Birth and Re-Death
Chapter 3: Big Trouble in Little Country
What they have in numbers, they lack in basically everything else, we find. They are reckless, but to a skilled warrior like Chrom all that means is that the gaps in their attacks are easy to exploit. The only catch is if too many of them attack at once. There are a few occasions where I'm concerned we are about to get overrun, but then either Chrom turns the tide or I do something to help, like clumsily stabbing at one with a spear I find among the fort's supplies.
Still, there's only so much we can do before we have to pull back to the supply building itself. Though fortunately there is only one door and no windows, cutting off their means of surrounding us inside, there's also only one door and no windows, meaning we have effectively cornered ourselves. I bolster Chrom with the occasional healing move, but for the most part I find I can't help much. While he cuts down Risen after Risen, I rummage through the supplies in the building to see what we can make use of. I find some vulneraries, a few old swords, some clothes, and not much else.
Suddenly, arrows start lodging themselves in the doorframe. Right, Robin mentioned they'd have archers. Based on the angle of the shots, it looks like they've climbed the walls and are shooting down into the building, either trying for a pot shot or just keeping us pinned. Regardless, Chrom at least has the good sense to back up enough to avoid being fired on, but as a result he has to work even harder to keep them from spilling into the building and surrounding us. He's having to work a much wider angle, and though he's a champion among men, this is just too much. Occasionally I throw in a haphazard sword stab with one of the swords I find in the back of the building. I don't think it's helping much.
"Balls," I say more to myself than anyone. In the meantime, the herd doesn't seem to be thinning much, which worries me. Despite frequent healing, I can tell Chrom is losing steam pretty quickly. If something doesn't change here soon, we are gonna be up shit creek without a paddle.
Then, as if responding to my prayers, the arrow barrage slows and then stops within seconds. Not long after, the Risen in the doorway begin to press forward with less force than before. With the decrease in pressure, Chrom ups his intensity and pushes back, while more and more Risen fall from seemingly unrelated causes. After a moment, I notice the arrows in the back of their heads. It seems Virion has arrived, and not a moment too soon.
From there, Chrom and Virion make quick work of the enemy, while Sully rides in and disrupts the herd, forcing it into smaller, more easily downed chunks. In minutes, we are finished. After I give everyone a superficial healing, Sully delivers her report.
"The south fort is cleared already, Captain," she says. "Whoever that new recruit is of yours, she's pretty sharp. They barely needed any help from us." I'm a little embarrassed we needed that much help, but Chrom seems unperturbed.
"I take it that's truly the last of them, then?" Chrom asks, stretching a little after I heal the cuts on his arms.
"As far as I can tell. But man, were there a lot of the bastards. I will begrudgingly admit it was a good thing we had this fruit with us," Sully says, jerking a thumb toward Virion.
He bows magnanimously, a smirk that I can only describe as "wealthy, handsome, skilled, and aware of it" adorning his face. "Greetings, my gentle lords. I am known as the humble archer Virion, at your service. It is my disti–"
"I think we get it, er, Virion," Chrom cuts him off. "Thank you for your help; we were in a pretty tight spot there."
"No thanks necessary, my lord, except to hear a humble archer's request. Long have I walked this land with no employ or aid to call my own, yet I can see here a noble company of warriors who fight the forces of evil. Might I be so bold as to request admittance into the fold?" Virion asks, stepping forward.
"Oh, really? I'm surprised you'd want to join our little ragtag group," Chrom says, eyebrows raised. "But if that's really what you're after, then we'd be glad to have you. We've long needed help in our ranged attack strategy."
"A thousand thanks, my lord, erm…"
"You can call me Chrom. And no thanks necessary."
"Ah, pardon. Lord Chrom," Virion says, bowing cordially. "And what is your name, sir?" he asks, turning to me.
For a moment I had forgotten that I was there too, weirdly. "Oh! I'm Randall," I say, extending a hand. He shakes it, a textbook-perfect Cotillion handshake. I'm quite impressed, actually. I take another look in the man's face, and I see something in those eyes that I didn't really perceive in the in-game sprites: this is one clever guy. His eyes are constantly searching, surveying and attempting to understand everything around them. I can see why he's such a skilled archer. Not much escapes that gaze. It's no surprise Frederick finds him suspicious in their supports.
"Mister Randall! Most pleased to make your acquaintance," he says with a winning smile. "I'm sure we will be fast friends." We leave to join up with the others, who are finishing up the post-battle healing at the other fort. Standing not far off from them is Lucina, looking particularly serious and somber in that slick mask of hers. I wonder if the others have even tried to talk with her yet, or if they just wanted to wait on Chrom.
In either case, as we approach, Lissa springs to her feet and gives Chrom a quick but clearly very tight hug. I, to my surprise, get the same, and it is indeed very tight. "We were so worried about you guys! When Robin started laying down magical attacks, the bulk of them went off toward you two, but we were still pinned by the ones here. It's a good thing Sully came back when she did!"
"Though to be honest, all we did was help a little with cleanup," says Sully modestly. "Looked like you were holding your own pretty well there, Captain." The pair of them take turns trying to give each other the credit for the win, while Virion waits expectantly for one of them to credit him.
Deciding to throw the guy a bone, I offer up, "Well, without the help of Virion's skill here, we certainly would've been in a tight spot. I saw what you must've done to that archer company on top of the walls."
His eyes light up like Christmas has arrived early. "I certainly cannot acce–"
Lucina interrupts him, launching into her warning about the coming perils that the world will face. To be honest, I don't listen very carefully. After you read the in-game dialogue enough times, it kind of loses its impact, even if it's being spoken right in front of you. She also introduces herself as Marth. That's right! I'm supposed to be thinking of her as some mystery man. Wow, it's been years since I've been outside the loop on that little tidbit. I stare at her for a few seconds, wondering how on earth anyone isn't seeing that this is clearly a woman. A-cup angst or no, her voice and body language should be dead giveaways. Part of me wonders if it wouldn't be more interesting to follow her around until she joins up, see what she gets up to in the war's early days. I ultimately decide against it, narrowly, figuring that I already am where I'm needed. Anyway, Marth turns to leave, with Lissa sputtering "What's teetering where now?" in her wake. Moments later, she's gone, seemingly out of nowhere. That really is impressive. I should get her to teach me that one.
"He certainly was skilled. I wonder what motivates the mask..." Robin muses. I myself wonder faintly if she might be talking about her own daughter without knowing it, but that's getting ahead of myself for sure.
After that, things generally calm down. Well, except for the fiery natural disaster taking place all around us. But there's not a lot we can do about that, and actually it seems to be mostly calming down. That's good, if a bit weird. I guess a forest can only burn so much before the fire runs out of fuel. Also, it seems like the ground plates have more or less slid back into place now that the portal is closed. Closed, but still clearly there, though. That's unnerving.
It's doubly unnerving the next day when we see more of them on the trip north to Yllistol. I know that of course, there must have always been more, but seeing them like this is just different. I guess in the game the Risen always seemed like helpful grinding tools. Here, they're a constant threat, and there's no real knowing when one might open up. I try not to think about it too much.
I can tell, though, that it's on everyone's mind. They're all keeping a very close eye on each portal as we pass them, regarding them suspiciously. Honestly, it's a little adorable when Lissa does it, as I doubt she could look truly menacing to save her life, so instead it's just a narrow-eyed frown-pout.
The conversation takes a backseat to the vigilance, so the trip is mostly silent, even from the likes of Virion. It's already a change in tone from what I remember about the beginning of the story, but I don't feel like it's my place to try and break the silence. Eventually, though, I find I'm going insane just walking in silence like this, so I jog up to the front, where Robin and Sully are walking together.
I lightly tap Robin on the shoulder, and she jumps in surprise, then shoots me an embarrassed glare. I grin in spite of myself. "So, boss lady, what's on the brain?" I ask.
After rolling her eyes at the moniker I've given her, she replies, "I'm thinking about these creatures we were fighting. They obviously aren't human, but if these portals we've been passing are any indication, we will need to know the best ways to fight them, because we haven't seen the last of them. I think that…" She pauses. "No, I don't want to bore you."
"Are you kidding?" I respond quickly. "This is, by far, the least bored I've been since we started marching. Please, for the love of God, er, the gods, keep talking."
She raises a brow. "I take it you're the extroverted type then." I nod sheepishly. She sighs. "Alright. Based on the limited experience we have with them so far, I think the best weakness to exploit is going to be their movement. Their strength is no joke, but they're none too quick and even less agile. I'm thinking the most effective way to take them out is going to be to fight them in small, maneuverable groups that can corner them and get the drop on them. The reason we struggled in the clearing is because we allowed ourselves to become sedentary, meaning they could swarm and we couldn't take advantage of their speed deficiency. That error on my part almost got you and Chrom killed." I notice her facial expression change a little, but it's subtle. "I don't want any errors like that again. They won't happen."
"You're always three steps ahead, huh?" I ask, grinning inwardly at the reference.
"Yes, exactly!" she replies. "It's going to be harder with the addition of two more variables, but I just have to keep a level head at all times." I could swear I can see the gears turning. She really is always planning for the next threat. Oh Robin, how will you ever last when real war rears its ugly head?
I turn to Sully, who is walking like the rest of us and letting her horse have a rest. When the horse realizes I'm looking at his master, I think I see him narrow his eyes suspiciously. Might just be my imagination, but I doubt it. "So, Sully. You get visits from purple miasma monsters very often?"
Not taking her eyes off the portal off a little ways to the east, she replies, "Not that I'm aware of. That's a new one. But we've proven that they can be killed, and that's all I need to know. Anything else, I leave to Chrom."
"That's a lot of loyalty. I can respect that," I say, nodding approvingly.
"Har! You'd better, Mister Priest!" Sully bellows confidently. "I'll be out there protecting your squishy arse, after all."
"Hey now, maybe a little deference for the guy who puts the pieces back together when you're done thrashing yourself for loyalty's sake," I say mock-defensively. "If it weren't for the likes of Lissa and me, your loyalty would no doubt be much shorter-lived."
She scoffs. "As if I let the enemy hit me badly enough to need it."
"Oh, well now I've gotta call bull," I protest. "You're good on that horse, but no one is that good."
"Actually," I hear from behind me, "she's right." I whirl around to face Lissa. "I haven't needed to heal her in probably, what, two and a half years by now?"
Sully laughs as I take a few steps away from her scary ass and keep a respectable distance thereafter. Robin might be smart as hell and make me feel comparatively dim, but she doesn't make me fear for my safety.
Wow, Ylisstol is a pretty city. I don't know that I've ever seen a place that looked so...glowy. Not shiny, like a modern city, but like the whole city is just teeming with good-guyness. Frederick points out that the capital has been spared the disasters we saw farther south, and I realize it really has been a while since we've seen one of those ominous sky-eyeballs. Skyballs. Heh.
A group of what look like pegasus knights rounds a corner up ahead and starts walking down the middle of the street, prompting the crowds to make way. Following behind them is Emmeryn, looking every bit the radiant ruler. She carries herself so daintily I'm afraid a slight breeze would send her toppling over.
"Is it really safe for her to walk among the crowds like this?" I hear Robin asking Chrom. Chrom attempts to reassure her with talk of how she keeps the peace, and though she replies as if she's been placated, I can tell the lingering worry hasn't left her eyes. I feel kind of bad for her; she wakes up from amnesia and is almost instantly thrust into battle. She must worry that's what life is always like here. And knowing what's coming eventually, I can't even tell her she's wrong to worry that way.
The moment that Robin learns Chrom and Lissa are royalty is priceless, and my only regret is I don't have a camera to capture the moment for posterity. For my part, I whirl around dramatically toward the healer princess and cry, "Thou art royalty? But I've been so forward with thee, Milady! How ever will I live down the shame of my misconduct!" She giggles when I drop to my knees in mock horror.
"Oh please, there wasn't an ounce of sincerity in that apology," she says in a hoity-toity accent. "I'm afraid you'll have to work much harder than that to make it up to me. Mayhaps an apology cake or pie will suffice?"
"Right," I say, grinning and ruffling her hair as I get up. "We'll have to see about that."
My fun is interrupted by the small blonde pushing me in the direction of the Exalt's palace, and I realize the rest of the party has begun heading that way. In a few moments, we are caught up and pass through the gate as a group. Chrom is let in instantly, and even Virion, Robin, and I are not given real scrutiny as we enter. The security around here must be pretty lax, huh? No wonder a band of several dozen assassins isn't going to have trouble storming the place later on. No, no, don't think about that right now. That's for another day. Unless…
Maybe I can make some real changes? Knowing what I know about what's coming, with some careful planning I could save everyone some heartache. But what changes would actually help..?
While I'm wondering that to myself, we arrive in the throne room, where Emmeryn greets us. I'm content to stand in the back with Virion for this part, looking around and taking in the sights. The Exalted family really likes blue and gold, I decide as I struggle to find any decoration that isn't one or both of those colors. I notice a portrait on the wall opposite the throne.
The portrait features an imposing-looking man in his early middle age. Like Chrom, he's got blue hair, but it's closely cut. He's also got a carefully sculpted, slightly pointed goatee. His eyes are hard and gold, and his brow is fixed in a harsh stare. His outfit is regal, pretty closely resembling Chrom's Great Lord armor but with a massive cape sporting a thick fur collar on it. Falchion rests in his right hand, pointed down. I realize I must be looking at the Exalted family's father.
It's hard to tell, but from here I can just barely perceive cuts and scratches in the portrait. It must not have fared well when the people turned against him. I wouldn't be surprised if they don't like it being left up even now, considering his reputation. I wonder why Emmeryn bothers with it.
While I'm gazing at the portrait, I hear Virion clear his throat. I turn to face him, and he motions with his head for me to follow him, and I can see past him that Lissa is leading Robin out of the throne room. Must be time to meet the other Shepherds.
"What's good, party people?" I call out as we stride into the barracks. Vaike and Sumia are standing in the entry area when we come in, and on hearing us enter Maribelle rushes in as well. When she's finished airing her grievances about her fourteen new grey hairs, Lissa takes over.
"Everyone, these are some new recruits to the Shepherds! Our newest healer here is Randy, the man in the bib is Virion," (he looked extremely indignant at that comment) "and this is our new tactician, Robin! You should see all the tricks she's got up her sleeve!"
"Oh yeah? Well can she do this?" Vaike demands, and I decide in the microsecond preceding the impending belch that I'm going to act like it's not obviously hilarious, so as to get some brownie points with Maribelle, but then the belch itself happens. Oh my god. I can't pretend that wasn't amazing. Humans shouldn't be able to store that much air in their lungs to begin with. It's pretty much the best thing I've seen since I joined up.
"That's pretty much the best thing I've seen since I joined up," I say with reverence, shaking his hand. I turn briefly to Maribelle and mouth, "I'm sorry."
Sure enough, she puffs up in disgust. "Ugh! Must you baseborn oafs pollute even the air with your buffoonery? And you, Randy! As a man of the cloth, I would have hoped you were of a more mature stock." Wait, what the hell? Isn't she supposed to get on Robin's case? Why me?
I decide it's time to stand up for myself. I turn away from the others and face Maribelle. "Well in point of fact, I'm no priest. I just like the outfits they get to wear. Also, the gods made our bodies to work as they do, belches and all. So it's natural, and indeed a testament to the greatness of the gods, to belch like a madman when the opportunity arises." When I'm finished, I hold up my hand behind me, and mercifully Vaike knows exactly what I'm after and gives me a gloriously painful high-five. Christ, the man is strong. Worth it.
She makes a sound that's not unlike a growl, and stalks off. I'm a little bit bummed that I've made such a shoddy first impression on the troubadour, but there's not much I can do. Meanwhile, Vaike steps in front of me, a massive grin on his face.
"I don't think I've ever seen someone give Maribelle that kind of backtalk! The Vaike is impressed...and worried for your safety," he says with a laugh. I laugh in return, but only on the outside; I too am a little worried after seeing the fire in her eyes.
"A-anyway! You three are new to the Shepherds, right? We've still got plenty of bedchambers available, so let me show you to them," Sumia interjects, and at the mention of the word 'bed' I am at her beck and call. The three of us follow her while she tells us about the barracks. Things like where the food is stored, where extra arms are kept, that sort of thing. But finally we get to the part I've been waiting for: real beds.
I'm surprised there are enough rooms for everyone to have their own, even if the rooms themselves are pretty small. Sumia explains that the Shepherds are fairly understaffed in recent years, because the years of peace ushered in by Emmeryn have made a large military unnecessary. These barracks are a remnant of the days when Ylisse was a massive military power, though recent unrest in the west has prompted Chrom to start recruiting again.
Satisfied with that answer, I flop down on a bed and involuntarily groan as several days' (and several deaths') worth of tension leaves my body. "Oh my gods, you have no idea how great this is," I say to nobody in particular.
Then, we hear a door downstairs open, and Chrom's strong, clear voice rings out, "Anyone home?" We all move back downstairs, where Chrom is waiting. Stahl emerges from what I assume is the kitchen, followed by Miriel, which kind of surprises me because I figured we wouldn't meet until later. After a moment, Maribelle appears in the room as well, very apparently not looking at me. Ugh, this blows.
"Alright everyone, here's the story," Chrom begins, and he proceeds to fill in the Shepherds that weren't with us about the Risen attacks and the recruitment of Robin, Virion, and myself. "We in the Council are determining the best course of action, but for the time being we are going to be on standby here. I am recommending to my sister that we in the Shepherds travel to Regna Ferox to request the aid of the khan, but there is still deliberation to do. For now, get acquainted with the new recruits, and stay sharp with your training. That's all." I'm surprised once more, as I had been assuming we'd be straight back on the road. Then again, I guess this makes more sense. There are pros and cons of building any alliance, so I'm sure there are some disagreements among the higher-ups as to the best way to go about this.
Once Chrom dismisses us, I realize the sun is already setting fairly quickly. I guess I should think about going to bed soon. But in that moment, I catch a whiff of whatever Stahl has cooking in the kitchen and I change my mind about sleep.
"Hi there!" I say as I step through the door. The kitchen is pretty impressive, and looks well-stocked. It pays to be on a royal militia's salary I suppose.
Stahl looks up from his cooking and gives me a good-natured grin. "Hi yourself! You're Randall, right? I'm Stahl, one of the Shepherds' cavaliers. Nice to meet you!"
"Likewise," I say, inclining my head momentarily. I then notice Miriel seated at one of the tables nearby, with several books sprawled open around her. "And I take it you're Miriel," I say. She nods her head without looking up, which is more or less what I expected. "I won't bother you while you're working," I continue, to which she raises a hand in what I assume is appreciation?
I step over to Stahl's cooking station. "So what have we got going here, Mr. Stahl?" I ask, eyeing the massive pot over the fire.
"It's a stew I've been slowly perfecting over the years. Beef, chicken, potatoes, carrots, onions, and more, all brought under one happy roof of my mother's broth. Should be ready here pretty soon, actually." I think I feel a tear trickle down my face. "So what prompted you to join the Shepherds?" he asks.
I shrug. "Necessity? They saved my ass more than once since I met them, after all," I say noncommittally.
He laughs. "Yeah, that's kind of our thing. It's good to have you on board, though. You can never have too many healers."
I nod appreciatively, and we end up making small talk for a while. Here and there, he lets me help with the addition of an herb here or some salt there, but for the most part he takes charge. At one point, he allows me to steal a bite of the soup.
I swallow the bite. "...Stahl?" I ask.
"Yeah?"
"You know we're gonna be best friends, right?"
"What, because of the stew?"
"Partially. But only a truly good man could make stew this good."
"Are you crying?"
"No! It's the onions, probably."
"Did I put in too many oni-?"
"NO! No. Don't change a thing. It's beautiful as it is."
Mark my words. Stahl and I are going to be best friends. It's going to be great.
Soon though, it's time to call everyone in for supper.
I've never seen a more varied and mismatched group crowded around one table before. On one end of the table, Vaike and Stahl are laughing uproariously at some joke or other, while at the other end Miriel still holds a book and is reading while eating, and Lissa is trying to make Maribelle laugh while the latter occasionally glares a dagger or two my way. Is she taking it personally because I'm a healer too, like I'm making a mockery of the profession or something? Anyway, sitting next to me is Sully on my left and nobody on my right. Wait, that's not true, that cup just moved. I realize with a start that Kellam has been sitting next to me all along.
"So, you're Kellam, right?" I ask the chair next to me. It's hard to explain the way one experiences the Kellam. Once you know he's there, you can see him. Kind of. You know what he looks like and you can see what he's doing, but at the same time you can't shake the feeling that things are just happening on their own. You hear him speak, and you respond, but even as you're talking you catch yourself wondering once in a while if the conversation is really happening.
"Wait, you can see me?" Kellam asks.
"Yup!" I lie. Half-lie. Whatever.
"Wow, that's great! Thanks! You're right, I'm Kellam. And you're Randall, I'm told."
"That's right. Nice to meetcha, big guy." I smile good-naturedly in what I assume is his general direction.
"Same to you." We don't speak for a while. "You know Maribelle is mad at you, right?"
"So I'm told," I mutter. I really have to get this Maribelle thing sorted out before it gets too big. I guess I'm not surprised rumors spread quickly in an army this small, though.
That night, I return to my room, nursing a glorious food baby. I close the door behind me and give a satisfied sigh. For the first time, I take off my priest's robes, finding a simple and thin set of black pants and a dark grey long-sleeved shirt underneath. It feels strange to be out of the robes, and it occurs to me at that time that I haven't had a bath since I arrived in Ylisse. I determine that it's about time I change that, and in my supply bag I locate a change of clothes (seemingly identical to what I'm already wearing). Satisfied that I'll have something to put on afterward, I set off to get cleansed.
Armed with a large towel, I locate the bathhouse, where a wall divides the men's and women's sides of the room. The bathhouse is pretty impressive, actually. Along with the bath itself, there's a little sauna off to the outside that I determine I must try at a later time. I slide into the proper bath, untying my hair for the first time as well. The familiar feeling of brown, sort-of-curly hair falling around my shoulders is comforting; it makes me feel more like myself. I realize with a start I have no idea what my own face looks like. If the rest of me changed, it's possible my face did as well, after all.
At that moment, Vaike and Stahl enter the bathhouse as well, chatting about something. I guess the bath is a popular place to be at night? They greet me pleasantly, then settle into the bath themselves.
After I finish actually cleaning myself off, I ask them, "Do you guys know if there's a mirror around anywhere?"
"What, you need to do your makeup, madam?" Vaike jabs, and Stahl rolls his eyes.
"No, I just want to make sure it's all still, I guess correct?" I say not at all suspiciously. They share a look and each of them raise a brow. "Look, I don't need it for long, but it would be helpful for just a minute."
Finally I get some help. "Yeah, there are a few, but as I recall they're all on the women's side of the bathhouse," Stahl says. Vaike smirks.
You have got to be kidding me. That's the most monumentally stupid thing I've heard this whole journey. The only way I can see my own goddamn face is if I violate the sanctity of the bath partition? This is a scenario that you'd find in a cheaply made ecchi show, not real life. But then again, I really do want to know what I look like. Like, I'm super curious now. Damn it.
"Fine, fine. But I want you two guarding the entrance like your lives depend on it, alright?" I say, raising a finger.
"Of course!" Vaike says. "We won't let anyone in." I eye him carefully, but I don't think he's lying.
I carefully get out of the bath and wrap the towel around my waist, then step back out into the entrance of the bathhouse. The pair of them follow me and take positions on either side of the doorway, standing like sentries.
"Come on, we haven't got all night," Vaike says, waving me on toward the women's room. Sighing a bit nervously, I throw open the door and step inside. I'm actually surprised to see they weren't lying about the mirrors. I step over to one and take a look.
Wow. I'm not gonna lie, I don't look half bad. It's still clearly me, but also significantly different. I can see a resemblance, but it takes a minute to place it. I eventually decide it's sort of like if they combined my own face with Mark Ryder's Cesare Borgia. Scratch what I said before. I don't look even a quarter bad. I feel around on my face a bit, getting acclimated to my new face. I stroke my short beard and wonder if the Shepherds find me suspicious because in Fire Emblem, basically only baddies get beards most of the time.
My thoughts are interrupted by a movement behind me, and I see the door to the sauna open up.
No. No please. I'm serious, please don't. I would prefer literally anything to this.
Ignoring my pleas, the universe decides to place an exceedingly nude Maribelle in the room with me. For a moment, I don't think it registers with her who I am because my hair is down, but watching that moment of realization in the mirror as I begin scrambling for the door is like watching a human shift into a werewolf. I don't even remember exactly what she screeches at me as I flee, but I think it includes words like "gutter-born," "slimy," "troglodyte," and the like. I'm only half-listening, as most of my faculties are devoted to closing the gap between me and the door as quickly as possible.
I slam the door shut behind me and am greeting with the helplessly laughing Vaike and Stahl as they literally roll around on the floor. "You guys are assholes, you know that?" I ask. They laugh harder. "You saw her go in while you were coming in yourselves, didn't you?" If possible, they laugh even harder. "You know she's gonna hate me forever, right?"
Eventually, they catch their breath. "Relax," says Vaike. "It was just a harmless prank!"
I jerk my thumb toward the door, behind which I think I can still hear Maribelle pacing angrily, and say, "Does that seem harmless to you? I completely rescind my approval of your belch earlier, by the way," I say to Vaike with as much venom as I can muster.
"Whatever you have to say to feel better, man," he replies, wiping a tear from his eye.
I skulk past the pair of them and head straight to my room, locking the door and then immediately checking to make sure it's locked a few more times before throwing on my bedclothes and lying on my bed, wholly not in the mood to sleep anymore.
I guess it's a sign that I'm bonding with them quickly if they already feel like they can pull a prank like that on me. It seemed like it wasn't ill-intentioned on their part, so I figure it's ultimately a good sign. That's what I tell myself to get myself to calm down, anyway. After a long while, I can finally feel myself drifting off to sleep.
"Randall."
My eyes snap open. I sit up and look around and GAH HOLY SHIT WHO- oh. It's Lucina. Wait, what?
"Umm…hi Marth? Not that I'm not elated to see you, but mind telling me what you're doing?" I say slowly, not sure what else to do.
"Good evening. I'm sorry to sneak around like this, but I needed to have a word with you alone," she replies. I glance at the door and notice it still appears to be locked. Did she come in through the window? This is the third floor. Holy hell.
"Welp, I'd say you found me. What's up?" I ask, attempting nonchalance to cover the fact that she startled the hell outta me. I sit up properly in my bed and face her.
"This is a strange conversation to be having, so please bear with me," she says. You're telling me, Luci. I wasn't expecting any late night visitors, especially ones that are supposed to be heading to Ferox right about now to become Basilio's champion if I recall. "I suppose I should start with this." Glancing around a few times to make sure no one is watching, she reaches up and takes off her mask. "I know you know who I am already, so in private company there is no need to be secretive about my identity. I know that you know a great deal about this world already, things no outsider should know."
"And you know this...how?" I ask, brow raised.
"You told me," she says simply.
That makes sense. "I see. Future me must have spilled the beans on our little secret."
"Something like that. But I come with a warning." Her expression turns grim.
"What's that?"
"I know you are already contemplating ways to change the path that we will walk. I am asking you not to," she says slowly.
I pause for a moment. "Wait. You, the future traveler from a ruined future come back to the past to change things, only to then warn me not to change things as well?" I ask incredulously.
"Well, I should specify. The you from the future told me to tell you, 'Stick to the script.' He said you would know what that means," she says, shifting her weight side to side.
What? Why would he say that? What's the point of me being here if not to help make things better? Hell, isn't my mere presence a change from the script? "Lucina, that doesn't even begin to make sense, and he knows that. I understand technically what he means, but it cannot be done even if I wanted to."
"He also figured you would be obstinate. He said if that were the case, I should give you this." She hands me a small folded note. "I didn't read it, as per his request."
"Thanks," I say, unsure of what else would be appropriate. "So...I should keep calling you Marth for now?" I ask.
"That would be best, yes. Of course, please don't tell any of the Shepherds about me. I intend to keep helping, but not as one of you."
"Oh, that reminds me. I always wanted to know something about you. Mind if I ask?"
"Um…Of course, go ahead."
"You're planning on going to Ferox to act as Basilio's champion, right?" Her eyes widen as I reveal knowledge of her future plans. She nods slowly. "Um...Why? What's necessary about that?"
After a moment, she collects herself. "Well, in my time, Lon'qu is an astoundingly strong soldier and ally to the Shepherds' cause, but he has one fatal flaw."
"The women thing?"
"No, a physical defect. An enduring wound from his duel with my father that never fully healed. His sword arm was never quite what it was after that day. I intend to prevent him from dueling my father to prevent this injury," she explains. Wow. That's actually a much more cogent response than I expected.
"Props to you, then. That's a nice plan, assuming you can avoid getting hurt yourself," I say.
She smirks confidently. "I know my father's fighting style backwards and front. I'll know what he plans to do in the fight before he does. And besides, I intend to let him win." Oof, that's a blow to his pride if he ever learns about that. "However, I have already stayed too long. I must be off to Ferox before the Council decides to send you all north as well. I've got a longer trip to West Ferox than you'll have to East Ferox, after all."
"Right. Good luck then, Marth," I say, raising a hand in farewell. She dons her mask, nods politely, and leaps out my window. I cross over to the window to see how on earth she can land that safely, but by the time I get there she is already gone. She really needs to teach me that one.
I cross over to the bed and sit, lighting a lamp to read the note. It reads (in my own handwriting, which is trippy),
Know when to use your power. And use it.
A chill runs down my spine as it occurs to me what power he means. Is it really possible to use this respawn mechanic to change history like that? Can I reconcile myself with the implications of using the power proactively. My brain is already thinking of which methods of suicide would be the least painful. The thoughts quickly make me feel a little sick, so I decide that sleep is the better option for now.
Suddenly truly exhausted, I burn the note in the lamp's flame, extinguish the lamp, and I'm pretty sure I'm asleep before my head hits the pillow.
A/N: Hey everyone! Sorry for taking about twice as long as I intended writing this one. Finals and family trips unfortunately get priority. However, as you may have noticed I attempted to atone with a double-sized chapter this time around. With classes done, ideally I will update more consistently the rest of the summer. As always, comments and critiques are welcome. See you next time!