Author's Notes:

This chapter turned out to be a whole lot longer than I had initially anticipated. To be fair though, it covers the quieter two years that passed after they defeated Gangrel. There is room for a lot of things to happen during that time. Not much plot advancement, so I guess it's just a pretty fluffy chapter.

Keep in mind, I have written many, but not all of the occurrences that have happened. Just don't be surprised in the future is all I'm trying to say. Two years is a long time, compared to the month ish that has technically happened so far. Think of this as an extremely compressed two years.

That's enough of my babbling though, here is chapter 18:

March 28th

Today, we made it out of Plegia. However, we ran into some Plegians at the Midmire. Thankfully, the Feroxi army was able to hold back their reinforcements while we engaged in the main Plegian force.

Before getting there though, I managed to have a chat with Tharja. Apparently, I was of Plegian nobility, and she had been serving me. However, she won't go into details, because she believed that it would not be good for me to know, since I'm with the shepherds. This can only lead me to believe that I was one of Gangrel's subjects. Of course, this is only speculation, but if it's true, then I'm glad I lost my memories and found new ones with the shepherds.

After we fought past the initial wave of Plegians, we made our way towards their general. He also seemed to have recognized me, and even challenged me to a duel. This made me wonder, because if a Plegian general recognizes me, then I probably was pretty high up the ladder in terms of social status. I was no match for his brute strength, but instead of killing me, he seeked only to wound me. Tharja explained to me later that when I'm wounded in battle, I enter an enraged state that makes my senses elevated and my combat ability intensify. I feel like general Mustafa knew he was going to die, and was just trying to satisfy his curiosity before he did.

Anyways, after we fought past the Plegians, Basilio led us to a caravan of carriages led by a beautiful dancer named Olivia. She was able to smuggle all of the shepherds, as well as the remaining Feroxi forces with us, back to Regna Ferox.

Currently, we are resting in one of Regna Ferox's border towns. Flavia informed us that she sent a messenger to the capital for reinforcements, which will arrive in about two days. In the meantime, we can take the next couple of days to rest and regroup. That's all for now, all in all, it's been quite a long day.

March 29th

Everyone did a mix of resting and preparing for the upcoming fight with Gangrel. I spent a good chunk of time formulating a plan for how to beat Gangrel and his troops. It would have to be quick and efficient, before more of his troops can flood to his aid. The Feroxi army will take the more difficult task of keeping the rest of the Plegian army busy. I expect for them to have many casualties.

When my brain felt fried, I went outside for some fresh air. I ran into Sumia as she came back to the inn, with baking supplies in her arms. Apparently she's been making Chrom some pies lately, and she was going to continue doing just that today. It's obvious how much she cares for him, I just hope Chrom is not too dense.

As I took my walk, I ran into Gaius and Panne. They were roaming the streets, with Panne essentially window shopping while Gaius tried to find a place that sold sweets. It's nice to see Gaius somewhat reformed, and Panne getting used to the feeling of living amidst humans.

I finished the day by eating with the rest of the shepherds, and doing some reading before going to bed. All in all, not a bad day.

March 30th

I awoke slightly later than usual today. By the time I got to the dining area, the shepherds were mostly there, with some Feroxi soldiers mingled in as well. I got some food and found a empty spot next to Donnel and Maribelle. They were discussing the laws of Ylisse or something. That was weird.

Since I spent most of yesterday working, I decided to not work as hard today. I ended up practicing casting magic at the shooting range.

After dinner, Tharja came and visited me in my room. She gave me a weird looking tome called the Necromancer's Pact, which was apparently a master seal that was created especially for me. I consumed it's contents, and afterwards, I felt much stronger. It still boggles me why someone would craft a master seal especially for me, which probably indicates that I had a large amount of influence in Plegia. I guess I won't know for now.

Tomorrow is the big day where we face off against Gangrel. I'd better get a good night's rest tonight. That's it for now.

{Insert: March 30th}

Donnel went to breakfast feeling quite enthusiastic. He had spent much of yesterday's afternoon studying the book Maribelle had given him, and was finally finished memorizing it. He brought the book down with him to breakfast, and sat down next to a surprised Maribelle.

"I done it!" Donnel exclaimed to her. "I got it all good'n learned, so you can have this here book back."

"Preposterous!" Maribelle exclaimed. "Even I have not yet committed the entire code to memory!"

"I wouldn't lie to ya, ma'am! I've always been good at memorizin' stuff. Ma used to say that it's 'cause my head's so empty. There's plenty'a room."

"Then I suppose you wouldn't object to me asking you a few questions then…" Maribelle challenged. "What crimes fall under the auspices of Article IV, section III?"

Maribelle was surprised when Donnel gave the correct answer. She continued to search through the book for the most obscure and even impractical laws to see if Donnel truly memorized everything. They didn't notice when Robin came and sat down next to them.

"...And he shall be sentenced to no fewer'n one or greater'n ten years' imprisonment. ...'Lessun he give the goat back, that is." Donnel finished.

"Correct, AND verbatim!" Maribelle exclaimed. "Well… except for the awkward grammar. Have you really got the entire legal code memorized?" she asked once again.

"Yep!" Donnel replied. "Spent every bit of free time on it, I did!"

Maribelle blinked a few times. "All on this one book?" she asked incredulously.

"Well, you said it was important to ya." Donnel replied, scratching the back of his head. "So it'd be mighty rude of me to sit on it. 'Sides, it's awful nice of ya to teach me, so I outta do my part!"

"I must confess, Donnel, I did not expect you to take to the task with such zeal." Maribelle admitted. "I fear I have underestimated you, and for that I apologize. I see now that you are a diamond in the rough. ...Very rough, it's true, but a diamond nonetheless! I shall make it my case to see you polished into a sparkling paragon of a gentleman!"

"Uh…" Donnel began, "I dunno about all that…"

But Maribelle's mind had been set, so Donnel's opinion did not matter anymore. She immediately began to prepare for how to teach Donnel to be a gentleman.

March 31st

Today was a historical day.

We fought against Gangrel's forces and won. It was significantly easier because most of the Plegian army was refusing to fight. Apparently they chanted Emmeryn's name as they left the field of battle. This made the Feroxi army's job a lot easier. It turns out, Chrom must have hid away a seal for a special occasion or something, because he clearly had undergone a drastic change overnight. It seems we really synced ourselves up.

Gangrel's forces fought without a concrete plan in mind, or at least that's what it looked like. They basically came at us with human wave tactics, either out of arrogance or stupidity, I do not know. Possibly both. Regardless, the only thing that was somewhat intelligent from Gangrel was sending some troops to charge us from our backside. However, we were still able to repel them, in part thanks to my newly awakened power.

Then came the actual confrontation with Gangrel. Had he been using any other sword, I would be confident that Chrom would be able to take him. However, he had been using a levin sword, which was infused with electric energy. Although it's unfortunate that Chrom was unable to get Emmeryn's revenge by himself, I was happy to step in and do it for him. Gangrel's magic barely even tickled me, and without his parlor trick, he really isn't much of a combatant. At least Chrom got to watch the entire thing.

As soon as Gangrel was defeated, the Plegian forces began to surrender en masse. Chrom went to discuss details of the surrender alongside Frederick and the khans with the remaining governing officials of Plegia. I decided not to participate and instead went around healing the wounded. I felt that since I had the capability to, there wasn't really a reason why I shouldn't. Especially with all the deaths that occurred that day, it'd be a waste to not make use of all the quintessence.

I tried to focus on the ones with major wounds, ones with wounds from dark magic, or ones where staves would be ineffective. I think Lissa, Maribelle and Libra appreciated the help, especially since the Feroxi had many wounded with few healers.

Khan Basilio was so grateful that he shocked everyone, including Olvia, by offering that Olivia stay with the shepherds. "Even though she's a Feroxi treasure, no treasure is worth the countless lives you've saved today!" he declared. What shocked me even more is that she happily agreed to come with us. Apparently she'd always wanted to travel around the continent, and after finding out that the shepherds travel all around Ylisse protecting and helping the civilians, she decided that it'll be beneficial for all parties involved.

By the time we waved goodbye to the khans and began to head back to Ylisstol, the sun was already beginning to set. Stahl had chivalrously given his horse over to the newcomer, Olivia, to ride so she didn't have to walk the entire way. She appreciated it, and spent much of the trip chatting and laughing with Stahl, Sully, Gaius, and Gregor.

Sumia was leading a pitch black falicorn instead of her own pegasus. Once it saw me, it galloped over and began nudging me with it's head and cooing. Apparently Sumia says this means she really likes me. I don't understand why, I've never been really good with animals like she was. Aside from me suddenly being favored by this new pegasus, I honestly didn't know what had happened. I was perplexed by this issue until Nowi of all people was able to fill me in. Apparently her pegasus had been shot down by the Plegians, and the black one, Belfire it was called, is a replacement for her that they found in castle Dohlr. Still, she seemed awfully happy for someone that just lost her companion. I guess it's because they've only been together for a few weeks or so, but Nowi tried to convince me it was because of something else. She refused to tell me why though.

By the time we got back to the shepherd's garrison, it was already pitch black outside. Lissa showed Olivia to an empty room, and gave her one of her own changes of clothes, since she didn't really bring anything from Regna Ferox. Khan Basilio said that he'll send someone here with her stuff, but that'll take a day or two.

In general, everyone just said good night to each other and went off to their own rooms to rest. I, for one, was extremely happy to be back in the library. I read for a couple more hours before going to bed feeling quite satisfied.

April 1st

Sumia and Chrom told us the news today. They're gonna get married after this mess is all sorted out. At first, everyone thought they were joking around, to lighten the mood, but after a while, the shepherds began to realize that they were serious, one by one.

Most of the shepherds congratulated the new couple, and I did too. I'm glad Chrom was able to find someone he's willing to spend the rest of his life with.

However, I did notice Cordelia silently excuse herself. I thought something was up, so I left while everyone was still excited from the revelation to go find her. Turns out, she was in a secluded corner, bawling her eyes out.

She was just overwhelmed by the sudden revelation. She confided in me, and I did my best to try and comfort her. Some of the stuff she told me was pretty personal, so I won't write it in here. That night, during dinner, she sat next to me, and I tried my best to talk about happier times and things, to try to get her mind off it. I'm probably going to need to keep a close eye on her mental health in the coming few months.

{Insert: April 1st}

The shepherds were gathered in the dining hall, having lunch. After everyone was pretty much finished eating, they just sat around, socializing with one another. Chrom and Sumia made their way to the front of the room.

"Everyone, we have something important we'd like to share." Chrom said as he held Sumia's hand. "We're engaged." he said, as Sumia smiled with a light pink dusting her cheeks.

The room was silent for a moment. Well, all except for Vaike's spit take.

"Y'know, the mood isn't so bad after we won the war…" Lissa said. "You don't have to make jokes to try and get us to laugh, Chrom."

"So it's confirmed to be a joke by Lissa, right?" Stahl said, laughing nervously. "Good, because for a second, I actually thought-"

"We're serious." Chrom quickly said.

"You're, er… not joking?" Sully asked incredulously.

"No they're not! I saw them talk about it right after we beat Gangrel!" Nowi chirped.

"Hmm, now that you mention it, they DID have an opportunity to talk about it, when we left them alone, remember Lissa?" Robin asked the princess. "Oh, I guess you're right… SO HOW COME YOU DIDN'T TELL ME FIRST?" she immediately huffed at Chrom.

Robin smiled, and pulled Lissa back down to her seat. "Don't mind her, Chrom. We all deserved to know as well. Congratulations, I'm happy for you."

"I'd like to offer my sincere congratulations, prince Chrom." Libra said, giving him a bow.

"He he! Gregor is also offering most gracious employer with the sayings of the congratulations." Gregor laughed. "It is good for the young ones to be honest with the feelings."

Everyone immediately began to pile around the two, each offering their congratulations.

Robin laughed as everyone got up. He turned his head and noticed Cordelia bolt for the exit when she thought no one was watching.

"Hmm, Chrom and Sumia have enough people fawning over them right now, but something tells me that there's something wrong with Cordelia." Robin mused to himself. "I should honestly probably go check that out." With that, Robin sighed and also went for the exit.

It's extremely easy for Robin to find an ally when he really needs to. All he needs to do is open his Hekseer and his target's location is revealed. This was a good thing too, because Cordelia placed herself in the corner of the courtyard furthest away from the entrance behind a couple of bushes: a place no one would ever check unless they had a good reason to.

Robin steadily made his way over to her. He didn't call anything out, so Cordelia didn't notice when he approached her. She was busy crying in a fetal position. She didn't notice his presence until he sat down next to her and wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

She looked up at him. "R-robin? *sniff* What are you doing here?"

"Well I noticed that something might've been wrong, so I came to check on you." Robin truthfully replied.

"Nothing's wrong." Cordelia muttered.

"You sure?" Robin asked, not believing her for a second. "Don't worry, you can tell me whatever it is that's bothering you." He smiled at her. "I'm good at keeping secrets."

Cordelia stared at him for a second. She had an internal debate about whether to share everything with him or not. Finally, the side of her that told her she'd feel better if she shared her struggles with someone won her over and she began to tell Robin everything.

"I've… I've always had a crush on Prince Chrom." Cordelia admitted. "Ever since I was little. My family was of nobility in Ylisse and my father was a government official as well, and so I saw Chrom quite often when we were little." Robin's eye's went wide at the sudden revelation, but didn't interrupt her.

"And so, when I was around thirteen, I decided that the only way I could get closer to him, and MAYBE have a sliver of chance with him is if I went into the service of the royal family. I'd always been good with animals, and so I chose to join the Ylissean Pegasus Knights. At this point, the shepherds hadn't been created yet. I also knew that Sumia was falling hard for him, but I thought I could get a head start over her if I joined quicker."

At this point, she laughed wistfully. "But it seems that fortune doesn't favor me. A month after I joined the Knights, Chrom formed his organization of the shepherds, which Sumia immediately joined. They clearly had more opportunities than I did to become closer with each other. Had I been just a LITTLE more indecisive about my choice, perhaps I would've been able to join the shepherds earlier as well, and things might have been different…"

She paused to wipe her eyes. "I know you might be trying to comfort me, and I know you mean well, but you cannot understand what I'm feeling right now! You cannot understand what it feels like for the person you've fawned over all your life to be suddenly be snatched away from right in front of you… by your best friend, no less!"

When she was done, she began to cry harder, and Robin didn't know what to say, so he kept quiet. After a few moments of silence, besides the muffled crying of Cordelia, Robin finally spoke. "I'm sorry, I didn't know. I cannot pretend that to understand how you're feeling, or what you're going through, because I honestly don't. I don't have many memories to work with. The only thing I can offer you is my presence, and hopefully, comfort, as well as a shoulder to cry on and a person to vent to."

Cordelia gladly accepted the shoulder at this point. She sobbed for a few moments longer before talking again.

"Robin… can I ask you something?" she murmured.

"Ask away." Robin replied. "I'll answer it to the best of my ability."

"First, I have to tell you what happened… When we were fighting Gangrel, I saw Sumia flying above Chrom, keeping him safe. But then, I was the first one to see Sumia's pegasus get shot down. I ended up calling to Nowi for help, and I grabbed Sumia's hand as she was falling. This slowed down her fall enough for Nowi to swoop in and save her."

"So that's what happened…" Robin murmured. "Keep going, I'm listening."

"While that was going on, there was a little voice in my head. It told me that all I had to do was pretend I didn't notice and let Sumia fall to her death. Then my chances with Chrom would increase greatly… Even though she was my best friend, a part of me was telling me that I'd be happier with her dead, so I could be with Chrom." She looked up at Robin with tear stained eyes. "Tell me.. Is that fucked up? Am I a bad person for feeling that way?"

Robin breathed in surprise. He took a brief moment to gather his thoughts and formulate an answer.

"No Cordelia, it doesn't mean that." He finally said. "We are all humans, and as such, are tempted by what the world has to offer. Children are often tempted to steal candy from a sweets shop. Men are tempted to steal money from the defenseless. Are those feelings by themselves inherently evil? I think not. They are stemming from a deep desire and yearning for something."

Cordelia began to cry harder into Robin's shoulder. The tactician continued.

"Now, is the action of stealing candy or money evil? Absolutely. But that's the point. You didn't let Sumia drop to her death, because she's your best friend. The fact that your brain even considered otherwise is not a testament of how bad a person you are, but rather, a sign of how deep your yearning for Chrom was. So in short, no, you're not crazy, and you're not a bad person. You just had it bad for someone." Robin rubbed Cordelia's shoulder, trying to make her feel better. "In this case, unfortunately, he doesn't reciprocate your feelings. But don't let that bring you down. After all, Chrom surely won't be the only attractive man you meet in your life. He's just the one you're currently obsessing over."

Cordelia continued to cry into Robin's shoulder. A wet area began to appear in that area of his cloak, with the anti magic silk beginning to faintly glow. She nodded her head, as if to show Robin that she'd heard him.

"The road to recovery won't be easy." Robin admitted to her. "That much I know. Given the circumstances, I think it would be easy for you to close your heart off to anyone else. But please don't do that. That's a surefire way to remain alone for the rest of your days. Even if it feels right now that you can't be happy with anyone else, it is possible for that feeling to fade. Someday, Naga will bring the right one to you, and you may not even be expecting it."

"Thanks, Robin." Cordelia managed to get out between sniffles. "I feel a little better already. But… can you continue to hold me for just a while longer?"

Robin sighed and let out a smile. "Of course. Take as long as you'd like. Remember, you're never alone here. Even though you might not have joined as early as many of the others, you're still a shepherd now. And we shepherds help each other out. If there's ever anything on your mind, know that I'll be happy to listen to it."

They stayed that way for a few moments longer as Cordelia desperately tried to compose herself.

"Ready?" Robin eventually asked. Cordelia replied by numbly nodding into Robin's shoulder.

The two got up from behind the brush. "Robin… I fear that if I go back in looking like this…" she gestured to her puffy, red eyes. "That it'll attract too much attention. And I'd hate to be a downer on such a monumental day for Sumia and Chrom."

Robin chuckled. "See, how can you be a bad person?" he smiled. "Don't worry. Take some time off, maybe go take a stroll around town or something. I'll tell anyone that asks, that you were feeling a little nauseous after lunch and just went to get some fresh air."

Cordelia let out a smile, which honestly wasn't easy for her.

"Thanks Robin. I really mean it."

April 6th

Chrom made the announcement a couple days ago that even though we have peace once again in our continent, we still need to be ready to mobilize for battle at a moment's notice. Emmeryn had emphasized peace, and as such, did not want to build up a Ylissena army. However, because of this, Plegia felt confident to declare war. There are many other continents, each with their own nations. News has it that the Valmese are building up a large army, so we need to be prepared in the event of an invasion.

Basically, things won't really change for the shepherds. We'll continue to train and protect the citizens of Ylisse, and be ready to become Chrom's personal force should a war suddenly erupt. Chrom, however, is also going to begin to build up an army. He has decided not to use conscription, and instead made it strictly voluntary. I didn't think he would get many recruits, but it turns out I was wrong. It seems that many of the border town Ylisseans were fed up with constant bandit raids, and they also did not like how the Plegians were able to bully them. Basically, the people think that it's a good idea to have some trained soldiers, to protect the civilians if nothing else, rather than to have almost none.

April 9th

Today, Sumia asked me to teach her how to cast magic. Apparently falicorns, unlike tradition pegasi, aren't scared of magic, which makes it possible for riders of falicorns to wield magic. She told me that if she learned how to use tomes, she'd be able to better support Chrom from a distance, instead of using javelins. I thought it was a pretty good idea, so I agreed.

It turns out, Sumia seems to have a decent natural affinity for magic. Even without much previous training, she was able to pick up on how to cast a basic thunder spell. This actually reminds me, I should pick up some better tomes in the future, for myself.

After we practiced for a couple hours (and worn out several tomes), Maribelle made her way over to us. I thought it weird at first why she would randomly come, because she doesn't use the facility. But apparently, she had found out that Sumia had been trying to learn how to use tomes, and wanted to join us. She said that she was tired of only being able to use her staves, and that being able to use tomes would mean she could protect herself, as well as doing a share of the fighting in the future. Maribelle caught up quickly. After all, it's not too much of a change from using staves to using tomes. Of the beginner tomes we've used, she seems to be most proficient in using wind magic.

While we were practicing, I managed to also get used to using dark tomes. Tharja has been asking me why I don't use them, since I'm capable of it, and it's much stronger. At first, I refused because I thought it was inhumane, but after some careful consideration, if I'm casting magic, often it will be to kill, so it shouldn't matter if the wound can be healed or not. If I do it right, they should be dead. It's not like I'll be tossing away regular magic either, and I can put all the tomes I want in the astral plane, so it doesn't hurt to learn.

April 11th

Today, Olivia had her first shift on chef duty. She made some sort of stew that I couldn't identify, which was weird, because I usually can tell exactly what I'm eating. I guess it must be Feroxi cuisine or something. I saw that many of the shepherds didn't like it too much, but I was, along with Gregor, one of the few that actually thought it tasted good. Well, at least good for a budget of 500 gold.

{Insert: April 11th}

Olivia made her way to Gregor with a bowl of stew in her hands.

"Um… excuse me…" she mumbled. "Gregor? I have your dinner if you're hungry."

Gregor looked up at her. "Gregor is very big man, yes?" he asked. "And big man is always hungry!" he looked at the bowl of food in Olivia's hands. "So it is your turn to make with the cooking, eh?"

Olivia nodded. "Yes. It's my first time, so if you don't like it, just let me know."

"Hmmm…." Gregor took the bowl of food from Olivia. "Gregor shall sample and give report." he took a slurp of the stew.

"Well?" Olivia asked him nervously.

"This is the tastiest liver stew Gregor have in his whole life!" he exclaimed.

"Oh, you recognize it?" Olivia asked, quite relieved. "Not many people outside of Regna Ferox recognize it… or like it for that matter."

Gregor smiled. "Gregor is sellsword, yes? Travel to many places, eat much of the food. That remind Gregor." At this, he pulled out a small pouch. "This is Gregor's secret spice! Here… Gregor put some in stew." he did just that.

"Have a taste!" Gregor offered. Olivia accepted, and took a spoonful.

"Omigosh!" she exclaimed. "It tastes at least twice as good! And you only put in a tiny amount!"

Gregor laughed. "Gregor's spice can turn bowl of gruel into feast fit for king!"

"It's amazing what a tiny pinch of spice can do to a meal… would you share some with me, pleeease?" Olivia begged.

"Many regrets." Gregor said sadly. "But Gregor is out of spice. He can make more, but it take time, yes?"

"Perhaps I can help?" Olivia offered. "I could gather ingredients for you, or something?"

Gregor laughed again. "Yes! That is the good idea! Gregor is happy for the help."

April 16th

I was surprised today to see Lissa with an axe in her hands today. She was with Libra. I ended up asking her, and she said that she wanted to learn how to use weapons so that she wasn't limited to only healing wounded soldiers. I guess she saw how Libra was able to both fight and heal, and aspired to be something like him. It will probably take her some time, but eventually, she'll get used to it I think.

Libra is also a good teacher. I'd be a lot more worried if it were Vaike, even though he calls himself Teach.

April 20th

Olivia decided to pick up swordplay today. I was chatting with Lon'qu when she approached him and asked if he'll teach her how to fight with a sword. I think she took notice of Lissa learning how to use an axe, and Maribelle learning to cast. I know she's always beating herself down about not being able to contribute much in a fight, and I think a sword is a pretty decent choice of a weapon for her. She'd be able to make use of her ability to move quickly.

What's strange to me is that Lon'qu didn't seem to have much of an issue dealing with her. I think it may have to do with the fact that they must've known each other at least a little bit back in Regna Ferox.

Once she gets better, I think it will be a huge asset for us.

April 23rd

Tharja got her hands on a cauldron today. It wasn't a large cauldron, but still a cauldron nonetheless. Chrom forbid her from keeping it in her room, since it would be a fire hazard. Instead, she put it in the shed, which means there's more room around it, and less likely for her to burn the entire place down. She's been spending a lot of time there recently.

Libra went to go check on her today, and upon returning, he notified us that she doesn't have ill intentions. Chrom decided that what she does in her free time is up to her, and so he didn't press the issue. I do wonder what she's up to, but I'm concerned she doesn't want people messing around with her too much.

{Insert: April 23rd}

"Tharja, are you here?" Libra asked as he walked into the shepherd's shed. The place was mostly empty, and no one really goes there, so Tharja had the entire place to her own.

"What do you want?" The dark mage was busy adding ingredients to her new cauldron, not even bothering to look up.

"I was just wondering what you were up to, is all." Libra told her.

"I'm trying to create a potion that changes memories." she finally decided to tell him.

"Really? Is that even possible?" Libra asked in surprise.

"Well, my goal is to create a potion that can recover memories, but that's a bit too difficult. So this is what I'm starting with. I figured I could go from there." Tharja muttered, continuing to work.

"I… see. Are you doing it for Robin, by any chance?" Libra finally asked.

"Everything I do is for Robin." Tharja replied immediately.

"That's admirable, I guess. I know that you supposedly served him before he lost his memories." Libra conceded. "So how will you know if it's a success?"

Tharja turned around. "Well, I'd need to test it on someone. Cast a hex on them and see what happens."

Libra nodded. "Good. Then I'd like to volunteer to be the test subject."

"Oh?" Tharja said in mock surprise. "A priest wants to make a sacrifice for the greater good? Shocker."

Libra closed his eyes. "I'm afraid my reasons are actually largely selfish."

"Sure, whatever." Tharja muttered, clearly not caring. "Just don't blame me if it goes horribly wrong. Accidents always happen when you're dabbling with hexes."

"I shall prepare for the worst, and hope for the best then." Libra said. "I'll leave you to it then."

April 30th

Today I saw Maribelle angrily huff away from Gaius. I'm not sure what was up, but she seemed extremely upset. Maybe I can bribe Gaius to tell me with some sweets. That usually works.

Regardless, she has always seemed to have something against the thief. I'm not sure what, but it might have something to do with Gaius' past as a criminal, I'm not certain about that though.

Perhaps I feel for Gaius because I'm in a similar position. Except it seems others know of Gaius' past, whereas no one really knows mine. I wonder if everyone would be as friendly if they knew about my past as a Plegian. I'm starting to see why Tharja refuses to tell me about my past. Maybe there is something there that would put my current wellbeing into jeopardy.

{Insert: April 30th}

"Gaius!" Maribelle angrily walked towards the thief.

"Hmm?" Gaius turned around to see her come at him.

"When we were getting rid of that bandit problem at Zhanbridge, I saw you hovering around me like a persistant fly. It disturbs me to see your leering visage." she told him bluntly.

"I'm sorry, Twinkles." Gaius said. "I thought I would try and atone for what I did. Then maybe-"

"Then maybe I would FORGIVE you?" Maribelle exclaimed. "Then we would become good friends? You broke into the royal treasury under the intention of stealing from the realm. And then you did it AGAIN!"

"Look, I know what I did was wrong." Gaius said while gritting his teeth. "I feel lousy about it. Naga strike me down if I don't."

"You must be a stone idiot if you think I believe a word you say!" Maribelle continued. "Have you forgotten what happened the first time? You claimed my FATHER was behind it! My poor, decent, innocent father! He was hauled in front of the magistrate and almost put to death because of you!"

"Actually the thing about that is…" Gaius looked like he had something to say, before immediately changing his mind. "Look, I may have claimed some things I'm not proud of to avoid the noose. But I'm a changed man now. Let me prove it to you!"

"Enough!" Maribelle exclaimed. "If I wanted a dog and pony show, I'd attend a carnival." She angrily huffed away.

"Look Twinkles, no tricks this time. I speak from the heart on this one." Gaius muttered to her retreating figure. "Oh well." he turned back to what he'd been doing, and popped a sucker into his mouth.

May 4th

Today was Chrom and Sumia's big day. They held their marriage at the castle, and the citizens of Ylisstol were all invited. Libra was the wedding officiant, and I was Chrom's best man. I told Cordelia she didn't have to go if she really didn't want to. I could've made up an excuse for her easily. However, she insisted it was something she needed to go to, and to her credit, she held it together for the entire time.

I was honestly surprised by how many of the Ylisseans attended this event. I guess they were pretty happy with what Chrom had done for them so far. I think Emmeryn would be proud of his accomplishments as well.

Regardless, Chrom and Sumia are married now. Sometimes they stay at the castle overnight together, and other times Chrom stays at the garrison with Sumia. You can clearly tell that they're happy with the way things are, both of them, which is a pretty good sign. Lissa keeps bugging them about getting her a niece or nephew, so who knows, perhaps we can expect a baby prince or princess in the near future.

June 6th

When we visited one of the eastern Ylissean villages today, there was a massive search and rescue for a young girl. Apparently the leader of the village's daughter went out to play today and didn't come back. Naturally, we helped out with the search. We eventually found the girl lost in the woods past the large field near the village. She was so relieved that she ran to her father crying. It's nice to be able to help the Ylissean civilians on things like that.

I saw Frederick conversing with Panne today. I've never actually seen Frederick seem nervous, but that's exactly what it looked like when he was talking to Panne. I wonder what that's about.

Come to think of it, he usually is pretty nervous when Panne is anywhere near him while we're in battle. I'm not sure what it might be, perhaps Frederick has a fear of animals or something. I really hope Panne doesn't take it as an insult.

{Insert: June 6th}

Frederick was participating in the search for a lost young girl. He made his way through the thickets of a large field. He turned his head, noticing something moving around in his peripheral vision.

"Is that her?" Frederick wondered to himself. He squinted his eyes. "That looks too big to be a little girl… Oh wait. That's just Panne, running around in her beast form." He instinctively moved his dominant hand to the sword attached to his hip. "Why is she charging at me?" as she began to draw closer, Frederick lost it. "BACK FOUL BEAST! BACK, LEST MY SWORD-"

When Panne came within ten feet of the Great Knight, she reverted to her human form. "F-finally! I was looking all over for you! We've found the girl, so we can stop searching now."

"Why'd you chase me down in beast form? I feared that you planned on eating me whole!" Frederick exclaimed.

"Running on four legs is much faster." Panne explained. "Did I scare you?"

"A knight knows no fear!" Frederick quickly came up with some eloquent bullshit. "That was more like surprise… or perhaps alarm."

"Lies!" Panne accused. "I hear your heart race even now! It's alright, you don't need to pretend for my sake. I'm quite used to fear and ignorance from your kind."

Seeing as his facade had been broken, Frederick quickly sought to right his wrong. "You mistake me, good lady. I hold no fear of the taguel. Behold: are we not conversing as equals?"

Panne cocked her head to one side. "Then why were you scared just now?"

"When I was but a young boy, I lived in a small village in the hills." Frederick explained. "One day I wandered into the forest, where I was set upon by a mountain wolf. My wounds were most grievous...many in the village doubted I would survive." he scratched his head sheepishly. "When you came running, you reminded me of the beast that attacked me and... I apologize, good lady. I did not mean to offend with my actions."

"I'm sorry, Frederick. I did not know." Panne apologized.

"It's fine. On the battlefield, the enemy is in front of me and I lose all fear." Frederick quickly said.

Panne laughed. "Spoken like a true warrior."

July 12th

Today I had another discussion with Chrom today. Once again, he'd been doing something risky, and I needed to show him what's what.

However, his reasoning actually caught me off guard, and some of what he said did make a lot of sense. Instead of lecturing him, I ended up getting my own eyes opened. I feel as if our friendship has reached another level after today.

{Insert: July 12th}

Robin walked up to Chrom in the dining hall right after lunch.

"I heard you've been going on some of the patrols with very few men recently." Robin said as he sat down next to him.

"Only for the immediate area." Chrom said defensively. "The longer trips warrant more people."

"You know what I'm about to say then, don't you?" Robin frowned.

Chrom rolled his eyes. "Yes I know. It's too risky… I need to be more careful… Thank you mother."

"If you understand Chrom, then why?" Robin asked.

"Look." Chrom said seriously. "I know there could be enemies lying in wait, trying to ambush me. But there also could be people out there that need my help. I can't ignore those in need."

"But that's why you can have other people go for you, right?" Robin continued arguing his point.

"Well, think about yourself." Chrom pointed at him. "Imagine it was just Frederick that found you that day. Would we have ever met?"

Robin thought about it for a moment. "Probably not." he conceded.

"You see?" Chrom said. "It's not just like you, but people like you. I know being out there exposes me to danger, and I haven't been the most careful. But it's a risk I'm willing to take in order to meet new people and forge new bonds."

"Bonds?" Robin questioned. "Between who?"

"You and me. Me and others." Chrom replied. "The villagers we've met… The world we've seen… Such bonds are the true strength of us. Without them, we're lost. Some may disagree, but that's the benefit of being the leader. I get to make the final call."

Robin shook his head. "It's hard to argue when you use me as an example, but at least let me come with you."

"Oh? For what reason?" Chrom asked.

Robin smiled. "Because I want to be with you when you find the next me, face down in a field. I wanna help you forge these bonds."

September 15th

I saw Sully and Stahl practicing together again today. However, unlike usual, Stahl was handily beating Sully in every round. I honestly don't think it's because Sully has gotten worse, but rather that Stahl has gotten a lot better.

Frederick was also observing them. He said that they had both improved quite immensely, and gave them each a master seal.

Sully has decided to pick up some heavier armor and learn how to use axes while Stahl decided that he'll pick up lances, something he'd always been meaning to do, but never got around to doing.

In the future, these two will be a force to be reckoned with on the battlefield.

{Insert: September 15th}

Stahl knocked Sully off her horse with a strong blow of his practice sword. It was the fourth time in a row he'd beaten her today. Normally, he'd be too chivalrous do something like that, but Sully had made it clear that it'd be an insult if he held anything back whilst practicing with her.

"Oof!" Sully exclaimed, picking herself off the ground. "I'm gonna be feeling that one tomorrow! Hurts like a bitch!"

Stahl chuckled. "Stahl the Panther strikes again!" he gave Sully a goofy grin. "Still, I think I get what you were talking about. The right attitude makes the whole difference!"

Sully sighed. "Yeah… and everyone expects you to show me up someday."

"Huh?" Stahl wondered.

"It's OK, I'm used to it…" Sully lamented.

"Is everything alright?" Stahl asked in concern. "You're getting weird on me."

"It's just… everyone looks at me and they can only see a damn woman!" Sully angrily exclaimed.

"Um, Ok?" Stahl said quizzically. "Not sure what this is coming from, but if I implied-"

"Not you, dolt!" Sully interrupted. "You treat me as an equal, and I've always appreciated that. I just worry… what if you surpass me someday? Not a little bit, but by a damn lot. People won't think it's due to hard work or skill, they'll just see another damn man beating a woman."

"Now who's being wishy washy?" Stahl chuckled.

"Don't you dare lecture me, chump!" Sully angrily huffed. "I'll kick you right in the-"

Stahl laughed, interrupting her. "Now that's the Sully I know! A Bull in the making! Or is it a mewling sheep? Better go another round and find out!"

"Oh I'm so gonna hand you your lunch in a second!" Sully exclaimed as she remounted. "Come on, tough guy! Show me what you're made of!"

October 2nd

I saw Cordelia giving Gaius a haircut today. Recently, I've noticed that Gaius has been paying more attention to hygiene and general appearance. I wonder if Cordelia has anything to do with that. If you compare him right now to the old Gaius, you wouldn't even think it is the same person.

That actually reminds me. Cordelia seems to also be doing better recently. I still see her gazing longingly after Chrom once in a while, but for the most part, she seems to have gotten over it. She hasn't been avoiding Sumia either, and they two still get along very well. After all, they were, and I guess still, best friends.

Overall, I think it's a good sign that Cordelia seems to be getting along with Gaius. If I recall correctly, when she first became a shepherds, she had a strong dislike for him. This is an event that can be beneficial for all parties.

{Insert: October 2nd}

Cordelia was walking around the courtyard, trying to get her mind off of Chrom for what seemed like the tenth time that day. "Why can't you just leave me alone?" she asked herself, holding her head in her hands.

She sighed to herself and began to return to the garrison. On her way though, she spotted Gaius returning from visiting the streets of Ylisstol.

"Gaius!" she called. "Weren't you wearing that same outfit yesterday?"

Gaius made a face at her. "Yes, but it was CLEAN yesterday. One extra day won't hurt, will it?"

Cordelia furrowed her eyebrows. "And have you combed your hair?"

"Er… no." Gaius admitted. "But I DID dunk my head in a watering trough a couple of nights ago."

"Hmmm…." Cordelia thought for a moment. "It's beginning to get a little long. Let me trim your hair."

Gaius sighed. "I suppose I'm not getting out of this, am I? All right, do your worst. Have to look good for Chrom, or somethin' like that, right? Message received. I'll dress like a dandy so as to not make Chrom look bad."

Cordelia went off to fetch a pair of scissors. She immediately got to work cutting Gaius's hair.

"Would you be so kind as to cut off some more on the sides? I like 'em short." Gaius said as she worked.

"Already on it." Cordelia replied.

December 31st

Today is New Year's Eve. I was pretty excited, because it's the first New Year's Eve since I've become a shepherd, and since I lost my memories, for that matter. The shepherds voted on who would cook the New Year's eve dinner, and I won alongside Lissa, so the two of us were assigned to cook the feast tonight. To be honest, Sumia is probably a better cook than Lissa, but she was already cooking lunch, and so we didn't want her to have to make dinner as well. I'm not sure exactly how Lissa won, but there was a rumor circulating that she was trying to learn new things, and cooking was one of them. I guess everyone figured things will turn out OK as long as I'm one of the chefs, so they granted her wish by voting for her.

We ended up being able to afford some actual good food this time because Chrom decided that the New Year's feast should be special. I know Lissa is not the best chef, but arguably, most of the shepherds aren't either. And I'm quite confident in my own abilities, so I think we'll be OK.

The celebration was a massive success. Everyone kept complimenting us on how good the food tasted. Lissa had a proud smile on her face the entire time, and I felt extremely happy to have been appreciated as well.

{Insert: December 31st}

"Robin!? Where are you?" Lissa walked through the shepherd's garrison, looking for the tactician. "It's time to go food shopping!"

Robin walked out of his room in a hurry. "I'm coming, I'm coming!"

"Hurry up! We won't time to get everything, otherwise!" Lissa huffed. "I've already gotten a horse and cart ready. C'mon, let's go!"

The two made their way into town. The weather was a little chilly, but there was no snow on the ground. After all, Ylisstol is a little too far south for snow usually. However, Lissa bundled up with a big coat. Unless you looked closely, you couldn't even recognize that she's the princess of the realm. Robin, not seeming to mind the cold, simply wore his regular cloak.

"What do you have in mind?" Lissa asked Robin when they've reached the market. "I know Chrom will complain if we don't have at least one gamey dish… but that doesn't mean I have to eat it!" she quickly added.

Robin shrugged. "I don't actually know. Usually, I just look around the market and buy whatever looks good. Then I make it into something that tastes phenomenal."

Lissa nodded. "Well I suppose that works. Let's take a look around the market then."

The two did just that. Some of the stands were selling cooked food as well.

"That smells good…" Lissa muttered as they passed a stand selling lamb kebabs. She thought she had whispered it quietly enough so that no one could hear it, but it still wasn't quiet enough for Robin to miss it. He quickly stopped the cart and walked up to the stand.

"Hey! I didn't mean-" Lissa began, but seeing as Robin was already digging out some money to pay, didn't press the issue. "Oh…. you just HAD to say something, didn't you, Lissa?" she scolded herself.

"Can I get one bunch please?" Robin told the vender, and handed over the money. The vendor handed over two bunches. "Uh… I just payed for one, sir." Robin told the man.

"You're a shepherd, right?" The man asked. "I thought I recognized you. They saved my village from some bandits about a month ago. Take the extra bunch on the house. One for you, and one for your lady friend." The man gestured at Lissa and winked.

Robin suppressed a chuckle. He gave the man a charismatic smile. "Thanks, it's greatly appreciated. And…" he quickly added. "I'm glad we were of service."

He returned to Lissa and handed her one bunch of kebabs. "Here you go, my treat."

Lissa gladly accepted the kebabs and began to eat one of them. "Thanks Robin, but we really shouldn't spend the money meant for the feast on this type of stuff…"

Robin laughed. "Of course not! That's from my own pocket."

"Oh…" Lissa murmured. "Thanks, Robin."

The two continued to wander around the market. Among other things, they settled on buying a whole lamb, a couple of pheasants, and a large amount of beef. Robin did most of the haggling, and Lissa couldn't help but appreciate just how charismatic Robin was. He was always able to tell exactly how low a merchant was willing to go, and so they ended up with far more food than if Lissa had gone shopping by herself.

They had already gone through most of the market, and their cart was beginning to fill up. "Well, should we start heading back?" Lissa asked, gazing at everything they had bought.

Robin shook his head. "Of course not! We still have some money left, and we haven't gone to buy herbs and spices!"

"Umm… aren't those kind of expensive?" Lissa asked. "Do we have enough left?"

Robin smiled. "Of course. Don't forget who's the one setting the prices!" The tactician pointed at himself and chuckled.

"Alright… if you say so." Lissa agreed.

Sure enough, they were able to buy a good amount of additives for their meal thanks to Robin's charisma.

"Do you use these often in your food?" Lissa asked, gesturing to the newly bought pouches that Robin had placed in their cart. They had began to make their way back to the garrison.

"Always." Robin replied. "Otherwise, the food doesn't taste half as good."

"That explains why everyone loves your food." Lissa said, seeming to reach a revelation. "But how do you afford it? It's not like you get this much money to spend on a normal day. Even with your haggling skills, I don't think it would be enough."

Robin smiled. "That's a secret. Something that only I will know."

Lissa pouted. "Fine. Be like that."

Once they got back to the garrison, it was already well into the afternoon. The pair immediately got to work making the food.

"So… uh… what exactly are we making? I haven't really done it like this before." Lissa asked the tactician. "Sumia usually gives me detailed instructions on how to make things."

Robin didn't mind. He gave Lissa the simpler tasks, such as chopping vegetables and preparing the meat. Lissa was also relieved that she didn't have to work with the variety of herbs and spices since she had no previous experience working with them.

Robin got to work making the sauces and dry rubbing some of the meats. They worked well into the afternoon, and some of the delectable aromas began to flood the dining hall as the food began to cook.

Some of the shepherds stopped by and just smelled the air as they walked by, giving the pair some compliments as they worked. Stahl even came and sat in the dining hall. His diligence proved to pay off, as Robin invited him to help them taste some of the food they were making in order to make sure they were of the best quality.

Soon, it was almost time for dinner. Unlike most meals, they've decided to place all the food on the tables, and eat in a buffet style. There was, among other things, roasted pheasant, braised herb and lemon lamb, ginger garlic beef, eggplant parmesan, grilled asparagus, mashed potatoes, apple pie, peach pie, strawberry rhubarb pie, and many other delicacies.

Everyone eagerly filled up their plates and dug in. Robin and Lissa had made enough for everyone to have nearly twice as much as a normal meal, and yet it was still not enough to feed everyone.

The shepherds ate and drank and laughed. It was almost like a real family gathering.

January 1st, Year 1

Today is the first day of a new year, and also the first New Year's day I've had since I lost my memories. Nothing much happened today, as most of us were still sluggish from eating so much yesterday. However, I am looking forward to the entire new year I will be able to spend with the rest of the shepherds.

February 18th, Year 1

Today I saw Lissa sewing. Or at least, attempting to sew. Apparently she's really bad at it, but wants to learn how to do it in order to be more "lady-like." Chrom has told her multiple times before that she doesn't need to change anything about herself, but I guess Lissa has other things in mind. Regardless, she poked herself in her hands so often that she had to go find Maribelle to help heal her.

Gaius ended up helping her out today. The guy is surprisingly good at tasks requiring intense dexterity. I suppose that would make sense though, as having that trait helps him a lot as a thief. I guess he's still finding uses for his talents even after being reformed.

April 20th, Year 1

Today Sumia gave birth to her first child. Chrom discussed it with her, and they decided to name the baby Lucina, since she was the light of their life.

The child bears the Brand of the Exalt in her left eye. It does seem a bit weird, but her eye still seems to be functioning like normal. It's actually pretty fascinating if you observe it closely. Once you get used to it, it really makes baby Lucina kind of cute.

Sumia probably won't come to the garrison in the near future, in order to rest and nurse baby Lucina. Some of the shepherds won't be happy about, including Maribelle and Sully, who have been DYING to see the newborn. I should consider myself fortunate, because no one in the shepherds, aside from Frederick, Lissa and myself has had the chance to see her yet.

July 3rd, Year 1

Today Vaike and Chrom had a cooking contest. To my chagrin, they had me judge the winner. What's worse, they even tried to go out of their comfort zone to make a "fancy" dish. Vaike's was pretty bad by itself, but at least I could see the effort behind it. Well, sort of. Chrom's on the other hand, tasted absolutely atrocious. If he weren't my best friend, I would've shoved the rest of it down his gullet for daring to feed me something that disgusting. Of course, my comments to them were much more tame. After all, these two aren't known for being the best chefs at the garrison. I declared Vaike the winner, albeit reluctantly. Neither of them deserved to win, to be honest.

October 19th, Year 1

Today I saw Kellam playing hide and seek with Nowi. It was really humorous because Nowi kept running around, asking if anyone had seen Kellam. Of course, everyone had not seen him recently. I eventually got so curious to where Kellam was that I pulled out my Hekseer to track him. Turns out, Nowi had run by him several times as she looked, but had been unable to find him every time.

By the time they were done, it was already dark. I really have to hand it to Kellam, he has more endurance and self control than anyone I've seen. Had it been me, I would've coughed or something as Nowi ran by in order for the game to end. It's really nice for Kellam to play with Nowi though. Her joy is often contagious, but at some times, she also seems incredibly childish. Having a way to vent that childishness can be very important for someone like her.

December 14th, Year 1

Gaius decided to ask Virion for a few tips and pick up archery. He was talking to me earlier about not being able to do anything when we raided that bandit camp a couple weeks ago. He can really only use knives, which require him to get really close to his enemy. But if he could also shoot, he'll be useful even if enemies are far away.

I, for one, supported this wholeheartedly. Having more people capable of archery is really good for when our opponents have a lot of flying units they'll try to swarm us with. Even against brigands, he'll be able to stay far away from the edge of their axes, so why not? It's better than loitering around town, trying to get free candies from the shopkeepers. At least this way, he'll be doing something productive on his time off too.

January 10th, Year 2

Today, Sully and Stahl announced to us that they were going to get married. I think it was a shock for most of the shepherds, but I had been paying attention to them in the last several months, and they've been drawing closer and closer to one another. I think it's because they spend so much time together, even without meaning to, that they were able to become so close.

Anyways, everyone wished them well. I think this would work well for them in the future, since they fight together most of the time anyways.

{Insert: January 10th, Year 2}

Sully and Stahl were once again, training in a makeshift practice ring outside. Stahl, once again, knocked Sully off her mount.

"All right! Enough, I yield!" Sully panted. "Naga, Stahl, you're a damned beast today."

Stahl grinned. "It's all thanks to your help, Sully."

Sully shook her head. "No, I didn't make you strong, you were tough to begin with."

"So does this mark the end of Sully's reign of terror?" Stahl asked.

Sully frowned. "For today. But there's always tomorrow."

"I knew you weren't going to give up quietly." Stahl complemented. "You've always worked harder and aspired higher than anyone. You're amazing."

"Yeah, well, I never could've done it without you around." Sully admitted. "It's easy to keep on the path when you've got someone walking beside you. You're about the best training partner I've ever had."

"Um…" Stahl began nervously. "Well maybe I could become more than a training partner?" he pulled a ring out of his bag that he had on the ground at the edge of the ring. He walked back over to Sully and offered it to her.

"Wait… what are you… are you giving me a ring?" Sully asked him, dumbfounded.

"Yeah. It's a wedding ring." Stahl confirmed. "I'm still more Mouse than Panther most days. But with you at my side, I can become the man and knight I aspire to be. And I want to be there to spur you along, too." he said. "...Not that you need it." he added quickly.

Sully smirked. "That's a pretty bold offer, Mr. Mouse!"

"Yeah, I may look confident, but I'm about to soil my good pair of trousers." Stahl admitted. "If it weren't for you, I'd never be able to ask something like this. You're my courage, Sully."

"That's actually very sweet." Sully smiled. "I accept. We've got a long ways to go, but I'll have no other traveling companion. It's you and me to the end!" she took the ring from Stahl.

"Then here's to the new Bull and Panther!" Stahl declared. "C'mon, let's tell the others!"

"Hold on, don't get too excited. We should go clean up first. I don't know about you, but I'm still all sweaty from training." Sully reminded him.

"Yeah, you've got a point." Sully smiled sheepishly.

March 6th, Year 2

Tomorrow we're heading back towards the Feroxi border. Apparently there's more bandits popping up over there. I'm preparing just in case. I packed my Elthunder and Ruin tomes, and reviewed the topography of the region we'll be going to.

As for tonight, it's my turn to cook again, so I'll stop writing in order to go buy materials. Usually I don't write until I'm about to go to bed, but I guess I was just bored today. Not much to do after all. The action will be tomorrow. Time to go prepare another delicious meal. That's it for now.

Class Changes:

Lissa: War Cleric

Virion: Sniper

Vaike: Berserker*

Stahl: Paladin

Sully: Great Knight

Miriel: Sage

Kellam: General

Lon'qu: Swordmaster

Donnel: Hero

Ricken: Sage

Maribelle: Valkyrie

Gaius: Assassin

Cordelia: Falcon Knight

Gregor: Hero

Tharja: Sorcerer

Olivia: Myrmidon