AN: So...yeah. Getting back into the groove of things. Thankfully, things should be smooth sailing for a little bit in terms of what I want to do regarding this story. Lots of things to really wrap my head around. The like. Might be a bit more...fun thankfully. Setup is always the most hardest part before you go full on into the story. Now, of course, I've actually had a plan for what's gonna happen, so don't worry about me throwing ideas at a wall and seeing what sticks.
As for comments…
Dracus6: Ah. If only it was ever that simple. At the end of the day, it is Fire Emblem we're crossing over here. Three Houses especially.
Also, I'm officially gonna warn you up front about this, if it isn't blatantly obvious already; this will be an AU. I've also updated it back on Chapter 1 as well, as it'll most likely be some sort of directory. About warnings, chapters for arcs once we get to that, the like. Updates as well in general, just because.
Anyways, beyond that I really have nothing else to say right now. Enjoy. And as always, if you have any critiques, or you want to do anything like that, please, go ahead and say it. At the end of the day, improvement is always important!
So, without further ado...shall we begin the experiment?
—
Two brown eyes, locked at one another. Unwavering. Under some form of pressure. Their irises, ever continuing to stare into the abyss of the others.
While Catherine fidgeted with herself, having some type of itch for something, and while Shamir stood off to the side, being about as neutral-looking as you would expect off someone like her, Petra and Sento stared at each other in uncomfortable silence for what felt like forever.
Perhaps they were thinking about what to ask the other. Perhaps it was needing to be silent in the moment. Maybe it was for the currently comatose Banjou somewhere around the small temporary camp the surviving Knights of Seiros set up. At least for those that didn't return to their homelands, or died in the defense of Garreg Mach.
No matter the case, it seemed the only people who would know in the room would stay silent on the matter. Or at least, that was the case.
Clapping his hands together casually, Sento Kiryu simply smiled.
"So, Petra MacNeary...according to the Cross-Z Dragon, you are apparently the second coming of Banjou Ryuga." He stated. In either absolute joy or sheer terror; even now, Petra couldn't tell what some people's emotions were like. This coming from the same one who recognized Shamir's unexpected courtesy towards Petra unlike anyone else she interacted with. At least that wasn't from the Church.
"That I am. He had helped me before. Helped me with training and my fighting ability." Petra responded quite bluntly, clearly being pretty general. She had seen these types of interviews before back during her days in Brigid; trying to pry for information. She had an idea on where this was going.
It was too bad Sento didn't, as he pondered himself about Petra's answer, walking around.
"Well...in that case, I'd guess he's taught you much about our world. Or maybe just about fighting. Just about what muscle-head does usually." Sento states, muttering the last part out loud.
It looked like he didn't realize he was doing so, as he paced around the room, mumbling to himself. Petra cocked her head in confusion, tilting it just a little as Catherine's fidgeting turned into her gripping on her famed unique sword quite tightly, attracting the attention of Shamir, as she placed a hand on Sento's shoulder. It was able to snap the man out of his thoughts as he turned to Shamir.
"Going to get her out to kill something before she snaps." Shamir simply whispered to Sento, as he gave a brief glance to Catherine's not so subtle actions, before nodding, as the archer escorted the white armored knight out before she did anything...deadly.
Once the two knights were out of his hair, Sento turned back to Petra.
"That he did. Briefly." She stated, before Petra stared towards where the two Knights had come from.
Sento noticed that at least.
"That Catherine...she's been real worried about the fate of the Archbishop for years. Surprised she hadn't moved on." He stated quite plainly...clearly hiding more that what he had said.
Petra didn't push, instead looking towards him.
"Banjou has said to search for you. I do not know why." She replied, Sento quickly walking towards her.
"Would you mind then if I run a few quick tests on you. Don't worry; it's nothing too intrusive. Promise." He said, Petra staring at him for a bit more time. She was thinking.
Eventually, she just shrugged, deciding to let Sento go ahead and do whatever.
He fiddled with the dormant Cross-Z Dragon for a bit, using some foreign tools she hadn't seen before. She assumed it was one of those 'Japanese' things from where Banjou and Sento came from.
And probably where the one they called Gentoku back in Oche came from, now that she thought about it…
Anyways, he eventually finished up with the device as it floated and began scanning Petra. Obviously she didn't know that, immediately raising her fists in defense, much to Sento's amusement, as he let out a short chuckle.
"What is this magic?" Petra asked, still confused by it.
""Not Magic. Science." Sento replied with a smile, simply walking over to her, as the Cross-Z Dragon flew back to him, the screen from before showing up.
Petra simply looked confused, Sento motioning with a finger to come look at the screen.
She noticed it was the same much as before...with one major difference.
Hazard Level: 3.47
"It was 3.1 before. Whatever happened when we rescued you, it must've boosted your Hazard Level higher than we thought." Sento replied, probably beginning to ramble to himself again. Sento seemed to add some more notes to the set, underneath the warning about Hazard Level 5.
Added Notes (Sento Kiryu: 27th of Verdant Rain Moon, 1185) - Unexpected increase in Hazard Level. Petra redirected to be primary user of Cross-Z and all abilities until the reawakening of Banjou Ryuga in Deidriu. Former Adrestian generals Dorothea Arnault and Bernadetta von Varley confirm presence of Evolto and Gentoku in Adrestia. Will have to look into repair of the Magna Knuckle and Genius Fullbottle before Black Hole form regained. Also need to quickly notify Leicester Alliance of imminent attack based on scout data. May need more time.
There were clearly more notes underneath but they seemed to be blocked out, almost as if Sento didn't want anyone but him to know.
It bothered Petra. Especially if that information was important to their success. But…
"Evolto?"
Didn't he call himself Blood Stalk?
"Are they the same thing? Blood Stalk and Evolto? Why are they here?" She thought as she stared at the screen.
Said thoughts eventually drifted toward her rapid increase in Hazard Level, as she briefly could sense Bernadetta back in Oche. Although how was completely unknown to her. Not to mention the rest of the unusual names in what she could see; whether that'd be the notes regarding some Genius Fullbottle or Magma Knuckle. Whatever those were.
Sento didn't notice her direct concern, too busy mulling over something, as he pulled out a few Fullbottles.
And for a brief moment, time seemed to slow to a near-halt to Sento. Stuck in his mindscape it seemed.
"...the girl." A voice stated behind him, as Sento turned around. Past the table where Petra was staring at the notes being slowed down in time, was a man that almost looked directly like Sento himself. With the major difference being that he was in some type of Earth lab uniform, very unlike that of the current setting they were currently in. The only other major difference between the two were their faces; they seemed slightly different from one another. "As much as Banjou Ryuga trusts her, I fear we may be dragging more people into this conflict."
"Takumi Katsuragi." Sento stated, recognizing his previous self. The Devil Scientist, so they say. "Banjou wasn't directly wrong in this. He has a hard head, but he knew the good in people."
"He was fooled by many. I am not saying the heir apparent to the Brigidian throne is the worst idea for a Rider, but these are people much younger than us at this point. I don't think we should risk it to young adults…"
"Have you forgotten there's a war going on? People are dying, and you want us to simply...do nothing?" Sento interrupted the other guy inside his head, as he continued.
"I never said do nothing. But even you tended to disagree with Rhea regarding sending children to war. I don't think even her most devout followers would believe in that…" Takumi began to state, before remembering indeed who they were talking about.
"I want to preserve love and peace…" Sento weakly told himself.
"Not everything can be done so easily. Love and peace are loose terms; especially here. They all have different beliefs; different possibilities. There is an unfortunate chance that if you pursue this...insane cause, it'll lead to disaster. Many will die. Some will live. But many will perish. More will be scarred. Not everything can be kept in rainbows, Sento Kiryu. We know that firsthand." Takumi replied, as he disappeared, time seemingly resuming for Sento as he stood over three different Fullbottles just...sitting there.
Petra eventually finally peeled her eyes away from the screen, staring towards Sento as he began packing things up silently.
"...Sento?" She asked in confusion, as he looked towards Petra, the three Fullbottles he was to give to the heiress in his hands.
Lock. Hedgehog. And a Rocket Fullbottle. The same one she briefly heard Banjou using as Cross-Z.
"Petra, I'm sorry I have to cut this short, but I admittedly have to leave. The Alliance mentioned that they needed my expertise in something. I'll have to leave you with Shamir and Catherine." Sento said in a bit of a hurry.
"Couldn't we come with you to Deidriu?" Petra asked worryingly, clearly fearful of possibly being caught by Imperial patrols. Or worse, the one they called Blood Stalk. Sento stopped for a moment, the faintest hint of a smile crossing his face.
"As much as it would, in the case the Empire does find us, I would rather not lose all the Knights of Seiros at once. That way, we split up; Shamir and Catherine will lead you guys on foot through the Oghma Mountains; hopefully, you'll reach Count Gloucester territory. Myself and Alois, alongside the other Knights will take the wyverns and hopefully be able to reach Deidriu faster. That way we could heal Banjou and send reinforcements your way if need be from the Alliance." Sento states, almost...regretfully. It seemed he hated speaking in more militaristic terms. Based on what Petra had seen so far from Sento's logs, all 2 of them...it became pretty clear that there was a reason behind it.
Just another mystery upon the growing pile that was Sento Kiryu and friends.
Although, with Sento's stare, Petra simply gave a nod.
"Would I be able to at least ask you a question before you leave?" Petra asked, causing Sento to quickly turn around, nearly dropping the Fullbottles onto the ground.
"Of course." He bluntly responded.
"What do you mean by...love and peace?" She asked, remembering the last plea of help he gave in the logs.
"To protect the future...in the name of love and peace!"
Sento looked...almost happy in that statement. His eyes darted around the room, almost looking for some type of answer to appear in thin air. Although the scientist could also see Takumi in the corner of his eye, watching him. It seemed he too was waiting for an answer.
"What I mean is…" Sento began before nearly choking, as a brief memory came up.
Rogue's cold body hitting the ground, disappearing into nothing. Grease, much the same, his Rider form disappearing. And what they thought was Banjou's sacrifice to stop him…
"...love and peace. A future in which we can be able to rest, knowing that our descendants will live the life they want. Free of anything that could harm them. But everyone always has a different interpretation of that." Sento summarized, before placing the Fullbottles down for Petra, walking out of the tent to get fresh air.
For her part, Petra simply stood alone in the tent in deep thought. And though she or any others couldn't see him, Takumi Katsuragi was thinking much the same thing.
—
As Sento walked out of the tent, he watched as Catherine and Shamir were arguing in the background. About what, he couldn't tell. He didn't want to know; the two had a...rough history it seemed like. Especially once Garreg Mach fell.
The screams were something that even he couldn't stop…
"Ah, if it isn't my favorite rabbit-man!"
And that was one of the only optimistic things about the whole thing. Other than reuniting with Banjou and finding out about a second Cross-Z, it seemed even a man Iike Alois somehow stayed optimistic.
Sento wondered how a man like him ended up in such a high position in the Knights. He mentioned someone named Jeralt; a mercenary, he had heard, but he didn't exactly remember much else about him. Other than his death. And that of his son.
"Whatever happened to him?" Sento thought briefly, as he drowned out whatever Alois had been saying, his thoughts immediately drifting to that of one of the only teachers he ever interacted with back at the Academy.
The mystery of Byleth.
It intrigued him enough to have looked into some basic details about him. Emotionless. Good with swords. Especially once he got his hands on that mysterious Sword of the Creator…
His brief thoughts were quickly interrupted when indeed, Alois slapped him in the back with a hearty laugh, nearly scaring the man with how hard it was, jumping a little forward.
"So, Sento! Are we ready to go? Launch our little operation?" He asked with that same smile he always had on his face.
Sento simply gave a nod, as Alois began to rally the troops up. "We leave by dawn, Alois. All of us."
Alois silently nodded to Sento as the Knight continued barking orders to the other Knights.
Sento himself simply noticed Bernadetta and Dorothea nearby, talking to one another.
"The two with Petra...they seem like a cheery bunch. Or, rather formally." Sento thought to himself, as he leaned on a nearby tree. Watching the two. He noticed out of the corner of his eye as Shamir entered the tent where Petra was, as he watched the two ex-Adrestian 'generals' simply giving some silent talk.
It was a nice break from what happened in Oche.
—
As Petra silently stayed standing in thought, her thoughts drifted to the dream from before.
"You seem important…"
"Important?" Petra muttered to herself in confusion.
"How important am I?" She said quietly, thinking to herself those thoughts.
She also noticed the Fullbottles, too busy inspecting the Lock Fullbottle to notice Shamir silently entering the tent.
"Very important, Princess MacNeary." Shamir replied, causing Petra to jump and raise her fists, Lock Fullbottle in one hand, as she sent a pretty fast kick straight towards the ex-mercenary, as Shamir turned to the side with an eyebrow raised.
Shamir herself did look a little impressed though.
"It seems the speed that your classmates mentioned seems to still hold." She replied, as Petra quickly lowered her leg in a little hint of embarrassment.
"I am sorry for the actions, Lady Shamir! I didn't…" Petra began to apologize before Shamir stopped her with a simple raise of the hand as she leaned a little down to Petra.
"It's fine. Your instinct as a huntress allowed you to detect me. Not many tend to do that. It'll be important in battle." She told her in a simple way. "Especially in close combat."
Petra and Shamir simply stood in silence for a little, with Petra recognizing something within Shamir.
"...you are a Dagdan, aren't you?" She stated, as Shamir simply sighed. It seemed she finally recognized it.
"The more pale-ish skin...the purple, dark hair." Petra pointed out, a genuine small sad smile coming out of Shamir.
"That life has been behind me for years but...yes. Formally Dagda." Shamir stated, as Petra looked with a small amount of wonder in her eyes.
Their ally in war. Supposedly wiped out. A survivor, among their ranks, caring for their own ally.
"That is why you were more open with me, then?" Petra asked, Shamir silently nodding a yes in response.
The two stayed silent for a little bit. Talking about a past either one of them didn't really want to bring our lead to such an awkward topic. Enough for the two to have no idea what to talk about.
Shamir certainly didn't want to make things uncomfortable for the two. After all, the two happened to be the only ones there. And who knew who could've been eavesdropping on the situation.
Might as well, as Sento seemed to state at one point or another 'spill the beans'.
Whatever that meant.
"Before you continue...whilst I have no ill will against the current Empress…" she started, looking Petra dead in the eyes. Although neither showed their actual emotion up on their face, it was pretty obvious that Shamir was a little regretful just giving this information to Petra.
To Petra, she didn't want to remember whatever was happening back then.
And the brief look of shock she saw in Edelgard's face among those who witnessed Blood Stalk knocking Banjou into some comatose state.
"...that dosen't mean I won't give mercy to her. Not after what happened regarding you. Do not worry; word has spread about what occurred back there." Shamir replied, hands on Petra's shoulders.
"Whilst I left my life behind at Dagda, that doesn't mean I don't have to worry about someone who's father and protector I can respect. People who I saw personally. Met them." She replied, before getting up, grabbing the bow slung around her back.
"Now, while we're here, I'd say you'd probably need a little catching up to do with the others you came with. Arnault and Varley."
Petra simply stared at the three Fullbottles given to her by Sento, as she walked with Shamir out the tent.
Immediately, she was ambushed with hugs from both Dorothea and Bernadetta. It seemed they were waiting for that for quite a while.
It was a silent hug. No words were spoken to one another...but it was clear what they were feeling.
"Hope." Shamir summed up in her mind as she watched the three from the distance, Sento watching from the same tree he leaned on before.
Takumi Katsuragi, the spirit that he was, stood next to him, watching them for a little bit. He looked...rather concerned.
"...what?" Sento asked him in a low voice, giving a quick glance towards Takumi.
He simply raised an eyebrow. Something to be discussed later, he supposed. Or rather he was thinking about Petra's role in all of this.
He didn't know. And that bothered Sento just a little bit. Takumi usually would be the guy to often offer his take on things. Him being quiet was unnerving to Sento at the very least.
Especially amid the current situation.
As he broke attention away from the spirit inside the ex-mad scientist's head, the three ex-Adrestian women broke their hug, the three smiling at one another.
"That...felt nice." Bernadetta weakly responded, for which Dorothea chuckled.
"What was going on in there? With the two back from the academy and that hooded man?" She asked, looking questioningly towards Petra.
"It seems as if we are officially defectors from the Empire. We will follow Shamir and Catherine towards the Alliance." Petra summed up quite nicely. Dorothea nodded in worrying approval, most likely worried about Edelgard and what she might be going through. As for Bernadetta…
...well, she took the news about as expected as many would think.
"Wait...we're being hunted by the Empire?!" She screamed, attracting a few Knights. Sento had to stifle a chuckle, as Shamir stalked on, clearly expecting something like this out of the Varley Noble.
"W-what if we're caught by Edelgard! Are we going to be arrested?! Executed? Wh…" Bernie began to have a near-anxiety attack before Petra and Dorothea placed one of their hands each on her shoulder, sympathetic faces on both of their faces.
Bernie's anxiety began to falter before the two continued to stare at her.
"W-what?" She asked, clearly being creeped out by the two's blank stare.
Then Dorothea pulled up something from her other hand. Some type of chocolate it seemed, probably from one of the Knights.
Bernadetta immediately took notice of it, grabbing it quickly before munching on it.
"There; calm." Dorothea replied bluntly, giving a small smile to Petra as the Brigidian heiress chuckled.
"How were you able to…"
"It's a long story. Maybe I can explain it later; I'm feeling tired." Dorothea responded with a chuckle herself, walking away to rest.
Petra was clearly still confused on some things, to say the least.
—
(Enbarr, around the same time)
Pacing around the room, Hubert clearly looked somewhat worried. Being outside of the Empress's personal chambers in the hallway certainly wasn't very...fitting to his degree. But Edelgard wished to be alone.
The last time that happened, three of her former allies tried to kill her.
Or so the soldiers in Oche claimed.
As Gentoku made his presence known by walking towards Hubert, the two gave each other a brief stare.
"So...seemed Macneary and the others had some sort of vendetta against the Empress." Gentoku stated, Hubert simply giving a nod. "Enough to try to kill their own superior."
"Or so they claim. It doesn't add up quite right." Hubert responded with, placing a hand on his chiseled chin, rubbing it in thought.
"You don't think they did so?" Gentoku asked, raising his eyebrow out of interest.
"No...things don't seem to add up. The soldiers seem to have a lack of information beyond what happened. Not to mention they'd seem quite...passionate about siding with Edelgard before. Garreg Mach being the perfect example. Something must've happened..." Hubert started, Gentoku widening his eyes as he himself pieced the pieces together.
"So we go straight to the source."
Hubert simply nodded, confirming what Gentoku states, as he looked back towards the door. "It seems most fitting that if anyone knew the truth, it would be her Majesty...let us hope she has answers, should she decide to give them."
—-
(In her chamber…)
Edelgard clearly was upset. Light barely went through the window from the gleaming moonlight outside.
The Empress knew something was wrong. Waking up like this, her Hero's Relic Aymr back at her side.
And a regretful mind threatening to burst out into tears.
Unfortunately, those thoughts would be interrupted.
"Yo, your Majesty." Blood Stalk responded casually, waiting near one of the windows, humming what seemed to be some type of tune. "Seems like I saved you from an assassination attempt."
Edelgard simply grabbed a dagger hidden in her dress as she tried to lunge towards Blood Stalk.
Only for him to grab Edelgard's arm rather quickly.
"You...monster! Why must you make the path I walk on so much harder!"" She shouted, Blood Stalk not even turning to Edelgard.
"I have plans. Macneary is someone I'm interested in. Her Hazard Level's rising up quite quickly. About as fast as yours." Blood Stalk states, much to Edelgard's continued anger towards the armored being. Although she couldn't help but feel a little shocked.
"What?" She simply asked, the dagger from before threatening Stalk's throat.
"Hm...seems even the grand Empress of the Adrestian Empire herself seems to forget current events. He hasn't told you? Maybe he's no longer holding as much trust as before…" Stalk said rather amusingly, only causing Edelgard to only keep the dagger to her throat.
"Then speak it before I hang you from the gates of Enbarr myself!" She shouted, not knowing that she echoed a certain someone years before…
Blood Stalk continued to be somewhat amused by Edelgard's rage. It reminded him of someone's similar rage not too long ago. She briefly grabbed her shoulder, quickly letting go once she attempted to slash Blood Stalk's arm. Despite the sparks from the impact, Stalk didn't seem fazed.
"Hmm...Hazard Level 4.7. Seems he was right in giving you two Crests." Blood Stalk started, before staring at the dagger aimed at his throat. "Clearly, you seem to have done better than that insane coot Di…"
"Don't you dare mention that name in my face, Evolto. Not after what you did to the people I called my allies. My friends." Edelgard replied, for which Blood Stalk simply stayed silent.
Then, it devolved into a chuckle. Then a full blown laugh. His signature laugh at that. To any normal person, it could've just been an insane laugh.
To Edelgard and few others, it was much more than that.
She needed a distraction. Anything…
A knock.
When she turned back to where Blood Stalk was, all she saw was dissipating red smoke. She breathed a sigh of a relief she didn't even know that she held.
"Come in." She commanded, hiding the dagger once more away as Hubert and Gentoku entered the room.
"Your Majesty, have you been feeling better since the assault on Oche?" Hubert asked her out of genuine concern, as Edelgard immediately got a flashback.
An unconscious Petra. A nearly dead Banjou. Dorothea and Bernadetta scared for their lives as her own soldiers marched towards them, aiming their weapons to kill.
And Blood Stalk slinking back into the darkness, much like the rest of those who slithered in the dark.
"...no. But we must press on." She stated quite bluntly, looking towards her retainer with a face. Hubert knew what that face meant. Gentoku was just confused.
"There had been troubling rumors that the Leicester Alliance and Kingdom of Faerghus may launch a joint attack to reclaim Garreg Mach. Our scouts and Lady Ladislava confirms we may be able to confront them at Gronder Field if we're able to rendezvous there within the week." Gentoku summed up, sighing,
"...this might be what I need." Edelgard thought to herself, as she grabbed Aymr in hand.
"Hubert, notify the army." She stated, Hubert raising an eyebrow.
"What is your plan, my lady?"
Edelgard simply looked towards the Fullbottle hidden in her other pocket. The same one which she attempted to use at Oche.
"We will go to war."
—
(Later that night, back at the camp…)
The Knights were enjoying one last night of respite together.
Dorothea was singing to the soldiers, probably attempting to boost their morale a bit. Catherine was busy polishing Thunderbrand, staying relatively silent. Bernadetta was simply speaking to Alois, as she proudly held up her signed version of The Batcroc, signed by Gentoku earlier, as Alois gave out a chuckle.
That just left Sento, Shamir and Petra. The three of which were simply relaxing on one of the wyverns, all packed up with Sento's equipment and Banjou's unconcious body.
"So...tonight?" Shamir stated, raising an eyebrow as Sento boarded the wyvern's back saddle.
"Yes. Tomorrow morning at the latest. Otherwise, the Imperial patrols might catch us and we'd have to leave this area. Don't want them to get too suspicious about surviving Knights of Seiros running around Adrestian territory." Sento replied with a small chuckle.
"What will these be for, then?" Petra asked him, as she showed him the three Fullbottles given to her.
"They might help you when you understand more of Cross-Z powers. The Beat Crosser and everything like that." He responded, Petra remembering that sword Banjou had while in Cross-Z's form.
"Don't worry; he'll be fine. He's suffered through worse." Sento responded,nodding. He was mostly confident, by the look on his face, as his escort wyvern rider jumped onto said wyvern, calming it before preparing to lift them off.
"Are you sure about this? I'm sure Alois probably needs some type of reinforcement other than a single wyvern." Shamir told him in her natural deadpan voice, Sento chuckling as he looked towards them.
"He'll be fine. At the end of the day, behind that jovial personality of his and all, he's a good man who knows his men. And how to fight."
Shamir simply raised an eyebrow at that statement, as the slightest hint of a smirk crossed her face, as Sento got on the wyvern.
"Don't worry; the Build Driver should be relatively fixed by now! Just try not to damage it again!" Sento pleaded the Brigidian, as the wyvern rider simply looked to Sento.
"Before I forget and leave...you're gonna need this!" He shouted, throwing her...a random square...thing.
Petra certainly had no clue where it was. Or why exactly he threw that to her.
"You're gonna need that in emergencies!" He shouted, as the wyvern itself started flapping its wings up, Petra looking up in confusion towards where Sento had gone.
Shamir did much the same, clearly just as confused as Petra on just what Sento gave them. Or whatever it's purpose was. Or even if it was anything useful to them.
She had a gut feeling it would be.
Shamir simply looked to Petra, and then at the soldiers crowded around the fire. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Petra had started to stare at the scene ahead of them.
Petra's face had a longing expression. Her eyes fixated at the faces of the soldiers. Their happiness. Her face morphed into a sad smile.
"What about them?" Shamir asked her, as Petra looked at her, genuinely surprised.
"How did you…" Petra began, before staring at Shamir, remembering indeed that this was Shamir they were talking about here. Petra herself sighed before continuing. "...I do not get how somehow people can still enjoy themselves in a war. Shouldn't soldiers be…"
Shamir simply looked at her in understanding eyes, as she too looked at the scene. She interrupted Petra with saying, "Not everyone is the same. I'm sure you've seen it with the Black Eagles back at the academy. It's the same here. Soldiers need morale. Without it, they'll crumble. Purposely defect. The like. Run away even at certain points."
Petra simply listened to Shamir as she continued staring at them.
"So I understand. I remember they spoke about it back at the academy. By the Professors. But…" Petra tried to speak up once again, until Shamir interjected.
"There's always more to it. Complications." Shamir briefly replied, as she too followed Petra's stare.
For a long moment, the two stared at the fire. The people cheering.
For a moment, it felt peaceful. Like the academy.
For the moment, there was peace. Peace in a surge of war around them. A war lasting more than five years.
A war that would truly have just begun in reality.
—-
"Ugh! Do we have to seriously go any further?"
"You made it this far. We're almost there."
Two people proceeded to make their way up the stairs, being careful as to not potentially warn anywhere up there. One seemed to be of regal nobility, dressed up in various shades of yellow and beige, with quite the ridiculous looking bow strapped on his back. A bag of arrows also laid behind his back, as he looked behind him at his partner.
Said partner seemed very much tired despite looking like she could swing the Silver Axe on her persona about as well as a buff Berserker could. She sluggishly walked around, her long pink hair bobbing along to the climbing of the stairs. Her outfit seemed the equivalent to that of a harlequin of some type but a lot more...open. Especially with the mixture of pink and black all around it.
The two eventually reached the top of what seemed like a tower of some kind, a small window clouding the darkness. The pink-haired woman dropped what seemed to be a small crate's worth of supplies. Mostly food, a few candles, and a couple of provisions.
"Not so loud; don't want to attract anyone else!" The man shouted, as he leaned towards the wall with the window, watching through it.
"So, Claude...mind telling me why you had to drag me out of a perfectly good nap to travel here?" The pink-haired lady asked the now named Claude, as he proceeded to stare out the window.
"Do you remember that promise that was made, Hilda? Back before all of...this?" He asked her, for which the now-named Hilda simply raised an eyebrow.
"The one about the Millenium Festival?"
"Yeah." Claude responded, rubbing his growing beard as he looked out into the sunrise. "I just thought you and me going to the Goddess Tower for a bit might calm us down. Especially after all the infighting."
"So you're just gonna leave and sneak us away to Garreg Mach while Judith and Lorenz deal with it? What happens when Judith gets word of this?" Hilda asked incredulously, for which Claude simply chuckled.
"I actually have an excuse this time for her. Scouting expedition." Claude replied, the two sharing a brief chuckle before sitting their in silence, bright smiles on their faces.
"So, if this isn't for a romantic date, then…" Hilda responded.
"I'm waiting. Got a feeling that says that we might need help." Claude responded, as Hilda simply lit a few candles.
"Always relying on that gut feeling, Claude." Hilda said with a small playful sigh. "When has your gut feeling not gotten us in trouble?"
"I don't aim to disappoint." He responded with a small laugh, as he looked outside.
"You feel that, Hilda?" He asked, not even turning to face his comrade.
"What; the blistering cold?" She asked.
"No...the wind." He responded with a chuckle.
"Yeah; the cold!" Hilda responded quite annoyed, rubbing her arms together to try and keep warm.
Claude has to admit; he had to laugh at that. This was Hilda after all.
"The wind's peaceful. Like a calm before the storm."