A/N(?): Well… time to drop some lore bo-
"Every last one of 'em…" A sigh, "Wasn't worth the effort."
"You fool! I care not for the group as a whole… review their perspectives, focus on their Leader."
… "Ah… how did I miss that the first time?"
"You've done well, I have learned at least three things about their Leader… continue your work."
Name, Language (Translation) [Notes]: Yasei, Vallite (Wild) [Corrin's name]. Purotekutā no Kyōdai ai, Vallite (Protector of Sibling Love) [Corrin's custom-made Naginata]. Hoshizora Seiza, Vallite (Starry Constellation [Lilith's Mother]. Firechaser, Common [Hinoka's M!Pegasus]. Jiyū, Vallite (Freedom) [Lathna's F!Pegasus]. Kanpeki, Vallite (Perfection) [Subaki's M!Pegasus]. Katáktisi, Nohrian (Conquest) [Xander's Stallion] Ouranós Trómos, Nohrian (Skyterror) [Camilla's M!Wyvern]. Μαύρο άλογο, Nohrian (Dark Horse) [Leo's Stallion, though his siblings call him Alastor). Baranotsubomi, Hoshidan (Rosebud) [Elise's Mare].
Consort: Oh, that is quite the mysterious detail, hm? Why would Lilith 'need' to learn the 'benefits' of humanity? :Thonk: Oh and Azura… she has quite the few secrets up her sleeves, and not the kind of secrets that will suddenly turn the tide of a battle, simply because 'now is the time'.
Well, as I think I stated before, Support Ranks can be earned outside of battle, too… I mean, this is an army traveling together. Sooner or later, some people are going to start to hang out and bond without needing to deflect a blade to save the other's life.
Lathna has a high tolerance for one of the most deadly threats to any flying unit… falling from their mount. So, she could be singled out and knocked off of her mount with a Wind spell, but unlike literally every other flying unit, she'll be able to land with just a few ticks of damage, rather than losing her life… or maybe just not fracturing her leg bones.
Antex: And also due to the modified Vallite Curse, anyone else who isn't a Vallite will also believe (For those that trust him) that Subaki stumbled upon a book that has Archaic Hoshidan.
Vision's blurry, the light is so bright, and ow! I whine as I push myself up off of the cot. 'What happened…?' We… arrived at Fort Jinya, right? I roll over and stand on shaky legs, nearly falling over. 'Helped out the soldiers some… battle…' Th-that's right! The coating over my Wound wasn't on when I fought, and I must've pulled far enough in a strike to re-open it! I blink my eyes as I'm seeing double, then I look at my hands. I feel colder than I should. I tighten my fists and a growl escapes my lips. 'I'm an idiot!' The Lead Shrine Maiden back in Shirasagi warned me, but I pushed past it like… ugh! I almost died from that choice. 'Father…?'
"Get to a body of water, I can restore some vigor within you, my Yasei." My mouth quirks up, he's there, at least with this mental connection, he can help.
'You've been talking to sis, right?' I mentally nudge him as I take in breaths to walk. I grab my Dragonstone on the way out, it's all I need right now.
"I have, and I hadn't realized the harm I caused with my silence…" Father replies.
"My liege!" Kaze and Jakob prove to have some sort of detection spell going on, because the very second I was about to slide the door open, they were there.
"Nearest lake… where is one?" I ask.
"Absolutely not! You need rest, this instant!" Jakob harshly reacts, as I expect him to when it comes to my well-being, "And what sorcery had consumed your mind to not tell me of your Wound?!"
Kaze, on the other hand, "I'm afraid we cannot allow you to travel out, milady, your Wound may have another layer of ointment, but your body still lacks much blood. You need rest." His response is more level.
I grit my teeth, not now… "That wasn't… a question. It's an order, take me to a large source of water." I don't like this, 'ordering' them. I've gotten by through sixteen years of just asking Jakob for things, not once had I used my station as 'his liege' to make him do anything.
"I…" Jakob starts, but…
"There are limits to an order, milady. You are unfit for travel, however, please tell us, what is it that you need from this body of water, we can fetch it for you." Kaze tries to reason.
I grip my Dragonstone tighter, and I bare my teeth. "I can heal faster at a lake than I can in here…" There it is, the pulse within my blood, a distant roaring. My senses sharpen. "Take me… to one."
Kaze and Jakob share a look. "I have an idea." Kaze nods, "Please, hold for a few moments."
"...Alright." I conceded, but I don't let go of my 'grip' to my inner dragon. "...Sorry, Jakob, I should've told you, but I was too… stubborn." I sigh.
His mouth quirks up, "Despite all that's happened, you haven't changed that much." He smiles, "What matters is that you survived, and I am now researching ways to counter this Wound of yours…"
"Just make sure you don't lose sleep over it."
"Oh, I have…" He replies in such a way that he sounds proud, "Just last night, though. Lady Sakura helpfully informed me of everything that happened, and I took it upon myself to scour the scrolls here. I must say, for a Fort stationed far from the city, it is very well organized." He then frowns, "Alas, no documentaries on Wyrmslayers, aside from it rarely ever being made."
"It's a Nohrian weapon, initially made for placing enough fear into the Wyverns for enough generations so they would be born 'domesticated." I inform him, "Hoshido doesn't have much use for them, besides… they're forged like swords, and gods know how much Hoshido distaste swords."
He nods, unbothered by the venom dropping in my tone. "Oh, do tell me about it, I have sent over five requests for a Sword for you, but they won't even bother." He huffs, "'Too much metal', one says. 'Only a fool needs their blades so thick', another spits." He scowls. "'You're looking for a blade or a bludgeoning tool?!', says a third."
Oh, so it's not just the Samurais that are against swords. "Thank you for thinking ahead of time Jakob, but… big sister got me a custom-forged Naginata, and it serves me well, not to mention my own innate Dragon abilities…" I hold up my Dragonstone.
"Ah yes, I have heard some of the tales already…" He pauses.
"I have returned." Kaze announces, with…
"You owe me for this." Rinkah scowls.
"...Kaze?" I slowly ask.
"To prevent you from straining your muscles from excessive…" He begins his explanation, but…
"I'm hauling your ass over to the lake." Rinkah 'explains'.
"Mind your tongue around Lady Corrin, you uncultured heathen!" Jakob immediately takes the defensive. "I will not allow such a barbaric brute to carry my injured liege!"
"Oh yeah? And whaddya gonna do, skinny man? I can break you with just my thighs!" She bares her teeth and… woah. 'She has canines!' Is this… a Fire Tribe thing? "C'mon, I haven't had a good fight since Hinoka and I went head to head!"
"I will…" Jakob's right arm tenses, and I know that means he has a Dagger ready to go.
"Hush! All of you!" I exclaim, "Kaze, thank you. Jakob, I trust her. Rinkah, I would be glad to be assisted in such a way. Can we go to this lake now?"
Rinkah looks at me, and for a moment… she smiles. "Heh, you bet. Up you go."
"W-watch for her…" Jakob starts.
"Oh, shut it! I was there when she got her side mutilated by that semi-invisible soldier!" She snarls, and lifts me up without even grunting, she then plops me over her shoulder, making sure that I'm not hanging where my Wound is. "Let's go!" Rinkah calls out.
With Kaze leading the way, Jakob behind me, and Rinkah walking around like she's carrying a sack of flour, rather than a full-grown half-Manakete, we exit Fort Jinya and head due East, away from where we entered. As we exit, I can spot the now charred pile of double-dead corpses, hopefully they are 'destroyed' enough not to be risen again from the dead. I honestly feel bad for them, I hope their spirits are at peace…
"Hey, Corrin?" Rinkah asks as we walk, "You feel that, too? I saw it in your eyes earlier."
"...huh?"
"Don't you 'huh' me!" She snaps back, "That primal rage. Strength beyond what you feel normally." She explains, "A connection to something deeper inside you."
'Is she…? No, she can't be.' "Are you a… half-Manakete?" I slowly ask.
"A what?! No! I'm talking about Rage!" She exclaims, "Not everyone can harness it. See, most people just 'get mad', but there are some people who can take that anger, and focus it, letting them strike with the power of being really pissed off, but also make those hits!"
"..I get a rage, but that comes from my Dragon." I softly reply.
"But you do get angry?" It's more of a statement then a question.
"I do, but…" I nod.
"And it makes you strong?"
"Yes, but…"
"And you can hit really fricken hard without worrying about missing?"
"Rinkah, yes but…"
"Then you got access to the same Rage I do."
"I'm a half-Dragon."
"So? I can add fire to my strikes, you add water. My point still stands."
...Maybe she's right. "Alright, let's ignore the differences, what are you getting at with this?"
"The satisfaction that I got someone else I can really train with…" She turns her head towards mine, and smiles… in a predator to prey way. "You'll see, 'Rage'-training is a lot more intense than whatever most people do."
I… honestly don't know how I feel about that, but… "We can try, but I…"
"I can control my hits, as long as you don't purposefully put your Wound in the path of my mace, we'll be fine." She assures me. "You in?"
I nod, "Sure."
We reach the lake within an hour, and not only are we there, but Azura is, too… singing once more. Ignis is off to the side, taking a casual seat in the grass, he waves at us. I wave back. Azura stops singing and turns around, "Oh, pardon…" She smiles, and starts to walk away from the lake.
"Didn't mean to interrupt…" I state, as Rinkah finally lets me down. "Thank you, Rinkah." I nod towards her, and look at Azura.
"No, it's okay… I can wait." She gently smiles, and notions to Ignis, "Do enjoy the scenery." She and Ignis leave… huh.
That's strange.
"Lady Azura has always been like that. Singing in public isn't a problem, but when she's already alone next to a lake…" Kaze comments. "So, milady, if I may ask…?"
"I need a moment." I tell them, "I'm sure we can have our spar after this, Rinkah…" I step forwards to the lake, feeling a pull in it. 'Alright, Father… what's next?'
"Leap into the center, my Yasei… I will grant you your blessing from within the water's depths…" For a moment, I swore the waters had just shifted and swayed, as if a powerful wind was blowing over it, but… no wind right now.
I nod, and once I reach the water's edge, I jump… I hold my breath as I dive for a lot more than what this lake may seem to hold. I swim downwards, and yep. There's no way a lake is this deep. 'How far?' I ask, as my lungs are starting to burn.
"You may breathe…" I let out my air from sheer surprise… father. Or at least, just his face is now visible. The sheer size of his head alone is so… my entire body is smaller than a single one of his teeth. "You are protected within my magics, my Yasei… open your mind, and accept what I have to offer…"
I breathe in, surprised that it 'feels' like air, despite me being submerged in water. "Can you… fix this Wound?" I ask.
"...I cannot. That is an ability that comes with age and the trials of battle. Infusing you with the magic required to deflect the Wyrmslayer would most likely kill you..." He tells me, [Now, my Yasei… feel the power of your draconic bloodline unlocking… bask in the waters of your heritage… feed your dragon.] Father opens his maw, and I can feel him blast me with magic…
"I'll contact you again, after your body has gained strength, and I have time to make these connections…" His voice resonates in my head.
And I'm above water once more. Huh. I look around, seeing Kaze, Jakob, and Rinkah all unbothered. I must've been under for less time than I thought. I look at myself, and aside from my overall energy feeling a lot higher… my vision is fine, I don't feel weak, and… wait a minute. I look at the water's surface, and focus on my… eyes.
Red. The purple eye color has changed to an intense red, my pupils are now slitted. Though, I'm not bothered by it, I just… know it's because I am embracing my Manakete half more. 'Thank you, father.' I exit the lake, striding out with as much confidence as I did going to Fort Jinya.
"My… liege?" Of course, Kaze and Jakob notice my change in eye color. "What… happened?"
"Oh, I'm liking this." Rinkah smirks. "You got some really potent Rage in you…" She grips her mace, then frowns. "You didn't bring your Naginata."
I look down at my Dragonstone, feeling a greater, no wait… there's less of a pulse from it, and more from me. Did Father… transfer power from my Stone to me? Wait, no… the pulse from my Dragonstone hasn't changed, I just have more power than it. But, Azura told me… no, not now. "Water can heal me a lot faster." I smoothly lie, knowing that none of them will believe my 'true father'. "Rinkah? I got my weapon right here…" I grip my Dragonstone, and flash my teeth.
"Absolutely not! You still…" Jakob starts.
"Jakob, I wish to spar. I feel like sparring with Rinkah, so I will spar." My tone comes out more dangerous, primal…
And Rinkah approves. "Ready yourself!" She scowls. "May the Dragons of Old watch over this!"
Oh, and I will. I tap into my Dragonstone, not for a full transformation, but a partial shift. Helmet armor, body armor, a lance, and a maw… I also feel a pair of wings form on my back, but since I'm not readying to glide, I have them fold flat on my back. "Let's go!" I exclaim back, my voice retaining that echoing sound.
Rinkah charges in first, faster than I expected someone with such a heavy mace, but then again, she doesn't have any real armor, just straps of hardened leather over most of her body. She rounds her mace and aims to slam my left side, opposite of my Wound. I step back, and then thrust forward with my lance… she takes the hit with just a grunt. "Come on! Strike harder!" She instead provokes me, and she brings back her mace for a second swing, but my weapon of choice isn't nearly as hers… and I have two weapons.
I snap out with my maw, feeling a rumble in my chest. "...Gladly." I respond, taking a literal bite out of her side… or I would've, if she didn't use her mace to smack my maw away.
She glares, and breathes out smoke, I also swore I could've seen a few sparks from it. "Harder…" She flashes her fangs, she… isn't fully human, there's no way a human could have 'teeth' that sharp. She lashes out, not just with mace, but also with a trail of fire. "Fight with your Rage!" She yells, and when that mace hits my maw a second time?
I recoil, my maw is shoved to the side with enough force to turn me aside. Oh, that ticks me off some. Though, she wants rage? I'll give her rage. I plant my foot on the ground, turn towards her and slam her with the blunt side of my maw, and she is sent back several feet in the dirt. "Better?" I ask, voice slightly muffled by my head armor.
"Not. Enough!" She counters, lunging to slam again and… I barely have the time to dodge. I can feel the heat from her body, and the mace clips my leg, but only because… I saw her eyes.
Red, slitted. She's… a Manakete?! Of course, the first thought that follows is why is she a 'normal' height for a human?
Regardless, I nearly fall over from the blunt force, and I quickly retaliate with my lance, and to my surprise, she grabs it with her other hand. She then tugs forward, causing me to stumble, and she slams me not with her mace, but her shoulder. Ngh… her strength is undeniable. I shake my head, and lunge forward again… I only wish that I had a Sword instead of a Lance with my…
I feel a change.
Right as I was going to thrust with my lance, it instead forms the base shape of a Sword! Yes! My preferred weapon! I smirk, but any confidence I had was struck down by what she does next...
Rinkah puffs out some smoke again. "Her bloodline… it's stronger than I could imagine from a human…" She then snarls, raises her mace high, and shouts, "I'm gonna reduce you to cinders!" She brings her mace down, and I deflect it with… nope. Her mace smashes through my Sword, which forces the rest of my Partial-Shifting away, and a resounding crack on my arm, before continuing its path to the ground, creating a shockwave powerful enough to knock me back in the air, for over a dozen feet. A pillar of flame rises up from the crack in the ground, and she stares at…
'Sh-she… has…' For the shortest of moments, for less than a second, less than it takes to blink once, her dark skin is covered in a layer of fiery-red scales, her eyes outright glow red, and she lets out a single small breath of actual fire.
Then, I land on my back, skidding across the ground for about five seconds. Wow. "Lady Corrin!" My retainers run up to me, probably oblivious to Rinkah's half-second change, since their liege had just been sent soaring. I don't even register the intense pain in my arm until it has already been healed and numbed by Jakob's Staff.
'She had scales…' Is all I can really think.
"...Royals have Draconic Blood in their veins, but it has been so diluted that it normally doesn't mean much more than a small gain in strength… why is she different?" Father muses.
I blink my eyes, and allow Kaze to help me up. I keep my eyes locked on Rinkah, the fissure in the ground is still there, but the fire has faded. "Weak." She spits out. "You need a better grasp on your Rage, Corrin." She scowls, dissatisfied.
"You…!" Jakob starts.
"Perhaps I do, but I hadn't realized you held so much strength." I reply, cutting him off. "I'm impressed…"
She stares at me, then smirks. "I want to draw out that Rage you have, Corrin." She firmly states.
"She's referring to your Dragon… she has a connection to her Dragon blood."
'Can she?'
"If she truly has a similar connection, then yes."
'You won't mind?'
"As much as I would prefer to… I have my own war to fight."
"I accept." I tell her.
"We'll start in the mornings, before we march out, before the sun rises." She nods, sheathing her Mace. "You two, the training won't break anything, so don't concern yourselves."
Jakob and Kaze look at me. "Trust her, she knows what she is talking about." ...Mostly. "Mind if we head back?" I also make a mental note to talk to her later.
"Yeah, sure." Rinkah turns and walks, and I follow next… then Kaze and Jakob.
We return to Fort Jinya, and I walk over to Sister… who is talking to Lathna. Lilith smiles when she notices me, and waves me over, "Oh, you look far better than earlier, Lady Yasei." She bows.
"Got a few more chips lookin' like your family, yeah?" Lathna smirks, ears twitching as she takes a quick look around. "Your eyes suit you a lot better. Red like roses."
Well, since both of them are fine talking directly about Vallite-related things, "I got to see Father… or at least, just his face. He gave me a little power boost." I explain to them.
Lilith nods, "And he's talked to me, as well, mainly apologizing, but he talked to me."
Oh, that's good. "I'm glad, it hurt to know that he'd been ignoring you for so long…" I trail off for a moment, "Hey, Lilith? I have a question about Royal Blood."
"Oh, I felt the magic from Rinkah's shockwave from here… erm, what did you want to know?" Wait, she did?!
We were over ten minutes away! "Well, um… Royal Blood is 'Royal' because of an ancient pact with the oldest of Dragons, right?"
"It is, though you and I have the obvious advantage of untainted Dragon Blood within our veins. Over time, the increased Human blood weakens the effects of Dragon Blood, but even now, the Dragon Blood is potent enough to make a 'Royal' stronger than even the most finely trained human." Lilith informs me.
Lathna nods, "Also, within the first one-hundred generations of a 'Quarter-Dragon', there is a more distinct and accurate term used for them: Dragonborn. So, your offspring will still have a large percentage of Dragon blood to be technically considered a Dragon, despite also being classified as 'Quarter-Manakete'. About ninety-five percent of Dragonborn can use Dragonstones, and once those first one-hundred generations pass, that percent drops to about five."
Huh, well that shows how old this countries are, then… "Wait, five percent?" That's low, but…
"Do keep in mind that Royals don't have thousands of children each generation, so you might only find one or two Dragonstone-able Royals every ten or so generations." Lathna continues to supply.
Then… maybe? "Is there a way to tell?" I ask.
Lilith steps in, "One way would be to simply introduce an existing Dragonstone to them. If they feel a connection, then they will likely be able to use one. Another would be to…" She clears her throat, "For a Dragon to… sample their blood." Uh, ew, and… no. "Did you have… oh. Rinkah?" She asks.
So, in order to even have that five percent chance of using a Dragonstone, you have to be of a Royal Bloodline… Sumeragi's mother was Delilah, of the Fire Tribe, and she had an eldest daughter who renounced her royalty… I'm going to assume she returned to the Fire Tribe, and if that's true… "Sister… for half-a-second after she caused that shockwave, I saw fiery-red scales on her, her eyes were glowing, and she let out a small breath of fire."
Then Rinkah is Hoshidan Royalty! Her grandmother is Delilah, and her mother had returned to the Fire Tribe!
Lilith and Lathna share a look, then back to me. "Truly? Well, I would highly suggest getting a Dragonstone to her. She may have more potential than even she thinks."
Duly noted. "Alright, let's say that she is… we need another Dragonstone."
"I can make one, though the process is taxing, and I'll…" She pauses, "I would gladly make one for you, sister. If Rinkah is capable of using it, I would love to make a new one for you." She gently smiles…
"Shouldn't Rinkah get the new one?" I ask in a diplomatic manner.
She tilts her head, "Wouldn't you prefer one from your sister, rather than Azura?"
"...I never mentioned that." I point out.
"I can smell her magic and scent on it." Lilith… growls. "I don't trust her, sister. She's a Vallite, but she has access to magic that is formidable to my own. Making an Azurite is very difficult, her songs are strange, old, and powerful."
"Lathna?" I ask.
Lathna shakes her head, "Not a fan of 'em. Azura is exceptionally good at hiding her emotions, because even I can't tell much when I'm trying to read her. However, we are in a war, and we're to be working together. It would do no good to throw accusations and provoke them. All we can do is bide our time and if they stumble and reveal any ill intentions, then we can hold that against them, but until then… we wait."
I blink my eyes… I never really got that notion with Azura… I think. "Alright, Sis… I would gladly accept a new Dragonstone from you, after I talk to Rinkah!" I smile, "Thanks for the information, I'll see you later!"
"And you as well, Sister…" Lilith waves as I leave.
"Catcha later, Lady Corrin!" Lathna more vocally announces.
A/N: Rinkah… is Hoshidan Royalty. Bam. Erm, but of course, that's not all that happened! Yasei has received a small power boost from Anankos, which has seemed to also… completely heal up everything except her Wyrmslayer Wound! (Classic anime-logic right there, folks!) Lastly, there seems to be… animosity from Lilith/Lathna towards Azura/Ignis, huh.