Simply put, the mood just keeps dropping and Lissa has ran out of ideas! Pranks aren't having an effect, she isn't exactly a good joke teller, and it is never a good idea to sneak up and start tickling someone. So, all she can do is put on a smile and try to be that beacon of happiness. It's honestly the hardest thing she had ever done… even healing the near-death Nah was far easier. 'I know things aren't going well, but if could all smile, laugh, and joke like they did when…'

Her determined smile fades, "Robin…" Why did she leave? Chrom didn't mean what he said, everyone knew that. She misses the Tactician's smile, but even that was rare. Then recently, there was that meeting with the Queen. She was so rude! She didn't seem to care about the Valmese coming at all! At least, not until her brother said he'd do anything. Then her attitude flipped, she used his anger against him, she knew exactly what buttons to push… like she knew him.

What raised her suspicions was that veil of magic over her, something today prevented her own magic from 'connecting' to. She was somehow concealing her identity on a magical level. It was all just pumping out the wrong signals. Who is she? Even Nah and Morgan had no clue, they said that her scent was being hidden, too!

And on top of all that, after Chrom chose Morgan to be his champion for that absurd 'trial', gods know she doesn't want hear a thing about another Burial Worm again... her brother, Sully, and Lucina were… gone. Not gone as in they left, but they just weren't themselves. Chrom became incredibly tense whenever either Sully or the Queen was around. Sully looked more worked up than usual around Chrom or the Queen. Lucina, gods that woman, she looked dead, almost like, no even more than Nah did. At least the half-Manakete responded in some way, the future princess didn't.

The rest of the Shepherds were somewhere between silent and serious, or were on the borderline of depression. When Morgan came back, he was the only one who wasn't in that same mood, in fact, the once self-deprecating Tactician became the most confident one, something happened on that Trial, well something besides being almost torn apart by a sandstorm. 'And the Queen had the absolute nerve to deny him healing until he handed her the fruit!' Of course she fought back against that, she's a healer and healers heal! Becoming a healer just causes one to form some sort of automatic response to wounds, just like how training with a weapon causes one to attain reflexes.

Then there was that really strange question Chrom asked before the Queen interrupted, 'Why did he want her to join us?' Frederick looked even more concerned, Sully looked disgusted, and she was baffled. She declined and told them that she would send the 'Single Strongest Dark Mage', the Cleric had to resist the urge to roll her eyes. Surely no one could be that powerful, right? Apparently he was already at the port, waiting for them, but it took her a while to recognize just who he was.

He was happy, genuinely happy, which she found really weird, she thought he would be more like Tharja, but no. Smiling, making admittedly bad puns, but at least he tried, and he laughed. The first person who joined their group who at least had a smile on a face. So, he was weird, but he was weird and happy, she found herself wanting to talk with him, and she realized just how bad she missed seeing people smile. Chrom didn't seem to like him, but she did.

Anyway, when the Shepherds landed on the Valmese beach, she finally got to see firsthand how powerful the 'single strongest Dark Mage' is and… gods, it was no exaggeration. One spell would rip through any given enemy, followed by… crows? The birds would pop out of nowhere, and it wasn't until the fifth murder of crows before she realized they were conjured, magical crows. She never heard of such a spell, 'So, why did they call him the Raven Lord if he summons crows?' Brother sent him to rescue some poor woman cornered by three Knights and he just tore a path straight to her.

By the time he rescued her, the rest of the Shepherds had cleared the battlefield, and as such, she, Maribelle, and Libra immediately started tending to the wounded. It wasn't as bad as normal, but she still wished Robin were here, they could have made it without any major wounds. 'Gods, I miss her.' Not to say that Morgan was bad! No, he did a great job, but even with the confidence boost, it's clear that he and Robin are on different levels.

"Heya, Lissa!" Henry greets her after she finishes with her portion, like he was waiting patiently before saying anything.

"Hello, Henry." He has a smile on his face, like normal, and so she returns it with her own. Her smile isn't even forced! She is genuinely happy to see him. "You uh… weren't kidding about the 'strongest Dark Mage' thing." Some of the deaths got… messy.

"Yup! R-..." He coughs on… something, "The High Priestess doesn't joke around."

'High Prie… oh, right. The Queen of Plegia is also the High Priestess of the Grimleal. I wonder how she pulls it off? Leading two separate things at once?' Frankly, the Grimleal left a bad taste in her mouth, but she tried really hard to be more like her sister, so she gave the Queen a chance. "I can tell, but… could you maaaybe cut back on the, you know, 'explosions' some?"

He pauses, in thought, "That kinda makes my spells start 'blowing', and I think you all need the extra oomph, so, sorry." He looks apologetic, at the very least.

Still, she giggles from his pun, "Well, I tried."

"That's all that matters!" As usual, his smile has yet to leave his face, "Oh! Right, I wanted your opinion on something. You know how I'm called the Raven Lord? Well, I was hoping to change that, since…"

"You summon crows, right?" She interrupts and his smile somehow doubles.

"Exactly! See, I knew you would get it! I was thinking something like the 'Crow Cawler'." Ah, of course he would make a pun out of it.

"It's cheesy and the pun is horrible," She gives him her best smile, "So it's perfect!"

"Awesome! Look out Valmese, here comes Henry, the Crow Cawler!" He laughs and she joins him. "Anyway, I should probably get going, can't keep you distracted, right? A healer's work is never done and all that."

He takes a few steps, "Hey… Crow Cawler." He stops and turns around, a huge smile adorning his face from the nickname, "Could you, I dunno, maybe make some time to spend with me?" She turns away, a small flush forming, "I would like it a lot."

He places a finger on his chin, exaggerating the effort, "Sure thing!" With that, he leaves.

'I wish more of us would smile like you do, 'Crow Cawler'.' The smile stays as he leaves. "Ah, my darling Lissa." Maribelle approaches her, "It's good to see that wonderful smile on your face again." Her best friend's face also lights up.

"Of course! It's always a good idea to keep a smile on!" She giggles.

"You are quite right, camp has been dreadfully dull without your shining smile to light the world. Ah, but I almost forgot, would you care to join me for a cup of tea later?" She asks that, but Maribelle knows Lissa wouldn't decline.

"That sounds wonderful!" Lissa's bright smile remains as her best friend takes her leave, 'Now, I need to plan something for Henry, but what?' She may have suggested it, but she really doesn't know what he likes, other than puns of course.