Chapter 29) Cog of Destiny


And thus we rush to the Shrine of Seals. The secret road we take is, supposedly, known only to the royal family. Certainly, though, we haven't encountered a single enemy. How long will that last thought?

I'm scared that we'll arrive, and Nergal will be there, waiting to eradicate us all. Or maybe something worse. I have such a bad feeling. After all, the last time we reached something that felt like an 'ending'... we found Leila dead in the woods, and Elbert died saving us from Nergal. Are we going to get through this 'second' ending... without someone sacrificing themselves for us?


"So, this is the Shrine of Seals," I whispered. From where we were, you could barely see it. Just a little corner peering out from the forest and mountains. "Wow…"

"It is amazing," Pent murmured. He stood next to me, holding Louise's hand as she leaned into him. "And its location is a mystery to all but a chosen few." I glanced around the rather large group, and shook my head. Well, it wasn't so secret now. "The palace in Etruria will be delighted." He sighed, and I saw him glance at Louise. "Well, Katri is stuck here, my dear, but I suppose you and I must return to Etruria and deliver a full, detailed report."

"Is that so?" Louise asked. Her voice lilted with a laugh that matched her gentle smile. "And shall you?"

"What do you want to do?"

"I share your feelings on the matter, of course."

"I see." Pent smiled and nodded. "Then, we shall remain." He sighed, giving her a sad look. "I do put you in the most awkward positions, do I not?" I had… so many replies to that, and none of them appropriate.

"That is decidedly not true." Louise pouted and poked him in the nose to make him squirm. "I am pleased to simply continue like this. After all, I'm with you, aren't I, my lord Pent?"

"Louise…"

"Are you two going to forget you're around people and make out again?" I deadpanned. Both of them squeaked and jumped. "I feel so loved. The conversation started with me, and then you drifted into you own little-WHOA!" Louise, don't tackle me! You're stronger than you think!

"Aw, poor little Katri," Pent teased, shifting to hug us both. I scowled at him over Louise's head. "Here, here, there's enough affection to go around."

"Pent, let go, or I'm telling Louise about the ice incident." That got him moving, and he even dragged Louise off of me. "Ugh… seriously you two, I'm sick."

"Yes, badly." And now Pent was frowning. "You're coughing a lot, are almost skin and bones, are always tired and, actually, Katri, you look like…" And his eyes widened. "Wait, hold on, Katri, you're not…" Oh. Hell. Damn it, Pent, could you be less observant sometimes?

"Lady Wolf!" Saved by Matthew! "Over here!" I waved goodbye to Pent and Louise, and bolted. Pent's accusing, worried eyes bore into my back. "You look a little frantic," Matthew observed when I made it to him. He passed me a mug. "Rath said you needed to drink this. He's in the middle of helping check the horses, though, so I volunteered."

"Thanks," I murmured, smiling as I sipped. I was grateful Rath went out of his way to make it for me, even if the medicine reminded me how much my health had deteriorated. I was still within the window, but… well, it was obvious even without Serra's winces that I was approaching the 'end' of that window. "And it's nothing. Pent just might have figured it out."

"I'm actually surprised so many have bought it. Then again, there's so much going on that no one tends to think about anything beyond 'how do we survive'?" Yes, this was a hard campaign. "And no one really expects that our fretty healers would keep a dying girl on hand." That was also true. "How are you feeling?"

"Honestly? Like hell." I smiled wryly. "But I'm still alive, and I'm still not giving up, so I'm going to keep charging forward with the rest of this crazy army."

"Of course you are, Lady Wolf." He sighed. "Man, I almost feel bad for Rath." Huh? "Anyway, two things. One, I am calmer about Jaffar." Oh, good. "Still don't agree. Will never forgive him. But I'm calmer, and I understand why you chose to not tell me."

"Thank you." My smile warmed. "And the second thing?"

"I got word from Amanda." Hmm? "That bishop, Yodel, is currently a welcome guest at Ostia." Ah! "As soon as we're done here…" I… I could get to Ostia and be healed.

"Thank you." I smiled at him. "That is… a relief to hear."

"I bet. You were hacking up a lot of blood this morning." Yeah, I knew that. "But to funnier things…" He grinned at me slyly. "So~ What is this about you and Rath-?"

"Th-that…!" I felt my face heat up, and I had absolutely no way to counter it. "You're horrible."

"I'm teasing. I'm allowed to tease." He snickered at my scowl. "And anyway… wait, what's with the shouting?" …Seriously?

"I bet a pint of ale that we're facing enemies."

"I'm not taking that bet. I'm heading into the air."

"Go with Florina. Have Legault go with Heath." He was off, and I moved towards the front. There was Eliwood, Lyn, and Hector, weapons ready as the area in front of us became flooded with enemies.

"Katri!" And there was Nino, bolting for me. "Katri, they're Fang!" she told me breathlessly. "They said Lloyd is leading them!" How the hell did Lloyd get here before us? Oh, this didn't sound good at all. "I need to talk to him." She clung to my sleeve desperately. "Lloyd will listen! I know he will!"

I wasn't so sure, and when I glanced at Jaffar, standing a short distance away, I knew he felt the same. But I still stroked her hair reassuringly and whispered, "we'll try, Nino." That was all I could promise. All any of us could promise. "Get ready, everyone, and keep close for now. This is a lot of enemies, and there is a high, high chance of weapons breaking at the worst possible moment."


There were three bridges not far from our current location. West, northwest, and north. I split the groups up to defend each bridge from the onslaught of foes coming our way. Alpha to the northwest, beta to the north, gamma to the west. And I grit my teeth as the foes kept coming. Even the ones we crippled just kept on fighting. This was nuts. This was absolutely nuts. There wasn't going to be a Black Fang after this. We were killing them all. Right now.

I'm sorry, Nino. I'm sorry, Legault.

"This is a nightmare," I sighed. Coughed. Same thing at this point. Was it bad that I was used to it? "The bodies are choking the river…" In fact, they were damming the river. The rising water level made for a… messy footing. Especially since so much of the water was pink, red, or yellow. "You'd think they'd stop when they had to move corpses out of the way." Not to mention how many shattered weapons were littering the field. Tomes, swords, lances, axes, even bows were discarded as someone darted back to Merlinus to snag something new, or just stole the weapons off the Black Fang corpses to kill their fellows.

I opened my mouth to relay orders, but then heard something that made my blood run cold. The sound of wings, and a wyvern's growl. Behind us. I whirled, eyes wide, ready to do a count. But, there was only one. Just one wyvern rider. But that one… wasn't exactly a welcome sight.

"So, we meet again, little girl." I… was staring right at Vaida. Damn it… I should've killed her when… ah, there was no point in being mad. I just had to… "Seems like your little playmates are doing well," she noted. She casually rested a lance on her shoulder, eyes narrowed. I just glanced around, wondering who was closest. "Tell me, girl. Are you the one who saved Prince Zephiel?"

"…Why do you want to know?" I replied. I coughed a little, and I hid the blood in my handkerchief. I'd need a new one. This one was almost saturated. "And what if the answer is 'yes'?"

"Then it'll settle things." She moved her lance into a 'ready' position, and I tensed. "From now on, I'm traveling with you." …What.

"You must be..." No, the look on her face clearly said... "You're serious."

"Yes, I owe you." Her face softened, just a little. "Prince Zephiel is the hope of Bern, and I serve Bern, now and forever." S-so… "You saved him when he needed saving, and now I will join you. It's that simple." I… you know, I wouldn't have pegged her earlier as a 'knightly' type. But you know what? I'll take it.

"Well, welcome aboard, don't kill anyone, don't let anyone die, and we can go over any other ground rules later when the lords are a little less busy trying to keep their faces un-skewered." She laughed, apparently enjoying my sarcasm. "You ready to listen?"

"Of course." Her grin was wicked. "I'll give you a show." Well, great. I had… five fliers now. That was… a thing. That was definitely a thing. But with five…

I hesitated before taking a deep breath. With five fliers, I had… an option. It was not the best. But it was not the worst. And through it, I… could keep two promises. One to Ursula, and one to Nino.

"Nino, Jaffar, Priscilla, Heath, Florina!" I called. The five came to me as soon as possible. "Vaida, take up Heath's duties." Heath did a double-take as Vaida flew off, and I knew the others gaped, but one point to Jaffar shut up any protests. Vaida was not the weirdest recruit we had. "Heath, take Priscilla up in the air. You need to locate a swordmaster. Black and green coat, brown-blond hair and eyes. Fang members will be deferring to him for leadership and orders." Heath nodded, focusing on the orders. "Priscilla, when he's found, warp Nino and Jaffar over." She nodded at my words. Jaffar was stoic, but Nino looked very hopeful. "Florina, you and I are going to head over the old fashion way." Florina actually giggled a little, and nodded. "I'm going to call the group leaders over for tactical. As soon as I'm done, move out."

So they did, and after a flurry of movement, orders, and wings, I was up in the air with Florina for… it felt like the last time I rode with her, I had been leaving Caelin. Now here we were, all the way in Bern, flying high over the battlefield. We were so far from that day now.

"You okay?" she asked me, glancing back. I nodded, focusing on breathing. It... was harder to breath when up high. I hadn't noticed it before, but I was noticing it now. "Should I fly lower?" I shook my head. Any lower, and we'd be in range of the numerous archers below. "Okay... hold on."

I nodded again, making sure to smile. I saw the flash of a warp staff out of the corner of my eye, and both Florina and I shifted to look below. I hunted for a little bit of green hair, figuring Nino would be easiest to see from above, and I was right. There she was, right at the base of the stairs leading to the shrine, with Jaffar hanging back, and Lloyd right in front of her. I pointed, Florina nodded, and we swooped down towards the group of three, landing not far away. I dismounted immediately, but didn't move. I told Nino we'd try. This was trying.

"Lloyd!" I heard Nino shout. I noticed that, while Lloyd wasn't attacking her, he was also not putting down his sword. "Lloyd, please! Listen to me!" She was half-sobbing. "They're not bad people! It's a mistake! Please, stop!"

"They were Linus's enemies, Nino," Lloyd murmured. He didn't falter at all. "They were Uhai's. They were Ursula's. And according to the last words I heard from Father, they were his." Damn… "So, I fight. I am the White Wolf of the Black Fang. I will not falter." Ursula, why did you have to be right?

"Please…" Nino reached out, as if to grab his hands. As if to hug him. But her arms fell, because Lloyd didn't reach back. "Please…"

"It's all right. Live, Nino. Live for the future. I am bound to this course." Lloyd settled into a stance. "Kill me, and don't look back."

"I DON'T WANT TO!" Yeah, well, Lloyd didn't seem to care, Nino! He was already moving forward.

But he was stopped by Jaffar, and the unsurprised look on Lloyd's face told me he had anticipated that. "Jaffar, I must say, I never expected to see you at anyone's side but that strange man's," Lloyd mused. Jaffar didn't reply, simply made sure that he continued locking blade's with Lloyd. "The Angel of Death… Since the day I met you, I've always wondered… if we met in straight combat, who of us will win?" Lloyd's eyes glinted. "Does the Angel gut the Wolf, or will the Wolf rip up the Angel's wings? I think it's time to answer that question."

"…I refuse," Jaffar replied. He twisted suddenly, aiming a kick to Lloyd's knee. Lloyd jumped back to avoid it. "I'm an assassin. I don't fight fair." And neither did I.

"Florina, help Jaffar," I whispered. She nodded and took to the skies, lance in hand. I knew, from the time I commanded him, that Lloyd's coat was a bit deceptive. Ursula had stitched 'iron runes' into it, which provided a strange sort of protection. While it did not prevent one from dying, nor strengthen armor, it prevented one from simply stabbing a wearer in the heart, decapitating them, or anything that could end the fight with a single critical blow. You either had to deliver a blow so powerful that it killed them instantly, or chip away until they died from the blood loss.

I tried to think of a strategy as Florina darted down, catching Lloyd in the shoulder. I wanted to keep my promise to Ursula, to make it quick. Death by a thousand cuts wasn't exactly quick. But it seemed like that might be the only way to get a kill in. Because Lloyd was dodgy, and Lloyd was fast, and even Jaffar was barely quick enough to catch a hit. I grit my teeth as I watched scratch after scratch his Lloyd, and saw the blood slowly drip down. It turned my stomach into knots, and I needed to think of something… maybe I should send for more people or-?"

A tug on my sleeve brought my attention down. Nino. "Katri," she whimpered. I crouched down to better hear her. "Can you give me a hug?" I did as she asked without hesitation. I would have Serra check her later, but this was clearly something Nino needed. "Thank you." She pulled away, smiling, and I saw she clutched an elfire tome. Ursula's elfire tome. "Thank you, very much!"

For one brief, heart-stopping second, I thought she was going to burn herself alive as her magic sparked, and the flames flickered around her. But then she sent the fireball right at Lloyd, bypassing Jaffar and Florina, and used that surprise to burn him alive.

Lloyd didn't even try to escape the flames. Instead, he whispered something I couldn't hear, and then turned to give Nino the biggest smile he could. "Nino…" he called. Nino sobbed, already crying. "Don't cry. I'll see you again. I'm glad… you were my sister…"

He was still smiling as he collapsed. When the flames died, Florina and Jaffar both knelt down to confirm what I already knew. Lloyd was dead. Nino… had killed him.

"I… loved being your sister…" Nino sobbed. Her voice cracked and she collapsed to her knees, wailing. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" I went to hug her, but paused, and turned to Jaffar instead. He looked startled, hesitant, but at my nod, he awkwardly knelt beside her and hugged her. She shifted to sob into his shoulder. "I'm sorry, Lloyd! I'm sorry!"

"Jaffar," I whispered. He glanced up at me. "Can you guard her, while Florina and I return to the others?" He nodded. "Then I'll leave her to you."

When I walked over to Florina, I saw her crying too, silently, and hiding it behind her hands. "Oh, Florina…" I murmured, stroking her hair. "It's okay."

"S-sorry," she hiccupped. "We just… we just had a conversation the other day about her family, and she was so happy, and now…" Yeah… "I'll be fine. I can still fight."

"Let's head up as you calm down. I need a visual anyway."

"You got it."


It turned out… that even with Lloyd dead, the Fang were determined to fight to the last. None of them retreated, no matter how many times we urged them to surrender, or even just run away. We had to kill them all. Standing on the steps of the shrine, all I could see were broken weapons, broken corpses, and far too much blood. There were easily, easily over a hundred. Hells… actually, that was accurate. This was likely what hell looked like.

"Battles like this used to be common," Eliwood murmured. He and I stood next to each other on the steps of the shrine. Lyn and Hector were behind us, quietly looking over everything. "The Scouring... I think that was the last time that so many died on a single battlefield." If there was ever a reason to not want a second, we were looking at it. I saw many of the army shake and even throw up as they tried to gather the bodies up for burnings. "I do not ever want to see a sight like this again..." Yeah, neither did I.

"Lord Athos, when did you arrive?" Startled, I whirled. And, sure enough, there was Athos, suddenly standing a short distance away, by the door. "I didn't hear you at all," Lyn continued, eyes wide. I could tell she didn't much like that thought. "Um…"

"I just arrived," Athos reassured. He smiled kindly, and waited until Lyn, Hector, Eliwood, and I approached. "I warped in." What. "I was watching you in my scrying crystal." What. "The most important thing, though, is that you've made it here." Um…

"If that's the case, why didn't you just magic us here in the first place?!" Hector snapped. I was so glad someone was on the same wavelength as me. Because damn if I wasn't really pissed off right now. "We're on a time limit!" More importantly, our romp through Bern probably gave Nergal all the quintessence he needed! Just look outside!

"What would that have proven?" The words were said so calmly, so wisely, that I had the almost unbearable urge to punch him. "You cannot hope to succeed if you cannot trust your own strength. Your own power must drive you." What a load of bullshit. "Now, then, shall we go?" Go where? "We must go into the shrine, in the secret chambers underground. That is where Bramimond awaits." …Wha…?

"Are you… talking about Bramimond of the eight legends?" Eliwood asked softly. His eyes were wide. "We're going to…"

"Yes, out of the eight legends, only Bramimon and myself remain," Athos murmured. He looked… sad. Very sad. "Your journey here was a bit of a test, I'm afraid. I… we had to be certain you could wield one of the legendary weapons." The what?! "With them, you will be able to sever Nergal's power at the roots."

"And there wasn't a… less legendary weapon that required less tests that would do the same?" I asked dryly. It earned me a snicker from Hector, at least. "I mean; is his strength truly to equivalent to dragons?"

"There are other weapons that could work, weapons that could be considered stronger if not for Nergal's magic, but they have been lost to time. I tried to track them, but the trail ran cold at Valor." …Of course it did. "Regardless, it is time to walk. Watch your step."

Watch your step indeed. We got maybe three or four steps in before we were swallowed up by the darkness. Holy…

"It's so dark down here," Eliwood whispered after what felt like an eternity of walking. He took my hand to help me over some rocks in the path. The sound hinted he had found them by stubbing his toes. "Everyone is still here, right?"

"Yeah, it's a straight path," Hector murmured. For once, he actually sounded unnerved. "Can't see a damn thing. This is creepy." It really was. I couldn't even see Eliwood's bright red hair, and he was close enough to hold my hand.

"It's fine," Lyn called. She sounded… completely normal. Well, now I felt silly. "I can hear everyone. Even Athos's shuffling behind us." That was a relief. I was almost certain he had just disappeared on us. "We're in a place with water, though. I can hear it hitting the edges." Was this a repeat of the Water Temple? "…There's someone ahead now, though." What.

Torches suddenly flickered into life, and I almost screamed. The light wasn't all that bright, but it was still… incredibly unnerving. But the scream lodged in my throat as I stared at the person sitting in the throne right in front of us. I… I could make nothing about him. He wore a green-hooded cloak that may or may not have a circlet around it. There were shadows over his eyes, and over his hair. Shadows that I swore moved. And that was all I could see.

"Um… pardon me?" Eliwood called, bravely stepping forward. It was impossible to tell if the man had even heard. They just sat on the throne, stiller than a statue. What… was this…? Why had he been here in the dark? "Are you Bramimond?"

"…Yes…" the man whispered. His voice was calm, polite. Not unlike Eliwood's. "I… suppose that is me." Bramimond stood then, and walked to us. I noticed his posture mirrored Eliwood's and that… that just made ice drip down my spine. "What do you want of me, you who live above ground?"

"We have a favor to ask, sir," Lyn murmured, stepping up beside Eliwood. Her hands shook slightly, but she bowed politely. "We seek something to help us defeat Nergal…"

"That is unfortunate, for I cannot grant that which you seek." Bramimond's tone remained polite, but now his posture shifted to mimic Lyn's. It was… startling, since Lyn just held herself differently from how Eliwood did. Most of the weight on the balls of her feet, to minimize sound, shoulders back, but head angled down friendly. Eliwood just held himself tall and sure, relying on a smile and a slight bit of relaxing of his shoulders to convey friendliness. "Humanity would suffer were I to remove the seals."

"What do you mean?!" Hector growled. He moved a little ahead of Eliwood and Lyn. I saw Bramimond's posture shift again, tall and strong again, just like Eliwood, with a touch of reckless arrogance and a lot of anger. Exactly as Hector held himself. "The world is on the brink of destruction as it is!"

"Why would I care about that?!" Bramimond's voice cracked through the air, as angry as Hector's. It was enough to make me jump, and the others to pale. "The whole world can burn for all I care!" he growled. "The seals will remain!"

"…Why does your posture keep mirroring those who speak to you?" I whispered. The anger in Bramimond vanished instantly as his head turned towards me. Through him, I saw that I held myself almost regally, not unlike Queen Hellene in fact, but my shoulders drooped and swayed from one foot to the other without thinking about it, to account for my crippled leg in a brace. I never noticed. "Your speaking patterns also differ…" I remembered the stories of Bramimond. The sad end Saint Elimine's scriptures told… "Is this because of Apocalypse's price?"

"You are correct, Katri." Oh, Athos, nice of you to finally join us while your friend freaked us out! "Bramimond has no 'self' anymore," he murmured, walking up. "He… she… it… yes, it is a mirror that reflects the person addressing it." The tales mentioned he had lost emotions, memories… not his self. That was way worse. "There are as many Bramimonds as there are people facing him." Athos stopped in front of Bramimond and smiled. "Do you remember me? It has been a bit, and I'm sorry for it."

"Ah, Athos, yes, it has been a while," Bramimond replied. He took on Athos's posture and voice, becoming wise and calm. "Two centuries at least. We keep missing each other." Bramimond shook his head. "I cannot fathom why you brought these people here. Did you forget why I sealed away the weapons?"

"I have not. But it has been a thousand years. The weapons' might has weakened."

"Not enough. It will be twenty years or more before I would consider them 'safe'." What… were we dealing with, exactly? "Make due with the Sol Katti." The what? "It is not sealed."

"So, we shall leave the slaying of everything to sentient swords again? You remember the damage Hartmut and Sacae suffered." I knew the first name. I was guessing the second wasn't the country? I was so confused.

"Lyn, why is he talking about the plains?" Eliwood murmured. I was kind of happy I wasn't the only one confused. "Do you know?"

"It's an old tale," Lyn answered softly. She turned a little, and the four of us took that as a sign to group up. "It used to be that the wielder of the Mani Katti would take up the name of the plains." That… hadn't been in the storybook I had gotten. "The practice was banned by Hanon after the Scouring, though."

"And that's why you didn't have to change your name?" Hector asked. He looked a little sour, and I think it was because Bramimond subtly called him out on not caring about the world.

"Yes, precisely. While the Mani Katti has had a handful of wielders in the thousand of years, none had to take up the name or sever their ties with their Clans to do so." …I needed more history books on the Sacae. It was fascinating and a crime that I knew so little. "I'm guessing they're talking about the last one who took up the practice." She shrugged. "I… don't know anything about a 'Sol Katti', though. I thought there was only the Mani Katti."

"Sol means 'sun' in one of the old tongues," I murmured. I pointed to the Mani Katti, still in its sheathe. "The Mani Katti has a lot of moon imagery, so it makes since there is a 'sun'."

"I suppose."

"I hear you, Athos, and I agree they do seem stronger than most humans." We turned our attention back to Athos and Bramimond. "But humans are frail, Athos," Bramimond continued. "Look at me! Look to all those who died, Athos! Look to what started the Scouring, and how it had to end!" Bramimond sounded so desperate. "What guarantee is there that they will not succumb to that frailty?!"

"There is none." All eyes turned to Eliwood. He held himself as confident as always. "I'm sorry that we cannot give you one," he continued softly. "But all of us…" He gestured at Hector, Lyn, and me. "We simply ask… that you believe in us."

Bramimond was silent for a long, long while. "I know the eyes looking at me," he finally whispered. "I see them in new faces, but the eyes are the same. Your eyes… they are like Roland's." Eliwood started at the words, eyes widening. "His gaze never wandered, never faltered. They always fixed straight ahead." Bramimond turned to the rest of us, focusing on Hector. "Eyes that hold loyalty higher than anything, willing to save the world only because it is the world his friends live in." He focused on Lyn. "Kind eyes that hide much pain, but willing to take on the pain of her fellows." And then he focused on me. "The eyes of someone who was forced to walk a path alone, but continuing forward to do the impossible, no matter how much it hurt." Bramimond almost seemed to sigh. "…I can hear them laughing at me."

"Who?" Eliwood's words echoed in the silence. "And who do the others remind you of…?"

"Durban and Hanon." …That was only two. "Quiet now." Before anyone could protest, Bramimond's own shadow lifted itself from the ground and swirled around him. A blinding light, bright enough to make me flinch, flashed. I could hear something groan open behind the throne. "It is done." The light faded, and Bramimond's shadow went right back to where it should be. "The seals have been released. You may do as you please." Bramimond turned away, sitting back on the throne. "I'm tired. You will let me rest." And then he went still. That was… um…

Okay, honestly, the fact that he hadn't named the one for me? That was frustrating. That was really frustrating. But it was almost a relief to have something so silly to be frustrated about.


"Ah, it is so nice to breath the air above again!" Hector sighed as we finally returned to the outside. Nils and Ninian were at the bottom of the stairs, and they turned to smile at us. "Hey, you two. How is everything?"

"The bodies of all the Fang just finished burning," Nils explained, pointing to the bits of ash on the wind. He skipped up the stairs to stand in front of us. "Nino is sleeping. She cried herself into exhaustion." Nino… "Legault is hiding in Merlinus's convoy. I think he's got some alcohol." After today, he deserved it. "How are things on your end?"

"We're just fine," Lyn answered, smiling at the two. She held out a hand for Ninian to take, and Ninian took it without hesitating. Even if she blushed because Lyn dragged her right by Eliwood. I snickered at the silly smiles. "We just need to make a plan to go forward, and then, we're going after Nergal." Yeah, but I had a very bad feeling about-

"How unfortunate." Oh. Hell. "You're too late." And then suddenly there was Nergal. Right in front of us. Oh… not good… "At last…" he breathed, smiling slowly. I shook at the sight. "At last, my power is restored." I glanced at the ashes, scattering on the wind. Had they… been the last bit? "Ninian, Nils, come here. Open the Gate for me."

"Behind us!" Eliwood snapped, sliding in front of Ninian and Nils. Nils was shaking, but Ninian… Ninian looked far too calm. "We'll protect you." But Ninian didn't look to Eliwood. While Nils clung to Lyn, looked to Hector, Ninian looked right at me. And in her resolved eyes, I saw what she was planning.

I opened my mouth, to try and stop her, but she shook her head. Instead, she leaned over to whisper in my ear, "I believe in you. So, keep smiling." I forced myself to, just to show her that I remembered the conversation. She smiled back and turned towards Nergal. "Nergal." Her voice was calm, cool. Like a princess. Like a queen. "If I go with you now, will you leave them be?" Sacrifice the one for the many. I used that mentality on Erk. I used that mentality on myself. And now… now, I had to trust Ninian, as I always did, and use the mentality on her.

"One of you will suffice," Nergal agreed, his smile faltering slightly. He sensed something was off. "As you wish. Come here."

"No!" I wasn't really sure who yelled the loudest: Nils or Eliwood. But it was Eliwood who caught Ninian by the arm as she past. "You can't!" he pleaded, eyes desperate. Ninian's face grew sad, but there was a fondness to it. "Please, you must-MMPH!" And, to my complete and total surprise, Ninian shut him up with a kiss. One that lasted just long enough to go 'well, damn' and 'never thought she would be that bold'.

When she pulled away, I thought I heard her whisper 'I love you', but I wasn't sure. Then, with a smile, she went to Nergal. Eliwood still lunged after her. Nils yelled. Nergal blasted them both with power, and if not for the barrier thrown up at the last second, I was certain they both would've died. As it was, both were knocked unconscious.

Everything felt a little… eerie in the silence that followed. It reminded me of when Elbert died. But, that feeling just reminded me of what I needed to do. Protect them.

"Hector, keep an eye on them," I ordered. He was already moving, kneeling by them both and checking that they both still breathed. "Lyn, get a he… magic user." At this point, the only magic user we had that couldn't heal was Nino. "Now." She was off like a shot. "And, Athos, if you can…" I turned, but found he was heading back inside. "…Okay, no, this is not acceptable." And I stomped in after him.

He turned at the noise, looking rather surprised. "Katarina, why are you here?" he asked. "I need to make preparations to warp you to your next-"

"Oh, so now we're going to get warped?" My voice was dry, burning in anger. I was so beyond mad right now. "Couldn't have done that sooner, and not have us annihilate a bunch of people who were being manipulated, and providing Nergal the quintessence he needed?"

"…You needed to be tested."

"For what? To be your pawns?" He flinched a little at the accusation and it just made me angrier. "Because that's what it feels like. You don't give a damn about anything but moving us into the 'proper squares' to take care of something you probably should've dealt with years ago, mister big bad archsage!" Hero of the Scouring, magic power galore, and here we were, a bunch of kids trying to kill someone who apparently had might equivalent of a dragon and was trying to summon more of them! "And any help you give us is either vague or outright trickery!"

"I am trying-"

"To do what?!" My voice strained, and it triggered coughing. I tried to hide the blood. "Keep us flailing in the dark? I can forgive Ninian and Nils for being quiet about why they can open the gate, they're so scared about it, but I am frustrated by that, and you're not helping!"

"They are the children of destiny."

"Fuck that destiny hogwash!" I was so damn angry. I could really understand right now just why Hector punched things when mad. "That doesn't even make sense!" I started coughing again, and slapped his hand away when he reached for me. "And you! You could've told me what I had back at the damn desert! I could've gotten treated in Pherae! I wouldn't be dying right now, be absolutely terrified that I will just drop dead on this group and leave them stranded without a tactician!" I glared up at him. "You're as much of a monster as Nergal, using us as he used the Black Fang for some goal! The only difference is that you want to save the world!"

"Athos." I nearly screamed when I saw Bramimond was also standing in the hallway. How long had he been here?! "I sensed powerful dark magic," he murmured, focusing on his friend. Athos didn't reply, simply looking very, very sad. "Whoever wields it has lost a great deal for the power."

"…Yes, I know…" Athos whispered. "It is nothing to worry about." He turned away from me, focusing on Bramimond. "Surely that is not all that brought you up here, old friend."

"No, it simply occurred to me, after you left, that since you had not seen me in a long while, you have not seen the others in as long." …Others? "Will you not go visit? Hilda's favorite flowers are in bloom now." Hilda? Wait, the Lady Hildegard?

"…I think I will, when the preparations are completed." He nodded. "A… moment." He glanced at me, and he looked so sad, yet so nostalgic.

I simply glared. "I meant what I said," I whispered. He simply nodded in reply. "If your vagueness gets one of mine killed, I will punch you. And if I am the one who dies, I will haunt you for however long you outlive me, hunt you down in the afterlife, and punch you then." He simply nodded again, and disappeared down the hall. Argh, I just felt-!

"It is almost amusing." OH, HELL, BRAMIMOND WAS STILL HERE, AND HOLY HELL, I DIDN'T NEED THAT HEART ATTACK! "Your eyes are the same as his, and you say many of the same things," Bramimond murmured. He focused on me. At least, I think he did. I still… didn't see any eyes in the shadows, but his face was facing me. "Yet there is so many years separating you and him."

"Who is the 'him'?" This made no sense to me. "You left it out below too."

"I have no self. I am missing many memories. But I remember my promises. The answer to that question requires me breaking one." …Ah. "Athos should learn when to just say things like this."

"…What, he's being vague because of a promise?"

"No, but there is an explanation. You already know it. You just do not know it applies to him." I did? "Those with the power of foresight cannot change the future they see easily. They can see the cog of destiny as it spins everything into motion, but can only guide those that can into the proper place."

"…Ninian and Nils mentioned something like that." They could 'see' the future, 'sense' the danger, but they could do nothing to stop it. "So Athos?"

"Is the same. He has always had the ability to see the future. And he was yelled at by one of our friends, because he made the same mistake back then as he did now. Not explain." …I still stood by my words. Even if… I did feel bad about it. Maybe. …I was still going to punch him if something happened. "Dragon's Gate." Huh? "Not all dragons wished to fight in the Scouring. Some escaped into the desert, hiding. Others gave up on the continent, and escaped entirely, leaving through Dragon's Gate." Ah…

"Why are you telling me this?"

"I take on the mannerisms of the people who face me."

"Yeah, I keep a lot of secrets, so the exposition isn't making sense."

"You hunt down information to save your companions." …Well, he had me there. "You tried to find information on Dragon's Gate, and I assume you found none." Yeah, I never did get that reply from Yodel. Did he ever get my letter? "So, I have told you."

"…Why are you telling me this now?"

"There are some things set in stone by time, often before you are even aware of the problem." I stilled at the words. Ninian had… said the same thing… "The deaths of Leila and Elbert were among them." How did he know about them? "Leila's was determined when Uther gave her the order to infiltrate. Elbert's was decided when he went to Laus." …That… "Helman's was determined when he joined with the call of rebellion. Eagler's was determined the moment Hausen sent Kent and Sain to find Lyn."

"How do you know about…?" This was just creepy.

"Dark magic is the magic of knowledge. The shadows know everything. I simply choose whether or not I read what is written." …What, did he read through our entire adventure or something? "What you do with those unchangeable moments, though, creates thousands of different futures."

"Ninian said she saw many when she looked at me."

"That is your gift, and curse." Huh? "It lets you make miracles, but it will kill you, through battle, through capture, through your own hand to escape worse fates than death." I… was thoroughly creeped out by the words. This would be a lot better if he had eyes I could see? "The second you chose to keep on, you condemned yourself to an early grave."

"I hope you're not trying to scare me, because it's seriously not working." I kept my voice as dry as possible. I was creeped out, sure, but I wasn't scared. "I don't care. I wasn't going to leave them."

"No, and that is your greatest weakness." …Well, I guess I couldn't deny that. "But that loyalty earns you your strength as well." Bramimond shook his head. "Because of it, though, what ways you can shift an unchangeable moment… can never be predicted."

"What's the point of all this?" Let's just go with that.

"The knowledge of Dragon's Gate will help you figure out a missing piece. You'll know when to reveal it." I couldn't help but scowl at that. Seriously? More vague nonsense? "By doing so, you will save a friend from pain."

"Why not tell me now?"

"If I told you now, you will die trying to prevent an unchangeable moment, and you need to live a little longer, for their sakes' if not your own." …I had a sudden urge to punch him. I really did. "That is… simple logic."

"So why give me the hint?"

"Because I am believing in you and yours." …Okay… "You are not satisfied."

"I'm tired of people who claim to be helping talking in circles," I grumbled. I almost, almost thought he smiled. "You're chatty, though. Chattier than before."

"I take on the personality of the one I face." I highly doubted that I was this chatty. …Right? "Though, if two personalities are similar, I will switch to the other, and perhaps act as I did before." …Huh? "I cannot say more. I have my promises."

"Of course." I sighed. "I'm… tired."

"Rest while Athos prepares. I will return below, and make my own preparations." For what?

He, of course, didn't elaborate, and disappeared down the hall. I could only sigh, rubbing my temples. That… that was weird. That was really, really weird.


After the conversation with Bramimond, where I felt my head spinning just trying to find a place to start puzzling it out, I returned outside to learn Eliwood and Nils had been moved to a makeshift camp the others made after the bodies burned. Which was a bit of a relief for me, because I really needed to lie down.

As I heading for the camp, though, voices caught my attention. And, of course, I went to investigate, mostly because the voices were coming from behind some trees near the camp. "…If you have any worries concerning my brother, no matter how trivial, please, tell me." Oh, and here I was walking in on a conversation between Hector and Oswin. This hadn't happened since… ah… oh, wow, the last time I could recall was all the way in Laus. That felt ages ago.

"I understand, Lord Hector." Oswin's voice was a quiet murmur as I approached. Neither had noticed me. "I will do as you ask."

"Then I'd better get going. Thanks, Oswin. I appreciate it." And Hector was gone before I could even pretend to 'accidentally' walk up. Whoops?

I frowned, though, when I noticed Oswin sigh and slump. He looked… "Have you not been sleeping, Oswin?" I asked. He glanced at me, and I knew he had figured out already I was there. "You look almost as bad as me."

"Katri, you don't look that bad for a sick person," he gently teased. I pouted anyway. "And I suppose I haven't. The recent events haven't been very conductive to restful slumber."

"I can believe that." I crossed my arms, and looked at him. "Anything I need to know?"

"Lord Hector simply noticed I had received a message via an Ostian messenger bird." He held up a piece of paper as proof. "I was telling him that there was nothing new with the marquess."

"Okay." …Something… felt off. "Forgive me, Oswin, but…"

"I know it sounds less than true when I'm so tired, but I assure you, there is nothing to relay." Okay… "But this is a good opportunity. I have been meaning to talk to you, but whenever I get a free moment, you are resting."

"I am trying to take care of myself." I smiled wryly. "Well, bring it on. I got a talk from Marcus. Been expecting one from you."

"Haha, I'm sure." He closed his eyes, though, and remained silent for a long moment. I simply waited for him to gather his thoughts. "I'm common born. I worked my hardest and climbed through the ranks on merit." I nodded at the words, just thinking. Such a thing would be… a near impossibility in Etruria. "I caught the eye of the lord of the province while working. Lord Cornwell." Priscilla's blood father, huh? "He was a kind man, perhaps too much so. But he thought well of me."

"Cornwell is Priscilla's birth house."

"Yes, and I saw her many times before she was sent for fostering. Clinging to the marquess, clinging to her brother…" Oswin shook his head. "No, that is off-topic." Yeah, I guess so. "In his kindness, the marquess had assumed the debts of many close to him. And as Cornwell's fortunes fell, the wolves came out, threatening anything and everything. I will not repeat the threats. I remember throwing them from the castle, wishing I could protect them. But then, suddenly, there was money again. I had thought it was simply a bit of good selling, a good bit of marketing…"

"But that wasn't the case."

"No." He sighed. "No, in truth, they had stolen that money. They had stolen it directly from Ostia, and the amount they stole was greater than what was owed."

"Why not asked the Caerleons?" Michael was kind too. He would have helped, and never expected the money back.

"They hadn't wanted to risk their daughter. They were heartbroken that their son was dragged into the mess." I thought to what Priscilla told me about this, and fit the pieces together. "Their crimes came to light shortly after Lord Uther took the throne. They had used the confusion surrounding the succession to steal." Clever. "Since he was so new, Lord Uther had to give a horrible order. Cornwell would lose its peerage, its land would be absorbed into Ostia."

"And they died?"

"My lord and lady took their own lives." …Didn't think I knew that. It certainly came as a surprise. "My lord's son was lost in the chaos. Many things fell apart. It was at that time that I felt my resolve falter." He sighed, looking up at the sky. "I had followed him, believed in him. So much so that I blindly listened and followed orders. I thought that was what a knight should be."

"But it's not."

"No." He looked to me. "A knight fights for a cause they believe in, under a liege they believe in. Before obeying orders, a knight should ensure the order truly serves the lord who gives it."

"…And if you cannot, then it's best to leave, huh?"

"That is my belief. I almost did. Then I found Lord Uther, who had heard of me, and wanted my service to help prevent such things from occurring again." And so he swore loyalty. "If I had not met him then, I would not have continued. I am glad I did, but that is only because of Lord Uther, and Lord Hector." Yes… "Do not feel ashamed if you choose to leave, Katri. If anything, it is your country that should be shamed, for not being worthy of your skills."

"…Thanks, Oswin." I smiled softly. "I'm glad to hear that."

"I hope it can help you when you finalize your choice." Between him and Marcus's words, I thought it just might. "Now, shall I help you to the camp?"

"Yes, please, I need to rest." And I remembered Pent. "If Pent tries to talk to me, tell him that we'll talk later? I know I owe him a talk, but I just do not have the energy for it."

"I promise." He smiled gently. "Now, come, let's get you to your tent before Rath frets himself."

"…DID YOU HAVE TO BRING HIM UP?!"


"Tell me. What do you know of the resting places of the Heroes?" Athos's question felt strangely out of place for the area. After making some sort of preparations, and checking to make sure Eliwood and Nils were just fine and resting in camp, Athos took Lyn, Hector, and I to… to some hidden path by the Shrine. It was a strange path, gorgeous and timeless. It felt almost like Dragon's Gate, except a little… more welcoming. "What stories are told? I lost track long ago."

"Well, you hear of how Saint Elimine ascended," I answered. I trailed a bit behind, coughing rather badly. Hector kept glancing at me worriedly, and helped me over the roots and rocks in the path. "And she's not a 'hero', but no one knows where the Lady Hildegard is buried. After she abdicated Hanover's rule to her son, Lord Alberich, she traveled all over and was buried where she died. Somewhere. There's a memorial for her in the family crypt."

"That's… odd," Hector murmured. We paused as I had a particularly bad cough, and Lyn jumped back to rub my back. "Katri, you sure you want to keep going? You were napping before, and you look tired now." I just nodded in reply, and he sighed. "Very well." He shook his head, and moved a low-hanging branch out of the way for Lyn and me. Athos just kept on walking. Typical. "Anyway, that's odd."

"Well, a bit, but-"

"No, I mean… it's similar to Roland." Huh? "No one knows where he or his wife are buried actually. There are memorials in the Ostian crypt, but…" That… that was odd.

"There's a similar story for Hanon," Lyn whispered. She kept an army wrapped around my shoulder, and helped me get the cough medicine Rath made me out of my pack. "She is not buried in the plains, as is our custom, but was carried outside of the borders to be laid to rest. Something about her wish to be buried with lost friends so she could more easily find them in the meadows of the afterlife." …Okay, that was… ah… "Athos?"

"Yes, yes, it's not a coincidence," Athos called back. He moved some vines out of the way, and glanced back at us with a smile. "Come. Bramimond was right. The chrysanthemums are blooming beautifully."

Exchanging curious looks, the three of us shrugged and walked past the vines. And my breath caught as I saw what lied beyond. A beautiful, beautiful grove, filled with flowers, protected by trees. And there, amidst the beauty, were graves. The stones stood tall and firm, and the carvings shone in what sunlight filtered through the trees, as if they had been carved only yesterday. These were…

"These are the graves of my friends." Athos's voice was so soft, but it carried easily here. Slowly, carefully, Hector, Lyn, and I picked our way through, just… amazed. I brushed a bit of dirt off one stone and read the name 'Hartmut'. On either side of him was 'Genevieve' and 'Hilda'. Next to 'Hilda' was 'Elimine'. These… these were… "When the first of our group died, we decided we wanted a place to rest where we did not have to be the heroes. Simply human." I walked to the ones that caught Lyn's eye. 'Hanon' and 'Sacae, Amir'. "When the second died, we decided we wanted to be buried together." The ones that caught Hector's attention were 'Durban', 'Roland', 'Josephine'. "We made sure to plant everyone's favorite flowers, so that there was something growing here, all year long." Next to 'Josephine' was 'Jasmine' and 'Barigan'. "Now, it's chrysanthemums, for Hilda." There were dates under the names, birth and death, but I didn't read them. I was honestly a little scared at how young they might have been.

"Yeah, there are chrysanthemums all over the gardens at the Hanover Estate," I whispered. I glanced at the ones blooming. Red and white, just like in the gardens. "Fidelity, optimism, joy, and long life… that's their meaning." Red meant 'love'. White meant 'truth' and 'loyal love'. "There's a lot of white ones, actually. The story goes that once a month, a mysterious person would send the Lady Hildegard a single white chrysanthemum as a means of trying to woo her. She would laugh and just plant them."

"Ah, I didn't know they still told that story." Athos actually laughed a little. "I remember… laughing at it, and feeling so saddened." Huh? "Nothing, never mind." He shook his head. "Regardless, this is the answer to your questions. The reason why Elimine's body was never found was because she purposely burned out her life-force to ensure her Saint's Staff would retain power in the future, and asked me to carry out her body to be buried with the others." He had to watch her die. "Roland and Hanon were transported by precious friends. Hilda was in Bern when she passed, as was Hartmut. I could go on and on, but I… would rather not. Not all of them met happy ends." Mmm, that was to be expected, I think.

"Thank you for showing us," Lyn murmured. She pressed her hand into the dirt in front of the grave, and whispered something I couldn't hear. A Sacaean prayer? "Will this be where…?"

"With luck, and hope, I will be buried here with them. Perhaps Bramimond as well."

"…We'll make sure of it." That was Hector. I had to double-check because I never heard him so somber before. "You and Bramimond," he clarified, turning to face Athos. "We know where this place is now. So, we'll make sure you two are buried here."

Athos looked startled, and touched. "…Thank you…" he replied, with a soft-soft smile. "Ah, but to talk of serious matters?" All three of us nodded. "You will seek two of the legendary weapons. Lyndis, while you may eventually gain the skill to wield Hanon's bow, I think it might be best, for time's sake, for you to simply wield the Sol Katti into this fight." Oh, now he was worried about time.

"I don't mind," Lyn answered, with a little shrug. Her hand fell to her Mani Katti. "Can you… tell me about it, though?"

"It is a weapon older than the Scouring, that dulls in the hands of the unworthy, and is sharper than anything in the hands of its chosen wielder."

"And I can wield it?"

"The Katti blades are twins. They choose together, even when apart." I still didn't buy the whole sentient sword thing. You'd think, after everything I'd seen, I'd believe that, but nope, that one still remained on my BS list. "You will have to be careful while wielding it. It is a weapon that can, and has, killed its owner." …What?! "Relax, Katarina. It takes many battles for it to take hold." Despite the reassurance, I still glanced worriedly at Lyn. She simply smiled at me, silently telling me that it would be okay. "Hector, for you, we will win Durban's axe, Armads of thunder. It lies in the Western Isles."

"The axe for me, huh?" Hector mused. His smiled slowly. "Sounds good to me. But 'win'?"

"You will have to prove your strength," Athos explained. I barely resisted the urge to roll my eyes. Tests, tests, and more tests. Were we trying to save the world or get the highest scores in lessons? "For Eliwood, we will gain Durandel, the blazing sword, wielded once by Roland." So, Eliwood was getting the 'Lycian' blade. "I imagine afterwards you will want to rest in Ostia." …Ostia?! He was… he was going to warp us to Ostia? That… that would help me. A lot. And it was probably a complete coincidence because I honestly didn't believe he gave a damn so long as we continued to be useful. But it still made me happy, just a little. "Hector, you shall go alo…" I gave Athos the most incredulous look and he sighed. "You shall go with Katarina to the Western isles. I will meet you there, and then warp you to the cave where Lyndis and Eliwood face the trials for Durandel."

"Fine by me." Hector, however, glanced at me worriedly. "Is your health going to hold up, though? You're looking pretty bad."

"I'll get checked by Serra before going anywhere," I promised. It made him smile in relief. "And get a bunch of medicines from Rath."

"And a kiss for good luck."

"And a… HECTOR!" Hector and Lyn burst into bright laughter, and after a moment, I joined in too. It felt nice to laugh after this long as hell day.

It didn't escape me that Athos watched us fondly. It didn't escape me that he closed his eyes almost as if praying. And I felt a little spiteful, because maybe if he'd help us out a bit more, 'nudged' us a bit more, he wouldn't have to pray for us. But there was nothing I could do about that. I just... had to do what I could to protect the others. And hope that we would see Ninian soon, so we could get her back.


Notes on Vaida

· Once an enemy, and now isn't. That is how many former enemies that are now allies? Whatever the number, it's still way more than what you'd expect.

· Heath said she was once his commander, and had been the bait to let them escape when they refused to follow vicious orders. The long scar she has, going from her left temple to her left knee shows clearly how hard she fought.

· Vain, arrogant, but strong. Not very fast, but I think that's the scar tissue limiting her flexibility.

I cannot believe I am still getting new members at this stage of the campaign. Seriously, what.


Author's Note: So. This chapter. It's fun to play. It's also a bit heavy in plot, which I… added to. A little. ...A lot. Anyway, though, here we go? Reference to Florina and Nino's B support, and the Pent-Louise C support. While Pent and Louise come with an automatic A support, you have to have them talk on certain maps in order to unlock the actual conversations, and the C support is available at this map.
If you look at Vaida's full-body official art, you can see that the scar she has on her face is more or less in-line with the scar on her leg, so I'm assuming they're from the same blow. I moved the Oswin-Hector convo to 'before' Hector learns about the plan to go get Armads, mostly for pacing. It contains information from his supports with Dorcas, and his supports with Priscilla, with a little bit from Kent and Wallace's B support… and from the Arran-Chris base conversation from FE12.
Technically speaking, you're supposed to get the Warp staff in this map from Murdock, but it made far more sense to have that convo earlier. I used the map for chapter 21x in FE6 for first scene with Bramimond. (If you're curious about some of the water being tinted 'yellow', if you dilute blood in a large volume of water, it'll actually turn to the color of blood plasma, the actual liquid part of the blood, and blood plasma is a yellowish color.)

Next Chapter – Tragic Weapons (The Berserker + Valorous Roland; I'm combining the two since they fill the same 'slot' in the chapter numbering)