Three Winds of Fodlan

And now we move ahead to chapter 7. It seems as if plenty of you enjoyed the match between the main trio which brings me no end of joy. But now that I am past the mock battle we can finally start seeing one of the things I have been anticipating to write: Supports. This has been one of those things that I have been wanting to write but I had to wait. But now I will showcase it when a particular interaction is a Support and what rank it is. But now without further ado, let's get this started shall we?

Chapter 7: White Clouds: The Path Ahead

The night after the mock battle, Mark was running through and around the monastery to try and increase his speed and stamina. Mark knew that he had not slacked off that much since coming to Garreg Mach but losing to Robin did put a bit of a fire in him. He wanted to make a comeback when The Battle of Eagle and Lion came about later. As Mark thought he nearly ran into someone and had to jump over them, performing a spinning flip, before he landed behind them and threw his arms in the air. "Ten points!" He said to himself with a chuckle before he saw that the person he had nearly ran over was a drunk Manuela.

"Good evening." Manuela greeted Mark, barely standing. The Legendary Tactician stared at her with a deadpan expression at how sloshed the former songstress was. "Sheem to be a bit losht." Mark just sighed as he decided to help the woman to her room before he realized he had no idea where the drunk woman slept.

"Drunk again huh?" A familiar voice asked from behind Mark. He turned to see an apologetic looking Flayn. "If you'd kindly help me, I know where she lives." Mark nodded before he put Manuela's arm over his shoulder so he could guide her to her room. It took a while, due to Manuela being almost unable to walk, but Flayn was able to guide Mark to Manuela's room. They opened the door and saw a side of the songstress that was not flattering….she was a terrible slob.

"How can anyone hope to live like this?" Mark muttered as he managed to find a path through the clutter to Manuela's bed and laid her down. Mark was glad she went to sleep quickly so he and Flayn could get out of there. Once they had put some distance the two began to talk.

"So why are you out tonight?" Flayn asked curiously.

"I was just doing some running drills." Mark said with a shrug. "Moving at my full speed and using my agility and reaction speed to improve myself and my instincts. I was taken out in the exhibition earlier today and I want to make sure I can survive the rematch later on in the year." The wind momentarily picked up, causing Mark's cloak and coat to billow as if to punctuate his words. "Besides, I hope that by my students seeing me trying to improve myself, I can inspire them to work harder."

"You take this to heart. It must be due to your past." Flayn said, using her intuition. Mark merely nodded which caused Flayn to try and figure out just how much Mark truly saw on his campaigns. "Well I think it admirable that you try so hard. You truly seem to be trying to bring out the best in them."

"I try." Mark chuckled. "Still it is getting late so I better head to bed. No rest for the wicked and just because I am a nice guy doesn't mean I'm not wicked myself." With that Mark Gale Stepped away to go to bed, leaving Flayn to her thoughts, though if anyone looked into her eyes, they would betray her young and naive exterior.

Robin and Mark Support Rank C

Robin saw Mark eating breakfast and decided to join him. As he came up to sit down, he saw Mark was once more playing piano notes with his fingers in the air. "You must really enjoy the piano to do that so often." Robin spoke up, getting Mark's attention.

"I do. Music is like tactics. If everything goes well, something amazing is made. Whether that is a successful campaign with little to no casualties or a song of beauty, the principle is the same." Mark said with a smile before eating some eggs. Robin thought for a moment and had to admit the principle was indeed sound. "In fact you should take up an instrument."

"I doubt I would be any good." Robin chuckled as he shook his head only for Mark to join in.

"I wasn't all that great myself. I worked at it though because I had a very supportive friend." Mark said with a remorseful smile.

"I would assume it was the woman you mentioned before. Lyn wasn't it?" Robin asked, getting a nod from Mark. "Suppose I do decide to pick up an instrument, what would you believe would make a good fit for me? The piano?"

"That's up to each individual musician to decide. I tried to learn the flute from a friend but realized it was not to my strengths so I picked the piano. No two people are alike Robin. Take us for example. We are both tacticians but you excel at magic while I am more of an assassin." Mark said.

"I guess you have a point. Perhaps I'll look into it. To be honest I have had a bit of interest in music but always set on the back burner to my tactical studies." Robin mused getting a smile from Mark.

"Trust me when I say that by taking the time to learn a more delicate art, it can help open your mind for tactical thinking. The arts can be much more than just a way to wile away idle time. How about if and when you decide to take up an instrument come find me and we'll find one for you together?" Mark offered holding out his hand. Robin took it and the two shook.

"It's a deal. Just be sure to not laugh at how bad I'll be." Robin smiled.

"No promises." Mark just chuckled before the two tacticians finished up their breakfasts.

-Three Winds of Fodlan-

Robin headed towards the practice field in order to get a bit of sword practice in. He knew he could dominate the field with magic but he also knew his win in the exhibition was mostly due to Mark dealing with Claude and Lysithea first before clashing with Byleth. He also knew that Mark's blessing held up well to magic, thanks to both his own observations and information passed onto him from his students from Mark's. Robin almost wanted to accuse his fellow tactician of throwing the match but he had no proof and Mark did seem like he genuinely blacked out, even if it was for merely a moment. As such he wanted to increase his sword prowess on the off chance that Mark could neutralize his magic. Thankfully he had the perfect training in mind.

Robin picked a dummy to strike and put on a blindfold. He learned this training from his friend Lon'qu. The slum born Chon'sinian told Robin that this training would help Robin's instincts. By taking away his eyes, Robin would learn to use his other senses as well as his own warrior spirit to strike the target accurately. Robin controlled his breathing and focused on his practice blade before taking simple and rhythmic slashes at the dummy. As he got more comfortable, Robin began to make more complex attacks including jump strikes that chained into Robin kicking off of the dummy and performing back flips before landing on his feet and rushing down the dummy. The field was filled with several students of other classes as well as trainee knights but soon all of them stopped their training to watch the Plegian's training. Robin could feel their stares but ignored them.

"Ignore others. Focus only on your opponent. Hesitate and you show weakness. Weakness leads to death." Lon'qu's words echoed in Robin's head. While they sounded harsh, what they meant was more a warning: If you get distracted by small things that have no bearing, you or those you care for will die. Robin tossed his sword in the air to toss off his coat due to how hot he was getting before he caught the sword and continued with his routine.

Robin continued for what seemed like an eternity but was more like ten minutes before he performed a spinning back slash that landed with such force the sword shattered in Robin's hands Robin dropped the broken blade and took his blindfold off. He took his gloves and shirt off to cool down before he looked around to see that he had a rather large crowd staring at him. Robin laughed nervously and blushed slightly. Robin was a lot more toned than his magic skills and book reading disposition would imply. A perk to training in swords with both a strong knight and a powerful and swift myrmidon. However Robin would soon go full red when he saw that among those staring at him were Lysithea, Leonie, Ingrid, Petra, and Dorothea. Robin quickly grabbed his towel to dry off his sweat and put his shirt back on, trying to regain his composure before he picked up his coat and gloves and walked away.

"Good thing I decided to see what all the commotion was about." Dorothea said with a giggle. Who knew that Robin was so well built and toned for a mage? I mean we all knew he was capable with swords but I had no idea he was that adept...and built."

"Dorothea, do you mind stopping." Ingrid said, keeping her composure. "He is our teacher, not a piece of meat to be stared at for your pleasure. Besides, if you paid attention during their exhibition, it was clear that both Mark and Robin were not going at full force. They recovered too quickly."

"Captain Jeralt could wipe the floor with both of them." Leonie simply said before going to train. Lysithea looked down at the practice sword in her hand before tightening her grip on the weapon. Watching Robin's training had hardened her resolve to better herself physically. She may not have much time left in this world but now she had someone to emulate. Lysithea walked up to a dummy and focused and began her own training.

-Three Winds of Fodlan-

Byleth was taking it easy, doing a little fishing. She was still feeling the sting from Robin's magical assault. The exhibition match had all but shown her just how outmatched she was. While she had a feeling she could overpower Mark, his speed gave him an edge that was hard to ignore. Add in the fact that both Mark and Robin have full campaigns under their belt in experience and Byleth had to admit she was way behind. "Once I'm recovered, I'll have to start getting stronger and start doing some studying."

"To catch up with those two, it does seem like you'll have to work harder." Sothis said to Byleth. "They have actual experience and I have a feeling they are withholding information about that experience."

"I caught that too. They were extremely vague when they told us and Flayn about themselves." Byleth muttered before reeling in a fish. When she finally got it, she saw that it was a small one and threw it back. "Still I have no doubt they'll tell us everything once they are ready."

"I believe so as well." Sothis nodded before going back to sleep. Byleth sighed as she continued to fish before she pulled up a large Airmid Pike. Byleth smiled to herself before she headed towards the kitchen to cook it up. After making a rather nice roasted pike, Byleth decided to eat in the garden where she saw Robin reading through a journal that looked rather worn.

Robin and Byleth Support C Rank

"You seem to be studying that rather intensely." Byleth said as she sat down across from the Perfect Vessel. Robin looked up and smiled.

"Yeah. It's got all of my notes on spell ideas I've had, including Blárraven." Robin said as he showed Byleth the page in question. Byleth couldn't make heads or tails of most of it but she did have a rudimentary grasp of magic. However what surprised her the most was that there was another's handwriting in the book.

"Why is there someone else's writing in your journal?" Byleth asked getting a chuckle from Robin. However soon the chuckle and smile faded to a somber expression of homesickness.

"The person who helped me develop Blárraven wrote in here. His name is Henry and he's a Dark Mage, an exceptionally good one." Robin said sadly. I got the idea to make the spell based on how well he got along with crows and how when we first met, he was surrounded by them."

"That sounds interesting. Did he own the murder?" Byleth asked.

"No. Henry just has a way with animals due to the orphanage he lived in as a child being a neglectful and cruel place. He found friendship and solace in animals." Robin explained as he tried to recount to him. "He was a little slow to trust my friends and I but he eventually opened up. Also despite his maniacal laughter and adept skill at killing, he turned out to be a great father."

"He seems a rather….colorful individual." Byleth said as she ate her pike. Robin could only nod as a smile returned to his face.

"All of us were." Robin said as he looked up to the sky and touched the back of his right hand where his Crest of Grima once sat. "Still, I think I'll be able to see all of my friends again someday. For now I should focus on my students."

"I hope I can meet your friends someday." Byleth said with a nod.

-Three Winds of Fodlan-

Mark was once again doing some running training, moving at high speeds throughout the grounds to not only increase his speed but his ability to dodge and react when he was going at full force due to his blessing. As he jumped over the stairs outside the dorms he heard singing that caused him to stop. Mark decided this was a good time to put in some stealth training as he disappeared to find the singer. Mark soon found Edelgard singing on her own and was surprised it was her. She seemed too strict to be a singer but yet here she was. Mark listened for a bit as his fingers began to play on his imaginary piano. The two continued their secret concert, Edelgard unaware Mark was there, for a while before Mark had to grab his heart as images of Ninian's dancing plagued him and he had to Gale Step away.

"Ninian….still holding my heart despite the distance. I wonder if this is a sign I am weak or a warning of things to come." Mark muttered to himself before he walked to his room to rest. As he walked slowly he began to mentally visualize lyrics for Edelgard. Somehow they were very clear in his head. Now if only he could find a way to get her to perform. As he thought he began to sing under his breath. "The falling stars align/ with darkness close behind. Locked up in my mind/ with solace, I'm confined. Can destiny define/ the silence in the night? And so I've become/ a puppet in the dark."

When Mark returned to his room he took the time to pen down the music he could hear in his mind as he thought up the lyrics. The song seemed somber but had a rousing edge to them. Somehow deep in his soul, he knew that this song was not something he just wanted to do, it was something Edelgard needed to perform. Mark continued on for a few hours until the sun set. He decided to grab some air before he headed to bed and made his way to the bridge and stared up at the stars. He used to stargaze a lot with Nino and Lyn, so he was surprised that the night sky was so different from what he had seen. Almost alien even. This seemed to coincide with Mark's belief that the winds had taken him somewhere beyond the reach of his homeland, of his friends, of the girl he loved but lost due to his own hesitation.

"What a joke I am. I was always quick to control the lives of others on the battlefield but when it came to my own life….I hesitated and lost the war. Was I ever in the fight to begin with?" Mark mocked himself as he sat on the bridge's railing and stared up at the night sky.

Mark and Byleth Support Rank C

"What an odd place to find you. It's a bit dangerous to sit there don't you think?" Byleth asked walking up to The Legendary Tactician. Mark just chuckled as he continued to stare up at the sky. "I never took you for the kind of person who stares up at the sky."

"It's a favorite pastime of mine from when I traveled with Lyn." Mark chuckled again. "The nights on the plains were absolutely beautiful. No houses, castles, or cathedrals to destroy the view of the great ocean of stars above us."

"Sounds almost romantic." Byleth said as she leaned against the railing. "However I can sense it was with Lyn that you had such feelings for." Mark gripped at his heart as he seethed in phantom pain before looking at her. "Seems I hit the bandit in the head with that one."

"Aye. I am in love with another but...the story is a painful one for me. The woman I love never learned of my feelings, instead she wed a good friend of mine named Eliwood. It was not a happy occasion for me...yet it was. I am glad she is happy." Mark said with a forced smile.

"Though not with you, which causes your heart to burn at the thought of her. What is the name of the woman who has cursed your heart so?" Byleth asked. She was surprised to see Mark smile as he looked back up at the sky.

"Ninian. She is a lovely woman and a beautiful dancer." Mark said as he looked toward the moon. "I once told my friends one night as we watched her dance that she seemed to be made of light. It was a sight that one might be able to call divine."

"I wish I could have seen it." Byleth said, causing Mark to laugh genuinely. Mark felt good talking about his lost love for whom he still pined. Mark stood up on the railing before backflipping to land next to Byleth.

"Thanks Byleth. I was holding in my feelings so tightly they hurt. I didn't realize how badly I needed to talk about her." Mark said as he walked away, the weight on his heart was still there but now significantly lighter.

-Three Winds of Fodlan-

The rest of the week was rather uneventful until it came time for the final lesson of the day in which all three teachers got together. They saw Mark flip a coin and it landed on heads before he nodded towards Robin. "Very well. Alright class for this lesson, Mark and I have decided that we will take turns telling you of our previous campaigns. I will be starting off. My story begins with me waking up in a field with no memories and two people standing over me. The young woman was concerned and wanted to help me while the man with her asked her how they could before they saw me awake and the man helped me up. Despite my amnesia, I knew the name of the man: Chrom."

"Wait hope could you know who he was if you had no memories?" Leonie asked suddenly.

"Amnesia is a strange condition that many don't really understand. Not even well trained physicians." Robin said with a shrug before he continued. "There was a third person, a man who was older than Chrom in full armor atop a horse. He was rather suspicious of me because he saw my skin and knew that I was from another country that had been trying to start a war with theirs. Chrom however calmed Frederick as both Chrom and his sister Lissa were willing to believe me when I said I had amnesia despite knowing Chrom's name. The three of them were going to take me to town to make sure I was no threat but when we were a short distance from town, we could see the smoke from the fires set off in town. In town a group of my countrymen, Plegians, disguised as mere bandits were attacking the town to try and force Ylisse to war."

"Why were they trying to do that?" Dmitri asked, disgusted by the tactics used by the Plegian raiding force.

"Mad King Gangrel was attacking for two reasons. The first was his own greed. He wanted an ancient relic in Ylisse's treasury. The second reason was revenge for Ylisse's previous ruler's bloody crusade against Plegia for its worship of the Fell Dragon." Robin explained, subconsciously grabbing his right hand. "Chrom, Lissa, and Frederick left me with Chrom stopping all of Frederick's arguments to rest with the words 'Unless he's on fire too, he can wait.'" The line got a laugh out of everyone, even Sothis though only Byleth knew. "I was alone for a minute or two before I decided to help out. I could not stand by and let innocents get hurt."

"A fine decision." Deduce said with a solemn nod that was shared by most of the class. Robin smiled before he continued.

"When I arrived, I was barely able to protect Lissa from a brigands axe with the sword I had on hand. From there, with a little resistance from Frederick, I was able to guide the four of us to victory over the brigands. I only had a simple bronze sword at the time and I only knew how to cast Fire." The class all collectively swallowed remembering the sheer amount of spells and power Robin had shown them not that long ago. "From there Chrom offered me a place in his unit called The Shepherds as their new tactician. I eagerly accepted the position, though Frederick once again voiced an objection because he was wary of me."

"Did all that really happen?" Hubert asked, not believing a word. "No one has ever even heard of these countries."

"Considering Fodlan's near xenophobia, I am not surprised." Byleth said dismissively. "But the proof is in Robin's skill." Hubert swallowed any quips he had. No matter how outlandish Robin's story was to his ears, the power The Perfect Vessel had shown during the exhibition was something no one could argue against.

"Next week I'll begin my tale so please look forward to it. With that class is dismissed." Mark said as the bell began to chime. As everyone left Mark had a moment to think to himself. If he was correct, perhaps Robin was from another world as well. "The path ahead is filled with so much mystery. Wonder what the Spirits have in store?"

-Three Winds of Fodlan-

I know, bad please to leave off and that the chapter is shorter than my last few but I didn't want to shoehorn anything in that didn't need to be here. This is a wind down from the battles from the last couple. Rest assured I will do more next time.

I do not own the lyrics Mark sang earlier. Those belong to their rightful creator. I do hope you like where I am going with the supports for our lead trio. Don't worry I will get to the supports with the students, I just wanted to focus on the main trio this time. Also I am still thinking about making an AU of this where Byleth and Mark arrive in Ylisse. Anyway R&R and until next time always remember:

Even the most insignificant choice causes a ripple in Life