Author's Note:
Hello and welcome to the next chapter. This one marks deviation from canon and the start of misfortunes for both Dedue and Raphael. I hope you all enjoy the chapter.
I own nothing.
Chapter 1
15th of the Red Wolf Moon, Imperial Year 1172
"Get up boy!"
Raphael blinked dully as he was shaken awake and blearily looked up.
"Grandpa…?"
His grandfather pulled him roughly out of bed, "There's no time Raphael, you need to get ready to leave, now!"
Still confused, the boy slowly began putting on the clothes his grandfather threw at him, "Why…is it Grandma?"
He knew that she'd been ill for some time now, had something happened?
His grandfather paused briefly, then sighed, "Yes." He grasped Raphael's shoulders, "I'll explain everything to you soon, but first, we need to leave."
Raphael was still confused, but something in the man's eyes stopped him questioning further, he simply nodded and swiftly got ready. Soon, he was creeping after his grandfather, through the dark house and towards the door. They'd just reached it when a single voice stopped them.
"Father, what are you doing?"
His grandfather closed his eyes and breathed deeply, but Raphael looked back and spoke up, "Pa?"
His father spoke calmly, "Raphael, come here."
In normal circumstances, he'd have obeyed without question, but something in his father's voice made him hesitate, as did his grandfather pushing him lightly behind him.
"You don't want to do this boy."
Grandpa's voice was low and warning, but his father was not intimidated by the older man.
"No, you don't want to do this."
"How could you even consider your course of action, he's your own son!"
"That's why I'm doing this, if the church knew what he was, it would be a disaster. However, Lord Essar has offered to cure…"
"You can't trust that man!" Grandpa's voice had risen, and was now closer to a shout, "There's nothing to cure! Even if there was, Essar wants nothing more than to control him for more power."
"It's still better than the alternative!" his father snapped back, "The church will simply kill him!" He sighed, "The research Lord Essar's relative has done in crests alone surely means…"
"Absolutely nothing!" Grandpa snarled, "Hanneman Von Essar renounced his status and works for the church, Lord Essar has none of his research!"
"It doesn't matter." Raphael's father shook his head, "I'm sorry Father."
Suddenly, rough hands grabbed Raphael, yanking him back towards the door. He let out a yelp of surprise and his grandfather spun round, but the boy was pulled away. His vision blocked by a hefty shape, he heard a soft thump, but was out the door before he knew it, crying out.
"PA!"
His father came but didn't help him. Instead, he looked to a strange man, who bowed to him respectfully, "Your assistance is most appreciated Master Kirsten. Lord Essar promises to do everything he can to heal the boy's affliction."
That was the last Raphael saw of his family for a long time.
13th of the Ethereal Moon, Imperial Year 1172
Dedue fought through the deep snows, aimlessly wandering the wilderness of Duscar as he pulled his cloak tightly around him.
He had nowhere to go, and no family to turn to, not anymore.
His life had been peaceful, growing up in a quiet little village with his mother, father and younger sister. He'd been taught many things about his gift as a Scion and had even summoned Diablos upon his sixth birthday as per family tradition. By now, he had the ability to use several of his lower level spells thanks to his training and practise, but it hadn't been enough.
Monsters, what had attracted them, he didn't know, but several giant wolves had descended upon their home. The people had moved to defend themselves, with some initial success, but they weren't equipped to deal with such creatures and more kept coming.
His father had pushed him and his sister into hiding, running out to join the defenders, his mother close behind, but neither came back and one wolf found them. He'd tried to use his magic, but the wolf was too big, forcing them to run for it.
Which was exactly what the monsters wanted them to do.
They got corralled into a dead end, along with everyone else, and the wolves began snatching stragglers and easy targets from the panicked.
Including his sister.
He hadn't seen it, the crowd had separated them, but he'd heard her scream and he'd reacted without thought, calling Diablos forth in raw terror.
It was over in moments.
Diablos came, in his full form, and not a single wolf escaped him. All of them were caught in his powerful magic and destroyed there and then, but it was far too late for his family, and most of the village buildings went with them.
Everything afterwards was a blur of grief, fear and confusion, and suddenly, he found himself alone in the wilderness, the people of his village having cast him out because they blamed him for all their woes and loss.
Only Diablos kept him going.
"There's a cave ahead. You should rest there tonight."
Dedue nodded, "Okay."
As his Aeon, Diablos could speak to him in his mind since he'd been summoned at least once, and he'd pushed Dedue onwards.
"You're almost there."
The boy didn't answer, but pressed on, soon coming to the cave Diablos had pointed out. It wasn't very big, more a hollow than a cave, but it was shelter and could be warmed by a fire. A scarce advantage Dedue had was that he'd been given a few scant supplies before he was thrown out, so he had enough to create a fire with the wood Diablos had told him to gather on the way.
Soon, the small flames flickered against the gathering dark, and he sat and stared at them numbly.
"Dedue…"
Diablos' voice was gentle.
"Yes?"
"It's okay to grieve now. I'm here, and I always will be. So, grieve."
Dedue did.
1st of the Guardian Moon, Imperial Year 1173
Raphael stood fearfully in front of Lord Essar.
In appearance, the noble wasn't too intimidating, he was tall, thin and bore a regal air, but there was something in the way he looked at him that terrified the boy.
He'd been brought to an isolated manor and had spent some time there in a simply furnished room, under careful watch. Lord Essar had come a few days afterwards and had carefully examined the mark on his right shoulder, one Raphael was sure hadn't been there before he was taken. The noble had been delighted about it for some reason and had left once more, leaving strict instructions.
In short, Raphael was allowed a little leeway around the building, but couldn't leave it, not even to go into the grounds, and apart from the guards and the couple of staff that dealt with him, there was no one else around.
Eventually, after a couple of weeks of him just simply wandering the building, Lord Essar returned, and demanded his presence in the huge grounds.
The Lord paced around him, then cast an eye over the surrounding area, before finally settling back into a seat that had been brought out for him.
"Now boy, here's what I want you to do. Summon Alexander!"
"What!?"
One of the guards whacked Raphael around the head, "Do not question Lord Essar boy!"
He winced as the man went to strike again, but Lord Essar intervened, "Enough, I suspected that he hasn't been made aware of his abilities." He looked back at Raphael, "You are a summoner boy, and that means you have the ability to call upon the powers of an Eidolon, in this case, Alexander. What you need to do is speak his name, and he shall appear, fail to do so and you'll be punished accordingly. You have three chances."
Raphael gulped, he had no idea what Essar wanted, but he didn't have any other choice. The noble gestured to the empty grounds, and he turned to face them, speaking in a trembling voice. "A-Alexander."
Nothing happened, one chance down.
"Alexander."
Again, nothing. He glanced back at the Lord, who simply stared at him, and he swallowed again, body trembling and desperation made his voice more akin to a frightened squeak.
"Alexander!"
This time, he felt something, a shift inside him and a sort of surge. The atmosphere around them changed, and light began to glow before him. It grew and shaped itself, taking on a distinct form, around him, the guards gasped and he dimly heard Essar speaking in excitement.
"Yes, that's it!"
Suddenly, the light dissipated, revealing what could best be described as an armoured fortress. Its head was that of a helm, but the body was more like a metal plated building as it towered over them and the manor.
All Raphael could do was stare as the being seemed to gaze down upon him, he had no idea what he'd done, but it was both amazing, and absolutely terrifying.
Suddenly, he felt exhausted, and he just about noticed his rapid approach to the floor before he blacked out.
He slowly came to, finding himself back in the room that had been made his since being brought to the manor.
Early morning sunlight came in through the window, indicating he'd been out all night.
"Are you alright little one?"
Raphael gave a yelp of terror and fell out of the bed, causing the sudden voice to rapidly speak apologetically.
"I'm sorry little one, its only me, Alexander."
Alexander, the same thing Lord Essar forced him to say. Raphael frowned.
"Alexander?"
"Yes, I am the one you summoned yesterday."
"You mean, the huge knight in the grounds? I summoned you?"
"Indeed." Alexander spoke gently, "I assume you know little of what is happening. In short, I am what your people refer to as an Eidolon, and you are my summoner. The one you know as Lord Essar forced you to summon me yesterday, but the amount of magic you used to do so caused you to collapse."
"I don't understand, I don't know what's going on, they just took me, and Pa let them…I…don't know…" The boy began to break down, the constant fear and confusion finally becoming too much for him.
"Raphael, it will be alright." Alexander's voice calmed him, "Just know that I will do everything I can to look after you."
Raphael curled in on himself, gripping his knees tightly, "Promise?"
"Promise."
PS-So Dedue loses his family and is cast out to fend for himself, and Raphael is basically a prisoner of a noble, not the nicest of happenings for either of them. Please let me know what you thought.