Okay folks I know I've been- OH SHIT!
*Ducks under a barrage of Hand Axe's, Arrow, Dagger, and Javelins*
Jesus you people are violent.
Anyway I'd like to doubly apologize for this chapter.
First is the obligatory 'Sorry this took so long, I have no excuse.'
Second is this, remember at the end of last chapter I said to be expecting a lot of P.O.V. shifting? Yeah, forget I said that, expect that in the next chapter when the action begins. There will still be some P.O.V. shifting.
This chapter is going to be fluff and filler to get me back into writing this story a bit.
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[Irwin's P.O.V.]
'Looks like we have a while to go until we reach the next port.' I thought looking out to the open waters, thankfully there were no other vessels out on sea for now so hopefully we'll be lacking in Pirate attacks.
Now might be a good time to talk to everyone... I'm still a little disappointing that everyone but me and Corrin are Lvl 20 already, it makes me feel under leveled.
I shook my head and stepped back from the railing, bumping into someone as I did.
"Oh, sorry." I said turning around, then blinked as I saw the Ylissian Princess of an alternate future... Not a concept I'd like to explain how I know.
"It's alright." Lucina said smiling softly, "I've been told I don't make a lot of noise when I'm not in a fight."
"I think it's more along the lines of I can't hear much over the waves." I joked, "So, Lucina, what brings you up here anyway? Getting a look at the horizon?"
"Something like that." Lucina said, "Actually, I wanted to talk to you."
"Let me guess." I said holding my hand up, "You saw my fighting and noticed how different it was compared to those similarly armed."
"Not quite." Lucina said, "Sev- Selena told me you were from a far off land, hailing from a Kingdom called Tellius." she explained, though I did notice her slip up in her friends name, "Actually, I was coming to ask if you were wondering about the mark I'm sure you've noticed in my eye."
"Your Brand?" I asked.
"Excuse me?" Lucina asked taking a step back, slightly reaching for her sword.
"Yeah, all us Branded have this." I continued.
"Branded?" Lucina asked, stepping forward and relaxing.
"Yeah, Laguz blood running in the veins of a Beorc." I explained, "The Brand doesn't show up in every generation, but it always shows up in the same place."
"Beorc?" Lucina asked, "I'm sorry, your foreign terms have me at a loss."
"Ah, my bad." I chuckled rubbing the back of my head, "Beorc is the kinder term the Laguz have for Humans, while Laguz are the collective term for Tellius's shape shifters, be they Lion's, Tigers, giant house cats, Hawks, Crows, Wolves or Dragons."
Lucina blinked, "Maybe Henry wasn't mistaken when he said he saw a man turn into a crow..." Lucina murmured.
"Henry?" I asked, even though I knew of the Plegian Dark mage with a fixation on blood similar to Peri.
"Someone from a different Kingdom in my homeland." Lucina waved off, "He has liking to Crows. Anyway I sorry but you're mistaken about me, I'm not Branded like you are, my Father, Sister, and Cousin all have this mark, but on different places."
"Really? What about your Aunt... Or Uncle." I asked.
"Aunt Lissa wasn't born with the mark, it really makes her anxious about her relationship to my father sometimes." Lucina said.
"Huh, well, where are your relative's marks?" I asked, "If it's not too much to ask."
"Well, Father's mark was on his right shoulder." Lucina said, "My sister Cynthia has her's on top of her left breast, not positioned in a scandalous place mind you, and my Cousin's mark is on his left forearm."
"Well." I said leaning back, "What is that mark then?"
"It's a symbol of a blood pact my family made generations ago with the Divine Dragon Naga." Lucina said, "This mark represents her blood flowing in our veins."
"Dragon Blood..." I murmured loud enough for Lucina to hear, causing her to tilt her head.
"Pardon?" Lucina asked.
"Lucina, tell me, have you ever seen little motes of light in this land?" I asked, "Strange lights that don't appear to have any apparent source."
"I... Yes." Lucina said giving me a weird look, "How did you know?"
I smiled, looks like Naga's Blood can sense them too, "Those are Dragon Veins." I said, "Only those with the blood of Dragon's in their Veins can see them. It's mostly the blood of the Royal's of the Kingdoms of Hoshido and Nohr... And the Lost Kingdom based on Azura's heritage."
"The Lost Kingdom?" Lucina asked.
"I cannot say it's name, it's under the rule of a powerful sorcerer and has cursed it's name." I explained, "Either way this puts you and in me in a very precarious position."
"What do you mean by me and you?" Lucina asked.
"Both of us have Dragon Blood in our veins, mine of a Goldoan Dragon of Tellius, and you of a Divine Dragon." I said, "Both of us can use the Dragon Veins around here but... I can't shake this terrible feeling of our enemy, so I try my best to hide the use of Dragon Veins outside of anyone but Lady Corrin."
Lucina looked me in the eyes, "You fear the enemy might be able to control one of us." She said assuredly.
I nodded, "Right now the most prime suspect is Gunter." I said, "No offense to the old knight or anything, but he was thrown into the lost Kingdom and apparently survived against The Invaders, as we call the Lost Kingdom's troops, for well over a week."
Lucina nodded, "No matter his skill, surviving that deep in enemy territory is slim to none." Lucina said, "Not on your own."
I raised my eyebrow, I took a lot of risks in this but I guess it paid off, "You seem pretty smart." I said.
"Well, my fathers closest friend was a Tactician, and my best friend was their child." Lucina explained, "It's only natural I'd pick up things from them."
"So you would." I said straightening up, "Well then, I'm going to go check on Lady Corrin."
"Good Luck." Lucina said stepping aside and letting me pass.
"By the way, nice sword." I said as I left.
[Lucina's P.O.V.]
I looked at Irwin as he left.
He seemed... Off somehow, like he knew more than he let on...
"No, I shouldn't think like that." I said shaking my head, "I can't start thinking he's an enemy, at least not at the moment. If Tellius declares war on these Kingdoms maybe, but I can tell his loyalties lie with Corrin."
'Still, he's right about that Gunter, it was difficult enough for us to survive in Grima's wasteland and we were together as a team.' I thought, 'One man in hostile territory no matter their skill is enough to earn concern, but since no one seems to act out of the normal around Gunter I think he might be keeping that theory to himself, in which case he knows now isn't a good time to cast suspicion on others.'
I then found myself letting out a huff, "I guess Robin and Morgan have been rubbing off on me." I said.
I shook my head and drew Falcion and took stance, it was empty enough so I suppose I could-
"You Trainin' up here all by yerself?" A woman's voice asked, causing me to turn around to face a girl dressed similar to Irwin, but had a slight bit of Hoshidan flare to it.
"Well, I was planning to." I admitted, "You're... Mozu right?"
Mozu nodded, "Do you mind if we spar a bit?" Mozu asked pulling out her a training lance.
I smiled, "Sure." I said sheathing Falcion, "Let me just go get a practice sword."
[Irwin's P.O.V.]
Finding Corrin wasn't so hard after all.
Mainly because she was in her quarters, sprawled out on her bed, not exactly looking her best.
"Are you alright Milady?" I asked.
This prompted Corrin to practically bounce up off her bed and look at me, "Irwin!" Corrin cried out, though it seemed to me like... Nah, I can't be that kind of lucky wedge in can I?
"Are you alright?" I asked.
"Y-yes." Corrin said nodding, then she shook her head as she deflated, "No, not really, I feel terrible about Silas."
"Ah." I said nodding, "You feel bad that you completely forgot about a friend that did so much for you don't you?"
"Yes." Corrin said as I sat next to her, "I didn't mean to offend him or anything, when we first met back when we were fighting but..."
"A lot has happened." I said, "You were young, Xander most likely started your training around that time-"
"He did looking back on it." Corrin added.
"And with all these recent event's going on I'm surprise you haven't lost sleep over it." I finished.
"A-actually..." Corrin stuttered before drifting off.
"No." I said shaking my head.
"I'm sorry." Corrin said, "Camilla would go nuts if she heard, Sakura and Elise would worry so much about me, though to be honest I don't think Takumi would bat an eye but..." Corrin shuddered, "I find myself having a hard time sleeping sometimes because I'm worried that one of us might die because of something unexpected happening."
"Hey, I'm alive after that Invader tried to kill your mother." I reminded, "And she's alive too."
With that Corrin gave me a light jab, "I still hate it that you came so close to dying, you shouldn't have had to do that, neither should have mother."
"Well... Considering our enemy is controlling Garon, I'd rather not risk him toting your mother along like a puppet." I said.
Corrin nodded, "Say, I've been hearing Azura sing a strange song lately, I've tried to understand the language but..." She said.
"It's an ancient Laguz Language." I said, "I don't know the meaning of the words themselves, but it's called the Galdr of Rebirth, its a powerful song that usually requires a duet to sing."
"How powerful is it?" Corrin asked.
"It can return the insane to their rightful state of mind and even revived the burned forest of Serenes to life." I said.
"Incredible..." Corrin breathed as she leaned onto my shoulder.
"It is." I said looking at the sleeping princess, suddenly I found myself singing softly to the Princess. Specifically the Galdr of Release.
"Eeteru faraki otshiana iiran owairut uumi kara,i mi koto onaak omi gureterus aima hout aru."
I took in a breath after singing the Galdr of Release, and looked down to see Corrin was sleeping soundly... even if she had a death grip on me.
I restrained a chuckle, The Galdr of Release, a Galdr created specifically to release Yune from Lehran's Medallion, unless Sung by one that can hear Yune's Voice while she was sealed it's pretty much just a lullaby.
I can remember the words to the song, but I could never find the lyrics, only one person I could find ever seemed to be close though while listening to the song and doing research to try to find the lyrics.
Still, Corrin's got a death grip on me... And she's pulling me closer and snuggling into me.
'Yune, please I beg of you, don't let Camilla walk by.' I prayed.
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Well folks, that's the chapter.
I'll admit I spent about an hour looking for those lyrics I typed in, but I could only find one person on Youtube who seemed to try.
Anyway I hope you all enjoyed that bit of fluff at the end and I'll see you guys again for the next chapter when we actually get to see some action.
