Book 1: A dragon flaps its wings
Chapter 2: Raising bird
14th day of the Guardian Moon of Imperial Year 1176
xxx
"Really Seteth? You come here and ask me so much private information out of the blue? You could have least brought me some flowers first."
Manuela, the physician of Garreg Mach Monastery, was strolling through her office. She was a woman in her best years with light brown hair and brown eyes who was wearing a stylish red dress under a white whitecoat.
Looking into the green-haired man's face however, the only reaction she got was a frown. With a sigh she moved towards her desk.
"You know, you'll never find a woman if you keep making such a frightening expression." Manuela said as she gathered her documents. "Honestly with a scowl like that you'll have them running for the hills...though I think the ghost people have claimed to have seen yesterday has done most of the work for you."
"It must not be terrifying enough given that your still here" said Seteth in a deadpan tone.
"Perhaps I am an exception, you're easy enough on the eyes even with such serious look pn your face." Manuela sat down and began organizing the papers. "For such a handsome man I've never seen you with a woman outside a professional setting"
Seteth only rolled his eyes. "I doubt that it is in your interest to see if and when I find my significant other." When Manuela started to speak, the man interrupted her immediately "And no, I have no such feelings for Lady Rhea, no matter what some of the clergy are saying."
"If you say so." the physician answered. "So, about our new guests…" her eyes focused on the piece of paper in her hand. "What do you want to know?"
"Everything you have." was the reply. "We have no knowledge what happened to him or his friend. If it could be a threat to the Monastery, we need to prepare ourselves."
Manuela nodded. "Well, for someone who was unconscious for two days he is in a surprisingly well condition. I couldn't find any lasting damage, neither physically nor mentally." the woman shared her first discoveries. "With maybe the exception of the events that led to his unfortunate stay in our beds. He told me he can't remember what happened to him or his friend."
"You think he could be lying?" the man clad in blue asked, listening to the change in Manuela's voice while she reported her findings.
"I don't know. What's interesting is, that he couldn't answer any question regarding Fodlan at all. Neither the names of the great nation nor the church of Seiros seemed familiar to him. Maybe he stems from another country, possibly even from one that lies across the sea." Manuela shared her thoughts. "This could also explain the strange clothing that he and his friend were wearing as well as their strange weapons."
Seteth nodded in agreement. After the two unconscious boys had been brought into the March, he had personally taken care of everything they had on their person. Their items were stored in in a separate chamber in the armory. If the men were friendly, they would return their items to them. And if they were hostile, they would be much easier to handle.
"Anything else?" he asked, signalling Manuela to continue her repot.
"The boy is fit and most likely well trained. He managed to pass all physical tests I gave him without any problem." the physician continued. "But there is something else…" the brown-haired female seemed to be looking for the right words. "I think you know that both men have a scar on their chest, right?" she suddenly asked.
Seteth nodded, he had been informed about this fact shortly after the two patients had been brought into the infirmary.
"To be honest, I don't understand how that boy is still alive?"
"What?" Seteth asked confused.
"While we changed them, I only took a short glance at the scar, so it didn't occur to me until the physical examination, but the scar sits exactly where his heart should be." To support this point she put one of her hands on her own chest. "And the scar isn't only on his chest, but also on his back. Same size and same place. Whatever it was, that did this to him, it had to have gone through his heart, no doubt about it."
"Wouldn't it be possible that it isn't just one, but multiple scars?"
Manuela shook her head. "I have seen too many scars and even scars on scars." She explained. "If both wounds would have been inflicted on different times, there would be a difference, either in size, form or the colour of the skin. But there is no difference. Both are perfectly round. And to make matters worse, I can't think of any weapon that would leave such a huge scar. Blades, Arrows and Lances aren't big enough to affect such an area. And if they were drilled while inside the boy's body, the scars would look different. I can also exclude axes, since nobody would try to use an axe as a piercing weapon. Which would leave either magic or knuckles, but if he was hit by either of those, his heart must have been destroyed and the boy would be dead." She raised her face and looked Seteth directly into his eyes. "I also tried to feel his pulse, but I couldn't find one." the physician finished.
The woman raised the paper with the notes and held it towards Seteth. "When I asked him about the wound, he only answered that it was his payback for taking on a gambit he couldn't win. Nothing I can work with, really."
"Thank you, Manuela." the man accepted the paper and looked over the notes.
"But what are you going to do with him now? I doubt it would be a good idea to let him roam free." the healer asked.
"A soldier was ordered to be his guard. Keep an eye on him and his health while also making sure he doesn't do anything bad or go anywhere he isn't allowed to." His eyes focused on the top of the document in his hand. "Because something is telling me that Crow Armbrust from Erebonia could be a troublemaker."
xXx
Just a few rooms away said Crow Armbrust put his third book about the history of Fodlan down. Ever since he had awoken in this strange new place there had been many questions on his mind. And unfortunately the only two person he could talk to about them were indisposed at the moment. With a sigh the silver haired man went over everything he had found out. Fodlan wasn't Zemuria, neither in the past or in the future. The geography was different and he didn't knew any of the places listed on the maps he had seen.
Then there was no mention of any historical event of Erebonian or Zumrian history. Neither the War of the Lions nor the incident with the Salt Palt was mentioned. The only event close to them was the War of Heroes. Crow at first had belived that there was a connection between this war and the Divine Knights. But unfortunately that wasn't the case. The involved numbers didn't add up and Saint Chichol, who was renowned for his skill with a lance, was a male. This alone shot down any potential connection to the War of the Lions, since Lianne Sandlot, the renowned wielder of the lance of that event, had been a woman.
Crow suppressed a bitter laugh. He remembered the meeting with McBurn in the depths of the Gnomes stronghold. How the strongest enforcer of Ourobors told him that he came from a place outside from Zemuria. Who would have thought that he would experience a similar situation but in reverse. For a moment the young man thought about the possibility of this being McBurn's home dimension. But this picture didn't really fit in his mind. As such he decided to concentrate on other questions first. Mostly because there were way too many.
Crow was still surprised, how easy it was for him to be allowed to roam free. When he was questioned after his awakening, he assumed that he would spent the next days or weeks in suspension until he could either convince the leaders of this place of his true place of origin or he would be killed for being an anomaly.
The next question was in regard to Ordine and Valimar. Why hadn't he been asked about the two Divine Knights. He doubted that the two had disappeared, mostly because he would have been dead if that would be the case. He remembered being told that he and Rean had been brought in by a scouting party. And in this case the leading person should have also been told about some eight foot tall mechanical beings. Unless the Awakeners and the Knights had been separated beforehand. But why? It wouldn't make any sense.
"Excuse me, Mr. Armbrust" a youthful voice pulled Crow out of his thoughts. I front of him stood the fourth big question, a young knight called Johann.
He was designated as Crow's guard during his recovery at this place. And yet, the warrior didn't seem all that special to the man from Erebonia. From a quick glance Crow was sure that even without his weapons he could easily take this guard down.
The reason he didn't do it was his own inexperience with this world. He couldn't assess anything about the strength and the numbers of the Knights at this place. He also didn't know if the people here had some sort of secret weapon. And given his own experience with McBurn he didn't want to risk running into a similarly strong opponent like the Almighty Conflagration by accident. Crow also had to consider Rean.
His friend still lay inside the infirmary with no sign of waking up. If Crow would start something now, he would not only risk Rean being taken hostage, it could also hinder him if he had to protect an unconscious person at the same time.
As such, as long as the treatment didn't get any worse, he would lay low. Or at least until Rean would wake up and the two had some time to plan their next move.
"Here is the book you asked for." Johann put the piece of literature right in front of the other man, the title "Crests and their meanings" was resplendent on the cover.
Crow gave a short look at the book in front of him before noticing a second book still under the soldier's arm. "And this is?"
"Oh," Johan answered a little embarrassed "I thought I could help you with your research." the young man showed a second copy of the book about Crests. "If you have questions I may also be able to help... to some extend."
Crow stared at him with an intense stare, before braking into a smile. "And I bet it beats watching little old me reading, right?" A shameful look towards the ground told the man from Erebonia that he was correct. "Then what are you waiting for?" his tone became lighter. "Let's start."
And with these words the two began reading. It wasn't long until Crow had to ask his first question. While it seemed like basic stuff, he wanted to make sure that he understood everything correctly. And thankfully Johan could answer his questions as far as he needed.
After two hours of this change between reading and questioning, Crow started to summarize the new information.
The book described a total of fourteen different Crests. All came either from one of the four Saints or of the ten Elites. And that means thatin the War of Heroes all fourteen Crests were on the battlefield. "A very interesting similarity." Crow mumbled.
"What similarity?" an older voice asked from behind him.
Crow turned around, his body taking an unarmed combat stance.
The one who had spoken was an older man with the look of an aristocrat. He had grey hair and wore a grey robe. But what really caught Crow's attention was the knowing look in his blue eyes.
"Please young man, I mean no harm." his voice sounded like a very educated scholar. "But I couldn't help but notice you two reading my latest publication."
Crow took a glance at the title on Johans book. "That means you are Hanneman von Essar?" he asked a little sceptical.
"Oh my, a hard to convince fellow, I see." Hanneman turned towards the young soldier on the other side of the table. "Young man, would it be possible for you to confirm my identity?"
"Of course, sir." Johan stood up. "Mr. Armbrust, meet Hannemann von Essar. He is a renowned Crest researcher and Professor at the Officers Academy. Mr. von Essar, meet Crow Armbrust. He was victim of an attack by bandits and recovers at Garreg March at the moment." the soldier told the 'offical' story behind Crow's stay.
"I see. May I sit down?"
Seeing no problem, Crow just nodded. As such, the older man sat down next to the silver haired younger man.
"You have my thanks." Hannemann began. "I heard you mentioning a similarity. Would it be possible to enlighten me about your findings?"
xXx
Welcome back to everyone.
I'm really sorry for the long upload time between chapters. But a lot has happened in my private life, so a quicker upload just wasn't possible. I also had some decisions to make regarding both of my stories here on . Given my limited free time, I just don't have the power to keep two stories going at the same time. As such, I had to decide which story I will continue and which I will put on hiatus. Since you just read a new chapter for "Emblem of Cold Steel" the final verdict should be obvious. As of now, the story "Trails of the huntresses" will be on hiatus.
As such, I hope to keep this story going much more fluently in the future.
With these words I want to thank InfiniteZangetsu, who helped me in creating this story and for proofreading my drafts, as well as everyone who read this story.
Stay healthy and until next time.
