Paralouge#3 Chapter 4: After the Invasion (Selena)
"It's so damn hot here!" I yell at the two Grimleal guards outside my makeshift den.
"Sorry, continue doing... what you're doing."
The guards continue having no reactions.
Overseeing this my ass, I'm stuck here acting like a manager instead of watching what Morgan and that sick bastard Forneus is up to!
I can look outside to see the village, and it's not TOO far away, but considering this sand-shack has only one opening (the entrance), I bet they're up to something fishy.
Then again, Morgan was the one who made this little hut for me out of the sand with a Dragon Vein. Lady Camilla has used them several times to terraform the area to her advantage, but I guess you just need dragon's blood.
All the living soldiers are in the other commander's brigade. It's all Faceless, Risen, and a few Vallite soldiers King Anankos supposedly lent us. I want to yell at those guards again, but they're probably puppets in human bodies, so why bother. They least bring me food and water when I want.
Finished with all the paperwork, I hand it to one of the guards who takes it and leaves, and I lie uncomfortably across the table seated for three: Me, sister, and Forneus. Everything in this room is made of sanded hardened into stone. Even the floor is stone! The stone was then cooled by Vallite Mages' Water Magic before, but the desert heat dried that up. It gives plenty of shade, though.
I look at my left arm. Beneath this new armor, I got that looks like a stylish mix between my old gear and Nohrian clothes, with just a bit of Grimleal hidden in there. Morgan said she designed this for me, and I have to admit that her fashion sense has grown a lot.
I glance at the Draco-Symbol that was fused to my right wrist after I woke up from surgery a few days ago. It's pretty handy. It's got a watch, a compass, a communication function with other Draco-Symbols or Crystal Balls, and even a small magical pocket-dimension to store things in! The gem on mine is crimson, just like my hair.
If I were to pull the switch behind the gemstone backward, it would unlock my draconic powers in my blood. Despite how cool it sounds, I was advised NOT to do that by Father himself. I can hardly believe it that Grima helped me twice now. It feels wrong to be indebted to that demon.
But that makes the question why I'm still alive even more confusing if Father really is Grima.
But when I glance at my left, I see all the bandages covering my arm. They even go over my left breast beneath my clothes. Apparently, when I touched the knife Naga gave me, it caused an adverse reaction with my blood that causes my arm and heart to nearly explode. I am part-dragon now, but that shouldn't be enough to cause me to feel the anti-dragon effects. Even that creep Forneus said there was something odd about the knife when he heard about it.
Now I have to wear my shoulder-guard on my left arm. I know it's just switching sides, but it feels SO wrong!
A sudden flash of light blinds me. As it fades, Morgan collapses into the small building.
"Morgan!" I fling myself off the table and catch her. She's really beat up; cuts and burn marks all over. I can also feel a few broken bones. And she's losing consciousness, fast!
Thankfully, a Grimleal Witch comes by seconds later.
"You're just in time! She needs medical attention stat!"
"Understood, Princess Severa! Please help me lie, Princess Morgan, on the table!"
I carefully placed my sister's injured body on the table for the medic to do her work. Another two witches quickly warp in, one transporting a case of cold water and cups suspended in her magic.
I feel water magic spraying outside. They must be re-cooling the sandstone.
After a few minutes of watching my sister go through a small surgery. The witches leave.
I wonder how that witch spoke? I thought only Le-Fay can talk.
"Morgan, are you alright? Here, drink this!"
She drinks the cup of water set for her on the table. A witch must have done it as I was helping Morgan to her feet.
"I'm okay."
I help move Morgan to the seat opposite of me.
"Thanks, big sister. I knew I could count on you to finish all that paperwork!" Morgan says, followed by a giggle.
"Why you…"
Even after successfully invading a village, the childish part of her is still intact. It gives me relief, but I worry: she has that brand too, and she doesn't mind. This might be an excellent time to test if my sister is indeed the enemy. Mother would die of heart attack if she saw her lost daughter committing heinous acts!
"By the gods, your hair is in a total mess. I guess you can't take care of yourself without me. Would you like me to do your hair? Like old times?" I offer.
"Yay! I love you, big sister!" Just like that, she hops onto my lap and gives a childish smile. This is a good sign. Now for the real test.
I take out my pocket-brush I kept in my Draco-Symbol. I'll use this opportunity to ask her about her strategy regarding the invasion of the Wind Tribe.
With her head facing forward, I begin brushing her hair. It's rich in color and has excellent quality. I wonder what kind of soap she uses. If it is expensive, she might be treated well. The cult members at least seem to.
Now it's time.
"Morgan, how did the battle against the Wind Tribe Village go?" I ask as I continue brushing.
"It went really well! I poisoned their crops used in their potions and food secretly beforehand so that they would be all weak when attacked!"
"That's… actually pretty clever! But how did you get so injured?"
"I had to fight Princess Azura. She, Princess Hinoka, and three retainers were there outside. Apparently, they didn't eat any of the poisoned food. I had to fight her one-on-one. She was really strong. The last spell she cast with a song was really powerful. I had to use magic on myself to appear fine in front of the Grimleal soldiers and then later Corrin when she exited the Wind Tribe Chief's home. If I fought her, then, she would've killed me."
Those two are undoubtedly strong. Especially Corrin with that new Tenkai form like Tiki has. But Azura must be packing serious power if she roughed up Morgan this bad by herself.
"But it all worked out in the end! Azura injured her foot, and she flew straight into my trap where Royal Commander Arete is waiting, and Corrin is headed there too, but she has to get through a maze first. Oh, I also encountered this dark mage named Iago interfering with my plans this morning at the Eternal Stairway with Grandpa Forneus. He was so pathetic I sent him flying with a single spell! Other than that, nobody died!
"Really now?" She took out Garon's remaining retainer just like that. I never liked that guy, so arrogant and ugly with both body and fashion that it made me want to gouge my eyes out. Especially when I caught him peeping on Lady Camilla several times. But why is he here? And is he actually dead? I'll ask Morgan and Forneus later.
"Uh, huh! I was worried because I don't really like killing..." her excitement drops after that last sentence. "I really don't like killing unless I have to. It makes me feel awful. I'm a tactician, and I don't want to be a killer."
So she isn't evil when surrounded by it for 6 years at such a young age. I'm glad. I feel the anxiety leave my lungs as I exhale. Maybe she is telling the truth.
"No problem, little sister. All done!"
I stop brushing, and I take out a hand-mirror and give it to Morgan.
"Amazing! I knew I could count on you to fix my hair. But..."
She gets up wobbly (she just finished light-surgery just now), turns around, and looks me in the eyes.
"I feel your anxiety. Are you worried about your arm? Father?"
I look to the side, unable to answer.
"Please, don't worry, big sister. I was just like you at first too. It was scary at first, terrifying, but now it's okay. You won't have survived our walk from Nohr to here through the Deeprealms if you aren't a part dragon. Besides, this mark, I see it as a sign of us as a family. That even though we were separated across time and space, we're still connected."
Despite her positivity, the truth is dark as the ruined skies of my destroyed future. The brand of my greatest enemy, the Fell Dragon Grima's brand, is now on my body.
As much as I want to believe in Morgan, I still can't bring myself to buy all this. Not after what Grima put me through!
I may be skeptic, but like Corrin, my family is everything to me. It's all I ever wanted since I was born, and it was just me and Mother in my destroyed timeline. And now that I think about it, I never would have had those fantastic 10 years where it was me, Morgan, Father, and especially Mother, all smiling together.
I've made up my mind.
"Morgan, I've made up my mind."
Morgan stands to face me. She looks like she's read my mind, I think.
"I've decided to help you revive Father, but then it relies on him to fully-convince me."
"So, you still don't trust us? Fine, I get it. You don't want to betray your friends."
"No! It's not like that! Something is going on between the new Grimleal and Naga. This conflict isn't fully related to the war in this realm. I want to find the truth. Then I'll decide who I'll fight for."
My mind keeps going back to that dagger. Why would Naga give me something that could've killed me? I think someone lied to me about that dagger and how it injured me.
Morgan leaps up and hugs me. Losing balance, I fall to the ground.
"Yay! It's a deal! Father will be so happy to hear it! I'll get the paperwork started as soon as possible so you can get a job that will let you visit/help us while also keeping your job as Princess Camilla's retainer!"
"You can do that?!"
"Yup! Just be wary not to talk about anything that happens regarding the Grimleal and our activities. Father created a hex that causes memory loss of whatever you were gonna say to someone without a brand. Much better than King Anankos' curse!"
"Good to know."
My new mission has begun.
To be continued in Paralogues#1, Chapter 3...
Paralogue#1 Chapter 3: Iago's Dilemma (Iago)
To think I, the great dread mage Iago, would have to stoop as low as steal the body of Hoshidan Trash and ride the back of Kinshi. The dumb girl is called Setsuna, I believe, and for someone mentally retarded, she is a reliable flier of Kinshi bird. Reminds me of my former associate, what was his name again?
Damn that Forneus for forcing this mortifying situation upon me! But, if this Hoshidan didn't discover me in that house during the invasion of the Wind Tribe, it would have been an unfortunate end to my grand tale. This man, "Azama," is the original owner of this body I borrowed. I suppose I can thank him for dying in my place. Any consequence is better than death: especially one as shameless as the one he planned for me earlier today.
The very scene has been etched into the memory of my soul: after the first phase of my plan at the Eternal Stairway went off with success, I encountered Forneus and his forces outside the Wind Tribe Village. It was around 11 o'clock when I began setting my new genius plan to eliminate both the Wind Tribe and Corrin's party in motion.
But when I told it to him, he dared to laugh and say, "You think "this" will destroy the Wind Tribe? And you call yourself, "Nohr's greatest tactician?" You can't be serious!"
When I explained my genius plan in great detail, while simultaneously reminding him that he is just an inferior rejected alchemist, he had the NERVE to laugh loudly.
He brought his palm to his face and spoke in his disgustingly, distorted voice. "Good grief, you might actually be dumber than I thought."
Without letting me speak, he continued to point out flaws in my PERFECT plan, "You think that eliminating both Princess Corrin and Cheif Fuga after the two finish their combat will work? Tell me something Iago: I understand the idea of defeating the general causes the army to crumble, so let's say Princess Corrin's allies are still flies compared to your power. Do you think honestly think you can defeat either Cheif Fuga or Princess Corrin? One, a legendary and experienced warrior over many years who rivals the late Emperor of Hoshido, or a monster possessing powers and abilities both immense mysterious in nature?! Are you a complete and utter fool blinded by your inflated ego?!"
Credit to where credit is due, those were legitimate counters to my plan. However, before I would explain about my plan to plant several hexes in the area, and swarm the field with Faceless, he interrupts me, "-That was a rhetorical question, Iago. Of course not! Both are far too powerful and may have access to more power than we know. The Wind Tribe are all-powerful warriors with access to exclusive and possibly unknown techniques exclusive top their own! You call yourself intelligent, and you don't even do basic research before a mission?"
His cackling laughter burned scars into my pride. I had to defend my GREAT name!
"But you cannot dispute my victories in battle after battle that has led me to my position as King Garon's right hand?"
And that is when he changed. He stood up straight, his posture stern and sturdy. The stare from his disgusting cycloptic eye felt like a judge staring down into the deepest crevices of my soul.
He clapped slowly as he spoke in a quieter, mature tone, "You're a real comedian, Django, was it? Just not the funny kind. You can at least tell me the name of the second commander of Princess Corrin's little party, right?!"
He said my name wrong on purpose! This is infuriating! He is worse than Hans! I didn't do any information gathering aside from what I needed to complete my task of capturing or killing Princess Corrin. But, who was it again?
He then crossed the line when he cut me off again: before I had a chance to respond, he spoke in an angry, disciplinary tone, "You don't know!? Do you ever gather information with spies or other methods before creating a plan?! sigh Sorry about that, lost my cool there for a sec. Anyways, I have concluded that Nohr no longer needs you."
"W-what? But who gave you that decision?!
"Th king himself. Who else?" He phrased the question as if I should have been able to figure the answer out by logic!
"Stop talking. Your credibility has been reduced to none. I asked the king the other day about another representative from my home to take a spot in the retainer's chair, specifically the strategist's spot. He replied that out of recognition for what I have provided for the king and Nohr, he gave me an offer: if Iago were to prove inferior to her at his job, she might take his place as Nohr's Highest-Tactician. And to put it simply…"
He leans in close to my face, his horrific face of living and machinations close. His breath smelled faintly of ash and smoke.
"You. Lost."
And he backs away.
"Grrr!" my blood boils in anger.
"How dare… You bastard! I'll… make you pay for disrespecting me! You, and that girl!"
"Ah! There she is now! Sweetie! Over here!" He calls, excitingly waving to a mage who floats over.
Then, a young sorceress in garb not of Nohr descended from above. Her hood pulled over her that it obscured her face.
She then bows in respect to me, which caught me by surprise. "What is it, Grandpa Forneus? Also, please don't call me that in public! It's embarrassing." Then she said to me, "You must be Nohr's tactician, Dread Mage Iago, correct?"
"Yes, I am the Dread Mage Iago, Nohr's greatest tactician! And who might you be. You seem quite young to be on the battlefield?" I respond with confusion and curiosity.
"I am Morgana Grimleal. My father is the greatest tactician to ever exist! And yeah, I am pretty young for a tactician. I am only 16, and this is my first time on the battlefield too."
Then Forneus placed his hand on her shoulder and said, "This girl is my granddaughter. She is also the one who designed the plan of the fall of this village, the capture of its inhabitants, a plan to destroy Princess Corrin's forces even if they flee, and to summon the Yamata-no-Orochi and bring it over to the side of Nohr. She also planned the overwhelmingly successful invasion of the Flame Tribe territory. Morgana, can you explain to Django over here your plan?"
"Oh, certainly!" She responds with disgusting excitement.
Yet as she explained her plan step-by-step, detail-by-detail, I was dumbfounded. This was not possible, especially for a greenhorn child whose only credentials for being a tactician is that her daddy is somehow greater than me! She had meticulously calculated any possible obstacles as well as various solutions to said potential problems.
Everything was precise and calculated correctly down to the minute details that I can hardly believe that a human had created a strategy this complex, sophisticated, and well thought out. She even made it so how to adapt for the chance I would commit the exact plan I executed, and had an outcome for whether I failed or succeeded! That witch doctor was right, even I must admit to this girl's ability is beyond anyone I've ever encountered!
And for that, she cannot exist! I am the greatest!
I leap back and cast a powerful spell from the runes I secretly engraved on the inside of my sleeve.
"Death!" A huge blazing violet skull manifests itself before me and launches itself, jaws open, at the girl.
It caused a violent explosion of flames when it hit my target
"This is one of the strongest Dark Magic spells in existence! Nobody can survive it without injury!"
I was then seized by the maw of a massive light-blue serpent. It's a body made of mana but feels as solid as steel.
It can't be!
The smoke cleared, and the serpent's origin was from that girl. Her body wrapped in its mana-scales.
"It is a powerful spell, but my BlarSerpent spell raises my defenses against ranged attacks, especially magic. You can't touch me with the power you have. A shame too, I thought you had promise. I guess Nohrian Mages aren't as strong as the ones in the house of Grimleal, or any others back home in Ylisse or Plegia from what I remember."
"Don't get disappointed, Morgana. True, their basic sorcery could use some work, but the Dark Knights and Malig Knights in Nohr surprised me in how they effectively merge magic with their melee attacks. You've yet to meet Prince Leo as well. His skills and pursuit in the dark arts rival my own."
"That's so cool! And I really want to meet a Malig Knight! We don't have those back in our home."
"Hold it. I've never heard of these countries. You must be spies!"
They turn their heads and look at me, piercing my soul with stares of disappointment.
"Did you hear something?" Last I checked trash doesn't make noise."
"Then it might be infested with pests. We should exterminate it quickly. BlarSerpent!"
Another giant blue serpent flew towards me, breaking through all my magic no matter how much I pushed back and sending me flying into what I presumed a warehouse with wounds all over my body.
I was a bloody mess of broken bones and pierced organs covered in blood. It took me some time to come to terms with everything that had just happened and used whatever magic I had left to keep me alive while being terrified if either of them came to finish the job.
After what seemed like an eternity of agony, the girl's plan started for real as I could hear terror and monsters in the streets.
Then, this Hoshidan Monk found me after some enemies crashed in here. He probably didn't recognize me from the bloody mess that was I., And that was both his undoing, and my ticket to life.
I quickly used my dark magic to switch bodies with the monk. With a healthy body, and analyzing his memories, I finished off the old me, and the Hoshidan monk inside as his mistress, the missing Princess Hinoka arrived.
I then used my remaining dark magic to past a particular hex that would turn her into my slave disguised as me touching her back while pushing her out of the way of a convenient enemy attack. She seems to have a high resistance to this hex, despite it being my creation. It will slowly destroy her mind till its basically a doll in my hands. But even now, she is showing high resistance, and I sense interfering magic.
It should still work, but it will need time.
It also has my failsafe in case I die.
Upon reflection, I suppose I was fortunate today. I narrowly escaped death, got a Hoshidan Princess under my control, infiltrated Princess Corrin's group, and the persona of Azama is both a user of the arcane arts and has a similar personality to me. His magic may be less compared to my old body, but it is still more than average.
The only regret is that Princess Hinoka is not really my type. Sure, she has fantastic thighs, but I prefer more buxom girls, especially like Princess Corrin and Lady Camilla! Mm, yes…
"What do you think about Azama?" the retarded archer asks me.
I almost jump in my seat. She is looking at me with this droopy expression while still flying! Apparently, she is such a poor flier, her Kinshi learned to fly itself! Calm down, this is the first of many conversations. Wait!
"Just wondering about what type of pretty ladies I am into," I answer.
"Oh! IIIII see. What kind of girls were you thinking about?" she answers like she is half-asleep. Azama's memories state this bizarre behavior is normal for her and that trying to attack verbally will only end, making her happier.
"Well, I prefer ones who fly with their head on straight. And of course, show more class than Lady Hinoka."
"Hey, I heard that, Azama!" I hear her yell. I take a quick look in her direction and see that the two escaped prisoners and a woman, I believe, is the missing Lady Azura. I oddly feel pity for that pegasus for having to carry 4 passengers at once.
"Hehe, thanks for the compliment," Setsuna replies and looks forward again. It seems I will fit in just fine. Well, only until my dark magic returns and Lady Hinoka falls to my control. There is no way Corrin would ever attack her sister!
Then I sense specks of black magic nearing us swiftly. I call out to warn my "allies" before I knew it, I fell into Morgana's trap. As a shower of arrows and black magic rain from below.
To be continued in the main story...