Chapter Thirteen
Corrin is very confused.
He looks around the small village they are passing through, half-watching as Felicia encourages Sakura and her retainers to choose ingredients for tonight's dinner. Those three are at a stall selling very healthy looking vegetable. The brunette woman from behind the stall has a bright smile on her face, answering Subaki on how she got the food looking so perfect. The woman is beat red at the praises she gets by the small group.
Azura is somewhere around the village. Corrin can hear her humming her usual song from his spot over by the side of the road.
Gunter has gone looking to see if the people around here sell horses.
A small, young brunette hesitantly walks up to Corrin. The white haired man sucks in a breath, recognizing the girl by her tell-tale freckles and brown cape. She has no idea who he is, by way of the reset. The girl twists something in her hands and smiles up at the man.
"Howdy!" the girl drawls happily. "My name's Mozu!"
"Hello Mozu," Corrin says, small smile on his face as he hides his confusion. "My name is Corrin."
Mozu's grin stretches into a bright smile, and she sighs in relief. "Well, thank goodness. I was worried you weren't the right man." She blushes when Corrin blinks in shock. She thrusts out her hands. "I'm supposed to give these to you."
Corrin feels his insides turn cold. He gingerly picks up the rock, which has a small piece of paper tied to it. He slides the paper out, and freezes at the sight of markings on the rock.
"A woman saved our village from Faceless," Mozu drawls happily, looking concerned at Corrin's reaction. "She told me to give this to a white haired man named Corrin, who was supposed to come by today. And here you are!"
Corrin gulps and grips his hands around the rock and paper, holding them at his side. He looks into Mozu's eyes, trying to appear nonchalant. "Can you describe what this woman looked like?"
Mozu's face scrunches up as she tries to think. "She had black hair, and dark red eyes." Mozu pauses and glances innocently at his face. "Is she your sister?"
Corrin shudders slightly. He hopes not. He already has too much family drama. "No, I'm sorry. Did she give you a name?"
"Zinnia," Mozu answers. "Like the flower."
"Thank you, Mozu," Corrin says.
Mozu smiles brightly. She opens her mouth to say something more, but the woman at the vegetable stand calls her over. Mozu blushes and nods to Corrin. "That's my mother. If you see the woman, can you thank her for me? She sort of dropped those with me and left without a goodbye."
"I will," Corrin says, unnerved.
Mozu nods and rushes over to help her mother back food away for part of Corrin's team. Corrin stares after her, both thankful and worried. He is glad the village survived, he really is. But… why? Every route so far, he has come and saved Mozu, the lone survivor. It… is going to be strange without her.
He takes some comfort that she can live happily with her mother, never knowing the pain war would have brought to her life.
Corrin turns and looks at the rock in his hand. He breathes in through his nose, and out through his mouth, trying not to panic. At least he knows where the missing rock ended up.
The Monument is in his hands now.
Corrin turns over the piece of paper, seeing as it isn't so blank on the other side. It is in the same writing as the Monument. He doesn't need the rock to translate the unfamiliar scrawl. He can read the six words, clear as day.
No Faceless will attack this village.
The turmoil inside Corrin is enough to stop him from breathing. This village is safe, and he won't be getting Mozu on his team. He can't say he isn't happy, but something doesn't feel right. The script for today said he is supposed to arrive to a village filled with Faceless. This has never happened before. The world has never strayed from the script, and Corrin has been reading the updates every day to make sure events continue how they are supposed to.
It's just one village. It's just a paralogue. It shouldn't change much in the long run.
"Lord Corrin?" Felicia asks, breaking into his thoughts. Corrin jerks his head over to her in surprise. Felicia looks concerned, but doesn't ask. "We are ready to leave now. Gunter has obtained a horse suited for travelling, but there was none taught to be fighting mounts.
Corrin sucks in a needy breath and nods. "That's fine." He comes back to himself, and remembers he needs to think about the now, with his friends. He can worry about the note later tonight. "That's good. Alright. Let's go. Thank you, Felicia."
Felicia nods with a slight smirk. "After you, milord."
Corrin breathes out a sigh and smile. "Thank you, Felicia. I'm sorry, I was just thinking. Would you like me to carry some groceries?"
"Would you mind taking the bag from my arm?" Felicia asks with a slight blush.
"Not at all," Corrin replies, taking the loop of the bag and sliding it off her arm. "Thank you for buying the food."
Felicia smiles widely. "Lady Sakura and her retainers picked most of it. Subaki offered to cook tonight, and I am excited to see what he makes!"
Corrin pauses, and coughs to hide his smile. He remembers what happens when Subaki destroys the kitchen in an attempt to create the 'perfect' dish. They have a tight budget this time around; Corrin cannot afford for people to destroy everything they make in the kitchen.
There is a separate account to replace everything Felicia drops, but only Corrin, Gunter, and Kaze know about that.
"I'm sure whatever he makes will be delicious," is all Corrin says, falling in step with her to meet the others of the group.
Only when they leave the town, and Corrin's hands brush the Monument and paper note, does the young prince think about the abnormality of the day.
But one distortion to a paralogue shouldn't lead to the distortion of the timeline, right?
…Corrin just wants a happy ending.
;;;
Elise presses her ear closer to the door, listening to her father rant to an unknown person on the other side. She flinches when she hears him threaten Corrin, and steps back from the door.
"Xander will know what to do," Elise mutters to herself. "He has to." She turns from the wall, intent on looking for her eldest brother, and stops at the sight of Camilla frowning at her.
"You shouldn't be spying on Father, Elise," Camilla says sadly. "What if you had been caught?"
"But Corrin is in danger," Elise insists, begging to her sister with wide eyes. "We need to help him, Camilla. Xander and Leo can't possibly agree with father threatening Corrin-"
"Enough," Camilla says softly. Elise steps back, hurt flashing on her face. Camilla closes her eyes and turns away. "You should not get involved, Elise. When Corrin did not choose us, Father gained all right to seek out punishment."
"But Corrin didn't choose anyone." Elise demands her sister see sense. The young girl runs in front of Camilla. Elise clasps her hands together and begs. "Please, Camilla. We can't sit here and do nothing. Corrin is still our brother. We are still his family."
"We must do nothing for now," Camilla chokes out, eyes still closed. "Now, return to your room, Elise. Father has summoned me."
"What does Father want?" Elise asks. Camilla silently turns around and walks to the doors Elise was leaning against earlier. "No. Camilla, we can't hurt Corrin. We can't attack our brother."
"I must talk with Father," Camilla says, opening and slipping through the door before Elise can reply.
Elise stands in the hallway for some time. She leans against the door Camilla closed, but only catches part of the conversation. Elise chokes and sprints away from the door. She feels the tears gathering in her eyes, and has never remembered feeling this betrayed before. She tries to block out her Father's voice, telling Camilla to kill Corrin on sight.
Elise goes to turn a corner, but skids to a stop. She quickly hurries back around the corner, trying to breathe quietly. She wipes her tears from her eyes, listening to the two men around the corner talk.
"The messenger says Zola has Hoshidian Prince Takumi in Izumo," says Xander.
"Are we sure the messenger is speaking the truth," replies Leo. Elise shudders at the miniscule amount of anger leaking into her brother's voice. "Zola is not one to be trusted."
"Zola may be coward," Xander says emotionlessly, "but he would not risk his life for false news to be delivered."
There is a silence, and Elise really wants to look around the corner. Finally, Leo gives an aggravated sigh. "Fine. I will prepare a warp book for Izumo and see if Zola's messenger delivered any truth. If Prince Takumi truly is there, I shall bring him back to the castle."
"Thank you, brother," Xander says emotionlessly.
"I do not want thanks," Leo snaps. Elise hears a rustle, as if he suddenly jerked. "Promise me you will talk to Father about Corrin's punishment."
Xander's voice finally takes an infliction, and he sounds angry. "Corrin betrayed us. The punishment for betrayal is death."
"I know," Leo growls. "I do not wish to fight you on this, Xander, but if our brother walked through the front doors to beg for forgiveness, I would not want him to be slaughtered before he pleads his case."
"Corrin did not choose us," Xander says coldly.
"But he did not choose Hoshido, either," Leo points out. "We have to convince him he has a home here, before those in Hoshido convince him to turn his back on us forever."
"Our little prince would never do that," Xander says softly.
Elise draws in a sharp breath, muffled by her hand over her mouth. If Leo's silence is anything to go by, he's as shocked as she is. Xander hasn't said the nickname since the day Corrin refused to choose a side.
"You never know, Xander," Leo says softly. "Anger and fear changes a person. If Corrin believes we are hunting him, he may never return."
"We have more important things to deal with then to chase after a traitorous prince," Xander says, back to being emotionless. "When will you be heading to Izumo?"
Leo exhales sharply. "Tomorrow afternoon. I will gather the items for a warp book tonight, and form it in the morning."
"Do you need anyone to come with you?"
"I will take Niles and Odin with me," Leo says coolly. "If there is any trouble, three of us should be able to take care of it."
"Good day, then, Leo," Xander says sharply.
Elise hears footsteps coming towards her, and she quickly looks for an escape. She spots a door, and rushes into an empty room without thought. The princess peaks through the door, watching as Xander marches by.
He looks so cold.
Elise breathes a sigh of relief when her eldest brother disappears. Then, a smile starts to spread across her face.
She can't help Corrin from inside the castle. If Leo is heading to Izumo, then maybe she can catch a ride. As long as he doesn't know she came with him, she can free Prince Takumi and enlist his help in finding Corrin. After all, what reason would a Hoshidian royal have for not searching for Corrin?
Elise feels bad because she is about to go behind not only her siblings back, but also leave her retainers behind. They won't be punished if she pretends she isn't feeling well, and leaves without them knowing. Other than a maid or two bringing soup, Elise will be entirely alone if she claims sickness.
Fooling Leo will be simple enough. Odin and Niles might be more of a problem. Though, if they let her brother walk out of his room with his pants on backwards, they might find something funny in her coming along 'unseen'.
Elise decides to find Odin tomorrow before they go to leave. If she lies well enough, then the dark mage won't question her. Niles won't question Odin, even if he is suspicious of her. Elise just needs to make sure Leo doesn't see her.
Elise smiles brightly and leaves the empty, unused room with a spring in her step. Her guilt is overshadowed by her excitement. She has a plan. She has a mission.
She is going to help Corrin.
A/N: Thanks for reading!