Road Taken
Nohr was beautiful.
The modest caravan outbound from the Northern Fortress had been traveling through the countryside for several days now. At first, the terrain had been harsh and rocky - interspersed with the light frost of freezing mornings and swathes of dead earth. But as they descended towards the capital, Nohr's signs of life slowly but surely revealed themselves. A smattering of pine trees, a tundra thick with colorful wildflowers, and one day a herd of ram traveling across a distant ridge - eagerly pointed out to her by Elise.
The proceedings themselves were fairly muted. Much of the staff had remained at the Northern Fortress, with Flora to supervise during the transitional period. She supposed the fortress was originally intended to keep an eye on the Dragon Vein - Father certainly couldn't have built it for her. Beyond them were Xander and Elise's retinues, plus Selena and Odin. A few sturdy wooden wagons brought up the rear, carrying supplies, belongings, and between herself, Jakob, and Felicia a sizable library.
A yawn broke through her musings unabated. Corrin leaned forward into Faxi's saddle, just as the mare let out a bray and came to a sudden stop. The jolting loss of motion nearly sent her flying forward, but Corrin held fast and slipped off the saddle once she was sure the horse was staying put.
"What's the matter, girl?" she coaxed, scratching the white-grey hairs just beneath her chin. "Something spook you?" Much to Corrin's lament, the keep grounds had been rather limiting for riding practice. This was probably the first time she'd ever left the Northern Fortress.
"Are you nervous about leaving home?" Blue eyes blinked back at her. "Don't worry, we're in this toge-"
Her vision darted to a sudden glint out of the brush just ahead. Turning her back to Faxi, Corrin bent down, scrutinizing the well-worn landscape.
The object of her curiosity revealed itself shortly - a small, black beetle. The creature was rounded, its head and front legs interspaced with little divots. She gave it a slight nudge with one finger as it stalked across a blade of grass. It tumbled to the ground, emitting a shrill little chitter as its legs flailed.
"Corrin?" Xander's voice suddenly called from just behind her, startling her out of her examination with a yelp. "What's caught your attention?"
"Uhm," she started, looking down and flexing her fingers idly. "A bug."
He raised an eyebrow. Casper whickered impatiently nearby, stamping his hoof on the rough soil. "A bug?"
"It was an interesting bug!" she retorted indignantly. "It spooked Faxi. I've never seen one like it in the fortress."
Xander peered past her, stepping around and kneeling to the brush with vague curiosity etched across his features. "Ah," he murmured, spotting the shiny black creature right itself and scurry into the undergrowth. "A shadecrawler. Leo would know its proper name, I'm sure. Useful in some summoning spells, but their innards are very toxic. The barrier would've kept them away."
Corrin knelt down herself, giving a halfhearted attempt at finding the insect again before she accepted defeat. "How do you know all that?"
"Spells are often of military interest." Xander nodded his head seriously, but a slight smile revealed itself regardless. "And bugs are oft of your brother's interest. Now, come along. If we keep pace, we'll reach Windmire by noon."
"Lucina," a voice whispered just beyond the edge of her consciousness.
Lucina shot up swiftly yet with control, reflexes honed from years of defying death as her hand ghosted Falchion's hilt. She allowed herself to relax as the pale form of Azura swam into view, taking stock of her parched throat and aching back - products of a fruitless attempt at rest. Neither princess nor exalt had come prepared to make camp, and so this rocky cavern - one end opening out over the yawning abyss beneath Valla's islands - had been their sanctuary.
Much like the nights of her own home, Valla's were not suited for travel. Need for rest aside, the Vallite phantoms roamed in far greater numbers. From their overlook Lucina had seen the hazy shadows of civilians preparing non-existent meals in ruined hovels, soldiers patrolling shattered thoroughfares - only to seemingly forget themselves, any mimicry of life dying as they stood stock-still, nearly vanished into the ethereal night.
Ethereal certainly seemed the word for it. Great swathes of violet and black had begun to erupt across the sky with little warning, pinpricks of white starlight scattered throughout. Rather than be allowed to set, the sun was consumed entirely. Though it was near-equal in beauty to the starscape of the Outrealm Gate, Lucina couldn't help but find the sudden onset of darkness eerie. It was, at the least, superior to Ylisse's smog.
Stretching long to work out her cricks, Lucina noted that the horizon had returned to relative normalcy. "Azura?" she questioned, only the faintest echoes of a yawn trailing her speech. "You didn't wake me for my watch."
"It's only been a few hours," Azura replied. "As I said, time flows strangely in Valla. It's... hm..." she trailed off, shutting her eyes for a moment. "It's as if these islands are floating upon the sea. Sometimes the waters grow fierce, and they dip beneath the waves - deeper into the Astral Plane. That's what causes Valla's 'night', of sorts. We were fortunate. I've seen them last for days."
Lucina's brow furrowed. "These dips, as you say... could they have been the cause of my arrival?"
"You said something knocked you free of the Outrealm Gate, yes?"
Her mouth drew into a thin line. "Something of the sort. One moment I was running, the next falling through the void."
Azura stretched, picking up her golden lance from its place against the wall. "I have to confess, I know little more of Valla than what my mother told me. That may be how you arrived here." She frowned, expression pondering. "I had intended to surface much nearer to the castle myself."
Lucina knew she didn't have much of a sense for humor, but there was a certain irony to fate sending her so wildly off course whilst she had devoted every effort to defying it.
She sighed. "There's nothing to be done about it now. We should make up for lost time."
True to Xander's word, Windmire appeared on the horizon just as the faintest whispers of midday sun were breaking the cloud cover. Corrin grinned up at the sign of good luck as hazy trails of golden mist cast themselves upon the landscape. She led Faxi up the line, falling into pace beside Xander.
"Is Father expecting us?" she asked, nodding towards the rapidly rising walls of the capital.
Xander glanced her way, rich red-brown eyes reflecting the light as he spoke. "This evening. I suspected you'd enjoy some time to see the city for yourself."
Her eyes widened. "I really wish I could hug you right now," she bemoaned, beaming.
Xander dipped his head. "The sentiment is appreciated, little Princess. I will be escorting the convoy to Castle Krakenburg, and your retainers will need to settle in. I'm sure Selena, Odin, and Laslow would be pleased to accompany you."
Corrin squinted her eyes in response. "You seem to be suggesting Laslow won't slink off towards the first lovely maiden that catches his eye."
His nose wrinkled. "Yes, well. Perhaps I should have words with him on the matter of his pastimes."
Sorry Laslow, but if it keeps you out of another bar fight...
"He was involved in what now?"
Whoops. Had she said that out loud?
Mercifully, she was spared from ratting out Laslow further by a gruff shout from atop the walls of a gatehouse, the cliff beyond sloping upwards into the city proper.
"Riders!" the man called. "Identify yourselves!"
"I am Crown Prince Xander of Nohr, Helmut," Xander replied, his voice equal parts commanding and exasperated.
"A-ah! The utmost apologies, milord!" Helmut cried back, shading his eyes with a hand. "It's rather bright today!"
The heavy cranking of some hidden mechanism heralded their arrival as the gates swung open. To her knowledge, this was the sole passage into and out of the city, but the trickle of passerbys she'd expected was nearly absent. Knights wielding bows and lances patrolled the walls, and further into the courtyard a group of soldiers was performing some sort of training exercise - spears jabbing and sweeping in honed synchronization. Xander glanced their way, giving the instructor a brief nod as the two passed.
Exiting through the opposite side of the fort, the procession wound its way up the rocky incline that had been previously visible. Atop the vantage point, she could spot a distant fortification; the aqueduct running from it through Windmire nearly obscured by towering stone walls. She realized well enough that she didn't know much of the world, but here the source of Nohr's reputation for droughts and poor crop conditions was painfully clear. The earth surrounding the capital was scorched and blackened, water drained from... some underground reservoir if she had to guess. Any civilization in the area was well sequestered within the capital's inner walls, coming into view as they crossed a wide stone bridge over a moat. One final gate barred their path - this place is certainly well defended - and then...
Wow.
She'd had some idea of what to expect, of course, but the Northern Fortress had never prepared her for this.
Windmire was absolutely brimming with life. People bustled to and fro, weaving through the main thoroughfare towards the day's destination. Vendors peddled a colorful assortment of wares and goods, and Corrin smiled as she spotted a baker bending down to hand a short, thin boy a loaf of bread. She took the time to approach the stall herself, sliding off her saddle and passing over more coins than were strictly necessary for one of the woman's sweet-smelling buns. Times may have been harsh, but the people of Nohr had each other nonetheless. Amongst the sea of civilization, Corrin couldn't help but feel very, very small. In a good way, though. Like... she was part of something bigger than herself.
"Hello there," a smooth voice called, jarring her from her musings. She turned to the sight of Laslow's tuft of grey hair, Felicia standing just to his side in riding leathers. "The convoy's moving on. Lord Xander said you were looking to see the sights."
She nodded an affirmation, smiling gratefully as Felicia took Faxi's reins and rejoined the others. "Where are-?"
"HARK! The chosen three united once more! Our sacred duty, to guide a new hero of destined blood on her first steps towards righteousness!"
"Yeah. That." Selena stepped into view, sporting her ever-present frown; though it rarely reached her eyes.
"So, where to first? asked Laslow, looking her way.
"Well, I was thinking-"
"Whoa!" Selena cut in. "There is exactly ONE thing Windmire is good for, and we are not missing a golden opportunity here!"
Eager curiosity bled through Corrin's words. "What's that?"
"Shopping," Odin and Laslow answered in sync.
"Ah," she laughed lightly. "I suppose I should've expected that."
Selena rolled her eyes. "Yeah yeah, I'm predictable. Now come on, we're losing daylight!"
The group launched into their exploration of the city streets. Hagglers and town criers were interspersed with Selena's personal reviews - "That place is a sham; that one looks pretty, sure, but there's no substance to the style! ...Definitely not there, Laslow here hit on the owner's daughter."
At this, Corrin raised an eyebrow towards the man. "You better shape up, Laslow. Even Xander's catching on to you now."
He responded with a bright smile, as per usual. "I'm sure it's nothing to worry yourself over, milady! Just some harmless flirting, really."
"Well, you see..."
Laslow's face paled. "You didn't tell him about the-"
"It was an accident!"
He ran a hand over his face. "Lady Corrin, that dashing escapade was conveyed in the utmost confidence."
"I know, I know. But hey, I'm sure it won't be that bad! He still keeps Peri around, for Dusk's sake."
"And I thank the gods that watching over that woman isn't a permanent affair. But you're right, it was just a friendly scrap. Nothing to worry ourselves over."
"Hey!" Selena called from up ahead. "Get over here!"
Catching up to the others, the subject of Selena's attention revealed itself. It was a rather modest establishment - carved deep into the city's stone infrastructure. The only thing that caused it to stand out from its surroundings was the decorative wood paneling and the name in red lettering - Anna & Company.
"Remember this, Lady Corrin," Selena instructed. "If there's any merchant you can trust, it's an Anna."
"Oh?" she replied, honestly curious. "Why's that?"
"Because," she said with a grin, approaching the building's entrance. "They understand the value of-" her eyes locked onto something else nearby. "Hey! Odin!" she called. "Where are you off to?"
Odin, standing on the opposite side of the street, shouted over the roar of Windmire's crowds. "Dearest Selena, light of lights! A fell smithy of unparalleled renown has drawn the attention of I, Odin Dark! Though I forsook the path of the blade long ago, I cannot bring myself to resist the allure of such finely forged steel! I leave the guardianship of Lady Corrin in your capable hands!"
Selena, to her credit, only sputtered once or twice; face reddening as she tried to find her words. "IF IT'S IRON IT'S NOT WORTH IT!"
"Huh," Laslow murmured, amusement evident. "Never knew Odin had it in h-"
"You!-" Selena hissed, rounding on him "-shut it! Before I dig up something Lord Xander really doesn't want to hear."
"Well, I'm sure-"
"Harvest festival."
"AHEM!" Laslow coughed. "Lady Corrin, that dress is really your color," he noted, gesturing towards the shop's interior. "Shall we take a look?"
He darted into safety without waiting for a response.
Corrin collapsed back onto the bed, smiling at her latest purchase upon the wall. The silver clock ticked in a steady, grounding rhythm - hands adorned with depictions of bluebirds, their wings outstretched.
It was the first thing in this room that made it feel like hers.
Jakob and Felicia had wanted to move her belongings from the Northern Fortress in, of course, but with all the hustle and headache involved with working in the royal palace over a remote keep Corrin had all but demanded they prioritize their own accommodations first.
She liked it, the clock. Selena had been disappointed she couldn't find anything for her to wear, but Corrin didn't mind all that much. Her armor might as well have been her second skin, anyways.
A knock from outside of her new (old?) chambers sent her sitting up, followed by a familiar cheerful voice. "Big sister!"
Swinging the door open, Corrin came face to face with Elise, greeting each other with smiles. And just behind her-
"Leo!" she exclaimed, reaching to ruffle his hair. Her little brother sputtered, but didn't pull away too quickly.
"Sister. It's good to see you in Krakenburg."
"I still can't believe I'm finally here," she admitted. "Is-" she paused, tilting her head. "Uhm, Leo... what happened to your eyebrow?"
"I don't want to talk about it," he managed through gritted teeth. "Let's go. Father is waiting."
She raised an eyebrow of her own, only to be met with Elise's shrug.
Castle Krakenburg was carved deep into the earth, orbs of red light casting the labyrinthine complex in a crimson haze beneath Nohr's night. They were connected to a Dragon Vein she'd come to realize; flickering the one in her room on and off experimentally. The royals quarters were situated in the castle's deepest recesses - Father's throne within a towering structure at its heart. Stepping out onto the bridge, the tower ahead was suddenly yanked out of her sight as someone pulled her into a bone-crushing hug, face pressed into the steel plates of heavy black armor.
"Corrin! My dear sister, how was your journey?" Camilla cooed.
"Pretty-good-actually-can't-breathe," she gasped, sighing in relief as Camilla released her.
"Severa tells me you went shopping. Did you have a good time?"
"We did!" Corrin nodded up to her with a grin when she found her breath. "I found this cute clock, I'll have to show you sometime."
"Now that that's settled," Xander said, stepping out onto the bridge to join them. "Father is expecting us."
As they walked, Corrin regaled her siblings with tales of the day's adventure. Occasionally, she spotted Camilla and Leo glancing away when they believed no one was watching, frowns evident. She'd have to see what was bothering them later. Maybe that secret mission?
As the siblings entered the tower, a reception hall revealed itself - carved of lighter stone than the rest of the castle. Father stood at the far end upon a raised dais, flanked by two pillars sporting the Dusk Dragon emblem of Nohr. His black armor, long white beard, and heavy fur cloak were just as she remembered from the last time he'd visited her - maybe three, four... well, some amount of time ago.
"I see you made it here safely, Corrin," he called out to her as the group approached.
"Yes, Father," she confirmed (doing her best at a formal tone the way Xander had once instructed). "Long have I wished to see you and visit Castle Krakenburg again. I feel like I'm dreaming..." she admitted, echoing her words to Leo.
"No," he responded, shaking his head firmly. "It is only thanks to your diligence that you are here. I am told you are now a warrior almost on par with Xander." He crossed his arms, commanding gaze scanning the chamber. "You finally possess the strength to be an instrument of Nohr's power in the world."
Corrin opened her mouth, only for Elise to cut in - worry evident across her features. "But, Father, will she be alright outside the fortress?"
"I worry about that as well," Camilla agreed, and Corrin shot her a look of utter betrayal. "Are we certain it's safe for her to live outside the barrier?"
Corrin did her best to harden her voice as she looked to Elise and Camilla. "I appreciate your concern, but I haven't suffered any memory loss or..." - the unwelcome memory of vomit's stench shot into mind - "...any other side effects for years. I earned my way here and..."
Xander mouthed words from the corner of her vision.
"...And I'm ready to fight."
Her father nodded approvingly. "Corrin, as you know, the war against Hoshido is a constant threat to Nohr's survival."
The words sent pangs through her heart, but she affirmed her understanding regardless.
"As inheritors of the Dusk Dragon's divine strength, we conquer those who oppose us with ease. One who learns to wield that power can destroy an entire army of common troops. Xander tells me your command over Dragon Veins shows great promise, even in comparison to your siblings. I am impressed."
She met his gaze with a smile. "Thank you, Father. I have my siblings' training to thank for that."
"Hmm. Be that as it may, you will still need a suitable weapon to serve Nohr. Iago!"
Stepping out of the shadows of one of the pillars, a man approached the proceedings - garbed in black and gold robes, a flowing red-feathered cloak, and an expressionless golden mask covering his entire face. He bowed low, presenting a large bundle wrapped in cloth.
"For you, Lady Corrin," Iago intoned. "May it guide you to Nohr's new dawn." He retreated into the shadows as Corrin began to unwrap the object.
"This is Ganglari, a sword infused with magic from another realm," Garon explained as the cloth fell free. "With it at your side, you will crush the Hoshidan army with ease."
"Wow..." Corrin murmured. Ganglari was, well, a gangly weapon. The blade was misshapen and curved, forged of something closer to obsidian than any metal she'd ever seen. At the hilt, a single crimson eye glared back at her. It was cute! In a disembodied sword-eye sort of way.
"Thank you for this generous gift, Father."
The blade hummed warmly in her hand, and something about it just felt right.
Azura stepped out of the cavern onto a rocky overhang, leveling her lance towards the sky. "There it is. Castle Gyges."
Lucina exited beside her, one hand on Falchion's hilt. They were situated on one of Valla's lower islands, the air below thick with fog - mimicking the surface of the sea. Across the shrouded void was a smattering of smaller islands, and beyond that...
"Amazing," she murmured. "It's nothing like the architecture in Ylisse."
"In their seclusion, the Vallites developed many of their own techniques," she explained. "I believe it's called a ziggurat."
The ziggurat, as Azura called it, was something of a towering stone pyramid. Four corners leaned into a central peak, each side split with intricate fortifications and vast walkways. Perhaps more impressive was the castle's underbelly. Its position hanging above them revealed labyrinthine halls and spires; the largest of which vanished into the abyssal clouds. It must have once been buried beneath the earth, before Valla was shattered. Stray towers and impossibly extracted stretches of hallway were scattered about the castle, frozen in a strange sense of near-timelessness, though erosion was still evident.
"We're going to cross to the exposed basement across these islands," Azura said, pointing to each with the golden lance as she spoke. "The gaps are vast, but there is an old magic in the stonework. I can use it to ferry us between them."
Lucina nodded, though the idea of crossing the void once more did not appeal to her. "And from there, we proceed to Anankos."
"Yes. Be wary as we cross. I'll need to concentrate."
Mind recalling ghastly wyverns and invisible soldiers, Lucina hummed an affirmation. Azura knelt, using her palm to brush away accumulated muck and moss. With a sudden jolt, what Lucina had believed to be a natural ledge revealed itself as a sturdy block of stonework, etched with runes. She had never been particularly fond of Cynthia's attempts to teach her the art of pegasus riding, and this was much worse.
Resolving to scan the sky above rather than the sky below, her grip on her father's blade tightened. Mercifully, the contraption came to a stop shortly, allowing the pair to step out onto a carriage-sized chunk of grassy island. Decidedly more stable, though the height still left something to be desired. Azura gestured to the opposite side, and as she stepped forward the rock jutted out again, a new cube taking them to the next island.
She hadn't noticed it at first, but Azura was humming in tune with the shifting of the stone. It was a familiar melody, the same she had sung at their first encounter. The song that will seal Anankos, she realized. Inigo and Brady would have been fascinated by the idea of music as a weapon.
As they stepped onto the final platform, their names echoed through her mind.
Inigo. Brady. Kjelle. Severa. Gerome. Yarne. Laurent. Noire. Nah. Owain. Cynthia.
Where were they now? If she were to find a way to the past, would she arrive with them as if nothing had happened? What if slipping through the void had inadvertently erased herself from time, the way she feared changing fate might?
Did they miss her? Were they worried about her?
...If necessary, would they be able to do it alone?
Even agreeing to travel to the past in the first place had been an exercise in leadership, but... they would have their parents. It would be fine.
They'd be alright without her.
For a moment, Lucina's musings and Azura's soothing song had distracted her from her more present fears. To drop her guard for such childish thoughts would be ridiculous. Behavior that would see her killed in Ylisse.
But it was enough to distract her from the threat below.
Her senses were overwhelmed with a tidal wave of force and emotion. The sheer hate emanating from the presence was staggering, as an immense violet shadow lunged out from beneath the fog.
"DOWN!" Lucina shouted, and it was just enough for the two to throw themselves to the floor as the monster soared over them. Whipping her head around, Lucina caught the briefest glimpse of a thick, black tail lined with spines as the fiend plunged back into the depths. Azura breathed for only a moment before standing up and launching back into the rhythm. The stone bobbed hazardously for a moment before continuing forward, halfway to one of the castle's open hallways. Azura's humming morphed into more of a wordless song, mouth slightly ajar as the tempo increased; hands wrapped tightly around her lance betraying her alarm.
Lucina had never been on a ship, but she had heard stories. Sailors songs of Grima's many-mawed, tentacled horrors lurking beneath the waves, dragging crews to a watery grave. As she gazed across the mist, sword outstretched, Azura flush against her back, she knew their predicament was chillingly similar.
There - a flicker of black spines, rimmed in violet light. She had little chance for more than a grunt of warning before the creature did away with subtly and charged them head-on.
It was a dragon. Grima's necrodragons had been largely hunted down by the last of their parents' generation, but she recalled an occasion where the New Shepherds had faced one in battle.
Nah had nearly died that night.
This fiend was vastly larger. Muscles ripped beneath its black scales, massive spiked talons adorning its wings. Horns curved back from its skull, and its head was a horrific array of gaping holes; a sickening red glow emitting from each.
The dragon's roar was silent as it rammed the block.
Something guttural ripped its way through Lucina's gritted teeth as she plunged Falchion into the stone. Whipping around to the sound of Azura's cry, Lucina threw an arm around the woman just as the cube was sent violently spinning through the air. Lucina's body burned with exertion, head swimming - any sight of the dragon long lost. The two were left hanging from the block's side, and Lucina knew every prayer to Naga would not be enough to thank her for her unbreakable fang.
"Throw me!" Azura suddenly exclaimed.
Hesitation is death.
With a heave, she lowered Azura until they were hand in hand and swung her forward. Azura hit the stone hallway of Castle Gyges hard, clutching her lance as she rolled into the impact. Lucina was not far behind, Falchion sliding forth from the stone as she lunged forward. Just not far enough - dammit - and then Azura's hand was in her own once again, pulling her up the ledge into the hall.
She caught only a few desperate breaths of relief before the beast returned. Lucina had thought there was no substance to its eyes - ghastly lights haunting an empty skull. Yet the dragon slammed its head against the opening (once, twice), and to her revulsion several fleshy crimson lumps protruded forth from its sockets, spewing their light into the tunnel and beating rhythmically - as if each were a heart. Glaring for only a moment longer, the dragon extracted itself and opened its gaping maw.
A jet of crimson energy flooded the tunnel - blight and flame ringed in darkness. With a shout of defiance, Azura swung her lance forward - a wave of water erupting from the tip. She held it there like a shield, bare feet sliding against stone as the dragon's breath forced her back.
"Lucina!" she gasped, voice laden with exhaustion.
"Move up!" she shouted back, body poised
With her back leg, Azura lunged forward, and Lucina leaped in turn - Falchion bared.
This time, the dragon did roar - in pain, as Falchion dug deep into one of its eyes. Screech echoing through the skies, it turned from the castle and vanished below the fog.
Lucina hissed in pain, dropping the sword as its hilt burned, blade expelling residual dark magic. "Lady Azura," she asked, panting. "What the hell was that?"
"Forgive me," Azura responded, eyes wide. "I did not think that creature would be present. Anankos has grown far stronger than I believed." Worry lined her features. "I will do my best to explain."
"Anankos..." she began, "harbors an overwhelming hatred for mankind. He would not deem a single living soul worthy of his power." Her exhaustion-ridden expression tilted downwards. "But his kin once granted humanity many boons, and they are still remembered for it today. Humans prayed, and their gods responded in kind. Some time after their demise, he rose their bodies as... intermediaries. To spread his silence through the hearts of both kingdoms."
Azura met her gaze.
"That beast was once Typhon, the Dusk Dragon."
Despite the title, Lost King's Supper is a better theme for the conclusion of this chapter. Comments and feedback are immensely appreciated, as always!
Up next is Chapter 5: Unwelcome Change
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