Keiji departs for the Ice Tribe Village with Flora and the vanguard. The journey sees him place his faith in Felicia's sister.
Faith
For hours upon hours, you've marched through the snow with twenty soldiers under your watch. The weather is beyond chilling; it borrows beneath the protection of your fur-lined earthy brown winter coat and gnaws at you. You can scarcely imagine how in the world Flora and Felicia survived in this climate as children. Your hometown was warm and agreeable in comparison - never too hot - but far from a frozen tundra like this ungodly place.
You stop for a moment to rub your hands together, "H-How are you not freezing to death out here, Flora?"
The maid turns on her heels. Arms behind her back, she smiles with a hint of pride. "When you're born in a place like this, you adjust quickly. It's in my blood; Felicia's too. Take the lake you fall into, for one. Felicia and I didn't feel a thing when we jumped in to rescue you."
You wave off Flora's claim dismissively, certain she's spinning tall tales. "You jest. Nobody could withstand something so extreme."
"No, I'm being quite honest with you. How else do you think we saved you like we did?"
"A fair point," you concede with a (literal) icy exhale. Your very breath mists before your eyes. "How much further to the Village?"
"We're getting close, very close," Flora informs you. For a good long while, she gazes headlong into the inhuman blizzard. Then she points off into the distance. "We're almost there. Stay close and keep up as best you can."
How the twin knows her left from her right out here astounds you. Especially when you can barely see more than a few feet in front of your face.
Although, a silver lining is still a silver lining regardless.
"Fine by me." You glance back to the soldiers following. "We're nearly there!" you call through snow. "Just a little further."
"Thank the Light Dragon," one of the lady samurai shouts back. "I'm freezing my arse off, Sir Keiji."
"I know it's desolate out here," you call back - an attempt to sympathize, "but just a bit further and we'll be in the clear."
No sooner than you say those words does the ground rumble beneath your feet. Howls whistle across the icy wind. Heart thumping in alarm, you draw your father's katana from its sheathe. The howls around you twist into a single blood-lusting scream from up directly ahead.
"Faceless!" Flora yells. You fall in at her side.
True to her warning, a towering beast of a creature stumbles into view. Its truly massive in size and musculature with veiny black skin - the likes of which pulsates unnaturally. A gruesome rectangular mask with three vertical pinprick eyeholes at either side obscures the unnatural monstrosities' face.
Enraged, the creature takes a swing at Flora. She thankfully leaps out of harm's way with but a second to spare, pulling a dagger from the polished scabbard at her hip. The rest of your comrades fall in around you and draw their weapons.
"Ready, Sir Keiji," one of them announces to the side of you, a samurai brandishing his katana.
"Me too," says another, a diviner with tarot card held between her index and forefinger.
It's time to prove you can lead.
"Okay everyone! Focus!" you command, turning your sword outward artfully. You flip strands of hair from your eyes next, so you might see a bit better. A fearsome roar from the inhuman foe ahead makes your ears ring for a moment.
"What's the plan, Sir Keiji?" the samurai standing right of you asks hurriedly. He grips his katana tighter. "I've never fought one of these things in the snow."
You haven't either, but it isn't as though you can go telling the lad as much. You'll rely on the substantial experience you gained fighting Faceless in fairer weather instead. Nothing in your several years spent doing so has indicated they act any differently depending on location.
And while you're no tactician, you've an eye for battlefield situations as they unfold.
"First we surround and box the thing in. That way it won't be able to rampage. Swordsman, up front! Encircle it."
Your samurai do as commanded and form a loose line around the Faceless. The beast takes a few uncoordinated swings while being trapped, seemingly angered. Your warriors remain quick on their feet as a united team and deflect those swings with little issue.
Such a tight encirclement means spells are out of the question, unfortunately. The last thing you want is for a diviner's rogue bull familiar to trample one of your men. Thankfully, you have a decent enough solution in mind. Provided your comrade is willing, of course.
"Flora, you're good with knives, right?" you ask.
The maid pulls a throwing dagger from behind her back as though magic. Calm and collected, she nods. "Not as good as Sister, but I'm still no slouch."
Good enough for you. "Can you hit that thing from here?"
"I can. But it's best you stand back." A frosty pale blue aura emanates from the girl's form.
"Magic, of course," you surmise, stepping back as instructed. "I'm clear."
A good thing, too. The ethereal energies Flora summoned are somehow even colder than your surroundings.
A ray of dark aquamarine energy resonates from between the twin's palms. She whispers something you don't quite catch, and tosses her projectile to the wind. It tears so quickly through the air that you see little more than a crack of gloomy purple lightning.
A dizzying yell escapes the Faceless upon impact; a torrent of black smoke gushes from its neck. Bested, the creature crashes to the snow in a heap. Its body dissolves into cloudy blackish-purple smog, and then evaporates into nothingness.
Awe-struck by Flora's knife work, you whistle approvingly. "Impressive."
Everyone puts their weapons away with the threat dispatched and falls in close. More than a couple of your samurai look pleased with Flora.
"Dammit that was really something," one of them commends, patting her shoulder out of appreciation before taking their place beside you.
Flora's cheeks tinge pink amidst the praise.
"It was nothing really," she insists.
You bow in thanks for her efforts regardless. Afterward, you push onward. The troops follow.
The sooner you're all somewhere a little warmer, the better.
What Flora promised would be ten minutes of walking turns out to be exactly that. Finally, beyond the endless snow, you make out the faint outline of a settlement on the horizon. You can just barely make out a single tall spire of a building.
Are we here?" you ask, lowering the hand you used to shield your eyes while gazing ahead to your side.
"Yes, we are," answers Flora. "Let's hurry along now. We'll take refuge for a while and get everyone warmed up."
"A fine enough plan for me." You glance back to your men. "With me. We're almost out of this damned snow."
There are more than a few cheers and relieved exhales from among your comrades.
"We did it," Flora exhales, "we're here."
Your small numbers made slipping past the few Nohrian patrols easy enough. The twenty or so of you got through the village's side gate without issue. Now you quietly walk the streets, following Flora's lead to what she promised would be somewhere safe and warm.
Strangely, she's worn an uneasy expression ever since setting foot inside the village proper.
No, it's more than that. She seems tense for some reason.
You lean close to the girl so you might whisper. "Is something the matter?"
"N-Not at all," she answers. Her tone is a touch uneasy.
You certainly don't buy such a shaky assurance. You've also a good reason as to why Flora is acting this way. Her conversation with you a few nights prior comes to mind - the one concerning the Nohrian traitor, Maria. "You're getting paranoid again, aren't you?"
"I-It's nothing like that..."
"Then what has you so knotted up with nerves?"
Flora breaks away from you without a word and continues down the street at double pace.
You'd follow and press the issue if not for keeping your soldiers calm and collected.
Sighing, you take in the sights and surroundings instead.
This tribal village is very quaint. A few dozen wooden cottages with snowy roofs line the edges of the cobblestone streets. A handful of abandoned wooden crates (most of them filled with frozen foodstuffs; vegetables and fruits) sit outside the doors of homes. Candlelight's calming orange glow emanates from a few open windows of the residences you pass; sure signs of life.
"Here we are." Flora guides you past the ruins of a snowed-under ring of market stalls. Mangy dogs with dirty fur roam the area. They thankfully don't bare fangs or threaten the safety of the group as you walk by. They're far too busy scavenging for that; and they're probably far too weak for it anyway.
"This is the place," Flora pauses, bringing you and your band of soldiers to a stop. You stand outside of a much larger cottage with a wide doorstep and a hulking metal door complete with a knocker. The structure stands tall on two floors. Creaky oak shutters partway cover its large rectangular glass windows. Ice covers the steps outside the properties' front door, too. How long it has been since anybody last used this place is beyond your imagination.
"This one is big enough for most of you to stay in," comments Flora, opening front door.
A sudden shiver rolls down the base of your spine. You turn around, almost expecting somebody to be waiting behind you. "What the-" There's nobody there. All you see is a snowed under fruit stand sitting beside a half-collapsed pile of rocks and rubble. "How strange." You could've sworn you felt a presence.
"Keiji?" Flora calls over.
You turn around to find that all of your men have piled inside the house. You hear the thumping of their boots from out here.
"It must have been my imagination," you dismiss with shake your head. Sighing, you proceed to join the others.
"No. Hold fast." Flora holds out her arm to stops you, barring your way. "This one's full. There's a house down the street for us, mine." She heads down the slightly slippery steps carefully, looking back to you once she's safely at the bottom. "Follow me, won't you? It's not far."
"Fair enough." You likewise head down the steps.
Flora sets off once you've fallen in beside her.
She still appears out of sorts. It's in her body language. Her shoulders are stiff and her eyes radiate worry. You were content to brush it off as an overactive imagination getting the better of her at first. Now you're likewise concerned.
Forcing a thin smile, you take Flora's hand into yours while you walk. The maid flinches as you do. "Would you please tell me what's wrong?"
"A-As I said, it's nothing," Flora answers adamantly, her voice the slightest bit strained.
You're not backing down.
"It's clearly something; otherwise you wouldn't be as rigid as a board with nerves."
"I'm keeping an eye out for Nohrian patrols, Keiji. We're not alone here, unless you've forgotten?"
"I haven't. But I saw no more than one or two on our way in here." The village is so quiet in fact, that you're hard pressed to think it occupied.
"And that's why I'm worried," Flora explains, squeezing your fingers a touch harder as you round the street corner.
"The letter you found indicated as much," you recall from a few days prior. "So doesn't it stand to reason we've seen less of them?
"Letter or no, this is too few. Moreover, the streets are deserted. I don't like this. Not one bit."
Flora's observations give rise to twinge in your gut - warrior's instinct. You're alert where before you were only slightly wary.
"A trap, perhaps?" you question with a raised brow.
"...I'm not sure. Nevertheless, I'd prefer getting off the streets in any case. Alright, we're here."
You stand outside another cottage of a similar design to the one you just came from. This building appears around the same size. There is but a single, subtle difference. The sturdy front door has a snowflake etched upon its front. There's a light inside, too. The crackle of a fireplace, maybe.
"Here. Right this way, before any patrols come by." You're led inside before you can refuse.
You find yourself standing in a narrow entrance hall with worn grey wooden flooring and simple white decor. Flora releases your hand and locks the door with a faded iron keyring she picks up from the bottom rung of the staircase.
The two of you safely inside, she finally relaxes "Good. At least we can get comfortable in here."
Flora leads you into what looks to be the house's living room. A wide fireplace crackles gently at the room's center, and a large wolf skin rug lays over the floor. There are also a couple of wooden chairs with cushions to sit on. In the corner nearest the back wall is a simple red fabric armchair with space enough for two. Well, space enough for two if you huddle close.
Some comfort would certainly go a long way after the journey you've had. You sit down and claim the armchair as your own.
Sinking into the fabric, you sigh deeply and thankfully. It's as though an angel's embrace. "And here I thought I'd never enjoy a comfortable seat again."
You shut your eyes. Flora's worries feel farther away now that you're no longer out in the open.
The maid's soft footfalls come nearer, stopping ahead of you.
You open eye. Undeniable tension yet tarnishes her pretty features.
"Still can't relax?"
Flora sighs shortly, shaking her head.
"I hate how this place feels so hostile nowadays," she tells you bleakly. "It never used to as a child."
"War does that; twists even the nicest of memories into something sour."
Flora frowns gently. "You say it so uncaringly."
"Because it's just the way it is. It stings yes, but you learn to live with it before too long."
"I wish I had the fortitude to do that," Flora says as she perches upon the arm of your chair. You catch a faint whiff of her flowery perfume because of her being so close, "To let bygones be bygones and move on - in the same way you and Sister do."
You laugh flatly and humourlessly. "I'm nothing like Felicia, no way. Her strength is genuine; it's from the heart."
"And yours isn't, Keiji?"
You open your other eye and gaze at Flora long and hard. Showing one's weakness is never easy. However, you trust Felicia's twin enough to do it.
"Not as much as I'd like, no. For the longest time I've simply been holding myself together."
"I'd figured that out already," Flora admits sadly, her expression becoming downcast to match. "Not that I hold it against you. Nobody's perfect."
"That they aren't. Well... unless you're Lord Ryoma."
Sumeragi's son and the ideal Hoshidan warrior - loyal and upstanding. A part of you admires and respects him greatly. Another looks upon that perfection with quiet and private disdain: especially when he ordered Kagero not intervene at Okashi.
"Even Lord Ryoma has his flaws, I'll bet," Flora comments, her words pulling you from reflection's mire.
You smirk at the maid. "And here I was just thinking the same thing."
Flora winks at you, her cheeks pinkening a touch. "All the more reason I enjoy your company."
You touch a hand to the girl's arm, smiling caringly. "I'm just glad you've calmed down somewhat."
"I have... a little bit - now that we're warm and indoors."
"I thought you didn't feel the cold?" you tease.
"Oh dear, it seems I've been caught," Flora chuckles as she hops off the chair arm. Bending down, she starts untying her boot's drawstrings. You're gifted an extensive showing at her white and frilly undergarments as she does. They hug her backside perfectly, too perfectly to ignore.
"Hey, Keiji," Flora continues, straightening up and stepping out of her boots.
"Y-Yes?" you answer quickly, your cheeks warmer for obvious reasons.
"The other day, when you said you trusted me..." Flora kicks her boots aside and turns around again. Resting a hand on your shoulder, she gazes into you with depth and feeling. You note a hint of seriousness about her, too. "You really meant it, didn't you?"
"I certainly did. Every word."
"In that case..." Flora closes her eyes and nods resolutely. "I promise I'll do everything I can to keep you safe while we're here, whatever it takes." She opens her eyes again. They're full to overflowing with spirit and determination. "And not just for my sake… for Lady Corrin's and Felicia's too."
While grateful beyond words for the maid's sincere pledge, you're also curious.
"And to what do I owe the honor of such a heartfelt declaration?"
Leaning closer, the maid cups your cheek. "Nothing at all. My sister cherishes you. I couldn't let anything bad happen to you, you're a guest in my home."
Your heartbeat quickens amidst Flora's closeness. She inches nearer. Moment. By moment.
You likewise close the gap to meet her. Second by second.
Flora touches her nose to yours. "We've marched all day, and I'm beyond tired. Might I sit beside you and rest until sunset?" she requests tenderly.
A request you'll not refuse. "By all means."
"Thank you." Flora pecks your cheek and then squeezes in next to you. "We'll summon the others once the sun is down," she says before yawning.
"Alright." You close your eyes too. A few hours rest will go a long way.
It takes but a few moments but you begin feeling sluggish. As though a wave of the sea, the desire for sleep crashes against your inner shoreline. Heavier your body gets by the second. You inhale and exhale softly, the fire's gentle snaps and crackles bringing you nearer and nearer sleep's embrace.
"Keiji," Flora's whispers, her voice ensnares your senses. She' sounds almost enchanting in your tired state. "Thank you, for believing in me."
"You're welcome. It feels good, knowing I'm not facing the burden of leadership alone."
Slowly but surely, you drift off to sleep.
To be continued...
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