It's been about three weeks since she arrived in Ylisse and within those weeks, she is learning the hard way of what it means to be a leader. Teaching her students hadn't been easy at all and she has popped more blood vessels than she could count. She became upset like in the old days before she arrived, her face became void of emotions as well as her eyes. But right now, she needed to finish grading the quizzes the kids did because she has an appointment with Miri-
BOOM!
"Yune and Morgan blew up the lab again!"
"Kill me," Sophia grumbled angrily as she slammed her face on the table, groaning loudly.
The building shook a bit, the stack of papers thankfully didn't fall but she could already hear Ricken sobbing because his classroom was closer to the third floor. She had a lot of work to do. The first week of teaching she was met with tones of protest (mainly Lorenz and Seigel) about her knowledge. She had never seen so many students go pale once she informed and showed them exactly what she would be teaching them. Their first mission a few weeks a was near a village that was attacked by Giant Wolves. Sophia still got a lot to learn about the land she was now living in, especially the bloody monsters. Some of them she remembered from the games she played, others were completely new to her. Anyhow, many people were wounded, and there a few people that needed surgery. Especially this one man who had a pretty deep gash on his left bicep and a child that unfortunately got slashed on the stomach and his organ was damaged.
She had her students treat those that had minor injuries and she will never forget the look on their faces when she took out her scapulas and began to cut, sew, heal, flesh. Linhardt along with Marianne passed out at some point. Annette had turned green along with Hilda and Dorothea. Seele and Liliana turned pale and had to sit down. Aether, Ray, and James couldn't look away and remained frozen watching her perform surgery through all. Lorenz and Seigel, mortified by what she was doing. Yet, the people were saved, and thank her. She commanded her students like a military teacher, just like when she took charge of Themis. But that isn't what worried her.
"Your method of healing is seen as blasphemy by Cleric Firotheus!"
She knew it was going to happen eventually. She knew there would be people that would disapprove of her methods. But one look she gave the priest that came to deliver the message their cardiac sent, shut them up. She made it very clear that Hilda, Linhardt, Aether, and Liliana were no longer under his command.
"And I won't certainly tolerate you so call holy people looking down on these children!" She had hissed furiously at them that the priest felt their lives were in danger and ran.
Was NOT about to deal with the same bull shit she went through in her old world. And she is not about to let others look down on her students. Sophia sighed as she finished the last quiz and put it away. She should go check on Yune and Morgan. She was horrified to learn that her future self had taught Yune how to create explosives. The mini bombs her daughter makes are part of her magic. Morgan helps improve each time. Again, another sigh escaped her lips as she made it to the second floor and saw Ricken's door to his lab was open.
The boy was sighing as he was picking up the papers that have scattered on the floor and thankfully none of his tools shattered. Sophia snapped her fingers and suddenly he jumped, all the papers in the room began to float and stack themselves into near piles.
"That should do it." Sophia said as she walked in, "Sorry to suddenly come in. You had your door open and I got curious. I apologize on Morgan's and Yune's behalf for causing a ruckus and...the mess." She said and Ricken waved his hand.
"It's alright. The explosions are common in both the Alchemy and Magic Academies. Still, how did you do that?" He said and Sophia looked at him confused, "That spell. The one that you made all the papers stack up."
"Oh." Sophia looked at him a bit surprised, "Well I modified the magic matrix of the wind and then added the formulas for Gravity, commands, visuals, movements. Followed by envisioning what I wanted the spell to do. Thus, creating my spell." She explained and Ricken looked at her shocked.
"You can't just modify the magic matrix of spell-like its puzzle!" Ricken screeched waving his hands frankly in the air as if he was explaining a math problem, "You have to take apart the matrix layer by layer and then you have to divide into sections to show the code of the spell! After that, you need to look at the coding and from there, at the final layer, then you can modify it! You're saying you modified your spell as if you wrote a novel?!" Sophia was having a hard time understanding why it was so shocking.
"Yes." Sophia cocked her head and Ricken looked like she slapped multiple times, "Am I not supposed to do it that way? It was like...Pa! Hiya! Pow! Clink! Pow!" She said and there was an awkward silence.
"...I'm going to go check on Morgan and Yune." And Sophia quickly left and closed the door.
[-]
Knock, knock!
"Come in!"
Sophia was glad that Morgan's lab had windows that let them ventilate the room because if it didn't, the room would smell likes ashes. The kids froze when they saw it was Sophia, who crossed her arms and glared down at them. Both looked down to the ground, avoiding eye contact.
"What have I said about making bombs?"
"To not to."
"And what did you do?"
"Make bombs."
"And why shouldn't you do it?"
"Because we don't want the building to collapse."
"Exactly." Sophia pinched the bridge of her nose and she could already feel the massive headache that was coming.
She looked to the table where all their materials were and sighed. There was a beaker filled with sulfur. A small jar filled with crushed seashells. Tools for crushing, a notebook with drawings. A bowl filled with saltpeter and another small bowl with charcoal. They had a gold-colored scale to weigh the ingredients and rulers. And a big glass jar with black oil. Sophia also saw that Morgan had multiple jars filled with magic stones. Especially, lighting and fire elemental ones. She still can't believe her future self taught Yune and Morgan how to make explosives. Perhaps it was because she still has her chemistry and biology books in her old suitcases.
"Sigh..." Sophia sighed and looked back to the two with a tried look, "Okay. You can keep making them." Their eyes lip up, "But! Make sure to give Ricken a heads up each time because you kids keep causing his lab to become a mess."
"Yes, Teacher/Ma!" The two shouts and Sophia turned when she heard someone knock on the door frame.
"Greetings Witch of Flames, Dragon of Fire, and Child of Dust! For I ha-" and one look from Sophia made Owain shut up and speak normally, "Um...Hi. I...was originally going to speak to Morgan but since you're here..." he quickly bowed, "Lady Sophia, may I join your class?!"
"...What brought this all of a sudden?" Sophia said and she quickly looked back to the kids, "Let's speak in my classroom." Owain nodded
"Alright, kids. Make sure to give Ricken a heads up and be careful."
"We will!"
[-]
"Alright, you want to join my class." Sophia said Owain stood in front of her in her office, "Why? I'm going to honest with you. I can tell my future self and you kids have a strained relationship." She said and Owain rubbed the back of his neck nervously but nodded.
"I know...and now that I'm older...I regret many things I and the others thought about you." He muttered and Sophia raised an eyebrow at him, "We...We thought you were a cold person. Someone who didn't care about life. Now...looking back, we understand why you did what you had to do. Even if...some of your actions were questionable." He muttered and Sophia was silent for a moment.
It made Owain uncomfortable because it brought back memories of how the future Sophia would go silent before she would turn away, ignoring the curses the others would yell at her. He never dared to curse at her because she was a friend of his mother but he would mentally do it. He froze suddenly when Sophia spoke in a soft tone.
"I don't think my future self held any resentment towards you kids." Sophia sighed a bit as she closed her eyes, "I think she cared about you all. No, that is a fact." She smiled softly as she placed her hand over her heart, "I may not have met all of you but based on the information I have gathered, I know my future self loved you all. That is why she was she put on a cold mask." She chuckled a bit softly as she looked to her window.
"True, she was hurt. True she knew she would face severe backlash for her actions. But knowing myself," she took a deep breath and let it out, "she didn't want you kids to suffer like us." She muttered and Owain looked at her surprised.
"I can tell my future self must have burned bridges with some of you kids." Owain's mind instantly went to Nah and Alm, "But even so, she made sure to protect you all." She sighed and looked back to him with arms crossed, "I don't know what my future self's relationship with you was but if I did burn the bridge, then I hope that we can start fresh with me now." She smiled and began panicking when Owain looked like he was on the verge of crying.
The boy quickly raised his hand while he used his other to wipe his eyes, shaking his head. He looked up to her with a fierce yet determined look, a fire in his eyes as his handballed to fist.
"Thank you, Lady Sophia! I promise I will not let you down! The skills you showed us in Ferox, I will put them to use!" He said and Sophia couldn't help but chuckle a bit.
"I know. I know."
[-]
"Hmmmmmmm..."
"Gulp."
Miriel fixed her glasses as she looked down at the red-haired girl that hid behind Sophia. Her red wings flapped a bit, yet the red-haired Mage sighed as she crossed her arms.
"I have never seen a curse like this before. Hmmm...Ah right, I never properly introduced myself to you child." Miriel smiled softly as she placed her hand on her chest and bowed a bit, "My name is Miriel Shura Vlem of House Velm. It's a pleasure to meet your little one." She introduced herself and Yune was a bit hesitant but nodded.
Yune remembered the somewhat strain relationship Laurent had with his mother. She did wonder how the boy was. But right now, she was going to focus on one thing, breaking her curse.
"N-Nice to meet you Lady Miriel! I'm Yune! Sophia's cousin but she adopted me so I'm her adopted daughter now! Can you help me break this curse?!" Yune said as she stopped hiding.
"We'll have to see." The woman said, "Can you explain to me the purpose of this curse? Perhaps I can figure out the magic formula used." She muttered and Yune nodded.
"It...requires two manaketes to be sacrificed. The third person in the ritual, the blood of the two is then forcefully transfused into the third person. Dark magic is used to manipulate the magic veins structure of the body. This..." Yune's voice trailed off..."I honestly don't know why I was targeted...but...I think it's because of my blood."
"Your blood?" Sophia said and Yune nodded as she began to take off her cloak, "Wait, why are removing your clothing?!"
"To show Lady Miriel my Brand?" Yune looked at her mother confused and Sophia felt her blood run cold.
"A Brand?" Miriel's glasses suddenly glinted, "I thought only the Bloodline of Naga remained."
"Nope!" Yune said and placed her cloak down neatly on a chair and was now wearing a tank top, "This is my brand!" She pointed to her right shoulder blade, "I have the Brand of Mila! My family hails from the bloodline of King Alm and Queen Celica!" She grinned and Sophia felt like the biggest bomb was dropped on her.
The Brand of Duma and Mila was well known among those of Valm. The Brand of Mila looked like a star with curved wings and the Brand of Duma was a four-pointed star. Like those of the Naga Bloodline, the brand will appear on their bodies as a sign of their inheritance. The Brand of Mila, was the one Yune was born with. Sophia felt her blood run cold as she sat herself down and placed her hand on the center of her chest, where her Brand was.
"Mom?" Yune looked at her mother worried as well as Miriel, "Did...you not know that we hail directly from the Royal Family Bloodline of Valentia?"
"Yune..." Sophia covered her face as she was processing the information, "I-I..had my suspicions but...it doesn't make sense...It..doesn't add up..." She took a deep breath, "My grandmother can't be...Princess Cecelia..."
"Perhaps Martha can assist you with that." Miriel said as she helped the girl put on the cloak and then walked over to her friend, "Martha is an alchemist and as much as I find her research questionable, she specializes in blood types. Perhaps she may be able to help you and Yune." She said and then turned back to the girl with a small needle.
"I need a bit of your blood little one. This can help me have a sample of what type of dark magic is being used."
[-]
"Welcome! Welcome! My, this is rare of you to come!" Martha smiled and Yune was hiding behind Sophia again, "So, I got wind of you two having a bit of trouble and it involves blood!"
"Metiche." Both Sophia and Yune grumbled and Martha just kept smiling as she turned to her adult form.
"I don't know what you just said but I'll ignore it." The woman said and looked back to Sophia, "Back to the subject, I was told you are trying to find out your bloodline. You've come to the right person." She let the, come into her lab and closed the door.
"I am sorry for suddenly coming in like this. But I need some clarification because this is driving me insane." Sophia let out a crusted sigh as Martha motioned them to sit on her couch.
"And that would be?" Martha said as she poured Yune a cup of hot chocolate and Sophia coffee.
"I want to how exactly my daughter and I hail from the Royal Valentian Bloodline. Specifically, King Alm and Queen Celica." Sophia said and Martha looked at her shocked.
"Well, this is a surprise! I thought Marianne was the only one left!" Martha gawked along with Sophia.
"Wait, what does Marie have o do with this?" Sophia said and Yune looked away.
"Oh, forgive the confusion." Martha coughed, "You see, Marianne was believed to be the last of the Rigel Royal bloodline. Before Emperor Ruldof declared war, his new phew, Prince Berkut, and his beloved wife, Rinea, had two children. A son and daughter. Their names were Sapphire and Hector. And you already know the story of what happened to Prince Berkut and Lady Rinea." Sophia nodded to this.
"Marianne hails from that bloodline and she bears Brand of Duma on the back of her right shoulder." She said no Sophia narrowed her eyes at her.
"Don't worry. This information is not public. Marianne asked me not to reveal this to the public. You see, before alchemists can enroll in this academy, we measure this power. This is done by letting a drop of blood fall into the alchemy table you saw at the entrance fountain of the academy. This helps us professors determine their strengths and weaknesses and what they can do to improve." Martha explained and took a sip of her coffee.
"However, there is another purpose." The woman smiled as she placed her cup down, "Only I have access to this information. But since you have earned your place, I shall tell it to you as well. Little one here can listen but it must be kept a secret, okay?" She winked to Yune and the girl nodded quickly.
"Now then," Marth smiled as she clapped her hands together, "the device also tells us if an individual has the blood of a mythical creature."
"What?" Yune and Sophia said in union and Martha chuckled.
"It is no surprise that over the years there have been interracial relationships. From a human marrying a fae to a dragon falling in love with a Laguz, and the list goes on. Relationships like that are usually kept hush-hush. But we also have relationships like the one Naga had with the first family she gave her blood too. Let's take one example...hmmm..." She thought for a moment.
"Do know what Crest is?" She asked and Sophia narrowed her eyes.
"Oh, and before I forget, who this lovely girl?" Martha grinned eerily as Yune quickly hugged Sophia, the girl was shaking like a kitten who just ran into a herd of hyenas.
"This is Yune. She's the girl I was telling you about the curse." Sophia answered as she gently patted the girl's head.
"Hm...she looks like you but also...perhaps my imagination." The woman muttered and shook her head to get rid of the thoughts of her certain someone that came into her mind when she saw the girl, "Anyhow," she clapped her hands together, "I'm going to need a blood to determine wheater or not you two hail from the Valentian Royal Bloodline."
"Needles...why does it always have to be needles?" Yune grumbled and Martha chuckled.
"It won't hurt darling. Besides, based on the size of your scales, you'll be molting soon like a little bird getting new feathers." Martha cooed like some lunatic, "And if my theory is correct, based on your appearance, you possibly have a Brand or like they call them in a land called Fodlan, a Crest." She smiled softly.
"Excuse me, what?" Sophia looked at her shocked, "Fodlan is real?"
"Why wouldn't it be?" Martha looked at her confused, "The Country of Fodlan was once a great land till war ravaged it by Emperor Edelgard. However, that war was 1,000 years ago and across the sea. Not that it matters." Oh, it mattered to Sophia.
"Back to the original topic, a human can only have one brand manifest. In this case, Yune's body is possibly baring three brands from two dragons that were sacrificed and one she is born with." Martha placed her index finger on her chin, "The Brands are clashing, fighting over control, thus causing the girl's transformation. Hm... A Brand from the Wind Dragon Tribe the other from a hybrid dragon. I'm going to need a sample of her blood, spit, toenails, scales, and..." She pulled out a pair of renaissance style scissors with gold etchings and roses.
The woman smiled as she opened and closed them. Which means she needed a lock of Yune's hair. Before they knew it, Yune had thrown herself at the window, smashing the glass and flying away. Sophia was completely stunned to silence while Martha just shrugged.
"This happens often here in Ylisse. You get used to it." Martha smiled as she spun around back to her desk to drink her coffee.
"Martha, how do you know about Crest?" Sophia asked and the woman just chuckled.
"Why, isn't obvious?" Martha smiled, "Annette, Lorenz, Marianne, Hilda, Linhardt, Edelgard, Chrom, Lissa, Robin, you and Yune, you all hail from those that blood of dragon was given to them. Well, from the descendants of Fodlan..." she smiled bitterly and Sophia already suspected that she knew about the history of Fodlan's crest.
"But as I was saying, Brand and Crest, they are the same, just different names. Now, back to you and your daughter, I need a sample of your bloo-!" It happened all of a sudden again.
The agonizing pain began to fill her body as she dropped to the ground, her blood felt like it was boiling. She was having trouble breathing and she could taste copper in her mouth. Martha quickly began to use Recover on her but the feeling of this spell was different. It was almost as if her body...was being repaired. The pain was fading away and it felt string was being moved around. Sophia looked up only to see Martha smiling at her with her hands in the air, the light showing strings.
"I know forbidden healing arts and I am not afraid to use them." She giggled and helped Sophia up onto the couch, "The spell I used is called Stich. An ancient spell that was used during the Judargal Era but also a spell that was said to have been created by the Goddess Ashera. Anyhow," she did light pats on Sophia's back, "unfortunately I am not able to make your condition go away. And thankfully with the blood you spit out," she held up a potion bottle with a murky liquid, "I was able to do a test."
"Sophia, I know you left out certain information." Martha muttered as she placed the bottle on the table, "I have been observing you since you have arrived. I noticed you feel no pain in your right arm along with your right leg. You received a pretty heavy blow from Sully when you two were sparring the other day. You have the bruises but feel no pain. And your scars...I know scars left by torture. The flesh at the top may not have them but your magic veins do. The body and especially the soul..." she put her index finger on the center of Sophia's chest, "never forget."
Sophia gulped as Martha leaned away with a smile.
"It was...a forced blood transfusion." Sophia muttered as she looked down to the ground and gently touched her left hand, "I remember I was talking to Emmeyren. Suddenly there was a black portal. It tried to drag me and Emmeyren in but I used my strength to make sure she was safe. The only one that was taken was me." Perhaps because of that day, she was afraid of the dark.
Martha was silent as she listened.
"I remember waking up to everything around me was black. I knew I was blindfolded based on the feeling of cloth around my eyes. However, I was also able to feel I was chained and suspended in the air. I know my captor was a woman..." her gaze became dark as it went towards a vase, "Yet they changed their voice to that of a man. The voice...I know I heard it somewhere but I do not remember where. But I remember how they would cut off my limbs, stab me, burn me, twist the blades, and then they would use magic to reattach my limbs, heal my wounds, all the blood that was spill was then put back into me. I remember how they would kiss my neck and graze their teeth on my skin, like a lover. And I hated it...then they would inject me with something. The agonizing pain I felt as if I was being cooked alive. At some point, I shut myself mentally away. I wasn't able to feel anything anymore. I just needed to survive." She muttered darkly as if she was looking at a demon.
Martha knew that look better than anyone. A look of someone who would not hesitate to destroy everything in their path. It was the same look her husband had and a look she has. A sly smile formed on her lips and she spoke.
"I would assume the blood that was forcefully given to you is that of Grima...correct?" She said and Sophia's eyes looked at her with hatred, but not towards her, towards the one she mentioned.
"I see...then it is quite obvious now." Martha sighed as patted the woman on the head, making her blink like a confused child, "Finish your coffee and I will go find Yune." She stood up and smiled.
"I don't think that's a good idea," Sophia said and Martha shook her head.
"Don't worry."
Before Sophia knew it, she felt her eyelids feel heavy and fell asleep.
[—-]
Martha smiled softly as she placed a blanket on the woman and picked up her cup along with Yune's taking it to the sink. She heard a knock on her door and said "Come in".
"Ah." Ethan's eyes widened a bit when he saw the sleeping woman on the couch, "I'm glad the sleeping medicine you requested worked. But I don't see the little girl." He said and Martha looked at him confused.
"Why would Yune be asleep? I requested the medication only for Sophia since I figured out her magic system is scarred." And she saw how pale the man became.
"I put the medicine in both of their drinks!"
At that moment, Ethan feared his life.
[—-]
Martha grumbled as she walked to the castle, a place she would avoid but she needed to find the girl. So, why did she request Ethan to make a sleeping tonic for Sophia? She had noticed how overworked the woman was and would not take small breaks. Also, she is not a fool. She knows the signs of trauma. They all have it but Sophia takes it a bit further. She sighed and hoped the sleeping medicine would help somewhat help her with the pain and it also was to prevent dreams. Why prevent dreams? As a Nightmare herself, dreams are the gateway to connect to the spiritual world. Nightmares especially because they connect to the spiritual plane that is between life and death. They are seen as guardians but if one were to reach far too deep to one side, there could be trouble. She is a guardian that helps the souls of the deceased pass onto the next world. She who walks in between, that is why she chose to inherit the funeral parlor.
The Albright House has served House Lowell since the time of King Marth. They are the descendants of the Knight, Chris, that served King Marth. They have served as the shield of the Royal Family for generations and a new kind of shield was born during the era when Grima rose. House Albright also has another name and she falls into that category.
The Shadow of House Lowell.
Martha sighed as she arrived at the training grounds of the castle and looked around. The recruits were being trained by Donnel and Sully today, so she can see the recruits felt so happy that her cousin wasn't in charge today. She looked around and stopped. Near the crated filled with training weapons, sat Severa with a frustrated look and her arms up as Owain listened and Inigo was trying to reassure his friend. Martha's gaze became half-lidded as she looked at them. Severa had this snarky attitude that Cordelia had when she was a young child and the red hair was similar to hers. No, it was the same shade of red as Cornelia's. Owain, a strange boy and dramatic but is kind, reminded her of Lissa. Inigo has the same pink eyes as Olivia.
"Huh...It's almost as if they are their kids." Martha sighed and then froze.
Martha just stared at Severa as the twin tail kept ranting to Inigo and Owain about training. But Severa along with the two boys shivered and jumped when Martha was suddenly next to them with a pensive look.
"Jesus Christ! Gawd! Has anyone ever told you that you're like a ghost!?" Severa yelled because it felt like her heart was about to leap out of her chest.
"Lady Martha, please do not scare us like." Inigo sighed along with the others but they were feeling uncomfortable by how Martha just kept staring at them.
She held her chin and looked to the ground, muttering to herself and her eyes suddenly looked to them, narrowed. It felt as if she was looking into their souls. Her gaze was similar to Nah's when the manakete was in deep thought. She stared at each one for about 12 seconds and then would go back to muttering to herself. They were starting to get nervous.
"Is something the matter Lady Martha? You keep staring at us." Owain chuckled nervously and suddenly the woman grinned, her fangs showing.
"I can not help but think of Cordelia, Olivia, and Lissa when I look at you three." She said and the trio internationally began screaming in horror.
"Heeeeeyyy!"
Oh, what horrible timing.
The four turned to see Morgan waving at them with a grin, Lucina on his right and Alm on his left. The trio quickly shook their heads, trying to say that now wasn't the time to meet up but the other trio looked at them confused.
"Sorry, we're late. I had to go get Alm from the speaking with Lady Miriable." Lucina said and noticed Martha was staring at her, "Um, Lady Martha, is something wrong?"
Martha's eyes shifted to Morgan, who waved with a smile. Her gaze then went to the trio and then to Alm.
"Um...Lady Martha?" Alm gulped and she walked up, gently patting his shoulders.
"Hmmm..." the woman hummed as she took a step and looked at each one and they took a step forward as she pointed two fingers at Morgan and Lucina.
"Robin," she looked to Morgan, "And Chrom." She said to Lucina and a bead of sweat rolled down their faces as she turned to look at Alm, "Frederick."
"Umm...Lady Martha, we aren't them." Morgan said nervously but Martha shook her head.
"Whoever said I was saying you are them?" She grinned, "I'm saying you kids remind me of them. Hm...Almost as if you are their children." She muttered and all the kids were now internally screaming.
"Anyhow," Martha waved her hand, her way of dismissing a conversation, "have you kids seen Yune? She drank a sleeping medicine that Sophia was supposed to take and unfortunately the drinks were mixed up." She said and Lucina spoke.
"I think we saw her fly towards the garden," Lucina said and Martha nodded and began to walk but stopped, her gaze becoming half-lidded again as she stared at the road in front of her.
The faint outline of a young girl that had a similar appearance to Morgan, glared at her but walked up to her hesitant. The girl took her hand and looked at her with pleading eyes and kept moving her eyes towards Morgan and Marth. Martha knew that look.
"Morgan. Marth."
"Y-Yes?!" Morgan jumped as Martha turned her head slightly towards him and the others.
"Do you have any other siblings ?" She said and the group looked at each other confused.
"I...don't have all my memories but Marth has told me I have a twin sister." He said and Martha nodded.
"I see." Martha muttered and looked back to the girl in front of her, "I think you should stay with me, wandering soul." She thought and the girl nodded, quickly entered the sapphire necklace she was wearing.
"Well, take care kids. And do well on your lessons."
[—-]
"Hmmm...Now, where is that little hybrid?" Martha muttered as she arrived at the garden and looked around.
It's been a while since she had been at the castle. It's a place she usually avoided but the garden was an exception because it grew her husband's favorite flowers.
"Sigh..." she sat down on the bench next to the fountain, looking up to the sky but was blocked by the tree branches of the cherry tree she and Emmeyren planted years ago, "The future...I knew time travel was possible but I didn't think such a thing would happen..." she looked her gaze fell onto the Celica flowers, "Albert...if I could turn back time...I would do everything in my power to save you. I can't bring you back but..." she smiled softly as her mind traveled to the jar with the magic seal, "I want some part of you to keep on living."
She stayed silent for a moment and then raised an eyebrow when she felt familiar energy. She stood up and began to walk towards the maple tree near the roses bushes and smiled when she spotted Yune sleeping like a cat underneath the shade of the trees. She was going to go wake up the girl but stopped and quickly used an invisibility spell once she saw Frederick and Chrom walking together in the hall next to the garden. Chrom looked tired as he was reading a document in his hand. Frederick had a pensive look on his face.
"My Lord, are you sure it is wise to put Alm in charge of the mines in Themis County? I understand if it was Miriable but Alm?! We hardly know the boy!" Frederick said and Martha had to keep herself from snorting.
Alm reminded her of Frederick when he was younger. It may not look like it but once upon a time, Frederick was just as reckless and cold as the boy. Not to also mention both are as stubborn as rocks.
"Frederick, you worry too much. I trust the boy. Also, Marth will be going with him. I admit both are surprisingly good at paperwork and business." He said and Anna instantly came into his mind as he let out a tired sigh.
"You are too trusting, my lord." Frederick sighed, "Other than that, I received notice that the construction at the Mage's Quarters is done. Sophia, her daughter, and her students will be able to move in tomorrow. Reminding me, I need to speak to her." He said and Chrom chuckled.
"Something the matter, my lord?" Frederick raised an eyebrow at him, "Why the sudden chuckle?"
"I can not help but wonder why your eyes light up a bit when you speak of Sophia? My friend, do you fancy her?" Chrom grinned and Martha could see that mischievous glint that all Lowell's inherited.
If the three royal siblings didn't have a horrible father and childhood ripped away from them, they would have grown to be gremlins. Frederick scoffed at him.
"As if!" Frederick said, "After what she pulled, it will take quite some time for her to earn my trust." He said and Chrom frowned.
"Does...this have to do with...your feelings by any chance?" Chrom asked carefully and Frederick sighed a bit and smiled bitterly.
"Both my friend. Emmeyren and my emotions." He muttered, "Perhaps we should talk of this at another time." He said and Chrom nodded in understanding.
Both were about to continue to walk but both stopped when they spotted Yune fast asleep next to the tree, curled up into a ball.
"Well, you look at that." Chrom chuckled, "I didn't think anyone else would find this hiding spot." The girl was surrounded by cats and birds.
"What is she doing sleeping out here? And what do you mean hiding spot?" Frederick looked to his lord who quickly looked away, "Anyhow," the Knight sighed, "she shouldn't be sleeping out here. I'll wake her up." Chrom just sighed and nodded.
The Knight carefully walked up and knelt, the cats all began hissing at him and he could hear his lord trying to hold back his laughter. Frederick never really got along with cats and they never liked him. He was more of a dog person.
"Yune...Yune." He gently shook the girl and Yune lazily swatted his hand away.
"Hmmm...Fuck off Eden...Five more minutes." Yune mumbled.
Chrom had to use the wall for support as he was trying not to burst out laughing at Frederick's expression after hearing the girl curse.
"Yune...Wake up." Frederick tried again after recovering from his initial shock but the girl once again grumbled with a slightly dangerous tone.
"Eden, I told you to fuck off...Mom said we can sleep in...Zzz..." and Chrom was losing it at this point.
"I can't believe I'm about to do this..." Frederick grumbled as he leaned in a bit, "Yune, Morgan went to steal your snacks." It was a trick he would use to wake up Martha when they were children.
He learned the hard way how protective women can be when it came to their food. Yune's eyes shot open and abruptly sat up, angry.
"GET OUT OF MY ROOM!" She yelled and blinked multiple times once she saw Frederick was looking at her with a tried look and Chrom could be heard laughing his head off in the background, "Oh...Ummm...I'm sorry you...Am I in trouble?" She made puppy dog eyes.
Big sister Hilda said if she acted like a sweet cute girl, she wouldn't get in trouble. Frederick felt guilty for waking her up and in the background, Martha, too, was trying not to burst out laughing. The knight sighed and spoke.
"Yune, what are you doing sleeping out here? It's dangerous. What if some kidnapped you or if they broke into the palace?" He said and the girl looked down to the ground.
"I'm sorry...I didn't mean to...I won't sleep out here again. Please don't be mad at me. I just wanted to enjoy the fresh air." She held her skirt tightly.
"I'm not mad at you, Yune." Frederick muttered and the girl blinked multiple times feeling his hand on her head, "I'm just worried for your safety. Where is Sophia anyway?"
"Oh!" Yune quickly stood up and dust herself a bit, "Mama is talking to Lady Martha. We wanted to confirm something about ourselves. I wish I can tell you but Mama hates it when people stick their noses into other people's businesses. She calls them metiches." She said and Frederick had a bit of a nervous smile.
"What does metiche mean?" He asked and Yune cocked her head a bit.
"It means nosy in my mother's native tongue from her homeland." And Chrom lost it.
She was calling Frederick, nosy.
"Okay, time to rescue my poor cousin." Martha giggled and undid her invisibility spell as she walked towards the two, "Yune, there you are!" The two turned her way, "I was looking for you. Your mother was worried when you jumped out the window." Both adults males suddenly looked at the girl in shock.
"That's because you took those scissors! And I hate needles!" The girl puffed her cheeks angrily.
"Martha, are you at it again with your crest research?" Frederick looked at her coldly and the woman crossed her arms, looking at him with the same cold eyes.
"My research had nothing to do with yours. I suggest you not stick your nose to where it doesn't belong." Chrom quickly had Yune back away because of how cold the air was getting.
"A-Anyhow, Yune," the girl looked to the Exalt, "perhaps you should go back to your mother? She may be worried."
"Oh, mom is fine. Martha put sleeping medicine in her coffee." Chrom and Frederick looked like scared cats while Martha just avoided eye contact, "I took some of it too! I hadn't slept so well in years!" She grinned.
"Mmmmmmmaaaarrttthhhhaaa..." Frederick's voice rumbled as the woman chuckled nervously as she looked to the side.
"Anyway," Yune turned to look back to Frederick, "Sir Frederick? I know this may sound strange but...have we met before?"
"We met when you ran to that bread stand." He chuckled but confusion filled his features as the girl shook her head.
"That's not what I meant!" The girl puffed her cheeks, "You have the same scent as Alm! Are you and Alm related?! And why is your scent also mixed with mine?!" and Martha quickly stepped in because of the shocked looks.
"Yune, Yune! Come! Your mother is waiting!" Martha said a bit too cheerful and quickly grabbed the girl and ran for their lives.
The two men were just stunned as they looked at each other and then back to the direction they ran.
"Now that I think about," Chrom was the first to speak as he held his chin, "Alm strangely does remind me of you. There's someone else but I can't remember who. Maybe he might be a distant relative of yours?" He said as he thought back to the conversation he had with the boy.
"That's impossible." Frederick sighed as he walked back to him, "The only ones left are me, Martha, our uncle..." there was an edge in his voice when he spoke of his uncle, "and my mother."
They started to walk again.
"Well, he reminds me of you. Even Nowi expressed that you two have the same scent. She said there was another one but she couldn't figure it out." Chrom said and then stopped, "Do you ever get this strange feeling when we talk to those kids?"
"Cordelia, Lissa, and Olivia have expressed that do feel strange with Severa, Owain, and Inigo. Not to also mention those three do everything they can to avoid them. Marth...She keeps her distance from you and Robin. Morgan on the other hand is very outgoing and likes being near you two." He turned to Chrom with a small smile, "He reminds me of you."
"I've been told that a lot." The Exalt chuckled, "Speaking of that..." he turned to the knight, "today is the day for clothing fitting..."
"The wedding is in two months, My Lord. I know you don't like all these meetings as well as Lady Robin but the wedding is coming up." He said, "Which reminds me, I need to speak to Lysithea and Sophia regarding what desserts we will have that day."
"Sophia already promised her wedding cookies."
[—]
"Okay, so this the result." Martha sighed as she looked at the dozen flask in front of her, "Each flask has a different potion that will react to certain blood type," she explained to Yune since Sophia was still fast asleep, "This," she shook two small potions bottles in her hands, "is your blood and Sophia's. Let's start with your's first."
"Okay, Aunty Martha!" Yune said and Martha shook her head.
"Just Martha. Aunty makes me feel old." The woman shook her head and uncorked the first bottle.
She placed a drop in the first flask. The liquid turned lime green. She repeated with the second flask and got a dark green color. The third, the result was black.
"What do the colors mean?" Yune looked confused and Martha had a bead of sweat going down her face.
"The lime green means Mila's blood. The dark green is Duma. The Black is Grima. However, notice how the colors remain the same. You don't see any bubbles in the liquid. That means that those three dragon bloodlines are in peace. Meaning, because you were born with that blood, they will not react badly. Now, let's do two more." Martha repeated the action two more times.
The color emerald green but a murky color mixed with it and the second one was a mixture of blue and red but also a somewhat murky color.
"Hm...The emerald is of the Wind Dragon Clan and the second one is that of a hybrid. However, the murky colors represent forced transfusion. Sigh...okay, so you have the blood of Duma, Mila, and Grima. That means one of your parents must come from the Royal Plegai/Grimleal bloodline and the other parent must be descendent of the Royal Valentian bloodline. This indeed confirms you hail from two Royal Bloodlines but you were born with the Brand of Mila. Okay, that's cleared." Martha muttered as she held her chin.
"However, the curse placed on you by the Grimleal forced a blood transfusion of a hybrid manakete and a pureblood wind dragon. This is causing the first three types of blood you were born with fight the other two and is causing degeneration to happen. And then there is also dark magic..." Martha sighed and gently patted the girl's head.
"So, there's no way to cure me?" Yune eyes welled up and Martha shook her head.
"I do think there is a way to reverse the curse. It'll take a while but we will find a cure." Martha smiled softly and opened the second bottle of blood, "Now onto Sophia."
She had the same results however, the one with Grima's blood displayed a strange silver-like substance.
"Huh." The older woman scrunched her eyes as she leaned down to get a close look, "Let pull out one more flask." She quickly went to her shelf and grabbed an empty one and another potion, "Here it is~ Now l-!" Martha froze when she saw Yune was at the shelf that had the jar with the seal.
The little girl cocked her head like a cat and smiled.
"Hi, Eden!" The girl grinned and turned back to the table, "Oh! Sorry, Miss Martha. I was just curious about the child in the jar."
She shouldn't be able to see through the jar. Martha was silent as she placed the flask and potion on the table and quickly pulled Yune away.
"What did you see?" Martha smiled as she put her hands together.
"A future cousin!" Yune grinned and Martha's eyebrow twitched, "Don't worry! Your secret is safe with me. But um...when will you?" Martha couldn't help but let out a dark chuckle as her eyes seemed to be glowing when she opened them.
"Oh, child...I don't exactly like my child being near others." She leaned forward and suddenly Yune was very scared, "But to answer your question, you need to give me an answer to one I have."
"And if I don't?" Yune whimpered and Martha's smile only grew.
"Then you might find some of your memories missing." She said and Yune gulped but nodded.
"O-Okay. I'll answer." The girl said and Martha caressed her cheek with a closed eye smile.
"Good girl. Now answer this. You're not Sophia's adopted daughter, are you?"
[—-]
Dark Saint's Heart turned 1 year old on July 5th! Thank you everyone for the amazing support!