain was still in Ylisse with the rest of the Shepherds but somehow was also here in this world. Could this Owain be from a different timeline than the one she knew? After all, "Odin" was a dark mage rather than a myrmidon. She wanted to find out more, but she wasn't in the position to ask.
"Hey! Takumi!"
Robin squeaked and instantly winced at how girly she sounded. Elise didn't seem to notice and gave her an endearing smile before gushing, "Hi, there! How long have you been listening to us? Did you want to learn to speak the dark tongue, too?"
"Dark… tongue…?"
"Yeah! It took me a while to learn it, but it's really cool! Odin tells the best stories with it!"
Odin, who had grown very pale upon seeing Robin, flustered at the praise. "Lady Elise, you are too kind."
"Sorry, I didn't intend to eavesdrop," Robin stated. "I just wanted to ask Odin a question."
"What is it you require of me, Lord Takumi?"
"You came from another country, right? Would you mind telling me a little about it?"
"Alas, such a tale is not meant for thine ears!" Odin lamented. "It is filled with an overwhelming, unspeakable darkness!"
Robin expected such an answer, but was undeterred. "Did something bad happen?"
"Aha! I see your scheme now, prince of dawn! There is no fooling Odin Dark! However you try, you shall not pry a word from these lips!"
"All right, I get the picture," Robin said quickly. Gods, he hasn't changed a bit. He didn't even bother to change his title!
"If that is all you require, I must request you leave. My tome hand hungers for blood!" Odin warned.
"Okay, okay, I'm going!"
Robin sat down by the amber spring and huffed, blowing her bangs out of her face in the process. She wasn't able to get any definitive proof out of Odin, but she was nonetheless convinced that he was Owain―no one else could wear her out just by speaking a few sentences. Her only questions now were what he was doing here, why he was Leo's retainer, and how he got here. If Owain―and presumably Severa and Inigo―could cross between worlds, then shouldn't it be possible for her to do the same?
Her mood brightened as she gazed at the amber spring. It had quickly grown to be one of her favorite spots in the astral plane. The water was crystal clear and dazzled in the sunlight, sometimes accentuated by the amber that formed in its depths each morning. It was also the only way she was able to see Takumi's face.
Takumi was a beautiful person, and part of her wanted to tell him that, but she could never bring herself to mention it. The mere thought embarrassed her to no end, and the last thing she wanted was to make their relationship even more awkward. The most she dared was admire her reflection while she inhabited his body, and even then, she had to be subtle about it.
Still, the view was worth the trouble. She loved the way Takumi's hair framed his face and how his bangs rested messily against his forehead. His eyes were colored the same hue as the amber resting in the spring's depths and sparkled just as brilliantly. Most of all, she adored his smile. Technically, it was her smile on his face, but a smile still suited him. Takumi rarely smiled from what she heard, and she wondered if she would ever see it for real. Considering how he felt about her, she doubted he would ever smile for her, no matter how much she wished otherwise.
Wait, what I am thinking?!
She squeezed her eyes shut and tried to will away the heat that flooded her cheeks. By the gods, she sounded like a lovestruck village maiden! Oboro would have her head if she ever found out!
Robin breathed deeply in order to calm herself down. She just wanted Takumi to be nice to her. That was all. Anything more than that was simply the result of Lissa and Maribelle's teasing getting to her.
She definitely did not like Takumi in that way. She admitted he was attractive, but there was nothing wrong with admiring a view! After all, she had no problems sneaking glances at Ryoma, Xander, Chrom, or any of the other men she had met in both worlds―provided they were fully clothed, that is.
Besides, she still hadn't met her future husband. It was highly inappropriate for her to harbor feelings for someone she wasn't supposed to be with. Nor was it fair to Oboro. Robin remembered how crushed Cordelia had been when Chrom chose to marry Olivia. Even though Cordelia was now happily married to Stahl, Robin didn't wish to see anyone else go through that. Oboro deserved a chance to confess her feelings to Takumi before it was too late.
And it's up to me to give her that chance. Once this war is over, I'll do whatever I can to help her.
To get her mind off the situation, Robin returned to her tent to resume her Hoshidan studies. She had mastered a lot of basic words and phrases, but there was still so much to learn. Unlike Common, written Hoshidan consisted of multiple alphabets and hundreds of different characters. The same word could be written three different ways! As a result, Robin had to familiarize herself with all three alphabets because characters from each one were used in different situations.
She also practiced writing important characters. Her attempts were still hideous compared to Oboro's calligraphy, but at least they were legible now. The first thing she intended to master writing was Takumi's name. It consisted of three "katakana" characters, one for each syllable. The "mi" was easy enough to remember, as it was three slightly curved lines stacked on top of each other. The "ta" and "ku", however, were almost identical. Robin found this the most challenging part of learning to read and write Hoshidan: adding or removing one small part of a character completely changed its sound and meaning!
Robin glanced between her written characters and reference book and sighed as she realized she had written "Kutami" instead of "Takumi" yet again. She could practically hear the prince chewing her out for butchering his name over and over. It only pushed her to try even harder. She swore she'd get it right, no matter how long it took. Unfortunately, her stomach didn't share the sentiment, and she had no choice but to take a break to eat.
While she internally celebrated when she managed to eat ten consecutive pieces of fish with her chopsticks without dropping any, she was all too aware of the tense atmosphere around her. Nervousness permeated every conversation, and even the most jovial soldiers had a steely glint in their eyes.
Right, tomorrow is their final battle, Robin thought. She had been so absorbed in her own activities that she had nearly forgotten and she felt a stab of guilt. She quietly finished her dinner and hurried back to her tent to clean up. Her studies would have to be cut short, as Takumi needed to be well-rested for tomorrow's battle.
Speaking of which, she wondered how Takumi was doing. Today was supposed to be his day off, but instead he was stuck finishing her battle plans. It wasn't fair that she was the one who got to relax. Somehow, she had to make it up to him.
After changing into her nightclothes, she pressed a pen to her arm and wrote, "Good luck" in Common. She frowned, wishing she could do more. Takumi could die tomorrow if things went badly, and the thought sat in her stomach like a rotten piece of meat.
No, she couldn't think that way. Takumi was strong and stubborn. He wouldn't keel over that easily. Not only that, she couldn't waste time worrying about him when she had her own battle coming up. The Shepherds needed to defeat Walhart, no matter what.
Tomorrow, both our worlds change, for better or for worse. Be safe, Takumi. And good luck… to the both of us.
Here I am, once again being extremely inconsistent at uploading. I always feel so bad when I make people wait for months on end. I've been plugging away at the story bit by bit; it's just hard to fit time to write in.
I realize I've been repeating myself a lot in these author's notes, so unless something really drastic happens I'll try to stop talking about the long delays between chapters. In the meantime, we're getting to the really interesting stuff I had in mind for this fic! That will be something to look forward to!