Chapter 1: Dame Selena

The battle had been weary. Most of the lightning strikes from the sky had stopped, obviously, the tome broken. It was only a matter of time before they broke towards the river where Selena was. Ephraim had been looking at what he could do for some time now. There a dancer and a mercenary sent by Innes, and they had proved to help.

"Onward!" Lute had been doing excellently, striking down everyone from a range, while Tana and Cormag took their own route, decimating archers and cavaliers wherever they went. Colm was more laid back, heading for the villages to gather whatever they could give, while Ross generally hanged around Lute. As for him, the mercenary and the dancer were following him, obviously set on guarding him.

He shoved his steel lance in another troop, ignoring the fighter coming up behind him. The mercenary was already heading for it even before he noticed. A lance jabbed into him, his armor deflecting most of the blow, though it still hurt. "Gah!" He stumbled back a bit, before spinning his lance around and slamming it into the soldier, watching the blood turn the grass red.

They were finally at the center, where all the havoc was coming from. It was surrounded by their own troops, Selena not budging. Myrrh had insisted on staying behind Ephraim, flying out at Selena. "Dame Selena…" Ephraim did not raise his lance, but, Selena did not attack yet. He didn't want to fight her, if she released Myrrh. "Selena's your name?" She nodded.

"You know that Emperor Vigarde wouldn't do something like this. There's obviously something wro—"She interrupted. "Myrrh told me. I know…but I've promised to carry out his wishes, and I will do as such." "You won't drop your weapons?" There was a silence. "No." Ephraim knew this was a powerful enemy, though he walked towards her, getting in battle stance. She had her own tome ready.

"Are you sure?" She seemed to be getting annoyed at this. "I am." Ephraim nodded, dashing at her. A quick jab of his lance would almost shave off her horse's leg, though she managed to dodge, sending a blast of fire into his armor. He stumbled back, sweat coming from him, the armor melting. She fired another one, taking advantage of the weakness, melting his armor some more. "That's some tome." She said nothing.

Another one came spurting towards him, though this time, he managed to avoid it. Being behind her, he shoved his lance forward, stabbing her back, though she managed to pull out of it, bits of blood leaking onto her horse. "That was…well-played." He knew she wasn't finished. They charged, Ephraim stabbing his lance forward, the elfire tome blasting towards him.

Ephraim fell, his eyes still having life in them. It had gone directly through him, burning some of his insides. His troops looked in blind awe, and surely, this loss, meant the loss of Renais as well. Seth dashed forward, quickly picking up the prince, putting him on his horse. "Prince Ephraim!" The fluorspar was already retreating, and no one chose to pursue her. It was obvious that they had lost. Lute rushed forward, already carrying a mend staff, and raising it to heal Ephraim. The wound closed, and already internal damage was being repaired.

Ephraim said nothing as the healing took its place, staring at the sky in a stupor. How could he have been defeated? Everything was perfect. He had calculated the distance, and his thrust should have stabbed into her, ending her life. It was like something had held him back…

"Prince Ephraim…we can still press on towards the capital…" He said nothing. Seth's reassurance wasn't helping him. Myrrh's dragon stone was so important to her, and he just had it in his grasp…but…he didn't get it. His eyes were closed. "Seth. We're returning to Frelia. If…I was defeated by one of their generals…then obviously…I can't defeat Vigarde."

Seth looked horrified. "Seth…I'm sorry…you're taking over. I will head towards Jehanna by a boat. Eirika must require assistance…" Seth said nothing, but, he simply nodded. "Yes, Prince Ephraim…"

He felt disgusted as he rode with only Kyle at his side to Bethroen. "Kyle…" "Prince Ephraim…You should have been more careful…" "Kyle. I don't think that loss was valid. I had it all calculated in my head, my thrust should of hit first, and then I would have been able to roll out of the way…" Kyle shook his head. "Prince Ephraim. Perhaps something did hold you back."

He felt rejuvenated that Kyle, his dearest friend, was saying this to him. "You know, Kyle…I have the perfect idea. We will dodge Castle Frelia, and take Castle Renais back. I'm sure they would think I'm defeated, but, oh no…" Kyle frowned. "Isn't that a bit reckless, Prince Ephraim?" He shook his head. "If we can do some surveillance, we can find out how many troops are in the castle, and strategically attack it."

Kyle was still frowning. "We will meet up with Eirika and the rest of the army at Jehanna Hall. That is where she was going, according to that Frelian Pegasus knight..." He was already thinking of how great this would be. It would be the best way to redeem him after such a horrible defeat. "When we land, we ride for Renais."