Chapter 22 The Red Canyon.
Starts during Chapter 17 after Isaac and Byleth bid farewell to each other and Jeralt.
Byleth saw that Seteth had pulled Isaac aside for something, probably related to his mission. Still, she continued forward to her destination. The Blue Lions.
"Professor. I got word from the knights that the last of the thieves have been cornered." Dimitri said
"Just as planned. They're in Zanado. The Red Canyon." Ingrid added
"We certainly can't let those underhanded thieves get away. Let's do our best to bring them down!" Ashe declared
"It does not matter who we are fighting against. I will not allow any harm to come to his highness." Dedue declared
Felix just grunted. "They're just common thieves, right? I don't expect this to be much of a challenge."
"Aren't you a spoilsport." Sylvain sighed. "I for one am looking forward to this. Who knows, there might be some cute lady thieves out there." Ingrid and Felix rolled their eyes at this.
"Hmm. At any rate, a real battle is a great opportunity to see how far we've come." Annette said with a smile.
"True, we did succeed in the Mock Battle. We'll be fine so long as we stay the course." Mercedes added.
"Just don't forget that this is all for keeps. Even if we win, there is no simple giving up when dealing with thieves like in the Mock Battle. We are all playing for keeps." Byleth reminded. Everyone nodded, though some did feel a sense of nervousness. Everyone left for the gate except Dimitri that stayed behind.
"Perhaps everyone is a bit overexcited, but don't forget that we do have the knights on our side for this. All should be well." Dimitri assured. "Either way, I heard that Jeralt is once again a Knight of Serios. Perhaps we'll have the opportunity to see you two fight side by side."
"This isn't a game." Byleth warned
"Oh, of course. I apologies for letting my childish whims get the better of me." Dimitri apologized "In all honesty, I'm a bit jealous. My parents aren't around anymore."
"I heard a bit of that from Isaac who heard it from Dedue. The Tragedy of Duscur?" Byleth asked
"Oh, so you have heard of it. Yes. Both my parents died that day." Dimitri said sadly before shaking his head. "Sorry to bother you with such things, let us be off professor."
"Right." Byleth said slowly as the two left to catch up with the others.
The walk to the Red Canyon was for the most part uneventful. The Blue Lions lead the way with some solders following behind them.
"We should be approaching the Red Canyon soon." Byleth said getting her students attention. "Like I said back at the monastery, this is all for keeps. Everyone needs to look out and support one another. I know that some of you have issues with others, but I am asking that you all put it aside for battle. Understood?" Everyone nodded.
"So, you're going into your first mission, are you?" Sothis asked
"That's right." Byleth said
"Still, I'm not sure I can sleep so soundly from taking children into battle like this." Sothis admitted
"To be fair, for some of them, this isn't their first time in battle." Byleth pointed out.
"True, but even still, I will allow you to be able to turn back the hands of time should you need to." Sothis said
"Turn back the hands? Like what you did in Remire?" Byleth asked
"That is correct. With this power, you can rewind time. But do remember that my powers are not infinite. I'd wager that you can only do it three times a day right now, so make them count." Sothis warned
"Thank you, Sothis." Byleth said
"Just don't get yourself killed out there again." Sothis said
The group finally arrived at the entrance of the Red Canyon.
"We will cut off their escape routes, but do know that we will be keeping an eye on things. However, do also keep in mind that if we need to assist, then we open a path for the bandits to escape." One of the knights said
"We will keep that in mind. Thank you." Byleth said as the knights went to their position and Byleth turned to her students. "Let's move." The Blue Lions nodded and moved in.
"The Red Canyon…This is the first time I have ever been here. It's like I'm walking through a ruin." Dimitri said as he took in the scenery. The canyon is vast with ruins of what looked like a village or tribe of ancient past Past the bridge up ahead was the bandits from Remire, with their leader Kostas in the back, and he didn't look happy.
"The knights chased us all the way here?!" Kostas cried out
"Chief, lets get out of here!" One of the thief's said
"Shut your dumb mouth! Where would we even go at this point? We're surrounded! If you're a real thief, you don't fear death!" Kostas snapped. "GET THEM!"
The two bandits that guarded the bridge charged forward with their axes. Dimitri and Byleth rushed to meet them.
The first bandit raised his axe at Byleth who dodge rolled out of the way and slashed the bandit with her sword, killing him.
"Tempest Lance!" Dimitri shouted. With a powerful swing of his lance, the bandit was down for good.
"I know they are just thieves, but this never gets easy for me." Dimitri muttered
"There are two bridges. Dedue and Ashe, head for the left. Ingrid and Sylvain, head for the north. Felix and Annette, guard the flank and deal with the remaining ones hiding up ahead. Mercedes, standby for healing. Dimitri, you're with me. We'll go for the leader." Byleth ordered. Everyone nodded.
"Let's go!" Byleth ordered as she led the Blue Lions across the bridge.
"We have no choice. Fight to your last breath!" One thief declared
"Hey, what if we grab one as a hostage?" One whispered
"That could work. Let's do that!" Another whispered back
"Interesting. And who would your target be?" Felix asked as the bandits jumped.
"Well, you now smart ass!" The thief roared as he readied his sword and the other readied his bow. Felix immediately took action with his sword cutting down the first thief. The second however managed to shoot an arrow into his shoulder. Felix ignored the pain and raised his hand. "Flare!" He shouted as he blasted the other bandit with a stream of fire.
After that, he pulled the arrow out of his shoulder.
"Felix, are you okay?" Mercedes asked running up to the injured swordsman.
"I'm fine." Felix grunted.
"You don't look fine. Here, let me patch that up for you." Mercedes offered
Felix reluctantly complied as Mercedes started to apply Faith magic on the swordsman.
Annette shot a wind spell at a female thief who managed to dodge the attack.
"Darn. I missed." Annette grunted
The thief charged at Annette with her sword as Annette barely dodged the attack.
"Wind!" Annette shouted as she shot a point-blank wind spell right at the bandit blasting her away. Annette breathed a sigh of relief as the thief fell and didn't get back up.
"I did it! See? I'm a great fighter!" Annette cheered.
Ashe and Dedue were pinned by a few archers. Dedue had brought a massive shield with him that he was using to block the arrows, while Ashe fired an arrow back when he got an opening. Soon, he hit one bandit square in the chest killing him.
"If I hesitated that would have been me." Ashe mumbled.
"Try not to think too much on it and focus instead on staying alive." Dedue advised
"Right." Ashe nodded as he readied another arrow. He hated to kill like this, but as Professor Byleth said, this is for keeps. Either he kills them, or they kill him.
"Perhaps this will help." Dedue said as he raised his hand. Growth!"
Several vines shot out of the ground and wrapped the remaining two bandits.
"Wh-What is happening?" A female bandit grunted
"I don't know!" The male bandit shouted back
Ashe fired two more arrows at the defenseless bandits, killing them both.
"Rest in piece." Ashe whispered.
"Why is a priest in league with a group of thieves?" Sylvain asked as he readied his lance against another bandit. Though this one was surprisingly a priest.
"None of your damn business you noble brat!" The priest spat as he prepared a Nosforatu spell. However, before he could finish, Ingrid stabbed him with her lance.
"We can't relax yet Sylvain." She reminded him.
"I know." He sighed
Byleth and Dimitri approached the two.
"Ashe and Dedue have just about cleared the left bridge. Stay here and guard the bridge while Dimitri and I take out the leader." Byleth ordered
"You can count on us Profes-ack" Ingrid was cut off by an arrow fired at her back. When she turned around, she was struck with another arrow to the chest and fell to the ground.
"INGRID!" Dimitri and Sylvain shouted
"Hey, come on, get up! This isn't funny!" Sylvain pleaded as he lightly shook her, but she wasn't moving.
"You." Dimitri growled rather beastly as he spotted the assailant. He readied his lance to charge forward.
"Don't just stand there, use the Divine Pulse already!" Sothis scolded snapping Byleth from her shock.
Byleth did just that and time started to rewind in a purple flash of light.
"We can't relax yet Sylvain." Ingrid said like she had before.
"I know." Sylvain said
Dimitri and Byleth approached the two with Byleth this time keeping an eye to the distance for the archer, but she couldn't spot it.
"Ashe and Dedue have just cleared the left bridge. Keep an eye on this one while Dimitri and I take out the leader." Byleth ordered as she moved up to Ingrid.
"Is there something wrong Professor?" Ingrid asked. But instead of an answer, Byleth immediately shoved her aside as an arrow hit her arm.
"Professor!" Dimitri shouted
"Is there ana archer nearby?" Sylvain asked as he looked in the direction of the arrow. He saw a shadow moved behind some nearby rocks. "There!" Sylvain pointed
"Quake!" Dimitri shouted unleashing a small earthquake at the rocks. The Rocks shattered from the attack as the archer fell to the ground in pain.
"Sprite!" Dimitri shouted as the bandit was crushed by a falling rock Dimitri summoned.
"Professor, are you okay?" Ingrid asked worried as she carefully removed the arrow from Byleth's shoulder.
"I'll get Mercedes." Sylvain offered but Byleth stopped him before he could run off.
"I'm fine." Byleth said as her hand started to glow blue. "Ply."
The Mercury spell started to cover the injury, patching her up.
"Are you okay Professor?" Dimitri asked in concern as he approached her.
"What of the archer?" Byleth asked
"He's dead." Dimitri assured
"That's good, and I'm fine." Byleth said slowly standing up.
"Try not to over exert yourself." Dimitri said
"Professor. I am so sorry. I wasn't paying attention and you got hurt because of it." Ingrid bowed
"It's all right Ingrid. I just…got lucky and spotted something in the distance." Byleth said not trying to bring up the fact she turned back time.
"Even still, I should have been more aware of my surroundings. Thank you though, for saving me." Ingrid said
"Of course." Byleth nodded as she got up. "As I was saying before. Keep this bridge guarded so the leader can't escape. Dimitri and I will finish him." The two nodded and she headed forward with Dimitri in tow.
Up ahead was a familiar bandit to both Byleth and Dimitri.
"You! You're the bandit from Remire Village." Dimitri said
"Spoiled little noble. Just shut up and die like a good little rich kid!" Kostas snapped
"Unfortunately for you, I will not oblige. You on the other hand will regret all that you have done." Dimtiri declared as he readied his lance.
Dimitri charged forward with his lance as Kostas dodged and struck with his axe, only to be intercepted by Byleth's sword.
"Y-you're…It can't be! The mercenary from before?" Kostas said in shock.
"That's right." Byleth said
"So what? Are you now pals with the knights?" Kostas asked
"Something like that. But all you need to know is that this is where you will meet your end. There is no escape this time!" Byleth declared
"Sh-Shut up! I'm not scared of you!" Kostas snapped
"You should be. Douse!" Byleth shouted as massive rain drops fell on Kostas making him stumble.
Which gave Dimitri a wide opening to attack with his lance.
Dimitri stabbed Kostas in the chest with his lance.
"N-No…I knew I should…never have listened to that idiot in the mask…what a mistake." Kostas coughed out before he passed away.
"Masked man?" Byleth asked
"So he was hired. That does make sense." Dimitri said
"What do you mean?" Byleth asked
"Before we ran into you, Isaac, and Captain Jeralt, we were ambushed by the bandits. But the way they attacked us was a bit too coordinated for a simple bandit attack. It's like it was planned. I didn't think of it much at first but now…" Dimitri explained
"Perhaps we should discuss this with Lady Rhea." Byleth said and Dimitri nodded. "Well for now, let's regroup."
"You all did well for your first mission. I did notice some mistakes here and there with some, but we will be working on that for the next class." Byleth said
"I'm just glad we all made it out of there alive." Ashe said
"It was just some simple thieves. It's not like they were going to be much of a challenge." Felix scoffed.
"Said the one who got a bit banged up out there." Sylvain said causing Felix to glare.
"Anyway, the knights will handle the rest. We should get going." Dimitri cut in before an argument could break out.
"Still, they weren't all too strong now that I think about it." Annette said
"Yeah. Didn't you say they had some wolves with them last time?" Sylvain asked Dimitri
"We killed them all last time we faced them in Remire." Dimitri said
"Not to mention that they've been on the run from the knights since then. I doubt they barely had the time to even get some food, much less restock on supplies like that." Ingrid said
"I guess we lucked out." Mercedes said with a smile.
"Depending on how you look at it. I was hoping to test my skills on some of those creatures." Felix said
"Maybe next time." Sylvain dismissed
Byleth zoned out from all the talking as she focused on the Red Canyon.
'Since when was this place called the Red Canyon?' Byleth thought.
"Hmm. I wonder why it is that you recall this place?" Sothis asked causing Byleth to jump. "You must be weak of heart. Each time I speak it scares you so." She joked
"Sorry about that." Byleth muttered
"All though the battle is at an end, do not feel too at ease." Sothis advised "Still, I do find myself fascinated by this place, but as far as I can tell, this is your first time here."
"Have you been here before Sothis?" Byleth asked
"Here? I daresay that it would be impossible to forget such a place as this." Sothis said with a sigh. "I must say, beyond the name and this strange feeling of familiarity, I can't seem to recall anything about this place. And yet, a great depth of emotion is tied to that place of familiarity. Things like joy, sorrow, pain, and love, and everything in between. If I was here before, I wonder what took place here?"
"Professor?" Dimitri called out snapping Byleth back to reality. "We are all ready to depart. We must return to the Monastery."
"Right." Byleth nodded.
"It is time to depart. But know that time reveals all things. One day. I will remember that of which I have lost." Sothis said "Regardless, I am thankful that you drove away those thieves."
"Why are you thankful?" Byleth asked
"I am…unsure." Sothis admitted. "Still, from now on, I want you to grow more accustom to my voice It will not do to have you fall over every time I speak to you."
Byleth looked annoyed at that.
"Sothis just giggled. "It was but a jest. Still, let us be on our way."
And that's a wrap!
Sorry for the lack of action in this. It was just simple thieves and like I wrote, considering that they've been on the run for a while, I doubt they had a chance to get anymore "Pets" like they had at Remire. Plus the Flame Emperor did leave them for dead.
Still, With that, the first mission is done. Back to in-between stuff for a while. XD Next chapter will be a wrap up for both houses and after that, like I said, there will be a short break so I can
1) Fix up my story
2) Play the new DLC when it comes out and see if I can use it in my story.
On another note: I did get the Smash pass 2 for Ultimate. I can't wait to see what's next for DLC fighters. I mean, the ones I want are Shante, Isaac, and Sora. But the former two are technically in the game already, especially Isaac, and the latter has a possible Disney issue to go through. So honestly, I don't really mind who gets in, as long as they are fun to play as. Like Byleth is right now.
Any how, next time, Byleth and Isaac return to Garreg Mach Monastery and Felix gets acquainted with some of Isaac's new friends. Get ready for double the Felix XD
Follow and Review and I will see you guys next time.