Author's Note: So, as you probably have noticed, I haven't been posting much lately. Part of it is due to IRL issues (getting only five hours of sleep a day on average, working 12+ hours a day, saving for a house, etc.), but part of it also has been just stepping back from writing as a whole and reflecting on myself. I've re-read parts of both this story and Spellbinding Radiance while on lunch breaks and a thought just came to mind.
Raven really needs some sort of hero arc. If you know anything about Campbell and "The Hero with a Thousand Faces", you know about the basic progression and idea for a how a hero's story is to be written. Raven really doesn't have that. I mean, he does have one (but it's deeply buried beneath the Awakening storyline and only hinted at in small parcels), but he really doesn't have much impact in the fic and most of his planned story plot points and importance are post-Valm.
This was a mistake, but it was also a deliberate choice that I forced myself into. Most of the reason I made Raven this way was due to the consistent critique I had received on the main character of the other story. A lot of discouraging comments of "oh, your main character is overpowered" and all that basically drove me to say "well, I don't want Raven to be that", so I decided to gut him to have less of an impact on the Awakening storyline to avoid that having to receive all those comments a second time around. I had to deal with the whole criticism of "the dream arc sideplot sucked" or "John is a Gary Stu" or "you need to focus more on the actual Fire Emblem characters" or whatever other criticism I got. I didn't want to do that again. I… decided to appease the readers.
So, now we're left with this bland husk of a character that really has no impact or worth to the story in terms of plot (characterization of the cast, though, is another story). We're left with a plot that is relatively vanilla with little to no changes or variation or side-arcs that develop characters. Honestly, I actually almost didn't write the Severa side-story with Raven a few chapters ago because I already had the mentality of "I don't want to have to deal with getting dragged through the mud with a slew of those kinds of reviews again" and I cut the Flying Bandits arc short because of fear of those kinds of reviews. I talked with someone about that how I let my writing get affected by the critics and it reminded me… that I needed to stop. It hurt my soul to have to restrict myself this much and, in some ways, it shows with technically sound but absolutely boringly dry writing… that the well of creativity could not be tapped into. I had so many ideas that I wanted to do, but I always feared that it would just get criticized and hounded that I just discarded them. The whole Flying Bandits arc was supposed to have progression and last longer and build Raven and Leila's characters. Raven was supposed to have more of an influence on the Einherjer arc instead of it simply being "series of battles, oh, and he was knocked out". Raven was supposed to be more involved in the fight with Gangrel.
Elise was supposed to have more involvement with the story as well, but the whole idea of people saying "there's too many non-canon characters" kept me out of that. Yes, I know Sophia and all them are here, but they're more here as a tribute/shoutout to those who endured Fates and know those characters and to give them a proper story where they could shine and flourish. That's also why Nicolette has had very little to no screentime. I didn't want these characters overshadowing the canon storyline. It's made this story… boringly predictable and not an interesting read, plot-wise. I will say that I'm happy with how much better I've gotten at dialogue since that used to be the part of writing I struggled with the most and everything is more technically sound and solid, but… it lacks heart.
It just goes to show… artists who take too much stock and value in the reviews they get instead of staying true to their vision of what they want will end up only damaging themselves, their craft, and the product they produce. It's an insult to the writer's craft and a waste of the readers' time to read such boringly trivial stuff as parts of this story has been. So, on that note, I come back to this story with a fresh mind, a renewed confidence and faith in myself and my abilities, and a mentality to stay true to what I want to do instead of what other people tell me what to do. I need to stay the course of the vision that was created and crafted.
Also, I wrote this chapter almost two weeks ago, but... I just never felt like uploading it. Not sure why, but I've just been mentally clocked out for a while and I'm not sure why. Hopefully this issue can get resolved soon...
Chapter 37
Nocturne of Naivety
Day of the battle. I geared up for what was to be our assault. I grimly grabbed my lance and stared at it. This one simple tool, crafted out of metal, was what was going to make the difference between seeing tomorrow in Valm or seeing tomorrow with Naga. This one simple tool that I held with my hands would contribute as much as I could muster to my friends seeing tomorrow on this side of the afterlife.
This one simple tool… could determine whether I have a future with Lucina or not. To protect my life… and to protect hers, just as she would protect hers and mine with her own weapon. The Shepherds had to rely upon individual talent and training as well as how well we would work together as a unit.
This one weapon could help determine whether the sacrifice of many lives in the northern and southern forts would be in vain or contribute to a greater cause.
I stared at my battle armor, the light glistening off its recently polished surface. Whoever had this armor custom made must have been quite a unique and vibrant personality. Who else would wear armor with a dark purple chestplate with an emblem colored with light and dark blue? I wonder what this person was like. Were they a lance user like myself? The dark tones went well with the black greaves and black boots. How did I look wearing this armor to those who stood before me? Did I look imposing or did I look serious? Did the person who last used this armor look serious? Did people take him or her seriously? Were they a fearsome warrior or were they just a rich noble trying to look impressive?
"Raven?"
I looked up at the flap of my tent to see Lucina peeking in.
"Yes?"
"It's almost time…"
I nodded to her in reply, words failing to reach my mouth in reply. This was it. This was the biggest battle any of us faced in our lives, except perhaps Lucina facing Grima himself. I shook my head to try to motivate myself and began putting the armor on.
It's time.
I made my way to the front of the convoy and saw Noire standing there, nervously fidgeting with her bow. I saw Vaike sitting on a stump, absentmindedly polishing his axe. I saw Lucina standing off to the side, doing a few quick forms with her rapier. I saw Chrom, his face etched in somber seriousness, talking with Robin. We all knew the stakes of this battle.
"Shady…" Gaius said, uncharacteristically serious.
"You feel it?" I asked.
"Yes. Being as attuned to people's feelings as I am, it's hard to be true to myself when I see such serious faces around me," he replied.
"Look, Gaius, I—"
"Save it for after the battle, Shady," he replied.
"But, Gaius—"
"Save it. Whatever you have to say can wait until after the battle. Don't be giving me some meaningful goodbye or resolution now. That's just asking for it," he said. I nodded in reply.
"Good luck, then," I said.
"Same to you, Shady."
I walked over to Lucina, absentmindedly mostly, but with a need to talk to her before this upcoming battle.
"Raven," she said, putting her rapier away.
"Lucina…"
"You look pale."
"Can you blame me?"
"I suppose not," she replied.
"How are you feeling?" I asked.
"The same as you are," she replied.
"You know how I feel?"
"Raven, I would be ashamed of myself if I didn't. We've spent enough time around each other."
"That is true…" I said in reply.
"Raven, promise me something," she said.
"What is it?"
"Please… don't do what you did on the boat again," she said firmly.
"Why? I would gladly do it ag—"
"Raven, please! Don't. Promise me you will not do it again. I have done what I needed to do. I have changed the past as best I could. You need to be there. You need to survive. Please… I have no intention of watching you die on my behalf," she said firmly.
"… and what you think I should do if I lost you?" I asked.
"I…" she began, but paused. She sighed to herself and stared into the sky.
"Look, Lucina, we are good enough. We all here are good enough. I will trust in you if you trust in me. We will succeed. As long as we give everything we have to offer, there will always be light at the end of the path," I said.
"Truly, your words mean much to me," she said. She sat down on the ground and motioned to the ground. I obliged and sat down next to her.
"This pressure I feel is… how do you deal with it?" I asked.
"What do you mean?"
"This isn't even the final battle. This isn't even the conflict with Grima. I… I'm nervous, Lucina. I'm worried for the outcome. How did you survive feeling like this for all those years?" I asked.
"… with the words you just said. If I gave everything I had, there will be a light of hope," she replied.
"Heh… you know how to cheer me up, don't you?"
"Of course, Raven," she said. I smiled at her and she smiled back. We sighed, almost in unison, before looking at each other and smiling.
"Even now…" I began, unsure to finish that sentence.
"… we are in unison," she finished. I nodded to her and looked over to the camp. Leila was walking over to us with a small smile on her face.
"Hey you two," she said.
"You seem to be in a good mood," I commented.
"I can't help but smile when I see you two. Even now, with such odds stacked against us, you two are still enjoying the company of each other," she replied.
"How are you holding up?" I asked.
"As best as I can be. I have confidence I'll survive this. Too many village girls out there haven't had a cup of tea with me to stop now," she replied with a small laugh.
"Of course. I guess I'll have to make it through this battle to rescue you when you faint," I replied.
"Of course, Raven. Look… it's been… it's been fun knowing you and working with you these past two years," she said hesitantly.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"I… thank you for always taking good care of me and looking out for me. You've seen me at my best… and at my worst. Yet, you're still here…"
"Of course I would be, Leila. Like it or not, you're stuck with me as a friend," I replied with a laugh.
"Maybe we should all have a cup of tea together after this battle," Lucina suggested.
"W-with you? I could never…" Leila said.
"Yeah, you would probably faint," I said with a laugh.
"That wounds my pride, Raven. You're the only person I would ever allow to see me as weak as that," Leila replied with a frown. "But… if you're serious, I would love to."
"Then after this battle, let us celebrate with a cup of tea," Lucina replied with a warm smile. "Perhaps you could share stories of what Raven was like during those two years."
"H-hey, let's not go that far. We don't need to talk about what happened then," I hastily blurted out.
"Oh, Raven, do you not want Lucina to know about the noodle incident?"
"Absolutely not!"
"Wasn't that the incident you told me you were ashamed of?" Lucina asked.
"Yes."
Leila laughed to herself and sat down next to us before staring at the sky. The three of us sat down in silence as the time grew closer. The three of us, different as we were in backgrounds and personalities, shared one singular, common thought process, united in solidarity against the Valm empire. Why did it have to come to this? Why did Valm have to try to conquer the world? What could they possibly want?
I looked over to see Owain approaching us with a grim look on his face.
"Owain, what's going on?" Lucina asked.
"Lucy, it's time…" he replied, uncharacteristically solemn. No declaration of his sword hand or assertions of being the avatar of justice accompanied his shockingly simple, short statement. We all nodded in reply and got off the ground.
"How are you feeling, Owain?" I asked.
"Like I'm staring into the face of that foul monstrosity. How our parents did this war without our help is a testament of the sheer fortitude and will they all possessed. It challenged our perception of the strength of their character and the magnitude of their determination to the sacrifices they made to ensure our survival. Yet, when it was our turn, we stared into the abyss and the abyss stared back at us with imposing malevolence. We were not worthy of taking the torches they had lit for us," Owain replied.
"That's morbidly well-put," I replied quietly.
"Perhaps our parents could not do it alone. Perhaps we could not do it alone. Yet, together, we might accomplish what individually we could not," Lucina said.
"Of course, my dear Lucy. Together, our flames work together to shine even brighter to drive the darkness of the abyss back to the depths it came from."
"Heh…" Leila let out with a chuckle.
"Something on your mind?" I asked.
"Just thinking about Sophia and the origins of her mannerisms."
"Origins of her mannerisms?"
"Her father seemed to have been a real character, molded by his circumstances," Leila replied.
"Circumstances dictate how one should be," Owain replied.
"Of course… of course," Leila replied. We arrived at the meeting place where the Shepherds were to begin our mission. Chrom was talking with Khans Flavia and Basilio to do a last minute walkthrough of the mission.
"Khan Flavia. Khan Basilio," Chrom said.
"Yes. It's time," Khan Flavia replied. She nodded to Basilio and they both departed to serve the role they were given in this battle. Leading the forces to the fort in front of us, Chrom looked at each of us.
"Shepherds, this will be the biggest and most important battle we have ever fought. Yet, I have faith that we will survive and prevail. I have chosen each and every single one of you to join because I believed in you and I believed in your abilities. If there was ever a group of warriors that I would have entrusted with this mission, it would be all of you. Our task is immense, but we are the most suited for this job. Together, we prevail! Shepherds! Assemble," he declared with a smile. The rest of us nodded to him in response. We looked to the sides to see the two Feroxi forces depart to cause a diversion. It was time.
"Damn! Look at those walls… this isn't going to be easy," Vaike said as we approached the fort.
"It's not the walls I'm worried about. It's the hordes of Valmese inside them," I replied.
"Other Resistance forces are on the way. With luck, they'll arrive in time to help. Let's cleave them a proud trail of imperial blood to find us by!" Say'ri said proudly.
We moved swiftly to the entrance of the fort, meeting minimal resistance from the guards. True to Robin's plan, most of the guards had already departed to defend against the decoy forces. We made our way into the fort and stood in the entrance hall for a few minutes to recover from the small skirmish.
"Gaius, you know what to do," Chrom said. Gaius replied with a nod and flicked out of sight.
"His mission is a dangerous one," Owain said.
"Assassinate as many guards as possible. When we hear the alarm that there are intruders, we blitz the fort with speed, taking as many different routes as possible to flush out the Valmese soldiers and cover for Gaius and his retreat," Robin said, more to himself than to us.
"Say, Lucina…" Leila began.
"Hmm?" Lucina replied, her head tilted in a questioning glance.
"If you ever cook for Raven, never make him spaghetti," she said.
"Leila, I'm going to poison your tea if you keep bringing it up," I growled.
"Oh no, please don't do that," she replied with a small smile. I sighed to myself and refocused my attention. After a few minutes, we heard a horn from deep inside the fort. That was our cue.
"Everyone, let's go!" Chrom said firmly.
I ran through the fort with the rest of the group, our numbers dwindling with every intersection, fork, and side door we encountered. Eventually, I was the only one running through this fort. I was hacking and slashing at any enemy I ran into while I was running. I had just made my way into an intersection when I saw a big fireball flying at me. I barely managed to deflect it, but I felt my hands vibrating at the sheer power of the magic being used.
"Oh, I apologize for that gross miscalculation. I perceived you to be an adversary."
I looked over to see Miriel, a look of concern etched on her face.
"It's fine. How are you faring?" I asked.
"It will take soldiers with a better caliber of training to overcome one as skilled as myself," she replied. "However, I am thankful for you inquiring about my status and well-being."
I nodded in reply and we both ran down the hallway, although she was falling behind due to her lack of physical ability and stamina. I slowed down to let her catch up.
"Go. Our chances of success, slim of a margin as they may be, may increase if you proceed with little regard to my pace. Infiltrate quickly, Raven," she said. I nodded and dashed down the hallway, continuing to remove any obstacles that stood in my way. It would do Miriel no good to face someone, as exhausted as she was.
I made my way to what looked to be a larger hallway on the second floor of the fort, a room that had no further place to progress. Wide open windows allowed the room to be naturally lit with the sunlight outside, a startlingly calming sensation in this tense mission. A warrior in heavy armor stood before me, holding a lance.
"You. Are you the leader of these forces?" I asked.
"I am."
From the sound of the voice, she sounded younger… like my age. Was there really someone that young leading these forces?
"Please, surrender. We have no wish to take any more lives and spill any more blood than is necessary," I said.
"Fie! What manner of drivel is this! You dare ask me to surrender? In the name of the Conqueror, you shall not take this fortress without a fight!" she declared, setting into a defensive stance. I dashed forward and thrust at her. She parried the blow with surprising speed and countered with a slash from her own lance. Caught off guard by the speed at which she moved in that armor, I got slashed on the chestplate, throwing me to the side.
What power this woman possessed…
I dashed forward and slashed at her, prepared to counter her quick movement. She blocked the blow and countered with a thrust of her own. I sidestepped the thrust and executed a rapid series of thrusts myself, trying to keep the momentum and assert dominance over the fearsome warrior in front of me. She managed to block and deflect all the attacks and began an assault of her own, forcing me to step back away from her.
"You're truly a magnificent fighter. I regret that we must meet in such circumstances," she said to me.
"Likewise," I replied. "Might I have the honor of knowing the warrior who stands before me?"
"I am Pheros, commander of this battalion."
"… and I am Raven of the Shepherds."
"Then, Raven, let us continue."
"Indeed."
I began to dash forward when I heard a yell from the doorway. One of the Valmese soldiers had entered the room and began dashing at me with his sword out. He slashed at me and I turned around to block his blow. Before I could counterattack, I turned back to Pheros to see she was doing nothing. In three quick thrusts, I dispatched the soldier in front of me, his sword clattering to the ground.
"… why?" I asked.
"That was your duel, warrior to warrior."
"Did you not care for his life?" I asked.
"I do, but... it is dishonorable to strike a warrior such as yourself from behind. I afford you that much respect," she replied. I nodded in reply and settled on a defensive stance. There was no need to push on her when she was mostly a defensive fighter. It would do well to not fight on her terms and in her comfort zone.
"You invite me to attack?" she asked. I nodded in reply. She shifted stances and charged forward at me, swinging her lance when she was in range. I blocked the blow quickly but, before I had time to counter, she was on a fierce offensive with a strong combination of thrusts and quick slashes. I grunted in frustration. This woman was overwhelming me with her sheer strength and skill.
I took an awkward step backward, trying to avoid the fallen body of the Valmese soldier, and did not set my base before attempting to block a blow from her. A powerful swing from her knocked my lance out of my hands and, in the worst stroke of luck, the weapon flew out the window. Are you kidding me! She executed another thrust and I flicked away from her. What do I do?
"You fought well, young warrior, but this is your end," she said firmly. She advanced toward me and I took a few steps back, tripping on something and falling to the ground. Seeing her advantage, she charged toward me with her lance raised. I quickly realized I tripped on the sword the soldier had dropped. Grabbing it in a moment of desperation, I felt the familiar pull in the back of my mind as my instincts told me to let it take charge. I obliged and prayed to Naga I would survive. Somehow, my body reacted instinctively and blocked the blow.
I quickly got up off the ground and got into a stance. Was this a proper sword stance? I had no idea. Her eyes widened slightly as she took an offensive stance.
"Have you never wielded a sword before?" she asked.
"Not to my knowledge," I replied. She paused for a second before readying herself again. She charged forward and I allowed my instincts to take over. I parried her swing and executed three quick thrusts to her breastplate, pushing her back a few steps.
"Raven!" I heard a voice call out. I saw Chrom, Lucina, Severa, Frederick, and a few others arrive at the doorway.
"Chrom!" I replied. I let out a yelp of surprise as I noticed last second the lance coming for another blow. I quickly parried the blow and flicked behind her and slashed with all my might at her. The blow left a small dent in her armor. As she quickly turned around to counter with a swing of her own, I flicked yet again and executed three quick thrusts at the joints in her armor. Trying to block them, she settled in a defensive stance. I flicked forward, appearing directly in front of her, and let loose a barrage of thrusts with the sword, striking her armor in various weak spots. As she countered with a swing, I flicked behind her and let loose another barrage, raining a furious flurry of blows. She turned to me and attempted to block, but one thrust pierced her pauldron and sliced through the shoulder of her lance arm. She let out a cry as her lance clattered to the floor. Before I could react, I pulled the sword out, flicked behind her, and thrust at her head.
Wait, no! Stop!
I stopped last second before the blow landed on the small crack connecting helmet to armor. I took a few steps back and looked down at the sword I was holding. What was this? What was this ability? I could use swords as well? What's going on?
"Why did you stop?" she asked. "I have been defeated. Death only naturally comes next."
"I said it earlier. I have no need to shed unnecessary blood in this war. That is not why we are here… right, Chrom?" I said. She paused and looked at Chrom.
"You… are Prince Chrom?"
"Yes, I am."
"Once… I followed your exalted sister, you know. I made the pilgrimage all the way to Ylisstol, just to hear her speak. I, too, grew up worshipping Naga and the Earth Mother."
"Yet… you abandoned your faith?" Chrom asked.
"I have no use for invisible spirits any longer. I serve a god amongst men now. Emperor Walhart will do what no religion ever could. He will unite all people under a singular banner."
"Your naivete betrays you. Think about it. Who willingly follows a tyrant?"
"Thinking plays no part of it, my young prince. In words and deeds, a great leader takes hold of the heart, not the mind. I remember your sister possessing that selfsame gift for inspiring others. Doubtless, there are many in Ylisse that still cling to the beautiful poetry that she wove for everyone. But… I have found a greater voice," Pheros replied.
"My sister believed that we all desired one simple thing. Peace. If Walhart holds such promise, why resort to violence?" Chrom asked.
"Now who is being naïve, good prince? Sometimes those who will not walk must be dragged along or pushed aside," she replied. "I may not live to see Walhart unify all of mankind with my own eyes, but I have seen it in my dreams… and that is good enough for me."
"Pheros…" I said. She looked at me and gave a small bow before picking up her lance with her other arm.
"Young Raven, our duel was truly excellent. My honor as a warrior accepts my defeat with humility. I know when I have been bested. Yet, you made one mistake."
"What is that?" I asked. She raised her lance and I quickly flicked back away from her. However, before I could react, she flipped the lance around and stabbed herself through the chest. She let out a cry of pain and fell to the ground. I quickly grabbed the lance and pulled it out, spraying blood everywhere as a pool began to form around her.
"What?! Why!" I cried out.
"There is only shame… in letting a defeated warrior continue to live. My place… is the battlefield. There… is no purpose in… being a prisoner... I die with… no regrets," she said quietly. "Your heart… could not give me… the proper end. It falls upon… me to do it myself… here on the battlefield," she said before closing her eyes.
"Wait, no! This is absurd! Someone, help her!" I cried out. Chrom shook his head.
"A wound as decisively fatal as that that cannot be recovered from," he replied quietly. He knelt on one knee beside the proud fallen warrior and held his hands together.
"Chrom?" I asked.
"… a prayer for the valiant warrior and steadfast spirit whose life was taken today," Chrom replied.
"Thank… you…" I heard her weakly say. I looked around to see those around me were doing the same, honoring the fallen Valmese soldiers. This… this is crazy. This is absurd. Were we not fighting this war to avoid unnecessary death? This was unnecessary! This…
… this…
I sighed and got down on one knee by the fallen warrior before me. Regardless of how I felt… I had to honor her for the fight.
"Your fight is over…" I said quietly. Chrom looked at me and nodded in acknowledgment. He soon got up and looked at those around him.
"The fort has been taken and before our reinforcements arrived," Chrom said. "This has been a success on our part. We have achieved what we wished to achieve."
"Father, I…" Lucina began. Before she could continue, Say'ri burst into the room.
"Milord, I have grave news."
"What is it?" Chrom asked.
"Our comrades! Our reinforcements! They have arrived, but… they have surrounded the fort and are joining forces with the Valmese."
"What? Are you certain of this?" Chrom asked.
"I wish I could say otherwise, but this is the unfortunate truth. Fort Steiger has fallen, but I am afraid our new enemies have us surrounded. Words cannot express my shame… my regret. Finally, I have succeeded in uniting them, but they are united against us."
I saw Khans Basilio and Flavia enter the room along with the rest of the Shepherds.
"Blast! These reinforcements have pushed us into this fort. We are trapped," Basilio said vehemently. I saw a soldier run into the room.
"Milord! Dire news! Our forces to the north and south have been decimated by Walhart and Yen'fay! What's worse is most of the survivors have turned coat for the empire!"
"Tch, what manner of influence and power could they have to turn any of those Feroxi soldiers against us?" Flavia said in a disgusted tone.
"B-but… our troops numbered in the hundreds of thousands!" Say'ri exclaimed.
"The Empire must have had more," Basilio replied.
"Or perhaps better equipped?" Flavia offered.
"Blast! Walhart and my brother. Where are their armies?" Say'ri asked.
"Marching toward this fortress. It is only a matter of time, milady," the soldier replied.
"So much for fortune favoring the bold," Basilio grumbled. "This war was over before it began."
"All our struggles until now and we've yet to so much as dent their forces…" Chrom said.
"Chrom?" Robin said in a hesitant tone.
"What is it Robin, do you have something to say?" Chrom asked.
"We need to leave here. Right away," Robin replied.
"Have you lost your wits? We're surrounded!" Flavia said.
"When the other armies arrive, we will be surrounded and slaughtered with no uncertainty. If we intend to escape, we must escape now. This is our best chance," Robin replied.
"He's right," Say'ri said. "The dynasts betray us less out of loyalty to Walhart and more out of fear for the empire. They will only put up token resistance without their masters watching."
"But we cannot run forever. How will we turn the tide?" Chrom asked. Robin thought to himself for a minute as we kept quiet in respect to the tactician.
"By striking at either Walhart or Yen'fay before they join strength," Robin eventually replied.
"Either one seems like a death sentence," Chrom replied.
"One general would be upon us before we could finish the other," Say'ri added.
"I agree. This is why we attack both," Robin replied. We all stared at him as if he had lost his mind.
"Our army lies in tatters, and you would have us divide it by half?!" Flavia asked incredulously.
"I didn't say by half. Chrom would lead our best and strongest troops against Yen'fay. Meanwhile, a smaller force would be deployed against Walhart."
"A smaller force? We couldn't defeat him with half of our number!" Basilio countered.
"They do not need to defeat him. They merely have to distract him," Robin said.
"Hmm… spend lives to buy the others time for another improbable success. We did it once already in taking this fort. No reason we couldn't do it again," Basilio replied in a thoughtful tone.
"This smaller force would face our most dangerous mission yet," Robin said.
"Yes. It would take a leader of unparalleled skill, reckless bravery…" Chrom began.
"All right, Chrom. Okay, I get it. Chrom, Robin… please, you're embarrassing me. I'll do it already. Just stop with the compliments," Basilio said with a small laugh. Was he insane?
"This is no time for japes, Basilio! The stakes could never be higher," Robin said sternly.
"I am being serious. I will lead the squad. Also, I like my steaks well done," Basilio replied.
"… I guess nobody's perfect," I remarked.
"My steaks need to be as tough as I am," Basilio countered. "Bloody steaks are for bloody warriors, battered, bruised, and defeated by a true warrior with ease."
"That's just his way, Robin," Flavia said. "Bad jokes come with the bravado. But the oaf clearly has faith in your way of thinking. And… I do as well. All of us do, I'd wager. Somehow, you always find a way to even the odds. Us standing here in this room is a testament to your planning," Flavia said.
"Then, it's settled. I'll make the preparations and be off. The rest of you stay with Chrom and keep him safe," Basilio replied.
"Godspeed, Khan Basilio," Robin said. Basilio nodded and turned to depart, but Severa stood in the doorway in front of him.
"Stop."
"Severa, what are you…"
"You… you! You cannot go! You will die in this battle. I know it for an absolute fact!" Severa declared.
"Is that true?" Chrom asked, turning to Lucina.
"I have no idea. I never studied the Valm War," Lucina replied.
"Knowledge of history is a powerful tool," Frederick commented. "It helps prevent mistakes from being repeated."
"I know my history. I studied it in my own time, pouring over the texts of the library in Ylisstol. I know for a fact Khan Basilio dies in this diversion," Severa said.
"You know, lass, you have a strange way of saying goodbye. All right, then. Who is it? Who kills me? Is it Walhart himself? Please tell me it is. Please say yes. It'd make an embarrassingly poor end to my song to die at the end of some farmer's pitchfork," Basilio said.
"Yes, it was Walhart… or so goes the stories that I had read. We must change our plans so fate cannot take this course!"
"All I needed to know. Thank you, lass. I'll be careful," Basilio said.
"Are you daft? Did you not hear me! You will die if you go. I am telling you not to go. If we repeat history, we will be repeating all the steps to Grima's return," Severa said, a note of what seemed to be panic in her tone. Basilio gave her a warm smile and put a consoling hand on her shoulder.
"Aye, I heard you just fine. But, someone has to stall his division from advancing. If he ends up being the one that kills me, then I'll just have to avoid confronting him. You don't grow this old and handsome without knowing how to avoid trouble."
"N-no! It's not that simple. It's never that simple. Gods, don't you get it? You're destined to die if you go," Severa said.
"Don't worry, love. He'll be fine. He'll have me looking out for him, after all," Flavia said. Basilio turned to her with a defiant expression.
"What? You're not coming, woman. You're the reigning khan!"
"I thought you intended to survive this, oaf. Regna Ferox has two khans and now you're responsible for both. I dare you to die now!"
"… har! Ha ha ha, fine. All right, you can come. Hope that's fine with you, Chrom," Basilio said.
"Just look after each other," Chrom merely replied.
"Ha, I'll bring this lumbering ox back on a leash if I have to," Flavia replied.
"Luck and more be with you all. We will meet again soon," Basilio added.
"But, your future! You must—"
"Please, not another word. I fully intend to outlive all of you, and just see if I don't… and as for your 'future', it can kiss my big, brown, Feroxi arse," Basilio emphatically said.
"We need to leave. Now," Robin said. Everyone bolted out of the room I took one last look at the fallen Valm commander before me before following the rest of the Shepherds. We arrived at the front of the fortress to see the Resistance fighters barricading the entrance.
"Careful, we don't want to do any more harm than necessary," Chrom said. I gritted my teeth and gripped this foreign weapon. If they chose to fight us, I wouldn't even have time to scour the courtyard to find my missing lance. Thankfully I had a backup in the convoy, but still…
"There they are!" I heard one of the rebels yell. We grit our teeth and pressed forward to engage. Yet, I noticed… they were fighting, but they weren't trying. It was almost as if they were acting. Minor cuts and injuries caused many to fall with no resistance. Enemy clerics were doing little to nothing to heal these injuries.
"Hurry!" Chrom said as he opened the front door. Quickly, we escaped from the fort and retreated to our base, where we met up with the remainder of our troops.
"Just as I thought… the turncloaks only made a show of opposing us. We're clear of them. But, Yen'fay's forces approach swiftly. It won't be long now," Say'ri said.
"We should hasten south to meet them and distance ourselves from Walhart. This battle will be challenging enough without the Conqueror breathing down our backs," Robin said.
"Ha, a man of little faith. Believe in us to do more than be a mere nuisance to this fool's advance," Basilio declared.
"Still, it would be prudent of us to achieve victory as fast as possible," Robin replied.
"Another concern would be the dynasts who betrayed us. They attacked us and also let us go, both because it suited their purpose. Should they attack us from behind as we battle Yen'fay, it would be an easy victory for them. They would curry favor with the empire without risk of injury. This is how they think," Say'ri pointed out.
"We cannot defend two fronts. We'll need to choose our battlefield carefully," Chrom said.
"We need to find a way to ensure we cannot easily be attacked from behind," Robin stated. Chrom nodded before staring into the distance.
"Say'ri, that mountain. I've seen it smoke for hours, but I see no trees on it anywhere?" Chrom asked.
"What mountain—ah, no, that is no forest fire, sir! It is a volcano. Have you never seen one before?" she asked.
"No, I have not," Chrom replied. "I've only heard of them and read about them."
"That one is called the Demon's Ingle. It is known and feared by all the people of Valm. Few dare to even go close, lest they anger the wicked fire god," Say'ri explained.
"Hmm, Robin, are you thinking what I'm thinking?" Chrom asked.
"Only if you are wondering how quickly we can get to the volcano," Robin replied. Say'ri paled considerably at the banter between the two.
"G-go to the Demon's Ingle? Do you know what you two are saying?" she asked incredulously.
"I'm saying your opportunistic former friends would not want to dare risk following us. We can also use the flames and terrain as barriers to limit how Yen'fay approaches us," Robin said.
"Mm… and my brother will still come," Say'ri mused aloud. "His stubborn pride will force his hand into this disadvantageous situation."
"Seems we know what we have to do. Time to negotiate with this false god through some Feroxi Diplomacy," Flavia said.
"You're damn right, woman," Basilio said.
"Good luck out there," Chrom said.
"Until we meet again, boy," Basilio replied. With that, Basilio departed.
We hastily split the troops into two forces. The one force, led by the two khans, quickly departed to head north. The rest of us quickly prepared to depart to the south. I ran to the convoy and grabbed my backup steel lance. I kept the sword with me, sheathing it on my back. It might do well to hold on to it, in case I ever need it again.
As I pulled my spare lance out of storage, I felt something shove me roughly into the side of the convoy. I turned quickly to see Severa glaring at me with the most bitterly loathing expression she could muster.
"What was that for!" I said in a frustrated tone.
"Since when could you use a sword?" she asked.
"I have no idea. I just found out today," I replied.
"You could use a sword. You could use a sword this whole time!" she said angrily.
"Why are you so upset?" I asked.
"You were able to use a sword competently, but somehow you couldn't figure out how to teach it to Lucina? You couldn't figure out how to teach it to any of us?" she asked. "How much more have you hidden from us? How much more did you sabotage our future? If you taught Lucina properly, we might have stood a better chance against Grima!"
I paused for a second and thought about it. She was right. If I could use a sword now, that means my future self should have been able to use it as well. Why did my future self claim to not know how to use one?
"I… have no idea, Severa. I honestly have no idea," I replied quietly. "It's all a subconscious instinct. Perhaps my future self never found himself holding a sword with a fight or flight instinct? Perhaps we did something in this battle that didn't occur in your time. Perhaps someone else took that battle with that battalion's commander?"
"That sounds like a whole bunch of Pegasus dung," Severa said scornfully.
"Look, Severa, I just—"
"I don't want to hear it, Raven. I just… how much more have you hidden from us?"
"How would I know? I don't know anything! Do you know how frightening it is to not know who I was? Do you know how frustrating it is knowing I had this ability? How much better could I have performed in previous battles if I knew I had this skill? Could I have done something different in Plegia and saved Emmeryn's life? Could I have done something different in the battle with Gangrel and saved Cordelia's life? Could I have done something differently returning from the Outream Gate and prevented capture by the Flying Bandits? I have no idea! I have no idea what abilities I have! Why do you keep pestering me about this!"
"Because I worry about you!" she blurted out in anger. She paused for a second before looking downward. "I mean, Lucy genuinely seems to care about you and your well-being. I don't personally care about you at all. I just don't want to see her upset, so I need to make sure that nothing happens to you."
"That's fine. I care about you, though," I replied.
"Wouldn't that be a first?" she replied sarcastically.
"There's a first time for everything."
Severa rolled her eyes in response.
"Why do you have a stupid quip for every single situation?"
"It's a mark of always being prepared for any scenario that comes up," I replied with a shrug. She opened her mouth to respond before pausing and shrugging her shoulders.
"Are you ready?" she asked.
"What does it matter?"
"I'm not heading out until you are."
"Why?"
"… because, if you're as pathetic as you claim with not knowing anything about yourself and the true extent of your abilities, then it falls upon me to make sure you are safe. I don't want to see Lucy do something as stupid as what I heard you did on the boat ride over. I know she will if she sees you in trouble. That's the kind of person she is. She would give her life to save another if she could, and if she dies for your sake, I will never forgive you," she replied.
"Fine, fine, I get it," I replied. "Stay by my side."
"Never say that again, especially to me," she replied, wrinkling her nose in disgust. "I'm quite sure my sister would not appreciate you saying that to another woman."
"Right, right, fine. That's not what I meant, but okay," I replied, sighing to myself. How did I get stuck dealing with her?
"Again, are you ready?" she asked.
"Yes."
The two of us departed to rejoin the rest of the Shepherds. As we grouped together, we began making our way to the volcano at a brisk pace.
"Raven," Frederick said.
"Mm, yes, Frederick?" I asked.
"I assumed you could only wield a lance."
"I thought the same. Need I remind you of the pitiful attempt with an axe I had demonstrated back in Ylisstol?"
"Your sword abilities are rather honed and refined. How long have you been practicing it?" he asked.
"Never. I picked it up because my lance went flying out of the window and that was the only weapon in the room. I fought purely by instinct and reflex, another mystery gift given to me by a life I had forgotten," I said.
"Hm, so Gaius didn't train you."
"No, why?"
"Your style of combat befits that of a thief or an assassin, but it also has a unique nuance to it that I cannot figure out," he said.
"How is it unique?"
"I cannot describe it, but it does not reflect any style of combat I have seen before."
"Then why did you assume it was Gaius who trained me?"
"Your movement. There are times where you moved in a style similar to him, but then there were times you had movement and moves that betrayed someone who favored power, such as milord and milady," Frederick said.
"Milady… as in Cordelia?" I asked.
"Lady Lucina."
"She uses a rapier, Frederick."
"I am referring to when she was wielding Falchion. She is, in fact, the opposite of you in sword style and weapon choice," Frederick commented.
"Opposite?"
"She is a strong, powerful individual who uses the rapier. She counters her lack of speed and agility that is natural of a rapier user with precise, accurate strikes that focuses all that power onto a single point. You, on the other hand, are a quick, elegant, graceful fighter who fights with fluid movement, yet the moves you mostly executed were of a powerful fighter. You countered your lack of strength and power by using your speed to add to the power of the blow to simulate a strike from someone who would be stronger than you using a heavier sword."
"Frederick, is everything okay?" Chrom asked. I noticed he pulled back slightly to check up on us.
"Everything is fine. I am just most curious on Raven's style of swordplay."
"Yet one more mystery that begs an answer," Chrom replied.
"Nobody begs for an answer with all this more than myself," I said.
"As I was saying, you and milady are completely opposite, both in your natural abilities and the way you approach combat," Frederick said.
"That's why we're perfect for each other," I replied with a small smile. I could see Chrom smile slightly at that.
"Hmph, and that is why I should never have been talked into gambling," Frederick replied in a sour tone.
"Gambling? Hm? Oh? Oh! Is that a side of the stern lieutenant I did not know about? Did you partake of the betting pool?" I asked.
"This is a question that does not deserve an answer," Frederick replied, turning his attention forward.
"Very well, sir, I will push the issue no further," I replied with a small chuckle. Gaius must have truly wielded his words well to convince even Frederick to participate.
After about an hour of brisk marching, we arrived at the base of the volcano. I looked up and felt the waves of heat coming down toward us, providing an oppressive atmosphere. Sweat evaporated on our skin almost as soon as it appeared, although the occasional breeze from the nearby plains provided temporary relief from this discomfort.
As made our way to the fiery force of nature that laid in front of us, all I could wonder to myself was what would come next in this never-ending string of insanity. Could we truly make it out alive? This was our next battlefield? Two battles in the same day. We could handle it. We had to be able to handle it, for the sake of Chrom and Ylisse.
There was no turning back now.