"1, 2, 3, 4, 5."
Step by step.
Nice and slow.
"Eep!"
And she quickly caught her. Sophia let go of a sigh as she helped Emmeryn back up. She was teaching her ballroom dancing to help her improve her movements, and it has been helping a lot. As for speech, having her repeat sentences as well as reading out loud has done wonders. It was difficult but once the woman is well enough, she will return to her family. The drama, she hates she will have to be involved but if it meant she returned to her family, she will endure it. Sophia gave Emmeryen a nod of approval as she completed the dance without any mistakes. A normal life, that is what Emmeryn is living now. Even if only temporary.
"Are you alright?" Emmeryn asked as she went to sit on the couch.
"I'm alright. Just getting ready to go pick out some herbs." Sophia said as she looked out the window, " It's a perfect time for sheila flowers to bloom! Those flowers have a sweet scent and when dried they could be made into candies. But the best benefit, they can me finally get some proper sleep!" Finally, the moment she can get proper sleep has arrived.
"Hm...I have been reading...your book about herbs. It is interesting. But also familiar..." Emmeryen muttered as she closed her eyes, " I recall...talking to someone. A child. I was reading them a book similar to yours."
"Don't push yourself." Sophia smiled softly, " It will take some time but you will remember."
"Anyhow, I'm going to go pick the herbs." Sophia said as she grabbed the basket from the shelf, "Remember, if someone tries to open the door while I'm gone, the iron skillet is right there on the kitchen counter for you to knock them down! But also use that spell I taught you." She said and Emmeyren chuckled.
"I will!"
[—]
Hoot Hoot!
"Claude, don't go too far!"
Sophia sighed as the Plegia owl flew ahead into the forest. The woods have always made her feel safe. Claude returned with something in his mouth as he landed on her arm. She smiled seeing it was a little rosemary plant as the owl placed it in her hand.
"Winter rosemary. Didn't think I see here in Ferox. Claude, sometimes I wonder if you're a man stuck in the body of a bird. You've helped me so much." She smiled and the owl chirped happily at her, "But seriously if you are the real Claude von Reign in a body of a bird...I'm worried for you." And the bird just blinked at her confused.
"I've gone mad. Goddammit." Sophia sighed as she continued to walk the known path, "Now where are those sheila flo—-!"
Snap!
It was an instant she was a different person. She raised her right hand to create a flame but no flame appeared. She was shocked and horrified when she couldn't cast magic from her right hand.
"No, no, no!" She was starting to panic as she felt the same rush of heat come to her face, her breathing was becoming quicker, her heart pounding, she was on the verge of a panic attack.
She kept snapping her fingers, yet no magic was appearing.
"Please, for the fucken love of Naga, light!" She yelled but no matter how much she tried, no flames formed on her right hand.
She was hyperventilating at this point and she slowly broke into manic laughter but...
"Found you."
Sophia had never screamed so loud and it was even worse she passed out right there on the ground, in the woods. Out cold, the individuals walked out of the trees and looked down at the woman. One was groaning, the other let go a frustrated sigh and the third, just gawked. The clouds moved from the moon, allowing the moonlight to illuminate the dark. The light revealed a young woman with crimson-colored hair in twin tails tied by black ribbons, olive-shaped eyes, and wore the clothing of a mercenary. Severa just had a blank face as she looked down at the woman on the ground. Did they overdo it?
"Jesus Christ. I knew she could scream but I didn't think it was that loud." Severa sighed as she knelt and poked her with a stick, "Hey Aunty, are you still alive?"
"Severa..." Lucina sighed, "She's out cold."
"Oh boy." Alm dragged his hand down his face, "It doesn't help that this month is the month of spirits in Ferox. It also didn't help that she was looking for herbs in the dark in the woods. Welp," he picked her up and swung her onto his back like a sack of potatoes, "No use in trying to wake her up now. Can't have her escaping on us. Lucy, ya got that magic rope?!" He yelled out.
"Yes, I have it." The girl shook her head, "Is it going to be necessary to tie her up? I remembered we did before when we were children and it resulted in her believing she was kidnapped. Your father and mine scolded us." She walked up next to him.
"It won't be that bad. " Severa said but looked at the passed-out woman, "Right?"
"If it is," Alm pinched the bridge of his nose, "I'll take the blame. Anyhow, the cottage she's living in should be nearby." They began walking.
It took around 10 minutes and they saw the lights in the cottage were on, which was strange. The memory from the past told them she lived alone. Is she living with someone? Carefully they made their way to the door, listening for any voices but nothing. She might have left the lights on. They noticed the door was locked. Carefully unlocked the door and then opened it. They saw no one inside. Just to make sure, Lucina carefully walked and looked but...
WHACK!
"Lucina!" Severa screamed as she ran in along with Alm.
The boy quickly put down Sophia on the floor and ran to help Severa help Lucina up. All three were surprised to see a terrified yet angry woman with an iron skillet in her hands, holding it like a claymore, ready to whack them.
"Who are you?! What have you done to Sophia?!" The woman yelled but even though years have passed, Lucina had never once forgotten the kind warm emerald eyes in the family paintings she has seen on the walls.
Alm quickly raised his and muttered a spell, putting the woman to sleep and quickly catching her. Lucina was stunned, in able to move as she watched Alm place the woman down next to Sophia.
"Aunt Emmeyren..." her voice just barely above a whisper as Alm turned to look at her.
He sighed and looked back to the woman, his lips becoming a thin line.
"Lucina...I think...Sophia faked her death." He muttered and suddenly shivered.
Anger filled Lucina as the girl gritted her teeth and quickly grabbed the rope, storming over to the second unconscious woman, and began tying her hands up. How was her aunt alive?! How could she put everyone through so much pain, making them all believe she was dead?! Why did she hide her?! Why?!
"I want answers and you're going to give them to me!" Lucina hissed as she finished tying the woman up.
Severa quickly searched the rooms around the cottage to make sure there was no one else. Alm picked up Emmeryn and took her to one of the rooms, carefully. He made sure his sleeping spell would keep her knocked out and also not to wake up to a single sound. Because he was pretty sure once Sophia woke up, there was going to be hell.
- 10 minutes later -
"Hmmm...mmm..."
She felt groggy. Maybe even query. But what was worse was waking up to the feeling of her hands tied. Panic immediately began to fill her and right when was about to start screaming, Alm quickly had appeared before like if a bomb was about to be set off.
"You're not kidnapped I swear! Please don't scream!" The boy said in a panicked tone, his hands up as if he was defending himself, multiple beads of sweat going down his face.
Sophia blinked multiple times as she processed everything and slowly looked around. She was in the cottage. Then, when...Suddenly everything came back to her. She was supposed to be picking up Shelia flowers but her panic of not being to use magic to defend herself caused her to spiral.
"Hey, is she awake?"
That was a new voice. Walking out of the kitchen was a twin tail redhead with olive-shaped eyes, munching on an apple and behind her was Lucina, She recognized the twin tail because of the crimson-colored hair. The girl's eyes widened and then they narrowed, a scowl appearing on her face, and spoke.
"Hello, Aunty." Her tone was cold, her gaze was like winter but the only thing Sophia was focused on right now was why she was tied up.
"Why am I tied up?" She said and Lucina walked around Severa as Alm backed away to let his Lord speak.
"Because you have answers." Lucina turned to her with a frown, "My Aunt Emmeryn, you were hiding her. To think she was alive this whole time." She said and Sophia bit her lip.
"That doesn't answer my question about why I am tied up?" She wiggled a bit and sensed magic in the ropes, "Bloody Hell! Magic rope!" She huffed.
"Yes." Lucina hummed, "It was a bit difficult to obtain but worth the trouble if it meant getting the answers, I want." She said.
"Answers we all want." Severa growled, "We're not going to let you run, you coward."
"..." Sophia went silent as her eyes focused on the red-haired girl.
"You always kept secrets. Never once answered our questions no matter how much we asked. You kept pushing everyone away as well as never telling anyone of the knowledge you knew. A cold woman who—" Severa did not get to finish when the sound of a tear was heard.
The trio's blood ran cold as the shadows were covering Sophia's eyes. The older woman gritting her teeth as a vicious snarl left her lips. The snark she always unleashed when she was furious or acting out of self-defense. She slowly looked up to them, her eyes cold.
"...Un. Tie. Me."
The trio gulped as they noticed the rise of anger in Sophia's voice once the woman registered what was going on. They must stay strong. But the look she gave them, brought back unsettling memories from the years growing up.
"No." Alm said firmly, "You have a lot of explaining to do!"
"Grrrr..." Sophia growled and it wasn't helping Alm sensing her magic rise.
"Did she just growl?" Severa gulped and heard a bit of the rope rip.
"You're choosing to tie me up instead of talking to me like normal adults. You're so terrified that you resorted to THIS!" Sophia said angrily, "I wouldn't have run! I actually would have answered some questions!" And at that, the rope snapped.
It was so fast. Lucina pulled out Falchion and Alm his sword, and Severa her sword. All three pointed at Sophia but that did not stop the woman standing in front of the blades.
"You're all so immature!" Sophia growled, "Are you that afraid?! Was I such a coward and a horrible woman?!" She glared at them.
"I...I.." Alm couldn't form words and before he knew it, the sword was in longer in his hand.
Sophia held it and now it was pointed to him. The girls didn't know what to do.
"You're pretty much the second incoming of your father." Sophia hissed, "You can't even try to listen and you jump to conclusions so easily." She raised her chin, her gaze like a snake, " Reminds me of the time he almost killed me."
"What?" Alm couldn't believe what he was hearing as Sophia just gazed at him coldly.
"Would like to know? I was battling in the war in a Plegia when he impaled me with his lance and then suspended me in the air." She couldn't see the number of emotions going through his face because of the stupid mask, "Then he threw me to a brick wall, part of my shoulder fracturing. Haha." She chuckled bitterly, "It's because of him that I can't feel any pain on my right arm. Not that it matters anymore, I've forgiven him. I don't blame Frederick for what happened that day. I looked like Bloody Marie!" She laughed but it quickly died when she turned away and walked towards the table, stabbing his sword into it.
"Get out." She pointed to the door.
"But!" Severa quickly shut her mouth when Sophia's glare was on her.
"I'm giving you all three hours." She snarled, "Three hours to cool down your pretty little heads and to think about what you've done. Once done, then we can all speak like normal adults. Now go." Sophia growled.
"But-"
"OUT NOW!"
Sophia had once roared furiously when some stupid parents tried to keep their child from taking their medications because they didn't believe in medicines and that essential oils would cure them. Eventually, it was discovered that the boy was in an abusive home and CPS was involved. She remembered how much anger she felt towards the child's parents. It reminded her too much of her mother. Sophia screamed furiously, not caring anymore. What Severa said to her hurt more than anything. The girl called her Aunty but was she an Aunty to her?
"The more I hear about my future self..." she whimpered, "the more I wish I never knew of the future..."
[—]
"Look...we're sorry."
The three hours had passed. Enough time for the trio to think about their actions and also for Sophia to cool off to not strangle them. Now, all three sat at the table with a mug of coffee in front of them. Though she put out cream and sugar because she recalled that Severa had a sweet tooth. But the redhead would not touch it.
"Were I not a medic, I would have strangled all three of you right then and there." Sophia said as she finished pouring her cup, "Then again, your parents have done even worse things. Three idiots and one brain cell, that's what you three are. Add Inigo and Owain to the mix, and you all spell disaster." She sighed.
"We honestly thought you would run," Lucina muttered.
"Well, sorry to disappoint you but I'm done running." Sophia sighed, "Anyhow, at least you all apologized. But you're going to pull the kidnapping scene, at least do it to an actual enemy. But, anyhow..." she took a sip of her drink, "we can now speak."
"I will be honest." Sophia's eyes became half-lidded, "I am not the all-knowing like you all believe. I have answers to questions but there will be some that I do not have any answers to. You may even come out of this with more questions than you realize. My knowledge is limited. I will try to answer your questions the best I can but know this, there will be some questions I will not answer." She finished.
They did know where to begin. They had so many but the first one to speak was Severa.
"Why did you hide your knowledge from us?" She began, "You could have used it to change things."
"That's a question you should be asking my future self, not me." Sophia sighed as looked down at her coffee mug, "But I think I know why my future self chose to remain silent."
"Why?" Lucina narrowed her eyes.
"The most common thing humans have." Sophia smiled bitterly, "Fear."
The trio went silent, waiting for her to continue.
"When you possess knowledge of the future, you feel as if the weight of the world is on your shoulders. You want to tell people, create a change. But you realize that if you reveal that knowledge, there will be those that think you are a madman or want you dead. And the most common thing, guilt. You debate if you should let certain events happen or not. You know who will die and who will live. You debate if those that should die should live. And those that should live should die." She sighed and Lucina's face became stone.
"Knowledge helps you but if you are not careful, it can be your undoing." She took a sip of her coffee, "In my case, I knew Emmyren would die. But it took a lot of courage for me to choose for her to live. I did. I chose for her to live. But now...I ask myself if her living...just created a new event." She sighed.
"What do you mean? As a change in the future? Isn't that a good thing?" Alm said.
"I don't know." Sophia muttered, "You can create a better future or one that is worse."
"Then why!" Lucina coughed, "Then why did you put my family through the pain of them believing my aunt was dead? Why did you not say anything?" The princess looked at her.
"Morgan helped out too you know?" The girl's eyes widened, "The original plan was to help your father and mother during the battle and warp Phila and Emmeyren out of Plegia to a safe location. I was going to use the dragon veins. Surely you know of them, darling?" Sophia looked at her calmly and took another sip of her coffee.
"Yes...we read of them in the history books of Valla, Nohr, and Hoshido," Lucina muttered.
"Then you know the saying, "Magic always comes with a price." Sophia smiled bitterly and pointed to her heart, " I get injured each time I use the dragon vein."
"Wait, you shouldn't get injured!" Alm broke his silence, "That shouldn't be possible! You-You-You have dragon blood in your veins!"
"Alm!" Lucina and Severa yelled at him and the boy flinched.
Sophia's face became void of emotions as she looked at them.
"You kids know my bloodline?" The fact that the children know about her bloodline for some reason irritated her.
She knows nothing about her ancestors, her family tree, history, and the children know? But Alm saying she has dragon blood, she subconsciously put her left to cover her bandaged right one, but also, the thought of the birthmark on her chest. Sophia sighed and began to unbutton the front of her shirt, sending the trio and the frenzy and covering their eyes.
"What are you doing?!" Severa screeched and Alm quickly turned his chair around.
"Good Gawd! Why do you always do this without warning anyone?!" The poor boy also screeched.
"Relax," Sophia rolled her eyes, "But based on your reaction, never mind. Anyhow, the center of my chest."
Lucina peaked and blinked.
"A birthmark..." she muttered and Sophia nodded as she cloaked up her shirt again
Alm let go a deep breath and was relieved she closed her clothing. Sophia wanted to spike her coffee so badly.
"It is one of the few clues I have about who my family is." Sophia muttered as she also took out her watch, "The only clues. The other is a gold crown, a sword that was given to a cousin of mine, a watch, and lastly, our hair color and eyes." She smiled sadly.
"Your eyes...?" Alm whispered and Sophia nodded.
"Orange-red and green hair colors aren't natural in my homeland. People believe our hair color was dyed when it was not. I got bullied a lot for my hair and eye colors. I would fight back. I've caused fights, broken people's teeth, gotten expelled, and a lot worse things. There was one point where I even considered killing myself." Sophia muttered and the others looked shocked and horrified.
"Any other question before it's time to sleep?" She looked at them.
Silence.
"If you got any more, I'll answer it tomorrow. Yawn~" Sophia yawned, "It's getting late and I need sleep." She stood up and picked up their empty cups, "You kids take the third room. I'm going to get the dishes clean."
"I thought you kicked us out," Severa muttered as they stood up.
"If I did that, somehow I have a feeling that your mother's ghost would come and haunt me," Sophia said back as they left down the hallway.
For Alm, faint memories from his past resurfaced as he walked down the hallway he walked when he was a child. They stopped in front of the room, carefully opening the door. Inside the room were three beds with warm blankets. The shelves were in the same place.
"This room..." Alm whispered, "Brings back memories."
The girls looked at him worried and he shook his head.
"I'll take the middle bed, like usual." He sighed as they walked in.
Sleep never felt so sorrowful.
- The Next Day -
Sophia had to stop Emmeyren from whacking the kids with an iron skillet. She had to admit, the situation was funny because apparently, the woman succeeded in whacking one of them yesterday. Lucina needed an ice pack for that since the back of her head became a bit swollen. Once she finished explaining that she knows them and that they are her fellow mercenaries and will be staying with them for a while. She got funny looks from the trio till she turned to them with a closed eye smile.
"I'm saving you, kids, from getting whacked or sent to prison!" She whispered in a sweet tone that immediately made them stop with the funny looks.
"Look, I get you all are confused but here is the reality." Sophia sighed as she pinched the bridge of her nose, "Emmeyren suffered brain damage when she fell. She has lost her memories as well as has difficulty with her speech. I plan to help her recover well enough then I will return her to her family." She explained.
"Alright." Lucina sighed, "I understand."
"Good." Sophia sighed and looked over to Alm, who had scowled, "What?"
"What you said of my father almost killing you, is it true?" And she started to unbutton her shirt again, "Stop! I get it now!"
Sophia couldn't help but laugh a bit as she fixed her shirt.
"Your father and I didn't know each other well back then. Yes, he believed I was a Plegai general but once the misunderstanding was cleared, he apologized. I do forgive him." Sophia chuckled a bit, "He's surprisingly kind once I got to know him. Still stubborn but kind." She smiled softly.
"You sound like you like him." He said and Sophia coughed.
"Well can you blame a woman for taking a fancy at a man's kindness?" Sophia smirked as she placed her hands on her hips, " But in all seriousness, your father is a good man."
Lucina and Severa just looked at Alm and then back to her.
"But I can tell, you kids want to talk so how about we go for a stroll with our units for a bit? Emmeryn will be fine. She enjoys reading books plus I have barriers around the house. Thankfully, " she snapped her fingers from her left hand to create a flame, "I can still cast magic from my left hand."
[—]
"What do you intend to do from here on out?" Sophia asked as she got on Ingrid.
Alm frowned a bit but sighed, looking back at her. She wished the man would take off his mask so she could read his expressions.
"For now...we're going to search for the others." He muttered and the tips of his ears turned pink when Sophia patted his head from on top of Ingrid.
"You'll find them. Are you an only child?" She asked and he shook his head.
"I have a sister. She's a terror but she's my terror and I'll hurt anyone who harms her." Sophia could help but laugh a bit, "She takes after our father in her personality but she looks a bit like our mother. Our mother would say she looked similar to our great grandmother." His voice became gentle as he spiked about his family.
"What kind of person is your mother?" Sophia asked as the four were now mounted on their riding units.
Severa and Sophia on their Pegasus. Lucina and Alm on their horses. They had them walk slowly since they wanted to talk a bit to the adult.
"...My mother...I...said many hurtful things to her before Naga brought us here." Alm sighed a bit, "I thought she was a cold-blooded woman who would not cry or care about the deaths that went on over the years. But...the day...sigh..." the girls looked at him worried, "she was the last one standing to make sure we came to this time. Her last words to me...I don't understand how she could still love me after everything I said to her." He looked down at his hands.
Again, his ears turned pink when she patted his head softly.
"If she was here right now, what would you say?" She spoke softly and he looked down to his hands, his lip quivering.
"I'm sorry."
"Then hold onto that." Sophia muttered, "The day you meet your mother again, tell her. It will be difficult, I will not lie to you. It will take time but eventually you will forgive yourself. Look around," she motions towards Servera and Lucina, " a mother would do anything to make sure their family lives. And that..." she booped his nose, " is a fact. I may not know your mother but she raised a very strong and loving boy. And I know she is proud to call you her son."
Alm quickly made his horse run ahead. He did not then see he was on the verge of bursting into tears.
"Thank you for speaking to him." Lucina smiled a bit, "Things have been difficult since we have arrived."
"It's alright." Sophia waved her hand a bit, "I think love and kindness are something we all need. Alm, I can tell he had a strained relationship with his parents. While it is none of my business, I can't help wondering what caused it." She sighed a bit.
"Sophia." Lucina turned to her, "What are your plans now?"
"Watching over your aunt for three months." Sophia said as she saw the boy had stopped at the hill up ahead, "But I do plan to stay at the city for a while. For now, I think it's best I watch my back. I met up with a fellow mercenary a few days ago and the Grimleal are still active even if they have been pretty much scattered." she frowned.
"Not to also mention Validar is alive and only a matter of time till Plegai is under his rule again." She thought as they arrived at the hill.
"We got trouble," Alm said and they saw.
Walking through the woods were Grimleal mages led by an elder one. There seemed to be around 12, which wasn't a good sign. The direction they were going was towards the cottage and she wasn't liking that.
"Kids, I want you to get in positions. Looks like it's time to cut down some mages."
[—-]
The Grimleal mages smiled when they saw the cottage. After weeks of trying to locate the Hierophant, they finally found her. They knocked on the door but there were no answers. Again they knocked but nothing. When they were going to knock again, they heard the flapping of wings in the air and quickly looked up to the sky. A brown-colored Pegasus neighed loudly as it flapped its wings and landed. It's a rider, frowning.
" Quite rude trying to break into a home. Have you lads ever heard of waiting?" Sophia said she jumped off Ingrid.
"Lady Hierophant." They all immediately bowed and the scowl on her face deepened, "We have been searching for you high and low. After weeks, we have finally found you." They stood up, "Now, let us return to Plegia."
"Oh yeah, about that..." she immediately turned the flames on her hand, "Who the hell do you think you told me to return to my prison?! I am not a Saint or Hierophant and never will be!" She hissed.
"What is going on?!"
Everyone turned to the door and Sophia quickly warped in front of Emmeryn protectively. The Grimleal elder was shocked to see the Exalt alive but even more that Sophia was protecting her. He started to laugh.
"Heheheh...you are a fool." The Grimleal mage laughed as Sophia stood in front of Emmeryn protectively, "You seek answers and you have been only met with more and more questions as the days go by."
Sophia bit her lip as she placed her right hand on her left, gently feeling the bandages wrapped around it.
"How can a woman like you see yourself standing beside those who follow Naga? You are an outsider. You do not belong with them." He stretched out his hand to her, "But we of the Grimleal have the answers you seek. Lord Grima brought you to this world. He can give you what you need. You are no ordinary person. You are blessed but also defiled." The mage finished.
"Blessed and defiled huh..." Sophia sighed and let out a dry chuckle as she looked back to the mage, "I'll give you an answer."
STAB.
The Grimleal mage was barely able to comprehend the tree branch that stabbed through his stomach. Next, vines wrapped around his arms and legs as Sophia walked up to him.
"My answer will never change no matter how tempting it is." Sophia's voice was cold as she raised her left hand and it began to spark silver.
"You! You will regret this!" And the mage froze once she placed her left on him.
She smiled.
"No. No, I won't."
Harvest.
The mage turned to dust and only a silver marble was left in her. She stared at it for a moment before she put it in her purse. She looked back to Emmeryn, who looked at her worried.
"Blessed and defiled huh...? I'll take it as a compliment." She smiled and that was the signal.
She covered Emmeyren's eyes as the trio took down the mages, making sure none were left alive.
"Ashes to Ashes," Alm muttered and turned the bodies to dust, making sure not a single piece of evidence was left behind.
"Who taught you how to dispose of bodies?" Sophia said as she looked at the bit surprised.
"...Aversa." Alm muttered, "For a while, I joined the Grimleal as a spy to get information. Disposing of bodies was one of the things Aversa taught us. Not a pretty thing. Good thing she never learned my identity or else she would be disposing of me." He chuckled darkly.
"Yes, and you learned how to create stomach sickness poisons that you used on Inigo," Severa muttered.
Lucina gave him a smack on the head.
"While that is interesting," Sophia said, "this place is no longer safe." She sighed, "Looks like my plans to Ferox just got put ahead.
"The border is three days away from here. I think we should be able to make it." Lucina said, "Also, we two of our friends in Ferox, they can help us."
[—]
They didn't have much to pack, just some clothing and a few personal belongings. Emmeyren held tightly onto Sophia's waist. Poor Sophia looked like she was turning blue as she and Severa flew through the sky, and Alm and Lucina were on the land.
"Aunty, you alright? You look pretty blue." Severa smirked, knowing full well the real reason why Sophia couldn't breathe.
"Emm, could you loosen your grip on me please?!" Sophia said the woman muttered "sorry" as she loosened her grip.
Sophia felt she could breathe again and shook her head. She noticed the snow was starting to fall a bit harder and they needed to reach some sort of cave for shelter for the night. She hates the cold.
"Goddammit! Achoo!"
Sophia looked down and saw Alm was complaining about the cold. He put around himself 4 cloaks, making him look like a mummy wrapped in blankets. Sophia couldn't help but laugh a bit as she pulled her cloak closer to her. Two more days passed and they were nearing the border, and Sophia was glad the trip went smoothly.
But trips never go smoothly.
It was as if a firestorm was unleashed. Multiple balls of fire began to fall upon them. They maneuvered their units as fast as they could, dodging left and right, making sure to not get hit. Thankfully the borders were nearby and the snowstorm was getting worse. They could take advantage of this. What she didn't expect was to see mages riding wyverns.
"Looks like the Grimleal is finally starting to get serious. That means Validar will do what he can to get his hands on me." She thought and heard a dark scream as they were stabbed by Alm's lance. Another Dark Knight was cut down by Lucina. They kept flying faster and faster. Severa held a crimson golden-colored lance that Sophia immediately recognized. It was the same lance Cordelia used in battle. The twin was vicious as she impaled Magil knights.
"My turn," Sophia said and snapped the reins.
"Hyaaa!"
Emmyren held tightly onto Sophia's waist as Ingrid skyrocketed through the sky. The red-haired woman gritted her teeth as she snapped the reins harder, making the pegasus fly even faster.
"I did not think they would follow us!" Sophia snarled as the Grimleal Malig knights were still on her tail.
She quickly let go of the reins and began to channel magic into the palm of her hands. She really shouldn't be using magic because she was still recovering but that did not matter.
"You all need to shut up!" It felt like she was on fire but in a good way.
Unfortunately, she was starting to scare the former Exalt when her right eye suddenly had a bright silver flame. Again, she maneuvered Ingrid but this made her go towards the enemy. She tucked in her fist, her magic channeling to her fist because she had every intention to demolish them. The closer they got, she knew it was time. The Malig knights raised their axes but not today. She raised her fists and struck them both right in the stomach. It was a sickening sight as droplets of blood landed on her face and organs began falling to the ground. Only the waist of the knights remained on the wyverns. And said wyverns roared and flew away quickly, the rest of the body falling off. The magic on her hands faded but she could feel Emmeryn shaking based on how tightly the woman was holding her.
"We need to get to the Ferox border if we want to guarantee our safety," Brynhildr muttered in her mind as the fire faded from her eye.
"Good to see you as well." Sophia panted as she had Ingrid now fly at a normal pace, "Where have you been these past few months."
"Sleeping because a certain someone went out of there to nearly destroy their body had not Naga's Voice interfere. You have a death wish or something?" Bryhildr sarcastically said and Sophia thought for a moment as the others gathered to check if everyone was alright.
"I got nothing."
"Hey!" Alm yelled out and Sophia had Ingrid fly down a bit, "Are you both alright?" He asked, worried.
"Were fine!" Severa yelled out from above, "We should be arriving at the border in 2 hours!"
"We might as well hurry." Lucina said as she looked over to the bodies, "I have a feeling more are on the way." They all nodded.
"Hissss!" Sophia suddenly had her hand over her right eye and felt something wet.
A silver substance ran down her cheek.
"What is that?" Lucina looked at her worried, "Is your eye alright?"
Sophia was silent as she looked at the silver liquid on her fingers as it seemed to absorb back into her body.
"I don't know."
- 2 hours later -
They had more encounters with Grimleal mages and soldiers on their way to the border. They were in the sights of the stone walls, Feroxi guards immediately went to aid them once they saw they were under attack. What none of the four expected was to see Basilio there. It was Sophia's first time seeing the man in action. She had heard stories of how brutal Basilio is on the battlefield but seeing for real, she had to admit, she was impressed and scared. Now she understood why the Feroxi were proud of their barbarian blood. However, what happened next definitely put her on his, "Keep an eye on." List.
"That's!" Basilio recognized Emmeryn immediately as the woman tried to hide behind Sophia.
" I can explain." Sophia immediately said as Basilio's glare was on her.
If looks could kill, he would have put her six feet underground immediately.
"You better!" Basilio said angrily and looked over to the kids, "Did you three know?"
"We just found out about this a few days ago," Lucina said and Sophia felt betrayed.
She had a lot of explaining to do.
[-]
It had been almost a year since she had been at the arena. The trio followed behind her and Emmeryn, and Basilio in the front with two guards at his side and two more behind the trio. Emmeryn was asked to put on her hood. They walked up the stone stairs, this time they were on the other side of the building. The stairway spiral till they reached a wooden door with a crocodile skull hanging on it, and one female guard standing there.
"Tell Flavia I need to speak to her, it's important," Basilio said and the woman nodded.
She opened the door and went in. A few seconds later, the woman came out, saying that they were allowed in.
"You two only." Basilio turned to Sophia and Emmeryn and then to the trio, "You three, go back to the arena. Your friends are waiting for you."
The trio looked at each other worried but nodded. As for the other three, they walked into Flavia's office and closed the door. Flavia's office was a bit more outgoing. A brown bear rug on the floor. Multiple animal skulls on the walls as victory trophies. Shelves with books and a few weapons are displayed near Flavia's desk. The woman was busy signing papers, clearly looking like she needed a drink.
"Basilio, if this about the Walrus again I'm going to kick your ass." Flavia sighed as she looked up but her eyes went wide once her eyes landed on Emmeryn and Sophia looking away, holding her left arm nervously.
"Basilio, what is going on? How is the Exalt standing before us?!" She said and Basilio turned to look at Sophia.
"Exalt?" Emmyren looked at them confused, "Pardon, but who you? And what is this Exalt?"
"Sophia." Basilio turned to look at the woman, "Speak."
"Can Emmyren step outside first? This is private," Sophia asked and Flavia nodded.
"Please wait outside. We'll call you back in once our talk is done." Sophia reassured her.
The woman was still worried but nodded. Emmeryn stepped outside, closing the door.
"Okay...Long story short." Sophia took a deep breath and began, "During my time in Plegia as a war prisoner, Emmeryn was impressed in the same place as me, The Garden. We eventually became friends. As the months passed, one of my spies learned that Gangrel had plans to execute her. So I came up with a plan to save her." She muttered, "Things didn't go as planned."
"Explain," Flavia said as she crossed her arms.
"The Grimleal took me away to torture me for a ritual to summon 13 Deadlords." The two khans looked at her shocked, "The plan backfired. The ritual instead only summoned one Deadlord and made me go missing for 11 days. When I was returned, it was the day of the execution." She sighed.
"The plan changed, didn't it?" Basilio said and Sophia nodded.
"I tried to prevent her fall as well as save Philla. But...you all saw what happened. Both fell and..." she gulped.
"The Risen Queen," Flavia said and Sophia nodded.
"I ended up saving Frederick, too. I managed to get to Philla's first and warp her to Ferox along with Lysithea to save her. Emmyren had to go to a different location. She had life-threatening injuries to her head. I used my medical skills to save her, but the fall...caused her to lose all her memories as well as difficulty with her speech and trouble moving her left hand." She finished explaining.
"Then why did you hide that she is alive?" Flavia looked at her angrily, "Do you have any idea of the scandal that will happen once Chrom and the others find out that she is alive? Were you even planning to tell them that she was alive? That you faked her death?" She said.
"...I wanted to make sure Emmeyren healed properly before I returned her to her family." Sophia said, "I am going to explain to them why I did it. I know I'm not going to escape the drama that will happen. That's the price I am paying for my actions." She sighed.
Basilio shook his head and turned to Flavia. They whispered for a few minutes and looked to her and then the door. Flavia stood up and both Khans spoke
"One month."
"Huh?!" Sophia couldn't believe what she was hearing from Flavia and Basilio.
"We will give you only one month here in Ferox and after that, you will return the Exalt to her family. That's it." Flavia looked at her seriously, "We understand why you hid her as well as faked her death but that does not excuse the need to hide her for a long time. Just how long were you planning to hide her?" She asked.
Sophia suddenly felt like a child being scolded by her parents as she weakly muttered her answer.
"At least 3 months." She whispered and she heard the two khans sighed.
"Kid, that's a bit too much." Basilio shook his head, "Anyhow, you're following through whether you like it or not. Oh, and don't try to run or we'll send the Walrus after you." He said.
"Fine. I'll take the deal." Sophia sighed, "It's the least I could do after you saved our necks."
"Good." Flavia nodded, "For now, how about you take up that old job of yours at the arena clinic? We've recently got recruits and too many are being knuckleheads." She grinned.
"Oh, they are being reckless?" Sophia suddenly had a gleam in her eyes, "Well, looks like it's time to pop some bones back into place."
"By the way, what's a walrus?" Sophia asked, "From my homeland, we call a walrus a type of sea lion."
Flavia chuckled and pulled out a sketch, showing it to her. It's just a chunky wyvern with T-Rex arms, overgrown tusk, and tiny wings.
"It's a piece of flab."
"Insult it again and I'll send you the Valley of Flames."