Chapter 21: Faithful
Robin was walking through a dense forest. Birds sounded out above him, chattering away as Robin walked. He looked up and saw how dense the foliage was. He was only able to partially see through the leaves and noticed that it was cloudy out.
Robin continued to walk until he stopped. About twenty feet away from him was a young boy. His back was turned to Robin as the boy picked up twigs and sticks from the ground.
"Excuse me." said Robin. "Do you know where I am?"
The boy didn't answer. He simply continued to gather the wood, as if Robin didn't even exist.
"Excuse me." Robin repeated, a little louder. "I'm lost. Can you help me?"
The boy still didn't respond. He did however, stand straight up and turn, having finished his task. When Robin got a sight of the young boy's face, he nearly stumbled back in shock. The boy looked no older than eleven, with bright brown eyes and silver-white hair that was very ruffled. He wore a yellow tank top and brown pants. He was very slim and had pale skin.
The young boy looked exactly like a young Robin.
The boy walked towards Robin. Robin stepped out of the way, as the boy still didn't seem to notice him. As the boy passed, a twig brushed against Robin's stomach. Except, it didn't. When the twig hit Robin, it went through him. It didn't hurt, but Robin was shocked. It was like he was some sort of spirit.
His curiosity getting the better of him, Robin followed his miniature look alike. When he caught up with the boy, he decided to do a little experiment. Robin cut in front of the boy and stopped a few feet away. The boy continued to walk. The moment he was about to collide with Robin, he instead walked through him, confirming Robin's suspicions.
Still wondering what was going on, he continued to follow the young boy. As he watched his younger self gather firewood, he suspected that he must be in a memory. One of his memories. As for why he was right beside himself and not in his perspective, he had no idea.
"Gotta say." Robin chuckled to himself. "I was a pretty cute kid."
The young Robin continued to walk through the forest and pick up sticks as he did. Suddenly, there was a crash heard from the distance, followed by several screams. Both Robins turned towards the source of the noise and, to their horror, saw smoke rising in the distance.
"Oh no." said the young Robin. "Mother!"
The young Robin then darted towards the direction of the smoke, with Robin in tow. Once they reached the clearing, they discovered the source of the flames.
A village was burning below them as many voices and screams sounded out. Robin watched as several people in white robes holding torches threw them into the houses with a mighty crash. Robin couldn't make out what they were saying, but they sounded angry. Meanwhile, other men on foot and horseback were chasing or fighting people who had to be the citizens of the village. All of the people who were causing the destruction seemed to wear the same uniform. To Robin's shock, he noticed that all of them seemed to have the symbol of Naga on their uniforms as well.
"Round them up!" Robin heard someone shout. "Round up these heathens and monsters!"
Robin looked to his younger counterpart, who was watching with fear and worry in his eyes. The young Robin then ran along the edge of the village, looking for an opening to get in without getting caught by the people in white. He spotted one and darted right through, with Robin close behind. As he watched his younger self run through the burning village, he noticed that he himself couldn't feel the heat of the fire. Still, the sensation of it felt familiar as he walked through his memory.
"Mother!" the young Robin called out. "Mother!"
Robin was dreading what he would find as the young Robin approached a house, which was currently ablaze.
"Mother!" the young Robin yelled. He then pulled out his tome. "WIND!"
The wind spell parted the flames and allowed the Robins to get inside. Robin looked around, realizing that this must have been his home. It looked to be a small, but quaint little home. The entrance was also the sitting room, with several wooden chairs and a table that were nearly burned away. Other rooms spread out across the house, including a kitchen, two bedrooms, and a bath.
The younger Robin frantically looked around and saw someone laying on the ground nearby in the kitchen. Robin followed his younger self and looked upon the familiar figure of his mother. Anhra was much older now and her hair was cut shorter. She was also wearing a simple black dress and seemed to have something tucked underneath her.
"Mother." said the young Robin. "Mother, wake up."
Both Robins held their breath as Anhra slowly opened her eyes. She looked and Robin and gave him a weak smile.
"My child." She said weakly. "You are alive."
"Mother, we need to leave." said the young Robin. "I'll help you up. We need to go now!"
"I cannot go my love." said Anhra. She then pointed to her side. "I do not have the strength."
The Robins looked to where Anhra pointed and saw that she had a huge gash on her side. It looked as if she was slashed by a sword.
"No!" the little Robin cried out. "I'll get a healer. I'll-"
"It is too late." said Anhra. She did not sound disappointed. She gave Robin another weak, but loving smile. "I only hope I didn't get any blood on this."
She slowly removed the bundle beneath her. The young Robin took it and unfurled it. Robin himself nearly teared up as he realized that it was his coat.
"Your father and I made it for you." said Anhra. "We wanted you to have it when you were ready."
"Mother." the young Robin said.
"Robin, listen to me." said Anhra. "You are destined for something great. Something that will change the world. But heed my words. Do not return to your father."
"What?" the young Robin asked. "Why? Father hasn't finished my training. How will I fulfill my destiny without him?"
"I believe in my heart you still will meet your fate." said Anhra proudly. "You will still make a beautiful new age for this world. But I want it to be on your will, not your fathers. I've always wanted it that way. I know you will make us proud, even if it means you will make the ultimate sacrifice."
"Sacrifice?" the young Robin asked. "What do you mean?"
Anhra didn't answer. She simply put her hand on her son's face as the home began to crumble around them.
"Go my child." said Anhra. "I hope that coat will be a reminder of how much your father and I love you."
With that, Robin saw the light of his mother's eyes die out as she went limp. The young Robin remained there for a second before something fell behind him, snapping him and Robin back to attention. Both Robins bolted out of the house as it continued to burn behind them.
Once they were outside, the young Robin fell to his knees, bursting into tears as he tightly clenched the coat. Robin himself began to rub his hands against the coat, trying to take in the memory of it. However, neither had much time to grieve, as the young Robin quickly looked to his right when the sound of horse sounded out.
Robin turned that direction as well and locked eyes with a man in white, who was on a mighty black horse. This man seemed different from the other people in white however. He looked to be in his late forties, with thinning gray and black, slicked back hair. He had a frightening expression on his face, one that seemed to radiate the look of a cruel ruler. His robes seemed to be more formal as well, with blue stripes across his shoulders, which were adorned with shoulder pads. He held a silver sword in his hand and was clutching it tightly when he saw the young Robin.
"I thought I killed all of the filthy Grimleal in that home." the man said. "No matter. Do not resist and I may have mercy on your soul boy."
The young Robin quickly got up and ran the other way. The man did not pursue, instead yelling at his subordinates to go after Robin. The older Robin followed his younger self. He watched as the boy ran out of village, with two men in white robes in hot pursuit.
Robin eventually caught up to his younger self as the young boy darted behind a group of rocks. He saw an opening in the rocks big enough for him to fit in and crawled through. Once he was inside, his pursuers appeared. Thankfully, they didn't notice the hole in the rocks, so they sped past it.
Robin looked inside and saw his younger self, still clutching the coat as he shook with fear and sadness. The sensation of this memory began to resonate within him as well, feeling similar emotions to his younger self.
"Robin." someone faintly called out.
Robin looked around, wondering where the voice came from. However, his younger self didn't seem to notice.
"Robin." the voice sounded out again, a little louder this time.
Robin looked around, leaving his younger self alone. The voice was still faint, but there was something familiar about it. It seemed to be drawing him towards it's direction.
"Robin." the voice said much louder.
Robin recognized the voice. Once he did, everything seemed to go black around him. Suddenly-
"Robin!" the voice shouted in Robin's ear.
Robin awoke with start to see Frederick above him.
"Wuzzat." Robin said dazed. He blinked a bit and saw that there was daylight outside. "What's wrong Frederick?"
"Sorry to wake you my friend." said Frederick. "But we have company."
At the entrance to the the camp, four men in hoods stood before Chrom and other onlookers behind him. There were several carriages behind them that looked like they could fit four people each. The carriages were a dark purple, with crimson outlines and trimmings. They were being pulled by gigantic black horses, all of them looking like they could trample a knight with ease.
One of the hooded men approached Chrom. He wore red robes, with a hood that completely covered his face. He reached his hand out to Chrom, which had a piece of parchment rolled up in it. Chrom noticed that the person's skin seemed to be a pale purple, almost like the color of a corpse.
"I seek Prince Chrom." the hooded man said.
"That would be me." said Chrom.
"This is for you." said the hooded man. "It is from my mistress, Gisela, the dynast of Duminion."
Chrom opened the parchment and read it over. It was an official invite to a kingdom called Duminion.
"She wishes to speak with you." said the hooded man. "What is your answer?"
Chrom raised an eyebrow and looked over the visitors. He was always willing to accept any aid, especially if it helped with the war efforts. However, something about this crowd seemed unnerving, especially since they were giving off a sort of Grimleal like vibe.
"I think it would beneficial to discuss it with other members of my army." said Chrom. "Would you give us some time?"
"We will expect an answer within the hour." said the hooded man, who bowed to Chrom.
Chrom nodded as he turned to gather the war council. Eventually, everyone was assembled and Chrom filled them in on the situation.
"This may prove to be troublesome." said Say'ri. "That kingdom holds the last of the Duma Faithful."
"Duma Faithful?" Lucina asked.
"They were people who worshipped Duma when he and Mila were alive." said Say'ri. "They are said to be a lot like the Grimleal in their ways. I know for a fact that everyone there practices dark magic and keep to their own business. Already, that's a strange sign for them reaching out."
"I think it makes sense." said Nelson. "We just destroyed a base of Grimleal after all."
"What difference would that make?" Robin asked.
"The Duma Faithful HATE the Grimleal." said Nelson. "They've been at each others throats since the Grimleal first appeared on the continent."
"Why?" Flavia asked. "From what I've heard, the Duma Faithful sound pretty similar to the Grimleal. Besides, unlike the Grimleal, their divine dragon is dead."
"To hell if I know." Nelson shrugged. "Point is, we've obviously made an impression that Walhart didn't make. I say we talk to them, see what they want."
"I don't think it's wise." said Say'ri.
"Are you gonna disagree with everything I suggest?" Nelson sneered at Say'ri.
"You made one good suggestion with the Wyvern Valley." Say'ri retorted. "Whoopty-doo."
"Let's focus here." said Chrom. "I have no issue with people who use dark magic. We have people in our army who do after all and I'd trust them with my life. What we need to figure out is if these are our enemies and if they are luring us into a trap."
"I wouldn't say that they're your buddies." said Nelson. "But hey, the enemy of my enemy is my friend and all that jazz."
"I say we go." said Flavia. "We'll at least see what they have to say. And if things get ugly, then we'll clean their clocks like we always do."
"Then we must bring our strongest warriors." said Say'ri. "Women in particular. From what I hear, their ruler likes strong women and the Duma Faithful are those who worship power."
"Then let's get the team ready." said Robin. "Flavia, go find Tharja and Sully. They might prove helpful. Basilio, can we count on you to watch the camp?"
"Certainly." said Basilio.
"Then let's get to it." said Chrom.
A half hour later, the diplomatic team was assembled and getting into the carriages. This time, it consisted of Chrom, Robin, Sumia, Lucina, Sully, Flavia, Tharja, Maribelle, Donnel, Panne, Gregor, Cherche, and Virion. Chrom knew that these were some of the finest warriors that the army had and he hoped that they would make a good impression on this Gisela woman.
Within Chrom's carriage was himself, Sumia, and Robin. The whole way down, Chrom noticed that Robin seemed a little off. Decided to see what was wrong, he poked his friend on the shoulder, snapping Robin back to attention.
"You get enough sleep last night?" Chrom asked.
"Apparently not." said Robin.
"What's wrong Robin?" Sumia asked.
"Nothing." Robin sighed. "Just bad dreams."
"Wanna talk about it?" Chrom asked, concerned.
Robin seemed hesitant, as if thinking of what to say.
"Well, I don't think I necessarily had just a dream." said Robin. "I think...I think it was a memory."
"A memory?" Sumia asked excitedly. "What was it?"
"That's the strange thing." said Robin. "I don't really remember anymore. It was so hewn into my mind earlier, but now it's beginning to fade. From what I remember, it had something to do with my mother and some people in white uniforms."
"Your mother?" Chrom asked. "Did you see her? What does she look like?"
"I can't remember." said Robin. "It's frustrating. I know SOMETHING happened, I just don't remember what it was."
"You said something about people in white." said Chrom. "Did they happen to have the symbol of Naga on them?"
"I think so." said Robin. "Again, it's all hazy. Why, do you know of them?"
"I might, unfortunately." said Chrom. "They called themselves the Chosen Saviours. They claim to be a group of Naga worshippers who were handpicked by the divine dragon and her children to purge the world of evil. Honestly, I think they're just some fanatical extremists who raid villages and persecute anyone who has anything to do with the Grimleal."
"That doesn't sound all bad." said Robin. "Though I suppose there's a catch."
"Well, first of all." said Chrom. "I may hate the Grimleal, but I would never take away their homes and I only take their lives when I need to. Second, these people are willing to kill children and infants, people who aren't even old enough to understand what they're dying for."
"That's disgusting." said Robin.
"They were wicked." said Sumia. "They were also really active when Chrom's father was Exalt."
"Well, their leader was once a high priest in the Ylissean court." said Chrom. "His name was Ibrahim and he was about as nasty as they come. I only ever saw him once or twice, but that was enough. He was one of the only people who ever truly frightened me."
"Your father let someone like him in his court?" Robin asked.
"I don't know if he knew." said Chrom. "A lot of the Chosen Saviours raids were done at night and under the radar. Ibrahim would capture or kill villagers on site. The ones who he brought to the court were given a trial and then executed. All in the name of Naga."
"It was bullshit." said Sumia. "I'm pretty sure most of the people he killed weren't even Grimleal. I remember he had a friend of my father arrested along with his family. Not a single one of them were Grimleal yet they still paid for it because of him."
"Unbelievable." said Robin. "That man isn't in the court anymore is he?"
"Ha!" Chrom laughed. "Like Emm would keep him around. The moment he was exposed for the monster he was, Ibrahim and the Chosen Saviours were exiled. We also found out that he killed a well respected bishop in Ylisse, Father Pyramus. I don't know what happened to them after that."
"Let's just hope he's dead." said Robin bitterly. "That memory may be gone, but I have a sneaky suspicion my mother is dead because of them."
Chrom looked at his friend, regretting that he even brought the subject up. It was rough enough not having all of his memories, so Chrom could only imagine what it felt like knowing that he remembered something important, only to slowly forget about it over a short period of time. It also must have been rough considering that this was most likely a bad memory. Chrom hoped that one day Robin would regain his memories, especially since they could now be along the new memories that Robin has made with him.
Suddenly, there was a knock on one of the windows to the carriage. Chrom opened the window so that the driver could speak with him.
"We are nearly there sir." said the driver.
"Thank you driver." said Chrom.
Chrom then looked outside and saw a massive mountain ahead of them. Remembering that Say'ri mentioned Duminion was within a mountain, Chrom looked in front of them. Sure enough, there was a huge cave in front of them in the side of the mountain. Curious to see what awaited them, Chrom sat back inside the carriage as the darkness of the mountain cave enveloped the carriages when they entered a few minutes later.
As the carriages went down further into the mountain, Lucina saw light flickering ahead. They then passed by torches as the cave became illuminated. Deeper and deeper they went until they entered a massive chamber that was big enough to fit a whole town. As a matter of fact, it did fit a whole town.
The city of Duminion was chock full of houses and buildings, all of which were made of or carved out of stone. Along the edges of the city, more caves and holes were around, which must have lead to other homes or parts of the mountain. At the end of the city, there was massive staircase that led into what appeared to be a the entrance to a temple. Above the temple was a symbol. It resembled an upside down symbol of Naga, except the ends were straight and there were spikes coming out through the rounded portion.
The carriages stopped and Lucina got out of her carriage, along with Say'ri and Flavia. As everyone got out of their carriages, Lucina looked around. The citizens of Duminion were looking at them, giving them curious looks and whispering to each other as they went out about their business. Lucina noticed that the people had a strange appearance. Their skin was all a grayish purple or blue, like a corpse. Some people had normal eyes, others either had simply all white eyes, and others had black eyes with purple pupils. They all had either magenta, dirty blonde, or black hair. Lucina noticed that some of them seemed to have longer, fang like teeth, almost like a vampire.
Once everyone was outside, they began walking towards the temple. They were stopped however by the hooded men who brought them here.
"Only the prince and the tactician may enter now." said the hooded man. "The rest of you will have to wait."
"We'll meet back in an hour Shepherds." said Chrom. "Meet at the foot of the stairs."
Everyone nodded as the hooded figures beckoned Robin and Chrom up the stairs. As they walked up, Lucina turned to walk around. Though still getting some stares, the people continued to go about their business as Lucina looked around. However, Lucina wasn't nervous, as she felt no ill will was behind the staring or the whispering. The people were simply curious.
As Lucina walked on, something caught her eye. It was a strange looking shop with a sign above it that had an eye in the center. Curious, she walked inside. It was full of all sorts of strange items and instruments. One that seemed particularly interesting was a strange object that had a whole bunch of orbs on rings encircle a larger orb. Lucina watched as the orbs moved around the larger one, each at a different pace and distance.
"I see you like my model of the galaxy." said a voice behind her.
Lucina turned to see a man behind her, who had to be the shopkeeper. He looked to be in his late forties, with short black hair, along with a gray, spiked section of hair directly above his head. He had normal eyes, except for the fact this pupils were purple. Attached to his ears were half moon shaped earrings. He wore a black robe over his red and white clothing, which had a uniform like look to it.
"Welcome outsider." the man said pleasantly, bowing to Lucina. "I am Zedas."
"Hello Zedas." said Lucina. "My name is Lucina. I'm from-"
"From Ylisse, yes." said Zeda. "I've heard about your arrival. When I'm not running my shop, I work for Lady Gisela in the temple."
"I see." said Lucina. "What exactly do you do there?"
"What I do here." said Zedas. "Assist people with the art of divination."
"Divination?" Lucina asked, raising an eyebrow. "Your psychic?"
"No my dear." Zedas chuckled. "I am a soothsayer."
"There is a difference?" Lucina asked.
"Indeed, there is." said Zedas. "A psychic is one who can read another person's mind and manipulate objects with their brains. Fortune tellers like myself are those who can see into the future and sometimes into other worlds. If anyone who claims to be psychic can do this, they are a fraud."
"I see." said Lucina.
"I would be honored to demonstrate my dear." said Zedas.
"I'll pass." said Lucina. "I've seen many who claim that they can predict the future and that's all they've been, a claim."
"Then that is the mark of another faker." said Zedas. "We can look into the future, but we can't always predict what happens. At least, not accurately."
"Why is that?" Lucina asked.
"Time is constantly changing." said Zedas. "And destiny has the chance of changing if someone knows about it. Not only that, but the same outcome can come to be even if the original path is changed or delayed."
"I know that feeling all too well." Lucina said sadly.
"Do you?" Zedas asked.
Lucina said nothing. She simply pretended to be interested in jar full of black powder as Zedas looked on curiously.
"I sense something strange about you." said Zedas, rubbing his chin. "Something...Not of this world. Please, I insist on giving you a reading. I'll even do it free of charge."
Lucina thought for a moment. She had a feeling that it was a nothing but a hoax, but her curiosity got the better of her. Plus, it might be a good way to kill time.
"Very well." said Lucina. "I'll humor you."
"Excellent." Zedas smiled pleasantly. He then opened a curtain behind him that lead to another room in the back of the store. "Please come in and get comfortable."
Lucina walked in and saw that she was in a small room with several tables and desks, all of which had unlit candles on them. The only lit candle was one on the table in the center. It was a plane, circular table, with two wooden seats placed across from each other. Lucina sat down on the nearest one as Zedas began to light the other candles.
"No crystal ball?" Lucina asked.
"Another sign of a faker child." Zedas laughed. "Crystal balls are nothing but silly scams. There is no mystical power within them. Hence why you didn't see any in my shop."
"Then what are real methods?" Lucina asked curiously.
"There are many." said Zedas. "One method is stargazing. If you are attuned with studying the cosmos, you can tell when stars are in certain positions. These positions are supposed to be a sign of something. There is also palm reading, though that can be a little tricky. I know how, but I'm not well practiced in it. There are also several different spells and enchantments, though they often take a lot time to prepare."
"What about flowers?" Lucina asked. "My mother uses them for fortune telling."
"Flowers can't predict the future I'm afraid." said Zedas. "At least not on their own."
Zedas then opened one of the drawers and took something out of it once he finished lighting the candles. He sat down across from Lucina as she saw that he was holding a small box. He opened the box and pulled out a deck of cards.
"Cards?" Lucina asked.
"Tarot cards." said Zedas. "This is my preferred method of predicting the future. If you would give them a good shuffle please."
"Do I need to shuffle them in any specific way?" Lucina asked, taking the cards.
"However you wish." said Zedas. "Give them to me once you are done."
Lucina shuffled the cards carefully. As she did, she caught quick glances of strange pictures and symbols. Once she finished, she handed Zedas back the deck. He took it and cut it into three piles.
"If you would pick up ten cards and place them in front of me." said Zedas. He then showed Lucina a diagram of cards on the wall. "Place them in that position. You may draw them from any of three piles in any order."
Lucina did so, taking four cards from the first pile, one from the center, and five from the last pile. She placed them in the order Zedas asked for and then sat back. The cards were now in a formation, with the first six cards forming a cross and the other four on the side in a column.
"Now it is time to read your future." said Zedas. "Have you ever seen tarot cards before child?"
"No." said Lucina.
"Well, each card has a different meaning." Zedas explained. "And the meaning changes depending on the situation. If a card is right side up, it generally means a positive thing. If a card is upside down, it means a negative thing. Do you understand?"
"I believe so." said Lucina.
"Then let's see what your future holds." said Zedas. "Starting with the present."
Zedas flipped the first card,which was underneath the second. The card depicted the moon, with the roman numerals of eighteen.
"The Moon." said Zedas. "And it is upright. There is conflict."
"Well of course." said Lucina. "We are at war."
"That is true." said Zedas. "However, there could be other conflicts. Let's see what is next."
He flipped the next card over. It depicted a man standing before a golden sky watching over his shoulder while he carries off five silver swords. There were also two swords behind him, stuck into the ground.
"The Seven of Swords. And it is upright." said Zedas. "This is an obstacle in your life. It means that someone intends to betray you."
Lucina shivered, but she wasn't impressed so far. She knew all of this. Then again, how did he know this?
Zedas flipped over the third card. The card depicted a man and a woman standing nude on the earth beneath an angel.
"Ah." said Zedas with a coy smile. "The Lovers. And it is upright."
"What does that mean?" Lucina asked.
"Well, it was placed third, which is your subconscious desire." said Zedas. "This means that love may be your aid in the future."
"I see." said Lucina. "Er...what sort of love does it mean?"
"I would think it would be obvious." said Zedas, raising an eyebrow.
Without realizing, Lucina found herself sweating as she went red.
"Next we dive into your past." said Zedas. He flipped the card and then frowned. "Oh dear."
The card showed a pillar of brick and stone rising high into the clouds being struck down by lightning and set ablaze.
"The Tower." said Zedas. "Once more it is upright. This is a sign of tragedy. Great tragedy and calamity."
"Sounds about right." said Lucina. "I come from a time of tragedy."
"Come from a time?" Zedas asked.
"Not important right now." said Lucina. "Please, continue."
Zedas nodded and flipped the next card, which he said is supposed to deal with her conscious desires. This card showed a picture of the world and it was upright.
"This means you desire success, a new beginning." said Zedas, flipping the next card.
The next card showed a sorcerer of some sort. This was also the first card that was upside down.
"The Magician." said Zedas. "And it is upside down. The sixth card is supposed to show what is helping or hindering you on your path. This card when it is upside down represents manipulation and deception. Someone is using you to accomplish their goals."
Zedas then flipped the seventh card. It was once more upside down and it depicted a golden chalice overflowing with water.
"The Ace of Cups." said Zedas. "With it being upside down, it means you have repressed feelings my dear. Perhaps it connects to the lovers?"
"I don't see how." said Lucina defensively. "My feelings are pretty clear on that."
"Are they?" Zedas asked skeptically.
Lucina thought for a moment, thinking about Ian. However, even when she thought of their good memories together, the memory of him being beaten by Robin kept slipping into her mind. She found herself smiling, thinking about how satisfying it was to see Ian go down as Robin swiftly put him in his place.
"Ahem." Zedas coughed.
Lucina snapped back to attention as Zedas flipped the next card. This card is meant to represent the energy of the people around her. It was upright and it showed a man being pierced by three swords through his heart.
"The Three of Swords." said Zedas. "Not all is balanced in with your allies. Though you may connect with most, you distrust some and some may distrust you."
"I don't distrust my allies." said Lucina. "At least, not anymore."
"Good." Zedas nodded. "Though there still may be danger. Like the Seven of Swords, this card also represents betrayal."
The ninth card was then flipped. It was of a person holding a wand.
"The Ace of Wands." said Zedas. "This means that something good is coming your way. Something life changing."
Lucina nodded as the last card was flipped. However, a breeze blew in from out of nowhere and knocked the cards off the table. The tenth card gently fluttered and spinned down next Lucina's feet, still facedown.
"Don't touch it." said Zedas quickly. He then slowly got up and picked up the card. He looked it over before showing it to Lucina.
It depicted a man in jester's outfit. Zedas was holding it upright.
"The Fool." said Zedas. "Curious. Very curious."
"Why, what does the fool represent?" Lucina asked.
"The fool represents change." said Zedas. "It is a blank sleight that can appear anywhere in a reading and mean nearly anything. If it is right side up, it means that one can expect great change and spontaneity. If it is upside down, it means that something needs to be resolved before change can occur without consequence."
"Then things can change." said Lucina. "You have it upright."
Zedas shook his head.
"That is the curious thing." said Zedas. "Thanks to that breeze, it is unclear of what position the fool was in."
"But what does that mean?" Lucina asked.
"My guess is that it could mean anything." said Zedas. "It means your future is unclear and unwritten. It may be up to you or an outside force to decide that."
Lucina frowned, wondering if this all was some cheap trick. However, Zedas seemed to be sincere.
"I hope you enjoyed your reading." Zedas bowed. "Think on what you have seen."
Zedas then grabbed some parchment and began writing. He handed it to Lucina and it was all of the cards that were flipped and what they could mean.
"You may still believe it is hogwash, but keep it anyway." said Zedas. "Even if it doesn't aid you, it may be a nice souvenir.
Lucina smiled and bowed back to Zedas. She then left the shop and started looking at the notes again, reflecting on what was shown to her.
Robin walked with Chrom through the entrance to the temple. The chamber was huge, with several different paths leading to other chambers and areas. One of the hooded men went off, telling them to remain there while he alerted Gisela of their arrival. He walked through the centermost cave, leaving Chrom, Robin, and the other three guards.
"Quite the home." said Chrom.
"It was once a temple for Duma." said one of the hooded men. "Our lady lives here now, though we still perform ceremonies here."
"I see." said Robin. "Did it always have these branching paths?"
"There used to be more." said another. "The temple of Duma spread nearly underneath all of the continent. Most paths have caved in since now."
The first hooded man then returned and beckoned Chrom and Robin to follow him. They walked through the entrance and noticed the cave seemed to change. The cave turned into a hall, which was made of stone and brick, full of columns.
They entered another chamber, which was the throne room. Two people stood by the throne, with a woman sitting in the center. All of them had the same skin color as the people Robin saw outside. The woman looked to be in her late forties, with dark magenta hair. She had a ponytail that swept over her left shoulder, with her bangs combed back on her other side. She wore dark red lipstick and had gold, piercing eyes, almost like Drekkam's. She wore a sleek, purple dress with a red collar. She crossed her legs as she observed Robin and Chrom enter the room.
The other two people by her side observed them as well. One was a man with wild, black hair. He wore a bandana that concealed his mouth and nose, so the only part of his face that was visible were his eyes. They were a deep black in his iris. He wore black clothes with a red cape. Robin also saw two daggers strapped to his side. The other person was a girl, who looked to be about Lissa's age. Her eyes were black with purple irises. She wore an elegant red dress with a silver veil over her shoulders. Robin noticed the she seemed to stare intently at Chrom.
"Bow before Lady Gisela." one of the hooded men barked. "On your knee!"
Robin and Chrom did what they were told, bowing to the ruler of Duminion.
"Now, now." Gisela said to her guards. "No need for such hostility. They are our guests after all."
The guards nodded and backed away. Chrom and Robin then got up and faced Gisela.
"Lady Gisela, I am Prince Chrom of Ylisse." said Chrom. "This is Robin, my tactician."
"Welcome darlings." said Gisela, smilingly warmly. "So nice of you to come here."
"You wished to speak with us." said Robin. "It would be inconsiderate to refuse."
"Indeed." said Gisela. "Though perhaps you are still being inconsiderate."
"What do you mean?" Robin asked. He got his answer in a second though, as several spears suddenly pointed at his neck.
"Prince Chrom." said Gisela calmly. "Before I skewer your tacticitian, are you aware that Grimleal are not welcome here?"
"We only have a one true Grimleal in our ranks." said Chrom. "And he is not here. In fact, he technically is a prisoner of war. Robin hails from Plegia, but he is no Grimleal. You have my word."
Gisela eyed both Robin and Chrom curiously. However, she seemed satisfied with Chrom's answer, as she snapped her fingers causing the guards to lower their weapons.
"My apologies." said Gisela, addressing Robin. "Nothing personal darling. Grimleal simply give us a bad name."
"Quite understandable." said Robin. "They tend to give anyone a bad name."
Gisela and the girl chuckled at Robin's joke, but the young man remained silent.
"Ah yes, other introductions." said Gisela. "This is Damos, my finest warrior."
She addressed the young man to her right, who bowed to Chrom and Robin.
"And this is my daughter, Helena." said Gisela. "She is also the finest sage in our ranks."
"How do you do." Helena said sweetly.
"There is also my soothsayer, Zedas." said Gisela. "But he needed to watch his shop in town. He will join us later."
"Right." said Chrom. "Now that we are properly introduced, let's get down to business."
"Of course." said Gisela. "I heard about what happened at the Grimleal fortress. Word tends to travel fast during these times. I heard you destroyed the fortress, along with all the Grimleal in it."
"That's not entirely true." said Robin. "The Grimleal were killed before we got there. They were experimenting with summoning Risen."
"Risen?" the man Damos asked.
"Masked, undead servants to Grima." said Chrom.
The three Duminions nodded in understanding.
"Here, we call those creatures Terrors." Gisela explained. "Please, continue."
"We needed to stop the Risen and save some prisoners the Grimleal had." said Robin. "So we snuck into the temple to free them. However, we were intercepted and a trap was set, which destroyed the fortress. Thankfully, we made it out in time, along with the prisoners."
"Intriguing." said Gisela. "Now that sounds like the makings of good allies."
"Then do you wish to help with the war?" Chrom asked.
"I cannot offer much." said Gisela. "But I would like to offer some soldiers, supplies, and gold. Damos and my daughter would be willing to work with you as well."
Chrom nodded and addressed the two beside Gisela, starting with Damos.
"You would be willing to help?" Chrom asked.
"I will do whatever you desire." said Damos. "Name the task, it shall be done."
"Very well." said Chrom. He then turned to Helena. "I hear you are a sage. How are you skills with healing?"
"Top notch." said Helena. "It is one of the arts I studied most diligently."
"Alright then." said Chrom. "We would be honored to receive aid from you."
"Of course." said Gisela. "Provided you keep up your good appearances."
"I beg your pardon?" Robin asked.
"So far you have potential." said Gisela. "But I wish to see the rest of your company. I'm particularly curious about Lady Say'ri and your wife Prince Chrom."
When Gisela mentioned the fact that Chrom was married, Robin could've sworn he saw Helena's face briefly fall.
"I ask that you please stay the night." said Gisela. "I think that should be enough time for us to get to know each other. We already have rooms arranged for you."
"As you wish." said Chrom.
"Excellent." said Gisela. "Then you may go fetch the rest of your company darling. I am eager to meet them."
Chrom and Robin bowed to Gisela and left towards the exit. Once they were out of earshot, they began to discuss what just transpired.
"What do you think?" Robin asked.
"Not sure." said Chrom. "I don't feel like we're going to get double crossed yet, but I'm still apprehensive."
"Maybe that's because that Helena girl was making eyes at you." Robin sniggered.
"Well, she's a few years too young and late." said Chrom. "Point is, I don't detect any traps yet. I suggest we make sure everyone is close by and we have a guard on duty. Tharja and Panne would probably be our best bet, as they can stay up all night if they have too."
"Right." said Robin.
They then exited the temple and went down the steps, awaiting for the rest of the Shepherds to return.
It was late at night and Lucina couldn't get to sleep. The events of today were transfixed in her mind as she looked over the sheet of parchment from her session with Zedas today. After the reading, the Shepherds were allowed to enter the temple and meet Gisela and company. The dynast agreed to provide them aid, provided that they make a good impression. Thankfully, they seemed to be doing fine, especially since Gisela seemed impressed with their company. She particularly got along swimmingly with Flavia, even after Flavia rudely burped at the dinner table.
"Better from the top than the bottom." Lucina remembered Flavia say.
Lady Gisela seemed kind enough to Lucina. She intently listened to what was currently happening in the war efforts and even provided some helpful advice for upcoming battles. The one named Damos was rather quite, keeping an eye on his mistress the whole night. Lucina mostly talked to Helena though. They discussed their kingdoms and what life was like for them on a daily basis. She couldn't help but notice at points that the daughter of the dynast seemed to make eyes at her father once in while. Zedas joined them as well later on, giving Lucina a wink as he entered. Lucina smiled back at the soothsayer. While still wary of his prediction, he seemed to be a genuine person.
Still, Lucina couldn't help but feel troubled by these predictions. She had a feeling that it must have been lunacy, but then again, how would he have known this much about her if they never met before? There were two parts of the prediction that got her nervous the most. The first was the last part, with what happened with The Fool. If chance hadn't blown the card off the table, Lucina wondered what would have happened. Personally, Lucina wanted it to be right side up. If that was the case, then it meant she was on the right course and that she managed to change the things that were necessary.
However, the other thing that bothered her was the fact that she got The Lovers card. This was supposed to represent something she didn't realize she wanted and that it could aid her in the future. However, Lucina didn't see any reason to find love right now. There was also the Ace of Cups card claiming that she had repressed feelings. Lucina thought her feelings were pretty clear. She had a crush on Ian. Then again, she was still fairly ticked with him right now. He did apologize to both Yarne and herself, yet for some reason, Lucina couldn't let it go. In fact, the more she thought about Robin beating Ian, the more she found herself smiling.
I guess it's not that surprising. Lucina thought to herself. I've seen him without a shirt. Robin is a lot tougher than he looks. A bit more handsome too.
Lucina shook her head. She hadn't had a thought like that since the boat. She didn't understand why she thought that then and she didn't know why she was thinking that now. She trusted Robin a lot more now, but he was just a friend. A close and dear friend.
Deciding that she needed some air, Lucina put the parchment on the desk next to her and left her bedroom. She walked into the halls where each of the Shepherds were sleeping. To the left of her was her parents and to the right was Say'ri. Lucina was about to walk down through the tunnels for a bit when she heard a noise.
Lucina stopped and heard what appeared to be talking. It sounded like it was coming from Robin's room. Curiosity getting the better of her, Lucina put her ear to Robin's room. It sounded like Robin was talking to himself, though Lucina could not make out what he was saying.
Slowly, Lucina opened the door to Robin's room slightly. She peeked in and saw that Robin was asleep. However, he was writhing and squirming in his bed, like he was in pain.
"No." He said. "Chrom. Run."
Lucina watched on, noticing that Robin seemed to be sweating.
"Don't." said Robin. He sounded like he was being tortured. "I can't lose you like I lost my mother. I can't lose you like I lost Emm. Please, no….no…."
"Robin?" said Lucina, slowly approaching him, closing the door behind her.
"No...Chrom run…" Robin groaned loudly. "Chrom...Chrom!...CHROM!"
Robin awoke with a start and fell of his bed, panting like a mad man.
"Robin!" Lucina said. She ran towards him and saw that his eyes were starting to tear up.
"Lucina." said Robin. He still seemed to be in a sort of daze.
"Robin, are you alright?" Lucina asked, concerned. "What happened?"
Robin put his head down as tears began to form. He then lunged at Lucina and pulled her into a hug.
"I failed them." Robin sobbed. "I failed Emm...I failed my mother...I can't fail again. I can't. If I do...it means I lose your father...It means I lose my friends. It means...It means I lose you."
Lucina hugged Robin tightly, comforting him as he cried on.
"It's alright Robin." Lucina said comfortingly. "Just let it out."
Robin continued to cry as Lucina held him tight, rubbing the back of his head in comfort. Lucina was no stranger to comforting someone, often having to do this with Cynthia in the future. Personally, she found it best to comfort the person first before having them talk about what was wrong. She knew this shouldn't be the case all the time, but it seemed Robin needed a shoulder to cry on right now.
"Robin, I'm going to get you back on the bed." said Lucina. "I'm not leaving yet, I promise. I'll stay for as long as you need me too. Is that ok?"
Lucina felt Robin nod his head. She picked him up and the two of them got on his bed. Lucina made sure Robin was as comfortable as possible before she got settled in.
"I'm sorry Lucina." said Robin.
"Don't worry Robin." said Lucina. "I'm right here."
Robin continued to cry, though Lucina could tell he was calming down. However, Lucina did not want to leave, especially if he started to sob again. In fact, having someone like Robin with her right now seemed to make her forget her own troubles. Thus, before she knew it, Lucina found herself drifting off to sleep, with Robin wrapped in her arms.
Authors Note: I hope people are enjoying the connections I'm making to Echoes. The moment that I found out Valm was supposed to be the future version of Valentia, I knew I had to take the opportunity to do this. Personally, I think it's been flowing well, but if I'd like to hear what you all have to say about it. Also, I don't know when, but I may do an Echoes fanfic some day. However, that won't be anytime soon, so don't expect anything. Anyway, I hoped you enjoyed Chapter 21. Hopefully, Chapter 22 will be coming soon.