Chapter 1: Prelude to Violence
The cold sensation of the bellowing winds matches the one I felt when I first went outside. The only difference is that I lack my coat. It's cold. Even though the padding in the armor and my helmet, which I put on to keep a bit warmer, the various sections of the armor that are more revealing are not protected. I like it, and I don't mind showing my beauty, but this cold is still hard to deal with.
The sky is still as dark as Windmire. I guess this stretches out across Nohr. Very strange considering how big Nohr is.
I ride on the back of Gunter's steed. Hans is hitching a ride with another knight who arrived only recently. Clad in black and silver armor, he never speaks, but I can feel he is no foe. He was apparently under Xander's orders to await my group at the gateway of Windmire, and to join us. He was a bit late, though he caught up quickly. I just accepted his presence, but the more I am around him, the more I can sense a bond towards me.
"Are you curious about the identity of the knight in silver milady?" Gunter asks.
I move up my faceplate to breath remove any chance muffling. The cold makes my breath visible, same as the books I read. After admiring it shortly, I answer Gunter's question. "Yes."
"Unfortunately, I do not know much about him. Though he has reputation among the forces of Nohr; the Silver Knight."
"Silver Knight? What does that title mean?"
"It is because he is not only more skilled than most knights in the army but is also the youngest knight in history to master Silver Class weapons."
"You mean the highest quality weapons? I heard they feel very different compared to swords made of steel. But what is the difference?"
"Well, aside from being of greater quality possessing greater sharpness, it is also more durable, and has alternate weight distribution throughout the weapon. That is what makes it very different. Forgery is also different, as the material of these weapons is both unique and rare."
"Wow. I guess those books were right about there being multiple methods of forging. So strange, how different paths all lead to the same result."
"Well not exactly milady. Not all swords are equal, even when using the same method."
"How so?"
"There are many factors when it comes to forgery. You must take into account the purity of the material, the tools used to craft it, the skill of the blacksmith, and so forth. But what matters most is your actions once the blade is finished."
"So, what makes the silver weapons so special?"
"Exactly as I told you before; quality. You can win a battle with the odds stacked against you with or without superior weapons. Back in my youth your father and I drove off an entire invading force with only weapons of iron."
"Wow! That's incredi-wait, wait, you fought alongside my father?"
"Yes, indeed. Before he became king, we were but humble knights. He was energetic, compassionate, and a powerful fighter. A great role model, and friend."
"But now, he behaves almost nothing the way you described."
"Well one day he disappeared into the Forlorn Forest-
"The forest of those monsters; the Faceless." I cut him off.
"Indeed so, he replied. "Several days later he emerged from the forest wielding great power but became as if his heart had been hardened like stone. Furthermore, an accident happened about two decades ago that injured his leg in a way that not even the best healers in the country could not fix the injury. As such he can no longer fight."
"I read about those. Sometimes a rod can't fix an injury. Though no matter how many books I have read on the subject, I haven't found any hard reasoning."
"Allow me to answer that Lady Corrin." Hans calls out.
"Go on." I say. I wonder what he has to say. He has been mostly quiet through this trip.
"Speaking from experience, as I have spent most of my life on the battlefield, I have witnessed many of my men suffer from these wounds. There are limitations to the healing ability of a rod, however, sometimes rods are incapable of healing certain wounds."
"You seem like you are dancing around the question. I am already becoming confused." I interject. Had to be more formal since it's not someone close to me.
"Believe me, Lady Corrin, I was being as concise as I could." Hans responds.
"I apologize then; continue." I sounded so like a royal there. I am a bit proud. Maybe Xander is rubbing off on me.
"As I was saying; Rods heal mainly by re-growing the damaged body parts. But sometimes the wound can re-grow in the wrong way. In Lord Garon's case, he lost a major muscle in his thigh while his leg was still intact. But there was more to it than a mere stab wound."
"What could be more?" I ask.
"Dragon's blood."
"Dragon? Aren't they extinct?" Maybe I can find more about the dragon inside me.
"That was the most shocking part about the whole incident. I have never seen a dragon in my 30 years on the battlefield."
"Do you not think that someone simply siphoned blood from a dragon corpse and used it to coat a blade?"
"I apologize, Lady Corrin, but I am not the sharpest tool in the shed. I am not able comprehend things like that." Hans replies. "Stop!" he commands.
The steeds neigh as they halt their travels.
"Lady Corrin, we have arrived at the target destination."
I look over and see a massive and deep canyon with an old, wooden bridge connecting the two ends of the fissure.
"So that's the Bottomless Canyon." I say. "I can't see the end. It really is how the books say. This old and dusty one says that it leads to another world. How crazy. But seeing it now, I am doubting my conclusion.
"Lady Corrin, I highly suggest dismounting, and readying arms." Hans says. "We are about to enter enemy territory.
"Right" I close my helmet, and draw thrust my hand into the ground to pull Ganglari. I flashback to an earlier memory of being told how Ganglari is too dangerous to be kept in this world and must rest in the earth until needed. Plus, it makes me look awesome! So, I don't care.
Gunter and the Silver Knight, and Hans readies his axe.
And we advance to the fort.