Chapter 51: Legacy

The seas blurred past him, going cold and still; even the fish seemed to avoid the open waters. In place of sea life, the blue expanse slowly became crowded by rocky islands. The stone spires reached up, looking unnervingly like teeth growing from the ocean floor. Chrom slowed and eyed them with caution.

'Shouldn't these be familiar?' If he was supposed to be a landsman once, maybe he should have recognized the landmarks… Though mayhaps a better perspective would help jog his memory. He doubted his past self had spent much time looking up from the depths.

He clawed his way to the surface so he could see the islands at eye level, wondering if that would give him a clue-

Instead pain flooded his senses as his head broke through to the surface. The raw air almost burned his lungs and his skin. Chrom forced himself to go still; to neither push through the pain, or retreat from it. In another moment, his body slowly accepted the changes. His vision went from blurry to slightly clearer, and he picked out large crags. Ones coated with forests.

"Wh-where have I seen this?" He asked himself, scrunching his face as he studied the area. There weren't any land walkers on these rocks, so why did he have faint memories of this place?

'Because you've been at sea before, and seen these from a ship. You've sailed these paths before.' He found himself drifting deeper into the island channels. His eyes flickered over the rocks and their vibrant green… And as Chrom watched them, a name drifted back to him.

'Valm. You remember Valm, and how vital it is that we strike against them.'

He found himself scanning the surrounding ocean, half expecting threats to rise out of the ocean now that he had a name for this place. He tensed, as phantom pains skirted over his skin… And he remembered being bound in chains and drowning on sea water-

'You can breathe water now. You don't have to worry about that anymore…' He tried to tell himself. And yet his breath still froze in his lungs, when he spotted tall shapes rising out of the ocean mists. They weren't islands; they were too sleek and swift for that, with how they cut through the water.

'Ships.'

He'd seen ships like these before; attacking the Shepherd, and trying to raze the harbor… The scarlet splashes on the flags and sails were unmistakable. As were the strange weapons carried by the crew.

He flinched away from the vessels, praying that he hadn't yet been spotted. He wasn't certain if he could dodge any more harpoons. His skin burned in patches, half healed from the last attack at best…

…And yet he still found himself drawing close, as he slipped beneath the waves. He darted beneath the hulls, half hopeful and half terrified he'd find Robin drifting beneath. He still remembered the way she'd gone ragged, how she thrashed and writhed almost like a fish on a hook-

It was a small relief to find nothing underneath.

'She has to be okay. Please…' Chrom whispered to himself. He watched the ships go by, ire rising as he pictured Robin's injuries, and the way she'd been pulled from his fingers-

"You're going to burn a hole in those ships, with how you're glaring at 'em," came a voice from right by his ear. Chrom startled and scrambled to put some space between himself and the voice, but they kept speaking. "Though that WOULD be kind of cool to see."

"H-Henry?" Chrom found his own voice, right as he registered Henry's pale hair. Tharja shadowed him, watching over the ships. "What are you doing here?"

"Same thing as you, probably. Looking for Robin." Henry glanced around as he spoke. The waters seemed to grow more gloomy as they spoke. "But we haven't found her yet-"

Before Chrom could answer, a flash of lightning split the ocean. Lances of electricity chased after the ship masts. The tall structures acted perfectly as lightning rods, and the lumber exploded into shards of burnt wood, raining down on the crew. Chrom froze for a moment, struck by the sound of storm and screams… And there was something else. A sharp buzz of magic pressing into his head. Along with it, a new hurt tried to well up at his side; a feeling like fire in his ribs.

The lightning flashed again, wounding the ships… And the storm strikes were like something out of his nightmares and most feverish visions. He remembered that twisted image of Robin looming over him, her fingers alight with magic. The lightning danced along her skin and bit into him, the searing color reflecting off her hair and her eyes… And then she had slammed the spell into him-

'It's not true! None of that is real!' He shook from head to fins, even as he tried to reassure himself. The vision faded as quickly as the real lightning did, but he still needed a breath to collect himself.

That was no ordinary storm strike. It was Robin's magic. Somehow, he knew that; she was close, and he had to find her.

He swam free from Tharja and Henry, desperately searching for Robin. He didn't even dwell on their shouts and caution, twisting through the water and praying he'd find her-

And that was when his eyes fell on violet scales, darting between the shattered hulls. The violet was a stark contrast against the storm brewing overhead… And the rumble of thunder urged Chrom forward. He was intent on grabbing up the mermaid before anymore threats could steal her away again.

"Robin!" He didn't care at how his voice hitched; having her in his arms again was the only thing that mattered now.

Chrom rushed Robin, even as she turned and gave him a bewildered blink, her eyes looking almost hazy. They tumbled through the water when he half caught, half crashed into her. His momentum sent them spinning as they sunk down and away from the surface, and Chrom realized he was laughing in relief.

"You're safe… You're okay… Oh, thank the gods," he babbled.

Robin didn't react all at once, giving him a confused stare as she recovered from the whiplash. Chrom searched her eyes waiting for recognition to set in… But the only thing he found was a flicker of red in her irises.

'The sails… It has to be a trick of the sails overhead.' He told himself, meeting her red-lit gaze with a gentle, imploring look of his own. Nevermind that the vivid scarlet was lost in the gloom, and that they were sinking too far for the ships to reach them. As the moment stretched between them, Chrom was confused to find a rage building in her eyes.

He stilled, his gut clenching with a slow surfacing dread.

"Robin… It's me." Yet… His words fell on deaf ears. The red hadn't faded from her eyes, and lightning still crackled along her skin and bit at Chrom's fingers, right where he held her against him. Magic thrummed through her, straining to be released.

He pulled back slightly, just enough to draw a breath and give her a worried look.

"Robin-?"

A crackle of magic stole his words.

Bright sparks spat through the waters, and a blistering heat bit into Chrom's skin. He stared at the sparks in disbelief, watching in twisted fascination as a blade of lightning aimed itself straight toward his ribs.

The world slowed around him as Chrom, flinched, tried to pull away… And his motion drew Robin's attention. She glared at him… And Chrom never thought he'd see anger like that directed at him. He flinched from Robin's gaze, pushing at her… And something clinked from their combined motions.

Whatever that clinking was, it swept the ire clean from Robin's face… Even if it did nothing to stop her spell.

"N-NO!" Robin's scream shattered the eerie stillness, her hand wrenching the spell aside at the last moment. Her magic grazed Chrom as it shot out, drawing blood and pain with it...

The magic shrieked into his head, drowning all of his thoughts. As red clouded the ocean, it also flashed through his thoughts. All his relief and dread vanished, replaced with a panicked need to defend himself. To snuff out the magic in the waters, and stop her from trying again… And rip that nightmare apart with his bare hands if he had to. His hands snapped out towards Robin, clawing for her face or her throat-

His hands closed on something cold; a pair of rings on a chain tangled between his fingers. Immediately he stopped his assault; reason snapped back at him as he realized what he'd just tried to do.

Robin's eyes caught on the ring's reflection. And at last, the red glow in her gaze vanished.

"Ch…rom?" Her voice came out haltingly. But as hitched as her voice was, it pulled Chrom out of his panic. Robin blinked, tilting her head as her eyes finally focused on his face. Relief washed over him like a wave. Chrom bit back the lingering pain in his side, giving her a strained smile.

"Y-yeah. Yeah, it's me." Chrom whispered. He kept his arms wrapped around her, counting her heartbeats as it thrummed against his skin. His own breath came out shuddering, and his bloody side brushed against Robin.

"I… I hurt-" She stared down numbly at his grazed ribs. It wasn't too deep; Chrom could feel that already, but she still flinched from the sight.

"Not too badly… But here's hoping it doesn't happen again." He tried to joke, and instantly knew it fell flat, as Robin continued to stare at his wound. Guilt and regret flickered in her eyes, and in place of tears came a hint of light on her cheeks; all of it showing her grief.

"H-hey…" Chrom gathered his words and his breath. "Robin… It'll be okay."

At least, that was what he hoped; that he'd heal and she'd never be separated from him again. That she wouldn't fall into that strange trance, or that he'd feel the bite of her spells. He hoped all of that, desperately. And prayed that Naga would listen to him, even this far under the waves.

"I… I don't know what-" Robin broke off as her voice went more and more ragged. "Had to… To fight. Didn't matter what."

Her eyes slid shut as she hung her head.

"I… I was terrified. You were lost." There was an echo of his own panic in her voice. "And then… I almost lost you. Again."

Robin's voice was painfully low; her shoulders slumped under the weight of her guilt, and Chrom knew she was blaming herself.

'But… That wasn't her. Whatever guided her spell… I know that wasn't her.'

"I-I was worried about you too..." Chrom admitted, trying to draw her eyes back up. "I've seen too many people I love get hurt."

She stilled against him before giving a faint, nervous laugh. She had a dusting of pink on her cheeks as well, and the guilt in her eyes gave way to a more tender look.

"S-sorry… Still getting used to that. But I like it…" She paused, considering it for just a moment before adding "…My love."

Odd, how that banished all the pain in his side, and left him with a massive grin on his face. He could've spun her around, held her tight, and shot straight to the surface with how light the words made him feel. Instead, he settled for running his hand through her hair, while Robin gave a soft noise in the back of her throat. Her face was a bright red now, but she didn't shrink from his touch-

"...You two need some time alone, after we patch you up?" Tharja drawled. "We're a long way from any underwater cities, so I can't offer you a room or anything."

"N-no." Robin said. Her voice was faint, at best. And it seemed to only be growing more hushed. The spell casting had clearly ripped the strength right out of her, her eyes narrowing from the effort of speaking. "D-don't need…"

At Tharja's interruption, Robin pulled away from his arms. Her scales rippled with the attempt, the exhaustion in her muscles obvious, no matter how she tried to mask her fatigue.

"No rush." He tried to assure her, but Robin stayed stubborn and ignored him. She drew a breath and tried again.

"Ch-" Her voice gave out in a cough and raspy inhale.

"That spell must have taken a lot out of you," Chrom acknowledged. She gave a mute nod in response, her body tense with frustration. Chrom sighed, his hand resting gently on her back. "For now… Try to take it slow? I'm relieved you're okay, but I'd prefer if you didn't injure yourself further."

Though in all honesty, he was just happy she was alive… And herself again. His nightmare didn't come true. Not completely at least. And that was enough for him.

Tharja swam to his side, scowling at his cuts and burned flesh, but Chrom knew he'd survive. He had to, now that Robin was back at his side.

-o-o-o-

She was still shaking, still struggling to speak… And swimming was a lost cause.

Something had hooked its claws into her throat, and yanked out most of her voice. The same was true for her body, feeling like a hollowed out husk. Now she knew what the price was for calling up so much magic. She didn't have the strength or the voice to match whatever she'd been channeling.

"Chrom… Have to swim-" She tried to tell him.

"...I know; we still have a mission to do." Chrom said. "And I suspect Say'ri is wondering what's keeping us."

Robin glanced around them, and at last felt the details click into place. She'd seen these islands and rock spires before, but on the deck of a ship instead.

"I-I know where-"

"Valm." Chrom provided. And that left Robin with a chill under her scales. The memories of their last battle with Valmese ships bled into her mind, causing her wounds to ache.

"C-careful. Their weapons, they-"

Her scabs squirmed at the memory, and the way the metal had burned her flesh.

"…She's got a point." Tharja grumbled. "For a bunch of airbreathers, they seemed to know how to handle us."

"That Walhart guy has an admirable amount of bloodlust." Henry pointed out. "Either that, or he's taking a page from Validar, and conquering everything he can find. Maybe both!"

"Maybe… Greed. Or bloodlust-" Robin forced the words out. "Or. H-he feels threatened… By merfolk."

"Regardless, I still think we should rest. We'll be safe for now." Chrom insisted. He pointed Robin towards a rocky outcropping. "And hopefully evade any more Valmese ships."

Robin had to reluctantly agree; at the very least, she needed time to regain her strength.

-o-o-o-

They spent the night curled against the cove rocks, watching the moon rise overhead. It wasn't quite the same thing as a private room, but the shelves of rock gave them a small space to themselves.

Chrom was grateful for the privacy; it gave him a chance to lay down and hold Robin tight against his chest, their backs supported by smooth stones. The way the cove fitted them, he wondered if other merfolk sheltered here in the past. If there used to be more drifters like himself and Robin, before Validar and Walhart both tried to subdue the sea and sky realms.

He asked as much to Robin, and felt her sides brush against him as she took a deep breath, considering the question.

"M-maybe. But it would've been… Long ago. Likely before I was ever born. I…" She looked about their surroundings, and ran a hand over the smoothed rock walls. "If they h-had sheltered here, they're likely dead by now."

Chrom had to nod, and the waters seemed to grow more cold around him; all the more reason to hold Robin tight, and soak in her warmth.

"So… What about what happened recently?" Robin pressed, trying to focus on something else. He was more than happy to indulge her.

Chrom found himself retelling as much as he could remember to Robin. He talked well into the night, but she hardly minded. She seemed almost hungry for anything he had to say, even if she'd heard it before. She stilled over his description of the lost city, as he struggled to recall the details. And she bowed her head as he spoke about searching for her. He tried not to dwell too much on the loneliness that had caused.

"And… Then I found you." Chrom finished. He stirred restlessly, his fins stirring up silt as he thought over the fight… And how one thing had stopped them both short of tragedy. "By the way… Those rings you wear around your neck. They seem familiar. Where did you find them?"

"Would you believe that the storm showed them to me?" Robin was trying to smile, but it was a thin, watery thing… Especially when she met Chrom, eye to eye. "Do you… Know what these are?"

She lifted them up as she spoke. Even in the hazy starlight, they gleamed brightly… And there WAS something familiar to them. He nervously traced the bands with his fingers, and felt something stir in his head.

"I… I think I wore one of these once. And… And so did you. Emmeryn… Gods, she presided over that ceremony, when I welcomed you into the crew!" He wheezed out something between a groan and a laugh. "…And Emmeryn loved teasing me over that, too. Treating us like we were-"

He froze beneath her, and his scarred side brushed against Robin. Chrom barely noticed, as he looked towards the surface. A bittersweet, wistful smile played across his face.

"I wonder… If she had us figured out, sooner than anyone else."

"She… She does have a way with insight. Even now." Robin said, thinking back. Then she hesitantly offered the chain to Chrom. "Do you… Want yours back?"

"I…" Chrom reached out, and gently closed his hands over hers, pressing the rings into her palms. "I think those rings… Protected you. Helped drive away whatever spell enchanted you. I think you should hang onto them for a little longer."

He gave her an oddly shy smile.

"But… Trust me, one day I'd love to accept a ring from you."

Robin ducked her head at that, lest he see her face light up with red; instead she settled for burying her face in his neck. And Chrom seemed content to just stay that way.

It was only when the moon reached its zenith, waxing full, that Robin reluctantly rose up. Her movements stirred the waters, coaxing Tharja and Henry into motion as well.

"We need to get to work. I think I can manage whatever magic we need, now that I've had time to rest." Chrom hesitated at that, still picturing Robin's battered form… Though she quickly banished that image, with a surprisingly firm pull at his shoulders.

"I'm ready for this, Chrom. And we still have promises to keep." Her words served as a reminder; that they'd sworn to help Say'ri, and to hopefully aid Emm in turn.

'And if this interferes with Walhart, it can only help Ylisse as well.'

"R-right." Chrom forced himself to nod, following Robin into the open sea. He kept one eye on her back, and the other on the surface. This time, he'd protect her from whatever waited for them up there.

-o-o-o-

The lighthouse glowed on the surface, reaching above a blackened fortress. It was good that they had a goal, at least, and one that was so clearly illuminated. Chrom still tensed, glimpses of memories playing through his head of what happened the last time they'd been here. All their brushes with Valm seemed to end with him or Robin getting new wounds.

But Robin was determined to lead the way. Together they slipped underneath the rock of the fortress, and the teeth of the massive gate.

Brick dust coated the gloomy water, long ropey eels peeking out from chinks in the stonework. Chrom cut through the water, sliding easily under the portcullis. The points barely bit below the surface, clearly meant to stop ships rather than Mer like them. It seemed that Walhart wasn't fully used to defending his cities against sea creatures yet.

'…You're thinking of yourself as Mer?' The landwalking part of his mind warned, afraid of being forgotten again. Chrom shoved the worry aside as they slipped deeper into the fortress lake. Those thoughts could wait; he already had plenty of other things to be cautious about.

Their group kept low beneath the water, their progress slow and barely stirring the surface. As they picked their way along, Chrom scanned their surroundings again. It made for a curious experience, seeing the same sights at a more leisurely pace under the waves.

"You know, the plan has been kind of boring so far." Henry noted. "No explosions or screaming or anything; is it going to get exciting anytime soon?"

"If we're lucky, then no." Robin told him. "The plan is to scout the castle and keep a low profile. Now we know each lighthouse tower has a gemstone… And if our luck truly holds, we might be able to find that, and bring it back to Say'ri as a sign of trust."

"And take up permanent residence there?" Tharja gave Robin a measuring look. "It's a bit too green for my taste… And the people are a little too optimistic about their chances…"

The dark mage heaved out a long suffering sigh. "But I can think of worse places to spend time. Well, if you want to stand a chance, we could act as your eyes… And firepower, if Henry gets HIS wish and we need to make something explode. If you need our help, throw something into the lake; we'll start slinging spells."

With a rough plan, Chrom followed Robin's eyes, searching the fortress. The ripples of the water made the walls waiver; sometimes rising to impossible, dizzying heights, and other times looking like he could touch the tops just by reaching his hand out.

And the gemstone could be hidden anywhere inside.

He swam to the lighthouse tower, searching for anything that could be a clue.

"First thing is first, we need to figure out where he'd keep that gemstone." Robin announced.

"Right." Chrom glanced about. He stared upwards to the tower, picturing an empty, emerald stained room; the image was so vivid, he knew it had to be real. It had to be from the time before. "We… We aren't going to find it up there, are we?"

Robin shook her head, the motion spinning her into the water as she did a lazy somersault.

"What about the base?" Robin dove as she spoke, tracing her fingers over the bricks. Chrom followed her, hesitating as the water became more and more like ink. He could barely make out Robin in the depths, her violet scales blending into the shadows.

-o-o-o-

Robin breathed easier once she was obscured. The waters felt like they masked her presence, and somehow sharpened her senses. She could pick out Chrom vaguely above her, hesitating from the gloom.

She wasn't plagued by the same hesitation, plunging downwards with sure motions and her hands outstretched. Robin dipped closer to the depths, and the bottom of the tower. She squinted at the carvings as she dove, trying to pick out the details in the murk.

She drew a hand out, running her fingers over the groves of gold. They faintly glimmered in the glow of her scales, like weakened candle flames.

"What happened here, anyway?" Robin asked out loud. The metal was half shredded off the bricks, like someone had pried the carvings away.

"I… I don't know." Chrom finally said, and she jolted at how close his voice was. When she looked over, Chrom was glimmering with his own light. He hovered near her side, looking a little hesitant, but still determined to aid her. "But it looks violent."

"You're right; this wasn't done by weather or time." She murmured, staring at the wrecked designs. It was like someone had taken tools to the carvings, and pried the gold away. Chrom growled in the back of his throat, looking over the wreckage.

"They don't have much respect for this place. Not anymore than the Plegian pirates had for their tower."

"For them it's just another means to an end… And it also looks like Walhart figured it all out long before any of us did."

Robin pointed to the base of the tower. Someone in a hurry had torn the bricks apart, leaving them to clutter the lake bed.

As she drew closer, Robin picked out pale shapes scattered amongst the rubble. A closer look showed shattered rib cages pointing upwards like knives between the stone blocks. Robin shuddered, forcing herself to ignore the way her own sides ached at the sight.

"…Walhart sacrificed his own men to get down here." She whispered. The chamber was empty, save for the motes of green light that still glowed in the water. It was as if the tower was trying to recapture the color that had been taken from it.

"So much for this being easy." Chrom muttered, glaring at the empty space. "I was hoping we could just grab this and get back out-?" He paused, blinking at Robin.

"Wait, what's…?" She followed his gaze to her skin. The flickers of emerald light gathered on her scales, gleaming bright for a second before seeping past her flesh and into her blood. Her body pulsed with light as a new strength buzzed through her skin.

She gave an experimental hum, the high note echoing across the water like a plucked harp. Her throat didn't feel raw any longer, either.

"Ch-Chrom…" She looked to him as the note faded out.

"Looks like you've got your voice and your magic back."

"And I think I can finally get my spells working again… If you'd like to try out walking on two feet once more?"

"I'd be willing to try." He assured her. "We need to get to the gemstone, somehow…. And I get the feeling it's still in the fortress."

"You're right. It's not down here, which means that Walhart has it…" Robin shook her head. "I don't know how he found it, but that explains why he built a fortress around this place. He knew something powerful was here, and decided to stake a claim on it."

Robin huffed to herself. This wouldn't be easy, but they had no choice.

They were going to get that stone, no matter what.

-o-o-o-

Together, Chrom and Robin surged up to the surface. Chrom was vaguely aware of Tharja and Henry nearby, patrolling the harbor and looking for trouble.

But luck held for him and Robin as they broke through the waves. There weren't any Valmese soldiers nearby, and the fortress appeared mostly asleep.

They pulled themselves onto a low slung pathway set at the foot of the walls, dripping water all the while. Chrom hoped none of the night patrols would take note of the wet quality of the stones.

Robin was too preoccupied with her casting to focus on the puddles. She drew on the power of Azure, working a quick spell on herself and Chrom.

A shudder passed over him, the magic sinking into his flesh and making it ripple like water. Chrom shivered again as his form switched to human, his skin turning sensitive to the chill of the night air.

"Ah… Right. The whole lack of clothing thing." He muttered to himself. And tried hard not to look too closely at Robin. But the same awkwardness didn't seem to apply to her, as she knelt down and helped him up onto his feet.

"Keep close." Robin whispered to him. "We'll figure out how to get the gemstone, and get Say'ri onto our side. But first-"

She raised her eyes to a set of banners above them. They had once been a rich Valmese scarlet, but the salt spray had leeched large spots of color from the weave. Sea air had worn the fabrics thin, and Robin hooked her fingers into the cloth and pulled down, tearing them easily from the wall.

"It's not the perfect covering… But it'll have to do. And at least red bleeds into black well enough, as long as we stick to the shadows."

Chrom muttered his thanks and quickly tied the fabric around himself. He felt at least a little less exposed, with some sort of cloth over his skin. He just prayed the soldiers wouldn't notice the loss of the banners.

'At least you managed a slight blow against Walhart… In a roundabout way.'

The thought comforted him as he shredded the fabric into more wearable strips. He had to stop himself from chuckling over that, no matter how frayed his nerves were… And the nervous laughter died in his throat as a voice echoed across the stone.

"You sure? I swore I heard something." The voice was getting closer. Moving fast on her feet, Robin grabbed him by the arm and hauled them both back into an alcove in the wall.

Chrom struggled and skidded on the path for only an instant, before realizing what Robin was planning. He threw himself into the alcove, letting the shadows drape over him. He prayed that night and dark fabrics would obscure himself and Robin well enough.

Chrom watched as the glow of a torch slowly bobbed through the fortress gloom, carried by one guard and shadowed by another.

'Stay still.' Chrom tried to tell himself. 'Stay still, and above all else, QUIET.' If he slipped now, he'd easily draw their eyes. His legs shivered as he tried to will the patrol to move on.

But to his dismay, they seemed more than happy to linger and gossip at their leisure.

"You're jumping at waves splashing on the rocks, recruit. Take a deep breath and calm down." The older soldier said.

"I-I know… But Walhart keeps sending the fleet out. It feels like we need to stay on our toes! And tell him-"

"It's not our place to question, only to obey. You don't want to end up like the last one who chafed under his orders-"

"Gods forbid it." The other soldier answered. "That poor girl… Thrown into the ocean with weights tied around her limbs…"

The voices began to fade, as the soldiers finally turned and walked away.

"Another reason to not like Walhart, it sounds like." Chrom muttered. "Though I wish they'd give us something we could use-"

Robin pressed a finger to his lips, right as the guards continued.

"What did you expect? She wouldn't give him the gemstone or tell him where it was, so he made an example of her. It's what finally broke her brother, too. Small wonder he talked, after watching her drown."

Chrom watched the figures retreat back towards the fortress, and noticed how their heads turned to one of the fortress towers as they spoke.

"I think we can reach that." Robin mumbled, staring at that same tower. Chrom nodded, doing his best not to feel daunted by the number of stairs there had to be.

"We'll just have to take it one step at a time." Robin told him, seemingly reading his thoughts.

"Right…" Chrom murmured, trying to move forward and towards the towers. He kept wishing his legs were stronger, only to stop and curse them for stumbling. He was supposed to know how to walk, so why did it feel like he was completely out of his element?

"I… I don't know what's wrong with me-" He managed, slumping against one of the walls.

"…I have a notion." Robin wouldn't meet his eyes, her voice low. "The problem is with me, and my magic. I can't cast as cleanly as I should. The sea isn't giving up its hold on you."

The waters seemed to thrash against the fortress walls, crashing in Chrom's ears. Demanding he fall back into them, and turn his back on the sky. Even the stars themselves seemed to be obscured as he and Robin moved, darting between shadows-

Chrom realized that those shadows had grown thicker around them.

The torches sputtered as they walked. Goosebumps broke out across his skin, summoned by a persistent cold wind. All while the beginnings of a storm rumbled overhead.

Whether it was charged with magic or not, Chrom wasn't sure… But he was glad for it all the same. The clouds would mask their presence, and further blind any guards. Emboldened by the darkness' blessing, Chrom put all his focus towards balance. And not collapsing. He urged his feet towards the fortress tower.

One step at a time.