Chapter 26: Para Bellum Part 4.

AN: Italic text is either inner thoughts (for Maurice) or words spoken in the Agarthan tongue (Everybody else).


"Gentlemen?" Spite asked as he stood over the map, his arms crossed against his chest as he nodded to each of the lesser commanders standing before him. "Are we ready to begin the briefing?"

The five men before him exchanged glances before Vito spoke for the group, "As ready as we'll ever be."

"So be it," Spite replied. "The portal opens to the central courtyard of the fortress, and it is likely that we will be exposed for some time until our forces can make a break for cover."

"What are the possibilities that we are under attack?" Talos asked.

"Four distinct scenarios may pan out," Spite replied. "The three least likely scenarios see us come under attack."

"Let's hear it then," Olympia said, his eyes watching the map. "What are they?"

"First scenario, we are attacked by Macuil's minions," Spite said. "In this case, I will lead the battle against his revenants."

"And if we fail?" Talos asked.

"Then we join the damned of Zaharas," Spite replied. "Fortunately, the other members of the Septet believe that Macuil's presence is extremely unlikely."

"And why is that?" Umbral asked.

"Macuil has, for as long as we have known him, been an isolationist loner," Spite replied. "Whereas his three surviving kin have all either slipped into the ranks of pure humanity or hidden within close proximity of human settlements, Macuil has isolated himself deep in the deserts of Sreng."

"So this land is not isolated enough for him?" Umbral asked.

"Correct," Spite replied. "The second scenario will be that an Imperial Army task force or a leftover warband of Holy Kingdom forces will be occupying the tower. The same playbook remains for them. Go in, kill every last one of them."

"How would they have defeated Bias?" Talos asked.

"Had Bias left only a token force behind to guard herself, it is possible the enemy simply overwhelmed their lines with no regards to their own losses," Spite replied. "A crude tactic, but a necessary one if going up against superior foes."

"Why was Bias not with her main attack force?" Vito asked. "I don't understand why she would avoid joining battle herself."

"Bias lacked the authority to command the respect of her forces," Spite said. "Her ascension to a member of the Septet was purely out of necessity, and secondly, due to our openings, I suspect that she was ordered to look for the most cunning and powerful survivors amongst the task force sent to kill Macuil."

"Why weren't more of us sent?" Vito asked. "Why were so many of our forces confined to Shambhala?"

"Politics," Spite replied. "You didn't need me to tell you that answer."

"Politics by whom?" Vito asked, his hands on the map. "Answer me!"

"Vito, that's enough," Spite said. "We are here to go over the plan, not argue over spilled milk."

Vito swallowed before he stepped back from the map, "I apologize for that. I shouldn't have stepped out of line."

"All is forgiven," Spite replied. "The third option is the most likely option."

"Bias and her task force dead and left to rot," Talos guessed. "Is this why you had us bring-"

"Yes, that's correct," Spite replied. "Excellent observation skills. In this case, we will still require battlements to be occupied, but the vast majority of our efforts must be the collection of evidence and salvage."

"Weapons?" Vito asked.

"No," Spite replied. "To carry basic weapons and armour back to Shambhala would be a waste of resources. Our main aim is to retrieve the hearts of the fallen."

"What about the fourth option?" Olympia asked. "You said it split into two further scenarios."

"I did," Spite replied. "The last option is that Bias is still alive, and has either failed to contact Shambhala or turned traitor."

"Traitor?" Vito asked. "A member of the Septet, turned traitor?"

"It has happened before," Spite replied. "In the earliest years of Shambhala's history, but this scenario is by far the least likely."

"Why is that?" Talos asked. "What makes it unlikely?"

"Because Bias not only knows how to open a portal into Zaharas, but also knows how to navigate its tunnels. If her expedition was in good health, then by all means, we should have been informed by now."

Talos nodded, his arms crossed as he stepped away from the table.

"If there are no further questions, ensure your squads are ready to move out," Spite said, revealing a crystal heart from the depths of his robes. "Be on your guard for the hour of reckoning."


Edelgard yawned as she pressed into Byleth, her eyes shifting to find his eyes looking back at her.

"Good morning," Byleth said, a smile lighting up his features. "I trust you slept well?"

Edelgard inched forward, landing a small peck on his cheek before she rolled off, taking a moment to push back her loose hair.

"Should we get going?" Byleth asked. "It's still early."

Edelgard nodded, her face serious as she collected her boots, "The Beast, or Maurice, as Seteth called him, is a problem we need to deal with."

"I agree with that," Byleth replied. "The supply lines need to be dealt with before we can turn to the mystery that is this… Mortis."

"I suspect Hubert kept Seteth up until the early hours of the morning," Edelgard replied. "As I understand it, he respected her, to an extent."

"That's not a word I associate with Hubert," Byleth replied. "Especially given who we are dealing with."

"She taught him his first dark magic spell," Edelgard said. "Do you remember how he had known Miasma far before anyone else?"

"This Mortis taught him Miasma?" Byleth asked. "Most curious."

"He owes her a certain amount," Edelgard said as she walked through the outskirts of Garreg Mach. "He confessed at one point that he had difficulty with some spells he had salvaged."

"And she helped him?" Byleth asked.

"Correct," Hubert said as he approached the couple, his lips tight. "Mortis would correct several mistakes of mine in regards to the spell."

"Why did she do that?" Byleth asked. "Did you ask for her help?"

"No, she knew from the beginning," Hubert replied as he shook his head. " I believe Adrasteia had warned her that I had stolen notes on spells, and she had come with the intention of teaching me how to use them."

"Why?" Byleth asked. "Adrasteia must have known your intentions and how much you hated him."

"She said that I was likely to kill myself if I had proceeded with some of the more dangerous magic," Hubert said. "And losing me over a few spells wasn't in the interest of Shambhala."

"Was she right?" Byleth asked.

"She was," Hubert confirmed after a long moment of silence. "I would further my studies of the advanced spells while I attended Garreg Mach, but I know if I had attempted to use the magic too early, it would have led to a premature death."

"Have you spoken to Seteth about her activities?" Byleth asked.

"At length," Hubert replied. "He had little to say, as did Baron Dominic, apart from her seeming lack of origin and unexplained competence."

"Do you believe we killed her in Arianrhod?" Byleth asked.

"No, I don't believe she's dead," Hubert replied. "Had we engaged her in combat, I would have been able to distinguish her corpse from amongst the dead."

"So she's still out there," Byleth deduced. "Do you have a plan to deal with her when the time comes?"

Hubert nodded as they entered the main hall of Garreg Mach, "I intend to extract her secrets through whatever means possible, in the event we take her alive."

"You sound hesitant about that," Byleth observed. "Why?"

"Even when I was learning magic at Garreg Mach, Mortis was already a fully fledged sorceress," Hubert said. "Unless we catch her off guard, I'm sure she would fight to the death rather than surrender to us."

"Be ready for that day," Edelgard said as she nodded to Seteth. "Until then, we will put down this Maurice."


I smell the betrayer in the air.

How long has it been? A year? Ten? A century?

I force myself to move, to seek out the source of the smell.

Perhaps- rest?

Or… feed?

Feed?

Feed!

FEED!

FEED!


"So," Aranea said as she sat down at the table, taking a small sip of the tea she had brewed. "What do we do from here?"

"The other Elites have their will shackled to Nemesis," Solon reported. "And Nemesis has made it clear that he doesn't have any interest in continuing the war."

"Could we take on the Imperial Army as we are?" Myson asked. "Or, if we find the location of our enemies, could we reduce them to ash?"

"A potential option," Thales replied as he turned his gaze around the table. "But there is another option on the table."

"What are you thinking?" Solon asked.

"An early experiment of the previous Periander reduced the revenant he had summoned shackled to the will of it's summoner," Thales said. "Still, as it was not a free willed soldier he had summoned, but an enslaved… thing, in short, the experiment was deemed a failure."

"Are you suggesting we enslave Nemesis?" Aranea asked, her hands pressed together as she mulled over the decision. "No, that wouldn't work. The rest of the Elites would turn to dust upon his death, and there's no guarantee his soul would remain long enough for us to bind it to a host."

"You misunderstand," Thales replied. "What would happen if we return Seiros back to life?"

"After our puppets spent so long killing her?" Myson asked. "It would- oh I see now."

"To summon her as a mindless revenant," Aranea said. "As appeasement to Nemesis?"

"Pittacus, ask your brother if there's any information he possesses on the earliest experiments the previous Periander performed," Thales said. "Myson, take a task force to Shangri-la to see if he left any notes there."

"Should I attempt to contact my brother via radio?" Aranea asked. "The previous Bias' radio may still be functional."

"No," Thales replied. "It would be faster for you to join with Myson. Zaharas is merely a few hours walk."

Aranea nodded, "I'll prepare myself then, if there's no other orders of business."

"There are none," Thales replied. "Glory to Agartha."

"Glory to Agartha," Aranea replied as she left the room.


"Conand Tower," Ashe said as he led his horse to a small stream, his eyes closed as the animal drank.

"You are aware of the story behind it, right?" Ingrid asked as she stopped next to her partner. "Why Conand Tower was built?"

"Of course!" Ashe exclaimed as he turned to Ingrid. "Wasn't it to protect the northern border at the time and to provide Lady Conand a place of rest after her campaigns?"

"Did you read the story of the rogue wyvern?" Ingrid asked, her eyes excited. "The one set at the tower?"

"The one where she leapt off a tower to force it to the ground?" Ashe asked, his grin wide. "It kept me up at night imagining how it must have felt making such a leap."

"It's a tragedy how the fortress has been left as it is," Ingrid said, her lips tight. "Still, maybe in the future, we can restore it for a new purpose."

"After we clear it of the enemy," Ashe promised. "What are you thinking for the future?"

"A travel post or a training ground," Ingrid replied. "The forests around the fortress have a lot of wild game to hunt."

Ashe laughed at that, "And I'm sure you're going to enjoy that."

"Well, erm, I uhh," Ingrid spluttered. "Did you… see me?"

Ashe blinked, "I'm sorry, what do you mean by that?"

"Have you ever seen me eating?" Ingrid asked, her face flushing as she tightened her grip on her horses' reins.

"We eat in the dining hall all the time," Ashe said. "I'm sure we've shared meals before, although I'm not sure why you would eat snacks off in the sides of the monastery."

Ingrid froze in her seat, her face flushing, "You- you saw that?"

"Ingrid?" Ashe asked. "You're flushed, do you need a drink of water?"

"Me? Me?" Ingrid laughed. "I'm perfectly fine. There's nothing wrong, nothing at all!"

"Ingrid?" Ashe asked. "Are you alright? Do you need some water?"

Ingrid swallowed, "You- you saw me eating?"

Ashe shook his head, "No, I was told by Yuri once that you enjoyed eating smoked meat, though I confess I've never actually seen you enjoy it when dining with us."

Ingrid laughed at the comment as she placed a hand against her breastplate, "Ah, right. Perhaps some water wouldn't hurt."

Ashe watched Ingrid for a moment before he shook his head, a small smile lighting up his face, "Let's take a break while the sun is high to avoid the heat."


The portal creaked open, the air shimmering with magic as Spite stepped from the depths of Zaharas, his eyes taking a moment to take in the scene of horror as carrion birds and insects scattered.

"Glory to Agartha," Spite hissed, a spare hand covering his face as he scanned the scene of carnage.

"Spite?" Talos asked as he hurried from the portal, the man turning pale as he looked around.

"No survivors," Spite said as he waved a spare hand to swat away insects. "Talos, order the rest of the task force forward. The sooner we leave this place, the better."

Talos retched before he threw himself away from his superior officer, his breathing reduced to hacking coughs as more unwary soldiers marched through the portal, each successive member grabbing at their faces as the foul stench of death overcame them.

Spite grimaced as he glanced around the empty courtyard, though only a crow, flying from the central tower, caught his attention.

"Soldiers, we make camp away from the bloodbath," Spite barked as he waved his men away from the tower, the crowd leaving the portal making haste to cover their faces as they hurried to the tree line. "Once there, we establish a perimeter."


"I want to go with you," Flayn said as she stepped before her father, her arms outstretched as she tried to stop the hunting party.

"Flayn, please," Seteth pleaded. "That's enough. I'm not going to let you get hurt."

"Father, please, I want to be with you and the Professor," Flayn argued. "What if this Mortis comes after me while you're away?"

Seteth swallowed as he turned to Byleth, "Professor, may I bring along Flayn for this expedition?"

Byleth nodded, "I don't see anything wrong with it, but Flayn, why is it that you really want to be out in the field?"

Seteth pressed his lips together as Flayn turned to her father, their eyes meeting for a moment before Flayn turned back to Byleth.

"I feel safe near you, Professor," Flayn confessed. "You showed us kindness even when we were attacking you."

Byleth shook his head, his lips tight, "From what I can gather, only a handful of people at Garreg Mach can recognize this Mortis. You would still be in danger if we returned to an ambush."

"I agree with the professor's sentiment," Hubert said as he approached the group. "As it stands, there are only six people at Garreg Mach monastery who know what this Mortis looks like."

"And who are these people?" Ferdinand asked as he arrived with the party. "Please do not include myself, as I have not ever seen this mysterious Mortis, only heard of her from Sylvain."

"You are not on the list," Hubert promised. "Seteth and Baron Dominic recognize her from the Council of Fhirdad, while Monica, Jeritza, myself, and Edelgard know her from the campaign to have Kronya infiltrate Garreg Mach."

"She was part of that?" Seteth asked. "What was her role?"

"A certain… noble sought Monica von Ochs' hand in marriage," Hubert explained, exchanging a glance with Dorothea. "When she refused him, he resorted to kidnapping."

Seteth narrowed his eyes, "Monica von Ochs is still alive?"

Monica coughed from the back of the convoy as Seteth turned to the woman, his eyes narrowing at the woman before him.

"How did this happen?" Seteth asked. "I had believed her murdered by the Thales."

"I- I fell in love with a Shambhalan," Monica explained, her voice sheepish as she took a step away from the group. "He refused to kill me, and one of his superiors was willing to look the other way so long as they had a connection to my benefactor."

"Who was that?" Seteth asked. "And why was he so important?"

"His name was erm, Paul- Paul Hawthorne."

Yuri doubled over at the mention of the name, his eyes hardening, "The ruler of Enbarr's criminal underworld?"

"Correct," Hubert said. "And a secret member of the Insurrection of the Seven."

Seteth's eyes narrowed as he looked at Hubert, "How does this Mortis fit into this picture?"

"Mortis was the senior agent in the project, sent to ensure Kronya reached Garreg Mach safely," Hubert said. "When Shambhala learned of the presence of the kidnapping team sent by a certain Roderigo Midas, Mortis was tasked with hunting and killing the team behind the kidnapping."

"And when every member of the kidnapping team had been slaughtered, she allowed Kronya to enter Garreg Mach," Seteth summarized. "Is this correct so far?"

Hubert nodded, "The last of the kidnappers were killed as we raided Conand Tower."

"When Roderigo Midas sent most of his guards to try to kidnap Ingrid, Mortis was able to slip past his remaining guards and take his head," Dorothea said. "And thus any evidence Monica had ever been kidnapped twice would be destroyed."

"Correct," Hubert said. "Though the guards he sent out would never learn that their paymaster had been dispatched while they occupied the trip back to Garreg Mach. Had they returned to their master, they would have discovered a charred corpse."

"Disturbing," Seteth said. "And why was Monica not killed? It would appear that Mortis would not leave behind loose ends."

Hubert grimaced at the comment, his eyes turned away, "I had the same idea at the time."

"Hawthorne intervened on my behalf," Monica said. "He had been friends with my father."

"And, yet, I understand that you played a role in the death of Baron Ochs," Seteth said, casting his gaze against Hubert.

"Correct," Hubert said, meeting Seteth's gaze. "Our agreement with the overseer was that Monica von Ochs was to remain dead to all but Hawthorne. Had we broken that agreement, the consequences would have been most dire."

Seteth nodded, "I see, a tragic loss of life regardless."

"And now you understand why the four of us can recognize Mortis," Edelgard said, cutting into the conversation. "Though I confess that my memory is rather foggy, for I only met her twice, and even then, only for a few minutes."

Seteth nodded as he looked upon Flayn, "Very well, Professor, for her safety, I ask that you allow both of us to join you on this hunt."

"Granted," Byleth said. "Let's move out."


Mortis took a small sip from a river as she kept an eye on her horse, tied to a nearby tree.

"It's too hot," Mortis growled, taking a moment to take a bite out of a chunk of bread, finishing the small meal with two more bites. "Perhaps I should have stopped riding while the sun was overhead."

As Mortis finished the piece of bread, the face of Yurius appeared in her mind, causing her to grit her teeth and reach for Athame.

When the feeling in her chest passed, Mortis grimaced as she rose to her feet, taking a moment to stretch her limbs before she climbed aboard her mount and continued her ride.


"I want to offer you a deal," Count Gloucester said as he stepped through the bars of the jail cell, his eyes on the prisoner slumped over in a corner. "It is a good deal, or I like to believe."

The young man said nothing, his posture remaining the same as he raised his eyes to meet Count Gloucester.

"Would you like to hear me out?" Count Gloucester asked. "It can't hurt now, can't it?"

"I don't care," Yurius replied. "I will not betray my people, not for what you can offer."

"But you haven't even heard my offer yet," Count Gloucester stated. "Are you so close minded?"

Yurius looked at Count Gloucester for a minute before spitting at his boots.

"I like you," Count Gloucester said. "Loyal to your cause until death. Tell me, why is it that you fight under the imperial banner?"

"I don't," Yurius shot back. "I'm not an imperial. I'm a mercenary."

"A mercenary is loyal to gold and gold alone," Count Gloucester snarled. "Why are you so loyal in the face of death where other men would turn and flee?"

Yurius looked at the man for a long second, "I don't fear you. You are a disgusting animal masquerading as a noble."

"And why is that?" Count Gloucester asked, a flash of anger in his eyes. "What is it that I have done that disgusts you so?"

Yurius remained silent as Count Gloucester paced around the room.

"I thought you might see honour," Count Gloucester snarled. "Reason."

Yurius turned to look at the man, a look of contempt on his face.

"I was mistaken," Count Gloucester said. "Very well then, you will see fear."

Yurius snorted, the face of Spite flashing through his mind, "Doubt it."

"Listen close," Count Gloucester snarled, his face inches away from the other man. "You will tell me where you found all of this gold stolen from House Ordelia, and in turn, I will let you live."

"No," Yurius replied. "I will not betray that information."

"We will see about that," Count Gloucester snarled as he waved his hand, the door to the prison swinging open. "We will see about that."


Spite stood over the dead body of the previous Bias, his eyes watching the woman's many festering wounds as he whispered a short prayer.

"Can you give us a cause of death?" Talos asked as he approached his superior.

"No," Spite replied as he gestured to the corpse. "There's been too much decomposition, and too many potentially fatal wounds to allow me to conclusively declare what killed her. Still, show me where we found the body."

"Right, of course," Talos said as he turned away from Bias. "It's over by Vito."

Spite nodded as he moved to the other man, his arms crossed against his chest.

"My lord," Vito said in greeting. "Come to see the scene?"

"I have," Spite replied, nodding to the squatting form of Percival. "Are there any tracks? Any sign that her body was moved here after her death?"

Vito and Percival shook their heads.

"I'm afraid not. We found Lady Bias where she fell," Percival said. "We were probably the first to touch her body after her death."

"And what of her other losses?" Spite asked, nodding at a nearby pile of corpses, "How do you see them fitting into the picture?"

"Looks to me like they were warped here as a surprise attack," Percival observed. "There are no footsteps that lead from the main fortress, and with their heavy armour, it's very likely they teleported."

"And what makes you say that?" Olympia asked as he stepped into the conversation. "Why couldn't they have marched out of the fortress?"

"Surprise and setup," Spite replied, turning to the oldest of his lieutenants. "The heavy armour units would have been easy pickings for enemy magisters as they made their way to the front lines. Much more sense for them to be warped in for a surprise attack at the heart of the enemy lines."

"Why were they sent to the front?" Umbral asked as he joined the rest of the command squad. "And why were they cut down as they were?"

"We must ask ourselves who was behind the attack," Spite said. "Though I am close to certain that it was Macuil who was behind the slaughter."

"Why is that?" Percival asked as he stood up.

"Either our heavy infantry had lost their minds by teleporting directly into an enemy strongpoint, or they had walked into a sudden ambush by previously unengaged reserve forces," Spite explained. "Only the four saints, with their undead legions, can summon such forces without concealing them first."

"Why not the imperial army?" Umbral asked. "They could have fielded reinforcements in the bushes and trees."

"That is true," Spite replied. "But there are no losses of any kind that we can see that the enemy left, and it is rather obvious that, at least for the first phase of the battle, Bias and her forces threw everything they had against the enemy."

"First phase?" Percival asked. "What makes you so sure there were two phases?"

"Blood and corpses," Spite replied. "I trust you all saw the bodies we encountered amongst our evacuation of the teleport grounds?"

"We did," Umbral said, his eyes turning to survey the rotting pile in the distance. "You think they were fleeing?"

"The bodies were faced away from Bias" Spite said. "I suspect the legion lost their nerve when they saw her cut down."

"Then why was she here?" Talos asked. "Out in the front?"

"A duel between champions," Spite replied. "Bias, understanding that Macuil had unlimited legions of forces with him, may have thrown all of her forces at him in a last ditch attempt to kill him."

"And it failed," Umbral concluded. "And when she fell, the rest of them turned and fled to a defensive strongpoint."

"Do you think they tried to call for help?" Talos asked.

"We would have to see the inside of Conand tower first," Spite said. "Tonight, I will ensure that the hearts are removed from the dead on the outskirts of the fortress, and their bodies are added to a bonfire."

"I'm not sure my men know how to do that," Percival said. "Or even if they want to."

"Each of you, find one man from your squadrons to do the dirty work," Spite said. "If there are no volunteers, draw lots."

"What will the rest of our men do?" Olympia asked.

"Have those of your men who cannot stand the smell to patrol the roads into the area," Spite ordered. "Set up tripwires for horses. I don't want any surprises."

"What if Macuil comes back?" Talos asked. "What do we do then?"

"Good question," Spite replied, a hand on his chin as he paused. "Assign two members from your squads to harvest from the dead. We haven't the time to take into account that particular possibility, nor do we have the manpower to take on a murderous Nabatean. As for the men who aren't on patrol duty, ensure they bring the bodies of the dead into the open for faster disposal."

Talos nodded, "We should be able to get you a list of names for daybreak."

"So be it," Spite said as he turned to Conand Tower in the distance. "Dismissed."


I can smell the blood of the Goddess.

Is my torment truly over? Can I finally be sated?

I feel my body move again, the blood of the deceiver forgotten.

The others who share my burden follow, they follow me, to freedom... oblivion?

But-they seek-feed?

They seek… feed!

No! They- feed!

FEED!


"Professor," Hubert called from the front of the convoy, "There's mist ahead. How should we deploy?"

"Have we found any indication that the Beast is here?" Byleth asked as he glanced at Edelgard, taking a breath as she marched forward in her full set of armour.

"Not yet," Hubert replied. "Though with the fog, the tactical situation can change in a moment."

Byleth nodded as he stepped forward, cutting through the crowd, "El, I want you next to me. You've got the heaviest armour out of all of us."

"Right," Edelgard said as she moved forward, taking up position in front of the rest of the line. "Let us move forward."

"Seteth?" Byleth asked as he turned around.

"What is it?" Seteth asked as he turned to look down at Byleth from his wyvern.

"Do you believe you can fly over the fog?" Byleth asked. "We may be able to determine where and when the enemy is coming at us."

Seteth shook his head as he waved his spare hand before him, "The fog will be too thick. Even now, I can barely see all of the members of our party."

"Spread out and be aware of your surroundings," Byleth ordered. "Marianne, Seteth, can you fly forward and see if the area is clear?"

"On it, Professor!" Marianne promised as she pushed forward into the mist.

"Of course," Seteth said as he took a different direction, slipping into the depths of the forest. "It will be done."


Mortis grimaced as she clung to the horse's reins, a hiss escaping her lips as she stared into the eyes of the monster staring back at her.

"Maurice," Mortis growled as she forced her horse to obey, the animal trembling in the presence of the monster before it. "So you've come to die."

The beast roared in response and charged at her.

With a hiss of anger, Mortis tore herself from her mount, the horse sacrificed as the beast rammed into it, the monster's enormous jaws tearing into the flesh of her dying mount.

"You're paying for that," Mortis hissed as she unleashed Dark Spikes against her foe, the monster shuddering as the magical lances cut deep into its flesh.

Mortis took three steps back as her foe forced itself forward, foul, poisoned blood leaking from its many injuries.

"Just die already," Mortis growled as she unleashed another spell, the magic of Banshee tearing into her victim, the arcane burning away the burning flesh of the beast.

But still the monster was fighting, charging at her with speed she had thought was impossible, given its many injuries.

When the beast came close to her, Mortis threw herself to the side while the monster, claimed by its momentum, tore down the road before shambling to a stop a distance away.

Mortis glanced to her left, where a path of destroyed trees had detailed the beast's attempts to claw its way to her.

"Come, Maurice!" Mortis shouted as she moved to the destroyed tree line. "Let me grant you the death you so richly reserve."

The beast roared as it rushed forward, being deceptively quick despite its thundering size.

Then Mortis hopped over the first tree stump, easily evading the beast as it slammed into a tree, unable to stop its own inertia.

And then the tree collapsed, the ancient wood slamming into the beast that had rammed it, reducing the monster to a twitching mass as Mortis unleashed a medium level fire spell, the magic hungrily devouring both beast and tree as it spread.

Mortis sighed as she turned away from the burning, screeching abomination, wiping a sheen of sweat from her brow as the flames devoured Maurice.

A howl interrupted her as she was about to rest on a nearby stump, causing her to turn her gaze to where her horse had been butchered.

Three beasts, as ravenous and hungry as the one burning next to her, stood over the corpse of her horse, their massive claws tearing through the flesh of her mount as they fought each other over the scraps of the kill.

"No," Mortis whispered, a sinking feeling filling her heart as she made eye contact with one of the beasts. "There's more of these damn things?"

The beast she had made eye contact with roared as it lumbered around, its Crest deformed body turning to chase her as Mortis fled for the safety of the mists.


"We have contact!" Seteth shouted as his wyvern dodged back, the rider pulling close to Byleth as a looming beast rose out of the distance.

"Is that Maurice?" Byleth asked as he took centre point, Edelgard to his right, Seteth to his left.

"I would have to believe so," Seteth replied. "Be on your guard, Professor."

"Incoming!" Ferdinand shouted as Marianne fell back, a pack of lesser beasts on her heels as her pegasus strained to escape.

"Form up!" Byleth shouted. "Hubert! Fire away!"

"On it!" Hubert shouted as he launched a orb of darkness against the first of the lesser beasts, the blast knocking it back and stopping the rampaging charge in its tracks. "Ferdinand, Marianne, begin your attack!"

"For the Adrestian Empire!" Ferdinand shouted, his lance primed as he charged into the fray, Marianne swooping in from above.

"Professor!" Hubert shouted as the towering beast tore free a chunk of earth, the giant aiming the projectile at the professor. "Look out!"

Byleth growled as he raised his sword to protect himself, his stance ready to deflect the blow coming for him.

"Not today!" Edelgard shouted as she stood before the professor, her shield raised high. "We fight as one!"

The blow hit, and even Edelgard staggered back, a thin streak of blood leaking from her head as she fell to one knee, her breathing heavy as Byleth charged forward.

"Edelgard, are you alright?" Flayn asked as she brought forth an orb of green magic to the white haired woman.

"I'm fine, Flayn," Edelgard replied as she moved forward. "I can still fight."

Flayn shook her head as the green light enveloped Edelgard, "You're better now."

"Thank you Flayn," Edelgard said as the beast charged forward, roaring as Edelgard threw herself over Flayn, the claws of the beast shuddering against her shield as the monster was forced to withdraw.

"Edie!" Dorothea shouted as she unleashed a powerful blast of energy, throwing the beast into a nearby treeline, "Flayn!"

"Jeritza, we need to join the battle!" Yuri urged the knight as he moved forward.

"I agree," Jeritza said as he turned his mount to face something in the mist. "Our escape route has been cut off."

"What?" Yuri asked, turning to see two large wolves slobbering in the mist behind them. "Bastards, we're surrounded."

"I will hold them off," Jeritza said, his tone even. "Go, assist the professor."

"Fine," Yuri said as he pushed his way through the fog to join up with the main fighting force. "Stay safe Jeritza."

"Your life ends!" Jeritza shouted as he charged toward the two beasts.


Mortis winced as she tore through the forest, pausing as she reached a small clearing, her breathing laboured as she took a moment to survey her surroundings.

"You- you are one of us," a voice said as she looked up, Athame drawn.

"You're dead," Mortis observed, glancing at the grevious wounds the revenant wore. "And yet you wear Agarthan plates."

"You share our blood!" the dead Agarthan asked. "But not... our tongue?"

Mortis grimaced as she glanced behind her, "Yes, I speak Agarthan. Why are you here?"

The revenant stood for a moment before he slumped to his knees, hands clasped in prayer, "After so long, a saviour has come to us!"

"Maurice," Mortis said. "His cursed beasts hunt me. I have slain one, but many more remain. Now answer my question."

"Our lives are tied to that monster, and for a thousand years we have watched him rot and devour." the revenant moaned. "I beg of you, end our suffering."

Mortis grimaced at the request, "Have you ever thought to fight him?"

The revenant moaned, "Many times we have tried, yet he commands us to rise whenever he strikes us down. We cannot escape."

Mortis closed her eyes, "Gather your forces and stay the beasts chasing me. I will hunt Maurice down and end your torment."

"I- I thank you," the revenant croaked as a sudden crackle of energy tore at his being, "He- he calls me to feed!"

"What?" Mortis asked as she took a step away from the convulsing form of the undead soldier, the dead man screaming as the energy consumed him.

"Feed," the revenant whispered as the energy faltered, his empty eyes looking at Mortis with malice. "Feed."

Mortis grimaced as she took another step back, watching the revenant raise an axe before dodging the blow.

The revenant tore the weapon from the tree that had been behind Mortis, the dead man's weapon covered in a foul sap as Mortis unleashed a powerful chain of fire, disintegrating the revenant even as it charged toward her.

"Bastard," Mortis hissed as she turned away from the obliterated phantom, frowning as she watched a distant arc of lightning illuminate the staggered form of Maurice.

"Someone is fighting Maurice?" Mortis asked herself as she hurried forward. "Here? Now?"

And then the earth began to shake.


"Are we ready to leave?" Aranea asked the soldier standing by the Machine Hall, the young man grimacing as he turned to an older soldier.

"Lady Pittacus," the older soldier said, bowing his head in respect. "We are pleased that you're coming with us."

"Only part way," Aranea replied. "My mission will see me diverge from yours about three quarters of the way there."

The older soldier nodded, "Our squadron is just waiting on Lord Myson."

Aranea nodded, "If memory serves, you'll be heading to Shangri-la?"

"That is correct," the soldier replied. "Will you be joining us after you retrieve Lord Periander?"

Aranea shook her head, "The regent of Shangri-la and my brother have a long and bitter hatred for each other. It will be best if they do not meet each other."

"Why is that?" the younger soldier asked.

"It is a long story," Aranea replied. "Perhaps when the war is over, I can tell you."

"I can tell you," Myson said as he entered the Hall, giving a nod to Aranea. "But only when the outsider is not in the same room as us."

"You know the story?" Aranea asked. "I believe even Mortis was only told pieces of the full story."

"I know Periander," Myson replied. "I know the outsider. I can guess what she did to invoke his wrath."

Aranea nodded as she pulled a small stone from a pack on her belt.

"A useful tool," Myson observed. "Are we running short?"

"No," Aranea replied. "We can always harvest more from the obelisk if the need arises."

"So be it," Myson nodded as he stepped back. "I'll let you do your work then."

Aranea nodded as she began the ritual, the threads of the arcane forcing open a portal into the depths of Zaharas.


AN: Yay. Another chapter done. Read, Review, etc.

AN 2: This story will have one of the tags switched over (Humor-Drama). While I do intend for a follow up series to focus on lighter moments (Set after Thales has had his skull bashed in), a fully light hearted, humourous series is not in the cards for the time being, especially with some of the darker moments that is to come.

Next Chapter:

Cassandra's Curse - Mortis.

Spite- Aranea.

Heartless- Spite.

Of Mice and Men- Ashe.

In the Dark- Lorenz.